While there are a number of illnesses and conditions that should depend on traditional medicine, there are plenty of conditions that can rely on alternative medicine alone, or alongside traditional treatments.

Complementary and alternative healthcare and medical practices (CAM) have existed in written form since 200 B.C. Examples include Ayurvedic treatments, Homeopathy, Yoga, Massage, and Diet.

Not only are they safe and effective, according to the International Journal of Health Sciences the use of CAM is growing steadily, and schools of medicine are offering accredited courses in a wide variety of alternative medical therapies.

Alternative medicines replace traditional approaches, while complementary medicines encompass therapies that work alongside traditional medicine, while integrative medicine combined conventional care with the complementary treatments. These holistic treatments focus on treating the total person. Continue reading →

If you are seriously ill, you would want to take advantage of any evidence-based approach to get better, wouldn’t you? In essence, that is what Integrative Medicine or Integrative Healthcare (IH) does.

It takes the most effective treatments from different disciplines to construct a personalized health plan for the patient’s unique and emotional needs, according to WebMD. It’s far from a one-size-fits-all approach.

The University of Arizona’s Center for Integrative Medicine says integrative medicine takes account of the whole person, “covering all aspects of their lifestyle, including mind, body, spirit and the community.” It also emphasizes the relationship between the patient and practitioner, who become partners in the treatment process. Continue reading →