Alternative Health, Complementary, and Integrative Health Explained!
Alternative health, Complementary, and Integrative Health are widely used terms in today's society. But if you're like me, "What the heck is the difference?" I did some research and was surprised by my findings. The following is a simple clarification of each with a brief description of various alternative techniques practiced.
Complementary medicine is usually not taught or used in Western medical schools or hospitals. Complementary medicine includes a large number of practices and systems of health care that, for a variety of cultural, social, economic, or scientific reasons, have not been adopted by mainstream Western medicine. Complementary medicine is different from alternative medicine since it is used together with conventional medicine.
Alternative medicine, on the other hand, is used in place of conventional medicine. An example of an alternative therapy is using a special diet to treat cancer instead of undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy that has been recommended by a physician. Alternative medical practice is usually not recognized by the medical community as standard or conventional medical approaches.
Though considered "alternative" in the West, such medicine is the main source of health care for up to 80% of people in less-developed countries. Some alternative medicine practices are effective and may offer treatments in areas where conventional approaches have not succeeded such as chronic disorders.
In 1948, the World Health Organization defined health as "a complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." The public is increasingly embracing alternative, complementary, and integrative medicine when seeking treatment for chronic medical conditions such as cancer, and arthritis that are often inadequately treated by conventional approaches. This may suggest dissatisfaction with Western medicine. Research suggests, however, that the public is actually turning to complementary and alternative medicine because its doctrines parallel their own personal values and belief systems. For example, patients want physicians who regard them as whole person, mind and spirit, as well as a body. They also believe in the healing power of nature.
The descriptive phrase "integrative medicine," coined in the late twentieth century, characterizes a new mode of health care rooted both in conventional and alternative medicine. In the broadest sense, integrative medicine employs treatments drawn from all medical aspects, providing patients with individualized treatment plans optimized for their specific clinical situations. The underlying philosophy recognizes and relies upon the innate healing capacity of the human body and emphasizes the importance of the relationship between practitioner and patient.
While incorporating aspects of both conventional with complementary and alternative medicine, integrative medicine weighs both the benefits and risks inherent to any therapy, regardless of its origin. The main focus is the therapeutic relationship between the patient and doctor. Practitioners recognize that they are not the source of healing, but the means by which patients discover, or rediscover, their capacity to regain health. The integrative practitioner initially selects the least invasive, least toxic, and least costly interventions appropriate to the situation.
To quote Sir William Osler (1849–1919), "It is more important to know what sort of patient has a disease than what sort of disease a patient has." Although a patient presents specific symptoms, the integrative practitioner inquires into his/her lifestyle and spiritual influences that affect quality of life. The treatment plan then includes recommendations such as dietary change, increase in physical activity, and stress reduction in addition to specific therapies. Positive coping skills such as yoga, meditation, and massage therapy are promoted.
Whether alternative, conventional or integrative, patients must take responsibility for their own health and well being. Each decision is the result of a consideration of all appropriate treatments. Patients are active partners in choosing therapies consistent with their values and beliefs.
Complementary and alternative medicine can include the following:
Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of plant-derived, aromatic essential oils to promote physical and psychological well being. It is sometimes used in combination with massage and other therapeutic techniques as part of a holistic treatment approach.
Ayurveda is one of the oldest systems of natural health care, originating in the ancient traditions of India. Now considered one of the leading forms of holistic medicine available in the West, Ayurveda addresses all factors that influence our quality of life.The principles of Ayurveda state that nothing exists in isolation, so that everything you interact with, your diet, family, work or relationships, has an effect on your health and well being. One guiding principle of Ayurveda is that mind and body are connected and that the mind has a profound influence over our health and well being. While conventional Western medicine is still grounded in the paradigm of mind-body separation, Ayurveda holds that health is more than the absence of disease; it is a dynamic state of balance and integration of body, mind, and spirit.
Flower essence therapy is a sub-category of homeopathy, which uses homeopathic dilutions of flowers. This practice was begun by Edward Bach with the Bach flower remedies but is now practiced much more widely, utilizing flowers all over the world. There are numerous makers of flower essences, using the flowers that are local to their region.
Holistic medicine is a term used to describe alternative therapies that attempt to treat the patient as a whole person, instead of treating an illness. Holistic medicine looks at an individual's over-all physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional well being before recommending treatment. A practitioner with a holistic approach treats the symptoms of illness as well as looking for the underlying cause of the illness. Holistic medicine also attempts to prevent illness by placing a greater emphasis on optimizing health. The body's systems are seen as interdependent parts of the person's whole being. Its natural state is one of health, and an illness or disease is an imbalance in the body's systems. Holistic therapies tend to emphasize proper nutrition and avoidance of substances, such as chemicals that pollute the body. Holistic treatment techniques are non-invasive.
Developed in Germany in the eighteenth century, homeopathic remedies are created from plant, animal, or mineral products diluted thousands-fold in water or alcohol. Based on the theory of "like cures like," these remedies are used to treat illnesses whose symptoms might be elicited by administration of the full-strength product. The underlying theory is that disease are cured by remedies which produce, on a healthy person, similar effects to the symptoms of the patient's complaint. For example, someone suffering from insomnia may be given a homeopathic dose of coffee, administered in diluted form. Numbering in the thousands, these remedies have been used to treat a wide variety of ailments including seasonal allergies, asthma, influenza, headaches, and indigestion.
Hypnotherapy is the treatment of a symptom, disease, or addiction by means of hypnotism. Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness; it is characterized by increased responsiveness to suggestion. The hypnotic state is attained by first relaxing the body then shifting the attention toward a narrow range of objects or ideas as suggested by the hypnotist. The procedure is used to access various levels of the mind to effect positive changes in a person's behavior and to treat numerous health conditions. For example, hypnosis has been used to lose weight, improve sleep, reduce pain and ease stress.
A wide variety of physical manipulative techniques designed to promote relaxation, thereby treating conditions exacerbated by tension such as headaches, insomnia, and Post-surgical trauma.
Mental calmness and physical relaxation is achieved with meditation by suspending the stream of thoughts that normally occupy the mind or works with focusing and distracting one's attention. Generally performed once or twice a day for approximately 20 minutes at a time, meditation is used to reduce stress, alter hormone levels, and elevate one's mood. In addition, a person experienced in meditation can achieve a reduction in blood pressure, adrenaline levels, heart rate, and skin temperature.
The mind-body connection says that the causes, development, and outcomes of an illness are determined as much from the interaction of psychological and social factors as they are due to the biological factors of health.
Naturopathy is the eclectic practice of Naturopathic Doctors using many different natural therapies as treatment. The original method of treatment of Naturopathy was the water cure. Naturopathic medicine, although similar to allopathic medicine in diagnostic techniques, avoid drugs, major surgery, and cutting-edge technology. It instead relies on treatment approaches designed to strengthen the body's own healing capabilities.
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Reflexology is a therapeutic method of relieving pain by stimulating predefined pressure points on the feet and hands. This controlled pressure alleviates the source of the discomfort. In the absence of any particular malady or abnormality, reflexology may be as effective for promoting good health and for preventing illness as it may be for relieving symptoms of stress, injury, and illness.
This group of philosophies of Chinese medicine are more accurately referred to as Oriental Medicine, with roots in many different Asian countries. This millennia-old Asian medical tradition works to achieve overall balance of health in preventing as well as treating illness to the body through massage, herbs, diet, and lifestyle changes such as meditation.
Visualization or guided imagery, involves a series of relaxation techniques followed by the visualization of detailed images, usually calm and peaceful in nature. If used for treatment, the client may visualize his/her body as healthy, strong, and free of the specific problem or condition. Sessions, conducted in groups or one-on-one, are typically 20-30 minutes and may be practiced several times a week. Guided imagery has been advocated for a number of chronic conditions, including headaches, stress, high blood pressure, and anxiety.
Yoga is a diverse and ancient East Indian practice. There are many different styles of yoga. It is generally a combination of breathing exercises, physical postures, and meditation that calms the nervous system and balances body, mind, and spirit. It is thought to prevent specific diseases and maladies by relaxing the body, deepening respiration and calming the mind. Yoga has been used to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and to improve flexibility, concentration, sleep, and digestion. It has also been used as supplementary therapy for such diverse conditions as cancer, diabetes, asthma, and AIDS.
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Directory of Alternative Medicine - offers a categorized directory of 20,000+ Alternative Medicine websites, free Herbal Glossary search utility, and resources to promote Ayurveda remedies.
