What is Integrative Medicine?

The following is a simple explanation as set forth by Brad Lemley of Dr.Weil.com News:

Integrative Medicine is healing-oriented medicine that takes into account the status of the entire individual (body,mind and spirit), including all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship between conventional and alternative modalities.

The principles of integrative medicine:

• A partnership between patient and practitioner in the healing process
• Appropriate use of conventional and alternative methods to facilitate the body's innate healing response
• Consideration of all factors that influence health, wellness and disease, including mind, spirit and community as well as body
• A philosophy that neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative therapies uncritically
• Recognition that good medicine should be based in good science, be inquiry driven, and be open to new paradigms
• Use of natural, effective, less-invasive interventions whenever possible
• Use of the broader concepts of promotion of health and the prevention of illness as well as the treatment of disease
• Training of practitioners to be models of health and healing, committed to the process of self-exploration and self-development