Integrative medicine is a newer form of medicine that focuses on combining medical treatments from different philosophies for the best possible outcomes. In this article we will explain the top five reasons people choose integrative medicine, and what you can expect from your integrative medicine doctor.
Integrative Medicine
An integrative medicine doctor is typically trained in a naturopathic medical school where they learn both conventional (allopathic) and alternative diagnostics
Many conventional doctors are afflicted with "hand on the door syndrome' ........ You know, after 5-10 minutes they are walking to the door to move on to the next patient. As they lurch for the handle you quickly sputter out your last questions in hopes of a few more precious seconds of their time. How ridiculous is this? Well in their defense, this behavior is usually a product of a broken system rather than poor social skills.
The amount of time integrative medicine doctors spend with their patients is typically 3-5 times more than conventional doctors. Taking time to get to know the person in front of you is a very valuable aspect of treatment and most integrative doctors know this. In the long run, this approach makes treatments more safe and effective.
It's no secret that alternative medicines tend to be much safer than conventional medicines. However, not all alternative medicines will be effective for your particular health situation. Knowing which situations to use alternative medicine and which situations to use conventional can make a big different in your health over the long run.
Less invasive treatment options should always be the first resort and integrative medicine doctors know this. The trick is knowing when a minimally invasive treatment should and could be used over a more invasive treatment. This is where a doctor that knows both treatment options can help.
Some health conditions have a clear cause, while others are merely associated with causes. In the process of treatment it is important to rule out and treat these known causes first. For example, high cholesterol is obviously associated with diet and lifestyle. Many times diet is the only cause of high cholesterol while other times it has less of an impact. Still many patients come to our clinic with little to no education on how to actually lower their cholesterol with diet. Instead, they are told "you need to change your diet" or put on a cholesterol lowering medication.
Knowing the impact of environmental, diet, exercise, psychological, and genetic factors on your health condition, can have a huge impact on compliance and effectiveness of treatments. Integrative medicine doctors help you learn and engage in your health for the long term success. They do this by listening, taking time to get to know you, educate you, and guide you to the best treatment from where you are today.