What, Exactly, is Integrative Health?
Integrative health is a combination of both conventional and complementary approaches to health care. In general, integrative health views a person in a holistic approach as well, which includes not only one’s physical health, but also mental, emotional, spiritual, and social as well.
An integrative approach to health has become increasingly popular in recent years. We have come to realize that the body is made up of many intricate systems, and it becomes increasingly difficult to look at each organ or body part irrespective of its effect on the rest of the body. Because the body is made up of many systems, taking a look at how one system affects the whole becomes of utmost importance.
Integrative health also combines conventional measures with complementary approaches. One such example for someone dealing with chronic pain, for instance, might be to use a conventional approach to pain, in adjunct with physical therapy, chiropractic, or even acupuncture.
What is conventional medicine?
Conventional medicine is what you think of when you go to your doctor for a regular check-up, they run blood work, prescribe medication, and perform surgeries as necessary. Conventional medicine, also known as allopathic medicine or Western medicine, takes a symptoms-based approach to treating patients.
What is complementary medicine?
Complementary medicine is anything that complements or is used in conjunction with the conventional, traditional, allopathic framework. This usually includes other pain management modalities such as chiropractic care, acupuncture, using meditation or visualization, massage therapy, herbalism, naturopathy, and homeopathy, to name a few.
Taking an Integrative Approach to Wellness
When we take an integrative approach to health and wellness, we are able to use the best of all modalities to create an approach to wellness that suits us best.
Integrative health gives us the opportunity to not only take ownership over our health and wellness, but it also gives us the opportunity to use the best of all modalities that are available to us. Many complementary approaches have been around for hundreds of years, and it would be a disservice to us if we didn’t use the best of all that is available in order to keep us well.
The idea of a carefully crafted team of integrative health professionals that can help keep you and your body healthy sounds like a great approach to wellness.
Wellness is not found in a doctor’s office - wellness is found in balance. And in being able to balance our lifestyle, using the best modalities available, we are able to ensure we don’t take care of just our physical bodies, but also our mental, emotional, and spiritual bodies as well, all of which contribute to wellness and well-being.
If you are ready to work with an Integrative Health Coach to help get your health to the next level, book a complimentary 20-minute call here!