The practice of combining conventional medicines with alternative health care approaches like dietary changes, hot/cold baths, acupuncture, herbal medicines, etc. is called integrative medicine. The field uses an appropriate combination of different healthcare approaches to meet individual patient needs.Physicians who opt for integrative medicine tend to have more options to consider when opting for the right medicine/treatment for a patient. Considering the fact that diet and lifestyle influence body and mind, integrative medicine may be a plausible way to ascertain why an individual falls sick or feels well.While conventional medicines would do the actual wonder of curing a person, these alternative approaches would help too. Sometimes, they would be better, cheaper and safer than conventional medicines. Moreover, they would be all three.Many individuals in fact, take on an integrated approach to their own care. For instance, when treating a cold, they tend to take cold medicines and follow them up with salt-water nasal washes, zinc lozenges, herbs and hot fluids.Integrative medicine is not about treating an illness, but maintaining overall health as well. For instance, certain techniques that calm the mind and nervous system can help the immune system recover from injuries or diseases. Techniques like meditation, yoga, prayer, deep breathing, etc. have now become a part of wellness care instead of alternative medicine/therapy.
Doctors practicing integrative medicine find it easier to diagnose conditions and prescribe remedies for the same via this approach. These doctors believe that while conventional medicines would help treat a condition, the use of alternative medicine and a combination of both can be preferred in case they are better, more effective and safer than the former.Individuals opting for integrative medicine would also need to be careful about the medicines they choose. They would need to follow these guidelines as well in order to avoid unnecessary complications later on
Know the Medicine Beforehand
Individual body constraints vary from individual to individual. As such, what works for one individual may not work for another. Therefore, it is wise to do some research and collect information about the medicine from reliable sources, rather than trust what available on the internet and in stores.
Inform the Doctor
In certain cases, the medicines used in the integrative approach may have adverse effects on the body. Hence, patients would need to inform their doctors about their decision to use integrative medicine.It is best if individuals opting for integrative medicine confirm whether it would be the best and safest choice for them via a doctor or physician. There are many other options to choose from, if this does not work as well.
