Integrative Medicine – An Approach to Evidence Based Functional Medicine

Integrative Medicine

Simply speaking, Integrative medicine would mean bringing together various systems of medicine as wholesome and healing-oriented medicine that takes into account complete health of a person. WHO defines health as not mere absence of disease but complete, social, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. Thus by definition a complete medical solution should encompass all aspects of life of a person. Integrative Medicine emphasizes the relationship between various systems of medicine and makes use of all appropriate therapies, both conventional (aka Allopathic Medicine) and Traditional (e.g. Yoga & Naturopathy, Ayurveda, Nutrition etc.).

Conventional medicine is often expensive and invasive but a preferred choice in acute care and surgical corrections. To fill the lacunae left by Conventional Medicine there is a need for another type of medicine that is a complete system of medicine in itself and can be complementary to Conventional Medicine. Traditional Medicine systems world over have now been in focus because of active research going on that now has provided enough evidence that it can act as a partner to Conventional Medicine in creating an Integrative Medicine eco-system. These traditional systems of medicines are closer to nature, affordable, less invasive and are proven to be more effective in chronic disease management. The basic criteria for choosing which system of medicine to integrate are:

·      Evidence Backed in treatments for chronic ailments

·      Possibility of Functional Integration of therapies based on what best therapies each system can bring rather that taking all therapies from one system alone.

·      Non-Pharmacological, Less Invasive, more natural and use body’s own healing response

·      Focused on Prevention and Positive Promotion of Health than only curing a disease

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) defines Integrative Medicine as – that combines mainstream medical therapies and CAM therapies for which there is some high quality scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness. Thus endorsing the fact that where Modern Science can back up Traditional Medicine, they can play a major role in Integrative Medicine.

Components of Integrative Medicine at Yogaksema:

1.     Conventional medicine or Allopathic Medicine

2.     Herbal medicine such as Ayurvedic Herbs and Naturopathy based Nutrition

3.     Mind body medicine such as Yoga & Naturopathy.

4.     Energy medicine such as Ayurveda Therapies, Acupuncture and other manipulative non-invasive therapies.

Key Features of Integrative Medicine At Yogaksema:

1.     “Do No Harm” to the Patient

2.     Functional integration of various systems of medicine, provided under one roof, that is evidence based, authentic and prescribed.

3.     Physician driven where patient and physician work together in the process of healing

4.     All factors that influences health and disease are taken into consideration i.e. body mind and soul

5.     Evidence based and Disease Specific practice that is accepted Globally

6.     Focus not only in healing but also prevention and development of skills for effective self-care that can be adopted throughout the life.

Areas of integration:

1.     Integrative Oncology

2.     Integrative Neurology

3.     Integrative Endocrinology

4.     Integrative Cardiology

5.     Integrative Rheumatology

6.     Integrative Psychiatry