Integrative Medicine

What is Integrative Medicine?

Integrative medicine (IM), also more recently being conceptualized as Whole Person Health, emphasizes the evidence-based combination of both conventional and “complementary” approaches to address health and well-being. It does so by appreciating a comprehensive view of the individual and their place in the world.

Integrative Medicine practitioners usually take a holistic/total person approach to their patients.  They understand that overall health and well-being is a combination of multiple factors, including health beliefs and the power of a positive medical interaction; and in evaluating the bigger picture, many advocate for improving education and policy regarding issues such as nutrition, social detriments, and the environment.

What are the benefits of Integrative Medicine?

In some situations, Integrative Medicine modalities may achieve similar results to conventional medicine with fewer side effects, and may create a greater sense of individual self-efficacy. In addition, tackling issues such as sleep, diet, and stress can be very effective in prevention and treatment of many chronic conditions.

Integrative Medicine at Stanford

Stanford is home to an Integrative Medicine Center, a pediatric IM fellowship, both adult and pediatric hospital and clinic-specific programs, educators and researchers exploring these concepts, and individual practitioners who may be either trained in, or knowledgeable about and open to, various modalities and the belief in whole person care.

Using this Website

The purpose of this website is to gather in one place an easily accessible snapshot of where to find Integrative Medicine/Whole Person Health services and practitioners/researchers/educators at Stanford Medical Center. If you find something missing, please contact us.