About Integrative Medicine

Integrative medicine (IM) can be defined as an approach to the practice of medicine that makes use of the best available evidence taking into account the whole person (body, mind, and spirit), including all aspects of lifestyle. Integrative medicine is an emerging field that emphasizes the combination of both conventional and alternative approaches to address the biological, psychological, social and spiritual aspects of health and illness. It emphasizes respect for the human capacity for healing, the importance of the relationship between the practitioner and the patient, a collaborative approach to patient care among practitioners, and the practice of conventional, complementary, and alternative health care that is evidence-based.

Treatment modalities included in this definition include but are not limited to: dietary supplements, botanicals, mind body therapies, stress reduction, movement therapies, whole systems healing traditions such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, and diet counseling.