3 Types of Therapeutic Medical Models
“The body is one integrated system, not a collection of organs divided up by medical specialities. Medicine of the future connects everything. ” Dr. Mark Hyman, M.D.
Are you aware there are different approaches to managing your health care? Do you know which therapeutic model your doctor practices? There are three types: conventional, integrative and alternative. Keep reading for uncensored and useful information for planning your health care.
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What is conventional medicine?
Conventional medicine is based on the idea that there is single cause behind a disease. However, in diseases like fibromyalgia, there is a dizzying array of factors that conspire to make a person sick. Therefore, sufferers of chronic, complex diseases need more than a single drug, or surgery, or a new-fangled hi-tech intervention.
Patients have been shown to recover more successfully if they are treated with a combination of conventional and alternative therapies. Conventional care is based on addressing symptoms than diagnosing, treatment and cure of a disease or disorder. The focus is the disease or disorder, not the patient.
What is integrative medicine?
If you are seriously ill, you would want to take advantage of any evidence-based approach to get better, wouldn’t you? In essence, that is what Integrative Medicine or Integrative Healthcare (IH) does.
It takes the most effective treatments from different disciplines to construct a personalized health plan for the patient’s unique and emotional needs, according to WebMD. It’s far from a one-size-fits-all approach.
The University of Arizona’s Center for Integrative Medicine says integrative medicine takes account of the whole person, “covering all aspects of their lifestyle, including mind, body, spirit and the community.” It also emphasizes the relationship between the patient and practitioner, who become partners in the treatment process.
Integrative Medicine, the center says, “Neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts without question alternative therapies.” Practitioners believe that ultimately good medicine, be it conventional or alternative practices should be based on sound science, be inquiry-driven and be open to new paradigms.
Integrative Medicine also emphasizes non-invasive intervention, where possible. It not only concentrates on treating diseases but also promoting overall health and the prevention of disease.
The National Center for Integrative Primary Healthcare (NCIPH) believes that by treating not only the individual patient, but the family and community as well, IH can help prevent and treat a whole slew of chronic health problems, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, depression, and even violence.
As with Conventional Alternative Medicine (CAM), Integrative Healthcare is now a medical specialty practiced by board-certified practitioners, says WebMD.
Most medical schools and hospitals are incorporating IH into their syllabi. In addition, more patients are demanding IH-based treatments.
WebMD cites a program at a Sausalito research facility that has successfully used an IH program to reverse heart disease. The program combines diet, exercise, stress management, yoga, group support, and meditation with conventional diagnostic procedures and drug therapies.
In addition, in a Stanford study, women with late stage breast cancer doubled their chance of survival by participating in group therapy while undergoing conventional treatments.
Web MD suggests that IH is gaining popularity because it is an answer to the increasing number of chronic, complex diseases that confound conventional medicine.
What is alternative medicine?
Alternative medicine is a treatment system that rejects conventional medicine. Many alternative medicines look to nature for cures. One type of an alternative medicine treatment system is homeopathy.
Homeopathy is based on the belief that the body has the ability to cure itself naturally. Patient’s symptoms are viewed as bodily responses as the body tries to regain it’s health.
Alternative medicine is commonly thought of any therapy that is outside of those used in conventional medical care. Remember any non-conventional therapy, like acupuncture or yoga, when used in combination with conventional medicine would be considered integrative medicine.
If acupuncture or yoga is practiced without conventional medicine, like surgery or pharmaceutical products, then it would be considered alternative medicine.
Make sense? What is your approach to your health care? I choose integrative health. I believe there are healing therapies in both conventional and alternative medicine. Statistics are proving combining these two produces optimal healing for patients.
Integrative health is bashing down the wall between conventional and alternative medicine. It’s no longer a case of “take two pills and call me in the morning.” You’ll still get your pills but with a side of yoga and meditation.
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