Integrative medicine is an approach in which the practitioner draws on a broad base of different approaches and combines their understanding of the patient with their knowledge of the most well-researched conventional medicine and the most well-researched, evidence-based complementary treatments to offer an approach which endeavors to consider the whole person and their environment in the quest for optimal health and wellbeing, engaging the person in building a joint management plan which often includes self-care and lifestyle-based approaches. The prescription of or referral for a variety of Traditional and Complimentary medicines and therapies may be included within the management plan.
Traditional, Complimentary and Integrative Medicine and alternative medicine (TCIM) is an umbrella term for systems for healthcare and well-being, comprising practices, skills, knowledge and philosophies originating in different historical and cultural contexts, which are distinct from and pre-date biomedicine. Traditional medicine emphasizes nature-based remedies and holistic, personalized approaches to restore balance of mind, body and environment. Complementary medicine refers to additional healthcare practices that are not part of a country’s mainstream medicine. Evidence-based complementary medicine has the potential to support mainstream medicine and more comprehensively support people’s health and well-being needs.
Many systems of TCIM are evolving with science for current use from an experience-based origin. As we study and learn more about complimentary practices, we are building a growing evidence base of approaches which have proven to be safe and effective, and may be more cost-effective, more environmentally friendly, or have a lower burden of side-effects than the available approaches within “western” or “allopathic” medicine. For example, when used appropriately, St. John’s wort may be as effective as an antidepressant medication, with fewer side-effects. However, as medical training in the UK doesn’t equip most doctors with the knowledge and skills to use such medicines with confidence, it is rarely prescribed in practice.
Lifestyle medicine as the original medicine
As far back as we have clearly documented information about the practice of medicine, we can see that lifestyle advice has been a major part of medicine, long before the majority of treatments used today existed or could even be imagined. Hippocrates, an ancient Greek philosopher and physician often thought of as the father of medicine, stated “in order to keep well, one should simply avoid too much food, too little toil.” In the last few decades, there has been an increasing focus on exercise as a medicine, and we now have a large body of evidence based on high-quality research, demonstrating a huge number of outcomes, including reductions in cardiovascular disease, improvements in mental health and even increased chances of survival after treatment for cancer. Simply advising people to exercise more, however, is not necessarily effective, so Lifestyle Medicine includes training in how to skillfully support people to make effective changes in the areas of physical activity, diet, sleep, relationships, mental wellbeing and exposure to harmful substances. I have been learning more about and working with lifestyle medicine approaches since I qualified as a GP, but have spent the last 5 years or so exploring the best ways to integrate these into my practice at the Camphill Wellbeing Trust.
My Practice of Integrative Medicine
As integrative medicine involves the integration of different evidence-informed approaches, tailored to the individual needs and preferences of the patient, the way I practice Integrative Medicine and what is included within the scope of my practice is always evolving.
My practice includes, but is not limited to Anthroposophic Medicine. This approach was the foundation of my training and I find it enormously helpful as a conceptual framework within which I can understand the way in which various treatment approaches might support my patients and support their unique health journeys.
My practice expands continuously, based on the needs of my patients, because I don’t limit myself to offering patients the tools which I already have in my box. I’m always looking to expand my knowledge, and when a patient presents with a challenge for which I don’t yet have a ready-made solution, I use my conceptual understanding of the patient and their problem and support them in exploring avenues which work for their unique situation.
I have recently been invited to join the clinical team at NCIM and I’m excited by the prospect of working with such a diverse team and benefiting from their excellent training and education program.
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