The Power of Integrative Medicine

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

As a medical biochemist I have been working for many years side by
side with medical doctors toward the same goal - to protect and heal
patients from diseases. During my professional training program I got
very basic knowledge of medicine, but I never understood why highly
trained medical professionals were never taught anything about
self-healing and the natural healing capacity of human beings. I asked
myself why they were so uncomfortable with alternative (traditional)
therapies and spirituality. Where are all the free thinkers in modern
medicine that have the power to bring attention to alternative
therapies?

My next question was; is modern medicine neglecting our natural
mind-body connection? I hope, not. Although integrative medicine is
gaining recognition by the medical establishment, the pace is much too
slow. By the end of their training, many doctors feel that the
compassion and spirit which drew them to medicine has been lost. Why
is that?

To better understand the terms used in this article, I would like to
give you a few definitions:

Modern medicine, also known as western, regular or conventional
medicine, is focused mainly on the physical aspect of the body for
treatment. Another name for modern medicine is allopathic medicine.

Alternative medicine, known as traditional or natural medicine, is a
general term given to wide range of therapies, most of which are more
than 100 years old. Alternative medicine takes a holistic approach,
meaning that it does not involve only the physical body, but also
considers the mind and spirit. It defines health as a state of
complete balance between the mind, body, and spirit.

Integrative Medicine combines western and alternative approaches and
supplements, but does not replace conventional therapy. Integrative
medicine neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative
medicine uncritically.

At the very beginning of the Integrative medicine era, many

physicians were faced with a huge dilemma: either they learn and
incorporate alternative therapies into their practice or they ignore
them. But to incorporate them was to take a risk, the risk of losing
the trust and confidence of their patients who were accustomed to
other therapies. Also, physicians didn't want to violate the
sacrosanct principle they were taught: "First, Do Not Harm". They were
afraid of trying something new or different because conventional
science tells us that "alternative treatment can't work because we
don't know how it works "!

The dilemma is understandable from a medical point of view.

Modern medicine wants everything to be explained scientifically and
logically. That's OK, but, on the other hand, there is a demand for
alternative medicine, which people have tried and benefited from. How
should one respond to huge demands for alternative methods? If
alternative therapies work, and we know they do, then physicians need
to consider them. Happily, they finally are doing so.

The medical profession is finally learning the ancient theory

that we cannot understand disease unless we understand the person who
has the disease and accept the fact that the mind and body are bound
together. Our minds and bodies are designed to stay in balance. The
great majority of diseases for which patients seek medical help are in
part psychosomatic, meaning that bodily symptoms are caused by mental
or emotional disturbance.

Therefore, we need the help of science to deal with our health, but we
also need to provide the patient with hope and faith in the treatment.
Today's MD's should be emotionally and

scientifically competent to treat psychosomatic illness; if not

the patient will return with another problem! Do you know why?

Because no one looked into why he developed the illness in the first
place!

Future generations of physicians need time to become familiar

with integrative medicine. Hopefully they will find the time to

better understand not only illness but also their patients.

Integrative medicine is one step closer to a better relationship

between patient and doctor.

We are glad that we now have Integrative medicine: a combination of
alternative and western medicine, healing-oriented medicine.
Integrative medicine considers the body, mind, and spirit, including
lifestyle. This medicine uses conventional and alternative methods,
bringing together the best of both worlds.

In many cases traditional healing methods were introduced to

western medicine by patients! They brought their own healing

traditions to their MD's . Actually, they knew their tradition

had been effective for them in the past and they wanted to use them
now!

Fortunately, they have found very gifted, open-minded doctors, who let
them use their own healing traditions, but kept a watchful eye on the
treatment to make sure they didn't hurt their patients. And that's how
modern western medicine learned about traditional, alternative
therapies. Bit by bit, modern medicine accepted the reality that
western medicine can not offer all the solutions, yet it remains
confident in modern science while accepting alternative treatments.

Integrative medicine use mind-body therapies such as meditation,
spiritual healing, acupuncture, self-hypnosis, mindfulness, stress
reduction, visualization, yoga, Tai Chi, body energy fields,
reflexology, massage, guided imagery, prayer and many other
alternative methods. Although we know for sure that our mind plays a
positive role in the healing process, how it does so remains a
mystery!

Yes, integrative medicine brought the patient's attitude, spirit,

hope, faith, meaning and beliefs into medical offices, definitely

changing the western approach to healing. Integrative medicine is
still surrounded with skepticism and controversy. In the near future,
it needs to be implemented in medical schools and residencies, with
more certificate courses for practicing physicians and other health
professionals. The challenges are many, and the opportunities are
great.

Integrative medicine is not only for the ill, but for those who

wish to increase their self-awareness, enhance their well-being, and
help prevent health-related problems. In bringing meditation and other
spiritual and alternative therapies into western medicine, medical
professionals have changed the face of modern medicine.

Thankfully, after many years of denying alternative therapies,

modern western medicine is ready to accept mind/energy oriented
therapies and other alternative treatments as powerful tools in their
battle for people's health. In this way patients and practitioners are
partners in the healing process.

Today, physicians are more educated about alternative methods yet
remain uncomfortable while practicing it. A new approach to medicine
requires a new approach to medical education. However, this is
changing because of newly introduced training programs in Integrative
Medicine. The world of modern western medicine is changing every day
for better, and that is good for patients.

It is my wish that alternative therapies will gradually play a

more important role in our current medical system.

Jahiel - Yasha- Kamhi

jasakamhi@hotmail.com

_By: *Jahiel -yasha- Kamhi*_

*About the Author:*