Integrative Medicine is a whole person approach to medicine that integrates conventional evidence-based medicine (ie: Western Medicine) with CAM. Integrative Medicine is the clinical application and integration of Integrative Health. The following are examples, but certainly not a complete list of therapies. Many can actually placed in more than one category.
Conventional Western Medicine
This type of medicine is what you will find when you go to your primary care physician or the Emergency Room at the hospital. It is sometimes called “Allopathic Medicine”, “Biomedicine” or “Evidence-Based Medicine”. The majority of the American Healthcare system is composed of this type of medical system. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers diagnose and treat based on rigorous scientific evidence and utilize medications and surgery to address illness and disease. There are many specialties such as Cardiology, Dentistry, Oncology, Endocrinology, Infectious Disease, etc. This is a highly regulated field in all states and requires a high level of education to practice.
- Primary Care Physicians/Family Medicine
- Acute Care & Emergency Care
- Specialties (Oncology, Cardiology, etc)
- Hospice
- Laboratory & Imaging
- Surgery
Alternative Medical Systems
These alternative medical systems are built upon an independently complete system of theory and practice and can stand alone as an entire medical discipline. Many have a rich historical tradition that is thousands of years old and are considered pre-modern medical systems. They often incorporate aspects of manual medicine, energy medicine, natural medicine, and body-mind techniques. In most states, these alternative medical systems are highly regulated and require a high level of education to practice.
- Homeopathy (including Bach Flower Remedies)
- Naturopathy
- Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture
Manual Medicine/Bodywork
This is a part of the traditional CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) field and is composed of several unique disciplines, but not entire medical systems. Manual Medicine is the practice of manual manipulation of the body. It encompasses some of the oldest medical traditions from around the world and in some cases predates many alternative medical systems such as TCM and Ayruveda. There are also many newer bodywork disciplines that have been incorporated into conventional evidence-based medical systems. This field is regulated in most states and requires moderate to high educational requirements to practice.
- Massage Therapy
- Chiropractic
- Applied Kinesiology
- Cranial Sacral
Energy Medicine
This is also is a part of CAM and incorporates many different disciplines. There are two major categories in the Energy Medicine field. The first is biologically produced energy fields, known as Biofields and commonly referred to as Subtle Universal Energy. The second category is Bioelectromagnetic medicine which uses measurable waves such as in magnetism, light, and electricity. Energy Medicine, especially the use of Biofields, was used as a form of primary healthcare in ancient and traditional cultures, predating the formation of alternative medical systems. In many cases, the use of Energy Medicine became an integral part of ancient traditional medical systems such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayruvedic Medicine. Many aboriginal and other traditional cultures still use Energy Medicine as a part of their primary healthcare system. This field is largely unregulated in the United States. In most cases there are relatively low educational requirements to practice these disciplines, outside being taught them.
- Qi-gong
- Reiki
- Therapeutic Touch
- Polarity Therapy
- Magnetic Therapy
- Light Therapy
Biological/Natural Medicine
This is also a CAM field and refers to the use of natural substances for health. For most Americans exploring complimentary and alternative health practices, this is the first thing they are exposed to. Most natural medicine is available to the consumer at the grocery market or over the counter at pharmacies. Examples include healthy food choices, vitamin supplements, and using herbs to maintain good health. Occasionally it is useful to see a practitioner or advisor when putting together a diet or herbal regimen. There is a significant amount of federal and state regulation on the quality of food, vitamins, supplements, and herbs. Practitioners and advisors vary in the amount of education required to advise but in most cases do require a moderate amount of education. Regulation of herbal and nutritional advisors and practitioners vary by state.
- Herbology
- Nutritional Therapy
- Vitamin Therapy
- Aromatherapy
Body-Mind Medicine
This is also a CAM discipline and includes the use of techniques to boost mental abilities to control the body. Many Americans are familiar with body-mind techniques which include guided imagery, meditation, and prayer. This is the second most common form of complimentary and alternative medicine that Americans are exposed to. Some techniques require a moderate to high amount of training to practice or advise in but in most cases educational requirements are low to none. There is no regulation for practitioners of body-mind medicine.
- Biofeedback
- Guided Imagery
- Hypnotherapy
- Trauma Touch Therapy
- Somatic experiencing
- Rapid eye desensitization
- Emotional freedom technique
- Trauma release exercises
- Meditation
- Prayer, Spirituality & Religion
- Yoga
- Breath/Breathing Therapy
- Behavioral Therapies (CBT, DBT)
- Autogenics
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation
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