What's so Great about Integrative Medicine?

We all have some secret ( or not so secret) family formulas to fight off cold.

How about ginger tea with honey? or Hot Soup?

Or taking deep breaths when stressed. Or thinking of something nice when getting a shot at a doctor's office. Did you know that there is actually science behind many of these?

I first got attracted to learning about Integrative medicine (AWCIM) when my mom did a formal course at the Andrew Weill Center for Integrative Medicine and I would ask her about different ways to wellness that I could use.

The AWCIM defines Integrative Medicine (IM) as "healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person, including all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship between practitioner and patient, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapies."

So an integrative approach to your health focuses on you as a whole person and not just your illness or disease by looking at your complete mind, body, and spirit.

Some heavily weighted terms there, huh?

Now I am no medical person, just a teenager who loves to explore wellness by reading and learning. But one thing I know is that for being well one has to do stuff outside a doctor's office too. What you eat, how much you move, and what you think (yes, your mental health) is very very important to how you feel overall.

So in my ongoing blogs, I hope to explore each aspect of Integrative health and hope to put out some evidence as to whether these "secret formulas" work or not by talking to some experts.

Leave a comment on what your family's Formula is to fight common problems!

References:

1. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21683-integrative-medicine

2. https://integrativemedicine.arizona.edu/