‹ Blog Archive | Friday, Mar 25, 2011
Integrative Medicine and Biomedicine: What’s the Difference? Posted by Isaac Eliaz of Amitabha Medical Clinic & Healing Center
What is Integrative Medicine and how does it compare to Biomedicine?
Integrative Medicine and Biomedicine are both relatively new terms within the
field of health and healing; however, Biomedicine appears to be a more recently
evolved term, used loosely to describe medical doctors who take nutritional and
even naturopathic approaches to treating patients.
Integrative Medicine is a similar, though more established term
within medical science, used to describe doctors who are trained in multiple
healing modalities, such as Traditional Chinese, Naturopathic, Holistic, Homeopathic,
and Western Allopathic. Both Integrative and Biomedical doctors look at the
larger picture of external causes when diagnosing and treating illness, but
Integrative healers may take into account mental, emotional and spiritual
influences, and take a more widely integrated yet individualized approach to
treatment.
Many people view Integrative Medicine as the incorporation of
multiple systems and practices of healing, rather than utilizing just one
course of treatment, to fight a disease. But the true definition of Integrative
Medicine goes much deeper than that. One aspect of Integrative Medicine does
indeed include the combination of different therapies for maximum benefit. For
a deeper understanding of Integrative Medicine, watch my video at www.dreliaz.org/what-is-integrative-medicine.
But rather than just incorporating an arsenal of separate and
non-contraindicated medical systems – such as Allopathic, Traditional Chinese, Naturopathic,
etc. – to work side-by-side in a patient to fight their illness, a successful
integrative protocol strategically combines specific healing systems, treatment
modalities and philosophies to function synergistically
together on various levels. This multi-dimensional approach can truly work
wonders. It enhances the physical, emotional,
mental and spiritual health of a patient while simultaneously fighting the
disease from multiple angles, thereby providing the patient with greater
opportunities for a positive clinical outcome. The use of multiple modalities, targeted
herbs and supplements that have been proven to work synergistically within this
holistic framework of increased health versus decreased disease, form a key
cornerstone of successful Integrative Medicine.
Conventional medicine often focuses on destroying the disease, but
at the same time, it may also damage the health of the patient. The main
strategic goal of Integrative Medicine is to support a person’s health and
vitality while simultaneously fighting the disease. In Integrative Medicine, the focus is
on combining the most appropriate treatments for each individual, taking into
account the various environmental, physical and psycho-spiritual factors which
need to be addressed. Many times, therapies will include dietary
recommendations with focus on additional nutritional supplementation specific
to the needs of the patient. These recommendations, based on the overarching
principles of proper nutritional support for detoxification, healing and
prevention, link Biomedicine and Integrative Medicine together as cutting edge,
scientifically-validated branches of medicine and healing. As research
continues on the importance of healthy, balanced nutrition and the benefits
offered by specific dietary supplements, Biomedicine and Integrative Medicine
will expand the scope and influence of their comprehensive, safe and effective
strategies for healing and wellness. For more valuable health information,
visit www.dreliaz.org. Click Here for Provider's Detail Page
Other Postings by Isaac Eliaz:
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