by Tessa Porter May
Integrative Medicine Combining Conventional & Wholistic Methods of Healing.
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ntegrative Medicine is a new term for most people yet many Americans are unaware that they are already a part of this growing approach to healthcare. In a 2008 report from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the National Center for Health Statistics (part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), 38% of Americans are using some sort of complementary/alternative medicine in addition to their regular doctors’ visits. This cross over is the basis for the Integrative Medicine movement. IM, as it is often called, is centered around treating the whole person – body, mind and spirit – by blending conventional medicine and natural healing methods such as acupuncture, massage therapy, stress management and nutritional supplementation. The idea is to take the best of what both time-honored healing systems have to offer and create a more effective wellness model. There are key elements that distinguish the Integrative Medicine approach from the more commonplace conventional medical system. For instance, Integrative Medicine encourages a shift to a whole-person method of disease treatment and wellness. IM
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practitioners recognize that each body system is dependent upon and affected by other body systems. The familiar method of treating a specific organ or symptom is discarded in favor of viewing the body as an inseparable whole. “One person with one symptom is not treated the same as another person with the same symptom” says Dr. Lee Westmoreland, DC, of Southeastern Center for Functional Medicine in Greenville. The end result is not just symptom relief but a deeper level of wellness. Another significant difference with the IM model is, for the first time in modern times, the patient and their healthcare professionals are entering into a partnership. This collaboration allows for the patient to have control over their own health strategy. The patient becomes the coach of their personal health team. Each member of the team, whether they are a conventional medical professional or a natural medicine practitioner, is valued for their particular expertise and wisdom. Health choices are taken out of the health provider’s hands and the patient is charged with taking responsibility for their own healing. “There’s no magic pill, there’s no surgery, no magic wand I can wave over my patients and make them well. [For the patient] it is understanding what healing is all about and taking ownership of your health” says Joe DuPuy, DC, of DuPuy Family Chiropractic in Simpsonville. Integrative Medicine physician Maria Cayelli, MD, who has her own private practice in Anderson, notes that an integrative approach makes her patients feel more in control of their health. “People [want] a voice in how to proceed to getting to the best health they can. They want guidance. They feel validated that their concerns are heard.” With Integrative Medicine the combination of expert advice and personal responsibility empower the patient to reach new heights of wellness. Integrative Medicine’s focus on the health of the mind and spirit in addition to the health of the body also differentiates it from the more conventional approach to healing. It is now widely accepted that state of mind has a drastic influence on the chemistry of the body. Emotional states such as extreme stress, depression or anxiety affect such things as the immune system and the blood pressure. Bonnie Tollison, a former Registered Nurse, is now a Licensed HeartMath® Coach at Creative Health in Greenville and is an