Integrative Medicine Overview

• Holistic Healing: Integrative and functional medicine (often called "holistic medicine") focuses on healing the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.
• Evidence-Based Approach: Combines scientific evidence, lifestyle interventions, and time-tested therapies to promote deep, lasting health improvements.

What is Integrative Medicine?

• Patient-Centered Care: Merges conventional medical practices with complementary therapies for a balanced, whole-person approach.
• Integration of Treatments: Uses both conventional and non-conventional treatments, such as acupuncture, nutrition, and mindfulness, for a comprehensive care plan.
• Reduced Reliance on Medications: A well-designed integrative treatment plan can reduce or eliminate the need for pharmaceuticals, although they are used when necessary.

Functional Medicine: Personalized Care

• Specialized Focus: Functional medicine is a branch of integrative medicine that focuses on the patient’s unique biochemical makeup and health history.
• Systems-Based Approach: Looks at the underlying causes of illness—such as triggers and mediators—to create personalized, root-cause treatment plans.
• Tailored Treatments: Functional medicine treatments are individualized and supported by training from the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM).

Leadership and Support

• National Organizations: Key U.S. organizations advancing integrative medicine include:
  • Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health (ACIMH): A network of over 70 academic institutions promoting integrative health practices.
  • Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine (AIHM): An inter-professional network of healthcare practitioners in integrative medicine.
  • National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH): A branch of the NIH funding research in integrative therapies.

A Comprehensive Path to Wellness

• Whole-Person Approach: Integrative medicine addresses physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
• Empowering Wellness: Helps individuals manage chronic conditions and improve overall health using a combination of modern medicine and traditional healing practices.

Foundation for Reversing Chronic Diseases and Lifelong Health

• Food as Medicine: Nutrition is a critical component of lifestyle medicine, playing a key role in the prevention and reversal of chronic diseases.
• Impact of Diet on Chronic Disease:
  • Many chronic diseases are directly linked to the foods we eat.
  • Dietary choices have the potential to influence or reverse the course of chronic conditions.
• Personalized Nutritional Evaluation:
  • Each patient undergoes an evaluation to assess how their diet may contribute to their health issues.
  • Patients receive a personalized "food as medicine" prescription with specific food plans aimed at restoring health.
• Ongoing Support from Health Coaches:
  • Health coaches work alongside Dr. Golbor, MD, providing regular follow-ups and adjustments to food plans.
  • Collaboration between health coaches and the physician ensures comprehensive and ongoing support for patients.
• Integral Team Approach:
  • Health coaches play a vital role in the integrative and functional medicine care team, working closely with Dr. Golbor, MD to help patients achieve long-term health goals through diet and lifestyle changes.