What is Integrative Medicine?
Integrative Medicine Overview
Holistic Healing
Integrative and functional medicine (often called "holistic medicine") focuses on healing the whole person - body, mind, and spirit. It helps individuals manage chronic conditions and improve overall health using a combination of modern medicine and traditional healing practices.
Integrative Medicine practices the following:
- Evidence-Based Approach
- Combines scientific evidence, lifestyle interventions, and time-tested therapies to promote deep, lasting health improvements.
- 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.
What is Functional Medicine?
Personalized Care
Functional Medicine practices the following:
- Specialized Focus
- Functional medicine is a branch of integrative medicine that focuses on the patient’s unique biochemical makeup and health history.
- Systems-Baed 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.
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.