The goal of Integrative Health (previously complementary and alternative medicine), is to optimize well-being and facilitate the body's own healing.

• it balances body, mind, and spirit
• it includes social and environmental factors
• it creates a healing relationship between patient and practitioner
• it is evidence based

“Integrative health care affirms the relationship between the practitioner and the patient, focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence and makes use of all appropriate therapeutic and lifestyle, approaches, healthcare professionals and disciplines to achieve optimal health and healing.”

Integrative Health is affected by individual biological factors and behaviours, and it is impacted by social values and public policy, as well as the social, physical and economic environment.

It encourages active patient participation and ways of living that promote meaning, resilience, and well-being.

There are five categories of integrative therapies that are continually evolving and growing as practices become more familiar and part of the mainstream. They include:

MIND-BODY: Includes Behavioral, psychological, social and spiritual approaches.

• Meditation
• Mindfulness
• Art, music and dance therapies
• Bio/Neurofeedback
• Relaxation response
• Support groups and psychotherapy
• Yoga
• Prayer
• Guided imagery

ENERGY BASED: Involves the use of electromagnetic, ultrasonic, thermal or subtle energy.

• Diathermy, laser and radio-frequency surgery
• Magnetic therapy
• Bio field approaches like reiki and therapeutic touch
• Polarity therapy and crystals
• Electroacupuncture
• Healing touch

MANUAL: Manipulative and body-based practices utilize manipulation, touch and movement of the physical body. Many of these may have an element of energy work incorporated in their application, and some energy therapies involve touching the body.

• Holistically oriented physical and occupational therapy
• Massage
• Chiropractic manipulation
• Osteopathic manipulation
• Trager
• Applied yoga
• Jin Shin Do and acupressure
• Feldenkrais
• Rolfing, Rubenfeld and Alexander techniques
• Craniosacral therapy

BIOLOGICALLY BASED: Include Natural or biologically derived interventions and ProductsThat are taken internally or used topically on the body.

• Natural substances like Tryptophan, SAMe and Chondroitin sulfate
• Biologic substances like bee pollen, shark cartilage, and noni juice
• Active organisms like probiotics
• Functional or orthomolecular medicine
• Botanical medicine including herbs and essential oils
• Diet and nutrition including supplements

WHOLE SYSTEMS: Whole medical systems have a unifying theory or philosophy of disease and healing, process for diagnosis, and multiple treatment options and modalities. These often include therapies that will also be found in other categories.

• Chiropractic
• Osteopathy
• Homeopathy
• Ayurvedic medicine
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Kampo (traditional Japanese medicine)
• Naturopathy
• Anthroposophic medicine
• Indigenous practices such as Shamanism

More people than ever before are using integrative therapies. They are becoming much more informed and assertive and therefore patients should seek a practitioner that understands the risks and benefits associated with the multiple integrative therapies.

Integrative therapies are especially effective in health maintenance, prevention and management of chronic illness. They provide stable symptom management and improve the quality of life for the patient. They offer symptom relief without the added side effects that are often associated with mainstream prescriptions, and have been known to in some cases cause disease reversal and remission.

They are less invasive than conventional treatment in most cases and a cost effective and safe way that you can be an active participant in your health planning and management. Additionally and most importantly, they address the whole person, biologically, psychologically, socially and spiritually and respect the human capacity for healing.

When a practitioner and a patient collaborate, and partner in the patients health

planning and management, it is proven to maximize the healing and general outcome of the patient. Empowering the patient to take positive steps to improve lifestyle and self-promotion of wellness lead to overall improvement in patients.

You may wonder why a practitioner is required throughout this process. “Natural does not always mean safe”. A trained integrative health practitioner will help the patient to weigh the risks and benefits of any and all therapies. They address both holistic and conventional medical therapies and are able to make knowledgeable referrals to other specialized practitioners. They are well educated in anatomy,

physiology and pharmacokinetics, allowing them to address the effects of natural medicines on current conventional medications and prescriptions, to ensure your safety based on possible interactions. They can support patients through de-subscribing and can work as part of your whole medical support team.

Ultimately, Integrative Health Care provides care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs and values. As it is truly patient centred, it ensures that patient values guide all clinical decisions.

Treatment often includes the patients families in the decision making as no disease or condition affects only a singular person, but those that are part of their daily life as well. It honours the development of meaningful connections and builds a relationship of trust and transparency.