Everything You Should Know About Integrative Medicine NYC

By Olivia Cross


What we refer to as conventional western medicine has made some mighty achievements. Countless lives have been saved by advances in heart surgery, neonatal care, oncology, and neurology. When we are in a serious, life-threatening medical jam, we can be confident that we will receive the best possible care. It's in the functional, rather than life-or-death, matters, that western medicine can let us down. This seems a little short-sighted, because if joint disorders, chronic conditions and mood disorders were better controlled, more people would be fit to contribute to the overall resource base. Integrative medicine nyc could be the answer to filling this gap.

Integrated health offers patients a wealth of options that were not available ten years ago. Treatments that were once considered fringe therapies, such as chiropractic and acupuncture, are steadily developing an evidence base that gives them the credibility they once lacked.

Integrated health also embraces a holistic approach to health maintenance. Osteopaths and chiropractors have been doing this for years. That is why they are so friendly and chatty while they are manipulating your muscles, bones and joints together. They are not just making conversation like your hairdresser or barber, they are gaining vital clues about your personality and lifestyle so they can provide a treatment plan that is tailored to your individual needs and situation.

A lot of conventional medical care is aimed at managing crises, such as cancers, strokes and heart attacks. The integrated approach aims to treat the spirit and the mind as well as the body. Managed correctly, this approach will likely result in fewer crises to manage.

A case in point is the patient who comes in to the doctor's office to complain about general malaise and fatigue. The conventional clinician may well write out a prescription for an antidepressant, while an integrated practitioner might ask strange-sounding questions about dry mouth, eyes, or feet. Positive responses to these symptoms might indicate an autoimmune disorder called Sicca syndrome, which might be better treated with a completely different class of drug, the DMARD, or disease-modifying anti-rheumatoid drug.

Integrated health care has been riding a wave of popularity since the 1990s, backed by such big names as Andrew Weil, Deepak Chopra and Charles Windsor, Prince of Wales. By the end of the 20th century, the a consortium for integrative medicine among academic health centers had been established, soon growing to a membership of 57 within just over a decade. Among its members is the prestigious Johns Hopkins University Medical School.

The integrative, holistic approach to modern health care is both cheaper and less invasive than many forms of conventional therapy. Relying less on drugs and surgical intervention, the holistic approach uses stress reduction, biofeedback, and nutrition, as well as ideas that used to be considered "out there, " like yoga and tai chi.

Doctors and patients alike are warming up to the practice of integrated health. To be successful, it requires a partnership between patient and healer. The goal is to treat the body, mind, and spirit at the same time. As one of the most stressful cities on the planet, there is a strong argument for incorporating a more holistic, balanced approach to the maintenance of health and wellness in New York City.




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