How the contemporary and alternative medicine has joined on the platform of Integrative medicine

Western Medicine

Western medicine is an evidence-based system where medical professionals e.g doctors, nurses, pharmacists use methods such as drugs, surgery, or lifestyle changes. There is always research and a thirst for evidence and proven results. This has tremendously made an impact on reducing mortality in chronic diseases, infectious diseases, and cancer. Such practices are accountable and reliable.

Conventional medicine focus on scientific discoveries, treatment methods, practicing medicine, Research and development and regulations inpatient care. Integrative medicine has made an advancement and infiltration into complementary medicine with a focus in prevention and healing. Conventional medicine has started to embrace the value of integrating with complementary therapies. Such integration facilitates and enhances the whole-body healing process.

Alternative medicine, Holistic or Complementary medicine are practiced as a method of explaining health interventions that is different to Western conventional therapies. 

“Holistic medicine” – This refers to the belief that treatments and cure should involve all three elements of the human being: “mind /body/spirit”. Illnesses are caused by irregularities of mind-body-spirit. To achieve health and well-being, all three elements of the human body must be treated together to achieve healing. 
Alternative medicine refers to a combination of “practices, products and systems” of health care that exist and differ from Western conventional medicine.
In the modern era “Complementary medicines” have joined with conventional methods and medicines. Examples include “chiropractic treatments, dietary interventions, and acupuncture”

There are 5 domains of such therapies.

• Manipulative, body-based treatments – “This type of manipulative therapy focus on the relationship between the systems of the body and manipulations to induce health and wellbeing. Examples of such treatments are reflexology, chiropractic, and massage therapies”.

• Treatments related to health theory and practice – “These therapies developed separately from conventional medicine. They include naturopathy, Chinese medicine, and homeopathy”.

• Biologically based practices – “Biologically based therapies use naturally occurring materials which affect health”.

• Mind-Body interventions– “These therapies are based on the theory that physical health is influenced by emotional and mental factors”. 

• Energy therapies – “Such therapies initiate from the core belief that fields of energy called biofields exist in and around the body. These can be manipulated by energy practitioners. They use external energy sources such as electromagnetic fields. Examples of such therapies include Reiki and magnet therapy”.