INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE VS TRADITIONAL MEDICINE: IS INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE RIGHT FOR YOU?

There are 2 major divisions in healthcare today. On one side we have what is called traditional medicine and on the other we have integrative medicine. So, what makes these 2 forms of healthcare so different? Let’s explore what each of these models has to offer.

Traditional Medicine

This is the form of medicine with which most of us are very familiar. We go to the doctor with a health complaint and after a 10-minute office visit we walk out with a prescription. For example, let’s say you suffer from migraines. The goal of traditional medicine is to diagnose your ailment and provide a solution to stop or reduce the pain of your migraine headaches. You would most likely receive a brief consultation and perhaps an examination from the doctor. You are likely to walk out with a prescription for medication to help you manage your migraines. As you can see with this style of healthcare, there is little concern, at best, to determine why you are suffering from migraines in the first place. The single objective is to make your migraines more tolerable. One thing to remember is that we, as a society, have been conditioned to look for this ‘quick’ fix to our problems. It is so much that many people don’t even ask about or look for an underlying cause for their symptoms. 

Integrative Medicine

This form of medicine takes a very different approach. Again, let’s assume you suffer from migraines. The goal of integrative medicine is to find out why you are suffering from migraine headaches and then restore healthy balance and normalcy to your body so that you don’t get migraines anymore. As you can imagine, this approach requires more time, investigation, and work on the part of the doctor. This also requires time and effort on the part of the patient as well. I will discuss more on this later.

What is an integrative medicine doctor? This type of physician will look for the underlying cause of your symptoms.  He or she will search for what could be causing the migraines. He or she will look for digestion issues, hormonal imbalances, brain chemical deficiencies, blood sugar problems, neurological imbalances, or nutritional deficiencies. When health is impaired, there is always an underlying imbalance or stress on the body that is causing the symptoms. After all, in the case of a migraine sufferer, you have not been suffering from migraines from the day you were born. So, the problem must be with something that has recently changed with your body. The normal function and health of your body has been compromised in some way.

An integrative medicine doctor knows you are not suffering from migraines because you have an Imitrex (migraine medication) deficiency! It is the job of the integrative medicine practitioner to isolate the cause of why you are suffering from this health problem and to implement a treatment to restore normal function to your body. Ideally this is accomplished without the use of medication. In most cases (there are exceptions), medication is only required when the correct cause has not been discovered and, as such, the proper support for the body has not yet been provided. The human body is generally capable of healing itself and returning to a normal healthy state when permitted to do so.  It is by the removal of ‘obstacles,’ unhealthy diet and lifestyle habits, and the implementation of nutrition, necessary supplementation, and life sustaining habits that the body can restore health. 

Integrative Medicine vs Traditional Medicine: Which is right for you?

Traditional Medicine Model:

1. Not concerned with determining the cause of the health problem.
2. Little emphasis is focused on diet, nutrition, and lifestyle.
3. The patient is not an active participant in the healing process.
4. Very little to no emphasis placed on prevention of disease.
5. Sit tight and wait patiently for disease to develop then intervene with treatment.
6. Proactive care means getting on medication sooner rather than later.
7. Medication is the first choice for treatment.

Integrative Medicine Model:

1. Isolate the underlying cause of the health problem.
2. Restore function to the body, thus eliminating the health problem / disease.
3. Consider how the systems of the body are related and influence one another.
4. The patient is encouraged to take a proactive role in their own health and recovery.
5. Emphasis on preventing disease before it occurs.
6. Proactive care means identifying the patient’s risk factors and taking steps to optimize health as well as prevent disease.
7. Medication is rarely the first choice for treatment.

An integrative medicine model incorporates certain key criteria that are pertinent for the success of patient treatment and restoration of health:

• Physician investigation and determination of root cause
• Physician creation of a sustainable health driven treatment plan
• Physician guidance and direction
• Collaboration between physician and patient on treatment goals and action steps
• Patient’s active and continual participation
• Patient following guidance and treatment plan objectives
• Patient accountability and feedback
• Patient maintains changes made to sustain long term health improvements

Touch Base With Our Integrative Medicine Doctors Today

Just to be clear, traditional medicine absolutely has merit and it does suit the needs and expectations of many people. However, integrative medicine has only come into existence out of pure necessity. It has become evident that all forms of chronic illness continue to escalate in this country and no major illnesses are in decline under the medication-only model. Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, dementia, etc. are all on the rise. Many people are simply not getting the help they need from traditional medicine.

We believe integrative medicine is a superior model of healthcare and that is what we offer at Naperville Integrated Wellness. If you want to learn more information about functional integrative medicine, go to napervilleintegratedwellness.com. If you want to learn more about how integrative medicine can assist you with your health concerns, give us a call at (630)210-8391.  If you are looking for a functional medicine doctor in Chicago, Plainfied, Aurora, Frankfort or Geneva, please contact us today!