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Q1. Safety of Complementary and Alternative Medical Therapies 

Conventional (allopathic) medicine bases its practices on the "best scientific evidence" available. Whereas, complementary and Alternative medicine (CAM) bases its practices until recently solely on the "evidence-informed practices". However, after 90's these practices are also based on "peer-reviewed published scientific evidences" for safety. Some CAM practices, including the dietary supplements used are required to be validated by the traditional high, strict scientific criteria. CAM therapies have undergone careful evaluation and have been safe and effective. These include acupuncture, yoga, and meditation to name a few. However, there is a possibility some may not work, be harmful, or could interact negatively with the medicines, you are alwready taking.

Q2. What type of providers deliver integrative medicine?

Any trained and certified healthcare expert can deliver care through integrative medicine. These may include:

1. Conventional general medical physicians.
2. Chiropractic doctors.
3. Holistic mind-body psychotherapists.
4. Acupuncturists.
5. Chinese herbal therapists.
6. Tai chi practitioners.
7. Ayurveda and Yoga practitioners.
8. Massage therapists.
9. Nutritionists.
10. Naturopaths.

Q3. How can integrative medicine help me?

Integrative medicine physicians work together with your healthcare team to heal your mind, body and spirit. Their expertise lies in preventing and managing chronic diseases. They don’t aim to treat acute medical conditions i.e. trauma, heart attacks and strokes. For acute care and medical emergencies it is appropriate to take help from an emergency medicine expert .

Q4. What are the conditions where integrative medicine is helpful and effective?

Many people can benefit from integrative medicine, including healthy people. People with long-lasting (chronic) or complex conditions may especially find the approach helpful. Integrative medicine can help you find relief for many health and medical conditions, including: (in alphabetical order)

Q5. What is meant by "Whole medical systems"?

There are 3 types of "whole medical healing systems and beliefs that have evolved in the ancient cultures and parts of the world. Some examples are;

  • Ayurvedic medicine: a traditional system of medicine that originated practiced in India for over 5,000 years. It is based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a balance between the mind, body, and spirit. Ayurveda emphasizes the use of natural remedies, such as herbs and special diets, to treat a wide range of conditions and promote overall health and well-being. It also includes practices such as meditation, yogasana stretch exercise, breathing, and physical massage to help balance the body's energies and maintain wellness.

  • Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) : a system of healing that has been used in China for over several millennia. Like Ayurveda, TCM also believes that the body has its own natural healing abilities and that good health depends on a balance between the body, mind, and spirit. TCM practitioners use a variety of techniques, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, and dietary therapy, to restore balance and promote healing. It is also used to prevent illness and maintain overall health and well-being based on the belief that qi (the body’s vital energy) flows along specific channels in the body and keeps a person’s spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health in balance. It aims to restore the body’s balance between two forces called yin and yang.

    • Acupuncture is a common practice in Chinese medicine that involves stimulating certain points on the body to promote health, or to lessen disease symptoms and treatment side effects.

  • Naturopathic medicine: a system of healthcare that avoids using drugs and surgical treatments. It emphasizes the use of natural remedies to promote the body's inherent ability to heal itself. Naturopathic practitioners use herbal medicine, nutrition, aromatherapy, and lifestyle counseling, to support the body's natural healing processes and help restore balance. The system is based on the belief that the body has an innate ability to heal itself and that by supporting this natural process, it is possible to achieve optimal health and well-being. Naturopathic treatment approaches are often used as an complementary and alternative therapy (CAM) to conventional Western medicine.

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