What is Integrative Medicine?!

A topic that is close to my heart, integrative medicine is a widely misunderstood or unknown approach to health care. It is often confused with terms such as "alternative medicine", or more commonly, CAM ( Complementary and Alternative Medicine). While these terms do share a common theme and can be used in conjunction with one another, integrative medicine is an approach all on its own. Let's start with breaking down these terms so they are better understood...

Alternative Medicine: is a term for practices and medicine that is not used in standard care. Popular examples of alternative approaches include: herbalism, aromatherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic medicine, naturopathy, reflexology, reiki, and Tai Chi to name a few. Alternative medicine is used in lieu of modern medicine (conventional medicine) at the patient's discretion. For example, a patient may opt to be treated with acupuncture for arthritic pain rather than be prescribed pain medications. 

CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) : is a term used to describe the use of alternative and modern medicine being used together to influence healing in a patient. Complementary medicine literally complements modern medicine by allowing the patient to take advantage of alternative methods of healing while being treated with modern medicine. For example, a patient would be allowed to seek a chiropractor while being prescribed pain medications for a troubled back. 

Conventional (Modern) Medicine: is a term used to describe conventional methods of treatment still being used in clinics and hospitals. It utilizes synthetic medicine for treatment and it often chooses an invasive approach to healing. It focuses more on alleviating the symptoms of a disease rather than promoting preventative measures to reduce existing and future illness. For example, a person suffering from gall bladder attacks, would be advised to remove the gall bladder entirely. While laparoscopic surgery is less invasive than a laparotomy, the risk of surgery still remains.   

Integrative Medicine: is a term used to describe a healing approach that focuses on a patients mind, body, and soul. It is selective in its use of scientifically validated medicine and therapies from a CAM approach as well as a conventional approach. It also focuses on a holistic approach that actively involves the patient in their own care. Dr. Andrew Weil describes the purpose of integrative medicine by gathering the main points in a list of principles. 

The Principles of Integrative Medicine according to Dr. Weil: 

- A partnership between patient and practitioner in the healing process.

- Appropriate use of conventional and alternative methods to facilitate the bodies innate healing response.

- Consideration of all factors that influence health, wellness and disease, including mind, body, spirit, and community

- A philosophy that neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative therapies uncritically. 

- Recognition that good medicine should be based in good science, be inquiry driven and be open to new paradigms.

- Use of natural, effective, less-invasive interventions whenever possible. 

- Use of the broader concepts of promotion of health and the prevention of illness as well as the treatment of disease. 

- Training of practitioners to be models of health and healing, committed to the process of self-exploration and self-development. 

The entire purpose of an integrated approach to healing is to be open minded enough to use alternative methods of healing as well as be rational enough to use conventional methods when necessary. Both approaches should be critically analysed according to the patients case and their needs. The least invasive approach is utilized first if the patient is not in a state of emergency. The patient is to be regarded as an entire individual taking into account their mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being as well as their connection within a community. An integrated approach also takes preventative measures into account in order to prevent future illness.  

On a personal note, I firmly believe that an integrative approach is the way of the future in medicine and health care. In order to do this, we need to take our alternative healers seriously while conducting more research to prove the healing benefits of such approaches. Alternative healers should also be responsible in their practice by seeking proper education and by knowing all risks involved with their healing methods. Conventional medicine should not de discredited because it is considered "mainstream". Medicine and health care should never be seen as a trend. 

Humanity is progressive and ever evolving. It's time to stop fighting change, instead we need to start utilising the benefits of an integrative approach... 

Why our Husband's Hate Pinterest

Fellow wives, I know what you do with the spare time you have between the endless loads of laundry and the ever filling sink of dishes. Perhaps your mind has just gone to the times you spent endless hours on the sofa catching up on the new season of Orange is the New Black, but that's not the dirty secret I'm talking about today. It's ok, your secret is safe with me. I know that you are a pinterest addict much like myself and there is no reason to be ashamed..  

 

This little addiction is far too accessible. It's as easy a downloading the app to our phones so we have an endless plug to the newest fashion trends, or vintage trends, quotes, recipes, art, funny cat pictures, and a plethora of other useless topics. However, the worst thing that pinterest has to offer, the thing our husbands both fear and hate most, is the DIY section where thousands of "easy" projects are broken down step by step (or not) for our convenience. 

You may be questioning why our husbands would dislike these Do it Yourself opportunities especially when we find so much enjoyment in them, it's practically art! There is nothing quite like the pleasure of starting an idea from a piece of scrap cloth and turning into a marvellous bedazzled shirt that we would never be caught dead wearing out in public. Or, the time I got this amazing idea to construct a paper mache mask by applying the goop and newspaper to my face in order to create a structure for its base. Instead, I ended up getting a facial and torn newspaper shreds stuck in my hair to which my husband got a good laugh.

You see, the hatred of pinterest is not in the amusement of our failed crafty attempts, but rather in the amounts of time and money that we dedicate towards these endeavours. Time that could be used making delicious sandwiches in the kitchen with nothing more than an apron on ( I'm sure that every husband shares this fantasy). And, the ample amounts of money we spend on collecting the products necessary to create these projects. I cannot begin to tell you how many necessary trips I have made to the dollar store and Michaels to pick up some beads, glue, ribbon, string, feathers (I made some awesome dream catchers), and  Lord knows what else I needed in the exact moment a crafty idea popped into my head. There is nothing our husband's hate more than wasting money. 

Yet, it cannot be helped. There are so many wonderful projects that are sitting on our forebrains just waiting to be expressed. Forget the time I purchased 2 wooden pallets without regard to their dimensions. As it turns out, (2) 4ft X 4ft  pallets Do Not Fit into a 3ft opening of a car trunk! I have no way to bring these pallets home to create the wonderful standing pallet garden idea that is floating around in my head. I cannot see why this would be so aggravating to my husband.   

Let's not even get started on the topic of refurbished items. Refurbished means, scouring flea markets and yard sales for items of potential to recreate into something more useful and spectacular! This too costs money...

All hatred aside, DIY projects have not always ended in horror. I have made some pretty cool natural remedies with products that I have around the house. Did you know that you can dust a little cornstarch on your eyelashes (after one applied coat of mascara) and then reapply another coat to get longer and fuller lashes?! Genius! 

Ladies, all in all, Pinterest has more positives than negatives. For every 10 failed projects, you will get 1 amazing project that will make your year and your cult like dedication to pinterest even stronger. I say, forget the husbands. You can make it up to him later by making those awesome BLT's you saw on pinterest while wearing that cute apron you created out of one of his old dress shirts ;)