Sometimes, life simply gets in the way. You plan to get a good night’s sleep, but insomnia becomes your uninvited nightly bedfellow. You plan to work out weekly to cut weight, but your day’s routines don’t allow extra time. You try medication for a chronic illness, but you don’t get the much-needed relief you expect. If these are some of the struggles, you’re undergoing, visiting an integrative health clinic can help ease your pain.
So, what is an integrative health clinic? Plus, why would you choose it? An integrative health clinic is a type of healthcare facility that uses a holistic approach to healing. This implies the clinic focuses on treating the whole person, not just the disease or its symptoms. An integrative health clinic aims to help patients achieve optimal health and wellbeing. To this end, a clinic may use a variety of different modalities, such as:
- Acupuncture
- Massage therapy
- Exercise
- Nutrition counseling
An integrative health clinic can help patients heal by taking a comprehensive approach to care. And while it might not be a cure-all, integrative medicine can restore your energy and help you deal with lingering symptoms. That way, you can regain control of your life. Here are a few upsides of such an approach.
1. Less Invasive Approach to Health
Conventional healthcare often involves prescription medication, which can have various potential side effects. Plus, such medication may not always be effective in treating an ailment.
In contrast, integrative healthcare adopts a natural approach to wellness that often uses alternative medicine. This is usually a less invasive treatment that can be more effective in some cases. For example, acupuncture has been proven to be an effective form of pain relief, and massage therapy can help reduce stress levels.
Integrative healthcare may also meld traditional medicine with other therapies, such as meditation. This may help when a cure is out of the question or is not possible. As such, it allows you to focus on attaining wellness so as to manage the condition better.
All the same, it is essential to remember that not all forms of alternative medicine are supported by scientific evidence. As such, it is always best to speak with a healthcare professional before undertaking any new type of treatment.
2. Focus On Healing
When you go to the doctor, chances are they will focus on treating your illness or injury. This is understandable, as their job is to ensure you’re healthy. But what if there was a different approach? What if, instead of just treating the disease, we also focused on healing the patient?
This is the philosophy behind integrative medicine. Rather than simply looking at the symptoms, integrative medicine tries to find the root cause of the problem. For instance, integrative care can address issues with your gut health to bolster your immunity. Also, treatment might involve assessing your body’s mineral deficiencies and eliminating toxins to improve your overall nutritional status.
Such an approach considers the mind, body, and soul and attempts to find balance within all three. The goal is not just to rid the body of sickness but also to promote overall wellness by addressing emotional or mental, physical, and spiritual aspects. Put differently, treatment is based on the assumption that your physiological balance is out of kilter, leading to sickness. Thus, we can find healing rather than simply treating our diseases by taking this approach.
3. Personalized Care
When it comes to health care, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. To this end, an integrative care provider considers all aspects that impact your health. Then, they personalize your care plan in light of your needs.
In many cases, this may involve combining conventional and alternative therapies. For example, you may receive acupuncture and traditional medical treatment for pain relief. An integrative assessment might also mean discussing aspects such as environmental exposures, the quality of your relationships, and how they impact your health.
As a result, working with an integrative care provider means you can explore all the available remedies and make informed choices about your health. And by considering all factors, the integrative physician can help you feel ‘whole’ again.
Let’s assume you’re dealing with a chronic ailment. Integrative medicine works by addressing your pain points- meeting you at your point of need. This might entail taking a closer look at impediments to lifestyle changes, including how treatment adherence can improve your situation once you pursue a particularly recommended therapy.
Undoubtedly, a treatment approach that combines traditional medicine with nutritional management or other natural strategies can be effective. Thus, a naturopathic doctor who implements scientifically proven treatment approaches can help you identify and deal with the root causes of your ailment. Consider talking to such a professional to help you regain control of your health and life.