Integrative medicine refers to the blending of conventional and evidence-based complementary medicines and therapies with the aim of using the most appropriate of either or both modalities to care for the patient as a whole. Integrative medicine embraces and encourages a holistic approach to practice that incorporates patient involvement in self healthcare, prevention and lifestyle interventions. Integrative medicine encompasses more than complementary medicine, although this synthesis is an important and obvious aspect of integrative medicine.
Functional understands that every individual is different – from genetics to biochemical makeup. Because of this, functional medicine has a personalized approach for each patient – with both diagnostics and treatment. This approach relies heavily on science-based research and testing to understand a patient’s unique needs. Functional medicine works to correct problems in organs and the rest of the body using natural supplements wherever possible. While it does incorporate traditional medicine when necessary, functional medicine strives to use natural ways to fix health problems.
The objective is to find the root cause of what is happening in the body; be it reactions to biotoxins like Lyme or Mold and help the body heal while supporting its ability to heal itself, body and spirit. This is holistic medicine.