What is Integrative Medicine?
What is Integrative Medicine?
I am 3 years out from completing my integrative medicine fellowship,
which is so unbelievable to me.
Since starting my fellowship, I have had many thoughtful, humorous and eye opening conversations about integrative medicine with everyone from close friends to complete strangers.
I am continuously amazed how broaching the topic of integrative medicine leads to immediate, intense responses and deep discussions.
Either people's faces light up and their stories come pouring out. Heartfelt stories that they appear to have been eagerly waiting to share with someone about a CBD lotion that decreased their nagging neck muscle pain.
An acupuncturist that helped them manage their migraines.
Or how finding yoga helped them find their center, which affected everything in their life.
Or they squint their eyes at me, raise one eyebrow and ask, "Is that woo woo medicine?"
Since the reactions are humorously varied, I thought we could unpack my definition of integrative medicine and how I use Integrative Medicine with my patients.
What is Integrative Medicine?
A form of medicine focused on innate healing of the whole person;
mind, body and spirit, using both conventional and alternative therapies and a compassionate, respectful, and collaborative partnership between patient and practitioner. Health promotion and prevention of disease are the foundation of integrative medicine and natural and less invasive interventions are considered first and foremost.
Patient and practitioner are partners in the healing process.
This is essential! If you are trusting your health care with someone, you need to believe and trust in them and they in you. You are the only active participant in your health journey. Your doctor may have information, ideas and tools to guide you, but you know you better than anyone. You must bring that knowledge to the table, trust yourself and find a provider who listens to you.
All factors that influence health, wellness and disease are taken into consideration; including mind, spirit, and community as well as the body.
My motto is, "Use your everyday life to support your whole self." Wellness is much bigger than our body, friends. A holistic approach is the only way to treat ourselves ,and we are made of so much more than a bag of flesh! We are more. And when you ignore your mind, spirit, and need for connection with others, you are ignoring you. And how do you feel when you are ignored? Pretty ticked off, right? What do you do? Show out, suppress, the list is long, etc. Which only leads to more symptoms from your body...
Appropriate use of both conventional and alternative methods facilitates the body’s innate healing response.
These two can coexist. And honestly they already do. When my previous obstetric patients sip ginger tea and wear sea sickness bands for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, they are practicing alternative forms of medicine with the use of botanicals and acupressure.
Effective interventions that are natural and less invasive should be used whenever possible.
Why do we assume only a medication will "fix" us? Why do we not believe in our bodies, minds and spirit's ability to help heal us? Placebo is powerful, friends, but so are lifestyle changes, such as nutrition and exercise, botanicals, mind body therapy and knowing your true self and what your body needs. Will this prevent all surgeries and need for medications? No, we have a full tool box to use what is needed. And what if your long list of medications was safely shortened or replaced with a personalized list of lifestyle changes that made you feel healthy, whole, and allowed you to live your purpose in life?
Integrative medicine neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative therapies uncritically.
I am a researcher, a proud book nerd, a life long learner, whatever you call it (enneagram 5, anyone?) ,and I love, love, love to dig deep into information. Which is why this researcher, conventional medicine doctor/ integrative medicine practitioner loves to see the studies behind all forms of medicine. The studies that I was unaware were there before I started studying integrative medicine. This is why I continuously ask questions, review studies and monitor where we are headed with medicine and health care, which leads to...
Good medicine is based in good science. It is inquiry-driven and open to new paradigms.
Yes! This makes me so happy. And I am even happier to see thought leaders and brilliant physician go getters leading the way for change in our health care system, such as Dr. Robin Berzin, founder of Parsley Health and a functional medicine physician. The changes she is making in our current medical model and in patients' lives based on data and results gathered in her practice are inspiring.
Alongside the concept of treatment, the broader concepts of health promotion and the prevention of illness are paramount.
Prevention! Stop it before it starts. Invest in the maintenance of your health to prevent the major illness or health scare. Listen to your body so when small symptoms arise, small changes can be made. It's easier to change a burned out tail light on your car, then repair the car after an 80 mph crash, right?
Practitioners of integrative medicine should exemplify its principles and commit themselves to self-exploration and self-development.
I am committed and have been walking the path of self discovery and self development. It's a process, friends. Some days feel good, and other days I am thankful are only 24 hours long. But I would never go back to where I was before I was introduced to integrative medicine. It has been life changing for me, my family,and my life. And now that I know what I know, I am always hopeful.
So now you know the definition of Integrative Medicine,
but what does it mean to see an
Integrative Medicine Doctor vs. a Medical Doctor (MD)?
Because I am an Integrative Medicine Doctor,
I have additional tools available to support my patients.
I am both a Medical Doctor, and I have additional fellowship training in Integrative Medicine.
To become a Medical Doctor (MD), I completed 4 years of medical school.
I then completed 4 years of residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
I am a board certified OB- GYN who has been practicing and caring for women for close to 20 years.
I completed my Integrative Medicine Fellowship and became board certified in Integrative Medicine in 2020.
I offer conventional medicine treatment options, including hormonal support AND recommend lifestyle medicine, nutritional, supplements/botanicals, mind-body medicine, and other evidence based forms of medicine for your specific concerns. I look at the whole picture, not just one aspect of your health and recommend changes that promote your optimal wellness.
For example, many of my patients come to see me with women's health and hormonal concerns.
So, I initially perform an in depth integrative assessment (with lab work if needed), reviewing all aspects of their health, and then guide them step by step with a personalized plan to address their specific concerns, including
Hormonal Concerns
PMS
Menopause
Perimenopause
PCOS
Endometriosis
Preconception Health
Postpartum Support
Stress Management and Burnout Prevention
Sexual Health
Thyroid Health
Metabolic Health
Longevity
and much much more.
I also recommend referrals to additional providers, conventional and complementary, as needed and work closely with these providers if needed.
Supporting women in their health and wellbeing is my passion and purpose in life.
I feel I have been called to guide women on their journey to their healthiest self, and delight in seeing women reclaim their lives and really thrive.
xo,
Kristin
What questions do you have about Integrative Medicine?
Find me on social media. I would love to chat!