Different Approaches to Healthcare: Complementary, Alternative, Integrative. What’s in a Name?

Western Medicine* – System in which medical doctors and other healthcare professional (nurses, pharmacists, therapist) treat symptoms and diseases using drugs, radiation or surgery. (*also referred to as allopathic, conventional, and mainstream) 

The U.S. National Centers for Integrative Health Care (NCCIH)  generally uses the term “complementary health approaches” when discussing practices and products of non-mainstream origin, and “integrative health” when talking about incorporating complementary approaches into mainstream health care.

Understanding Integrative Healthcare is vital for health practitioners in knowing more about what patients are seeking regarding their healthcare, self-care, and in knowing the evidence on safety and efficacy as the basis for guiding patients. This is the essence of the integrative healthcare practice and research model.

Natural Does Not Mean Safe. Talk to Your Physician. Patients are encouraged to report use of natural products and complementary therapies to their physicians and other healthcare providers to ensure safe, effective, collaborative care.

10 Most Common Complementary Health Approaches According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) –

Finding a CAM provider: 

Sources and More Information:

• National Cancer Institute
• National Institutes of Health
• NCCIH finding a CAM practitioner

Feel free to contact me with questions regarding  integrative healthcare and how to find a provider.

~ Wishing you the best in health,  Karen

Karen Pischke BSN, RN, CCRN Alumnus. Registered Nurse working in Integrative Healthcare as a Certified Hypnotherapist, Tobacco Treatment and Reiki Specialist since 1999. Owner/Founder of Dreamtime Wellness LLC. Your Bridge to Health. Promoting Optimal Wellness for Mind, Body and Spirit www.DreamtimeWellness.com. Find us on Facebook

Disclaimer: This blog pro­vides gen­eral infor­ma­tion and dis­cus­sion about health and related sub­jects. The words and other con­tent pro­vided in this blog, and in any linked mate­ri­als, are not intended and should not be con­strued as med­ical advice. If the reader or any other per­son has a med­ical con­cern, he or she should con­sult with an appropriately licensed physi­cian or other health care worker. Never dis­re­gard pro­fes­sional med­ical advice or delay in seek­ing it because of some­thing you have read on this blog or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a med­ical emer­gency, call your doc­tor or 911 immediately. The views expressed on this blog and web­site have no rela­tion to those of any academic, hospital, practice or other insti­tu­tion with which the authors are affiliated.