Integrative Medicine

What is integrative medicine?

According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, integrative medicine "combines mainstream medical therapies and complementary and alternative therapies for which there is some high-quality scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness." At our clinic we integrate biomedical expertise in reproductive endocrinology and the techniques of complementary and alternative medicine, such as acupuncture, in order to give our patients the best possible chances of conception.

The Philosophy of Integrative Medicine

Integrative medicine is a healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person (body, mind, and spirit), including all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship and makes use of all appropriate therapies, both conventional and alternative.

The defining principles of integrative medicine are:

Patient and practitioner are partners in the healing process.
All factors that influence health, wellness, and disease are taken into consideration, including mind, spirit, and community, as well as the body.
Appropriate use of both conventional and alternative methods facilitates the body's innate healing response.
Effective interventions that are natural and less invasive should be used whenever possible.
Integrative medicine neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative therapies uncritically.
Good medicine is based in good science. It is inquiry-driven and open to new paradigms.
Alongside the concept of treatment, the broader concepts of health promotion and the prevention of illness are paramount.
Practitioners of integrative medicine should exemplify its principles and commit themselves to self-exploration and self-development.

The information provided above comes from the University of Arizona Program in Integrative Medicine . The Program in Integrative Medicine was founded by Dr. Andrew Weil. More information about integrative medicine: