The field of medicine is ever-changing. New alternative medical treatments pop up everyday and some have actually been around for thousands of years. These alternative techniques are sometimes used to complement our traditional medical techniques. In one particular field of medicine, these alternative techniques play a rather large role in diagnosing and treating patients. This field of medicine is referred to as Integrative Medicine.

Integrative Medicine is a fairly new approach to medical treatment. It takes traditional medicine and alternative medicine and combines it into a comprehensive treatment plan that helps patients on every level. It integrates all forms of known medicine into one beneficial model. A doctor of this discipline may recommend anything from Tylenol or bed rest to acupuncture and herbal remedies to treat any ailments you may have.

Integrative Medicine reaches across time and cultures to find the best treatment for its patients. This wider scope gives patients a variety of alternatives when looking for the right treatment for them. Some patients prefer an alternative to the harsh chemicals and other methods used to treat in traditional medicine. Few traditional doctors or health providers will be aware of the alternative treatments out there but an integrative health care provider has this information as part of his or her training. They are also constantly looking into new, or old, alternative medical treatments in order to improve patient care.

Integrative medicine takes a Holistic approach to treating patients. This means the patient is viewed as a whole rather than just a symptom. An integrative medical practitioner will want to treat your symptoms just like any other doctor but they will also be concerned about how your illness and even your treatment has thrown your body out of balance and how to bring that balance back. Perhaps this imbalance is the reason for your illness. When being treated by someone trained in this method, you can be assured that all options are all the table for treatment and that the best option has not been overlooked because it is deemed “alternative” and hence ineffective by a traditional doctor.

Integrative Medicine is a newcomer in the field of medicine, so it is difficult to find practitioners at this time. Schools with Integrative Medical programs are also few and far between but both the doctors that work under the Integrative Medical model and the schools that prepare them to treat patients are slowly growing in numbers as people see the benefits of this approach. In the coming years, this field is expected to grow as more people look for new ways to treat the same illnesses. Perhaps there is already an integrative medical provider near you. It couldn’t hurt to find out, in fact, it may actually help you in the long run.

For more information about complementary and alternative medicine please visit this site [http://www.complementary-and-alternative-medicine.com].