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What is the difference between curing & healing?

The term cure,  from the Latin “curare“ means to take care.  The term “cure” emphasizes what can be done to help the patient from the outside to eliminate disease.  When trying to cure, the practitioner has the active role whereas the patient has a passive role

The term healing from the old English haelan and old German heilen which means to make whole and restore health.  In Spanish, the word for heal is “sanar” that comes from the Latin “sanare” which means to find or restore health.  The term  “healing” emphasizes what the patient can do to restore his inner balance in order to improve his quality of life and well-being status.  When trying to heal the patient has an active and protagonic role, while the practitioner has a supportive and guidance role.

Does Integrative Medicine offers real benefits?

White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy
http://www.whccamp.hhs.gov
[President Clinton formed this commission to make recommendations on public policy and legislation pertaining to complementary and alternative medicine. Includes expert consensus on numerous CAM issues including research, education, licensure, insurance, and training.]

Should I share with my physician the holistic healing work that I am doing with you?

Absolutely, my work supports any other form of health care treatment, plus I can be a great addition to your healing team. Sometimes I do require for my clients to be in the care of a physician, for me to be able to serve you better.

Several studies have found that perhaps one-third of patients discuss their use of integrative medicine approaches with their physician. Many clients are reluctant to approach their physician, fearing disapproval or disparagement. Clinicians may be reluctant to discuss holistic care with patients and families, often because of their own skepticism or lack of knowledge about it. It is clear, however, that we must overcome this reluctance.

Discussing holistic care affords a valuable opportunity to learn about and understand what is working, allow mutual exchange of information, and forge an effective therapeutic alliance.

What are the differences between Integrative and Conventional Medicine?

What Conventional Medicine Does: AND What Integrative Medicine Does:
Manage Disease AND Optimizes health
Treats Symptoms AND Treats the Whole Person
Find the Problem and fixes it. AND Identifies the risk and minimizes it.
Uses hi-tech, biomedical interventions AND Uses hi-touch, whole person approaches
Reacts to existing health issues AND Anticipates possible health issues and promotes prevention
Health is most often considered to be the absence of disease.

 

 AND Health is seen as a vital state of physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing, which enables a person to be engaged in life.
The physician tends to act as the

authority figure.

 AND The physician acts as a partner in the

patient’s care.
The patient is encouraged to follow the physician’s directions. AND The empowered and informed patient is

an integral part of the decision-making

process.
The interventions are often directed only towards the treatment of a specific disease or trauma. AND The interventions are designed to

treat the illness as well as the whole

person, addressing the physical, mental,

emotional, social and spiritual factors

that influence health and disease.
A patient’s stress level is not always taken into consideration or treated. AND Patients are taught how to recognize,

manage and decrease stress.
A patient’s dietary habits are largely ignored. AND Patients are given nutritional counseling;

food is understood to have a significant

influence on health and disease.
Social determinants of health such as unemployment, abuse, neglect, and financial status are not always given full consideration. AND Social determinants of health such as

unemployment, abuse, neglect, and financial status are considered in the care.
Environmental influences are rarely addressed. AND Environmental influences on health and

healing are investigated, considered and

addressed in the care process.
Care is not always coordinated

across providers.

 AND Care is coordinated across providers.

 
Health plans are rarely created. AND Each patient is given an individualized

health plan based on his or her unique

needs and circumstances.
Many decisions are based on the needs of the health care system. AND Decisions are based on the needs

of the patient.
Prevention and health promotion are not always practiced. AND Prevention and health promotion

are emphasized.
Only conventional interventions are considered. AND The care makes use of all appropriate

therapeutic approaches.

IntegratIve Medicine, Improving Health Care for Patients and Health Care Delivery for Providers and Payors.  A Bravewell Collaborative Report