EP 1: What Is Integrative Medicine?

In today’s episode, Dr. Agolli and Dr. Burdette shed light on the following matters:

1. What is integrative medicine?
2. What are its origins?
3. How can integrative medicine help you?
4. What tools does the staff at Progressive Medical Clinic offer its patients for the most effective treatment possible?
5. Traditional Medicine vs. Integrative Medicine? Dr. Agolli shares his knowledge on the dichotomy
6. What are Progressive’s principles of health and wellness?
7. What getting to the “root cause” really means.
8. How inflammation can cause depression.

Thank you so much for listening to The Progressive Medical Edge!

Integrative medicine is an approach to health care that focuses on the whole person and not just their illness or disease. It seeks to understand the underlying cause of symptoms or conditions by looking at the complete mind, body and spirit of an individual. Integrative medicine uses an evidence-based approach to improve health and wellness by addressing physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs that affect health ¹.

Integrative medicine aims for well-coordinated care among different providers and specialists. It brings together conventional healthcare approaches (like medication and psychotherapy) and complementary therapies (like acupuncture and yoga). In this way, integrative medicine “integrates” all aspects of well-being to achieve optimal health and healing ¹.

Integrative medicine can help people who have symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety and pain. It can help people deal with conditions such as cancer, headaches and fibromyalgia. Examples of common practices include acupuncture, animal-assisted therapy, aromatherapy, dietary and herbal supplements, massage therapy, music therapy, meditation, resilience training, and chiropractic care.

Integrative medicine can help you find relief for many health and medical conditions, including autoimmune diseases, acute and chronic pain, breathing disorders, headaches and migraines, cancer and cancer-related side effects, chronic fatigue, cold/flu symptoms, digestive disorders, infertility, menopausal symptoms, menstrual issues, mental and emotional health issues, obesity, high blood pressure (hypertension) and sleep issues ¹.

Some benefits of integrative medicine include a comprehensive approach to care, treating the whole person and not just the condition or disease, setting the foundation for overall health, preventing future health issues before they arise and applying to both primary and specialty care . Integrative medicine techniques support your body’s natural ability to heal. It helps you reduce stress and promotes a state of relaxation that leads to better health. It can help you achieve optimal health when you engage in your own healing and feel empowered to make lifestyle changes .