While holistic or integrative health practices have often been seen as being at odds with conventional medicine, an increasing number of people recognize the benefit of combining these two approaches to improve health outcomes.
This more balanced approach to caregiving aims to treat the whole person and more thoughtfully address their needs instead of only treating their symptoms. The result is a more comprehensive treatment plan that addresses an individual's needs from all perspectives, leading to happier, healthier patients and optimal results.
Holistic or integrative medicine is based on treating the whole person, considering their unique needs based on their lifestyle, personal preferences, and physical and mental health. Conventional medicine, on the other hand, is based on general knowledge that is not necessarily specific to the individual. Its primary focus is managing conditions by providing patients with immediate relief and treatments that are more focused on alleviating symptoms.
There are benefits as well as drawbacks to each method, but can integrative and conventional medicine co-exist? We say yes, and so do many others.
Combining holistic and conventional medicine practices enables caregivers to design a care plan that integrates the best of both approaches. For example, certain holistic approaches can help alleviate the effects of conventional treatments, such as yoga & alternative medicine helping patients better manage the side effects of cancer treatments.
Some integrative medicine approaches can also eliminate the need for surgery by offering more noninvasive techniques first. For instance, if a patient is struggling with mobility in their shoulder, instead of going straight to surgery, they could first try yoga, massage, and even acupuncture to treat the issue.
Many benefits can be found by combining these two approaches, including more comprehensive treatments, personalized care, and reduced side effects. Using both holistic and conventional medicine in tandem can also improve disease prevention and boost overall wellness for the patient. It can also help patients feel more empowered, by giving them more options and decision power as well as helping them feel more connected in mind and body.
While conventional medicine is rooted in scientific research-based practices, such as pharmaceuticals, surgery, diagnostics & imaging, and primary care, holistic therapies seek an alternative approach based on traditional and cultural health practices.
This can include a wide range of practices, including:
Some alternative practices can even include art, dance, music, and other movement therapies. Yoga, for example, has often been thought to help preserve both physical and mental vitality. Not only can the movements in yoga strengthen the body and help alleviate pain, but yoga also has an impact on cognitive function.
While combining conventional and holistic medicine has numerous benefits, it doesn’t come without its challenges. It’s all about finding the right balance and what works best for the patient to address their acute and long-term needs.
Communication – One of the most important elements for caregivers to consider when trying to combine these two approaches is communication. They absolutely must be open to quality communication with the patient to collaborate as opposed to just telling the patient what they need. It’s important for the patient to feel seen and heard and have a say in what is happening so they feel more comfortable and in control.
Evidence-based caregiving – It’s important not to throw all conventional training out the door when integrating holistic treatments. Caregivers should understand the strengths of each approach and create a care plan that is based on evidence that shows what alternative therapies work best with and complement conventional treatments.
It’s also important to maintain a clean and sanitary care environment no matter what type of approach is being used. For example, even when more alternative and holistic treatment is being applied, it’s still important to use conventional practices when managing biomedical waste from the patient. This means using the proper waste bins, clearly labeling waste containers, and storing and transporting waste properly.
Education and training – When working with alternative treatment options, it’s crucial for caregivers to educate themselves as much as possible. This ensures they fully understand how best to deliver these treatments or when to suggest their integration with other conventional methods.
New caregivers, especially, should consider working on their knowledge and skills to ensure they are delivering the best care possible. In addition to studying alternative therapies and how they can be combined with conventional medicine, it’s also important to spend time getting to know the patient, consider taking some extra training courses, and practice soft skills like communication and negotiation, as this can help when collaborating with the patient on new care plans.
The key to making an integrative medicine approach work is to continuously evaluate and adjust as needed. It’s important to regularly check in with the patient and consult with their doctors to ensure the care plan created is working for them and thoroughly addressing their needs. Also, just because one holistic therapy didn’t work doesn’t mean caregivers should dismiss other alternative options. It may take time to find the right combination of holistic and conventional treatments to find the right balance that works best for the patient.