The combination of mainstream therapies and those complementary or alternative therapies for which there is scientific evidence of efficacy and safety.
A blend of conventional medical practice with selected proven alternative therapies. Integrative medicine incorporates holistic medicine, with its emphasis on person-centered care, and high-tech conventional medicine, with its focus on the cure of disease. With an eye to reducing health care costs, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal agencies have sponsored research to evaluate various components of integrative medicine. Alternative therapies under consideration include acupuncture for chronic pain management; botanical medicine; yoga; and massage therapy to boost the immune response; as well as several herbal remedies for chronic conditions.
A branch of medicine that uses evidenced-based approaches to combine conventional medical practices with therapies from complementary and alternative medicine.