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Below is a complete guide to understanding the similarities as well as the important differences between integrative, holistic, functional medicine, and naturopathy.
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Within the growing movements for natural health and healing, you hear a variety of terms to describe healthcare that goes beyond the conventional route of pharmaceutical and surgical treatments.
Some of the more well-known disciplines include: holistic medicine, integrative medicine, functional medicine, and naturopathy.
Below is a general overview of each type of alternative health. Click here for the complete guide to understanding the similarities as well as the important differences between these types of holistic medicine.
Holistic health approaches take into consideration the whole person, including their physical, social, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.
While conventional medicine often emphasizes the role of the practitioner diagnosing and “fixing” a disease, in holistic medicine, each person is seen as responsible for their own health and healing, with the support of the healthcare provider and a team of holistic health practitioners.
A holistic approach to health and healing will often incorporate several of the following:
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Some people consider integrative medicine a “have your cake and eat it too” approach in which holistic modalities such as acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage, craniosacral, and others are selectively integrated into conventional diagnosis and treatments.
This approach uses a spectrum of therapies, whether they are alternative or conventional, as long as they are deemed helpful in restoring health. In the US it is known as integrative medicine, and in the UK it is known as integrated medicine. Both terms refer to the same concept. Integrative medicine can be seen as falling within the category of holistic medicine because it takes the whole-person into account.
Functional medicine builds upon both conventional and holistic systems and is known for being one of the most comprehensive approaches. This contrasts with conventional medicine, which usually focuses on treating symptoms with pharmaceutical or surgical interventions.
The conventional system does tend to work better for acute issues than for chronic health problems. For chronic health problems, a licensed medical professional who uses functional medicine will apply a systems biology approach to find out what is going on and why. They believe that chronic conditions are often complex and can have multiple causes. Thus the treatment will also have multiple dimensions.
Naturopathy is a system that looks at the whole person and encompasses the mental, spiritual, physical dimensions of health. It was brought from Germany to the US in the 1800s and gained a following that continues to this day. It brings together traditional healing practices with modern medicine.
Its mission is two-fold: to help each person access their own body’s natural healing power and to educate patients so they can make healthy lifestyle changes. A key aspect of the naturopathic approach is the use of natural remedies to promote and support the body’s innate capacity for self-healing. For this reason, it emphasizes prevention and a health plan that incorporates all aspects of a person’s life.
“Eastern medicine” is nothing new. It is a term that refers to the various health systems that have evolved for thousands of years in several parts of Asia, especially in China and India. What is new is the rising interest in Eastern medicine in “the West” as a form or complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
Although both Eastern and Western medicine aim to restore health and help people feel better, they differ greatly in their philosophies, approaches, training, and terminology.
What they represent fundamentally are two very different worldviews relating to health and well-being.
Various forms of Eastern medicine (sometimes referred to as Oriental medicine) fall into the umbrella term of holistic medicine because they look at the whole person including physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional dimensions of health. You’ll often hear of Eastern medicine referring only to Chinese Traditional Medicine (CTM).
Two of the most well-known systems of Eastern medicine are Chinese medicine and Ayurveda. Both developed over 3,000 years ago and both incorporate the idea of elements.
The term Western medicine is used interchangeably with conventional, mainstream, orthodox or modern medicine. It refers to a reductionist system of healthcare that arose in Europe and is now the dominant form of healthcare throughout most of the world.
Western medicine focuses primarily on the physical functioning of the body and uses the scientific method to diagnose. Key elements of Western medicine are that it “reduces” health to the sum of its parts, focuses on the diagnosis of a disease, and often focuses on treating symptoms rather than correcting the root cause of an illness.
Do you have a chronic disease and have exhausted your options within the mainstream system? Do you want to learn how to take your health into your own hands with holistic medicine and alternative medicine? Are you curious about how holistic health modalities such as massage, chiropractor, essential oils, and reiki can improve your quality of life?
If you're interested in receiving holistic services, it is in your best interest to find experienced, well-trained, and licensed holistic health practitioners who use best practices to protect your health and safety.
For instance, the Professional Wellness Alliance (PWA) Community includes thousands of licensed practitioners who provide a variety of holistic services. It's also open to anyone interested in receiving holistic services!
Learn more about what a defendable legal basis is and why it's important to holistic health practitioners.
