Philosophical Foundation for Integrative Medicine

The philosophical foundation for integrative medicine derives from a multitude of different medical, philosophical and scientific traditions.

For example, the idea that a person should be treated in his or her wholeness—mind, body and spirit—is a fundamental premise within integrative medicine that has been informed by the patient-centered care movement, biopyschosocial medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and the medicine of the ancient Greeks as well as modern humanistic and transpersonal psychology. Prevention and wellness, important aspects of integrative medicine, are grounded in medical science but they also draw from the fields of nutrition, stress management, physical fitness, and environmental health. This "gathering" of human wisdom in an effort to care for individuals in the best way possible is a key factor in why integrative medicine is both effective and desirable.

Each person has a significant, innate capacity for healing that can be supported and enhanced, and the primary goal of integrative medicine is to maximize this capacity so that each individual experiences optimal vitality and wellness.

Learn more about the philosophy and science that informs integrative medicine:

The Mind-Body Connection

The Role of Spirituality and Religion in Health Care

The Power of Beliefs and Importance of Culture

Healing and the Therapeutic Relationship

Focusing on Prevention and Wellness

Community and Environment: Healing from the Web of Life

The Empowerment of Individuals