Holistic doctors are another term for integrative doctors. These doctors use a combination of conventional and alternative treatments to help patients recover from illness and avoid future health issues. Integrative doctors take a holistic approach to treatment, addressing the mind, body, and spirit of their patients. The majority of integrative practitioners use less invasive procedures that aim to activate the body’s natural healing abilities.
Integrative physicians look after the whole person. An integrative doctor will evaluate all aspects of a patient’s lifestyle and symptoms, whereas conventional medicine may focus solely on testing, diagnosis, surgery, and medication as the only means of treating disease. Patients frequently ask questions about diet, exercise, stress levels, sleeping patterns, digestive and elimination issues, and skin health when they visit an integrative doctor. Cancer, heart disease, digestive issues, breathing problems, depression, and women’s health issues are some of the physical and mental conditions for which integrative medicine is sometimes used.
When developing treatments, integrative doctors use a combination of mind and body approaches. They typically have a broad understanding of nutrition, provide dietary recommendations for illness treatment, and emphasize the use of dietary supplements and herbs. These practitioners frequently focus on a patient’s emotional and mental well-being, and may use mind-body-spirit techniques like meditation and breathing techniques. Some integrative doctors also recommend that the patient see a chiropractor, an acupuncturist, or a massage therapist for additional treatment.
A visit to an integrative doctor usually entails a lengthy discussion as well as a physical examination. Integrative doctors may also request that the patient undergo a variety of tests, depending on their health condition. Blood tests, stool samples, urine tests, saliva tests, and hair samples are just a few of the specialized tests that an integrative doctor may order. The holistic practitioner can use the results to determine whether a patient is deficient in certain vitamins and minerals, has a hormonal imbalance, or is suffering from excessive toxicity, for example.
The majority of integrative doctors are consulted as a supplement to traditional therapies. For example, a cancer patient recovering from chemotherapy might seek out an integrative doctor to help rebuild her immune system and rid her body of chemotherapy’s toxic remnants. An integrative doctor may be able to help such a patient strengthen her immune system by making dietary changes and prescribing nutritional supplements. Detoxification procedures involving specific herbs and cleansing treatments may also be recommended by the doctor.