Integrative medicine and health
Growing numbers of integrative medicine practitioners and doctors combine conventional medicine with complementary and traditional approaches to achieve optimum health and wellbeing for their patients, allowing them to access a broad choice of individually adapted solutions. They offer a therapeutic, holistic, patient-centred approach to healthcare that takes into consideration both the patient’s physical and psychological wellbeing and treats the whole person rather than just the disease. Integrative medicine combines a wide range of high quality medicines, including both conventional and traditional medicines.
This trend is endorsed around the world by prescribers, patients and health authorities.
The inclusive approach of integrative medicine meets the demand of EU citizens for a holistic, patient-centred approach in medicine. One in two EU citizens uses complementary medicine integrated with conventional care.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Global report on Traditional and Complementary Medicine 2019 reports that homeopathy is used in 100 countries around the world, making it the third most popular specific complementary medicine after acupuncture and herbal medicine.
There is a growing body of evidence supporting the use of integrative therapies as effective supportive care strategies in cancer patients and around 40% of cancer patients use complementary medicine methods in addition to their conventional cancer treatment. The International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations (IVAA) shows how integrative approaches to cancer care can alleviate suffering and improve health outcomes.
This new trend is opening up a world in which the potential of our sector can be better understood and exploited.
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