What is the difference between alternative, integrative and complementary medicine?
Great question and thank you for taking the time to ask. Here is my understanding of the terms (coming from a health and wellness enthusiast perspective):
1. Alternative medicine is the practice of using techniques and therapies that are considered unconventional by the standard traditional allopathic realm. An example would be the situation of Desiree Jennings who received vaccination damage and heavy metal toxicity from a flu shot in 2009. She sought the help of naturopathic doctor Dr. Rashid Buttar. Dr. Buttar used IV chelation (a technique of pulling the toxins out of the body) and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. This protocol is considered controversial because this procedure is not practiced by traditional medicine.
2. Intergrative medicine refers to the use of a combination of conventional and alternative medicines that have a proven track record in order to obtain effective healing. Ralph Snyderman and Andrew Weil state that "integrative medicine is not synonymous with complementary and alternative medicine. It has a far larger meaning and mission in that it calls for restoration of the focus of medicine on health and healing and emphasizes the centrality of the patient-physician relationship."
3. Complementary medicine involves using the science of conventional medicine and adding practices that would support the original proctocol. This term is very similar to integrative when you look at the definitions though. You can refer to my link from Wikipedia to see for yourself.
I hope this helps.
Sources used for this answer:
- http://www.drbuttar.com/
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complementary_medicine
