With the tendency to over-rely on prescription medication, procedures, and other invasive protocols, conventional medicine often pushes patients to seek alternate avenues of care to help address their health condition from another angle. Terms like alternative medicine, holistic medicine, integrative medicine, and functional medicine are models that mostly fall beyond the insurance-based healthcare system that offer a different perspective on improving health. While often used interchangeably, these terms help describe an umbrella of models that can benefit a patient in unique ways if understood and applied correctly.
With healthcare costs skyrocketing and health outcomes sinking, it is understandable that many are frustrated with the conventional medical system’s narrow view on care. Those searching for a more personalized approach to care turn to experts in treatment pathways rooted in a broader philosophy of medicine. Alternative Medicine is often the first term mentioned to describe care that falls outside of standard medical therapies. It encompasses a wide range of practices that are not typically taught in conventional medical schools or widely practiced in most insurance-based clinics or hospitals. Herbal remedies, homeopathy, acupuncture (in some contexts), ayurveda, and energy healing (e.g., Reiki) are a few examples of alternative forms of medicine. While many of these methods are rooted in ancestral wisdom and can be beneficial for those seeking a different pathway towards healing, they extend beyond the current scientific paradigm and are often dismissed by conventional medical perspectives.
What makes alternative medicine different from the term Holistic Medicine is “holistic” refers to a philosophy of care that considers the whole person, including body, mind, spirit, to inform pathways to healing. Holistic medicine is a less specific set of treatments and more a general focus on a patient’s broader internal and external environment and exposures. Recommendations within a holistic context of care may include nutritional counseling, mind-body techniques like meditation and yoga, spiritual counseling, or massage therapy, all within the context of their health and symptom complex. While a holistic medicine perspective varies widely in scientific grounding, a holistically centered provider may use both conventional and alternative methods to treat illness and promote well-being.
Similar in concept, yet defined as its own structured field of study, Integrative Medicine combines conventional Western medicine with complementary therapies that are supported by scientific evidence. Integrative medicine aims to treat the whole person and not just the disease, as holistic medicine does. Within an integrative medicine practice model, medical history and health, lifestyle, mental and spiritual well-being, and even connection in the community are considered aspects of a patient’s health and wellness. In practical contexts, an integrative approach to care can look like combining chemotherapy with acupuncture to reduce side effects, using mindfulness meditation alongside antidepressants, or incorporating nutritional support and physical therapy to navigate chronic disease management. This approach is typically very patient-centered, evidence-informed, and emphasizes a collaborative relationship between the patient and their provider. Unlike alternative medicine, integrative medicine is increasingly practiced in hospitals and clinics, as it is becoming more aligned with mainstream care through its ability to expand the impact of conventional treatments.
Perhaps the most distinct medical model of any positioned outside of conventional medicine, Functional Medicine is a systems-based approach to care that seeks to identify and address the root causes of disease through evidence-based and science-backed strategies. It views the body as an interconnected web of biological systems that all “speak” to each other to complete a full picture of health. This approach grew out of the understanding that chronic disease and other prevalent health issues rarely occur independently. Instead, they are the result of complex interactions between a range of factors, including lifestyle, genetics, and the environment.
Functional medicine emphasizes a patient’s unique biology and lifestyle to inform a whole-person-centered pathway to healing (similar to holistic and integrative medicine concepts). It is data-driven and often overlaps with integrative and holistic principles but is more analytically focused. Functional medicine providers begin by identifying the underlying mechanisms and pathways of disease through advanced diagnostic testing (e.g., microbiome, hormone panels), in-depth blood panels, lifestyle assessment (sleep, stress, exercise), genetic, and environmental toxin exposure, among other techniques. Providers use this information to build a personalized health plan for each patient that can offer a broad range of interventions and prevention strategies. Similar to integrative medicine, a functional medicine to care approach is about building a closer and more productive relationship between the patient and provider. This helps empower both parties to uncover any possible causes of health issues and develop an effective health care plan that can lead to optimal health for the patient.
While each of these approaches offers unique benefits and philosophies, the key to effective care lies in personalization and evidence-based protocols. For patients navigating complex health conditions or seeking more comprehensive wellness strategies, understanding these distinctions can help build a healthcare plan that aligns with their values and needs. Before embarking on any new treatment path, it’s crucial to consult qualified healthcare providers. It is important to note that patients should use caution if choosing only alternative options and avoid moving entirely away from evidence-based treatments to treat serious a serious medical condition.
Essential Health provides a unique combination of care that takes the best of conventional medicine and blends it with the best of integrative and functional medicine. Our providers are dual trained in conventional medicine (Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) with the highest levels of credentials offered in integrative and functional medicine disciplines (Institute of Functional Medicine, American Academy of Anti-aging Medicine). This full perspective of human health and medicine translates to the most comprehensive, personalized, and effective source of healthcare available to guide an individual on their journey to optimal health.
If you are ready to begin a new chapter in your health journey, start working with our team today by scheduling a free Meet & Greet.