Balancing Traditional And Integrative Medicine To Live Chronically Well
Finding your balance between the two might unlock the possibility of leveling up your health and well-being.
I have many discussions with clients living with chronic illness who are incredibly frustrated by looking for medical answers that will help them feel better - even a little bit. There are frustrations around waiting months to get in to see a doctor, only to run into another dead end.
We frequently end up discussing what other avenues they can consider to gain more medical support. Sometimes, this means finding doctors that might be a better fit or exploring the possibility of seeing a new type of specialist. And, more often than not, we discuss the possibility of seeking additional medical support from integrative healthcare providers.
While integrative medicine may have a different focus than traditional medicine, in my personal experience, it has been just as important as traditional medicine in leveling up my health and well-being. For many people like myself, integrative medicine is not a replacement for traditional medicine, but a significant compliment to it.
If you are at a place in your chronic illness journey where you are ready to find some answers and get some more support with your underlying health, it might be a good time to explore working with an integrative healthcare provider.
Finding Your Unique Balance
When traditional providers and treatments alone don't fully address your symptoms, it may leave you searching for answers—and hope. This is where integrative medicine shines - it provides a holistic way to support your wellness while living with chronic illness.
For many, it’s not about choosing between traditional medicine and integrative options but combining the best of both. Together, they can help you regain some control over your health, resolve certain symptoms, and improve your quality of life.
For instance, traditional medicine might save your life in emergencies or when dealing with life-threatening conditions like cancer. But what about the lingering symptoms or long-term effects of these conditions and treatments? That’s where integrative approaches can step in to fill the gaps.
Both traditional and integrative medicine have their strengths. So, why not avail yourself of what is possible to best bolster your health?
What Is Integrative Medicine?
Integrative medicine focuses on the root causes of health issues. This approach utilizes complementary therapies such as naturopathy and functional medicine. Unlike a one-size-fits-all treatment plan, integrative medicine is tailored to you. It helps you find ways to bolster your health mainly through medical testing like blood work, lifestyle changes and nutrition.
Benefits Of Integrative Medicine For Chronic Illness
For those living with chronic illness, integrative medicine offers several unique advantages:
Find the Root Cause: Traditional medicine often focuses on managing symptoms, but integrative providers, like Functional Medicine Doctors or Naturopaths, dig deeper to uncover root causes. This may involve assessing nutritional deficiencies, allergies or intolerances, and environmental or lifestyle factors.
Personalized Care: Through tailored guidance, integrative approaches offer practical ways to support your underlying health and wellness.
Non-Invasive Options: Discover natural, non-invasive ways to alleviate symptoms and improve your daily quality of life.
Empowerment: It empowers you to take action, make informed health choices, and become the expert on your own wellness.
Holistic Health: Integrative care emphasizes improving overall health rather than focusing more narrowly.
My Health Transformation
Can you take the traditional approach when you need it (i.e., chemo, surgery, etc.) and utilize science-based/integrative approaches to bolster your underlying wellness?
Yes. Absolutely. And, in my case, this was the key to unlocking the possibility of leveling up my health.
I am not saying that allergies and intolerances caused me to have recurrent lymphoma. However, I do know that once I started eliminating what I learned was causing me trouble and supplementing where I was deficient, over time certain health issues resolved or improved.
I believe that being more knowledgeable and mindful of what might be harming/helping me (and acting accordingly) helped my immune system to focus on the bigger issues like lymphoma and less time on lung infections and digestive issues that began to disappear.
I still very much need traditional medicine. I have used traditional medicine for lymphoma treatment and for assisting with many of the permanent side effects of the cancer treatment I received. I take some traditional medications and use traditional medicine for cancer screenings and other medical testing.
But, I also rely DAILY on integrative medicine through significant lifestyle changes I made to support my health.
I have found that taking my own personalized approach by using both integrative and traditional medicine has been my winning combination. When I was simply using an inhaler to help my breathing, I still had a gross, productive cough — especially during cold and damp weather. And, I kept getting lung infections.
However, when I started working with a Naturopath and an Acupuncturist, my life and health slowly started to shift. My breathing is better because of the combination of my regular use of an inhaler, an air filter, cardio exercise, certain supplements and diet changes.
And, after years, I am doing great. I can’t reverse the chemo and radiation damage to my lungs. However, I seem to be working well with what I have. I am no longer hacking. I am no longer getting regular lung infections. I need to put in more effort than merely taking my inhaler. But, the combo of all of these efforts allows me to literally breathe easier.
For more about my Chronically Well Story, check out THIS blog post and read my bio.
How To Begin Exploring Integrative Medicine
If you’re ready to try an integrative approach, here’s how you can get started:
1. Assess your current health needs
Take stock of what’s working and what isn’t in your current health plan. Which symptoms or challenges persist despite traditional treatments? This can help guide your focus as you explore additional options.
2. Find qualified integrative providers
Look for science-based integrative practitioners such as Functional Medicine Doctors or Certified Naturopaths. Resources like the Institute for Functional Medicine and the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians can help you locate reputable experts in your area.
3. Personalized testing and support
Once you start working with an integrative provider, they may recommend tests to identify nutritional deficiencies or intolerances. This personalized approach ensures you’re focusing on what you need rather than generalized advice.
4. focus on lifestyle changes
Integrative care often involves small but meaningful lifestyle adjustments—like improving sleep, fine-tuning your diet, or tracking how changes impact your symptoms over time. These modifications can gradually build up to significant improvements.
5. communicate with your traditional doctors
Maintaining open communication with your conventional healthcare team is important. Share what integrative therapies you’re exploring to ensure both approaches work in harmony.
However, don’t be surprised if your traditional doctors don’t take an interest (most of mine don’t. And, yet, they tell me to keep doing what I am doing because it is working). As long as there is no contraindication, you can likely feel good about doing what makes sense for you.
Want To Better Advocate For Yourself With Your Providers?
I invite you to read my blog post about how to advocate for yourself in the healthcare system HERE.
Pros And Cons To Consider With Integrative Medicine
While integrative medicine holds immense promise, it’s not without challenges. Here are some of the pros and cons:
The Pros
You may find out what you CAN do to help some of your health issues.
You will be empowered to take action to make your health better.
You can actually bolster your underlying wellness to resolve what is resolvable.
You may find non-invasive, natural ways of leveling up your health.
The Cons
It can be challenging to take a long-term approach.
You typically need to be more proactive in your efforts to make lifestyle changes (like making changes to your nutrition and supplements)
At this time, integrative healthcare is frequently not covered by insurance.
PRO TIPS For When Your Health Insurance doesn’t cover integrative medicine
Use your HSA or FSA, if allowable (which it typically is)
Have any lab work done at a covered lab. Many blood tests are covered by insurance even if an integrative provider orders it. You can also ask one of your traditional doctors to order the diagnostic tests that the integrative provider is asking for.
Major hospital systems sometimes have integrative providers that are covered by insurance. It can be hard to get into these providers, but the wait is likely worth it. This is something you can explore where you get your medical care.
Ask the integrative provider about their fees before you see them. Most of the providers I have seen require a longer, more expensive initial appointment and then charge less for shorter, follow-up appointments thereafter.
Finding Your Balance Between Both Approaches To Live Chronically Well
Integrating traditional and complementary medicine doesn't mean replacing one with the other. Instead, it’s about creating a personalized health strategy that works for you. Traditional medicine may serve as the foundation for critical treatment, while integrative techniques fill the gaps to provide deeper, long-lasting wellness.
Is integrative medicine a cure-all? Probably not. But the key lies in its potential to improve what’s resolvable and empower you to live as well as possible with chronic illness.
If you're ready to explore what an integrative approach could do for you, start by finding qualified providers in your area. Advocate for yourself, do the research, and discover that you truly are the expert on your own health.
You deserve to thrive. With integrative and traditional medicine on your side, you are more likely to find your way to living Chronically Well.
Are there any integrative practices you’re curious about but haven’t explored yet? What’s holding you back?
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