Integrative Healthcare
We believe Integrative Health is the future of progressive healthcare systems
Integrative Health
Benawell believes that Integrative Health is the future of quality healthcare.
An Integrative approach to healthcare has been recommended by The World Health Organisation (WHO), the UK Parliamentary Group, and the UK College of Medicine, and it continues to gain interest and traction both in the UK and across the World.
What is Integrative Healthcare?
Integrative Health refers to a healthcare approach that combines conventional healthcare (medicine, physical therapy, surgery, rehabilitation, etc.) alongside (not in place of) complementary therapies (acupuncutre, reflexology, hynotherapy, etc.), in various combinations.
This combination of conventional care, with safe and appropriate complementary therapies, allows for treatment to take a more holistic, whole person, and ultimately, a more effective approach.
The area of integrated health is gaining interest and as a result research into the area is also continuing to grow, particularly around pain management, PTSD, management of cancer symptoms, and health promotion. Some complementary therapies are also recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Evidence (NICE) for certain conditions.
Why is Integrative Healthcare Important?
At a time when the NHS is facing enormous pressure, and waiting lists are at all time high, a new approach to healthcare is needed to ensure the provision and continuation of quality, and timely healthcare, that is free at the point of access, and equally accessible to all.
Provision of integrated healthcare will increase patient choice offering a wider a range of treatment options, and it can help to reduce waiting lists, free up GP appointments, reduce costs to the NHS, as well as potentially offering more effective outcomes for conditions which conventional treatment alone have limited effect. Furthermore, it can reduce health inequalities, as complementary therapies are mainly privately funded, creating financial barriers to access for most.
What is Integrative Healthcare?
Integrative Health refers to a healthcare approach that combines conventional healthcare (medicine, physical therapy, surgery, rehabilitation, etc.) alongside (not in place of) complementary therapies (acupuncutre, reflexology, hynotherapy, etc.), in various combinations.
This combination of conventional care, with safe and appropriate complementary therapies, allows for treatment to take a more holistic, whole person, and ultimately, a more effective approach.
The area of integrated health is gaining interest and as a result research into the area is also continuing to grow, particularly around pain management, PTSD, management of cancer symptoms, and health promotion. Some complementary therapies are also recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Evidence (NICE) for certain conditions.
Why is Integrative Health important?
At a time when the NHS is facing enormous pressure, and waiting lists are at all time high, a new approach to healthcare is needed to ensure the provision, and continuation of quality, and timely healthcare that is free at the point of access, and equally accessible to all.
Provision of integrated healthcare will increase patient choice offering a wider a range of treatment options, and it can help to reduce waiting lists, free up GP appointments, reduce costs to the NHS, as well as potentially offer more effective outcomes for conditions where conventional treatments alone have limited outcomes. Furthermore, it can reduce health inequalities, as complementary therapies are mainly privately funded, creating financial barriers to access for most.
Definitions
Integrated Health refers to Complementary Medicine being used alongside, and not in place of conventional treatment.
Complementary Therapies can be described as non-mainstream treatment and practices. They are practices that are used alongside, and not in place of, conventional care and treatments. They can include treatments such as acupuncture, reflexology, and hypnotherapy.
Complementary approaches can be broken down into the following categories (as outlined by The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, NCCIH):
- Nutritional (e.g. special diets, dietary vitamins & supplements, herbs, probiotics)
- Psychological (e.g. meditation, hypnotherapy, mindfulness)
- Physical (e.g, reflexology, chiropractic, massage)
- Combinations such as psychological and physical (e.g. yoga, tai chi, acupuncture, dance or art therapies) or psychological and nutritional (e.g. mindful eating)
Alternative Therapies can be described as non-mainstream treatments and practices are used in place of coventional care and treatments.
Conventional Medicine refers to a healthcare system where symptoms and conditions are treated by medical doctors, and other health professionals such as nurses and pharmacists, and where pharmaceutical drugs, rehabilitation, radiation, or surgery, are also used.
Definitions
Integrated Health refers to Complementary Medicine being used alongside, and not in place of conventional treatment.
Complementary Therapies can be described as non-mainstream treatment and practices. They are practices that are used alongside, and not in place of, conventional care and treatments. They can include treatments such as acupuncture, reflexology, and hypnotherapy.
Complementary approaches can be broken down into the following categories (as outlined by The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, NCCIH):
- Nutritional (e.g. special diets, dietary vitamins & supplements, herbs, probiotics)
- Psychological (e.g. meditation, hypnotherapy, mindfulness)
- Physical (e.g. reflexology, chiropractic, massage)
- Combinations such as psychological and physical (e.g. yoga, tai chi, acupuncture, dance or art therapies) or psychological and nutritional (e.g. mindful eating)
Alternative Therapies can be described as non-mainstream treatments and practices are used in place of coventional care and treatments.
Conventional Medicine refers to a healthcare system where symptoms and conditions are treated by medical doctors, and other health professionals such as nurses and pharmacists, and where pharmaceutical drugs, rehabilitation, radiation, or surgery, are also used.