Determinants of health are multifaceted, and healing is a multidimensional process. When individuals and their practitioners work toward realistic goals by restoring balance and peace while aiding in healing and preventative measures, individuals can share responsibility between the individual and practitioner (Hsu, Phillips, Sherman, Hawkes & Cherkin, 2008). Unfortunately, integrative therapies are poorly defined and often unaccepted in modern healthcare. In today's society, healing is often categorized as physiological or mental and certainly not together or integrated. Although many organizations are implementing integrative care and therapy, there is still effort to be made.
According to Rakel (2012), integrative medicine promotes healing intention, personal wholeness, healing relationships and organizations, healthy lifestyles, integrative medicine, and ecological resilience. The foundations of integrative therapies include relationship-centered care, healing space, self-care, intention and awareness, collaborative care, lifestyle, and spiritual connection (Rakel, 2012). Integrative therapies seek to utilize both allopathic and complementary therapies; their aim is "healing-oriented" and focuses on the person as a whole.
What about the future? Society is heavily focused on evidence-based programs (EBP), as it should be. Much is needed to make these modalities easier to adopt and promote EBP practices in integrative therapies. The debate on how forms of integrative care are so dynamic is not limited to a particular modality or therapy (Rakel, 2012). Integrative therapies can help individuals feel better while economically influencing individuals, providers, and society.
Hsu, C., Phillips, W. R., Sherman, K. J., Hawkes, R., & Cherkin, D. C. (2008). Healing in primary care: A vision heard by patients, physicians, nurses, and clinical staff. Annals of Family Medicine, 6(4), 307-325. doi: 10.1370/afm.838
Rake, D. (2012). Integrative medicine. Elsevier Saunders.