Integrative medicine approaches mental wellness from a holistic perspective, recognizing the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit. Here are some integrative approaches commonly used for mental wellness:
Nutritional Therapy: A balanced diet rich in essential nutrients is vital for mental health. Certain nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and magnesium have been linked to mood regulation.
Mindfulness and Meditation: Practices such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), meditation, and yoga can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression by promoting relaxation and self-awareness.
Exercise and Movement: Regular physical activity has been shown to improve mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Integrative approaches may include activities like tai chi, qigong, or dance therapy.
Acupuncture: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practices like acupuncture can help regulate the flow of energy (qi) in the body, potentially alleviating symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
Herbal Medicine and Supplements: Certain herbs and supplements, such as St. John's Wort, lavender, and valerian root, are believed to have mood-stabilizing properties. However, it's essential to consult with a healthcare provider before using them, as they can interact with medications or have side effects.
Psychotherapy: Integrative psychotherapy combines traditional talk therapy with complementary approaches like art therapy, music therapy, or equine therapy to address mental health concerns.
Biofeedback and Neurofeedback: These techniques involve using electronic monitoring to provide real-time feedback on physiological processes like heart rate variability or brainwave activity. They can help individuals learn to control their bodily responses to stress and improve mental resilience.
Massage Therapy: Massage can help reduce muscle tension, promote relaxation, and alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression by stimulating the release of endorphins and oxytocin.
Environmental and Lifestyle Modifications: Integrative practitioners may also recommend lifestyle changes such as improving sleep hygiene, reducing exposure to environmental toxins, and fostering supportive social connections to enhance overall mental well-being.
These approaches are often used in combination with conventional treatments and can be tailored to meet individual needs and preferences. It's essential to work with a qualified healthcare provider who can create a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses all aspects of mental health.
Integrative Medical treatments may include:
Complementary (CAM) - these include medical treatments that are used in conjunction with standard medical treatments but aren’t considered alone to be a complete treatment option. These options come from the Eastern medical model and include:
Mind-body therapies such as meditation, yoga, biofeedback.
Biologically based practices include therapies such as vitamins, supplements, food, and botanicals like oil preparations. Manipulative and body based therapies include: massage, chiropractic care, reflexology.
Alternative medicine - These treatments are used instead of standard medical treatments. These therapies can include but are not limited to: IV infusions, UBI/Ozone treatment, Infrared Sauna, Red Light Therapy.
How does Integrative Medicine help the mind?
For years the medical community has thought of depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, ADHD and many more mental health conditions are caused solely by an imbalance of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. These chemicals are known as the brains neurotransmission regulators. Serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, Gaba, Glutamate, and BDNF.
In the western model of psychiatry, the premise of an antidepressant is to increase serotonin or dopamine in the brain. Research has shown that only 40-60% of patients get the desired effect from an anti-depressant medication alone. The question we want to answer is how can we make the outcomes more successful for patients.
Combined Treatment Approaches In Mental Wellness
Integrative Medicine approaches in mental wellness uses combined treatment approaches to address not only the symptoms of the patient, but to address the root cause of the symptoms both mental and physical. We do this by implementing lifestyle changes that include but are not limited to dietary awareness and adding supplements to replace what may be missing in the patient nutrient profile. Integrative medicine recognizes the value of traditional psychopharmacology such as antidepressant medications, while also realizing that these are not always the only treatment options. We take many other things into consideration prior to recommending a personalized treatment plan for our patients.
