--- title: "Integrative Medicine Definition & Meaning | infoMD Health Glossary" description: "Integrative medicine is an approach to healthcare that combines conventional Western medicine with evidence-based complementary therapies to treat the whol" lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "DefinedTerm", "name": "Integrative Medicine", "description": "Integrative medicine is an approach to healthcare that combines conventional Western medicine with evidence-based complementary therapies to treat the whole person - body, mind, and spirit - rather than just the disease. 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[Glossary](/glossary) 3. Integrative Medicine [General Health]() # Integrative Medicine in·te·gra·tive med·i·cine - IN-teh-gray-tiv MED-ih-sin ## Definition Integrative medicine is an approach to healthcare that combines conventional Western medicine with evidence-based complementary therapies to treat the whole person - body, mind, and spirit - rather than just the disease. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship between patient and practitioner, uses all appropriate therapies (both conventional and complementary), and focuses on prevention, wellness, and addressing root causes of illness. Unlike alternative medicine, which proposes therapies as replacements for conventional treatments, integrative medicine uses complementary approaches alongside standard medical care. Common integrative therapies include acupuncture, mindfulness meditation, yoga, massage therapy, herbal medicine, nutritional counseling, and mind-body practices. The key principle is that all recommended therapies should have evidence of safety and effectiveness. Major academic medical centers including the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Duke University, and Johns Hopkins now have dedicated integrative medicine programs, reflecting growing acceptance within mainstream medicine. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the National Institutes of Health, funds research into complementary therapies to build the evidence base for their use. ## Also Known As Integrative health Complementary and integrative medicine ## Key Facts - • The Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine & Health includes over 75 academic medical centers in North America. - • The most commonly used integrative therapies include meditation, yoga, acupuncture, massage, and herbal supplements. - • An estimated 38% of U.S. adults use some form of complementary or integrative therapy. - • Integrative oncology - using complementary therapies alongside cancer treatment - has strong evidence for managing treatment side effects. - • Board certification in integrative medicine is available through the American Board of Integrative Medicine (ABOIM). ## How It Relates To Your Health Integrative medicine is particularly popular among patients managing chronic conditions like chronic pain, cancer treatment side effects, anxiety, depression, digestive disorders, and autoimmune diseases. If conventional treatments alone haven't adequately addressed your symptoms, integrative approaches may provide additional benefit. When seeking integrative care, look for practitioners with conventional medical training (MD, DO, NP) plus additional certifications in integrative or complementary therapies. Always inform all your healthcare providers about any complementary therapies you're using, as some can interact with medications or affect treatment outcomes. ## Related Terms [Functional Medicine](/glossary/functional-medicine)[Yoga Therapy](/glossary/yoga-therapy)[Placebo Effect](/glossary/placebo-effect)[Resilience](/glossary/resilience) ## Related Articles [![The Science Behind Cold Plunge Therapy](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1544367567-0f2fcb009e0b?w=1200&h=630&fit=crop&fm=webp)](/wellness/science-behind-cold-plunge) [](/wellness/science-behind-cold-plunge)[Wellness](/wellness) ### The Science Behind Cold Plunge Therapy 2026-02-12 [![How to Build a Morning Routine That Actually Sticks](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1506126613408-eca07ce68773?w=1200&h=630&fit=crop&fm=webp)](/wellness/morning-routine-that-sticks) [](/wellness/morning-routine-that-sticks)[Wellness](/wellness) ### How to Build a Morning Routine That Actually Sticks 2026-01-08 ## Sources 1. [Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Health: What's In a Name?](https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/complementary-alternative-or-integrative-health-whats-in-a-name) - National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH) 2. [Integrative Medicine](https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/complementary-and-alternative-medicine/about/pac-20393581) - Mayo Clinic 3. [What Is Integrative Medicine?](https://imconsortium.org/about/introduction/) - Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine & Health Was this definition helpful? 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