Mayo Clinic Guide to Integrative Medicine

Book excerpt: Today, certain health conditions are not always best served by conventional medicine. Learn the ins and outs of integrative medicine with this comprehensive guide from the internal medicine experts at the Mayo Clinic. Once believed to be an alternative approach to patient care, recent studies have shown that integrative medicine is a valid option for reducing chronic pain, fatigue, depression, anxiety, as well as overall wellness. In fact, 1 in 3 American adults uses integrative medicine to boost their physical health. Whether utilized on its own or in combination with a conventional treatment plan, integrative medicine can be a natural, noninvasive way for patients to take charge of their health and wellbeing. In Mayo Clinic Guide to Integrative Medicine, experts from the Mayo Clinic break down dozens of the most common integrative therapies used today. From meditation and various spiritual practices, to spa treatments and medicinal herbs, readers can learn the ins and outs of popular integrative therapies, and ultimately decide if integrative medicine is right for them. Additionally, each type of integrative therapy is assigned a green light, yellow light, or red light illustration, to show which therapies come highly recommended from medical professionals, which therapies should be used with caution and guidance from a primary care physician, and which therapies should be avoided. Written with the everyday consumer in mind, Mayo Clinic Guide to Integrative Medicine is a digestible, easy-to-use guide for understanding and implementing holistic health practices in your daily routine.