WHY LIFESTYLE AND INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE IS THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE 🩺🥼

For almost two decades, I’ve been in various roles in the Health and Wellness arena.

I’ve worked in Western Healthcare systems.

I’ve also worked in Eastern Healthcare systems.

HERE'S WHAT I HAVE OBSERVED: 🔭

Every medical system was founded on the same good intention, to ease human pain and suffering.

Modern medicine has given the world extraordinary support. It has offered emergency care, antibiotics, life-saving surgeries, and alleviation of acute symptoms. There is no doubt that this medical system has saved millions of lives.

At the same time, Ayurveda was built on a different, but equally important foundation, which is the understanding of the body as a whole. It focuses on the person beyond the disease, not just the disease itself. This is why it is considered root medicine. It seeks to understand the root cause of disease. Why is the body/mind experiencing dis-ease?

AYURVEDA EXPLORES AND ADDRESSES:

Digestion and proper metabolic function

Lifestyle and daily routine

The connection with the mind and the body

Prevention before disease appears

Movement as Medicine

Self-Inquiry and Self-Awareness as Medicine

Mindfulness as Medicine

These are two different approaches and philosophies, but both have the same goal, to ease human suffering.

So, if this is in fact the case, what is the problem here? 🤔

The problem begins when medicine turns into a competition instead of a collaboration.

The patient ends up getting caught in a tug of war with what and who to listen to and what to do. In the end, the patient loses trust in all systems, and in themselves.

Another problem is there is an overwhelming amount of information that isn’t congruent. This only leads to further confusion.

How is this helpful? 🤔

Healing should never be about who’s right and who’s wrong. It should ALWAYS be about helping a human feel better, think better, and live better.

TRUE INTEGRATION IS THE KEY.

The only place where I have witnessed this in seamless action is in India. In many places an Ayurvedic Hospital is right next door to an Allopathic Hospital and they collaborate on patient care plans. Each medical system is clear on what their area of expertise is, and the goal is the patient’s well-being. Doctors on each side discuss the cases.

No hiding of care plans.

No fighting over who’s patient it is.

No negative talk about the other medical system.

No judgment on the plan of care.

JUST PURE COLLABORATION, PROVIDING WHATEVER IS NEEDED FOR THE SAME END GOAL, THE PATIENT’S HEALTH AND WELLBEING.

I have seen patients walk into an Ayurvedic Hospital and get sent to an Allopathic Hospital first, to alleviate their acute symptoms. Then, they return to the Ayurvedic Hospital for continued treatment.

SEAMLESSLY!

Now, I’m not saying this happens in all cases, but I have witnessed it on several occasions. The two that stand out the most are, at Apthasree, during my clinical training in Ayurveda, and at Indimasi, while hosting my Ayurveda Wellbeing Retreat.

Unfortunately, sometimes Lifestyle and Alternative medicine don’t always get the same respect as Allopathic Medicine. This can create discord within a person.

MYTHS OF WORKING WITH AN INTEGRATIVE PRACTITIONER:

A client has to come off their medications in order to seek Lifestyle medicine help – FALSE.

A client has to stop seeing their Western Healthcare providers in order to seek Lifestyle Medicine help – FALSE.

A client has to choose between holistic Mind/body practices VS. traditional Psychotherapy practices – FALSE.

In fact, a client may need to be on their medicine to help support them while integrating holistic practices into their lifestyle.

In fact, a client may need the support of both allopathic and Alternative care in order to get well-rounded support.

THIS IS TRUE INTEGRATION AND COLLABORATION.

We can all agree that there’s a lot more to restoring Homeostasis than, take this pill and come back for a follow up.

If you are curious to learn more about how to Integrate Ayurveda and Lifestyle Medicine into your current protocol, I’d be happy to support you.

Welcome to client care with love. 💟

#integrativehealth #ayurveda #ayurvedicpsychology #yoga #bewellbefitbefree