Integrative Health
“A seed hidden in the heart of an apple
is an orchard invisible.”

benefits of meditation

On Integrative Medicine, Health and Healing, Health Promotion and Education

Background and definitions
from science-based references:

  1. On Integrative Medicine:

    a)  "Integrative medicine is not synonymous with CAM. Above all, it seeks to work with the body's natural potential to heal. It recognizes that the body has innate mechanisms to maintain health and promote healing. It facilitates the creation of health." – Quote from the Foreword (by Andrew T. Weil, MD) of the book:

    Kligler, B., & Lee, R. (2004). Integrative Medicine: Principles for Practice. McGraw-Hill Professional.

    b)  "Integrative medicine couples the latest scientific advances with the most profound insights of ancient healing systems giving you the best ways to preserve health, increase longevity and speed recovery from illness." – As described by Dr. Leo Galland, on his website:

    Leo Galland, MD (n.d.). Home Page. Retrieved November 28th, 2012, from Foundation for Integrated Medicine: http://mdheal.org/

  2. On Health:

    a)  "Health comes from the Old English word 'Hal' which means wholeness, soundness or spiritual wellness. Health is defined by the WHO as a 'state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely, the absence of disease or infirmity." – Quote from Ch. 1: Philosophy of Integrative Medicine, from the book:

    Rakel, D. (2007). Integrative Medicine, Second Edition. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.

    b)  
    "Health is that state of spiritual, emotional, cognitive, physical, social and environmental functioning that facilitates the person's development; that is, the balanced, coherent, and integrated adjustment of, and accommodation to, internal and external events." – Quote from Ch. 102: Activating the Healing Response, from the book:

    Rakel, D. (2007). Integrative Medicine, Second Edition. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.

    c)  
    "Health: A condition in which a system functions in a manner needed to maintain its ability to grow, reproduce, and interact in a way that enables the system to enhance the society in which the system lived. In a human, this is translated as follows: A person is able to grow, reproduce, and interact with other humans and the environment in ways that are helpful for both the individual and the others." – Quote from Ch. 9: MindBody Medicine for Today's Health Care Consumer, from the book:

    Rotan, L. W., & Ospina-Kammerer, V. (2006). MindBody Medicine: Foundations and Practical Applications. Taylor & Francis, Inc.

    d)  On Wellness: "The process of living at one's highest possible level as a whole person and promoting the same for others. The ability to use positive lifestyle habits to enjoy health." – Quote from Ch.9: Mind Body Medicine for Today's Health Care Consumer, from the book:

    Rotan, L. W., & Ospina-Kammerer, V. (2006). MindBody Medicine: Foundations and Practical Applications. Taylor & Francis, Inc.

  3. On Healing:

    a)  "Healing can be defined as the dynamic process of recovery, repair, reintegration and renewal that increases resilience, coherence and wholeness. Healing is an emergent, transformative process of the whole person – physical, mental, social, spiritual and environmental. It is a unique personal and communal process and experience that may or may not involve curing." – Quote from Ch. 2: Creating Optimal Healing Environments, from the book:

    Rakel, D. (2007). Integrative Medicine, Second Edition. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.

    b)  "Healing refers to the process of restoring the patient's perception of connectedness, indestructibility and control. It is a journey rather than a destination." – Quote from Ch. 102: Activating the Healing Response, from the book:

    Rakel, D. (2007). Integrative Medicine, Second Edition. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.

    c)  "Our goal should be to create an environment that will 'stack the deck' in favor of self-healing." – Quote from the book:

    Kligler, B., & Lee, R. (2004). Integrative Medicine: Principles for Practice. McGraw-Hill Professional.

    d)  On the spiritual connection: "Spirituality is a journey toward, or experience of, connection with sources of ultimate meaning as defined by each individual. Spirituality includes connection with one's self, with others, with nature, and with a higher power. If we can help patients work toward facilitating awareness of these connections, it enhances a source of purpose for living, reduces suffering, and optimizes self-healing. It is also one of the most effective tools in helping change unhealthy behavior." – Quote from Ch. 2: Creating Optimal Healing Environments, from the book:

    Rakel, D. (2007). Integrative Medicine, Second Edition. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.

  4. On the field of Health Promotion and Education:

    a)  
    "Health Education is a social science that draws from the biological, environmental, psychological, physical and medical sciences to promote health and prevent disease, disability and premature death through education-driven voluntary behavior change activities. Health education is the development of individual, group, institutional, community and systemic strategies to improve health knowledge, attitudes, skills and behavior. The purpose of health education is to positively influence the health behavior of individuals and communities as well as the living and working conditions that influence their health." – Quote from a document on the website of The Coalition of National Health Education Organizations:

    What is Health Education? (n.d.). Retrieved Nov. 20, 2016, from The Coalition of National Health Education http://www.cnheo.org/files/health_ed.pdf

    b)  "Health educators work to encourage healthy lifestyles and wellness through educating individuals and communities about behaviors that can prevent disease, injuries, and other health problems. They develop programs and materials to encourage people to make healthy decisions." – From the Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics:

    Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor. (2012, March 29). Retrieved Nov. 28, 2012, from Occupational Outlook Handbook, Health Educators:
    http://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/health-educators.htm