Integrative Medicine

What is Integrative Medicine?

Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, defines Integrative medicine as the following:

Integrative medicine is healing-oriented medicine that takes account the whole person, including all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship between practitioner and patient, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapies.

The Defining Principles of Integrative Medicine

Patient and practitioner are partners in the healing process.
All factors that influence health, wellness, and disease are taken into consideration, including mind, spirit, and community, as well as the body.
Appropriate use of both conventional and alternative methods facilitates the body's innate healing response.
Effective interventions that are natural and less invasive should be used whenever possible.
Integrative medicine neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative therapies uncritically.
Good medicine is based in good science. It is inquiry-driven and open to new paradigms.
Alongside the concept of treatment, the broader concepts of health promotion and the prevention of illness are paramount.
Practitioners of integrative medicine should exemplify its principles and commit themselves to self-exploration and self-development.

Integrative Medicine Clinic at East Tennessee State University,

Family Medicine Associates, Johnson City, TN

The Integrative Medicine Clinic at ETSU blends the best of Family medicine, Traditional Chinese medicine and Osteopathic medicine in a healing oriented approach emphasizing the whole person.

Family medicine is centered on maintaining a continuous, caring relationship with patients and their families using the biological, clinical and behavioral sciences to provide comprehensive health care.

Chinese medicine and Acupuncture is an ancient medical art which seeks to enhance the ability of the body to heal naturally and improve function through the use of needles, herbal medicine, nutrition, and Qigong (physical and breathing exercises).

Osteopathic Medicine focuses on the whole person , the relationship of the body's nerves, muscles, bones and organs, and the body's innate ability to heal itself. Osteopathic manipulative treatment, or OMT, is hands-on care. It involves using the hands to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness or injury by moving muscles and joints using techniques including stretching, gentle pressure and resistance.

By combining these unique medical systems into a comprehensive approach, the Integrative Medicine Clinic at ETSU can address our patients medical issues in a distinctive way by using the best evidence based treatments in modern and complementary medicine, while emphasizing the whole person.

Please click here to view Dr. Borja's interview with TV station WCYB