We Asked: What does the term "integrated medicine" mean to you? And is integrated medicine a good goal for our health-care system?

Here is what you told us...

The term "integrated medicine" implies that people are regarded as whole beings and that their treatment would address them as such. Non-integrated medicine would seem to treat people as machines with fixable, isolated parts. I have never seen a person or animal that fits this description. More than just a "good goal for our health-care system," the development of an integrated medicine system, versus a peices/parts system, would better reflect the reality of the human condition. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment would be more effective and encompass origins and causes, as well as symptoms.
Sheryl Rapee-Adams
Rutland, Vermont

Integrated medicine equals the blending of wise men's and women's wisdom, knowledge and understanding of truth to life on Earth, while working with the natural and supernatural worlds in harmony, building and restoring to wholeness all of the many holy temples, so we can bear great fruit. Integrated medicine is a great goal for our health-care system, in a way that more human touch shall be involved and provided along with ancient, wise teachings of the past, so the proper healing will take place.
John O'Grady
Congers, New York

Integrated medicine means to use ancient methods of pain relief combined with current trends to help a person overcome aches and pains, and make life worth living again. We often get caught up in modern medicine, where a patient goes to a doctor long after his/her pain has gotten so bad that they can't take it anymore. They want instant relief and accept prescriptions that often help relieve pain, but only mask the problem for the time being. After the pain medicine wears off, the patient soon realizes that they must make a return visit for the same problem that was just masked, not cured. Ancient medicine works with the patient to see what is going on overall in their life and then, using various techniques, is able to help the patient change his/her lifestyle to prevent the same symptoms from returning a short period of time, thus making life worth living again. Various aspects of massage therapy often are needed to solve life's problems, not just patch them up.
Randall A. Wolff
Las Vegas, Nevada

Integrated health is the coupling of illness care and illness prevention to make an overall health-preservation system. I feel that if this practice is adopted throughout the country, health-care costs overall will decrease as illnesses like type II diabetes decrease. A healthy society is a stronger and richer society.
Allison McDermott
Seneca Falls, New York

I am a massage therapist, and I believe that integrated medicine is a very good route for people to take because it is healthier. It will reduce the use of medication, thus helping to keep the liver and kidnesy healthier for a long time.
Julia Rial
Kalamazoo, Michigan

My interpretation of integrated medicine is the blending of traditional Western medicine with alternative and Eastern medicine practices. I think this is a good goal for our health-care system. One method is effective at acute care, which necessitates the system already in place; the other balances with preventive care and personal responsibiltiy, which can ultimately reduce care costs.
Barbara Calkins
Burlingame, California