Chapter Sixteen: Integrative Medicine Practitioners
Considering different approaches to healthcare
There are many kinds of doctors. It is important to learn more about these practitioners when selecting various methods of diagnosing and treating illnesses in the body. Even more important is knowing ways of maintaining good health through selecting those trained in helping us stay so healthy that diseases will not even attack.
CHAPTER HEADINGS
Who Are These Practitioners? They go by many names—functional doctors, naturopaths, integrative therapists, acupuncturists, holistic coaches—but they all have one thing in common: They don’t just treat symptoms. They treat you
What They Actually Do Inside the Mindset of an Integrative Practitioner
If conventional medicine asks, “What’s wrong and how do we stop it?” Integrative medicine asks, “What’s the root cause, and how do we heal it?
From the Medical Toolbox
Comprehensive blood panels (not just basic cholesterol tests, but advanced inflammatory markers, thyroid panels, nutrient levels, insulin resistance, etc.)
Allergy and sensitivity testing (food, mold, environmental)
Stool analysis gut flora, pathogens, parasites, and digestion
Hormone and adrenal labs, including cortisol rhythms and reproductive balance
Imaging referrals when something structural or serious is suspected
Prescriptions, but used carefully and usually temporarily, while supporting deeper healing
The Integrative Mindset
What a Visit Might Sound Like
What to Expect in a Visit
Redefining the Role of the Doctor
Toolkit: How to Begin Your Integrative Healing Journey
1. Clarify What You’re Looking For
2. Find the Right Fit
3. Prepare for Your First Visit
4. Commit to the Process
5. Watch for Signs of Real Healing
6. Build Your Personal Healing Circle
Your Healing is a Homecoming