VALUES & STRATEGIES: INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

Integrative Medicine

Integrative Medicine is the practice of combining alternative and complementary therapies with conventional, scientific (allopathic) medicine to take advantage of the strengths of each system and to minimize their weaknesses. Integrative Healing is based on a practitioner-patient relationship that creates a diagnostic and therapeutic program that draws on a variety of traditions, expertise and modalities to address an individual’s specific needs and attempts to treat the whole person: mind, body and spirit. The focus is not only on the treatment or cure of disease but also is to consider the underlying imbalance that causes disease, the person’s own natural restorative capability and the value of prevention and wellness.

In the United States, the mainstream of medicine is actively broadening its definition of health and wellness and is seeking to include safe and effective therapies that were formerly relegated to Alternative Medicine or Complementary Medicine. Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is finding broad acceptance within the newly defined mainstream of Integrative Medicine.

AIMC Berkeley strives to advance the concept of Integrative Medicine in several ways:

By acknowledging and advancing the inclusion of Oriental Medicine theory and treatment modalities within the mainstream of medicine within California, the United States, and internationally.

By providing, in the College’s programs, a solid foundation of scientific medicine including: human anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, Western clinical medicine, medical terminology, pathology, physical, orthopedic, and neurological exams, issues of diagnosis, evidence-based research, and standards of care.

By creating an Integrative Medicine Clinic within the College’s Community Clinic, as well as creating clinics external to the College by collaborating and affiliating with other medical schools, hospitals, community health centers, and treatment centers in the Bay Area.

By developing practical and problem-based classes and programs in Integrative Medicine for licensed acupuncturists, medical doctors and other health care practitioners.

By including the various styles of Oriental Medicine in the educational programs offered by the College such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, Japanese Medicine, Classical Chinese Medicine, Korean Hand Therapy, Five Element Acupuncture, et al.

And by including the divergent modalities of Oriental Medicine such as acupuncture, moxibustion, herbology, bodywork (shiatsu, an ma, tui na), martial arts/breathing exercises (qigong) and diet in both the clinical education and our patient’s clinical experience.

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