A “Gold Standard” for
Perfect Health?
Depending on the culture of the medicine practiced, research
in conventional medicine builds its strong reputation on a
linear model that targets an end result. The eradication of
smallpox and polio, or the removal of a cancerous tumour,
are examples.
Complementary/alternative medicine
therapies focus on achieving harmony of all systems for perfect
health.
A standard that measures perfect health
is not currently available. Once developed it will need validation.
For either the conventional or CAM paradigm to be accepted,
each must fulfill the research requirements of the other system.
These requirements can be contradictory, making the process
difficult to accomplish.
The New “Gold Standard”
– An Integrative Medical Model
CINIM believes that both the conventional and CAM approaches
can be incorporated into a valuable paradigm of integrative
medicine. An integrative approach combines conventional therapies
with CAM therapies to utilize the strengths of both.
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“An integrative
medical approach is defined as the union of the paradigms
of conventional and alternative therapies. Integrative
medicine extends from caring for sickness and disease
to achieving harmony in all parts of the person; mind,
body and spirit. It has the flexibility to move from
a linear to a holistic view and provides the patient
with the most appropriate therapy at the most appropriate
time.”
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—
Dr. Badri Rickhi
Executive Director of the Canadian Institute of Natural
and Integrative Medicine, 2002 |
At the Canadian Institute of Natural
and Integrative Medicine, a key research objective is to demonstrate
the positive effects of an integrated health care approach
on the health of the population and on the cost of the health
care system.
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