The Science of Integrative Medicine

Produced in collaboration with Mayo Clinic, this course covers the science-based facts of commonly used integrative treatments.

Overview

Course No. 1948

In the last few decades, a wide array of practices have gained greater acceptance as forms of treatment and healing. If you’ve ever considered herbal supplements, meditation, acupuncture, yoga, or a change of diet to promote better health, then you’re already familiar with integrative medicine.

Integrative medicine describes the addition of natural or holistic practices into the health-care paradigm to complement conventional Western medicine and promote wellness. Western medicine can accomplish incredible feats of healing, but as advanced as it is, it still doesn’t have cures for everything.

Relying solely on Western medicine, people often wait until they have serious health problems before seeking care – but integrative medicine includes many practices that are particularly good for preventing certain conditions and ameliorating the effects of others. The therapies discussed here have been shown to help people reach health goals such as:

• Presurgery preparation
• Postsurgery recovery
• Better management and reduction of chronic pain

Studies indicate they directly benefit wellness and can help alleviate, prevent, or remedy issues such as:

• Arthritis and fibromyalgia
• Alzheimer’s disease
• High blood pressure and heart disease
• Stress and menopause
• The common cold

The Science of Integrative Medicine, produced in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic – one of the finest health institutions on the planet – provides you with 12 informative lectures on the science-based facts and historical context of commonly used integrative treatments. You’ll get a foundational explanation of this diverse new field of medicine, which will give you the knowledge you need to explore these techniques and improve your wellness.

Taught by Brent Bauer, MD, director of the Mayo Clinic’s Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program, this course provides you with an illuminating exploration of scientifically tested integrative approaches.

Video Lectures

01: Complementary and Integrative Medicine (29 min)

Explore the history of alternative approaches to care that have evolved into integrative therapies still in use today. The discussion begins with research investigating how nutrition, exercise, stress management, and social support (NESS) positively affected men diagnosed with prostate cancer. You’ll understand why some doctors may still have questions about integrative practices, while others firmly embrace them.

02: Making the Case for Integrative Medicine (28 min)

Review the science behind the benefits of healthy habits, including eating well, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep. Discover the multitude of positive impacts these habits can have on your mind, body, and overall wellness. Get tips to easily integrate simple changes into your daily routines.

03: Herbal Supplements (30 min)

Delve into the world of herbal supplements to understand the pros and cons of adding them to your health-care regimen. Get a handle on why no herbal supplement is necessarily “good” or “bad,” and learn why it is so important to use supplements responsibly, with your doctor’s input and guidance.

04: Supplements in Practice (32 min)

Take a deeper dive into some of the most common supplements, and find out which ones Dr. Bauer recommends and uses in his own practice. Understand why he’ll sometimes suggest treatments even when they haven’t been definitively proven to be widely effective, or have produced mixed results.

05: Mind-Body Medicine (30 min)

Examine the phenomenon of the mind-body connection to see how you can positively influence your mind in order to improve your body. This area of research is opening the door to new ways of thinking about and approaching various healing techniques. Dr. Bauer shares the latest findings and examples.

06: Guided Imagery, Hypnosis, and Spirituality (31 min)

Focusing your mind has been known to help alleviate pain, symptoms of illness, and side effects of medications, and even to aid in changing negative behaviors. Dr. Bauer takes you through three practices-guided imagery, hypnotherapy, and spirituality-to demonstrate how these methods can be used in conjunction with Western medicine.

07: Practicing Meditation (27 min)

Taking the mindful approach a step further, Dr. Bauer provides you with an insightful examination of meditation. In addition to reviewing the multitude of benefits that meditation can provide as both a coping strategy and a preventive measure, Dr. Bauer walks you through a number of steps you can take to help establish a successful meditation session so you can make the most of this practice.

08: Moving Meditation: Yoga, Tai Chi, and Qi Gong (30 min)

Often grouped together with other mindful practices, Dr. Bauer dedicates an entire lecture to moving meditation, including yoga, tai chi, and qi gong. Although these methods have existed for thousands of years, the scientific benefits of integrating these practices into modern Western healing have just recently begun to emerge. Dr. Bauer reviews this research and provides examples of how these techniques can be incorporated into your wellness routine.

09: Relaxation Therapies (31 min)

Superficially, relaxation therapies seem easy, but Dr. Bauer points out that to really get the maximum health benefits, you have to fully immerse yourself in these practices, and doing so can be challenging at first. He guides you through the process, noting the many mental and physical advantages that come with true relaxation. Once you’ve mastered it, relaxation will become second nature.

10: Effective Acupuncture (29 min)

“Does acupuncture work?” is a question that’s often met with controversy. Dr. Bauer discusses scientific evidence that demonstrates both the effectiveness of this technique and the medical conditions it has been known to help alleviate. He also provides valuable tips to help you prepare yourself and make the most out of each acupuncture session.

11: Massage Therapy and Spinal Manipulation (30 min)

Many people appreciate a good massage, yet few really grasp the science behind how effectively it can help with healing. Based on ancient principals such as acupressure, Dr. Bauer illustrates how this practice is more than just a back rub and, when done properly, can have long-lasting effects that go beyond the session.

12: Living Well (31 min)

Throughout the course, Dr. Bauer offers suggestions on how to approach the topic of integrative medicine with your doctor. He also touches on new integrative strategies that are being researched. By the end of this lecture, you’ll be equipped with a variety of options for how to create a comprehensive wellness program that can positively affect your mental and physical health for years to come.