Statement Dr. David Riley, MD, Portland (USA)

International Perspective on Integrative Health & Medicine

Stuttgart, Germany, June 9, 2016. The international demand for Integrative Health and Medicine is growing. Integrative Health and Medicine represents an evidence-based combination of traditional (TM) or complementary medicine (CM) and conventional biomedicine. In addition to the growing demand for these services there is also a need for knowledgeable, certified health professionals.  This is particularly relevant today given the challenges faces by medicine today; ranging costs to chronic diseases to antimicrobial resistant.

Integrative Medicine’s focus on health and wellness in addition to disease treatment offers an approach that focuses on the individual and focuses on the whole person - mind, body, and spirit. Internationally the ratio of conventional to traditional medicine may vary according to cultural traditions and differences between medical systems.

The successful evolution of Integrative Health and Medicine will depend in part on the gathering and sharing of evidence using communication tools.  Some of these tools are available from the Equator Network - an international initiative to improve the reliability and value of health literature by promoting responsible reporting of health research results.

Another tool are conferences like this International Congress for Integrative Health and Medicine in Stuttgart that reports on how integrative medicine solutions can address some of health challenges we face today and how these solutions can be applied around the world.

 

About the organizers – sharing a vision

The Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine (AIHM), the largest association for Integrative Health & Medicine in the USA, and the DAMiD, the umbrella organization for Anthroposophic Medicine in Germany, are jointly organizing the event. The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), the German Hufeland Society, as well as EUROCAM and CAMDOC Alliance, also support the preparation of the event.

  • Dachverband Anthroposophische Medizin in Deutschland (DAMiD) / Umbrella Association of Anthroposophic Medicine in Germany is working on political, institutional and practical level for the parent interests of its members: damid.de
  • The Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine (AIHM) is a global, interprofessional, member organization that educates and trains clinicians in integrative health and medicine to assure exemplary health care. The AIHM’s training incorporates evidence-informed research, emphasizes person-centered care and embraces global healing traditions. By combining science and compassion, the AIHM is transforming health care: aihm.org

 

Press Contact:

Natascha Hövener

Dachverband Anthroposophische Medizin in Deutschland e.V. (DAMiD)
phone: +49-30-28 87 70 96
hoevener@damid.de

Barbara Ritzert

ProScience Communications – 
Die Agentur für Wissenschaftskommunikation GmbH
phone: +49-8157-9397-0
ritzert@proscience-com.de