Perhaps youve heard rumors about an herbal supplement that acts as the Fountain of Youth, improves your mood, and helps you lose weight. Maybe youve considered trying hypnosis to stop smoking, but youve heard it might be just a waste of money. You may be curious about how getting stuck with many sharp needles can actually alleviate pain and stresswhen it seems like it should do the opposite.

If youve ever considered herbal supplements, meditation, acupuncture, yoga, or even a change of diet to promote better health, then you already know that the subject of whats been called alternative medicine is both intriguing, offering help for conditions that might seem hopeless, and controversial, with its effectiveness touted by some and scoffed at by others.

The Science of Integrative Medicine, produced in collaboration with Mayo Clinicwidely regarded as one of the finest health institutions on the planetprovides you with 12 informative lectures on the science-based facts and historical context of commonly used integrative treatments. Delivering a foundational explanation of this wide and diverse new field of medicine, this course is designed to empower you and give you the knowledge you need to explore how to use these techniques to improve your wellness. Taught by Brent Bauer, M.D., director of Mayo Clinics Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program, this course provides you with an illuminating exploration of many genuinely beneficial treatments.

In the last two decades, as a wide array of practices have gained greater acceptance as potential forms of treatment and healing, the terms used to describe them have evolved as well. Complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM, was once the common name for therapies once considered alternative or unorthodox. Today, as physicians integrate more of these treatments into their medical practices, the term CAM has given way to integrative medicine.

Integrative medicine describes the integration 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 doesnt have cures for everything. Relying solely on conventional Western medicine, people often wait until they have serious health problems before seeking carebut integrative medicine includes many practices that are particularly good for preventing certain conditions and ameliorating the effects of others, making it a valuable adjunct to conventional care.

The therapies discussed in this course have been shown to help people reach health goals such as pre-surgery preparation, post-surgery recovery, and better managementand reductionof chronic pain. The advent of integrative medicine has been revolutionizing Western medical care as doctors realize that their options for patient care can be expanded to a plethora of complementary practices that directly benefit wellness and can help alleviate, prevent, or remedy issues such as arthritis, chronic back or neck pain, fibromyalgia, Alzheimers disease, high blood pressure, stress, heart disease, menopause, and the common cold.

Tour the Most Common Integrative Practices

In The Science of Integrative Medicine, Dr. Bauer, of Mayo Clinic, introduces you to more than a dozen scientifically tested, integrative approaches and explains what they do and do not treat, empowering you to take your health options into your own hands. He leads you through the science and history of some of the most common practices and discusses the pros and cons of each. He also offers suggestions for when and how you might consider talking to your doctor about including these therapies in your wellness plan. Through this course, youll learn about:

Treatments by professionals:

Treatments you can do on your own:

And physical exercises:

In addition to teaching you about specific practices, Dr. Bauer reveals the key to getting the most out of any form of integrative medicine: a solid foundation of wellness that includes simple lifestyle changes that can lead to significant improvements in your health. For example, youll hear about the concept of NESS, which is based on research that demonstrates how a program involving diet, exercise, stress management, and social support can reverse the aging process on a cellular level in a test group.

The Good, The Bad, and the FDA Unapproved

Dr. Bauer provides an in-depth investigation into a number of popular myths about integrative medicine without resorting to oversimplifying or generalizing. He kicks off this exploration with a review of the positive and negative effects of herbal remedies.

A lot of the skepticism about herbal remedies comes from the fact that they are not FDA-approved. On a supplements packaging, you may see this: This statement has not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Dr. Bauer sheds light on what this really implies and why it may not always be cause for concern. At the same time, he cautions us against some common herbs, which, at their worst, have been known to cause death. Receiving medical guidance about herbal remedies is vital. Even commonly used herbs, such as chamomile, can cause serious harm to someone with a severe allergy.

The conclusion Dr. Bauer reaches is that when working with a doctor, most herbal supplements can be used effectively. Dr. Bauer helps you do your homework to become a well-informed and wise patient and consumer when it comes to herbal supplements, so that you can make the best decisions for your optimal health.

A Trusted Source of Information

This course is an up-to-date and authoritative exploration of integrative medicine. Dr. Bauer is a Professor of Medicine, and he has been the director of the Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program at Mayo Clinic for 15 years. His main research interest has been the scientific evaluation of complementary therapies, where his work is at the forefront of the emerging field of integrative medicine, combining the best of conventional Western medicine with the best of evidence-based complementary therapies. Dr. Bauer and Mayo Clinican indisputably trusted resource for medical factsprovide evidence for the effectiveness, benefits, and drawbacks of integrative therapies in a straightforward, well-organized, and thorough manner, making the benefits of each practice easy to understand and accessible to everyone.

The Science of Integrative Medicine will help you take a proactive approach to your health and wellness. As you delve deeply into integrative practices and learn the science behind how and why they work, youll gain a deeper appreciation for why Western doctors are now evaluating and incorporating such practices into an array of tools at their disposal to help you reach and maintain wellness. At the conclusion of the course, youll find yourself to be a more informed decision-maker. And youll see that by working with your doctor to discuss the scientifically backed practices you feel comfortable with, it is possible to put together an integrative program that can positively affect your health.

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