User:Barbara (WVS)/sandbox/integrative medicine

Integrated medicine is the combination of conventional medicine and complementary practices for which there is evidence of effectiveness and safety. Integrated medicine excludes the use of alternative medicine which is is the use of conventional medicine with complementary medicine for which no evidence of effectiveness exists. This is an approach that is coordinated between these two modalities. NCCIH generally uses the term “complementary health approaches” when discussing practices and products of non-mainstream origin. The NCCIH uses “integrative health” when referring to incorporating complementary approaches into mainstream health care. The majority of those who use complementary health care combine it with conventional care and not for the replacement of conventional care.

Cognitive function
The integrated treatment for cognitive decline in older people has shown to result in better outcomes. There is an association between conventional and complementary treatments. Brain health was assessed and found to be improved with higher intakes of green, leafy and cruciferous vegetables, fish and fruit along with lower intakes of meats, dairy fats, and trans fatty acides.

Conversely, the complementary-conventional treatment with ginko biloba has not been found to slow the cognitive decline in older adults, despite its wide usage. Clinical trials are developed to determine the effectiveness of integrated medicine related to Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia.

Music-based treatments for Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis have begun to be evaluated in large reviews and "are emerging as promising rehabilitation strategies". Further investigations into the integrative approach of using music to aid in recovery are recommended.

Epidemiology
Only 5% of US adults used complementary health alone with variations between ages and ethnicities