What is Integrative Psychiatry?

There’s more to health than just medications.

Integrative Psychiatry is Comprehensive

Though pills can and do work, Integrative Psychiatry believes there are other factors that contribute to mental health than just chemicals.  Also called Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), the goal of Integrative Psychiatry is to incorporate treatment modalities that improve the mental, physical and spiritual aspects of healing in addition to conventional medicine.  This includes focusing on nutrition, herbal supplements, behavioral modifications, yoga, meditations, breath control, etc. to improve the body’s natural ability to heal. 

Food is Fuel

In simple terms, we are machines and input contributes to output.  If we don’t give these machines the proper fuel they need to run, how can we expect them to run efficiently? As a population, so much of our diet consists too much of harmful fats and unnecessary sugars, and not enough fiber, healthy fats, or a wide spectrum of nutrients.  By focusing on improving healthy eating habits, it sets the patient up for success in the long run

The Spiritual Realm is Important

Spiritual doesn’t have to mean religious (although it can). When talking about the spiritual aspect of psychiatry, it generally means more of how you connect internally with the external world.  Often it is hard to leave our bubble behind but by using techniques like mindfulness or yoga, you can harness the power of the present and feel more at peace.

Physical Health Matters Too

Integrative medicine doesn’t just throw away the knowledge of conventional medicine. Practitioners of Integrative Medicine understand that medications have their time and place and are important when used appropriately.  We just believe there are other important aspects of health that frequently go neglected that should be addressed in addition to  balancing the chemical components.

And when you think about it, it makes sense.  If you hit your thumb with a hammer, you can treat the pain with an ibuprofen, but if you keep hammering your thumb the problem is not going to go away.  Psychiatry is similar. We can treat mental health with a pill- and yes, it will help- but if you keep mentally hitting yourself with a hammer (for example, by staying up past midnight, scrolling through instagram, chugging ungodly amounts of coffee, eating fast food for every meal, the list goes on…) you won’t improve.  Mental health is affected by many facets of life, and Integrative Psychiatry keeps that in mind.