• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Lawrence Rosen, MD

Creating a new health care paradigm FOR THE WHOLE CHILD

  • Home
  • About
    • About Dr. Rosen
    • About the Practice
    • About the Book
    • About the Movement
  • Press
  • Stories

General · July 4, 2005

What is Integrative Pediatrics?

It would follow logically that Integrative Pediatrics is Pediatric Integrative Medicine, or simply stated, Integrative Medicine for kids. The real question is, what is integrative medicine?

WesternMed

Often, terms like CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) are bandied about, implying that integrative medicine is simply a hodge-podge adaption of several “uncoventional” modalities like acupuncture and homeopathy, to “conventional” medical practice. But IM is a more than this – it is a philosophy of health care. I like the IM Consortium‘s definition:



“Integrative Medicine is the practice of medicine that reaffirms the importance of the relationship between practitioner and patient, focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches, healthcare professionals and disciplines to achieve optimal health and healing.”

Developed and Adopted by the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine, May 2004; Edited May 2005

The highlights are mine. Let’s take a closer look at these key components.

Relationship: IM is relationship-centered. The bond and communication between pediatrician, child and family is crucial both diagnostically and therapeutically. Furthermore, the interaction of each child with his or her environment (local, global, natural and artificial) is key.

Whole: IM is a holistic practice. The mind, body, and spirit of the child are linked and need to be in balance for optimal health (more on this below).

Evidence: I think the key term here is the modifier “informed by,” as many of the “unconventional” modalities utilized in IM are evidence-guided but perhaps not strictly evidence-based. As healers we use our intuition and experience to guide us as well as research findings, when applicable. We value individuality and understand that one size does not fit all. Each and every child responds uniquely to each and every therapy, each and every time.

Appropriate: You notice that I keep putting unconventional or conventional in quotes. Convention depends on one’s cultural frame of reference. Appropriateness also implies concern for safety, and weighing risk versus benefit is always necessary. What are safe risks for us to take as adults may not be so for our children. We value gentle, natural remedies whenever possible and appropriate.

Optimal health: Health is considered not just the absence of disease, but the presence of optimal functioning – again, in mind, body and spirit. We focus on wellness and prevention, with a strong belief in the innate healing capacities of children. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

You can always count on good old Ben Franklin for a nice end quotation.

facebookShare on Facebook
TwitterTweet
FollowFollow us

Filed Under: General

Previous Post: « About This Forum
Next Post: Chocolate: Food of the Gods »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Andrew Garber, MD says

    July 5, 2005 at 10:47 am

    What a excellent site. I did not know that this was your philosophy but it is interesting that we both have and are moving more toward similar approaches to providing care. I will forward this information to some of patients and other proiders who are looking for someone with this more holistic approach.

    Log in to Reply
  2. Dermot O'Rourke, MD says

    July 5, 2005 at 10:23 pm

    It is very encouraging to see that the best traditions and values of clinical medicine
    are still being supported, by some. Keep up the good work.

    Log in to Reply
  3. Natural Homeopathic says

    December 13, 2006 at 3:01 am

    Natural Homeopathic

    These are homeopathic cures, many passed down Its important

    Log in to Reply
  4. Wendy says

    June 20, 2008 at 9:00 pm

    Can you tell me if the doctors on this list will accept unvaccinated kids in their practice?
    All the best,
    Wendy

    Log in to Reply
  5. Lawrence Rosen says

    June 21, 2008 at 7:34 am

    We have compiled a list of primary care practitioners (including pediatricians) who will work flexibly with families re: vaccination. I would imagine most of these practices will work with families who do not vaccinate – please see http://www.integrativepeds.org/integed.html for the list, which will be updated periodically.

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Browse Stories by Category

Latest Stories

  • Resilience
  • What is Whole Health?
  • Whole Health Learning: The Revolutionary Child of Integrative Health and Education
  • Earth Day: Talking with Children about Climate Change
  • Rx Life: The integrative solution to keep kids healthy
  • Greening Healthcare: Next Steps
  • The Growing Pediatric Health Gap: Environmental Injustice Threatens Our Future
  • 13 Inspirational Quotes From Your Favorite Children’s Books
  • Antibiotic Overuse: A Worldwide Emergency
  • School Stress: Rescuing Our Children

Subscribe to Our Stories


 

Footer

Contact

Lawrence D. Rosen, MD
  • contact@lawrencerosenMD.com
  • 201-634-1600
  • Browse Stories by Category

    Stay Connected

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    Copyright © 2025 · Lawrence Rosen, MD · Developed by Renaissance Web Solutions

    • Home
    • About
      • About Dr. Rosen
      • About the Practice
      • About the Book
      • About the Movement
      • Back
    • Press
    • Stories