Integrative Medicine in the 21st Century

Abstract

There is no alternative medicine because we do not know of alternative diseases. There is only one medicine, constantly developing and broadening, and the human with its individual disease. Because of the ongoing worldwide discussion about the future development of our medicine I, therefore, suggest the future orientated concept summarized by the term "integrative medicine". It consists of five main areas: the socalled school or scientific medicine, the technical medicine, the complementary medicine in the sense of Heisenbergs complementarity, the homeopathy and the spiritual medicine. In order to transfer this concept into our medical theory, teaching and daily patient care it is necessary to develop an integrative thinking and acting. The concept of the "integrative medicine" will be discussed from the viewpoint of daily patient care and science. Dogmatic thinking, acting, dividing, demarcating and rigid boundaries allowing no trespassing into other fields are not in accordance anymore with results from modern research. Therefore, we have to learn to accept the chance and with it the broadening of our medicine. In doing so, we will learn to see the patient in its wholeness and not in single pieces. This will result in the further development of therapeutic rationals for our patients.