Welcome to Integrativity, a blog devoted to integrative and complementary medicine and its related research. In this blog, you’ll find articles and opinions about integrative medicine – and about the research that is being done in this field. You may not always agree with the ideas published here, but we believe you’ll find them interesting and thought-provoking.
Why integrative medicine?
Nearly 13 years ago, I was a health and science writer living in the Boston area, the very heart of medical research. As appropriate to my profession, I was skeptical, almost cynical, and unwilling to believe in anything that could not be proven with pure scientific evidence. As I was taught by my journalism professors, my motto was always ‘just the facts, ma’am’. My skepticism was always highest when it came to so-called “new age” therapies, which could supposedly heal a person where conventional medicine had failed.
And then my husband was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer. Stage four, to be precise, and his chances of beating the disease were slim to none. And no, he was not miraculously healed by a Chinese doctor, or cured by a Native American Shaman. He was very sick, and in terrible pain, but what our Chinese doctor was able to do through acupuncture, healing, and herbs was to give him enough respite to feel comfortable. Enough respite from the pain and depression to be able to pick up our daughter from kindergarten, to be able to go out occasionally to dinner or to friends, to be able to get up in the morning and go to his chemotherapy treatments.
This story does not have a happy ending. My husband beat the odds for longer than most of his doctors could have hoped, but eventually the disease won, and we lost a dear, wonderful man. His experience, however, opened my eyes to the possibility that not everything has to be based on pure evidence. Through his experience, he enabled me to suspend my disbelief, and to begin a journey that has brought me to this point.
Whether you are someone who believes in alternative medicine, or have mixed feelings about it, or are a practitioner yourself – alternative or otherwise – I believe you will find this blog interesting, fair, and frank. I welcome your feedback, and hope that the Integrativity blog becomes a place where integrative medicine can be discussed with integrity.
Anna Aleksandrowicz