Clinical Medicine

This book is intended to target a broad audience of clinicians, clinical researchers, students in geriatrics and gerontology fields, and family caregivers of older adults interested in complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine. It provides an update on recent research in integrative medicine used for the treatment and prevention of mental, cognitive, and physical disorders of aging. The content of this book will increase clinicians’ familiarity with recent research findings in the field of integrative medicine, and will broaden their understanding of the use of these interventions in clinical practice. The discussion of the data is provided in textbook format, covering different fields of integrative medicine and written by an international group of opinion leaders and researchers in their respective areas of expertise; thus this work can be used for training by students of integrative medicine and gerontology. Individual chapters can be used as references on a particular topic for interested individuals and can be obtained online. Clinicians and researchers who are dedicated to the treatment and study of older adults might consider this volume an essential part of their library.Less

This book is a detailed, evidence-based reference on the field of integrative geriatric medicine. It is intended for all healthcare providers and advocates who work with the geriatric population—in outpatient settings and nursing homes, assisted and independent living facilities, and senior community centers. In addition, it will provide valuable information for leaders and politicians who are involved with implementing policies and procedures for the care of elderly patients and who are looking for safer, less costly, and more patient-centered approaches. Integrative geriatrics is a new field of medicine that advocates for a whole-person, patient-centered, primarily non-pharmacological approach to medical care of the elderly. Most current geriatric practices overprescribe medications and procedures and underutilize non-pharmacological, low-cost, high-touch methods. Patients, however, often show reluctance toward these standard practices because they often involve invasive interventions. The practice of integrative geriatrics is rooted in lifestyle interventions, such as nutrition, movement therapies, and mind-body and spirituality approaches, that allow patients to take a different path to their health, one that utilizes pharmaceuticals and invasive procedures only when safer integrative approaches are not available or not effective.Less

Integrative Pain Management takes a practical, patient-centered approach to integrative pain management, equipping clinicians to better understand the rationale for incorporation of integrative care options. It provides practical examples from leading integrative pain centers on how to optimally coordinate integrative options to optimize pain care. The goal of this volume is to introduce clinicians to a model of pain care which has the promise of improving quality of life while improving safety, satisfaction, and cost associated with care.Less

As the preventable disease and economic burden continues to mount for the United States and the world, it is becoming apparent that embracing prevention strategies is essential. Simply continuing on the same course and infrastructure will not suffice. The future we will leave our children is unsustainable without change. Amid all the partisan political chaos, integrative preventive medicine (IPM) practices are strongly entering the public consciousness, as many are dissatisfied with their traditional health (sick) care delivery systems and the scientific validity of IPM is increasing rapidly. This IPM textbook brings together the science of IPM so that health practitioners have a ready reference containing practices that can delay or prevent disease, decrease cost of care. and improve the quality of life. It is divided into three sections, “Public Health and Evolving Science in IPM,” “Multidisciplinary Nature of IPM.” and “The IPM Approach of Selected Clinical Problems,” providing a continuum of IPM from basic science to clinical science to practical application.Less