Benjamin Kligler, MD, MPH, is a family medicine doctor at The Center for Health and Healing and uses the integrative medicine method of treating patients. Here, Dr. Kligler explains to us why it is important to make sure all of your health providers know about the medicines and supplements you take. 

Q. Is integrative medicine the same as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)?

A. Integrative medicine usually means combining conventional or Western medicine with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).  In integrative medicine, usually a medical physician is involved with taking care of the patient, and may use some other healing practices such as massage and herbal medicines to treat the patient in addition to conventional practices such as prescription medication. In CAM, the practitioner is focused on using therapies such as massage, acupuncture, herbal medicines and the like.

Q. What is the difference between the two?

A. The basic difference is that the integrative medicine practitioner uses conventional medicine and may use CAM practices in order to treat a patient. CAM practitioners really focus on CAM healing practices.

Q. How do integrative medicine and CAM relate to each other? Is integrative medicine part of CAM or is CAM part of integrative medicine?

A. Integrative medicine and CAM exist together in the sense that one is not really part of the other. For example, if you are an acupuncturist, you may focus on only acupuncture and integrative medicine is not part of what you do. I think that you can't have integrative medicine without incorporating some form of CAM, but I wouldn't necessarily say that CAM is part of integrative medicine.

Many people have different ideas about what integrative medicine is and what CAM is. They are two different ways to approach health and healing and some people prefer one over the other. Some patients want to have their medical physician involved in their healthcare and be open to their use of CAM. Other patients just want to use CAM without involving their medical provider.

Read more from Dr. Kligler by clicking the links below:

• The difference between integrative medicine and conventional medicine
• Information you should share with your medical doctor and CAM provider
• Help your medical doctor understand your use of CAM
• Dr. Kligler explains Integrative medicine

Harlem Word is a series of interviews with Harlem health experts, written by HHPC and reviewed by our Health Advisory Board