A HEALTHY YOU
Exploring Integrative Medicine
January is Integrative Health Month
This month is dedicated to recognizing the holistic approach to healthcare, which considers the interconnectedness of the body, mind, spirit, and emotions. The goal is to raise awareness about the benefits of integrative health practices—such as acupuncture, yoga, herbal medicine, and nutrition—while promoting patient-centered care. Through collaboration between patients and healthcare providers, personalized care plans can be created to optimize health outcomes.
Integrative health represents a transformative model of care that bridges conventional and complementary medicine, improving treatment outcomes by addressing the whole person. It also highlights the importance of preventive healthcare and the role of lifestyle changes in reducing chronic disease risk.
Also known as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) or holistic medicine, integrative medicine combines evidence-based traditional and alternative treatments to enhance overall health and well-being. Its primary focus is on reducing disease risk and fostering vitality through healthier habits, ultimately achieving greater longevity and optimal wellness.
Key aspects of integrative health include:
Lifestyle Changes
Addressing stress, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and environmental factors.
Complementary Therapies
Utilizing acupuncture, yoga, probiotics, massage therapy, herbs, and supplements.
Conventional Medicine
Incorporating medication, physical rehabilitation, and psychotherapy.
Evidence-Based Strategies
Promoting lifestyle changes to reduce disease risk.
Integrative Health in Massachusetts
Integrative medicine is increasingly available in hospitals, wellness centers, and clinics across Massachusetts. Below are some respected locations offering integrative health services:
A collaboration between Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Chestnut Hill, MA
Boston, MA
Wellesley, MA
Westborough and Boston, MA
Hopkinton, MA
Newton, MA
Salem and Boston, MA
Watertown, MA
About the Author
Cynthia Conigliaro is the Sales and Marketing Director for Organizational Wellness and Learning Systems (OWLS), a consulting firm focused on employee emotional wellbeing and organizational culture analysis. For almost five years she has worked alongside the owner of OWLS to design and implement mental health related employee wellness trainings and workshops for organizations across the United States.
For almost 15 years she has had her own health and wellness coaching business. Cynthia works with individuals and groups and runs virtual and in person workshops for employees on a variety of health and wellness topics relating to both physical and mental health. She is an Infinite Possibilities Certified Trainer and a Resilience and Life Coach. She has been a volunteer with the Worksite Wellness Council of Massachusetts (WWCMA) for the past 4 years where she sits on both the Programs Committee and the Marketing Committee. Cynthia has her Master of Social Work and her Master of Business Administration from Boston College and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Spanish from College of the Holy Cross.