Keynote: The Evolution of Integrative Medicine

Presented by:
Andrew Weil, MD

Modern scientific medicine has advanced rapidly, but those advances have not resulted in better health or healthcare. Ignoring the healing power of nature and the organism's intrinsic mechanisms of healing have made us dependent on therapeutic interventions requiring technology that is very expensive. The future of medicine is integrative – that is, in the thoughtful combination of conventional and alternative ideas and practices. Integrative medicine takes advantage of natural healing, treats whole persons (bodies, minds, spirits), considers all aspects of lifestyle in matters of health and illness, honors and supports the therapeutic relationship between practitioner and patient, and makes use of all appropriate therapies, using simpler, low-tech methods when possible.

This presentation was recorded at the 2022 Integrative Healthcare Symposium Annual Conference.