The Australian Integrative Medicine Association (AIMA) describes integrative medicine as “a philosophy of healthcare with a focus on individual patient care. It combines the best of conventional Western medicine with evidence-based complementary medicine and therapies.”
My definition of integrative practice is healing using the best of both worlds, although that’s probably too simple. These days, conventional veterinary medicine includes aspects previously regarded as complementary, such as nutrition and nutraceuticals, as well as rehabilitation. Holistic medicine may consist of many modalities, including but not limited to Western herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Ayurvedic medicine, naturopathy, homeopathy and physical therapies, such as acupuncture, massage, chiropractic and photobiomodulation. There are energetic remedies, including Reiki and Bowen, and emotional remedies, such as flower essences. Other alternative treatments include intravenous vitamin infusions, faecal transplantation, ozone, hyperbaric oxygen and gold implantation. This list isn’t complete, but most integrative vets will offer some of these modalities.
More and more pet carers are looking for alternatives to conventional medicine. When I started working as an integrative vet in the early 2000s, our practice was the only one in Sydney offering this approach. The CIVT (College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies) directory now lists seven integrative practices in NSW, although there are probably more. Why this trend? Perhaps many reasons, including some distrust of conventional medical care, a view that natural or less invasive interventions might be safer, a pet carer’s philosophy for their health and the importance of the human-to-animal bond. How do we know integrative approaches work? A conventional approach to treat allergic dermatitis might include antibiotics to treat infection and corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and itch. This combination will probably relieve symptoms within several days. However, there may be side effects such as increased thirst, toileting and anxiety, and the inflammation and itch may return once the medicines are completed. So, does this conventional approach work? Yes, in the short term, with side effects. Not in the longer term.
So, what would an integrative approach for skin allergies be? Tilly was a three-year-old Cavoodle