Research into Integrative Medicine
Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Integrative Medicine has become one of the leading research-focused programs in the country. The Center for Integrative Medicine looks into the role of mind/body/spirit and lifestyle changes and how they can affect chronic disease. Their studies yield evidence-based results that continue to encourage medical schools, hospitals and physicians to accept and incorporate these methods.
For example, research at Cleveland Clinic has shown that integrative medicine, including guided imagery, massage or Reiki, can help patients reduce their anxiety before surgery, to cope better with postoperative pain and to maximize their recovery.
The National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) grants funds for research striving to provide evidence for benefits of many therapies, potential uses, contraindications and the potential for harm.
Content Reviewed By: Tanya Edwards, MD, MEd, Medical Director, Cleveland Clinic Center for Integrative Medicine