An Integrative Medicine Approach to Women's Health

Women have unique health concerns and seek healthcare support that can provide a holistic approach. The interest in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has been steadily on the rise, with data showing 52% of women with chronic health conditions seeking some form of CAM. Using conventional and complementary therapies, integrative medicine has taken the reigns in providing women with evidence-based care that addresses their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs.

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What is Integrative Medicine?

Combining western medical science with a whole-person approach philosophy is the basis of integrative medicine. Physicians that practice integrative medicine will consider all factors of your health that affect your well-being. The determinants that make one healthy, such as nutrition, sleep, exercise, environment, social interactions, and mental and emotional factors, contribute to how integrative doctors will asses and approach your care. Considering these areas of your health when treating a symptom or specific condition allows the doctor to curate an individualized treatment plan. Integrative practitioners utilize pharmaceuticals when necessary yet emphasize complementary and alternative medicine. There are many types of providers practicing integrative care. Examples include Naturopathic Doctors, MDs, Chiropractors, Acupuncturists, and Psychotherapists.

What is Integrative Women's Health?

Integrative women's health aims to support women with tools that can cover the whole spectrum of their healthcare needs. This may include a referral to a naturopathic doctor, an acupuncturist, or a massage therapist. Each provider contributes unique skill sets and therapeutics to improve your health outcome. An integrative approach may incorporate pharmaceuticals, herbal medicine, physical medicine, supplementation, and mental health support.

Leading Health Concerns in Women's Health

• The Impact of Stress on Women's Health
• Common Female Reproductive Health Issues
• How to Improve Women's Reproductive Health
• Strategies for Managing Menopause Symptoms
• The Impact of Diet on Women's Health
• Understanding Women's Mental Health & Hormones
• The Benefits of Exercise for Women's Health
• Exploring the Benefits of Hormone Therapy for Women
• The Benefits of Breastfeeding for Women's Health & Baby

Top Functional Medicine Labs to Test for Women's Health

When it comes to women's health concerns, testing is based on symptom presentation. Hormone imbalance, endocrine disruption, stress, gut health, anxiety, and weight management issues are some of the top conditions in women seeking integrative healthcare. Laboratory testing is helpful to get a clear picture and help determine the root cause of symptoms. Here are the top 5 categories of testing used in integrative medicine for women.

Hormone Testing

Women's hormones fluctuate with different seasons of life. There is a normal ebb and flow, and then there is a dysfunctional imbalance. Comprehensively assessing sex hormones, along with cortisol, is valuable when evaluating for hormone imbalances. The DUTCH Complete is an in-depth dried urine test by Precision Analytical. In addition to sex hormone metabolites and cortisol readings, it will analyze eight organic acids, melatonin, and overall oxidative stress. A stand-out feature of this test is that it gives an overview of how your hormones interplay with the HPA axis, which impacts many women.

Thyroid Panel

A complete Thyroid Panel evaluates hormones involved in thyroid function, such as TSH, fT3, and fT4. It can also reveal any nutrient conversion issues between the thyroid and liver through an rT3 marker or if an autoimmune thyroid condition is involved (Anti-TPO and Anti-Tg). Thyroid function has a bidirectional relationship with hormones through the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian (HPO) Axis, which like the HPA axis, can impact many areas of women's health.

Lipid Panel

Evidence reveals that 45% of women over the age of 20 have elevated cholesterol. Monitoring the status of total cholesterol, HDL ("good cholesterol"), LDL ("bad cholesterol"), and triglycerides is an important consideration. Getting a Comprehensive Lipid Panel as a baseline assessment can also provide information regarding heart health and inflammation.

Stool Analysis

Diagnostic Solutions offers the GI-MAP test, which screens for 50 microbes that impact gut health. This test screens for bacteria, parasites, fungi, yeasts, H-pylori, and viruses. It's a great option if gut dysfunction is suspected.

Micronutrient Test

Whether it be stress, reproductive health issues, nutrition issues, or mental health conditions, micronutrients are essential. Micronutrients consist of vitamins and minerals your body uses as co-factors in physiological processes and cellular function. When deficient in particular micronutrients, you may experience exacerbated symptoms of a disease process or vitamin deficiency. Nutrient evaluation through a test like SpectraCell's Micronutrient Test can help pinpoint deficiencies impacting your health.

How An Integrative Medicine Approach Can Benefit Women's Health

Collaboration across health fields can assist in providing women with well-rounded care. Each healthcare provider in the Complementary and Alternative Medicine industry offers a unique and valuable service that can contribute to treating you in a holistic fashion. Here are some common integrative medicine fields that are supportive of addressing women's health:

Nutrition

Integrative practitioners treat patients on an individualized basis. Depending on your health concerns, a specific nutrition plan may be recommended. It's important to remember that women's nutrition needs to fluctuate during different stages of life. In general, eating a balanced whole foods diet with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and protein is ideal for health.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Herbs & Supplements

Utilizing natural products like herbal medicine and nutraceutical supplements can make a profound difference in women's health. Specific herbs are beneficial for various stages in a woman's life. For example, herbal products such as black cohosh and red clover can be helpful during menopause, while ginger and fenugreek can be supportive during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Acupuncture

This Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice has been utilized for thousands of years to aid in balancing the mind, body, and spirit aspects of health. Acupuncture is an effective modality for female reproductive health issues and mental health conditions such as depression.  

Vitamin Therapy

Maintaining health requires adequate vitamin status at all ages and stages of womanhood. One study showed that women 19-50 years old have a 41% risk of having a micronutrient deficiency. Supplementing with reputable brand vitamins can help increase your micronutrient status, and intravenous Vitamin Therapy may be an appropriate addition when needed. Results from a Micronutrient panel can help individualize vitamin recommendations.

Massage

Bodywork is relaxing and rejuvenating. The benefits of a therapeutic massage range from improved sleep to reduced stress and anxiety to an improved immune system. Specific to women's health, this study found that massage improved insomnia in postmenopausal women.

Yoga

Yoga is a mind and body practice that can help alleviate symptoms such as stress and enhance physical mobility and strength. Multiple studies have also revealed that Yoga can significantly improve psychological symptoms associated with menopause.

Summary

The paradigm of medicine continues to shift to best suit patients' needs. Women's health is one area continuously expanding within the integrative medicine approach. After all, taking a holistic approach allows the practitioner and patient to see the individual areas impacting health the most. When we can approach the issue from multiple angles using evidence-based conventional and CAM therapies, women not only heal but become empowered to understand themselves more.