The search for broader, individual-centered approaches has driven the growth of integrative therapies in health. These practices, which include Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), herbal medicine, acupuncture and others, have gained space as important allies in disease prevention and promotion of functional balance.

In this article, we will explore how integrative therapies can be safely and effectively applied in clinical practice - especially by nutritionists, doctors and other professionals who use the prescription of dietary supplements as a therapeutic tool.

What are integrative therapies?

Integrative therapies are care practices that act in a complementary way to conventional medicine. They consider not only physical aspects, but also emotional, energetic, and environmental factors that influence an individual's health.

According to the Ministry of Health, Brazil already officially recognizes 29 Integrative and Complementary Practices (PICs) in the SUS, including: acupuncture, herbal medicine, meditation, Reiki, homeopathy and traditional Chinese medicine therapies.

These practices have been increasingly incorporated by health professionals who wish to act in a manner preventive, personalized and humanized.

Traditional Chinese Medicine and prevention

Among the oldest and most widespread integrative therapies in the world is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), who understands health as the result of the balance between body, mind and vital energy (Qi).

From the perspective of TCM, energy imbalances precede the physical manifestation of diseases. That makes this approach highly effective in the early detection of functional changes, allowing preventive interventions with techniques such as:

• Acupuncture;

• Chinese diet therapy;

• Oriental herbal medicine (use of bioactive compounds);

• Energy exercises such as Qi Gong.

In Brazil, the number of nutritionists seeking training in TCM is growing to apply their concepts in a complementary way to the dietary plan and to the prescription of supplements.

Benefits of integrative therapies in disease prevention

• They act in stress reduction, one of the main chronic inflammatory triggers;

• They favor the gut-brain axis balance, influencing the immune and emotional system;

• They improve the sleep quality and hormonal self-regulation;

• We assist in energy homeostasis, preventing imbalances that lead to metabolic diseases;

• They strengthen the professional-patient relationship, valuing humanized care.

The intersection between supplements and integrative therapies

When embedding integrative therapies in clinical practice, nutritionists and other prescribers can enhance the effects of supplements. The Vitafor line based on Traditional Chinese Medicine it is a great resource for these professionals, since it combines the ancient tradition of TCM with contemporary scientific rigor, respecting the principles of integrative practice.

The role of the integrative health professional

Adopting an integrative view does not mean abandoning evidence-based medicine - quite the contrary. Means see the patient as a whole, understand your habits, emotions, and subtle signs before the disease sets in.

For health professionals who work with prevention, integrative therapies expand therapeutic possibilities and improve patient adherence. They are not only complementary, they are a effective strategy for early intervention and lasting health promotion.

Conclusion

As integrative therapies represent a promising path for health care, especially in the prevention of chronic diseases and in strengthening patients' overall vitality. Combined with the intelligent prescription of supplements and nutritional monitoring, these practices place the professional in a leading position in a more complete, humane and effective clinical approach.

Incorporating this integrative view is, above all, a clinical differential that adds value to the patient experience and contributes to longer lasting results.

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