Upwey Psychology supports the practice of Integrative Medicine as our primary approach to achieving Wellness and Wellbeing. The National Institute of Integrative Medicine is a useful source of information regarding this holistic approach to achieving and maintaining health and wellbeing.

Integrative Medicine is a holistic approach to health that treats the whole person rather than focuses on the management or reduction of symptoms. This approach combines Traditional Western Medicine with evidence based Alternative or Complementary treatments such as;

• Traditional Western Herbal Medicine
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Acupuncture
• Osteopathy
• Chiropractics
• Nutrition
• Massaage
• Exercise
• Meditation

Integrative Medicine is open to non-traditional approaches to healthcare however a core principle of Integrative Medicine is to offer treatments supported by high quality research and strong evidence base.

Integrative Medicine depends on a collaborative partnership between the Healthcare Practitioner and the person seeking relief from troubling symptoms. This approach to achieve health or wellness see the person seeking relief as having an important and powerful role to play in the resolution of their symptoms, the creation and maintenance of health.

Traditional Herbal Medicine

Herbal Medicine is the oldest and original pharmacy available to assist maintain and restore health however herbs work differently to drugs. Pharmaceutical drugs are largely designed to control symptoms whereas Herbal Medicine achieves health and wellbeing not only by reducing symptom severity but also by restoring balance within the Body-Mind System.

Herbal Medicine approaches the restoration and maintenance of health from the perspective of seeing the Body-Mind System as a dynamic complex system. Health is achieved or restored by stimulating the Self Organizing tendency of a Dynamic Complex System. Symptoms occur when the Body-Mind System is unable to Self Organize or adapt to a situation encountered in the natural course of living. Herbal Medicine strives to assist the Body-Mind System to complete the process of adapting and symptoms resolve as a consequence of restoring the self organizing tendency.

Diet and Nutrition

Diet and Nutrition are two important elements often neglected when people seek support for symptoms of Depression and Anxiety. Psychological symptoms are to some extent created by biochemistry. Diet and Nutrition and simple ways to provide your body with the building blocks the body needs to create positive moods, increase quality of sleep and reduce the frequency, intensity and duration of negative moods.

Exercise for the Body-Mind

Engaging in physical exercise such as walking, yoga, tai chi and swimming to name a few has a significant impact on reducing negative psychological symptoms. Including a form of exercise in your treatment plan is an important step in laying the foundations for long term Wellness and Wellbeing.