What is integrative medicine?
Integrative medicine means looking at the whole person, not just the one part that hurts. According to the book Beyond Stem Cells, it coordinates conventional care like medication and rehab with options such as chiropractic, acupuncture, yoga and nutrition, so providers work as a team instead of in separate silos. The book says gentle, non-invasive steps come first.
Key points
- Integrative medicine looks at the whole person: biology, habits, emotions, social life and environment all shape health.
- Chiropractic and medicine work better as teammates than rivals. The book says more providers now share conferences and knowledge.
- Start gentle: non-invasive care first, more intensive steps only when needed, and surgery as a last resort.
- Referrals go both ways. If a gentle approach is not helping, a chiropractor can send you to a specialist to look deeper.
- Chronic pain is rarely one cause, so one approach alone may only get you partway.
- What does a chiropractor do for osteoarthritis? The book says gentle adjustments may help range of motion in joints like knees, hips and shoulders.
- The vestibular system in your inner ear helps with balance. The book says supporting it may help people feel steadier.
- Massage is not a luxury, according to the book. It loosens soft tissue, gets blood flowing and calms the nervous system.
- Insurance: many plans cover some chiropractic care, but every policy is different, so call and ask first.
Chiropractic and Medicine as Teammates
Read the full transcript · Download the MP3 · Voices are AI-generated from a script based on the book.
What is integrative medicine, and why does it matter?
Integrative medicine is a whole-person approach that coordinates conventional care, such as medication and rehab, with options like chiropractic, acupuncture, yoga and nutrition. It matters because, the book says, providers who work as a team may help cut down on treatments that clash with each other. The old rivalry between these fields is starting to fade. A lot of people assume chiropractic care and conventional medicine do not get along. The book says that old picture is starting to change. More providers attend the same conferences and share what they know, which helps build respect across fields.
Looking at the whole person
Integrative healthcare means looking at the entire person, not just one set of symptoms or one body part. The book lists many overlapping factors that shape health: biological, behavioral, emotional, social, spiritual and environmental. Instead of isolating one system, this approach looks at how everything connects.
Integrative medicine examples
In this model, conventional care such as medication, rehabilitation and therapy works alongside acupuncture, chiropractic, yoga and nutritional support. The goal is to coordinate these options rather than have each one run in its own silo. According to the book, combining them thoughtfully may help cut down on treatments that clash with each other.
Gentle first, surgery last
The book describes starting with gentle, non-invasive care and stepping up only when it is really needed. It notes that most providers agree surgery should be a last resort. If the gentle approach is not helping, a chiropractor can refer you to a specialist, such as a gastroenterologist for stomach issues, to look deeper.
What does a chiropractor do for chronic pain and joints?
A chiropractor looks at how your joints move, not only where they hurt. According to the book, joints that are not moving right can create tension and poor movement habits, so gentle adjustments aim to support motion in joints like knees, hips and shoulders. This care goes alongside your regular medical care, not instead of it. Pain that lingers for months or even years is rarely the result of a single cause, according to the book. That is why a layered approach often makes more sense than one tool on its own.
What conventional medicine usually offers
Conventional care often turns to medication for chronic pain. The book says these medicines can be useful for calming inflammation and managing flare-ups, but they mostly control symptoms. It also mentions that long-term reliance can bring side effects and even dependency concerns.
Looking at what is underneath
Chiropractic care tries to look at what sits underneath the pain. According to the book, joints that are not moving right can create chronic tension and poor movement habits. The aim is to support how the joint moves, not only to quiet the symptom.
Osteoarthritis in knees, hips and shoulders
Older adults with osteoarthritis often use medication and light activity to ease stiffness and inflammation. The book says those methods may not fully address how the joint actually moves. Gentle adjustments may help improve range of motion, ease tension in the supporting muscles and help fluid movement inside the joint. For some people, the book says, that may mean everyday activities hurt less and possibly less need for ongoing medication over time.
Nerve conditions, balance and the vestibular system
The book talks about multiple sclerosis, stroke recovery and Parkinson's disease, and it is careful here. It says plainly that chiropractic is not treating MS directly. It may simply help with everyday challenges like stiffness, balance and posture. This goes alongside your regular doctor's care, not instead of it.
Stroke recovery
Stroke survivors usually work with physical, occupational and speech therapy. The book says chiropractic care can sit next to those therapies by focusing on joint mobility, posture and balance, areas that neurological changes may affect.
What is the vestibular system? Anatomy and balance
The vestibular system is the balance organ inside your inner ear. Its anatomy includes three fluid-filled semicircular canals that sense turning and two otolith organs, the utricle and saccule, that sense tilt and straight-line motion. The episode compares it to the bubble on a carpenter's level. The book says supporting it may help people feel steadier.
Parkinson's disease
Medication is essential for managing tremor, rigidity and other movement symptoms in Parkinson's disease. The book says chiropractic adjustments may help ease muscle tightness, improve flexibility and support more coordinated movement, which can matter for staying independent day to day.
Massage, insurance and keeping everyone in the conversation
The episode closes with a few practical points from the book.
- Massage is warm-up and cool-down: tight muscles can pull joints out of line and make adjustments hold less well. Massage loosens soft tissue and gets blood flowing.
- Massage also calms the nervous system. The book says it can lower stress hormones and help improve sleep.
- Insurance: many plans now cover some chiropractic care, including Medicare and workers' compensation, but every policy is different. The book's advice is to call your insurer and ask before you assume.
- Communication: care works best when your providers talk to each other and you are part of the conversation, so you know why you are doing each thing.
As the book puts it, it is not about whose method wins. It is about what is best for the patient.
Chapter 5 in one line
Chiropractic and medicine work better as teammates than rivals.
Episode 5 transcript.
Read along, or skim the parts you care about most.
EliseOkay so, chapter five. And this one's about chiropractic care and regular medicine, like, working together?
GuideYeah. Teamwork, basically.
EliseWhich, honestly, I kind of assumed those two didn't get along.
GuideThat's the old picture! And the book says that's starting to change.
EliseOh really?
GuideYeah. More of them go to the same conferences now. Share what they know.
EliseHuh. Okay, so what does working together actually look like?
GuideSo the book says start gentle. Non-invasive stuff first. Step up only when it's really needed.
EliseLike, surgery last.
GuideSurgery last. The book says most people agree it should be a last resort.
EliseMm-hm.
GuideAnd if the gentle approach isn't helping, the chiropractor sends you to a specialist to look deeper. Like a gastroenterologist for stomach issues.
EliseOh, so they refer out. I didn't know that.
GuideYeah, it goes both ways.
EliseOkay, there's a phrase I keep hearing. Integrative healthcare?
GuideSo that just means looking at the whole person. Not just the one part that hurts.
EliseOkay.
GuideThe book lists all this stuff that shapes your health. Biology, habits, emotions, your social life, your environment.
EliseThat's a lot.
GuideIt is! So instead of every provider working in their own little silo—
EliseLike, nobody talking to each other.
Guide—right, you coordinate. Medications and rehab, alongside chiropractic, acupuncture, yoga, nutrition.
EliseSo, like a band instead of a bunch of solo acts.
GuideI like that. And the book says it may help cut down on treatments that clash with each other.
EliseOkay, so let's talk pain. Like, pain that just doesn't go away.
GuideChronic pain. The book says it's rarely one cause. So one approach alone might only get you partway.
EliseWhat does regular medicine usually do?
GuideOften medication. Ibuprofen, or in more severe cases, opioids. And those can be useful for flare-ups.
EliseBut?
GuideBut they mostly control symptoms. And long-term, the book mentions side effects, even dependency.
EliseYeah, that part worries people.
GuideSo chiropractic tries to look at what's underneath. Joints that aren't moving right can create tension, bad movement habits.
EliseOkay, give me an example.
GuideOsteoarthritis. Older adults especially. Medication and light activity help with stiffness, but the book says they may not fully deal with how the joint actually moves.
EliseLike knees? Hips?
GuideYeah, think knees, hips, shoulders. And the book says gentle adjustments may help with range of motion, ease the muscles around the joint, and help things move more smoothly inside it.
EliseLike oiling a squeaky hinge.
GuideKind of! And for some people, the book says, that may mean everyday stuff hurts less. Maybe even less need for ongoing medication over time.
EliseHuh. Okay, what about bigger stuff? Like, nerve conditions?
GuideSo the book talks about multiple sclerosis, stroke recovery, Parkinson's. And it's really careful here.
EliseCareful how?
GuideIt says straight out, they're not treating MS directly. Chiropractic may just help with everyday stuff. Stiffness, balance, posture.
EliseOkay.
GuideAnd this goes alongside your regular doctor's care, not instead of it.
EliseGood. What about stroke?
GuideStroke survivors usually do physical, occupational, speech therapy. Chiropractic can sit next to that. Especially balance.
EliseBalance, how?
GuideThere's this thing called the vestibular system. It's in your inner ear.
EliseWait. Balance is in your ear?
GuideYep! It's like the bubble on a carpenter's level. And the book says supporting it may help people feel steadier and lower their risk of falls.
EliseOkay, that's wild. And massage? 'Cause I love a massage.
GuideWho doesn't. But the book says it's not a luxury. Tight muscles can pull things out of line and make adjustments not hold as well.
EliseOh, so massage is like the warm-up.
GuideWarm-up and cool-down. Loosens soft tissue, gets blood flowing. And it calms your nervous system. Better sleep, too.
EliseOkay, real-world question. Is any of this covered by insurance?
GuideOften, at least some. The book says lots of plans cover some chiropractic now. Even Medicare and workers' comp. But every policy's different. So the book's advice is, call your insurance and ask before you assume.
EliseFair. Anything else?
GuideYeah. The book says care works best when your providers talk to each other. And when you're in the conversation too.
EliseLike, you know why you're doing each thing.
GuideExactly. Then you're more likely to stick with it. It's not about whose method wins. It's what's best for you.
EliseOkay. So if you had to sum up chapter five?
GuideChiropractic and medicine work better as teammates than rivals.
EliseI like that. And, quick reminder, this is general info, not medical advice. Talk to your own provider.
GuideAlways.
This is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your own provider.
Frequently asked questions.
What is integrative medicine?
Integrative medicine looks at the whole person instead of one symptom or body part. According to the book, it coordinates conventional care like medication and rehab with options such as chiropractic, acupuncture, yoga and nutrition.
What does a chiropractor do?
A chiropractor looks at how your joints move, not only where they hurt. The book describes starting with gentle, non-invasive care. If that approach is not helping, a chiropractor can refer you to a specialist to look deeper, and referrals go both ways.
Can chiropractic care help with osteoarthritis?
According to the book, gentle adjustments may help range of motion, ease tension in supporting muscles and help joints like knees, hips and shoulders move more smoothly. For some people that may mean everyday activities hurt less.
What is the vestibular system and what is its anatomy?
The vestibular system is the balance organ inside your inner ear. Its anatomy includes three fluid-filled semicircular canals that sense turning and two otolith organs, the utricle and saccule, that sense tilt and straight-line motion. The book says supporting it may help people feel steadier.
Does insurance cover chiropractic care?
Often, at least in part. The book says many plans cover some chiropractic care, including Medicare and workers' compensation, but every policy is different. Call your insurer and ask before you assume.
Where is Beyond Stem Cells located?
Beyond Stem Cells is at 5912 S Cody St, Suite 201, Littleton, CO 80123, serving the Denver metro. This podcast is general education, not medical advice.
Want to see how this connects to joint care in the Denver metro? Learn about joint regeneration, knee pain treatment, hip pain treatment, regenerative medicine at Beyond Stem Cells, shoulder pain treatment, non-surgical joint pain options.
Further reading: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH): complementary, alternative, or integrative health.
Want the whole book? Get the free Beyond Stem Cells book.
Regenerative care in Littleton and the Denver metro.
Beyond Stem Cells sits just off S Cody St in Littleton, an easy drive from Ken Caryl, Highlands Ranch, Centennial, Englewood and Lakewood.
Questions about your own situation?
The podcast is general education. If you want to talk about your own health, request a consultation with our team.
Beyond Stem Cells · 5912 S Cody St, Suite 201, Littleton, CO 80123 · (833) 720-7836 · info@beyondstemcells.com
Medical disclaimer: This page is general education based on the book Beyond Stem Cells by John Comandari and Neville Campbell, MD. It is not medical advice. Individual results vary and no specific outcome is promised. Talk to your own provider about your situation.