Our philosophy here at Tilo, in our approach to the healthcare of our patients, is aligned with the growing medical field of Integrative Medicine, which integrates Western and Complementary medicine, such as Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Complementary medicine, like the terms alternative, holistic or functional medicine, describe the use of natural treatments in addition to conventional care.

At Tilo, we combine the use acupuncture and herbal therapy with nutritional principles of functional medicine.

Acupuncture reorganizes the body by stimulating it in the direction of functional homeostasis or internal balance. Acupuncture and Functional Medicine combine very well. Functional medicine treats best health issues that have to do with the FUNCTION of organs, but where no pathology or structural change can be found, where there are no abnormal findings on exam or lab work.

Here are some of the principles of what this means for you to understand and participate in your own process of health & well-being. The fundamental aspects of integrative medicine could be summarized as follows:

Restoring to medicine its healing orientation. Having patients be aware of their options, knowing which modalities are effective for different cases.

Shifting the emphasis of the current Western health care system, which is not really set up as a health care system but as a disease care system. Doctors are trained to recognize disease, and treat it and, ideally, cure it, rather than to promote health. Integrative medicine strives to shift this model to one that supports health, maintains it and enhances it.

Health comes from the old English word “Hal” which means wholeness, soundness, or spiritual wellness. “Health,” is (defined by the World Health Organization) “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease”. To “cure” conversely, refers to doing something that alleviates a troublesome illness or condition.

Providing both evidence-based curing and mind-body-spirit healing is medicine at its best

In spite of the high number of visits to CAM practitioners, most patients do not inform or discuss them with their primary doctors


What patients want from their health care provider:

- That they take time to talk to them and explain in a language that they can understand the nature of their problem
- That they go over options of treatment with them
- That they understand the influence and effects of diet on their health
- That they understand the influence and effects of supplements and herbs on their health
- That they are aware of mind-body interactions and energetic medicine

Integrative medicine is built upon relationships: It is important for the doctor to get to know the patient (family, background, how they see the world, their emotional responses to the environment, their goals and passions, what makes them feel good or enhanced).

“It is much more important to know what sort of patient has the disease than what sort of disease the patient has”
Sir William Osler

Often, the main motivation for patients to seek CAM is not the treatment itself but the higher likelihood to get an explanation for the treatment that they will get and the likelihood to get recommendations for lifestyle and home care.

Perhaps one of the most essential elements of the model of integrative medicine is that practitioner and patient are partners in the healing process, rather than the doctor being on a pedestal imparting his wisdom to the patient. The doctor-patient relationship implies responsibility on the part of the patient for his or her own healing, and an exchange of information that will enhance the healing process.

A lot of the care that is part of integrative medicine is comprised of things that a patient can do on his or her own. The medical practitioner can give the patient tools and information that they take away with them to enhance their own health care.

Integrative medicine is based on a partnership between patient and practitioner within which conventional and alternative methods are used to stimulate the body’s healing response

Thank you!