The Role of Mindfulness Approaches in Integrative Medicine

Patients today frequently present with conditions caused by or aggravated by stress, lifestyle, and behavior. The number of patients with one or more chronic illnesses has increased worldwide, and lifestyle and behavior frequently contribute to these chronic conditions. Biomedical care fails to address many of the behavioral, lifestyle, and environmental factors causing and aggravating these conditions. The article proposes that integrative healthcare is better suited than biomedicine to address the biopsychosocial aspect of modern illness. In addition, mindfulness-based coping and mindfulness meditation are introduced as valuable tools for integrative medicine and integrative practitioners. The article introduces the concepts of the mindful practitioner, the mindful treatment encounter, mindful engagement of the patient, and mindfulness as treatment.