While people turn to integrative medicine for many reasons, studies show that the majority do so because they consider it to be more aligned with their values, beliefs, and philosophies about health and life than a strictly conventional medical approach is.

Some prefer the customized, personal care that comes with integrative medicine's whole-person perspective. Others believe it's only logical to incorporate health strategies into their lives from the widest array of proven approaches possible. They think an integrative approach will allow them to achieve or maintain the best health possible.

Studies conducted at Duke University show that patients who participate in integrative medicine programs realize more profound health benefits than those who don't. Such programs can be one-on-one learning with a single health coach, or they can be an "immersion" into a healthful lifestyle. An immersion program may involve several days of on-site living, during which patients participate in a number of medical and therapeutic sessions, are surrounded by a team of integrative medicine experts, and work with a health coach during and after the program