Personalized integrative medicine: Bridging CAM and EBM

Personalized integrative medicine (PIM) represents a groundbreaking approach that merges complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) with evidence-based medicine (EBM) to deliver patient-centered care. This combined method enables patients to investigate both CAM and EBM treatments on equal footing, enriching their understanding of each system and enhancing patient care quality. Nonetheless, the integration of these approaches poses challenges due to their distinct philosophies: EBM depends on scientific proof derived from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), whereas CAM embraces a holistic, tailored treatment strategy, which can create potential conflicts among practitioners. To overcome these obstacles, a new systematology that integrates both a priori (pre-intervention classification) and a posteriori (dynamic re-evaluation based on observable reactions) research methodologies is suggested. This combined technique minimizes selection bias, facilitates real-time modifications to research parameters, and improves comprehension of patient-specific responses, accommodating the variability in treatment outcomes. For example, a clinical trial assessing hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) syrup for asthma highlighted the importance of a posteriori subgrouping by showing differing effectiveness based on cough type. The integrated methodology promotes flexibility, addresses patient diversity, and encourages innovative data management and statistical analysis. Despite its benefits, the implementation of this new methodology necessitates advanced data management systems and continuous collaboration among various medical professionals to align CAM and EBM principles. Ongoing research should aim to refine these approaches, assess their implementation in clinical environments, and create standardized guidelines for PIM to navigate its complexities and improve patient outcomes.