Abstract
This study examined the present state of integrative medicine (IM), problems regarding its frequency, and strategies for promotion of IM in Japan. In Germany, complimentary alternative medicine (CAM) is frequently used. In the U.S.A. and England, various CAM programs have become more common recently, mainly for cancer patients. In the U.S.A. and Germany, academic programs for IM exist for not only doctors but also co-medical staff, medical students, and citizens. In Japan, several clinics provide IM, but in academic situations, few programs regarding IM exist. Thus, the introduction of IM in Japan is needed. Here, strategies to introduce IM to Japan are examined. In medicine, the whole patient needs to be cared for, not just the disease. In that sense, IM would be considered an ideal type of medicine, and therefore, programs regarding IM should be developed. The founding of an IM college is needed, and furthermore, founding of a comprehensive CAM college is also needed to improveskills and to deepen awareness for co-medical workers, who would take important roles in IM.
