On Oct. 17, 2022, a pivotal gathering by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) marked a significant moment in health care research. The Institute for Natural Medicine (INM) joined dozens of stakeholders, including leading experts from complementary and integrative medicine, academic institutions and health care organizations, to explore a revolutionary approach to understanding human health.
The meeting highlighted a critical challenge facing integrative health research: limited funding and recognition. As one of the least-funded institutes within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the NCCIH faces significant barriers in exploring comprehensive approaches to health care that extend beyond traditional medical paradigms.
In response, a groundbreaking initiative emerged—the NCCIH Coalition for Whole Person Health. Comprising over 70 organizations nationwide including health care organizations, associations, nonprofits and academic centers, this independent group represents a collective voice for patient-centered, integrative care. INM is proud to be a part of this new entity. The coalition’s mission is clear: raise awareness about the potential of comprehensive health research and amplify the perspectives of patients, communities and health care professionals.
At the heart of this transformative approach is the concept of salutogenesis—an approach that fundamentally reframes health care from treating disease to promoting optimal wellness. Unlike conventional medical models that primarily respond to illness, salutogenesis focuses on creating conditions that support and enhance human vitality. This philosophy is deeply rooted in naturopathic medicine’s core principle of the “healing power of nature”—the understanding that living systems possess an inherent capacity for self-healing and regeneration.
Interestingly, this perspective is not unique to naturopathic medicine. Similar concepts permeate various traditional healing systems. Chinese medicine’s concept of qi, ayurveda’s understanding of prana, and chiropractic medicine’s life force philosophy all share a common thread—recognizing the body’s intrinsic ability to heal and maintain balance. These approaches challenge the purely materialistic view of health that reduces healing to isolated biological mechanisms.
The potential of this approach is now being explored. Earlier this month, during the NCCIH’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, RAND corporation health economist Patricia Herman, ND, PhD presented compelling research that quantifies the transformative power of whole-person health. In a groundbreaking study, Dr. Herman and her colleagues developed a theoretical model comparing conventional health care with a whole-person approach for a patient from age 40 to 80.
The results were nothing short of remarkable. Using 2023 U.S. dollar resource prices and health care utilization data validated by the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey, the study revealed a stark contrast. With conventional care, the hypothetical patient was projected to be increasingly frail, ultimately residing in a skilled nursing facility, with cumulative health care costs of $353,155. In contrast, the whole-person health approach projected the same patient as active and independently living, with total health care costs of just $52,425—a sevenfold reduction in expenses. And a stark difference in life experiences.
This research powerfully illustrates the potential of investing early in whole-person health strategies. By supporting fundamental wellness through diet, physical activity and stress management, whole-person health care offers a path to reduced medical costs and improved quality of life.
The Coalition represents a critical step toward legitimizing these integrative approaches. As philosopher Thomas Kuhn argued,1 scientific progress often occurs through radical transformations—paradigm shifts that fundamentally reshape our understanding. Including complementary and integrative health disciplines in national research conversations signals a potentially revolutionary moment in health care.
Challenges remain. Many of these healing systems and philosophies continue to spark controversy and have not yet been subjected to rigorous scientific investigation. The call to action is clear: researchers must design studies that explore these alternative healing systems, identifying their common principles and potential contributions to human health.
The NCCIH Coalition represents more than an organizational initiative—it is a beacon of hope for a more comprehensive, patient-centered approach to health care. By bringing together diverse perspectives and challenging existing medical paradigms, these researchers and practitioners are laying the groundwork for a more holistic understanding of human wellness.
As we stand at the threshold of this potential transformation, one thing becomes abundantly clear: the future of health care lies not in treating symptoms but in understanding and supporting the body’s inherent capacity for healing and vitality.
Reference:
1 Kuhn T. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Chicago, University Chicago Press. 1962.
Michelle Simon, PhD, ND President & CEO, Institute for Natural Medicine
In 1992, the leadership core of naturopathic doctors established the Institute for Natural Medicine (INM) as a not for profit organization dedicated to advancing natural medicine. The purpose of the INM is to increase awareness of, broaden public access to, and encourage research about natural medicine and therapies. Among its milestones the INM counts the launch of the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC) as an independent organization, leading California’s efforts to obtain licensure, developing an interactive childhood education program focused on healthy eating and lifestyles called Naturally Well in 2017, and expanding residency access by establishing and funding a residency program in 2018. INM has joined forces with the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP), serving as the charitable arm, to deepen access to naturopathic care, public education and research. Dr. Michelle Simon serves as president and CEO of INM, is a licensed naturopathic physician, clinician, educator and leader in many organizations dedicated to improving the quality and delivery of health care. In addition to holding a naturopathic doctorate from Bastyr University, she also holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Simon has served on the boards for the Integrative Healthcare Policy Consortium (IHPC), the AANP and the Naturopathic Physicians Research Institute (NPRI). Dr. Simon also served nine years on the Washington State Health Technology Clinical Committee which is part of the Health Technology Assessment program that examines the scientific evidentiary basis for efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness of health care technologies. She was also an invited participant for health care economics at “Summit on Integrative Medicine and the Health of the Public” at the Institute for Medicine (IOM) in 2009. Dr. Simon was recognized as the 2018 Physician of the Year by the AANP.
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