“Integrative medicine allowed me to see patients as whole beings, not just diseases”

By Dr. Luis Montaño García

I’ll admit: early in my medical practice I followed the traditional paradigm—accurate diagnosis, standard treatment, hope for results. But as years passed, seeing patients—despite optimal protocols—stagnate, I asked: what if health isn’t just about the disease, but the person as a whole? That’s when integrative medicine entered my professional journey and changed how I view wellness.

1) What is integrative medicine and why I chose this path

Integrative medicine blends conventional medicine—diagnosis, surgery, pharmacology—with evidence-based complementary therapies: meditation, acupuncture, mindful nutrition, physical exercise, emotional balance. The goal isn’t to replace conventional treatments, but to enhance outcomes, reduce side-effects, and improve quality of life. BVS MTCI+2regenerahealth.com+2
From my background in sports medicine at Universidad del Norte, I realised that performance depended not only on muscle or technique but also sleep, stress management, nutrition, mind-body harmony. This led me toward a holistic model: treating the person, not just the illness.

In early years I worked with athletes, overweight patients, hypertensives, metabolic disorders. It was when I began introducing meditation, conscious breathing, complementary therapies that my practice shifted: patients responded better, recovered faster, maintained changes more easily. That was the turning point into integrative practice.

2) How integrative medicine enhances conventional treatments (and why I saw it in oncology)

One of my most eye-opening experiences involved a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy, who also embraced an integrative plan: daily meditation, tailored nutrition, moderate exercise, emotional-body integration.
While no miracle cures are promised, I witnessed improved vitality, reduced fatigue, better treatment tolerance, more life momentum. In scientific literature, integrative oncology is emerging: “complementing conventional cancer treatments with therapies that improve quality of life, reduce side-effects, and boost treatment efficacy”. medicusgaia.com+1

Another example: a 57-year-old woman treated for breast cancer adopted yoga, anti-inflammatory nutrition, walking at dusk, mind-body sessions. In six months she said: “I don’t just feel less ill—I feel alive.” For me, that’s integrative medicine: not merely overcoming disease, but rediscovering life.

3) The role of exercise, nutrition and mind in holistic health

In my sports-medicine specialty, I’ve observed that muscle, strength and physical activity act as therapies. When you combine strength + cardio + mobility with nutrition and emotional balance, metabolic responses shift. And when you add the mind-body dimension, you unlock synergy.

Exercise: strength training (2-3×/week) plus moderate cardio (2×/week) enhances glucose uptake, lowers insulin, improves metabolism.
Nutrition: focus on proteins, fiber, low-glycemic carbs; avoid glucose spikes; align meals with circadian rhythms.
Mind & emotion: meditation, controlled breathing, stress-management, quality sleep. If the body is exhausted or you sleep poorly, no diet or workout hits its full effect.
Together, these pillars strengthen the immune system, lower chronic inflammation and restore the internal engine that often has stalled.

4) Evidence, cases and life transformation

Over the years I have worked with hundreds of patients across ages and conditions—active individuals not losing weight, cancer-patients under treatment, resistant hypertension, chronic fatigue. Some key lessons:

• Patients already on protocols, who added an integrative component, saw noticeable improvements in energy, mood, adherence.
• Overweight/obese patients whose treatment was not just “medication or diet” but full lifestyle integration—and they achieved more sustainable results.
• Oncological patients who reported feeling “less sick” while in treatment and whose mind-body-nutrition integration allowed them to maintain activity, social life, and zest for life.

In literature, integrative medicine is described as a “holistic approach to healing emphasising the whole person, combining conventional biomedicine with evidence-based complementary therapies”. BVS MTCI+1 Reviews of systematic studies show that certain interventions (meditation, nutrition, exercise, acupuncture) have sufficient support to be considered foundational in clinical integrative practice. observatoriomedicinaintegrativa.org+1

One story: a lymphoma patient concluding treatment embraced yoga, meditation, personalised nutrition and group walks. Not only did his fatigue scores drop, his psychological outlook soared: “Now I live with intent; before I just survived.” That human transformation is what sets this approach apart.

5) How to adopt an integrative approach in your life

If you’re reading this because you’re looking for more than “the pill and the protocol,” here’s a practical guide adapted from my clinical experience:

1. Active attitude: recognise that you are the protagonist in your healing. The professional guides you, but you take the lead.
2. Lifestyle audit: Are you sleeping enough? Is your food real? Do you have a consistent strength/movement routine? Are you managing stress?
3. Choose complementary therapies with backing: meditation, exercise, nutrition are strong; not all “alternative” therapies have equal evidence—seek professional guidance. medicusgaia.com
4. Integrate with conventional treatment: it’s not “or,” it’s “and.” Conventional medicine is essential; integrative enhances it. In oncology, for example, integration improves quality of life.
5. Track measurable outcomes: beyond how you feel—record sleep metrics, activity minutes, nutrition habits, and, if applicable, lab markers.
6. Be patient and consistent: deep change often takes 6-12 months or more. The first 3-4 months build foundations (sleep, stress, muscle, nutrient timing); the next months the consistency pays off.

Most of my patients say: “I thought I had to choose between conventional medicine or natural therapies; you showed me they can unite—and there’s real power when they do.”

At Revive Wellness & Longevity we focus not only on aesthetic treatments but on a lifestyle that brings fulfillment, health and real physical changes. Because for weight loss, for instance, it’s not just a medical intervention—it’s a journey of support, an integrated program with proven results. I invite you to take the first step toward a life where health and well-being go hand in hand. Book your assessment today and let’s unlock your transformation together.