Restorative Medicine is a cross-disciplinary approach for 21st century medicine based on “restoring” organ function and repairing tissue damage. It is not simply treating symptoms and palliating medical conditions. The restorative approach to medicine aligns with the body’s innate healing nature for restoring a harmonious state of health.

Restorative Medicine is comprised of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies that, combined with lifestyle changes, are capable of preventing future diseases and slowing the progression of existing diseases.  "We believe such restoration to be the ultimate goal of medicine," according to Dr. Michael Friedman, President of the Association for the Advancement of Restorative Medicine. 

Not all "natural" medicines are restorative.

Medicines that are simply “natural” analogs to comparable pharmaceutical drugs are sometimes referred to as “green allopathy". While they may be preferred over drugs with harmful side effects, the use of such agents alone is inferior to therapies that may actually restore tissue and organ health and function.  Green allopathic therapies, as with the majority of pharmaceutical therapies, will not necessarily restore health, and medical conditions recur or worsen when green allopathic medicines are discontinued.  

Dr. Friedman explains this is not the case with “Restorative Medicines” because the goal is to repair tissue degeneration, optimize cellular and metabolic function, and build organ health. In many cases, medications can be discontinued altogether over time as health and vitality are truly restored.

Growing Interest in CAM Therapies like Restorative Medicine

According to the National Institutes of Health National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, there is continued and growing interest from patients in CAM therapies. CAM therapies are either, complementary, used in conjunction with conventional medicine, or alternative, used in place of conventional medicine. Over 38 percent of adults reported using CAM in a 2007 study, and among patients who routinely go to the doctor for conventional treatment, the number is twice as high. Over 80 percent of primary care physicians want education on CAM therapies to address their patients' questions and concerns. 

Restorative Medicine therapies include bio-identical hormones, nutrition, herbal medicine and lifestyle.

New Restorative Medicine Blog to Address Questions and Research 

AARM has created this blog to address physicians' questions and topics of interest in Restorative Medicine. We will cover the latest peer-reviewed research from our new "Journal of Restorative Medicine" and clinical trials. We will also conduct interviews with leading experts, both Naturopathic and Medical Doctors, who will present at our Annual Restorative Medicine Conference, now in its tenth year! Please let us know your topics of interest in the comments below. 

AARM Conference and Members

AARM looks to attract a balanced mix of Medical Doctors and Naturopathic Doctors as attendees at the Annual Restorative Medicine Conference who want to learn more about Restorative Medicine. 

This cross-disciplinary balance is unique to the AARM Conference to be held in San Diego, September 13-16, 2012. The Annual Restorative Medicine Conference will be an evidence-based clinical research review in Integrative Endocrinology and Cardiology. Last year's conference sold out.

Members of the Association for the Advancement of Restorative Medicine are providers who must hold one of the following degrees–MD, DO, DC, ND, NMD, NP, PA. We invite you to learn more about AARM membership. You can also follow @RestorativeMed and #AARM12 on Twitter for conference updates and join our Restorative Medicine LinkedIn group.

Welcome to our community!

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Learn more about What is Restorative Medicine? at The Association for the Advancement of Restorative Medicine