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Essential Resources for Studying Integrative Medicine and Medical Acupuncture

  • Writer: John Kim
    John Kim
  • 3 days ago
  • 3 min read

Compliled by Yoon Hang Kim MD



Essential Resources for Studying Integrative Medicine and Medical Acupuncture


Whether you're a healthcare professional looking to expand your practice or a medical student drawn to whole-person care, the path to integrative medicine mastery combines rigorous study with practical training. Here are the foundational resources that have shaped my own journey and continue to guide practitioners entering this field.

Foundational Reading

Spontaneous Healing by Andrew Weil, MD

Dr. Andrew Weil's classic text remains essential reading for anyone entering integrative medicine. Spontaneous Healing: How to Discover and Enhance Your Body's Natural Ability to Maintain and Heal Itself offers a foundational understanding of the body's innate healing capacity—a concept that underpins all integrative practice.

Integrative Medicine by David Rakel, MD

This comprehensive textbook serves as the definitive clinical reference for integrative medicine practice. Dr. Rakel's work bridges evidence-based conventional medicine with complementary approaches, providing practical protocols for a wide range of conditions. I recommend purchasing whichever edition fits your budget—even older editions contain valuable foundational content.


Formal Training Programs

Medical Acupuncture Certification

The Helms Medical Institute (HMI) offers the gold standard in medical acupuncture training for physicians. Their curriculum provides comprehensive training in both traditional Chinese medicine theory and modern neuroanatomical approaches to acupuncture.

Functional Medicine Training

The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) provides comprehensive training in addressing root causes of chronic disease. For those concerned about cost, IFM offers scholarship programs to increase accessibility.

Military Medicine Training

For those in military healthcare settings, the Walter Reed Pain Care Initiative offers specialized training in integrative approaches to pain management.


Complementary Skills

Clinical Hypnosis

Hypnotherapy offers powerful applications in pain management, anxiety reduction, and behavior change. Sounds True provides accessible online training for healthcare professionals.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Jon Kabat-Zinn's MBSR protocol remains one of the most evidence-based mind-body interventions available. Both personal practice and formal training to teach MBSR enhance clinical effectiveness.

Continuing Education & Community

Function Health with Claude Pro

Function Health offers comprehensive biomarker testing paired with AI-powered interpretation, providing a modern tool for understanding patient health at a granular level.


Substack

Medical Substacks have become valuable sources of ongoing education, clinical pearls, and community discussion. Following thought leaders in integrative medicine can supplement formal training with real-world insights.


Building Your Integrative Practice

The path to integrative medicine competence isn't linear. Most practitioners find their approach evolving as they deepen expertise in specific areas—whether that's medical acupuncture, functional medicine, mind-body therapies, or botanical medicine. Start with foundational texts and formal training, then let your clinical experience and patient population guide further specialization.

The resources above represent starting points rather than endpoints. Integrative medicine is inherently about continuous learning and remaining open to evidence wherever it leads.


Have questions about integrative medicine training or resources? Feel free to reach out.

About Dr. Kim

Dr. Yoon Hang "John" Kim is a board-certified integrative medicine physician with over 20 years of clinical experience. He completed his integrative medicine fellowship at the University of Arizona under Dr. Andrew Weil and holds certifications in preventive medicine, medical acupuncture, and integrative/holistic medicine. Through his telemedicine practice, Dr. Kim specializes in utilizing LDN or Low Dose Naltrexone for treating autoimmune conditions, chronic pain, integrative oncology, and complex conditions including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, MCAS, and mold toxicity. He is the author of three books and more than 20 articles, and has helped establish integrative medicine programs at institutions nationwide.

 
 
 

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