Integrative Approaches to Health: Lessons from Diverse Cultures

Mugisha Emmanuel K.

Faculty of Science and Technology Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

The escalating global burden of chronic, multifactorial diseases reveals the limitations of orthodox biomedical models that focus narrowly on pathologies rather than people. Drawing on lessons from Mongolian, Tibetan, and Uyghur medical philosophies, East African medico-religious practices, mind-body disciplines, community-driven health initiatives, and modern functional‑metabolic medicine, this paper explores an integrative framework that addresses the physical, mental, social, environmental, and spiritual dimensions of health. We argue that culturally informed, systems-oriented care—grounded in local knowledge yet evaluated through evidence-based methods—can enhance diagnostic precision, improve therapeutic options, and foster patient agency. Through a critical synthesis of cross-cultural scholarship and case studies in intercultural health delivery, we identify facilitators (shared terminology, community engagement, and person-organization fit) and barriers (regulatory ambiguity, epistemic clashes, and risk‑management challenges) to integration. The paper concludes by outlining policy and practice recommendations for clinicians, educators, and policymakers aiming to embed culturally congruent, integrative approaches within primary‑care settings, thereby advancing equity and sustainability in global health systems.

Keywords: Integrative medicine; functional medicine; traditional medicine; intercultural health; mind–body practices; community-based care; cultural competence.

CITE AS: Mugisha Emmanuel K. (2025). Integrative Approaches to Health: Lessons from Diverse Cultures. NEWPORT INTERNATIONAL   JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC AND   EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES 6(3):151-156 https://doi.org/10.59298/NIJSES/2025/63.151156