Foreword

Integrative Health Care by Karen Scott Barss is an accessible resource intended to be a guide for holistic practice whether one is providing or receiving care . Given the growing demand by patients for care that is whole person focused, clinicians often struggle with not knowing about integrative care options, how to evaluate safety and efficacy of integrative modalities and how to partner with clinicians who provide integrative services. Patients face similar struggles. This open resource handbook offers quick reference guidelines and ideas to assist both caregivers and consumers in collaboratively exploring integrative health care. The handbook provides a history of healing acknowledging the divide between conventional and holistic care and highlights the potential of integrative care to better meet the needs of patients, families, and communities.

Recognizing the inextricable links between people and the environment, the handbook also describes healing environments and the concerns regarding environmental issues that are both local and global in nature. Related professional and personal practices to support environmental health are described.

The final chapter of the text is a call to action that encourages everyone to support their own personal wellbeing. The wellbeing of health care providers is as important as the wellbeing of the patients they serve. Given the dire issues we face of stress, burnout and early exit from health professions, clinicians’ attention to self-care is more critical than ever in promoting the health and wellbeing of all.

Mary Jo Kreitzer PhD, RN, FAAN, FNAP
Director, Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing, University of Minnesota
Professor, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota
Fellow Ad Eundem Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Co-Editor, Integrative Nursing 3rd Edition (2025 estimated release)