In the last blog entry we spread the word about the public health care system "Patient's First" plan and considered what you can do to help the public health care system meet your needs.
The "Patient's First" plan recognizes the importance of an integrative approach in that it may better recognize the complex nature of the human body. It can recommend and allow recourse to the most appropriate combination of specialists to address our health as safely and effectively as possible. This ensures our health is analysed in its entirety and takes into account the individuality of the case; not only the physical symptoms and test results, but also the mental state and emotional backdrop. Ultimately, this would allow for more effective care. "360 degree Wellness", as we would say here at the 360 Wellness Clinic.
The integrative approach allows for more effective care precisely because of the complex nature of the human body. This presents itself on various levels: mental, emotional and physical and in entirely individualized fashion. Many diseases present mind, emotion, and body symptoms. Each symptom is experienced in an individual way.
According to the Report of the Incidence and Prevalence of Diseases and Other Health Related Issues in Canada Essential HTN (Hypertension) is the most prevalent diseases diagnosed in the general population. The Professioal Version of the Merk Manual states that Hypertension "is sustained elevation of resting systolic BP (≥ 140 mm Hg), diastolic BP (≥ 90 mm Hg), or both." While Hypertension is known as the "Silent Killer" because it has no warning signs or symptoms, this means that it presents differently in every individual. Conventional medicine gives us diagnosis, information about causes based on test results, and correspondingly indicated pharmacological or surgical treatment. True causes may be related to kidney, adrenal, or thyroid function, medications, or environmental factors (Merk). Clearly, there are many causes to be considered and other tests may be done to determine these.
Homeopathy may provide further insight and treatment options which have no known side effects. Taking into account the conventional understanding of hypertention (see above), the Homeopath further individualizes the case based on such details as: desire or aversion to salty foods and food in general, level of thirst, flushing of the skin, conflict management approaches, or reminiscence or resentment of past events. Based on such information and more, a Homeopathic diagnosis is made and a Health Canada approved Homeopathic Medicine is prescribed.
German New Medicine provides further complementary understanding of the physiology involved, the emotional relationship to the condition, and the ebbs and flows of the symptoms. GNM theory is anchored in embryology and provides biological reasoning for symptoms. Those familiar with GNM welcome knowing 'why' their body may be manifesting certain symptoms. For example, from the GNM perspective, hypertension is related to a "fluid" conflict. This is an emotional and active conflict which can be metaphorically or literally related to fluids. From there it would generally require working with a practitioner to understand if this is relevant and if so how this understanding may be effectively, clinically applied.
TCM and Ayurveda are two other well established (over thousands of years) comprehensive medical systems which have further complementary understanding to provide.
Regulated Health Care Practitioners are required to continuously educate themselves. These continuous education courses may provide further information about recent research and understanding. Recently genome testing is becoming popular. Not surprisingly, it aims to better understand our individuality and thereby how better to meet our individual health needs.
The integrative approach allows for more effective care by way of more complete understanding of the case, causes, variables, and relevant symptoms. The greater the understanding of the individual case, the more likely the possibility for individually tailored, and therefore effective treatment.
The idea behind an integrative approach is not a competitive one, pitting one approach against another, but rather one of wise and unprejudiced understanding of a case with a view to finding what works for each person.
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