Alternative & Allopathic Medicine

In our western society, there are basically to forms of medical care, our primary one called allopathic and the other, alternative or holistic.

Each have their strengths, and it’s important to understand their reasoning, of how they see and approach a patient.

To explain these differences, let’s express life as a continuum, with birth and health at one end and death at the other.

This is a simple truth of human existence.

What happens as we travel along this continuum of life varies from one person to the next.

Some of us, as we near the end of life, experience very few physical and mental restrictions, with intact mental clarity and vigor, while others, less fortunate, suffer from health issues long before they reach the end.

Why?

We could blame genetics as the culprit, but this is an easy way out and does not account for the causes of genetic expression, known as epigenetics.

Therefore, let’s consider causes of symptoms outside the realm of genetics for now.

Let’s examine all the stages along this continuum.

In this context, we will consider the role of these two medical systems in relation to this continuum.

1st Stage of Health Continuum

This stage is simply one of health and vitality which, though unusual in our society, can last the entire life of a person.

Along the way there may be the acute infection such as viral or bacterial, little blips in the continuum, but most of the time these infections will resolve on their own if the person’s innate immune system is strong.

For the acute, the allopath might prescribe an antipyretic to reduce the fever and maybe an antibiotic or antiviral medication.

The alternative supports the immune system, seeing a person’s symptoms, such as a fever, as an important means of fighting the infection, and a means of developing and strengthening immunity.

Recommendations from the alternative side could include vitamins A and C, zinc, and possibly herbs.

From this viewpoint, the reduction of the fever, the body’s innate response to infection, would likely not be an immediate concern unless it were to rise above 102 degrees.

The allopathic mindset is to control while the alternative is to support.

Both have merit given the individual’s condition and situation.

2nd Stage of Health Continuum

During this stage, at whatever age, a person begins to complain of symptoms.

Some symptoms may be specific while others are more general.

Specifics might include headaches, localized pain, cramps, dizziness, hair loss and indigestion.

General symptoms might include fatigue, insomnia and weight gain.

At this stage, of both specific and general symptoms, cells and tissues are at the beginning stages of dysfunction.

In this 2nd stage, these functional changes are not necessarily due to biochemical imbalances, meaning blood test will not indicate abnormalities.

After a few years they might, but not in the beginning of this 2nd stage of the continuum.

When an allopathic physician is presented with such a case, where no abnormal findings are present (blood and urine tests, ultrasound, MRI, CAT, etc.), common responses might be, it’s part of aging, or stress, a virus, or it’s psychological.

They may or may not prescribe, or they may refer.

But the question is not asked. ‘If nothing is showing up in testing, why is this person in front of me having symptoms?’

‘What are the reasons or causes for their symptoms?’

This is no fault of the physician. It is not a part of their medical training to necessarily ask these questions about causes, such as nutritional deficiencies, environmental toxins, mold, low-grade silent infections, etc.

On the alternative side, the physician should also do at least the same work up with lab testing, etc., but should then look below the surface for the causes.

When causes are found, they would then be addressed.

Alternative Point of View

There’s something which must be mentioned here before we go to the 3rd stage of the continuum.

Symptoms are the means by which our body tells us that something is wrong or out of balance.

We each possess a miraculous wisdom which communicates to us through symptoms, that something is out of harmony.

And what are some of the causes for this imbalance or disequilibrium?

Nutritional Deficiencies: All our cells require nutrients to function optimally. If these are not delivered, then cells begin to dysfunction and we experience physical and mental symptoms. So poor nutritional choices, the incomplete digestion of foods, and decreased absorption of nutrients all contribute to cellular starvation.
Environmental Toxins and Heavy Metals: These insidious toxins lead to symptoms. They attach to cell membranes and enter inside our cells. This leads to cellular and mitochondrial dysfunction, resulting in lower energy or ATP production. Heavy metals are rampant in our environment leading to neurological dysfunction and premature aging of the nervous system including the brain.
Infections: These low-grade silent insidious infections (bacterial, viral, mold & parasites) cause both specific and general symptoms.

Each of the above must be investigated and corrected if we ever wish to recover our health, to reverse our direction along this continuum.

3rd Stage of Health Continuum

If a person was unable to recover their health in the 2nd stage by removing the underlying causes of their symptoms, they will enter the 3rd stage.

How long it takes to pass from stage 2 to 3 varies, but in stage 3 we now have cellular, hormonal and biochemical abnormalities.

Lab testing and other means of diagnosis will reveal abnormalities, pointing us in the direction of more radical dysfunction, and possibly pathology.

The body has now reached a point of no longer being able to maintain its balance or homeostasis.

The diagnosis becomes clear and a label indicates the systems affected.

The allopathic physician understands which drugs or procedures are appropriate, working under standards of medical guidelines of appropriate care.

The alternative physician will likely determine the same diagnosis, yet will still investigate causes, and employs a ‘natural’ approach based upon medical and clinical research.

Immediate relief will often come with prescriptions, yet in stage 3, these medications will likely be required for a lifetime.

Obviously this approach is not a cure but at least it may help to thwart the 4th stage.

A more gradual relief will likely come from the alternative approach, and with time, the person’s overall condition and health will be improved.

Over the long run, with the allopathic approach, unwanted side-effects will likely emerge and additional medications will be needed to counteract them.

For the alternative physician, when a patient in the 3rd stage seeks help, if they are already taking prescriptions, this will obviously make the case more challenging, since all prescriptions, over time, will cause side-effects.

4th Stage of Health Continuum

This stage is at the end of the continuum and requires heroic means to sustain life.

During this time, these measures include strong solutions, often in combination, such as chemotherapy and radiation, life support and surgery since various organs are failing.

Very often this heroic form of medicine is life saving or life sustaining and is absolutely necessary.

Treatment during the 3rd and 4th stage with allopathic medicine ennobles its reputation, for it relieves symptoms and keeps people alive.

Including emergencies, this is where our medical system has its greatest benefits for those who do not understand how to preserve and care for their health.

But to say it should be the only system, and that any physician without an MD degree is a quack, is short sighted and narrow minded.

Holistic Alternative Medicine

A physician practicing alternative medicine, including Naturopathic, Medical, Osteopathic and Chiropractic Doctors, recognizes the body’s innate capacity to health and to recover health.

Symptoms are the body’s way, or the means of our innate wisdom, to speak with us, that something we are doing, or not doing, is the cause of our ill-health.

A decline in our health and the onset of symptoms always have causes.

It is not enough to provide a diagnosis and prognosis.

These are important, but then to investigate underlying cause(s) is the next more important step.

Nature is a tool to be used for healing, whether this be nutrient dense foods, herbs, food supplements, fresh air, clean water and sunshine.

The 1st rule of every physician, when a person seeks their help and guidance, is to do no harm.

Education, to impart knowledge, in this case about health, is one very important role of a physician.

There are many keys to developing positive outcomes between the doctor and their client; self-knowledge and awareness of the client, the pointed questions from the doctor to illicit essential information, the observations of the physician, the interpretation of lab results, education, and a mutual empathy and appreciation of both parties.

Mother Nature & Healing

They say, patience is a virtue.

Considering the rapid pace of our urban society and the quest of immediate gratification and results, certainly the allopathic model fulfills this need.

Nature, on the other hand, has its seasons, and the harvest comes to fruition after months of tending.

Alternative medicine provides the means, but the nature within the body responds on its own timeline.

Health is a blossoming of something hiding within, which must be nurtured and tenderly cared for.

It cannot be forced.

Recovery requires patience and being tended to, every day.