Heads or Tails?

It seems to be that your odds of getting the correct diagnosis and treatment from an allopathic physician run about 50%.

As reported by The New England Journal of Medicine, diagnosis and treatment for children was correct 47% of the time, while adults experienced a percentage of 55%.

Further reporting reveals that correct care was given in the following percentages:

Upper respiratory infection: 92%
Acne: 57%
Fever: 51%
Urinary Tract Infection: 48%
Asthma: 46%
Well-child services: 38%
Acute diarrhea: 38%
Adolescent preventive: 35%

Preventive care, in general, rated a 41%.

Now, this is not an attack on medical doctors, let me be clear about that.

What this does show is what we are all, I think, collectively aware of.

Western medicine, in large part, emphasizes and is good at acute care or immediate problems. In addition, insurance is more likely to cover this type of care.

True preventive medicine (think lifestyle changes in mind, body and spirit) is not an emphasis in training and, unfortunately, not likely to be covered by insurance.

I’ve often said that our approach to healthcare in our country is not necessarily incorrect.

It is, however, incomplete.

In other words, we could all benefit from the best of both allopathic and traditional medicine (and by traditional I mean nutrition, bodywork, chiropractic/osteopathy, homeopathy, acupuncture, herbology, etc.), working together to bring about optimal health.

That happens infrequently.

Many people feel like they have to choose one approach over the other, which leaves a gap in their care and health (sometimes this choice is reinforced by their healthcare provider, on both sides of the fence…an unfortunate situation).

I’m here to tell you that you can and should be utilizing both approaches to healthcare to quite literally complement one another.

If you’re only looking at a symptom and suppressing it away, you’re not healing. Would the percentages above be better if the diagnosis and treatment had included a traditional perspective, as well?

I can’t answer that definitively with statistics or research.

I can tell you what I know from over 12 years of clinical practice, focusing on balancing the mind, body and spirit that often the best patient outcomes are when natural/traditional medicine approaches are either utilized in a complimentary role or as a primary approach to a patient’s healthcare issue or crisis.

For many of our patients, the missing link in their recovery is asking the questions and providing the remedies that natural medicine encompasses.

Let me provide an example from a particular patient experience. Kelly (name changed to maintain privacy) had been living with a chronic illness for most of her adult life. When she came to see us she was experiencing a bit of a crisis in her health, one that her allopathic physicians didn’t feel they had any more answers for beyond a lifetime of medication.

We did what we do best, Circuit Healing, Bio-Resonance Scanning, supportive therapies, etc. and as she left us she was in good shape to return to her life. During her stay, we discussed how she had often been told that she should be sicker, based on her diagnosis. She had found some docs surprised that she hadn’t suffered more damage to her internal organs. What they were not aware of was 1) her incredible survivor spirit and 2) her active support of her body via natural means since the original diagnosis. In addition, she is very aware of making life supportive food choices, mental choices, etc. I can’t help but know that had she not been doing these things (eating well, choosing natural support, etc.), she would more than likely have been in a different position from a health perspective.

What’s the take away point from this information?

Well, how can you increase your odds to get better and stay better?

I think you know my position.

Your health, in very many ways, is in your hands. Make sure to include natural, restorative care as part of your overall health plan.

Regardless of your current health state – doing well, struggling a bit with nagging symptoms, or dealing with a life disrupting, chronic condition – keep your approach to becoming well a complete one.