This chapter is essential to your future if you are at all interested in achieving and maintaining health. In an easy to understand way, I will explain how the body works, why it gets sick, and how it recovers from illness. My ideas are in conflict with mainstream or traditional medical philosophy. Therefore it is necessary to discuss these differences first. Seeing the contrasts for yourself will help you make informed decisions about your health. The philosophy I describe here is based on answering the common question, Why am I sick? Believe it or not, many traditionally trained doctors cannot answer this most basic of questions. The same is true for most people. It is as if fate alone, and not lifestyle choices were the sole reason for illness. This type of thinking is a direct result of the disease model of healthcare ascribed to by most medical doctors.

In the disease model all resources are devoted to the detection and elimination of a definable disease. This philosophy is greatly flawed and results in limited treatment options (drugs or surgery) and gullible patients. It also produces arrogant doctors who see the disease model as the only valid approach. This model is also powerless to help people with significant symptoms, but no sign of recognizable disease, what I call functional illness. If a disease cannot be found then, It must be in your head. Many of my patients have been told this repeatedly only to see their health restored again when a natural, whole person approach was undertaken.

One of the tragic effects of the disease model is the control of patients and their choices. When a diagnosis is assigned by traditional doctors, most patients will take whatever medications they are prescribed without so much as a pause to consider what and why, consoling themselves with thoughts like, Well hes the doctor, he knows best. It is true, the doctor should know what he or she is doing and should also know more about health and sickness than you, but that does not let you off the hook. In fact, it leaves you in an extremely vulnerable position.

On a brighter note, I am greatly encouraged by the number of new patients that come in to my office who do know a good deal about their symptoms or conditions and how they came to be. I believe this is the result of three things, the access to information via the internet, the growth of complimentary medicine and the emergence of wise non-traditional medical doctors. This book is an attempt to further this positive trend.

The Philosophy
There are many aspects to understanding the health of the human body. I begin by contrasting the two dominant views, Traditional vs. Alternative, and then describe certain details in a common sense manner. Below I have listed the topics in order.

* Different Approaches
* The Strength of Traditional Medicine
* The Weaknesses of Traditional Medicine
* The Growth of Alternative Medicine
* My Health Philosophy
* Prevention Is the Key
* The Human Body Is Complex
* The Human Body Is Sensitive
* The Human Body Heals Itself
* The Human Bodys Health Is Conditional
* The Human Body Constantly Adapts To Stress
* The Human Bodys Incredible Resistance
* The Human Body Is Interconnected
* The Human Body Prioritizes Stress


Different Approaches
All health care providers can be placed into either one of two groups. The first group, Traditional physicians consists of medical doctors and osteopaths. The second group, complimentary or alternative health practitioners is made up of chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, herbalists, homeopaths, naturopaths and more. These two groups do not think alike. As I mentioned above, there are exceptions; MDs who use herbs, refer patients to chiropractors, employ an acupuncturist and so on, but these are still few.

Each type of health care has its place. I am not against traditional medicine. I believe in the use of pharmaceutical drugs and in the use of surgery when warranted. However, I am greatly opposed to the misuse of drugs and surgery, which has resulted from the traditional medicine belief that theirs is the best and only remedy. The key is, knowing when to use which kind of medicine. It is not good doctoring to have surgery to remove a gall bladder when a simple supplement taken for three weeks and a change in diet would have done the trick. In the same way, getting an adjustment to correct a ruptured appendix is just as foolish and possibly deadly. As a new student of health, it is important to understand the differences between the two schools of thought.


Alternative Health
Care Beliefs Traditional (Medical) Health
Care Beliefs Diseases are natural, a symptom that the body is not functioning well. Diseases are unnatural and should be vigorously fought against. The body is a whole. When any part suffers it is a symptom that the body is not functioning properly. The body is a combination of parts. When a part is damaged it can be repaired, removed or replaced. Diet is a key to correcting current and preventing future illness. Diet receives very little consideration in most illnesses. Nutritional supplements or herbs are extremely important for overall health. Supplements are not important. Eating a balanced diet (if diet is discussed) is whats important. Sickness or diseases may be treated with any therapy (adjustments, herbs, acupuncture needles, sensory stimulation etc.) directed at restoring overall chemical, structural, emotional or energetic balance. Surgery and drugs are the primary means of treatments. Figure I

From these two lists, you can see why medical doctors do not often agree with the ideas and approaches of chiropractors, acupuncturists and other alternative physicians. This is only the beginning of the confusion.

If you were to ask a medical doctor, a chiropractor, an acupuncturist, and a homeopath the same question, What causes the common cold? you would undoubtedly get four different answers. Not only that, but you will probably get four different treatments as well.