Holistic Philosophy
The practice and philosophy of holistic medicine is radically different from conventional medicine. Conventional medicine views the patient as a mechanism that can be engineered pharmaceutically or surgically back into shape. Disease is seen as the invasion of organisms such as viruses or bacteria etc. which are meant to be killed. Holistic medicine views the patient as a living creature. It sees the totality of the living being with a vital force interacting with the rest of life. Disease is seen as a disruption of the energetic flow of the individual, which needs to be strengthened and balanced to return to health and harmony.
One of my greatest frustrations as a conventional practitioner is knowing that, in many cases, the drugs only suppress the symptoms while the underlying disease continues to worsen. Holistic practitioners see the symptoms as the patient's best response to the disease. When symptoms are suppressed, the disease goes deeper into the patient and expresses later as deeper pathology. An important part of the healing and balancing process is short-circuited by conventional medicine.
In addition, antibiotics are no longer the miracle drugs they once were. More infections are resistant today than ever. With greater exposure to environmental toxins, we are seeing more immunodeficiency diseases now. Our water supply is becoming contaminated with discarded drugs and hormones causing genetic mutation in the aquatic life exposed to it. We need to return to a more natural way of living and healing.
I still use conventional medicine where appropriate. It is wonderful for treating acute emergencies, for repair of mechanical defects (eg fractures), for most bacterial infections. Holistic medicine works great for chronic degenerative diseases, chronic pain, immunodeficiency and allergic conditions and behavior problems. In most cases, this is a slow process and can have ups and downs before the patient's condition can return to balance. But it is worth the journey. The veterinarian and pet parent must be able to work together and communicate well during this process.
The practice and philosophy of holistic medicine is radically different from conventional medicine. Conventional medicine views the patient as a mechanism that can be engineered pharmaceutically or surgically back into shape. Disease is seen as the invasion of organisms such as viruses or bacteria etc. which are meant to be killed. Holistic medicine views the patient as a living creature. It sees the totality of the living being with a vital force interacting with the rest of life. Disease is seen as a disruption of the energetic flow of the individual, which needs to be strengthened and balanced to return to health and harmony.
One of my greatest frustrations as a conventional practitioner is knowing that, in many cases, the drugs only suppress the symptoms while the underlying disease continues to worsen. Holistic practitioners see the symptoms as the patient's best response to the disease. When symptoms are suppressed, the disease goes deeper into the patient and expresses later as deeper pathology. An important part of the healing and balancing process is short-circuited by conventional medicine.
In addition, antibiotics are no longer the miracle drugs they once were. More infections are resistant today than ever. With greater exposure to environmental toxins, we are seeing more immunodeficiency diseases now. Our water supply is becoming contaminated with discarded drugs and hormones causing genetic mutation in the aquatic life exposed to it. We need to return to a more natural way of living and healing.
I still use conventional medicine where appropriate. It is wonderful for treating acute emergencies, for repair of mechanical defects (eg fractures), for most bacterial infections. Holistic medicine works great for chronic degenerative diseases, chronic pain, immunodeficiency and allergic conditions and behavior problems. In most cases, this is a slow process and can have ups and downs before the patient's condition can return to balance. But it is worth the journey. The veterinarian and pet parent must be able to work together and communicate well during this process.