Alternatives to Traditional Medicine
By Stan M. Gardner, M.D.
All right. I’ve waited a long time to give you this one. Perhaps I’ve been too nervous about stepping on toes. But after a couple of years writing for Meridian Magazine, I figure you know me a little better, I know you a little better, and it’s time to give you some more challenging philosophical comments to ponder.
What I’ve done is take the traditional (also called allopathic) medicine philosophies and compare them side by side with alternative medicine (also called integrative, complementary, or preventive medicine).
Actually, no name is fully descriptive for either of the disciplines. Traditional could just as easily refer to medicine that was practiced in the past, now called complementary or alternative medicine. And alternative medicine could just as easily refer to the surgical/drug alternatives that people have when their homemade remedies do not help.
So, casting aside my philosophizing, the chart below is self-explanatory and really needs no commentary. Try reading it, comparing, and evaluating. I’d like to get your feedback.
The body is self-healing – but only if nutrients and building blocks are present and toxic substances are removed.
Build the terrain (cells) and strengthen the natural defenses of the body.
Based on the science of biochemistry and physiology.
The body has an energy force, chi, spirit, soul that is separate from the physical body, from the physical body, responding to Einsteinian physics.
Use whole, organic products or bioidentical products.
Different view of same disease.
Use safer procedure for same disease.
Use non-invasive testing whenever possible.
Treat “untreatable” diseases.
It’s not too hard to determine my bias, is it? However, it’s important to note that I practiced traditional, allopathic medicine for more than 20 years before realizing that there were some significant factors in alternative medicine that I was overlooking, all in the name of staying “within the box.” Current research tends to show that alternative medical approaches work. From my clinical experience, I see that to be true on a daily basis.