Methods & Therapies

We use predominantly natural therapies and natural medicines in our clinic. If you would like to understand more about why this is important, read on.

The Inuit people of the North identify 18 different kinds of snow and ice. To most of us, these subtle distinctions fail to be appreciated. Keep this in mind as you read.

An individualized approach to patient care is the best type of medical care -- selecting the best from Western medicine and other traditional medical systems to suit each patient’s individual needs. To understand how and why this is done, let’s take a look at some the major medical system around the world today.

If you examine health care historically, it can be divided into 3 major systems as follows (with apologies to less well known systems):

Modern Western medicine -- the medicine of modern western science. Arguments can be made in favor of various dates as to when the first early developments in Western medicine began but for our purposes we will say that the earliest developments in western medicine occurred about 100 - 150 years ago. Before then, western medicine was barbaric by modern standards, with blood-letting being the common example of practices which more often than not contributed to continuing illness and death rather than cure.

Traditional Chinese medicine -- the traditional medicine of China and much of Asia. The first early developments in this system can be traced back to a time 2500 - 4000 years ago. We know this system today as consisting primarily of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.

Traditional Ayurvedic medicine -- a sophisticated system of medicine developing out of the vedic period in India approximately 3000-4000 years ago. This system includes such things as herbal medicine, meditation, dietary practices, and internal cleansing procedures. History shows that long before modern Western medicine even existed, operations such as cataract surgeries were being performed by early Ayurvedic physicians, hundreds of disease conditions had been described and categorized in ancient textbooks, and a myriad of sophisticated treatments had been identified.

None of these systems of medicine developed overnight to their current level of sophistication. Each has evolved and changed as more has been learned. They are still evolving and changing as new information is developed.

Western medicine is not the only science-based medicine. Scientific methods have been used in the development of Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine over the millennia. Scientific and technical developments in the past 100 years have contributed to further advancement in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. As modern scientific testing methods have become more available in the last few hundred years, modern testing methods have been applied by Chinese and Ayurvedic doctors to study and improve Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine just as modern testing methods are being used to study and improve Western medicine.

What did doctors do in the past to help with diagnosis of disease when there was no such thing as a blood test available? They used more subtle methods of analysis. For example, in both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine very sophisticated analysis of the pulse has been used as one of many ways to assist in this. To the western mind and to most western doctors, the wrist pulse tells you only one thing -- the heart rate. To the well-trained Chinese or Ayurvedic physician, the wrist pulse has many variations and subtleties much like the Inuit identify 18 different kinds of ice and snow.

Each of the three systems of medicine uses its own terminology. A doctor trained in only Western medicine could not diagnose a Spleen Chi deficiency because (1) he doesn’t know what this means and (2) he has not learned the subtle techniques for determining Spleen Chi deficiency. Likewise, a doctor trained only in the Ayurvedic medicine or only in Chinese medicine would not identify a patient with celiac disease as having “celiac disease” because this is not his terminology; this is Western medicine terminology.

The entire spectrum of diagnoses in Western diagnosis uses different terminology from these other system of medicine. The entire spectrum of Chinese medicine diagnosis uses different terminology for diagnosis than the other two. The entire spectrum of Ayurvedic medicine diagnosis uses different terminology than the other two.

And yet in spite of their differences, doctors using different systems are able to help patients every day using different diagnostic names and different treatments. It’s like the old Hindu saying, “There is more than one way to spot an elephant.”

Each system of medicine has its merits and demerits. Western medicine is very good with emergency medicine and trauma. Western medicine is not good with chronic illness and chronic disease.

There are really important and valuable diagnostic tools in Western medicine. Likewise, there are really important and valuable tools in Traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, and in some of the less well know developing system of medicine. Doctors should be trained in multiple systems of medicine. They should know the best of Western medicine, the best of Chinese medicine, the best of Ayurvedic medicine, and the best of other less well known systems. In the west, some doctors are learning that Western medicine has severe limitations. The best Western doctors are learning not only Western medicine but also the best from Chinese, Ayurvedic, and other systems. In China and in India, the best doctors are learning both their traditional systems of medicine, modern Western medicine, and other systems of medicine.

There are a few things that are common to different systems of medicine. In diagnosis, carefully listening to the patient and knowing what question to ask are very important. Carefully examining the patient and carefully evaluating the patient’s history are important. Beyond these basics of diagnosis, doctors should develop the skills to identify the “18 different kinds of ice and snow” -- using subtle techniques of analysis that elude western medicine laboratory testing methods.

In much of our work we use subtle techniques which borrow from Chinese medicine and from more modern but less well-known systems that are in developmental stages. We have done this of necessity because for many disease conditions today, particularly chronic illness, Western medicine is inadequate. These subtle methods and techniques have been invaluable in helping patients who have found no answers with Western medicine.

The bulk of our work in the clinic is devoted to chronic illness and chronic disease. Western medicine is woefully inadequate in dealing with chronic illness. This is one reason why there are over 130,000,000 people in the United States with chronic illness. Western medicine does not find solutions to these problems. Using other system of medicine, solutions can often be found.

OTHER DEVELOPING SYSTEMS:

Beyond these three major system of medicine (Western medicine, Traditional Chinese medicine, and Ayurvedic medicine), there are several other systems in developmental stages. There are two which are particularly important and useful:

Applied Kinesiology -- this system has been under development since 1964. Research is continuing around the world on every continent. Like Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, terminology is different from other systems of medicine and subtle techniques that require much skill and experience are used to evaluate a patient’s condition.

Mind, Body, and Spirit (Pranic Healing) -- the connection between the mind, the spirit, and the physical body is an ancient concept that has been explored more extensively in the scientific world in the last 30 years. Innumerable books have been written on this subject with medical doctors such as Deepak Chopra and Larry Dossey being two of the more famous authors. Some of this information has been brought together in a concise system that can be applied in a clinical setting. It is called Pranic Healing.

For more information about Applied Kinesiology or Pranic Healing click on the following links:


	Methods & Therapies We use predominantly natural therapies and natural medicines in our clinic. If you would like to understand more about why this is important, read on. The Inuit people of the North identify 18 different kinds of snow and ice. To most of us, these subtle distinctions fail to be appreciated. Keep this in mind as you read. An individualized approach to patient care is the best type of medical care -- selecting the best from Western medicine and other traditional medical systems to suit each patient’s individual needs. To understand how and why this is done, let’s take a look at some the major medical system around the world today. If you examine health care historically, it can be divided into 3 major systems as follows (with apologies to less well known systems): Modern Western medicine -- the medicine of modern western science. Arguments can be made in favor of various dates as to when the first early developments in Western medicine began but for our purposes we will say that the earliest developments in western medicine occurred about 100 - 150 years ago. Before then, western medicine was barbaric by modern standards, with blood-letting being the common example of practices which more often than not contributed to continuing illness and death rather than cure. Traditional Chinese medicine -- the traditional medicine of China and much of Asia. The first early developments in this system can be traced back to a time 2500 - 4000 years ago. We know this system today as consisting primarily of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Traditional Ayurvedic medicine -- a sophisticated system of medicine developing out of the vedic period in India approximately 3000-4000 years ago. This system includes such things as herbal medicine, meditation, dietary practices, and internal cleansing procedures. History shows that long before modern Western medicine even existed, operations such as cataract surgeries were being performed by early Ayurvedic physicians, hundreds of disease conditions had been described and categorized in ancient textbooks, and a myriad of sophisticated treatments had been identified. None of these systems of medicine developed overnight to their current level of sophistication. Each has evolved and changed as more has been learned. They are still evolving and changing as new information is developed. Western medicine is not the only science-based medicine. Scientific methods have been used in the development of Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine over the millennia. Scientific and technical developments in the past 100 years have contributed to further advancement in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. As modern scientific testing methods have become more available in the last few hundred years, modern testing methods have been applied by Chinese and Ayurvedic doctors to study and improve Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine just as modern testing methods are being used to study and improve Western medicine. What did doctors do in the past to help with diagnosis of disease when there was no such thing as a blood test available? They used more subtle methods of analysis. For example, in both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine very sophisticated analysis of the pulse has been used as one of many ways to assist in this. To the western mind and to most western doctors, the wrist pulse tells you only one thing -- the heart rate. To the well-trained Chinese or Ayurvedic physician, the wrist pulse has many variations and subtleties much like the Inuit identify 18 different kinds of ice and snow. Each of the three systems of medicine uses its own terminology. A doctor trained in only Western medicine could not diagnose a Spleen Chi deficiency because (1) he doesn’t know what this means and (2) he has not learned the subtle techniques for determining Spleen Chi deficiency. Likewise, a doctor trained only in the Ayurvedic medicine or only in Chinese medicine would not identify a patient with celiac disease as having “celiac disease” because this is not his terminology; this is Western medicine terminology. The entire spectrum of diagnoses in Western diagnosis uses different terminology from these other system of medicine. The entire spectrum of Chinese medicine diagnosis uses different terminology for diagnosis than the other two. The entire spectrum of Ayurvedic medicine diagnosis uses different terminology than the other two. And yet in spite of their differences, doctors using different systems are able to help patients every day using different diagnostic names and different treatments. It’s like the old Hindu saying, “There is more than one way to spot an elephant.” Each system of medicine has its merits and demerits. Western medicine is very good with emergency medicine and trauma. Western medicine is not good with chronic illness and chronic disease. There are really important and valuable diagnostic tools in Western medicine. Likewise, there are really important and valuable tools in Traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, and in some of the less well know developing system of medicine. Doctors should be trained in multiple systems of medicine. They should know the best of Western medicine, the best of Chinese medicine, the best of Ayurvedic medicine, and the best of other less well known systems. In the west, some doctors are learning that Western medicine has severe limitations. The best Western doctors are learning not only Western medicine but also the best from Chinese, Ayurvedic, and other systems. In China and in India, the best doctors are learning both their traditional systems of medicine, modern Western medicine, and other systems of medicine. There are a few things that are common to different systems of medicine. In diagnosis, carefully listening to the patient and knowing what question to ask are very important. Carefully examining the patient and carefully evaluating the patient’s history are important. Beyond these basics of diagnosis, doctors should develop the skills to identify the “18 different kinds of ice and snow” -- using subtle techniques of analysis that elude western medicine laboratory testing methods. In much of our work we use subtle techniques which borrow from Chinese medicine and from more modern but less well-known systems that are in developmental stages. We have done this of necessity because for many disease conditions today, particularly chronic illness, Western medicine is inadequate. These subtle methods and techniques have been invaluable in helping patients who have found no answers with Western medicine. The bulk of our work in the clinic is devoted to chronic illness and chronic disease. Western medicine is woefully inadequate in dealing with chronic illness. This is one reason why there are over 130,000,000 people in the United States with chronic illness. Western medicine does not find solutions to these problems. Using other system of medicine, solutions can often be found. OTHER DEVELOPING SYSTEMS: Beyond these three major system of medicine (Western medicine, Traditional Chinese medicine, and Ayurvedic medicine), there are several other systems in developmental stages. There are two which are particularly important and useful: Applied Kinesiology -- this system has been under development since 1964. Research is continuing around the world on every continent. Like Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, terminology is different from other systems of medicine and subtle techniques that require much skill and experience are used to evaluate a patient’s condition. Mind, Body, and Spirit (Pranic Healing) -- the connection between the mind, the spirit, and the physical body is an ancient concept that has been explored more extensively in the scientific world in the last 30 years. Innumerable books have been written on this subject with medical doctors such as Deepak Chopra and Larry Dossey being two of the more famous authors. Some of this information has been brought together in a concise system that can be applied in a clinical setting. It is called Pranic Healing. For more information about Applied Kinesiology or Pranic Healing click on the following links: Applied Kinesiology Pranic Healing *Disclaimer:* The information in this site is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your health care practitioner.