Medicine Health

Although I appreciate the value that traditional medicine brings to health care, I am passionate about a life-changing philosophy that speaks to the core of man and has been proven through the ages. This philosophy differentiates the kind of medicine I practice from that which most physicians practice.

The body is a self-healing organism. It needs the nutrients and building blocks in order to perform its designed functions. There are many interferences with this process. When toxic substances are removed, then your body can use the nutrients to perform its maximal function. Allopathic medicine looks at your body as a mechanical machine that breaks down, so the physician must "fix it." 

Here are some more challenging philosophical comments to ponder.

What I've done is take the conventional (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. Conventional 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 you resort to when your homemade remedies do not help.

Alternative Medicine

The body is self-healing - but only if nutrients and building blocks are present and toxic substances are removed.

Treat cause.

Work with the physiology of the body.

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.

Emphasize safer herbs, minerals, vitamins.

Different view of same disease.

Use safer procedure for same disease.

Use non-invasive testing whenever possible.

Treat "untreatable" diseases.

Conventional Medicine

The body is a mechanical machine that breaks down, so the physician must "fix" it.

Treat symptoms.

Control the physiology of the body.

Kill the enemy.

Heavily influenced by pharmaceuticals, driven by consensus, tradition, policy, insurance, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies.

The body is a biochemical, physical entity with pulleys, organs, and vessels that follow Newton's laws of physics.

Use synthetically changed, patentable products.

Emphasize medications.

It's not too hard to determine my bias, is it? However, it's important to note that I practiced conventional, 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.

For example, if you come into a conventional medical doctor's practice, complaining of migraines headaches, conventional medicine would send you on your way with a prescription, or maybe several prescriptions. Try one, see if it works, get back with me in a few weeks. As an alternative, integrative, or complementary physician, my first questions are: "What factors trigger the migraine? What is your current emotional situation? What stresses are you dealing with right now, or what have you dealt with in the past?" I get a solid history, and then we just crank out the reasons and causes for migraines. I base my treatment on the triggering causes, thus making my treatment one that deals with the core issues rather than the end organ symptoms.

Let's insert one more thing onto the alternative side of the chart: balance. I'm not putting it in the chart, because it's something I want you to think about and rediscover for yourself. It's good to take good things into your body, but too much of a good thing can be very harmful. Too little of a good thing is also harmful. Too much of one thing may cause an imbalance that may be just as harmful as an excess or deficiency. For instance, all the vitamins are very helpful, but to take one in isolation, especially at high doses, may cause an imbalance in your body and be detrimental to it. Others have used the term "moderation" to describe keeping a balance.

Balance applies to everyone, whether you embrace alternative medicine or conventional medicine. Balance will lead you ultimately to discovering what your body is telling you it needs to be dynamically healthy. Balance will put you in the position where you are able to hear your body, understand it, apply what you learn, and feel the difference.

To your dynamic health and energy! (And keep your balance!) Warm Regards, Dr. Stan Gardner

© Copyright 2008 Stan M. Gardner, M.D. All rights reserved. http://www.stangardnermd.com