It is not uncommon for those fighting a lethal disease to turn inward. It’s part of the human will to live. In contrast there are those rare individuals who look beyond their own struggles and suffering and fix themselves on the plight of others. Thomas was one of those. Thomas started college in September of 2015 intending to become a medical doctor specializing in alternatives to conventional oncology and medical nutrition. His goal was to provide cancer patients with the tools to prevail against a dark and loathsome enemy. Tragically, and due to multiple misdiagnoses and medical errors, Thomas was unable to fulfill his dream. His life on earth was ended before it was time to end. However, Thomas’ family and friends hope to someday help to fulfill his dream by promoting the life-giving practices Thomas had wanted to share with others in need.
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT
Western and Eastern medical systems view the body differently and are intended to serve different purposes. Both types of medicine are needed to provide valuable information for understanding the human body in health and disease. We advocate a balanced synergistic approach using the best of both worlds so each patient can achieve and maintain optimal health and wellness. For example, Western medicine views the body as a collection of distinct parts (organs, tissues, cells) that can be taken apart and considered in isolation. Diagnosis and treatment of disease involves using signs, symptoms, and various diagnostic tests to pinpoint the disordered parts of the body and then counteract these signs and symptoms with medications, surgery, or other modalities.
On the other hand, Eastern medicine views the body as a whole with everything being defined in relationship to the entire body. No single sign, symptom, or body part can be understood except within the context of the whole patient. In establishing a diagnosis and treatment plan, the Eastern medicine practitioner searches for and organizes many signs and symptoms and subsequently identifies a “pattern of disease.” In Eastern medicine, there is no single cause of disease, rather it is the interaction of numerous factors in the patient’s life (environment, diet, nutrient deficiencies, contagious diseases, mental and emotion state, inherited constitution, trauma, and many others) that results in imbalance. Eventually this imbalance results in the signs and symptoms of disease.
Modern Western medicine has changed the world by achieving many amazing triumphs and is the best choice when it comes to the treatment of traumatic injuries, life-threatening infections and emergency situations which require surgery. Fortunately, Western medicine has tools to actually cure these conditions by repairing traumatic injuries, eradicating pathogenic bacteria and repairing congenital or acquired malformations of organs or tissues. This type of medicine is best in emergency, life-threatening situations.
On the other hand, most physicians will concur that there are a number of health issues that are not addressed particularly well by modern Western medicine. In the case of many chronic diseases and disorders, Western medicine offers only palliative care – meaning that symptoms are temporarily relieved with medication or surgery but the underlying cause remains. Examples of such chronic conditions include allergies, asthma, depression, chronic fatigue, anxiety, fibromyalgia, autoimmune diseases, cancer, attention deficit disorder (ADD), and many others. In these cases, Eastern medicine offers a mode of treatment that effectively addresses the root cause of the disorder, while at the same time alleviating symptoms. In many cases, Eastern medicine can be used very effectively as an adjunct to conventional Western care which is why we advocate a balanced, synergistic approach using the best of both worlds.