Reading and embracing books and movies within the mystery genre can be quite enjoyable. It is quite fun to try and figure out who the villain is and what will transpire in the end. In life, medical mysteries are not quite as much fun, particularly when they are happening to you or someone you love. In my practice, I often feel like the long time series ‘House,’ that aired and captivated us with medical mysteries. Diagnosis was never clear cut. It took a bunch of geniuses working together who were willing to think outside the box. They would exhaust all possibilities by ruling out symptoms in order to finally come to the proper diagnosis in hope of catching the save and helping the patient heal in time.
Gone are the days of the family Doctor who knew both you and your extended family in all ways, encompassing both physical ailments and emotional burdens. Even years ago, the mind: body connection was recognized and played a key role in treating someone as an individual. External aggressors have become increasingly difficult as we face more challenges within our environment both in chemical absorption within our food, and environmental pollutants. The stress factors in our daily life have been overwhelmingly compounded as well. The fast pace by which we live does not leave much time, nor create a serene environment for the body to heal. Doctors face challenges today in diagnosis greater than they every have. Additionally, they are on extreme time constraints by the sheer number of patients they must see within a crunch period of time. It is disappointing to say the least, but easy to understand why the specialist now plays such a vital role. Your primary care physician has become a referrer. They break you down into parts and refer you out according to your symptoms. You are seen as broken pieces of a puzzle. It becomes the role of the specialist to try and fix their particular broken piece. This often culminates in your being referred to a bunch of specialists in order to try and resolve the various symptoms of your illness.
Sadly, these days it may also be who you know in terms of getting to see that specialist in a reasonable amount of time. Recently, my patients may be given an appointment as far as eight months out to see a necessary specialist to accurately diagnose and treat them. For the individual who is suffering each and every day, that is literally a lifetime away. It can lead further to depression as they simply do not see a way out.
This sounds pretty depressing, but it need not be. I am sure you have heard the saying; ‘Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes.’ If everything I have just depicted sounds like I am talking directly to you. If you have been reading my articles or following me on social media for quite some time, then it really is time for you to take charge and make that change. Holistic medicine is exactly as it sounds. We put the broken pieces of the puzzle back together and diagnose you as a WHOLE person. This is where true healing can occur. In my practice, the first time I meet a new patient, I offer a ninety minute consultation, followed by the first Acupuncture treatment. The reason is that I believe that by reviewing your complete medical history, and getting to know my patients, I will be able to ascertain the root cause of their illness and the symptoms they are experiencing daily. Being able to make the proper diagnosis from the onset is what can be a game changer. We then get right into treatment. We do not waste any time in starting on the healing journey.
In the foundations of TCM; Traditional Chines Medicine, Acupuncture when done properly, assesses the body’s entire systems and identifies the weakest link. It then goes on to strengthen the meridians that are weakest and suppress the ones that are aggravated. Simplified, it allows your body to heal itself naturally, with no medications, and with no negative side effects. If you have not tried it, you simply do not know what you are missing. The experience is extremely relaxing and leaves you feeling invigorated from the onset. Getting to the root of the illness and alleviating the symptoms may take a series of treatments, but it is well worth it. It is time to complete the puzzle, mend what is broken, and resolve the medical mystery for optimal wellness in mind, body, and spirit.