Happy 2001, everyone! I hope each of you had a fabulous holiday season. It is hard to believe that the year 2001 is upon us. How many of you remember the movie "2001 - Space Odyssey"? I remember thinking, back then, that 2001 was so far away - it was impossible that it would ever be a reality. (Plus, I did not believe at my "then" young age that I could ever live to be so old as to see the year 2001.) I am still amazed that it is actually here (and "obviously" delighted that I am still here, too). I am sure this may be part of the reason I am feeling so positive about 2001.

For this month of January, we have an article by Dr. Conrad Loreto. Dr. Loreto has written for us many times before, and his previous articles (along with our past newsletters) may be viewed on our website at "http://www.appliedhealth.com/archive.html" His philosophy on integrated medicine is one that I believe will continue to rapidly grow in acceptance and popularity in the coming years.

Many people are just now beginning to see the merits of integrated medicine and non-invasive healing. I look forward to an increased public consciousness of the responsibility each person has to actively participate in improving, and/or maintaining, his or her own individual health - physical, psychological, and spiritual.

I believe this awareness will be even more accepted by the populace in the coming decade. (I am hopeful that the day will come when I receive more interest, and less blank stares, from friends and acquaintances when I bring up the subject of nutrition.)

I am truly excited about this coming year. I hope 2001 will be a great year for everyone, filled with health, happiness, and prosperity.

For your good health. . . .

Tamara

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The combination of "Traditional Medicine" and Alternative (Eastern) Medicine is referred to as "Integrated Medicine". Twenty-first century health care is in the slow process of marrying both practices to offer the best possible choices for the patient. The combining of these into a complimentary practice can be compared to the formation of an orchestra wherein each member has a specialty, as well as an understanding and knowledge of what others do.

The medical director is like the conductor or the first violinist, who knows when to do the work personally and when to direct the work to a specialist. The first violinist may have the ability to play the other instruments, but cannot play them all at once to produce the resulting masterpiece of music, which following this metaphor, would be the healthy person.

Both Eastern and Western practices have their merits and virtues. Western medicine was first designed to patch up the wounded in wars. However, this same philosophy is carried over to non-emergency medical situations. "Patching-up" the symptoms is usually the protocol - cut out the cancer, kill the bacteria, and deaden the emotion. Eastern medicine, as practiced in China for over 6,000 years, includes herbalism and nutrition, as well as acupuncture and lifestyle practices (such as Tai Chi and meditation).

For a millennium, the Chinese have understood the mind-body connection that has recently become Western medical breakthroughs. Where Western medicine views a nauseous stomach as the problem, and tries to stop the symptom, Eastern philosophy sees it as the body's way of warning us of an imbalance. This allows us to then correct the course, rather than just mask the symptoms.

As an example: Hormones are chemical messengers produced by glands to produce a bodily function. When face to face with a lion that escaped from the zoo, hormones are released to allow the body to react. Adrenaline is pumped out; the heart beats faster to get fresh blood to muscles; and breathing speeds up to facilitate the production of fresh oxygenated blood. The intangible thought of fear or stress can create tangible bodily changes to cope with the situation. This hypertensive state is useful when deciding what to do with the lion, but not when sitting in rush hour traffic or worrying about a child's book report that is due tomorrow. If the body is typically found to be in this condition, hypertension can become a problem.

Both Western and Eastern medicine will begin treatment with the diagnosis of "hypertension". In Western medicine, the hypertension is the problem. The prognosis and treatment plan includes prescription drugs that inhibit the hormonal flow and release of neurochemicals, forcing the blood pressure down. This works great in life threatening situations, but as a long-term protocol, the side effects of the powerful drug may outweigh the benefits.

An Eastern approach is to first realize that hypertension is useful and necessary, when one of life's "lions" approaches. Breathing techniques, diet, herbs, nutrition, acupuncture, and exercise all play an important role in an Eastern approach to hypertension.

In our quick fix, fast-paced world, we would like remedies to work like the drug or medications. In general, the cause of hypertension did not occur overnight and "meditation" rather than "medication" has a slower acting, yet more lasting, effect on the cause - while not just masking the symptoms. An awareness of both Eastern and Western medical approaches can help achieve optimum results for patients.

Initially, a traditional medical physician may prescribe medication to prevent any acute damage from occurring, while alternative medicine practitioners provide concurrent treatment. The alternative approach may involve a change in the patient's diet, along with adding herbs, vitamins, bio-feedback training, breathing techniques, or acupuncture. As the hypertension improves, and once the patient is safely beyond the risk of having a stroke or heart attack, the medication may be reduced. Thus, this cooperative, multidisciplinary group of healing professionals can work together, as an orchestra, to provide the best combination of treatment for the patient.

One very important understanding that I would like to convey is that the natural state or condition of the body and mind is one of perfect health and harmony. We all have the potential to be perfectly healthy, if we take the necessary steps of maintenance, and make the right choices for our health and happiness.

I believe that the secret to happiness may simply be doing the things that you enjoy, while knowing and being responsible for the outcome. Obviously, if you think smoking cigarettes, eating a gallon of ice-cream a day, and sitting around all the time is what makes you happy, then you have to take the responsibility of realizing that this bliss may be short lived, and your body will not last under this lack of a healthy maintenance regime. However, if you really want to be happy, knowing that the body has to come with you on this bliss trip, then part of the plan has to include making healthy choices to run your body in the most proficient manner.

Fortunately, part of the perfection of our bodies is that they are very resilient and forgiving. Most bad choices can be reversed, and a state of harmony and good health is once again possible. That is (I believe) where I, and other healthcare professionals, fit in as a "health coach" rather than "healer". I like to think of myself as a coach, because I am not doing the healing; the patient is. My job is simply to assist the patient in making the best life choices to reach health and happiness goals.

We know that stress and tension controlled by our emotions can cause changes on a cellular level to produce ulcers, hypertension, and a general breakdown of the immune system. Can we then pre-suppose that peaceful, loving thoughts can create the opposite cellular changes to boost the immune system, reverse the hypertension, and the like?

As we start 2001, let us make the simple commitment to increase peaceful, loving thoughts toward others, as well as ourselves. Let us begin by being more responsible for our actions and their repercussions. Let us treat others with the same love and consideration we would like to be treated with. In doing the things we love, we can be contagiously happy. My wish for you is that you invest the time now to be well, happy, and at peace within your universe.

For more information contact Dr. Loreto at:

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