A NEW APPROACH TO MEDICINE
Health is more than just the absence of disease. “Health” means wholeness of mind, body and spirit. True wellness and a positive vitality (feeling alive, joyful and vibrant) only comes with this wholeness of good, balanced health.
In the past the focus of medical education has always been on the diagnosis of disease. After a medical examination, a patient is relieved when the doctor announces that there was nothing wrong with him or her. However, despite this reassurance and although no major disease was discovered, the patient is distressed by the sensation that he/she is not feeling well or feeling themselves at all.
The new approach is called functional medicine which approaches a patient from a different perspective. A comprehensive medical history is established, which includes habits and behaviours that affect health. Physical findings, lab tests and emotional factors are all taken into account.
A more functional approach is then adopted to improve the physiology of the patient, and move them to better health and improved vitality.
Patients who generally feel unwell, tend to respond favourably to a functional medicine approach since broad areas of dysfunction are identified, and treated through meaningful support to restore wholeness and vitality on all levels of mind, body and spirit.
Anyone interested in this approach to their health, is welcome to contact Prof Nola Dippenaar at nola@healthinsight.co.za or read more on www.healthinisght.co.za