Treatment philosophy
Conventional or allopathic medicine has always been highly effective in treating acute or life-threatening medical conditions.
Unfortunately, conventionally-trained doctors have had much less success with chronic or degenerative diseases like cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, allergies and so on.
My treatment philosophy is simple. I do not believe in merely treating patients’ symptoms, and certainly not with the ‘latest and most powerful new drug’ that has been actively promoted to me by the pharmaceutical industry.
I try to find out why things happen; this takes time. If you are expecting a 'quick fix' with a few vitamins, then this is not the clinic for you.
I spend time and relish the challenge of trying to find the causes of a particular problem which a patient may be suffering from. This is typical of a holistic approach to health but is often easier said than done.
For example, I have rarely come across a gynaecologist who is also interested in a woman’s thyroid problems or insulin-resistance. Nor have I met a psychiatrist who will look into a patient’s diet and nutritional status before prescribing an anti-depressant.
To try and find a cause or a triggering factor can be a difficult process. However, at times, all it takes is a comprehensive history and examination; other times specialized tests will have to be done and, because medicine is as much an art as a science, even intuition plays a part.
The emphasis at the end of the day is to respect the body and its powers of healing and rejuvenation and making treatment choices which may well be safer and cheaper than conventional pharmaceutical or surgical approaches.
This approach has improved patient outcomes in conditions as diverse as cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, autism, ADHD, autoimmune diseases like lupus and arthritis, skin conditions and allergies.