Our society is experiencing a dramatic increase in the number of people who suffer from complex, chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, mental illness, anxiety/stress and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis.
The system of medicine practiced by most physicians is oriented toward Acute care – “the diagnosis and treatment of trauma or illness” that is of short duration and in need of urgent care, such as appendicitis or a broken leg. Doctors apply specific, prescribed treatments such as medications or medical procedures that aim to treat the direct symptom or issue.
Unfortunately, the acute-care approach to medicine lacks the proper methodology and tools for preventing and treating complex, chronic disease. In most cases, it does not take into account the “unique genetic makeup of each individual” or factors such as environmental exposures to toxins and the aspects of today’s lifestyle that have a direct influence on the rise in chronic disease in our modern Western society.
There is a massive gap amongst research and how physicians practice. The gap between emerging studies in basic sciences and integration into medical practice is tremendous—as long as 50 years—particularly in the field of the complex, chronic illness.
