Ions, Neurotransmitters and Peanut Butter Decisions

Smooth or Crunchy?

Are these images the same as our thoughts?

Reductionism shows us worlds we can only see through microscopes and mathematical abstraction.

What is 'Integral'

So it may have been during a dream, because I really dont have any visitors, but I was asked to further explain what I mean by "integral" on this website.

Integral theory has been pioneered by Ken Wilber, who received a bachelors double majoring in biology and chemistry. He is undoubtedly one of the foremost philosophers of our time, and, with his heavy background in the hard sciences, we can be sure that his thoughts remain highly empirical in nature.

I have posted here above, a diagram of the four quadrants which he poses. These are the four realms of which we as doctors must keep within our sight while diagnosing our patients and designing our treatments.

If I am permitted to generalize, which, I will grant myself, traditional western doctors focus largely on the upper right hand quadrant. In this quadrant we see from the middle outwards, the progression from atoms, to molecules, all the way up through cells, organisms and the evolving mammalian brain. I believe my fellow future doctors can be comfortable when looking at this portion of the chart.

It is the other three quadrants which many of us are uncomfortable in, and accordingly, they often go unrecognized, unexplored, and generally ignored. It is my goal over the next couple of weeks to spend a little bit of time talking about each of these quadrants, and how I feel they can be simply integrated into the practice of western medicine.

A Doctor and Communicator

To become a doctor should be influenced by a desire to be a part of patients' lives when their physical and emotional health are the matter of discussion. Moments of this nature can be an crucial part of an individual's emotional development. If doctors do not either have or take the time to learn about a patient's life, they cannot adequately share in this moment of growth with them.

This ultimately changes the effects of treatment. Some may argue that personal or emotional growth of this nature should be saved for the psychiatrist's office. It is these men and women I most want to engage. All healing, whether it be the ENT, podiatrist or therapist, is better achieved when doctors and patients can form a team.

Together, it should be the task of a doctor and his patient to form a cohesive narrative. If as doctors, we can learn to ask patients not only about their pain, but about how that pain affects their work, their lives, and their play, we can design therapies that attack the symptoms on all fronts.

Finding Freedom in Western Medicine

When learning to heal the body and mind, choosing to specialize in a particular medical field does not have to go hand in hand with a narrow minded vision. Instead, a career path in which integrates traditional neurological and psychiatric treatments can grant access to a rich world of scientific and creative freedom.

Amazing advances in modern medicine have been made as we begin to understand the minute molecular mechanisms which are present in individuals afflicted with diseases like epilepsy and pain disorders. The amazing pace at which modern medicine continues to discover new treatments of this kind and reduce problems with existing ones is an ever present reminder to me of the effectiveness of a rigorous scientific approach.

However, despite the obvious success we have had using neurological treatments, we should not forget that diseases like pain disorders and epilepsy are often accompanied by psychological and social complications. It is my belief that these afflictions, such as severe depression and social anxiety, are manifestations of the same diseases in the psychosocial realm. These two examples along with many other disorders lay within a complex realm of medicine where both neurological and psychiatric interventions are demonstrably beneficial.

Ultimately, I believe that choosing to specialize in both the biological mechanisms and behavioral explanations of neurology will not limit one's influence. Instead, this extensive exposure will free me to enlarge my view of epilepsy and pain, and help me to understand their nature more deeply. By carving out a niche, and working towards redefining these disorders, I feel certain that often overlooked psychiatric components will begin to garner the same attention from clinicians as the more tangible elements of diseases.

Holistic and Complementary Medicine

In order to explore the idea of an integral approach to practicing medicine, it seems important to distinguish it from the many "new age" treatments currently rising in popularity, here in America, and around the world.

While no one can ignore the amazing capabilities modern western medicine has, many people have taken to visiting other kinds of healers, those who might treat their whole person, rather than just their pathology. Rather than dismiss these approaches, I believe it is important to investigate why this exodus away from such a successful science has occurred. Can we bring back what is missing to traditional western medicine?

I believe we should open a dialogue with those who subscribe to alternative methods of healing, meditation, and the like. However, a most western docs don't care to discuss anything other than their own methods of healing. Unfortunately, I believe this blog will attract more alternative healers than western docs, but with my formal western medical training, I hope to be able to include many of those men and women with training like mine.

Integral Medicine

The first purpose of proposing an integral approach to medicine is to ensure that doctors themselves remain in direct contact with all levels of their humanity.