A Sustainable NHS?
“If any field needs integration, it is medicine. If any field needs an integrative paradigm that can make sense out of all the different models of healing, it is medicine. The weaknesses of the conventional medical model have been clear for some time. Its procedures are too invasive and have too many harmful side effects. There is no conventional model for the treatment of most chronic and degenerative diseases… and it is expensive.”
Amit Goswami. (Quantum Physicist). From “The Quantum Doctor.”
Whilst our Government assures us that it’s “ringfencing the NHS” during our anticipated austerity measures, I’m starting to wonder which areas of our current medical system are worth preserving. Perhaps this point in our collective medical history is an opportunity for some replacement rather than preservation?
Emergencies and disease.
There are some good reasons for us to question Western orthodox medicine. Personally, I view our National Health Service as valuable for some things such as emergency treatment and diagnosis of disease. For example, I would welcome the arrival of a paramedic if I were involved in a road accident. I would approach my GP if I suspected a broken bone and wanted an x-ray or if I was keeping an eye on my iron count and wanted a blood test, for example. However, once I’ve got a diagnosis and when treating a disease, I avoid allopathic drugs if at all possible because of their toxicity. I will seek alternatives, usually from an herbalist or homeopath. I would also consider changes to my lifestyle and diet.
To promote good health, I would far rather approach an alternative practitioner than my GP. I don’t believe GP’s are trained in promoting good health so much as in treating disease and so I would not view them as a credible source of information and guidance in that area. I much prefer to be treated holistically and by somebody who views me as a whole person and is prepared to spend some time with me understanding my medical problem or my desire to optimise my health.
The limits.
As a child I fractured my spine and had surgery. My spine was fused in the lower lumbar region in order to prevent the possible loss of use of my legs and further paralysis in my lower body. I’m grateful to orthodox Western medicine for the skill of the surgeons who treated me, even though the surgery was only a partial fix. Subsequent to the surgery, I experienced a lot of pain in my back and some loss of feeling in my arms and legs. This stayed with me on and off all through my teenage years, my twenties and thirties and finally peaked when I was 35.
At this point it seemed that Western orthodox medicine was no longer able to help me. The best suggestion that the Orthopaedic Consultant could come up with to alleviate my difficulties was to prescribe a surgical brace which I was to wear all day every day until such time as the pain was too great to bear and I needed further surgery. He estimated that I would last about 2 years maximum before needing the surgery. He described the surgery as very risky and likely to result in paralysis. This sounded to me like the top of a slippery slope and so I researched alternatives.
There are other options
To begin with I turned to osteopathy to help me and then later, when I met a yoga therapist, I started a daily yoga practice under his guidance. I also took nutritional advice from a medical herbalist. Using these alternatives I have managed to alleviate all back pain (except for the occasional incident, usually when I lift something too heavy). My spine has stayed in good condition and I have strengthened the muscles that support my spine, something I would not have achieved by wearing the surgical brace. Thus I have also avoided having further surgery on my spine. Ironically, in middle age, my spine is probably stronger now than it’s ever been.
During the course of this particular journey, I’ve met many others – clients, friends, colleagues and family – who’ve reached the end of the road with Western orthodox medicine and have turned to alternatives as a way to inform and support them in their return to good health.
Similarly, as a society, maybe we’ve now reached the point where we need to adopt a totally different, more holistic, approach to treating disease and promoting wellbeing.
Main differences in approach and outcome of Western Orthodox Medicine and Other Medical Systems.
1.   Western medicine views the body as a collection of individual organs and systems, much like a machine. Alternative medical systems view the body as an energy field and part of someone’s whole intimately connected mind-body-spirit.
2.   Western medicine sees its prime function as treating the symptoms of disease or disability. Alternative medical systems see their function as healing disease, preventing disease and promoting good health.
3.   Western medicine is not holistic in its approach and thus misses the connection between the mind, body and spirit. It generally discounts the existence of other valid methods of creating wellbeing, even dismissing the positive influences of the mind-body connection in healing as a “placebo effect”, as though this were irrelevant or inconsequential. Alternative medical systems are often holistic and recognise that understanding the link between mind, body and spirit is crucial to wellbeing.
4.   In the UK, Western orthodox medicine is the system favoured by our Government and is therefore free or low cost under the NHS. Most alternatives are not and as such this limits their accessibility for some on low incomes. So, there are important political and social barriers to seeking assistance from any alternatives.
In what ways might the NHS make the transition to a sustainable, national system of wellbeing?
1.   By prioritising the promotion of good health, rather than the treatment of disease.
2.   By recognising and embracing alternative medical practices so that the patient has a choice of low cost, low toxicity, holistic routes to take.
3.   By making long-term health and wellbeing (as distinct from health and safety) a priority in the food and leisure industries, education, town planning, transport and every other area of public life.
4.   By decoupling the pharmaceutical industry from the national health system.
In our transition to a life-sustaining society, we could view our public health provision as a mirror of our personal attitudes to health. In that case, perhaps our personal transition to optimum health would include:
1.   Maintaining our personal good health, rather than waiting for disease to strike.
2.   Recognising and investigating alternatives to the current NHS, so that we have greater choices.
3.   Making health and wellbeing a priority in every other aspect of our lives.
4.   Valuing our health above our short-term productivity.
July 31, 2010
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