29/09/2025
My father was a medical doctor and so am I.
Both of us were trained to diagnose narrowly-defined problems, mainly problems with the physical body.
When I was in training, there was already a new breeze blowing in the air that encouraged us to think about "psychosocial factors" in disease. That idea got ridiculed by many of my teachers and fellow trainees. And the docs of my dad's generation mostly were unaware that the conversation was even going on.
But science has marched forward.
Now, abundant research tells us that these psycho social factors are important.
Things like mindset, emotional states, diet, exercise, social support. Breathing exercises, meditation, movement, healthy food, and so on.
They're not just "nice to have". They are powerful modifiers of your bodily function. They even change gene expression. What?
Yes they change gene expression.
And they change hormone activity, pain processing, nerve activity, immune function, and gut function. And all of these variables feed into one another and determine how well or sick you feel, and how intense is your pain.
Integrative medicine isn't "hooji wooji".
It's reality based. Evidence based.
And the people who are practicing "old school medicine" or denying the importance of a holistic perspective are just missing the boat because of their cognitive dissonance.
Question is...
What Kind of Care Do You Want?
Someone who actually understands how all your parts work together.
Or someone who is going to treat your parts individually, as if they're not in relation to one another.
You get to choose.
Do you have any thoughts or comments about these ideas? Have they shown up in your experience of medical care?
Please share your thoughts in the comments!
