To integrate or not to integrate, that is the question.

Historically, the practice of medicine has focused upon a single concept or theory of practice. These concepts and theories have evolved throughout time. During each generation, those who were in positions of power and wealth have typically controlled and manipulated the type of medicine that was considered appropriate, efficacious and of course, the most profitable.

For the past 75 years or so, and especially since the advent of penicillin, a medical system based solely upon the germ theory of disease has been the dominant medical model. The idea has been that a germ, a virus, bacteria, parasite or fungus is the root cause of disease. Therefore, all that is needed to combat disease is to develop a weapon against the germ. Hence the development of antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, antiparasitics, etc. This approach is merely an extension of the war like mentality that has plaqued humans for generations. Have an enemy, find a way to eradicate or kill it.

This approach has clearly been effective, as countless lives have been saved from almost certain doom. However, this approach had initially failed to take into consideration that germs have their own innate intelligence and have a strong will to survive in the face of adversity. These germs have learned to change and alter their form to become resistant to our germ fighting weapons.

Today, antibiotic resistance is posing a serious threat even within the ivory towers of the medical establishment. As a result, our weapons against many germs are worthless and we are losing the war. This form of medicine is called conventional or orthodox medicine.

In order to succeed against the proverbial enemy, the germ, we must learn to cohabitate with them instead of creating stronger drugs that will ultimately generate greater resistance. This can be accomplished by integrating several forms of medical theory into a single cohesive medical model.

By integrating conventional medicine with the best of naturopathic and homoepathic medical models, we can learn to harmoniously coexist with the germs while creating an internal health environment that is condusive toward health promotion and disease resistance.