Integrative, Regenerative Medicine versus Conventional Medicine

DNA being duplicated
Doctor in modern medical facility.

Doctor in modern medical facility examining radiological images. Radiology is one of three primary approaches that conventional-western-medicine uses to intervene in disease.

A priori, let me sing the praises of modern medical science. 

From the advent of antibiotics, to the advances in recombinant DNA, to the invention of lasers, nuclear medicine and radiology, and the entire spectrum of advances in cellular biology, from neurotransmitters to stem cells, and of course the extraordinary surgical techniques developed in the last few decades, the shear genius of modern medical science is nothing short of miraculous.  

The Birth of Integrative, Regenerative Medicine

That said, Integrative, Regenerative Medicine at its core was born of the failures of conventional-western-medicine that dominates the medical landscape of the US and Europe. 

Without delving into the quagmire of arguments promulgated by its defenders and detractors, the facts of iatrogenic (caused by medical treatments) injury, disease and death attributable to conventional-western-medicine are indisputable.  Whether iatrogenic death is the first or third greatest cause of death in the United States, no one disputes its ranking in the top five along with heart disease and cancer.   

The Conventional Medicine Approach

Modern surgeons performing surgery in operation room.

Surgery is another one of three primary approaches that conventional-western-medicine uses to intervene in disease.

Bottom line, it is commonly known by professionals as well as the general public that the primary approach of conventional-western-medicine is intervening in disease by three invasive methods…

  1. Biochemical
  2. Surgical
  3. Radiological

All three of these methods are replete with serious side effects, complications and risks, which explain the high incidence of iatrogenic injury, disease and mortality.  All three seek to intervene in the disease independently of a patient’s physiology, which I too believe is at times the appropriate and best option. However, all three are also an assault on the patient’s physiology, which once again, is the source of so many of the detrimental side-effects and dangers we see broadcast on 5 billion dollars of TV commercials every year. 

All three of these methods are deeply entrenched in exceedingly complicated and expensive scientific research, which is a double edged good/bad thing.  Advancing science is great…. however, when confronted with market realities, regulatory, political and legal encumbrances and draconian liabilities, this overwhelming complexity and expense must then be ameliorated and justified by profits generated by its use… regardless of its actual clinical efficacy… as is evidenced, once again, by the high incidence of iatrogenic injury, disease and death.  

The Absence of Disease Symptoms AND Clinical Outcomes

For sure only a small fraction of western medicine is focused on eliminating the cause of disease or preventing disease.  It is clearly evident that at its core conventional-western-medicine defines health as the absence of disease symptoms, and thus it has little understanding of what actually constitutes health itself, and accordingly has little to offer in support of promoting optimal health.  

Finally, a disturbing trend has emerged throughout conventional-western-medicine, wherein purveyors of healthcare, which include a sequentially linked string of participants from government agencies to insurance companies to hospitals and doctors, will preferentially use a conventional therapy whose “scientific mechanism of action” is studied and purportedly understood, over an “unconventional” therapy, whose mechanisms of actions have not been “scientifically studied or validated”, but whose clinical outcomes are superior. 

The Integrative, Regenerative Medicine Approach

Doctor drawing up mesenchymal stem cells into a syringe. Stem cells are considered the "holy grail" of Integrative, Regenerative Medicine.

Doctor drawing up mesenchymal stem cells into a syringe. Stem cells are considered the “holy grail” of Integrative, Regenerative Medicine.

Out of the frustration and chaos of this morass, has emerged the voice of both patient and doctor who “just want to get well”, using whatever works, from where ever it comes.   Simply stated, “Outcome” or “Evidenced” based medicine. 

At AMA Regenerative Medicine, we start with this basic idea and add a few more dimensions to arrive at the following paradigm: 

Integrative, Regenerative Medicine is…

  1. First and foremost is dedicated to successful clinical outcomes, as embraced by “evidence/outcome based medicine”.
  2. Is dedicated to a “physiological approach” to healing; wherein protocols are designed to work in collaboration with the patient’s physiology.
  3. Is Holistic:  Thus ALL physiological systems that can be engaged in the healing of a patient should be engaged.   
  4. Whenever possible, and to the extent possible, these physiological protocols utilize non-invasive to least-invasive methods, both biochemically and physically.
  5. Utilizes therapeutic modalities from all sources that have proven clinical efficacy.
  6. Specializes in developing multiple-modality protocols that combine different modalities to achieve superior clinical results than modalities used separately.
  7. Specializes in a thorough physiological evaluation of each patient, in order to customize a therapeutic protocol that is tailored for each patient throughout the entire course of treatment.
Patient in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber.

Patient in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Oxygen inhaled under pressure is dissolved in all fluids of the body, so it’s more efficiently absorbed into all the body’s cells.

Philosophically and Pragmatically Speaking, Integrative, Regenerative Medicine is…

  1. Is founded on an abiding respect for the inherent and miraculous intelligence of human physiology.
  2. Forges a partnership of 3 parties in pursuit of healing:  
    1. The willing and engaged patient.  
    2. The dedicated and engaged physician and medical staff.  
    3. The patient’s physiology, which also must be “consulted” and engaged.

We believe this paradigm constitutes a transformational shift in how medicine should be practiced.

Spiritual Foundations of Integrative, Regenerative Medicine

The purpose of Integrative, Regenerative Medicine is to restore the physiological and functional vitality of organ systems by working holistically with the natural mechanisms inherent in the purposeful design of human physiology.

The purpose of Integrative, Regenerative Medicine is to restore the physiological and functional vitality of organ systems by working holistically with the natural mechanisms inherent in the purposeful design of human physiology.

In contrast to invasive modalities, biochemically (pharmaceutical), physically (surgery) or radiologically, the purpose of Integrative, Regenerative Medicine is to restore the physiological and functional vitality of organ systems by working holistically with the natural mechanisms inherent in the purposeful design of human physiology.

For us this is more than just smart science and good medicine, it is also a spiritual pursuit to develop protocols to manifest three seminal elements:

  1. To honor the purpose inherent in the design of our tissues.
  2. To invigorate, regenerate and collaborate with (rather than against) the natural processes that produce health, youth, vitality and beauty.
  3. To achieve through interpersonal education, an alignment between the mind and heart of our patients, so that each patient is empowered to make for themselves a holistic decision to engage their bodies.

ALL Things are Created with Purpose

Whether we call the source of all things “Source”, “Spirit”, “Life”, “Nature” or simply “God”, we believe that all things are created with purpose. In nature we see how every life-form can’t help but manifest its purpose, revealing the unfathomable mystery and utter perfection of its essential design.

At all levels, from outer skin, to inner organs, to cell membranes, to DNA, to molecules, atoms, electrons and subatomic particles, everything about life at every level is a synchronous symphony of purpose… effortlessly and perfectly expressing itself.

Consider the shear improbability of your next breath: The human body comprises 100 trillion cells and every one of these cells simultaneously and precisely performs 20,000 essential biochemical reactions every second. Thus, in order for you to take your next breath 20,000,000,000,000,000 different sequential activities must synchronize in perfect harmony in every single second. What is the probability that you could exist for even one second, without an underlying purpose that animates, coordinates, synergizes and synchronizes all this activity? 

Animation of how DNA is copied in living cells.

Animation of how DNA is copied in living cells. An assembly line of amazing, miniature, biochemical machines that are pulling apart the DNA double helix and making a copy of each strand.

As design is a manifestation of intelligence and cannot exist without prerequisite purpose, and purpose is born exclusively of consciousness, all existence is a consequence of consciousness so vast it is unthinkable. 

OUR Consciousness of this Purposeful Design

As human beings, we are uniquely endowed with a modicum of consciousness of this purposeful design, physiologically as well as spiritually.

Spiritually, we are designed with the irrepressible instinct to search for meaning and purpose in existence. Accordingly, we strive daily to align our fulfillment with our equally unique and innate capacity to experience the resonance of good and the dissonance of evil.

Physiologically, we know when we are in alignment with the purpose of our bodies’ internal design. We can feel the difference between the dissonance of eating junk food and the resonance of proper nourishment, between the resonance of breathing in fresh meadow air verses the dissonance of noxious vapors. And though there are times when invasive treatments are truly the best available option, we instinctively know that cutting up our tissues or disrupting our biochemistry, can cause much unintended and enduring damage, diminishing our spirit and warping our psyche.

Manifesting the Purpose of Our Physical Design

Finally, we believe that the unfathomable intelligence that is inherent in the cosmic design of the universe, is holographically present in all its components. This divine intelligence is not only the source of the design of our body, but of all aspects of our existence. Thus, as utilizing medical protocols that “manifest the purpose of our physical design” produce rewards of health, vitality and beauty, so too are our lives rewarded with extraordinary meaningfulness, fulfillment and joy when we take a parallel path in our actions and behaviors to “manifest the purpose of our spiritual design”. 

We believe that design cannot exist without prerequisite purpose, and thus humans too, are born “of purpose” and “on purpose”, both physically and spiritually. Therefore, regardless of what your individual understanding of the purpose of your existence might be, we celebrate our patients’ spiritual journey as they draw nearer to embracing and manifesting divine purpose in their lives. 

May you experience Divine purpose in your life, and may you consciously manifest it with effortless perfection.