Advancing Research on Traditional Whole Systems Medicine Approaches

While the intention of Integrative Medicine (IM) is whole person medicine, it has for the most part remained driven by individual modalities. Like the practice of IM itself, IM research too has been driven primarily by studies on individual modalities. There are significant challenges to moving research on whole systems medicine forward, with funding being at the top of the list. Historically, NIH has not been receptive to supporting research on whole systems, preferring instead to support studies that are more individual modality driven so that mechanisms can be identified. Purely mechanistic research, however, assumes unidirectional causality and linear responses yet clinical responses to whole systems approaches are more often multidirectional and dynamically unpredictable. The concept of emergence is applicable here. Whole systems approaches suggest that by incorporating therapies into holistic treatment programs we not only treat symptoms but accomplish more by activating the body's inherent self-organizing healing mechanisms and treat the root cause of illnesses as well as associated symptoms. Given that interest in integrative therapies with the general public and medical community is steadily increasing, there is need for more research that explores intact whole systems approaches to elucidate the relevant system-wide effects and dynamic interactions related to these practices.

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Consumerism for Neurobiological Disorders: An Assessment

International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care ◽

10.1017/s0266462300010941 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 644-656

Author(s):

Richard E. Peschel ◽

Enid Peschel

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Physical Nature ◽

Outcome Data ◽

Public Understanding ◽

Medical Community ◽

Treatment Programs ◽

Equitable Treatment

AbstractConsumerism is a growing phenomenon in U.S. health care, yet its exercise is still inhibited by powerful forces within the medical community. Despite the neuroscientific framework that stresses the commonalities between mental and physical illness, consumerism is even more problematic and difficult in mental health care than in other areas of health care. People with severe mental illness and their advocates must contend with limited public understanding of neurobiological disorders, poor definitions of effective treatment, and a paucity of outcome data, especially from prospective randomized and long-term studies. The only clear way for consumerism to grow in mental health care is for its advocates to align themselves with the neuroscientific revolution and to demand that effective and equitable treatment programs be created based on the documented evidence of the physical nature of neurobiological disorders.

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Smart Manufacturing Through a Framework for a Knowledge-Based Diagnosis System

Volume 3: Manufacturing Equipment and Systems ◽

10.1115/msec2017-2937 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Michael P. Brundage ◽

Boonserm Kulvatunyou ◽

Toyosi Ademujimi ◽

Badarinath Rakshith

Keyword(s):

Manufacturing Industry ◽

Ad Hoc ◽

Root Cause Analysis ◽

Medical Community ◽

Smart Manufacturing ◽

Cause Analysis ◽

Diagnosis System ◽

Standard Representation ◽

Root Cause ◽

Knowledge Based

Various techniques are used to diagnose problems throughout all levels of the organization within the manufacturing industry. Often times, this root cause analysis is ad-hoc with no standard representation for artifacts or terminology (i.e., no standard representation for terms used in techniques such as fishbone diagrams, 5 why’s, etc.). Once a problem is diagnosed and alleviated, the results are discarded or stored locally as paper/digital text documents. When the same or similar problem reoccurs with different employees or in a different factory, the whole process has to be repeated without taking advantage of knowledge gained from previous problem(s) and corresponding solution(s). When discussing the diagnosis, personnel may miscommunicate over terms used in the root cause analysis leading to wasted time and errors. This paper presents a framework for a knowledge-based manufacturing diagnosis system that aims to alleviate these miscommunications. By learning from diagnosis methods used in manufacturing and in the medical community, this paper proposes a framework which integrates and formalizes root cause analysis by categorizing faults and failures that span multiple organizational levels. The proposed framework aims to enable manufacturing operations by leveraging machine learning and semantic technologies for the manufacturing system diagnosis. A use case for the manufacture of a bottle opener demonstrates the framework.

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Neurotherapy Intervention: A novel approach of healing

Integrative Medicine Case Reports ◽

10.38205/imcr.020128 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 28

Author(s):

Saras Jyoti ◽

Ram Gopal Parihar ◽

Ajay Gandhi

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

Complementary Medicine ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Holistic Treatment ◽

Anatomy And Physiology ◽

Root Cause ◽

Alternative And Complementary Medicine ◽

Novel Approach

Background: Neurotherapy is an alternative and complementary medicine originated in India. It is drugless holistic treatment founded and developed by Sh. Lajpatrai Mehra respectfully called “Guruji” by using ancient knowledge of ‘Nadi Vigyan’ (knowledge of nervous system), Ayureveda and principles of Anatomy and Physiology. Summary: t uses the finding of medical physiology but views them from a uniquely and refreshing approach, one that negates the use of medicines or drugs. Supported by basis of physiology, Dr. Lajpatrai Mehra (Guruji) has combined these palpations with symptoms and related them with various health conditions. Key message: The therapy acts on root-cause of the disease. It uncovers the root cause of the disease and cures the same in a sophisticated manner without the use of drugs or medication. It is simple therapy with potential to normalize or revive the functioning of the organs

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Whole Systems Approaches

Young People in Forensic Mental Health Settings ◽

10.1057/9781137359803.0012 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Brigitte Squire ◽

Tom Jefford ◽

Cindy Cupit Swenson

Keyword(s):

Systems Approaches ◽

Whole Systems

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Integrative medicine and whole systems approaches: From heterogeneous practice to comprehensive scientific concepts

European Journal of Integrative Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.eujim.2009.08.088 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 1 (4) ◽

pp. 189

Author(s):

P. Heusser

Keyword(s):

Integrative Medicine ◽

Scientific Concepts ◽

Systems Approaches ◽

Whole Systems

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Whole Systems Approaches

Key Concepts in Substance Misuse ◽

10.4135/9781473917354.n30 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 170-180

Author(s):

Tony Wilkinson

Keyword(s):

Systems Approaches ◽

Whole Systems

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Rationality and Irrationality in Ryke Geerd Hamer's System for Holistic Treatment of Metastatic Cancer

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/tsw.2005.16 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. 93-102 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Søren Ventegodt ◽

Niels Jørgen Andersen ◽

Joav Merrick

Keyword(s):

Cancer Metastasis ◽

Metastatic Cancer ◽

Evolutionary Process ◽

Subsequent Development ◽

Holistic Medicine ◽

Medical Community ◽

Holistic Treatment ◽

Medical Theory ◽

Medicine Today ◽

German Physician

The aim of this paper is to examine if the “medical laws” found by the German physician Ryke Geerd Hamer are substantiated by contemporary holistic medical theory. He developed a psychosomatic theory after a personal emotional trauma that he believed resulted in his subsequent development of a testicular cancer. From our analysis, it is clear that the two most fundamental principles of Hamer's work, the psychosomatic “iron law of cancer” (Hamer's first “law”) and the principle of pathogenesis being reversed into salutogenesis (Hamer's second “law”), are well-established principles of holistic medicine today. Hamer's understanding of symbols in medicine, virus and bacteria, and the evolutionary process itself (Hamer's third, fourth, and fifth “law”) differs a great deal from both traditional and contemporary holistic medical theory and we did not find them substantiated. Hamer's understanding of cancer metastasis was built on these failing principles and therefore not substantiated either. Altogether, it seems that Hamer's thinking was basically sound as the most fundamental principles of his work were built on an understanding very similar to holistic medical thinkers of today. We found his postulate that metastatic cancer patients can be healed or their health improved by using his system of holistic medicine likely to be true, at least for some motivated patients. This must be tested scientifically, however, before being accepted. His presentation of his system and work has been idiosyncratic and highly provocative, which has alienated him from the whole medical community.

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Systems Approaches to Biology and Disease Enable Translational Systems Medicine

Genomics Proteomics & Bioinformatics ◽

10.1016/j.gpb.2012.08.004 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 181-185 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Leroy Hood ◽

Qiang Tian

Keyword(s):

Systems Medicine ◽

Systems Approaches

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How can primary care help to reduce weight stigma?

British Journal of General Practice ◽

10.3399/bjgp18x696665 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 68 (suppl 1) ◽

pp. bjgp18X696665

Author(s):

Emily Henderson ◽

Allison Norenberg ◽

Joanne Cairns ◽

Erica Gadsby ◽

Emily Henderson

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Health Inequalities ◽

Research Unit ◽

Weight Stigma ◽

Self Awareness ◽

Systems Approaches ◽

Policy Practice ◽

Structural Support ◽

Healthcare Settings ◽

Whole Systems

BackgroundThe WHO recently recognised stigma as a fundamental cause for health inequalities. Weight stigma is associated with negative health consequences, and patients experience it commonly in healthcare settings. This study forms part of systematic review that aimed to understand how weight stigma can be reduced through the adoption of whole systems approaches.AimTo generate new understandings of the roles primary care can take in reducing weight stigma.MethodA systematic international literature review of peer-reviewed articles utilising EPPI guidance, and using PICOS terms in Web of Science searches. Recommendations for policy, practice and/or research were extracted and conceptually synthesised as guided by Research Unit for Research Utilisation.ResultsThe search identified 194 full texts with 540 total recommendations. Approximately 45% of recommendations (248 of 540) were coded under healthcare, of which 75% were in primary care including general practice (189 of 248). Findings indicate areas where weight stigma could be addressed in primary care: 1) Training; 2) Self-awareness; 3) Non-stigmatising approaches; 4) Formal patient assessments; 5. Coping strategies; 6) Organisational/structural support; 7) Cross-sector working; 8) Anti-discrimination legislation and classify obesity as a disease.ConclusionLiterature on reducing weight stigma focuses substantially on healthcare, and there is a range of approaches that could be taken. Tensions arise between the medicalisation of obesity and need to consider social determinants of obesity. Healthcare is only one of many settings in which the weight stigma needs to be addressed and whole systems approaches, for example working with local government, are required in particular to reduce health inequalities.

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