What is Biological Medicine?

Originating from Greek, "Bio" means "Life". Biological Medicine stands for the sustainance and preservation of life on all levels, and includes

• gentle, as well as deep-reaching therapies
• natural therapies
• preventive as well as healing methods.

A living human being is not just a "factory of chemical and mechanical processes", but a conscious being. When considering holisitc therapy, all levels of interaction, body, mind and soul will be influenced. Also known as regulation medicine, it takes into account the internal and external environment of an individual.

Therapies that contribute to a deep change not only in the physical well-being, but also in the consciousness of a human being may progress a little slower, and require active participation of the patient. However, the effect of a recovery is much deeper and all-embracing, and usually shows long-lasting healing.

In this understanding, symptoms of disease are an indication of an overall disorder, which may be healed by enabling and activating the body's own capability to restore itself to equilibrium. By searching for and identifying the root cause of an illness, the body is given the best possible opportunity to heal itself effectively.

Improvement of the general metabolism is given first priority. Gentle, modern methods for detoxification, elimination of waste products in the tissue, immune stimulation and other activating regenerative therapies are applied. Eliminating the cause of illness by activating the body's own natural healing power allows symptoms to gradually lose their hold and diminish. This is a totally different approach from the commonly used conventional medicine. The biological medicine model, especially on a long-term basis, leads to vastly improved overall well-being as well as to a reduced susceptibility to illnesses.

One of the most significant elements of biological medicine is that the healing process is approached without any harmful side effects of common drugs and treatments. Restoration of health is achieved by facilitating the body's own self-healing powers. Practiced in Europe, foremost in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, Biological medicine embraces the science of Pleomorphism, Traditional Chinese medicine, Homeopathy, Ayurveda and Antroposophic medicine.

As different as the mentioned medical systems may be, they have one thing in common: the pursuit of physical, mental and spiritual well-being are equally important in achieving optimal health.

Ancient medical systems have long known that emotional upsets will change the body chemistry. For example, stress, frustration and anger affect the liver, and weaken its function of detoxifying the body. When toxins are re-circulated in the blood, lymph or interstitial tissue, the blood chemistry changes from alkaline to acidic. This change is well documented, and in some instances has infiltrated daily language. For example, an angry person is sometimes said to be "sour".

On a physical level, a person with an unhealthy lifestyle or diet will cause changes in the blood chemistry that may affect the emotional and spiritual well-being. The goal of a biological medicine practitioner is to explore the origins of a problem together with the patient. Aside from an extensive health interview, we may suggest a variety of tests to support our findings.

What role is our nutrition playing?

Do you trust new nutritional theories, because they are trendy? A scientific look at toxins in the intestinal system show a different truth.

Almost daily, we seem to find a new confusing message about diet systems. It is extremely difficult to sort out, which recommendations are meaningful or useless. Vitamins and nutritional content are important, but we also need to pay attention to absorption - which can vary for different indifiduals. Our modern life styles create frequent functional disturbances in the gastro-intestinal tract. When we don't digest our meals completely, they ferment and rot in the bowel. And even though, this fermentation releases substantial toxins, we do not feel or notice until it has gone too far.

When proteins are not properly digested, toxic breakdown products are created. A healthy gut has natural barrier functions, which stop invasion of damaging substances. Overtaxed intestinal membranes allow toxic materials into the lymph system of the bowel. Damage to the digestive tract should not be underestimated, since the intestinal wall and the attached lymph nodes contain approx. 80% of our immune cells. From here, toxins are transported to the liver. If the liver is overworked, the fermented toxins can easily reach our blood circulation.

What is the role of the intestinal Flora?

The large intestine harbours a large amount of beneficial bacteria, which have important tasks. They protect us from infections, break down undigested nutritional substances, and send them to the intestinal mucosa. To some extent, they provide vitamins. There are approx. 500 different beneficial bacteria in our intestines. When we have a balance of these microbes, we speak of a healthy milieu. In an unbalanced situation (i.e. after taking antibiotics or steroidal drugs), metabolic substances are created, which can cause illness.

What problems can be helped with Biological Medicine?

Many chronic Conditions, such as asthma, problems of the digestive system (IBS, Colitis, Crohn's), allergies, eczema and psoriasis, headaches are responding well to treatment with biological medicine.

Can children be treated?

Children suffering from chronic infections, allergies or asthma are responding extremely well to this system of integrative medicine.

What methods or Diagnosis are used?

PH

Initially, we always like to know the pH of your bodily fluids. A very simple saliva and urine test with a test strip will reveal acid/alkaline balance.

CRT

Computer-regulated Thermography (CRT) detects blockages in your body, and shows how your organs and glands are performing. This is a non-invasive test, that registers temperature and regulation in over 200 test points. The FDA has approved CRT as an alternative to mammography in detection of breast cancer.

Applied Kinesiology

In Kinesiology, we use an indicator muscle, usually your arm, to test for allergies, food incompatibilities and compatibility of remedies.

HMT (heavy metal toxicity)

With all chronic problems, we like to check for heavy metals (lead, mercury, palladium, arsenic) - this is a simple urine test, developed in Germany.

What should you expect from your Biological Medicine Consultation?

The exploration into the causes of your illness has to be taken in the most cooperative way between you and the health care practitioner(s). You should view your journey with BM (Biological Medicine) as a gradual "un-doing" of your health problem.

We start with a detailed interview, based on the information you provide us with. I then make recommendations regarding your treatment plan. This may consist of taking Herbs, Homeopathics and Nutritional Supplements, receiving Acupuncture or Lymphatic Drainage, and often include dietary and life-style changes.

More difficult health challenges may require thorough detoxification, including removal of mercury from your teeth (by a biological dentist), and heavy metal detoxification from your cellular level.

You will be given a treatment plan, describing how and when to take your remedies. Often, this plan is broken down into different stages.

Most remedies prescribed are available at Artemesia. Some treatment or testing modalities may be referred out to practitioners that we have worked with and come to trust over the years.