I have recognized in the nearly 25 years that I’ve been in practice the need for primary care in our community.  The importance of having a doctor, clinician, and patient advocate has resonated with me and allowed me to adjust and form the type of practice that I have today. I have also learned that the different areas of general practice (Primary Care/Internal Medicine) hold an important key to patient engagement and successful management of their healthcare needs.  So, how do I approach the dilemma?  We will discuss Allopathic/Hollistic (homeopathy) care.  There are a few others, but by far these two are the most commonly discussed in clinic and have created my greatest experiences in my practice.

In my practice, Allopathy and Homeopathy co-exist and have a place in patient care.  As a gatekeeper for my patients’ healthcare, I must take care in understanding the limitations of each.  Allopathy is supported by solid scientific research data that is reproducible.  Homeopathy lacks entirely or in part this kind of support.  This makes it very difficult to accept traditionally.  But undeniably this discipline is being used more and more by patients both for its natural lure and when traditional medicine has failed to provide a cure.  For example, in patients with advanced stage malignancies and end stage organ diseases.  One should respect the patient’s (and loved ones) desire to seek alternative options for care especially when the current allopathic recommendations come with very little benefits or positive outcomes.  I look for and welcome the opportunity to partner with patients and learn from their experiences with these medications or cocktails.  More often than not, I may glean some anecdotes that may help the next soul seeking therapy options or relief of symptoms who is interested in natural sources.  Indeed, patients have realized during their journey that I have an open mind to other ideas and I am willing to listen and share in their unique journey.  It makes me stronger as a physician and that strength becomes the experience wherein I can apply different perspectives to keep my patients engaged and confident in our approach to care.

Allopathic: This is traditional Western Medicine; our conventional medicine.  Doctors like myself will treat a variety of common illnesses and diseases primarily using drugs, radiation, or surgery.  Treatment is evidence based which is data derived from clinical and scientific research.  Subsequently, guidelines are established and are deemed “gold” standards of treatment.  Since safety and outcomes including mortality data are derived from such research, rarely do we vere away from these practices and guidelines.  And, for the most part evidence-based medicine is built upon, rarely discarded or even REDONE.  This creates uniformity with information gathering (history); examination (physical exam) plus labs/xrays and assessment ultimately reaching a diagnosis.  These elements unify the physician-patient visit.  This is the acceptable model worlwide for over a century.

Homeopathic:  This approach to patient care arguably has been around for three hundred plus years.  Its root (no pun intended) stems from use of naturally occuring substances such as plants and minerals, in small amounts to treat various diseases.  The idea is that at very small doses homeopathic medicine can alter or slow the disease and disease process.  This allows the body’s natural immune system to stimulate our internal healing mechanism to find a way or respnse to treat the malady and heal itself.  There is still limited evidence of its effectiveness through rigorous clinical and scientific research.  Funding for such has been a challenge due to its initial unpopularity with mainstream doctors and related practitioners.  This complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has however gotten new life and status, thanks to multiple influenza outbreaks around the world and recently SARS - COVID 19 pandemic.