About "Health" and "Healthcare"
In today’s world, Health and Healthcare are confusing terms. This process covers 3 different types of care. Really, the Healthcare system should be redefined to include three separate levels of care. Then, all the present models of "Healthcare" can be understood and appreciated. These proposed levels of care are;
I - CRISIS CARE - DEALS WITH EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AND IS BASED ON PREVENTING LOSS OF LIFE. USUALLY HANDLED IN HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENTS WITH EXTREME MEASURES REQUIRED.
II - SYMPTOM CARE - DEALS WITH ELIMINATING THE PRESENTING SYMPTOMS AND MAKING THE PERSON " FEEL" BETTER. CAN BE HANDLED VERY WELL WITH DRUGS, HERBS, OR MANIPULATIONS, BUT OFTEN ALLOWS THE REAL CAUSE TO GO UNDETECTED UNTIL IT BECOMES A CRISIS!
III - HEALTH CARE - DEALS WITH ATTEMPTING TO MAKE THE SYSTEM FUNCTION AT IT'S OPTIMAL LEVEL. USUALLY THIS IS ASYMPTOMATIC CARE AND THE DOCTOR NEEDS TO USE OTHER OBJECTIVE MEASURES TO DETERMINE STATUS AND RESULTS. (Lab tests, posture, etc.)
Healthcare is often mistakenly called "preventative" or maintenance care, but it really shouldn’t be called maintenance until optimal health has been achieved. For some people this is a difficult task, but it is a goal. In Chirodontics, we think of " Health Care" as a working with the individuals system from death (or near death), past symptoms, and on to Health. Maintenance care is really the elimination of symptoms, and then holding the individual there! True "Healthcare" is so much more!
There is a big difference between "not sick" and "not healthy" states, but both are without symptoms. The larger the distance between sickness and health, the larger the persons "ADAPTIVE CAPACITY" This is what we want to increase as much as possible. Some people have very small adaptive capacities and need more care to get symptom free. This can be genetic, traumatic, or environmentally driven. The further towards a state of health a person can achieve, the less likely they are to get sick or hurt. True health care is a continual process of seeking optimum function and homeostasis.
Health is not a destination, It is a journey!
About The System
Because of the multiple systems at work in the body, and their ability to compensate for each other, you will find that the most difficult Dental patients are usually really easy Chiropractic cases, and the most troublesome Chiropractic cases are very simple Dental Orthopaedic cases. By working as a team, they all become very straightforward Chirodontic cases. And when you add Nutrition to the equation, along with Patient lifestyle changes, true Health is possible. When working on any patient, there are 3 different basic aspects to Health. We deal with the Biomechanical aspects, The Biochemical aspects, and the Electromagnetic aspects. Each of these aspects can be the primary problem, as well as being the primary complaint or symptom. Remember that the symptom is rarely the problem!
Of these three aspects, I feel that the Biomechanical or "Structural" component is the most important. If we have a good structural base from which to function, the other systems do not need to compensate for the faulty body mechanics. This alone alleviates many of the patient’s primary complaints or concerns. If we start by treating the Biochemistry or Electromagnetics first, most of our initial treatment of symptoms will be to overcome the failures of these systems to adequately compensate for the basic Mechanical faults.
Well, the best treatment for Biomechanical problems is structural based approaches.
The best approach for Biochemical problems is through chemical treatments and the Most effective treatment for Electromagnetic problems is through Electromagnetic approaches. Pretty simple, huh? The challenge is in knowing when to treat each system. By addressing the basic body mechanics first, we bypass most of the "compensations" and make large advances in health with little time and effort.
In dealing with Biomechanics, we are looking at two primary considerations;
Those aspects from ascending influences and body posture.
Those aspects from descending influences and the occlusion.
Further, if we look at the basic human anatomical system, we see that it consists of three primary structural zones; The head, the torso, and the pelvis. The Cervical and Lumbar spines connect these areas to each other. Most patient symptoms come from the stress placed on these two spinal areas due to compensations in the 3 primary zones.
These primary areas are designed to stay balanced with one another. The very design of nervous system and MusculoSkeletal system ensures that these systems function best when they are level with the ground when standing still and working in balance when under motion. If an area of the system or is injured, the body will shift or "compensate" from its normal balanced posture. This spreads out the forces and allows the injured area to avoid any extra stress on that area. But this compensation now places stress on other, more remote areas of the body.
The more balanced the body is under normal situations, the better it can compensate when it is placed under stressful situations. It takes many compensations, and then failures to effectively compensate, before we actually experience "pain".
The goal of Chirodontics is to first level these structural planes, while supporting the body’s nutritional needs. Next we concentrate on balancing the Cranial system with both cranial manipulation and Dental Orthopedics. After this, we set the dental occlusion to a balanced body and cranium with orthodontics, prosthetics and cosmetic dentistry. Finally, we address the Electromagnetic considerations of the system, using Acupuncture, Herbs, Homeopathy, and various “Emotional techniques”, to fully balance the person to their new posture and occlusion.
Now we have a healthy, “balanced” system, with a larger “Adaptive Capacity”. The person is now able to handle more general stress and environmental challenges, and they can begin to focus on true “Health”. You can begin with any chronic complaint and end up with “Health”
Chirodontics is a total system for achieving this “Health”. It involves a team of dedicated healthcare providers, working with the patient as an invaluable part of the team.
Again, “Health is not a destination, it is a very personal journey”.
So whether you are a patient looking for better treatment options, or a healthcare provider looking for a better treatment model. Chirodontics is the answer, and we’re all here waiting for you to join in on the new treatment paradigm for the 21st century.
© 2001 Body Logic Resources
