Whole-Systems Thinking is the only sustainable future of medicine.

The Immune System. Digestive System. Nervous System.  Endocrine System. Respiratory System. Circulatory System.  Reproductive System. The list goes on..

All of these distinct systems work together and communicate with each other through various signaling molecules and feedback loops to keep us alive.

When the systems are all humming along in harmony, we feel great.  We sleep well, have plenty of energy. Optimism and curious engagement with this beautiful planet and the people we care about.  Life seems to flow.

However, when there is an imbalance in one of the systems, it can quickly spread to others.  Precisely because the systems are so interlinked, problems in one area can quickly spread and become new problems in a different system.

This is how we wind up with a list of symptoms a mile long, a continuously shrinking world, and a team of medical providers scratching their heads and taking shots in the dark.

When you have a complex health history and symptom presentation, such as:

Lyme, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Mold Exposure, Heavy Metals…

Any Autoimmune Condition…

Hidden pathogens…

Let’s imagine for a moment, a neglected house.

The elements have taken their toll over time.

The roof has holes, the windows are broken.

The carpet is wet and moldy.

The drywall missing in places.

The heat doesn’t work like it should.

And every time the wind blows, or the rain falls, things inside the house only get worse and worse.

So let’s say you wanted to fix that house.

You really can’t just start randomly repairing and replacing the first thing you see.  For example, if someone tells you that moldy carpets make homes uncomfortable and you rushed to replace the carpet, you might find comfort for a moment.  Until the rains come again.

If the roof still has holes, your new carpet has no protection, and within a month you’re back to where you started.

Minus a bunch of money, time, and energy.

If you’ve tried things in the past that seemed to provide short term relief, but within a month it seemed like the effects had worn off, it’s likely that you were taking steps out of order.  Temporary relief is a sure sign that the root causes are yet to be addressed.

Another hallmark sign of using therapies out of order is lifetime dependence.  If you need to keep taking a supplement or receiving a therapy for the rest of your life just to feel normal, it’s just like replacing the whole carpet every 30 days.

There is something seriously missing in the approach.

Even the fanciest, most expensive carpet will rot after enough wind and dampness.

If this happens enough, anyone (anyone!) would lose morale entirely, and consider giving up in the face of hopelessness.

But it can be done.

To do it right, you need a plan with a solid order of operations.  And likely a professional to guide and oversee the process. Someone you can trust because they’ve done this many times before.  Someone who can warn you of potential problems before they happen. Someone who truly cares about your results.

To repair the dilapidated house, you must first fix the roof and the windows.  We need a solid exterior to protect the insides of the home and create a safe internal environment.  That’s step 1.

Then we can move to the next steps in order, keeping one foot square in front of the other.

We can follow the plan until the drafty old house has transformed into a warm, inviting home.

A place to be with family, tell stories.

Cook big meals to remember.

Laugh, love, and look forward to a bright future.