I hear that a paradigm shift in medicine is underway. That’s great news to me, but I haven’t found it here.

Today I had my annual physical exam. It was the first one since I moved to South Carolina last June. It was interesting to see that very little attention was paid to me as a whole person. And I found it interesting that the doctor referred to the supplements that I take as drugs. When we were done, she said, referring to the vitamin C, E, B6, B12, gotu kola and flax seed oil, “You sure take a lot of drugs. I don’t know how you do it.” In actuality, I don’t take any drugs.

I wasn’t asked about stress, if I exercised, what I ate, if I was happy, if I was fulfilled or even if I had any health concerns. Apparently traditional doctors don’t see the relevance of this kind of information.

No questions about how much meat I eat. No questions about how much water I drink, or what juices I drink. No questions about my sleep habits, or how often I wake up in the middle of the night to urinate.

I guess this is typical protocol for a physical examination in the United States. But I find it lacking. As patients, we are more than cholesterol levels, weight, pulse, and blood pressure. We are whole systems with many subtle dimensions, all of which have an impact on us. Our thoughts impact our bodies, as do our emotions, and vice versa. Holistic health care understands that. Traditional medicine isn’t on the same page. At least not yet.

In the Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Revised 2nd Edition, by Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., the authors talk about the relationship between the physician and the patient and how that is changing. “The era of the physician as a demigod is over. The era of self-empowerment is beginning.”

They go on to show just what these changes are. They list the Old Paradigm next to the New Paradigm.

Here are some of what they see as paradigm changes:

Old Paradigm:
The body is a machine
The body and mind are separate
Emphasize the elimination of disease
Treat Symptoms
The physician should be emotionally neutral and detached

New Paradigm:
The physician addresses the whole patient
The body and mind are interconnected
Emphasize achieving good health
Treat underlying causes
The physician’s caring and empathy are critical to healing

Maybe this paradigm shift is happening where you live, but I haven’t found it here in South Carolina. If the doctor cannot treat the patient as a whole patient, then it is up to the patient. We have to educate ourselves, understand ourselves, and place an emphasis on achieving and maintaining wellness.

Traditional Western medicine may be great at diagnosing medical conditions, but that doesn’t mean it has the answers in how to get well. Remember, “the era of self-empowerment is beginning.” Just because a doctor prescribes a pill, doesn’t mean you have to take it. For now, I’m sticking with my nutritional supplements. My doctor can call them what she wants.

The paradigm shift in medicine might be coming soon to a medical center near you, but until then, it’s going to be up to you to address yourself as a whole patient.