Yet despite these limitations, if I break my arm, or have an acute illness, I want a really good traditional doc. They do a pretty good job with acute illness. And if I have a chronic illness, I want a really good integrative medicine person.
My advice: On a day-to-day basis always be your own doctor-eat well, get enough sleep, exercise, meditate, have fun and build good relationships. When you need to see a health care practitioner you must work hard to be an active and full partner in the process. Learn as much as you can. Investigate, think, and trust your gut and common sense too. Be fully honest with your doctor. No one knows your life like you do. There are good doctors and other health care professionals out there. But you have to keep interviewing to find the one that is right for you.
In the long run, the entire socio-economic system needs to change, because lots of good people are blinded by it, many are hurt by it, and a few narcissistic and or sociopathic people in positions of power maintain it. I think I have some ideas—one practical, and one sweeping and far out. Stay tuned—in my next blog, where I hope to ‘flesh them out’.