Harrisburg fibromyalgia doc interview on functional neurology and evidence based care of chronic conditions, York, Lancaster, Carlisle, Camp Hill

Harrisburg fibromyalgia doc interview on functional neurology and evidence based care of chronic conditions, York, Lancaster, Carlisle, Camp Hill

Dr. Sullivan Interview:

AB: Dr. Sullivan, in the last half century we have seen the rise of antibiotics, vaccinations and a multitude of other drugs developed to treat acute diseases. And yet the chronic conditions which plague our society have yet to be eliminated with this approach. Could you expand on that idea?

DS: Of course, thank you. And you're right, there have been major advances in how western medicine treats infectious diseases, and it has undoubtedly save lives. But we are seeing more and more that the same logic cannot be applied to the chronic issues that we are seeing on the rise.

To put this in context, you have to realize that western medicine is based on the 'germ theory' model, in which a specific germ or invader is the culprit, and the treatment is to administer a drug that will kill that germ. But in chronic diseases, there generally is no germ at fault, and the various factors which contribute to producing the disease state do not fit comfortably into the germ theory approach, which ultimately limits the effectiveness of the model.

AB: That makes a lot of sense. I guess I never thought of it like that. So what are your thoughts on a new model, or approach to treating chronic conditions?

DS: Well, I would say that it requires a holistic approach. Some folks use holistic to mean the mind-body-spirit connection, and that's fine. But what I mean by 'holistic', is looking at the entire body, inside and out, and evaluating the function and synergistic mechanisms of all the body's systems. That would include the endocrine, immune, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and neurologic systems. You have to realize that we classify these systems as separate and distinct, but in fact, each affects the others, and in many cases, are nearly one and the same.

AB: Fascinating. Could you give us an example of how these systems can overlap.

DS: Certainly. For instance, people have a great understanding of the GI tract as the organ which processes the food we eat. But the gut lining is also packed with a huge quantity of immune tissue. Besides our skin, the gut is the next largest barrier to infection. That immune tissue can grow or shrink depending on the influence of the brain, the foods that we eat, the genes we might have, or the stress that we encounter. So if this tissue breaks down, we can become susceptible to a myriad of problems such as infection, toxicity, inflammation and malnutrition.

AB: I can see what you mean about the inter-connectedness of the body. So given the complexity of the body, how does one go about unravelling chronic conditions?

DS: It's not always easy! But it is worth it in the long run. It requires a careful investigation into the functionality of the systems I described. Immune panels, gut permeability and flora panels, gene testing, food sensitivity tests, neurological testing and endocrine panels can all be used to give a highly accurate picture of what is happening in the body. The goal then, is to bring a balance back to the body by boosting some systems, reducing others, removing any foreign materials and generally restoring homeostasis. Can you see how this approach is so much different from conventional medicine?

AB: I definitely can. This approach seems to be more thorough in it's understanding and application than just trying one medication after the other.

DS: I think it is. And it's based on what we've know for years about human anatomy and physiology. The difference here is how it's applied. Everything needs to be seen as connected and in context. That insight is a powerful tool in the fight against chronic illness.

AB: And we appreciate your insight and speaking with us today.

DS: You're quite welcome, it's been my pleasure.

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