Kiyoshi Suzuki, MD, PhD
President, MOA Health Science Foundation
As mentioned in the previous article, “What is Integrative Medicine?”, many of the illnesses that modern people suffer from are caused or aggravated by a variety of factors, and cannot be fully dealt with by Western medicine and self-care alone. Although integrative medicine cannot solve all of these problems, I believe it has the potential to improve the current situation. There are medical and social models of integrative medicine, but today I will talk about the specific effects of the medical model.
１．The Importance of the Medical Model for Lifestyle-Related Diseases
Many people who have been diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia know they need to improve their lifestyle habits, but find it difficult to do so. Western medicine is certainly effective, and Chinese herbal medicine and healthy foods may also help. However, if you do not improve your lifestyle, the disease will progress and the amount of medication you need will increase. Medical fees for these diseases have been revised, and from June 2024, patients and their family doctors will be required to consult with each other to determine specific goals for improving their lifestyle habits (lifestyle-related disease management fee). It became clear that lifestyle changes were essential.
Rather than simply listening to advice such as “limit salt intake,” “don’t eat too much fried food and sweets,” “eat a balanced diet with plenty of vegetables,” “drink alcohol in moderation,” and “exercise about 30 minutes a day,” it is important to think specifically about how you can improve your condition with the help of medical professionals and those around you, and then put it into practice, even if it is just a little at a time (Figure 1).
In a study on the effectiveness of the Okada Health Method for hypertension, introduced in Column 13 of this article, 30% of patients attending the Tokyo Ryôin Wellness Center were able to reduce or discontinue their antihypertensive medication. By continuing my health regimen with support, I was able to reduce my medication safely, rather than reducing it at the risk of some degree. This research has great implications.
For more details, please read the paper reprinted in the Research Reports of the MOA Health Science Center (2017;21:59-68) (the original article was published in the Journal of the Japanese Society of Integrative Medicine 2017;10:186-195).
２．The importance of the medical model for a disease with no cure
Western medicine is powerful when it has a cure for an illness. On the other hand, for diseases for which there is no effective treatment, including “designated intractable diseases” designated by the government, treatment to relieve symptoms (symptomatic treatment) is used, but the effectiveness of this is limited.
The effectiveness of combining symptomatic treatment with Okada Purifying Therapy was introduced in Column 11 on sickle cell anemia (Altern Ther Health Med 2014;20(1):20-26) and in Column 12 on fibromyalgia (Altern Ther Health Med 2017;23:e7). Patients who continued Purifying Therapy used less medication, had fewer hospitalizations for sickle cell anemia, and even had improved mortality rates (Figure 2).
There are many reports of various complementary and traditional medicines and health techniques helping to alleviate symptoms. However, some herbs and health foods can be dangerous when used in combination with Western medicine, so be sure to consult your doctor before use. In that sense, the Okada Health Method is safe and has no risk of side effects.
３．The Importance of the Medical Model to Holistic Care
Most people, myself included, would not be able to keep calm if our doctor told us, “There is no fundamental treatment, so we will focus on treating the symptoms.” However, rather than continuing treatment that places a great strain on the body, various types of care to alleviate symptoms are more likely to enable you to live the rest of your life meaningfully and in your own way. Many people were told they only had a few months to live, but their symptoms remained stable for several years. Also, when pain is relieved by painkillers, I don’t feel any special emotion, but when the pain is relieved by cleansing therapy, I feel grateful to the person who performed the treatment and feel a great power beyond human understanding.
Professor Yoshinori Hiroi of Kyoto University has stated that it is more important who we spend the last days of our lives with than where and how we spend them. I believe this is true of other complementary and traditional medicines as well, but holistic support, which includes not only physical and mental care but also spiritual care, is the greatest gift that someone qualified to practice Purifying Therapy can give. I believe that the importance of the Okada Health Method as a medical model of integrative medicine will continue to increase in the future.
Next time, we will talk about the impact of the social model of integrated care. Please look forward to it.
【Profile】
Suzuki Kiyoshi
Graduated from Chiba University School of Medicine in 1981. medical doctor. After working as Deputy Director of Pediatrics at Sakakibara Memorial Hospital, Seijo Clinic, (Medicine) Tamagawakai MOA Takanawa Clinic and Tokyo Medical Clinic Director, president of MOA Health Science Center and Honorary Director of Tokyo Medical Wellness Center. Director of The Society for Integrative Medicine Japan and Chairman of the International Committee. In 1994, he received the Young Investigator’s Award from the Japanese Society of Pediatric Cardiology.
