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The Illness/Wellness Continuum: Part B

Dr. Bruce J. Grandstaff | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 13 years, 9 months AGO
by Dr. Bruce J. Grandstaff
| August 17, 2011 9:00 PM

In my last article I mentioned that in his book "Vibrational Medicine," Richard Gerber, M.D., has an excellent diagram entitled "The Illness/Wellness Continuum" adapted from a diagram by J. Travis. There are two opposing arrows, one going to the left which ends in "early death" and one going to the right, which is labeled "high level wellness." In the middle is a line which separates the two arrows labeled "neutral point (no discernable illness or wellness)." This neutral point I adapted with the words "OK" and "Just not sick."

Beginning on the neutral point and moving left toward "early death" are three progress points of developing illness, signs, symptoms and disability ending in "early death." This half of the diagram also has a smaller arrow beginning just before "early death" and progressing toward the neutral point labeled "treatment model." Above it is another arrow beginning at the same place but goes all the way to "high level wellness" labeled "wellness model."

Dr. Gerber writes "there is a great difference between OK and wellness. We would define wellness as a state in which a human being functions at an optimum level of integration between the elements of body, mind and spirit. The well individual is happy, healthy, and whole and who perceives his or her life as one with meaning and purpose. Implicit within the definition of health and wellness is a shift in consciousness that assists learning of new ideas, aids in finding new meaning in understanding of self, and in general, supports continued physiological and spiritual growth of the individual."

Too often the perceived safety net of medicine and drugs becomes a spiderweb of treatment. Just as an example, back in the 1950s, only 1 percent of the population felt they were depressed, now more than 10 percent feels they are depressed and psychotrophic drugs now make more income for the pharmaceutical companies than Levi Strauss does in sales. And how many people are being medicated not with just one drug for their condition, but with multiple drugs for that condition such as with depression, elevated blood pressure and elevated cholesterol?

It's your body, your health and your choice. This is it. Life is not a dress rehearsal. Live life to the fullest. Get that extra weight off. Reset the pancreas that is producing the excess insulin that is robbing you of your health and watch what your body is capable of doing. Give us a call at (208) 772-6015 for a free consult or to attend a free class on the Ideal Protein diet treatment. Come on Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint, let's lose weight and get healthy together.

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ARTICLES BY DR. BRUCE J. GRANDSTAFF

March 14, 2012 9:15 p.m.

The Skinny on Weight Loss: Part IV

Why eating less, eating a balanced diet and exercise are impractical for serious weight loss and can be dangerous.

January 18, 2012 8:15 p.m.

The Skinny on Weight Loss: Part I

As attested to by the many ads in the media, we are a nation of dieters. According to the Surgeon General of the United States, "The greatest threat to our country isn't terrorism, it's obesity." Perhaps more of us should be thinking about losing the unhealthy extra weight we've accumulated. But losing weight is physiologically unnatural. Many of you have tried can attest to that and that's why 95 percent of people who have successfully lost weight will gain it back.

March 7, 2012 8:15 p.m.

The Skinny on Weight Loss: Part III

How to obtain rapid weight loss safely and not create nutrition deficiencies.