Medical specialization offers great solutions to our health problems and is one of the great achievements of Western medicine. But sometimes, this "compartmentalized" approach limits our possibilities for achieving full health.
Biological medicine is currently understood as medicine that uses active substances derived from biological sources, such as stem cells or antibodies. However, traditionally, the definition has been much broader and focuses on the body's own recovery capabilities to get to the root cause of the disease.
At Biosalud Day Hospital, biological medicine allows us to apply non-invasive techniques that are compatible with conventional medicine, which we also use, to achieve the best results. That is why we call our approach Integrative Medicine. This is a widely used philosophy of care in other countries that focuses on individual attention and patient support. It combines the best of conventional medicine and evidence-based medical therapies.
Furthermore, when we consider each patient as an individual, we take into account all aspects of their life. Sometimes, there are conditions that are related to diet and other long-term habits. In our daily lives, we encounter people who normalize feeling unwell, low in spirits, or even depressed. However, there are symptoms that may be hiding an illness or constitute a risk factor for developing one.
For treatment to be successful, we believe it is essential to analyze all factors and know how to interpret medical tests and analyses beyond the numbers. Listening to the patient is also key. Or we could say that IT IS THE KEY. Years of experience and medical records must be used to improve our care and acquire knowledge, and many treatments require personalization. That is why we believe that biological medicine, as we understand it, is an attitude.
At Biosalud, we invest in research, training, and technology to develop new analytical tests and pioneering, innovative treatments, such as our diagnostic and treatment method for candidiasis and Lyme disease, for which we have received recognition from the Spanish government.
Doctors who work with a holistic approach focus their treatments on the physiological, psychological, and social aspects of their patients' lives, as well as their lifestyle. But the most characteristic feature of this approach is:
There are different definitions of holistic medicine, many associated with so-called "pseudo-therapies" practiced by people who do not have recognized medical training. As we see it at Biosalud Day Hospital, there are evidence-based treatments that can have very beneficial effects on health, but let's not forget that the holistic view also encompasses conventional medicine, which is so effective for many ailments.
The US Government's National Center for Integrative Health talks about "whole person health" or "looking at a person's health as a whole." In this sense, they point out that it involves "helping people improve and restore their health in different aspects: biological, behavioral (habits), social, and environmental, rather than just treating the disease. This involves broadening the understanding of the connections between different aspects of health, including the connections between organs and different systems of the human body."
From the perspective of biological medicine and/or integrative medicine, the patient is at the center, but not as a passive subject of treatment. At Biosalud, we have patients who are committed to their healing; they are active agents of health. And this can only be achieved if the patient is informed and knows the details and the "whys" of the treatment.
When a patient visits an integrative medicine specialist with a health problem, a medical history is compiled based on their account and any medical tests they can provide. After analyzing this information, we propose a series of analytical tests that can give us greater clarity about the case. At Biosalud Day Hospital, we seek out the origin of the disease and connect all the factors we have before us in each case.
Once the tests have been carried out and the diagnosis made, we design a personalized treatment plan that allows us to set goals and guidelines tailored to the patient's characteristics. In our experience, if a patient is informed and understands their health condition, it is easier for them to follow a treatment plan.
As we said, integrative medicine is an attitude towards the patient and, in addition to listening, we must respect their decisions and clarify any doubts they may have when starting this type of treatment.
