It is important to be aware that the doctor that is best qualified to diagnose you will not always be the best doctor to advise you on treatments. In an ideal world one doctor would do both of these things, but in practice it is probably best to look at the questions of diagnosis and treatment, very separately.
The differences between the different types of medicine are as follows:
Orthomolecular medicine is a system for the prevention and treatment of disease based on the knowledge that each person's biochemical environment is genetically determined and individually specific. Therapy involves supplementation with substances naturally present in the body (for example vitamins, minerals, trace elements and amino acids) in the optimal amounts for that individual at that time to correct nutritional deficiencies and the resulting biochemical abnormalities. The administration of vitamin C in therapeutic doses is one of the most important and commonly used means of treatment in Orthomolecular medicine.
Environmental medicine deals primarily with the effects of the environment on humans including water and air pollution, vaccinations and travel, etc.
Holistic medicine is a system of medicine which considers man as an integrated whole, or as a functioning unit. It is characterized by its focus on the whole person as a unique individual, on the energy of the body and its influence on health and disease, on the healing power of nature and the mobilization of the body's own resources to heal itself, and on the treatment of the underlying causes, not symptoms, of disease.
Other terms may also be used, such as nutritional balancing, nutritional medicine, biomedical treatment, integrative medicine, cellular medicine, functional medicine, nutrigenomics and natural medicine etc., and others may prefer to avoid any type of new terminology whatsoever.
If possible, find an expert in one of these fields (or more than one of them) that is also a qualified doctor so that you can also have any tests you may need – both private and practitioner-only. Appropriate testing plays a very important role in this type of medicine, as do some prescription drugs at times. All useful treatments and tests are used, without bias. The best is taken from each different type of medicine and all of the resources that are available. Many orthomolecular, holistic and environmental practitioners are also doctors.
Websites which may help you find a doctor specialising in orthomolecular / holistic / environmental medicine near you
Note that of course the quality of those practicing orthomolecular, holistic or environmental medicine varies widely, as does the principles and methods they employ in their practice. It is recommended that you ring or email a doctor and ask some questions before committing to seeing them
Websites from organisations:
Websites from individual doctors:
If you are interested in having vitamin C or the B vitamins by IV or IM, use the phone book or the internet to ask various qualified orthomolecular medicine practitioners near you if they offer this therapy and if they are experienced in providing it.
This is not a complete list. If you’d like to suggest a website that could be added to this list, please do so. The inclusion of a website in this list does not guarantee its quality. HHH takes no responsibility for any problems which may arise as a result of seeing any of the doctors listed here. Investigate any doctor before you see them and proceed with caution.
Make sure you arrive at your first appointment with a full written medical history and any a copy of any relevant test results you may have. It is also helpful to have read as much as you can about this type of treatment beforehand.
Educate yourself about the cutting-edge treatment options available so that you can partner with your doctor to secure yourself your best possible health outcome
It is important for you as a patient to read as much as you can about different types of treatments, nutrients, issues related to diet and gut health, and so on. Medicine works much better when there is a partnership between the doctor and patient with both having some input. The doctor cannot do everything for you, and a patient that relies on the doctor to do everything will not end up getting the best care.
A number of tests are available privately that can help you and your doctor learn more about how best to treat your illness and how it has affected your body, and just as importantly; which treatments to avoid.
These tests are not at all useful for the diagnosis of M.E. or any other distinct disease and abnormalities in these tests are seen in many different illnesses. They are to help with determining treatment only.
While some of these tests can be organised without the aid of a doctor, some do require a doctor’s permission. Also, you really do need the help of a qualified doctor to help interpret the results of many of these tests, if at all possible. Some tests can be done entirely by post, while others unfortunately require visits to blood drawing centres or your doctor’s offices.
The following list includes some of the tests that may be useful in some way, listed in alphabetical order.
Places to source tests include:
More information on which tests to have and when, and how to interpret the results
Tests require correct interpretation by a skilled practitioner if they are to be of any use. A qualified orthomolecular, environmental or holistic medicine practitioner that is also a doctor is the best person to advise you on which tests to have and what they mean.
Books that contain excellent information on this type of testing include:
For more information on tests see also the EI resource site and Dr Lawrence Wilson’s website, plus the Doctor’s Data Website.
Possible problems getting treatment advice from doctors not educated about M.E. specifically include:
Despite these drawbacks, good doctors in this field still have a lot to offer M.E. patients. Some may also be quite willing to read and learn more about M.E.
Please also see Finding a doctor when you have M.E. on HFME
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Note that the aim of this site is to provide a starting point for health and healing research for ill people; especially very overwhelmed and disabled ill people. This site provides recommendations, summaries and reviews of books but is not meant to be a replacement for actually reading some of these wonderful health books if the reader is at all well enough to do so. (Plus getting individualised advice from a doctor that is also an orthomolecular medicine expert if possible). There is no substitute for reading as many of these books as you can. The HHH site can only really hint at their full brilliance. The amount of insight, scientific references, logic, intelligence, compassion and experience in the recommended books will most likely amaze you. HHH aims to encourage people to do their own reading and learning, and to always make up their own minds. All content copyright Jodi Bassett 2006 - 2014.