WITH the latest technology and advancement in the medical field, it seems that there is an answer to our every question when it comes to our health— human DNA has been successfully unlocked, robotics and other technological wonders have been developed, and skills and knowledge of doctors are constantly updated.
Despite our understanding about human sicknesses and defects, still, at the back of our mind there is still a lingering question—how and why do we get sick?
In Western medicine, diseases and ailments are caused by malfunctions and abnormalities in the system of the human body, while in Eastern medicine, it believes that the imbalance in the mind, emotion, physical and spiritual aspects of a man causes illnesses.
Every year, we hear different medical breakthroughs and triumphs. Still, man has not yet discovered the panacea for all our health problems. But, thanks to the integration of Western and Eastern medicines, which promises better outcomes when applied and practiced.
THE DOCTOR
Frederick “Erick” Francisco, a devoted practitioner of biointegrative medicine, is campaigning and advocating this medical philosophy, hoping that many doctors will adopt and apply this principle.
As defined by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, integrative medicine “combines mainstream medical therapies and conventional and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies for which there is some high-quality scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness.”
The leading proponent of integrative medicine in the world, Dr. Andrew Weil, said, “Integrative medicine ‘cherry picks’ the very best, scientifically validated therapies from both conventional and CAM systems.”
Recognizing the efficacy and greatness of Western medicine, Francisco is also a firm believer of Eastern medicine, and when the two are combined, better results are guaranteed.
“When I was serving in one of the government hospitals, there’s a feeling that I am missing something, that I need to do more to serve and help my patients well. I had this thirst to learn something that will allow me to touch the lives of my patients, not just by doing the ‘usual’ duties of a doctor to his patients,” he said.
Francisco’s desire to do better led him to the US, Germany and other countries that are active and leading proponents of integrative medicine. Armed with new knowledge and skills, Francisco established his first wellness center in Malate, Manila, which later on was transferred to Faraday Street in Makati City, now known as East West Biointegrative Health Center (EWBHC).
EWBHC is not your usual health center: from the outside, the building looks very cozy and stylish. Upon entering the gate, the center exudes a relaxing and homey ambiance. The treatment rooms are very comforting—from the scent of the clinic, the La-Z Boy chairs, the modern and high-tech gadgets for acupuncture, and other alternative treatments.
“As the medical director and founder of this health center, I want to make my patients comfortable—to make them feel that they are just talking to a simple man, to a friend. I want them to see things that are soothing to their eyes, that is why I want plants outside the center,” he noted.
According to Francisco, EWBHC is a place to guide and teach patient to achieve the highest state of harmony of oneself—spiritual, emotional and physical well-being.
“Here in the center, we do our best to make the body regulate, repair, regenerate and restore the function of cells to achieve self-healing,” he stressed, adding, “EWBHC also aims to empower people through quality healthy lifestyle.”
Francisco may be the best integrative medicine doctor in the country, but there is one thing more notable about him. He is a doctor who believes in the power of medicine, but above all, he boldly recognizes one certain fact—it is neither the doctor nor the medicines that heal a sick person, but there is God who restores the ailing body.
Though his patients come from all walks of life and beliefs, Francisco always makes it a point to stress to his patients that there are factors that influence health, wellness and disease, including mind, spirit and community, as well as body.
“I think one of the best things about my practice is the fact that I get close enough to my patients in an emotional and spiritual way. Sometimes, we get sick because we have so many things in our heart and mind that we have no one to share them with. We just have to let those thoughts and emotions out that are affecting our wellness,” he shared.
Aside from homeopathy, homotoxicology (removal of toxins in the body tissues), chelation therapy (cleansing the body), oxygen therapy, neural therapy to treat chronic pain, and mesotherapy to treat rheumatism, infectious diseases and vascular diseases, Francisco’s EWBHC also offers orthomolecular medicine, nutritional supplements, enzyme therapy, traditional Chinese acupuncture and moxibustion, bioresonance therapy, live-cell analysis, antiaging therapy and skin-rejuvenation therapy.
A lot of his patients can attest to the efficacy of Francisco’s therapies and modalities.
THE ADVOCATE
EVER since Francisco began practicing integrative medicine, it has always been his dream to influence other doctors to adopt this philosophy. In his opinion, he believes that this principle is a better avenue to treat patients because it does not only address the body alone but the total wellbeing of a person.
“Whenever I talk to my patients to get their medical history, you will be amazed to know and understand why they are suffering from their diseases. For example, a patient who is a diabetic has been through a lot of emotional battles, so he resorted to unhealthy diet and eating habits. If we understand them, the treatment to their ailing body will also come from them. If there is harmony in the mind, the emotion and the body, we won’t get sick,” he discussed.
For Francisco, the most important is the harmony in the spirit, the recognition of the presence of God, that each one of us has a purpose, and that is to serve the Lord. As a doctor, it may seem hard to share his faith to his patients, but it seems to be his calling, a doctor who will also disciple about the goodness of our Creator.
“I respect the faith and beliefs of my patients, but I am not here to convince them to change their religion or whatever. I always tell them that it is important to have a personal relationship with the Lord. I know that all of us have God in our lives, so my point is, we should have a personal relationship with our God.”
Aside from managing his own health center, Francisco is also one of the founding board members of the International Academy of Medical Specialists Inc. (IAMS), an international organization of physicians established in 2006. The organization aims to ensure quality health care worldwide by empowering medical specialists. It works to further improve physician standards through continuing education and training.
“When we were putting up this organization, our goal is to gather Filipino doctors who are practicing outside the Philippines. We want this organization to be the avenue of medical specialists in sharing their skills and knowledge. We also want these doctors to have a home in the country when they are here.”
Like any other medical groups, IAMS conducts different activities to reach out to the less fortunate who can’t avail themselves of decent medical services. They hold medical and dental missions and they even partner with other organizations from the public, private and government sectors to ensure that they will reach more people.
“We have at least 500 members, and we are happy to connect to our fellow Filipino doctors outside the Philippines.”
Image credits: Alysa Salen