The Art of Medicine
Dr. Jorge Kaufmann, ND, L.Ac.
A concept central to many healing arts is the notion that movement results in health, stagnation results in disease. It is easy to observe this in nature when comparing a running stream to a muddy swamp. In the human body this same concept applies on many levels: physical exercise, the functional beating of our heart, and the detoxifying action of our bowel movements all contribute to our state of health, while a sedentary lifestyle results in stiffness; blood stagnation results in swelling, pain, and clot formation; and becoming 'stuck' with a mental or emotional thought holds us back from going with the 'flow' or 'swing' of things.
The ultimate representation of this concept of movement is the process of aging — life and death. Ageing is a form of movement, like the tree that constantly grows to the heavens. As long as we age we are alive; as we age we constantly transform and move through the stages of life. The moment our body stops ageing is the same moment that death occurs. I strive to provide my patients with the power of choice to direct their movement and ultimately control their ageing process.
Every day, cells in our body die and become replaced. Every 7 years all cells in our body have gone through this change and have been completely renewed; how well the new cell functions is a result of the environment we provide it. Chronic disease is the result of a stagnant, contaminated environment. (In 2008, scientists stopped the ageing process by blocking the build up of waste in the cells of an organ!) My treatment plans, utilizing acupuncture, homeopathy, nutrition and supplementation, and home-treatments, are focused on improving the cells' environment. As a physician, I teach my patients how to create a healthy internal environment to produce new vibrant cells and ultimately create the change they desire. Our choices can lead to healthy ageing and result in pain-free death of old age, rather than of chronic disease.
In my practice, I recognize that change is the only constant and within this truth lies the power to create and transform. Healthy change can be difficult, especially when there is a lot of momentum from years of unhealthy patterns influencing the choices we make. It is my role to help identify and implement the changes necessary for my patients to create more health with each passing day of their lives.
Each present moment is a complete reflection of the past. Listening and observing with great attention to detail allows me to be sensitive to my patients' concerns, present them with choices to affect the change they desire, and ultimately help remove obstacles to their overall well-being. This is the art of medicine and the reason I became a doctor.
**Dr. Kaufmann maintains an open, general family practice focused on optimizing health and overcoming chronic illness. He specializes in the treatment of cancer, hormonal problems, and autoimmune disease, as well as men's health and pain and injury.
