Milwaukee Infectious Disease Treatment
• Lyme Disease/Hepatitis C •

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an empirical medicine, which was developed in the absence of systemic scientific knowledge. Thus, it is a product of accumulated clinical observations gathered over centuries of practice. TCM developed unique diagnostic and therapeutic methods such as, Tongue diagnosis, Pulse reading, Herbal formulas, Acupuncture, and Tui-Na. Over the centuries TCM has evolved, most recently with scientifically conducted trials and pharmacological studies of herbal preparations.

Western Medicine

Western medicine is based on modern biomedical science and is an evidence-based medicine. Its methodology is fundamentally analytical and reductive. This method is very powerful in understanding the structure and function of the human body . Why Western Medicine is not always the best approach to Infectious Diseases.

No two individuals are the same, ideal medication has to be individualized. Unified therapeutic strategy (one disease one treatment, used in western medicine cannot meet this requirement. Second, although the analytical approach is powerful, being linear is also the weakness of modern western medicine. Because the human body is an open, large, and complex system, it is impossible to understand it by analyzing its subsystems alone.

Third, in this simplified model, the human body's role in the disease pathogenesis has disappeared. In reality, viral infections consist of two sides, the invading virus and the body's reactions to this invasion. In the conventional western medical model, the human body's reactions and pathological changes are rarely taken into account. So, the treatment strategy for chronic diseases such as Hepatitis C rarely includes measures to help the restoration of function.

The differences between the two

• TCM is individualized; WM is standardized.
• TCM is experience based; WM is evidence based.
• TCM is a summary of clinical observations; WM is the result of laboratory experimentations.
• TCM emphasizes the role of the body in healing; WM mainly relies on medication and procedures.
• TCM uses herbs and natural agents; WM uses pure chemical compounds.
• TCM looks at the behavior of the system as a whole;
• WM looks at the structure and function of the parts.
• TCM works to maintain health; WM manages disease.

Modern Chinese Medicine

For the past forty years, researchers and doctors in China have been developing an integrative medical system that uses the diagnostic tools of WM (western medicine) to identify the mechanisms of TCM. The chemical make-up and active ingredients of thousands of TCM herbal medications have been clearly identified and studied. In practice, we can now use the anatomical and microbiological knowledge of WM to explain the concepts of TCM. Combined with the diagnostic powers of WM and the phyto-pharmacology of TCM, treatment for infectious diseases such as Hepatitis C, Lyme disease and others can be more individualized and comprehensive. While treating a WM diagnosed infectious disease, the integrative treatment not only deals with the etiological factor to eradicate the pathogenic microbial (WM approach) but also supports the body's immune function (TCM approach). This integrative approach to medical care can be very beneficial to the patients it serves and is our approach here at the Vitality Health and Wellness Center.

Hepatitis C

Viral Hepatitis C is currently the most prevalent infectious disease in US, More that 45 Million Americans have been infected w/ Hep C and 2.7 Million currently carry the Hep C virus. Hepatitis C is an insidious stealthy virus that mutates while hiding within the Liver and other organ cells, making it very difficult for the body’s immune system to eradicate it, the slow progression of the disease also makes it difficult to treat. Hepatitis C is a morbid disease that eventually reduces function and the quality of the infected individuals life as the disease and aging progress.

Using modern Chinese herbal formulations and treatment strategies such as acupuncture and cold laser therapy our aim is to enhance the liver function, thus allowing the virus to co habit within the body, without any severe overall damage or symptoms. The principle is to upgrade liver function so it is less likely to be harmed by the virus. At Vitality Health and Wellness, under the direction of Dr. Arthur Rapkin, O.M.D., we have over 30 years of experience treating infectious diseases. Our purpose is to help as many people as we can to live lives of high quality and personal vitality. Dr. Rapkin has been an associate of Dr. Qingcai Zhang, the primary researcher at Harvard Medical School in the infectious disease department.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial organism transmitted by ticks. The name of the particular bacteria is Borrelia Burgdorferi.

Lyme disease may be difficult to diagnose because many of its symptoms mimic those of other disorders. In addition, the only distinctive hallmark unique to Lyme disease, the "bulls eye" rash, is absent in almost half of the people who become infected. The inadequacies of today's laboratory tests make proper diagnosis difficult, and it can be extremely troublesome to treat the infection in its later phases.

Lyme disease can attack virtually any system in the body. Some of the first symptoms may include a flu-like condition, with fever, chills, headache, stiff neck, achiness, and fatigue. Other symptoms can include pain in various joints and muscles, neurological problems, heart involvement, problems with vision or hearing, migraines, low-grade fever or other symptoms. Lyme disease is often mistaken for other illnesses since the symptoms often mirror other medical problems, such as multiple sclerosis, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus or Alzheimer's disease. In the some cases, Lyme disease patients can become paralyzed and/or comatose. Lyme disease symptoms may come and go and be replaced by new symptoms. Symptoms may be subtle or pronounced.

The differences of philosophy between western and Chinese Medicine play an important role in clinical strategy. Chinese medicine's approach is termed "fu zheng qu xie", literally translated as "dispel evil (the infectious agent) by supporting the righteous qi (immune functions of the body)." TCM holds that herbal antibiotic ingredients could help in eradicating infectious pathogens. But the final eradication is not simply done by antibiotic herbal remedies; instead, it adopts a balanced approach through eliminating the pathogens and at the same time strengthening the body’s inborn resistance (immunity). Following this principle, Chinese medicine has developed therapies intended to regulate the immune system. TCM is a constitutional medicine and believes that the body itself is the major healing force. Drugs and procedures can help to relieve symptoms, but they cannot replace the main healing function of the body. If the aim is to restore the health and well being of the patient, simply killing the infectious agents is not sufficient. The medical treatment must also help restore the immune functions of the patient.

At Vitality Health and Wellness, under the direction of Dr. Arthur Rapkin, O.M.D., we have over 30 years of experience treating infectious diseases. Our purpose is to help as many people as we can to live lives of high quality and personal vitality. Dr. Rapkin has been an associate of Dr. Qingcai Zhang, the primary researcher at Harvard Medical School in the infectious disease department.

Schedule an appointment for a consultation today, and we can determine a course of treatment for chronic Lyme disease that works for you.