Bioregulatory medicine

Bioregulatory Medicine is a multidisciplinary therapeutic approach that proposes a new system of preventative and regenerative medicine. The system is in agreement with contemporary allopathic medical sciences, but shifts the emphasis from treatment of diseases towards strengthening of patients’ health. It places medical sciences within the concept of open systems theory and systems biology, suggesting a multifactorial therapeutic approach to match an open-flow of information within living systems. The major therapeutic objectives are the elimination of disruptions on physiological network systems. and stimulation of self-regulatory mechanisms or homeostasis. The concept was formulated in the mid-nineties by Dr Damir Shakambet MD and Dr Tatyana Bosh MD, also founding registered medical charity Biomedic Foundation, for furthering the development of Bioregulatory Medicine. The foundation runs the International Society for Bioregulatory Medicine that sets up clinical and educational standards, organising courses and seminars in the UK and abroad.
History
Medical Reductionism
Medical reductionism is grounded in empiricism. Hippocrates' treatise On Ancient Medicine gave the first detailed description of a clinical medical science through inspection, observation and experience. Although Thales was known as the first reductionist philosopher, reductionism was usually associated with Descartes, who set a path for mechanistic-materialistic views on the human body. In Part V of his Discourse on the Method Descartes suggested that the world was like a machine, which could be understood by studying the individual components. An 18th century physician Julien Offray de la Mettrie introduced a ‘Human Machine’ approach, and his book L'homme machine prompted further reductionism in medicine. Evidence-based medicine took over as the dominant form of medical research, and modern medicine remained based on deconstructing complex processes into their component parts to be comprehended and to identify specific component malfunctions. Since cause-effect reasoning became accepted by medical academia as a precondition for meeting standards of scientific experimentation, other medical approaches not favouring linear causality, e.g. relativism, vitalism or holism remained outside official medical curricula.
Medical Holism
Aristotle’s statement in Metaphysics that "The whole is more than the sum of its parts" summarizes the essence of holism. Plato saw flaws in sensory and causal processing of reality and preferred knowledge based on relations and holism, as he stated in Charmides: “…for the part can never be well unless the whole is well” which later offered the foundation for systems theory thinkers of 20th century. Dr Samuel Hahnemann, founder of homeopathy, put an emphasis on medical holism and the non-linear approach, and his follower Constantine Hering described a holistic principle of disease progression and regression, known in medical history as Hering’s Law of Cure. The founder of antroposophical medicine
Homeostasis and Systems Theories
Walter Bradford Cannon introduced in 1932 the concept of homeostasis, as a dynamic and intelligent process of self-regulation and adaptation to changing circumstances of life. Further development of the concept, detailing a biofeedback nature of self-regulation, was followed by a number of homeostasis-based theories and sciences. Ludwig von Bertalanffy formulated a general systems theory explaining system components and their interaction, coined terms ‘open system’ and ‘closed system’ - which lead to the creation of open systems theory. Ilya Prigogine wrote about self-organising characteristics of complex biological systems. Their contemporaries and followers further explained complexity, adaptability and related phenomena. Norbert Wiener’s theory of cybernetics described homeostasis as a typical example of an open system’s feedback. Systems sciences explain that human biological system consists not only of interlinked physiological systems, such as digestive, cardiovascular or respiratory systems - but that those are additionally interlinked into larger network systems, describing in detail the nature of involved metasystem transition. Since network systems are open to multi-factorial input and governed by multiple self-adaptive mechanisms systems scientists seem to be in agreement that those meta-systems cannot be explored by linear laws of empiricism. A similar challenge of empirical exclusivity in conventional science and medicine is imposed by other homeostatic-based science and theories e.g. Hans Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome, epigenetic theory, and in particular by systems biology. Understanding homeostasis, allostasis, multiple systems interactions, epigenetics, gene silencing and similar achievements of modern sciences, opened vistas for approaching a disease as an individualistic algorithm of multifactorial etiology, which set a new scientific platform for the rise of Bioregulatory Medicine.
Biological Terrain
Facing the problem of long term effects of toxic accumulation in cells and tissues and the cumulative impact of chemicals on human health prompted a search for medical ways of detoxification and regeneration of the human body. The proponents of such medical interventions argued that health is primarily determined by the quality of one’s internal environment or the ‘biological terrain’, frequently relaying on Rudolf Virchow’s (Rudolf Virchow ) (1821-1902) citation: “If I could live my life all over again, I would devote it to proving that germs seek their natural habitat - diseased tissue. That is to say germs are attracted to diseased tissue rather than being the primary cause of it. For example, mosquitoes seek the stagnant water, but do not cause the pool to become stagnant.” The term biological terrain was first introduced by Claude Bernard (1813-1878) as ‘milieu interieur’, referring primarily to intercellular spaces. It was later popularised as the intercellular matrix, living matrix or biological terrain. Since 19th century frequent medical debates were run between advocates of a terrain theories of diseases (Terrain theory ), summarised by Bernard’s statement: “Micro-organisms only become pathogenic when the host’s inner environment has become unhealthy”; and those favouring a germ theory of diseases (Germ theory of disease ), believing that germs can only be picked up as a result of air contamination or through direct body contact. Although the germ theory was popularised by Louis Pasteur (Louis Pasteur ) (1822-1895), shortly before his death Pasteur conceded to Bernard with statement: "La bactérie n'est rien. C'est le terrain qui fait tout" ("The bacteria is insignificant: the terrain is all important").
Regulation of the Biological Terrain
Terrain advocates believe that excessive exposure to environmental toxicity disturbs natural homeostatic regulation; where intercellular spaces may no longer swiftly pass nutrients, bioactive molecules and neural impulses to and from cells. They argue that cumulative toxicity disturbs ionic currents and the concentration of electrolytes inside and outside of the cells, prompting tissue acidification, proliferation of pathological microorganisms and lack of cellular oxygenation (Cellular respiration ) all lead towards cellular pathological changes. Explorations on various toxic effects of health disruptors, including electromagnetic smog, chemical pollution, endocrine disruptors (Endocrine disruptor ) muscular armouring (Wilhelm Reich ) or prolonged psychological stress in precipitating pathological changes of the matrix, prompted alternative research for possibilities of medically guided methods for detoxification and rejuvenation of the biological terrain. A medical doctor and Nobel Laureate Otto Heinrich Warburg (Otto Heinrich Warburg ) (1883 - 1970) (List of Nobel laureates ) emphasized the importance of cellular oxygenation and alkalisation of pH status of the internal environment in both prevention and development of malignant diseases. Dr Max Gerson’s (Max Gerson ) (1881-1959) research pointed towards importance of detoxification and regeneration of liver for optimisation of general health, promoting alkaline diet, juicing and the use of purgatives and enemas. Dr Hans-Heinrich Reckeweg’s (1905-1985) described any disease evolution as a process of progressive ‘homotoxicosis’. His focus was on detoxifying and regenerative therapeutic measures primarily by means of homeopathy; and called for exploring humoral and inflammatory mechanisms of the body in light of therapeutic opportunities for medically enhanced self-regulation. Following the work of Warburg, Gerson, Reckeweg and other medical pioneers who attempted to support natural functions of the biological terrain, their successors further expanded the terrain-based medical approach to integrate contemporary sciences, such as: Psychoneuroimmunology (Psychoneuroimmunology ), Systems Biology (Systems biology ), Nutritional Therapy (Medical nutrition therapy ) or Environmental medicine (Environmental medicine). Since Dr Sigmund Freud’s (Sigmund Freud )(1856-1939) concept of Psychoanalysis (Psychoanalysis ), various other psychological approaches emerged including Analytical Psychology (Analytical psychology ) of Dr Carl Gustav Jung (Carl Jung ) (1875 -1961) or Indirect Hypnosis (Covert hypnosis ) of Dr Milton H Erickson (Milton H. Erickson ) (1901 - 1980); also pointing towards possibility of regulating living tissues by means of using psychological methodologies. Another group of medical pioneers including Drs Dr Andrew Still (Andrew Taylor Still) (1828-1917), Wilhelm Reich (Wilhelm Reich ) (1897-1957) or Alexander Lowen (Alexander Lowen ) (1910 -2008) and their followers explored possibilities of using structural approaches to support the biological tissues by regulating musculo-connective and skeletal restrictions of the body while Bioregulatory Medicine proposes additional psychosomatic modality for regulation of the biological terrain.
Integration in Medicine
The advancement of computer technology and expansion of non-linear and relational ways of thinking resulted in fast integration of sciences within the scientific community of 20th century medical approaches and methodologies. Systems biology (Systems biology ) was introduced in medicine by Denis Noble (Denis Noble ), who developed in 1960 the first computer model of the heart pacemaker, while its formal study was launched by Mihajlo Mesarovic (Mihajlo D. Mesarovic) in 1966. An important input of high quality scientific data came with the development of psychoneuroimmunology (Psychoneuroimmunology ), psychosomatic medicine (Psychosomatic medicine ), epigenetics (Epigenetics ) and functional genomics (Functional genomics ). Recognition of cellular abilities to respond to external stimuli and prevent genetic expression was followed by the discovery of gene silencing (Gene silencing) which lead to a Nobel Prize in 2006 delivered to Andrew Z. Fire (Andrew Fire ) and Craig C. Mello (Craig C. Mello ).
Functional Medicine (Functional medicine ) integrated conventional medical knowledge with nutrition and supplementation of micronutrients (Micronutrient ) and highlighted the importance of environmental impact on health. Other integrative medical approaches strived to interlink allopathic medicine (Allopathic medicine ) with different alternative therapies, such as Dr Reckeweg’s concept of Homotoxicology, favouring integration of allopathic and homeopathic medicine (Homeopathy ). Bioregulatory Medicine proposed a meta-systemic (Meta-system ) model of homeostatic medicine that brings allopathic medicine (Allopathic medicine ) and CAM disciplines (Alternative medicine ) together towards improving constitutional health and its homeostatic capacities.
Increased incidence of degenerative conditions prompted World Health Organization (World Health Organization) to take into stronger consideration autoregulatory capacities of the body and achievements of systems biology. Their decennial publication providing standards of diagnostics and classification of all diseases known as International Classification of Diseases (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) was already delayed for ICD -10 (ICD-10 ) 1989 edition; when collaborating centers for Classification of Diseases were called to come up with an alternative Classification of Diseases that takes more into consideration the importance of autoregulatory capacities, physiological networks parameters and systems interaction in pathogenesis (Pathogenesis ) of diseases. These early indications suggest the edition in preparation for 2015 (ICD-11) and the following editions may no longer be based on current ICD’s criteria.
Clinical Practice of Bioregulation
Bioregulatory Medicine proposes a clinical model of applied Preventative Medicine, although its multi-homeostatic therapeutic approach promises a possible new direction for curative medicine (Curative care ). Bioregulatory clinical practice extends conventional medical assessment to additionally include psychological status, structural evaluation, analysis of nutritional deficiencies, exposure to toxicities and observation of patient’s autoregulatory capacities (Autoregulation). The therapeutic approach is based on bioregulatory concept describing relations and correlations between, biochemical, psychological, structural and psychosomatic and bioresonant phenomena. Bioregulatory therapy addresses structural resistances and postural re-alignments; enhances tissues’ hydration, oxygenation, alkalisation, mineralisation and detoxification; and offers patients psychotherapeutic support and guidance necessary for resolutions of inner conflicts and personal development. Prescriptions are mainly based on a combination of diet, nutritional supplementation, herbal and homeopathic preparations, while therapeutic accent is on empowering patients toward a quality of self-care, which is considered the foundation of ‘health-economics’. Some suggest that Bioregulatory Medicine can be considered as 'biological systems medicine', and even describe it as an entirely new medical paradigm.
Criticism
German corporation Biologische Heilmittel Heel GmbH took up the name Bioregulatory Medicines to re-brand their homeopathic products, followed in 2009 by publication of the book Introduction to Bioregulatory Medicine, written by Heel’s Director of Medical Affairs and their associates. Despite the promise of its title, the book discusses the concept of Homotoxicology, as stated in its preface: “…this book does not pretend to be complete; rather, its aim is to be a reference, a study book in homotoxicology…We invite you to enter, observe, and study the world of homotoxicology with the same open mind as a scientist would have in observing and examining a new phenomenon.”

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