With COVID-19 still fresh in our minds and talk of avian flu looming close behind, the pursuit of health is at the forefront of people’s minds more than ever. But where to find optimal health has become confusing over the past few years. Wellness medicine has emerged as a global big shot, promising a preventative approach to avoiding illness, but while it’s welcomed by society, it’s also seen as a modern-day version of quack medicine by traditional medicine practitioners.
Wellness medicine is a modern approach to health care that focuses on preventing disease and promoting overall health, rather than simply treating medical conditions with medicine or surgery. It involves a holistic view of health, emphasizing the balance of the physical, mental and emotional aspects of a person’s life and how it affects their quality of life. This includes a balanced diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep, stress management, and the use of supplements and natural therapies in conjunction with medications to help the body function better on its own. The goal is to maintain optimal health and vitality throughout life, reduce the risk of chronic disease, and improve overall well-being and longevity.
Traditional medicine, on the other hand, also known as conventional medicine, is the mainstream medical practice that deals with current medical conditions. Treatment is primarily achieved through medicines, surgery, and other medical procedures, with little attention paid to preventive measures.
Traditional medicine physicians often view wellness medicine with the same absolute skepticism as the physicians who employ it. Physicians are wary of alternative therapies due to a perceived lack of rigorous scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness. In recent years, however, the wellness industry has gained popularity among celebrities and influencers around the world, and the traditional medicine field has also begun to embrace it. We spoke with Dr. Ivan Rusirko of Lifestyle Medicine Miami Beach, who has pioneered much of this burgeoning wellness market since 2010. When asked why traditional physicians claim that the treatments used in the wellness industry lack evidence, Dr. Rusirko chuckled.
“First, let’s look at this ‘evidence-based’ claim from a 30,000 foot perspective. If traditional medicine was truly as ‘evidence-based’ as they tout it, it wouldn’t be the third leading cause of death in the United States. Yes, fact check. The third leading cause of death in the United States is medical errors, ranking higher than respiratory diseases and diabetes, killing an average of about a quarter of a million people per year. This is horrifying. These errors include surgical complications, misdiagnoses, and incorrect dosages of medications prescribed according to ‘evidence-based’ science. So I say it’s a good thing that my industry claims to lack ‘evidence-based’ science, because clearly their evidence seems flawed.”
In fact, medical research is often funded by pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies. This raises the question: When companies fund medical research, can the results be biased? And what is actually being reported? Researchers may consciously or unconsciously favor the sponsor’s product. Even worse, sponsors may influence the study design and interpretation of the results, making the evidence-based study less valid.
There is a growing realization that traditional medicine is not infallible and that mistakes can and do frequently occur, such as with the recall of COVID-19 vaccines that were once touted as 100% effective and safe, but were not. This has led to calls for greater transparency and accountability in medical practice. Patients are becoming more informed, researching their symptoms and treatments more frequently, demanding greater accountability, and doctors are coming under greater scrutiny. This decline in trust has led some patients to explore alternative and complementary medicine options. Patients perceive these as more holistic and less prone to the mistakes found in conventional medicine, which has led to a rise in the wellness industry around the world.
“Please don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that all traditional medicine is bad and all health medicine is good. No, not at all. I have seen for many years the medical industry slowly become polluted by businessmen and untrained doctors who prey on patients with inappropriate techniques and abstract nonsense treatments. So I understand the hesitation. It is unpleasant, dangerous and reduces the credibility of true practitioners and treatments in this field. But it is nonsense to dismiss an entire medical industry because you do not understand it or agree with its approach. I was trained within the framework of traditional medicine and did very well, so I know both sides and I chose this health medicine because I believed it to be the truest form of medicine. I do wonder why all the practitioners in this industry did so only to see a mass defection from traditional healing to modern preventive medicine. I wonder why so many doctors are abandoning conventional medicine and choosing this approach of health medicine? I think it is because it gets results, it addresses the whole person and patients expect results.”
Globally, the wellness industry has grown to an estimated $5.6 trillion, more than the size of Germany’s current GDP. Wellness medicine is literally the size of a current global powerhouse, projected to grow to a staggering $8.5 trillion by 2027, accounting for 5.6% of global GDP. Like it or not, traditional medical practitioners will have to make room for this new form of medicine, which is here to stay.
“I think patients these days, especially post-COVID, are looking for more natural ways to maintain their health and prevent disease, rather than waiting until they get sick to make plans. The wellness industry offers just that by promoting healthy lifestyles, diet and exercise regimens along with cutting edge new techniques and treatments. Combining common sense things like hydration, diet, sleep and exercise into a program that enhances a person’s biochemistry is a no-brainer,” says Dr. Rusirko.
He continues, “Although there are countless research-based papers, you don’t need them for that. The key is to find the right doctor who can use both traditional and wellness medicine and blend it all together in harmony, not conflict. I am a fan of traditional medicine when it’s needed, but I think more doctors could use common sense alongside their training, because a lot of the training we receive as doctors is far from common sense. Pure medicine should aim to solve problems, not just treat them.”
Dr. Lucirko has practiced lifestyle medicine in Miami Beach for 14 years, treating patients with a variety of issues ranging from life-threatening illnesses to those simply wanting to become their healthiest selves. He trained at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, the largest medical school in the country, and has received international attention for his work in this field.
Greg Grzesiak is a resident entrepreneur and columnist for Grit Daily. As the CEO of Grzesiak Growth LLC, Greg is focused on helping CEOs, influencers, and entrepreneurs create events that grow their followings on a global scale. Over the years, he has built strong partnerships with prominent educators and influencers on YouTube and in the traditional finance space. Greg is a graduate of the University of Florida and has years of experience in marketing and journalism.
