Jeffrey Bland, a nutritional biochemist, is the leading educator and researcher in the new field of 'functional' medicine. He asserts that nearly 70% of biological aging and premature illness is related to chronic inflammatory conditions, cardiovascular functional decline and dysinsulinism. The challenge to medicine will be to find better ways to prevent and treat this functional epidemic of chronic aging-related diseases. According to Bland, the functional perspective:

• stresses biological individuality based on genetic and environmental uniqueness
• is patient-centered rather than disease-centered
• encompasses a dynamic balance of internal and external factors
• emphasizes the interconnections of physiological (and other) factors
• defines health as a positive vitality, not merely the absence of pathology.

Bland states that the 'new medicine' focuses on the 'functional' molecular events -- the mechanisms and processes -- which precede the actual recognition or diagnosis of disease. In other words, the concern should be in the behavioral, chemical, environmental, genetic, social and other 'phenotypic' factors which cause a disease to develop in a particular individual. Altered genetic 'expression' leads to individually-unique molecular or cellular changes, so the need, therefore, is to prevent, modify or correct the expression and 'functioning' of the genes. This can be accomplished through alterations in behavior, biochemistry, lifestyle, mindset, physiology and other factors.

Contributing to the development of this new paradigm was Roger Williams' work in biochemical individuality. Williams identified what he called genetotrophic diseases' and suboptimal functioning which result from not meeting the nutritional demands unique to every individual. He associated alcoholism, behavior disorders, childhood diseases and mental diseases to this situation, which he attributed further to a mismatch between genes and the environment. "At the genetic level, the individual had a need for a (particular) level of nutrients to promote proper...function." In other words, it is not that our genes determine our disease, but that they require from us a particular environment for health and functioning.

The Tele-Healing Resource Center can identify your personal biochemical, genetic, environmental and other susceptibilities and requirements through a sophisticated typological assessment of glandular, information processing, personality and other predispositions. Please contact us at to arrange for a typological assessment for you or your clients.

References: 'Founders Of The New Medicine', Jeffrey Bland, TLDP, Feb/Mar, 2000, Issue 199/200, p16.