The term “Integrative Medicine” means different things to different people. Dr. Boles’ practice is integrative in the following manners:
Multifactorial: Most human disease does not have a single cause, but multiple factors, genetic and environmental, that contribute towards disease. Dr. Boles will assume that you/your child likely have different factors that lead to disease, and will not stop looking when one such cause/factor is identified. Even in patients in whom a strong factor is found, even if that factor can be labeled as the “cause” of disease, additional factors are often present, and some might be treatable. Furthermore, although Dr. Boles is a geneticist and is thus primarily looking for genetic factors/causes of disease, he is keenly aware that environmental factors are likely present as well, and will discuss any environmental factors suspected.
Providers: It is rare that a single provider is sufficient to care for patients with complex disease, like is present in most of his patients. Dr. Boles will work with other providers, whether they are generalists (e.g. MD, ND, NP, etc.), specialists in other fields (e.g. GI, developmental pediatricians/autism specialists, pain management, etc.), or ancillary care providers (e.g. psychologists, therapists, etc.)
Interventions: The medical world sometimes seems to be divided these days between extreme “allopathic” providers that use pharmaceutical agents exclusively and believe that all other interventions are the act of opportunists or quacks, and extreme “naturopathic” providers that use alternative approaches exclusively and believe that standard physicians are paid by drug companies to prescribe toxic and unnecessary chemicals. While Dr. Boles trained at the “ivory towers” including Yale and UCLA, he is a moderate, and recommends what he feels is best for his patients. Dr. Boles is very familiar and conformable with nutritional interventions, with over 20 years as a biochemical geneticist (metabolic specialist). In addition to diet, exercise, good sleep hygiene, stress reduction, and other aspects of a healthy lifestyle are part of his management recommendations in nearly all patients. In selected cases, he will recommend acupuncture, plant-based treatments, biofeedback, and other “alternative” modalities whereas those modalities have demonstrated efficacy.
In many cases, a non-pharmaceutical remedy is the best initial treatment, and occasionally all that is needed.
However, as a MD with decades of experience in a hospital setting, including much experience in emergency department and intensive care environments, Dr. Boles is also comfortable and knowledgeable regarding a wide variety of drug therapies. In many cases, pharmaceutical interventions are indicated, and in some cases are a necessity to prevent further loss of abilities or life. Dr. Boles’ treatment recommendations are based on the medical literature (what others have found to work), and his own clinical experience (what he has found to work, especially in cases whereas “evidence” is lacking or conflictory). He believes in science/evidence-based medicine, and in doing no harm by offering less toxic options for therapy. These concepts are not in conflict, and can and should be brought together.
