Dr. Omar G. Arabia II, Integrative Oncologist

During my recent trip to Manila, I had the privilege to interview Omar G. Arabia II, M.D., who operates the Paracelsus Integrative Medical Clinic in Quezon City, Philippines.

Dr. Arabia has been practicing Family Health, Biological Medicine and Integrative Oncology for more than 20 years. Talking to him was educational, and the information that follows is an eye-opener.

"The human body, given the right conditions, has miraculous powers to renew itself...," so says the good doctor.

According to Dr. Arabia, the gentle art and science of healing is to provide biological, non-toxic, integrative health care through the maintenance of health and optimal wellness--and most important--the prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer and other chronic, degenerative diseases.

Talking about the present state of health of Filipinos, Dr. Arabia enumerated the following findings:

• Over a quarter of the Philippine population will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime, and one of five will die of it.

• While cancer has risen over the last four decades (even more drastically in the last 10 years) there has been scant overall improvement in treatment and survival.

• This recent 'cancer epidemic' has been paralleled by the phenomenal growth of the petrochemical industry and the resulting introduction of a wide range of synthetic carcinogens into the workplace and the environment, especially the food supply.

• Most independent experts now agree that the overwhelming majority of all human cancers are environmentally-induced or related--and just preventable.

On his method of treatment, Dr. Arabia shares his views:

"The longstanding, generally accepted medical approach to the treatment of cancer has been to destroy the cancer cells by radical methods. Cancer is regarded as a foreign body that has to be removed either by surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Though some cancers may respond to this approach, many others do not. In fact, in a number of cases, this type of treatment does more harm than good because of the unpredictable, unwanted side effects. Although the standard treatment approaches might reduce the tumor burden, they would do nothing to change the underlying conditions that had encouraged this abnormal growth to occur and recur in the first place.

"There is a growing consensus in medicine today to investigate other approaches, like strengthening the immune system through nutrition, detoxification, biological medicine, meditation, and many others.

"Our approach rests on the assumption that cancer is a systemic, not a local disease, even before it reaches advanced stages. Our strategy is to support and enhance the body's defense functions, to mobilize internal healing forces--all to assist the body in neutralizing and/or breaking down the cancer. Patients with cancer may often survive for long periods of time beyond expectations, as long as their defense systems are kept nourished and strong."

Expect more cutting-edge preventive/holistic medicine "gems" from Dr. Arabia and other alternative doctors and health researchers from around the world. Stay healthy and fit!