MARTINSBURG-It is true that holistic and Western medicines both treat mental illness with therapies that seek to balance brain neurotransmitters. However, due to differing definitions of the term "diagnose," perspective treatment methods are opposed, said psychiatrist C.E. Gant, M.D. and Ph.D., of National Integrated Medicine Associates in Washington, D.C.

He explained Western medicine treats symptoms of an illness, and holistic medicine treats its causes.

"A big difference," Gant said.

Gant holds a medical doctorate from University of Virginia specializing in internal and psychiatric medicines, and a Ph.D. in psychology. He teaches at the Academy of Functional Medicine, Dentistry and Psychology, has authored several books and serves as an industry leader in brain biochemistry. Today, he is especially concerned with veterans' wellness.

"Deaths from (post-traumatic stress disorder) and addiction-caused suicides have killed more vets than combat casualties," Gant said. "Though lingering brain and mind injuries are invisible, they are more disabling than a limb amputation."

Dr. John Burgess, of Martinsburg's Shenandoah Preventive Medicine, and Winchester's Bridging the Gaps Clinical Director Doug Houck, Medical Director Steve Sutton, M.D., and Director of Program Development David Semanco are experts in pain and hormonal management, vocational rehabilitation, drug addiction, PTSD and sleep dysfunction. They comprise the Integrative Solutions for Veterans Wellness Board, which is a collective of professionals in their own disciplines who believe that integrative treatments and complementary medicine can provide a level of wellness for veterans that traditional medications and treatments cannot, according to Houck.

Unlike traditional practitioners of medicine, Gant, Burgess, Houck, Sutton and Semanco believe hormonal and nutritional deficiencies lie at the root of addiction. However, despite the board's combined and lengthy efforts to convince insurance companies to cover alternative therapies in November, Burgess said he was losing hope inroads could be met.

"We're arriving at the conclusion that due to impossible insurance requirements, which do not cover alternative pain and addiction treatments and therapies, we are just banging our heads against the wall."

Burgess said this is because insurance companies cannot patent and thus drive up the cost for natural substances like Ashwaganda and ginseng, which Burgess said are natural substances that balance mood and promote hormonal balance. He added the highest quality of ginseng worldwide can be found in West Virginia fields.

Rather than natural substances, Burgess said drug companies instead prescribe narcotics, antidepressants and opiates.

"Not only are they all addictive," Burgess said, "this assures ongoing revenue for pharmaceutical companies."

Burgess said also drug labels on antidepressants warn of increased risk of suicide, which he said is increasing in the veteran population.

Burgess explained pharmaceutical drug company corruption is widespread. For example, he said Purdue Pharmaceutical recently pled guilty to massive deception and abuse of its narcotics program, which has killed thousands. He said though the chief executive officer, chief financial officer and chief medical officer pleaded guilty to serious lies and crimes, each received one misdemeanor. Further, only one week later, they each received massive government contracts, which easily covered those fine amounts.

Burgess said the war between the drug companies is darker than one might think, and he has been threatened with malpractice suits supported by Purdue if he did not prescribe Oxycontin.

Despite clear obstacles, however, Burgess remains hopeful.

"All that is needed to change drug and insurance companies' minds is education and open minds which have broken free from the irrational dogma which obscures advances in PTSD treatment," he said.

Burgess has formed a simple mantra for maintaining health. It is "NEWSTART," which stands for "Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunshine, Temperance, Air, Rest and Trust."

Physician heal thyself

As a soldier specializing in counter-insurgency in Libya, Burgess said he broke his back and in 1974 wound up at a veterans hospital along with 5,000 other injured vets.

He was prescribed "the usual cocktail of narcotics, benzodiazepines and antidepressants," and witnessed many of his fellow soldiers die daily. It was at this same hospital when Burgess said he underwent a botched surgery for a back injury.

In constant pain, Burgess said he became desperate to save his own life. He began to seek alternative, natural remedies, and he found them in Ashwaganda and ginseng, which are "adaptogens" or "drugs that help the body adapt to physical and emotional stress."

Alternative addiction treatment available locally

Physicians and directors at Bridging the Gaps Addiction Treatment Center agree with Gant's and Burgess' philosophies.

"Our position is not that pharmaceuticals do not work," Sutton said. "Rather, there may be a different way."

Houck said the center's outcomes are generally better than traditional addiction programs. He cited limited outcome studies that showed 91 percent of patients were clean and sober at six months, and 82 percent were still abstinent after one year.

"We can look at hormones as the workers and look at supplements as the brick, mortar and nails. In order for the hardware of our bodies to be assembled correctly in our bodies they must be assembled correctly by hormones which function properly," he said.

After an initial urine screen to determine neurotransmitter imbalances, tests at the center include screenings for heavy metals and deficient amounts of antioxidants, condition that Sutton said may develop into autoimmune disorders like chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.

Four alternative therapies then are implemented.

The first evaluates whether a patient is able to absorb nutrients. Patients then undergo detoxification in order to normalize intestinal bodily functions. Neuro-feedback then trains the brain via a "reward system" approach.

"Normal brain function is to seek out pleasure and avoid pain," Semanco said. "We seek to train the brain to learn to regulate itself, which it should be able to do but for whatever reason it has stopped doing, which is the very root of addiction and probably subsequent drug use and addiction."

Finally, patients are supplied with organic foods to eliminate pesticides, preservatives, antibiotics, artificial food colorings and flavorings. Lastly, Sutton said he recommends 20 minutes of aerobics exercise daily. Follow-up care is available and encouraged.

In addition to serving as the medical consultant for Bridging The Gaps, Sutton recently established his own primary care medical practice, Winchester Integrated Health and Wellness, where he focuses on addiction and helping people maintain during their addiction recovery process.

Local roots and fruits

Burgess, a West Virginia native, also promotes golden seal for "healing" and the local Paw Paw fruit for "pleasure." He said the fruit is heralded as the original antioxidant, before pomegranate.

"It is a mango and banana in one. It is truly a mystically delicious fruit," he said.

Finally, he encourages his patients to "follow their heart" and "the spirit."

To learn more about Burgess, visit www.vetsnature.com and www.newstartdoctor.com. More information is available about Bridging the Gap Addiction Center at 540-535-1111.