Respiratory System Disorders and Therapy From a New - Louis Bolk ...
Respiratory System Disorders and Therapy From a New - Louis Bolk ...
Respiratory System Disorders and Therapy From a New - Louis Bolk ...
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Preface<br />
After publishing the first Companion for the Practice of Medicine, a study of respiratory<br />
tract disease seemed to be a logical next step. <strong>Respiratory</strong> disease is well known to every<br />
medical student <strong>and</strong> intern, often from own experience. In medical practice, airway<br />
diseases are among the most commonly encountered.<br />
We chose asthma <strong>and</strong> pneumonia as examples for this Companion. They are introduced<br />
by the stories of three of our own patients. It seemed important to start out from our own<br />
direct observations. We used the Goethean phenomenological method to elaborate on our<br />
observations. At the beginning of each chapter, the phenomenological background of the<br />
ensuing section is explained.<br />
Goethean phenomenology is founded in perception <strong>and</strong> examination of living nature. In<br />
Goethean phenomenology, the known facts – in this case the signs <strong>and</strong> symptoms of our<br />
patients — are listed <strong>and</strong> then evaluated in view of the coherent functions of the organism.<br />
The relation between the collected data is sought <strong>and</strong> characterized. Then it is important<br />
to study where these relations are typical in other parts of the organism or in nature. It<br />
enables us to draw conclusions as to the role or meaning of these processes in the human<br />
organism. The result is a coherent innovative view on the collected data. Physiological <strong>and</strong><br />
pathological processes are examined in terms of the processes themselves. In our study, it<br />
leads to new insights for the treatment of patients with airway disease. With this method,<br />
therapy goals can be tailored to each individual patient’s needs <strong>and</strong> may be understood<br />
within the scope of modern medicine. Goethean phenomenology considers itself part of<br />
systems biology as a method that researches the coherence of living systems.<br />
This is the second publication in the series: BOLK’S Companions for the Practice of Medicine.<br />
<strong>Bolk</strong>’s Companions RespiRatoRy system DisoRDeRs anD theRapy - 7