As a dental hygienist, i wanted to know what causes the periodontal diseases I saw in my work. For decades, we have known that gum disease is caused by infectious bacterial disease. It became clear to me that the best way to fight gum disease would be to use the same way all bacterial infections are fought: by boosting the body’s natural immune system. The immune system is our true, lifelong defense against disease, from the common cold to others.

Knowing that drugs tend to depress the immune system, I began to look for ways to boost the immune system naturally. This search led to a ten year investigation into herbs, nutrients, energy and spirituality. I came to understand that we are complete beings with both physical and spiritual natures, and that you can not treat one part of the body without affecting the rest of it, any more that you can separate the physical world from the spiritual.

Holistic medicine sees the human as a unified organism far greater than the mere sum of it’s parts. This concept guides my treatment and approach to health. I do not believe that gum disease and tooth decay are inevitable. I believe the the body's natural tendency is toward health and that if we give it the support in this, we can live long healthy lives.

The root causes of periodontal disease are those factors that compromise the immune system. The two most fundamental causes for the breakdown of the immune system are: 1. Toxicity and 2. Nutritional deficiencies. Addressing toxicity and deficiencies, therefore, is essential to a holistic approach.