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SYNERGY
Synergy (sin’-er-je)
is the interaction of two or more substances or forces that
when combined tends to produce a total effect that is greater
than the sum of the individual elements. A short explanation
of synergy is “1 + 1 +1 = 5”. Taber’s medical dictionary defines
it as “the harmonious action of two agents such as drugs, or
organs such as muscles, producing an effect which neither
alone could produce, or an effect that may result which is
greater than the total effects of each agent operating by
itself”.
Here is a very
good example of synergy in everyday life. A doctor must closely monitor the combined effects of
drugs that are prescribed to a patient. The effect of drug A
on the body might be well known, and the effect of drug B
might also be well known. But the synergistic effect of
combining drugs A and B can be difficult to predict. As a
result the doctor must closely monitor a patient when multiple
medication is being administered. Thus, synergy is a
significant part of the art of medicine.
There are many examples in life in which two or more agents or
elements act in common to produce an end result that is
greater than the simple sum each is able to achieve
separately. A good example of synergy occurs in agriculture,
when soil nutrients are applied to benefit crops. If nutrient
A is known to produce a 2% increase in crop production, and
nutrient B is known to produce a 2% increase in crop
production, it is logical that using these two nutrients
together should result in a 4% crop increase. However, because
of the synergy between nutrients A and B a 6-8% crop
production increase might occur, instead of the expected 4%.
Taking it a step further, nutrients A, B, and C (with each
increasing crop production by 2%) when used together
might result in a combined synergistic effect above 12%.
Did you ever hear that some cooking recipes cannot be simply
doubled if you want to make twice as much of a particular
dish? Have
any idea why that would be so? Sure you do: synergy. Perhaps,
when a recipe is doubled, the
oil, or the salt, or other ingredient reacts in a way that is
more than twice its single effect. This is
another example of synergy in action.
Let’s say that I can lift a maximum of 100 pounds, and you can
lift a maximum of 100 pounds. It would seem reasonable that by
working together, you and I should be able to lift 200 pounds.
However, with the principle of synergy, it might be possible
that together you and I could lift more than that, maybe 205,
210
pounds or more. Life is
full of situations in which the synergy of team effort occurs.
PDI’s treatment philosophy makes a lot of sense when you think
about taking advantage of the power of synergy. We are
suggesting that you take advantage of a
simple and frequently seen phenomenon that occurs all around
us every day.
PDI's approach of
using multiple natural therapies uses this power and expects a synergistic result in
treating PD, just as in other applications commonly seen in medical
practice, architecture, agriculture, or any other part of
life. The synergistic effect applies in countless areas and
situations, and treatment of PD is no different. Therefore,
the synergy of multiple therapies selected from successful PD
research and studies should result in an improved ability of
the body to heal and repair.
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