When Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo wrote and published Eat Right 4 Your Type in 1996 about how certain foods may harm or heal the body depending on individual blood type, he was scratching the surface of what has now become a wider area of inquiry. In 2012, D’Adamo, a world-renowned naturopathic physician (ND) and researcher, started operating with the University of Bridgeport’s Center of Excellence in Generative Medicine. Generative medicine is a naturopathic specialty that strives to identify the body’s self-healing processes and allows the physician to partner with the patient.
The center blends natural healing techniques with state-of-the-art diagnostics and proprietary software—written by D’Adamo—to develop a genetically-tailored diet specific for each patient. “The computer is a wonderful assistant to good bedside medicine and clinical experience,” he says. Using family history, blood type, simple diagnostic tools, such as fingerprint analysis and jaw angle measurements, D’Adamo can map patients’ genetic makeup to discover which of the six GenoType plans is right for them.
D’Adamo is hopeful the proposed state legislature bill to give naturopathic physicians in Connecticut prescriptive authority will pass. “There is an underserved population out there who can be served and be more comfortable with naturopathic physicians,” he says. “The bottom line is that it’s just good medicine.”
D’Adamo uses these four ‘p’ words as the basis for center’s aproach:
Prediction: All forms of information—molecular, genomic and traditional—are integrated into a program of appropriate treatment. This can help avoid drug reactions and optimizes exceptional clinical responses.
Prevention: The physician anticipates health problems and focuses on wellness, not disease.
Personalization: Taking a careful patient history, performing a thorough physical exam, and using innovative diagnostic testing allows NDs to hone in on treatments and recommendations specific to each patient.
Participation: The patient is placed at the center of the medical team and is empowered to take more responsibility for their health and care than in the conventional model.