We are a part of an expeditious culture where almost
anything has the potential to become instantaneous. Smart phones, iPads, laptops, fast food, and
microwaves have revolutionized our lives.
We have whatever we want at our fingertips through technology and
Internet access. It seems like an
exciting age to live in; however, have we stopped to consider what these things
are doing to our health? We are
increasingly exposed to radioactive waves as well as a variety of toxins in the
food and beverages we consume, the air we breathe, and other substances we encounter on a daily basis. We are a
society addicted to sugar, caffeine, diet sodas, cell phones, computers, and
social media—oftentimes oblivious to what they are doing to our bodies. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer,
neurological disorders, and numerous life-threatening conditions are plaguing
our lives.
I was unaware of the damage my lifestyle was doing to my
body until my health declined to a point that I couldn't ignore it any
longer. 2 ½ years ago, I sat in my
primary physician’s office, teary-eyed and confused about my mysterious and
debilitating condition. We had already
spent thousands on tests and treatments that did little to provide answers or
help. Where would I turn next? My doctor shook his head and suggested I
purchase a cane to help with my balance and consider trying counseling to help
me cope with my situation. The
circumstances seemed hopeless to me at the time, however God had other plans. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’
declares the Lord. ‘Plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11
What
Is Alternative Health Care?
Alternative health care is a broad term to describe a variety
of therapies and medical interventions that are available through different
types of health care providers. Sometimes
described as holistic or naturopathic medicine, alternative approaches are used
to treat certain diseases and/or conditions.
Chiropractors, acupuncture therapists, holistic or naturopathic doctors,
massage therapists, and nutritionists are some of the more commonly known
alternative health care providers. There is a multitude of alternative
health care options available. The
philosophy of holistic medicine focuses on the whole person. The mind, body, and spirit are interwoven
together and are addressed simultaneously.
Nutrition, exercise, emotional stability, and healthy body functions are
the essential components of optimal health.
Is
Alternative Health Care Right For Me?
I think anyone could benefit from many aspects of
alternative health care—utilizing good nutrition, detoxifying the body, learning
to cope with stress, and embracing a healthy lifestyle. We at least owe it to ourselves to educate
ourselves about our health and bodies.
Alternative health care becomes a more crucial option when we have
reached the end of our rope. There may
be a point in someone’s life where conventional medicine has failed to provide
relief or hope for a debilitating condition or a life-threatening illness. In our current economy, health insurance
oftentimes provides minimal coverage for medical interventions, having the
potential to leave us with exuberant medical bills. Alternative treatments can be costly as well; however, the expenses can be minimal compared to the rising medical and
prescription costs. In these situations,
another avenue of health care may be the answer.
Holistic medicine or alternative therapies are sometimes utilized
to treat layers of health problems, and the process is more progressive. With conventional medicine, you would
typically take a prescription to “fix” the problem, expecting an immediate
response. While this seems ideal when it
works, what happens when there is little or no improvement? Do you just accept things as they are? In her book, “And They Said It Wasn't
Possible”, nutritionist, Karen Hurd, described a lesson she learned while
serving in the army. She now applies this philosophy to her practice: when something doesn't work, you go back and
change the game plan. Instead of giving
up hope, maybe it is time to try something new!
What do you have to loose?
Alternative Health Care Doesn't Replace Conventional Medicine
This blog is not about degrading physicians and their
practices. I want to make it clear that
I believe that physicians are a gift from God.
They save lives everyday. A young
and brilliant doctor saved my mom’s life when she went into respiratory failure
8 years ago. I adore my current
doctor. She is thorough, compassionate,
and she has completely supported my decision to use alternative medicine and
therapies. Alternative health care may not be for everyone, and it
doesn't replace conventional medicine in our society. Some people choose combined approaches of
both conventional medicine and alternative therapies. It is an individual decision based on your
philosophy, body chemistry, and physical needs.
How Do I Get Started?
When inquiring about a service and/or practitioner, you can
often investigate the type of treatment and the philosophy of care on the
Internet and decide for yourself if the service matches your needs. You may want to find out if the practitioner
is certified or licensed by a credible holistic organization or medical
board. Be ready with questions to ask
when making your first appointment so that you have a thorough understanding of
what to expect.
With all the information from the Internet at our
fingertips, there are limitless resources about alternative health care
available to us. If you have the time
and patience to do the research, you can educate yourself and try holistic
supplements and therapies on your own.
Educating yourself about holistic medicine can be overwhelming, however
I have heard testimonies of those who were able to heal serious illnesses and
conditions on their own. If you want to
do it without the supervision of a practitioner, I suggest you do thorough
research, prayerfully determine what works for you, and be very discerning
before trying a new supplement or treatment.
Benefits of Testing
Just as doctors sometimes treat symptoms without running
costly labs or tests, your alternative practitioner may recommend you try a
specific supplement, treatment, or special diet without testing for the source
of your health concern. It is generally
less expensive to use trial and error, however in some situations you will need
to find a practitioner that is able to provide testing to determine the root
cause of your condition. Naturopathic
doctors may order lab tests for specific diseases and other health concerns
such as hormone imbalance, thyroid dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies, and
other body chemistry indicators.
Practitioners also utilize methods of bioresonance testing or applied
kinesiology. This procedure examines body
movements in response to certain diseases and chemicals in order
to gain insight for what is contributing to a disease or condition. The philosophy involves using the innate
intelligence of your body to communicate what it needs. When properly used, this technique is a
scientifically reliable approach to alternative medicine and has the potential
to get to the source of the problem.
It’s About A Lifestyle Change
Alternative health care is not just about going to a
specialized practitioner for your health care needs. Alternative health care is a lifestyle
change. If you continue with the same
response to stress, eating habits, and sedentary lifestyle, you may find
roadblocks to wellness. When I finally
came to the conclusion that my lifestyle was severely damaging my health, I was
in all the way. I made some dramatic
changes to my diet and lifestyle, and I haven’t regretted my decision for a
minute.
Diet And Nutrition
I believe that diet and nutrition are potent healers. Unfortunately,
the typical foods that we as Americans eat have the potential to do significant
damage to our bodies. I became
interested in nutrition several years ago, however was not fully committed
until my health spiraled out of control.
I initially made some mistakes in the food products I chose. I believed that if a product claimed to be
“healthy” or if the product came from a whole or natural food store, it was good for
me. That is not necessarily true. Now, my general rule is to avoid any foods
that are processed or have chemical additives.
Some food companies are on to this idea and “clean up” their labels by
making it appear that there are no added chemicals. Foods with refined sugar,
refined grains, and polyunsaturated and hydrogenated oils (such as margarine)
can be very damaging to the body.
Because of my specific needs, I avoid all grains, sugars, dairy
products, and processed foods. I also
removed certain foods from my diet when testing revealed I had sensitivities to
them.
There are various diets and nutritional options recommended
by alternative practitioners. In order
to achieve optimal health, some people are choosing to try a gluten and
dairy-free diet. Others only eat grains that are whole and natural. Some people
are on a vegan diet, while others prefer a high protein paleo diet. You can see a nutritionist to guide you or
do your own research on nutrition through books, the Internet, and other
sources.
Detoxifying And The Healing Crisis
Toxins are believed to be the basis for many of the diseases
and conditions that we struggle with.
When using alternative health care, it is often necessary to detoxify the
body. Many people use specific
supplements or chelation therapies to detoxify, however there are numerous ways
to detox. I discovered that my body did
not respond well to detoxifying supplements. Other avenues such as oil-pulling therapy and a modality of energy therapy have been more effective for my individual body chemistry. The right detox program can vary depending on
the individual’s unique body make-up and health problems. Detoxing often accompanies unpleasant
symptoms, which may include cold symptoms, headache, pain, nausea, and
dizziness. Your current health symptoms
may also temporarily worsen when your body is detoxing. These symptoms are known as the “healing
crisis” and are normal. It is important
to have open communication with your holistic practitioner about this
process. Your body’s adverse response
usually improves over time as you adapt to the detoxing and begin to heal.
Holistic Dentistry
The condition of our teeth and gums can also affect our
health. Some research has tied
deteriorating health to dental problems such as tooth decay, gingivitis,
periodontal disease, and root canals.
Good oral hygiene is important for a healthy lifestyle; however, the
chemicals in our dental products can have a negative impact on our health. It is important to educate ourselves of the
harmful side effects of what we put in our mouth. Dental amalgams (metal fillings) are one of
the most potentially dangerous products we can have in our mouths. They contain harmful metals such as mercury that are believed to be unsafe for the body. If you notice a metal
taste in your mouth and/or believe that your dental amalgams are bothering you,
it might be worthwhile looking into having them removed and replaced with safer
composite fillings. Be aware that
removing the metal fillings can be dangerous to you and others as toxic fumes
are released into the air. Not all
dentists are equipped to safely remove amalgams and there is much debate among
dentistry professionals regarding the potential health hazard of amalgams. Holistic dentists will utilize more natural
methods to improve dental health as well as provide safe methods of extracting
amalgams.
Christianity And Holistic Medicine
I have found that my faith is the most vital part of my own
healing process. I have learned to trust
God in all areas of my life and my health.
God is holistic in nature and He cares about all areas of our lives—our
spiritual, emotional, and physical healing.
The Bible names Jesus Christ as the “Great Physician” and testifies that
He is the ultimate healer. Holistic health encompasses the whole person—the
mind, body, and spirit. This path to wellness encompasses Biblical principals. For example, studies have found that people
who carry the burden of anger and bitterness in their lives tend to be more
vulnerable to disease. Forgiveness in
itself is a powerful healer. Forgiveness
is also a fundamental part of the Christian faith. As Christians, we can trust God to guide us towards the
correct path of healing. According to
the Bible, God gives wisdom generously to all whom ask (James 1:5). We should test all things before the Lord to
seek what is true and what is a part of his will- “his good, pleasing, and perfect
will” (Romans 12:2). It is essential to
bring all things to God in prayer before moving forward with something
new.
Holistic health is deeply spiritual. When applied in a Christian environment, it
can be beneficial for us; however, this philosophy of health care can potentially
become an open door for pagan religions and occult practices. I would caution you to stay clear from
holistic therapies using crystals and spiritual channeling through “angels” or
“spirit guides” to provide healing. You should avoid any “supernatural”
therapies such as “psychic” surgeries or anything involving the “spirit
world.” These types of therapies are
dangerous and have the potential to cause more harm. I suggest checking out the spiritual basis
for any unusual treatments or therapies to avoid opening yourself up to
something you will regret.
The Wellness Path
God designed us as individuals with diverse personalities,
body chemistry, and genetic make up. We
have individualized struggles with our health.
Each journey towards wellness is unique.
When I talk to people who are struggling with their health and are
interested in learning about alternative health care, I make suggestions of
certain therapies and nutritional information that have been helpful for
me. I recognize that they will have to
discover for themselves what works for their unique situation. My experience and knowledge is merely a speck
in comparison to the information available to us. I don’t propose to know all the answers or to
determine what is right for others. I
can only share my journey and point to a loving and holy God who cares about us
and our wellness. I pray that those who
are searching for wellness will see God’s work in their lives and discover His
truth.
Alternative health care is not a guarantee or a miracle. We live in a world where tribulation and
disease exist despite our best efforts to conquer them. Just as God allows healing for some, others
may not be so fortunate. When you look
at the big picture, life is really a blink of the eye. It’s here today and gone tomorrow. That is where the hope of eternity comes in
for those who believe. One day, our
bodies will be restored and made perfect by our amazing creator who will “wipe
every tear from our eyes. There will be
no death or mourning or crying or pain.
For the old order of things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was
crushed for iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and
by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah
53:5
Karen’s Story
In 1989, Karen Hurd, and her family moved in a parsonage
near the church where her husband was the pastor. The Hurd family was exposed to significant
levels of insecticide in their new home, which threatened the life of their
18-month baby, Ruth. Desperate for
answers, Karen prayed to God and used every resource possible to fight for the
life of her precious girl. This testimony has inspired me to trust God’s wisdom
in my own wellness journey. Here is the
full story:
http://www.karenhurd.com/the-green-dragon.html
Karen’s experience
with using alternative health care to save her daughter’s life led her to pursue
education on nutrition and open her own practice. For more information and resources about
nutrition and health, you can visit her website:
http://www.karenhurd.com/
Other Resources On Alternative Health Care
For more wellness tips, visit my holistic health blog: http://puresimplewholeliving.blogspot.com/
For more ideas and information about holistic health from a Christian perspective, you can visit my blog post: http://dzehm.blogspot.com/2014/03/renewed-by-truth-familys-wellness.html
There are limitless resources available on the
Internet. Here are a few places to get
started. Some of them have been helpful
for me.
To find a naturopathic doctor in your area, you can search
this website: http://www.naturopathic.org/content.asp?pl=16&sl=60&contentid=60
This website provides interesting information about the
healing power of coconut and good nutrition:
http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/
This book is a great resource for information on holistic
dentistry, oral health, and oil pulling therapy for detoxifying the body: https://www.amazon.com/Oil-Pulling-Therapy-Detoxifying-Cleansing/dp/094159967
To find a holistic dentist in your area, you can search this
website:
Here is a video clip from the show, Dr. Oz, about the
harmful affects of dental amalgams:
http://www.doctoroz.com/episode/are-your-silver-fillings-making-you-sickThis book was recommended to me for education and information on what to look for when shopping for safe and non-toxic products:
For more information on what is bioresonance testing: http://www.systemsrevolution.com/health/bioresonance/
Here are a few websites that have been recommended to me for
further information on alternative health care:
