‘MAKING ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES WORK FOR
YOU’
The
many American still think of alternative medicine as bogus, voodoo or just
plain quackery. But with further investigation we find alternative medicine
offers a broad-based, proactive approach to health and healing. Unlike the more
traditional view that presents a more narrow, reactive approach where we give
the doctor the control and only follow his lead.
Where
conventional medicine has come to rely on prescription pills and surgeries as
solutions for many health concerns, alternative medicine looks first to
non-aggressive, non-invasive forms of treatment. Natural medicine goes beyond
the surface symptoms, working to mend what triggered those symptoms in the
first place.
Because
each of us are subjected to different environmental influences, hereditary
factors and lifestyle choices, we also need a wide array of therapies and
treatment options from which to choose. Many of our modern health concerns have
intricate underlying causes and initial treatment when dealing with
serious illness should always start with a caring physician. If you intend on
using alternative therapies it should not conflict with or be kept a secret
from your physician.
Alternative
medicine draws on multiple sources to treat patients. Sometimes nutritional
therapy will work to resolve an issue for a patient, along with some key
supplements. Other patients may need to learn relaxation techniques. Still
others will require a combination of treatments to reach a state of wellness.
Natural
ways of boosting health and healing are not big moneymakers, which is why many
natural remedies are not studied or used. The drug companies are not going to
underwrite large-scale studies for the simple reason that natural alternatives,
such as plants, cannot be patented- thank goodness.
The
foundation of any program of alternative medicine is built on the following
solid practices that promote optimum health everyday.
Sound
Nutritional Practices: What is considered the standard American diet is low on actual
nutrients, but high in fats and sugars. It’s usually leads to
malnourishment and can lead to a variety of health complaints and disease
states. A whole foods diet will nourish the body bringing youthful health and
vitality at any age. Include organic fruits and vegetables, nuts and berries,
healthy fats, and protein from grass-fed beef and toxin-free fish.
Supplements: Even when you eat a healthy,
whole foods diet, it’s possible to miss key minerals due to the exhaustion of
the soil in which many of our foods are grown.
A good multivitamin is paramount to help round out your nutritional base.
Exercise: Study after study touts the
benefits of physical activity. Short, intense bursts of exercise followed by
periods of rest are paramount in promoting health.
Relaxation: Stress is debilitating, so
learning how to relax, whether it’s through meditation or a form of exercise is
important for optimum health.
Alternative
medicine can and does work in conjunction with conventional methods. In fact it
will optimize any conventional treatment and shorten the time of treatment for
injury or illness. The idea is to achieve true healing and wellness – not just
treat symptoms. Till next time, Rebecca.
5/14/09