This morning as I was fixing breakfast for my children I received a Facebook message from a friend. She wasn’t feeling well and was asking my advice on what she could do that wouldn’t involve drugs and or a costly doctor’s office visit. I inquired about her symptoms, and based on my personal experience suggested several options.
Reflecting on this later in the day it occurred to me that this young woman was probably not the only person of my acquaintance who would like to take a more natural approach to their health care.
My family and I are regulars at my Chiropractor’s office, but it has been more than 9 years since I have needed to take any of us to a MD’s office for anything other than a well visit/physical checkup.
I am not an enemy of western medicine, but no one branch of medicine has all of the answers, and I believe it is in our best interests, for optimal health, to strike a balance. We must do our research, and choose the best options for our families from both eastern and western medicine, holistic and allopathic.
A Little History
After the Civil War there were many patent medicines being used in the U.S. that were actually quite toxic. A medical doctor, Andrew Taylor Still, the founder of osteopathic medicine, was concerned that people were over using these drugs, and he founded a school of medicine. This school emphasized preventative care and the integration of the body systems with a holistic approach. His methods focused on the whole person, not simply the immediate problem.
Many of today’s medicines are not much better than the ones Dr. still was concerned about, and one look at the list of possible side effects from these medications is enough to make you wonder which is worse, the disease or the cure.
We are created in the image of our Heavenly Parents, our bodies being the physical tabernacle of our spirit. It is our sacred responsibility to treat them with respect for they are not merely a collection of random parts, but rather a system of parts working together in perfect harmony, created for a holy purpose.
1 Cor. 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Our first line of defense against illness, and toward a healthy body should be proper nutrition and vitamin supplements. A diet rich in whole foods, organic whenever possible and low in prepackaged foods, supplemented with a quality whole food multi vitamin makes the best foundation. You can add other more individualized supplements to that as needed depending on age and other needs that may vary throughout the year. To have optimal health it is also important to take adequate rest and strive to reduce stress in your life.
If, in spite of your best efforts, you still get sick there are a variety of herbal and homeopathic remedies that are very effective and can spare you the expense and possible side effects of prescription and over the counter medicines.
I have several ‘go to’ natural and herbal remedies that I use at the first signs of a cold or flu.
- 1st is Echinacea purpurea which increases activity in your immune system due to its antiviral, and antifungal properties.
- 2nd Licorice root which is used to combat colds, flu, coughs, and sore throat symptoms.
- 3rd Lomatium root also known as Indian Carrot, which grows naturally in northern Nevada, is a plant which has had extensive traditional use by Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest for respiratory infections. It has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.
You can of course take these separately, but I prefer to buy them as a blend. Fewer pills each day = a happier me.
I also like to use essential oils, Oregano being my favorite, particularly for respiratory illness. Oregano has high antioxidant levels, containing phenolic acids and flavonoids, and can be taken several ways. The method that has been most effective for my family is to take a drop or two of the essential oil in the palm of your hand, mix in a bit of unscented lotion and rub onto the sole of your foot before going to bed. The oregano is absorbed into the bloodstream and quickly goes to work in your immune system.
To read more of Denise’s articles, click here.
As with anything else you would put into your body, look for a quality product. Use only certified pure therapeutic grade (CPTG™) essential oils, and buy natural and herbal products from well known, reputable companies. A good health food store can usually guide you in the right direction.
So here’s to a more natural way of living… here’s to your health!
**While the word of wisdom gives us basic guidelines for health, it leaves the interpretation of those guideline up to the individual members. This blog is not intended to replace your medical professional or the divine revelation of the Word of Wisdom, but rather it is practical knowledge that I have accumulated over the years in my own pursuit of a healthier lifestyle which I am passing along in the hopes that it will benefit others.**
Denise is a Michigander turned Pennsylvanian, who has been writing stories since Elementary School. Denise won an award at the annual Lansing Youth Talent Show, when she was in 10th grade, for a short story entitled Procrastination is Fatal, but didn’t decide on writing as a career until she was 28 years old. While homeschooling her older children she spent 4 years working through a course from The Institute of Children’s Literature.
Through the years Denise’s children have had a variety of health issues, many of which have been linked to various sensitives; having spent more than 20 years researching and trying different things Denise has a boots on the ground view on healthier living.
Denise currently writes for 2 blogs and has several books in different stages of completion. She is planning to break ground in e publishing, and hopes to have her first Historical Fantasy book which is set during the renaissance, “Lisa, My Lisa?” ready by the first of the year.
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