I’d like to explore a somewhat controversial topic I’ve been reserving for a while: homeopathy. One of my favorite bloggers wrote a post recently concerning the viewpoints of homeopathy.
Homeopathy, acupuncture, energy work… these forms of “alternative” or “eastern” medicines are poorly understood and utilized by the Western public. Even chiropractic care (recognized and covered by Western health insurance) can be beneficial in strange and unexpected ways.
My first chiropractor (who amazed me) works with applied kinesiology. Applied kinesiology “is a form of diagnosis using muscle testing as a primary feedback mechanism to examine how a persons body is functioning”. In laymen terms: as a muscle’s strength is tested, pressure points are pressed. The reaction of the muscle to the pressure at these specific points gives the chiropractor information as to why the muscle is weak so that the weakness can be corrected. A quick massage or adjustment will fix the imbalance.
During one appointment, he left the room and returned with a few small viles. He placed one vile on my stomach and continued to test the muscle. No change. He placed a different vile on my stomach and voila - my leg was stronger. He had found a nutritional imbalance that was causing my weakness. What he had placed on my stomach was a vile of vitamins. I had never heard or seen of this before, and was in utter shock. To me, what had just happened was inconceivable.
When I moved to Miami, my second chiropractor was an energy healer who found that my chronic back pain was caused more by mental anxiety than by physical strain. In truth, the pain persisted no matter how many traditional in-and-out adjustments I had. I thought she was nuts, and my resistance to her advice hindered my progress.
Around the same time (for the same back problem), I was told to try acupuncture. It did help my back pain for a little bit, but it also did something else: it instantly cured the bad cold I was battling. I woke up the next day as well as I’d ever been.
I’m only 20, and I’ve had these positive experiences with “alternative medicine.” The battle with how homeopathy is viewed is beautifully stated in this post.
Is believing in your treatment all you need to do to cure yourself from whatever ailments you suffer? Does positivity, trust and faith lead to health? I believe it has something to do with it. I believe in trying alternative forms of healing before popping pills. I believe in getting a second (and a third) opinion.
Trust me, if I am diagnosed with cancer some day I’m going to Johns Hopkins (not the herbalist!) There is a time and a place for everything.
There is a place for eastern medicine, if (and ONLY IF) you are open to the experience. If you’re interested, I recommend shopping around before deciding that homeopathy is or is not for you. There are many forms of homeopathy and alternative medicine. Some may work better for you. You need to find someone who you feel comfortable with, who takes their time with you, and who doesn’t try to “force” their beliefs or opinions on you. Although natural healers are less likely to push products on you to make a profit, keep your guard up until you get to know them. That same acupuncturist who cured my cold also tried to tell me that I needed to detox and pushed detoxifying herbal supplements on me. Detox dieting and fasting is a whole other post… I get ahead of myself.
I’d love to hear your experiences, concerns, opinions, and insights. Don’t be afraid to comment below!
And do check out the witty blog I mentioned above - it is a never ended source of entertainment and insight for me as I hope it will be for you.
I’d like to explore a somewhat controversial topic I’ve been reserving for a while: homeopathy. One of my favorite bloggers wrote a post recently concerning the viewpoints of homeopathy.
Homeopathy, acupuncture, energy work… these forms of “alternative” or “eastern” medicines are poorly understood and utilized by the Western public. Even chiropractic care (recognized and covered by Western health insurance) can be beneficial in strange and unexpected ways.
My first chiropractor (who amazed me) works with applied kinesiology. Applied kinesiology “is a form of diagnosis using muscle testing as a primary feedback mechanism to examine how a persons body is functioning”. In laymen terms: as a muscle’s strength is tested, pressure points are pressed. The reaction of the muscle to the pressure at these specific points gives the chiropractor information as to why the muscle is weak so that the weakness can be corrected. A quick massage or adjustment will fix the imbalance.
During one appointment, he left the room and returned with a few small viles. He placed one vile on my stomach and continued to test the muscle. No change. He placed a different vile on my stomach and voila - my leg was stronger. He had found a nutritional imbalance that was causing my weakness. What he had placed on my stomach was a vile of vitamins. I had never heard or seen of this before, and was in utter shock. To me, what had just happened was inconceivable.
When I moved to Miami, my second chiropractor was an energy healer who found that my chronic back pain was caused more by mental anxiety than by physical strain. In truth, the pain persisted no matter how many traditional in-and-out adjustments I had. I thought she was nuts, and my resistance to her advice hindered my progress.
Around the same time (for the same back problem), I was told to try acupuncture. It did help my back pain for a little bit, but it also did something else: it instantly cured the bad cold I was battling. I woke up the next day as well as I’d ever been.
I’m only 20, and I’ve had these positive experiences with “alternative medicine.” The battle with how homeopathy is viewed is beautifully stated in this post.
Is believing in your treatment all you need to do to cure yourself from whatever ailments you suffer? Does positivity, trust and faith lead to health? I believe it has something to do with it. I believe in trying alternative forms of healing before popping pills. I believe in getting a second (and a third) opinion.
Trust me, if I am diagnosed with cancer some day I’m going to Johns Hopkins (not the herbalist!) There is a time and a place for everything.
There is a place for eastern medicine, if (and ONLY IF) you are open to the experience. If you’re interested, I recommend shopping around before deciding that homeopathy is or is not for you. There are many forms of homeopathy and alternative medicine. Some may work better for you. You need to find someone who you feel comfortable with, who takes their time with you, and who doesn’t try to “force” their beliefs or opinions on you. Although natural healers are less likely to push products on you to make a profit, keep your guard up until you get to know them. That same acupuncturist who cured my cold also tried to tell me that I needed to detox and pushed detoxifying herbal supplements on me. Detox dieting and fasting is a whole other post… I get ahead of myself.
I’d love to hear your experiences, concerns, opinions, and insights. Don’t be afraid to comment below!
And do check out the witty blog I mentioned above - it is a never ended source of entertainment and insight for me as I hope it will be for you.