 "Photo: MCT Campus")
In 2005, 16 percent of Americans didn't have health care. As dangerous as this may seem, it's not always a personal choice - health insurance is expensive. Why? A report from The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that "more than 15 million Americans are abusing prescription drugs." People have been working the system for years, making health care what it is today. Most health plans offer generous discounts on medications, but others may have co-pay options and deductibles that require you to shell out a few Benjamin's. This is true for medication as well as X-rays, surgery and post treatment. This false sense of absolute protection causes many of the careless unsustainable lifestyles that people live. The holistic health industry, better known as Mind Body Health, encompasses a way of living that we've been taught for ages: Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables; practice meditation and yoga; visit a massage therapist regularly, and stay active. Holistic health is about natural healing and prevention; about taking everything you've always known that you were supposed to do and making it part of your lifestyle. Dr. Doug Hemstreet, a holistic health expert and practitioner claims that stress internalization has a direct effect on students who fail out of school, become alcoholics or experience other dependencies and depression.
Pain is a major cause of depression Your chronic pain may keep you inactive, leaving you depressed. You may gain weight from your inactivity, making you more depressed. You want to stop taking your medication, but you can't. Dr. Tomer Anbar from the Mind Body Health initiative said, "Medication that is not used therapeutically only temporarily solves the problem." By this, he means medication combined with a healthy diet, exercise and a sound state of mind. Pain pills are just a quick fix. He prescribes that his patients exercise and eat health food, requiring them to drink at least one vegetable juice per day with as many vegetables as possible, and 45 minutes of exercise. At first glance, holistic health seems like a crazy rehab approach, stressing the balance of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects. We've been told over and over again to eat vegetables, exercise, stretch and take an hour a day for ourselves. And now, this age-long wisdom is being prescribed to people.
Mind body medicine vs. alternative medicine "Mind body techniques have gone through the same scientific process in terms of effectiveness and validity than say pharmaceuticals and surgery," Anbar said. Alternative medicine represents everything else not used conventionally. Many aspects of alternative medicine can be effective but are not incorporated in mainstream medicine. In a study by Dr. Hemstreet, 483 MD licenses were canceled for using aspects of alternative medicine or natural healing system nutrition. The success of these practices is very high and uses few if any prescribed medications, which means no money for pharmaceutical companies. CVS Pharmacist Hans Rosales said that it isn't uncommon for an uninsured person to spend a few hundred dollars on pain prescriptions for arthritis, a condition that Dr. Hemstreet and Dr. Anbar say is curable with a vegetarian diet. The mind-body connection is the greatest and most powerful tool people rarely use. Here are some mind-body and alternative practices used throughout the world. Yoga: meditation, relaxation of the body through stretching and holding various positions to create balance. It may incorporate imagery depending on the instructor. Herbal remedies: natural substances such as garlic, aloe vera, vitamin E for healing and scar treatment and echinacea for colds. Acupuncture: reduces pain and relieves stress. Claims to relieve depression and helps smokers quit. Imagery: a facilitator uses descriptive language to paint a picture for the patient, often incorporating the five senses to bring awareness of pain location or to provide therapy. Used to improve vision and heal sports injuries, among other ailments. Electrotherapy: primarily used for wound healing, including bone growth. A steady stream of low amperage electricity flows into the problem area because our bodies are loaded with positive and negative charges. Talk therapy: simply talking to people can provide insight into achieving a solution and taking action to solve problems. Hypnosis: when used for therapy, it can cure disorders and phobias, create habit change, relieve depression and post-traumatic syndromes. The mind-body approach can change your life. It takes an open mind, repetition and a positive attitude. Be proactive in preventing pain, depression and stress.
-Visit www.serendipityassn.org for more information.
Be the first to comment on this article!