Interesting Facts About Alternative Medicine
Sure, we have all heard the term “alternative medicine”, but many people do not understand exactly what it is all about and where it came from. Alternative medicine simply refers to medical practices which differ from conventional approaches.
Alternative Medicine and Its Advantages
Alternative medicine is defined as any approach to health care that are used in place of or are outside the field of conventional medicine. Most of the time, alternative medicine involves products and techniques which are generally not recognized by the medical community.
Recent Workshop Question
I recently held a workshop, in which I entitled it, Health Care Reform- A Spiritual Plan. From this workshop, I have received numerous questions regarding stomach and colon ailments. I thought it a good idea to address some of the more common ailments and provide some clarity on the emotions that are attached to them. Each physical condition has a set or emotions that drive it. The emotions over time, if suppressed can cause a condition that is in an acute state to become a chronic problem, regardless of the treatment plan you follow from your doctor. Treating one part of the condition (the physical) does not treat the entire condition(physical+emotional).
The digestive system consists of the mouth, esophagus,stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus. The function of this body system is to break down food, so that energy is available for the entire body to work optimally. It also absorbs waste products from the body and eliminates these indigestible food fibers. When the system begins to break down your health becomes adversely affected. Your doctor can assist you with medications, tests, and treatment plans, which may include a change in dietary habits, in order to bring the digestive system back to optimal health. All of these remedies are affective, but if you do not address the underlying emotional reasons for the break down in the first place, all of your efforts will be only temporary, and over the long term, may lead to some very serious problems.
So let us look at the emotions that affect the digestive system. Unresolved anger, self-sabotage, fear, indecisiveness, guilt, blame, jealousy, or feeling like the victim are all emotions that adversely affect the digestive systems ability to function optimally. Pain in the abdominal area gives us signs of not being able to digest life, a propensity to hold on to toxic feelings, thoughts and hurts from the past and a constant fear and worry about the future, which creates struggle and suffering in the present. Constipation occurs when there are feelings of being closed off, holding back, or stuck in an old way of thinking and it is being challenged or changed; on the other hand diarrhea holds emotions of feeling uncomfortable with decision you have made, unsupported or confused about the direction you are taking. Colitis occurs after a great deal of suppression of emotion and is a concentration of feeling defeated and worthless; wanting to give up or give in or an inability to cope with what life has to offer. Problems in your mouth(not related to dental or gum) bring emotions of not understanding, closed minded, or saying negative comments about others (judgment, criticizing, gossiping). Nausea is a fear or inability to cope with stress and finally stomach ulcers alerts us to having a negative outlook on life and a negative prognosis for the future and for change.
When a digestive symptom occurs you now have to knowledge to eliminate it on both levels of physical and emotional and give yourself a better chance for a favorable outcome. Balance within the mind, body and soul is what we strive for everyday.
Are You Ready For Change?
Recently the word change has become a frequently used word in our vocabulary and one I would like to talk about today. Financial institutions are promoting a change in the lending practices, our government is looking to change our economy, the younger generations are imploring a change in policy concerning our environment and the older adults want a change in the health care system. But what really does it mean to change?
I looked up the word in the dictionary and found it to mean to substitute, alter or vary. Change implores doing something different than what you are presently doing. Why, then, must it be qualified as good or bad? Is change not just change? Change itself is the act of doing, it is not the outcome of the action, that is defined as the result. By doing you are neither good nor bad, you just are. Such fear has been associated with the word change. Our society developed a phobia against any kind of change. The outcome is too unpredictable to chance; we would rather do nothing at all and complain about it than to chance a change for the better.
Let me use our physical health as an example to explain my thoughts. We rely upon a third party to diagnose, cure and pay for our health care in this country. We take no responsibility in this process ourselves, unless change is forced upon us by an unfavorable outcome in our physical health. No one know me better than me, no one has lived with me longer than me, and yet I do not listen to my body when it is telling me there is a problem. I instead implore a doctor to diagnose me and cure me, and an insurance company to pay for my services. I follow their advise and do not think for myself or take responsibility for my own solution. We do not change our life style when the body signals us to a potential problem. The physical problem goes away for a time being and then repeats itself again and again. Why does it continue to repeat? Because we have not changed the circumstances that got us to this point in the first place. Has the ego and self become so powerful that we are no longer able to move forward in a progressive direction? Logic tells us that staying where we are is not going to solve our current situation, and yet fear holds us here.
In times of change we turn to outside sources for guidance; church communities, social groups who offer support, and experts in particular fields of study all hold reverence. The answers are found within us, the fear is found within ourselves and the direction of hope and progress is found within ourselves. Turn within and do not rely on the outside sources to bring guidance and direction in this time of change. Change is the action verb it is not the outcome, the outcome is determined by our action and reaction the task at hand. Look enthusiastically toward change and welcome it into your daily lives. The energy it projects is astounding and the results are life changing.
