Clearing the static

Are you confused by the current conflicting information concerning foods/nutrition/vaccinations/health care? If so, you are not alone. Many parents and grandparents want to make the best possible choices for the children in their care, but do not know who to believe regarding such major issues.

We have been taught in school, television media, and social networking that there is a war going on between those who eat the traditional American diet, and those who choose non-GMO and organic where possible; between those who vaccinate and those who do not; between those who choose the traditional medical route, and those who opt for holistic health care only, or perhaps a combination of the two. Let me just say there is no correct, one size fits all model in this debate. We live in an imperfect world. Caregivers do not always have the time available to prepare fresh, organic, non-GMO meals for those they love. Not everyone has access to a qualified, degreed Holistic Healthcare Practitioner who can guide them confidently through the morass conflicting information.

As a degreed and certified Naturopath, I wish I had had someone to guide me when I was caring for my two young children. One of the first memories I have of the conflict between medical professionals and the lay person was when my children were toddlers. We lived in England at the time, and one of them was ill. At that time, the doctors still made house calls, and I remember standing at the front door with my doctor, bidding him good-bye, when he advised me to give my child aspirin. I asked him if Reye’s syndrome was not a concern… He turned and looked at me, and asked me why/how I would know about Reye’s syndrome. I told him that I was an avid reader, and had looked up side effects of aspirin with children. I am not sure how he responded, but I know that he was not happy that I had questioned his recommendation.

My second memory was of vaccinating my first child, only to have him have a severe reaction. I called/visited the doctor, (different doctor) and was told to NEVER have that child vaccinated again. I did not know about the connection between heavy metals in vaccinations and autism spectrum disorders. Fortunately, my doctor did; and I listened to his advice. I wish I could say that all medical personnel have my best interest at heart, but that is not the case.

My most current conflict with medical personnel was with my ophthalmologist. I had somehow scratched the cornea of my eye, and sought professional help. He prescribed antibiotics, and I took the prescription to the pharmacy. I read the insert, and was advised to take no more than X applications over X days, or risk a ‘super-fungal infection. Who wants that? I went back to the doctor in three days for a followup visit. I had taken the prescription as he had directed. He told me that my eye was healing, but to continue to use the drops for another week. I asked him about the possibility of a fungal infection, per the package warning, only to be told that he was the expert, and I would do well to ignore the package warning and follow his advice.

Let me tell you, I did not appreciate his attitude. Because I have studied, and I know there are alternatives, I chose to continue treating my eyes naturally, and avoid a fungal infection. I am happy to report that I returned a week later for a second follow-up visit, and was told that my eye was continuing to heal.

Why am I telling you this? I am telling you this because knowledge is power. Everyone has a responsibility to himself and the young people he is responsible for to make the best decisions he can regarding health care. Allopathic medicine is governed by the FDA, and the doctors and nurses follow ‘the standard of care’ protocol. This standard is developed by the FDA and mal-practice insurance companies in order to reduce the risk of legal action with regard to medical practices and drug usage.

Most lay-people have no idea that the ‘standard of care’ model dictates the health care options provided. I have a colleague whose husband was told by his doctor that he would have to have chemo and radiation for the cancer in his throat. My learned friend asked the doctor why he would recommend a treatment that he knew would be ineffective? The doctor just looked at her, (and because they were personal friends) told her that his recommendation was the standard protocol.

Before anyone thinks that I am anti allopathic medicine, let me set the record straight. There are things that an MD can do that I cannot. Prescription drugs work very quickly, whereas diet and nutrition do not. There ARE instances where I would recommend that someone go to the closest medical center for treatment. I do refer clients out for blood work and scans, as there is a host of good information to be had from their reports.

At Abundant Health and Wellness Center, we strive to provide the best holistic care available. Our therapists are credentialed, with many years of experience. One of the happiest daily occurrence is when the telephone rings, and someone tells us that their blood work has changed, their bone density loss has reversed, that they are feeling better than they have felt in years. We encourage you to check us out. We love the pro-active approach to wellness. This means that you seek help before you have a dreadful diagnosis from your doctor. However, if you are already dealing with a diagnosis, we can give you information to help you in your journey.

Until next time,

Dr. Polly

  • Denise Vessels says:

    Excellent, well written, and TRUE!

  • Candy Turner says:

    Excellent! Your comment that “knowledge is power” says it all. Since I have no degrees or training in medicine, I seek out informed and credentialed individuals to take advantage of their knowledge. Researching to objectively consider various approaches to eradicate or improve an ailment is another option I take advantage of. I’ve witnessed outstanding results by taking a proactive interest in my health and that of my children and grandchildren. Sadly, some automatically choose standardized treatment without considering that alternative methods are, more often than not, an alternative to chronic illness resulting from the treatment. There’s no obligation to act on what you learn, but why impose limitations based on lack of knowledge?