One of the biggest challenges we face is the belief that healthcare is a ‘one size fits all’ kind of process. However if we think about this for a moment, doctors practice medicine and often times tweak a treatment before seeing the desired results. While we appear to accept this routine as the norm, we quickly become discouraged when our holistic choices perform disappointingly. Why is this? Why do we grant flexibility with a few areas of life rather than all the mysteries of Mother Nature?
Expectations
We say we believe God’s work to be perfect; yet, when herbs, essential oils, flower remedies and such seem to falter, we quickly become disenchanted; with the key word being ‘quickly’. With the birth of the information age, we were promptly trained. Our patience grew increasingly shorter while our expectations continued to stretch further than our imaginations. We allow little time for anything; yet desire immediacy, right down to how our body responds to any form of health and wellness treatment. If there is not a visible reaction within a small window of time, we turn our attention onto something else, feeling progressively disappointed and quite often resigned.
With this understanding, the best solution is to redirect our expectations, understanding the body is very capable of doing what it needs to do. It just requires time. When we expect immediate results from natural / organic remedies, we are not allowing for an organic progression. Consider the messages we are sending to the body with such thoughts as this. On the other hand, in trusting the process and giving the body a chance to assimilate the remedies as it is designed to do, we are blessing the development of our health.
The Placebo Effect
The effectiveness of any complimentary treatment is directly proportional to a person’s incongruity. Many people claim to want to incorporate holistic health into their protocol, and even go so far as to invest a great deal of time and money into integrative as well as plant-based therapies BUT do not adhere to the belief that anything other than western medicine really works. They either give it a try because ‘it seems like the ‘thing’ to do;, or go along with a family member or friend’s suggestion, showing appreciation for the concern; yet, not really convinced any ‘new age’ treatment will make a difference. In other words, the experience the placebo effect and get what they expect.
Hand a person a sugar pill and tell them it is a medication that promises to soothe their nerves and if they want to relax badly enough, feeling calm is their experience. Conversely, tell someone an essential oil will take their pain away, and if he or she thinks it is quackery, the pain remains. Therefore, in order for any western or holistic treatment to work, the belief must align with the procedure, otherwise, the patient remains indifferent and quite possibly feeling hopeless. In order to counter this effect, a person must redefine his or her faith in the perfection of God’s work and Mother Nature.
Bio-Individuality
As human beings, not one of us is created equally OR identically; right down to our finger prints. Yet, we expect our bodies to respond to conditions and treatments just like our best friend or co-worker’s did. Given the fact there are different genes, environments, beliefs, diets and so on, we are doing ourselves a great disservice by stereotyping ailments right down to the recommended approach. While working within a particular framework certainly provides a solid foundation with which to launch from, complying to a protocol that does not take into account the more complex personal nature promises to weaken the score. This is where a little bit of insanity creeps into the healthcare system. Trying the same thing over and over, expecting different results. If we truly want to see positively different results, we must start paying attention to the body! In other words, if the body does not respond in a favorable manner within a reasonable amount of time, then tweaking the approach is in order. In fact, this is where working with a trained professional is strongly recommended. He or she can monitor the reactions and make sensitive recommendations.
Plant remedies are powerful and work well with and for the body. However, in challenging times or when working synergistically with western medications, having the support of an Herbalist, Naturopath, Drugless Practitioner, etc assures safety as well as success. Plants, like other medicines, are contraindicated under certain conditions. Consequently, not only does one person’s body chemistry factor into the effectiveness equation, so does his or her current cocktail of pharmaceuticals.
Conclusion
Medical practice, dental practice, massage practice, yoga practice; life takes practice. In fact, as we go through life, no matter how much practice we get, the only thing we can truly rely on is change. Our bodies change on both a physical level as well as a cellular level from year to year, month to month, week to week, and day to day. What affects these variations is as subtle as the way we move, think or eat. And for as complex as our lives are any deviation in our nature often goes unnoticed until …… However, being aware of this organic process positions us for a stronger working relationship with the body. This mindfulness alters our expectations, offers power over the results and assists us with aiding the outcome to be the best it can be. No, none of us is going to get out of this alive; although, being a holistic participant does mean eliminating what does not work so that our body may work as perfectly as possible.