The two opposing points of view on how to maintain good health have been around since ancient times. The 'Asklepian' approach is used in mainstream western medicine today, while the 'Hygeian' approach has gained traction due to dissatisfaction with mainstream medicine and an increasing awareness of drug companies' influence. Hygeians believe that good health is primarily a personal responsibility, not the responsibility of overworked physicians.
Mainstream medicine has a place in everyone's health plan, and can provide advantages such as early detection of a developing disease that may not be aware of. A friend of mine, a former competitive body builder, was water skiing on a lake about 15 years ago when he died from a massive heart attack. This tragedy could have been avoided if more people were aware of their risk factors and were able to correct any abnormalities before it was too late. Technology for measuring ALL of the 'predictors' that indicate your risk of such an event had been available 15 years ago.
There have always been two opposing points of view on how to maintain good health or regain it after having lost it. This conflict has existed since ancient times... and will undoubtedly continue for a long time.
One'side' believes that good health is the result of external intervention... drugs, surgery, and so on. The opposing'side' believes that good health results from living in accordance with natural law... proper nutrition... cleanliness, and so on.
These two groups of people had names in ancient Greece. Each group came under the umbrella of a 'god,' as was often the case in those days. One was 'Asklepios,' the god of medicine, who advocated for the 'intervention' approach. Asklepians were the name given to these people. Those who believed that living in harmony with nature was the key to good health looked up to 'Hygeia,' the goddess of health. These people were known as 'Hygeian'.
Hygeians vs. Asklepians
Both sides were critical of the other... not much has changed over the years. The 'Asklepian' approach is used in mainstream western medicine today. However, the Hygeian approach, which has always been the underlying principle of Chinese traditional medicine, has gained significant traction in recent years. The rise in popularity of the 'Hygeian' approach is undoubtedly due to a combination of factors: Dissatisfaction with mainstream medicine. There are more cases of medical'misadventure'. (It is best to avoid hospitals.) Recognize that good health is primarily a personal responsibility... not the responsibility of overworked physicians. An increasing awareness that drug companies have a strong influence in the medical industry and that there are often better, safer, and more cost-effective natural alternatives to drugs.
Despite this justifiable "swing" away from mainstream medicine, mainstream medicine has a place in everyone's health plan... aside from the obvious ones in treating accident cases or chronic urgent illness. So, if you are already a 'Hygeian,' don't overlook the advantages that mainstream medicine can provide you in your quest for overall good health and longevity.
These advantages stem primarily from the early detection of a developing disease that you may not be aware of!
As an example
Assume you are over 40 years old, healthy, fit, and not overweight. You eat well, don't smoke or drink excessively, and are rarely ill. You most likely believe that you will live forever... or at least until the age of 100! Right? Perhaps... or perhaps not.
Consider this for a moment. Have you ever known anyone around this age who died unexpectedly, much to your surprise because you thought they were so healthy? That individual may have even been a competitive athlete!
Allow me to tell you a true story.
A friend of mine, around 40 years old, a former competitive body builder who was still in great shape and extremely fit, was water skiing on a lake about 15 years ago. He was watching some young water skiers perform some 'tricks'.
Being the competitive person that he was he waited until they came in and went down to the waters edge and said "Now, I'll show you how to really do it". Those were the last words he ever spoke... a few minutes later, he was dead from a massive heart attack.
My friend died in an instant. He could just as easily have had a stroke, from which he may or may not have recovered... which would have been a major tragedy as well.
Tragedies are frequently avoidable.
Tragedies like this occur on a daily basis, and the consequences are devastating not only to the victims, but also to their families, friends, and loved ones. Unfortunately, many of these tragedies could have been avoided if more people were aware of their risk factors and were able to correct any abnormalities before it was too late!
Now, let's get back to the point of this story. My friend died as a result of an artery blockage. It only takes one. If technology for measuring ALL of the 'predictors' that indicate your risk of such an event had been available 15 years ago AND my friend had understood what they meant, he'd probably still be showing those young guys how to do water-skiing tricks!
How many thousands of people are still dying needlessly because they do not know how to use current technology... or, in some cases, are so opposed to mainstream medicine that they do not use the "good" parts!
What should you do now?
First and foremost, if you are over 35 and have not had a blood test in the last few years, make an appointment... RIGHT NOW!
Get a broad one that checks for:
Cholesterol. Triglycerides on both the LDL and HDL levels Homocysteine Lipoproteins The Liver Function The Renal Function Glucose in the Blood
If you are a man over the age of 40, make sure you have a PSA. (PSA) (Prostate Specific Antigen) test) Hint: Recent research suggests that if you had sex within the previous 72 hours, your PSA levels may be affected. Avoid alcohol for 2 to 3 days before your test.
Ask your doctor, regardless of gender, if any other tests are recommended for you. If all of your tests are within the normal range, you can relax knowing that you are unlikely to face any immediate health risks. You can then focus your efforts on feeling better and slowing down the aging process.
If any of your tests are abnormal, you will need to take steps to bring them back into 'normal' ranges... and you may be subjected to additional tests. It is the treatment of any abnormalities from these blood tests that create a potential conflict between 'Askelepians' and 'Hygeians'.
Here's an example of a possible conflict:
If your tests show that your cholesterol is 'out of whack,' your'mainstream' physician may first recommend lowering your dietary cholesterol intake. This is unlikely to be successful because ingested cholesterol accounts for a small proportion of total blood cholesterol.
They will most likely recommend one of the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as'statins' next. These medications work by inhibiting an enzyme required by your liver to produce cholesterol. (Your liver produces up to 80% of your blood cholesterol, not from dietary cholesterol).
These statin drugs are extremely potent and have been linked to serious side effects, including death. In fact, Bayers was recently forced to withdraw their statin drug from the market due to 'unacceptably high' fatality rates. Despite these risks, statin drugs are widely prescribed and sell for billions of dollars each year.
It's ironic that there are natural alternatives to statin drugs that can help lower cholesterol while being safe and without side effects. However, the general public knows little about them because they are not patentable and there is no financial incentive for large corporations to promote them.
The same principle applies to a wide range of ailments. There are numerous legal treatment options. What matters is that you seek out and use natural alternatives before agreeing to expose yourself to the negative side effects of pharmaceutical drugs.
Pharmaceutical drugs are referred to as "blockers," whereas natural remedies are referred to as "enablers."
Pharmaceutical drugs are 'blockers,' and they rarely heal the underlying condition. They generally work by suppressing natural functions such as certain enzymes, as I mentioned earlier when mentioning the'statin' example. Because of this process, results are frequently 'instant,' and as such, these powerful prescription drugs have a place in life-threatening emergencies.
Natural products, on the other hand, such as herbs and vitamins, are referred to as 'enablers'. They work to address the underlying cause of the disease, which is frequently a nutrient deficiency of some kind. The outcomes are not immediate and must be measured over weeks or even months.
If you have a serious illness, work with your doctor to try to cure it... first with natural remedies. If she or he is unfamiliar with the treatment you want to try, do some additional research and obtain supporting information so you can discuss the options intelligently. If your doctor is resistant to natural remedies, it might be a good idea to look for another qualified doctor who is.
No comments:
Post a Comment