American Healthcare: A Failed Paradigm

One of the overriding issues in America is health care. It affects virtually every aspect of domestic policy, including politics, business, the economy and personal lives of Americans from the poor to the very rich.

Sadly, in this current political season the answer seems to NOT be on solutions other than offer us more of the same with so-called "universal coverage" for everyone. In other words, the system we have now sucks, so everyone should suffer through it equally. When I discuss this, my Conservative and Liberal friends respond with something like, "What do you mean? We have the best health care system in the world!" But still, both sides simply approach the problem as an insurance problem. Too bad.

In my mind, the problem with health care in America is that the entire paradigm is flawed. From birth, we're indoctrinated into the disease model and that drugs can prevent or cure any mallady. In other words, we must prevent and fight disease.

So, we start babies off with "their shots". While I believe vaccination should be a matter of choice, the number and types of shots recommended for babies and toddlers really is an assault on their developing immune system and is downright scary. Then throughout their early school years, many kids are "diagnosed" with ADD/ADHD and given narcotics grade drugs to force them to sit still so they can do better in school. And then (ironically) complain about athletes taking drugs to enhance their performance. Strange.

As we enter adulthood, we're convinced that giving birth is a traumatic and dangerous event that must be handled strictly in a medical setting. Why aren't women in modern America told that giving birth is a natural, beautiful thing for which they were uniquely designed. Instead of empowering women to do what they were naturally designed for, we scare them into compliance with a pathological, allopathic model of childbirth.

Further into adulthood, Americans are checked routinely for cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes and a host of other chronic conditions. And when measures creep outside established norms, they're put on medications to force that particular reading to what the doctor thinks is right. Unfortunately, every drug has a side effect. And, we Americans hardly ever ask our doctors "What is in this drug?" or "What are some potential side effects of this drug?" or "How will this affect me with the other drugs I'm taking?" Instead, we simply comply.

Then as we enter middle age, we start seeing problems like liver and kidney failure, congestive heart failure, etc. and become regular visitors to the local hospital. As the drugs either no longer work or our bodies start to shut down from weird symptoms that can't easily be classified, we begin to "doctor shop" to find someone who can come up with an accurate diagnosis.

Eventually, we end up in a nursing home being given dozens of different drugs and put through untold numbers of tests until our bodies finally give in and give up. From birth to death we are taught to fear and fight fever, vomit and diarrhea. And because our focus is on disease, we create disease. Two of the largest and most profitable industries in America just happen to be insurance and drug companies. have you noticed all the new "diseases" being advertised on TV, like "Restless Leg Syndrome", GERD and a host of others? And, have you checked to see how much money those industries invest in advertising and political lobbying?

So, what's the solution? Well first, we must recognize that our entire premise is wrong from the start. Just like our education system and tax code, we need a whole new way of thinking. Maybe it was Einstein who said "No problem can be solved with the same level of thinking that created the it in the first place".

Instead of a system that makes someone else responsible for finding or preventing a disease; or your employer (or worse, the Government) paying for your "health" insurance; or expecting Medicare/Medicaid to pay for your dying care, we should give individuals responsibility for their own health.

In a wellness paradigm, you start with the premise that you're supposed to be healthy! Instead of sitting around watching TV, eating junk food and smoking cigarettes, we encourage folks to exercise, stay fit, eat better and do those things that keep them healthy and out of harm's way. Instead of a mangled care system that minimize the time you spend with "a" doctor, you find the doctor that's right for you and develop the kind of relationship that makes you healthier and gives you greater control over your health and your life.

After all, this is STILL America, "home of the FREE and land of the BRAVE"! The American pioneer spirit has always been responsible for our strength and prosperity. We should get rid of this "plantation mentality" where the Government or an employer should take care of us. As one writer wrote, "you are endowed with the seed of greatness". By realizing and pursuing that greatness in every aspect of life in America, we can restore our nation's health and vitality and reduce our dependence on drug makers and insurance companies.

Live the very best life you can. Don't give your freedom and power to anyone!

Shingles and Chiropractic

So, can chiropractic cure shingles? Of course not. But, neither can Medicine. There is no cure for shingles, a condition that causes extreme pain to those afflicted.

Shingles is a condition where the Chicken Pox (herpes zoster) virus settles into a person’s nerve root and causes no problems until activated, usually by stress. Once activated, the entire nerve is affected causing extreme discomfort and pain. Unfortunately, there’s little that can be done to alleviate the problem other than try to lessen the symptoms.

However, many sufferers of shingles have found that finding ways of reducing and dealing with stress keeps the virus from becoming active. One of those ways is getting adjusted by their chiropractor on a regular basis. Chiropractic adjustments help balance stress on the nervous system. Reducing that stress helps prevent shingles outbreaks and helps your body recover quicker when there is an outbreak.

If you suffer from shingles, I encourage you to find a wellness chiropractor whose focus is on the upper cervical spine.

Tamiflu

Beware of relying on drugs as a means of achieving or maintaining health. Check out this story about the Food and Drug Administration and popular flu drugs Tamiflu and Relenza. Can you afford to trust your child's health to the pharmaceutical industry?

FDA Advisers Back New Warning on Tamiflu

WASHINGTON — The most widely used flu drug in the world should carry a stronger warning label about psychiatric problems seen in a handful of patients, government advisers said Tuesday.

A panel of experts to the Food and Drug Administration recommended drug maker Roche change the warning label for Tamiflu, which has been used by 48 million patients since its launch in 1999.

The drug's label already mentions reports of delirium and self-injury, primarily among children in Japan, but some FDA's experts suggested the language should mention several patients died as a result of these abnormal behaviors. The panel was discussing specifics of the language late Tuesday.

For the full story CLICK HERE.

Chronic Fatigue

I can’t begin to tell you how many people I’ve seen over the years who’ve been diagnosed with “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”. Well, I just don’t buy it. For one thing, how do you come up with a diagnosis for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? In my opinion, it’s one of those “junk drawer” diagnoses that is often used when nothing specific can be identified. What causes it? How should it be treated?

The problem with diagnoses like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, fibromyalgia, ADD/ADHD, etc. is that because they’re little more than a collection of symptoms whose cause cannot be specifically identified they end up with sometimes bizarre treatment regimes, like antidepressants, muscle relaxers, steroids, etc. Once on the treatment path, it’s almost impossible to get off the treadmill.

In my practice, I’ve observed that when someone begins to look at the bigger picture of their lives and living more intuitively, their symptoms tend to fade away. As they take more control over the things they can control (their thoughts and behavior) and quit worrying about the things over which they have no control, their reliance on either over-the-counter or prescription drugs goes away.

If you’re always tired and have little energy to do the things you want and must do, I strongly encourage you to try to get off the symptom chasing treadmill. Find a holistic wellness practitioner and develop a plan for living a free and healthy life. Freedom is found outside the pill bottle.

Conventional Wisdom – Is It Really Wisdom or Just Lazy Thinking?

Many of us rely on conventional wisdom to help guide us through routine decision-making processes. But, does conventional wisdom really serve us that well? Or does it actually keep us from making the best decisions possible? While common knowledge can be helpful in certain situations, it keeps us from making progress in almost every aspect of our lives, as well as that of our society and the worldwide community.

By now, we’re all too familiar with the example of Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the Western World. Conventional wisdom of the day was that the Earth was flat and if you sailed far enough you would simply fall off the end of the Earth. Having little more than intuition and faith, Columbus defied conventional wisdom and set out on his voyage of discovery. Of course, the rest is history.

One of the areas most affected by conventional wisdom is in the area of health and wellness. For centuries, Western cultures have favored scientific advances in the fight against death and disease. Obviously, advances have been made that improved the plight of mankind. Discovery of the causes of many diseases have led to improvements in sanitation and drinking water supplies. Unfortunately, these advances have received little credit for the virtual elimination of such diseases as polio and tuberculosis (in developed countries) while mass vaccination programs have received almost all of the credit. Conventional wisdom says that vaccination prevents disease. In depth analysis might point to many differing perspectives.

Another bit of conventional wisdom is that animal protein is unhealthy for humans. It’s supposed to increase cholesterol and cause cardiovascular disease. Just this week, though, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) released a study that counters that conventional wisdom. For years, Dr. Robert Atkins, developer of the high protein, low carbohydrate weight-loss program named after him was called a quack, huckster and charlatan by mainstream medicine. The JAMA study showed that the high-protein Atkins diet was more effective at helping participants lose weight than other mainstream programs, like The Zone diet and the Ornish diet. Even more amazing is that with the unconventional high-protein, high-fat Atkins diet participants not only lowered blood pressure, they reduced LDL, or bad, cholesterol and increased HDL, or good, cholesterol. Maybe Dr. Atkins’ critics will now let him rest in peace.

Conventional wisdom also tells us “germs cause disease”. Fortunately, the theory that germs alone cause disease is about as silly a notion as the one that Columbus had to overcome. Unfortunately, the Germ Theory (misapplied) has done much to set up Western civilization for potentially huge public health problems in the near future. Let’s take a closer look. If germs really caused disease then why doesn’t everyone in a household get a cold or the flu at the same time? Or, why do just some people at work get the flu and not everyone? In its haste to eliminate disease by killing germs, modern Medicine has abandoned the real precepts of the Germ Theory that tell us it’s the strength of the germ (or pathogen), the amount of exposure and the strength (or weakness) of the host (you and me) that determines if one will actually develop a disease or condition when exposed. The main reason that some get sick and some don’t is the strength of our immune system and it’s ability to isolate and kill those germs. Many believe that conventional wisdom regarding the war against disease is that it has caused potential problems with over-vaccinating children and abuse of antibiotics among a host of other problems. It has also created a situation that actually invites a pandemic catastrophe.
There are many sets of conventional wisdom that bear scrutiny, including global warming, mandatory vaccination programs and the net benefit of mandatory public education. Of course, the list is limited only by your own observation.

So, how can we keep from becoming a victim of conventional wisdom as both individuals and as a society? First, realize that “common knowledge” is just that. It’s common, accepted by all without little thought or analysis, the lowest common denominator and far from the final answer. “Conventional wisdom” is more consensus than wisdom. It stifles thought and fosters ignorance among the masses. Second, force yourself to ask “Is this true or does it just seem true because so many people accept it?” Finally, let principles guide you rather than the mere assertions of others.

Here are some principles that will never let you down.

• The human body is a self-healing, self-regulating organism. It doesn’t as much need help as it just needs less interference.
• If drugs worked, rich people wouldn’t die.
• Individual freedom is superior to group identification.
• Morality, self-restraint and personal responsibility are more effective than regulation.
• If something can be imagined, it can be done.
• The human mind contains all the knowledge of the Universe. Don’t allow your thinking to be limited by common knowledge or conventional wisdom.
• The Earth has been here a long time. It can correct anything Mankind can do to it.
• The wisdom of Nature is greater than the sum of all Mankind’s knowledge now and forever.
• Mother Nature always wins in the long run. Work with it not on it or against it.

Just know that principles win out over knowledge every time. Live your life in accord with solid principles. Don’t be a victim of common knowledge or conventional wisdom. Think for yourself. Be all that God designed you to be.

Drugs Don't Work!

That sounds like a pretty bold statement. Maybe it is. But frankly, if drugs worked there‘d be no more chronic disease like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and so on. Sadly, chronic disease is the leading cause of death of Americans. The treatment of those diseases is reported to also be among the leading causes of death.

Maybe in one sense drugs do work in that they might provide temporary symptom relief. However, their purpose is to fool the body so that it responds inappropriately to certain conditions. By altering your body’s normal function, drugs cause problems for other systems that may not be revealed for years to come.

Everyone’s heard about Vioxx and Celebrex and the risks those prescription drugs carry, including death. In recent months the popular diabetes drug, Avandia, has been shown to also put you at risk of heart failure. Kids diagnosed with ADD/ADHD who take drugs like Ritalin and Adderol are at risk for problems ranging from stunted growth and insomnia to suicide. Anti-depressants have been implicated in numerous mass murders, including Columbine and Virginia Tech. Even common over-the-counter drugs for colds, arthritis, allergies and headache carry significant health risks.

What is this fascination we have with drugs? Granted, Mankind has been self-medicating itself since the beginning of time. However, that was on an individual basis and self-limiting. But I’m afraid our societal love affair with drugs is having (and will have) a long-term negative impact on the health of our economy, health care system and well being of our nation as a whole.

Have we evolved (or devolved) as a species to the point where we can’t tolerate any discomfort, whatsoever? If so, how can we ever survive? I’ve never seen a dog or cat complain of a headache or depression. When they’ve eaten something bad, they don’t reach for the Pepto Bismol. They simply throw up and move on. But we humans, having dominion over all the Earth, can’t survive without taking a pill to manage a headache, a fever, diarrhea, constipation, blood pressure or whatever.

By this time, you’re probably thinking I’m some sort of nut. Drugs have all been researched and approved by the government and wouldn’t be on the market if they weren’t safe. Right? Well, I would only ask that you check out the facts and compare them with what you know or what you have seen. Some of you will probably say, “I’ve been taking drugs all my life and have never had a problem”. But, a good many of you will honestly “You know, I’ve been taking drugs for so long, I can’t remember. But, he’s got a point. I’ve STILL got my problem!” And there’s a reason why you’ve still got that problem.

For the most part, drugs have only one purpose, managing your symptoms. While temporary symptom relief is not a totally bad thing, it’s never a permanent solution. Think about the addict that continually escapes from their problem by getting drunk or high only to find their problem has worsened If he’d deal with his real problem his life would take on new meaning, power and significance. So it is with you. Find the source of your problem and correct it.

OK. So what can you do to get off some of your medications? The first thing I recommend is to take some time to consider your lifestyle. Are you overweight? Do you exercise, at all? What do you eat? Got stress? After you’ve taken a serious look at some of the things you might be doing to make yourself sick, make a plan to begin to change some of those habits. Even better, think about the life you want to live and start living it. As you begin to pursue health, it will pursue you. As you clean the crap out of your system, your body will function better and you’ll feel better. Find a good wellness chiropractor, a nutritionist, a personal trainer, drink tons of water and maybe even find a family doctor who will help you get off the drugs. Live the life you want and you’ll rarely need to cover up the parts that don’t work perfectly.