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Celebrities haven't been dying from holistic medicine
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chamomile: frequently used in herbal medicine
It certainly seems odd lately that there has been a steady stream of celebrity deaths, some of them quite untimely. However, when some of the lives lost are examined, due to their lifestyle choices, the timing seems inevitable despite their relative youth. Some, such as Michael Jackson, did not even go beyond middle age. In many instances those who die before reaching their golden years do so as the result of addictions to drugs (prescription and/or "street" varieties) and/or alcohol, whether they are famous or just an average person, unknown to the glitter and power circuits of society. By contrast, there are those who choose a healthy, natural lifestyle (think of Jack LaLanne, pushing 95 and still working). Which of the two groups appears to have made the better decision?
Looking also at the recent federal inquiries into the safety of such drugs as acetaminophen, it is ironic how many of those in the allopathic (conventional) medical field still decry holistic medicine as "voodoo". There are doctors who will not discuss any natural alternatives to their methods with patients. Holistic practitioners are branded as "charlatans" by those who do not even have the knowledge of herbal or other natural healing means. Alternative medical professionals are not able to merely set up practice much like children running a lemonade stand. They must study at state-recognized educational institutes (such as Blue Heron Academy here in Michigan: see http://www.blueheronacademy.com/) and pass exams for their certification. Unlike the image many have of those in the alternative medicine field shaking chicken bones and chanting over a patient, much analysis of any illness is required. The client is interviewed regarding lifestyle, diet, hereditary factors, work conditions, and anything else deemed pertinent to the health problem. The ultimate goal is not merely to treat symptoms and get on to someone else, but to restore wellness and balance to the individual. When traditional medical tests such as blood work are required, there is complementary consultation involved between the allopathic and natural disciplines. Anyone seeking assistance from a natural health professional will be treated as a whole person, not a sick part attached to an otherwise healthy body. Counseling will be offered for the purpose of not only restoration of good health but for maintenance and improvement of the person's overall condition. It's not a matter of "OK, take these pills, see you in a month" and you're out the door.
Granted, there will always be those who will be less than open-minded towards any health modalities that they perceive either conflict with or threaten their own beliefs and training. People should have the freedom to make their own choices for health care based on their, and others', experiences and needs. Hopefully we will continue to have such choices; gradually, even insurance companies have been coming to the realization of alternative/complementary medicine's validity.
In the meantime, individuals can make their own decisions as to which lifestyle is wiser to follow: the way of nature or of the artificial, chemical-laden life. It's not too likely you'll read someday about a young superstar dying from an overdose of chiropractic adjustment, for example, or getting addicted to chamomile tea.
For a link to an interview given by Jack Lalanne, see:
http://www.shareguide.com/LaLanne.html
If you enjoyed this article, check out:
http://www.examiner.com/x-7281-Detroit-Alternative-Medicine-Examiner~y2009m6d30-Acetaminophens-safety-called-into-question-by-FDA
also: http://www.examiner.com/x-876-Tampa-Wellness-Examiner
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