I rarely go to doctors or take medicine. As you can probably guess by my prior posts, I tend to favor holistic remedies. I have several reasons why. First, I find that they often work for me. Second, I will admit that I have some issues with the modern health industry. I believe that there is a lot of unnecessary testing and treatment. I feel that Western medicine focuses too much on treatment, not prevention, of disease. At least some of the chronic diseases in America today could be eradicated by proper diet and exercise. I love that holistic treatment focuses on balance and prevention.
That said, I certainly recognize how far we have come in medicine. Surgery, chemotherapy, antibiotics… these are all amazing feats that save many, many lives. There are incredible drugs and more being developed every day. I have the utmost respect for doctors who spend their time working to help people. My father is a doctor, and I deeply admire his commitment to his work. I have dear friends and family who would not be alive today without medical treatment.
I was quite sick for most of the last month. The only time I really felt healthy was when I was on vacation in Florida. I picked up a cold from my daughter about a week and a half before we left, and I had a lingering cough for 3-4 days after I started to feel better. I felt great when we were away, but on the plane home from Florida, I got some kind of nasty bug that left me fighting another cold with a terrible cough.
I tried all sorts of holistic remedies, but nothing worked. I was not getting better despite rest, fluids and my best efforts to heal. I called my doctor. I told him that I was on my 9th day of being sick and that I was still feeling pretty awful. He prescribed a Z-pack.
I feel pretty strongly that there are some things that just need to run their course in the body, like a cold. With proper rest, hydration and other basic treatment, most people start to feel better after a few days. But, there are some times when we need modern medicine. This was clearly one of them. My violent coughing was preventing proper rest and keeping my husband from sleeping at night. I needed to be healthy to take care of my daughter, teach my classes and go about my daily life. After the first dose of the Z-pack, I started to feel better. This was an instance when I needed antibiotics, as I must have had some kind of bacterial infection.
I like to think that there are ways in which Western and Eastern medicine can compliment each other. They need not be mutually exclusive. Even for those of us who are firm believers in holistic remedies, like me, I think there is something to be said for recognizing the times that it is necessary to go to a doctor. The medical profession is equipped to deal with disease and pain management in an entirely different way. I like to think that in the years to come, there will be more collaboration between Eastern and Western medical practitioners, as there is a lot that they can learn from each other. Perhaps the science and innovation of Western medicine will someday embrace the wisdom, balance and gentleness of Eastern medicine. Maybe, one day, those of us who believe holistic remedies will be more willing to accept the rational and scientific views of Western medicine. We need both types of practitioners.
As for myself, this experience reminded that there is no need to limit myself to one type of treatment, as the world is full of many different kinds of healers.
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