When you take a medication and whatever ailment you are treating goes away, the popular belief is that the medication is responsible for your healing process. Coincidence is rarely brought to the table when dealing with matters of health, but can it not be argued that in some instances, lacking pharmaceutical intervention, that ‘time’ is medicine? Given adequate time, you are an amazing self-healer, and the ability to distract yourself long enough to allow for adequate recovery may be a worthwhile skill to cultivate in preparation for the inevitable illness or ailment. Here’s a look at some potential alternatives that may not only spare you a trip to the doctor’s office, but may help to prevent poor health to begin with:
Exercise
Heart disease, diabetes, cancer and many other life-threatening conditions are directly linked to a sedentary lifestyle, and in many cases exercise may increase the efficiency of medications, allow you to cut back on medication or avoid medication altogether. If you are currently active, be sure to change up your routine every once in a while to avoid boredom. Just as with medication, you may find that the more you do it the more of it you need to reach a therapeutic level, so you may actually need to scale back or switch to a different activity for some time to begin seeing improvements again. If you are currently inactive, start by make an effort to reduce your sedentary pursuits and intersperse bouts of sedentary activity with standing and physical activity. It is also helpful to engage in exercise that you find pleasant and enjoyable, and be sure to periodically challenge yourself to experience just enough discomfort to effect positive change.
Food
Give your body what it needs to function well and you will feel better faster. There is a good chance that the quality and/or quantity of your last meal is the cause for your degree of wellness or illness at this moment in time, so ask yourself when you are putting the next forkful to your lips: ‘am I nourishing myself with this food or poisoning my health?’ This may seem a bit dramatic for something as mundane as a cookie, but over time making more poor food choices than nutritious food choices contributes to poor health. Make a habit of asking this question with each mouthful and settle on a ratio of positive-to-negative responses that you can live with. For example, three foods out of four are healthful and one food is not that healthy but super tasty, or vice versa, depending on your current opinion about your health and fitness levels. Be honest with yourself about what foods in your diet may be contributing to illness and either eliminate them or cut down on them to the point that they may be of benefit.
Laughter
Yeah, it’s good to laugh. Make a date with someone with a positive sense of humor or rent a Will Ferrell movie and see how you feel afterwards. Maybe that headache that you thought would kill you is less noticeable or your sore ankle feels less tender after spending some time with a smile on your face. In the evening after a tumultuous day when your shoulders and neck and gut feel tight and twisted with stress, pick up a humorous novel instead or just close your eyes and imagine whatever scenario caused your stress, then change it in your head to make it funny. Take a moment to remember that last time you laughed really hard and why … bet it made you laugh again!
Sleep
When you are tired, the world is a tough place to live in. You perceive the world differently when you are tired compared to when you are well-rested, and if you are making big decisions that affect your health when you are tired then you are making poor decisions. There are many magical components to sleep that are not even yet understood, but suffice it to say that your body goes into major repair mode while you sleep and it needs enough time to work its magic or you will get sick and feel pain more acutely because your repairs are not complete. The work you do during the day is essential; the recovery you give yourself when you sleep is equally important.
Breathing
Panic and anxiety can immobilize you and lead you to believe that you are suffering from any number of ailments, but you may be able to clear your negative, fearful thoughts by focusing on breathing well. In your moment of crisis or pain, take a deep breath. Breathe in your nose and out your mouth. Look straight ahead, bring your shoulder blades back and down, pull in your navel to your spine, and soften your joints. Allow your chest to swell as oxygen flows to every cell in your body, releasing positive energy and soothing the stress response. Mindful techniques such as meditation, guided imagery and progressive relaxation strengthen the body-mind connection to foster self-healing and self-soothing capabilities. A Zen-like attitude is helpful in any situation, so start by devoting ten minutes a day to some type of relaxation technique that focuses on breathing well and remaining calm, cool, and collected.
It is so hard to wait, and when something hurts or bothers or irritates it is so tempting to believe that popping a pill is the only solution; however, consider that in the time spent complaining or whining or otherwise fixating on a pain or illness you may otherwise have accomplished some task that contributes to feelings of happiness and self-worth. Use common sense when applying the tincture of time – any one of the above-mentioned alternatives work best when used in conjunction with each other, but see a trusted health professional for guidance on how to balance alternative and mainstream medicine to achieve optimal health and fitness levels. In Oregon and Washington, the Legacy and OHSU medical systems provide state-wide quality care for those seeking both traditional and naturopathic services, and Portland is home to one of the oldest accredited naturopathic colleges in North America, the National College of Natural Medicine. Any health representative from these highly-regarded establishments will admit that the main goal of medical intervention is to support and encourage the self-healing process, so be a good patient and exercise, eat, laugh, sleep and breathe well… think of these practices as your daily doses of good medicine.
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