An alternate viewpoint on HEALTH

Dr. Daniel Richter

The common viewpoint is on health is interesting to me. Most people have grown up thinking about their health according to the medical/drug model, "Something went wrong in my body and it needs to be fixed." I hear “I caught a cold” or  “I'm taking this pill to fix that problem” quite often. People can go online and self-diagnose their supposed symptoms and see what medications would be recommended to treat their symptoms. Then, they go to their MD and request said medication. We have been brainwashed by drug companies advertising on the television and internet so much that it is normal to accept taking another pill for the rest of our days. Tell me, how is it normal to be on so many pills for the rest of your life???

So what is the alternative? The answer lies in knowing how your body works and the process of PATHOLOGY.  Pathology is the progression of how the body deals with stress and breaks down. The chiropractic viewpoint on this process is a bit different than the medical model. Take a look with me.

Your body is designed to heal itself. It has many “built-in” mechanisms to help deal with all the stressors put on it. These stressors can be many different things such as viruses or bacteria, repetitive use/motion, over-use, trauma, lack of sleep, bad thoughts, toxins (including preservatives, additives, medications, alcohol, smoke...etc.)  All of these stressors cause our bodies to react. This reaction can cause additional symptoms which make us feel "sick" or increase pain levels...etc.  We call this a state of "dis-ease."  When we experience this dis-ease for a very long time without healing we say it has then progressed to a "disease."

Instead of focusing on the SYMPTOMS and how to alleviate them, we should be focusing on healing the problem that CAUSES our symptoms. High cholesterol is not a problem, it is a symptom of something causing excess cholesterol.  Cholesterol lowering medication does not fix the problem, it artificially adjusts the symptoms to a  “normal” level. Having a fever and feeling "sick" is not a problem, they are symptoms of something causing you to feel that way. Aspirin or Tylenol will not fix the problem which makes you feel sick, it just removes the symptoms.

Do you see and understand the differences? Drug companies make money by exploiting symptoms and marketing medications you must take for the rest of your life (remember: they do not heal the problem). Think about it...if they healed your problem they would be out of business.

But....what if there was a way to support your body so that it can deal with these problems and heal them properly?  Would this be of value to you? What if there was a way to actually prevent symptoms from arising in the first place?  How important would this be to you?  Would it be worth anything to you to not have to take 12 pills a day for the rest of your life?

How can you get in the preventative, health-oriented mindset? It's so simple you will be amazed.
· First, remember that you are what you eat! So, eat healthy foods. Consider that everything you eat will either increase your health or decrease your health. That doughnut and coffee for breakfast vs. a banana with natural peanut butter can make a difference.
· Second, take good vitamins and supplements. Start taking a whole-foods based multivitamin. Also take two pearls of fish oil every day (from cold water fishes). 
· Third, exercise daily. Move your body...go for a walk, get to a gym. Sweat and get your blood circulating. This helps with weight issues and helps to detox your body. 
·Fourth, get adjusted by a chiropractor on a regular basis. Why? Adjustments enable your nervous system to function at 100 percent thereby letting all the instructions coming from the brain go to the whole body. When your body gets proper instructions, it is better able to deal with any stressors put on it. This includes your immune system – your nervous and immune systems are intimately connected.  

Remember, a preventative/proactive approach to maintaining your health can yield a fuller, richer lifestyle than a react and treat style of "sick" care. Furthermore, treating symptoms does not help to heal the cause. Consider the alternatives. Please feel free to stop by and ask us questions regarding HEALTHcare vs. SICKcare. Consults are always free.