What About Western Medicine?
My goal is not to discredit Western Medicine at all—there is a time and a place for Western intervention. I find myself joking quite a bit about how I appreciate science and progress and that if someone breaks their ankle, I’m not going to suggest they take turmeric. I know that many of us who have grown up with Western Medicine have been conditioned to think that other practitioners are quacks, so I understand people’s hesitation when they first hear of Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, or other health systems. It’s been encouraging to witness in my lifetime that ancient modalities like acupuncture have transitioned from “out there” to widely accepted, both in personal mindsets and through medical insurance coverage.
A big difference when seeking the help of complementary, alternative, or holistic medicine—whichever phrase resonates with you—is that these modalities seek to get to the root of the concern rather than masking the symptoms through pharmaceuticals. One we get to the root of the concern, we can come up with strategies involving dietary and lifestyle changes, which often make a world of difference. Of course, there are times when prescription and over-the-counter medications are absolutely necessary, especially in cases of acute pain or distress. I’m not an advocate for pain and suffering, but I am a firm believer in proactive approaches to care before health conditions require more serious interventions.
I am also a huge believer that plants have given us what we need to manage conditions for several reasons. First, many pharmaceuticals have been formulated using lab-derived constituents that replicate what nature has already provided. Second, many pharmaceuticals have such severe side effects that patients are often prescribed multiple medications—some which serve only to aid with the uncomfortable side effects of the original prescription. Finally, while there are some herbal interactions and contraindications, there are far less that I’ve found compared to drug interactions. I’ve seen too many cases where friends and loved ones have accidentally been prescribed drugs that are absolutely contraindicated, the most alarming being a coworker who had Crohn’s disease and was prescribed medications that gave him such strong heart palpitations that he was rushed to the ER where they had to stop and restart his heart again correct the arrythmia. This was a young man of 28 or 29 years old and the doctors realized their error after the fact. Again—this is not to discredit anyone but to speak the truth that there are gentler and safer alternatives to prescription medicines. And if a person can take herbs to reduce the number of prescriptions they need and reduce the risk of contraindications, I’m all for it. Please rest assured that I’m not a crazy person—I would never tell a person to stop taking their medications and will always have someone speak to their physician regarding herbs. That said, if we can find the right herbal supplements before a person needs pharmaceuticals, that’s ideal.
As a personal example, I take boswellia and turmeric daily. I’m an active 50-year-old and a Licensed Massage Therapist who is not immune to occasional body aches and pains, especially since I give a lot of deep-tissue massages. My body feels great most of the time, but I do take small doses of these herbs daily as a preventative since they are both anti-inflammatory agents. I would not feel as comfortable with taking daily NSAIDs, as they are proven to have risks associated with long-term use. *
If you have read this far, thank you for allowing me to be candid about my feelings. If you have any curiosity about the Ayurvedic path to wellness, please don’t hesitate to contact me!
*https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3011108/
