You've heard of the "placebo effect", where people who are usually being treated for benign conditions or as part of a study, will receive a medicine that is made of sugar and perhaps some filler ingredients.
Why?
Because as the official definition goes, placebo's are "a medicine or procedure prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient rather than for any physiological effect".
That means that just thinking that you are getting better, helps you achieve the results you would achieve with a medicated alternative.
Perhaps this is one of the most undeservedly studied phenomena of our times.
These days, everything is just a "quick fix" - a pill, an easy effortless way to exercise, or a miracle diet to help shed the pounds. Or maybe using pheromones like Pherazone to help you attract women, even if you're short, fat, bald, and have the personality of a dead toad. Of course, I'm using sarcasm here... don't actually buy it!
Rather than focusing on improving our health as a whole, people tend to lean towards an instant solution rather than addressing the root cause of their problems.
No, it's not as simple as "thinking" a thought, and then suddenly having it come into being - sometimes, a chemical solution really does have its place. There are definitely scientific merits to pheromones, But the power of thought can only do so much. At some point, we must look for true modern solutions to health problems.
For example, treatments for cancer and severe fungal or bacterial infections are usually grounds for using heavy duty medicine.
However, in the 21st century, there seems to be a pill for just about everything which really should be handled with natural alternatives as much as possible.
Here are just a few examples:
- Depression & anxiety. A lot of times, prescription medications are given out by doctors without really looking into the root cause of the issue. When was the last time your doctor talked about your personal situations and gave you advice on how to cope with those stresses? Most likely never. The worst part about medications for these "illnesses" is that they typically are a benzodiazepine (opioid derivative) and highly addictive. They can cause a cycle of dependence and severe withdrawal symptoms which further aggravates the problem.
- Acne. As a sufferer of severe acne in the past, I have found that through endless amounts of trying, a lot of acne is a result of an unbalanced body. This could be a result of hormones being out of whack due to stress (which is why people tend to break out around these times), a poor diet, or even using too many supplements. Many men take testosterone supplements which can cause major issues with the bodies natural balance of chemicals.
- Pain killers for back, shoulders or other general conditions. Usually, these are the result of a poor posture, bad form in sports, repetitive strain injury, or a variety of other reasons. This had to be included on the list because among doctors these are some of the most common reasons for visitations, where the patient will usually be prescribed yet another medicated solution, rather than treating the root cause of the problem.
As you can see, these are all short term solutions for problems that will continue to persist until it's "nipped in the bud" as they say... that means taking measures to correct your issues through holistic and natural means wherever possible.
While it's not possible to diagnose and and provide a potential solution for every single one of the these problems, there are general guidelines anyone can follow to get on the right track.
- Try to eliminate grains, wheat and bread/dairy out of your diet if you are particularly sensitive. Many people have dairy intolerance without even knowing, and it can wreak havoc on the body. Especially prone people may notice itchy skin, acne flair ups, and other inflammation (joint or body pains) without even realizing it could be an issue). Eating fruits and vegetables is highly advised.
- Keep your supplements to a minimum and try to get nutrients from whole foods. There are people out there who take all kinds of vitamins, minerals, and even supplements like DHEA (which is a precursor to most hormones and pheromones produced by humans). However, relying on supplements is simply unhealthy and even more likely to throw the bodies natural balance out. A lot of the supplements people take are much better taken when eaten naturally through vegetables and fruit as they provide the complete spectrum, rather than perhaps 1-2 isomers of the compound. As an example, vitamin E is made up of 8 different types of tocopherols and tocotrienols - in nature, they are found as a complete compound whereas supplement companies use cheap, synthetic isomers of Vitamin E which could even be harmful to your health.
- Stretch and be aware of your bodies posture and how you move. This one can take a lot of trial and error, but pin down the source of your pain. For example, if your back is sore, is it because you sit in a bad position? If your knees or shoulders hurt, what's the main reason you can pin down? Once you've done that, find healthier ways and consciously work it into a subconscious behavior - make it second nature. You may also look into methods such as the Gokhale method, which has been recognized worldwide due to its fantastic results without surgery or extensive physiotherapy sessions.
The sooner you begin working on your health as a cohesive unit - from watching what you eat, to how you use your body, to maintaining and caring for it, the happier and more enjoyable your life will be for the long term. It's never too late to make a positive change for a healthier lifestyle!
