The other day at work, we had our usual set up for a biometric health screening, but on top of that, we were also offering flu shots. There were only three of us on the team that day. The team lead is at pharmacy school, the other team member was a registered nurse who was administering the flu shots and doing the rest of the biometric health assessment. I was the health coach and therefore, had nothing to do with the flu shots.

The nurse, herself does not get the flu shot and the team lead was encouraging all those that came in for the health screening to get one. Some of the things he would say were that if you get it one year, you must get it every year, and how it’s great to get vaccinated for the prevention of the flu.

Where am I going with this? Well, this simple observation reaffirmed what I have been reading and seeing lately about the fear-based approach to health care. If you don’t want this to happen, you must take this pill. Or if you don’t want to get sick, you must wear a mask and take this antibiotic or vaccination.

I personally haven’t had a flu shot since my teen years and I still have an internal debate about vaccinations. Are they really as great as they are said to be? Getting the flu shot does not mean that you are totally protected and by not getting it, that also does not mean that your immune system is weaker than anyone who has had the flu shot.

For the future of healthcare, I find myself doubting if fear is the appropriate approach for prevention. Prevention is key in maintaining health, but fear itself is not healthy for you. Fear in itself suppresses the functioning of the immune system. So in our healthcare system, we really need to stop scaring everyone. There is no such thing as a magical prevention pill just like there is no such thing as a miracle cure all.

Rather than scaring society, a more rational approach is needed in which people are positively motivated to make the changes they need to stay healthy. Another factor that I have noticed is that out of fear, many people surrender themselves and their health to their doctors or health care practitioners, thinking that doctor knows best. Reality is that in order to overcome the fear, healthcare practitioners, pharmaceutical companies, and politicians need to stop scaring the people. My advice to you will be to take your health into your own hands and realize that fear does not accomplish anything. Be resourceful and be smart about health and never be afraid to question anything that is presented to you!

With that said, you have nothing to fear but fear itself and even then, there is not point in having fear in fear. Fear is just in the mind…so look the world, life, and health in the eyes and move forward.

Health and happiness,

Varsha

About six years ago, I was at a friend’s place working on a project for my human biology class and afterwards, my friend’s dad began to ask me questions about what I was going to study in college. Her dad happens to be a plastic surgeon and her mom is an anesthesiologist. I was super excited about my next step being to go off to college to study Ayurveda. This conversation with her dad opened up a whole new world to me, because he ended up lecturing me and telling me that there is no future in natural health or alternative medicine. He told me that I would be wasting my time and that natural remedies do not work and off he went. I also had similar conversations at a local hospital where I volunteered at with the doctors and nurses.

This was all six years ago. The point here is that there is a paradigm shift happening. In the last six years, a lot has changed, especially in the field of health. A few months ago, I went with a friend for moral support to see a neurologist who specializes in ALS. My friend was told that he did not have ALS, but I was surprised to hear the neurologist tell him that alternative medicine is worth a shot because its natural. And if you are only working with diet, it should not make things worse at the least. I also know a neurologist who recommends her patients with Multiple Sclerosis to try Ayurveda and refers them to an Ayurvedic Health Clinic. An Endocrinologist does the same. Using the principles of Ayurveda and yoga, I have worked with many complex cases, especially neurological.

Everyday, I find myself interacting with more and more people who are beginning to or already understand the value of prevention of disease, and see the need for health promotion and education for a healthy future. More and more people spend out of pocket for seeing their alternative health care practitioners and majority of the time, it is due to their lack of satisfaction from the current medical model. People are realizing that there is more to health than popping in a pill. A paradigm shift is occurring in which even medical doctors are aware of the fact that they also cannot deny the presence and importance of natural health in today’s modern health care. The change is happening as we speak. Welcome aboard!

Health and happiness,

Varsha

One of the biggest dilemmas in the field of alternative medicine is whether or not one should take “drugs” or pharmaceuticals. I am a believer in natural remedies and am in the field of prevention of disease and promotion of health. I believe in the power of natural remedies, whether its through diet, herbs, and/or yoga. However, just cause I believe in alternative medicine, it does not mean that I do not also believe in pharmaceutical medicine.

There are times in life, where modern medicine can come to the rescue and regardless of how strongly you believe in the natural approach, sometimes you must resort to taking prescription medication. A few months ago, one of my close friends had her appendix rupture. As common as it is, it took the doctors two days to finally diagnose her and then rushed her into emergency surgery. When she first started feeling seriously ill, she was in search of seeing a naturopath rather than a physician. In this case, she was fortunate enough not to find a naturopath that was available to see her and she ended up having to see a medical doctor. Long story short, if she had not seen the first doctor at a local clinic, she would not have ended up in the ER and lets not get into what could have happened if we hadn’t gone there.

For her, surgery and drugs saved her life. There are countless numbers of other cases out there in which drugs do save their lives. I feel that allopathic or modern medicine does wonders for trauma and other life-threatening illnesses, but at the same time, there is plenty of room for integration. For an effective medical model, integration of modern medicine and natural medicine must take place. Headaches for example are not curable by taking an Advil. The Advil will only suppress the headache and it will be back in a few hours. In the world of natural healthcare, the naturopath, Ayurvedic physician, or other natural health practitioners will examine the root cause of the headache and will aim to eliminate the root cause and thereby healing the headache all together.

It is not fair to only favor one medical model over another. There is a lot of attention placed upon the health care system these days. If effective and efficient healing is to take place, all forms of healing must unite and come together. All healthcare practitioners must work together and only then will holistic medicine really become holistic. Holistic is not only natural medicine, but holistic medicine refers to all forms of medicine coming together as a whole, as a collective unit to work together to heal.

Health and happiness,

Varsha

A while back, I took an Optimism/Pessimism test. I already knew that I was an optimist, but the test results showed me that I am an off the chart optimist. Actually, it’s no surprise to me because if you have ever met me, you know that I always see the best in everything, even in the worst of situations.

Optimism is another critical key to perfect health. Studies show that optimistic people are healthier in general and have fewer doctor visits as well as lower risk for developing chronic illnesses. Being optimist does not mean that you become arrogant in terms of your body and health, but its more realizing the value that your health lies in your hands and your perspective on it.

I am currently reading a book titled, “The Spirit and Science of Holistic Health,” by Jon Robison and Karen Carrier, in which they discuss the optimism and pessimism and how it affects health. This is probably one of the simplest, yet profound books on holistic health that I have read thus far. What I love most about this book is that it is filled with common sense and is an easy read.

When it comes to your health, whether the glass is half full or half empty does make a difference. An optimist will look at their illness as a temporary factor in their quality of life. Illness for them is a time to get some rest and they know that they will heal and move forward. Pessimists see an illness as the end of the world and will wonder if they will ever get out of it. And as I mentioned earlier, optimists have a quicker recovery time just because they have a positive attitude and positivity brings about greater healing power.

Attitude makes all the difference. Positive energy is what is needed for effective healing and maintaining health. Negative energy is dark and heavy and will wear you down. That is why those who are “negative” by nature have a more difficult time in healing and maintaining health. Besides, how many times have you heard me speak about the importance of happiness for health?

Ask yourself…are you an optimist or pessimist? And do you feel that being an optimist/pessimist affects or your health and how do you feel about health in general? I would love to hear any thoughts or experiences you have in terms of interactions with optimistic and pessimistic people…especially in terms of health.

Health and happiness,

Varsha