When you see those ads on television for medications, they do a great job of painting a pretty picture. They involve bright colors, happy people, and convey the idea that if you take that drug, your problems will be solved. But with each ad comes the lowering of the narrator’s voice as he or she rattles off a dozen or more possible side effects associated with taking the medicine.
The benefits with medicine always come with a “but.” If you have back pain and take a pain pill, it may reduce your pain, butupset your stomach. A muscle relaxer may loosen your muscles, but leave you so drowsy you can’t get out of bed. That pill may ease your child’s headache, but can cause irritation to the lining of his or her digestive tract.
You constantly have to weigh the benefit against the risk. When taking medicine, even over-the-counter medicine, there is risk involved. Your potential upside comes with potential downside.
The reason I love the wellness paradigm so much is that there is no downside. Healthy lifestyle choices are always good and come without the “but.” Eat healthier foods, begin an exercise program, manage your stress better, or engage in any other healthy endeavor, and you get all the benefits with no adverse effects or risk.
Not only do you avoid the “but” when choosing natural, safe, alternative means of caring for your health, these choices come with a big “and.” If a patient comes in to our office with neck pain, and we find their problem and fix it, they will often speak of the pain relief, and more energy, and better sleep, and less headaches, and less sinus congestion, and… and… and…
It is very exciting to know that you can make choices that involve your health that come with added benefits. You shouldn’t have to get benefits with such high risk. It’s not supposed to be that way.
Think about this… there are foods that a person may eat because they taste good, but cause an upset stomach and acid reflux. The body causes these symptoms alerting a person that these foods are incongruent and unhealthy. Instead of listening to the body and avoiding these bad foods, he or she may take a pill to help avoid the discomfort. These pills, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, etc., may reduce the symptoms, but over time can cause damage to the body. Someone taking these pills may be heard saying that they can eat whatever they want, BUT struggle with vitamin and mineral deficiency, bone density issues, and even increased risk of heart disease.
Now imagine that same person, instead of relying on the medication, they change their diet and start making healthier food choices. You will likely hear them say that they do not struggle with reflux issues anymore, AND they think clearer, and sleep deeper, and have lost weight. Those diet changes come with only added benefits.
Your health care choices should not be riddled with adverse effects, increased risk, and long-term unknowns. You should not have to rob Peter to pay Paul. True wellness comes with added benefits, no risk, and the long-term unknowns can only be positive.
It should worry you when putting something into your body, or your child’s body, that comes with so many “buts.” Get excited about the idea of natural and safe alternatives that could correct your existing health problems AND help in so many other ways!