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The Yin & Yang Of Natural Medicine Vs. Tradition Medicine

Maximize Your Natural Healthcare Benefits: Don’t Let Them Go To Waste
 

When I was growing up, no one emphasized natural medicine as a viable healthcare choice. Instead, I was raised, as I imagine you were, to rely entirely on traditional medicine without considering other options.

In the Western medicine model, the doctor is usually the center of the family health care system and family members orbit around the doctor like planets in a solar system. But what about other options like naturopathy, acupuncture or Chinese medicine? According to the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and The Institute for Natural Medicine, naturopathic therapies can lead to improved outcomes and lower costs for everyone involved.

A family can go through decades of insured health care without ever once receiving a recommendation from a Western doctor to explore natural medicine. In my opinion, we are past due for a revolution in our health care system, which will provide insurance coverage for natural practitioner visits and treatments in addition to traditional medicine. Of course, this idea could take generations to achieve, so don’t wait for the revolution to come to you.
Taking charge of your family’s healthcare means understanding your natural healthcare coverage just as well as you understand your traditional healthcare coverage. How much natural healthcare did your insurance cover last year?
If the answer is none, then you have some inquiries to make.

Natural Approach

In recent years, my family has found that natural medicine approaches to non-emergency health issues work well for us alongside the usual traditional medicine approaches. For example, I have struggled since the onset of puberty with anemia, and it is only recently, at midlife, that I am finding consistent relief by taking bio-identical hormones and natural herbal supplements recommended to me by a licensed naturopath.
I had no idea that alternatives to standard hormones even existed until recently, but I have only myself to hold  responsible for letting my primary care physician and OB-GYN steer my choices unquestioned. Fortunately,
I have discovered that my insurance allows up to a certain dollar amount of spending per year on natural medicine practitioners, which is more than ample to fit my needs and the needs of my family.

What’s Covered?

You may not be so lucky with your insurance, but don’t make any assumptions if you have not checked. In researching licensed Naturopathic doctors, I found that many take a range of health insurance types.
Call ahead before you visit for answers to your specific insurance questions. If obtaining natural healthcare is important to you and your current insurance company does not offer it, you might consider changing providers or plans. Whatever you do, do not wait for your physicians to suggest a chiropractor, a masseuse or a nutritionist because you are unlikely to receive these recommendations.
And better to start asking questions before someone in your family develops a serious health issue.
For example, if your husband has slightly elevated cholesterol, what dietary and lifestyle changes could he start making to bring his cholesterol back into the normal range? Several types of practitioners might help, including a naturopath, a nutritionist or a hypnotherapist.
Generally speaking, natural healthcare will not come swiftly to your rescue when you need emergency surgery or you are diagnosed with a serious infection like Strep or Bronchitis.
However, natural healthcare can help your family with less serious and even nagging healthcare concerns like allergies, chronic fatigue or gastro-intestinal distress. If someone in your family already has a diagnosis, contact your insurance company and find out what natural approaches are covered or partially covered by your current policy. There is no reason to choose one path over the other since both options may be more helpful in unison.
If you are ever unsure about the compatibility of recommended treatments, consult your pharmacist or get a second, or even a third, opinion.

Everyone is Different

And remember, no two people are alike. While some folks may not respond positively to a natural or Eastern approach, others may have dramatically positive results.
Personally, I am finding natural healthcare to be less expensive, more comforting, and producing less side effects for me. Ask anyone you know who has used natural medicine about their experience, and the first thing you will likely hear is that felt immediately comforted by the increased time, attention and warmth they received from the provider.

Western Medicine

Western medicine is expensive and is influenced heavily by insurance and pharmaceutical corporations.
No one likes to go to the doctor and receive a huge, unexpected bill afterwards. Insurance is intended to prevent this from happening, which is why we rely on it so much.
And there is nothing more disconcerting than needing to take a medication with a long list of possible side effects or health risks. Taking into account employment benefits, out-of-pocket insurance costs, and co-pays, many families cannot afford all the quality medical care their families need.
If you are looking for the least expensive way to integrate a more holistic approach into your family’s lifestyle, why not head on over to Whole Foods, where the Whole Body department staff are typically well informed and can make recommendations for helpful vitamins, supplements and natural remedies to address the specific needs of your family members.

The Yin & the Yang

Our collective desire for a more balanced healthcare system is an issue that is not discussed enough in this country.
Think of Western medicine as the yang and Eastern medicine as the yin in a complete circle of care that represents a balanced approach to health and wellness.
Overall in the US, our healthcare system is far too yang and a more yin approach will require years of advocacy and, hopefully, change.
In the meantime, your voice can make a difference in creating a more balanced and equitable healthcare system.
Every question counts. Every request for something you don’t already receive moves the needle. Remember, natural healthcare benefits may already be available to your family and might even be going to waste, as they were in my insurance plan.
Natural healthcare should not be considered a replacement for traditional healthcare but can provide the gentle, moderate approach to overall wellness your family craves.
The most important thing parents can do to take charge of your family’s healthcare is not completely turn our decision-making processes over to physicians.
Our job is to partner with physicians, not relinquish our power to them.
By taking charge of our family’s healthcare, by asking questions and by asking for what we want and need, we pave the way for a more balanced approach to wellness.
We also set a valuable example for our children, so they can be more empowered in their future healthcare decisions.
When it comes to your family’s health, combining traditional and natural approaches just might be the best of both worlds: a life-long approach to wellness that is swift when necessary and also slow and incremental on an ongoing basis.
Some alternative medicine providers offer free new patient consultations.
Why not schedule one today and start taking pro-active steps towards increased health for your family?

30 Natural Healthcare Approaches

1. Acupuncture
2. Acupressure
3. Aromatherapy
4. Art, Dance & Music Therapy
5. Ayurveda
6. Bio-feedback
7. Body Movement
8. Body Work
9. Chiropractic
10. Energy Medicine
11. Flower Essence Therapy
12. Herbal Remedies
13. Homeopathy
14. Hypnosis
15. Light Therapy
16. Meditation
17. Massage
18. Naturopathy
19. Nutrition Therapy
20. Reflexology
21. Reiki
22. Osteopathy
23. Qigong
24. Shiatsu
25. Support Groups
26. Tai Chi
27. Therapeutic Horseback Riding
28. Traditional Chinese / Oriental Medicine
29. Visualization / Guided Imagery
30. Yoga
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