Holistic healing:

So, a recent conversation with my dear scientist minded husband has caused me to feel as though I need to draw a line in the sand and define clearly my view on modern medicine. In a world where the method of managing health is becoming a fad, I can see how people are so easily swept away by the claims of science based medicine as well as holistic and homeopathic therapies. I think it's necessary to clearly understand the differences between them. I came across an interesting article. It can be read here:

http://www.suite101.com/content/homeopathy-vs-herbal-vs-holistic-a270905

Many people blindly use homeopathic remedies because they have the idea that because it's "all natural" it's better. People! I was hiking last weekend and we stumbled upon a rattlesnake baby. A passerby offered this little gem- "Baby snake venom is just as dangerous, if not more. Stay back" This got me thinking..... Snake venom is 100% natural and found "in nature" but I sure as heck don't think it's safe! Lesson: All natural is no guarantee of safety. In fact, the homeopathic philosophy is "treating like with like" To me, it functions the same as vaccines. If you take a homeopathic cold remedy BEFORE you get a cold, it can help your immune system with it's response should the cold enter you at a later time. If I have the flu, I can't treat it with the flu shot. In the same way, if you have a cold and treat it with homeopathic cold remedy, you offer your body no benefit.

'According to MedicineNet.com the term homeopathy refers to "a system of therapy based on the concept that disease can be treated with drugs thought capable of producing the same symptoms in healthy people as the disease itself." '
(taken from the above article)

Now... please don't think that I'm against homeopathic remedies. Quite the opposite actually. I just want to make sure that the users are aware of it's place and proper use. Which brings me to the next thought.

What do you think of when you think of "holistic" healing? Do you think it's mystical? Spiritual? Do you think of a healthy lifestyle? Diet? Exercise? Yoga?
It is defined as "non-medical philosophy of well-being that considers the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of life as closely interconnected and balanced." (again taken from article)

How you view this definition is soooo important. Taken in it's purity, I whole heartedly agree with that statement. HOWEVER without the proper focus on Jesus Christ, this is a very new age concept. There is such danger for believers to be carried away by all the "spiritual" mysticism. We do not turn to crystals for our healing. We do not channel our "energy". We DO NOT turn to spirit guides. The only spirit guide that I turn to is the HOLY SPIRIT. Don't be deceived my friends. I believe that we should take the best care of our bodies (our temple) as we can. I believe that our mental state will be healthy when we (here comes the third part) give our lives-body, soul, and spirit wholly to Jesus.
I do agree that a better whole body state of health is achievable through these three focus points. A heart surrendered to Jesus, A mind focused on Jesus and a lifestyle that glorifies Him are the believer's version of "holistic" healing.
Our healing ultimately comes from the Lord. He may use modern medicine, herbal medicine, a combination of both, or he may do a miracle in your life and heal you miraculously. Who can know the mind of the Lord? How can we know how he will choose to work in our lives? When you realize that the power rests in the hands of the loving Father, you don't have to view doctors as the enemy. Nor do you have to concern yourself with whether your neighbor vaccinates or not. If you focus on the method, who gets glory for the victory?
So, I am a firm believer in a BIBLICAL holistic approach.
"My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are LIFE unto those that find them, and HEALTH to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:20-23)

So to the nitty gritty.....
What do I do when my kids get a cold? What to I do when I get sick? How do we manage pain in our home? How do I manage my asthma? How do I reconcile my feelings about natural remedies with my husband's need for a synthetic enzyme replacement on a regular basis?
I think that our powerful and wonderful Creator did a fantastic job not only on our bodies, but on this dwelling place we call earth. How I feel we should treat it and whether or not I feel we are "destroying" it with our carbon is a whole different note.
I do think that sometimes the answer to our physical discomforts can be found elsewhere in creation. I don't think we necessarily need to run right away to the pills. I think our generation is vastly over medicated. I'm not foolish enough to think that when true medical intervention is called for, you can do just as well with an herb though. There is a delicate balance. And it's highly personal between you, your family and God. When my kids get a cold, we generally handle it at home. A fever is very effective at ridding the body of minor infection. The Lord knew what he was doing when He designed our body. Low grade fevers require no tylenol. I want the body to do what God designed it to do, rather than stepping in and possibly making it worse. We stay hydrated and rest. If the fever gets high or my kid is really uncomfortable, we are not afraid of Tylenol at that point. And if the fever doesn't go away after a couple days, off to the Dr. we go. Regardless of how we get there, we thank Jesus for our health when it returns. My philosophy is, "give my body a fighting chance first, and don't hesitate to seek medical help if it starts loosing the battle." There are many things found in creation that can be great help to our body. For example, garlic has been shown to be a powerful antiviral and antibacterial. Unlike the homeopathic remedy, garlic can actually help your body once you are sick. Anytime we have the sniffles, we up our intake of garlic in our foods. During cold and flu season, we up our intake of raw foods as well. So many taste great in a salad. Examples of raw foods are:
Fresh fruits and vegetables (duh)
Nuts
Seeds
Beans
Grains
Legumes
Dried fruit
Seaweed
Unprocessed organic or natural foods
Freshly juiced fruit and vegetables
Purified water
Young coconut milk
We try to buy organic produce so that we can do our best to avoid toxic pesticides and preservatives in our raw foods. Again, do your best, trust the Lord for the rest.

As far as my asthma is concerned, it's been a process of learning to trust the Lord daily to be my literal "breath of life"
I have eliminated sulfites from my diet and I am on a daily maintenance medicine.

http://www.theasthmacenter.org/index.php/faq/should_i_avoid_sulfites_andor_other_preservatives/

I chose the safest daily maintenance medicine available.

http://www.drugs.com/breastfeeding/budesonide.html

Do your research before talking to your doctor. Not all medicine is safe... it's true. But not all medicine is bad either. And as far as my husbands daily intake of fake insulin and biweekly intake of cerezyme.... PRAISE THE LORD for these wonderful medical advances. People who choose to live their lives the way people did in ancient times fail to remember that the mortality rate was waaaay higher for some individuals. Both my husband and I would be dead had we been born hundreds of years ago. To say all doctors are evil and have a pill pushing agenda is not much different than saying that all middle eastern people are terrorists. Are some? yes. Are the vast majority? no.

So in conclusion~
"I am the Lord that healeth thee" (Exodus 15:26)
I encourage you to prayerfully look into and consider if a less invasive, holistic remedy is available for what you are facing. My life has been enriched by a better understanding of my options. My children and my husband's health decisions are prayed over and we do what we feel is best for our family. What you do with yours is between you and the Lord. I am simply stating how I feel the Lord has led me personally.

"Is ANYONE among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith WILL restore the one who is sick, and the Lord WILL raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they WILL be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." (James 5:14-16)

Run to the THRONE before you run to the phone.

~Regi