Wellness Care Complements Critical Care
Here in the West we have developed the most technologically advanced Health Care in the history of humanity. When there has been trauma or a health situation that has become critical, our Western, Allopathic, medicine has the skilled physicians, techniques, and equipment to bring individuals back from the brink of death. Allopathic doctors have the ability to remove, replace, and reconnect parts of the body that have been injured or diseased. In many cases they give their patients another chance.
In 1978 while I was studying pre-med, I was looking at my anatomical charts, both Western and Eastern. My Western charts showed the body in various stages of dissection: the muscles, organs, blood vessels, nerves and skeleton, all revealed to be studied. The Eastern charts showed a dancing figure with the pathways that Ki, Chi, or life force energy travels along with the tsubo, or points, for acupuncture or acupressure treatment. I realized this is the difference between a ‘mechanistic’ and ‘vitalistic’ approach to the human body. Both are necessary and have much to offer us, either saving our lives or adding more vitality to the lives we have.
When there has been an accident or a health crisis, Allopathic medicine is like the fire department. Doctors and technicians come to the rescue with powerful fire hoses, axes and chemical fire retardants to put out the fire. They can save the house - for this we are eternally grateful.
After the fire is out, what do we have? We have a house that needs to be rebuilt and restored. We need a carpenter, good, strong materials and a clearly communicated plan for repair. This is where Wellness based health care providers: acupuncturists, chiropractors, naturopaths, homeopaths and nutritionists come in to assist your body to restore and renew itself.
Before and after a crisis, Wellness Care Providers support our body’s innate healing capacity and our ability to listen to our body’s detectors. Those detectors are signals that tell us when changes need to be made, like the light on our car dash or a smoke detector. The change our body is asking for may be a need for movement, or more rest, different food choices, or drinking more water - even being aware of habitual thoughts and emotional patterns that are distressing.
By listening to our body and responding by making changes in our life, we can return to a state of balance and health, and even avoid a crisis that might have required the fire department. We have the choice to respond to our bodies’ needs or to continue to do the things that have lead to where we currently find ourselves. It is up to us to make lifestyle choices that can increase the level of vitality and well being we experience.
Complementary Wellness Care supports us when we want to experience more energy and aliveness.
Lexi Fisher can be reached at Abundant Health and Wellness Center at 760-327-4041