Feature: Natural vs. Traditional Medicine: Yin and Yang
Natural V S traditional MEDICINE:
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
Yin & Yang
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. 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. 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 in Vancouver, 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
By Christina Katz
providers or plans. Whatever you do, do not wait for your physician to suggest a chiropractor, a massage therapist 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 partner has slightly elevated cholesterol, what dietary and lifestyle changes could he or she start making to bring his or her 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. 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 continued on page 24
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • October 2017