When I was growing up, no one emphasized natural medicine as a viable health care choice. Instead, I was brought up, as I imagine you were, to rely entirely on traditional medicine without realizing I had other options. In the Western medicine model, the doctor is usually the center of the family healthcare system and family members orbit around the doctor like planets in a solar system. But what about other options like naturopathy, acupuncture, and Chinese medicine?
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 way past due for a revolution in our healthcare system, which will provide insurance coverage for natural practitioner visits and treatments in addition to traditional medicine. But this idea could take generations to achieve, so don’t wait for the revolution to come to you. Part of taking charge of your family’s health care means understanding your natural healthcare coverage as well as you understand your traditional healthcare coverage.
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 guide my choices. 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 yet checked. If obtaining natural health care is important to you and your current insurance company does not offer it, you might consider changing providers or plans. Whatever you do, don’t wait for your physicians to suggest a chiropractor, a masseuse, or a nutritionist because you are not likely to hear these recommendations from them. Instead, start asking questions before someone in your family has a health issue. Or, if someone 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 helpful in unison. And if you are ever unsure about the compatibility of recommended treatments, consult your pharmacist or get a second, or even a third, opinion.
Start asking the question today: are natural healthcare options available for my family’s medical challenges? Generally speaking, natural health care will not come swiftly to your rescue as when you need emergency surgery or you are diagnosed with a serious infection like strep or bronchitis. However, natural health care can help you and your family with less serious and even nagging healthcare concerns. Also remember that no two people are alike. While some folks may not respond positively or even at all to a natural or Eastern approach, others may have dramatically positive results. Personally, I am finding natural health care to be less expensive, more comforting, and producing less side effects for me, thus far in my treatment.
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. 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. However, an issue that is not discussed enough is the need for a more balanced healthcare system. 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 U.S., 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 policy. Natural health care should not be considered a replacement for traditional health care, but rather a more gentle, moderate approach to overall wellness.
The most important thing we can do as parents is take charge of our family’s health care by not turning our decision-making processes over to physicians. Our job as parents is to partner with physicians, not turn our power over to them. By taking charge of our family’s health care, we pave the way for a more balanced approach. 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 but also slow and incremental as is wise.
Author, journalist, and writing coach Christina Katz is proud to say she believes in vaccinations, flu shots, and natural medicine. She does not see traditional medicine and natural medicine as mutually exclusive.
Thirty natural healing approaches
1. Accupuncture
2. Accupressure
3. Aromatherapy
4. Art, dance, and 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. Quigong
24. Shiatsu
25. Support groups
26. Tai chi
27. Therapeutic horseback riding
28. Traditional Chinese medicine
29. Visualization / guided imagery
30. Yoga
