(Editor’s note: This was adapted from a blog post written for The Skinny on January on June 15, 2009. This was nine days before the birth of our fourth child.)
Recently I was called a hypocrite.
Let’s start with the definition of a hypocrite according the the Webster Dictionary online:
1 : a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
2 : a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings
Number one: I am who I am and what you see is what you get.
Let’s move on to number two then, shall we? Let me state my beliefs. Maybe I haven’t been clear enough in my blog posts. I am going to state my beliefs on health care, since that is what has been attacked.
I believe that the allopathic model of medicine can and does save lives. I believe that it is and only should be used for emergency care. Further more, I believe there are other ways that we can take care of our bodies, prevent disease and live a healthy lifestyle. I feel that these things will keep myself and my family from needing allopathic remedies most of (if not all of) the time.
I will give a little run down of the the main things I believe will help my family. First and most important in my opinion is chiropractic care. What I am referring to is the absence of any subluxations, especially at the atlas (C1). I truly believe that without nerve interference our bodies can function in amazing ways. I do believe that this needs to be as specific as possible.
Other things I believe help more to heal the body than drugs and surgery are nutrition (hands down and this is probably a whole other post) and other natural remedies such as sleep, and using things such as aloe vera and colloidal silver. For example, if my baby starts to show signs of a little diaper rash, I put on some olive oil and within 1 diaper change we are all cleared up! These things are not as easy as popping a pill. They require responsibility, not looking outward, but inward and not being a victim.
If one of my children get sick, I actually get excited. They rarely do, so when it does happen I think it’s great that their body is having a chance to build its natural immunities! Our oldest used to get ear infections when swimming. She’d get them often and sometimes in both ears. Every single time, she needed her atlas adjusted and every single time after the adjustment and a little rest the infections cleared up within hours (at least the painful symptoms). The only other things we have used to help fight ear infections are blessings/prayer when really bad and some garlic oil. We never freaked out and ran to a doctor to get antibiotics. We let her body do what it does best. We removed interference and let it do it’s job.
Now, if I was a hypocrite, I’d be talking about all of my opinions on health care and then running to an MD or hospital the minute we get sick, right? I don’t. I practice what I preach. Always. I don’t tell others what to do. I don’t force my views on other moms and dads. My biggest issue is about being self educated and making decisions that is best for you (and your family’s) health. Not freaking out, getting scared and making decisions based on fear or because someone else told you that you have to do it their way or else (fill in the blank).
How does this apply to birth? Am I a hypocrite because I have stated that if something does go terribly wrong (which it won’t) that I will go to the hospital? I thought I have made it clear that I am practicing what I preach. I do not believe birth is a disease. I believe it is normal and beautiful. I believe God created my body to birth a baby perfectly. I know that I can have a safe birth at home without intervention and giving up control to someone I barely know. I believe that hospitals are for EMERGENCIES.
So, if I believe that, then wouldn’t I only go in the case of an emergency? Is that me being a hypocrite? If I have so clearly stated that the allopathic model of medicine and hospitals can save lives and is for emergencies only and if I only use it for those rare cases, then I am no hypocrite. I am strong in my beliefs and doing what I say I believe in. Period.
I have practiced the type of health for my children that I have stated. None of them have ever had an antibiotic, none of them have ever had over the counter medicine (with the exception of infant Tylenol with my first a few times). My youngest 2 have never needed to see a pediatrician. Their primary care provider has and always will be a chiropractor. If an emergency came up, I would take them to see someone my husband and I feel we may need help from.
Someone accused me of teaching my kids “this garbage!” I laugh at that. My kids have no interference in their bodies. They are healthy and happy. They don’t have side effects from medications, they don’t get whatever ‘bug’ is going around at the time. It’s phenomenal. They are blessed to have informed parents who take the time to care for them the way we do! My husband had to explain to our 5 year old what diarrhea was for goodness sakes. She had no clue. None of our children have had it. When one of them has ever had to throw up or they have a little fever, they think, “Hey, that is great! Our bodies are doing what they need to.” What an amazing mindset to grow up with!
I love my children dearly. I want what is best for them just like every other mom. For me, that is taking the time to educate myself on what is best for their bodies. It is me being responsible for their health. It is us staying away from shots and drugs and trusting that God make their little bodies perfect, especially when there is no interference. Also, it is recognizing that we are blessed to live in a country with great emergency care in the case of an emergency only!
Yep, that is where I stand and that is me practicing what I preach.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post January!
I love the self-education and personal choices. I too have my own methods of taking care of myself, that I use for myself. I feel I am educated enough to use these methods in case various problems come up.
I always get adjusted regularly, that is the core. Ever since college when I was introduced to Chiropractic, I have felt my absolute best when under regular care. I also eat responsibly, exercise, take a core of supplements, get restful sleep when possible and use visualization, goal setting and other methods to plan my days and future.
Again, great post. I hope one day I can meet you two and we can have a long chat over a cold beverage of our choices! Stay well!
Brandon Schultz, D.C.
I fully agree with you that medicine has its place and that is for emergency care. I have been practicing in Croatia for the last 15 years and every time that someone asks me why there is a problem between Chiropractic and Medicine, I have always answered that there is no problem. I say that Medicine is best for emergency, crisis care situations and they are very good at it. I continue saying that Chiropractic is for health maintenance, to help your body get well and stay that way. The MD’s here must also believe it since I have many of them as regular chiropractic patients.
If I am run over by a truck and bleeding heavily, please rush me to the EMERGENCY room where a ER doctor and stitch me up. IMMEDIATELY after that, please rush me to my CHIROPRACTOR so that I may have C1 adjusted. Only then — will I be able to truly heal.
Another homerun post January! No hypocrites here, just straight shooters. Keep up the great work.
Sounds like somebody saw their entire world of health beliefs disintegrating in front of their very eyes and in a state of fear didn’t know what else to do but attack the source of it.
Rereading my comment, it sounds quite ambiguous. What I meant was….
Sounds like the person who called your teachings “garbage” saw their entire world of health beliefs disintegrating in front of their very eyes and in a state of fear didn’t know what else to do but attack the source of it.
Much love, I just want to stir the pot a little. I am speaking without offense or mocking, just asking Naomi if we can only “truly” heal after C1 has been properly adjusted? I find adjusting of C1 very effective, but I also find that at times, the upper cervical mindset of chiropractic care can be just as dogmatic and unquestioning as our allopathic friends’ mindset. One of the most powerful tenets to “chiropractic philosophy” is that we are wholistic – viewing the whole body, not just C1.
Just want to know what we think here…
Josh, I completely see what you are saying. As an upper cervical chiropractor, I just find that the majority of the time, whenever C1 is adjusted, the rest of the body is affected. A C1 adjustment is not just a simple movement of 1 vertebra, it actually has a global effect, from posture, to reduction of pain and symptoms. From personal experience, when I get adjusted full spine, I feel like I need an adjustment 30 minutes later. Not so with a C1 adjustment. Not that full spine is bad at all, this is just how I’ve experienced and witnessed an upper cervical adjustment.