Helen MacMillan is a Co-Op partner at Good Life Wellness. She practices Physical Therapy and integrative therapies including Emotional Freedom Technique,  Reiki, Craniosacral Therapy, and her blended technique called Integrative Mind Body Therapy.  Read her biography at www.good-life-wellness.com and schedule with her to renew yourself for spring.

(dis-ease).

When you really think about this isn't it a little ridiculous that we expect someone outside of us to tell us what's going on inside of us? I'm not saying they can't educate you, guide you, assist you, in the process of figuring out where you are out of balance but the bottom line is YOU are the only one living inside of you and so you have to take responsibility for tuning in and listening to what your body is trying to tell you.

Take pain for example. It can mean so many different things... it may result from poor circulation or pressure on a nerve caused by chronic bad posture or a muscle spasm and the body is saying "hey quit it!" :) Or, maybe you have a general feeling of malaise, lack of energy which may be the result of dehydration or lack of sleep.

Sometimes the symptoms of illness are symbolic of a much deeper issues such as unresolved traumas or chronic negative thought patterns.

The body responds automatically to thoughts and beliefs (thoughts you keep on thinking) automatically. At any given moment our brain is processing trillions of bits of information the majority of it at the subconscious level i.e. - you are completely unaware of it! As frightening as that may sound, there is hope. We humans have made great strides in the area of health and wellness, particularly the eastern cultures that have been around for thousands of years.

Obviously, the best case scenario is to prevent dis-ease by creating health and wellness. This in itself requires a change in our mindset - that we make ourselves responsible for our health and well-being. That we educate ourselves about this home we inhabit - the temple we live in - and nurture and care for it. The current western medical system is one focused on disease care and profits from our ignorance and lack of self care. 

According to Dr. Len Saputo, MD in his book "A Return to Healing - Radical health care reform and the future of medicine": "Cellular health is a key concept underlying the new science of medicine. This approach is focused primarily on strengthening the defenses of the body rather than fighting what has "attacked" the body and created malfunction and disease." His approach involves addressing four main factors of disease at the cellular level: the nutritional needs of our cells; the elimination of toxic substances; genetic defects; and psychospiritual factors. 

So where do we begin? 

First line of defense: Lifestyle strategies such as a healthy diet, adequate sleep and exercise, stress reduction, weight control, avoidance of toxic exposures, and securing emotional and spiritual balance. 

The next line of defense: Noninvasive complementary and alternative services such as acupuncture, chiropractic, bodywork, homeopathy and energy medicine. 

The next line of defense: Natural medicine approaches based on the latest advances on orthomolecular medicine, functional medicine and bioenergetic research - including advanced forms of testing. 

The last line of defense: Very careful and sparing use of pharmaceutical drugs, surgery and other invasive strategies. 

So you don't even know what half of these things ARE that he recommends - BUT do you see that we generally start at the back end of this list? Most of us have a pain, we pop a pill. Upset stomach? Pop a pill or drink some maalox. The average person knows more about which medication to take for a malady than an alternative natural remedy. And we know even less about the possible causes and how to prevent them! 

Suffice it to say, we need to wake up and take charge of our health and well being. We are blessed to live in a time where information is readily available so I would recommend taking the time to start educating yourself, about yourself... (or find a practitioner who will) and then exercise your right to CHOOSE to love yourself, nurture yourself and heal yourself! 

Namaste