Q & A

image Q: What do you think about pharmaceuticals and conventional medicine? Are natural remedies better?

A: I think there is a time and place for everything. If I am in a car accident and my liver is bleeding, I want to go to the emergency department and see an allopathic doctor. If I need that bleeding fixed, I wouldn’t want to consult a naturopath for an herbal remedy. If I were diagnosed with cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, or any other chronic disease, conventional medicine would be the last place that I would look for a cure. A cure will not be found with pharmaceuticals. Cures are only found within ourselves. Pharmaceuticals will only treat symptoms of a disease and never cure the disease itself. Natural healing is much more than popping a pill. It requires removing the offending agent, giving the body what it needs to work correctly, and time. Natural healing takes research, self determination, and is not covered by your health care insurance (can be costly). Generally, natural remedies such as herbal preparations are not concentrated in a laboratory, unlike pharmaceuticals, and work more subtly. They have fewer negative side effects than pharmaceuticals, but don’t work as quickly.

Q: When are pharmaceuticals a good choice?

A: Pharmaceuticals should be used in the short-term only for most chronic disease. They don’t cure anything. Patients who are looking for a long-term solution to disease need only look to the healing properties created within their own bodies. This can be frustrating for some. Good natural healing knowledge is hard to come by; there is no money in it. Research really takes place where the money is at, pharmaceuticals. Drug companies can’t patent naturally occurring medicines (herbal remedies) and won’t study them simply for the good of society.

Q: What are the most important things we can do to heal ourselves?

A: Given proper nutrients and elimination of toxic offense, the human body tends to repair and heal itself. Disease usually takes time to develop and healing also takes time. Never give up on yourself, it’s never too late for healing, as long as your heart is still beating. Dr. John Christopher said that there are no incurable diseases, only incurable patients. I believe this to be true. Patients seeking natural solutions sometimes are not willing to do what it takes to get well. Never give up.

Q: Should I take vitamin and mineral supplements?

A: I do. A quality vitamin and mineral supplement is essential with our current agricultural practices. It would be next to impossible to get the vitamins and minerals we require for optimal health without supplementing. Many value vitamin supplements but neglect mineral supplements, including trace minerals. We need minerals for every function in our bodies. God created our bodies to extract minerals from plants. Plants don’t make minerals; minerals have to be present in the soil to end up where we need them. Our agricultural soils are lacking (understatement). We, who eat the mineral deficient plants, are lacking. Don’t forget a good mineral supplement and make sure to include trace minerals.

Q: Where can I find detailed reading on natural healing?

A: Some of my favorite natural healing heroes… Wayne Dorsett, Dr. John R. Christopher, Dr. Norman Walker, Dr. Richard Schulze, Dr. Joel Wallach, Elmer A. Josephson, Dr. Lorraine Day, Dr. Ronald Klatz, and Dr. Hulda Clark.

Q: How did you become interested in natural healing?

A: I became interested in natural healing during my first year of medical school. As I studied the human body and the physiology that makes us who we are, my faith in the Creator and His love for us grew exponentially. The healing mechanisms created in our bodies could be no mistake. They were designed by someone much smarter than anyone I had ever met. They are no accident and neither are we. The Word of God says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).

I learned from my first pharmacology course that drugs couldn't cure anything. I knew that healing had to come from God, either directly as a miracle, or indirectly through the "wonderfully" made healing system that He created.

I enjoy learning from those who lean toward extremes, also know as experts. We need these experts, as they further our knowledge in specific areas. Experts in one field, as valuable as they are, tend to have faith in their style of healthcare and neglect others. This is what I was taught to do in medical school with pharmaceuticals. This exact focus is what drives experts to be masters in their field. Some masters feel that detoxification is the key, some vitamins and minerals, some herbal remedies, some mind-body connection, some purely spiritual. I have faith that they are all right. All of these keys are needed to unlock the doors to health, longevity, and the wonderful healing abilities our Creator imparted.