I have recently had some experiences that seem so odd for me – especially because others in our culture take it for granted. We live in the environment that believes (almost) everyone is on a (prescription) drug and has a preferred pharmacy. I’ll call it “the drug culture”.
First experience with the “Drug Culture”
A woman and I were passing a CVS and she asked, where do you go, CVS or Walgreens? I was confused. I responded by saying I rarely go in either and if I need something I just drop in whichever is convenient. She came back with “where do you get your prescriptions filled?” I was surprised at this. I said I didn’t take any. Now it was her turn to be surprised. Her son counted eight for himself. She didn’t offer how many she was on.
This experience woke me up to the environment others live in. I grew up in a family that rarely if ever choose to take meds. We believe the body heals itself, using food and exercise as our main medicine.
Seniors and the “Drug Culture”
My dad is 84 with alzheimers/some form of dementia. When the disease was diagnosed over six years ago we tried at one point to get him to take the medication of the day. He said his legs hurt from them and didn’t want to take. As he is otherwise healthy and fit, continuing to walk the golf course when he plays, dancing, and daily walks, we let it go.
When he fell on a wet floor and hit his head my brother took him to the hospital to get checked. The hospital staff did not believe my brother when he told them he was not on any meds/didn’t have a pharmacist. They called my sister to confirm.
Doctors and the “Drug Culture”
I injured my left foot recently. My chiropractor used a tuning fork to see if there was a fracture. While I didn’t think I felt the “buzz” identifying a fracture, he suggested I get an x-ray to confirm. So I did. And this led to my seeing a podiatrist.
My experience with the “drug culture” started with the Intake forms asking “who is your pharmacy/pharmacist”. I left it blank.
When they reviewed the forms they asked again and I said I didn’t have one.
The podiatrist confirmed there was no fracture, (yeah tuning fork!) and he wanted to give me an Rx for a steroid to reduce the inflammation. I know the inflammation is there as a natural response so was questioning this. My impression of what he said is that the inflammation can inhibit the flow and thus the healing. I can go along with that.
A Sign of the Times
He had a young man assisting that asked me again, “who is your pharmacy?” Again I said I don’t have one. He was at a loss on what to do next. The podiatrist told him to write the Rx and hand it to me. Obviously a first for him.
I have two friends who have recently complained of the effects of steroids – one complained of the after affects of a shot for a bee sting and the other for the hiccuping from the Rx for a bronchial infection. Thus I questioned taking the medication he was offering. The podiatrist said he gave it to lots of people for lots of things, it was a light dose and only for six days. For him it is a quick and easy fix for many ailments. I still wondered if it would be good for me. I took the script doubting I would get it filled.
On my errands I stopped into an acupuncturist and chinese medicine practitioner and herbalists office and got help there. I got a diagnosis and he prepared an herbal combination. When I asked what it was he read off some chinese words. Of course I didn’t know understand. Truth be known if it were an Rx I still wouldn’t understand. He suggested that I ask “what is the ACTION”. He told me the action for what he was offering me was a combination to reduce inflammation, strengthen blood and reduce pain.
Taking ACTION
For those of us who are actively engaged in our health and wellness and for those wanting to be more self-empowered, you have to speak up. We can make it known that we want other options, that we want integrative care!
If you are already seeing an herbalist, chinese medicine practitioner, acupuncturist, naturopath and or holistic nurse, let your health care practitioner know and give them the name – make sure it is written down. This will help them build their referral base for those who don’t have contact with the integrative practitioners yet. Let your health care practitioner know you want options and referrals to the integrative practitioners most helpful for them and their symptoms. And to give you choices besides those offered by the “drug culture”.
enjoying the journey!
Mollie Yunker,
Certified BodyTalk Practitioner
502.550.2719
http://www.bodytalkworks.net/
Let the Healing Begin!
© Copyright, Mollie Yunker, 2011
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