I love passing along information about natural remedies to anyone who could benefit. It’s one of my favorite things about writing for Everything Birth. Every once in awhile though, I will get a message like this:
“In response to you telling my friend to put coconut oil on her baby’s skin to act as a natural defense against staph infections, I have to ask you; Why do you presume to know more than the doctors?”
Well… I don’t.
I don’t presume that I know more than doctors. I do presume some things though. Here are the main presumptions that go through my head as I suggest trying a natural remedy before running to the doctor’s office.
Presumption # 1
Human beings have either evolved in our natural environment for hundreds of thousands of years. *OR* God created humans with an environment that is physically suitable to meet our needs. Either way, the result is the same: Humans have the ability to function their best when our lifestyles are connected to nature.
Presumption # 2
Doctors go through extensive training in modern medicine, but experience very limited (if any) training in holistic medicine. This means that as intelligent and well trained as a medical doctor may be, he is also very likely unaware of the vast majority of natural remedies that exist. So when people say, “Well, if Hyland’s Teething Tablets work so well on teething, why didn’t my doctor suggest it to me?” I explain that medical doctors are not trained to understand homeopathy. It’s really that simple. I don’t presume to know more than doctors. I simply don’t presume that doctors know more than “Mother Nature.” Americans deify medical doctors. I recognize their actual strengths and weaknesses. My children go to their doctors’ appointments. I find them invaluable resources.
Presumption # 3
Not every illness requires immediate medical attention. I understand that some conditions are better suited for a medical doctor. I also understand that most childhood ailments are not life threatening conditions that cannot wait a day or two to give people a chance to try a homeopathic or natural remedy before running off to the pediatrician’s office where they will be exposed to a plethora of probably more serious illnesses at a point when their resistance is already down.
These are my presumptions.
I invite anyone to find fault in any one of these presumptions. If anyone can, I will promise to never suggest another inexpensive, safe alternative remedy to that person again.