Natural Living Now!

Do you pop a little extra vitamin C at the first signs of a sniffle? Or to rub a little clove oil on a teething baby’s gums? Or take ten deep breaths when you’re feeling stressed? Or have a filter on your drinking water supply?

If so, you’re among 74 percent of Americans who are looking for a more natural approach to their own health and that of their families.

If so, you are probably among those of us who are so committed to natural health that we spend billions of dollars a year on herbs, supplements, chiropractors and other forms of “unconventional” health care – much of it out of our own pockets.

If so, you’re committed to the best, not the easiest or fastest, means of maintaining health and correcting problems before they become serious. You recognize the effort it can take to bring yourself and your family to a state of wellness and to stay there.

Taking responsibility

Most importantly, you have decided to be responsible for your own health. You see your doctor as your partner in your well-being. You are eager to learn more about good nutrition and foods that will nurture your body and soul. You recognize that an exercise program is the foundation for good health. You seek new ways to manage stress and keep a healthy balance between work
and play.

Just because you’re interested in natural ways to live a long, healthy life doesn’t mean you’re one of those nut cases who gulps vitamins by the handful or washes beneficial mucus from your colon with weekly colonics or eats only fruit fallen from the tree.

A little history

In the years that followed, I learned about the value of vitamins and supplements long before the American Medical Association decided that every man, woman and child needs a daily multi-vitamin supplement.In the late 1960s, some friends gave me a book on yoga as a gag gift. It piqued my interest and led me to my first yoga class. My college friends were convinced I had lost my mind.

I was a vegetarian for more than 20 years, much to the annoyance of family and friends. I changed my mind after new research showed me how much our bodies need animal protein, so I now eat meat, organic when possible. I really relish a good steak from time to time.

In my years as a foreign correspondent, I learned about the wisdom of jungle doctors and tribal medicine people. My first experience of acupuncture came at the capable hands of a jungle doctor who was able to stop the agonizing cramps from a nasty case of dysentery. A few expertly placed needles and attached to a car battery did the trick. Crazy? Perhaps. Effective? Absolutely!

Now the National Institutes of Health affirms acupuncture’s value for relieving numerous types of pain.

During those years, I covered countries rife with violence. I was able to control stress, anxiety and, oftentimes, downright fear by using yoga breathing and relaxation techniques. In the 30-plus years since my first yoga class, numerous studies have confirmed the connection between breath
and body, the effectiveness of stress relief in preventing numerous physiological ills.

I was simply riding the wave of my times. The medical profession is more cautious and is less likely to embrace new ideas without extensive testing. That’s a good thing, most of the time.

Conventional medicine has its place

I’m not anti-doctor. I don’t recommend you get in bed and pray if you’ve broken your leg. We need doctors.

I think doctors should be our partners, co-creators of good health. This requires them to be informed and open to new ideas. Look for a doctor who is willing to spend time to listen to you and keep up with the research and you’ll be in good hands.

I’m a passionate advocate of taking responsibility for your own health, of the value of natural remedies and natural and sustainable lifestyles.

Our toxic environment

I’m deeply concerned about the damage we are doing to our health, our children’s health and to our Earth with the plethora pf pesticides we use to grow food that cannot sustain our bodies. I’m afraid when I see the effects of xenoestrogens in plastics and in our meat and dairy streams—on our bodies, our children’s bodies and on the Earth through the massive overloading of our landfills
with plastic waste.

I’m a Boomer. My days of chasing wars are over. Let’s face it, I’m no spring chicken. I’ve grappled with menopause, joint pain, weight gain, thyroid dysfunction and other elements of Boomer-dom.

As I age, I become even more conscious that our Earth is a precious resource that we must preserve and pass on to our children and the next seven generations.

I’m not perfect, but I hope over my years as a journalist and as a natural health advocate that I’ve gained a little insight into the healthy lifestyle that I can pass on to you. We’ll talk together about all these issues and more in the coming months and years.

I invite you to join me on this journey. Welcome home!

Contents of this page are copyrighted, and may be used freely, if unedited and with attribution as follows:
Source: Kathleen Barnes, www.kathleenbarnes.com

The content provided by this site is for informational purposes only and has not been approved by the U.S. FDA. This site is not intended to provide personal medical advice, which should be obtained from a medical professional.