Practicing What I Preach
Posted by January Harshe on June 15, 2009
Recently I was called a hypocrite.
Let’s start with the definition of a hypocrite according the the Webster Dictionary online:
1 : a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
2 : a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings
— hypocrite adjective
For number one: I am who I am and what you see is what you get. Also, my religious beliefs are pretty clear. I am LDS.
Let’s move on to number 2 then, shall we? Let me state my beliefs. Maybe I haven’t been clear enough in my blog posts. I am going to state my beliefs on health care, since that is what has been attacked.
I believe that the allopathic model of medicine can and does save lives. I believe that it is and only should be used for emergency care. Further more, I believe there are other ways that we can take care of our bodies, prevent disease and live a healthy lifestyle. I feel that these things will keep myself and my family from needing allopathic remedies most of (if not all of) the time.
I will give a little run down of the the main things I believe will help my family. First and most important in my opinion is chiropractic care. What I am referring to is the absence of any subluxations, especially at the atlas (C1). I truly believe that without nerve interference our bodies can function in amazing ways. I do believe that this needs to be as specific as possible. You can read more about Upper Cervical Chiropractic at Brandon’s blog.
Other things I believe help more to heal the body than drugs and surgery are nutrition (hands down and this is probably a whole other post) and other natural remedies such as sleep, and using things such as aloe vera and colloidal silver. For example, if my baby starts to show signs of a little diaper rash, I put on some olive oil and within 1 diaper change we are all cleared up! These things are not as easy as popping a pill. They require responsibility, not looking outward, but inward and not being a victim.
If one of my children get sick, I actually get excited. They rarely do, so when it does happen I think it’s great that their body is having a chance to build its natural immunities! Our oldest used to get ear infections when swimming. She’d get them often and sometimes in both ears. Every single time, she needed her atlas adjusted and every single time after the adjustment and a little rest the infections cleared up within hours (at least the painful symptoms). The only other things we have used to help fight ear infections are blessings/prayer when really bad and some garlic oil. We never freaked out and ran to a doctor to get antibiotics. We let her body do what it does best. We removed interference and let it do it’s job.
Now, if I was a hypocrite, I’d be talking about all of my opinions on health care and then running to an MD or hospital the minute we get sick, right? I don’t. I practice what I preach. Always. I don’t tell others what to do. I don’t force my views on other moms and dads. My biggest issue is about being self educated and making decisions that is best for you (and your family’s) health. Not freaking out, getting scared and making decisions based on fear or because someone else told you that you have to do it their way or else (fill in the blank).
How does this apply to birth? Am I a hypocrite because I have stated that if something does go terribly wrong (which it won’t) that I will go to the hospital? I thought I have made it clear that I am practicing what I preach. I do not believe birth is a disease. I believe it is normal and beautiful. I believe God created my body to birth a baby perfectly. I know that I can have a safe birth at home without intervention and giving up control to someone I barely know. I believe that hospitals are for EMERGENCIES.
So, if I believe that, then wouldn’t I only go in the case of an emergency? Is that me being a hypocrite? If I have so clearly stated that the allopathic model of medicine and hospitals can save lives and is for emergencies only and if I only use it for those rare cases, then I am no hypocrite. I am strong in my beliefs and doing what I say I believe in. Period.
I have practiced the type of health for my children that I have stated. None of them have ever had an antibiotic, none of them have ever had over the counter medicine (with the exception of infant tylenol with my first a few times). My youngest 2 have never needed to see a pediatrician. Their primary care provider has and always will be a chiropractor. If an emergency came up, I would take them to see someone my husband and I feel we may need help from.
Someone accused me of teaching my kids “this garbage!” I laugh at that. My kids have no interference in their bodies. They are healthy and happy. They don’t have side effects from medications, they don’t get whatever ‘bug’ is going around at the time. It’s phenomenal. They are blessed to have informed parents who take the time to care for them the way we do! My husband had to explain to our 5 year old what diarrhea was for goodness sakes. She had no clue. None of our children have had it. When one of them has ever had to throw up or they have a little fever, they think, “Hey, that is great! Our bodies are doing what they need to.” What an amazing mindset to grow up with!
I love my children dearly. I want what is best for them just like every other mom. For me, that is taking the time to educate myself on what is best for their bodies. It is me being responsible for their health. It is us staying away from shots and drugs and trusting that God make their little bodies perfect, especially when there is no interference. Also, it is recognizing that we are blessed to live in a country with great emergency care in the case of an emergency only!
Yep, that is where I stand and that is me practicing what I preach.
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Jason Young said,
January,
First of all I like your blog! I think that it is cool that you are confidently spreading the good word about the power of God’s creation in the human body.
(I don’t think you’re a hypocrite)
I just wanted to point out something that struck me as funny (not hypocritical… just funny). Your categorization of Allopathic healthcare being “only… for emergency care” is the equivalent of an Allopath categorizing Chiropractic care as being only for back pain. We know that both approaches are far more than either of those myopic views express. Thankfully, there is an increasing number Allopaths who are targeting prevention, education, and the like.
Bridging these gaps and giving credit and recognition where it is due is part of making a better overall health care environment in our country. Not better for practitioners but better for the people who really count… the patient.
-Dr. Young
Janaury said,
Jason, thank you for reading! I appreciate your insight and comments.
When an Allopath says Chiropractic care is ‘back pain’, I can see where they are coming from. That is what Chiropractic has become. There is a big difference between manipulation and therapies, which is what chiropactic is to most people now, versus specific and pure chiropractic that just focuses on the removal of nerve interference. This is why I linked to information about Upper Cervical Chiropractic in this post.
Same goes for MD’s I suppose. For this blog post I am specifically talking about allopathic medicine and how it includes (most of the time) vaccinations, prescription drugs and other medications and does not focus on any type of prevention or healing. Just like with chiropractic, I know there can be exceptions. Someone like Joel Furhman who wrote Eat to Live and helps all this patients get off medications through amazing nutritional advice and support is awesome! However, is he following the ‘allopathic way’?
I’m sure I could write 10 more blog posts as spin offs from this one! LOL
Henny said,
as usual…. I completely agree
January said,
thanks Henny….
Carrie said,
I can’t imagine why anyone would say that you are a hypocrite. I have rarely met someone so genuine as you. I really enjoyed this post and it certainly got me thinking!
January said,
Ahhh…thanks Carrie!!!! You are seriously so kind! I received an email and call about this post today as well. Good to know that people who really know me, know that I am ‘genuine’ as you put it. Thank you for your loves darling!
Miranda said,
January, I am still, as always, so excited for you. I love everything that you are doing!! I just updated myself on all of your latest and greatest.
After we moved it took almost two weeks for our internet to be hooked up again. I was so worried that I would miss something wonderful happening at the Harshe home.
I am so happy to hear that things are still going well and that you and your baby are still happy and healthy and doing great.
I love your posts, and think you are amazing! I learn so much from you every time I log on to your blog. I wish I could just follow you around with a tape recorder so I could capture and replay your amazing wisdom. Someday I hope to be as fantastic a mother as you are. I Love you my amazing friend!!
Lori Contreras said,
My beautiful January,
You are amazing, and I love you dearly! You walk your talk with every step you take and have unquestionable integrity. I want to add something to clear up any confusion in light of Dr. Young’s comment.
The Allopathic approach does not apply to MD’s alone. The Allopathic APPROACH can be and is taken by all areas of healthcare, including Chiropractors. It is important to understand that when speaking of the allopathic APPROACH we are discussing the REactive approach. Those are the physicians (including Chiropractors) who are treating the symptoms, or effects…not focusing on the cause. In Chiropractic it would be those Docs who remove back pain, neck pain, or headaches and tell the patient to return when they have a problem again. This, as I said, is in ALL branches of healthcare.
There ARE MD’s that treat patients from the VITALISTIC standpoint of PROactive care…Healthy, natural, living. Following the fundamental philosophy, that IS Chiropractic…healthy, natural, living, including the removal of subluxations that would rob the body of it’s innate ability to heal and function optimally. There is no real “Us vs. Them” battle and we shouldn’t feel the need to walk on eggshells. The gap that needs to be bridged is in understanding the communication and which approach our healthcare provider is taking…Allopathic…or Vitalistic.
Love ya, honey!! Hugs to the fam.
Dr. Lori
January said,
MIranda, you have no idea how much you brightened up a hard day for me. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. I love you too and wish we were seeing more of each other!
Lori…I freakin’ love you! You basically said what I was trying to in a much better way! LOL. When I get my body and brain back, I hope to be able to express myself so beautifully. Wait, I’m having 4 kids ages 5 and under, will that ever happen again?! I couldn’t agree with you more though and thank you for making it even more clear!
Jason Young said,
Hmmm… I find your definitions of Allopathic interesting. Mainly because the phrase was actually created by Samuel Hahnemann who you may or may not know is the creator of Homeopathy. The word literally means “other than the disease” referring to the idea that these allopathic doctors used treatments that did NOT correspond to symptoms. Kind of the opposite of what has been suggested (chasing symptoms). The other common definition is that it is a word for western medicine as opposed to traditional medicine such as Ayurveda or Chinese Medicine. Techinically… Chiropractic is Western Medicine. (Midwestern to be more specific
).
I think we waste a LOT of time putting practitioners in boxes and pointing fingers rather than accepting all of the good that all of the flavors of health care providers have to offer.
-Dr. Young
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