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.