So what is health?  Health is the presence of vitality, not the absence of disease!  It is embracing wellness.  Healing takes place from the inside out, not the out side in.  Prepare your body so you won't have to repair your body.  "Time, nature, a plant based diet and patience are our best healers." 

REMEMBER - "Those who fail to take the time to be healthy will ultimately have the time to be sick."  - Dr. James Chappell

Staying well takes focused committed daily effort on your part.  When you've been diagnosed with an illness, the fundamental and basic tenets of holism must then be addressed or you will not begin to heal.  What are you willing to do, what can you do?  What are you eating daily, are you feeding your health or your illness with your diet. 

How are you living?  How is your marriage, and your personal relationships?  Do you believe in a higher power, and are you willing to change the mind set and habits that put you into poor health.  We are responsible for our own wellness and treatment outcomes. 

You should never leave your health care up to any health professional alone.  This is your wake up call, it's not a dooms day message for you.  This is where you find out how important your health really is to you.

Working with your health care practitioner, taking charge of your between practitioner visits by researching and starting holistic support is a great place to begin the management of your health care.  It all starts and ends with "YOU." 

The body is designed to give off signals when something is going wrong.  Pain, a headache, inflammation (swelling), constipation (slow or no regular bowel movements), blurred vision, anxiety, depression etc.  Ignore the signals and the problem will only get worse.  Pay attention to the signals "early" and you can begin to do something about them.  But where should you begin?

One of the first things to do when you are . . .

• Newly diagnosed with an illness;
• Have been previously diagnosed with an illness;
• Living with an illness;
• Are afraid to go to the doctor for fear of an unfavorable diagnosis;
• Or you would like an opinion from a qualified holistic practitioner.  

Schedule a visit with your primary health care provider.  A health practitioner should be a service provider only when needed, not a long term health sustainer.  When you say "MY DOCTOR" he / she should not be viewed as a vital part of your life in the way a family member should be.  When health provider services are needed, start with your current health practitioner and request a referral to a qualified holistic practitioner for a second or even a third opinion. 

If you don't currently have a doctor, there is a list on this site and information on how to locate a practitioner in your area.  The doctors listed practice holistic and alternative medicine.  Most are medical doctors with holistic medicine as their specialty.  The days are gone when you can only depend on a doctor for a healthier future.  Once again, better health starts and ends with "YOU."

Then let's look at your diet.  Healthier food choices are one of the primary preventative health care interventions and improvements for optimal health that you can make on your own.   Take one of these > free online test and/or this health analyzer to have a basic personal assessment of your current health status.  

PLEASE NOTE, these tests are not meant to diagnose or suggest treatments, but only to provide information on health improvement choices that you can make.  If you are aware of a possible condition early, you and your health care provider can address it early. 

These quiz's provide very helpful and general information, but it is a start.  This you can do right now.  If you are currently in need of medical attention or health care, please consult your doctor.  *DISCLAIMER*

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Now let's look at your fitness level.  If you can stand and walk, then it's time to start moving.  Starting with short walks for 5 - 10 minutes at least 4 - 5 days a week will help you to feel much better.  Then increase your walking time as you increase your fitness level. 

Also adding small weights (wrist, hand or ankle) can increase your strength and workout performance overall.  If you are unable to walk, you can still sit and be fit.  You can focus on upper body exercises, by using small weights or use what you have at home, grab a couple of soup cans and use them as weights.  The key is getting started from where you are right now. 

Then locate a competent licensed holistic medical practitioner or medical professional to begin your path to healing and fitness.  As long as you have breath, you have hope.  There are medical doctors who practice holistic medicine and natural medical doctors both who accept standard insurance for some, but not all of their holistic treatment protocols. 

I know of two very competent physicians who are graduates of traditional medical schools, both who have thriving practices in holistic medicine.  

• Dr. Joseph M. Mercola, DO is also an MD and a graduate of the University of Illinois School of Medicine and the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine.
• Dr. Ross A. Hauser, MD. a graduate of the University of Illinois School of Medicine. 

• PLEASE NOTE: I am not employed by nor do I have any business affiliations with the practice of these physicians.  I have requested and have been granted permission to use their web site content for information purposes.

There are however, traditional medical protocols using surgery and pharmaceuticals that do have their place.  In a crisis situation and to stabilize critically ill patients, certain allopathic protocols are very warranted. 

The diagnostic testing procedures in allopathic medicine are very helpful in assessing a current medical condition.  Once you have obtained a diagnosis, request a second opinion from a qualified licensed holistic practitioner, for a holistic approach to your currently diagnosed condition.  You want to address the root cause of your illness, not treat the signs and symptoms of what was found on the diagnostic tests.

And many pharmaceuticals do work, one for example are the Statin drugs.  These are anti-fungal agents, of which an example are cholesterol medications.  These drugs are used to lower high cholesterol. 

But when taking pharmaceuticals you will usually have side affects and unfavorable possible drug interactions.  So why not try to understand the root cause of why cholesterol levels elevate or why and when your particular disease process began. 

There are many non drug and non surgical interventions that work very well for conditions that doctors write prescriptions and also recommend surgery for.   As a whole, alternative treatment options have far fewer side affects than do traditional Allopathic protocols and procedures.  

Non drug/non surgical protocols are aimed at the cause of disease and illness and not just the ongoing signs and symptoms that you have learned to live with. 

I have read about and have seen interviews with people where doctors and hospitals have sent patients home to get their personal affairs in order, because they were told that there was nothing else that could be done.  And I have cared for patients like this upon their return to the hospital for ongoing comfort and hospice care until the end of their lives. 

But I have also encountered people who have refused to accept a poor prognosis as their only option and they made a decision to live and live they did.  They got a wake up call and proceeded to act prayerfully, positively, hopefully and knowledgeable upon their life changing revelation. 

And there are many people who have searched their souls after getting news of an illness leading to a poor prognosis that decided to make the life changing decisions necessary, sooner than later, to begin their new path to health, healing and fitness. 

I have heard the testimonies of 20, 30, 40 and 50 year cancer survivors.  So believe me, there is hope.  I have talked with people in there 70's, 80's and older who are still looking for alternative treatment options to better health. 

Healing is a multifaceted effort on your part to take control of your life and health.  It starts with a desire to be well physically, mentally and spiritually.  And it continues with "actions" that support your decision to be well. 

Healing takes place from the inside out, by taking in adequate nutrition, hydration, being aware of your stressors and how to reduce them daily.  Healing does not take place from the outside in by taking potions and pills for you ills. 

A critical key to consistently improving your health is to increase your level of hydration by drinking enough water for your body daily and to cleanse the blood of toxic cellular debris by nourishing the cells in your body with high quality absorbable nutrients and correcting intestinal dysbiosis (poor bowel terrain) with high quality probiotics and enzymes. 

There is so much new information today on how cancer and other diseases are contracted and what you can do to help yourself.  With a focused Internet search of your particular illness you can find an endless stream of information that will help you begin your personal path to wellness. 

But the bottom line, change from the usual way of living your life must be looked at.  This is a challenge for most people in a healing crisis.  And for many people this is where they begin to feel helpless and turn over their health care to someone else in hopes that they can do more to help them get better.

Please discuss with your current health practitioner any information that you have learned on this site or any other site, that will help you make an informed decision about how to proceed with improving your health and fitness level.  This may initially include a combination of allopathic and holistic treatment protocols.  

A qualified holistic practitioner who has knowledge of both allopathic and holistic treatment interventions and protocols is a licensed professional who would be able to authorize treatment options from either protocol.  But whatever your decision, change in the usual way that you treat your health, physically, mentally and spiritually, must be a primary concern if you want to begin to feel better and regain your health. 

If you have other issues i.e. drug and/or alcohol addiction, food addiction issues (anorexia, bulimia, purging), cigarettes, marijuana, sexual addiction etc.  Your first step should be to deal with your health through diet and fitness, while resolving the issues with your addiction.  

A healthy body heals more easily spiritually, mentally and physically.  So always remember there is help and hope.  Click H E R E for resources to aid you in your recovery.