NOTE: THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE
I often hear people scoff at holistic doctors and claim they offer no medical value compared to traditional medical doctors (MDs). However, based on experience, I have found holistic doctors and medical doctors to both play important roles in solving health issues, and I have had good and bad experiences with both of them.
First, before seeing a doctor, I take note of how serious is the health issue. If it is very serious or life threatening, then I would see a medical doctor. If the problem is not serious, such as a surface issue or mental issue, then a holistic doctor can be an ideal alternative.
I learned about the value of holistic treatment after dealing with severe acne for years. When I was 14, a few pimples appeared on my face, and within no time the pimples exploded into a red frenzy that plagued my self confidence. Over the period of three years I saw four dermatologists who recommended skin ointments and medication that did not clear my skin.
One doctor prescribed accutane, also known as isotreninoin, right off the bat in 2007. A nurse handed me a thick booklet that explained the procedure of taking accutane and precautions to be aware of. I was already familiar with accutane after reading about it in acne forums. I knew it was expensive, caused major birth defects and was the most extreme acne treatment on the market. I also knew I would have to conduct blood tests before starting the treatment and present a negative pregnancy test every month before I picked up the medication within a specific time period.
I immediately told the doctor I did not want to do accutane. He said I should move onto another doctor since I chose to not follow his medical advice. I said sure thing and walked out the door. Accutane was removed from the US market in 2009 due to inflammatory bowel disease claims, but was re-introduced on the market in 2017 and has since been branded under different names all over the world.
To my surprise, not one doctor asked about my diet (and no, I was not loading myself up with fast food and chocolate, which many people assume a person with acne eats). I learned through my own research that dairy can impact acne. I stopped eating dairy, such as milk, cheese and yogurt, and was surprised to see my skin begin to clear within a few weeks. Additionally I drank certain teas that I had read cleanse the liver which can improve skin quality. By this time I was 27 years old.. If only I had taken a more holistic approach to dealing with acne at a younger age!
Of course, medical doctors should be consulted with for serious health conditions. When I was 21 I started having seizures and turned to my mom for help. She said she knew a doctor I should see, so one day we hopped in the car and drove an hour to see this doctor. It turns out that my mom was talking about a holistic doctor. I had never seen a holistic doctor before, so I said okay, let’s see what this doctor has to say.
For an hour the doctor’s nurse repeatedly tapped my finger with a metal pen attached to a small machine. She said the machine was sending electrical impulses through my body to collect data and determine what is causing my seizures. At the end of the test she printed out the results and said my problem is the electro-magnetic field (EMF), such as electrical waves emitted from phone towers. She took the results to the holistic doctor who then wrote me a regimen telling me to take certain vitamins and herbs and purchase equipment to block EMF waves.
I shelled out $150 before leaving and took the results and regimen paperwork with me, feeling I was not one step closer in halting my seizures. I said thanks mom, but I need to see a “real” medical doctor.
Within a few weeks I saw a neurologist who had me do an EEG to read the electrical impulses in my brain. The results showed electrical activity and I was diagnosed with epilepsy. The doctor then prescribed me a low dosage basic seizure medication. Fortunately, the seizures stopped, which was the ultimate priority.
While the holistic doctor was not helpful for addressing a serious health issue, I have consulted with the holistic doctor for other reasons, primarily diet and dealing with psychological issues such as anxiety, stress and depression. Medical doctors tend to not be of much help when it comes to less serious health issues because they are more likely to prescribe medication that tries to immediately stop the problem rather than address the underlying cause of the problem. For example, a medical doctor will prescribe anti-depressants for depression while a holistic doctor may try an alternative route that does not involve drugs, such as diet, exercise and herbal remedies.
I have found medical and holistic doctors to both be of great assistance depending on the circumstance of the situation.
Lauren Ell is an American blogger born and raised in Southern California and is currently based in Sweden. She discusses Epilepsy, Politics and Fun. Professionally Ell is an Online Marketing Consultant and Virtual Assistant. She is also founder and president of Republican Atheists. Connect with Lauren on Facebook and Twitter.