I have previously discussed herbs and some of the ways that people self-prescribe with no real education in herbs, or their consumption based upon individual constitution rather than general acceptance of an herb as being healthy for all. I see this as taking the sweet of the benefits from these herbs, but not taking the sour or learning the background or implications of using particular herbs. Basically, taking the culture at a superficial level for personal gain – cultural appropriation.

Watering-down or cultural exploitation of yoga is an easy target as a big player in this controversial topic. Meditation practices have become diluted from spiritual or self-awareness practices from yoga and its relative qigong counterpart. With more attention towards stress management through mindfulness and mindful breathing or breathwork, many will have an attraction towards these practices without having any spiritual connection to these methods.

Living in this time of great technology advances and access to an almost unlimited supply of online information for healthcare and almost every other topic, has its own issues of pros and cons. With great knowledge, comes great responsibility or a similar cliché from pop-culture. A large percentage of people in the US have access to watch YouTube or other online outlets to view and learn about acupuncture and other Traditional Chinese Medicine methods, massage, yoga, Ayurveda and many other worldwide traditional mind and body practices.

With this access many can not only become more knowledgeable but can also often self-prescribe, self-diagnose, and self-administer many of these methods with no real academic nor clinical education. Where we may enjoy the benefits of this access, we must realize that some will abuse this knowledge or interpret it incorrectly and use it themselves or pass it on to others, in the hope of helping others or profiting for their own benefit. If qualified, educated people post this knowledge and information for others to view and/or study, how can some people complain that others are then using this knowledge as cultural appropriation? With most freedoms, there is a cost in order to have and maintain them.

References:

Eichhorn, T., Greten, H. J., & Efferth, T. (2011). Self-medication with nutritional supplements and herbal over-thecounter products. Natural Products and Bioprospecting, 1(2), 62–70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13659-011-0029-1

https://www.ayurvedanama.org/articles/2021/3/18/the-dangers-of-self-medicating-with-herbs

https://www.herbazest.com/wellness-articles/10-facts-about-medicinal-herbs-and-prescription-drugs

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I write often about topics that affect our health and well-being. Additionally, I teach and offer lecture about qigong, tai chi, baguazhang, and yoga.

For more info, contact Jim Moltzan at info@mindandbodyexercises.com, 407-234-0119 or through my site at http://www.mindandbodyexercises.com

www.Amazon.com/author/jimmoltzan

Allopathic, biomedicine or Western medicine are based upon treating illness through pharmaceuticals, surgery, and other invasive treatments. This approach works well for traumatic injuries and some life-threatening diseases but often falls quite short in treating chronic illnesses due to choices in diet and lifestyle. Allopathic medicine basically puts the healthcare provider in the role of maintaining the health of the individual instead of the individual being responsible for the consequences of their own actions, whether deemed as good or bad for that individual. This is one of the main reasons why healthcare in the US is so expensive, while at the same time our standard of health and wellness rates far below the best when compared to other countries in the world. The US does not really provide healthcare, but rather encourages “sick care” over self-care.

Find and research the root cause of your disease, pain or discomfort to help become empowered to make your own educated decisions that affect your health and well-being. It is often very difficult to live a comfortable life, when someone has so much pain and suffering within it. The keys to happiness are truly in our own hands. Self-discipline is the master key to do what we know needs to be done:

– maintain a nutritional diet

– consistently exercise and/or be active

– prioritize sleep quality- nurture healthy social interactions

– get fresh air and some sunlight everyday

– be more positive than negative in your outlook and input

Naturopathic medicine does a fantastic job of outlining how to maintain health and well-being, without 1st jumping to pharmaceutical, surgery and other invasive treatments, before accessing what is appropriate and best for the individual and their particular circumstances. Other medical modalities such as chiropractic and Traditional Chinese Medicine often follow these same principles.

The Seven-Level Naturopathic
1- Establish the Conditions for Health
2- Stimulate the Vis Medicatrix Naturae and Self-Healing Processes
3- Support and Balance Physiologic and Bioenergetic Systems
4 – Address or Correct Structural Integrity
5 – Address Pathology using Specific Natural Substances or Interventions
6 – Address Pathology using Pharmaceutical or Synthetic Substances
7 – Suppress or Surgically Remove Pathology

I am currently offering wellness lectures and tai chi/fitness classes for group, small group & private instruction in Wekiva, Longwood and Winter Park. I also have hundreds of FREE education video classes, lectures and seminars available onmy YouTube channel at:

https://www.youtube.com/c/MindandBodyExercises

Mind and Body Exercises on Google: https://posts.gle/aD47Qo

Jim Moltzan

407-234-0119

www.MindAndBodyExercises.com

www.Amazon.com/author/jimmoltzan

If you need to improve your balance, seek someone who can demonstrate balance.

If you need to improve your bone strength, seek someone who can demonstrate strength in their bones.

If you need to strengthen and/or improve flexibility in your spine, seek someone who can demonstrate how to do so.

Move beyond thinking that your health and well-being are someone else’s responsibility.

Be more active, eat healthier, sleep better, stress less – these are the key components to maintaining a strong immune system.

I am currently offering wellness lectures and tai chi/fitness classes for group, small group & private instruction in Wekiva, Longwood and Winter Park.

Mind and Body Exercises on Google: https://posts.gle/aD47Qo

Jim Moltzan

407-234-0119

www.MindAndBodyExercises.com

www.Amazon.com/author/jimmoltzan