Knights Becoming and a Lady in Waiting

Strong Medicine

OreoSouza posted last week on the subject of medicine as the American god.  While I don't think medicine is the only American god, I do believe it has become one of its gods.  America today has as many idols as ancient Egypt did.

Medicine's High Priest group is a meshing of the Surgeon General, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the AMA (American Medical Association).  What is declared from these hallowed voices must be heeded.  Don't get me wrong; there have been some good things from these sources.  The resurgence in breastfeeding and the lessening in smoking are two such improvements.  But there have been grievous losses, too.

If you have a headache, how long do you wait-- and how painful does it have to be-- before you reach for a bottle of Tylenol/ Advil/ Motrin?  Now, I know some people have higher pain tolerance and all that, but do you grab that bottle as soon as you feel pain coming on?  Do you know that when you do, you actually reduce your body's ability to fight a headache the next time?  I have to wonder how much "pain tolerance" is natural and how much it is developed from just waiting a little longer to take something to dull the pain.  I don't know the answer, so I'm not judging those of you who do take medicine-- I just wonder.

I have several family members who take more pills at one sitting than I take in a year.. and then they take them again the next day (or later the same day).  While I do understand that there are actually needs for some medicines.  When my sinuses get bad enough and I can't seem to clear up my passages any other way, I do use my Sudafed.  But I can go a long time without having to use medicine, by facial massage, steam, and just plain old gutting it out.  Often, the blockage will move on its own.

I do the same thing with my asthma.  I admit, I have very mild asthma.  It rarely troubles me to the point where I desperately can't breathe.  But when it does, I first stop, cool and calm down (since those are my two biggest stressors), and if I have to, take a drink of something with caffeine.  Since I try to avoid caffeine normally, that will generally do the trick.  Sometimes, I think it's just God's way of getting me to slow down!

Need a more natural remedy for a headache?  First, what's causing it?  Are you hungry?  Do you need to drink some water (dehydration)?  Have you been sitting inside under artificial lights all day?  Sinuses, too much reading/ computer, exhaustion... always consider the source first.  Can you remedy THAT?   If that doesn't help, then try a gentle massage of your temples and the pressure points just above your eyebrows.  This helps to release your body's natural endorphines to deal with the problem. 

I hear little ones stirring, so I have to dash, but I just wanted to offer this encouragement.  God is our Great Physician and He can heal us of ANYTHING if we truly believe.    My faith is far from that level, but I pray for it to grow to such belief, someday.

Until then... "A cheerful heart is good medicine" (Proverbs 17:22).

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8:25 AM, Aug. 9, 2006 .. Posted by eyecorn

So true! DH and I have had to be prime caretaker to two elderly relatives who never married. One fought cancer and old age for years with an incredibly great attitude. The other just gave up...no diagnosed diseases...and just withered away. Attitude plays such a great role in our health.

I agree

12:31 PM, Aug. 9, 2006 .. Posted by GenesisFamily

there definitely needs to be a balance in this area. So many times we do not use good old common sense, but rather run to the drug store for the latest cure. By the same token, it bothers me when people let their children suffer for weeks on end and do not take them to the Dr. when the cure might be a simple antibiotic.
Blessings,
Toni

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10:06 PM, Aug. 9, 2006 .. Posted by nsremom

Well, I agree that people love a quick fix on things, but I also know that when my kids have been seriously sick I PRAY.....all the way to the hospital. Also, my daughter has cerebral palsy and cannot be 'healed' of this. It's just who she is, and I accept that. She was prayed over as a child zillions of times for her health, but I don't believe it's Gods will to heal my daughter.

It is God's will for her to be righteous and holy. Broken as her body may seem. I don't believe that being a Christian means that we will always be well and that if you pray hard enough God will heal you. *****if you pray hard enough, God's will will be done.****** See the difference?

I know you didn't mean anything by your post! I just wanted to add my own personal view. I Humbly say that I was NOT being argumenative. :)

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10:57 PM, Aug. 9, 2006 .. Posted by ChathamMommy

Sorry! I meant to have somewhere in that post that there are things (especially due to the cummulative effect of sin in this world) that DO require medicine. I got interrupted and didn't want to leave it sitting in my drafts for another two weeks (that's when I first started writing this entry), so I hit "post".

I still think happy thoughts about you. ;)