A Timeless Approach to Health
“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” —Jeremiah 6:16
Pine trees at Lake Tahoe, CA
As students of natural medicine, it is common to experience the constant stream of new — or newly resurrected from old — health trends. Social media presents the latest in detox supplements, home infrared saunas, and cold plunges.
These can be wonderful things. Receiving genuine questions about these topics from friends and family is, at worst, entertaining and, at best, flattering. However, it becomes concerning when the interest in these trends is isolated from an underlying philosophical foundation of health and wholeness.
Naturopathic medicine is as simple as supporting the instinctual wisdom inside us that abides by natural law and order. Due to this, we instinctively know how to be healthy for the simple reason that when we are healthy, things work.
Eat whole foods, spend time with loved ones, indulge in humor, express affection and creativity often, breathe fresh air, appreciate beauty, and be part of a purpose greater than yourself. When people live accordingly, they tend to feel good. When people do not live accordingly, they tend to feel bad.
Note, organic kale smoothies, seed cycling, and breathing techniques are not specified here. For many of us, these things are not needed as part of a healthy life. They are not bad. Sometimes they can be helpful. But oftentimes they demand more stress to maintain, and end up distracting us from the true root cause of our imbalances, which is almost always a deficit in one of the simple lifestyle ingredients mentioned above. In this regard, abiding by trends can keep us from confronting the pain of the real issue and, consequently, rob us of experiencing true healing.
Perhaps instead of following trends, the better investment would be to walk in timeless wisdom and seek out an old friend. To sit outside, with a spouse if available, and watch day turn to night. To attend a religious service or listen to a symphony. To read scripture. To partake in an endeavor beyond yourself and realize your small yet irreplaceable place in the grand design.
I so often fall short of remembering the bigger picture of health and need to recenter. Health trends are fine. Sometimes they can be helpful. But they must be treated with vigilance. As naturopaths, it is not only our privilege but also our responsibility to keep trends within the confines of our philosophy, rather than the other way around.
At Columbus Naturopathic Medicine, we provide faith-based care to help you experience God’s design for meaning, purpose, and connection. If you are interested in working with Dr. Leah Gusching, you can learn more and schedule an appointment.