The political debate, and public impact of Health Care Reform in the United States inspires the following musings on the Fundamental principles of Health Care. (A beginning...)
Whereas, Health is fundamental to the self evident truth of our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of joy.
Whereas, Health, for independent, self actualized, competent adults, is primarily the responsibility of the individual. Our lifestyle choices significantly determine our quality of life based on our inherited and acquired constitution (e.g. genetics, miasms) and innate vitality. Our choice of health care provider and method is basic to our right of self determination.
Whereas, individual choice and health quality is powerfully influenced and limited by society and environment.
Whereas, individual choices affect community and environment in relationship to other beings, human and all life. We are interdependent in the web of life. Thus the need for government to regulate individual action in regard to impact on others.
Whereas, regulation of quality of health care services is a civic affair that is a function of government, whether local, state or federal.
Whereas, America's economy is primarily based on captialism and free enterprise, and economic regulation is another function of government.
Whereas, the Health Care provider and insurance industries are a significant sector of our economy. Many individuals earn their livelihood from employment in these health related industries. Significant human resources and capital is invested.
Whereas, the health insurance provider industry is for profit, and this tends to value profit above human health.
Whereas, the majority of health care insurance in the United States is provided as an employee benefit by employers, which is a significant business expense that affects companies' ability to compete globally.
Whereas, Health care providers such as both conventional medical (e.g. doctors, nurses, physical therapists, counselors, technicians, etc) and holistic or complementary health professionals (acupuncturists, chiropractors, naturopaths, massage therapists, yoga instructors, etc.) invest considerable resources in education, training, facilities, equipment and inventory.
Whereas, some health care services by their invasive nature have inherent risk for inflicting harm, or may influence choice away from potentially safer or more effective treatment.
Whereas, most, if not all chronic diseases, (exceptions: trauma, infections, etc.) may be understood to be pre-existent conditions, as chronic diseases develop cellularly and energetically often for years before they manifest in physical pathology and diagnosis.
Whereas, health care services are a significant cost of living. Providers need a reasonable and fair return on their investment. Some one, either individual, employer or government needs to pay.
*****
Therefore, the following are options for government determined health care reform policy based on the above circumstances and fundamentals.
Health Care Reform must continue to provide and/or expand individual freedom of choice of provider and method.
Health Care Reform must encourage free enterprise and diversity of choice, including integrative medicine combining conventional medicine and complementary and alternative medical therapies.
Health Care Reform must encourage health via education and practical programs in healthy lifestyles, such as physical activity, nutrition, and stress management. For examples, food selection, cooking, gardening, mindfulness, and yoga.
Health Care Reform needs provision of incentives to motivate positive changes in lifestyle. Emphasize the reward and encouragement of healthy behavior, rather than judgment and punishment of negative.
Health Care Reform must mandate that health insurance providers assume risk and provide universal access to health care services without exclusion for pre-existent conditions. Premiums need to reflect this provision. Premiums would reward low risk, healthy individuals.
Health Care Reform needs a public government based option, and universal health coverage for catastrophic illness to prevent destitution and bankruptcy combined with fee for services with individual choice may be ideal.
Health Care Reform needs malpractice limits to acknowledge human providers make mistakes, and to encourage reduction in excessive expenses from defensive medicine.
Health Care Reform needs to emphasize the value of human health and quality of life for humans and the environment, the sacredness of all life, over profit for industry providers and investors.
Health Care Reform needs to evolve a humane, ethical council of wise elders and experts to guide and honor individual and families values and choice, and determine limits of public provision of care in terminal or catastrophic illness.
Please view the YouTube video on Naturopathic Medicine for another excellent perspective on Health Care Reform: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0hX_fI8-x0
Author: Brent Mathieu is a resident of Boise, Idaho with 30 plus years experience in natural health care.
www.greenmanhealth.com
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Healing Autism in harmony with Nature
On July 15th, I completed watching the DVD documentary: "Autism, Made in America" by Gary Null, PhD.
It's well done and informative.
This blog will discuss a few premises from the DVD, some information from the book "The Natural Medicine Guide to Autism" by Stephanie Marohn, and my years of experience as a naturopathic physician treating Autism with homeopathy and nutrition.
Autism is becoming increasingly prevalent in the United States, and Idaho. It's incidence in Idaho is stated by the above DVD to be about 1 out of 170 children.
Autism is a nervous system development disorder that is a characterized by impaired social interaction and communication often with repetitive behavior. It most commonly begins in early childhood.
It is generally regarded by medical experts to have a genetic basis. Many holistic health care practitioners, medical scientists, and parents believe that Autism results from damage to the brain's nerve cells from environmental toxins, such as heavy metals (mercury, lead, aluminum, etc.), synthetic chemicals (e.g. herbicides, pesticides, food preservatives and additives), information or stimulation overload from society (stress), and immune dysfunction and inflammation due to food sensitivities, vaccinations and unhealthy gut.
Despite denials from the Centers of Disease Control, the FDA, and the pharmaceutic industry, there are convincing reasons to suspect that thimersol, a mercury compound widely used in vaccines as a preservative, may be a significant factor in the onset of Autism. Mercury is a known neurotoxin.
In my opinion, all children and individuals with Autism will benefit from super nutrition focused on the nervous, digestive and immune systems.
Some basic recommendations:
1) Daily supplementation of essential fatty acids for cell membrane integrity and to lessen inflammation. Omega 3 oils, especially DHA for children, from organic flaxseed oil, raw nuts or fish oils.
2) Minimize processed, refined foods, (junk foods) especially those with food additives and preservatives. Preferably eat a variety of organic and wholesome fruits, vegetables, grains, fish, legumes and meat.
3) Elimination or avoidance of wheat and diary which are common food allergens, and are theorized to be particularly adverse for many autistic individuals. Eat non gluten grains such as rice, quinoa, and millet.
4) Food based or supplement source of anti-oxidants to protect cell membranes and DNA, and to lessen inflammation.
5) Other nutraceutical therapies such as vitamin B12 as indicated by symptoms, diet, and/or testing
6) Classical homeopathy based on the totality of the symptoms
7) Consider nutrition or chelation to assist the body to detox and eliminate heavy metals such as mercury and lead.
8) Bodywork and energetic therapies such as craniosacral or chiropractic to optimize nervous system function.
9) Heal the gut, with foods, nutrients and probiotics
10) Above all, LOVE, for each one with Autism, and their family
Dr Brent Mathieu, naturopathic and homeopathic physician, the health-wise greenman of Boise is available to help.
Contact via www.greenmanhealth.com
It's well done and informative.
This blog will discuss a few premises from the DVD, some information from the book "The Natural Medicine Guide to Autism" by Stephanie Marohn, and my years of experience as a naturopathic physician treating Autism with homeopathy and nutrition.
Autism is becoming increasingly prevalent in the United States, and Idaho. It's incidence in Idaho is stated by the above DVD to be about 1 out of 170 children.
Autism is a nervous system development disorder that is a characterized by impaired social interaction and communication often with repetitive behavior. It most commonly begins in early childhood.
It is generally regarded by medical experts to have a genetic basis. Many holistic health care practitioners, medical scientists, and parents believe that Autism results from damage to the brain's nerve cells from environmental toxins, such as heavy metals (mercury, lead, aluminum, etc.), synthetic chemicals (e.g. herbicides, pesticides, food preservatives and additives), information or stimulation overload from society (stress), and immune dysfunction and inflammation due to food sensitivities, vaccinations and unhealthy gut.
Despite denials from the Centers of Disease Control, the FDA, and the pharmaceutic industry, there are convincing reasons to suspect that thimersol, a mercury compound widely used in vaccines as a preservative, may be a significant factor in the onset of Autism. Mercury is a known neurotoxin.
In my opinion, all children and individuals with Autism will benefit from super nutrition focused on the nervous, digestive and immune systems.
Some basic recommendations:
1) Daily supplementation of essential fatty acids for cell membrane integrity and to lessen inflammation. Omega 3 oils, especially DHA for children, from organic flaxseed oil, raw nuts or fish oils.
2) Minimize processed, refined foods, (junk foods) especially those with food additives and preservatives. Preferably eat a variety of organic and wholesome fruits, vegetables, grains, fish, legumes and meat.
3) Elimination or avoidance of wheat and diary which are common food allergens, and are theorized to be particularly adverse for many autistic individuals. Eat non gluten grains such as rice, quinoa, and millet.
4) Food based or supplement source of anti-oxidants to protect cell membranes and DNA, and to lessen inflammation.
5) Other nutraceutical therapies such as vitamin B12 as indicated by symptoms, diet, and/or testing
6) Classical homeopathy based on the totality of the symptoms
7) Consider nutrition or chelation to assist the body to detox and eliminate heavy metals such as mercury and lead.
8) Bodywork and energetic therapies such as craniosacral or chiropractic to optimize nervous system function.
9) Heal the gut, with foods, nutrients and probiotics
10) Above all, LOVE, for each one with Autism, and their family
Dr Brent Mathieu, naturopathic and homeopathic physician, the health-wise greenman of Boise is available to help.
Contact via www.greenmanhealth.com
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
HCG & weight loss
Human Chiorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is a subject of interest to several of my patients and acquaintances, and the public.
HCG is a glycoprotein hormone produced by the embryo and placenta during pregnancy, with a primary function in pregnancy to support the corpus luteum (yellow body) of the mother's ovary and maintain the production of the essential hormone progesterone.
In the 1950's, a European medical doctor, Dr Simeon popularized the use of HCG for weight loss, claiming that HCG combined with a very low calorie diet would suppress appetite. His theory is that HCG affects the limbic system in the brain, and re-adjusts the set point that maintains body fat in the overweight. I read a copy of his book recently online and there were no references to peer reviewed scientific studies.
The theory is highly controversial, and has not been demonstrated by medical research as more effective than placebo with a very low calorie diet, to my knowledge.
Google search brought up numerous websites pro and con. I recommend the following one which contained a good summary, and links to medical reviews that concluded there was no significant difference between the HCG protocol, and placebo combined with a very low calorie diet.
http://www.ultimatefatburner.com/hcg-review.html
Despite the lack of medical research, several patients and acquaintances of mine which I know to have had great difficulty with weight loss, have achieved significant weight loss with the HCG protocol. These are anedoctal evidence which medical science typically dismisses.
So what's going on? My musings:
The limbic system portion of the brain such as the hypothalamus is involved in the autonomic regulation of basic life functions, and does respond to hormonal feedback from the rest of the body. (For examples, thyroid hormones (T3 &T4) leptin, estrogen/progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and chymotrypsin) Weight regulation and metabolism is one of the functions regulated, and affected by hormones. The theory that HCG interacts with the limbic system, specifically the hypothalamus, is plausible. (Disclaimer: I haven't investigated the known physiology deeply and recently, and I'm not an endocrinologist/expert)
So the question is whether the weight loss is solely due to a restricted low calorie diet, that is being supported by the placebo effect, or whether the HCG really has benefit?
Sorry, I don't have a definite answer, but my leaning is towards HCG, and the need for more investigation.
Of course, the basics of Nature's wisdom apply for healthy weight loss, regardless:
Physical activity and exercise.
Wholesome foods, close to the natural state of harvest, with minimal processing.
Positive attitude, intent and self image.
Greenman Health Shoppe and I can help with some quality nutritional weight management foods, lifestyle coaching and bioimpedance body composition analysis. Visit www.greenmanhealth.com for more info.
Be well, live well
HCG is a glycoprotein hormone produced by the embryo and placenta during pregnancy, with a primary function in pregnancy to support the corpus luteum (yellow body) of the mother's ovary and maintain the production of the essential hormone progesterone.
In the 1950's, a European medical doctor, Dr Simeon popularized the use of HCG for weight loss, claiming that HCG combined with a very low calorie diet would suppress appetite. His theory is that HCG affects the limbic system in the brain, and re-adjusts the set point that maintains body fat in the overweight. I read a copy of his book recently online and there were no references to peer reviewed scientific studies.
The theory is highly controversial, and has not been demonstrated by medical research as more effective than placebo with a very low calorie diet, to my knowledge.
Google search brought up numerous websites pro and con. I recommend the following one which contained a good summary, and links to medical reviews that concluded there was no significant difference between the HCG protocol, and placebo combined with a very low calorie diet.
http://www.ultimatefatburner.com/hcg-review.html
Despite the lack of medical research, several patients and acquaintances of mine which I know to have had great difficulty with weight loss, have achieved significant weight loss with the HCG protocol. These are anedoctal evidence which medical science typically dismisses.
So what's going on? My musings:
The limbic system portion of the brain such as the hypothalamus is involved in the autonomic regulation of basic life functions, and does respond to hormonal feedback from the rest of the body. (For examples, thyroid hormones (T3 &T4) leptin, estrogen/progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and chymotrypsin) Weight regulation and metabolism is one of the functions regulated, and affected by hormones. The theory that HCG interacts with the limbic system, specifically the hypothalamus, is plausible. (Disclaimer: I haven't investigated the known physiology deeply and recently, and I'm not an endocrinologist/expert)
So the question is whether the weight loss is solely due to a restricted low calorie diet, that is being supported by the placebo effect, or whether the HCG really has benefit?
Sorry, I don't have a definite answer, but my leaning is towards HCG, and the need for more investigation.
Of course, the basics of Nature's wisdom apply for healthy weight loss, regardless:
Physical activity and exercise.
Wholesome foods, close to the natural state of harvest, with minimal processing.
Positive attitude, intent and self image.
Greenman Health Shoppe and I can help with some quality nutritional weight management foods, lifestyle coaching and bioimpedance body composition analysis. Visit www.greenmanhealth.com for more info.
Be well, live well
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Health Care Reform: Real
Much media and political discussion of Health Care Reform in Congress, and with the Obama Administration. Time Magazine just published an issue with a focus on our Health Care System, and how to stay healthy.
This is the key to real Health Care Reform: how to live well and be well. The essence is health care in harmony with Nature. I.e. living a lifestyle that promotes health, by keeping us in balance with Nature; the Earth energies, the soil, live food from healthy plants and animals, breathing pure air, drinking pure water, healthy touch, human and global community.
Until we, the people of this planet, this country, or the city of Boise, align ourselves with this basic principle, health care reform is doomed to a spiral of increasing ineffectiveness and expense. Ultimately, it won't matter who pays or who profits, we, the people and the planet, will suffer a deteroriating quality of life, and increasing disease, mental and physical.
A few practical actions:
Food is our best medicine. Eat locally, ideally organically, preferably grow some of your own.
Enjoy the beauty of Nature. Reconnect with the earth energies by walking barefoot on the dewy grass, swim in a lake or river.
Express gratitude for life: Sing, dance, pray, celebrate, meditate. The Dances of Universal Peace, (info avaiable via internet search) is a wonderful resource.
Breathing is a power tool for healing. Study kriya or hatha yoga such as the Art of Living Foundation, Basic course.
Be well, live well
Brent Mathieu
Boise, Idaho
This is the key to real Health Care Reform: how to live well and be well. The essence is health care in harmony with Nature. I.e. living a lifestyle that promotes health, by keeping us in balance with Nature; the Earth energies, the soil, live food from healthy plants and animals, breathing pure air, drinking pure water, healthy touch, human and global community.
Until we, the people of this planet, this country, or the city of Boise, align ourselves with this basic principle, health care reform is doomed to a spiral of increasing ineffectiveness and expense. Ultimately, it won't matter who pays or who profits, we, the people and the planet, will suffer a deteroriating quality of life, and increasing disease, mental and physical.
A few practical actions:
Food is our best medicine. Eat locally, ideally organically, preferably grow some of your own.
Enjoy the beauty of Nature. Reconnect with the earth energies by walking barefoot on the dewy grass, swim in a lake or river.
Express gratitude for life: Sing, dance, pray, celebrate, meditate. The Dances of Universal Peace, (info avaiable via internet search) is a wonderful resource.
Breathing is a power tool for healing. Study kriya or hatha yoga such as the Art of Living Foundation, Basic course.
Be well, live well
Brent Mathieu
Boise, Idaho
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
June 23, 2009 Beginning post
First Post of Greenman Health Wisdom, the site that shares Nature's health tips and information from Dr Brent Mathieu, naturopathic physician and health coach in Boise, Idaho. Musing on natural health, and life.
Visit www.greenmanhealth.com
Visit www.greenmanhealth.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
