WHY WE CHOOSE HOLISTIC MEDICINE & NUTRITION
Holistically based medicine looks at the body functions and state of health as a whole. Let us first define illness – or disease, “dis – ease”: A state of imbalance in the body where optimal health cannot be maintained at rest and especially when a stressor is introduced. For example, thyroid disease (high or low function) is not ever a disease state alone. The thyroid gland functions within a system and becomes imbalanced when the system becomes imbalanced. We look at the endocrine system as a whole, starting with the hypothalamus / pituitary gland in the brain down to the thyroid and adrenal glands in the body and further to the reproductive system. By supporting other organs and the body as a whole, often times disease can be reversed in the initial symptomatic area.
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In traditional western medicine, symptoms are treated with drugs, and most drugs have side affects that cause damage to other areas of the body. Drugs usually just cover up symptoms by overriding the body's distress signals, ultimately making the underlying problems worse. We prefer to treat with whole foods and supplements that support and repair the body. Our bodies are constantly bombarded by toxins, and the best way that we can support them is to provide the building blocks that are necessary for optimal function, especially in systems responsible for detoxification. By the time symptoms of disease become clearly evident, the internal issues have usually been progressing for a significant period of time, and can take equally as long to reverse. Holistic healing takes patience and persistence, which can be difficult for those trained to expect immediate results.
The foundation of our health should be based in our diets. Natural, fresh, and minimally processed foods contain all of the nutrients we need to stay healthy. Our culture has strayed from wholesome and healthy foods and gotten stuck in a system based on "convenience" and profit. We eat foods that do not promote wellness, and then we seek medical help to "fix" us, and the cycle continues. If we focus on feeding our bodies what they need to stay well, then we will have the tools that we need to eliminate toxins and fight illnesses. 80% of our immune system lines the gut, therefore it is essential to keep our GI tracts happy and healthy.
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Most of our soils have been depleted and no longer contain enough nutrients and minerals to fortify plants that we eat. Additionally, most bodies are already in a state of disease or deficiency and supplementing the diet speeds up the process of getting well. It is important that the supplements we take are from whole foods, and not synthetically created or processed. Government organizations tend to measure only isolated components of nutrients, resulting in products that are labeled as having high contents of desirable nutrients, but often times these nutrients are not usable by the body. Whole food products come with all of the extra enzymes and co-factors that we need to digest, process, and utilize them. When these components are separated, they just don't work effectively.
541-343-5028 | Balance Veterinary Care | M-W & F 9:30am - 5:30pm | Sat 9am - 12 noon (closed last Sat of the month)