Posted on August, 24, 2025

• Do you think combining holistic and conventional approaches leads to better patient outcomes?
• Can you think of a situation where a holistic therapy might be more effective than a conventional one or vice versa?
• What challenges do you see in integrating CAM therapies into today’s healthcare system?

There are crucial needs of both. It is obvious that chronic disease and systemic inflammation, and that lasting health, requires self care. The need to be intentional about the substances consumed and applied to us and interacted with is part of CAM. Certain substances are endocrine disruptors. Certain ingredients are linked to inflammation and injury. The research continues to develop. Artificial food is not the food that the body recognizes or can use for its needs. It is clear that how food is prepared can make or break its contents and also cause harm. CAM practitioners will not be able to prove the spiritual nature involved and energy content of our bodies... The other can be proven to Western providers.

The emergency medicine and surgical interventions of Western medicine and medications are crucial aspects that will be necessary as needed to sustain and rescue.

Western medicine should discuss the above info or what they can prove, along with providing rescue solutions.

I personally took medications/Western treatment only for 8 years from 2002-2010 to treat Crohn's disease. These medications did not work and became more harmful and agressive. From antibiotics to steroids to oral medication to biological infusions. This was prior to any knowledge of CAM therapies and diet and inflammation on my or my family's part. Then I almost died. The rescue was then necessary for the state of disease in my guts, surgery. Colostomy. I took matters into my own hands and completely ended my Western diet immediately after, with desperate prayer. Within a year, the colostomy was reversed and I became healthy for the first time in 8 or so years. I ended medication a year later. Have otherwise remained healthy, other than a temporary mold exposure and brief use of medication at the time in 2019. Again medication did nothing, diet was futher refined temporarily. Medication was ended again 6 months later or so. Grains of any type are my main triggers, and for many people in the U.S. Western medicine professionals would rather balk at their lack of knowledge about this and interests in whole grains and complex carbs than entertain a conversation about it. I was thoroughly disappointed by Western medicine again when I discovered this. Again, when a provider recommended "gummy bears" to soothe a sore throat. I informed them about herbal tea and honey. Again, when a provider met me and dismissed me. And so on. Since I have overcome this and other mild afflictions with CAM, including herbal and supplements, through the years, it has given me the confidence in God and CAM. It also means I personally evaluate all options presented from any consulting provider. I make sure to protect my informed consent. I educate others how to do so. I also chose home birth easily for this knowledge. I look at sensational claims from both camps and evaluate them appropriately. I just thought I'd personally present my own anecdotal case here. Processed foods contain hexane/solvents, emulsifiers, artificial ingredients, carageenan, maltodextrin, high fructose corn syrup, excess sugar, corn starch, bleached wheat, refined ingredients, and so on. It is slowly killing people. I recently discovered grains will also bring on panic attacks and anxiety and depression personally when attempting an indulgence. That's almost worse... It is plenty reason to stop such moments and ideas for indulgences.

Challenges include food addiction, public education, medical education, close-minded individuals and providers, lack of self discipline, lack of spiritual understanding, greed, desire to produce food in a laboratory, attack on farmers, mass production of anything, costs, inflation, poverty, health equity, etc.

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