The prohibitive costs associated with health and medical care are one of the main causes of the health care crisis we are experiencing today. Fewer people are able to afford something as basic as a visit to the doctor for a routine checkup, much less a more serious visit that might result in being admitted to the hospital for a length of time. Many Prescription medications are so expensive that elderly patients are forced to ration them and at times even choose which ones they need the most when they cannot afford to pay for everything that is prescribed. This catch-22 creates a boomerang effect that lowers recovery moral and often depletes wellness optimism that is needed for recovery and symptom management.

As I tried to find a way out of this dilemma; for my own good as well as the good of my family, a friend suggested that I acknowledge I was on the traditional heath treadmill and explore other healing avenues. He suggested I check out the DVD series offered by The Center for Healing Arts. Facilitated by healing arts experts who are carefully chosen for their knowledge and experience in their chosen field of study, this DVD series offers you an in-depth look into the world of holistic medicine and helps you unravel its many mysteries.

Preventative Medicine to the Rescue

Over the past 20 years or so, the idea of preventative medicine has gained momentum among people who are “sick and tired of being sick and tired”. The concept makes perfect sense if you think about it – take proper care of yourself before you get sick. If you take steps to prevent illness, your body is much less likely to be susceptible to whatever communicable disease happens to be going around the office at any given time. The old adage about an ounce of prevention being worth more than a pound of cure has found new relevance in today’s economy.

Prevention Takes Action

Preventative medicine can be as simple as increasing your activity level by walking a few times a week or as in-depth as joining a gym. Here are a few other tips that can go a long way toward preventing poor health:

• Stop smoking – No excuses; everybody knows it’s bad for health and that it can lead to cancer, heart and lung disease. Smoking affects more than just the person who smokes; it also affects those around you so think about your family, friends and co-workers when you are debating whether to give it up or not.

• Cut the Sugar – According to The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates, the average American consumes about 20 teaspoons of sugar every day. Most people take in much of that sugar without even realizing it. If you are one of those who are shaking their heads in doubt, allow me to point out that can of soda on your desk – it contains about 9 teaspoons of sugar in just 12 ounces.

• Eat More Color -Have you ever noticed that most comfort foods are brown? One simple way to help your body help itself is by consuming more fruits and vegetables – preferably in their raw state whenever possible. Nature has provided these gems of good health and filled them full of vitamins and nutrients, especially when they aren’t overcooked, over salted or over sweetened.

• Wash your hands – It sounds like common sense because it is. We were all raised to wash our hands before meals and after using the restroom and this simple action alone can curb the spread of the viruses that cause colds and flu.

The Bottom Line

Preventative medicine means learning how what you are doing now can affect your health later. Holistic therapy embraces this idea to the fullest. Holism is based on the concept that mind, body and spirit should all work together harmoniously, that when one of the three are out of balance, the whole being suffers. The many therapies that fall under the heading of holism can be confusing to a beginner, but by learning more about these powerful health care practices it is possible to learn to take better care of your whole self before you find yourself in a health crisis.