Look Both Ways: Is self-healing a good thing?
SELF-HEALING CAN BE GOOD
There is no doubt that attending physical check-ups with your doctor is advisable. This is not a call to completely abandon the professionals of the medical field or the scientific advancements of modern-medicine. (Please, get vaccinated.)
However, in many cases it can be helpful to know how to self-heal. If your situation is not too serious, self-healing may be the practical solution.
Learning how to solve minor medical issues on your own can help provide practice for emergency situations, as well as be beneficial to your pocket. The disaster that is American healthcare costs is an argument in favor of self-healing all on its own.
The American Red Cross advises households to have emergency first-aid kits prepared and on-hand, both in the home and any car.
Your kit should be easily accessible and checked regularly for expired products.
Having the kit, however, is pointless without knowing how to use it. While none of us expect to be injured without access to help, that lack of expectation is precisely what would make such a situation so dangerous.
The concept of self-healing can also be linked to mental well-being. Developing a mindset that’s open to pondering the needs and wants of your physical body is especially beneficial for older adults and a good habit to start young.
According to a 2022 study published in the National Library of Medicine, the human body has extraordinary self-healing capacity and the potential to increase life-expectancy through practices as simple as personal physical examinations, stress-relieving exercises, and maintaining healthy social relationships.
The doctor’s office is not a resource that should be forgotten, but perhaps some appointments can be avoided with self-healing.
SELF-HEALING CAN BE BAD
Sometimes trying to heal yourself of a “minor” health problem can be a success, but there are many dangers that can arise when one decides to heal themselves without going to the doctor’s.
Some illnesses require early diagnoses so that you can be able to fully heal. In some cases, if you wait too long, your survival rate can decrease significantly and what you once thought was a minor problem can turn into a drastically bigger problem. You don’t want to wait too long to get a diagnosis by trying to solve your health problems on your own.
American businessman and previous CEO of Apple Steve Jobs allegedly tried to heal himself when he initially found out he had a form of pancreatic cancer — which was actually more treatable than different forms of cancer.
According to TIME magazine, Jobs tried to heal himself by going on a vegan diet, receiving acupuncture, trying herbal remedies, and visiting a psychic. By the time he got a liver transplant, doctors found that the cancer spread to other parts of his body. He eventually died of complications from his cancer.
You must remember that doctors are professionals. They have been trained and have studied for years and can know so much more than you think you do. There is also the possibility of you misdiagnosing yourself when trying to self-heal.
When doing research on symptoms you’re experiencing, you’ll probably find many results on the internet suggesting multiple illnesses which could be completely different from what you actually have.
Relying on the internet for a diagnosis is a very dangerous game and can actually do more harm than good. The chances of you receiving the proper diagnosis at the doctor’s is much higher than you trying to figure out your illness on your own.
While trying to self-heal, you are depriving yourself of the actual care that you need to get better.
It’s always good to check in with your doctor no matter how minor the health issue is. Trust your doctor and don’t put your health in jeopardy.
