To the community at large,
One topic that everyone can agree on is that being sick is not fun.
In fact, most people suffer from chronic ailments that impact daily life. Some of these aliments are so disruptive that people cannot function and require the assistance of medications, where costs can amount to more than a monthly food bill! If you just stop to think about that simple and very real scenario, you understand why I am writing. Our current health care system needs help. As a society, we cannot meet the needs of our public; disease states are unmanageable and result in qualitative and economic hardships that affect both the individual and the public at large. Other sources for healing should be assessed and addressed, in order to meet the rising concerns and costs associated with health and wellbeing. Portland has tremendous potential to fill the gaps that exist in health care, and here’s how:
We have a wealth of knowledge about natural forms of medicine within our own community, and it is right at our fingertips.
The Helfgott Research Institute (Helfgott) and the National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM) are playing unique roles in the next stages of health care management. Helfgott is a nonprofit institution that helps to outline the golden standards for CAM based research and is forefront in the examination of natural medicine.
This nationally respected organization employs a diverse research staff capable of tackling some of the most troublesome disease states today, such as cancer and diabetes. Essentially, Helfgott works to inform the scientific communities of the benefits of natural modalities by using contemporary state of the art technologies available today. NCNM works in conjunction with Helfgott by providing our community with doctors well versed in natural forms of healing. NCNM is dedicated to crystallizing a solid foundation of medicine by teaching a framework that emphasizes holistic treatment protocols; where each student learns how to effectively use keen observational tools in order to determine the patterning of disease. Students at NCNM learn strategies to counteract these patterns through the use of acupuncture, herbal formulas, and physical medicine. Together NCNM and Helfgott are effectively able to treat sickness by serving the public directly through clinics and with thorough research methodology.
Educating the public about more healthful choices will alleviate the stress on the existing health care system and provide the public with informative health choices.
Preventative care is key to maintaining a good state of health. A true sense of physical, emotional and mental balance within an individual’s daily routine is contingent upon proper education about nutritional supplementation and whole food diets, the benefits of moderate exercise, and a good night of sleep.
All of these concepts are essential maintaining health and can be easily taught within the community. This can be achieved with community outreach programs designed to teach basic health knowledge in an informative and exciting manner. For example, teaching children how to tend to agarden, where right there at the source, a discussion can occur about medicinal herbs, how to care for them, and ultimately how you as an individual can utilize the properties of a plant to harness good health. This is how uncomplicated health education can be!This is where Helfgott and NCNM can begin the process of benevolent education about a balanced state of health.
Natural forms of health care are easily affordable.
Helfgott and NCNM promote treatments that are usually comprised common herbs and physical practices that are reasonably priced and conveniently employed in the comfort of one’s own home.
A great deal of our medicine comes from the immediate environment; such as simple teas that can combat common ailments like digestive issues, respiratory distress, and treat the symptoms of the common cold.
Moreover, these forms of medicine act in accord with the immune system, creating a stronger defense system to prevent further impact of illness. Simple practices like stretching, moderate exercise, and Qi Gong engage the physical body and increase circulation and improve the health of individuals.
Once this valuable knowledge is available in multiple outlets, the cost of health care within the community can be dramatically reduced for everyone involved.
Naturally based medicinal techniques are environmentally friendly.
Our land and waters are assets to subsequent generations; therefore a community that uses its knowledge of sustainability enables a safer, cleaner future. Our water supplies are being contaminated with substances that mimic hormones, and in turn affect our bodies. Testing synthesized drugs and products on humans and animals in order to list potential side effects is an antiquated way of performing medicine.
Natural forms of healing have existed fothousands of years, the trial and error involved is already addressed for both the environment and the individual; without a doubt, the art form of keenly observing disease patterns in conjunction with the inherent constitution of the individual patient is the most effective form of medicine. As a society, we need to determine a way to utilize our own naturally existing resources and what better way to do this than to grow from sources already present in Portland
Luckily, Portland is just the city to undertake such an altruistic goal, as we have the potential for a sustainable health care right in our own backyards.
Helfgott provides a valuable base of philosophy for the research setting, acting to build a greater understanding of medicine for our global community. NCNM vigorously trains individuals in the art of sustainable medicine, using a natural-based toolset, in order to provide unique treatment plans tailored to each individual. Helfgott and NCNM use natural based modes of healing that are functional and sustainable for the community, which enables us to serve Portland’s public health care system with both reasonable and cost-effective resources. This combination is a synergistic duo that is more than capable of creating a health care system that is able to tend to the needs of the public. It’s time that Portland plants the seeds for a healthy community, and to serve as an example for the new wave of health care.
If this forum is not enough to convince you of our compassionate mission to provide health care, please feel to comment and a formal discussion can ensue about these pressing issues.
Thank you for your time,
C. Biscuit