My Health Care Team

If there is one thing I have learned about caring for my body, it is to have a healthy lifestyle, so as to maintain body health in the first place, rather than wait until I am sick and then go through the process of healing. I've had enough of that! It's much easier to maintain health! And so, for me, health care is about caring for my body and creating optimum health, not finding who can cure my body when I am ill.

Overall, I'm pretty healthy at this time in my life. I don't get a lot of colds or anything like that. But I do have some body conditions from the past I'm still working on, the result of toxic chemical exposure, stress, and bad eating patterns. My needs for medical care mainly center around needing a prescription for Armour thyroid (a supplement, not a drug) for my hypothyroid condition. Otherwise, for me it's just about continually improving my overall body condition. Indeed, as I get older, I'm getting my body to be healthier and healthier!

While I definitely take the view that each of us should learn all we can and take responsibility for caring for our own bodies, we also need to have relationships with health care professionals so we can get the help we need when we need it.

I have explored many different modes of health care over the last thirty years of my life. It's been a process of finding the treatment methods that work best for my body and then practitioners within those fields who are exceptionally good and fit with my personality and needs.

Having finally assembled a team I am happy with, I want to tell you about them.

My orientation is to care for my body in as natural a way as possible, so I am tend to put more attention into the things I can do to sustain and enhance body health--usually called "prevention," but I don't care for that term because it's reference point is disease. And so I've arranged things to have as little contact as possible with medical doctors. I haven't taken drugs in over twenty years, except for very few exceptions when I didn't recognize body problems or didn't know what to do, and my body was in an emergency situation.

Before I tell you about the health care professionals I've assembled, the most important thing to know is that I am the Director of the "Debra Lynn Dadd Health Care Team". I choose my health care and work as a partner with my health care professionals to care for my body. I don't turn that power over to anyone else.

Let me introduce you to my health care professionals.

Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)

According to the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy & Holistic Health Sciences (really like this description):

Osteopathy is a holistic, manual system of health-care. Osteopathy was originally founded by Andrew Taylor Still, MD, in thought in 1874 and in school in 1892, in the USA. It has since spread throughout the world, taking on a strong, non-medical, manual treatment presence outside the USA. It is both an art and a science. The art of Osteopathy is founded on the safe and effective application of the following principles:

• A human being acts as a complete dynamic unit of function including the concept and relationship of the body, mind, and spirit.
• The body possesses self-regulatory mechanisms, which are protective and self-healing in nature.
• Structure and function are interrelated at all levels.
• Rational treatment is based on understanding and utilizing these principles.

The science includes the behavioral, biological, chemical, physical, and spiritual knowledge related to the establishment and maintenance of health as well as the prevention and alleviation of disease. The patient's neuromusculoskeletal system is considered to be a key element in the application of Osteopathy. Therefore, it is a means by which health-promoting changes may be facilitated through the appropriate use of manipulation.

According to the American Academy of Osteopathy, osteopathic medicine is a complete system of medical care. It is not considered alternative medicine. Just like MDs, DOs are fully trained and licensed medical physicians. They hold unrestricted licenses to perform surgery, deliver babies, and prescribe medicine.

That a DO can write prescriptions makes it possible to get my thyroid prescription from a holistic-oriented doctor instead of a MD. My DO is not only completely willing to give me the natural Armour thyroid instead of artificial Synthroid, but he also really understands how to dose it correctly. Hallelujah!

DOs receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system, which is comprised of the nerves, muscles, and bones. They use what is called osteopathic manipulative treatment with their hands to diagnose injury and illness, giving special attention to the joints, bones, muscles, and nerves. Manipulations improve circulation, which in turn, creates a normal nerve and blood supply, enabling the body to heal itself.

You can get a referral to a DO through the American Academy of Osteopathy.

Doctor of Chiropractic (DC)

The primary belief of the chiropractic profession is in natural and conservative methods of health care. Chiropractors have a deep respect for the human body's ability to heal itself without the use of surgery or medication. They give most attention to the biomechanics, structure and function of the spine, its effects on the musculoskeletal and neurological systems, and the role played by the proper function of these systems in the preservation and restoration of health. The most common therapeutic procedure performed by DCs is "spinal manipulation," also called "chiropractic adjustment."

DCs frequently treat individuals with neuromusculoskeletal complaints, such as headaches, neck pain and low back pain, however they consider that the health of the entire body is related to the proper functioning to the spine. Personally, if I was in a car accident or had a neuromusculoskeletal complaints, a chiropractor would be the practitioner I would go to. And I do go to my chiropractor every few months just to keep my body adjusted optimally because I do believe a well-adjusted spine aids the flows of blood and nerve transmissions throughout my body. But I haven't found chiropractors to be able to completely solve my body problems alone.

I like chiropractors because they often have a variety of natural treatments available that go beyond basic chiropractic care. My chiropractor is especially cutting edge. My husband Larry received a back treatment called Vax-D at this office that eliminated the need for him to have back surgery on his herniated disk. I've received various innovative detox treatment as well as excellent care after a car accident. And most chiropractors also dispense nutrititional supplements as part of their overall health care programs.

The roots of chiropractic care go back to the beginning of recorded time. Writings from ancient China and Greece mention spinal manipulation and the maneuvering of the lower extremities to ease low back pain. In the United States, the practice of spinal manipulation began gaining momentum in the late nineteenth century. In 1895, Daniel David Palmer founded the Chiropractic profession in Davenport, Iowa.

To find a chiropractor in your area, visit the website of the American Chiropractic Association.

Nutritional Doctor

While other practitioners do often use nutritional supplements in their treatment, this doctor has this as her specialiity.

[I'll have more about her and the supplements I take in the next issue.]

Biological Dentist

Biological dentists are known for removing toxic mercury fillings from teeth, however, their practices go far beyond. They bring the whole philosophy of alternative medicine to the field of dentistry. Some of the treatments used include neural therapy, oral acupuncture, cold laser therapy, homeopathy, mouth balancing, and nutrition.

There is also a growing recognition that dental health has a major effect on a person's overall wellness. Research in Europe estimates that as much as 50 percent of all chronic disease are linked to dental problems. Dental problems that can cause disease and imbalances in the body include: Chronic infections of the jaw and gums, toxicity from root canals, toxicity from other dental materials, electric currents generated from mixed metal dental materials, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) from poor teeth and jaw alignment.

A biological dentist is able to diagnose and treat all of these problems. The end result of dental work from a good biological dentist is a mouth free of toxic materials, free from infections, and optimized for effectively chewing food.

To find a biological dentist, contact the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology or the Environmental Dental Association (800) 388-8124.

Health Insurance

In my opinion, the only reason to have health insurance is not for everyday health care, but for catastrophic health care. My plan is to stay healthy and not have a devastating illness, and even if my body did develop a life-threatening condition, I wouldn't get the standard medical treatments covered by insurance.

Instead of health insurance, I have set up a separate investment account in which I deposit $100 a month. That way, if I need money for health care, it's there.

I also have a program called Care Entree, which is not health insurance. It's a medical discount program that allows me to access networks of healthcare providers and at the same negotiated rates that the large insurance companies pay. It includes all kinds of doctors and dentists and labs and hospitalization, but I only use it for the lab tests. If I or my husband ever needs to go to a hospital, we can go to most hospitals in our area at a discount so deep it's about the same price we would pay for an insurance co-pay. And it costs us only $39.95 a month. This program has works well for us. We have some protection against the possibility of high medical bills, but at a very low monthly rate.

Other Practitioners

Do take the time to research the best health care for your own body and develop good relationships with your pracittioners. Use them to maintain good health, and you'll live a long, healthy, and happy life.