“All that man needs for health and healing has been provided by God in nature, the Challenge of science is to find it.” ~ Paracelsus
Aging is not fun! While issues like elevated levels of sugar, cholesterol and the like can spring up on you when least expected, nasty surprises like cancer and heart attacks could be lurking in the corner.
There are some big issues with how we approach health:
First, when we find out there is an issue, it is usually too late: irreversible damage has already been done.
Second, even when we are fortunate enough to find an issue early, there isn't much that modern medicine can do for you which don't include nasty side effects - so we're almost forced to wait until the issue becomes adverse enough to "treat", apart from lifestyle changes.
Third issue is the commercial incentives of pharmaceutical companies. While there may be off-patent drugs or natural treatments/supplements that can complement or work as well or even better than patented drugs, there is little incentive to promote them. In fact, there is strong commercial incentives to discourage their use.
The final and fourth issue is in terms of information and standardization. While modern medicine has a formal body that defines and refines the accepted science, treatment protocols, trainings and certifications providing confidence to patients, natural treatments and supplements don't have that luxury. It's largely upto the patient to sift through all the research and materials, understand the pros & cons, potential contraindications, and find the right brand of supplements to ensure quality. It's like asking someone to become a doctor first to treat themselves. I'm hoping this site will become a useful and trusted source of information for those that need help take a more proactive approach to their health using nature's bounty.
So how do we take a more proactive approach to health so that we can at least reduce the health-related stresses of aging?
Preventive screenings (usually offered free with any health insurance) is absolutely key. This can help find out issues before it's too late. Second is to understand the alternatives. Over the years I've found common ailments for which natural supplements and/or approaches can be amazingly effective. My aim is to distill what I've learnt into a form that can be easily understood and acted upon.
This site does not constitute medical advice. I strongly recommend you discuss these alternatives with your medical professional and draw your own conclusions. If you do decide to try out some of the recommendations, do follow the referral links provided which will help maintain this site and continue to expand its content.