Zoom Out

As a society, we’ve mastered zooming in.

Take our medical system: we have so many disciplines that there are doctors for nearly every organ of the body! From gastroenterologists, to dermatologists, to ophthalmologists, the list impressively stretches on. Such magnification has paved the way towards brilliantly targeted medical interventions.

Yet, as we have become more and more engrossed with the body’s parts, we have compromised our appreciation of the body as an interconnected whole. The truth is that our biological systems are in constant cross-talk, and so if one system becomes off-kilter, we will experience a cascade of varying symptoms.

By in large, disease is tackled through the lenses of symptom suppression in the United States. From prescribing antibiotics for acne, birth control for menstrual cycle regulation, and statins for cholesterol management, there is a medication for just about every health malady. To put this into perspective, the US alone holds over 45% of the global pharmaceutical market. Yikes.

To be clear, I am not anti-medications. Medications are revolutionary and lifesaving. In the case of acute injures, viruses, and genetic conditions, they are essential. Where my unease lies is that they are also prescribed as a first line treatment for chronic diseases. We know chronic illnesses are chiefly caused by lifestyle factors, and so intuitively, perhaps interventions should take lifestyle into account, too. You cannot patent a healthy diet, good night's rest, stress reduction, or exercise, and this reality sadly factors into the way healthcare is carried out in this country. But if one can teach their body to naturally heal itself, why ingest an inferior, synthetically manufactured substance tethered to side effects? And could eliminating symptoms be a disservice by masking the unrest that lies beneath?

Symptom suppression acts as a “band aid” solution that neglects the root cause of a health condition. And eliminating one set of symptoms will most likely lead to a new set of symptoms that emerge elsewhere as our body implores us to pay attention in new ways. In this light, our symptoms are clues sent from the body via enlightening, albeit unpleasant external manifestations. By constantly suppressing symptoms, we are silencing our bodies.

It’s the sensible and humane thing to prescribe medication for acute health issues. Who would withhold morphine from someone writhing in agony from a car accident or surgery? But there’s a difference between taking pain medications for a period, versus indefinitely. When it comes to chronic back pain, what about considering posture and light physical exercise? In the case of irregular menses, what about looking towards diet and life stresses instead the synthetic hormones provided by contraceptive pills (which induces withdrawal bleeding rather than a real period)? And what if those who suffer from cystic acne experimented with eliminating inflammatory foods like diary or sugar before turning to antibiotics?

I admit that there is no one answer. And perhaps that’s the hardest part of it all – coming to grips with the reality that when it comes to health (mental, physical, and emotional), no quick fix exists. We humans are complicated, and there often is no sole factor responsible for disease development. We live multifaceted lives, and perhaps we need to experiment with multi-pronged solutions to untie years cumulative, toxic knot formation.

In Latin, the word doctor means “to teach.” And so, while it’s easier to go to a doctor for “treatment” than it is to take the reins of responsibility firmly into our own hands, perhaps we should look to doctors as guides that can help empower us in our quests to heal ourselves. As cliché as it might sound, healing is a journey, not a destination.

Be patient. Each cell type takes a different amount of time to regenerate. For example, skin cells replace themselves every 10-30 days, while liver cells can take anywhere from 6 months up to one year to regenerate. For this reason, it may take less time to clear acne rather than to tackle a liver impairment. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t see immediate results. Healing from the inside takes time!

Reader, I cannot possibly know what it is like to tread in your shoes. I fully disclose than I lack formal medical training, and all the above musings are merely my humble, synthesized thoughts from all that I have learned thus far. And so, if medications are a necessary part of your world that render your lived reality easier and more enjoyable, who am I to preach what is best for you? That is something only you know. Yet, it is also possible to be a partial-deconstructionist as you experiment with gradually introducing change in your life. There is no need to uproot your entire life’s regime, especially not in one fell swoop. Meet yourself where you are.

Perhaps every now and then we should try zooming-out, too, and enjoy the view of a “big picture” perspective. After all, the word health derives from the Old English word for “whole.” Appreciating our bodies exquisite internal symphony can help us become more in tune with ourselves as we explore the ways our environment, exercise habits, emotional stress, diet, and social ties all coalesce to impact our overall health and wellbeing.