Science will save us.
Doctors know everything.
The more familiar the brand, the better the product.
Right?
The truth is we know very little about a whole lot; physicians specialize in treating symptoms, not causes; and the big brands are driven entirely by the desire to make a profit from their sales.
Let’s face it—the brightest minds in science, the doctors and their pills, and all the billion-dollar brands combined have yet to figure out much at all: they can’t cure the common cold; they can’t agree on whether or not it is healthy to eat eggs and they have no idea how to maintain civilization without destroying the planet—as a matter of fact, they don’t even know how to deal with pimples.
Incredible.
Do you need proof?
Case in point: Acne
First off, though the terms are often used interchangeably, for technical purposes, “pimples” (pustules) are a just one of a broader group of skin maladies called “acne.” In severe situations, acne combines pimples, pustules, whiteheads, blackheads and scar tissue to deal a hurtful blow to both the appearance and the self-esteem of the one afflicted.
What causes acne? Medical practitioners tend to agree these troublesome skin eruptions are the result of blocked hair follicles in the skin, but what causes the blockage, and how can it be prevented? No one knows. That’s right: We can send a man to the moon, but we can’t stop pimples.
Given the failure of medicine to provide a cure, the drug companies fire up their snake-oil machines and marketing departments to invent a cure (and most of all, sell a cure), leading millions of acne sufferers to spend billions of dollars trying to regain a smooth face and a palatable self-image. But the drug makers’ pills and potions serve only to line the pockets of their stockholders, while the common folk are left with empty purses and disappointment. Does this scenario sound at all familiar (we could exchange “acne” with a wide range of other ailments and the scenario would be the same).
Is the situation hopeless?
What can we do to fend for ourselves? For it is certain that science, physicians and mega-corporations have few answers and little compassion. Yes, there are exceptions to that rule, but precious few.
The problem with real solutions is that they often appear too simple. The advertisers, with their continuous barrage of “new and improved” products, want us to remain in a constant state of looking for the next great invention—when it is often the case that the old standby treatment is more than adequate.
The forest and the trees
For example, do you want to lose weight? Here’s a sure-fire way: Exercise daily and consume fewer calories than you expend. To act on that one maxim will produce better results than you are likely to gain from all of the diet plans and belly-busting gadgets you can find in the booming weight-loss market. But who will listen? We are typically too busy looking for the answer to see the simple solution to our problem.
Here are a few more old-school remedies. You have heard them before. Why not slow down and listen?
- Eat more fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Cut back as far as you can on processed foots, additives, preservatives and anything you can’t pronounce.
- Get rid of every synthetic chemical in your house. Switch to natural cleaning products. Try fresh air instead of air fresheners. Absolutely rid your home of products containing chlorine bleach, formaldehyde, and ammonia.
- Exercise to the point of sweating regularly. Use hot towel compresses to open pores. Make use of steam rooms and saunas (if you can find one that isn’t cleaned with harsh chemicals). Walk a mile or more (away from major highways) on at least three days each week.
- Pray and meditate. Contemplate life. Sit and breathe. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Get out into nature and rejoice in the wonders you see.
- Do something for another person every day. Be kind and gracious. Help someone else achieve his or her goals. Find a cause you care about, and get involved in being a part of the solution.
- Supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals. It is extremely difficult to get all the nutrition you need from the grocery store today. The mega-farmers have all but sterilized the soil with their synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
Will doing these things cure acne? Maybe. Getting back to basics and taking care of your self, your home and your family naturally has the potential to cure a whole lot of ills.
Try and see.
Author Lane Goodberry focuses on health and wellness issues.
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