Declare Your Independence.....From Pharmaceuticals

It is the 4th of July. I love the 4th. As I reflected for 30 seconds today on the freedoms I enjoy (I have 5 kids and a husband, you know....my reflections are short lived these days), I thought of the typical stuff....

Freedom to worship freely
Freedom to educate my children how I see fit
Freedom to wear stripes with polka dots

I also thought of one of the freedoms I enjoy most....my health. When you are healthy you have the freedom to think clearly, move easily, and be closer to God. The Word of Wisdom guarantees that. This line of thinking led me to appreciating the fact that my family has always been pharmaceutical free, if you don't count the 3 times we've taken antibiotics in the last 14 years. Once for a postpartum UTI 13 years ago, once for celulitis for dd #3, and once for an abscess for dd #4. All of which I wouldn't have done, given the knowledge I have now.

I am well aware that some people need their meds for life threatening conditions, and in no way am I saying that everyone everywhere needs to replace or drop their meds.

But when we talk about food storage and living without our modern conveniences, it never fails that someone says, "What am I going to do about the medications I'm taking?" To which I've yet to hear a suitable answer.

My mom takes about 7 pharmaceuticals today. At one time she was taking 11. I caught my parents at a choice time in their lives where allopathic medicine had failed them and they had turned to nature and God instead. Apparently, I was the only one out of us 6 kids that caught this window, and boy am I grateful. The last time I remember seeing an allopathic doctor was when I was 5 or 6 at the pediatrician for an ear infection. From then on out, I saw an MD turned homeopath that was in our ward.

I woke up one morning at age 11 and really struggled to walk. My legs were in pain when I did. Sometimes in the morning I would be so dizzy that I couldn't see anything but fuzz and I was a terrible insomniac. They took me to Dr. Royal, who I didn't know wasn't 'a regular' doctor, but it was fun going to him. He'd give me vials to hold, push down on my arm, read my feedback on this archiac computer. Turns out I had major allergies. I'd go home, inject myself with shots (which I didn't know were homeopathics), and call it good. This went on for a year and then my allergies were gone and I was fine. My parents also got involved in Sunrider at this time from my aunt and uncle, an MLM that marketed Chinese herbs. So, I'd take herbs and homeopathics, not really knowing I was doing anything out of the norm. My mom never explained anything to me. She herself had very limited knowledge about what she was doing, so I can't blame her too much for my lack of knowledge.

My mom got in a car accident about 7 or 8 years ago, which got her scared and started on the domino of drugs she's on now. Granted, she only hurt her wrist, but you know, she's older so she has to take osteoporosis drugs, right? Those gave her a heart problem, so now she's on heart meds and has had multiple heart surgeries, which messes with her potassium levels, so she has to take a drug for that, of course or else she'll faint. Also, she's always had trouble sleeping, but the meds give her even more trouble, so she takes a sleeping pill. The sleeping pill does this or that, so she has to take another drug to treat that. You know the drill.

So, I asked my mom...
"Mom, what happens when you can't get your meds anymore?"
"Well, we do have a 15 day supply."
"Okay, but what happens after that?"
"I don't know. We just pray, I guess. Or maybe I'll just will lay down and die."

That's the spirit, mom. Unfortunately, I don't think that attitude is so uncommon, though. It makes me sad. And sure, I guess that would be an option, one that some might willingly take, but what if the Lord won't allow it? What if you give up, try to die, but the Lord has other plans? Or what if others end up depending on you for their survival but you're too sick to do anything?

I don't know. It's not a scenario I like thinking about, to be honest. To see all the pain, suffering and chaos happening when people can't get their drugs and they are going through withdrawals. I fear the government will implement some sort of trade with these desperate people that they will feel forced to take.

'Give us your food storage, we'll give you you're meds.'
'Let us implant a chip in you and you can have your meds.'
You see where I'm going with this...it's not lovely thinking.

Like I said, my family has manged to stay pharma free our entire marriage. Not by luck or chance, but through work, study, prayer and blessings. When I tell people that my kids have never had an ear ache, only two of them have had antibiotics once, my husband took no meds during his serious illness, I think half of them don't believe me. I'm not saying this to boast or brag, but to give hope and encouragement.

Maybe you can't go off of all your meds, but you probably can go off of some. For those with major illnesses, like thyroid or heart problems, I always advise to go off of meds under the care of a trained and skilled alternative practitioner. But, on this 4th of July, give yourself back your freedom and replace those meds with better living, herbs, homeopathics, essential oils, massage...whatever your chosen modality is. And for heaven's sake (literally) clean up your diet!! I've seen many people do it and improve their lives. You CAN reduce your meds or be pharma free!

Even if that day never comes that you can't get your meds, you will have given yourself and your family multiple blessings in becoming healthy and liberated. It's peace of mind knowing that the only person you depend on for your health and wellbeing is God and the bounties from the earth.

In Health,
Amy