I have been surrounded by the health food industry my whole life. I grew up around my local health food store and was always helping around the store as a child counting supplements for inventory. My family was always employed in natural foods. With that experience and now having my own job in holistic healing, I hear many myths that unfortunately get attached to the industry. It breaks my heart that many tend to miss out on true healing due to some stereotype. This led me to this recent post of my favorite myths that give healing a bad name. Maybe these myths are something you personally believe or maybe someone represented natural healing in a bad way to you. Either way here is my personal soapbox on the subject!
1. The industry is for the rich and famous.
Hollywood loves health food and holistic healing right? You can turn on your TV and watch famous people shopping at big name health food stores or drinking that new health trend. I personally remember back in the day when a big name Kombucha company blew up because a famous TV family of sisters were always photographed carrying a bottle.
For some people this has given the health industry a exclusive club vibe. Many think healing is unaffordable and unreachable for the average person. In 2019, health food has never been more affordable! Clean eating is becoming more available across many places making them accessible to everyone. You don't have to break the bank to eat healthy, because you can make tiny steps each day that are healthier. Are you going to eat 100% organic food tomorrow? Most likely not, but can you eat a little bit healthier tomorrow? Most definitely! Invest a little more into your diet today and save yourself from a pricey medical bill tomorrow.
2. The alternative health industry is exclusive and unwelcoming
I know some people who have told me they are intimidated to walk into a natural food store due to fear of being judged. This breaks my heart every time. I personally found my community by going into health food. There is literally something for every person because we are all in need of healing. Non dairy? Gluten free? Vegan? Vegetarian? Pescatarian? Keto? All those diet needs are covered. Are you having other imbalances like hormonal issues, blood sugar issues, digestion issues,etc? Maybe you just want to eat cleaner and live a healthier life? You will find your home and your tribe by going alternative healing. I have found this industry to be the most inclusive place to be. I have met many loving relationships by bonding over the universal need that each person has which is the need to be well. Give us a chance and let's talk! ❤️️
3. The alternative healing industry is full of woo woo.
Look back at the way natural foods begins and you will most likely think of hippies hanging out. Many think as an herbalist, that I practice some kind of weird sorcery. There is a common belief that many of us are anti government, anti modern medicine and anti technology. Healing doesn't have to be woo woo. While I do consider myself a little modern hippie, you will still find me on Instagram, shopping at target and still being my hippie self. I am not going to force my lifestyle or my beliefs on you. My only desire is for you to feel comfortable in your healing journey.
4. Herbal healing is in your head.
My personal favorite and someone actually told me that just a few weeks ago. I was basically told taking herbs is just a money making scheme and that it's only a placebo effect. That fired me up! I have heard countless stories of how herbs have healed many, myself included. When you have someone come up to you and thank you for helping them heal, it is the best feeling. You can't tell me that this is in a person's head. The diseases that people deal with on a daily basis are very real and when those symptoms decrease/disappear, the results are undeniable. Many times, herbs will get a bad reputation due to “not working” in a person's body.
My responses to those situations are as follows:
How long did you take it?
Have you made any lifestyle changes?
Then I'll go deeper into their personal condition. Are they cold or hot, Yin or Yang condition, etc. It isn't the herb that is defective, it is just the wrong treatment for that particular person. Every single person is different and every healing journey is unique. Lets not write off what the earth has given us!
Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope that whether you’re skeptic, believer or just my friend, please give natural healing a chance! You may just find your niche!
Pōmaika`i, Blessings,
Leilani Nelson (Founder of LunaLei)