Health and fear are two sides of the same coin. Considering you’re an Escapeartist reader - at some stage in your life – you’ve probably entertained the thought of moving to the other side of the planet. Though, perhaps some of you have never got past the ‘dream’ phase because of certain, worrisome factors.  The major and most important consideration is always ‘health’.  “What’s the medical system like on the other side of the planet?”  “Will my ‘health’ insurance cover costs?”  “What if I need emergency surgery etc?” 

All valid concerns - off course.  But what about a change in perspective? Most of us are operating from a place of dread, whereby we expect to fall ill.  We can expect to grow old, that’s for sure.  But why buy into the myth that along with ageing, we must automatically surrender to illness, disease and despair? 

When it comes to our health, the time is overripe for a major overhaul in the way we approach the topic. There are some schools of thought that say we’re incapable of making our own decisions and unless we obtain help from the ‘experts’ - without intervention – we are destined to lose. 

How about an entirely new school of thought? What about self-education, self-diagnoses and healing via our own efforts - using ways and methods that have been around for thousands of years? There’s no way your doctor can know you as well as you know yourself.  Just because he/she knows how the engine works, doesn’t mean he/she is capable of fixing it. A generic diagnosis is about as good as it gets, along with a bag full of medication to take home. Antibiotics, cholesterol tablets, heart tablets, blood pressure tablets, diabetic insulin, the list goes on. And you end up taking poison for the rest of your life, because you fear the consequences if you don’t do as you’re told. Why do we put our trust in the hands of strangers when it comes to our precious health? Why are we so easily convinced by a medical system that doesn’t always have our best interests at heart? It’s no secret that many so-called medical experts are in bed with the pharmaceutical industry.  Why else would they push death sentences like chemo and radiotherapy upon the vulnerable, unsuspecting masses? Perhaps we yield to the medical establishment because it’s easier to let other people make the big decisions – and then we can always blame something/someone else when things don’t work to plan. 

Warning to all baby boomers about to retire! 

Your future health or perhaps the lack of it has created an enormous gap or demand in the global ‘health’ industry.  There’s a shortage of conventional medical professionals and this deficiency has left all sorts of opportunities wide open and ready to exploit.  To be sure, the hyenas are waiting in the wings with quick fix solutions to all your health problems.  ‘Health’ spas, treatments, detox miracle diets, supplement powders, exercise machines and - heaven forbid - wacky surgeries that’ll rob you of your retirement fund quicker than you can say ‘Winnebago camper’. The worlds’ ageing population represents a goldmine for a lot of prying business people who are only interested in lining their own pockets without adding any real value to you and/or your life.  Unfortunately, these people include conventional as well as alternative health sectors. Rest assured, it doesn’t have to be that way. In a lot of cases, you really can fix your own medical issues.  All you have to do is invest some time and effort in yourself and that’s the best investment you’ll ever make. 

As a human being and a writer, I’m in a constant state of evolution, but if I were to pinpoint the one thing that turns me on the most in life, I’d say it’s the hunt.  The hunt for truth and personal freedom. 

Before we continue, we need to get one thing clear. Obviously, I’m not a doctor. I don’t have a background in medicine or any affiliations of any kind.  The following information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical care. I’m simply presenting you with data, freely available to everybody.  Ancient, simple wisdom that’s taken me years to discover because I’m a slow learner.

Ok, that being said, let’s get started…

Most of the information you need to treat yourself is all around you, and in most cases it’s free or very inexpensive. When you start delving deeper, don’t be put off by the fact that a lot of the experts related to non-conventional therapies such as cancer treatments are self-taught.  This kind of intelligence cannot be learned at school.  If doctors were taught these simple strategies by which to actually cure people, nobody would make money. 

A bit of background: The beginning of my own health education started 7 years ago with the ‘gift’ of an overactive thyroid, also known as Autoimmune ‘Graves’ Disease. Could they have chosen a more ominous sounding name? I think not! Anyway, it wasn’t much fun.  Nor was sitting at the doctor’s office being told they were about to pump me full of radioactive iodine in order to ‘further diagnose’ the situation.  After which, depending on the severity of the case, they may have had to remove my thyroid and consequently put me on medication for the rest of my life.  I’m not sure what happened to me during that little chat with the good doctor but I do know that every cell in my body, in fact my entire being at that particular time cried out in order to communicate something to me.  As if there was some other force, which had taken over. Want to know what it said? It shouted a big fat ‘NO’. Sometimes, I think that moment saved my life. 

Whatever it was that I was tuning into on that day, I knew then, I wasn’t about to subject myself to this kind of run-of-the-mill treatment, which was making me feel like a branded cow. 

Needless to say, as soon as I escaped the doctor’s office, I started my own research.  The first stop was the naturopath. The best thing about her was that she told me there was an alternative - that my condition was treatable by other, more gentle methods.  ‘Brilliant’, I thought, but after a few weeks of taking a multitude of very expensive herbal pills, I still felt like crap and my search continued. In the end, I found a herbalist who mixed up a concoction for $20 a bottle. Faithfully, I swallowed a thimble full of the black liquid 3 times a day for 3 months, felt better almost immediately and took a blood test to discover that suddenly my ‘Graves’ had died. That was the beginning of my newfound journey. 

Don’t let anyone mess with your body.  Sure, listen to what the doctors tell you but then be prepared to tear it all apart and do your own research. Study the human body.  Study nutrition.  With the Internet, all the information is freely available.  It just takes a little time and effort. 

Truth is, the best things in life really are free. And isn’t that a great thing in our current economic situation?  I, for one, am eternally grateful for discovering my next gift, which I’m about to share with you… 

Ranked among the TOP 10 Alternative Health Sites on the Internet! 

Earth clinic, Folk remedies and holistic cures is a non-profit success story. 

The site is the real deal. It comes from a good place that doesn’t take advantages of people in a disadvantaged state. Integrity is the name of the game and I believe integrity will prosper in the end. When we do the right thing, we sleep well at night. In fact, we thrive. 

“Welcome to Earth Clinic’s treasure chest of home remedies! 

Our readers have been testing and developing these folk remedies, with contributors from every part of the world, since 1999. We've been sent some of the most exciting remedies to date – dozens of restorative remedies, plus natural cures for cancer, fibromyalgia, back pain and more than 350 other diseases and conditions!”  - www.earthclinic.com 

Recently, for the first time in 8 years, the site published a book about Apple Cider Vinegar and it’s numerous health benefits. It is the only product for sale on the entire site but you probably wouldn’t know it because they don’t thrust it in your face.  One of the guidelines for the site is that contributors are encouraged not to mention any brand-names when speaking of remedies. Too good to be true?  Don’t take my word for it. See for yourself. The site doesn’t depend on product placement, it’s a donation based site – but that’s another fact that’s never hustled. In any case, you’ll get access to a wealth of information, free of charge.  In the end, you decide what you want to do with it. 

So what does all this health talk have to do with travel, perpetual vagabonding and gallivanting around the globe?  The answer is simple. If you don’t have your health, you don’t have the freedom to do what you want to do. And whether you’re happy with the state of your health or not, just knowing there are alternative ways can be highly liberating.  The choices are abundant; no one can take that away from you. So, if and when you’re ready, do the research and find out what resonates with your own inner compass. Doesn’t matter where you are or who you are, you’re only ever a thought away from changing your reality. 

Sure it’s risky.  But here we are again, back to where we started.  With the same doubts and the same fears – difference is, this time you are driving the convertible. Other people may not approve.  They may not understand and they may even object (fearful of your hairy driving). Never mind, because when you’re at the wheel, you’re also in the position to steer others in the direction of safety. 

Love and Light Refreshments