The United Nations Declaration made the statement on Dec. 10, 1948: “Everyone has the right to a standard of living proper for the health and well-being of the individual and his family, which includes medical care.”
It is now 2017, and every other news blurb mentions the battle on the Hill over the Affordable Care Act. Undoubtedly, universal health insurance in the USA would be phenomenal—a dream, some say. So what’s the holdup?
The barricade — beyond competing left and right political agendas — is the necessity of an increase in income tax for ALL American citizens. In the UK, where universal health care is the norm under a single-payer system, citizens who earn between zero and £31,785 pay 20 percent of their income tax toward universal health care. This would equate to a 15 percent increase for the American middle class and a 20 percent increase to the nearly 45 percent of Americans who live in poverty who don’t pay income tax. Are Americans ready for this?
People get sick, accidents happen, kids break bones, etc. Merely existing is an invitation for the body to react adversely to an environment. What, then, does one do when the option for insurance is outrageous, and opting out of insurance is accompanied by a penalty?
I’ve opted out of medical insurance for the past 7 years. During that time, I’ve maintained regular doctors visits, regular optometrist visits and regular dental cleanings. I’ve seen a broken wrist, back problems, headaches, an infection, a rash and digestive issues, each requiring a mix of conventional and homeopathic medical interventions. While some things couldn’t be handled without conventional care (like a broken wrist), others were treated effectively with alternative homeopathic care, and the cost for my medical care at the end of the year, even with a penalty, was less than $5,000.
Following are some tips for homeopathic treatments for everyday health concerns that could assist in alleviating the burden of cost for prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs and clinic/emergency room visits.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, and for any serious illness, professional medical care is recommended.
nGot a rash? Tea tree oil and aloe vera gel are inexpensive topical treatments that contain antifungal properties and will work wonders against rashes at a fraction of the cost of a prescription drug. Tea tree oil ranges from $5–$10 a bottle, and aloe vera gel or an aloe plant costs $4–$20, depending on the size of the plant.
nOur spines are the epicenter of our health and wellness. Don’t we all wish we’d heeded our mothers words when she said sit up straight. Back problems should certainly be taken seriously. In lieu of visiting a doctor for back problems, pinched nerves, lumbar problems and the like, regular chiropractic visits, yoga, Thai chi, acupuncture and consistent stretching are all relatively affordable options. Chiropractor visits range from $40–$150, yoga for a month can range from $60–$300 and acupuncture typically costs between $40–$70, a steal versus paying upwards of $700 for a one-time emergency room visit complete with x-rays and other costly scans.
nStress — our elusive and nagging friend that visits without notice — has headaches on the rise. The more we stress, the more we are experiencing headaches. Fatigue and dehydration, allergies, poor posture, overwork and over-worry all lead to headaches that appear in a variety of forms. Primary headaches are caused by problems with the pain-sensitive structures in the head, including blood vessels, muscles and nerves of the head and neck or changes in the chemical activity of the brain. Some alternatives to traditional OTC headache remedies are magnesium, lavender and peppermint oils, tea with feverfew or chamomile and B-complex vitamins. Hydration and good posture can also go a long way toward easing head pain.
This is not meant to be a complete abdication from conventional health care, however, until the battle over universal health care in the USA is worked out, it is meant to be a resource for those who want to live a healthy life without receiving more pain after the conventional bill comes in the mail.
