.png)
A slew of homeopathic modalities are increasingly being practiced in the Elgin community and beyond.
Everything from acupuncture, herbal medicine, chiropractic care and even basic breathing techniques are gaining favor over western pharmaceutical-based modalities. However, experts say that homeopathic and pharmaceutical remedies are complementary, and adopting an “all-natural” philosophy could cause more harm than good.
“I definitely think it’s opening up to where people are more accepting of different versions of healthcare,” said Dr. Hollis Wilson of Elgin Chiropractic Center. “I think it’s great to explore that, but with that… buyer beware.”
According to experts, many people are exploring natural modalities because they’re frustrated with traditional healthcare in American society. Elgin Wellness Shoppe manager Briana Chambers, who specializes in herbal medicine and natural health, said roughly 85-95% of her customers are seeking alternative options because of these frustrations.
“It happens often, all the time,” Chambers said. “They’re tired, and it’s expensive. They can’t afford it, and insurance is not covering it like they used to.”
Rather than immediately recommending supplements to these particular customers, Chambers asks questions gauging their diet, pain levels and overall lifestyle to determine a plan that best suits each individual.
In addition, folks are departing from conventional western methods due to the many side effects associated with pharmaceutical drugs.
“They come in and say, ‘Listen, I feel awful all the time,’” said Wilson. “‘I’ve been prescribed these muscle relaxers or these inflammatories… I don’t like the way they make me feel, and I don’t like the side effects. It’s bad on my stomach.’”
Wilson said he responds to these complaints by helping patients’ bodies function at the highest level possible mechanically. Through routine care and cultivating a comprehensive wellness approach, Wilson said a number of his patients have been able to wean off their medication.
Sarah May James, an acupuncturist and Chinese medicine expert at Phoenix Kingdom in Elgin, likewise helps patients wean off certain medications, but she also acknowledged the benefits of pharmaceuticals and that they’re a necessity for some.
“Sometimes people should not get off their medications,” James said. “Their medicine brings them stability to function in life. Sometimes it’s the chronicity of their state that they need to take it, especially if they’re older.”
Although many patients come to Phoenix Kingdom for a specific ailment, such as back pain, acupuncture addresses the entire body as a singular flow of energy through a process called pattern differentiation. According to James, the body is composed of various “channel systems,” and she aims to get these channels working together in harmony rather than simply addressing a specific symptom.
“Acupuncture treats systemically, not just local,” James said. “That’s how it’s different. So, people with a diagnosis from western medicine are probably going to get treated differently.”
James said at the very least, most of her patients experience an overwhelming feeling of relaxation after a visit, activating their parasympathetic nervous system as opposed to their sympathetic nervous system, which is the body’s response to stressful or dangerous situations.
In the world of holistic wellness, simply reducing stress is a simple yet crucial first step towards improving one’s overall health. According to the National Ag Safety Database, 90% of illness and disease are linked to high stress levels.
Yoga teacher and owner of Body + Shine Wellness Katy Gassaway believes basic breathing techniques and mindfulness can have a monumental effect on people’s well-being.
“Mindfulness and breathing I think is something we overlook or downplay a lot of the time,” Gassaway said. “For me personally, when I started becoming more aware of those things, it was a total game changer… Our minds are constantly going, and I think whether we realize it or not, it has a huge effect on our health, physically, mentally and emotionally.”
Gassaway also mentioned how pent-up stress or stagnant energy can manifest into physiological or mental issues. Thus, movement modalities such as yoga allow this energy to be released.
According to the various specialists, some folks fall into a rabbit hole once discovering the benefits of homeopathic medicine. They think anything “natural” is completely harmless and start going overboard with different remedies. Experts spoke about the dangers of taking this route without medical supervision.
“There are things you can overdo,” Chambers said. “You can overtake Vitamin A. It’ll damage the liver. The other thing is, people don’t pay attention to their sourcing and where this herb or this product came from because it’s a saturated market… It can be dangerous in that way.”
“You always need to consult a person who’s been trained, especially with herbal medicine,” James said. “Herbs are strong and you can definitely take the wrong ones and feel worse, unless you’re trained.”
All the practitioners recognized that western modalities are great for various reasons, such as emergency care, treating infection and curing certain diseases. The experts provided some ideas on how western and eastern practices can merge together to create an optimal form of healthcare.
“It’s tough. It’s dispelling old mindsets,” Wilson said. “I try to stay in my lane and just refer and have open communication… It’s just about being communicative enough to communicate what you’re able to do to other professions.”
Wilson commended several Elgin physicians for being open-minded and conversing with different types of health professionals.
“I think there needs to be awareness on the education level of the practitioners,” James said, “because you want the wellness to be in your own hands… So I think more awareness, education, paying attention to everyday choices and being aware of how those affect you.”
Chambers and Gassaway offered similar solutions: communication, education and open-mindedness among those in the wellness realm.
