Empowering Your Health

As a physician, I have been a part of the medical system. Let’s face it: The system is not perfect and it’s not going to address all aspects of health and healing. I have also been a part of the medical system as a patient. Most recently, a fall and visit to the emergency room was a reminder of the need to empower oneself when facing a health challenge.

The medical system has a role in managing health and healing; however, it is not the only source for optimizing health. A trip and fall in a parking lot led me to the local emergency room. Empowerment starts before we interact with the healthcare system. Asking questions and having a trusted companion with you during healthcare interactions are two first steps when navigating the modern healthcare world. I was grateful to quickly get in and out of the emergency room with a diagnosis of nothing broken.

The modern healthcare system had served its purpose with a reminder to come back if I had any change in condition. In medicine, we often discuss evidence-based medicine meaning practicing medicine based on evidence that the treatment works. However, there are modalities of health and healing that may not have substantial evidence but can still be helpful. Now, it was time to take control of my own health and healing.

There was trauma to my body following the fall and I needed to accept that rest was needed. I gave myself permission to rest. I also needed to optimize my habits by eating a balanced diet and increasing my water intake. As a Reiki Master, I know the power of energy medicine, so I started using self-Reiki. Seeking out my acupuncturist was the next step. Throughout it all, I used reflection and prayer. During those times of reflection, I used my Healing Body Cards deck.

The Healing Body Cards deck contains 28 cards highlighting the female physical and energetic body. Chakras, or energy centers, are represented on some of the cards as spirals. There is a guidebook included which contains suggested affirmations for each card. The cards can be used during times of reflection, prayer, or journaling. The Healing Body Cards deck can be another tool for empowering your health.