Paradox is a self-contradictory statement, which at first seems logical, but upon further consideration, it seems just the opposite.
Since acid reflux is a symptom of a condition rather than a true disease, it is paradoxical that the medical profession treats the symptoms of acid reflux without intending to cure a so-called illness.
If this is not too confusing, consider defining the word "disease." Dis is a prefix meaning “except” and lightness meaning “normal state”.
The word disease certainly throws around a lot. We were forced to think of the disease as something terrible, deadly and incurable. Allopathic medicine seems to use this word to scare us into unnecessary operations, costly office visits, diagnostic tests and dangerous prescription drugs.
It would not be great if you could go to the doctor's office for help with acid reflux, and your doctor would tell you that it can help you to cure your condition with the help of natural methods. He could say: “All that is needed to get you back to normal life is to make several changes to your lifestyle and take a couple of natural supplements.” Of course, this is rarely, if ever. Too much money is at stake.
The doctor will probably tell you that you have a potentially dangerous disease, and that before symptoms you must be treated with drugs or surgery before it turns into something much more serious. He can perform an expensive diagnostic test, such as top endoscopy, and then warn you that you can develop Barrett's esophagus, which is the precursor of esophageal cancer. Most people would probably be so scared at this point that they would obey what the doctor suggested.
He will probably write a recipe for a proton pump inhibitor such as Nexium and send you home. When it did not work after several months of use, he would tell you to double the dose. You will have to pay for office visits, diagnostic tests and prescription drugs. You may also suffer from the dangerous side effects of the drug, which may be worse than the illness they should treat.
On the other hand, a natural healer may advise you to drink more water, chew your food thoroughly, exercise a little, and relieve stress through meditation. He could tell you to remove some unpleasant foods from your diet. He could then assume that you are taking an MSM supplement to combat the formation of scar tissue in the esophagus, which is formed as a result of repeated attacks of acid reflux. He explained that this scar tissue could narrow the esophagus and lead to Barrett's esophagus. In other words, a natural healer will try to help you overcome discomfort without drugs or surgery.
We all have the ability, with little knowledge, to heal ourselves from unhappiness. We have the resources to be natural healers. But, alas, if there were more natural healing, it could have put in the medical giants, hospitals, health insurance companies and business doctors. Every time someone is healed by doing something natural, money that otherwise goes into the medical industry is lost.
Currently, pharmaceutical companies are working with the FDA to enact legislation that would limit our ability to make natural supplements. Indeed, the paradox is that natural supplements have far fewer side effects than pharmaceuticals, but the FDA, AMA and any other medical association would like to take away this freedom of choice from us. I would strongly say that we will learn more and more about natural healing and that we are fighting for our right to the opportunity to heal ourselves.
This is certainly a paradox that some herbs, roots, twigs, and other natural ingredients used in healing for thousands of years can now be illegal. This is part of the paradox that most prescription drugs are synthetic forms of these originals and are controlled by powerful companies. Big industry wants us to fail to heal ourselves. Isn't that a paradox?
The irony is that simple things, such as powder from the bark of a slippery tree, can help heal a damaged digestive system. Aloe vera juice, marshmallow, and Kukicha tea are all natural ingredients that can be used in conjunction with changes in life to heal acid reflux.
I would advise anyone who suffers from acid reflux to eliminate the paradox of the absence of acid reflux. Learn to heal yourself. We can be our own doctors. We must all be natural healers.
