Alternative medicine?
Are all forms of “alternative medicine” things that Christians can consider, within the freedom that God gives? Do the origins of a medical treatment/theory have any impact on whether a Christian can consider it?
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Comment by Rachel
I think Christians can and should consider alternative medicines if they do not go against God’s Word. For instance, I wouldn’t personally involve myself in yoga, meditation (other then on God’s Word), hypnosis, acupuncture, etc. We stick to alternative medicines that deal with herbs, homeopathic remedies and common sense such as good diets and lots of rest.
But if me or my family has a cold, I’d much rather give them things such as echinacea, elderberry, etc then an over the counter drug. When it comes to herbs and natural remedies, I believe they are fine to use because the origins of them are from God…plants, mineral, etc.
We do not vaccinate our children nor get flu shots because I believe the ingredients in them are not appropriate to put in the temple of the Holy Spirit! I can’t imagine God liking the idea of us putting toxic chemicals, dangerous metals, animal DNA/RNA and aborted fetal tissue into our children and ourselves. And vaccines go against the natural function of the immune system that God created! God gave some men and women the talent to be doctors, but that does not mean we don’t consult God in our health first. I think it’s a big mistake to treat doctors as if they are gods and know everything. And I also wonder about when Bible prophecy talks about wizardry/sorcery (pharmakeia), that it’s not only talking about illegal drugs, but also the abuse of legal drugs. It’s no mystery that doctors give drugs that are more dangerous then the ailment. We see this in FDA recalls and ambulance chasers.
We must always go to God first and pray for discernment. Our family takes from both areas, natural and western. I never fill a prescription without prayer and research first.
Our family is taking a multi vitamin, vitamin D3 supplements and then a homeopathic remedy whenever we feel something trying to start. So far, we’ve been very healthy despite many getting sick around us.
You know what they say…an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Comment by Donna
Rachel~
We do all of the same, except that we also rely on chiropractic care for the majority of our preventative and health care needs. I appreciate your description of why you don’t vaccinate–it is our thoughts exactly. My husband’s philosophy has always been, “The Power that made the body, heals the body from above-down, inside-out.”
Comment by Mimi
To both Rachel and Donna,
Why do you not vacinate your children? Rachel vaccinations are not all that you descibed them to be. I just feel that both of you are not thinking realistically and that you are putting your children at great risk. God didn’t make us to be foolish and take risks that are needless. Donna, I would like to hear what your husband has to say about CANCER? My bestfriend is in horrible pain, as cancer eats through her bones and why??? Because she chose not to have Chemo. She now regrets her decision..at the time she was diagnosed with Breat Cancer she was at stage 1…now it has spread throughout her body. She didn’t believe in Chemo, she thought that it would be toxic to her body…well unfortantely, now she is receiving chemo and radiation…but it is a little too late. She had chose the Holistic approach instead of modern medicine. So if God is as your husband describes him, then why hasn’t he healed my best friend? She is one one the most Christian and loving people I have ever known, why is she not healed then? Sometimes I have to wonder how much we pretend God to be and how much we see reality??? I hope you wake up to reality before your children suffer from Polio or any disease that could have been prevented by a simple shot in the butt.
Comment by Dan
I have one question for both Rachel & Donna. How do we know that it wasn’t God who moved the Hands of Scientists & helped them to discover these vaccines? Isn’t it possible for him to look at the suffering of his beloved children and want to offer a cure?
Comment by Susan
Dan, I agree with you and we can take Rachel & Donna’s a step further. Did technology that enables us to fly & drive come from God or not. Look in the Bible for various technologies and herbs, where does it leave the so called illegal drugs that ARE useful for many of us? Marijuana, morphine, alcohol all of which ARE legally prescribed for many, etc all have uses that our medical and political system refuse to acknowledge as useful. Even cigarette smoking has been found to help calm down people who suffer from Schizophrenia. Shouldn’t we look to nature and the intelligence God gave us? Many alternative medicines have their roots IN nature. As long as it is not abused and proves to be useful why NOT use it. Everything can be abused even the words of God to create evil. Just look at the various cults who claim their way is God’s way like the Branch of Davidians and Jones Town.
Comment by Hank
Before the modern drug companies and the New Testament God had given
the Jews the names of plants and trees that could help them in the
area of medicines and cures. Even today drug companies are on the
search in jungles and among tribes as to what they use for cures, find those plants and use them to crate a new medicine for today.
All human cultues in the world have their own herbal cures and ways
to help sick people. There is nothing wrong with this for they are
part of the natural world God created for us. Some of the best helps
for cures and relief of pain and suffering are natural medicines.
For example: severe burns can best be cured with the juice from the
Aloe Vera plant. Yes it is better than a drug bought at the drug
store.
All is OK Hank
Comment by sharon
there is nothing wrong with Alternative medicine. Not even using herbs.
I have. and they work great. But one must be very careful when doing so, and make sure they do there HOMEWORK first, check out what you want to take, and make sure you have enough information on it, before you take it.
Some times Alternative medicine is great and works very well.
Comment by Rachel
Mimi and Dan,
I’ve been researching vaccines for years now. And not just any research, but from respectable scientists, doctors, from medical journals and FDA hearings. There is MUCH to sift through, but it’s quite obvious to me and many others that vaccines don’t work as the experts like to say they do. Most diseases were on the decline before vaccines for them came to be. Much of that is due to better hygiene, clean water and nutrition. Most of these diseases are seen in 3rd world countries because of the lack of these things. And if you don’t believe me in regards to what is in vaccines…the ingredients, please feel free to look for yourself. It’s not hidden. Just look at the vaccine inserts and read for yourself. There has been no proper testing done between vaccinated children and unvaccinated children to prove vaccines are safe and reliable compared to those that don’t vaccinate. Why wouldn’t the government and health officials who have all this technology at their finger tips and all this money, not just do the proper testing once and for all to clear up any concerns there are over their safety? Statistics show that unvaccinated children tend to be healthier then vaccinated children. Can I inquire as to what you believe I was wrong about in describing vaccines? Have you spent years researching it also and have your own thoughts and information you would like to share or are you basing your opinion just on what doctors have told you or what the media has said?
Dan, vaccines are not a cure. If you even talk to those that praise up vaccines, they will tell you that vaccines are not guaranteed to work. Most all cases of polio now a days are a result of the polio vaccine! And a recent study came out that showed a high correlation between older generations that got vaccinated for polio and brain tumors among 2nd and 3rd generations of that person. The flu vaccine has been proven to NOT decrease the amount of time missed from work, severity of symptoms, nor the number of deaths compared to those that don’t get the flu shot. I could go on forever with very similar statistics and stories. And do you really believe that God would guide scientists to use such ingredients in vaccines as mercury, aluminum (which is actually more toxic then mercury), formaldehyde, and yes..aborted fetal tissue, animal DNA…etc? Really? I find that hard to believe, but maybe that’s just me.
Mimi, in regards to your accusations about Chemo, please reread my post. I talked about alternative medicines and vaccines, I never said anything about chemo. I even said that I take from both natural medicine and western medicine. Those decisions are made based on what the issue is at the time and where the greatest benefit lies. I take migraine meds because they work for me, but I’m more then happy to try natural remedies. I have tried a couple that haven’t worked, but I haven’t tried them all. My mother had breast cancer and I sat with her during chemo. She taught me most of what I know in regards to natural medicine. She didn’t fight the idea of chemo at all. But she did refuse to take the drug Tamoxifen because to her the benefit did not outweigh the risk. It’s now been 7 years and she’s quite healthy!
I don’t tell anyone what to do when it comes to vaccines and their children. But I will be happy to share what I know if you are interested. I didn’t just come to this decision lightly! I vaccinated my 1st child for the first year of her life before I really started to dig into the issue of vaccine safety. And it took much prayer to get to the point that I’m at now. My other 2 children are far healthier then my first child and I think them not being vaccinated played a role in that. I’m a big advocate of people researching and coming to their own decisions. To just take your doctor’s word for it is dangerous. Not all doctors are Christians and not all doctors graduated at the top of the class.
Comment by ceseeley
I almost died in the fall of 2005 from multiple blood clots in the lungs; I was one day from being on a Respirator. Being helped with Heparin, Coumadin, hospitalization for 6 days and having a thrombosis the size of a fist removed from behind my left knee by laser surgery destruction of the Saphenous vein that was feeding it, I still had this incurable blood condition known as Antipos-polipid-antibody Syndrome or Hodges Syndrome which just means that one’s blood has the tendency to clot. My world renowned specialist wanted me to help him find a cure for this syndrome and the first year of treatment I wasn’t cured. Being aggressive in desiring to be well, I decided instead of occasionally to take four drops of Oil of Oregano every day in about 16 fluid ounces of a mixture of half orange juice and half pink grapefruit juice which I drank periodically during the day with it acting as a daily time capsule. In one years time I was totally cured and released by the Specialist and I don’t even have to take a baby aspirin every day if I don’t want to.
I have had tremendous luck with Acidophilus, Omega3, Glucosamine Chondroitin, CoQ10, Acacia Berry, Multiple Vitamins and Minerals, Honey, Cinnamon, Ground Flax Seed, Grape Seed Extract, Ginkgo Biloba, Saw Palmetto, Orderless Garlic … etc. I do my research, wait for the Holy Spirit, tempered with Scripture and Pray, to guide me and listen and watch my body every day after I take anything .
Comment by Rachel
Ceseeley,
I’m so glad to hear of your recovery! PTL! I’ve heard many good things about Oil of Oregano! I must look into it more! My sister also has issues with blood clots in her lungs and is also on things such as Coumadin! Her body has been wrecked with over use of steroids and her health is not very good. She was just diagnosed with diabetes. I’m going to pass on your experience to her!
I’ve also heard a lot of good things about Astragalus in building up the immune system, which would be a good thing during flu season! Thank you for sharing your story! God Bless!
Comment by Anonymous
How can smoking marijuana be considered a sin? It’s made by God, unaltered, as a medicine. Some of these bloggers justify the use of phamacuticals, but no seems to notice that pharmacuticals use the same “ingredients” that marijuana is full of to make drugs that cost 10 times what marijuana costs. Also, drinking or being drunk is mentioned several times in both new and old testaments, yet smoking is not. Do any of you really think that the process of distilling alcohol came about before someone lit a bush on fire and got high?
Comment by Daniel
Sorry folks. I accidentally clicked “say it” too quickly. My name is Daniel, I wrote the directly above, and I’m a Christian.
Comment by Corey
I don’t understand why a Christian would turn to medicine. Many modern treatments are formulated under the lie that the human body adapts through the process of natural selection, so I refuse to believe that they are effective.
Think of the situation of the Neumann family, who refused to seek a doctor for their diabetic daughter and instead prayed. God chose not to save her – imagine if they had taken her to a doctor and he had saved her life? God’s will would have been thwarted. Luke 14:26 says that our feelings for our family should feel like hatred in comparison to our feelings for Jesus. The Neumanns showed incredible faith by putting their dedication to Jesus above their daughter’s health. Provided she had accepted Christ before her death, she is now in Heaven and no longer suffering. How can this be anything other than a positive outcome?
Is it a sin to go to a doctor? I don’t know. The Bible doesn’t explicitly say. It could be interpreted as a lack of faith, it could be interpreted otherwise. But is it even worth taking the risk? If you don’t have 100% certainty that something is not sinful, DON’T DO IT. God will never punish someone for trusting him instead of a doctor, but we can’t be sure he won’t punish someone for doing the opposite. What danger is there in risking your life if you know you’re going to go to Heaven anyway?
Comment by Debbie
I believe in both forms of medicine. I use most of the supplements that Ceseeley listed and a chiropractor since there isn’t really any cure for severe arthritis and staying in alignment goes a long ways toward pain relief. However, I also use medication for asthma that is a lifesaver and pain killers for arthritis. My thought is this. If you were having a heart attack, would you pray your way out of it or ask to go to an emergency room? Be honest with yourself…Does any Christian think that God did not provide the knowledge and modern medications, many which are lifesaving. I think the situation with the Nuemann family was tragic, but I also feel that everybody should have the right to do with their temple as they are directed by God. The government has no business telling people that they MUST get treatment. I cannot see this as an either or question, but a combination of both. If you truly are relying on God, do not take a child to the emergency room when they break a leg, but remember God often heals through doctors. Healing is not always direct. Modern medicine often does not use natural healing as it should. There is no reason why there cannot be a combination of both.
As for marijuana..I don’t reject it as a medicine for many things. As a Christian though, I believe the psychological effect (and nobody can deny there is such an effect) can cause a stronghold to be established in the believer’s soul, allowing the Christian to be influenced by demonic activity. If I was dying of cancer and needed it to control nausea and pain, I would use it.
MARANATHA
Comment by Mimi
To Rachael,
I respect you for your opion on vaccinations, however I still disagree. I agree however that mercury should never have been put in vaccinations and I believe that is the reason for several cases of Autism. However they no longer put mercury in vaccinations, at least that is what I have been told.
As far as Chemo. I know that you didn’t mention it, I was using it as an example. Chemo could of kept my friend from going through what she is now going through..with cancer spreading throughout her body. Had she used modern medicines approach to fight the cancer, I believe she wouldn’t be going through what she is now facing. Especially since she was only at stage 1, when she was diagnosed. I just believe that by ignoring approaches that can keep us healthy, we take a great risk of losing our health all together. Thank you for your response.
Comment by Corey
Mimi,
Why is risking losing our health altogether such a bad thing? As I posted earlier, when Christians die they go to heaven, and when non-Christians die they simply get what’s coming to them. The use of modern medicine, potentially thwarting God’s will, seems contradictory to God’s command to disdain this life and world. Ultimately, Christians should be doing all they can to speed up the deaths of themselves and their dependents without actually committing suicide or murder. The sooner one dies, the sooner one goes to heaven, and the sooner the possibility of losing one’s salvation disappears.
And please don’t be disheartened about your friend – rest assured that if God wants to heal her, he will.
Comment by Debbie
Corey,
“Why is risking losing our health altogether such a bad thing?” That is not a correct Christian attitude. We are not supposed to take risks with our lives with such a lighthearted attitude. Sitting around waiting to go to heaven is not our destiny. You are way off track if that is how you are living a spiritual life. Why do you think God would not allow Paul to tell what he saw in heaven? Because of the idea you are trying to proclaim. Nobody would want to live on the earth and do God’s work. As for losing one’s salvation, that is not possible. Can a baby go back in the womb after it has entered the birth canal? NO…why would spiritual birth be any different? “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (EPH 2:10) This is what we do until our last dying breath. Your attitude is pretty morbid and not scriptural.
MARANATHA
Comment by ceseeley
I love life and wish I could live forever! If one looks with God’s discernment, God is all over the place! We are not suppose to defile our Holy Temple and we should honor God by taking care of the Body (i.e. Holy Temple)that God gave us that He weaved together in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-16)!
When we are “Born Again,” we are given at least one Spiritual Gift and when we “Walk in the Spirit” desiring to Glorify God in everything that we say, do and where ever we go, then we use our Spiritual Gift(s) the way God intended, He may be Glorified and consequently, other people may be drawn to Him so that He can Bless them too! There is so much Christian Work to do and so many people to help that we need to take as good of care of our God Given Holy Temple as He Guides us to!
When something is wrong with my God Given Body, I become very aggressive, seeking God’s Will for His Directed Cure and then maybe, that knowledge and experience will help somebody else! The Medical Community wants people to take more of a serious role and take charge of their health care as much as possible!
Comment by Child of the King
I’m a type2 Diabetic. I received this Diagnosis in 1998. I went in denial for a short time refusing to eat properly and not checking my blood sugar.
I even tried skipping The pills I was given to leave myself at God’s Mercy. I started having problems being alert and at times suffering low blood sugar attacks. Well I got back on the Medicine and also Started taking various pills from a local health food store. I asked the Lord if it was his will to take this problem away. God sometimes for his own reasons does not give instant healing or even any healing. This doesn’t mean God doesn’t care about us or love us as he does things knowing the end from the beginning.
Read; Jeremiah 30 v 11-17 is one example of why the Lord does not always heal people.
Nahum 3 v 19 also tells us why The Lord does not heal certain people.
Which in turn this warning is given “The Fear of The Lord is the beginning of Wisdom”
How many times have we have read in the News about various Entertainers and Music Stars dying at a young age? Look what God they are serving (II Corin. 4 V 4)
Comment by Mimi
Debbie thank you for your well thought our comment,ceseeley I am glad that you made it through and are cured, thanks for all the info. that you always try to share to help others. Child of the King, I also enjoyed what you had to shared.
Corey,
It is our Human nature to want to live. Life isn’t as flippant as you described it to be. Believe me my Best Friend doesn’t want to die, even with the daily pain that she endures. And I feel that I don’t deserve Heaven and those that don’t believe derserve Hell. I would much rather see everyone have eternal life, except serial killers and mass muderers etc. and this I am not really suppose to wish for either. Corey, Debbie’s comment to you was better than anything I could think of, so I hope that you make sure to read what she shared with you. I myself am in no rush to die, life is a precious gift from God and I hope to keep living and even more importantly keep learning and loving. God Bless You.
Comment by Douglas Summers
Ultimately it is God who heals. Wheather by giving knowledge to man or by Supernatural power of the Spirit. ALL sickness comes from sin!
What is not of God is transplants of vital organs. This is the scheme of men. The organs of a donor are never accepted by the forgien body. You can argue this all you want to….it is not of God!
The hope of real life is not in this body…for this body will never inherit the Kingdom.
In Christ
Doug
Comment by Mimi
To Douglas Summers, I thought I was the only person that felt that way. When a person receives a organ donation, they have to remain on anti rejection medication the rest of their life and that could be as many as 35 pills a day or more to stay alive. I wouldn’t want to live like that. Iknow someone that got a kidney transplant and it was very difficult. Plus she can’t risk getting sick with the flu, she must keep her meds. in her body and not throw them up. How scarey that would be to me.
Comment by Douglas Summers
HI Mimi,
How are you doing? I hope the Lord is drawing you close…as I know he will.
Love you in the Lord.
In Christ
Doug
Comment by Mimi
Thank you Douglas, I am still working on my faith journey. I have been busy with work and so I didn’t come here as much. But I have realized I need to. I need the spiritual support and the opportunity to learn from so many of you, you, ceseely, Debbie, Leslie, Grampa EC, Mr. Tommy and several others. Also I need to strenghten my faith ever more, to be strong for my best friend Judy. She keeps asking me why is God allowing this. Do you have any answers…the cancer is spreading and unfortunately she didn’t choose to have chemo. or allow the doctors to remone her lymph nodes when she had her breast removed 3 years ago. She felt that it was contained and being at stage 1 she would be alright. Unfortunately she wasn’t correct. She thought that chemo. wouldn’t be good for her because she has a weak immune system. If you can give me any ideas of what I can say to her I would appreciate it. From you or anyone. I would appreciate it if you would all pray for Judy. Yhank you ahead fo time. I love you too brother in the Lord, as I love quiet of few of you here.
Comment by Debbie
Mimi,
There are many different reasons why bad things happen to good people. If a person is an unbeliever, then God has nothing to do with that. It is Satan’s hand that causes problems.
A believer can receive discipline in the form of illness for one of three reasons.
1) Suffering can be corrective; for divine discipline. When a believer is living a carnal lifestyle in unrepentant sin and not confessing to God (1JN 1:8-10) God can introduce discipline into their life in order to bring them back into fellowship. (HEB 12:5-13)
2) Suffering can be constructive; to develop spiritual maturity into the person’s soul. (2COR 12:10; PSLM 119:67) When a person repents, confesses and turns back to God, yet, the discipline continues, God is in effect, blessing them. When the respond to discipline without anger and bitterness, they heap eternal rewards upon themselves.
3) Suffering can be exemplary; not always as punishment, but to glorify God. (MATT 4:10-12; ACTS 5:41; 1PET 4:13-14) God can cause the illness or tribulation and then just as miraculously heal it, thus, glorifying His Name and power.
I hope this helps clarify some reasons why people suffer.
MARANATHA
Comment by Mr. Tommy
Hello, Mimi.
Don’t beat yourself up about your friend, just pray that God’s mercy would be extended to her and believe when you pray. Remember, James 5.16 says that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much but we must believe when we pray. I will pray for her as well. But that does not mean that God is going to heal her, just because we all pray for her. If that were any guarantee, wouldn’t we all feel, look, and be better — (Grin, grin).
But our bodies are temporal and that means that we are going to hurt at times, we catch colds, and natural things happen to us at times which seen a little unfair, perhaps. But when we decipher whether it is because of God’s judgment or not, we are wrong. Like I said, when you live as long as I have, then you can expect things to start happening and it’s not God’s fault.
As for the alternative medicines, I feel that some of them are okay, I know that we must replenish some of the chemicals that are used up out of our bodies but the PHRASE “As within the freedom which God gives” has a lot to do with it. Most of these can be replaced by the food that we normally eat. As some have already witnessed that they tried going against the doctor’s advice only to see bad results, I believe that God has given us a certain amount of wisdom of what to do and what not to do that we can make good choices as to what to do about some home remedies, at least. More later. God bless, Mr. Tommy.
Comment by Mr. Tommy
Hello, Mimi.
Don’t beat yourself up about your friend, just pray that God’s mercy would be extended to her and believe when you pray. Remember, James 5.16 says that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much but we must believe when we pray. I will pray for her as well. But that does not mean that God is going to heal her, just because we all pray for her. If that were any guarantee, wouldn’t we all feel, look, and be better — (Grin, grin).
But our bodies are temporal and that means that we are going to hurt at times, we catch colds, and natural things happen to us at times which seen a little unfair, perhaps. But when we decipher whether it is because of God’s judgment or not, we are wrong. Like I said, when you live as long as I have, then you can expect things to start happening and it’s not God’s fault.
As for the alternative medicines, I feel that some of them are okay, I know that we must replenish some of the chemicals that are used up out of our bodies but the PHRASE “As within the freedom which God gives” has a lot to do with it. Most of these can be replaced by the food that we normally eat. As some have already witnessed that they tried going against the doctor’s advice only to see bad results, I believe that God has given us a certain amount of wisdom of what to do and what not to do that we can make good choices as to what to do about some home remedies, at least. More later. God bless, Mr. Tommy.
Comment by Mimi
Thanks for the insights Debbie & Mr. Tommy.
Comment by Douglas Summers
Hi Mimi,
I can not tell you why some suffer more than others. Paul asked 3 times to be healed…but was denied every time. Here is something you can read or have your friend read from God.
Rom. 8:18-39 and 103 Psalms: 1-22. The most precious thing we have from God in Jesus Christ is Peace…for He can not lie…and He is able to save us to the uttermost. This is not our world.
In Christ
Doug
Comment by Mimi
Thank you Douglas. I also appreciate the scripture verses. God Bless You.
Comment by Child of the King
Another important verse to ponder
James 5 V 14-16 “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the Church; and let them pray over him, annointing him with oil in the Name of The Lord.
And the prayer of Faith shall save the sick and THE LORD shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another that ye may be healed.The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Amen!
Our Church always every service asks if anyone is sick to come forth and we annoit their forehead with a small amount of Olive Oil and lay hands on the person’s head and the entire Church along with The Pastor and Ministers pray for healing.
Many claim the problem left them some did’nt get a healing as yet. In any case before we decide to run to the Doctor we need to always first let our Great Physician in Heaven First Visit…
Comment by ceseeley
There is even at least one case where God allowed disease—blindness—not as punishment for sin, but to reveal Himself and His mighty works through that blindness (John 9:1-3).
Jhn 9:1 ¶ And as [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man which was blind from [his] birth.
Jhn 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Jhn 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Comment by Mimi
Hi ceseeley! Thanks for the scipture verses!!