What makes me embrace 'woo-woo' and why its good to be open-minded
I am ‘Woo-Woo’. I am a holistic health practitioner who uses Homeopathy, tissue salts, nutritional supplements and Bach flower essences for myself, my family, pets and my clients who come to see me. I have been put into a few categories: mainly that of a witch, a bullshit practitioner, a wanna-be doctor who never was… someone who practices woo woo stuff that does F*** all and the list goes on….
But I am all good with it.
Here’s why:
I’ve never wanted to be a doctor. It’s not that I wasn’t smart enough, so I chose something easier. I’ve aced anatomy & physiology with A’s. I breezed through Pathophysiology with top marks too. I have worked in Education payroll so my maths can’t be too shabby if I was in the role for 4 years. I want you to know one really important aspect about me and the vast majority of alternative/complementary practitioners: I/we are not against conventional medicine. I have used and still do use conventional medicine where necessary and so does my family and children. It saves lives. I am thankful for the anaesthetist who kept any eye on my survival while under sedation during a procedure I had last year. I certainly wasn’t going to go through it on rescue remedy alone (although it was a key part in my pre-op preparation).
So why did I chose to embrace and study ‘alternative’ or ‘complementary medicine?’. Why did I choose of all things to embrace a career in professional Woo-wooism?
I too was once very skeptical. Very skeptical in fact until I opened my mind to the possibilities. If it didn’t work for me, then fine, that was that, and my opinion would remain unchanged. But my open mind led me to give some alternatives a go when it came to looking at options for my health and what was going on for me. The results?
A consultation and health plan with a Naturopath helped me to change my diet, supplements helped increase my energy, restore iron levels. A consultation with a Homeopath sorted out my gut issues, an acupuncturist helped restore hormonal issues. All the things that conventional medicine could not offer me. They could help me ‘find’ the issue e.g. Irritable bowel, but then would refer me to a dietition. They could identify hormonal issues, but could only offer the contraceptive pill to alleviate the awful symptoms I was experiencing. If I chose to take the contraceptive pill, it would take away the symptoms, but the underlying issue still remained. I wasn’t after temporary relief, I needed a long term solution.
So, It works for me. "‘Woo-woo’ works for my children - one in particular had chronic asthma, ear issues, recurring sore throats. A visit to a Homeopath and sorted in a few months. I didn’t choose to spend 4 years studying Homeopathy and work full time to pay for my study if I truly did not see any benefit. It simply doesn’t make sense. Our ponies don’t know we are giving them arnica and hypericum for their injuries, but it works beautifully and quickly. Is that placebo? When moving house we gave our cats rescue remedy and they immediately calmed. Is that placebo?
What does make sense is how us woo-woo practitioners approach health. “Our body is always working in its own best interests to inform us when something is not functioning as it should. According to the Webster dictionary, the meaning of health is ‘freedom from defect, pain or disease’. It defines health as what it is not rather than what it is. Health is a state of positive wellbeing. True health must be thought of in positive , dynamic terms, not simply as the absence of disease” (Hilery Dorrian, The Home Prescriber Course - CHE).
Homeopaths don’t diagnose - they treat the person, not the disease
Naturopaths don’t diagnose - they use nutrition, lifestyle advice, medicinal herbs, supplements
Acupuncturists don’t diagnose - their approach to health is via lines of energy in the body (meridians) using very fine needles inserted into the skin in specific points
Doctors /Specialists- Can diagnose and treat the disease/bacterial infection/prescribe medication, perform minor or major surgery
When it comes to your health you have choices. ‘Woo-woo’ practitioners aren’t here to tell you to run from conventional medicine and we never tell you to stop taking prescribed medication. Our role is to work alongside any existing healthcare plans you have in place - (and a reminder to tell your GP if you are also under the guidance of a Naturopath, Homeopath etc) and likewise inform your Naturopath/Homeopath if you are taking regular medication! We need to know!
“To understand the difference between conventional medicine and Homeopathy we need to understand the different approach to symptoms” (Hilery Dorrian, The Home Prescriber Course - CHE).
What works for you may not work for others and what works for others may not work for you. If Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Acupuncture, Reiki and so on didn’t have a place in our world, it wouldn’t exist. But it does, and many people still seek the help from a ‘woo-woo’ practitioner because it works for them.
So, I say stay leave them to it and remain open-minded.
I continue to use many ‘woo-woo’ products and essences and the results speak for themselves. One day you might get fed up just like I did, and seek the guidance and support from a ‘woo-woo’ person yourself.
And just like me, you might be bloody pleasantly surprised.
Should you write your birth story?
I am a believer in birth stories. I am a believer in celebrating, just as I believe we should allow ourselves to dwell on our experiences and grieve. I am a believer in letting it be how it ‘needs to be’. It isn’t how you do this, there is no set of instructions. It is how you go about processing your own birth experience.
As a birth doula, I have learned the very value of documenting birth stories. They inspire, they make us reflect, they help us process, they encourage, they make us take a step back. They transform us, they make us question, they simply remind us we are human! Birth being an incredibly transformative process, it is intertwined with emotions and intense feelings enveloped with images replaying in our minds like a movie - all the while telling us a story.
If you as the reader did not have an inspiring birth experience, this is where I hear you take a deep breath in. Before you exhale, let me explain. Your story is a chance to celebrate as it is to feel deflated. This is the part where you are required to dig deep and embrace support. It is just as therapeutic to write about it, as it is to rip it up into shreds.
Firstly, treat yourself gently. Revisiting your birth can bring up powerful emotions. Be certain you are in a safe place, with support if needed. Here are some suggestions:
Try not to edit as you write. Let the words flow (and the tears if they accompany) - you are not writing for anyone but yourself. Don’t rush the process, come back to it if you need to.
Don’t focus on trying to remember every single second - there will be moments that are sketchy. Leave it as is, or ask those who were with you to remind you (if you feel you want to) - remember our brains are hardwired to ‘forget’ every single detail of our labour and birth - or otherwise we wouldn’t keep on procreating!
If you were surrounded by candles or aromatherapy oils at your birth, light candles and diffuse the oils you had to help let the feelings resurface. If you had music, play the same music and sit with the feelings that arise. Music and scent are powerful when it comes to memory.
Put together a time line. When labour began, how, where you were, what you were doing. Recall when you left home - how did it feel driving away (if you did), who did you call or text, when you filled up the birth pool etc… who arrived and when, how they supported you….
Write down the moments you felt empowered. Write down the times when you didn’t feel heard. What were your fears? Were you asking for pain relief? Why? What did the contractions feel like? Where were they?(front/back). Do you recall anything funny?
If there were interventions, what were the discussions had before hand? How did you really feel about that decision?
Pain relief measures? What worked, what didn’t?
How long was the second stage? If you had a caesarean, describe how it was getting ready for theatre, the journey to theatre?
What was your reaction when baby was born? Your support people and their reaction?
The first thing you said once baby was born?
The first thing you ate and drank after the birth?
When you first went home? OR, if you had a home birth, what time you settled down to rest? What did you remember in that moment? Were you looking at the stars or the sun rising?
If it brings up feelings of anger, of anxiety and sadness - STOP. Leave it where it is at. Reach out to your LMC, close friend or family member and let them know how you are feeling. It may be that further support is needed.
Recognise if you replay the birth over and over in your mind and it brings up feelings you are not comfortable with. If you are experiencing other symptoms such as crying lots, insomnia or inability to rest, feelings of panic or feelings of anger, disappointment - reach out for support now and don’t wait. There will be support.
Understanding your birth story is part of your growth as a mother, as a parent and as an individual. It stays with you, tucked away until something triggers a memory and in an instant can take you right back into that birth space.
It can resurface again in another pregnancy. To acknowledge the experience for what it was is a huge ask, however, it’s crucial to allow your next birth journey the space it deserves. By that, I don’t mean forget it and move on, it is about acknowledging your experience, receiving help and support when you do reach out, having the right support for the next birth, trust in your healthcare team (let them know your past experience) and establish an environment to help create new memories.
No two experiences are ever exactly the same. Write your story and commend yourself for allowing yourself to be vulnerable in the process.
It’s your birth story.