There are just some things you should not bring up in normal conversation around the holiday table: politics, religion, and…pumpkin spice. Okay, I’m only kidding about the last one! But for real, some people love it, and some people love to hate on it (I am in the second group). It seems like when fall rolls around, that flavor is in everything. Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin spice muffins, pumpkin soup. It’s suddenly everywhere and then it’s gone, replaced by candy canes and Christmas goodies.
A lot of the information in the natural health world is the same way. Today it’s ashwagandha and yoga, tomorrow it’s ginger and HIIT training. The health and wellness trends come and go, and people seem to get hooked on the latest thing until it’s not the latest thing anymore. The crazy thing is, some of these “trends” have been around for thousands of years.
As early as 3,000 B.C., willow bark was being mentioned as a healing remedy (by the Third Dynasty of Ur if you’re curious), and yes, it’s actually beneficial. Willow bark contains salicylates, the same chemical that makes aspirin a pain killer and anti-inflammatory. And acupuncture – another “trendy” alternative health option, has been around since possibly 6,000 B.C., which hardly makes it a new thing!
So, the challenge is separating trends from truth, click bait from real advice. Where do you turn, and how do you know who to listen to? Here’s some general advice. If someone has legit healthcare credentials, maybe pay attention. But if someone is trying to tell you their version is the only good one, that’s a good indicator to pass — whether it’s a supplement or their version of exercise or the new health and wellness trends they recommend. And be careful where you’re buying things. Quality supplements should be treated the same as prescription medications; they’re not something you should buy from Amazon.
Some trends, like treating Alzheimer’s, are exploding as we speak. There’s a lot of bad advice, and a little bit of good advice. Dr. Dale Bredesen, M.D., is the first person in the world to have actually cured Alzheimer’s, so of course he has a lot of copycats, and a lot of naysayers. Try and find someone who is actually certified in his procedures (like yours truly), and realize that a disease like Alzheimer’s didn’t happen overnight, so it won’t go away that quickly either. But it can get better. It just takes discipline and perseverance. Just like long-term good health. If you look at the big picture, you won’t see many trends there that actually worked long-term.
For now, enjoy your pumpkin spice…whatever. Enjoy those kinds of trends. But realize that good health doesn’t respond to trends; it responds to wisdom. Some of it is quite old, but all of it is good.
