Take this to the bank.

I recently had to visit to the doctor’s. Stressors were building up in my life like an earthquake ready to rumble, and my body was paying the price; unsteady on the shifting tectonics that I had forever found stable. Life happens, things linger, and before you know it, you’re unwell. There is no shame in seeking help at all. In fact, it can sometimes be the most courageous thing you can do. But in my (brief 15 minute) visit to the doctor’s, which may or may not have helped me, it again occurred to me how hard and expensive it can be to receive healthcare when you are uninsured.

I was suffering from anxiety. Every day left me feeling like a stranger in my own body, scared and quaking when I should have been living life. It was frustrating, scary, and altogether horrible. I did what I could with natural remedies, but because my anxiety was rooted in emotional turmoil, they did little to help. In fact, it seems all I needed was time and a new fuzzy companion to get myself through it.

But my point is this: There is no substitute for Western medicine when crisis strikes and your life is on the line, BUT, with the rising costs of insurance and healthcare, it is becoming more and more necessary (as it should be) to take your health into your own hands and be proactive. My little visit to the doctor’s cost me around a hundred dollars. That may not seem like much, but in 15 minutes I spent several days work. Ouch. According to a CBS report, $2.3 trillion was spent on healthcare in 2008, much of this money going to address issues such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and many other lifestyle-related illnesses, all of which could be prevented by a healthy diet and outlook on life.

By now, you know what makes up health: exercise, a varied diet (preferably plant-based, but at least with less meat than the average American consumes), and limited processed foods. When imbalance happens, and it will, there are many ways you can remedy them with supplements, herbs, and even the right foods.

To start today and get your life on the right track (while saving you $$$ from repeated doctor visits) go Bold. Eat well, get moving, and get as close to nature as possible. Step away from those Cheetos (because where in nature are you going to find those growing?!) and bring your body into harmony with foods it was meant to eat and movements it was meant to do. And laugh. And share. Don’t leave emotion pent up until it manifests physically. And for when you fall (slightly) ill, or become imbalanced, pick up a book and find out how to use nature to find harmony before you call up the doctor (use common sense here…if you need to see the doc, don’t delay). Stress, obesity, anxiety, allergies, arthritis, and even certain types of infections (read: candida, etc.) can be taken care of with the use of nature.

Below is a list of books that are great to have on your shelf to learn about herbs and other natural healing remedies.