WELEDA AND URIEL PHARMACIES
(Why we recommend them, and comments about the philosophy of Salutogenesis)
Dr. Steven M. Johnson, D.O.
You may see more products from Weleda and Uriel Pharmacies in our office these days. I recommend these products because of a philosophy that is gaining momentum in the U.S. and abroad and also because of their commitment to supporting natural medicine and health.
The Salutogenesis philosophy represents the idea and practice of making people well and supporting education, parenting, environments, nutrition and medicines that support the body’s natural development and self healing capacities. This is an idea that is increasingly taken up by people of diverse backgrounds and religious beliefs because we are working with the spiritual and physical processes God incorporated into nature and the development of the healthy human being. More and more we are learning that good nutrition, creative play, a safe and loving home environment, less media, moral values, less stress and less exposure to toxic chemicals and additives in our food and medicine is healthy for mental and physical well-being in children. Adults need these same things to heal.
The human organism is a miracle in its capacity to heal and recover. We need to change our modern way of thinking about health and rejuvenation; we cannot merely think of health as avoidance of pathology, focusing on symptoms and treatments of severe disease. This approach to health has its place, but living in a mindset of fear and negativity is something that needs to give way to a more positive and proactive approach to life and wellness. This approach empowers us as people who are able to influence the quality and length of our life. This philosophy continues to be the foundation of our practice and is continually evolving.
I mention Weleda and Uriel Pharmacies because they support this approach to healing and have remedies and body care products that support Salutogenesis and a healthy environment. Their ingredients are generally superior, and I would love to see more people using them, especially children. I hope all of you will take some time this week to see what you can do to improve your own health as well as the health of those you love and care for. Do not hesitate to ask me more about Salutogenesis during your visit in the office.
Founded in 1921, Weleda is a Swiss-based company well known for incredible baby care products that are safe, natural and very effective. I raised my own kids on these products. These products are made to exact specifications, and no corners are cut. There are no synthetic ingredients in any of the oils, lotions, creams, deodorants, toothpastes, cosmetics or hair products. All their medicines are safe and effective for children when taken as directed, which is a big plus in these days with all the cold and flu warnings on medicines for children. Weleda is a special company in that they have gone to bat for all of us by spending millions of dollars trying to get natural medicines approved by the FDA and recognized as legitimate medicines in the U.S. and Europe. Most companies just take the cheaper route of manufacturing food supplements. If the laws get tougher in the future (and they may) most of these natural products would disappear. Weleda is committed to the idea of preserving natural medicines for the future, and this is worth supporting. They also have a compounding pharmacy for physicians.
Some of my favorite Weleda products worth keeping at home are listed here:
· Wound care cream for cuts and wounds
· Burn care cream for burns and insect bites
· Arnica cream for sprains and bruises
· Amara drops for weak digestion, and poor appetite
· Echinadoron for immune support during travel and to prevent cough and flu
· Euphrasia eye drops for mild conjunctivitis and irritated eyes
· Great baby care products, from diaper rash creams to powders and oils
· Terrific sea buckthorn body wash, facial creams and skin care products
Uriel pharmacy was started by Mark McKibbon in East Troy, Wisconsin. He hand picks and grows many of the substances in his products. Mark’s attention to plants and quality is very special. As a compounding pharmacist, he makes many specialized products for me. Look at Uriel’s website for an extensive home remedy kit with instructions. Uriel has many remedies in the form of pellets, which work well for kids. Mark also makes many biodynamic/organic herbal teas and ointments.
Some of my favorite Uriel products are listed here:
· Aurum/Lavender/Rose cream for stress and calming
· Plantain beeswax cream for bronchitis and chest warming—Great for kids!
· Quercus/Borago suppositories or cream for hemorrhoids
· Cinnabar/Dandelion for dry coughs and sinus symptoms
· Eupatorium comp. for flu prevention
· Lavender/Quartz ear oil for earaches
· Carbo/Chamomilla capsules for heartburn and digestive problems
· Rhema Ointment and other oils for chronic pains, arthritis and other problems
· Plantago chest ointment for bronchitis and croup
We encourage you to learn more about these two pharmacies online at www.usa.weleda.com and www.urielpharmacy.com. You can call for brochures at 1-800-241-1030 for Weleda and 1-866-642-2858 for Uriel. (21st Century Medicine has no direct financial affiliation with these companies.)
For other interesting articles about health, visit www.anthromed.org and look at the Lilipoh magazine section. If you are interested in this concept, and have an interest in new ideas for parenting and support for children, look at some of the articles on a website called www.ahealingplaceforchildren.com. This is put together by Susan Johnson, M.D., a pediatrician and colleague of mine.
I hope some if this information is helpful to you.