Year 1: Lifeways 101

Lesson 6:

My Health

My body care right now is not so good. I have been ill for more than a year and have concentrated almost all of my energy trying to get well. I have not been getting regular exercise, my diet is poor and in general I feel and look unhealthy. I know that if I were to take better care of myself I might feel somewhat better but I have reached that point where the pain and sickness has sort of won over logic. I am hoping with my new treatments and a change of address my will to care will begin an upward trend again.

As to the question of air quality versus health: I can say that I have experienced that first hand. When we first moved to the valley of California I very quickly got a terrible cold. It then developed into a very bad case of laryngitis. For months I fought with sore throats and nasal issues. I finally broke down and saw a doctor. She gave me something to heal the problem.

However, the moment I stopped taking the meds my throat began to swell and I lost my voice. Off and on for months this happened until I went to a new doctor.

He informed me that I had a bad case of “Valley Throat” and that as long as we lived in the deep pollution of the Central Valley I would never get well. According to him, “Being outside on a bad day in the Valley is like smoking half a pack.”

Eventually we moved. Within a week my throat was fine and I have not had an issue in the two years we have been in the Pacific Northwest.

I can see that there is a real danger with regards to air pollution and it’s effects on humankind.