A Breakup with the Holistic Wellness Industry

A new paradigm that doesn't allow for seeking healing outside of ourselves and playing the blame game; an evolving perspective on health and healing

My initiation into the realm of alternative medicine and the holistic wellness industry had a rather interesting beginning - it all started with an 'influencer' on Instagram. She was sharing how matcha was a healthy substitute for coffee. This journey unfolded when I was just 21, navigating my own health challenges. I was head over heels for this new way of life. There was no logic involved; it was an immediate intuition, an inner knowing, and instinct that a holistic and natural approach was the only way to live.

In one afternoon, I purged my life of every item that didn't fit the 'real' food or product category, headed over to Earth Fare, the local organic and natural store in my college town, and dropped over $250 without hesitation. I was wholeheartedly committed to this new lifestyle, and nothing could sway me. This love story between the holistic wellness industry and me was one of my most enduring relationships to date - we stayed together for a solid 7 years before parting ways recently. While I've chosen to carry various lessons from those years, most of my beliefs have deeply shifted. I’m still navigating the transition.

I may eventually share more about the content of those 7 years, but for now, let's delve into some of my most recent experiences and revelations.

First and foremost, it's essential to remember that the holistic wellness industry is indeed an industry. It has its share of profits, just like allopathic medicine (which, I must admit, I believe to be more corrupt, but that's a conversation for another time).

While the holistic wellness industry typically has good intentions, it's often widespread with misinformation. What we're taught as "root causes" often turns out to be far from the root when we approach symptoms or "dis-ease" from the perspective of this "new paradigm of medicine" I'm excited to share with you. This new approach to understanding symptoms and healing isn't a passing infatuation or the latest wellness trend; it's grounded in the principles of biology and nature. It’s cohesive, coherent and consistent. It simply is. 

This new paradigm is German New Medicine, also known as Germanic Healing Knowledge (GNM and GHK).

One of the most profound realizations I've had is that, unlike the holistic wellness industry, GNM doesn't allow for victimhood.

I can't count how many times I've blamed a food or ‘toxin’ for a physical symptom I experienced. We've all been there because it's what we've been spoon-fed by "holistic practitioners," "wellness influencers," and "functional medicine doctors." After seven years immersed in this industry, there are layers of beliefs to peel back. The process of unlearning and redefining is ongoing, as we all hold unconscious beliefs that shape our reality. Bringing these beliefs into our conscious awareness is the only way to change them. Unconscious to conscious equals awareness, and awareness equals the power to change.

With the knowledge of German New Medicine, I can no longer blame gluten and dairy for a pimple or non-organic food for a multitude of supposed "symptoms." This new paradigm leaves no room for the blame game; it calls us to take full responsibility. GNM doesn't allow us to look outside of ourselves for healing. It teaches us that the symptoms are the healing. No herb, essential oil, supplement, elixir, yoga class, EMF-blocking gadget, sauna session, cold plunge, or any other holistic treatment or tool will miraculously cure us. Yes, some of these things may support our body in the process of healing, but they are not the healing. With this knowledge, we can approach holistic remedies with a different energy and cultivate deeper trust in our bodies.

We shift from the mindset of "Rescue me! Save me!" to "I am always healing." We cease playing the victim, no longer seek external solutions, and release the narratives and stories that attribute our ‘sickness’ to something outside of ourselves. It’s not the thing itself; it’s merely our perception of the thing or experience. We acknowledge that our bodies are simply doing what they are designed to do. Nature embodies innate wisdom.

German New Medicine has not only reshaped the course of my career but has also had a profound impact on my life. Earlier this year, I encountered my first symptom, one that most would label as ‘deadly,’ through the lens of German New Medicine, and I am highly certain that it may have saved my life.

Are you familiar with GNM, or have you ever applied it to your life? Is this your first introduction to it? I'd love to hear from you.

Subscribe and stay tuned for more.

xx,

Abigail