LOOKBOOK Style Perspectives
Achieving your optimum vitality the natural way
Traipse along sandy shores wearing bright pantones and pastel hues and escape to your personal solitary paradise
When I gave birth to my first child in 2000, there were no talks of breastfeeding. In fact, the first thing my pediatrician prescribed was formula milk. Fast forward to the birth of my twins in 2014. Breastfeeding became a national policy, with mothers being required to breastfeed their kids after birth. No formulas were prescribed. It was not provided nor allowed while in the hospital.
How times have changed. From a generation that popped pills and antibiotics while in the slightest hint of pain, comes a time where people are looking for a proactive lifestyle and an alternative approach. Lately, we have been hearing the term gluten-free, the importance of gut health, and plant-based diets. Nut milks, dairy-free cheeses, and vegan meat have come to light due to a number of illnesses when medical approaches have came short.
I have been suffering from a weak immune system, which is not ideal in this situation with the Coronavirus outbreak. I had a very stressful 2019 and have been looking for ways to bring back my body to its optimum level. In the past year, I have experienced a lack of energy, frequent colds, and several skin issues. This made me realize how much stress can impair you.. With this in mind, I wanted to know what the best way was to move forward.
Besides the wellness staples that I have incorporated in my lifestyle such as meditation, getting a good night's sleep, and clean eating, I discovered some of the newest takes on how to restore your body to its best shape.
TREATING THE ROOT CAUSE
If you have heard of the phrases, Food Intolerance Test and Elimination Diet, you might have encountered the term Functional Medicine. A fast-growing industry in a world where the cornerstones of Traditional Medicine are highly regarded (which basically aims to medicate the symptom immediately), Functional Medicine tries to find the reason behind the symptoms in the first place.
The approach is highly individualistic and relies very much on what you eat and how you approach your lifestyle. It also incorporates a lot of Eastern practices such as acupuncture, meditation, colonics, and supplementation. The practitioner gives you a matrix of treatments which usually starts with improving your gut health. Later on, they check if further tests and interventions are needed.
I visited a couple of practitioners and most of them will start you on a dairy-free,
gluten-free, and sugar-free diet for 30 days. They also give you a couple of supplements depending on your needs. The difference between Functional Medicine and Traditional Medicine is you have to be patient and disciplined to give your body time to heal. Medication, on the other hand, removes the symptom and pain immediately but with a lesser emphasis on the cause.
HEALTH ON A CELLULAR LEVEL
Other treatments that I have gone through to improve my immune systems are Intravenous(IV) Cocktails, Laser IV, and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. IV Laser harnesses the properties of light to lessen inflammation and promote faster cell regeneration. I usually avail of the treatment in the Aivee Clinic when I get a facial, hitting two birds in one hour.
Another natural treatment available is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, which allows your body to absorb more oxygen into the cellular level, helping them become more efficient in healing and removing pathogens. This treatment is given to divers who experienced Bends, or lack of oxygen in the brain. But it also showed some promise in aiding the treatment of cancer, autism, asthma, and even depression.
WELLNESS ESCAPE
My first visit to the Farm at San Benito was back in the early 2000s. At that time, we did the 5-day detox and boy, it was hard— they strictly practiced a raw diet and juice fasting. But the effect of the detox was worth remembering, I really felt healthier. I then began to incorporate juice fasting via juju cleanse into my lifestyle.
The Farm’s healing journey is focused around five pillars: Diagnose, Cleanse, Nourish, Repair and Sustain. Their aim is for you to return to your ideal balanced state and achieve optimum wellness. Their five key healing components are holistic integrative medical services; nurturing spa and hydrotherapy water wellness; plant-based, wholefood, vegan cuisine; functional fitness; and a healing environment.
The Farm have also expanded their operations. They have partnered with different holistic wellness partners all over the world to offer a one-stop wellness shop. From the spa, medical, aesthetics to dental services all are centered on The Farm’s philosophy.
To address my immunity issues, I had a consultation with their in-house doctor who gave me a program that included a cleansing, replenishment, and treatment protocol. I started with an Empress Facial from the Aesthetic Center which gives you the effect of having a full night sleep through acupressure on your face, head, and neck. The treatment placed me in a very relaxed state and made me feel rejuvenated.
The next one was a series of cleansing treatments. One is Colon Hydrotherapy, a machine-assisted colon cleansing that helps unclog and flush away the build-up of toxic and waste material along the colon wall.
Next on the program was the Yin Yang Body Polish, a purification treatment at the Healing Sanctuary Spa. A combination of sea salt with extra virgin coconut oil is applied with special strokes designed to infuse energy to the body and stimulate the detoxification of internal organs.
The final treatment was the revolutionary Human Microbiome Skin Therapy brought to the Philippines by Ross Licup of Exuviance. She discovered the Microbiome treatment after she had four strokes and was paralyzed. Suffering from an immunodeficiency syndrome that left her in the hospital for years, she said that part of her treatment was the daily use of the Human Microbiome.
The treatment makes use of the skin, being one of the largest organs and second only to the fascia, to maximize absorption. The Human Microbiome strengthens and revitalizes the body by enhancing our natural good bacteria that fights all viruses, bacteria, and various disease-causing microorganisms. I had the face and body treatment plus the brain and head the next day, both lasting two and a half hours.
For nourishment, the have Alive, a vegan restaurant that offers both raw and cooked food. They also launched Pesce, which as the name suggests, offers a variety of pescetarian dining options. They have pasta, sandwiches, and full course offering for dinner with wine service. Kids and pets are now welcomed in The Farm.
NATURE KNOWS BEST
People used to spend a lot on designer goods, and part of that spend is now being shifted to vitality treatments that help give you more energy and turn back time. People are spending more on getting quality organic food and natural ways to optimize a healthy lifestyle. While some say that these are just fads, in my point of view the awakening of our psyche on the harmful effects of chemicals and the right way of harnessing Mother Nature’s gifts is the next evolution of medicine. Perhaps, a call to return to nature.