It’s the month of love, and for many, that means lavishing love on another person. What if you loved yourself just as much? By loving your body, you care for yourself so that you can care for the people around you. Taking control of your health and proactively caring for your body is the first way to love your health. Most people only go to the doctor once they are sick or are experiencing symptoms. What would your life look like if you had a real relationship with your health provider? Here’s a snapshot.

Prevention, Not Treatment

This quote puts it simply, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound (maybe a ton) of cure.” Why not care for your body now, instead of hoping and waiting for a cure or the “right” treatment after the fact? With prevention, instead of caring for the fall-out of sickness or an ailment, you take measures to help carry you through the issues, as well as learn steps to prevent those symptoms from arising once more. Consider pulling weeds. When tending a garden, you don’t just cut the weeds down like you do grass. Instead, you remove the weeds from their root, so they won’t grow again.

Holistic, Not Symptomatic

Holistic care means caring for the whole person, not just treating symptoms as they arise. This ties in closely with “Prevention, Not Treatment.” To correctly and effectively provide holistic care, it takes time for your healthcare provider to truly understand your needs and history. At Knox Wellness, providers form a relationship, and instead of being a patient, you are truly a partner in your health journey.

Lifestyle Change, Not Medication

The difference in holistic care also means approaching each issue from a more complete perspective. Instead of just prescribing a medicine, a holistic approach sees how diet, exercise or nutrient deficiencies play a role in a condition or symptoms. The cost of surgeries, prescription drugs and other treatments put a financial burden on Americans and their families. Often, medication is used as a substitute to changes that you could be making on your own. Through holistic care, providers can pinpoint specific areas in your life that may be contributing to the flare-up of disorders, symptoms of conditions or even entire illnesses. Remember, however, that medicine may be the best option in some cases. If you have been prescribed medication, take it as directed by your primary care physician.

Lower Cost, Not Higher

Last year, American health care cost a total of 3.2 trillion dollars. Yes, trillion. An estimated 88 billion was spent on neck and back pain, while another 101 billion was spent on diabetes. 75 percent of health care costs are actually spent on reactive care, meaning a potentially heavy financial burden for many families who shoulder the cost of surgeries, hospital stays and medication. With holistic care, the cost can be lowered by treating the root issues, instead of just managing symptoms, so you can prevent flare-ups or disease entirely. By investing a small amount in your health before anything goes wrong or symptoms arise, you may be able to detect disease early and prevent it or maintain optimal health and expensive hospital stays, medication and surgeries are out of the picture.

Proactive, Not Reactive

Proactive care, meaning receiving care prior to a problem arising, is exactly what Knox Wellness wants to provide all of their patients. Just because nothing is a blatant issue, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t invest in your health and care for yourself. This way, you can prevent disease or be prepared if issues do come your way. For example, boost your immune system with vitamin C infusions and glutathione infusions. Manage your stress with massage therapy. Get diagnostic testing done through Knox Wellness to identify potential areas for adjustment to improve health or test for flora imbalances in the gut and bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. Knox Wellness can even make dietary and supplement recommendations including herbal antimicrobials, probiotics and enzymes to manage gut health.

Don’t just react. Care for yourself today to allow for a healthier you, tomorrow. If you are feeling great, Knox Wellness is here to help you maintain optimal health and identify potential or hidden issues. Knox Wellness provides superior holistic care and are true partners in a health journey with each of their patients.

For the month of February, in the hopes that patients will truly choose to love their health, Knox Wellness is offering, “Love Your Gut.” This special offer provides 10 percent off gut specialty tests and 10 percent off select gut supplements. Make an appointment to love your health by visiting us online or calling (865) 801-9501, and be sure to ask about “Love Your Gut!”