Alternative Remedies

Vesta's concern for health transcends the barriers between scientific medicine and natural remedies. The practical approach emphasizes the results, not the process. A good Vesta motto is "whatever works."

It's no surprise that a modern woman's medicine cabinet might contain echinacea next to ibuprofen, zinc lozenges as well as cough syrup, and Chinese herbs or allergy pills. Depending on the situation, we may call the acupuncturist or masseuse before we call the doctor.

Many of the "new" remedies showing up as we move into the Age of Aquarius are actually very old.

Remedies formerly considered "alternative" are becoming mainstream healing methods. Hand reflexology is now one of the preferred treatments for the repetitive stress injuries modern office workers face. Yoga's popularity increases as more of us seek to release stress and reconnect our bodies to our minds.

The Bach Flower Remedies, developed by Dr. Edward Bach in the 1930s, apply particular plant essences to a number of emotional and mental conditions. For instance, according to this method, infusions of elm help you handle stress resulting from overwork, while larch boosts your self-esteem and beech helps you become less critical of other people.

With this return to "natural" treatments, women are reclaiming the power we once had over healing. We can stand up for ourselves in the doctor's office, asking why we should take a particular medicine or requesting an alternative.

Only a few American health insurance companies cover acupuncture, mental health visits, or other alternative remedies. The more vocal we are about the need for such coverage, the more likely we will be to get it.

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