Drugs in a vending machine?
Health is a defined as the state of being free from illness or injury and yet health is journey not destination. In a world, culture, society so focused on product we lose sight of process. Health is not something one miraculously arrives at, it is not something a pill delivers or a meal conjures up. Health is an approach, state of mind, way of being and its constant. You can't go to one aerobics class under the assumption your cardiovascular health will improve instantly. Yet we've been lulled into believing health is somewhere out there. This belief only supports the idea that "I'm not good enough, I'm lacking."
With that said I was shocked at the latest development in support of the speedy delivery of medication, prescription drug vending machines. No its not a joke, InstyMeds unveiled its first device at Arizona State University, click here to see for your self. It is an astounding development feeding the consumer mindset. It brings into question the true role of vending medication, the machines will dispense 50 drugs. "You know, the things that you'd like to have right now to feel better," InstyMeds Vice President Bob Bang said.
The band aid health approach never addresses the imbalance. Sure we all want to feel better now and if we are not feeling good a deeper look is required. Maybe you have a food allergy, need better sleep, are missing a key nutrient, or need to change ones entire diet. But, if you don't take the time how will you know what you need most. Unfortunately we will not be able to vend our way to health, as simple as that sounds.
All in all what I am seeing is a society and culture becoming more and more polarized. We have access to a vast array of healthy, organic food, cutting edge supplements and new approaches to living a healthy lifestyle. This includes everything from raw food, fermented foods, paleo diets, gluten free, macro biotic and more. Yoga classes are available in most neighborhoods and mindfulness meditation is now being practiced in corporations, schools, government agencies and more. I mention this because so much information is available to us and practices which were once arcane are now supported by research.
So these are interesting times and often those on one pole project the other is not doing it 'right' and vice versa. I don't claim to have the answer, just an opinion and perspective which will hopefully encourage you to look deeper and choose from center. Some of the questions I have are: Could a deeper study of nutrition be more helpful to these students? Could stress reducing practices like yoga and meditation be useful? Could more time in nature support health?
To support your healthy inquiry Zebra Organics will be hosting regular health and wellness talks at our home office in Palm Springs, CA. Stay tuned details coming.
This piece was written by,
Mark D'Aquila