“There are three major components to healing: faith, fitness, and nutrition.” So writes Hadley Ott, the author of the newly released health book “Drug-Free Crohn’s: Overcoming Big Doctors, Big Hospitals, and Big Pharma.”
Ott, a recent graduate of Alabama’s Troy University received his Crohn’s diagnosis in childhood after years of suffering from intense pain and discomfort. For the uninitiated, Crohn’s is an autoimmune disorder that results from inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.
After years of prescription biologic drugs and an irreversible surgery, Ott made the decision to remove the drugs from his life altogether and seek healing and improvement through more natural means. Today, in the midst of the Make America Healthy Again movement, he wants to share that same message with others, which is why he left his job in President Trump’s White House Council of Economic Advisors.
Crohn’s patients are often told that they are “sick for life,” but Ott pushes back against this idea with vehemence, championing a healthy and well-rounded lifestyle instead, something which has worked wonders during his own life with the disease.
Ott’s investigation into alternative methods of healing resulted from skepticism over the medical field’s treatment of Crohn’s. Once upon a time, doctors treated the same patients for decades, forming strong relationships with them. Modern commercialized medicine, however, has created a barrier between patients and healthcare providers, leaving many wondering whether our doctors are genuinely interested in our well-being.
Because of this, Ott recommends trusting our intuition more than the medical system, especially when we’re unconvinced of the usefulness – or even safety – of the medicines prescribed to us.
Ott’s criticism of modern medicine, particularly regarding Crohn’s disease, is that the focus is on managing symptoms rather than seeking to eradicate the illness entirely. Even worse, one of the most widely prescribed drugs to treat Crohn’s, Remicade, is linked to doubled odds of contracting cancer later in life, yet this doesn’t deter doctors from prescribing it to patients, sometimes for life. Likewise, common surgeries to treat those with Crohn’s disease don’t make a long-term difference; more surgeries may always be necessary and complications are not uncommon.
On the other hand, doctors rarely prescribe physical fitness and more nutritious foods, despite mounds of evidence that exercise and nutrition are just about the best thing anyone needs for their health.
But perhaps the most unique portion of Ott’s advice to those diagnosed with Crohn’s is his belief in the healing power of faith in God, particularly through prayer, which was particularly influential in his own journey towards improved health.
Of course, asking God for healing does not guarantee that a miracle will take place. But in Ott’s experience, prayer can be a catalyst for making meaningful lifestyle changes. Working out regularly, eating whole foods the way our ancestors did, and seeking out positive community can all work wonders on our mental health, which in turn influence physical health, perhaps even more than we admit to ourselves.
“Drug-Free Crohn’s” is part personal anecdote, part advice, and part encouragement. If you’re someone who suffers from chronic illness, is concerned about the medical-industrial complex, or just want to pursue healthy living, you’ll want to check it out!
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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