To be your own doctor. . .

You will need:

1. A certain mindset. Like Hippocrates the Father of medicine said, “Natural forces within us are the true healers of disease.”  We must believe in our bodies (as they can be if  properly supported that is), and in natural ways being best.
2. A  philosophy of "moderation in all things". We will be overwhelmed by the info,  time or money it takes to be perfectly healthy, in everyone's opinion. (I could have a whole post on this alone!)
3. Good and simplified info on the ways that we can support the body's natural processes in order to heal, like: 

• giving it what it needs to thrive: an excellent quality diet and/or whole food supplements to make up for a bit of lacking quality.
• taking out what is hindering the healing process; detoxing the body from heavy metals (including mercury fillings), parasites, pesticides, herbicides. . .
• not putting in anymore of what likely hurt your body in the first place, toxins. Found in: mercury fillings, food, drink, drugs, (pharmaseudical or otherwise)  body products or cleaners, bedding, sleepwear, particleboard, plastics, paper products, diapers or pads, paint, carpet. .  .
• getting exercise,(in moderation), preferably with lots of sun while doing it.
• getting good sleep, and a regular routine for it.
• reducing stress, where at all possible.

• reducing radiation exposure where we practically can.

     4. To know what "normal" looks like, feels like, sounds like and acts like. . .so when you see "not normal" you can react. Just like a teller in a bank is trained to feel a fake bill by touching enough of the real bills that the fakes stand out, or a Midwife sees enough normal births that sometimes it becomes obvious that something is off, and she senses a true emergency. . .so a mother can tell with her child being sick by noticing he just doesn't act quite himself.
      5. To trust your instincts sometimes over the pros.


As for what is down right practical, you will need:

• Ingredients and remedies to have on hand in case of exposure to sickness and disease, or having succumbed to it like: garlic, lemons, food grade hydrogen peroxide, Epsom salts, magnesium flakes/oil, charcoal, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, chlorophyll, raw honey, food grade diatomaceous earth, echinacea . . . herbs or tinctures of them also abound! (Post to come on what they are good for, or just take my word for these, get them and then look them up, because inevitably they would help us all. )                                   
• Tools, books or websites for diagnosing of existing health issues:
• thermometer for monthly charting and for fevers if you're curious. Stethoscope, to listen to the heart and lungs. (you'll need to know again what normal sounds like.) Stop watch for pulse, respiratory rate and the like. Otoscope for ear, nose and throat issues. Scale. Lighted spectulum and hand mirror(if you want to do your own pap smears, or to better do monthly charting). . . first aid stuff, and a notebook to write your findings in.
•  books or charts for iridology and/ or reflexology as well as charts for woman's monthly cycles and eye exam charts.
• Websites to tell you signs of hormone deficiency or imbalance. Also signs of high or low blood sugar,  low hemoglobin (anemia) or over acidity in your body or a vitamin or mineral deficiency. Different symptoms of detoxing, allergies or dehydration. What your extra weight means (and where you carry it), as well as what your skin, hair or nails tells everyone about your health. . . especially helpful if you aren't sure you are sick. (Surprisingly, I see a lot of people content with their ill health, because they don't know the difference.)
• Guts to demand other SAFE tests from your doctor, or often you can get them online yourself. . . if you have the money.
• blood tests for: vitamin D or B12 deficiency, (very common) as well as tests for celiac disease or anemia.
• urine tests for: pregnancy, UTI's, STD's. . .
• stool tests for: diagnosing poor absorption, inflammation, parasites, yeast, beneficial bacteria levels, intestinal flora balance, immune function, fiber intake. . .
• ph strips to test for acidity.
• To have an intelligent and natural minded advocate (like myself:) to back you up in an acute emergency situation when you have to step foot into the most statistically dangerous place in the world. . .a hospital.