When a tree is sick, do we look to the leaves for the cause? Or do we look to the soil? The leaves give us information, but the soil gives us the underlying cause of why it is sick. So too, is it supposed to be with humans.

Symptoms are like the leaves of a tree. There can be many, many symptoms, frequently all pointing to the same problem. We give these leaves, these symptoms, fancy labels like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, reflux, etc. While those labels are handy for insurance claims, they are an ineffective means of ascertaining why the illness exists in the first place.

Instead of just looking at the leaves, let's look to the soil: Good, healthy soil (or blood, hormones, cells, etc.) needs certain elements in order to function properly. Water in abundance, sunshine, nutritional factors such as minerals, carbohydrates, fats, proteins and fiber are all critical to health. If any of these essential elements are missing, the plant - or the body - becomes sick. It can no longer endure the stresses of nature, it falls apart more easily, it attracts bugs and "weeds" that torment and inflict pain on it, and its function is hampered.

When you look at your tree, and you see sick leaves, do you bypass those leaves, cut them off or medicate them? It seems like the more desirable approach would be to go to the soil and nourish it. What elements are missing? Does it need more compost? Does your body need more real food instead of fabricated foods? Is it being over or under watered? Is the soil too shallow or hard, where the roots cannot sink deep in order to have inner strength?

Making quality, nutrient dense foods as part of your life will get you those deep-reaching roots that are the foundation of a strong body, and immune system.

I saw a cartoon recently that summed up how we handle our illnesses today: There was water all over the floor. Two men were desperately trying to mop up the mess. But what they weren't addressing was the fact that the faucet was on, spilling water all over the sink and onto the floor. Until they address the faucet and turn it off, they will never succeed in cleaning up the mess. So it is with our health. We try to mop up our mess with stents, operations, medications and other temporary measures, but fail to handle the root cause of the symptoms.

We live in a world full of synthetics, toxic substances, poor air quality, especially poor soil quality and an abundance of nutritionally devoid foods, where we can no longer just exist. We have to work at being well! We have to work at getting and staying healthy.

What are you nourishing your soil with? If you don't know, it's time you seek the services of a professional that can wade through the media hype to what is helping you or causing your plant to fail, one leaf at a time!

Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with more than 35 years of experience. She is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health-care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d'Alene clinic.

Visit Carling's website at www.vitalhealthandfitness.com to learn more about Carling, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. She can be reached at (208) 765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.