Ellen Kamhi Ph.D., RN, AHN-BC, RH(AHG), The Natural Nurse® has been involved in Natural Medicine since 1973. She gives MysticMag the opportunity to find out more.
When and how did your love and career with Plants first blossom?
I have always been someone who can communicate with all kinds of entities, including plants and animals. Even as a child, I would have conversations with plants. Now, I teach a class called ‘Communicating with Plants,’ and there is a growing body of scientific data that supports the reality of this phenomenon. It’s fascinating to see the research that shows how these interactions occur. My ability to communicate with plants was evident from a very young age.
I became more interested in the medicinal aspects of plants later on, after a personal experience with a severe back injury. When I was just 13 and teaching horseback riding, I fell off the horse in a double jump and injured my back so severely that I was confined to a wheelchair. The surgeon told me that I would never walk again without surgery. However, during this difficult time, I found that plants had a lot to say. They communicated with me and provided me with valuable insights on how to heal my injured back. They showed me that the surgeon’s prognosis was not necessarily accurate and that there were many natural ways to heal my body.
I visited the local library and searched the card catalog for information about healing injuries. I was surprised to find a plethora of natural healing techniques for a hurt back and found an abundance of information. There were recommendations for using silica, calcium, and Castor oil packs, as well as teachings from Edgar Casey on managing pain. I also learned about various herbs that contain silica, such as horsetail grass. I was surprised that the doctor who treated me didn’t suggest any of these natural remedies. In hindsight, I realize that the doctor was likely focused on recommending surgery, as that is what they are trained to do. Unfortunately, many doctors are not well-versed in natural healing methods.
At the time I had to order the natural remedies through the mail because there was no Internet and no online ordering. My dad was supportive and helped me write letters and send checks to various companies across the country. I kept track of everything I did and documented each treatment and the effects it had on my back. When I went back to the surgeon six weeks later, I walked in without my wheelchair, and he seemed unhappy. I showed him my carefully kept chart and specific protocol, thinking he would be interested in learning from my experience, so that he could help others with this information. But instead, he dismissed it as ‘old wives tales’ and said that my recovery was just a spontaneous remission. It’s frustrating that even today, some doctors still believe in these outdated ideas.
However, I recently had the opportunity to sit on a Stakeholder Meeting for Research on Whole Person Health, sponsored by the National Institute of Health. We discussed how we can move towards integrating evidence based natural therapeutics into recognized standards of practice. Studies have shown that natural remedies can be just as effective, if not more so, than pharmaceutical interventions, and usually have a MUCH LOWER incidence of adverse effects, at a lower cost. Pharmaceuticals and surgery are still useful, and sometimes necessary, but usually later in the protocol process, rather than being the first go to option, as is now the case. . It’s time to expand our knowledge base and embrace the power of natural healing.
Do you believe in combining holistic medicine with conventional medicine, and if so, in which cases?
It’s fascinating to hear about the history of natural medicine and how it was once seen as something only for those living off the grid or with alternative lifestyles. It’s unfortunate that there was a separation between natural and mainstream medicine, but it’s encouraging to see that natural therapies are now being studied and recognized as evidence-based medicine.
It is important for individuals to understand the potential herb-drug interactions and to consult with a healthcare professional before making any changes to their medication or supplement regimen. It’s always best to approach healthcare with an integrative approach, combining natural and conventional therapies as appropriate. I would say that natural therapies should be initiated FIRST, in most cases, before relying on pharmaceuticals. Natural therapies include changes in diet, exercise and lifestyle, so the individual needs to be willing to invest in “ SELF-CARE” , rather than relying on popping a pill.
What are your views on EMF (Electromagnetic Field) meters and Shielding?
EMF or electromagnetic fields have become a growing concern in recent years as the use of technology and wireless devices has become increasingly widespread. While some people may not notice any adverse effects from EMF exposure, others may experience symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. With the advent of 5G technology, there are concerns about the potential health impacts of this higher frequency and more powerful form of EMF radiation. Even though there are vast health and environmental concerns due to EMF exposure, The Telecommunications Act of 1996 limits the ability to object to the placement of cell towers or other cellular equipment. When this act was passed, the FCC put together guidelines based on obsolete industry science, allowing what is now thought by scientists studying the health effects of wireless technology to be in the vicinity of millions of times higher than is recommended as a maximum exposure to rf radiation. The FCC guidelines are based on thermal effects only, and not on the non-thermal effects of rf radiation (also called non-ionizing radiation). The non-thermal may be quite damaging, based on over 27,000 scientific studies published in enumerable scientific and medical journals, and collected in EMF Portal, www.bioinitiative.org, I DO suggest that sensitive individuals become aware of negative effects of EMF’s. If you go to my website, https://www.naturalnurse.com/products/emf-shields/ I suggest an array of really high quality EMF deflecting products.
Have you witnessed a shift in consumer preferences over the last few decades, in regards to Alternative Medicine and available Therapies?
The pandemic definitely had an impact on the growth of functional and complementary medicine, as people were looking for ways to boost their immune system and stay healthy. This has resulted in an increase in the use of natural remedies, botanicals, supplements, massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, healthy food, and other natural therapies, as well as a rise in demand for practitioners who specialize in these areas. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues in the post-pandemic era, as more people become aware of the benefits of natural and holistic approaches to health and wellness. The focus of my work is training health care providers to be able to incorporate evidenced based natural therapies into their health practice, and guiding them towards the best training programs and certifications.
However, I prefer not to use the term “alternative” to describe natural and functional medicine. It makes sense to integrate these therapies as part of standard practice, especially given their effectiveness and relatively low cost. It’s important to use all available resources to help patients achieve the best outcomes, and to be open to a variety of therapeutic approaches, rather than relying solely on pharmaceuticals and surgery as first-line interventions. My focus is to educate health care providers in evidence based use of natural therapeutics and how to integrate these into their practice. I offer Career Paths in Natural Health for those who would like to investigate this process. https://www.naturalnurse.com/services/career-paths-in-natural-health/
How do you see the future of Natural Medicine within our society, in all its shapes and forms?
It is unlikely that natural and functional medicine will be hindered, especially given its growing popularity and efficacy. I feel it necessary to review the terminology and to distinguish between traditional medicine, which refers to practices that have been used for centuries and have a long history of safety and efficacy, and conventional medicine, which is the dominant form of medicine in many countries today and often involves the use of pharmaceutical drugs and surgery.
It is also worth noting that many conventional medical treatments are based on natural compounds and substances, and that there is often overlap between different forms of medicine. Ultimately, the most important thing is to prioritize patient safety and effectiveness in choosing the best approach to healthcare.
If you would like to know more about The Natural Nurse, visit https://www.naturalnurse.com/
