Image courtesy by Sura Nualpradid (freedigitalphotos.net)

By Dominique K., New Liskeard 

While shuffling through hundreds of admission essays on why your prospective students wish to become homeopathic practitioners you will come across many great reasons. They may include the desire to make a difference in the lives of others, the inflation of medical needs, the rising interest in natural medicine and the increasing awareness of what we are putting into our bodies vs. its long term effects on our health. My reasons include all of the above but also include one very important and personal factor; the health of my children and my wish to grow old with them, which is seemingly rare in my family tree.

Since the death of my oldest brother who died at the age of 26 in 2006, and most recently my mother at the age of 54 in 2013, the effects of having the genetic disposition to inherit the gene for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis has really hit home. Being greatly affected by this gene, it has made me aware of how precious life is and just how quickly it can be taken from us.

ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease) is a progressive neuromuscular disease in which nerve cells die and leave voluntary muscles paralyzed.  Every day two or three Canadians die of the disease. Since 1984, these statistics have become very personal involving 7 of my family members (including my grandmother, two aunts, two uncles, my eldest brother and most recently my own mother).

There is no cure for ALS, the only hope we have is to not inherit this genetic trait. While millions of dollars are being spent annually on research for curing diseases like ALS, I would like to focus my career on preventative medicine, keeping my family safe and healthy before becoming ill. Too much emphasis is being put on finding cures and trying to reverse diseases when what we should be focusing on is preventing them. By becoming a Homeopathic Practitioner, my main goal for my family and patients would be to take whatever measures necessary to maintain their optimal health and well-being. By protecting, promoting and maintaining their health, I would strive to prevent disease, disability, and untimely death.

I have always considered myself to be a pretty healthy individual. I drink plenty of water, eat according to Canada's food guide, exercise and get plenty of rest. However, in today's society with the ever-rising consumption of GMO's, preservatives, additives, chemicals and toxins in our food and cosmetics etc., these simple steps to a healthy lifestyle that we once followed are no longer enough. Research and science are constantly finding links between what is going into our bodies through the many methods of consumption and the negative impact these "foods" have on our health, mind and bodies.

By becoming a Homeopathic Practitioner I will be given tools to advocate and teach individuals how to properly care for their bodies by avoiding toxins and heal themselves with natural medicine and homeopathic remedies. By investing into the career of Homeopathy, I will also be investing into the future of the health and well-being of my family. I can't imagine making a better investment!