Holistically Frugal

Wanting for healthcare was never an issue for me growing up. Thanks to my dad's career in DC, we were covered by a generous healthcare plan that never met us with surprises at a doctor's office or pharmacy.  If I thought I had an infection or had headaches for a few days too many, no problem. Off to a clinic or doc we would go to grab some antibiotics and get on with our lives.

Well, throughout high school this was great, and for the next several years as I took my time in college.  Last May, however, I found myself an unemployed, uninsured college graduate with a wedding on the way. I knew there was a "healthcare crisis" and I knew the economy was down. Having taken all the right steps in school from joining every honor society to visiting the career counselor, I was sure I would not fall prey to the current unfavorable condition.

As it turns out, the economy does not play favorites. Neither does mother nature. It took me three months to secure any kind of job, nevermind trying to work in the field in which I'd studied.

 My first month in said job, I started noticing discomfort in one of my ears. Being uninsured, I ignored it and continued to take my vitamins and eat my vegetables.  By the end of the week, the discomfort had become full blown pain, and I could hardly hear, making me feel disoriented.  Away I went to CVS's Minute Clinic, shelling out the cash rate for a diagnosis of an ear infection caused by a sinus infection and the drugs needed to alleviate the problem. When they didn't work, I was back the next week for a follow up and another round of stronger drugs. While Minute Clinic is reasonably priced for the uninsured, any unexpected expenses can be burdensome.

What's the point of all this? I know I'm not the only one struggling with a lack of health insurance. Things happen and we can be frugalistas when they do without risking our health.

I had learned of a few holistic remedies from people I met through work while in college and found them to be effective, saving me from pharmaceuticals and enabling me to some degree of preventative maintenance.

Oregano oil, for instance, though vile tasting, cleared away an upper respiratory infection and now I take it at an onset of symptoms to prevent further infections. I haven't had one since.

But, back to the recent problems. I developed a headache last Friday; it stuck with me all weekend, and by Monday, it had worsened. I finally had my "ah-ha" moment when I started feeling the signature pain beside my nose. A sinus infection? Great. My hours recently dropped so I definitely don't have the cash to have a doctor tell me what I already know then make me shell out more money for antibiotics.

Lucky for me, I work for a chiropractic clinic, so the first thing I did was get a cervical adjustment to alleviate any pressure that wasn't helping. But, by that night, the pain was so great that I finally sent my husband out to CVS to pick up a remedy I'd heard raving reviews about but had avoided because the concept appalled me: the Neti Pot.  I hate nasal sprays.  I hate putting liquid of any kind up my nose.  But I was desperate, so I let the irrigation begin.

The first run was a bit uncomfortable as I figured out just how to tilt my head and just how much saline to mix in the water (the kit we bought comes with pre-measured packets, but first time users are not encouraged to use the full amount, and I must agree. OUCH). Initial unpleasantries aside, I woke up headache free. In addition to that, I noticed a reduction of the atrocious allergy symptoms I've dealt with since moving to Maryland.

Will you stop running your mouth, Bekah? I thought this was a frugalista blog?

Fine, fine. Here's the kicker. The Neti Pot kit (pot plus 35 saline packets) was about $13. No doctors, no drugs ruining my body. $13 for a saltwater system that thwarted a sinus infection pretty much instantly (compared to around $100 to see a doc and get two rounts of antibiotics last year!). 

There seems to be a misconception that holistic care is pricey and less effective than our "normal routine," but in this case, I was holistically frugal and it paid off!