God's Pharmacy: Why I Believe in Natural Products

CBN.com - Twenty years ago, if you were to ask me about the role of natural products in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, I couldn't have answered you. I had no idea what an important role natural products can play in our lives! Today, I can't imagine my life without them and I thank God everyday for His "pharmacy" nature where He has created so many wonderful substances for the benefit of mankind. It took a serious detour in my own health to wake me up to the benefits of good nutrition and natural products. Over the years, as I've learned more, I've become a "true believer" in the role they can play in a healthy lifestyle.

I'm not alone. According to the Herb Research Foundation, sales of herbs doubled in the period of 1981-1991 to more than $1.3 billion annually. More and more doctors are promoting the virtues of vitamins, herbs and dietary supplements, along with a nutritious diet, to support a healthier lifestyle. Renowned medical schools are now offering courses in alternative medicine and insurance companies are increasingly beginning to cover alternative health practices. By and large, people are becoming more educated and demanding a broader and more holistic approach to their health care.

The primary reason that I believe in natural products is because they were created by the Master Pharmacist! They have been around since God created the earth. In the Garden of Eden, God told Adam and Eve, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food." (Gen. 1:29) Surely God knew what was best for His children. In creating the world and everything in it, He has provided us with a whole pharmacy of healthy and nutritious substances in nature.

I also believe in natural products because they have a long history of effective use throughout the world. Since creation, natural medicine has been used for centuries in various cultures around the world to help people maintain healthier lifestyles. The use of natural products is rooted in the Word of God and tested in the laboratory of human experience.

As the human race has advanced in knowledge, however, natural health care has been overshadowed by orthodox medical practices. As remarkable and beneficial as many of these scientific and medical advances have been, I don't believe scientific medicine is the only answer or the only treatment we should seek. There continues to be growing concern over the reliance and safety of many drugs and surgical procedures. There also appears to be increasing evidence that many drug therapies suppress symptoms, while ignoring the underlying causes.

We should not forget that dietary supplements and natural food products can promote well-being truly benefiting our health. Including natural products as part of our overall health regimen should not preclude, but complement traditional, or orthodox medical practices.

My real wake-up call regarding diet, nutrition and the use of natural products, however, came through my own experience. In 1982, as a suburban homemaker with two small children, I woke up one day feeling more tired than usual. It was a feeling that just seemed to linger, until eventually caring for my children and my family became very difficult. Desperate for an answer, I spoke to medical practitioners and tried many different "orthodox" therapies. Nothing seemed to work.

After a year-and-a-half, I found help through a friend who told me about the importance of good nutrition and introduced me to a natural substance called Royal Jelly. Used in the Orient therapeutically, Royal Jelly is a food substance created naturally in the beehive. After taking it for a few months, I began to really see a difference and I felt better than ever! I had more energy, stamina and vitality.* It was the first time I had ever realized that good nutrition and natural dietary supplements can play a major role in how we feel every day. From then on, I dedicated myself to learning as much as I could about nutrition and natural products.

I believe that God helps us, as He chooses, in three ways. First, and most beautiful, is His divine intervention - when He heals us miraculously. I also believe He uses traditional medicine to help us. And finally, I believe He uses "alternative" products from nature that we can add to our daily diet. In 1984, I founded Bee-Alive, Inc., to help others discover the benefits of good nutrition and a healthier lifestyle through natural dietary supplement products.

As you explore therapies and practices for your own healthy lifestyle, I encourage you to visit the wonderful world of God's pharmacy and discover the healthy benefits of natural products.

Madeline Balletta is Founder and President of Bee-Alive, Inc., a national health and nutrition company based in Valley Cottage, New York. Madeline is a former President of the Bee Products Association and a member of the National Nutritional Foods Association. Under her direction, Bee-Alive continues to research today's most pressing health issues and find workable, affordable solutions for its customers.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. As with any natural product, individual results will vary.

For more information about Bee-Alive or Royal Jelly, please visit www.beealive.com.

If you purchase Bee-Alive Royal Jelly products, part of the proceeds support CBN ministries.