A Different Perspective on Health Counseling and Multi-level Marketing

I am a Master Herbalist, but I have a different perspective on health counseling. My educational background includes the study of nutrition, Orthomolecular Medicine, and endocrine problems. I worked for doctors for years before I got into alternative medicine so I know how standard medicine works or doesn't work as well. What I see in this country as the main health problem is our 'junk food diet' and lack of exercise. Most Americans just eat too much, eat the wrong foods, and don't exercise. The base cause of much disease including diabetes, heart disease, and obesity is located in our lifestyle choices.

The first focus in health counseling is to get to the base problem. If it is obesity or diabetes there are serious questions to be asked:Is there hormonal or thyroid issues, is there psychological issues, is their diet problems, and is their lifestyle issues of any kind. Your first step is to help the client look into their lifestyle factors affecting their health and then help them with a program. These issues need to be addressed before you suggest they take anything. They need to understand what drugs they are taking and how those drugs may be affecting their problem. Some drugs cause weight gain and more serious problems.

Herbs and alternative medicine should be part of a program that begins with lifestyle changes first. Then you may add herbs or vitamins to support the body's own ability to heal or to rebuild itself. The individual should be open and motivated to make lifestyle changes that create lasting health.

The integrity of some multi-level products:

I have nothing against the products sold in multi level programs. Many of the products are high in quality but more expensive because of the multi-level aspect. I don't like the aspect of pushing my clients into buying a certain amount of product called auto shipments. I will not suggest they take an herb or supplement, unless I feel they actually need it and that the product is the highest quality for the best price. I have never seen a line of products that I thought all were superior. I believe in giving the client an individualized program based on their needs including taking into consideration their financial problems. If there are spending $100 a month on chips, coke, sugar laden cereal and the like, then this is where it should begin in helping them to live healthier. The way they shop, cook, and the food products they eat are the first problem with most families.

Price is an issue with many families, and if I can find them a high quality supplement that is less expensive, I will do that instead. It irks me that many of the people selling multi-level products are just salesmen who know their product line well. Some of them do have a solid background in health and herbs, but many do not. No matter what their background, herb sales quota should not be the main objective. No matter what products you use, the first step should be diet and exercise, if you are using integrity. The problems they may have with self esteem, anger, and pain from the past influence their wellness state, their ability to get well, and their motivation to stay well. Without identifying those issues, they will not stay on the best diet in the world or the best supplement in the world. So many times, clients get to a certain point in their wellness path and never get past that. The issues of pain, anger, and stuck emotions cause this rock in their path to real health. The main cause of their ill health was never dealt with.

The difference between an Herbalist and a Salesman:

I got into herbs and alternative medicine because my youngest daughter was born with a compromised immune system. I studied the immune system, the studied the endocrine system, I took courses from Dominion Herbal College in Canada, I studied under the late Bernard Jensen and studied Iridology. I studied under Keith Smith,MH in Escondido who is one of the best herbalists in the United States, and I took more courses. I took courses in Nutrition, amino acids, and hormonal imbalance problems and more. The point is that a true Herbalist or Master Herbalist went to school to learn their healing modality. They spent time, money, effort and years to gain their expertise in their field of choice.

An herb salesman is often highly educated on the line of herbs they sell but have not had formal training as the above. They spend little time helping the client with lifestyle issues that may be affecting their wellness state. Their main focus is how many herbs you are going to buy each month. I will certainly hear a lot of flack from those of you who are identified by the last paragraph and so be it. If I am sick and overweight, I want someone working with me who has my genuine health as their ultimate goal. If their motive for having me buy herbs, is that they need to sell $100 more on a given month to remain a certain level in the company, that is not true integrity.

Integrity or Sales Quotas

I suggest if you are one of the people that are described in this last paragraph, that you examine your motives and integrity. Are you selling herbs out of your genuine interest to help people achieve their highest wellness state? If you can say, yes, with honesty, then I am all for your program. Again, many of the multi-level products sold in the marketplace are of high quality and very beneficial to health but it is the motive behind some of the sales I question. I also feel that any wellness program must be layered over a positive lifestyle and diet to work ultimately.