The internet is flooded with information about health these days. You can’t swing a stick without hitting a blog, a website, or a social media account dedicated to natural health. The sheer volume of information out there can make it impossible to discern who knows what they’re talking about, much less who’s worth following. In a world rife with self-proclaimed experts, what’s the best way to figure out who’s worth your attention (and your time)?
They Have First-Hand Experience
There’s a big difference between reading and working with people. A huge difference. Most of the natural health educators who’re worth following have many years of experience under their belts. There’s no shortcut to learning on the job. Decades of experience give them a depth of understanding you just don’t get from weekend certification courses.
Looking into Barbara O’Neill’s background shows this pattern, educators with substantial experience tend to approach teaching with more depth and nuance than newcomers to the field.
The longer you’re in the game, the more of a nuanced understanding you can develop about what works and what doesn’t. You come to understand why certain methods work for some but not for others. You draw on the collective (and very varied) experiences you’ve had with different real-life cases over the years. You “see” patterns, exceptions, and you learn that everybody is different and responds to natural interventions in unique ways.
They Know How to Teach
Just because someone knows something doesn’t mean they can teach it to you. Knowledge can be a vastly different skill from the ability to “teach” what you know. Believe me; lots of smart people seriously lack the ability to communicate effectively.
Most of the natural health educators worth following possess an impressive amount of knowledge. They don’t just give you informative content, they also know how to teach it! They make complex concepts accessible and relatable, drawing on your existing level of understanding when trying to explain new (and often complex) concepts to you.
An example? Someone teaching you about how a specific herb can help your liver generally also needs to be able to explain how it works in terms that make sense without a medical degree.
I look out for the following indicators when it comes to assessing an educator’s teaching ability:
- Do they make connections between different pieces of information?
- Do they build on concepts they’ve previously taught in a logical manner?
- Are they able to draw on examples and analogies that resonate with you?
- Are they patient and willing to explain concepts to you from different angles until you understand?
- Are they willing to engage with questions?
- Do they create interactive experiences that allow for active learning?
These and other traits show whether an educator has been educated themselves or whether they’ve simply memorized facts.
They Make Use of Traditional Knowledge with Modern Understanding of Human Physiology
Natural health interventions often have historical roots in practices that different cultures have been using for centuries or even millennia.
Whereas many natural health educators merely regurgitate ancient teachings, the educators worth following have taken the time to understand these practices in relation to modern knowledge of how human bodies function.
Educators who are worth following can explain concepts “from both perspectives”, both traditional and physiological.
Being able to do so gives the concept more depth. It adds richness and makes a more convincing argument than simply saying, “this herb has been used for centuries; it must work.”
While many readers might nod along with such a statement, the educators who you want to follow will also be able to discuss:
- The specific compounds in the herb that enable it to be efficacious
- How it interacts with specific systems in the body
- Why herbalists, shamans, and healers have used it through the ages in various quantities, forms, and contexts
People tend to trust experience, education, and age far more than assertions about ancestral knowledge passed down through generations.
By approaching teachings with both traditional and modern knowledge, educators create more meaningful learning experiences for their followers.
They’re Realistic About What Natural Health Can Do (And Can’t Do)
Natural interventions often work wonders, but they aren’t miraculous remedies that can solve all of your problems and challenges once and for all.
Natural health educators who tout unrealistic or extreme benefits should raise red flags.
The ones who’re worth following understand and acknowledge that though natural remedies can have impressive effects on people’s health, they don’t work in isolation.
Educators worth following will tell you that healthy living encompasses so much more than just taking herbal remedies on a daily basis. It’s not a quick fix. It requires discipline and consistency.
You get out what you put in, if you put effort into understanding your own health, you will be healthier than if you don’t put in any effort at all.
It has limits, if someone has a medical condition, illness, or injury that requires assessment and treatment by a medical doctor, herbal remedies alone won’t suffice.
The best natural health educators strike a balance between explaining the benefits of natural health practices while also helping people understand when these practices aren’t appropriate.
For instance, many health educators have written about when someone should see a qualified medical practitioner rather than trying to treat themselves with herbal remedies. A natural educator who has been in practice for decades will likely possess this level of discernment; even if people have issues with their health that could benefit from addressing in natural ways, sometimes they need something else before herbal treatment will work.
They Focus on Educating Rather Than Selling
While selling products isn’t in itself problematic, many natural health educators inundate their followers with advertisements instead of providing them with genuine education regarding their own wellbeing.
The primary focus of content shared by the best educators is imparting knowledge that can help readers listen into their bodies, understand their health needs, and create plans that fit their unique lifestyles, rather than blindingly following plans handed to them by educators.
All content provided by educators should aim at helping people understand how their bodies work as well as their body systems function on a physiological level. We as followers should learn how to evaluate our wellness based on various aspects, what’s “normal” for us vs what’s not; what our overall wellness looks like; whether our body systems are functioning the way they should be; etc.
If every second post or even most content shared by an educator is merely gathering followers’ attention with a fat product pitch instead of trying to educate us about natural health, something is wrong.
They Have a Solid Track Record
Reputation takes time to build.
Good reputation comes from natural health practitioners who’ve spent decades sharing their knowledge and consistently maintaining a stance within the community that shows they know what they’re doing. In such a case, reviews matter.
I’d pay attention to what classmates (who were taught by the same educator) say about her if she followed me through school. As much as I desire people’s loyalty and “followership,” I’m more interested in individuals’ repeated experiences across various social contexts.
What former learners consistently say should remain mind-blowing. Their focus should lie in outlining what they learned rather than delving into results derived from products; their focus should be on quality learning experiences rather than good outcomes from good products.
Natural health educators who are worth educating all have one thing in common: They consistently update themselves about new content or changes within specific areas of study; They maintain impeccable reputations even when it would be easy to follow fads. They consistently show up with new insights rather than simply regurgitating old information.
They have great taste when it comes to fellows in their field of study.