In the hydroponics of cultivating yourself, as in hydroponics gardening, it’s all about reading the signals, creating ideal conditions and inputs, and treating yourself or your plants with utmost care and professionalism.

Before you go to your appointment, write and print out a dossier explaining everything you know about your health problems - when they occur, how long they’ve been occurring, what makes them worse, what makes them go away, family history of similar problems, injury history, and similar data.

The dossier should include your list of any diagnostic tests, restorative procedures, drugs or other interventions that you’re interested in. Don’t assume that a doctor knows the latest and best medical tactics, tests and remedies. It’s your responsibility to know your own health issues inside and out, and to guide the doctor.

This is crucial: it is your responsibility to know as much as you can about your body, and the medical strategies that might be used on it. That way, instead of relying on a stranger who may or may not know the best path to healing, you own the situation, you own the knowledge, and you are an active rather than passive participant in your healing.

When the doctor says to you, “You need surgery,” or “Take these muscle relaxers and painkillers,” it’s your responsibility to ask what are the risks and rewards of what the doctor is suggesting.

Statistically, back surgery has a higher failure rate than success rate. Pharmaceutical drugs have negative as well as positive effects. Find out the full spectrum of effects from drugs or surgery, before you make any decisions.

Always get a second and third opinion. You’ll be puzzled that three doctors may give you radically different advice about the exact same health problem. You’ve got to determine whose advice is the most accurate and beneficial.

If you feel that a doctor is treating you like a chump and is unwilling to work with you collaboratively, go to a different doctor. And don’t forget to consult holistic doctors specializing in osteopathy, acupuncture, Ayurveda and other “alternative medicine.” You’ll find that the standard allopathic approaches- surgery and/or drugs- are not the only way to deal with health issues.

In the hydroponics of cultivating yourself, as in hydroponics gardening, it’s all about reading the signals, creating ideal conditions and inputs, and treating yourself or your plants with utmost care and professionalism.

In hydroponics gardening we have “grow doctors” who write how-to “grow books” telling us how to get the biggest yields. In cultivating yourself, you may need to consult with doctors. In both of these endeavors, your knowledge and self-efficacy are key. The doctor is not a god; he or she is a partner in your healing. You are the one who holds the key to a successful harvest in your hydroponics garden, and in your life.

Read Part 1 of The Hydroponics of Health Care & Doctors here.

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