My husband blames Universal Medicine for the break-down of our marriage

I am writing in response to the poorly researched journalistic article titled ‘New age ‘medicine’ leaves a trail of broken families’ in the Courier Mail, dated September 8-9 2012. I have lived in the Brisbane area for well over 30 years and as a teacher have often used the Courier Mail in my classroom, because I felt it was a reasonably responsible newspaper. After reading this article I have changed my mind.

I am a woman who has been accused of breaking up her marriage because I am said to belong to a so called ‘cult’. My husband is an alcoholic. After receiving treatment at the local hospital’s mental health unit, he unfortunately continued with the same dysfunctional and dangerous behaviour, so I went to the hospital and sought help. Two of the hospital’s mental health unit workers advised me to ‘stay with a friend for a while’, because ‘people in his state of mind are often violent’. After following this advice and for my own health and safety, I very reluctantly left my home of 30 years and I never came back to the marriage. No one in Universal Medicine ever told me to leave this dysfunctional marriage. My local hospital certainly supported me to, but ultimately, this was my decision alone.

I have made radical changes in my life,  but this was because my health was failing, my marriage was over and I had to go back to work. Was it not Einstein who described insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result? I am not insane, nor do I need to be told what to do, but I am open to listening, learning and feeling what is right for me and making the changes needed in my life. Is this not what most teachers would advise their students?

Has our society reverted back to believing that women should stay in relationships at the expense of their health and safety, when all other avenues to save the marriage have been exhausted, or is it easier to blame their choice of a healthy, safer life style for the breakup?

Here are some basic facts Josh Robertson and Liam Walsh, that you may need to understand:

Women’s Rights

Sexual consent is a basic right in this country. I am in daily contact with many women from third world countries who did not have these basic human rights. Josh and Liam, may I ask, ‘are you saying that Australian women should just submit? That they have no rights within their marriages?’

Workshops

I have paid for and attended Universal Medicine workshops for several years. These workshops are presented on a calendar on the Universal Medicine website and it is up to me to attend or not.  I have attended workshops at universities, TAFE’s – all manner of institutions and most operate this way. These workshops cost money, what is so unusual about that?

Practitioners

Universal Medicine practitioners conduct themselves with the highest standards. They do not drink alcohol and are responsible to the extent that if they do not feel well themselves for whatever reason, they will not treat a client. This is certainly not the case with many doctors and other alternative practitioners. I have attended Rachel Hall’s Brisbane clinic and found her dentistry services to be excellent. Rachel is a highly trained professional with the ability to make complex decisions – to reduce her to the status of a ‘follower’ is flawed journalism indeed.

Followers

Because I align with the philosophies of Universal Medicine, does this make me or anyone else a follower? No. Information is presented to me and I am free to accept or reject it. Students are encouraged at all times to feel for themselves if this information is true for them or not. This is democracy in action – freedom of thought, speech and belief. Josh and Liam, do you believe in democracy?

Ratio of Women to Men

As far as I know, there has not been an official count of the number of men who attend Universal Medicine workshops. My guess is that the number of men would be around 1/3 of the student body. This high ratio is, in my opinion, because the information presented is simple, logical and it works. Having said this – does the participation of the men in these workshops validate what is being presented?  Josh and Liam, are you saying that women’s judgments are less sound than those of men?

Life Style

No one is told what to do. It is presented to the students that living an alcohol free life style, eating nutritious gluten and dairy free foods and allowing plenty of time for rejuvenation through sleep is one way that they can take back control over their health and wellbeing. Many doctors and naturopaths not associated with Universal Medicine give similar advice. What is wrong with this advice? Is it too confronting for those not prepared to do what is needed to achieve wellness?

Work

I work as a teacher for a government organisation. I mix with people from different countries and walks of life on an everyday basis. I live a normal work life style – I am not cut off from the rest of the world. I enjoy being with people and I enjoy the diversity they bring into my life.

Family and Friendships

I have many friends who do not attend Universal Medicine workshops. I do not push my views on them – I just live my life as best I can. Some friends found my life style too confronting, especially the fact that I no longer drink alcohol, and others have accepted me for who I am. Is this not the nature of friendships - that some people stay and others leave your life?

My family has suffered from the trauma experienced in the marriage breakup,  but this is slowly repairing. Is this not common in marriage breakups?

Health and Vitality

My health has suffered from the recent trauma of my marriage breakup but by using conventional medicine along with massage and Chakra-puncture, it is turning around and I am able to work again. Over the years I have witnessed many students attending Universal Medicine workshops who, by adopting many of the suggestions, have also regained their health. Is this a bad thing?

Josh Robertson and Liam Walsh, I urge you to make a fair report on the life style that many Universal Medicine students have adopted. Seek both sides of the story and report fairly. Many students have written about the changes in their lives, marriages and work practices. This information is freely available on the internet. I for one, would like to be able to pick up the Courier Mail again and believe that what I am reading is not total rubbish.

Name and address withheld.