What Can I Say?
by Keith Mc Bride
I was talking with a man the other day about Sunrider. “Sunrider distributors are out to change the world,” he said. “I have a headache and someone jumps on me with a cure. They don’t know anything about me, but they’re ready to prescribe!” I assured him that most Sunriders were not like that.
Some of us become so excited about the Sunrider philosophy, we sometimes say things we shouldn’t. We may even make claims.
There’s good reason for not making medical claims about Sunrider products. To make a curative claim, you have to prescribe medicines. We are not taking medicines, we’re eating foods. We EAT Sunrider whole food concentrates. That’s a big difference!
[You want to know what to tell someone? Read your Sunrider catalog. For example you could say, “Lifestream was developed as a food to nourish the body, enhancing its natural ability to address the circulatory system with herbs that help promote balance and fluidity throughout the body. This formula enhances adequate movement of blood through the body, which is crucial to good health. This does not say Lifestream cures anything, although that may well be a benefit of proper nutrition.]
Can you see where we would be in error if we suggested that a Sunrider formula cured something?
Because a nourishing food may have specific benefits for one person, this does not mean the same food will have the same benefits for someone else!
At the foundation of the Sunrider philosophy is the belief that we are all biochemical individuals. Someone may ask you, “What should I take for my sinus problem?” If you suggest a specific formula, you are prescribing – and taking away someone’s free agency to determine for themselves what works best for them.
That’s what’s so beautiful about Sunrider products. They create unique answers within each individual body.
We talk so much about the complete Sunpack [Basics] for very good reason. Pull one formula out, and you are doing what the medical profession does: isolating one organ or symptom form the whole.
How can we presume to know the inner workings of any individual? He may say his problem is “poor night vision.” How is that symptom tired to the kidneys and the blood sugar? If we “give him something for the eyes,” (even if it’s an herb), we may still be missing completely the cause of his problem. The body is linked together in a very precise way. We are healthy only when every link within that chain is being nurtured with whole foods.
So, What Can We Say?
Sunrider policy states: “The Sunrider Corporation does not supply food that cures the body of anything, nor (does it supply) any product that is sold as a cure. Sunrider distributors are instructed not to prescribe the foods.”
Pretty straight forward. Yet, despite everything we are told, some of us still insist on talking about our whole foods as if they were medicines! This may get us into trouble. In Canada, the company spent a fortune repackaging, relabeling, and redoing the literature. Why? One distributor said the formulas “cure disease”. We understand this good distributor’s intent. The government did not. Maybe some government agencies aren’t very well informed. That’s beside the point. They have an important job to do. They protect us from fraud. There are a few unprincipled people who make a living thinking up “cures” for popular diseases. They can hut innocent people. (There are also “legitimate” multibillion dollar companies doing the same thing, but that’s another story…)
If you are telling people that Sunrider formulas “cure” specific ailments, you are only demonstrating that you don’t fully understand the Sunrider philosophy. Nothing cures the body. No medicine, no Sunrider formula. The body can heal itself when given proper nutrition.
Talk about nutrition, regeneration and balance. These are true principles. We don’t talk about cures, not because we “have something to hide”, but because we don’t have to talk about cures!
But bad habits are hard to break. Let’s begin breaking them right now. The next time someone asks you what they should do about their sore throat, STOP! Our first impulse is very “western” – we focus a “zoom lens” on the symptom. Before, we may have said something like, “Your throat is sore because you have a cold, so take Conco.” Maybe they do have a cold. But maybe they “have” something else. How do you know?
From now on, let’s “think eastern.” When you get that sore throat question, mentally step back and look at the body as a whole entity, instead of one symptom or organ. Ask them, “Do you believe a healthy body will give you a sore throat?” Now is a perfect opportunity to share the Sunrider philosophy of balanced whole-body regeneration.
It’s time to become responsible for what we say to others. Sunrider is exploding all over the world, and the spotlight is on every one of us. Are you willing to accept this responsibility?
We received this letter and thought we’d share it with you.
An Herbalist’s Story
“I’ve been an herbalist for over 15 years. We’re from the “old school” of American herbalism. We’ve learned and applied all of the “ologies”: Iridology, Kineseology, Reflexology, etc. And yet, it seemed the more we learned, the more we didn’t know.
“We now know that our frustrations stemmed from the limitations of the herbs and vitamins we were using. All we were doing was plugging holes, a sort of herbal “crisis management.” No sooner had we plugged one hole, when another would manifest itself. It was so frustrating! And the herbs! I had to become a master herbalist. I knew about hundred of herbs and combinations. This herb couldn’t be taken with that herb, this herb was toxic to hypoglycemics and on and on. What a responsibility! There had to be a better way.
“We know the Lord gave us these plants for a very specific purpose. But they only go so far. At the time, we really didn’t understand their purpose.
“Then one evening, Dr. Chen and Dr. Black visited our home to share a new company and philosophy—Sunrider. We resisted at first. We ordered some products, but we clearly didn’t understand how powerful they were. People wanted the formula for the pancreas or the formula for the thyroid, and that’s what we gave them. We slowly began to delve into Chinese philosophy. It’s hard to teach an old herbalist new tricks—but we began to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
“We have hung up out “ologies,” and we no longer have to suggest separate formulas for each organ. What a relief! I became so tired of trying to second—guess the body. The human body is a far better judge of what we need than any doctor, or herbalist. We now stock marvelous regenerative foods instead of herbal medicines.
“The philosophy of regeneration is so simple! The Sunpack feeds the entire body. Our goal is being realized: We are finally helping people to help themselves.
“A few of my “old school” friends still don’t accept Chinese philosophy. I can understand that. After all, we Americans are raised with medical science—even our herbs are medicines. American herbalism is concerned for the most part with finding replacements for our drugs. (Which is a real vicious circle—considering drugs came from herbs in the first place!) While these American herbs have their place, we used to think they were enough. They are not. Sunriders know there is a higher principle above substitution.
“When I was living the role of the herbalist, the more I learned the more people became dependent on me. I was not teaching people to help themselves! We are not doctors! We lead people to a balanced philosophy and allow them the freedom to choose, precept upon precept, to accept responsibility for themselves. That’s when true health begins.”
When we approach Sunrider in this way, our sphere of influence for good grows quickly and naturally. Others begin to duplicate our example. We don’t have to be “an herbalist” to share Sunrider. We just have to have a love for freedom and an understanding of personal responsibility. That’s what Sunrider is all about!
Typed from InBalance Volume 1 - pages 40, 41
Karla Kneller
Contact: Diana Walker, Sunrider Group Director dwalker@sunwave.net
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