A Meeting of Two Minds

sharyn buccalo

J. had been the Amish Doctor in that same community for twenty or so years. He has the same eighth-grade education as all other Amish but is a self-educated man in his field of natural healing. The walls of his office are filled from floor to ceiling with books on all manners of medical subjects.

For example, there are many books on yeast infections, how to treat heart disease the natural way, homeopathy reflexology, iridology, bee therapies, and natural healing. J. also has a store, which is in his home, where he sells his own burn salve, ear candles, and homeopathic remedies. The homeopathic drops are made there in the community and are much more potent than the manufactured ones. I know because J. had me test a sample from each. I was so anxious to meet him and learn from him. It was a very delicate situation.

Trust had to be established between myself and J. He had to know that what I saw and the subjects we discussed would not go outside that Amish community. I felt privileged to be accepted by this man. Amish Doctors and dentists often are seen as practicing outside the professional arena of physicians and dentists but they provide a much-needed service to their communities.

After we had known each other for a while J. told me he had started out as a farrier and found he had a wonderful way with injured and sick animals. In fact, his salves and treatments were first tried on the horses that he shod. When the community noted the success J. achieved with the animals they began requesting he treat them.

When I met J. he had, as we English would call it, a very successful practice. In his practice, Old Order Amish patients would visit him. If they were not able to travel to his community in Ohio they would send letters requesting help.

After I was accepted to observe him in his practice I was allowed to read the letters and assist in formulating the replies. Some patients who came to J. for help would stay for some months. For these patients, J. would put them up in a small dowdy house on the property, close to the main house, so that he could see them any time of the day or night if problems arose.

The patients and letters came from Old Order Amish communities all over the United States and Canada. These men and women had already tried other forms of medical therapies for their diseases and ailments. The treatments were not successful and now they had turned to J.

Although they do not use electricity, nor do they have telephones in their homes, the news travels fast by "Amish". J.'s reputation continues to grow. He has done so much for the communities.

I used to tell him, "you are about twenty years before your time in the biomedical community and someday they will catch up with you".

A Meeting of Two Minds

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