Alternative health practitioner Ingo Lauterlein and his wife Alina talk about happiness, traveling, laughing and the professional challenges at the end of the year.
Mr. Lauterlein, the year is coming to an end. Christmas makes us a little more thoughtful. What are your thoughts now?
Ingo Lauterlein: What strikes me during Christmas is that the years are getting shorter and shorter. It may be due to age, experience – I can only determine that as a feeling. And still: Christmas is a tranquil time for us, we come to rest, move closer together. The family plays a big role. Everything is more relaxed. People are more thankful.
When you see both of you sitting on the bench (photo), you get the feeling: There are two who go their way together and that get them wonderful! What is your secret?
Ingo Lauterlein: In the beginning, 15 years ago, reality left us with no other choice. Alina had no work and I had no money to pay someone. It is also a great advantage that we have the same opinions on fundamental issues. Alina Lauterlein: I know his quality standards! So knew from the start what it means to work with him. And it is really good to be able to enjoy and celebrate the jointly developed success together. If there is really a secret, ours is: Always eat and drink well!
Many people have reasons for complaining, whining and being angry! Laughter is so healthy! What was the last time you burst into laughter?
Ingo Lauterlein: We laugh so much! Alina Lauterlein interveres into the conversation: Ingo´s linguistic jokes are legendary. I have to write down a few things, it is so incredible. An example of this … Ingo is asked: “Can there be a connection?” Ingo friendly: “That may be! Everything is somehow connected – if I pull out my nose a hair, it will bring tears into my eyes!”
We all relearn! What did you relearn in 2019?
Ingo Lauterlein: On our trip to Albania, it became clear to me that electromobility can currently be dangerous. What will happen to the young children in high summer in a traffic jam on the highway? What happens in the icy winter when nobody can run the engine so that the battery lasts? And if we are also banned from flying, fewer strangers become friends, foreign cultures remain foreign to us. That encourages hate and war.
Doctors’ offices are overcrowded, patients often sit in waiting rooms for hours, then are only a few minutes in the consulting room to leave with a prescription. Who comes to your practice, who experiences what?
Ingo Lauterlein: I know a lot of specialists who do an excellent job. But the health insurance system makes their work difficult. We specialize and we have the advantage that this system does not restrict us because we are forced to work outside of this system. The benefit for our patients is that I do what is best for them and not what the health insurance company regulates. It is important to do the right thing at the right time. In acute cases we try to help the patient immediately – often they notice the improvement directly. This also includes promptly referring to the relevant specialist we trust when I realize that I cannot help. Alina picks up the phone and makes an appointment that is timely, in an emergency, immediately. For us, the patient’s well-being has priority.
Alternative health practitioner, chiropractor – for some people this still sounds strange. What can you say to these skeptics?
Ingo Lauterlein: There are two recognized health professions in Germany: the doctor and the alternative health practitioner who coexist. According to the law, an alternative health practitioner must prove that he has the same medical knowledge in an official medical examination before he is allowed to treat patients. I work as an alternative health practitioner in the areas of chiropractic and neural therapy – my back therapy is made up of them. I have no objection to healthy skepticism, but it should disappear as the symptoms vanishes.
And how do you help specifically?
It is very important to me that I never treat my patients in isolation only on the affected part of the spine. In order to safely and effectively solve my patients’ problems and complaints, I always have to keep an eye on the whole person. In the case of neck pain, for example, it is not enough to treat only the cervical spine. In many cases, pain in the upper floors of our spine is promoted by misalignments and blockages in the pelvis and lumbar spine.
I have found that only by removing these misalignments can the complaints on the neck get better and at best disappear.
It is said of the Germans that they cannot praise and are not very grateful. But we are doing comparatively very well! How does praise sound to you and how do you say thank you?
Ingo Lauterlein: Fortunately, we experience that this cliché does not apply to most of our patients. I think it’s cute when Grandmas comes with a packet of coffee or Christmas with a typical Cake and are very happy to say thank you. And that for years. Alina Lauterlein: I am fundamentally grateful that we live in Germany, that we have peace, that we have enough to eat and are even able to help people who need our help! (Ingo Lauterlein nods in agreement, thankful!)
Relaxing: What is the best way to do this?
We are lying on the couch, feet up, one dog on the right, the other on the left. It doesn’t need more
Many people are planning something for the new year? You too? If so: What should be better in 2020? What do you wish?
I’m happy about little change. Health is at the forefront – for everyone I love, my patients and for me.
