I have already talked about my discovery about my dairy allergy in my previous blog post Could You be Allergic to Dairy and Not Know It? I was watching an episode of the Doctor Oz show recently and besides the benefits of not feeling congested any more, I didn't even connect the fact that I had lost weight after my allergy discovery and changing what I was eating. I had never connected the two before, but it made so much sense after hearing the medical explanation.
I found out from this episode that the most common food allergies are to dairy and wheat. As many as 60% of people have allergies to dairy, and people can lose as much as 30 pounds of weight by just eliminating food allergens from their diets! That's just crazy! I didn't lose that much weight, but I'll bet it was close to 15 pounds. The weight was just falling off without really trying. I had first contributed it to not eating the fatty cheeses, ice cream, etc., but there may have been additional factors at work which I didn't realize. Here is a link to the summary of that segment of the show: Doctor Oz's Anti-Allergy Diet The experts were saying that one common reason why people plateau when loosing weight is that they are carrying around a lot of inflammation from eating foods that their bodies are having subtle negative reactions to and they are not even aware of it. This systemic inflammation is preventing further weight loss and causing bloating and other problems with digestion.
This segment also discussed many hidden sources of dairy allergens, many which I had discovered through trial and error. Other ingredients to avoid besides the obvious "milk" are ingredients such as cream, milk protein, casein, whey, lactate, etc. These hidden dairy items can be found in some crazy places most of us might be really surprised to find them in, such as: deli meats, canned tuna, protein shake mixes, energy bars, baked goods, and bread, and other processed foods. Read the labels on the foods you are eating or eat more natural foods without labels. This link above also gives you a 3 week plan for removing the problem foods from your diet, repairing the digestive tract from the damage done by eating the wrong foods, and then slowly trying to add back possible foods after noting the subtle ways your body reacts to them through keeping a journal.
I hope this additional information about dairy allergies might help some of you be more aware of what might be preventing you from losing the weight you want and help you feel better in a long list of ways.
Showing posts with label alternative health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alternative health. Show all posts
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Anti-bacterial Hand Gels and Dry Hands
Do you suffer from dry cracked hands? Do you carry around a little bottle or hand sanitizer gel, or keep them in your car, around the house, etc? Do you know that the main ingredient in these gels is alcohol?
Habitually putting these hand sanitizer alcohol based gels on your hands can really dry out your skin causing rough, and painful chafing and cracking. If you are worried about germs, did you know that properly washing your hands with regular, not even anti-bacterial soap, is just as effective at killing and removing germs as all that expensive anti-bacterial stuff? All this anti-bacterial everything really is not helping anything except contributing to building up the defenses of super germs and bacteria that eventually become resistant to these products, while severely drying out your skin.
Instead of grabbing the anti-bacterial hand gel or anti-bacterial soap, opt for the simple old fashioned soap hand washing, if it's available. It might seem like a simple thing, but surprisingly, most people do not know how to properly wash their hands to make it most effective. Here is a good article that breaks it down as a simple reminder we call can use. 5 Steps to Effective Hand-Washing
The best non-drying soaps are cold processed super-fatted soaps containing ingredients such as goats milk, olive oil, shea butter, or jojoba, just to mention a few. These true soaps typically contain excess oils, which have not been converted to soap that help moisturize and clean at the same time. Most mass produced conventional "soap" bars are really detergent bars. Many times the manufactures remove the moisturizing natural occurring glycerin produced during the soap making process and turn it into lotion, which is then resold as a separate product for a much higher price per ounce. These "detergent bars" can also cause your skin to dry out with excess use, since it also removes the natural oils in your skin as it washes away the dirt and germs.
If you prefer liquid soaps, don't go for the clear soaps. These may be pretty, but they can also be contributing to your dry skin. These clear soaps do not contain any excess oils which have not been saponified, or turned into soap. That is why they are clear. Instead, opt for the others you cannot see through. These typically are more moisturizing since the excess unsaponified oils give them a more creamy appearance.
In addition to some wonderful natural lotions now available, you can also try some home remedies you might already have in your kitchen to keep your hands and skin protected and moisturized. After washing or soaking your hands, apply a little olive oil or coconut oil to your hands. You don't need much or you won't be able to open a door knob for a while. :o) Just a drop or two will help seal in the moisture and absorb into your skin helping to heal and prevent those dreaded dry and cracking hands. An extra rub into your cuticles works great, too. If you happen to have any tamanu oil, which I went into more detail in a previous post Must Have for your Medicine Cabinet, this will really help speed up the healing process of dry cracked hands and protect your skin at the same time.
Habitually putting these hand sanitizer alcohol based gels on your hands can really dry out your skin causing rough, and painful chafing and cracking. If you are worried about germs, did you know that properly washing your hands with regular, not even anti-bacterial soap, is just as effective at killing and removing germs as all that expensive anti-bacterial stuff? All this anti-bacterial everything really is not helping anything except contributing to building up the defenses of super germs and bacteria that eventually become resistant to these products, while severely drying out your skin.
Instead of grabbing the anti-bacterial hand gel or anti-bacterial soap, opt for the simple old fashioned soap hand washing, if it's available. It might seem like a simple thing, but surprisingly, most people do not know how to properly wash their hands to make it most effective. Here is a good article that breaks it down as a simple reminder we call can use. 5 Steps to Effective Hand-Washing
The best non-drying soaps are cold processed super-fatted soaps containing ingredients such as goats milk, olive oil, shea butter, or jojoba, just to mention a few. These true soaps typically contain excess oils, which have not been converted to soap that help moisturize and clean at the same time. Most mass produced conventional "soap" bars are really detergent bars. Many times the manufactures remove the moisturizing natural occurring glycerin produced during the soap making process and turn it into lotion, which is then resold as a separate product for a much higher price per ounce. These "detergent bars" can also cause your skin to dry out with excess use, since it also removes the natural oils in your skin as it washes away the dirt and germs.
If you prefer liquid soaps, don't go for the clear soaps. These may be pretty, but they can also be contributing to your dry skin. These clear soaps do not contain any excess oils which have not been saponified, or turned into soap. That is why they are clear. Instead, opt for the others you cannot see through. These typically are more moisturizing since the excess unsaponified oils give them a more creamy appearance.
In addition to some wonderful natural lotions now available, you can also try some home remedies you might already have in your kitchen to keep your hands and skin protected and moisturized. After washing or soaking your hands, apply a little olive oil or coconut oil to your hands. You don't need much or you won't be able to open a door knob for a while. :o) Just a drop or two will help seal in the moisture and absorb into your skin helping to heal and prevent those dreaded dry and cracking hands. An extra rub into your cuticles works great, too. If you happen to have any tamanu oil, which I went into more detail in a previous post Must Have for your Medicine Cabinet, this will really help speed up the healing process of dry cracked hands and protect your skin at the same time.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Healthier Soft Drink Alternatives
Have you been trying to cut back on your soft drink consumption to either lose weight, save money, or just be healthier. Me too. Here are some suggestions you might want to try to bring some variety into your choices and make it a little easier to opt for the healthier choice:
I'll bet most of you have a coffee machine. When you are done with your morning cup of joe, the machine sits there lonely all day. Put it to use making a batch of iced tea. You don't need any special machines like some companies would like to make you believe. You already own it.
In the spot where you normally put your coffee filter, place the tea bags, with no additional filter, fill up your water reservoir to the top and let her rip. For a 2 quart container, 4 regular sized tea bags or 2 family sized tea bags are a good start. For a gallon container, try 3-4 family sized bags. Adjust the number of tea bags to your taste. If your coffee pot has an extra feature for brewing smaller pots of coffee, like 1-4 cups, turn this on as well. It will preheat the water a bit more making the brew a little stronger. In the meantime, fill up your drink pitcher half way with ice. When it's done brewing, pour the hot tea over the ice and top off with additional water, if needed. If you like it sweet, now is the time to add your sweetener, then give it a stir. Instead of sugar, you might want to try a no calorie natural sweetener made from the stevia plant, like Truvia, or an other alternative sweetener like Agave Nectar, which has a lower glycemic index, which means it will not spike your blood sugar as much as regular sugar does. Personally, I keep mine unsweetened, so everyone can make theirs the way they like it, or just drink it unsweetened. Agave nectar also dissolves better in cold liquids, since its a syrup instead of crystals, so it can easily be added later.
Have you ever noticed how many different types of teas are out there? Every type I tried is also great iced. Think of how many options you have: green, black, oolong, spiced like chai, fruit blends, herbals like peppermint or chamomile, rooibos, and so many in between! Many have wonderful health benefits as an added bonus. Don't forget, if you are trying to cut back on your caffeine intake, opt for the decaf versions or one of the herbal, rooibos, or fruit types. Maybe even try a half-caf version, half regular tea bags an half decaf tea bags, to start to ween yourself off your caffeine habit.
If you are missing the little bubbles in your soft drinks, try some of the flavored seltzer waters on the market now. Beware of the ones containing artificial sweeteners. For a cheaper alternative try the unflavored seltzer waters, the store brands are just as good, and add a splash of cranberry, pomegranate, orange, or grapefruit juice, or squeeze a lemon or lime in for some added flavor. If you go for the fruit juices, read the labels and try to choose ones that have no added sugars and are 100% juice. Use your imagination. You might just find a new favorite.
I'll bet most of you have a coffee machine. When you are done with your morning cup of joe, the machine sits there lonely all day. Put it to use making a batch of iced tea. You don't need any special machines like some companies would like to make you believe. You already own it.
In the spot where you normally put your coffee filter, place the tea bags, with no additional filter, fill up your water reservoir to the top and let her rip. For a 2 quart container, 4 regular sized tea bags or 2 family sized tea bags are a good start. For a gallon container, try 3-4 family sized bags. Adjust the number of tea bags to your taste. If your coffee pot has an extra feature for brewing smaller pots of coffee, like 1-4 cups, turn this on as well. It will preheat the water a bit more making the brew a little stronger. In the meantime, fill up your drink pitcher half way with ice. When it's done brewing, pour the hot tea over the ice and top off with additional water, if needed. If you like it sweet, now is the time to add your sweetener, then give it a stir. Instead of sugar, you might want to try a no calorie natural sweetener made from the stevia plant, like Truvia, or an other alternative sweetener like Agave Nectar, which has a lower glycemic index, which means it will not spike your blood sugar as much as regular sugar does. Personally, I keep mine unsweetened, so everyone can make theirs the way they like it, or just drink it unsweetened. Agave nectar also dissolves better in cold liquids, since its a syrup instead of crystals, so it can easily be added later.Have you ever noticed how many different types of teas are out there? Every type I tried is also great iced. Think of how many options you have: green, black, oolong, spiced like chai, fruit blends, herbals like peppermint or chamomile, rooibos, and so many in between! Many have wonderful health benefits as an added bonus. Don't forget, if you are trying to cut back on your caffeine intake, opt for the decaf versions or one of the herbal, rooibos, or fruit types. Maybe even try a half-caf version, half regular tea bags an half decaf tea bags, to start to ween yourself off your caffeine habit.
If you are missing the little bubbles in your soft drinks, try some of the flavored seltzer waters on the market now. Beware of the ones containing artificial sweeteners. For a cheaper alternative try the unflavored seltzer waters, the store brands are just as good, and add a splash of cranberry, pomegranate, orange, or grapefruit juice, or squeeze a lemon or lime in for some added flavor. If you go for the fruit juices, read the labels and try to choose ones that have no added sugars and are 100% juice. Use your imagination. You might just find a new favorite.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Breast Cancer Prevention
Do you feel frustrated with the cost of breast cancer screening? Sick of all the false positives that require further screening or biopsies, and spending thousands of dollars just to have them tell you that it's nothing. Tired of the helpless feeling that it may just be a matter of time before you get it, and the only thing you can do is just keep checking to make sure to catch it early enough to save your life? Do you cringe at the thought of that painful annual test, but feel like it is all you can do? Do you feel like with all the money going towards breast cancer research, they should have better answers as to how you can prevent this disease by now? You are not alone.
With my personal family history, with my maternal grandmother and mother both being survivors, I have been very vigilant to keep on top of this with my own health. The more I read and learned about natural health options, the more I am disturbed with how society treats this disease and the lack of valid information being shared by many physicians. There is much more information out there than what most doctors will tell you, since they typically only tell you what the official statements and recommendations are from the American Cancer Society and the American Medical Association. So many doctors are afraid to step outside those recommendations for fear of malpractice or judgement by their peers. Fortunately, today, there are more and more doctors who have begun asking more questions to see what else has been found in various medical studies, in addition to just settling for the typical canned answer they are used to hearing.
Both my mother and grandmother were diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) resulting in mastectomies. This is the most commonly diagnosed type of breast cancer. My grandmother also went through radiation therapy. My mother was first told to also go through radiation therapy with chemotherapy. Thankfully, before doing so, she asked for a second opinion. A very wise doctor told her that based on the type of cancer she had, if it was his wife, he would not recommend either radiation or chemo. He felt that since her cancer had not spread to the lymph nodes and so much tissue had been surgically removed, she should just opt out of both therapies due to the radical negative side-effects on the healthy tissues and the immune system. My mother has now been a survivor for over 20 years with no recurrences. Thank goodness she followed this doctor's advise and did not do any further unnecessary damage to her body with these commonly over prescribed treatments for this type of diagnosis.
After what I have learned through person experience, research, and speaking with my OB/GYN, I truly believe that my family's risk for breast cancer has been elevated for generations simply due to hereditary hormone imbalances causing estrogen dominance. Hormone imbalance and estrogen dominance is much more common than most women realize. Low testosterone and/or progesterone symptoms parade around in a majority of women's lives every day, but are simply excused as a symptom of stress, lack of sleep, lack of motivation, depression, etc. Most women are misdiagnosed, told it is all in their head, or prescribed medications that don't work and cause other side effects. I plan to do another blog post about my story. You will likely be surprised at how many symptoms I had, that you also share.
Please read these two articles below. They will open your eyes to alternative screening options for breast cancer and preventative changes you can make in your daily lives with diet and exercise.
How to Starve Cancer Out of Your Body - Avoid These Top 4 Cancer-Feeding Foods
This "Life Saving" Tool May Lead You Straight to Invasive Breast Cancer
Almost 68% of Women over 40 Have Fallen for This Trap
With my personal family history, with my maternal grandmother and mother both being survivors, I have been very vigilant to keep on top of this with my own health. The more I read and learned about natural health options, the more I am disturbed with how society treats this disease and the lack of valid information being shared by many physicians. There is much more information out there than what most doctors will tell you, since they typically only tell you what the official statements and recommendations are from the American Cancer Society and the American Medical Association. So many doctors are afraid to step outside those recommendations for fear of malpractice or judgement by their peers. Fortunately, today, there are more and more doctors who have begun asking more questions to see what else has been found in various medical studies, in addition to just settling for the typical canned answer they are used to hearing.
Both my mother and grandmother were diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) resulting in mastectomies. This is the most commonly diagnosed type of breast cancer. My grandmother also went through radiation therapy. My mother was first told to also go through radiation therapy with chemotherapy. Thankfully, before doing so, she asked for a second opinion. A very wise doctor told her that based on the type of cancer she had, if it was his wife, he would not recommend either radiation or chemo. He felt that since her cancer had not spread to the lymph nodes and so much tissue had been surgically removed, she should just opt out of both therapies due to the radical negative side-effects on the healthy tissues and the immune system. My mother has now been a survivor for over 20 years with no recurrences. Thank goodness she followed this doctor's advise and did not do any further unnecessary damage to her body with these commonly over prescribed treatments for this type of diagnosis.
After what I have learned through person experience, research, and speaking with my OB/GYN, I truly believe that my family's risk for breast cancer has been elevated for generations simply due to hereditary hormone imbalances causing estrogen dominance. Hormone imbalance and estrogen dominance is much more common than most women realize. Low testosterone and/or progesterone symptoms parade around in a majority of women's lives every day, but are simply excused as a symptom of stress, lack of sleep, lack of motivation, depression, etc. Most women are misdiagnosed, told it is all in their head, or prescribed medications that don't work and cause other side effects. I plan to do another blog post about my story. You will likely be surprised at how many symptoms I had, that you also share.
Please read these two articles below. They will open your eyes to alternative screening options for breast cancer and preventative changes you can make in your daily lives with diet and exercise.
How to Starve Cancer Out of Your Body - Avoid These Top 4 Cancer-Feeding Foods
This "Life Saving" Tool May Lead You Straight to Invasive Breast Cancer
Almost 68% of Women over 40 Have Fallen for This Trap
Friday, January 13, 2012
Restless Legs driving you buggy?
I used to have restless legs. (Notice the past tense?) I found an easy, fast, and cheap way to say "Good-bye" to restless legs. I don't know how many nights I would be sitting on the couch at night watching TV, trying to relax, and I felt like I just couldn't keep my legs in one spot for too long without moving them. It's hard to describe. Just a nagging need to move them every few minutes. Are you a restless sleeper? Could be the same thing making you stir all night long and keeping you from a good night's sleep.
While researching info for my Dad's osteoporosis, after he broke is hip this summer, I stumbled upon this. I found that restless legs are likely a symptom of magnesium deficiency. Some of you may already know that magnesium is a key element in calcium absorption, very important for building strong bones. Through my research I found references to studies on people living in parts of the world where osteoporosis is almost non-existent in the population. Really?! The factor that appears to be the key is the ratio of magnesium to calcium in their diets. In those populations, the diets consisted of a large percentage of fresh veggies, especially green leafy veggies, and essentially no processed foods in their diets at all. They live off the land. The ratio in their diets of magnesium to calcium was typically 2:1 or even 3:1, 2 to 3 times as much magnesium as calcium.
In the typical American diet, so many foods, especially veggies, are over processed, grown in soil that has been leached of many important vitamins and minerals, or we just don't eat enough veggies. Organic veggies have far more nutrients than conventionally grown, primarily due to the soil they are grown in. The typical ratio of magnesium to calcium in the American diet is 1:2, twice as much calcium as magnesium. The focus with many food manufacturers is supplementing things such as milk, cereals, etc. with calcium, but no mention of magnesium. If our food wasn't so overly processed, the good stuff would still be in there and wouldn't need supplementing. Without enough magnesium, the calcium cannot absorb into the bones properly, resulting in brittle bones. Too much calcium, with no way to absorb it all, and your body starts depositing it in parts of the body where it shouldn't be, such as in breast tissue, muscles, and blood vessels. Ever heard of calcification in the breast tissue when you have gotten your mammograms done? The doctors and radiologists watch these calcifications very closely, since many times they are a precursor to abnormal breast cell growth or even breast cancer.
Researchers estimate that about 1 out of 5 American women over the age of 50 have osteoporosis. About half of all women over the age of 50 will have a fracture of the hip, wrist, or vertebra (bones of the spine). Obviously, whatever most of us are doing in America is not working very well. Those heavily advertised, expensive, pharmaceutical solutions are not the solution, either. They come with a whole new set of issues.
Enough of the background of why and how. Here is the solution I found that worked for my restless legs: Supplement your diet with Magnesium, if you are not getting enough. Not all forms of magnesium supplements are equal, though. Many of the cheaper forms of magnesium that many vitamin manufacturers include in multivitamins, surprisingly, either don't include enough magnesium or use a form that is not easily absorbed. Look for 100% Chelated Magnesium. Also, when considering and comparing the strength of the supplement, the important numbers to look for is the "Elemental" Magnesium. Any other numbers are really not important. I found a supplement by Doctor's Best brand that contains 200 mg Elemental Chelated Magnesium in 2 tablets. Depending on your deficiency, you will likely feel improvement in your restless legs, as well as your sleeping habits, after only 2 to 3 days. I started with 2 pills twice a day. Once in the morning, and once before bed. After you improve your deficiency, you will likely need to cut back on your dosage to maybe only one pill, once a day, maybe less if you are getting more by adding more green leafy veggies to your diet. You will know if you are getting more than your body needs if you start having soft bowel movements. Remember the old ads for Milk of Magnesia? Yes, magnesium is the active ingredient. So, it will help you go if you are feeling a little stopped up, too. Everyone is different and everyone's diet will vary, too, so your adjust your dosage accordingly.
You may even want to stop supplementing your calcium for a period of time, to be able to get your ratios in check. Some doctors have suggested that their research has shown by stopping calcium supplementation (relying on calcium from only dietary sources) and focusing on magnesium supplementation, osteoperosis can be slowed, stopped or even reversed. Some doctors also have suggested that this will cause your body to pull calcium from parts of your body where it has built up, but shouldn't have, and draw it into your bones where it needs to be. Some other vitamins that are also key in this process are vitamins K2, and D3. Important vitamins that many Americans are also typically deficient in. Direct sun exposure for 15-20 minutes a day without sunscreen is a very good source of vitamin D. Vitamin K is also found in high percentages in leafy greens. Dad will be going back for another bone scan in a few months. It will be interesting to see how his diet changes and supplements have changed his bone density over the year's time.
In the typical American diet, so many foods, especially veggies, are over processed, grown in soil that has been leached of many important vitamins and minerals, or we just don't eat enough veggies. Organic veggies have far more nutrients than conventionally grown, primarily due to the soil they are grown in. The typical ratio of magnesium to calcium in the American diet is 1:2, twice as much calcium as magnesium. The focus with many food manufacturers is supplementing things such as milk, cereals, etc. with calcium, but no mention of magnesium. If our food wasn't so overly processed, the good stuff would still be in there and wouldn't need supplementing. Without enough magnesium, the calcium cannot absorb into the bones properly, resulting in brittle bones. Too much calcium, with no way to absorb it all, and your body starts depositing it in parts of the body where it shouldn't be, such as in breast tissue, muscles, and blood vessels. Ever heard of calcification in the breast tissue when you have gotten your mammograms done? The doctors and radiologists watch these calcifications very closely, since many times they are a precursor to abnormal breast cell growth or even breast cancer.
Researchers estimate that about 1 out of 5 American women over the age of 50 have osteoporosis. About half of all women over the age of 50 will have a fracture of the hip, wrist, or vertebra (bones of the spine). Obviously, whatever most of us are doing in America is not working very well. Those heavily advertised, expensive, pharmaceutical solutions are not the solution, either. They come with a whole new set of issues.
Enough of the background of why and how. Here is the solution I found that worked for my restless legs: Supplement your diet with Magnesium, if you are not getting enough. Not all forms of magnesium supplements are equal, though. Many of the cheaper forms of magnesium that many vitamin manufacturers include in multivitamins, surprisingly, either don't include enough magnesium or use a form that is not easily absorbed. Look for 100% Chelated Magnesium. Also, when considering and comparing the strength of the supplement, the important numbers to look for is the "Elemental" Magnesium. Any other numbers are really not important. I found a supplement by Doctor's Best brand that contains 200 mg Elemental Chelated Magnesium in 2 tablets. Depending on your deficiency, you will likely feel improvement in your restless legs, as well as your sleeping habits, after only 2 to 3 days. I started with 2 pills twice a day. Once in the morning, and once before bed. After you improve your deficiency, you will likely need to cut back on your dosage to maybe only one pill, once a day, maybe less if you are getting more by adding more green leafy veggies to your diet. You will know if you are getting more than your body needs if you start having soft bowel movements. Remember the old ads for Milk of Magnesia? Yes, magnesium is the active ingredient. So, it will help you go if you are feeling a little stopped up, too. Everyone is different and everyone's diet will vary, too, so your adjust your dosage accordingly.
You may even want to stop supplementing your calcium for a period of time, to be able to get your ratios in check. Some doctors have suggested that their research has shown by stopping calcium supplementation (relying on calcium from only dietary sources) and focusing on magnesium supplementation, osteoperosis can be slowed, stopped or even reversed. Some doctors also have suggested that this will cause your body to pull calcium from parts of your body where it has built up, but shouldn't have, and draw it into your bones where it needs to be. Some other vitamins that are also key in this process are vitamins K2, and D3. Important vitamins that many Americans are also typically deficient in. Direct sun exposure for 15-20 minutes a day without sunscreen is a very good source of vitamin D. Vitamin K is also found in high percentages in leafy greens. Dad will be going back for another bone scan in a few months. It will be interesting to see how his diet changes and supplements have changed his bone density over the year's time.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Must Have for your Medicine Cabinet
100% Cold Pressed Organic Tamanu oil is truly amazing. I first heard about it from an expert in lesser known natural medical alternatives from around the world who appeared on the Dr. Oz Show. I don't even remember his name, but I would sure like to thank him. He said that it was good for everything about the skin. Being a soap maker, I was intrigued. I searched for it on the Internet to find out more about it, then ended up ordering some online. That was the best money I have spent in a long time.
Tamanu oil has an amazing variety of properties that you don't find in too many products all at the same time. It works as an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antibiotic, and anti-microbial topical treatment. It will even help lighten age spots and reduce the appearance of scars, and it smells good too. I thought it sounded too good to be true, but I wanted to try it anyway. I use it for minor cuts, scrapes, rashes, burns, minor abrasions of the skin, etc. It really seems to speed healing by a few days in many cases, takes the sting out of the "ouchies" almost immediately, reduces the typical itching sensation you typically get with healing or scabbing because the oil keeps it moist and prevents cracking and drying of the area, and the little scars you sometimes get with nastier boo-boos are non-existent. It will clear up minor blemishes and even acne in just a few days! If you can get it up and under and around the nail, it will even help eliminate toe nail fungus, the culprit in common toe nail discoloration. (Must be applied 2-3 times a day till the nail grows out.) Just imagine how many creams, ointments, lotions, prescriptions, and co-pays you could eliminate with just one product! I'm hearing some major jingle in those pockets, not to mention eliminate some clutter in the bathroom! Those benefits were already impressive, but let me tell you about two other applications that totally blew my mind and saved who knows how much money in medical expenses.
When my daughter was 4, she went through a phase, like most kids, where she had a bad habit of picking her nose. Despite the seemingly continual attempts to stop this habit, it continued for quite a while. At one point I noticed she had gotten a little red, raw looking area just below her nose. By the next day, the area below her nose had doubled in size and small areas on her arms and even her legs and torso were starting to appear the same way. She complained of severe itching and couldn't keep her hands off. My husband recognized this as something he had seen growing up called impetigo, also commonly called infantigo. My mom, who had worked for a Dermatologist, also agreed. This is a VERY aggressive bacterial infection that spreads like wildfire.
Now it was Saturday, and the doctor's office is closed. What to do? I looked up this infection online to see what to expect, how it is typically treated, and how I could ease my daughter's symptoms until the doctor's office opened on Monday. Online I found that no home remedies were suggested except washing hands very well and all the time to help reduce spreading, and the typical treatment was high does of systemic antibiotics over a week or two, maybe longer, and the resulting scars typically take months to disappear, and may be permanent. I freaked! With the size of the one area alone, right below her nose, I could only imagine the torment she would face if that scar was there for an extended period of time. I remembered that I had the Tamanu oil, and all of its claims to be antibacterial, antibiotic, and helps improve the appearance of scars. I applied it with a cotton ball immediately to all the areas I could find in a head to toe search, including using a cotton swab to get the area up her nostril to make sure it didn't spread up that way, as well. I applied it 3 times a day. The itching eased, which stopped the scratching and resulting spreading. By the next morning, Sunday, the redness had totally gone out of all the areas and I didn't find any new areas. This was a major improvement considering how rapidly the areas spread over 24 hours the day before. I was feeling relieved and amazed that I had seemed to get it under control, but my husband was still freaking out and encouraging me to get her in to the doctor Monday morning. He had seen such bad cases on his brothers as a child, that he didn't want to take any chances. By Sunday evening, many of the areas had started to scab, and some of the minor areas had even started to shrink or disappear! I couldn't believe my eyes. The improvement was so dramatic, that by Monday, I didn't even call the doctor. Even my husband had agreed that it looked like it was well on its way to recovery, so much so that we probably wouldn't need the doctor after all. By the end of the week, even the initial spot under her nose and a large area behind her knee had healed up so well you couldn't even tell it was ever there! The only clue was that her legs had been pretty tan and some of the skin around the spot on her leg was not as tan. Truly AMAZING!
Without getting this post too long, I also would like to tell you about my dad, a diabetic since age 24, now in his 70s. He used Tamanu oil for a nasty injury on his big toe that seemed like it was not healing at all. He has neuropathy in his feet, nerve damage common in diabetics, so he didn't feel it when something heavy dropped on his big toe. It got all swelled up, black and blue and red, and appeared to be infected. After a few days of showing little to no improvement, they were considering having a doctor check it out. Diabetics have a difficult time healing in their extremities typically anyway, but this really didn't look good at all. I was worried that if it didn't get better, it could turn into gang green and may ultimately end up getting amputated. Unfortunately, this is not that uncommon for diabetics. I carefully applied the tamanu oil to every area I could get to, and applied it generously around the nail area so I would seep under the nail. Told my parents to apply it 2-3 times a day and keep it elevated. By the next day a majority of the redness and swelling was showing significant improvement. Finally! Long story short, in a matter of a couple of weeks, it had healed up beautifully. Lost the nail, but that was expected. That was quicker than most scratches heal up on his legs. We couldn't believe it.
A little goes a long way with this stuff, and it has a shelf life of 12-18 months, so don't buy too much. I have had mine a little longer, and it still seems to be working fine, but I don't know how much longer it will hold up. When I bought mine, the best price I could find, figuring in shipping, was at http://mountainroseherbs.com/. There are other places that sell it also, so check around for the best price. Hope you give it a try and experience the amazing healing powers of this natural oil personally. By the way, I was not paid for this endorsement. I am simply speaking from experience and hope my experience can help you out as well.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Encouragement of Friends to Get Started
For years numerous friends, family members, co-workers, and acquaintances have urged me to write a book, start a web page, or somehow find a way to share all my little tips and tricks that have been gathering in my brain for many years now. I have to laugh when my friends introduce me to others as, "This is Lisa, the one I was telling you about that knows everything." I don't claim to know everything, by any means. Not even close. But, I do seem to have a knack for remembering various helpful bits of information on a wide variety of subjects and find innovative ways to incorporate them into everyday life to save money, work smarter rather than harder, finding healthier options, and figuring out easy practical solutions to many of life's annoying problems. I am quite the DIYer (Do It Yourselfer) on many levels. If I find something interesting, I want to find out about it or how to do it myself. If I find something annoying, I try to find a solution. Many times it turns out to be a money saver and quite a simple fix. I believe knowledge is power. Especially now with the availability of so many free resources on the internet and many other places, there is no excuse not to enlighten yourself.
I also have some strong opinions on healthy living, the many wrongs in the healthcare system, and sometimes what many may consider alternative solutions to health problems. I am not a doctor, nurse, or anything like that. Just a regular mom who has found many solutions to her own health problems and those of friends and family. I will share many of my findings as part of this blog, but for legal reasons, I can't make any official medical claims. These are just some things I have found worked for me or people I know. If you choose to try them yourself, I claim no liability for your individual results. Many of these things I will share I have learned from a variety of sources you may also be familiar with such as Dr. Memet Oz, Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Joseph Mercola, and many other experts I have seen on well know shows such as Oprah. Some are things I have stumbled upon in my research of various subjects of alternative health from all over the world. As you can see, most of these things didn't just come to me in a dream or something, many are based on time tested practices, but may not be common knowledge. Especially here in the U.S., where it seems many people believe if it doesn't come in pill form or has been advertised extensively on television, how can it really work? I have also found that many doctors are not very familiar with some of these solutions, either. Either that, or they will not make claims on them one way or another since they live constantly with the fear of a malpractice suit, since it may not be officially endorsed by the American Medical Association or the FDA. It seems many alternative health practices and nutritional facts are not taught extensively or not at all in medical school here in the U.S., so many doctors may be unfamiliar with them. Again, it doesn't mean that it doesn't work. Many of these practices have been in existences in other countries for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years in other countries. Why would people still be using them if they didn't work? Many times getting back to the basics is far better than running a battery of expensive tests and ultimately taking a handful of expensive pharmaceutical drugs with a list of ugly side-effects that one may wonder if they are truly worth taking in the first place.
I hope you find my random ramblings interesting, informative, and maybe even find a suggestion or two you plan to incorporate into your everyday life. Thanks for reading and I hope you share what you have learned with someone else to help improve their life, too. I am always open to learning more. If you get inspired by my posts or have some additional ideas you would like to share, please post your comments for others to see. I'd love to hear from you!
Lisa
I also have some strong opinions on healthy living, the many wrongs in the healthcare system, and sometimes what many may consider alternative solutions to health problems. I am not a doctor, nurse, or anything like that. Just a regular mom who has found many solutions to her own health problems and those of friends and family. I will share many of my findings as part of this blog, but for legal reasons, I can't make any official medical claims. These are just some things I have found worked for me or people I know. If you choose to try them yourself, I claim no liability for your individual results. Many of these things I will share I have learned from a variety of sources you may also be familiar with such as Dr. Memet Oz, Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Joseph Mercola, and many other experts I have seen on well know shows such as Oprah. Some are things I have stumbled upon in my research of various subjects of alternative health from all over the world. As you can see, most of these things didn't just come to me in a dream or something, many are based on time tested practices, but may not be common knowledge. Especially here in the U.S., where it seems many people believe if it doesn't come in pill form or has been advertised extensively on television, how can it really work? I have also found that many doctors are not very familiar with some of these solutions, either. Either that, or they will not make claims on them one way or another since they live constantly with the fear of a malpractice suit, since it may not be officially endorsed by the American Medical Association or the FDA. It seems many alternative health practices and nutritional facts are not taught extensively or not at all in medical school here in the U.S., so many doctors may be unfamiliar with them. Again, it doesn't mean that it doesn't work. Many of these practices have been in existences in other countries for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years in other countries. Why would people still be using them if they didn't work? Many times getting back to the basics is far better than running a battery of expensive tests and ultimately taking a handful of expensive pharmaceutical drugs with a list of ugly side-effects that one may wonder if they are truly worth taking in the first place.
I hope you find my random ramblings interesting, informative, and maybe even find a suggestion or two you plan to incorporate into your everyday life. Thanks for reading and I hope you share what you have learned with someone else to help improve their life, too. I am always open to learning more. If you get inspired by my posts or have some additional ideas you would like to share, please post your comments for others to see. I'd love to hear from you!
Lisa
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