Is your water safe?

Good Morning!  I apologize for being late... yesterday and today were both absolutely crazy days... the soap making stuff has arrived... so we will be playing with that tomorrow.. can't wait!!!
My cousin sent me a link through Facebook about Aspartame (we will talk again about that soon) which lead me to a site called Health Freedom Alliance.  There are some very VERY good articles here one which really made me think about the water we drink.  This, of course, set me on a path of discovery.  We just moved from a rural area to a metropolitan area and I knew that our little Britta filter probably wouldn't handle the work needed in the city. 

Here is the link from the site: http://healthfreedoms.org/2010/10/29/fluoridated-water-the-ultimate-evil/
What is the difference between rural water sources and city water sources?  Too much to go into detail about here.  Basically, take a few people in a rural environment polluting the water source with herbicides, pesticides, and landfills... to a metropolitan environment that now multiplies those AND requires fluoride, chlorine, and other chemicals be added to the drinking water not to mention the run off of pharmaceuticals and big business.  Problem compounded. 

Everyone should have their water tested.  I believe you can get it done through Home Depot in the US.  Some of the Extension offices will also test your water.  You can be guaranteed if you live in a metropolitan city anywhere, there are contaminants you would rather not know about in your water.  The plastic in bottled water also causes problems and is just as dangerous as tap water. 

What to choose?  Do some good research... whole house needed?  over the counter?  under the counter?? Single / dual / triple filter?   this is the site that we got our new system from... they have some good articles.  http://www.filterwater.com/asp/cs/water-purification-technologies.asp

Take a serious look at your water source... along with the toxins that are being included in your water.  You should be very concerned about heavy metals, fluoride, chlorine, pesticides, herbicides, and pharmaceutical products.

Blessings... E

Inflammation... deadly?

I read the following article about inflammation and thought you all might be interested in their findings...

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/pain-management/arthritis/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100268278&gt1=31004

The title of the article is "The Hidden Time Bomb Within You" and it talks about the five life-changing facts to know about inflammation.

1. Inflammation is both your body's best friend -- and its worst enemy.
I don't know that I agree with this statement.  Your body knows best how to deal with problems internally and externally.  We are a society of instant gratification - we want everything NOW.  Take a pill - all better now.  Take a pill - lose all that weight now.  Our bodies need time to heal properly.  Inflammation is part of the natural healing process.  If we have chronic inflammation, there is a deeper problem that needs to be addressed.

2. Chronic inflammation contributes to almost every major disease.
I think it is more along the lines of chronic inflammation is the warning sign of every major disease. 

3. It's not the look of your body fat but what's inside it that really hurts you.
Agreed.  One thing that is not addressed along with this comment (because it doesn't relate back to inflammation) is that fat cells tend to hold on to toxins.  As you begin losing that necessary weight, you may find yourself getting sick more often - this is the result of the toxins being released.  Make sure you are drinking lots of water to flush them out. 

4. You can't control everything that trips inflammation -- but you might want to conquer that fear of public speaking.
So, it isn't public speaking but it is long term stress that can trigger inflammation. 

5. Many of us have infections and allergies we don't know about, which send us into a state of constant high inflammation.
Agreed.  Food allergies, environmental allergies, seasonal allergies - they all affect us differently.  I got the "I don't have allergies" from my daughter the other day - and I reminded her that her body changes every seven years - just because you don't have allergies today ... or yesterday.. doesn't mean that you won't have them tomorrow.  Opening windows in your home every month will help remove toxins and allergens from your home.  Taking honey every day will help you with your seasonal allergies.  And paying attention to what you eat - will help you discover what you are allergic to and make the proper changes. 

Now.. these five are good.. but I think that they really missed the most important one - water.  70 - 80% of all adults are CHRONICALLY dehydrated.  One of the first symptoms of dehydration is inflammation.  Ensure that you are drinking enough water to flush out the toxins in your body.

Blessings..., E

Headaches

The women in my family tend to have migraines... Sinus migraines, Tension migraines, with auras, and without auras... mild, moderate, and the three day in darkness... So I am always interested in ways to manage them without chemicals.  My youngest daughter isn't able to take any chemicals for her migraines and so we are in a testing period for her... I thought I would pass along the results of our testing every now and again.

Lemon Peel.  Take a lemon and peel a one inch wide strip of the peel wide enough to go across the forehead.  Place on forehead for 10-20 minutes.  This was tested for a moderate stress migraine and failed.  She said that it took the bite off the migraine, but did not take it away.

Omegas.  Take 1-2 Omega 3-6-9 capsules daily.  Your brain is made up primarily of water and fat.  The Omegas have been known to help provide the good oils for your brain function.

Water.  Drink plenty of water - the link to the calculator is in "the most important thing" 2.1.11 post.  Your body MUST have adequate amounts of water.  It lubricates bones, muscles and cells; helps create new cells; removes toxins among other things.  If you are dehydrated your body begins to shut down. 

Peppermint Oil.  Use a Q-tip and rub over the base of your neck and on each temple, as needed.  Peppermint oil has a very calming and cooling affect.  She found this to work very well for her.

Green Tea.  Drink 3-4 cups of green tea daily.  Green tea has some caffeine so be careful when you drink it and how much you drink of the stronger versions.  Green tea has a lot of antioxidants that help in balancing your body.

Massage.  For those that do get migraines from stress and tension, a daily massage really helps.  Part of the problem is that your muscles tighten and this tightly wound control affects your nerves and restricts blood flow to the brain.  Massaging out some of the knots and releasing some of that stress helps. 

Sleep.  Everyone (no matter who you are) needs at least 8 hours of sleep each night.  I know you can live on less and sometimes it is hard to get more if your body had adjusted to less... but for a HEALTHY body... you need a full 8 hours.  My daughter was getting a lot of disjointed sleep adding to her migraines.

Exercise.  If you sit inside all day and get no sunshine, fresh air... and no exercise, you are at risk for migraines.  Even to just start walking every day is a must. 

Foods.  There are certain foods you should test for sensitivities - these foods are regular triggers for migraines.  Peanuts, wheat, and aged cheeses are the most common.  Make sure you don't have a sensitivity that is causing your migraines.

Until next time... Blessings... E

Healing Baths

Since we discussed loving ourselves with bath and massage yesterday... I figured bathing was on tap today too! :)  Water is one of the most necessary elements for all humans.  We require it internally to remove toxins, assist in digestion, flush and cleanse our muscles and organs, to aid in the flow of blood through the body, and to create new healthy cells.  Water helps us cleanse our bodies, our food, and helps us calm our mind.  Every aspect of our lives depends on water. When we mix herbs / essential oils with water it takes on a healing aspect as well.

**Healing Colds and Flu Bath
This bath helps with congestion and mucous buildup, improves circulation and relieves pain associated with congestion. 

5 drops of eucalyptus oil (open nasal passages)
5 drops of peppermint oil (invigorates the body)
5 drops of lavender oil (stimulates white blood cells)
2 T vitamin C crystals
8 drops of thyme oil (congestion / aids immune system)

**Joyful Joints Bath
This bath is good for all types of joint pain (arthritis, rheumatism, fibromyalgia, etc). Comfrey is known as a "knit bone" herb due to its ability to help heal bones. 

3 drops of eucalyptus oil (anti-inflammatory)
1 handful of comfrey leaves (joints / rheumatism)
2 handfuls of chaparral herb (joints / rheumatism)

* Anger Release Blend
Anger is one of the most destructive energies and without the ability to release it - that destructive energy turns inward and causes immense damage internally.  Heart Disease, Cancer, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol are some of the possible outcomes - not to say that everyone that has these ailments have them due to anger.  This blend should not be used if you are either asthmatic or pregnant.

2 drops lavender oil
2 drops peppermint oil
2 drops myrrh oil

* Increased Confidence Blend
Lack of confidence is usually a programmed response.  Without proper nurturing as a child - encouragement - and love a person has a low self confidence that is destructive - especially to reproductive organs.  You must reprogram yourself into a more positive outlook.  Have small goals - achieve them - and increase the goals.

3 drops clary sage oil
2 drops ylang ylang oil
3 drops myrrh oil
2 drops marjoram oil

I have included two recipes each from two of my favorite books on healing baths. 

** Water Magic by Mary Muryn
* Healing Aromatherapy Bath by Margo Valentine Lazzara, C.Ht.

Please make sure to get good essential oils when you go to make your purchase and to store them in a dry, cool, dark space.  They can last for a couple years if they are stored properly.  I usually pick up 1/2 oz bottles of new scents that I want to try out, 1 oz bottles of scents I use rarely or sparingly, and 4 oz bottles of the scents I regularly use.  I either pick up my oils at the natural health food store or at http://www.iherb.com/. 

Organic Bathing Salts - http://www.pristineplanet.com/bath-salts-eco-friendly-organic-natural/bath-salts/1216_a_0.html 
Organic Bathing Salts - http://www.justnaturalskincare.com/9/-PRODUCTS.html?gclid=CPb0wKzM7acCFRUq2godWAgbcw

Blessings... E

Healthy Skin

Healthy skin again, like most things, is a combined effort.  It takes more than just washing your skin for it to be healthy.

Let's take your skin as a whole, before we break things down.  Some useful facts to think about.  Your skin is the largest organ your body has.  It protects the rest of your body by releasing toxins, changing sunlight into vitamin D, changes the green leafy vegetables into energy, moderates your internal temperature.. it is a very complex organ that has a lot of very important functions.

What causes damage to my skin?  Believe it or not, one of the worst offenders is suntan lotion - your SPF 50 does not protect your skin it actually is one of the reasons that the US has such a high percentage of skin cancer.  Think about it - do equatorial countries have high percentages of skin cancer?  These countries see more sunshine and more heat than any other countries in the world.  No, they do not.  The chemicals that make up your suntan lotion are not good for your skin when combined with.... the sun!  Be smart about going out into the sun - don't get burned, know your limits, expose your self gradually.  Getting burned is just as dangerous as suntan lotion.

What else damages skin?  Make-up can be dangerous.  When the beauty industry started many years ago - their first guinea pigs were starlets.  There were many of these women that went into seclusion because the make-up used damaged their skin.  Acne can cause permanent damage to your skin.  Stress also can cause damage.  And finally dehydration can cause a lot of problems including cancer and tumors. 

Remember that your skin is an organ, and every ailment you have is a "warning sign" that there is a bigger problem brewing.  If you have rashes, acne, eczema - discover the underlying issue and resolve.  Don't ignore the little things as they grow into much larger issues. 

So, some natural healing methods for skin issues...

Acne.  Acne for most is a teenage ailment, but more and more adults are finding they are having breakouts more often.  This tends to have two reasons, one - stress.  Stress is one of the primary reasons for massive quick outbreaks.... you have a date on Saturday, want to look your best, and voila! a huge pimple pops out Friday.  Deal with your nerves and stress.  Second - WHAT YOU EAT.  Are you eating fast food?  prepackaged food? lots of fried / greasy foods?  All are major contributors.  There can be more severe forms of acne and these tend to be related to mental well being.  You have something in your life that you need to address and resolve.  And it comes out in your skin. 

Eczema.  Eczema can be a debilitating disease.  Anything that is chronic goes hand in hand with immune breakdown.  Your immune system is not functioning properly and needs help.  Eczema also could be some type of an allergic reaction - something that touches the skin (cloth, soap, detergent, softener, metal) or something internal (food allergy, artificial coloring, pesticides, artificial colors, preservatives).  Eczema can also be a hyper-sensitivity - a reaction to normal every day things.  The first recommendation is to strengthen your immune system - that is foods high in vitamins C and B complex. 

What are you feeding your skin?  Are you taking care of it?  Be careful what you use to wash your skin, soften your skin, etc.  Make sure the products you use are hypo-allergic, and don't have preservatives, artificial colors, or chemicals.  Drink enough water - it is surprising how much your body will reward you if you drink enough water daily.  Get sunshine!!!  This is vital to a healthy body.. Enjoy!  Blessings.

Create a More Beautiful You!

What are our three pillars?  Exercise, Diet, Mental Well Being.  Right... so, let's create a plan using these three to make a more beautiful you... it is easier than you may think...

Sleep - your body needs 6 - 8 hours of sleep each night.  This allows your mind to rest, body to heal - when your body is at rest it can focus its attentions to healing the body and creating new cells.  Even if you have trained your body to do with less sleep, it doesn't mean that you need less sleep.  Sleep deprivation causes you to age more quickly, and be more susceptible to illness.

Exercise - in a recent post we discussed your need for exercise.  Exercise is good for both the mind and body.  Without proper exercise you are prone to depression, organ weaknesses, and weakened immune system.  Get up!  Get out!  You are to strive for the exercise high after a 30 - 45 minute sustained cardio workout.

Water - I can't tell you enough how important water is for your body.  Most humans are chronically dehydrated which promotes many health problems - heart disease, Alzheimer's, strokes, arthritis, etc... Water removes the toxins and excessive minerals / vitamins from your body without the proper amount these things must be deposited somewhere.  Toxins get deposited in muscle tissue, minerals between bones, nerves.    Water also helps promote healthy skin tone and texture.

Diet - You are what you eat.  But more importantly, you are only as healthy as what you eat.  You can't eat whatever you want and expect your body to reward you.  Eating the proper foods to feed your body is imperative.  They will also help improve your mood, equalize your weight, and lower your medical bills.  Eat only when you are hungry.  Eat every color of food, but more of the dark green leafy vegetables and dark fruits than the others.  Eat plenty of grains, nuts, legumes, and seeds.  Eat your complex carbohydrates in the morning. 

Friends / Family - Develop a core circle of friends and family that you can depend / rely upon.  You need to have good personal relationships for a good mental well being.  Interacting with those you love - caring for and being cared for is essential to be happy. 

Volunteer - Find a way to give back to your community.  Be a part of something bigger - create a group to help others.  Volunteering gives us a feeling of self worth that is important to be well rounded.

Do what you love - What do you want to be when you grow up?  So many don't have any idea until they are in their mid to late 30s.  Discover your passion and find a way to do it!  Set a goal - move forward - and do it!  Don't let anyone stop you from fulfilling your passion - you may have to take one class a year for 20 years - but eventually you will succeed!

Dance - Dance, sing, smile, hug, laugh... these things are ESSENTIAL.  When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried?  These positive things release chemicals in the brain that fight cancer, and give your immune system a boost.  They fight depression and weight gain.  Put a little joy in your life!

Get sunshine - Spend at least 30 minutes a day in the sunshine.  When the sun hits our skin a chemical reaction takes place and Vitamin D is created.  Sunlight also activates the pineal gland which activates tryptamines (happy chemicals) in the brain.  Sunshine also converts the Chlorophyll from your green leafy vegetables into energy. 

All of these things will help keep your body, your skin, your mind, and YOU young... and hopefully happier!  Like everything else... baby steps!  

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

My family is plagued with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.  My aunt has had the surgery, my mother has had the surgery - both on both wrists, I have it, and now my daughter has it.  I can not have surgery because I scar VERY badly and they are afraid that it will cause more problems. But my daughter has it bad enough right now that she must choose what direction she wants to go. 

What is Carpal Tunnel?  Here is a link with pictures and the FORMAL definition for those that need all that... http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2642.  You have tubes running from your arm through your wrist into your hand that "houses" all your nerves.  If you do repetitive things (type on a keyboard, run food over a scanner, etc) those tubes or "tunnels" swell and put pressure on your nerves - in extreme cases cause nerve damage and claw-like hands.  This pain can be felt running up the underside of your arm to your wrist, or across your shoulders... sometimes it appears to be completely unrelated to your wrists. 

In addition to repetitive motion, sleeping patterns (curling your hands under you while you sleep), and some diseases - hypothyroidism, obesity, diabetes, arthritis, pregnancy, and trauma (damage to the wrist or hand) can also be factors.  Dehydration can be a factor as well as not getting enough of your omegas (3-6-9) or B Complex - especially B6 / B12.  They really don't have any definitive answers as to why some people get it and others do not, but it does seem to run in certain families.

Simple changes for mild Carpal Tunnel, an ergonomic keyboard is probably the most important change you can make.  I was shocked at the difference.  I hated using it for the first week, but after I got used to it, I couldn't go back to the old style - within five minutes of typing on the old style, my wrists would throb.   Also, splints work great to stabilize your wrist to help reduce swelling and to stop you from curling your wrist when you sleep.  I must admit I was a wrist curler... and the splint helped a LOT.   Add more vitamin C and B complex foods to your diet.  These two vitamin combinations both affect your skin as well as your immune system and are very important to your physical well being.  I have said it before - and will say it again, I LOVE Emergen-C - hate that it is fizzy, hate that it gags me, but LOVE the affects and the energy I get back.  Emergen-C gives you both the Vitamin C and the B Complex you need.  You can take up to 3 - 4 a day, but once a day is enough unless you are sick.  I don't recommend them after lunch - B Complex helps you mentally and you may be too wired to sleep if you take later in the day.

Anti-Inflammatory foods will help reduce the swelling - kelp, wild salmon, turmeric, shitake mushrooms, green tea, papaya, blueberries, extra virgin olive oil, broccoli, and sweet potatoes are your best sources.  And several of these cover your higher vitamin C and B complex needs.

If there are anti-inflammatory foods, you can be well assured there are inflammatory foods as well.  These foods you should stay away from - eggs, organ meat, processed foods (fast food / frozen dinners), sweets (excluding dark chocolate), sodas, fried foods, caffeine, alcohol, corn and corn products, nightshade foods, and some dairy products.

You ALWAYS want to keep your diet Alkaline - this allows your body to fight cancer, tumors, and illnesses and win.  An Alkaline diet will also reduce the inflammation.

So... what to do.  As I said - keyboard and splint should be your first two investments.  Diet change would be next.  If you still suffer, there are simple exercises you can do along with yoga, acupuncture, acupressure (for those of us wimps that are afraid of needles), hot/cold compresses. 

A doctor can tell you definitively if you have it or not, they will do some "shocking" tests - which tests the nerve activity to see how severe your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is.  Cortisone shots / Motrin / Splints are their first level for mild to moderate Carpal Tunnel.  Surgery is for severe.  Surgery has come a long way, but still requires 6 week recovery between each wrist.  There are endoscopic and laser options.  Everyone I talk to on the natural medicine side says to do as much as you can before you choose surgery.  Even with the best surgeons, you have no idea how your body will react and what the outcome can be.  But not addressing and solving your issue with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be just as debilitating. 

Good Luck!  E

The Most Important Thing

If you had to choose one thing that is most important to your physical and mental well being, what would you think it is? Sleep? Food? Exercise? Those are all good, but this is even more basic. It is around us every day, and we don't think twice about it. Water.

Yes, water. Let's start with the dry facts and then build from there.

1. There are ongoing tests but it is believed that a good percentage of what we call "aging" is actually the result of dehydration.

2. More than 60% of deaths over the age of 60 are directly related to dehydration.
3. ~75% of all people in developed countries are chronically dehydrated.
4. Proper hydration reduces your chances of getting arthritis, certain cancers (colon, bladder, & breast), joint related ailments, and heart attacks.
5. Just a 2% drop in hydration causes fuzzy memory, problems doing basic math calculations, and trouble focusing on the task at hand.
6. MILD dehydration can slow your metabolism by 3% or more.

Now that you are taking this a bit more seriously, what are the signs of dehydration? We all seem to think that "thirst" is the first sign of dehydration, it is NOT. By the time you are feeling "parched" you are more than mildly dehydrated. Your first symptoms are swelling of extremities and change in urine color. Here is a full listing for 2% water loss:

1. Thirst

2. Loss of appetite
3. Swelling of extremities
4. Dry skin
5. Skin flushing
6. Yellow urine (the darker the color the more severely dehydrated)
7. Dry mouth
8. Fatigue
9. Chills
10. Head rush
11. Migraine

How much water should we drink daily? There are a number of factors that have to be considered when calculating water intake. You should drink enough water that your urine is clear (unless you are taking something that would color your urine,like Iodine). Factors are environment (hot / cold, dry / humid), how much exercise you partake daily, how much you naturally sweat, and obviously how much you weigh. Here is the standard formula: 1/2 your body weight in ounces. About.com has a good calculator. http://nutrition.about.com/library/blwatercalculator.htm

"I don't like water. What can I take instead?" There is nothing that replaces water. I suggest you get a water filter for your tap and see if that helps. Some people are hypersensitive to tastes - my eldest daughter can tell you what brand of water you give her without seeing the brand. So, you may need to try several different types of filters before you find one that works. You can drink green tea too to help offset, but stay away from sodas, coffee, caffeinated drinks, or any of the "power" drinks. They are filled with either sugars or caffeine which are harmful and cause dehydration to occur faster.

A word of caution when choosing types of water. Plastic is bad for the body - stay away from bottled water unless it is in a glass container. Water in certain areas is heavy in metals and both chlorine and fluorine, I recommend everyone have their water tested, and make sure you get the filtration type needed for your water. Some metals and other particulates found in water are actually beneficial.

On the flip side... bathing tends to reduce stress and helps our bodies go back to a neutral state. Add a couple drops of your favorite scent, grab a book or turn on some soothing music, light those candles, and take 20 minutes for you today!