Tag Archives: holistic health

Autoimmunity

Newly Diagnosed – Now What?

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So you’ve just been diagnosed with an auto-immune disease…or maybe you’ve been diagnosed for a while and are wondering what exactly this means for your life. You’ve been counseled to take prescription medications. You’ve been told it’s “incurable”. You may be grieving. You may be afraid.

However you may be feeling, please know that fear, anger, and grief are valid. The physical pain and uncertainty that often come with autoimmunity can be overwhelming. The process of getting a correct diagnosis may even last years.

I’ve been down this road before and have three things that I’d like to encourage you with.

#1: You are NOT a diagnosis. A diagnosis can help shine light on which area, of your health, needs attention. BUT it is not telling you who you are. It doesn’t have to become your identity. It may be something that you’re struggling with, but it isn’t who you are. It is not condemning you to a future of limitations.

Medical professionals, although well-meaning, do not know exactly what your future holds. Now is a good time to tell you the prefix “di” is related to the word “duo”, which simply means “two”. The word “agnosis” means not knowing or “defective knowledge”. So, remember that even a diagnosis can be incorrect and is literally saying that two of us don’t really know.

Take that for what it’s worth. For me, this is encouraging. Receiving a correct diagnosis can be a point, in your healing journey, but it is not the final destination. GOD has the final say. Not a label that the medical industry slaps on you.

#2: You ARE powerful. As one of my favorite mentors used to always say: “If you weren’t born with it, then you don’t have to live with it.” (Roby Mitchell)

When it comes to addressing autoimmunity, there are options out there that go beyond allopathic medicine’s “answers”. By getting to the root cause of autoimmunity via nutrition, detox, lifestyle supplementation, and emotional wellness, there is a very good possibility that your symptoms may lessen, and the disease process may even be halted.

Check out this post for more on root causes of autoimmunity: https://shalomtotalwellness.com/2020/08/10/autoimmunity-decoded/

#3: You are NOT alone. It may feel a bit lonely, right now, but you are never alone. Many people have traversed this path. Find the support you need. I am cheering you on! And remember that GOD is not surprised by your present health struggle. He has solutions for your health and wellness. You are always on His heart and He is always there for you.

Auto-immunity is a serious situation. Your body is sending you a message that things must change. But it doesn’t have to be a life sentence. You can switch the disease/diagnosis narrative by putting your energy into making the necessary changes that will place your body in healing mode. You got this!

Shalom to you,

Detox, General Health

Spring Detox for Life

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One of my favorite things, about spring, is watching the wildflowers bloom! The chill of winter evaporates as warmer days set in. Things are changing. Can you feel it?

Of course, Texans take it to another level, as we not only enjoy our wildflowers – but we hunt for them. As Robin Williams said, “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!'”

New growth causes an explosion of beauty. But first, the old must be sloughed away. Perhaps we should take a hint from Creation. As the dandelions start to poke through the soil and share their beauty and healing properties, we too, should begin to think about what we need to do before summer arrives.

When many are thinking about slimming down for summer, I would encourage you to consider doing a whole life detox this spring. While detoxing should be a purposeful part of our everyday lives, spring is the best time to do a seasonal detox.

The warmth, of spring, is in our favor for expelling toxins. The reset that comes from the biblical new year, that occurs each spring, also propels us to make overall life changes. Detoxing isn’t just about dropping weight – it’s about dropping anything AND everything in your life that may be weighing you down!

Listed below are 4 areas to consider when doing a spring detox. Don’t feel overwhelmed by all the options but, rather, lean into those things that truly resonate with you.

Mentally:

-Take off work for a mental health day, if possible, and get outside to enjoy the weather!

-If you are currently stuck in any negative thought patterns, then choose one negative repeating thought and replace it with a positive one.

-Get thankful!

Spiritually:

-Choose one positive spiritual attribute (joy, peace, love, strength, etc) and go deep with it. Find a Bible verse, each day, that focuses on your attribute of choice to meditate on.

-Be intentional about leaving behind the things of your past. Pray over anyone who is not part of your present and leave them in the Father’s arms. This will make room for new things, and new people, for your future!

Emotionally:

-Don’t stress! Choose rest, instead.

-Do everything you can for today and then leave today behind – start fresh tomorrow!

-Check out Bach Flower Remedies for a helping hand from nature to get your emotions moving in the right direction.

Physically:

Grounding aka “Earthing”

-Daily life in modernity means toxins – from food, the environment, tech, stress, etc. Consider grounding, aka “earthing” now that the weather is more cooperative. As we go about our lives, toxic ions fill our bodies.

According to homeionizer.com, the following are some of the sources of toxic “positive” ions:

  1. Common household and workplace objects like cell phones, television, and computers.
  2. Air pollution.
  3. Toxic carpeting, upholstery, paints.

Walking barefoot, on the grass, helps release toxins and infuses our bodies with healthy “negative” ions.

Increased healthy, negative ions within the body, decrease inflammation, increase cellular healing, reduce chronic pain levels, and act as a natural antidepressant.

-Turn off your phone and minimize the amount of wifi/radiation producing things in your house.

-Consider a Mild Dandelion Cleanse for Optimal Liver Function. Everything we eat, drink, or medicate with is passed through the liver for filtering and detoxification.

When the liver is overtaxed, you may feel sluggish, less able to bounce back from stressful situations, and be more prone to become sick (among other things). According to motherhealth.com, here is a list of common symptoms related to poor liver health:

  • Weight gain/difficulty losing weight
  • Fluid buildup in the belly or abdomen
  • You bruise easily
  • Painful gallstones
  • Chronic itching
  • Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
  • Kidney failure
  • Muscle loss
  • Loss of appetite
  • Unsightly skin conditions and liver spots
  • Spider-like veins in the skin
  • Low energy and frequent weakness (fatigue)
  • Mental confusion as toxins build up in the blood
  • A weakened immune system, leaving you unguarded against sickness, disease, and infection
  • Fatty liver disease
  • Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
  • Poorly functioning immune system

Ignoring liver health simply isn’t an option, as it affects so much. Drinking an organic dandelion tea or making your own dandelion based concoctions will provide your liver with the support it needs.

Doing a bit of self-inspection – in regard to what you may need to detox from – goes a long way. Following through on simple changes will help you embrace life feeling lighter and more prepared for the heat of summer.

Welcome Spring!

Shalom to you,

Resources:

http://www.motherofhealth.com/benefits-liver-cleanse

http://www.healthline.com/health/grounding

http://www.homeionizer.com/what-are-positive-and-negative-ions/

biblical wellness, Healing Approaches

Health care vs. sick care: get well. stay well. live well.

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The innate healing capabilities, built into our bodies, goes far beyond what we have been led to believe. GOD, Himself, placed within us the ability to ward off sickness and disease. But it is up to each one of us to keep our bodies’ functioning at an optimal level. It is not up to anyone but YOU to keep you (and your family) healthy.

Henry David Thoreau, American writer, poet, and philosopher, once said, “The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.”

According to CNBC, American households spend almost $5000 per person, in health care, annually. $5000 per person! (reference: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/09/americans-spend-twice-as-much-on-health-care-today-as-in-the-1980s.html).

How much money do you put towards health care? Even more than that, how much faith and trust have you put in the allopathic health care community? Has all that money and trust been worth it?

Please understand that I do not mean any disrespect for those who work in the allopathic health field. There are many well meaning, hard working people within it. There are also times when there may be a need for a surgeon to intervene in an emergency situation. There are people who have benefited from allopathic medical treatments.

However, the answer for many health problems requires a more holistic approach – seeing the person as a whole: mind, body, and spirit. Many people are waking up to the fact they need out of the box ideas, and solutions, for their health.

There are times when a person may benefit more from natural redirection, and balancing their body systems, than from harsh pharmaceuticals that carry, with them, potentially dangerous side effects.

Our bodies were made from the dust of the earth and it is things, from the earth, that our bodies recognize as being agents of healing. Sadly, chemicals, radiation and toxins are used to pummel our bodies into a state of submission. This may seem to help to an extent by reducing some of the side effects that come with dis-”ease”, however, pharmaceuticals seldom address the root cause of the problem.

In addition, pharmaceuticals often have a more dangerous effect than a healing one – if not seen short term than definitely in the long term. The root causes of dis-”ease” must be properly addressed in order for true, lasting healing to occur. We must dig up those unhealthy roots rather than skirt around them – which only allows more disease to take root and grow.

This habit that the Church has of taking the toxins, drinking the poison, radiation, taking the drugs, receiving injections, etc and then praying that GOD will override the deadly effects and heal us is insanity! We must stop living like hell and then asking GOD to “bless” it.

Listen, I’ve been there and am not coming from a place of condemnation. The only reason that I even considered natural healing, in the first place, was because the allopathic health community had damaged my own health since childhood and I had run out of pharmaceutical “solutions” to even try. I had to find out if there was a better way. I had to find out if GOD had answers beyond what doctors were telling me. We are all doing our best with what we know. But what if there was more?

I implore you, friend – at the very least, let’s make Creator GOD our Ultimate Consultant…before the doctors, before pharma, before fear or worry, before anyone or anything else. Let’s seek His Word (did you know the Bible is FULL of amazing instructions for mental, physical, AND spiritual health?) and find out what His heart is …on ALL MATTERS!

There are times when the particular mindset of a person, and/or what they may be facing spiritually, is actually playing a role in what they are experiencing physically. These things are very rarely, if ever, taken into consideration by allopathic medicine.

Modern living requires more from us – physically, mentally, spiritually – and creative solutions are being sought after!

In the end, it is up to us – with Creator leading the way – to change our lifestyles. We must learn how to make better choices, for our overall health, by living Creator’s Ways. After all, wouldn’t the One who gave us life be the best One to teach us how to live? If HE made us in HIS Image, then wouldn’t He know best when it comes to how to maintain health?

If you find yourself feeling disenchanted with the current state of your health (mental, physical, or spiritual), please know you do have options. If you find yourself feeling helpless with the current state of your health, please know that you CAN make changes that WILL make a difference.

Viruses would not be fear inducing if we knew the truth about THE POWER WE POSSESS TO GET WELL AND STAY WELL!

Disease would be seen as optional, rather than inevitable, if we knew THE POWER WE POSSESS TO GET WELL AND STAY WELL!

Do not despair. Do not lose hope. There IS a better way! You are more powerful than you have been led to believe and your ability to heal is real!

Shalom,

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” — 3 John 1:2