Tag Archives: naturopathy

Newly Diagnosed – Now What?

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,

Spring Detox for Life

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/

Top 5 Natural Antibiotics

Antibiotic use, or perhaps I should say overuse, causes catastrophic damage to the health of an individual. What one may think of as a “quick fix” may cause a short-term remission of infection. However, the eventual long-term damage is far more distressing, often overlooked, and points to the original problem – compromised gut health.

 Prescription strength antibiotics will indeed wipe out the bad bacteria (infection), that one is facing, but they are nondiscriminatory and wipe out good bacteria as well. This leaves one more open to allergic reactions, auto-immune distress and all sorts of maladies that would have naturally been prevented if the microbiome, of the individual, had not been tampered with.

The bacteria, in our gut, is our first defense against sickness and disease. When we don’t take care of the bacteria, we lose that protective barrier.

One way to protect gut bacteria is to avoid taking prescription strength antibiotics. If you do find yourself with an infection, internal or external, before turning to prescription strength medication, consider trying one of the natural substances that Creator God has blessed us with.

There are many options, readily available to us, found within nature. These God given antibiotics won’t wipe out good bacteria and will give your immune system a boost in the process.

 BLACK SEED OIL

Touted as the “cure for everything except death”, black seed oil (Nigella sativa) is a powerful ally against many physical maladies, including internal and external infections. It also works to speed up healing.

In fact, research shows that black seed oil can even be used against “super bugs” – infections that are antibiotic resistant.

As with any oil, used therapeutically or to cook with, black seed oil must be purchased in an organic, raw and “cold pressed” state. When an oil is created using a pressing method that utilizes heat, it creates free radicals and can cause more harm than good, when consumed.

*Caution: Due to its tendency to burn the throat, you may want to add the black seed oil to some juice, and then swallow. I would recommend against taking on an empty stomach.

COLLOIDAL SILVER

Used as far back as ancient Greco Roman times, solid silver has long been known as a very effective healing substance. In modern times, silver has been used in colloidal form which simply means that it has been broken down into very small particles and is now suspended in a different matter, or liquid.

Once in the presence of colloidal silver, single-cell bacteria (such as fungus, some infections and viruses) are destroyed. The silver literally chokes out the enzymes that feed single-cell bacteria, thus starving out the bacteria and killing them.

Another major benefit of using silver, as a natural antibiotic, is that it leaves good bacteria alone – unlike prescription antibiotic drugs. This is good news for the times we’re living in, where over[1]usage of prescription strength antibiotics has created infections that no longer respond to modern drugs.

Colloidal silver is a secret weapon that more people are waking up to. It can be used to help benefit many illnesses and is seen as being safe enough for internal, as well as external use. Some people use it for its immune system boosting effects during what is known as cold and flu season.

Colloidal silver gets a bad rap among some health professionals. As always, research the benefits, as well as risks, in order to make your own informed decision.

 GARLIC

Fresh, raw, garlic in its natural form should be crushed and then left alone to sit for 10 minutes in order to allow the potency to surface. Just remember that cooking the actual garlic or heating it up to any degree, will destroy the active ingredient in garlic – allicin – which will, in turn, take away the healing properties.

For internal infection, garlic can be chewed and swallowed directly or chopped and then added to liquids, honey, or food, and then consumed. A therapeutic dose should contain at least 4 garlic cloves at a time. For serious infection, consider consuming a therapeutic dose, twice a day.

Garlic can be used for external infections as well. Once again, fresh, raw garlic should be crushed and then set aside for 10 minutes to allow the allicin to come to its maximum potency. Then the garlic can be directly added to honey, or coconut oil, and then applied to the affected area of skin. This would also work with combating fungal infections. Use this method of application twice a day until the skin clears up.

As a side note, garlic also helps stimulate cancer fighting cells. It’s truly a powerhouse of health benefits!

*Caution: To avoid an upset stomach, do not take garlic on an empty stomach. Since garlic is so strong, it’s possible that it may kill some of the healthy bacteria in the gut. Supplementing with probiotics will help insure this will not be a problem.

OREGANO OIL

This well-known remedy has been around for centuries and is just as effective, against coughs, colds, and infections as it is old. Its active ingredient, carvacrol, is what causes oregano oil to be so powerful against harmful bacteria, making it another one of nature’s antibiotics.

For internal use, add oregano oil to a carrier oil such as coconut oil or grape seed oil, before ingestion. This cuts back on potential stomach upset as well as dilutes the strong flavor that is characteristic of this oil.

Oregano oil can also be used externally for psoriasis and fungal infection. In order to stave off burning, or irritation, oregano oil ought to be diluted with a carrier oil before placing on the affected areas. Avoid placing oil on open scrapes and wounds.

Oregano oil can also be deeply inhaled, or used in a steam inhalation, to help break up congestion, mucus, and bring overall relief from sinus infections, colds, and flu.

 *Strong Warning: Pregnant women, and women who are trying to conceive, are advised against using oregano oil due to its emmenagogue properties, meaning that it may induce menstruation which can harm the fetus. The therapeutic use of oregano oil is not recommended for infants, children or nursing women. Those with a heart condition, or high blood pressure, should avoid oregano oil use or, at least, consult their physician or natural healthcare practitioner before use.

RAW HONEY

Perhaps the most delicious antibiotic that nature yields is raw honey. In order to receive its therapeutic properties, honey must be labeled “organic”, “raw” or “unpasteurized”, and preferably, “local”.

The location where the honey has been gathered determines the specific ingredients found within the honey. It can even be said that relief for seasonal allergies can be found when one consumes the raw honey that has been gathered from bees that live, locally, to the allergy sufferer.

Raw honey contains an enzyme called glucose oxidase. This enzyme produces a natural form of hydrogen peroxide – a substance that has antibacterial properties. This makes raw honey an excellent option in terms of cleansing skin wounds and preventing infection.

One of the benefits of using raw honey, on external skin infections and wounds, is that it won’t sting or irritate the skin.

Raw honey can be consumed to help soothe a sore throat, boost energy, aid in digestive issues and improve immune health. Raw honey also has anti-inflammatory properties and, when combined with cinnamon, may provide relief to those who suffer from painful joints.

 *Strong Warning: Raw honey should never be given to infants due to the possibility that it could induce botulism. People who are insulin resistant ought to avoid, or take caution, when consuming honey.

Our bodies respond best to things that they recognize – plants, herbs, minerals. This connects us more deeply to Creator. This type of co-creating brings about the health and healing that we need. Besides that, it is incredibly empowering to walk away from pharmaceuticals and the systems of the world!

Shalom to you,

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

References:

1) Salman, Mohd Tariq & Khan, Rahat & Shukla, Indu. (2008). Antimicrobial activity of Nigella sativa Linn. seed oil against multi-drug resistant bacteria from clinical isolates. Nat. Prod. Radiance. 7.

2) Nicastro, H., Ross, S., and J. Milner. Garlic and onions: Their cancer prevention propertiesCancer Prevention Research. 2015. 8(3):181-189

Excerpts of this blog were taken from the book Shalom Total Wellness: Biblical Principles for Health & Healing by Dr. Sheli Ricci. Available on amazon, scribd, and barnesandnoble.com.