Before we move on to foot clues you feel internally, I wanted to touch briefly on the toenails. If you’ve been hanging with me this long, you may remember we spent quite some time on fingernail clues. Fingernails and toenails share many traits, and you may want to go back and revisit those posts for expanded details on your distal digits. Very briefly, these are some of the “biggies” for the toes:
*Clubbed toenails – often a sign of lung, heart, liver, or digestive disorders. Poorly oxygenated blood is usually the causative agent for curved nails.
*Yellowed toenails – usually related to a fungal infection, but if most or all toenails are involved, look for other clues including swollen feet or ankles. Paired with lower extremity swelling, more toenails become involved and the nails appear to get thicker or seem to detach. These telltale tips may also involve clues related to lymphedema, lung disease, or autoimmune disorders such as psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis.
*Spoon shaped toenails – frequently a sign of iron deficiency or frequent exposure to petroleum based solvents. Know that there are “clean” nail polish and nail polish removers available, and using them instead of toxin laden products is one more way to support healthy liver function!
Chronically cold feet is a clue indicating impaired circulation. Decreased blood flow is commonly linked to smoking, heart disease, diabetes, anemia, digestive disorders, or hypothyroidism. Exercise and deep breathing techniques are two ways to improve circulation. Our bodies are designed to move, not to be still.😉
*Heel pain or pain that radiates from the heel to the arch of the foot (plantar fasciitis) is often a result of inflammation of the ligament attached to the heel bone which runs along the arch of the foot. Plantar fasciitis is often said to be most painful in the mornings. Heel pain alone may suggest arthritis, excessive exercise, or a possible bone spur.
*Have you been told that you have (or had) stress fractures in your feet?. This is one of the most common injuries seen by our active duty military men and women in training, and is also fairly common in civilian life. Though contributing factors include improperly fitted boots, carrying heavy loads regularly, and intense exercise, the biggest factor is improper nutrition leading to weaker bones. Very often, stress fractures in the feet can be a clue for osteopenia / osteoporosis if bones are not given the proper nutrients to thrive.
Young Living’s Super Cal Plus is a wonderful supportive tool for bones that need a little extra TLC! It contains Magnesium, calcium, Vit D3 and a thoroughly helpful blend of micronutrients, herbs, and essential oils. You’ll want to remember this supplement when we chat about foot and leg spasms here in just a little bit too!
*Perhaps you’ve had a random but sudden and severe pain in your big toe? This is a pain that appears “ “magically” (if you’ve experienced it, you know what I’m talking about!), and may leave you wondering how you broke your toe but didn’t know it….. It’s THAT painful! 😳Years ago, gout was considered a rich man’s disease because of the rich diet that often precipitates a flare. Foods and beverages that may aggravate gout include alcoholic beverages, shellfish, bacon, beef, and broccoli, but the worst culprit of all is sugar in all forms, but especially high fructose corn syrup. Gout flares may also be linked to certain medications. Diuretics and certain blood pressure medications in the ACE inhibitor family, are two of the more common ones.
*Regular foot spasms are another wonder filled clue with several possibilities. Poor circulation, dehydration, an imbalance in potassium, magnesium, calcium, or vitamin D are all potential thieves of ease. Thyroid disorders and a sharp change in hormone levels (as is seen in pregnancy) are other potential causes. There are soooooo many medications that can cause a metabolic imbalance resulting in regular foot and leg spasms. Any medication that depletes any or all of these nutrients often leads to foot and leg spasms unless the deficiency is remediated.
Medications known to do this include:
💊Acid blockers/reducers (for the stomach)
💊Many common antibiotics ( the quinolone class especially)
💊Many blood pressure medications
💊Steroids
💊Birth control pills
💊Certain maintenance meds used for breast cancer
💊A high sugar diet (yes…. Sugar may be defined as a drug!)
*Leg spasms are often diagnosed as restless leg syndrome when in reality, it’s more often than not a simple deficiency in potassium, magnesium, calcium, or Vit D that may be easily remedied with proper supplementation. In my experience as a pharmacist, I’ve found the most common culprit to be a magnesium deficiency, especially if the spasms are in the lower legs. Remember, the body is giving massive clues and not a single clue is ever an indicator that it is “deficient” in a medication.
*Generalized pain, tingling, or a burning sensation of the feet affects over 20 million people in the United states, and the clue field is a vast one. This particular clue is the result of damaged nerve fibers. Damage may happen in a myriad of ways, but the most common cause is diabetes followed by alcohol abuse. Other potential causes include chronic kidney disease, chronic hypothyroidism, lyme disease, or a vitamin B12, folate, and/or B6 deficiency. The B vitamin family is critical for nerve health, and Young Living’s Super B is a stellar opportunity to support unhappy (and perhaps malnourished) nerves.
Medications that rob the body of a variety of B vitamins include:
💊Acid reducers and antacids
💊Many blood pressure medications
💊Bronchodilators (example: albuterol)
💊Many diabetes meds including metformin (do you see the irony here?)
💊Birth control pills
💊NSAIDS
💊Certain medications for Parkinson’s Disease
Oftentimes, clues can certainly be found in a pill bottle, once you start to understand the cause and effect and even put together a timeline of when the clue appeared. This is why it is so important to keep a health journal, especially when multiple clues make themselves known. Think of it as writing your personal detective story!
Our body rarely deceives us!
xoxo~ liz
#caringissharing
#footcareisgoodmedicine
#knowyourfoundation
#goodmedicine
#ThanksYL
Blood Pressure
Health Clues in Our Teeth – part 2
Our body is highly skilled at sounding alarms🚨 that we often “hit the snooze button” on, ignore out of ignorance, or simply disregard. I was “that person” many years ago when I went through about 18 months of tooth emergencies.😭 I didn’t have a single cavity until I was in college, and always had pretty stellar dental visits. However, when I was in my mid 30’s, something strange started happening. On 3 different occasions, a piece of tooth would literally fall off of a molar while I was driving to work in the morning. 😳 Though I had no evidence of wear on my teeth, my dentist finally determined that I must be gritting my teeth so hard while I slept that I was literally breaking my teeth. Once we figured out the root cause and I found better ways to manage my stress , I quit breaking teeth, stopped having headaches every morning upon waking up, had fewer neck, elbow, and wrist problems, and generally felt better and happier as a human! My body was giving me so many clues, and I was ignoring all of them (or “patching them”) until my body literally started falling apart. It was an expensive but valuable lesson!
* Worn down or regular breaking of teeth are often signs of stress. Internalized chronic stress has the same effect on the body as smoking 5 cigarettes a day, and who wants to abuse their body like that?? Not sure if you are grinding or clenching your teeth? Sometimes the flatness on the teeth can be felt with the tongue or seen in the mirror, or your dentist may have made a comment to you. A chronically stressed body may also see a higher incidence of canker sores or fever blisters…. all are clues that shouldn’t be ignored.
* Chronic stress will cause consistently higher levels of cortisol in the body, eventually wreaking some major havoc. Manage stress properly by incorporating mindset management skills, prayer/meditation, exercise, diet and proper amounts of sleep. Consider supporting healthy cortisol levels with Young Living’s Cortistop. If clenching, gritting or grinding is your nighttime gig, you may also want to consider a mouth nightguard to help mediate damage, and apply Peace & Calming, RutaVala, or Tranquil essential oil blends on the base of the big toes at night.
* Thin enamel or cracking/crumbling teeth are often clues of acid reflux. (We will go over acid reflux clues in greater detail soon.) Several medications may also affect the integrity of teeth. Asthma medications (inhaled), chewable aspirin, birth control pills, immunosuppressive agents, chemotherapy agents, and any of the 400+ meds that cause dry mouth ( revisit that section for more details) are among the bigger culprits. If you find yourself in a situation where any of these medications are deemed necessary, make sure you are rinsing your mouth out often with Thieves Mouthwash to create an inhospitable environment for bad bacteria that may want to set up camp and create further damage.
* Chronically sensitive or swollen gums may be a sign of an underlying Vitamin C deficiency (approximately 13% of the US population), an early sign of heart disease, diabetes, or (less commonly) a blood disorder. It can also simply be a sign of poor oral hygiene! Medications that may cause bleeding gums include blood thinners, aspirin, and regular use of ibuprofen or other NSAIDS.
* Gum overgrowth (hyperplasia) is more pronounced than simply swollen gums. While often a symptom of poor oral hygiene, it most frequently results from the use of certain medications: anti seizure meds, immunosuppressants, or calcium channel blockers (a class of blood pressure medications). There are physiological disorders that may cause hyperplasia too. Diabetes or Crohn’s disease are two of the more common ones.
* Pretty much everyone brushes their teeth in front of a mirror, which is an opportune time to make a quick daily evaluation of teeth, gums, mouth & tongue. Once you get into the habit of doing this, you will notice small changes pretty quickly, and you can often correct a situation without professional intervention!
Next week, I’ll discuss specific tooth health as a predictor for potential health concerns! It’s fascinating and such a helpful tool in knowing how to care for yourself preemptively.
xoxo~ liz
#sharingiscaring
#healthcluesyoucansinkyourteethinto
#healthcluesyoucanuse
#goodmedicine
#ThanksYL
Finding Answers to your own Health Problems
Last week, I wrote about all the fascinating information you may learn from looking at the clues embedded (literally) in the nether regions of fingernails. You can find that post here if you need to catch up: https://www.goodmedicine.info/blog/health-clues-you-can-use-1
A clue means next to nothing if it is singular….. You’ll need at least a few clues if you are to be sure you are headed down the right path.
Since we are only in the embryonic stages of becoming your own health detective, here are a few quick self assessment tools every good health detective needs:
*Honesty: If you are to be your own health detective, it’s important to acknowledge lifestyle choices and known consequences. The “it won’t happen to me” mindset will never work….nor will the hypochondriac’s lament. If you are going to do the detective work, be honest with yourself……using your clues to improve your wellness quotient thru diet, lifestyle changes and using supplements (and/or YL essential oils) when you suspect support is needed will go a long way to turning back the physiological clock.
*Labwork: Every adult should have bloodwork done annually (more often if there is a visible problem). Even the uninsured or “undoctored” can get bloodwork done without seeing a doctor (message me if you’d like help doing this). I’ll cover what I consider “essential” labwork in a future post, so at the very least you’ll know what labs to request your doctor run for you.
*One clue does not make a dis-ease or a diagnosis. #clustercluesforthewin
*How do you feel? Think this over. Do you feel great most days? If your answer hovers more around the “meh” answer, here’s where you’ll want to start. There are many many posts within this group that addresses supportive measures for most of these topics:
👉Do you get enough sleep?
👉Do you exercise vigorously and regularly?
👉Do you know your recent blood pressure and blood sugar numbers?
👉Do you have a “healthy” bowel movement daily?
👉Do you eat in a healthy manner?
👉Do you have a close set of friends, participate in life fully, attend church?
👉Do you laugh often and enjoy life?
👉Do you avoid vices? (smoking and regular alcohol consumption especially)
*Consider keeping a health journal. Write down your clues as you find them. This will be very helpful to you as you learn how to be a better CEO of Y.O.U Incorporated in 2021, and will also help you decide which supplements or oils might need to be on your monthly “must haves” for 2021.
*Know your limits. If you have found several clues pointing to a significant health issue, please contact your preferred health professional. Naturopaths, Integrative medicine doctors, and functional medicine doctors are my personal first choice as they tend to look beyond the symptoms and address the root cause.
Last week I read several comments when discussing less than prominent lunula….. Fewer than 8 prominent lunula may be an indication of low cellular oxygen, poor circulation, a chronically weakened immune system, a possible thyroid disorder, or a Vitamin B12 Deficiency. Lots of possibilities, right? If you didn’t know where to start (since this is a first clue), what daily Young Living supplement may be supportive of most of these conditions? (Hint: It’s red ).
xoxo~liz
#sharingiscaring
#applicationofknowledgeispower
#goodmedicine
#ThanksYL
#NingXiaRedChallenge2021
#becomingyourownhealthdetective
Health Clues in Your Fingernails #1
Learning to “read” your own body is a skill that everyone learned to some degree in days gone by….. much like tracking an animal🐾, interpreting weather signs , or “reading” 🌱 plants in a forest. Failure to do any of these things well could have cost you your life. Now we tend to rely on professionals (or electronics) to work exclusively on our behalf. There are many problems to simply handing over life skills to someone else to manage, not the least of which is personal vulnerability….. I mean, who has a paper map in their car?… and what would happen if your GPS suddenly shut down?
When we wait for someone else to “find” the problem, a slippery slope may result. Just like having low air in a tire, it’s so much easier to air the tire back up and identify and fix the cause of the low tire pressure, than it is to drive on it until it’s flat and damaged and has to be completely replaced (expensive!!) by a professional.
Throughout 2021, I’ll be unpacking “health clues you can use” to help you decide which supplements and essential oils may warrant further investigation or perhaps which lifestyle changes your body may benefit from. #wearealluniquelymade
Today, let’s unpack the lunula… finger by finger!
The entire body is a storehouse of clues….. Especially hands and nails! Fingernails are a snapshot of the last 6 months of a person’s health….. The lunula is the crescent shaped area at the base of your fingernails… and that’s the only part of the fingernail I’m talking about today. Ideally, you want 8 of your 10 fingernails to have prominent lunula. Fewer than 8 prominent lunulas on the fingernails may be an indication of low cellular oxygen or poor circulation overall.
Lunula size also differs among different ethnic groups, and they are commonly absent on children. Keeping an eye on “normal” within your individual body is what’s important. Changes in size of the lunula are ultimately what should raise a hairy eyebrow. Overall, if the lunulas grow in size to cover more than ⅓ of the nail bed, if may indicate an ongoing endocrine disorder or cardiovascular issue. If the lunulas have almost disappeared , it may indicate low blood pressure, a weakened immune system, thyroid gland disorder or a vitamin (B12) deficiency.
The overall color of the lunulas are important too (taking into consideration…. Did you squish it with a hammer recently?!?😣)
Gray: severe fatigue, digestion disorders, and possible nutrient deficiencies
White: healthy and natural. Should be several shades lighter than skin tone.
Purple: poor circulation and lack of oxygen.
Pink: may indicate lower levels of physical activity and lung function
Black: a common symptom of heavy metal poisoning
Half pink/ Half white accompanied by a thinner darker band of color: possible kidney dis-ease.
Moving on to each finger……
Pinky Finger: the lunula should be nearly invisible. Its appearance may be an indication of the function of small intestines, kidneys, and heart.
Ring Finger: the lunula should be prominent, and may be related to the health of the reproductive and lymphatic systems, and to a lesser extent, the digestive system.
Middle Finger: should also be prominent, and may be related to the health of your brain and vascular system. If your lunula is absent on this finger, it may indicate a potential issue with blood vessels or higher blood pressure.
Index Finger: should also be prominent. If it is tiny or nearly gone, it may indicate issues with your intestine or pancreas (get your glucose checked! Home meters are very inexpensive and do not require a prescription). A tiny or absent lunula on this finger may also indicate a chronic (not acute) upper respiratory dis-ease.
Thumb: should also be prominent, but not more than 25% of your nail bed. It may be an indication of the workings of the lung and spleen.
Matthew 24:28 contains an interesting proverb. “For wherever the carcass is, there will be vultures gathered.” There is a wise lesson here. Seeing one clue does not mean much….. until you put them together with many clues (the difference between one vulture flying over head vs several circling). Clue gathering is a talent, but it’s one we can ALL cultivate…. After all, our ancestors did it with little to no formal education!
Let’s have some fun………knowing what your lunulas just “told” you, how did what they say align with what you already know about your body? AND, which YL essential oils or supplements is your body asking for based upon these clues?
xoxo~ liz
If you’d like more information in an individualized coaching format, 2021 is the year to do it!
#caringissharing
#applicationofknowledgeispower
#goodmedicine
#goodmedicineisknowingthyselfwell
#ThanksYL
PS: Do not interpret this post as medical advice…. My intention is not to diagnose, treat, or cure anyone…. only to raise awareness that you are the lone CEO of your body, and you can easily gather the tools to build a healthier life! Consider making 2021 your year to learn to read the roadmap that is your body!
Goji – Hard Facts
Just a little light reading this morning after chores. I am a born skeptic and curiosity is my middle name, which is probably a couple reasons why I love science so much. And because the internet provides fishy info (and/or makes truth hard to find), I lean towards good old fashioned research and book learnin’!📚
This one is terribly interesting, and it corroborates data and information I’ve learned elsewhere. Sadly, textbooks like these are pricey (you can see where I hoard and spend any extra money….. books!!) but they bear the truth that cannot be erased or distorted by the whims of the internet gods.
Got a question about the beautiful goji (aka wolfberry) berry? Let’er fly! Drop it in the comments, and if I can find the answer in one of my books, I’ll snap a pic for ya😘.
xoxo~liz
#NingXiaRedISallitscrackeduptobe
#haveyouhadyourNRtoday
#healthyhearthealthybrain
#sharingiscaring
#payyourfarmernoworpayyourpharmacistlater
#Godgaveusallweneedinthegarden