How can there be unbiased information from our medical industry when money exchanges hands between provider and drug company.
You scratch my back….. I’ll scratch yours.
Even if you do not read the attached article(in the black box below), I’d like to point one name out…. Dr. Sanjay Gupta…… a well known medical correspondent for CNN and social media medical advisor…. if you follow CNN or know someone who does, it’s likely his advice would have been heeded at some point. (He’s made over 1.6 million $$ from back scratching with Big Pharma ).
Lesser known, Dr. Stephen Stahl’s pockets are at the top of the heap…. at 8.6 million $$. He’s considered a foremost expert on psychopharmacology, and has written over 500 papers, 35 text books, and edited 12 more. You can imagine how much influence he has in academic circles. He talks…. people listen.
There’s been some serious back scratching going on there.
Y’all…. there will always be a time and place for Western Medicine pharmacology, but not like this. Vested or veiled interests usually ends in tweaking information leaning towards the hand that feeds. It’s illegal in the government (supposedly ) , it’s illegal in the stocks and bonds industry, it’s prohibited in jury selections….. the list goes on.
Psych drugs are enormously profitable.
It’s a rare day when someone who starts down the path of being on a psych med is able to get off of them. Most of them are not classified as being addictive, yet try getting off of even one (much less a handful of them, as is usually the end case), and the body very much responds negatively. It can certainly be done, with medical supervision and a great deal of time…..each one of the medications so severely alters neurotransmitter production in the body.
We humans are not “medication deficient”. It’s far more complicated than that. The number of psych drugs prescribed (1 in 6 people are on one or more in the USA) is a pure reflection of two things….. the brokenness of our world, and the lack of delving adequately into the root of the problem. How many people who embarked on their medication journey had extensive (and I mean EXTENSIVE) lab work to rule out hormone or nutrient imbalances and committed to God centered compassionate counseling? Only when these fail to bring results should medication be brought in to the picture.
I leave you with this sobering stat: According to the American Addiction Centers website, more people die from psychiatric medication overdose than those who die from heroin overdose in our country. (The biggest killers are the most common ones…. Xanax , Ambien, anti-depressants, psycho-stimulants (ex Ritalin), and anti-psychotics…. in order of prevalence). I can’t imagine what the mayhem of 2020-2021 has done to those numbers in the last two years. (article below in gray box)
Please. Watch whom you get your health information from….. whether it’s on a topic like this, or another. If money is exchanging hands, you can be assured that the information has been tweaked to benefit the financial benefactor. This is only one aspect of the industry. You may be shocked about who else’s backs are being scratched. Well known names. 2020-2021 names that everyone now knows.
xoxo~ liz
#sharingiscaring
#theloveofmoneyistherootofevil
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Exercise
Posture – part 2
“Posture affects and moderates every physiologic function from breathing to hormonal production. Spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, pulse and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture.” ~ American Journal of Pain Management 1994, 4:36-39
*Proper posture will always be a work in progress with “life” and gravity working against the goal. Beginning at a very young age, poor posture can lead to abnormal growth of the spine which leads to increased strain on muscles, ligaments, joints, and bones, and will lead to joint degeneration and spinal arthritis later in life.
Life goes on. Physical trauma in the form of accidents or injuries occur. Childbirth happens. We are now the most sedentary humans in all of history. Sitting with poor posture for hours at a time takes its toll on the body. Cell phones, laptops, and desk jobs have not been kind to our backs. More than 70% of the US population is overweight and/or has a diet that is not nutritionally supportive of bones, ligaments and muscles. Chronic carrying of a heavy or improperly placed load takes its toll (ex: a military serviceman carrying a heavy pack 👨✈️, a woman with a large heavy purse👜, a construction worker who lifts heavy materials daily). Emotions also play an enormous role in poor posture. Certainly shoulders sag under the weight of intangible burdens, but inside the body, emotions affect us at the cellular level. Did you know that unresolved drama and trauma will certainly affect posture, especially in the lower back. This often results in lower back pain which often tips the upper torso slightly forward.
Tips for Improved Posture
*Become aware of your posture and check yourself throughout the day (use the posture test in Part I to get started). Good posture should feel natural!
*Get some “Vitamin M”…. Movement! Stand up and move every hour especially if you have a desk job.(This improves productivity too!)
*Adjust your keyboard to elbow height. Wrists should remain straight as you type.
*Make sure your chair is also at the right height. Knees and hips should be level and feet should be flat on the floor.
*Avoid crossing your legs above the knee.
*Use your cell phone at eye level. Bending the head forward constantly applies extraordinary pressure on the spine. Up to 60 lbs of pressure is applied to the neck depending upon how far forward you are bending.
*Place your computer monitor at eye level.
*Tighten and exercise core muscles. Yoga and other forms of exercise! Again, Vitamin M 😉
*Consider your footwear. Does it help or hinder your posture?
*Utilize health professionals! Physical therapists, chiropractors, professional fitness trainers, yoga instructors, etc.
*Practice deep breathing. This is also a great time to fully utilize your favorite essential oils! Some of my personal favorites are Valor, Peace & Calming, Sacred Mountain, and White Angelica.
*Practice “Y, W, T” exercises for healthy shoulder posture. The letters simply refer to where the arms will be in relation to your body. You can find out more information about this very simple arm exercise series by searching “ Y W T shoulder exercises” on your favorite search engine. As you practice these exercises, keep a bottle of Panaway or Deep Relief handy……. You might be surprised how sore your muscles may be at the beginning of practicing these simple exercises!
*Become aware of how impactful emotions can be on your posture, and learn to release those which do not serve you in a beneficial way. Young Living has blessed millions of homes with aromas that are powerfully impactful to mind, body, and spirit. Some of my personal favorites for deep emotions are Release, Trauma Life, Frankincense, Stress Away, Forgiveness, and Inner Child. Western medicine has done a great disservice to mankind by isolating the treatment of body dysfunction from mind and spirit. They cannot be separated if true healing is to occur.
If you’ve never considered using oils for emotions, start with any essential oil or oil blend that you are drawn to. Using your mind and setting intention is an important piece of the puzzle.
Tell me, which oil(s) are you most drawn to?
xoxo~ liz
#sharingiscaring
#goodmedicineishowweholdourselves
#ThanksYL
#goodmedicine
Health Detective Tip – blood clues
My husband calls me “the noticer” on our farm because I notice even the slightest irregularities or inconsistencies… It doesn’t matter if it’s a person, plant, or beast. Often what I notice is nothing to be concerned about, but acknowledging trends or patterns will oftentimes save time and heartache if we can “nip something in the bud” before we have an all-out crisis.
It doesn’t matter if you live on a farm👩🌾 or in a city apartment🏢, becoming a casual “noticer” hones skills that may keep you safe, alive, and healthy. Pairing “noticing” with instinct (what I prefer to call Holy Spirit-led discernment😉), along with a bit of knowledge goes a long way as a skilled “noticer”. We all become amateur paramedic sleuths🔎 when a temperature is taken, a throat is examined for spots, sleep is lost, pain is felt, or a quick look is taken at what just dropped into the toilet😳😱. Those are all clues that we see after the fact…. changes within the body have become noticeable enough that they can no longer be ignored.
“Blood goes round and round” air goes in and out; any variation from this is bad.”~ Paramedic 101
*Blood should move efficiently and effectively throughout the body. If it does not, trouble is on the horizon. Blood transports oxygen and nutrients throughout the body and removes carbon dioxide and other waste. It also helps regulate body temperature and pH and is a shield of protection within us by way of its finely tuned clotting mechanisms (so that we won’t bleed too much or too little) and role in immune system function.
*Healthy “clean” blood makes more efficient oxygen and nutrient deliveries to cells which ultimately leads to better mental health, cleaner clearer skin, better regulation of cholesterol, and enhanced liver and lung function (which allow for better offloading of cellular and pathogenic waste and toxins).
*Does your blood appear to move efficiently throughout the body?
Try this “hands-on” clue to assess whether your vascular system may (or may not) be serving blood to the nether regions of your body well (your hands and feet!).
The Capillary Nail Refill Test is a simple test you can do on yourself or a family member:
*Note the color of unpolished nails. They should be light pink in color.
*Gently and firmly press on the nail bed of a fingernail for about 5 seconds. The nail will turn pale.
*Holding the hand above the heart, release the pressure on the tip of the finger and watch for the amount of time it takes for the original color to return to the nail.
*Upon release of pressure, the nail should return to its original color within 2 seconds.
Now, what do the results from this clue mean? If the nail bed color takes more than two seconds to recover its color, it may mean any (or all) of these things need to be addressed:
👉Dehydration (blood simply cannot flow well if there isn’t enough water in the blood)
👉Anemia
👉Hypothermia (if someone has poor peripheral circulation as with Raynaud’s Syndrome, a cold room can certainly affect the outcome of the press test. This in itself may be a clue, as Raynaud’s is often associated with autoimmune disorders such as lupus, scleroderma, RA, and Sjogren syndrome).
👉Peripheral vascular disease (commonly caused by a buildup of plaque inside artery walls which ultimately leads to narrowing, blockage, and vascular spasms in legs and sometimes also in arms. This is another clue if the pain is exacerbated during exercise and improves when at rest.)
Poor oxygenation throughout the body is the Number One cause of declining health and disease. Blood needs to flow, oxygen needs to be delivered, and waste needs to be disposed of constantly.
What are some things you can do to encourage and support a healthy vascular system?
*NingXia Red! Our favorite red drink supports both the vascular system and the blood flowing through it…. I encourage you to pick up a copy of NingXia Wolfberry: the Ultimate Superfood by Gary Young to learn more! You’ll never want to be without NingXia Red after understanding how valuable and supportive this drink is to our health.
*Eat plenty of fresh cabbage, lettuce, spinach, kale, broccoli, garlic, grapefruit, lemon, and oranges to encourage detoxification. Fruits like apples, plums, and pears have pectin fibers that are also useful in cleansing the blood.
💫Strive to keep a slightly alkaline body. In 1931, Dr. Otto Warburg won a Nobel Prize for proving that highly oxygenated, slightly alkaline blood creates an inhospitable environment for cancer cells.
*Diaphragmatic Breathing: Use ALL of the lungs when breathing. Most people only breathe using the upper portion of their lungs. Make your diaphragm work when you breathe at least several times a day (if not always). Pairing “mindful breathing” with positive emotions and gratitude improves the oxygenation of blood!
*Stay well hydrated! If you don’t like to drink water, my guess is that you’ve never tried the Young Living Vitality Drops! (Grapefruit Bergamot is my fave!)
🌟Glutathione: This is the master antioxidant. Sulfurzyme provides the body with essential tools needed to make glutathione. This is another one of my personal all-time favorites!
🌿Chlorophyll, as is found in the leafy greens mentioned above, also provides key nutrients for healthy blood. It’s hard to get enough of it though for most people. Young Living’s Multigreens is a fantastic way to get concentrated chlorophyll into your body on the days you just can’t eat enough kale and spinach!
💥Vitamin B12 and Folate (Super B for the win!)
💪Exercise and movement! The mere act of standing up triggers chemical changes within the body that benefit blood flow.
*Increase joy and reduce stress in your life (Have you read Dr. Emoto’s book, “The Hidden Messages in Water”?)
👐Massage: It improves circulation and mood!
Poor circulation can be painful and even dangerous, and the ideas above are just a few ways to support a healthy vascular system and blood supply.
What is something that you consciously do to encourage cardiovascular health?
xoxo~ liz
#caringissharing
#happybloodisgoodmedicine
#joyinmyheartisgoodmedicine
#goodmedicine
#ThanksYL
Healthy Feet – part 3
Feet: Part III… Health from the ground up!
I’ve got a question for you…… when was the last time you went barefoot 👣…..outside…. and on the regular? If you’ve never been one to go barefoot, this may be an important clue for your foot health AND your overall physical and emotional wellbeing.
Certainly you’ve heard the terminology, “He (or she) is well grounded.” What does being “well grounded” feel like? Here’s the clue….”Well groundedness” is the feeling of being VIBRANTLY healthy!
Centered.
Inspired.
Creative.
Motivated.
Solid.
Strong.
Happy.
Balanced.
Calm. Cool. Collected.
Does this sound like you? If not, a little regular “grounding” is good medicine for everyone!
What is grounding? Grounding is direct contact of the skin, usually the feet (or hands) with the surface of the earth (or through a grounding system). Grounding is a method of healing that has been used for thousands of years all over the world. Sadly, in industrialized cultures, it has mostly been ignored or forgotten.
Very simply…. the earth 🌎is electromagnetic and so are we! We are designed by God to live exposed to the earth’s natural electrical field regularly. Unfortunately, most of the industrialized countries live more surrounded by stronger, harmful man made electromagnetic frequencies, and spend very little time in direct contact with the healing frequencies from the earth. Long term exposure to manmade EMF without grounding regularly ultimately contributes mightily to many health issues…. especially those that are neurological, cardiovascular, muscular, or immune system based. 😔 I would argue that one of the most electrically unhealthy places to be is in a hospital bed surrounded by electrical devices.
Decades ago, shoes were leather soled. This allowed the transfer of the earth’s healing energy to a person. Rubber and plastic on the other hand are insulators and inhibit the transfer of energy. Centuries ago, most people slept on pallets on the ground. Many cultures today still do…. but rarely in modernized countries. Sadly, in some areas of the world, people go for days or weeks never interacting with nature, much less going barefoot IN a natural setting.
There’s definitely a time and a place for shoes, but as in all things, finding balance between booted and barefoot is where we often fail. Over the centuries, shoes👠👟 have both solved problems and created them. I am a firm believer that God did indeed give us all we needed in the garden, which means there had to be a simple solution to foot health outside of a pair of $200 orthotics. Indeed, God created us to be predominately barefooted beings and science agrees!
Proven health benefits of regular “grounding” include:
📋Reduced inflammation throughout the body
📋Improved immune system function
📋Improved pain management
📋Decreased stress response / improved cortisol rhythm (which helps us shift more easily from “fight & flight” to “rest and digest”)
📋Improved circulation and decreased blood viscosity
📋Improved emotional health (increased serotonin levels)
📋Improved heart rate variability (which is associated with better recovery, emotional resilience, and an overall feeling of well-being)
📋Improved sleep patterns
📋Improved wound healing
How to practice grounding?👣 It’s so very easy! Soil, grass, sand, rocks, or unpainted concrete are all conductive grounding surfaces, while wood, asphalt, rubber, and vinyl are not. Grab a book, a friend, or simply enjoy sitting and relaxing in the outdoors barefoot. Go for a walk on a beach. Garden with your bare hands. Sit in a chair with your bare feet on the ground. Leave your electronics indoors! ….. Remember, the object is to rebalance the body’s electricity. It’s much harder to do that if you’ve got a cell phone in your hands!
*Studies show that a mere 30 minutes a day of grounding has a profound effect on overall wellness!
Additionally, simply walking barefoot:
➡️Trains the body to walk more naturally
➡️Improves body balance
➡️As in reflexology, pressure points in the feet are activated
➡️Improves posture
➡️Strengthens foot and leg muscles (engages all muscles in feet, toes, and legs instead of relying on shoes to do it for you)
➡️Reduced hip and knee pain
➡️Reduces incidence of calluses, ingrown toenails, bunions, hammer toes and foot funk fungus
➡️Improves foot flexibility
Grounding and barefoot walking are two gifts of health we can give ourselves easily and inexpensively. If at first your feet object to freedom, consider simply sitting with your feet in the grass (don’t forget to use Young Living’s MOST AMAZING nontoxic Insect Repellent… a little dab’ll do ya’!). If your feet have been screaming for years, be patient with the process, but don’t give up!
If you’ve got achy arches, consider applying this blend regularly to the bottoms of your feet and incorporate some foot stretching exercises into your routine:
(in a 10ml roller bottle)
12 drops of copaiba
32 drops lemongrass
32 drops peppermint
12 drops helichrysum
12 drops frankincense
Fill the remaining space with the carrier oil of your choice!
It is no coincidence that VIBRANT and “vibrate” share the same etymology lineage. That’s energy my friends….in essence, grounding is like energy nutrition!
xoxo~ liz
www.goodmedicine.info
#caringissharing
#groundingisgoodmedicine
#knowyourfoundation
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#ThanksYL
Health Clues from Your Feet -part 2
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
