Book Your Health Coaching Call

Good Medicine

Holistic Health Coaching

Lab Work

The Southern Side of the Endocrine System: Diabetes – part 2

· ·

There are times it’s not good to be Number One. This is one of those times. The United States is recognized as being among the nations with the best medical technology and the newest and best drugs. We spend more per person on healthcare than any nation in the entire world, so we should be among the healthiest, right? Yet, for all that we have, the USA has the worst health outcomes.. We are #1 in diabetes, #2 in neurodegenerative diseases, #5 in cancer, and #6 in cardiovascular disease (source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).
An estimated 1 in 3 American adults have prediabetes or metabolic syndrome (both are precursors to Type II diabetes). It’s a common but flawed thought that Type II diabetes only affects “fluffy” people. It doesn’t. There is a relatively new medical acronym called TOFI, which means “Thin on the Outside, Fat on the Inside”, and TOFI individuals can be just as much at risk as their fluffy counterparts. Lifestyle choices will always be the first line of defense to avoid acquiring a Type II diabetes diagnosis (or succeeding in backwalking out of one).
An astute detective will need some internal monitoring tools to more closely assess clues. Health thieves can be very stealth, and this is a reliable way to monitor gang movement before they leave visible gang “tags” (clues). Forewarned is forearmed! Think of this as another tangible aspect of your body’s security monitoring system.
 
Here’s what you’ll need:
  • An at home blood pressure cuff (every home should have one anyway!)
  • Know your waist circumference (measure at just above the hip bone, level with the belly button)
  • Know your family history. Remember that though genetics are important, they play less than a 10% role in outcome. Environment, lifestyle choices, and emotional tendencies control the other 90%. It’s important to know family history so that we can each be vigilant for what we suspect may be lurking in the shadows…. Knowing the health thief tendency (genetics) may be awaiting the right opportunity to steal, kill and destroy. I find a great deal of peace knowing that 90% of gene expression is fully under my own control!
  • Get labwork annually which (at the very least) includes the following pieces of information:
    • Complete metabolic panel (CMP)
    • A basic lipid panel
    • Uric Acid and Homocysteine
    • Fasting insulin, fasting glucose, and HbA1c
    • The combined total of these tests will run about $250 well spent dollars out of pocket. If you have insurance, these are the tests to ask your doctor for when looking for a metabolic syndrome or prediabetes health thief.
    • NOTE: There is more labwork I’d suggest for a comprehensive look at the body from the inside out…. The above recommendation is specific for monitoring both prediabetes and metabolic syndrome.
Signs of metabolic syndrome and prediabetes nearly always predate diabetic symptoms. Once you have your lab work, and have gathered your other tools, you’re ready to take a hard look at the state of the union of your body. Signs of metabolic dysfunction show up in the following ways:
  • Evidence of fatty liver
  • High blood pressure
  • High uric acid and homocysteine levels
  • High lipids in blood
  • High fasting insulin, HbA1c, and blood glucose
  1. Monitor your blood pressure. For a week, take it before you go to bed, and again before you get out of bed in the morning. If nighttime and morning blood pressure is higher than it should be, cut out all forms of sugar for a week, and retest. Sugar is highly inflammatory and often drives blood pressure upwards. Normal blood pressure runs 90-120 systolic (top number) and 60-80 diastolic (bottom number). High blood pressure is a symptom, not a root cause!
  2. An increased waist circumference (males should be under 40 inches and females should be under 35) is suggestive of inflammation, probable leaky gut, mitochondrial dysfunction, and insulin resistance.
  3. Uric acid and homocysteine are inflammatory markers. Levels are elevated if uric acid is over 5.5 mg/ml and homocysteine is over 10 umol/ L. High uric acid levels lead to a fatty liver. Sugar is a big contributor to this. High homocysteine levels indicate an increased risk for developing heart disease and vascular inflammation. Methylated B12 and methylated folate, omega 3’s ( OmegaGize3 is a great option), and optimized use of Vit D3 are all helpful tools in supporting healthy homocysteine levels.
  4. Within your CMP, you’ll look for two numbers corresponding to AST and ALT. ALT is a liver enzyme which is fairly accurate for assessing fatty liver. If that number is over 25, more investigation is needed. AST is another liver enzyme. If it’s elevated (over 34) it may also indicate fatty liver (it also elevates when exposed to too much acetaminophen, alcohol, certain meds such as statins, and infection….. So do take that into consideration). If both are elevated, it’s definitely time to take a hard look at sugar and alcohol consumption.
  5. Fasting glucose by itself is not enough, and sadly it’s often the only thing that is tested routinely. HbA1c is a window into the last 3 months of glucose control within the body. Fasting insulin indicates how well the pancreas is actually able to keep up. Optimally, fasting glucose should be 70-85 mg/dL, HbA1c should be less than 5.4%, and fasting insulin should be less than 6 uIU/mL. Once you have those numbers, you’ll plug them into this equation: fasting glucose x fasting insulin divided by 405. Your answer to this equation is your assessed risk for developing diabetes. Less than 2.8 is excellent, 4.3 is average, and anything higher is a flag that mayhem is likely already occurring.
  6. When you are looking at your lipid panel, zero in on 3 different clues. The first is the ratio of triglycerides to HDL. Studies have found that if this number is over 2.5 in the Caucasian population or 1.5 in the African American population, it tends to correlate with metabolic syndrome.
The second thing to look at is HDL, the type of cholesterol that is considered “healthy” cholesterol. If it’s between 60-85, it’s generally a sign of good cardiovascular health. If the number is under 40 in men or under 50 for women, there is a greater chance of developing heart disease (a component of both metabolic syndrome and cohort of Type II diabetes). If the number is over 85, there’s a distinct possibility that HDL has a dysfunctional component.
The third thing to evaluate is your LDL cholesterol. If it’s between 100 and 300, look at your triglycerides. “If triglycerides are over 150, metabolic syndrome may be assumed until proven otherwise. “ (Those wise words are from Dr. Robert Lustig MD and his brilliant book Metabolical)
Isn’t it prudent to avoid dark alleys and always lock your car? The same can be said for paying attention to these health clues. If the numbers above look like a dark avenue you’re not wanting to go down, here are some tips and tricks for avoiding shady areas!
  • Cut back on carbs and sugar. Eat a low sugar high fiber diet. If you are not getting enough fiber in your diet, add YL’s ICP Daily, Balance Complete, or Power Meal to your nutrition world. Fiber helps regulate blood sugar levels by slowing down the release of glucose into the bloodstream.
  • Avoid high fructose corn syrup like it’s the plague….. Because it is! It is a strong inducer of insulin resistance. When you start reading labels, you’ll be surprised at how many places it hides in plain sight.
  • Avoid energy drinks that combine caffeine with fructose. That combination can aggravate insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. Use NingXia Nitro for a cleaner energy boost option. Try pairing Nitro with diffusing or wearing the essential oil blend En-R-Gee.
  • Exercise! Many studies have shown that weight loss and exercise can increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin.
  • Diet matters just as much as exercise. A person will never be able to out run, out supplement, or out medicate a bad diet!
  • Consider intermittent fasting. (If you are already on medication for diabetes treatment, you’ll want to talk to your holistically minded health professional before incorporating intermittent fasting into your routine). At the very least, stop eating 3-4 hours before your head hits the pillow at night.
  • Know your labs, and don’t be afraid to ask for them by name!
  • Watch your commercial dairy intake. There is a big difference between commercial pasteurized and homogenized dairy and raw dairy. The former is well known for the amount of inflammation it can cause within the body.
  • Work towards decreasing inflammation within the body. Sulfurzyme not only helps support normal metabolic function within the body, it also helps regulate a more normal inflammatory response. It is one of my top five Young Living Supplements that I cannot imagine life without.
  • Take an excellent highly bioavailable multivitamin such as Master Formula. Not all vitamins sold are bioavailable to the body.
  • Incorporate insulin modulating foods into your diet. Cinnamon, oat bran, fiber, ginger, barley grass (found in Multigreens), spirulina (found in Multigreens and NingXia Greens), chaga mushrooms, rosemary, green tea, cranberries, blueberries, lemon balm (Melissa), holy basil (tulsi), carrots, broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, cucumbers, cabbage and salad greens. Healthy whole grain foods such as YL Einkorn products, quinoa, whole oats or oatmeal, and brown rice are also helpful, as are avocados, olive oil, and nuts and seeds. Cacao (natural chocolate) may also help regulate blood sugar levels according to a 2017 study.
  • Regular cold exposure also appears to help improve insulin sensitivity. Interestingly, Type II diabetes is positively associated with living in ambient temperature climates. Get your health care professional’s blessing if you have a medical condition (ex: high blood pressure or heart disease) that is being actively treated before partaking in cold showers, cold plunging, or cryotherapy.
  • Know your iron and ferritin lab values: According to a few studies, it would appear that iron levels that are too high have been positively associated with insulin resistance.
  • Take a closer look at adding turmeric to your routine. It has been found to be a helpful supplement to those who are taking the medication Metformin, and has supportive effects on blood glucose, oxidative stress and inflammation. (YL’s Golden Turmeric is my go to for a turmeric supplement!)
  • Vitamin B12 in the form of methylcobalamin to support a healthy homocysteine levels.
  • Antioxidants! (NingXia Red and Super C)- A 2007 study in the Journal of Hypertension found that people who took adequate levels of Vitamin C had a 13% lower risk of developing diabetes.
  • Approximately 75-80% of US residents are deficient in magnesium. A deficiency in magnesium sets the body up for both insulin resistance and gout (the official diagnosis for the painful symptoms of high uric acid levels in the body).
  • While it’s important to avoid as many toxins in daily living as possible, make a special effort to avoid atrazine (an herbicide commonly used on corn) and pesticides in general. Eat organically to avoid these.
  • Give up the night owl tendencies. Research has found that those who stay up late have a reduced ability to use fat for energy. When fat isn’t used appropriately in the body, it becomes fodder for health thieves. Work towards being in bed by 10pm.
There is so much more to prediabetes, Type II diabetes, and metabolic syndrome…..more than I could possibly write here. Hopefully though, I’ve given you food for thought and a desire to learn more. If so, do some digging and think outside the box! The more you know, the more health empowered you’ll be. We have full control of this part of our health story. How will you choose to write yours?
 
xoxo~ liz
#becomingyourownhealthdetective
#BYOHD
#thebestdefenseisagoodoffense
#theapplicationofknowledgeisgoodmedicine
#goodmedicine

Ovaries in Trouble

· ·

The Southern Side of the Endocrine System: Endocrine Disruption puts the ‘OOOOH’ in Ovaries
We women are complicated. 🤪🥴 (Alrighty men…. I can hear your “amens” from here!😉 ). Truly though, it’s better that we just clear the air and state the truth. We.ARE.complicated! All throughout the body and endocrine system, clues🔎 are not generally gender specific… until now. Guys, this would be a good time to retreat to your man cave, unless of course you’d like to know a little more about the inner workings of your gal!
 
One of the most eye opening eras in my pharmacy career happened about 10 years ago. Someone very close to me came to the brink of suicide😭, and almost did not live through it. The growing signs of distress had been going on for years, and while I was starting to suspect a hormonal imbalance, I didn’t yet know enough outside the realm of western medicine to help her ask the questions that needed to be asked of her medical providers, or to request the labs that would ultimately reveal the root causes of her despair. Certainly, she had stress going on in her life too, and so the doctors gave her prescriptions for depression, anxiety, and sleep. All of the “blame” was laid on stress and emotional angst, and no digging for the root cause was ever done, until it was literally almost too late. It took a functional medicine team skilled in mind, body and spirit repair in a crisis situation to discover her imbalance in thyroid and sex hormones, as well as nutritional deficiencies, gut dysbiosis, and an inefficient immune system, all of which contributed to the direness of the situation. Frankly, if she had ended up in the hands of standard western medicine, I doubt she would still be alive. 🙏 It took many many months for the body and mind to heal with the help of these skilled professionals.
 
Approximately 18% of all adult women in the USA take antidepressants, and 10% use anti anxiety medications. This number is roughly double that seen in men. While there are assuredly socio economic factors which come into play, the waxing and waning monthly rhythm of our environmentally influenced hormones are the largest reason women reach for a prescription bottle of any kind. Western medicine has failed women terribly by using these medications as bandaids for a body that has lost its balance.
 
After this event, I began researching women’s health in earnest….. looking for the reasons so many women had fallen between the cracks of healing care and seeking alternative wellness tools western medicine has chosen to overlook. As I filled new prescriptions for women recently diagnosed with depression or anxiety, I would ask if they had also been given orders for lab work prior to receiving their prescription for one (or more) of these medications. Shockingly, it was a rare woman who said that they had. Thorough (and I emphasize the word thorough!) lab work and subsequent (thorough!) analysis is key to circumventing the adverse effects of hormone imbalance. Those results are hard data which affirms the clues your body is giving you. One of the beauties of a woman’s menstrual cycle is that it is truly a monthly report card reflecting a woman’s health. Normal monthly cycles should not be felt to the extreme, either emotionally or physically. If they are, the body is waving a flag. As with men, endocrine disruption is a real and enormous problem to our individual and collective health. In women, endocrine disruption affects the reproductive cycle in ways that become “diagnoses”, which then often result in pharmaceutical bandaids that ultimately lead to secondary problems.
Endocrine disruption commonly results in something called estrogen dominance. It is the result of excessive estrogen production (and incoming estrogen like toxins from the environment), not enough progesterone produced by the ovaries or a combination of both issues. As with men (and children!), endocrine disruption happens quietly on little cat’s feet through small “daily dose” exposure to toxins found in plastic water bottles and food containers, pesticides, petroleum based products, soaps, body care products, commercial air fresheners, foods that have been exposed to hormones and many more. Estrogen dominance can also be aggravated by excessive body fat, chronic stress, and impaired gut and liver function.
 
Some signs symptoms of estrogen dominance include:
🔎More rapidly aging skin
🔎Aggravation of allergies and asthma (abnormally high levels of estrogen affects the body’s immune response)
🔎Nipple tenderness, especially prior to periods
🔎Hair thinning or hair loss
🔎Body fat gains around the midsection, creating an “apple” or “pear” shaped torso. (Note that “apple shaped” weight gain can be a clue of possible PCOS in addition to estrogen dominance). Additional PCOS clues include abnormal body hair growth, insulin resistance, and darkened skin in the folds of the neck and armpits.
🔎Mood swings
🔎Headaches and migraines (estrogen dominance is one of the most common causes of headaches in women)
🔎Irregular periods (may be light, heavy, or irregular in timing)
🔎Water retention and bloating
A sluggish metabolism
🔎Skin tags
🔎PMS
🔎Uterine fibroids
🔎Decreased libido
🔎Vaginal dryness
🔎Endometrial hyperplasia – caused by too much estrogen or not enough progesterone, or a combination of both. Left unaddressed, it may lead to cancer.
Long term, unmitigated estrogen dominance contributes to:
🔎Hormonal cancers (breast, endometrial and uterine and prostate in men)
🔎Infertility – Infertility currently affects more than 10% of women in the US of childbearing potential.
🔎Adenomyosis
🔎Cervical dysplasia
🔎Lupus, Hashimoto’s and other autoimmune diseases – sharp fluctuations of estrogen as is seen around childbirth and menopause appear to contribute to autoimmune disorders.
🔎Candida overgrowth
🔎Osteoporosis and osteopenia
🔎Gallbladder disease
🔎Fibrocystic breasts
🔎Thyroid dysfunction
🔎Dementia and decreased brain function
🔎Dry eyes
🔎Insomnia
 
Estrogen dominance is no laughing matter, and is arguably one of the biggest health concerns (and clues) of our time. Heavens! This alone is reason enough to make the safe, health supportive, and effective Young Living essential oils (and diffusers), body care products, and the entire Thieves Household cleaning products line standard wellness tools in every home! I often get asked “where do I start” in my wellness journey. The answer is here. Today! … begin detoxing your home and personal world if you haven’t already.
Oddly, one of the biggest contributors to our estrogen dominant selves is rarely talked about. It directly affects nearly 2/3rds of women of childbearing years in the USA, and indirectly affects the rest of us as it is flushed daily into the nation’s water supply.
 
Birth control pills.
Are birth control pills as safe as we’ve been led to believe?🧐🤔 That’s the next clue.🔎 Tell the guys to continue cleaning their guns and watching football…. We’ve got a bit more to chat about!
 
xoxo~ liz
 
 
 

Health Clues from Low Body Temperature – part 2

· ·

In the mid-1800’s, a German physician by the name of Carl Wunderlich measured the temperature🌡 of about twenty five thousand people and found that the average body temperature was 98.6 degrees F (37 degrees C).
 
Each one of us is a product of our internal, external, and emotional environment. Our personal histories (including generationally) have a way of defining us. Roughly twenty years after Dr. Wunderlich established 98.6F🌡 as the human baseline body temperature, the Second Industrial Revolution began. Railroads, new technologies including electricity, telegraph, telephones, “Big Oil”, and later, Big Pharma each had a tremendous impact on our ancestors. As decades passed, the environmental toxin load continued to increase. The Third Industrial Revolution began in the 1960’s and brought us electronics, processed foods, telecommunications, digital technology, biotechnology, nuclear energy, automobiles, more stress and more Big Pharma. The current effects of all of these revolutionary products may have made life (arguably) easier but made us sicker in the process. We are currently the sickest generation in modern history. In 2017, a study of thirty five thousand people found that the average body temperature🌡 is now 97.9 F.
 
Perhaps we shouldn’t be as worried about global warming as we should be worried about human cooling.🙄🧐🤨🤔
 
Chronic low core body temperature🌡 can create a false sense of wellness, also making it hard to mount a defense in the form of a fever if needed. A fever is an active corrective process in the body. To quote Dr. Jernigan, “ Blood that is overcooled from a cool core temperature is too thick to efficiently carry oxygen and the vital lung capacity is reduced leading to shallow breathing. This means that the oxygen to carbon dioxide exchange rate in the lungs is minimal. Now, combine the [slow] degenerative effects of the oxygen deprivation and the cold temperature and the fact that all of this and the overgrowth of microbes [review last week’s post] promote an acidic environment and you have greatly accelerated cellular degeneration and the [eventual] onset of disease.”
 

🌡Tracking Body Temperature🌡

 
Tracking body temperature is super easy with a basic thermometer.
Measure temperature upon morning wake up before getting out of bed (ideally between 6-8am). This will be your core body temperature that is not influenced by food, drink, or activity. Take your temperature again at night sometime between 8-10pm after you’ve been sitting or resting for about 30 minutes.
 
Track the difference between the morning and evening temperatures. There should be a difference of at least 0.9degrees F.
 
Ultimately, you are looking at two things (clues):
 
1️⃣Is body temperature daily average close to 98.6?
2️⃣Does the body allow its temperature to fluctuate from cool in the morning to warmer in the evening?

Temperature Too Cool?

If your body temperature trends towards “coolness”, try incorporating some of these suggestions into your daily life:
 
🔎Have you had lab work to rule out a physiological issue? Labs you may want to request include a full thyroid panel (TSH, T3, T4, Reverse T3, TPOab), saliva cortisol, DHEA, and hormones, CBC/CMP
 
🔎Identify any medications that might be affecting body temperature. Common culprits include beta blockers (blood pressure meds), antidepressants, sedatives, and other mood altering medications. Often, lifestyle changes, holistic (mind,body, spirit) care, and natural alternatives may reduce or eliminate the need for all of these. It requires ownership of one’s own body to do the work to identify and mediate the reason for the need. Hard stuff? Yes. Never doubt for a second that you are not worthy of doing the work to make it happen.
 

🔎What might mind, body, and spirit care look like? To each person it will look a little different because of our individual uniqueness.

 
👉Jump start metabolism. A sluggish metabolism may simply need movement and exercise. Hot/cold therapy is another way to stimulate metabolism. I wrote about cryotherapy in the topic devoted to dopamine deficiency. Do you see the connection?
👉Prayer and meditation relieve stress. Both activities also activate certain parts to the brain that control attention and autonomic functions such as blood pressure and metabolism. This is not an “Amen, Dig in.” type of prayer, rather developing a deep rooted connection with God in quiet and solitude. The studies on this are fascinating.
👉Music influences physiological variables such as blood pressure, heart rate, immune and endocrine function….. and body temperature. Body temperature tends to rise when listening to music, particularly when listening to classical or specific frequency based music. Look for a company called Wholetones (founded by Michael Tyrrell) for more information on healing music.
👉Infrared saunas and biomats. While they have multiple health benefits, for the sake of this particular discussion, they work to help the body “heat up”. Think of them as “training wheels” for 98.6.
👉Outdoor time on the regular. Bonus points for pairing this with exercise!
👉Dry brushing for improved lymphatic flow. A healthy lymphatic system is crucial in the toxin elimination process. If you are not already adding a drop or two of Young Living’s Lemon Vitality essential oil into your water (use a glass, ceramic, or stainless steel cup) start now for daily gentle lymphatic system support.
👉Removing toxins from daily life. I cannot stress this enough. Our bodies are dropping in temperature because of daily cumulative exposure to toxins. We can detox all day every day…. But if we continue to add in toxins as fast as we detox, there is no end in sight. Medications (tho occasionally needed) are a toxin by definition. Knowing this is one of the biggest reasons I’m such a strong advocate for finding a healthier way whenever possible. Additionally, a healthy body temperature starts with a toxin free home. Have you ditched the chemicals yet? Young Living’s Thieves Household cleaner and Thieves Kitchen and Bath Scrub fulfill all cleaning needs, and support healthy immune function in the process. Crank up your diffuser and ditch the fragrance plug in’s. There are a million crazy good smelling possibilities as you make your own signature diffuser blends. My favorite right now is Young Living’s Believe essential oil blend and Lushious Lemon (oh my!). Soaps, skincare, cosmetics, perfumes….. All of these generally are loaded with toxins and Young living has safe, toxin free alternatives. We simply cannot afford NOT to use them.
👉Chiropractic care. Chiropractic manipulation supports nervous system function and regular chiro care may ultimately help a thyroid, adrenal or other underlying physiological dysfunction.
👉Learning to release emotions and attitudes that don’t serve your body. Unhappy, uninspired, dissatisfied, dull, and passive living (ie: life happens to you, you don’t make life happen) are all associated with lower body temperatures. Live life fully and engaged. Nobody can steal that from you. It is a personal choice regardless of circumstance.
👉Raindrop. Have you received one yet? If not, find someone who can give you one. Better yet, get the Raindrop Technique Collection and begin learning with a buddy. There are comprehensive instructions included in the kit.
👉Detoxification of the body is not a “once and done” process. It’s a lifestyle. Make sure your gut is moving proficiently. Probiotic Life 9 (MightyPro for the kiddos), ICP Daily, and digestive enzymes (such as Essentialzymes-4, Detoxzyme, Essentialzyme, Allerzyme, or Mightyzyme kids chewables) may be integral tools for optimal gut health support for the motility or toxin challenged individual.
👉Support the adrenal glands as needed. Endogize capsules or Endoflex essential oil blend are two highly supportive tools.
👉“Hot oils” have their place too in supporting a healthy body’s temperature. Consider applying these oils to the bottoms of your feet daily as a supportive measure: Thieves, Mountain Savory, Nutmeg, Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme (notice how many of those are in the Raindrop protocol!)
 
Consider this. Raising core body temperature by 2 degrees positively influences immune system activity by up to 40%. This is why having a low grade fever when you are fighting off something isn’t a bad thing and it isn’t a good idea to suppress a low fever.🤓
I’ll leave you with this. Make 98.6 F great again, and improve your overall health! 🙌 🌡
If you have lived with a low body temperature for years, be aware that your body will need retraining, and that doesn’t happen overnight. This kind of clue scene takes awhile to clean up. It may take a year or longer of daily care before the body is able to begin correcting the impact of chronic low temperature. Patience and baby steps, but I promise it will be worth it!
 
xoxo~ liz
 

Health Clues from Your Eyes -part 5

· ·


*Iris clues. Are you ready to dive a little deeper down this fascinating rabbit warren of information? If you are just now joining in this portion of detective work, I’d highly suggest a quick look at last week’s post before proceeding-Health Clues from Your Eyes – part 4.


🔎Noting the changes within your eyes may be likened to the notification lights on the dashboard of your car. If you know something is wrong early enough, you often have time to correct that which is setting the signal off.  The iris manifests clues marking changes within the body that warrant correction.


Depending upon how the clues manifest themselves, they may indicate acute, recovery, chronic, or degenerative situations within the body.


Acute – active inflammation. During this time, the body is using its resources rapidly in an attempt to gain control of the inflammation. The iris “warning signs” will look like white ribbons in the areas corresponding to the inflamed tissue. Other corroborative clues may include noticeable mucus production somewhere in the body, or visibly inflamed or swollen tissue. Detoxification is occurring, but often it’s not fast enough. Consider giving your body all the nutrition support you can. Add in Young Living’s Master Formula and NingXia Red for added support. 


Sub-Acute- Once the initial rapid inflammation has tapered off, the white ribbon like areas start to become darker. This is suggestive that nutrients have been depleted and need to be restored. If a sub-acute state is left unattended and the body continues to be exposed to either nutritional or physical stress, a chronic state of inflammation may result. Don’t stop supporting your body! 


Chronic- In this state, toxins and waste are not eliminated properly, cellular activity has slowed down considerably, nerve impulses are impaired, and conditions become ripe for chronic illness or dis-ease to set in. The iris will manifest the chronic condition state with the appearance of various sized “black holes” in the netting of the iris fibers. This will ultimately lead to further degeneration if positive changes are not made to a person’s lifestyle in an effort to reverse the course of dis-ease or illness. The black holes may get larger and multiply as more body systems are affected. 


*About ⅓ of the way away from the iris lies the autonomic nerve wreath. The autonomic nervous system is broken down into two subsystems. The parasympathetic nervous system is for basic housekeeping within the body and it controls the body while we rest. The sympathetic system is also commonly referred to as our “fight or flight” response. The nerve wreath is not always uniform in shape.. The more this wreath shape deviates from a standard roundish type shape, the more suggestive it is of a system off balance. Additionally, the color of the autonomic nerve wreath should match the color of the rest of the iris. Any increase, decrease, or change in color in this area suggests disharmony within the body. To recap, color and shape of the wreath are important clues🔎!


What about colored spots within the iris? These are called psora, and are typically considered to be an indicator of toxin loads within the body. If you watch your eyes closely, you may notice that these colored spots often change locations over time. This suggests the toxin load (including drug deposits) has moved to another portion of the body. Sometimes these spots show up in different colors: red yellow, and orange are not uncommon. They are most often seen in Zones 1 thru 3 in the irises.
“Scurf rim”🔎 is another clue on the outermost zone (7) of the iris. Is the area darkened? This is suggestive that the skin (remember, it’s an organ!) is not able to function effectively in the detoxification process, and toxins and metabolic waste are having a hard time being released from the body. An accompanying clue🔎 might include not sweating easily.


At the very top of Zone 7 (roughly 10pm -2am on a clock) look for an arc that often has fuzzy edges with a whitish tint. Though this used to be a mark of old age👵, it is becoming more and more common in younger people👩👨. Presence of this arc is suggestive of poor oxygenation and blood perfusion in the brain.


Now look for a solid white ring🔎 on the periphery of Zone 7. This suggests a chemical imbalance of some sort in the body. Western medicine also recognizes this ring as an indicator of probable excessive cholesterol and triglycerides in the body. Not surprisingly, further digging (with lab work and testing) often reveal poor calcium metabolism which contributes to plaque in the arteries (arteriosclerosis) and joints (arthritis), and subsequent higher blood pressure.


Zone 6 sometimes houses cloudlike spots 🔎resembling a string of pearls. If the spots are very white, these spots suggest acute inflammation. Yellowed or brownish pearls suggest that the inflammation has moved to a chronic state.

Check yourself for other clues. Do you also produce a great deal of mucus elsewhere in your body or have swollen lymph glands? Dry brushing, lymphatic massage, and regular exercise are all excellent ways to mediate impaired lymphatic function. 


Nerve rings🔎 may appear anywhere in the pupil.. They look much like growth rings found in a cross section of a tree. These rings suggest long term stress in one or more parts of the body, and are most often seen in chronically stressed individuals. Shouldn’t we all be huffing our Stress Away whenever the moment requires it? We have so many blessed tools at our fingertips to help support our bodies during times of stress. These nerve rings are similar to an SOS smoke signal. Pay attention to them! 


Check your eyes for dark lines 🔎radiating out from the pupil. These lines (called radii solaris) suggest a slower moving digestive tract and a subsequent toxin load. If you are not offloading the poo my friends, the toxin load will be there. ! This clue might also be suggestive of a parasite load.


We’ve just barely skimmed the surface of the clues🔎 the eyes can give us, but if you’re ultra curious, keep digging on your own. Dr Bernard Jensen is considered to be the modern “Father of Iridology”, and his work is an excellent place to start!
I’ll leave you with this cool factoid…. Did you know that you may be able to change the color of your eyes? Brown discolorations in blue/green eyes are suggestive of digestive system dysfunction, a gallbladder weakness, or liver dysfunction. Cleaning up these problems with clean eating habits and restoring health to the digestive system just might make your brownish eyes blue! The next time you think someone might be full of it💩, check their eyes…. You just might be right!😉


 xoxo~ liz

#sharingiscaring
#supportyourlocalpeepers
#goodmedicine
#ToxinFreeIsTheWayToBe
#goodmedicineisproactiveinsteadofreactive
#ThanksYL

Health Clues from Your Eyes – part 2

· ·


Before diving into a deeper discussion of all the clues our eyes give us, I wanted to issue a call to action. ⏰Do you have an ophthalmologist (MD) or doctor of Optometry (OD) that you see annually? Remember that the application of knowledge is not only power… it is also where wisdom is born. As is the case with regular lab work (which we will discuss at some point!), having professional insight into the health of your sight organs 👀provides invaluable clues to help you manage the rest of your body, thereby perhaps avoiding consequences later in life. When you go to your appointments, do not be shy about asking questions and taking notes! Additionally, any abrupt changes in the eyes should warrant an ASAP trip to your eye professional.  If you have a relationship with yours, they will be more likely to see you quickly in cases of urgent need. 


Secondly, be aware that any💊 medication 💊that affects neurological function may also affect vision and cause changes throughout the eye, including the cornea, optic nerve, lens, macula and retina. Some of these changes may be gradual or nearly instant and some may be temporary while others can lead to permanent vision impairment. I won’t be able to list all the medications because there are so many! If you suspect a medication may be partially responsible for an eye disturbance, do some digging and then talk to your doctor.


With that…. Let’s start unpacking more clues! 
👀The appearance of slightly bulging eyes is a significant clue for a possible overactive thyroid  that is also called Graves disease. Frequently, this disorder is ignited by exposure to environmental toxins in the home, workplace or in the water. Latent viruses such as Epstein Barr have also been implicated in playing a role in developing a chronically inflamed thyroid (leading to either hyper or hypo thyroid manifestation).
👀Another easy to spot clue from the peepers is a gray or whitish ring that is clearly visible around the cornea. The cornea is the lens that covers the “colored” part of the eyeball. Evidence of this ring usually indicates unhealthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels and is a marker for increased risk of heart attack or stroke.
👀Droopy eyelids (ptosis) may be a be a genetic issue, especially if present at birth.

Eyelids that become droopy are the clue for this discussion. Medical conditions that can lead to droopy eyelids include:
👉Injury/trauma to head or eye
👉Decreased blood flow to either the eye or the area of the brain controlling the eye (a droopy eye may be an early stroke sign)
👉Diabetes. Remember that diabetes quietly becomes a vascular disease if not controlled.
👉Headache syndromes. (a visible manifestation of the headache)
👉Neuromuscular conditions 
👉Myasthenia gravis. A droopy eyelid is often the first symptom of this autoimmune disease that is most commonly seen in people over the age of 50. It may be accompanied by occasional double vision, a hoarse voice, or weakness in the arms and legs.
👀Optic neuropathy simply means damage, disease, or dysfunction of the optic nerve. It may be caused by toxin exposure, infection,  an autoimmune disorder, chronic inflammation, trauma, glaucoma, insufficient blood flow to the optic nerve, or use of certain medications including those used for erectile dysfunction and amiodarone, a medication used to control heart rhythm. Symptoms of optic neuropathy include pain in the face or eye socket, pain inside the eye, loss of peripheral vision,  or sudden or gradual vision loss. Ophthalmologists and OD’s can detect  inflammation of the optic nerve on routine eye exams. #makeanannualeyeappointment 
👀Eyes that are painful, red and sensitive to light gives a vast set of possibilities. Given how “screen focused” our culture is, know that computer eye syndrome is a real thing! Give yourself regular breaks from screen time, and use blue light filter glasses when you are spending hours at a time in front of a computer or phone screen. Unmanaged, this can lead to eye strain or dry eyes. Wearing contact lenses for too long may have a similar effect.
👀If screens are not your eyes source of issue, other causes may need to be investigated. Chronic redness in the sclera (the white part of the eye) is linked to systemic inflammation throughout the entire body, and indicate a possible autoimmune disorder (ex: RA, psoriasis,  or ankylosing spondylitis). If light sensitivity is accompanied by “halos” around light sources, get checked for glaucoma!
👀If your eyes sting, burn, or feel “gritty”, chances are, you are experiencing dry eyes. In fact, we have all probably had brief episodes of dry eyes after riding a bike, spent too much time in front of a computer,  lived in an area with dry winter heat, or been on a plane for many hours in low humidity recirculated air. Chronic dry eyes have been linked to an autoimmune disorder called Sjogren’s syndrome, thyroid disorders, Vitamin A deficiency, or taking certain medications known to cause dry eyes as a side effect. 💊Antidepressants, antihistamines, decongestants, beta blockers (heart/blood pressure), certain antibiotics, ibuprofen, birth control pills, and meds for bladder control💊 are some of the more common culprits.
👀Rapid onset eye inflammation / sensitivity is often a clue indicating infection or inflammation.
👀Blurred vision is another clue to take seriously. While the clue may be manifesting as an inconvenient or annoying visual impairment, dangerously high blood pressure or high blood sugar are causing problems quietly elsewhere in the body. An estimated 73% of diabetic patients have bouts of blurred vision. High blood sugar causes the lens within the eye to swell, causing the blurring. Certain medications may also contribute to blurred vision:
💊Alendronate (for osteoporosis/ osteopenia)
💊COX-2 inhibitors such as Celebrex and Mobic (for pain and inflammation)
💊Acetaminophen, ranitidine (stomach acid), and lovastatin (cholesterol) are just three very common medications that also carry warnings about their potential to blur vision.
👀Red itchy “allergy” eyes may indeed be allergy related. However, the same symptoms also occur in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Approximately 1.3 million Americans have this autoimmune disorder. The immune system begins attacking body tissue, and its focus is generally tissue heavily laden in collagen. The sclera (the white part of the eye) and the cornea are made up almost entirely of collagen, and the inflammation there mimics allergen exposure.
👀An eye twitch can be ever so bothersome, yet it’s an important clue too. Check yourself…. They are generally related to fatigue or stress. It may be time to rest and recover! Chronic eye twitching should signal a visit to a health professional as it can be an early sign of a neurological disorder.
👀Yellowed eyes are a sign that the liver is struggling… a classic sign of jaundice. This is another ASAP health professional moment. 
👀“Floaters” are gray or black specks, strings or cobwebs that appear in vision. If you suddenly notice floaters, contact your eye specialist immediately. Certain medications are known to cause floaters. 💊, diphenhydramine (antihistamine), diltiazem (blood pressure), amitriptyline (mood), and alprazolam(anxiety)💊 are among those known to cause this. 


As I write, I’m reminded again of the impact that chronic toxin exposure has on our bodies… all the way up to our eyeballs! The liver and other detoxifying organs do their level best to keep us healthy, but they are not miracle workers. We have to claim ownership and do our part by avoiding toxins wherever possible by making a conscious effort to exercise, drink plenty of clean water, get plenty of sleep, manage our stress, and eat healthy clean food. So much medication 💊(a class of toxins all its own) may be avoided by caring for ourselves this way.


What conscious decisions did you make today  that decreased your toxin load?🙌 I chose to use YL body care products in the shower this morning and YL Cinnafresh deodorant before I put my clothes👖👕 on. I brushed my teeth with fluoride free YL Thieves Aromabright toothpaste, and bypassed an impending headache by using peppermint 🌿on the roof of my mouth. I finished out my time in the bathroom by avoiding some of the worst toxins☠️ in our homes….. standard American cosmetics. The Savvy Minerals makeup line is not only gorgeous and long lasting, it is liver friendly too! 


You are worth taking care of!
Thanks for making it easy Young Living! 
xoxo~ liz


#sharingiscaring
#supportyourlocalpeepers
#goodmedicine
#goodmedicineisproactiveinsteadofreactive
#thanksYL

Book Your Health Coaching CallBook Now