Preventive Health & Root-Cause Medicine

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://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

Merry Christmas Eve friends! Chef Mary Mick’s recipes never disappoint! Do you have a tried and true favorite recipe that always shows up on Christmas morning? Share with us!
xoxo~ liz

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!

​If you are in the 40 to 60 something age category (as I am), have you noticed that a number of friends or acquaintances of similar age have complained of shoulder joint pain and stiffness? I used to assume that this was the result of normal wear and tear as we age, and sometimes that is the case. Often tho, I run into people who have shoulder pain and stiffness who cannot recall having had a memorable recent injury. Idiopathic (ie: unknown cause) frozen shoulder usually starts out with a dull or achy pain in only one shoulder, with pain that may extend to the shoulder muscles that wrap around the front of the arm that ultimately leads to long term limited mobility of that joint.  It’s a painful and frustrating disorder because there isn’t really a known cure, and it nearly always “unfreezes” on its own within 6 months to 2 years, although injections to surgery are often recommended by western medicine. 

Idiopathic frozen shoulder (called “50 year old shoulder” in Eastern Medicine)  happens much more often in women than in men, usually between the age of 40 and 60yrs old…… coincidentally around the time hormone production really wanes… specifically estrogen.

When estrogen production decreases significantly, the flexibility of our connective tissue is affected. We may see it visibly as crepey looking skin, but make no mistake…. Your joints are being affected too….. In this case, specifically the shoulder capsule.

Learning what I’ve learned over the last many years, I’ve chosen not to go down this path by doing the following things:
💪Regular full motion exercise (lots of shoulder work)
💪Yoga (faith based for me)
💪Supporting my hormones fully thru perimenopause (early stage) and menopause. I use Progessence Plus (on my forearms and on the carotid artery points on my neck nightly, and I also alternate between PD 80/20 and Femigen (one capsule a day works for me). According to my labwork, tho I am in menopause, my estrogen and progesterone levels have been maintained at healthy levels to keep my body functioning well. (I highly recommend hormone/thyroid labwork on at least a yearly basis if you are wanting physical confirmation of what’s working and what’s not working for you!… if you do not have a way to get this done, please message me and I can help you.)

We are all built very differently, and are at different stages in our lives. If you support your hormones with a Young Living product(s)….. Tell me, what have you found that works for you, and how do you use it?
xoxo~ liz

#sharingiscaring
#goodmedicine
#goodmedicineisknowledge
#caringforyourselfsoyoucancareforothers
#ThanksYL

🎶🎶 Sleeeeep in heavenly peace……🎶 🎶

Roughly 1/3 of the US population has at least occasional problems either falling asleep or staying asleep, and over time, sleeplessness will become a tremendous health problem if not addressed properly. (emphasis on the properly!)

There are more than 2 handfuls of common reasons why people have trouble sleeping (way more than I can cover here today). 

What’s concerning are the number of people who ultimately turn to prescription medication to help get a “good night’s ” sleep. We have been conditioned to believe that if a doctor writes a prescription, the benefits surely outweigh the risks. While this is sometimes true, it’s not always the case. “Sleeping pills” are what we call ‘fast movers’ in pharmacy…. ie: they are a popular item. 

Not so fast….  let’s take a look at a few lesser known truths about some common (Ambien, Klonopin, Lunesta, Restoril, Xanax, Sonata) prescription sleep aids:
😴None of these are approved by the FDA for long term use, yet people are on them for years.
The sleep achieved using any of these is not natural, refreshing, or restorative. The sleep you get  is an artificial sleep and your body recognizes the difference. Our body does its repairing and recovering during “natural sleep”, and that doesn’t happen to any appreciable degree when using the above medications. (In addition, by their very definition, they are an additional toxin the body must now work extra hard to clean out.)
😴All of the above prescription meds also block the body from being able to produce melatonin (the very hormone that helps us sleep). This is one of the reasons this group of prescription medications become addictive…. because your body produces less and less melatonin the longer you are on them.
😴Melatonin “deficiency” is a bigger problem than just not being able to sleep without a pill…. normal melatonin levels are necessary for immune function, having energy throughout the day, having healthy breast tissue, effective brain function, supports healthy cardiovascular function, improved GUT (yes!) health, eye health, and pancreas function (Just to name a few! 😍) 
😴Additionally, several of these prescription sleep aids also deplete a body’s stores of Calcium and Vitamin D over time (which will ultimately affect your bones and about 400 other necessary functions in the body) 😬

I am thankful that we have natural choices instead of that which is advertised as  ‘simple’ solutions in nearly every form of mainstream media you see. 
My favorite Young Living products that help me have a restful restorative night’s sleep are RutaVala (on the base of the big toe and in the belly button! and Immupro …. it’s back 🙌). I also love Frankincense and Peace & Calming!)
What’s your “go to” for a good night’s sleep? 
xoxo~ liz

#goodmedicine
#goodmedicineisagoodnightssleep
#ThanksYL
#Godgaveuswhatweneedinthegarden