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Dangerous Diagnosis

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Approximately 15-20% of adults in the United States currently takes a medication for a diagnosed mental health concern. Over 6 million children nationwide ages 0-17 are also on medication.
 
This is a very important podcast that I’d encourage everyone listen to.
In brief:
 
🧐A diagnosis means payment to the health professional by the insurance companies.
 
🧐A diagnosis is subjective (ie: there are no laboratory tests identifying a mental health disorder), and the DSM is an outdated methodology (chemical imbalances are not something trackable) used primarily for payment purposes.
 
🧐Memorable quote from the podcast:
Whitaker: But, of course, people were being encouraged to say your problems are due to this chemical imbalance as opposed to what’s going on in your life. That’s such a profound shift in self-understanding.
Horwitz: You’re not going to sell many drugs by saying your problem is your life experiences. It’s far more effective to say your problem is in the brain. It’s an imbalance, we can correct that imbalance, just take our product.
 
Worth the listen
 
xoxo~ liz
 
(PS: one thing I wish they had covered but did not….. many physiological imbalances will certainly cause mental illness type symptoms. These (incomplete list) CAN be found often through an adequate and thorough lab workup… ex: magnesium, ferritin, B12, D deficiencies, hormone imbalances, thyroid disorders etc. Become your own best advocate! )
 
 
 

Thyroid -part 3 The Gall Bladder Connection

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Thyroid Clues Part III: The surprising alliance between the thyroid and the gallbladder
In the Westernized, insurance directed medical culture, medical complaints tend to be compartmentalized. A thyroid disorder is navigated by an endocrinologist and gallbladder disease is managed by a gastroenterologist……. and rarely the two shall meet! And yet, that’s not how the body works.🥴 Every organ plays an important role elsewhere in the body, and having the knowledge of a diagnosis can easily be used as a clue to shore up defenses in hopes of avoiding a secondary diagnosis. I’ve wondered if more people knew this truth, would they put in the personal work to prevent the collateral damage and in doing so, perhaps even bring the primary disorder to heel?🤔
 
The thyroid and gallbladder have an “Odd Couple” relationship
…at first thought, you wouldn’t imagine that one could have a powerful impact on the other (and vice versa), and yet they do.
One of the jobs of thyroid hormones is to bind to the smooth muscles of the gallbladder which then facilitates contraction and causes a release of bile into the small intestine. If someone is (even mildly) hypothyroid over a period of time, gallbladder emptying will become inefficient and sludge begins forming within the organ. Gallbladder (aka biliary) sludge is a real culprit and can cause significant problems in that semi solid form. Sludge is also fodder for gallstones🌚.
 
Interestingly, gallbladder sludge can also accumulate as a result of HYPERthyroidism, though the mechanism of action is different.🤓
If bile is sludgy, very little of it will be in usable form, so the body becomes less able to digest fatty foods. Burping or belching may occur often, and stools💩 may start to lighten up in color (to a lighter brown or clay colored). Bloating may also occur, especially after a fatty meal. Lipid panel (lab work) results will also begin changing. It’s not uncommon for patients to develop higher LDL (cholesterol) than previously exhibited.
Bile is also important in the absorption and metabolism of fat soluble nutrients such as vitamins A, D, E, and K as well as essential fatty acids. Without bile, deficiencies may quietly slide into play.
Additionally, bile acts as an immune signaling agent in the gut microbiome.🦠 It binds to special receptor sites within the gut to help control intestinal inflammation and help facilitate the metabolism of toxins in the gut.
 
Meanwhile, thyroid hormones and gut bacteria also have their own intricate relationship. According to recent studies (2019 and 2020), the microbiome 🦠plays a significant role in the activity of thyroid hormones, and a gut with a healthy microbiome 🦠 supports healthy thyroid function. Of special interest is regular incorporation of probiotic strains Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus into the diet, as both have been shown in studies “to lead to fewer thyroid medication dose adjustments, allow for possible dose reduction, and having less serum hormonal fluctuations.” Young Living’s Life 9 probiotic contains 4 strains of Bifidobacterium and 4 strains of Lactobacillus (9 strains total with 17 billion colony forming units!). Supporting the gut makes the thyroid happy too!
 
An estimated 600,000+ gallbladders are removed each year, so odds are high that someone reading this would ask…. “What if I don’t have a gallbladder?”
Let’s chat about that! T4 is converted into T3 (the more active form of thyroid hormone) in the liver, and properly metabolized fats (usually accomplished with bile) are needed to make that magic happen. As a result, not enough usable T3 is made, and metabolism ultimately slows down. If the gallbladder has been removed, then fats will not be broken down properly without some help from outside sources. Essentialzymes-4, Detoxzyme, Allerzyme, and Essentialzyme all contain the digestive enzyme lipase (among other digestive enzymes) which supports proper fat digestion and metabolism…… AND thyroid health!
Do you see the sludgy slope? ….The thyroid is off which in turn throws the gallbladder off, which in turn throws the gut microbiome off! That’s some hard slogging through sludge right there.
Women👩‍ are far more likely than men🧔 to have a combination of thyroid / gallbladder issues. Excess estrogen (aka estrogen dominance ) can compete with thyroid hormones at the thyroid receptor sites. Not only can estrogen dominance potentiate hypothyroidism, it can also be a factor in gallbladder distress by blocking the thyroid receptor sites on the gallbladder. Estrogen dominance is an enormous problem in our world for both men and women because of all the synthetic estrogen like compounds found in everything from plastics to body care products (Thank goodness Young Living has a full line of all things personal care for us that are safe to use!) Estrogen dominance is also driven by use of birth control and hormone replacement therapy. Even strong hormonal changes in pregnancy can trigger a gallbladder issue, which as we’ve just seen, can then stress the thyroid. Full circle friends!
The complexities of the body is fascinating! God gets all the credit for our uniquely and wonderfully made us!
 
xoxo~ liz
 

Risks to Birth Control Pills

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I’m often learning alongside you. This is how we grow, right? I’ve not been a fan of birth control pills for many years. Unfortunately, I did not know the truth about them in the 80’s and early 90’s when I took them as a way to manage my own severe endometriosis. When I woke up to the hand that fed me (my pharmacy license / Big Pharma ) in the late ’90’s, BCP’s was one of the rabbit holes I ventured down… and am still venturing down because there is soooooooo much to understand about this class of medications. Physically, socially, historically, and politically (and it’s all tied together 🙄🥴. #ofcourseitis )
 
The story of “green plasma” 😬was new to me tho. As I said….. always learning 🤓. And now I’ve got another book to buy so I can learn more details. 😀
 
With Big Pharma, things are rarely as they seem on the surface.
 
Before taking any medication, take the time to dig deeper than what the label (or your pharmacist) says. Most pharmacists have not done their due diligence on learning the truth. They are given talking points by their employer, the insurance companies, and the drug manufacturers.
 
We research when we buy a car, a computer, or any other impactful purchase….. why would you not do this for something life altering like a long term medication and weigh risk versus benefit. You are worth it.😘
 
xoxo~ liz
 
 
PS: Note the payout (1.02$Billion for clots and $21 million for gallbladder…. no small potatoes!) in lawsuits related to just two birth control brands [there are more] made by one company (Bayer….. who also happens to own Monsanto….. who also happened to play a large role within the Nazi atrocities committed during WWII https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/bayer.)
 

Help with Grief

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At the “just getting started” age of 55, I’ve got more than a handful of friends who have become widows at a pretty young age. I honestly cannot even pretend to imagine their grief while still navigating life, often with kiddos still at home. This is a beautiful article about grief written by a strong woman who lost her beloved after 20 years of marriage. (taken from Plain Values magazine).
 
I believe the right kind of grief is a sign of a life well lived. Loving well means grieving is inevitable. How grief is handled is where the outcome lies. Grief tends to settle in the lungs if emotions are not released. It’s one of the reasons so many elderly couples die so closely together (timespan wise).
 

The Enigmatic Endocrine System Part I

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The Enigmatic Endocrine System Part I: Organs of Importance
 
When I write, I nearly always have classical or instrumental music 🎼🎧 playing in the background. Today, I’m listening to a playlist of some of the greatest symphonies of all time. It takes an orchestra🎻🎺🥁🎹 of about one hundred musicians and a variety of instruments to create a symphony. If the conductor, a musician, or an instrument doesn’t perform optimally, the symphony will suffer in quality. As more musicians and instruments err, the symphony becomes noticeably wonky, and the “off-ness” most certainly affects the overall listening experience.
 
The endocrine system is very much like an orchestra. Many hands make light and beautiful work! Each of the twelve major glands/organs within the endocrine system relies on the others to do its work properly and efficiently in the body, and unless you’ve acquired an endocrine disorder, I would wager that you probably rarely think about this small but mighty💪 system in the body.
 
Originally, I was only going to cover the thyroid in this series, but as I was writing about the effects of chronically low body temperature, I realized I would be doing you a disservice if I merely mentioned the other endocrine organs in passing. This happens all too often in western medicine, and incomplete information often results in applying a bandaid on the wrong area. We’ve got to look at the entire system if you are going to be a top notch health detective🕵️. With that…. Let’s proceed!

Pineal Gland Facts:

🧠At the “top” of the endocrine system lies a small pinecone shaped, rice sized organ that is deep within the brain. The pineal gland is one of the least understood and most powerful parts of the human body. Its known primary role is to control body rhythm (day and night, the body’s seasonal activity, and even the aging process!) by way of production of melatonin. Melatonin itself has a profound influence in the body. We tend to think of it as our body’s elixir for sleep😴, but lack thereof also affects immune function, blood pressure, cortisol levels, eye health, seasonal mood disorders, and may even contribute to relief from acid reflux. The pineal gland also exerts its influence on another endocrine gland, the hypothalamus. Not everyone needs to supplement melatonin, but if you feel that you do, consider Young Living’s Immupro. It’s a chewable tablet taken right before bedtime. In addition to melatonin, it contains several other natural ingredients known to support the immune system and help facilitate a good night’s sleep.
 
Over time, the pineal gland gets dealt some pretty harsh blows as the body manages viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections, a toxin burden, and exposure to heavy metals and fluoride. These all contribute to calcification of the pineal gland over time. As you may imagine, a malfunctioning pineal gland causes a cascade effect throughout the body.

Hypothalamus Facts:

The hypothalamus’ main role is to keep the body in homeostasis (self regulated balance) as much as possible. It also acts as a purveyor of information between the endocrine and nervous systems. Body temperature, thirst, appetite, weight, emotions, sleep cycles, libido, blood pressure, production of digestive juices, balancing of body fluids….. The hypothalamus is a magnificent multitasking micromanager when it is functioning well, but if the pineal gland doesn’t signal the hypothalamus properly, its performance will be inhibited. Head injuries, genetic or congenital conditions, and certain autoimmune disorders may also hinder the endocrine symphony in a variety of ways.
 
The hypothalamus-pituitary connection can be thought of as a major “command center” of the endocrine system. The thyroid does not stand alone. It relies on information coming from these two “high command” organs.

The Pituitary Gland Facts:

The pituitary gland is a fascinating team player within the endocrine system. Though it is tucked deeply within the brain, it is a delicate little bean. It may be damaged or adversely affected by:
🔎Lack of blood supply
🔎Medications (including opiates, SSRI’s, haloperidol, risperidone,and certain antibody therapies)
🔎Concussions. Even seemingly mild concussions may cause a “dimmer switch” like effect on the endocrine system. This effect may occur instantaneously, or can begin to show up months to years after the original injury.

🔎Endocrine disrupting chemicals☠️

 
Endocrine disruptors are well known for causing pituitary dysfunction… they disrupt the entire endocrine system by mimicking, blocking, interfering with hormone production, or modifying the body’s sensitivity to hormones. The term “hormone” comes from the greek word “hormon” which means “to stir up”. Endocrine disruptors wreak havoc on the body’s ability “to stir up” and long term disruption often leads to diabetes, thyroid, and/or sex hormone dysfunction. The cascade doesn’t stop there. It will ultimately affect every system in the body. Thankfully, we have control of the environment within our homes and what we bring in to it.
 
First we have to identify the criminals, right? Once we do that, we change the locks on the door and don’t let them knowingly in again.
Common endocrine disruptors include:
 
☠️BPA: a plasticizer found in inner linings of canned foods and in many plastic bottles and containers.
 
☠️Atrazine and organophosphates are herbicides and pesticides commonly used throughout the agricultural industry. Buy organic to limit exposure. Consider starting a garden for full control over what you put into your body!
 
☠️Perchlorate: another contaminate in food, milk, and water. Buy organic and filter your water to avoid this one.
 
☠️Lead, arsenic, Mercury. Yes, sadly, these are all still out there. If you do a little digging, thimerosal is a mercury based preservative found in certain vaccines and medicines.
 
☠️Perfluorinated chemicals: these bad boys are used to make nonstick cookware. Toss’em!
 
☠️ Phthalates are another common plasticizer. These can be found in plastics. Sadly, they are also found in standard US cosmetics and skin care. Thank goodness we have Young Living’s Savvy Minerals cosmetics and extensive skin care lines, (Bloom, ART, and Balance) suitable for every skin type.
 
☠️Glycol Ethers are chemicals used as solvents and stabilizers found in personal care products, perfumes, cosmetics, household cleaners, and industrial products. Go ahead and pat yourself on the back if you’ve already kicked all these things to the curb, and have your castle (home) and temple(your body) cared for and supported by Thieves Household Cleaner (all things Thieves!) and all of the other wonderful healthy options Young Living has created for us.
 
☠️ Emotional unresolved trauma is another endocrine disruptor. Surprised? Studies are uncovering just how much damage may be done by not working through and releasing emotions. The body doesn’t lie, and we store so much at a cellular level. I encourage you to do the heart work and seek help if needed.
 
Next week, I’ll cover more extensive opportunities to naturally support the functioning of the pineal, hypothalamus, and pituitary. Recognizing the clues dropped by these three tiny organs is as important as deciphering and understanding thyroid clues!
 
xoxo~ liz
 
(PS: It’s here!! 🥳 If you’d like to order Volume I of Becoming Your Own Health Detective, the link is in the menu!
 
Thank you for supporting my heart’s work!
 
 

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