Last night my husband came home complaining of chest pains in his cardiovascular region. Because it was so late and because heart attack's run in his family, I urged him to go to the ER. While I waited up for him to arrive home, I kept in contact with him to give him my support though I could not be there.
When he checked in they provided him with an EKG and took his blood pressure, temperature and asked him all of the routine questions. Then they sent him out to the waiting room until they could make room for him. About eight hours later, having had blood taken and more questions asked, they diagnosed a strained muscle and prescribed Naproxen, Flexerol and another muscle relaxer. Three pharmeceutical medications for the diagnoses of a pulled muscle in the chest cavity!
At 3am my husband came home, weary from the strain of florescent lights and waiting in a crowded hospital ward. I came downstairs to inquire about the results. As he told me, I must have reacted with horror and in my own tired haze began to tell him all that I knew about the muscular system, the different ways to self-heal without prescription drugs and lectured him on taking better care of himself. This must have overwhelmed him because he snapped "You're not the expert!" and we ended up sleeping in separate rooms that night.
Why does my husband not want my advice, when I have done so much to discover different ways of self healing and bring to light the possibilities of creating and sustaining personal health?!
This question raged through my sleep-deprived mind all day. For many hours I resented my husbands words of, "You're not the expert." And no, I am certainly not an expert, but then again, how many doctors are experts? How does one become an expert in their field? It takes years and years of practice with experience of both specifics and variables being studied and learned. By no means am I an expert, but at the same time, I might never be, nor ever want to be. If the only means by which I could be considered an expert is to get my doctorate after 8 plus years of school and brain washing, no thank you.
Dejected feelings aside, I have to ask, why, when I have brought such knowledge of natural healing, herbs, aromatherapy, yoga, pilates, energy work and nutrition into our home would my husband rather take drugs to ease his pain before even trying any of the alternatives?
I decided to discuss this with him in a more gentle way this evening. Inquiring, I asked him if the doctors had told him of any stretching exercises that he could do to relieve his discomfort. No.
Did the doctors recommend any topical solution to the problem? No.
Did the doctors discuss any minerals or vitamins that could help with the muscle spasms? No.
Did the doctors advise any alternative ways to cure the pain besides the medicine? No.
Then my husband said something astounding: "I received the prescriptions and I did not feel that I had a choice but to get them filled".
I realized then that my husband had fallen into the medical trap just as many American's have. Precisely because we are not given a choice, therefore we feel as if we do not have a choice. Choice is one of the major cornerstones of modern society, and yet our medical system appears to give little choice to individuals looking to partake in their own self care. Three prescriptions offered because of what? A relationship between drug companies, the hospital tax shelters or simply because no one knows of anything better to offer?
This is the very reason herbalists like myself are pushing for Integrative Medicine in our country. This is why we must fight for our health freedom and the right to choose the treatment we would like to have offered to us and to our bodies. If our bodies are supposed to be our temples, only we can determine the right course of action for them. No one should be made to feel like a poor patient because they refuse to take their medicine or decide to get an alternative diagnosis.
While the miracle of modern medicine, surgery and transplantations is very valid, one should be cautious to begin with the least intervention in the first stages of illness. Very often the body is reacting to stress, toxins, hormonal imbalance or poor nutritional distribution in the body. This is the time to do nothing and to take stock of what might be affecting us, not cover up the problem with drugs.
My husbands entire family seems to be deeply rooted in the medical system, it doesn't come as a surprise because his father has Polio. In the era when Polio was first being treated, he was one of the very first kids in Pennsylvania to receive treatment, one which allowed him to be mobile and heal from the Polio. My husbands father also receives dialysis on a regular basis for kidney failure and has survived four heart attacks, while his mother received a gastric bypass surgery and a knee replacement. All of these interventions have kept them going into their mid seventies. But you see, they were born into an era when how to eat healthy and how to treat the body was not widely explored. And they were born when the medical system was just beginning to take shape. Now there are so many marvels of modern medicine to take advantage of and when you are already locked in to needing this or that surgery, one must feel quite priveledged to be able to partake in these sciences. Therefore, my husband also feels that he is receiving the best care, because afterall UPS has the best healthcare coverage in the United States today.
So we finally determined that the reason my husband was more inclined to take the advice of the medical "expert" over the simple herbalist is because it is easier to hear what the Devil you know has to say than the Devil you don't know.
So the next time you feel you have no choice, think again, it may not be easy at first to think about what your body might be trying to tell you, or what your body might need, rather than accepting the quick fix. But in the long run, you will have taken an approach which allows freedom of choice over feelings of fear to take you where you need to be. You will be empowered to act confidently and take responsibility for yourself and your self care and that is a beautiful thing.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
My Raw Food Experience
I haven't blogged in a while, I guess you can say I have had a bit of the old writers block. I've also been very busy with the Hope Eternal Loud Music Festival, a little something I put together to celebrate the recovery of a good friend of mine who was diagnosed with a very rare form of uterine cancer this year. Green Inside Herbals has taken a back seat because I am still trying to figure it all out. Being new to this line of business has been a little bit of a challenge. Anyone who knows me from my Eternal Embrace and Triple Moon Entertainment business knows me to be smart, savvy and decisive, but for some reason, my Herbal Business self just has not found her sea legs yet.
This past month has been a very positive and transformational month for me though. I have been told that my ability to change easily and quickly is not always beneficial, but I disagree. I love change and the more I grow in this life, the easier I may have it in the next life. (At least I hope that is the case!)
About a month ago I suddenly started to receive information about raw foods in my email. I don't recall how I started to get them, maybe facebook put a trace on an inquiry that I made to an aquaintance who was trying to go raw and sent the website www.rawepicurian.net to my email, or perhaps some of my herbal buddies turned me on to the idea. At any rate, I began to receive blogs regularly, not thinking too much of it, I would read the recipes with a vague interest. Until one day I was sent a blog about Sarma Melngailis' new book Living Raw Food. It was probably Sarma's unique beauty that caught my attention first, but I began to read the synopsis of the book and became fascinated. In 1999 I breifly encountered a Raw Food workshop being held in Newburyport, MA and I was intrigued, but at the same time scared. I didn't want to eat raw meat and raw eggs. Boy was I mis-informed. I picked up Sarma's book, one of two in a series, and devoured it. Soon enough I began to incorporate raw foods into my every day eating, then I suddenly lost all my desire to eat otherwise. In a month's time I went almost completely Raw Vegan.
As a still breastfeeding mother, I worried at first that I would not be providing enough nutrients for my daughter, but because breastfeeding is merely supplemental at this point and she eats everything now, I surged ahead. I was relieved when I read that certain vegetables and fruits, including coconuts have more protien than meat and that our bodies are more efficient when we eat our fruits and veggies in liquid form.
Not only did I suddenly have amazing energy because of this new eating, but I loved food again. I went through quite a long period after my pregnancy, where I detested food and craved only sweets. It was not pretty and I felt that something had to be done when I received a blood test back where my tryglicerides were through the roof! I had originally met with a dietician who counciled me about portion sizes, that helped tremendously as we are now consuming double the portions that we did fifty years ago. I also began running and joined a Pilates class which has been such an amazing experience for me because I previously did not like to exercise and now I love it. Now, finally, after I made these adjustments, I am beginning to feel better about myself, not only my energy and eating habits, but better over all, more confident, more aware, more myself it seems.
Although recently, I must admit, I fell off the wagon, I jumped right back on. It was hard though. I guess learned behavior patterns can often derail progress. It helps to have amazing resources on the web. If you are interested in exploring more about the benefits of Raw Food health, check out www.rawepicurian.net and www.crazysexylife.com both of these sites are inspirational in their own way and support people looking to add more raw food into their lives. The raw epicurian is all raw food recipes and they even do monthly give-aways, and Crazy Sexy Life has quotes, articles and stories about everyday people who are making the transition to living healthier.
I am not 100% anything. Why be so strict when I know that I will fail, that is why diets never work. But I make an effort (and yes, it is an effort some days more than others) to do a little each day. In the morning I always have a smoothie or a peice of fruit. In the afternoon, I may have a salad or sometimes I eat just a simple dish of tunafish or share chicken fingers with my daughter. And for dinner I will have a plate of veggies and some rice or a small peice of chicken. I want to try to eventually be about 85% raw, but I am not going to kill myself. As long as I am exercising every week at least three times a week, and eating that way I know I am doing a world of good for me and for my child.
We also implemented Meat Free Monday's at our house, which I borrowed from CSLs website. I read that more and more communities are advocating MFM to try to reduce our consumption of meat. From 1950, we have doubled our meat consumption and also doubled our body masses. Since cows and other meat animals are being fed diets of grain rather than grass, to make them grow fatter quicker, they are unhealthy and get sick easier due to a comprimised immune system which is why they are injected with the antibiotics that we have now built immunity against. I am making a concerted effort to only purchase grass fed meat when I buy meat at all anymore.
I also found these great bars today at the supermarket. Usually supermarkets don't carry anything raw, but Lara Bars are 90% Raw and they are Vegan. If I get a chocolate craving or a sweets craving, I can turn to Lara Bars. I think their base is made of dates, what my Mother calls "God's Candy".
I can't wait to buy Sarma's first book too, I was reading it at the bookstore a few days ago and couldn't put it down. She is an inspiration for me, we are around the same age, she grew up in Newton, MA and went to Mount Ida Summer Camp and I went to college in Newton at Mount Ida. She is a saavy NY restaurant owner and also has several online companies. As a multiple business owner myself, it is nice to have a peer like her to admire and connect with. To learn more visit her restuarant Pure Food and Wine www.purefoodandwine.com or her oneline wholesale raw food store One Lucky Duck www.oneluckyduck.com.
At the end of the day, it is all how you feel about yourself, maybe you will find that eating Raw is not for you which of course, there are plenty of additional ways you can improve your health. I myself, finally found something that is working for me and it took 32 years to figure that out and I am still trying to work at it!
This past month has been a very positive and transformational month for me though. I have been told that my ability to change easily and quickly is not always beneficial, but I disagree. I love change and the more I grow in this life, the easier I may have it in the next life. (At least I hope that is the case!)
About a month ago I suddenly started to receive information about raw foods in my email. I don't recall how I started to get them, maybe facebook put a trace on an inquiry that I made to an aquaintance who was trying to go raw and sent the website www.rawepicurian.net to my email, or perhaps some of my herbal buddies turned me on to the idea. At any rate, I began to receive blogs regularly, not thinking too much of it, I would read the recipes with a vague interest. Until one day I was sent a blog about Sarma Melngailis' new book Living Raw Food. It was probably Sarma's unique beauty that caught my attention first, but I began to read the synopsis of the book and became fascinated. In 1999 I breifly encountered a Raw Food workshop being held in Newburyport, MA and I was intrigued, but at the same time scared. I didn't want to eat raw meat and raw eggs. Boy was I mis-informed. I picked up Sarma's book, one of two in a series, and devoured it. Soon enough I began to incorporate raw foods into my every day eating, then I suddenly lost all my desire to eat otherwise. In a month's time I went almost completely Raw Vegan.
As a still breastfeeding mother, I worried at first that I would not be providing enough nutrients for my daughter, but because breastfeeding is merely supplemental at this point and she eats everything now, I surged ahead. I was relieved when I read that certain vegetables and fruits, including coconuts have more protien than meat and that our bodies are more efficient when we eat our fruits and veggies in liquid form.
Not only did I suddenly have amazing energy because of this new eating, but I loved food again. I went through quite a long period after my pregnancy, where I detested food and craved only sweets. It was not pretty and I felt that something had to be done when I received a blood test back where my tryglicerides were through the roof! I had originally met with a dietician who counciled me about portion sizes, that helped tremendously as we are now consuming double the portions that we did fifty years ago. I also began running and joined a Pilates class which has been such an amazing experience for me because I previously did not like to exercise and now I love it. Now, finally, after I made these adjustments, I am beginning to feel better about myself, not only my energy and eating habits, but better over all, more confident, more aware, more myself it seems.
Although recently, I must admit, I fell off the wagon, I jumped right back on. It was hard though. I guess learned behavior patterns can often derail progress. It helps to have amazing resources on the web. If you are interested in exploring more about the benefits of Raw Food health, check out www.rawepicurian.net and www.crazysexylife.com both of these sites are inspirational in their own way and support people looking to add more raw food into their lives. The raw epicurian is all raw food recipes and they even do monthly give-aways, and Crazy Sexy Life has quotes, articles and stories about everyday people who are making the transition to living healthier.
I am not 100% anything. Why be so strict when I know that I will fail, that is why diets never work. But I make an effort (and yes, it is an effort some days more than others) to do a little each day. In the morning I always have a smoothie or a peice of fruit. In the afternoon, I may have a salad or sometimes I eat just a simple dish of tunafish or share chicken fingers with my daughter. And for dinner I will have a plate of veggies and some rice or a small peice of chicken. I want to try to eventually be about 85% raw, but I am not going to kill myself. As long as I am exercising every week at least three times a week, and eating that way I know I am doing a world of good for me and for my child.
We also implemented Meat Free Monday's at our house, which I borrowed from CSLs website. I read that more and more communities are advocating MFM to try to reduce our consumption of meat. From 1950, we have doubled our meat consumption and also doubled our body masses. Since cows and other meat animals are being fed diets of grain rather than grass, to make them grow fatter quicker, they are unhealthy and get sick easier due to a comprimised immune system which is why they are injected with the antibiotics that we have now built immunity against. I am making a concerted effort to only purchase grass fed meat when I buy meat at all anymore.
I also found these great bars today at the supermarket. Usually supermarkets don't carry anything raw, but Lara Bars are 90% Raw and they are Vegan. If I get a chocolate craving or a sweets craving, I can turn to Lara Bars. I think their base is made of dates, what my Mother calls "God's Candy".
I can't wait to buy Sarma's first book too, I was reading it at the bookstore a few days ago and couldn't put it down. She is an inspiration for me, we are around the same age, she grew up in Newton, MA and went to Mount Ida Summer Camp and I went to college in Newton at Mount Ida. She is a saavy NY restaurant owner and also has several online companies. As a multiple business owner myself, it is nice to have a peer like her to admire and connect with. To learn more visit her restuarant Pure Food and Wine www.purefoodandwine.com or her oneline wholesale raw food store One Lucky Duck www.oneluckyduck.com.
At the end of the day, it is all how you feel about yourself, maybe you will find that eating Raw is not for you which of course, there are plenty of additional ways you can improve your health. I myself, finally found something that is working for me and it took 32 years to figure that out and I am still trying to work at it!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Your kitchen is your medicine cabinet
To learn how to use the herbs and spices in your kitchen as a part of a healing diet or as supplements in your self care routine, read this article: http://www.examiner.com/x-14746-Manchester-Natural-Health-Examiner~y2009m7d9-Your-kitchen-is-your-medicine-cabinet
Thursday, July 2, 2009
New Hampshire: Where the herbs are
My latest article entitled New Hampshire: Where the herbs are, has just been published at http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-14746-Manchester-Natural-Health-Examiner~y2009m7d2-New-Hampshire-Where-the-herbs-are.
Please visit to generate traffic to my site and to learn about New Hampshires herbal scene.
Please visit to generate traffic to my site and to learn about New Hampshires herbal scene.
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