I have stated that I will avoid politics on this blog so that people can access info without being bombarded with my particular views or put off because they disagree. I feel it is much more important for people to read my blog regardless of whether we are on the same political side or not. As such, I am not going to debate the issues, discuss the candidates in depth or discuss my own choice this election. However, I do feel the need to put out each candidate's statement from their own websites about what they will do to help stop the rising incidences of Autism and the treatment of Autism. And, my other concern is funding for services since I know more and more families are losing their services through DDD right here in AZ. I do NOT want that to happen, and neither should you if you have a child with Autism. So here are the candidates statements from their own websites. I had a hard time finding John McCain's page, I finally had to just google Autism John McCain and finally found this page. I wanted to know where each candidate stands on these issues that effect us each day. I wanted to know WHO is supporting LIFE LONG funding of services since many of these children will face disabilities all of their lives. I wanted to know who if either candidate was going to support insurance coverage for Autism (not just AZ and FL which are the ONLY two states that have that legislation currently). And, if you are trying to find the same info, maybe this will help you. John McCain's statement is much less comprehensive than Barack Obama's but that was what I could find from his website. So there you go, read, check out each website on your own if you'd like and don't forget to VOTE tomorrow, your country is depending on you!
********************************************************************
Combating Autism in America
John McCain is very concerned about the rising incidence of autism among America's children and has continually supported research into its causes and treatment. He has heard countless stories about families' hardships obtaining a diagnosis for their children's autism and accessing quality medical treatment. He believes that federal research efforts should support broad approaches to understanding the factors that may play a role in the incidence of autism, including factors in our environment, for both prevention and treatment purposes.John McCain was proud to lend his support to the Combating Autism Act of 2006, which he cosponsored, and worked to ensure its enactment. This law is helping to increase public awareness and screening of autism spectrum disorder, promote the use of evidence-based interventions, and create autism Centers of Excellence for Autism Spectrum Disorder Research and Epidemiology. John McCain understands that despite the federal and scientific research efforts to date, the exact causes of autism are not yet known and greater research is needed to understand this disorder. That is why in November 2007, he joined with Senator Lieberman in requesting the leadership of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which has jurisdiction over federal research into autism, to hold a hearing on federal research efforts regarding factors affecting incidence and treatment in order to help determine where research efforts can best be directed. As President, John McCain will work to advance federal research into autism, promote early screening, and identify better treatment options, while providing support for children with autism so that they may reach their full potential.
*****************************************************
BARACK OBAMA AND JOE BIDEN: SUPPORTING AMERICANS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
More than one million Americans have Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), a complex condition that impacts communication, socialization, and behavior. And more cases of ASD are being recognized across the country at an alarming pace. Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe that we must do more to help support Americans with ASD, their families, and their communities. Throughout his career, Barack Obama has worked with families affected by ASD to raise awareness and to provide support to parents and families living with ASD. As president, he will build on these many years of advocacy and ensure that his administration prioritizes ASD research, public awareness, and lifelong support services. Barack Obama and Joe Biden will seek to increase federal ASD funding for research, treatment, screenings, public awareness, and support services to $1 billion annually by the end of his first term in office. They will mandate insurance coverage of autism treatment and will also continue to work with parents, physicians, providers, researchers, and schools to create opportunities and effective solutions for people with ASD.
Record of Leadership on ASD Research and Care: As an Illinois state senator, Barack Obama sponsored legislation that became law to create an ASD diagnosis education program, an initiative designed to promote the implementation of evidence-based practices. The goal of the project is to offer educational opportunities at all levels of care, including physicians, early intervention (EI) specialists, psychologists, teachers, day care providers, parents, respite workers, and speech and language therapists. Obama has personally worked side-by-side with Illinois families affected by ASD to support efforts to build the Therapeutic School and Center for Autism Research. This school and research center will bring together education, academic research, early intervention programs, and training to prepare its students for independent living.
In the U.S. Senate, Obama is a cosponsor of a measure that would expand federal funding for life-long services for people with ASD, authorizing approximately $350 million in new federal funding for key programs related to treatments, interventions and services for both children and adults with ASD.
Appoint Federal ASD Coordinator to Oversee All Federal ASD Efforts: Barack Obama and Joe Biden will ensure all federal ASD activities occur in an efficient manner that prioritizes both research and supports for families affected by ASD. They will appoint a Federal ASD Coordinator to oversee federal ASD research and federal efforts to improve awareness of ASD and improve the training of medical professionals to identify and treat ASD. By establishing one top-level point person to coordinate ASD efforts in the White House, they will ensure that ASD receives the recognition and priority it deserves in the federal government. The Federal ASD Coordinator will also be tasked with eliminating bureaucratic obstacles that may be delaying implementation of important ASD measures and ensuring that all federal ASD dollars are being spent in a manner that prioritizes results. The Coordinator will work with state task forces on ASD to ensure effective communication and collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies.
Fully Fund the Combating Autism Act and Federal Autism Research Initiatives: Barack Obama supported the Combating Autism Act of 2006, which was signed into law in December 2006. The Combating Autism Act authorizes increased federal funding for ASD research and efforts to boost public awareness and early diagnosis of ASD. Since the bill has been enacted, however, federal funding for ASD has not increased to the levels authorized by the Combating Autism Act. As a U.S. Senator, Obama has worked to fully fund the Combating Autism Act and as president, he will ensure that his administration addresses the growing impact of ASD and other special needs on American families. President Obama will fully fund the Combating Autism Act, which provides nearly $1 billion in autism-related funding over 5 years, and work with Congress, parents and ASD experts to determine how to further improve federal and state programs.
Support Special Needs Education for Children with ASD: Barack Obama and Joe Biden understand that children with special needs – students with visual, hearing, physical, sensory, and mental impairments – require meaningful resources to succeed both inside and outside the classroom. Obama is a strong supporter of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and supports full federal funding of the law to truly ensure that no child is left behind. The current underfunding of IDEA causes school districts throughout the country to deny necessary services to students with ASD and other special needs. Barack Obama and Joe Biden will also work to change IDEA’s definition of "autism" to Autism Spectrum Disorders to ensure that all children diagnosed with ASD disorders receive the support they need.
Support Universal Screening: While roughly 90 percent of infants in the United States are currently screened for various potentially disabling or life-threatening conditions, fewer than half the states screen all infants for the full recommended panel of 29 disorders. Many of these conditions, if caught early, can be treated before they result in permanent impairments or even death. Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe we should screen all infants, and also that we must set a national goal to provide re-screening for all two-year-olds, the age at which some conditions, including ASD, begin to appear. These screenings will be safe and secure, and available for every American that wants them. Part of the Obama-Biden early childhood intervention plan will be directed at coordinating fragmented community programs to help provide all children access to screening for disabilities as infants and again as two-year olds. Achieving universal screening is essential so that disabilities can be identified early enough for those children and families to get the special supports and resources they need.
Work Together: As part of their commitment to open the doors of our government to the American people, Barack Obama and Joe Biden are committed to facilitating open dialogue among Americans with special needs and their families, federal and state agencies, regional centers, resource centers, research institutions, school districts, first responders, and community members.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Fermented Foods
So here we go, Part 1 of a multi-part recap of the DAN! Conference. I think I will go as the conference went and this happens to be one of the things people ask me most about, especially Kombucha so I will start here.
Fermented foods have been around for centuries. In the "old" days this was a way to enjoy certain veggies since they were not readily available all year long. Fermentation is a GREAT way to get good bugs also known as probiotics. Probiotic means "For Life" as opposed to anti-biotics which means "Against Life". That should tell you a lot. Probiotics are necessary for good gut health. Think of it like a movie theatre. If the seats are all filled with the good bugs, the bad bugs can't sit down. But when the bad guys take over, bad things happen in our bodies, i.e. infections and gut dysbiosis or imbalance. So, we need to take a closer look at these good "bugs".
Yogurt is a great way to get small doses of probiotics. But, if you or your child is on a dairy free diet, that can be challenging. But now there is a whole line of coconut milk yogurt these days which are good and my kids love. It is made by Turtle Mountain under the brand SO Delicious found at Whole Foods - make sure you get Coconut milk yogurt and NOT soy milk yogurt made by the same company and called SOY delicious) But I will also teach you how to make your own yogurt using nut milk. For years I made my own almond milk. I did post the recipe many months ago on this blog so I will not repost. It is easy and so much better for you than commercial nut milks out there. So I am going to post the yogurt recipe courtesy of Julie Matthews and Sueson Vess, both leading authors and advocates for children with special diets.
* Heat nut milk to 160 degrees (you don't have to do this but it will keep the yogurt from seperating)
* Cool milk to 105 degrees (otherwise you will kill the probiotics)
* Add heaping 1/8 teaspoon of ProGurt yogurt starter to the milk for each quart of yogurt, stir well with whisk. You can find ProGurt at http://www.giprohealth.com/
* Place containers in yogurt maker or dehydrator at 95-105 degrees. Leave lids off individual yogurt containers during fermentation to avoid condensation on lids that may thin yogurt. Ferment for 8 hours.
* Place in refridgerator overnight or at least 5 hours, overnight is better.
* Strain yogurt into a bowl lined with cheese cloth to remove liquid. Drain or let drip for about an hour or longer for thicker yogurt. By pressing dripped yogurt further you can make something that resembles cheese. Sueson Vess spoke about using it as a ricotta cheese sub for lasagna, I am going to try that! Straining is optional but homemade nut milk yogurt is thinner than commercial versions.
* Viola! Yogurt! This is great to add into smoothies or serve alone! Puree up your own fruit for added flavor and variety.
Kombucha - I have been asked about Kombucha a lot lately and I have agreed to teach some classes on making your own Kombucha. We are brewing our first batch and I see the Kombucha "baby" or SCOBY growing now so I will have them to pass on at these classes. If you are interested in taking a class to learn to make your own, please shoot me an email or post here. I am still working out how/where/when the classes will be so let me know if you have any days/times that are better for you. In the meantime, we drink GT's Kombucha. It can be found at Whole Foods and Sprouts for about $3.50 per bottle. Be aware, once you start talking about Kombucha someone inevitably is going to say "Oh my, do you know people have DIED drinking Kombucha!!!!!!". You can find some scary stories on the web, as you can about almost anything. It can cause acidosis if you drink large quantities without equal amounts of water throughout the day. Even too much of a good thing can be bad. And yes, if you brew it wrong, it can be very harmful, which is why you need to start with a good SCOBY and know what you are doing and know how to make sure it is a good batch. Until then, I say start with GT's and work from there. I have been drinking 16 ounces per day and am still here, going on 2 weeks later. I would say 2 cups (16 ounces) max per day personally (and much smaller amounts for kids) but you'll want to do your own research and feel comfortable with this product yourself. Given that Julie Matthews pushes it heavily (with no monetary compensation to gain from it) and she specializes in diet and specifically kids on the spectrum, I feel very confident in its safety. Yes, I give it to my children, I aim for about 2 ounces a day for them, ages 5 and almost 3. But I wanted to warn people that you may get some nay-sayers out there. But if you'll remember, a lady died from an overdose of WATER during a radio station contest and that sure doesn't mean we should stop drinking water, does it?
Sauerkraut - this is another great fermented food. And it sounded so easy to make. I am going to try it soon too. If you buy commercial products, make sure you look for the kind in the refridgerated section, yes the really expensive kind which is why I am going to make my own! If you buy the kind on the shelf you are getting the pasteurized kind which will not offer you the health benefits, all the probiotics have been killed in pasteurization.
If we get a group of people interested in making any of these things I would be willing to teach classes. Let me know if you are interested. Otherwise, take advantage of some of the premade items and feel good about what you are eating. These items will do a body good!
Fermented foods have been around for centuries. In the "old" days this was a way to enjoy certain veggies since they were not readily available all year long. Fermentation is a GREAT way to get good bugs also known as probiotics. Probiotic means "For Life" as opposed to anti-biotics which means "Against Life". That should tell you a lot. Probiotics are necessary for good gut health. Think of it like a movie theatre. If the seats are all filled with the good bugs, the bad bugs can't sit down. But when the bad guys take over, bad things happen in our bodies, i.e. infections and gut dysbiosis or imbalance. So, we need to take a closer look at these good "bugs".
Yogurt is a great way to get small doses of probiotics. But, if you or your child is on a dairy free diet, that can be challenging. But now there is a whole line of coconut milk yogurt these days which are good and my kids love. It is made by Turtle Mountain under the brand SO Delicious found at Whole Foods - make sure you get Coconut milk yogurt and NOT soy milk yogurt made by the same company and called SOY delicious) But I will also teach you how to make your own yogurt using nut milk. For years I made my own almond milk. I did post the recipe many months ago on this blog so I will not repost. It is easy and so much better for you than commercial nut milks out there. So I am going to post the yogurt recipe courtesy of Julie Matthews and Sueson Vess, both leading authors and advocates for children with special diets.
* Heat nut milk to 160 degrees (you don't have to do this but it will keep the yogurt from seperating)
* Cool milk to 105 degrees (otherwise you will kill the probiotics)
* Add heaping 1/8 teaspoon of ProGurt yogurt starter to the milk for each quart of yogurt, stir well with whisk. You can find ProGurt at http://www.giprohealth.com/
* Place containers in yogurt maker or dehydrator at 95-105 degrees. Leave lids off individual yogurt containers during fermentation to avoid condensation on lids that may thin yogurt. Ferment for 8 hours.
* Place in refridgerator overnight or at least 5 hours, overnight is better.
* Strain yogurt into a bowl lined with cheese cloth to remove liquid. Drain or let drip for about an hour or longer for thicker yogurt. By pressing dripped yogurt further you can make something that resembles cheese. Sueson Vess spoke about using it as a ricotta cheese sub for lasagna, I am going to try that! Straining is optional but homemade nut milk yogurt is thinner than commercial versions.
* Viola! Yogurt! This is great to add into smoothies or serve alone! Puree up your own fruit for added flavor and variety.
Kombucha - I have been asked about Kombucha a lot lately and I have agreed to teach some classes on making your own Kombucha. We are brewing our first batch and I see the Kombucha "baby" or SCOBY growing now so I will have them to pass on at these classes. If you are interested in taking a class to learn to make your own, please shoot me an email or post here. I am still working out how/where/when the classes will be so let me know if you have any days/times that are better for you. In the meantime, we drink GT's Kombucha. It can be found at Whole Foods and Sprouts for about $3.50 per bottle. Be aware, once you start talking about Kombucha someone inevitably is going to say "Oh my, do you know people have DIED drinking Kombucha!!!!!!". You can find some scary stories on the web, as you can about almost anything. It can cause acidosis if you drink large quantities without equal amounts of water throughout the day. Even too much of a good thing can be bad. And yes, if you brew it wrong, it can be very harmful, which is why you need to start with a good SCOBY and know what you are doing and know how to make sure it is a good batch. Until then, I say start with GT's and work from there. I have been drinking 16 ounces per day and am still here, going on 2 weeks later. I would say 2 cups (16 ounces) max per day personally (and much smaller amounts for kids) but you'll want to do your own research and feel comfortable with this product yourself. Given that Julie Matthews pushes it heavily (with no monetary compensation to gain from it) and she specializes in diet and specifically kids on the spectrum, I feel very confident in its safety. Yes, I give it to my children, I aim for about 2 ounces a day for them, ages 5 and almost 3. But I wanted to warn people that you may get some nay-sayers out there. But if you'll remember, a lady died from an overdose of WATER during a radio station contest and that sure doesn't mean we should stop drinking water, does it?
Sauerkraut - this is another great fermented food. And it sounded so easy to make. I am going to try it soon too. If you buy commercial products, make sure you look for the kind in the refridgerated section, yes the really expensive kind which is why I am going to make my own! If you buy the kind on the shelf you are getting the pasteurized kind which will not offer you the health benefits, all the probiotics have been killed in pasteurization.
If we get a group of people interested in making any of these things I would be willing to teach classes. Let me know if you are interested. Otherwise, take advantage of some of the premade items and feel good about what you are eating. These items will do a body good!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
DAN Conference
All I can say is "WOW". My brain is so full right now, lol. I had an amazing time, heard some incredible speakers and have so much more info in my arsenal against ill health and Autism recovery. I am going to cover things I learned over the weekend slowly here on my blog, since there was so much info presented and I still want to go over the slides again before I delve into all of the topics. I just got home late last night so I will not cover anything today other than a small recap in pictures of what happened. I was brought to tears by some of the presentations. Many doctors who are on the cutting edge of the research also have children on the spectrum and not only do they see these challenges from a research/treatment standpoint but also from a very personal standpoint which is to be respected and admired since we too are doing much of the same, not in the lab but in our own homes each day.
Here I am with Julie Matthews, author of Nourishing Hope and Autism nutritionist. She is amazing and I loved her cooking class.
Here I am with my compass as I call him, Dr. Kurt Woeller, Matthew's angel.
Here is Dr. Woeller with Dawn, Matthew's kick-butt Speech Therapist. She is another angel in Matthew's life. She works at L.I.F.E.
Here is Dawn, me and Abby, another warrior mommy who's son also goes to L.I.F.E. and sees Dawn.
Here I am with Dawn, my DAN! date, lol.
Some topics I plan to cover shortly are:
Toxins in your environment, which to really worry about and how to make your home safer.
How to keep yourself grounded and relaxation tips from Dr. Andrew Levinson (and yes Abby, I totally agree - he's a HOTTIE!!). I loved his talk and plan to discuss some of the issues he brought up to help us keep our stress as low as possible and nuture ourselves at the same time as raising our children and caring for our families.
Other disorders that are indictive of the same types of auto-immune dysfunction as Autism
New treatments out there
New research in causation of Autism
Cooking tips and a further look at fermented foods
Check back often for updates on the above listed topics! I sure loved the conference and seeing friends and family but that equated to staying up WAY too late and still getting up early. I am so tired and very happy to be home with my family!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Last post.....
OK so I should be packing or cleaning or making some sort of list but I am not. Our sitter just called to say goodbye since it was rather chaotic when she left today and she won't see me for a few days. So we got to talking (imagine that...) and we came upon the topic of the flu vaccine. I quickly referred to the Dr. Mercola article I linked to in a previous post. As I read some of the comments on the posts, I found a link to an AWESOME site from a fellow industrious mom that I had to pass on before I forgot about it.
She talks about making her own elderberry syrup, which will be next on my list of to do's once I get home and settled again. She also talks about making her own Kombucha, which I am pleased to report we are already doing!!! I delegated this to the hubby as he used to brew beer many moons ago. Since the process of fermentation is similar I figured this would be right up his ally and I need to delegate more these days anyway. Like a good fellow, he promptly joined a Yahoo! group and got a SCOBY or Kombucha baby from a person here in Tempe. A SCOBY is the starter you need to make your own kombucha. Now we have a science experiment like the one shown in the link below in our kitchen. Here it is: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AHappyHome/300159/
But I love Kombucha and more than the taste I love what it is doing to my body, cell renewal, tons of great vitamins and probiotics! I am stocked with Kombucha for the trip to San Diego. I leave tomorrow morning and come home sometime Monday. Unfortunately I won't have time to play since the conference is everyday from 8 - 5 and then there are classes in the evenings which I am signed up for. I cannot wait to fill my brain with more info though.
On a side note, the house is done being painted, at least the outside! The inside is still a work in progress as with two kids, a house to run, cooking, cleaning and preparing for a trip, our time to paint is limited. But, the outside looks awesome, love it!! And I love that we hired someone to do it and did not try and tackle it ourselves. That is why it is done and not still in process.
We started Matthew on L-Carnitine this weekend. Shortly after he began to smell of rotten fish. There is a genetic disorder where you smell like rotting fish due to a missing enzyme. This can also be caused by high doses of L-Carnitine. Well, I guess we know what is causing it. I need to email Dr. Woeller tonight, I will see him at the conference too. Meanwhile, no more L-Carnitine for Matthew.
Emma saw me starting to get my clothes together for the trip last night. She asked me where I was going. I told her I was going to Mommy school with Dr. Woeller and Dawn (Matthew's speech therapist). She asked me if I was going to miss her.....she is just so darn CUTE! My little doll....I sure am going to miss both of them.
OK so off of here and back to work! I have so much to do and the night is getting away from me. Eric is at Wal-Mart picking up pictures I had printed today to bring with me to show off to folks at the conference and also to give to my dad whom I will be staying with. Eric is also picking up the last minute stuff I need for the trip out. I need to be packing and getting all my stuff together that I want to bring, clean up, send that email to Dr. Woeller and then some quiet time with Eric hopefully. I hope everyone has a great rest of the week and weekend and I am sure I will have lots to share when I come back next week!!
She talks about making her own elderberry syrup, which will be next on my list of to do's once I get home and settled again. She also talks about making her own Kombucha, which I am pleased to report we are already doing!!! I delegated this to the hubby as he used to brew beer many moons ago. Since the process of fermentation is similar I figured this would be right up his ally and I need to delegate more these days anyway. Like a good fellow, he promptly joined a Yahoo! group and got a SCOBY or Kombucha baby from a person here in Tempe. A SCOBY is the starter you need to make your own kombucha. Now we have a science experiment like the one shown in the link below in our kitchen. Here it is: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AHappyHome/300159/
But I love Kombucha and more than the taste I love what it is doing to my body, cell renewal, tons of great vitamins and probiotics! I am stocked with Kombucha for the trip to San Diego. I leave tomorrow morning and come home sometime Monday. Unfortunately I won't have time to play since the conference is everyday from 8 - 5 and then there are classes in the evenings which I am signed up for. I cannot wait to fill my brain with more info though.
On a side note, the house is done being painted, at least the outside! The inside is still a work in progress as with two kids, a house to run, cooking, cleaning and preparing for a trip, our time to paint is limited. But, the outside looks awesome, love it!! And I love that we hired someone to do it and did not try and tackle it ourselves. That is why it is done and not still in process.
We started Matthew on L-Carnitine this weekend. Shortly after he began to smell of rotten fish. There is a genetic disorder where you smell like rotting fish due to a missing enzyme. This can also be caused by high doses of L-Carnitine. Well, I guess we know what is causing it. I need to email Dr. Woeller tonight, I will see him at the conference too. Meanwhile, no more L-Carnitine for Matthew.
Emma saw me starting to get my clothes together for the trip last night. She asked me where I was going. I told her I was going to Mommy school with Dr. Woeller and Dawn (Matthew's speech therapist). She asked me if I was going to miss her.....she is just so darn CUTE! My little doll....I sure am going to miss both of them.
OK so off of here and back to work! I have so much to do and the night is getting away from me. Eric is at Wal-Mart picking up pictures I had printed today to bring with me to show off to folks at the conference and also to give to my dad whom I will be staying with. Eric is also picking up the last minute stuff I need for the trip out. I need to be packing and getting all my stuff together that I want to bring, clean up, send that email to Dr. Woeller and then some quiet time with Eric hopefully. I hope everyone has a great rest of the week and weekend and I am sure I will have lots to share when I come back next week!!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Another reason againts flu vaccines
I just got this today and wanted to post it quickly. Here is something from Dr. Mercola's website talking about all the same stuff I have said about flu vaccines, including the real motive being missed days of work/school. I hope the reputable Dr. Mercola can sway those of you still thinking about getting a flu vaccine, especially for your kids. Click below:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/10/21/avoid-flu-shots-vitamin-d-is-a-better-way.aspx
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/10/21/avoid-flu-shots-vitamin-d-is-a-better-way.aspx
Halloween treats....
Today was Matthew's day to bring snack to share with the class. As usual I sent pure, unsweetened applesauce and popcorn. Only this time, in honor of Halloween next week, I put the popcorn in gloves, added a spider ring and viola! Skeleton hands...You can also add in a candy corn for the finger nails but I chose not to. These are great treats for Halloween parties, school events, etc. where you want to have a yummy and healthy treat. Remember my previous blog about the Whirly Pop popper? Use organic corn and coconut oil and you have a super healthy treat that kids will LOVE. You could even through in some sugar for kettle corn or as my friend/fellow blogger/neighbor Shari does, add some cinnamon for great flavor. The possibilities are endless. So, although the kids will inevitably get loaded up on sugar and corn syrup next Friday (and probably the next week even) there are fun and healthy alternatives.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Krazy for Kombucha
In reading Julie Matthew's book Nourishing Hope, she talks a lot about beneficial food for children on the Autism spectrum and all of us really. At some point in food evolution, we've lost the use of many of the fermented foods that have been used for centuries. These foods are very healing. One such food is Kombucha, really it is a drink. The benefits are staggering. It helps protect against almost every tummy bug out there (e.Coli, Listeria, H. Pylori, Salmonella, etc). It helps with detoxification, the immune system, can help fight cancer, etc. I had to run to Whole Foods yesterday anyways so I picked some up. The kids did drink it!! No fight even!! Read more about it here:
http://healthfulliving.org/recipes/insights/fermented.php
I am not sure if I am industrious enough to try and make it myself but it is pricey, $3+ per bottle (16 ounces). And I am going to start drinking it everyday too. So there is my new favorite. Do some of your own research and give it a try!!
On another note, sorry for the lack of posts. We've started the big painting project last weekend and are still trying to find the time to finish. We have to work around the kids so it is taking longer than hoped since we have to wait until they are asleep to get working. We are having the outside of the house painted Monday and then I leave for the DAN! Conference on Thursday and will be gone until Monday. Plus with it being Fall Break I am just trying to keep the kids from going crazy by setting up playdates, and of course all of Matthew's therapies. Today is our super busy day with speech and then hab preschool. So, I may be even more sporadic on posts than usual because of the increased activity. We still need to hit the pumpkin patch tomorrow since I will be gone next weekend. How can it be October already?? I hope YOUR fall is going well.
http://healthfulliving.org/recipes/insights/fermented.php
I am not sure if I am industrious enough to try and make it myself but it is pricey, $3+ per bottle (16 ounces). And I am going to start drinking it everyday too. So there is my new favorite. Do some of your own research and give it a try!!
On another note, sorry for the lack of posts. We've started the big painting project last weekend and are still trying to find the time to finish. We have to work around the kids so it is taking longer than hoped since we have to wait until they are asleep to get working. We are having the outside of the house painted Monday and then I leave for the DAN! Conference on Thursday and will be gone until Monday. Plus with it being Fall Break I am just trying to keep the kids from going crazy by setting up playdates, and of course all of Matthew's therapies. Today is our super busy day with speech and then hab preschool. So, I may be even more sporadic on posts than usual because of the increased activity. We still need to hit the pumpkin patch tomorrow since I will be gone next weekend. How can it be October already?? I hope YOUR fall is going well.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Naturopath info
Mary requested the info on our Naturopath so here it is for everyone if you are in the Gilbert/Mesa/Chandler or surrounding areas and want a great Naturopath. We see Dr. Carrie Rittling at East Valley Naturopathic Doctors. Their info is as follows:
http://www.eastvalleynd.com/
480-985-0000
They are located just east of Higley and Southern. Across the street from Sprouts and east just a bit. They are great, have always been able to get us in quickly when necessary and their receptionist is on the ball, VERY friendly and follows up great. They even submit your insurance claim for you in some cases. You still must pay them and then get reimbursed (as allowed) by your plan but it takes one thing out of a trip to an out of network doctor.
So there you have it. You can read about all the doctors on their website. My husband just recently saw Dr. Porter and really liked him. He focuses on men's health issues. My husband took all of Matthew's labs in to discuss testing him for some of the same things, knowing that many of Matthew's issues are genetic in nature. The doctor was impressed with the cutting edge tests that were run on Matthew which made us feel good about Dr. Woeller for yet ANOTHER reason. He should be getting his results this week and see what the doctor recommends. Dr. Rittling focuses on children, specifically those on the Autism/ADHD spectrum but she also sees our neurotypical Emma. Both kids love her (they never get shots there, lol). And she is great with kids. Hope that helps, we just love that office and hope you find value in them as well. Please let me know how your visit goes!
BTW - Mary, we need to get the kids together. Emma misses her little friend!!!! I hear the Joy School is going well.....
http://www.eastvalleynd.com/
480-985-0000
They are located just east of Higley and Southern. Across the street from Sprouts and east just a bit. They are great, have always been able to get us in quickly when necessary and their receptionist is on the ball, VERY friendly and follows up great. They even submit your insurance claim for you in some cases. You still must pay them and then get reimbursed (as allowed) by your plan but it takes one thing out of a trip to an out of network doctor.
So there you have it. You can read about all the doctors on their website. My husband just recently saw Dr. Porter and really liked him. He focuses on men's health issues. My husband took all of Matthew's labs in to discuss testing him for some of the same things, knowing that many of Matthew's issues are genetic in nature. The doctor was impressed with the cutting edge tests that were run on Matthew which made us feel good about Dr. Woeller for yet ANOTHER reason. He should be getting his results this week and see what the doctor recommends. Dr. Rittling focuses on children, specifically those on the Autism/ADHD spectrum but she also sees our neurotypical Emma. Both kids love her (they never get shots there, lol). And she is great with kids. Hope that helps, we just love that office and hope you find value in them as well. Please let me know how your visit goes!
BTW - Mary, we need to get the kids together. Emma misses her little friend!!!! I hear the Joy School is going well.....
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Plastics revisited
I am pretty sure I posted about this, if not I fully intended to. Here is a GREAT article on toxic chemicals in plastics from Dr. Mercola's website. If you scroll down you will even find a link that is a PDF document that gives a GREAT overview of products that do or do not contain this toxin.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/10/11/what-the-chemical-industry-doesn-t-want-you-to-know-about-everyday-products.aspx?source=nl
It is very interesting to me that the article discusses the immune system and the role of T1 and T2 cells. After reading Jacqueline McCandless' book Children With Starving Brains, I learned more about the immune component to Autism. And, the explanation in this article is very, very close to what has happened in many children with Autism systems. Hmmmmm......maybe yet another connection. So, turn those plastic bowls over and check out those numbers. I did this a few years ago and got rid of ALL the bad stuff. I was very pleased to see that Tupperware (for the most part) was OK. Their Rock N Serve stuff was not good and I remember wondering why they suggest you cook at 50% power and now it makes sense. When you heat these plastics with the bad stuff in them (through microwave or dishwasher) it makes the toxins leak. So, that must be why Tupperware suggested to only heat at 50% power. I used to sell Tupperware, I started right after Matthew was born. At least I didn't have to get rid of all my stuff, just the Rock N Serve. But, I have gone with more glass and even switched to Corelle plates/bowls since you have to be careful even about painted ceramic dishes because of lead (and the high breakage rate). And there is a Corelle outlet close by! :) But all the bottles we used had the bad stuff and we used to steam sterilize those and also dishwasher them. Man, I wish I knew all this stuff years ago.....So, check your cupboards for the bad plastics and get them out. We can all benefit from less toxins, especially in the stuff that holds our food.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/10/11/what-the-chemical-industry-doesn-t-want-you-to-know-about-everyday-products.aspx?source=nl
It is very interesting to me that the article discusses the immune system and the role of T1 and T2 cells. After reading Jacqueline McCandless' book Children With Starving Brains, I learned more about the immune component to Autism. And, the explanation in this article is very, very close to what has happened in many children with Autism systems. Hmmmmm......maybe yet another connection. So, turn those plastic bowls over and check out those numbers. I did this a few years ago and got rid of ALL the bad stuff. I was very pleased to see that Tupperware (for the most part) was OK. Their Rock N Serve stuff was not good and I remember wondering why they suggest you cook at 50% power and now it makes sense. When you heat these plastics with the bad stuff in them (through microwave or dishwasher) it makes the toxins leak. So, that must be why Tupperware suggested to only heat at 50% power. I used to sell Tupperware, I started right after Matthew was born. At least I didn't have to get rid of all my stuff, just the Rock N Serve. But, I have gone with more glass and even switched to Corelle plates/bowls since you have to be careful even about painted ceramic dishes because of lead (and the high breakage rate). And there is a Corelle outlet close by! :) But all the bottles we used had the bad stuff and we used to steam sterilize those and also dishwasher them. Man, I wish I knew all this stuff years ago.....So, check your cupboards for the bad plastics and get them out. We can all benefit from less toxins, especially in the stuff that holds our food.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Heirloom seeds
Here is a site I found for Heirloom seeds. It says on their site that they are all open pollenated and non genetically modified (yeah!!). They even have a medicinal herb package - we can experiment with the actual herbs Shari! Before long we will be making our own essential oils huh? We will be the medicine women of Higley Groves, lol.
I have never purchased from this company but do intend to. If anyone does before me, please let me know how your experience goes!! Lets get those gardens going!! :)
http://www.heirloomseeds.com/
I have never purchased from this company but do intend to. If anyone does before me, please let me know how your experience goes!! Lets get those gardens going!! :)
http://www.heirloomseeds.com/
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Great video......
When you have time (it is over 30 minutes) please check out this video from Dr. Mercola's website.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/10/07/world-s-most-evil-company-debates-michael-pollan-at-google.aspx?source=nl
I had to keep hitting pause and stretched this out over several days to find time to watch it all. But, HUGELY important. This is a discussion with Hugh Grant the CEO of Monsanto and Michael Pollan author of "In Defense of Food". If you don't know who Monsanto is, please find out! This is the biggest threat to our food supply. They started as a chemical company (creating agent orange and Round Up). They then moved into seed production and made the first "Round Up Ready" seed. Round Up kills anything green and yet these plants are genetically engineered to resist Round Up. Yuck. And they discuss the production of the main crops (soy and corn for feed). Our dependance on meat is also a huge drain on our grain supply.
A few takeaways......TRY to look for NON-Genetically Modified (GMO) foods. GMO corn produces inflammation in our system plus all the pesticides, etc. and we do not know the long term effects of genetically modified food. Try and be more aware of how your food is created. We have probably all planted a seed and watched it grow. Then when we eat the fruit or veggie you can take that seed and make a new plant from it. Not with Monsanto seed. It is engineered NOT to reproduce after that first time so that farmers must buy new seed each year. This is all about money and production whereas I think we need to eat less but eat mindfully and locally. That means eating what is in season and supporting your local farmer's market or CSA.
I have no answers for the world crisis. It seems amazing in this day and age of extreme wealth of the select few that we can still have some areas in such dire poverty and famine. It is pretty ridiculous actually. I am not going to get polictical because I want this blog to be as bi-partisan as possible and not alienate people. But, if you are a McCain supporter urge him to force labeling of GMO products. He is currently the only candidate that does not support mandatory labeling of GMO foods. I think it should be mandatory, I think the next step is mandatory labeling of all 200 forms of MSG as well. We should KNOW what we are eating dangerous chemicals and what they do to our brains and then make the choice to eat it or not. So many people have no clue what it is they are eating. Part of that is education and part of that is transparency. If these products DO the same thing yet are not called Mono Sodium Glutamate the packaging can read "NO MSG". That is unfair and deceitful, which kind of goes along with the government way but that is another topic.
It was amazing to hear how many seed varieties we once had and how many we have now. We need to move away from GMO crops and get back to basics. I urge everyone to think about creating their own raised bed gardening and using heirloom seeds. I will post some sources here sometime soon, along with sources for local, quality grass fed beef and turkeys. We have to fight for our right to basic, healthy food. I do not want "Franken-Food". Sometimes more isn't always better.
Food for thought.....
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/10/07/world-s-most-evil-company-debates-michael-pollan-at-google.aspx?source=nl
I had to keep hitting pause and stretched this out over several days to find time to watch it all. But, HUGELY important. This is a discussion with Hugh Grant the CEO of Monsanto and Michael Pollan author of "In Defense of Food". If you don't know who Monsanto is, please find out! This is the biggest threat to our food supply. They started as a chemical company (creating agent orange and Round Up). They then moved into seed production and made the first "Round Up Ready" seed. Round Up kills anything green and yet these plants are genetically engineered to resist Round Up. Yuck. And they discuss the production of the main crops (soy and corn for feed). Our dependance on meat is also a huge drain on our grain supply.
A few takeaways......TRY to look for NON-Genetically Modified (GMO) foods. GMO corn produces inflammation in our system plus all the pesticides, etc. and we do not know the long term effects of genetically modified food. Try and be more aware of how your food is created. We have probably all planted a seed and watched it grow. Then when we eat the fruit or veggie you can take that seed and make a new plant from it. Not with Monsanto seed. It is engineered NOT to reproduce after that first time so that farmers must buy new seed each year. This is all about money and production whereas I think we need to eat less but eat mindfully and locally. That means eating what is in season and supporting your local farmer's market or CSA.
I have no answers for the world crisis. It seems amazing in this day and age of extreme wealth of the select few that we can still have some areas in such dire poverty and famine. It is pretty ridiculous actually. I am not going to get polictical because I want this blog to be as bi-partisan as possible and not alienate people. But, if you are a McCain supporter urge him to force labeling of GMO products. He is currently the only candidate that does not support mandatory labeling of GMO foods. I think it should be mandatory, I think the next step is mandatory labeling of all 200 forms of MSG as well. We should KNOW what we are eating dangerous chemicals and what they do to our brains and then make the choice to eat it or not. So many people have no clue what it is they are eating. Part of that is education and part of that is transparency. If these products DO the same thing yet are not called Mono Sodium Glutamate the packaging can read "NO MSG". That is unfair and deceitful, which kind of goes along with the government way but that is another topic.
It was amazing to hear how many seed varieties we once had and how many we have now. We need to move away from GMO crops and get back to basics. I urge everyone to think about creating their own raised bed gardening and using heirloom seeds. I will post some sources here sometime soon, along with sources for local, quality grass fed beef and turkeys. We have to fight for our right to basic, healthy food. I do not want "Franken-Food". Sometimes more isn't always better.
Food for thought.....
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Practice what you preach....
So, I got to do this last week, practice what I preach I mean. I got sick (as expected) after a few too many nights of burning the midnight oil to get "everything" done. I could feel it coming. So a week ago Thursday I was down. I did mega vitamin C doses, eucalyptus, tea tree and thyme oil steams, epsom salt foot baths, other supplements for viral support and stuck to good foods and lots of sleep! I did have that luxury, which I know many don't. The day was pretty easy for my husband and he was able to take Matthew to his therapy and our awesome sitter/surrogate family member was able to watch Emma for me so I could get a nap. Then I went to bed at 7 pm after the kids were down. By the next day I felt SO much better. Had I pushed through Thursday, I would have been sick for days. Sleep is my achilles heel. If I start losing sleep, my immune system takes a BIG hit. I know this and yet I still scrimp on sleep. I guess my lesson is to listen to my body, ignore those last few chores or that nonsense show on TV and hit the sack!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
More on "health"
I was thinking last night as I crawled in to bed too late that I should also mention a few things. Health is an interesting concept because we assume it is always a bad thing to get sick. We miss work/school/chores, we feel awful and then usually we pass it around too. But, our immune system is a dynamic force, going up and down depending on our state of health including sleep, nutrition, stress, etc. So, when we start running ourselves down (too much stress, not sleeping right, not getting exercise and a diet filled with empty calories and sugar) we are setting ourselves up for illness. No magic bullet (or shot in this case) will cure that. And, even if you DO the right things, you may still get sick. I know, no one WANTS to get sick. But, the way your body responds to threats is how it gets stronger. And on the flip side, a person who NEVER gets sick should be concerned too. That could mean your system is so overwhelmed that it is not responding properly to threats. And, people who get sick all the time could mean that your system is on overload and is reponding to any and all threats that come its way. What I have noticed is that when I use homeopathy, supplements, rest, etc. at the first sign of illness I can rebound within a few days rather than my usual course of sore throat, then the mucous/running nose/sneezing, then it moves into my chest and I am awake coughing for a week, etc. I end up stopping the bug at the sore throat phase with early intervention and natural medicine. Before, it ALWAYS progressed, and in the same manner each time. But, am I guaranteed not to get the full blown flu? No way. But, the more diligent I am about my diet, stress management, supplements when the bugs are more prevalent, etc. the more likely it will be milder if I do get it. I know when I am fighting something because I am EXHAUSTED. That level of "I could just lay down at 10 am for a nap" exhausted. And that is what ideally I should do, take a nap. But, listening to my body is not always what I do. But, it gives us hints about what its threat level is. That fatigue could be telling you that you are fighting a bug and it needs more rest to fight appropriately. What we need to understand as a society we are ALL exposed to things all day everyday, unless you are an agoraphobe and stay inside your home, never bringing things in. And usually our system is strong enough to fight things off which is why it never progresses.
And, mental state/attitude has a lot to do with level of health. I know it sounds corny but how you look at things DOES impact how you feel. Do you know any "Eeyore" types? The doom and gloom people, woe is me, and often times they are sick or have chronic conditions that ail them. Now one could reverse that and say maybe it is the ailment/chronic condition that makes them so gloomy. But, it would be an interesting experiment to see if changing their attitudes would change their health. So, maintaining health should be a multipronged approach with focus on many aspects of your life. Balance is key. And I know personally, that is very hard. Life is busy. But, I think many times we need to refocus on what is truly important. Recently I made a decision to get less involved in my community. That has been something I have been passionate about from day 1 of moving here. But, lately it has been a drain dealing with others' negative attitudes. Plus with the additional work with Matthew's DAN! protocol and more research to do and more things to learn, I just realized THAT is where my focus (and limited free time) has to be. Put the energy where your heart is and my heart is my family. So, that means scaling back some things so I can fit some other things in that I love, yoga, training for another triathlon, scrapbooking, crafting, etc. Now even though I will be less involved I will still be involved, just not to the level I once was because I still care about our community. But, my main focus has to be my husband, kids and their education and health and of course ME. The person who usually gets forgotten in the equation. But, as cold and flu season begins, more me time could mean less down time if I do focus some of that energy and care on myself. It is an interesting experiment, one that I plan to try and implement this year. We'll see what happens. Besides, who has time to get sick, moms don't get days off anyways! :)
And, mental state/attitude has a lot to do with level of health. I know it sounds corny but how you look at things DOES impact how you feel. Do you know any "Eeyore" types? The doom and gloom people, woe is me, and often times they are sick or have chronic conditions that ail them. Now one could reverse that and say maybe it is the ailment/chronic condition that makes them so gloomy. But, it would be an interesting experiment to see if changing their attitudes would change their health. So, maintaining health should be a multipronged approach with focus on many aspects of your life. Balance is key. And I know personally, that is very hard. Life is busy. But, I think many times we need to refocus on what is truly important. Recently I made a decision to get less involved in my community. That has been something I have been passionate about from day 1 of moving here. But, lately it has been a drain dealing with others' negative attitudes. Plus with the additional work with Matthew's DAN! protocol and more research to do and more things to learn, I just realized THAT is where my focus (and limited free time) has to be. Put the energy where your heart is and my heart is my family. So, that means scaling back some things so I can fit some other things in that I love, yoga, training for another triathlon, scrapbooking, crafting, etc. Now even though I will be less involved I will still be involved, just not to the level I once was because I still care about our community. But, my main focus has to be my husband, kids and their education and health and of course ME. The person who usually gets forgotten in the equation. But, as cold and flu season begins, more me time could mean less down time if I do focus some of that energy and care on myself. It is an interesting experiment, one that I plan to try and implement this year. We'll see what happens. Besides, who has time to get sick, moms don't get days off anyways! :)
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Chalk another one up to NATURAL medicine
Wow, sorry folks, it has been so long since I have posted. It has been busier than ever around here. Matthew's DAN! protocol is going GREAT with success being seen in evey area of his life ~ including potty training which we are immersed in right now! He's doing GREAT at school, still in the integrated class 100% and participating without an aide assigned to him. He is affectionate, telling us how much he loves us and very engaged in activities. He also celebrated his 5th birthday this month which he was SO excited about. This is the first real birthday where he was thrilled to have people over, understood the concept and was excited about cake and presents. We had a minor catastrophy with the GFCGSF dye free, hydrogenated oil free cake that required total redo of the frosting and mommy meltdown for a moment but we rebounded and it all came out great! Eric also celebrated a birthday (his last in the 30's, hahaha) so it has been busy at the Hirning house. Matthew also started Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN). It is an immune system modulator which blocks opiate receptors. He had a week of feeling awful and hyperactivity but he has leveled out now. And he's missed the ick going through our house because hopefully his immune system is more robust than ever.
Poor Emma, this weekend she was complaining of a sore throat. It was bordering on me taking her to *gasp* urgent care. I could just see how that visit would have went. But, we limped her along until yesterday (giving her tylenol for the first time in well, I can't remember the last time we gave her anything for pain) and I got her in to see her naturopath. It was viral and not strep, more than likely the Adenovirus that had decided to settle in her throat (its definitely going around). Once I found out it was viral, we added in Vitamin A (4 drops), Virastop and Olive Leaf extract and VSC (another viral immune support supplement I got from my Chriopractor) and off for a nap she went. When she woke she complained of a tummy ache. I was on the phone with the naturopath discussing the type of elderberry syrup we had for dosing instructions. The naturopath said we may have given her too many things at once = tummy ache and to just back off and see what happens as elderberry can cause nausea. But, after a small snack and then some homemade chicken noodle soup, her beautiful smile had returned!!! We still went forward with vitamin C and some more OLE and Virastop at bedtime. This morning not ONE WORD about the sore throat that was making eating and drinking difficult for the whole weekend. Could it be coincidence that right after I give her antivirals she is better? Maybe her body just finally fought it off. Maybe all the stuff we did (including the use of essential oils) gave her body the edge it needed to fight back. But, no antibiotics (which would not have worked anyways) and no pressure to get the FLU SHOT which is starting to come.....dun dun dun. I am always amazed to see the body rebound like it does. Extra fluids, sleep, supplements & good nutrition = the prescription you need for probably 90% of ills.
Speaking of ills, I JUST saw the push for the flu vaccine start on the news. They have changed the recommendation on who should get the flu vaccine and they have broadened the age gap for kids. Basically 6 mo - 18 years "should" get the flu shot. Remember folks, the flu vaccine STILL has the mercury preservative that has been removed from childhood vaccines because of its neurotoxicity. Why is it bad in childhood vaccines but not in the flu shot???? We stay away from the flu vaccine. When your body gets the onslaught of crud in the vaccine it has to work hard to clean it out (if your body's detox system is working well). That can actually lower your immunity which then leaves you susceptible to other bugs which is why some people report getting sick after the vaccine. And, there is no guarantee it will be the strain of virus you get, they take a big guess when they make up the year's batch. Your best bet is this:
~ GOOD NUTRITION - lots of whole foods, veggies, fruit, high quality meats and dairy if you so choose (speaking of, the farmer's market now carries a limited supply of RAW cheese, YIPPEE all the good stuff if you ARE going to eat cheese).
~ Good (high quality) supplements for HEALTH, not sickness - Good multivitamin if you are not sure your food is giving you all you need. Boost up your C and whatever other nutrients. I take a B for high stress and a trace minerals supplement. Other things we find helpful are Grapefruit seed extract, echinacea and probiotics for the healthy stuff to help crowd out the bad stuff.
~ Appropriate treatment when you are feeling under the weather - SLEEP, the best healing happens when you sleep. Plus there are supplements to help fight viruses regardless of what a mainstream doctor may tell you. Here are some we always keep on hand:
~Olive leaf extract
~Virastop
~VSC
~Elderberry syrup
~High dose Vitamin C - think GRAMS not milligrams, like 7 grams up to bowel tolerance. When you start having loose stools you've hit your saturation point, back it off a little from there.
~Vitamin A works great on respiratory issues. (NOTE - Vit a is fat soluble which means you CAN get too much of a good thing. You should always consult your own Dr. about the right dose for you and your family).
~Epsom salts for foot soak. Soak JUST the feet in warm epsom salts. It increases your circulation and pulls it towards your feet. That gets your lymph drainage going and moving AWAY from your head/throat/chest which is what you want to have happen.
~Essential oils such as eucalyptus and thyme and tea tree. We put a few drops of eucalyptus in the kids' humidifiers as it is a respiratory support. Great for putting in a steamy bathroom, shower or facial steamer to open those clogged sinuses. Add a little tea tree and lavender and you can even fight off sinus infections. Tea tree is like lysol but in natural form. They are even doing studies about using tea tree oil in hospitals because it even kills the HIV virus in blood products. You can make a throat rub using thyme and tea tree in some oil. Tea tree is also very effective against yeast but that is a different discussion.
OK that is enough for now, I don't blog forever and then my blogs are HUGE.
Some things coming:
~Found a few sources for organic GRASS fed beef, organic poultry (even holiday turkeys!) locally with drop offs in the east valley
~More flu and cold remedies as the season nears
~Craft ideas for Halloween and Christmas (YIPPEE)
I hope to stay more on top of my blog. Life has been crazy as usual but all great things are the Hirning house, hope it is in your house too!!
Poor Emma, this weekend she was complaining of a sore throat. It was bordering on me taking her to *gasp* urgent care. I could just see how that visit would have went. But, we limped her along until yesterday (giving her tylenol for the first time in well, I can't remember the last time we gave her anything for pain) and I got her in to see her naturopath. It was viral and not strep, more than likely the Adenovirus that had decided to settle in her throat (its definitely going around). Once I found out it was viral, we added in Vitamin A (4 drops), Virastop and Olive Leaf extract and VSC (another viral immune support supplement I got from my Chriopractor) and off for a nap she went. When she woke she complained of a tummy ache. I was on the phone with the naturopath discussing the type of elderberry syrup we had for dosing instructions. The naturopath said we may have given her too many things at once = tummy ache and to just back off and see what happens as elderberry can cause nausea. But, after a small snack and then some homemade chicken noodle soup, her beautiful smile had returned!!! We still went forward with vitamin C and some more OLE and Virastop at bedtime. This morning not ONE WORD about the sore throat that was making eating and drinking difficult for the whole weekend. Could it be coincidence that right after I give her antivirals she is better? Maybe her body just finally fought it off. Maybe all the stuff we did (including the use of essential oils) gave her body the edge it needed to fight back. But, no antibiotics (which would not have worked anyways) and no pressure to get the FLU SHOT which is starting to come.....dun dun dun. I am always amazed to see the body rebound like it does. Extra fluids, sleep, supplements & good nutrition = the prescription you need for probably 90% of ills.
Speaking of ills, I JUST saw the push for the flu vaccine start on the news. They have changed the recommendation on who should get the flu vaccine and they have broadened the age gap for kids. Basically 6 mo - 18 years "should" get the flu shot. Remember folks, the flu vaccine STILL has the mercury preservative that has been removed from childhood vaccines because of its neurotoxicity. Why is it bad in childhood vaccines but not in the flu shot???? We stay away from the flu vaccine. When your body gets the onslaught of crud in the vaccine it has to work hard to clean it out (if your body's detox system is working well). That can actually lower your immunity which then leaves you susceptible to other bugs which is why some people report getting sick after the vaccine. And, there is no guarantee it will be the strain of virus you get, they take a big guess when they make up the year's batch. Your best bet is this:
~ GOOD NUTRITION - lots of whole foods, veggies, fruit, high quality meats and dairy if you so choose (speaking of, the farmer's market now carries a limited supply of RAW cheese, YIPPEE all the good stuff if you ARE going to eat cheese).
~ Good (high quality) supplements for HEALTH, not sickness - Good multivitamin if you are not sure your food is giving you all you need. Boost up your C and whatever other nutrients. I take a B for high stress and a trace minerals supplement. Other things we find helpful are Grapefruit seed extract, echinacea and probiotics for the healthy stuff to help crowd out the bad stuff.
~ Appropriate treatment when you are feeling under the weather - SLEEP, the best healing happens when you sleep. Plus there are supplements to help fight viruses regardless of what a mainstream doctor may tell you. Here are some we always keep on hand:
~Olive leaf extract
~Virastop
~VSC
~Elderberry syrup
~High dose Vitamin C - think GRAMS not milligrams, like 7 grams up to bowel tolerance. When you start having loose stools you've hit your saturation point, back it off a little from there.
~Vitamin A works great on respiratory issues. (NOTE - Vit a is fat soluble which means you CAN get too much of a good thing. You should always consult your own Dr. about the right dose for you and your family).
~Epsom salts for foot soak. Soak JUST the feet in warm epsom salts. It increases your circulation and pulls it towards your feet. That gets your lymph drainage going and moving AWAY from your head/throat/chest which is what you want to have happen.
~Essential oils such as eucalyptus and thyme and tea tree. We put a few drops of eucalyptus in the kids' humidifiers as it is a respiratory support. Great for putting in a steamy bathroom, shower or facial steamer to open those clogged sinuses. Add a little tea tree and lavender and you can even fight off sinus infections. Tea tree is like lysol but in natural form. They are even doing studies about using tea tree oil in hospitals because it even kills the HIV virus in blood products. You can make a throat rub using thyme and tea tree in some oil. Tea tree is also very effective against yeast but that is a different discussion.
OK that is enough for now, I don't blog forever and then my blogs are HUGE.
Some things coming:
~Found a few sources for organic GRASS fed beef, organic poultry (even holiday turkeys!) locally with drop offs in the east valley
~More flu and cold remedies as the season nears
~Craft ideas for Halloween and Christmas (YIPPEE)
I hope to stay more on top of my blog. Life has been crazy as usual but all great things are the Hirning house, hope it is in your house too!!
Monday, September 1, 2008
"Didn't mean to..."
With all of the changes going on in Matthew, we hear so many new concepts from him. Recently he's been doing something a little funny and yet a little annoying at the same time. His new phrase when he whacks someone, bumps them, runs over their toes with his bike (like he JUST did to Eric) or even recently when he DID intentionally push Emma, he says automatically "Didn't mean to" as if that is the cure all. And he says it like a teenager, as if what he really means is "Didn't mean to so get over it, buh byeeee.....". We both did a double take the first time he came out with this phrase. And now I am wondering if the age of duplicity has begun to set in. Prior to this, if Emma was crying and saying Matthew pushed her and I asked him he would immediate 'fess up to it. Now I think we will be hearing a lot more of "Didn't mean to...." in the house. And, I can't help but wonder where it came from. But it is another new concept and I can appreciate it on that level. I wonder what new things we will hear today.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)