Super E.I.-Girl!

Time For Change

2012-02-17T12:41:00.002-08:00

I'm really enjoying the things I'm learning about the brain. =)

Did you know there are two main ways to increase synaptic connections in the brain?
1) learn new things
2) have new experiences

This is very important if we want to keep our brain changing for the better and avoid the deepening of certain pathways that turn into "ruts".

If you think about it, you'll probably realize that you do a lot of the same things every day. Wake up at the same time, eat the same foods, do the same exercises, etc. If you want to continually promote healthy change in your brain, you can start by changing your routines.

For instance,
- rearrange your furniture from time to time
- drive a different route to work or to the store
- vary your personal care routine (ex: brush teeth before getting a shower, or vice versa)
- wear different color combinations than you usually do
- eat with your non-dominant hand or use a spoon instead of a fork
etc.

These little changes will help your brain be more open to changing in the areas you want to transform - whether that's eating habits, exercises, anxious thoughts, Scripture memory, etc.

Also, "increasing synaptic connections" (which is vital for brain health) is not as hard as it might sound. To learn or experience new things you don't have to go back to college or travel overseas. Start small =)

For instance,
- try new foods
- listen to different music
- read a book or magazine about something you don't know much about (photography, cars, horses, etc.)
- make a new friend
- try new activities as you have opportunity
- stop and really notice your environment...what do you see, smell, hear, taste, touch?

These are small things we can do day by day that will gradually add up to ongoing, healthy change in the brain.

So tell your brain it's time for change! And have fun with it. =)

Irish Soda Bread

2012-02-11T13:05:00.000-08:00

I've got food on the brain...probably because I've been gradually losing weight over the last few months. My doctor and I are stumped about the cause, especially since I'm eating a better diet right now than I have in years.

Whatever the cause, I'm trying to eat more and hope that helps. Though, it's challenging to find high-calorie foods I can eat that are healthy. One of my current favorites is this Irish Soda Bread (non-yeast bread). So I thought I'd share the recipe with you. =)

Irish Soda Bread

stir - 2 cups organic whole wheat flour
   1/2 tsp. sea salt
   1 tsp. baking soda

mix - 1 organic egg beaten
4 Tbl. honey (This is optional but it tastes better with it. =) We use local orange blossom honey.)
    3/4 cup buttermilk or 1 cup sour cream (To make our own "buttermilk" we mix about 2 Tbls fresh lemon juice with 3/4 cup organic raw milk. I think it also works to combine the lemon juice with almond milk.)

add liquid mixture to dry ingredients
blend with hands to work flour in (knead about 5 minutes)
shape into loaf
put in oiled glass pan (You could use a cookie sheet, but I recommend never using anything with a non-stick surface.)
cut 2 parallel slashes on top of loaf
bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes

I like to eat this bread for breakfast with a generous spoonful of coconut oil on top. Yum! =)

Give it a try and enjoy!

Make 'em Laugh!

2012-02-01T15:29:00.000-08:00

If you're an old movie buff like me, you probably remember the hilarious scene in "Singing In The Rain" where Donald O'Connor sings "Make 'em Laugh!" while performing all kinds of crazy antics. That's one of my favorite comedy scenes of all time! =)

Then this week I was watching Life Today (with James & Betty Robison), and I saw a comedy routine by Chonda Pierce that had me laughing til I cried! My mom heard my riotous laughter and came to see what was happening. I couldn't even speak, I was laughing so hard!
I know different people enjoy various kinds of humor, but if you need a hefty dose of laughter, I'd encourage you to check out this link:
http://lifetoday.org/video/prosperity-and-joy-6/

Laughter is good for body and soul. It's a gift God has given us. Let's enjoy it today! =)

Question: What is your favorite comedy scene?

Happy Brain, Happy Life

2012-01-27T16:12:00.000-08:00

Two and a half weeks ago I started a new treatment program for E.I. (specifically for the MCS and Chronic Fatigue). It's called the Dynamic Neural Retraining System (http://dnrsystem.com/), developed by Annie Hopper. This program teaches you how to retrain your brain and as a result experience diminished symptoms or complete recovery!

I'm fascinated by all I'm learning about the brain. Most of the treatments I've used work on the body, but now I realize how important it is to address the brain as well.

The brain is the control center for our life - for both conscious and unconscious thoughts, behaviors, feelings, functions, etc. When the brain is healthy and happy, then life is healthy and happy. =)
(That may be oversimplifying, but you get the idea.)

It's important to understand that the brain is affected by its environment, both internally and externally. It also has the ability to change - both for better and for worse. Thankfully, along with our amazing brain, God has also given us a mind, spirit and will - with which we can make choices that will direct the changes in our brain in a positive direction.

I wish I could share with you all the information I'm learning about the brain, but it's just too much for one post! I hope you'll be inspired to do some research and learning of your own about the incredible brain God has given you.

In the meantime, whether you're in a process of retraining your brain or not, I thought you'd enjoy reading this article:
http://limbicretraining.com/contributors/julie/25-things-to-focus-on/
It lists 25 things to do when retraining the brain, but I think these are also great things to do simply to promote and maintain a healthy, happy brain...and thus a healthy, happy life. =)

Retraining the brain is not a quick or easy job. The program I'm doing requires a 6 month commitment. But I'm already seeing positive results from it, and I'm excited about having a healthy, happy brain once again! =)

Laughter Therapy

2012-01-21T09:40:00.000-08:00

We all know that laughter is "good medicine" (Proverbs 17:22). But I wonder if we have yet to explore its full benefits.

It was pointed out to me last week that it is impossible to be laughing hysterically and be in pain at the same time. I believe this has to do with the different signals that the brain sends for laughter and pain.

I decided to test this theory. During the day as I felt various waves of pain, I would start laughing as hard as I could. If I couldn't laugh hard, I at least chuckled or smiled really big. And believe it or not, it seemed to help! The pain didn't completely go away, but it seemed to be less, and even when I felt it, I still felt better somehow as long as I kept smiling. =)

I'm not a doctor or a scientist, but I do try to take what I'm learning and find useful application for it. I think it's amazing that God has given us the gift of laughter - not just for those "fun" times but also to help us through the painful times.

I realize that originally, pain is a warning sign to us that something in our bodies needs attention. However, often pain becomes chronic and the brain gets in a "rut" of sending pain signals all the time. I think that purposefully laughing may help the brain learn to send different signals, and perhaps interrupt the pain cycle.

What do you think? Would you be willing to try this "laughter therapy" for a week, and then let me know what results you see?

I know it may not be easy, and I realize that you can't be laughing out loud all day long. But you can try to keep a smile on your face as much as possible, think of as many humorous thoughts or jokes as you can, chuckle softly to yourself, and when possible, let loose with a huge belly laugh! =)

I'd love to hear if this idea works for any of you. If it even brings a small measure of relief, I'm sure it will be worth it. So laugh til you cry, and then laugh some more! =)

Can't wait to hear from you all!

Hahahohohaha! =)

E.I. Prayer

2012-01-14T16:59:00.000-08:00

Heavenly Father,

We thank you that you are the Creator who made all things - even the plants, foods, and other natural things we react to. We acknowledge that these things are good. Please help us to see them as your magnificent creation and not as harmful to our bodies.

"For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving."
-1 Timothy 4:4

Lord, we also acknowledge that YOU are in control of all things - even people who chose to pollute this planet with an abundance of toxins. Help us to let go of anger toward them and trust that you are working out your sovereign and divine plan for this world. Help us to remember that YOU are our Shield.

"But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head."
-Psalm 3:3

"For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous you surround them with your favor as with a shield."
-Psalm 5:12

"My shield is God Most High...."
-Psalm 7:10

And Father, please keep reminding us that WHO we are is not defined by how we feel or what we struggle with. Our identity is gloriously wrapped up in who JESUS is! Help us to tell ourselves every day who we are in Christ, that we might see Him living through us more and more.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."
-Ephesians 1:3

"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
-Colossians 3:3-4

Thank you, wonderful God, that you love us, that you are with us, and that you do have a beautiful plan for each of our lives! Strengthen our hearts to trust you one moment at a time and to praise you each day.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
-Jeremiah 29:11

"I will extol the LORD at all times;
His praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt His name together."
-Psalm 34:1-3

Amen.

Harvest

2012-01-07T09:32:00.000-08:00

At this time of year many people are making resolutions or setting goals for another year. I think it's also helpful to remind ourselves of the big picture.

If we want a "harvest" of good health, we must faithfully "plant" the seeds of healthy habits. Whatever actions we "plant" with will determine whether we have a "harvest" of good health or bad health.

However, it takes time for "seeds" to grow. I've been faithfully "planting" many good health habits for the last 31 months. Over that time, I've experienced small steps of progress, but I'm still waiting for the complete "harvest" of restored health.

When you get weary or discouraged about not seeing your "harvest" soon enough, don't give up. Remember, if you're not "planting" good seeds, then you're probably "planting" bad ones. And seeds always produce fruit, whether good or bad.

Psalm 85:12 says,
"The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest."

God has given us all the good things we need for health:
- instruction in His Word about healthy living
- godly men & women who've studied and provided us with helpful information
- healthy foods created by God
- the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to say "no" to bad health habits and "yes" to good ones
etc.

As we persevere with what is good, we can be confident that the harvest will indeed come.

Press on, my friends!
Here's to a bountiful new year! =)

E.I. Christmas Album

2011-12-15T09:34:00.000-08:00

Now, back by popular demand (okay, no one really demanded it, but I had fun doing it anyway) -- it's the E.I. Christmas Album! Featuring creative E.I. variations on popular Christmas songs. Only found here! =)

* An E.I. Christmas *

It's The Most Fragrance-filled Time Of The Year

We Need A Little Non-toxic Christmas

The Holly And The I.V.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Meltdown

The 12 Months Of Detoxing

Do You Smell What I Smell?

God Rest Ye Chronic Fatigue Gentlemen

Hypoallergenic Jingle Bells

I'm Dreaming Of A Normal Christmas

Joy To The Toxic World

We Wish You A Merry Christmas And A Healthy New Year

Well, I hope you got a chuckle out of this anyway. =)
Christmas can be a difficult time for those of us with E.I. I'm thankful that regardless of circumstances, we can always celebrate the true meaning of Christmas - God's gift of Jesus.

“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.” -Matthew 1:23

E.I. Gift-Giving Guide

2011-12-10T12:54:00.000-08:00

Christmas is approaching...the feel of shopping is in the air. =)

The Natural News website has a good article about what NOT to give people for Christmas this year. It's getting harder to find "non-toxic" gifts. You can check out the article at:
http://www.naturalnews.com/034253_Christmas_gifts_toxic_chemicals.html

Whether the people on your gift list have E.I. or not, my personal recommendation is please do not give gifts that are:
1) made in China (highly toxic)
2) sugary or preservative-laden foods

I know finding just the right gift is sometimes a challenge, especially when you're thinking of someone with E.I. Here a few suggestions I hope will be helpful.

*Glass dishes (not made in China) of any kind are always good.
Most E.I.'s can't use plastic or metal dishes, and clear glass is often hard to find. (We usually watch for them at garage sales or thrift stores.)

*For many E.I.'s a new CD or DVD is always nice. (Even though the cases often smell toxic, I usually put them away somewhere and can still enjoy the disc.)

*Encouraging sermon CD's from your church are a good gift, as most of us are unable to attend church.

*Postage stamps are always a practical and helpful gift.

*Gift certificates to the local health food store or to NEEDS.com (if you know they often shop there for needed supplements, etc.).

*Some E.I.'s can't receive anything in the mail (except plain paper letters) without reacting. For them, you might consider donating to a charity in their name. There are many worthy ministries. A few that I personally appreciate are:
1) The Bible League - distributing Bibles all over the world, and much more.
http://www.bibleleague.org/
2) Life Today - feeding children, drilling wells, rescuing girls from trafficking, taking care of orphans...they do so much!
http://lifetoday.org/
3) Samaritan's Purse - relief work, evangelism, Christmas boxes for children, etc.
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/

Well, I hope these ideas are helpful. Most of all, remember that God is the giver of ALL gifts! May we be thankful every day for His generous heart. And may we give to others out of His love and joy.

Happy giving! =)

Thankful

2011-12-02T12:38:00.000-08:00

(I know Thanksgiving was last week, but I'm still thinking about being thankful.)

Thankfulness is a powerful antidote to many negative emotions - anxiety, frustration, despair, etc.

Dr. David Jeremiah says that gratitude is an attitude in your heart, but it's not thanksgiving until it's expressed. So today I want to express some of the gratitude that's in my heart. =)

10 Things I'm Very Thankful For -

1) Christmas music!
2) warm Florida winters
3) fresh ocean air
4) organic coconut oil
5) mashed potatoes and gravy (yum!) =)
6) that God created the body with the ability to heal
7) my wonderful friends and family who love me, encourage me, and pray for me
8) the Bible, God's Word - I'd be lost without it!
9) God's promise in Hebrews 13:5b - "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
10) Hope for each new day.

Hallelujah! We have so much to be thankful for!

May you have a blessed weekend, remembering all your blessings. =)

Wonderful Vinegar

2011-11-17T09:20:00.000-08:00

On this blog I've often mentioned how versatile baking soda is...that you can use it for so many different things. Today I want to talk about another incredible product - Vinegar.

First, vinegar is indispensible in the home.

"Heinz company spokesperson Michael Mullen references numerous studies to show that a straight 5 percent solution of vinegar—the kind you can buy in the supermarket—kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of germs (viruses)."
(from: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/vinegar-kills-bacteria-mold-germs.html)

Vinegar is an effective cleaning agent, deoderizer, and mold remover.
-You can clean with it in the kitchen, bathroom, etc.
-You can pour it on moldy sidewalks or other moldy surfaces instead of bleach.
-You can use it to clean out your washer & dryer. Pour about 1/2 gallon of vinegar in an empty washing machine, run it 1/2 full of water, then run a rinse, not full cycle. This will clean out any soap build-up, mildew, or smells. For the dryer, pour about 3 cups of vinegar on a bath towel, then dry for 30-45 minutes. (We do this at least once a month to clean out the washer & dryer.)
-You can set out a bowl of vinegar to help absorb offensive smells.
-You can pour vinegar down the drain once a month to help remove build-up.

There are so many great uses for vinegar in the home! Here's a website with a few more tips: (http://www.care2.com/greenliving/annies-top-10-vinegar-uses.html)

(Note: always use Heinze vinegar for home uses. Other brands of vinegar use petroleum products in processing, thus are toxic. Heinz brand is a safe, natural form of vinegar.)

Second, you can use vinegar to promote healing in your body.

-Some missionary friends of ours were exposed to serious pesticides in Venezuela. They used vinegar to help detox the harmful chemicals. - Mix 1 Tbl. of organic apple cider vinegar and 1 tsp. of honey in 8 oz of water. Drink it first thing in the morning before you eat. (How long you should do this will depend on how much you need to detox. But my friend said this vinegar drink has also helped her arthritis, so she continues to do it daily.)
-You can use 1-2 oz of organic apple cider vinegar in a detox bath. Run the bath as hot as is comfortable, add in the vinegar, and soak for 10-20 minutes (as long as it's still comfortable).
-Vinegar can help with digestion and has other benefical results in the body as well.

Check out this website for much more information about organic apple cider vinegar:
http://www.bragg.com/

(Note: when using vinegar internally or externally on the body, always use organic apple cider vinegar. My massage therapist recommends Bragg's brand, as do many other health experts.)

So there you have it, the many uses of wonderful vinegar! =)
If you have any other uses to add, please share them in the comments.

Perspective

2011-11-11T12:18:00.001-08:00

(FYI - I'm putting this post on both of my blogs this week, since it applies to both.)

This week marks 7 years since my health collapsed. 7 years of feeling like my life is on hold. 7 years of learning, changing, healing. 7 years of a strange journey I never would have chosen.

In some ways it feels like I've been in a time warp, stuck at age 25, while the rest of the world moves on. In other ways, I feel like I've aged 15 years, not 7.

Most of my friends are now married with 2 or 3 kids, serving on the mission-field or active in ministry somewhere. They're living the kind of life I always expected to live.

I confess, sometimes I feel impatient with God. Other people with health challenges similar to mine have gotten well in a matter of months. Why must my healing process take so long?

Then I think of my friends Sam & Nathan (twins). They recently turned 37. They've been living with Environmental Illness for almost 20 years. They didn't get to finish high school, never even got their driver's licenses. They've missed out on so many "normal" things in life. They've been enduring and persevering through their illness, day by day, for close to 20 years.

When I think about them, I sometimes get more upset with God than I do over my own situation. What is He thinking? What kind of life is that for my dear friends?

As always, my heavenly Father is faithful to gently rebuke my wrong thinking and remind me of His truth.

- "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." -Psalm 139:16b

- "LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup...." -Psalm 16:5a

- "You are good, and what you do is good...." -Psalm 119:68a

- "Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them...When Peter saw him, he asked, 'Lord, what about him?'
Jesus answered, 'If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.'” -John 21:20-22

God's plan for each of us is different, but His call is the same - to follow. Wherever our Shepherd leads us....

Is God's plan for my friends in missionary service good?
Certainly.

Is God's plan for my friends Sam & Nathan good?
By faith, I believe it is.

Is God's plan for me good?
How could I doubt it.

I know my 7 years have not been wasted. I know God is working out His perfect plan for me.

And I've learned that it's not the passing of time or my circumstances that matter most - but rather finding joy in the fellowship of my Savior, one day at a time.

"Surely you have granted [me] eternal blessings and made [me] glad with the joy of your presence." -Psalm 21:6

Detoxing Quotes

2011-11-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

The lengthy process of detoxing can be annoying, frustrating, even agonizing. My mom and I try to keep a sense of humor through all the pain, frustration, and crazy symptoms.

Here are a few quotes we've come up with to amuse ourselves in the midst of the struggle. =)

"Wherever I go, there my toxins are."
- I often feel like Pigpen (from Charlie Brown) with his cloud of dust following him everywhere.

"Blame it on detoxing."
- Are you feeling irritable, depressed, schizophrenic...it's probably from something you're detoxing.

"Don't inhale."
- Always give this warning to anyone you're about to hug.

"Crying washes out the toxins."
- Bursting into tears (because of reactions or symptoms) is never fun, but when it happens, my mom alway reminds me that at least it's another way of getting rid of toxins.

"Eat it today, detox it tomorrow."
- This is especially helpful to remember when I'm tempted to eat some non-organic, preservative-laden food. Is it worth the price of taking 3-4 days to detox it?

"Dare to detox."
- Detoxing is not for the faint-hearted. It takes courage, perseverance, flexibility, a sense of humor, and lots of prayer!

In some ways I think the detoxing process parallels the Christian life. God is continually removing the "toxic" things from our lives and replacing them with His goodness and truth. This process of inner transformation can at times feel annoying, frustrating, even agonizing. But a changed life is well worth the pain.

Spiritual transformation is a life-long journey.
I just hope that the detoxing process isn't.
=)

Super-Hero Food

2011-10-29T14:11:00.000-07:00

Popeye had spinach. Mr. T had milk. For Super-E.I. Girl, the super-food of choice is --- Chocolate!

Yes, after nearly 20 years of being allergic to chocolate, it's now my favorite "super-hero food." =)

Thanks to Dr. Smith's CBT allergy treatment, I'm no longer allergic to chocolate. And thanks to my herbalogist I've discovered it's many benefits.

A few quick facts - chocolate is full of antioxidants, rich in minerals, lowers cholesterol, is good for the heart, and improves mood.
(You can find more details online. See - http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/other/health-benefits-of-dark-chocolate.html)

According to my dr, chocolate is helpful for detoxifying the liver and boosting immune health.

However, the type of chocolate you eat IS important. Organic, dark chocolate, with little or no sugar, preservatives, or milk ingredients is best.

I get Vivani organic, dark chocolate. It has no soy products and very little sugar (organic cane sugar). There are other healthy brands as well.

I only eat 2-4 small squares of chocolate a day (there are 24 squares in one bar, so it's not much). The healthiest serving size probably varies from person to person. Viewing chocolate as a healthy food - to help your body - not as an indulgence, may help you find the right amount for you. =)

Also, chocolate or cocoa can be used topically for detoxing. At one point, my herbalogist had me put a cocoa/flaxseed oil paste on my neck (for I think 30 minutes). Or sometimes I hold one small square of chocolate on my liver for anywhere from 5-10 minutes. (Dr direction is advised for specific uses.)

No doubt about it, chocolate is a wonderful super-hero food! =) It gives me a little extra energy for exercising, provides quick relief when my adrenals are stressed, and makes me happy that something that tastes so good is also good for me! =)

Well, I better go. I hear a piece of chocolate calling my name....

E.I. Photo Diary

2011-10-22T12:32:00.000-07:00

Someone suggested I include more photos on this blog. Sadly, there just
isn't much that's "photo-worthy" in this E.I. life. But I decided I
could give you a little photo-glimpse into how I live. My brief, E.I.
photo diary. =)

- My trusty shoes (made in Brazil) lasted about 7 years! I literally
wore them to death, as you can see, before I finally found a new pair I
wasn't allergic to.

- This is my birthday watermelon! (No cake for me.) It was delicious,
by the way. =)

- I enjoy visiting the beach when I can. I went once a month this past
summer. We always go to the national park beach because there's hardly
anyone there, so I don't have to worry about sunscreen smells or
smokers.

- This is my humble abode. Totally bare except for essentials - a
mattress and an air purifier. Thank goodness at least I have windows so
I'm not just staring at blank walls all day. =)

- My clean laundry has to air out on the dining room table before I can
wear it. (At least I'm not airing dirty laundry.) =) It's not my mom's
favorite place for leaving laundry, but it's what works the best. (I do
clean off the table and actually eat a meal there every once in a
while, as a special treat for my mom.) =)

- A bright spot in my limited life - my precious nieces & nephews! They
come to visit me in our back yard, since we can't let anyone in our
house. (It's impossible to "de-fragrance" a non-E.I. person completely,
and it's very hard to detoxify the house once a "fragrant" person has
entered.) I usually do okay visiting with people outside for a short
time, thank the Lord. =)

That's the brief tour. I hope it helps you appreciate some of the everyday
things that are easy to take for granted. =)
Blessings,
-Joanna

Fermented Foods

2011-10-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

In response to my last post I was asked about plant-based probiotic foods. (Obviously fermented dairy products like kefir and yogurt have probiotics - though I only recommend them if they are made from organic, raw milk and not filled with preservatives and sweeteners.)

In "The Maker's Diet," author Jordan Rubin explains the importance of eating fermented foods - for the probiotics and enzymes they contain. (p.142-143 & p.153) He says modern vinegar-fermented foods are not the best kind to eat, even though most commercially made products use this method.

Jordan writes that lacto-fermented foods (using lactic acid fermentation) are the best for the body. These foods are easy to make or you can find them in many health food stores - foods like fermented vegetables (cabbage, carrots, beats, cucumber, etc.), pickled relishes, eggs, and even some fruits.

"The Maker's Diet" contains recipes for fermented vegetables and also lists national health food stores that carry such products. (You can probably check out this book at your local library. It's a helpful resource to have for many health & nutrition topics.) Jordan's company, Garden of Life, also sells a fermented coconut oil which is in most health food stores.

Personally, I haven't yet branched out to fermented foods because of my extreme sensitivity to them over the years. (I take a probiotic supplement which I order from NEEDS.com.) However, I do agree with Jordan's information and hope to implement it in my diet eventually. Until then, maybe you can let me know how it works for you. =)

Antibiotic--Free Anniversary

2011-10-07T09:59:00.000-07:00

Praise God that I've now been antibiotic-free for 6 years! Considering that I spent several years on and off and on antibiotics again, this Anniversary is nothing short of a miracle! =)

In some cases, antibiotics are life-saving. But in general, they are way over-prescribed.

One problem with antibiotics is that many times the infection is fungal, not bacterial. Eating an anti-fungal diet can help prevent fungal infections. Using coconut oil on food and topically on the skin also fights fungal growth. Taking antibiotics can make fungal infections worse, so it's important to distinguish fungal from bacterial infections. (For more info about fighting fungus visit knowthecause.com.)

Another problem is that most people are seriously deficient in good bacteria in their bodies. Taking antibiotics kills the few good bacteria they have, leaving them vulnerable to all kinds of invaders. Taking probiotics on a regular basis is vital for overall health and even more so during and after a course of antibiotics.

Adding insult to injury, antibiotics are toxic to the body. Some kinds seem to be worse than others, but each time you take antibiotics, your body has to work extra hard to process and detox those chemicals. (Over the last two years, I've detoxed several kinds of antibiotics. It's been a slow, not-fun process.)

So those are some good reasons not to take antibiotics. (For more reasons, try googling "dangers of antibiotics".) But can they be avoided?

For one thing, I recommend not using anti-bacterial hand soap or cleaning products. The continual use of such products leads to antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria and harms the body through constant exposure to antibiotics. (http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/anti-bacterial-soap-triclosan-47071501)
Vinegar is an excellent cleaning alternative. (http://www.care2.com/greenliving/vinegar-kills-bacteria-mold-germs.html) For hands, use regular soap or baking soda.

Also, if possible, avoid meat & dairy products that are not organic. Non-organic products are filled with antibiotics that were fed to the animals. (One glass of "regular" milk contains traces of over 100 different antibiotics!) Again, continual ingestion of small amounts of antibiotics can cause big problems.

Using non-toxic products, eating an organic, anti-fungal diet and taking probiotic supplements are all helpful things you can do. Taking care of your environment and doing things to strengthen your immune system are important keys to avoiding antibiotics.

I realize sometimes it's necessary to take antibiotics, but hopefully with some minor lifestyle changes, you can avoid excessive exposure to them. And, like me, maybe you can even live without them for the next 6 years...or longer. Wouldn't that be great?! =)

Your Feedback...

2011-09-30T12:19:00.000-07:00

I've been keeping this blog for almost 2 years now, and I really enjoy doing it. =) However, the blog isn't really for me - it's for you!

I rarely receive comments on what I post, so I thought I'd take a minute to seek your input. If you'd be so kind to answer a few questions (you can post in the comments or email me your answer), I'd be very grateful for your feedback! Thank you!

Blessings,
-Joanna

1) Do you find the content of this blog helpful and beneficial?

2) Are you happy with the balance of different kinds of posts - personal stories, humor, encouragement, practical health tips & information?

3) Would you like to see more posts in one of these areas? Less posts in one area?

4) Do you think most of the posts are too long, too short, or just right?

5) Any suggestions to improve or change this blog?

His Promise Never Fails

2011-09-21T09:18:00.000-07:00

Today I want to tell you a story. (It may sound a little like one of those children's books where one event builds on another until you reach the big ending. I always liked those....) As crazy as this story probably sounds, it's true.

There once was a girl who had Environmental Illness. She worked very hard to get better. She even called herself the "Super-E.I.-Girl." But sometimes she got discouraged.

One day she smelled paint fumes coming into the house. She stayed in her room all day, and the fumes finally went away.

She was glad it was over. Until she realized that the paint fumes had gotten into her clean laundry.

Her mom washed the laundry again. But before Super-E.I.-Girl checked if the laundry was ok, the monthly pesticide spraying happened in her neighborhood.

Because of the monthly pesticide spraying, her mom could not do any laundry for at least 4 days. When Super-E.I.-Girl tried to use the clean laundry, she got sick.

Since she couldn't use her clean laundry, she had to sleep on the same sheet for over a week. (She normally put on clean sheets every 3-4 days because of the toxins they accumulated.)

Sleeping on a toxic sheet started to make Super-E.I.-Girl feel worse. She got upset with God. Why had He allowed the paint smell to happen right before the pesticide spraying? Why did something as simple as doing laundry have to be a constant battle? She cried and cried, but she didn't feel any better.

Super-E.I.-Girl felt so awful that she finally decided to call her doctor, even though she wasn't scheduled for an appointment for another week. She wrote down all her questions and prepared to get some answers.

To Super-E.I.-Girl's surprise, her doctor told her she had parasites! She'd probably had them for a long time (maybe even more than a year). But those little bugs are so hard to test for, that it was only this one day they finally showed up.

In silence, Super-E.I.-Girl contemplated this news. Slowly, she thought about the past week and realized something.
- If there hadn't been a paint smell, followed by pesticide spraying, she would have had clean laundry.
- If she'd had clean laundry, she wouldn't have felt so awful.
- If she hadn't felt so awful, she wouldn't have called the doctor that day.
- If she hadn't called the doctor that day, who knows how long it would have been until they found the parasite.

Humbly, Super-E.I.-Girl bowed her head and thanked God for the paint smell, and the pesticide spraying, and the toxic sheet, and for feeling so awful, and for her doctor, and for the parasite treatment (which she hoped would make a big difference for her health)!

Most of all she thanked God for His promise in Romans 8:28, that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him. And she asked God to help her the next time she had a crisis to remember and to trust, that no matter what, His promise never fails.

The End.

The Whole Package

2011-09-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

For most of us, when our health starts to deteriorate, we want to just take one pill and be well. Or do one health treatment and be well. Or go to one doctor and have them 'fix' us. Etc.

The reality is that our bodies are complex and intricate. By the time we start to notice symptoms, there are usually many health issues involved, not just one problem.

I think anyone who's been on this health journey for very long will tell you not to expect to find one super-doctor or one 'miracle' treatment.

In the past 7 years, I've consulted over 40 doctors in 8 states. Some were helpful; others were harmful. Gradually, my mom and I realized we would have to take bits and pieces of helpful information from various sources and put together our own comprehensive 'health program.'

Over the last two years, these are most of the things I've been doing consistently (daily or weekly):

- lymphatic massage
- detox bath
- deep breathing
- stretches & mild exercise
- rebounding
- physical therapy (once a week for a year, now only when needed)
- various supplements
- natural remedies
- coconut oil (internally & externally)
- diet changes (as needed/possible)
- CBT allergy treatments
- keeping a non-toxic environment (as much as possible)
- breathing sea air (when possible)

There are other basic things in my lifestyle that help - plenty of water, sleep (10-11 hours for me), laughter, prayer, encouragement, etc.

My body has needed this complete package. One thing alone wouldn't have been enough to produce the level of improvement I've experienced.

There are many things I've tried that didn't help. There are other things I've considered doing but haven't been able to try yet. And I continue looking for new information. I want to keep learning so I can do what's best for my body.

The important thing for you is to work out your own program of what helps you, and then persevere.

If you keep looking for that one "magic" pill, you'll be disappointed.

As you continue seeking wisdom and knowledge, I pray the Lord will guide you. I know He will help you put together the whole package that you need.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." -James 1:5

When I See You Smile...

2011-09-08T09:36:00.000-07:00

(Preface: One of the effects of having many allergic reactions is that I sometimes get a little loopy in the midst of them...I blame it on lack of oxygen to the brain. On the plus side, a little humor is a positive thing in the midst of a reaction. Anyway, the following post is the fruit of one of those slap-happy moments. I don't know if anyone else will think it's funny, but I hope you'll at least get a smile out of it.) =)

I think it's about time that the E.I. community came up with our own music album. It could help communicate our difficulties, emotions, and experiences. Or maybe it would just give us something to laugh at in this crazy E.I. life. =)

To get this new trend in the music industry started, I've compiled my own E.I. Music Album, made up of variations on popular songs.

(Note: Out of respect for the authors of the original songs, I have put my additions and changes to the titles in parentheses.
Disclaimer: The party of the first part is not endorsing any of these original songs and cannot be held liable for injuries resulting from listening to the aforementioned songs.)

Songs of E.I. Life - The Good, The Bad, & The Ridiculous

- Achy, Breaky Heart (With Arythmia And Palpitations)

- Shake, Rattle & Roll (Me Out Of Bed)

- I (Wish I Could) Feel Good

- I Still Haven't Found (The Doctor) I'm Looking For

- Nobody (Except Other E.I.'s) Knows The Trouble I've Seen

- It's A (Toxic) World After All

- Rocky Mountain (Spotted Fever) High

- I Will Survive (I Think)

- I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of (Organic) Coconut (Oil)

- Can't Touch This (Or That, Or Anything Else)

- These Are A Few Of My Favorite (Supplements)

- Somewhere There's A (Fragrance-Free) Place For Us

- Count Your (Non-toxic) Blessings

Please post a comment with your vote for Best E.I. song in this album!

Keep smiling! =)

Comfort

2011-09-02T09:36:00.000-07:00

I've been reading through Psalm 119 lately. While this is the ultimate Psalm about the power and beauty of God's Word, many of the verses specifically address suffering.

Today I just wanted to share with you some highlights from this Psalm that I have returned to over and over again and have found great comfort in.

May God's precious Word speak peace and consolation to your soul today.

Blessings,
-Joanna

(from Psalm 119)
28 My soul is weary with sorrow;
   strengthen me according to your word.

50 My comfort in my suffering is this:
   Your promise preserves my life.

68a You are good, and what you do is good;

75 I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous,
   and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

92 If your law had not been my delight,
   I would have perished in my affliction.

107 I have suffered much;
   preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word.

165 Great peace have they who love your law,
   and nothing can make them stumble.

175 Let me live that I may praise you,
   and may your laws [Word] sustain me.

Amen.

Happy Thoughts

2011-08-20T14:50:00.000-07:00

Two important factors that affect our health are stress and negative thoughts.

Sometimes we can't change the stressful circumstances, but we can always change our thoughts.

Now, I'm not someone who believes you can "think positively" and no longer be sick. But I have learned that negative thoughts do make things worse.

Several years ago a friend told me I was the most positive person he knew. But after years of chronic health, I became the least positive person I knew. The constant stress, pain, and hardship, had caused chronic negative thought patterns, such as - "I'm so tired. I feel awful. I can't do this anymore. This is never going to end. I just want to breathe normally! Things will never get better." etc, etc.

Two years ago I did EEG (neurobiofeedback) therpay, where my brain waves were monitored while I was supposed to think "happy thoughts" for 15 minutes. Well, I barely made it for 30 seconds without a negative thought. But as I kept doing it every week, it really made a difference.

The reality is that our thoughts create literal physical pathways in our brain. (For more info about the brain I recommend two books by Dr. Caroline Leaf - "Who Switched Off My Brain?" and "The Gift In You.")

Unfortunately, chronic pain can cause an unconscious pattern of negative thoughts. Then we have to consciously "rewire" those pathways with positive, truthful, uplifting thoughts.

A good exercise is to spend 5 minutes a day thinking only positive, "happy" thoughts. If you can't make it that long without a negative thought, it's ok. Just keep practicing. =)

For me, this was a hard change to make, even harder than changing my diet. But the Lord reminded me that "the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." (Rom. 8:6)

God wants us to have thoughts directed by the Spirit, even in our pain. And in turn, it will promote life and peace in our bodies. Some good ways to do this are - meditating on a Psalm, recalling happy memories, reading jokes, giving thanks, and especially speaking out loud in praise to God.

Sometimes it helps to find a positive statement to have ready to substitute for negative thoughts. For example, when I start to think "I feel so awful," I try to stop and purposefully think, "I'm so loved by God" or "God will bring me through this," etc.

Thinking "happy thoughts" consistently is still a challenge for me. I'm thankful for God's power displayed in my weakness and His continual loving thoughts toward me.

"How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you."
-Psalm 139:17-18

Prayer Request

2011-08-09T09:24:00.000-07:00

Please pray for my friend Kristi who was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer last week. She started radiation and chemo treatments this week. She also has a broken collarbone and broken rib. She and her husband have three small girls. As you can imagine, this is a very difficult time for them all.

Please pray for divine healing and for strength and courage for this painful journey.

Thank you!

Breath of Life

2011-07-27T09:16:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how easy it is to take for granted the most important thing in life - breath.
The moment you stop breathing, life is gone. Yet, most of us never even think about breathing, it's automatic.

I've been having trouble breathing again the last week and a half. It has reminded me yet again how important breath is.

It's incredible how many parts of the body all function together so that you can take a breath. For example - diaphragm, lungs, sinuses (if you breathe through your nose), abdominal and back muscles, ligaments attached to your lungs, etc.

At different times, my difficulty breathing is caused by one or more of these parts not working properly - diaphragm constricted, lungs inflamed, sinuses stuffed up, back muscles tight, etc.

Usually with trouble breathing, I have one of two reactions - I feel angry, or I panic. These are both completely natural and understandable responses. Unfortunately, both anger and fear only make the problem worse, because they cause the brain to release harmful chemicals. So it's vital to stay calm.

Over time, I've learned to differentiate between "trouble" breathing and serious, life-threatening inability to breathe. When it's just "trouble" breathing, I may feel angry, but I try to stay calm. If it's life-threatening, I almost always panic. (Which is why I keep benedryl on hand at all times.)
I'm not a doctor, so I can't advise anyone with serious inability to breathe (hopefully you already have emergency measures in place).

But for everyone like me who struggles with chronic breathing difficulty, I can say - Take heart! Every breath comes from God. As long as He wants you to stay on this planet, He will continue to give you enough breath to go on.

If you've never had trouble breathing, stand up and do a dance of joy! You have reason to give thanks every day for the breath that comes so easily to your body.

However, all of us can learn how to better develop and guard this precious gift of breath. Here are a few things I've learned:

- Do deep breathing at least twice a day.
I take a big breath in while raising my arms over my head (to help the lungs expand), hold for a moment, then slowly exhale as I lower my arms. I repeat this two or three times.
You can also rest your hand on your diaphragm and take quick "sniffy" breaths in and out through your nose, while feeling your diaphragm expand and release. You can do it for 2-3 minutes or until you start to feel lightheaded. (Definitely stop if you feel lightheaded or dizzy.) This is a good exercise to strengthen the diaphragm.

- Do stretches every day to help the muscles around the lungs stay limber.
One good stretch is to stand in a corner with one foot in front of the other and arms up on the wall in a "football goal" position. Then lean in gently and feel the stretch through the back and chest. Repeat with arms stretched straight up on the wall.
Another stretch is to put your arms behind your back with fingers laced together and raise as high as you can, gently of course. =)
When lying down, you can turn on your side, then raise your arm up and out, slowly letting it rotate around and back down.
There are other stretches you can do, these are just a few to get started.

- Try to consciously work at good posture.
Keeping your back straight and shoulders back really does help your lungs function more effectively. If this is hard for you, try doing a few ab crunches 2 or 3 times a week. Strengthening the abdominal muscles often helps improve posture.
Also, when brushing your teeth or doing other mindless tasks, practice exaggerated good posture for those few minutes.

- Try physical therapy for chronic problems.
My physical therapist has stretched, pushed and pulled my body in more ways than I thought possible. But it has made a tremendous difference in my ability to breathe better.

I hope some of these ideas are helpful. Remember, your breath is your life. Do what you can to improve your breathing function. And thank God every day for the breath He gives!

"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD." -Psalm 150:6

Reminder

2011-07-13T12:28:00.000-07:00

With summer in full swing, I just wanted to mention again that if you can't afford to buy all organic produce, then I hope you'll make use of the "Shopper's Guide to Pesticides" by EWG.
http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/
This list tells you which produce has the most and the least amount of pesticides. It's very helpful in deciding which things you definitely should buy organic, and which things aren't as crucial to get organic.

Also, just wanted to add that the most important food to buy organic is actually meat. Not only does "normal" meat have pesticide residues but also hormones, antibiotics, steroids, GMO grains (fed to the animals), and all kinds of junk.
If you can only afford to buy one thing organic, start with the meat. I've been eating Laura's Beef for the last few years and it's very good.
http://www.laurasleanbeef.com/

Most big grocery stores now carry organic products in everything from produce, to meat, to dairy and pasta, etc. Keep a lookout for these foods or ask a store employee about them.

Remember, you ARE what you EAT. Keep growing in Health!

Blessings,
-Joanna

Some Humor

2011-07-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

I thought you'd appreciate some E.I. humor today. =) Enjoy!
(And yes, I really have been to this many doctors - more in fact.)

Doctors, Doctors

Doctors, doctors, you’re so smart,
But medicine is not like art.
Dr S declared, “you’re fine.
Perhaps it’s all just in your mind.”
Dr. U thought I had allergies
And promptly stuck a needle in me.
Dr. B said “Let’s test your blood.”
Those results were clear as mud.

Doctors, doctors, can’t you tell?
Something’s wrong, I know it well.
Dr. A affirmed it’s not infectious.
Dr C said my heart looked precious.
Dr G told me to quit my med.
Dr O wanted to “fix” my head.
Doctors, doctors, I wish you knew
Just one right thing that you could do.

Doctors, doctors, if only you had
The help I long for, need so bad.
Dr. T said “We’ll do an IV.”
Lots of things they pumped into me.
Dr. H wanted to crack my back.
I said, “Let’s try another tack.”
Dr. V told me, “Take these pills.”
Unfortunately they made me ill.

Doctors, doctors, don’t you know?
Is there no weapon to fight this foe?
Dr. F said “Write everything down.”
Dr. L gave up with a frown.
Dr. D tried acupuncture.
Dr. M was crazy, I’m sure.
Doctors, doctors, it’s so unfair.
Why is a good one totally rare?

Doctors, doctors, so much to learn,
You practice on me and I get burned.
Dr. R said “You’re past my help.
Go live by the sea.” Try some kelp?
Dr. K asked “Do you want to get well?”
I got so mad, I wanted to yell.
Dr. J knew less than I.
Just take me home, let me cry.

Doctors, doctors, there must be one
Who God can use before I’m done.
Dr. Z taught me massage.
Dr. P used an alternative collage.
Dr. N gave me natural remedies.
Dr. Y cured my allergies.
Doctors, doctors, I’m thankful for each
Who brought good health within my reach.

by Joanna K. Harris

He Cares

2011-07-07T10:03:00.000-07:00

"In all their distress He too was distressed, and the angel of His presence saved them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old." -Isaiah 63:9

My friend, in all your distress, your heavenly Father too is distressed. In His great love, He will lift you up and carry you through all the difficult days.

Take heart. You are precious to your Father. He cares about you.

Law of the Harvest

2011-07-02T18:03:00.000-07:00

You've probably heard the saying many times in your life, "You reap what you sow."

I've heard this phrase since I was a child. But somehow it didn't really "click" in my brain...until I heard it explained in a different way.

Andy Stanley calls this principle the "law of the harvest." That is in contrast to the "law of Pinochio."

The "law of Pinochio" is instant cause-effect reaction. He told a lie - his nose immediately grew.

For some reason, most of us expect life to be like that. If we eat a donut and don't instantly feel bad, we think, "no big deal." If we work hard this week, we want to be wealthy next week. If we exercise today, we think we should be stronger tomorrow.

The reality is that almost everything in life operates not under the law of instant results, but under the "law of the harvest."

You prepare the soil. You plant seeds. You water. You weed. You wait. You weed. You water. You wait.
FINALLY - you get a tiny sprout. Gradually followed by a small plant. Then a bigger plant. And at long last - the HARVEST.

Every day we are preparing some kind of harvest - either a harvest of negative fruit or positive fruit. But we won't see instant results. The consequences of our actions show up over time.

Many years of toxic exposure, poor nutrition, little sleep, lots of stress, etc. may not manifest a problem for a while. But eventually the "harvest" will show up and we'll experience the result of damaged health.

The same is true as we try to take care of our bodies. All the hard work, tough choices, self-control, good nutrition, etc. doesn't yield instant healing. But gradually, over time, the body has what it needs to heal. One day we will experience the "harvest" of restored health.

Every day we are at work in one garden or the other - sowing seeds that will destroy health or sowing seeds that will repair and promote health.

When I'm tempted to give in to the flesh or when I'm discouraged by lack of progress, God reminds me of this principle, the "law of the harvest." And I pray for strength to keep on sowing, and weeding, and waiting...for the precious fruit.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." -Galatians 6:9

E. I. Thanks

2011-06-25T09:17:00.000-07:00

Life with Environmental Illness is miles away from "normal" life. Sometimes it's hard to see past the limitations on every side. But even here, in our little "glass boxes," we have things to be thankful for.

Below is my E.I. list of Thanks.
Some of the things in this list are necessary to our survival in this E.I. life, others just make it a little more bearable day by day.
When you're healthy, it's easy to take your blessings for granted.
But I'm sure all my E.I. friends would agree we've learned to be VERY thankful for things like these!

-air purifiers
-baking soda
-shower filters
-organic farmers
-100% cotton
-health food stores
-TV
-radio
-land line phones
-massage
-music
-sunshine
-the postal service
and
-the promise of a perfectly healthy body in heaven!

"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess. 5:18).
.

Lough Out Loud

2011-06-18T12:49:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 17:22 says,
"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

You've probably heard this verse many times, but have you ever taken it seriously? Or rather, have you taken it laughingly?

Laughter is one of the sweetest gifts God has given us, benefiting our minds, spirits, and bodies.

Did you know that during a hearty laugh your diaphragm, abdomen, heart, lungs, and liver actually get a massage?

Laughter also releases an instant flood of your body's "feel good" chemicals (like endorphins), which boost your immune system and reduce your levels of damaging stress hormones.

Humor also helps both sides of your brain work together and helps you get rid of toxic thoughts and emotions.

Laughter is also good for your heart because it leads to increased blood flow, which helps protect against heart attacks.

Do I have you convinced yet? The scientific evidence for the physical benefits of laughter are undoubtedly clear (unlike this sentence). =)

So how often do you laugh...not a little chuckle, but a real deep belly laugh? Once a week? Once a day?

Whether it's reading Garfield cartoons, watching a funny movie, or remembering comic experiences from the past, find some ways to get your laugh-ercise this week.

And keep on smiling! =)

(Much of this information is taken from "Who Switched Off My Brain" by Dr. Caroline Leaf.)

Sunlight

2011-06-11T09:37:00.000-07:00

Today I'm speaking to myself when I say that one of the best and simplest things to do for better health is to get some sunshine!

Our skin uses energy from the sun to make vitamin D in our bodies. Vitamin D performs many essential functions in the body, including strenghthening the immune system and facilitating mineral absorbtion. It is vital for good health!

Some people worry about getting skin cancer from sun exposure. Yet we know God created the sun, and for thousands of years people have lived outside without a high incidence of skin cancer. One theory is that it's only too much sun in addition to a bad diet that leads to skin cancer. A healthy diet with adequate nutrients and healthy fats actually works together with energy from the sun to give the body many benefits.
(This info and more is in "The Maker's Diet" by Jordan Rubin.)

So how much sun is the right amount?

The Natural News website says:
"If we were to expose at least 20% of our skin to sunlight all year round for up to 10 minutes a day without any SPF, then we would ensure adequate amounts of vitamin D. The fairer your skin the less direct exposure is needed to activate vitamin D synthesis. For people with very fair skin, just a short burst of sunshine on their skin would also be enough."
( http://www.naturalnews.com/022889.html )

Obviously we don't want to get sunburned, and some people will be able to tolerate more sun exposure than others. But if you're like me, getting any sun at all is the challenge.

My goal at the moment is 10 minutes of direct sunlight three days a week (which will be a big improvement over no sun at all).

What's your goal? Why not pray about it, and ask the Son to help you get the sunlight you need. =)

Blessings,
-Joanna

Blessed...

2011-06-04T12:29:00.000-07:00

Blessed is he who has regard for the weak;
the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.
2 The LORD will protect him and preserve his life;
he will bless him in the land
and not surrender him to the desire of his foes.
3 The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed
and restore him from his bed of illness.
-Psalm 41:1-3

Small Victories

2011-05-27T09:27:00.000-07:00

One thing I've learned in the last 6 & 1/2 years is the value of celebrating "small" victories.

I can't tell you how many times I've prayed and asked God for instant healing. So far, His answer has always been "No" - but that doesn't mean He isn't answering my prayers. He continues to do many "small" but great works in my spirit and in my body.

I guess we think it's easy to praise God for a "big" miracle like instant healing, but we easily miss the less spectaluar things He does everyday.

So now when I finally get to visit the beach - I rejoice!
When I can take a B-vitamin supplement for the first time in years - I sing!
When I'm strong enough to eat dinner at the dining table - I lift up my hands in praise!

These little details may not be worthy of a TV interview, but they are still worth celebrating - because they are evidence of God's loving and powerful work in my life.

So when you make it through one whole day without sugar - rejoice!
When you can do two minutes of stretches instead of one - clap your hands!
When you eat a strange vegetable and actually enjoy it - laugh with joy!

Rejoice in the Lord and celebrate the victories HE gives - even when they're "small." =)

"They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. The LORD is gracious and compassionate...The LORD is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made." -Psalm 145:7,8,13
.

Beyond Organic

2011-05-21T09:06:00.000-07:00

I recently saw Jordan Rubin (author of "The Maker's Diet") on TV. I have a lot of respect for him as a Christian and as a health advocate.

He was sharing about his latest endeavor, a style of ranching/farming that he calls Beyond Organic. He's gone to great lengths to find ways to produce food that isn't just "organic" according to the food industry standards, but truly natural and healthy as God intended.

I think his food products will be available for sale beginning in October. In the meantime, he's trying to raise awareness of the need for truly organic foods. And he's encouraging other people who are able, to follow his example with their own farms/ranches.

There's more information on his website:
BeyondOrganicUSA.com
I hope you'll take a few minutes to check it out and help spread the word to others also.

I believe Jordan is someone God has raised up to help His people break out of the bondage of the world's food "system" which truly leads to death. The food God made for us is what we need, what leads to life and health. It encourages me so much to see someone pursuing the dreams God gave them to make a difference in this world! And it motivates me to keep pressing on toward the dreams God has given me. I too want to touch both people's hearts and their health. I know with God ALL things are possible!

Let's keep seeking God's way to be healthy so He can accomplish His plans & dreams for us!
To God be the glory!

Content

2011-05-14T07:34:00.000-07:00

Living with Environtmental Illness requires constant adjustment and flexibility.

As my allergies and sensitivities have gotten worse, I've gradually had to make more and more adjustments, and every day requires flexibility in different ways.

Here are some of the unusual details of my E.I. life:

- Because of my sensitivity to certain kinds of fabrics and to fabrics manufactured in certain countries...I use organic, cotton T-shirts (made mostly in Central Americaa) as all-purpose material - for hand towels, bath towels, T-shirts of course, pillowcases, etc.

- Since practically all bedding now contains fire retardant (required by law), I use a pair of rolled-up jeans for a pillow. Not exactly cloud 9, but at least it's better than a rock. =)

- Sitting in a chair for very long is exhausting, so I haven't eaten a meal at the dining table in ages. I eat on my bed with my feet up.

- For too many reasons to list, my room is completely empty except for my mattress (which is on the floor) and an air purifier (and a mirror which is nailed to the wall).

- With my sensitivity to EMF's (electro-magnetic fields) we turned off the breaker to my room...which means we have to run extension cords from my mom's room through the hall into my room in order to plug in the air purifier. And I have no light in my room, (which isn't quite so bad now since it doesn't get dark so early).

Those are just a few of the crazy details of my E.I. life (and I haven't even started on what it's like for my mom since she has to live with me...it's no picnic for her either).

Sometimes I look around and realize just how far from "normal" my life is. All I can do is laugh at the absurdity of it...and keep adjusting and flexing.

But really, compared to a lot of people with E.I., I'm living in the lap of luxury! I have heat and a/c. I have air purifiers. I have an organic mattress. I have a computer I can use. I have my wonderful mom to take care of me! What more does a girl need, eh? (Well, a real pillow would be nice....) =)

This kind of life gives new meaning to Paul's words that "if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." (1 Tim. 6:8)

The Lord always provides for my needs, even when it's through strange means. I hope I'm learning a kind of contentment that will last through any circumstances.

One day we'll be enjoying our mansions in heaven (with all organic products, right?). =) Until then, I pray whatever you're going through today, you will find contentment not in your cirucmstances, but in the God who cares for you!

Cell Phone Radiation

2011-05-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

Hello. Today I just wanted to write a quick note about cell phones.

While the debate continues about just how damaging cell phone radiation is, I think it's clear that we should take precautions. Recent studies have raised concern about the safety of cell phone radiation, which can lead to an increased risk of cancer and other health problems.

I think it's important for us to take this issue seriously. And it's not hard to do something. There are simple things we can do to minimize exposure to cell phone radiation.

* Don't hold the phone next to your head - use the speaker-phone or an ear-phone when you talk.
* Don't carry cell phones in pockets or a hip-holster, as this put the radiation right next to the body.
* Leave your cell phone in a different room (or at least across the room from you ) at night, not right next to your bed.
* When you're ready for a new phone, buy one with a lower level of radiation.

The Environmental Working Group has a special section focused on this issue with more tips and a chart listing which phones (including smart phones) emit the least or the most radiation.
http://ewg.org/cellphone-radiation

Just be aware of the possible dangers and take appropriate precautions.

Also, something most people are unaware of, is the fact that cordless phones also emit high levels of radiation. If you still have a land-line, I suggest unplugging the cordless phone and using a regular wall-phone instead.

A few years ago, one of my doctor's suggested that I spend 10 minutes a day standing barefoot on the ground. This "grounding" supposedly helps the body get rid of excess electromagnetic radiation that it has absorbed. (I haven't looked up the scientific research on this yet, but I can only imagine that standing on the earth God created would be a beneficial thing.) =)

It's hard sometimes to remember that our bodies are constantly surrounded by electromagnetic fields - electricity/power lines, wireless internet, cell phone towers, radio waves.... These things are foreign to the body, so the more we can limit our total exposure, the better.

Take care!

His strength

2011-04-30T18:26:00.000-07:00

28 "Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and His understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
-Isaiah 40:28-31

Amen.

Parasites

2011-04-21T09:33:00.000-07:00

Ok, this is everyone's favorite topic, right? Not.
But parasties are indeed a real part of most people's health problems.

Most experts estimate that 80-95% of the American population has parasites (just google it - you'll be surprised).

- If you have a pet, you're at risk for parasites.
- If you've ever been out of the country, you undoubtedly picked up parasites.
- If you've ever eaten pork or fish, you've most likely consumed parasites
...these are just a few indicators.

Basically, unless you've recently done a parasite treatment, you most assuredly have them right now.

But before you freak out, try to remember that this knowledge can be a good thing. Parasites can mimic other diseases and cause all kinds of problems in the body. So maybe your strange symptoms have a simple explanation.

The problem is that most doctors don't test for parasites, or they only test for a few kinds. And most medications they prescribe only kill the adult parasites, not the eggs, thus are ineffective.

After I returned from Mexico, my MD gave me a routine parasite medication, which as far as I know, didn't do any good. Next I tried a natural alternative - Wormwood. (That is the nastiest taste on the planet!) I don't think that helped either, because my intestinal problems continued.
Later a friend recommended an herbal treatment, which consisted of taking capsules, powder in water, and drinking a special tea each day, for several weeks (40-50 days, I don't remember exaxtly). Unfortunately, because of my sensitivities to herbs, it made me worse, and I had to quit before I finished it.

Finally, in 2009, I went to Dr. Smith (http://www.allertouch.com/index.asp) who has developed a natural treatment for parasites that actually works! He treated me for parasites in my intestines. Later I found that I had parasites in my adrenal gland, so we treated for those also.
When we tested my mom she originally had them in her stomah and liver. We treated her. Then a few months later more showed up in her lower intestines. So we treated for those.

The point is that there are many different kinds of parasites and they can be in different places in the body. And after treating for one kind, another kind may show up somewhere else. This is why regular checking and treating for parasites is so important.

If you're interested in the natural method we use, send me an email or post a comment, and I'll send you the specifics (it only takes 2 days).
If your body is not as sensitive as mine and you can tolerate herbs, then Dr. Valerie Saxion has an herbal parasite treatment on her website, called ParaCease. http://www.valeriesaxion.com/
She also has MUCH more information about this topic.

Unfortunately, parasites are part of the reality of living in this fallen world. Whatever you do, please take this seriously! Your body is God's temple. Be a faithful guardian of it. Kick out the "squatters." =)

Fighting for health,
-Joanna

- One more note: A good rule of thumb is to get a new toothbrush every 3 months (germs & nasties build up in your toothbrush). But it's especially improtant to get a new toothbrush when doing a parasite treatment. If you don't, you could end up reinfecting yourself from your toothbrush.
.

I CAN...

2011-04-16T09:04:00.000-07:00

Living with Environmental Illness is constantly being faced with what I can't do. I can't - go there, do that, eat this, see them.... The ongoing limitations can be overwhelming at times.

Today I just want to praise God for the improvements in my health that mean there are some things I CAN do again!

- I CAN wash dishes!
It's been years since I've been able to stand up long enough to wash a few dishes. And believe me, it feels great! =)

- I CAN read books!
I don't know how many months it's been since I could hold a book in my hands without getting sick from it. I'm having so much fun reading that I'm actually in the middle of 4 different books right now!

- I CAN do 4 & 1/2 push-ups! =)
Ok, not every day, but at least once or twice a week. Yeah!

- I CAN listen to music!
There were a lot of months when I was so weak that any sounds, even good music, would make me feel worse. It's so wonderful to be playing Wayne Watson and Keith Green again!

- I CAN learn!
For a long time my body was in survival mode: eat, breathe, sleep. Thinking was a luxury I didn't have. But now I'm able to receive information, process it and learn - and I'm loving it! (My brain still isn't 100%, but I think it's at least 50% better.)

These are just a few of the things I CAN do again now, things I took for granted for many years. I praise God for His healing work in my body, and I pray I will enjoy every day, being thankful for what I CAN do!

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (I Thess. 5:18)

Roller-coaster

2011-04-09T09:21:00.000-07:00

Living with E.I. is a roller-coaster.
For a long time, it was all downward spirals and sideways corkscrews for me.
Thankfully, with the right help, I've been able to make some steady upward progress. But that doesn't eliminate the downward plunges or upside down loops.

For example...
In December God brought me to the top of a huge hill - I got off the Cortef medication!
Of course, shortly after that I had an awful reaction to some herbicide, it took over a week to recover. I was just starting to feel better when I reacted to something on Christmas Day!
After two weeks, I was about back to "normal" (for me) when I had another chemical exposure.
I got over that one, then we had fumes in the oven - we couldn't use it for two weeks.
Finally got that straightened out, and then we got gasoline fumes in the house...we're still trying to get those cleared out.
(And this is just a little snapshot of my life, not including all the other twists & turns.)

But E.I. life isn't without its "ups," thanks to God's grace.

One day I was crying out to God in anguish of spirit, just tired of this trial, tired of the struggle, but also tired of this imperfect life, its pain and impermanance.
Then, like someone had flipped a switch in my brain, I realized that, really and truly, earth has nothing I desire! (Ps. 73:25) Everything I love, all that I long for is already stored up for me in heaven!
In a moment God took me from the depths of anguish to the heights of joy! He used the difficulty of my trial, the loops and plunges, to bring me to a place of spiritual awareness and deeper intimacy with Him.

I understand now that if I hadn't gone through the "downs" of the roller-coaster, I wouldn't have experienced the "ups" either.

I guess all of life is a roller-coaster, not just E.I. life. Heaven is our "finish line," our place of permanance and perfection. Until then we're still on this wild ride.

So while sometimes on this roller-coaster I'm holding on for dear life, other moments I'm lifting my hands and shouting for joy!

What To Pray

2011-03-31T12:48:00.000-07:00

This week I was thinking about my E.I. friends who are heavy on my heart. I want so badly to be able to change their circumstances, heal their bodies, and free them from suffering.

At the same time, I know that God has allowed me these years of health problems to bring about much good in my life. So even though I continue to ask Him to restore my friends' health, I thought of a few other important prayer requests...things I have often prayed for myself, things we can pray for anyone with E.I., maybe things you need prayer for as well, whatever your circumstances.

I hope these prayer requests will help you in praying for others and encourage you in your own relationship with God today.

Please pray for those with E.I. -

- to have sufficient courage to face each day's challenges. Some days we just don't want to open our eyes to another day of suffering. Only God can give supernatural courage.
"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death." (Philippians 1:20)

- to continually meditate on God's promises, not negative thoughts, especially during sleepless nights.
"My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises." (Psalm 119:148)

- to find and hold on to hope - hope in God, but also hope for restored health. People with E.I. need to know that they can get better, that there are answers, that this illness won't last forever.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

- to practice vocal praise to God, in spite of how we feel and what we see.
"Accept, O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth," (Psalm 119:108a)

- to learn how to be truly happy in God alone. There is a genuine gladness we can have in knowing God, regardless of circumstances. But only God can accomplish this.
"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." (Psalm 90:14)

Praise God that He hears our prayers and listens to our cries!
Thank you for praying.

Blessings,
-Joanna
.

Prayer Request

2011-03-23T12:40:00.000-07:00

Please pray for my friends Sam & Nathan and their mom, Karen.

They have Environmental Illness, like me, only they are more sick than I am right now (about like I was 2 years ago). They don't have a computer because they are so sensitive to EMF's (Electromagnetic Fields). So we write letters and talk on the phone once in a while.

They live in the mountains of AZ, but the high elevation isn't good for them, so they've been wanting to move to a lower place. This seems like an impossible goal. With their chronic fatigue and extreme sensitivites, it's all they can do just to get through each day, let alone find a safe place to move to, get their van in working order, get all the details in place for a move, etc.

I talked with Karen briefly this week. Things have been rougher than usual lately, and she sounded pretty discouraged.
Because they've been dealing with these health problems for more than 15 years, they don't have a church family or much spiritual encouragement or support at all. My heart just goes out to them!

Sometimes I forget how incredibly blessed I am to have so many wonderful people praying for me, encouraging me, helping me.... I'm trying to be that for this family, but I could definitely use your help.

So, if you will, please take a moment today to pray for Sam, Nathan & Karen.
Pray that God will encourage their hearts and strengthen their faith in Him during this long, ongoing battle.
And please pray for God to divinely heal them, or to lead them to some real help and answers that will bring healing to their bodies.

Thank you so much! It's such a blessing to have this blog and know that people care about those of us with E.I. And it's an even greater blessing to be part of the Family of God! =)

Your sister in Christ,
-Joanna

Teach Me

2011-03-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

I've had health problems for a long time, and I know a lot of people who are sick. The one thing we all pray continually is, "Lord, please heal me!"

We know God is our Healer, and thankfully we can always pray and ask Him for healing.

But I think many times God would like us to also pray, "Lord, please teach me."

Teach me how my body works.
Teach me what causes illness and why I'm sick.
Teach me about the things you have provided to help my body heal.
Teach me more about you through this trial.
Teach me to depend on your strength in my weakness.
Teach me whatever you want me to learn.
Teach me....

I can tell you that if God had healed me miraculously when I asked Him to several years ago, I'd never have learned all the things I know now. And I probably would have ended up getting sick again down the road, because I'd still have been ignorant of how my body works and what to do to keep it healthy. Not to mention all the spiritual lessons I would have missed.

I know our natural tendency in any trial is to just get OUT of it as quickly as possible! But God's goal for us is not a perfect life on this earth, but a life that is being transformed through our trials.

So as we continue to ask for healing, I hope we will also have courage to keep praying, "Lord, teach me."

"Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
-Psalm 27:11

Stick To It

2011-03-10T12:12:00.000-08:00

You may already know this, but I think it's worth mentioning here - that teflon/non-stick cookware is hazardous to your health.

Here's a paragraph from the Natural News website:

"...in the two to five minutes that cookware coated with Teflon is heating on a conventional stovetop, temperatures can exceed to the point that the coating breaks apart and emits toxic particles and gases. At various temperatures these coatings can release at least six toxic gases, including two carcinogens."
(from - http://www.naturalnews.com/026678_Teflon_iron_cookware.html)

I don't know about you, but I certainly don't want to be breathing in any more carcinogens than I already am from living in this toxic world.

According to Dr. Valerie Saxion, the toxins we encounter from teflon are difficult for the body to detox, because they are stored in the fat cells. You can't just drink more water to 'wash them out.' (Eating parsley and cilantro can help somewhat in detoxing the fat cells in your body.) The toxins from teflon can also be passed through a mother to her unborn baby.

Our culture is always looking for what's convenient. But in many cases, what's convenient is also what's dangerous. Thankfully there are healthy and safe alternatives to cooking with teflon/non-stick coated pans.

"We continue to recommend cast iron and stainless steel cookware as safer options for stove-top cooking, and oven-safe glass for baking. These safer pans might be a little harder to clean, but your health is worth it."
(from - http://www.ewg.org/healthyhometips/dangersofteflon)

In light of this knowledge, just wanted to encourage you to 'stick to' the healthy choices in cookware and say no to the non-sticky choices.

Just another simple way to protect your health and your family.

Blessings,
-Joanna

Right Perspective

2011-02-25T10:05:00.000-08:00

As a follow-up to my last post, I just wanted to add some specific examples and details about having the right perspective on healthcare.

You probably know that regular doctors love to run thousands of dollars worth of tests on sick people. The usual result is that they still don't know what's wrong, or at best, they can only tell you what you don't have (you don't have malaria, or hepatitis, or whatever).

In those rare cases where they discover "the problem" of someone's symptoms - such as high cholesterol, improper hormone levels, brain chemical imbalance, etc. - they still haven't told you what the root cause is. If your hormone levels are off, you need to find what caused them to be that way. Just adding more hormones to your body may "fix" your test results, but it won't actually heal the root problem.

And most often once doctors find a "name" for your problem, they either prescribe a drug (or several drugs), or they recommend surgery. It usually doesn't even occur to them that there are things you can do to actually help your body heal, once you find the true root cause of the problem.

I've discovered a few basic things that I believe are the root causes of almost all health problems.

1) poor nutrition - anyone who eats a 'typical' American diet for even a few years, will end up with a body starving for nutrients and experience all kinds of health problems as a result.

2) toxic overload - our country is riddled with toxic chemicals like never before. They are everywhere! The body can only handle so much toxic exposure before it begins to break down in several areas.

3) bugs - mainly things like parasites, entrenched viral or bacterial infections, overgrowth of candida, etc.

And STRESS is also a big factor in our overall health. Though I think it is mainly in combination with these other things that it causes problems.

So, before you face spending hundreds of dollars on more tests, having surgery, or filling your body full of toxic drugs, why not explore the things you can be doing right now to help your body heal and repair itself.

1) Eat organic foods, lots of veggies and fruits, no sugar or processed foods. - You might not see a huge change with this overnight, but it will make a difference in your body.
(Here's my post about some diet recomendations - http://supereigirl.blogspot.com/2010/05/happy-diet.html)

2) Get a lymphatic massage at least twice a month. - I know I've mentioned this many times before. There's just no way for me to overstate how important this is in facilitating your body's ability to detox! If you don't do the massage, then whatever else you do to help detox will probably not be effective or at least not as effective. God created the lymphatic system to drain the toxins from your body. If it's "choked" then you will have serious repercussions.
(Here's my post about lymphatic massage - http://supereigirl.blogspot.com/2010/03/lymphatic-massage.html
For more ideas about detoxing, here's my post on that - http://supereigirl.blogspot.com/2010/02/detoxing-101.html)

3) Do a parasite treatment. - The CDC estimates that 80% of Americans have parasites. However, most doctors never think of this, and if they do, they only test for about 10% of the possible parasites. And, most of the regular drug treatments only kill the adult parasites, not the eggs. Thus they are completely ineffective.
If you're interested I can tell you how to do a natural parasite treatment (from the dr I saw in Idaho). Just send me an email.
Or you can try an herbal treatment. I've heard that Dr. Val Saxion has a good one, though I haven't used it myself. Here's her website - http://www.valeriesaxion.com/

4) Start with essential supplements - Most people are magnesium deficient and mineral deficient because of poor diets and depleted soil, etc. I'ts a fact that the body cannot produce trace minerals, magnesium, or vit. C. So these are three very important things you should supplement with (since it's almost impossible to get high enough amounts of these from food).
Also, Probiotics are vital, as I mentioned in a previous post. And coconut oil is incredibly valuable in boosting the immune system and fighting those 'bugs' in the body.
(Probiotics post - http://supereigirl.blogspot.com/2011/01/support-bacteria.html
Coconut oil post - http://supereigirl.blogspot.com/2011/02/oil-change.html)

5) Find a natural health care provider. - I actually have 2 naturopaths, an herbalogist, my dr in Idaho, and a physical therapist that I've worked with over the last couple of years. All of them are Christians and have helped me tremendously in understanding how to work with my body toward the goal of good health.
(I've listed some suggestions in my post about resources - http://supereigirl.blogspot.com/2011/02/resources.html)

6) Take care of your mental/emotional/spiritual health. Things like stress, anxiety, anger, fear, etc. are all damaging to our bodies. Renewing our minds in God's Word, prayer, and encouragement from others are always helpful and beneficial to all areas of our health. =)

These are things that anyone can do, things that will make a difference, things that can help your body to heal or just strengthen it so you can avoid so many of the health problems that are prevelant today.

If we want to be healthier than the average person today, then I believe we need to think differently and act differently. Let's not be 'conformed' to the world's ideas (Rom. 12:1-2) about health and the body. Let's continue to seek the knowledge God gives - after all He created our bodies! - and do the things He has provided so that we can live in good health and be available for all God longs to do through us!

Religion & Healthcare

2011-02-23T10:06:00.000-08:00

For what it's worth, I'd like to share a perspective God has given me about our modern healthcare system. These are things God has shown me through my health trial, through painful experiences, and through long-term observation.

I hope this post will be of some value to you. It breaks my heart to see others going down the same road of pain and suffering I've been on. I long to do anything I can to help people avoid that if at all possible.

I know many doctors sincerely want to help people, however most of them are unable to do so mainly because our "modern" medical system is bankrupt.

Let me explain. Most doctors today have a wrong foundation for the practice of medicine. Almost all of them were trained in schools that taught 'medicine' from an evolutionary world view. On the surface, this may not seem important, but whenever you take God out of the picture in any arena, you can be sure disastrous results will follow. (see Romans chapter 1:18-32)

The evolutionary world view thinks that things can just "happen" (like the "big bang" theory). This includes various health problems. I've heard this a lot in regard to arthritis, allergies, headaches, etc. -- "you just get them sometimes."
This world view also sees "new" diseases developing. And it thinks that man can come up with a better way to 'fix' our problems - thus the explosion of chemically manufactured drugs. There is more, but I think these are the basic flaws.

In contrast, a creation world view sees God as the Creator, and a world that operates by the laws of cause and effect. God is the first cause (Himself uncaused) and nothing just "happens." Everything has a cause & effect.
In addition, man is fearfully and wonderfully made. (Ps. 139:14) The human body was designed by God with the ability to heal and repair itself. And God has given us everything we need for LIFE and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3), which means what God created is useful for all the needs of our bodies.

I know this may sound too academic to really matter, but believe me, these are the hard-earned conclusions God has given me after many years of experience in the medical world and seeing very contrasting views of different doctors.
The doctors who have really helped me are the ones who are Christians and who believe in everything I mentioned above - that every health problem has a root cause, that the body is designed to heal, and that we must give the body what it needs from creation to help it heal - not from what man has manufactured.

Of course, there are some things in 'modern' medicine that are life-saving, and I'm not discounting those. But for almost all health issues, I believe it makes a huge difference which foundation you start with.

Healthcare without 'Religion' - or for our perspective, without a foundational belief in our Creator God - will be incomplete and ineffective, and in some cases even dangerous and life-threatening.

I think this a pivotal time for Christians to examine the way we think about these things and to ask God to change our perspective and understanding from an evolutionary world view of medical care to a creation, godly world view.
And I think it's important for us to seek out and pray for doctors who will help and serve the sick from the right foundation.

What you believe matters. And what your doctor believes matters. Let's bring God back into healthcare.

Resources

2011-02-12T10:01:00.001-08:00

Hello. Today I want to just list some websites that I hope will be helpful resources for you in your health journey.

- ewg.org - Environmental Working Group

This is an excellent site with all kinds of great information like -
Shopper's guide to pesticides, Bottled water guide, Cosmetics database, Cell phone radiation report, etc.
You can sign up to receive email updates, (usually about once a week) or check out their blog - http://www.enviroblog.org/
They also have action points - petitions to sign of issues to contact congressman about.
I really appreciate their good work and hope you will benefit from it as well.

- http://www.naturalnews.com/ - Natural News

This site is on the cutting edge of presenting the truth about many health issues. I receive their daily email bulletins and have learned much from their news stories.
Note - this organization is not from a Christian perspective, so there are some articles on the site that I disagree with. But they do have a wealth of information about all kinds of health-related topics. Hopefully some of them will be helpful for you.

- www.ei-resource.org/ - Environmental Illness Resource

If you know someone with E.I., this is a good website, with information and ways to connect with other people with E.I.
Caution - Some of the treatment methods they describe on this site are more radical than I would recommend. Just be careful about following any treatment recommendations, while still making good use of the information and community aspects of this site.

- http://www.needs.com/ - NEEDS

NEEDS is a discount vitamin/supplement/health products site. They usually have better prices than the health food stores, and have almost every product imaginable.

- http://products.mercola.com/coconut-oil/ - Dr. Mercola

This link contains Dr. Mercola's thorough information about coconut oil and its many health benefits.

- http://www.brendawatson.com/ - Brenda Watson

You may have seen her show on PBS. She has all kinds of information about probiotics and health issues related to a lack of these "good bacteria" in the body.

- http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_4277_expect-lymphatic-drainage-massage.html - Lymphatic Drainage Massage

This site has video clips demonstrating specific massage techniques, as well as other information about lymphatic massage.

- http://www.knowthecause.com/ - Doug Kaufman

Doug knows all about candida, mold and fungus in the body. His website tells where you can watch his show, what the Phase One diet is, which foods are anti-fungal, etc.

- http://www.valeriesaxion.com/ - Dr. Valerie Saxion (Naturopath)

I often watch her show, "Alternative Health." She shares all kinds of great health information and also sells a wide variety of products.

- http://www.allertouch.com/index.asp - Dr. Anthony Smith (Chiropractor/CBT practitioner)

This is the dr I saw almost 2 years ago in Idaho. If you know someone in the Northwest area with chronic health issues, I highly recommend him! His CBT treatment is effective for - allergies, candida, parasites, viruses, Lymes disease, etc.
I use the CBT treatment every single day for all kinds of issues, and I know that being treated by Dr. Smith was a huge part of my healing process.

- http://www.sensiblehealth.net/ - Dr. Connie Newcombe (Herbalogist)

She is the herbalogist I've been working with for more than a year and a half now. She is very knowledgeable about the healing properties of various foods, herbs, plants, etc. I highly recommend her to anyone dealing with any health issue! (She does phone appointments, so she can work with anyone regardless of location.)

OK, those are some of the basic resources I use. I hope you found something helpful there. If you're looking for information on something specific, please let me know and I'll get back to you if I can help.

Blessings,
-Joanna

Oil Change

2011-02-03T12:35:00.000-08:00

For years I used only canola oil and olive oil in cooking and on my food. Some people told me about many dangers of canola oil, while others held that it was healthy for the body.

Well, last year I decided to do more research. Again, I found people standing adamantly on both sides of the issue. However, I also discoverd that canola oil comes from a plant that has been genetically modified (though some websites claim some canola oil was only naturally hybridized). Certainly if a plant has been genetically altered, we know it is a serious health risk. (I've heard that soybeans are the #1 genetically modified plant in this country. Definitely a good reason to avoid soy products.)

Considering all of the information about the possible dangers of canola oil, I decided it was wiser to remove this oil completely from my diet.

At the same time, I discovered many health experts recommending coconut oil. This oil is anti-fungal, anti-viral, good for the immune system, and more.... It is also great for cooking since it is the only oil stable enough for high cooking temperatures. It is excellent for cooking & baking, putting on food instead of margarine or butter, and even rubbing on the skin.

After reading all this great information, I decided to make the switch from canola oil to coconut oil, and I'm very glad I did. =)

If you want to read more about coconut oil, Dr. Mercola has tons of great information on his website, including a list of requirements for the kind of coconut oil you should buy (not all coconut oil is created equal). Here are his recommendations:

• Certified organic by USDA standards
• No refining
• No chemicals added (including hexane)
• No bleaching
• No deodorization
• No hydrogenation
• Made from traditional coconut palms only, no hybrid or genetically modified (GMO) varieties
• Made from fresh coconuts, not the dried "copra" used in cheap oils
• Made without heat processing
(from: http://products.mercola.com/coconut-oil/)

If you're still using canola, vegetable, or other possibly harmful oils, I hope you'll check out this info and decide it's time to get your oil changed. =) You'll be thankful for all the great health benefits that come with it!

(As a side note, I do still use olive oil, but only for putting on my food, not for cooking.)

Support Bacteria

2011-01-26T10:17:00.000-08:00

Recently I read this funny quote: "Support bacteria. It's the only culture some people have." =)

Even though it's meant as a joke, there's a lot of truth in it. We do need to support bacteria.

Right now it seems like most people, doctors, and companies are trying to rid the earth of all bacteria! Practically every product from hand soap to trash bags is now labeled "anti-bacterial."

Newsflash: God created bacteria. It serves a vital role in the earth's natural processes. It isn't going to go away anytime soon.

I think all this emphasis on "anti-bacterial" is actually very damaging. The bad bacteria are just getting stronger and more resistant to the chemicals and drugs used to kill them. And the good bacteria are being killed off more and more.

Yes, I said GOOD bacteria. Believe it or not, we need bacteria.

Did you know that approximately 80% of your immune system is in your gut (intestines)?

Whenever I heard that statistic before, I always assumed that was the doctor's way of trying to get me to eat healthier. =) But it's much more than just eating a healthy diet.

Can you guess the reason why 80% of the immune system is in the gut?

Because that's where the GOOD bacteria live!

Think of the good bacteria as the cowboys in the white hats, and the bad bacteria as the cowboys in the black hats. Good guys verses bad guys. When the bad bacteria enters our bodies, it's the good bacteria that's able to fight it off. The good bacteria also fights viruses, candida, and other invaders.

If there's not enough of the good guys in our bodies, then we're in serious trouble.
Because the good bacteria is such a huge part of the immune system, not having enough can cause all kinds of health problems. This includes everything from digestive problems to many things you wouldn't expect, such as: arthritis, chronic fatigue, skin problems, etc.

Certain foods are rich in good bacteria - saurkraut, yogurt, and other fermented foods. However, it's hard to eat enough of these foods to get all the good bacteria you need. (Not to mention that most yogurt has more sugar in it than ice cream has. Eating yogurt for bacteria isn't worth the trade off of the sugar damage.)

So it's important to supplement with good bacteria.
According to Brenda Watson, author of "The Road To Perfect Health" (http://www.brendawatson.com/) - there are 4 main requirements to look for when purchasing a "Probiotic" (good bacteria) supplement.

It should have -
1) at least 10 different strains of bacteria.
2) a total culture count of at least 15 billion
3) delayed release so it will reach your intestines before being broken down
4) full potency until date of expiration

A lot of probiotic supplements do not meet these requirements, so it's important to read labels and find a good one. Here's a link to the NEEDS website (discount supplements) that has some good options.
http://www.needs.com/prod_detail_list/htc_Probiotics

Lots of good bacteria in your body is essential to the function of your immune system and thus, your overall health. It's an easy step to take that could possibly yield amazing results in how you feel.

(Remember it takes time for your body to repair and heal itself. When starting a new supplement or program keep this in mind. With some supplements/programs you'll see results faster, but for major improvements in your health, 3 months is a general rule of thumb.)

So go find some good bacteria and give it your support. You'll be amazed how much it supports you and your health in return! =)

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Tips for a Less Toxic New Year

2011-01-20T09:54:00.000-08:00

The following ideas are things that have become a way of life for all of us with Environmental Illness. For those of you who are still healthy, you can think of them as 'preventative medicine.' =)

"OFF-GAS" ITEMS
Whenever you buy something new, even if it's not made in China, it still contains some amount of toxic chemicals. "Off-gassing" just means helping the item get rid of those chemicals before you put it to use or bring it into your living space. There are several ways to do this.

1) unwrap - Always remove items from boxes, bags, plastic wrapping, etc. and throw away immediately. This is where a lot of the chemicals come from. (If you have to keep a box or other packaging, be sure to store it in the garage or somewhere outside the house.)

2) air - Put the item on the porch, in the garage, or somewhere it can air out for a period of time. This is especially important with large household items like TV, exercise equipment, etc.

3) wash - For clothes and fabrics, wash at least twice before wearing or using. Non-washable items can be wiped down with a damp cloth and a bit of baking soda.

4) sun - Putting items in the sun usually helps them off-gas more quickly. Depending on the item, 20 minutes may be all you can do while 2-3 days is better for other things.

5) zinc - For appliances especially, zinc is a great tool since it binds to mercury. You can put 30 zinc tablets (capsules don't work for this) in a new washing machine for 30 hours and they will absorb much of the "new" chemicals. (Be sure to throw the zinc away afterward as it will be toxic.) For smaller appliances, less is needed, like 20 tablets for 20 hours. It's not an exact science. But any amount will help reduce toxins in the item.

SHOPPING TIPS
1)toxic bags - Many stores' plastic bags are now toxic. I'm not sure if it's a disinfectant, deoderizer, or what. Throw plastic bags away as soon as you get home, or ask for paper bags (I think they aren't as bad), or if possible, take your own bag to the store.

2) toxic receipts - A recent study found the toxin BPA in many store receipts. You can read about it at this link:
http://www.ewg.org/bpa-in-store-receipts/release
If you don't need the receipt, don't take it or throw it away immediately. If you need it, keep a ziploc bag or other sealable container in your car and put receipts in it. Also keep a container of water to rinse your hands after handling receipts. I know it sounds like a lot of trouble, but BPA can absorb through your skin. It's better to take a little trouble and protect your health.

WATER FILTERS
Water is one of the best healing resources for the body. Yet most of our water is contaminated with toxic chemicals and other contaminants. (One dr tested her water and found traces of anti-depressant and anti-psychotic drugs.)

1) whole house - You can get a whole-house water filter at Lowe's for less than $100. It removes some basic chemicals like chlorine. For all the times you wash your hands, dishes, laundry, etc. it's really good to have this filter, thus less chemicals infiltrating your life.
It does take a little know-how to put this filter in, but the maintenance is simple, just change the filter cartridge about every 3 months.

2) drinking water - One dr I know recommends each person should drink half their body weight in water (in oz) per day. So for 140lbs, drink 70 oz of water a day. I don't know anyone, besides myself, who actually does this. Yet it's one of the most important, and easiest, things you can do for your health.
I drink Evian bottled water because that's the only kind that I don't react to, but most experts agree that filtered tap water is as good or sometimes better than bottled water, depending on the variables. Here's a link with lots of information all about water filters.
http://www.ewg.org/tap-water/getawaterfilter

3) shower filter - My dr once told me that when I take a shower, it's like drinking a big glass of that water. Our bodies are like sponges, absorbing what touches the skin. That's why a shower filter is so important (even on top of a whole house filter). Here's a link to one like the one I have, but I'm sure there are other good ones as well.
http://www.needs.com/product/Elite_Shower_Filter_with_Massaging_Head_White/vsrgb_Elite

Water filters don't have to cost thousands of dollars to be helpful. Just find ones that work for you and then make the most of the wonderful gift of water!

TOP 10
Finally, here's a list of tips from the Natural News website, that I think is worth repeating here.

Ten powerful ways to protect yourself from toxic chemicals
If you want to protect yourself from these toxic chemicals, here's how to do it:

#1) Don't put anything on your skin you wouldn't eat! Avoid all mainstream consumer skin care, cosmetics and personal care products, period! Need soap? Try natural, organic brands like Dr Bronner's, AnnMarie Gianni or Pangea Organics.

#2) Don't eat foods made with chemicals you can't pronounce. Read the ingredients labels. If the list of ingredients is too long and complex to figure out, it's probably made more with chemicals than actual food.

#3) Don't poison your body with over-the-counter drugs or prescription pharmaceuticals. If you do need to use medication for short-term emergency use, be sure to detoxify your liver afterwards.

#4) Detox your liver, kidneys and colon at least once a year. You can do this with a juice fast combined with detox supplements such as those offered by www.GlobalHealingCenter.com or www.BaselineNutritionals.com (get professional guidance from a naturopath before fasting).

#5) Drink more water. Most people simply don't consume enough water to effectively remove toxins from their bodies. If you don't like water by itself, drink fresh vegetable juices such as celery or cucumber juice (which are actually structured water).

#6) Cleanse your body with parsley, alfalfa, red clover, chlorella or chlorophyll. All these substances can help cleanse your body and eliminate toxic substances that may be detrimental to your health.

#7) Don't fill your home or apartment with products that off-gas toxic chemicals: Air fresheners, perfumed candles, particle board furniture, carpets, glues, etc.

#8) Don't cook on non-stick cookware. These are the worst! Invest in quality copper-clad stainless steel pans and use those. They'll last a lifetime and they don't contaminate your body with chemicals. Don't eat at restaurants that use non-stick cookware. (That's just about every restaurant in the world, it seems...)

#9) Buy certified organic products. In the USA, the USDA Organic Seal is a trusted seal that genuinely indicates organic quality (both in foods and personal care products). Don't be fooled by brand names that use the word "organics" in their name but aren't really organic. For example, "Bob's Organics" may or may not actually be organic. The Organic Consumers Association (www.OrganicConsumers.org) can keep you posted on what's what.

#10) Get the cancer out of your laundry! Stop washing your clothes in toxic brand-name laundry detergents, and stop using brand-name fabric softeners or dryer sheets. Do you have any idea what chemicals are used in those products? The truth would astonish you.
(from - http://www.naturalnews.com/031033_toxic_chemicals_pregnant_women.html)

Well, this turned into a VERY long post. Sorry about that. Hopefully you found something helpful in it though.
May this new year be one of great joy...and less toxins! =)

Blessings,
-Joanna

New Year's Challenge

2011-01-04T09:45:00.000-08:00

Here we are in a new year - time for making resolutions, setting goals, forming new plans....

This year I want to encourage you to do something that I believe will improve your health and also make a difference.
My challenge is for you to boycott products made in China.

Now, I have nothing against Chinese people. My problem is simply with the products that are made there.
I know a lot of people these days are boycotting made in China products. Most of them are doing it for political, economic, or humanitarian reasons. I'd like to add to that list the very important reason of health and safety.

For whatever reason (maybe poor quality control or greedy companies trying to cut corners...), in my experience, 99% of made in China products are highly toxic.

This may be hard for you to believe, but I've lived with the painful consequences. Think of me as the canary in the coal mine. If the canary keeled over, the miners knew they were in danger and had to get out of there fast. That's me. My body is super-sensitive to toxins.

Anything from notebooks to shoes to appliances made in China, that I've encountered have caused a serious, sometimes life-threatening, reaction in my body, taking days or even weeks to recover from.

As far as we can tell, made in China products have high levels of toxic chemicals such as mercury, lead, aluminum, formaldehyde, etc.

Oddly enough, I almost never have problems with products made in Central or South America, Europe or Japan. I occasionally have reactions to items made in India or Indonesia. But the worst by far is anything made in China.

The problem is that more and more companies are now outsourcing to China. If we as consumers don't send these companies a Financial message soon, it won't be long before we'll have no choice but to poison ourselves with toxic products or do without.

I know this kind of a boycott is inconvenient. Believe me, I've had my share of struggles trying to find safe products made elsewhere. But I also know that I don't care how hard it is, I'm committed to taking care of this body, God's temple. I will do everything I can to keep it from being poisoned by unnecessary toxins.

I'm challenging you to make the same commitment. Please join me in this boycott, and tell at least one other person about this information. Please do this for -
- your own health
- the sake of the people who work in those factories (I imagine they're dropping like flies from the constant toxic exposure)
- the sake of the children in this country (They have no idea about these things and are daily surrounded by toxic products. No wonder so many kids are sick, have ADD, or other problems.)
- and to send a message to those companies that we will not tolerate toxic products

Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge."

Please don't let ignorance about these things destroy your health or the health of those you love. It's time to take action. It's time to start reading tags and labels. It's time to 'talk with your wallet.' It's time to start protecting yourself and your family.

I hope you will join me. I hope together we will make a difference.

Sincerely,
-Joanna

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Death by Sugar

2010-12-30T12:24:00.000-08:00

Well, now that Christmas is over and most people have eaten way more sweets and unhealthy food than they should have...I figured it was a good time to do a post about the harmful effects of sugar.

I've been learning about this for years, but today I decided to google "harmful effects of sugar." You would not believe the overwhelming amount of information available on this topic!

Since I try to keep my posts somewhat concise, I won't list all the websites I read or shower you with all the explanations of why sugar is such a dangerous substance. But I will give you a very short list of some of its harmful effects.
(Nancy Appleton, PhD, clinical nutritionist, has a list of 146 reasons of 'how sugar is ruining your health' in her book "Lick the Sugar Habit.")
Sugar -
- Depresses the immune system
- Increases candida overgrowth
- Raises insulin levels
- Leads to diabetes
- Depletes the body's natural levels of Human Growth Hormone (necessary for many essential functions in the body)
- Damages the body's production of collagen (also necessary for many functions)
- Causes inflamation in the body
- Increases cholesterol
- Feeds cancer cells
- Can damage DNA

...Ok, if you're not sweating in fear yet, you should be.

Consider this statement:
"Because sugar is devoid of minerals, vitamins, fiber, and has such a deteriorating effect on the endocrine system, major researchers and major health organizations (American Dietetic Association and American Diabetic Association) agree that sugar consumption in America is one of the 3 major causes of degenerative disease."

Did you catch that? Americans are sugar-ing themselves to death!

Now, maybe you're thinking, "Well, I don't eat a lot of sweets."
That may be true, but if you eat anything from a box, can, package, etc. then you are probably consuming much more sugar than you can imagine.

The government's recommended daily limit for sugar intake is no more than 30 grams. Most brands of soda have more sugar than that in one can!
If you read every label of what you eat throughout the day and added up the total grams of sugar you're consuming, I'm sure you'd be shocked. And even if somehow you're within the recommended limit of 30 grams a day, that "small" amount is still doing damage.

So, my challenge to you today is ... say goodbye to sugar!
Choose LIFE, not Death by Sugar.

more info:
http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/sugar.htm
http://www.organicnutrition.co.uk/articles/is-sugar-bad-for-you.htm
http://www.naturalnews.com/022692.html

Miracles

2010-12-07T09:53:00.000-08:00

Yes, God still does miracles. Just not always in the way we expect Him to.

Sometimes when I'm watching Christian programs on TV, I have a hard time listening to people's testimonies of being instantly healed from various health problems. I mean, I'm happy for them, and I praise God for healing them. But somehow it makes me feel bad that I'm still stuck in my situation, that God hasn't given me an instant healing.

Yet even though God has chosen not to heal me instantly, He has done many miracles in my life! They weren't the ones I expected. Sometimes they weren't even the ones I asked for.

But miracles aren't about us...they're about God! He does them for His glory! And He always knows which ones we need, and which ones someone else needs.

Over the last several years, these are a few of the miracles God has done for me:

*God has kept me alive "in famine."
Psalm 33:18-19 says, "the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine."

On the surface, that doesn't sound like a good thing. Why wouldn't God deliver them from the famine? In this case the miracle was not removing the famine, but keeping them alive in it.

That's how I feel about the last 6 years. We know now that there were SOOO many things wrong with my body...but somehow God kept me alive through them.
Here's a partial list:
Lymes disease
Ehrylichiosis
Bartonella
Intestinal parasites
Microscopic parasites in my adrenal gland
Parasites in my blood
Mercury toxicity
Overload of about 60 other individual toxins
Systemic Candida infection
Numerous viral and bacterial infections throughout my body. (Yes, they can "hide" in various organs and wreak havoc for years.)

These are just a few of the root causes we've identified and treated over the recent months. Looking back I'm in awe that God kept my body going somehow in spite of everything that was attacking it. It truly is miraculous! And I am very grateful!

*God has kept me walking in faith.
There have been so many times when I wanted to give up, when I was angry, when I didn't even care anymore...and every time, somehow, God restored me to faith and trust in Him.

It's a terrible thing to lose your health. But I think it's even worse to lose heart and let go of faith in God. By God's miraculous power and overflowing grace, He didn't let that happen to me. He never let me go!

"If the LORD had not been on our side...the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away. Praise be to the LORD...Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." -Psalm 124:2,4-6,8

I will forever be grateful to everyone who has prayed me through this trial. God answered those prayers by sustaining not just my body, but my soul as well.

*God delivered me from the tyranny of a drug!
It's hard to put into words what an awful thing it is to be on a medication that you absolutely HAVE to take in order to stay alive. I pray you never have to experience that kind of bondage.

After 5 years of struggling to wean myself off this medication, we asked God for a miracle...and He did it!
In only 9 weeks I went from taking 12.5 mg of Cortef a day, to being completely Cortef-free!!! And I'm still functioning at the same level...maybe even a little better. Praise the Lord!

"In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and He answered by setting me free. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid." -Psalm 118:5-6

So, yes, God still does miracles, but not always in the way we expect or the timing we ask for.

Remember, not every miracle looks the same. But it's the same God who works each miracle - graciously intervening in our lives with His power and love.

I pray we will all see more of His miraculous hand at work around us.

Blessings,
-Joanna
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The Great Shoe Hunt

2010-12-06T13:22:00.000-08:00

More than 7 years ago, on a whim, I bought a pair of flip flops at K-mart for $5. It turned out to be one of the best investments I've made in the last 10 years.
These stury, comfortable, washable (very important!) shoes have lasted really well (made in Brazil). But this fall I realized they were starting to fall apart. I thought my mom could just pick up a new pair at Wal-Mart, but I was wrong.
So began the Great Shoe Hunt!

I honestly had no idea that in 7 years the shoe landscape would have changed so much. =) Of course it doesn't help that I need a VERY specific kind of shoe.

I need a shoe that is -
either a flip flop or sport slide (so my feet can breathe),
washable (since shoes pick up all kinds of bacteria and other nasties),
thick sole (for my arthritic feet),
no massage beads or bubbles,
made from sturdy rubber (at least I think that's what it is, not sure),
no fabric, suede or leather,
no recycled material used in it...
but most of all,
NOT made in China. (In my experience, 99% of products made in China are highly toxic. I avoid them like the plague.)

First my mom looked in several shoe stores...with no results. Then I spent hours on the internet. After exhaustive research, I ended up frustrated and weary. I really had no idea it was going to be THIS difficult.

- I finally found a company with shoes made in USA, but they're made from recycled material, so that won't work.
- I found a style of Adidas shoe that looks good for me, but it doesn't say where it's made. I called customer service and they didn't know either. So they sent in a "research request" to find out. Supposedly they'll get back to me. We'll see....
- I found another adidas shoe that I think is made in Italy (it wasn't on the adidas website but on a different one), but then the website wouldn't work so I couldn't check out the details on it.

Those are just a few of my frustrating attempts to find a suitable pair of shoes. In the last 2 weeks I've looked at more pairs of shoes than I ever want to see again in my lifetime! haha =)

I was reading in Matthew 6 yesterday where Jesus said not to worry about what we eat, drink, or wear. I guess that includes shoes. =) This command is so much more difficult for those of us with E.I. Something other people take for granted can be a hazard for us. But I suppose it can also be even more meaningful for us...knowing that God will provide not just clothes/shoes, but "safe" clothes/shoes for us.

I know the Lord knows my needs before I even ask Him. So I'm trying to exercise faith, and just expect that He will meet this need...when He knows it's the perfect time.

And if I ever do find a good pair of shoes, I might just buy 3 pairs. =)
.

Holidays

2010-11-27T08:53:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot about holidays lately. For most of my life holidays have been about being with family, eating special food, and doing fun things...none of which I'm able to do in my current state. Which is why I often have to fight depression on holidays (as do most people with E.I.).

I just finished reading Leviticus and I was struck by the description of the Jewish 'holidays'. I discovered that they all have 2 things in common – 1) the people were not to work and 2) they were to bring an offering to God.

We Americans are pretty good at the not working part, but, speaking for myself, I know I've been lacking in the bringing an offering to God part.

So this Thanksgiving, since I couldn’t be with family, and I couldn’t eat any special food, and I couldn’t do anything fun…I decided to “celebrate” by bringing an offering to God - a "complaint-free" day. No grumbling, self-pity, or negative thoughts. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but, praise the Lord, He helped me do it! And I can honestly say I think it was the best Thanksgiving I've had in a long time. =)

This new perspective on ‘holidays’ is something I hope to keep for the rest of my life, whether healthy or sick.
So yes, sometimes there is an up side to living with E.I. =)

Blessings,
-Joanna

I'm Back

2010-10-31T10:02:00.000-07:00

Hello! So sorry it's been forever since I've posted anything here. I have a whole list of posts ready in my head, just haven't been able to transfer them to the computer yet. Maybe in November I can....

Unfortunately, this is a big part of living with E.I. - wanting to do things, but not being able to; planning to do things one day and not being able to do them until much later; feeling frustrated, feeling useless....

One of the worst things for those of us with E.I. is having to listen to "motivational" speeches. What's the use of getting all "motivated" when you can't do anything about it? So much of our culture revolves around what we do, what we accomplish, pushing ourselves to do better, try harder, excel more than others.... For me the challenge is to NOT do, to NOT push my body, to NOT try harder - but to learn to be still, to accept the limitations God puts on me, to wait patiently for HIM to act, for HIM to change my circumstances, for HIM to do something through me.

Just once, I'd like to hear a "motivational" speech like that.
"Don't cram more things in your schedule. Don't push your body past what it can do. Don't try to accomplish more than your neighbor. Instead slow down. Listen. Wait. Let God act."
Wouldn't that be a shocker to the rest of the world.

Psalm 147:10-11 says, "His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor His delight in the legs of a man; the LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love."

That's what I want to do. I want to Fear God - to acknowledge that HIS plan is best, even when it's not what I would have chosen, to remember that He doesn't make mistakes and He worthy of my praise - always. I want to put my Hope in the LORD - to trust in Him, to have a good attitude wherever He puts me, and to never forget His love for me.

That is what God delights in. Not how much I get done, how great my accomplishments are, or how many people know my name. He delights in those who acknowledge Him as GOD and who rest in His love.

So even if I never get to make another post on this blog, it's ok. If it takes another year, or two, or three, or more...until I have a "normal" life again, that's ok too. If I never get to do all the things my heart has dreamed about, it'll be ok.

As long as God delights in me, I believe I can be happy and fulfilled.
May that be the prayer of all of our hearts.
Amen.

A Word About Cancer

2010-06-16T12:44:00.001-07:00

I know this blog is mainly about Environmental Illness, but today I wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts about cancer.

Recently I heard an amazing statistic: 40% of cancer is preventable. Forty percent! That's almost half of all cancer cases!
After everything I've learned about the human body, this statistic does not surprise me. What does surprise me is that the medical community doesn't seem to be taking this seriously! They keep pushing for a cure for cancer - and believe me I'd love to see that happen too - but if 40% is preventable, why aren't they focusing as much on education and prevention?

Cancer seems so prevalent now. There's hardly a home or family in America that hasn't been affected by it in some way. I know there's a lot of information out there about cancer, more than I have the strength to read through. But I've learned some things in the last couple of years that I hope might be helpful to someone who reads this.

We live in a world of cause and effect. If you see an effect, you know there's a cause. People don't get sick for no reason. There's always a cause (or several causes). So let's consider some causes of cancer.

1) Toxins - The obvious example is cigarette smoke. People who smoke (or who live with a smoker) are likely to get lung cancer. Why? Because tobacco is a toxin - a carcinogenic (cancer-causing) toxin.
So an important question to consider is:
Is there such a thing as a non-carcinogenic toxin?
I'm not a bio-chemist, so I can't give a definitive answer to that question. However, my suspicion is that all toxins are carcinogenic. I think some toxins cause cancer more quickly, while other toxins build up in the body for years before cancer appears.

Two years ago a doctor found at least 2 pesticides in my blood (DDE and something else). She said - "These pesticides are 100% carcinogenic. If you don't get them out of your body, you will get cancer."
Many toxins in our environment are known carcinogens. It makes sense that the rest are as well.

So if toxins cause cancer - DETOXIFY your home and personal care products as much as possible by switching to healthy alternative products. Then Detoxify your body through lymphatic massage, exercise, supplements, etc.
Don't let toxins build up in your body and possibly lead to cancer. You can do something about them now.

2) Fungus - In many cases, it's been proven that the cancer is linked to an overgrowth of fungus in the body. Anti-fungal drugs have proved effective against many forms of cancer (including Aspirin). Many doctors now tell their cancer patients to eat low or no sugar diets because the sugar feeds the cancer. Guess what? Sugar also feeds fungus! Maybe there's a reason for that....

If this is true, (and I believe it is) then the best thing to do is simply change your diet.
Don't eat foods that contribute to fungus growth - sugar, dairy, yeast, etc.
Eat more anti-fungal foods - brocoli, cinnamon, coconut/coconut oil, etc.
You can also use anti-fungal supplements - olive leaf extract, oregano oil, caprylic acid, etc.
Learn about how to keep fungus in your body to a minimum.
If fungus is linked to cancer, this is a good way to prevent it.
(There's much more information about this fungus-cancer link and an anti-fungal diet at KnowtheCause.com)

3) Radiation - The jury is still out on this one because the research is so new. Personally, I think there's already good evidence that radiation from things like cordless phones, cell phones, and laptops causes cancer.

My aunt died of a brain tumor a couple of years ago. As far as I know the doctors didn't give an reason why an otherwise healthy woman in her 60's would suddenly be brought down by a tumor. However, she spent hours every day on the phone at her job. My mom believes that the radiation from the phone is what caused the tumor.

Even if you think there is weak evidence to support this, isn't it worth it to take some precautions?
Don't use cordless phones. They emit as bad or worse radiation than many cell phones. Regular phones that plug into the wall are ok as far as I know.
Don't hold a cell phone to your ear. Use a headset or put the phone on speaker and hold it away from your face.
Don't carry cell phones in your pocket. Having the radiation next to you all the time is bad. Leave it in a purse or something else that you can carry away from yourself.
Don't set laptops right on your lap. Set them to the side or put something underneath them as a barrier between you and the radiation.

I'm sure there are other radiation precautions you can take if you research it a little.
(For more information about cell phone radiation and a list of phones with the least amount, go to ewg.org)

I wish & pray that there would be a cure for cancer soon. But in the meantime, I hope that more people will get serious about education and prevention.
So to all six of you who actually read this blog =) - please take care of yourselves! And please tell others about this, pass these ideas along, and maybe we'll be able to help someone in the process.

Blessings,
-Joanna
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Some Specific Diet Changes

2010-06-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

I know I said I'd do this post sooner...sorry for the delay.
Here are a few of the specific diet changes I've made over the years:

1) no pork or fish/seafood - Aside from my allergy to pork and lifelong distaste for fish, I also learned that these two meats are highly toxic. Pigs are basically 4-legged garbage disposals. They eat anything and everything. When you eat pork, you essentially eat whatever that pig ate. Not to mention that almost every form of pork is made with lots of preservatives (bacon, ham, sausage, etc.). Fish/seafood often sounds healthy because it has Omega-3 oils, HOWEVER it is also highly toxic. As the ocean becomes more toxic, so do the fish.
One other factor is that both pork and fish contain parasites and you have to cook them at VERY high temperatures to kill the parasites. Almost no one cooks them high enough to kill the parasites because people don't like meat that's "overcooked."
So generally speaking, it's best to avoid these two foods.

2) seldom eat dairy products or yeast - These two foods contribute to fungus growth in the body so it's best not to eat them often, if at all.

3) I rarely eat raw vegies (& fruits unless they're blended) - For some reason my stomach doesn't handle raw food well. I've heard from many sources that raw fruits and vegies is the "ideal" diet. I think for many people this is true. But if you're like me, you might notice a big change in how you feel if you just stop eating raw and switch to cooked vegies instead. (Once I stopped eating salad my stomach improved a lot.)

4) no cold drinks - Along with not eating raw, my doctor told me not to drink cold water. She said I have a "cold" stomach. That means I shouldn't eat raw foods, should drink warm water, and should eat other foods that will "warm" up my stomach. If you can identify whether you have a "warm" or "cold" stomach, it might help a lot.

5) no "nightshade" vegetables - This includes tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, and green pepper I think. These vegies can deplete magnesium in the body. Since magnesium deficiency is a problem I've had for years, I don't eat these vegies, except for once in a while, on special occasions. I definitely noticed a positive change when I stopped eating these foods (especially potatoes and tomato paste/sauce).

Well, I thought there was one more, but I can't remember it for some reason. If it comes back to me I'll add it later. =)
I hope these ideas are helpful to you.
Remember, you ARE what you EAT. Take it seriously.

Blessings,
-Joanna
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A Day In The Life...

2010-05-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

When I started this blog I fully intended to do regular posts about my day to day experiences living with E.I.
Well, I had good intentions, but not much follow-through. So anyway, at long last, here's a little story about a day in the life of an E.I. person.

Last week was really rough for me. Every day I kept smelling some awful, chemical smell coming from the laundry room into the kitchen. My mom (bless her soul) moved anything and everything she could think of that might be causing the smell, but it persisted. It was causing me to have trouble breathing and just feel worse overall.
Finally my mom started looking around outside the laundry room to see if the smell was coming from something in the back yard. Right by the back door is a peace lily plant infested with grashoppers.
So yesterday she killed about 50 of them, then, being the smart mom that she is, she caught one alive in a jar so we could muscle test to see if I was allergic to it.
She brought it into the house and as soon as it was about 5 feet away from me, I just lost it!
You see, often when I have a severe allergic reaction it causes me to sob uncontrollably. I know it's weird, but that's what happens.
Before I even touched the jar with the grasshopper in it, my body completely freaked out! My mind knew it was just a grasshopper, but my body was screaming, "Run away!!!"
By God's grace I was able to hold the jar, while crying at the top of my lungs, so mom could do the allergy treatment on me. It took three times through the treatment before I stopped crying and our muscle testing indicated my allergy had been cleared.
Now, I've been through a lot of strange experiences with this Environmental Illness, but I think that probably ranks in the top 5! It was so bizarre. Imagine being highly allergic to a grasshopper! Actually, my guess is that they have some kind of natural poisonous or toxic gas that they give off as their protection from predators. As soon as I have some energy I'm going to research it and see if my hunch is right. All I know is, none of the animals in our neighborhood will eat the things!
As far as the chemical smell, I still don't know if it's coming from the grasshoppers or something else, but it certainly did result in an interesting story. =)

"The Happy Diet"

2010-05-04T10:14:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the lapse in my posting lately. I've been working on this post for a while, finally got it done. Enjoy! =)

Maybe you've heard of the "Hallelujah Diet"? It's basically like what Adam and Eve ate - all raw fruits and vegies. Several years ago one of my doctors recommended it for me since he said it cured his cancer. Unfortunately, it made me worse.
There are a lot of diet options out there. The all-protein diet, the low carb diet, the food combination diet, the candida diet, the blood type diet, etc. I don't even know all the crazy options there are.

People often ask me what my diet is like. It's actually very restricted at the moment. I've made many changes over the years and tried many different options. My opinion is that every person's body is unique. What works for one person may be harmful to another person.
However, I do believe there are certain diet changes that EVERY person can make that are good and helpful. This is what I call the "Happy Diet" - not necessarily because you'll be happy to make these changes, but because these changes will make your body happier. =)

I recommend implementing these diet changes gradually so you're not overwhelmed. Maybe make one change per week or per month, whatever is doable for you. Keep praying about what God wants you to do and how He desires you to take care of your body.

The Happy Diet -

1) No canned food -
Personally I think there are many problems with canned food, including less actual food value than fresh or frozen, possible food poisoning from improper processing, an abundance of preservatives, etc.
However the biggest problems is that almost all canned foods contain BPA (Bisphenol-A), a toxin that is linked to many different health problems, including cancer, diabetes, etc. The BPA is used to make an epoxy resin to line the cans in order to keep the food from being contaminated by the metal of the can. So basically they use one toxin to prevent another toxin from mixing with the food.
The FDA claims that the levels of BPA are "safe," and for a starving person in a famine-ravaged country, I imagine it would be the least of their worries. However, for those of us with an abundance of choices, why knowingly pollute our bodies?
The hardest part about not eating canned food is simply changing our habits. It's not that hard, though, you can do it! =)

For more info on dangers of canned food you can check out this website:
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/68569.html?wlc=1269807786

2) No microwaved food -
Microwaves are quick and convenient, but also can be harmful because microwaving signifcantly changes the food's nutrients & molecular structure. If you use plastic containers in the microwave then you risk toxic exposure from those.
There are plenty of problems with microwaving According to one website I checked, micowaved food poses nutritional, toxic, chemical, and electromagnetic dangers.
I think the hardest part of not using a microwave is losing the convenience, but I've found that using a toaster oven works just as well for reheating or light cooking of food. This really is a simple change to make.

For more information check out these websites:
http://safety.lovetoknow.com/Dangers_of_Microwave_Food
http://www.relfe.com/microwave.html

3) Switch to organic -
People who eat "normal" (non-organic) fruits and vegies consume an average of 2-10 pesticides a day! (ewg.org) That's pretty scary when you think about it. If you eat non-organic meat then you're consuming the antibiotics, hormones, and pesticides that the animal had in it.
It really is important to eat organic as much as possible, thus limiting the amount of toxins you are ingesting through your diet.
In today's market this isn't hard. You can buy organic produce, even frozen fruits & vegies, organic meats, organic flour, rice, oatmeal, milk, eggs, etc. You name it and most likely you can find it organic.
For most people the hardest part about switching to organic is the increased cost. The reality is you will have to pay for it sometime - either pay now and buy organic, or you'll pay later when your health breaks down and you end up running from doctor to doctor.

If you want organic beef I recomend Laura's Lean Beef brand. Here's the website to help you find where you can get it. (We usually get it at Super Target.)
http://www.laurasleanbeef.com/
Otherwise, I know Publix has good organic brands and most health food stores do as well.

4) No (or few) preservatives -
Preservatives is another word for chemicals or toxins. I recently heard a christian doctor say that God gave man the power and ability to do many things, but He didn't give us the ability to make food. But that's just what is happening now! Those "man-made" foods are harmful to our bodies. Yes, we have freedom in Christ to eat all kinds of things, we aren't bound by law to a certain diet like the Israelites were. However, we can't fill our bodies with dangerous chemicals and expect to stay healthy.
Not eating preservatives is a big challenge. It means giving up our convenient foods - frozen meals, snacks, packaged foods, mixes, etc. It means cooking natural, real foods the old fashioned way. But if your health is worth it to you, you'll find a way to make this change.
Now, even I leave room for exceptions. I keep some crackers on hand at all times in case my blood sugar drops and I don't have time to make something. But almost all of my regular diet is homemade, with no preservatives. When we eat like that regularly, then our bodies are better able to handle the few times we eat the chemical foods.
Give it a try, you can do it! =)

5) No (or little) sugar/sweeteners -
This is probably the hardest change of all to make. Americans are clearly addicted to sugar. However, sugar is a known inflamatory - it causes inflamation in our bodies, which results in all kinds of problems. Sugar also feeds fungus growth in our bodies, and has been shown to contribute to cancer growth.
The recomended MAXIMUM amount of sweeteners per day is between 32 and 40 grams (my sources varied on this). That's less than 1/4 cup. You'd get at least that much in one soda, two granola bars, or one brownie. It's time to say NO to sweeteners - this includes sugar, corn syrup, other syups, honey, etc. It also includes artifical sweeteners like splenda, equal, etc. (Those are not just bad for you sweetener-wise, but also bad for you chemical-wise because they've been chemically generated or altered. I'd avoid them at all costs.)
If you are going to use a sweetener, try to use natural ones like organic honey and maple syrup or use healthy alternatives like stevia or xylitol. But most of all cut back on your sweetener intake and learn to enjoy natural sources of healthy sugars found in fruits and some vegies.

Here's a link to an article you can read about the dangers of sugar.
http://www.cspinet.org/new/sugar.html

6) Drink more water! And absolutely NO soda -
A study recently completed found that people who drink 2 or more sodas a week have an 87% increased risk of pancreatic cancer! (http://www.webmd.com/cancer/pancreatic-cancer/news/20100208/pancreatic-cancer-linked-sodas)
Not only is there no nutritional value in soda, it is in fact dangerous to your health (even diet sodas). It feeds fungus, it adds calories you don't need, and according to this study it increases your risk of cancer. So who in their sane mind would want to drink it? Well, it's easy to turn a blind eye and think, oh it won't be that bad for me. But it is. Now you've been warned.
About the water - I heard one doctor recomend you drink one glass of water every hour that you're awake. I don't know anyone who does that, but if you start with 8 full glasses a day that will be good for your body.
Please, don't drink tap water (unless you have your own well). City water is full of chemicals, especially chlorine. The goal is to hydrate your body, not add more pollutants to it.
If you buy bottled water, don't get the "Purified" water, as it's essentially the same as tap water. I stick with Spring water, only brands in the thick plastic bottles which are less likely to leach plastic toxins. (And don't reuse plastic bottles because then you will get toxins leaching from them.)
My mom uses a Pur water filter on the kitchen faucet and it seems to work pretty well for what it costs. I'm not an expert on water filter systems. There are so many options and opinions out there.
The important thing is to find the best source of clean water for your situation and then drink lots of it! =)

There you have it - The Happy Diet!
I hope you'll have the courage and discipline to make some of these changes, and that as you do, you'll see a difference in how you feel.

Remember, you ARE what you eat. Take it seriously.

Next time - some of my more specific diet changes.
.

A Word About Toxins

2010-04-09T10:12:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry it's been a while since I've posted anything. Detoxing has been pretty rough lately. So I'll keep this post short. Just wanted to say a word about toxins.

Recently in my research I came across this disturbing quote:

"The first principle of toxicology is 'the dose makes the poison.' It's the AMOUNT of a potentially hazardous chemical, not its presence or absence, that determines the potential for harm."
(from - http://www.technewsworld.com/story/68569.html?wlc=1269807786)

Now, at first this might sound reasonable, and if we were talking about ONE toxin in ONE product, it could possibly be an acceptable statement.
HOWEVER, the reality is that we're talking about dozens of toxins in literally thousands of products, both for daily use and commercial use.

A toxin is still a toxin, and a poison is still a poison, no matter how much or little of it is present! Yes, our bodies have the ability to 'detox' toxins and poisons, but they are still not GOOD for us. If they were good for us they wouldn't be called toxins or poisons.

Yet, our government operates under the same attitude as the person who made the above statement. They have labeled those thousands of products as "safe" becuase the AMOUNT of toxins/poisons is considered "small enough."
Maybe if they were bankers instead of politicians they'd understand the concept of compounded interest. One product with "safe" amounts of toxins probably wouldn't cause much damage. But when you compound hundreds of prodcuts that contain "safe" amounts of toxic chemicals (including the food we eat, the water we drink, the houses we live in, the fragrances we wear, etc, etc, etc.) there is no way you can avoid an overload of toxins/poisons.

Am I the only one who thinks this both ridiculous and scary?

The government may label thousands of products as "safe," but that doesn't mean they really are safe for you and me. We cannot rely on the government or profit-motivated companies to protect us from toxic exposure.
Take responsibility for your own health. Educate yourself. Read labels. Change your buying habits. Make your voice heard.
And don't buy into the theory that a "small" amount of toxins/poisons is "safe."

May God have mercy on us.
.

Slaves or Partners?

2010-03-16T10:44:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, I think most people today treat their bodies like slaves. They do whatever they want to them (bad eating habits, little sleep, etc.) and then expect their bodies to still do everything they tell them to. If their bodies try to protest it is ignored. They give very little time to taking care of their bodies or considering what they really need.
It's sad.

I can say this, because I used to be like this. I used to think my body was supposed to do what I wanted it to and not bother me. I didn't listen to my body, I didn't consider its needs. So it crashed. Then I learned to pay attention.

So if you're reading this and your body hasn't crashed yet, this would be a good time to evaluate your thinking toward your body and maybe make some changes.

God said our body is HIS temple, His dwelling place (Eph. 2:22, 1 Cor. 6:19-20). It is not our slave. I like to think of my body more as my partner. Without my body functioning properly I am limited in what I can do, thus limited in what God can do through me.

Over the last several years I've learned to listen to my body. It may sound a little weird to you, but it's true that your body will try to communicate to you when it needs rest, water, healthy food, exercise, etc. The hard part is learning to listen and then to act. Make your health a priority, not for selfish reasons, but because you want to be a good steward or caretaker of the body God has given you.

Now it's true that we shouldn't let our bodies rule our lives (1 Cor. 6:12-13). If we learn how to work with our bodies and how to be prayerful about what we do, I don't think we'll have to worry that. I believe God will give us the strength we need to do the things He's called us to, and that includes taking GOOD care of our bodies.

Your body is a gift from God. Learn to treat it like one.

"Bottom 5"

2010-03-04T09:16:00.001-08:00

You've heard of the "Top 10" list. This is the "Bottom 5" list, in honor of the fact that I have now survived 9 whole months of detoxing!

Now, you probably won't experience all these things as you detox, but for me here are the 5 worst things about detoxing:

1. "Toxic nightmares" - whenever I'm detoxing something especially nasty like pesticide or mercury, I tend to have really awful dreams all nght, sometimes so bad that I have to wake up and turn on lights and praise music. At least I know they are "toxin-induced" though and not because I'm crazy. =)

2. Being allergic to my clothes - the toxins are literally pouring out of my skin so that my clothes are so full of them, my mom has to wash them at least 3-4 times before I can wear them again without having a reaction. It's nuts.

3. An annoying rash that comes and goes whenever and wherever it pleases. - it especially likes to itch the worst in the middle of the night. Not fun.

4. All the detoxing symptoms - depending on what I'm detoxing, the symptoms can range from nausea, brain fog, or a metallic taste in my mouth, to trouble breathing, joint and muscle pain, headaches, etc.

5. Feeling like this detoxing will never end - no matter how many toxins my body gets rid of, it seems there's always more just waiting to come out. I get really tired of feeling "toxic."

There you have it. Now aren't you excited to start detoxing? =)

Here's a quick addition to my "You know you're detoxing..." list, from my friend Sam, who also suffers with E.I.

"You know you're detoxing...when a mosquito lands on your arm, bites into your skin, and expires."

Just think, it could be a new method of mosquito control! =)

Lymphatic Massage

2010-03-01T09:48:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I believe lymphatic massage is the best way to begin detoxing and the key that unlocks your body's natural detoxing system so that other methods become even more effective for you as well.

Lymphatic massage is so powerful because it works with your body, instead of pushing your body. It assists your body's natural detoxification process.

Sickness, stress, lack of exercise, etc. cause our bodies to tense up. As the muscles get tighter the lymphatic system is basically choked. Doing the massage relaxes the muscles and opens up the flow of the lymph, which is a fluid that moves the toxins out of your body.

The really amazing thing about lymphatic massage is that as you continue to do it, your lymphatic system will actually pull toxins out of the places where they are stored (in organs, tissues, glands, etc. So you don't have to do chelation or take a bunch of supplements to dig out the toxins buried deep in your body. Your body will do it naturally if you keep the lymphatic system moving well.

Basic lymphatic massage is pretty simple. Just start with gentle stroking or gentle pressure, whichever feels good. When I first started, my mom could barely touch me because I was so toxic that even my skin hurt. Gradually as the toxins came out she was able to rub a little harder, use a little more pressure, etc. Just remember that it's supposed to be a relaxing massage, not painful like a deep-tissue massage.

My naturopath recommends using oil on the skin for the massage since it cuts down on the friction. I'm incredibly sensitive to any kind of oil, so that just didn't work for me. I think it works ok without the oil. If you do use oil, try to find something natural like organic coconut oil or something that will not harm your body since it will be absorbed into your body through the skin.

When my mom feels a tense place or a kind of 'lump' under my skin she'll often just place her hand on top of it for several seconds and let that heat sort of "melt" the lump. Then she can gently rub it out. This happens most often in my feet. For some reason they always have lumps in different places.

The following website has some brief video clips that show how to do different parts of the massage as well as where the major lymph nodes are, and more more.
http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_4277_expect-lymphatic-drainage-massage.html

Just remember, go slow. When I first started I could only handle about 10 minutes of massage. After that I'd feel nauseated and weak. As my body got rid of more toxins I could handle longer massages. If you do too much massage or too often, your body will be dumping a bunch of toxins at once and you'll deinitely feel worse because of it. Always pay attention to your body and listen to what it's telling you. A little at a time is better than a whole lot at once. =) And don't forget to drink LOTS of water after a massage, to help move the toxins out quickly.

There's plenty of information about lymphatic massage online if you want to learn more. These websites have information about what it does and why it's helpful.
www.massagetherapy.com
http://ezinearticles.com/?Lymphatic-Massage---The-Benefits&id=283527

Here's a sample paragraph from the second website -

"The lymphatic system has no central pump and depends on muscle contraction through deep breathing, exercise and manual manipulation to move fluid.
Lymphatic massage utilizes a very light pressure combined with soft pumping movements in the direction of the lymph nodes. Immune system function can be significantly increased, improving metabolism and helping the body to eliminate waste and toxins."

I think my naturpath would say that lymphatic massage is good for everyone. However, the above websites do list a caution for people with certain health issues.

"For the most part lymphatic massage is safe. However as with all massage therapies there are some contra indications. For lymphatic massage specifically, these include acute inflammation, malignant tumors, thrombosis and major heart problems."

"Lymph massage is a type of massage which is designed to promote the healthy flow of lymph, the clear fluid which supports immune system function by flowing through the body and sequestering foreign material like viruses. Practitioners of lymph massage believe that the massage eliminates blockages in the lymphatic system, while also helping to pull out toxins. This type of massage is generally very gentle, but there are some serious contraindications, because massage work around the lymphatic system can make some medical conditions worse. Therefore, it is important to talk to a doctor before booking an appointment for lymph massage.
You may hear this type of massage called lymphatic massage, lymphatic drainage, or manual lymphatic drainage. People with inflammations and current infections should not get lymph massage, because the massage can encourage the spread of the infection. Lymph massage is also contraindicated for people with tumors and undiagnosed lumps, as well as people with clotting issues and heart problems. Lymph massage can make all of these conditions worse."

My best advice (as long as you don't have any of the above conditions) is just give it a try and see how it feels. It's made a huge difference for me! My naturopath discovered this when he was struggling to recover from chronic fatigue. He's very healthy now and still has a massage once a week.

If you have any questions, please let me know. Anyone can post comments on this blog now, so feel free! =)

Detoxing 101

2010-02-22T09:56:00.000-08:00

Hello. Yes, at long last I'm finally writing about detoxing! =)
First I want to say that I do not consider myself an expert on this subject. So far I haven't met anyone who is. I'm simply sharing what I've learned from experience, both good and bad, and what works for me.

There are many different methods for detoxing out there, including - detox supplements, herbal and homeopathic remedies, coffee enemas, chelation, sauna therapy, etc.
My personal opinion is that most of these things are actually stressful for the body, thus not the best or most effective methods. You definitely need dr supervision for chelation and sauna therapy. They can be powerful detoxers, but also can be risky.

I tried different ways to detox, including foot baths (with a special machine that pulls toxins out of your feet), rebounding, and supplements, but they either didn't work or made me feel much worse. One dr even told me that maybe my body wasn't capable of detoxing. (There are genetic studies about that and everything.)

Then God brought a dr along who taught my mom and I about lymphatic massage. What I learned amazed me! I've been doing lymphatic massage for about 9 months now and I'm very satisfied with the results. I think it's not only the best way to detox, but also the key that unlocks the body's natural detox system so that everything else you do to detox will be more effective.
I'll write a separate post about the massage next time.

Once I started doing the massage, my body was finally able to detox. So my detox program at the moment includes the following things:

* 2-3 massages a week, foot massages every day if possible (my mom does this for me, the techniques are not hard to learn)
If you don't have anyone who can massage you, then I recommend dry skin brushing. I haven't actually tried it myself yet because I've been doing the massage. But I have heard many good things about it. This website has great information and instructions for it -
http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/healingtechniques/Dry_Brushing_Technique.htm

* a detox bath every day (for most people 1-3 baths a week is probably enough)
There are different ways to do this. I use a mineral powder from my naturopath that helps pull toxins out through the skin. You can also use equal amounts of epsom salts and baking soda (1/4 cup each up to 1/2 cup each) or just epsom salts (1/2 cup) in a full tub of water, as hot as is comfortable for you, for 10-30 minutes depending on how you feel. The bath should feel good. If you start to feel uncomfortable it probably means the water is too hot or you've been in long enough. Rinse off well with a shower afterwards.
An important note - taking a bath (or shower) is like drinking a full glass of that tap water because the water is absorbed into your skin. So unless you have clean well water, it's vital to have a whole house water filter (you can get them at Lowes for about $50) or a shower filter (you can order them online at needs.com), or even both. If you don't filter out the chlorine and other chemicals in your tap water then taking a detox bath will actually cause you to absorb the chemicals from the water.

* rebounding (helps the lymphatic system also)
This is basically bouncing on a mini-trampoline or you can just bounce up & down on the balls of your feet. I only do about 1 minute of rebounding at a time, but I try to do it 2-3 tiimes a day. It depends on how it feels. If you start to feel sick after doing it, then decrease how long or how often you do it.

* exercise/sweating
Any exercise will help you detox, and sweating is a great way to get toxins out. Just remember to get a shower immediately after sweating. If you let the sweat dry on your body your skin will simply reabsorb the toxins that are in your sweat.

* stretching
You always hear about exercise but seldom about stretching. It's very important to help keep muscles, ligaments, etc. loosened up and not choking the lymphatic system. I do a simply stretching routine every day that takes about 3 minutes. I put it together using things I learned from aerobics, P.E., and my physical therapist. Find some stretches you're comfortable with put also push you a little. Then stick with it and try to add new ones now and then.

Well, there you have my recommendations for starting a detoxing program. The nice thing about these methods is that anyone can do them, at home, with little or no expense, not requiring a doctor (though having a dr who is knowledgeable about detoxing is always beneficial!) and with good results.

The last thing I want to say is just remember to listen to your body. When it comes to detoxing, pain is NOT gain. If it feels awful or painful - don't do it! Start slow. Don't push your body. Work with it.
If you are genuinely detoxing you will feel a little worse after your massage, bath, exercise, etc. because the toxins are coming out. But you shouldn't experience pain while doing those things. If you do, then slow down, back up, and do less. Give your body time to work out those toxins before you start the next detoxing step. Remember that it took years for toxins to build up in your body. It will take time for your body to push them out.

Please let me know if you have any questions. I've adjusted the settings on my blog so anyone can post comments now, even if you don't have a blogger id.
I really want this blog to be helpful, informative, and encouraging. I hope it is for you.

Happy Detoxing! =)

Sponges

2010-02-18T10:22:00.000-08:00

Well, I promised you I'd write about detoxing this month, but I think first I need to say a few words about toxins.

A toxin basically is a poison or something that is harmful. You cannot begin to imagine how many toxins are in our environment today. And many of them are hidden or unpredictable. Just last week I found out that the "natural" coconut oil I've been using is processed using petroleum products. No wonder I always seemed to react to it! I also read recently that certain kinds of baby formula have an ingredient that is the same one used in rocket fuel! If that doesn't scare you, I'm not sure anything will.
(I got that information from ewg.org - an excellent resource for learning more about what toxins are around you.)

There are toxins in the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, the buildings we live and work in, and in almost every product we use on our bodies.
The worst part about all this is that our bodies are not made of metal or plastic. They are more like sponges. We can't walk around thinking we have an indestructible shield around us. We are, in fact, absorbing every toxin we encounter into our bodies.

Thankfully, God created our bodies with a built-in detoxing function - the lymphatic system. However, the level of toxins in our environment is so much higher than it was even 20 years ago, that it's becoming next to impossible for our bodies to keep up. More toxins are coming in than the body can filter out. Picture yourself as a sponge, soaking up toxins all day long until you're dripping wet. Your body works hard to wring out a little water at a time, but at the end of the day, you're still dripping. That's when health problems begin to show up.

For a concrete example, let me give you a short list of some of the things I have detoxed in the last 9 months. (We've determined these things through symptoms like the taste in my mouth, smell of my sweat, etc. as well as through muscle testing.)

So far I've detoxed:
lead, mercury, copper, aluminum, silver, cadmium, asphalt, formaldehyde, acetone, epoxy, paint thinner, phenol, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, pesticide, herbicide, 5 kinds of antibiotics, at least 5 other medications, childhood vaccinations, crude oil and petoleum produts, smoke, perfume, lotion, shampoo, castille soap, propane, natural gas....
The list could go on, but I think you get the idea.

If you eat it, drink it, breathe it, wear it, or put it on your skin, it becomes part of you. Then your body has to work extra hard to get it OUT.

Maybe you're feeling a little overwhelmed by all this. I HOPE so! Until you realize how toxic your body probably is, you won't be able to help it.

The first step is simple. Sit down with a piece of paper and pen. Think through your day from start to finish and write down as many things you can think of that you encounter each day that are toxic, or harmful, to your body. Remember, if it's not something God created, you can be pretty sure it's toxic. (And even some "natural" products have hidden toxins.)

Next, mark those things on your list that you can give up, avoid or replace with a natural alternative. -- If this part seems too hard, just think about the money you'll save by giving up certain products. =) (You can also read my "Fragrance-Free Challenge post from January for more info on household toxins and natural replacements.)

Finally, prepare your mind for action! It's time to start a detoxing program. Consdering that there are SO many toxins you won't be able to avoid, your body needs all the helpl it can get.
Next time I'll write about how to get started detoxing.

Thanks for reading, my dear "spongy" friend. May you have a "dry" day today. =)
God bless.

Kudos to Non-Toxic Woman

2010-02-08T14:25:00.000-08:00

Every person who suffers with E.I. really needs a dedicated caregiver. I am so blessed to have the best caregiver in the world - my mom. (She's known in the super-hero world as "Non-Toxic Woman.") =)

She has given up so much for me.
-She washes her hands & hair wtih baking soda so she can stay "fragrance-free."
-She always gets a shower after going anywhere so I don't have to risk reacting to some smell or toxin she might have encountered.
-She does all the grocery shopping, cooking, laundry...you name it. Not an easy task, especially lately when she's had to wash all the dishes by hand (because I've been reacting to the dishwasher) and wash some of my laundry multiple times (to get all the toxins out that I've been detoxing).

Anyway, these are just a few of the things Non-Toxic Woman does for me, to help keep my environment as safe and toxin-free as possible.

I just wanted to give her big kudos this week for adding to all of that, the willingness to help someone else - one of our friends with E.I. needed us last week. In spite of all the things she has on her plate, Non-Toxic Woman was there! She really is a super-hero! (especially to me)

Non-Toxic Woman - I know I probably don't say it enough, so here it is one more time:
THANK YOU!
You are the wind beneath my wings.
=)

My Soapbox

2010-02-01T12:57:00.000-08:00

The nice thing about a blog is that it gives me a place to really get on my "soapbox," when otherwise I wouldn't be able to. So here goes. =)

At this point in my life, almost more than anything else, there are 2 things that frustrate me and break my heart at the same time.

#1 - People whose health is declining, but for some reason they pay no attention or think their health problems will somehow take care of themselves. Their bodies continue to deteriorate, but they do nothing because they are either clueless or in denial.
(Lest you think I'm being harsh, let me just say that I used to be one of these people - until my health COMPLETELY collapsed, and I was forced to pay attention to my body's needs. I don't ever want to see someone I care about go through the same thing.)

#2 - People whose health has already collapsed (like me, like others with E.I.), but all the doctors they've been to have been little or no help, and they're left with little or no hope of ever getting well.
(I've been in this place too, and let me tell you it's NOT pleasant.)

If you are reading this and you are not 99% satisfied with your health and pysical functionability (I'm not sure 100% is possible on this fallen earth), then you are included in group #1.
What I'd like to say to you is - STOP! Right now. Be stil for a moment and listen to your body. What is it saying?
If you're tired a lot, have aches and pains, difficulty concentrating, etc. - please hear this: it's your body trying to tell you that something is wrong. If you ignore the messages your body is sending you, just keep going and hope it will somehow take care of itself, you're in for a rude awakening.
Everything that happens in your body has a CAUSE. I'm convinced that if more doctors were genuine detectives, we'd have a lot fewer sick people. Unfortunately, most of them just treat symptoms. They don't take the time to dig long enough to find the cause.
For example - one of my worst problems for years has been low or no adrenal function. When one doctor first noticed it, he said 'let's put you on this drug which makes the same thing your adrenal gland makes (cortisol) and then your adrenal gland can rest and you'll recover.'
I don't think so.
I'm still on that drug 7 years later and my adrenal function is worse now than it was when I started!
What he should have done was asked, WHY is your adrenal function low? Maybe it's because your body is overly toxic, thus making the adrenals work harder. Or maybe it's because there's a virus settled in your adrenal gland so it can't do it's normal function. (These are the conclusions I have come to after years, and with the help of a doctor who did finally diagnose me with a virus in my adrenal gland.)

There is a CAUSE for every ache, pain, symptom, and malfunction in your body. What can you do?
1) Write down every problem, complaint, or symptom you have.
2) Pray over that list. Ask God to show you what the cause is. It could be something you're eating (sugar is a known inflamatory, preservatives are toxic chemcials, etc.), or something in your environment (fresh paint, mercury detnal fillings, etc.), or an unhealthy habit (not enough sleep, not enough water, etc.), or even something else.
3) Then ask God to lead you to the answers that you need to help restore your health in HIS timing.

If you fit in group #1, please listen to me before it's too late (and you end up in group #2). - It's time to take responsibility for your own health, your own body, the temple of the Holy Spirit living in YOU! Please don't be clueless, and please don't live in denial. Please take better care of your body than you do of your car. =)

Now, for those people in group #2 - I feel your pain, my heart aches for you. But please hear this: There IS HOPE! I know what it's like to think no one would ever figure out what was wrong with me or how to treat my health problems effectively. But God, in His mercy, has brought me some answers at last!
This month I'll be sharing information about the things that are helping me, what I call the 4 D's:
-detoxify
-debug
-desensitize
-destress

No matter how hopeless you feel, there are answers out there. There are Christian doctors, researchers, and health care providers who are working to spread information and provide treatments that work. So please don't give up!
You can do the same things I suggested for group #1:
1) Make a list of your problems (or at least the most pressing ones).
2) Pray over the list asking God to lead you to the underlying causes.
3) Keep asking Him to lead you to the answers you need.

I really hope to see many people in group #1 finding answers, working hard for their bodies, and seeing their health improved. And I long to see those in group #2 finding the help they need and being delivered from the agony of life with E.I.
I pray by God's grace, that I will see these things happening soon.
(Then I can find a new 'soapbox.') =)

Thank you for listening.
I'm stepping down now. =)

Toxic Life

2010-01-14T12:18:00.000-08:00

Here's a little glimpse of what it's like to live a 'toxic life.' And yes, these all come from personal experience...believe it or not.

You know you're detoxing...

- when you drink a gallon of water a day and still feel thirsty

- when you cry and the tears burn your face and eyes (my mom always says crying is good because it gets the toxins out)

- when your mom coughs or sneezes when she's around you

- when your sweat smells like perfume (or pesticide, or whatever your detoxing)

- when your hair feels like straw no matter how often you wash it with baking soda

- when unsweetened chocolate tastes really good to you (apparently organic, dark chocolate is good for the liver)

- when you have a recurring dream about pulling a sticky substance out of your teeth and gums

- when a detox bath is the highlight of your day (hot water and minerals, or epson salts, etc.)

- when you actually look forward to going to physical therapy

- when you start adding "de" to all your words - desensitize, destress, declutter, debrief, defocus.... (well, maybe I'm not that far gone, yet...) =)

Yep, it's a toxic life.

2010 "Fragrance-Free" Challenge!

2010-01-01T11:39:00.001-08:00

(Ok, so technically this is a "fragrance-less" Challenge, since "fragrance-free" is next to impossible. Still, every little bit helps, so I hope you'll take the Challenge!)

The new year is here! Time when people make resolutions, set goals, etc. In that spirit of examination and change, I'm daring ALL of you out there to consider my "Fragrance-Free" Challenge.

Fragrances (a.k.a. chemicals/toxins) are everywhere in our environment now. We've become desensitized to the point where we can't even smell natural scents anymore. (Some products even contain chemicals which harm the nerves in the nose, thus damaging your sense of smell.) No doubt about it, it's time to De-Fragrance!

Some benefits of participating in this Challenge are:
1) You'll gain a better understanding of what life is like for people with E.I. and hopefully increase in empathy and compassion for them.
2) You'll become more aware of just how "fragrantly complicated" your life is and possibly find ways to simply - as well as to SAVE money! (who doesn't want to do that these days?)
3) You'll help reduce the amount of toxins in our environment by using less of them personally.

So now that you see the wonderful benefits, get ready! There are 3 different levels of this Challenge: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Pick the one that best works for you, but be BRAVE! =) Trying something different isn't easy, but can be very rewarding.

Beginner - Set aside 3 days in a row when you will not use ANY of the following products:
1) perfume/cologne
2) fabric softener (liquid or dryer sheets)
3) scented candles, plug-ins, sprays, or air fresheners

If you add up how much money you spend on these products alone, you'll find you could save a LOT by simply not using them anymore. You'll also be kind to any people around you who may have sensitivies or allergies to these 'fragrant' chemicals.

Intermediate - Set aside 4 days in a row when you will not use ANY of the following products:
1) the three things listed above - perfume/cologne, fabric softener, scented candles, etc.
2) hairspray, body spray, and scented lotions
3) hand sanitizer or clorox wipes
4) lysol or pledge type sprays, windex, or other strong chemical cleaners
(in place of these cleaning supplies you can use baking soda or Heinz vinegar--NOTE: other brands of vinegar may be made with petroleum products, thus making them toxic. Heinz is recognized as natural and safe.)

You'll be surprised not only at how many products in your hosue are "fragrant" but also loaded with chemicals and thus toxic to the body. Changing your household products to natural and safe alternatives will save money and help protect your family's health.

Advanced - Set aside 5 days in a row when you will make the following changes:
1) Do not use ANY of the things listed above - #1-4 of the Intermediate Challenge
2) Use baking soda to wash hands, dishes, and laundry instead of liquid or scented soaps (yes, baking soda is safe for washing machines and dishwashers)
3) Use baking soda or a natural kind of deoderant (you can find them at any health food store) instead of your normal brand, and use baking soda or a natural substitue (such as Magic Botanicals) instead of your normal shampoo and conditioner.

If you're brave enough to take this Challenge, then you'll be close to experiencing what my life is like on a daily basis. Once you start to pay attention you'll be shocked by just how many everyday products are filled with chemical fragrances and toxic substances.

I hope you'll be brave enough to take this Challenge!
For all those who do - please let me know how it goes and what you learn from the experience. And thank you for being willing to step into my world in this way.

May 2010 be a year of greater health, less toxins, and more joy in Jesus!
God bless,
-Joanna

No Holidays

2009-12-26T11:12:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Christmas day 2009 - and I had a really bad day. I felt even worse than usual. I got sick every time my mom came in the room with me. (We think I was reacting to a herb she's been taking. Go figure.) I had a "Christmas dinner" of turkey and peas (mixed with a few tears). It didn't settle in my stomach very well.
I was reminded once again that for people with Environmental Illness, there are no holidays.
Most people look forward to the holidays as a break from their normal routine, time to be with family & friends, maybe doing special things like caroling, playing games, etc. Well, with E.I. there is no break from the 'normal routine' of being sick. This disease (like most diseases) never takes a day off. Being with family and friends is usually not an option unless they "de-fragrance" themselves radically (which isn't easy to do, let me tell you). And special activities take more energy than we, as E.I's usually have.
I'd like to say that after 5 years of this, I'm used to it and it doesn't bother me. But that wouldn't be true. I miss all the 'normal' Christmas activities, traditions, and fellowship. For some reason, the holidays are a like a slap in the face for someone with E.I. It's just another reminder that life as it used to be is gone, at least for now. If we're not careful, it's easy to start dreading holidays, simply becuase they remind of us all we've lost, all we miss.
Well, I imagine you're good and depressed for me now. =) I just wanted to share the reality of what it's like.
On the bright side, even during the difficult holidays, God's kindness is unfailing. (Ps. 18:50) In the middle of my very bad day yesterday, God sent me a Christmas text message from a friend, a cheering-up phone call from a friend with E.I., and a mom whose smile never ceases to brighten my day.
I think I'm learning that the secret to managing the holidays for those of us with E.I. (in addition to changing my expectations), is to focus on celebrating them in my heart, with or without all the wonderful things that usually accompany them.
If you know someone with E.I. remember that something as small as a text message, email or phone call, could make a big difference in helping them see God's kindness instead of focusing on all they're missing.
And may we all learn to be thankful every day that Jesus caame to earth as Immanuel - God WITH us!

Environmental Illness - The Invisible Epidemic

2009-12-06T13:00:00.000-08:00

"Environmental Illness" (E.I.) is a term my mom and I started to hear almost 2 years ago. Before that, we had a lot of different diagnoses of what was wrong with me, but not one umbrella term. Then we found out about E.I.

E.I. includes things like Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, severe allergies, Multiple Chemical Sensivitiy (MCS), Electromagnetic Sensivity, Asthma, etc.

Environmental Illness basically means what it sounds like. If you have E.I. you're sick because of problems/causes in your environment. Some of those causes are normal allergens such as molds, pollens, dust, etc. Other causes are "common" toxins like pesticides, formaldahyde (which is in practically everything these days), petroleum products (including plastics, gasoline, natural gas, etc.), fragrance products (shampoo, fabric softener, perfume, etc.), preservatives in foods, electricity, and much more.

Because toxins are flooding our environment everywhere now, more people are being affected by them and ending up with E.I. (even if they don't know there's a name for what's wrong with them). That's why I call E.I. the "invisible epidemic." According to some studies hundreds of thousands (perhaps as many as 700,000) people are living with E.I. right now in our country. It is incredible to me that so many could be suffering from this disease and yet the majority of people have never heard of it, have no idea what it is or what to do about it.

I can tell you that living with E.I. is the hardest thing I've ever experienced. Praise God that He has recently led me to some answers that seem to be helping. But there are so many people out there suffering, with no help, no hope of getting better, and little or no support from family and friends. I hope through this blog to raise awareness and possibly make a difference for those people.

Thank you to everyone who has been my support! I hope you'll continue to learn about E.I. and be a blessing to those who are suffering.

I'm also open to questions or suggestions about what I should post. Let me know your thoughts. =)

Until next time, take care.
-Joanna

Welcome!

2009-11-22T14:55:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome to my new blog! I hope you'll find it enjoyable and informative.

This blog is all about my life with Environmental Illness. I'll be including things like -
*"E.I Adventures" - unusual stories of what it's like to live with this disease.
*"Toxin of the Week" - information about different chemicals and toxins to watch out for.
*"What I'm doing..." - information about ideas and treatment that actually help me.
*"Kudos to Non-Toxic Woman" - my mom's adventures and sacrifices in taking care of me.

If you have any suggestions for things you'd like me to include, just let me know.
Ok, that's all for now. Hope you're having a healthy weekend!

God bless,
-Joanna