The Doctor Within: Body Feedback Tools for Health Protection

Updated: January 05, 2024

There are no shortage of stories in the media about people who have suffered some type of brain injury and been left with heightened mental abilities post recovery. Intuition, something everyone possess, is often heightened after injury. My personal brain injury experience, from off gassing of a new home resulting in toxicant induced loss of tolerance (TILT), resulted in a heightened intuition, a vital survival tool. My injury left me with nervous system and digestive system dysregulation causing multiple food allergies (85) confirmed by blood testing and depression. I am now 100% food allergy free and 100% depression free.

When my body and mind crashed physically and mentally, standard medical treatment was medication, which did nothing to resolve my symptoms or restore my health. My many year search of trial and error alternative options was costly. The one recovery tool that stands out, supported by healthy lifestyle changes, was learning to use my intuition in combination with bodyfeedback for protection from reactions. This allowed my body to focus on repair and healing instead of vigilance and reacting.

Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine stated: “Everyone has a doctor in him or her; we just have to help it in its work. The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well.”

The National Library of Medicine article by Simon M McCrea, Intuition, insight, and the right hemisphere: Emergence of higher sociocognitive functions, published online 2010 Mar 3 provides a scientific definition for intuition.

“Intuition is the ability to understand immediately without conscious reasoning and is sometimes explained as a ‘gut feeling’ about the rightness or wrongness of a person, place, situation, temporal episode or object.”

The neural networks associated with intuition provide valuable body feedback tools to guide the body and mind in the pursuit and maintenance of vibrant health and longevity. Have you noticed that there are times when you feel sudden weakness or nausea, your balance is altered or one side of your body is weaker than the other side? Muscle response testing is a form of neuromuscularbiofeedback, an applied kinesiology biofeedback testing method.  It uses feedback from the body and brain (your virtual black box) as information.  Other forms of biofeedback include taking a pulse, taking a blood pressure and listening to the heart with a stethoscope.” In the 1950s, Dr. Arthur Coca identified that his wife’s heart rate would increase if she ate a food that provoked an inappropriate or allergic response. This was, as Dr. Coca put it, ‘accidentally acquired knowledge’ which he then applied to patients as well as his wife. The results were very effective and consistent.”  Similarly bodyfeedback response testing provides information about foods and substances ingested, inhaled and applied to the body as well as environmental factors, including stressors. Anything can cause disruption to the natural balance, communication and function within your body.  Learning how to read your body’s responses after exposure to suspected causes can provide you with health protection, allowing your body to focus on repair and healing instead of ongoing vigilance and reacting. I teach clients how to use their ‘gut feeling’ and bodyfeedback responses’ to determine which foods and other items (water, personal care) may be having a negative effect on them, including allergic reactions.

Simon M McCrea recaps in his article, making the connection for intuition to motor response: “To reiterate, intuition is automatic, nonconscious, affectively laden, absolute and judgmental, instant, implicit, associated with motor response, and the operation of right hemisphere nonverbal decoding mechanisms.” 

Thomas R. Verny in the Psychology Today article Intuition: What It Is and How It Works, concludes: “Clearly, the biological basis of intuition is complex and likely involves a combination of factors. There is growing evidence suggesting that all humans are born with a basic ability for intuitive thinking and that, as we mature, as our links between the embodied mind, emotional processing, and intuitive thinking strengthen with experience, we may get better at it. Of course, if we fail to listen to this channel, like a muscle not exercised, our intuitive abilities will decline.”

If you have had any type of brain damage or malfunction, your intution may be compromised at times. How do you get started making or improving the connection between your intuition and your ‘doctor within’, for improved health and protection?

  1. Read my blog post THE WEAK LIST: A Necessary Well-being & Protection Tool
  2. Learn how to use your bodyfeedback (accidentally acquired information) to protect your health. The more you use bodyfeedback, the stronger your intuition becomes.
  3. Book a private consultation and demonstration to learn how to use body feedback for improved health and protection.
  4. Book a BodyFeedback Interview & Therapy Assessment where I provide you with a weak list.
  5. Book a complimentary demonstration of the food allergy kit. Learn how to use laser therapy at your acupressure points to eliminate food allergies and to promote healing for health conditions.
  6. Read, The Whole Person Well-being Equation, for more self-help and health protection tools.

For more information visit my website, blog and social media pages. Contact me at elisabethlhines at gmail.com to book an appointment.

Elisabeth Hines, C.N.C.,C.B.P., Holistic Wellness Practitioner, Health by Design, http://www.mybodycanhealitself.ca/

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Source:

Simon M McCrea, Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2010; 3: 1–39.Published online 2010 Mar 3. doi: 10.2147/prbm.s7935

#MCS #foodallergies #TILT #toxicantinducedlossoftolerance #EI #environmentalillness #autoimmune #CF #chronic fatigue #chronicsymptoms #depression #CBI #chemicalbraininjury #braintrauma #nervoussystemdysregulation

Taming Food, Pollen and Drug Reactions using Laser Pen Acupressure Point Stimulation

My past allergy/reaction history has been intense. I am now 100% food allergy free and feel safe and comfortable in all of my environments without fear of reacting.

My immune and nervous system crashed many years ago after moving into a new home and suffering from toxicant induced loss of tolerance (TILT) due to the off gassing. My resulting inability to tolerate any chemicals and over 80 foods (revealed from blood food allergy testing) resulted in years of challenging physical and mental symptoms. My quest for recovery led me to many holistic strategies, since the regular medical system had no solutions for me. I have been 100% food allergy free for many years due to the successful NAET energy (neutralizing) treatments that I received. My ongoing sensitivities to all chemicals, multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS) took longer to eliminate, however I was able to eventually feel safe and comfortable in all of my environments with an informed sense of vigilance for safety.

1. Drug Intolerance/Drug Allergies

My inability to tolerate drugs without adverse reactions dated back to my teenage years due to multiple procedures requiring local anesthesia, anesthesia and pain management. This ongoing challenge felt like a hopeless situation, especially if I ever ended up in a case where I need a drug (e.g. injection, hospitalization). The big question, which I was routinely asked when filling out medical forms, ‘are you allergic to drugs’, left me with more questions than answers, since I seemed to react to multiple drugs. Was it a specific ingredient? Was it a carrier or preservative?

My recent broken tooth, resulting in a large chunk of molar breaking off, left me in a very vulnerable situation as my last previous dental visit, where local anesthesia was required, left me with a four day paralysis of the right side of my head, brain, face, throat and shoulder. It was an extremely frightening experience, especially on swallowing. I have had residual general paresis (nerve weakness/vulnerability) on my right side since that day especially when I consume anything with preservatives or additives.

According to Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology; “In most cases, nerve palsy begins instantly after local anesthetic injection into the retromolar region and usually resolves within 12 hours. However, in rare cases, onset of symptoms may be delayed for several hours to days. Dental infection or paradental foci is also believed to be responsible for the insult.”2

Reality time! That ‘serious situation in the future’, was here now, and it was frightening. I procrastinated for some time; I chewed on the opposite side of my mouth, avoided extreme cold foods. Then one day I had a very painful unsoothable jaw which persisted for several days and I knew I had to see a dentist. I googled for a holistic dentist in my area, hoping there would be alternate solutions to the local anesthesia that I dreaded.

I was fortunate to find a wonderful holistic dentist who understood chemical sensitivities. The dentist recommended I take Traumacare homeopathic tablets for the pain until my appointment, which was very effective in eliminating the pain. I explained my challenge to her and my past history and then also shared how I had been treated for food allergies using acupressure treatments and wondered if it was possible to eliminate drug reactions using a similar method. She brought out three different types of local anesthetic and watched me as I tested each just by holding them up to my sternum (you can find out how this works by checking out this post) . Local anesthetic vial number one, sent me falling backwards in a thrust that the dentist could see, as did local anesthetic vial number two. Local anesthetic vial number three did not knock me off balance but sent nerve tingles all the way up my arms, shoulders, chest, face and head, which stopped once I let go of the vial. The local anesthetic in vial three was Carbocaine 3% which is a no-methylparaben formulation to avoid allergic reactions on sensitive patients.

With my holistic dentist collaboration, we came up with a plan where I would take vial number three (Carbocaine 3%) home and attempt to neutralize my body’s reaction to it using the laser pen in The Allergy Kit, which I use with clients who have food allergies. The laser pen is focused on various acupressure points while holding homeopathic vials of specific foods and other allergens. I indicated that with some balancing/neutralizing treatments, more than one treatment may be required. The scheduling I have found correct for balance/neutralizing has always been four days so I was prepared to repeat the procedure in four days if I still experience adverse symptoms when holding the vial on day four.

I used the laser pen and The Allergy Kit instructions with the vial of local anesthetic as planned. On day four I held the vial again and had no adverse symptoms of any kind and felt strongly balanced/grounded. I phoned the dentist office and scheduled the extraction. My molar was extracted using the local anesthetic that I had been balanced to without any adverse reactions. I feel blessed to have found a holistic dentist, sympathetic and understanding to my challenges, and willing to work with me to overcome them. I am sure there are many more people who seek out a holistic dentist as the result of drug reactions like the one I had.

My next question is: Can I balance myself to other drugs that I might need in the future? The Allergy Kit for food allergies comes with a vaccine homeopathic vial which I was weak to (knocked me off balance) and I was able to balance myself to it as well. For more information on The Allergy Kit, the procedure and the laser pen visit.

If you would like to have a complimentary food vial testing demonstration on The Allergy Kit contact me at elisabethlhines@gmail.com or message me.

Elisabeth Hines, C.N.C.,C.B.P., Holistic Wellness Practitioner, Health by Design, http://www.mybodycanhealitself.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/HealthbyDesignForAHealthierYou/

https://www.facebook.com/Escape-to-the-Farmacy-112804460556962

https://www.facebook.com/LIVE.DEPRESSION.FREE/

https://www.instagram.com/escape_to_the_farmacy/

https://www.instagram.com/elisabethlhines/

Sources:

  1. Facial nerve paralysis after dental procedure, Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, https://www.joomr.org/text.asp?2016/4/3/80/196356
  2. Drug Intolerance, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Venn_Diagram_for_Drug_Intolerance.png

#facialnerveparalysis #dentalsurgery #dentalinjury #localanesthesiareaction #drugreaction #drugallergy #foodallergy #healthbydesign #escapetothefarmacy #mentalhealthbydesign #paresis #holisticdentistry #TILT #toxicantinducedlossoftolerance #MCS #multiplechemicalsensitivity #permanentallergyelimination

‘Bone Knitting’ Comfrey Salve DIY

After harvesting some comfrey and marjoram I am prepping my herbal salve ingredients. My chopped comfrey and marjoram leaves are brewing in the organic olive oil infusion. Recommended infusion time is 30 days. At that time I will strain the oil and add it to my melted beeswax.

After reading the research studies on the benefits of comfrey I decided that I would make some of the salve and apply it to my ‘sometimes’ vocal sacroiliac joints and lower spine for the anti-inflammatory and ‘bone knitting’ benefits. Since I often use marjoram essential oil for ‘stress and strain to pain’ relief for this challenge, I decided to infuse marjoram leaves in with my comfrey leaves.

Comfrey, (Symphytum officinale L), peer-reviewed in scientific journals, has been used for over 2000 years for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic and astringent properties.

According to a Clinical Overview of Comfrey in the Wiley Phytotherapy Research,

“Today, multiple randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of comfrey preparations for the topical treatment of pain, inflammation and swelling of muscles and joints in degenerative arthritis, acute myalgia in the back, sprains, contusions and strains after sports injuries and accidents, also in children aged 3 or 4 and over.”1 .

Researchers believe a chemical compound called allantoin found in comfrey is principally responsible for the wound-healing effects. Allantoin is a common botanical extract often chemically synthesized in the pharmaceutical industry and used in a variety of ointments and creams designed for healing wounds.2 Comfrey also stimulates granulation and tissue regeneration, and supports callus formation.3

Comfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that have been associated with substantial hepatoxicity after its ingestion as a tea. Because of the hepatoxic effect, common with the overuse of many medications as well as some herbs, comfrey ointments should contain no more than 5 to 20% comfrey.

Mount Sinai Hospital recommends the following precautions for use:.

  • Never apply comfrey to broken skin.
  • Use only small amounts of creams with comfrey for no longer than 10 days at a time.
  • DO NOT use any comfrey product for more than 4 to 6 total weeks in one calendar year..4

Always test any product on a small area of skin before proceeding and check with your regular healthcare provider and pharmacist to ensure there would be no unacceptable drug interactions with any other medications you are taking.

My healthy and happy comfrey:

Knowing that I will always have a source of anti-inflammatory, analgesic and ‘bone knitting’ ingredients in my own back yard, my escape to my farmacy, gives me comfort, especially in light of unknown future supply chain challenges.

For more information on the amazing pain relieving and ‘topical anesthetizing effects’ of my super herbal marjoram and other herbal remedies visit MY GREEN MEDICINE CABINET

Elisabeth Hines, C.N.C.,C.B.P., Holistic Wellness Practitioner, Health by Design, http://www.mybodycanhealitself.ca/

Sources:

  1. Comfrey: A Clinical Overview, Christiane Staiger, Wiley Phytotherapy Research, National Library of Medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3491633/
  2. Healthy Hildegarde, Comfrey Uses for Muscle and Joint Pain, https://www.healthyhildegard.com/comfrey-uses/
  3. Comfrey: A Clinical Overview, Christiane Staiger, Wiley Phytotherapy Research, National Library of Medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3491633/
  4. Comfrey, Mount Sinai, https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/comfrey

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#comfreysalve #comfrey #marjoram #escapetothefarmacy #healthbydesign #mentalhealthbydesign #herbal #apothercary #antiinflammatory #naturalcures

Permanent Natural, Seasonal and Food Allergy Elimination

Updated January 03, 2024

I was blessed in the past to be able to find a solution to eliminate my multiple food allergies. I am now 100% food allergy free, an astounding accomplishment from blood food allergy tests revealing 85+ food allergies accompanied by unbearable gastrointestinal symptoms. Finally there is a self-help allergy kit version of the expensive allergy elimination treatments I received, for food and seasonal allergies. There is also a way to protect yourself from consuming potential food allergens by using bodyfeedback information that your body gives you. Read more about that at the end of my post below.

The method of food allergy elimination that neutralized my 85+ food allergies at the time, were NAET treatments, which used the body’s acupressure points and acupressure to neutralize my body’s ‘skewed’, or excess/wrong responses to specific foods. You can read more about my story on my about page. The NAET treatments have held for me and provided me with the ability to feel safe eating everywhere without fear of reactions.

Dr. Ynge Ljung, an Acupuncture Physician, has developed a self-help DIY allergy elimination kit and system which is a version of the acupressure allergy elimination treatments that eliminated my multiple food allergies. Her easy to use kits and system can treat the whole family, thus taking the power of your health back into your own hands. There are also kits available for seasonal and environmental allergens, as well as an emotions kit. This testing is not suitable for those who experience anaphylactic reactions. Always check with your regular healthcare provider before proceeding with treatments and have an Epipen available for your reactions. I can provide guidance on helping your body to reduce skewed allergic responses. Learn more about the kit at https://www.theallergykit.com/?ref=elisabethhines

The same type of acupressure treatments using the laser pen and vials of seasonal allergens, can help you to become free of your seasonal and environmental allergies.

NOW FOR IMPORTANT PROTECTION AGAINST CONSUMING FOODS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE YOU A REACTION

When I was allergic to the 85+ foods and environmental allergens, I was a prisoner. It was unsafe for me to eat anywhere other than home from the list of remaining non 85+ allergic foods. I was introduced to bodyfeedback testing at the time and restructured it to test foods and drinks before I consumed them. This ability basically saved my life from ongoing severe good allergy reactions and allowed my body to rest and focus its energies on healing and repair instead of vigilance and reacting. Learn how to identify your seasonal allergies, food allergen and intolerance issues using your body systems. The two blog post links below will provide you with additional information and insites:

BODYFEEDBACK: ‘Accidentally Acquired’ Information for Health Protection

THE WEAK LIST: A Necessary Well-being & Protection Tool

Book a virtual consultation to learn how to use bodyfeedback to determine your allergy triggers and protect your from serious allergic reactions. Contact me at elisabethlhines@gmail.com to book a virtual consultation. You will be invoiced before the consultation through Paypal where you can use your credit card. You will then be provided with a followup email and instructions to collect some food and other samples for testing during the virtual consultation.

Elisabeth Hines, C.N.C., C.B.P., Holistic Wellness Practitioner, Health by Design, http://www.mybodycanhealitself.ca/

#foodsafety #foodallergysafety #healthbydesign #theallergykit #allergyelimination #seasonalallergies #permanentallergyelimination

Self-Reliant Symptom Relief from Your Garden Farmacy, Home Apothecary and More

Updated November 14, 2023

This page contains Amazon affiliate links that allow for the earning of commission on purchases.

Self reliance for symptom relief may not be of interest to you, but with the worldwide supply challenges, I find a sense of urgency in terms of being prepared. I have been fortunate to remain relatively symptom free as I approach another decade. Regular exercise, including a combination of yoga and tai chi, meditation, walking, and a mostly plant based diet , much of it homegrown, have helped me to sustain a symptom free lifestyle. My go to for symptom relief when needed, and which I recommend to clients, are my self-help strategies and tools, which you can find in my book The Whole Person Well-being Equation, and my well stocked apothecary of medicinal herbs and therapeutic essential oils. You can read more about the medicinal herbs and therapeutic oils I use in My Green Medicine Cabinet. You can find quality herbs here. My book provides many self-reliant mind/body strategies to eliminate symptoms and promote healing, often circumventing the need for additional symptom relief supports. Learn how you can use visualization and tapping to promote changes and healing in your body. Click on this link to view what you can expect from the book and what people are saying. This book is a self-reliance resource for symptom relief and healing.

Although I have studied medicinal herbs extensively, I am not a medicinal herb wildcrafter. I have a full stocked apothecary of medicinal herbs and therapeutic essential oils which I recommend to clients for symptom relief and healing. I planted some medicinal herbs in my garden and pots last year, and will be adding more plants to my herb garden this year. The picture below is my comfrey drying, along side of my roses. I make a manure tea for my garden with it. Any yes, it smells pretty potent just like manure.

According to Alyse Fowler’s gardening column advice:

“Comfrey is rich in potassium (K), which is required for fruit production, and also contains potash (P) and nitrogen (N). A liquid comfrey feed has a higher NPK ratio than farmyard manure. Comfrey is also one of the few plants to contain vitamin B12, so it’s a rich source of food for plants.”1

If you are planning to wildcraft herbs for medicinal use, consult with a qualified herb wildcrafter. Many plants look similar despite the handy new plant identifier app now available. Adverse reaction to any medicinal herb is possible.

This handy guide is a recent purchase.

If you are planning to plant medicinal herbs in your garden make sure that you are buying organic and ideally heritage seed or plants. Learn as much as you can about the medicinal herbs that you are going to plant and use for symptom relief. You can find some of the resources that I use in my Escape to the Farmacy blog post.

There are many excellent books on herbs. I learned much of what I know from Maria Treben’s books, a part of my holistic course. Check out the great selection of herb books that make great resources for your home apothecary and as gifts.

Always consult your doctor or a certified herbalist before trying any new medicinal plant.  Reactions from combination with other herbs, supplements and drugs are possible, even if they are therapeutic for you. .Always do your own research and verify anything you read with multiple sources.

My herbal apothecary below:

For more information on self-reliance strategies visit my other blog posts at Health by Design, Escape to the Farmacy, My Green Medicine Cabinet and My Creative Escapes.

My website:

http://www.mybodycanhealitself.ca/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/escapetothefarmacy, https://www.facebook.com/HealthbyDesignForAHealthierYou, https://www.facebook.com/LIVE.DEPRESSION.FREE.

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/escape_to_the_farmacy/

https://www.instagram.com/elisabethlhines/

Elisabeth Hines, C.N.C., C.B.P., Holistic Wellness Practitioner, Health by Design, http://www.mybodycanhealitself.ca/

SOURCES:

Alys Fowler, Gardening Column, Gardening Advice, The Guardian, , https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jul/13/alys-fowler-liquid-feed-comfrey#:~:text=Comfrey%20is%20rich%20in%20potassium,source%20of%20food%20for%20plants.

#selfreliance #selfrelianceguide #herbalmedicine #medicinalherbs #supplements #naturalcures #selfhelp #symptomrelief #naturalmedicine #alternativemedicine #healthbydesign #mentalhealthbydesign #escapetothefarmacy

Organic Sourdough Artisan Bread: The research behind why it is a better choice for digestive health and the gluten sensitive

There is nothing better on a snow day than the smell and taste of fresh sourdough bread. My kitchen is filled with the aroma this morning and I did not have to rely on a tricky sourdough starter to enjoy it. You will find the shortcut below.

From my years of experience working with people with food allergies and sensitivities, including mine in the past, it became apparent that many people could tolerate sourdough bread more easily despite the potential gluten issues. Somehow the sourdough fermentation process that gives the bread its distinctive sour taste also makes it more gut-friendly. for some.

According to Vanessa Kimball of The Sourdough School in the UK, “The same microbes that are in the soil are the same microbes that are in that pot of sourdough starter, which are the same microbes that are in our gut,” 1

“The wild yeast and bacteria in a sourdough starter break down some of the carbohydrates and proteins found in flour, says Kate Scarlata, a Boston-based dietitian and author of The Low-FODMAP Diet book.”  2

According to research, for many people it is actually the fructan, a carbohydrate found in wheat, rather than the gluten that causes non-celiac gluten sensitivity symptoms. 3

According to additional research searching for gluten sensitivity causes, glyphosate, a pesticide often used on wheat crops in North America but not the UK, may be responsible. This could explain why people who travel from North America to the UK find they are able to tolerate eating bread there with less symptoms. .

 “Glyphosate toxicity looks a lot like gluten issues. That’s because glyphosate creates the same damaging conditions normally associated with celiac disease and gluten intolerance. Because of the way its chemical is designed, glyphosate kills off beneficial bacteria in the gut. It also prevents important cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes from functioning properly … the same enzymes affected in celiac disease. By inhibiting CYP450 enzymes, glyphosate makes it harder for your body to clear out toxins on its own, form bile acids (crucial for nutrient absorption), produce essential fatty acids, activate vitamin D and break down vitamin A into usable forms.” 4

Whatever the possible causes, many people that I share my bread with, are delighted to be able to eat sourdough bread. Finding a good quality organic sourdough bread may be a challenge in many locations, which is was in mine; so I started experimenting with different recipes and have finally found one many people love. The original recipe is from Carolyn at the Homesteading Family Youtube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9KOHtQrHgM&t=37s. I have made some revisions. I use Platinum Instant Yeast/Sourdough Culture combination instead of regular yeast, 1/2 cup seed and ancient grain blend, 1/2 cup of organic oats, 1 cup of organic whole wheat flour and 4 1/2 cups of organic all purpose flour. I add 2 Tablespoons of maple syrup to the yeast water mix before adding the flours. Add the oats last so they do not absorb the water.

This is an exceptionally easy bulk dough recipe that stores in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. I follow Carolyn’s instructions but have also had some improvements in the finished product by incorporating some additional strategies (still experiementing) when needed such as rehydrating and conditioning the sticky or flat dough by folding it. You can find these in the other Youtube links that follow.

What if my dough is too dry? Bake with Jack, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLBq8PiXR9U (I did not use a scale, I just added bits of water till the dough looked hydrated)

How to stop your dough from spreading out flat! – Bake with Jack, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww78_SfGyQE

WHY is My Dough STILL STICKY? – Bake with Jack, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oednglADc0M

Since gut health can be a contributing factor to mental health, switching to a healthy, organic sourdough bread could benefit many who are suffering. You can read more about the research behind the gut-mind connection at my blog post MENTAL HEALTH by DESIGN: How to Edit Your Mental Health Equation for Improved Mental Health at http://mybodycanhealitself.ca/wordpress/mental-health-by-design-how-to-edit-your-mental-health-equation-for-improved-mental-health/ .

Enjoy the health giving benefits of homemade organic sourdough bread soon!

Elisabeth Hines, C.N.C., C.B.P., Holistic Wellness Practitioner, Health by Design, http://www.mybodycanhealitself.ca/

1 Why Some Gluten-Sensitive People Can Still Eat Sourdough Bread, Bon Appetit, https://www.bonappetit.com/story/gluten-sensitive-sourdough

2 Why Some Gluten-Sensitive People Can Still Eat Sourdough Bread, Bon Appetit, https://www.bonappetit.com/story/gluten-sensitive-sourdough

3 Fructan, Rather Than Gluten, Induces Symptoms in Patients With Self-Reported Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity, National Library of Medicine, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29102613/

4 Is It Wheat the Problem? Or Is It Pesticides? A Surprising Factor in Celiac Disease, Lauren Wallace, Nutritional Health, https://www.drthomasvolck.com/post/pesticides-in-wheat

#glutensensitivity #sourdoughbread #healthbydesign #escapetothefarmacy #organicbread

BOTANICAL THERAPY: ‘Grounding Blend’ Herbal Tea

Being told that ‘these are challenging times for all of us’, does little for many, to extinguish fears and concerns. Life can be hard, and although we, like those who fought and endured war times, can do hard times; sometimes we need extra help. There are many mental health supports available which can be accessed through different governments and organizations. Check with your local government and municipality for available resources for support. In Canada help can be assessed here.

The internet and social media provides many recommendations for strategies to help you stay grounded during stressful times. What works for one person, may not work for another. Isolated strategies may also not be enough on their own, but when combined with other strategies, may provide a synergistic impact. A healthy diet, walking, yoga (thanks Jane Fonda for your inspiring videos) and prayer are my ‘go to’ strategies to help me stay grounded. Essential oils have also been a staple in my bag of calming tricks. The grounding blend tea is my #1 back up ‘go to’ when I feel I need grounding. The impact is lasting which I have not found with other strategies to date. Some strategies may not be effective or safe with other strategies, like medications, so consultation with your regular healthcare provider is important before adding in new strategies.

My training in the medicinal properties of herbs has provided me with many health promoting supports during the challenging times in my life. You can read more about these at the blog link posts I list at the end of this post.

Botanical spa therapy, which was the result of much trial and error combining and testing to provide a recipe that promotes whole body detoxification, has had a major impact in helping to restore my health and that of my clients.

My herbal experimenting continues, in part because of my recent move which has provided me with bountiful backyard gardens, and in part, because of my passion for finding natural solutions to help others to cope with life’s daily challenges and unexpected surprises. In my ‘escape to the farmacy’ blog, I share information on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual benefits of botanicals and botanically inspired escapes, experiences, recipes, art and decor. Escaping to, immersing in, being inspired by, and eating from nature brings so many body, mind and spirit benefits!

My grounding blend tea has provided me with the ability to feel calm and grounded in the midst of life’s challenges, and I wanted to share the recipe with others. This recipe is not one that you would serve at tea, it is actually intended as a tea tonic, consumed in small quantities (note the small tea cup). It is not a tea that you drink for the flavour, so feel free to ‘shot glass’ it down and follow with your favourite tea. As with any tonic support, they should be consumed for a short period of time (once a day for about a week) and then you would take a break of at least four days before repeating if necessary. Make sure to check with your regular healthcare provider before adding this grounding blend tea to your grounding strategies plan.

Botanical Therapy Grounding Tea Recipe

Each of the herbs listed in the recipe have been used medicinally for many conditions. Although these were not my first ‘go to’ herbs for my grounding blend, because I went with the historically recommended herbs for calming first (lavender, chamomile, valerian, passion flower, lemon balm), this blend had a surprising calming and grounding impact on me. The synergistic grounding benefit that I have found they provide may be unique to me because of my past stress sensitivity and skewed HPA stress response, but may also help you to stay grounded. I have tried many natural strategies to help me stay grounded and this one by far out weighs others I have tried. Many of the herbs share anti-inflammatory properties, which makes one wonder if that is a root factor in keeping the HPA stress response balanced, keeping one grounded. Each person’s stress response is unique and as such, responds differently to stressors and therapies. Some individual experimenting with quantities and combining may be required to get your best mix. Here is my recipe to get you started. Herbs used are in chopped, dried form. The dandelion root is powdered.

  • 1/2 teaspoon stinging nettle (Urtica dioica).The herb with its many chemical compounds provide many researched health benefits, including anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory.
  • 1/2 teaspoon dandelion leaf and root mix (Taraxacum officinale). Do not use roasted. Not a welcome visitor in the lawn, dandelion has many well researched health properties including , Type 2 diabetes, cancer and for its anti-inflammatory properties
  • 1 teaspoon thyme. Thyme has been researched for its anti-inflammatory, respiratory, neuroprotective and anti-depressant effects.
  • 3/4 of a cup of warm (not hot) filtered water. Steep for 20 minutes and strain into your cup.

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Enjoy experimenting with the grounding tea blend!

Elisabeth Hines, C.N.C., C.B.P., Holistic Wellness Practitioner, Health by Design, http://www.mybodycanhealitself.ca/

STRESS IDLING & SENSITIVITY: A Modern Day Health Challenge, http://mybodycanhealitself.ca/wordpress/stress-idling-a-modern-day-health-challenge/

MENTAL HEALTH by DESIGN: How to Edit Your Mental Health Equation for Improved Mental Health, http://mybodycanhealitself.ca/wordpress/mental-health-by-design-how-to-edit-your-mental-health-equation-for-improved-mental-health/

MY HEALTH RECOVERY: The butterfly effect is the belief that small changes over time can create huge life changes, http://mybodycanhealitself.ca/wordpress/my-health-recovery-the-butterfly-effect-is-the-belief-that-small-changes-over-time-can-create-huge-life-changes/

YOUR BODY CAN HEAL ITSELF: Follow My Road Map to Get There, http://mybodycanhealitself.ca/wordpress/your-body-can-heal-itself-follow-my-road-map-to-get-there/

#HPAstressresponse #stress #grounded #anxiety #depression #flightmode #fightorflight #mentalhealthbydesign #healthbydesign #botanicaltherapy #wholepersonwellbeing #medicinalherbs #calmingherbs #escapetothefarmacy

COMFREY (knitbone) Harvest: Evidence of benefit for ankle distortion, back pain, abrasion wounds and osteoarthritis

Herbal harvests provide an opportunity to stock your ‘at home’ apothecary with a variety of plants with healing properties; a first aid preparedness strategy. I originally planted the comfrey to use as a nutrient rich organic fertilizer tea for my garden; harvesting for my herbal apothecary is an added bonus. I will be harvesting the roots as well.

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale L) has been used medicinally for over 2000 years to treat a variety of ailments. Research attests to it’s many healing properties. Comfrey, also known as boneset, knitbone, black wort, wall wort, and slippery root, has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and astringent properties, and has been valued throughout the centuries as an agent that makes bones grow together.

The internal use of unprocessed comfrey is not recommended.

“Randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial (published in Phytomedicine 2007;14:2–10) has demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy and safety of a comfrey root extract ointment in the treatment of patients with painful osteoarthritis of the knee. Today, topical preparations of comfrey root extract are clinically proven and licensed in several countries to treat muscle and joint ailments.” 1

Farmers value comfrey as a nutritious fodder for cattle as well as fertilizer.

Enjoy harvest season’s many blessings!

Elisabeth Hines, C.N.C., C.B.P., Holistic Wellness Practitioner, Health by Design,

www.mybodycanhealitself.ca

https://www.facebook.com/escapetothefarmacy

https://www.facebook.com/HealthbyDesignForAHealthierYou

https://www.instagram.com/escape_to_the_farmacy/

SOURCES:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229913001672

  1. https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/news/comfrey-ancient-and-modern-uses

Botanical print image: Photo n. 13745 – common comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
Otto Wilhelm Thomé: Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz (1885) – Permission granted to use under GFDL by Kurt Stueber. Source: www.biolib.de Permission is granted to copy, distribute and / or modify this image under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled “GNU Free Documentation License”.
File size: 78502 bytes – Views: 586 http://luirig.altervista.org/pics/index5.php?recn=13685&page=1

#comfrey #Symphytumofficinale #bontanical #herbalapothecary #apothecary #herbalmedicine #medicinalplants #knitbone #boneset

A PRESENT DAY ‘FOOD PREPAREDNESS’ FURY:

Fueled by a perceived necessity for some, due to past starvation history, while for others a compulsion prompted by present day pandemic shortages, food preparedness has become a modern day trend allowing for sustainable living.

After planting an extensive organic food garden this year at a new property, after years without space for a garden, the appeal for food preservation re-surged for me. In the past, with a young family and a garden, food harvesting, foraging and canning were a common fall ritual. Presently, canning supply shortages are common in many parts of the country, the result of the resurgence of food preparedness through preservation. This has come after a renewed interest in backyard gardening, prompted by the lockdowns.


My food preparedness ‘fury’ is the result of a combination of a family ‘food deprivation’ history and a need to ‘be prepared’ in terms of having enough healthy food supply available to last till next year’s harvest, just in case, as forecasted, there will be food shortages due to the pandemic. It also gives me a chance to rekindle my ‘hippie ways’ of reaping natures bounty of food and herbs. Practices that I attribute to my health recovery and which I shared with clients as a nutritional consultant over the years to help them with their health challenges.


My ancestors suffered from food deprivation, during, and post WW11. The Dutch famine of 1944-45, known as the ‘Hongerwinter’, in the Netherlands, took place in the German occupied western provinces. Blockades cut off food and fuel shipments from farm towns. An estimated 22,000 people died of starvation, numbers that would have been higher if it had not been for the soup kitchens in urban communities.

As food stores became depleted in the Netherlands, adult food rations, dropped to below 1000 calories a day by the end of November 1944 and to 580 calories in the west by the end of February 1945.

Food grown by my Opa (grandfather) and his family was confiscated by the Nazis. My Oma (grandmother) shared stories of people coming to the door and asking for food during WW11, when she and Opa, and their nine children (including my mother) had barely enough to feed themselves. And yet, my grandmother said, ‘come in’ to those that knocked at the door, and the family shared what sustenance they had. My father spent three years as a forced labourer in a German work camp in Germany during WW11, and told stories of subsisting on boiled cabbage soup. He came back from the war after the liberation by the Americans, a very thin, malnourished man, and would never eat cabbage again.


Operation Manna and Operation Chowhound were humanitarian food drops carried out by Allied bomber crews during WW11 in 1945 to relieve the famine in the German-occupied Netherlands.

According to the New York Times article, The Famine Ended 70 Years Ago, but Dutch Genes Still Bear Scars, published in January 2018;

‘the Dutch Hunger Winter served as an unplanned experiment in human health. Pregnant women, it turns out, were uniquely vulnerable, and the children they gave birth to have been influenced by famine throughout their lives. When they became adults, they ended up a few pounds heavier than average. In middle age, they had higher levels of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol. They also experienced higher rates of such conditions as obesity, diabetes and schizophrenia.’

You can read more about the research study carried out by Dr. L.H. Lumey, an epidemiologist at Columbia University and his colleagues by following the link in the sources of my blog post. Their study suggests that the Dutch Hunger Winter silenced certain genes in unborn children, and that they have stayed quiet ever since, possibly affecting later generations.


Do I feel a need to be prepared and food wise in the midst of the present pandemic, and due to my ancestors food deprivation history? Definitely! My escape to ‘my farmacy’ organic backyard garden, and local farm markets for quality produce, have provided me with an abundant food preparedness resource. The first pictures you see are of my modest storage spaces for canned and dehydrated produce, is a nod to my ancestors efforts to sustain their families through the days, weeks and months of WW11 and after.

Elisabeth Hines, C.N.C., C.B.P., Holistic Wellness Practitioner, Health by Design, http://www.mybodycanhealitself.ca/

#foodpreservation #organicgardening #foodpreparedness #foodsustainability #escapetothefarmacy #healthbydesign #plantbaseddiet #plantfood

Healthy Escapes: A Mental Health Must Have

Inspired by @stephanieejarvis and the positive and caring team of residents, volunteers and visitors to Chateau de LaLande, as seen in The Chateau Diaries, I opened up my backyard for a ‘healthy escape’ to Chateau Diaries lovers, with a Midsummer Night Dreams theme.

I found the Chateau Diaries during lockdown and was inspired by the positive, respectful and upbeat interaction of the residents, volunteers and visitors as they shared in work projects, meals and adventures; while keeping the focus off of the difficult news, controversies and challenges of the pandemic. The Midsummer Nights Dreams themed event at my ‘healthy escape’, was open to a small number of Chateau Diaries loving family members, who I introduced to The Chateau Diaries during lockdown. The event was planned and decorated by my talented sister Adriana. Her flower crowns and florals were created with a combination of my gardens flowers and greenery, and some store bought pink carnations (there were no roses available locally). Signature cocktails were made of Red Crown organic pomegranate juice and soda stream bubbly water.

The table display was created by my talented sister Adriana using thrifted plates and Eiffel tower, dollar store mini lights and garden florals. The beautiful table cloth was a gift from Adriana for the event.

The porcelain tiered plates DIY project, which Stephanie and Phillip demonstrated in one of their video diaries, were made of locally thrifted plates, and came with some challenges; but produced several tiered plates which were used to display the shared food. Guests took home a tiered plate gift.

Healthy escapes are a ‘must have’ for mental health. Creating a backyard oasis where family and friends could gather to enjoy each others company in a positive and safe manner during lockdown, was important to me. These have been difficult times for everyone. Being mindful of others by being kind and respectful and providing safe, healthy escapes can help those struggling with the challenges of the pandemics or other life challenges.

After dinner we had a delightful game of croquet; laughing, laughing and laughing at our misadventures.

Photographs are courtesy of my brother Bernard and Kevin. My brother was very gracious in allowing my sister’s wish to see him in a flower crown!.

Thank you to Stephanie Jarvis for starting such an incredible positive, kindness ripple that has helped so many to maintain their mental health during the lockdowns and pandemic challenges. Make sure you visit Stephanie’s chateau page and the chateau diaries.

Elisabeth Hines, C.N.C., C.B.P., Holistic Wellness Practitioner, Health by Design, http://mybodycanhealitself.ca/

#chateaudiaries #chateaudelalande #healthbydesign #mentalhealthbydesign #kindness #respect #unconditionallove #empathy