Natural Health Products - Do they work?

I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say they've tried natural product "x" and it didn't work.  They often say it was the most expensive one, or the clerk at the store said it was the most popular or even that it was in the nicest package.  They complain about how they spent the money and the product either didn't work well, or didn't work at all.

That's like walking into a drugstore and going to the cough & cold section and grabbing a random product off the shelf in hopes that it works.  Without a little knowledge of the ingredients or what it's actually made for,  you might as well eat a tic-tac.

There are a few reasons why so many natural products don't seem to work.  First off, not every product labeled 'natural' IS natural.  Marketing is everywhere.  Natural products & remedies are not immune to clever slogans and pretty packaging.  Don't be fooled, read the ingredients & ask questions.  Better yet, do some research & talk to a trustworthy professional.

The second reason why natural products don't preform well for John Doe is that not all natural products are created equal.  Like I said before, read the labels, ask questions, and get some professional assistance.  Just as you would go to a doctor for a prescription, you should go to a professional Practitioner to get the right remedy.  Professionals know which products are of  higher quality and consistently preform well.  Why?  Because they work with clients and these products on a daily basis.  Trust me, we know which ones are potent, proven to work consistently &  manufactured to a higher standard.

The third and likely the most common reason why natural products don't seem to work is due to the delicate balance of enzymes, ph, vitamins, minerals, deficiencies & so on that are already in the body prior to feeling ill.  So, when you grab a natural remedy for say, a stuffy nose, it might not work so great if your microbiome is out of balance.  Now there is what the Husband calls a "Five Dollar Word". LOL  The microbiome is basically your gut health.  When this is out of balance natural product "A" might not work for you.  You might need natural product "X" in addition to a vitamin or essential oil, or even an herbal supplement.

I've seen it all to many times.  Someone comes to me and says natural product "X" worked for Sally Snowball and it didn't work for me at all.  Well, my shortest answer to that is not everybody's body is the same.  With so many things to consider, it's no wonder that so many people pick up the wrong remedy so often.

Here is the best advice I can give you when using natural products.  Seek the advice of a well trained Practitioner first.  Ask a lot of questions, build a relationship with them.  Most Natural & Holistic Health Practitioners are more than willing to help educate you on the products and services they offer.  They will usually spend 1-2 hours with you at your initial visit, ask loads of questions and offer up free advice in addition to what you went in for.  





Bottom line is: Yes, natural products Do work - especially under the supervision of a well trained Holistic Health Practitioner.








The time, effort and monetary value of a skilled professional is absolutely worth it.  Restoring yourself to optimal health is much more complex than just swallowing a pill or eating better.  Like I said before, not everybody's body is the same.  You are a unique creature of nature with unique needs.  Educate yourself, see a professional Practitioner, take charge of your health, and live fully.

Pre-Detox Sushi Binge

Ok, I'm usually not one of those gal's who posts pictures of food, but since we are chronicling our detox journey, here it is.  We are celebrating in a twisted sort of way.  Saying goodbye to some of the foods we love for a while feels a little scary.  At the same time, it feels good & we're pumped up about it.  We are celebrating the end of an era as well as new beginnings.

Yes, we ate every last bite and it was absolutely delicious and worth every penny!  No regrets moving forward with our detox after this meal.  This is not the last of the "last suppers", but it certainly is our most favorite.

Saying goodbye is a good way to prep for something like this. It allows you to have a form of closure on your old ways.  It makes room for, or paves the way for something new.  In our case, better health through a through detoxing.

We will be starting off Monday, November 2nd with what I like to call Phase 1.  This is when we will be starting our diet, daily fiber, daily lemon water, and daily essential oils.  Sounds like a lot and it is.  But - we are starting off slow to give our bodies a chance to adjust. The probiotics come a little later.  Why? Because we are waiting on snail mail to deliver them lol.  The herbs will be introduced a few days after our bodies have adjusted.  Why? Because by supporting our liver with essential oils and taking fiber first, we pave the way for everything else to work more effectively.  This also helps to not overload the liver all at once.  The liver is one of our bodies biggest filters.  We don't want it getting overloaded with toxins from candida die off on the first day.

We will be testing our herbals over the next couple of days just to make sure there are no adverse reactions.  After all, just because it's natural doesn't mean its ok for every body.

We will be taking specific herbs, probiotics and essential oils based on months of research specifically related to candida overgrowth.  I will post links to the products we will be using so you can research them if you want.  Yes, I do get a modest commission IF you choose to purchase them from my link.  But hey, you could purchase them directly from the company if you want.  I'm certainly not trying to sell you anything.  I'm just trying to be as transparent and helpful as I can be.  I want you all to be inspired by our journey as well as be successful in your own.

Remember, the products we will be using have been selected based on our individual needs.  I am also doing muscle testing to ensure that each of us gets exactly what we need.  And, since I am a spirit junkie, I will also be meditating and prayerfully considering our unique & individual needs.

Let me not forget to tell you that we will be omitting the following from our diets:
wheat (and most grains - this means rice, pasta & breads)
sugar (any and all of it, even raw honey & fruits - oh  man, help me now!)
dairy
coffee (yes, don't come to my house anytime soon! I might not be a happy camper for a while lol)
peanuts, pistachios
mushrooms
processed foods
potatoes - all potatoes for at least a month.

Now do you see why we allowed ourselves to indulge in the sushi dinner?  I will miss it for sure, but I'm also sure that it will be totally worth it in the end.

Here are some basic candida overgrowth signs & the spit test.  Of course, none of this is as definitive as having a medical professional diagnose your specific condition.  These signs & the spit test should be used as a guideline for you to be self informed.  If you think you may have candida overgrowth please seek the advice and care of a medical professional.  This information is for educational purposes only and is not meant to treat, diagnose or cure anything.


Ok, spit test - Yum-O!  First thing in the morning before you put anything in your mouth spit into a clear glass of water. (Don't cough up anything, just spit.)

If your saliva does anything other than float on the surface after 15 minutes it's a good indication that candida is present.  The water could be cloudy or have any of the signs in the diagram below.  The cloudiness, appearance of 'legs' or even globs at the bottom of the glass are all indicators of candida overgrowth.  If you are unsure of your results please check with your health care provider. (and submit a pic and get some feedback if you like)


Additional signs of candida overgrowth can include:

bad breath or body odor
dry cracked feet - especially on the heels
cloudy urine
skin irritations (dry, flaky, scaly, irritated, blemishes)
bowel problems
trouble loosing weight
and even food allergies

OK, now you are armed with a spit test, a sushi picture and maybe a little to much grossness for one day.  lol  I urge you to nourish your mind, body and spirit with clean water, lots of veggies and lots and lots of meditation &/or prayer.  Spend some time in nature.  Go earthing, go for a walk, go get a massage, GO FOR IT & Go Tigers!  (had to get a little LSU action in there haha)

 

Pre-Detox Chronicles Part 1 - Fiber

Please be aware that for the next several weeks I will be chronicling our personal family detox journey.  This is not my usual style, however, I wanted to present a real & unedited feel to this blog during our journey.  We are detoxing for many reasons including yeast overgrowth.  We are also taking this opportunity to detox or Cleanse our spiritual selves and other aspects of our lives.

If you prefer to not hear about bodily functions, tortuous fiber drinks, sugar deprivation induced madness, random thoughts, funky new recipes gone wrong (or right), herbs and essential oil faux-pas and other miscellaneous  weirdness that might lean a little towards the Misfit - Hippie realm, then please, for the love of God, don't read my blog until after the new year. And please don't correct my grammar.  When I go back to writing more formal posts I will re-implement proper grammar.  



OK, the fiber in the Orange container is definitely NOT my friend! LOL.  Nothing against it, it's just not for me.  I've been using the LOCLO fiber in the white container for years with no issues.  I have even used that most popular Meta... fiber without complaint.  But this organic 365 brand will be finding a new home far, far away from me! I didn't even take a full dose (2tbs).  I took 1 level teaspoon and OMG the agony almost brought me to tears.  It kept me up most of the night feeling like a balloon with a pin hole in it.   Funny and gross, I know, but hey - if I can save you from the pain it's worth it.


Lesson for today - always test your fiber for a couple of days with a small dose before taking the recommended amount.

I can't even imagine how miserable I would have been had I taken the recommended amount.




Please note that everyone is not the same and what works for me may not work for you.  This post is intended for educational purposes only.  It is not intended to treat, diagnose or cure in any way. Always consult with your health care professional before taking any supplements or OTC products.



If you are interested in learning more about the LOCLO fiber or ordering some for yourself, click the link below.    http://healthybayou.mynsp.com/index.html   It actually tastes ok - kind of like apple pie.