What do you do that's healthy?

This holiday season, I started making my own bath crystals, soap, and candles using essential oils instead of chemicals, perfumes, and harmful dyes. Bath crystals are quick and easy to make by mixing household items including sea salt, epsom salts, and around a tsp of baking soda with essential oils. If you desire color, just add some food coloring and/or oatmeal for a therapeutic bath. I like to use lavender for a relaxing bath in the evening. For an uplifting shower in the morning, I use my own home-made peppermint soap I made using Shea Butter. For an even more enhanced experience, I burn homemade soy candles scented with essential oils as well. When shopping for the best essential oils, you may want to start with the internet as all are not made equal.

Stomach Problems

My husband suffers from GERD (a type of gastrointestinal acid reflux disease). He used to depend on Tums, Pepsid AC, and other otc medications for relief from heart burn and gas until he recently learned that probiotics and stomach enzymes would provide relief and, unlike the otc medications he was taking, get to the root cause of his symptoms by balancing the natural flora (bacteria) in his intestines. These items may be purchased at health food stores.

Skin tags

When I began to develop unsightly skin tags, I went to a dermatologist to inquire about having them removed. Removal would involve having them sliced off with a pair of everyday scissors. I was told that since getting a shot to numb the area would be more painful than the actual procedure itself, it would be done without one. Since I am very squeamish, I try to avoid pain at all costs. Going back to the remedies of my youth, I found a company on the internet that sold salve, a product that was used to treat boils as I remember. I purchased it and removed the skin tags relatively painlessly on my own simply by applying the salve, which caused the skin tag to fall off in 2-3 days.

Receding gums

Upon brushing my teeth one day, I noticed that there were spaces or pockets between my teeth and gums. My aunt had previously undergone surgery to repair hers, but my problem was minor. I was skeptical at first, but found an herbal toothpaste on the internet that left my teeth feeling cleaner than otc tooth paste and made my gums healthy once again.

Hormone Testing

Once my period had finally ended, I was concerned that my cycle might still be off. So, when my husband came home with an ad for hormone testing, I jumped at the chance. My doctor had strongly suggested that as long as I continued to have a period, that meant my Estrogen level was ok. But, a period lasting several months is anything but normal. Saliva test results revealed a deficiency in progesterone and testosterone plus insulin resistance. Probiotics were recommended, since I had taken antibiotics, along with enzymes for thyroid support. The Pharmacist Consultant charged nothing for my consultation and the hormones are natural.

Sciatica Pain - Chiropractic Treatment & Acupuncture

I fell during my sixth month of pregnancy. Since that day, I continue to suffer painful bouts of Sciatica from time to time. Previously, I had been treated by my Primary Care Physician for back and shoulder pain and was prescribed bed rest, so I know better than to go back. Recently, I went to a chiropractor. While I felt the treatments were working and would recommend my chiro to anyone, I wanted to supplement my treatments. What I believe helped even more was the acupuncture I received. I had tried it once before but this time, the acupuncturist used electrical impulses followed by deep tissue massage applied directly to the affected area. Although I required another treatment for full recovery, results were immediate and the cost, only $40/visit.

Health Care System

As soon as my bout with heavy periods ended, I was greeted with a UTI and began a round of antibiotics. This was September. By December, I was still suffering from what I thought were recurring UTI's. Without health care, I had to go to a clinic. Each time I returned, I received more antibiotics, even though urine tests didn't show the presence of bacteria. My symptoms persisted, so I requested a pelvic exam and got a February appointment. During my final visit, the Physician's Assistant that was treating me suggested that I might have a yeast infection instead of a UTI but prescribed more antibiotics just to be safe and ordered me back in two weeks for a follow-up. Unable to wait, I bought Monistat and went to a county hospital. My tests came back clean, but I still felt miserable. I requested copies of my blood and urine test results and brought them to my Chinese herbal doctor, who identified the problem as Cystitis and advised me to stop taking antibiotics. He treated me with herbs for ten days. The burning and urgency lessened each day I took them.

Chinese Herbs

Before the birth of my son, I took Chinese herbs to shrink my fibroids. I credited them, prayer, and a good obstretrician with the birth of my son. But, eight years and two miscarriages later, the fibroids had grown back and were now causing me to have heavy periods. Since I didn't want to have a hysterectomy, I found another Chinese herbal doctor . Then, I took the herbs for eight days and the bleeding stopped completely! I was so greatful. I felt he had given my life back to me and it only cost me about $75 in all.

Uterine Fibroids & Traditional Western Medicine

I've always had heavy periods, but this time, it started in March and didn't stop until September. When I went to see my Primary Care Physician, I learned that a blood test I'd taken during the holiday season while being treated for bleeding hemorrhoids revealed that I was already anemic. I was referred to a gyno, who gave me a shot of Luprin to temporarily stop the bleeding. When the bleeding returned, she performed a biopsy that luckily came back negative but not before prescribing a cancer medication (that packed a whopping 10 lbs onto my already full frame). Her recommendation was for an ablation - a procedure in which the blood vessels inside the uterus are cartarized. Desperate for relief, I agreed. When the time came, slightly groggy and feet in stirrups, I decided not to go through with it. All I wanted was another shot of Luprin so I could have more time to think. I didn't get it, so I ran to the Obstetrician who had delivered my son eight years earlier. According to him, the ablation would have done nothing to stop my fibroids from causing the bleeding. Myomectomy was the answer but that would require a six week recovery. I didn't have six weeks. I had to work. So, I made a B-line back to my Primary Care Physician, who took me off the cancer medication, prescribed Progesterone, and sent me to another gyno for a third opinion. This gyno confirmed that my uterous and fibroids were the size of a three month pregnancy and tried to convince me to have a hysterectomy. A product on the internet promised to disolve the fibroids, but it thinned my blood, so I couldn't use it or I would bleed even more profusely. My last hope was a clinical trial in Arizona that involved placing clamps on the arteries that supply blood to the uterous. This would eventually cause the fibroids to shrink but would not immediately stop the bleeding, possibly taking up to six months. Each office visit cost nearly $200 plus lab fees. In June, I was laid off and Cobra was too costly, so I had to let it go. Even when I did have medical coverage, I had co-pays, a deductible, and co-insurance to pay and it all added up. I felt exasperated.