Natural Medicine vs. Western Medicine

I am a huge fan of natural medicine. When I get sick or experience pain, I turn to herbs, acupuncture, diet changes, and other natural remedies long before I look to western medicine. When I get congested, I pull out the Neti pot, do steam inhalations, and/or take a tincture rather than pop a couple of Sudafed. Most of the time, it works amazingly well, and I'm able to go about my business.

Many people don't understand why I choose natural remedies instead of over-the-counter medicines and prescriptions. After all, many natural remedies haven't been proven to work through double blind research studies, and the FDA doesn't have the same strict regulations on herbs that it does on drugs (though to be clear, the FDA has extremely strict regulations on the production of herbs and herbal products. They require rigorous testing to make sure that the products that get to the shelves of stores are safe. They just don't verify the claims that are made on the packaging. If a product has been proven to be unsafe, the FDA will take it off the shelves. For a little more info, check out this page.) Natural remedies may require more work (a steam inhalation, for instance takes 10-15 minutes and access to a stove, a pot, and a towel - fine when you're at home, but challenging if you're at work).

For me, there are a few reasons:

My body is extremely sensitive, and if there is some obscure side effect of a drug, there's a good chance that I'll get it. With several different over the counter medications, I have had had very scary experiences, and in one case, an OTC was slowly putting my life in danger. Prescription medications have also given me horrific side effects. I have experienced far fewer side effects from natural remedies (that isn't to say there aren't any - just that my experiences have been better)

In some situations, I've tried western medicines, and they haven't done anything for me, but natural remedies have fixed my problems.

Many conditions that western medicine can only fix with dangerous or addictive medicines can be safely regulated with natural remedies - especially pain. Natural medicines can also correct some problems that western medicine can only correct with surgery.

I have spent a lot of time with plants. I like plants. Plants can provide us with most of what we need. Western medicine takes components of plants, isolates them, and increases them. In nature, plants have many components, all of which interact with each other. In many cases, one component will mitigate the negative effects of another, or one will magnify the effects of another (this is also true of herbal combinations). I have found that using the whole plant instead of specific constituents can provide gentler, more complete healing.

If I am preparing the remedies myself, I can be sure that the ingredients I am using meet my requirements for sustainability. Many herbal companies (though not all) are committed to protecting the environment and use only organic growing methods. I have been able to visit several farms and production plants and have a really good grasp on what companies I want to support. Western drugs are often produced by companies that are more interested in making a profit than making people better or protecting the planet.

Natural remedies can often be used as preventative care, whereas western medicine is almost exclusively used after a problem has arisen.

That all being said, there are times when western pharmaceuticals are the best choice. Very recently, I got very sick. I tried pretty much every natural remedy available - acupuncture, herbs, tinctures, epsom salt baths, something called the wet sock treatment, homeopathy - you name it, I tried it. I kept getting worse. When I started taking antibiotics, I started getting better right away (although, unsurprisingly, I did experience some nasty side effects). I hate how overused antibiotics are in our society, but when you need them, you need them. I will also admit that there have been times when I've had a headache or cramps that were so bad, I gave in and took Tylenol or Advil. (Although, since I have discovered cramp bark tincture and raspberry leaf tea, I haven't needed NSAIDs for cramps). I am lucky in that I don't have any diseases or chronic conditions that require that I take drugs regularly to stay alive. In those situations, I am all for pharmaceuticals. Some people also require daily medications for psychological conditions in order to function properly in society.

People who dismiss all western medications for all conditions piss me off as much as people who dismiss all natural remedies (and yes, they truly piss me off). We live in a time when we have the benefit of thousands of years of experience with natural remedies as well as modern technology and medicine. They each have their place. I am grateful for herbs, and I am grateful for antibiotics - when they're needed. I think vaccinations are awesome (hooray for never having to worry about smallpox or polio!). I think acupuncture is astonishing. Why limit ourselves to one narrow concept of health and healing?

****SAFETY NOTICE****

Please note that herbs have major effects on your body, as do pharmaceuticals. Be careful when taking herbs. Keep track of all that you are taking on a regular basis. If you ever have any questions, talk to a medical professional who has been educated in herbalism. There are some nasty drug/herb interactions, so if your health care provider puts you on medications, stop taking your herbs unless you've confirmed with them that it is safe to continue. Please don't put yourself at risk.

Candida Cleanse: Day 6

I don't have much to report. Aside from agonizing gastric pains that left me doubled over on Wednesday, I've been doing OK. I haven't had any real sugar cravings. Occasionally, I think that it would be nice to eat some sugar, but then I don't, and it's fine. The only really strange thing is that I have had no appetite. I'll feel ravenously hungry, but when it comes time to eat, I have a difficult time choking it down. I've broken down and allowed myself to eat a few processed foods (namely rice crackers that I normally inhale in the space of a heartbeat) just so that I can get enough to eat, but even those hold no appeal. This complete lack of desire to eat is probably why I'm not having any difficulty with not eating sugar. If I don't want to eat anything, that includes the things I'm not supposed to eat.

Candida Cleanse: Day 3

I'm at the end of Day 3 of my candida cleanse, and while it hasn't been the most fun thing ever, it hasn't been the worst thing ever either.

Figuring out what to eat has been interesting. So many things that I eat have sugar, sweeteners, or fruit in them! It has also been frustrating when I eat what should be a perfectly filling meal, but since there aren't a lot of carbs, I don't feel quite satisfied. I feel full, but I feel like I need to eat more. I should probably cook up a big pot of brown rice just for the carbs.

Yesterday, I felt like I was going a little bit crazy, so I popped some popcorn (0g sugar!) in coconut oil and then ate it all. It was over the top, but it made me feel a little better.

I've started to experience some of the candida die-off symptoms. I'm fatigued and have had a headache. I also felt quite bloated, and I even felt a tiny bit tipsy last night (and not a drop of alcohol crossed my lips).

I'm definitely looking forward to the end of this cleanse. I will be thrilled when I can eat fruit again.

Candida Cleanse: Day 1

I've decided to try a candida cleanse. Candida is a yeast that grows naturally in the body. It becomes a problem when it gets out of balance with the rest of the body's natural flora (mainly bacteria). There are many symptoms associated with candidiasis, many of which I have. A list of some common symptoms can be found here. In case you're dying to know what my symptoms are, I have acne, fatigue, red eyes, intense sugar cravings, and digestive issues.

I am going about my cleanse by eliminating all sugar from my diet for 2 weeks. This includes fruit (which is going to be extremely challenging), honey, high fructose corn syrup (which I was already avoiding), and anything else that's labeled a sugar. My diet is going to consist of vegetables (including fruits that everyone confuses with vegetables, like peppers and avocados), whole gluten-free grains, proteins, and good fats. It's also important to avoid vinegar (with the exception of raw apple cider vinegar) because it can encourage candida growth. I won't be eating any processed foods at all, and I won't be going out to eat. In addition to this diet of doom, I'm taking herbal supplements that are geared towards killing candida. The supplement regimen consists of fiber and 2 different liquid extracts.

Apparently, I have intense sugar cravings to look forward to. I also will probably experience a whole slew of nasty symptoms associated with the death of the candida. I can't wait (for those of you who couldn't tell, that was sarcasm).

After the initial 2 weeks, I'm going to slowly reintroduce certain foods, but ideally, I'd like to keep my sugar intake to a minimum. When I eliminated sugar from my diet a couple of years back, I felt amazing, and I'd like to feel that way again.

I'm going to try to keep track of how things are going here. If I come up with any delicious recipes that work with this cleanse, I'll be sure to share.

So far today, it has been pretty uneventful. I've taken my fiber, eaten some raw almonds, and taken the liquid extracts. I'm about to start preparing my lunch - a salad made of organic baby greens, avocado, and raw zucchini, with a dressing made of raw apple cider vinegar and olive oil. Tonight, I'll probably make something with quinoa.

Let's Clear this Whole Glutard Thing Up

It's interesting how many people are unreceptive to the concept of food intolerance. Because it isn't well understood (even by the medical community, although more research is being done on it than ever before), people assume that people who claim they have an intolerance are just making things up, or that it's all in their heads. I've had family members who don't believe that I am gluten intolerant. I know other "glutards" (a term coined by my best friend, Lillian) who have had similar problems. One woman's parents even asked her when she was going to grow out of her gluten-free "phase." I've also had people inform me that there's no way I'm allergic to gluten.

To adress that last comment, it's true. I am definitely not allergic to gluten. Food allergies are not the same thing as food intolerance. An allergy is when your immune system essentially overreacts to a foreign (but normally benign) substance. Your basophils (a type of white blood cell) release histamines, which cause any number of reactions, including hives, sneezing, runny nose, red, watery eyes, and in the worst cases, anaphylactic shock. A food allergy isn't all that different from a pollin allergy. I know people who sneeze when they eat bread because of a wheat allergy, or who get rashes on their arms when they eat gluten. Of course, we all know about the people who swell up and die when they eat peanuts. Allergies can be tested somewhat reliably, so people are far more receptive to the existence of allergies than intolerances.

Food intolerance is a tricky beast. A food intolerance is when the body reacts poorly to a certain food, or when they body can't properly process a certain food. The symptoms of food intolerance may seem completely unrelated to the digestive system, but they can be determined by eliminating a certain food or group of foods from the diet. If the symptoms go away when you stop eating the food for an extended period, and they come back when you reintroduce it, then it's a good sign that you have a food intolerance. Some common symptoms of food intolerance are gas, bloating, migraines and other head aches, fatigue, weakness, and systemic (meaning system-wide, or body-wide) inflammation, which can cause muscle pain, and nerve problems. Some people even have emotional reactions to foods, including sadness, irritability, and anger. People can be intolerant to just about any food, although gluten and dairy are the most common. People can be intolerant to nightshades (including tomatos, peppers, potatoes and eggplant), soy, and corn, among others.

The first time I ate gluten after I'd been gluten free for a while, I had a strange stomach ache (it was neither indigestion nor nausea), a headache, mental fogginess (i.e. the inability to think clearly), and extreme fatigue. My ulnar neuropathy, which hadn't caused me problems in years, came back in full force, my low back pain flared up, and my symptoms of gastritis came back after being gone for months. When I'm gluten free, my ulnar neuropathy doesn't flare, my low back pain is almost nil, and my gastritis is a thing of the past. Although I definitely miss some of the wonderful gluten-full foods out there, my desire to feel good far outweighs my desire to eat a donut.

I also want to clear up the confusion that people have about Celiac disease and gluten intolerance. Celiac disease is an auto-immune disorder which causes the cilia of the small intestine to be damaged when gluten is ingested. If these are damaged, it makes it difficult for the body to absorb vital nutrients. It is a very serious condition which may be asymptomatic, or it may have any number of symptoms, including gas, bloating, fatigue, mineral and vitamin deficiencies (such as calcium, iron, and B12), a large appetite with no weight gain, or unexplained weight gain, to name a few. It is common for people with Celiac to be extremely sensitive to gluten, to the point where they may not be able to tolerate food prepared in a kitchen where foods containing gluten have been prepared. It is also common for them to have a reaction to gluten that lasts for 3 days (the amount of time it takes for gluten to leave the body). People who are gluten intolerant may have Celiac disease, but they may not. The only way to know for sure is to be tested after eating gluten for 4 weeks (something I'm not too keen on doing, given how gluten makes me feel. I can't think of any time in my life when being fatigued, brain dead, and in pain for a month will be convenient). If someone tests negative for Celiac disease, it does not mean that they don't have a gluten intolerance; it just means that they don't have Celiac.

For those of you who may still be skeptical, I'll leave you with this. Even if an intolerance is "all in someone's head" (which, odds are, it's not), if they feel better when they don't eat something, then their choice not to eat it should be respected. Most people who have special dietary needs are pretty understanding that their food requirements can be a giant pain in the ass to those who can eat anything. I am always prepared to bring my own food to parties or dinners (and if you ask nicely, I'll even bring enough to share), and I never expect people to accomodate my diet, though it's always a pleasant surprise when they do. If I ask what's on the menu, or if I read a label, it's not because I'm picky or trying to be disrespectful; I just want to make sure I'm not going to be miserable (and in the case of dairy, I get so gassy that really, it's more disrespectful of me not to read labels!). I don't bitch and whine when I can't eat something (well, usually), and I don't begrudge others their right to eat whatever they hell they want. A little empathy can go a long way. After all, it sucks to not be able to partake in a freshly baked loaf of bread or the pizza that everyone else is eating. And by the way, if I could choose to make my gluten problem go away, you can bet everything you have that I would do it in a heartbeat.

http://www.celiac.org/

Beans Beans the Magical Fruit...

Beans are wonderful and high in protein, which is great when you don't eat a lot of animal products. It's well known, however, that eating beans will make you bloated and gassy, and let's face it, that's no fun. Not only is it uncomfortable, it makes people less inclined to hang out with you when you're the person who's always farting.

Beans create gas because they contain sugars that our bodies can't break down and are too big to be absorbed in the small intestine. When they get to the large intestine, the bacteria that live there eat it up, creating gas in the process.

Fortunately, mother nature thinks of everything, and there is a 100% natural solution to dealing with the problem.

When you're cooking your beans (make sure you soak dry beans over night, or it will take forever for them to cook), add a 2 inch square of kombu (also spelled konbu). It's a seaweed that you can buy in dried form from natural food stores, Asian markets, or in the Asian food section of your grocery store (if it has one). It doesn't do a whole lot to the flavor of the beans, but it does break down the sugars into smaller, digestible chunks, leaving nothing for the bacteria to munch on. When you're through cooking, just remove the kombu, and you're good to go.

Does Your Doctor Eat Right?

My best friend sent me a link to this New York Times article about doctors who are trying to get the word out about eating well. The sad truth is that medical doctors don't get much, if any, education in nutrition, and many of them eat unhealthy diets.

My favorite quote from the article is, "Food is at the center of health and illness, he argues, and so doctors must make all aspects of it — growing, buying, cooking, eating — a mainstay of their medical educations, their personal lives and their practices."

I would argue that this is true of anyone in the medical profession - not just doctors. Most people in the US have absolutely no idea what they should be eating because we're not educated about it, and our culture encourages us to eat the worst possible food. We look to our health care providers to tell us what is healthy, and if they don't mention diet (which most of them won't), then it's easy to feel like whatever you're doing is fine.

If you're feeling completely overwhelmed about your diet and what you should be eating, I strongly recommend seeing a registered dietitian (RD) in your area. They are wonderful resources for all food-related issues, from obesity to food allergies, and a lot of insurance plans will cover a few visits.

Help Save the Ecology Program at my Nephew's School

The Pepsi Refresh Everything program is giving away money to some awesome programs. My nephew's school is in the running to get $25K to keep their ecology program running. They're currently 33rd place, but only the top 10 get money. If you help out and vote for this, you'll be supporting a public school in Chicago (the majority of the students are from minority and low-income families). This program is particularly relevant in light of the BP fiasco. Regardless of whether you want to plug the oil leak with BP executives or Sarah Palin, this is something that kids can benefit from for their entire lives. I know I wish I'd learned more about ecology as a kid.

The program has a heavy focus on gardening and teaching the kids how to eat well. They get hands on experience in the edible garden and get to eat the fruits of their labors. If they win, the money will go toward the salary of the teacher, putting up a greenhouse, and paying for gardening supplies.
So please, please, please vote for this program. (It's easy, just click the following link and hit the Vote button). Unless you request it, Pepsi won't send you any emails, so you don't have to worry about spam. refresheverything.com/watersecology

Please pass this to anyone you think might be willing to help.

Thank you so much!