Mind - Body Thoughts: Natural Healing Gal

Showing posts with label Natural Healing Gal. Show all posts

Monday, October 9, 2017

Is Your Soap Nuts

When I first saw this in a health food store, I am sure I had the same reaction as many of you will have while reading this. Huh?? What are soap nuts? I saw no explanation of what they were, so I did not look at them for long, continued my shopping, and forgot about them for a while.

I am not crazy about “perfumy” smells. I find them too strong and irritating. I do love essential oils, and I love the smell of a natural clean. We have been conditioned to believe that “clean” means to smell like a bottle of cologne, or your clothes and house need to smell like bleach. I used to think the same way until I became so sensitive to detergents that my skin would break out in a rash.

Over time, I went for the more “sensitive skin” type of “name brand” detergents. As I learned to read more labels, I saw even those contained irritants and toxins that I did not want on my skin. I certainly prefer to avoid adding more toxins to our groundwater. The earth can only filter out so much. I went back to looking around for new things to try.

I do my best to use the most natural products I can find. I love Dr. Bronner’s lavender soap, and I use it for hand soap, body washes, and I was using it to bathe my dogs. I was also using a good, natural shampoo and conditioner by Jason that I was pretty happy with, and a lot of Seventh Generation products, though that is beginning to change.

I eventually came across soap nuts again. I was thinking, hmmm…what the heck are these? I was curious, so I looked it up online, and decided to give them a try. Part of me was wondering if my soap is nuts!

Soap nuts look a little like walnuts, with a hollow center. According to Naturoli, “very simply, soap nuts are the dried shells (or husks) from the soapberry (or soap berry nut)."

These berries are the fruit from a unique tree species. These shells contain a substance called saponin that produces a soaping effect. Saponin is a 100% natural alternative to chemical laundry detergent and cleansers. It can replace many chemical detergents that are becoming well known by consumers for being a skin irritant and health hazard.”

Soap nuts are 100% biodegradable, low suds, hypoallergenic, with natural antifungal and antimicrobial properties. Basically, you put 5-6 of these shells in a small fabric bag, toss it in your top loading washer, and your clothes come out clean. There is a mild scent that takes a little getting used to that does not smell like any detergent or perfume, they are pretty inexpensive and last for 4-6 loads of the average washload.

It is easier to use Soap Nuts Liquid, which is very concentrated. There is a product I have used called Extreme 18x. It is surprising how little of it you need because one squirt does the trick. I added some baking soda to the fabric softener dispenser, and I am pleased with the results. My front loading washing machine stays clean and has none of the nasty smells that I hear so much about. If you expect it to work like the commercial detergents and the ads that tell you how white your whites will be, you will be disappointed. If you want naturally clean clothes and want to feel good about the environment, you will be quite pleased, as I am.

http://mindbodythoughts.blogspot.com/p/marie-natural-healing-gal.html

What impressed me more was I could make my own dog shampoo to bathe my dogs! I take 8-12 of the soap nuts and simmer them in water in a medium pot of water on the stove for 20 minutes or so. I then add enough cold water to make a gallon, pour it into a gallon jug leaving the shells behind, and use it as shampoo. When making this soap nut “tea,” it only lasts a day or two, so I make just enough the night before and use it all up. Low suds, mild, rinses easily (which can be tricky with dogs that have a thick coat like mine do), and I can add any essential oil I want. My dogs come out clean and fresh smelling, their coat feels soft, and very rarely do I get that “doggy odor.” I can bathe them once a week with no skin irritations.

I then tried their “Extreme” shampoo for myself. I really like it! I love how my hair feels, how I only need a little, and there is no residue and no perfumy smell.

As I read more, there are many other uses for soap nuts. There are some scams out there, so be aware. I am pleased with Naturoli soap nuts, and they are honest about their products. I will be trying soap nuts out more in the near future!

Until the next month, I hope your soap is healthy!

- Marie (Natural Healing Gal)

Read all of Marie's Columnist Posts

Marie

Guest Blogger

Dog Training, Qigong

Homeopathy

Visit Marie's Website

Mikamar Training Center

Please note that this blog post and these remedies are for information purposes only. Please consult with your own medical providers should you have medical questions and see the Medical Disclaimer here.

Also make sure that you read and follow any label directions for products listed in these blog posts. This is the opinion and practice of Marie, but make sure you are being safe in how you use the products.

Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form.

You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.

Monday, September 11, 2017

Healing From Grief

(Written by Natural Healing Gal, Marie)

When I realized the date my column was scheduled to be posted, I must admit I felt some discomfort at the thought. I was quite nervous about what to write. With a little advice from some good friends, I told myself to sleep on it and make a decision about it in the morning.

I woke up this morning thinking about the process of healing from grief.

As most of us do, I remember this day 16 years ago, where I was and how I felt. Unlike the many who were at ground zero, I was safe in the comfort of my home watching it unfold on TV and feeling the fear grow that my husband was at work and we were not together. I remember thinking that this could be a terror attack or the beginning of a war, and the fear of not knowing if he was safe, even though he was an hour away from New York City. He was a school teacher, and I could not reach him right away.

I am grateful that I do not know anyone who passed away there, but I do know some who were there and survived. I know some who have lost friends there. I have watched and read many of the stories of survival, heroism, courage, and pain.

I also think of those who have lost loved ones unrelated to 9/11.

Most people who know me, know that I smile and laugh a lot, and like to enjoy the moment I am in as much as possible. I have been told I smile too much and it makes them think I am not authentic. Once I was asked, “Do you feel you are overcompensating?” I have been called some nasty words when I stopped smiling. I have had days where I inadvertently expressed emotions that were not consistent with my normal, happy, public self, and those around me were noticeably surprised.

I remember when I was in school seeing a sign that said “if you see someone without a smile, give them yours, so” and it always rang true for me, so I try to greet people with a smile as much as I can.

Yes, I like to smile and enjoy what I am doing in the moment. Yes, there have been times that there is a range of emotion behind the smile that I do not wish to share in public but I have learned that to be able to feel joy, pure joy, it is important to allow ourselves to feel the whole range of emotions we have as human beings. That includes the sadness, pain, grief, disappointment and yes, even anger. I have learned that if we suppress these “negative” emotions with a forced smile, we suppress our real joy as well.

Yes, at times, the smile I wear has been a front for some of these emotions, because I feel that out in public we should put our best face forward, and it is not helpful to take our emotions out on others. Like the Sheryl Crowe song expresses: “I have a face I cannot show…” maybe it is a face I should not show at times, especially not at the expense of others. However, it is also not helpful or healthy to suppress what we feel. What I learned is that when I have a safe place to express and embrace my so-called “negative emotions,” the joy that follows is real. The smile and happiness are real, true, full and bursting at the seams.

Healing from the loss of a loved one is not like flipping a switch, it is a process; so if you know someone who is grieving, please do not tell them to “get over it,” or that it is time to “move on.” It is not helpful or supportive. What IS supportive is to give others as much time as they need, to be understanding, to listen (as difficult as that may be) and to know that everyone grieves in their way, at their own time and their own pace. Sometimes they need assistance, sometimes it takes years, and that may be their “normal.”

Embracing our sadness, grief, and pain, is not fun. It sucks. It can be downright awful. Most of us did not grow up knowing how to deal with our emotions healthily.

I know full well what it is like. I have also experienced what it is like to suppress these negative emotions for too long a period and to me, that is much, much worse. Suppressing them recently took me to a very deep and difficult depression that I had to work my way out of. I am grateful to have found a safe place to allow myself to feel these emotions through Unified Therapy, Jim Fazio, and Dr. Paul Canali. It is there, in this last year, that I have found tremendous healing and peace, and can feel joy and happiness again, truly and authentically.

So when you see me out in the world with a smile on my face, you can be sure it is real. I hope to share a smile with you someday.

See next month’s post for solutions to keeping bugs off our skin!

- Marie (Natural Healing Gal)

Read all of Marie's Columnist Posts

Marie

Guest Blogger

Dog Training, Qigong

Homeopathy

Visit Marie's Website

Mikamar Training Center

Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form.

You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.

Monday, August 14, 2017

Stop Bugging Me - Back Away Bugs

(Written by Natural Healing Gal, Marie)

Back Away Bugs

If you have not already read the previous month's column, Living With Bugs, take a look at it because it fits in with this month's column.

Back in the early 80’s, before I became a professional dog trainer, I was a dog groomer. I learned a lot more than I ever wanted to know about ticks and fleas, their life cycle, feeding, breeding. Oh, yuck. Not pleasant. But it helps to know the information if you want to research what attracts them and how to repel them.

I currently teach dog training classes every evening, outdoors at dusk. It was not fun the first couple of years. Bugs LOVE me. Or they hate me. I guess they are just hungry and everyone has to eat!

Every morning Mike and I went to the beach for qigong class. It was a sunrise class that was beautiful and peaceful until the summer no-see-ums tried to mess with us. Then we all began sharing different natural formulas, as none of us wanted anything toxic on our skin.

You can see that I have plenty of time to test out products. And test them, I do! I have gone through many different essential oil recipes and many different pre-made brands over the 12 years we have been here. Some worked a little, but not so much. I finally found a good combination that works for us.

I have found that different formulas may work differently for some than for others. I am not sure why, but there are some products that people swear by that did not work for me and vice versa. The point is, don’t give up on using natural bug repellant if something does not work for you. There are many good ones out there that are worth a try. Be sure to check for skin sensitivity on you and your pets, even with natural products. There are also some people who are more attractive to certain bugs than others. I see this with dogs as well. Some dogs are magnets for ticks! Others barely get noticed by those nasty critters.

Keeping Bugs Off Of Me

To keep bugs off of me outdoors, I found No no-see-um. It is a combination of lemongrass, citronella, and geranium rose oil. I used it regularly for mosquitoes at dusk, and it worked really well. Unfortunately, when I used it for sunrise on the beach, it did not work for the no-see-ums!

I then found Terra Shield from Do terra. Terra Shield is a blend of several oils, including citronella and cedar wood. This worked beautifully for me, both on the beach at sunrise and for mosquitoes at dusk! It comes in a 30 ml spray bottle and in a 15 ml refill. You can apply it as is, but it is a little thick, so I dilute with water, and shake before each spray.

Keeping Fleas and Ticks Off Of My Dogs

To keep fleas and ticks off my dogs, I use a combination of products. At home, I am using Dr. Mercola’s Herbal Repellent Collar along with their Spot on Topical Herbal Repellent. If I am out at a show, I add a daily spray of Dr. Mercola’s Natural Flea and Tick defense, especially on their feet. I still check them for ticks daily. Please note I do not have cats right now and cats tend to be sensitive to some essential oils. Be sure to do your own research when it comes to your kitty friends!

When I was a groomer, I learned to do a flea bath on my client's dogs and cats. Here is a little-known trick! A flea bath does not need toxic shampoos or dips. If you use soapy water, the fleas drown. Many people do not know fleas drown in soapy water, but you will need to bathe carefully to be sure they don’t escape. As soon as water hits the skin, fleas retreat into a dog's eyes, ears, nose, and… *ahem*… anus. This is not fun for your dog, and the fleas will just come out after your dog is dry, but they will not cross over the wet soapy solution!

Begin a flea bath by keeping your dog dry at first. I make my own shampoo by simmering soap nuts in water for 20 minutes, then adding cold water. It is a gentle, low suds, natural soap that has repellent properties, and leaves the coat clean and soft with no residue.

Add shampoo to your DRY dog in a full circle around the neck, around the ears, and around the base of the tail. This will prevent the fleas from escaping into sensitive areas. Then continue to wet your dog and add shampoo to the rest of the body. If there are fleas present, you will see them being washed away with the soapy water.

Keeping your pet healthy with a strong immune system and feeding a healthy diet will also go a long way to make them less attractive to ticks and fleas.
Marie

Back AWAY from us, bugs!

--Marie

- Marie (Natural Healing Gal)

Read all of Marie's Columnist Posts

Marie

Guest Blogger

Dog Training, Qigong

Homeopathy

Visit Marie's Website

Mikamar Training Center

Please note that this blog post and these remedies are for information purposes only. Please consult with your own medical providers should you have medical questions and see the Medical Disclaimer here.

Also, make sure that you read and follow any label directions for products listed in these blog posts. This is the opinion and practice of Marie, but make sure you are safe in how you use the products.

Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form.

You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.

Monday, July 10, 2017

Stop Bugging Me - Living With Bugs

(Written by Natural Healing Gal, Marie)

Living With Bugs

If you have not already read the previous month's column, Stop Bugging Me, take a look at it because it fits in with this month's column.

I have been writing a lot about homeopathic remedies, but as I mentioned in a previous article, there are many other natural plant or food based remedies, as well as solutions for the home. I will be writing what I have learned about many different approaches in future posts.

Let’s talk more about bugs. I know that bugs are necessary for life, they are part of the food chain, nature needs bugs, and we need bugs to live. Yes, we really do.

Bugs are nature’s clean-up crew, food producer, pollinator, little soldiers.

They can be ugly and frightening, but they are also downright beautiful and mysterious, like butterflies and fireflies.

We humans find “balance” to be a very challenging thing. We think if something is good, more of it is better. We like quick fixes and instant cures. We work too much, or play too hard. It is not much different when it comes to bugs and nature.

When we moved to Florida, I was aware of the challenge we would face, but unfortunately not as prepared as I would have hoped. Florida is a challenging place to live with bugs, as I mentioned in the last blog on bites and stings.

Nature has its own way of managing life: checks and balances…until we humans get in the way and think we know better! Bugs eat other bugs, and are food for many animals and other insects. Naturally, most bugs and animals are kept in balance and control by eating or being eaten.

When some of the balance of nature is messed with, like trying to produce something unnatural (GMO’s), or killing everything without careful thought, we get ourselves into more trouble. I have always been aware of this due to my experience in school and college in biology. Don’t fool with mother nature!

I try to keep in touch and in balance with nature as much as I can. That does not mean that I want dangerous bugs living in my space or hurting me, or those I love. So, I have found some wonderful, as natural as possible, solutions that I will share with you today. I am always open to learning more so these may change in the future, and if they do, I will continue to share what I learn.

Fire Ants

Fire ants are nasty and bites are painful. After trying many approaches with our 2+ acres of land, I gave up on the pesticides I was told to use, as the ants were quickly becoming immune to it. I found the best solution so far is Medina orange oil.

To rid myself of these nasty critters, I use a gallon jug of water, add approximately an “inch” or so of the orange oil and a squirt of natural, liquid dish soap.

(Tip: When it is cooler outside, the ants are closer to the surface, and this is the ideal time to treat. During the heat of the day they retreat deeper into the earth to stay cool.)

Shake the gallon jug, pour a circle close to the outside perimeter of the fire ant mound, and then drown the rest of it with the mixture. A large pile will take a gallon or more, smaller ones a half gallon or less.

The soap and water alone will drown them, because they cannot climb or swim out of the soapy water. The orange oil melts their exoskeletons. You may find a smaller pile may come up a few feet away. If you treat the new one, it will be gone. We treat ant mounds this way, pile by pile, and although certain times of year I will find more, like directly after a rain, I have been able to manage them really well with this method! Often we see very few or none at all for quite a while. It will not kill them all, but it diminishes the population and keeps them fleeing from your property.

Fleas

Fleas are easy to control; I use water soluble boric acid. Mix about a cupful to a gallon of warm water to dissolve, then use a good pump sprayer and apply a very light mist onto all porous furniture and curtains up to three feet off the ground.

(Tip: TEST a small area of your furniture first!)

Spray dog beds, couches, carpet, and a light spray around the baseboards and indoor perimeter of your home. It should dry in ten minutes. Don’t spray too heavily.

If you have fleas, you will see many more emerge as they are trying to leave the treated area.

It will kill newly hatched larvae and the fleas eat it and dehydrate, as if eating a whole container of salt. In a week they will be gone, and it will control fleas for up to six months unless you wash it off the surface.

This will also kill other insects with a similar life cycle as the flea.

Ticks And Wasps

Cedarcide is another wonderful indoor spray for ticks, wasps and other nasties that enter your home unwanted. It's made of red cedar and does not have much of a residual, but kills on contact.

See next month’s post for solutions to keeping bugs off our skin!

--Marie

- Marie (Natural Healing Gal)

Read all of Marie's Columnist Posts

Marie

Guest Blogger

Dog Training, Qigong

Homeopathy

Visit Marie's Website

Mikamar Training Center

Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form.

You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.

Monday, June 12, 2017

Stop Bugging Me

(Written by Natural Healing Gal, Marie)

Homeopathy for bites and stings.

One of the challenges of living in Sunny Florida is insects. I am definitely not a fan! I know there are insects everywhere else, but we sure have our fair share as our winters allow them to procreate more.

Many of us here wish for just enough freezing cold in the winter to control them a little, without harming our plants!

When we first moved here in 2004 I learned about fire ants. It was not fun getting bitten the first time. I had to try several different types of natural remedies before I found the one that worked best for me… Ledum Palustre which is made from Wild Rosemary.

Ledum, like other homeopathic remedies, has a variety of uses, but one of the most common is dealing with insect bites. The first time I tried Ledum for fire ant bites, it reduced the severity tremendously, and it healed much quicker.

In addition, I use Lavender essential oil directly on the skin where the bite is, to help control the itch until it heals. Essential oils are not homeopathy, but a different type of natural remedy that I love. I have found that insect bites seem to inflame and itch even more intensely when scratched, so the lavender helps to prevent the awful scratching, and gives the skin the time it needs to heal.

Ledum is wonderful for mosquito bites. I teach classes outdoors at dusk, so I’ve had the opportunity to try it with great success many times! I take a single dose of Ledum one hour before going out in the evening, and the mosquitoes don’t find me quite so attractive.

I give Ledum to my dogs if they are bitten by a tick or a flea, but it is also good to use if YOU have been bitten by a dog or cat! It is helpful for puncture wounds in general; for example, if you have stepped on a sharp object.

Here is a fun tip -- I've heard that Ledum is a good remedy for a hangover from Whiskey or hard liquor. Of course, I have no way of knowing if that is true. You will have to see for yourself!

Another wonderful remedy for bites and stings is Apis melifica which comes from the honey bee. I discovered Apis after being stung by a yellow fly, or what some people call a deer fly. They come out in the spring and fall, and apparently, they LOVE me. They especially love biting my legs. For some reason, I do not feel the bite or even notice that they are on my skin until I am bitten by a single fly several times. I had no idea what to do, and I can not take antihistamines!

I am extremely sensitive to these fly bites; my skin becomes red and swollen, hot, and solid to the touch. After a day or two of swelling and each bite spreading to an area the size of a pancake, anything that barely brushes against my skin begins the incredible, painful itch, and then I have a day of shooting pains that I feel deep into my bones, and it turns a bluish color like a bruise. It is awful! Each time I was bitten it was spreading further and the pain was worse.

At first I tried Ledum, but it did not seem to make any difference. I tried it on several occasions. Those nasty buggers would find a way to follow me into my home, and bite me mercilessly until the fly swatter came out!

After further research, I found Apis. What a relief! The first time I took a dose the bite healed much quicker. I knew it had made a big difference. Since then, each time I was bitten the remedy worked quicker and the severity is reduced dramatically. At this point, if they are quicker to bite me than I am to flee, I get a small amount of swelling and it goes away within a day.

Another time I stepped on a bee and it stung my toe pretty severely. Apis worked wonderfully and although my toe did turn a bit bluish in color, there was barely any sting or pain after taking the remedy.

One of the reasons that some think Homeopathy does not work, is that they try a remedy once without success. I found that if a remedy does not work, it is usually not the correct remedy for your symptoms! With a little research I can usually find a remedy that does the trick. Then I keep it on hand for future occurrences. Remember, take your dose in water!

You can order the following on Amazon

Ledum
Apis

Here’s to a BUZZ free summer,

- Marie (Natural Healing Gal)

Read all of Marie's Columnist Posts

Marie

Guest Blogger

Dog Training, Qigong

Homeopathy

Visit Marie's Website

Mikamar Training Center

Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form.

You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.

Monday, May 8, 2017

Understanding Homeopathy - Does It Work?

(by Natural Healing Gal, Marie)

I am not a homeopath - that requires a PHD in my mind! There are hundreds of remedies, with an incredible amount of information to learn about each one. There is an art to choosing the optimal homeopathic remedy for a specific condition. At this point I have learned enough for first aid and home use, and that is my goal. I learn a little more with every experience. I can say that I have seen wonderful results for me and my family.

Does it really work?

For chronic or complicated symptoms however, it is important to consult with a professional homeopath. I have done so, and I can say for sure, it saved the life of one of my dogs.

If you look online, you will find those who say homeopathy is nothing but a sugar pill and the results are only a placebo effect; but I use them regularly on my dogs with great results! I do not think my dogs know what a placebo is.

I experience the power of the remedies on a regular basis. Just yesterday my husband got an insect bite on his foot. It got warm, red, and itchy, and began to swell. Instead of reaching for an antihistamine, he took a homeopathic remedy. (Stay tuned for more information on “bites and stings” next month!) We waited a half hour, and the symptoms began to subside. Two hours later, he took one more dose, and it improved dramatically. No more doses should be taken when there is a dramatic improvement.

An easy “pill to swallow”

Each remedy is a separate, highly diluted substance from the plant, animal or mineral kingdom. Most are referred to by their Latin names. For example, Calendula officinalis is an English marigold.
The original substance is reduced and diluted, until what remains is the "energy" form of the original substance. The sugar pill, or pellet, is a means to transport the resulting energy.

It may help to think of each remedy as if it were a drop of essential oil. Just like there are many different oils…there are many different homeopathic remedies. Each oil can be diluted in a carrier oil to “carry” the oil onto the skin…so the homeopathic pellet would be similar to a carrier oil that holds a drop of essential oil.

It is important to take the smallest dose possible to achieve results. More is not better, and as soon as you see a dramatic improvement in the symptoms, no more doses should be taken. You body is doing the work and needs no more assistance!

If you see no improvement at all, it is probably not the correct remedy for your symptoms. Common home remedies are gentle enough, so it is safe to try a second dose a half hour to an hour apart.

In classical homeopathy, one pellet is placed in a bottle with four ounces of pure water. I have found this to be more potent than taking dry pellets directly on the tongue. Tapping the bottle containing the solution activates or stimulates the energy/ electromagnetic properties, of the remedy. Shaking the bottle is fine, but a gentle tap in the palm of your hand is more accurate. 8-10 taps is an average number for an average person using a common remedy. Someone who is super sensitive, or not in good general health, may only need 2 - 4 taps, while others who are less sensitive may need over 12 taps. Tapping should be done before each dose.

I find it interesting that homeopathy is questioned so much, and there is so much misinformation and fear surrounding it...yet we are sold on prescription drugs that have a wide range of side effects that "may" happen and we don't question it enough!

I prefer natural remedies to over the counter drugs whenever possible, and that is my choice. I am always open to the latter when necessary… but less is better in my humble opinion!

Until the next time,

Marie (Natural Healing Gal)

For Further Reading:

Marie is a regular columnist on Mind Body Thoughts. She writes the Natural Healing Gal monthly column. This article is written by Marie.

To learn more about her and see all her other articles, go to Marie's Page, Natural Healing Gal.

Check her page out to see the Medical Disclaimer

Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form.
You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.

Monday, April 10, 2017

Homeopathy Help For Cuts And Scrapes

(by Natural Healing Gal, Marie)

My next favorite Homeopathic remedy is Calendula Officinalis also known as English marigold.

I learned more about Calendula when my sister was visiting many years ago, and her children got sunburned. She asked if I had any Calendula Gel. I was not aware of the gel, so we quickly went to the local health food store to pick some up. It worked so well, I tried it on myself the next time I got sunburned…I was amazed at how quickly the burn subsided and my skin turned from red to tan!

Just yesterday, I realized my hands were getting dry (I tend to wash my hands a lot) and the skin cracked on my finger. It stung like a paper cut whenever I touched anything. I put a band-aid on it with a little calendula gel, and today the skin is mostly healed.

My sheltie Maya slipped and fell while running agility one day, and got sand in her eye. It was irritated and red. I dissolved the pellet in water, put drops in my own eyes first to be sure it would not sting, then I used it on her. It worked beautifully, her eye cleared up so fast!

You can find Calendula at most health food stores in two forms, topical gel or pellets. It is soothing, has antiseptic properties, and stimulates the immune system. (see places to purchase this below)

I use a small amount of the gel with every bandage or band-aid I use; just enough to cover the wound. Broken skin, cuts and scrapes, even if they look infected, heal very quickly. A little goes a long way, and I have had my tube of gel for quite a long time!

Along with Arnica, this is another great remedy I keep in my home and in my travel first aid kit.

National Homeopathy Center

“The English marigold is a cheerful, annual plant with deep orange flowers that open and close with the sun just like Bellis perennis, the common daisy, another of homeopathy's great healers. Calendula has been used herbally for hundreds of years in the kitchen and the sick room. The old herbalists advised that the dried flowers be added to broths in order to comfort ‘the heart and the spirits...’ Homeopaths and home prescribers are well aware of Calendula's healing benefits as a topical preparation in tinctures, creams, and salves. Fewer people know, however, that Calendula is also useful as a homeopathic remedy—potentized and prepared by a homeopathic pharmacy. In this form, Calendula is indicated for lacerated, suppurating (i.e., pus-filled) wounds—especially if they are extremely painful and if the pain is out of proportion to the injury. It promotes rapid healing and prevents infection.” (Dee Babicke, HomeopathyCenter.org)

Warnings And Cautions

Please remember--Calendula gel (ointment or salve) is used topically only!
I have found that the gel does not work well on rashes! I tried it once or twice on a rash I had, and it was incredibly uncomfortable, as it is prepared with other ingredients. Always try a tiny bit on a tiny area first, if it is soothing, then continue on the rest of the area.
If you make up your own 30c Calendula remedy with ONE pellet in 4 ounces of pure water (for preparation details, see my post on 1/9/17 -- Starting with Homeopathy) you can take it orally, use a spritzer to spray it on topically, use it as a mouth rinse to heal and prevent infections, or use it as an eye wash for eye infections.
Do not use any gels or ointments internally or in your eyes!

About Homeopathy

Here is a little more general information about homeopathy:

It is recognized by the World Health Organization, which says it is the second largest system of medicine used in the world today.

Homeopathic remedies are used to trigger the body’s own natural immune system to heal itself. The remedies are highly diluted substances from the plant, animal and mineral kingdom.

Here are some tips from the National Center For Homeopathy (NCH) for general homeopathic use:

Homeopathic remedies come in many different "potencies" or strengths. 6X, 6C, 12X, 12C, 30X and 30C are safe for home prescribing with each being stronger homeopathically than the previous one. Lower potencies tend to need more repetitions than higher potencies to get a healing response.
Higher potencies, such as the 200C, 1M, and 10M, tend to work faster and are useful for more serious complaints, such as bad burns or head injuries with concussion. For the typical home prescriber, however, using the lower potencies is recommended.”

Places To Purchase Calendula

Califlora Calendula Gel (1 oz) - Amazon
Boiron Calendula Officinali Pellets - Amazon
Homeopathy First Aid Kit - Natural Health Supply

Marie - Natural Healing Gal

Website: (www.mikamar.net)

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Monday, March 13, 2017

Urinary Tract Infections Be Gone - UTI

(by Natural Healing Gal, Marie)

Ok, I do not know about men (sorry guys) but I do know that many women are familiar with these three letters. If you are not, lucky you!

I know them all too well. I was plagued by urinary tract infections for many years. Back and forth to the doctor’s office, urine samples, waiting for treatment with that awful, burning pain. Of course, the antibiotics, which always resulted in a yeast infection, and I had to learn to manage that with probiotics/more medication.

I had them so often, I knew what it was the very moment it started. The problem was, it would progress to unbearable pain so quickly, and when I traveled I was away from my doctor and I could not get help fast enough. If it was a weekend, I ended up in the emergency room and could barely walk.

UTI’s (Urinary Tract Infections) are one of the most common infections. According to Dr. Mercola:

“Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most common type of infection in the body, sending more than eight million people to their health care providers every year in the US alone. Women suffer from UTIs far more often than men, and more than 50 percent of women will develop a UTI during her lifetime.” (Source: Dr. Mercola)

UTI’s are also common among the elderly in nursing homes. My mother in law was in a nursing home at 89 years old. While she was there, she had UTI’s on numerous occasions and it was quite challenging, although the care that she received there was wonderful. In the elderly, the complications can become severe, and they often cannot express their discomfort.

Look up the antibiotics used for Urinary Tract Infections online…there are so many of them and the list is growing. The bacteria are now becoming more resistant to antibiotics, and they are becoming more and more difficult to treat.

I tried everything to prevent them. Gallons of water, cranberry juice, (no need to mention the other things here, we will save that for another blog! You name it, I tried it! Nothing seemed to work on any kind of regular basis. Even my female pets got them, thankfully it was not common for them.

There are homeopathic remedies that will work, but I found something quicker and easier for this one. D-mannose. See Dr. Mercola's Treatment for Urinary Tract Infections.

I learned about his treatment many years ago, and I was desperate to try anything. I did not care whether the research said it worked or not! If it was safe and natural, I was giving it a go. To me, it was a miracle.

“D-mannose is a naturally occurring sugar that sticks to the E. coli bacteria that most commonly causes UTIs, so it can be effectively “rinsed” out when you urinate.” - Dr. Mercola

Well, it worked. Every single time. It is always in my first aid kit. When I found it was safe to give to dogs, I used it for them and it worked just as well! Although it is a natural sugar that is related to glucose, it does not act the same as sugar in the body.

I thought everyone knew about it by now; but if I mention it to my students for their dogs, to this day, most people have not heard of it.

You can find it in a health food store or online. It comes in capsules or powder. I currently use Soloray that I buy on Amazon. I have used many brands over the years, but this brand seems to work the best for me. D-Mannose with CranActin Solaray 60 VCaps by Solaray

At first sign of an Urinary Tract Infection, I take two capsules three times a day. I can prevent them by taking one or two a day, if I think I am at risk.

My doctor did not know, and no one else told me, but I'm glad I discovered these on my own.

If you have a wonderful doctor, (or veterinarian, or health practitioner of any kind) as many of us do, treat him or her with respect and courtesy! They work hard and have a very difficult and a very stressful profession. They can be your ally. But they should also treat you with the same respect. I will always ask lots of questions, do all of my own research, and make my own decisions, because my health is in my own hands.

http://mindbodythoughts.blogspot.com/search?q=natural+healing+gal

Doctors practice medicine, and they do not know everything, no one does. If I come across one who thinks they do, I am out of there and on to the next one. I am responsible for my own health and I take it seriously. I am not a doctor, but I am not a mindless sheep and I am not made from a cookie cutter. We are all different, and what works for someone else may not work for me.

I have been using d-mannose for almost 18 years, and it has just been validated as a treatment in the last couple of years. My discovery of it helped get me off of the antibiotic merry go round, and on to more pleasant activities!

Marie (www.mikamar.net)

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Friday, March 3, 2017

My First Experience With Homeopathy

Recently, I've been struggling with some very severe tooth pain. My dentist is out recovering from surgery and I don't trust most dentists, so I've just got to wait this out. However the pain got pretty severe and intense.

I was ready to try anything and when a friend of mine first started to help me with homeopathy solutions, I have to admit that I was skeptical. I do try to stay open to healing remedies, but in the back of my mind, I wondered if this would work.

Going through the skepticism and motivated by the pain, I gave it a shot. One of the columnists on this blog, Natural Healing Gal, is the one that was working to help me. Fortunately my skepticism didn't turn her off and thankful she worked with me.

It took a few days and a few tries, but when we got the right combination, I started to really notice a big improvement. In fact, even from the first day I could tell that the pain had been reduced. I'm not a "pill" type of person, so finding natural healing alternatives is important.

After several days of working with this, I'm nearly pain free. Yes, it shows up a little, but it was getting to the point where it was really affecting things that I do in a day. I feel like I'm getting back to normal now.

I do realize I need to go see my dentist and will deal with that dental anxiety as the time approaches. For now though, just to have relief from the pain is hopeful and a big relief.

I would not have guessed what "Natural Healing Gal" knew would help in the way that it did. I'm glad I didn't operate out of skepticism, but gave it a try with an open mind. It was a major learning experience for me in my first experience with homeopathy.

Thank you "Natural Healing Gal" ! You truly helped me and I feel full of gratitude.

#NaturalHealingGal

Monday, February 13, 2017

Bumps And Bruises

(by Natural Healing Gal, Marie)

Things that go bump…

My all time favorite Homeopathic remedy is Arnica Montana.

According to Dr. Luc, "Arnica is the king of the trauma remedies and king of the sports remedies. Arnica is good for the whole family for bumps, bruises, pulled muscles, and overuse of muscles…"

Well, he is so right! I tend to bruise quite easily, and I am not the most graceful person. My cat, Otis (who passed away a few years ago) would walk across my lap and I would occasionally see bruises like his paw prints! I began taking Arnica 30C anytime I bumped into a chair, hit my head on the car roof, or fell in the grass when I was running. For minor bumps and bruises, one dose (see article Starting with Homeopathy on doses) is all that is needed. To my surprise, the bruises were minimized, and if I took the remedy right away, there was usually no bruise at all. The best part? No side effects.

I soon realized I could use Arnica for a heavy workout when my muscles were sore. It worked so well, and I felt better quickly!

I began to give it to my pets when they bumped into something or fell. One time my sheltie, Desi, was heading into the house and did not see the glass sliding door was closed. OUCH… I immediately gave him Arnica and he recovered from it very quickly. In that case I gave him an extra dose a few hours later.

Our pets cannot tell us how they feel, so we have to watch for signs carefully. Running in dog sports, they can get a mild injury that we may not notice for a while. I have a massage therapist that works on my dogs who would find mild injuries from time to time. When I began giving them Arnica 30C after a long day of competition, the sore muscles and misalignments usually found were minimized greatly.

Once when I was running at a competition indoors, I was knocked down and hurt my ribs. We were running on a dirt surface that was not very forgiving. When I stood up, the pain was pretty strong. Since I have never broken a bone, I had no idea if it was broken…I just knew it hurt to breathe. Luckily, I had my kit with me as I try to take it with me on all my travels. I took Arnica 30C right away, but it still hurt a lot. I told a friend about my concern, and she said, there is one way to know. Lie down. You will know by the pain you feel. OH my…

I considered going to the doctor. I could not lie down until I got home several hours later. When I did, I felt it POP and saw stars. Luckily it was momentary, and I was back to the pain I felt earlier that day. It felt like I had knocked a rib out of place, (and my chiropractor confirmed it at my next appointment).

Dr Luc has a protocol that he wrote about for a serious injury like that, and I followed it. Take Arnica 30C, then four hours later Arnica 200C, then another four hours Arnica 1M. I actually made a mistake and followed it backwards, I used 1M first. It still worked like a charm! The pain was minimized the next day, and by the following weekend, I was back to running again, with very mild discomfort. I saw a light discoloration on my skin that could have been a bruise. A few days later it was gone.

I unfortunately had the opportunity over the last two years to try the protocol 3 more times. Sprained ankle, pulled leg muscle while running, and the last incident happened when I was visiting my grandchildren in Kentucky. I was playing soccer with my granddaughter and slipped on the grass and fell. I thought I was ok, but I bruised my big toe…and I had forgotten to take my travel kit with me! I tried to forget about it, but a few hours later my foot swelled up so I could barely get my shoe on, and I could only put pressure on my heel when I walked.

It was the night before Thanksgiving, and stores were closed the next day. Thankfully a local health food store was still open, and my incredibly helpful husband drove me in the freezing rain to find it. (He told me to write that!) They had Arnica 200C. I took it right away, and took a dose every 6 hours for the first two days. By the second day the swelling was gone, and on day 3 and 4 I took the remedy twice a day. I was walking normally again by the fourth day. By the following week I was able to dance in my Zumba class and run with my dogs.

I think I will remember to have Arnica with me next time!

-- Marie --

Monday, January 9, 2017

Starting With Homeopathy - Natural Healing Gal

(by Natural Healing Gal, Marie)

When I was in my early 20’s, I developed food allergies. On our honeymoon, in Jamaica, I woke up to my eyes swollen almost completely shut…on the second day!

I had to see a doctor there, who gave me a cortisone injection in my arm. I had never had one before. The pain directly after the injection was so incredibly intense…it shot up and down my arm from my hand to my shoulder. I thought, oh, this is bad! Thankfully it subsided in an hour or two, and the swelling in my face was gone the next day although I was tired and in a fog. I was put on antihistamines daily, not realizing how sensitive I was to it. I thought what I was feeling was normal.

I was sleep walking, for the most part, through the days; everything was fuzzy and hazy. At some point I was brave enough to stop taking them, and I felt so much better. I decided I did not want to feel the side effects, and it began my journey in changing my diet so that I could get off the antihistamine fog for good. It was not easy, but from that point, everything changed!

I began to find that there are so many natural alternatives to products I was using that had little to no side effects; whether in my diet, on my skin, for my family, or in my home and yard. I realized how sensitive I was to chemicals in general, and I began to feel better as I slowly eliminated them.

There are different types of alternative products which include homeopathy, essential oils, herbs, Bach flower remedies, and supplements/healing foods.

Many years ago, a friend of mine told me about Homeopathy and I was hooked. I took some courses on it, did my research, bought a starter kit and I was on my way.

My favorite articles on the basics of homeopathy are here:

Homeopathy is often confused with other natural products. Homeopathy is completely separate, and stands on its own. There are over 600 homeopathic remedies, in different potencies (strengths). Several are simple, every day remedies that can be used easily by anyone, and there are many that would be best used working with a trained professional. I love how inexpensive and long lasting they are, and work incredibly well.

My kit has 100 remedies. I began with 30C, and as I researched more, I bought a 200C kit. In general, higher numbers are stronger potencies. I have had the same kits for over 12 years, only running out of a few remedies in all that time.

In classical homeopathy, remedies are diluted in water, and only one single remedy is used at a time. There are combination remedies out there that can be helpful, but each remedy has the potential to counteract others, so ideally it is best to stick with single remedies if you can. In an emergency, taking a couple of pellets on the tongue works well, but when diluted in water they are deeper acting and more potent.

Dilute the remedy by adding one pellet (yes, only one!) to 4 oz of clean water (bottled, spring, or filtered water is best). If you drop in two pellets by accident it is OK. Be careful not to touch the pellets with your fingers, and keep your remedies stored at room temperature.

To take one dose, tap the bottle with the diluted pellet ten times against the palm of your hand, and take one teaspoon by mouth. Do not mix with food or juice. If you are giving it to a pet and cannot get it into his mouth, you can add a single drop of milk to a single dose in a bowl to encourage him to lap it up. I like to use a syringe as my dogs will let me syringe water into their mouths. Take each subsequent dose the same way, usually every 4 to 6 hours. As the symptoms lessen, take a dose every 12 hours, and stop taking it when the symptoms are mild.

I keep remedies that I use often diluted in water in 12 oz bottles stored in the refrigerator, and label them. It lasts for a month or so, and can be used many times. That makes it easier to take the remedy quickly when I need to.

I will be telling you more about some of my favorite remedies next time!

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Sunday, January 8, 2017

Introducing Natural Healing Gal

Today starts a day where I'm making a wonderful new addition to my blog. I'm starting up the "Mind Body Connections" page. As of this point, there are three people identified to be a part of this, but with time, I hope to add others. I'm just a one-man band and there's only so much I can do in a day.

Marie is someone I recently came to know, but we really clicked and end up challenging each other. I welcome her insights and questions because they help me grow as an individual. They challenge me sometimes to explain what it is that I think I've learned, seeing if my conclusions really are solid or if I understand them fully.

Around the second Monday of every month, you should see a new post by Marie on a topic related to natural healing. Through difficulties in her own life, she had to find natural healing ways that helped her. This is what she will be sharing with you and I welcome Marie to the Mind Body Connections.

She also loves her dogs and has a wonderful husband. So, join me in welcoming Marie! Her first blog post will be coming on January 9, 2017.

For More information on Marie and all the articles she writes, go to the page on this blog, Natural Healing Gal - Mind Body Connections.

Monday, October 9, 2017

Monday, September 11, 2017

Monday, August 14, 2017

Keeping Bugs Off Of Me

Keeping Fleas and Ticks Off Of My Dogs

Monday, July 10, 2017

Fire Ants

Fleas

Ticks And Wasps

Monday, June 12, 2017

Monday, May 8, 2017

Does it really work?

An easy “pill to swallow”

For Further Reading:

Monday, April 10, 2017

National Homeopathy Center

Warnings And Cautions

About Homeopathy

Places To Purchase Calendula

Marie - Natural Healing Gal

Monday, March 13, 2017

Friday, March 3, 2017

Monday, February 13, 2017

Further Reading:

Monday, January 9, 2017

Sunday, January 8, 2017

Copyright

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