Flare ups and Missing Cars...

Yesterday I wore jeans, a t-shirt and a sweater.  No, I haven’t run out of ideas to blog about and am now telling you what I wore.  Stay with me here…until yesterday for a week I’ve worn nothing but pajamas and I’ve been stuck in the bed unable to walk.  I had the first Fibromyalgia Flare this past week that I’ve had in a long time. What does a flare-up feel like? The best description I can come up with is an electrical storm inside your body. You know what it feels like when you hit your funnybone and it isn’t funny? Well imagine that magnified and all over your body. I wore nothing but soft pajamas because even clothing or a blanket can feel painful to the touch – like a straightjacket tightening on my muscles.

Day after day of lying in the bed in pain and one excruciating afternoon of going to the doctor knowing that he couldn’t do anything but knowing I needed a note for work. It took Ben, a nurse and a cane and a wheelchair to get me in and out of the car that day.  My doc agreed with my diagnosis and sent me home to bed after offering me mega pain killers which I declined as I think he suspected I would.

What caused this flare?  Well my pain triggers traditionally are stress, poor sleeping patterns, chemicals, and weather changes but who knows specifically what triggered this episode or any episode. Perhaps a delayed response to the injections for my hip? So does this mean my organic lifestyle is failing me? I don’t think so because this flare lasted a week. Yes, this is only day 2 of wearing jeans and I’m on my cane again something I haven’t used in almost a year but it only lasted one week and not months as it has in the past.  I think that proves I’m doing something right.

So here I am a week later, still hurting but nothing like before and wearing jeans - quite the accomplishment. So what does one do all week while lying in bed staring at the ceiling?  Well for me it was sleeping for the most part.  I followed my cat’s example and slept more hours than I was awake. When I was awake, I spent a lot of time reading on my Kindle, occasionally checking work email on my iPhone and on one particular morning talking on the phone with a police detective from Kansas City when he called to inform me that Kaitlyn’s car was stolen.

That day wasn’t the best on the stress meter but that was out of my control.  Fortunately, the car was found and so was the criminal.  Unfortunately, we have to pay to repair the damage done to the car. Fortunately, it was minimal since unfortunately this guy was a pro at stealing cars and yes, we are pressing charges.

I also stared at the ceiling. A lot.  Boring perhaps but about all I could handle most of the time. When I did read, I did some research on herbs and treatments and will continue to do so. I’m still a believer in my organic lifestyle and I’m still a believer in herbal treatments and cures.  I used them throughout this week and I think it helped.

I’m not completely well yet but I’m working on it and hey, I can wear jeans again.

Take care of yourselves and your families.

Chelle

"Witch Doctor" Michelle

It’s that time of year when I intentionally add spiders and dead leaves to my décor so what better time than now to talk about your neighborhood, friendly witch doctor – me!  J  

My good friend, Sandy, refers to me as the witch doctor and my husband and daughters do too.  Sandy rides with me at lunch and I routinely stop in at Garners Natural Life store here in Greenville, SC (it is there or the Wiccan store here in Greenville and Garners keeps regular business hours! J)  to pick up bulk herbs or as Sandy calls them my witch doctoring supplies.  Lol.  I don’t mind being called the witch doctor, but I think the question remains for some as to why I go that route.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m a big proponent of modern medicine.  I worked for many years in doctors’ offices both at a pediatrician’s office and at a dermatologist’s office.  My oldest daughter would not be alive and well today were it not for a great team of doctors at Duke University Hospital. 

I’ve also seen the other side of medicine as a long-term misdiagnosed patient and as a medical malpractice paralegal.  I know there are risks involved in the medical world some known and some unknown. I’ve been a patient in hospitals and received excellent care and I've also received some not so great care.  I think the world of my family doctor and other specialists I go to – so why the witch doctor component of my life?

Mainly because I understand how the system works.  Modern medicine knows a lot about our bodies and how they work.  They know how medications and treatments interact with our bodies as well but they don’t know everything.  Most of those miracle drugs everyone depends upon come from plant originally.  Big pharmaceutical companies take those plants and then “chemicalize” the components to make their medicines.  I like to think I’m skipping the middle man. J

Another question I am asked is how do I know my herbal treatments are safe?  That’s a great question and here’s the thing, I don’t always but I research, I ask questions and I talk to herbalists and my family doctor. I could try something and then have an allergic reaction because I haven't used that herb before or I just developed an allergy. That can also happen with a new prescription as well.  I do know when I read the inserts that come with my big pharma meds they aren’t 100% safe either even when taken properly.  Why?  Because there are side effects.  In other words, there’s always a risk.

I’m an especially weird one (Yeah, yeah.  I know, you already knew that, right? Lol.) and often have opposite reactions to pharma meds such as if they are supposed to make you sleepy I’m hyped up, and so on. I find I don’t have those responses to herbal options.  Why?  I have NO idea.

I also like the idea of taking care of myself for minor things.  I mean, if I’m having a heart attack or stroke, you can bet I’m heading to the Emergency room.  But if I’m having a headache or a sore throat, I like handling that myself with herbal cures and common sense.

If you decide to go the witch doctor route too there are some things you need to know.  First, let your medical doctor know what herbal supplements you take so that he/she can plan accordingly for your medications to avoid interactions.  Just because they are natural doesn’t mean they don’t interact. Next, find an herbalist and visit them.  Buy some good books and research for yourself.  Or search things on the internet but be careful where you get your information from.  I like the University of Maryland Medical Center website www.umm.edu which has lots of articles regarding alternative medicine and herbal usage.  To find a qualified herbalist in your area www.americanherbalistsguild.com/fundamentals  is the site to head to and for a naturopathic physician, www.naturopathic.org is the place to go.

So, what does this witch doctor keep on hand and what books do I recommend?  Since I’m a modern witch doctor, all of my books are on my Kindle. J  I like Heal With Essential Oil by Rebecca Park Totilo, Homemade Health and Beauty by Sandra Calixto, and A Green Witch’s Formulary by Deborah J. Martin.  No, I don’t believe in the “magical” portion of her book of Ms. Martin’s book but the first part has some great herbal medicinal recipes and you get knowledge where you can.  The Foxfire series of books have some great herbal recipes as well.

For my family apothecary, I keep small amounts of herbs in small Mason jars, labeled clearly and I have a notebook with all my recipes and doses. I like to keep the following on hand at all times:

·         Lavender (of course!)

·         Vitamin E oil

·         Beeswax

·         Arnica montana tablets

·         Slippery Elm

·         Dried Elderberries

·         Echinacea

·         Comfrey

·         Bloodroot

·         Calendula flowers

·         Rosehips

·         Lemon Balm

·         Hyssop

·         Yarrow

·         White Willow Bark, chips

·         Raspberry Leaf

·         Green Clay

·         Citric Acid

·         Licorice Sticks

·         White Sage

·         Marshmallow Root

·         Feverfew

·         Peppermint

·         German Chamomile

·         Cinnamon Sticks

·         Dead Sea Salt

·         Reusable Cotton bags

·         Metal tea infuser

·         Natural Grapeseed oil

·         Lavender essential oil

·         Eucalyptus essential oil

·         Lemongrass essential oil

·         Lemon essential oil

·         Clary Sage essential oil

·         Chamomile Roman essential oil

·         Sweet Orange essential oil

·         Rosemary essential oil

·         Peppermint essential oil

·         Tea Tree essential oil

·         doTERRA Deep Blue essential oil blend

·         Apple Cider Vinegar

So what do I do with all these goodies? Well, it depends on the issue.

Let’s say I have a headache. I would make a tea and rub my temples with Lavender Oil.  Here is my headache tea recipe: 

Headache Tea 

2 parts Lemon balm

1 part Feverfew

1 part Lavender

Sometimes my witch doctoring is for beauty reasons.  I have dry skin so I make a clay mask for my skin.  Here is my mask recipe:

Dry Skin Mask

 1 part clay

2 parts water

Add powdered Comfrey, Ginger and Slippery Elm.  Grind with a mortar and pestle until blended well.  Leave mask on for 10 minutes and then rinse with warm water. 

If I have a cut, I would apply Yarrow to stop the bleeding and to disinfect. Chamomile makes a good tea for colic or nerves or to help you sleep. Red Raspberry Leaf is a wonderful tonic herb to aid and regulate women's reproductive system, high in iron; helpful in times of sickness and fever. Arnica is great for reducing bruising.  Vitamin E oil for reducing scarring.

So how about you?  Are you a witch doctor too?  J If so, email me at lavenderatthegate@gmail.com or comment below to share your recipes that are helpful to you and your family. 

Take care of yourself and your family!

~Chelle