Cheap ways to start feeling better

[Guest guest]

Sometimes we forget how overwhelming it is to find a

place to start our recovery . . . It can mean some big

lifestyle changes. If so, don't try to do everything

at once or you won't stick with it! If you can make a

committment (to yourself) to try each new behavior for

three weeks, you'll find it more comfortable.

Keep a journal of how you feel and what you are doing

- This may sound like a waste of time. . . However,

you will find it invaluable in understanding how your

body responds.

This is basically the " program " I try to follow. IF I

stay close to this program, I feel really well. BUT

when I stray too far, I crash and it can take months

to get back to feeling well.

First and foremost is drinking plenty of pure,

non-chlorinated water. 1/2 ounce per pound of body

weight.

Diet . . . Sugar is a huge NO-NO. . . Sugar feeds the

negative organisms that keep your body acid and allows

organisms like Candida and fungus to grow. . .

Stopping sugar can be very hard because, if you have a

fungal problem, those little nasties will scream " FEED

ME, FEED ME, FEED ME " until they start dying off.

Fasting is one good way to stave those little rascals

quickly. I'll leave it to Patty to explain fasting

techniques. It sounds worse that it really is!

There are foods that are healthy foods and some that

are very poor foods! . . . Deep frying and microwaving

foods destroy the nutrients . . . Pork (of any form)

interferes with healthy blood cells. . . . Then there

are the empty refined grains that fill, fatten, but

don't nourish. It would be impossible to list all the

foods here, so I suggest reading " The Maker's Diet "

One of nature's best medicinal foods is fresh, raw,

crushed garlic. . . It is a natural antibiotic,

antifungal and antioxident. Your body will not develop

resistance to it as it does drugs. Still, you will

want to start slow and build up to as many as 12

cloves a day. . . You can buy empty gel capsules that

you can use to scrape the garlic from the press. . .

If you absolutely can't stand raw garlic, there are

some freeze-dried commerical products that will help -

although a long second best. Talk to someone at the

health food store about the various types.

Espom salt baths or clay baths . . . Since the fatty

tissues store toxins, this can be very beneficial. . .

Some use hydrogen peroxide in the water too.

Liver flushes can move toxin out slowly or quickly,

depending on the flush chosen. I prefer the fast flush

using Epsom salts, grapefruit juice and olive oil . .

.. But there are many others.

A coffee enema (with organic coffee) can provide fast

relief too. . . Again, Patty is the one to explain how

it works.

Probiotics are essential, unless you are eating a

exceptionally good diet of organic, raw and fermented

foods. This one is going to cost a moderate amount of

money . . . I believe that Garden of Life's Primal

Defense is the best available . . . But start with one

bottle of Fungal Defense. . . . The reason is that,

when your immune system is whacked, or you have been

on antibiotics or steriods, the good organisms in your

body are killed off along with the bad ones. . .

Probiotics replace these organisms. However, it takes

time for them to colonize! We're talking about months,

not days!

Exercise is essential too . . . I'm not talking about

strenous exercise. . . unless you are in shape. The

body is built to move! When you've been chronically

ill, all your muscles (including your heart) are out

of shape. This keeps the body fluids from circulating

properly . . . resulting in swollen lymph glands,

sluggish digestive system, inadequately nourished

cells, etc.. Even if you think you can't exercise at

all, start by moving at least five minutes a day and

add more time, more activity on a daily basis.

Exercise releases endorphins that get rid of

depression and lead to a sense of well-being.

I've learned to listen to my body . . . When I get the

urge to quit and rest, if I do, I can be ready to go

again in minutes. If I override this feeling and keep

going, it may take days to rebound.

Get sufficient sleep . . . There are a few techniques

you can use . . . a hot shower or bath, Sleep Time

tea, a quieting atmosphere . . . and, in my case,

sleep meds. The body rebuilds itself during sleep.

They've found they can induce fibromyalgia in ANYONE

by depriving them of sleep long enough.

As far as supplements . . . you can't go wrong with

quality multivitamin, calcium/magnesium, or cod liver

oil. I prefer Garden of Life products here again,

because they are formulated to be accepted by your

body as nourishment, rather than a vitamin/mineral

dump.

Deep theraputic massage is outstanding . . . This one

can get expensive - but it doesn't have to be. You can

learn massage techinques through books . . . You can

work with a massage buddy. You can work on parts of

your own body, even if you can't reach everything. Be

sure to drink plenty of water along with massage

because you will want to flush the toxins that are

released.

Managing stress is a must . . . Some stress is

healthy! . . . It motivates you to get going - I'm not

talking about that kind of stress. Make a list of the

things that are stressing you. Divide it in two parts

.. . . One that you can do something about, the other

that you have no control over. . . Use the first list

as a Task list and start working down it. . . Title

the other list Release list. Stewing over these things

is pointless . . . Let it go . . . Whenever these

things come to mind, repeat to yourself " Let it go. "

and mentally move on to something else.

Meditation and visualization are outstanding . . .

's visulization exercise is great! . . . There

are plenty of books that describe these powerful

techinques . . .

This one is free - but the hardest of all . . Release

the anger you hold towards everybody! . . . Anger is

like acid. It destroys the vessel that holds it. It

does nothing to the person with whom you're angry! . .

.. One way I've found very effective is to pray for the

person with whom I'm angry. Ask God to take charge,

then turn it over to God. . . .

I'm probably missing something . . . but there are

plenty here to start working on!

Hugs and prayers,

Rogene