Roots of Healthy Living

This is my daughter Katie. Katie has Down Syndrome and will turn nine this summer. Until this past year, she was always getting sick, especially with ear and sinus infections. It is typical for children with Down Syndrome to have small respiratory systems and be prone to having the slightest cold turn into an infection. She missed a lot of school and was always on round after round of antibiotics. (More of her story can be found under "Testimonials" at the top of the page, but suffice it to say that I felt there had to be a better way.)

It actually has been amazingly simple to keep her healthy. We have eliminated dairy, which has made a HUGE difference in her overall health. When she does get sick we know what to do. She even had the swine flu last fall and we were able to treat everything at home very successfully. Knowledge is power! So Katie and I would like to share some of our favorite remedies with you:

There are some VERY simple things that we do for colds, flu, sinus and ear infections at out house. These simple things have proven to be effective and have kept us out of the doctor's office for over a year now.

Most of these things you can make yourself or find at a healthfood store.

EAR INFECTIONS











Garlic Oil
**warm to room temperature (in hand or cup of hot water)
**place 2-3 drops in infected ear

Mullein Oil
**same thing as above, warm it and put 2-3 drops in infected ear.

Lobelia Tincture
**If there is a lot of pain we also add a drop of Lobelia tincture in each ear to help while the garlic and mullein are working. You can repeat this procedure 2-3 times a day if needed, while awake.

Dr. Christopher's Sen Sei Ointment
**Another product we love at our house is Dr. Christopher's Sen Sei Ointment. We rub a little under the ear and down the neck and it helps open up blockages so draining can happen.



COLDS AND FLU

Echinacea

At the first sign of illness we start Katie on Echinacea. She can swallow capsules but we usually use a glycerin tincture because it's sweet and she likes it. There are several great brands out there specifically made for kids. You can also do an herbal tea by following the same instructions as the Dandelion Root Tea.

Echinacea works by stimulating the immune system. We take it up to every hour if necessary if we are trying to fight off a new bug. It can also lose it's effectiveness after a while so I've heard it suggested to go six days on and 2 days off.

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
While people usually think of this as an herb to be used during pregnancy, it is FANTASTIC at wording off colds and flu. We make up a large amount, mix it with apple juice and have everyone drink as much as they can, especially that first couple of days. We use this along with water to drink and eliminate all other drinks until the illness has passed.



Elder Berries

Elder Berries are another great cold/flu remedy. Also a great tasting syrup or tincture for kids. This is very popular in Europe and easy to find in healthfood stores. There are many recipes online if you want to make your own.

Cayenne

If your child is older, cayenne is a great way to fight off a coming cold or flu. We have them take some cayenne capsules, take a hot bath or shower, take a couple more capsules, dress warm and go to bed. Often times the sweating action during the night will sweat out the virus and they will feel great in the morning.

Dr. Christopher's Infection Formula

My personal favorite remedy for Katie and the entire family is Dr. Christopher's Infection Formula. I have seen a sinus infection clear up in hours with this combination. I would never want to be without it.

I hope you will try some of these remedies and let me know what you think.

To kick off the summer, I thought we would talk about fruit.

Being from the northwest, berries are BIG in my family. U-pick farms dot the country side with strawberries, bluberries, and raspberries. Blackberries literally cover the hills and roadsides. Berries are one of the highest antioxidant foods out there, especially blueberries.

Stone fruits, like apricots and cherries are not far behind and equally delicious. Late summer and early fall will bring the arrival of melons, peaches, pears, grapes, and apples.

Thanks to modern transportation it is possible to have fresh fruit year round. Bananas, mangos, pineapples, kiwis, and papayas, (and more) grace the local produce section of the markets.

Freezing fruit is easy and preserves much of the nutritional content. During the winter a huge portion of our grocery bill goes to frozen fruit because no matter how much I freeze during the summer, we run out before October. We go through a LOT!

Smoothies, popcicles, and frozen fruit sorbets are where most of it goes. My kids come home from school every day and out come the blender, Magic Bullet, popcicle molds, juicer, and even just bowls and spoons (The popcorn popper usually comes out too, but that's a different article).






This is my daughter Hannah, with Katie making a smoothie and freezing the leftovers into popcicle molds.

Right now we are on a strawberry kick so these are fresh squeezed pineapple juice, bananas and frozen strawberries. If you like it a little sweeter, just add a little agave syrup or honey to the blender.

We have a Champion Juicer which will "juice" frozen fruits that come out like sorbet. My kids call it "that special fruit ice cream" you make. I'll include a picture the next time I make it.


Also, you have not lived until you drink a glass of fresh juice. Be warned though, it will ruin you to the store bought juices. It's a little thicker and tastes like nectar. The best part is the real energy burst you get because you are taking in the vitamins, minerals, and enzymes of several oranges in one glass.

Eating bowls of frozen cherries or blueberries, or fresh fruit salads, with sliced almonds and coconut are desserts within themselves.

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A couple of notes about fruit:

Many people say that they can't eat a lot of fruit because it causes serious intestional consequences. Fruit actually works as a wonderful cleanse for the body. If it is causing problems for you, it might signify a toxic condition. If you rarely eat fruit, when you do eat it the body cleanses as much toxicity out of the body as quickly as it can. Eating more fruits and vegetables and less cooked food will naturally help bring the body into a better balance.

Another thing that is misunderstood is fruit and diabetes. My mom is diabetic and was concerned about a three day juice cleanse that I put her on last summer. Make sure the juice you are drinking is real juice (blood from the fruit) and not reconstituted juice. She did great and her numbers were actually better on the cleanse.

This is absolutely positively the best tasting chocolate shake I have ever had. It's easy to make and if you do it right you will get an authentic energy surge. You can get a pretty good taste by doing it the easy way but won't get as many benefits. I will give you two ways to make it.

First, you need to invest in a really good blender. They can cost alot but are totally worth it if you are serious about changing your lifestyle. Most people own a Vitamix or Blend-tec, mine is a Kitchen-Aid and I love it!

Ok...now for the recipe:

The totally raw way:

1 cup raw almond milk (easy to make yourself)
1 TB of raw honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar
1 TB raw cacao powder (cocoa powder that has not been heated)
2 frozen bananans

Directions: Blend the first three ingredients. Add frozen bananas and blend until creamy. If too thick eat it with a spoon like icecream or add a little more milk and share it. Make sure to double it because everyone will want some!

The easier, still tastes good, but not totally raw way:

1 cup almond, rice, or soy milk
1 Tb honey, maple syrup or agave nectar
1 TB cocoa powder or carob powder
2 frozen bananas

Variations:

Have fun substituting some of the banana for frozen cherries or strawberries, or you could add a little mint flavoring...YUM!!!!

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FAQ's:

Why not milk?
In my health revolution I have found dairy products to be one of the most unhealthy foods we can eat. If you are serious about regaining health my challenge is to eliminate all dairy products for six weeks and see if many ailments start to disappear and you don't start to feel a LOT better. I will do a dairy article soon.

How do you make Raw Almond Milk?
The easiest way I know of is to soak almonds overnight.
Blend 1/2 cup almonds to 2 cups distilled water
Add 1 TB sweetener (raw honey, maple syrup or agave nectar)
Strain through cheese cloth or coffee filter and WA LA!!!

**note:
- we keep a jar of soaked almonds in our fridge so they are always on hand.
If you are really lazy (like me) just make the milk...don't strain, add the rest of shake ingredients (doubling everything) and your done.

Where do you find raw honey, raw cacao powder and what is the difference?
I will do a complete article of raw foods in the future but here is the Reader's Digest version: Raw is food that has not been heated and pasteurized killing a lot of the health benefits of that particular food. You can find raw honey and raw cacao powder in most health food stores.

How do you blend up frozen bananas?
I always buy extra bananas and let them ripen well, peel and cut them in half, flash freeze and bag in large gallon bags. If you have a great blender it is not problem to blend them up. You could try smaller pieces the first time if you are worried. You can not freeze enough bananas though. It's what gives your shakes and smoothies that creamy consistency.

Ok, I know what you're thinking...weeds? Seriously? Here me out on this. One amazing thing I have learned is how great those weeds are that we've been taught to despise. When I first learned about Dandelions and how medicinal they are I wondered if I was being taken in. All I knew about them was how everyone sprayed religiously to eliminate them from their lawns. I have seen first hand the miracle healing power they contain. Don't dismiss the delicious dandelion...(yes I said delicious).

Did you know...

Dandelions are dynamic accumulators. What does that mean? They have the ability to extract those inorganic minerals from the soil and turn them into organic minerals we can use. Many plants are great at extracting a certain mineral but dandelion is great at extracting many minerals, including:

sodium, silica, sulfur, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc, cobalt, copper and other trace minerals.

-Did you know that they are also a rich source of vitamin A as well as B1, B2, B3, B5, Folic Acid, B12, and vitamins E, C, H, P (bioflavanoids) and more.

-Did you know dandelion has incredible healing properties for the liver and gall bladder? It is also known as a blood purifier, mild diuretic, and can even help with allergies, arthritis, menstrual cramps, lower back pain, anemia, eczema and acne. It has helpd with stimulating lactation, and even stomachaches. Because of the high vitamin A content it has helped many with vision problems.

-Did you know that it can be a great natural substitute for a water pill? One of the side effects from a "water pill" is losing potassium which helps to regulate heart rhythm. Because dandelion is high in potassium and also works as a mild diuretic it can help remedy this situation. My mother, father, and mother-in-law have all switched to Dandelion and found terrific results.

-Did you know that you can eat the whole plant, roots and all? Many people use the young leaves as salad greens, The milky stems are great for stimulating the liver. My personal favorite are the roots. I tried Dandelion Root Tea a few weeks ago for the first time and was surprised and how great it tasted. You can use fresh roots or dried. The roasted roots are often used as a coffee substitute. Many people like to use the root tea as a tonic in the spring to clean the liver after a harsh winter of heavy foods. I've even heard of people using the flower tops to make jelly. You can find dandelion in most health food stores. You can take capsules, tinctures, drink the tea, or find the greens in the produce section. Or be adventurous and go on a dandelion hunt with your family. So have fun, make friends with the dandelion, stop killing them and start harvesting them!

Recipe for Dandelion Root Tea:




* Place roots & cold distilled water in stainless steel pan.
(about a 1-2 tsp per cup of water)
* Slowly bring to a simmer
* Simmer anywhere from 15-30 minutes (the longer the better)
* Strain out the roots

Enjoy!




I like to squirt a little fresh lemon juice and honey in mine!

Water is the spring of life. We can survive without food for a relatively long time but only a short time without water. Is there a difference in the water we drink? Can one type of water be better than another? YES!!!

Distilled water is the very best type of water to drink. It is simply pure water, pure hydrogen and oxygen. Here are some facts you may or may not know about water:

1) There are over 700 potentially harmful minerals and chemicals found in our drinking water.

2) It is important to know that our understanding of minerals is incorrect. Contrary to popular opinion our body can not assimilate inorganic minerals. In fact, the opposite is true. We break them down into small enough particles so our bodies can take them in but they can't use them. What happens? Those minerals accumulate in our body causing problems (Think of corrosion on pipes). Calcium deposits line our arteries, we develop bone spurs, arthritis can develop where they have settled on the joints, etc. It is important to get our minerals from organic (plant) sources and not from mineral enhanced water (rock) sources.

3)One glass of fresh squeezed orange juice has more usable minerals in it than 30 gallons of water.

4) Distilled water is an empty water. By virtue of its nature it draws other substances into it. So by drinking a lot of distilled water (up to a gallon a day) those inorganic minerals that have accumulated in your body can be cleaned out bringing relief from pain and better overall health.

My personal experience with this is remarkable. Last February I switched to distilled water along with other diet changes. Chronic pain I had suffered in my neck and shoulders for years gradually began to disappear until now I am virtually pain free.

I once heard about a study that was done on an Alzheimers Clinic in Louisianna where nothing was changed but placing the patients on distilled water and fresh air and 70% of the patients showed improvement.

5) Because distilled water is an empty water it is up to 30% more effective at drawing out the medicinal properties of your herbal teas.

6) You can purchase distilled water at most grocery stores very inexpensively or you can make your own. There are many different options for a home distiller in all price ranges.


Water in general is so critical to our health and yet few of us get enough to drink. Many find water relieves headache pain, helps keep them regular, and can help hydrate and soften skin, helps flush out the lymph system carrying toxins out of the body and can even help with weight loss. So the question is...how much water have you had to drink today?

I run into so many people who have never made a cup of loose leaf tea. I found this video and had to share it. Please share your favorite cup of tea...

One of the first things I learned when I began to study natural healing is the wonderful power of cayenne. Cayenne is one of my favorite medicinal herbs and one I would never be without. I carry a tincture in my purse as well as an ointment and have a large supply in my kitchen cupboard.

My first experience with cayenne was last spring when I sliced through my thumb with a kitchen knife. I had heard that cayenne could stop bleeding in seconds so I decided to give it a try. I put a tsp in a glass of water and drank it down. I counted to ten and watched the bleeding slow down and stop. IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!! It worked! I have used it many times since and it has never failed.

Cayenne is fabulous heart tonic and has the ability to equalize blood pressure instantly. Dr. Christopher (Founder of the School of Natural Healing) swares he never lost a patient to a heart attack. He has said that even adminstering cayenne even in the middle of a heart attack can stop it instantly.

Cayenne has also been known to pull someone out of shock and or hypothermia. This is one reason I carry a tincture of cayenne in my purse. I carry ointment because of the heat. Cayenne can pull oxygen to the area of injury facilitating faster healing.

It has been known to cure stomach ulcers, help with high blood pressure, and used in combination with other herbs help increase their overall effectiveness.

If you're going to be successful at changing your lifestyle, you have to have chocolate to fall back on...right? But, it needs to be delicious and good for you, right? This one keeps my hand out of the cookie jar! I discovered a variation of this recipe at a recent class I was taking. It has been a "staple" ever since! The combinations are as endless as your personal creativity. Here are the basic guidelines:

Place wet ingredients in a bowl, add your dry ingredients and other extras and stir in until a dough like consistency. Roll into balls and roll in extras or dip in chocolate. These will keep in the fridge for quite awhile (although I've never had to test this).

Nut Butters:
Tahini (Raw or Roasted)
Peanut Butter
Cashew Butter, Almond Butter...you get the idea

Sweeteners:
Molasses (great source of vitamins and minerals)
Raw Honey
Real Maple Syrup

Dry Ingredients
Ground Flaxseed
Ground Sesame Seeds
Raw Cacao or Raw Carob Powder
(Whatever else you come up with...)

Extras:
Add: raisins, dried fruit, chopped nuts, cinnamon, etc.
Roll in coconut, chopped nuts, dip in chocolate, etc.

Potatos, carrots, onions, radishes, beets, etc. are just the beginning of the wonderful root vegetables we can eat that add to our health. Maybe a little less obvious are the medicinal plant roots that also add to our health, like Echinacea, Golden Seal, Burdock and yes, even Ginger.

While these roots are incorporated into a healthy living style it is not the primary reason I chose this title. I love the imagery of getting back to our roots,and recapturing the health that our grandparents and great grandparents enjoyed. Eating produce from the garden, making a cup of camomile tea, in general, finding empowerment to take our health back is the goal of this blog.

I can't wait to start sharing everything I have learned so far and what I continue to learn everyday with all of you!

Is that what you call it? I don't even know the correct terminology. So anyone reading this might wonder what my motivation is for starting this blog. This past year, my life has changed dramatically and I have a desire to share what I have learned and am learning with everyone I can.

February of 2009 found me overweight, tired, sluggish, and in constant pain. At my worst I was averaging 2-3 migraines a week and my neck and shoulders hurt so badly that I would wake up paralyzed in the middle of the night. I would have to take my left hand, slide it under my neck and move to a different position. I was seriously getting concerned for my health and the quality of my life as a mom. How can you be a good mom when all you can do is take a pain pill and go lie down until the migraine goes away?

Another motivation for change is my sweet Katie. She is my eight year old daughter with Down Syndrome. Katie was constantly sick with chronic sinus and ear infections. We were in the Doctor's office every other week for another round of antibiotics. I knew they were hard on her little body and began searching for another way.

Eventually I decided to jump into natural healing with both feet. I looked around and ended up signing up with the School of Natural Healing Online. From the day I started my first class I have not looked back and our lives are so much better. I have lost 30+ pounds and weigh less than when I got married. My husband lost over 50 pounds. My headaches are very rare and Katie has not been to the doctor in over a year.

I hope to share through this blog some of our incredible experiences (and difficulties) in trying to change our lifestyle. It's not easy to change but it is worth it!