PART III:
There’s Fungus Amongst Us! Nail fungus is one of the most common “n’ail-ments” among us in terms of overall population…. So check your fingers AND your toes for this bad boy. It is an important feature to note because it is indicative of a systemic fungal infection that needs to be addressed on the nutritional level (ie: root cause).  As you will recall, it takes a solid 6 months to out grow a funky nail situation…… so anything you do to “fix the problem” will need to become a habit.  Some simple suggestions might include increasing healthy fermented food to a diet ( sugared up grocery store yogurt is not what we’re talking here), restricting intake of refined carbs and sugars, and  adding in a great probiotic (Life 9 immediately comes to mind!). Please note that as you are making your inner world “inhospitable to fungus” dieoff occurs, and you may feel that happen in the way of gas, bloating, belching, or even acne and/or other skin breakouts. Stick with it! 
In terms of creating a local “inhospitable environment”, I might suggest FAITHFULLY applying Young Living's Tea Tree and/or Eucalyptus essential oil twice a day to the nail and cuticle. Falling off the wagon will not hold in your favor if you treat this as a “come and go” action. Fungus is relentless and I find that only the faithful are successful. (PS: even prescription drugs require months to years of use when fighting fungus, and the liver often pays a high price for this type of chemical assault).
Koilonychia is commonly known as “spoon” nails for their scoop-like appearance. Spoon shaped nails  are associated with blood iron disorders on both end of the spectrum (anemia or hemochromatosis… too much iron). Pair this up with another health clue…… consume beets or beet juice and then check your urine and see if it is tinted red. This clue, called “beeturia” is another sign of possible iron deficiency or hemochromatosis.
NOW…. this part is very important. One of the reasons we LOVE  Young Living Super C Chewables is this: it is a “whole food” powder Vitamin C complex, not simply Ascorbic Acid (what is passed off cheaply as Vitamin C). Ascorbic Acid (I’m gonna call it “fake C” because truly, that’s what it is) increases the body’s ability to absorb iron in the intestines and can contribute to iron overload…. Not a good thing!  We tend to believe that iron deficiency is the bigger problem, but the reality is that TOO MUCH iron is an epidemic in our country because of iron fortified processed foods. The body only needs 1mg of iron a day (in most cases) to replace what it loses daily in stools, urine, and sweating. For point of reference, one cup of glyphosate laden Cheerios has 17mg of iron per cup…. But I digress!
Back to Super C! Whole Vitamin C complex (like we get with Super C chewables) DOESN’T do what Ascorbic Acid does. God’s design is perfect and whole Vitamin C complex …… like what you get with Super C chewables …. ASSISTS in hemoglobin’s function of carrying iron in the blood. So, my suggestion as a pharmacist would be this: if someone is concerned that they may be anemic, focus on the vitamin C source first (instead of dumping iron into the body) AND in the meantime, get quality blood work to confirm that you are indeed anemic. 
(PS: the body also needs the trace mineral copper to help the body utilize iron. No surprise, our super hero drink NingXia Red contains this trace mineral as do the YL dried wolfberries that are delicious to snack upon!)
Pitting of nails is interesting to me as I have seen it (as a farmgirl and amateur farrier) on some horse's hooves. Horse people have a valid saying…. No hoof, no horse.... an astute horse owner looks at hooves just the way you are now learning to look at your nails!
This nail anomaly manifests itself as small dents or pits on the surface of the nail plate (not to be confused with the ridges we talked about in part II). Pitting may be associated with alopecia, psoriasis, and other connective tissue disorders. Essentially all of these are related to inflammation within the body. Key components to decreasing inflammation within the body are to eliminate foods and toxic chemicals which promote inflammation (gluten, processed foods,  processed carbs and refined sugars immediately come to mind), and then to give the body the tools it needs so it can begin the  supportive repair process. Omega 3’s ( OmegaGize3 comes to mind if your diet is not high in these), Vitamin D (Super D) and adequate sulfur (SulfurZyme) for supporting the health of connective tissue are quick and easy starter steps.
I probably have one more week on fingernails and then we’ll move on to another part of the body! 
Hugs and love friends~ liz
 (give me a shout if OmegGize, SulfurZyme, Super C and others are foreign words to you and I can walk you thru how to access them)
#caringissharing
#applicationofknowledgeispower
#keepaneyeonyourfingernails
#goodmedicine
#goodmedicineisknowingthyselfwell
#ThanksYL

Our hands hold so many clues! If you missed part I (deciphering the lunula), you can find it here: http://www.goodmedicine.info/blog/health-clues-you-can-use-1://
​ ….. Now let’s move on to the whole fingernail. Today I’ll be covering a few more clues you can use to help “nail” down healthy habits and reverse possible deficiencies that ultimately will contribute to dis-ease.
What do healthy nails look like?
*When you are examining your nails, they need to be free from all fingernail polish. Because the nail bed is loaded with capillaries (tiny blood vessels) and fingernails grow relatively quickly, the ends of our fingers often can tip off on an early warning health concern. Nails are a snapshot of a person’s health over the previous 6 months…. So too, slow and steady wins the race when you are looking to repair or support what’s amiss.  
👍A healthy nail will have a transparent pink color and should be slightly shiny, smooth, and with a slightly (side to side) arched shape. Hardness of your nails comes from the presence of adequate sulfur needed for healthy keratin production (This is why we can thank YL’s Sulfurzyme... if you have been taking this supplement….. and have noticed stronger nails and hair).
*White Spots on nails: poor zinc load or excess refined sugar load
This is technically known as leukonychia and indicative of two things: a zinc “inadequacy” and/or an excess consumption of refined sugars. 
Zinc inadequacy is often common in people over the age of 60, but anyone can be susceptible! 
Other signs of a possible deficiency include thinning hair, acne, slow healing wounds,  worsening vision, worsening hearing or ringing in the ears, and an impaired immune system. Interestingly,  food doesn’t taste or smell much when you are zinc compromised (Does that sound familiar given the 2020 virus?... one of the key natural preventatives to the ‘rona is making sure you are getting adequate zinc in your diet!)
How do you know if your problem is excess sugar or a zinc deficiency? Do an honest assessment of your eating habits. Common foods high in zinc include: pumpkin seeds, grass fed beef, chickpeas, lentils, cocoa powder, cashews, yogurt or kefir, mushrooms, spinach, avocados, and chicken. If these are regular staples to your diet and refined sugar is kept to a minimum then I’ll bet your nails are free from white spots!  
What are some YL supplements that contain zinc? Hint: one of them is red! 
*Longitudinal Ridges: essential fatty acid deficiency
EFA’s are necessary for healthy skin, hair, heart, thyroid, prostate, brain, joints and nails! In addition essential fatty acid deficiency has been found to play a key role in inflammation, depression, and cognitive decline (including Alzheimer’s Disease).
Other signs of a possible EFA deficiency are dry scaly skin, a dry mouth, cracked fingertips or cracked heels (also a sign of a possible thyroid deficiency). 
Common foods high in EFA’s include flaxseed, chia seeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, “fatty fish” and fish oil, and brussel sprouts.
Which Young Living supplements might longitudinal ridges be telling you your body is craving if you don’t tend to each the above foods regularly? I can think of two: OmegaGize3 and MindWise.
*Clubbing: low oxygen in the blood
Clubbed fingernails curve downward at the tip of the finger. It is associated with conditions including lung, liver, or heart disease and both celiac and inflammatory bowel disease all of which, in their own way, affect oxygenation of blood. Clubbed fingers can be “tested” at home by using a simple visual test called “Schamroth’s Sign” (details easily found with a quick internet search).   Clubbing is also a possible clue for anemia. These all have the potential to be fairly serious in nature, and I would suggest reaching out to your favorite health professional if your fingernails (AND) other clues are tipping you off to something amiss that has not yet been “officially” diagnosed.  I have seen many many clubbed fingernails in my pharmacist days and it's a clue worth taking note of.
A healthy YL drinkable supplement that supports oxygenation of the blood immediately comes to mind.  I’ve yet to meet anyone who wouldn’t benefit from daily NingXia Red! 
The rest of the fingernail clues will have to wait until Part III! 
xoxo~ liz
www.goodmedicine.info (message me if you have no idea what Sulfurzyme, NingXia Red, OmegaGize3 or MindWise is, and would like to learn more!)  
#caringissharing
#applicationofknowledgeispower
#keepaneyeonyourfingernails
#goodmedicine
#goodmedicineisknowingthyselfwell
#ThanksYL

Hey friends! The labwork analysis company I am affiliated with is offering a discounted package called the "New Year's Resolution Panel" for the next 4 days only, with several weeks window to use the package once you purchase it.  The package is an excellent deal for the amount of information you'll get back about your current health status. Normally the price for all of the tests listed below is $479, but it is currently discounted at $379. 
Here's what's included.... health data in 6 categories of overall health: 👇
1. Inflammation ( hs-CRP and Serum Ferritin)
2. Metabolism (fasting glucose and HbA1c)
3. Cholesterol 
4. Hormones (specifically expanded thyroid panel and AM cortisol)
5. Nutrients (Vitamin D, Iron and TIBC, and Vit B12).... knowing your D levels is esp important right now as it's much harder to contract covid if your D levels are "high normal". Knowing these numbers will allow you to supplement properly.
6. Core Tests (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel and Complete Blood Count)
FAQ:
* The labwork is ordered online (just like you would order anything else on line. Super easy!). You will get your labwork orders emailed to you, and then you will take the orders to your local Quest Diagnostics and they will draw your blood. The results will be emailed directly to you.
* This can be done without seeing a doctor in all states with the exception of: New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Arizona.
As an added bonus, I would be happy to evaluate your labwork for you if you choose to order using the link below.   I do this as part of my health coaching on a very regular basis. The first 30 minute coaching call is complimentary... plenty of time to evaluate and discuss your labwork results.  Please message me for details.
Although these tests would not be covered thru insurance, HSA and FSA can usually be used. I can walk you thru that process if needed. Sadly, most insurance companies won't pay for many of these tests anyway until you are already diagnosed with a dis-ease. It's very backwards.... most times dis-eases can be averted thru early recognition of sub-clinical signs and symptoms (many of which are found in labwork such as this!)... and then the dis-ease itself can be avoided!
xoxo~ liz
#knowbetterdobetter 
#sharingiscaring 
#labworkisgoodmedicine
#whatyoudontknowCANhurtyou
#goodmedicine 
https://yourlabwork.com/2021-resolution-lab-offer-afl/?=929

​If the PCR test for the 'rona were a car, it would be labeled a lemon. Let that sink in......

Last week, I wrote about all the fascinating information you may learn from looking at the clues embedded (literally) in the nether regions of fingernails. You can find that post here if you need to catch up:  https://www.facebook.com/thewellnessprepper/posts/1794468800710090
A clue means next to nothing if it is singular….. You’ll  need at least a few clues if you are to be sure you are headed down the right path. 
Since we are only in the embryonic stages of becoming your own health detective, here are a few quick self assessment tools every good health detective needs:
*Honesty: If you are to be your own health detective, it’s important to acknowledge lifestyle choices and known consequences. The “it won’t happen to me” mindset will never work….nor will the hypochondriac’s lament. If you are going to do the detective work, be honest with yourself…...using your clues to improve your wellness quotient thru diet, lifestyle changes and using supplements (and/or YL essential oils) when you suspect support is needed will go a long way to turning back the physiological clock.
*Labwork: Every adult should have bloodwork  done annually (more often if there is a visible problem). Even the uninsured or “undoctored” can get bloodwork done without seeing a doctor (message me if you’d like help doing this). I’ll cover what I consider “essential” labwork in a future post, so at the very least you’ll know what labs to request your doctor run for you.
*One clue does not make a dis-ease or a diagnosis. #clustercluesforthewin
*How do you feel? Think this over. Do you feel great most days? If your answer hovers more around the “meh” answer, here’s where you’ll want to start. There are many many posts within this group that addresses supportive measures for most of these topics:
👉Do you get enough sleep?
👉Do you exercise vigorously and regularly?
👉Do you know your recent blood pressure and blood sugar numbers?
👉Do you have a “healthy” bowel movement daily?
👉Do you eat in a healthy manner? 
👉Do you have a close set of friends, participate in life fully, attend church?
👉Do you laugh often and enjoy life?
👉Do you avoid vices? (smoking and regular alcohol consumption especially)
*Consider keeping a health journal. Write down your clues as you find them. This will be very helpful to you as you learn how to be a better CEO of Y.O.U Incorporated in 2021, and will also help you decide which supplements or oils might need to be on your monthly “must haves” for 2021.
 *Know your limits. If you have found several clues pointing to a significant health issue, please contact your preferred health professional. Naturopaths, Integrative medicine doctors, and functional medicine doctors are my personal first choice as they tend to look beyond the symptoms and address the root cause.
Last week I read several comments when discussing less than prominent lunula..... Fewer than 8 prominent lunula may be an indication of low cellular oxygen, poor circulation, a chronically weakened immune system, a possible thyroid disorder, or a Vitamin B12 Deficiency. Lots of possibilities, right? If you didn’t know where to start (since this is a first clue), what daily Young Living supplement may be supportive of most of these conditions? (Hint: It's red ).
xoxo~liz
www.goodmedicine.info (if you haven't visited my website recently, it's been updated.... check it out!)
#sharingiscaring
#applicationofknowledgeispower
#goodmedicine
#ThanksYL
#NingXiaRedChallenge2021
#becomingyourownhealthdetective

Learning to “read” your own body is a skill that everyone learned to some degree in days gone by….. much like tracking an animal🐾, interpreting weather signs , or “reading” 🌱 plants in a forest. Failure to do any of these things well could have cost you your life. Now we tend to rely on professionals (or electronics) to work exclusively on our behalf. There are many problems to simply handing over life skills to someone else to manage, not the least of which is personal vulnerability….. I mean, who has a paper map in their car?... and what would happen if your GPS suddenly shut down?
When we wait for someone else to “find” the problem, a slippery slope may result. Just like having low air in a tire, it’s so much easier to air the tire back up and identify and fix the cause of the low tire pressure,  than it is to drive on it until it’s flat and damaged and has to be completely replaced (expensive!!) by a professional. 
Throughout 2021, I’ll be unpacking “health clues you can use” on here and on my blog (see my website: www.goodmedicine.info) to help you decide which supplements and essential oils may warrant further investigation or perhaps which lifestyle changes your body may benefit from. #wearealluniquelymade
Today, let’s unpack the lunula… finger by finger! 
The entire body is a storehouse of clues….. Especially hands and nails! Fingernails are a snapshot of the last 6 months of a person’s health….. The lunula is the crescent shaped area at the base of your fingernails... and that's the only part of the fingernail I'm talking about today. Ideally, you want  8 of your 10 fingernails to have prominent lunula. Fewer than 8 prominent lunulas on the fingernails may be an indication of low cellular oxygen or poor circulation overall.
Lunula size also differs among different ethnic groups, and they are commonly absent on children. Keeping an eye on “normal” within your individual body is what’s important. Changes in size of the lunula are ultimately what should raise a hairy eyebrow. Overall, if the lunulas grow in size to cover more than ⅓ of the nail bed, if may indicate an ongoing endocrine disorder or cardiovascular issue. If the lunulas have almost disappeared , it may indicate low blood pressure, a weakened immune system, thyroid gland disorder or a vitamin (B12) deficiency.
The overall color of the lunulas are important too (taking into consideration…. Did you squish it with a hammer recently?!?😣)
Gray: severe fatigue, digestion disorders, and possible nutrient deficiencies
White: healthy and natural. Should be several shades lighter than skin tone.
Purple: poor circulation and lack of oxygen.
Pink: may indicate lower levels of physical activity and lung function
Black: a common symptom of heavy metal poisoning
Half pink/ Half white accompanied by a thinner darker band of color: possible kidney dis-ease. 
Moving on to each finger......
Pinky Finger: the lunula should be nearly invisible. Its appearance may be an indication of the function of small intestines, kidneys, and heart.
Ring Finger: the lunula should be prominent, and may be related to the health of the reproductive and lymphatic systems, and to a lesser extent, the digestive system.
Middle Finger: should also be prominent, and may be related to the health of your brain and vascular system. If your lunula is absent on this finger, it may indicate a potential issue with blood vessels or higher blood pressure.
Index Finger: should also be prominent. If it is tiny or nearly gone, it may indicate issues with your intestine or pancreas (get your glucose checked! Home meters are very inexpensive and do not require a prescription). A tiny or absent lunula on this finger may also indicate a chronic (not acute) upper respiratory dis-ease.
Thumb: should also be prominent, but not more than 25% of your nail bed. It may be an indication of the workings of the lung and spleen.
Matthew 24:28 contains an interesting proverb. “For wherever the carcass is, there will be vultures gathered.” There is a wise lesson here. Seeing one clue does not mean much….. until you put them together with many clues (the difference between one vulture flying over head vs several circling). Clue gathering is a talent, but it’s one we can ALL cultivate…. After all, our ancestors did it with little to no formal education!
Let’s have some fun……...knowing what your lunulas just “told” you, how did what they say align with what you already know about your body? AND, which  YL essential oils or supplements is your body asking for based upon these clues?
xoxo~ liz
(www.goodmedicine.info) 👈 If you'd like more information in an individualized coaching format, 2021 is the year to do it!
#caringissharing
#applicationofknowledgeispower
#goodmedicine
#goodmedicineisknowingthyselfwell
#ThanksYL
PS: Do not interpret this post as medical advice.... My intention is not to diagnose, treat, or cure anyone…. only to raise awareness that you are the lone CEO of your body, and you can easily gather the tools to build a healthier life! Consider making 2021 your year to learn to read the roadmap that is your body!