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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 
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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  Happy New Year friends! What's got your fire lit for 2021? It's going to be an amazing year! In the meantime, here's the promo info for our Young Living January freebies for qualifying orders. Winter time can really do a number on our skin, and I'm thankful for all of these oils! xoxo~ liz  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  Merry Christmas Eve friends! Chef Mary Mick's recipes never disappoint! Do you have a tried and true favorite recipe that always shows up on Christmas morning? Share with us! xoxo~ liz
Two of the most well known essential oils, 💧Frankincense and 💧Myrrh, pretty much owe their claim to fame to three wise men over 2000 years ago. Now that’s some kind of successful advertising campaign! 😉 I’ve been celebrating this Christmas season by walking thru a 25 day devotional, “The Soul Felt its Worth”. Each morning has been like an Advent calendar for me as I learn history and relevant Bible verses and theology expressed through 25 traditional Christmas carols. As I write this, I’m on day 11: “We Three Kings”.....written in 1857 by American clergyman John Henry Hopkins Jr. Spoiler alert…. The Bible never put a number on the wise men who travelled to see infant Jesus ….. Nevertheless, this carol is where we get the 3 kings/wise men from! Although it’s considered a Christmas hymn, “We Three Kings” is really a poetic tribute to Jesus’ whole life, with Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh representing some very key attributes: (verse 3) “Born A King on Bethlehem’s plain Gold I bring to crown Him again King forever, ceasing never Over us all to reign.” Gold (referenced in verse 3) has been a sign of royalty, wealth, and power since nearly the beginning of time. Giving the gift of gold to Jesus was an acknowledgement to the birth of the King of Kings. (verse 4) “Frankincense to offer have I Incense owns a Deity nigh Prayer and praising, all men raising Worship Him, God most high” 💧Frankincense was used in the temple as an incense and anointing oil, and was a symbolic acknowledgement of God and spiritual leadership. (You will be learning so much about the historic healing properties of Frank and Myrrh next week! Stay tuned!!❤ ) (verse 5) “Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume Breathes of life of gathering gloom Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.” 💧Myrrh had many historical uses, including that as a key embalming agent. Its name comes from the word ‘marar’ which means bitterness. For myrrh oil to be attained, the tree’s heartwood must be pierced/tapped allowing the gum resin to trickle out in red droplets called 'tears'. The gift of myrrh symbolizes Jesus’ earthly a bitter death and subsequent burial. . And finally, the phrase “Guide us to Thy perfect Light” in verse 2 leads us to the truth of the matter. The kings/magi-astronomers were looking for something far more significant than the bright star they were following. They were looking for THE Light. ☀️ God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. ~ I John 1:5. Enjoy the journey this coming week friends! xoxo~liz #Hegaveusthetoolsinthegarden #sharingiscaring #WiseIndeed #GoldFrankincenseandMyrrh #oilsoftheBible #ThanksYL  If you are in the 40 to 60 something age category (as I am), have you noticed that a number of friends or acquaintances of similar age have complained of shoulder joint pain and stiffness? I used to assume that this was the result of normal wear and tear as we age, and sometimes that is the case. Often tho, I run into people who have shoulder pain and stiffness who cannot recall having had a memorable recent injury. Idiopathic (ie: unknown cause) frozen shoulder usually starts out with a dull or achy pain in only one shoulder, with pain that may extend to the shoulder muscles that wrap around the front of the arm that ultimately leads to long term limited mobility of that joint. It’s a painful and frustrating disorder because there isn’t really a known cure, and it nearly always “unfreezes” on its own within 6 months to 2 years, although injections to surgery are often recommended by western medicine. Idiopathic frozen shoulder (called “50 year old shoulder” in Eastern Medicine) happens much more often in women than in men, usually between the age of 40 and 60yrs old…… coincidentally around the time hormone production really wanes… specifically estrogen. When estrogen production decreases significantly, the flexibility of our connective tissue is affected. We may see it visibly as crepey looking skin, but make no mistake…. Your joints are being affected too….. In this case, specifically the shoulder capsule. Learning what I’ve learned over the last many years, I’ve chosen not to go down this path by doing the following things: 💪Regular full motion exercise (lots of shoulder work) 💪Yoga (faith based for me) 💪Supporting my hormones fully thru perimenopause (early stage) and menopause. I use Progessence Plus (on my forearms and on the carotid artery points on my neck nightly, and I also alternate between PD 80/20 and Femigen (one capsule a day works for me). According to my labwork, tho I am in menopause, my estrogen and progesterone levels have been maintained at healthy levels to keep my body functioning well. (I highly recommend hormone/thyroid labwork on at least a yearly basis if you are wanting physical confirmation of what’s working and what’s not working for you!... if you do not have a way to get this done, please message me and I can help you.) We are all built very differently, and are at different stages in our lives. If you support your hormones with a Young Living product(s)..... Tell me, what have you found that works for you, and how do you use it? xoxo~ liz www.goodmedicine.info (for access to education beyond the basics) #sharingiscaring #goodmedicine #goodmedicineisknowledge #caringforyourselfsoyoucancareforothers #ThanksYL  🎶🎶 Sleeeeep in heavenly peace......🎶 🎶 Roughly 1/3 of the US population has at least occasional problems either falling asleep or staying asleep, and over time, sleeplessness will become a tremendous health problem if not addressed properly. (emphasis on the properly!) There are more than 2 handfuls of common reasons why people have trouble sleeping (way more than I can cover here today). What's concerning are the number of people who ultimately turn to prescription medication to help get a "good night's " sleep. We have been conditioned to believe that if a doctor writes a prescription, the benefits surely outweigh the risks. While this is sometimes true, it's not always the case. "Sleeping pills" are what we call 'fast movers' in pharmacy.... ie: they are a popular item. Not so fast.... let's take a look at a few lesser known truths about some common (Ambien, Klonopin, Lunesta, Restoril, Xanax, Sonata) prescription sleep aids: 😴None of these are approved by the FDA for long term use, yet people are on them for years. The sleep achieved using any of these is not natural, refreshing, or restorative. The sleep you get is an artificial sleep and your body recognizes the difference. Our body does its repairing and recovering during "natural sleep", and that doesn't happen to any appreciable degree when using the above medications. (In addition, by their very definition, they are an additional toxin the body must now work extra hard to clean out.) 😴All of the above prescription meds also block the body from being able to produce melatonin (the very hormone that helps us sleep). This is one of the reasons this group of prescription medications become addictive.... because your body produces less and less melatonin the longer you are on them. 😴Melatonin "deficiency" is a bigger problem than just not being able to sleep without a pill.... normal melatonin levels are necessary for immune function, having energy throughout the day, having healthy breast tissue, effective brain function, supports healthy cardiovascular function, improved GUT (yes!) health, eye health, and pancreas function (Just to name a few! 😍) 😴Additionally, several of these prescription sleep aids also deplete a body's stores of Calcium and Vitamin D over time (which will ultimately affect your bones and about 400 other necessary functions in the body) 😬 I am thankful that we have natural choices instead of that which is advertised as 'simple' solutions in nearly every form of mainstream media you see. My favorite Young Living products that help me have a restful restorative night's sleep are RutaVala (on the base of the big toe and in the belly button! and Immupro .... it's back 🙌). I also love Frankincense and Peace & Calming!) What's your "go to" for a good night's sleep? xoxo~ liz www.goodmedicine.info (if you'd like to walk on the natural side of sleep and also get some personalized education perks, let's chat! ) #goodmedicine #goodmedicineisagoodnightssleep #ThanksYL #Godgaveuswhatweneedinthegarden  It's pie baking day! #HappyThanksgivingEve Here’s a recipe from my dear friendDanette Goodyear (tried, true, and DELICIOUS!!!). Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving prep day! Agave Pumpkin Pie * 1 12-inch pie crust (homemade or prepared organic einkorn, spelt, etc) * 2 cups fresh pumpkin purée or one 15-ounce can pumpkin purée * 3 eggs, lightly beaten * ¼ cup whole milk or heavy cream (or less almond milk) * ½ cup YL agave nectar, YL Yacon syrup or healthy sweetener of your choice * ½ tsp ground allspice * ½ tsp ground clove (or 1/2 drop YL Clove Vitality oil) * 2 tsp ground cinnamon (or 2 drops YL Cinnamon Vitality oil) * ½ tsp ground ginger (or 1/2 drop YL Ginger Vitality oil) * ¼ tsp ground nutmeg (or 1/2 drop YL Nutmeg Vitality oil) * ½ tsp sea salt * Dash of cardamom (or 1/2 drop YL Cardamom Vitality oil) 👉 Preheat the oven to 375° F. Combine the purée with the remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir until well blended. Pour into the prepared pastry and bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until the crust is nicely-browned and the custard set. Let cool on a rack before serving. Makes one 8-inch pie (so I double this recipe for more pies!). NOTE: I usually now do this WITHOUT the crust (grain-free!) and add an extra egg to make it more like a soufflé. Great to serve in individual ramekins. 😋👍 And I DON’T forget the whipped cream! xoxo~ liz www.goodmedicine.info (If you have begun ruminating about getting healthy in 2021, and are currently in my Young Living Family ..... or would like to be! ... let's chat! I offer a free 30 min health coaching session to get you pointed in the right direction😘) #sharingiscaring #ThanksYL #liveyourbestlife #goodmedicine #goodmedicineishealthyeating  One of the blessings of hanging out with mentors and Young Living community friends, is getting honest "been there"....done THAT anecdotal information. Those convos and personal stories have empowered me in ways that have rocked my health world. Don't ever turn down a chance to sit in on a "story swapping" session... sit down and soak up knowledge like a sponge..... you may come away with a life changing nugget for you or someone you love. #protip
Have you ever wondered.......... *Can you use essential oils where the sun doesn't shine? Absolutely! (caveat: I would only recommend using Young Living because of their purity... otherwise I change my answer to "all bets are off!") *Do you need to dilute? Absolutely! *Do you need to do your research on which oils would benefit (and which oils should be avoided!) the nether regions? Absolutely 100% YES! This is a DIY'er recipe to hang on to..... you just never know when you might need to make some!.... and It sounds like it might be a good idea to keep some organic cocoa butter on hand.... you just never know when you might need it! https://myvagina.com/make-herbal-suppository-pessary/ Btw, it takes a lot of chutzpah to own a website name like that😂💖! PS: men.... if you haven't run for the hills and made it to the bottom of this post, you have nether regions too 😉 . #soakandlearn xoxo~ liz www.goodmedicine.info #sharingiscaring #wecandomanythingswithoils #lifebeyonddryness #lifeaftermenopause #ThanksYL |
AuthorHey there....thanks for stopping by! This is me (Liz James)... an eclectic mixture of holistic (and organic) farmgirl meets pharmacist. It's a synergy that works well as I speak truths and dissect fact from fiction. If you're looking for healthier living options, you've come to the right place! Archives
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