Lavender

About a month ago, someone told me to stay away from Lavender essential oils.  "They mimic estrogen".  So I stopped and started asking questions and doing some research.  My sister, AKA My Angel, Research Rawkstar, and a plethora of knowledge, discovered some articles stating that it was a hormone disruptor.  We should stay away from it.  Especially adolescences.  Boys and girls.

We brought it up to someone we trust and her response was, "I don't buy that.  I have been using it on myself and my grandchildren for years."  You all know that that is NOT a good response or a good way to look at it.  I could do several posts on all the things we thought were safe and are now finding out that they are harmful.  Shoot.  My mom smoked while pregnant with all of us because the doctors said it was fine.  Zolfran (given for nausea) is starting to cause birth defects.  I first heard of Zolfran from a friend who took it EVERY day of her pregnancy.  I took it a few times during chemo.  Just because 100 people use it with no ill effects, doesn't prove it is not harmful.

We can get frustrated, shake our fists at the heavens, and ignore that we know this.  Or we can do our own research and find out what is best for you and your family - to use said product, limit it, or stay away from it.

One response I have gotten from people (after they have asked me about something that I am doing) is, "Everything causes cancer!  You can't get away from it!"  This drives me crazy.  First of all, if you are asking me, then I have to assume you WANT to know the truth.  So put down your defenses and learn.  Be your own advocate and sit down and research.  You should be researching for at least 30 minutes. There are so many websites out there so start marking the ones that seem legit and the most helpful.  You can find articles to support something and find just as many that debunk it.  So trust your gut.  And what works for you and yours.  I am VERY extreme, so lots of things that I can't do, you probably can.

Let's start with Lavender.  In essential oil form and all others.  Have you heard about Lavender being harmful?  Have you had an experience with it - good or bad?  Let's share and figure this out together.

Since this discovery, I have been reading all labels and it is in a lot of things - lotions, soaps, deodorants, lip balm, etc.  Start checking your labels and let me know what you find!

"You can't get away from it!"  I disagree.  You can minimize the amount of cancerous materials you put in your body and on your body.  Is it easy?  Of course not.  But it is worth it.  And it gets easier the longer you do it.  I know for myself, when I learn that something could possibly be harmful to our health, there is no way my family will use it.  And I have also learned that most things that are good for you are not easy.  But worth it.

We will take the time to to research which iPhone is the best.  Hours and hours.  And ask friends what they suggest.  Look at reviews.  Etc, etc, etc.  We should also have that much enthusiasm researching which foods and toiletries are the best.  It is the difference between feeling lousy and feeling good. You are worth it.

YOU ARE WORTH IT.

Rashes and Patches

After my last post, my intention was to write at least once a week.  And then I got hit by an ugly rash.  Not only is it ugly, but it is horribly itchy and painful.  Many nights I was up until 4 am with ice packs on it hoping that would help.  Unfortunately, it was from head to toe so could only do so much.  Here are a couple pictures of when it was the worst.

I still laugh when I see it.  Thank goodness I can laugh because, at the time, it wasn't funny at all.  I couldn't open my one eye and, when I looked down, I couldn't see past my swollen cheeks. The thought is that I am detoxing.  My rash is 80% better, but still here.  Going on almost 4 months.  Hopefully, that is what it is and all that nasty is coming out.

We also think it might be nightshades.  I have never heard of that so something new to learn.  Research it if you are interested.  Here is one of many websites explaining it.  http://www.thepaleomom.com/2013/08/what-are-nightshades.html 

At first, I was excited that maybe we could stop this rash, but then I realized my already limited diet would be cut in half.  And my excitement went down.  My typical day of eating looks like this:  eggs with garlic, onions, and peppers with a side of tomatoes.  Lunch is usually lentil past with organic tomato sauce.  Dinner is a huge salad with tomatoes, peppers, etc.  So LOTS of tomatoes.  These last 2 weeks have been very hard for me as far as food.  But it is making me venture out and figure out other food I CAN eat.

On a happier note, my hair is coming in fast.  Unfortunately, so is the gray.  And even more unfortunate, all the gray seems to be just in the center of my head.  So I have what looks like a reverse mohawk or the cool new hairdo everyone is sporting - The Skunk.  I also have this lovely rectangular patch in the back of my head which I affectionately call my UPC.

There is actually hair in the middle, but it is so grey, it looks bald.

I am still tired all the time and usually sleep for two hours during the day - after sleeping 9 hours at night.  I am ready for that to stop!  I am still blessed beyond measure and have friends coming over four out of the five days during the week so I can rest.  I was hoping I wouldn't need that any more, but over the holidays, I didn't take the rest and it showed up in headaches, more fatigue, and me being very short with everyone.  So between 2 and 5 every day, I will still be healing and trying not to feel guilty about leaving my boys for that long EVERY day.

I am also having hours of lots of energy and my body is getting stronger.  So I cannot complain.

I am scheduled for my 3-month MRI on Feb. 8.  Although I am confident it will be great, the fear creeps in.  So prayers for calmness until then.  I appreciate those prayers more than you know.

My plan is to post more.  Including recipes on Friday.  Food Fridays.  Yes, I am a dork.  But I am getting more and more emails and texts about my food.

Please comment if you have any requests for Food Friday!