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7 Home Remedies for Horse and Human

By Patti Bartsch, Ph.D. | Published: May 7, 2012

The philosophy behind Naturally Unbridled is to help people to learn to take care of themselves as well as they do their horses.  We all understand that these horses are in our care and we take that responsibility seriously.  We make sure they are getting a healthy diet, proper exercise and relaxation, and optimal health care and maintenance – all the while we are stressed out, not sleeping, and eating from the microwave.  One little trick I’ve learned is that if I teach people about natural things they can do to make their horse healthier, they might apply those tools to their own lives.  So here are 7 simple natural health tips for horse and human alike!

Melaleuca - or Tea Tree Oil

1) Replace antiseptic ointments with Tea Tree (melaleuca) oil.  Have you ever taken a good look at that furacin/furazone ointment in your tack box?  Did you ever notice that it says “causes cancer in laboratory rats” right on the container?  Maybe it’s me but personally, I don’t want to put any cancer-causing agents on me or my horse.  Replace that nastiness with all natural, 100% pure Tea Tree oil.  It doesn’t sting and has tremendous antiseptic properties.  You can also replace your own antibiotic/antiseptic ointment with Tea Tree oil too!  Great for pimples and cold sores!

2) Peppermint Essential Oil for gas or digestive upset.    My personal (and professional) preference is to use only Young Living Therapeutic-Grade essential oils due to their high level of purity and efficacy.  If you have a horse with gas, you can put a drop of peppermint essential oil on your finger and rub it on the gum under the top lip.  You can also pour several drops into their mouth.  For a person with gas or any digestive upset, a single drop of peppermint essential oil in a glass of water will work wonders.  You can also put a drop on your neck and your temples to squelch a headache.

Arnica Gel

3) Arnica gel for bumps, bruises, sprains & strains.  Arnica is a homeopathic remedy that is excellent for injuries.  The sooner you get it on the better.  It reduces swelling, bruising, and inflammation and speeds up healing time.  Use it on horses and use it on yourself.  It’s available at most drugstores and nearly all health food stores.  Bowed tendons, sprained ankles, kicks, and the like will all benefit from arnica.

Lavender is great for skin issues!

4) Lavender Essential Oil for skin trouble.  Rashes, cuts, and bug bites all respond well to Lavender essential oil.  Burns do too.  You can even pour therapeutic-grade lavender oil directly on an open wound or sutures.  The therapeutic benefits of lavender oil were discovered in a perfume laboratory accident where one of the chemists was badly burned.  He thought he was sticking his arm in a vat of water but it was a vat of lavender essential oil.  The pain immediately subsided and he healed without scarring.  Athlete’s foot and fungal infections respond well to lavender essential oil too.

5) Chamomile Tea for hives and allergies.  German chamomile has tremendous antihistamine properties.  If you or your horse suffers from allergies, some chamomile tea can help.  When my mare had hives last summer, I made some strong German chamomile tea and poured it over pellets and she ate it up and her hives went away.  Feel free to sip some of this tea too.  In addition to the antihistamine properties, it is also relaxing and aids in digestion which is why so many mothers (in Germany) send their babies to bed with a bottle full of chamomile tea.

Chamomile

6) Raw Apple Cider Vinegar for detoxification and general health.  Let me emphasize that we are talking about RAW apple cider vinegar that is cloudy and may say “with the mother” on the bottle.  Braggs is a popular brand.  For horses, you can pour it right on their feed or water and it can help to reduce inflammation and arthritis and it helps to support the immune system so they can fight off bacterial and fungal infections better.  For humans, I typically suggest a cup of hot water with a tablespoon (or so) of raw apple cider vinegar and, if you prefer, a dollop of honey.  Sip like tea.  As it cools, it becomes less palatable so I recommend it hot.  Among many other benefits, a significant reduction in symptoms of gout is common as is improved digestion.  A great tonic for the morning!

7) “Thieves” essential oil blend is great for fighting many types of infections.  The name is derived from the days of the plague when a band of thieves was going around stealing from the dead and the dying without contracting the plague.  When they were apprehended they gave up their secret formula of herbs and spices that they used to keep from getting sick.  These same herbs and spices were used to formulate “Thieves” essential oil.  For horses, it is great for treating thrush, infections, and proud flesh.  Humans can apply this oil to the bottoms of their feet to fight off any infections or diffuse it into the air to kill mold, bacteria and other pathogens.  Also great for killing mold on leather!

All of the remedies mentioned here have lots of additional benefits.  I have treated all of my animals – from horses to dogs, cats, and chickens with the holistic remedies I have in my house for my family.  We are all from nature so natural remedies can work on all of us.  Some remedies require specific techniques for application so it is best if you can work with someone who is well-versed in using the remedy so you get the best results.
To learn more about natural remedies for horses and humans, register for my NUwsletter at www.NaturallyUnbridled.com and find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/NaturallyUnbridled. 

To purchase Therapeutic-Grade essential oils, go to www.YoungLiving.com and enter 1269229 to set up an account.

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7 Simple Strategies for a Healthy Day

By Patti Bartsch, Ph.D. | Published: April 29, 2012

As a Natural Health Practitioner, I find myself giving some of the same advice over and over again to many of my clients.  Each person has individual health needs but every person can do these 7 simple things to have a healthy day.

First thing in the morning, drink a large glass of water.

1)      Start the day with at least a pint of water.  Practically everyone wakes up dehydrated because you’ve just gone about 8 hours without drinking anything.  But your body continued to function and your cells continued to use energy and create waste.  A large glass of water gives your cells a nice bath to wash out the toxins that have built up over night and give your tissues the hydration they need to conduct electricity (your body is electrical after all) and transport water soluble vitamins.  Think of your body like a sponge; a wet sponge is more pliable and less likely to break than a dry sponge.  Oh, and coffee is “anti-water” – it is a diuretic that makes you pee more and therefore become more dehydrated.  If you’re going to drink coffee, please drink a lot of water first.

Stretch, Bend & Twist in all Directions.

2)      Stretch, bend, and twist.  Your body uses movement to detoxify as well as to support your cartilage.  When you wake in the morning, you are often stiff and puffy.  This is because you have not moved much for the past several hours and your body has not been able to move lymph (a detoxifying fluid) through your body to get rid of toxins.  Also, cartilage (the slippery, cushion between bones) has a poor blood supply and needs to be squeezed to get waste products out and hydration in.  Especially think about your spine (part of your central nervous system) and all the cartilage discs in between each vertebra.  Twist, turn, and bend forward, backward, around, and side to side thinking about giving each one of those protective discs a little squeeze to start the day.  A little yoga goes a long way.

Make sure you use RAW apple cider vinegar or it will be gross!

3)      Alkalize.  The Standard American Diet (SAD) is loaded with foods that lower your body pH.  This is a problem because a low (or acidic) body pH weakens your immune system and leaves you vulnerable to infections, inflammation, and allergies.  Avoiding sugars and starches is a good place to start but you can also work to raise your pH by drinking water with lemon juice (from an actual lemon, not from a bottle or a plastic lemon) or raw apple cider vinegar.  A breakfast including a bagel and a cup of coffee is a recipe for inflammation.

Nuts make a great breakfast! Protein, healthy fats & fiber!

4)      Eat breakfast.  Not only have you gone 8 hours without moving or drinking, you haven’t eaten anything either.  Guess what… your cells need fuel!  Get your metabolism jump-started by eating a healthy breakfast like a handful of raw nuts and an apple, or a protein shake with super-greens added.  If you have time for a couple of eggs with some veggies added, that’s great too.  Skip the muffins, toast, and bagels; they bring the calories but forget the nutrients (unless you’re making your own granola-nut muffins or something).

Are your vitamins just going for a ride?

5)      Take high-quality supplements.  Sorry, but most of our food lacks the nutrients that your body need to maintain great health, so it is necessary to take supplements to be sure to meet your nutrient needs.  That’s trickier than it sounds because most people have no idea how to tell a high quality supplement from a “bedpan bullet” that just takes a ride through your digestive system and isn’t absorbed.  Some of the highest quality supplements are food-based so that the nutrients are still in their natural form that your body can recognize and absorb.  A few supplements that I like include Core Supplement Daily Super Packs from Young Living, or the True Source Superfood Powders from Young Living, Juice Plus products, or anything from Standard Process.  Usana also has some great stuff.  Check with a nutrition expert that doesn’t work at the mall when making supplement choices.

Continue to hydrate throughout the day.

6)      Continue to hydrate.  Almost all of my clients are dehydrated; especially the senior citizens who worry about having to go to the bathroom.  You are approximately 80% water (not 80% diet coke, coffee, or Red Bull) and your body requires a lot of water in order to do its job well.  The rule of thumb is to take your weight in pounds (150 for example) and cut that number in half (75), that’s the amount of ounces of water you should drink in a day.  For most people, that’s around 5 ounces of water per hour (for the 18 hours you are awake).

Eat Nature's Rainbow

7)      Eat food.  Not too much.  Mostly plants.  Michael Pollan summed it up best in his book In Defense of Food, when he gave that simple advice.  Eat food means that it comes from the earth not from a factory (where all the nasty chemicals are added).  Don’t eat too much.  People tend to eat, and more importantly drink, a lot of their calories – much more than they need in an average day.  And eat mostly plants.  Plants are the foods that are loaded with the nutrients your body needs to be healthy.  I would just add: “Eat Nature’s Rainbow”, to emphasize that you need to eat a wide variety of colorful fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds to get the spectrum of nutrients.  French fries do not count as eating plants.  If you eat meat, try eating it at only one meal per day and in a portion the size of a side dish.

So there are 7 simple things you can do each day to improve your health naturally.  To learn more about holistic nutrition, consider enrolling in my 26-week holistic nutrition subscription program called “Eat Like a Horse” where each week you will receive an email lesson about nutrition so that you can learn to eat healthy for the rest of your life, not just while you’re on a short-term diet.  For more information go to www.EatLikeaHorse.net – satisfaction guaranteed.

26 Weeks of Holistic Nutrition

To order the Young Living Supplements, set up an account at www.YoungLiving.net or call 1-800-371-2928.  To set up an account you will need to give them a sponsor number (1269229).

Have a healthy day!

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Trouble Losing Weight?

By Patti Bartsch, Ph.D. | Published: April 2, 2012

Struggling to lose a few pounds?

An excerpt from “Eat Like a Horse – a Holistic Nutrition Subscription Program” www.EatLikeaHorse.net

Welcome to Week 24 of the Eat Like a Horse Holistic Nutrition Subscription Program!  This week’s topic is Weight Loss!

It’s hard to believe that I waited until the program was nearly over to talk about weight loss seeing as so many people become interested in nutrition due to a desire to lose weight.  The good news is that the information you have been learning throughout the course can help you to accomplish your weight loss goals.  But I want to delve further into weight loss here and talk about what I consider to be some pretty toxic weight loss programs/diets, then about healthy ways to lose weight, and finally about the elephant in the room (no pun intended)… weight loss resistance!

Since the majority of people in this country are overweight or obese, it is important to discuss the reasons why people want to lose weight.  There are really only a few reasons why most people decide it’s time to drop some pounds: they don’t like how they look, they don’t like how they feel, or they are worried about their health.  No matter what someone’s reason is for wanting to lose weight, I applaud them for getting to that place and I want to provide support so that not only will they be able to lose the weight and get healthy, but they will be able to maintain their results.

Diets and Finances - There's a Connection

Let me just say that I HATE DIETS!  I liken diets to this:  Imagine you have built up $30,000 in credit card debt over the past 5-10 years.  (Let’s say that’s like 20-40 lbs.)  A financial diet would be a program to help you to pay off those credit cards and get out of debt.  Now there are healthy ways and unhealthy ways to get out of debt.  Healthy ways would be to create and stick to a budget, manage spending, consolidate, and generate additional income (through a part time job or something).  An unhealthy way to address this kind of debt would be to prostitute yourself to make extra money, rent out your house and move into your car, or to sell your organs for cash.  Now while all of these could be effective, there are strategies that will help you to reach your goal and maintain your results without making you miserable.  A “diet” would be like working your tail off to pay off all that debt and once you did it, go back to the bad spending habits that got you in that mess in the first place.  “Diets” are temporary… think “Lifestyle”! 

Not all diets are created equal.  Just like sticking to a budget and prostitution are both ways to better your financial situation, one is clearly healthier than the other.  Diets I hate include:  The Atkins Diet, Severely Restricted Calorie Diets (AKA starvation), and any diet that includes microwavable, processed foods.  I’ll stop with those three but there are many others.  And there are some healthier diets for sure.  No matter what the “diet” plan is, while you are on the diet, you should be taking steps to eliminate the factors that led to your weight gain by cleaning out your cabinets, learning to cook healthy foods, and finding restaurants that offer healthy meals and sides – to name a few.

What does your diet include?

There’s a time and a place for a diet.  When you are ready to make that permanent lifestyle change, a healthy weight loss program can accelerate matters and help you to get to your goal weight faster.  Let me emphasize that during the weight loss program, it is imperative that you create new lifestyle habits, systems, and strategies in order to maintain the results.  So when should you “diet”?  When you are ready to make a change and you want to give your body a good jump-start.

Let me back up a minute and talk about why I hate the 3 types of diets I listed above:
1) The Atkins Diet – I hate this one because it leads to ketoacidosis, a metabolic condition where your body becomes acidic.  This is a problem because an acidic body is prone to inflammation, disease, and weakened immunity.  Secondly, constipation is common in this diet and when you are constipated your colon is marinating in, and reabsorbing toxins that your body is trying to get rid of.  Yuck!

2) Severe Calorie Restriction Diets – When you start to restrict your calories to a point where you put your body into starvation mode bad things happen.  When your body is starved for calories, it may also be starving for those nutrients that the calories should be bringing along with them.  Additionally, in a very low calorie diet, your body thinks there is a famine going on and therefore will conserve calories by packing them away as fat while it slows down your metabolism to burn calories more slowly.  These diets work short-term and often lead to a rebound effect because you have messed with your biology.  Lose 50 lbs., gain back 70.  Not a good deal.

3) Microwavable/Processed Food Diets – First of all, nothing that goes into your microwave should go into your mouth.  Secondly, go back and read the lessons about processed foods.  Those “healthy” meals may contain fewer calories but fettuccini alfredo is still white pasta in a box with synthetic sauce that has been microwaved.  This is NOT health food! Many of the programs that promote/recommend frozen/pre-packaged meals are focused on calories and not on nutrients (see #2 above).

Healthy ways to lose weighthave actually been discussed throughout this program.  Once again I would like to quote Michael Pollan “Eat food.  Not too much.  Mostly plants.”  Throw in the elimination of refined sugars, high-fructose corn syrup, white flour, white rice, and soda and you’re off to a good start.  Many people have lost weight simply by switching their usual beverage (including diet soda) to water.  Some other tips include:

Are you weight loss resistant?

  • Pack food and take it with you – it’s hard to eat healthy on the road.
  • Use smaller plates and forks.
  • The no-reload rule – you cannot put any more food on your fork until you have thoroughly chewed and swallowed the preceding bite.
  • Eat Nature’s Rainbow.
  • Drink Water.
  • Get more exercise.
  • Set positive affirmations: “I am a healthy, strong, and energetic ____ lbs.” (goal weight)
  • Love yourself!  Louise Hay would tell you to look in the mirror and tell yourself “(first name), I love and accept you exactly the way you are.”
  • Get help!  Do a weight loss program with a family member or friends.  Consider working with a coach to be sure that you can achieve your lifestyle goals during your weight loss program.

So you’ve tried everything I’ve talked about and you still can’t lose weight or you always get stuck at a certain point… that’s weight loss resistance.  Let’s talk about the 5 Causes of Weight Loss Resistance:

  • Toxicity – one of the things your body does to protect yourself from toxins (from your food, water, or environment) is to surround those toxins with fat when you are unsuccessful at breaking them down and excreting them.  Your body will not burn those fat cells until those toxins are broken down.  This is especially common in women because our bodies carry the developing fetuses and nature doesn’t want to expose them to toxins.  The solution… enzymes!  High-quality supplemental enzymes break down the toxins so your body doesn’t need to protect you from them anymore and those fat cells can be burned.
  • Adrenal Fatigue – see the previous lesson on Adrenal Fatigue – too much stress or even too much coffee can lead to this.  A proper nutritional program can help to bring those adrenal glands back into balance.
  • Hormone Imbalance – not just the whacky ol’ menopause hormones; thyroid hormones and other hormones (they’re all very connected) can wreak havoc on your waistline.  There are strategies to naturally bring these hormones back into balance.
  • Yeast Overload – These little critters are screaming “more sugar, more sugar, more sugar!” which is not conducive to weight killing off these little buggers and getting your digestive microorganisms back into balance is a good place to start.
  • Calorie Excess – While I’m not a fan of severe calorie restriction diets, I’m not a fan of calories excesses either.  And if you think having a salad means you’re having less calories – you may be a little off track sometimes.  The Applebees Oriental Chicken Salad has 1380 calories and the dressing is made with chicken fat and sugar.  That’s more calories than I eat in a day!

That’s a little information on weight loss but here’s a little more.  I am part of a team of experts who have gotten behind a specific weight loss program and created a comprehensive online support package  for clients who want to participate in this program.  What I love about this program is that it addresses the 5 areas of weight loss resistance I mentioned above while teaching you how to make the lifestyle changes necessary to maintain success.  Are the program and the website enough to help you to accomplish your goals?  I believe so.  However, I am offering a FREE 1-Hour Nutrition Consultation to anyone who purchases the program through my website.  This is above and beyond the value of the program.  The coaching session and online support are valued at over $300 – that’s more than the program itself.

If you’re interested, here’s a link:  http://tinyurl.com/NUslique

Just a couple more lessons left in the program.  I hope you are enjoying the content and learning a lot!
Have a healthy week!
-Patti

CLICK: for Eat Like a Horse

To enroll in the Eat Like a Horse Holistic Nutrition Subscription Program and receive 26 weeks of Holistic Nutrition Lessons like this one, visit www.EatLikeaHorse.net

The information included here is for educational purposes only
and is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prescribe for any disease or condition. 
Consult your preferred healthcare provider when making health choices.
Posted in Eat Naturally, Food/Health Connections, Products & Programs, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Killer Salad? Or Salad Killer?

By Patti Bartsch, Ph.D. | Published: March 20, 2012

This is a BAD salad!

Famous last words:  “All I had was a salad.”  Aw, man if I had a buck for every time I heard that one!  “Salad” has practically come to mean anything with lettuce – or mayonnaise.  I’ve been working with some clients who have been struggling to lose weight.  When they tell me they had a salad for lunch, an image of a salad that I would eat comes to mind.  And then that little birdie speaks to me “Ask what was on the salad!”…  “What was on the salad?” I ask.  Then, the problem is clear; they’re loading their salads up with salad killers (ingredients that make a salad unhealthy and even fattening).

Here is some calorie information about some popular salads.  Remember, if you are looking to lose weight, you might be looking at a daily calorie count of 1200 – 1500 calories, sometimes less.  Now, there are LOTS of variables in determining how many calories one needs: age, gender, activity level – to name a few.  So don’t go thinking this is gospel; it’s information to help you to make educated decisions.  Are you ready?  Ok, buckle up!

Keep in mind that a Double Cheeseburger has 440 calories

McDonalds: Premium Southwest Salad with Crispy Chicken – 450 calories http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/nutritionexchange/nutritionfacts.pdf
Burger King: Tendercrisp Garden Salad – 410 calories http://www.bk.com/en/us/menu-nutrition/index.html
Wendy’s: BLT Cobb Salad – 450 calories, Baja Salad – 540 calories, Spicy Chicken Caesar Salad – 570 calories http://www.wendys.com/food/pdf/us/nutrition.pdf

BAD SALAD!

Here is a list of Salad Killers:
• Fried Chicken – bad fats and salt
• Cold Cuts – bad fats, salt, and cancer-causing nitrites/nitrates
• Dressing – high in calories, salt, chemicals, and sometimes even high-fructose corn syrup see: http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-salad-dressings-ic0401
• Cheese – high in calories and salt, difficult to digest
• “Craisins” – there are 25 grams of added sugar per serving
• Bacon bits (real) – high in bad fats, salt, and nitrites/nitrates
• Bacon bits (fake) – bad fats, salt, artificial colors and flavors
• Croutons – empty calories, often have artificial flavors
• Canned fruit – found in many salad bars, soaking in corn syrup
• Tortilla Strips or Wonton Strips – empty calories, bad fats, salt, artificial colors
• Pickles & Green Olives or Kalamata Olives – high in salt, make you retain water
• Any salad that has more animal products than plant products!

Now We Can Make a Killer Salad!

So what’s good to put on your salad?  Here’s a list of items that make some killer salads!  (The good kind)
• Spinach & mixed greens (avoid iceberg lettuce)
• Beans – high in fiber and protein
• Hard-Boiled Egg – not more than one total
• Slivered Almonds
• Peas
• Red Cabbage
• Black Olives – just a few
• Fresh Peppers (not from a jar)
• Garlic &/or Onions
• Cauliflower &/or Broccoli
• Avocado – great source of healthy fats!
• Carrots – not too many (high in sugar)
• Oil & Vinegar – drizzle only (Olive oil has about 100 calories per tablespoon)
• Celery – helps you to lose water weight from bloating
• Salmon – 4 ounces or less
• Eat Nature’s Rainbow – choose a wide variety of colored veggies!

 

What about this one?

 

Cheers to you for making the effort to eat healthy!  Be sure to build a killer salad and keep the salad killers off your plate.  Not only will you be avoiding a bunch of empty calories, unnecessary salt, and artificial ingredients, but you will be giving your body the nutrients it needs to build a healthier, leaner you!  Bon appétit!

Want to learn more about healthy eating for life?  Consider enrolling in my “Eat Like a Horse” Holistic Nutrition Subscription program.  26 Weeks of information to help you to make healthy food choices for the rest of your life!  Find details at www.EatLikeaHorse.net

 

26 Week Holistic Nutrition Subscription Program

 

 The information on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prescribe for any disease or condition. Consult your preferred healthcare provider when making health choices.
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Dr. Oz Was Wrong About This

By Patti Bartsch, Ph.D. | Published: March 4, 2012

Shocking!

Let me start out by saying that I am a fan of Dr. Oz and I think he has been a tremendous influence and educator.  I also like the fact that his wife is a holistic health practitioner and a Reiki master.  I don’t see his show very often but a year or so ago I happened to catch an episode where he said that ear candling doesn’t work.  I disagree.

Last summer, my husband and I relocated from New Hampshire to Minnesota and I brought along a case of ear candles.  I came across them once or twice in the unpacking and getting settled phases of the move but didn’t need them at the time so I didn’t pay much attention to where I saw them.  As months passed, I started feeling some pressure in my left ear and thought “where did I see those ear candles?”  I probably should’ve just bought some but when you know you have a case of something sitting in your house somewhere, it’s hard to justify going out and buying more.  Alas, last night, I found them.

Before I get too far into the story, I should explain what ear candling (sometimes called ear coning) is.  It actually sounds kind of crazy.  Ear candling is when you stick a cone-shaped tube of muslin cloth coated in beeswax in your ear and light it on fire.  The burning of the cone creates a syphon that removes excess ear wax and other debris from the ear canals.  Many experts will testify that this is not only unsafe but dangerous and ineffective.  Again, I disagree.  When conducted by someone who has been properly trained in using ear candles, with proper safety precautions, and using high quality candles from a reputable manufacturer, there is little to no risk of injury – in my humble opinon.

Keep in mind that as with most holistic modalities, there is no funding or incentive to conduct studies to prove that something works.  Also keep in mind that some of the official organizations and government agencies that make claims against many natural health modalities will tell you that MSG, aspartame, and pharmaceutical drugs that have a list of side effects that take up 75% of the television commercial time, are safe.  Really?  “If you have suicidal thoughts or actions call your doctor.”  Really?  But, I digress.

After watching a movie, my husband and I spent the next two hours candling each other’s ears.  Finally, I have some relief.  My left ear is the one that has been bothering me for a while – and it is the one that got a bunch of (I’m sorry, this is kind of gross) wax out of.  Opponents of ear candling will tell you that there is no ear wax removed during the candling process.  To this, again, I say “Really?”

Here’s the gross part… photos.

The candles on the top are from my right ear. The ones on the bottom are from my left ear - the one that was bothering me. Perhaps Dr. Oz would like to conduct laboratory test to prove that this is not a disgusting amount of ear wax.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, I have to say that if you want to try ear candling, go to someone who has been trained before trying it yourself.  There are some safety precautions you can take that increase the safety factor.  I know several people who have used ear candling on young children with great results (for ear infections, swimmer’s ear, etc.)  I also know someone who went to the doctor about a blocked ear and the doctor said “I can’t tell you to try ear candling but I can tell you that it has worked for some of my patients.”  Of course nothing in this article is intended to treat, prevent, cure, or diagnose any disease or condition and you should contact your preferred healthcare provider when making health choices.  You may want to choose a provider who isn’t going to recommend a litany of drugs with tons of nasty side-effects that they will want to treat with more drugs.  Just sayin’.

Since I showed you those gross pictures of ear candles – here’s a pretty sunset.  I hope that makes up for it.

Pretty Sunset

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Patti Bartsch, Ph.D. is the author of “7 Steps to a Naturally Unbridled Life: An Introduction to Holistic Living – Body, Mind, Spirit, & Planet” and “100 Days, 100 Ways to a Happier, Healthier Life”  Both titles are available HERE.

Books by Patti Bartsch, M.A., Ph.D.

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You Are Not the One Addicted to Sugar!

By Patti Bartsch, Ph.D. | Published: February 16, 2012

Wonder Why You Can't Eat Just One?

Many, many people who are addicted to sugar don’t realize that they may not be the source of the problem.  You see, we are not the only ones living in our bodies.  Our bodies are inhabited by countless microorganisms too.  These microorganisms serve a variety of purposes but most of them are somehow involved in digestion.  Some of these microbes are bacteria others are yeast, and believe it or not, some are parasites.  As in most ecosystems, there needs to be a balance.  Sometimes, that balance gets thrown off and we get really out of whack.  Stress and diet are two of the biggest contributors to throwing that balance off.

What happens when the balance is thrown off?  Yeast happens!  Yeast is opportunistic and… low maintenance.  It thrives on sugar.  When your body slips into an acidic state, which is common in times of stress and when the diet is poor, yeast has a party.  As the yeast starts to overpopulate, they crowd out the healthy bacteria that your body needs, and increase your body’s demand for sugar.

30-Day Program Combats Weight-Loss Resistance

When you eat sugar – in the form of simple carbohydrates: sugar, white flour, white rice, soda, high fructose corn syrup, etc. – you feed the yeast and the yeast are HAPPY!  Until your pancreas sends out a burst of insulin and snags all that sugar right out of your blood.  This is not a good thing for two reasons.  1) Your pancreas can overcompensate for a spike in blood sugar by producing an excess of insulin which can take too much sugar out of your blood (storing it on your hips, thighs, etc.) leaving your cells without enough fuel to operate properly.  This can make you cranky, shaky, and can make it hard to think straight.  2) The yeast are not big fans of starving.  They get cranky too and they will send out chemical S.O.S. messages to your body: “HEY!  We’re starving down here!  Get us some sugar NOW!!!”  Usually you comply which makes them happy and then they reproduce and make even more yeast which continue to crowd out healthy bacteria and demand more and more sugar.

The solution:  Restoring the balance of yeast in your body involves a few things.

1)      Support the healthy bacteria by taking probiotics (replenishes the healthy bacteria).

2)      Alkalize – yeast thrives in an acidic environment which is created by overconsumption of sugar and/or animal protein (meat, dairy, eggs).

3)      Stabilize blood sugar through carefully chosen nutrients

Yeast overpopulation is one of the main causes of weight loss resistance.  People who struggle to lose the “last 10 pounds” or who hit a plateau and can’t seem to get past it, may have a yeast issue to contend with.

Once balance is restored and your yeast population to normal levels, sugar cravings will be greatly reduced or eliminated and weight loss can be attained.  Choose snacks like raw nuts, apples, almond butter on whole grain bread, and avocados instead of sugary snacks.  For additional support, tips, and strategies for learning how to eat healthy, go to www.EatLikeaHorse.net.

Holistic Nutrition You Can Understand

The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose, or prescribe for any disease or health condition.  Contact your preferred healthcare provider when making health choices.

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