the cleansing pharmacy - getting rid of medicine

{I have regular discussions with my doctor concerning the material below. If this strikes a chord with you about any of your medications, please discuss it with your doctor. Be your own advocate, and if you do not understand/agree with them then I encourage you to continue seeking medical advice that you MOST IMPORTANTLY UNDERSTAND and also agree with. }

I’m on a silent quest to get rid of all medications. My dear MM does not use them, I don’t want have to use them either! I have been quiet about this for about this process for over a month. One was easy to get rid of, it wasn’t entirely “necessary” to regulate my body once I ate and exercised regularly. As of right now…I’m not ready to talk about that one. However, I have also not questioned my antihistamine “need” for ten years.

Oh, did you catch that? A decade, anyone? Yes. I didn’t question it.

I have taken Allegra and another prescription allergy relief medicine for seven years together. That’s a lot. I always thought I just had really bad allergies. I’ve been using immunotherapy (shots) for five years. I have had significant improvement (allergic to all grass, trees, mold, dust, dog dander, pollen, etc. and have decreased from 5’s to 3’s and 2’s on a 1-5 scale for immunotherapy). So why am I still taking the same medicine?

I blame myself for not being my own advocate and not paying attention to my needs. I was scared about what could happen of course, and my doctor wasn’t going to push me to make a change I wasn’t comfortable with. Finally, I realized that it didn’t make sense.  I didn’t feel any different when I unknowingly and accidentally skipped taking my Allegra medicine for two days. Oddly convenient, but I decided to flow with it. So I called my doctor’s office, and a nurse said it was OK. She said something that I will never forget:

“Only you know how you feel. If you feel you need to take the medicine, then please do. If not, then just be aware of how you feel.”

Wow. She’s right! No one else knows how I feel after a decade of medicine and half a decade of shots.

Not knowing that there was a relationship, I noticed I was had been itchy lately. Maybe I really needed the medicine? What a bummer! I googled it, just to see if Allegra actually “treated” itchy skin. It can be, as a sign of hay fever, etc. Something caught my eye: antihistamine withdrawal. I am not an addict, that’s ridiculous…what the heck does that mean? Curiosity killed the cat, or in this case saved me from more oblong pink pills.

It’s a real thing, and some of the testimonies online are intimidating. I read one story where a person laid in ice to relieve the itching! I didn’t find medical support of the claim, but surmised that maybe that’s what I was experiencing. Maybe I just needed lotion, but I decided to wait it out and be very aware of how I felt. I mentioned it to a nurse, and he didn’t seem over concerned either.

So, I have not had my Allegra in three weeks.*I stopped itching after 10 or so days. I have one more medicine that I am questioning, but I am being respectful and trying to give myself some time to regulate to such a big change. I don’t want to rush things too much, and not be able to discern any negative reactions to one cause or the other.

After two weeks, I feel fine. I’m considering using a neti pot for my occasional nasal congestion but it looks pretty uncomfortable! I have had some chest congestion. {I was using Allegra D, so perhaps my body’s response to a consistent decongestant was to produce more mucus?} I don’t feel unwell, but mentioned it to a nurse again, and still no signs of concern. I’m treating the congestion with:

• Gargling salt water nightly {helps remove any irritants from my throat to prevent my body from reacting to it}
• Sleeping with air purifier
• Washing the dog/bedding regularly {washing the dog too much can dry out their skin, irritating your allergies worse!}
• Drinking tea/warm liquids with a mix of: local** and organic honey, lemon, ginger, lime
• Inhaling steam {not showering in overly warm water-don’t boil your hair! I inhale the steam when using the OCM method}
• Heart openers during yoga {maybe it’s all in my mind, but some positions make me feel better}
• Eating plenty of garlic & onion {garlic is a natural antibiotic, anti-fungal, and antibacterial, onion is to absorb toxins…and I love them both!}
• Wipe off outside particulates {from myself and the dog with a wet washcloth before going to sleep, I don't do this as often as I could.}
• Rest {this is a big change! A lot is happening in your body that you can’t see, so give it a dang break.}

 I hope that I’m able to continue to not use this medicine except for maybe spring allergies, but only time will tell. And I will be sure to treat my symptoms as naturally as I can before resorting to modern medicine again!

Moral of the story is to pay attention to what your body needs. I do not always question my doctors, but think that it’s my responsibility to be an informed patient. I have the right to my own opinion, and I am capable of scholarly research just as much as the next person!

*I continue to follow my Doctor’s orders and take one pill the night before an allergy shot, and 1 hour prior to the shot. I’ll continue to take shots until we don’t see any improvement, the allergy shot process commonly takes between 5-8 years.

**Local honey is often recommended to treat seasonal allergies. I think of it as a form of internal, low dose immunology. It did not help me significantly in the past, before I experience improvement from the allergy shots.

{the pits}

Eureka. 

It works - so this is worth reading! 

I know it is long, please bear with me! 

I have tested it through an hour and a half of hot yoga, picking apples through a hot orchard in a sweater, hours of hot wedding dancing, and I am so happy to say I have found the answer {for me}!

Over the past six weeks, I’ve been experimenting on myself. {because I've never shared something with you guys that I haven't tried on myself!} I found a recipe for homemade coconut deo. As we all know, I’ve tried the all-natural way before. I then confessed that I fell off the bandwagon. I was really tempted to just leave it at that. Because of my first journey down this road before, I KNOW how bad store bought deo can be for you. But I have to confess that I am offended when I am around someone who does not use any kind of deodorant. 

Stomach churning offended. Gross.

I’ve been following a crunchy blogger alex raye and her thoughts on almostexactlyblog.wordpress.com and either 1) she rights in a way that is inspiring, and I wish I could do that! or 2) I realized that I was being ridiculous since all the ingredients I needed were in my cabinets!

Sorry, what? A project that I don’t have to spend ANYTHING on? Done-I am so in!

On a Sunday I whipped up the following!

1. 5 tablespoons organic coconut oil. {the creamy base, also has antibiotic properties. I originally used refined, but have chosen to go to unrefined from now on since it is entirely non processed}

2. 1/4 cup cornstarch {for sweating}
3. 1/4 cup baking soda {for smell}
4. 5 drops of tea tree oil for the natural antibiotic properties

Sensitive to baking soda, or need a different alternative? Check her index here: http://almostexactlyblog.wordpress.com/index/.

What else can you use these ingredients for? Because why buy things you don’t need:

Coconut oil has been a good replacement for any oil, even in this recipe for meatballs.

Cornstarch is a great thickener, and I attempted to make orange chicken with it once but you can use it to thicken soups.

Baking soda is an incredibly multifunctional powder, that can do anything from freshening your carpet to cleaning your jewelry.

Tea tree oil, it’s antibiotic and you can dilute and use as needed!

OKAY, so how did this go?

Day 1 – Good, no smell! I was nervously smelling myself all day. Super attractive.

Day 2 – Okay…a little smell…but I used to always have to wash my underarms after using Tom’s Natural of Maine, so that was nothing new. But I was a bit disappointed. But then I remembered, there is a transition period when we ditch chemicals and go all natural. As a friend put it, it’s like your body saying..what, I have to do work now?

Day 3 and on – occasional smell, but nothing more than a musky scent that wasn’t noticeable unless you stuck your nose too close. I realize the smell only happens when I get really nervous, such as a presentation at work or really excited/anxious. And still, it’s nothing that I can’t prepare myself ahead of time and keep a small jar in my desk or simply wash my pits. 

Why even bother with all of this?

We know that aluminum base compounds are not good for our bodies, and that putting them so close to our lymph nodes aren’t the best idea. Lymph nodes are filters, but don’t deal with toxicity like your liver. We also know that it is OKAY for your body to sweat! It is your body’s smart way of getting rid of toxins! You need to sweat people, even if it isn’t always pretty. It’s  your body’s way of dealing with what we do every day. I am over being vain about something that my body was created to do, and is doing with a purpose!

I have noticed...

• My feet sweat less, how weird is that? Not really, sometimes sweat is going to happen no matter where it comes from, it's your body's way of regulating temperature too. How much depends on your number of sweat glands.
• Softer arm pits-that coco deo really knows how to treat your skin.
• No oil residue on my clothes that I have noticed.
• It is all natural, I KNOW what is in it and I can make it and modify it myself.
• What I eat affects how I smell. If I eat a ton of garlic {yum}, then I am more likely to have a scent. Not always, but more likely. Another incentive to eat all natural, organic, avoid pesticides, and use food as fuel and medicine rather than just what tastes good.
• CUSTOMIZE – I think lavender or some other scents would be wonderful! You can make this your own scent!

I have another friend who just embarked on using coconut oil only, and it’s working for her! I am a bit envious, since I do feel like I need this concoction. At least under my most dominate arm (I’m right handed), since if there is any smell then it’s under my right arm. Kind of interesting, I wonder if ambidextrous people have an even smell? HA!

Test it out on your next lazy day at home, the worst thing that can happen is that you have a smell and you can just wash your pits. Don't forget there is a transition period! Come share your experience!

{Meatballs & orzo}

Check out this DELICIOUS recipe I found!! The difference is that I don't mess with bay leaves. I don't have any, and feel like they leave a musty taste, lol. I also don't recommend using anything except for ground chicken. I think the best part is that:
I've never made meatballs
I've never worked with ground chicken
It's a soup that my MM actually likes!

& this is just in time for cooler weather! It's a different style of noodle, and still hearty like chicken noodle soup.

ingredients.
credit where credit is due
meatballs
    1/2 ground chicken
    1/2 c bread crumbs
    1 egg
    1 garlic clove {or really more like 2, I love garlic!}
    salt & pepper to taste

soup
    2 tbs olive oil/coconut oil/vegetable oil
    1/2c lg yellow onion, diced
    2 med carrots, shredded. {I usually just use a peeler}
    1 garlic clove {again....I use more like 2!}
    2 tbs olive oil/coconut oil/vegetable oil
    meatballs!
    4c chicen stock {don't forget, chicken stock is different from chicken broth! but you can use either}
    seasoning to taste (basil, parsley, dill weed, etc.)

I. 

Meatballs: combine meat, garlic, bread crumbs, egg, any seasoning. Mix until even, divide into small (1-2 tsp) meatballs. Leave on trey while you...

II.

Preheat 2 tbs oil in a soup pot over medium heat, add the onion and carrots. Raise the heat to saute until they caramelize. You'll need to stir often, and you know they are caramelized when the onions are clear/slightly yellow because of the carrots. This is key-this gives a lot of flavor!

III.

Lower the heat and add some the delicious garlic. Saute until fragrant..which should only take a few minutes. Set aside on a different plate. 

IV.
Preheat 2 tbs oil in the same soup pot over medium heat, add the other 2 tbs and the meatballs, cook until they are mostly done. You'll need to turn them so that it's even. 


V.
Once the meatballs are almost cooked (but please be safe!) add the veggies back in, and the veggie stock/broth. 


VI.
Add salt and pepper and orzo. Cook until orzo is almost done, usually about 10 minutes. Check the box of the noodle and do a taste check.

{Four months!}

This transition into growing my hair to be healthy has not been easy, guys. It seems like this last month took so much longer than the first three! The other day I caught my dear MM staring at my hair.

He said he was just looking at it.

I wasn’t happy about that….but I should be glad that the hair colors (my triple ombre as a friend called it!) are now noticeable. It means I am doing something right. It’s growing! And thanks to this coco, your hair, it is growing very quickly. I am starting to see the difference in my hair’s health too, the top is soft and silky and the rest….

Let’s say my hair is 24” long, and grows .5” every month. If you dye your roots/hair every three or so months with no trim, then the ends of my hair have been dyed 12 times. TWELVE TIMES. That’s so much damage!! So honestly I can say that the rest of my hair feels like the individual hairs are thick, like the difference between silk strings and straw. Except my hair doesn’t feel like straw. Except the ends-they were bad.

I finally got a trim the other day, and it was a horrible experience. She ripped my hair out with a brush (brushing top down, didn’t even detangle!), cut off twice as much as I wanted (SHE CUT AN INCH), and then insulted me by saying I needed to use a deep conditioner. I was SO upset! But I do think my ends look so much better. I’m still somewhat upset over the experience. Maybe I can teach MM how to trim my hair?

I’ve also switched to low-poo shampoo. Low-poo just means you are using fewer harsh chemicals in your hair, but not none. I’ve mentioned before that I tried no-poo, and it didn’t go well at all. I think switching to low-poo was a good idea to ease my hair into no-poo in a few months. I haven’t decided quite when! I have been using shea moisture shampoo, like the one here over at amazon. It was on sale at ulta a month ago, and I just couldn’t resist making the switch. And to be honest, that is why my hair photos haven’t been looking that great lately. Also my photos seem to be after a deep conditioning or being in a bun…so hopefully this time I am taking GOOD photos from now on. I can finally say that my hair has started to go back to normal, it isn’t too greasy or too dry.

My routine:

• Wash with luke warm water, not hot! Any kind of heat damages your hair, so I don’t want to boil my hair.
• Wash with shea moisture, rinse thoroughly.
• No towel dry-let it drip dry or wrap in an old tshirt/material that isn’t as damaging to your hair.
• Apply argan oil to the ends, just a few drops.
• After it air drys, use a wide tooth comb to get the tangles out. Start at the bottom, and go up.

I can go about four days without washing my hair, and my hair still looks good and isn’t oily. If it is feeling oily, then I’ll use a boar bristle brush to help the oils move from the scalp down. Taking small chunks of my hair and brushing it thoroughly.

Another month down, and I’m really looking forward to the next month. When I started this, I thought I would wait until my hair was 8” and then cut my hair and donate it. I don’t know if I can do that! And to think that 8” of hair is at your chin, which is 16 months of growing. Thank goodness I am already 25% there! By this time next year, I will have the option of cutting my hair…just not sure I will do it!


and then there are always the halfway distracted photos.....

{Coco, your hair}

Get it?
Coco, your hair!
or Coco your hair

Ok, what I'm getting at here is my new favorite moisturizing hair mask: coconut! I know my hair doesn't look the greatest in these photos, and I should probably wait to take better photos, but there's no editing on this blog! This was the day after a mask, and I clearly didn't wash my hair too well. :-)

longest my hair has ever been!

As you can see in the photo, the ends of my hair are looking very straw-like. Even though my hair is naturally wavy, and you gotta love that I didn't get all the coconut oil out! A trim is inevitable, the last inch is getting tangled easily and feels pretty crunchy. Looking at the ends, you can definitely see the the splits, and they are just growing. I've probably already waited too long, but it's frustrating since this is the longest my hair has ever been!

I think it's important to realize that commercial products that "bind" your split ends contain chemicals that end up not being very good for your hairs health overall. I know I can't explain it any better than the blog link below, I'm really liking her blog and I find myself re-reading it a lot. I think every time I re-read it, I learn something else!!

I've been using Coconut oil on the weekends, when I am just cleaning or doing chores around the house. I....have even gone to the grocery store with it in my hair! I'm sure someone has though, "That's some greasy hair." They're right, very oily indeed...but it's so nice afterwards! In the future I probably won't have to use the mask as often, it just depends on how my hair feels. & you might not need this very often or more often! On the weekends I put coconut all over my hair, tip to end. If needed during the week, I'll put a little coconut oil on the ends or to tame fly aways.

Most blogs recommend leaving the coconut mask in for at least two hours, but best if done overnight. I haven't slept in it overnight, but I would recommend covering your pillow.

So the point is, it helps my hair! & I even think it's helping it grow. Mostly because my new coco deo has been helping hair grow, but that's totally besides the point. Ladies don't discuss such things.

my new favorite blog!!!! almostexactlyblog.wordpress.com

Homestead in suburbia?

I can't believe I published the last post without seeing that it was the 14th!!! Happy Three Month Anniversary honey!! It's weird to be counting our relationship by months again, after being together for over four years. It feels like the beginning all over again, except better.

So here are just some thoughts that have been sloshing through my mind lately....

What is homesteading? It’s the ability to live on your own, ultimately completely sustained. That was never my original intent. I just simply wanted to grow a garden that would cut down our bill, and provide fresh food that I could be proud of. What’s so hard about putting a seed in the ground and growing it?

You've seen our garden, but I haven’t really divulged my eventual dreams that involve homesteading. I don’t think I’m ready to try and keep cows, goats or pigs. I’m definitely not ready to slaughter them! I used to be vegetarian, before I found out I am allergic to soy and most tree nuts. Yep, definitely feeling like the pale nerdy kid with glasses. 

Based on what I've read, we have managed to start phase 1: grow your own food. It’s a small garden, and this year we grew tomatoes, mini tomatoes, okra, watermelon, cucumbers, onions, and strawberries. My dream is to grow: peaches, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, okra, watermelon, tomatoes, mini tomatoes, squash, zucchini, pumpkins, peas, beans, and lettuce. All the good stuff that we really enjoy eating! 

Last year:  Raised Garden Pt 1 Raised Garden Pt 2 Raised Garden
Two years ago: Apartment Jungle Update

On our current cute little less than ¼ acre, that just isn't going to happen, this isn't our dream home and I think the next home owner will appreciate that I'm not going to convert our backyard into one big garden.

Then I fell into the idea of homesteading while looking for a bread recipe. My mom used to make fresh baked bread in a bread maker when we were kids, and there is nothing on this earth better than fresh bread. Except maybe warm, fresh bread with fresh butter. Pure.heaven.

Finally! I can make my own bread! I have tried so many times, and each time it was very depressing. I have made focaccia before, but I’m debating taking the recipe down since I haven’t made it again since. I will share with you the recipe that I can make though, soon enough....once I try it one more time to make sure it wasn't a fluke. 

Now I think homesteading just makes sense. I don’t think the world will end tomorrow. I don’t think I need to get off my dependency from the government, mostly because I want my darn social security one day. (haha that isn't likely to happen.) I’m not sure what I’m aiming for here, just a way to make our lives simpler and easier on the earth. I’d like to give back more than we take, which isn't happening right now.

Ideas to take it further….

2. Rain barrels. It takes a lot to keep a garden green in the south, and it only makes sense. If the gutters are doing the work already…right? I lived in Australia for six months during college and collecting rain is a normal practice in Australia. For obvious reasons, but it seemed to follow the idea that its sort of wasteful to not collect the water.

3. Chickens! My Mountain Man (MM) says no, but I think it’ll be fun. At least Coco, our darling bird-dog of a lab, would enjoy it. I can see the fur and feathers flying furiously. Alliteration anyone?

4. Sustainability in basic needs.  This is a big one, and one that we wouldn't be able to tackle for a while, if ever. That includes well water, solar panels, septic tank, and maybe even hybrid cars. Minimal or no impact, and investments that end up costing nothing or even giving back a return.

Is this even realistic? Not really. But let’s think of what our needs are, and find a way to do them cheaper, easier, and just more thoughtfully. Water-get a well. Food-get a garden, plant some trees, and raise some animals. Energy-solar, wind, essentially use something other than coal.

Easier said than done. I’m on the hunt to find someone else who does this near us, so I can learn from them. You can’t believe everything on the internet, after all. This is a long journey, not a post with a simple conclusion, so if you've already done this or have a place for me to get more info, please please please share!!

my favorite garden blog: http://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/

my favorite self-sufficiency blog (not updated much anymore): http://newlifeonahomestead.com/ 

{first foster pup}

I share a lot of dog rescue statuses on Facebook, and I often find myself annoyed by other people who do it too. Ooh the irony.

I’d like to think the difference now, is that we’ve done something to help the rescue effort. Someone fostered our dog before we adopted her dog from Halfway There Rescue, and enjoyed working with them so much that now we’ve fostered with them.

Our Ground Rules:

 We must both agree. No pressure. 

Short term commitment.

Our dog is ALWAYS our priority. This put us in a few tough situations, but we stuck to it.

No expectations, we cannot compare our foster to other dogs, or have expectation of what he will/won't need or how he will/won't act. 

Meet the mystery dog mentioned in a previous post: Rock. We liked to call him Rock-man, Rock-head, Rockefeller, Rocky, and sweet boy.

He was marked to be euthanized July 31^st, at 8am at a shelter. I saw the facebook post, and asked my sweetheart if we could foster, and he decided that this was the one to foster. The description on Facebook said that he was under a year but didn't know much else.

He spent the night with the vet, and got a clean bill of health. Hooray!!

We knew our sweet Coco-bear was a real handful. She had TOO much energy as a puppy, and would often not sleep because she had so much energy after a day of playing. We were told he “wide-open,” but we still had an open mind.

So, here’s what we learned with our first foster:

• Sweet Rock-head is finishing getting his last molars I think and likes to chew. Of course, we’ve got that covered. Either that, or pittie teeth are totally different from lab teeth. yep, I had no clue.
• He wasn’t learning too quickly when it came to potty training. This was frustrating, but we bought more carpet cleaner. At the end, he had been accident free for ten days. Hooray!
• He definitely pooped in my husband's new car, on our one hour journey back home. I always thought this was funny, but he only sometimes thinks is is slightly comical. HA.
• He can now sit on command, but needs to learn to not jump. The method that was working was just turning away from him and saying “No” and only petting when he sits. Do what I ask = get what you want.
• Crate training isn’t fun, but he finally walked in on his own  “kennel” after 3 1/2 weeks!! But no messes in the crate, which is glorious compared to Coco who had some digestive issues. We kept him in a kennel to protect our biggest investment-our home. This also limited any frustration we may have felt if there was any damage or messes. 
• I think one of his favorite things must be sleep, because he didn’t like to wake up in the morning. He was so precious, he just sneezed his head off.
• Learning other things like “back-up” and “lay down” are not working. Oh well.
• He’s not crazy about being left in our fenced in backyard with Coco, but he followed her lead on play time, and when it’s time to come inside (aka, bark at me).
• Watching him learn how to go up stairs was HILARIOUS. Bless his heart, he looked like he couldn’t control his legs! I wish I'd gotten a video!
• Our first walk on the leash was interesting, he clearly didn’t know what was going on. He was a little confused, but continued to follow Coco’s lead and didn't get overwhelmed.
• He was food aggressive, and we didn't work on this with him. My dog is MY priority, I chose not to put her in that situation. We fed him in his kennel, also to help with kennel familiarity.

In the end, we realized that he is really too sweet for what he had been through, which I won't share. He only wanted to be loved and be good.

Every foster dog is different. We are glad we were able to do this, and I’m glad we were able to keep an open mind. We did get frustrated, but we made a commitment and we stuck to it. There were times where I thought I would have to call the rescue and say that we couldn't do it anymore, I can admit it. 

But to know that in a month or so, he will be a well-trained dog that will make someone’s heart burst with joy...it was worth it. My heart bursts with joy when I see my sweet Coco-puff, Coco-nut, Coco-bear…and I just know one day he’ll know the same love. We gave him foster love, but he deserved more. 

kissed by a pit & I liked it!

Even if this is the only time we are able to foster, because fostering is hard, I am so grateful it was this sweet boy! He is onto the next leg of his journey, but he has a special place in our hearts. & I'm onto finding another way to contribute to the continuous, often thankless efforts of animal rescue.