Health Advice for Women

You could look at my cross-eyed and I would get a sinus infection or an ear infection. That’s how susceptible I am to them. Each year I get at least 5-6 sinus infections and just as many ear infections. And they don’t go away easily.

A sinus infection is an inflammation of the sinuses and nasal passages. A sinus infection can cause a headache or pressure in the eyes, nose, cheek area, or on one or both sides of the head. The sinuses contain defenses against foreign viruses and bacteria (germs). If the normal defenses are disrupted, they may allow bacteria normally present in the nasal passages to enter any of the sinuses. Once there, the bacteria may stick to the lining cells and cause a sinus infection. Fungi (Fungus) are also becoming an increasing cause of chronic sinusitis, especially in people with diseases that weaken the immune system.

Allergy-causing substances (allergens) or pollutants can trigger acute sinusitis. If you, like me, have numerous chemical sensitivities, you probably end up with numerous sinus infections that just won’t go away. These infections are likely causes by inflammation of the nasal passages due to the allergy response and fungus overgrowth.

I used to visit the doctor each time I had a sinus infection and the doctor would prescribe me antibiotics. I would take these pills and the antibiotics would not work. Antibiotics will only work if your sinus infection is caused by bacteria. Mine are not; they are caused by allergies and fungus. After years of taking antibiotics faithfully (because my doctor said to) I realized I was really damaging my body trying to solve my sinus infections with antibiotics.

I have now switched to a more natural way of treating my sinus infections. My natural approach is easy and you can follow it too. At the first onset of symptoms I act. I perform a daily routine that quickly and effectively washes the infection away. Here’s my routine:

Nasal irrigation: Nasal irrigation involves flooding the nasal cavity with a warm saline solution (salt water). The goal of nasal irrigation is to clear out excess mucus and moisturize the nasal cavity. The practice has been subjected to clinical testing and has been found to be safe and beneficial, with no apparent side effects (even Oprah had it on her show!). Nasal irrigation is easiest with a Neti Pot which can be purchased at a natural food store or online through MotherNature.com. When I have symptoms I use the neti pot twice a day. I use it once every other day when I don’t have symptoms to try and keep them at bay!

2) Drink Water. Water hydrates to body and the mucus linings. When your body is hydrated it is easier to reduce inflammation and remove the infection from your system. I make sure to drink extra water on days that I have symptoms.

3) Acupunture. Yes, I know that many people are scared of acupuncture because they think the needles are going to hurt. I have had acupuncture of years and a needle has never hurt me (I barely even feel them). When my symptoms get out of hand and pretty bad, I go visit my acupuncturist. He places needles on the trigger points for my sinuses. Within hours after a treatment my sinuses drain, my energy increases and I’m well on my way to recovery. I always combine this treatment with the neti pot treatment to ensure the infection is gone. When selecting an acupuncturist in your area, ask for referrals and check their credentials to ensure they have adequate training. The licensing rules vary from state to state.

4) Stave off Bacterial Infection. All the inflammation and excess mucus could lead to a secondary bacterial or fungal infection. I always strive to keep these at bay through the use of natural remedies. Oregano is perhaps the most powerful herbal anti fungal agent known. Its effectiveness is enhanced by its safety, since it is entirely non-toxic. Oregano is such a potent anti fungal agent that it is capable of destroying even resistant fungal forms such as the mutated fungi which result from antibiotic therapy. Oregano is also an excellent antibacterial agent. Its volatile oils are highly active against the majority of pathogenic bacteria, including staph, strep, and E. coli. I keep a bottle of Oregamax by North American Herb & Spice handy for just these occasions. I take 3 pills twice a day when symptoms are present and my symptoms start to subside.

Hopefully some of these suggestions work for you and that you find some relief from your chronic sinus infections. I always believe that a natural solution is best if it can heal my condition. There are times, however, when the infection gets away from me. If I don’t have relief within a few days, I will consult my doctor and I hope you will too!

People used to ask me why I wore so much blush on my cheeks. It is frustrating to have to explain over and over again to people that the blush they see comes from a rash. The rash came from face cleaning products that irritated my skin. I tried just about everything I could get at the local store including all the “natural” products you can find easily. Did you know that the word “natural” is not regulated? So any company can put the word “natural” on their product packaging and we believe them! That’s horrible!

At one point I stumbled upon Jojoba Oil and began using it as my facial cleanser. The skin rash immediately disappeared. This was my first entry into natural facial cleansers and this opened up a new world for me. I used Jojoba Oil for many years as a facial cleanser. I still use it often as a post-shower full-body moisturizer. A small little bit, rubbed between my palms and rubbed into the skin.

A couple of year’s ago, I was introduced to another natural facial cleansing product line, Dr. Hauschka, that I now exclusively use. Dr. Hauschka products are made with sustainable, ecologically sound agricultural practices by obtaining as many of their ingredients as possible from certified Biodynamic and organic sources.

Their holistic skin care products are made from organic ingredients and natural oils. With these products, a little goes a long way, so do not be deterred by the price. I purchase this only a couple of times a year and it lasts a long, long time!

Most patients with Fibromyalgia say that they ache all over. I know I do. Every morning when I wake up, it takes me several minutes to get my muscles working. My muscles are tight and ache so much they feel like they are throbbing.

Sometimes my Fibromyalgia symptoms include muscle twitches and a burning sensation. One time I had a muscle spasm in my chest that was bad I fainted. Of course, the doctor’s immediately thought I was having a heart attack, but alas, it was something far worse that they couldn’t identify. There has been a great deal of speculation within the medical community regarding what causes Fibromyalgia but no conclusions.

If you are like me, and have muscle pain on a daily basis, there are many natural ways to take the edge off the muscle pain. I perform a daily routine that helps me keep my muscle pain symptoms to a manageable level. Hopefully you can incorporate some of these healthy rituals into your daily routine and get some relief from the constant muscle pain

• Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplement: Omega-3 Fish Oil supplements have been shown to reduce systemic inflammation in the body. Studies show there is benefit to heart health and brain functioning. My body moves more freely when I regularly take an Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplement. My preferred brand is Natrol Specialty Products Extreme Omega Fish Oil - 60 soft gel which you can get from MotherNature.com.

• BioFreeze Pain Relieving Gel is amazing. I use the convenient roll-on variety and within minutes my muscles begin to feel better. This product definitely lives up to its name with a tingly cold feeling as it goes on and my muscle relief lasts for hours.

This morning I got another email requesting the services of Dr. Kath. I’m not really a doctor; I don’t even play one on TV. But at least once a week a friend or family member asks for help on with vague and indescribable symptoms they are experiencing. To my surprise I end up rattling off several natural, alternative solutions to help them with the problem and they are happily cured soon after!

My search for chronic wellness for myself has turned me into a walking, talking bible of natural health solutions. I know that I’m not alone…there are many of us out there who would do anything to have just one day of week where we felt great! But we have no idea how to achieve this and conflicting information abounds!

For years I searched endlessly and miserably for solutions to deal with my laundry-list of symptoms only to find that I fall into an endless list of syndromes that doctors know very little about. Each syndrome comes with a list of medications but there’s no proof that any of these medications actually help!

I was in the chasm. The rules for the healthy didn’t apply to me (e.g. a calorie in = calorie out doesn’t apply when you can’t properly digest food!) and my symptoms didn’t match any textbook disease for which medicine abounds. Worst of all, people in my situation are not acknowledged in the norm, so there is very little help.

Somewhere along the way I realized that the best gift I could give myself was take back control over my own health and find my own path to chronic wellness! For those of you who live in that chasm with me, here’s my personal prescription for chronic wellness…

Eat natural healthy foods.

I have multiple food sensitivities and several food allergies. When I eat heavily processed foods, or those I am sensitive too, my fingers/feet retain water, my body aches, my skin itches, my brain gets foggy and I get grumpy.

When I eat lots of fruits, veggies, whole grain rice and free-range meats all the symptoms above clear up and I have a lot more energy. I eliminate anything from my diet that I have a reaction to. Reactions can occur up to 48 hours after eating the item.

Exercise often.

I have chronic lower back pain, chronic muscle pain everywhere and suffer from insomnia. I would rather have a root canal than exercise.

A simple walk around the block raises my heart rate and I sleep better that night. Sweating from 30 minutes of vigorous exercise actually clears up my skin issues! Yoga and Pilates keep my mind centered and my body strong. Stretching and moving my muscles make the chronic pain manageable.

Take Supplements Targeted to your Condition.

There are many supplement programs out there that are targeted to specific symptoms. Do your research and find one that supports your individual needs. Don’t skimp your dollars on supplements. If something works for me, then I will pay almost anything to keep using it.

I take the INSULITE METAX SYSTEM by Insulite Labs which targets my most common symptoms including pre-diabetes, inability to lose weight and excess weight. I also take Magnesium and Ribose for added support for chronic muscle pain.

Don’t let being the chasm between health and disease get the best of you! Strive for chronic wellness by making simple changes to your daily routine. Do your own research and get informed on your symptoms. You are your best medicine and your best guide.