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Can natural medicine help autoimmune disease? A mainstream medical doctor will probably tell you it won’t.
Ten years ago, I was stricken with a potentially crippling nerve disease. I’m so glad I didn’t buy into that line of thinking. Instead, I used natural remedies, including a natural herbal anti-inflammatory formula you can buy over the counter.
My condition developed after a period of intense stress. I hadn’t been taking care of myself. I didn’t remove myself from a toxic situation. I also indulged in my favorite sugary junk foods.
What started as a nagging backache quickly progressed into something much worse. Before long, I could barely walk.
At my worse, If I needed to walk any distance, greater than about 10 feet, I needed assistance. The pain was intense. It kept me up at night.
If I didn’t make some drastic lifestyle changes, I’m quite sure I’d be in a wheelchair today.
Please understand that I’m not a doctor, so I can’t give medical advice. Nor can I even suggest that what I did will work for anyone else. I also can’t suggest that any particular remedy or product will lead to better health. But I like to share my story, in order to possibly encourage someone else.
Natural Medicine for Autoimmune Disease
Fortunately, I already knew a lot about natural medicine. But I wasn’t putting it into practice. Even though I knew that a good diet is really important, I decided to still eat my favorite foods. I’d only change my diet if I got sick, I told myself.
Unfortunately, that day came. Faced with what was likely a lifetime of disability, I slowly cleaned up my diet. This allowed my homeopathic and herbal remedies to work much better.
Today, more than a decade after living with a crippling condition, I can walk again. My symptoms have pretty much gone away. I’m living a normal life. I can go grocery shopping and I can travel. I can go for long hikes in the woods.
I am so thankful that God has given us so many natural remedies, to use for healing. He knows this world isn’t perfect. But he gives us the tools to recover. In my case, with His help, I’ve overcome something that could have left me an invalid.
Can You Recover From Autoimmune Disease?
I need to stress that I’m not cured. My condition is permanent. I’m quite sure I’ll die with it. I’ll probably contend with period flareups. However, these are becoming increasingly less frequent. When they strike, they’re also mild.
The key to staying healthy is keeping my inflammation under control. I eat whole organic foods. I’ve reached the point where I can now go to a restaurant and order off the menu. But I can’t do this regularly. Once a year I go on vacation and eat carefully, mostly at Asian restaurants. (Dairy foods will aggravate my condition. I also eat very little wheat. Some holistic healers tell their patients with autoimmune disease to avoid gluten.)
Natural Herbal Formula for Inflammation
I’ve taken a natural herbal anti-inflammatory formula. This has made a huge difference. It contains 10 herbs, which apparently work in synergy to reduce inflammation. Indian tulsi is one of the ingredients. This herb is considered an adaptogen, which is a plant that’s believed to reduce the effects of physical and emotional stress. I prefer taking something natural, instead of a drug.
This formula is called Zyflamend. Although the name sounds like it’s a pharmaceutical, it contains only natural herbal extracts. It’s also free of GMOs. This is something I take every day. I took this steadily for well over a year. At the moment, I’m taking a break. That’s because I don’t think herbal remedies should be taken continuously. Also, my body seemed to be telling me that Zyflamend had done its job, and it wasn’t needed right now. But it did seem to help, when I needed it.
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Homeopathy for Inflammation in the Body
Apparently, my level of inflammation was off the charts. At least that’s what two holistic healers said. Autoimmune disease runs in my family. But what seemed to trigger my condition was extreme stress, coupled with a very bad diet.
My abnormal inflammatory response zeroed in on my nerves. My condition developed quickly and progressed rapidly. Homeopathy seems to have reversed some of the damage. Everything happened so quickly, before I was able to find a good homeopath.
Unfortunately, skilled homeopaths are really hard to find. At one time, homeopathy was very popular in the United States. However, it all but disappeared after pharmaceuticals were developed.
This method of healing is now enjoying a comeback. But skilled homeopaths are rare. I realize I am very fortunate to be treated by one of the best.
Essential Oils for Chronic Pain Relief
Occasionally, I still have a little pain. But it’s nothing like it used to be. It’s easily relieved with natural essential oils. (I use a special pain blend called Rapid Relief.)
These plant-based aromatics contain natural analgesic compounds. They do not have the sometimes serious side effects associated with prescription and over-the-counter pain relievers.
Essential oils are fun to use. You can mix them and make your own recipes. They smell great and they seem to provide a mental boost. Although I originally bought them for therapeutic reasons, I also use them to make non-toxic household cleaners. (I’ve ditched my chemical based cleaners.)
Essential Oil Recipe for Pain Relief
Anyway, if I do feel pain, it takes only a second to make an aromatic pain relief blend. I now use a formula called Rapid Relief Synergy Blend, which you can see below. It’s sold by Plant Therapy, a trustworthy company.
Plant Therapy Rapid Relief Blend
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It’s also easy to make your own pain relief blend, especially if you’re already familiar with essential oils. Here’s a recipe.
2 tablespoons of grade seed or olive oil.
3 drops of peppermint essential oil (available here)
2 drops of clove bud essential oil (available here)
3 drops of of myrrh oil mix (available here)
These ingredients are mixed together and put into a covered glass jar. I keep it away from heat and light. Essential oils can’t be put directly on your skin, without diluting them in a carrier oil. In this recipe, the grape seed or olive oil are the carriers. Coconut or sweet almond oil could serve the same purpose.
Mercury Fillings and Autoimmune Diseases
It’s widely believed, at least in the holistic health community, that mercury fillings can make you sick. At one time, I had a mouthful of fillings.
Nerve pain and muscle problems are often reported among people with mercury poisoning. It’s been documented that the mercury in these fillings does not stay put, as we’ve been led to believe. You can see this in the video below, created by a dentist.
Apparently, with every breathe I took, more mercury was added to my body.
Should I Get My Mercury Fillings Removed?
I knew the fillings in my mouth were not good. But getting them out wasn’t easy.
Unless removal is done carefully, it can make your condition even worse. That’s what happened to me.
I was making good progress with homeopathy. I felt as if I’d almost recovered. Then, one of my fillings broke.
This was a dental emergency. It was a large filling. The exposed tooth was very uncomfortable. So I went to a holistic dentist. He did an okay job. But he neglected to use oxygen. This may have resulted in more exposure. The removal can result in massive exposure to this toxic heavy metal.
Anyway, after my fillings were out, I had a violent flare up of pain. This took months to quiet down. It also took a couple of years to recover, to the point I had been, just before my filling broke.
But, at least now, I have no mercury in my mouth.
Chronic Stress and Autoimmune Disease
It’s believed that chronic stress can create the right conditions for inflammation and autoimmune disease. Researchers have found that high stress levels, preceding their illness, have been reported in 80 percent of people diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, according to the medical journal Autoimmunity Reviews.
In the years leading up to my illness, I know my stress level was over the top. This was partly the result of staying in a very toxic situation. I felt I had to do this, for the sake of my children. Just in case you’re wondering, I’m not talking about my marriage. I’m happily married. Instead, I stayed in a toxic religious setting because I thought my children would benefit from the pious atmosphere. In retrospect, there was nothing holy about this cult-like group.
If you find yourself swimming in a sea of negatively, it’s time to move on. It’s also important to forgive everyone. This is something we need to do, even if the individuals or parties involved are malicious and deceitful.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. People with health concerns should discuss them with a doctor.
Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use dietary supplements, unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional. If you are pregnant, or think you may be, make sure your dentist knows about your condition.
For Additional Reading
How to Use Essential Oils for Pain Relief
Medicinal Herbs for Autoimmune Disease
All Natural Anti-Inflammatory Remedy
Dangers of Removing Silver Fillings
Eating Right For Autoimmune Disease
Regardless of what type of autoimmune condition you’re dealing with, you’ll want to eat right. This means real foods, instead of processed foods. One of the holistic doctors I visited told me to avoid gluten because she believed it was bad for my inflammatory nerve condition.
Eating real foods every night means more cooking. It means more shopping and more time in the kitchen. So, if you need assistance, you might want to look into Real Plans. This is a food planning service designed to save time and money. Once a week, you’ll receive a list of delicious recipes that incorporate your specific dietary needs. Along with this comes a weekly shopping list. This cuts down on the amount of shopping time, as well as potential waste. You buy only what you need for the week.
So, if you want to learn to how eat real foods, I highly recommend Real Plans. You can sign up for just a month or two, just to get used to the idea of cooking from scratch. (It becomes a lot easier once you get used to cooking this way.) Click on the link below for more information.
