Once upon a time, there was a family of four. We ate the typical Standard American Diet, filled with junk. It made us sick.

Our two children had serious health problems. They arrived in the world after a long struggle to conceive. Our oldest was diagnosed with thyroid problems. This was a scary time, partly because her immune system was so weak. She had extreme difficulty bouncing back from normal childhood illnesses. A cold would drag on for weeks. Then, it would turn into a metallic-sounding cough that sounded as if she were going to choke. Then we’d sometimes have to rush her to the emergency room.

The youngest had classic “failure to thrive.” The medical experts couldn’t tell us why. But, with the help of God, we figured it out.

Our baby boy had a weak constitution. Next came the chronic ear infections, following by 21 rounds of antibiotics. He began to lose weight and he developed a mysterious breathing problem. As a preschooler, his food sensitivities were off the charts.

Mainstream Medicine vs Alternative Medicine

Mainstream medicine couldn’t help us. We went from doctor to doctor looking for answers. Our youngest child underwent testing at a major medical center. His tests were normal. He was still very sick.

So, out of necessity, I started learning about alternative treatments. We spent tens of thousands of dollars trying to make our children well.

In the course of our journey, we met genuine healers. I’m deeply indebted to these people. We also ran into others whom offered us little value, considering the vast amounts of money we were throwing at them. But they were the exception.

I also learned some important lessons. In the end, given the right materials, our bodies are designed to heal themselves. Actually, it’s God who does the healing. He provides us with the tools, though, and he has given us an amazing array of natural remedies.

Regaining Health With Natural Remedies

We are blessed. Our daughter’s thyroid problems resolved themselves.

Our son is a healthy young man who can now eat anything he wants, although I wish he wouldn’t. Our food supply is contaminated with genetically modified ingredients. I’m hoping he’ll clean up his diet as he matures, and he realizes that Mom was right, after all.

You’d think that after all we went through with our children, that I would have forever sworn off junk food, and paid a lot more attention to environmental toxins. But we didn’t.

As soon as my kids recovered, with the help of herbs, homeopathy, supplements and a lot of prayer, we switched back to that deadly Standard American Diet. It’s so much easier to eat what everyone else is eating. It didn’t take long for this to catch up with us.

I developed excruciating back pain. It extended down  that my right leg. The pain was so bad I couldn’t walk. It also kept me up at night. Partial paralysis set in and it was progressing rapidly. My naturopathic practitioner diagnosed me with neuralgia. I was also told I had adrenal fatigue.

Once again, I had to make a choice. I could eat whatever I wanted. Eventually, though, this would probably put me in a wheelchair. Or, I could clean up my diet, and eliminate environmental toxins. (I’d been very lazy about going all natural.)

Standard American Diet and Disease

Fortunately, I overhauled my eating habits. I also replaced my chemical cosmetics and cleaning supplies. Fortunately, safe and natural alternatives exist.

With the help of organic food and natural remedies, my health has returned. Organic food is more nutritious than conventionally farmed produce.

It hasn’t been easy. You can’t eat what everyone else eats when you go to backyard barbecue. You need to order carefully in restaurants. You realize you’ll probably never have a hot fudge sundae again. People question your choices. Some people even think you’re crazy.

Going From Junk Food to Real Food

But giving up junk food, and taking botanical medicines, is a small price to pay for better health.

But I didn’t make these changes until I was (medically speaking) backed up against a wall. I had to figure out what foods to eat (organic) and what supplements to take. In most cases, these are whole-plant herbs. I can’t say enough about essential oils. I believe these gave me that final push toward good health.

Unfortunately, I also had symptoms of mercury poisoning. So I had my fillings removed. These amalgams contained a lot of mercury, a toxic heavy metal. Even though this procedure made me worse, temporarily, I feel it helped in the long run.

Please understand that I’m not offering medical advice on this site. I can’t do that because I’m not a doctor. In addition, I can’t promise that any natural remedy will solve a particular health issue. All I can do is share my story of how I regained my health, with good food and natural remedies.

The rest of this site contains extensive information on herbs, homeopathy and essential oils, as well as encouragement on living a healthier lifestyle. This includes information on emotional health, and freeing yourself from toxic situations.

My Toxic Free Lifestyle

Here are some of my most popular posts on how to live better. Did you know that small rodents hate the smell of peppermint oil? One trick I’ve learned is to use Peppermint Oil for Getting Rid of Mice, in order to deter these little beasts from entering your house in the first place. I’ve tried this and it seems to work. I don’t think it will solve a serious rodent problem, in and of itself. But it will make these pests very uncomfortable. This is a much safer solution, compared to using rat poison, especially if you have children or pets.

We also try to keep toxins away from our dog. That’s why we use prefer Killing Fleas With Essential Oils, instead of flea collars. Did you know that these collars emit chemicals for weeks after they’re placed around a pet’s neck. You and your family members, and anyone else who gets near your dog, are exposed to them.

How to Afford Organic Food on a Budget

(This post contains affiliate links, and if you purchase a product I receive a commission, at no extra cost to you.)

As I mentioned earlier, we eat organic food. However, I know how expensive it can be. Please check out my post about How to Afford Organic Food on a Budget. I share money-saving tips I’ve learned from years of experience.

If cooking healthy food from scratch seems like an impossible task, help is available. Real Plans is a meal planning service that can save you time and money. You are provided with a specific grocery list each week, to go along with your weekly recipes. This also reduces the likelihood you’ll be throwing food away at the end of the week, since you buy just what you need.

If you’d like to eat healthier, but don’t know how to get started, you could use this low-cost service for a month or two, just to get started. Click on the picture to find out more about Real Plans.

Getting Healthy With Essential Oils

Essential oils are a big part of my life. I use them to help me focus when I work. At night, they help me fall asleep. These aromatics add cleaning power to my homemade dish detergents. I also use them to try and keep my skin looking young. People who aren’t familiar with these amazing plant-based extracts often wonder how to use them. There are so many ways. In order to clear up some of the confusion, I wrote Why Do You Put Essential Oils On Your Feet?

Please spend some time browsing this site. I love to tell people about real food and all the natural remedies God has given us.

Patricia

Disclaimer

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are not meant to diagnose‚ treat or cure any disease or medical condition. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils or herbal remedies unless directed to do so by a physician.

Connect With Me On Facebook

I’ve started a private Facebook group for people who want to connect with me and discuss natural fibromyalgia solutions in a private setting. Hope to see you there. Click on the link below for more information.

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Avoiding Toxic People and Toxic Situations

A large part of healing from chronic illness is learning how to manage stress. I’m convinced many of us have encountered betrayal at the hands of treacherous people. We seem to be living in an era of entitlement. Many people disregard the rights of others, or they’ll go out of their way to hurt someone else. In fact, there’s also been a documented rise in the incidence of narcissistic behavior, according to some psychologists. Books have been written about this problem.

My motto is prevention is your best remedy. That’s why I wrote a free e-book on how to spot a treacherous person. Keeping malicious people out of your life, in the first place, is much easier than mopping up after them later. When dealing with a narcissist, it always ends badly. Click here to receive a free copy.