What is PCOS and What are its symptoms?

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition in which the ovaries produce an abnormal number of androgens, male sex hormones, that are usually present in women in small amounts.

The name Polycystic Ovary Syndrome describes the numerous small cysts (fluid-filled sacs) that form in the ovaries. However, some women with this disorder do not have cysts, while some others without the disorder do develop cysts.

In some cases, a woman doesn’t make enough of the hormones needed to ovulate. When ovulation doesn’t happen, the ovaries can develop many small cysts. Women with PCOS often have high levels of androgens. PCOS cause more problems with a woman’s menstrual cycle and here are the symptoms:

The symptoms of PCOS may include:
• Missed periods, irregular periods, or very light periods
• Ovaries that are large or have many cysts
• Excess body hair, including the chest, stomach, and back (hirsutism)
• Weight gain, especially around the belly (abdomen)
• Acne or oily skin
• Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair
• Infertility
• Small pieces of excess skin on the neck or armpits (skin tags) and
• Dark or thick skin patches on the back of the neck, in the armpits, and under the breasts

Lifestyle changes, like diet, exercise and #acupuncture all have a role to play to help manage PCOS.

If you would like a consultation to see how we can help you with your PCOS please call 954-228-3445.

Omega 7’s: WTF Are They?

Step aside, Omega 3’s. You are no longer the sole ruler in the land of fatty acids. Most of you know about Omega 3’s and how they keep you heart-healthy, reduce inflammation, improve mental health and a whole slew of other benefits, but have you heard about the 7’s? At the risk of sounding exaggerated, for menopausal women, Omega-7’s might be your new secret weapon for anti-aging, heart-health, fat loss, inflammation, and (saving the best for last….) sexual rejuvenation.

Excuse me?

Oh yeah! You heard me right. Let’s get into it.

What are Omega 7’s anyway?

Omega-7’s are unsaturated fatty acids. Two of the most common Omega-7 fatty acids are palmitoleic acid and vaccenic acid. Most studies are based on the palmitoleic acid type of omega 7’s. Because the names are hard to read, and harder to pronounce, I’ll be referring to palmitoleic acid as just “Omega-7”, or just “7”.

Though 7’s are similar to their 3 6 & 9 cousins, they differ in that they are not an essential fatty acid. This means that they can be made inside of your body (endogenously).

Your body is probably great at producing fat, but that’s not what we mean here. You can’t naturally make Omega-3, you have to consume it. Omega-3 fatty-acids are beneficial because they become incorporated into anti-inflammatory molecules. On the other hand Omega-7’s work like a mediator between the fat and muscle tissues of your body. These glorious acids work the way we wish every diet would. Omega-7 suppresses the production of new fat molecules, especially those that damage tissue and raise cardiovascular risk!

Though they can be formed endogenously, we should also be consuming 7’s regularly. Here’s why:

What Can Omega-7’s Do For Me?

There have been studies popping out of the woodwork showing that Omega 7 can:

Reduce risk of heart disease
Reduce risk of blood clots
Maintain blood pressure
Stabilize blood sugars
Lower bad cholesterol
Increase collagen regeneration
Protect against diabetes
Boost immune system
Renew energy
Rejuvenate skin and hair health

So what does that mean for you?

Feel like “Getting Lucky”? Omega-7’s Can Help

The biggest bitch I’ve ever known is Mother Nature. She quite literally dries up our sex lives during menopause. If you aren’t affected by vaginal dryness, that’s awesome, but statistics show that about 56% of women experience this and vaginal atrophy during menopause. I dont know about you but, I am not on board with my hoo-ha turning into a raisin.

Sometimes called “nature’s moisturizer”, Omega-7 has been clinically proven to boost the vajayjay-juice. It also has been shown to help with dry eyes, cotton mouth, and digestive issues because it helps mucous cells work better. It’s like full body lube!

Pay Less For Anti-aging products

…..Or ditch ‘em all. You might be able to give the anti-aging department two middle fingers after taking enough Omega-7. Not only does it contain anti-inflammatory properties, it’s been shown to help increase the production of collagen in the skin and reduce skin conditions like dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema. Some doctors even recommended it for conditions like rosacea and sunburn.

Supports Your Whole Body

Between helping your gastrointestinal function and supporting your heart, from strengthening arteries to helping your heart pump better and stay stronger for longer, the only thing “WTF” you should say is that no one told you about Omega-7’s earlier.

What foods contain Omega 7’s/ Palmitoleic Acids?

Macadamia Nuts & Oils

Macadamia nuts and their oils taste amazing and are also an excellent source of these magical fatty acids. They contain 20% Palmitoleic and 60% oleic acid. Oleic acid is considered one of the healthier sources of fat, and is commonly used as a replacement for animal fat sources that are high in saturated fat.

Sea Buckthorn Oil

Sea Buckthorn oil is pressed from the seed and fruit of the plant. It’s an excellent source of palmitoleic acid, as well as vitamin A and C. It’s also rich in tocopherols, a type of vitamin E that decreases swelling and protects cells against sun damage.

It can also be found in:

Blue-green algae
- also known as cyanobacteria, Blue-Green Algae might be sold as Chlorella, or Spirulina. These products have been touted as a potent superfoods for years. The main difference between the two is Chlorella is a single-celled algae. In contrast, spirulina contains multiple cells.
Avocado Oil
- Avocado oil contains palmitoleic acid along with other saturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, and monounsaturated fats.
Olive Oil
- Olive oil contains only small amounts of Omega-7 fats. It is made up of 20% palmitic acid, which the body converts into palmitoleic acid.

So now you know WTF omega 7’s are. For maximum benefits I recommend taking a dosage of 210 mg of palmitoleic acid per day. I take this as a supplement but also love slathering it on my skin mixed with a bit of hyaluronic acid. I skin looks nourished and so much healthier (my skin is ULTRA dry). Give it a go and see how your body responds. So many of my patients have found this to be extremely beneficial for their sex lives! Mother Nature taketh but the sneaky witch giveth back to those who know her secrets!

How Artificial Sugars Are Fattening Us Up – and Why

Just when you thought you were behaving and making healthy choices for your body, technology throws in another plot twist. Your favorite diet soda, coffee creamer or lemonade is kicking you right in the ass it’s making bigger!

All those artificial sweeteners that you have been consuming to cut down on your sugar intake are doing the exact opposite of what they’re supposed to. You thought you were making smart decisions to get lean and mean but really these fakers end up making you look like a cream puff. WTF? Right? This is especially evil if you are going through menopause and already noticing that buttoning your pants now qualifies as a mini cardio workout.

Get this: On April Fools’ Day 1998, the FDA announced its approval of the artificial sweetener sucralose,1611 sold as Splenda. It only took us an additional 20 or so years to get the joke. How could there be a ‘healthy sugar’? Irony at its finest. Since then, there have been a number of artificial sweeteners joining the market, including:

Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet)
Acesulfame K (Sunett)
Stevia (Truvia, PureVia, SweetLeaf)
Advantame (no brand name)
Sugar alcohols, which include mannitol, sorbitol, and xylitol

What’s the “Skinny” on Sweeteners?

Artificial sweeteners are sweet like sugar but have a low glycemic index.This means that they don’t interact with our bodies the same way that sugar does. They don’t spike your blood sugar. Sounds dreamy, right? Finally we get to have our cake and eat it too! Um, no. Nope. Uh-uh.

These sweeteners are marketed to the health-conscious as a clean-eating alternative to sugar. They have been touted as a safe way to cut calories for those that need to lose weight. They even have been promoted to diabetics and individuals with other illnesses as a way to enjoy food and beverages without destabilizing your sugar levels.

The zero-calorie rug has been ripped out from underneath us all.

How Artificial Sweeteners Work:

Artificial sugars are recognized by “sweetness receptors” on the tongue. This causes them to taste pleasant, while tricking your body into thinking it’s getting the real thing. In the last 10 years, these types of “sweetness” receptors have now been found in the bladder, lungs and bones. It makes you wonder how much your body is really being affected by fake sugars.

Your body can’t break them down, the same way it does sugar, and this is why artificial sweeteners “contain zero calories”… This is also why they don’t raise your blood sugar – or so it would seem….

What is Really Going On Here?

Scientists discovered an insidious side effect of artificial sweeteners: sucralose (Splenda) causes an insulin increase by triggering sweet taste receptors in the mouth (Pubmed). This effect is called cephalic phase insulin release. This release of insulin causes a drop in blood sugar levels. Recent research suggests the other sweeteners have the same effect.

“What’s wrong with that?” You might say. When your blood sugar decreases, it signals to your brain that it is time to eat! Artificial sweeteners are the catalyst to a vicious cycle that causes your body to believe it needs more calories (aka more food), which leads you to eat more and store more fat. Research suggests that fake sugars may prevent us from associating sweetness with caloric intake. As a result, we may crave more sweets, often choose sweet food over nutritious food, and gain weight. As a bonus, when insulin levels are high it triggers our bodies to store fat.

As if it couldn’t get worse….Further studies suggest that artificial sweeteners may be just as addictive as some hard drugs. In one study, rats were exposed to cocaine and then given the choice between cocaine and saccharine, they chose the artificial sweetener a majority of the time.

The Trickery Continues

These chemicals can also affect how we taste food. “Overstimulation of sugar receptors from frequent use of these hyper-intense sweeteners may limit tolerance for more complex tastes,” explains Dr. Ludwig, an obesity and weight-loss specialist at Harvard-affiliated Boston Children’s Hospital. In layman’s terms, people who often use these sweeteners might find other “less-sweet” foods like fruit less appealing. As if anyone needed another barrier to their daily intake of spinach, fake sugar can potentially make you lose your appetite for vegetables (Gasp!). It can cause you to opt for foods with more sweeteners and less nutritional value.

Stop Faking It:

Artificial sweeteners have a plethora of negative side-effects, from insulin release to sugar addiction to causing the body to store fat. These sweeteners are more deceitful than they might seem- affecting your bodies ability to self-regulate calorie intake, and changing your taste for healthy foods. Fake sugars cause cognitive distortions, tricking us into eating more than we should. Though it might be tempting to reach for your next “0 calorie, 0 carb, 0 sugar” beverage or sweetener, your body will thank you if you think twice.

When life hands you lemons, your lemonade might as well have real sugar in it. Cue “Pour Some Sugar on Me” soundtrack.

For the majority of women, menopause really blows. Just when you feel like you had life all figured out Mother Nature laughs her ass off and says, “I don’t think so!”. Not only does the universe abruptly decide that you’re no longer fit to conceive children, it also bestows upon you an assortment of crappy symptoms that make PMS look like child’s play. You also find out that “by the hair of your chinny, chin, chin” isn’t just a fairy tale.

Hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, mood swings, brain fog, reduced libido, sleep problems – it’s common for menopausal women to experience a whole host of ailments that make life miserable.

There’s no two ways about it: menopause is a real pain in the ass (figuratively speaking – ass pains are mercifully not a symptom). The question is what can you do about it? Being told “This is a perfectly normal biological process” by every medical practitioner and health blog means nothing when it’s 3:00am, and you’re wide awake doing the backstroke in your own sweat.

Though you can’t escape menopause, there are many solutions. There are integrative medical practitioners that can help with acupuncture, stress management, nutritional changes, and a number of supplements you can take to ease the symptoms, and get back to feeling like yourself again.

Here are the most effective (backed by studies) you can get your hands on:

Vitamin D

Menopausal women are susceptible to osteoporosis, a condition whereby bones weaken and become brittle. Vitamin D is helpful in this case because it aids the body’s absorption of bone strengthening minerals, like calcium and phosphorus. It is something we naturally acquire through sunlight exposure, but for many, spending time in the sun isn’t always realistic. Currently over 42% of American’s are deficient in vitamin D.

Supplementary capsules are helpful for those who spend a lot of time indoors (let’s be honest – that’s many of us). Or live in one of those places where the sky is eternally sad and grey (Hello, Portland, OR or England). Even in areas of plentiful sun, like Florida, many still find they are deficient in vitamin D.

Calcium

In addition to vitamin D, calcium is critical to help maintain bone health. Over 40% of American’s do not meet calcium requirements. This deficiency is exacerbated by taking antacids or by low acid levels in the stomach. As we age our stomach acid secretions decline so this can be common among menopausal women. It is important to note that calcium supplements should be in divided doses. If you take a large amount all at once, absorption will be poor. It is best to split the dose and take it twice a day.

Magnesium

This powerful mineral serves several functions in the human body and is effective in allaying symptoms caused by menopause. Similar to vitamin D, it plays a role in maintaining bone density. But magnesium is mainly regarded for its favorable impact on sleep.

Sleep disturbances and associated energy problems are one of the foremost struggles in menopausal women. Magnesium helps calm the nervous system, in turn improving sleep quality and energy levels. Not sure how effective it is in reducing screaming at children, spouses, co-workers or random people but it can’t hurt.

Seeds, nuts and leafy greens tend to be high in magnesium, but you can ensure you’re getting enough by adding supplements to your diet.

Red Clover

Red clover sounds like the name of an innocent-looking yet deadly assassin. Fitting for a menopause supplement, right? Fortunately the reality is less terrifying. Red clover is actually a dark pink flowering plant that contains high levels of isoflavone, an estrogenic compound.

During menopause, there is a natural reduction in estrogen levels, a hormone that plays a central role in female sexual and reproductive health. Isoflavones can mimic estrogen, providing a hormonal boost. Studies show that they can be effective for reducing hot flashes when ingested routinely. Bonus, it can also help improve skin and hair, lower cholesterol, and benefit sleep.

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6893524/)

Omega 7’s

Usually taken in the form of Sea Buckthorn Oil capsules, Omega 7 is a fatty acid that encourages skin cell regeneration and moisturization. Studies show that this oil can reverse vaginal atrophy in menopausal women. It also increases moisture levels which can reduce pain during sex. Pair that with 3 grams of red Korean ginseng per day and you might find yourself feeling like Cardi B, ready to grind.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25104582/

Flaxseed

Flaxseed is rich with lignans, a type of phytoestrogen. Phytoestrogens have estrogenic properties and when consumed can have similar effects to the hormone itself. A 2002 study showed that supplementing with flaxseed is as effective as hormonal replacement therapy in raising estrogen levels and reducing mild menopause symptoms.

(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12220769/)

Angelica (Dong Quai)

Angelica, dong quai, female ginseng, tang-kui, dang-gui; many names and many benefits.

Traditionally used in Chinese medicine, angelica has estrogen-like effects when consumed. Admittedly more research is needed to support its purported benefits, but it has been used medicinally for over 1,000 years. Anything that endures an entire millennium has to be somewhat effective, right?

These are a few recommendations to start the process of restoring your sanity and start feeling like the bad ass bitch you are. Menopause brain is real and it can be a confusing time. Not everyone can navigate the waters by themselves. Honestly, remembering why the hell you walked into a room is a challenge. If you need guidance don’t hesitate to find a qualified practitioner to help set you on the right path. Your best bet is finding a good acupuncturist or certified functional medicine practitioner. One that won’t try to slap an antidepressant on you and call it a day. Can’t find anyone you’re comfortable with? Contact my office for a virtual consultation at 954.228.3445. Namaste!

I’ve had a lifelong fascination with crystals. Throughout my years I have picked up bits and pieces of knowledge of crystals and their healing properties. I always studied and read about them, but firsthand knowledge of their healing abilities came about one unsuspecting morning about 20 years ago.

The previous night I had cooked yellow rice from a box that came with a seasoning packet. It wasn’t sitting very well with me in the morning, and I had quite the stomachache. I walked into my office and for some unknown reason I grabbed a chunk of malachite stone off my shelf. I was just sitting at my desk, going through emails, holding the stone. About 10 minutes later I put the stone down because I was tired of holding it. As soon as I put it down, I got a strong whiff of spices that smelled just like the spice packet from the night before. I realized that my stomach no longer hurt as well. My hand and the malachite rock wreaked of the spices. I was quite shocked. The rocked seemed to literally pull out the cause of my stomach discomfort. That was the first time I experienced the healing powers of crystals firsthand.

Fast forward to today and I am always looking for natural ways to help my clients manage perimenopause and menopause. Crystals can be an excellent added source of help when trying to regulate the madness mother nature bestows upon us during this transition. There are several stones that are used to regulate hormones and ease the change.

The aforementioned malachite benefits those going through menopause. It is an excellent mood stabilizer and can help reduce blood pressure.

Moonstone is a peachy, creamy semi-translucent stone that can help stabilize female hormones. It can also help calm emotional triggers and overreactions, thus helping with the mood swings of menopause.

Another crystal used to balance the feminine cycle and hormones is the beautiful, yellow, Citrine. This wonder stone is used for cooling off hot flashes. It can also be beneficial in countering fatigue and helping maintain a cheery disposition. Hematite, a metallic black stone, can also be used for hot flashes.

Amethyst is a beautiful purple crystal that is widely used. In this instance it can be used to stimulate both the sympathetic nervous system and endocrine glands to a balanced state. It is also used for insomnia, headaches, mental disorders, memory problems and arthritis, all common problems in menopause. It is also used to help tranquilize anger, rage, fear and anxiety.

Labradorite, an opalescent blue-green rock that changes color with the light, is excellent for balancing hormones. It is also known to help reduce anxiety and stress and helps to facilitate transformations which are beneficial.

Pietersite is a beautiful stone with flashes of gold running through dark blue. It stimulates the pituitary and regulates the endocrine system and hormones.

Proustite is a deep, ruby-red crystal that can help stimulate estrogen and decrease menopausal symptoms.

Stephanite, a silvery grey crystal found amongst veins of silver, helps strengthen bones and dispels brittleness in the physical and emotional bodies. It is reported to balance estrogens and androgens (male hormones) as well as increase and stabilize muscle tone.

Mind you, there are no clinical studies on the effects of crystals, so this information is taken from textbooks using knowledge gained from life experience and/or passed down from one generation to the next. I encourage you to experiment and have fun playing with different crystals to see which ones resonate with you. I would love to hear your experiences and stories!

You try to go to sleep but you can’t. You are tossing and turning and slumber eludes you. You feel like you may burst into flames because the sun has decided to reside in your chest and head. You throw the covers off but now your body is cold while your head is still on fire. Your partner gets excited because you have stripped down to nothing and thinks it’s their cue to get some action going. You threaten murder if they come within 5 feet of you. Sex is not only the last thing on your mind, it is now downright painful.

You quickly exit (run!) the bed to drop the a/c to 68 degrees and get mild relief from the hot flashes but it doesn’t help that anxiety that seems to have taken hold of you. Let’s not mention the depression weighing on you like the fat accumulation recently forming around your waist, hips and/or thighs. Your children say your mood swings faster than a Linda Blair head spin in the Exorcist. You feel like Linda Blair from the exorcist except you don’t have the energy to get out of bed let alone float above it! You ponder what you have done in life to deserve what you are experiencing and start to wonder if you have lost your mind. Or maybe you just misplaced it since you can’t seem to remember anything lately.

If this sounds familiar in any way, take comfort in the fact you are not alone. It’s estimated that as many as 85% of women have experienced one or more menopausal symptoms.¹ For some women it is mild and nothing more than a slight annoyance. For others, you feel as if you may lose your mind. The good news is that you do not have to live like this. The better news is you do not have to use any type of pharmaceutical hormone to feel better. While some women resort to using bio-identical hormones they are not without risk. Why increase your chance of heart disease, cancer and stroke unnecessarily?

Traditional Chinese medicine has been used for millennia to help women find balance in this time of transition. A combination of dietary changes, herbal formulas and acupuncture have been shown to be effective in ameliorating the symptoms of menopause. One recent Danish study found that five weeks of acupuncture in women with menopausal symptoms reduced hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, and emotional problems.²Acupuncture helps by addressing imbalances in the flow of energy through pathways called meridians. In some cases the flow is deficient and in others the flow is excessive. Once a trained acupuncture physician has diagnosed which meridians are out of balance, he/she inserts tiny needles into certain points along the pathways and proper flow is re-established. This results in the balancing of hormones and alleviation of menopause symptoms. Most often it is the yin and yang energy of the kidney, heart, and/or liver that are imbalanced in this state. The amount of required sessions will vary by individual according to their general health and length of time they have had the symptoms.

Chinese and Western herbs have also proved beneficial in managing menopause. Certain herbs such as ashwaganda, St. John’s Wort, red clover, passion flower, panax ginseng, licorice, black cohosh, and dong quai have restored the sanity, sleep, well being and quite possibly saved the marriages of many menopausal women.^3,4 It is important to meet with an acupuncture physician trained in herbal medicine. Herbs can be very potent and taken incorrectly can make your symptoms worse. Taken under the advice of a trained acupuncture physician, they can be magic!

Chinese food therapy is a concept unfamiliar to most Westerners. In Asian and Indian cultures, foods are viewed differently. Each food has a flavor and a temperature. In the Asian culture the temperatures include cold, cool, neutral, warm, and hot while flavors include pungent, bitter, sweet, salty, and sour. While experiencing symptoms of menopause, the goal is to find a balance of cool and warm foods to help alleviate symptoms. You don’t want too many cool foods because that can harm digestion and lead to diarrhea. Examples of cool/cold vegetables include; cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, celery, bean sprouts, asparagus, mushrooms, zucchini, and eggplant. If you have a thyroid issue you want to stay clear of cabbage and cauliflower as it can lower the thyroid function. Examples of cool/cold fruits include; banana, pears, watermelon, grapefruit, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, apples, and oranges. It is best to seek the advice of an acupuncturist so they can give you guidance for a balance between hot and cold in your diet.

As you can see there are many effective alternatives for the symptoms of menopause. Seek out the guidance of a doctor of Oriental medicine. Within a few weeks that burning feeling in your body will transform into one of desire instead!

Menopause is no picnic for many women. It slowly starts to creep up on us and as time goes by, we realize something is just not right. Maybe we become uncharacteristically irritable, depressed or anxious.
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Some of us may experience heart palpitations and worst case scenario, all of the above. Sound sleep may become a distant memory as nights become nothing more than short, interrupted catnaps. It’s when hot flashes start the alarms blazing that it finally hits, we may be going through a major change.
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But all is not lost, as Mother Nature has provided some tools to help ease our transition. Bach Flowers are some of those tools. Dr. Edward Bach discovered 38 flower remedies to help with various emotional and physical aspects of human nature.
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There are several remedies that may help with the transition. For example, for those of us that try to rail against the aging process by putting on a facade of exaggerated youth, Agrimony combined with Heather can be very helpful. Think cougar here , or that one friend that is always wearing something she should have stopped wearing 10 (umm…20) years ago.
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For someone who has been strongly suppressed in their sexuality, they can start to seem a bit crazed or obsessed during menopause. Cherry Plum can take the pressure off. With hot flashes add Impatiens, Rock Rose, and Walnut. Walnut is awesome at restoring hormonal balance while Impatiens can help reduce the general restless feelings.
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Many women start to lose confidence in themselves during this time. Our society does not generally lavish attention, show due respect, or acknowledge the value of our aging population . It can be very difficult for women to continue to find value in themselves and feel useful. Larch can not only help find that new self-confidence, it also may help prevent osteoporosis. Bonus!
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Besides balancing hormones, Walnut is used to help during any phase of change in life. It is used during teething, puberty, divorce, birth, death and menopause. It helps us reorient ourselves and gives us a renewed sense of order and balance. Bonus…flower remedies are made in a brandy base. Enjoy!

Oh honey! How sweet you are! Who doesn’t love honey? Humans have used honey for over 8000 years. It has so many uses. And no, I am not talking about slathering it on your partner during sexcapades. (Pro tip: sounds better than it actually is. Think sticky! Very, Very sticky!!)

Got a booboo or a burn? Slap (or gently apply) some honey on that and watch it heal twice as fast. Bonus….honey has antibacterial properties to keep infection at bay. One of the most potent anti-bacterial forms is Manuka honey.

Manuka has been found to be effective at killing MRSA! I know this personally. It was the only thing that got rid of a nasty MRSA infection I caught (long, long embarrassing story). I also had a family member use it to get rid of a horrible C-diff infection (horrendous diarrhea) she got from using strong antibiotics for a UTI. Adding insult to injury, the antibiotics didn’t touch the UTI. But Chinese herbs did!

Honey heals rashes, even diaper rash! But don’t ever give honey by mouth to a baby. It can contain botulism that their immature digestive systems can’t fight off. I usually don’t give honey until they hit two years old.

Got dandruff? Mix equal parts of honey and water to condition the scalp. Within two weeks see your flakes go away. ❄️

Morning sickness? Add honey to lemon juice to help eliminate nausea and vomiting.

Got acne? Honey can give it a lustrous glow AND kill the bacteria that cause acne.

Allergies? Local honey pollen has been used for centuries to beat allergies.

Nagging cough? Honey mixed with coffee is an effective cough syrup for even the most stubborn, lingering coughs. Personally I prefer mixing it with lemon and Jack Daniel’s to knock out the most horrific coughs. It was the only thing that would stop my bronchitis when I was a kid. Yeah, my mom gave me JD.

Poor Digestion? It improves digestion by killing off bad bacteria living in your GI.

Bad breath? Massage honey into your gums for 3 to 5 minutes daily to improve stinky mouth.

Honey may be beneficial in battling cancer and heart disease. It even helps with weight loss when used to replace sugar.

Now you can enjoy some sweetness in your life guilt free. You’re Welcome!

You may not realize it but your gut is usually the first thing that needs attention in most states of dis-ease. Gut imbalances are top priority for balancing your hormones.
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Say what? Yup! Your belly is one of the first priorities in reclaiming your hormone health, or your health in general!
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Why? Because your liver loves you and takes the time to break down all those excess hormones, xenoestrogens and toxins. It gets rid of this garbage by dumping it into the bile which gets released when you eat. ☠️
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If the gut is leaky then all that garbage gets absorbed right back into your bloodstream. So it’s like throwing all your trash into a garbage can only to find out there was a massive hole in the bottom.
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The first step is REMOVE. Remove what? Stress, crappy food , constipation, nasty microbes, food sensitivities, and foods that feed the bad guys in your gut .
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Step two is REPLACE. Replace enzymes, stomach acids, bile acids, minerals and vitamins, and add herbal remedies to help boost an insufficient immune system, thyroid and adrenals.
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Step three is REINOCULATE. Add probiotics, prebiotics, fiber and cultured/fermented foods to help re-establish a healthy gut microbiome.
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Step four is REPAIR. Repair the gut lining (villi and mucosal layer) by increasing short chain fatty acids, glutamine and herbs such as aloe and marshmallow that help soothe and rebuild.
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Step five is REBALANCE. Rebalance your life! Your stress levels, your dietary choices, your activity level, your thought patterns, your beliefs, and your spiritual practices.
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The ORDER is very important! If you jump steps you could make your issues worse. For example, adding probiotics before doing the first 2 steps can worsen symptoms and instigate mad dashes for the toilet! Trying to repair before removing will just leave you with some expensive poop!
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If you are confused about what to do then you can always start with improving your dietary choices! You can also get professional help if you are really serious about taking control of your health but don’t know where to start. I am available for virtual consults. You can call 954.228.3445 ☎️ with any questions or to set an appointment.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]You may not realize it but your gut is usually the first thing that needs attention in most states of dis-ease. Gut imbalances are top priority for balancing your hormones.
.
Say what? Yup! Your belly is one of the first priorities in reclaiming your hormone health, or your health in general!
.
Why? Because your liver loves you and takes the time to break down all those excess hormones, xenoestrogens and toxins. It gets rid of this garbage by dumping it into the bile which gets released when you eat. ☠️
.
If the gut is leaky then all that garbage gets absorbed right back into your bloodstream. So it’s like throwing all your trash into a garbage can only to find out there was a massive hole in the bottom.
.
The first step is REMOVE. Remove what? Stress, crappy food 🍕, constipation, nasty microbes, food sensitivities, and foods that feed the bad guys in your gut 🍦.
.
Step two is REPLACE. Replace enzymes, stomach acids, bile acids, minerals and vitamins, and add herbal remedies 🌱 to help boost an insufficient immune system, thyroid and adrenals.
.
Step three is REINOCULATE. Add probiotics, prebiotics, fiber and cultured/fermented foods to help re-establish a healthy gut microbiome.
.
Step four is REPAIR. Repair the gut lining (villi and mucosal layer) by increasing short chain fatty acids, glutamine and herbs such as aloe and marshmallow that help soothe and rebuild.🌿
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Step five is REBALANCE. Rebalance your life! Your stress levels, your dietary choices, your activity level, your thought patterns, your beliefs, and your spiritual practices.
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The ORDER is very important! If you jump steps you could make your issues worse. For example, adding probiotics before doing the first 2 steps can worsen symptoms and instigate mad dashes for the toilet! 🚽 Trying to repair before removing will just leave you with some expensive poop! 💩
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If you are confused about what to do then you can always start with improving your dietary choices! You can also get professional help if you are really serious about taking control of your health but don’t know where to start. I am available for virtual consults. You can call 954.228.3445 ☎️ with any questions or to set an appointment.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]