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The Cleanse is Over!

2012-05-23T20:42:06Z

Well, “spring cleaning” is over. I thought I’d report back to you all. By the grace of God, I have finished the seven day cleanse. It was my first. I’m a new convert to these internal scourings. Truth be told, the way I’d heard other people so freely discuss their personal internal workings really made me wonder if these kind of unique forms of torture (as I perceived them to be), were truly made exclusively for the fringes of society. You know who they are… the crunchy mommas of the world… the granola girls… or dare I say it? Perhaps the grown-up edition of the high school bulimics? If you classify yourself in one of the first two categories, you are probably wise enough to smile, tip your head to the side and reminisce about what it was like when you were making the transition from fast food eating insanity into health nut guru.

Turns out, I have been blinded and I now seen the light! I’m not going to say I enjoyed the process of the cleanse itself. I mean, come on… would I rather take more than twenty supplements four times a day, accompanying them with 16 different homeopathically-enhanced drinks a day? Or would I rather have the grilled salmon with veggie kabobs that we are having tonight? Well, that’s a no-brainer. But the effect it has had on me has been wonderful.

And I’m just going to put this out there: Yes, you have to clean out your gut from, literally, the bottom up. I opted for colonics. I have a trusted friend in Atlanta who has been doing this for a long time. Her business name reflects her amazing sense of humor: Innerscents. It was really not nearly as bad as I had imagined it to be. I told myself that I could either get myself clean and healthy now or else end up later in a gastroenterologist’s office having to do tests that felt the same as a colonic except that visit would be due to illness from lack of caring for my body in the proper ways. It’s our choice. I choose health.

From the beginning of the cleanse to the end (7 days), I have lost thirteen and two-thirds inches from various parts around my body. I was amazed at that. I also lost 7 pounds. I was carrying a lot of excess water throughout the tissues in my body. I feel so much better. I am thinner. I am cleaner. I am healthier. My husband, who did the cleanse with me (which made it soooo much easier), lost an amazing 23 pounds! His abdomen looks like it belongs to the man I married years ago!

I still have a long way to go on my journey to repairing all of the damage I have done to my body, but I didn’t do this damage overnight and it can’t be fixed overnight. That’s okay, because I’m on this health kick for the long haul.

Spring Cleaning...a little late

2012-05-14T15:12:22Z

Spring Cleaning

Well, it’s definitely past that time of year… But then again, what am I saying? For me, it’s past that time of LIFE. I’m not talking about cleaning out the dust bunnies under the couch or reorganizing the junk drawer. You know it… I mean the garden-variety health nut internal cleanse. I’m not one of those people who ENJOY cleanses (yes, I’ve met them; talked to them; and stood slack-jawed and furrow-browed listening to them voice their obsession for cleanses, colonics, and numerous toxin removing torture techniques.

In my limited experience with cleanses, the process itself is not one to look forward to (that’s code for hellacious, horrible, horrendous… all of those terrible “h” words, rolled up into one experience). I know that given my future in the health profession as a Naturopathic Doctor, many people would suggest I not be so outspoken about my disdain for them but I am all about honesty.

What I HAVE decided (in my very limited experience) is that the end result makes them well-worth the effort. Three years ago, I had gallstones so badly that my right lung started wheezing because it could not inflate enough due to the size of my gallbladder. Yes, it was painful. It took that much pain for me to decide I would take the plunge into my first cleanse. Two hundred gallstones later, I was pain free. No surgery: Just some nausea and going hungry for a while. I soon realized, I should have done this before now!

Well, this morning began the “adventure.” I gagged and guzzled my way through a two part cleansing drink, flaxseed tea, 8 alfalfa tablets and a slew of other capsules, herbs, supplements and more just to know that in another hour and a half I get to start it all over again… and again… and again… each day for the next week. Anybody wanna join in the wonderful, productive healthy misery?

Now that I’ve decided to rescue my body from the effects of years of bad habits, I know a good cleanse is in order. I will let you know how things turn out (in the least graphic way possible).

Mayans and the concept of Zero

2012-05-11T15:23:07Z

Zero

Perhaps it was a sad day when the concept of “zero” was realized by the Mayans around 200BC. Today, let’s realize all of the things in our life that fill up our “zero” (thus making our lives more than zero) and then let’s be thankful for them! And ponder this: If we didn’t have the concept of zero, we would never realize when we have nothing!

A Native American remedy for jet lag

2012-05-07T15:10:06Z

A Native American remedy for jet lag

Have you ever wondered why the first thing you want to do when you get to the beach is throw your shoes off and feel the sand beneath your feet? Or why it feels so good just to lie on the grass on a cool spring day or while looking up at the stars at night?

There are many benefits gleaned from simply standing on the earth barefoot. Even the scientific community acknowledges its value through publications on studies conducted The Earthing Institute.

Would you have ever imagined that there is a simple ancient remedy for the modern day problem of jet lag? One of my elders, Dr. Suuqiina, taught me that the Native cure for jet lag is simple: Wherever you are, walk outside barefoot and stand on the earth. He went on to describe how being barefoot and connected to the earth resets our internal clock and recharges us, giving us energy and basically helping our body catch up to where we are on the planet.

One final tip Dr. Suuqiina gave on the point: Don’t do this during a thunderstorm (both he and I have been separately struck by lightning!) Sounds like good advice to me!

Dr. Suquinna and Laralyn RiverWind-

Cartoon caption reads "Oh Creator..Please..Use Inside...Voice.

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Learning about shea and what it can do for your skin.

2012-05-01T15:41:12Z

Shea butter comes from the Vitellaria paradoxa tree, also known as Butyrospermum parkii, commonly called Karite. It grows only in Africa in a the region of the Sudan and Sahel belts across Africa that act as the borderlands from the Sahara desert to the wetlands of the more tropical inland central region of the large continent (kind of like the invisible “Bible belt” of the U.S.).

Gathering the fruit from the shea tree is usually done by women and is seasonal, from June through September (with some variation). They remove the pulp, clean the nuts, boil and shell them and then extract the nuts. The nuts are then dried in the sun, ground into a paste, heated and mixed by hand with water. It is then filtered and separated.

Some shea is then refined through a bleaching process that strips it of its scent, color, and much of its phenolic compounds (active medicinal components with antioxidant properties). Native Touch NEVER uses refined shea in any of its products, opting instead for the unrefined shea butter that is full of Vitamin A, D, E, F and K along with the phenolic compounds that make it such a wonderful antioxidant. The picture below is of bleached and whipped shea butter. It is bleached white and then whipped to make it look fuller. What whipping does is infuse air into the butter so retailers can sell more shea butter for less.

Shea Butter processed with chemicals and bleach

Pure, Unrefined, Wildcrafted, All Natural Shea Butter - no Chemicals, no bleaching agents

At Native Touch we ensure that we receive a certificate of analysis with each shipment of Shea Butter which tells our customers that there are no microbial growth or heavy metals that are toxic to the body. Many companies dont get this certificate with their Shea so do your homework when purchasing Shea based products. Our shea is wild-crafted and unrefined allowing us to help support and give back to the indigenous communities that harvest the shea nuts.

One of these phenolic compounds, catechin, is present in shea nuts at a higher amount than ripe olives. Shea is even a better emollient than cocoa butter. It is also sometimes used in place of or with cocoa butter in the manufacturing of chocolate, since shea butter is edible. It is used in Africa as a cooking oil, like Americans would use canola, vegetable or coconut oil (much better for us than the former two).

My favorite way to use shea… in a Native Touch rub! See Rooting Bear Rub, Grizzly Bear Rub, Warrior Bear Rub, Rooting Cub Rub, and Paws & Hide Rub. Our customers use these products for cuts, burns, bug bites, skin cancer, eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, acne, diaper rash, lupus, diabetic neurophathy and more!

Go Natural Go Native!
The Native Touch Leaf Lady
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Native American Herbal Medicine Ways- Blackberry

2012-04-25T16:49:21Z

“Blackberry “- Ga-nu-ga (Gah-noo- gah) Eastern Band Cherokee Translation

Native American tribes throughout the southeast find blackberry to be very useful. The following uses are still a part of Cherokee herbal medicine practices today.

· Using a strong tea from the roots is helpful in reducing and soothing swollen tissues and joints.
· An infusion from the leaves is also used as a tonic for stimulating the entire system.
· The teas from the leaves are great for stomach aches.
· A decoction from the roots, sweetened with sugar or honey, makes syrup used as an expectorant.
· It is also healing for sore throats and gums. The leaves can also be chewed fresh to soothe bleeding gums. The Cherokee historically use the tea made from the dried root for curing diarrhea.
· The astringent action of the tannins in blackberry helps constrict blood vessels and stop minor bleeding. This action would tend to explain the traditional external use of blackberry to treat wounds by warriors as well as applying it to the skin to soothe burns and scalds.

The Native Touch Leaf Lady
Go Natural, Go Native!
Native Touch All Natural Skin Care Products

Breaking water down into bite size pieces- by The Native Touch Leaf Lady

2012-04-24T17:22:00Z

Did you know that the body’s thirst mechanism can actually be shut off if it is deprived of enough water? Someone who’s not been drinking enough water doesn’t have her thirst meter registering the right amount of hydration need. When I say “someone,” I should mention the big neon sign above my head with an arrow pointing right at me.

So, the battle begins in the mind. When you hear “drink 8 glasses of water a day,” do you feel overwhelmed? I did! But those glasses of water need only be 8 oz. That’s just a little measuring cup. I determined to start my water drinking improvement yesterday with the intention of at least drinking four cups of water on the first day, just knowing that eight was too lofty a goal. I’m happy to report that I was wrong!

Once I started drinking the water, my body started wanting it. I was surprised how fast my thirst mechanism was revived. To my surprise, I actually drank the whole eight! My mother, a registered nurse, has always had the mantra “drink water.” One of her favorite sermons is “drink water.” Her cure-all prescription for whatever ails you is “drink MORE water.” I don’t know how I got this far in life without it sticking, but now that I’ve converted, I can tell it’s a lifestyle change here to stay.

I’ve tried and failed at the-big-container-of-water-sitting-on-my-desk. It just sits there all big and intimidating, looking like an insurmountable task. I’d give it occasional sips. But at the end of the day, most of it was still sitting there, a mere practically-invisible liquid mocking my failure. So, here’s how I broke 64 ounces of interior flooding into bite-size pieces:

1. One cup upon waking: Right after the teeth brushing, during the stretching, amidst my Scripture reading time.
2. Extra sips during exercise.
3. Two cups at my desk before lunch.
4. One cup with lunch.
5. Two cups at my desk after lunch.
6. One cup with dinner.
7. One cup between dinner and bedtime.

So this is how I take one day, one cup at a time. Even at the end of the first day, I’d noticed a difference in the turgor and hydration state of my skin. While Rooting Bear Rub is great in handling moisturizing the skin, just like beauty, it really starts from the inside going out.

With a well-hydrated smile,

The Leaf Lady

Tips and Tricks for cleaning your home naturally

2012-02-09T19:35:32Z

(NaturalNews) Many common household cleaners have been linked to health problems. Allergies top the list, with eye and skin irritation close behind. There is even some evidence that suggests chemicals in cleaners can cause lung diseases, birth defects, and cancers. Using natural methods of cleaning around the home is a great first step to reclaiming your health.

Bathtub and Tiles

The bathtub and tiles can be cleaned using a quarter cup of borax mixed with a vegetable based liquid soap and half a teaspoon of lemon oil to form a paste. Using a sponge, the paste can be applied to the tub or tile and then rinsed clear for a clean shine.

Mirrors and Windows

Vinegar has long been known as an inexpensive and non-toxic household cleaner. For mirrors and windows, one-quarter of a cup of white vinegar should be used per gallon of water. Applied to surfaces using crumpled newspaper, and then dried with more newspaper, this mixture will leave a streak-free shine.

Floors and Surfaces

Vinegar, borax, and a vegetable-based dish detergent can be used to clean grease and dirt from floors and other surfaces. Two gallons of hot water should be mixed with one cup of white vinegar and one-quarter of a cup of borax, and then a teaspoon of the detergent should be added. This concoction can be applied using a mop or a sponge, then rinsed clean.

Window Blinds

An easy solution for dusty mini blinds is to put a pair of clean, old socks on your hands. One can be dipped into a bucket of warm water that has been mixed with a vegetable-based dish detergent; then, run along the top and bottom of each blind. The other sock-covered hand is used to dry each blind.

Pet Hair

For pet hair removal from upholstered furniture, a damp rubber glove is effective. Putting on the glove and wetting it and then running it over the upholstery will cause the hair to clump together. It can then be picked up and thrown away.

Oven Cleaner

Baking soda is a great oven cleaner. For an easy and non-toxic cleaning with no smelly fumes, you should sprinkle water on the interior surfaces of the oven. Then baking soda is sprinkled over the water, using enough to form a white paste. This mixture should be left to sit for twelve hours, then wiped away. Whatever grease is left can be removed with a vegetable-based dish detergent.

Wood Polish

When it's time to polish wood furniture, olive oil is the natural product of choice. Three parts olive oil to one part vinegar is one recipe that can be mixed quickly and then applied with a clean cloth. The wood will shine and the oil will soak in to lubricate it naturally.

Further Reading:

http://health.learninginfo.org/household-cleaning-tips-2.htm
http://www.pagespersonalcleaning.net/home_cleaning_tips.htm
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/TIP03417/4-Tips-For-A-Naturally-Clean-Home.html

Most honey sold in U.S. grocery stores not worthy of its name

2011-11-10T14:15:51Z

http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/11/09/most-honey-sold-in-u-s-grocery-stores-not-worthy-of-its-name/?hpt=hp_c3

Buy local! Help Support local farmers and bee keepers. This article about honey is shocking but I posted it because we just recently made a switch to not use bee byproducts anymore. We are now 100% Vegan friendly

Up and running!

2011-06-07T01:58:49Z

Hello, my friends and fellow nature-lovers!

I have finally gotten my hands removed from my mortar and pestle and out of the rich, dark earth to come and type a few words on this techno-trap they call a computer. I don't know how many people have signed up or if anyone will get this blog, but I hope that you will respond if you are out there listening in cyberspace.

I am the Leaf Lady, the mascot of Native Touch; I am the cheerleader of Nature and the One Who Whispers to the Plants. I am just silly enough to think they might whisper back.

So let's talk! What do you want to hear about? What do you want to know? What can I do to make your life a little easier? How can nature ease your stressful day? Let's have a laugh; learn a little; and enjoy all that Creator has given us to love and care for on this earth. After all, we are only here for a season!

Welcome

2010-01-28T18:21:50Z

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.