Natural Cowgirl Returns

Dear readers, I am still here.  I took a writing vacation during a major life transition to empty nesting.  My husband and I still own and work at The Green House, our small family business, and we still provide old fashioned retail service where we actually talk to our customers and work with them to help them with their health goals.  The following is a summary of my natural health views and why I think it is important to use supplements along with a good diet and exercise program to stay healthy.

 

Natural health means many things to many people.  To me, it is a means of staying healthy in a world of confusing and less than optimal choices.

First and foremost, a healthy lifestyle is essential to good health.  This means the right food and the right exercise program for you.  Pills – whether natural or prescription cannot fix this for you.  I recommend diets that are suited to your body type and special needs with specific attention directed towards knowing and avoiding the foods that cause inflammation to your body.  Note that everybody has food sensitivies that cause inflammation – the most common are wheat (any form), sugar, corn and dairy.

Next, it is important to take basic supplements to support your body.  Today’s food typically does not provide important trace minerals, vitamins and omega 3 oils, and therefore, must be supplemented.  The quality and form of the nutrients in your supplements is one of the most important criteria in deciding what to buy.  Cheap supplements that are available everywhere are typically not worth the money as they are the wrong form and cannot be utilized effectively by the body. Even worse, the wrong form or quality of any nutrient stresses the body and can cause damage and toxicity.  Buy supplements from high quality brands.  If you do not know what to buy, shop with reputable stores who carry only quality supplements and who also have service to help direct you to products well suited for you.

One of the most important categories of supplements is cleansing and detoxification.  I recommend cleanses to almost everybody.  They help the body in so many ways and most people feel significantly better after a cleanse.  One of my favorites is a whole-body cleanse that works on all organs of elimination.  And, there are also cleanses for the liver, the kidneys, the lymphatic system, the colon and more.  Parasite and yeast/fungus cleanses are also important tools for health as are heavy metal cleanses.

The next important category of supplements is those that help support your particular health issues.  Whether it’s digestion, vision, joint health, memory, detox, healthy aging, etc., it is important to find supplements that suits you.  The right one(s) will make a noticeable difference.

Natural health seems anything but natural as I believe that it requires work and supplementation.  Everyone wants to feel better and to age more gracefully, so consider supplementing for your health.

I’ll Be Back!

Dear Readers,  I have been gone longer than I originally planned.  Life has been full of excitement and adjustments as my family has transitioned to a new normal.  My son is doing well as a freshman at the USMA at West Point.   I will return to blogging in the New Year, so stay connected.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Sincerely,

Margaret Durst

Note to Readers

Dear Readers,  Thank you for being loyal followers.  I have enjoyed publishing to you for quite a few years – 14 years for those of you that started with me via Mason County News.

I will be taking a long and necessary break as I send my only son off to college.  I will hopefully resume sometime in the late summer early fall.

Warmest Regards,

Margaret Durst

 

Kidneys and Bladder – A Natural Perspective

KIDNEYS are the organs that maintain our water balance and help manage the pH of our bodies.  While we generally think of kidneys as organs that get rid of water, they actually conserve water by filtering waste products into urine while returning the rest to the blood stream.  Approximately 100 quarts of liquid are filtered through the kidneys daily with only 1½ quarts passing out of the body as urine.

High protein diets are hard on the kidneys.  URIC ACID, a by-product of protein metabolism, must be eliminated by the kidneys.  If too much protein is consumed, the kidneys get overloaded with waste which can result in high blood pressure, joint problems, and fluid retention.  Many of the herbs used for kidney conditions help to neutralize uric acid so that it can be eliminated.

GOUT is a condition that results from too much uric acid.  It is a very painful condition that happens when the uric acid crystallizes – usually in the extremities like the big toe. Supporting the kidneys with cherry juice and herbs to strengthen the kidneys and neutralize uric acid can be very helpful.

Traditional Chinese medicine views the kidney as a major ENERGY CHANNEL or meridian in the body.  Imbalances along this energy channel tend to affect other parts of the body related to this energy channel.  Accordingly, kidney imbalances may relate to dry mouth, lung congestion, low back or hip pain, knee and ankle pain or proneness to injury, and/or hemorrhoids, hernia or tailbone pain.  Working with kidney-strengthening herbs can help alleviate symptoms along this energy channel.

KIDNEY STONES and calcification in the kidneys are problems partially caused by excess calcium in the urine.  This excess calcium can be from a magnesium deficiency, a potassium deficiency, inadequate water consumption, high sodium intake, high calcium intake from unbalanced sources such as antacids, high oxalate intake from foods such as chocolate, coffee, spinach and beans, and high intake of acid-forming foods such as sugar, coffee, sodas and animal protein.  If this reminds you of my articles on pH and bone health, you are following along perfectly.  It’s all related.

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS are problematic if you aren’t drinking enough water, if you have yeast/fungus, or if your bladder is prolapsed or blocked.  There are so many good, natural ways to manage this tendency.  I like colloidal silver to help knock the infection back.  However, if the problem is recurring, it’s important to figure out why and address the underlying cause.

One of the best ways to help your kidneys is to DRINK WATER.  Good quality water is the best, most natural drink for your body.  Adding lemon juice to your water is also helpful for the kidneys as the lemon juice is alkalizing, helping the kidneys eliminate acid waste.  Unsweetened cranberry juice is another good addition to water to break down toxins and help the kidneys eliminate them.

HERBS that are useful for kidneys fall in several major groups.  Diuretics such as parsley and dandelion help with water retention.  Antiseptics such as juniper, buchu, uva ursi and cranberry fight infection.  Demulcents such as marshmallow leaf and corn silk have a soothing action.  Anti-lithics such as parsley, hydrangea and gravel root help remove stones.  Herbal tonics that strengthen and tone the urinary system include buchu, uva ursi, juniper and dong quai.  In looking for an herbal remedy for kidneys, there are many good blends that combine several of the herbs listed above.