Path to wellness?

[JQ]

Hi Shelley!
I need help! I am confused; my fridge and bathroom cabinet is full of lotions and potions - my husband thinks I am a healthaholic! I had a baby in 2003 and was in glowing health (but eating lots of salty & sweet things) till 7mths postpartum when I was prescribed a mini pill. Within 3 mths my weight increased, I felt odd, tired (needed to nap 1-2x per day) and my skin dried up.

Shortly after stopping the pill I started to get acne for the first time in my life and dark marks from scarring. My naturopath said my digestive enzymes had plunged to zero, my hormones were not right and I had roundworms! I was not absorbing anything and was allergic to wheat, corn and dairy. I was really fed up and wanted to stay indoors, as friends and family could not conceal their surprise I was now spotty ...'..what happened?', ..are you OK? blah blah

I have had a pale, coated tongue (mid to back) for years, the acne is slowly improving on my forehead, cheeks and jawline (the cheeks and jaw can get painful), floaters, slightly blurry vision, constant blocked nose and very little ability to smell.

I have done bowel and parasite cleanses, 4 liver flushes, improved my diet, used oxy powder, pure synergy, followed the O type blood diet advice, tried Actimine, tejaswini, guggul, hemp oil, DHEA, etc. I take Ultimate enzymes and probiotics most days. My weight is back to normal, the skin dryness has improved - but I am not confident I have beaten the acne for good, and fear the lethargy and acne will come right back. I just feel I have had a scatter gun approach to etter as I never really found out what caused the problems in the first place.

Am I on the right path back to glowing health?? Someone mentioned Swedish bitters to improve my skin, I'm about to buy it, but read that it is too Yin (I am supposedly damp), so I am confused on that. I have bought almost EVERYTHING so far and need to stop and get some advice.

Can you help me???? I did the Dosha test (thanks) I think I'm Pitta-Kapha.

[shelley]

Hi JQ!

Okay, you didn't mention any lymph cleansing. Are you dry brushing? Sweating? Massage? Rebounding? All musts and explained in the FAQ.

Acne on the forehead is liver - flushing is not always enough. A good herbal complex, preferably one without estrogenic herbs, is what you need. I highly recommend getting Julia's Chinese Bitters from www.sensiblehealth.com and taking that for a month. I also highly recommend the Liver Cleansing Carrot Salad, all Pitta/Acne people should eat this regularly, and the Basic Cleansing Salad too. Recipes in the FAQ.

Acne on the jawline is usually toxins in the lymph and uterus. Only consistent bowel, liver and lymph management will cleanse that, coupled with a diet free of estrogenic compounds such as Soy products, evening primrose oil, flax seed oil. Julia has a list of foods to limit on her website.

Have you had your Thyroid tested? Done the temperature self-test? It would be a good idea to get a basic physical. Just make sure the lab tests include TSH. Get a copy of the lab test results and keep it. Compare future tests against it, research into any results that are outside the norm or close to outside the norm. Let me know if any are outside of the norm.

Have you analyzed your diet for B vitamin sources, particularly B12? Quite essential. Eggs and liver are the best sources for B12 and iron too. I recommend Cod Liver oil and my Protein Shake to everyone because of that, and Emergen-C.

The Blood Type O Positive diet is a good diet for about 3 days a week for a Pitta/Kapha person. On the other days you need to balance the high-protein qualities with a few days of vegetarian or fruitarian type eating to avoid overloading the liver and kidneys. Make sure all your meat sources are hormone-free, like Zacky Farms chicken.

It's pretty safe to assume that the pill gave you a candida imbalance, so keep up with the digestive enzymes and probiotics. Kefir and Yogurt and fermented veggies and raw ACV are also highly recommended. See the recipe for the Cleansing Drink and try to drink at least one a day. Avoid refined sugars, stick to Stevia.

I don't like the sound of that pale tongue. You probably have low stomach acid and aren't absorbing calcium, folic acid and iron and that's given you anemia. Parasites will give you anemia too. Good bone broths are a MUST, and Kichadi with spinach or kale added. Consider taking in one teaspoon of Liquid Chlorophyll 3x a day.

The other supplements you listed most likely aren't needed at this point. To make sure, however, test them with kinesiology. Get a partner to push your arm down for the arm test.

If after 6 months on a great diet and liver herbs etc. doesn't do the trick, it's time to consider metals chelation.

Hope that helps!

[JQ]

Shelley,
Thanks for such a considered response! I will check everything thoroughly, as suggested, as I am baffled by the constant dull tongue (even after the master cleanse it still was not perky looking - I use an oolit tongue cleaner to keep it cleansed). Where is the temp self test ?

Ahhh, the lymphs! I did start to get night sweats on the pill...so it figures. I was remiss on the skin brushing - I have a skin brush, but rarely use it. I will start some rebounding and restart pilates/yoga too (I am very sedentary.....sloth like). I have ACV (did I say I've bought everything?!).

I am allergic to eggs and I have yet to find a source of organic liver...any other suggestions? I'll get some stevia as I have a stealth sweet tooth (I am sure its the candida goading me on).

The metals - as I had alot of metals when checked (in my blood and hair analysis 2002/3) I switched to bottled water and I am now using Aquasana water and shower filters (I could smell the chlorine in the shower strongly here in NYC!).

One other thing, curezone had a debate about swedish vs chinese bitters and said it depends on the individual -whether you are damp or dry (?)- is that true? I have read the Julia Chang site and think it is fab and I'll go through the foods to limit as I am sure I am doing something wrong.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU:D
JQ

[shelley]

[JQ]

Thanks again Shelley!
I'll work on the B12 source, I'm still miffed over the egg allergy as I love them.

I hope if my liver is strengthened my thyroid will be OK and I'll definitely buy both bitters (I am a bit Pitta) and the chinese bitters and coptis will be a great help with my nettle, dandelion and milk thistle tinctures (by Eclectic).

I eat alot of protein, so the suagr cravings must be the candida - which I'll deal with later on......

Many thanks
JQ