Tag: natural health

Fibro Friday – Multi-Purpose Pain Oil
health

Fibro Friday – Multi-Purpose Pain Oil

MstldelanoLeave a comment

Happy Fibro Friday! I’m playing catch-up with my posts, because I’ve posted a number of Fibro Friday videos on YouTube that I never shared over here.

A few years ago, I posted a recipe to a pain balm that I used to help with nerve and muscle pain connected to fibromyalgia. This all natural pain balm was unique, in that it used essential oils and it went beyond muscle pain (the usual target for pain) and addressed nerve pain, too. I love this balm and make it a few times each year. But, sometimes I need relief quickly, and I don’t want to wait for the balm to cool and set. So I decided to try a pain relief oil instead. It wouldn’t need the setting time that the balm required, but it also had the potential to be messier if I needed to transport it. I decided it was worth a shot, since I wasn’t planning any immediate travel AND I needed some fast pain relief.

I combined my main actives – copaiba essential oil and dried arnica that I infused into avocado oil (arnica oil works, too) – into a clean amber jar with dropper. I then added a new ingredient, marjoram oil, since I was out of davana essential oil. I then added some orange essential oil, and filled the rest of the bottle with apricot oil. The oil has the same smell: herbal, medicinal, and a little citrus. However, instead of waiting for it to cool and set into a semi-solid state, it remained liquid.

I tried the new formulation on some muscle pain I had in my feet and ankles (a common sore spot for me, since I’m fairly active every day). I noticed that it not only relieved the pain, but it also calmed the tingling I experience in both my hands and feet. For those that don’t know, I experience some idiopathic peripheral neuropathy symptoms, including tingling and itching on the palms of my hands and soles of my feet. Sometimes I’m awakened by the nerve sensations, which usually feels like either pins-and-needles pain, or intense itching. And the oil actually gave me some relief! That confirms my suspicion that my nerve discomfort continues to be responsive to copaiba, and the relief can be experienced regardless of whether the product is liquid or semi-solid.

I always try to back up my Fibro Friday recommendations with peer-reviewed research, so here are the articles I used when figuring out exactly which oils to include in this recipe:

Effects of a massage-like essential oil application procedure using Copaiba and Deep Blue oils in individuals with hand arthritis

The effect of Copaiba aromatherapy on pain scale among postpartum Breast Cancer surgery patients at Prof. Dr. Margono Soekarjo Hospital, Purwokerto

Copaiba Oil-Resin Treatment Is Neuroprotective and Reduces Neutrophil Recruitment and Microglia Activation after Motor Cortex Excitotoxic Injury –

Marjoram essential oil – Efficacy of Topical Essential Oils in Musculoskeletal Disorders: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Sweet Marjoram: A Review of Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Biological Activities

Anti-Inflammatory and Pain-Relieving Effects of Arnica Extract Hydrogel Patch in Carrageenan-Induced Inflammation and Hot Plate Pain Models

Effects of Arnica Phytotherapeutic and Homeopathic Formulations on Traumatic Injuries and Inflammatory Conditions: A Systematic Review

And, if you prefer to listen to my discuss the oil ingredients further, here is the YouTube video:

If you experience fibromyalgia or neuropathic pain, what remedies have you found helpful? I’d love to hear your solutions in the comments below!

FYI: none of the information on this or any other post is medical advice. Please consult with your doctors before beginning any home remedies or other treatment.

This post contain affiliate links.

Fibro Friday – How I Deal With Chronic Headaches
health · life curation · relaxation · Uncategorized

Fibro Friday – How I Deal With Chronic Headaches

MstldelanoLeave a comment

Happy Fibro Friday! The weather is getting warmer each day, and I find myself feeling happier and more energetic. The summer season is HERE!

June is Migraine and Headache Awareness Month. As someone that has dealt with chronic headaches for almost 20 years, I know a little something about a “mal à la tête” (one of the few phrases I managed to retain decades after taking my last French class). However, I was not aware there was a month dedicated to all of us that have to deal with headaches and migraines on a regular basis. I’m fortunate to have never experienced a migraine (though my mother used to have them when I was younger), but I often have tension headaches and other pain patterns.

The weird thing that I’ve noticed about having that chronic headaches is the fact that I almost always have a low level of pain going on. It’s very similar to how fibromyalgia works: pain is a fairly constant companion, but the level of pain is what makes the difference. My headache may be (on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being no pain at all and 10 being severe enough to warrant an emergency room visit) either a 2 or an 8, but never 0. The pain is minimal on some days, but never completely gone. I’ve gotten really adept at functioning without pain medication on any day that’s less than a 5. That may sound awful, but when something has become your normal, you almost don’t recognize it. And, in the case of days where my pain level is a 1 or 2, I often feel ecstatic and like I can conquer the world!

A big part of how I manage chronic headaches is that I have an arsenal of things I do BEFORE I choose to use a pain medication. After years of using over-the-counter medication in an attempt to manage neurological and musculoskeletal pain, I became concerned with the long-term effects of these substances. Therefore, I try to avoid them for as long as I can comfortably manage. When I feel a slightly stronger headache, I don’t immediately reach for ibuprofen or acetaminophen anymore. Here’s what I try before I reach for pain

  • Check my hydration levels: I drink some water, because 9 chances out of 10, I’m dehydrated. Starting my day with a large glass of water is a great move that works well when I remember it. I usually keep a large glass of water on my nightstand, so I can sip before I go to bed and finish it in the morning.
  • Use my weighted eye mask: I’ve reviewed my eye mask over here before, and I still love it. There’s something about the counter pressure that really gives me relief. It’s a pretty inexpensive investment (I got mine from Amazon), and I find that laying down for a few minutes with this mask can really help with the pain.
  • Do some jaw and neck stretches: since most of my headaches are tension related, gentle stretching can relieve some of the tightness that contributes to the pain. This may not be particularly helpful if you suffer with migraines, or if your headaches are not tension related. But if you find that you clench your jaw or otherwise hold your face or neck muscles tightly, stretching them gently may help to loosen up those muscles and take off some of the pressure.
  • Pay attention to my triggers and actively avoid them: sometimes seasonal allergies, certain foods, or even particular daily routines can be headache triggers. If I recognize a trigger, I avoid it as much as I can. That can mean avoiding trips outside of the house during the peak pollen or poor air quality days, refraining from bread and other starchy foods, or getting extra sleep so that I don’t have an exhaustion-induced headache.
  • Eat something, and make sure it’s the right food for me: sometimes, the pain comes from eating too late in the day, not eating enough throughout the day, or eating the wrong food. A huge helping of fresh fruits and vegetables tends to give me a little relief. I’m sure it’s because these foods are more easily metabolized by me, but also, fresh fruits and vegetables tend to be very hydrating.

I discuss my practices for dealing with chronic headaches in one of my recent Fibro Friday videos. You can see it below:

Do you have chronic headaches? What have you found that works in helping you to manage them?

Fibro Friday – How I’m Getting Better Sleep
health · life curation

Fibro Friday – How I’m Getting Better Sleep

MstldelanoLeave a comment

Happy Fibro Friday, friends! I hope you all are having a great week and, if not, I hope your weekend is full of whatever you need to feel better.

This is a brief post, because I’ve already discussed the three biggest things I’ve been using to improve my sleep over on my Youtube channel. Anyone that has fibromyalgia, or any other chronic illness or chronic pain condition, knows that sleep is necessary to restore ourselves and to feel as good as possible. We also know that being in pain often means that sleep rarely makes us feel refreshed. So, anything that can improve the quality of our sleep can make the difference between feeling amazing and feeling awful.

The three things I’ve used that have helped me get deeper, more restorative sleep are weighted eye masks, magnesium supplements, and turmeric supplements. I’ve talked about magnesium and turmeric supplements (I’ve reviewed turmeric here and here) on this blog before, but I’ve never discussed eye masks. I’ll post my videos about each tool below, but if you’re short on time, here is the TLDW version:

  • Weighted eye masks help block out light (obviously), and the weight of it acts similar to weighted blankets: it provides a cozy feeling that helps with sleep. (I use the one by IMAK)
  • Magnesium is a muscle relaxer and a sedative, so it helps reduce pain while also giving you deeper sleep. (I use Nature’s Bounty magnesium supplement).
  • Turmeric supplements reduce inflammation and I take it at night, so it can do its work while I’m resting. For me, less pain means better sleep. (I use turmeric from Doctor’s Recipes and VitaBreeze: I alternate between the two).

More about weighted eye masks –

Why I use magnesium at night –

My daily turmeric and collagen supplements, and how the two I use measure up against each other –

These three things are the building blocks for improving my sleep, and I’m recommending these in hopes that they will help you, too! If you’ve tried any of these, or if you’re curious about any of them, please let me know in the comments below. Take care, and have a great weekend!

Fibro Friday – Travel-Sized Flare Kits
health · international · life curation · travel

Fibro Friday – Travel-Sized Flare Kits

MstldelanoLeave a comment

Happy Fibro Friday, friends! We made it through another week, and I’m excited that I get to share with you some tips that served me well when I traveled several weeks ago.

Because I was traveling for a few weeks out of the country, I had to be mindful that my normal conveniences *may* not be available. The reality of traveling anywhere is that, if you have chronic illness, it’s imperative to have things you need, in case your symptoms flare up.

I was fortunate that I didn’t have any flares while traveling (yay!) though I did feel ill upon returning to the States. To my credit, I prepared well and that probably created enough energetic “relief” that I was avoid a flare due to stress. Part of my preparation included packing a travel-sized flare kit.

I mentioned my self-care kit a while ago, and I added things to the kit to make it suitable for treating my emotional as well as my physical health. I took an abbreviated version of this kit with me on the road. The contents of my travel kit were as follows:

  • ginger mints and ginger tea
  • journal and pen
  • resistance band and stress ball
  • pain relievers
  • dream water
  • room spray
  • aromatherapeutic oil

I discuss the kit a bit more in this video:

Have you ever prepared a mini flare kit when traveling? What items do you recommend that I add? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!

fitness · health

Fibro Friday – The Most Comprehensive Turmeric Supplement I’ve Seen

MstldelanoLeave a comment

Happy Fibro Friday! I hope that you’ve had a great week and a fantastic weekend ahead! Today, I’m sharing with you all a turmeric supplement that I recently started using, and the many benefits that this particular supplement has. To be clear, I’m sharing this because I believe in more bang for your buck: if I find something that is more effective at a great price, I’ll be sure to share the details so that you all can do your research and see if it works for you.

Several weeks ago, I purchased a bottle of Doctor’s Recipes Glucosamine Chondroitin Turmeric MSM Quercetin supplements. I previously tried VitaBreeze Glucosamine Chondroitin Turmeric and MSM supplement because the only way I can get reimbursed for turmeric supplements through my flexible savings account is that they be included in a covered category (in this case, glucosamine chondroitin product). This product is used for management of inflammation, pain, and discomfort. This product also has no shellfish and soy.

Doctor’s Recipes Glucosamine Chondroitin Turmeric MSM Quercetin

I did a video comparing the two turmeric supplements I currently have. I’m including that video below, but for those that don’t have the time, the key points here are that, ingredient wise, the formulas are fairly similar, but the inclusion of collagen and boswellia give this product a little more of an advantage. Here’s the video:

My interest in the product really came from being curious about including more collagen in my diet, especially now that I eat a mostly plant-based diet. While there are certain percentages in the Doctors Recipes that are less than the VitaBreeze formulation, I think that Doctors Recipes is a more comprehensive product, due to the additional ingredients in their formula. I will continue using it and see if I notice a difference. Look out for a video on that in the near future.

That’s it for today! I hope you all have a great weekend, and I’ll talk to you all next week. Take care!

***** This post has affiliate links.

beauty · nature · relaxation

Spring Has Sprung! Early Spring Blooms

MstldelanoLeave a comment

I spent part of my week bemoaning the haggard look of my yard. With the warmer weather and more sunshine, my grass has been flourishing… And so have my “weeds”.

I’m inclined to quickly schedule someone to tend to the yard but, as a baby herbalist, I know that the new growth cropping up in my yard has a purpose. I also know that it’s to my benefit to be very familiar with local “weeds”, especially the ones in my own yard. So, before I get the first lawn mowing of the season, I decided to learn more about these early spring weeds.

My mini violet bouquet

I have a ton of purple dead nettle in my yard. These pretty little plants are among the first to shoot up when the seasons change. I harvested some and dried them, and I plan to try making a tea with them. These are purported to help with seasonal allergies and are also supposedly anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, diuretic, purgative, etc.,. Luckily, these plants – and their lookalike, henbit – are edible. Unluckily, I dislike the flavor of fresh purple dead nettle. I’m hoping that the dried leaves can be combined with another herb to make a pleasant tea.

A patch of purple dead nettle

I found a narrow leaf plantain coming up near my driveway. I don’t plan on doing anything that requires me to use plantain, as this is commonly used to numb the sting from stinging nettle and from insect bites and stings. But, it’s good to have it nearby, just in case I get a bug bite that needs attention.

Narrow leaf plantain

My yard also gets quite a few mock strawberries (snake berries) later in the season. These little devils are harmless and edible but they have no flavor. For now, I’m seeing their pretty flowers and sighing about how those little tasteless berries will be popping up soon. Though the resulting fruit tastes like water, the blooms are sunny spots in my yard.

Mock strawberry (snake berry) bloom

Finally, my favorite weed has appeared! Violets are all over one particular patch of grass, and I love it! These delicate blooms add such pretty colors to my yard. I have “confederate violets) a cultivated subgroup of the larger blue violet family. These are edible but I’m not interested in consuming them: I just love to look at them.

Blue violet

I’m looking forward to seeing what will bloom at the end of this month, and in May. I planted a few seeds, so I’m hoping that those flowers will be blooming in a few weeks.

Did you do any planting or foraging yet? I’d love to hear all about it!

Fibro Fridays: Morning Routine for Relief
health

Fibro Fridays: Morning Routine for Relief

MstldelanoLeave a comment

Happy Fibro Friday! I’m glad that we’ve completed another beautiful week, and I’m hoping that all of you are feeling refreshed and relaxed.

On this fibro journey, one thing that I’d been resistant to was routine. I enjoy doing things at the spur of the moment, and I used to feel that routines kept me from living a fun and spontaneous life. As it turns out, routine has been a saving grace for me. Between getting into the regular habit of taking certain prescription medications, having regularly scheduled visits to physical therapists, and creating better sleep hygiene, I can see where routine is critical to my pain management strategy.

I noticed that I had morning, mid-day, and evening routines that have helped a lot with minimizing my pain and discomfort. So, I took note of my current practices and decided to film my lists. For this week, I filmed my morning routine. You can watch the video here:

The four things I’m currently doing are as follows:

1) Drink 8-16 oz of room temperature water upon waking. I’m always so thirsty when I first wake up, so this is crucial to helping me gently start my day.

2) Complete 5-10 minutes of bed yoga and stretching. Again, starting my day gently is vital: part of keeping my nervous system calm is to avoid overstimulating routines, such as hopping right out of bed and throwing myself directly into the activities of the day. Gentle stretches warm my body up and get me mentally prepared for the day.

3) Moisturize my skin thoroughly. For me, a hyper-sensitive nervous system has meant more sensitive skin. Fabric that was once fine is now uncomfortable against my skin, but I notice that this discomfort is minimized if I’m well moisturized. I use a body butter formulated by one of my friends, but prior to that, I used a light layer of petroleum jelly. It works great and it keeps my skin from getting dry throughout my day.

4) Consume mostly liquid supplements. When I start my day, I’m not usually in the mood for solid or heavy foods. Likewise, I am almost never in the mood for pills or other supplements that cannot be sipped or added into beverages. I try to make most of my morning supplements some sort of liquid: I find these easier to digest and much more effective for me.

This additional point is something that I’d like to try in the upcoming weeks. I have noticed a little more tooth sensitivity than normal, so I’m going to try using a desensitizing toothpaste (like Sensodyne) to help with that. I’ll try it for a few weeks and I’ll follow up to let you all know whether it’s something I’m going to keep in my rotation.

So that’s my morning routine in a nutshell. I find that these steps help me to have a smooth, gentle and effective start to my day.

That’s all for today! Have a great day and a fantastic weekend, and I’ll talk to you all next week. Take care!

Fibro Friday: Managing Inflammation with Turmeric
health

Fibro Friday: Managing Inflammation with Turmeric

MstldelanoLeave a comment

Happy Fibro Friday! I hope your week was great, and I hope your upcoming weekend is even better!

Over the past few months, I’ve been keeping close tabs on my fibromyalgia: I’m looking out for new (or recurring) symptoms, any difficulties in recovering after flares, or other changes that may be worth noting. I keep up with these because I stopped using prescription medication a few months back, and this is my first time – since my diagnosis – observing how fibro shows up in my daily life when managed through other methods.

As part of my symptom (and overall health) management, I’ve been incorporating supplements that promise to reduce pain and inflammation in the body. While fibro is not an autoimmune condition, nor is it a condition that is typically associated with inflammation, my research confirmed that inflammatory conditions exist in most people’s bodies, and most of us benefit from the reduction of inflammation. For this reason, I decided to add turmeric into my daily supplements.

I opted for a liquid supplement, and, since my flexible spending plan covers glucosamine and chondroitin products, I got a glucosamine supplement that also included turmeric (2 for 1!). I have thoughts on glucosamine products that I won’t share today, but I’ll touch on that in a future video. Anyways, back to turmeric: I decided to use Tropical Oasis Joint Complete Premium Plus- Liquid Joint Support Supplement w/Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, Plus 800mg Turmeric Curcumin. I took this product for more than 30 days, and I did this consistently, just so that I can confirm whether I have gotten any results.

Here is my YouTube video discussing fibro and inflammation:

And here’s a YouTube video that I posted earlier today, discussing the outcome of my experiment:

I have to conclude that, while I didn’t notice an immediate or drastic difference in how I felt, I compared the way I felt to how I usually feel in the winter season and I took note of what symptoms were present, missing or mitigated. In previous winters, I am extraordinarily achy, tired and suffer from mild flu-like symptoms, even while taking prescription medication. However, this year, I only felt a little tired and very few aches. I only noticed flu-like symptoms when I actually had the flu (you can read about that ordeal here). So, comparing this year to prior years is the best metric I have, and I can confidently that adding turmeric was a good move for me. I didn’t feel the normal winter “slump” that I usually experience, and I found myself needing less down time when I felt a little tired. I also started adding another supplement into my rotation (more about that next week) and that has been making a difference, too, though I only added that in toward the end of the turmeric experiment, well after I determined how effective the turmeric was for me.

I’m also considering adding in a different turmeric supplement to see if I have different results. I’m thinking I’ll choose between Qunol Liquid Turmeric Curcumin with Black Pepper, Dr. Mercola Organic Fermented Turmeric, Turmeric Gummies for Adults & Kids with Ginger & Black Pepper Extract, or I may try something completely different. You’ll just have to stick around to see what I choose!

That’s it for today. I hope you all have a great Friday and a fantastic weekend! Take care, and I’ll talk to you all tomorrow!

*This post contains affiliate links.