Magnets for Menstrual Cramps

I recently read a couple of books on magnet therapy and discovered something quite amazing.

I have heard the "hype" about using magnets for pain, but never really considered using it for myself or suggesting it to my clients. But, after reading many articles on the use of magnets for pain, I decided to try it myself.

By applying magnets to the painful part, I decreased my menstrual pain by about 70%! Over the last 3 months I have been experimenting with magnets for backache, menstrual cramps and headaches. And, to my surprise and amazement, the magnets took away most of the pain.

Magnets not only decrease pain, but they also bring nourishment and oxygenation to the area. If you have an injury or wound, the use of the magnet on the area will decrease the time it takes you to heal. Magnets will also decrease bruising and swelling.

I'm totally sold on the use of magnets for pain. Of course, if the pain is chronic, I still suggest seeing a Homeopathic practitioner to find your constitutional remedy. Your homeopathic remedy will heal you holistically - reducing the pain without the need for pain killers or other drugs. This is true for menstrual cramps, joint pain, headaches, backache, neuralgic pain, and more.

You can purchase a good set of bio magnets, that are specifically engineered for use on your body. There are so many companies out there who sell such products. When you receive your magnets, you can experiment for which side works for you. There is research that indicates the positive and negative sides are useful for pain. For myself, the negative side of the magnet is more useful for menstrual pain and headaches, although I did find that alternating the sides was effective as well.

Good healing to you on your journey to pain free menstruation!

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Svea Lynn is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. Her Montreal Natural Fertility site can be found here. 

Orange Juice - Health Food or Junk Food?

Have you ever heard of someone having an orange juice addiction?

I'm sure many people would laugh at this, but have you heard people say how much they love Tropicana (or other brand name) orange juice?

We grew up thinking that "not from concentrate" orange juice was healthy. We were told to drink some everyday for its vitamin C content, as well as other added nutrients.

But, what if I told you that orange juice isn't the health food we once thought it to be? Most of this is because of the process in which it is made . . .

Companies like Tropicana make "fresh squeezed orange juice" by putting in whole oranges (that have been sprayed with chemical pesticides) and squeezing the juice out. The juice is then stored in giant holding tanks and brought through a process of de-oxygenation. These companies need to make a profit, so if their orange juice goes bad in a few days (like it should), they would lose millions of dollars. The de-oxygenation process allows the juice to stay for a year without spoiling. [Yikes, can you imagine an orange staying fresh for one year in your fridge?]

This process takes most of the flavor and taste away. Orange juice companies then add FLAVOR PACKS to make the substance taste better. These packs are not listed on the ingredient label because they are derived from oranges, however, are so chemically altered that they have become toxic. Big orange juice companies in the United States add ethyl butyrate to our orange juice because Americans "prefer" its flavor. Ethyl butyrate is considered to be a toxic and harmful substance. It must be disposed of properly, and if it comes in contact with your skin, you must wash immediately. There are also risks if swallowed or inhaled. The flavor packs also contain perfume and essential oils that come from companies like Calvin Klein and Dior. Does it sound to you like the flavor packs could be healthy?

Have you ever thought about why all Tropicana tastes the same? Does this put warning bells in your head? Have you squeezed fresh orange juice at home? It NEVER tastes the same! It all depends on what kind or oranges you have and how fresh they are.

In conclusion -commercial orange juice is junk food. On top of the additives, oranges are one of the heaviest sprayed crops - making them toxic from pesticides. If you are looking for vitamin C, kiwis and spinach have more vitamin C than orange juice does. Oranges are also acidic and contribute to an acidic environment, when we are trying to maintain a more alkaline environment in our body for health.

I used to enjoy a good glass of orange juice, but I will never look at a glass of Tropicana the same!

**Update- January 10, 2012:
There is now a lawsuit going on against Tropicana for deceptive labeling and false description of product. Tropicana orange juice claims there are 16-fresh squeezed oranges in a carton of orange juice - when this is not the case. There are many flavors and oils added to the product to make it taste the way it does - some not so natural. If you are interested in learning more about this lawsuit, the case is Lewis v. Tropicana Products Inc, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, No. 12-00049.

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Svea Lynn is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. Her Montreal Natural Fertility site can be found here. 

Natural Skin Lotion : Calendula & Rose Hips Coconut Oil

When I shop at the local health food store, I am often very disappointed in what they have to offer in their beauty department. Many of the products contain toxic products, like sodium lauryl sulfate, alcohol, fragrance (parfum) and others.

If I am going to put something on my skin, I want the product to also be food grade - I don't want to put anything on my skin that I wouldn't eat! I know, this may sound weird for some of you, however, our body absorbs whatever we put on our skin and has to process whatever chemicals it contains.

Today I decided to make my own natural lotion (I was getting a little bored with plain old coconut oil). Two weeks ago, I began infusing rose hips and calendula in olive oil. Rose hips works wonders for the skin and contains many vital nutrients (many cultures use it as a super food). This wonder herb works on scars, dry eczema, skin burns (including sunburn), dry skin, damaged skin, wrinkles, and aging skin. I consider rose hips infused oil to be a skin super hero!

Calendula also works wonders on the skin, and has, perhaps, the longest use of any herb in skin care. Calendula is best for chapped and dry skin (especially in the coming winter months), stubborn wounds that won't heal, eczema/psoriasis, and skin regeneration.

Directions to make this salve:

Ingredients:
Rose Hips (dried or fresh)
Calendula (dried of fresh)
Extra Virgin Organic Olive Oil
Cold Pressed Coconut Oil
Beeswax
*Raw Honey (optional)

Take the rose hips and calendula and place them in enough olive oil to cover them. Let this sit in a dry, dark place for at least two weeks.

At the end of two weeks, strain out the rose hips and calendula.

Place into a stainless steel bowl and put on top of a pan that has hot water (like a double boiler system). Add a bit of coconut oil (and honey if you would like). Make sure the water isn't boiling too high - you don't want to destroy heat sensitive nutrients in your blend. Cut up some beeswax and put into the stainless steel pot. The amount varies for this and you will have to experiment with the amount you like. If you have a small bar of beeswax (like the one shown in the picture below), you can just slice off a few small pieces to start. For salves (or harder creams) you will want to use more beeswax. For a loose lotion you will want less beeswax. If you find your lotion to be too loose when you are finished, just reheat and put a little more beeswax in. If it is too hard, reheat and add more coconut oil.

Heat until the beeswax melts and immediately poor into a glass container. You can find these containers at some health food stores, online, or recycled containers that you keep. I put mine in an old glass garlic container.

I'm so excited to start using this cream! It is totally natural and, if I really wanted to, I could eat it!

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Svea Lynn is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. 

Alternative Therapies for Cancer and Treatment Side Effects

 by Allison Brooks

The use of alternative treatments for various health problems has become popular in recent years.
More and more, people are turning to natural methods to treat things like colds, headaches and skin problems. Some are even beginning to use them for cancer, and with much success. It has often been said that the natural world contains everything needed to treat and prevent illness. Nature’s interaction with the body surpasses that of doctor’s so there is truth to that statement. Emerging research and personal accounts provide evidence to validate this claim.

To give some examples and to spike people’s curiosity, I have provided a list of a few common natural remedies to treat certain cancer treatment symptoms. It should also be noted that many doctors encourage these complimentary therapies for patients with aggressive forms of cancer, such pancreatic cancer, mesothelioma, or higher-stages of breast cancer.

Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is a prominent feature in almost anything spicy. Many people recognize it primarily from Mexican and Indian cuisines. However, they don't recognize cayenne's little secret: It kills cancer cells, and does a good job at it. Moreover, it also improves blood flow throughout the body. Cancer has been shown to develop more often in areas of the body where circulation is poor.

This amazing pepper is also quite adept at reducing pain, which is a common side effect of both cancer and its modern treatments. Simply consuming cayenne could decrease dependency on prescription painkillers. This could potentially help the sufferer save money. Cayenne pepper is inexpensive, but modern treatments are so very costly.

Reishi Mushroom

Ganoderma lucidum, or the Reishi mushroom, has been used in Ancient Chinese Medicine for over four thousand years, where it was used as a chemotherapy agent among other things. This simple bracket fungus is thought to reduce the invasiveness of cancer cells, particularly those of the breast and prostate.

It also aids in minimizing or protecting against the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy and radiation such as nausea, hair loss, fatigue and pain, and reduces the physical damage wrought by such treatments.

Turmeric

This humble spice is known for its bright orange-yellow hue, and is responsible for the color of foods like of mustard, yellow rice and curry. It contains a chemical called curcumin, which has been proven to destroy cancerous cells and prevent them from spreading. One study from the University of Chicago found that this chemical killed Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria that is responsible for ulcers, and has been liked to digestive and colon cancers.

Though these are only a few examples of the vast realm of natural cancer remedies, it is a good sample of what is out there. These natural treatments, promote life and health in a more enjoyable sense. Step out of the conventional patterns, and see what nature has always offered you.
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Allison Brooks is a recent graduate of the University of Mississippi. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Anthropology and has continued her research to work towards a complete ethnography. She mainly focuses on the effects of biomedicalization on different cultures, but also branches off into other fields of anthropology.

Welcome to our New Guest Blogger!!!

We are so excited and pleased to introduce our new guest blogger.

Allison Brooks is a recent graduate of the University of Mississippi. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Anthropology and has continued her research to work towards a complete ethnography. She mainly focuses on the effects of biomedicalization on different cultures, but also branches off into other fields of anthropology.

Allison is also a "holistic health nut" and is very passionate about enlightening people about the benefits that natural therapies can have on multiple diseases and illnesses. 

We are thrilled to have her as part of our Sacred Healing Traditions team! Welcome Allison!

Quick Weight Loss Tip

Are you trying to lose weight without any success?

Lasting weight loss takes a life-style change, which can be achieved one step at a time.

A quick and easy thing you can do NOW to begin losing weight is to carry water with you everywhere you go. You should be drinking 1/2 your body weight in ounces of quality water per day. So, if you weigh 160 pounds, you should be drinking at least 80 ounces of water per day.

If you can achieve this, you are on your way to lasting weight loss. This is only one small step, but it will really help you along the way with appetite control and cleansing.

If you are a soda drinker, you should try to eliminate this at all costs - even if it is Diet. Diet soda contains artificial sweeteners that are toxic to your nervous system, poisonous, and an aid in weight GAIN. Yes, diet soda has been proven to cause weight gain.

So, replace the soda with water and carry it with you wherever you go.

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Svea Lynn is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. 

A Celery a Day Will Keep The Doctor Away

Many people who suffer from osteoporosis don't know the amazing benefits that celery contains.

According to the Doctrine of Signature, a stalk of celery looks like a bone. It stands tall, is strong and not very flexible. Because of this alone, many people would say that it is good for our skeletal system. On top of that, it is high in natural sodium, which helps the body buffer against overly acidic states. When the body is acidic, it pulls calcium out of our bones to buffer the acid - causing osteoporosis. With 2 ounces of celery juice everyday, your body pulls less calcium and uses more of the natural sodium to buffer against acid. Celery will not only halt bone loss, but it will also help preserve calcium that is needed for new bone.

If you don't have a juicer, then try to eat a few stalks of celery per day. If you do have a juicer, then drink 2 ounces of celery juice in the morning (preferred method).

Bones are 23% sodium and celery is 23% sodium. A coincidence? You be the judge.

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Svea Lynn is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. Her Montreal Natural Fertility site can be found here. 

Water, Water, EVERYWHERE!

Do you know how much water is on planet Earth?

A few sources report that there are 326,000,000,000,000,000,000 gallons of it covering the Earth.

Yet, 1.2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water and over 2.4 billion lack basic sanitation.

And, even developed nations (like the United States and Canada) lack clean, healthy and living water.

A study funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (et al) found traces of medication in the water in Montreal. The following drugs were found:

Anti-depressants
High blood pressure drugs
Anti-cholesterol drugs
Chemotherapy drugs (and other cancer drugs)
Synthetic Estrogens
Antibiotics
Carbamazepine - An anticonvulsant drug given for epileptic seizures
Lead: not a drug, but an extremely toxic chemical that has been found in public drinking water


Not to mention the fluoride, chlorine, aluminum and other additives that are already placed into water for "sanitation" and "tooth protection" purposes. Every single one of these chemicals are toxic to our system, and we would die if we consumed a large enough quantity. While reviewing the above studies, I was shocked to read some of the statements. Here is one example:

"The team tested for the presence of five different drugs, 

which included two kinds of chemotherapy drugs that are 

known to be highly toxic and carcinogenic..."

Did you catch that? CHEMOTHERAPY drugs that are known to be highly toxic and carcinogenic?! Many people that are suffering from cancer are taking chemotherapy. Carcinogenic means cancer causing. Does this blow your mind, or what? The more medical/scientific research articles I read, the more angry I become with our current conventional medical system. 

If Montreal has pharmaceutical medications in its water, then most other cities (especially bigger cities like Los Angeles) have it too. This means that if you are living in a city, taking a shower in a city, and/or eating in a restaurant in a city, then you are probably getting some level of toxicity from the water supply. If you are not concerned about these drugs in the water supply (which you should be), then you should be concerned about these extremely toxic chemicals:

Fluoride: put in the water supply to protect against cavities. The fluoride they use is a bi-product of the phosphate fertilizer industry. Companies used to pay millions of dollars to dispose of this toxic chemical properly, but now your city is purchasing it to put in their drinking water. Fluoride is so toxic that it can burn through cement if spilled (see this article that reports a fluoride spill that actually burned through concrete). WARNING: EXTREMELY TOXIC. DO NOT GIVE TO INFANTS!

Chlorine: This harmful chemical is added to all municipal water sources to disinfect and kill bacteria. Chlorine is also extremely toxic and can damage our blood vessels, causing plaque buildup on our artery walls. Do you wonder why the incidence of heart disease increases tremendously every year? This is one culprit. 

If you live in or around a city, you should purchase a really good filter. First, find out if your city adds fluoride to your water. If they do, then you will have to purchase a reverse osmosis filter, since this is the ONLY filter that removes fluoride. Reverse osmosis systems remove all minerals, so you will also have to re-mineralize your water. You can search for a good supplement that will add minerals to your water, or you can purchase a separate cartridge that does it for you. If you do not have fluoride in your water, then I prefer to use the Nikken Gravity Water System. This will remove all toxins from your water, while adding minerals at the same time.

If you have access to a public spring that has healthy living water, then you should get your water from there. www.findaspring.com is an incredible website that will direct you to the nearest spring. It is best if you have access to spring water near clean and pollution-free mountains. When I travel to Quebec, I love getting water from Mount Sutton. The water is so clean and pure and ALIVE! I can tell right when I take my first gulp! 

Additionally, you should consider the type of water you are bathing in. Your skin also absorbs water (and the chemicals that come with it). Nikken makes a shower filter that is fabulous, and removes 90% of the chlorine in your water.

Finally, you should be drinking 1/2 your body weight in ounces of quality water daily**. You could have the best water in the world, yet are not drinking enough of it to maintain health. Our bodies consist of up to 75% water, and need to be flushed out daily. In order for our cells to grow and flourish, they need to be bathed and cleansed. 

So, in conclusion, find a good water source and load up on quality drinking water. Don't trust your city when they say their water is totally clean and pure. Do your own research and feed your body what it needs...

Clean, pure, and nourishing WATER!

**An example: if you weight 200 pounds, then you should be drinking 100 ounces of water per day.** This is a general guideline. You may need more if you are pregnant, nursing, or in hot-humid conditions.

***Some symptoms of dehydration include: headaches, constipation, diarrhea, migraine, muscle cramps, backache, exhaustion, fatigue, tachycardia (racing heart beat), and more. Are you drinking enough water? 

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Svea Lynn is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. 

Raising a Child Naturally: From Pre-Conception Through Toddlerhood

FREE! 1 Hour Online WEBINAR

Do you have a child?

Are you pregnant? Nursing?

Do you want to have children in the future?

In this one-hour online class, we will discuss the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of the birth process; breastfeeding and baby care; potential unexpected and unwanted interventions (and their effects on your baby); nutritional support pre-,during, and post pregnancy; and more. This class will be filled with great information on how to become a conscious parent, and how to raise a completely healthy child, naturally!

And, you know me, all topics discussed will have a holistic approach - which leads to an easier birth and a better life for your baby - right from the start.

If you already have a family, we will be discussing post-pregnancy health too (for both mommy and baby), and many ways to build your child's immune system for great health later in life.

Please send me an email with your email address to sign up for this class. The class is completely free, and set up in an online classroom setting. The only things you need to attend are a decent internet connection and speakers.


Hope to see you all there!

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Svea Lynn is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. 

I'm Back!!!

Just wanted to tell all of my readers:

I have NOT abandoned by blog. I will be writing more ASAP. For the past month I have been on 'vacation' (kind of). I have been camping, hiking in the mountains, swimming, and enjoying SUMMER! :-)

Upcoming blogs to look forward to:

Free class announcements on:
Raising a Healthy Family - From Pre-conception toToddlerhood

Healing Yourself Using Sound

& Different ways to heal yourself using Color
Sign-up details to follow.

The Importance of Hydrating yourself (so appropriate for the heat wave we've had)
...And More!!

I sincerely hope you are having a beautiful summer filled with abundant health and happiness.

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Svea Lynn is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. 

Homeopathy For Menstrual Cramps & Pain

Over the years I have tried EVERYTHING for severe menstrual pain - both conventional and naturopathic.  I can't even begin to count how many times I 'googled' the terms "natural cure for menstrual cramps." And, I can't even begin to count the numerous times where I felt disappointed and discouraged that nothing was working.

After many years of frustration and despair (and many days/nights of laying on the couch curled up in a ball), I finally found something that really works for me. Homeopathy is an incredible medicine that helps so many people with stubborn conditions, including dysmenorrhea (AKA menstrual cramps).

As a Homeopath, I know by experience that the BEST remedy for you to take for menstrual cramps is your constitutional remedy. The only way of finding your constitutional remedy is to see a classical homeopath who takes your case and prescribes you one remedy (which is what I do with my clients- contact me if you are interested in an appointment to relieve your menstrual cramps). This constitutional remedy will help you on all levels: mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. It will give you lasting effects.

But, until you decide to see a homeopath, here are a few acute remedies to try out. Make sure you match your menstrual experience with the remedies. If the symptoms do not match yours, then the remedy will probably not work for you.

Magnesia Phos. (Mag. Phos.)
Indicated for cramps and spasms which are better in heat and better from pressure.

Colocynthis (Coloc.)
Severe cramps. Sharp stabbing pains which are better from heat and pressing hard into the area. Wants to be left alone. Sensitive face distorted from pain. Pain comes and goes fast. Better bending forward -doubling up. Pain associated with anger.

Dioscorea (Dios.)
Better bending backwards, the opposite of Colocynthis. Cramps in the fingers and toes.

Belladonna (Bell.)
Cramps, spasms, and bearing down pains come and go suddenly. There is heat and congestion. She is better sitting up and better from pressing on the genitals or abdomen. Worse from motion of any kind.

Borax (Bor.)
Profuse early menses with griping pains and nausea. Pain in the stomach extends to the back. In the menstrual flow large membranes are passed. There may be nausea.

Cactus (Cact.)
The whole uterus feels like a wire wrapped around it and tightened, or as if squeezed by hand. The pains are constricting.

Caulophyllum (Caul.)
Cramps in the uterus before menses, with pains in the lower back. There are bearing down spasmodic pains, with drawing pains in the legs. She feels weak and trembling inside. The uterus feels heavy and congested.

Cimicifuga Racemosa (Cimic.)
There are severe labor-like pains. Bearing down cramps and spasms. The pains travel from right to left to right, going back and forth. She bends over double and is restless, better from heat.

Sabina (Sabin.)
Sharp pains travel from the back (sacrum) to the front (pubic area). The flow is red with clots. She desires fresh air and is warm blooded.

Lachesis (Lach.)
Pains in the left ovary. There is sensitivity to any clothing where it binds at the neck or waist. The blackish menstrual flow relieves the symptoms.

Of course, this is only a partial list of all remedies that can help with menstrual pain. These remedies are also good for endometriosis symptoms (that match the remedy), ovarian cysts, and other painful female complaints.  

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Svea Lynn is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. Her Montreal Natural Fertility site can be found here. 

New! Online Homeopathy Study Group

Are you interested in learning about Homeopathic remedies?

I will be starting a new online homeopathy study group this summer. Homeopathy study groups are hard to find, especially online groups - where you can study from the comfort of your own home. Dates are to be determined at this point.

We will be studying constitutional remedies (and some acute stuff too). So, if you are a Natural Health Practitioner of any kind, then you can boost your knowledge of Homeopathy by joining us online!

The study group will be a live and interactive webinar, where you can ask questions and chat with other group members. 

To sign up (or with questions) please contact me through my website at: www.psychehealing.com

5 Common Health Misconceptions

Myth: In order to lose weight, I have to count calories.
Truth: Not all calories are the same. If you are eating fast food three times per day and watching your calories, you are less likely to lose weight than someone who eats a lot more substance, but eats mostly raw fruits and vegetables. A diet that consists of 80% raw produce is best for weight loss (and health in general). It will not only help you lose excess pounds, but it will also give you more energy throughout the day. And, with 80% fruits/veggies, you do not need to count your calories (as long as the other 20% isn't ALL dessert foods). Plus, changing your lifestyle choices will help you KEEP weight OFF. This is so important for lasting weight loss.

Myth: Vaccines are safe.
Truth: Vaccines have never been proven to be safe through a TRUE safety study, which would compare a vaccine to an inert substance. Instead, vaccines have only been compared to other vaccines. On top of that, pharmaceutical companies are the ones doing the research on their vaccines... can you say CONFLICT OF INTEREST?! Vaccines HAVE been proven to be linked to autism, autoimmune disorders, and other serious illnesses. If a vaccine is considered safe, shouldn't the ingredients also be considered safe? Vaccines contain the following ingredients: mercury, aluminum, formaldehyde, polysorbate 80, African green monkey kidney cells, aspartame, and monosodium glutamate (MSG) - just to name a few. NONE of these ingredients are considered to be safe. Doesn't this, in and of itself, make the claim "Vaccines are safe" to be false?

Myth: Stay away from fats. They are unhealthy and will cause heart disease.
Truth: This is one of the biggest myths of all time! Not all fats are bad. Our bodies actually need fats to produce hormones, build cell walls, and perform many other vital functions. Fats do not cause heart disease! In order for cholesterol to clog arteries, the arteries must be damaged first. Cigarette smoke, chlorinated water, pollution, unhealthy food, and many other environmental toxins damage arteries. The best fats are high quality fish oils, flax oil, coconut oil, and some animal oils. Some healthy people eat coconut oil by the tablespoon!

Myth: All herbal supplements are good for you.
Truth: I know many Naturopaths who are similar to your conventional doctor. You go to them with a condition and they recommend a few (or many) supplements to help you with your problem. As a Naturopath, we take an oath to "treat the fundamental causes of illness." This does NOT include giving a supplement for every condition that you list. I have shadowed Naturopaths who give a nervine herb for the nervous system, an herb for the digestive system, an herb for the brain, an herb for the liver, an herb for the pancreas...etc (you get my drift). THIS IS NOT GOOD NATUROPATHY! An herbal substances, in some cases, will act like a pharmaceutical drug... just with less side effects. You might have to be on the supplement for a long time. I believe in minimal supplements and a good constitutional homeopathic remedy. In many cases people are burdening their bodies with a huge list of supplements, thinking they are supporting their bodies. They begin to have stubborn rashes that won't go away. The truth is, they are overburdening their bodies and need to stop all supplements. I am a Homeopath 100% of the time and believe that the constitutional remedy is one of the best medicine for any condition.

Myth: I need to go to the doctor every time I have a cold or flu. I need medicine to help me feel better.
Truth: In most cases, a cold/flu is NOT a bacteria infection. Your doctor will most likely give you antibiotics and send you on your way. If you take antibiotics for something that is not a bacterial infection, then you are doing damage to the healthy bacteria in your body, especially in your digestive system. On top of that, you are not going to heal any faster. Your doctor will admit this if you ask them (believe me, I have asked before). Also, many people run out to get a decongestant or other medicines that will "knock them out". This is bad practice. You are further suppressing an illness that is trying to express itself. Let it run its course. The human body is incredible and will fight off the disease without the help of a pharmaceutical drug (unless of course you are in a very poor state of health to begin with). The best medicine? REST and lots of water! Go back to the "old" days where there wasn't a quick fix to everything. Take a break from work, school, or whatever else is wearing you down. If you continue to suppress a cold or flu, it will pop up later. You will be surprised - let it run its course and you are less likely to be sick in the future.

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Svea Lynn is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. Her Montreal Natural Fertility site can be found here. 

Menstrual Cramps & Adrenal Fatigue Revealed: Part 2

Last month, for the first time in a long time, I had relief from my menstrual cramps.

What did I do differently?!

I took an amazing homeopathic remedy! Each person's "constitutional remedy" is different, depending on their life challenges and the experience of their symptoms. My menstrual cramps are much different from most people I know. A remedy that works for me might not work for someone else. That is why it is important to see a Classical Homeopath to find your constitutional remedy.

I can't even begin to express my excitement. Finally, something that is working for my chronic menstrual cramps.

Over the weekend I also attended a training seminar. The topic was Sclerology - the study of the white part of the eye. Sclerology looks at different markings to determine the level of health of the body. At the end of the seminar we had our eyes analyzed. What came up for me?

Parasitic flukes . . . in my uterus!

This made A LOT of sense to me. Parasitic flukes in the uterus will cause endometriosis like symptoms.

Endometriosis is hard to "diagnose" because it looks a lot like PMS. Here are some associated symptoms:

• Pain before and during periods
• Pain with intercourse
• General, chronic pelvic pain throughout the month
• Low back pain
• Heavy and/or irregular periods
• Painful bowel movements, especially during menstruation
• Painful urination during menstruation
• Fatigue
• Infertility
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Headaches
• Low grade fevers
• Depression
• Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)
• Anxiety
• Susceptibility to infections, allergies

Although I have never been diagnosed with Endometriosis (and indeed, I do not believe in the "diagnosis", anyway), I experience most of these symptoms during menses.

My Healing Plan

I am going to start a parasite cleanse right away. Since I have never done a parasite cleanse, I can only imagine how many parasites I have in my body. Being in the Naturopathy field, I have seen some pretty nasty parasites come out of people. I have heard stories about "bundles of worms" coming out through the bowels. I know, I know... this is really gross... but must be faced! I have included a picture for your viewing pleasure (hehe).

Flukes

If you experience a low grade infection, poor health, fatigue, headaches, nausea, constipation/diarrhea, or other similar common symptoms, then you probably have parasites too (especially if you have never done a parasite cleanse).

Each person needs an individualized parasite cleansing plan, depending on which parasites they carry. And, even if you are in a good state of health, you should still do an annual parasite cleanse.


Some good supplements to consider for parasite cleansing: Garlic, Black Walnut, Pumpkin Seed, and Cloves.

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Svea Lynn is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. Her Montreal Natural Fertility site can be found here. 

Menstrual Cramps & Adrenal Fatigue Revealed: Part 1

For years I have struggled with menstrual cramps. When I was a teenager, these menstrual cramps would be so painful that I wouldn't be able to continue normal activities. I stayed home from school on those days. As I grew older, this turned into not going to work on those days. I rested in bed, helpless, with no refuge from the pain. Heat seemed to help a little, but I still suffered. The only thing that would help were pain killers. As the years went on, and the dose of pain killers increased, the damage to my poor liver increased. The cycle was bad... every month the cramps would come on. I would try to struggle through, and when I couldn't do it any longer, I popped a Motrin or two. The cramps would feel better, but then the next month they would be the same.

 If you are a woman, then you probably know what I am talking about. Millions of women struggle from painful menses. They take pain killers, birth control pills, and other methods of suppression. Many of these methods help the cramps in the moment, but once they wear off, the painful menstrual cramps come back.

My Story

After a few years of suffering, a physician finally recommended birth control to eliminate these painful menstrual cramps. The birth control seemed to help, but there was something very artificial about it. It didn't feel right. I began to have mood swings and horrible cramps in my legs. The menstrual cramping was better, but the trade-off was not worth it. As I began to discover and study Naturopathy & Naturopathic medicine, I began to realize there were natural things that could be done to help painful menstruation. I also discovered how bad pain killers and birth control were for my health. For years I had subjected my body to toxic medicine at the expense of feeling no pain. I decided from that time on, I would no longer take the birth control, nor would I take pain killers (if I could help it!).

Well... the menstrual cramps came back... full force. This just shows that birth control pills didn't CURE me... they merely suppressed my symptoms until I stopped taking them. This, to me, is not medicine - it is suppression.

Since that time five years ago I have tried many (if not most) Naturopathic treatments for menstrual cramps. Some have worked for very short periods of time, while others have done nothing for me. I find it interesting that many articles out there say that eating a balanced diet will cure menstrual cramps. This hasn't been true for me, and I have eaten an extremely healthy and well-balanced diet for five years. This might work for some, but for the most part, I don't see it working for many.

Another Naturopathic suggestion I have heard is to take Red Raspberry tincture (or capsule or tea). I have also done this now for almost three years. It hasn't helped with the menstrual cramps. I continue to take Red Raspberry because it is so nourishing for the reproductive system. I would like to start a family some day, so I am building as much as I can now.

Some suggest Dong Quai. I tried that too. This, unlike the above remedies, helped me. During the months that I drank Dong Quai tea, I noticed the cramps were less severe. But, this didn't last when I stopped drinking it. For me, this was a palliative treatment - helping the symptoms but only while I was taking the remedy. This is not a true cure. A true cure would take the pain away, never returning again.

Goji Berries... yes... I tried those too. Those sweet, red berries seemed to help, but only during the time when I consumed them. I don't want to take a drug for the rest of my life, so why would I want to take a natural supplement everyday for the rest of my life (although Goji berries are very tasty and are highly nourishing). To me this was not a cure either (and I'm LOOKING for the CURE).

Up to that point, I hadn't found a cure.  I felt like a young jumbled mess. I continued to have extreme pain, but continued on my path to healing. I started to focus on myself and not everyone else. When I was a young adult, I took on too much responsibility out of a sense of obligation. This was no longer healthy for me, so I resigned from all my projects and groups. Those days to come were the best [and worst] days. I took a lot of time off work, yet began to feel so extremely exhausted. Many health professionals "diagnosed" me with adrenal fatigue & exhaustion.

So, there I was. A Naturopathic student with extreme menstrual pain and adrenal exhaustion. Hmmmph. Wasn't I supposed to be healthy? Wasn't I supposed to be vibrant?

After years and years of healthy eating, supplements, and natural therapies, nothing changed. What about all the "cure" stories I heard about in class? I was discouraged to the point of not believing that I would ever get better.

But, I'm proud to say now that I am finally at a place where I have found something that works for me. Almost two years ago I began seeing a classical Homeopath. I was put on a constitutional remedy, and I am amazed at my healing thus far. I will continue to post what worked for me and what didn't in more blogs to come (as this one is getting quite long... and I'm not writing a book on here - not yet anyway). This discovery has not only helped the way I practice, but it has also given me further insight into the world of Naturopathic medicine. More to come later blogs.

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Svea Lynn is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. Her Montreal Natural Fertility site can be found here. 

A New Face to SHT

Hi everyone!

I have been tossing around the idea of changing the 'face' of Sacred Healing Traditions. In the past I have posted many blogs about natural therapies for different conditions, as well as general health tips. I have tossed around the idea of making it more personal and include my story as well. In the past I have been reluctant to do so.

With that said, I have decided to include my story in this blog. I have come to realize that my struggles and successes will help many of my readers who have struggled or are struggling with the same things I have. This does not mean that I will not publish blogs that contain natural therapies or health tips. I will still continue to do this, however, will incorporate more of ME!

Thank you all for continuing to comment and send messages of your story. I really enjoy hearing from my readers.

Blessings,
Svea Lynn

Baby Bunny Update

After many long hours of nursing five baby rabbits, I have come to realize a few things.

#1: Baby rabbits are one of the most difficult animals to care for.

#2: It is very difficult for baby animals to survive without their mother's first milk (colostrum).

#3: No man-made synthetic formula can cut it... a baby fed formula has a significantly lower chance of survival.

All said and done, all of our baby bunnies have passed on. We followed all instructions given and kept them alive for a lot longer than we initially thought we could. At one point I even called a woman skilled in the art of nursing baby rabbits (she owns a rabbit sanctuary), and she said it's hit and miss with these babies. She shared that sometimes a couple baby rabbits will survive, while in other situations, no baby rabbits survive.

Needless to say, this also gave me even more insight into the world of mother's milk vs. formula. I see this all the time: babies who are fed a formula from birth have a weaker immune system and tend to be sick more often. Babies who are fed their mother's milk tend to have stronger immune systems and can fight off disease better. On top of that, babies who are fed colostrum are better off than those not. In my opinion, this is a must for all babies (even if the mother doesn't plan on continuing to breastfeed).

Hidden Cures For Cancer Part #2: Rife Beam Ray Device

Imagine spending your whole life building a machine that cures disease. You patent the machine and you find the machine to be extremely successful in curing ALL diseases. You then present your PROVEN research to a medical association that you belong to.

Think about this for a moment... what would happen to you if you found a cure for every disease imaginable?  At first thought you would think that you saved the world. That the medical establishment would welcome you with open arms. That you would become a billionaire and that your work would be published everywhere. On second thought what about Orthodox Big Money Medicine? What about a cheap machine that eradicates the use of pharmaceutical drugs? Do you think a big money company would allow a 'small' person to come and threaten their profit?

The medical association begins to feel threatened. Men in black suits come to your lab, taking all of your research and confiscating all of your machines. How would you feel?

This is basically what happened to Royal Raymond Rife.

The Life of Royal Raymond Rife

Dr. Royal Raymond Rife (1888-1971) was a brilliant scientist who developed technology which is still commonly used today in the fields of optics, electronics, radiochemistry, ballistics, biochemistry, and aviation. In his lifetime, he received 14 different awards and honors and was even granted an honorary Doctorate by the University of Heidelberg for his work. He worked for Zeiss Optics, the U.S. Government and several other private companies.


By 1920, Rife finished building the worlds first virus microscope. By 1933, Rife constructed the Universal Microscope, a complex technology that had almost 6,000 different parts and that magnified objects 60,000 times their normal size. With this microscope, Rife was the first person to see a live virus. Normal electron microscopes killed everything beneath them, allowing the scientist to only see the dead virus. Rife's machine allowed them to see the live virus and how it interacted with the cell, growing and replicating with changing environments. This gave Rife much insight on illness and disease.


Rife was way ahead of his time. Most of his colleagues couldn't understand his work without seeing it, so many doctors traveled to California.


There is much more to this story, but may be irrelevant for what I am trying to say here. I just want you to realize how distinguished Royal Raymond Rife was in his lifetime. Eventually, Rife discovered that pleomorphic fungi was the cause for most cancer, and that this fungi could not thrive and develop in an alkaline environment. He also discovered that frequency treatments cured cancer by killing microbes inside of cancer cells. He proved this many times over again and had tons of research.

Cured Cases of Cancer in the early 1900's

Rife was curing cancer with his Rife Beam Ray Device. He cured 22 cases of lung cancer. After the first 6 months of using the Rife Beam Ray Device on these 22 patients, 50% of them were cured. After an additional 6 months, 100% of them were cured of cancer.

In 1934, the University of Southern California appointed a special research committee to bring terminal cancer patients from Pasadena County Hospital to Rife's laboratory and clinic in San Diego for cancer treatments. This team also included doctors and pathologists assigned to examine the patients, if still alive in 90 days.

After 90 days of treatment, the research committee found that 86.5% of the patients had been COMPLETELY cured! The treatment was adjusted for the remaining 13.5%, and within four weeks, Rife's technology had cured 100%.

The Suppression of Rife's Technology

On November 20, 1931, forty-four of the nation's most respected medical authorities honored Royal Raymond Rife with a banquet called The End to all Disease at the Pasadena estate of Dr. Milbank Johnson.  At that time, Rife was curing many diseases, including cancer, polio, meningitis and others.

However, only 8 years later, many of those medical authorities were denying they ever met Rife. Morris Fishbein, who was the head of the American Medical Association and owned all of its stock, offered to buy out Rife. He gave Rife an offer that he thought he wouldn't refuse. Rife refused. Fishbein was also the guy who attacked the Hoxsey Therapy (from Hidden Cures for Cancer Part #1) and had Hoxsey thrown in jail 125 times for practicing medicine without a license. Fishbein couldn't do the same thing he did to Hoxsey, since Rife had many prominent medical authorities working with him and a lot of profound research backing up his claim.

Rife's lab was broken into and some of his research was stolen. The culprit was never found, however, suspicions pointed toward the American Medical Association. In the days to come while Rife struggled to reproduce his missing data (remember photocopies and computers were not available then), someone stole pieces of and vandalized his Universal microscope. Just before that, an arson fire destroyed the multi-million dollar Burnett Lab in New Jersey, where scientists were preparing to announce Rife's work. The end of Rife's career came when police illegally confiscated the remainder of Rife's 50 years of research.

At that time, however, the Beam Ray Corporation was still manufacturing and selling Rife's frequency instruments (although Rife was not a partner). In 1939, the agents of a family that controlled the drug industry assisted Philip Hoyland in a lawsuit against the Beam Ray Corporation. Hoyland lost, however, the company went bankrupt by legal expenses. Commercial production of Rife's instruments ceased completely. 

Doctors who tried to defend Rife lost their research grants and hospital privileges. The doctors that worked alongside Rife were offered large sums of money to retire (during the Great Depression). Big money was spent ensuring that Rife's technology never got out there. Remember, medicine is BIG business... one cancer patient's treatment costs around $300,000, while a Rife Beam Ray Device costs between $2,000-$5,000, and could help thousands of people with cancer. 

Since that time we have watched the growth of the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life and other cancer research organizations. The heads of these organizations make millions of dollars per year, drive expensive cars and have mansions on the ocean.

The FDA attacks anyone who claims to sell Rife Beam Ray Devices or anything else that is said to 'cure' cancer. They spend a lot of money on calling out so called 'quacks'. They throw people in jail, fine them, and defame them.

Doesn't this seem odd? There are hundreds, if not thousands, of pharmaceutical drugs out there that have NEVER been proven, yet the FDA doesn't worry about defaming their makers. Vaccinations still contain toxic mercury and formaldehyde, yet the FDA doesn't worry about pulling them off the market. For some reason, the FDA is VERY worried about these PROVEN technologies, and keeping them suppressed and hidden.

Neither the Hoxsey treatment (from part 1) or the Rife Beam Ray Device  have ever had harmful side effects. Nobody has ever died from using them, while thousands of people die per year from chemo therapy, vaccinations, toxic drugs, preservatives in food, and much more. The American people pay to keep the FDA running, so the American people should force the FDA to refocus its attention... on the health and safety of its people, and not on the greed of the big pharmaceutical companies.

There are some practitioners out there who are using the Rife Beam Ray device and curing around 80+% of their cancer cases. These practitioners can be difficult to find as they have been targeted by the FDA, but they are out there.

Remember this article when someone asks you to donate to cancer research. Remember the corruption that happens in big companies over money and greed. And remember, most importantly, that your health is #1.

*This article is not meant to claim that there is a cure for cancer. This article is meant to state the facts of history and how some people have actually proven to cure cancer with their herbal formulas and devices.*

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Svea Lynn is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. Her Montreal Natural Fertility site can be found here. 

Baby Bunnies: A Lesson on Health

Lately I haven't had much time to write a blog.

Why?

Because I have 5 baby bunnies that I am taking care of! Their mother died while giving birth to them, and since then we have been bottle feeding them two times per day (which takes almost 2 hours each time).

I wanted to write to all of my readers out there because I have realized how important a couple of supplements are.

First, the babies were not able to nurse off their mother at all. This can be a major problem, since a mother's first milk is so rich in nutrients, antibodies, fat and other vital nourishment. This first milk is called Colostrum, and is vital for a baby's immune system. When I used to feed calves on the farm, I had to make sure they were fed at least two days of Colostrum, or they would likely get sick and die. So, this was a dilemma with these baby rabbits.... no colostrum to feed them. After searching for a long time, we found a kitten milk replacement that has colostrum. We were amazed, however, when reading the other ingredients we were not so amazed. Did you know they put Corn Syrup in kitten formula? Yikes... to say the least. Someone should invent a healthy formula for animals. It's so difficult to find anything for them to eat, let alone something healthy. 

Another very important thing for baby rabbits is promotion of healthy gut flora (just like humans). If they don't build a good healthy gut flora, then they are likely to die. We are now putting Acidophilus in their formula.

So far, so good. They are doing really well and are growing so fast!

On a side note - do you know if you received Colostrum from your mother, or were you put directly on formula? This always seems to amaze me with new mothers who give birth in a hospital - nurses and doctors rarely promote giving a baby the mother's first milk. On the farm, however, you MUST give the calves their mothers first milk, or they will likely die or be very sick. In this way, we are not much different from animals. We, too, need our mother's first milk to build our immune system and promote a long life of health.

Your Baby: Breastfeeding vs. Formula Feeding

It seems like bottle feeding has been on the rise in the recent decades and now, more than ever, mothers are feeding their baby with pre-made formulas. Mothers come to see me with complaints of poor digestion in their babies; babies who vomit after they eat each meal, constipation, higher incidence of colds/flu and more. Most of these young mothers have not been educated on the benefits of breast milk over formulas.

Breastfeeding Your Baby

Breast milk, by far, is the healthiest and best gift you could ever give your baby. It is full of vitamins, minerals, and nourishment. It is highly digestible and easily absorbed by your baby. You, as a mother, pass on antibodies to your baby so he/she will be able to fight off illness. Babies who have been breastfed have been proven to have higher IQ, lower incidence of diabetes, and a stronger immune system.

All of the above 'pros' have been reported in many different articles and journals. I have seen the effects of breastfeeding first hand... babies are smarter, more alert, maintain health and don't catch illness easily, and generally have stronger immune systems than babies who are bottle fed. Breastfed babies are generally happier and more content. 

'Back in the day' in situations where mothers were not able to breastfeed their babies, they would hire a wet nurse. The wet nurse would provide breast milk for the baby. Over the years the incidence of wet nurses has decreased, although it is a much healthier option for your baby than formula. This trend is again starting to increase as people realize how toxic formula really is.

Formula has been said to be 'easier'. Mothers can go away from their children while the babysitter gives formula. In raising your baby I know that you are doing everything in your power to keep it safe and healthy. This also involves breast feeding for at least 6 months, and even better for a year.  If you are having problems breastfeeding, there are many breastfeeding educators out there (like La Leche groups and midwives).There are also many different nursing teas and herbs that will help you release more milk. If you are heading back to work, start pumping. Breast milk is a SUPERFOOD for your baby and will encourage their growth and development.

I have also seen many changes when babies go from breast milk to formula. The blue eyes in a baby will quickly turn to brown when on formula (in iridology brown indicates liver congestion and digestive disturbances too). The baby will soon become constipated and only poop once per day or every other day. A normal bowel movement schedule is to release after every meal. This also includes your baby. Every time your baby has your milk (or a bottle), it should be having a bowel movement too. I have even seen some mothers whose babies only poop once per week. At this time, toxic matter begins to accumulate in your baby's intestines and is probably being reabsorbed into the blood stream. At this point, your child's immune system is weakened and they may have a constant low form of illness.

You can always work toward better health by adopting healthier lifestyles and principles. Give your baby the right start with breast milk, the wonder food! Did you know that you can even use your breast milk for eye infections? Yup... just squirt it in there and the infection will clear up within a very short period of time. This proves that your milk contains antibodies to help your baby fight disease.

Also, remember that you are feeding your baby through your body. This means that you, as a mother, need to eat a healthy and well balanced diet. If your doctor has told you that your milk is "toxic" for your baby, then your body is probably toxic too. This requires a cleansing diet, full of fresh fruits and vegetables and other cleansing and/or building protocols. First and foremost, you need to take care of yourself so you can take care of your baby!

Keep your eyes open and observe mothers who bottle feed compared to mothers who formula feed. You will quickly see the differences.

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Svea is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. Her Montreal Natural Fertility site can be found here. 

Headache Mystery Solved

A headache is no fun for anyone, especially if it doesn't go away over night. My least favorite headaches are the ones that carry over to the next day. 

Lately I have been experiencing these kinds of headaches. I very rarely get sick and very rarely have headaches, so this has been a mystery that I have been trying to solve for some time now.

I finally solved that mystery today, and wanted to share with all of my readers. I think this might affect many of you reading.

My diet is pretty pure. We eat mostly organic produce and try to stay away from processed foods as much as possible. We shop at health food stores and really maintain a well balanced diet. Sometimes when we are on the road, we purchase things like granola, health food chips, or other more processed foods than we are used to. This is usually when I experience headaches. Yesterday I began experiencing a headache after I ate steel cut oats, which was quite perplexing to me.  I'm not one to take medications, so I took it easy for the night. I woke up this morning and had the same headache again.

This morning I realized what I did differently yesterday. I put rice milk in my oatmeal. The culprit?

CANOLA OIL !

After doing more research I realized that I am not the only one experiencing headaches from canola oil. There are hundreds of others out there saying the same thing. The research isn't much, however, I found many good articles that talk about the harmful effects of canola oil.

In our household we try really hard to avoid canola oil. This oil is one of the most rancid and health damaging oils out there.

Canola is actually not the name of a plant, but instead is a compound of two different words. Canola was developed from "Canada" and "oil". This "canola" oil is one of the most genetically modified crops and comes from the Rapeseed plant. According to AgriAlternatives, The Online Innovation, and Technology Magazine for Farmers, "By nature, these rapeseed oils, which have long been used to produce oils for industrial purposes, are.... toxic to humans and other animals."

Did you catch that?

"For industrial purposes." Rape is an oil that is used as lubricant, fuel, soap, and synthetic rubber base. It is not meant to be a food. Many people report other side effects like: emphysema, respiratory distress, lung cancer, anemia, irritability, blindness and constipation, not to mention other neurological effects.

One article pointed out that rape seed was fed to cows, pigs, and sheep who later went blind and began attacking people. After the rape seed was discontinued, there were no further attacks (this comes from John Tomas' book, Young Again).

Many parents and teachers have shared that they have never seen such poor behavior in their students before. The younger generations are violent, disruptive, can't concentrate, and are sicker than ever. This is sad but true: We are doing this to our children by feeding them foods like canola oil.

Pesticides are rarely used on Canola plants (rapeseed plants), because this plant is so toxic that insects avoid it.  Canola oil is an E.P.A. registered pesticide.

Surprisingly enough, if you are not reading your labels, then you are probably consuming a lot of canola oil. The rice milk that we purchased contains canola oil, some health food granolas have canola oil. In fact, most products at the health food store that have been prepared in a "healthy" way have canola oil! On top of that, most, if not all, processed foods contain canola oil.

After discovering this I went back to my cupboards and checked a lot of our food. I was still SHOCKED. As I said before, we try to avoid canola oil when we buy groceries. But, most of our stored foods contain canola oil... and most of them come from the health food store! This is another sad but true statement: most of the processed foods that come from the health food store are not healthy. Check your labels. Even if it says "may contain the follow: canola oil" then it probably does contain canola oil. Avoid it at all costs! Some companies also get tricky by using "rapeseed oil"...this is the same thing.

Also avoid cooking with canola oil. Most "vegetable oils" contain canola oil (that we use so much for frying food). The canola industry has said it is good for heart health since it doesn't contain any saturated fat. This is a lie. Some articles reported increased incidence of heart disease from diets high in canola oil. Instead, replace your 'vegetable oil' with healthy oils like coconut oil. Coconut oil can be heated and still maintain its cell structure. Olive oil should only be used on salads (raw and cold pressed) as it becomes rancid when cooked. Coconut oil is a beautiful gift you can give your family! It will feed the brains of your children so they can sit still in school and focus (along with other oils like cod liver oil and flax oil).

After revealing this to my family, we agreed that we would no longer purchase foods with canola oil. Surprisingly (or not), they said they have also experienced low grade headaches (and even some breathing problems). I hope you and your family can do the same!

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Svea Lynn is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. Her Montreal Natural Fertility site can be found here. 

What is a Naturopath?

I am always surprised and quite amazed when I go somewhere and a person has no idea what a Naturopath is. But, I have to remind myself that it is a field that not many people know about... I was there once myself.

This prompted me to write this blog... to tell people the importance of seeing a Naturopath and having one on hand in times of need. The United States is a culture where many people depend on their primary care physician to tell them what is wrong with them. Most people only have the chance to sit with their physician for 10 minutes. Fifty percent of the time the diagnosis is incorrect and unnecessary medications are prescribed. So, what is a Naturopath, and why should everyone have one?

Naturopathy is the study and practice of using nature to facilitate in the body's natural ability to heal itself. It incorporates fresh food, water, air, sunshine, supplements, mind-body connection, and many other natural modalities that fit each person individually.

Naturopathy is based on many principles that were laid down by Hippocrates. These principles include:

First, do no harm: As Naturopaths we take an oath that we will do no harm. Naturopaths should never suggest any therapy or remedy they know many cause harm in some way. We use all natural substances, foods, and therapies to assist the body in its natural healing ability. 

Treat each person as an individual: Every person is different and unique. For 100 cases of depression, there are 100 different causes. A Naturopath works with the individual to determine the best treatment for themselves, usually NOT based on a protocol.

Address the fundamental causes of illness: Naturopaths work very hard and strive to find the ROOT cause of illness. Like I said above, for 100 cases of depression, there are 100 different causes and 100 different ways to heal that person. By finding the very root cause of disease and addressing that root, the Naturopath is able to facilitate in the person's healing process. The human body is amazing, and when given the proper nourishment (be it mentally, physically and/or emotionally) it WILL heal itself. 

Doctor as teacher: Naturopaths set aside at least one hour for each appointment. We strive to teach each of our clients how to heal themselves. The goal of the Naturopath is to become obsolete, teaching our clients enough and empowering our clients to heal themselves so they don't have to rely on an unreliable system.

Heal the whole person: We look at each person holistically: mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. We also look at each system as being interrelated to every other system, where the body synergistically works together. Many of our healing plans involve therapies that work on multiple levels. 

Use the healing power of nature: As Naturopaths we always use the healing power of nature, including: herbs, foods, water, sunshine, and rest. Many people don't even realize what an herb is or what it can do. Most people have never heard of homeopathy. There are many therapies and natural substances that we use to assist our clients healing processes.

As you can see above, I stated many times that we assist the human body in its own healing process. Many pharmaceutical drugs push against the body and force it to do something that is not natural. The person will feel better, but another symptom will pop up sometime down the road. They usually go back to their physician at that time and get another drug for that new symptom. Their symptom again is masked and yet again, another symptom pops up down the road. These symptoms are your body's way of telling you that something is wrong. If you have frequent headaches, something is wrong. If you have upset stomach, something is wrong. If you are constipated, something is wrong. These are all signs of imbalance and blockage in your body. These are only a few of the many reasons you should seek out a Naturopath and start on your path toward total health and wellness.

A Naturopath sets aside a large chunk of time to work with you thoroughly. They may look at your tongue, at your iris, at your fingernails, or at your toenails. They may feel your pulse. They may use other non-invasive forms of assessment like muscle response testing to find where your imbalances lay. The goal of the Naturopath is to really get to know their clients well, and to determine what is best for them in that time.

As a Naturopath I have seen so many miraculous cases of healing. Naturopathy is such a powerful healing tool, and every person should see a Naturopath! 

What can a Naturopath help you with?

EVERYTHING! We help many people with weight loss, headaches, constipation, insomnia, indigestion, mental fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, weight loss, cold/flu, autism, seizure disorders, ADD/ADHD, heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, multiple sclerosis and so much more!

The human body should not be thrown aside any longer. YOUR BODY HAS A UNIQUE ABILITY TO HEAL ITSELF WHEN GIVEN THE PROPER TOOLS! So, jump on your path to wellness!

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Svea is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. Her Montreal Natural Fertility site can be found here. 

Cleansing Season

As spring emerges and the snow melts, many of us begin to feel the importance of spring cleaning. We throw out a bunch of old furniture, give away old clothes, deep clean our spaces, cars and our yards. But, what about our bodies?

March and April are liver cleansing months. Our bodies should be our TOP priority for cleansing, although cleansing of our spaces is so important too!

My favorite cleanses involve juice fasting. By eliminating solid foods, our body is able to focus on cleansing and building instead of digestion and elimination. The cleansing program I outline below is a general guideline and can be personalized for each individual. It is a program that will purify the body so it can heal more easily. If you are overweight, this program will help to normalize you to a healthier weight. If you are underweight, it will bring you back up to a normal weight. This cleansing program will also help to eliminate the disease-causing mucus from your body. The food in this program also supports your body and provides nourishment so your body can rebuild itself where necessary.

The Cleansing Program:

You should start your cleanse with a three to four day juice fast (and even longer if you can stand it). If you are a beginner, then start with a three day juice fast. During these days, you will not eat any solid food, but instead will drink different juices like: carrot, citrus, grape, apple, beet, celery, etc. You will need to purchase a juicer for this (and should have one for everyday living). I prefer the champion juicer, which runs around $300 USD, however, you can purchase an inexpensive juicer if you are not able to afford the champion juicer. Many department stores sell these juicers.

You should also seriously consider doing enemas the days you are fasting. Enemas are a great way to cleanse your digestive system! You can do many different kinds, including: coffee enemas, wheatgrass enemas, water enemas, herbal enemas and many more. Most people say, "You want me to stick that...where?!" But, once you start doing enemas during fasting and cleansing, you will love them! They release a lot of blockages and bring abundant energy! They also relieve headaches, constipation, nausea, weight gain, and more. Enemas bags can be purchased from many pharmacies and super markets.


Day 1, 2, & 3:

Morning- Upon rising, drink one cup of warm water and the juice of half a lemon. This will help to 'wake-up' your stomach for digestion for the day. This will also help to cleanse your liver and bowels. 

When you begin feeling hungry, make your first glass of fresh juice. You can experiment to see what you like. Drinking fresh juice should be a good and fun experience. Juice can taste very good (and SHOULD taste amazing)! My favorite blend is:

One apple, 1/2 red beet, 2 stalks of celery, and 3 carrots. Juice these and mix with 1/4 glass of water. 

This is just one recipe out of 100's of recipes. You can use other fruits and vegetables, always making sure they are fresh and raw. 

Drink as much juice as you need to throughout the day. This will be different for everyone. For me I notice that I need juice every 2-3 hours. You should drink juice every time you are hungry. Fruit juices taste good in juice, however, you should make sure that you are using more vegetables than fruits. 

MAKE SURE YOU ARE CHEWING YOUR JUICES. WE TEND TO JUST SWALLOW LIQUIDS, HOWEVER, IF YOU CHEW YOUR JUICE, YOUR SALIVA WILL BEGIN TO DIGEST IT EVEN BEFORE IT GETS TO YOUR STOMACH. THIS WILL ALSO HELP WITH BLOOD SUGAR REGULATION. THIS IS VERY VERY IMPORTANT!

Also, drink adequate water throughout the day. Each person is different for their water requirements, however, could follow this general guideline: drink 1/2 of your body weight in ounces of quality water per day. So, if you weigh 140 pounds, you should be drinking 70 ounces of water per day. 

Day 4, 5, 6, and so on...

Break your juices fast with ONLY raw fruits and vegetables. Here is an example of what your day looks like: For breakfast eat three or four fruits in season, possibly sprinkled with raw almonds and a teaspoon of raw honey for sweetening. Also, continue to drink raw juices. For lunch, eat a nice salad with all raw vegetables. Drizzle organic cold pressed olive oil over your salad. For dinner you can have another salad, fresh raw juice, and fresh raw fruits and vegetables.

You may feel weak during this cleanse. During this time it is very important to rest and sleep as needed. Be assured that your body is working very hard at detoxification. You may feel weird aches and pains in certain areas of your body, you might get a 'cold', or experience other symptoms. These are all a part of cleansing and eliminating toxic material from your body. Remember, when the cleansing is over you will feel abundant energy and a higher level of health.

Continue with the cleansing diet for as long as you feel necessary. If you want to promote health to a greater degree in your life, you can eliminate these foods from your 'normal' diet:

Processed salt
Eggs
Meat
Milk & Milk products
Flour & Flour Products

Since March and April are liver cleansing months, you should consider using some liver cleansing and supporting supplements. These are a few amazing liver herbs:

Yellow Dock
Milk Thistle
Stinging Nettle
Burdock
Chelidonium Root
Dandelion Root

There are many more, however, this is a good place to start.

Good luck on your spring cleansing! Throw out all that 'old' and toxic stuff and allow your body to build new and healthy tissues!

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Svea is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. Her Montreal Natural Fertility site can be found here.