Category Archives: health

health

Ginger for the sweet tooth

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I have a confession.  I have a sweet tooth.  In fact, if I have a bag of spice drops sitting on my desk at work, I might eat the whole bag in a couple of days.  I like to keep snacks in my desk drawer so I can munch on things through the day instead of just eating a big meal for lunch.  I really want to have healthy snacks, with as little processing as possible, but I also like some variety.

When I was at the store the other day, I decided to pick up some crystallized ginger, after all, it looks a piece of candy.  I know, crystallized means sugar-coated, but it’s still better than “high fructose balls with artificial flavor, artificial color and a sugar-coating” also known as spice drops.

Did you know ginger is really good for a lot of things?  Check out this website: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=72

It has a little kick that helps wake you up when sitting at a computer, and the health benefits definitely outweigh the added sugar (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it).  So, next time you want a sweet snack, grab some crystallized ginger.

health

Why we need to control our own health care

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As I have been dealing with my concussion, it has made me understand more about why I need to understand my own health issues and not rely on the doctors and medical establishment to teach me.  Doctors are certainly important, in particular for dealing with emergency and trauma situations, but doctors are fallible (like the rest of us).  Since I have at least 2 hours a day commuting, I listen to podcasts some of the time.  I have long been a fan of the Horse Radio Network and listen to some of their shows.  Today, I listened to a Stable Scoop episode about Lyme in People.

I would encourage everyone to take an hour and listen to the episode.  You can play it directly from the website or download and play it later.  While it is specifically about Lyme, it is also about taking control of your situation.  As I listened to the episode, I realized that it is very possible some of the things I have been battling from my concussion may actually be related to Lyme.  This is definitely possible since we already know Anna and Amanda have Lyme.  It might even be possible that Amanda was born with it.  I didn’t realize that only a small percentage of people with Lyme actually get the traditional bulls-eye.

My plan is to research some of the homeopathic/holistic/alternative treatment options for Lyme.  In doing so, I am sure I will continue to learn about managing our health better.

aromatherapy, health

Aromatherapy is working

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If you have been following along, you know I have been experimenting with Aromatherapy to control and hopefully prevent, my migraines.  You can review my “Concussion Blend #1” which has been updated with a minor change I made doubled the Frankincense oil content.

My time at work was slightly irregular, so I waited a while to validate the results.  I am completely convinced that the blend is working to help with the healing.  By using some of the oil in the morning and again after lunch, I have been avoiding the migraines completely.  I have also been experiencing much less in the way of dull  headaches towards the end of the work day.  I am still feeling more fatigued, but I am pleased with the results so far.

I want to also give credit to the cranial sacral massage that I had.  While I never had any “Ah-ha” moments, I do feel like it helped restore some balance.  I have another massage tomorrow, so we will see how it continues.

Now if only aromatherapy could make it cooler outside…

aromatherapy, health

Aromatherapy Conconcussion blend #1

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As I previously discussed, the aromatherapy has been having a definite positive impact on my migraines.  Initially, I started with pure Frankincense oil to conduct a causal determination that the Frankincense oil was the specific ingredient resulting in the improvement.  I didn’t take any meds at all during the week of testing.  I was so pleased with the result, I decided to start testing various blends of essential oils to create my own aromatherapy solution for healing my concussion as a whole and not just blocking the migraine symptoms.  Note, my concussion was sustained 5.5 months ago, so this isn’t just going away on it’s own.

The major symptoms I have been having were migraines (when reading computer screens at work all day under florescent lighting), low grade headaches (in particular when using Frankincense to block the migraines), and excessive fatigue (again more noticeable following extended computer use/florescent lighting at work).

I have not yet found any aromatherapy blends specifically targeting concussions, which is surprising.  Therefore, I researched oils used for combating migraines, headaches, and fatigue and chose my ingredients.  Frankincense is rarely used for any of these purposes based on my research so far.  I discovered the link to healing concussions and migraines through other blogs like mine.

Rob’s Concussion Blend #1

15ml almond oil (carrier oil)

20 drops Frankincense oil (NOTE – I initially started with 10 drops but after a few days, I could tell there was not enough Frankincense having been using it pure previously)

8 drops Eucalyptus oil

8 drops Lemongrass oil

4 drops Peppermint oil

If anyone else local is also combating a concussion or just migraines and wants to join in the aromatherapy testing, you are welcome to email me.  Some of the oils are quite expensive and it doesn’t take much to test or create blends like this.

I will post next week after I have given this blend a chance to work.  My initial thought is I may have to add more Frankincense based on the fact that I was using it pure previously.

health

Aromatherapy follow up

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In case you missed it, read my first post about trying aromatherapy for my migraines here.  I have been trying out the Frankincense oil for about a week.  My general routine has been to go to work and within the first 30 minutes of using my computer, put a drop or two of oil on my finger and rub it on the top of my chest, temples, across forehead, and base of neck.  I reapply after lunch and maybe one more time per day as needed.  I have a small bottle of the oil in my desk drawer and another at home, so there is no issue with not having it when needed.

The result is I end up with more of a low-grade headache, but not a full-blown migraine.  On the few occasions when I haven’t used the oil and a migraine starts to set in, the aromatherapy has been very effective at creating immediate pain relief.  I still feel more fatigued that normal after spending a day at the computer screen, however, I would rather be tired instead of tired and incapacitated.

Here is where it gets interesting.  Since sharing this, I know of 2 other cases where people suffering from migraines went and bought frankincense oil to try this for themselves.  Both reported results very similar to mine, including immediate relief from the migraine!

I am going to do some more research to build a small blend of essential oils to see if there is something I can add that will relieve the dull headache as well and possible aid with the fatigue.  So far, I haven’t found a pre-made blend that has want I want.  I love that there is really no risk in trying this on my own.

Read the next post about my concussion blend I created.

aromatherapy, health

Trying out aromatherapy

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Last week I started my new job on staff at the Naval War College in Newport RI. I spend an hour commuting each way and then my day is spent in a room of florescent lights in front of a computer screen. I went from have 1 or 2 low grade migraines a week (still from the concussion in January) to a debilitating migraine every day by the time I left work. Clearly something needed to change.
Since I have been learning about complementary therapies for horses, I decided to look into some for my concussion healing. While medications may help some with the migraine once it starts, there was nothing to promote the healing of the concussion.
So this evening, after taking a short nap when I got home to deal with the migraine, I headed to Herbwise Naturals in Westerly (thanks Holly). I specifically wanted to get frankincense oil based on some reading I had do e that I indicated it helped others heal from concussions.
There was a sample bottle of the frankincense oil. I placed the sample under my nose and breathed for a short time. Within 30 seconds, I could feel the migraines sweeping back away from my forehead. The pressure receded to the back of my skull. It was amazing how fast the impact was. I bought 2 small bottles (2 different brands) and put a small amount of the oil across my forehead and on the back of my neck. Over the next 40 minutes, the pain moved deeper into my skull, then shifted to right where a ball cap would sit on my forehead and was gone from deep inside.
Then the pain settled down onto the bridge of my nose like someone pushing down on glasses. Finally, the pressure lifted completely and the migraine was gone. This is significant because the migraines rarely dissipate without a full night of rest.
I am hopeful that the aromatherapy will help with healing from the concussion instead of treating symptoms related to the concussion. I will post an update to see if the aromatherapy helps avoid the onset of the migraines.

Read Aromatherapy Follow up