A Little-Known Cause of Poor Health – and What You Can Do About It
Please allow me to introduce you to my favorite relative – Aunt Ruby.
Aunt Ruby was a nurse – and I’m convinced that there has never been a better nurse than Aunt Ruby. She was 80+ and together. Then, one day she wasn’t.
When Aunt Ruby came to live at our home,she was wearing a back brace. She barely knew the day of the week. She fell asleep repeatedly throughout the day. She walked with the aid of a rollator and a cane. She wore a lift on one shoe. A mysterious rash covered one leg.
Aunt Ruby could no longer dress herself.
It took us 18 months to get Aunt Ruby back again. One reason it took so long was that we weren’t sure what the problem was.
And, what was the problem? After much trial and error, we finally found out. Aunt Ruby, as good as she was a nurse, took whatever pills, drops, lozenges, creams she felt she needed at the moment. And, when she didn’t need the particular product anymore, she just kept on using it.
Aunt Ruby ruined her health by overmedicating herself with several OTC and prescriptives that never should have been taken beyond their practical use.
And, truth be told, Aunt Ruby’s story is pretty common.
A number of medications are commmon culprits.
Antacid drugs – Heartburn drugs
NSAIDs
Antibiotics
Antidepressents
Osteoporosis Drugs
OTC drugs
All of the above listed medications can and will help you if you need them. If you don’t need them, they can change your behavior, alter your personality, give you an itchy rash, make you feel so tired you can’t walk across the room.
However, they should be taken if they are needed.
They can cause many health problems if they are taken with other medications which don’t mix well. Taking several drugs can create interactions: fatigue, depression, confusion, jumpy skin, insomnia.
An interested medical professional should periodically monitor every pill, liquid, salve, you use. If they don’t work, and if they don’t work together, they should be discontinued.
If a product doesn’t work, doubling the dose is not going to help.
Very few drugs should be taken for an extended period of time without periodic blood tests and observation to be sure they are still doing what they need to do without causing problems.
Sometimes, when these drugs are discontinued, these feelings are replaced by mental clarity, and better energy. If you feel better after stopping the medications in question, work with your physician and/or pharmacist to discover the way to your best health.
While this is happening to you, you will feel very different as your body returns to a healthier state.
Regular reflexology and Reiki therapy sessions will keep your body grounded and encourage homeostasis as your body gains its new good health.
And, ideally, regular reflexology or Reiki therapy sessions are a part of your weekly wellness schedule over time to help you maintain your best possible health.
Aunt Ruby’s body underwent many changes while some drugs were discontinued. Other drugs were adjusted so that she received fewer amounts. The homeostasis encouraged by reflexology and Reiki helped her daily life balance itself.
This whole process took months.
I’m definitely not suggesting that all people taking several drugs or even one or two drugs are over medicated. However, a periodic review of your medications can help you learn whether or not you are taking the proper medications in the correct amounts.
This includes your vitamins. I get all my vitamin and mineral preparations from Woodstock Apothecary. I recently reviewed everything I take.
This also includes many herbs and other preparations sold without prescriptions. Any product which has the capacity to improve your life can also wreak havoc with your life if it is not the right time for you to be taking this drug or herb or other medication you are considering.
I hope the information in this blog post will help you.
Thank you for reading it. Please forward it to your preferred social media network and share it with a friend.
Thurman Greco
Woodstock, New York.
I have many YouTube programs covering such subjects as wellness, Reiki, reflexology, spirituality. I hope you’ll join me on these interviews.
These programs are found under – Thurman Greco. The program is called “Let’s Live.” If you have trouble finding some of them, please contact me: thurmangreco@gmail.com.
Is it a Cold, the Flu, or Coronavirus?
For months we’ve all been reading and hearing about a resurgence of the coronavirus combined with the flu. So…what does this mean?
Every year I hear the same question at the beginning of flu season: HOW DO YOU KNOW WHETHER IT’S A COLD OR THE FLU? This season, the question is a little different: HOW DO YOU KNOW WHETHER IT’S A COLD OR THE FLU OR CORONAVIRUS?
There are some real differences.
Fever is rare with a cold. Fever is common with the flu. It’s usually high and lasts three or four days.
Headaches are rare with a cold but common with the flu.
Cold sufferers may have slight aches and pains. Flu sufferers have definite aches and pains which may be severe.
Extreme fatigue and/or weakness is just not a factor with a cold. Exhaustion is common with the flu – especially at the onset of the illness.
Sore throat, stuffy nose, and sneezing are common with a cold. A person suffering with a cold may have mild symptoms to include a hacking cough. With the flu, these symptoms can become severe.
With colds, treatment includes antihistamines, decongestants. With the flu, the patient needs to consult with a physician about any needed medication.
Coronavirus complicates things.
Many people experience fever as the first symptom of Coronavirus.
The second symptom is often a combination of a cough and muscle pain.
Nausea and vomiting make up the third tier.
These symptoms are usually followed by diarrhea.
And, that’s not all. Some people experience a loss of taste or smell.
And, some people experience deeply reddish-blue toes (chillblains).
Others have headache and dizziness.
The bottom line here is that coronavirus has many symptoms while colds and flu
are much less complicated.
If you suspect coronavirus, go get tested. Waiting around while you try to decide you are sick and contagious or not is not good for you and it’s not good for those around you.
There are several tools at your disposal which can help you early on.
A thermometer is essential. Take your temperature daily.
When I’m out in the community, my temperature is the key to getting into the office where I have an appointment.
The no-touch forehead fever thermometer gun has become ubiquitous on receptionists’ desks wherever I go.
There’s no reason why you shouldn’t take your temperature every morning. Your temperature can accompany your blood pressure reading. You can keep your thermometer gun beside your blood pressure cuff.
Then, you only need one other item: a pulse oximeter. A pulse oximeter estimates the amount of oxygen in your blood.
If you have coronavirus, your pulse oximeter will register a lower oxygen level in your body. This is because with coronavirus, your lungs are inflamed. (Actually, with coronavirus, inflammation is all over your body).
So, if you are concerned about your health because you may become exposed to coronavirus, you can help yourself with your temperature, your blood pressure, and your oxygen level.
If you feel ill, you will help your healthcare professional with these three scores.
For those who aren’t really familiar with an oximeter, it is the little plastic clip placed on your finger when you get your blood pressure measured.
These devices are not that expensive, are easy to use, and you can find an explanatory chart which will explain the meaning of the score.
Whatever you decide, prevention is important. Wash your hands often, wear a mask always when you leave your home, use hand sanitizer and don’t go anywhere around other people if you can help it.
Thanks for reading this blog post. If you liked this article, please forward it to your favorite social media networks.
Thanks again,
Thurman Greco
10 Ways to Cope with Stress
Everyone I know and meet is stressed out these days. Many are ill. Flu. Heart Issues. Rashes. Arthritis. You name it. Coping with current events can be challenging for all of us.
There are things that you can do to cope with the situation.
BOOK A REFLEXOLOGY, REIKI, OR CHAKRA HEALING SESSION. It may be that just one session is all you need to feel more relaxed, grounded. Or, it may be that one session won’t heal everything but one session is better than nothing. And, maybe you can find time in your schedule to book several bodywork healing sessions.
TAKE A NAP. I work. I know how hard this can be but I manage to schedule my naps for a few short minutes when I get home from work. These little power naps are crucial to my overall wellbeing. I also try to schedule a nap on my day off. Put your feet up for five minutes even. It will help.
SPEND SOME TIME WITH FRIENDS. Your connection to your community is a boost to your grounding and calm. Chatting with friends and acquaintances over a cup or tea or at a meeting of some kind can be very positive. This will give your mental health a boost.
DO YOU MEDITATE? If not, now is a good time to begin. I just read in a book that people who meditate live three years longer than those who don’t. If you do, now is a good time to pat yourself on the back. You’ve got a good habit. If you don’t meditate, now is a good time to begin the practice. This might be a good time to join a meditation group or class.
DEVELOP A NEW INTEREST. The opportunities to expand your horizon are limitless. Not all hobbies are expensive. Many are not costly at all. The important thing is that you find something new to do which you like. Your options are endless here.
CHANGE YOUR DIET! When you add new foods to your life, you’ll be on an adventure. Choose a new food each week. Bring it home and discover where the food comes from, how it’s cooked, stored, and eaten. You’ll enjoy these discoveries each week. This change will help you feel more alive, and energized. At the end of a year, your kitchen will be an entirely different place with all the new foods you’ll be eating. You’ll know and enjoy many new foods! Chances are, you will be more energized and happier overall.
DISCOVER SOMETHING EACH DAY THAT YOU CAN BE GRATEFUL FOR. It doesn’t have to be a big thing. But, finding something to be thankful for is important. Try to do this early in your day so you can enjoy this feeling all day long.
USE A DAILY PLANNER. This one small change in your life can give you a large shift as you relieve the stress caused by missed appointments and unscheduled events. Finally having your life schedule organized is a major stress reliever for many.
HONOR YOURSELF. We all experience setbacks of one kind or another. The important thing is to not allow them to control your life. Take a negative event and turn it into a strength-building exercise. This will help you overcome feelings of stress and negativity.
Thank you for reading this blog post! Please forward this article to your preferred social media network.
Thank you again for your interest in wellness for all.
Thurman Greco
Acne is a Stressful and Spiritual Disease
Spiritually, you are at risk for acne when you experience excessive, unrelenting stress. When this kind of stress enters your life, love and accept yourself as a perfect human being. Build self-confidence, self-esteem, and value.
Extreme stress brings out extreme self-dissatisfaction. You are under tremendous pressure from a person or situation in your environment. This pressure never lets up. Anger is also an issue. (How can it not be, with intense pressure?)
Acne is a difficult disease. First, you’ve got stress in your life contributing to the blemishes. As if the stress isn’t enough, the blemishes are an embarrassment. Then, acne itself is uncomfortable enough because blemishes can be painful, and especially with deeper inflammation.
RISK FACTORS
Stress, hormone changes, diet, family history of the steroids, climate, cosmetics
CHAKRA
Acne is a third chakra imbalance.
SUGGESTED HEALING SYSTEMS
Conventional medicine, Traditional Chinese medicine, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Herbalism. See a dermatologist if the acne persists. It’s better to go early in the disease, before the scarring begins. Scars stay with you for life unless you get treatment to prevent them or you get medical dermabrasion.
Regular visits to a reflexologist, Reiki, and chakra healing calm your emotional upsets, heal your body while promoting homeostasis. Regular sessions manage the side effects of acne during treatment. Regular exercise will help you work off some of the stress. A good skin cleansing program is essential. Your physician may prescribe antibiotics.
REFLEXOLOGY SYSTEMS TO WORK
diaphragm, digestive system, endocrine system, face, immune system, intestines, kidneys, liver, lymphatic system, nervous system, solar plexus
Stimulate your lymphatic system regularly to reduce stress and eliminate toxins.
ESSENTIAL OILS
bergamot, cedarwood, clove, geranium, grapefruit, German or Roman chamomile, lavender, oregano, patchouli, rosemary, rosewood, tea tree, vetiver
THINGS TO DO
A good diet which includes plenty of water is important. Skip the junk food. Your food should be clean and avoid excessive fat, oil, sugar.
Manage your stress. This means you need to develop coping skills such as self-Reiki, meditation, tai chi. Read the chapter on stress.
IMPORTANT FOODS IN YOUR DIET
Almonds, beans, Brazil nuts, cantaloupe, carrots, chicken, eggs, fish, flaxseed oil, fresh fruits, garlic, leafy greens, melons, onions, oranges, oysters, peanuts, poultry, red bell peppers, salmon, sunflower seeds, strawberries, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turkey, fresh vegetables, walnuts, whole grains, yams
Thank you for reading this article. Please forward it to your preferred social media network.
angel with bird
Thank you for being interested in wellness.
Thurman Greco
10 Wellness Tips for Your Self
There are many, many things you can do to keep yourself healthy. Staying healthy will help you maintain your youth. Many of these wellness tips are so easy you won’t even realize you’re promoting your good health.
Have a cold? Skip the antibiotics. A cold is a viral infection. Antibiotics are only good for bacterial infections. So…save your money.
Looking for a cold medication? This wellness tip can also save you money. Avoid the medications that multi-task. Simple medications cost less and focus on the symptom bothering you most.
Hot tea is good for making your throat feel good when you have a cold. Saline nasal drops help your nose feel better, too.
Don’t spread your cold germs around. Wash your hands frequently and don’t share your eating and drinking utensils.
When you come down with colds and/or hay fever, take the evening off. Climb into bed early and sleep an extra hour.
Don’t store your meds in the bathroom. Bathrooms tend to be too humid and too hot. These two conditions encourage deterioration.
Now might be a good time to quit smoking. Have you tried to stop smoking several times, this time switch to a pipe for a while. But, think of this as only a step toward freedom because pipe smokers and cigar smokers not only suffer from lung cancer but also get throat and mouth cancer.
Don’t take acetaminophen for an extended period of time without consulting with your primary healthcare provider. Long term regular use of these pain relievers can damage kidneys and liver. Occasional use of these drugs are safe for most people.
Make sure your smoke detectors are in working order. Replace any smoke detector that’s more than ten years old. If your smoke detectors are younger than ten years old, get an aerosol spray tester at a hardware store that simulates smoke.
Avoid raking leaves if you have allergies.
Hopefully these wellness tips are interesting and useful to you and your household.
Please share them with your favorite social media network.
Thanks for reading this article.
Thurman Greco
Thanks again!
