May 14, 2013

Life Update | If You Stumble, Make It Part Of The Dance.

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“Once the storm is over you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, in fact, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.” – Haruki Murakami

***

I figured I would do a quick life update since I haven’t done one in awhile. Things have been stressful lately – between the new move, my beloved cat recently passing away and our new puppy being sick and in and out of the hospital, I haven’t been getting much sleep and my health has really been a struggle. I’ve been in a lot of pain and haven’t been able to do as much as I would like to. I have been trying my hardest to get everything done that I can on my good days and on the bad days I just give in and let my body rest as much as possible. After years of dealing with chronic health issues I have finally learned to say no when it’s too much for my body and I know when I should and shouldn’t push myself.

I am always working on staying positive and not letting the pain make me hard. I am looking forward to gardening soon. I have some projects I am working on that I am really excited about and I am thankful for the good days that I have and I don’t ever take a pain-free day for granted. It has made me more aware of the beauty in the world and has made me appreciate the little things in life so much more than I think I ever would have had I not dealt with so much pain for so long.

Onto some beautiful images I have taken recently:

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ererr

I am so thankful for Matthew and his love and compassion. I never thought I could feel so comfortable and so safe and supported. I fall more in love with him every day.

“Do what you love. It’s going to lead to where you want to go.” — Wayne White

Tayo and Tianna love each other. Who would have thought? Tayo is so gentle with her and watching them together brings me so much joy. They are the cutest duo I ever did see.

***

For all of my readers who also deal with chronic health issues, I feel your pain and frustration. I know how hard it is but remember you are not alone and there is a greater purpose for all of the pain. This quote below has been an inspiration in my life and I hope you find comfort from it as well:

I hope you are all doing wonderful. Your support, comments and emails mean the world to me.

xoxo,

Britanie

Find Me On…

*All of my reviews are based on my own personal experiences with the brand/products. I am never paid to give my honest opinions and will only recommend products that I love and use myself! All Photographs are (C) Britanie Faith unless stated otherwise.*

Filed Under: Life · Tagged: animals, cfs, chronic health issues, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, garden, health, inspiration, inspiring, life, love, photography, positivity, spring, update

Mar 13, 2013

Surmount All Obstacles

By Britanie · 11 Comments

“You must understand the whole of life, not just one little part of it. That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the skies, that is why you must sing, and dance, and write poems, and suffer, and understand, for all that is life.” – Jiddu Krishnamurti

(Click on all Images to see larger views!!)

***

Since we started to move into our beautiful new Homestead, it seemed as if I was having one thing after another happening to me. When I first arrived, I had an Ovarian Cyst and then shortly after, I sprained my knee moving things into the house. I also ended up in the ER after severely puncturing my finger in the Garden on some type of Rose Bush. I ended up having a Tetanus (T-dap) shot which is still causing me some side effects and on top of it I had some other health issues I was dealing with that were extremely painful and frustrating. I had a mini-break down one night out of pure frustration and if I am being honest, feeling sorry for myself. Matthew comforted me with his words and his constant compassion which helped me so much. I was also texting a very dear friend of mine and venting about why it is I don’t seem to get a break. There was something she said to me that really spoke to my soul so very much:

“Because you’re asking for a break. You see physical wellness as an indicator of how positive or negative you have been. You’ve been ‘getting a break’ in so many other ways. You just got the biggest break of all. The love break. You got to move in with the love of your life. Your heart got a break.”

This is so true. Those words resonated with me so much. I so often will have something wrong with me physically and look back to reflect on any moments I was maybe not positive enough and I get angry when I feel that I have been positive and yet I keep suffering.

I realize that you cannot think like that. I cannot think that just because I am being positive that all of my physical ailments will get better, and I can’t think that if I am negative that I am guaranteed to have bad things happen to me. All I can do is live every day with the most positive of intentions and hope for the best, but know that I have the ability inside of myself to overcome any obstacle that comes my way.

“Sometimes you climb out of bed in the morning and you think, I’m not going to make it, but you laugh inside — remembering all the times you’ve felt that way.”

– Charles Bukowski

Once I was able to move past the frustrations of the physical things that I was not able to control, I started to focus more on the good things that were surrounding me. The fact that I now have a home with the love of my life. That we have a huge beautiful garden and so much land for Tayo to run around in. That I can look outside the window in the morning and see beautiful trees and sky and know that I am living where I have dreamed of living, and most important of all – the fact that although I have been given many health issues to bear, that I have such an important and vital support system in my life and that I am, despite all of my pain; alive and continuing to endure, accept, progress and grow.

I cannot wait for Spring to arrive and to wear flower crowns in my hair and long dresses with knee-high boots and walk everywhere. I am the most excited about starting to plant my own Flowers, Herbs and Food. I will start with Red Roses and move onto Lavender, Chamomile, Spinach and so many others. I started a board on Pinterest just for Garden Inspiration. It’s been getting me even more excited and ready to plant and grow!

Tayo has been adjusting to the move and he’s been barking at every single thing including the wind! I think he is confused at the change but at the same time he is so happy with having so much more room to run around in and he is constantly trying to get me outside to let him chew on pine combs and sticks and run around in circles!

Bobcat. I caught this beautiful creature with my camera and am so happy with how it turned out. I can’t believe I saw him. So beautiful.

I am fighting off a horrible cold/flu and am trying to get lots of rest and am drinking a lot of the Sleepytime Echinacea Complete Care Tea and taking extra Vitamin C and D. I hope this passes soon – I can’t wait for the sun to be out again!

From The Language Of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.

xoxo,

Britanie

Find Me On…

Filed Under: Life · Tagged: beautiful, chronic pain, farm, forest, garden, health issues, home, homestead, inspiration, inspiring, landscape, life, long island, photography, positivity, the language of flowers

Jan 28, 2013

Rest, relax, and be in a letgo.

By Britanie · 6 Comments

“Rest, relax, and be in a letgo. Letgo is the secret of life. Letgo is the secret of religion. Letgo is the greatest secret. When you are in a letgo many things, millions of things, start happening. They were already happening but you were never aware.” – Osho

ॐ Om ॐ

***

Lately I have been really trying even harder to stay present in the moment and to surround myself with the most positive of energies that I can. I have a lot going on with my health right now and I could easily choose to just give in to the stress and the frustration of it all, but instead I am trying to focus on the things I am not lacking in: i.e.- love, support, inspiration, faith, hope.

It can be very easy from an outsiders view to look in on someones life (especially nowadays with blogs, facebook, twitter, etc) and to judge someone’s life based on a mere glimpse of what that person chooses to share with the world. I try to share the things that are hopeful and happy in my life. I will not ever pretend that everything in my life is perfect because there is no such thing as perfection. I also will never be actively negative on my blog or any other source of an outlet for myself and others.

I believe in being honest and real but there is nothing good that can come from focusing solely on the painful and sad things in your life. It’s normal and okay to share those things with people you love and trust but always bear in mind that negative energy can easily be contagious and projected and is not usually ever useful for neither yourself or anyone else.

My goal in my life is to find ways to cope with the hardships I have been given for whatever reason they may be. I plan to take whatever possible good I can from every painful thing I experience, both physical, emotional and mental. From pain comes knowledge and strength. I choose to keep pushing on through the setbacks so that I can find the light at the end of the tunnel. No matter how bad things get there is always something to be thankful for.

♥ Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health ♥

I am lucky enough to live very close by to Kripalu which is one of the most calming, beautiful and meditative spots around. I love to go here and take photos, explore the grounds, visit the cafe and shop and just sit and look out at the magnificent view.

♥ St. Francis of Assisi ♥

Many of the stories that surround the life of St. Francis deal with his love for animals. Perhaps the most famous incident that illustrates the Saint’s humility towards nature is recounted in the “Fioretti” (“Little Flowers”), a collection of legends and folklore that sprang up after the Saint’s death. It is said that, one day, while Francis was traveling with some companions, they happened upon a place in the road where birds filled the trees on either side. Francis told his companions to “wait for me while I go to preach to my sisters the birds.”The birds surrounded him, intrigued by the power of his voice, and not one of them flew away. He is often portrayed with a bird, typically in his hand.

♥ Organic Wild Rosehip Seed Oil & 100% Pure Unrefined Shea Butter ♥

I have been wanting to try pure Rosehip seed oil for awhile now and when I found this one for just $15.95 I had to get it. It’s an added bonus that it’s Organic. I also picked up some more Shea Butter because I go through it so quickly and this one in particular is so soft, it’s almost whipped! It goes on like a dream. Both of these are super hydrating (and affordable!).

I went to the ER yesterday afternoon after having severe spasms in my stomach for the past few days. It got worse yesterday and I decided it probably best to go get it checked out. I deal with chronic digestive issues on a daily basis but these spasms were consistent and different than usual. I spent four hours in the ER, had x-ray’s and blood work and thankfully they didn’t find anything serious. I am scheduled for exploratory surgery on Friday to rule out any possibility of an Ulcer, Diverticulitis, etc. If everything comes back normal than it’s most likely my Spastic Colon that’s causing the pain. I will feel better once I have everything ruled out though.

I will go back to what I said earlier in this post and that is that I am focusing on the good that came from this situation. I ended up meeting someone at the hospital who recommended a specific medication for my chronic nausea and so far it’s been life changing.

There is a reason for everything we experience (good or bad). It may not always be our destiny in this lifetime to know the reason why, but it is up to us to decide what to do with the information we are given and whether or not we wish to turn it into something positive.

xoxo,

Britanie

Find Me On…

Filed Under: Life · Tagged: chronic health issues, chronic pain, fashion, health, health issues, hope, inspiration, kripalu, mental-health, om, osho, pain, quotes, rejuva organics, rosehip oil, shea butter, skincare, spirituality, st. francis of assisi, yoga

Jan 13, 2013

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.

By Britanie · 17 Comments

I spent the past week on Long Island visiting my boyfriend. I was able to meet up with some of my friends(Natasha, Danielle, LeeLee and Holly) but like usual I tend to plan too many things and end up having to reschedule with someone because either everyone can only hangout on the same day or I just am too overtired to hangout at the end of the week. I am terrible at listening to my body sometimes. Whenever I make plans I fully intend on keeping them and I want to keep them but then my health issues sometimes come up and I feel bad about having to cancel plans or reschedule. I have to start to plan better and to accept the fact that although I would love to do everything, that I unfortunately do not have the physical stamina that I would like to have. This doesn’t mean I can’t achieve everything I want to, it just means I have to go at a different pace. I’m getting there. Slowly but surely!

Thankfully I have the most amazingly supportive and compassionate friends who have been there for me throughout the years with my struggles with my health issues and have never made me feel bad for having to cancel or reschedule and are always so incredibly supportive. I made a promise to myself a few years back to only surround myself with genuinely kind and compassionate people. It just isn’t worth it to me otherwise. I am also blessed to have the sweetest and most caring boyfriend in the world. I honestly sometimes wonder how I would manage with my health issues if I didn’t have the family, friends and love that I do in my life. I am incredibly thankful every day for it. No matter how bad things get they could always be worse and I pride myself on trying to always focus on the positives in life.

We have the cutest dog in the world.

Currently reading this and am already completely entranced.

Rooibos and Lavender Tea

Natasha, Me, Danielle.

I met up with Natasha and Danielle and we went to Witches Brew. We had a great time hanging out and indulging in yummy tea and desserts. Later Natasha’s good friend Chris came by and hung out with us. He was hilarious and we all had such a good time. I love those moments when you can truly be yourself around your friends and laugh and have so much fun just sitting around talking, making jokes and sipping on tea. It was really a great night.

Me and Danielle

Me and Natasha went over to Danielle’s house one night and Danielle made us the yummiest Crust-less Quiche and made mine without cheese (I don’t do Gluten or Dairy). It was -so- good. She topped it with cut Avocado and sprinkled some hot sauce and pesto on the side. For dessert she came out with the prettiest fruit platter. We also had two pots of tea. Almond and Maple and then a Fruity tea with Mango. I felt like we were eating at a five star restaurant! It was lovely.

I met up with LeeLee and Holly and went to Kitchen Kabarat and then to Starbucks to chat and take photos. It was so great seeing them again since the last time I saw them was almost two years ago! LeeLee and I have been friends since 2009 and in that time had falling outs but yet somehow always manage to come back into each others lives again. I truly care about her very much and we have an incredible soul connection that is rare to find with many people. I am happy to have her back in my life again and it’s always so wonderful to see her beautiful girlfriend Holly who is truly one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. When you are around good people it’s easy to have fun even just sitting at Starbucks!

I am back in Massachusetts now and missing everyone already. We are in the process of seriously looking at apartments on Long Island now that Matthew has such a good job. I think I will be moving within the next few months. It was be amazing to be with my love and my dog every day and to be so much closer to all of my girlfriends. I’m really excited for the change!

I hope you all had an amazing week. I received an “Editor’s Pick” Award for my blog from Be Beautiful which I posted in my Press page and was so happy and humbled to receive! I have many more reviews, makeup looks and some videos coming up within the next week. I also have another giveaway so keep an eye out for that!

xoxo,

Britanie

Find Me On…

Filed Under: Life · Tagged: chronic pain, food, friends, health issues, life, love, pitbull, tea, the language of flowers

Dec 30, 2012

accept and progress | 2013 resolutions

By Britanie · 8 Comments

“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make art – write or draw or build or sing or live only as you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.” – Neil Gaiman

Many people don’t like the idea of resolutions but I happen to welcome them with open arms. I like to have start dates. It helps to motivate me to really think about the things that I want to better in my life for the upcoming year and beyond that. I have always found writing down my resolutions every year to be extremely beneficial.

I have a few goals for the next year and beyond.

Food for thought:

I don’t like to say that I want to “lose weight” as I think basing anything around weight is never healthy. Four years ago is when I finally started to be more comfortable with my body. I found confidence within myself regardless of the number on the scale or the size of my jeans. I have been down the road of extreme weight loss and gain so many times and could never quite seem get it right. I have always had a hard time with my metabolism due to many chronic health issues that make it hard for me to exercise as much as I would like and that make it hard for my body to detox and digest foods properly which in turn mess with my insulin and so on and so fourth. I also have ongoing thyroid issues which doesn’t help anything. My biggest issue is that I make too many excuses for things when it comes to eating and exercising because part of me doesn’t want to go back down the road of worrying about my weight or caring about what size I am, but deep down I know that I am so far beyond that mindset. I know that I can change myself for the better because I have finally accepted myself and my body as it is now. I firmly believe that when you truly accept and love yourself for who you are now, -that- is when change can become possible and more successful in the long run.

I already eat a very healthy, balanced diet but there are a few things that could definitely use some tweaking. I used to never eat after a certain time of night, preferably 6 or 7 pm and the reasoning behind that is that for me my digestion tends to get worse the later it is and also your metabolism is at it’s slowest at night. I always found that eating more throughout the day and lighter in the evening was very helpful for me. I also notice that although I have been gluten and dairy free for almost ten years now that I have introduced too many prefabricated foods into my diet (gluten free bagels, pretzels, etc). Another thing I used to do quite frequently was keep track of what I was eating. I always kept a food diary with me to jot down things that I eat. Sometimes you don’t even realize how many calories you are taking in until you actually take the time out to sit down and write every food down and it’s then that you start to recognize any possible bad habits. Writing down what I eat is also going to be beneficial for my digestion as certain foods really aggravate my Gastroparesis and Gerd symptoms more than others and it can often be hard to tell what the triggers are. I think keeping track of the food I eat will help immensely. I will make sure to keep a small journal with me and write down everything I eat and drink every night.

I always start off a new year with a new journal.

Movement:

As far as exercise is concerned I know that although I cannot exercise as much or as hard as I would like to that I can still move my body. I know I should do it more but the truth is that I fight with chronic fatigue, nausea and dizziness (among other things) on a daily basis which make exercise the last thing on my mind. I used to do Pilates 3 times a week and walk for at least 20 minutes every day. I plan to get back to doing my Pilates and Yoga DVD’s along with walking daily. Exercise is not only important for physical purposes but for mental and emotional benefits as well. According to many studies, 30 minutes of walking a day can be as helpful as taking an anti-depressant. Yoga is also wonderful for stress reduction, improvement of digestion and over-all well being. I took a Yoga class with Bryan Kest a few years back and it was three hours long. For a few days after that I could barely move because of how much I strained my muscles. Although that kind of exercise is good for some, it is far too intense for my body. I think that over all the right amount and kind of exercise will help to benefit me more than not.

Meditation & Positivity:

I am naturally a very anxious person and when you combine that with chronic pain it can make for a horrible amount of anxiety and stress. Many people in my life do not even now that I deal with anxiety on a daily basis. I have learned how to be good at hiding my anxiety but I have the tendency to rely on certain medications to help me through the anxiety, panic attacks and chronic bouts of nausea. This year I am going to make a significant effort to use more relaxation skills like – Meditation, Detox Baths, Specific herbs and teas, Breathing techniques, etc.

***

Through positive reinforcement and thinking, I have learned to accept myself as I am .right.now. and that kind of out look has really brought along an incredible amount of clarity and peace. I hope to continue to carry that peace with me and to have it help me to work on the things that I would like to change in my life. I have an immense desire to better myself as much as I can. It’s amazing what can happen when you truly do everything in your power to change your lifestyle and to help yourself in every way possible. I have been through so much in my life and all of the pain has taught me lessons that I know will continue to serve me in the next year and years after that.

I can only accept and progress.
the more I realize this, the stronger I will continue to become.

I see amazing things coming in the next year. My heart, my body and my mind are ready for it.

Bring it on 2013 ♥

xoxo,

Britanie

Find Me On…

Filed Under: Life · Tagged: 2013, acceptance, anxiety, chronic pain, gastroparesis, gerd, health, healthy-living, inspiration, motivation, positivity, quotes, resolutions

Oct 9, 2012

life update | If I can only recount the story of my life right out of my body, flames will grow.

By Britanie · 10 Comments

“These pains that you feel are messengers. Listen to them. Turn them to sweetness.”―Rumi

What a tough week. I was admitted into the ER on Sunday night after having an extremely hard time breathing and losing feeling in my arms and legs. They did an EKG and a bunch of other tests and told me I was receiving lack of oxygen to my brain and blood due to complications from severe Anemia which in turn was causing my body to go into a state of hyperventilation and causing the numbness and drop of blood pressure, etc. I got in on Wednesday for my first Iron Transfusion which lasted a few hours. They also gave me a steroid and an anti-nausea medication in the IV. I have had a lot of swelling afterwards which I am assuming is from the steroid and my bones are aching from the Iron trying to get situated in my body. I feel more tired than usual and extremely dizzy. My hematologist told me that the first month of Transfusions will be really tough on my body and I will feel worse but that after the month is up and my bone marrow starts to recognize the Iron that I should start to have more energy and feel better. I cannot even begin to express how much I am looking forward to just feeling a little bit better. Not even great. Just better. (although great would be amazing).

The added stress of the transfusions has made my Fibro pain increasingly worse. It has been so much better up until now. I started getting in for Acupuncture again which I missed dearly but wasn’t even able to make it to because of how sick I have been but it is helping the pain. I am also forcing myself to stay up as much as I can during the day to move and regain some strength but it has been extremely difficult. I won’t give up though! I am too determined to get better!

I have some fun new blog post ideas coming up soon. I will be doing another giveaway very soon as well as posting more recipes and at home facial concoctions!

One transfusion down, three to go!

I like to add a little Joy Juice from Lotus Wei to my morning tea! Who couldn’t use a little more joy in their days right?!

Benny has been sleeping with me and keeping me company through this rough patch. My lovely little chi-chi.

Spinach Omelet, Baby Romaine and Cherry Tomatoes. I have really been enjoying cooking more and coming up with fun and easy to make recipes!

Indian Healing Clay and Raw Manuka Honey. I like to make a face mask using these two products! I will do a blog post on this soon.

Currently Reading:

I am really enjoying this book so far and it’s been a great read while I am recuperating!

xoxo,

Britanie

Filed Under: Life · Tagged: anemia, books, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, health, iron transfusion, life, manuka honey, positivity, quotes, rumi, spinach omelet, the night circus, update

Sep 21, 2012

Think of your pain like a big bunch of red roses, a beautiful thorn necklace. Everyone has one.

By Britanie · 9 Comments

“That is all I want in life: for this pain to seem purposeful.”

I have been feeling very depressed lately because I haven’t had an ounce of energy to accomplish the things that I want to during the days. I really just have not felt good in too long. It takes every thing in me to get up in the morning and to get myself together. I went to see an Oncologist/Hematologist and I found out that I am extremely anemic, more so than I had originally thought. My actual iron level is a 10 and my other levels were so low, one was 2 percent and the normal range is between 40 percent and higher. For majority of people with Anemia, it can be easy to treat with Iron pills or diet changes but unfortunately with my digestion issues I am just not absorbing nearly enough. I will be going in for a set of four, one hour IV transfusions of Iron over a four week period. It will be hard, I will have to take anti-nausea medication which they will be putting in the IV because the Iron really makes me sick. I had to do a transfusion over six years ago and it was really tough as the release to the bloodstream can cause a lot of joint pain, nausea, flu-like symptoms that can last for awhile. The good news is that after the four weeks I should start to feel better as my red blood cells increase and in turn give me some energy that I so terribly need!

My Thyroid is also enlarged which most likely means it’s still too low and not working well enough. I think it’s all in relation to my poor digestion and absorption. My seratonin is also extremely low. I have been dealing with health issues since I was first diagnosed with a Hiatal Hernia and Gerd at the age of nine. When I was sixteen they found Endometriosis and Celiac Disease. Then the Fibromyalgia. then the Gastroparesis. It’s honestly been one thing after another for most of my life. I sometimes can’t imagine what it would be like to wake up and not have to be in pain or to feel sick. I can’t imagine going through the day not worrying about my health. I have experienced so much pain in my life but I have also been blessed with such an amazing support system and I have worked my hardest to be as positive as possible. I will not give up on myself because there is just too much I want to accomplish in my life. Too many things I want to see and do. I won’t give up no matter how much harder it gets although I pray every day it will get better as the years go on.

I was hesitant about posting this entry at first because I did not want it to seem like I was in any way complaining and I have also been very private about a lot of my health issues because I don’t like feeling like a burden to others. The thing is, I not only want my blog to be a place where I can blog about things that I love or things that inspire me and things that are beautiful but I also want to be open and honest about my struggles and my pain and hopefully give some sort of comfort to anyone else out there who is going through anything similar or who can relate. At the end of the day you can turn anything into something beautiful, even pain.

I am posting this entry for anyone out there who is suffering with pain. I know how hard it is. I know how exhausting it is. I know it feels like nothing will ever change and no matter what you do it never gets better. I know you also feel like no one could possibly understand but I promise you there are people who understand and I am one of them. Think of your pain as a purpose, a learning process, a twisted gift of sorts in order for you to become a more compassionate, patient and stronger person. Think of all of the little things in life that you don’t take for granted because you know how easily it can be tainted by pain. Live in the moment and no matter how bad the pain gets, never ever give up on yourself.

xoxo,

Britanie

Filed Under: Health · Tagged: chronic pain, health issues, positivity

Aug 24, 2012

Herbs For Painful Menstration and Hormonal Imbalances.

By Britanie · 3 Comments

I was diagnosed with Endometriosis at the age of sixteen. It’s been eleven years and I am still suffering. Every two weeks I have pain and on the day of my period I am literally incapacitated. I have been on every birth control pill imaginable and have tried so many things (Lupron, Multiple surgeries, heavy-duty pain killers, etc) but nothing has ever worked for my body. I am currently not treating the Endometriosis medically but am looking for natural ways to relieve the pain and to help balance out my hormones as a lot of people believe that Endometriosis is from having an imbalance of hormones and a stagnant blood flow.

I highly recommend Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs. I am seeing an Acupuncturist who works with Chinese Herbs and has had many patients with Endometriosis and fertility issues, pcos, etc and I have noticed a difference in my pain already.

I have researched until my eyes have been sore and these are some of the herbs that I have found to be the most well known and well tolerated remedies for both hormonal balancing and pain relief. I ordered these in tincture form as it is much more potent than tea or supplements.

From L to R:

Cramp Bark: Uterine Relaxant and Antispasmodic. Used mainly for menstrual cramps, bearing-down uterine pains, and chronic uterine and ovarian pains.

Ginger: Helps lower your levels of pain-causing prostaglandins, fights fatigue and is great for nausea.

Vitex: Works by acting on the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus, which are responsible for releasing hormones or triggering hormone responses throughout the reproductive system. Vitex has been shown to regulate pituitary activity and promote the balance of estrogen and progesterone levels. The estrogens are important during the first two weeks of woman’s cycle, preparing the reproductive system for ovulation, while progesterone is dominant during the second half the cycle (the luteal phase) and is instrumental in maintaining a pregnancy. Hormone balance is key to a healthy menstrual cycle and regular ovulation. Here, vitex has proven very efficacious in supporting progesterone levels during the luteal phase (after ovulation takes place). In sum, vitex both stimulates and regulates the key reproductive hormones involved in ovulation and assists in restoring balance and menstrual regularity.

Dong Quai: Used as a nourishing blood tonic and helps to support healthy menstrual cycles. Dong Quai has been used for centuries by Asian healers to promote balance of female hormones and emotional health during menopause and perimenopause.

Wild Yam: Wild yam has been used for centuries in Central America as a natural pain reliever. Today, wild yam is used to treat a variety of ailments from female problems to digestive disorders. Wild yam contains diosgenin, a procurer of progesterone, which makes it a popular choice for treating PMS. Wild yam’s antispasmodic properties relax muscles and help reduce inflammation. Wild yam is also beneficial in treating arthritis, rheumatism and muscle spasms.

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If you are looking for something not as intense as a tincture or if you just want to add extra healthy herbs into your daily life I would recommend drinking Moon Cycle Tea by Yogi Tea. It contains a perfect blend of Chaste Tree Berry, Raspberry Leaf, Chamomile, Juniper Berry, Dong Quai, Cinnamon, Fennel, Parsley, etc to really help balance hormones and help with bloating, cramping and PMS. It also tastes delicious! I prefer mine strong so I like to use two tea bags for one cup. Whenever I drink this a few weeks before I am due for my period I notice a difference in my mood and cramping. Definitely worth checking out!

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If you suffer or have ever suffered from Endometriosis or any type of Hormonal issues, PCOS, painful periods, etc what have you found that has helped you at all? I am always open for new suggestions.

xoxo,

Britanie

Filed Under: Health · Tagged: balancing hormones, chaste berry, chinese medicine, chronic pain, cramp bark, dong quai, endo, endometriosis, ginger, herbs, hormonal imbalance, hormones, natural remedies, painful menstruation, painful period, pcos, remedies, tinctures, vitex, wild yam, womens health

Aug 20, 2012

Staying positive despite setbacks.

By Britanie · 1 Comment

“I am
a series of
small victories
and large defeats
and I am as
amazed
as any other
that
I have gotten
from there to
here”

– Charles Bukowski

—

I had 13 vials of blood taken this week. I am still very anemic but the reason for all of the blood work was to check up on my hormones to make a decision on whether or not I should start on natural Progesterone cream to help keep the Endometriosis at bay.

I have been in a lot of pain and have been vomiting a lot lately because my food just won’t digest. It’s been extremely frustrating and uncomfortable to eat and feel miserable immediately afterwards. I recently started seeing a new Acupuncturist. I have seen her twice already and really, really like her. She has given me some Chinese Herbs to take and she has worked with both Endometriosis and Gastoparesis so I feel very hopeful about it. I am not expecting to see instant results as I know sometimes Acupuncture and Herbs can take up to six months to really feel the full effect but I am hopeful that I will be able to see some results fairly soon.

I am still hoping that at some point I will be able to get my Esthetics license as I would really love to do that professionally. I have been considering it for years now but unfortunately my health has made it impossible to really commit to anything full time right now. I am praying every day that within the next year of doing acupuncture on a regular basis and eating a Paleo diet (no grains or sugar) and incorporating Qi-Gong, Yoga and Walking into my daily life that I will feel better enough to be able to work on my career as an esthetician.

I don’t expect I will ever be completely healed of all of my health issues but I do expect to be able to function more normally and to not be suffering on a daily basis. I am staying positive and although I allow myself times to cry and be frustrated and discouraged, I always force myself to focus on the amazing things in my life and the little things that make me happy and it helps me get through the day.

I encourage anyone who also suffers from chronic pain whether it be physical, mental or emotional to try your best to put any energy you can muster up into thinking about the things you are thankful for and the things that make you smile. It can be anything. Just focus on it and remind yourself of the good things in your life instead of dwelling on the bad.

and of course always remember that this too shall pass.

Sometimes I feel like my Camera is my therapist. Whenever I walk around with it in my hand and see things to photograph it feels so cathartic.

xoxo,

Britanie

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Filed Under: Health, Life · Tagged: acupuncture, chinese medicine, chronic health issues, chronic pain, endometriosis, gastroparesis, health, herbs, life, motivation, natural remedies, pain, paleo diet, positivity, quotes

Jul 30, 2012

Keep Going (Dealing with Chronic Health Issues)

By Britanie · 8 Comments

“Let everything happen to you,
Beauty and terror.
Just keep going,
No feeling is final.”

– Rainer Maria Rilke

I’ve been in a lot of pain this week and sometimes it gets hard to get out of bed, let alone put my makeup on and make a blog post with a smile on my face. If there is anything I have learned about living with chronic physical pain it is that every thing you do, every thing you say that is positive will help you so much in the long run.

Sometimes I am over eager to do more than my body is capable of doing and I don’t listen to my body and I push too much and I pay for it after. Sometimes it is worth it and other times it’s a big set back. I am learning to accept when my body can not do something and to not feel guilt about it.

I think a lot of people who deal with chronic health issues live with a severe amount of guilt. I know I do. Guilt that we aren’t doing as much as we should be. Guilt that we are disappointing friends and loved ones by having to cancel plans on short notice or just simply knowing that you cannot go somewhere with them because of how you are feeling physically. It can be really stressful and being stressed out only makes matters worse.

I am learning every day to not put pressure on myself and to not feel guilty if I cannot push myself as far as I or someone wishes that I could. I can only do the best that I can do for myself. My advice to anyone out there who suffers from chronic pain, physical or mental, don’t beat yourself up about it. Push yourself just enough to where you are comfortable. Don’t surround yourself with people who are not understanding of your situation.

If someone really loves you for you and wants to be around you they will see you for so much more than just your health issues and they won’t make you feel guilty about not being able to go places all of the time or for canceling plans. If anything they will be proud of you for even wanting to do so much regardless of how bad you are feeling. Just having the drive to do more is enough. If you feel that people in your life are not understanding of that then you need to re-evaluate who is in your core group of friends. A real friend would never make you feel bad for feeling sick.

Just because we live with chronic health issues does not mean that we are our health issues. We are so much more than that.

Keep on keeping on.