Hi everyone. I find it interesting that in our modern day and age, with all the medical improvements, the incredible accomplishments that have improved our lives, yet there are still some treatments that span the centuries. These treatments can be less drastic on our bodies than all the chemicals and such in our modern times.
I have been having some health issues of late which has me working with a blend of modern treatments and treatments that are more natural and have been around for many many years. One of the issues has been gout. Gout is a buildup of uric acid which your body is unable to break down and moved out of the person’s body. When the buildup happens, the uric acid crystals (yes, crystals) deposit themselves in joints. The big toe (which is where I have it) is usually the place it begins. Gout is an inflammatory type of arthritis. It is also one of the oldest recorded disease, having been documented in ancient Egypt. It also has a habit of flaring in the wee hours of the morning. Problem in some cases, the medicine they use for moving the uric acid can be hard on the body, especially on the kidneys. Yep, I know that. Was on it until I went into kidney failure. But in doing research, I learned that tart cherry extract helps to break up the crystal formations and move them along, so your body can flush it out of your system. I know, hard to believe. But I have been taking it for several years and there have been fewer and fewer gout flares for me. Have only had one major and one minor flare in the last 2 years. In my family, I am 3rd generation of the women. My mother had it the worst. Now the fun part, the pain. I can understand why Mr Hurst or anyone else could be waylaid from such flares. Personally, I would prefer giving birth to quadruplets without an epidermal than have a severe gout flare. The pain is off the chart. The slightest movement, anything touching, are unbelievable pain. Even a lightweight sheet over it can be extremely painful. I am grateful for the tart cherry, which has tremendously cut back on the number of flares I have had. Gout can build up what is called tophi and can even affect the joint with permanent damage. I get a capsule that is tart cherry extract, turmeric, ginger, and 2 types of peppers.
I had always thought that bleeding people to balance the humors to be ridiculous. In my opinion, taking someone who is ill and weak and drain off some blood was dangerous. No wonder some patients died, they had to recover from the illness and the blood loss. That was my belief until several years ago. My mom’s younger brother had been in Vietnam, in areas where chemicals were used. He had health issues, but one of which was over producing red blood cells. When my uncle had the symptoms, he would go to his doctor’s office and they would extract some of the blood from him and he would feel better. The joys of the chemicals that were used in the wars, especially in Vietnam. So it was not balancing his humors, but bloodletting was valuable.
Did you know there are 3 different ways to calm a stomach? Besides mint, eating pineapple or papaya? Pineapple is bromelain, which was used for decades as an antacid. Papaya is papain, which is also used to calm the stomach. When it comes to using mint, have you ever wondered why many restaurants give you a chocolate mint or just a mint for after you eat? It is in case you have some heartburn.
Willow bark has been used for hundreds of years for pain. It is the early way to deal with pain. The “powders” for headaches comes from willow bark. Laudanum also comes from plants.
We have heard of using leeches or maggots on wounds. It was We have all heard of putting leeches on people. We aren’t talking about leeches and maggots you find anywhere, these are ones that are raised for medical purposes. They aid in things like eating the dead tissue in wounds, as well as draining toxins from the body. This is beneficial especially for those who have severe burns and wounds.
Another thing that came from many decades ago is the use of honey. Honey is not only good for soothing a sore throat, it has many other uses. As a anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, the use of honey can be even be used on burns. If you use honey that is harvested in your community, it is also good for most seasonal allergies such as to things like trees, grasses, and what we would refer to as hay fever. The reason for local honey is simply that the bees are gathering nectar from the plants in your neighborhood.
Another of nature’s pharmacy is using marijuana. Yes, I am totally sold on the use of marijuana for many medical conditions. I went from being in the law enforcement mentality to fully supporting the use of marijuana. It is being used for seizures, pain, PTSD, Parkinsons, and more. I use it for pain. My reason for using marijuana is simple. I watched my mother taking narcotic pain meds for over a decade. She couldn’t tell us that it controlled her pain, but she was afraid to go without the narcotics. One time, after I became sold on marijuana, my daughter and I spoke with my mom. She had Parkinsons, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and much more. When she finally tried it, within moments, her Parkinsons tremors were diminished and she could walk better, not to mention her mind fog was removed. The only reason she didn’t keep using it was that my older brother didn’t think it was appropriate, due to the stigma. So she returned to using narcotics. I have a friend who’s young son was having seizures, many times a day, multiple days each week. When they got him on the protocol, he started having fewer seizures, and finally he went for a couple of years without seizures. That alone would make me say “oh, yes”. I use it for pain from fibromyalgia, arthritis, myofacial pain in back and shoulders, and more.
Well, hope you learned some natural ways to aid people. I do not recommend abandoning medications that your doctor prescribes to you. Do some research for yourself, and see if there are ways to boost your lives for the better and speak to your medical personnel. I have it on my medical charts, and have proven to my primary care that medical marijuana is a good thing, and that tart cherry aids with gout. But as I said, I use these in combination with my medicines.
Enjoy and have a wonderful day!
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