Lesson 2 is now available. Learn about the next building block to a healthy body through gut health.
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Collagen is the main protein in building many of our body systems such as skin, bones, muscles, ligaments, blood vessels and the digestive system. The body naturally makes its own collagen but factors such as aging, diets high in sugar and processed foods, smoking and overexposure to the sun can deplete our stores quickly. It is best to include collagen containing foods in the diet to reap the following benefits. There are also collagen supplements available, just make sure you purchase a high quality product if you choose this route. I recommend any of Dr. Axe's products. I also recommend any animal products used come from pastured, well cared for animals that have not be injected with pharmaceuticals. Healing Benefits
Collagen Containing Foods
ResourcesGhee is clarified butter – meaning all the milk solids are taken out, leaving just the oil. Because it is now in an oil state it can be stored in a cupboard like oil. It has a high smoke point, making it the perfect cooking oil…and it tastes sooo good! Health Benefits
Make Your OwnStart by melting a pound of butter in a pan over medium heat. I make my own butter from the cream I skim off my raw milk. This can be done by placing the cream in a blender and turn it on low until the butter and milk separate. Strain the butter, keeping the buttermilk for cooking. Place the butter in a colander and rinse until the water runs clear. The butter will melt then get foamy, then start to sputter and turn golden. Once the sputtering has stopped a crust of solid material will form on the top. I let it cool for just a bit and then place a small strainer over my jar then pour and strain. As the ghee cools it will turn more solid at which point you can put on the lid and just keep it in the cupboard or fridge. You can use ghee in place of oil or butter in recipes. I like to spread it on my toast and use to sauté veggies. Resources:Kefir is a living cultured food filled with over 30 strains of beneficial yeast and bacteria. These friendly flora populate the gut to give your body many of the following benefits. If purchasing premade kefir check the ingredient list to be sure you are not getting added sugars, flavors or colors. Homemade is always best. See the resources section for more information and to purchase your own cultures. You can also ask around your friend circle to see if anyone has kefir grains to share. Healing Benefits
ResourcesMilk Kefir from Cultures for Health you can purchase kefir grains from here as well
Water Kefir from Cultures for Health Kefir vs Yogurt by Dr. Axe Kefir Benefits by Dr. Axe The Ultimate Milk Kefir Guide from Traditional Cooking School Healing Foods, Eat Your Way to Healthier Living The Body Ecology Diet by Donna Gates Blackstrap molasses is the dark liquid that comes from processing raw sugar into refined sugar. Because it is minimally processed it retains a number of trace minerals that give it many healing benefits. Make sure to purchase unsulfured molasses to ensure you are receiving all these nutrients for building in the body. Healing Benefits
How to UseTake a tablespoon at a time as need. Dr. Christopher recommended 1 tablespoon, 3 times a day.
ResourcesI'm excited to announce that I am offering a free course over the summer months on healthy living called Self-Reliance in Health. Every Thursday a new lesson will be posted. Today is an introduction and all about nutrition. Purpose of the Self Reliance in Health CourseWhen my sister and her husband contracted Coronavirus, they were told not to go to the hospital unless they could not breathe. She called me up and I was able to give her a list of remedies to use while caring for themselves at home. As the months passed through the pandemic, hospitals were overburdened and medications were hard to get, among other things. I realized the importance of us taking our health into our own hands and knowing how our bodies work and how to treat conditions in them, not only in times of crisis like we have been dealing with but also on a regular basis. Many have been seeking ways to be more self-reliant in areas of finances, food production, and emergency preparation, but may not have thought about healthcare. The purpose of this course is to provide knowledge and skills of understanding and caring for our bodies and those of our families by using the light of Christ to discern truth. Seeking and Receiving TruthBefore we start on any journey of learning it is important to understand that each of us has been blessed with the light of Christ, which helps us discern truth. I can share with you information I have studied, learned, and applied with great results. You can also read about what others have studied, learned, and applied with great results which may be different than what I teach. Both may be right, some may not be for you and some may be in error, so it is up to you to discover truth for yourself. During this course it will be your quest to discern truth regarding the best way as individuals and families to obtain optimum health. Let me share part of my story of using that light of Christ to discover the best course of action for myself while struggling with health issues. After my last child was born, I broke out in a horrible “rash” for lack of a better term, over my hands. It started as a little itchy spot, that continued to spread across my palms as little blisters that would burst and ooze puss and rendered my hands pretty much useless. I had to hold them in claws or else they would crack and bleed. As you can imagine, caring for a baby and having three other children under the age eight, without the use of my hands was quite the challenge. I went to the doctor and was told it was eczema and was given a prescription for a steroid cream. “But what is the cause? How did it just start? How do I get rid of it?” None of these questions could be answered. I was not about to just cover up a problem, I wanted to get to the cause of it. And so, my journey began. For five years I studied, I prayed, I applied, I tried this, I tried that, I followed step by step where that light of Christ directed me. Through that path I learned about how our bodies were created and how they work. I learned how plants are created and how they work with our bodies. I learned about the power of God’s creations and laws. I learned how to take my body and my health into my own hands and not rely on someone else to tell me how to do it. I submitted myself to the will of the Lord and found that he had a purpose for me and in order to fulfill that purpose he needed me to go through this trial. There are many things we can only learn through the trials the Lord places before us. I was able to heal that skin condition by following the light of Christ. I came out with much more than healed hands; I came out with a self-reliance in health that I feel the Lord now wants me to share with others. Lesson 1 Now AvailableGolden milk seems to be a popular thing these days and for good reason. You can get all the amazing benefits of turmeric in a delicious blend of spices that you can then mix into smoothies, beverages, hot cereal, soups and other culinary creations. So why all the hype? This blend of herbs can boost the immune system, strengthen and support the heart and digestive system, combat inflammation and joint pain, improve memory and brain function, help keep harmful viruses and bacteria that reside in the body at bay and may even combat infection. There are many recipes out there to make your own and this is my version. I like to mix a large amount up and keep a smaller container in my cupboard to whip up Annie's Tonic Brew each day or throw into a batch of pancakes or waffles. The Recipe1 cup turmeric powder 1/4 cup ginger powder 1/4 cup cinnamon powder 4 teaspoons black pepper 2 teaspoons allspice 2 teaspoons nutmeg Annie's Tonic BrewThis is my favorite way to enjoy the healing benefits of my Golden Goodness mix. Dandy Blend offers liver support, cocoa powder antioxidants and the other herbs are immune strengthening and antimicrobial. The perfect blend for a daily tonic. Mix the following herbs in a mug: 2 tablespoons Dandy Blend 1 tablespoon cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon Golden Goodness Mix 1/2 teaspoon powdered mushrooms 1/2 teaspoon Breakfast Sprinkle or cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg or grate a fresh nutmeg on top dash of Real salt Pour in 1 1/2 cups hot water and stir well. Stir in 1 tablespoon of raw honey to taste. Optional: 1/4 cup raw cream Other Golden GoodnessMinimalist Baker recipes
You can purchase ready made golden milk from your local health food store, or online with a google search.
Olive oil is one of the ancient foods that truly nourish the body inside and out. *“It is symbolic of goodness and purity, and the trees is a symbol of peace and happiness”. Make sure what you purchase is a whole food, if you do not choose a high-quality oil, it becomes harmful, not healing. Look for cold or expeller pressed, extra virgin, it should be in a dark bottle, smell strong and “herby” and when placed in a fridge should turn cloudy or harden slightly. Once you have got the right stuff, you can enjoy these benefits.
Healing Benefits
ResourcesI have learned so much about the power of music from Marlene Peterson at Libraries of Hope: Home of the Well Educated Heart. As a healer, I immediately thought of using music as a modality for healing. Personally my favorite music was always silence, so learning about music through the Well Educated Heart has been very eye opening for me and I have tried to incorporate it more in my life. I have naturally navigated to listening to Enya during chaotic and stressful periods of time and now I realize why, it relaxes my mind and body and helps me to press forward through those times. I would like to share with you today ways you can incorporate music as a healing modality in your own life. Let's begin with a story... "A young woman was dying. Her baby had died at birth a few weeks previously, and since that time the mother had steadily failed. The doctor had just left her room saying emphatically that there was no hope and to give her anything she wanted. She looked up at her agonized husband and said: "Music. I want music. I know that will cure me." The nurse thought it to be a foolhardy and useless errand, but the husband went in search of it. The first day old familiar tunes and some of the Chopin that she had always loved, were played softly to her. Her body relaxed under the soothing influence, her nerves became less tense, her breathing deeper and more rhythmical, increasing the circulation. That night she slept. With the shutting out of the senses to the outside world the harmonic reaction brought about by the music continued its work of healing all through the night. The next day she was visibly stronger." This story paints a picture of how healing music is. I remember one night Little Man was suffering from a migraine. I had done all my usual therapies for him but for some reason this night nothing was working. As I heard him whimpering in pain, I prayed for what else I could do. I had the thought to play some Enya softly in the background. This I did and it relaxed his body and soothed the pain enough for him to fall asleep. Here are some other ways music has been used as a healer for both emotional and physical ailments throughout history. Music Used Throughout HistoryEnslaved Americans - Known as slave songs or negro spirituals, these songs were a way for the enslaved to express their feelings, hopes, desires, sorrow and prayer to the Lord. Some of the songs were messages to help those along the Underground Railroad while some were a calling to escape. Mostly they were a way for these men, women and children to have the strength and courage to endure one more day in their wretched conditions. These were examples of not only listening to music but using the voice to sing out with all the heart. Civil War - Used to unite and stimulate soldiers and the people. Both sides were singing Battle Cry of Freedom to uplift and rally the men. World War I - Music was used on the front lines and in the hospitals as forms of comfort, relaxation from the horrors of war, and as a stimulus to the morale of the men. Crimean War - Florence Nightingale requested music for her hospitals to soothe and heal soldiers. "The mind blurred by contact with unspeakable horrors was quieted and made normal again." Word War II - Steinway and Sons produced specially built pianos for the American troops called the Victory Vertical. They were dropped by parachute onto battlefields complete with tuning instruments to provide a bit of relaxation and stress relief. Concentration Camps - Alice Herz-Somer was a Jewish concert pianist in Czechoslovakia when Hitler took over her country. Because of her musical skills she was taken to Theresienstadt, which was a model concentration camp, set up to give the façade that Jews were being treated well. Because of its status as a model, prisoners were taken there that had gifts and talents and they were allowed to give musical performances, operas and plays. Alice would perform over 100 concerts while there. Her fellow prisoners spoke of this music as not being entertaining as it was therapeutic. Alice said, "Music is our food, when we play, it can't be so terrible...music was our way of remembering our inner selves, our values." Prisoners in other camps that were not so fortunate to have music to listen to could replay hymns and songs of hope in their minds. It was what kept many survivors going. Healing Properties of Good Music
Not All Music is HealingJust as the history examples above used music for good purposes, music has also been used by the adversary to shut out thoughts and feelings that good music can bring. Blaring rock music over loudspeakers for a 24 hour period was used at a war camp because it stopped the soldiers from thinking and feeling…the only way they could stir them up to kill. I'm sure you've heard of war dances as part of many Native American cultures, the steady, strong beats in their music would prepare them for battle. There have been very interesting studies done on the effects of different kinds of music applied to water and also plants (see pictures below). Our bodies are 70% water, can you see why music could be used to heal or cause harm to them. What Music Should Be Used to HealEach one of us is created so uniquely that what I may listen to for healing may be different than what you will. So seek out and find what resonates with you and your body. Start by playing different genres of music and be intentional about "listening" to how you feel. Does is calm your nerves and bring peace or does it cause chaos and irritation? Have you ever heard a song that makes you want to pull your hair out, this is your body wanting to avoid that type of music or song. Gravitate towards meditation music, classical, gospel, hymns, piano, instrumental, and even folk and cultural music. In the plant experiment the study showed that plants loved slow paced classical, violin, pipe flute folk music, Indian classical music, Vedic chants and a mixture of nature sounds with Native American flute. Don't forget the healing affects that singing can have as well. Sing with all your heart in prayer, praise, sorrow, gratitude and any other emotion you are experiencing. "Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth." Psalms 32:2-4 Avoid music with a loud steady, repetitive beat without melody, heavy metal, hard rock, rap, or anything with negative or immoral messages. This list will grow as you explore playing different types of music and comparing it with what you have found is healing for you. ResourcesWell Educated Heart: Joy is Everywhere - scroll down to the music section
Well Educated Heart: Mother's University, Music
Many times we think of home remedies as healing foods or herbs, but today I want to discuss the healing properties of temperature. Both heat and cold can be used to heal and soothe many different conditions and everyday issues you may come up against...sometimes it is all you need.
Heat Therapy
There are several ways you can use heat as a therapy. The most common way is to soak in a tub of hot water to induce sweating. Make sure you drink fluids while doing this, you want the body to sweat, but must replace those fluids. Drinking sweat inducing herbal teas (diaphoretics) will add to the effect. A sauna or hot tub can also be used for sweating, just remember those liquids. Other ways to use heat is through external contact with areas of concern using a heating pad, hot water bottle, compress, or warming herbs in a poultice.
Here are few reasons you may want to use heat, along with whatever you feel your body may need. Whenever my hubby comes down with any kind of bug he takes several hot baths a day until he feels better. That is the only thing he does to aid his body in recovery.
Diaphoretic (sweat inducing) HerbsHeat Pads
There are many versions of heat pads available. I grew up with the basic plug in square heat pad with the blue cover. You can now find all kinds of different heating pads available. Search around and see what may work for your family. You can also make your own heating bags with rice (or any grain) and some material, these you can make in different shapes and sizes. A quick google search will bring up instructions for all kinds of heating bags. We've made some with socks that you just tie up the loose end to make it real simple and you can even heat a slightly damp, rolled up towel in the microwave.
Cold Therapy
The opposite of heat, cold therapy, includes using cold water, ice and cooling herbs. You could use this method like the heat, having a cold bath or shower. Ice packs, cold water bottle, compress, chilled herbal poultice and herbal pillow kept in the freezer. When using cold therapy you generally want to apply cold for 10 minutes on, then 10 minutes off and repeat as often as necessary. There are also herbs that are cooling that can be used to bring temperature down in the body due to overheating and cooling down hot conditions in the body. Here are some times you may want to consider using cold therapy.
Cooling HerbsCombining Hot and Cold (Cold Sheet Treatment)
While studying this year about Lewis and Clark, we came across a story of Clark healing one of his men who couldn't walk and could barely sit, using the "traditional Indian sweatlodge" to treat him. This consisted of creating a 'sauna' where the man stayed until he could barely breathe due to the steam and then they immediately plunged him into ice-cold water, then back to the sweat lodge for more sweating. The next day he was able to walk, completely free of pain. Soon the tribe they were staying with at the time started sending their elders who also had issues with their bones and joints and trouble walking to have the same treatment, which had the same results. I was excited when I read this because I thought of Dr. Christopher's cold sheet treatment, which is a variation of many versions that have been used for centuries for healing different ailments.
Combined heat and cold does not need to be as complicated as Dr. Christopher's version, you could simply take a hot, steamy bath, then get in a cold shower or sponge the body with a cold cloth after. You can alternate hot pads and cold packs, or hot and cold compresses for 10 minutes each, for a period of time. While I've never done Dr. Christopher's cold sheet treatment, I have gathered all the items needed to do it and printed instructions in my emergency kit. The Covid-19 pandemic has opened many of our eyes to the realization we need to be medically prepared if hospitals are full and we need to treat our families during pandemic conditions. Dr. Christopher used this treatment to heal pneumonia and other severe lung conditions.
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Hi, I’m Annie, a child of God, Mother of Influence and Herbalist. Welcome to my place where I share what I have learned of natural and frugal living, healthy eating and living, gardening, homeschooling, herbal crafting, preparing temporally and spiritually, and love for God and Country.
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January 2023
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