Working with the pediatric population, I see a LOT of children and infants with skin problems such as Eczema. While I don’t have personal experience with this I do have personal experience with Rosacea and I thought I'd share a variety of natural options I found that have worked very well. As always, I encourage you to have an in depth conversation with your physician to discuss all options and methods to address your concerns.
WHY I’M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT CREAMS…….
As much as it would be amazing to say there was a magic cream to make eczema go away, I have to make it clear that the underlying problem is not being addressed with a topical cream. I know, this may be a heartbreaking thing to read but hear me out, a cream can stop the immediate discomfort but won’t get to the root cause. I think you’re ready to kick this in the butt so let’s get down to biz.
This is why I’m a HUGE component of dietary and natural options. Eczema is complex, however attacking it from all angles will leave you with long lasting results and happy soothed skin!
Where my Foodies At??
I know it seems weird to talk about food when you’re wanting to know how to heal a skin issue but diet is often a big underlying concern with those dealing with eczema.
You may or may not have heard that the gut is highly connected to our overall immune state and it is! Add on exposure to medications, antibiotics, and inflammatory foods and this can create chaos for your skin.
One of the best things to help heal the gut is bone broth. A major key component to the GAPS diet (also known as the “Gut and Psychology Syndrome” diet). For more info on the GAPS diet I highly suggest you grab this book and dive in! Bone broth is an amazing source of calcium and many other minerals, and it’s super easy to make. The overall health benefits are tremendous but other benefits include: digestive, joints, nervous system, and SKIN SUPPORT.
Remember I said it’s easy to make right? You can even make it in your Instant Pot!! (#winning). One fun trick I’ve found is to roast approximately 3 lbs bones • Carrots. • Celery • Onion • Garlic • Season with Salt and Pepper on a sheet pan for about 40 minutes in the oven before you cook it. If you use an Instant Pot you can top it with water and cook on manual for 2 hours. Are you more of a stock pot kinda person?....no problem, just slow simmer for about 8-10 hours and enjoy!
Natural Remedies
PROBIOTICS
A somewhat controversial topic, the idea of probiotics being used to naturally support the gut and healing of atopic dermatitis is mixed. Many reviews claim there is not enough evidence however from personal experience there are tremendous benefits from using a high quality probiotic ¹ .
As our diets have moved heavily away from using fermentation processes that would help build a flourishing array of flora in the gut, supplementing with probiotics may be important more than we know. For many including myself, foods with probiotics in them was not effective (not to mentioned often filled with sugars). I’ve tried many varieties however the one I personally found most effective has 9 strains with 17 billion live active cultures and uses a delayed release capsule to ensure the cultures get straight to the intestines. Quality matters if we are going to support the GI system.
DETOX BATHS
For those who do not find their condition gets worse in water, detox baths can be very healing to the body. While they help remove toxins from the body they can also make you tired so considering doing them before bed a couple times a week!
Bentonite Clay Bath
½ cup Bentonite clay
½ cup Epsom salts
Essential oils if desired
Take the epsom salts and mix a few drops if desired of essential oils and pour into the water. In a small glass jar mix the clay using a plastic spoon with a bit of water until the clumps are mostly dissolved. Add the clay mix to the bath and soak for at least 20 minutes.
COCONUT OIL/LAVENDER LOTION
If you do not have an allergy to coconut, applying a thin layer of coconut oil to the skin can be soothing and help stop the itch. I also find that good old lavender is not only great to calm and relax your mind but is also amazing to soothe the skin. If you find Coconut to be too drying you can always try another option as sometimes coconut oil has been known to strip the skin of moisture intensifying the itch for some.
BOTTOM LINE
There are many other tips and tricks to naturally address eczema and ditch the itch but you want to make sure you are focused on getting to the root of the cause. Consider seeking a consultation with an allergist and then create a good plan of attack to change your dietary and personal care products so that you can love the skin you’re in!
I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count how many times I’ve come home completely exhausted and ready to pass out. You too? Great, glad I’m not alone but I do wish someone had told me before that everyday items in the modern home can be contributing to our overall fatigue and energy drainage.
So this spring I decided to do a lil’ snooping around at the items most often turned ‘on’ in my home and discovered just how draining some very common household items can be to the body. Let’s take a sneak peak into these items and how you can get recharged and refreshed in the comfort of your home!
SMART METER
A couple of years back my condo building switched all residents to ‘smart meters’. Back then I had no idea really how they worked but once I started to experience billing issues due to ‘faulty meter readings’ I began to question all the things.
How they work: Smart Meters use a national wireless communication network to send information from the meter at your home (your home area network or HAN) to your energy supplier.
The Potential Danger: Smart Meters give off low energy radio-frequency (RF) Radiation and this type of radiation is a possible carcinogen. While the data is unclear about the long term effects of such meters this is something to be aware of in regards to your overall health and safety.
Consider looking into a smart meter cover which has been said to be 80-95% effective in shielding effects from EMF radiation
EXCESSIVE BLUELIGHT EXPOSURE
Don’t laugh but I held out on purchasing a smartphone until 2015 and that was ONLY because my Qwerty keyboard flip phone wouldn’t light up after landing home after a trip to Jamaica. Needless to say ever since then my life has been inundated with screens, tablets, phone upgrades, and well…..Blue light. The first 3-5 months of using that new phone I noticed my eyes would tear up and get a bit blurry at first sight of the screen.
Here’s what you need to know about blue light exposure: Known to have the shortest wavelengths and highest energy on the light spectrum, blue light is able to pass through the cornea, lens, and reach the retina.
Not really a problem until you spend an obscene amount of hours in front of screens.
There are now studies that show that too much exposure can damage the retina cells, increasing the risk of macular degeneration at an older age. It can also lead to digital eye strain which makes your eyes and overall body just feel drained ¹²
Let’s just say after learning all that I grabbed myself a pair of glasses with a blue light filter and changed the light filter on all my devices using the “night shade” mode. Try it and see how you feel, I noticed less exhaustion overall even after a day in front of devices and screens.
WIFI ROUTERThere isn’t clear evidence that exposure to wifi will have long term effects on your health however constant exposure may not be so healthy either. With the research divided on the effects of EMF’s to the body, it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to mothers-to-be.
Our bodies are constantly emitting energy so exposure to such household electrical fields most likely have some effect on the body. I tend to air on the side of caution with this one since I do a lot of daily work on my computer and phone.
Here’s some ways you can lessen this exposure
Consider shutting off your wifi at night. Goodness this was a hard habit to get into because like many, I tend to keep my phone on my night stand. Getting a good night's rest requires you to fully disconnect so consider creating a ‘favorites’ list in your phone and enjoy turning your wifi off at night-You’re alarms and any emergency contact calls from that list will always get thru!
Grab a quality Himalayan Salt Lamp. No lie, the first time I saw this lamp by the computer desks at my job I thought it was just a "cute light’". Little did I know this Himalayan salt lamp was designed to help reduce risk for inflammation and purify the air. Regular exposure to Wifi increases the risk for buildup of positive ions in the body, which can increase the risk for inflammation. A salt lamp (even small desk ones like this) can provide you with healthy exposure to negative ions (same goes for naturally occurring areas of moving water - I knew there was a reason I loved the beach so much!)
Use Headphones or Speakerphone: As cute as they are I’m not down for daily use of AirPods or bluetooth headphones (I still struggle to use the Beats headphones I earned free when purchasing my MacBook Pro). Consider staying semi wired up that way the radiation isn’t so close to your head.
Earthing: A concept I recently learned from a mentor of mine, this method helps the positive ions in our bodies be equalized with negative ions from earth, helping to mitigate the harmful effects of EMFs. One of the easiest ways to do this is to be barefoot and stand in the dirt for 10-20minutes. Another suggestion is to use earthing sheets or mats that connect to the electrical grounding outlets in your home.
Ya’ll know I’m all about preventative wellness and plants over pills so I figured I’d touch upon this common ailment that often affects women and mamas….the urinary tract infection (or UTI for short). Here are some tips for natural ways to relieve the infamous urinary tract infection.
What Is a Urinary Tract Infection?
When bacteria enters the urinary tract (typically through the urethra) and multiplies you have a UTI . Typically infections start in the urethra or bladder but they can affect any area of the urinary tract including the ureters and kidneys if not treated in a timely fashion.
Thought to be most often caused by E. coli, other bacteria, viruses, and fungi can also create an infection.
Women are eight times more likely to contract a UTI than men ¹ but other risk factors include being pregnant (because of changes in the pelvis), immune system dysfunction (especially autoimmune and metabolic conditions), and post menopause (due to less estrogen) ²
What are some symptoms?
Most common symptoms include:
Frequent urination (but not much comes out)
Pain or a burning sensation in the vagina when urinating
Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
NATURAL REMEDIES
Dietary Options
Sugar-Ditch it. It’s highly inflammatory and bacteria just love feed off of it. (aka-not a great option when dealing with UTI's)
Drink More H2O. It helps to flush things out of the body with ease. I love my Corksicle water canteen!
Eat more fermented foods like sauerkraut and kombucha to help increase the healthy bacteria in your gut.
Ditch the processed foods that are filled with fillers, lack nutrients, and are often high in sugar.
Increase your Vitamin C intake with a quality supplement or with foods such as broccoli or kale.
Add D-Mannose to your water and ingest. D-mannose is known to help make it harder for bacteria to stick to the walls of the bladder. Here’s a good source to keep on hand if you find yourself dealing with UTI’s frequently.
Plants/Herbs
Tumeric Tea is great for UTI's and is known for it's amazing anti-inflammatory properties.
Cranberry is often a well known option but buyer beware, you want organic so that you don't get caught with added sugars in your cranberry juice...or if you like super easy, grab a capsule!
Parsley is a known diuretic and great for detoxification. You can make a tea by steeping 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley in 1 cup of boiling hot water for about 5 minutes. If you like easy peasy conveniences like me, grab yourself a top quality dietary version of parsley essential oil, place 1 drop in a tea cup and add boiling hot water!
At the end of the day there are a ton of natural options you can do to help get relief but you need to do what is best for your body and weigh the risks vs benefits. If you are not finding success with such natural options then seek advice from your medical professional.
I’d be crazy if I said I was an exercise fanatic in the gym for hours on end because NEWS FLASH****** I’m not, but I do believe that daily movement is a MUST for everyone. In this digital age our lives are incredibly sedentary and the cost of gyms can be a barrier.
Here are some of my favorite cost effective exercise tools and apps that can get you movin’ and groovin’!
Peloton App
When all gyms closed down during the pandemic I had to get creative with my workouts as I’m not a big fan of outdoor stuff in cold weather so I decided to take up the free 90 day trial with Peleton (that trial may be back to 30days at the time you read this). What I love about this option is you get 90 days to explore ALL their workouts (no treadmill or bike needed). Whether you’re a lover of cardio, walking outdoors, HIIT and Tabata workouts or want a good strengthening workout this app will give you a large variety. Plus after the trial the digital membership cost is super reasonable at $12.99/mo. For more info check it out here.
Sweat the Technique Bands
As a PT, Theraband is a staple in most clinical settings but like a lot of resistance bands the constant issue of them rolling up your thighs can be a big pain in the you know what! I came upon this company thru a friend who had raving reviews and totally geeked out placing an order. What struck me most were the numerous people who stated that the bands fabric material didn’t budge during movements (huge win because that's what annoys me most about exercise bands)! For the price and quality that makes it a very versatile piece of workout equipment for the busy female who can’t make it to the gym or needs to get in a workout while traveling. For more deets on their shop collection click here.
Jump Rope
Want a quick and powerful cardio workout-grab a jump rope. This one has nice foam handles for a great grip, the rope itself is adjustable, and since the rope is made of steel wire has a PVC coating you don’t have to worry about it tangling up. Oh, and speaking of those worriers who feel they don’t fit the ‘physical profile’ of someone that can jump rope let’s remember everyone has a starting point-your journey is just that, yours so let’s celebrate wether you do 30 seconds of jump rope or 10+ minutes! I have to constantly remind myself that progress only happens when we take ACTION! Here’s an affordable jump rope for those that aren’t into searching in stores.
Here’s the Lowdown……
Working out can be as hard or as difficult as you make it but it DOESN'T have to be expensive. With some small investments you can get your movement on from your comfy abode.
What are some inexpensive equipment or apps you love to use to get your workout on?
Whether it's friends or family I constantly hear people say they ‘wish’ they could be, do, move like someone else". I’m always fascinated by such statements and it often sparks convo to find out more about the goals my friends/family have.
Here’s what I’ve found…..regardless of the goal most people aren’t in the right mindset to be able to really crush their goals. Especially when it comes to health goals. Yep, it’s just that simple. Wishing and hoping aren’t going to cut it. These feelings are filled with underlying doubt and worry about your potential to succeed.
I don’t want that for ya so let’s have some real talk about 2 key things you must have to successfully achieve your health goals.
#1: BELIEF
Do you really believe you are going to hit this goal you set? I’m not talking about how you’ll do it, I’m speaking upon the idea that no one is going to believe in you as much as you believe in you. Do you really believe with 100% of your heart that you are worthy of achieving the goal you desire? Maybe not. I've discovered that without belief there is no trust, no action, and no drive to take the daily steps to lead you to where you want to be.
Belief in yourself is a key mindset component to any health goal. When you have undeniable belief in yourself and your goal NOTHING will stand in your way. (aka not even that desire to Netflix binge watch).
For 12 years I struggled with belief that I could get rid of meds for my chronic sinus issues and would constantly tell myself “there’s no other option”. It wasn't until I stopped inundating myself with self doubt and negative self talk that I was able to find the solutions I had been desiring all those years. Trust me, if you believe you are worthy of a long lasting, happy, and flourishing quality of life your belief in what you want will outweigh all that negative nonsense.
#2: CONFIDENCE
This is such a struggle for women and in the age of the digital comparison trap. We’re all human and often want what others have but when you focus your energies on you and what you want you no longer have the time to worry about what others say and do.
Now I know some of ya' are saying “....well, I’m introverted and shy", “I don’t really think I am confident”, “I really don’t have time because I’m so busy”. WARNING WARNING: negative talk alert-step away from those thoughts and start telling yourself the exact opposite. Your health goals can be achieved with ease if you are confident and clear on what you want and why you want it. If you desire to move better, feel stronger, use less medications etc then you will need to have the confidence required to do so.
It’s time to quiet the noise in your head, listen to your intuition, start to believe in yourself, and increase your confidence. You’ll see that the most valuable investment that any of us truly make is in ourselves and our health!
I’d love to hear from you in the comments. What has helped you get your goals achieved with ease?
