The Hybrid Approach

In the last little while, I have

fielded a few questions regarding treatment for Crohn's.

Before I launch into some of what we have been doing,

please let me say, we do not have it all figured out.

It is, and has been, a journey.

Quite the journey, in fact!

I am not a medical professional.

I am just a Mum seeking to do her best for her child.

Please weigh everything I share in that light.

Please also understand this ~ God is Faithful.

He never gives more than we can bear. Never.

What a blessing it is to rest in that. Truly.

A Blessing!

This journey for us began nearly three years ago.

Austin had been unwell for awhile off and on for about

nine months before his condition

escalated to the point of near desperation.

I did some serious research online.

My research pointed to Crohn's and I wanted to be proven wrong.

I pressed for testing to be done and we got our diagnosis.

Crohn's it was.

During this journey of research and testing,

we pursued alternative ways to deal with his condition.

And, he got some relief ~ what a blessing!

It was due to this relief, as well as some reading

I had done, that encouraged us to continue to pursue these means.

Now that we have been on this journey for a full two years,

much has been learned. Some things have remained the same,

while other things have changed. We must flex and grow.

It has been necessary.

Treating our son became a little more complicated when

he was found to be in heart failure this past spring.

The focus shifted from Crohn's to DCM.

And, rightly so.

Since those early days of dealing with a

life-threatening heart condition,

my focus has changed.

Everything changed in those first

few days of heart-wrenching uncertainty.

We are seeking to deal with Austin as a whole person.

And, we are taking what one friend referred

to as the "Hybrid Approach" ~ I like that.

The best of both worlds.

I came across a book that seems to be balanced in its approach.

It's called "Why Doesn't My Doctor Know This?".

Among other recommendations,

the basic premise of this book

is that you eliminate gluten, sugar, and dairy from your diet.

The author advocates using a good pro-biotic.

He also recommends getting yourself tested for any

immune responses you may have to foods,

and avoid any that are troublesome.

And, over time, relief is often the reported result.

It's simple.

And not ~ at the same time.

It is never easy to give up sugar, gluten and dairy.

Not easy, but not impossible either.

It seems to be working.

Austin has been taking the prescribed medications.

He has also been diligent about diet and taking his supplements.

The Hybrid Approach ~ It seems to be the sensible way to go.

One day at a time. Step by step. With the LORD.

HE is Faithful. And, HE does all things well.

If you are struggling with your own set

of troubles, please feel free to share,

and I will seek to remember you in prayer.

My email is found near the top right of my blog sidebar.

The LORD hears and answers.

HE will never give HIS people

more than they can bear!

What a blessing it is to belong to HIM!

In HIS Love,

Camille

**Disclaimer ~ I am not a medical professional.

I cannot advise on any dietary supplements, protocols,

or treatments. I am a Mum who is seeking to do the best

for her child, and along the way, I am sharing what I am learning.

May the LORD give you wisdom as you seek HIM for it! HE is Faithful.

Marshmallow Root Tea

Just a little something to share.
It's really too good not to.

No, I don't mean it tastes good.
At least, not particularly.

But, oh is it G.O.O.D.!

I have a little history
with kidney stones.
Okay,
not really a little one.
It's been big.

As in, if I don't do something
about it, I could lose the kidney.
Not good.

But I digress.

I was recently told a little secret.
A wonderful secret.
And I am going to share it with you!

Marshmallow Root Tea
is the secret.

Oh. Dear. Me.

Does it ever relieve
the pain I have been experiencing.

And how.

Unfortunately,
it hasn't taken the stone away.
But, it has provided a reprieve
from the throbbing I was experiencing.
I do still have to deal with the stones.

Oh well.

What to do?

Get your hands on some
marshmallow root tea.
Spoon a teaspoon per cup of water
into a small pot.
Bring to a boil.
reduce heat and simmer ~
with lid slightly vented ~
for 20 minutes.

Strain and enjoy.
Up to three cups per day.

I just leave my pot on
the stove all day with the lid
on and the heat off.
When I want another cup,
I reheat to boiling and
strain into my mug.

Do not leave on the stove
longer than 24 hours without refrigeration.
It can go bad.

And, please, do see your Doctor
or Naturopathic Physician if
you are having any pain
or symptoms of kidney distress
of any kind!

As an added bonus,
it seems to be a wonderful tea
for our child with Crohn's as well!

Many Blessings,
Camille

**Disclaimer ~ I am not a medical
professional and I am not authorized to
give medical advice.
I just share what has been working
for me with the desire that it may be
of benefit to someone else.
Please do consult with your Physician
prior to consuming any herbal remedies!

Some of Our Journey

What a journey this has been!
God is so Good.
All the time.

What a blessing it is to
rest in HIS Goodness.
In HIS Grace.


~ Photo courtesy of my Emma ~

Some of you may
be on a similar journey.
Crohn's Disease
is a tricky thing to deal with.
It's not simple.

Simply not.

We have been to see a
G.I. Specialist at
Children's Hospital in Vancouver.
We have been to our GP.
We are also seeing a
Naturopathic Physician.

They all have something to offer.
Advice to give.
Instructions to follow.

When we first got the
Crohn's diagnosis we were not surprised.
It was something we already figured he had.
It was, in some ways, a relief to know.

We started using dietary supplements.
We altered his diet.
We have been following this one.

Things went well.
Very well.
For a few months.

Then, some things stopped going well.
A flare up.

Not uncommon for those with Crohn's.
But, at the same time, disheartening.
Our son has been careful to follow
his dietary restrictions and recommendations.

No chips.
No chocolate.
No grains.

He is committed.


We continue to follow the
principles laid out in Elaine Gottschall's book ~
Breaking the Vicious Cycle.
We are also following the advice
of our Naturopathic Physician and General Practitioner.

Sometimes adjustments are necessary.
We are willing to do whatever it takes
to help our son get well.

Remission.

We seek the LORD for wisdom.
We pray.
We seek the wisdom of Physicians.
We weigh it all up.
We act.

I would like to share some of
what we are doing and going through
to be an encouragement to those of
you who may be in the same boat.

I also want to record it
for future reference.

To bring down the swelling
in our son's leg
(a manifestation of Crohn's),
we are administering a poultice
of grated potato and carrot with ice chips.
Wrap this in cheesecloth
and apply to the swollen area for about
an hour at a time.
Do this at least twice per day.

For settling and soothing the abdomen,
soak a flannel cloth in
Castor Oil infused with Lavender
and Chamomile and place on the tummy.
Cover with plastic and have
the child lie down on his back
and apply a hot water bottle to the area.
Lie still for an hour or two.
Do this twice per day.

For tummy cramping,
we are using a tincture of
Viburnum Opulus.
For our son, the dose is 30 drops
in water three times per day.
During a flare up,
it may be administered up to six times
per day, if necessary.


He also is taking a
natural anti-inflammatory twice per day,
a GI repair supplment at every meal,
a probiotic twice per day,
and vitamins.

As well as all the above,
we are keeping his diet very simple.
Nothing that will stress the system
is allowed.

I am currently making up
a big batch of hearty beef broth.
Chicken Stock is also an important
healing food that is being administered.
Did you know that homemade broth
has so many amazing nutrients in it?


Emma was recently feeling sick,
so I took some rich Chicken Broth
from the freezer and boiled it up for her to drink.
She started to feel a little better.
Her fever broke the next day.

Coincidence?

Maybe, but I don't think so! :)

May the LORD give us all
wisdom as we seek to lead our families
in the journey of good health.
For HIS Glory.
By HIS Grace.

Many Blessings,
Camille

**Disclaimer ~ I am not a medical professional.
I am just a Mum sharing some of the things that
we are using to help our son.
Please consult with your Doctor
prior to administering any drug or supplement.
Dosage amounts will vary due to weight and
the age of the individual being treated.
Some people will respond adversely to some treatments.

Probiotics?

Short and sweet and to the point.
That's what this post is meant to be.
For your health.


If you (or your children) have taken antibiotics,
it is so important that you replenish the good
bacteria that was killed along with the bad.

Antibiotics are sometimes necessary.

But, they are not selective in what they destroy.
Our bodies need good bacteria to help us
digest our food properly.
Many of the *good guys* are wiped out with
the *bad* when antibiotics are taken.
If this happens over and over, problems can develop.

It's a nasty thing!

You can find a good brand of restorative probiotics
at your local health food store.
They can help you to determine the course of treatment
best suited to your particular case.
Please do not neglect this very important step
in restoring your body to full health!

Many blessings,
Camille

**Disclaimer ~ I am not a physician.
I am just a Mum trying to learn all she can about
caring for her family in a wise way.
The dosing amounts would best be decided with
a Health Care Provider.

Healthy Changes

A little while back I was asked to share some of the things we have implemented in our home to facilitate healthier eating and living. This is the post that brought on the question. Thanks J for asking! :)

Before I launch into this topic, please know that my kitchen and home is a "work in progress" and the things mentioned here have been developing in my mind and in practice since we got married 18+ years ago. I have by no means "arrived" and still have lots to learn ~ and I am human ~ occasionally I "fall off the bandwagon"! It is also important to note that I do not believe that this is the only way to do things. Neither do I believe that the way we do things is going to guarantee a longer or happier life ~ that can only come from the Hand of the Living God ~ HE gives us the very breath we breathe.

But for those of you who are interested ~ here it is!

One thing I have always done in my kitchen is use butter...I was always afraid of all the funny names on the side of the margarine containers. When I read what was in butter (cream and salt) I felt much better about using it. The other oils I use are olive and coconut...that's it.

I try to stay away from "non-stick" pans. I didn't always do this ~ but over time I noticed that the coating wore off of those pans and ended up (presumably) in our tummies...yuck! Can't be good for a body! One of my pieces of kitchen equipment that still has that coating on it is my waffle maker ~ are they even made without it??

Oatmeal is a staple breakfast in our home ~ not only because of the nutritional benefits, which apparently are many ~ but also for its effect on the budget! Oatmeal is also an easy grain to soak ~ which is something I am just learning about now. See? We are always learning in this life! :) The why's and how to's are explained in some detail in this Passionate Homemaking article. Michelle posted some soaked oatmeal recipes on her blog to help implement this new way of doing things. You will find the instructions for soaking steel cut oats and baked oatmeal here and here. Once again, do not get bogged down with all this information ~ the only grain I am faithfully soaking at this time is oatmeal ~ baby steps, remember?

Another place I found some information on incorporating healthy food ideas into the diet was at In This Season blog.

Hormone free / Antibiotic free / Chemical free meats and milk ~ organic if possible (which is not always feasible) ~ But definitely hormone, antibiotic and chemical free.

Organic free range eggs.

Organic produce (as much as possible) but if this is not something that will fit into your budget there are some fruits and vegetables that matter more than others. Stephanie posted this helpful article on her blog addressing the choices we must make at the grocery store...organic or conventional?

I am also beginning to realize that broth is important...so I am seeking to be diligent to make chicken stock fairly regularly.

I use whole grains in my baking (mostly) and substitute it where I can in recipes.

I use organic sugar, sucanat, organic honey (be careful with babies and honey) and Maple Syrup ~ as close to nature as you can get!

Proper soaking of beans just requires a little planning ahead ~ it is not difficult to do and beans are so economical! You can buy a bag of dried beans for about the cost of one or two cans of prepared beans. Why not buy the bag and soak and cook lots of beans at once and then freeze the prepared beans for future use? (I would advise freezing single recipe amounts and labelling accordingly).

I try to incorporate fish into our diet at least once a week, if not more. Salmon in particular is nutrient dense. You would want to be sure it was wild and not farm raised though...important point! :)

We use filtered water ~ I was getting tummy aches from our local tap water...again, this is something you might want to research for your area.

Another thing we do is use fluoride free toothpaste...research for yourself whether this is an option for your family. I became increasingly uncomfortable with fluoride exposure.

Speaking of "exposure" ~ I have never felt very comfortable with having a microwave in our home. It is very easy to live without ~ really, it is! :)




We are seeking to use more natural medicines and avoid over-the-counter meds as much as possible. This post gives some information on Oil of Oregano. Another natural oil we use is Tea Tree Oil ~ it's very effective at treating ailments such as Althlete's Foot. Having said this, there are times when conventional medicines are necessary and should be taken ~ do not be unwise in this regard!




Natural cleaning products are another area of change that could improve your family's overall health. In the early days of blogging I wrote an article called "Natural Cleaning Tips" ~ it may be that there are some things you might like to implement that will be just as effective and much cheaper than what you already are using!



One last thought for you to consider ~ which I believe is more important than anything else I have said ~ NOTHING is to take the place of God in our lives...HE is the ONE we ought to worship ~ not ourselves. It is easy to replace God with anything that becomes too important to us. This blog post by Lindsay is fabulous and really a call to be wise in all we do in persuing health and well-being. Remember that even one change for the better is a step in the right direction and will likely contribute to better health overall.

**Dislaimer ~ I am not a medical professional, just a Mum who is seeking to do what she can for the health and well-being of her family. Whatever I have said in this article is just a sampling of what I have done in my home ~ it may not be the right choice for you!

Be very careful not to jump onto every bandwagon that goes by! As always, take it in baby steps!
DO NOT try to change everything all at once!!

AND be sure to discuss any changes you plan to make with your husband ~ some things just may not be feasible for your family ~ and that is OK!

Oregano Oil ~ Natural Antibiotic

**These pictures are of the oregano oil we currently have "on hand", but there are many good brands available**

Touted as a natural antibiotic and antiviral, oregano oil is a popular alternative to conventional medications for minor illnesses. In our experience it seems to have assisted us in recovering from illnesses much more quickly than we would have without it. Some would debate this, but we firmly believe in its beneficial properties.

I am not a medical professional and do not pretend to have all the answers. Obviously you will want to do some research before using it yourself or for your family...and that is only right. Disclaimer...I am only recommending that you look into it and decide for yourself what to do with the information you uncover. As with any medication you need to be informed about your options and the pros and cons of taking it. My motivation for sharing is to get the news out that there are alternatives to "conventional" ways of treating minor illnesses. I am not a supplier or advertiser for any particular product...I do not personally benefit in any way from providing this information.

Here is a link to a "fact sheet" for the uses of Oregano Oil. Here is another link to answer questions you may have about possible side-effects and dosage amounts.

How do we take our oregano oil? We take it under our tongue and hold as long as is comfortable. Then we swallow it down with a glass of orange juice which kills both the taste and the "hot" sensation. We do not take it continually. But it is the first thing we take when we feel like we are coming down with something, and then we only take it for the duration of that particular illness. Feel free to ask questions, I will do my best to answer them!

Blessings,
Camille