One for the ladies

It's early days but I really didn't feel that I could keep this to myself.  

Can we talk periods?

In my job I get used to chatting about everything - periods, snot, poo, wee, blood, random strange thoughts, urges, desires, dreams and more that I don't think there's any topic that's really taboo with us homeopaths.  However if you're not OK to chat periods then probably best I see you next time.

I do think there's so many people out there who struggle with pain, bloating, discomfort, tension and worse.  People who dread the breast swelling, soreness, and their families who always know when it's 'that time of the month'.  The cravings for chocolate/chips/cheese/insert other unhealthy option that you know you 'need' then will feel worse for having eaten.

I've just finished my first month (5 days into month 2 now) on 100% high carb, low fat raw vegan foods after a two week transition period (funnily enough no pun intended but I'm leaving it there!) and aside from feeling great which to be honest people had warned me plenty of times about, I've also found that on raw foods you need to eliminate less waste from your body.  This can mean all sorts of different things - most people eating a high raw and definitely a 100% raw diet report less colds/viruses/flu like symptoms than ever before in their lives for example.  And the more I've read, the more I've discovered that the 5-7 day menstrual period that is generally accepted as the norm - is not, in fact neccessarily something that happens either.  If there isn't a build up of toxins and there are plenty of vitamins and minerals in your diet it would appear that heavy bleeding is unlikely, pain, unusual and PMT unexpected.

There's a fantastic article that I read today and would urge you to go and read.  I could replicate lots of the information but it's well written, if a little wordy, explains brilliantly - and besides there's lots on my list of things to do... so I'm going to go off and do them just as soon as I've highlighted this bit:

What has to change in the diet in order to eliminate menstruation? Foods which contribute to toxemia are no longer eaten. Foods which build health, and especially strong connective tissue, without taxing the digestion are the only foods eaten. The body is helped to eliminate toxic wastes built up over past years of poor lifestyle and diet. Without doubt, the hardest part of this change for most people is the first one. It means no more eating foods which sludge up or acidify the body. This means eliminating animal products - meat, fish, dairy, eggs -- refined sugars and salt, and dramatically reducing grain foods and even processed plant fats (oils). The diet essentially must become "true vegetarian", or vegan, with a predominance of fresh raw fruits and vegetables rather than cooked. In particular, the greater the proportion of raw fruit in the diet, the less likely you are to have periods.

"Women who eat a vegetarian diet containing mostly raw food experience only brief periods, scarcely noticeable, with hardly any loss of blood. Dr. H. G. Beiler in his book, The Natural Way to sexua| Health, explains that women experience troublesome periods only because of the toxic condition of their blood brought about by the high fat and protein Western diet." (5:298)

At least 50% and ideally more of every meal should be raw, and that eaten first. This is so that the enzymes present in the raw portion can help the body digest the whole meal, including the cooked portion.

 ... and given you the link for the article:

http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=982094

 Do have a look. It was eyeopening to me. And amazing that I've had 20 years of periods before I had any idea about this.

With love,

Em x 

There have been times I'm sure I could have eaten my body weight in chocolate.... not missing those days one bit!

 

Let the waves pass...

I recently attended a workshop on The Pain Release Technique which is related very much to living mindfully.  To start it off we did a meditation and as a part of that we were to imagine waves passing through our bodies, then moving onto waves of emotions passing through us.  I loved the analogy and have thought of it several times since being at the workshop.  So much can get stuck because we're holding onto things.  Both good and bad.  

We can feel that 'this is the best it's ever been' perhaps, and not want to let that feeling go. But by that act of clinging onto it, the feeling of 'what could it go back to' we're operating from a feeling of lack, of insecurity.  Similarly from hanging onto bad feelings about situations or people we're living in the past, not in that moment.  I don't want to belittle anyone's pain as obviously it's valid and relevant but sometimes it doesn't help us in moving forwards freely into our next moments.  The anger may well have been useful - it probably was, but feeling that feeling 10 years on means that most likely we're trapped by that situation still whereas the other people involved may well be moving freely, happily through life now.  There's a great story that illustrates what I'm trying to say:

Putting down your burdens

A long ago time ago in the hills of Quong Zu province, there once lived a revered old monk who was a master of Zen Buddhism.

One day he decided that he would make a pilgrimage to a neighbouring monastery, and not wishing to make the journey alone, he decided to take along one of his young disciples.

They started their journey early the next morning and in the true spirit of Zen each walked along engrossed in his own thoughts, and so they journeyed for many hours without speaking. By mid-day they had come to a small stream and it was here that they noticed a young girl dressed in fine silk, obviously contemplating how best to cross the stream without getting her precious clothes wet.

Immediately the old monk walked over to the young girl and in one smooth motion, he picked her up in his arms and walked out into the stream, then after carrying her safely to the other side, he gently put her down and walked on without having said a single word.

His disciple having watched this whole incident was in a state of complete shock, for he knew it was strictly forbidden for a monk to come into physical contact with another person. Quickly, he too crossed the stream, and then ran to catch up with his master, and together they once again walked on in silence. Finally at sunset they made camp and settled down for the night.

The next morning after prayers and meditation the old monk and his disciple once again continued their journey, once again in silence.

After many miles, and no longer able to contain his curiosity, the disciple called to his master and said,

"Master may I ask you a question" ?

"Of course you may" his master replied, "knowledge comes to those who seek it".

Respectfully his disciple said, "yesterday I saw you break one of our most sacred vows when you picked up that young girl and carried her across the stream, how could you do such a thing" ?

His master replied, "That is true, and you are right it is something I should not have done, but you are as guilty as I am" .

"How so" asked his disciple, "for it was you who carried her across the stream not I" ?

"I know" replied his master, "but at least on the other side I put her down".

"You, however, are obviously still carrying her".

 

Let the waves pass and enjoy the current moment, the now. 

With peace,

Em x

 

 

Thoughts on joy...

 The walls we build around us to keep sadness out also keeps out the joy.   Jim Rohn

 I remember a time for me that the quote above from the great, late Jim Rohn sums up well.  My ex-husband had just moved out, there was me and our soon to be 1 year old daughter and I was, at times unable to sit and read a book to her.  It was just a bit too much to face.  I still have the book, as much because she loved it as to remind me of then - in a very positive way.  I've come so far. We all have.  I knew that that time wouldn't last forever and I wouldn't hurt one day like I was doing then.  

I also had moments (which is why I mention the time at all) of absolute peace, bubbling joy and excitement about life.  They came, not from my mind which was quite occupied with my 'story' at that time, but from somewhere deep within me, the me without the past or future - the me that was truly present in the now.  It could be some blossom on a hawthorne bush or birdsong which could have stopped me in my tracks but the most pure feeling of absolute joy would wash over me.  I shut out neither, and experienced both as fully as I could.  (Big, big thanks to any of my amazing family or friends who may be reading this and were there then - I may never be able to repay your fabulous support!)

Fast forward 4 years and I've finally got around to meditating more regularly (which has been an intention for years), re-discovered Byron Katie and discovered Eckhart Tolle (and the Tao Te Ching, The Prophet and many others thanks to The Dynamis School).

There's been lots of times of joy in between, and plenty of learning experiences but never as much lasting peace and joyfulness as there is right now.  A combination of a great homeopathic remedy, my Mindful Meditation month, Byron Katie's 'Loving What Is' (really makes so much sense to me - you're not going to stop the rain by complaining so let's get on and learn to dance in it!) and Eckhart's Power of Now have all come at a great time and would recommend them to everyone.  Starting, of course with a great homeopathic remedy....

Yours, so very happily,

Em