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Supplements that were recommended to my mum

I realized that when I was writing about my mum I forgot to mention two supplements that were recommended to her. One she used and one she didn’t.

The one she did not use is called Ovosan. We did find positive reviews for it but at the end my mum decided not to buy it. The main reason was the price. Also you need to talk to the consultant about the dosage. She was hesitant about that. And last but not least, she found that the product was made from chicken embryos which she did not like. I would never push her into something she is not completely comfortable so we abandoned the idea. Having said that, I think if you don’t mind the price and the other things it might be worth checking out.

Later on, another friend pointed us towards different supplement – Penoxal. It is not cheap either but it is made from mushrooms and the dosage is more straightforward. She did not use it right from the start but during her chemotherapy as her immunity suffered lot more than expected. Once she started taking it she seemed to have more resistance.

Update: 2019 – Most doctors don’t want to hear about supplements. If you can, choose an open minded doctor. Check also my other post: https://wordpress.com/post/youdonthavetolikethis.com/138

Earaches, stomach aches and PMS

I thought I am done writing about Homeopathy but yesterday when I opened my drawer I discovered 2 more remedies that I should mention. Simply because I used them a lot when kids were little and they were a great help. We used to travel several times a year over several time zones to countries with very different climates and cuisines. I was always bit worried about the flight because kids used to get earaches on landing and I did not know how to help them. It was always worse if they had bit of cold. I did have some medicines from my doctor but they never worked. I turned to Homeopathy like few times before and found Earache tablets from Hyland’s. I gave them to kids one day before travel and then during the flight. It did not take the pressure and uncomfortable feeling away but it did ease the pain. I was delighted when they did not burst into tears and happy for the surrounding passengers, too 🙂 After this experience I used these tablets on the fist sign of earache especially when I knew that I will not be able to take kids to the doctor until morning. It helped many times but I do need to point out that there were couple of times when we could not stop the infection.

The second remedy is Allergy Relief from NatraBio which are homeopathic drops. They are not completely tasteless but they are so mild that kids never complained. I always used them when they had an upset stomach or felt heavy after eating some new kind of food. The drops worked really well and I always had them with me when I traveled. Thanks to Allergy Relief kids tried many new foods, went to many restaurants and had some naughty food without any consequences. Not mentioning that it made my life lot easier during holidays. I also used to add some Probiotics but they deserve a separate post.

And last but not least are PMS tablets from Hyland’s. I think that was the first Homeopathic medicine I tried. It was long before I had kids. I was just too desperate and was searching for something that will take away that unpleasant tension. Finally I did come across tablets for PMS from Hyland’s. I knew I had nothing to loose and tried it. It helped. I was thrilled. Finally I could use something that was not chemical. I used it for years. Unfortunately I do not have a photo of it because when I tried to buy it last time in my favorite shop they told me they will not stock it anymore. I tried online but could not find a shop that would ship to my country. Actually I did find one and they told me that they will let me know when they will get a new stock. That was six months ago… Anyway I think that is all I can share about my experience with Homeopathy. I am aware that it might not be for everyone but as I said: “I am a fan.”

Update: 2019 – Yes, I still stand by this fabulous trio!

Beat the flu

And one more post on homeopathy 🙂 It is about a remedy I use regularly now and I am convinced about it’s effectivness. First time I have heard about it was in one book about natural cures and prevention. Unfortunately I do not remember the title or author but what he said intrigued me. He recommended to use Oscillococcinum, a homeopathic mixture from Boiron as a prevention from flu. I have decided to follow his instruction and used one dose once a week for one month. I did not get any flu. Was it a luck or was the remedy working? I am convinced it is the remedy.

I have been using it every fall and spring and I did not have a flu for years. Same with my children. Not mentioning they love it’s slight sweet. I use it when I feel that there might be a cold coming. If I give it to kids early enough I am able to stop the infection. If it is at a later stage then it at least lessen the symptoms and shortens the duration. When they have an infection I give them one dose in the morning and one in the evening. I also use it when we travel by plane. It usually protects us really well and I don’t have to worry about people sneezing and coughing around me 🙂

The name of it is bit strange and I am never able to pronounce it correctly. A bigger drawback is it’s price. It is expensive and I always think long and hard before buying it. At the end I always do – because I know it will do the trick 🙂

Update: 2019 – I am still using this product and to my great delight it sold in our local chemist!

The thing about homeopathy

Just few days ago my husband told me a big news. He read somewhere on BBC website that some studies that were done on Homeopathy finally proved that it does not work. My reaction was something like this:”Wow, that is interesting…” I did not want to hurt his feelings but he obviously forgot one thing…

When my son was seven he got a really bad cough. He had it for ages and could not get rid of it. It was bit strange because he usually got over infections very quickly. Our GP said that it might be an onset of asthma. We live in a city and the air pollution can get pretty bad. After some tests the doctor said that my son will need an inhaler. It was his diagnosis and I respected it, however during that time I have already had some experience with alternative methods particularly with Homeopathy. I had a small Homeopathy kit which I used for fevers and stomach upsets. The small tablets were slightly sweet and dissolved easily. Kids preferred them to herbs that of had strong smell or taste. I made me think that I should see a homeopathic specialist and ask him about my son’s persistent cough. Nothing to loose right? I was very lucky and found a very good one with great references. At that point I did not have any expectations. I just wanted to try it before starting my son on the inhaler. The homeopath explained to me that he will give him some tablets which he has to take exactly as prescribed for a duration of 3 months. He also made some recommendations with regards to his diet and lifestyle. He wrote down everything in detail and explained that this is a process of “desentization”.

We did everything to the letter. To our great surprise, my son’s cough eased away and finally disappeared completely. I was stunned. Our GP was surprised, too. He gave me an inhaler just in case but needles to say my son never needed it. It is a long time ago so no wonder my husband forgot this little story. My son does not remember it either. But I do. That’s how I started to use homeopathy on regular basis. Basically I knew it works and did not question it. I know there will be studies done, things written and things said but to me my experience means more.

I do have to mention that years later my favorite homeopath moved abroad and I had to find a new one. Finally I did find one but I was deeply disappointed. Not so much because the remedy did not work but because the treatment was incredibly expensive. I was shocked. He charged about 5x more than my old homeopath. I did not go back there ever again.

Therefore I would advise to choose your homeopath wisely. Go for good references. Usually the best one are from friends and from people who were helped and seen improvements. I think everybody can make their own opinion but it is worth a try. I am definitely a fan 🙂

Update: 2019 – I don’t care what others things. I know there is a debate whether homeopathy works or not. For me it does – and that is that 🙂

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On starting a business

This is a new one in the Categories section. I did not write anything on my intention to start a business. I think I have been avoiding it on purpose. I cannot give any advice as it my first attempt so why bother writing about it right? But now I have changed my mind. The reason is – I simply need to streamline my ideas, get down to business and most importantly – start it! Writing about it will really push me and I need the push…

So little bit of the background. I have been working steadily since 2005 with the same employer until summer 2016. I knew what I had to do. I knew the people and company’s ethos. I cannot say that it was the job of my life but it was O.K. I have learned along the way and become more at ease with marketing, promotion campaigns, accounting and few other skills which I did not study at university. I can honestly say that I worked on automatic pilot and it did not cost me much effort. Last year or two a strange feeling began to creep in: “This job is a dead end and it will probably not be very long before I get fired.” People I worked with started to disappear and it become more obvious that one day I will have to go, too. I did not want to see it. I was always ‘too busy’ to consider what if that really happens? And one day, yes, I was told: “We don’t need you anymore but may call you back if the business picks up…”.

First I thought:”Not a big deal. I needed a change.” But after while I realized that finding new job is going to be lot harder than I thought. I am not twenty any more. Some of my skills are out of date. So after a frantic search through current job market I have made a big decision:” I will set up my own business. I will finally do what I like and enjoy .”The decision has been made and as I said, I have to make it happen. There is no other way. Not knowing what is ahead of me – is scary. Knowing that it is only up to me – is exciting. Wish me luck 🙂

What I do to stop hair loss

One thing that worked for me over the years was a nettle extract. I have experienced increased hair fall during certain periods of my life. First time was during my teenage years. I did not think much of it as it was not so obvious. My did try few things. Cut my hair short and used some herbal hair tonics. It lasted probably year or so and I forgot all about it. The second time I have experienced more noticeable hair loss was during my pregnancies. By then I have suspected that this is due to the hormonal changes. Again I have used hair tonics and tried to be more gentle to my hair. I bought a good brush, did not wear tight pony tails, used herbal shampoos and and avoided hair colour. It also stopped and I did not have to think about hair loss for a while. Until now.

I have noticed my hair is started to get thinner and is falling out more easily. As I have experienced this before I did make the connection with the hormonal changes straight away. I take it like a message from my body that says: “pay attention to your hair”. And I try. Unfortunately I cannot get the hair tonic that I have used years ago as they do not produce it any more. I have tried some other shampoos, hair masks and tonics but unfortunately they did not work. I remembered that my step father used to rinse his hair with nettle extract. When he was in his 30’s his hair started fall more significantly and got really worried. He did go to see doctor and a skin specialist. They gave him some specialized shampoos but they did not make much difference. He was really miserable. To us it was funny because he still had full head of black hair and nobody would guess his problem. My granny was a very kind soul and she always took all problems to her heart. She has talked to her friend – an experienced herbalist – and he had a simple advice:”Buy nettle, boil it in a water like a tea and when finished washing your hair, rinse them with it.” Granny hesitated to tell my step father because he was not into that stuff at all. He was and engineer and did not like any “mambo jumbo” like herb cures etc. He would often make fun of these things and did not ever consider them as an option. However, when he run out of all his options he thought he will give it try. Granny got a pack of dry nettle that would last for a month. At first nothing was happening. We stopped asking him about the results and got bored with making jokes about it. It was only when has similar problem with hair falling out I remembered this. My step father has a full head of hair even now. Although he is mostly grey, he is not bald and does not have any balding patches. To my surprise he did tell me that ever since my granny advised him on the nettle extract he uses it religiously. Ideally ever two weeks or at least once a month. He keeps on buying dry nettle leaves for more then thirty years!

I was amazed and decided to give it try. Where I live nettle is not a common herb and the only nettle I was able to get were tea bags. But anyways, it is still a nettle right? I have boiled 2 sachets in a liter of a water and when it cooled down I used it as a rinse. I have done that once a week for about a month. And the result? My hat goes off to this wonderful herb! The hair fall reduced after 2 weeks and then stopped after one month. I was delighted! It worked. I did not think that after so many years I will find an answer literally on my doorstep.

One important note though. The rinse is quite dark and can stain your bathtub. The extract is not strong enough to colour the hair. At least I did not notice any change in colour [I have dark brown hair]. Sometimes I am too busy or too lazy to prepare the nettle rinse and usually within a month the hair fall increases again. That means that nettle does not cure but it reduces or stops the hair loss temporarily.

Boil 1 liter of water. Add 2 sachets of nettle tea. Let it stand until lukewarm. Use as a last step when washing your hair. Rinse hair and gently massage in. Do not rinse with water. Repeat twice a week for at least one month to see results.

I should add that the nettle tea is usually recommended to beat tiredness and to clean blood. Many herbalists believe that nettle is better for the body than coffee. Unfortunately I do not like the taste of it. To me it is bit too grassy so I am sticking to a good cuppa of coffee…

Update: 2019 – Zinc supplement seems to help.

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Trio I can rely on

Every autumn and spring I take out my trusted trio: Tiger balm, Olbas oil and White oil. Over the years I have discovered that they give me the best protection during the flu season. I have been using them for over 1o years now. Tiger balm I have discovered during my travels. The name intrigued me. Were any tigers harmed during the process? As I read the label I thought:”This is worth a try.” Since then always when I feel head cold I slap it on my forehead or when I have a cough I spread it on my chest. It is a strong stuff. You have to make sure that you do not touch your eyes afterwards as it would irritate them. My kids did not share my enthusiasm and I used to put a little bit on their chest when they were asleep. It always eased any chest congestion and provided relieve. Olbas oil I have discovered by accident when browsing through the shelves of our new pharmacy. It was bit pricey but I gave it a try. Usually a put few drops on a tissue and leave it beside the bed. It has a very pleasant smell of eucalyptus. It is calming and I do think it helps you breath more easily. Sometimes I would put few drops on the heater. The oil would then evaporate and refresh the whole room. And last but not least is the White flower oil. I liked the cute bottle that was easy to slip into the pocket. I put few drops on my neck when I feel some cold coming on. Sometimes I have used it for my daughter when she was getting bit woozy on the train. The strong aroma always refreshed her instantly. As autumn approaching I am reaching for my three little friends – knowing they will give my immunity much needed boost.

I should mention that when I apply these oils people around me can smell it. The aroma is very strong so it is not advisable to use them if you are going to attend some important social event 🙂

Photo coming soon 🙂

Detox that works for me

As I have noticed my first grey hair I thought to myself that I need to pay a bit more
attention to my aging body. I did plan to do a detox or cleanse for a while but the time
never seemed right. The idea of starving whole day and living just on juices did not appeal to me. But I did want to do something. Something that will make me feel good. Something that will give me more energy.
As luck would have it one of my dear friends has recommended a detox in one her e-mails. I hesitated at first. It had a set menu for 28 days which needed to be followed. I resent any strict diets and was worried this is one of them. To my pleasant surprise the premise of the detox is not to starve – you can eat until full – in fact the more you eat the better. You need to drink about 3-3,5 l of water every day and you need to stick to the meals that are prescribed. The author is Mrs. Macingova, a Slovak nutritionist. Her detox is very popular in Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Most of the people do this detox to lose weight. Some of them have a great success with weight loss but the weight loss is not the main aim of it. Just a bonus.
And now about my results. After the 28 days I felt lot better and more energetic. I even started to wake up half an hour earlier than usual. I did not need my usual coffee boost. I did not crave any sweets. I just did not feel like eating any of my usual treats. People commented on how good and fresh I look. They did notice the difference. With regards to weight loss it was not as spectacular. I have lost only 2 kg on the scale but my clothes were lot looser. What happens with this detox is a loss of ‘volume’. Somehow I shrank. Shirt that was to tight was suddenly loose. I could swing my arms and there was some more space around my stomach area. I did find this very interesting. Mrs. Macingova always stresses that it is not the kilos you loose but the centimeters. The results had such a visible impact on me that I have decided to repeat it again in 3 months. That time my husband joined me and lost about 5 kgs. This detox is going to be part of my routine for sure. On the scale of 1 to 10 I would give it 9. The reason I would not give it 10 is because during the whole month you have to follow the menu. And I am not just very good at sticking to a set of rules. But that is just my laziness I suppose…so I should really give it 10 out of 10 🙂

Floravit – the best iron supplement for me

Floravit is something I have been using for years. It helped to keep my iron levels up. I usually take it in spring and in autumn. I have been giving it to my kids, too as they have been growing up on vegetarian diet. What I like about it is that it comes from natural sources and it is in a liquid form. It tastes fruity but has bit of a metallic taste. I don’t mind that at all and kids take it with little bit of juice. Once opened it needs to be kept in the fridge. It is bit pricey but it is worth it. In the reviews of the product I read that people take it when their immunity is down or when they feel tired. Most of the reviews I came across were positive. When I hear that somebody is anemic or when my friends are pregnant I tell them about this. As a bonus it contains Vitamin B12 and is gluten free. If you need some iron boost then check it out!

Update 2019: I am still relying on Floravit and Floradix. I think it absorbs well and does not cause constipation as most of the iron supplements. Tastes O.K. I do a course every three months.

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Extra protein idea

This idea came to me by an accident. I have bought Quinoa flour thinking that it must be healthy and full protein. When I brought it home I opened the packed just to see. The flour seemed to have a strong aroma. After a quick surf through the internet I found out that the flour is mostly used in a mix with some other flours. There did not seem to be many recipes purely for Quinoa flour. So I kept the packet on my shelf and it sat there for at least a month. One day I was preparing my tofu which I usually coat in a starch. I though let’s try the Quinoa flour instead. It is healthier than starch and provides some extra protein. The result was surprising. It tasted O.K. and family finished it as a snack not even waiting for dinner. It is not even a recipe but in case you are stuck with Quinoa flour as I was here it is:

1/ Drain the tofu and slice it.

2/ Mix half a cup of Quinoa flour with teaspoon of salt. Add black pepper or smoked paprika according to your preference.

3/ Coat the tofu slices in the mixture. The tofu will be still damp so most of the flour will stick to it.

4/ Heat up 2 table spoons of olive oil and quickly fry the slices from both sides.

5/ Dry the slices on the paper towel.

6/Serve hot as a side or as a snack with your favourite sauce.

I have included a photo strictly for illustration purposes 🙂 It is not very inviting I know so maybe next time…