Heal Canker Sores Naturally

Most of us have experienced one of these in our lifetime.  A canker sore is a little ulcer inside your mouth or on your tongue.  It can be very annoying while you have one.  A canker sore can result from a few different things: stress, accidentally biting your mouth, braces rubbing your mouth, spicy or citrus food (or another food trigger), abrasive foods (chips, popcorn, nuts, etc), vitamin or nutrient deficiency, gastrointestinal issues, or a weak immune system.  One or more of these could be causing your canker sores to appear, last longer, and hurt more.

Canker sores can be extremely painful, especially if you eat spicy or citrus foods.  They also last for 1-2 weeks before finally healing up.  It's not fun to have one! 

The reason I'm posting on this topic is because my husband experiences canker sores often from nicking his mouth with his teeth while chewing food.  He's always had the problem since he was young.  Over the years we have developed a game plan to help prevent the pain and suffering that comes with a canker sore and to boost the healing time so he doesn't suffer for the full 2 weeks.  Here are our tips to healing canker sores faster naturally.

Heal Canker Sores Naturally

1.) GET ADJUSTED  Your body has an amazing ability to heal itself.  That power starts in the brain and travels down through the spinal cord out to every organ and cell of your body.  Chiropractic looks for any interference in the spine which prevents the healing power from traveling to the places it needs to. Each adjustment has been shown to boost immunity anywhere from 200-400%.  When a canker sore is present, it's time to boost your immune system, and I know no better way to do that than a chiropractic adjustment from my Maximized Living chiropractor.  If you are looking for a Maximized Living chiropractor near you, visit MaximizedLiving.com and search your zip code or address.

2.) ELIMINATE TRIGGER FOODS  These are most commonly anything spicy or citrus, but you may notice your canker sores come on after eating a certain food or ingredient.  Once you narrow down on your trigger, eliminate it as much as possible from you diet.  This will help your canker sores heal faster, and will help prevent future canker sores from developing.

3.) CUT OUT ALL SUGAR  You should hop on the Advanced Plan strictly while experiencing a canker sore.  The Advanced Plan will help you cut out all sugar which causes inflammation in the body.  The less inflammation present in the body, the faster your body can heal.

4.)  L-LYSINE  Lysine is one of the 9 essential amino acids (your body cannot make it on its own) and is one your body needs for tissue repair and growth.  You may also see relief by supplementing Lysine for cold sores or shingles sores.  1,000 mg 3 times daily until the canker sore heals.

5.) BRUSH AND RINSE OFTEN  This helps to keep your mouth clean and limits the canker sore's exposure to bacteria which can make the canker sore last longer and more painful.  Use a natural (or homemade!) toothpaste without SLS or other chemical ingredients that are shown to further irritate or even cause canker sores.  Follow brushing your teeth with a mouth rinse of hydrogen peroxide.  This helps to clean out the canker sore and actually eases the inflammation and pain.

6.) B-COMPLEX VITAMIN + ZINC  Look for a B-complex that has B-6 and B-12.  Canker sores can be caused by a B-6/12 deficiency or they can stick around longer if you're low in either of these.  Likewise, a deficiency in zinc can both cause or worsen a canker sore.

How To: Homemade Baby Formula

The science is out.  Nothing comes close to true breast milk, because there is an innate connection between baby and mother.  When baby latches onto mom's breast, baby's saliva tells mom's body what baby needs (more water, protein, fat, nutrients, etc).  Our bodies were amazingly designed!

BUT, that doesn't mean everyone is blessed with an easy time breastfeeding or the ability.  I do recommend trying everything you can to keep your natural milk supply going first before jumping into supplementing milk for your baby.  Explore all avenues before settling on formula.  You can try many things...supplements like fenugreek and nettle, extended naked chest time and "kangaroo care" with your baby, extra pumping time to increase your flow are a few common methods.  (Email me if you would like other methods, or contact your local Le Leche League.)  But sometimes no matter how hard you try you cannot keep your milk supply going, or the nursing experience does not go well for mom or baby (extreme pain, inverted nipples with a struggle to keep baby latched).  Or perhaps you are adopting a child and do not have access to donor breast milk.  After you have weighed out all your options, these are the cases where proceeding with a homemade whole food breast milk formula is a good decision.

Today I would like to share my whole food formula recipe that when used as supplement will be closer to a woman's breast milk than one with synthetic vitamins and nutrients found at the store. I will write next week about why I recommend making your formula at home using whole food ingredients versus buying a store bought formula.  There are many many many reasons why making your own is important for the better health of your baby.  For time's sake, I will save that conversation for another day. (I will come back to link it when I post it!)

This is my recipe for homemade whole food infant formula.  It is based off of Sally Fallon's recipe in her book Nourishing Traditions.  (Every home should have this book on the shelf!  It's a go-to wellness resource!  Thank you Allison for the best wedding present ever!)  I have edited Sally Fallon's recipe to make it allergen-free as most of my clients and their children have an array of milk/nut/grain allergies.  I have listed alternative options in parentheses.

Homemade Whole Food Infant Formula
Based on Sally Fallon's original recipe found in Nourishing Traditions
Makes about 36 ounces

LIQUID
2 cups of rice milk (make your own via this link) (you can also use raw cow's milk or raw goat's milk)
2 cups pure water (reverse osmosis + remineralized is best)
2 Tbsp full fat coconut milk (or organic 100% grass fed heavy cream)
2 Tbsp organic unrefined coconut oil, melted
1/2 tsp fermented cod liver oil
1 tsp  extra virgin olive oil

DRY
1 Tbsp organic pea protein (or 1/4 cup organic 100% grass fed whey protein)
2 tsp gelatin from 100% grass fed cows
1/4 tsp Acerola powder
break open 3 capsules of colostrum

2 tsp nutritional yeast

break open 1 capsule of Kirkman Labs allergen-free Bifido probiotics 

Add the rice milk to the blender with all of the dry ingredients.  Blend on Low-Medium until blended smooth.  Add remaining liquid ingredients to the blender and blend on Low-Medium until smooth.  Pour into bottles and store in fridge with airtight caps up to 5 days.  Warm each bottle in a container of warm water on the counter before feeding, and shake well.

You may notice the cold formula will be chunky from the fridge -- that's just the coconut oil and other oils solidifying from the cold.  It will thin out once it is warmed.  Do not heat the formula on the stove top.

Disclaimer: Before using any infant or toddler formula with your child, please consult with your pediatrician or main family practitioner. No parents should use this information without first seeking advice from their pediatrician or primary care physician before starting a nutritional program with their children.

Natural Pink Eye Remedy

This last week, both Austin and I had been a bit run down with a chest cold and pink eye.  We're both feeling a lot better now, after taking a week or so to rest and boost our immune systems.  I've been noticing on our Facebook page that a few folks have been battling eye infections lately, too.  I wanted to share my tips for helping your eyes and body heal naturally.

I don't like to admit this, but I am somewhat of an expert on pink eye and eye sickness.  It is something I have battled frequently for my entire life.  I was born without functioning bottom tear ducts in both of my eyes, so my tears don't drain after being produced.  The constant tear production and pooling process creates the same affect as a stagnant pond in nature.  Without drainage and circulation, bacteria accumulates and thrives.  Growing up, I was in and out of the medical doctor at least once a month for conjunctivitis or some other form of an eye infection.  This was a constant battle for me all the way through my college years.  No one ever explained WHY my eyes were so susceptible to getting sick.

That was until I met my now husband, Dr. Dave.  He was the one person to explain the nervous system to me and its role on allowing my eyes to heal.  I began getting regular chiropractic adjustments in 2007.  For me, that meant 3-4 adjustments per week based on the damage in my neck.  The nerves going to my eyes were literally being pinched off by the bones in my neck due to ligament damage that I had never known about until then.  It took a few months of consistent chiropractic care, but soon I noticed I wasn't getting sick anymore.  For the first time in my life, I had gone 4 months without an eye infection!  And I noticed something else..  My eyes were draining better on their own!  I used to have to wipe my eyes with tissue multiple times in an hour -- often friends or classmates would ask me if I was okay, thinking I was crying.  I realized that not only were my eyes healthier and warding off sickness better, but I was able to wait 2-3 hours without having to wipe my eyes!

Now fast forward six years, after getting my spine corrected, and fully incorporating the 5 Essentials of Health into my life, my eyes have been doing even better!  This recent bout with pink eye is one of maybe 4 times I've had it in the last six years.  Who can complain about that looking back from where I have come from?

All of this said, I want to share my tips for helping your eyes heal naturally without the use of antibiotics.  Something to remember about antibiotics is that they kill both the bad bacteria AND the good.  A man-made antibiotic knows no difference.  Our body needs its good bacteria as it is the foundation for our immune system.  Also, an eye infection is not always bacterial.  My doctors growing up told me "there's a 50/50 chance it could be bacterial or viral," so they would give me an antibiotic eye drop plus some pill for viral infection.  I don't remember the names of the medications, but I do remember thinking how come I needed pills and drops that really didn't help and why couldn't my body heal on its own.  It wasn't until much later in life that I learned that my body CAN HEAL if I just give it the best opportunity to do so.

Here is what I do to fight an eye infection naturally.  It's all about addressing your immune system.  The only time you will get an eye infection is when your immune system is weakened.  Here are my tips to boost you:

1. GET ADJUSTED  Your body has an amazing ability to heal itself.  That power starts in the brain and travels through the spinal cord to every organ and cell of your body.  Chiropractic looks for any interference in the spine which prevents the healing power from traveling to the places it needs to.  Each adjustment to your nervous system boosts your immunity anywhere from 200-400%!  Do yourself the favor and get your neck checked by your Maximized Living doctor.  Getting corrective care adjustments can greatly accelerate your healing when you are sick.  Visit MaximizedLiving.com to find a corrective care chiropractor near you.
2. COLLOIDAL SILVER  This is what I use in place of an antibacterial eye drop medication.  There are two ways you can use this.  You can drop 2-3 drops directly into each eye 3-5 times per day.  Or you can fill an eye wash cup with colloidal silver and wash your eye that way 3-5 times per day.  Make sure you have 10ppm colloidal silver (proven to kill the bad bacteria in 6 minutes or less on contact).  It's best to treat both eyes with colloidal silver in case there is bacteria cross contamination.  Often just as your one eye is healing, the other will get sick.  That's never fun.
   (You can alternatively use a few drops of fresh breast milk directly into each eye to naturally kill any bad bacteria in the eye.  The breast milk will also soothe the irritation.)
   
3. GARLIC  Raw garlic is a natural antibiotic, antihistamine and holds many immune boosting capabilities.  If you can handle eating it raw, pop a couple cloves in your mouth throughout the day, chew and swallow.  Most likely you won't be able to handle this (I know I can't!).  Instead, find raw garlic capsules and supplement that way.  2,000-6,000mg daily is a healthy high dose to boost your immune system.  I'll usually do 2,000mg in the morning and 2,000mg before bed when I'm sick.
   
4. OIL OF OREGANO  Oil of oregano contains natural compounds that combat viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections.  It is a powerful oil and a few drops can go a long way!  One of the most important things to look for when buying Oil of Oregano is the amount of Carvacrol and Thymol. Most of the health benefits of Oil of Oregano are due to these two active ingredients.   Oil of Oregano can come in different strengths.  The higher the carvacrol concentration, the stronger it's antimicrobial effects.  Also, be sure it is organic.  There are two ways to dose Oil of Oregano for an eye infection:  1) Place 4-6 drop sublingually (beneath your tongue) and hold for 30 seconds before swallowing.  Repeat up to 10 times daily.  2)  In a shot glass of filtered water, float 15 drops on the surface.  Take the shot and let the oil coat your throat.  Repeat up to 10 times daily.
5. VITAMIN C  Up to 10,000mg daily is a safe high dose for Vitamin C.  Be sure you are using a high quality and safe brand that meets food-grade standards.  If you're not sure, ask your Maximized Living doctor!
6. VITAMIN D3  Vitamin D3 is a HUGE immune booster, believe it or not.  And we often wonder why we get sick in the fall and winter months more than summer.  Well, it mostly has to do with our lack of vitamin D during those 6 months.  Not only are we not getting outside as much with less skin exposed, but we are farther away from the sun as well so the precious healing rays can't reach us as effectively even if we were outside!  Up to 20,000 IUs daily is a safe high dose for Vitamin D 3 while sick.  On a daily basis in the fall/winter, I take 10,000 IUs daily to make up for lack of sunlight (5,000 IUs daily in the summer months).  Be sure you are using a high quality and safe brand that meets food-grade standards.  If you're not sure, ask your Maximized Living doctor!
7. WATER  Drink PLENTY of pure, filtered water each day.  Normally you want to drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water daily.  When you're sick, you need to drink even more!  This does not include tea, almond milk, or protein shakes, etc.  It needs to be pure water to hydrate your cells and help to flush out toxins.
8. PLAIN TISSUE  When dealing with an eye infection, this is a very important step to take.  By "plain tissue," I mean just tissue, not the kind that's got "vitamins or lotion added."  Did you ever think about how they get lotion onto a tissue?  It's definitely NOT natural.  It's actually toxic chemicals that have been studied and shown to make you more sick (so the can sell more tissue?)!  Instead, you should use only plain, uncoated tissue sheets or a handkerchief (wash often).  Unbleached tissue is best, as we all know the dangers of chlorine to our health.  And guess what?  Natural uncoated tissue is actually less expensive than the more commercial 'lotion added' tissues!
9. COLD EYE COMPRESS  I know, I know.  When your eyes are sick with crusty gunk and swollen, we want to use a hot washcloth to soften the gunk away.  What's actually better is using a cold washcloth and actually holding it over your eyes for some time.  A hot compress will actually create more inflammation to your eyes, worsening your symptoms.  Instead run a clean wash cloth under freezing cold water, wring it out well, and hold it on your eyes for 10-20 minutes at a time as many times a day as you can.  I like to do this right before putting the colloidal silver drops into my eyes.  And I usually do the cold compress for 15 minutes 5-6 times per day (about every 2 hours if I'm able to).  It really, really helps you get through the day.
10. EAT FOODS HIGH IN VITAMIN A  Vitamin A is one of the main vitamins your eyes utilize to keep healthy and strong.  Eat plenty of spinach, sweet potato, kale, and more foods found here.

6 Ways to Rebalance Hormones Naturally

Hi all!  I'm back and feeling fabulous!  That two week break was much needed and appreciated.  I am still catching up on emails, so please do understand if you haven't hear back from me yet.  There are a lot of questions to answer, some of which are coming up in today's post.

Many of you asked me to share what I did over the past two weeks to revamp my health.  Let me first explain a little of what I've been feeling health-wise and why I felt was time for a revamp.

Hormone imbalance is something I am predisposed to.  I have battled it my entire life.  In 2008, doctors had told me it was unlikely I would conceive.  While I never got a "medical diagnosis," it was likely I had PCOS and possibly cancer cells forming on my reproductive organs.  I decided to take a natural approach to healing.  While taking courses along the way so I could teach the natural detox processes to my own clients, I underwent a year long full body detox process of balancing my hormones and healing my organs.  After going through the completely natural healing process, I finally knew what it felt like to be healthy and living at my optimal potential for the first time in my life.  And shortly after, we were overjoyed to learn that we were expecting our son, Austin.

Since he was born, I have exclusively breastfed my son.  Long story short, after the first few weeks I learned that I wasn't producing enough milk that Austin was asking for on a daily basis.  Trial and error, it turned out I wasn't eating enough carbs.  I was eating Advanced Plan after the birth, but my body needed more carbs to turn into milk.  The things that worked best were oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, and sprouted grains.  Eating a serving of one of these with almost every meal was basically essential to making enough milk for my little man.  As long as I did it daily, we had no supply problems come bedtime.  But what I knew is that sugar is a huge offset to my hormonal balance.

My body slips back into hormonal discourse very easily.  I knew what to expect: weight gain, bloating, fatigue, brain fog, and blemishes.   Now, I was not at all concerned with fast weight loss after pregnancy.  I trusted my body and the breastfeeding process.  However, I have noticed I have gained over 15 pounds since a year ago.  The bloating has been particularly bad in the last few months, and my memory is all over the place, which is just not me!  These were my wake up calls.  It was time to get things under control again.

Austin has started eating food in the last 2 months.  He's been pretty good about eating breakfast and dinner with me every day.  We still breast feed at least 3 times a day, but his feeding frequency has cut about in half from where we were 2 months ago.  I figured this would be the perfect time to make some diet changes (i.e. THE ADVANCED PLAN) and begin a few supplements to casually support hormone balance.  (Note: I am not doing a full hormone or estrogen detox.  While breastfeeding, you want to avoid any supplements that will cause your body to dump toxic estrogen from the body, and essentially into the milk your child will drink.)

I wanted to take two weeks for some ME time because I have also been feeling like I neglect myself since becoming a Mom.  I can see your heads nodding.  It's true, once you become a Mom you put your family's needs first every single time.  But, as we teach our patients, if YOU aren't healthy who will take care of them?  It was time for some Elise focus!  Daily devotions and bible time, bath time without baby, meditation time to clear my brain, and exercise every day.  (Oh yeah, I have probably never mentioned how much I HATE working out??  I've never been athletic.  I always had crafts or something indoors I wanted to be working on.  I still cling to that mindset unfortunately.  Blogging, dishes, cooking...there's always something I would rather be doing.)  I usually get a burst workout in about once a week, but in order to keep my hormones in sync and my weight healthy, I needed to get consistent with at least 3 times per week workouts.

Okay, so here is what I did to revamp my health in 2 weeks!

How To Rebalance Hormones Naturally

#1)  Exercise

Exercise is a huge component for hormone balancing.  Weight training in particular causes a lot of healthy hormone reactions that in turn work to reboot and rebalance.  I recommend consistent burst or surge style exercise for maximum rebalancing affect.

This was a huge one for me personally.  It's all about getting into a consistent routine of both aerobic and weight training.  My 2 weeks of health revamp fell perfectly in line with a boot camp a friend who is a personal trainer was hosting near our home.  It was exactly what I needed as far as accountability.  I also learned a lot of new workout moves to keep the variety going.  This was my first experience with personal trainers and I've got to say I really enjoyed it!  If you are like me and need that accountability and/or a little guidance along the way, I highly recommend looking into a trainer.  The boot camp was so fun!  I worked out burst style 6 days per week, and 4 of the days we were required to do 2-a-day workouts.  Cardio in the morning, weight training in the evening.  I thought I was going to die, but actually those days I felt AMAZING!

#2)  Nutrition & Diet

Guide to the Advanced Plan

I don't mean start counting calories.  Focus on clean eating and cutting out sugar, caffeine, bad fats, dairy, conventional meats, non-organic produce, and anything else that contributes to hormone offset or weight gain.  The cleaner you eat, the better your body will be at detoxing naturally.

For me, this meant two weeks of strict Advanced Plan.  I was so happy that my milk supply was fairly steady with Austin's nursing demands after cutting out the grains!   We had a couple nights at the beginning that I needed to have a little more kale protein shake to catch up from all the exercise I was doing, but we figured it out and the rest has been going great!  I've been trying to eat raw as much as possible.  You'll notice the bloat will dissipate quickly by cutting out the grains.

#3)  Reduce Stress & Fill Your Cup

Schedule in YOU time, reduce daily stress, and get plenty of rest.  I've learned that it's so so important to have some time to yourself on a daily basis to "fill your cup."  Do something you love every day to recharge your batteries!  For me, it's trying out a new recipe in the kitchen while daddy watches the baby, visiting a girlfriend kid-free, working on a craft while Austin naps.  Even if it's just 15 minutes of reading a new book, I always feel better after getting some alone time every day.  The happier you are on a daily basis, the better your hormones will be at adapting to the day's stress and changes.

It's also a good idea to incorporate some meditation and/or stretching, or some other way to clear your mind and relax your muscles daily.  For me and many of my female clients in the past, it's hard to reduce stress in our every day lives.  I find my day goes better if I take just 10 to 20 minutes in the morning to pray, dive into a daily devotions book, read my Bible, or look out the window at nature.  This time is for thinking about you, giving thanks, and clearing your head.  Do not think about your to-do list or what the day will bring.  Unplug for this short time and let the stress melt out of your muscles.  I like to get on the floor and stretch out while I meditate on a prayer or happy thought.  Each line of the prayer is a new stretch or pose.

Sleep is just as important.  When you sleep, your body reboots.  Getting enough sleep each night will give your body the best chance to heal where it needs to.  If you aren't getting enough sleep (6-8 hours a night at least!) then your body will never be balanced.  It's as simple as that.

#4)  Chiropractic & Spinal Correction
Specifically, Maximized Living doctors work to correct the physical structure of the spine when your structure has curved or lacks the perfect structure needed for optimal nerve function.  The doctor can look at your thermal nerve scan or xray and see if your endcrine system or specific reproductive organs are being affected at the root level.  If there is pressure on the nerves, they can then work to remove that pressure and help your body correct the structural problems for a healthier future.  I cannot recommend getting in to see your local Maximized Living chiropractor strongly enough!  If you're going to pick one thing on this list to do, this is the one, because without 100% nerve function going out to your endocrine system, how can you expect anything else on this list to work for those organs?  You don't know until you get checked.  Definitely get checked so you know what is happening inside!

I didn't know until I got checked either.  My first exam warranted a set of xrays be taken.  I had no idea I had a 12 degree scoliosis in my low spine, RIGHT at the nerves going out to my uterus and adrenal glands.  I also had lost the good curvature in my neck, and the straightened out structure was putting pressure on the nerves going to my hypothalamus, pituitary, and thyroid.  It took some time to get my spinal structure corrected, but with each adjustment I felt better.  I had more energy.  I felt like my food was digesting better.  As time went by, my menstrual cycles returned after over 2 years of none.  Weight dripped off my body without even trying to workout.  My metabolism was on the rise!  And my vision improved, I no longer needed to wear my weak strength glasses.  My doctor (aka my husband Dr Dave -- I am so blessed!) monitored my progress along the way.  It was so reassuring to see on the follow up xray that all my hard work was paying off.  I could see the structure correction happening right on the xray!  It wasn't until we had corrected the scoliosis completely that my hormones were completely rebalanced and my endocrine system in sync.  A month after finishing my spinal correction, we conceived.  It was a complete surprise, because I didn't know still if my body would ever be strong enough to hold onto a baby and care for it.  God blessed us powerfully that day!

#5)  Acupressure or Acupuncture

Acupressure and Acupuncture work by stimulating reference points along the body that refer back to specific organs in a means to create healing response.   I really believe in coupling either of these methods with Chiropractic as a method of long term optimal wellness.  Your care provider will be able to specifically focus on your endocrine system, which will help your body put extra attention and energy into those organs and get them working together again faster.

In the past, while trying to beat infertility, I have seen an acupuncturist.  Currently I am seeing a reflexologist.  Both methods are wonderful, but I think I prefer the reflexology personally.  [If you are in the Charlotte area and need a great referral, the woman I see for reflexology is wonderful!  Top notch!  And affordable!! Email me.]

#6)  Supplementation
There are a few more specific supplements than the ones I am about to list that I recommend for hormone balancing and detox.  If you think you are a candidate for a more intense estrogen cleanse or a complete hormone/endocrine system overhaul, please email me to schedule a consultation.  I offer detox consultation packages via Skype or phone.

As I am still breastfeeding, I am taking a very mild approach with my supplements.  I don't want my body to go into full detox dumping mode because any excess estrogen shed will most likely go into my breast milk.  Two weeks ago, and for a while after giving birth, I felt like my body was heading downhill.  I had to be patient and wait to make some changes until Austin wasn't depending on me for food so much.  I wanted to add a few things in to my diet that would stop the downhill progression and help my body to start climbing the other way.  I'm not going for a shock method, but a gradual flip.  I added in:

Nutiva Hemp Oil

-  raw maca powder

-  Magnesium & zinc

-  Vessel Care (the best complete B complex vitamin formulated for optimal methylation; order through me)

-  Phytoganix (my favorite way to get phytonutrients like spirulina and acai; order through me)

-  Estrium (a 'medical food' powder full of herbs and supplements that work to reverse hormone imbalance; order through me)

-  Omega 3s (I added extra raw hemp oil and coconut oil to my diet)

-  And my usuals: Vitamin C, liquid Vitamin D3, probiotics, kombucha and Dynamic Greens (the best organic antioxidant drink I have found!)

Feel free to contact me with any questions.  And again, if you think it's time to take charge of your health and do a hormone reset, please email me to schedule a consultation: elise@healingcuisinebyelise.com.

How To: Soothing Dry Cracked Feet

It seems dry, cracked feet becomes a bigger problem in the fall and winter months than the summer.  (At least I hear more about it from my clients during this time of year...)  Of course this can be due to the dryer climate both outside and indoors, but it can also be a sign of malnourishment or toxicity in the body.  It is best to take care of your feet year round so the problem doesn't get out of hand, in to severely cracking skin with bleeding.  Here are my recommendations for soothing dry, cracked feet.

1.) Drink more water:  Increase your water intake to, at minimum, half your body weight in ounces of water daily.  This helps to not only rehydrate your skin, but flush the lymph system to ensure toxins are moving to the colon and out of your body.

2.)  Increase your healthy fats:  If your body is deprived of the healthy fats (DHA & EPA), your skin will be the first to show it.  This doesn't necessarily manifest down in your feet, but all over your body you will notice dry skin lacking resilience.  I recommend everyone supplement at least 2-4 grams daily of a good clean fish oil or hemp oil.  Also add in plenty of healthy fats to your diet - avocados, coconut milk, eggs (the yolks!), nuts, grass fed meats, wild caught salmon..  Over time your skin will repair itself.

3.)  Begin a dry brushing regimen:  Read more about dry brushing here and begin your 3 month commitment, paying extra special attention (and pressure) to your feet.  You should notice huge changes in just one month, but allow at least 3 months for full effect.  I recommend dry brushing daily, just like we brush our teeth and shower.

4.)  Follow up your dry brush with a foot bath:  After you've sloshed off all the dead skin from your body, treat yourself to a healing foot bath (recipe below).  The Epsom salt pulls toxins from your feet.  The baking soda neutralizes the skin as toxins come out (can also substitute with apple cider vinegar).  The honey, oatmeal, aloe, and lavender sooth and replenish the skin.  Follow up the foot bath with a massage of olive oil, put on some thick socks, and let the healing nutrients soak in.

Dry Cracked Feet Bath

1/4 cup raw honey
1/2 cup dry oatmeal (can run thru food processor for finer texture)
1/4 cup pure aloe vera
1/3 cup Epsom salt
1/4 cup baking soda
20-30 drops pure lavender essential (or oil of choice)
Hot water to fill foot bath

Mix all ingredients together in the foot bath with water as hot as you can handle. Soak for at least 15 minutes. Simple, quick and easy but very relaxing and moisturizing!

If you suspect your body is suffering from more than simply dry skin, toxicity may be an issue.  It is correctable and you don't have to suffer!  Email me any time for advice and a free initial consultation on what could be going on and how to heal.

Product Review & GIVEAWAY: Earth Mama Angel Baby

Hi everyone, I'm back!  We had a busy whirlwind week last week.  For the last couple months, we've been renting a single room from a woman in Charlotte.  We had a goal set to find our own apartment by July 1, and well, it happened!  Quick as that.  Everything fell into place, found a great two bedroom, very spacious and good price to boot.  Last week was dedicated to making the move and getting settled in.  Still no Internet at home though, but we're working on it.  So I write to you from pool side, enjoying the sun and the free wifi near our apartment's clubhouse.  (But golly it's HOT out here!  Better make this post quick so I can retreat back to the A/C!)

I have a FABULOUS company and product review to share with you today.  And don't leave to quickly, because there's also a giveaway at the end that you are free to enter!

First, I wanted to offer up my tips for achieving ageless, hydrated, glowing skin.  Most of the time when we think about skin care, we think of it from the outside-in approach.  Lotions, cosmetics, serums.  And I think we are all aware of the marketing that goes in to cosmetic companies -- promising the fountain of youth in a tiny bottle, making billions of dollars off of the fear of aging skin.  Doing a little bit of research, you'll find those tiny bottles and multi-stage skin care lines actually contain hundreds of various chemicals that were never meant to touch your skin, let alone absorb into your organs.

I approach skin care from the opposite side, an inside-out philosophy.  Simplicity is the key to pure, smooth, health skin.  I work on making sure my organs that refer out to my skin are healthy and clean first.  This helps to prevent blemishes, cellulite, clogged pores, puffiness, wrinkles, etc.  Once you are supporting your skin from the inside, then you can add in steps on the outside to further support and feed your skin for that glowing affect.

It may take you a moment to realize that your skin is biological, not chronological, and disease/aging/imperfections can be reversed.  Conditions like acne, rosacea, eczema and dermatitis, etc, are all linked back to how healthy you are on the inside.  If you cut out the junk that you use on your skin and switch over to a more healing diet (I always recommend the Advanced Plan of the Maximized Living Nutrition Plans), you will see these skin conditions fade and heal.  And more importantly, your organs will be healing and functioning more optimally, too!

Here are 9 of my personal skin care tips:

-  The power of food: clean up your food routine.  Cut out the sugar completely and increase your raw foods and antioxidants.  I recommend the Advanced Plan for at minimum 1 month before switching to the Core Plan.  You should notice by week 2, cleaner and smoother skin.  Results only get better the longer you stay Advanced Plan.  You'll also notice you'll smell better all around, and your hormones will begin to re-balance.

-  Increase your Omega 3 healthy fats.  This is a must while pregnant, as baby's brain needs these healthy fats to grow and develop.  Even if you're not pregnant, everyone, man and woman alike, needs omega 3's to thrive.  You'll notice more hydrated skin within days of increasing your intake.  My general rule is 4-6 grams daily of a pure fish oil.  You can also add in more thru avocados, almonds, coconut milk, olive oil and hemp seeds.

-  Add in probiotics and fermented foods.  Your gut is the main group of organs that refers out to your skin.  The health of your skin depends directly on the health of your gut.  Regular probiotic intake will help to combat yeast overgrowth in the gut and will help to heal any other underlying conditions going on deep down in there.  If you suspect you are suffering from something a little more extreme, like candida, have food sensitivities/intolerance, IBS, or digestive issues that affect your life daily, then it's time to take action!  Contact your naturopathic doctor or send me an email for direction on the next steps.

-  Increase your water intake.  At minimum, you need to drink half your body weight in ounces every single day to stay optimally hydrated.  More water when you exercise or are outside in the sun.  Not only is your skin directly dependent on water to stay hydrated, but optimal water flow thru the body will flush out toxins and impurities, helping your skin stay clean and smooth.

-  Exercise.  I won't preach too much here, we all know we need to do it.  You'll have healthier organs inside.  Also, sweating will push out toxins thru your pores, leaving behind a cleaner complexion.  Check out MaxT3 if you'd like to see the workouts Dave and I do in just 12 minutes a day.

-  Vitamins and Supplements: If you're suffering from a skin condition that needs more support than from nutrition alone, you can add in the following supplements to help.  Vitamins A, C, E, zinc, silicia, sulfur, selenium.

-  Get some rest!  Sleeping at least 8 hours a day will really make a huge impact on the condition of your skin (and you'll feel great, too!).  I know, these days it's all rush, rush, rush.  I encourage you to start making it a point to get to sleep by 10pm every night.  Take that time for you.  Your body needs to recharge and reboot.  While you sleep is when your nervous system actually works the hardest.  It is literally like rebooting a computer.  It works as you sleep to repair damage, rebuild, and regenerate.  Given enough time every night, you will truly notice the difference of letting your body have its time to do its natural healing work!

-  Exfoliate by dry brushing.  I'll be doing a complete post on this topic later.  But for now, just know dry brushing is amazing for not only the exfoliation of your skin, but the detox of your entire body!

-  If you are going to use lotions and cosmetics, make sure you research first and know what you are putting on to your skin.  Slathering on a toxic product full of chemicals will only have negative affects on your skin and overall health.  Use the Cosmetic Database - Skin Deep to research the toxicity level of your products BEFORE you buy.

Now, I have a fabulous, wonderful product line to share with you!  The products are safe for mama and baby, but the beauty is you don't have to be a mama to use their products!  I must confess, I actually have been using their body lotion for quite some time, even before I found out I was pregnant.  The company is Earth Mama Angel Baby.

Earth Mama Angel Baby sells boutique style products that are organic, natural and free from harmful chemicals, and have never contained dangerous chemicals:

“Cruelty-free, certified vegan, kosher, and 100% free from toxic ingredients — that means no Quaternium-15, 1,4-Dioxane, formaldehyde, phthalates, petrochemicals, parabens, SLS, artificial preservatives, artificial fragrances or dyes.”

Uh, LOVE IT!!

The company was so kind to send me a bottle of their Earth Mama Body Butter for review.  I have been using the body butter for the last month on not only my 7-month-big baby belly, but all over my body after I do my dry brushing and shower.  It's like heaven!  I've also been alternating it with olive oil for stretch mark prevention on my belly, love handles, bum, and thighs.  I love how this lotion smells -- a clean scent from pure essential oils.  I also love how this lotion makes my skin feel.  A little goes a long way, so it will last you a good while!  A little dab here and there does my body great.  And isn't it the greatest when you get home from a long day and slip on your pajamas only to notice your skin is still so soft and has just the lightest scent left from the lotion?  It's a little pleasure of mine.  :)

The Earth Mama Body Butter combines organic calendula and organic chamomile in a shea butter body lotion, all in a safe-for-pregnancy-lotion that won’t aggravate morning sickness.  I love that it's vegan, cruelty-free and toxin-free (no artificial preservatives), and is made with 95% certified organic ingredients (certified to the food-grade level!). It’s one of the purest lotions you'll find, and this is why I encourage even those of you reading who aren't pregnant to try this (or any of their products).  You'll be doing your body good!  You’ll love it for moisturizing and encouraging your skin’s natural elasticity.

Giveaway

Earth Mama Angel Baby would like to share the same gift with one of you!  One lucky winner will receive their own bottle of Earth Mama Body Butter, shipped direct to their door!  Contest is open NOW thru Monday, July 11th at 11:59pm.  Open to U.S. and Canadian residents only.  I will use Random.org to select a winner.  Winner will be announced HERE at Healing Cuisine on Tuesday morning, July 12th.

How to enter:

Mandatory:  To enter, visit the Earth Mama Angel Baby website and leave a comment back here at this post telling me one other product to you’d love to try.

Additional bonus entries:

1.)  Subscribe to Healing Cuisine via email or RSS
2.)  "Like" Earth Mama Angel Baby and Healing Cuisine on Facebook
3.)  Follow Earth Mama Angel Baby and Healing Cuisine on Twitter
4.)  Follow Healing Cuisine on Google Friend Connect
5.)  Sign up for Earth Mama Angel Baby's newsletter
6.)  Tweet or mention this giveaway on facebook.  Place a link back to your tweet or facebook mention in the comments section here at the bottom of this post.

Alright, now get to entering!!  Good luck to all!  This is a fabulous giveaway, so excited to be sharing this with you! :)

Healing Cuisine was not compensated for this review or giveaway.  The company did provide a sample for the review, but this did not influence our opinion of the company or the product.

How To: Bladder Infection and UTI Remedy

This article is more so for the women, guys.  But keep reading!  You never know when you might find yourself suffering from a urinary tract infect (UTI) or bladder infection.

It's been my latest battle over the last three months.  Yes, three months.  My bladder infection came along due to pregnancy, one of the most common times a woman will experience the infection.  As baby grows, he pushes down on the bladder and can prevent all of the urine from escaping when mom relieves herself.  Bacteria then has time to grow and multiply.  Voila!  Perfect formula for infection.

Thank goodness my infection has been painless.  My only symptoms were frequent urination with little flow and cloudy urine.  My midwife tested and detected my infection, which I was clueless to for who knows how long.  I just thought frequent urination was part of normal pregnancy!

Other common symptoms of a UTI/Bladder Infection whether your are pregnant or not:

-  Pain, burning, or discomfort when emptying your bladder
-  The need to empty your bladder more often than usual
-  A feeling of urgency when you urinate
-  Feeling the need to urinate shortly after emptying bladder
-  Blood or mucus in the urine
-  Cramps or pain in the lower abdomen
-  Pain during love making
-  Chills, fever, sweats, leaking of urine without control
-  Change in amount of urine - either more or less
-  Urine that looks cloudy, smells foul or unusually strong
-  Pain, pressure, or tenderness in the area of the bladder

If you suspect you have a bladder infection, you can seek out a naturopathic doctor or midwife who can test your urine for you and let you know the grade level of your infection (how much E. coli is present), or you can test yourself by purchasing urinalysis test strips from your local health store.  I have been monitoring my infection on my own since my initial midwife appointment.  It's a lot cheaper to test on your own, and really in my opinion, it doesn't matter how much of the bacteria is present.  Keep following my remedies to follow until your test comes out negative!

WHY TO AVOID ANTIBIOTICS

What is the most common way people get rid of their bladder infections?  They go in to their medical doctor and the doctor writes a prescription for antibiotics.  Antibiotics are a "quick fix" for many types of infections, but we have to take a step back and ask the question, "Does taking a pill really FIX the problem?"  The answer is no.  It is simply covering up the symptom for a short time until it either returns as the same infection multiple times, or comes back even stronger in the form of a more severe infection or disease.

Has anyone ever told the you effects antibiotics have on your body?  I'm sure your medical doctor hasn't.  Speaking from personal experience, antibiotic use can lead to extreme health problems and disease.  Here's why:

Throughout your body, especially prevalent in your stomach, intestines and colon, are millions and billions of healthy, good bacteria.  This is how we are born.  The good bacteria not only help you digest your food, but are one of your strongest immune system defenses.  You want to keep your army of good bacteria strong throughout your life to ensure healthy immune function and defense against disease.

When you take a round of antibiotics, it knows no difference between good/healthy bacteria and the bad bacteria that is infecting your bladder. Antibiotic literally means "against life."  Once you swallow that pill, it goes through every part of your body to kill off ALL bacteria, good and bad!  Your immune system is instantly weakened.  And how many times have you taken an antibiotic?  It very rarely stops with one round in a lifetime.  Use of antibiotics does severe damage to your digestive organs, primarily causing Candida.  This is what I suffered from for so many years and was causing infertility in my body, until recently remedying it naturally thru Maximized Living and personal intense detoxification measures.  Loss of good bacteria in your body can lead to an array of health problems other than Candida, so I strongly encourage you to avoid antibiotics at all costs!  Your body was designed to heal and can combat all disease if given the chance.

HOW TO REMEDY A UTI OR BLADDER INFECTION NATURALLY

Since my infection was pretty hard to get rid of, most likely thanks to baby's position on top of my bladder, I implemented a multi-level natural remedy system that eventually did the trick.  Once I got all of these components working together at the same time, my infection was gone within 2 weeks.   It took me three months to research, research, research to find how all of these components work together to heal the bladder and UT naturally.

1.)  Get Adjusted.  This is the most important thing you can do!  Your body has an amazing ability to heal itself.  That power starts in the brain and travels thru the spinal cord to every organ and cell of your body.  Chiropractic looks for any interference in the spine which prevents the healing power from traveling to the places it needs to.  Your Maximized Living doctor will take the best care of you to assess your nervous system and look for blockage going to your bladder and urinary tract (not to mention reproductive organs -- so important when carrying baby!!)  My Maximized Living chiropractor, Dr. Dave, did just that.  Sure enough I had blockage in the bottom section of my spine.  I went in more often for my adjustments, every other day, for the three months and I know this greatly accelerated the healing of my infection.  Visit MaximizedLiving.com to find a Maximized Living doctor near you!

2.)  Cranberry Juice/Capsules.  You want to look for organic unsweetened cranberry juice.  Follow this pattern for an entire day (as long as you are awake):  16 oz water, wait 1 hour, 8 oz cranberry juice, wait 1 hour, 16 oz water, wait 1 hour, 8 oz cranberry juice...etc.  Follow this pattern thru the entire day.  You'll urinate just about every hour, and that is precisely what you want to happen.  Pure, unsweetened cranberry contains hippuric acid which acidifies the urine and prevents bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder.  Drinking plenty of water thru the day will allow you to flush out all of the bacteria lurking in your bladder and UTI.  It is okay to mix stevia in with the cranberry juice to help against the bitter taste.  Can't stomach the juice?  You can substitute with organic, pure, unsweetened cranberry capsules (don't skimp on the quality!  You get what you pay for!)  Unfortunately, I found out the hard way that I am allergic to cranberries, so I was unable to stick it out with the juice or capsules.  Instead I implemented D-mannose (#3).

3.)  D-Mannose.  What's interesting about the bacteria E. coli is the way it attaches itself to the bladder walls.  The bacteria's endings look like "grappling hooks" and easily hook on to the walls of the bladder and adhere almost like Velcro.  It has been proven that D-mannose causes a direct attraction to the E. coli bacteria.  If D-mannose is present in the urine, the bacteria will detach from the bladder walls and go to the D-mannose molecules.  You then pass them out as your urinate.  D-Mannose is simply a naturally occurring form of sugar.  I personally don't think it tastes like much.  It has a very low carbohydrate value, and thus doesn't taste very sweet at all.  Dosage:  2 teaspoons 8x per day in 8 oz water.  Follow each intake with another full glass of water to help flush out the bladder.

4.)  Herbal Tinctures.  Thru each day, I added liquid herbal tinctures to my water.  Various herbs support different organs and heal the body in different ways.  Here are the ones I recommend for UTI:

Uva Ursi:  AVOID IF PREGNANT, antibacterial, 30 drops 4x daily
Usnea (lichen):  USE INSTEAD OF Uva Ursi IF PREGNANT, broad spectrum antimicrobial, 30 drops 4x daily
Marshmallow:  reduces inflammation, 1 tsp 3x daily
Nettle: immune booster, kidney support, 20 drops 3x daily
Super Echinacea: immune system support, 30 drops, 3x daily
Dandelion Root: direct support to bladder and kidneys, 100 drops 3x daily

5.) Vitamin C, Vitamin D & Garlic.  Add in 5,000-10,000mg of Vitamin C daily, 1,000IUs of Vitamin D daily, and 500-1000mg garlic daily to boost your immune system and help snuff out the infection.

6.)  Advanced Plan Diet.  If you aren't already on the Advanced Plan, switch over immediately.  You want to eliminate all sugar from your diet as long as you have the infection (this goes for any infection of the body, btw) -- with the exception of D-mannose which will help you.  Eliminate processed foods, refined sugars, honey, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, alcohol, all grains, juice, pop, fruits, root vegetables.  Up your antioxidant intake.  Add in a probiotic supplement for immune and digestive support.

7.)  Take Care of Yourself.  Drink, drink, drink your water!  8-16 oz every hour will keep your bladder flushed so bacteria can't sit stagnant and grow.  Empty your bladder immediately as soon as you have the urge to do so.  Empty your bladder before and immediately after love making.  Avoid love making while suffering from the infection, especially if painful/swollen.  After emptying bladder, always wipe from front to back.  Wash vaginal area with water only -- avoid soaps, douches, and bathes.  Wear all-cotton underwear, avoiding use of thongs and pantyhose, and air out vaginal area at night as you sleep.

8.)  Homeopathic Remedy.  As recommended by my friend, Allison, during the last few weeks I added in homeopathic support.  There are a few different remedy options to choose from, which you can read about here based on your symptoms.  I also recommend speaking with a homeopathic practitioner to ensure you are dosing properly for your body's needs.  The one that was right for me was Cantharis 30X.

So there you go, folks!  My 8 simple steps to combating a UTI naturally!  And let me say, while it may take a few days longer to snuff out the infection compared to taking a harmful antibiotic, your body will thank you!!!

If you have other tips that you follow for UTI/Bladder Infection remedying, comment below.  Sharing knowledge will help others!

How To: Eye Makeup Remover

I LOVE this DIY eye makeup remover.  For a while there, I was just using plain old olive oil to remove my makeup, but found it left my eyes extremely oily afterward, even after cleansing.  This is the perfect eye makeup remover blend.  It takes care of stubborn eye liner and mascara.  I use the natural stuff, but still, it's stuck on there for days unless you use something like this.  Give it a try!  It's pure, gentle, and nourishing.  Follow with a mild organic face wash (I prefer MiEssence Purifying Cleanser) and toner (I prefer MiEssence Balancing Skin Conditioner) before bed.

To be honest, I've had this blend of oils on hand (almond, apricot, and vitamin E) as I also use a similar mixture on my baby belly after the shower to help prevent stretch marks.  But if you don't have these already, you can find them pretty inexpensively at a place like Vitamin Shoppe, Whole Foods, or online on Amazon.com.  Be sure to read the ingredients and production process before buying to ensure a pure and safe product!

For mixing, storage, and use, reuse an old glass bottle or purchase one here or here.

Eye Makeup Remover
Makes 1 Month's Use

4 Tbsp almond oil
1 Tbsp apricot kernel oil
1 tsp vitamin E oil
2 drops chamomile essential oil

In your glass container, add all ingredients.  Screw on lid and shake until mixed.  Ready for use immediately.  Shake before each use.  Keep in a cool, dark place.  Shelf safe for up to 6 months.

You can use a cotton ball/swab/pad for makeup removal, but I'm all about using green and reusable products.  I have a small stack of soft organic cotton washcloths that I use strictly for makeup removal.  That way if they get stained, no big deal, since they're for makeup removal only.  (You'll find natural makeup doesn't really stain anyway...)  And the beauty of it is no trash!  Just throw in your weekly laundry bin and you're set.

How To: Beat a Cold Naturally

So, here I am, finally over this cruddy, mucus-ridden, sinus infection, cold....thing.  Can I just say P.T.L.!?!  (that's Praise The Lord, y'all.)  While I don't get sick very often, thanks to the miraculous discovery of chiropractic and the 5 Essentials of Maximized Living, when I do get sick it allows me to appreciate my health and being well SO much more!  This week has been no fun, really knocked me out.  Sinus headaches, 4 boxes of tissue, never enough sleep, raspy chest, and inability to get the stuff done that mattered!

I want to provide you the steps I take to beat a cold (or ANY sickness for that matter).  Beyond developing recipes, my next biggest passion is helping people get well naturally.  Whether it's thru detoxification, nutrition or supplementation, my goal is to help support the body with whatever it needs to get the body working optimally again.  My husband, Dave, plays the chiropractic card.  After all, he is the chiropractor.  Nervous system alignment always comes first.  It's #1 in achieving health.  Without a full functioning nervous system, nutrition, detox, and supplements will not be a powerful addition.

I support what Dave does for people.  He turns their power on and I help to feed it; to feed YOU!  Your body deserves to thrive.  Here are my steps to beat an illness naturally.  I swear by these steps.  They will help you heal quickly (possibly faster than you ever have with a drug?).

1. GET ADJUSTED  Your body has an amazing ability to heal itself.  That power starts in the brain and travels thru the spinal cord to every organ and cell of your body.  Chiropractic looks for any interference in the spine which prevents the healing power from traveling to the places it needs to.  For example, when I had this sinus crud, my neck had interference at the nerves going to my sinuses.  Coincidence?  I think not.  My Maximized Living chiropractor, Dr. Dave ;), adjusted my neck every day thru the week and I know this greatly accelerated the healing of my sinuses.  Visit MaximizedLiving.com to find a corrective care chiropractor near you.
2. GARLIC  Raw garlic is a natural antibiotic, antihistamine and holds many immune boosting capabilities.  If you can handle eating it raw, pop a couple cloves in your mouth throughout the day, chew and swallow.  Most likely you won't be able to handle this.  Instead, find raw garlic capsules and supplement that way.  2,000-6,000mg daily is a healthy high dose to boost your immune system.  I'll usually do 2,000mg in the morning and 2,000mg before bed when I'm sick.
3. OIL OF OREGANO  Oil of oregano contains natural compounds that combat viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections.  It is a powerful oil and a few drops can go a long way!  One of the most important things to look for when buying Oil of Oregano is the amount of Carvacrol and Thymol. Most of the health benefits of Oil of Oregano are due to these two active ingredients.   Oil of Oregano can come in different strengths.  The higher the carvacrol concentration, the stronger it's antimicrobial effects.  Also, be sure it is organic.  Two ways to dose Oil of Oregano for a cold/sinus infection/flu:  1) Place 4-6 drop sublingually (beneath your tongue) and hold for 30 seconds before swallowing.  Repeat up to 10 times daily.  2)  In a shot glass of filtered water, float 15 drops on the surface.  Take the shot and let the oil coat your throat.  You'll feel it in your chest (great for bronchitis!).  Repeat up to 10 times daily.
4. VITAMIN C  Up to 10,000mg daily is a safe high dose for Vitamin C.  Be sure you are using a high quality and safe brand that meets food-grade standards.  If you're not sure, ask your Maximized Living doctor!
5. VITAMIN D  Vitamin D is a HUGE immune booster, believe it or not.  And we often wonder why we get sick in the fall and winter months more than summer.  Well, it mostly has to do with our lack of vitamin D during those 6 months.  Not only are we not getting outside as much with less skin exposed, but we are farther away from the sun as well so the precious healing rays can't reach us as effectively even if we were outside!  Up to 20,000mg daily is a safe high dose for Vitamin D while sick.  On a daily basis in the fall/winter, I take 10,000mg daily to make up for lack of sunlight (5,000mg daily in the summer months).  Be sure you are using a high quality and safe brand that meets food-grade standards.  If you're not sure, ask your Maximized Living doctor!
6. HEALING CUISINE TINCTURE  I also call this my "Special-Tea", hehe.  I SWEAR by this!  This is an immune boosting tea that is sure to kick you back toward health!  In a large mug, add about 1 cup boiling water, 1 green or Echinacea tea bag, 1 Tbsp fresh chopped ginger root, 1/4 cup organic raw apple cider vinegar (I prefer Bragg brand), a spoonful of raw honey, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, and 2 garlic cloves.  Stir to combine and let steep for 5-6 minutes.  Sip down and repeat thru the day as often as you can.  I promise you'll see results!
7. COLLOIDAL SILVER  Make sure you have 10ppm colloidal silver (proven to kill bacteria in 6 minutes or less on contact) and place about 30 drops under your tongue.  Hold for 30 seconds then swallow.  Repeat 3-7 times daily.
8. NETI POT w/ COLLOIDAL SILVER  I am new to using the neti pot, but after this last bout of illness and sinus pain, I am a firm believer in the neti pot.  However, I strongly deter you from using the "saline solution" or little crystal packets that come with your neti pot.  I read the ingredients, and sure there's salt in the list, but there are also about 3 other chemicals that don't belong in your sinus cavities.  Also, you don't want to use the type of salt they include in the packets.  It is iodized table salt essentially, man-made.  What you do want to use is natural sea salt -- Himalayan is best or Celtic sea salt.  My recipe for an antibacterial cleanse for your sinuses:  Add 1/4 teaspoon pure sea salt, 3/4 cup warm filtered water, and 30 drops (2 droppers full) colloidal silver to neti pot.  Stir to combine.  Flow thru nasal passages, alternating nostrils as needed.  The right proportions between sea salt and water will help to break up the mucus.  The colloidal silver coats the sinuses to kill off anything bad that's dwelling.  Repeat 3-5 times daily as needed.
9. WATER  Drink PLENTY of pure, filtered water each day.  Normally you want to drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water daily.  When you're sick, you need to drink even more!  This does not include tea, almond milk, or protein shakes, etc.  It needs to be pure water to hydrate your cells and help to flush out toxins.
10. PLAIN TISSUE  This might seem like an odd addition to beating your cold, but I feel it's a very important step to take.  By "plain tissue," I mean just tissue, not the kind that's got "lotion added."  Did you ever think about how they get lotion onto a tissue?  It's definitely NOT natural.  It's actually chemicals, toxic chemicals that have been studied and shown to make you more sick!  Instead, you should use only plain, uncoated tissue sheets or a handkerchief (wash often;).  Unbleached tissue is best, as we all know the dangers of chlorine to our health.  We like to limit chemicals (like chlorine) as often as we can possibly control in our daily lives.  And guess what?!  Natural, uncoated tissue is actually less expensive than the more commercial 'lotion added' tissues!