For the past couple of days, I’ve been feeling like a mack truck surely must have hit me!
I’m experiencing that lovely sensation of my cranium splitting apart due to pressure from deep within the recesses of my sinuses… and quite possibly my brain as well! Add to that the stuffiness, the off & on fever, and the achy joints and ta-daaaa… I’m the perfect picture of health right now!
Actually, that’s rather accurate.
My body is responding perfectly to the environment I’ve created and exposed it to in the days leading up to this immune response known by most folks as “sickness”.
I’m not sick. I’m adapting to the environment – my cells are adapting to the environment they’ve been exposed to internally and externally. I’m expressing health!
Why am I a stickler for accurate terminology here? Because we’ll make completely different choices dependent upon how we talk about certain ‘conditions’ and ‘expressions’ of the body. If we think something is abnormal and negative, we’ll treat it accordingly. On the other hand, if we think something is normal and natural, albeit uncomfortable and inconvenient, we’ll choose differently.
It still stinks to feel wiped out like this… but I know it’s only health showing me what happens in response to excess toxicity or deficiency. Simple. I’ve had a string of days with not enough sleep, more than the usual amount of tasty toxins, and more stress than usual. (More accurately, I’ve handled the ‘stress’ less gracefully than I normally do!)
Couple that with my first round of “having to” have the air conditioner on for extended periods of time this summer, and BAM! My immune system said, “ENOUGH!” Apparently, coming in and out of the synthetically cooled air from the extreme heat outside, multiple times each day, sent me over the top! Blech.
Many times in the last couple of days I’ve thought about what a “normal” person might do if they felt like this. (Yes, I long ago accepted that I am NOT normal! I’m good with that!) Many people would have turned to some sort of over-the-counter remedy or prescribed drug to help alleviate the symptoms.
I have recollections of days long ago (long before I was on this path of more natural wellness), when I used to take drugs for symptoms. I remember the daze, the haze, the fog, the grogginess and all the other annoying and strange side effects of even the “mildest” concoctions. I strongly dislike that. Much more so than experiencing the symptoms of whatever my body is dealing with in the first place.
Unless something is going to safely and effectively move me toward improved function, homeostasis, healing and repair, I’d rather just let my Innate Intelligence handle it… the way it was designed to do. Besides, I can’t think of a drug on the planet that meets the aforementioned criteria for success!
Now, I’m not saying that we need to ignore all symptoms and ride it out… unless that’s what floats your boat! What I am saying is that I don’t agree with adding additional toxicity to my already over-burdened immune system. Why would I add garbage to my body when I’m already feeling lousy? Then my body would have to deal with the *new* issue of toxicity as well as the original issue.
As an adult I’ve learned that our body (and mind) has a FAR better chance of healing masterfully when we stay the heck out of its way! I try to do things that assist the body, not interfere.
(Yes, yes… there’s a time and a place for drug intervention. For example, life threatening issues or in cases where you just need to temporarily alter certain physiology and chemistry in a way that allows the individual to move on from that point, making appropriate lifestyle decisions in order to REALLY get healthy.)
Drugs don’t create health.
So, what do I do when the mack truck attacks? I think about what my body needs in order to function properly and do my best to provide it. I also think about what toxicity might be present, and do my best to remove it or reduce it.
In this particular case, I know I’ve been sleep deprived for a long time. This is where stress effects me the most – I tend to wake up at night, thinking about everything I need to do in upcoming days and weeks! Yes, I use lots of planning, scheduling and prioritizing tools… I just tend to bite off more than I should! Apparently, it’s a character flaw I’ll need to live with on some level!
I’ve made a concerted effort to go to bed earlier and have *attempted* to take a few afternoon power naps here and there. Going to bed earlier definitely helps. Once I’m up, I’m up… so it’s nice to get a few quality hours under my belt before that happens!
I’ve been getting adjusted a lot more, too. Stress and lack of quality sleep tend to cause major dysfunction (subluxation) in my upper cervical spine… which is directly related to my immune system, of course. The adjustment I received yesterday felt like the Hoover Dam breaking free! What an amazing feeling to feel that surge of powerful healing released! Ahhh… I love my Chiropractor! (So I married him!) I immediately felt about an 80% improvement across the board after that adjustment.
What drug could offer those kinds of results, by the way? What drug could offer that without all the toxic side effects?! What drug could make me feel better while simultaneously help me function better? It’s good stuff, I’m telling you! I can’t imagine NOT having a regular chiropractic adjustments as part of your healthy lifestyle. “Health” seems incomplete without it.
I’ve increased the amount of fish oil I consume and have continued to take my full-spectrum probiotics, organic multi-vitamin/mineral/antioxidant, and butter oil. The only nutritional supplement I’ve added during this time is vitamin D3, even though it’s the middle of summer and I get plenty of safe, unfiltered sun. For a few days, I’ll add some more since it plays such a significant role in immune function.
Then, I’ve added simple things like gargling with sea salt or hydrogen peroxide, when my throat was bothering me initially, and I’ve used hydrogen peroxide drops in my ears. I also drink 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda mixed in 4 ounces of pure water. According to protocol, I should do this every 2 hours… but I tend to forget! I’ve ended up doing it 4 or 5 times per day.
Not only do I stay away from toxic food when my body is adapting like this, but I actually feel an aversion to it. At the same time, I actually crave even more veggies . Especially the dark green ones. Could be part educated brain… could be all instinct. I don’t know, nor do I care! My body has become smarter over the years as I’ve taken better care of it, so I’m becoming a better listener!
For comfort, I’ve been taking extra long hot showers and drinking lots of hot tea… even though we’ve been in the middle of a heat wave! It just makes me feel better on some level! I don’t use sweetener of any sort in tea when my body is going through something like this. That’s too much for the immune system to deal with as well.
One thing I haven’t done yet, which is really silly on my part, is to take daily saunas. We have a far infrared sauna that is SO beneficial in helping the body detoxify, and it just feels so good. I guess I’ve just had some sort of mental block when it comes to walking outside to the workshop where we keep the sauna, through the 94 degree heat and humidity… in order to sit in a hot box!!
I’ll do it today!
As far as exercise is concerned, I play it by ear. I definitely haven’t done any super intense work outs for the last couple days – I’ve kept it pretty low-key. I feel it’s important to find a balance with maintaining some form of movement (because motion stimulates proprioception which stimulates healing and repair) and forcing yourself to get some extra rest (because rest is also the time when the body repairs and heals itself).
An important point to add to this conversation is that, as important as this topic is for adults, I find this to be even more important when it comes to the developing immune systems of children. When we consistently provide our kids with the raw materials for health, allowing them to go through a ‘healing crisis’ without toxic interference will actually strengthen their immune response for life. Each time we step in and interfere with toxicity, we decrease their potential for lifelong healing and protection.
I know – it’s easier said than done, when you’re watching your child suffer. No parent wants to let their child go through discomfort. Once we more clearly understand the long term consequences (good or bad) of the choices we make on behalf of our children, it might be easier to let them develop their immune systems naturally… knowing that it will massively benefit them in the long run.
Anyhow, through all this, I’m once again reminded that our bodies know exactly how to be healthy… and how to return to health. We just need to provide the right ingredients, and then stop interfering with foreign, toxic concoctions and get outta’ the way!! I intend to be back to full function before you know it!
(Oh yeah… intention is another key piece of the puzzle! Energy flows where our thoughts go!!) : )
