Diatomaceous Earth + Iodine: My 30-Day Trial Days 2 thru 4

Days two and three of my diatomaceous earth protocol were non-remarkable. I had a little bit of cramping right under my ribs, and felt a little nauseous when I ate breakfast, but nothing to shout about.

Something I forgot to mention before is that I am also taking 1 drop of 5% Lugol's iodine daily too, but I know what the side effects of that are, so I try to separate them. However, some of the detox reactions may also be from bromine detox, so I'll make note of that when I feel I must.

Today, Day 4, I upped the diatomaceous earth dosage to 1 teaspoon. I noticed now that I am definitely having some detox and die-off symptoms. I'm feeling sluggish, brain fogged and generally just tired, despite having had a perfectly good night's sleep and eating well today.

I'm not taking my supplements while using the diatomaceous earth, but today I had a lot to do and just could not function, so I took a multi-vitamin, a dopa-mucuna capsule, some D3 and an L-tyrosine capsule. Dopa-mucuna is supposed to supply energy and L-tyrosine is the natural equivalent of Adderall, or so I've heard. I just took them about 3:30 pm, so I hope they don't keep me awake tonight. Coffee doesn't seem to be doing me much good.

I can't say much else has been happening that I can directly attribute to the DE right now. Haven't noticed any improvements in my health, but I imagine that will take awhile. With the cold weather, my lupus is flaring anyway, so my joints and muscles are achy. That also may be because of bromine detox. I had a really bad day yesterday after walking 2 miles round trip to the grocery store in somewhat chilly weather.

I'm report back after a few more days at 1 teaspoon and see if there is anything to report.

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How L-Dopa Mucuna Helped My Depression and Increased My Focus

L-Dopa Mucuna is derived from the bean of the Mucuna pruriens plant, and has been used for centuries to treat depression, increase energy and boost your mental acuity and focus.

I had been trying to find alternatives to caffeine and guarana, my two favorite stimulants, which weren't really working well anymore to give me energy or increase my mental acuity. I quite accidentally discovered L-Dopa Mucuna while reading about a man's backyard food forest. He was growing the Mucuna pruriens beans and using them as medicine. He talked about some of the benefits, and one was increased energy. I decided to give them a try, but since I had nowhere to grow the beans, I ordered the capsules of L-Dopa Mucuna online.

What is L-Dopa?
 
You've no doubt heard of L-Dopa, but unless you are involved with someone who has Parkinson's disease or is a body builder, you may not know much about it. L-Dopa is an amino acid which is a precursor to dopamine. If you are a sufferer of major depression, you have heard of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter manufactured by certain neurons in the brain. Dopamine neurons are triggered by good feelings, which explains its tie-in to addiction and reckless behavior. In short, dopamine makes you feel good.

How Does Dopamine Affect the Brain?
 
Low dopamine levels are associated with addiction, depression, psychosis, schizophrenia and Attention Deficit Disorder. Since dopamine itself can not cross the blood-brain barrier, it is delivered in a precursor state - a form which causes the brain to produce dopamine. L-Dopa is just such a precursor. L-Dopa has been found to be effective in alleviating depression, increasing focus and in treating Parkinson's Disease. The video What is Dopamine? gives a good explanation of exactly how it works in your brain.

How L-Dopa Increased My Focus and Energy Levels
 
Once I read about the use of L-Dopa for depression, I wanted to try it out. I have been on bupropion for awhile, but it had stopped working. I have addiction genes, so my body builds up a tolerance to "feel good" drugs very quickly. I was searching for something more natural to replace the bupropion that had fewer side effects, such as the severe brain fog I had experienced.

I started taking L-Dopa Mucuna, a powdered form of the Mucuna pruriens bean, in 400 mg capsules with 15% L-Dopa content. I first noticed that my energy and focus increased, and as I continued to take it, I was able to write better and faster. I began to wean myself off of the bupropion and within a month, I found I did not need it at all.

What is the Dosage of L-Dopa Mucuna?
 
As recommended on the label, I take two capsules a day, one in the morning and one around 3 p.m. when my energy normally starts to wane. I tried taking both capsules in the morning, but it made me jittery, so I spaced them out. This supplement should be taken on an empty stomach, and so far, I have had no digestive upset or nausea from it, despite my sensitive stomach.

Cautions and Recommendations
 
I don't recommend that you stop taking your anti-depressants without consulting your physician. Mine was willing to let me try this, but with the agreement that if it didn't work, I would go back on the bupropion. So far, I haven't had to do that.

If you are looking for something to simply boost your energy and focus, L-Dopa Mucuna capsules may be a good choice. Not all herbs work immediately for everyone, so give it a couple of weeks to build up in your system before you pronounce it a failure. I felt the effects immediately, but I have a low tolerance for any mood-changing compound. Take one capsule at first, and if you start feeling strange or sick, discontinue taking it immediately. I don't recommend taking it in bean form, because the dosage isn't standardized.

L-Dopa Mucuna has been a blessing to many people who are suffering from diseases such as ADHD, chronic fatigue, and depression. Hopefully, it will help you too.

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Best Beginner Yoga Types for Women Over 50

Yoga is an excellent exercise for women over 50 because it relieves stress, increases flexibility and helps alleviate joint pain. The gentle poses and meditative aspects are rejuvenating to older bodies and minds. As someone with Lupus, this is the aspect that makes yoga appeal to me. Yoga classes are available in most locations, and many of the best teachers have DVD's that can be used at home. I love practicing yoga at home because it doesn't take much room and doesn't require any special equipment, so it's excellent for those like me with smaller living spaces on limited budgets. 

Rodney Yee's Yoga for Beginners DVD 

There are several types of yoga. Each is geared to a different level of fitness. These four types are excellent for women over 50 who are just getting back into the fitness lifestyle, as well as those with disabilities or physical challenges such as arthritis.

Ananda - A Classic Yoga for Harmony
 
Ananda yoga is designed to bring harmony to your physical, mental and spiritual being by integrating classic postures, breathing and energy control with meditation. It is unique in its use of asana affirmations and energization exercises, where each posture is paired with an affirmation. It works well for women who are less flexible and less athletic, or those who have sedentary lifestyles.

Anusara - As Individual as the Student
 
Anusara yoga has become one of the most respected schools of hatha yoga. It combines Universal Principles of Alignment with a philosophy of intrinsic goodness. Each level celebrates the practitioner's individual talents, differences and limitations. Anusara is recommended for less flexible, older women or those who have been injured.

Integral - The Best of All Worlds
 
Integral yoga combines parts of the Hatha, Raja, Bhakti, Karma, Jnana and Japa yoga disciplines to become a total lifestyle system. It seeks to create harmony with each aspect of the being by using postures, breath control, diet, and meditation. Integral yoga is recommended for beginners and women who are less flexible or older.

Sivananda - Flexibility for All Levels of Student
 
Sivananda yoga is the type that was introduced by Swami Vishnu-Devananda in 1960 in his book, The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga. It is unlike other yoga types in that it follows an order and is based on Five Points of Yoga; proper exercise, proper breathing, proper relaxation, proper diet and positive thinking and meditation. Instructors often add or teach variations of poses for each student's level of experience. Part of the main teachings is vegetarianism, but it isn't a requirement. Sivananda is suitable for women of any age, lifestyle or fitness level.

Whichever type of yoga your choose, it's a great gateway to more strenuous types of exercise down the road if that's what you're working toward. Some find that yoga is all they really need
.

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Diatomaceous Earth + Iodine: My 30-Day Trial Day 1

By SprocketRocket CC0 via Wikimedia Commons

NOTE: I changed the title to add iodine, because I started taking 1 drop of Lugol's 5% iodine daily at the same time, so I will be reporting on both.

I have known about diatomaceous earth for a long time, but was hesitant to use it for some reason. As some of you may remember, I had been losing my hair. I used castor oil and supplements to help regrow it, but as soon as I stopped using them, my hair started falling out again. Putting castor oil in my hair every other night is just disgusting, even if it does leave my hair really soft. I don't mind taking the supplements, but I got sick of downing a handful of pills several times a day, so I stopped that for awhile too.

I started to look at other ways to stop the hair loss, and of course,  saw the horsetail herb, which contains silica. Not wanting to take yet another pill, I started looking for dietary sources of silica, but none of them seemed very appealing to me; however, one of the sources of silica was diatomaceous earth (DE for short) I had only looked at DE as a parasite treatment until I found videos on YouTube touting its benefits for all sorts of other things, so I started to do some research, and it seems that everyone who uses it long term talks about their hair getting thicker and growing faster. So I decided to give it a try.

I purchased two pounds of DE on Amazon for less than $9 with free shipping. It arrived quickly, and I just started taking it today. Everything I read said to start slowly to avoid any die-off  or detox side effects, so I took 1/2 teaspoon mixed in water on an empty stomach, as directed. I haven't noticed any side effects yet, except for maybe one, but not sure that's what caused it.

Every time I do a parasite cleanse or a detox, I have a pain in my lower right abdomen. I had always thought this was because having to drink so much fluid during the cleanse or detox was stirring up a kidney stone. I also got that pain when I drank too many caffeinated beverages. So today, just for a few minutes, I had that same pain. For a few days now, I have had this strange pinching pain right underneath my ribs, and couldn't figure out what it was. I am curious to see if the DE does anything to help with these pains.

CAUTIONS:

• Only use FOOD GRADE diatomaceous earth. The Industrial grade is cheaper, but it has toxic chemicals inside it. 
• Also, be very careful not to breathe in the dust. It does not break down in your lungs and can cause silicosis. This usually isn't a problem when using small amounts. I generally just hold the bag as far away as possible and my breath when I open the bag, scoop out my DE and put it into liquid. Better safe than sorry, I always say.

If you'd like to buy some diatomaceous earth yourself and try this cleanse with me, the link to the one I purchased is below. This is a great seller who actually answers questions and ships very quickly.

DiatomaceousEarth Food Grade Diatoamceous Earth Fertilizer, 2-Pounds with Free Shipping

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Living With Lupus: Heat and Sun Sensitivity is Disabling

It took a long time for my lupus symptoms to become seriously disabling, and I'm still trying to work out the holistic and natural regimen that works to counteract the worst effects. Since Lupus is an invisible disease, I wanted to share what it's like for me on a daily basis to give you more understanding about those who suffer from this deadly disease.

Heat is My Worst Enemy

I've been feeling really bad lately, and it's all because of heat. We've had insane heat indexes here, well over 100 some days, so my energy has been at zero.

I want to give you an example of how sensitive my body is to heat. This morning, it was relatively cool when I walked the  8/10ths of a mile to the store and back; 76 F with a heat index of 85 F. The sun shines right in my eyes when I'm walking to the store, so I have to wear sun glasses. My eyes are very sensitive to bright lights of any kind, which was hell working in retail for all those years with all the bright fluorescents.

So I walked to the store -- 8/10ths of a mile -- and was already getting hot and beginning not to be able to breathe. In cool weather, I can literally almost run that far, but in the summer, it's like dragging a heavy log along behind me. It was blessedly cool inside the store. I wanted to stay until 9 a.m., because I needed to go to the Family Dollar on my way back to get batteries, and they don't open until 9. I didn't quite make it. Hit the Family Dollar at quarter to 9, and tried for 5 minutes to stand outside -- in the shade -- to wait for them to open, but I knew I was not going to make it, so I just walked on home.

The Trip Home is Always Brutal

Walking home dragging a stuffed rolling backpack is hard enough, but the sun was beating down on my back. I walk on the side of the street that is mostly shady, but that doesn't help much. By the time I get half a block, I'm sweating. I carry a wet bandana with me, and literally have to wipe my face and  neck constantly.

Remember, it's still only in the 70's, but the sun heats up my body faster than most people's. By the time I get home, I'm soaking wet and gasping for air. My heart is pounding as I drag the backpack into the house and collapse on the sofa under the ceiling fan.

It's 9 a.m. and still only 80 F, but with 93% humidity and a heat index of 91 F. It takes me a good half hour before I can even begin to put away the groceries.

Mitigating the Damage from Heat and Sunlight

Now, riding my bike to the store is a little less stessful, because the breeze is blowing on me and it doesn't take as long, but I can't carry back as much on the bike until I get a rack and baskets, so it sometimes isn't an option. I can get one cloth grocery bag into the basket I have now, so it's nice for trips when I don't need much, but not so much for trips where I'm going to be carrying four 4-lb bags of sugar, like today.

I like working on the sofa, because the room is bright and sunny, but in the afternoon when the sun gets too hot, I have to move into my bedroom where the sun isn't shining directly on me through the windows. The living room can get pretty hot in the afternoon, since it is attached to the sunroom, which has no door to shut out the heat coming in through the windows.

So now you understand more how heat and sunlight affects someone with lupus. I used to be able to work for hours in the yard, or hang out for hours on the beach. It took a long time for the heat sensitivity to hit me hard, but now that it has, I have a lot more sympathy for those who are also affected. I have lupie friends who have to grow only flowers that bloom at night, because they can't go out into the sun at all. I hope I never get that way, but I may. Until then, I'm going to do what I can and try to tolerate those who call me lazy.

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