Category: eczema

digestive health, eczema, holistic healing, holistic nutrition, milestones, nutrition, nutritional medicine, nutritional science, plant based, plant based diet, remedies, topical steroid withdrawal, update

Happy 3 years topical steroids free to me!

by jlh8272 Comments on Happy 3 years topical steroids free to me!

This month is a milestone for me, 3 years free from the chains of topical steroid addiction!

I’m not sure exactly what day I started giving up the medications and enduring the withdrawal process, but it was definitely sometime in March of 2012 (I have 26 years steroid use, topical and injections plus chemo in 08′ for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma). When I first started, I had no desire to document, I didn’t want to even see myself in the mirror much less have actual photos of the hell I was experiencing. In the end I’m glad that I started taking photos, doing hard core research on detoxification/holistic healing, and putting my findings on this site :).

feb 2015 collage

At my current state I’m doing REALLY well!!!

  • Only areas still working on restoring are my feet.
  • No oozing on my feet (the oozing on the rest of my body ended a LONG time ago).
  • My sleep can still be random. It’s not that my feet are insanely itchy, it’s more so that I’m just always thinking!! Mainly about cool things to do on this site lol. Most nights I fall right to sleep for a few hrs then I’m awake for a few, (slightly itchy sometimes) then back again to sleep.  I do find relief when I drink my golden turmeric milk or if I take some extra proteolytic enzymes.  These remedies help to take down the inflammation and itching when I go to bed.  It would be amazing to sleep through the night with no interruptions.  Soon enough though, soon enough 😉
  • The huge flaking I was having on my feet are down to light, thin flakes and minimal at that!  The redness and inflammation is down significantly as well!  I can stand for longer periods of time without any swelling or pain!
  • The blistered sore on the bottom of my left foot is healing nicely, due to this great antioxidant micro algae lotion I’ve been using, not only on the blister but all over my feet.  I have two clients whom I’ve been coaching who have been using the lotion and finding awesome relief in it as well!… A blog post on that soon to come 🙂
  • As long as this wonderful healing keeps up, I have no doubt that by the end of the month (hopefully even sooner) I’ll be out and about, without pain from wearing socks and shoes!  Whooo hooooo!

Things that I’ve been doing that have been helping my healing along…

  1. REBOUNDING – Since my feet have been getting better and better, I’ve made it up to bouncing for 20 minutes on my rebounder!  I just turn on some great dance music, and jump away!  I’ve even been able to work up a good sweat which is great for getting some of those toxins out.  Doing this fun exercise will stimulate the lymph system and get the blood circulation going which is very important to promote healing.
  2. MICRO ALGAE LOTION – The antioxidant lotion that I mentioned above has been a game changer!  It goes on silky smooth and instantly locks in the moisture.  It doesn’t leave me itchy once I put it on like how coconut oil sometimes does… it’s actually very soothing and cooling.  It has even been minimizing the thickness on my feet, and I know that will take a while to smooth out.  This lotion is also known to help with the discolouration, so I’ll be looking forward to continually use it to help that along.  Here are just some of the healing ingredients in this lotion:  Organic Micro algae, organic aloe vera water, organic virgin coconut oil, jojoba oil, Beta Glucan, neem oil, rosemary oil & lemon peel oil.  If you are interested in this lotion, and want to know more, just send me an email at eczema.holistic.healing@gmail.com !
  3. KEEPING UP WITH PLANT BASED DIET & WHOLE FOOD SUPPLEMENTS – I’ve been eating vegan for months now, about since October and I know this is the diet for me.  I have so much more energy when I get my nourishing fruit smoothies in every morning and my nutient dense green “dranks” at night!  Like I mentioned above, the golden turmeric milk has been awesome at bringing down the inflammation in my skin, and has been a great natural sleep aid.  I love coming up with new recipes and have been learning so much about food and how it can be healing for the body, there’s no way I’ll be going back to the SAD diet (Standard American Diet).  The supplements I’ve been taking have kept my digestion working at an optimal level, and have been so nourishing at promoting healing for my body.

feb 2015 feet collage

click to enlarge

It’s been a long journey with  many ups and downs.  Months of being homebound at times, and months of living a pretty normal life.  It can only get better and better from here on out!  I’m so thankful for this whole experience because it has opened my eyes up to so much and has shown me that my body is capable at transforming itself and that healing from this awful disease is possible!  Thanks for reading and allowing me to share this milestone with you all!

Stay strong eczema warriors!  Restoration is on the horizon, just make sure you’re listening to your body and giving it all the wonderful things it needs to heal ❤

cancer, digestive health, eczema, food allergies, Hodgkin's Lymphoma, holistic healing, holistic nutrition, holistic nutritionist, informational goodies, itsan.org, journal entry, milestones, nutrition, nutritional medicine, nutritional science, plant based diet, remedies, topical steroid withdrawal, update, vegan, youtube

I Was Featured on The Eczema Podcast!!!

by jlh8275 Comments on I Was Featured on The Eczema Podcast!!!

Ecezema-Youtube-featured-Ep5

Hey friends!

I had the wonderful pleasure of being a guest on my good friend Abby’s Eczema Podcast!

She is a registered Holistic Nutritionist and she is doing amazing work on her website, Prime Physique Nutrition.  Abby interviews people in the field of healthy living who offer information, advice, personal accounts on eczema and natural alternative ways for healing.  I had the great opportunity of sharing my journey with her on her most recent podcast.

This podcast was filmed in December 2014, and the only updates that I have since then is that my diet has transitioned to a completely plant based vegan diet, I’ve implemented some rebounding exercises to help with blood circulation & stimulating the lymph system and that the state of my feet are doing much better than when this was shot a few months ago!

I had such a great time being interviewed and sharing what I’ve learned with Abby.  She’s such an inspiration in how she has battled through her eczema to come out on the other side of it all and become a Holistic Nutritionist to help others!  I’m thankful for having this experience, and being able to connect with such an wonderful person. 🙂

The Eczema Podcast #5: How Jen Overcame Eczema, TSW & Cancer

eczema, journal entry, milestones, update

Feelin’ myself a lil :)

by jlh8272 Comments on Feelin’ myself a lil :)
Taken January 9, 2015 - Such a transformation when I look back to my lowest point in 2009
February 9, 2015 

 

I haven’t taken a good close up photo of myself in quite awhile, and since my face has been so great I decided to celebrate that!

My skin has been doing really great lately… literally from my ankles up are clear and doing very well.  I’m still experiencing some itchness on my hands, lower part of my arms and lower part of my legs, but its becoming less and less in severity as I heal.  I keep telling myself, “it’s just my feet left, just my feet! Keep on pushing, continue staying faithful and positive.”  It’s amazing when I look back to photos, especially from 2009 when I was at my lowest point as far as physical and mental health.  I had months of chemo behind me, my hair was super short from chopping it off due to some of the hair loss I was experiencing, I barely had any eyebrows from scratching them off, my skin was brittle, super dry & itchy, dark and gray.  I had lost a significant amount of weight… the lowest I’ve ever been and I was just so unhappy with life, but trying to force on a smile.  You can see more photos of my transformation on the My Story page.  Now my skin is better than ever, (although its still got a tiny bit more to go) and I know that besides withdrawing from the topical & injected steroids, implementing my plant based diet and whole food supplements have helped in assisting healing.  My skin is so much healthier, my gut health is amazing, the whites of my eyes are brighter, my hair is stronger and shinier and even my nails are stronger!  I attribute this all to living holistically and feeding my body the best possible nutrients to heal through this process. 🙂

Currently, I’m still sticking it out at home… my feet are still in recovery mode (still slightly oozy, swollen at times, and I have this super painful sore on the BOTTOM of my foot… ugh) which makes it hard to put on socks and shoes because they will confine my foot to a tight space and irritate them which will set back the progress I’ve made thus far.  Although this is the current situation I’m in, I’m still pushing through everyday, and giving thanks for this process.  I’ve seen the transformation with my own eyes, and I have pictures to prove it… just that alone gives me gratitude.  It shows that as everyone likes to say, “healing happens” it just takes time… but when you can look back and see the transformations… it’s just amazing!

So yea, I’ve been feelin’ myself a lil, and I wanted to show off my most recent photo of myself! ❤

Overtime, I’ve truly learned to accept the process, surrender to it and keep the faith.  In this I’ve learned to love myself in whatever state I’m in at the moment, and know that I will only be better and better as time goes on!

-Jen

 

Just because & YAY for eyebrows :p

 

digestive health, eczema, food allergies, health books, holistic healing, holistic nutrition, holistic nutritionist, informational goodies, nutrition, nutritional medicine, nutritional science

Check Out! : Eczema Podcast #4

by jlh827Leave a Comment on Check Out! : Eczema Podcast #4

Hey guys!!  My good friend Abby Lai, just posted her newest podcast on her site: http://www.primephysiquenutrition.com/

In this one she interviews Joy McCarthy a Holistic Nutritionist in the Canada area.  They cover a whole lotta great information with the focus on how digestion, food allergies and nutrition affect eczema… something that if you’ve been checking out my blog you know I’m very passionate about.

Please take a listen/watch and make sure to check out Abby’s blog for more info and her past podcasts!

The Eczema Podcast #4: How Digestion, Food Allergies & Nutrition Affect Eczema (plus, a giveaway!)

EczemaPodcast4

 

 

 

 

 

depression, eczema, essays, topical steroid withdrawal

Essay Spotlight: “Withdrawn” by Summer Dowd-Lukesh

by jlh827Leave a Comment on Essay Spotlight: “Withdrawn” by Summer Dowd-Lukesh

Hey Warriors!  Please check out this phenomenal writers essay written for http://www.radlabmag.com.  Her name is Summer Dowd-Lukesh, and her words had me in tears and conjured up flash backs to how I felt in the most intense times of my withdrawal.  Her vulnerability is very courageous and I’m sure she found writing and sharing her experience to be very cathartic. 

“Withdrawn” by Summer Dowd-Lukesh

Summer’s tumblr

Stay strong warriors!  This too shall pass ❤

depression, dr. david jeremiah, eczema, holistic healing, inspirational reading, itsan.org, journal entry, spiritual reading, topical steroid withdrawal

Tackling depression in TSW & the Dark Times in Life

by jlh8276 Comments on Tackling depression in TSW & the Dark Times in Life
Tackling depression in TSW & the Dark Times in Life
IMG_1
Thanks Lorraine Glover for the beautiful artwork!

Topical Steroid Withdrawal is a process that will not only transform your body for the better as you physically heal from the toxins of the steroid use, but it will also test you mentally and emotionally.  Many warriors have gone through the trials of depression while healing and have found ways to cope, stay strong and to keep pressing on.  I felt that it would be a great idea to reach out to those on the facebook groups, itsan.org forum, and to those who have already healed from eczema and get their accounts on how they got through the dark time in their lives.

Continue reading “Tackling depression in TSW & the Dark Times in Life” →

eczema, holistic healing, inspirational goodies, milestones

2015!!! Looking Forward to an Awesome Year of Healing!!!

by jlh8272 Comments on 2015!!! Looking Forward to an Awesome Year of Healing!!!

Happy New Year!!!

I love the feeling of “new beginnings” and “a clean slate”.  I actually like to look at my birthdate as my New Year.  🙂

Although we don’t need a specific date on the calendar to tell us that we can start fresh, it’s nice to have a date where everyone celebrates together at the wonderful new beginnings of the future.  When you really think about it, we can choose any second of any day to start anew.  It’s just a conscious decision to change it up and work on ourselves.

2014 had its ups and downs for me, but I’ve made a conscious decision to let those things that I wasn’t able to accomplish or the rough times that I had went through health wise (and are continuing to go through) not get me down.  I’ve decided to keep on looking forward and let go of all the opportunities I may have missed out on, the people who may have disappointed me, and all the negative energy and bad vibes that may have came my way.

2015 will be a year of complete healing!  I can feel it that this is truly the end of this healing process and I won’t be going through this at all this time next year!  I like to “call things into existence” and I’m definitely calling this one in.  I want to be in the best health of my life, fully living my life and enjoying new experiences and opportunities this year.

I usually like to say that right now I’m 90% of the way there in my healing with just my feet left to restore.  The rest of my body from my ankles up is so much better from where it was years ago.  My natural oils are coming back, the thickness is smoothing out, the discolouration is evening out, I’m rarely itchy on the rest of my body, my face is insanely smooth and clear… even the wrinkles under my eyes are fading away!  I’ve seen the transformation of my skin, and I know that my body is recovering and healing!  I have nothing but gratitude for this rough journey, because it has taught me so much about myself, that our bodies are amazing at healing themselves, and has made me more spiritual with a closeness to God.

I mention that I like to say 90% of my body… but if I’m going to speak things into existence then I should say, “I’m completely healed! 100%!”.  I’ve learned that we must “CALL THE THINGS THAT AREN’T AS IF THEY ARE”.  So I’m claiming complete healing, and by this time next year, when I post my overview of 2015 on the first of Jan 2016, I’ll have nothing but awesome things to say about the past year!

I’m wishing everyone a blessed New Year of strength, healing and love! ❤

-Jen

currently reading, eczema, health books, holistic healing, informational goodies, nutrition, nutritional medicine, nutritional science

Currently Reading – Food is Your Best Medicine by Henry G. Bieler, M.D.

by jlh8271 Comment on Currently Reading – Food is Your Best Medicine by Henry G. Bieler, M.D.

Such a great read!!!

IMG_5752

Cracked open this awesome read not too long ago, and these pages pertaining to skin health really stuck out at me.  It further affirms that detoxification and changing your lifestyle to a healthier more nutrient dense one is the only way to go to heal up the gut, internal organs and in turn, the skin.  I’m still in the middle of it, and will follow up with more key points that stood out to me.  This book is such an oldie (published in 1965!) but such a goodie!  Definitely a must read! 

Henry Bieler, MD, in his book “Food is Your Best Medicine” said that he always explained to his patients that their pain and illness is the result of their dietary mistakes and intake of drugs.  He said that when the normal chemistry of digestion is upset because of unhealthy living habits, toxins are stagnated in the blood which can impair the filters and eliminative organs, chief of which are the kidneys, liver, bowels, and skin.  He explained that skin problems like eczema is a “terrific attempt” by the body to get rid of toxins since the normal channels of elimination such as the liver are no longer functioning normally.  If the bile poisons in the blood come out through the skin, we get the various irritations of the skin and itching is one of these irritations.  The itching is necessary so the poisons can come out of the skin.  “Thus, the skin is substituting for the liver, or a vicarious elimination is occurring through the skin” (Bieler, pg. 43). 

He describes eczema as a hyper secretion of the thyroid gland.  “This gland, located at the base of the neck, controls all functions of the body’s three layers of skin: the outer skin…, the inner skin… and the middle skin.  The normal function of the outer skin is to exhale gases, sweat out water and certain toxic salty substances and oil itself and its hair with special oil glands.  The vicarious elimination, which results from forcefully exuding gases, acid sweat, and toxic oils and greases through the outer skin has supplied names to enough diseases to fill a large dermatology text book.  Chronic eczema, ichthyosis and psoriasis are common examples.  Skin diseases, which are really signs of toxic irritation, respond well to a treatment, dietary and local, directed to the neutralization and elimination of the offending poisons.  This brings the hyperthyroidism under control.” (Bieler, pg. 46).