Abby’s Open Letter to Eczema Sufferers

My good friend Abby of Prime Physique Nutrition wrote a lovely heartfelt letter to her readers and I wanted to share it all with you. It can be a rough journey that we travel and having encouraging words from others can really help us through. For all of those out there suffering, you’re not alone, I’ve been there and Abby has been there, it does get better…just keep the faith and continue to trust in the body‘s natural healing capabilities!

Stay strong eczema warriors!

An Open Letter to Eczema Sufferers 

Fellow TSW warrior, Thomas shares his story on Instagram!

My homie Thomas has decided to share his Topical Steroid Withdrawal story with his friends on Instagram! I’m super proud of him for being so courageous, it takes a lot of guts to put yourself out there, and I’m sure that he will reach many others just by honestly sharing his experience & his passion for healing with a whole foods plant based diet. He’s been in TSW now for about a year and has been pushing through like a trooper. Cheers to you Thomas! Keep on keepin’ on! 🙂

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I think its time to share what my life has been like for the past year. For all of you that have normal skin, take a moment and appreciate the hell out of it. Not only do I look like sh*t, but my confidence is non existent, it sometimes hurts to fully extend my arms, and I cant sleep through the entire night without waking up to an itch fest. Every day is a struggle just to get by. This is the worst its ever been so it can only get better right? What I have is eczema. In an attempt to cure this “incurable” condition, I changed my diet to only organic fruits and veggies. With the help of all the nutrition, my body now has enough energy to start dumping out all the bad stuff. Diseased cells and tissues are being disposed of and malfunctioning organs are being restored to life, and the toxins are coming out of my skin. The good news is eventually there is an end date to this misery, just don’t know when. All I can do now is have faith that my body will restore itself as long as I continue to provide it with good food, water, light, and love.

Reaching our healthiest potential, we must come undone…

Such a beautiful quote to wonderfully express our healing process! ❤
Sending healing vibes to all!

“For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone. The shell cracks, its insides come out and everything changes. To someone who doesn’t understand growth, it would look like complete destruction.”

Cynthia Occelli

That dang maddening itch!!!

 

Just did a lil post sharing info on the Eczema & Topical Steroid Withdrawal -Red Skin Syndrome Support Group on facebook about why we itch and why it’s best to not suppress it…..

Hey guys! Here’s some info I’d like to share with y’all about that dang itching we’re all experiencing and have ever since we got eczema. This is from the book Food is Your Best Medicine by Henry Bieler MD.

We gotta keep in mind that the body doesn’t make any mistakes. All that heat and itching is for a reason. Just like having diarrhea or fever is the body’s mechanism to kill or get rid of germs, there is reasons for itching and heat in the body with eczema.

The following information is what I found to be the most logical explanation of why you should not use drugs to suppress the severe itching associated with eczema, it’s truly a part of the process as maddening as it may be

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 is 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 (can be the cause of) chronic eczema…Skin diseases…are really signs of toxic irritation…” (Bieler, pg. 46). To stop the itching, hyperthyroidism must be brought under control through diet changes and complete elimination of offending toxins.

Itching as Henry Bieler explains in his book is a “terrific attempt” by the body to get the toxins out of the body. So itching leading to skin lesions that become infected is nothing more than channels of elimination to remove toxins out of the body. This will only stop when the natural channels of elimination (liver, kidneys and intestinal tract) function normally.

  • Natural antihistamine like foods that are high in Vitamin C such as kiwi, pineapples, oranges and bell peppers will help with the itching since one of the main causes of increased histamine levels in the body is a vitamin C deficiency. Black cumin seed oil and using the crushed seeds with a spoonful of honey is also a good natural antihistamine remedy. Also taking plant based digestive enzymes at night such as bromelain will help reduce itching. Here’s the digestive enzymes I take to keep the itching down as much as possible. Bee pollen also helps because it has quercitin in it which minimizes the histamine response. 

Vitamin C has an effect on histamine in your system, and your body’s vitamin C levels also regulate your level of histamine release. Adequate vitamin C consumption maintains relatively low levels of histamine in your system, while a vitamin C deficiency can raise your body’s levels of histamine, according to a study published in the “Journal of the American College of Nutrition” in 1996. The abnormal histamine levels as a result of vitamin C deficiency can have an effect on your overall health. SOURCE  SOURCE

  • I haven’t personally tried this remedy, but taking some activated charcoal can help because it will absorb circulating toxins and remove them quickly from your system. However, activated charcoal is indiscriminate in what it absorbs.  Therefore, it should not be taken with food or medicines as it would absorb them too, and it should not be taken over long periods of time.  It is, however, good for instant relief of circulating toxins.  
  • To overcome itching and heat at night so you can sleep, grind fennel seeds and cumin seeds and allow this powder to soak in half a glass of water for 2 hours or longer. Drink this mix and all the soaked powder content and this takes away the heat and itching with the cooling action of the ingredients.
  • There is also a product that I’ve found effective to calm down the itching too, it’s an essential oil blend made for allergies called TriEase. You can get it HERE (just click on the “shop” tab and type it in a search). I also did a whole post on it HERE

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

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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 ❤

Tackling depression in TSW & the Dark Times in Life

Tackling depression in TSW & the Dark Times in Life
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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”

Words of Affirmation & Scriptures for Healing

 

Healing is not only a physical process, but an emotional and mental one.  If there’s anything that I’ve learned with battling cancer and now pushing through TSW, is the importance of keeping a good, hopeful attitude and having positive thoughts of affirmation.  In dealing with different situations, the way we think and the words we speak into existence can either have a negative or positive effect on our bodies in so many ways…

Continue reading “Words of Affirmation & Scriptures for Healing”