natural girls
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Hi Julia ~ You've been on my mind....how are you doing?
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YEAHHHH I am so happy to have found this thread, can I please join this discussion? I was on tamoxifen for ONE MONTH then the SE hit me like a train, I've been off of it for 5 days now and feel like I'm crawling out of my skin, high anxiety, SEVERE depression and I've never been depressed a day in my life, I cry all the time......it's terrible. ONC agreed to take me off of it, I would have anyway but today he put me on 10mg of Paxil, I didn't want to go on ANY meds but seriously I was ready to check into the hospital I couldn't stand it, took one this afternoon and hopefully it will help then when this poison tamox is out of my body i can go off the paxil.
Going back now to read all the threads here, I need supplements and more!! Thank you ladies for having this, this is a lifesaver! p.s. anyone know of a naturalpathic? dr. in central california they can recommend????
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Hi, Suzanne! I'm doing okay... had my much-dreaded mastectomy 2 weeks ago and am healing up okay... eager for this horrible year to be behind me and to move on to a promising new year!! Thanks for asking!
Welcome, Robyn!
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Welcome Robyn!
You have found a smart group of women here who do their research and are very supportive.
Cheery holidays, everyone.
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Not only does the cocunut oil have to be organic, but it should also be unrefined. If there is NO smell it had been refined. Nasty chemicals are used to refine it. The refining process makes the oil smoke at a higher temperature, so it can be used for cooking at a higher temp. Tropical Traditions is suppose to be the best coconut oil around-their Gold line. Google it.
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My favorite coconut oil recipe is that I simply rub it on the outside of a sweet potato before I bake it. It is delicious!
impositive: I have tried coconut oil on my hands and feet, but not all over and I have not had any reaction. I would say that if you are having a prickly, itchy reaction, you are probably allergic to it and you should stop using it at once. I have alot of allergies to medications and that is the usual reaction I have when I am allergic. There are other natural oils that you can try which may not produce that reaction.
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Sometimes skin reactions are a result of toxins coming to the surface and causing eruptions. This is called detox. I had this effect all over my face when I decided to try to detox the mercury from my mouth with NAC. So I stopped the NAC and decided I should get the mercury out first. I think the NAC was drawing it out to fast. It makes sense that following treatments we are filled with toxins, so we need to get them out.
Makingway, I just ordered Tropical Traditions last week. I will let you all know how I think it compares to the spectrum, which was all I could find locally. I was so happy to find a better source.
Coincidentally, I just got a book for Christmas that I finally was able to start called "The Coconut Oil Miracle" by Bruce Fife, ND,CN. It is chock full of great info about the benefits of coconut oil and even has some great recipes.
My other new book is Breakthrough, by Suzanne Somers. I had actually skimmed it before from the library, but I wanted to re read it, as I do with so many health books. I would not dare start a discussion elsewhere around here on her book. Go back and read some of those old threads and you will see pure hatred for SS. I cannot understand why some people think of her as her TV character and not as a women who has overcome the odds and is now passionately trying to spread her message to others. But for some reason the haters target Ms Somers with vehemence. Anyway, if you have not read her book, you should. It is very empowering.
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Vivre-- yikes seeing your post just reminded me! Oops, I'll email you.
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Vivre,
I have read Breakthrough, and I have the same feeling about SS. Thank goodness she came out with her books. She brought together some of the top alternative practitioners so we could see their collective points of view. It's so educational and informative. I want to buy the book so I can keep it as a reference point. Most of us live a long distance from all these doctors, and might not have had insight into their different approaches were it not for Suzanne Somers. She never purports to be a doctor, and she simply offers up her physicians' knowledge base and opinions for all of us to see. What a marvelous resource! As for those who don't like her, big fat whatever. At least she wrote a book that some of us can use.....
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P.S. I posted outside this thread about Sea Bucktorn oil and was wondering if any of you have experience with it? It's supposed to have some very good anti-cancer qualities and health benefits.
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I just ran into a friend I had not seen in awhile and we talked about my cancer she told me that she does healing with essential oils. She has been getting creditials to be able to treat people. Anyway found what she had to say interesting and am going to give her a call. Finding it hard to squeeze anything else in right now with rads but I would really like to hear more about what she does. Does anyone on here know anything about this. It sounded like she does something with putting the oils on certain spots on your back. Not sure about that.
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vivre- I just got some coconut oil and love it. My son says I smell like a Macaroon! The brand I got is "Kelapo", virgin, organic, unrefined, cold pressed. I got it at TJ Maxx! As you are reading a book about coconut, can you clarify if it is heart healthy. They used to say avoid coconut oil because it clogged up arteries. My jar says it has no cholesterol, I wonder about triglycerides? I am eager to cook with it!
Mandy- I can't wait to cook a sweet potatoe with coconut oil. Yumm!
Sherryc- Your friend might be getting certified to be an Aromatherapist. Aromatherapy has been used for ages and is widely accepted in Europe. The essential oils from plants all have different therapeutic properties. Google aromatherapy and you can see. I have used essential oils therapeutically for decades. I am actually developing a whole line of all natural skincare products scented only with essential oils (most fragrances are chemicals). I have always gotten compliments on my skin and I have always made my own skincare products using essential oils.
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Hmm, I just went to check both containers of coconut oil to make sure they're unrefined, and they are definitely unrefined (and extra-virgin and organic)... so I stuck my nose in the jar and took a whiff... yep, it smells like coconut macaroons. LOL I guess I've been walking around smelling like macaroons and didn't realize it! In any case, it's not overpowering the way something like suntan lotion is, and it's a pleasant scent, so I'm okay with it even if I do smell macaroonish.
DesignerMom, the campaign against coconut oil for the last six decades or so is thanks to flawed research + the hydrogenated vegetable oil industry's heavy PR. Here's an article that explains how coconut oil falsely got a bad reputation:
http://www.westonaprice.org/know-your-fats/541-new-look-at-coconut-oil.html
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Thanks for the tips ladies. I checked and the brand of coconut oil I use is definitely organic, unrefined, extra virgin. Since I eat it with no adverse reactions, I couldn't imagine being being allergic but maybe I am. I had the same thought Vivre....Coconut oil is antifungal so I thought maybe I was having detox reaction. I kept using it for a couple weeks (twice but with different brands) but just couldn't take it anymore so I stopped. I use a blend of oils on my face which includes olive oil and love it but it's too expensive to use on my entire body! Olive oil doesn't smell the greatest IMO. Someone suggested I try avocado oil but I haven't found any locally so I may have to look online.
I too have read SS's Breakthrough and Knock Out was the fist book I read after my diagnosis that got me started on this path of alternatives. There's a wealth of information there. My experience has been that the naysayers who are threatened by her haven't even read the books!! It's obvious in their posts. I think it's great that she has used her fame to help others. If she decides to write more, I'll be in line to buy....
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crunchy- As always, a wealth of knowledge! As coconuts are plants, I couldn't imagine they would be bad for the heart. It just didn't make sense. Thanks for the article. Very informative!
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Ok, I had to go out and buy a different brand of coconut oil. The one I was using wasn't unrefined and when I smelled it - well there wasn't a smell. I had been using it on my feet and they're so much better around the heals. I also started putting it on my hair while it is still damp, someone suggested that and I really like how my hair is behaving. It had gotten so dry after the rads. The new jar is definitely organic and unrefined.
I'm also having trouble especially during the holidays to stay away from sweets. The vendors brought all kinds of goodies into work.... ugh. I've been able to resist most of it especially the candy and some of the cookies but they also brought in pies and Harry and David truffles!
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makingway,
Do you have a naturalpathic? (not sure if I'm spelling that correctly) doctor in your area? I would like to be tested and recommended for supplements but can't find one here in Bakersfield. Thank you for your help! Robyn
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samsue, when you use coconut oil on your hair, do you leave it in or rinse it out?
Has anyone ever used Hawaiian Kukui Nut Oil? A friend of mine reports it's the best body moisturizer she's ever tried. I found this website, but just wondered if anyone is familiar with it:
DesignerMom, I'd love to hear more about your skincare products. How far along are you in development? If you need any product testers, keep us in mind! Deanna
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Instead of tagging onto what I just posted, as I often do, I'm purposely doing a separate entry for this new news that I just caught from one of those little pop up boxes here on BCO: http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal/new_research/20101210.jsp
Maybe you all have seen it already, but I was away and then so busy with Christmas that I'm just starting to catching up here. But a 26% increase in the risk of heart problems?! Are you kidding?! OMG, I'm beginning to feel vindicated!
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Deanna- Thanks for the link. As I have a followup with my Onc soon, and she is pushing me to go on Arimidex, this is more ammunition for me to NOT take it. Interesting how their studies only seemed to show that Tamox women had fewer heart incidents than Aromatase inhibitor women. Why wouldn't they compare it to women who didn't take them at all!
The all-natural skincare line will be ready soon. I have the formulas ready, have been working with a lab in Canada. I am just tweeking the scents. That is what has taken the longest. As I am only using pure essential oils for fragrance, I have turned into a natural perfumer, sometimes combining a dozen oils. My studio looks like a mad scientist's, but it smells divine! When samples are ready, I would love all of you saavy, smart natural girls to give me feedback.
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Julia-thanks for the great link. I posted it on my website so it won't get lost in the shuffle.
DesignerMom-the book goes into great deal about how good coconut oil is for the heart, and how it was vilified by the food industry so they could get people to use their other oils. In fact, a chapter is titled "A New Weapon against Heart Disease". They are not kind about canola oil (sorry you Canadian gals). I have read a lot of negatives about canola and all the other vegetable oils so I stopped using them a while back. When I mentioned that, it stirred up quite a controversy too. Now I too feel vindicated as more evidence comes out about how bad those other oils are. To add to their problems, they sit on hot or in freezing trucks in plastic bottles. Need I say more?
Somewhere, I also read, a while ago, that the theaters switched to these other oils for the popcorn. Remember how good it use to taste, and now it tastes like stale yuck? Well, the story goes that people were complaining about the popcorn, so they started telling people they had to change oils because coconut oil is bad for the heart. Good grief, we are so easily manipulated!
Robin-SS lists a lot of CA doctors in her books. Check it out. I al so glad to hear those of you who have actually read her books feel the same way I do. Isn't that like most things, people make judgements before they even read for themselves. Now if I could just get you who think Sarah Palin is dumb to read her book . . . LOL. And it was actually written by her. She was a journalism major in college.
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VIVRE,
You like SS and Sarah Palin, I knew I liked you! I'm gong to order the SS books right now!
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Thanks Deanna for posting the link. I hadn't seen the study. Not surprised though about Als having an impact on the heart, I took one Aromasin pill and it gave me an elevated pulse rate for several hours. That was a scary experience. Glad to see the comment "what works for some may not work for others." So very true. They didn't work for me.
Glenis
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I was talking to my yoga instructor yesterday about coconut oil and she said she used to use it but has switched to Rose Oil. She said really liked the coconut oil but that she has very dry skin and that the rose oil is working better for her.
Designermom would love to visit your chem lab bet it smells devine with all those essential oils.
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Deanna, Thanks for the link. I see my Onc. next week, and I am going to take that article with me. We have a lot of heart isssues in my family. One of my brothers had a major heart attack a few years back so this is of major concern to me.
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Sherry C.
I like the rose hip oil (hint from Victoria, Downunder) but cannot get it in large quantities like I can the coconut oil, but I use both.
Glenis
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I meant to add to my post about giving up my AI treatment that I was genuinely disappointed to have to give the drug up after 6 months due to unmanageable SE's. But in the last couple of months I have read a few things about pharmaceutical companies and their sometimes denial on certain side effects.
For example, I read in the summer about DES daughters and honestly I cried to learn that the debilitating side effects were kept quiet for 30 years or more until the drug was forced off the market.
The other thing that made me comfortable with my forced choice was learning about a conversation between my DH and a retired lawyer while playing golf. The lawyer told him about the power of the pharmaceutical companies. He represented DES daughters and the difficulty in winning a case because the ph companies had their paid drug experts defend the drug and deny se's.
Glenis
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I am still astounded at not only the results, but at one of the quotes in that MedPage story re. the newest A/I stats. What I found as incredulous as the stats is the quote from the MDAnderson doc, who commented "...treatments are available for increased lipid levels and for osteoporosis that might accompany aromatase inhibitor therapy, but he noted that curative treatment for metastatic breast cancer does not exist." Not to downplay mets in any way, but in their companion article, BCO interprets "cardiac events" as "heart attack, angina & heart failure" -- not an increase in lipid levels! And the last time I checked, heart failure and heart attacks were also pretty irreversible.
Glennis, I had a similar A/I experience to yours. I very reluctantly tried Femara for about a week. I was only taking 1/2 a dose, and had a passing out episode caused by severe nausea. So, clearly, these drugs are not for everyone.
I recently watched an excellent little presentation by an integrative doctor who was making the point that when considering any post-cancer treatment, he needs to be able to analyze and figure out what a patient is truly willing to do. Otherwise, an integrative plan is useless. I can't seem to create a link for it, but I can tell you how to find it if you're on Facebook. It's one of several short presentations by him that only seems to be accessible from his FB page, but it made me realize how much easier it is to dole out pills than it is to come up with an individual plan that each patient will seriously follow.
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Deanna- I agree that it is astonishing that the one doctor seemed to be downplaying the risks. I am going by memory (a scary thing), but in your link, if you scroll down, they reveal "disclosures" for each doctor. Several had no affiliation with pharmaceutical companies. I believe (could be mistaken) the one you referred to consults with Astra Zeneca. There is always more than meets the eye!
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Good catch, DesignerMom! I should have known!
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