Why Naturopathy is of value and 5 simples steps to afford it. 

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According to the the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians “Naturopathic medicine is a distinct primary health care profession, emphasizing prevention, treatment, and optimal health through the use of therapeutic methods and substances that encourage individuals’ inherent self-healing process. The practice of naturopathic medicine includes modern and traditional, scientific, and empirical methods.”

As I have worked and resided in the state of Indiana and now currently in South Carolina, I know that doctors of Naturopathy are not permitted to be licensed. Therefore, Naturopathic doctors are not covered by insurance. They also do not treat, diagnose or cure disease.  The mission is to educate and empower you in the area of health and healing. If you are new to Naturopathy or unclear of the difference between Allopathy and Naturopathy, it may be difficult to justify the out-of-pocket expenditure.

*Although I am trained as a Naturopath, I do not practice Naturopathy in the state of South Carolina.

Many people view Naturopathy as an investment in their health and life. Most of us allocate monies for vacations, new vehicles, and the latest technology, but how many of us consider setting monies aside for our health or rather the true healing of our bodies?

I can’t put a dollar amount on holistic health, but I know it has saved my family’s budget thousands of dollars in medical expenses, copays, and prescriptions. Naturopathic doctors educate and empower people in the art of healing naturally. Consequently, this may allow people to avoid or reduce purchasing prescription medications, the same medications that create side effects and cause a vicious cycle of needing additional medications to counter the side effects. 

5 Simple Ways to Afford Naturopathy:

  1. Set monies aside each week. Being a Dave Ramsey graduate, I believe in a $1000 or more emergency fund. How about doing the same for your health?
  2. Find non-essential areas to trim the budget, such as the cable, phone, or internet bill. Once you have reduced these bills, set aside the saved money for visits to your Naturopathic doctor.
  3. Add up your prescription medication and copay costs currently. Imagine not having the burden of these expenses. How much money would you save if you learned how to balance your body without prescription medicine? Become empowered by the healing practices of naturopathy.
  4. Dine out one less day per week and set aside the money you would spend on that one meal into your emergency fund.
  5. Ask for gift certificates for birthdays and holidays from your friends and family.

Besides saving money, consider the overall health benefits of natural solutions.  In the past 15 years, we have had minimal sickness in our family, so we have not had to see a medical doctor for sick care or take any type of conventional medicine including over the counter products. Learning to use whole, clean food as our medicine is what started me on the path to learn how to educate others.

Naturopathic doctors may see clients experiencing everything from minor to major health issues.

  • Most Naturopathic doctors believe God gave our bodies the ability to heal, given the appropriate resources.
  • In most cases, Naturopathic doctors do not utilize chemical or invasive means to heal the body.
  • Naturopathic doctors focus on preventative health and offer an alternative for those who feel conventional medicine may not always be the best solution for the body.

If you are looking for a licensed Naturopathic Physician, currently only sixteen states provide licensing laws for naturopathic physicians:

  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • District of Columbia
  • Hawaii
  • Kansas
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Minnesota
  • Montana
  • New Hampshire
  • North Dakota
  • Oregon
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Washington

2 Simple Ways to Love Your Body

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Love Yourself HeartSo often, we get caught up in loving everyone else—our kids, our spouse, our family and friends—that we forget to love ourself.

Take a moment and visualize how that would look—if you loved yourself. How would your outside look? How would your inside look?

What if I told you two simple things you could do to love yourself and change your overall appearance from the inside out? Would you do it?

The two simple changes you will need to make involve eliminating genetically modified foods and increasing your intake of whole, clean foods, such as fruits and vegetables.

Stop eating genetically modified foods because these foods are linked to weight gain, cancer and other health related illnesses. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are plants or animals that have been altered from the original state of the plant or animal and processed into our food. GMOs are found in everything from canned soups to baby formula! In fact, Brian Stoffel wrote an article that details “10 Foods You’ll Have to Give Up to Avoid Eating GMOs.” This article is alarming to say the least.

According to nongmoproject.org, “In the U.S., GMOs are in as much as 80% of conventional processed food. In the U.S., the government has approved GMOs based on studies conducted by the same corporations that created them and profit from their sale. ” This is a scary statistic and practice by our own government, not to mention a deceptive practice given the fact that companies are not mandated to include GMO’s on product ingredient labels. Furthermore, it is embarrassing that more than 60 other developed countries have either put a complete ban on GMOs or strong restrictions. Personally, I am not feeling the love of my country when it comes to GMOs!

According to greenamerica.org, there are nine GMOs to avoid:

  • Soy
  • Cottonseed
  • Corn
  • Canola Oil
  • U.S. Papaya
  • Alfalfa
  • Sugar Beets
  • Milk
  • Aspartame

Look for the NONGMO Project Verified stamp

To be sure your food and products are free of GMO’s, look for the verified label.

Eat more whole, clean foods and experience the freedom and physical and mental transformation of powerful nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fiber and beneficial fats. Your body was created for whole, clean food, so why not give your body what it needs to thrive! The best way to reduce your risk of disease is to eat healthy, and fruits and vegetables are two key food groups known to contribute to better health. Be mindful, though, of fruits and vegetables that may contain harmful pesticides. According to the environmental working group (EWG), there are vegetables and fruits that you should consider buying only organic.

The Clean 15 (the lowest in pesticides): Avocados, Sweet Corn, Pineapples, Cabbage, Sweet Peas (frozen), Onions, Asparagus, Mangos, Papayas, Kiwis, Eggplant, Grapefruit, Cantaloupe, Cauliflower, and Sweet Potatoes

The Dirty Dozen (Buy these Organic): Apples, Peaches, Nectarines, Strawberries, Grapes, Celery, Spinach, Sweet Bell Peppers, Cucumbers, Cherry Tomatoes, Snap Peas (imported), Potatoes. PLUS Hot Peppers, Kale, and Collard Greens

In closing, I pray you will choose to love yourself by giving up foods containing GMOs. Experience the freedom of health and wellness that whole, clean foods will provide you.

My Journey through a Toxic World: Part 1

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by guest writer Angela StClair

After Dr. Bonnie Schnautz ND suggested I read the New York Times article “The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare,” I was appalled, saddened, and ready to spark an awareness that impacts positive change to our environment and our bodies!

This lawyer committed 16 years of his life to expose a company’s use of the harmful chemical PFOA. The company, Dupont, knowingly used PFOA for over 5 decades, despite it making employees and community members sick.

“Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), also known as C8, is another man-made chemical. PFOA has the potential to be more of a health concern because it can stay in the environment and in the human body for long periods of time. Studies have found that it is present at very low levels in just about everyone’s blood in the United States.” American Cancer Society

Additionally, PFOA made CNN’s top five list of toxins that are everywhere.

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  1. BPA: found in water bottles, baby bottles, reusable food containers, etc
  2. Phthalates: found in shampoos, body sprays, colognes, etc
  3. PFOA (C8): found in teflon cookware, waterproof breathable clothing, etc
  4. Formaldehyde: found in particle board, paneling, plywood, etc
  5. PBDEs: found in televisions, computers, furniture foams, etc

 

Through my research of PFOA, I learned of the EPA’s reporting that PTFE, the chemical in Teflon, is closely related to the harmful PFOA chemical. Teflon (PTFE), a DuPont brand trademark, is still in many people’s kitchens in the form of a skillet. Most people have been warned about the harmful effects of Teflon skillets, but many of us still use these skillets for convenience, including myself.

Did you know, though, that convenience may be making you sick and harming your pets? According to EWG (Environmental Working Group), “Toxic fumes from the Teflon chemical released from pots and pans at high temperatures may kill pet birds and cause people to develop flu-like symptoms (called ‘Teflon Flu’ or, as scientists describe it, ‘Polymer fume fever’).”

For our health and wellness, it is imperative that all of us rid our kitchens of teflon and introduce one of the following healthy cookware options:

  • Ceramic
  • Cast Iron
  • Glass/Corning-ware
  • Regular Stoneware
  • Stainless Steel

In conclusion, as I continue on this journey through a toxic world, I hope you will join me and help me create an awareness, an awareness that could ultimately improve our health! We have become a society spoiled by convenience. Unfortunately, these daily conveniences may be hurting our health and causing illnesses that we never knew to associate with the products we buy. What is it that Oprah says? “When you know better, you do better.” Today, I know to get rid of the Teflon!

Great Career Opportunity for a Health & Wellness Consultant

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Do you live a natural healthy lifestyle? Do you have a strong passion to motivate others to live a naturally healthy lifestyle?       B Renewed has a tremendous opportunity for you.

B Renewed is growing and is searching for the right person to promote a culture of health and wellness to our clients.  To join our team you must be knowledgeable and compassionate about health and wellness. The candidate must also possess strong interpersonal and clerical skills.

The successful candidate must have a 2 or 4 year degree in a health related field or a wellness certificate from the health or fitness industry with at least one year of experience.

If you are ready to motivate others to reach their wellness goals, in our Christian faith based atmosphere, send a cover letter (conveying how your would serve this role) and resume todrbonnie@brenewed.com  

Work schedule would be Monday-Thursday 9am-4:30pm and Friday’s 7:30-9:00am.

Now Hiring Administrative Professional/Receptionist

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Do you have a passion for serving others? Are you looking for a way to help others with their health and nutrition?

B Renewed is currently looking to hire a part-time office assistant/receptionist with the following skills:

*Attention to detail, professionalism and passion for serving others are priority

*Strong interpersonal skills needed to greet and educate clients, answer telephone, schedule appointments and occasionally work events

*Health and nutrition knowledge preferred

*Approximately 20/hrs a week, Monday thru Thursday 9:30-4:30, which could lead to full time potential

*Enjoys a calming work environment with Christian morals

*Strong skills in Office Suite (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) required

*College education preferred

Please send a resume and cover letter stating how you can fulfill the above requirements and why you would be a great asset to our team.

Email your resume and cover to drbonnie@brenewed.com or mail to B Renewed Wellness Center, ATTN; Dr. Bonnie Schnautz ND, 6700 Darmstadt Rd. Suite A, Evansville, IN 47710.

 

Fight Cancer with your Fork featuring Dr. Susan Silberstein

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Who do you know that has been impacted by cancer? If you could help prevent cancer in your family, would you spend an hour to learn more?

  • Learn the latest on diet and cancer prevention
  • Learn what science says about diet and cancer survival
  • Learn the many advantages of using nutrition in a cancer treatment program
  • Learn the best foods and beverages for fighting cancer
  • Learn how to create an inner environment unfriendly to cancer

Please be our guest to hear Dr. Susan Silberstein Tuesday evening, March 31 at 7 p.m. CDT.  Susan is founder and President of BeatCancer.org (Center for Advancement in Cancer Education), a not-for-profit organization she established after the death of her young husband to cancer. Susan is a sought-after expert and international lecturer on nutrition, cancer prevention, and the psychology of health and disease.

Since 1977, she has personally counseled more than 25,000 cancer patients, provided continuing education to thousands of healthcare professionals, and trained nearly 60,000 prevention-seekers.

She is the author of numerous books, including Hungry for Health, Hungrier for Health, and Breast Cancer: Is it What You’re Eating or What’s Eating You? She is also creator of the Beat Cancer Kit series, narrator of the popular video Fight Cancer with Your Fork, and editor of Immune Perspectives magazine.

A Phi Beta Kappa and Fulbright scholar, she has given hundreds of broadcast, print and web interviews and has won numerous awards for her work in cancer education, among them the Jefferson Award of the American Institute for Public Service and the Founder’s Award of the National Foundation for Alternative Medicine.

Tuesday, March 31 from 7-8 p.m. CDT at the Tropicana, 421 NW Riverside Dr, Evansville, IN 47708, Walnut Room. 

Social time (with cash bar) and registration opens at 6:15 p.m. Lecture will begin at 7:00  p.m.

Parking is available in parking garage across from Tropicana.

This is a Juice Plus sponsored Prevention Plus Lecture.

The event is free to guests but you must register in advance by calling 812-473-2502 or by emailing info@brenewed.com.  Or you can register via Eventbrite.

8 Favorite Healthy Valentine’s Day Gifts

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8 Favorite Healthy Valentine’s Day Gifts to Give your loved ones gifts that keep on giving

Since Valentine’s Day is known for the chocolate and/or sugar, we felt it was an appropriate time to share healthier ideas for gift-giving. Sugar is the culprit in creating inflammation in the body, along with suppressing the immune system and disrupting gut flora. The following gifts can benefit every aspect of a person’s life and continue giving long after February 14. These are all products I use on a daily basis and attribute them to my natural solution to slow the aging process and increased vitality.

  1. Healy Microcurrent Wearable.  How do I love my Healy, let me count the ways. It speaks to our cells. It sends a message to correct the interruptions, stress, toxins, nutritional deficiencies, and excesses. It provides frequencies to target areas to correct the imbalances. This allows your body to restore to the correct frequency. Healy has 144,000 frequencies to counteract or balance stressors. From a technical perspective, Healy is a microcurrent medical device cleared by the FDA for local relief of acute, chronic, and arthritis pain and muscle soreness due to overexertion. Healy also has non-medical applications that use individualized frequencies to help balance your mind and body and relieve stress in support of wellness.  Schedule a virtual no-cost demo or watch the interactive presentation. You can go directly to my website for Healy product pricing if you would like to learn more.
  2.  Modere Clean Living products. Women can come into contact with hundreds of toxic chemicals before they leave their home from their lotion, deodorant, and makeup. These endocrine (hormone) disruptors have been linked to many forms of cancer. Spending a few extra pennies on your personal care products for yourself, teenagers, and loved ones will pay off long term and can be one more step to help prevent cancer.
  3. Essential Oils. I first started using essential oils for the emotional benefits with great results. My favorites are the citrus oils such as lemon or wild orange for under $15 that have mood uplifting properties.  Essential oils, if pure, are the lifeblood of a plant that supports the respiratory system as well as cognitive function. Essential oils can be used topically, aromatically (diffuser), or externally with some self-education.
    Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser

    Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser

  4. Fresh Organic Fruit Baskets. Our favorite supplier of citrus fruit is The Orange Shoppe. They pick them fresh and ship them directly to you. The quality exceeds anything store-bought and eating them over a sink is recommended due to the juiciness factor! You can mix different varieties of oranges and grapefruit for a practical, nutrient-dense gift. This is the perfect gift for those living in cold climates as they are a slice of sunshine that most of us haven’t seen for a while in February.
  5. Infrared (FIR) pad. Infrared heat is healing heat, unlike conventional heating pads. Infrared pads can simply warm the body internally on chilly winter nights, to providing relief from colds, flu, aches, pains, and fever. The HTE model has a sixty-minute timer so you can safely use it for children and the elderly without worrying about burning.  The average cost is $200.
  6. Vitamix Food Processor/Blender. I have owned all the other models as well as juicers and none hold a candle to the speed and ability to break down food into the small particle size like the Vitamix. Green smoothies should be a daily part of your diet so you need a machine with a powerful motor that only Vitamix offers.  Like any product, you get what you pay for. The Vitamix carries a 7-year warranty.  Prices start as low as $399 up to $649. However, I’ve found the mid-priced unit ($449) has served our family well for almost 9 years.
  7. Chi Machine. The Chi Machine has helped me, my family, and our clients with our wellness goals. It is the simplest form of stress reduction and all you have to do is lay flat and relax. Prices range from $449-$549 but be sure and contact us for monthly special offers and discounts.
  8. B Renewed Wellness Gift Certificate – You can purchase a gift certificate in $25 increments for a friend, family, or loved one.  It’s a gift that truly shows you care. Email us at info@brenewed or text/call 812-461-8922. You can even book them a Wellness Strategy Session here!

Our entire focus is on education, empowerment, and prevention. Our wish for you this Valentine’s and every day is to live life with vitality and reduced stress in all areas, including physical, emotional, and nutritional (excesses and deficiencies). Take time to educate yourself because an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure today.

From a Small Business Owner to Another, Lessons Learned.

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Over the past ten months since opening the B Renewed Wellness Center, it has been a journey of learning and growth. On most days, that growth would be better described as severe growing pains with the emphasis on severe and pain! You know the saying, “what doesn’t kill us makes us better,” right? So obviously, I must be a much better person for having experienced and (so far) survived my almost first full year as a brick and mortar business owner.

I started B Renewed Wellness Solutions five years ago, consulting out of my home office. With four years under my belt, moving into a retail location didn’t seem to be a drastic change. Boy, was I wrong! Moving into a business facility takes you into a whole new league.

So let me start by confessing what I perceived was the typical life of a business owner. I thought they spent half the year at their beach home or jet setting around the world from the millions made from their businesses. I also assumed business owners sat back in their office and directed their staff in making everything happen. And I assumed that customers showed up in droves and as scheduled.

What I didn’t understand was the financial expense of running a brick and mortar business, with insurances, taxes and overhead. The time commitment was another area that I completely underestimated. I didn’t realize the time and energy I would spend being a banker, an accountant, a human resource manager and a maintenance worker instead of a wellness consultant. I knew business owners had to wear many hats but didn’t realize how much time these other roles stole from the passion and energy of your God-given gifts.

I’ve learned that no matter how strong your team is, no one really cares about your business like you do. You are the one who sacrifices vacation time, holidays and most weekends. Employees don’t have the blood, sweat and tears in the game like you do. You are the one that would do this every day for little or no pay, and in reality, sometimes you do.

However, all this learning and growth happened for a reason, so please know I’m not complaining. These are all just challenges in life and I do love a good challenge.  We learn by experience and through doing life.  I needed to learn about the realities of a business owner and entrepreneur to further shape my world with the hope to be able to someday “pay it forward”. Respecting what others have built, whether it is an empire or a small start-up, is important. It is all part of the honor of living in the land of the free.

The true message here is to show my respect and appreciation for all those who have set out to create a business and persevered through the good, bad and the ugly times.  I can honestly tell you that I’ve wanted to throw in the towel on many a day. But God set me down this path and the path He puts you on is never easy. The trials and challenges in life shape us to become better leaders and better servants.

If you are a business owner, please accept my apologies for my erroneous thoughts about your life. I now know the truth is that you have slept little, worried much, and paid dearly physically, mentally and financially to live the American dream.

As a way to reach out and help others, I’ve created a private Facebook Group called Entrepreneurs/Small Business Support. It is for those who need support, guidance or just an ear that will listen. As a small business owner, we need to support each other as much as possible. More importantly, if I can share my lessons learned and save you the pain I endured, I want to do just that.

 

 

Benefits of an Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser

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Essential oil diffusers are an integral part of the holistic home or office. I have used diffusers for years and have one in almost every room of my home and office. A diffuser will add mist and/or essential oil molecules into the air to serve your daily emotional and physical needs.  For example, if you require focus on a task, you can use Rosemary Oil, Peppermint Oil or a blend of oils such as Focus Oil Blend. Eucalyptus oil is beneficial for respiratory support and Melaleuca is a purifying oil. Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Bergamot as well as Calming Aromatherapy Blend are wonderful essential oils to calm emotions. Diffusers are a valuable asset to to any home or office including salons, spas, classrooms (keeps kids calm and focused) as well as medical or therapy offices.

NYR Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser

A diffuser can create a peaceful and calming haven anywhere and adds a bit of spa luxury to everyday living. Costs of a diffuser will range from $45 to over $150.  I like the NYR Essential Oil Diffuser for its many benefits and reasonable cost of around $55.

Benefits to look for in a diffuser:

  • Auto shut-off
  • Easy to use and maintain
  • Low energy consumption
  • LED color lights with no light option

How to Use:

Add 3-5 drops of your desired essential oil to the water (filtered water is best) in the tank. It is recommended that you empty and rinse the water tank and wipe it dry with a clean cloth every time you use a different type of essential oil.

The NYR Organic diffuser has color changing mood lighting, which moves through a rainbow of colors, it can also be set on a single color of choice. There is also a no light option, to continue soothing while you sleep.

The diffuser dimensions are 7.1″ x 4.2″. It also acts as a mini-humidifier, creating a cool, scented and relaxing mist which will spread the oil fragrances quickly and effectively.

I truly believe this is the perfect gift for the person who has everything as you can place one in every room and add to an office or vacation home.

Asian Sautéed Vegetables with Red Palm Oil

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A delicious combination of Asian-style vegetables sautéed with the taste and nutritional benefits of organic red palm oil.

Ingredients:

½ cup of carrots, peeled and julienned
½ cup of red onions, medium diced
½ cup of green peppers, medium diced
½ cup of red bell peppers, medium diced
½ cup of broccoli
1 cup of mushrooms, small diced
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons of red palm oil
¼ cup of non-gmo soy sauce (or Bragg’s Aminos)
1 teaspoon of ginger, finely chopped
¼ cup of apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons of brown sugar
Salt and black pepper to taste
Preparation:

Heat a large pan or wok over medium-high heat and add red palm oil. Let it heat for 1 minute.

Add the garlic, carrots, onions, red bell pepper, green pepper, and broccoli, and cook for about 3 minutes or until vegetables have slightly softened.

Pour the apple cider vinegar and add brown sugar, then add salt and black pepper to taste and stir well.

Finally, add mushrooms, soy sauce and ginger.

Remove from heat and serve with thin rice noodles.

Here’s a great video of how to put this simple healthy meal together.  Enjoy!

Worried About the Mystery Virus? Don’t Panic…Prepare!

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Chances are you have heard about the mystery virus that is now in at least 18 states and has prompted the hospitalization of thousands of young children with respiratory symptoms, including asthma-like breathing problems. Today, I will shed some light on what this “mystery” is, and what you can do to prepare yourself and your family for this and other viruses (e.g. colds and flu) that take hold this time of year.

According to Web MD, the “mystery virus” virus is known as Enterovirus D68. It was first identified in this country in 1962. Several sources like Web MD and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), report that they don’t know why Enterovirus D68 is on the rise this year. Additionally, they can’t tell us why this hardy virus has presented with an intensified impact on the lungs; especially in children that already have a history of asthma.

What we do know, is that it starts out as a typical cold with a runny nose, sneezing, and then coughing. Typically the wheezing and breathing difficulties start fairly soon; often two or three days from the onset of cold-like symptoms. While a fever can be part of this illness, at the present time, it has been reported that only 25-30% of children who end up being diagnosed with this virus actually experienced fever as a symptom. EV-D68 is spread by coming in contact with an infected person’s saliva, nasal secretions, or sputum. It appears that older people may have immunity to this virus due to previous exposures to it. That is one reason why this is being seen predominantly in children. If there is a concern about your child’s symptoms, seek appropriate medical attention promptly, because as of early October, 2 children have died from complications of this virus, and at least ten have experienced paralysis.

What can we do for prevention?

Here are a few prevention strategies that have helped reduce my occurrence of viruses, colds, and flu.

  • Cut the junk out of your diet and the diets of those you love. Sugar suppresses the immune system’s ability to function at the cellular level.
  • Eat more whole, clean foods. Consider taking a “superfood” like Modere Phytogreens.
  • Drink plenty of purified water.
  • Obtain the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep nightly.
  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Spend enough time lathering and rinsing that you can sing “The Happy Birthday Song” before you dry them. Note: It is NOT recommended to use hand sanitizers to achieve the results you need. Chemical hand sanitizers can destroy the necessary good bacteria.
  • Do not allow the sharing of cups and utensils.
  • Encourage coughing into a tissue (and discarding it); or, if one is not available, people can cough into the crook of their arm.

I have cancer

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It’s the three most dreaded words that you pray you’ll never have to hear or say, “I have cancer.” I had to read the Facebook post again to be sure I was reading it correctly.  Those three dreaded words were written on her post.

I will call her Jean to protect her identity. As Jean expressed further in her post with frustration and anger, “I was doing everything right.” She eats organic, exercises, uses a whole home water filter and thermography versus mammography to reduce her exposure to radiation among many other preventative measures.  So how can you do everything right and still end up with this horrible disease?

Jean has every right to be angry and to ask God how she, of all people, could be diagnosed with cancer. It makes absolutely no sense at all. She is a friend and a fellow holistic wellness practitioner.  We graduated together as Certified Natural Health Professionals and ended up taking a Digestive Health Specialist class together as well. I loved her passion for the profession and her positive, warm, outgoing demeanor.

My thoughts when I read her post were a bit selfish.  I thought well, if it happened to her, it could happen to me. So I came to a realization that I wasn’t invincible from cancer even if I do most things right. However, I have always been cautious to inform people that following my clean lifestyle wasn’t a guarantee that you won’t get cancer, it’s just reducing your risk.

My next thoughts were about how she would deal with this as a human being and a wellness practitioner. My heart ached as I wondered how she would cope with this news.  I just wanted to leave and hug her, which wasn’t an option, because she lives too far away.

I wondered how she would approach her healing journey.  I am happy to know that she says she is focusing on the healing and not on the cancer. She is also addressing the emotional aspect to determine if there are some layers that need to be peeled away.  Stress and emotions play a significant role in cancer and in the healing process. She is also posting her journey and protocol on Facebook so that she can inspire and benefit others.

Her protocols are obviously all alternative which I am grateful for. She knows the truth, which is that God created are bodies to be whole. She knows that the toxins (emotional and physical) must be removed and the nutrient levels must be increased. She knows that chemo and radiation will not heal but place the cancer only in remission and further destroy the immune system.

She said she was humbled immediately, upon hearing the news. This was surprising because I never saw her as a prideful person. I also wanted to help her as a colleague but realized she is surrounded with many like-minded people that could help her. So I decided to pray instead and offer her words of hope, love and encouragement.  I would resist my innate need to “fix” the situation.

As a Naturopath following the same clean living protocols, it’s a wake up call that no one is exempt. It is also a reminder that God is in control and uses these situations to teach us life’s hard lessons. Part of me wants to say, “God you do have a crazy sense of humor”.

Some of you may be thinking, what’s the use? Why spend all the extra money on education, eating organic foods, eliminating chemicals in the home, etc? My first why is because my body is a temple and I will continue to treat it as one.  The second why is that I can’t fulfill my God-given purpose on this earth if I’m inundated with sickness and disease. It then becomes all about me instead about serving others.

It’s also a reminder to follow your heart and passion. I use the grapefruit analogy. We peel away the first layer to get to the fruit and sometimes are distracted or slowed down by the white pith. The pith may be a detour in our life or a place we have arrived thinking we are in the right place. The pith has a bitter taste so we realize that we haven’t yet arrived at the sweet fruit so we have to keep peeling.  The fruit is the truth inside of us. It is what God intended for us to be, our mission and purpose on this earth.

In the end, that’s what it is about. Are we fulfilling the role that God intended? Or are there other lessons he wants us to learn? Jean believes that there are always lessons that God wants us to learn. I believe I’m one of those students and will be grateful for the education.

*Although I am trained as a Naturopath, I do not practice Naturopathy in the state of South Carolina.