My Mirena Story...

So, I wanted to talk about my Mirena. Great subject, huh? But please, if you are a woman and have thought of getting one, or already have one, keep reading. My story may not only shock you, but give relative information on your own health and problems that might be currently plaguing you! Trust me...I am not the only one with a story like mine, and thank God for that. I thought I was going nuts, and, ok, that is always still debatable. 

It all started when I decided that I wanted a better form of birth control, yada, yada, yada. Skip to the part where things started to go wrong. Well, after insertion of the little devil, I cramped...and not just "hey I am getting my period" cramps, but "Holy crap, I remember these cramps!! They are called LABOR PAINS!" Seriously. My lower back was hurting, my legs hurt all the way to my knees on the inside, and it felt like I was about to give birth. But I never expelled the Mirena. And I bled...and bled, and bled, and bled. For 2.5 months. Now we are almost to 3 months and I am getting the sucker out tomorrow. But all those symptoms are supposed to go away. Well, not the labor cramping, but the rest did. Now onto the weird stuff. 

Shortly after having the Mirena put in (end of August), I started to notice that it was getting harder to run and not get super winded. And my heart would feel like it was going to pound its way out of my chest. I shrugged it off, until I started having problems falling asleep because my heart was pounding so hard. I was also starting to be short of breath for no real reason. Just a little exertion was enough to have me stopping for air. Totally weird since I was running and lifting weights and everything. Then I started feeling my heart flutter in my chest. And then the racing heart rate started. I had an ECG and an Echo. My heart was fine except for some trace regurgitation in the tricuspid valve and a sinus arrhythmia. Seriously, those are not problems and my heart is great. So I saw a shrink. He thinks it is all physiological and all stemming from PTSD from the home invasion we had this summer. Ok, I can buy that to some extent. But I still wasn't satisfied. I started doing research since everything started about the time I got the Mirena put in. I was shocked at how many people had the same problem, had doctors tell them the same thing! And also how once the Mirena was out their life started to slowly get back to normal. So why aren't we being warned about this?? Obviously it is happening frequently and people are having serious complications to the little devil! I plan on keeping a diary starting tomorrow after I get the thing out. I am hoping that it will bring some insight into my heart and health issues and I can get back to normal, AND let people know what an evil little booger the Mirena really is! I think the med company is hiding stuff about it. I hope people will listen and then maybe the Mirena will be exposed! 

If you don't believe me, just Google "Mirena and Heart Problems" or "Mirena and Heart Palpitations". You will be shocked! And let me know if you have experienced problems like these. I am interesting in hearing your story as well!!

Canning oils for salves

Infused oils are the base ingredients for your salves. Making them is super easy! I will give you the short and quick of it and also tell you how to make sure you don't end up with rancid oil (I just had to throw one out because the seal popped. I was super sad.)  

FIRST OFF: Please research your herbs to make sure that the herbs are safe to use! This is your responsibility! Mistakes can be hazardous and even fatal! 

So let's start with what you need: Glass jars and your standard canning equipment, cheese cloth (or muslin), desired herbs (dried or fresh), and a good base oil, like Olive or Grapeseed, double broiler if you have one, if not then a glass bowl over a pot of boiling water will do. 

There are two methods, which I usually combine: Hot infusion and cold infusion.

Hot first:

1. So, you combine the oil and the desire herbs in the double broiler or glass bowl. The ratio is basically 1:1 for dried herbs. A little more than 1:1 for fresh. (Preferably 2:1 for fresh, but you have to make sure you have a big enough jar and that the herbs are covered in the oil.) 

2. Simmer the oil and herbs for 2-3 hours. 

3. Remove from heat, allow to cool, strain through muslin or cheese cloth, making sure to squeeze all the oil from the herbs. 

4. Pour into an airtight, STERILIZED (remember about the rancid oil thing??) jar and store for up to a year. 

Now cold:

1. Combine oil and herbs in a STERILIZED (there it is again!!) jar, making sure the herbs are covered by oil. 

2. Close jar and shake to mix the ingredients together. 

3. Place in a sunny window and let sit for 2-6 weeks. (or if you are like me you leave them for 2-3 months)

4. Strain and store just like you would the hot infusion. 

How I combine the two:

After simmering the oil and herbs I hot can them together and make sure the jars seal and then sit them in a sunny window for 2 to 3 months. This makes a more potent infused oil. I like some of my oils (like calendula, chamomile, and chickweed) strong. They are benign herbs therefore they won't harm in excessive amounts applied topically. They will just be more smelly :) (think lavender!) I also add a couple drops (that's all you need) of essential oil (like lavender or tea tree) and a couple drops of pure vitamin e oil to each jar before storage. This helps preserve them and keep stuff from growing in them once you have opened them. :)

STERILIZING JARS, RINGS AND LIDS:

This is so important for storage. You have to get the jars, rings, and lids hot enough to kill any microorganisms that may be lurking. Just the facts. Start with a clean work space. We have our hot water set at 180 or 190. I wash my jars on the sanitize setting in our dishwasher and then don't touch them except on the bottom of the jar. You can also boil the jars, rings, and lids. I have done this as well. It all works. Just make sure you never touch the jar except on the outside and bottom, and don't touch the rings and lids except with a canning tool. This will ensure a good seal and that nothing can grow in or get into the infused oils. 

These are the methods I like to use. Some people use more or less herbs and some people like different oils. It isn't set in stone and each ingredient brings its own unique quality to the finished product!

1st Post: Echinacea and Golden Seal

Thanks for stopping by! I wanted to start a blog about the stuff I love, the stuff I know, and the stuff I have a passion about that isn't necessarily related to my kids! They are great, but I wanted to put something else out there too! I plan on giving a tip and then some research about it so it's not just some information that someone said. I am not a doctor, but I do research my herbs very well and have a great library of herbal books that explain their chemistry, what they do, what they interact with, and any contraindications. This is just my own two cents of knowledge research and is in no way meant to treat or diagnose any disease. Please consult your family practitioner or other medical personage before starting any supplement or starting a new exercise program. 

So here goes:

My 1st Health/Herb tip

I am a firm believer that God has put plants on this earth to help us, and not just for food. But at the same time, you must be careful and use herbs and plants wisely and really do your research before you just start taking or using something that is a natural remedy. After all, arsenic is "all natural". 

Today, I want to touch on a couple herbs that are in my medicine cabinet: Echinacea and Golden Seal. 

Echinacea is pretty harmless, and in fact, can have some immune boosting benefits. According to The Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Andrew Chevallier, FNIMH, echinacea, while its effect is not fully understood, it can stimulate the immune system to help fight against viral and bacterial infections. It helps "inhibit the ability of viruses to enter and take over cells". There have been studies that both support and contradict these statements, however. The safety concern with echinacea is allergic reactions, since it is in the daisy family. Anyone who has an allergy to daisies should avoid taking echinacea. 

My family takes it, in conjunction with other herbs, to help shorten the duration of colds. We find that this works. 

One of the other herbs, Golden Seal, is another story. It is sold in a combination therapy for immune support with echinacea. It is a potent remedy, according to The Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, "for disorders affecting mucous membranes." It is also antibacterial, used as a uterine stimulant, anti-inflammatory, and is astringent. However, it SHOULD NOT be taken during pregnancy, and is toxic if taken in excess. You shouldn't take it if you have high blood pressure, either. Also, according to The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety by Simon Mills and Kerry Bone, it is possible that chronic use of Golden Seal can block the absorption of Vitamin B. This could lead to other chronic health problems. 

I rarely take Golden Seal, but in case of a sinus infection or other bacterial infection, I keep it around. But just like everything else, excess=bad, moderation=ok. 

Keep that in mind when you are using herbs. AND DO YOUR RESEARCH!!!!!!! Don't just take something because you can get it at your local pharmacy in the supplement aisle. Read and gain knowledge and KNOW what you put into your body. 

Have a Happy Herbal Day!