Spiritual Naturopathy

Spiritual Naturopathy: Allergies

This episode is about: Allergies and how and why they occur. Understanding cause and affect leads to insights which in turn can lead to cure. Hi, and welcome to another episode of Spiritual Naturopathy! Have you ever wondered what you're sensitive to and why? It doesn’t matter if it’s an allergen, like the pollen in the air here in Texas, where we have cedar fever, mold, oak pollen, and all sorts of stuff. Those can cause allergies. Another thing in the air that can cause allergies is animal dander, like from cats and dogs. Some people are allergic to both! Another way we get allergies is through contact with things. For example, if you touch poison ivy or poison oak, you’re going to get a rash. People can also be allergic to latex, or even certain metals. My wife can’t wear jewelry made of silver or other metals because it gives her a rash. It’s tough to buy her jewelry, but I can’t use that as an excuse. Allergies happen when your body reacts too strongly to something, and your immune system can’t handle it. You can also have allergies from eating certain foods or even from using products like cosmetics. If you use something like makeup, it goes into your skin and into your bloodstream, so it should be safe enough to eat. If you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin. Sometimes, we take medicines that might cause allergies, but here's the thing: when you see a commercial saying, "Don’t take this if you’re allergic to any of the ingredients," how do you know you’re allergic unless you've already tried it? It’s a strange situation, but the point is, allergies are often about how your body reacts to things, and sometimes it's about strengthening your immune system. One way to deal with allergies, especially airborne ones, is to try local honey and pollen. You start with a tiny amount, like one or two grains, and slowly increase it. This can help your body get used to the allergens around you. I even spoke with a Senator once who said he cured his allergies by eating bee pollen! Now, allergies can be linked to how stressed out you are. When you’re stressed, your immune system gets weaker, and that can make allergies worse. So, it’s important to manage your stress to help your body handle things better. If you have allergies, it’s a sign that your body needs some help. When you have symptoms, like a rash, think about where the rash is on your body. For example, if you get a rash on your arms, your arms help you either bring things toward you or push things away. What might be bothering you? If your eyes water, that means you can’t see clearly. Sometimes this happens in life when you’re confused or unsure about something. A runny nose can mean that you have doubts about yourself or what’s going on around you. Asthma is another common symptom of allergies, and it can happen because of both physical and emotional issues. Asthma affects your lungs, making it hard to breathe. This can be a sign that you’re struggling with doubt or lack of faith in yourself. Nutritionally, you can support your immune system by eating vitamins like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Zinc. These are all important for staying healthy. Vitamin A helps your immune system fight off bad things in your body, and it’s also important for your vision—seeing clearly, both physically and symbolically. Vitamin C helps your body stay strong and protect itself, while Zinc is important for your health in many ways, like helping your body use energy. I write about all of this in my books, and you can find them online if you’re interested. In the end, it’s all about understanding yourself and your body. Question things, look for patterns, and think about how your body reacts to the world around you. Understanding and applying this knowledge will help you grow stronger, and you’ll become the person you want to be, not just what others expect you to be.

Spiritual Naturopathy: Candida & Allergies

This episode is about: Candida and allergies are a part of the hypoglycemia issue. These are all brought about by stress. What to do about all if it is covered. Alright, welcome back! Last week, we talked about hypoglycemia, Candida, and allergies. We covered hypoglycemia pretty well, including the nutrients you need and some symptoms. Remember, some symptoms of hypoglycemia are similar to Candida, but there are a few differences. Now, let’s talk about Candida. Candida is a type of yeast that lives in your body, especially in your throat. This is why babies sometimes get thrush, which is a condition where Candida grows too much. When this happens, it means the baby’s immune system is too weak to stop Candida from growing. Adults can also have Candida problems, and one common sign is sinus issues. If you have sinus congestion, it could be Candida. To help clear this up, you could try using a neti pot with golden seal root. You can either buy it as a tincture or make your own tea by boiling golden seal root in water. Candida is natural in your body, but things like antibiotics can cause it to grow out of control. Antibiotics kill both bad and good bacteria in your stomach. The good bacteria are important because they help make vitamins for your body. When antibiotics wipe out these bacteria, Candida can start to grow in their place. If you have a “leaky gut,” the Candida can even spread into your bloodstream, which makes you feel really sick. To fight Candida, one of the best things you can do is take probiotics, which are good bacteria that help your body. You can drink liquid probiotics to flood your body with good bacteria and prevent Candida from growing too much. After you take antibiotics, it’s important to take probiotics to protect your body from Candida. There are also herbs like Golden Seal Root and Oregon Grape Root that can kill Candida. Golden Seal is really powerful because it also lowers blood sugar and works as an antibiotic, antifungal, and more. You can also use other teas like black walnut tea or oregano oil to help kill Candida. Another way to help fight Candida is to support your immune system. This includes taking vitamins like Vitamin C and B vitamins, and using herbs like ashwagandha and licorice. Eating healthy food and drinking clean water are also important. Candida can sometimes make you feel tired and unmotivated, which is a sign your body needs help. Emotional stress from childhood, like having a bossy parent or bullying, can also affect your health later in life and contribute to things like hypoglycemia and Candida. If you ever feel overwhelmed, it could be because your body is holding onto old emotional stress. Let’s quickly touch on allergies. If you have allergies, it means your body is sensitive to certain things, like pollen or food. Food allergies are easier to avoid because you can just stay away from the food, but it’s also helpful to understand why you’re allergic to it. For example, if a child once saw their parents argue and food got thrown at them, they might later become allergic to that food. Airborne allergies are harder to control, but they also show that your immune system is reacting to something it sees as an attack. In both allergies and immune system issues, the body’s response is often related to emotional stress. If you're always feeling sensitive or overwhelmed, your body might get sick as a way to express that. To get better, it’s important to pay attention to your emotions and figure out what’s causing your body to react. So, take care of your body and mind. Remember, being healthy is about balancing your physical and emotional well-being. If you need help, don’t hesitate to ask. Take care and be well!

Spiritual Naturopathy: Hypoglycemia

This episode is about: Low blood sugar, hypoglycemia and its related conditions. And, of course, what you can do to fix it. Hi, and welcome back to another session of Spirit 20 Tropathy! If you have any questions about anything I talk about, whether it’s from a past show or a podcast, feel free to reach out. Like I mentioned last week, I’m not sure what to call these – maybe "discussions," but it’s mostly one-sided since you have to ask me questions! So, if you’ve got something on your mind, or want to discuss anything, email me at Michael383@me.com. You can also check out my websites: Michael’s Health for nutrition and lifestyle tips, and Michael’s Spiritual Health for emotional and spiritual guidance. Today, we’re going to talk about hypoglycemia, Candida Albicans, and allergies. I call them "kissing cousins" because if you have one, you might have the other two. Sometimes, hypoglycemia is the main issue, sometimes it’s Candida, and other times it’s allergies. These three conditions are connected in many ways. In fact, Candida and hypoglycemia can also cause chronic fatigue and even fibromyalgia. We'll dive deeper into that today. Let’s start with allergies. There are food allergies and airborne allergies (like pollen and dust). Both types are caused by proteins your body reacts to as if they are harmful. This can overload your immune system, causing an allergic reaction. In severe cases, like with peanuts, it can even cause anaphylactic shock, which can be deadly. Now, let’s talk about hypoglycemia. If you or someone you know wakes up feeling tired, irritable, or miserable, that could be a sign. If they can’t function until they have coffee or some sugar, it might be hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia happens when your blood sugar is low, and it can cause headaches, brain fog, and a lack of energy. Your body needs sugar (or glucose) to function. When you eat sugar, your body turns it into glucose. Without enough glucose, you can feel weak and even depressed. A funny example is from the Snickers commercial where they show people getting cranky when they’re hungry. Around 3 p.m., many people with hypoglycemia start feeling tired and are looking for something to boost their energy. Snickers picked up on this and made ads for that 3 p.m. pick-me-up. But things are getting worse as more people rely on sugary drinks and caffeine for energy. I heard a crazy story about a company that sells energy drinks: one of their cans fell and exploded, eating a hole in the cement! That's how powerful some of these drinks are! The cause of hypoglycemia is often adrenal exhaustion, which is caused by stress. You may have heard me talk about the adrenal glands before. They’re responsible for your body’s “fight or flight” response. When they’re overworked, it can affect your blood sugar, immune system, and overall energy. Stress can come from all sorts of things – work, relationships, or even just feeling overwhelmed. When you feel stressed, your body needs more nutrients to deal with it. To help your adrenal glands, I recommend taking vitamins like pantothenic acid (a B vitamin) and vitamin C. Ashwagandha and licorice are great herbs to support the adrenals too. Licorice, in particular, is good but should be used in moderation because too much can raise blood pressure. Let’s look at hypoglycemia from a symbolic perspective. Stress is often the root cause. There’s physical stress from exercise, and emotional stress from situations in life. Have you ever felt your heart race when a police car pulls up behind you? That’s your body’s response to stress. Stress can use up your vitamins and minerals, which is why it's important to take care of your body’s nutrition.

Spiritual Naturopathy: Colds & Flus

This episode is about: Protecting our selves when we are sick and under a lot of stress as well. Welcome to another episode of Spiritual Naturopathy! I’m Michael. Last time, we talked about colds, flus, and pneumonia, and how they can make us feel afraid and sick. We left off talking about symptoms like congestion. Today, we’ll focus on how to protect ourselves and feel stronger, especially when our body is under stress, like when we’re sick. One of the first ways to stay healthy is by taking care of your immune system. A strong immune system helps you avoid getting sick and recover faster when you do. It also helps slow down the aging process because it helps remove damaged cells from your body. There are three nutrients I love for boosting the immune system: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Zinc. Vitamin A is my favorite because it’s great for your skin and helps build strong immune defenses. Vitamin C helps your immune system fight off illness and also helps your body remove toxins. Zinc supports both your skin and immune system too. I also recommend a nutrient called Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5). It’s great for your adrenal glands, which are important when you’re under stress. Stress can weaken your immune system, so taking Pantothenic acid can help keep your adrenal glands working well. Besides vitamins, I like to use herbs to support the immune system. One I recommend is Golden Seal. It’s great for cleaning out bacteria and is helpful for things like acne. But be careful when using it inside your body, because it can also kill friendly bacteria. If you take Golden Seal, make sure to take probiotics afterward to restore your good bacteria. Another herb I recommend is Echinacea, which helps boost your immune system and cleanses your lymphatic system. Other herbs like Slippery Elm, Fenugreek, and Comfrey can help clear mucus from your lungs. These herbs are not harsh like some others, so they can help you get rid of mucus without making you cough a lot. If you’re sick, it’s also a good idea to cut down on dairy, because it can make your body produce more mucus. Mucus can get stuck in your digestive system and prevent nutrients from being absorbed properly, so less dairy can help your body heal faster. Now, let’s talk about congestion. When you’re sick, your lungs and sinuses can fill with mucus. Symbolically, congestion can mean there’s a lack of faith in yourself. If you’re feeling congested, try to think about what doubts or fears you may have in your life. Recognizing where doubt comes from can help you release it and heal faster. Another symptom to watch for is fever. A fever often means there’s anger or stress inside. If you or someone else has a fever, try to figure out what’s causing the anger. It could be stress, fear, or doubt, and recognizing it can help you heal. Finally, remember that healing is about understanding the root cause of your illness. Illness often starts with emotional conflicts that show up as physical symptoms. By understanding these emotional connections and using symbols to help guide you, you can better understand how to take care of your health. Thanks for listening, and I hope you’ve found these tips helpful! Stay healthy and take time for yourself.

Spiritual Naturopathy: Fear

This episode is about: The emotional effects of fear on personality and the body. What can be done to nullify it’s affects. Welcome to another episode of Spiritual Naturopathy! Last week, we talked about Alzheimer's disease, and looking back, I feel like I didn’t do a great job explaining it. The truth is, I haven’t had any Alzheimer's patients, and I like to feel confident in what I talk about. If I don’t know enough about something, I’ll find someone who does. Every day, I post a thought on Facebook, often inspired by books I read, including 8,790 Words of Wisdom. Some of the quotes are insightful, and some are just plain bad advice. When I see something I disagree with, I speak up. Similarly, when I come across something I like, I try to explain it more. The other night, I was lying in bed and thought to myself, everyone is smarter than I am. We all know something the other person doesn’t, and we can learn from one another. That got me thinking about fear—something that affects us all. Big Pharma uses fear in its advertising, especially if you're over 50. They try to make you believe that one out of every three people your age will get shingles or herpes or pneumonia. This fear pushes you to go out and get a vaccine or treatment, which is exactly what they want. Fear weakens your mind, and we all experience it in one form or another. The way they use fear to control us is wrong. One of my favorite scenes from the book Dune shows a character facing his fear. A wise woman tells him, Fear is the mind killer. I think that’s powerful. Fear messes with your mind, and the people behind these ads know how to use it. But who are "they"? The pharma companies, for one. But there’s also the broader system of human teachings designed to control you—these teachings come from man, not God. We see it in so many aspects of life—like how society says men are dominant and women are submissive. That’s wrong, too. We are all equal, as the Bible says. Another false idea is that strength is more important than weakness. There are many kinds of strength, and I’m focused on building quiet strength, which brings personal power. You don’t need to brag about it; it speaks for itself. Quiet strength helps you accept everyone and feel love for all. In today’s world, people are led to believe that doctors know everything, but that’s not true. Doctors are good at emergency care, but they often don’t know much about nutrition, and that’s where true healing happens. The drugs they prescribe often just block symptoms or cause new problems. For example, if you watch a TV commercial about medicine, you'll hear a list of awful side effects. Why? Because those drugs don’t address the root of the problem—they just mask it. Now, let’s talk about getting sick. Many people get sick because of what's going on in their lives. When they feel uncertain or full of doubt, their bodies show it through sickness. For example, if you're having lung or sinus problems, it's often tied to fear or doubt. When you feel stressed or uncertain, it can affect your health. To deal with sinus congestion, you can use a Neti pot. It’s a simple tool you can buy at a health store to clean out your sinuses. Add a little golden seal root to the water to help clear out any bacteria or infection. For sore throats, try garlic and honey. It might sting a little, but it helps your body heal.