How to Live Better with Hashimotos Thyroiditis

How to Live Better with Hashimotos Thyroiditis



Hashimotos Thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack its own thyroid gland. This guide is intended to help you take the first steps towards reclaiming your health. I have this disease myself and have found many helps throughout my journey. I am now sharing these with you.







Things You'll Need:





Determination




Positive attitude









1


Eliminate stimulants and chemicals from your diet.

Thyroiditis can be positively influenced by a healthy diet. Consider what you are currently eating. Keep a journal for a week and spot the culprits that might be there. Some of the more obvious ones are caffeine, sugar and preservatives. I react strongly to all three of these. It took me many years to realize what a significant burden those "foods" were to my health. The first two abuse the adrenal glands and cause all types of imbalance. Preservatives can cause further stress to the brain (especially Aspartame!). Greatly reduce or eliminate your intake of these substances. This is what I found to be the best "first step" in helping the symptoms of this disease.





2


Choose the treatment options that are best for you.

Please fully research all your options before you start any long term thyroid treatment! Consider first and foremost what your regular diet should be. Then, begin to choose the right treatment for your body. There are combinations of herbal supplements, synthetic drugs (I would strongly recommend against this choice unless you just can't get to other solutions), and natural desiccated thyroid preparations like Nature-Throid and Armour. There are other natural paths including detoxification methods. This is such an important step. I can't stress enough how bad I felt that I had missed this step 14 years ago! I just did what the doctor told me. To know more about this critical step, please see my website home page which is listed below this article.





3


Watch out for Over-the-counter medications.

Find and take the right medications and don't take the wrong ones! This is important. Just like food, ALL medications have side effects. It is very important to know what the side effects are and if they might be influencing your symptoms. For example, I used to suffer from excruciating migraine headaches. My HMO doctor (who was not interested in natural causes or treatments) suggested I take an over-the-counter medication. He said it was likely sinus related. This led me to Advil Cold and Sinus. Well, was I aware that my headaches got better because there is caffeine in them? Case and point: I found out that caffeine works to relieve caffeine headaches! Why? Because our body begins to depend on the "fix" each day when we have caffeine on a regular basis. After a few days off of caffeine, a very serious withdrawal symptom can result in the form of a headache (in addition to other symptoms that are known as "die off" symptoms). Many times it can be relieved by eating or drinking caffeine. I believe that's why I have spurts of being addicted to chocolate. The only "cure" for this cycle is to get off of these roller coasters; whether from drugs or caffeine in food. I can't go into all the chemical reactions your body can have over different drugs here, but it is important for you to be aware of each and every drug you are putting into your body. This goes a long way toward healing. Find the root problem and then work to overcome it without drugs - therefore bypassing their side effects.





4


Exercise does more than we think.

Yes, it is important but I believe the importance comes in many forms. It is a great stress reliever! Something about exercise just cleans out the negative thoughts in the brain. It has been so exciting to see the difference after I exercise. It just feels like someone just took a weight off of me. Oh, of course I must bring up the "weight" thing. Here's one big problem with this disease. Our metabolism is seriously compromised when there is a sluggish thyroid. If you combine exercise with the right diet and right treatment, well, you've got a chance. But that combination is still not fully researched. What we do know is that a whole body approach has the most benefit. So find a fun exercise. Please don't make yourself do something you hate to do. Choose a variety to alternate during the week to combat repetition injuries and to keep you from becoming bored.





5


Finally, take control of your health.

Educate yourself about Hashimotos Thyroiditis. It is an autoimmune disease. It has cycles. It fluctuates depending on things like life crisis, stress, seasons (especially the cold seasons when your body temperature naturally goes down), diet, attitude, etc. What I find the most confusing about this disease is the large amount of triggers it has. Consider a yearly calendar specifically noting times during the year that your symptoms flare up. This might go a long way in trouble-shooting triggers that you may be able to avoid in the future. A forum dedicated to thyroid disease is an excellent place to get support. Consider joining one, or better yet, visit my website forum linked below so we can walk through this disease together.








Tips & Warnings










Make sure your doctor is open to other types of treatments for this disease. Sometimes it takes several attempts to find the right treatment for your body.








Consider finding a natural doctor who can give you more options if you are not feeling well under the care of a traditional one.








None of the information on this how-to article is intended to take the place of being under the care of a qualified medical doctor. Please make sure you find a caring doctor to treat you for all your health concerns.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2080117_live-better-hashimotos-thyroiditis.html

How to Live a Macrobiotic Lifestyle

How to Live a Macrobiotic Lifestyle



Based on living in reference to the polar principles, those living a macrobiotic lifestyle hope to reach harmony, balance and happiness. A variety of aspects go into the lifestyle including social relationships, preparation of foods and physical activity. Boasting claims of curing illnesses and diseases, it is a lifestyle that with a little adaptation is easy to follow.









1


Maintain a proper diet. Pay attention to your hunger levels. Don't eat if you're not hungry. Chew each bite properly. It has been determined that chewing your food 50 times for each bite increases effectiveness of digestion and the absorption of nutrients. Relax when you eat, but maintain good posture. Before you eat, be thankful for your food. Regular meals two to three times a day are appropriate, as long as the proportions are right. Do not leave the table full; it is best to be comfortably satisfied. Drink water, but not excessively. Drink when thirsty.





2


Keep your skin healthy. Shower and bathe, but do not partake in long showers or baths which can cause mineral dificiencyes in your body. Scrubbing the body in its entirety with a warm, wet to damp rag will increase circulation. Do this each morning and night. When using cosmetics, select those made from non-toxic and natural ingredients. Do not use products that are perfumed with unnatural chemicals. Brush your teeth with natural products.





3


Keep close to nature. Spending time outdoors and in the sunlight will help. Take a walk outside. Exercise outside. Good exercises include garden work, yoga,
martial arts
, walking or dance. Do not wear rings, bracelets, necklaces or earrings made of metals. Wear cotton clothing, especially up next to the skin. Bring plants indoors to keep in better touch with the outdoors. Open your windows regularly to exchange the stale indoor air with the outdoor air.





4


Do not use ovens and ranges or other electric cooking appliances. Wood or gas stoves are better. Don't use aluminum pots and pans. Instead, use cast iron, stainless steel or earthenware. Protect yourself from electromagnetic rays when working on your computer. Use television and computers sparingly.


http://www.ehow.com/how_2077979_live-macrobiotic-lifestyle.html

How to Learn to Love Yourself

How to Learn to Love Yourself



Some days, it's impossible to look in the mirror and see anything that you like. It is so easy to start criticizing yourself. This negative thinking can affect your entire life. Start loving who you are with these steps.









1


Go to a mirror and take a look at yourself. Find one thing that you like about yourself. It doesn't matter what it is. Good skin, nice smile, great hair. It can even be something as tiny as great shaped eyebrows. Just find something that you can be positive about.





2


Hold on to that one positive thing. The next time you think a negative thought about yourself, stop and remind yourself that you do have something about yourself that is great.





3


Find something else about yourself that you like. It doesn't matter what it is, it just has to be something positive. Again, use these positive things to cancel out the negative. It doesn't have to be something positive physically either. Doing something good at work, a favor for a friend, handling a difficult situation well all counts as something positive.





4


Treat yourself when you come up with something positive about yourself. Take time to pamper yourself or pick up a special treat just for yourself. Create a positive attitude in yourself.





5


Continue to reinforce this positive thinking. Negative thoughts are as much of a habit as positive ones. So your creating a new way of thinking about yourself. Continue and repeat the steps of find something positive about yourself and reinforcing them when negative thoughts creep in.








Tips & Warnings










Try writing down all your positive things down. This will be a way of remind yourself of the positive on a bad day when you simply can remember the positive.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2094281_learn-love-yourself.html

How to Learn Emotional Freedom Therapy

How to Learn Emotional Freedom Therapy



Emotional Freedom Therapy (EFT) is an alternative method of healing the body by way of tapping upon pressure points while stating positive affirmations of self-acceptance. Practitioners of EFT claim that by releasing negative emotions, and relying upon the body's natural energy fields, the body can heal itself of physical conditions such as migraines, diabetes, post traumatic stress disorder, obesity and many other conditions.









1


Familiarize yourself with the proper pressure points, often known as energy meridians. They're located at exact points on the top of the head, around the eyes, under the nose and lower lip, near the collarbone, under the armpits and inside the wrists.





2


Understand the tapping technique. Tapping must be performed with two or more fingertips in a firm yet painless manner. Some EFT practitioners use only the index and middle fingers, while others claim using all four fingertips may be more effective. Choose one method and perfect it.





3


Use two-part affirmation statements. The first part acknowledges the problem or illness needing correction while the second part professes self-acceptance and/or self-love. Although it's acceptable to use variations of the preferred statement, it's best to keep it simple and focused. It's good to say the affirmation enthusiastically and out loud, rather than silently





4


Combine the tapping technique with the affirmation statement and tune-in, simultaneously, to the problem and words of self-acceptance. Tap on each of the pressure points while repeating the affirmation. This should take no more than five minutes per session.





5


Repeat the sequence about five times each day while, preferably, using a mirror to make eye contact with yourself. When in public, to avoid embarrassment, touch and hold the pressure point for five seconds while silently affirming self-acceptance.








Tips & Warnings










Drink plenty of water. Water is a conductor to energy inside the body as well as outside. When hydrated, energy flows more freely.








One of the most important steps of this technique is to tune-in, or focus, on the problem. It can be difficult but must be done.








Try this on everything that causes pain, fear or discomfort whether the source is physical, mental or emotional.








Initially, it's best to focus on issues that are at least three years old to avoid problems arising from thinking too much about fresh emotional wounds.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2073617_learn-emotional-freedom-therapy.html

How to Know Which Natural Remedies are Right for You

How to Know Which Natural Remedies are Right for You



So, you have an ailment or chronic illness. Chances are, you want to find as much information as possible that will help you understand what you have and find the best treatment possible. I know--I'm the same way.

I personally like to find any alternative treatment options that I can--especially those that involve herbs. Over the years, I've developed a process that helps me find the information I need quickly.

Here's my advice on how to find reliable information on herbal remedies. But how do you know if they really work? Some herbs are gentle enough so that you can try them yourself without worrying about there being harmful side effects. For the others, you may want to look online and see what you can find.

Although not every herb has been tested in the scientific community, all of them have centuries of anecdotal evidence as to their effectiveness. So when you look for herbal information this is a good thing to keep in mind.







Things You'll Need:





Internet connection




Access to a library or book store




Reliable medical journals and magazines









1


One place that I really love to find information is on the internet. But, there are some sites that have good information, and others that don't. Check the resources section at the end of this article for my favorite websites.





2


If you want to learn about herbs, there are several writers that you need to keep on your shelf. My favorite authors include Susun Weed,
Rosemary
Gladstar, James Duke, Michael Castelman and James Green.





3


Another option is that you could always take a course on herbal medicine to increase your knowledge. You can get a certificate or degree (check out Clayton College and the Australasian College of Health Sciences) or take courses from herbalists such as Rosemary Gladstar and Susun Weed.





4


There are several magazines that have good herbal information such as Herbs for Health and Herb Quarterly. You can also check out medical journals. Your library may have access to different studies.





5


One of my favorite scientific based resources is the German Commission E. This is THE definitive manual that German doctors and pharmacists use to determine which herbs are effective for which complaints. It has been translated into English and a lot of herbalists and naturopaths use it to help them find effective remedies. You can purchase your own copy and keep it on your bookshelf.








Tips & Warnings










Keep track of everything you are learning on your computer or in a notebook.








Pay attention to the positive and negative aspects of each herb.








Make sure you understand all the ins and outs of the herb before you make the decision to take it.








Some herbs, such as poke root and digitalis, are extremely potent and can cause severe illness or even death. To be safe, treat all herbs with care and heed any warnings you find in the literature.








Not all warnings are as dramatic as those attached to poke root and digitalis. However, you should take them ALL seriously.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2094443_herbal-remedies-that-work.html

How to Pick a Gold Chain

How to Pick a Gold Chain



Pure gold at a softness of 24k weight is a precious metal that is alloyed with other metals to make it hard enough to hold its shape in forming

jewelry


. Gold bonds readily with other metals to form alloys that produce different colors, such as rose, bronze, green and white gold. A gold chain may be 22k, 18k, 14k or 10k.







Wear Different Styles of Chains




Step
1



Pick a 14K gold anchor chain in large millimeter sizes for men and small mm for ladies. The boldness is determined by the length of the chain and diameter of the anchor links. This tough design is made of continuous, interconnected boxes that are six-sided and three-dimensional.




Step
2



Wear a herringbone chain to complement any outfit where a flat chain is required. This stand-alone chain is worn without pendants. It is usually available in lengths up to 30 inches.




Step
3



Choose a box chain to display your larger or heavier pendants. This tough design is made of continuous, interconnected boxes that are six-sided and three-dimensional.




Step
4



Find a gold rope chain to be a strong, yet simple piece of jewelry for every occasion. The braided fibers reflect the
beauty
of the gold.




Step
5



Expect a lot of attention when you wear a snake chain. Although the snake design has a delicate appearance, it is strong and durable enough to hold lockets and pendants.


Pick Different Colors of Gold




Step
1



Choose a gold chain with an antique look in warm, rose gold. A mixture of 25-percent copper and 18k gold creates a durable piece of jewelry.




Step
2



Take your pick of gold chain creations, in a combination of 14k gold and copper, to have rose gold. The amount of copper used will determine the depth of rose color in the finished product.




Step
3



Enjoy the unique design of a blue gold chain. Blue gold is made when indium is mixed with gold alloyed with aluminum.




Step
4



Let black gold be your pick in high-fashion chains. Black gold can be created by a variety of methods, including the use of black rhodium, ruthenium or amorphous carbon.




Step
5



Pick a green gold chain, which is an alloy of 25-percent silver and 75-percent gold. The appearance is yellow, with a green tint that gives it the identity of green gold.







Tips & Warnings









Choose a lower content if you prefer sturdiness over looks. The higher gold content, such as 18k gold, has a richer look than 14k gold, but 14k gold is sturdier.








Look at the type of closure on the chain. A solid gold chain is an investment that requires a secure heavy fastener.








Avoid being duped with less gold than you want. Watch for the designation for colored gold to determine whether the substance is intermetallic (mixture of compounds) or patination of gold (surface coating only).



http://www.ehow.com/how_2095325_pick-gold-chain.html

How to Pick a Garnet Birthstone

How to Pick a Garnet Birthstone



Birthstones have often been associated with powers of protection or healing, possibly due to their striking and sometimes imposing presence. The garnet is called the gem of travelers, promising a safe journey and return. You may want to purchase a garnet when planning a momentous trip, or as a gift for someone born in January, the designated month of this birthstone. Many simply pick garnets for their translucent red shine.







Things You'll Need:





Reputable dealer



Disclosure from FTC



Documentation of authenticity







Discover the Important Factors in Buying Garnets




Step
1



Listen to your first impression. Try to view garnets with color and cut in mind, but if character is what grabs you, go ahead and put that particular birthstone on your list.




Step
2



View garnets for color in a variety of light settings, for this is how you will see your jewelry when it is worn.




Step
3



Compare garnets for clarity. Your standard should be an even, translucent brilliance with as little fading or intrusion of brown or gray streaks as possible.




Step
4



View garnets singly for cut. Proper cut will ensure reflection and refraction of all the light that passes through the gems, resulting in brilliance. You should not be able to see through a cut birthstone.


Determine Where to Buy High-Quality Garnets




Step
1



Visit a rock, mineral and gem show when one comes to your area. These trade conventions are frequented by both professionals and enthusiasts, and give you a chance to see the pure qualities of unset gems.




Step
2



Locate a reputable dealer through a guild. Pick from a list of referrals from a national or international organization of gem and birthstone dealers, such as the American Gem Trade Association (see Resources below).




Step
3



Locate a reputable dealer by doing your homework. Know what you want, and get satisfactory answers to questions about the dealer's selection, price, return policy and gemstone enhancement disclosure policy.







Tips & Warnings









Many gemstones are heat treated or otherwise enhanced to improve color. These items require written disclosure from the dealer by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). If a dealer won't admit to enhancements, or acknowledges them verbally but not on paper, you should question her integrity.








Don't pick the first pretty garnet you see. Gemstones are unique, and you might see something you like better tomorrow and regret or have to return your purchase.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2095313_pick-garnet-birthstone.html