Kiss, Kiss

If you've read my blog posts in the past, you’ll remember that I’m no lover of flu shots. Indeed, I've seen the damage they can do, but Rite Aid’s slogan promoting flu shots did resonate with me: “Don’t hide from the flu.”

The good news is that you don’t have to hide from the flu, and the process doesn't involve injecting yourself with questionable viral concoctions. Have no fear of getting close enough to hug and kiss your loved ones, even greeting friends, regardless of the germs, with my easy-to-use remedy flowchart.

I’m all about making this as easy as possible to use at home.

The only problem is that you need to move quickly in order to take advantage of this flu protocol. If you note that your child appears to have contracted the flu, and you act on it within the first 12 -24 hours, you may be able to abort it or at least lessen it to a great degree without going to the next step.

Below are the remedies to have on hand.  Use either c or x potency.

1) Ammonium carbonicum 30

2) Aconitum 6

3) Nux vomica 6

4) Mercurius sol 6

5) Arsenicum album 6

*Stop administering at any juncture when there is measurable improvement, and resume where you left off if the symptoms recur a few days later.

What happens if you didn't get to the remedies in time or you chose incorrectly and the cold lingers and lingers?

One of the best little tricks I know is to use Sulphur 30 every 3-4 hours for 1-2 days. If at any time the cold seems to be much improved, then stop the remedy. If it returns a few days later, then resume using the remedy. However, don’t continue with the treatment for more than 5 days. It’s important to mention here that a lingering cold or flu is one that lasts more than 2 weeks or so.

Another beneficial tidbit to remember is that if the flu is rampant in your school or neighborhood, and your children are particularly susceptible to it, consider using a prophylactic against it. One of the best is Influenzinum 30, four times in one day, every week for one month, then every month until the end of flu season. Be sure to stop when the threat is over.

With this chart, your remedy kit (call or email us and we’ll send you one) and a few additional remedies, have no fear of getting close to others even during cold and flu season.  Then, kiss to your heart’s content!

P.S. ~Would you would like to learn more about how to be prepared for epidemics and other crises, as well as all types of first aid situations and sourcing these remedies? Then you need my upcoming course The Survivalist Guide to Homeopathy. Learn more about how homeopathy is THE medicine for when the SHTF. For more information on how YOU can Think Outside of the Box, click here >> https://homeopathyworks.iljmp.com/3/toanu.

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Don't stop with only my flu protocol!  Many free, educational materials are available on my website.  To get started, check out this handy first-aid chart.  There's nothing like being prepared.

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6 Reasons to Make Homeopathy Your Medicine

Ever been faced with a skeptical friend or family member who can’t understand why you would choose to treat your family with homeopathy rather than conventional medicine? I've been thinking about some of the top reasons why I made the choice to raise my family with homeopathy.

 

Keep this list handy for the next time you want a little encouragement or want to succinctly explain the benefits of homeopathy to others.

 

It’s Cost-Effective

There’s a reason why homeopathy is the medicine of choice in countries like India, Cuba, South America and Europe. It packs quite a punch for the money. Once you have a bit of homeopathic knowledge under your belt, you can treat most ailments at home with your remedy kit and avoid paying co-pays. If you own a kit, the remedies are as low as $2.50 each and will last decades. Feel free to contact us if you’re interested in a household kit.

 

It’s Gentle

What medications do you know of that are safe for everyone including newborns, pregnant women, and the elderly? Rest assured that as long as they are used correctly, homeopathic remedies pose no danger to any of these groups.

It is gentle enough for your baby but also powerful enough to act deeply to fix even chronic health problems.

 

There Are No Interactions

No matter what medications you take or procedures you undergo, homeopathy causes no negative interactions when used concomitantly. It is particularly beneficial to use when facing an upcoming surgery.  Fortunately, many major medical centers are beginning to realize the benefit of homeopathy. In my home town of Buffalo, New York,  our  flagship hospital uses homeopathy in the emergency room.

 

Homeopathy Considers the Whole Person  

If you consult with a homeopath, you will probably be surprised at the amount of detailed questions she asks. You might wonder why it matters, for example, whether you’re typically thirsty or not. Homeopathy takes the totality of the individual into account in a way that conventional medicine has no interest in exploring.

The human body was not designed to function as separate systems of organs.

 

It Offers True Health Independence

This is the reason that resonates most with me as a fiercely independent Sicilian-American. My immigrant grandmothers would never have dreamed of letting anyone tell them how to raise their children. My dream is to see a movement of mothers and curious others committed to taking back their God-given right to decide how to care for their own family.

 

It Works

Indeed, it works on newborns, the unconscious, livestock, family pets and my father who years ago didn't know I was giving it to him in his soup. So don’t let anyone tell you that it’s a placebo.  And more importantly, it works much more effectively than conventional drugs.

 

I hope my list has inspired you to be bold, be courageous and count on homeopathy for your family. Certainly, I know how much there is to learn, but if I can do it, you can too.

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Check out some of the educational resources I've developed to help mothers and others master the tricks I've learned as a homeopath and mother who has depended exclusively on this form of medicine.  I know you can do this!

 

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The Gut Garden

I used to be an anti-pesticide activist. That meant I’d get together with town council members to educate them about the dangers of herbicides and insecticides and propose alternatives. I also met with every hospital in Western New York in 1988 and convinced them to halt their lawn spray programs.

 

The efforts of our small, dedicated group made the national press as Buffalo became the first city in the country to stop using dangerous chemicals in public spaces. Those were proud and satisfying years.

 

But now I have another task at hand. Not unlike protesting the use of dangerous chemicals in our schools, I have a mission to abort the use of pesticides, chemicals and superfluous substances in our bodies. This assault now comes in the form of drugs, over the counter and, worse yet, prescribed medications.

 

My message may seem a bit dramatic or reactionary, but the analogy between pesticides and drugs is powerful and very real.

 

Whereas I used to be concerned about pollution sprayed on the lawns on which our children romped, it has become increasingly clear that the worst pollutants of all are the ones we willingly place directly into our mouths and the mouths of our children. Wait a minute! Aren’t medicines supposed to be carefully crafted substances that aid us when we’re sick? Well, I say a resounding NO.

 

Think of your garden. You wouldn’t be caught dead spraying pesticides on it, would you?  Instead you carefully collect your table scraps and garden waste, add manure and allow the mixture to cultivate and breed lovely, enzyme-producing matter called compost. Then you till your treasured compost into your soil to make sure your plants are adequately nourished with health-boosting natural nutrients.

 

If you see a pest, do you react with a pesticide? Of course not! To do so would weaken your plants, make them less hardy and might ultimately compromise their good health.

 

Then, why would we give our child an antibiotic? It acts precisely like a pesticide in the body. It not only kills the bad bugs but wipes out any beneficial microorganisms that keep the child thriving.

 

Next time you’re pressured by a well-meaning practitioner to give your child a medication that your intuition tells you is harmful, remember my garden analogy. Our guts, like the soil of a healthy garden, are filled with a plethora of microorganisms that live in a delicate balance.

 

How arrogant of us to assume that we know the lasting consequences of introducing a powerful, microbe-killing agent into this environment. Instead, let’s strengthen our gut garden with probiotic-rich foods like raw milk and overall sound nutrition and let’s learn about and use alternatives to antibiotics.

 

Join me. Learn how to treat your family through homeopathy.

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One of the best investments you can make in your family's health is the purchase of a homeopathy kit.  With a little education, you'll have what you need at your fingertips to treat whatever illnesses come up.  Contact our office to find out more.

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Finally, Gluten-Free Granola

Sunflower seeds have become the darling of my pantry. Wait until you taste this granola that makes my family smile and makes me relish how clever I am!

 

Actually, I’m not all that clever. I have to give full credit to a great little company in Vermont that I recently learned about called Honest Body. They offer a full selection of different flavors of granola.

 

This young husband/wife team uses only the purest ingredients, and I urge you to order granola from them.

 

My version isn’t nearly as perfected as theirs, but it’s pretty good.

 

I guessed at their recipe.

• Start with a few pounds of raw organic sunflower seeds.
• In a large mixing bowl, cover the seeds with at least 4 inches of water and let them stand overnight for up to 24 hours.

• Strain the water and spread the soaked seeds as thinly as possible on cookie sheets.
• Place the sheets in a dehydrator or low oven at 110 degrees for approximately 24 hours…or until thoroughly dry.

• Once the seeds are dry, toss them into a large mixing bowl and start adding the fun stuff…coconut shreds, cinnamon, vanilla extract, Celtic salt, raisins, chopped dehydrated fruit, such as apples or prunes, chopped walnuts, sesame seeds, etc.

 

That’s it!

 

I store my granola in a glass container, and it doesn't need to be refrigerated because it’s eaten within a few days.  Delicious!

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My signature philosophy is that health is not  random.  After you've tried my delicious recipe, consider contacting my office to schedule a free 15-minute phone conversation about adding homeopathy to your health strategy.

 

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The Arrogance of Birth Control Vended to Children

Last night, my husband and I attended a party.  I engaged in a discussion with a guest I knew from years ago.  Being an obstetrics nurse at a local hospital, she told me about a project she hoped to launch in our hometown.

Since she used to be a home-birthing advocate, I was eager to hear her plans.  (Home-birthing is my idea of taking control of  a family’s wellbeing from day one).

But within minutes, I grew uneasy.

She told me that with the aid of government grants (already a suspicious start), she intended to open a reproductive clinic in a public school in an under- privileged area of town.  It would entice kids, during their study hall time, to be treated for pregnancies, to replenish their supply of French ticklers (excuse me, I couldn’t resist), drugs to suppress reproductive hormones and who knows what else.

Call me old fashioned, but is the intent of school to fabricate little consumers to purchase life-altering products that could affect their bodies, souls and legacies?

As she spoke, my husband was surreptitiously stroking my shoulder.  He sensed a volcano in me about to erupt.

“So, we might call it The-Parents-Have- Nothing-To -Say -About -Their -Own-Offspring’s Future-‘Cause-Someone-Else-Knows-Better-Clinic ?” I offered.

“But this is for underprivileged  kids, who don’t have the opportunity of making good choices,” she apologized.

My husband’s grasp grew tighter.

As a Sicilian American, I’m aware of prejudices my grandparents and parents endured less than a century ago.  Someone might judge that they were disadvantaged and incapable of making proper decisions.  In fact, this is often the flavor of discrimination.

I image my grandparents would have questioned the intention of  a stranger who would lure their daughter to ingest questionable, synthetic hormones so as to keep her from having their grandchild.  Particularly if the counselor condescendingly regarded Sicilian-Americans incapable of making good choices.

What might have  made my grandparents particularly suspicious is that their “underprivileged” child might be influenced by someone whose grants depended on the number of kids enlisted in the program.

The ultimate question for anyone faced with these kinds of  busy-bodies ought to be, why is it anyone’s business how many children a family has in the first place!?

My conversation with the nurse was making my militant bone grow stronger by the minute, and particularly flexed because the implication is that certain lineages (those who we deem don’t make decisions similar to ours) ought to be curtailed.

I thought certain sentiments went without saying, but it became apparent that they needed to be expressed. So, while we were serving the cake, I did just that.

I told her that a decision to consider limiting the lineage of a particular family via birth control pills, morning-after drugs and other such “services” is exclusively the jurisdiction of the unconditional love of a parent.  And that any rational parent would protect their youngster from such shenanigans.

Additionally, such an assessment ought not be under the influence of a psycho-babbling counselor who is paid to recruit young innocents.

Well, I didn’t say it exactly like that.  I was more polite.

I held back while my gut festered and my thoughts turned to….. Since when are the reproductive organs of another woman’s child up for grabs?

You might accuse me of not being very progressive, but her thinking seemed arrogant and disruptive of family life, hence immoral.

Indeed, I was raised to believe that children are a blessing and that their unique characteristics are from the family’s roots and that’s why it’s solely the family’s responsibility to protect and nurture them.

Now, it’s the day after the party and in a way, I regret having said this to the nurse, whose day job is to help bring babies into the world in an upscale hospital.

After all, we were at a party.

On second thought, I couldn’t harbor my impulses.

It seems that my pro-family, anti-meds, parent-decisive, keep-your-hands-off -my-kids, Sicilian-American ancestry inadvertently expressed itself.

Some bloodlines haven’t yet been suppressed.

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If you feel as passionately as I do about taking charge of your family's health, I encourage you to explore my website for many, many free articles about using homeopathy at home.  Or contact my office to schedule a consultation to discuss how homeopathy could fit with your family's health strategy.  It's also free!

 

 

 

 

 

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Feeding Your Family Well Without Breaking the Bank

Despite what you may believe, eating well doesn't have to mean a huge grocery bill. Here are some tricks I've employed over the years that helped me save money while ensuring that my children grew into strong, healthy men.

• Cut out the non-essentials. Eliminate all junk foods, including organic cookies, juice, crackers, chips and cereals. Commit to never buying anything that’s pre-prepared. If there are ingredients listed on the package, that means someone else is charging you for their pre-preparation. Costly and vacant.
• Make your own bone stocks by saving the bones from the dinner’s roast. Use the stock as a soup base to cook your rice or anything that requires water. I serve soup almost nightly, especially in cooler months. Ask hunters to give you bones, hooves and even antlers to make your rich stock.
• Get into a routine of making crackers, mayonnaise and salad dressing. The commercial versions of these are not only expensive but are also chemically-laden.
• Make your own snacks and cookies. Popcorn is cheap and easy; cookies are fun to make, and the variations are infinite. Even gluten-free is easy.
• Brew your own beverages: kombucha tea, kvass, beer, wine and herbal teas.
• Buy beans in bulk and make bean soup. Soaking the night before not only makes them more nutritious but renders them a fast food. Then, cook them up in bone stock.
• The cost of butter is high, so make your own cooking fats by skimming off the fat from your chicken soup (smaltz) and store it in the refrigerator to fry eggs or blend into biscuits, etc.  Then, learn how to render lard and tallow…easy, inexpensive and nutrient dense. Many farmers give fat away.
• Enjoy old-fashioned breakfasts: eggs and ham, oatmeal with butter and soufflés. Eliminate breakfast cereals; they’re costly and nutritionally vacant. Start with protein and fat-laden foods.
• Make your own yogurt, sour cream and simple cheeses from raw milk.
• Use cast iron, ceramic coated or enamel cookware. Most humble enamelware can be found at rummage sales and hardware stores. Avoid aluminum and Teflon; they’re unsafe.
• In spring, search around your lawn before the dandelions bud. Harvest the leaves for a tender spring salad or sauté in butter or lard and garlic to top a steak and cheese sandwich. The buds are also delicious when sautéed. The roots are prized as a tonic.
•  Just after the lilacs bloom in spring, learn to recognize wild burdock (cardoons) and fry them up for a spring liver cleanse and a delightful meal.
•  Learn to identify wild edibles in your area: lambsquarters, nettles, rosehips, wild strawberries, Queen Anne’s lace and more.
• Include gelatin in meals often. It keeps bones and nails strong, joints supple and skin radiant. Drinking 1 teaspoon of gelatin in a glass of water daily is a good practice, too.
• Grow your own culinary and medicinal herbs: oregano, basil, calendula, oatstraw, etc.
• Eat organic free-range eggs often, in fact, daily. They’re versatile and inexpensive. If you can trust your source, make a practice of using egg yolks in their raw form. They add richness of flavor and abundant nutrients.
• Employ slow-cooking methods that make a savory meal from a chunk of an inexpensive cut of meat and wild vegetables.
• Find wild berry patches and harvest enough to freeze or dehydrate for pies and blender drinks.
• Employ homeopathic cell salts instead of costly, synthetic vitamins. They’re tried and true, and you needn’t worry about additives and bifurcated nutrients. We carry a kit of cell salts in our office. Contact us if you’re interested.
• Make your own herbal tinctures. They are a fraction of the cost found at the store and a good way to prevent or treat illness. Consider St. John’s wort, comfrey, colt’s foot and many more (How to make tinctures will be featured soon).
• Keep an organic vegetable garden. If that’s not possible, join an organic subscription garden or buy organic vegetables from your local farmer.
• Forage and brew your own wild teas for their nutrients, medicinal qualities and flavors.
• Plan your meals in advance, the way our grandmothers did. It keeps waste to a minimum.
• Never throw out food scraps from your family’s plates or roasting pan. Recycle them into a stock pot and make tomorrow’s dinner with the stock.
• Stop feeding the cat. If you live in a safe, rural area with lots of critters running around, let her find her own raw meat by giving her leave at night to hunt mice.

I found that one of the best ways to raise a family is to teach the importance of knowing how to find and prepare quality meals. These are some of the routines and practices that have helped me to raise three healthy boys while leading a busy life as a homeopath, writer and educator.

 

What has helped you save money while nourishing your family?

 

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Check out Joette at the Weston A. Price Regional Conference in Buffalo

Last weekend, I had the privilege to speak at the regional conference of the Weston A. Price Foundation.  For those of you who weren’t able to attend, I wanted to share some photos from the day.

I spoke about how to treat fever the homeopathic way.  No drugs and your children will be healthier for it.  To get up to speed on the topic, check out my past blog post on fever.

I need all the help I can get from my family to help me get ready for these events.  That's my son, Giuseppe, helping me set up and my father is overseeing the progress.

More than two hundred people attended this wonderful weekend of workshops geared toward helping families take charge of their health through nutrition and natural healing.

I always enjoy the opportunity to talk to people about what homeopathy can do for them.  Our HomeopathyWorks booth allowed me to do just that.

Of course, one of the highlights of the conference was being on a plenary panel with the highly regarded Sally Fallon Morel, who wrote one of my favorite cookbooks about nutritious food, Nourishing Traditions.

Another exciting announcement: we have a new website!

From now on when you enter www.homeopathyworks.net into your browser, you will be redirected to our new-and-improved site, JoetteCalabrese.com.

We now have a great search function where you can search all of my articles by keyword.  Stay tuned for other new features that will be available soon, such as a whole section devoted to homeopathy research where you’ll be able to read articles about clinical trials and other new developments in the science of homeopathy.

Don’t forget to click on the link for our products page as well – very soon we will be selling remedy kits through the website!

Also very exciting is the new section “Shopping with Joette,” where you can support our community of like-minded vendors who supply us with the foods and products we use on a daily basis.

Have a look around and tell us what you think!

 

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