Killing Crazy Candida!

I've had quite a few clients recently report that they've struggled with chronic yeast infections over the years. Most recently, when I shared with a client how I eradicated chronic yeast in the past, she reflected on how my methods might be ones she'd be interested in pursuing as she gets really annoyed with taking the over-the-counter remedies, especially since they mess her system up for a few days afterwards. In deed, taking over-the-counter remedies like Canesten, Monistat, and the one-day oral remedy, Diflucan, are all solutions to riding yourself of symptoms of a yeast infection, but none of them relieve the root issue of the infection.

When you're at a point where you're getting frequent yeast infections, it means that the bacterial balance in your body is thrown off. There is an abundance of "bad" bacteria in the system and this "bad" bacteria has overthrown the "good" bacteria, creating a breeding ground for bacterial infections such as yeast. The source of the bacterial imbalance is in the digestive system and, if left untreated over time, the "bad" bacteria becomes systemic in nature, meaning that it's now traveling throughout your system and manifesting itself as a yeast infection, athlete's foot, jock itch, thrush, bladder infections and cystitis (irritation and inflammation of the bladder), skin rashes in skin folds including diaper rash, toe and fingernail fungus. Besides these more obvious manifestations, there are a plethora of symptoms related to systemic bacterial imbalance, commonly called candidiasis. Some of these symptoms include: sensitivity to smells, difficulty concentrating, intense sugar cravings, itchy skin and skin problems like acne and/or eczema, headaches, digestive problems and discomfort such as gas and bloating, chronic exhaustion, irritability, anxiety, rectal itching, depression, low sex drive, sinus problems and sore throats. The reason this bacterial imbalance happens at all is due to overuse of antibiotics and/or corticosteroids, both of which kill off the "good" bacteria in the gut and compromise the immune system, poor diet and lifestyle such as excessive consumption of alcohol, simple sugars and starches. Bacterial imbalance has also been associated with the use of birth control pills.

I'm here to tell 'ya to ditch the quick fix over-the-counter remedies! The only thing that will permanently rectify your chronic yeast problems is a candida cleanse with accompanying herbs and a lifestyle change! Yes, that's right, once again I'm the bearer of challenging news - there is no overnight solution to chronic yeast. The solution is doing some work over time. I did my first candida cleanse about 10 years ago and, knock on wood, I haven't had a single yeast infection since! When I DO get a slight twinge of one or some other symptoms that point to yeast, I alter my diet and use herbs to clear it up.

Here are the basics of a candida eradication program:

1. Only take antibiotics when absolutely necessary.
2. Use probiotics every day. Probiotics are healthy strains of bacteria in capsule format that will help to re-populate the "good" bacteria in the digestive tract.
3. Pursue a strict diet that eliminates all sugars and yeasts, including natural sugars as found in fruits and colored vegetables like carrots (basically any vegetable that's not green or white).
4. Take herbs that are anti-bacterial in nature that will work to kill off the "bad" bacteria.

Here at Prana Holistic, I do cleanse counseling, where I tailor make a cleanse just for you including herbs uniquely suited to your needs. After the cleanse is made up, I also provide guidance for you upon your cleanse program, meeting with you weekly or so in order to answer questions and offer support during your process. I would be happy to help you get rid of a build-up of "bad" bacteria in your system in order that your body function more optimally. If you suspect you have candidiasis, please give us a call today to set up your cleanse consult and/or your cleanse counseling package. 780.454.5299

*Please note - there are a lot of schools of thought on candida cleansing and you will find many on the internet. The cleanse guidelines that I offer each person are based on my own personal research, experience, my education in the field and a collection of opinions from my teachers and other trusted and reputable practitioners.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Doing The Work

I am pursuing yet another of Kristi's Goal Ninjas programs, Get More Sh-t Done. As an accompanying gift to those enrolled in the program, Kristi gave out the book Do The Work, by Steven Pressfield. I am on my second time through this awesome little ditty and am beginning to get more and more of a grasp on what it really means to do what it is that you actually want in life. Seems like it should be so simple - you want to do something that you know makes you happy, you do it, you're happy. End of story. Yeah, not so much. At least not in my world. My story goes more like this: I want to do something that I know makes me happy (let's call it "my goal"), I fantasize about it, I make up stories as to why and how I probably can't achieve my goal, I do some personal work to heal and improve myself, I start taking risks and making some moves towards my goal, I get on a roll, I'm feeling great and getting closer to my goal, I'm doing good so I tell myself that I deserve "a break", I start to slack off on doing the work, I fall completely off the wagon, I wallow in self-defeat, self-deprecation and self-loathing, I struggle for what feels like a long time to get back up, dust myself off and do more personal work to heal and improve myself, and the whole cycle starts all over again.

I am in the midst of repeating this cycle yet again in my life and am at the "struggle for what feels like a long time to get back up and dust myself off" stage, and dealing with some residual self-defeatist and self-deprecating thoughts and behaviors. I can tell that despite my repeating this redundant cycle, I've definitely progressed in the big picture because I have absolutely no desire to feed energy to the completely falling off the wagon and wallowing in my own crap stages. Previously, I would talk about my seeming failures as though they were a pervasive disease - and I suppose they can be if we spend too much time focusing on them. Of course, talking about my falls and the accompanying self-loathing only works to make those things persist. Just last night, I heard myself say: "I'm so sick of hearing myself talk!" - this was with regards to the potential of talking to anyone about what I have recently perceived to be a failure in my life. At this rate, I'd rather just do the work, which is what Pressfield's book is all about.

The stages of my cyclical story from "I'm doing good so I tell myself that I deserve "a break" to "I struggle for what feels like a long time to get back up" are all about resistance. AND, resistance is completely normal! Hurray! I'm "normal"! Pressfield notes that resistance is "most commonly elicited [in response to]...any act that rejects immediate gratification in favor of long-term growth, health, or integrity." So...perfect, right? Anything we seek to do that is "good" and that seeks to improve ourselves will be met with incredible resistance. Sounds daunting. Part of me just wants to hang up my self-improvement kit and call it a day. For good. The other part of me is finally showing a desire to rise to the challenge. At the very least I can know that based on the amount of resistance I'm currently experiencing, I'm on the right track. Pressfield's "Rule of thumb" confirms that I'm on the right track: "The more important a call or action is to our soul's evolution, the more Resistance we will feel toward pursuing it."

Pressfield does a really good job of letting readers know that failure is not only normal, but a good sign. I mindfully wiped my brow when I read the following that absolutely deserves to stand on it's own:

"A crash means we have failed. We gave it everything we had and we came up short. A crash does not mean we are losers. A crash means we have to grow. A crash means we're at the threshold of learning something, which means we're getting better, we're acquiring the wisdom of our craft. A crash compels us to figure out what works and what doesn't work - and to understand the difference."

And the final point? Do the work. And keep doing the work. Keep getting up and brushing yourself off. Keep pursuing personal work to heal and improve yourself. Don't give up.
I've often wished there was a more glamorous final point. Something more along the lines of: pass go, collect $200, sit on the beach with a margarita and your goal will fall at your feet. But oh no, pursuing your unique calling and your personal and lasting happiness is like being 21 and working 3 jobs to save up to go traveling - you never rest. But once you get to Europe, it's all the more wonderful 'cause you did the work to get there! It was hard and long and you were tired, strung out and uncomfortable, but you did it! (Well I did anyways and in deed, Europe was awesome.)

If you'd like support doing your work, I'd certainly suggest investigating any of Kristi's Goal Ninjas programs as well as Steven Pressfield's book, Do The Work. Beyond those resources, there are a wealth of things you can do to heal and support yourself as you move more and more authentically towards the life of your dreams. Give us a call at Prana Holistic today to explore your options.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Toxins Are Making You Sick and Fat!

Well well...it's that time again, autumn. It seems to have come around really quickly this year, what with a fairly wet July and an August that just whizzed by while everybody was busy tending their gardens, drinking mojitos and playing hopscotch...what? Who in the hell plays hopscotch anymore these days?!

That's not the point - that was just a random thing I threw into the mixture to keep you on your toes. Anyway, I liked rainy July and have thus far made concerted efforts to absorb the August sun while I can. Despite a less than toasty summer of 2011, good times have still been had and autumn is a perfect time to detox. The body definitely accumulates toxins from over-indulgences, but it also accumulates toxins simply from day-to-day living.

One area of toxic exposure I'd like to bring focus to is xenoestrogens. Xenoestrogens are foreign estrogens - estrogens that do not come from your body but that mimic the action of estrogen within your body. Xenoestrogens cause problems because they mess up your delicate hormonal balance. When your endocrine system is out of balance from absorbing far too many xenoestrogens, this leads to weight gain and hoarding, especially around the mid-section (belly flab!), cravings, low energy, night sweats, early onset of puberty, higher risk of female cancers, difficulty conceiving, lowered testosterone levels in men, fatigue and difficulty concentrating, lowered immunity, irregular menstruation, constipation, insomnia, lowered capacity to deal with stress...and the list goes on - !! So where are xenoestrogens found? Unfortunately, my friends, they kind of abound (I completely did not intend for that to rhyme). Here's a list of things that contain xenoestrogens:

- Plastics marked with recycling codes 3, 6 or 7. If it's a plastic container we're talking about, the recycling code is found on the bottom of the container.
-Food preservatives, pesticides and genetically modified foods.
- A great deal of commercially prepared meat. This is because the animals are often fed both antibiotics and synthetic hormones.
- Skin care products and textiles, especially cotton!

So basically you're surrounded by xenoestrogens. What can you do?

First of all, let's get rid of all the toxins that have built up in your body over time due to overexposure to nasty xenoestrogens. A detox in autumn is just what the holistic health practitioner ordered! Cleansing the system by specific, sound nutrition and in combination with herbs is the perfect way to rejuvenate and decongest all systems of the body, leading to better overall function. I have every intention of doing a detox this autumn and I'd love to tailor make a cleanse for you too. Call us at Prana Holistic to book your cleanse consultation (780.454.5299).

Secondly, make a point to be mindful with your purchases, like plastic, skin care products and clothing. There are a lot of alternatives to plastic as well as safe versions of it.  There are also environmentally friendly and organic skin care products and clothing out there. They'll be pricey in comparison to their toxin laden counterparts, but supporting the manufacturing of those goods often means supporting smaller local business' too.

Finally, be very mindful of the quality of the food you put in your body. Organic is definitely pricier, and your body and health are worth every penny of what you'll pay buying organic.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic 

Gratitude Becomes You!

I was recently blessed to participate in Kristi's Goal Ninjas program for a second time. Our group completed the program a week ago tomorrow and, once again, it was fantastic and revealing. Kristi is an insightful, knowledgeable and skilled facilitator with a brilliant ability to add perspective to all facets of life and living.
On Sunday, after the completion of the program, I had a horrible time and, as a result, felt incredibly guilty that my son may not have been enjoying a day that could have been a lot more upbeat and fun. It was sabotage Sunday - the day after incredible and profound awareness' have been had and start to try and sink in. The insights and processes that had been facilitated for me by Kristi the day before were deep and difficult to embrace. While the purpose of profound awareness is to help create positive change, there seems to be a period of fighting and struggling against what is or what could be and we resist change - this resistance being very inherent and sometimes a real source of struggle for us. I know I am not immune to this struggle and while I don't want to focus on it, I am always doing my best to learn and grow from it.

When my son, Caleb, went down for a nap on that hard day, I contemplated how everything that was causing me stress, unease and anger had absolutely nothing to do with him and how he was so undeserving of the wrath of my mood. I knew that it was up to me to turn things around as it wasn't Caleb that had changed, but ME that's TRYING to change. One of the best things to do to incite change is to take action - something one of my great mentors always reminds us of (wink, Kristi). I sat down at my computer and visited Byron Katie's website, thework.com . There are some absolutely amazing videos on there of Byron Katie facilitating the work for others and her site is a wonderful resource for anyone wanting to make it through their struggles, myself included. I did the work on myself and issues as they related to Caleb and made it through the day with much less negativity.

On Monday night I read a chapter in a stunning book I'm reading right now by Katherine Woodward Thomas called Calling In The One. The chapter was all about gratitude. Woodward Thomas tells about how once, during a really low time in her life, she made a commitment to wake up half an hour earlier than usual every day for 30 days and write 5 pages on all the things in her life she was grateful for. 5 pages! Not 3 things or 5 things or 1 page, but 5 pages! She shares on how challenging it became and how, not long into the process, she had to start digging really deep to fill up those pages. I was really inspired by this and I thought about how, in the arena of positive living, we're often encouraged to keep a gratitude journal or to consider what it is we're grateful for every day, but Woodward Thomas really took it to another level. I decided to follow suit. On Tuesday, I challenged myself to be grateful all day long. Every single thing that I saw or that occurred to me or that I perceived or thought of, I found the reason that I was grateful for it. Even and especially the things that I felt most challenged by. My day, thoughts and my overall feelings and experience were completely memorable! Suddenly, everything around me was lit up and all I could see were good things and all I could reflect upon was how absolutely blessed I am. Challenges and low times became opportunities and anger became a chance for transformation. This experience has instilled in me a belief that when it comes to gratitude, we ought to take it to a new level. One of my great mentors, mentioned previously, says that when we really want to affect change, we have to work on it every day. With gratitude, I think it needs to be absolutely constant. Especially during low times and especially if you're REALLY looking to do something differently to create a new you.

This experiment is very reflective of Byron Katie's work and how she encourages people to turn their miseries around and find what it is they are grateful for in these things. In light of my experiment - which continues by the way - I am now challenging myself to find reasons why I'm grateful for the most upsetting, disruptive and difficult experiences of my life. While I continue to struggle to find reasons for a few things in particular, so far this has been an incredibly life-altering experiment.

If you're looking for ways to move and transform your misery, might I make a few recommendations:

1. The Gratitude Experiment (as described)
2. Kristi's Goal Ninjas program
3. The Work, by Byron Katie
4. Calling In The One, by Katherine Woodward Thomas

All of these pursuits, if done with intent and a genuine desire for change are REAL platforms for just that: positive change. I encourage you to BE the person of your wildest dreams. Today.

I am grateful for having written this blog post because it has helped me to reflect on my own journey towards greater awareness and personal change. Thank you for reading.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Josh Ritter Inspires You to Do What You Love and Love What You Do

Josh Ritter singing "for the love of it" - !

I love Josh Ritter. I've often played around with the thought of asking him to be my mentor. Why? Because I'm taken away by music like nothing else I know and Ritter's a musical genius who's passion is obvious and contagious! Last fall, Kristi and I attended a Josh Ritter concert at McDougall United church here in Edmonton and it remains one of the most inspirational live shows I've ever seen - and I've seen A LOT of live shows. Inspirational because no matter where you're sitting, you can feel the passion that Ritter has for his music. And, if you're sitting close enough, you can see the passion. Often singing with eyes closed and a giddy grin on his face, Ritter gives an impression of a kid in a candy shop as he delivers a most splendid and awesome performance.

A few days ago, I was listening to some of his music in my car and became very aware of these lyrics from his song Snow Is Gone: "But I'm singing for the love of it, have mercy on the man who sings to be adored..." It really struck me. What a message - are we doing what we're doing because we really love it and it really lights our fire or are we doing it because we think it may please others or position us in the spotlight? I invite you to ask yourself that very question about what it is that you do. Some of you may well know that you're not exactly passionate about what you do. First of all, why are you not doing something you love? Are you unsure as to what it is you'd really like to do in your life that lights your fire? If that's the case, ask yourself what your ultimate sense of purpose is here on earth - that may help. Also ask yourself what - in life - really makes you feel alive and gives you a sense of fulfillment. If you're feeling challenged around those questions, consider taking Wild Oat flower essence that addresses uncertainty about life direction.

Secondly, if you're not exactly fired up about what you're currently doing, why not try loving what you do and considering it a pit stop on your journey towards doing what you love. Chances are your "pit stop" has something very valuable and self-revealing to offer. We don't do anything for no reason and if you dig deep, you're sure to find many ways you could be grateful for the position you're currently in. And while you're digging deep and exploring the reasons to be grateful for your pit stop, challenge yourself to do one thing TODAY that will bring you closer to doing what you love. If, for example, you want to sing in front of people "for the love of it" - like Josh Ritter - maybe you could plan to attend and participate in one open stage down the road or make plans to record one song.

Finally, as if Ritter hasn't said enough in that one lyric, I reflect upon the following from the same song: "But I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know..." This - in my estimation - is a melodic way of saying: risk. It takes risking to gain success, passion and love. It takes taking the risk to jump off the cliffs of life, trusting that the universe will catch you in order that you eventually gain what it is you truly desire and that which truly lights your fire. So Josh Ritter and I encourage you to risk loving what you do right now and moving towards doing what you love today. You deserve it.

I leave you with a beautiful and energetic version of Snow Is Gone by Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Past Indulgence Leads to Current Woes, ie: No More Beer for Roberta!

I recently completed an intensive and progressive nutritional cleanse program that I capped off with 3 consecutive colon hydrotherapy sessions. After completing the whole process, I felt pretty "clean", but also pretty sensitive. In the weeks following my cleanse process, every time I ate wheat, corn, sugar or anything refined (as in, not having come directly from the ground), even in moderation, I experienced uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms like gas, major bloating and bowel irregularity. I thought about how, having cleansed, my body "should" be digesting things better and more efficiently. I also considered the particular items that my body was clearly NOT digesting well - wheat, corn, sugar and refined foods.

So - here's the thing...well, there's 2 things actually:

1. Wheat, corn, sugar and refined foods are high offenders. Wheat and corn, in particular, rank pretty high on a list of the most common allergens, enticing allergic symptoms in a large population. Sugar and refined foods have a pretty "bad" reputation in the field of holistic health, having a tendency to wreak havoc in the internal system if not moderated over time and especially contributing to metabolic disorders like obesity, blood sugar irregularities, chronic problems with low energy and diabetes.

Considering this point, it seems clear that my body is sending me a message that it doesn't want these items. Fair enough - I can choose to heed this message or ignore it, ignoring it setting the stage for poor health. But I never had such strong adverse reactions to these items before, and I used to consume them frequently before having made concerted efforts to improve my nutrition and overall health in the last 5 years or so. In theory, if my body is balanced, I should be able to periodically indulge in some birthday cake, a beer or a warm plate of spaghetti and not suffer.

2. The second part of my first point IS my second point: "I used to consume [wheat, corn, sugar and refined foods] frequently" - that is the problem. My theory in the last sentence of my first point is based on balance. My body - as a result of overindulgence in the past - is no longer balanced. When a person repeatedly consumes offending foods, or any food for that matter, thereby throwing the concept of balance out the window (how can you be balanced if you eat the same things everyday?), the body begins to react to those foods.

When I first became a vegetarian about 11 years ago, I didn't research vegetarianism enough, nor did I make a point to include enough protein in my diet. My staple item was toast with margarine (barf! I cringe!). And let's not forget booze! Beer beer beer...wine wine wine...spirits, shooters, cocktails...you name it - if it had alcohol in it, I wanted it. I was loading up on simple carbohydrates at the expense of protein, and a good balance of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Gross!

I wrote a column on this topic back in April after taking a general interest in allergies and Dr. Carolee Bateson-Koch's book, Allergies: Disease In Disguise. Succinctly put by Bateson-Koch, “When you eat a food frequently, you are calling on specific enzymes to digest that food. When this eating pattern continues over days, weeks and years, you may create an enzyme deficiency for that food.” I have done precisely this thing and, as a result, my body is overly sensitive to wheat and corn, while refined foods, including sugary treats only add insult to injury since I also overindulged in these things - many refined, sugary foods containing high fructose corn syrup, derived from corn.

Here's my conclusion - if you haven't already developed food sensitivities, do yourself a favor and bring awareness into how balanced your diet is. If you're a vegetarian, make sure you're getting enough protein that is essential to all physiological processes. I've been craving chicken more and more since my last cleanse and have decided to eat organic, free-range poultry when my body asks for it. I guess that makes me a flexatarian? Further, make sure you're not relying on any one food as a staple - especially not refined and processed foods! Relying on broccoli, for example, is a far cry from relying on toast and beer! Even so, eat a variety of fresh fruits and fresh or lightly steamed vegetables. Focus on consuming grains in their most natural form - here's a good rule of thumb: if it hasn't come straight from the ground before you cook it and/or eat it (as in quinoa, rice, couscous, oats, amaranth, millet, etc.) then don't eat it, or keep it to an absolute dull roar in your diet. Integrate good fats into your regime by eating fish and oils. Avoid or moderate sugar and if and when you do eat sugar, make sure it comes from sugar cane, not high fructose corn syrup.

If, like me, you've already developed food sensitivities, eliminating the offending foods is your best bet for a period of time to give your body a chance to heal. You can also consider using digestive enzymes (available at any health food store) to give your digestion a boost. Eat pineapple and papaya, both of which contain natural enzymes. Probiotics help to re-establish bacterial balance and intestinal integrity, improving overall digestion. Finally, make a point to eat foods rich in vitamin C (or periodically use supplemental vitamin C) to help bolster the immune system.

If you would like help establishing whether or not you have food sensitivities or allergies and direction on how to best change your diet to improve your health, please contact us to set up your nutritional consult today.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Mother's Day & Father's Day Entice Thoughts on Resolving Old "Issues"

With Mother's Day behind us and Father's Day just around the corner, I'm left thinking about mother and father "issues". Surely we ALL probably have mother or father issues to some degree and these are vastly discussed in the practice of flower essences, my favorite modality to practice.

Flower essences are highly dilute floral infusions that work on an energetic level. This means that there are no chemical constituents in a flower essence, like root, stem or leaf. Flower essences are just that: essences of the flowering tops of plants. The philosophy of flower essences states that the energy of the flowers have been captured and preserved in a bottle. This energy - of any given flower - works upon a person's energetic body, mostly affecting mental, emotional and spiritual components of being, affecting the physical in turn. Flower essences stimulate awareness' around any one issue being addressed - awareness being the key to change, movement and personal growth.

My focus on the topic of mother and father issues is not to place blame on any one mother or father, but rather to draw awareness into wounds we may perceive or have experienced with relation to our parents. Children are sensitive beings and can easily perceive pain from any given event, comment or something they may have observed their parents doing or saying. I'll give you an example: I'm a bit impatient, especially if I'm pressed for time. With a 2-year-old in tow who always wants to do everything for himself without the awareness that his doing things like fastening his own seat belt takes 2-3 times longer than if I were to do it, I frequently struggle to stay calm and patient. If I loose my cool with him on a particular day under a particular set of circumstances, it may stick with him and he may formulate belief systems as a result, such as "there's no time for me" or "there's not enough time" or "I can't do anything right", etc. This is not because I'm a bad person, but because I'm a human being who makes mistakes. Another example is the myriad of people out there who struggle with an ongoing sense of abandonment due to the end of their parents' relationship by separation and/or divorce. There's a really good chance that separation or divorce may have been in the best interests of all involved, including the children, but the fact remains that most children of divorce are left with a feeling of abandonment and/or self-blame.

Everyone has varying degrees of mother and/or father issues, some being more intense than others, as in the case of abuse. Unfortunately, individuals who had great struggles in their relationships with their mothers may end up feeling quite empty inside. Meanwhile, individuals who were challenged in their relationships with their fathers may have difficulty with trust in adult life.

There are specific flower essences that can be applied to mother and father issues. Mariposa Lily is the flower essence most typically applied to "mother issues" while Baby Blue Eyes is the flower essence most typically applied to "father issues". These essences are considered to be "root" essences as they endeavor to touch the root of all issues as they relate to deficient or wounded relationships to the mother and/or father. It is my opinion that every single person, regardless of their childhood, could benefit from taking both Mariposa Lily and Baby Blue Eyes, but especially those who have had glaringly painful experiences related to their parents.

Other flower essences that address mother and father issues include Evening Primrose and Sunflower.

If you're interested in exploring any issues you have in your current life as they may relate to your relationships with your parents, I'd LOVE to facilitate a flower essences experience for you. As we heal our core wounds, we become truly healed and more effective in all aspects of our lives overall. Meanwhile, let's not forget to celebrate the parts our mothers and fathers have played in making us who we are today and all the enriching experiences they've played part in.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic