Be a Blessing to Others

²⁵A generous person will be enriched,
and one who gives water will get water.
²⁶The people curse those who hold back grain,
but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it.

Proverbs 11:25-26 (NRSV)

 Each day I rise with a prayer on my heart, “Lord, allow me to be a blessing to someone today.” In so many ways my prayer is answered. Today was no different.

The other day, when checking out at a local chain pharmacy, I asked the clerk how she was and her answer was equivalent to, “Meh.”

“Not outstanding?” I asked.

“No,” she replied, and then told me about how her apartment’s carpet had been saturated in a flood two days earlier and how mold was already setting in such that she cannot breathe properly to sleep at night.

My mind flashed first upon the FreshAir air purification units that effectively kill mold and mildew, especially new colonies of the stuff, and scrub indoor air clear of particles and odors. Also, I considered how MyFlexFactor™ might help with the inflammation from asthma. I wanted to share with her that I could help, but the line was such that I moved along.

After a quick trip home, I returned with my FreshAir Surround unit packed into a rolling suitcase for easy transport. The clerk—I’ll call her Jennie—took a break and I offered the unit to her on a 48-hour loan. Pleased, Jennie left with knowledge of how to operate the unit in an empty dwelling such that it would kill the mold already forming.

She also had a 10-Day Trial Pack of MyFlexFactor™, a supplement is designed to help the body heal itself. My hope was that it would help reduce the inflammation aggravating her asthma, and perhaps ease the soreness in her leg that had her limping. 

Thank you, Lord, for sending me across her path and matching the two of us that day. Your omniscient kindness is deeply appreciated.

With Gratitude,

Cynthia

08 May 2017

MyFlexFactor (TM)

¹⁷For I will restore health to you,

and your wounds I will heal, says the lord…

Jeremiah 30:17 (NRSV)

Not long ago I answered an advertisement seeking applicants who knew people in pain whom they wished to help.  Do I ever! I have dear friends and church family of all ages and sizes, each with different health situations. If I could help even a handful of them, I would feel greatly blessed.

The product, on the market wholesale, direct-to-customer online for some three years now is unique, one-of-a-kind, and phenomenal. Making no claims to heal or cure, MyFlexFactor™ simply offers a combination of the most powerful forces of proven natural ingredients to reduce pain while providing the body essential building blocks for healing.

In other words, it enables the body to heal itself.

The MyFlexFactor™ business model is designed intentionally to keep costs low, which explains why I have never seen it in stores or heard advertisements for it.

Now, I have been a Certified Holistic Health Coach for going on five years, and have tried (and represented) several exceptional products—from healthy home technology[1] through some remarkably effective nutraceuticals and individually designed vitamins[2]; however, most came with price tags that were a stretch for many of the people I know who struggle to live decently in the underserved areas of North Nashville, Tennessee—and I am not (in any way, shape, or form) a sales person. (Yes, I’ll get excited about a new product or simply new ways of living more healthfully and be eager to share the knowledge with others, until I meet objections I am not inclined to overcome—for I believe people should control their own lives, ultimately.)

Daniel, it seemed, had been put directly in my path. We share a belief that nothing occurs by chance, rather every interaction reflects divine choreography. Thank you, Lord.

Even better, he was not looking for sales people, only product representatives. “Good,” I told him, “because I couldn’t sell my way out of a paper bag.”

Step One—The Offer: No Risk Trial

By sharing my new knowledge of MyFlexFactor™, I could offer the 10-day/$30.00 Trial Pack with its 100% money-back guarantee. The 10-day Trial Pack provides a loading dose of 30 capsules, to be taken one, three times a day, with meals (or food) and 6-8 ounces of water.

If, within the trial period, the customer feels some difference, if he or she feels better, then…the product will work in that person’s body, and they can move on to the next step.

But, if, within the trial period, the customer feels NO difference, then…the product will probably not work in that person’s body, and they should call or email for a full refund.

I say probably not because some folks have long-standing, chronic health conditions that may take a longer loading dose to respond. So, I would recommend those with special circumstances talk to the folks at MyFlexFactor™ before giving up hope entirely.

Step Two—My Experience

After listening to Daniel a bit and looking at the (impressive!) list of ingredients, I decided to give the 10-day Trial a shot. Now, my main complaint isn’t/wasn’t one that is easily fixed—a “hitch” in my gait that reappeared after many years of absence, that I attribute to the chiropractic care issue of “retracing,” and which I have every confidence will disappear again, but as good as I am at waiting, well, it’s growing old. I told Daniel about it and he explained some of the science behind what I’ve been experiencing, and warned me that such an issue will take time to correct. His explanation was fascinating and way over my head (I’m a simple kind of gal) and involved anatomy and physiology and “synovial fluid,” and got me interested to learn more (in time).

Two other issues I had been having, neither of which I thought to mention to him, included knee and leg pain at night while trying to sleep—a relatively new occurrence and decidedly unwelcome—and a nasty flare-up of eczema on my palms. Now, that has been an issue for me all my life, more so in winter, and usually only on my fingers. Having pustules deep in my palms and cracks and splits where I’ve not had them before—that weren’t no fun, at all.

So, I started my 10-day Trial Pack and got to work waylaying members of my beloved church family at our Wednesday night Fellowship Supper.  

Initial Results

The very next Wednesday, not even a full 10 days later, one of my church members came in, smiled wide and gave me a huge hug reporting, “This is the first time I’ve been able to get out of bed without those shooting pains in my legs!” Success! Thanks, MyFlexFactor™!

Full disclosure: another church member returned her just-opened sample to me reporting indigestion with her first experience. Oh, well. Money back. No questions or hassles. I know it will not work for everyone.

Within the 10 days I was walking more smoothly and confidently again, although I had immediately reinjured myself by over-reaching after first noticing improvement, and I’ve now moved on to a regular dose that will arrive every 30 days (thanks to the convenience of auto-ship). I admit that I did not even notice until later that the night discomforts had vanished, and that the eczema had improved markedly. (I mean, it was to the point that I had gone onto Smile.Amazon for A+D diaper rash ointment and 1.3 dozen pairs of fresh cotton gloves.) Now I wish I had photos of when my skin was worse. I am so ready for a new phone with an undamaged camera lens.

Stay tuned. Over the weekend I heard positive responses from two gentlemen, both of whom have been suffering with debilitating pain of late, who had only started their trials some four days earlier…and will check in with me Wednesday after they’ve given it a full week.

The Product: All-Natural, Organic, Made in the U.S.A.

Okay, so what got me excited about this product in the first place? In addition to the promise that I could help others, I liked that it is:

·         All natural

·         Organic

·         GMO-Free

·         Casein-Free (no dairy)

·         Fully active and bio-available (unlike synthetic products)

·         Made in the U.S.A., indeed, right here in Middle Tennessee!

·         Made FRESH, just for me (or you)

·         No wheat or gluten

·         No MSG

·         No additives, fillers, or artificial ingredients

·         And, priced fairly, with no retail mark-up

Caution: this should NOT be used by anyone who is ALLERGIC to SHELLFISH. Sorry, folks.

And, I liked the testimonies I read from people who had tried it.

Step Three—Check it Out!

Ready to learn more? Visit the website. And, should you place an order, be sure to use coupon code HOPE to get Free Shipping and a $10-off coupon for your next order.

Got questions? Visit the website, CALL the toll-free number, and/or consult a trusted health professional. Chances are, they will not have heard of MyFlexFactor™, but I suspect they will be glad that you shared it with them.

Stay tuned. Prayerfully, the good news will begin piling up, soon!

Mercy, Grace, and Blessings,

Cynthia

18April2017

---

[1] Healthy Home Technology

[2] Individually Designed nutraceuticals

Are you ready to go Pain-Free?

Are you ready to go Pain-Free?

Recently I answered an advertisement asking if I knew anyone living with pain whom I wanted to help. Heck yeah!

What I discovered gave me hope. Real hope. But, I won't waste your time here. Follow the link above and see for yourself how you can go pain-free in 10 days, all naturally.

Try nature's medicine, as God intended.

Then, please return here to comment on your experience.

God bless!
--Cynthia

No Poo: Natural Beauty for Hair

If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person.

For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

1 Corinthians 3:17 (NRSV)

Well, it’s official. I have joined the ranks of the crunchy-granola moms. Sure, some would have classified me here years ago—I recall baking bread for a friend, probably in 2010, who was taken aback by the nuts and seeds he encountered in the loaf and said, “Oh, you’re one of those crunchy-granola types, aren’t you?” I had not thought of myself that way but realized that even then, I had strayed considerably from my S.A.D. days of eating.

Now, though, I’m confident that I’ve attained No Poo status. One of the things that contributes to this confidence is, oddly enough, my scattered way of thinking and lack of organization—which ensures that I cannot always find the specific reference I want because it’s not in the place that I believe it was left.

Back in November, around Thanksgiving, I stopped using shampoo. Who needs all those chemicals? Not me! I tried baking soda-and-water rinses, apple cider vinegar (ACV) conditioners, clays and oils and honey in various combinations, and dry shampoos.

By reading the blog posts and comment threads of many of the talented young crunchy-granola blogger moms, I learned that clay absorbs oils, honey acts as a humectant—replacing the moisture drawn off by the clay, ACV restores the hair’s naturally acidic pH balance. So many women are writing informative blogs these days. One of my favorites is Wellness Mama. I started there.

The clay-vinegar-honey-filtered water mixture was the one I liked best, but I was cowed by one blogger’s recipe that called for using the exact amounts listed in the exact order, and—try though I might—something was always either amiss with the concoction or the washing experience.

Then earlier in the week, I had a new squeeze bottle of raw honey and was ready for a wash, only to find that that particular No Poo recipe, the one I had “settled” upon was not where I looked and did not pop up right away in Google searches. That, though, was a blessing, because I perused several other blogs and noticed that while ingredients might be similar, most every person used a different ingredient list, proportions, and even time for leaving the masque on the hair. Yippee!

I used the ingredients I remembered, in equal proportions because I could not recall the specifications (1 spoon of this, 1½ of that) of my favorite recipe. The result was a large quantity of thick, green, bubbling goo ready to nourish my hair.

1 part bentonite clay

1 part raw ACV

1 part raw honey

2 parts filtered water

Several drops of essential oil (This time I used Lemon Grass and liked it)

I slathered it on, much more thickly than before because of the large quantity. With the hair masque in place, I set a timer for 8 minutes. (That recipe recommended between 5 and 15 minutes. I appreciated the leniency and flexibility.)

Next I used it as a face masque. Its gloppy form was less suited for a skin masque than its thinner cousin had been a couple of weeks ago, but we tried. We did not keep it on long enough to dry and crack—but our skin felt refreshed after rinsing nonetheless.

After rinsing (and rinsing, and rinsing) the result was delightfully clean, shiny, bouncy, vibrant hair with no heavy oiliness. Score! I will stick to this combination for a time now; it helps that I’ve written it down for future reference.

Between washings, or after washings that ended with heavily oily hair, I’ve settled upon a dry shampoo version that works well for me. I mix arrowroot powder (some use corn starch) and raw cacao powder to get produce a brown somewhat lighter than my natural color but that blends well since mine is now shot through with gray. (Blondes: skip the cacao!) I like the scent of cacao, and with my latest batch I included vanilla essential oil. The blend smells richly wonderful.

Some blogs recommend brushing the powder onto hair with an old makeup brush. Well, I have no makeup brushes, old or new, and have been shaking the powder from a container onto my hair. An empty salt cellar would be a good choice for this method.

I apply the powder liberally around any stringy, oily areas; massage it in; and then comb it through. The powder quickly absorbs the oil making hair manageable again. A quick shake and comb on subsequent days is all it needs until I’m ready to repeat the wet hair masque.

(Once I have a working camera again, I will add photo documentation. I dropped my cell phone one too many times and the glass cracked into a spider web over the camera lens.)

Thank you, Lord, for providing for all my needs—with tools to feed, cleanse, and heal my body—without need of resorting to man-made synthetic chemicals.

Until anon.

Blessings,

Cynthia

24 March 2017

Ginger Root

In my humble opinion, ginger root (zingiber officinale) is a spice more appreciated by adults than children. Kids enjoy ginger ale, and may accept ginger sliced into stir-fry dishes. Tea-drinking youth may appreciate Orange Zinger herbal tea. Straight-up ginger likely holds greater appeal for adult taste buds.

Case in point being my father, a man of somewhat peculiar tastes, who ate PB+G (peanut butter and ginger) sandwiches with regularity. In his 80’s he was quite set in his ways, and consumption of a PB+G sandwich (or two) was a part of his daily ritual. His recipe included a slice of wheat bread, spread with a generous layer of peanut butter, to which he added a thick coat of powdered ginger followed by another slice of bread.

The year I arranged a bulk shipment of powdered ginger for him as a gift (I think it was about 10 pounds) he was as happy as a pig rooting for fermented corn. He packed it into gallon-size glass jars whose lids had tight rubber seals to preserve flavor, and indulged his appetite for ginger without fear of running out.

Ginger acts as a vasodilator, spreading heat and encouraging blood circulation, and as a blood thinner. The root combats nausea, stimulates appetite and aids digestion. A strong ginger tea is helpful in clearing congested sinuses. We brew ginger tea in our household for colds and flu before even considering making chicken soup.

WebMD, a site which tends to err on the side of caution, states “ginger contains chemicals that may reduce nausea and inflammation. Researchers believe the chemicals work primarily in the stomach and intestines, but they may also work in the brain and nervous system to control nausea.”

These days, our salads not only incorporate dark leafy greens (no more iceberg lettuce), but also include slices of ginger and turmeric root, some fruit, seeds and/or nuts, along with whatever other colorful edibles are available. A range of colors, textures and flavors blend nicely to entertain our palates.

Some of my favorite uses for ginger include:

·         minced ginger in hot, dark cocoa;

·         ginger peach ice cream homemade using full-fat raw milk, grated or minced ginger, and fresh-sliced Georgia peaches in season; and

·         ginger tea.

Our recipe for ginger tea has simply been to place a pot of cold, filtered water on the stove and slice in a goodly thumb of ginger—three to four inches worth, bring to a boil, then simmer until the scent of ginger permeates the air. I’m sure it’s good with lemon and honey, but I’m a purist and prefer just the ginger-water.

You can learn more at Annie’s Remedy (http://www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail27.php) and the Uses of Herbs (http://usesofherbs.com/ginger) websites.

Blessings,

Cynthia

05 March 2017

My Introduction to Chiropractic Care

^{Then the Lord said, "My spirit shall not abide in mortals forever, for they are flesh; their days shall be one hundred and twenty years."}

Genesis 6:3 (NRSV)

We met our chiropractor by chance one day at a health fair at which we were both vendors. (That was back when I still thought that with having the best products, those for which I had searched and ultimately found, could translate easily into sales. Any income was meant to support my writing life—a passion from which I have no expectations of making a living.)

We exchanged ideas and each completed the assessment presented by the other. Stewart Family Chiropractic was using space certified technology—developed by NASA for use on the international space station—technology I trusted and for which I already had much respect. (Not only did I use and represent other forms of space certified technology myself, but also, I have fond memories of the time when my father worked on developing the computers for the Apollo rockets…way back when.)

I knew my scan would look good. After all, I was in excellent health, save for a couple of unexplainable random symptoms here and there. So, when the resulting printout showed large red lines beside four vertebrae near the top of my spine, I understood that something was wrong, and was concerned enough to make my first visit to a chiropractor’s office. Now, I’ve had friends over the years that swore by their chiropractors, but I had no occasion to pursue alternative healing methods when my insurance covered all my Western medical care with just a $5.00 co-pay. The rationale was, I believe, much like that I used when shopping at grocery stores over farmer’s markets. The known required no thought or extra time or money, so why bother?

I have learned so much since then.

At the office for an introductory workup, I met an office filled with beautiful, gentle souls who truly desired to serve others in achieving good health. (My desires were the same, but when tied to products or services that could involve any financial benefit to me…a counter-productive voice within my head berated me for attempting to sell something for my own profit.)

Their Christian perspective was out and proud, another aspect that appealed to me now.

Following the workup came an introductory class explaining chiropractic care to a group of potentially new patients. I liked what I heard. Messages such as God created us all to live 120 years in good health resonated with me. As one who subscribes to the axiom “food is medicine,” this rationale worked. After all, God created the Earth and all creatures and, presumably, gave us all the necessary tools to survive and thrive. We’re the ones that make a mess of those gifts.

Stewart Family Chiropractic aims to serve and assist in healing many people, over and above making money. To do this, they participate in a program with Chiropractic Lifecare of America, LLC, which—when patients purchase annual memberships with that company—enables Stewart Family Chiropractic to legally lower their per-visit rates to 3/5ths that charged for regular adjustments. (I gather there’s an industry standard for the area that sets the minimum rate.) Whatever, in my economically-challenged circumstance of being both underemployed and uninsured for chiropractic care, the membership option simply made sense.

I cannot recommend them highly enough. Visit GoStewartHealth.com. Tell them you were referred by me and you can get a free scan for yourself. Check it out!

Entering the New Year: 2017

I have been on a most amazing health journey this past year, one that has magnified for me the beauty of all that has been given to us on God’s green earth, one that has deepened and strengthened my faith, and one that has brought home the realization that I really do have a most amazing family.

In 2012 I was far enough into my discoveries about natural food and healing that I studied for a year with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN) out of New York City. Throughout that year and beyond, I tried new foods and new ways of eating with an emphasis on fresh, whole, dark and raw. For a time, I was careful to honor the temple of my body and to only feed it real food. I felt marvelous and loved that I could feel my body saying “Thank you” each time I fed it properly. A couple of years later my life was entwined with one who had too long been on the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) for me to make a convert of her, and hanging out continuously with her for the better part of a year drew me back into some of my old “stinkin’ thinkin’” as it applies to that SAD lifestyle. I rationalized: she’d been eating this way for the better part of eight decades, and was still going strong—although, admittedly, her health was failing—so I’m sure it won’t hurt to eat with her for a time.

Fast forward to 2016 when my own health was deteriorating from within and, in my pigheadedness, I failed to acknowledge the gravity of the change. Over the summer, I even returned to a now-ancient pastime for me, that of indulging in concentrated sugar, by eating those Smarties candies, one little disc at a time, while commuting. Beyond knowing that for me sugar triggers migraine headaches, I remember a few afternoons tooling along the back roads of Middle Tennessee and thinking, “Gee, it’s a good thing I don’t have cancer because sugar feeds cancer and that’s what I’m eating.”

In the fall, I was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst that was larger than most might imagine. I praised and thanked God for having added this side-track to my life journey. Unsure of where it might be leading, I was resolute in my faith that all would be well and would progress according to His plans. Facing the possibility of inpatient surgery and a hospital stay without having insurance coverage for either, I refused to worry. Certainly, I did attempt to delay treatment until such a time when hospitalization insurance could take effect, but when circumstances lead me to treatment sooner, I failed to worry about the cost. Having cancer pushed my sister and her husband into bankruptcy a few years back and I had no intention of going that route. I would pay as I was able, perhaps just a few dollars each month, but still the intent to pay would be unmistakable.

As we enter the year 2017, I am again striving to eat and live consciously and healthfully, and I am feeling better than I have in years. Indeed, shedding that cyst caused me to drop 30 pounds overnight. Literally. Even my gynecological oncologist, with his decades of experience, was impressed—coming to see me the next morning to report that the cyst had grown to 28 pounds and that they had drawn off a full 3 liters of fluid. 

God treated me with loving care. Although I had a vertical incision measuring over a foot in length, I experienced no real pain. I would admit to acute discomfort and accept ibuprophen, but I was through with morphine and opiates. Thirty years earlier I experienced more than my fair share of abdominal surgeries, all for “female troubles,” and had learned just how huge a difference having a skilled surgeon means to one’s recovery process and the pain that can accompany it. The more movement within the abdominal cavity, the more pain I could expect afterwards. With such a sizeable growth, the surgery could not be completed laparoscopically and I was prepared for a level of pain which I was no eager to experience. The lack of pain was just another of God’s many gifts—and I thank Zee.[1]

Entering 2017 I feel better than I have felt in years. I can move and breathe with ease. My God is so good.

Blessings,

Cynthia

02 January 2017

---

[1] At this time in history, when American society is coming to recognize the existence of more than two genders and writers around the globe are including their preferred pronouns as part of their signature blocks, I must acknowledge that my omniscient Savior cannot be limited in gender. As such, rather than using the gendered pronouns Him or Her, I choose Zee, a genderless alternative pronoun, to designate my Savior.