Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Cow Brain & Pregnancy

My teenage daughter had been experiencing unusual fatigue, along with some dizziness and nausea, so like any good mother would, I took her to the doctor.  Although my daughter assured her she wasn’t pregnant, the doctor had her pee in a cup and tested her for pregnancy without her knowledge.  I found out about it later when I saw the itemized bill.  I called the doctor’s office expressing my displeasure and politely refused to pay that portion of the bill.  A blood test was also done and revealed nothing out of the ordinary.

After doing some research online, trying a few things at home and not really being able to pinpoint the problem, we visited the doctor again a couple of months later.  The nurse asked a series of questions suggested by her laptop, and the findings were still inconclusive.  The doctor came in and asked more questions, and because my daughter mentioned some ‘burning’ in her stomach, the doctor prescribed an antacid and recommended a few therapists.  Have you ever been told, “It’s all in your head”?

Not satisfied with the diagnosis of teenage girl angst, I called a naturopathic doctor upon the recommendation of my sister-in-law.  He asked several questions and seemed a bit puzzled but undaunted.  He gave her a vitamin B shot and a few general suggestions, and we made an appointment to see him again in a week.

When we went back to see him, it was obvious he had done some research.  He wanted to test a theory, so he had her lie on the exam table, checked her blood pressure and pulse, had her stand up, and did the same.  Hmmm... it appeared she was experiencing some form of orthostatic hypotension... or in layman’s terms, ‘standing low blood pressure’.  You know when you stand up really quickly from a reclined position and you feel momentarily dizzy?  Well, it’s like that, except her blood pressure and pulse did not recover as quickly as it should have.  He suggested she increase her salt intake.  Now, how many doctors do you know would suggest you eat more salt?  He also suggested we have her blood tested for food allergies and then follow a month long prescribed diet according to the findings of the test.

She followed the diet, and while she did feel a little better, she still didn’t feel quite right, so we went back to the doctor again.  This time he suggested we do an adrenal test that is more accurate than the blood test.  She had to fill four small vials with saliva at different times throughout the day.  The results revealed lower than normal cortisol levels, so he prescribed an adrenal support supplement.  On the way home, my daughter looked at the ingredients, because she checks ingredients more now after having done the food allergy diet.  Anyway, she slowly read, “Adrenal whole bovine”.

“Bovine?” I queried.  “That’s cow!”

“What?  Cow?  Are you sure?”  she skeptically asked.  She sounded out the next ingredient, “Adrenal cortex bovine."

“Cortex?” I laughed.  “That’s brain!  Cow brain!”

“You’re joking with me, right?” she asked.

“No, I’m serious,” I replied as I continued to laugh.

There were other ingredients as well, but she didn’t hesitate to do a Google search when we returned home and found, indeed, that I was right... well, sort of.

A couple of mornings later, I read an article in the magazine Above Rubies, and I proceeded to tell my daughter about it.  The article contained scientific evidences that support the physical side of the Bible verse in 1 Timothy 2:15 which says, “Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”  The part that caught my eye was for the section subtitled “Adrenal Fatigue”.

“Yeah,” I continued, “The article went on to say that a woman, who had experienced panic attacks due to adrenal burn out, was afraid to get pregnant until she read that pregnancy actually helps heal adrenals.”

When my 18-year-old daughter reacted with a look of puzzled disbelief, I laughed and continued, “Not that I’m suggesting you get pregnant.  I just found it interesting.”

Anyway, she's been feeling even better since taking the adrenal support supplement.  So, if you’ve been feeling unusually tired, weak, dizzy, nauseous, or having random feelings of anxiety for no apparent reason, don’t believe the doctor who suggests it’s all in your head.


Friday, September 18, 2009

Bearing Blossoms and Fruit



He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.  --Isaiah 27:6
 



[Jesus] spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.  Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?  And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:  And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.  --Luke 13:6-9


How would you feel if you planted a tree or bush and it never bore any fruit... especially if you had to pay a price for it?  We bought our plum tree, a cherry tree, and two pear trees about four years ago.  Our cherry tree produced a lot of blossoms and cherries this year.  Our pear trees have one miniature-sized pear between the pair of them despite the abundance of spring blossoms, and our plum tree had this one lone purple jewel.  While I don’t fully understand why the other twelve baby plums abandoned the tree early on, and even though the one that remained was slightly smaller than a ping-pong ball, I am grateful it bore fruit again this year.  It gives me hope for the future.

Have I borne any fruit this year?  I think so... although I’m sure I haven’t been as productive as I could’ve or should’ve been.  The Lord is gracious and slow to anger, but I sure hope He doesn’t find it necessary to dig about and ‘dung’ me in order to make me more fruitful.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Happy National Creme-Filled Doughnut Day!

 

"Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD an heave offering in your generations."  --Numbers 15:21

Sometimes when I want to be inspired to take a picture or to make an ordinary day not so ordinary, I look to see if the day has been designated as a national holiday.  What does it take for a day to become designated as a national holiday?  Doesn't a resolution or something have to be passed by Congress?  And why would anyone designate a day to become National Creme-Filled Doughnut Day?  Or National Goof Off Day?  Or National Sea Monkey Day?  I don't know, but I thoroughly enjoyed my creme-filled donut this morning.  Maybe I'll even hug a crabby stranger today or eat a hoagie.  By the way, what is doodle soup?

Saturday, September 12, 2009

The Etymology of Hypocrite

"An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered."  --Proverbs 11:9 KJV

While reading Proverbs 11 yesterday, as I came across verse 9, it struck me how apropos it was.  Just a few days ago,  President Obama addressed a joint session of Congress concerning the health care issue.  When he stated the plan would not insure illegal immigrants, one of the representatives shouted out, "You lie".  Then yesterday morning, I learned that commentators like Glenn Beck were revealing several lies being told by the present administration regarding the president's plan.  Another one is no government funding for abortion.  Interestingly, I understand that some government funds are already being used in both cases.  Many people in our country and even others are making the observation that this present administration is attempting to transform the U.S. into a socialist nation.  Thank God for people like Glenn Beck and media outlets like Fox News who are researching and sharing knowledge of the truth.

As I read verse 9 again this morning, having been a homeschool mom and one who enjoys the study of language, I noticed the prefix hypo- in hypocriteHypo- means "under".  "Under what?" I wondered, so I researched the etymology of hypocrite.  I knew the Greeks used it as a word for actors, but I wanted to know what crites means.  It comes from the Greek krinein , which means "to separate, sift, decide, or judge".  The sense is like an actor, who knows what s(he) is going to say beforehand , but must wait to say it in response to and after sifting or judging what his/her fellow actor or the audience has said.  I find it interesting and a bit scary to consider a double meaning... that hypocrites are 'under judgment'.  Hasn't there been a bit of pretense in all of us at one time or another?

Friday, September 11, 2009

Black Mission Figs


For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaster... and [Hezekiah] shall recover. --Isaiah 38:21

My daughter wanted to try a fresh fig, so I bought some at the co-op a few days ago.  The very first bite is a bit unusual, but they are actually very tasty... and they're really good for you too.  They have lots of potassium, calcium, fiber, Vitamin A, protein, and fiber.  Even the Bible mentions using them for healing.  So try some.  They're sure to do some good, and I think you just might enjoy them too.

 

Monday, September 7, 2009

Afraid You'll Miss Something?

Today was Labor Day.  Did you have plans to do anything special or to simply get together with family or friends?  Did you have that one last summer fling?  Or did you feel restless, thinking that everyone else had something to do except you?

I helped some friends do some painting in their pizzeria today.  It was kind of a spur of the moment thing, because... well, my family didn’t have anything planned.  And besides, I couldn’t see my friends doing so much work by themselves, so I offered to help.  It was so nice seeing them again.  My friend, Keith made subs for lunch, and we ate outside on the green in the gazebo.  Then  later, he made three pizzas for me to take home to my family.  Each one was specially made, including one without cheese for my daughter.  He makes the best pizza, and both he and his wife are wonderful people.  Although it wasn’t anything I would’ve planned for Labor Day, I was blessed.

After enjoying the pizza with my family, I wanted to get caught up with other friends and family on Facebook.  I was surprised to see that many others had not made plans for the day either and had been wondering what to do, but isn’t that what most of our lives really look like most of the time?  And it’s not like we didn’t do anything this Labor Day weekend.  Our pastor and his wife hosted a BBQ and ice cream social at their home yesterday.  So why the need to do something today?  Perhaps it has something to do with something our pastor said in one of his sermons:  “Resistance to rest is a mark of immaturity.”  Are we sometimes like two-year-olds who don’t want to take a nap, because we’re afraid we’ll miss something?

Saturday, September 5, 2009

God's Goodness




"He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth."  --Psalm 104:4 


I milled some parsley from our garden this morning, and I have some dried oregano waiting to be milled.  Spices can be expensive, but God has blessed our garden this year, and it is so rewarding to enjoy the fruit of one's labor.  Isn't it?

Friday, September 4, 2009

"Tips For College & Marriage"

No, this isn’t an advice column on college and married life.  I never went to college, except for taking a few classes through a community college.

My daughter and I made a three-hour drive to the beach yesterday.  While ordering some lunch, I noticed a paper cup sitting on top of the counter for tips.  It read “Tips for College & Marriage”.  Apparently, the cashier is going to college, and the cook is getting married.  The cook was a young college age man, and I thought of my own son who was recently married.  I want to say I gave them a tip, but I didn't have any small bills, and I wanted to give more than the little bit of change I had.  I would come back.

Later, while making the traditional purchase of salt water taffy before heading home, I noticed another tip cup that read, “Tips for College”.  I was tempted to pull out a pen and paper, but I didn’t, because I remembered that I hadn't really gone to college.  Instead, I pulled out a single green piece of ‘paper’ and put it in the cup.  I wonder if it really was for college since the boy behind the counter looked about fourteen, but I guess it’s never too early to start planning, right?  Perhaps I should have told him that the best tips, "... all things that pertain to life and godliness..." can be found in God's Word.