This Little Lark Guest Post on Acupuncture

I was recently asked by one of my favorite bloggers, this little lark, to write a more detailed story on my experience with acupuncture.   To to read it you can visit her post here.You might recognize her from my recent link to her wonderful tips on Overcoming Emotional Blockages During Dietary Changes.


What a treat to be able to contribute to her site!
If you've have any stories to share about your experience with acupuncture please feel free to comment.  We can continue to learn through each other :)

When Being Positive Isn't Enough

Photo credit to www.tortagialla.com

I thought pretty seriously about whether or not to write about this subject, being that I highly promote positive thinking as the key to living a balanced life.  That said, its also not realistic to achieve this 100% of the time, unless you are either not human or incredibly gifted.  For some of us it might come easier than others, and one day might flow better than the previous.  Though I push for a good attitude everyday, I'm learning it's OK to allow feelings to come up such as sadness and anger, as long as I learn from it and move on.

Navigating Emotions with Illness

After many years of living with digestive issues, exploring variations of special diets and journaling my day to day experiences, one factor consistently presents itself as the most difficult challenge.  It's not necessarily the pain, the nausea, restricted foods and lifestyle, but having to emotionally deal with so many changes.

When the Nausea Creeps In

One of the most unsettling symptoms (literally) of gastroparesis is nausea.  It can be hard to explain why we are fine one moment and then next sick with the stomach spins.  Yesterday, as my husband and I were out running errands, laughing about something on the radio, it hit me like an unforeseen tsunami.  I could only compare it to the feeling of just stepping off the tilt-a-whirl at the amusement park, spinning as though the blood had rushed out of my body.

So, what can we do in these situations?  My best advice is to, one, be prepared with a tummy toolkit, and two, practice deep breathing and relaxation techniques. Yesterday I popped in a ginger chew and took some slow, deep breaths of the Quease Ease.  Here are some additional tools and information to prevent this feeling from taking over.

Spice Remedies Part II: Love Affair with Cilantro

Exploring the digestive benefits of spices is a journey I began years ago and still often turn to when preparing food.  From smoothies to soups, herbs and spices can be used to create much more than flavor. This series began months ago in Part 1: Cardamom Cures and to this day happens to be the most popular and viewed post!  So, this got me thinking, maybe its time to continue looking at ways to enhance flavor and digestion.  Continuing with C's, next on the list is my love for coriander/cilantro.

Feeding Tube Awareness and Update

This week, from Feb 5-11, is Feeding Tube Awareness Week.  The goal is to raise awareness of enteral/tube feeding as a positive and often life-saving medical intervention for those who are unable to eat and drink enough to sustain life and thrive.  I never imagined my life would turn out this way, having a feeding tube that is.  In the beginning I was scared and sad, not understanding how it came to this. Today I am thankful because it saved my life.  Though it is not a cure for GP, it has provided me with a temporary solution and enough strength and energy to stay healthy, an option I did not have prior to the tube.  

Creamy and Delicious Almond Milk

Almond milk is a wonderful alternative for those who are lactose intolerant or just looking for a delicious dairy/soy alternative.  Years ago I started consuming other milks such as soy, rice, almond and hemp.  Almond has always been my favorite and settles the best.  However, I had no idea how amazing homemade would taste until a friend made it for me last summer.  Since then, unless extremely pressed for time, this creamy goodness is a staple in my kitchen.  Trust me, once you try it you will never want to go back!