I haven’t done a AI post for a while (and if you’re new to this blog you might want to catch up on some previous posts here). Which is not to say that I’m traveling swimmingly with my particular version of the disease. Nope, it’s up and down.
via pinterest.com
I’m still learning what flares things up. To be honest the biggest, lingering issue is inflammation. Which is no surprise. AI is all about inflammation. Healing AI, as well as treating it, is about reducing inflammation. Reducing flare-ups. And then de-exciting them smartly when they do happen. Which they will. I find this management process so frustrating. I flare up – which is to say I get inflammed – 2-3 days every week. It drives me mental.
my right side goes puffy, and my face and both feet. You’ll see photos of me where one day I look one size, the next a good size or two bigger. I can’t wear shoes.
my lips burn (the other day they swelled so much they split) and strangely, the skin of my stomach does, too.
I get brain fog. And can’t face talking to people.
I get super sensitive – to noise, light, EMFs, smells. I can’t cope with perfume or the smell of detergent. Even thoughts hurt.
and my digestion stops. In it’s tracks.
Below I’ll update with what I’m doing now to reduce the swell. (And remember: if you don’t have AI, the info on inflammation is key to good health in everyone!!!) I also thought it would be good to share this article by Dr Mark Hyman on ways to treat inflammation. It’s a good backgrounder on the inflam/AI link:
- Inflammation is connected to almost every known chronic disease: from heart disease to cancer, diabetes to obesity, autism to dementia and even depression… as well as AI.
- Autoimmune diseases now affect 24 million people and includes rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and more.
- Autoimmunity occurs when your immune system gets confused and your own tissues get caught in friendly cross-fire. Your body is fighting something — an infection, a toxin, an allergen, a food or the stress response — and somehow it redirects its hostile attack on your joints, your brain, your thyroid, your gut, your skin or sometimes your whole body.
- If you want to cool off inflammation in the body, you must find the source of the problem. [Often the toxin or allergen is gluten… which is why so many of us need to cut it out.]
- Interestingly, autoimmune disorders occur almost exclusively in developed countries. People in poor nations without modern amenities like running water, flushing toilets, washing machines and sterile backyards don’t get these diseases. [Interesting, hey!]
Dr Hyman outlines some tricks for dealing with AI-related inflammation, including: checking for hidden infections — yeast, viruses, bacteria, lyme, and allergens. And advises fixing your gut. The gut is the juncture where the allergens and toxins cross into our system. Strong gut = less invaders!
What do I do to keep the inflame at bay?
* I eat anti-inflammatory foods wherever I can. I dose up. Sometimes I make a big soup full of green vegetables. And eat with yoghurt.
* I eat yoghurt
* I take a rehmania and licorice tonic
* I take a high-grade fish oil (this is VERY key). I use UltraClean by BioCeuticals. Expensive, but the best.
* I make sure I sleep 8 hours. When I get less, I swell like a coke addict puffer fish.
* I got tested for heavy metal toxicity and found I have high mercury levels… a big issue for AI sufferers. I’m now treating this by chelating… with chlorella (1/2 a teaspoon every day) and lots of coriander. This has been an ‘interesting’ experience. I’m certainly detoxing something out… (vomiting etc). I’ll report back in a few months to let you know if it makes a difference.
* I turn off my internet and all power points in my room at night. And turn off my mobile. EMFs make a noticable difference to me.
Perhaps the most important thing I do now… I accept what goes on. When you’re an AI type, you become MORE AND MORE sensitive. It’s just the deal. It’s taken me ages to accept this… and for my friends and family to. No one explains this to us… we have to work this out. And move with it. Not inflame it by feeling it’s “wrong”.
But when I do get inflammed…
That, is if I’ve been traveling or not slept or drunk more than a glass of wine the night before. All these things see me swell within a few hours. Essentially, I a) focus on getting my gut happy, and b) de-excite. Calm down. Quieten down. It usually takes 1-2 days.
* I stay very quiet – I’ll cancel social stuff and read at home.
* I eat super clean food – veggies, no coffee, no alcohol
* I up my healthy gut aids. I’ve posted on these here. Right now I’m working with Miessence In-Liven probiotic superfood (a scoop in some yoghurt in the morning) and Carla Oates Inner Beauty Powder.
* I meditate
* I take a herbal laxative if need be (it’s not ideal, but it’s really not good to have any toxins “stuck” inside)
* I take extra tonic and fish oil Things get back to normal within 48 hours.
Hope this helps…feel free to pass on to other AI sufferers and to share your experiences and tips below…
