A heart mom's poem

It can happen during utero,

Or sometime after birth.

The news that makes you tremble,

The news that shakes the earth.

"we hear a distinct murmur ma'am,

There's an issue with the heart

We're not sure your child's chances ma'am,

It's going to be a rough start"

You think "why me? Why us?"

As you try to choke back tears

Your world crashing around you,

While you're consumed by your worst fears.

That sharp pain in your chest.

The heart break, like a knife.

Watching your precious child

Fight so hard for their life.

The first few months are brutal,

You walk around like a zombie.

Endlessly wondering

"will my baby get to call me mommy?"

"don't worry, it will get better"

Is something you can't stand to hear.

It feels like everything is getting worse!

The end, it feels so near. 

Then suddenly the days,

Seem to get a little brighter.

As you stare with loving eyes

At your precious little fighter. 

You've never been so proud

Of one single little soul,

Gradually reaching milestones

And accomplishing their goals.

A heart moms journey

Is one that never ends.

Filled with support and compassion,

Of other heart mom friends. 

We all love a little deeper,

And care a little more.

Reminding ourselves everyday,

Of how much we can be thankful for. 

We were given this life for a reason,

And at times it can get rough.

But we use our kids as examples,

Of how to remain tough.

 

For us, strength is not a choice.

It's a lifestyle we have to lead.

It's what keeps us going,

And it's what our heart child needs.

           

  - Author Unknown

How to support the treatment of bronchitis + reflexology feet massage

Acute bronchitis is short term inflammation of the bronchi of the lungs. The most common symptom is a cough, coughing up mucus, fever, muscle aches, fatigue, sore throat, headache, runny or blocked nose and chest discomfort. The infection may last from a few to ten days. The cough may persist for several weeks afterwards.

Bronchitis can be caused by either a virus or bacteria. Bronchitis need to start healing immediately to avoid possible lung infection (pneumonia).

In most cases, acute bronchitis will clear up by itself within a few weeks without the need for treatment.

In the meantime, you can support the treatment:

§  Drink lots of fluid, especially warm herbal tea (anise, fennel, thyme, sage, chamomile, linden blossom , rose hip) and soups (broth). This helps prevent dehydration and thins the mucus in your lungs, making it easier to cough up.

§  Support the immunity with vitamins from fruit and vegetable ( carrot salad with lemon juice, pepper, sea buckthorn, ginger, onion, garlic, oyster mushroom, tea from lingzhi mushroom (reishi)). It is advisable to take supplements- vitamin C, D, beta-carotene , colostrum (http://veronikapanton.blogspot.com/2016/03/colostrum-natures-most-effective-immune.html).

§  Mucolytic medicines thin the mucus in the lungs making it easier to cough up (N-Acetylcysteinum- ACC or Solmucol). The last daily dose take about three to four hours before bedtime. Onion syrup or onion tea - onion is known for its excellent effects on dissolving mucus.

Onion syrup – chop one big onion finely and add a big spoonful of honey, mix well and put covered in the fridge. The resulting juice can take also young children, pregnant and lactating mothers.

Onion tea – wash the whole onion and boil it in a pot with water for about 10 minutes. We can add honey and lemon juice into ready tea.

§  Massage of chest and back (thyme cream, eucalyptus ointment ...).

§  Nasal cleaning (nose enema) and gargling with salt water (300 ml of water + 2.7 g of salt).

§  Warm bath (with essential oils (tea tree, eucalyptus)), the high temperature prevents the virus dissemination.

§  Inhalation of herbal tea (chamomile), salt water, essential oils (tea tree, eucalyptus), mineral water.

 

 

§  Limit intake of dairy products (due to possible phlegm) and sugar.

§  It is recommended to use the ionizer, humidifier and regularly ventilate your home.

§  Feet massage (thyme cream , eucalyptus ointment,..).

§  Get plenty of rest.

How to massage your feet:

Reflexology is noninvasive and pleasant. It is used only a finger pressure on different points and zones on the feet, which are connected to body organs. Stimulation of these points can positively affect the function of related organs, encourage the natural regeneration, relieve their pain and strengthen the immune system.

I added the most important zones for support bronchitis treatment on my pictures. Focus mainly on zone of lungs, bronchi and upper lymph. Massage your feet from 3 to 10 minutes, it is recommended to split this time into 2-3 sessions per day.

 

If you do not want to study the zones, you do not have to. Each feet massage improves the function of blood and lymphatic system, helps the body eliminate toxic substances, strengthens the nervous system, relieves tension and stress. Just take your foot into your hand and make a soothing massage intuitively. You will be rewarded at least with soft feet.

Warning: Health information and the names of the drugs mentioned in the article are only for orientation in the field of self-medication and does not replace communication with your doctor. Before taking any medication, read the leaflet or ask your pharmacist or doctor. The author is not responsible for misinterpretation of the information contained on the website and is not responsible for any damages incurred subsequent procedures or conduct that are made based on the content of these pages. By entering this blog you confirm that you have read the aim and the restrictions of the site.

How to massage feets by hydronephrosis to increase function of your kidneys

Hydronephrosis is a condition that typically occurs when the kidney swells due to the failure of normal drainage of urine from the kidney to the bladder. This swelling most commonly affects only one kidney, but it can involve both kidneys. Hydronephrosis is a structural condition that is the result of a blockage or obstruction in the urinary tract.

Prenatal diagnosis is usually detected by routine screening ultrasounds obtained during pregnancy. Approximately half of all prenatally identified hydronephrosis is transient and resolves by the time the infant is born. In another 15% the hydronephrosis persists but is not associated with urinary tract obstruction (so-called non-refluxing, non-obstructive hydronephrosis). For these children, regression of the hydronephrosis occurs spontaneously, usually by age 3. In the remaining 35% of cases of prenatal hydronephrosis a pathological condition can be identified postnatally.^[1]

Hydronephrosis affects about one in every 100 babies.

Our story:

My daughter was born with congenital heart desease Tetralogy of Fallot and hydronephrosis of one her kidney (associated with urinary tract obstruction in one of her ureter, which is the tube that connect a kidney to the bladder).

We were „lucky“ as our daughter was a „pink TOF baby“ (she had corrective open heart surgery at age 9 month) and we were allowed to go home for few days, before they asked us to come for X-ray of her urinary tract to see if there is a reflux (micturating/voiding cystourethrogram - MCUG/VCUG). We have been told that there is no reflux, but the chance that her kidney normalise is under 5% and therefore they would like to make a surgery, plastic of ureter or in the worse scenario give the kidney away.

She got a chance for the 5%, the doctor prescribed her antibiotics to ensure she doesn´t develop a kidney infection and I contacted a recommended reflexology doctor. The next sonography in one month shown that the function of her kidney increase from 6% to 15 %. After 6 month to 45%. Three years later there is no obvious difference in her kidneys, she has two normal working kidneys.

Therefore I would like to share with all worrying parents and patients the massage technic as its probably worth to try it.

How to do it:

Use reflexology to stimulate the kidneys and keep them working properly.  

Rub your thumb down the foot and apply pressure on reflexology kidney zone (see the picture), then continue fluently to the ureter area and finish apply the pressure on the bladder. Massage always both feets as kidneys are paired organs where works cross effect.

Repeat the process few times per day always so long until the pain and mild discomfort goes away. By small children rub and apply pressure on the reflexology zone three times in a row , 3 times per a day.

We have been told many bad scenarios and more and more new diagnosis were coming too. Well as a parent you can do only one thing, stay positive, spend as much as possible nice moments with your child even you spent most of your time at hospital and fight the battle together with your little warrior.

Best wishes to all of you!

P.S.: For the best results contact a reflexology doctor with a good renommee.

[1] Carmody, JB; Carmody, RB (December 2011). "Question from the clinician: management of prenatal hydronephrosis". Pediatr Rev. 32 (12): e110–2. doi:10.1542/pir.32-12-e110. PMID 22135428.

Warning: Health information and the names of the drugs mentioned in the article are only for orientation in the field of self-medication and does not replace communication with your doctor. Before taking any medication, read the leaflet or ask your pharmacist or doctor. The author is not responsible for misinterpretation of the information contained on the website and is not responsible for any damages incurred subsequent procedures or conduct that are made based on the content of these pages. By entering this blog you confirm that you have read the aim and the restrictions of the site.

 

Correcting flat feet with exercise at home

Having flat feet, or "fallen arches", means that your feet have low or no arches and press almost completely flat against the ground.

Flat feet can be associated with pain in the feet, ankles, lower legs, knees, hips or lower back.

The appearance of flat feet is normal and common in infants, partly due to "baby fat" which masks the developing arch and partly because the arch has not yet fully developed. The human arch develops in infancy and early childhood as part of normal muscle, tendon, ligament and bone growth. Training of the feet, especially by foot gymnastics and going barefoot on varying terrain, can facilitate the formation of arches during childhood, with a developed arch occurring for most by the age of four to six years. Flat arches in children usually become proper arches and high arches while the child progresses through adolescence and into adulthood.

Home treatment

·         Going barefoot

·         Massage equipment

·         Using arch inserts

·         Use of tape

How to apply a tape on a flat feet

·        Cut your size of tape - from Achilles tendon on the heel to the sole under your toes

·        Round off the tape on a both sides

·        Cut the tape into three same strips but let a base on the other side

·        Put the tape on the lower part of the Achilles tendon and slowly stick the three strips down. Start with your little toe, continue to your big toe on the other side and finish sticking the strip between the 1st and 2nd middle toes

 

 

Warning: Health information and the names of the drugs mentioned in the article are only for orientation in the field of self-medication and does not replace communication with your doctor. Before taking any medication, read the leaflet or ask your pharmacist or doctor. The author is not responsible for misinterpretation of the information contained on the website and is not responsible for any damages incurred subsequent procedures or conduct that are made based on the content of these pages. By entering this blog you confirm that you have read the aim and the restrictions of the site.

The Scar = Lifeline

Scars are part of our lives and soon or later each of us usually get some. Invisible scars are worse than the one we have on our skin.

Yes, kids can be cruel. If you worry about scars your child have, talk about the reason they have it and explain that they should be proud about their marks. They are survivors and they will be accepted.

Friends do not care about visible scars, they care about the invisible ones and they will be happy to celebrate how the scars are part of how we healed.

Sometimes, real superheroes live in the hearts of small children fighting big battles.

Related books:

·         Zip-Line by David Humpherys Story Sample Pages
·         Exclamation Point by  Saul M.Solano Jr
·         Charlie the Courageous by Joslynn Jarrett-Skelton
·         Riley's Heart Machine by Lori M Jones
·         Patch the heart lion
·         Jeremiah the CHD Aware Bear by Phillip Wolf

 

Application of Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) – Herb of longevity

 

Ganoderma lucidum is a medicinal fungus called Reishi or Lingzhi. It is an important ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of diseases. The dried powder of Ganoderma lucidum was recommended as a cancer chemotherapy agent in ancient China.

Recent studies have suggested that this mushroom exhibits anticancer activity through stimulation of the host immune system by polysaccharides or by the cytotoxic effects of triterpenes. ^[1]

It is used for prevention and treatment of various types of human diseases such a :

·         Allergy

·         Anorexia

·         Arthritis

·         Asthma

·        Cancer ^[8,9] (cancer of the colon^[2], liver, prostate, breast, lung, bladder, ovary ^[10] , cervix, leukemia)

·         Debility from prolonged illness        

·        Hepatopathy (liver diseases) - cirrhosis, Wilson disease, steatosis, Hepatitis B (chronic) - Anti-hepatitis activities ^[3]

·         High blood pressure (hypertension)

·         HIV

·         Hyperglycemia

·         Inflammation - f.e. kidney inflammation (nephritis), Bronchitis (chronic)

·         Insomnia

·         Gastric ulcers          

·         Neurasthenia

·         Scleroderma

The most attractive character of this kind of medicinal fungus is its immunomodulatory and antitumor activities.

Intake of vitamin C helps to improve the intake of polysaccharides contained in this fungus.

Ganoderma can be found growing up from underground networks called mycelium near organic waste and logs, which are both a good nutrient source. Given the right conditions, ganoderma can actually be cultivated and used in medicine.
 

Ganoderma lucidum contains: 

·       Group of triterpenes - ganoderic acids (ganoderol, ganoderenic acid, ganoderiol, ganodermanontriol, lucidadiol, ganodermadiol), which have a molecular structure similar to steroid hormones , lipid-lowering and antioxidant effects

·        Polysaccharides (beta-glucan) increase glucose liver metabolism, enhance peripheral tissue and improve your body’s utilization of glucose

·        Fungal immunomodulatory proteins (FIPs) - immune building properties

·        Coumarin

·        Mannitol

·        Alkaloids

·        Adenosin

·        Vitamins and minerals - phosphorus, silica, sulfur, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, selenium, germanium, silica, copper, manganese, vitamin B

Quality of the products with Ganoderma lucidum depends on the amount of polysaccharides in the product. If the amount of polysaccharides is not mentioned, the quality will be very low. Best products have 40% of polysaccharides, mainly glucans.

Modern research has demonstrated pharmacological effects of Ganoderma spores and confirmed that the polysaccharide Ganoderma fungus spores is the main component to maintain physiological balance and boost immunity. Ganoderma spores have 75 times higher effect than Ganoderma fruiting bodies.

Ganoderma mycelium (biomass reishi mushroom powder) works 20 times better than reishi mushroom fruiting.

Application: 

Polysaccharides and triterpenes levels are highest in the fruiting bodies and traditionally obtained by hot water extraction. Water extraction is ideal for polysaccharides that are highly water soluble. Triterpenes are poorly water soluble but highly soluble in alcohol.

 

The extraction of active ingredients with hot water and alcohol:

 

5 to 10 g of dried chopped fruiting bodies of Reishi pour 1 liters of water and bring to the boil. Lower the temperature and cook for 30-50 minutes. Drink it during the day as warm or cold tea.

Boiled mushrooms do not throw away, you can still use them twice. The extract has a bitter taste (= the active ingredient rich in polysaccharides).

The mushrooms are still usable for the alcohol extract, because they contain water-insoluble triterpenes. Pour 0,5 liter of distilled alcohol, and leave it leach for at least four weeks. We obtain an extract rich in triterpenes. Use 1-3 tablespoons a day.

Mix 1-2g of Ganoderma spores with 100ml hot water, you can put honey inside. 

For coffee lovers exist a product calls Reishi black coffee Lingzhi (Ganoderma Lucidum).

Use of ground fungus provided in many supplements on the market can not cause the expected processes in the body that lead to leaching of valuable substances.
 

I can recommend my supplier of a pure quality Ganoderma from Vietnam:
https://www.facebook.com/truongsinhlinhchi/ 

Side Effects of Ganoderma Lucidum:

·        Some individuals are allergic to Ganoderma lucidum. You might experience itchy, red skin after taking the mushroom, dry mouth, throat dryness.

·        Ganoderma can interact with other medications, especially blood thinners, which could lead to a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Therefore Warfarin and Ganoderma should not be taken together.

·         Prolonged use of Ganoderma can also lead to gastric bleeding.

FYKI

Ganoderma lucidum expert Prof. Nguyen Thi Chinh, director of the Mushroom and Bio-product Development and Research Center and the Lingzhi Mushroom Company - Linhzhi Co.,Ltd. ^[6,7]

 

1.    http://www.ganohat.com/images/ganoderma_breastcancer.pdf

2.    http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01635580903532390

3.    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16552843

4.    https://lifestreamgroup.com/document/Reishi_for_Cancer.pdf

5.    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92757/

6.   http://vovworld.vn/en-us/Personality-of-the-week/Science-and-technology-bring-about-success/204108.vov

7.    http://vietnam.vnanet.vn/english/vietnams-mushroom-queen/111685.html

8.    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14713328

9.    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22696372

10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26282491

Warning: Health information and the names of the drugs mentioned in the article are only for orientation in the field of self-medication and does not replace communication with your doctor. Before taking any medication, read the leaflet or ask your pharmacist or doctor. The author is not responsible for misinterpretation of the information contained on the website and is not responsible for any damages incurred subsequent procedures or conduct that are made based on the content of these pages. By entering this blog you confirm that you have read the aim and the restrictions of the site.