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30 Benefits of Red Light Therapy

November 8, 2024 by Quin Leave a Comment

As a Christian homemaker I strive to care for myself and our family in a way that honors God.

In today’s fast-paced world, it can be challenging to find ways to maintain our health and beauty. Red light therapy, a non-invasive technique that harnesses the power of specific wavelengths of light, offers a natural and effective solution for various skincare concerns.

This post contains affiliate links

A God-Given Gift: The Power of Light

Light is a powerful force in the universe, and God created it to illuminate our world. Red light therapy, when used wisely and prayerfully, can be a tool to enhance our physical well-being and reflect God’s beauty.

Benefits of Red Light Therapy for Christian Homemakers:

  • Reduced Inflammation: Red light therapy can help soothe irritated skin, making it ideal for conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis.
  • Enhanced Skin Rejuvenation: Increased collagen production can lead to firmer, more youthful-looking skin.
  • Faster Wound Healing: Red light therapy can accelerate the healing process of cuts, burns, and other skin injuries.
  • Pain Relief: This therapy can help alleviate pain associated with conditions like arthritis and muscle soreness.

The Lumebox: A Modern-Day Miracle

The Lumebox is a cutting-edge red light therapy device. This powerful tool is easy to work into your daily routine. With its portable design and customizable settings between RED and NIR light, the Lumebox allows you to tailor your treatments to your specific needs.

Incorporating Red Light Therapy into Your Christian Homemaking Routine:

To maximize the benefits of red light therapy, consider the following tips:

  • Pray Before Each Session: Ask God to bless your treatment and guide you in using this tool wisely.
  • Use It Consistently: Regular use is key to achieving optimal results.
  • Protect Your Eyes: Wear the included protective eyewear during treatment, especially around your face.
  • Trust in God’s Timing: While you may notice improvements relatively quickly (so impressed with this), be patient and trust in God’s perfect timing for healing those ailments that have been there a while.

By incorporating red light therapy into your daily routine, you can experience a radiant glow, smoother skin, and a boost in overall well-being.

Remember, as Christian homemakers, our goal is to honor God in all that we do. By using red light therapy wisely and prayerfully, we can embrace modern technology while maintaining our faith and values.

None of this is medical advice, just our opinions and experiences. My husband used red light therapy through our chiropractor to heal a shoulder injury that we thought for sure would need rotator cuff surgery. Now of course that is a more extreme case, but I’m telling you this because I want you to know how powerful red light can be. Our 17 year old son uses red light when he has finished big mowing or landscaping jobs, to ease muscle tension and soreness.’

I love using red light all the time, it just makes me feel good! I started using the Lumebox to help with plantar fasciitis, and continue to use it while I’m working through physical therapy. I use it to aid wound healing, reduce the mom belly, and to boost my mood. Ohhh that mood boost, seriously, this is so good!

30 Benefits of Red Light Therapy

Here’s a comprehensive list of 30 benefits that could be associated with red light therapy:

  1. Reduced Inflammation: Alleviates redness and swelling.
  2. Accelerated Wound Healing: Promotes faster recovery from cuts, burns, and surgical wounds.
  3. Enhanced Collagen Production: Boosts collagen synthesis, leading to firmer, more youthful skin.
  4. Improved Skin Texture and Tone: Reduces fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone.
  5. Pain Relief: Alleviates muscle and joint pain, including arthritis and fibromyalgia.
  6. Increased Blood Circulation: Improves blood flow to tissues, promoting healing and reducing inflammation.
  7. Boosted Cellular Energy: Stimulates cellular metabolism, leading to increased energy production.
  8. Enhanced Hair Growth: Promotes hair follicle health and stimulates hair growth.
  9. Reduced Acne: Helps to reduce acne breakouts by killing bacteria and reducing inflammation.
  10. Improved Mood: May help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.
  11. Faster Muscle Recovery: Reduces muscle soreness and fatigue after workouts.
  12. Enhanced Athletic Performance: Improves endurance and reduces recovery time between training sessions.
  13. Boosted Immune System: May help strengthen the immune system and fight off infections.
  14. Improved Sleep Quality: May help regulate sleep patterns and promote restful sleep.
  15. Reduced Oxidative Stress: Protects cells from damage caused by free radicals.
  16. Increased Lymphatic Drainage: Improves lymphatic circulation, reducing swelling and promoting detoxification.
  17. Enhanced Brain Function: May improve cognitive function, memory, and focus.
  18. Reduced Migraine Frequency and Severity: May help alleviate migraine symptoms.
  19. Improved Vision: May help improve eye health and reduce symptoms of eye strain.
  20. Reduced Eczema Symptoms: May help reduce the severity of eczema flares.
  21. Enhanced Skin Hydration: Improves skin moisture levels, leading to softer, smoother skin.
  22. Reduced Psoriasis Symptoms: May help reduce the severity of psoriasis plaques.
  23. Improved Thyroid Function: May help regulate thyroid hormone levels.
  24. Enhanced Hormone Balance: May help balance hormone levels, especially in women.
  25. Reduced Cellulite: May help reduce the appearance of cellulite.
  26. Increased Energy Levels: Boosts overall energy levels and reduces fatigue.
  27. Improved Joint Health: Reduces joint stiffness and pain.
  28. Enhanced Skin Elasticity: Improves skin elasticity, reducing the appearance of sagging skin.
  29. Reduced Sun Damage: May help repair sun-damaged skin.
  30. Improved Overall Well-being: Promotes a sense of relaxation and well-being.

Please note that while these are potential benefits, individual results may vary. It’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment.

You can read more about the Lumebox on their website by clicking my affiliate link here.

Filed Under: Health and Wellness

Overcoming Mold Illness: My Story + A Guide to My Recovery

August 16, 2024 by Quin Leave a Comment

What I’m going to share today, some may say is reckless advice, some may say it’s too much, others may say the actions we took at the time weren’t enough.  It is important that when exploring the option of mold causing your symptoms (assuming that is what led you here) you remember that by God’s design, we are all individuals who are biologically unique with different experiences and toxic loads based on our genetics, our environment, our detox pathways, and more.

What I experienced or what worked for my family and me in terms of healing, supplements, remediation, and recovery, may not be the same path that would work for you.  You may need to do more, you may need to do less, or you may need something different altogether.

It is my prayer that while you are here you will glean what you need to, be encouraged, and gain the strength to be physically able to do what you can where you are right now, and that the Holy Spirit will guide you on your healing journey.  I know this path can feel heavy sometimes, but there is hope for healing. I pray God will send a community to love on you and help pull you through this to the other side where you too, may help others on their path.

Oh, and because it was helpful for me to not feel so ashamed by what I was going through, I want to start by letting you know I read a report that said: “around 70% of U.S. homes contain a certain level of mold”. That statistic shocked me.  Some sources say 47%, and some say 80% of buildings in America contain mold, you get the point though. It’s not just you, it doesn’t mean you aren’t a good housekeeper, mold just goes where it wants and does its thing. I kept a very tidy home, and when we discovered mold was the culprit behind my symptoms I struggled with feeling “gross” and “dumb” that we had mold in our home and I didn’t even know it. Ours was hidden behind a wall and in duct work, it was not visible to us. Some people begin to get mold sick from their work environment.

Let’s do this, it’s time to dive into where it all started, back in the fall of 2020. Yes, if you recall, this was when the world was in what I refer to as “full crazy” mode. That’s when I began to get sick.  It came on quickly and I assumed it was a cold or strep throat, I even took a pregnancy test thinking maybe my nausea was related to a surprise baby blessing. That was not the case.

What I went through was tough to diagnose, as it was a trifecta that led me into a full toxic burden:

1. An allergic reaction to dental anesthesia after a filling.

2. New (toxic) acoustic ceiling tiles being installed in our basement that began to shed fiberglass.

Lastly, and the toughest to diagnose by regular doctors:

3. Mold illness triggered by an improperly installed HVAC system and poor or non-existent caulking on the outside of our home from service workers ranging from electricians to plumbers when our house was built. Action Item: Go check the caulking on the outside of your home if you haven’t lately. Check around any tubes and wires heading into the home, around doors and windows, and anywhere else moisture may be creeping in.

My personal body burden of toxins was maxed out and symptoms began to present themselves.  The most debilitating, although it wasn’t the first sign, was nausea and anxiety. I feel things intensely, I always have. Throughout adulthood, my go-to emotions had been without a doubt happiness and joy, but through this illness, those had been replaced with fear and gloom.  It was unexplainable to me how suddenly my brain began to go to the “worst-case scenario” for every big and little event that crossed my mind.

My heart rate was often opposite of what it should’ve been, racing while sitting in a chair, dropping to where I would nearly pass out while vacuuming or exerting myself physically. I would look at my watch and be in disbelief at what was happening.  It confirmed that what I had been thinking and feeling wasn’t all in my head.  This was real, this was a measurable stat.

I had the most intense pains in my back that I thought maybe was my gallbladder (remember I was in a constant state of worry and trying to figure out why I wasn’t feeling well). I would curl my body up on the floor at my husband’s feet under his desk while he worked from home and cry.  We would both cry during this season of life. The whole house cried, our extended family cried, our friends cried and prayed with us.  This was so hard to navigate and every time I went online for help I was sent down an unproductive rabbit hole that left me feeling more helpless and hopeless.

My body was so ramped up and I was stuck in flight mode, my bowels were loose for weeks, and my bowel movements during this time were bright almost neon yellow, indicating there was some serious problem.

I had phlegm in my throat and a little cough every morning when I woke up.  I had tightness in my chest and experienced what I imagined asthma attacks to feel like.  I had an overwhelming amount of nausea and anxiety along with the tightness that would come in deep waves and take over my body, and go away for just long enough for me to think I was maybe okay, but then it would hit again. My eyes were scratchy and dry.

I lost weight so quickly that I hardly recognized myself in the mirror and my clothing no longer fit well, it just hung on my frame.

A few weeks into my illness, before I had a diagnosis, my husband would often find me in bed, sometimes convulsing.  It was terrifying to be laying there, unable to control my body, and then see my little kids peek their heads around the corner to check on me.  Their eyes filled with fear, but they smiled and prayed, believing I would get better. Their hope inspired me to fight harder.

I prayed every day that God would put before my eyes what I needed for healing, and graciously, He did! Oh, how I want to tell you all the amazing ways God worked through this time in our lives.  It was messy, but it was one of those beautiful messes where He gets all the glory.

I went to an ER that didn’t meet my needs, rather suggesting I get talk therapy.  What?!  I have nothing against therapy and think it can be very helpful, but the doctor did not examine me and made a quick decision within minutes of me being in their care and sent a nurse back in to deliver the news, refusing to give me a proper exam. Remember, the world was in a place of social distancing and full of fear.

Our primary care doctor at the time squeezed me in within a day and had so much compassion for what I was going through, but all of my labs were within the “normal” range, and my EKG came back good in her office.  I later learned this is common when dealing with mold.  She predicted this was like a drug reaction from the dental anesthesia, essentially I was “high” and couldn’t come down.  She suggested I drink ‘a lot of water’ to flush out my system and to take it easy.

When I still wasn’t better within another week or so, I cried to my parents and told them I loved them, but I didn’t think I was going to make it.  That makes me cry just typing this out and looking back on what I felt like during that phone call. I knew of one local functional medicine doctor that I thought, through my prayers, may hold the answer that I needed to unlock true healing within my body.  Her hourly rate + deposit was nearly in line with my husband’s weekly take-home pay.  My dad told me to make the appointment and he would pay the deposit I needed to be seen.  God bless him. If he had never offered that, I don’t think I would be here today.

That doctor was a godly woman who was an absolute wealth of knowledge.  She had currently been going through training to diagnose and treat patients with mold illness.  I didn’t know this when I made the appointment, and she didn’t know what was wrong with me when she took my appointment.  Only God could orchestrate that.

Over a few video appointments, we worked to form a plan, which I will explain more of in a bit. She ended each appointment with a prayer, and I felt so at peace each time.

Mold illness, a subcategory of Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), can be a debilitating condition, like it was in my case. It occurs when we are exposed to harmful mycotoxins produced by mold. While it can be challenging, recovery is possible with the right approach.

Disclaimer: This information is intended for general knowledge and informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making significant changes to your current treatment plan.  If your Western Medicine doctors do not understand mold illness and you suspect this is what you have, seek out a different provider, and ask around. Locally, I only found education and healing from a functional medicine doctor.

Understanding Mold Illness

Mold illness can manifest in a variety of symptoms, including, but not at all limited to:

  • fatigue, brain fog, headaches, irritability,
  • respiratory issues, shortness of breath, chronic cough, sinus congestion,
  • migraines, rashes, palpitations, hallucinations, Alzheimer’s dementia,
  • muscle aches, joint pain, digestive problems, food intolerances,
  • and often, symptoms that mimic anxiety or depression.
  • I also had sensitivity to EMFs and found relief while wearing a Harmoni Pendant (yes, the very ones that I thought were some kind of woo-woo hoax. I was wrong).

I think that it’s crucial to recognize that anxiety and depression can be side effects of mold illness or toxins in your environment. Many people have been misdiagnosed with these mental health conditions when the root cause was toxic mold exposure.  My husband, who is the most gentle and kind soul, experienced what is referred to in the mold groups as “mold rage”.  His frustrations were high and patience thin, and not just because of the fear of what was happening to me, and needing to take on so much more responsibility and provide for our family financially and physically.

Key Steps to Recovery- Action Steps

  1. Remove Mold Exposure:
  • Identify the source: Conduct a thorough inspection of your home or workplace for mold growth.  Now you may not always see it, as sometimes, like in our case it was hidden within a wall and ductwork. It can be in the drain pain under a refrigerator, around windows where moisture can accumulate with temperature changes, under the threshold of an exterior door, behind a toilet or shower, in a crawl space, an attic, etc.

Try this: Remove yourself from the mold, and leave the home for a couple of days if you can, or take a full day away to spend time outdoors. Do you feel better?  That is a sign something in your environment could be the culprit (provided you stay somewhere mold-free, many people go camping to spend time outdoors). Sometimes it is mold in a work environment that is the problem and symptoms seem to lessen or disappear when you get an extended holiday.

  • Quality testing: If you do not have visible mold, consider doing an ERMI test.  This company will send you a Swiffer to dust your home with, once it is loaded with dust you place it in a baggie and send it back.  They will evaluate the dust in their lab and send you a report with their findings.  From there you will know what kind of mold you are working with and begin to make a remediation plan.

Please note: Air quality sample tests, and tape samples, in my experience and from what I have heard from others on their journey, are not an effective way to test for mold, especially if you are already having symptoms.  I know an ERMI is usually more expensive than the other routes, but it is an effective test covering 36 different species of mold.

  • Professional remediation: If necessary, hire a reputable mold remediation specialist to remove the mold safely and effectively.  Due to where ours was located we hired a duct cleaning company who was also able to sanitize our home the same week they cleaned our ductwork.  During the sanitization process, we had to be out of our home for 24 hours.  Leaving for that little bit of time I began to feel better, and getting back into our home after it had been sanitized I felt much better as well.
  • Declutter and clean: I know, this step can seem like a lot, especially when you are feeling ill.  I am so sorry, there is just no way around this though.  Do not skip this.  Call in help if you need to.  Work in small pockets of time as you are able. Remove excess items, especially porous materials like paper and fabric. Regular cleaning, including vacuuming, washing curtains, and dusting, can help reduce mold spores in any home.  In most cases, things like glass and metal can easily be cleaned.  Furniture cleaning or disposal will depend on how ill you are, and how you feel around it.  Don’t forget to vacuum above cabinets as horizontal surfaces hold a lot of dust, and mold loves to hang out on dust.
  • Mold-sniffing dog: Consider hiring a mold-sniffing dog to identify hidden mold sources.  We did this and I am so glad we did. Through this, we were able to pinpoint specific problem spots, rather than blindly cutting into walls and guessing where the mold problem may be, which could have potentially made things a lot worse and cost more than necessary.

I want to be transparent that the steps it took to identify where we had mold, the doctors visits, and the remediation cost us so much financially, that we had to take out a loan from the bank.  That hurt after pouring so much into paying down our mortgage so we could eventually be debt-free.  We lost so much in personal belongings, but it was absolutely worth it to be alive and well enough to enjoy life again and care for my family.  Spoiler alert: a little over 2.5 years after this all started we welcomed another baby into our family.  That was something I did not at all think would be possible even before getting sick, but not only did I heal my body from where it was, I was able to live so much healthier and stronger having learned what I did about environmental toxins and nutrition, that my body was able to support a full-term pregnancy. See, beauty from the mess. It is possible for you too, whatever your mess is right now, push through it and get ready to embrace the beauty that God has ahead for you.

I often did, and still do, think of the bible verse about not storing up our treasures on Earth.  I decided that if I have the Lord, my family, and my health, I have all that I need.

 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”

Matthew 6:19-21 NRSV

This next one is crucial, and I wanted to make it step 1, but removing Mold, rather than masking it (painting over, etc.) is so important that it got first place.

  1. Support Your Body’s Detoxification (detox slowly, and with a doctor’s help):
  • Hydration: Drink plenty of filtered water to help flush out toxins.

Avoid other types of drinks right now, including coffee. Unfortunately, this means even plain black coffee. Did you know that the majority of coffee tests high for mold? According to LifeBoost’s blog, 99.1% of coffee beans are covered in mold. You do not want to add more toxins to your bucket as you are trying to heal.  Later on, when you are feeling well again, and if you decide that you do want to consume a cup of coffee occasionally, I recommend LIFEBOOST for brewing at home. They use specialty beans that are non-GMO, mycotoxin-free, and chemical-free.

  • Nutrition: This was the biggest immediate needle pusher for me. Focus on a whole foods diet rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory foods. Cut out ALL GLUTEN, DAIRY, AND SUGAR.  Yes, I felt what you are feeling right now too, so what can I eat?  Our gracious God put so many good foods on this Earth for us to enjoy.  I did the Institute for Functional Medicine’s Elimination Diet for several months (it was suggested to start with 4 or 6 weeks, but I felt so great eating this way that I kept at it). Now today I still focus on consuming fruits and vegetables and quality meat.  If food has a barcode on it or comes in a box, it more than likely will not support your body’s healing properties and give you adequate nutrition.  I know, some produce has a barcode, but I hope you get what I’m saying.  If it’s the right season, visit your local farmer’s market for fresh food and inspiration.  Plant a garden if you are able, the time outdoors will be good for you too.
  • Supplements: This will vary greatly depending on your own body, this is an ask your doctor first section!  For my body, my doctor and I decided on supplements like vitamin D3 with K2, EPA-DHA fish oil, a multi-strain probiotic, a quality multivitamin, magnesium glycinate before bed, Biocidin, glutathione, I-3-C, digestive enzymes, and GI Detox (activated charcoal to bind and remove toxins).  It is important that you work under the guidance of your healthcare provider to create your own battle plan, rather than mimic what worked for my body.
  • Saunas: Regular sauna sessions can help promote detoxification.  When I was first sick, I was way too sick to even consider leaving the house to sit in a sauna uptown, so I had to find other ways to sweat out toxins.  Eventually, when we were able and I was strong enough, we bought a personal Therasage Sauna to use in our home.  This helped me to sweat out toxins and use red light at the same time, it was, and still is, very efficient.
  • Exercise: Gradually increase physical activity as you are able.  This is so good for your lymphatic drainage.  If you aren’t familiar, basically the lymphatic system is a part of your immune system and deals with the fluid of the body.  When your body isn’t moving enough this can cause a build-up that causes swelling and creates a problem.  I started with slow gentle movements and stretching, even a walk around my neighborhood was too much for my body to begin with.  I bought a vibration plate to help move lymph fluid and help me to regain some muscle tone, as I had become quite weak.  A small trampoline for walking on indoors was helpful to me as well.
  1. Manage Symptoms:
  • Rest: Prioritize sleep to allow your body to recover. At first, I was so amped up, but then would crash. When I finally came down from the high of the dental anesthesia reaction I was tired all the time from what my body went through. As a mom, I still wanted to stay up and get done all that I could each day during the quiet evening hours when my kids wouldn’t see me struggle so hard to do basic tasks. I had to intentionally set an alarm and force myself to go to sleep, and another alarm to wake up and get out of bed each morning.  Because my body was so misaligned at the time I needed to reprogram my circadian rhythm. I did this by waking up and spending about 15 minutes on our deck to get morning sunlight on my eyes first thing.  This helps with the body’s natural melatonin production which makes it easier to sleep at night when the time comes.

  • Stress management and soul care: Practice relaxation techniques like square breathing, journaling, and praying.  Delegate what you need to: mold sick or not, you do not need to be doing everything alone.  We are created to live in community with others.
  1. Environmental Controls: Do what you can
  • Air filtration: Use HEPA air purifiers to improve indoor air quality.  I have used a few different brands and have some YouTube videos where I explain how to use them, why we do, etc. You can find those here, here, and this last one here is where compare 3 different brands/styles. I also have a video we made for the duct cleaning company where my husband and I share our experience with them.  Things to look for, avoid units that emit ozone, which can be hard on the lungs, and check the CADR (clean air delivery rate).  You want lots of air exchanges per hour, so be sure you have the correct size of unit for the space you are purifying.  This was a big investment for us, so we started with one air purifier that my husband would move to the bedroom at night, and then the living room during the day.  Once we knew it was helping and we were able to afford it (remember mold rocked our finances something fierce) we purchased another. Now today we have them in every bedroom of our home, and the two living rooms.
  • Mold prevention: This is a key step that I didn’t understand before getting sick.  We built our home when I was 19, and knew nothing about true home ownership and responsibilities.  It’s important to reduce humidity in your home and address any water leaks promptly. While we didn’t have water leaks, we did have high humidity, which I didn’t know until I bought a smart hub and humidity/temperature sensors to place around our home.  Our home was built so tight that it didn’t allow for much airflow, which coupled with the HVAC system not draining correctly was a bad combo.
  • Personal care products: Choose non-toxic personal care products to minimize chemical exposure.  All toxins in and on your body add to that body burden, mold or not.  I opened the bathroom garbage and chucked anything toxic, and it was a lot, even though I had swapped many of our products out previously. Yes, I had paid money for these things, but they were not supporting me, and knowing what I did about toxins, I didn’t want to pass them on to anyone else either.  Nail polishes, hair care, lotions, it all went.  As a result, I was able to replace those products with things that had a smaller footprint (hello, shampoo & conditioner bars) and were better for my body (fewer ingredients, no artificial scents).  I had already been using a nontoxic makeup, so thankfully there was not much to mess with in that area.
  1. Medical Support:
  • Functional medicine doctor: I know I already said this but in case you are hindered by the cost and want to skip this step, please do consider consulting a functional medicine practitioner who specializes in mold illness.  You can tell them upfront you want short visits and a transcript of your conversation or notes and action items typed out if that is helpful for you. I know mold can cause brain fog, so do not be hesitant to write down all that you need to during your appointment.
  • Testing: Undergo comprehensive testing to assess your overall health and identify any underlying imbalances.  Ugh, you guys, everything that could’ve come out of my body was tested, stool samples, blood samples, urine samples, I even swapped my nasal passages and sent off a sample to be evaluated.  It all helped paint the picture of what I was dealing with, what my body was holding onto, and where.  If you know you have mold in your environment, I would say focus on decluttering and diet and save some money on testing for now.  If you came here, there is a good chance it is already causing you problems and you can skip some tests for the sake of assumption and taking steps towards remedication and healing.

During this time I did a Comprehensive Food Sensitivity Test from EverlyWell, which I ordered from Amazon. That was so eye-opening to me about what foods may be triggering some of the symptoms in my body.  I had already been keeping a food journal and trying to document how I felt after meals.  Through this test, I discovered 6 things I had been eating and cut those out. I noticed an immediate relief both digestively and with some respiratory problems.  My husband did the test later and had 29 intolerances! Avoiding those helped improve his mental health greatly.  The OCD he had struggled with since childhood suddenly became manageable, and nearly non-existent.

  • Personalized treatment: Develop a tailored treatment plan based on your specific needs, be patient as you wait for results, and be open to changing things up if you are not seeing progress.

Additional Tips

  • Patience: Recovery from mold illness can take time, but relief can also come quickly if you are following a good diet, and avoiding mold. Be patient with yourself and celebrate small victories.  This is so important. Set goals for yourself too.  I had set a ridiculous goal when I was bed/couch-ridden that I would stand up and dance for one whole song during a live-at-home Phil Wickham concert, AND I DID.  It was a small win, but it was huge for my family and I. I was able to set more small goals like that and begin spending more time standing.  I pray you are not in the same debilitating state I was, so consider where you are physically, and set goals that will guide you to improvement.
  • Support system: Connect with others who have experienced mold illness for support and encouragement.  There are some Facebook groups that were helpful to me.  I will remind you that everyone’s journey looks different, so do not be overcome with fear as you read stories from others who had to abandon their homes or literally discard every single item that wasn’t glass or metal.  I did work through counseling with a friend to help improve my mental health and keep me rooted in Christ and grounded as my world was falling apart.
  • Avoid triggers: Identify and avoid triggers that worsen your symptoms.  I could walk into a room, or touch a book and know it was going to create a symptom in my body, so I avoided a lot of places, and still do for the sake of avoiding toxins.  Our local dollar store has such a strong plastic smell that I visit it less than twice a year, whereas prior to being mold-sick I would browse there for fun.  Now when I leave the store I can smell the airborne chemicals and toxins on my hair, and choose to avoid that. I guess that has been saving us money. Ha!  You gotta look at the bright side!
  • Educate yourself: Learn as much as possible about mold illness to empower yourself.  It can feel like information overload at first.  It’s okay, take note of what you think you need, and discard the rest.  If there is something you need to know, I believe God will lead you back to it again.
  • Spend time outdoors: Getting outside each day can be beneficial for overall well-being and may help reduce exposure to indoor pollutants.

Remember, everyone’s journey to recovery is unique. It’s essential to work closely with a healthcare provider to develop a personalized treatment plan. By addressing the underlying causes of mold illness and supporting your body’s natural healing processes, you can improve your overall well-being and regain your health. There is hope for healing, even when symptoms mimic anxiety or depression.

Oh, dear friend (yes, after sharing this much of my life and talking about bowel movements, we are friends now), I just imagine the desperation you may be feeling right now and I want you to know that I believe with my whole heart that it is possible for you to overcome this.  It is my prayer that you have a tribe of people who want you better and will do what they can to get you there.  Lean on your people, and be specific when you ask for help, do you need someone to clean, watch kids, grocery shop, or meal prep with you?  Ask for what you need.

These lyrics “I don’t want to feel like this tomorrow, I don’t want to live like this today, make me feel better, I want to feel better, stay with me here now and never surrender” moved me to get better when I was in the trenches: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IooCcx4c9U

Filed Under: Health and Wellness

Red Light Therapy For A Slightly Better Health

December 25, 2022 by Quin Leave a Comment

All LifePro: BioHeal Panel on the door, Rove Elliptical on the left, Turbo3D Vibration Plate on the right.

10 years ago I would’ve thought Red Light Therapy was a faux treatment targeted as a luxury placebo effect for wealthy housewives. A scam of sorts. I would’ve been quick to disregard the benefits or put any time into research for myself. Okay let’s be real, even 3 years ago I wouldn’t have bought into this.

Then I got sick. Really sick. Western medicine failed me, and no quick fix or pill worked on my body. I learned the value of slow and gentle healing, along with the importance of preventative maintenance through a healthy lifestyle.

When I say a healthy lifestyle I mean it required a truly radical shift in the things I ate, the air I was breathing, and the products I put on my body each day. True health is much different than what is sold to us on magazine covers and through the product claims on the packaging of many retail items.

This lifestyle change was vital to stay afloat after my body tanked.

Oh, friends, I pray you are not in that desperate place that I was, but if you are I want you to know that there is HOPE. Please believe it, and receive it for yourself.

If your health is in a good place you can still take small steps to stay that way. If your health has plummeted like mine though, I am going to suggest this to you with tough love… TAKE RADICAL ACTION.

You cannot keep doing the same things if they aren’t propelling you forward, and toward better health.

My thirst for a deeper knowledge and understanding of Red Light Therapy grew as I watched friends, who are ordinary people like you and me, and people over on Instagram, outfit their homes with red light panels, devices, and bulbs. As they shared how they felt after using them and explained WHY they started in the first place, it all began to make sense.

I knew this was something I wanted to invest more time into researching.

I had wanted to get a Red Light product in our home but didn’t know which company to go with until the company I bought my vibration plate from came out with a device called the Alleva Red Light Therapy Belt, and then later the BioHeal, a panel you can put on a table or hang from a door.

Red Light Therapy is non-invasive and simple to use. The Alleva Red belt can be placed where you need it (like shoulder, back, abdomen, leg, etc) and you can use it for 10-30 minutes while you watch TV, work, read a book, or even nap. There’s a timer, so no worries if you fall asleep with it on.

The BioHeal also has a timer. I like to double up when I use this and stand on my vibration plate in front of the panel, with the panel over my chest or midsection. The BioHeal is a more efficient device, so a 10-minute treatment is all you need, which is also how long I use my vibration plate. Both automatically turn off at the end of 10 minutes, then you just walk away! You can do this just a few times a week, or up to twice a day.

I am not a doctor, this is not medical advice. I encourage you to go do some research as to how this works and see if you think it could benefit you.

The biggest benefits I have found from using red light therapy are an increase in energy. Just a 10-minute session seems to wake my body up and give it a boost. My drive has increased. I haven’t had many aches and pains, but any time I do, I stand in front of the panel and feel the aches disappear. My husband had a shoulder injury and the red light was the best tool we could use at home to help him heal, this supplemented his chiropractor visits as well. Our son mows lawns and sometimes push mows very large double lots, and gets a sore back, wrists, and shoulders, it’s no surprise the red light has given him immediate relief.

I do not have any scientific evidence, but I do believe the BioHeal panel played a role in our fertility and helped us to get pregnant. I lowered the panel on the door and used it in my pelvic region to promote reproductive health.

Clearer skin has been a great benefit from Red Light as well.

I am sure there are other benefits that I haven’t noticed, or that are happening under the skin and within the organs that I’m not able to track.

I’d love to hear if you are using RED LIGHT THERAPY, and what you have noticed from it as well!

Filed Under: All The Posts, Health and Wellness

Seasons Change

December 7, 2022 by Quin Leave a Comment

These 3 were so little! 😍

In this photo from 2017, they are 5, 10 & 15.

This makes me cringe a little though (I’ll get to that in a minute), because we had just left the cardiologist where the youngest here was dismissed as a patient after 5 years of frequent checkups, fully expecting she’d be going in for heart surgery. Her doctor had walked into the room, looking over her test results and his jaw dropped! He said he could not explain it, but she was HEALED! NO NEED FOR SURGERY!


I quickly told him I could explain, you see we serve a God who is still performing miracles and this is exactly what we, and so many of you my friends, had prayed for. 🙌

You guys… then we celebrated with McDonald’s!🤦‍♀️

I’m a firm believer in “do what you can in the season you’re in”, and I honestly didn’t know a whole lot better and didn’t understand nutrition and health at the level that I do now.

Now that I do I’m cringing at the fact that we celebrated a healthy heart with Happy Meals, a warm box of sugar/gluten-filled cookies, and ice cream sundaes.

I am looking back and giving myself grace, knowing what life was like going through what we were with her health, barely sleeping with an 8-month-old at home who had issues of his own, and navigating homeschooling a variety of ages while volunteering for everything I could because I still thought God loved me for what I *did* not because of whose I was.

Looking back at this I’m thinking of the momma who snapped this picture and the husband and the baby sitting next to her (me). I’m realizing that so many women, and men, are right where we were. I’m grateful that God has shown us a better way, and I get excited about being able to share that knowledge with others as the opportunity arises.

There are so many free tools when it comes to health care, and I’ll be highlighting those in future posts.

In that season we were in before we didn’t know about investing in our health and even if we had, we really couldn’t afford to. We just needed to start small with things like clean water, sunshine, and more time barefoot on the ground. Things that don’t require a financial obligation or take much time.

Filed Under: Celebrate Absolutely Everything, Health and Wellness Tagged With: Celebrate Absolutely Everything, Health & Wellness

Wishing Did Nothing: I Made Pizza

April 19, 2022 by Quin Leave a Comment

It’s been about a year and a half since the beginning of the roughest patch of my life.

Both physically and mentally, I lost it all in October of 2020. I’ve come to grips with this. I wish it never had happened, but WISHING that did NOTHING in the way of healing from it.

The mental strength came back quicker, thanks to the prayers and support from family and friends, and multiple phone calls a day to my parents.

Putting in the hard work through counseling so I could to face the scary thoughts that filled my head in the middle of the night and every morning when my eyes opened and my heart began to race was hands down worth the time and effort.

The physical strength is still a work in progress. I don’t want to just be restored to where I was, I want to be stronger than before.

This will take time.

Getting food from the basement freezer and bringing it up to cook requires a break to catch my breath, and I hate that.

I still struggle to open jars (nothing new), cook a meal, eat the meal, and have energy to clean up. Most days I just can’t.

Yesterday I could though, and I will celebrate that.

I was able to make homemade gluten-free + dairy-free pizza for my tribe AND clean it up. I moved furniture with help from my teen son, read books, did a ton of other things, and snuggled with my youngest son at bedtime, something I haven’t done in 1.5 years.

Praise God for the simple and the victorious moments of life.

If you can’t run forward, crawl. If you can’t celebrate a huge win, celebrate the small ones.

In the end, it’s going to be okay.

My endgame is in the arms of Jesus.


#CelebrateAbsolutelyEverything

Filed Under: Celebrate Absolutely Everything, Encouragement, Health and Wellness Tagged With: Celebrate Absolutely Everything

Somavedic Medic

January 24, 2022 by Quin Leave a Comment

We’re trying something new here! Eeek! In an effort do things SLIGHTLY BETTER for our health and home in 2022, we’re giving the @Somavedic Medic a try.

Neutralizing the harmful effects of 5G and EMFs is important to me, and that’s just what this little powerhouse of a unit is supposed to do.

Long story short, our power company installed a smart meter on our water heater many years ago (to save us money) and I instantly began having horrible headaches. A neighbor suggested it may be that new meter. We had it removed and just as quick as the headaches came, they left.

That’s when I first noticed I was sensitive to this, and have had other occurrences like this since.

Let’s face it, we live in a connected world. While we can limit our exposure to Wi-Fi, 4g, and 5g, we can’t fully avoid it. If I were to search for a Wi-Fi network on my phone right now I’m sure no less than 4 from outside of our home would appear.

What you can do:
First of all, whenever possible, disconnect from your phone. Keep it away from your body as much as you can. Carrying it in a purse is safer than a pants pocket.

When making calls, use speaker phone if appropriate.

Wired headphones are better than wireless in terms of EMFs.

Unplug anything electrical when it’s not in use (obviously not the fridge).

If your router is located near or in a bedroom, make it a priority to get it moved to a different location. Seriously.

What will you do to make your health and home ‘slightly better’ this year?

#selfcare #healthmatters #holisticlifestyle #liveinspired #healthyhappylife #cleanliving #wellnessadvocate #wellnesstips #nontoxicliving #SomavedicMedic #Somavedic #WiFi #5G

Filed Under: Health and Wellness

One of the Most Overlooked Essentials in the Parenting Tool Bag

June 27, 2015 by Quin 1 Comment

Parents of littles, if you don’t own an otoscope yet, I highly suggest you order one now.
Like RIGHT NOW, before it is 11pm on a Friday and you need to check your 2 year old’s nose
to :
A) Figure out which nostril the popcorn kernel is in, if she did in fact put one up there.
B) Be sure she didn’t stick more than one popcorn kernel up her nose, even though she’s denying there
are any up there at all, but you’re sure by the look on her face there IS at least one. <– How’s that for a run-on sentence?  Pretty good, eh?  I just want you to read it fast and feel the anxiety I did for a sec.
The verdict:  One kernel, easy to dislodge after spotting it in her tiny little nostril, covering the opposite nostril and asking her to blow hard.
#toddlersmakemesweat
The thought of trying to explain at the ER why my 2 year old is even up at 11pm, that was just unfathomable.  I don’t think they’d be that understanding of my honest excuse:  “Uh, well Doc, because it’s summer and any sort of regular evening routine or schedule has been completely thrown out the window.  Tonight it’s 11:30pm, tomorrow may be 7:30pm.  Oh, and the popcorn? Well right now she’s terribly picky, so we just feed her whatever she wants to eat so she doesn’t die of starvation or something.  I mean how long can a kid live off of Larabars, popcorn, pineapple, and marshmallows?”
Just save yourself the trouble and order an otoscope, okay?  Now I do have a slight background in nursing which helps slightly with checking for ear infections, but anyone can use one of these.  They do come with a handy visual chart that is all sorts of helpful.  We’ve also used our otoscope recently for checking out a bee sting to the eye, a sliver to the foot, and details on bugs.

I’ve had mine (the same one in the link) for just over 3 years now, and it’s still working just like it did the day I opened it.

Purchasing through my affiliate links will not cost you any extra. Amazon gives me a small portion of each sale made through my referral links, which helps me run this blog, and support our homeschooling.

Filed Under: All The Posts, Health and Wellness, Parenting Tagged With: Amazon Love, Health & Wellness, Parenting

Fun Friday at The Gynecologist’s Office

May 15, 2015 by Quin Leave a Comment

Okay folks, here it comes… The most awkward post that you will run across all day, or perhaps even all weekend!
Here I am waiting for the doc to come in and do my *ahem* annual lady parts exam.
As uncomfortable as this subject is, and as uncomfortable as I physically am right now (is it hot in here, or is it just me?), I need to let you know that these visits are so important for detecting a variety of conditions.
Oh, and just a friendly word of advice: Ladies, schedule your appointment SOON, before it is 90 degrees out and you’re worried that your butt will sweat and stick to this thin film that is supposedly keeping this table sanitary. 
That’s all, you can go about your day now.

Filed Under: All The Posts, Health and Wellness

Product Review: DivaCup Update Month 3

October 6, 2014 by Quin 2 Comments

Product Reviews: DivaCup
Update Month 3
Okay so now with 3 months under my belt (pun intended) I
feel confident in giving another update on this amazing contraption.
What is a DivaCup you ask? (or maybe you’re one of my brothers and you’re choosing to click the X in the corner right now… That’s cool.)  If you’re still here, let me give you a quick explanation.  Basically it’s a menstrual cup.  That means this little thingy takes the place of a pad or tampon during that time of the month, or “Ladies Days” as my husband likes to call it.
I like lists.  I hope you do too.
Pros:

I’m bleeding less.  If you’re a really crunchy momma research about how pads are making you bleed more.

I worry less about leaking.  I’m a little paranoid about leaks so I wear a thin mama cloth just in case when I’m leaving the house. I don’t think I’ll always do this, but for now I do.  A panty liner or folded wash cloth would work.
I’m a HEAVY bleeder.  PCOS doesn’t do me any favors here.  The cup has never had a problem keeping up with my heavy flow.
It’s easy to insert and remove.  I have been to a doctor or the ER more than once for losing a tampon.  I’m serious.  Apparently my anatomy is a little funky.  I’m not worried about losing my DivaCup.  It sits in a good spot.  I’ll leave it at that.  You’re welcome.
It’s reusable.  Money saver!  Another bonus is no running out of “supplies” and taking a late night trip to the store or gas station to stock up.
You can leave it in for 12 hours! 12 hours people!  That’s incredible. That means I can wear it to bed and not freak out about leaking on the bed.  We’ve all been there, right?
It’s small.  It fits in my purse, or even my pocket.
It comes with a cute little pinkish bag.  I wouldn’t normally consider that a pro, except for the fact that the days I don’t need it I store it in the bag in my bathroom drawer and I can always find it.
I’m noticing fewer cramps vs. using tampons.
No nasty chemicals on my lady parts.
Cons:
Public bathrooms.  You can’t really dump, wash, and reinsert in a public restroom.  But you can dump, wipe out, and reinsert if necessary w/o washing.  But the fact that it holds for 12 hours means you probably wouldn’t have to do this often.
Many readers/friends messaged to tell me there is a real learning curve with this.  I didn’t have any issues and started using it the day my UPS man delivered it.  I may have just gotten lucky.  I did have just one instance where I was pretty sure it was going to fall out at the grocery store (just being honest here!) but I got home and discovered it was exactly where it was supposed to be, but the stem was sticking out a little and causing me unnecessary worry (I tend to get a little worked up over nothing once in awhile!).
What are you waiting for?  Order yours today!  You won’t be disappointed.
If you’re curious on sizing,  DivaCup Model 2 is for Post-Childbirth
and DivaCup Model Cup 1 is for Pre Childbirth.

Filed Under: All The Posts, Health and Wellness

A Slightly Better Wife- GreenAir Oil Diffuser Tutorial and Review

July 18, 2014 by Quin 2 Comments


This post contains affiliate links.  Visit my disclosure tab for more details.


Edit: I’ve had this diffuser for well over a year now, tried other diffusers, and this one is STILL my most very favorite.  Even though it is not as visually appealing as some of the other diffusers on the market, this one has worked the best for me.  Worth every penny!

Filed Under: All The Posts, Health and Wellness, Homemaking Tagged With: Amazon Love, Health & Wellness, Homemaking

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