Posted by January Harshe on June 15, 2009
Recently I was called a hypocrite.
Let’s start with the definition of a hypocrite according the the Webster Dictionary online:
1 : a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
2 : a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings
— hypocrite adjective
For number one: I am who I am and what you see is what you get. Also, my religious beliefs are pretty clear. I am LDS.
Let’s move on to number 2 then, shall we? Let me state my beliefs. Maybe I haven’t been clear enough in my blog posts. I am going to state my beliefs on health care, since that is what has been attacked.
I believe that the allopathic model of medicine can and does save lives. I believe that it is and only should be used for emergency care. Further more, I believe there are other ways that we can take care of our bodies, prevent disease and live a healthy lifestyle. I feel that these things will keep myself and my family from needing allopathic remedies most of (if not all of) the time.
I will give a little run down of the the main things I believe will help my family. First and most important in my opinion is chiropractic care. What I am referring to is the absence of any subluxations, especially at the atlas (C1). I truly believe that without nerve interference our bodies can function in amazing ways. I do believe that this needs to be as specific as possible. You can read more about Upper Cervical Chiropractic at Brandon’s blog.
Other things I believe help more to heal the body than drugs and surgery are nutrition (hands down and this is probably a whole other post) and other natural remedies such as sleep, and using things such as aloe vera and colloidal silver. For example, if my baby starts to show signs of a little diaper rash, I put on some olive oil and within 1 diaper change we are all cleared up! These things are not as easy as popping a pill. They require responsibility, not looking outward, but inward and not being a victim.
If one of my children get sick, I actually get excited. They rarely do, so when it does happen I think it’s great that their body is having a chance to build its natural immunities! Our oldest used to get ear infections when swimming. She’d get them often and sometimes in both ears. Every single time, she needed her atlas adjusted and every single time after the adjustment and a little rest the infections cleared up within hours (at least the painful symptoms). The only other things we have used to help fight ear infections are blessings/prayer when really bad and some garlic oil. We never freaked out and ran to a doctor to get antibiotics. We let her body do what it does best. We removed interference and let it do it’s job.
Now, if I was a hypocrite, I’d be talking about all of my opinions on health care and then running to an MD or hospital the minute we get sick, right? I don’t. I practice what I preach. Always. I don’t tell others what to do. I don’t force my views on other moms and dads. My biggest issue is about being self educated and making decisions that is best for you (and your family’s) health. Not freaking out, getting scared and making decisions based on fear or because someone else told you that you have to do it their way or else (fill in the blank).
How does this apply to birth? Am I a hypocrite because I have stated that if something does go terribly wrong (which it won’t) that I will go to the hospital? I thought I have made it clear that I am practicing what I preach. I do not believe birth is a disease. I believe it is normal and beautiful. I believe God created my body to birth a baby perfectly. I know that I can have a safe birth at home without intervention and giving up control to someone I barely know. I believe that hospitals are for EMERGENCIES.
So, if I believe that, then wouldn’t I only go in the case of an emergency? Is that me being a hypocrite? If I have so clearly stated that the allopathic model of medicine and hospitals can save lives and is for emergencies only and if I only use it for those rare cases, then I am no hypocrite. I am strong in my beliefs and doing what I say I believe in. Period.
I have practiced the type of health for my children that I have stated. None of them have ever had an antibiotic, none of them have ever had over the counter medicine (with the exception of infant tylenol with my first a few times). My youngest 2 have never needed to see a pediatrician. Their primary care provider has and always will be a chiropractor. If an emergency came up, I would take them to see someone my husband and I feel we may need help from.
Someone accused me of teaching my kids “this garbage!” I laugh at that. My kids have no interference in their bodies. They are healthy and happy. They don’t have side effects from medications, they don’t get whatever ‘bug’ is going around at the time. It’s phenomenal. They are blessed to have informed parents who take the time to care for them the way we do! My husband had to explain to our 5 year old what diarrhea was for goodness sakes. She had no clue. None of our children have had it. When one of them has ever had to throw up or they have a little fever, they think, “Hey, that is great! Our bodies are doing what they need to.” What an amazing mindset to grow up with!
I love my children dearly. I want what is best for them just like every other mom. For me, that is taking the time to educate myself on what is best for their bodies. It is me being responsible for their health. It is us staying away from shots and drugs and trusting that God make their little bodies perfect, especially when there is no interference. Also, it is recognizing that we are blessed to live in a country with great emergency care in the case of an emergency only!
Yep, that is where I stand and that is me practicing what I preach.
Posted by January Harshe on May 12, 2009
As I have mentioned before, this pregnancy was an unexpected surprise. Simply put, I was not ready. That is kind of a funny statement to make, because in this life and on our journey God has given us the opportunity to ride out on Earth, things do not always happen when we want them to! That is the beauty of it all!
When I became pregnant I was in a selfish mode mentally and physically. I was going back to school to live my dream and be a chiropractor and I was still losing weight from my last pregnancy. I seem to have an issue embracing what is given to me sometimes, whether it be homeschooling my children or a precious new life growing in my womb. These are blessings of course, but in my limitations as a human, I can forget this. Reconnecting with God and MY spirit reminds me that I am incredibly blessed!
This all leads me to the roller coaster I have put myself on the last 9 months or so. I am now 36 weeks pregnant and not in the pristine health I would want. I have no one to blame but myself of course, but that does not make things better. I blame myself too much for things!
Two nights ago I was finally relaxing on the couch and noticed how swollen my ankles were. I have not had swollen ankles in my last three pregnancies, but I do often this time. As I was thinking about the puffiness of my feet and ankles, I noticed my feet were splotchy as well. Then that led me up my legs and the wonderful varicose veins I have popping out as well. All of this along with how tired, weak and impatient I tend to feel about did me in!
I am not supposed to feel this way! Do not get me wrong. This pregnancy has been great physically in a lot of ways and overall I feel great. That does not mean I feel at my optimal health though. I mentioned this on Facebook the other day and someone teased me by saying I should find a good chiropractor! Well, that is the one thing I do have right! There are a few more I want to grasp too.
You can not make others change. Period. They have to hit the point where staying the same hurts more than changing. As I sat with my legs reclined the other night, I realized it is hurting more to keep my bad physical and mental habits than it would be to change them! I have been in a very healthy state before and due to a whirlwind of life circumstances (ask my hubby), I lost the importance of taking care of myself. No more!
I went to Whole Foods and Sprouts yesterday. Oh the joy! I restocked on my New Chapter PreNatal vitamins. I also bought a good Magnesium Supplement via the advice of my friend Henny. It may help with my weakness and mood. When Brandon and I checked my prenatals, we realized it was very low in Magnesium. This probably would have helped me months ago! We looked at the probiotics as well and decided to buy a case of G.T.’s Synergy Kombucha instead because it is full of probiotics among other amazing properties. The last thing on my list was Cod Liver oil. We used to take this everyday until it started grossing me out. It is being added back in.
As far as nutrition goes, that is getting a makeover as well. I added green smoothies back in this week. Yesterday we stocked up on fresh, vibrant fruits and vegetables and treats such as raw cheese, organic dressings and organic dark chocolate. I have to say, I love looking at my fridge right now!
Now, I wish I had made myself more of a priority much sooner, but I have to let the thought go at that. I can not beat myself up over what I should of done, but instead feel good about what I am doing now!
I recently read Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s Eat to Health (I prefer his book Eat to Live) and have read other articles on this same subject. He was talking about ’super seniors’ or centenarians in other cultures. They all have the same things in common:
- They consume the majority of calories from fresh produce.
- They have an optimistic outlook on life.
- They maintain a social circle of friends.
- They stay physically active.
I am already taking steps to change the first one. A plant based diet is what I am embracing. I plan to eat as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible, make healthy meals and if I want a treat eating something like organic dark chocolate instead of processed ice cream or chocolate chip cookies (although they are yummy).
An optimistic outlook on life. I think this is the one I need to work on the most. I have been: beating myself up over everything, having a hard time making decisions, not thinking or doing good things for myself and stressing too much. I am now going to focus on doing things that are good for my physical and mental health by making myself more of a priority instead of last in my family. I am going to focus on my good qualities. I am going to have Faith in the Lord that things will work out instead of stressing and worrying too much (I have actually been doing this already and it is awesome!).
I have been making some good friends that are healthy friendships. Women who love and support me for who I am even if we do not agree on everything. I used to choose friends who were self destructive and judgmental. How is that going to be a positive thing in my life? It’s actually detrimental for me! Also, the most important person to have a healthy relationship is my husband. We have been making us a priority and it has been great.
With the other changes I am making, I know I will have the energy to be more active once again. I used to walk miles a day and now I have been sedentary! The nutrition and physical activity obviously go hand in hand!
I did not post for almost 2 weeks and now I cannot stop writing! There is a lot to ponder when a mama is pregnant and getting ready to birth a baby, but I think even more so when she is taking all the responsibility by enjoying an unassisted pregnancy and preparing for an unassisted birth. I am enjoying the changes I am already making and looking forward to the better physical and mental well being I will have through these postive changes.
Posted by January Harshe on May 1, 2009
I had a mama ask me on a private forum what UC chiropractic really is. I tend to make recommendations that moms and their kiddos get checked quite often. This is how I answered. To those chiropractors, upper cervical docs, Green Book junkies and philosophy diplomates, remember this is from a mom’s perspective and explanation! One mama trying to help another (and her children).
An Upper Cervical Chiropractor adjusts (usually) only the C1 and/or the C2 (the atlas or axis) bones. They take VERY SPECIFIC x-rays and find out exactly how your atlas or axis is (or if it is) misaligned. Then they adjust VERY SPECIFICALLY to the right degree and angle to set the bone back in place. Thus, allowing proper nerve flow to be restored from the brain stem down!
Upper cervical docs don’t ‘crack or pop’ anything. The body then does what’s called ‘retracing’. The rest of the spine realigns now that the top two bones have been properly realigned. You know, any complaints someone has about a chiropractor or chiropractic just doesn’t apply to upper cervical care. They stick to what chiropractic started as.
You also don’t see patients needing to be adjusted 3 times a week for a year. Most people (depending on the person and situation it can take a different amount of adjustments to start holding) will hold their adjustments for a long period of time. They go in to be checked, but don’t always need an adjustment. My husband for example received an upper cervical adjustment over a month ago and it’s still holding. People can hold for a year! Because the adjustment is so specific it really does remove nerve interference and people have AMAZING results. I usually don’t hold a ‘regular’ adjustment for a day! LOL. I hold my upper cervical adjustments for about 2 weeks right now. I’m hoping after I have the babe they will hold longer. (I also have been breaking the habit of ’self adjusting’ 
)
There are a few different upper cervical techniques. A few use tools and a few use the hands. I prefer the hand techniques. The adjustment is super fast and gentle. You can look them up on my husbands blog at http://theatlasoflife.com. He has some videos on there I believe and in the links he has the different technique websites listed.
Also, here are 2 patients that had such amazing results, they now dedicate their work to getting the word out to other people. http://www.whattimetuesday.com/ and http://upcspine.com/ (you can find a doc in your area on this one).
OK, I hope I explained that well. I’m not a chiro, just a mama who is passionate about it. 
