January 2015 | Continuum Healing

Fever – The Unsung Hero

Angela McElroy, Children, Medicinal Herbs and FoodNo comments

An Unsung Hero: One who does great deeds but receives little or no recognition for them.

This is the last thing I would have thought of while being awakened at 1am by a fussing baby that felt as if he were on fire. I remember walking over to him and even before I got to the crib I could feel the heat radiating off of his chubby little body. At this point I was frantic; my baby was burning up. I rushed to the bathroom to start a bath and dosed him with acetaminophen because that is what the commercials and health professional say to do. After that I sat on the rocker with him, on the phone with the ER, wondering what to do next.

The fever has been engrained in the parent’s brain to be a harmful symptom of an illness. And we as parents struggle to see our kids with a fever; we want them to feel better. The commercials try to convince us that the way to fight a fever is to give them this magical syrup and they will be well. Because of this there is a lack of education about fevers and parents …

Let Thy Food Be Thy Medicine

Geoff Lamden, Medicinal Herbs and Food, Mind Body and SpiritNo comments

Most of us eat on a daily basis. It may be the only thing most of us do consistently in our daily lives. So it makes sense that bringing healing foods into our diet could change our health dramatically. Some may say that all foods are healing at some level, but let’s look at one factor that does not change: YOU. So the question is, “What foods are most healing for me and my life’s purpose right now.” This is a good question to ask as we go diving into all the information out there for today’s food options.

Let’s take one food, specifically, that I feel covers many bases of health: “The Medicine of Kings”, Ganoderma Lucidum, Ling Zhi, or known to most of us as Reishi Mushroom. It supports the lungs, liver, and circulatory system and is used as a nervous system tonic and immune modulator. This is a nutritive fungus that feeds the mind, body, and spirit; it is a true three treasure tonic.

Lungs/ Breathing/Taking in life to the fullest: Reishi helps the lungs by improving oxygen utilization and slowly working with rebuilding tissue. However, by calming the nervous system it allows us to breathe deeply …

5 Ways to Create a Life of Selfullness

Micah McLaughlin, Mind Body and SpiritNo comments

“How well am I bringing love to the world in this state of exhaustion?”

What if we learned to live and give from a selfull life?

Selfullness– Filling the self from the inside so that authenticity overflows to the outside or fulfilling the values which motivate healthy outward action.

Picture a life where your needs and desires matter; in fact, they are really important. It is a life where you eat well and work out because you honor the needs of your body. You say “no” to another volunteering opportunity at the school so you can meet up with some of your closest friends. You stay home when you are sick and take a vacation when you need it. Not a life filled with obligation, guilt, and duty, but one of fullness… creating a life that works for you as well as those you love.

When we are full inside the ways in which we give love back to the world are much more full, rich, and meaningful to both the giver and receiver. This is the practice of selfullness. Here are the top 5 ways to becoming a selfull person:

Acknowledge that you have needs and desires (and

…

An Epidemic of Selflessness

Micah McLaughlin, Mind Body and SpiritNo comments

“I don’t have time to work out.”
“I don’t have time to cook.”
“I don’t have time for me.”

“I put myself on the bottom of the list; I consider everyone else’s needs more important than mine, and at the end of the day there is nothing left for me.”

“I am exhausted; I don’t have much left to give.”

This is not an isolated incident here in West Michigan. This is an epidemic that is leaving us resentful, tired, sick, and angry. Somewhere along the way the belief that self-sacrificing, over working, and over giving is the most honorable way to live. Our culture praises us when we put ourselves at the bottom of the list and continue pushing our “just keep going” button. Especially parents. Especially moms.

Lets review some definitions so we are all on the same page:

Selfishness – having or showing concern only for yourself and not for the needs or feelings of other people.

Selflessness – having or showing great concern for other people and little or no concern for yourself.

We are all aware that selfishness is a characteristic taught at an early age to avoid.

“Don’t be selfish; share with your …

Month: January 2015

Fever – The Unsung Hero

Let Thy Food Be Thy Medicine

5 Ways to Create a Life of Selfullness

An Epidemic of Selflessness