Being sick sucks. It takes its toll on your body as well as your quality of life. Chronic diseases like cancer are particularly destructive. When you’re ill for a prolonged period, there is a tendency to avoid socialising and going out. You find yourself neglecting your appearance as the sickness dominates your life. When your body is being ravaged by illness, what’s the point of bothering with skincare, make-up or clothes, right?

A pastor from my church once advised me not to allow cancer to monopolise my every waking moment. If I did, it would consume me. I would become whatever I fed my mind and spirit with. He advised me to cast my cares – including the disease – on Jesus, and get on with my life. I should try to live and enjoy life as normally as possible.

Interestingly, the National Cancer Centre runs a beauty workshop for women who have or are recovering from cancer. The programme is aptly called “Look Good, Feel Better” and the logic behind it is simple: if you think you look good, you’ll feel better. It’s a form of cancer therapy. Beauty advisors volunteer their time and expertise to show participants how to look after their skin and how to apply and remove make-up. Participants are even taught how to pluck their eyebrows, match colors and how to use scarves and headgear in stylish ways to disguise any hair-loss from chemotherapy.

I saw the program in action for myself a couple of weeks ago. The youngest participant was 32 years old while the oldest was close to 80. The former had been told that she had terminal stage 4 cancer. To top it off, her husband was divorcing her. When she arrived at the workshop, she was quiet and withdrawn. She was obviously embarrassed by her appearance, as she had lost most of her hair, and was bloated and pigmented from the cancer treatment.

It was unanimous. Everyone decided that this dear lady would be our ‘model’. As the beauty advisor helped her apply her make-up, we complimented her on her beautiful skin. A slight smile lifted the corners of her mouth. Then, when another beauty advisor tied scarves in different ways on her head, or tried out a jaunty hat on her, we teased her about how pretty or how cute she looked. That brought a big smile to her face. Her demeanour changed and she positively glowed.

If only for a while, that young lady’s confidence went up several notches. Hopefully, she has not lost interest in her new-found beauty routine. It was so good to see her smile. Doctors don’t know everything. If she keeps her spirits up, she may very well defeat the monster in her body. I’m praying for her.

When my niece, Candice, visited me from out of town recently, the sweetheart plucked my eyebrows for me. She had been wanting to do this for more than a year. I must admit that I have not been making much of an effort with my appearance. That’s got to change.

Oh yes, while looking good is a great idea, remember to protect yourself from carcinogens and other harmful ingredients. Many brands of skincare, cosmetics and other beauty products often contain these harmful ingredients. Pamper yourself with safe personal care products with no questionable ingredients, like those from Neways.

Posted: December 9th, 2009 under Alternative Remedies, Cancer, Healthy Spirit.
Comments: none

Chemotherapy for cancer can cause all kinds of side-effects, nausea and vomiting being amongst the most common. There are various ways to minimize these problems, such as by eating several small meals throughout the day rather than attempt to tackle two or three big meals. Eating before one feels hungry is also highly recommended. Nibbling on dry crackers, dry cereal and toast helps as well.

Ginger has traditionally been used by many cultures to treat nausea, and it has been observed that it significantly relieves nausea in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Recently, I shared my recipe for a natural anti-cancer ‘tea’ which uses ingredients like ginger and turmeric. I have found that it also helps to counteract nausea. Here’s the link to the recipe. Ideally, start consuming it daily at least a day before you begin chemotherapy.

Posted: December 7th, 2009 under Alternative Remedies, Cancer, Healing Foods, Recipes.
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I’ve finally perfected my aloe vera and seaweed salve for wound dressing. Some months ago, I wrote about why aloe vera and seaweed, or agar-agar, make a great natural dressing for wounds and sores, including cancer tumors which have come to the surface. Agar-agar is obtainable from most Asian supermarkets and health food stores. You can read that post here. Here’s my recipe:

Ingredients
1 cup fresh aloe vera gel cubes
1 teaspoon agar-agar powder (fragrance and coloring free)
Rose hip or lavender oil
Mixing oil (if an oily salve is required for easier removal)

Method

1. Wash an aloe vera leaf. Cut away the tough green skin.
2. Cut the gel portion of the leaf into cubes, sufficient to fill two cups. I like to use a glass measuring jug, which can be put into the microwave.
3. Measure two level teaspoons of agar-agar powder. Set aside.
4. Place the aloe vera cubes into a blender. Blend until it becomes a liquid.
5. Pour a little of the aloe vera liquid back into the microwave-proof jug, enough to make a thick, smooth paste with the agar-agar powder. Stir until well-blended.
6. Add one-quarter of the aloe vera liquid into the paste, stirring constantly to prevent lumps from forming.
7. Put the aloe vera and agar-agar powder mixture into the microwave. Microwave on high until it begins to boil. This step is essential because it helps the mixture to thicken and set. Be careful not to let it boil over.
8. Remove the jug from the microwave. Stir the mixture and then return it to the microwave. Bring it to boil again.
9. Remove the jug from the microwave and gradually pour in the remaining aloe vera liquid, stirring all the way. You should get a thick, syrupy consistency.
10. Set aside to cool. Stir every 10 minutes or so to prevent lumps from forming.
11. When fully-cooled, transfer to containers and keep in the fridge until required. The mixture will become a thick paste in the fridge.

Application
Rose hip and lavender essential oils are reputed to have healing properties. However, they do evaporate quickly. Just before using the aloe vera and seaweed salve, add a few drops of either oil into the portion you intend to use for wound dressing. I usually put five drops of rosehip oil into every two teaspoons of paste used. When I use Neways Lavender Essential Oil, I just use just one or two drops, because the oil is 100% pure and concentrated. When using essential oils of such purity and high-quality, always use it sparingly and never use it concentrated directly on your skin. It must be mixed with something else, like a mixing oil or, in this case, a paste. Blend well (I use a tiny whisk). The oil also helps to minimize sticking. If you need to make an oily salve for easier removal of the dressing, then add a mixing oil as well.

Spread some of the aloe vera-seaweed-oil paste unto clean gauze, then place over the wounds or sores being treated. Make sure the skin surface has been cleaned in advance. I like to clean with saline solution at the start, finishing off with Neways Eliminator which is antiseptic, gentle and helps to reduce odors.

The gauze usually stays in place easily, without the need to use tape, unless the skin surface is very uneven or subject to considerable movement. The wound dressing should be changed daily, or more frequently depending on the condition of the wound or sore. Standing in the shower makes it easier to remove. If the person using this wound dressing cannot stand in the shower, then add Neways’ Mixing Oil into the salve to make it oily for easier removal. Neways’ Mixing Oil is a healing oil made from pure expelled or cold-pressed oils like grapeseed, primrose, apricot kernels and safflower. Buy it here at wholesale price.

Posted: December 4th, 2009 under Alternative Remedies, Recipes, Wound Healing.
Comments: 4