Hi Everyone!
I have a few products on my 2012 Best List that I would love to share with everyone. A couple on the list fall into the "Can't Live Without! " Category. I will start with those 2 first.
1. FCS II by Nature's Sunshine. A hormone balancing herbal combination containing Red Raspberry Leaves, Blessed Thistle, Dong Quai, Queen of Meadow Leaves, Lobelia, Ginger, Black Cohosh, Capsicum and Goldenseal Root.
I discovered these herbs in our local (tiny) health food store and am year 2 of taking 3 capsules, twice a day, with a week off every month. They make an ENORMOUS difference!
2. Host Defense by Fungi Perfecti/MyCommunity. I wrote in about a medicinal mushroom immune formula in November and this one is it. Experimented with this and another brand and this is the clear winner in my opinion. Saved me from about 5 nasty viruses and a stomach bug since I started taking them in the fall. When I feel a virus coming on, I take 2 every 4-6 hours for about 48 hours... For daily use, I take 2 with days off here and there.
Note: The price jumps on these medicinal mushrooms, so be sure to shop around online and before flu season starts and demand spikes. One week in October cost $42 for a bottle of 120 capsules and the next week various websites like Amazon were selling it for $55 a bottle!!
3. Lugol's Iodine 3%, the transdermal method - Jcrows.
Was taught the lugol's transdermal method last summer and I love it. You want to do this method after showering. Try not to wash it off during the day if you can help it. Typically in the am, I roll up my sleeves past the elbows and with my left palm facing up, add two drops of lugol's iodine to my arm. I quickly rub the two drops in with the other arm and wait until it dries before rolling my sleeves back down. I then note how long it takes the stains on both arms to disappear. When I first started in August, the stain disappeared within 1 hour for the first 2 days. It gradually lasted longer and longer. These days it lasts for most of the day.
The transdermal Lugol's dosage I was taught is as follows:
Start with 2 drops of 2% Lugol's for 3 days. (If you have 5% lugol's use only 1 drop). If the stain disappears on your skin within 24 hours, go to 3 drops on the 4th day. Repeat up this pattern (waiting 3 days before going up a drop) to no more than 5 drops per day. Once you find the lugol's stain lasting at least 24 hours, then you start cutting back 1 drop at a time. Ideally you want to get back to a dosage of 1 drop per day lasting about 24 hours.
Note: It is easy to drip onto the floor or counter! Use an magic eraser sponge to remove stain.
Note 2: If you shower after applying your daily dose of iodine, do NOT reapply. Only apply once a day.
I tried going up to 4 drops and got iodine overdose side effects (pressure between my eyes and constant sinus drainage). This went away after about 6 hours. So I stick to 2 drops every day or so, skipping a few days as soon as I feel sinus pressure. I go up to 3 drops if I have been travelling and going through x-ray machines at the airports.
4. 2 Enzymes with every meal: Daily Essential Enzymes.
5. Fish Oil - RxOmega-3 Factors. I take 1 or 2 a day... noticeable difference in joint pain and skin (baby soft).
6. Ghee. We replaced butter with Ghee. Love it!
7. Electrolyte powder with 1200 of Vit C and trace minerals.. Found on Amazon. I add one packet to a 1 liter sports water bottle and drink it during and after training. Helps me sustain my energy levels during tough workout sessions. Also I drink it after being out in the sun on a hot day.