Living Responsibly…It’s only Natural!

Sheryl Eaglewoman

Live Natural. Live Simple. And have the best time of your life doing it! In this fabulous weekly column you will gain access to fun and informative tools for improving your life and creating a healthy, energizing lifestyle using natural, organic and sustainable products. Topics include natural remedies, including herbs and homeopathy; natural therapeutics such as acupuncture or massage; natural childcare and even care for your pets, home and garden. Join us weekly. Enjoy!

Let’s consider what it means to go Natural? "Going natural" means choosing products that are free of synthetic (man made) ingredients, artificial colors, petroleum and preservatives, among other offenders. This would be in your laundry room as well as your kitchen cupboard. Why is this important in your life? Natural is what the body understands. Do you know that natural substances exert a measurable electrical field? And that this electrical field has an impact on a person’s electrical field. Natural items can be processed by the body and the earth. The body’s liver, the body’s cleaning unit, can process naturally occurring substances. It innately knows what to do to break down something of a natural origin. Synthetic substances do not have a naturally occurring electrical force. They aren’t easily recognized by the liver which in turn inhibits the process of breakdown and subsequent removal of them from the body. Additionally, the skin is a large organ. One should look carefully at labels on all body care products, including baby care and cosmetics. I firmly believe most allergies result from the body reacting to so many foreign and toxic substances invading it.

Now let’s consider Living Simply. Once upon a time I carried a lot of keys; keys to my house, my cars, my business, etc. A friend noted them one day and said, "Ooh, you’ve got a lot of keys. You must have a lot of worries. I suggest a goal of getting rid of 20% of the stuff you have around the house. You can sell it, making money that most likely you could use or you could generously donate it to some good cause. Best of all! You’ll feel better! Less clutter always feels good. One has to consider everything one takes in as food or sustenance. That means the television shows, the traffic, everything. Just as it is healthier to have a "clean" diet, it is just as smart to be aware of our total diet.

Finally, let’s consider buying organic. I hear people say they can’t afford to shop organic. I believe you can’t afford not to. When looking at the true cost of what you purchase one needs to consider the overall impact your purchase has made. Pesticides have brought ruin to hundreds of thousands of acres causing a financially detrimental dependence of farmers on chemical and seed companies. Not to mention the environmental pollution and possible health impacts of genetically modified organisms. Do you know animals given a choice between real food and genetically modified foods will pick the natural form? Organic has been shown to have a higher nutritional content. When you grow organic you replace nutrients, you feed the soil. This technique promotes good and nutrient rich soil, providing good food for your body.

Let’s kick off this weekly get together with some homework. Look at the label on one product in each room of your house. Can you pronounce the ingredients? Did they test them on animals? Anything artificial? Can’t tell? Then meet me here next week as we further explore our options.

Question of the Week: If it’s natural, is it safe for anyone to take?

Answer: No. There are many natural substances that could prove fatal. Even totally safe substances in overwhelming amounts can harm the body. It is best to educate yourself before taking or using any product.

Have a question you’d like to see addressed by Sheryl Eaglewoman? E-mail your question to sheryleaglewoman@livingresponsibly.com for "The Question of the Week".

Natural Health Consultant, Sheryl Eaglewoman, offers Private Consulting, Lectures and Education, specializing in all areas of natural health, including herbal, homeopathic and organic diet. Contact her at www.livingresponsibly.com or 406-892-1116.