If you’re anything like me, you become a little leery when you’re prescribed a new medication. What are the side effects, and the long term consequences of this medication? Are these consequences worth the foreseeable benefits? Is it even the right medication for your unique condition? Is it worth the financial cost, or is it covered by your insurance? These are all common questions, especially for those of us who aren’t use to taking prescription medications on a regular basis.
There is a lot that goes into making sure you get the most out of your prescribed medication. First, and most obviously, getting your prescription actually filled is step one, taking your medication on time, and then making sure you have a good understanding of the directions you’ve been given. It’s important to ask your healthcare provider the correct questions and honestly voice your reasons for hesitation. Often times when we choose to take our medication choices into our own hands without consulting our doctor, we wind up adding greater complications to our illness and in turn, create for ourselves a lower quality of life.
As intimidating as a new medication can appear, it’s vital that you communicate with your health care provider, and do everything you can to reach a mutual agreement on a plan that works both for your lifestyle and your condition, which supports medication adherence. The statistics speak for themselves, medication non-adherence has been found to lead to nearly 20% of preventable adverse drug events in the community setting, and 25% of premature nursing home admissions. Not only that, but it can easily lead to the progression of diseases that would otherwise be preventable, extra doctors visits, and the possibility of premature death.
If you don’t know where to start, or how to keep yourself on track with your medication, here are a few tips from us to you:
Organize- Pick up a pill organizer from your local pharmacy to eliminate any missed or doubled doses.
Ask- Make sure you are taking the best medication for you by doing research on your own, and then taking any questions you have to your trusted physician.
Record- If you feel like you are experiencing adverse reactions or side effects to your new medication, write them down as they come up so that you can accurately consult your doctor.
Remind- Set a reminder on your phone or clock to take your medication at the designated time each day.
Accountability- Talk about your medication use with the people closest to you. Let your significant other, your care giver, or your house mates know about your medication and ask someone you trust to check in with you regularly.
re:iimmune®- Ultimately, most medications do in fact take some type of toll on your body's hydration and intestinal health. Make sure you pair a daily dose of re:iimmune® with your new medication to help ease any possible side effects. Between the ginger for nausea reduction, zinc for immune boosting strength, pre and probiotic blend for intestinal health, and the Clinical Strength hydration formula, you’re sure to feel better, better!
Last week we talked about the dry skin blues and some ways to help keep it at bay. Today we’re focusing one one of the best things you can do for your skin, the use of plant derived carrier oils to help rehydrate and moisturize dry skin. Skin types vary and maybe the opposite, oily skin, is your issue or perhaps you have combination skin. In any case, there are carrier oils that are right for you!
It may seem odd to put oil on your face, it’s a much more common practice in England and other places in the world. The thing is that your skin naturally produces oil called sebum. When it’s washed away, your skin craves more and by keeping a balance by replenishing with the right kinds of carrier oils, you may find that you’ll help combat a number of issues and have happier, healthier skin. Few of the plant oils we will discuss have any kind of significant smell so we’ll include some ideas for essential oils which you can add a few drops of to your carrier oil.
Here are a few, easy to find carrier oils which can be used on both face and body and which types of skin they are best suited for. . .
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba is a type of shrub found in the deserts of California, Arizona and Utah. The great thing about it is that it mimics the consistency of sebum and therefore it absorbs well into the skin. Jojoba, pronounced “ho-ho-ba”, can be used on any skin type with great benefit.
Evening Primrose Oil
We know it sounds strange to use oil on already oily skin but for some folks, it actually can help balance you out and keep the skin from over producing sebum. Evening Primrose Oil taken internally can even assist in balancing out hormones. One of the best plant oils for reducing inflammation and promoting elasticity.
Coconut Oil
The internet is chock full of articles about the many, many beneficial uses of coconut oil and it’s one of the best things for dry skin! However, folks who are acne prone may want to stick with jojoba. It is heavy and it will take a few minutes to sink in but when it does, it provides amazing relief for dry skin.
Apricot Kernel Oil
This easily absorbed carrier oil is great for those with combination to dry skin types. It’s anti-inflammatory and antibacterial which helps against acne causing bacteria.
Grapeseed Oil
This works well for most skin types and is very light and easily absorbed. It’s chock full of Vitamin E which helps moisturize and tighten the skin. It’s great at speeding up the healing of acne and reduces redness and inflammation.
Essential Oils
For normal skin types: Chamomile, Lavender, Fennel, Rose, Sandalwood
For oily skin types: Cedarwood, Bergamot, Clary Sage, Grapefruit
For dry skin types: Ylang, Ylang, Rose Geranium, Roman Chamomile
For acne prone skin: Tea Tree, Thyme, Bergamot, Vetiver
Keep in mind that any kind of change to your skincare routine typically comes with a transition period where you might notice a few breakouts. Stick with it for a couple of weeks to truly get an idea of whether it’s working for you or not. 
ed for most of my adult life with constant UTI’s and in 2014, this reached an all-time high. I was pregnant, and during this pregnancy, I had 7 (yes 7) bladder infections and consumed countless rounds of antibiotics. By the end of it, I was exhausted, frustrated and feeling awful. My doctors decided to put me on a daily prescription that I would have to take for the rest of my life. Not a cure by any means, but a ‘bandaid” just to get me by. After reading the side effects of the medication, I knew I had to find a way to heal myself naturally. I began a diet of whole foods, and I started pumping my body full of probiotics. During this personal health revolution, a friend of mine told me about re:iimmune. It sounded like everything I was trying to put in my body all in one small packet! I ordered some re:iimmune almost immediately. Now, re:iimmune has become a part of mine and my family’s regular health routine. Sometimes, if I’m feeling particularly run down, I’ll take it once a day for several days in a row. Recently I had a stomach virus and the only thing I could keep in my system was the re:iimmune. My body was able to heal itself while staying hydrated. It’s been over a year and a half and I haven’t had one UTI, nor have I been on any antibiotics. I also never did take the prescription that was supposed to make my life “bearable”. For me, this is a medical miracle! I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been and I contribute this to great gut health with the help of re:iimmune. I feel better at 40 than I did at 30, and I’m expecting a healthy baby boy this summer.” -Sarah
"After a 4 month run of colds, flu, stomach ache and sickness- I felt unable to shake off the last of it each time to be able to fully recover. I then got hit with oral thrush which really told me my guts were not in a good way and I suspected I was chronically dehydrated too. With just the first few mouthfuls of re:iimmune I feel uplifted and more energized. It's like drinking a fresh coconut...you know it is good - it feels like it is instantly boosting your health! I changed the food I eat to clean out my system, but the re:iimmune has been a key part of recovering fully and resetting my gut to a healthier state, and no cramping. I am passionate about only putting natural foods in my body and re:iimmune fits this need for me. It is now a firm addition to my medical kit." -L. Dhonau
ely, we haven’t had chemo, radiation, or an especially severe case of bad “gut health.” However, it is possible that we represent a large percentage of those who use re:iimmune on a daily, weekly or bi-weekly basis for our general health and comfort. I first became aware of the product about two years ago when my husband had a rather long and unexplained problem with his tummy. He drank one dose a day for about a week and just that quickly he felt so much better. We have experienced the usual upsets typical of 90 and 80 year olds, but since discovering re:iimmune the difference is that we know what to do about it now." -Paula Ahlborn