Candida albicans is your friend, they are not the cause of your inflammation yeasty itches, sugar cravings and wobbly fat thighs. Candida albicans are struggling too, just like you, they operate better with friends.
It's not a matter of killing them to get rid of all your symptoms. The question to ask is what is missing here? C. albicans lives very well in most peoples guts. So why doesn't everyone get C. albicans overgrowth? Why are some people living energetic, healthy symptom free existences with C. albicans in their gut while others are suffering?
Give them new friends instead. Introduce the following yeasty friends to your well populated candida gut and make sure you feed them easily available sugars (fructose, glucose and lactose). Make sure you eat your polysaccharides, your multi-chain starch, to ensure they get a good feed further down the small intestine and there is some left over for them to munch on in the colon.
Benefits of C. albicans:
So stop killing them with anti candida diets, alkalizing, herbal supplements and starvation. They are not going to go away, they just need to be balanced out by other healthy microbes. Who really knows whether C. albicans has totally left your body if you can now eat carbs and sugar without problem? Myecelial A. candida the filaform morphed variety may lay dorment so to speak ready to proliferate when the rest of the microflora are out of balance.
The appendix houses microbes for emergencies, and perhaps it is here where the myecilial C. albicans lay dormant, only to re-emerge when the rest of the environment is out of whack again. One way to possibly change the normal flora of the appendix is through colon irrigation. Barium enemas are used to diagnose appendicitis. The radioactive dye in the enema will not flood the appendix if it is inflamed, so a healthy appendix would be able to have substance of some description, probiotics via irrigation entering the appendix.
What might be useful to know is 'what is the key to some people tolerating a Salmonella Enterica serova trythimurium infection compared to those who die from it'? Nutrition, presence of other microbes?
For those on anti-candida protocols, that can sometimes go for years, perhaps the candida mycelial/filament/hyphae form end up in high numbers as a part of a survival tool. Sort of like going into hibernation. As soon a protocol is broken the candida proliferate once again, perhaps more aggressively than before anti-fungal treatment.
Does the ongoing onslaught of anti-fungals (herbal, pharmaceutical, alkalizing or at least starving them) actually promote the morphing of these candida yeasts (eukaryotic microorganisms) into the filamentous/multicellular/string of connected budding cells?
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Friday, November 30, 2012
Hookworm and Parkinson's
To my friend with Parkinson's disease. I've got something that you might be interested in. Helminth therapy. Helminth therapy was first pioneered by Joel Weinstock, then of the University of Iowa. His parasite theory stirs a revolution and The 'hygiene hypothesis' for autoimmune and allergic diseases: an update.
Parkinson's disease, autoimmune link
There is evidence that Parkinon's disease has an autoimmune component as per these links:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3215724
http://neuronalsurvival.se/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/Lema-Tom%C3%A9-CM-20121.pdf
http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0018513#abstract0
Here is one link about dementia being related to inflammation of the brain blood vessels
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120731111418.htm
and another one with prion and Parkinson's disease
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121129093341.htm
Trials
There are helminth therapy trials in progress for a range of autoimmune diseases including Crohns, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel disease, asthma, allergies and multiple sclerosis but at this stage not for Parkinson's. Now brain disorders such as alzheimers and autism are being investigated for such treatments.
Trials underway include:
TSO in Pediatric Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Trichuris Suis Ova in Autism Spectrum Disorders (TSO)
Trichuris suis therapy for active ulcerative colitis: a randomized controlled trial.
Worms for Immune Regulation of Multiple Sclerosis (WIRMS)
Efficacy and Safety of Trichuris Suis Ova (TSO) as Compared to Placebo (TRUST-I)
Nottingham hookworm trial for multiple sclerosis
Some trials have had disappointing results, like this one with asthma http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2814083/. This one used ten hookworms, which is a small number compared to 20 to 35 hookworms as a starting dose that are provided by one of the two commercial providers for hookworm.
Hookworm therapy is so new though, that even the opposite is still occurring, research to eradicate it. Sabin in Brazil is developing a hookworm vaccine
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/240586.php
Imagine being vaccinated against hookworm only to find out that worms like these are essential for a balanced immune system?
There are glaciers of data on the hygiene hypothesis, but popular trends take a little time to shift. Worms in particular come with an 'eeek' factore and there is money in selling antiparasitic medications.
The worms and anectodal success
The helminths of choice are the hookworm Necator Americanus, human whipworm Trichris trichiura and pig whipworm Trichuris suis. They are currently three suppliers worldwide. Patients with over 76 different diseases (including all the diseases listed above), most of these having an autoimmune component, have reported improvements or complete remission of symptoms, as per these stories. Click on this link Helminth therapy success stories.
How safe is hookworm therapy?
Hookworm as a therapeutic treatment is safe, as here in Australia we have toilets and don't walk around in bare feet, especially over each others faeces (yuk), therefore the worms cannot reproduce. The faeces needs to be sitting in the tropical heat for days and then need to penetrate the body through the skin, live two weeks in the lungs then finally settle in the gut where they do their wonders. So, if you can accidently replicate that, then you might have a problem with too many hookworm. The inadvertent re-infection (walking on latrine infested dirt in the tropics) causes death if infestation gets into the thousands and with a background of poor nutrition. N. Americanus therapy starts with 10 to 40 or 50 hookworm. Some people don't need any more, others might need up to 200 or so.
Sourcing worms
These stories are all anectodal of course, as helminth therapy has only been an active option since Jasper Lawrence walked around filthy Cameroon to become infected in 2007, with dramatic results in allieveating debilitating allergies, asthma and inflamed bowel. There are now three providers in the world, http://autoimmunetherapies.com/ , http://www.wormtherapy.com/ and a company in Germany called Ovamed (ovamed.org supplies whipworms only).
Hookworms in particular, usually last a minimum of 3 to 5 years but can last 10 years or more. Treatment price is $3,000 or $4,000. You generally get support and replacement for three years ($150 if getting a top up as per one of the providers). The providers make you find an open minded doctor who will do a number of blood tests and you need to send these over to Mexico, Canada or UK (the providers cannot operate out of the USA as the FDA suddenly had helminth therapy classified as a medical treatment, not a probiotic). These providers will then decide whether they will take you on. They usually refuse to supply larvae to people who have HIV, hepatitis or cancer.
Personal interest with helminth therapy
Personally, I am so interested in this and am chasing up to get some for Pete and myself (I have had hayfever and other inflammatory symptoms for many years, which haven't shifted with alkalizing, supplementing, raw diet, Nourishing Traditions diet, candida detox, no gluten, no dairy, this diet, that diet.... bla bla bla you name it). So I'm hoping that we will both be inoculated in the next month or two. Pete has run out of orthodox medical pharmaceutical options for his MS, which had crap side effects and didn't provide healing. I'm hoping to get a donor from a DIY carrier. There is one in WA who I have been in communication with, also someone else in QLD who is about to receive a donation. So that's available if you don't want to spend the $3,000, although there is a bit of waiting.
Culture of new information
So, it really makes you want to question the mass deworming of third world countries, the individuals infected with massive numbers of worms and who are anemic, yes, but the healthy, energetic villagers (I think the number is in the billions) living out the back of Thailand and places like that, no. Are we setting them up for autoimmune diseases? Welcome to the Western world.
There has also been a blase acceptance and religious use of a handful of vague studies/papers that suggest that maybe, maybe, maybe mass deworming improved cognition in children and increased their weight (they were probably classified underweight compared to our obese Western children).
It's no surprise when you look into how hookworm create this mutualistic relationship with humans that you will then understand why 'where hookworm are in the world, you will find low to no auto immune disease'. Hookworm, for their own survival drink our blood, but also prevent their host, us, from killing them by secreting substances which calms down our immune system. So sorry about this but they have really been our friends forever.
Labs around the world are trying to find out what the hookworm's secret ingredient is so they can patent it. Wouldn't you want to be having a few of those shares? More simply just farm and share some hookworm around?
So, I know it would be nice to wait for all the studies, which may take another 10 to 15 years to get going, for Parkinsons anyway. I'd say give them a go, if you change your mind or the eeek factor really gets to you, t takes one, over the counter worming tablet at a cost of $3, to get them out of your body. 80% of hookworm users (in this Western world) have had results. Personally, I'd be talking to the worms as my friends. In fact the hygiene hypothesis uses the term 'old friends'.
cheers,
Sandra
Parkinson's disease, autoimmune link
There is evidence that Parkinon's disease has an autoimmune component as per these links:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3215724
http://neuronalsurvival.se/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/Lema-Tom%C3%A9-CM-20121.pdf
http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0018513#abstract0
Here is one link about dementia being related to inflammation of the brain blood vessels
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120731111418.htm
and another one with prion and Parkinson's disease
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121129093341.htm
Trials
There are helminth therapy trials in progress for a range of autoimmune diseases including Crohns, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel disease, asthma, allergies and multiple sclerosis but at this stage not for Parkinson's. Now brain disorders such as alzheimers and autism are being investigated for such treatments.
Trials underway include:
TSO in Pediatric Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Trichuris Suis Ova in Autism Spectrum Disorders (TSO)
Trichuris suis therapy for active ulcerative colitis: a randomized controlled trial.
Worms for Immune Regulation of Multiple Sclerosis (WIRMS)
Efficacy and Safety of Trichuris Suis Ova (TSO) as Compared to Placebo (TRUST-I)
Nottingham hookworm trial for multiple sclerosis
Some trials have had disappointing results, like this one with asthma http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2814083/. This one used ten hookworms, which is a small number compared to 20 to 35 hookworms as a starting dose that are provided by one of the two commercial providers for hookworm.
Hookworm therapy is so new though, that even the opposite is still occurring, research to eradicate it. Sabin in Brazil is developing a hookworm vaccine
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/240586.php
Imagine being vaccinated against hookworm only to find out that worms like these are essential for a balanced immune system?
There are glaciers of data on the hygiene hypothesis, but popular trends take a little time to shift. Worms in particular come with an 'eeek' factore and there is money in selling antiparasitic medications.
The worms and anectodal success
The helminths of choice are the hookworm Necator Americanus, human whipworm Trichris trichiura and pig whipworm Trichuris suis. They are currently three suppliers worldwide. Patients with over 76 different diseases (including all the diseases listed above), most of these having an autoimmune component, have reported improvements or complete remission of symptoms, as per these stories. Click on this link Helminth therapy success stories.
How safe is hookworm therapy?
Hookworm as a therapeutic treatment is safe, as here in Australia we have toilets and don't walk around in bare feet, especially over each others faeces (yuk), therefore the worms cannot reproduce. The faeces needs to be sitting in the tropical heat for days and then need to penetrate the body through the skin, live two weeks in the lungs then finally settle in the gut where they do their wonders. So, if you can accidently replicate that, then you might have a problem with too many hookworm. The inadvertent re-infection (walking on latrine infested dirt in the tropics) causes death if infestation gets into the thousands and with a background of poor nutrition. N. Americanus therapy starts with 10 to 40 or 50 hookworm. Some people don't need any more, others might need up to 200 or so.
Sourcing worms
These stories are all anectodal of course, as helminth therapy has only been an active option since Jasper Lawrence walked around filthy Cameroon to become infected in 2007, with dramatic results in allieveating debilitating allergies, asthma and inflamed bowel. There are now three providers in the world, http://autoimmunetherapies.com/ , http://www.wormtherapy.com/ and a company in Germany called Ovamed (ovamed.org supplies whipworms only).
Hookworms in particular, usually last a minimum of 3 to 5 years but can last 10 years or more. Treatment price is $3,000 or $4,000. You generally get support and replacement for three years ($150 if getting a top up as per one of the providers). The providers make you find an open minded doctor who will do a number of blood tests and you need to send these over to Mexico, Canada or UK (the providers cannot operate out of the USA as the FDA suddenly had helminth therapy classified as a medical treatment, not a probiotic). These providers will then decide whether they will take you on. They usually refuse to supply larvae to people who have HIV, hepatitis or cancer.
Personal interest with helminth therapy
Personally, I am so interested in this and am chasing up to get some for Pete and myself (I have had hayfever and other inflammatory symptoms for many years, which haven't shifted with alkalizing, supplementing, raw diet, Nourishing Traditions diet, candida detox, no gluten, no dairy, this diet, that diet.... bla bla bla you name it). So I'm hoping that we will both be inoculated in the next month or two. Pete has run out of orthodox medical pharmaceutical options for his MS, which had crap side effects and didn't provide healing. I'm hoping to get a donor from a DIY carrier. There is one in WA who I have been in communication with, also someone else in QLD who is about to receive a donation. So that's available if you don't want to spend the $3,000, although there is a bit of waiting.
Culture of new information
So, it really makes you want to question the mass deworming of third world countries, the individuals infected with massive numbers of worms and who are anemic, yes, but the healthy, energetic villagers (I think the number is in the billions) living out the back of Thailand and places like that, no. Are we setting them up for autoimmune diseases? Welcome to the Western world.
There has also been a blase acceptance and religious use of a handful of vague studies/papers that suggest that maybe, maybe, maybe mass deworming improved cognition in children and increased their weight (they were probably classified underweight compared to our obese Western children).
It's no surprise when you look into how hookworm create this mutualistic relationship with humans that you will then understand why 'where hookworm are in the world, you will find low to no auto immune disease'. Hookworm, for their own survival drink our blood, but also prevent their host, us, from killing them by secreting substances which calms down our immune system. So sorry about this but they have really been our friends forever.
Labs around the world are trying to find out what the hookworm's secret ingredient is so they can patent it. Wouldn't you want to be having a few of those shares? More simply just farm and share some hookworm around?
So, I know it would be nice to wait for all the studies, which may take another 10 to 15 years to get going, for Parkinsons anyway. I'd say give them a go, if you change your mind or the eeek factor really gets to you, t takes one, over the counter worming tablet at a cost of $3, to get them out of your body. 80% of hookworm users (in this Western world) have had results. Personally, I'd be talking to the worms as my friends. In fact the hygiene hypothesis uses the term 'old friends'.
cheers,
Sandra
Monday, November 26, 2012
Kefiran, soothing the gut when reestablishing the flora using kefir grains
The best benefits from kefir are not just the flora but the kefiran.. It's very soothing for the gut lining and anyone wanting to change gut flora would need the kefiran as well as the grains to get best results. Kefiran is a slimy gelatinous polysaccharide that grows in the centre of the kefir grains under anaerobic conditions in the presence of ethanol alcohol. the alcohol is produced by the other kefir grains from the milk. More alcohol is produced leaving the culture a bit longer maybe 2 days in warm weather. This video is the only one I've found that shows kefiran (at about 2 minutes in). What I love about this one is that they touch the kefir with their hands, unlike all the ladles and spoons you see with every other video explaining how to look after your grains. Remember these grains are our friends.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCvDKrHUutE
This is what your kefir needs to look like. Packaged kefir powder or ready made bottled kefir, which devastatingly may be pasteurized after culturing, are really no comparison.
My favorite kefir info site and where to get some and many other cultures is Dominic and Sandra Anfiteatro's chariot site
http://users.sa.chariot.net.au/~dna/kefirpage.html
Here's the dilemma though. Kefiran is a polysaccaride and according to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) diet this won't be broken down and absorbed by the body rather taken up by pathogenic bacteria, causing fermentation in the gut.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCvDKrHUutE
This is what your kefir needs to look like. Packaged kefir powder or ready made bottled kefir, which devastatingly may be pasteurized after culturing, are really no comparison.
My favorite kefir info site and where to get some and many other cultures is Dominic and Sandra Anfiteatro's chariot site
http://users.sa.chariot.net.au/~dna/kefirpage.html
Here's the dilemma though. Kefiran is a polysaccaride and according to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) diet this won't be broken down and absorbed by the body rather taken up by pathogenic bacteria, causing fermentation in the gut.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Saving our wisdom teeth from being extracted
I had all my wisdom teeth extracted years ago before I knew of other alternatives, so thought I might share this website looking into alternatives.
http://www.naturalnews.com/031288_wisdom_teeth_surgery.html
I also found out that every tooth has an energetic connection to another part in the body
http://naturaldentistry.us/2627/how-holistic-dentistry-and-energy-meridians-work-together/
Weston A Price's recommendations, getting back to traditional food preparations? (their site still down because of malware). Our crowded jaws are a sign that our bodies are crying out for minerals. Minerals are drawn from muscle, bones, teeth and cartilage to buffer acidic blood pH. Start alkalizing
Muscle health of the jaw, is key to keeping a wide open palate from generation to generation. Contracted muscles cause tighten and narrow the arch of the mouth. Grinding of the teeth would also be associated with jaw slowly tightens, and is often relieved with mineral supplementation. Magnesium supplementation so underrated for bone and muscle health. There are a few orthodontics that go beyond braces and are able to supply orthotics to widen the upper and lower jaw, therefore accommodating for all our teeth.
Preparing for Thailand trip with an unvaccinated 19 month old
I had researched the pros and cons to not vaccinate, in the context of living here in Australia, but in relation to traveling to South East Asia, our holiday to Thailand, well this was new territory. Myself, my husband and my daughter, who is now 19 months old, are travelling there later this week.
Vaccination recommendations for Thailand according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/thailand.htm
are all the usual ones, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), diptrheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT), poliovirus, plus Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid and Japanese Encephalitis.
The CDC also recommends for Thailand tourists to protect against mosquito bites to prevent malaria, chikungunya (a viral disease that causes arthralgic type symptoms) and dengue. Taking anti-malaria tablets is only recommended for tourists visiting rural or forested areas. I'd read that the two hours around sunset time is the worst for mosquitoes, so I'm planning to be especially vigilant about covering up then.
There is also a warning about rabies, although the vaccination is recommended only for those travelling to areas heavily infested with bats and especially for veterinarians.
Gastroenteritis is mentioned briefly with anti-diarrhea tablets are recommended.
I consulted my naturopath specifically for this trip. I needed to know what I could do to maximize my daughters ability to fight off viral, bacterial or fungal attacks.
The naturopath's recommendations are based on the following guidelines:
1. Maintain a strong immune system through the use of whole foods, free from additives and preservatives and using traditional food preparation and getting plenty of sunshine, exercise and unconditional love. Gut health being a priority.
2. The use of specific herbs and anti-microbials during an infective period.
We were sent home with packets, bottles and a letter for custom officials at the airport.
Parazyne (artemesia anua plus other antiparasitics), specifically for treatment of malaria. As per a Cochrane review of 41 trials, "artemesian drugs clear malaria parasites from the blood more effectively than standard treatment drugs".
Optimal Defense Complete, high dose immune defense, especially for respiratory infections.
Colloidal silver for water sanitation, antimicrobial and anti-anaerobic treatment. Take it for gastro.
Anti-microbials, (Berberis, Propolis, Clove oil, Peppermimt oil, Aniseed oil) for gastro.
Probiotics with glutamine capsules, for intestinal health. Key to restore healthy gut flora and healing inflammed intestinal wall.
Oscillococcinum, a homeopathic for treatment of flu like symptoms.
So, on top of all this, my daughter is actually snuffly at the moment, blowing those nasal bubbles, getting over an upper respiratory tract infection, which started one week ago. We leave for Thailand in 5 days from now. I gave her some Optimal Defense Complete this evening and will continue with Iberogast, gastrointestinal support and Y.E.P. tea, yarrow, elder and peppermint.
Vaccination recommendations for Thailand according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/thailand.htm
are all the usual ones, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), diptrheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT), poliovirus, plus Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid and Japanese Encephalitis.
The CDC also recommends for Thailand tourists to protect against mosquito bites to prevent malaria, chikungunya (a viral disease that causes arthralgic type symptoms) and dengue. Taking anti-malaria tablets is only recommended for tourists visiting rural or forested areas. I'd read that the two hours around sunset time is the worst for mosquitoes, so I'm planning to be especially vigilant about covering up then.
There is also a warning about rabies, although the vaccination is recommended only for those travelling to areas heavily infested with bats and especially for veterinarians.
Gastroenteritis is mentioned briefly with anti-diarrhea tablets are recommended.
I consulted my naturopath specifically for this trip. I needed to know what I could do to maximize my daughters ability to fight off viral, bacterial or fungal attacks.
The naturopath's recommendations are based on the following guidelines:
1. Maintain a strong immune system through the use of whole foods, free from additives and preservatives and using traditional food preparation and getting plenty of sunshine, exercise and unconditional love. Gut health being a priority.
2. The use of specific herbs and anti-microbials during an infective period.
We were sent home with packets, bottles and a letter for custom officials at the airport.
Parazyne (artemesia anua plus other antiparasitics), specifically for treatment of malaria. As per a Cochrane review of 41 trials, "artemesian drugs clear malaria parasites from the blood more effectively than standard treatment drugs".
Optimal Defense Complete, high dose immune defense, especially for respiratory infections.
Colloidal silver for water sanitation, antimicrobial and anti-anaerobic treatment. Take it for gastro.
Anti-microbials, (Berberis, Propolis, Clove oil, Peppermimt oil, Aniseed oil) for gastro.
Probiotics with glutamine capsules, for intestinal health. Key to restore healthy gut flora and healing inflammed intestinal wall.
Oscillococcinum, a homeopathic for treatment of flu like symptoms.
So, on top of all this, my daughter is actually snuffly at the moment, blowing those nasal bubbles, getting over an upper respiratory tract infection, which started one week ago. We leave for Thailand in 5 days from now. I gave her some Optimal Defense Complete this evening and will continue with Iberogast, gastrointestinal support and Y.E.P. tea, yarrow, elder and peppermint.
Friday, September 28, 2012
How to get Elimination Communication Really Really Wrong
Losing the purpose of what elimination communication (EC) is all about happens if subconscious agendas of being results orientated take over. That's what happened for me.
It took an awful early morning wake up for me to realize this. My little 18 month old daughter woke, squirming in bed, in the middle of her night's sleep, and I carried her to the potty thinking she just needed to wee before getting back to sleep again. What ended up happening was 10 minutes of crying and throwing her body around. She hadn't wanted to be picked up to go to the potty, she may have been uncomfortable with a full bladder, but she wasn't awake enough to follow through with actually toileting. She ended up weeing on the carpet while sobbing, face down, after I had offered three different toileting options, the potty, the bath and the balcony. I had even attempted to take her back to bed after she refused the toileting options, she arched her body in my arms and protested about that too. I had run out of options until she weed on the floor and relieved herself. For my husband and I this had been a disaster. As far as communication was going, this was my daughter telling me she had had enough.
So as soon as the day started yesterday I put a disposable diaper on her, after 14 months of 'doing' elimination communication. I have now realized how desperate I had become, 'needing' dry pants and becoming incessant about catching that wee or poo in the potty. Why had I lost the bigger picture? The distress was being communicated by her in the days and weeks before, and I hadn't listened to her or myself.
Yeah, sure I was communicating, but the constant interruptions in her play and the flow of the day, to toilet and change, dominated. What's probably more concerning is that it dominated my socializing. I would prioritize the toileting, ooh, the chance to catch a wee, which we were failing miserably at anyway, above having a nice, relaxing chat with a friend.
This was all about me, not wanting to let go of a mission I was on, to get my daughter toilet trained before all the other conventional nappy wearing toddlers. Yes, that's what I must have subconsciously took on when I first read about elimination communication. As much as I kept telling myself, that the misses, accidents and refusals were really good communication, they weren't, because I wasn't being honest with myself. Of all the reading I did about the topic too, reminding me that this wasn't results orientated, but about being receptive to her needs, if she was understanding and we were teaching each other. Maybe all along it was a mission, to 'not be mainstream', like many of my other ways. One thing, though, I wasn't being receptive to my own needs, to relax.
What a relief for me. I've now had 2 days of her being in a disposable nappy. Does it matter, after all that 'work' that we are weeing in a nappy all day long?
Apart from that horrible unsettled crying and distress yesterday morning, I now realized there were plenty of other signs.
The following signs I could have been more receptive to:
When my daughter
It took an awful early morning wake up for me to realize this. My little 18 month old daughter woke, squirming in bed, in the middle of her night's sleep, and I carried her to the potty thinking she just needed to wee before getting back to sleep again. What ended up happening was 10 minutes of crying and throwing her body around. She hadn't wanted to be picked up to go to the potty, she may have been uncomfortable with a full bladder, but she wasn't awake enough to follow through with actually toileting. She ended up weeing on the carpet while sobbing, face down, after I had offered three different toileting options, the potty, the bath and the balcony. I had even attempted to take her back to bed after she refused the toileting options, she arched her body in my arms and protested about that too. I had run out of options until she weed on the floor and relieved herself. For my husband and I this had been a disaster. As far as communication was going, this was my daughter telling me she had had enough.
So as soon as the day started yesterday I put a disposable diaper on her, after 14 months of 'doing' elimination communication. I have now realized how desperate I had become, 'needing' dry pants and becoming incessant about catching that wee or poo in the potty. Why had I lost the bigger picture? The distress was being communicated by her in the days and weeks before, and I hadn't listened to her or myself.
Yeah, sure I was communicating, but the constant interruptions in her play and the flow of the day, to toilet and change, dominated. What's probably more concerning is that it dominated my socializing. I would prioritize the toileting, ooh, the chance to catch a wee, which we were failing miserably at anyway, above having a nice, relaxing chat with a friend.
This was all about me, not wanting to let go of a mission I was on, to get my daughter toilet trained before all the other conventional nappy wearing toddlers. Yes, that's what I must have subconsciously took on when I first read about elimination communication. As much as I kept telling myself, that the misses, accidents and refusals were really good communication, they weren't, because I wasn't being honest with myself. Of all the reading I did about the topic too, reminding me that this wasn't results orientated, but about being receptive to her needs, if she was understanding and we were teaching each other. Maybe all along it was a mission, to 'not be mainstream', like many of my other ways. One thing, though, I wasn't being receptive to my own needs, to relax.
What a relief for me. I've now had 2 days of her being in a disposable nappy. Does it matter, after all that 'work' that we are weeing in a nappy all day long?
Apart from that horrible unsettled crying and distress yesterday morning, I now realized there were plenty of other signs.
The following signs I could have been more receptive to:
When my daughter
- frequently refused and becom frustrated when the potty was offered
- refused to wear nappies and clothes from the over use of 'one wets' (pants that catch one wee only, then need to be changed. Do you know how many times a toddler can wee in one day? It's a lot.)
- became distressed when needing to go and was confused about where the appropriate place was, even after lots of talking about it.
- squirmed in my arms when we were out and about. Then not willing to go where she used to feel comfortable going, so continued to squirm and become distressed.
- held on to wees or half finished a wee because of not knowing if it was OK to go here or there
When I
- had moments of anger or frustration with accidents - seriously, why would I not see that a sign??? Only happened once or twice, but really come on??!
- felt disconnected as the toileting was removing me from having a decent adult conversation
- saw some close financial calls with accidents, eg. the notebook getting weed on, paying for carpet cleaning at naturopath's clinic
- gave out instructions to hubbie, that showed I was changing strategies all too often.
Update now at nearly 21 months old
She is still not toilet trained. We wear disposables when out and about most of the time. Not catching any wees at all or poos for that matter. We have communication about it though. It's more about me being creative and making a suggestion rather than drilling in a repetitive "Oh, next time let's see if we can use the potty", not that there is anything wrong with that, just repetitive. I allow lots of nappy free time at home and sometimes when out and about too. Still having accidents even on the bed when playing around. You need something on your bum for the slides at the park, and nappies on when going into shops. Half the time nappy free for car travel.
The main thing is I'm happy to see her just flowing with her play and me relaxed now, rather than hovering over her, watching for signs if she is about to do wees or poos.
I had read so much about elimination communication, but I think I seriously missed something that was pertinent for my character/personality. I think my main misconception about it was that I thought I could make it happen easily in this Western culture. The problem was, I was tense when we didn't use a nappy out at the shops, playgroup or visiting. I was tense at home in case hubbie found a 'puddle' in a bad spot. This tension would have been picked up without question by my daughter. I was communicating fear.
I feel that during her crawling times I could have done some entertainment while sitting her on the potty, just to allow her that moment to do wees, rather than letting any distraction take her from the potty. That was one thing I wasn't comfortable doing though, having her sit on the potty for any length of time. Even two or three minutes. That reminded me of stories I had heard about toddlers being treated awfully the old fashion toilet training ways. Next time we would do some sitting, using distractions or entertainment. As soon as the wees are done, well then off the potty. If bubs becomes unsettled at any time, well time to get off the potty. How is is that, in hindsight?
Overall what was also lacking is the practical hands on guidance of having watched others do 'elimination communication'. My mothering was also born from horror stories. That was how the stage was set, mostly the way I was brought up. I was taught that I needed to control this baby, this child, otherwise fear fear fear..... I've learnt to watch, listen and respond now. All those pre-meditations that separate the mother from her child, hopefully I've let those go now.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
thoughts on 'Baby Can Read' merchandise
Well, 'Baby Can Read' DVDs, flash cards and books don't look as rosy to me any more. After investigating Naomi Aldort's web site and seeing that children become brilliant more so by leaving them 'learn' by themselves. So what has putting these DVDs on each day done for my now 18 month old daughter? Has showing them daily to her, for the last year, dumbed her down?
The words on the screen are presented with an arrow showing left to right across the screen as the word is read out loud. The program is very particular about the way this is done. What about reading upside down? In fact the introduction workshop DVD explains that babies will pick up quite quickly that there is a right and wrong way to read. If you accidently show the baby the word upside down they will correct you because they know that you 'don't do it that way'. If a child was ever left to his/her own devises totally, would they instinctively learn to read right way up and left to right? Could this be a reason why we do not read at a photographic speed. We were taught to follow the finger so to speak. What I'm tending to do now, is not turn books around the 'right' way if she is holding them upside down or looking at them side on.
So, have I stunted my girl's curiosity and unique way of investigating what the written language is all about by presenting her with this rigid repetitive presentation? Is the repetition another dumbing down feature that would best be left alone? Probably not, as she craves these DVDs, books and pull out cards. She runs up to the DVD player saying "DeeeVEEEddd, play, riiead".
Well, I just smashed our 40" Sony Bravia TV, so for this week we are needing to be a little creative in our activities. I stood a tall, skinny CD stand in the middle of the room, on carpet, left the room and then heard a crash.
Why would we want to 'teach' kids anything, won't they just turn out to be as dumb as we are?
The words on the screen are presented with an arrow showing left to right across the screen as the word is read out loud. The program is very particular about the way this is done. What about reading upside down? In fact the introduction workshop DVD explains that babies will pick up quite quickly that there is a right and wrong way to read. If you accidently show the baby the word upside down they will correct you because they know that you 'don't do it that way'. If a child was ever left to his/her own devises totally, would they instinctively learn to read right way up and left to right? Could this be a reason why we do not read at a photographic speed. We were taught to follow the finger so to speak. What I'm tending to do now, is not turn books around the 'right' way if she is holding them upside down or looking at them side on.
So, have I stunted my girl's curiosity and unique way of investigating what the written language is all about by presenting her with this rigid repetitive presentation? Is the repetition another dumbing down feature that would best be left alone? Probably not, as she craves these DVDs, books and pull out cards. She runs up to the DVD player saying "DeeeVEEEddd, play, riiead".
Well, I just smashed our 40" Sony Bravia TV, so for this week we are needing to be a little creative in our activities. I stood a tall, skinny CD stand in the middle of the room, on carpet, left the room and then heard a crash.
Why would we want to 'teach' kids anything, won't they just turn out to be as dumb as we are?
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