HEALTHCARE

Since lately healthcare has been a topic of conversation - I have decided to write my thoughts down. Since this has been heavy on my mind for several years before it was ever a topic...

HEALTHCARE

Since the early 80’s, I have been involved with healthcare first hand living it daily by collecting from insurance companies as well as patients. There are many stories that have haunted me and still breaks my heart to know that this was what I did for a living. I always in the back of my mind, thought what a good actor I was, for from 8:00 to 4:30 this was my acting job. I played out the bad person asking for money from sick people. I was good at it, but hated it.

When it comes time for healthcare, I have been there and done that. Going back, I have experienced that it was not so bad in the early 80’s having insurance. My husband, Dan worked and so did I. We both carried healthcare on ourselves as while as each other. He paid bi-weekly a premium and I as well. When health issues came up and the primary insurance would not cover; such as the deductible or co-insurance, the other would pick up the balance. Life was not so complicated back then. Once the managed care and HMO’s took over, it was not possible to take out coverage to correlate the primary insurance with a secondary coverage. Perhaps, we need to change the types of plans that are out there!!

Most people do not know, if the primary insurance covers more or the same as the secondary would, then no payment would be paid by the secondary. So why would you take out a secondary insurance and pay the premium when they will not cover anything? The same goes if both parents take out coverage for their child. First, the child’s birthday would depend on who’s primary coverage it would be. Most likely you would think it would be the father’s (NOT) and if both have insurance only the primary coverage would most likely pay.

Healthcare will only cover certain items and procedures, you pay into coverage then later realize that they will not pay for certain blood work or as such. Also, most insurances require that you have to follow stages. For example, if you have a lump in the breast first you are required to have a mammogram, second a sonogram, third an MRI, surgery, Chemo, and radiation. Since I did not have the surgery required for breast cancer and I decided to do other medical treatments, they refused to pay for treatment. Is this fair, I have been paying into this insurance for over 25 years, but when I really needed the coverage it was a no-pay. We also need to research before taking out insurance from your place of work. We need to see if they are self-insured. They may use an insurance company like United Health Care as just an administrator.

Yes, there has to be a change in the healthcare, but we must all understand that it may not cover certain treatments and items. Again, such as if there is a hospital that is on your hospital plan and covers admission; however, during that stay you have some lab work or even a cat scan. The radiation department and lab department is contracted out, then the insurance may not cover them. The reason; because those departments are not part of your plan. This is also sometimes the case of ER doctors or anesthesia doctor charges.

I would like to see a change in the direction, where the deductibles are a little lower then 2,00.00 to 5,000.00 and both partners have coverage on one another, then the second insurance picks up of what the primary insurance does not. Second, that it should be our choice with what doctors advise us to make and what treatments should be given and not the insurance companies. Third, you should be able to choose your doctor and your insurance company that honors the physician fee’s. Fourth, more insurances should cover holistic procedures. Fifth, the insurance companies should not just rely on the procedure codes for the primary diagnosis, but on the individual person and what exactly was done.

For example, Dan my husband in 2007 -2008 before Obama took office, had a heart attack when he had a couple blockages and was required to have three stents. Since the procedure of stents was considered as an outpatient charge, he was discharged and later scheduled for the procedure of having the stent. We had at the time United Health Care, which our deductible and co-insurance equaled to be $500 dollars. The following year, not more than three months later Dan was scheduled for another stent. Now this is near when Obama took office and when we received a bill my eyes became as big as a quarter. While this political change in office took place, the doctors sold the heart facility back to the hospital. Well, if you did not know already this meant that the procedure codes of the facility changed and the stents were now under the hospital. The deductible and co insurance should have been the same, but nope it went up from $500.00 to 5,000.00. I did not know this until after the procedure and had to ask our doctor. This has to stop!!!! There should be the same contract agreement with all insurance companies and allow the same amount across the board. It’s not fair if I have United Health and you have Aetna, both of our co insurance is 80% and you pay more only because of the agreement between the facility and the insurance company.


Being in the inside looking out, the health care has been troubling me. The stress of knowing for many years what patients had to go through with these issues, and also having to figure out financially if they can have surgery or not. There are a lot of facilities that are private and will not take you if you do not go along with the financial program of paying on their terms.

Health Care is a business, we should understand this first and then change the concept to treating the individual person. We have to consider the pro’s and the con’s and remember we should not be a number, but a flesh and blood human being.

So, to Congress – we are not robots, we are flesh and blood humans!! We need to be treated as such. Give us a break for without us you would not be where you are today.

7 Ways to Color Your Hair Naturally

 

1. Coffee

Coffee works great if you’re looking to go darker, cover gray hairs, or add dimension to dark tresses. Simply brew a strong coffee (espresso works well), let it cool, and then mix one cup with a couple cups of leave-in conditioner and 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds.

Apply on clean hair and allow to sit for about an hour. If you use apple cider vinegar to rinse, it will help the color last longer. You may need to repeat the process a couple times to see noticeable results.

 2. Tea

Like coffee, black tea can help you go darker, and can also help cover gray hairs. If you have lighter hair, though, there are other types of tea you can use. Chamomile, for example, is recommended for blondes, while rooibos may work for redheads.

Do keep in mind that tea works best with your natural color. You won’t be able to turn blonde hair brunette. But black tea can darken blonde hair and chamomile can lighten it—especially if you sit in the sun while you have it in.

The longer you leave the tea on the hair, the more noticeable the color will be. You can also try repeated applications.

The key is to make the tea highly concentrated. Use 3-5 teabags (or about the same amount in loose-leaf tea) for two cups of water. You can apply the cooled tea to hair alone, or mix with conditioner (as noted in the coffee recipe). If you’re seeking to cover grays, mix with some fresh or dried sage, which helps open up the hair follicles.

Leave on hair for at least an hour—more if you want more color. Some even put on a cap and wear the tea overnight, then rinse the following morning. Check your color to determine what intensity you need.

 3. Herbs

 Depending on what color you’re going for, you can use a variety of herbs to achieve it. Here are some suggestions, depending on what your natural color is:

• Red hair: Try calendula, marigold, rosehips, and hibiscus to deepen the red shade or add a few red highlights. The effects are cumulative—if you keep using the dye regularly, you will notice more color. Simmer the flowers in water for about 30 minutes, strain, cool, and then spray or pour on hair and allow to dry in the sun if possible.
• Brunette/dark hair: Rosemary, nettle, and sage are all great herbs for dark hair. Simmer all three with water for 30 minutes, cool, strain, and spray or brush through hair. Allow to sit about an hour. You can also use the rinse daily after your shower. Be patient—it may take several days to notice a difference.
• Blonde hair: As mentioned above, chamomile tea works, but you can also try calendula, marigold, saffron, and sunflower petals. To hide grays, try rhubarb root in two cups of water, simmer, strain, and pour over hair. Add black tea to the darker colors above to help the color last longer. Catnip works for lighter colors.

 4. Beet and carrot juice

 These two juices can add natural red tints to your current color. Depending on what shade you want, you can use each alone, or mix them together. For a more reddish tinge, use more beet juice (strawberry blonde, deeper red, or auburn). Carrot will produce a quieter reddish orange.

This one is easy—simply apply about a cup of the juice to your hair. You can also mix in some coconut oil to condition hair at the same time. Work it through, wrap hair, and leave on for at least an hour. (These juices stain—wear something to protect your skin and clothes.) Rinse the juice out, and seal with an apple cider vinegar spray. If the color isn’t dark enough, repeat the next day.

 5. Henna

 One of the most popular natural hair coloring ingredients, henna is a powdered form of the leaves that come from the henna plant. These leaves have a natural and effective coloring pigment that has been used for thousands of years to dye hair, nails, and skin.

Natural henna, on its own, creates a red-orange color, so if you see products offering other colors produced with henna, realize the manufacturers have mixed the henna with other ingredients to achieve those colors. Redheads and brunettes (looking for a bit of auburn) are the best candidates for henna hair color. Be careful with this one—the results can be more orange than you’d like, so you may want to mix a little chamomile in with the paste to tame the color.

To make your own henna hair dye, mix about one cup of henna powder with 2 cups lemon juice. You can also add in a tablespoon of vinegar to help release the color. Allow to sit about 4-6 hours until it thickens. Apply to hair and comb through. (This is messy so be prepared!) Wrap your hair in plastic wrap and allow to sit 2-3 hours before rinsing.

 6. Lemon Juice

 Looking for a few highlights? Try fresh-squeezed lemon juice sprayed and brushed through hair. Leave on for several hours. If you sit in the sun, you’ll notice more lightening. Blondes can enjoy even more lightening by mixing with chamomile tea.

Lemon juice works slowly, so expect to repeat applications several times before seeing results.

 7. Walnut Shells

 If you want to secure a dark brown color, this is the way to go. Crush the walnut shells and boil for about half an hour. Cool, strain, and apply to hair. If you’re wanting to cover grays, you can use a cotton ball to apply only to those areas where it’s needed. Again, be careful as this dye will stain everything, so take precautions.

To create a more intense dye, return the strained juice to the heat and boil until it’s simmered down to about a quarter of the original volume. Allow to cool in the refrigerator, strain if needed, and pour through hair.

To save time, use walnut powder instead of the shells.

Let sit for at least an hour (more if you want more color), and rinse. Try to avoid really hot water as it can take the color away. Wash in lukewarm to make the color last longer.

Money is the root of all evil

Money- ONE’S LIFE

They say money is the root of all evil.  We cannot live life without this, it rules the world.  When I was diagnosed with cancer, I thought it was the end of the world.  I had insurance that Dan and I had paid for many years, however; would only cover conventional methods.  I saw what chemo and radiation can do, and within my heart did not want to go through the pain and suffering.  Money did buy Dan and I our lives, but at a price.  This is happening to many other people daily.

We both worked through our thirty years plus marriage. Suddenly, after seeing our life retirement savings leave us and after giving up all our belongings I am here today writing about something that is so precious to me, one’s life.  I do not look back on the things that I did not ever think that was even possible, like filling bankruptcy, giving up our cars, giving up our home and moving to Mexico.  This is happening to many other people daily minus moving outside the country.

Not only because of our treatments but also our aftercare, we have to deal with every month on how to come up with the money for payment.  I am not complaining, just venting for I know others that are struggling with this very same issue. This is happening to many other people daily.

Money, why does it always come down to this.  I see and hear several people express their anger about health care.  I too have been there and done that.  We have to make others realize that even though you have insurance, it may not cover all of your expenses or even the choice of treatments you chose to have.  Remember, even though it’s your body, the insurance company chooses for you what type of treatments you can have.  So, is health care worth having??? This is happening to many other people daily.

I am not suggesting not to have insurance, but again due to money it should be a choice and not a burden. Money always plays a part in one’s life.  I wish they would teach you at an early age, that money isn’t always enough and how to search for what is important in life. This is happening to many other people daily.

 Dan and I struggled to find ourselves and today living in Mexico taught us to grow and become understanding of time. In Mexico, some have money others do not, but either way seem to live life for the day and not complain about what they do not have and I even saw online that they are amongst the happiest people in the world.  We continue to grow and teach others that it’s not about the money, but the quality of life you live. This is happening to many people daily.

Money is the root of all evil.  It is how you use it that matters and what you buy.  So, do you want to buy material things or do you want to buy health; which to me is wealth.

So today as I write, I am thinking of others that are in the same situation, as I had struggled.  Remember one thing we are all equal and deserve the same things, but is our life not important so much that we cannot continue to choose the quality of life we want. This is happening to many people daily.

It always comes down to money, paper that gives us freedom to enjoy the modern toys.

CARROTS

THIS IS THE NEW CHILDHOOD IN AMERICA

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE?

Has any one ever heard of functional medicine with a scientific approach?

Humanity of The Human Heart ~Through Dying I Had Life

As a small child, I can remember my first encounter with this terrible disease called cancer.  Although, I did not understand why my Aunt was going through pain, I was told she had cancer.  One day she was with us and the next I was at this funeral home reaching down to give her my last kiss.  The experience was so cold and I will never forget that day.  Time past and then another Aunt passed, which experienced the same pain.  Through dying I had life.

When I was diagnosed six years ago, with breast cancer, I was reminded of the experiences that I endured in the past.  All my family members had surgery, chemo and radiation and still died.  Why would I choose this way, I did not want to go through all this suffering?  I wanted to live a quality of life, even if it meant a year or two.  Maybe I was a coward, but why would anyone today put themselves through all that pain and suffering. Through dying I had life.

Going back, this disease hit even closer to home.  I remember the first-time cancer affected me, it was one day in school.  I made 2^nd honors and was very proud, until my teacher handed out report cards.  She called everyone’s name, until it came to mine.  Sherry, sorry I cannot give you your report card for your father has not paid your tuition.  Not understanding this I was able to call my mom and I still can picture this in my mind, I cried and told her they would not give me my report card.  That day she came down to find out why.  My father always paid in the beginning of the month, but cancer struck and tuition was something that was not first on my parent’s mind.  Happy to say, I finely got my report card, but was embarrassed in class because of cancer. Through dying I had life.

For about three years I watched my father go through surgery, chemo and radiation.  The suffering was unbearable, no child should have to experience a parent slowly die. Through dying I had life.

On my sixteenth birthday, my father was being operated on his brain.  I can still picture going to see him the day after and him and my mom gave me my birthday gift together.  This was a family tradition, a sweet sixteen ring.  My last gift from my father before he passed away.  My birthday was in January and he left us in September. Through dying I had life.

It’s still all a blur to me. This affected me and my family in so many ways.  When I was in high school, the tuition was too much for my mother to pay the total amount for three children.  In order to complete my school years with my friends, I had to work around the school for half of the tuition.  During this time of my life it was very difficult, for how to explain to my friends not only the cancer that my father was enduring, but how it was affecting his mind. Through dying I had life.

You see, the cancer went to his brain, which changed his personality.  He thought he was someone else.  I had to search within myself for I was raised Catholic and when my father thought he could change the world by rewriting the bible, picking up hitchhikers, and buying land to build his church.  This was too much for our family to take, so how would my friends understand.  At this time, I lost friends for they did not know how to handle what I was going through.  The pain of what my father was going through was more than cancer, it destroyed him. My father passed on September 16^th on my younger sister’s 8^th birthday. Through dying I had life.

After living through high school, a year later, I lost two more Uncles to this terrible disease.  Years later I met Dan my husband and it seemed all the pain that I experienced went away.  We became a family with a daughter, enjoying life and not thinking of the past.  Then it hit again, my mother in law was diagnosed with cancer.  The memories came back for watching my mother in law go through the same procedures which led to death. Through dying I had life.

This time I was the mother and had to explain the death to my four-year-old daughter.  I did not want her to have the same experience that I went through, so I explained the death like sleeping beauty with all the flowers that surrounded her.  That Christmas, my mother in law had saved money up for her grand kids.  She had passed away on September, the same day the 16^th on a Monday as my father did seventeen years ago, that Christmas she knew my daughter wanted a doll house.  Christmas day there was a doll house under the tree.  We explained that Grandma delivered it from Heaven. Through dying I had life.

Since then I have lost cousins, Aunts, Uncles from cancer doing surgery, chemo and radiation. Through dying I had life.

Coming back to me and when I was diagnosed with cancer, why would I go through more pain and suffering.  It did not work for them and the quality of life that they endured was unbearable.  This is why Dan and I explored the possibility of other methods that were not so invasive.  We found it and I have lived longer and healthier than others that had cancer in my family. I learned that first you have to do a life change for there was a reason why I was struck with cancer. Through dying I had life.

Again, two years later from when I was diagnosed with cancer Dan my husband was told he had prostate cancer.  We did not have to think, we know what our decision would be.  He went for the same treatments as I did. Through dying I had life.

Today, we are healthy and have managed our cancer without surgery, chemo or radiation.  Dan and I are so humble that we broke the cycle and learned other methods to treat cancer without the conventional way that killed our family member’s.  This is why I am so passionate on educating others on the methods we used.  The suffering and pain that I endured by seeing and watching my family members suffer and ending up in death somehow has given me life. Through dying I had life.

The memories of my father, mother-in-law, Aunts, Uncles, cousins, friends will not be forgotten.  The death of millions every year can change with research and knowledge of other methods. We need to make a change - Humanity of The Human Heart.  Please check out my web site https://www.thejourneytogoodhealth.com/

TREATMENTS WITHOUT SIDE EFFECTS FOR CHRONIC DISEASES

To my family and friends,

Dan and I treasure our friendships and thank each and every one for your support through these past six years.  You all have stood by us while we have been managing our cancer.  Two weeks ago, we both had a lab test, everything looks fabulous.  Neither, of us show any cancer.

As I look back, it’s all a blur and every day I pinch myself to see if it is all real.  Yes, this happened to us and we are humble to have found a method that did not have side effects and have given us an opportunity to educate others on what types of therapies that are out there from Germany to Japan and all around the world.

I have created a web site, along with the facility that has been helping us heal ourselves.  With the information and knowledge, we can all make a change.  I found that it starts with one person and spreads with another until many open up and follow.  I wish everyday if only, these methods were available when my father had cancer many years ago, maybe, I would have him today to hug and share my passion with.

I welcome all of you to come to the web site and share with others.  If Dan and I help just one, then this passion we have will be a blessing http://www.thejourneytogoodhealth.com . 

Dan and I recently completed a seminar on LOW-LEVEL-LASER THERAPY. The therapy concept of LOW-LEVEL-LASER THERAPY has been developed in Germany and is based on the usage of soft lasers.  Unlike surgical lasers that destroy tissue and cells, soft lasers supply our body with energy to trigger numerous regenerative processes.

 Medical laser therapy applies blue, green, yellow, red and infrared lasers.  Each color develops different effects which are evoked by the stimulation of specific cellular components, such as growth factors or cells of our immune system.  These effects have been proven by a large number of clinical studies.

LOCAL LASER THERAPY (non- invasive) and Laser Needle Acupuncture.  This laser therapy applies up to twelve so-called laser needles simultaneously.  They are not inserted into the skin, but only attached externally.  These needle-like laser ends have the ability to achieve a high-energy density that can penetrate directly into the body to stimulate pain areas and develop healing mechanisms.  This works for spine syndromes, arthrosis, slipped disc, rheumatic diseases, tendinitis, trigeminal neuralgia, depressions, MS, gastro-intestinal diseases, allergies, asthma, hypertension, and diabetes.

TRANSCRANIAL LASER THERAPY stimulates various neurological processes which makes it an innovative and promising new treatment option for post-treatment of strokes, the treatment of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, cerebral sclerosis, migraines, vertigo, tinnitus and other degenerative cerebral disorders.

INTERSTITIAL LASER THERAPY in order to bring even more laser light into low-lying tissue layers, a new technique, the percutaneous interstitial laser therapy, was developed.  By using a sterile catheter, it reaches penetration depths of up to 12cm. This therapy works on Chronic spinal disorders, Herniated discs, Scar pain after disc surgery, Spinal stenosis, Nerve lesions, Tendonitis and strains.

INTRA-ARTICULAR LASER THERAPY is used primarily in the treatment of damaged joints by application of the newly developed catheter technology.  It allows direct irradiation of dysfunctional tissues.  This therapy works on Knee joint arthrosis, Hip arthrosis, Chronic shoulder syndromes, Ankle arthrosis.

LASER THERAPY IN COMBINATION WITH PLATELET RICH PLASMA, this therapy simulates cell reproduction, angiogenesis and the formation of connective tissue.  The injection combined with laser therapy, taking advantage of the regenerative effects of the laser irradiation and thus obtaining even better treatment results.  Due to its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects, treatment can improve various conditions as Orthopedics (arthrosis, bone regeneration), Sports Medicine (tendinopathy, fractures, wound healing) and Aesthetic Medicine (skin rejuvenation, scar treatment, hair loss).

INTRAVENOUS LASER THERAPY enables the application of laser light directly into the bloodstream by using a special catheter technology.  The laser light stimulates circulating blood cells and stem cells.  This therapy works for Internal diseases (diabetes mellitus, chronic liver and kidney diseases), Metabolic disorders, Cardiovascular diseases, Chronic pain, Fibromyalgia and rheumatism, Allergies, Macular degeneration, Tinnitus, Multiple sclerosis, Depression and burn-out, Lyme disease, and General performance increase (in sports).

PHOTODYNAMIC TUMOR THERAPY is a therapeutic approach in the treatment of various tumor diseases.  The method is based on the stimulation of light-sensitive substances.  It is either applied to the skin in the form of a cream, given into the blood-stream by infusion/or is injected locally into the tumor.

EXTERNAL PDT FOR THE TREATMENT OF SKIN CANCER works for treatment of basal cell carcinoma or keratosis.  A special cream with light-sensitive substance is applied locally to the affected skin area.  The subsequent laser irradiation destroys tumor cells selectively.

SYSTEMIC AND INTERSTITIAL PDT THERAPY.  The light-sensitive substance is administrated by infusion and activated through systemic intravenous.  The laser can now irradiate and destroy the disease tissue locally.  This therapy works for Pancreatic cancer, Mediastinal metastases, Breast tumor, Tumor in the floor of the mouth, Tumor in the esophagus, rectum or intestinal and Prostate or bladder tumor.

ANTI-MICROBIAL PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY aims to kill bacterial, viral parasitic pathogens.  The procedure is very similar to the one used in Photo-dynamic Tumor Therapy.  The great advantage of the therapy is that it even kills mulitresistant pathogens. This therapy works for Viral diseases (hepatitis, HIV, herpes, etc.), Bacterial infections, Multiresistant staphylococci, Parasitic diseases, Lyme disease.

With a combination of other methods on the treatment page one can heal without long term side effects.

Thank you (HUGS)

Sherry Malin

WHAT IS MEDICAL LOW-LEVEL-LASER THERAPY?

The therapy concept of LOW-LEVEL-LASER THERAPY has been developed in Germany and is based on the usage of soft lasers.  Unlike surgical lasers that destroy tissue and cells, soft lasers supply our body with energy to trigger numerous regenerative processes.

Medical laser therapy applies blue, green, yellow, red and infrared lasers.  Each color develops different effects which are evoked by the stimulation of specific cellular components, such as growth factors or cells of our immune system.  These effects have been proven by a large number of clinical studies.