how right she is

So, about that Psychic Chiropractor…

Newer readers of this blog may have missed earlier mentions. Here are a few posts that refer:

knowing and not knowing yet

a-ha moment

babycare class

She doesn’t use the term. She calls herself a holistic healer. But she is a trained chiropractor, uses a “non-force” technique that involves some mighty painful poking, instead of cracking and popping, and then she also does a lot of other stuff on… well… other planes I guess. It’s hard to describe. There’s discussion of chakras (most people have heard of those), and thought patterns. She says she helps people heal from allergies. And some of our allergies are to old thought patterns. And she can answer questions about allergens, and other things, by doing the rather scientifically dubious arm-testing technique. She also offers a fair amount of no-nonsense life wisdom from her many years on the planet, some of which was spent on a farm.

People on farms have an earthier perspective, don’t you think?

I started seeing her as a client at a time in my life, four years ago, when a move to a new apartment had suddenly triggered an avalanche of environmental allergies. Fragrances, mold, natural gas, tar, rubber, new-anything smell… if it was off-gassing, I was getting sick from it. I was like the proverbial canary — one whiff and I’d immediately get dizzy and tired. So tired I would have to just go to sleep. And I’d get this awful fuzzy feeling on my tongue.

For some reason, fabric softener smell was the worst offender. I also started having panic attacks (wouldn’t you?). As one symptom of that, my personality became… dampened.

I bought air purifiers, broke my lease, moved to a new apartment, consulted with two doctors and a different holistic healer who prescribed a course of daily 30-minute borax baths which, if not helpful in themselves, were at least terrifically soothing. I was considering homeopathy or acupuncture when a friend of mine suggested that the psychic chiropractor could help.

After the first appointment, I felt like I had been restored, stabilized. I felt my personality click back into its groove. I recognized myself again. It lasted for about two days. So I went back for more. And over time I’ve healed almost 100% (some noxious things can still trigger a mild reaction from time to time). I’ve also healed physically from chronic aches, and used her arm-testing as a sounding board for some of my decisions.

Which is why her moving away a few weeks before the birth sucked so badly.

Except that it forced me to rely on my own intuition, instead of checking it with hers. And that’s good too.

So, now she’s established in her new home, and taking phone appointments. It’s nice to have her back. Even if it means that the sneaking suspicion I’ve been having all along, that wheat might not be good for the boy was confirmed.

The thing is, I’ve been off wheat, gluten, and corn, and nuts, for two days now, and the boy’s rashiness has already greatly improved — even more than it had when I gave up (cow) dairy. What was on his neck, and not just in the creases but down to his breastbone, and in patches below his ribs, is almost gone. The angry red “cradle cap” on his eyes is also much reduced. And on top of all that, I feel like a fog has lifted in my brain.

Sigh.

(Must fight urge to feel like bad mother for not having done this sooner.)

It’s not surprising. I’ve dealt with food allergy issues before. His dad has allergies, his paternal grandmother too. I just didn’t want to give up my bread, pasta, fried things.

M. apologized for taking all those foods away from me, but since I’d been on more restrictive elimination diets and food-allergy food plans in my past, for years even, it’s familiar territory. I don’t mind, I told her; it’s something to do.

With a brain like mine, it’s nice to have an activity. A puzzle I can gnaw on, literally.

The spongy dense gluten-free approximation of bread is working okay for now. The brown rice pasta actually, to me, has a better flavor and consistency than the regular kind. Especially with a little olive oil, salt, sheep feta, and kale.

Tonight I made green chile stew with pork, topped with goat cheddar and cilantro. No gluten there. De-lish.

Green Chile Stew

2 pounds lean pork, cubed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz frozen roasted and chopped green New Mexican chiles
1/2 lb new potatoes quartered
1 large can of whole peeled tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, Mexican preferred

Place the pork in an enameled cast-iron pot and brown it in the oil. Remove the pork and place it in bowl. Put the onions in the pot, adding more oil if necessary, and sauté until they are browned. Add the garlic and cook for an additional couple of minutes. Return pork to the pot.

Add all the remaining ingredients, and simmer for 1 to 2 hours or until the meat is very tender and is starting to fall apart.