Holistic aftercare for Tooth extractions, Dry Socket and TMJ

UPDATE: 14/05/15

I ended up getting a jaw and Neck infection, I had lumps all over my neck and pain in my jaw and ear. I was obviously advised that antibiotics was the only way to treat it. Instead I used Natures sunshine Echinacea and Goldenseal liquid 4 times a day on the extraction site aswell as taking at least 3,000mg sodium ascorbate. Finally I had ozone therapy by the naturopath. I'm so pleased that I was able to support my body through the infection instead of attacking it with conventional medicine. I'm feeling so much better but will continue to rest and allow my body to recuperate properly.



So, these last few weeks I have been recovering from a bad trip to the dentist. My first visit in a good 12 years. I had to have a tooth removed, it had a cavity, and although I had prevented infections and such for almost two years, I felt it was time to have it taken out so that I could concentrate on getting the area really healthy again. I was also concerned about the negative effect it may have had if I were to fall pregnant again. So off I went clutching my large amazonite, and I was being really calm and trying to zone out, but this chick was rough, it felt like my top jaw was moving (which obviously isn't possible) and my bottom jaw was popping in and out. At one point I thought I was going to be sick and pass out even though I was unable to feel anything.

So I get home, and I was bleeding profusely even though I had gauze in my mouth and there were pools of blood all over the bed. It finally stopped bleeding the next day but the pain was intense. I've had 4 natural childbirths and had intended on not having any pain relief for this but it was unbearable.

It turns out she had damaged my Temporomandibular Joint, which is the joint between your bottom jaw and the temporal bone, it was bruised and achy and the pain radiated throughout my ear, all across my head. I was also experiencing alot of pressure in my head and neck. This is known as TMJ. As I read about it I discovered that dentists should support the lower jaw when removing a tooth from it to prevent this and certainly shouldn't allow the jaw to move in and out of the socket. I was also suffering from dry socket which occurs when a blood clot fails to form in the extraction site. Sigh..........

So anyway, I managed after two days to come off the pain relief, but as a result have been basically bed/couch bound since. I dont like pain relief and I also felt it was important to feel how my body was healing each day so I could respond with natural medicine accordingly. (Call me crazy, I know!) I have managed to avoid any infection which is great and although I have all day pain due to the dry socket, I can now get back to running my home a lot easier and drive the short distances.

I wanted to share what I have been using to heal myself, and how to avoid more intervention from a dentist if you are unlucky enough to experience dry socket too!

Homeopathy

You can buy one of these awesome Salter Homeopathic's kits here.

 I really noticed a difference when taking Arnica 30c and Hypericum 30c. I would recommend Arnica 200c if you are having dental work or an operation. Just be mindful that it can prevent blood clotting, this is why I waited until the bleeding had stopped. Once I was aware of the dry socket I started taking Ruta Gravidarum 30c and Hypericum at different times of the day.

Sodium Ascorbate

 

Do you have this at home? If not, you need to, especially if you do not vaccinate. This is far gentler on the stomach that traditional Vitamin C and as such you can take much larger quantities. I had 1/4 tsp three times daily but could easily of had more. If you want to learn more about it watch this, you can buy it here.

Clove Oil

I would dilute two drops of this with a tbsp of melted coconut oil and use a cotton bud to rub it all over the gum and in the extraction site. Clove oil is a wonderful reducer of pain and has antibacterial qualities. This is what the dentist will use if you go back to them with a dry socket. You can also soak a piece of gauze with it (in a carrier oil) and leave in the hole. Be aware that clove oil can burn the skin so it must be put in a carrier oil first. Alternatively you can chew on a clove seed. Here's some info on clove oil if you want to learn more. And this is where I purchase essential oils

Activated charcoal

This is great for anything infection related in the mouth. Empty a capsule into water and swish around the mouth. Use it to brush infected gums. I made a paste and put it into the extraction hole and all around it and left it until it naturally dissipated.

Oil Pulling

This is an absolute must. Everyone should do this anyway, but particularly in times of infection and  disease. I started after 2 full days. Its important not to swish as this can dislodge the blood clot (not that I had one anyway) so I just sat the oil in mouth and would tilt my head to move it around. Interestingly on the two days that I didnt do, the pain was noticeably more intense.

Syringe.

If you have a dry socket, you will need one of these. After eating, make up a saline solution and squeeze into the socket over a sink to remove food debris. This is super important to prevent infection and increased pain.

Saline water

Swish with 1/4 tsp of salt in warm water at least once a day.

Cranial Sacral therapy or Cranial Osteopathy

I went to see an amazing Cranial Sacral Therapist in Nelson, she really helped to clear the pain in my jaw and pressure and pain in my head. I think a cranial osteopath would also have been great. 

Foods to avoid

Sugary foods where possible. Sugar is never going aid healing in my opinion.
Anything particularly chewy.
Salad (for the first week as its quite hard on the jaw)

Foods to eat

Natural yoghurt
Porridge
Homemade ice cream
Blended soups
Bone broth (daily if possible)
Spices such as turmeric
Onions and garlic to boost the immune system
Soft fruits and vegetables such as avocado and banana.


I hope none of you ever have an experience like me, but if you do, these natural remedies will definitely make a big difference!

Our version of a Mindful Meaningful Easter part 2

Easter is upon us!! You can read about the gifts we give here. This year they are getting a book, some art stuff or lego and a wooden animal made by their dad. I still haven't made any chocolate.... oops.......

As I said in Part 1, we want Easter to be a celebration of the colder months. We do this by making food gifts for the animals. We make bird feeders and do little food scrap parcels for the hedgehogs and such. Then we put them out on Easter sunday.

We always do an egg hunt with clues. Last year we did eggs with stamps/stickers/coins etc.. inside. You can also do a puzzle piece in each one then make the puzzle together at the end. This year each clue will have an ingredient with it and the last clue will be a recipe which the children will make with me and my husband. I have found a vintage 3d Rabbit cake mould, so we will make some honey sweetened chocolate buttercream so they can give him some fur!

Our most treasured tradition is the Wish bunny. I can't remember where I first read about him but it is what the kids get most excited about! He arrived one year with a note from the Easter Bunny, he was to stay with us for a few days and show the children how wonderful it is to have a generous and thoughtful spirit. He does this by giving them ideas on how to be kind to each other (and us) by tidying each others rooms or telling each other what we like about them for example. He gives us messages on the importance of growing our own food and we in turn plant some seeds or some seedlings we have been taking care of. This also reinforces how the seasons influence what we plant and why we eat according to the seasons. Then lastly on the day before (he is supposed to) leave the children can make two wishes, one for them and one for someone else. They can also gift him with something they no longer use so that he can take it away to give to children who need it if they want to. And I then take these to the salvation army. Now, mr wish bunny was supposed to leave after easter the first year he came, but Isabelle was so in love with him that he never left and she has taken him to bed every night since. So he's looking pretty 'well loved' now and instead disappears in the lead up to easter and reappears on Easter sunday morning!

So these are our traditions, do you do something similar?

The First Time

We donned Bee suits and examined our Hive for the first time this weekend. We've read and googled and read some more but nothing can quite prepare for the reality of so many bee's. It was fascinating and we spent time just watching the behaviour of our little friends (because anyone who shares their honey with me must be called a friend, no?). 

  Josh is highly allergic to stings and was a bit nervous so he had overalls over his suits and taped the wrists and ankles, and I didn't even think until we had finished how hot it must have been with all those layers on!

  We had already taken off 18 kg when the Hive was moved here so this was more about making sure they have enough food for the winter and applying treatment for Varroa. We still managed to get 3 large glass jars worth to add to our own winter stores but the real treat came from including the children, they were so excited and got a swipe of honey each straight from the frame. Lucky things!!

Our version of a mindful meaningful Easter Part 1

While I'm waiting for my new card reader (because recipes and family posts with no pictures would be lame). I thought you might be interested to know how we choose to celebrate Easter. This time of year in the southern Hemisphere is tricky because traditionally we would be looking forward to spring, new life, getting the garden ready, sewing seeds, basically all the things that Easter time represents for those of us who aren't traditional Christians.

I've split it into two posts as it would be rather long and for Part One I am going to share some ideas for gifts (if that's part of your celebration). We choose to do a wee gift basket purely for the joy of it. We use Easter as a time to embrace and welcome the change in seasons. In the Northern Hemisphere winter brings with it the promise of Christmas, St Nicholas day, New years and so on but here in New Zealand it can be (dare I say it?) depressing, with only cold and rain to look forward to. So Easter for us is just an excuse to indulge our children a little with some magic, mystery and a gift or two. We like to keep them handmade, NZ made or in keeping with our personal lifestyle choices (i.e: no dvd's or processed foods, nature inspired and so on).

Here a some lovely handmade gifts, we have a few of these and we will have another one of the Forager bags soon for Aria's birthday. I would much rather pay someone personally for their time and effort than a big business or corporation.

 1. Kids Forager Bag 2. Knitted Pixies 3. Scribble book 4. Bunny Girl

Books are a timeless addition to the home and I always include one in any gift! This year they will be getting a book, a handmade wooden animal by their dad, something crafty and (hopefully) some homemade chocolate because I just cant find any chocolate that is 'Eastery' and without sugar or other 'sweetener's like Malitol? If you know of any please share! Or if you make it, I could pay you so I don't have to find the time haha!

I absolutely love anything by Elsa Beskow and Jan Brett. Mommies say Shh is real favourite here too!

Flower or vegetable seeds are a great gift! You can get these ones here. My 1 year old loves wooden pegs, so a pack of these and pot is all she needs! You can get these ones online here, or I think they are cheaper at Mitre 10. And another lovely idea is a thrifted or handmade Apron with a recipe that you can make together.

In part two I will talk about our traditions and how we celebrate Easter time. Do you do Easter in your home?

Really Very Awesome

I'm feeling happy today, not for any particular reason, nothing profound happened I just had a thought today while I was pushing my baby in the pushchair to get her to sleep (Yes I know, bad habit).

Anyway... I was thinking about how I'm going to be 30 in a few months and I realised something quite special.

I like myself!

I like what I'm doing!

I like where I'm going!

And I LOVE who I'm doing it with!!

But also grateful, that I have the wisdom to know how lucky I am to feel this way, and it's ok wonderful to sit with that contentment and not feel guilty or boring.

I was talking to my 7 year old about this feeling and she described it as 'really very awesome' hence the blog title!

I hope your blessed to feel the same way about your journey too.

( And if you don't, then I hope you love yourself enough to make a change soon x )

Happy Monday!

Mild kid friendly Chickpea and Lentil Curry

Gotta love another Curry Recipe!!

My kids actually love curry and its such a versatile staple to have in your weekly meal plan, my slowcooker has saved my life on many occasion! O.k slightly melodramatic but after a full on day with four kids, not having to cook makes me very, very happy.  I always cook it on a Monday because its the day before food shopping and I get to use up any wrinkly veg. So here is the basic recipe and you can switch it up to suit your family.

Feeds 4 littlies and 2 adults.

Mild Chickpea and Lentil Slowcooker Curry 

 

 

Ingredients

3 tsp Ghee
I large Onion
2 Cloves Garlic
1 tbsp Tomato Paste
1 flat tbsp Cumin
1 flat tbsp Garam Masala
1 tbsp Turmeric
2 tsp Mixed Herbs, Fresh or dried
splash of Balsamic Vinegar
Pink Himalayan Salt
Black pepper
1/2 Cup Red Lentils
1 Tin or 400g soaked Chickpeas (and precooked if cooking on stovetop)
400g Passata
470ml Chicken Stock
1 Courgette Diced
1 large Carrot Diced
Handful of Chopped Brocolli
1/2 Cup Frozen Peas
1 Cup Fresh or frozen Green Beans


This recipe can be cooked in a slowcooker or on the stovetop.

Place Ghee in pot or slowcooker, sauté onions until soft.

 I always have these pantry staples to hand, that way this kind of meal can be thrown together even when I'm out of homemade stock or uncooked chickpeas!

Add Garlic, chickpeas, lentils, spices, seasoning and herbs

Give it a good 'ole mix and add tomato puree (which I had run out of)

Add whatever vegetables you have, I usually like to add pumpkin too!

Next throw in your stock, this can easily be substituted for veg stock. Bring to the boil.

Add in your Passata, again this can be substituted for diced tomatoes but the end results will be less thick. Add your splash of balsamic vinegar and slowcook for 6 hours or simmer for 20 minutes.

 10 minutes before serving add in any frozen vegetables such as green beans and peas. These green beans are from my garden. Its a great way to keep them fresh and reduce waste!

 

And serve! We like it with white rice or roasted brocolli and couscous. A simple coleslaw and some brown rice is also delicious. Often we add a dash of raw cream or my homemade yoghurt on the top too.

Nurture You Project week 5

I really want to start making a little effort with my appearance. I'm nearing the big 3-0 and can go days without even looking in a mirror. Dont get me wrong, I dont want to become overly preoccupied with what I look like, but I'm fed up with avoiding the camera, or squirming at the photo's I do end up in. I also want my girls to understand thats its ok for mum to take a little time for herself in the mornings.

So, I've splashed out on some makeup!! I haven't bought any for ages because I want anything that I put on my skin to be natural but natural/organic cosmetics can be very expensive. Wel, I scored the Inika eyeshadow on clearance for $5!! Awesome!! And the mascara and eyeliner are from Honeybee Gardens, I included them in my latest iherb order and they are really affordable.

I haven't actually used any of it yet but I absolutely intend to.......tomorrow!

In other news, I was feeling the need for a new crystal, so I popped in my local shop and was drawn to the beautiful white stone in the picture. Its an Amphibole Quartz also know as Angel Phantom Quartz. I hadn't heard of it before, but I'm really loving its energy.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!!