Apples, GERD, Pimples And Toothpaste!

This is a quick post about two problems I am currently battling.  The first is the annoying onset of pimples.  How is it that in my teenage years I never had so much as one pimple?  I got my first pimple after my son was born when I was 22.  Since then I have not had serious acne but do battle the occasional pimple, especially around that time of the month that every woman hates.  I only get a few at a time but they are always around my mouth or on my cheeks where they are visible and shout to the world "Hey Look At Me!"  I simply hate pimples!

 This is not a picture of me but this is a common place for pimples to land on my face.  How can you hide something like that?  Makeup just doesn't do it and I believe the more makeup we add the more we contribute to the problem.  Being an Herbalist I have tried several remedies, none of which work as well as the one I am going to share with you.  This remedy I have tried really works, costs nothing and usually destroys the blemish within 24 hours.  And it's really so simple to get rid of the pimple!

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Yes, it's toothpaste!  Can you believe it?  Maybe you've heard this before or perhaps you are already hip to this awesome pimple cure!  Simply dab a bit of plain white toothpaste (I use good old Crest) on the pimple as soon as you notice it.  Apply a good amount at bedtime and by the following morning the pimple will be greatly diminished if not gone completely!  I am sure that you already have toothpaste in your bathroom, so give this a try!

Another problem that I have is GERD, which has really impacted my life in a negative way.  I love to sing and I am (or at least I used to be) good at it.  Singing has always brought me joy, has earned me some money and simply makes my life better.  In 2010 I noticed the quality of my voice was not what it used to be.  I lost my high notes and felt less control.  It just didn't come as easy for me anymore.  At first I thought it was just part of the aging process, though truth be told I think my voice has gotten better with age simply because of years of practice and learning what works and doesn't work for me.  As my voice got worse and began to crack I finally sought medical help.  After the fun scope down the throat test I was diagnosed with GERD, vocal lesions, nodules and damage due to acid reflux.  I was put on voice rest, Prilosec and told my voice may never come back.

The process of GERD; damaging and painful!

I went into a deep depression that continued to get worse simply because I wasn't singing anymore.  I only stayed on the Prilosec for a month and stopped, trying herbal remedies instead.  Occasionally I would crank up my karaoke machine and sing but was always disappointed that my voice was still damaged and for many months I didn't even try to sing.  I made changes to my diet, started drinking Aloe Vera juice three times a day and consumed lots of water and herbal teas, such as Throat Coat, all of which helped mildly but the hoarseness continued.  Then I read an article about a man who started eating a red apple the moment he felt any GERD symptoms.  He claimed it was almost a cure for the problem.  I've never enjoyed apples but I bought an apple corer and a few gala apples.  Lo and Behold!  My GERD symptoms disappeared within moments of consuming the red apple.  Now I eat at least one a day and sometimes more.  In fact, I even like apples now!

Last week I went to Texas to visit my sister and we have always loved to sing together.  Of course we ended up singing a couple of our old favorites and I was surprised to find that my voice quality was much better.  I came home and continued my voice rest and apple therapy and yesterday I decided to put my apple therapy to the real test.  I turned on my karoake machine and was amazed to hear myself.  No, my voice is not 100% but it's back to a point that I can once again perform in public and I know it is going to get better with time.  I do attribute some of this success to the Aloe Vera juice and dietary changes but the past month of eating apples is really what has made the difference.  Two weeks ago I believed I would never sing in public again, something I miss.  Singing and performing has always been my natural anti-depressant and I could not be happier if I had won the lottery!  I sang a dozen songs last night and my voice never gave out!  I could have sung more but my poor hubby had to get some sleep.  Now I am happy to say we are planning a karaoke night out next weekend.  This is a milestone for me and I want to share with everyone my good news!  Everything they say about apples is true!  Not only has my GERD improved drastically but I also find I snack less, have lost a pound or two and I am more "regular" if you know what I mean!  If you have GERD I highly recommend you try eating red apples!  Green apples don't work the same but any red apple will do!

Do you struggle with pimples and/or GERD?  Give these remedies a try and I bet you'll be a happier, less blemished person!  Let me know how it works for you!