8 minute read
In This Article:
- My Mother, Ivy
- Cancer Diagnosis and How It Impacted Change
- The Outcome and Personal Analysis
- What is Holistic Medicine?
- Diet: Herbs, Spices, and Foods
- Conclusion
My Mother, Ivy
This survivor, woman, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, friend, wife... Ma mère (my mother), Ivy. In public I always call my mother “maman” (pronounced meh maw). I took French for two years in high school and figured this was a more proficient way to gain her attention in crowds. As a young child, I’d yell, “Mommy!” and I’d hear at least two women respond “Yeah!” or “Over here!”, with ma mère being one of those voices. Yelling “Maman!” solved that issue. I do this still to this day.
My mother, Ivy, is a survivor of uterine cancer and life. She was raised on her family farm in Uniontown, Alabama in the 1950’s and 60’s. As you can imagine, she faced sets of challenges and adversities as a female child of color growing up at that time and location. My grandmother Lizzie Ree and my military grandfather gave birth to a family of eight children (4 girls & 4 boys). Each child had their own strong personalities… the readers, professionals, observers, talkers, and leaders. My mother… Maman, has always been very particular with everything she does and touches. She didn’t speak until she was 4 years old. When she spoke, she said, “There it is” and pointed her finger to help someone find something. From that point on, she was a guide. I like to think her years of silence and observation perpetuated her means to have an eye for detail. My mother is a perfectionist when it comes to her projects and cleanliness. This woman sews all fashion types of clothing, curtains, and upholstery with quality and precision. My mother, Ivy, has even refurbished furniture. Anything she touches - she brings out the beauty of it.
Ivy raised three daughters with my loving father. My parents have been married for almost 55 years, as of 2024. They got married at 16 and 18 years old, my oldest sister was born a few months later, then years later came my middle sister, years later came moi (me), Lucky.
I was secretly a very animated child and wanted to learn how to do everything! I learned to play multiple instruments and dance styles, locally modeled then I wanted to be a mathematician and a scientist. I was all over the place! My mother signed me up for everything I wanted to do. She sacrificed her time to make sure her daughters gained all the experiences their curiosity could handle. She’s always been there to guide me to new heights and push me, even when she didn’t have all the energy/strength to do it for herself.
Cancer Diagnosis and How It Impacted Change
About 7 years ago she (my Ivy) was diagnosed with uterine cancer. My family was in silent torment. This woman, a strong mother, and a retiree of the Board of Education was physically weakened. This began my research on cancer cells and holistic remedies to heal the body.
The Outcome and Personal Analysis
I researched spirituality, holistic medicine, and diet.
By the grace of God, my mother was healed through various medical treatments. My parents have always been generous, kind people. If they had $5, they’d give $3 and their home, to a person in need. Ivy sees the light in everything, is authentic, and follows the rules. Authenticity has – unfortunately, led her to being taken for granted at times. Nonetheless, through me, she manifested a rulebreaker. A rulebreaker in the sense where I see freedom and opportunity as ways of exploration and indulging through alternative paths. Growing up in the south, my mom saw freedom and opportunity as something that needed to be created and/or seized on a specific path. I had to convince her to peek at holistic medicine.
What is Holistic Medicine?
Holistic medicine looks at an individual in entirety. It’s the evaluation of the spirit, mind, soul, body, diet, habits… everything. Once one embarks on a self-care journey and starts to understand how their spiritual practices, eating habits, sleep habits, problems/stresses, products they use, and environment affects their health and wellbeing – remedies can be discovered.
Message to you, mom: “Maman, you’ve impacted and loved me, my sisters, my father and so many others that have crossed your path with an eye of care and hand of love. This is why I know in my heart - God saved you from cancer and when you were in the hospital with severe covid.”
I’m a curious person, not a medical professional but here are a few things I’ve learned and have naturally helped my family and many others… Meditation and yoga are ways to encourage breathing and flexibility which reduces stress and improves and sleep habits. I, personally, practice vinyasa yoga. I also researched music therapy, acupuncture, aromatherapy, and many other therapies that have been highly advantageous. These all assist in easing the mind to be able to focus on healing the body in various ways.
Diet: Herbs, Spices, and Foods
Various herbs have positive effects on the mind and body especially when fighting/preventing cancer, so I keep them in my pantry wall of tea. One of my favorite herbs is chamomile. The herb chamomile has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that soothe anxieties that can assist in regulating sleep patterns during challenging times. Chamomile soothes stomach pains as well.
When I developed my anti-aging product Lucky’s Ivy Golden Night Under-Eye Balm, chamomile oil among other anti-cancer vegan-friendly, cruelty-free ingredients such as grape seed oil, cucumber seed oil, lavender, and more were added. This product not only reduces fine lines and wrinkles, it’s also deliberately formulated with health-conscious ingredients that are overall beneficial, and safe for around the eyes and skin absorption.
Another herb to take note of – is oregano. According to scientists, oregano has an extensive number of antioxidants that reduce further progression and/or development of cancer cells if consumed before detection. Other foods, herbs and/or spices I noted to help fight against cancer are turmeric, ginger, cayenne pepper, and garlic. These herbs and spices have properties that regulate immunocompetence, reduce free radical formation, overpower microbial growth, and manage inflammation to reduce and/or prevent growth of cancer cells.
Having an overall clean, green diet is best. I maintain a high cruciferous vegetables diet consuming kale, watercress, and other leafy green vegetables which also helped me lose 140 pounds naturally within 10 months. I’ll go more into weight loss on another blog. Researching holistic cancer treatments for my mother, I gained valuable information on overall spiritual, mental and physical health. Ivy has helped to expand my perspective through this entire process.
Conclusion
To my mother and other mothers out there…
“Maman, I love you and Lucky’s Ivy is my plant to you. Thank you for investing creativity and your life of continued service as a woman, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, friend, wife, and mother (grandmother, also). You’ll always be Lucky’s Ivy. Happy Mother’s Day, Maman.”
And a special Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there! We are all here because you carried and delivered us.
Thank you.
Lucky
#mindbodythenwork #AntiCancer #Selfcare #LuckysIvy #Golden #Antiaging #Skincare
Sources:
- Christine M. Kaefer and John A. Milner. Chapter 17Herbs and Spices in Cancer Prevention and Treatment. In: Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011.
- Paul L. Hannah MD. Holistic Medicine vs. Homeopathy: What Is the Difference?. In: Hannah's Holistic Healing [Internet]. Published Dec 26, 2020; Updated: January 24, 2021.
- Brio-Medical. Herbal Teas for Cancer Patients: Soothing Options and Benefits. In: Brio-Medical. Scottsdale (AZ): Brio-Medical; August 13, 2023.
- NFCR Writer Brittany Ciupka. Can Herbs and Spices Treat Cancer?. In: NFCR, National Foundation of Cancer Research [Internet]. Rockville (MD): June 10, 2020.
- Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT and updated by Jon Johnson. What are the benefits of oregano oil?. In: Medical News Today [Internet]; Healthline Media. Updated on January 26, 2024.