The Naturalistic Nurse
The Naturalistic Nurse
Helping people with eczema live their most natural lives
 

Welcome to The Naturalistic Nurse

A blog dedicated to helping people with eczema live their most natural lives

 
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Meet Cassie Jaravata - The Nat Nurse!

Get to know my eczema story, how I found holistic medicine, and how The Naturalistic Nurse came to be.

 
 

follow @thenatnurse on Instagram

Follow me to learn how to embrace an eczema-friendly lifestyle and more!

 
Introducing a NEW SERIES on The Nat Nurse YouTube! 🎥🤗 #EverydayEczema is made up of PERSONAL anecdotes from my REAL LIFE about what it's like to HAVE severe eczema, go through topical steroid withdrawal (TSW), and HEAL FROM IT 💪🌱 They are small moments of everyday life packed with BIG lessons, inspiration, and humor to help you get through your own healing journey and remind you that you are not alone 👫 Watch the VERY FIRST, quick and sweet 4-min episode (Maintaining Hope While Healing) via the link in my bio ☝️☺️ . If you like my content, please follow me here on Insta, subscribe on my YouTube, and/or visit my blog (linked above)! Making videos and blogging is very therapeutic for me while healing 😌 and every like, comment, and follow is incredibly motivating for me to keep going at it. I genuinely appreciate your support, and thanks for stopping by 🙂 If you have a story of your own #EverydayEczema to share, tell us what happened in the comments below!👇 . . . #eczemafriendlylifestyle #eczemafriendly #happyhealing #eczema #eczemarelief #eczemasucks #eczemaproblems #eczemahelp #eczemahealing #eczemawarrior #eczemadiet #eczemalife #eczemalifestyle #unhideeczema #atopicdermatitis #dermatitis #topicalsteroidwithdrawal #mentalhealthawareness #tsw #holistichealth #holistichealing #holisticnutrition #holisticliving #eczemababy #healthyhabits #celeryjuice #foodismedicine #healingjourney
🎉 Registration for ECZEMA EXPO 2019 is now OPEN! 🤗 This is truly one of my favorite events of the year. It’s a very special time where you can connect with the eczema community in a way like NEVER before. Where you can feel 100% COMFORTABLE in your skin, flared or not, without an ounce of fear of being judged or thought of differently... Last year, at my first Expo, was the first time (especially) in my healing journey that having eczema made me feel JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE... I didn’t know it until I felt it, but that was actually something I had been longing for my entire life. . This is an all-ages event. If you are a PARENT of a CHILD with eczema, I strongly encourage you to look into attending. The kids’ and teens’ camps may be able to help your little one tremendously not only with the physical toll that eczema can take, but the incredibly important psychosocial considerations as well 🙂 . This year, Eczema Expo will take place Thurs 7/18/19 - Sun 7/21/19 at the Hyatt Regency at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, AZ. Use code “EXTRALOVE” before 11:59pm on 2/20/19 to get $40 off each registration. Visit eczemaexpo.com for more info and to register. . Comment below if I can expect to see you there! 🤗 . . . #eczemafriendlylifestyle #eczemafriendly #happyhealing #eczema #eczemarelief #eczemasucks #eczemaproblems #eczemahelp #eczemahealing #eczemawarrior #eczemadiet #eczemalife #eczemalifestyle #unhideeczema #atopicdermatitis #dermatitis #topicalsteroidwithdrawal #topicalsteroidaddiction #tsw #holistichealth #holistichealing #holisticnutrition #holisticliving #holisticlife #skincare #skincareroutine #skincaretips #naturalskincare #babyeczema #eczemababy
🌱👩🏻‍⚕️ For the past ~month I’ve been drinking a heavy metal detox (HMD) smoothie almost daily (which ISN’T photo’d - LOL, but I’ll post about it soon). While the HMD smoothie has fruity flavors 🍇🍊 it often leaves me craving something more SAVORY and chocolatey tasting 🤔 Which is why I’m SO glad to have found this DATE SPIRULINA SHAKE 🥤 to curb those cravings! 😛 Here’s the recipe and WHY these ingredients will help HEAL YOUR ECZEMA 🙌 . 2 bananas (sometimes I freeze them) 1 avocado (makes it extra creamy, sometimes I omit this just bc and it still tastes great, play with the creamy factor) 1-2 cups liquid (coconut water or non-dairy milk, I use almond) 3 dates (pitted) 1 spoonful spirulina (to taste, I use a lot bc I love spirulina 😍) Sprinkle of cinnamon (to taste) . Now WHY are these things GOOD FOR ECZEMA? 🤨 . ✅ BANANAS soothe the lining and nerves of the intestinal tract, minimizing inflammation and irritation, allowing you to digest food optimally. The fructose (a type of sugar) they provide is also a great fuel source for the liver, your MAIN organ of DETOXIFICATION. Keeping these systems running smoothly ensures that troublemakers are not left to lurk in your body and cause or worsen surface symptoms such as eczema. . ✅ DATES rid excess mucus from your digestive tract, which also allows for ideal absorption of nutrients from your food that you need to heal your skin. The glucose it provides is also great for liver recovery, especially if you haven’t been caring for it too well and need an extra umph to heal. . ✅ SPIRULINA (a type of blue-green algae) is super rich in vitamins and minerals necessary for efficient liver function and therefore surface symptom healing. Spirulina also binds to stagnant toxins stuck deep in the liver and escorts them outward so that you can excrete them completely from your body 👋 . Let me know if you try it out and how you like it! 🙂 #FoodIsMedicine . . . #eczemafriendly #eczema #eczemarelief #eczemasucks #eczemaproblems #unhideeczema #eczemahelp #eczemahealing #eczemawarrior #eczemadiet #eczemalife #atopicdermatitis #topicalsteroidwithdrawal #topicalsteroidaddiction #tsw #vegan #glutenfree #dairyfree #healthiswealth
Hey, new followers! 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m Cassie and I’ve suffered from severe #eczema for my entire life. I have eczema from head to toe, and there’s never been a time that I actually remember my skin being clear from eczema. After almost a lifetime of steroid use and abuse, I finally (and THANKFULLY 🙏) found #HolisticNutrition and #IntegrativeMedicine. A few years ago, I stopped using steroids and have been going through #TopicalSteroidWithdrawal (TSW) since October 2017. Since then, I’ve been using diet and lifestyle change, along with #TraditionalChineseMedicine and #acupuncture, to truly HEAL my skin for the first time in my LIFE 😱🤭😌👏 . I’m also a #RegisteredNurse 👩🏻‍⚕️🏥 With all that I’ve learned about #HolisticHealth through my own healing journey, I‘ve become dedicated to using my clinical knowledge and personal experience to help others with eczema live their most natural, eczema-free lives 🙂🌱💁🏻‍♀️ . One thing that I love doing is going to eczema-related events and conferences and sharing what I learn with you, so that we can ALL live healthier, HAPPIER lives. (This photo was taken when I attended the first ever Integrative Dermatology Symposium last September.) So follow me to learn about the UNIQUE ways you can use both conventional AND alternative therapies to HEAL your skin and begin truly LOVING YOURSELF, inside and out 🙂 . Lastly, do you like my “It Ain’t Easy Being Itchy” T-shirt? I got it from my peeps over at @nationaleczema! 💁🏻‍♀️👕 Visit their page for more “flare wear.” . Thanks for following my journey, and get ready to HEAL UP! 😉🌱❤️ . . . #eczemafriendlylifestyle #eczemafriendly #happyhealing #eczemarelief #eczemasucks #eczemaproblems #unhideeczema #eczemahelp #eczemahealing #eczemawarrior #eczemadiet #eczemalife #atopicdermatitis #dermatitis #topicalsteroidaddiction #tsw #holistichealing #holisticliving #holisticmedicine #nursesofinstagram #powerhousenurses #foodismedicine
I spent last wkd in #Vegas celebrating life w some of my best friends 👯‍♀️🥂🎉 I was incredibly anxious leading up to the trip bc of my skin (my fellow #eczema warriors know just how SCARY unpredictability can be when you’re trying to heal). Even tho I’m LIGHTYEARS beyond where I was 1 year ago today 🙏 (when I could barely leave my bed for months bc of my skin and I cried almost daily bc of the physical pain) it’s still really scary slowly getting back to a more “normal” life the more that I heal. Over the past 15 months, I’ve worked SO hard and conditioned myself to be a HEALING MACHINE... Motivated, determined, and not letting anything get in the way of living my life to its fullest - Eczema got nothing on me! So who said you can’t PARTY & HEAL? 🥳💪➡️ . PHOTO 1. ONLY surround yourself with ppl that love you no matter what, never make you feel judged, and that reassure you you’re in a safe space whenever you’re with them ❤️ . 2. Fill your tummy with a hearty #GlutenFree meal and VEGGIES before da club! 🤗🥬🥕 You’ll have more room from all the alcohol you’re not drinking! Lol 🚫🥃 . 3. Wear thigh-high boots to minimize shaving your legs bc it can irritate your skin... They’ll never know 😏 heh . 4. 👏 Drank 👏 drank 👏 drank that water 💦 to hydrate that skin all night long, honey . 5. Comparing yourself to others is fuel for self-consciousness ⛽️🚫 Just bc you can’t wear makeup, and haven’t been able to for a year (the most I can wear rn is eyeliner and lipstick), doesn’t make you ANY LESS beautiful or attractive than ppl who can! 🥰 So LOVE the way you look and ppl will LOVE looking! 😌😉😍 . 6. Omakase family-style dinner? 🍱 No problem! Let them know about your dietary restrictions so they bring out separate items that fit your needs 😗🍜 . 7. Bring fruits to pregame otw to the club 😅 Lol - I literally bring apples EVERYWHERE I GO, WHO CARES?! THEY’RE BOMB! 😍🍎 If ppl be staring they wish they had one 🤤 . 8. Finally, time to tell all those non-healing vibes and self-conscious doubts, “I DON’T F WITH YOU!” 🤨🤫💪🤗 #HappyHealing! 🌱👩🏻‍⚕️ . . . #eczemarelief #eczemasucks #eczemaproblems #eczemahelp #eczemahealing #topicalsteroidwithdrawal #eczemalife
I fell off my #juicing game for a while and have been trying to jump back on it 🥬🍎🍋 Last night was the first time in a LONG time I’ve been able to bring CELERY JUICE to work! And it tasted like LIFE 🤭 (esp at the wee hour of 4 in the morning 😵) . Feeling particularly GRATEFUL for my access to fresh produce, the financial means that got me my juicer, and hands and arms FUNCTIONAL enough to wash vegetables and juice all on my own sometimes 🙂 What are YOU grateful for today? I’d love to hear about it. . #FoodIsMedicine . . . #eczemafriendlylifestyle #eczemafriendly #happyhealing #eczemarelief #eczemasucks #eczemaproblems #eczemahelp #eczemahealing #eczemawarrior #eczemadiet #eczemalife #eczemalifestyle #unhideeczema #atopicdermatitis #dermatitis #topicalsteroidwithdrawal #topicalsteroidaddiction #tsw #holistichealth #holistichealing #holisticnutrition #holisticliving #holisticmedicine #juicingforhealth #celeryjuice #letfoodbethymedicine #medicalmedium #nursesofinstagram
A few weeks ago was the anniversary of when I first started pole dancing. I haven’t been able to pole since Oct 2017 - the same time that my #eczema BLEW UP and I began my unexpected journey toward TRUE health. . Most ppl don’t know that pole is what actually gave me the SLAP of reality I needed to jump into action and start healing my skin FOR REALS, for the first time IN MY LIFE. At that point, my neck, chest, and arms were already so inflamed and painful, but I continued to push myself, DESPERATELY trying to live a normal life - even tho my body was giving me a ton of signs that it needed help (those being my angry, inflamed skin). . One day, after only 10 mins of practicing, I quickly noticed that my leg had broken out into huge HIVES 🤭 I had used this pole for 9 months prior without a single episode of anything close to this happening. It was incredibly scary, but I KNEW my body was screaming at me for help, and I couldn’t live in denial any longer. . Even if you don’t have it severely, or no dramatic episode like this happens to you, the appearance of ANY eczema or rash on your skin is your body’s way of saying, “Hey, something is WRONG - Please HELP ME.” More often than not, we choose to “just live with it,” hoping it will go away, either forever or until you can’t anymore. . But GUESS WHAT? Nothing changes if nothing changes 🤷🏻‍♀️ Yes, healing can be HARD. But (even as I have a ton of healing more to go), I can say with confidence that once you experience LIFE and HEALTH on the other side of that behavior change, you will never want to go back ☀️🌱🙏 . #PoleDancing is prob one of the best hobbies I’ve ever picked up - expressive, fun, and physically challenging. But bc of my inability to get back to exercise at this time, my pole has been on the floor of my living room since I moved. At the start of this journey, I was incredibly sad about no longer being able to enjoy so many things I once loved, pole being one of them. But the more I heal, the more I look forward to the day I can return to all those pleasures of mine. And this time I will experience them GREATER than before, bc my body will be at a level of health I never even knew was POSSIBLE ❤️💪
Since my first round of Liver Rescue 3:6:9 🍎 here’s how I try to begin EVERY morning and WHY these habits will help you heal your eczema! ☀️ . 🍋 16 oz LEMON WATER upon awakening 🤔 WHY? . ✅ Lemon helps to clean out the liver, your MAIN organ of DETOXIFICATION, which ultimately helps your body clear itself of the stored trash that is likely contributing to your surface symptoms such as eczema . ✅ Even though it is an acidic fruit, when ingested, lemon also helps the body maintain an ALKALINE environment (which is what the body naturally tries to achieve with homeostasis), an OPTIMAL environment for healing . ✅ Lemon increases production of hydrochloric acid and bile, which are both needed for optimal digestion. This ensures most EFFICIENT DIGESTION and absorption of all necessary nutrients from your food - Make things as easy as possible for your insides so that you can more quickly heal your outsides! . 🥬 16 oz plain CELERY JUICE 20-30 min later 🤔WHY? . ✅ HIGHLY ANTI-INFLAMMATORY (not to mention HYDRATING!) . ✅ Also helps to maintain ALKALINE environment, just like lemon water - You want an OPTIMAL ENVIRONMENT so your body works smarter, not harder . ✅ Sodium content protects the cell membrane of liver cells (making them less susceptible to insult or pathogens). STRONG LIVER = proper detoxification on a DAILY basis = NO LURKERS left to surface in your body as eczema 🚫💪 . . . #eczemafriendlylifestyle #eczemafriendly #happyhealing #eczema #eczemarelief #eczemasucks #eczemaproblems #eczemahelp #eczemahealing #eczemawarrior #eczemadiet #eczemalife #eczemalifestyle #unhideeczema #atopicdermatitis #dermatitis #topicalsteroidwithdrawal #topicalsteroidaddiction #tsw #holistichealth #holistichealing #holisticnutrition #holisticliving #holisticmedicine #holisticlife #holisticlifestyle #celeryjuice #celeryjuicebenefits #lemonwater #lemonwaterdetox
This is the most VULNERABLE post I’ve ever made in my life (FULL VIDEO in bio, please watch 🙏) - I NEVER thought I would share this first video before I was done healing, for fear of judgement, rejection, being treated differently, and being seen as a freak. This is what the VAST majority of people experiencing #TopicalSteroidWithdrawal (TSW) fear every day. We try so hard to hide this HUGE thing that affects us literally every second of every day for fear of being judged or thought of differently. . However, after having an unexpectedly eye-opening experience over the New Year, I’ve realized the great NEED for me to share some of the hardest parts of my life and my #HealingJourney with you now. . Healing from severe #eczema and #TSW, this is how much dead eczema skin I’ve come to shed almost DAILY, during (and for months before) every single post you see on this account. This is what other eczema and TSW warriors also experience while healing, sometimes for YEARS, until they are eczema-free. . I’ve chosen to share this now bc being SEEN, living GENUINELY, and REFUSING to let fear dictate my life are the most productive things I can do for my physical, mental, and spiritual healing. So as HARD as it may be, I need to share my experience, fully LET GO of the fear of judgement and rejection, and hope this inspires others to do the same. . Wherever you are in your journey, I hope that you NEVER be ashamed of your illness, your disease, your PROCESS, or your healing, bc it’s what makes you the strong, inspiring, RESILIENT person that you are ❤️🙂 If you have ANY QUESTIONS at all about my experience, even if you feel awkward asking, PLEASE ASK. My DM is open, and I wouldn’t share such intimate posts if I didn’t want to educate others about it or share this healing process with you. Thanks for reading and happy new year 🌱☀️ . . . #eczemafriendlylifestyle #eczemafriendly #eczemarelief #eczemasucks #eczemaproblems #eczemahelp #eczemahealing #eczemawarrior #eczemadiet #eczemalife #unhideeczema #atopicdermatitis #dermatitis #topicalsteroidaddiction #eczemaawareness #eczemababy #holistichealth #holistichealing #foodismedicine #medicalmedium #letfoodbethymedicine
 
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