Radiance Herbs and Supplements
Update from Carol TrasattoMy dearest Radiance Community--
Another dawn colors the morning sky; another day moves my heart to give thanks for life. Waking to a new morning has long been precious to me, but has become ever more keenly appreciated during the course of 2010.
As most of you probably know, I have been dealing with a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma since last Winter Solstice. The last of six rounds of chemotherapy and biological treatments was completed in May. The most recent full-body scan and other tissue screens showed no remaining lymphoma cells in my body. I am considered ‘in remission’. May that continue to be so.
Integrated Therapies
The cell-line that proliferated was a fast-growing type—and so, given the circumstances, I made a two-pronged choice in order to stay in the body, if that were to be possible. That meant embracing a promising chemotherapy protocol as a means to quickly transform those disordered cells. In equal measure, I embraced complementary medicine to both support the actions of the protocol chemicals as well as to protect healthy tissue and strengthen the whole of mind and body in the process. I was clear in my being about this holistic approach from the first moment of such decision-making.
As you might imagine, it has been quite an illuminating journey into unfamiliar terrain to engage the benefits of allopathic medicine so intensively—personally unfamiliar, though I have long companioned others walking such a path in my role as an herbalist. Some have inquired whether it has been difficult for me, conceptually, to partake of pharmaceutical medicine to such a degree, given my profession. My response to that is a simple ‘no’; although it has certainly been entertaining to evolve from not stocking even aspirin in the house to the potent poly-pharmacy of the last eight months! My decision was in keeping with the guiding question: What might best serve in this particular circumstance?
Throughout my 30 years of practice and teaching about herbal medicine, I have counseled others to explore, question and consider—to not reject out of hand. Dogmatic, strident, ‘either/or’ approaches exist within both the allopathic and natural healing paradigms—it is this rigid, parochial thinking within any system that is limiting. Each approach to healing has its virtues, and the key is to understand how and when to apply a given method. A holistic medicine by its nature embraces the whole of possibility.
Independent of one’s point of view, it may be easy to agree that there are strong messages in the collective consciousness that promulgate fear toward either allopathic cancer therapies or nutrient-/plant-based approaches. The way through, it seems to me, is to embrace the seeming polarities, to work in an inclusive fashion as circumstances indicate. When we work in a way that is tailored to support a particular individual undergoing a particular health challenge, we can see more clearly the benefits of this personalized, integrated approach. We can engage the best practices from multiple views toward the goal of preserving and normalizing an individual’s physiological functioning.
I was confident in my own choices because I thoroughly trust green medicine, our ultimate food and remedy. I’ve had many decades observing the remarkable virtues of plant medicines, skillfully applied, in promoting health and balance. These green beings are ancient allies, crucial to biological existence. And the increasingly emerging, so-called ‘evidence-based’ insights continue to refine and expand what we understand about their medicinal attributes, benefits and most effective use.
Strong Selection at Radiance
One of the joys for me during my own healing journey has been appreciating what a great job we’ve done at Radiance to ensure our community has what it needs. Because the store has such limited shelf space, we’ve been highly selective in what we carry. We do our best to find high-quality herbs and nutritional supplements to effectively support the health of our community. One focus during my 18 years at Radiance has been to continually expand what we offer to those customers struggling with life-challenging conditions such as cancer.
So it was with a sense of personal satisfaction that I found I could obtain so much of what I needed for my own protocol from the shelves at Radiance. A great deal of thought and comparison goes into our product selections, and we are continually reviewing and reconsidering—to bring you the best we can find. During my cancer journey, I was led to additional excellent product lines and new items that we will be gradually introducing. Ask what’s new when you visit the store and check out our website periodically for product announcements.
It has also been uplifting to learn about Radiance’s expanded practices toward planetary stewardship in its day-to-day operations. Each of us having the courage to look at the hard truth of our local environment’s health and our personal impact upon it is a crucial step to promote wellness in our community. A recently published report compiled by the President’s Panel on Cancer* tells the story many of us already knew to be true—chemicals poisoning our environments have poisoned our bodies as well. Dioxins, pesticides, herbicides, estrogen-mimicking compounds, and many more widespread toxins are associated with numerous types of cancer. Such gathering awareness is essential to changing the status quo of denial and indifference.
Going Forward
The task before me now is to allow my bodymind to rest and rejuvenate from the significant demands of the past year. As it may have been also for many of you, it has seemed like one challenge after another arising to be met, along with a shower of grace and blessings. In this new chapter, my focus remains on living attentively to the clarity of the moment—as I gently recreate the scope of my ‘doings’ in the world.
I remain on sabbatical from my previous responsibilities at Radiance, though you may see me from time to time at the store. My contributions for the immediate future will be more behind the scenes, through training, writing and helping to bring an even a stronger selection of exemplary products to our shelves. The herb and supplement area at the store is in good hands. Over the years, I know you have appreciated the breadth of knowledge and wisdom shared among our extraordinary staff.
Throughout this experience with cancer, I have been writing as part of my healing process. I am expanding Conscious Caregiving, my book on both giving ease and thriving through life-changing illness using earth medicines. The current version is available for sale in our herb book area; it remains useful as it stands.
I hope to share what I have been learning in other ways as well. The path ahead will unfold one clear step at a time. I am re-committed to allowing the space for that to happen in ways that allow my health to flourish.
Being part of this community and feeling the generous love and support flowing my way has been an enormous factor in my healing. I am deeply, deeply touched and grateful. In turn, it gives me great pleasure to continue to participate in your own healing efforts through whatever contributions I may make in the days ahead. Be well, Carol
* Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: What We Can Do Now, President’s Cancer Panel, 2008-2009 Report, published April 2010, National Cancer Institute.
