VLB LIFE

09/06/2025

Independent providers are feeling the squeeze — rising costs, shrinking reimbursements, and less time with patients.

💔 You didn’t become a provider to fight insurance battles.
📊 50% of independent providers are considering selling out.
👩‍⚕️ When providers struggle, patients feel it.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

As a nutraMetrix consultant, I help practitioners implement revenue‑generating wellness solutions so they can:
✅ Protect their autonomy
✅ Improve patient outcomes
✅ Create sustainable income streams
If you’re ready to explore how to strengthen your practice and serve your patients better — without being constrained by insurance — let’s talk.

📩 DM me today or click the link in my bio to start the conversation.
IndependentProvider

09/03/2025

You are invited to an online Wellness Overview tomorrow evening! - http://eepurl.com/jmAeIM

09/01/2025

New month. New energy. ⚡️

08/31/2025

Did you know that you can support your body's immune system with some thumps or tapping? Try these daily while holding the intention to boost your immune system.

08/31/2025

[9/4] 🌟 Wellness Overview Online Event 🌟 - https://mailchi.mp/vlb.life/transform-your-wellness-free-health-education-events-8337017
Have you ever wondered what the building blocks are for a healthy and vibrant life? Have you ever struggled with what’s best for optimal gut health? Have you been considering how your brain is aging and what you can do to slow down the process?

08/30/2025

This image radiates so much ancestral wisdom, grounded presence, and intuitive alchemy. It's a visual prayer.

The glass coffee cup was my great grandmother's on my mom's side. The amethyst crystal was a birthday gift from my youngest son this year. The clay tea pot I purchased in China in 2019 when I visited my oldest son. The pillow was from a dear friend who passed in 2012. The table was lovingly redone by a dear friend of mine.

🌌 Amethyst (Gift from My Son)
Amethyst amplifies intuition, protection, and emotional transmutation. That it came from my son speaks to lineage healing, I wasn't just healing myself, I was transforming the energetic threads for both generations past and those to come.
✨ Message: I am divinely guided and never alone in my healing.

🕊 Bird-Adorned Cup (My Great Grandmother’s)
This vessel is rich with ancestral presence and feminine remembrance. Birds are messengers, reminding me of freedom, perspective, and soul song.
✨ Message: My lineage sings through me. I am the voice of the healed feminine.

🌍 Clay Teapot (From China)
This pot carries earth memory, connecting me to global wisdom traditions and the sacred art of ceremony. Clay holds the energy of grounding, nourishment, and womb space, perfect for my intention of prosperity, release, and deep soul rest.
✨ Message: Ritual makes space for renewal. I am worthy of receiving.

I then let spirit guide me to a tea I needed that day, a spirit-led blend. The plants I intuitively chose were not random; they carried deep emotional, energetic, and physical symbolism that perfectly aligns with the transformation I am moving through, especially around releasing scarcity, restoring personal power, and calming internal resistance. 🔥

08/29/2025

My family has always enjoyed board games. This is a new addition to our family collection. Does your family play board games? If so, which are your favorites? If you want to add this one to your collection, here is the link: https://amzn.to/3HSvEOZ. 🎲

08/29/2025

This is terrific news! Doctors should know more about nutrition and how it impacts the human body. It would be like going to a mechanic who doesn't know much about the fluids that go into your car or how they impact your vehicle.

So far, this is happening in Texas, with other states considering the same. While many doctors know nutrition matters, most don't get much formal training, often only around 11–20 hours over four years. This is because much of medical training is designed around drug distribution, just like how medical science/research is designed around drug creation, not human thrivability.

Texas recently passed Senate Bill 25, a major public health update signed into law on June 22, 2025 (effective September 1, 2025). Among its many provisions, it mandates enhanced nutrition education and training for healthcare professionals, including:

Medical students at Texas-funded institutions will now be required to complete coursework in nutrition education, based on guidelines from the newly formed Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee - let's hope their advisories are good!

Continuing education credits in nutrition and metabolic health will be required for physicians, medical residents, nurses, and physician assistants in order to maintain licensure.

SB 25 is part of a broader health initiative that drives changes in food labeling, school PE, and public nutrition education aimed at curbing chronic disease across the state.

08/28/2025

When you count your blessings, you are giving your power, your attention to what you want in life.

What are you thankful for today? Start with the simple things that you may be taking for granted.

08/26/2025

Send a message to learn more

08/26/2025

How Modern Medicine Became What It Is Today

In the early 1900s, medical education in the United States was not very standardized. Schools varied widely in quality, and some taught herbal, homeopathic, or naturopathic approaches while others focused on surgery and pharmaceuticals.

A turning point came in 1910, when the Flexner Report was published. Funded by the Carnegie Foundation with additional support from the Rockefeller Foundation, the report recommended stricter standards in medical schools. As a result, schools that didn’t focus on science-based approaches lost funding or closed. This gave pharmaceutical research a much stronger influence in the medical system, while natural therapies lost ground in mainstream education.

At the same time, advances in chemistry changed how medicines were made. Instead of relying only on plants and foods, chemists learned how to create synthetic versions of active compounds. Petroleum refining provided inexpensive raw ingredients (like phenol and benzene), which became building blocks for medicines such as aspirin and anesthetics. These weren’t “oil byproducts in a pill,” but carefully altered chemical compounds developed in labs.

Because synthetic drugs could be patented, pharmaceutical companies had strong financial incentives to develop and promote them. Herbs and natural remedies, which can’t be patented in the same way, received far less research investment.

What this means for us today:
The medical system became centered on pharmaceuticals, surgery, and hospital care.

Herbalism, naturopathy, and other holistic approaches continued, but outside the main institutions.

Many drugs on the market are useful and life-saving, but the system often emphasizes managing symptoms rather than supporting long-term root-cause healing.

The takeaway:
Modern medicine grew out of a mix of science, economics, and policy. Pharmaceuticals gained dominance because they could be mass-produced, standardized, and patented. Natural therapies didn’t disappear because they were useless, but because they didn’t fit the new structure.

Today, we can choose to draw on the best of both worlds—using conventional medicine when it’s needed, while also exploring nutrition, herbs, detox, and lifestyle changes to support the body’s natural healing abilities.

08/26/2025

✂️ C-Section Scars & Your Lymphatic System: What Really Happens Beneath the Surface

By Bianca Botha, CLT, RLD, MLDT & CDS

Many mothers are told that once a C-section scar heals on the outside, the body is “all fine” again. But the truth is, deep beneath the skin, your lymphatic system is often still affected. This silent disruption can explain why some women notice puffiness above their scar, heaviness in the legs, or a lingering sense of tightness in the lower abdomen.

🔄 How Lymph Normally Flows in the Abdomen

Your lymphatic system is a vast network of vessels that collect fluid, toxins, and immune cells and transport them through lymph nodes for cleansing. The lower abdomen and pelvis are major drainage hubs:
• Lymph from the legs, pelvic organs, and lower digestive system all passes upward through these channels.
• Smooth flow is essential to prevent swelling, bloating, or toxin buildup.

🚫 What Happens After a C-Section

During a C-section, both lymphatic and blood vessels are cut. While blood vessels repair themselves quite quickly, lymphatic vessels don’t always reconnect neatly. This can cause:
• Lymphatic congestion: Fluid can pool above the scar, leading to puffiness or a “ledge” of tissue.
• Impaired drainage from the legs: Swelling in the thighs, calves, or ankles can be more noticeable after long days of standing.
• Pelvic congestion: Lymph from the uterus, ovaries, and intestines may slow down, contributing to bloating or heaviness.

🧩 The Role of Scar Tissue

Scar tissue and adhesions act like roadblocks for lymph flow:
• Fibrous tissue can “trap” lymphatic fluid, preventing free circulation.
• Tissues and fascia may stick together, creating tightness or pulling sensations.
• Nerves in the area may also be affected, causing numbness or hypersensitivity.

🌐 Systemic Ripple Effects

Because lymph is interconnected, disruption in one area can affect the whole body. Common signs include:
• Swelling in the legs, feet, or lower abdomen
• Bloating and digestive changes
• Feeling of heaviness or fatigue in the lower body
• Persistent tightness or tenderness around the scar

🌱 Supporting Lymph Flow After a C-Section

The good news is that there are safe and effective ways to restore flow:
• Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD): A gentle therapy that helps re-route lymph around blocked areas.
• Scar Mobilisation: Light massage or fascial release can soften adhesions and improve circulation.
• Castor Oil Packs: Applied to the abdomen, they can reduce tension and promote flow.
• Movement & Breathing: Gentle stretching, walking, and diaphragmatic breathing help the abdominal “lymph pump.”

✨ Final Thoughts

A healed scar on the outside doesn’t always mean healed lymphatics on the inside. Understanding how your C-section scar impacts your lymphatic system is the first step to reclaiming lightness, reducing swelling, and restoring balance to your body. With the right care, your lymph can flow freely again, supporting your health and vitality long after birth.

📌 This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, or health regimen.