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Friday, May 6, 2011

Iyar: the month of Healing

The Sefer Ta’amei HaMinhagim writes that our new month of Iyar is tried and tested as a time for refuah, healing, from the ailments and pains that may affect a person. Why is this so? He brings the B’nai Yisaschar, who teaches that most weakness and illness come from foods which do not comport with the person’s nature or composition.  Read full article at: Days of Mashiach

There are a couple of ways to assist in your own healing, and that is by saying the Unique Healing Prayer [but you have to do it properly and say every chapter relating to your [Hebrew] name, instructions are at the site].... and the other thing to do is to change your eating habits for the following reason:

"The reason a person's health returns through taking medicines is that his soul sees that he is able to control himself and to act contrary to his physical desires and habits. Perhaps he is accustomed to eating bread and other foods, but now he curbs his desires and submits to a medical regime, taking bitter medicines for the sake of his health. His soul sees that he has the power to control his impulses in order to achieve a certain goal, and she therefore comes back to him in the hope that he will curb his desires for the sake of the true purpose - which is to carry out the will of the Creator" (Likutey Moharan I, 268).  Read a lot more at Redemption of the Soul

Gluten Free
Gluten is poison, as far as I'm concerned anyway.  It slows the blood, makes you feel heavy and glutenous, and causes many strange symptoms which some doctors don't acknowledge is simply the body's reaction to gluten.  Try eliminating gluten from your diet for just one week, and see what happens.  You may be amazed at the difference.... little things that used to bother you will disappear. 


Do we recite a Blessing on Medication?  Rabbi Eliezer Posner says:

If the medicine has a good taste, such as flavored chewable pills, recite the Shehakol blessing. [Seder Birchat Hanehnin 7:8] Flavorless medicine, such as pills that you swallow, do not require a blessing—but we do say a prayer that the medicine should take effect:

"May it be Your will that this medicine shall bring healing."

No blessing is recited on water that you drink to swallow down the pill. If you are swallowing it down with a beverage other than water, then you do recite the appropriate blessing on that beverage. [Tip: recite the blessing, take a sip, swallow the pill and then drink it down with the rest of the beverage.]

2 comments:

  1. if you are thirsty, you do say the blessing , even to take the pill

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  2. What you stated regarding Iyar is absolutely, absolutely true.

    I recently had an MRI for a spot ultra-sound found on my liver. In interim of learning the results, I'm trying not to be distracted by dark thoughts.

    (I've increased my Torah study, daily proscribed prayers, have been reciting Tikkun Haklali since Purim. I read Ashrei three times a day) It's bizarre but something inside me told me to turn up the heat on my observance during Purim - before I had the ultra-sound. It was after I read a blog post regarding reading the entire book of Psalms during Purim. ( I got 3/4 of the way) Since then I feel compelled to continue and can't stop. If it's 1 AM in the morning I have to do it.

    Monday comes and I'm expecting to hear from the doctor. I don't hear from the doctor so I continue to read 'In Forest Fields' by Rav Shalom Arush and humble myself before Hashem. I'm thinking, please, please allow me to live in order to live in Israel. I'm scared and I'm trying not think the worst but I can't help but remember all the things I've seen in regard to liver cancer.

    I can't wait anymore so I email my doctor but he's out of the office. All I can do is continue to pray. But I should tell you, I am a baker and make delicious challah (for sale) but it doesn't like me. It won't go through me. I can't digest it very well. Matzah? It hurts all the way through. Forget about it! I told Hashem I would give up bread and wine. I love bread and wine.

    Yesterday morning (5/4) I watch a music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GhlYH9UUv38) and break down watching it. I'm despairing because I know I can do more to improve - why should Hashem have mercy on me? I have to tell you, I was really scared, afraid for my husband afraid of seeing those words.."Come to the doctor and bring someone with you."

    I wiped the tears off my face and emailed my doctor again and within a couple of minutes his email begins: "Congratulations, you're liver is ok - no cancer."

    Thank G-d! Hashem gave me another chance.. The feeling is unbelievable. I'm examining my midot, how I perform mitzvot - everything that has to do with my service to Hashem and being a Jew - being more scrupulous and thoughtful. How do I sufficiently thank Hashem for giving my life back to me? I'm so grateful.

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