How To Relieve Allergy Symptoms With Essential Oils

Allergies are a major bummer that can cause anything from rashes and itchiness to respiratory and digestive problems. They make you miserable and keep you from performing at your best. One way to treat allergy symptoms is through the use of essential oils, a natural therapeutic method known and used for centuries. 

Here Is a List of Tips on How To Relieve Allergy Symptoms With Essential Oils:

Tip 1: Lavender Oil

Lavender oil works well as an organic antihistamine to soothe skin rashes. It can also be used to relieve headaches. Not only does it relieve the pain, but it smells great, too. All you have to do is dab some on the rash three times a day. For headache relief, place a drop of lavender oil on your cheeks, forehead, and sinuses.

In most cases, undiluted lavender oil can be safe to use, but some people’s skin is so sensitive, they require a carrier oil such as coconut oil or almond oil. Mix 1 drop of lavender oil to 1 teaspoon carrier oil.

Tip 2: Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil has a strong, minty aroma that soothes allergies, especially ones related to digestive or respiratory issues. It eases breathing and treats congestion. For digestive problems, add a drop of peppermint oil into a cup of tea or water.

To relieve sinus congestion, add 1 drop of peppermint oil to 1 teaspoon carrier oil and apply near your nostrils. (Don’t put peppermint oil inside the nostrils. It will burn sensitive tissue.)

Tip 3: Lemon Oil

Lemon oil works as an antihistamine and a congestion reliever all at once. It’s most potent when combined with lavender and peppermint, which will be explained later.

Tip 4: Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil treats seasonal allergies and asthma attacks. First, dilute the oil in a carrier oil (1 drop of essential oil to 1 teaspoon of your carrier oil), then apply to neck, chest, or feet. If you prefer to breathe it in, mix a few drops in hot water, drape a towel over your head, and inhale the steam.

Tip 5: Roman Chamomile Oil

Roman Chamomile oil works well to soothe rashes and other skin conditions. All you have to do is dilute it in a carrier oil and apply to the affected area 2 to 3 times a day.

Depending on the area of application, you may have to change your mixing ratios. For example, in more sensitive skin areas it is recommended to dilute 1 drop of Roman Chamomile in 1 teaspoon of carrier oil. For less sensitive areas, dilute 2 drops of Roman Chamomile in 1 teaspoon of carrier oil.

Tip 6: Lemon, Peppermint, and Lavender Oils

As mentioned earlier, lemon is at its strongest when mixed with peppermint and lavender. Together, they soothe inflammation and other pain that results from allergic reactions. One way to use them is to mix all three in a glass of water and gargle a few minutes before swallowing. (Make sure the oils can be safely ingested first before doing this.) Another way is to add them to a teaspoon of honey and swallow for faster relief.

To use on the skin, mix 3 drops of lavender, 3 drops of peppermint, and 3 drops of lemon oil with 2 teaspoons of your chosen carrier oil. If this mixture is still too potent for you, add more teaspoons of carrier oil in increments of one until you are satisfied with the consistency. Some people are more sensitive to oils than others.

Conclusion

Now that you know the variety of ways to treat your allergies with essential oils, give them a try. To learn more about essential oils, subscribe for email updates at Essential Oil Advocate and get 2 free audiobooks on essential oils and aromatherapy.

Recommended Reading:
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Vitamin D and Hypertension

One in three American adults has high blood pressure, a condition that increases the risk of heart disease (the number one cause of death in the U.S.) and stroke (the number three cause of death) as well as aneurysm, metabolic syndrome, impaired vision, kidney disease, and mental deficits.

Risk factors for hypertension include the following:

  • Age (For men risk increases about age 45; for women risk increases after age 65.)
  • Race (African Americans are at greater risk of developing hypertension and serious complications are more common)
  • Family history of hypertension
  • Obesity or overweight
  • Inactive
  • Tobacco use (Including second hand smoke)
  • Alcohol use (Heavy drinking)
  • Diet (Poor nutrition, high salt intake, low potassium and low vitamin D)
  • Kidney Disease
  • Sleep apnea
  • Pregnancy
  • Diabetes
  • Stress

Hypertension places increased force on arteries, stretching them. Stretching results in scar tissue that becomes a rough patch on the arterial wall. This creates a spot that will be prone to accumulate plaque and cholesterol, narrowing the artery and setting up perfect conditions to create blood clots.

There seems to be a definite link between vitamin D deficiency and hypertension though conventional medicine is slow to admit the cause and effect. Instead, of course, allopathic doctors prescribe blood pressure medications. The list includes:

  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
  • Angiotensin II receptor blockers
  • Beta blockers
  • Calcium channel blockers
  • Renin inhibitors

If these medications do not work, singularly or in combination, doctors are likely to prescribe an alpha blocker or vasodilator.

Vitamin D and Blood Pressure

Why do so many Americans develop high blood pressure? There are many factors including the standard American diet (so aptly nicknamed SAD), obesity rates, and high stress lifestyles. Chronic, rampant vitamin D deficiency is likely to be a vital factor.

Studies have shown that those with higher levels of vitamin D in their system have lower blood pressure. Unfortunately, outcomes from studies designed to prove whether supplementation with vitamin D lowers blood pressure have been inconsistent. Those showing benefits from supplementation have been small studies. But as often happens, the flaw in a large study was easy to spot. In the 7-year double-blind study of 36,282 postmenopausal women no evidence was found to support the idea that vitamin D supplementation reduces blood pressure. However, the dose given was too low (400 IU/day), half of the normal dose (700-800 IU/day) used for clinical purposes.

Why Supplement Vitamin D?

Draw a line on a map from Los Angeles, California to Atlanta, Georgia. According to Dr. Michael Holick, one of the world’s leading authorities on vitamin D, those living above this line are likely in need of vitamin D supplementation, especially in the winter.

The more our lives revolve around indoor pursuits, indoor technology, and indoor occupations, the more we remove ourselves from daily exposure to the sun and the benefits we gain from its rays.

If you choose to supplement with vitamin D, choose a good source and do not exceed 10,000 IU per day. Remember the body needs vitamin D needed to absorb calcium and magnesium. It is essential for healthy bones and teeth and a strong immune system.

Hypothyroidism has also been recognized as a cause of hypertension. Previous studies regarding hypertension in subjects with hypothyroidism have demonstrated elevated blood pressure values. Increased peripheral vascular resistance and low cardiac output, known causes of hypertension, are believed to be the possible link between hypothyroidism and diastolic hypertension.

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Better Grades and Fewer Sick Days: Clinical Aromatherapy for the School Year

It’s that time again—books, new clothes, and first-day jitters. That’s right, ready or not, it’s back to school—tests, homework, and flu season included. Parents do their best to keep their children healthy and to excel academically, but adding essential oils to daily life can give students of all ages an added edge. Best of all, it’s easy and enjoyable! Children journey through life through their senses, so it is only logical that aromatherapy can be a friend during their greatest challenges, both in and out of the classroom.

Boosting Academic Performance with Aromatherapy

It has been shown that inhaling essential oils such as lavender, peppermint, and rosemary during study time and before taking exams boosts cognitive function, eliminates “brain fog”, and yields higher grades. Studies have also demonstrated that citrus oil, especially grapefruit, improves focus and mental performance before exams, public speaking, or performances. Let’s take a closer look at the five top brain boosters and how they can help young people excel during the school year:

Peppermint: Peppermint is the premiere essential oil to boost energy levels, especially on Mondays or rainy days when classwork feels like an insurmountable chore. It is also helpful for the apathetic child who is easily discouraged or distracted. Peppermint is highly effective as a study aid to sharpen memory, keep the mind alert, and increase concentration. How to use: Add a drop to a tissue, fold, and inhale for 5 minutes or so before taking exams or at intervals while studying. It can also be used in the morning to help wake up sleepyheads. Caution: do not use in cases of asthma unless it is certain that menthol can be tolerated. Substitute with grapefruit.

Lavender: Lavender is well-known for its calming properties, even for promoting sleep, but it also has a great reputation for boosting brain clarity, especially when inhaled before taking a test. Lavender essential oil has been shown to boost test scores up to 50%. How to use: Add a drop or two to a tissue, fold, and inhale for 5 minutes or so before taking tests or at intervals while studying. It can also be used to calm pre-exam nerves.

Lemon: Lemon is a “bright” oil that is excellent to clear foggy thinking, improve optimism and self-confidence, and improve test scores. Studies have shown that inhaling lemon essential oil prior to exams produced better grades with 54% fewer mistakes.

Grapefruit: Grapefruit essential oil, like lemon, promotes a “sunny” outlook, brightens the mood, and most of all, sharpens memory and boosts overall brain function—so much so, that this oil has been shown to be a powerful tool in improving symptoms of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia by inhibiting cholinesterase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is essential for brain health and memory retention. How to use: Add a drop or two to a tissue, fold, and inhale for 5 minutes or so before taking exams or at intervals while studying.

Rosemary: “Rosemary for remembrance” is an age-old expression from folk medicine and one that rings true. Rosemary essential oil improves memory in general and is highly useful before taking exams and during study time. It also provides the body and mind with a boost of energy during long school days or afternoon slumps. How to use: Add a drop to a tissue, fold, and inhale for 5 minutes or so before taking exams or at intervals while studying. Caution: Do not use in cases of epilepsy or seizure disorders. Substitute with grapefruit.

Boosting Your Child’s Immune Response with Clinical Aromatherapy

Essential oils can be your child’s best friend, not only for better grades but fewer sick days. These precious, concentrated essences from plants, fruits, and trees kill viruses and bacteria, increase oxygen in the bloodstream, and promote the production of white blood cells. They also balance the pH factor (acid/alkaline balance essential to life) and can increase the electrical frequency of the body. Disease and pathogens cannot thrive or survive in an oxygen-abundant environment, therefore, using essential oils topically throughout the school year can build your child’s defenses from the deepest level possible.

Parents are busy people, and children are not far behind with packed schedules, schoolwork, and extracurricular activities. Rest assured, arming your family and fortifying the immune system is easy to incorporate even in the busiest day. Here’s a closer look at the top three immune boosting essential oil combos and how they can make you and your family fight any bug that comes around this year:

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and Organic Lemon (Citrus limonum): Lavender and lemon essential oils, both considered “universal” oils, possess antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties and are heavy hitters when it comes to boosting the immune system and fighting illness. Gentle but powerful, both lavender and organic lemon essential oils are appropriate for all ages. How to use: At bedtime, apply 2 drops of each essential oil to the soles of the feet, 4 drops total. For children under the age of six, use 1 drop of each essential oil, 2 drops total. Allow the oils to be absorbed into the skin and do not shower after application. Use this combination for a week then switch to another combination for another week so the body does not build up a tolerance to the oils and lessen immune response.

Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) and Lemon Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) Two more “universal” oils that have powerful antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties are tea tree and lemon eucalyptus. When combined, these essential oils pack a heavy punch to any flu bug, infection, or cold. How to use: At bedtime, apply 2 drops of each essential oil to the soles of the feet, 4 drops total. For children under the age of six, use 1 drop of each essential oil, 2 drops total. Allow the oils to be absorbed into the skin and do not shower after application. Use this combination for a week then switch to another combination for another week so the body does not build up a tolerance to the oils and lessen immune response. Caution: Do not use lemon eucalyptus in cases of asthma unless it is certain that menthol can be tolerated. Substitute with juniper berry essential oil.

Clove Bud (Syzygium aromaticum) and Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus): Two more “universal” allies for the flu season, clove and eucalyptus can combat the toughest viruses. How to use: At bedtime, apply 2 drops of each essential oil to the soles of the feet, 4 drops total. For children under the age of six, use 1 drop of each essential oil, 2 drops total. Allow the oils to be absorbed into the skin and do not shower after application. Use this combination for a week then switch to another combination for another week so the body does not build up a tolerance to the oils and lessen immune response. Caution: Do not use eucalyptus in cases of asthma unless it is certain that menthol can be tolerated. Substitute with ravensara essential oil.

Aromatherapy can be something the entire family can use and enjoy—from the helpful hints in this article to innumerable other ways. This beautiful and effective healing modality is vast, and children’s needs are addressed differently, so please be sure to gather as much information as possible before diving into the realm of aromatic medicine. There are many good books on the subject, especially those written by Robert Tisserand.

DISCLAIMER

The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and the material presented in this article is not intended to treat, prescribe for, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease or to replace conventional medical treatments.

Sources:

Donato, Marlaina. Multidimensional Aromatherapy. Ekstasis Multimedia, 2015

Young, Gary. Essential Oil Desk Reference. Essential Science Publishing, 2004

Further Reading:

How To  Correctly Use Essential Oils To Prevent the Flu and Other Illnesses




Natural Remedies for Migraines

An astounding 10% of the American population – 18% of American women and 6% of American men, and 10% of American children suffer from migraines. A migraine is not just a headache, it is a neurological disease with varied and complicated symptoms.

A classic migraine lasts from hours to days. A 72-hour migraine is not uncommon. During this time, the sufferer experiences extreme sensitivity to noise, light, smells, and touch. Nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, and numbness and tingling in the extremities accompany excruciating pain on one or both sides of the head. The headache may present with or without a warning aura.

Although migraines have been studied for years, scientists and doctors still do not definitively know what causes them. They believe there is a genetic link, as they do run in families. Estrogen levels appear to play a major role. Neurotransmitters, inflammation, blood vessel dilation, and food and food additive reactions all appear to contribute as well. So does dehydration. The consensus is that there are likely to be multiple triggers working in conjunction to trigger an attack.

Over-the-counter drugs and prescription drugs that are taken regularly for migraines take a toll on the body. Like any other illness, migraines are a body’s cry for help, an indication that the body needs two things: excellent, daily nutrition and ongoing detoxification.

Feverfew has been proven to be beneficial in preventing migraines when taken regularly. Ginger shots or ginger added to other juice can stop a migraine in its tracks if taken at the first sign of an impending attack.

Several essential oils are reported to help migraines; lavender and peppermint are the most popular.

Some migraine sufferers have found relief after chiropractic adjustment. It seems that for some, misalignment in the neck is the only or the primary cause of migraines. (Misalignment of the neck is likely a thyroid issue).

Massage, self-massage, acupressure, acupuncture, and reflexology have all been known to stop and prevent attacks.

The Best and Fastest Cure for Migraines Snort cayenne pepper. If you think this sounds too painful, you probably don’t know the pain of migraines. But this will work very, very quickly for most people.

Prevent Migraines

The best treatment is prevention. Avoid toxic chemicals and toxic food. The best possible diet is a whole food diet consisting of 80% raw, fresh, organic produce- more vegetables than fruits. Eliminate artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, MSG, GMOs, and refined sugars. No trans fats. No high fructose corn syrup. Limit caffeine. Be sure to drink plenty of clean, pure water. Be sure to include healthy fats with omega 3s. Do an elimination diet and remove any triggers you find. Consider eliminating gluten.

Heal your gut if needed. And chances are, if you have any chronic health condition, including migraines, you need to heal your gut. The source of migraines is often an imbalance of gut flora, with an abundance of Candida. To learn more, read Gluten, Candida, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and Autoimmune Diseases and check out Understand Hypothyroidism – Prevention and Natural Remedies if you experience migraines concentrated at, or beginning in, the back of the head where the skull meets the neck.

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Serotonin, What You Need to Know About the Body’s Key to Health and Happiness

We all know that sunny days, sweet treats, warm bread, and the scent of vanilla make most of us feel better when we’ve got a case of the blues, but the reason why is not common knowledge. The answer lies deep in our nervous systems and the intricate communication between nerve cells. Neurotransmitters, chemical messengers that catalyze a myriad of metabolic functions, also affect our moods and behaviors. Some calm the body, promote digestion, and support good immunity while others are involved in keeping memory sharp, triggering the fight or flight stress response, and filling us with feelings of euphoria when we are in love or engaging in daredevil behavior. There are many neurotransmitters, but the body’s heavy hitters are serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, and GABA. All of these are essential to life and well-being and work with each other toward the body’s homeostasis or state of equilibrium.

Poor diet, unrelenting stress, too much coffee or sugar, not enough physical activity, inadequate rest, and predisposed genetic deficiency all contribute to neurotransmitter dysfunction, especially that of serotonin. Inadequate or too much serotonin—as well as impairment of how the body utilizes it—has numerous consequences that can be the underlying factor in depression, anxiety disorders, obesity, Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), osteoporosis, chronic insomnia, low energy, compromised immunity, even diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Serotonin disruption can also play a vital role in the insidious development of addiction, eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia, obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD), body dysmorphia, and other neuropsychological conditions. In short, proper serotonin levels play a central role in our quality of life, and we do not usually consider it until we are in the grips of its shadow side. If the problem is not addressed early, more and more unpleasant symptoms and syndromes may manifest down the road, consequently affecting other neurochemicals and body systems.

Serotonin is produced in the brain, but ninety-five percent of this neurotransmitter is made and used in the digestive tract along with twenty-nine other neurotransmitters. The human gut is often referred to as our “second brain”, but medically, it is called the enteric nervous system. No wonder our emotions are so often accompanied by physical responses! What is even more profound is the fact that good intestinal flora is essential for adequate serotonin.

Pharmaceutical antibiotics are prescribed in near-reckless proportions, and judging by the fact that it takes up to one year to restore beneficial gut flora after a single round of antibiotic use, it is not surprising that serotonin-related conditions and syndromes both physical and “emotional” are increasing at staggering rates. It is not uncommon for a person who has gone through rounds of antibiotics over a certain period of time to become clinically depressed, but the connection is rarely recognized.

On the other side of the coin, too much serotonin can also be a problem and contribute to digestive woes including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It can also be a contributing factor in osteoporosis and certain types of heart disease. Since serotonin is usually known to be a calming chemical in the body, it is surprising to learn that too much of it can cause certain types of depression and extreme anxiety.

Excessive serotonin leads to depletion of many other neurotransmitters, especially dopamine, acetylcholine, and norepinephrine. On the emotional front, too much of this neurotransmitter can make one incredibly fearful of criticism, easily yielding to anger, feelings of inadequacy, and sadness. Prolonged lack of sleep can also contribute to serotonin excess, which would explain why most people “lose it” emotionally after a period of inadequate rest. Social interaction becomes difficult, though the individual desires it.

Too much serotonin can result by taking pharmaceutical antidepressants in conjunction with each other or combined with natural serotonin-affecting supplements, herbs, or even foods that stimulate serotonin. A medical condition called Serotonin Syndrome is also possible as a side effect of antidepressants, and can be a very dangerous thing. Physical symptoms can include trembling, sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and seizures. In many cases, ginger is given to the person afflicted to counteract the excessive serotonin in the system.

It is a balancing act for many of us to bring this neurochemical into balance. Putting these pieces together, one cannot help but come to the conclusion that supporting and harmonizing the body’s serotonin supply can be an integral piece in achieving better health. Vitamins, herbs, clinical aromatherapy, gentle exercise, Swedish massage, cranial-sacral therapy, meditation, and finding alternatives for prescribed antibiotics can all be mediators in our sometimes-rocky relationship with serotonin and other vital neurotransmitters. The following is a list of modalities, supplements, and tools to better nourish the production and utilization of this precious, life-enhancing neurochemical. Note: if you are taking prescribed antidepressant medication, please consult your doctor before taking any of the following:

Vitamins, Supplements, and Herbs

B6. This B vitamin is essential for nerve health and enzyme production, which are both critical for regulating mood and nourishing and balancing hormone levels, especially that of the female reproductive system. All B vitamins are important for neurotransmitter production and balance, but B6 is essential for serotonin.

Inositol. Inositol, a B vitamin component much like what bioflavonoids are to vitamin C, is a powerful yet gentle supplement for the entire nervous system, including the brain. There are few, if any, side effects with regular to high doses. Inositol can be extremely helpful in the withdrawal of drugs and alcohol, which is especially useful for repairing an overwrought nervous system. Inositol is a reliable supplement for serotonin deficiency and may be extremely helpful for anxiety, panic attacks, trembling, insomnia, chronic pain syndromes, and nervousness that is especially worse in the morning hours and during the hormonal shifts of menstruation and ovulation.

5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan). Derived from the grafonia seed, 5-HTP is a natural amino acid involved in the conversion of tryptophan to serotonin and melatonin. In Europe, 5-HTP is sold by prescription under numerous trade names to treat major depression. Here, in the United States, 5-HTP is sold as a supplement, the most reliable being the enteric coated variety that is not destroyed by stomach acid on its way to the small intestine where it is utilized. 5-HTP is extremely helpful for PMS, general anxiety, irritability, mild-moderate insomnia, certain pain syndromes, and food cravings (carbs and sugar).

Damiana. Damiana, native to Mexico, is an aromatic herb mainly used for sexual dysfunction, but its value goes way beyond the reproductive system. Damiana increases neurotransmitter production including serotonin and dopamine and is reliable in reducing pain, easing anxiety, soothing digestive troubles, and increasing pleasure.

Ginger root. Ginger is an ancient as well as modern remedy for a plethora of ailments and a powerful player in neurotransmitter production. In cases of too much serotonin in the body, ginger is reliable in lowering it. In some people, ginger helps decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety. Individual chemistry is key, but this herb is definitely one to consider.

Kava Kava Root. Kava kava root is a centuries-old Polynesian herb used in ceremonial drinks as well as a libation in social situations. It is a powerful sedative that not only affects serotonin but other key players in the nervous system. It is reliable for panic attacks, trouble sleeping, and digestive distress related to “nerves.”

Lavender Flowers. Commonly grown for cosmetic and culinary use, lavender flowers can also be made into a tea that will naturally nourish the nervous system, namely serotonin production and utilization. Smaller quantities are recommended for calming the body, as larger doses prove to be stimulating.

Lemon Balm. A common garden herb, lemon balm (also called melissa) is a gentle but reliable remedy to boost serotonin levels in the body. It is highly useful for digestive upsets, insomnia, nervousness, and depressive states.

Olive Leaf. Olive leaf is a wonderful alternative to pharmaceutical antibiotics. It is the strongest antibiotic and antiviral in the plant world and is a powerful warrior against everything from malaria to viruses, the common cold to food poisoning. It is excellent for all bacterial and viral conditions as well as building good microbes in the gut, which is essential for healthy levels of serotonin.

St. John’s Wort. St. John’s wort is an age-old herbal remedy for melancholy, depression, and nervousness. It is valuable in the production of not only serotonin but other neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine.

Foods

Foods that stimulate serotonin production include chocolate, avocado, chicken, turkey and most protein sources, flaxseed, sunflower seeds, sugar and all carbohydrates, wheat germ, and dairy such as cheese and cottage cheese.

Clinical Aromatherapy/Essential Oils

Bergamot Essential Oil. Bergamot essential oil boosts serotonin and is highly useful for depression and lowered immunity. Add a drop or two to a tissue and inhale for 5-minute intervals throughout the day.

Cacao Essential Oil. Essentially chocolate essential oil, cacao stimulates both serotonin and dopamine production and is a good oil to use to curb sugar cravings, ease despondency, and increase feelings of enjoyment and pleasure. It is especially beneficial for premenstrual-related food cravings and sadness. Add a drop or two to a tissue and inhale for 5 minute intervals throughout the day.

Frankincense Essential Oil. Frankincense essential oil is a wonderful ally for all forms of anxiety and is a key oil in aromatherapy for brain and nervous system health. Frankincense helps the body make and utilize serotonin and dopamine. Add a drop or two to a tissue and inhale for 5-minute intervals throughout the day. Frankincense essential oil can also be applied to the soles of the feet for quick absorption and results. Application: apply 3 drops of the essential oil to each sole of the foot 1-2x a day. Allow to absorb before putting on socks and do not shower for a few hours after application.

Ginger Essential Oil. Ginger essential oil can be applied undiluted to the soles of the feet for quick absorption in cases of excessive serotonin. Ginger is an antagonist to the neurotransmitter and can relieve severe anxiety, digestive distress, and other symptoms springing from too much serotonin in the body due to various factors. Application: apply 3 drops of the essential oil to each sole of the foot 1-2 x a day. Allow to absorb before putting on socks, and do not shower for a few hours after application.

Lavender Essential Oil. Lavender essential oil, long associated with calm feelings, is the CEO of essential oils that stimulates serotonin production in the body. It can be used to boost immunity, improve mood, promote sleep, quell general anxiety, and even prevent anxiety from escalating to panic. Add a drop or two to a tissue and inhale for 5-minute intervals throughout the day. Lavender essential oil can also be applied to the soles of the feet for quick absorption and results. Application: apply 3 drops of the essential oil to each sole of the foot 1-2x a day. Allow to absorb before putting on socks and do not shower for a few hours after application.

Neroli Essential Oil. Neroli essential oil reduces stress hormones in the body and is known to increase serotonin. It is almost unequaled in stopping trembling, anxiety, and nervous agitation. It is also used to decrease symptoms of depression and calm an overexcited state. Add a drop or two to a tissue and inhale for 5-minute intervals throughout the day.

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil. Roman chamomile is a wonderful ally for a stressed nervous system and can be inhaled to calm emotions and accompanying, unpleasant physical responses. It brightens the mood and outlook, soothes digestive storms, and promotes a feeling of wellbeing and hope. Add a drop or two to a tissue and inhale for 5-minute intervals throughout the day.

Sandalwood Essential Oil. Much like frankincense, sandalwood is a deeply nourishing oil for the entire nervous system. Add a drop or two to a tissue and inhale for 5-minute intervals throughout the day. Sandalwood essential oil can also be applied to the soles of the feet for quick absorption and results. Application: apply 3 drops of the essential oil to each sole of the foot 1-2 x a day. Allow to absorb before putting on socks and do not shower for a few hours after application.

Sweet Orange Essential Oil. Sweet orange oil is highly useful for decreasing obsessive thoughts and/or behaviors, calming the body, and promoting serotonin and other neurotransmitters. It also quells anxiety, chronic worry, and feelings of dread. Sweet orange oil also elevates the mood and combats depression. Add a drop or two to a tissue and inhale for 5-minute intervals throughout the day.

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil. Ylang ylang essential oil unsurpassed for calming excitatory neurotransmitters and kicking in calming neurochemicals like serotonin. It also regulates adrenaline in the body. Add a drop to a tissue and inhale for 5-minute intervals throughout the day, but no more than 2-3 times or a headache may result. Ylang ylang essential oil can also be applied to the soles of the feet for quick absorption and results. Application: apply 3 drops of the essential oil to each sole of the foot 1-2 x a day. Allow to absorb before putting on socks and do not shower for a few hours after application.

Lifestyle Changes

One can do everything right to have better nervous system health, but without positive, serotonin-friendly lifestyle changes, the body and mind will always fall short of reaching homeostasis. In the quest for serotonin balance, don’t forget to:

Get more rest. 8 or more hours of sleep a night and periods of non-doing during the day are critical in normalizing neurotransmitters and boosting immunity. Non-doing means designating 5-minute intervals to one-hour timeslots to doing nothing but lying back and zoning out without guilt. Insomniacs might find it surprising that non-doing during the day promotes better sleep at night.

Unplug. from the computer, cell phone, iPad, radio, etc. Electronic screens and noise all negatively affect the brain and its chemical activity. Using devices non-stop contributes to neurotransmitter disruption.

Get out into nature. It is proven that being outside, especially in sunlight, or looking out a window onto greenery instantly boosts neurotransmitters. When you are outside, breathe deeply, notice the beauty around you, and take in the soothing sounds of birds, water, or wind.

Do more gentle exercises. Working out in the gym, running for miles, or taking high-energy exercise classes boost stimulating neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine, but our friend serotonin needs yoga, creative movement, ballet, tai chi, qigong, and deep breath work to be utilized in the body.

Receive more massage and bodywork. Swedish massage is known to boost serotonin and other calming chemicals in the body by triggering the autonomic (fight or flight) nervous system to yield to the parasympathetic (rest and digest mode). If you want to stimulate serotonin, avoid deep tissue work or more aggressive modalities. Opt for flowing, gentle massage, preferably set to beautiful music.

Listen to calming music and nature sounds. Ditch the driving percussion of rock music once in a while for more calming music. Even better, listen to real or recorded nature sounds including birdsong, ocean waves, crickets, gentle wind, or streams.

Whatever way you choose to boost serotonin and other calming neurotransmitters, nature will work with your unique chemistry, and it won’t take long for you to know what works best for your body and psyche. Happiness and wellbeing are indeed rooted in the physical; the more harmonious we are on this level, the more harmonious on every other level, even in the face of adversity and stress. With serotonin on our side, come what may- we can be ready!

For more about neurotransmitters, nervous system health, and clinical aromatherapy, see my new release, Multidimensional Aromatherapy: Clinical, Practical, and Vibrational Applications.

DISCLAIMER

The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and the material presented in this article is not intended to treat, prescribe for, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease or to replace conventional medical treatments.

Recommended Supplements:
Recommended Reading:
Sources:



Five Essential Oils That Help Fight Infections

Essential oils are routinely used in Aromatherapy for their pleasant, sweet scent. However, they have much more to offer. Essential oils are popular in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine to treat a number of conditions. Recently there has been an increased interest in antimicrobial properties of essential oils.

Many reputed labs have confirmed that essential oils have anti-infective properties. Research has also shown that essential oils are effective in many antibiotic-resistant infections. Essential oils have the potential to offer an alternative, natural, and side-effect free solution to tackling infectious diseases.

The active components of essential oils, have a small molecular weight and hence, they absorb easily into the body. Essential oils also have a high potency, meaning that only a small dosage is enough.

Another advantage of essential oils is their shelf life. Most of the essential oils are quite stable and can be stored for as long as 10 years (with the exception of citrus oils which can be stored for up to two years). These oils are a must in any natural medicine cabinet.

Many times, essential oils will need dilution with “a carrier oil” to dilute the potency of it. These carrier oils serve as a base for the essential oils. Some good examples of carrier oils are sweet almond oil and coconut oil. Due to their sensitive skin, if you plan to use essential oils on a baby, it is always a good idea to dilute them with a carrier oil.

Five Essential Oils Effective in Treating Various Infection

Lavender Oil

This is perhaps the most well-known oil on the list. Lavender oil has a sweet, pleasant scent, and it has good antibacterial and antiviral properties as well. When applied to scrapes, bruises, and stings, Lavender can significantly reduce healing time. This oil is pretty mild and does not need a carrier oil.

A common way of applying Lavender is directly on the skin. Recent studies have also shown that Lavender oil is effective in killing both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Apart from being used against infections, lavender oil is used to induce and promote sleep.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil possesses strong antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. Mixing it with coconut oil or aloe vera gel is a great way to dilute it. Applying it directly on the skin can help with acne, fungal infections, ringworm, and athlete’s foot.

Tea tree oil is often used as an antiseptic to treat minor burns, bruises, and scrapes. It is also effective for some vaginal infections. Two cups of water containing 2 tablespoons of tea tree oil can be used as an excellent all-purpose disinfectant cleaner.

Tea tree oil is pretty strong and can cause mild irritation and reddening if applied undiluted. Mixing the oil with coconut oil significantly reduces the side effects. Please be aware that tea tree oil is not recommended for internal use.

Roman Chamomile Oil

This sweet-smelling and gentle essential oil is ideally suited for sensitive skin and commonly used to treat mild to moderate acne. Chamomile oil is gentle enough to be used undiluted, but if need be, coconut oil works well as a carrier oil.

Roman chamomile can be used to treat diaper rash, and it’s been found effective against eczema and hemorrhoids. In the case of various ear infections and inflamed sinuses, a few drops added to a steam bath works great for relief. Roman chamomile has amazing pain relieving properties.

Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil has been found to have antibacterial properties for the bacteria of the upper respiratory tract. Diluted eucalyptus oil can be used internally to treat bronchitis and upper respiratory tract infections. It can also be used to treat various mucous membrane infections (such as asthma).

Eucalyptus has analgesic properties and when used in a spray form, it offers relief from minor pains. Additionally, it’s been found effective against bacteria causing tooth decay. According to recent study, eucalyptus oil has been found to stimulate the immune system of the body as well.

Oregano Oil

The unique composition of oregano oil makes it especially suitable to treat staph infections. The phenolic compound found in Oregano Oil has been shown to be more effective than as many as 18 pharmaceutical drugs including penicillin.

It has excellent antifungal properties but must always be diluted before application. Use coconut oil or sweet almond oil as a carrier oil to dilute it.

Conclusion

Overall, essential oils are excellent for treating infections. However, it is recommended to dilute the oils with carrier oils to prevent irritation of the skin. Also, please be aware that not all of the essential oils can be taken internally. To learn more about essential oils, subscribe to our email updates at the Essential Oil Advocate and get 2 free audiobooks on essential oils and aromatherapy.

Further Reading:
 Sources:



Lyme Disease – Holistic Protocol to Completely Rebuild the Immune System

Lyme disease is no longer an obscure malady that can only be caught in Connecticut. In 2013, the year with the latest available data, the CDC predicted an estimated 300,000 actual new cases, though only 30,000 per year were reported and confirmed. Cases have been diagnosed in all 50 states, but as of 2013, 95% of the confirmed cases came from the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Contents

What Is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is an infection from the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium. It is not known to be a contagious disease spread from person to person. Its only known transmission is through the bite of an infected tick. (Though there is now argument that other insects, including mosquitoes and fleas, may also be carriers, and that it may be sexually transmitted). Although symptoms can and do vary, the majority of cases adhere to the following pattern:

Phase One – 3 to 30 Days

Also called early localized infection

  • 70-75% develop a rash. A characteristic bull’s eye rash develops, starting at the site of the tick bite. It is not itchy or painful but may be warm to the touch.
  • Flu-like symptoms develop: fever, chills, swollen lymph glands, headaches, muscle pain, joint pain.

Phase Two – Days to Weeks After Bite

Also called early disseminated infection

  • Rash spreads
  • Large joints may become swollen and painful
  • Stiff neck in some cases
  • Meningitis may develop
  • Dizziness
  • Heart palpitations

Phase Three – Later Months to Years

Also called late disseminated infection

Many infectious disease specialists believe that “chronic Lyme disease” does not exist, and that Lyme disease from a tick bite can be cured with a short course of antibiotics. It is possible that those who have undergone antibiotic treatments are suffering from the side effects of antibiotics, but more and more experts are coming around to the idea that Lyme disease can survive and cause long-term autoimmune symptoms when antibiotics don’t work. We all know (or at least, we all should know) that antibiotics do not always work and can cause more problems.

  • Arthritis symptoms – swollen, painful joints (fluid filled joints)
  • Neurological symptoms – numbness, tingling, shooting pains
  • Cognitive symptoms – brain fog, short-term memory deficits, confusion
  • Mood disturbance – depression
  • Fatigue
  • Abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure

Facial paralysis may also occur in this stage or stage two.

History of Lyme Disease

In the 1960s and 1970s, something was very wrong in Connecticut. In a population of 12,000 living in three contiguous towns: Old Lyme, Lyme, and East Haddam, 39 children were diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and 12 adults were diagnosed with arthritis of unknown cause.

In 1975, frustrated by the lack of answers from their medical community, two mothers became patient advocates, gathering information from residents that they passed on to the Connecticut State Department of Health and the Yale School of Medicine.

Researchers were able to identify the disease and recognize its symptoms, but it wasn’t until the early 80s that the actual cause was discovered. Willy Burgdorfer, a scientist who was studying Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, discovered the tick connection along with the bacterium, a spirochete, that caused Lyme. The bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, was named after him.

The Lyme Controversy

A quick review of current articles about Lyme reveals a great deal of frustration on the part of both patients and doctors battling the disease. First of all, there are serious problems with diagnostics. Since 25-30% of patients who have been infected with Lyme do not exhibit a rash – the first and most specific symptom is missing. Of those who present with a rash, many do not exhibit the characteristic bull’s eye rash. Blood tests to identify the bacteria produce both false negatives and false positives. Therefore an initial, correct diagnosis may be hard to come by. Lyme disease also imitates other diseases and is therefore regularly misdiagnosed as MS, fibromyalgia, arthritis, ALS, and other illnesses.

There are multiple tests for Lyme. The CDC recommends screening with the ELISA test and confirming with the Western blot test, but during the first 4-6 weeks of infection these tests are unreliable because they measure the patient’s antibody response to the infection, not the bacteria itself.

Lyme disease is notoriously difficult to diagnose using conventional tests. And there’s great variation in the presentation of the disease as well, depending on where you contracted it, and whether or not you have any other coexisting infections. There is a group of seven or eight microbes that are the most common. The worst ones are Babesia microti and the different forms of Bartonella.

It is said that an initial course of antibiotics given in stage one cures the disease most of the time, but why not all the time? Is the course of antibiotics too short? Should more be given? Should they be given long term, especially for those who have stage 3 symptoms? What if blood tests no longer show spirochetes? If the antibiotics don’t work, the patient now has to combat Lyme with a very depleted immune system.” – Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD

Why Antibiotics May Not Work for Lyme Disease

  • Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, has a corkscrew shape that allows it to bore deep into tissues and cartilage (including the brain and nervous system), safely out of reach of most antibiotics.
  • Borrelia burgdorferi can give up its corkscrew shape and convert to a form that is able to live inside cells (“intracellular”) where again, antibiotics have less reach.
  • Borrelia burgdorferi, along with other similar microbes, can form dormant cysts that are completely resistant to antibiotics; the harder you hit it, the more resistant it becomes.
  • Borrelia burgdorferi is usually accompanied and aided by co-infections of other stealth microbes that also live inside cells.

Antibiotic resistance occurs at a high rate with these types of microbes. An antibiotic is one single chemical substance. Bacteria, such as Borrelia (and also its co-infections), respond slowly to antibiotics and have more time to develop resistance to the antibiotic. In other words, the longer they can hang on, the more likely they are to become completely antibiotic resistant. Using multiple antibiotics at once seems to accelerate this process and alternating antibiotics doesn’t seem to help. Resistant bacteria become even more entrenched.

Antibiotics destroy the normal flora (friendly bacteria) in the gut and skin, causing bacterial imbalance and a host of other symptoms in the body. Most importantly, use of antibiotics suppresses immune function, which may present the greatest hurdle to recovery—you cannot get well without optimal immune function.

Borrelia burgdorferi can exist in biofilms, which are protected colonies of microbes that form on a surface (such as plaque on your teeth), but what role this plays in Lyme disease is controversial. The symptom profile of Lyme disease suggests that it is not a biofilm disease and that biofilms are not a big factor in overcoming Lyme.

Doctors Treating Lyme Disease

…he is treating the patient, not the disease.

Some doctors complain that patients who have never been definitively diagnosed with the disease demand treatment for chronic Lyme disease. Other doctors contend that it is rare for a patient with Lyme disease to only suffer from one singular infection as ticks often carry and can infect us with several pathogens at once. In addition, there is not one “Lyme Disease.” There are five sub species of Borrelia burgdorferi. Of these subspecies, there are more than 100 strains in the U.S. and 300 worldwide. And many of them are now antibiotic resistant. Even the worst infections may not test positive for Borrelia burdorferi. They may not test positive until initial treatment has occurred, a situation called the Lyme Paradox.

Dr. Richard Horowitz, of Hyde Park, New York, is one of the most sought after Lyme specialists. He states that at least half of his patients are infected with babesiosis. Rather than a bacteria, babesiosis is a microscopic parasite that infects red blood cells. Since most of his patients present with multiple infections and an overwhelmed immune system, he focuses on strengthening the immune system, knowing that he is treating the patient, not the disease.

Patients who are not lucky enough to see a doctor as knowledgeable as Dr. Horowitz often get caught in the crossfire that occurs when doctors are faced with limited understanding of a pathogen, a complicated infectious process, and a treatment modality that does not work the same for every patient. Stories abound of doctors accusing Lyme sufferers of being hypochondriacs or malingerers when they are experiencing very real, debilitating, painful symptoms.

On top of all of this, spiders, mosquitoes, fleas, and mites may also be spreading the same or similar bacterial infections.

How to Cure Lyme Disease Naturally

The bacteria that cause Lyme can be found in the skin, heart, joints, and nervous system. On top of that, Lyme disease specialists are finding that what we call Lyme disease may be caused by several different infectious organisms and may even be caused by a combination of different infectious pathogens. Some speculate that Lyme disease is an infection from the bacteria along with an overabundance of fungi (like Candida) or a parasite.

Everyone plays host to countless viruses, infectious bacteria, fungi, toxins, and cancer cells in their body. Many may be carrying Lyme, along with or many other scary diseases, and not know it.

Those with stronger immune systems often pass on infections they didn’t even know they have to others with weakened immunity. Currently, specialists are saying Lyme cannot be passed from person to person. Some are challenging this belief, especially in regards to sexual transmission. Regardless, those infected can carry the disease for years without knowing it.

The good news is that a holistic approach to fixing the body’s immune system and ridding it of infectious agents can cure almost any disease. The approach to Lyme should be similar to the approach to curing HIV, fibromyalgia, chronic strep, lupus, Chlamydia, and many other diseases. The first step is to heal the gut, balance the gut flora, and rebuild the immune system.

Your Gut and Your immune System

Chronic infection is an underlying factor in most chronic illnesses. Our sugar-laden diet, GMO foods that kill beneficial bacteria, antibiotics, other antibacterial products, and many of the chemicals in our food supply deplete our beneficial bacteria, which wreaks havoc on our immune systems. This sets the stage for systemic, chronic fungal infections and parasites to multiply, permeate the gut, enter the body’s bloodstream, and spread infection throughout the body.

The immune system is only as healthy as the gut.

Conventional doctors are very bad at finding and diagnosing parasitical and fungal infections that cannot easily be seen on the surface of the body. The average person is dealing with Candida overgrowth at the very least (the most common fungal infection in our bodies) due to the aforementioned modern diet and lifestyle.

Obviously, to treat a difficult bacterial infection such as Lyme (or whatever combination of bacteria, viruses, and parasites causing Lyme symptoms) the immune system needs to be as strong as possible. The immune system is only as healthy as the gut. The body’s intestinal tract mirrors the body’s health and dictates the power of the immune system. Step one is to balance the gut flora and eliminate most of the harmful pathogens in the body.

Diet

A healthy diet relies on a foundation of on raw, fresh, organic (when possible), whole foods and herbs. Salads are one of the best ways to do this. Not your typical iceberg lettuce salads with a few carrots shreds and some ranch dressing, but a salad with a wide variety of at least 10 different vegetables along with fresh garlic, turmeric, ginger, unrefined sea salt, and healthy fats. It is the best way to get a wide array of the best nutrients that will repair the gut and rebuild the body’s immune system. Don’t underestimate this; a large salad every day, done right, will do more for the body than any supplement regimen, and when followed long enough, the right diet with these kinds of daily salads can completely heal the body from disease, in most cases. But the right supplement protocol can radically speed things up and is often necessary for the very ill.

A perfect diet would not be complete without lots of clean drinking water. For detoxification, cranberry stevia lemonade is very good for rejuvenating the kidneys, cleaning the liver, purifying blood, and flushing out the whole system. For most people, a gallon a day will yield remarkable results, but for smaller people, or those who have rare conditions that make this dangerous, use common sense and don’t ever drink too much water (or any fluid). And for everyone else, a gallon of cranberry lemonade every day will have amazing benefits, second only to salads and cutting out other junk food, but again, use common sense. Drinking that much water in a very short period of time can kill people, believe it or not.

Supplements

When healing the gut, you want to kill fungi and parasites, balance the bacteria, and begin healing the intestinal walls. Undecylenic acid is the best supplement on the market for killing Candida and other fungal pathogens. Wormwood, barberry root, black walnut hull, cape aloe leaf, and garlic are all very powerful, broad-spectrum antimicrobials that kill the bad guys and help reset the balance of gut flora. Many of these also have other healing benefits on the digestive system. Garlic, bentonite clay, and activated charcoal are all powerful toxin removers with a host of other benefits.

A high quality probiotic designed to make it past stomach acid will help restore the balance of the body’s naturally occurring beneficial bacteria by crowding out, and competing with and even feeding off of the harmful flora. The bacteria from these supplements don’t last very long (regardless of what the manufactures tell you), but the idea is that your body’s natural bacteria can proliferate once the probiotics do their job. This is why a prebiotic diet is so important, and raw, fresh, organically grown produce provides the best prebiotics.

Don’t underestimate the power of beneficial bacteria for a properly working, strong immune system. Your beneficial bacteria play a major role in our immune system.

The appendix is a safe house for good bacteria. The body releases these bacteria when the body needs it. If you don’t have an appendix, it behooves you to take probiotics every day for the rest of your life. But take them at the right time. If you take probiotics at the same time you take antimicrobial supplements, the antimicrobials will kill the probiotic bacteria.

When doing a supplement protocol that employs antimicrobials, take the probiotics at night, just before bed, a few hours after taking other supplements that can harm the bacteria. Take the other antimicrobial supplements throughout the day. Or how ever you can work it out to give the probiotics ample time to do their thing before you kill them with antimicrobials.

How to Kill Lyme

Since the bacteria that cause Lyme can be so difficult to kill, a multifaceted approach should be taken with supplements. As mentioned, anyone suffering from Lyme disease is bound to have other issues depleting their immune system as well. The severity of Lyme symptoms will correlate with the overall toxicity in the body. Toxin elimination (which includes toxins released from the Lyme bacteria itself, and all other toxins) is imperative, along with building a healthy gut.

Common Co-Infections Must Be Addressed

Dr. Klinghardt (if you suffer from any disease, check out his research as well) states that common co-infections include, “roundworms, tapeworms, threadworms, toxoplasmosis, giardia and amoebas, clostridia, the herpes virus family, parvovirus B 19, active measles (in the small intestine), leptospirosis, chronic strep infections and their mutations, Babesia, Brucella, Ehrlichiosis, Bartonella, mycoplasma, Rickettsia, Bartonella, and a few others.”

As mentioned previously, fungi including molds, Candida, and other yeast are always part of the picture, and other toxicity issues such as heavy metal contamination are typically a heavy burden on a Lyme infected host as well.

A holistic Lyme protocol has a healthy diet as the foundation, focusing on vegetables, herbs, and whole foods, with the elimination of processed and refined foods, especially those with toxic chemicals added to them. When the diet is dialed in, the supplements have much more effectiveness, and the body is able to purge toxins more easily, and the immune system is radically stronger. Diet is key, and with almost all diseases, the right diet will prevent the disease in the first place, and can usually cure the disease given enough time. But, with today’s toxic loads, supplements are often needed, and even when diet could do the job on its own, again, supplements will radically speed up the process.

Specific Lyme Disease Protocol

This protocol will flush toxins and alleviate the body’s toxic load, replenish nutrition and ensure your body can absorb and assimilate nutrients, strengthen the immune system, and kill pathogens that cause us harm. It will work to rid the body of any infection, including viruses, but the protocol does emphasis effectiveness against difficult bacterial infection, molds and fungal infections, and parasites.

This means that this protocol will be extremely effective against bacterial infections such as syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and any ailments caused by fungal infections as well.

If a known viral co-infection exists, this protocol is strong enough to eliminate viruses, but you could do so faster by adding St. John’s Wort, Pau d’Arco, colloidal silver, zinc, olive leaf extract, and systemic enzymes. Personally, if it were me, I would just up the systemic enzyme dosage with the following protocol to combat viruses.

Step One – Lyme Disease Diet

It’s time to tighten the diet. Dial it in. Get strict. This doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy food; it means it’s time to learn to enjoy salads! Make a salad every day, using at least ten different vegetables and at least five different herbs and spices. Variety is key, and be sure to mix it up, but always include garlic, turmeric, pepper, healthy fats like avocado, flax, and coconut oil, and get organic, fresh (recently picked from the ground, not frozen or canned) vegetables whenever possible.

Fruit is great to consume with this diet, but every time fruit is eaten, SF722 or another powerful fungal fighter needs to be taken with it.

Juicing is a common problem for us health nuts. Sweet juice is a refined sugar, even fresh squeezed organic orange juice. Beets, carrots, and all fruits (save lemon, lime, granny smith apple, and cranberry), feed fungal infections, bacteria, and promote viruses. Juicing is fine, when done right. Juice regularly, but instead of those sweet juices, try ginger and turmeric shots (see the golden milk recipe below). On the other hand, you’re not likely to have much room for juicing because you will be drinking a lot of cranberry, stevia lemonade.

Every day, make a gallon of cranberry lemonade sweetened with stevia, and a very large salad (at least 6 cups). Obviously your size should be taken into consideration, don’t kill yourself trying to drink a gallon a day if you only weigh 80 pounds, but for most people a gallon of water a day will do them a world of good.

Absolutely no alcohol is allowed on this diet save what little bit is in some of the recommended tinctures.

Recipe links for recipes that don’t feed infection

Other Foods

Beans and rice (when made right, soak and sprout beans, soak rice), quinoa, amaranth, eggs, homemade nut milks (only if nuts are sprouted first, and cashews and pasteurized almonds will not sprout), and organic free-range meats are all okay on this diet.

Review:

  • Eat a big, diverse salad every day (fresh, organic whenever possible, never GMO foods).
  • Consume fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the day.
  • Gallon of cranberry, stevia lemonade with cayenne to taste.
  • Turmeric and ginger juicing regularly, daily is best.
  • No processed, refined, foods. No pasta, no breads, no cereals, no white rice.
  • Prepare your own foods – this is not the time to be going out to eat.
  • No chemically laden foods, fake foods, GMO foods, or even “healthy” junk foods (such as organic chips, organic cereals).

Step Two – Reset the Gut to Heal the Body

Read the article,Best Supplements To Kill Candida and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Fungal Infections. I know, you’re just getting to the meat of this 5,000+ word article, and I’m asking you to read another beast of an article, but you’ve got Lyme! A supposedly incurable disease means you have plenty of research to do. If you have Lyme, your real problem is a a leaky gut full of fungus that’s overwhelming the immune system.

The aforementioned diet will go a long way to heal the gut, and given time, will typically heal the gut on its own, especially in cases where the body is not dealing with a heavy load or a systemic infection. Since we’re dealing with a systemic infection, the supplements below are highly recommended.

Do not underestimate the importance of this step. This is, in fact, more important than the proceeding steps that specifically address viruses. In fact, most people that find themselves with disease only make it through this step and then feel so much better that they tend to stop the protocol. This is probably fine if you spend the rest of your life eating extremely well, which you should do regardless, but even when the body feels better than it has since you can remember, that doesn’t mean the infection is gone. It means the infection(s) is at bay, but ready to bounce back at the first chance.

The following are supplements that will clean out the gut, help detoxify the body, remove parasites, fungi, and begin the removal of heavy metals and other contaminates.

SF722 is the best supplement I know of for taking care of any kind of fungi (yeast, mold, Candida). You can take a lot of it at once. I’ve taken up to 30 at once with no side effects. For someone with obvious signs of Candida overgrowth I recommend people take 30 a day for the first few days, and then cut back to 10 a day for a few weeks. For cases where someone is unsure of a Candida infection, take 10 a day for a few days and cut back to 5 a day thereafter. Take this supplement whenever consuming foods that may feed Candida (like sweeter fruits such as pineapple), and always have this supplement on hand.

SF722 is very powerful against fungal infections, but it does kill some other bad guys as well, which means it can kill some good guys too, so I recommend taking it with other antimicrobial supplements throughout the day, and replenish beneficial bacteria every night with a probiotic like FloraMend.

Whatever probiotic you choose, be sure it is designed to make it past the stomach acid. Stomach acid kills most of the beneficial bacteria in fermented vegetables and cheaply made probiotic supplements. Bio-K (we don’t have this one at our sister site, Green Lifestyle Market, but most health food stores carry it) is an example of a bacteria specifically designed to make it through stomach acid.

FloraMend is a probiotic with a capsule designed to pass through stomach acid and release in the more alkaline environment of the gut. The benefit of FloraMend it that it stores easily and is tolerant to fairly extreme weather temperatures (up to 110 F). The benefit of Bio-K is that you can add it to your smoothies, feed it to young children and infants, and use it to strengthen the probiotic nature of other yogurts for a treat every now and then (but occasional treats should come after the body burden is substantially lessened, and the host is feeling much better).

Shillington’s products should be taken exactly as directed. His Intestinal Detox has activated charcoal, but I recommend getting more of it on this protocol than the intestinal detox would give by itself, so I added an additional supplement of just the charcoal. I recommend 5-10 a day depending on the body’s burden.

The following supplement regimen should be done for 1-2 weeks, depending on the severity of the flora-imbalance. If most symptoms do not significantly decrease, tighten up the diet and consider adding some more SF722 to the daily protocol.

  • Shillington’s Intestinal Cleanse – Kills parasites, heals the intestinal walls, sets up a hospitable home for healthy flora.
  • Formula SF722 – Undecenoic acid, kills Candida and other fungal functions.
  • Floramend-Prime – A strong probiotic designed to pass through the stomach acid and into the intestinal tract.
  • MicroDefense – Pure Encapsulations
  • Shillington’s Intestinal Detox – This is necessary only for those with seriously damaged intestines, anyone who has recently been vaccinated, or those looking to do a thorough detox. Pulls out heavy metals, positively charged protozoa, and other toxins.
  • Activated Charcoal – Activated Charcoal is highly porous, negatively charged, and attracts and adsorbs unwanted substances, carrying them out of the digestive tract.
  • Blood Detox Formula (tincture) & Blood Detox Tea – This is an absolutely amazing formula for cleaning out the blood, keeping things detoxifying and moving well, and assisting the elimination organs such as the kidneys and liver. I consider this formula to be essential for any detox. Clean blood makes for a clean body. You can use one or the other, but the combination of the tea and tincture is even more powerful. Do not take this formula for more than two weeks, practice two weeks on and one week off. Tip: the instructions on the bottle say to take externally, but it is designed to be taken orally.

Step Three – Kill Lyme, and any other infection

Foundational supplements should be taken for months and could be taken indefinitely. They provide the body with a foundation of the minerals and vitamins and other nutrients needed so that, along with the right diet, the body remains at peak performance, able to fend off new invaders and rid itself of any current infection and toxins.

For those on a tight budget, looking for a stopping point, I recommend completing the first phase of the protocol (above) and then always having on hand the activated charcoal and the SF722. If affordable, add the Total Nutrition Formula and the Fish oil as well, and take every day for a year. A lack of nutrition or an abundance of toxins at any time before the Lyme bacteria is completely eliminated will likely result in resurgence of infection along with renewed symptoms. For most people, a very strict diet and just a few supplements (after balancing the gut flora as previously advised) will eventually rid the body of any and all Lyme.

Foundational Supplements

  • Total Nutrition Formula – This is actual food, perfectly balanced to provide a nice foundation of the most important vitamins and many other essential nutrients. You can also make your own, see below.
  • Liquid Light – The most common minerals Lyme patients tend to be low on include copper, magnesium, manganese and iron. Liquid Light has these and many other minerals the body needs. It’s one of the best mineral supplements on the market.
  • Activated Charcoal – For the same reason mentioned above, this will just continue to pull out toxins as your body heals and fights infection.
  • SF722 – Always keep it on hand. With today’s modern diets and lifestyle, Candida and other fungal infections are an extremely common problem.
  • Systemic Enzymes – These enzymes are designed to pass through the stomach acid and release in the intestinal tract (like the aforementioned FloraMend). While this is one of the least important supplements for specifically killing bacteria, it is a powerful antiviral supplement with an incredible array of other benefits and detoxification capabilities. For more information on this, check out our Vaccine Detox article.
  • Floramend-Prime – For those without an appendix. If you don’t have your appendix then you should be taking a probiotic for the rest of your life.
  • Fish oil with D – Vitamin D is a common vitamin to be low on, even for those eating the healthiest of diets, and the fats are extremely important for building healthy cell structure so that the body’s cells are less susceptible to infection and toxin damage from infectious organisms. For vegans, there are separate vitamin D and fat supplements.

Anti-microbial and Immune Boosting Supplements

The previous list of “foundational supplements” can be taken indefinitely for better health and vitality. They are in fact the supplements that my family, my dog, and I take regularly. This next group of supplements should be taken for two weeks at a time, and then halted for one week. When the body is functioning well, these supplements will eliminate unwanted pathogens, but they also kill our good micro flora, too. Some of the supplements lose their effectiveness after a couple of weeks, and it’s a good idea, after two weeks of these supplements, to build up beneficial bacteria in the body.

One of the reasons this phase of the protocol is so good at eliminating bacteria, even the hard to kill kind, is that we’re attacking it with a wide array of natural chemicals. Many protocols call for three or four different supplements that are known to kill bacterial infections, but do so in the same way with the same chemicals. For instance, Oregon grape, coptis chinensis, and goldenseal are sometimes recommended in the same protocol to kill bacteria, but they use the same naturally occurring chemical called berberine to do so. This regimen utilizes supplements with very different chemical compounds to attack the infection in different ways.

  • Mushroom Complex – This mushroom formula called MycoPhyto Complex uses a mix of six different medicinal mushrooms to improve and maintain the immune system. The phytochemicals in these mushrooms limit the spread of tumors and infections on a microbial level, strengthening the body’s defense system.
  • Oil of Oregano – The beneficial effect of oil of oregano resonates in several of the body’s systems. It’s a powerful antioxidant and a powerful anti-microbial.
  • Berberine – This is the alkaloid known to kill bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites that is present in a number of plants including barberry, tree turmeric, Oregon grape, goldenseal, and goldthread.
  • Liposomal Vitamin C – This vitamin C is highly bio-available, and will strengthen the immune system and provide a host of other benefits.
  • Colloidal Silver – Most are familiar with its antimicrobial properties. I’ve never found it to be as effective as other compounds, but combined with other supplements, colloidal silver makes it nearly impossible for infection to flourish.
  • Olive Leaf Extract – This is one that can be taken indefinitely. Olive leaf extract is one of those rare supplements that supports the immune system and kills the infections without harming beneficial microflora.
  • Shillington’s Echinacea Plus – Minimize the severity and duration of a current illness and enhance your immune system – a great addition for anyone detoxifying and looking to keep their immune system strong while the onslaught of toxins works through the elimination organs.

Conclusion

The whole protocol above is overkill. It’s expensive, and it’s more than enough for most. On the other hand, if you have the money and want to knock out chronic disease fast, there’s no better protocol, and all of the recommended supplements have immense benefits to the body for a multitude of reasons. If not, try getting through the first two phases, and then maybe choose just one or two of the supplements for the third phase.

EMF’s should also be limited, and grounding, or Earthing should be done as much as possible. Himalayan salt lamps can be very beneficial for those suffering from Lyme.

Be sure to get enough sleep, and make sure the water you’re drinking is clean, beneficial water.

There are new approaches for diagnosing Lyme in development. They look promising, but you do not have to wait for a proper diagnosis to heal your body and feel vibrant and healthy again. It really doesn’t matter if it’s Lyme or anything else. Healing the body is about restoring the immune system, reducing toxins, and feeding the body right.

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