When most of us think of the plague, we think of the Black Death and the millions who died in Europe in the Middle Ages. Few realize that the plague is endemic in the southwestern United States and has been with us since plague epidemics struck California in the early 1900s.

The plague has hit the news lately. A Yosemite National Park campground was closed and dusted with flea insecticide after a child, who is now recovering, contracted the plague. Plague was confirmed in two dead golden-mantled ground squirrels, and it was confirmed in fleas combed from captured squirrels and chipmunks.

What Is the Plague?

Plague is caused by a bacterium, Yersinia pestis. It is spread by fleas that typically infest rats and other rodents.

According to the CDC, there have been three distinct pandemics: the Justinian Plague, the “Black Death” or the Great Plague, and the Modern Plague. (A pandemic is defined as an epidemic that has spread over a large area – a global outbreak or one that has reached several countries.)

The Justinian Plague, which began in 541 AD, killed more than 25 million people over the following 200 years.

The Great Plague of Black Death started in China in 1334, spreading across the trade routes into Europe where it wiped out an estimated 60% of the population. In all, 75-200 million deaths in Eurasia were attributed to the pandemic that lasted a few short years, from 1346 to 1353.

The third pandemic, the Modern Plague, accounted for 10 million over a 20 year period beginning in 1894. This outbreak also started in China and spread to port cities around the world (including the U.S.) through globe-trotting ship rats.

While there have been no pandemics of the plague since the early 1900’s, epidemics continued with outbreaks in India in the first half of the century and epidemics in Viet Nam during the 1960s and 1970s.

Currently, 95% of the cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. But the plague is endemic in the southwestern Unites States – meaning it is a constant presence in the wild.

Forms of The Plague

Infection of the Yersinia pestis bacterium can take many forms, but the most common forms are bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic.

Bubonic plague is named from the buboes (painful lumpy swellings) that form in lymph glands. This form of plague usually begins from a fleabite. The bacteria multiply in the nearest lymph node. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, weakness, and swelling in one or more lymph nodes.

Septicemic plague refers to a systemic infection of the circulatory system. The initial infection can start as septicemic or it can occur as a result of untreated bubonic plague. Symptoms include those for bubonic plague along with shock, abdominal pain, and bleeding into the skin or other organs. Tissues and skin may turn black and die, especially on the toes, fingers, and nose.

Pneumonic plague occurs when the infection is concentrated in the lungs. The infection is spread through inhaling infectious droplets (from an infected person coughing or sneezing) or it can occur secondary to untreated bubonic or septicemic plague. It presents with fever, headache, and weakness as in the other forms, but also includes a quick onset of pneumonia. Pneumonic plague is the only type of plague that can be spread from person to person.

Current Stats on Plague

The World Health Organization receives between 1,000 and 2,000 reports of plague each year. Most of the cases are from small towns and villages or agricultural areas in Africa.

Most of the human cases of plague in the United States occur in two regions:

1. Northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, and southern Colorado.
2. California, southern Oregon, and far western Nevada.

Cases have occurred in other states, though it is endemic in these regions, spread among the rodent population and spread to other wildlife. In recent decades, the Unites States averages 7 human cases per year. Eighty percent of the cases are bubonic plague.

Prevention

Without a doubt the best defense against the plague, Lyme’s disease, Powassan, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, West Nile, or any other disease transmitted by bloodsucking ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas is reasonable, safe prevention. When working or playing in the woods or bushy areas, wear long sleeves and long pants. Tuck your pants in under your socks. Cover your hair or wear a hat. And spray your clothes and uncovered skin with insect repellent.

Consumer Reports tested 15 insect repellents in May of 2015 and found that two natural repellents (if the concentration of the essential ingredient is high enough) worked better that Deet. One contained picaridin (a 20% concentration from the black pepper plant); the other contained lemon eucalyptus (a 30% concentration from the gum eucalyptus tree).

There are many essential oils that repel insects. To learn more, check out Powassan Virus, a Deadly Tick Disease for a recipe to make your own insect repellent. But remember, essential oils are medicinal. Do your research and use in a responsible manner.

Spray insect repellent on your clothing and exposed skin. To put repellent on your face, spray your hands and rub or pat onto your face. Apply to children to control the spray and don’t put any on their hands so they don’t ingest it or rub it into their eyes. Wash your hands after application.

After coming in, wash sprayed clothing in a separate wash and bathe or shower. Also, take the opportunity to thoroughly check for ticks.

Recommended Reading:

• How to Cure Lyme Disease, and Virtually Any Other Bacterial Infection, Naturally 
• Bullet Proof Your Immune System With These Natural Remedies

Sources:

• The Black Death: The Greatest Catastrophe Ever – History Today
• Plague – History – CDC
• Plague – Symptoms – CDC
• What really works against bug bites – Consumer Reports
• Powassan Virus a Deadly Tick Disease – Organic Lifestyle Magazine

Fibromyalgia was once an obscure condition, the very word itself capable of prompting looks of confusion or dismissal. At one time called fibrositis, the condition is now almost a household term with many people diagnosed daily. This condition of widespread soft tissue pain and accompanying, overlapping symptoms is now taken more seriously, but it is still misunderstood by many mainstream doctors who do not have a cause or a solution.

The source of fibromyalgia has many theories, everything from insufficient nutrition to neurotransmitter imbalance, myofascial constriction to adrenal fatigue, mental illness to hypochondria, the latter most unlikely and ludicrous. Many people in the medical field suspect the condition to stem from a disturbance in the nervous system and the communication of pain signals. This might explain why the syndrome can wreak havoc on almost all organ systems. Those living with this condition know too well how one can look perfectly healthy yet be suffering from unexplainable, severe pain in muscles, tendons, ligaments, and sometimes joints.

The pain can be worsened with exertion, emotional stress, too little sleep, an overly acidic diet, and cold or hot weather. Soft tissue pain, burning, aching, and weakness can concur with irritable bowel and bladder, crushing fatigue, chronic indigestion, severe light sensitivity, anxiety disorders, hormonal imbalance, and intolerance to food and temperature changes. The severity of symptoms can vary season to season, day to day, hour to hour, and sometimes, minute to minute.

Fibromyalgia can develop gradually or come on suddenly after a car accident, fall, or injury. Prolonged emotional stress can also trigger a healthy individual into a lifelong struggle with the syndrome. Some symptoms persist for years while others are transient; some are debilitating while others are constant but in the peripheral.

It may be misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis, Lupus, or depression. Sometimes fibromyalgia comes with a co-diagnosis of Sjögren’s Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFIDS/ME), rheumatoid arthritis, and Myofascial Pain Syndrome. Some medications and treatments may work only for a little while. Sadly, it is no wonder why fibromyalgia encourages health care professionals, bosses, family members, and friends of the patient to chalk it all up to, “It must be all in your head!”

For the person living the Hell that can be fibromyalgia, such a summation can be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Depression is common and can develop along with the plethora of other agonizing symptoms. A fibromyalgia diagnosis twenty years ago made a patient even more vulnerable to such beliefs and criticism than today, but those living with it wish it could merely be chalked up to self-obsessive imaginings. It is not surprising that many allopathic doctors take the “logical”, easy way out and prescribe antidepressants to fibro patients. Because of this, it is often assumed that the condition is psychological in origin.

Fibromyalgia pain is linked to neurotransmitter imbalances, especially serotonin and acetylcholine, which in turn can have an effect on mood, but antidepressant drugs can fail to solve deficiencies and glitches within the nervous system and impose undesired side effects to an already burdened body. Often, antidepressants and similar medications prescribed for fibromyalgia compound the problem and make things worse.

There has been widespread assumption among alternative health practitioners that fibromyalgia syndrome stems from a toxic diet and lifestyle that includes an excess of processed foods and alcohol; however, there are countless people living with fibromyalgia who have a history of adhering to healthier diets and ways of living.

Fibromyalgia does not discriminate, affects people of all ages, and affects both genders. A higher percentage of women are diagnosed, thus some speculation surrounds possible hormonal factors. With so many conflicting theories and findings, only one thing is certain and agreed upon: every person is individual and in need of a tailored treatment program. The fibromyalgia sufferer needs a village to maintain balance, and that village can be comprise of medical doctors and holistic practitioners, among them, massage therapists, acupuncturists, chiropractors, herbalists, and counselors. Unfortunately, most care is not covered by insurance and can also be a hit or miss.

Fortunately, there is much a fibromyalgia sufferer can do to lessen pain and find longer periods of equilibrium, even the one who has literally tried everything under thesun and the one with limited financial resources. There are also newer alternative treatments and combinations of such that are dramatically changing lives.

Graston Technique

Graston Technique® has been around for nineteen years but is only now making its way into therapeutic dialogue. Used by more than twenty-two thousand professionals including therapists, athletic trainers, and respected chiropractors, Graston is a cutting-edge, non-invasive approach to injury recovery and connective tissue disorder.

The Graston practitioner uses six types of stainless steel instruments to rub soft tissue. These tools reach deeply into layers of muscle to permanently reduce scar tissue and trigger points that prevent blood circulation within the fibers. Trigger points are painful areas that hold the most tension within a muscle. They develop from injury or poor habits such as posture and repetitive movement. Trigger points can also form from physiological stress patterns within the nervous system, creating stubborn and dysfunctional loops of miscommunication between the brain and muscles.

Each muscle is comprised of numerous layers of fibrous tissue that is wrapped in natural cellophane called fascia. Fascia not only holds together muscles, tendons, and ligaments but also organs. Trigger points within a muscle can multiply over time, eventually spreading to larger areas of the body and constricting the deepest levels of the fascia. If these critical points are not addressed after an injury, accident, or years of bad habits and stress, the digestive, respiratory, reproductive, and endocrine systems can be adversely affected. What began as a small area in need of help becomes a larger problem compounded by other, more serious conditions.

Many seasoned chiropractors believe that fibromyalgia is actually a syndrome brought on when multiple, unaddressed trigger points go haywire. Over time, the body learns ways of coping and moving to prevent further injury, which can include glitches in the autonomic nervous system. Year upon year of dysfunctional nerve communication, constricted fascia, and blood-deprived muscles can result in serious reduction of mobility and quality of life. Other conditions, seemingly unrelated to the muscular-skeletal system, can develop and become debilitating.

Graston Technique® goes where massage therapy leaves off. Massage therapy is highly effective for fibromyalgia but does not get to the root trigger points. A massage therapist’s hands can only reach a few layers of muscle tissue, whereas Graston tools can reach  five layers down, where the deepest trigger points fester. Treatments, combined with knowledgeable chiropractic care and tailored exercises, can yield results quite rapidly. While other modalities might provide temporary relief, Graston combined with other therapies can get to the source of pain and unravel decades of problems within the soft tissue and have a permanent effect.

Essential Oil Therapy

Clinical aromatherapy uses essential oils to increase oxygen to the tissues, reduce acidity, improve circulation, and lessen inflammation. Essential oils—steam-distilled essences from plants, leaves, bark, roots, flowers, and fruit peels—are powerful substances that can gently nudge the body back into balance. Some are also amazingly effective analgesics that work better than over-the-counter ointments as well as prescribed pain medications. When used properly, essential oils do not cause side effects and contribute to overall health of the body’s nervous and immune systems.

Application of essential oils can be approached four different ways, all offering great benefits for the fibromyalgia sufferer:

1. Undiluted to the soles of the feet where the pores of the body are the largest, thus providing quick absorption of essential oil particles into the bloodstream where the oils do their work to reduce pain and inflammation. This method is best to calm over-excited nerves and works systemically to bring the body into a more harmonious state. For convenience, applying essential oils to the soles of the feet is best employed at bedtime.

2. Diluted in a little vegetable oil (also called a carrier or base oil) and applied on site to reduce pain, swelling, inflammation, and discomfort in soft tissues and joints. This method can be applied up to four times a day. This method can also be highly effective for acute pain and when used with massage modalities.

3. Blended with Epsom salts or evaporated sea salt and distributed into a hot bath or foot bath. Aromatherapeutic baths can greatly reduce fibromyalgia pain and promote better sleep. This method is best used in the evening.

4. Inhaled to stimulate the neurotransmitter serotonin which can be alarmingly inadequate in people with fibromyalgia. Essential oils can be applied to a tissue or a specific aroma locket for this purpose and inhaled throughout the day to maintain healthier levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters.

Note: Pregnant women, epileptics, and people taking medications such as blood thinners should consult a qualified health professional before using essential oils.

Natural Pain-Reducing Essential Oils & Formulas

Fibromyalgia/Myofascial Pain Blend #1

• 2 drops spearmint
• 2 drops balsam fir
• 1-2 drops ginger*
• 1 drop juniper berry

Dilute in 1-2 teaspoons of carrier oil or unscented lotion and apply to affected areas or all over the body 2x a day with a few hours between applications. Especially effective when used in massage modalities.

*Ginger is contraindicated for anyone on blood thinners. Omit or substitute with lavender.

Fibromyalgia/Myofascial Pain Blend #2:

• 3 drops eucalyptus
• 3 drops black spruce

Dilute in 1-2 teaspoons of carrier oil or lotion and apply to affected areas or all over the body 2x a day with a few hours between applications. Especially effective when used in massage modalities.

Single Essential Oils for Topical Diluted Application

• Eucalyptus: 3 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil or unscented lotion. Mix well and apply to pain sites. Can also be added to bath water by mixing up to 10 drops of essential oil to ¼ cup of Epsom salts or evaporated sea salt.
• Ginger: 1-2 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil or unscented lotion. Mix well and apply to pain sites. *Contraindicated for people taking blood thinners.
• Helichrysum: 2 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil or unscented lotion. Mix well and apply to pain sites.
• Juniper Berry: drops per teaspoon of carrier oil or unscented lotion. Mix well and apply to pain sites. *Contraindicated for people taking blood thinners. Can also be added to bath water by mixing up to 5 drops of essential oil to ¼ cup of Epsom salts or evaporated sea salt.
• Lavender: 4 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil or unscented lotion. Mix well and apply to pain sites. Can also be added to bath water by mixing up to 10 drops of essential oil to ¼ cup of Epsom salts or evaporated sea salt.
• Lemongrass: 1 drop per teaspoon of carrier oil or unscented lotion. Mix well and apply to pain sites.
• Pepper, Black: 1-2 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil or unscented lotion. Mix well and apply to pain sites.
• Peppermint: 1-2 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil or unscented lotion. Mix well and apply to pain sites. Can also be added to bath water by mixing up to 8 drops of essential oil to ¼ cup of Epsom salts or evaporated sea salt.
• Pine needle: 3-4 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil or unscented lotion. Mix well and apply to pain sites. Can also be added to bath water by mixing up to 15 drops of essential oil to ¼ cup of Epsom salts or evaporated sea salt.
• Spearmint: 1-2 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil or unscented lotion. Mix well and apply to pain sites. Can also be added to bath water by mixing up to 5 drops of essential oil to ¼ cup of Epsom salts or evaporated sea salt.
• Spruce, Black: 3-4 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil or unscented lotion. Mix well and apply to pain sites. Can also be added to bath water by mixing up to 12 drops of essential oil to ¼ cup of Epsom salts or evaporated sea salt.

*Note: If rash develops, use only 1 drop of essential oil per teaspoon of carrier oil or unscented lotion, or discontinue use.

Single Essential Oils for Inhalation

• Cacao: 1-2 drops on a tissue or in an aroma locket. Stimulates and encourages utilization of serotonin and dopamine in the body. Inhale for 5 minute intervals up to 4x a day.
• Lavender: 1 drop on a tissue or in an aroma locket. Stimulates and encourages utilization of serotonin in the body. Inhale for 5 minute intervals up to 4x a day.
• Neroli: 1-2 drops on a tissue or in an aroma locket. Stimulates and encourages utilization of serotonin in the body. Also calms adrenalin and other stress hormones. Inhale for 5 minute intervals up to 4x a day.
• Rose: 2-3 drops on a tissue or in an aroma locket. Stimulates and encourages utilization of serotonin and dopamine in the body. Inhale for 5 minute intervals up to 4x a day.
• Sweet Orange: 1-3 drops on a tissue or in an aroma locket. Stimulates and encourages utilization of serotonin, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters in the body. Inhale for 5 minute intervals up to 4x a day.
• Tangerine: 1-3 drops on a tissue or in an aroma locket. Stimulates and encourages utilization of serotonin, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters in the body. Inhale for 5 minute intervals up to 4x a day.
• Ylang Ylang: 1-2 drops on a tissue or in an aroma locket. Stimulates and encourages utilization of serotonin in the body. Also calms adrenalin and other stress hormones. Inhale for 3 minute intervals up to 3x a day.

Those of us who are living with fibromyalgia in all of its variations of severity and complexity can find hope, new methods, and great reduction of symptoms. I have been fortunate to be on both sides of the healing fence and can attest to the fact that the body itself constantly strives for balance, and finding our own individual pathways to wellness is possible only if we don’t give up. I am grateful for my husband’s insistence to “try one more thing.”

Recommended Reading:

• Gluten, Candida, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and Autoimmune Diseases
• Fibromyalgia – Natural Remedies
• How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children
• Cherries – The Superfood You Should Know About
• Reduce Muscle Soreness

Sources:

• Fibromyalgia & Chronic Myofascial Pain: A Survival Manual by Devin Starlanyl & Mary Ellen Copeland (new Harbinger Publications, 2001, 2^nd Edition)
• Multidimensional Aromatherapy: Clinical, Practical, and Vibrational Applications by Marlaina Donato, CA, CMT (Ekstasis Multimedia, 2015)
• Graston Technique – GrastonTechnique.com

For most of us in the Northern Hemisphere, summer is still in full force and kids are enjoying their summer break. Out of sight and out of mind, our immune systems never get a vacation. Minute to minute, our deepest defense mechanisms are working behind the scenes to keep us in balance.

Pharmacies are advertising flu shots with predictable scare tactics before schools reopen and families get back into more familiar routines. Many health-conscious people gear up for the flu by getting an annual shot but gasp in awe when they come down with it anyway. Whether you blame it on the fact that the vaccine does not defend the body against all strains of influenza or the shot itself is the culprit, flu inoculations do not always work. They also do not prevent or lessen the severity of the common cold, halt stomach bugs, or deter other woes associated with the colder months.

Consistent hand-washing, cutting down on or eliminating sugar entirely from the diet, supplementing with good food, and getting enough sleep are all good ways to boost immunity, but they are not always enough. Clinical aromatherapy can boost the body’s defenses where good intentions leave off. Like any other avenue to wellness, it works best before the problem arises.

Some people complain that essential oils did not work for them during the flu season, not realizing that they used the same oils habitually, did not use them regularly, or used inappropriate ones. Using essential oils correctly is key. Here are a few tips that can make all the difference this coming winter and all year long.

Steps to Correctly Use Essential Oils

1. Do not use the same oil or combination of oils for longer than 7-10 days. The body will build a tolerance to it, thereby weakening the effects of the oils. To avoid immunity to the essential oils, alternate single oils and combination formulas every other week.

2. Do not think a few applications of essential oils will boost your immune system for months to come. Maintain a step ahead and use essential oils regularly, which means daily or 3-4x a week. The best way is to apply them undiluted to the soles of the feet at bedtime.

3. Do not shower for at least seven hours after applying essential oils.

4. Do not assume that all essential oils fight viruses. All oils are antibacterial, but only a few possess true anti-viral properties.

5. Use half the recommended amount for children.

Essential Oils for Better Immunity

Since essential oil is a plant’s own defense against disease, it does the same for us when we apply it singularly or in combination. Using essential oils that work well with others of complementary nature is the heart of clinical aromatherapy, and this goal of synergy can yield profound results regarding the immune system. When applied undiluted to the soles of the feet (the soft, uncalloused part between the ball of the foot and the heel), the antiviral-like properties of certain essential oils reach the bloodstream within 20 minutes and the deepest cellular level within 7-24 hours. For the best and most reliable results, please use the highest quality essential oils (see Recommendations and Links at the end of this article).

Related: Make Your Immune System Bulletproof with These Natural Remedies

Immune-boosting essential oils can be your best ally throughout the year, but if you want to gear up for the flu season this winter, it is best to armor your body now while summer is still here. Here is a list of essential oils you will want on hand and why.

• Clove Bud: One of the most powerful and reliable essential oils in clinical aromatherapy, clove combats contagious diseases and is an excellent oil to use for any bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. Also highly recommended for Lyme disease. How to use: 4 drops undiluted on each sole of the foot. Works even better when layered with organic lemon essential oil and used in combination 2-3x a week for 7 days. After a week, use another single oil or combination. Caution: Do not use undiluted or diluted on any other part of the body besides the soles of the feet. Avoid clove essential oil if you are on blood thinners.

• Eucalyptus citriodora: There are over 700 species of eucalyptus, and Eucalyptus citriodora (also known as Lemon Eucalyptus) is one of the most valuable. It has potent anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties and is highly effective for bacterial and viral infections of the respiratory system*. How to use: 4 drops undiluted on each sole of the foot. Effective for flu pain when diluted and combined with balsam fir; apply this diluted combination to aching muscles and joints. Can also be mixed with Epsom salts or sea salt and dispersed into a hot bath or foot bath. Can be diffused into the air via nebulizer to clear the air of viruses. *Do not use Lemon Eucalyptus if you have asthma.

Related: Understanding Essential Oils: A Complete Guide For Beginners

• Eucalyptus globulus: Menthol-rich eucalyptus eases the pain of muscles and joints associated with influenza and strengthens the immune system to fight viruses and bacteria. It also combats infectious fevers. Eucalyptus breaks up chest congestion when diluted and applied to the chest and throat in non-asthmatics. How to use: A few drops added to a pot or heat-proof bowl of hot water will make wonderful steam for inflamed sinuses associated with head colds and chronic sinusitis. *Do not use Eucalyptus globulus if you have asthma. In cases of asthma, substitute with pine needle or balsam fir or pine needle.

• Lavender: Seemingly a lightweight, this essential oil is the primary oil to have on hand at home and while traveling. How to use: 4 drops undiluted on each sole of the foot. Works even better when layered with organic lemon essential oil and used in combination 2-3x a week for 7 days. After a week, use another single oil or combination.

• Organic Lemon: Organic lemon essential oil is one of the most potent oils and the first to go to when one’s immunity is compromised. Organic lemon stimulates white blood cell production and boosts immunity against serious infections including pneumonia and staph. How to use: 4 drops undiluted on each sole of the foot. Organic lemon kills viruses and bacteria when diffused into the air via nebulizer.

• Pine Needle: Pine needle is good for viral fatigue and aching, winter muscles when a cold or flu is dragging you down. How to use: 4 drops undiluted on each sole of the foot. Best used when mixed with sea salt or Epsom salt and added to hot bath water. It can also be diluted in a little vegetable oil or unscented lotion and rubbed into the body. Pine needle is also a great oil to dilute and rub onto the chest for coughs and bronchitis.

Related: How I Replaced Medications With Essential Oils

• Tea Tree: Tea tree oil is a powerful and reliable oil for the immune system that is best when combined with organic lemon, white thyme, clove, or lavender essential oil to fight infections and the flu. How to use: 4 drops undiluted on each sole of the foot.

• Lemongrass: Lemongrass essential oil is used to relieve muscle pain, ward off insects, and reduce body aches. It also has powerful antimicrobial properties.

Even those seemingly alike offer unique benefits. With a little practice and even more knowledge, clinical aromatherapy can be employed to dramatically bolster immunity and guard against winter illnesses and even greater threats. It is also a lovely, fragrant way to better health.

Sources:

• Donato, Marlaina. Multidimensional Aromatherapy. Blairstown, NJ: Ekstasis Multimedia, 2015
• Worwood, Valerie Ann. The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy. San Rafael, CA: New World Library 1991
• Young, Gary. Essential Oil Desk Reference. Essential Science Publishing, 2004

You must have heard about several claims of “super foods” for quite some time, most of which are baseless. Turmeric stands out as one of the best super foods you can find. Turmeric is the brilliant yellow or orange powder commonly used as a spice that is derived from a plant called Curcuma longa. Turmeric has been used in Asia to treat various health problems for several centuries. In traditional medicine, turmeric was used for a wide array of conditions like menstrual cramps, aches and pains, colic, and jaundice. Let’s look at what makes turmeric a paleo.

It’s Natural

Turmeric is naturally extracted from the rhizome of the Curcuma longa plant, which has been cultivated for thousands of years in India, China, and other parts of the world. If not used fresh, the rhizomes from Curcuma plant are boiled for about 40 minutes and then dried in hot ovens. They are then ground into deep-yellow-orange powder to be used as spices, curries, or dyes.

Powerful Antioxidant

Studies that have been carried out on turmeric revolve around an active antioxidant called curcumin. Antioxidants help in the elimination of free radicals in the body, which are responsible for cell damage and illnesses.

Contains No Anti-Nutrients

Turmeric doesn’t contain compounds that interfere with the normal breakdown of food. In addition, it doesn’t interfere with the absorption of minerals and nutrients along the digestive system. Its great taste can indeed make meals enjoyable, which gives you an opportunity to explore various food sources with higher nutritional values.

Has Healing Effects

Turmeric has been used in India, China, and other countries in treating illnesses like diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and arthritis. Although more evidence is still required, there are claims that low, regular doses of turmeric are beneficial in cancer prevention. Unlike most anticancer agents that impair the immune system, curcumin has restorative abilities. Curcumin regulates cell function by disrupting its growth, which is a large factor in cancer development. It’s also suggested that people in India who rely on a traditional diet containing turmeric have lower bowel cancer rates.

Improves Brain Function

Previously, it was thought that neurons couldn’t divide and multiply after early childhood, but it’s been shown that it happens. Neurons have the ability to establish new connections as well as multiply and increase in number in certain areas of the brain. Curcumin promotes the production of growth hormone that functions in the brain, which reverses mental illnesses and age-related cognitive decline. It is also thought that it can boost your memory and make you smarter.

Improves Cardiovascular Health

Heart disease is the major global killer. Studies have shown that curcumin in turmeric can improve the function of the endothelium, which is the lining of the blood vessels. In one study, curcumin effect on preventing heart disease was equated to exercise, while another one shows it works as effectively as some medications. In short, curcumin has beneficial effects on factors that play a role in heart disease. It improves the function of endothelium and is a potent anti-inflammatory agent.

Uses of Turmeric

• Spice: Turmeric is commonly used as a spice in many dishes all over the world. Its use began in traditional Asian culinary dishes. It is also used in spicing homemade soap to improve its color while instilling benefits on the skin.

• Whitening teeth: While turmeric is renowned for its staining prowess, it is commonly used in teeth whitening. This is possible as it doesn’t come into contact with enamel long enough to change its color.

• Foundation customization: Adding a touch of turmeric to your tinted moisturizer can help you get a perfect glow that matches your skin tone. Turmeric is a common recipe used by women in face creams and body scrubs for a glowing skin.

• Stomach soothing: If you have a stomach that doesn’t behave, turmeric can help. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), you should take 500mg of specific turmeric extract twice daily to alleviate digestive issues.

Conclusion

Turmeric is a paleo that is extracted from a plant called Curcuma. Turmeric is commonly used as a spice in preparation of dishes. Curcumin is the main ingredient in turmeric that comes with many health benefits. Turmeric can be effective in treating and preventing inflammatory illnesses like arthritis. Studies are still underway to find the effects of turmeric on other diseases like heart disease and cancer.

Further Reading:

• Health Benefits of Spicing the Food with Turmeric  – Consumer Health Digest
• Why is Turmeric a Great Antioxidant? – Live Lighter

Sources:

• 10 Proven Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin – Authority Nutrition
• Turmeric – WebMD

Aromatherapy is a word that conjures images of celebrity trends, New Age dogma, and pop-up air fresheners found on supermarket shelves. When French biochemist René-Maurice Gattefossé coined the term in the 1920s, he probably had no idea that his against-the-odds recovery from gas gangrene using lavender essential oil would prompt a global surge of followers sniffing their way toward enlightenment. Today, despite the common household word, most people are still unaware of the true capabilities of the modality, even those who keep bottles of lavender by their bedside to induce better sleep or dab tea tree oil on blemished skin.

Aromatherapy, also known as essential oil therapy and aromatic medicine, is a full-spectrum healing method that is not only capable of armoring the immune system against the common cold, it can combat drug-resistant superbugs. It can also regulate the endocrine system and re-route haphazard pathways in the nervous system. Very few mainstream medical practitioners give credence to clinical aromatherapy applications, but thousands of people who have regulated their metabolism, lost weight, or have overcome the abyss of anxiety disorders without toxic side effects know why the use of aromatics for wellbeing has been around for thousands of years –  it works.

Wonderfully aromatic, essential oils appear to be pleasantries associated with perfumes, meditative practices, and drawer sachets, but they are powerful substances. A plant’s essential oil is its life force and its innate immune system that protects it from disease. Essential oils can do the same for us when we apply them undiluted to the soles of the feet a few times a week during flu season, combine them with Epsom salt and sea salt to put into a hot bath or foot bath, or dilute them with a vegetable oil for a therapeutic massage. They can also be inhaled to balance neurotransmitters, chemical messengers in our nervous system that regulate many bodily functions and affect mood. When used with a foundation of knowledge, aromatherapy can be used on everyone of all ages, as well as our pets, and even our houseplants.

There are many courses, books, and advocates passing along the complex body of knowledge about essential oils, but one must be aware that misinformation abounds. A little knowledge is not enough when approaching aromatherapy. Albeit natural, essential oils—steam-distilled essences of fresh plants, roots, barks, leaves, grasses, berries, seeds, and fruit rinds—must be treated like medications that have contraindications and specific recommendations for use.

Anyone taking any medication, especially blood thinners, should do their homework when using essential oils dermally (on the skin), for many oils could interfere with medications and cause serious, adverse effects. Epileptics are cautioned against inhaling certain oils that may prompt seizures. Pregnant women can use some, but not all, essential oils and at different stages of gestation. Hundreds of essential oils are available which means that if certain ones are contraindicated for a specific condition or prescribed drug, there are many more to choose from that can be used safely.

There is much debate about internal use of essential oils. If you are even slightly familiar with aromatherapy, you have probably come across company representatives that praise the practice like Scripture, but any certified, seasoned aromatherapist will agree that essential oils are concentrated substances, many more times concentrated than the amount found in the actual plants from which they are derived. The wise practitioner also knows that every body is different and has different responses and needs.

Want to know more? For expert, sound information, look for guidance by authors such as Robert Tisserand, Shirley Price, Kurt Schnaubelt Ph.D., Valerie Ann Worwood, Linda L. Smith, and Jane Buckle PhD RN. The market is flooded with books on the subject, and the best advice is to judge the material by the indexes, cross references, and resources provided in any title. Consider taking a course, especially one that includes hands-on blending and class time. It is well worth the effort and money invested, most of all, the communion with others who respect this holistic art form that can change lives for the better.

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:

• Braverman, Eric R. The Edge Effect. NY, NY: Sterling Publishing Co., INC., 2004
• Donato, Marlaina. Multidimensional Aromatherapy. Blairstown, NJ: Ekstasis Multimedia, 2015
• Edwards, Victoria H. The Aromatherapy Companion. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 1999
• Schnaubelt, Kurt. The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils: The Science of Advanced Aromatherapy. Toronto, CA: Healing Arts Press, 2011
• Smith, Linda L. Healing Oils, Healing Hands. HTSM Press, 2003
• Tisserand, Robert. The Art of Aromatherapy. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 1978
• Worwood, Valerie Ann. Aromatherapy for the Soul. Novato, CA: New World Library, 1999

It is rare to watch twenty minutes of television without being bombarded with commercials for products that promise to combat toenail fungus and belly bloat, annoying and stubborn conditions that can springboard from imbalanced intestinal flora. Athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, feminine itch, intestinal gas, and other signs of systemic yeast overgrowth can all be greatly improved by using essential oils. Not only do essential oils attack acute yeast infections on sight, they also help to balance and increase good intestinal bacteria to prevent recurrences.

Excessive consumption of sugar, processed food, white flour, high fructose corn syrup, and smoked and nitrite-laden deli meats is known to contribute to yeast (Candida albicans) overgrowth, but even with a healthy diet, physical, emotional, and environmental stress can also manage to wreak havoc on the body’s core equilibrium.

Overuse of pharmaceutical antibiotics is a major factor in Candida taking hold; in fact, some sources say that it can take one year to rebuild beneficial flora in the intestines after one round of commonly-prescribed antibiotics. Good bacteria in the bowel comprise the activating force of our immune system, and when this bacteria or flora is compromised, our immunity is weakened.

In the conventional world of health, antibiotics are prescribed to fight infection, which depletes the intestinal flora that is the very foundation of strong immune response. Multiple rounds of antibiotics keep the immune system indefinitely weakened. We can only imagine what havoc this imposes upon the human body after decades. While antibiotics save lives, they are too often prescribed; collapsed immunity and drug-resistant bacteria are the result.

Essential oils, on the other hand, destroy pathogens without killing the vital intestinal flora. Interestingly, essential oils have shown to decrease bad intestinal bacteria and increase the beneficial.

Applying undiluted essential oils such as geranium, lavender, clove bud*, organic lemon*, tea tree, white thyme, ginger*, eucalyptus, and rosewood regularly to the soles of the feet increases beneficial flora in the gut, therefore giving your immune system a natural boost. Not only does this help eradicate fungal conditions, but it also helps your body fight herpes-strain viruses including chicken pox and shingles.

Clinical aromatherapy can be a fierce ally after antibiotic use or during times of stress, and can be an antidote to nutritionally bankrupt eating habits. Eliminating offending foods and lowering stress is key, but using essential oils can make it fun and effective.

Essential oils are powerful substances and many have contraindications*, so please check with your doctor or health practitioner before using them. Here are a few sure-fire recommendations to slay the yeast beast without the nasty side effects of drugstore products as well as ways to safeguard your immune system from becoming vulnerable to every virus that goes around:

For Nail Fungus

Apply 1 drop tea tree and 1 drop lavender essential oil undiluted (neat) to nail and nail bed 2x a day until things improve. Continue for another week for good measure. This combination can yield great results in a surprisingly short amount of time.

For Athlete’s Foot

Add 3 drops tea tree, 3 drops eucalyptus, and 3 drops geranium essential oil to a basin of warm water and soak feet once a day. Do not rinse. Dry feet well.

For Systemic Yeast Conditions

To boost good flora in the intestines after taking antibiotics or for systemic Candida/yeast: apply 2 drops lavender, 1 drop tea tree, and 2 drops clove essential oil undiluted to the soles of the feet every evening before bed. Do this for two weeks. For chronic systemic yeast issues, use this method for two weeks and then stop for a week; repeat as needed. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to flush toxins from the system.

For Stronger Immunity

To boost immune response, apply 2 drops organic lemon and 2 drops clove bud essential oil undiluted to the soles of the feet every evening before bed. Do this for one week then use 2 drops lavender essential oil and 2 drops tea tree essential oil for the following week. Alternating combinations helps to prevent your body from building up a tolerance and the oils from losing effectiveness over time.

For more information on the wonderful possibilities of clinical and practical aromatherapy applications, see the works of authors such as Robert Tisserand and Valerie Ann Worwood, among others.

*This essential oil is contraindicated for anyone on blood thinners. Substitutions are recommended.

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. Blairstown, NJ: Ekstasis Multimedia, 2015
• Edwards, Victoria H. The Aromatherapy Companion. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 1999
• Tisserand, Robert. The Art of Aromatherapy. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 1978
• Worwood, Valerie Ann. Aromatherapy for the Soul. Novato, CA: New World Library, 1999

Let’s “pause” the discussion about mandatory vaccinations and push “play” on how best to keep the next generation healthy. According to Stephanie Seneff, PhD, a research scientist at MIT, by the year 2025 one out of every two children will be autistic given the current rate of increase. ¹

Dr. Seneff states, “Children with autism have biomarkers indicative of excessive glyphosate, including zinc and iron deficiency, low serum sulfate, seizures, and mitochondrial disorder.” We’ve been hearing this term “mitochondrial disorder” more and more lately. In July 2010, Hannah Poling’s family was awarded $1.5 million plus $500,000 annually for continued care after Hannah was severely injured from receiving vaccines for nine diseases at the same time– the typical recommended doses. The court determined Hannah had an “unknown mitochondrial disorder.” ²

In light of unknown mitochondrial disorders that may be lurking in children unbeknownst to doctors or parents, will the attempt to make them healthier by injecting more vaccines into them be successful? The effort to eliminate benign childhood diseases is not working. Bloating the vaccine schedule with more recommendations is not the answer. In the recommended schedule from the early 1970’s there are 23 doses of vaccinations for nine diseases.

If we take a look at the current schedule a whopping 67 doses of 16 diseases are recommended for children by age 18. Are our children healthier as a result?

According to a recent study by Neil Miller, the United States has the highest number of recommended vaccines in the first year of life. Thirty three other nations have a lower vaccine schedule and a lower infant mortality rate. Singapore, Sweden, Japan, Iceland, and France have some of the lowest rates in the world. ³

When penicillin was introduced in the 1940’s it was a wonder drug. Modern medicine had found the answer to disease. Kill the bacteria. What could be more effective and efficient than wiping out the culprits to ear infections, sore throats, wound infections and the like? Yet, today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with the American Academy of Pediatrics state that antibiotic-resistant infections, or super bugs, are one of the world’s most pressing public health threats. ⁵ Trying to eliminate bacteria hasn’t been a panacea.

Bacteria and viruses are lifeforms which ultimately “find a way,” not to be easily annihilated. Normal bacteria found in the intestine, female genital tract and oral cavity help prevent overgrowth of potential pathogens and aid digestion.⁵ Bacteria are the only living organisms which can fix nitrogen. They are therefore essential to all life on Earth. Developing another antibiotic or another vaccine is not the answer. What about viruses?

Current news reports tell us we have not eliminated measles mumps or chickenpox. These benign childhood diseases have a natural life of ebb and flow. We see their return despite vaccination rates. They also play a vital role in the education and maturation of the developing immune system.

Some believe that the choice to not vaccinate a child is irresponsible. Claims abound that disease outbreaks are due to the percentage of unvaccinated. These children are viewed with suspicion and distrust as if they are intentionally inflicting others with diseases that they somehow manage to avoid but pass along to others. Yet, according to the New England Journal of Medicine a mumps outbreak during 2009 and 2010 occurred primarily among fully vaccinated children. ⁶

If Mother Nature intended for these benign illnesses to educate the immune system, how can this be accomplished without the risk of serious complications? The answer is called “homeoprophylaxis” also known as “HP.”

HP is the use of diluted and potentized disease products, called “nosodes” to elicit an immune response. This response will educate the immune system in a way that has been clinically shown to reduce the incidence of both infectious as well as chronic disease.

The goal of HP is the same as conventional vaccination – disease protection and improved health. The differences are many. The most obvious is the purity of nosodes compared to conventional vaccines. HP nosodes contain no additives whatsoever. No antibiotics, no preservatives, no detergents no foreign DNA, or unknown viruses or foreign DNA are present.

HP nosodes are administered on small sugar pellets. They dissolve on the tongue and enter the system by way of the natural route past mucous membrane. Here the natural process of disease recognition can begin in the way that Mother Nature intended. Bypassing this route by injecting a substance directly into the blood stream is like an ambush attack to the immune system. There is no opportunity to mount a preliminary response in a biologically appropriate way.

HP is given one disease at a time, as the human economy can manage effectively. If a child is sick, it is best to allow him to get well before introducing any other diseases to his system. Most medical professionals would say it is inadvisable to be giving a vaccine at that time. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that you should not vaccinate your child if he is “moderately or severely sick, with or without a fever.” ⁷

To summarize, homeoprophylaxis, or HP, is a disease prevention method that uses diluted and potentized disease particles. It respects the immune system by only introducing one disease at a time through a natural route of administration passing through mucous membrane.

The nosodes contain no adjuvants, preservatives, antibiotics, or detergents, and are not grown on mediums such as animal tissues containing foreign DNA or unknown viruses.

HP has been utilized since the 1800’s and was even made obligatory by the Prussian government in 1838 during scarlet fever outbreaks. It is commonly used for epidemic diseases that pose the risk of death or disability, but can also be used for diseases with a low mortality rate, or when traveling to an area where a specific disease is endemic.

The benefit of homeoprophylaxis is that it “educates the immune system” in such a way as to either protect from the disease, or if it’s contracted, an asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic case will occur.

Since the 1800’s, HP has been used for scarlet fever, cholera,⁸ smallpox, polio,^9, 10 pertussis,¹¹ diphtheria,¹² influenza,¹³ meningitis,¹⁴ Leptospirosis¹⁵ and more. The application as an alternative to the recommended government immunization schedule is relatively new.

Dr. Isaac Golden, PhD (Australia) conducted a 15 year study with 3000 children receiving HP. He found that those children exposed to the diseases included in the HP program were effectively protected at a rate of 91%.¹⁶ He continues to collect data today.

A very interesting finding of his work is the improved long term health outcomes of children using homeoprophylaxis instead of conventional vaccination. There were also improved long term outcomes when compared with unvaccinated children. It seems that allowing exposure to the natural disease in energetic form carries this benefit without any of the risks. ¹⁷

To quote Dr. Golden regarding these findings, “The explanation of this result remains open, but I would suggest that HP remedies stimulate the energetic immune response and this must lead to a maturing of the response in an analogous way that infection with simple diseases can help to mature the physical immune response.” ¹⁸

In other words, triggering an immune response at the energetic level, using vibrational remedies as opposed to material doses of disease antigen, plays a role in maturing the immune system. This is accomplished similarly to how Mother Nature operates in the developing immune system – gently and carefully, single disease by single disease.

While vaccination does provide a variable level of protection against many infectious diseases, its safety is not confirmed with any degree of certainty. In particular, long term health consequences of vaccines have not been adequately researched. In comparison, homeoprophylaxis has provided 200 years of clinical evidence showing us that it is safe, devoid of any toxic components, and yields positive long term health effects. Include a level of protection comparable to or better than vaccines, and practitioners have genuine choices available when it comes to preventing potentially serious infectious diseases.

Parents and healthcare practitioners wishing to implement HP may want to attend the 1^st HP International Conference in Dallas, TX. Dr. Isaac Golden will be the keynote speaker.

Recommended Reading:

• How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children
• Vaccine Side Effects and Why You Shouldn’t Vaccinate
• Doctors Against Vaccines – Hear From Those Who Have Done the Research

Sources:

1. [up] Half of All Children Will Be Autistic by 2025, Warns Senior Research Scientist at MIT – Alliance for Natural Health
2. [up] Sharyl Attkisson. CBS News. September 2010 – CBS News 
3. [up] Miller NZ, Goldman GS. Infant mortality rates regressed against number of vaccine doses routinely given: Is there a biochemical or synergistic toxicity? Human and Experimental Toxicology. 30(0) 1420-1428.
4. [up] Get Smart Programs & Observancesenters – CDC
5. [up] Microbes and Human Life – Life Materials Technologies Limited
6. [up] Mumps Outbreak in Orthodox Jewish Communities in the United States – New England Journal of Medicine
7. [up] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014) Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/vac-admin/contraindications-vacc.htm
8. [up] Von Boenninghausen, C. Baron.1984. Bönninghausens Kleine medizinische Schriften [Lesser Medical Writings] (ed. Klaus H. Gypser), Heidelberg, 1984.
9. [up] Eisfelder, HW. Poliomyelitis Immunization: A Final Report. Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy. V. 54, Nov-Dec 1961, pp. 166-167.
10. [up] Francisco Eizayaga MD. Treatise on Homeopathic Medicine published by Ediciones Maracel, Buenos Aires, Brazil, 1991
11. [up] Shepherd, D., (1967). Homeopathy in epidemic diseases (First ed.). Essex, England: The C. W. Daniel Company Limited. p.18.
12. [up] Chavanon, P. 1952. La Dipterie, 4th Ed, St Denis, Niort: Imprimerie.
13. [up] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2014. Retrieved from: http://www.flu.gov/pandemic/history/1918/the_pandemic/fightinginfluenza/index.html
14. [up] Mroninski C, Adriano E, Mattos G. Meningococcin, its Protective Effect against Meningococcal Disease, Homœopathic LINKS Winter, 2001 Vol 14 (4) 230-4
15. [up] PubMed 2014. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20674839 Bracho G1, Varela E, Fernández R, Ordaz B, Marzoa N, Menéndez J, García L, Gilling E, Leyva R, Rufín R, de la Torre R, Solis RL, Batista N, Borrero R, Campa C. Large-scale application of highly-diluted bacteria for Leptospirosis epidemic control. Homeopathy. 2010 Jul;99(3):156-66. doi: 10.1016/j.homp.2010.05.009.
16. [up] Golden, Isaac (2012). The Complete Practitioner’s Manual of Homeoprophylaxis. Victoria, Australia. p 93.
17. [up] Ibid
18. [up] Ibid