“I assume you are totally against the flu vaccine?? I hate this time of year because my gut says no you do not want to start injecting your child with a flu vaccine from now until eternity but at the same time doctors and others make you feel guilty that you aren’t “protecting” your child.  What are your thoughts?  Also, since your husband is a doctor does he think the risk of complications or death from the flu are really that great or is it typically only when there is an underlying health condition?”

“I see that you have done some about the swine flu. What about the flu and all the other vaccines “they” recommend. My girls had their yearly check-ups yesterday and I usually have them get the flu mist but not yet this year as I’m just not sure. I don’t know much about it actually. They highly recommended my oldest get it because she is diabetic.

I felt like a bad mom because I am following an alternative shot schedule for my youngest as outlined in “The Vaccine Book” by Dr Sears. She hasn’t had Hep B or MMR yet (because they don’t make MMR separate anymore). I feel kind of lost between reports that vaccines are safe and different reports that are not. I’m sure I’m not the only one so I thought this might be a good subject for you to weigh in on. Are your kids vaccinated at all? Thanks!”

Why I Don’t Get Flu Vaccines

There are many strains of influenza. Every year, the strains change. The pharmaceutical companies try to keep up by testing the strains that are going around. But by the time a vaccine is ready to go on the market, the strain has already changed (usually) and the vaccine quickly becomes outdated. There can also be harmful ingredients or contaminants in vaccines.

You’ve got to read this recent article that reports the flu vaccine is not as effective as everyone thinks. The article is published by naturalnews.com

Shock Vaccine Study Reveals Influenza Vaccines Only Prevent the Flu in 1.5 out of 100 Adults (not 60% as you’ve been told)

Are we getting duped by big pharma or our own government on this issue? Why should we get ANY vaccine if it doesn’t work?

Most normal people on the healthy side have little risk from flu or from many other childhood illnesses. People that are on the SAD (Standard American Diet) and have more serious health issues or are immune suppressed, elderly or very young, are at a higher risk from influenza and other illnesses. My husband says that complications mostly happen in people with underlying health conditions.

My mom attended a class last week on cultured foods taught by a lady named Tracey. Tracey has a little boy, who received a vaccine at age 2. Immediately afterward, he stopped talking and looking anyone in the eye. I would feel devastated if this happened to one of my children. I believe that usually the risk of negative side effects goes down with age and quality of health, but I always feel there is a risk. Dr. Christopher taught that vaccinations bypass the body’s natural defenses in an unnatural way and can cause disorders in brain and immune function.

Doctors often downplay the risks and chalk up problems to other causes, and I believe problems are under-reported. I don’t know tons of people personally that have been injured or had children directly injured-only a few, so perhaps the risk is lower than it seems. But I have heard many heartbreaking stories of children being injured or becoming dysfunctional from vaccines or just coincidentally after they received a vaccine.

I also know that there are complications from some illnesses that might be prevented in some cases by vaccines, but I haven’t found any firm data on this. Vaccinations seem to have helped reduce life-threatening diseases in other countries such as Africa, but improvements in sanitation and water cleanliness may have been a larger contributor to reducing such diseases.

We vaccinated our first child, but stopped halfway through the schedule on the second when I started learning about natural health. I just didn’t feel comfortable with it any longer. My older children have received a couple  shots in order to go to South America, but I try to avoid them as much as possible. My 4 younger children have not received any vaccines. One of the ways I can easily do this is by going to a naturopathic doctor for our health concerns instead of a conventional pediatrician.

As I’ve learned so many other ways to treat flu and other illnesses in my home, my confidence has grown. I’m no longer afraid of treating more serious problems myself, and to me, flu is definitely less problematic than other things. I would rather deal with the risks from flu than from vaccines. Tons of people have contracted the flu from the vaccine or have still gotten flu after getting vaccinated.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I think my children have a lower risk because we eat a healthy diet. For someone who has a junkie diet and is not willing to use natural health tools or take responsibility for their health, maybe that person should get the vaccine. I’m not telling anyone else what to do, I’m only sharing my personal philosophy on the matter.

This is the first of a several part series on the flu vaccine. Read my past related articles:

Is Swine Flu Killing Us, Or The Drugs?
10 Top Flu Remedies Audio
Swine Flu Vaccine: Get Informed Before You Vaccinate
Top 10 Things To Do When Your Child Might Have The Swine Flu

Have you decided not to vaccinate? Will you tell us why not?

A Mom Essentials reader named Melissa asked:

I am looking for some help with asthma. My 3 yr old is showing symptoms, including one serious attack. We have not had him diagnosed because I don’t want steroids or other meds. I watched my little brother go that route a long time ago and would like to avoid it.
So far my treatment regiment has been Breathe, Geranium (just tried it in a pinch because it has worked for inflammation), a tea for bronchial inflammation, and smelling raw honey. I am looking for other ideas for maintenance/cures while also having a remedy for flair ups. If you have anything in mind I would sure appreciate some help.

Thanks for your blog, I have been following this for a while and appreciate all the time you put in to it.

Sincerely,
Melissa

Response and Natural Asthma Remedies by Jenni

Hi Melissa,

Thanks for reading and good for you for seeking out a better path for your son! Your questions reminded me about an email I received from my friend a couple years ago. I had asked her what she did to manage her husband and son’s asthma. She told me about “Barley water” and gave me the recipe and instructions below. She mentions using mullein herb oil, which I also recommend to strengthen the respiratory tract and I sell it as Dr. Christopher’s Respiratory Massage Oil. Christopher also has a Respiratory Syrup, which contains a blend of herbs that strengthen the respiratory system.

My number one remedy for breathing is doTERRA’s essential oil blend called Breathe.

It also helps open the respiratory tract fast and helps it work better. I dilute it and rub it all over chest, back, neck and behind ears. I also diffuse it or have my kids inhale it straight out of the bottle.

My number one herb for acute difficulty breathing is lobelia. I use Vickie Sorensen’s glycerite and take 5-6 drops straight in the mouth to relax the throat and bronchials. It’s been very effective for me and has saved me at least one trip to the ER. I would use it 2-3 times a day until symptoms diminish, and up to every 15 minutes in acute situations.

Vickie teaches that many cases of asthma are caused by a small parasite. I’ve never seen scientific evidence of this, but that doesn’t mean it’s not true. I usually tell people, if it were my child, I would give them Vickie’s Parasite Cleanse until the bottle was gone. It’s definitely not going to hurt anything, and as a possible cure, I would definitely want to check that off my list.

Natural Remedies by my Good Friend, Kirsten Miller

“Here are a few of my tried and true remedies.  I had others I used when I first started but these are what were effective for the long term.

Barley Water

1 Gallon distilled water

1/4 cup dehulled barley (do not use pearl barley)

Pour one quart of distilled water into a saucepan, add the 1/4 cup of barley.  Simmer on low (but still consistently boiling) for 45 minutes.

When finished pour the water and barley back into the remaining water in the gallon jug.  Shake before every use.  We found that keeping the barley in the water adds extra to the water.

Barley water puts usable calcium in your blood.  It relaxes your broncioles just like your medications are supposed to. Cream of tarter is known to help with acute asthma attacks.  Mixing 1/4 tsp of cream of tarter in one cup of barley water can calm an acute attack.  Of course, I suggest if you want to try this have your inhaler close by.  Never ditch your asthma medications unless you have proven it for yourself.  Note:  my son will not drink the cream of tarter.  He won’t drink the barley water consistently plain either. I put in a drink mix in or mix up a drink flavor of his choice. Barley water is sold in Europe, they buy it when they are sick (side note, I was watching the movie Mary Poppins the other day and it mentioned in a song that the children did not want a nanny who stunk of barley water:)

My husband and son drink 2 glasses of barley water a day to keep their asthma under control, they drink more when they are sick or allergies make their asthma flare. Barley water is also great for any respiratory problems, including colds and stuffy sinuses.

I use Mullein oil on my son’s chest before he goes to bed.  It seems to relax his lungs and it clears his breathing.  He is also able to make it through the night without waking. In asthmatic patients it is prevalent to have them wake periodically at night, which indicates a breathing problem.  I don’t worry about it now.

During sickness and allergies (which is when my son is more prone for asthma attacks), I will make a mullein pack for his chest.  I take 1/4 cup of mullein and brew it in a cup of water.  After 10 minutes and it cools to a warm tolerable temperature I soak a washcloth in it and lay it on my son’s chest.  He always falls asleep because his lungs are finally at rest, especially after being worked so hard.

I just picked up a book called Prescription for Nutritional Healing
at the health food store.  It gave a barley water recipe.  It’s as follows:

Barley Water

1 cup Barley

3 quarts steam-distilled water

1.  Place the barley and the water in a large pot and boil for about 3 hours

2.  Cool the broth.  Strain out and discard the barley and serve the broth as desired.

I haven’t tried this one yet, it is definitely more concentrated.  Just thought I would throw it in.”

Thanks for asking, Melissa and thanks to Kirsten for allowing me to publish her ideas!

What have you found to be effective for asthma? Please let us know if you try any of these remedies and how they work!

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor (that would be my husband). This information is for educational purposes only and is meant to help you take more responsibility for your health. If you or someone you are caring for, is having serious trouble breathing, please get immediate professional medical assistance.

Tool #1-Essential Oils. I’ve been rubbing Doterra’s immune blend  called OnGuard, diluted with carrier oil on their chest and neck (and I drink this in herbal tea too).  I also
rubbed a respiratory blend called Breathe on their feet, which cuts congestion and helps them and me breathe much easier. I’ve also been drinking lemon essential oil in my water, which is gently cleansing and decongesting. My reference guide suggests essential oils of thyme, marjoram and sandalwood, (diluted) so I’m rubbing my baby down with those too.

Tool #2-Elderberry syrup. I was giving my kids Elderberry syrup every few hours to keep things at bay. Today I’ve been taking and administering Elderberry syrup with yarrow and peppermint EVERY HOUR to my kids and myself to get rid of residual coughs and mucus.

My sister wrote a great article on using essential oils to prevent colds and sickness HERE. I should have used her advice myself ahead of time!

Tool #3-Humidifier. I pulled out my warm mist humidifier and ran it in my baby’s room with some Breathe oil in it. Last night I wished I had an extra one to run in my own room. I think I’m going to go get my diffuser out right now!

I so glad to have these tools that make our lives easier! When breastfeeding a baby, it’s good to do these remedies yourself because they will go through the breast milk and strengthen the baby.

When our kids have croup so bad they’re having trouble breathing, we wrap them in a blanket and take them outside into the cold air. This immediately helps them breathe easier as the cold air reduces inflammation in the respiratory tract.

Other great tools include Dr. Christophers Kid-E-Well, Echinacea glycerite, Vickie Sorensen’s Propolis Plus and Flu Buster. What have you used for croup?

To your home medicine empowerment!

If I do yoga regularly and am keeping those muscles stretched, I don’t have much problem.

But when I’m not doing yoga and I’m carrying a baby or heavy purse around a lot or spending hours at a time on the computer, those muscles start to get tight, achy and sore. And when this is the case, I’m more likely to get an occasional tweak in my neck so that I can’t turn it all the way.

Over the years I’ve found some excellent, natural tools that help greatly with sore muscles and pain. These tools are also effective for healing if used regularly. Here are our favorites.

Top 5 Healing Tools for Sore or Damaged Muscles, Tissue & Bone

1)   Deep Blue essential oil blend.  This product is the big hitter of the group. This contains pure, undiluted essential oils that are POWERFUL against pain and inflammation. If the situation or pain is bad, I’ll apply it straight on for fast relief. It’s the priciest, retailing at $42 for a small 5 ml bottle or $85 for a 10 ml roll-on, but for many people it’s worth every penny because it works so well. Doterra members get it 25% off, and I like to have it on hand for emergencies and our more serious issues. I dilute it for everyday use. This is a perfect alternative to cortisone shots that doctors give for inflammatory pain.

2)   Dr. Christopher’s Cayenne Heat massage oil or ointment. This tool is also powerful, but works a bit differently. The heat of the cayenne counteracts pain and brings healing circulation to the area. It’s like Icy Hot, but with natural, not synthetic ingredients. Synthetic products help with pain, but don’t heal, nourish or balance the way plant-based products do.

Cayenne Heat is more economical at $15 for 2 oz or $19-20 for 4 oz of the oil or ointment. Its natural color is red because of the cayenne and it can stain clothes. For super pain relief & healing, I put several drops of Deep Blue on the area, then rub in cayenne ointment and cover with a cloth overnight. For daytime application I use the massage oil because it absorbs faster.

3)   Vickie Sorensen’s Muscle Relief essential oil blend. This is another blend I love for everyday muscle soreness. I used this before I found Doterra and I haven’t completely let go. One big difference is that this blend is premixed with half carrier oil already. This makes it cheaper ($16 retail for 15 ml) and easy to apply straight onto the skin. It works well and smells good.

4)   Dr. Christopher’s Complete Tissue massage oil & ointment. This formula is more for fast healing than immediate pain relief. I use it for healing strained or torn muscles, ligaments, skin and even bones. For topical healing, I just rub in the ointment or oil as often as I can.

For broken bones, marathon recovery or other serious issues, I would take up to a half a bottle of Complete Tissue capsules per day to in many cases, cut healing time in half. This stuff works, you just have to get enough of it. Intensive treatment for broken bones, spinal or back injuries involves making a tea with Complete Tissue herbs, soaking a towel in it and leaving it on the injured area overnight, 6 nights a week, until healing is achieved.

5)   Heat therapy. This can be done wet or dry. Just like taking a hot bath or sitting in the spa helps sore muscles relax, heat can be used in other ways for healing. And when you combine heat with the tools above, you can dramatically increase the effectiveness and absorption of essential oils and herbal formulas.

There are different types of heat you can use, such as electric heating pads, microwaved bags of beans or rice, towels soaked in hot water then wrung out and applied to the body, or just soaking in a hot tub.

I usually don’t use additional heat with Dr. Christopher’s Cayenne formula because it gets too hot to tolerate and not in the case of too much inflammation. But I do like to apply a hot, wet wrung towel over a sore area after I’ve applied Deep Blue or Muscle Relief essential oils. The heat and moisture help the oils to penetrate more deeply.

My daughter, Raquel, jammed her finger today while I was working on this article. Her knuckles on her pinkie finger and at the base, got very swollen.

In this case, we applied ice and Deep Blue essential oil to reduce the swelling.

Pain: The Body’s Signal

Pain is the body’s way of communicating that there is a problem and nourishment is needed. The wonderful thing is that there are plants that nourish specific parts and systems of the body. We just have to learn what those plants are and how to get enough of the plant to that part of the body. Fortunately in our day and age,  these natural tools are available abundantly to us in many different forms.

I have a friend who’s son shattered his elbow, so she had him taking 100 capsules of Christopher’s Complete Tissue formula per day. The conventional doctors they visited were amazed that he wasn’t in any pain. It was because he was getting enough specific nourishment to the injury.

Individual essential oils that help with pain are Lavender, Peppermint, Helichrysum and Cypress.

New Tool & Promotion: Deep Blue Rub

Doterra has just come out with a new product which is Deep Blue Rub. I tried a dab of my friend’s and it smelled and felt wonderful, so I have some on order. It’s more of a lotion, than an oil.

At the time I wrote this post, Doterra offered a FREE bottle of deep Blue Rub (retail $39) for new members. The promotion is now over, but I love that they offer regular and periodic promotions that help make oil-buying more economical.  If you’re thinking of getting a Doterra membership, you can sweeten the deal even more if you buy an enrollment kit, which is like getting the $35 membership for free. I have a list of the available kits HERE.

So consider having some of these natural tools on hand for the next time you encounter sore, painful or damaged muscle or tissue. They make life so much sweeter!

What have you done in the past to treat sore or painful muscles?

If you do share about how Mom Essentials has helped you, please leave your first name so I can quote you.

I’m a busy mom, so I want to make sure what I’m sharing with you is practical and what will benefit you and your family. Thanks so much for your feedback!

To make a long story short, when I went in to get an ultra sound at 12 weeks, there was no heart beat and I lost the baby.  It was a very difficult experience for me, and I felt very alone, although blessed to have 3 beautiful children to hold on to as I grieved my loss.

The purpose of this post is to share some of the tips I picked up to help others avoid the same problem.  These are things I will do in my future pregnancies to prevent miscarriage to the best of my ability.  I realize problems can still arise, and I don’t know if anything out there can prevent every problem that can come along, but here are some things you can do to help your early pregnancy health.

Vickie Sorensen is my midwife, and I love her and her midwifery team!  She has delivered babies for a couple generations now and has been a midwife for over 30 years.  She has taught me so much about prenatal and health care through the years I have known her.  According to Vickie, most early miscarriages (miscarriages in the 1^st trimester) can be attributed to hormone imbalances that effect the development of the baby.  After my miscarriage she put me on a hormone balancing program that I would like to share with you (it’s actually pretty simple).

First Supplement For Strong and Healthy Pregnancy

The first supplement Vickie had me take was Red Raspberry Leaf.  A little research on the web will show you that Red Raspberry Leaf (when taken consistently) is awesome for your hormones.  It can also be used to help aid in fertility, ease morning sickness, relax the smooth muscles of the uterus, help your birth go faster & easier, help bleeding after birth, and calm uterine cramping. It is super high in vitamins such as iron, calcium, magnesium, B1, B3 & E, all good for pregnancy.  It is awesome for regulating periods and helping with heavy bleeding (but only after consistent use, at least 3 or more months).  Nice list of benefits!

You can take Red Raspberry Leaf in capsules or you can make up some tea.  If you choose capsules, take 2 in the morning and in the evening.  If you decide to drink the tea, you’ll want to drink 3-4 cups of it a day.  I found an easy way to drink the tea (since it doesn’t taste like raspberries at all) is to mix it with a fresh squeezed lemon or orange and sweeten it with stevia (or you can just use lemon or orange oil and save yourself the time squeezing).  I usually make a quart or 2 at a time and put it all in a pitcher in the fridge to drink throughout the day.

I would start this when you start thinking or planning on getting pregnant and take it for the rest of your LIFE.  But seriously, it’s a good thing to take all the way through nursing, as it will also help promote a good supply of breast milk.

Second Supplement For Strong and Healthy Pregnancy

The next thing to add to the list is Evening Primrose Oil (in a capsule).  It is also awesome to aid in fertility and is rich in an essential fatty acid your body needs as well as vitamin E.

Vitamin E is one of the most important vitamins the body needs in pregnancy for a healthy placenta.  Evening Primrose Oil is also often used to aid in labor and delivery and the comfort level of the laboring Mom.

Third Supplement For Strong and Healthy Pregnancy

The third supplement Vickie had me take was her own formula FemEase that I’ve talked about previously.

FemEase contains the following herbs: False Unicorn, Wild Yam, Blessed Thistle, Red Raspberry, St John’s Wort and other herbs.  I’ve found that False Unicorn is awesome in preventing miscarriage (but it’s quite expensive when you buy it alone).  It improves ovarian function and helps the ovary produce a normal egg.  It can also be very helpful in easing morning sickness, but you want to avoid large doses of it or it can do the opposite. Wild Yam is high in progesterone, which helps your body keep the baby. I take 2 capsules every morning when combining it with Red Raspberry Leaf and Evening Primrose oil.

Fourth Supplement For Strong  and Healthy Pregnancy

I’ve just barely learned about a supplement called chaste tree berry or vitex. Apparently it is also awesome for balancing hormones and I’ve read that it can really help with your ovulation schedule if you don’t ovulate regularly. I mentioned it to Jenni and she just barely started taking it a couple months ago and has noticed a positive reaction in her hormones and emotions being more stable. I’ve read it’s a must if you’re trying to get pregnant.

Lastly and probably most importantly, is early pregnancy nutrition. Too many times in early pregnancy we are so exhausted (and fighting pregnancy cravings) that all we know about eating on the healthy side, we throw out the window. A diet high in fruits and veggies and low in fat and fried or processed food will definitely take you far when it comes to preventing miscarriage and fighting off morning sickness. You’ll want to be taking a plant-based prenatal vitamin, but be sure to keep the majority of your diet full of the colorful healthy fruits and vegetables to help you have the energy and nutrition your body needs. Read Jenni’s Pregnancy Nutrition post HERE.

We would love to hear about anything you have done to help with your morning sickness or early pregnancy health. If you are in this stage or hoping to be in this stage of a pregnancy soon, we wish you good luck and hope these tips help.

What is the most important thing YOU feel you have done to prepare for pregnancy and healthy childbearing?

Emili lives in St. George, UT with her husband and is expecting their fourth child. She enjoys being a mommy and does photography in her spare time, which you can check out at www.emiliwhitneyphotography.com

Here is the audio recording of Top 10 Swine Flu Remedies: Top 10 Swine Flu Remedies

These home remedies work for regular flu as well.

I finished a master herbalist degree a couple summers and have been studying essential oils. I still use herbs for various health issues, but I have found essential oils to be much more effective than regular herbs in treating many problems.
They are as potent as drugs, without the side effects. So, even though my husband is an ER physician, I end up treating the
majority of our health challenges at home. It’s satisfying and  empowering to do so.

I’m going to tell you about some essential oils that I use regularly. These oils have changed my life and they can change yours too. Once you know a few basics, essential oils are easy to use and extremely effective for many health issues.

The most important thing about essential oils is making sure you’re getting a truly quality product. The FDA only requires 10% inclusion of actual oil for any company to claim that it’s 100% pure oil. The adage, “You get what you pay for” is true in this case. So find a brand you really trust, especially if you’re ingesting it.

Store products such as Vicks or Icy Hot use synthetic, chemical copies of the natural compounds found in essential oils. These unnatural duplicates are designed to produce a specific effect, but they don’t communicate with the body to strengthen and heal the way natural compounds do. Essential oils are safer then synthetics and they help all body processes to work more efficiently.

3 Basic Ways to Use Essential Oils

1)    Smell Them (Aromatic)- Just take off the lid and inhale straight out of the bottle, or put a few drops in a bowl of boiling water to diffuse them into the air, or use a diffuser which is more efficient at spreading the oil molecules through the air. This can change the mood and purify the air in a room.

2)    Apply Them Topically- Gently rub on skin at problem area or apply to bottoms of feet. The feet have large pores and many nerve endings, so the oils are immediately absorbed into the blood stream and circulated throughout the entire body. Some oils are so strong that they need to be diluted with a “carrier” oil (water doesn’t work for diluting oils). Olive oil or other cold-pressed vegetable oils are excellent, but can be a bit heavy or greasy. I prefer fractionated coconut oil, which absorbs quickly and helps the essential oils penetrate better. Essential oils are wonderful for use in massage. Avoid getting the oils close to eyes.

3)    Ingest Them Internally- Essential oils can be added in small amounts to drinking water or put in an empty capsule as a dietary supplement. This is an excellent way to cleanse the body of pathogens and fight infections. Just make sure you use high quality oils and know which ones are safe.

Peppermint oil is very cooling, but invigorating. It counteracts the pain of headaches or other body aches when applied topically. It feels a little like Icy Hot. It is great to use during the summer in hot weather. I like to put some in a spray bottle of water and use on my arms and neck after working out or being in the heat. It cools my whole body.

Peppermint is also excellent for digestive issues. I dilute several drops with carrier oil and rub on my stomach for gas, tummy aches, or cramping. Keep a bottle open by you when studying for increased recall power. I’ve used it while driving to stay awake on long trips.

Melaleuca is commonly called tea tree oil is well known and studied for it’s anti-fungal properties. I combine it with lavender for cuts and scrapes, which capably prevents infection from developing. Multiple studies have shown it to be effective against antibiotic-resistant Staph, acne, and fungal infections such as thrush, diaper rash, and athlete’s foot.*

Drip straight on cold sores, skin rashes, blemishes and other problem areas. I’ve used a cotton swab to spread diluted melaleuca around the inside of  the mouths of my babies for thrush. I’ve also added 5 or 6 drops to pint douches of water for yeast infections.

Lemon is the essential oil I use the most because I drink it all day long. I put 8-10 drops in my water bottles (1 qt) usually with a few drops of wild orange and a dash of stevia (a natural herbal sweetener) to sweeten it.

Lemon can also be used in a spray bottle for cleaning and disinfecting anything around the house (about 5 drops per cup of water). It’s mood enhancing and 1-2 drops in a tsp of honey is effective for sore throats.

Lavender is the calming oil. I rub a couple drops on my children’s feet or back of neck at bedtime or when they’re hurt to calm them down. It works well on bug bites, stings and burns (make sure your oil is pure or it will make the burn worse).

Pure lavender oil can be applied neat, which means straight on the skin. If you make a habit of using lavender with your children at bedtime, it can be a great tool for calming them while traveling. I apply 1 drop to a tissue for calming at anxious moments and to kids’ pillows in new sleeping places. This gives kids a feeling of comfort away from home and also helps disinfect bedding.

Eucalyptus Radiata oil has traditionally been used for congestion, sinus infections and to help open airways. For children, dilute 5 drops with 5 drops carrier oil and rub on chest and neck for all respiratory troubles or diffuse 3 drops at a time.

There are respiratory blends that work more effectively than single oils. These combinations of oils open, strengthen and fight infection in the sinuses and bronchioles. I’ve seen this blend used with great success for asthma and other breathing problems.

There are blends for muscle relief and healing, digestive health, boosting immunity and even balancing hormones. I’ve used these practical healing tools in my home in so many different ways!

We don’t always have to go to specialists to find answers to our health challenges. We can learn simple tools to be more self-reliant in our homes. Essential oils can help us be happier and healthier.

Have you used essential oils as home medicine or in other ways? If so, what are some of the ways you’ve used the oils?

If you would like to learn more about essential oils, you can read my article on “Why Spend More For Quality Essential Oils?” Or check my store!

*Studies in order listed (Ferrini et al., 2006, Bassett et al., 1990, Bagg et al., 2006)

Why would we want a natural alternative to antibiotic ointment? Conventional thinking teaches us that we need to kill potentially harmful viruses and bacteria, especially in dealing with wounds. But what about our healthy flora?

We have beneficial bacteria in our digestive system, and also on our skin. This healthy flora is our front line defense against outside pathogens. Antibiotics, and other isolated compounds (such as those found in antibacterial gel & soaps), are not selective. They kill healthy bacteria, along with the pathogens that could potentially cause infection.

This weakens our front line defenses, and makes us vulnerable. It makes it hard for the body to develop its own immunity. Use and overuse of these products cause viruses and bacteria to mutate, creating more antibiotic resistant pathogens.

Antibiotic preparations don’t give the body the natural tools it needs to heal effectively. The body is good at healing itself already, but it can do a much faster and better job if it is given tools it can use.

Tools most useful to the body are found in whole plants. Whole plants contain healing and nourishing compounds, which are so complex, dangerous pathogens cannot develop resistance to them.

The complexity of these whole plant compounds are extraordinarily beneficial to the body because they can accomplish multiple tasks, such as boosting the immune system, reducing inflammation, fighting invading germs, helping cells proliferate and enabling tissue to heal faster. These beneficial, whole plant compounds can be found in essential oils and herbal preparations (ointments, capsules, tinctures (liquids), etc).

Most Effective Tools

Essential oils are highly effective tools for healing and preventing infection. We use lavender, melaleuca (tea tree) and helichrysum all the time. They are gentle enough to be applied straight, but only if they are pure and very high quality (Doterra is one company I trust).

Helichrysum essential oil is pricey, but when my child has an open gash or I need something  for inflammation, it’s very effective. It stops bleeding almost instantly.

Myrrh is another essential oil I prefer for infection fighting and wound healing.

Cuts & Scrapes Oil Blend

An excellent blend our family uses on a daily basis consists of clove (great for pain), melaleuca, and rosemary, with some helichrysum and lavender.

Make it yourself using half carrier oil and half essential oils. These powerful oils are antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral. This blend reduces pain and inflammation, while quickly healing cuts, burns, abrasions, stings, etc. It’s amazing!

Complete Tissue Formula

Dr. Christopher created one formula that heals body tissues quickly and effectively. This is his Complete Tissue formula. This formula comes in ointment and massage oil for topical use and capsules for internal healing support. It gives the body specific tools and nourishment for very fast healing.

We take the Complete Tissue capsules internally for healing large wounds, broken bones and other tissue, tendon, or cartilage problems (also teeth).

In these more serious instances, you may want to do a cleanse as well, which will greatly speed healing without overloading the body with toxins from the wound.

It is important that all dirt and foreign objects are cleansed out of a wound, as the oils and ointment can close wounds so quickly, they will heal right over. If something does get trapped under the skin, Dr. Christopher’s Black Ointment drawing salve can help pull it out.

Examples of Use

• I used myrrh and lavender to treat an infection my toddler son developed in his little private part. I pulled his foreskin back and applied the oils straight 3 times a day, and put a few drops in a small bath once a day. The infection  was gone in 2 days.
• My neighbor sliced her thumb deeply and couldn’t get it to stop bleeding. We applied one drop of helichrysum essential oil and pressure. The bleeding stopped within 2 minutes.
• We routinely put our Cuts & Scrapes oil on our ouchies with a little Complete Tissue ointment and cover with a bandage. Often when I uncover it a day later, the wound is mostly healed. For deeper wounds, I repeat for 2-3 days, or as needed.
• I had a C-Section with my second child, which left deep, internal knots of scar tissue. I discovered Complete Tissue a while later and applied it to my abdomen periodically. Gradually the knots disappeared, and I felt more confident about trying a vaginal birth on my next pregnancy.
• With my third child I experienced some tearing when he was born. I took Complete Tissue capsules, took baths with Complete Tissue herbs in a tea bag, and used the massage oil externally. My midwife was amazed at how fast I healed. It took days instead of weeks.

These tools have worked well for our family, but they aren’t the only tools out there. Can you tell us what’s worked well for your family?

We tried suctioning out his nose, but didn’t get much at first. Mike could tell that there wasn’t liquid in his lungs. The majority of congestion or mucous was right in the throat and nose where we couldn’t reach. Mike decided to take him to the ER and suction out the mucous. There are so many cases like this where we live, that there are “suction clinics” set up in Utah InterMountain hospitals, so parents can take their child and get the mucous suctioned out quickly.

This can be a serious problem because the mucous is so thick, it can block the air pipe, making it hard to breathe. Bigger kids and adults can usually cough out the mucous without a big problem, but infants have a much harder time.

Natural Tools

Mike says they’ve been seeing lots of respiratory ailments and bronchiolitis this season in the ER. Also, California has had an outbreak of over 9000 cases of Pertussis. There are a few natural tools that work well to manage both of these sicknesses.

1. Lobelia- This herb is on the FDA black list, but it is one of the most useful herbs we have. Yes, it can make you vomit if you take large doses (which isn’t always a bad thing), but in small amounts it helps tremendously with breathing. It relaxes the throat and bronchials, which also makes it valuable for pertussis and even asthma. I had pertussis myself several years ago, and Lobelia helped me sleep at night. I can only recommend that it be used externally. But I take 6 drops of the tincture internally (Vickie has a glycerin based one) every 15 minutes for myself. If my children need it, they get 3-4 drops, and for my infant, 2 drops at a time. It can also be rubbed on chest and back every 15 minutes.
2. Yarrow, Elderberry & Peppermint syrup- You can buy this (Vickie makes one called Flu buster) or make it yourself. Remember, antibiotics don’t work on viruses like RSV and by the time pertussis symptoms are obvious, it’s usually too late for antibiotics to be effective. Elderberry is antiviral, and prevents viruses from invading new cells, you just have to take enough of it. The yarrow helps with fever and cough, but doesn’t taste so good. The peppermint helps with fever and taste. The dose is a 1/2 dropperful, 6 times a day for adults or 10 drops for babies.
3. Essential oils of Eucalyptus Radiata, Melaleuca, Chamomile & Lavender- I put 10 drops of each in 1/2 tablespoon of carrier oil (EV olive oil may be used) and rub this over chest and back, neck and behind ears, and on feet every couple hours, in between my baby’s naps. Doterra‘s Breathe blend works very well also, and should also be diluted. A drop of oregano oil on the bottoms of the feet is a powerful anti-viral as well.
4. Hot steamy showers & humidifier- The moisture helps loosen up the mucous so it can get out easier. I ran extra hot water in the shower for a couple minutes and then brought my baby in with me. I washed him and then passed him out to my husband after 10 minutes. We’ve also been running a warm mist humidifier in the room around the clock.
5. Vitamins A and D (drops)- Vitamin A (20,000 IU per day) helps heal the mucous membranes (which line the respiratory tract) and vitamin D (50,000 IU per day) is anti-viral. They also help boost the immune system. For nursing moms, drinking 2 cups of carrot juice a day will be helpful as well.
6. Bulb Syringe- At least for RSV, this is a MUST HAVE. We’ve used this every few hours, especially at night, to get the mucous out of Ian’s nose. I could hear it rattling around while I was trying to feed him. It helps to drip a couple drops of saline solution in one nostril at a time and then suction out whatever mucous will come. This is cheap and very helpful!

As soon as my baby started getting congested, I stopped eating dairy and other mucous forming foods for a few days. As nursing moms, we can help our babies be healthier by eating healthy ourselves.

When we have some natural tools on hand to help, there’s more we can do to help our children and we don’t need to be  fearful.

RSV and pertussis can be scary illnesses to deal with, especially in young children. Get help if your child cannot breathe and get expert advice when you feel you need it.