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?

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

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.

A few months ago I was in a meeting with Dr. Hill, one of the main developers and researchers on the doTERRA team, and he was explaining a study they had just completed at the University of Oklahoma.  It’s in the process of being published, but I’ve learned that it takes a long time to get through that process.  I’ll put a link to it once it does though.  For now I’ll just summarize.

We are exposed to viruses and microorganisms all the time in our daily lives.  Our immune system is working every day to defending against the microorganisms we come in contact with.  When something extreme happens in our body to upset our homeostasis, i.e. we don’t get enough sleep, toxic overload, too much white sugar, extreme stress, traveling for the holidays, finishing finals, etc, our immune system is weakened and our bodies allow a virus to attach onto a cell.

The virus then injects the virus DNA into that cell and the newly infected cell begins to duplicate.  Fast.  It creates thousands of “copy” virus cells, and as a result we get sick.  Our body then has to work overtime to kill and clear out all the infected cells.  How does the body clear them out?  Some leave through our digestive system, but many are pulled out in mucous from our nose and throat.  It’s an unpleasant process most of us have experienced.

So, how can essential oils help? First, let’s talk about the study done by the University of Oklahoma.  They showed that the oil “OnGuard” was 90% effective against stopping an infected virus cell from duplicating.  In other words, if you start treating a virus with OnGuard as soon as you start to feel it coming on, you will slow or prevent the duplication of the viral cell.  Fewer viral cells mean that either you don’t get sick (that’s optimal) or your body makes way fewer copies of the virus cell, thus making it easier to kill the fewer amount of sick cells and helping you get over the sickness quickly.

It’s important to note here that there is a window.  If you catch it early (before your body makes tons of copy cells) then you’ll prevent the worst.  If you miss the window and your body has already made thousands and thousands of virus cell copies, you’re probably going to go through the 5-10 days of cleaning out the sick cells.  I would personally still use the OnGuard to try and shorten that time, but your body will still have to deal with what has happened.

Here’s how we use OnGuard at my house.  If I feel something coming on, like a scratchy throat or a runny nose, I get in into my body quickly.  OnGuard is safe to take internally.  I personally like to drip one drop straight from the bottle into the back of my throat.  It numbs my throat and I can feel it fighting the infection immediately.  However it is EXTREMELY STRONG.  So be prepared for an overpowering taste!

If you’re not that daring you can put a drop on your finger and put that in your mouth, or put a couple drops in some water and gargle it and then swallow it down.  Other options would be to put some in an empty veggie capsule (I’d use 3-5 drops) and swallow that so that you don’t taste it, or you can rub some oil directly on the bottom of your feet, which is what I do when my little ones come down with something. Jenni likes to  drink 1-2 drops in peppermint tea, or rub OnGuard, diluted, on the front of her neck and behind her ears.

We try to use OnGuard on a regular basis so we catch things early, even when we don’t know they’re coming.  OnGuard is super anti-bacterial.  It’s a blend of Wild Orange, Clove bud, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus and Rosemary which smells like Christmas.  Also available from doTERRA are OnGuard protective throat lozenges, OnGuard hand soap and OnGuard sanitizing wipes.

My kids have actually come down with a bug this past week.  I’ve been using lots of OnGuard and so far I haven’t had as much as a sniffle.  They are moving through it quickly (with a few extra naps – hooray) and only spending a day and a half instead of the usual 3-6, feeling down.  The baby, who is chugging away at her water with lemon essential oil, has a runny nose but no other symptoms.

Hope you’re surviving the sick season!

I’ve been feeling fine, but a couple days after I got home from our trip I found myself with very low energy. I should have been tipped off by my feelings of not caring about anything and just wanting to go back to bed.

I didn’t have the normal symptoms of burning when I went to the bathroom or the frequent need to go, but I know I am more prone to yeast and urinary tract infections when I’m pregnant. Luckily, I had an appointment with my midwife, Vickie Sorensen the same day I lost my energy.

I did the typical urine test at her office, and it came up high in luekocytes, which indicates infection, nitrites, which indicates the urinary tract, and a little blood, which also points to a UTI. The infection was starting to rage and I hardly knew I had it.

Vickie once had a lady who was in labor with a UTI and couldn’t push the baby out because her bladder kept having spasms. So Vickie said I needed to have the infection resolved within a week or she’d want me to take an antibiotic (which I strongly want to avoid).

I think the reason the infection wasn’t manifesting itself more strongly is because I had been drinking water with lemon oil in it every day. I’m sure this helped keep the infection at bay. But I wasn’t drinking enough in general.  The lemon just wasn’t enough to combat all the sugar with the low amount of fluids I consumed while traveling.

I already knew most of what Vickie would recommend. Kidney herbs, 2 capsules, 3 times a day, infection herbs, 2 capsules, 3 times a day and some kind of essential oils. She recommended myrrh rubbed on my lower abdomen. Myrrh is also in her Infection Fighter formula.

I also really liked her suggestion of making a cranberry/apple drink by blending up actual fresh cranberries, which are in season now, with apple juice. I threw in a little yogurt and stevia, and I’m making a drink everyday. It’s delicious! Cranberry juice prevents bacteria from adhering to the wall of the urinary tract, so it’s good to drink the juice or take CranActin capsules if you feel something coming on.

I took 2 doses of the herbal formulas with some extra echinacea the first day, and by the next morning I had my energy back! I was very happy about that. After that I felt fine and tried to drink lots of lemon water along with my herbs and 1 capsule of On Guard for good measure. I also avoided white sugar.

Cranberry Apple Drink

Just blend up these ingredients well in a blender.

• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1/2 cup yogurt (optional)
• 2 mini spoons pure stevia extract (opt)
• 1/2 cup ice (optional)
• 1/2 cup spinach, chard or kale for extra nutrition (optional)

Tools for Fighting UTIs

• Herbal infection capsules (I recommend Vickie’s or Dr. Christopher’s) 2 caps, 3 times a day, 5 drops On Guard essential oil blend in an empty capsule, 3 times a day, and 1-2 cloves raw garlic per day
• Herbal kidney capsules (again, I use Vickie’s & Dr. Christopher’s) 2 caps, 3 times a day
• CranActin capsules, 1 cap, 2 times a day, or a cranberry drink daily
• Myrrh essential oil rubbed on lower abdomen, 2 times a day (optional)
• For pain, Thayer’s Slippery Elm lozenges, 1 lozenge, 3 times a day
• Avoiding junk and white sugar is a must! Eat more raw, whole foods
• Make sure there’s no constipation in the digestive system. Take colon herbs or Doterra’s peppermint essential oil in a capsule if needed. The body needs to be free to eliminate all the toxic materials it possibly can.

The tools for helping ourselves do exist and they work. If we just learn about them and try them, their function will become second nature to us. It’s empowering to be our own doctor!

Update – 12/17/10 – After continuing to have leukocytes on my next appointment, I had to beef up my protocol, and I learned a few things I want to share with you. Vickie suggested I cut back on the kidney herbs because they are diuretic and my lips and hands were drying out a bit. I went to 1 capsule 2-3 times a day, and kept taking the infection herbs 2-3 times a day. I started taking 1 raw clove of garlic per day, pressed into butter on toast, soup or blended in veggie juice. I also added 2 drops each of basil and oregano essential oils in capsule with the 5 drops of On Guard twice a day. I rubbed these oils on my lower abdomen (diluted in 1/2 tsp carrier oil) and bottoms of feet every night too.

As long as I focused on getting enough infection fighting power along with the kidney specific herbs, my leukocytes went down. The bottom line is, you have to get as aggressive as whatever it is you’re fighting. I really didn’t want to take antibiotics because I tend to have yeast problems and my babies usually get thrush when newborn at some point. So I had to get more aggressive with my natural remedies until I got the upper hand.

So when I am using natural remedies and they don’t seem to be working:

1. I make sure they are high quality or fresh
2. I use or take them more frequently (unlike drugs, it’s hard to overdose on the remedies I use)
3. I increase the quantities slightly or add stronger therapies
4. I make sure I’m supporting my body with lots of water, good nutrition supplements and light, healthy eating.

Dr. Christopher, my old-time herbalist hero, taught that constipation is the cause of every disease. Some part of the body gets constipated and causes problems which are manifested as “dis-ease.” It doesn’t have to be just the digestive tract. It can be any system of the body.

4 Channels of Elimination

Our bodies have 4 main channels through which to get rid of waste. The digestive system, the skin, the respiratory
tract and the urinary tract. If the main channel, which is the digestive system, gets clogged, the body will push waste out another channel or it will get trapped in some part of the body and cause dis-ease.

If waste gets forced out the skin, what do you think you will see? Rashes, pimples, boils, eczema would be some possibilities. If you have a weak respiratory tract and waste gets forced out that way, what will you see? Sinus or bronchial infections, mucus, allergies, or congestion may occur as a result.

How about the kidneys? I used to struggle with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) myself until I started understanding this principle. Conventional medicine and its stream of antibiotics and superficial treatments didn’t help me get to the root of my problem.

When the digestive system gets clogged, it’s only a matter of (generally short) time before dis-ease is discovered in one or more other parts of the body. One of the first signs my body gives me is a migraine headache. When I start getting one, the first thing I do is take extra colon herbs to move things through. Once done, the headache is gone. I’ve noticed this pattern happen in my body repeatedly over the years.

When my kids get fevers (as just happened to my baby a few nights ago) they are usually somewhat constipated at the same time. I almost always give a colon formula to help them through the fever or an enema to bring it down immediately.

Yes, treating acute symptoms conventionally or naturally is necessary for keeping sanity intact, but the root cause must be addressed or the problem will continue and worsen.

It saddens me immensely to hear of people sick or even dying because they don’t understand and know how to remedy basic constipation.

Cleanse and Nourish

Cleansing and nourishing is the answer. Cleanse and nourish the body. Cleanse and nourish the digestive tract. Cleanse and nourish whatever system of the body is weak or causing problems. There are specific herbs and oils for every part and system of the body. Learn what they are. Learn how to use them. Buy and use them in their raw form or find a brand you trust and start feeding your body what it needs to heal.

Dr. Christopher taught, “There are no incurable diseases, only incurable people” meaning that, God has provided all the tools we need to heal ourselves. Sometimes it takes a ton of work and patience, but Christopher truly believed MOST people could cleanse, nourish and heal themselves if they worked hard enough using the correct tools and principles.

We need whole foods. The more raw, the better. Our bodies need lots of raw greens (green smoothies are awesome), whole and sprouted grains and good fats for nutrition and healing. Our bodies can’t digest junk or processed foods and still have the energy needed for healing and vitality. It’s just not possible.

So, this is how we get down to the nitty gritty root causes of our ailments. We start with our main channel of elimination. We eat whole foods (which have lots of fiber) and use herbs and oils as needed. If we’ve built up a significant amount of toxic matter in our digestive tract (or other organs of the body), it’s going to take more time, effort and tools to get it out.

If I had eaten the “Standard American Diet” (SAD) for years and was experiencing more serious dis-ease, I would use a more powerful tool, like professional colon irrigation (ask your local naturopath). Herbal or essential oil cleanses and enemas are tools in the medium powerful range. Occasional or less intense use of herbs, oils, and whole and specific foods (like prunes, prune juice or pears) would constitute more gentle means of keeping the main channel moving and clean.

Dr. Christopher has a book called Guide to Colon Health, which contains more information on digestive ailments and healing. If you want to learn more, this teaches many basic principles on this topic.

There are many tools out there. Try some. Find what you like and what works for you. Then keep at it. Do some house cleaning and lesson your degree of dis-ease.

My Favorite Tools

My kids (especially as babies), along with myself, have struggled with constipation off and on. I always have capsules and essential oil on my bathroom counter and a glycerin extract in my fridge.

The easiest remedy is Doterra’s Peppermint or Digestzen essential oil blend. (Don’t take other brand oils internally. Other brands aren’t pure enough and can make you sick!)

I rub these on our tummies and take them internally. They are powerful and faster acting than the herbs. They get out gas quickly and help move things through without cramping.

Peppermint is the most effective single oil for constipation. We take 8 drops in a capsule or dilute it with 1/2 tsp carrier oil and apply 3-5 drops to the abdomen regularly to keep things moving.

Last week we shared some peppermint with a relative who had been taking over-the-counter laxatives for years and struggled with hemorrhoids. She took 8 drops in a capsule and within a few hours had the first natural bowel movement in years. It worked that fast.

Dr Christopher has a glycerin extract called Kid-E-Reg for children that’s only $12. His formula contains Slippery Elm Bark, Licorice Root, Fennel Seed, Anise Seed, and Fig Syrup. It is gentle and mildly sweet tasting.

I actually like my homemade version better. I just squirt it in my kids’ mouths 1-3 times a day, depending on how backed up they are. Sometimes I use it myself. Dr. Christopher’s Lowel Bowel capsules (Fen LB) is inexpensive and efficient, if you don’t mind a little cayenne. I use Vickie’s Colon Cleanse & Tone capsules and her Colon Cleanse for Kids when I’m too busy to make them myself.

You can make your own extract or capsules. It’s easy.

CLICK HERE for my tincture and capsule recipes. I take 3 capsules (especially when I’m pregnant) every night and sometimes a couple in the morning.

Doterra has a new, single formula out called Zendocrine, which is an herbal formula that supports the healthy cleansing and filtering functions of the liver, kidneys, colon, lungs and skin.

It’s good to do a general cleanse on a quarterly basis to keep your body working as it should.

Making my own colon capsules and extract is a lifesaver for me and my kids too. Keeping things moving keeps my energy high, my emotions much more stable and my body feeling good. It works!

(Please keep in mind that I am a stay-at-home Mom that has had some great weight-loss success lately, but I am not a doctor or trained health professional.  I’m just sharing what has worked for me.)

First and foremost, your body needs good food and nutrition to lose weight.  There are many fad diets, magical weight loss pills, injections, etc. out there that promise good results without you having to change your lifestyle – but let’s face it, THOSE WON’T KEEP YOUR UNWANTED WEIGHT OFF.

I don’t have any studies to prove it; just lots of friend that I love that have dropped lbs only to put them back on as soon as their diet has ended.  It’s frustrating, disappointing and a waste of money.  But you might be saying what I often find myself saying – “It’s TOO HARD to eat healthy all the time!” or “but I CRAVE SUGAR!  I just want it RIGHT NOW, or ELSE!” or something similar.  I know, I’ve been there and done that.  But there’s a way!

Let’s talk about controlling cravings.  Most cravings come from an unhealthy unbalance of yeast in your body.  Not like a yeast infection per say, just an excess of it.  It’s called Candida.  Candida is normal, but if it gets out of hand it will make you want sugar and carbs ALL THE TIME at whatever cost.  How bad are your cravings?  That’s probably directly proportional to how out of hand the Candida is in your body.

First things first. In order to eat better, we have to stop our desires for the junk food.  For this purpose, Doterra came out with GX Assist, an essential oils blend, formulated in an enteric coated capsule.

It’s basically an intestinal/lower GI tract cleanse that helps kill off and clean out that excess Candida.  And it WILL help with those horrible cravings!

They recommend taking it for 10 days, one capsule 3 times a day.  You should feel a difference within 2 days, but keep on it until the 10 days are up!  Otherwise, the cravings will just come right back.  When I feel like it’s too strong, I just cut back to 1-2 capsules a day.

We know that fat comes from excess calories and sedentary lifestyle.  Then the obvious way to burn fat is to watch your caloric intake and exercise more.  While this works for some, for others it will only take you so far on your weight loss journey until you hit a plateau.  Sometimes it’s the way your body metabolizes fat that helps you lose it.  That’s where our “Slim & Sassy” oil comes in to the rescue!

There is so much to say about this oil and the amazing things it can do!  I’m going to give you some info from a webinar given by Dr. Hill.  To get all of the details and the science behind the oil, you can watch the webinar yourself at www.builddoterra.com.  Just look through the webinars until you find the one about Slim & Sassy.

Slim & Sassy has been formulated to help balance and regulate our metabolism.  It contains pure cinnamon, ginger, peppermint, lemon and grapefruit essential oils. 

Here’s why each individual was put into the blend:

Cinnamon –  The cinnamon helps reduce the obesity factor.  Cinnamon is as antioxidant, it helps reduce damage done to the liver, it helps us metabolize sugars more appropriately, helps balance your cholesterol, and most importantly it stops your body from producing more fat cells.  HELLO!  I need more of that.  Now, I honestly am no good at trying to explain the science, but as I said above you can hear all the details on the webinar through the link above (its only 48 minutes).

Ginger – Ginger stimulates weight loss through lipolysis (the way your body lets go of the fat in your fat cells).  It also helps your body produce more epinephrine.

Peppermint – Peppermint has been proven to curb appetite and reduce cravings.  They did a study (details on the webinar) where they compared 2 groups of people and their caloric intake.  One group didn’t change their diet, they just supplemented their meals with peppermint oil while the other group restricted their caloric intake.

They found that on average the group that took peppermint with every meal ate 2800 fewer calories per week, while those on a restricted diet consumed on average 2200 fewer calories per week.  Peppermint increases the sense of fullness after eating so that we don’t have the desire to eat as much!  Um, excuse me for a minute, I’m suddenly craving peppermint…  Peppermint also enhances the flavor and taste of the food we eat.  Nice huh.

Grapefruit and Lemon – Citrus oils!  Citrus oils also help reduce appetite because of their high amounts of limonene.   Limonene interferes with your cells ability to change.  So basically, it deters your body from producing more fat cells and also inhibits tumors.  I so need that too.

Using Slim & Sassy on a daily basis can also improve glucose utilization, reduce oxidation and inflammation, improve digestion, reduce the need for calories by improving the way your body digests food, reduce cholesterol and increase energy.  It can also help reduce water retention.

My Story

Want a real life example of how this can help you?  Let me tell you how it helped me.  After having my 3^rdchild I once again found myself with excess weight I definitely did not want to be stuck with.  I hit that do or die stage where I thought, I HAVE to drop this weight and I have to do it NOW.  I started with my cravings and a little exercise.  I found a few friends to play racquetball with and attacked my sugar cravings.  With my sugar cravings a little more under control it was much easier to eat healthy and cut out the junk food.

I slowly but surely dropped about 15 pounds.  It took me about 4 months of being diligent but it paid off and it felt great.  But then I hit my plateau.  I wanted to drop at least 5 more lbs, but no matter what I did it just wouldn’t come off.  I started playing racquetball for longer periods of time.  I added Zumba classes in on top of the racquetball, and at one point I started throwing in 5 miles here and there on the elliptical trainer on top of the other exercise.  But, I was stuck.  I felt good, but the scale didn’t budge.  This is where metabolism played a role in my weight-loss, or the lack thereof.

Luckily, after a month of not budging, Doterra came out with the Slim & Sassy blend. Click for Slim & Sassy Info -3 page PDF.

I ordered it right away and followed the directions putting 4 drops in my 8 ounces of water.  I found the taste to be a little stronger that I was ready for, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me, so I put it in a capsule.  You can just buy empty veggie capsules at the health food store.  I opened them up and dropped 6-8 drops inside and took it 1-2 times a day.  I found right away that within 30 minutes of taking that capsule I had a burst of energy.  It’s one of my favorite perks!  Within about 5 days I started to see the scale start to tip.  Within a month I had finally got through those last 5 lbs!  It was exciting and liberating!  I still use the Slim & Sassy on a regular basis and find that it has had many other impressive side effects that I will share with you some other time (soon, hopefully).

Here are a few ways people are using Slim & Sassy:

• 3-5 drops in water 3-5 times a day
• 3-5 drops on the tongue 3-5 times a day
• 6-10 drops in a capsule 3x a day

You can obviously experiment to find what works the best for you.  Since it is 100% pure from the actual plants, it’s hard to take too much (is there a way to eat too much cinnamon or grapefruit?)

Try it until you find what you like best!  It should not interfere with anything else you are doing.

We would love to hear how you like it when you give it a try!

Recently I’ve been studying essential oils and how they can help with these women’s pelvic issues.
From what I’ve found, many of the same essential oils are recommended for these different issues. I’m also including information on herbal and dietary help.

Synergistic Essential Oil Blend for Women

• 1/4 Cup Carrier Oil (Fractionated Coconut, Olive or other)
• 20 drops Geranium
• 20 drops Nutmeg
• 10 drops Ginger
• 10 drops Clary-sage
• 5 drops Cypress

This blend can be massaged on abdomen and bottoms of feet twice daily and should be for at least 2-4 cycles. Only about a teaspoon is needed for one application. A hot compress or washcloth applied over abdomen will increase the absorption of the oils.

Pictured are essential oils of Cypress, Ginger, Clary-Sage, Geranium and Fractionated Coconut oil.

Vickie’s PMS* essential oil blend, 3 drops, rubbed over the uterus,  will also help dissolve cysts. The next couple periods after using may pass some tissue or smell funny because the uterus is detoxing.

If pain is especially bad, the amount of essential oils may be doubled in the carrier oil and applied 3 times a day the week before period is due. Also, add 15 drops of clove essential oil to the above blend.

Clove Essential Oil

Baths are excellent for increasing circulation, so in a hot bath add 10 drops of the above recipe without the carrier oil. This can be done daily and may speed up the healing process.

Herbal Aids

• Vickie has an excellent formula called Cramp Relief that works well for managing pain and cramping.
• Dr. Christopher’s Female Reproductive Formula AND Hormonal Changease Formulas OR Vickie’s FemEase, 2 capsules, 2-3 times a day, to rebuild and cleanse reproductive organs and balance hormones.

FemEase Capsules

• Evening Primrose oil, 2 capsules morning and night, helps with hormone production and balance.
• Red Raspberry Leaf, tea or capsules, 1 cup or 1 capsules taken 3 times a day to strengthen and nourish the female system, reducing pain.

Whole Food Power

• Cut out white sugar and processed foods as much as possible while dealing with these problems, at least for a few months. Limit meat and dairy with hormones (buy organic) because the estrogen based hormones in these products cause the cysts to grow.
• Feed your body whole, raw foods, lots of greens and super nutrition (see my post on Pregnancy Nutrition).
• For ultra nutrition and fastest results use fresh wheat grass juice. Drink it (2 oz a day) and even douche with it. Douche with 4-6 oz in a tub with towels under hips. Remain with hips elevated for at least 10 minutes. This is potent nourishment to the cervix and uterus, and is especially helpful in cases of heavy bleeding.

Some of these suggestions seem so simple, and the reality is that there are simple but effective (and much cheaper and less invasive than surgeries and other conventional treatments).

Dr Christopher taught over and over, cleanse and nourish the body and it will function as it should. Drugs don’t do this. Sometimes they can alter something in the body to achieve a desired result, but they generally don’t cleanse, nourish or heal.

These natural products from Mother Earth can aid the body in overcoming many obstacles, including those genetic and environmental, so that it can work as it was created. Trust them, use them. If they don’t seem to be making a difference, be patient. Unlike drugs, they take time to do their jobs–usually a few weeks to a few months, at least.

After years of our imperfect lifestyles, how can we expect anything less? The good news is, there’s hope. The body knows what it’s supposed to do. When given time, the proper tools and nourishment it can often repair itself and function the way it should. Give it a try!

*Pictures by Emili Whitney