Throughout my life, it has become apparent that when I am healthy and happy, my hair and, certainly, my finger and toe nails, have reflected this positive state by being healthy and happy also. If I become vitamin or mineral deficient or when my heart or kidneys—my two weak spots during some phases of my life—were struggling, these states quickly became reflected in the health and strength of my hair and, very quickly, in the health and strength of my nails! I eventually came to believe/realize that if my emotions were in a whirl for any length of time at all, this unsettled state of mine would impact my hair and nails as well.

Of course, being the curious person that I am, I began research to see if thoughts along these lines were my imagination or a real phenomenon! Guess what I very quickly learned! And then, being me and being involved in a ‘health care and improvement’ world, I began to research herbs, essential oils, homeopathics, supplements, and the connection between general nutrition and optimum health as reflected in my hair and nails.

There is absolutely no question that the condition of our hair and nails often (always?) serves as an outward indicator of our internal health. The condition of the hair and nails can be (No, is!) a reliable signaling system for conditions ranging from nutrient deficiencies to hormonal imbalances and can even be an early indicator of a chronic illness.

The Hair

I discovered in my research—likely should have known already—that there is a correlation between ill health of many types and hair problems and issues. Research shows that changes in the texture, thickness, and overall health of our hair can be an early indicator of a number of health problems. Of course, many health conditions may be genetically connected. Or, perhaps, health concerns that are dismissed as ‘genetics’ are really more a matter of eating habits brought with us from our childhood homes.

Interestingly, sudden changes, such as a lot of hair loss or sudden dryness and splitting, are statistically more likely to be linked to an easily treatable health problem or an emotional crisis of some sort. Thinning hair, on the other hand, may indicate a fairly serious problem sneaking up on us that needs to be identified and handled. Or thinning hair may be genetic in nature and nothing much to worry about health-wise. Of course, the trick is to tell the difference.

Hair Health and Adverse Health Conditions

Gray Hair and Stress: Of course, the time in your life that your hair begins to turn gray is dictated, to some extent, by your genetic heritage. However, researchers at The Permanente Medical Group in Vallejo, California, claim that extremely stressful situations can cause hair to go gray prematurely. “Oxidative stress may affect pigment-producing cells,” is their claim. My observations over a lifetime certainly bear that out!

What, in layman’s terms, is oxidative stress? Oxidative stress might be compared to an apple turning brown when exposed to air, or perhaps we could say that our cells “rust”. Free radicals are a major cause of oxidative stress in the cells of our bodies. These unstable molecules can be produced by unhealthy stress levels! Free radicals damage—or “oxidize”, to use a more technical term—cells throughout our bodies.

Good eating habits—eating as much for nutritional reasons as for taste and enjoyment—can make a huge difference. Herbs are nutritional powerhouses! Essential oils can be very helpful to the body in managing stress that simply cannot be avoided. Homeopathics/BlessedWaters impact the body on every level, including emotional, physical, and certainly in the ability of our bodies to uptake and utilize the nutrients in the foods we eat.

Brittle, Dry Hair: Drying, brittle hair may indicate some form of malnutrition. Either the body is not receiving all of the nutrients that it needs, or the body is not able to absorb nutrients properly. Lack of biotin, a member of the B vitamin group, results in dry and brittle hair. (B vitamins are not meant to be taken separately! They need each other to be absorbed. But that is a topic for another time.)

Thyroid or Parathyroid issues will also cause the hair to be dry and brittle. If a thyroid issue is the cause, the hair will likely be slowly thinning, as well. If the brittle hair is being caused by the thyroid or parathyroids, it is usually because they are underactive, rather than in a hyper mode.

Sudden Shedding and Thinning: Anemia must always be considered when hair loss occurs, especially when the hair loss appears quite suddenly. Iron in the blood enables the blood to carry oxygen to the cells, tissues, and organs. Women who experience heavy periods are especially at risk for anemia and, as a result, for thinning hair. Vegetarians are another at-risk group, unless they very carefully watch the nutrients (proteins, for one example) that they are consuming.

Hair shedding, of a temporary nature, can also occur with the sudden changes in estrogen levels that occur with pregnancy or when starting or stopping the taking of birth control pills. Put simply, hormones can affect both the health of the hair and the nails, and just about everything else.

Gradual Thinning: Protein is essential to hair health. Insufficient amounts of protein will inevitably result in hair thinning or hair loss. Most of us get sufficient protein for hair health because, while protein is essential, only a small amount is required. One serving a day of a high-protein food—a serving that is about the size of a small deck of cards—is adequate. Gastrointestinal problems, however, can create absorption issues that result in protein deficiency, even when adequate protein is being consumed.

Damage to Hair: Although damaged hair can be a sign of adverse health conditions, more often than not, the damage to the hair is the direct result of the use of coloring techniques or the result of heat from blow dryers and curling techniques. Personally, I have found that proper coloring techniques actually make my hair feel thicker and fuller and lengthen the time between perms necessary to maintain the style and thickness that I like to have. Perms, without close attention being paid by my hairdresser, have seriously damaged my hair in the past.

Recently, as I have aged, my favorite hairdresser simply informed me that she will not participate in both coloring and perming my hair. I was instructed to choose one of the other! So, I am happily, at least reasonably so, going gray! Chamomile Roman essential oil added to my shampoo or conditioner seemed to minimize the gray for many years, but my advancing age seems to be winning the day, where graying of my hair is concerned.

If hair is already damaged by “beauty treatments”, we may be unable to read the signs of oncoming illness that our hair would otherwise be showing us.

Side Effects of Medications: Among the medications that list hair loss as a side effect are anti-clotting drugs, cholesterol-lowering drugs, antidepressants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and drugs for menopause, birth control, and even most antibiotics. That list, it seems to me, covers a great many common prescription medications. I have said it before, many times—but I am going to say it again—all drugs have side effects.

Fortunately, hair usually grows back when the medication is stopped, but this may not happen in some instances. Part of the reason for drug side effects is that they strip the body of the nutrients that the body utilizes to safely remove those ‘poisons’ (and they are poisons) from the body. Increasing the intake—and uptake—of these nutrients will improve the odds of returning the hair to a healthier state.

The Nails

Functions of the Nails

• Finger and toe nails protect the tips of the fingers and toes from injuries.
• According to Wikipedia, the nail “acts as a counter-force when the end of the finger touches an object, thereby enhancing the sensitivity of the fingertip, although the nail itself has no nerve endings.” Interesting. If you have ever ‘lost a nail’ to an injury of some sort, you can probably attest to the truth of that!
• The fingernails can function as tools, enabling us to grip small objects better. They can also act as cutting or scraping tools.

The Nails and the Health of the Body

The nails, like the hair, can reveal information about the overall health of the body. Problems in the liver, lungs, and even the heart can show in the nails. Please realize, however, that not everyone whose nails have one of the problems listed below has the corresponding health issue mentioned. This article is meant to inform, not to diagnose. Nevertheless, the appearance of our nails can give us something to think seriously about. The nails may provide essential clues in finding answers to health concerns.

Overly Pale Nails: Very pale nails may be an indication of such things as anemia, congestive heart failure, liver disease, or malnutrition.

Half pink, half white nails: Kidney disease, or kidney stress and malfunctioning. Again, please take action.

White Nail with Darker Rims: Nails that are mostly white but have darker rims may be an indication of liver problems such as hepatitis. If the fingers are also jaundiced—yellowish in color—other liver troubles may be an issue. Please, if you see this in yourself or even in others, pay attention and take measures to improve liver health.

Yellow Nails: The most common cause of yellow nails is a fungal infection. As the infection gets worse, the nails may thicken and begin to crumble. In rare cases, yellow nails may indicate more serious conditions such as a severe thyroid disease, diabetes, lupus, or a bad case of psoriasis.

Bluish Color: A blue tinge to the nails may indicate that the body is not getting enough oxygen. The lack of oxygen could be the result of a lung issue or it could be related to a heart problem.

Ripple or Pitted Nails: Ripples or pits in the surface of nails may be an early sign of either psoriasis or of inflammatory arthritis. When rippling and pitting are signs of these underlying health conditions, there could also be discoloration of the skin under the nail, being slightly reddish-brown in color.

Half-moon white Lines: Over the years, I have noticed that people who are experiencing problems in their small or large intestines will develop these lines. I have come to believe that problems in the gut can create issues with the absorption of nutrients. The while lines develop during those times of nutritional distress, with the nail color returning to normal during those times when gut-health has temporarily improved.

Half-moon dusky red Lines: Could indicate lupus, heart disease, early stages of alopecia areata (total hair loss), or a variety of causes. These lines should always be taken seriously and the problems identified and rectified!

Vertical ridges: Vertical ridges may indicate a Vitamin E deficiency. Vitamin E deficiency has a host of nasty effects in the body and in the mind!

Cracked or Split Nails: Dry, brittle nails that crack or split easily are said to be linked to thyroid issues. I have found that pancreas problems, including hypo- and hyper-glycemia, also result in delicate nails. When the cracking and splitting are accompanied by a yellowish hue in nail color, particularly near the tips, a fungal infection may be the primary cause.

Puffiness and Redness (Inflammation) Above the Cuticles: Of course, this type of inflammation may be caused by a simple infection. Essential oils and herbal infection fighters—taken internally and used to soak the fingertips— will clear this situation up very quickly. If no infection is present, this type of inflammation may indicate Lupus or some other connective tissue disorder.

Red or Purple Lines Beneath the Nail: Dark lines beneath the nail bed should be investigated promptly! These lines usually occur near the tip of the nail bed and are sometimes an indication of melanoma, a very dangerous type of skin cancer.

Bitten and Gnawed Fingernails: Biting your fingernails right down to the nub may be nothing more than a bad habit. However, it may also indicate persistent states of anxiety. Nail-biting may also be an indication of some type of obsessive-compulsive disorder. If you simply can’t stop and you know you should, seek whatever help you need. Improvement in diet or exercise habits may help. Herbal nervines and essential oils may also prove helpful.

Nails Curving Downward with Swelling of Fingers: This condition is called “clubbing” and may indicate heart disease or serious lung issues.

Although nail changes accompany many conditions, these changes are rarely the first sign of trouble. There will have been other indications that trouble is brewing. Please also remember that many nail abnormalities are NOT indications of trouble, not everyone with white nails has hepatitis, for instance.

See the full list of topics.

In This Issue

UC-II Collagen Capsules
Calcium & Magnesium Softgels
June Essential Oils
Featured Herbs
Featured Blessed Waters
Featured Blend – ^LeSego Lily
Featured Single – Myrrh
Calendula Carrier Oil
Featured Kit

UC-II^® Collagen Capsules

Collagen is a key protein that makes up cartilage and connective tissues. Healthy collagen helps our joints stay strong and move smoothly when needed. As we get older, our bodies make less collagen, which can lead to stiffness and great discomfort. This supplement uses a special form of collagen called UC-II®, which has been studied and praised for its ability to support joint comfort and promote a healthy response in the cartilage and connective tissues of our bodies.

This supplement also includes Aquamin®, a natural mineral blend from seaweed that supports bones and connective tissues. Made without GMOs, gluten, or common allergens, and produced in a high-quality facility, these capsules offer a simple way to help maintain your joint health and keep you moving comfortably.

Whether you’re looking to protect your joints as you age or enhance your mobility for daily activities, UC-II® Collagen Capsules provide targeted support for long-lasting joint wellness.

Calcium & Magnesium Softgels

Calcium is one of the first elements depleted by insufficient dietary nutrients. Calcium is also used by the body in the transport of toxins, including the toxic aspects of prescription medications and other drugs, through the kidneys without damaging those delicate organs. Calcium, of course, you already know, calcium supports bones, teeth, nails, nerves, muscles, and tissues. Calcium is needed in every organ of the body in some way or another. In addition, calcium promotes repair processes and aids a great many body functions to occur normally and smoothly.

Magnesium supports normal nerve and muscle function, aids digestion by activating enzymes for protein and carbohydrate metabolism, relaxes the body into deeper sleep, supports normal heart and liver function, may help reduce inflammation in muscles, joints, and tissues, and potentially aids in over 300 body processes in all! Magnesium is also necessary for the absorption of calcium and other minerals.

As long as the preceding list is, I doubt that it covers all the needs for calcium in our bodies. The trouble is, and it is a big bit of trouble, poor calcium sources and supplements can create all sorts of havoc in the body! Gallstones and kidney stones are just a few such issues!

Additional calcium, from either good food sources or well-done supplements, is often beneficial for irritability, excitability, cramps, fatigue, convulsions, depression, muscle weakness, muscle cramps, tremors, calcification of tissues and small arteries, asthma, anorexia, menstrual migraines, heartbeat irregularities, and protein synthesis problems, to name just a few.

Calcium & Magnesium Softgels include Vitamin D-3 and Zinc, offering a truly balanced blend of essential minerals. This formula supports strong bones and teeth, as well as healthy enzymatic activity. Delivered via softgel, this formula is more easily absorbed and assimilated than other types of capsules or tablets.

Featured Herbs for Hair & Nails

Horsetail

I absolutely love this amazing herb. And it grows all around me! Horsetail is most noted for its silica (silicon) content, which is very high and remarkably soluble. Recent studies in Europe and elsewhere have found that broken bones do not heal well, even in the presence of high levels of calcium, if there are insufficient amounts of silicon available in the blood. The great herbalists of past generations already knew this— from experience after experience!

This interaction between calcium and silicon makes this herb valuable for strengthening hair and nails, and for preventing the formation of gallstones and kidney stones.

Horsetail is one of the best diuretic and kidney support herbs available. Besides strengthening and toning the urinary tract, Horsetail is listed as one of those herbs that help to prevent, or even dissolve, kidney stones. Being both astringent and hemostatic, Horsetail is particularly indicated when there is bleeding within the urinary system. Horsetail is also known to staunch the bleeding of external wounds, stop nosebleeds, and reduce the coughing up of blood when that is necessary. While handling the bleeding, Horsetail speeds the repair of damaged connective tissue, improving its strength and elasticity.

There are many great diuretic herbs, but none with the other benefits of Horsetail. Horsetail strengthens hair, nails, bones, and teeth.

Horsetail also has an effect on the liver and gallbladder. Horsetail is high in vitamin E and selenium, and is certainly much cheaper than taking a supplement of vitamin E. Other rather unusual nutrients found in Horsetail include both iron and iodine, as well as cobalt, copper, and manganese.

Rosemary

Rosemary is antimicrobial and great at general germ-fighting. As an oil or as a tea applied topically, rosemary is wonderfully effective at treating skin infections, both in reducing bacteria and healing the skin conditions the bacteria brought about. Rosemary contains Vitamin B6, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, and potassium.

Rosemary stimulates the circulation of blood to the head, improving memory and concentration. It also eases headaches and migraines, and even encourages hair growth and healthy hair in many respects. Rosemary is said to raise low blood pressure and is a valuable remedy for fainting and weakness that is associated with low blood pressure, and weakness associated with poor circulation. The fresh or dried leaves, brewed as a tea, are useful for headaches.

Rosemary is traditionally used to treat digestive issues such as gas, bloating, and indigestion. Studies have indicated that rosemary contains compounds that lower blood sugar and indicate that rosemary has potential in managing high blood sugar. Rosemary also contains compounds that boost the absorption of glucose into muscle cells.

Research has suggested that rosemary contains specific compounds that may help protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This is accomplished as those compounds act against oxidative stress in the retina of the eye. (A word of warning: While rosemary tea, oil, or extract has outstanding nutritional properties, rosemary should never be applied directly to or into the eyes. Damage to the eye and/or severe irritation may occur.)

Calendula

Calendula is such a hardy plant that it just keeps springing up year after year in my personal herb garden. Believe me, that is nothing short of miraculous. I love healing plants, but I am not good, to put it gently, at growing them. In addition, calendula is a beautiful as well as very useful plant!

Calendula is one of the most well-known and versatile herbs in Western herbal/alternative medicine. These lovely, bright orange petals are an excellent remedy for inflamed skin. Calendula has long been one of the herbs that midwives relied on to heal any small “skid marks” or stretched perineal tissues after childbirth. It has a place as a first-aid remedy for other cuts and abrasions because it has tissue-healing, antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.

Calendula tea has mild estrogenic action and has been found useful in reducing menstrual pain and in regulating menstrual bleeding. The infusion (tea) is an effective douche for persistent yeast infection.

Internally, calendula is also considered a cleansing herb for the liver and gallbladder, as well as for digestive system problems such as peptic ulcers and colitis.

Nettles

Just for fun and just for a moment, I pulled the herbal book I wrote, Butterfly Miracles with Herbal Remedies, up on my computer screen. I typed ‘nettles’ into the search/find feature. The results were astonishing! The index of this book references only 43 such mentions, but believe me, there were far more ‘finds’ than that! Even so, when and if I ever rewrite that book, I will be treating nettles with much more respect! I mention that nettles, while beloved for their nutrient value, are rarely mentioned as an herbal remedy. That is no longer true, if it ever was true. Nutrients are what make herbs the powerhouses that they are!

It was noted by a friend of mine many years ago that if you combine Nettles with Kelp and Alfalfa, you have most, if not all, of the vitamins and minerals that have been identified as useful to the human body. At Butterfly, this combination is called KNA and is a staple and much-loved supplement at our house!

Nettles are a wonderful food herb, but they also have many, many healing properties! Simply too many to list here. If any nutrient has shown itself to be healing to any part of the body, nettles probably contain that nutrient! Nettles are often called a “superfood.” Spinach is usually considered to be the most nutritious green in grocery stores, but it pales in comparison to nettles. Nettles are 29 times higher in calcium, 8 times higher in magnesium, and 3 times higher in potassium content, to name just a few nutrients!

Nettles are so rich in iron and vitamin K that you can almost feel them thickening the blood. The vitamin A content of nettles is off the charts! Nettles is right up there with huge servings of carrots eaten raw. Nettles even contain a very easily absorbed protein and some healthy and necessary fats. This outstanding and amazing plant is more nutritious than spinach, kale, or asparagus.

Oatstraw

Oatstraw is the stalk, stem, and leaf of the common oat plant (Avena sativa). It is harvested early, while the stalks are young and green, before it matures into the brown, fibrous straw left over after grain harvest. This unripe, green plant is often referred to as “milky oats”.

Oatstraw contains low amounts of vitamins E, and K, and is rich in calcium, chromium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, silicon, sodium, cobalt, manganese, potassium, tin, and zinc. WOW! Another ‘nutritional powerhouse’! Oats (the mature grain) and oatstraw are strongly suggested during convalescence from serious illnesses.

The principal uses for Oatstraw are to treat general fatigue and debility, improve stamina, and to treat a variety of nervous conditions. The straw and the grains are mildly anti-depressant, gently raising energy levels, improving mood, and lending support to an over-taxed and depleted nervous system. Oatstraw is helpful for insomnia and for recovering from nervous exhaustion.

Gotu Kola

The first thing that is probably known about Gotu Kola is that it is also sold under the name ‘Brahmi’, which is what it is known as in Eastern medical tradition, TCM-Traditional Chinese Medicine. This wonderful herb has long been known around the world in any herbal tradition as the “herb of longevity”. Much of what is known about the medicinal uses of this herb comes from writings in those Eastern traditions.

Gotu Kola is predominantly used for skin problems and wounds in the West. In India, it is used specifically to treat skin ulcers and to treat leprosy even today!

As is typical of nutritious herbs, Gotu Kola (Brahmi) is useful and healing for more than one body system. One of the most outstanding uses for this great herb is Cognitive Enhancement—the ability to think quickly and clearly. The ability of Gotu Kola (Brahmi) to increase circulation and vein health likely contributes to the characteristic healing phenomenon, which includes improvement in memory and the ability to focus!

This herb is also healing to the nervous system in reducing anxiety, stress, and particularly associated insomnia. The effects of Gotu Kola on the nervous system include the relief of joint pain, and it is even considered in much of the world to be an anti-aging herb.

Featured Blessed Waters for Hair & Nails

Hair/Nails

Any remedy that contains Arsenicum album or Phosphoricum in any form or Silica terra has got to be a great remedy with a whole spectrum of uses! In Materia Medica volumes, these three remedies each take up several pages to describe their ‘symptom pictures’ and give us clues as to their medicinal uses. I also have a tremendous respect for Antiomonium crudum, and Thuja occidentalis is in a class by itself!

The only drawback I see to this remedy is that it is a ‘combination’ remedy, so it should only be taken in the ‘low potency’ provided by Butterfly Express, LLC. If this works for you—and I can’t even imagine that it won’t do so to improve both hair and nail health—learning about these ingredients and utilizing the one that best describes you will bring you even greater results! This is true of all combination remedies and follows basic homeopathic theory and use.

Silica Terra (Both as a High Potency Remedy and as a Tissue Salt)

This is, in my opinion, one of the most important BlessedWater/Homeopathic Remedies to have in your home or office! Why? I will try to explain without taking up the many pages utilized to describe this remedy in Materia Medicas (books that describe homeopathic remedies around the world).

First, Silica is both a deep-level homeopathic and a cell salt. I cannot possibly, in a newsletter such as this, teach an in-depth course on homeopathy. Please, study on your own utilizing the many books out there or the summary of homeopathic principles, including my book Butterfly Miracles with Homeopathic Remedies, Book II.

Now, to try to present as much useful information about this remedy as I can in a ‘reasonably short’ space.

Silica is the #1 remedy for expelling foreign objects (slivers, etc.) AND infections from the body! Please keep this unique capability in mind as you read the descriptions below!

Allergies: The reactions to the allergen will include such things as bruised pain in the chest when coughing or breathing deeply. Itchy eruptions, mostly on the chest area, and chronic skin rashes appearing at any time. Asthma-like symptoms as a result of allergies, usually worse in the early fall. Violent cough, especially when lying down. Chronic catarrh and coryza in the nose and sinuses.

Infections: A very important keynote of Silica as it relates to yeast infections in particular is that the skin over much of the body becomes unhealthy with suppurative processes that are stubborn in clearing. Yeast infections for which many things have been tried with little success often respond to Silica because, as stated above, one of the primary actions of Silica is to push foreign objects and toxic conditions out of the body. Does Silica work for other types of infections? Without doubt—and proven many times over in my house!

Muscles: Some symptoms related to muscle issues include legs feeling paralyzed, trembling while walking, loss of power in legs, calves tense and contracted, and curvature of the spine. For this remedy to be the very best choice, there must also—of course—be other matching symptoms (especially emotional ones) present at the same time. A wake-up indication of the need for this remedy for me is that body parts lain or sat on for very long go to sleep or become painful. So, for me, this remedy is important to getting a good night’s sleep and enjoying long trips to see children and grandchildren. (Heading out on one such trip this weekend and appreciating this reminder to myself!)

Acne: It should be noted that the action of Silica on acne is to bring the ‘mess’ further to a ‘head’ in order to clear the underlying unhealthy conditions from the body. For faster action, the diet should be cleaned up. In other words, eliminate unhealthy foods, including soft drinks! The mental/emotional symptoms of the sufferer will include the following lists in some form or another! Loss of self-confidence, performance anxiety, and complaints brought on by anticipation of failure. The person is usually prone to procrastinate or just plain put off the things they are afraid to do.

Nutrition: Although Silica should be remembered for its ability to expel foreign objects from the body, Silica is also noted for improving defective nutrition that is due to poor assimilation of nutrients. Silica is the first remedy I think of if my hair becomes dry or my nails become brittle. Some symptoms applicable to this remedy are a tendency to easy exhaustion, arrested development, unhealthy skin, and pus formation—particularly abscesses around fingernails and whitlows (thickening of the skin around the fingernails). This can be seen in the short descriptions above.

Mentals/Emotionals: The materia medicas describe the pattern of Silica terra as a tendency to easy exhaustion and eventual prostration of mind and body. These extreme states are linked to defective nutrition due to imperfect assimilation of nutrients, often beginning in childhood. Silica terra is characterized by loss of self-confidence, performance anxiety, and the continual anticipation of failure at the beginning of any enterprise. There is a distinct inability to focus and concentrate, and there will be mental difficulties from the overexertion of their minds.

This remedy is also listed for the ill effects of vaccinations.

Silica terra is a true ‘polycrest’ remedy. This means, of course, that this remedy will be useful for most people at some time in their lives and likely at more than one time in their lives! Please remember that this description is a brief one and may not include symptoms important in your own life or that of your family!

A brief note on Tissue Salts: In 1858, the now-famous idea was postulated that the body is merely a collection of cells, arranged into organs and then arranged in ‘body systems’. From that premise, it was then postulated that medical treatment should be directed towards the individual cells, and the prevalence of certain biochemical ‘salts’ was very important to the health of individual cells and, therefore, of the body and mind. His work led to the making of these 12 homeopathic, or biochemic, remedies. The study of them is both fascinating and informative! And using “Cell Salt Remedies” to improve the uptake of these salts from the diet is incredibly healing!

^LeSego Lily Essential Oil Blend

^LeSego Lily is a blend for skin care and skin health and makes an excellent massage oil. It was originally formulated for a Massage Therapy place operating under the name ‘Sego Lily’. Although formulated specifically for them, permission was cheerfully given for Butterfly Express, LLC to sell it also.

The single essential oils in ^LeSego Lily combine to promote skin elasticity and slow the processes of aging. They do this by nourishing the skin and even, to some extent, smoothing out wrinkles. My favorite use, many years ago when I was still plagued by allergies, was to bring relief from the itching of allergic reactions, even as severe as hives! I found that the more emollient the carrier oil, the better the results. Jojoba, Apricot, and Rosehip are among my favorites. Mullein carrier, which is very healing to the skin, is also a very good—and my favorite—choice.

One of the primary goals in my creation of this blend was, in large part, to assist in bringing about feelings of calmness during a crisis or when feeling anxious or just out of sorts for any reason! People began, immediately, to say that this light and airy, beautifully aromatic blend brought them feelings of being loved and appreciated. They claimed that it made them more aware of the love and concern that those around them had, and were so often showing them. The result, I was told over and over again, was feeling the need to show more appreciation and love for others, as well.

Myrrh Essential Oil

Myrrh has been used in meditation for centuries and was another of the gifts brought by the Magi to the infant Jesus. At that time in history, myrrh was used as an embalming oil in the preparation of bodies for burial. Was the gifting of this bitter, valuable resin meant by the givers to foreshadow Jesus’s sacrifice and death? Certainly, it completed a prophetic trio of gifts: that of gold for kingship, frankincense for deity, and myrrh as a representative of Christ’s mortality and death.

Myrrh essential oil does not, in my opinion, have the most pleasant of aromas. Myrrh, being a resin oil, even when diluted, remains tacky on the skin for several minutes. And, quite often, if not used regularly, it will harden in the hole of the dropper top of the bottle. This can be a bit inconvenient. However, myrrh has so many wonderful healing capacities as to make these minor inconveniences of very little importance.

Myrrh essential oil increases perspiration during times of illness, ridding the body of toxins and cleansing the pores of the skin. Myrrh is an excellent choice for skin complaints such as eczema, ringworm, athlete’s foot, chapped and cracked skin, stretch marks, rashes, and wrinkles.

One of the outstanding properties of Myrrh is astringency, which means causing tissues and blood vessels to contract naturally. Myrrh can tighten the gums, tone the skin, aid muscle contraction in the intestines and other internal organs, and stop bleeding. Myrrh relieves congestion in the lungs and sinuses.

As a stimulant, Myrrh has an effect on blood circulation, the secretion of needed bile in the digestive process, the pumping action of the heart, and makes a person more alert by stimulating the brain and nervous system. Myrrh’s stimulant properties have a particular affinity for the immune system.

The aroma of myrrh helps us see possible ways and directions to take for the achievement of our dreams. It also opens our minds to inspirations and the direction of the spirit.

Calendula Carrier Oil

While there are many wonderful carrier oils available at ButterflyExpress, LLC, I was delighted to see Calendula as this month’s choice as the featured carrier oil!

Calendula is one of the best vulnerary (good for the healing of wounds and skin conditions) plants ever created. For example, Calendula is anti-inflammatory and is useful for vein health and circulatory issues such as varicose veins, spider veins, and bruises. Calendula is one of the best healers for skin rashes, hives, eczema, and psoriasis, leg ulcers, and bed sores that are difficult to heal.

Using the appropriate essential oil, coupled with the healing properties of calendula-infused oil as a carrier, provides a “double whammy” of healing to a great many difficult-to-treat health crises. One such example is the use of Calendula carrier oil with the Butterfly blend ^LeDeeper for the pain of Shingles and a host of other things. In fact, at 2:00 am this very morning, I used Calendula carrier to apply ^LeDeeper to my big toe, which keeps swelling up from time to time since a severe injury a couple of years ago. I considered using Arnica carrier, a bit better for swelling, perhaps, but it was upstairs, and I was not! Calendula and ^LeDeeper worked well, and I was soon soundly asleep!

Missionary Kit

Whether or not you are a member of the same Church that I hold dear or not, this kit makes a great gift for anyone, not just missionaries, who are leaving home for the first time! It is a well-thought-out, compact first aid kit for almost anything that may bring trouble. This would include earaches, stomachaches, dealing with colds, flu, diarrhea, indigestion, and even sore muscles. This kit even contains oils to help them get along with others around them!

The kit comes with a printed insert that details the basic uses of each ingredient in simple enough language to be understood, and that the healing substance can be utilized successfully. I am going to include here just a portion of that insert. A short description of the uses of each ingredient is provided on the insert.

Athlete’s Foot: Put 4-5 drops of ^LeDeliverance in water and soak feet for 20 minutes twice a day.

Bleeding: 6-10 drops of Bioplasma directly under the tongue every 10 minutes until 7 doses have been taken. Can be repeated again later in the day and done for several days. Can also be dropped directly onto the cut or other bleeding area.

Burns: Put a few drops of Lavender on the affected area. If it is a very large area, you can use coconut oil. Put coconut oil in palm of hand – about 1 tablespoon – add 2-3 drops of lavender.

Cramps: Apply BBL straight on the stomach. Take 1 dropper internally every 20 minutes, in a little bit of water, until cramps subside. Do not exceed 5 or 6 doses and stop if you get nauseous.

Cuts: Apply ^LeDeliverance to disinfect. If it is big and deep, dilute it in water so it won’t sting as much and will cover a larger area more easily.

Disinfectant: ^LeDeliverance is a great disinfectant – especially for foot fungus that you keep getting from your shower or from continually wearing your shoes in hot weather. You can clean and disinfect anything with a couple of drops of ^LeDeliverance.

Earache: Warm the whole bottle of Ear Oil and BBL by placing them in a cup of warm water. When warmed, put between 2-5 drops of each in your ear and then put a cotton ball in your ear.

Flu: Take 5-6 drops of Flu Symptoms #1 under the tongue. Repeat every 10 minutes up to 7 doses. As soon as the stomach can handle it, take a dropperful of IF added to water or juice.

Food Poisoning: Take 5-6 drops of Carbo Veg directly under the tongue. Repeat at 10-minute intervals as needed. This can occasionally cause vomiting. This is OK – it is the body’s way of ridding itself of the toxicity. If there are chills and any symptoms of shock, take Rescue Remedy several times in addition.

Infection: IF tincture should be taken 5 times a day for the first 2 days and then 3 times a day for at least a week after the infection is gone. Take a full dropper – about 20 drops each time.

Insect Bites: Apply Lavender directly on the insect bite

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