The digestive system is a very intricate and complex system. To my mind, it is much like a fragile ecosystem. There is a constant need for balance in the digestive system, just as there is in nature. The balance between the organs and among the different types of healthy bacteria found in the digestive system is absolutely essential to good health. When the digestive system is not working properly, the body becomes either malnourished or toxic. As a result, all the woes of poor nutrition and/or a toxic system eventually show themselves in the overall health of the body and mind.
Due to the many different organs included in the digestive system and their specific roles in the body, there are a lot of essential oils and herbs which have an ability to impact this system and bring about improvements. This month’s newsletter targets only a few of them. (I know from the length of the article that it seems like we surely must have mentioned them all. Not so—but it did feel like that to me as I wrote it.) I hope you find something useful to you or your family in the information I have tried to present here.
The three most important things to know about parasites are:
1) They can make a person very ill and leave problems that last for a very long time.
2) They can be very difficult to diagnose—even when reading the foot using zone therapy.
3) They can be indicative of a compromised immune system. When the immune system functions optimally parasites are usually eliminated in the natural course of living.
Skin rashes and irritation caused by parasites actually seem to respond very quickly to essential oils. (Have I mentioned lately that I hate skin rashes worse than nearly anything on earth?) It is wonderful that we have such wonderful options as essential oils! When dealing with parasite rashes, the oils must be applied using water, not carrier-type oils that might ‘feed’ the parasites. The chosen regimen must be continued for the entire life cycle of that particular parasite, including the hatching of any eggs. We have found that essential oils, placed in water in a spray bottle, work very well. The entire body must be covered by the water and the oil at least twice a day. Not fun or easy, but effective—even against MRSA. Be sure to shake the bottle frequently and well during the application process. Essential oils and water do not really mix well.
Once the parasite has been eradicated, there will still be a period of time needed to repair the damage done to the skin and subcutaneous tissues.
The more I read and studied, the more I came to realize that, because of sanitation and hygiene practices in North America, we have a greatly reduced incidence of parasitic issues. It has been and is a good idea to be vigilant, and to teach our children to be vigilant, in these areas.
I have also made a vow to increase my vigilance in washing, washing, washing my hands, even when camping or gathering herbs in what looks like pristine wilderness—especially around streams and waterways.
I will also be washing, washing, washing my produce much more faithfully. Kids and animals? Probably just a price we pay and handle the results in the best way that we can! (For me, that is the Miracle II parasite cleanse protocol, first and foremost, along with essential oils.)
A strong immune system is the best defense against parasites—as it is with everything else!
| Symptoms of Internal Parasites | More Serious, Less Common Symptoms of Internal Parasites |
|---|---|
| 1) Fatigue | 1) Irritability and drastic changes in behavior |
| 2) Flu-like symptoms | 2) Liver disease |
| 3) Rashes | 3) Weakened immune system |
| 4) Sudden weight gain or loss | 4) Chronic immunological diseases |
| 5) Body aches | 5) Allergies |
| 6) Sleep disturbances | 6) Asthma |
| 7) Gas, bloating, constipation | 7) Anemia |
| 8) Teeth grinding at night | 8) Arthritis (as the parasites form cysts which lodge in joints and muscles) |
| 9) Drooling at night | 9) Muscle cramps |
| 10) Nervousness | 10) Bluish specs in whites of the eyes |
| 11) Excessive hunger | |
| 12) Iron deficiency | |
| 13) Difficulty losing/gaining weight | |
| 14) Constant cough or colds | |
| 15) Hives, rashes, itchy skin | |
| 16 ) Watery diarrhea | |
| 17) Sugar & other cravings, such as dirt, raw rice | |
| 18) Ravenous appetite |
An allergy is an inappropriate response by the body to a substance that is not harmful to most people. The immune system, which is supposed to protect us from toxins and pathogens, wrongly identifies a substance as harmful to us and goes into action. The response can be anywhere from mildly annoying to symptoms severe enough to create anaphylactic shock. These types of allergies may begin with only mild symptoms but grow worse with each reaction; they are NOT something that a person typically grows out of.
When I saw this month’s topic I got very excited. Allergies can be devastating and have a nasty effect on trying to live life and enjoy it! I had so many allergies—an unbelievable number and to a wide variety of substances—during my childhood and early adulthood. If it blew on the wind, if it was meant to be consumed in a raw or natural state such as watermelon or nearly every kind of vegetable or fruit, or if it was a drug of any sort—even such things as antibiotics, dental deadening, and mouthwashes—I was going to react to it in some uncomfortable or dangerous way. Oh, the list could go on and on! I spent my life either in misery from one allergy or another or I was sleepy from the allergy pills I was taking. Trips to the dentist’s office became scary for me and for the dentist! Eventually, I even started to react to allergy pills of every variety.
As with all true allergies, the reactions to many of my ‘triggers’ got worse with time—much worse, involving my heart in scary ways!
Who am I today as far as allergies are concerned? I have none and haven’t had for many years! I eat whatever I want. Do you have any idea how enjoyable a piece of watermelon or a raw carrot tastes these days? Or how fun it is to be outdoors. I don’t even worry about bee stings these days! If I feel the slightest itch in my throat or eyes or any other allergic-type reaction I simply go back to the things I know. Many of those things will be talked about in this article.
Side Note: Having had some scary reactions to antibiotics and other types of drugs in the past and having lived so many years without them, I can’t really say for sure whether they are still a problem or not. I suspect those allergies have also gone away. I took 2 antibiotic pills and 1 painkiller a while ago (the first of either in 40 years) after some extensive dental work. No reaction at all!
I was absolutely delighted to see what had been chosen for this month’s topic! February can be such a hard month for so many people, and this coming one promises to be harder than usual for me and those around me. As some of you may have heard, our family experienced the devastating loss of a dear loved one recently. I am very grateful for the opportunity to refresh my own mind, study the remedies that deal with depression, grief, and other emotional and mental issues a bit deeper and then share with you what I know and learn. The use of some of these remedies has already had a profound effect on my own mental health recently.
On a lighter note, my older brother, an advanced mathematics professor, told me once that his classes in February were simply used to play fun (and mildly educational) number/math games. Why? Because, he said, students are just up to too much else in February and they need a bit of fun to cheer them up! I suspect that the darker days of winter and, perhaps even in sunny climes, the let down following the holiday season affects us all. See the full list of topics.
March is the perfect time to focus on Allergies, Liver, and Lymph. With allergy season just around the corner giving your liver and lymph some extra love can make your spring and summer a lot more fun. The lymph is a very important part of the immune system and the liver is vital to keeping your body detoxed. The liver performs over 500 functions in the body. The liver is part of the digestive system. This blog is full of great ideas to help keep your lymph moving and keep your liver happier. This is the secret to surviving allergies. Make sure you don’t miss the new multivitamin.
See the full list of topics.
In September the topic up for discussion is Strengthening Lymph and Immune. These are two very important systems for maintaining health and preventing sickness. I am loving the new tincture for giving your lymph some Tender Loving Care. We will discuss other tinctures for cleansing as well as give you a link for how to cleanse without making yourself sick. Essential Oils have been my go-to for lymph draining for years and we will discuss some of my favorites. Of course, this blog would not be complete without talking about the blessed waters that you should know for helping your immune and lymph systems. See the full list of topics.
In January, we will be talking about RELEASING CELLULAR MEMORY and WEIGHT LOSS. Our bodies store memories and perceptions in the cells of our bodies. Blocked energy that has resulted from traumatic real-life events are like energetic land mines. These areas are filled with dark emotions, memories, and energies. Sometimes the energetic clearing of such a spot can result in a powerful emotional release. This time of year is all about refreshing and releasing. The oils, herbs, and blessed waters we will talk about are my favorites for releasing past traumas and lifting an emotional weight off our shoulders. Often, weight loss will naturally follow and we will be happier and healthier. See the full list of topics.
In October we will be talking about RESPIRATORY and FLU. As we head into the cold and flu season we thought it was important to review some go-to oils, herbs, and homeopathic that are worth having around this time of year. We have all been in the trenches of the flu ourselves and with our kids. I hope this blog makes any sickness that comes your way this season shorter and less intense. Please see the index at the bottom of the blog for a complete list of topics.
In September we will be talking about FIRST AID. We will cover a long list of minor things that Dr. Mom might deal with on a day to day basis. We will discuss cuts, burns, headaches, colds, diarrhea, allergy symptoms, anxiety, and so so so many more. Our discussion will include essential oils, herbs, minerals, and blessed waters. Please see the index at the bottom of the blog for a complete list of topics.
In May our topics are Pain, Muscles, and Nerves. We will be discussing many things such as bruising, circulation, Charley Horses, cramps, inflammation, headaches, and even some emotional situations that are made worse by nerves such as anxiety and depression.
When we hear the term allergy, most people think of such symptoms as a runny nose, red and watering eyes, swelling of some tissues somewhere, rashes, hives, or some other form of itching. With no distinction made, the term allergy is also used to refer to more serious reactions to substances. More serious reactions include headaches, heart palpitations, and, eventually, anaphylactic shock. Among those who work with allergies, these two sets of symptoms are considered to be very separate categories with two separate names. This is true both in the medical world and among “alternative” practitioners, as well. The names most commonly used to distinguish the two categories are allergy and intolerance. Intolerances are sometimes referred to as sensitivities. More information can be found in the blog.