“I Was On My Head!”

I have a post about supplements that I have been working on FOREVER. I’ve had wonderful results with them and I will finish it, but I stumbled on to something that I simply MUST share as soon as possible.

It all started when I read this article on shoulder stands. The original post on FaceBook showed the pose below, and I thought….I might be able to do that. I mean, with all of the awesome benefits including lymph circulation – which is paramount in detoxing the body; and increasing ENERGY (wow) – it was worth a shot. Also I have been learning a lot about energy healing and chakra balancing so this added to that interest.  (Ok, wait, before see this and think “no way am I doing that!”…keep reading I have suggestions)

Photo Credit: Neeta Lind

So I’m laying on my back in my bed, because it’s soft – yeah, I realize, not the optimal place for yoga but I don’t have a yoga mat, because I don’t DO yoga, and we have hard floors, so bed it is! So I’m on my bed and I lifted my legs up intending to get them up high enough to get my arms under me, thinking I could push up the rest of the way. Ha! Yeah. Maybe when I was 20! Apparently my butt contains a magnet that is attracted to the mattress, because it was NOT going in the air.

Now mind you, I’m not alone. Sitting beside me in bed is my husband, who is playing Diamond Digger on his tablet and refraining from watching me attempt this.

So it’s all physics, right? When something heavy (my butt) doesn’t want to move, you need some momentum. (Obligatory warning: do not try to do it this way.)  So I sort of set up then rolled backward hoisting my legs as I went…………..and then there is gravity. What goes up must come down, and apparently quickly. So now I’m starting to problem solve. I need something to hold my legs up so that I have time to get my arms under by backside so I can stay there.  Ah ha! Headboard!

It took a couple of tries but I was able to roll back, and get my feet on the headboard over my head and then my arms under me so I could prop myself up, attempting to look like the lovely ladies in the picture. Well, I did not, but I was in position, nevertheless.  Now let me stop and explain that – in case you don’t realize, I am NOT in shape. I have had Fibromyalgia for 7 years, I am doing pretty well now, but I don’t really exercise much other than walking. So here I am, feet on the headboard, arms now under my lower back. I manage to straighten my legs a little and get my feet off the headboard so I am now in full supported shoulder stand position (kinda). And panting. This yoga stuff is not as easy as it looks. But I’m there. The stretch for my shoulder and neck feel fabulous, stomach muscles burning a little, kinda hard to breathe. Husband does not dare look away from his tablet screen.  I held it for a minute or two, the slowly lowered my legs until I was in a tucked position, stayed that way for a bit catching my breath, then unfolded them the rest of the way out.  Whew!  It was only then that it was noted by Dear Husband that I do not look like the ladies in the photo.  I don’t care, I was up there. On the second attempt a week or so later, as I brought my feet back down to rest on the headboard, he didn’t look up from his tablet, but asked “are you stuck?”. Ha! No I wasn’t but his tone sent me into a fit of giggles. I know I look silly, but I don’t care. Now, I’m realizing I should have been turned around with my head toward the end of the bed like it describes here. If only I had googled, first!

When I am “fully” up I look more like this photo:

Click photo to follow link to more instructions.

Fast forward to the next  day. I had an awesome day! Worked, homeschooled, ran errands, worked again in the evening, went non stop until 9 pm.  The day after that was similar – but I took it a little easier – knowing the Spoon Theory would make me pay for “spoons” borrowed from the next day. Two days after shoulder stand, I crashed. Now I did not immediately connect the energy increase with the shoulder stand. In fact, had forgotten all about it. Toward the end of the week, I am reassessing – what did I do that made me feel so great?  Sleep – check, supplements – check, water – check, oils – check. But none of that was new. Then I remembered.  So, ok, lets try that again!

My energy level on days following a shoulder stand is incredible! I have also noticed a greatly diminished pain level. My pain stays well controlled, anyway, but these are days I can push my body beyond my former limits. In a later post, after I research a bit more, I will post about WHY this pose seems to have so many positive effects on Fibromyalgia.

A few words about shoulder stands….be careful with yourself. If you are in a flare, be very careful. In the minutes afterward, it could make you very sore. Also, as the article suggests, do not do them if you have a neck or shoulder injury. Please read the articles posted here for contraindications and warnings! For those non-yoga folks like myself, I am including links below for MODIFIED shoulder stands. Ways you can do this without 1) injuring yourself and 2) looking completely silly.

You know, I think my willingness to be open minded and try *anything* is a huge part of my recovery. If it doesn’t work out, it’s probably not going to make you feel any worse. Even if it does, it will only be short term. Then you can try something else. Don’t ever give up! It’s when you give up that Fibromyalgia wins.

Shoulder Stand Modifications (google this for more results)

http://www.doyouyoga.com/shoulder-stand-variations-for-the-abundant-yogi/

http://www.allgoodthings.com/yoga/postures/chak_plough.html

Hiatus – Beginning the Protocol

First, I see some comments on my other posts that I didn’t get notice of, so if I haven’t responded to you, I will be doing so shortly! Sorry about that.

As the name suggests, I’ve been on a sort of  hiatus since January. It’s been a very busy, busy late winter/spring.  Along with my passion for essential oils and teaching people to use them, I am also a freelance paralegal, part time office manager, curator of an Etsy shop (which has been put on the back burner for now) and starting in April (drum roll) a homeschooling Mom!  So yes, I have had my attention divided elsewhere.

But let’s talk chronic conditions.

Part of my hiatus has been spent in researching my own condition as well as my son’s.  My youngest son has chronic stomach pain. It began in February 2013.  It was this condition and the multiple absences from school that led us down the wonderful path of homeschooling.  I don’t mean that in a sarcastic way – it’s truly one of the best things I’ve ever done.  The disappointment, however, is that through all of my oil research, I have not been able to find anything that will bring his body to a state where it can heal itself.  And I mean we have tried EVERY oil you can think of, even some you wouldn’t think of! For instance, did you know that Angelica increases the digestive acids in the stomach?  It also helps with anxiety.  Sadly, it is on the long list of oils we have tried that have not helped my son.

After giving up totally on allopathic medicine and doctors, we started seeing a dear friend (MuQi) who is a massage therapist, acupuncturist, and homeopathic practitioner.   He uses muscle testing to “hear” what the body has to say.  In my son’s case – he has bugs! Lots of intestinal bugs and inflammation.  Traditional medicine seeks to kill these bugs with antibiotics. However, as we all know, it also kills the good bugs which just causes more problems in the long run.  So we began a homeopathic protocol. The results have been slow, but positive!

I have been feeling like I have been missing a piece of the puzzle for a while now. Not just with my son, but in my own illness as well. The Fibromyalgia has been a battle for me since January.  The oils are amazing and I still stand behind them. But there is more, I think.  There has to be something that can bring about complete healing and not just 85% healing.  I sat down with our friend for a few hours one night and he was kind enough to write out a complete protocol to bring the body back to a state of health using Young Living supplements.

The protocol is essentially this – build up the body – address the trauma – clean the blood. I am still on phase one of the protocol so I thought I would write about each stage as I go through them.  This stage includes Young Living’s Parafree and SuperB.  The last two times I have put in my order, Parafree has been out of stock. MuQi gave Parker and I a different homeopathic tincture that does the same thing – kills the bugs.  We take it in a capsule three times/day, along with a daily dose of activated charcoal.  It’s important that you take the charcoal to absorb the toxins as they die off.  It’s also important that you take a supplement like SuperB to help build up the body so it can function to its fullest while you are in this part of the process.

Thirdly, we are both taking a brilliant supplement called D-Mannos.  D-Mannos is a sugar monomer. A monomer is something that functions like sugar, but is not.  Biological bugs living in the body in either the digestive or urinary tract feed on sugar.  The molecules are so similar that these bugs attach themselves to the D-Mannos which then is flushed out of the body. I can tell you this for certain – since starting the D-Mannos I have had no UTI’s and my digestion has been in stellar condition!  If you have FMS, or IBS (or both) you know what a big deal this is!  I recommend this for dietary issues, as well as, kidney and urinary issues.

During this protocol you will continue to use oils. The oils work to keep the body’s frequency at a level where it can help, offer comfort for symptoms, and clean the cells of emotional and biological toxins as the supplements do their job.  I also continue to receive bi-weekly Raindrop treatments.  The raindrop protocol brings electrical and structural balance to the body while detoxifying and killing viruses.  All of these go hand in hand to bring about healing in the body.  And by that, I mean, the body is able to heal itself.

The final thing I want to share with you is that if you are pursing any kind of protocol – oils, supplements, natural cleanse – be patient.  The process takes a while. Sometimes you will get better and then suddenly feel like you have fallen back to square one. In this case it is because a new batch of “bugs” have attached or additional toxins have been released. Don’t give up – this is a good sign. It’s a sign of healing.

I will continue to post the phases of the protocol here, so stay tuned.

Drink water, eat right, rest, take care of you!

The Exodus From Pain

After my last couple of posts, I wanted to give an update. January was a tough month and I knew I was going to have to get back to business in order to regain my health. I mixed up my Fibro Blend and got serious again.  I also remembered that a year ago when this journey began, I started with my blend, which brought relief, but one blend that I bought with my first order was Exodus II.  After attending a Healing Oils of the Bible class in late January 2013 I was especially drawn to these particular oils.  So once again I went to one of my favorites and started putting in on my feet at night, in addition to putting the Fibro Blend on chest and also on the back of my hands – more on that later.  Let’s talk ancient oils.

  

The blend from Young Living is called Exodus II.  It contains Cassia, Calamus, Spikenard, Myrrh, Galbanum, Frankincense, Cinnamon Bark and Hyssop.  Never heard of them? If you familiar with the bible at all, you probably have and just don’t realize it. I’ll give you the references and then tell you why I think they are helpful for those of us fighting chronic illness. All of this information is available in the book by Dr. David Stewart Healing Oils of the Bible.  Dr. Stewart is a chemist and is a part of an organization called C.A.R.E (Center for Aromatherapy Research and Education. All scientific information, uses and application in this post are provided by his research and that found on PubMed. I would like to also point out that while I am a Christian and my reference come from the Bible, it by no means is exclusive in it’s mention of the oils. Use of ancient oils can be found throughout history and across cultures. I grew up in the eastern part of Oklahoma with a population of mostly Cherokees. Native Americans have been using herbs, tinctures and oils for centuries. I wish I had reference to their knowledge, but I don’t so here is what I do have:

Frankincense – Probably the most famous of all of the above. Known as one of the gifts of the magi to the infant Jesus. It is mentioned numerous times in scripture . Used in all holy anointings modern chemistry has revealed why this might be.  Frankincense in rich in monoterpenes. Which, according to Dr. Stewart and other researchers “are hostile to microbes and reprogram cells with correct information.” In layman’s terms it means that the toxins in our environment or those we build within our bodies (from too much stress, incorrect cellular training, etc) affect us on the DNA level. Monoterpenes are absorbed at the DNA level and they are able to re-write incorrect information that has been stored there. This allows for the cells to once again function as they should and actually reverse damage.  Among it’s long list of great attributes it also builds the immune system. On a side note the famed “Balm of Gilead” is from the same family as Frankincense and Myrrh.

Next up Cassia and Cinnamon Bark – I am putting these two together because of their similarities. Cassia and Cinnamon smell and taste similar.  Cassia is found in these references . It was used in the holy anointing oil used by Moses. It is an immune system builder as well.  Likewise, Cinnamon Bark (a favorite in this household) also boosts the immune system. But additionally, according to Dr. Stewart  it  is “one of the most powerful antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, and antifungal oils of all. In lab tests it has been proven as effective as or better than several antibiotics.”  So far in this list we have oils that can reprogram DNA data, boost immune system, and can kill just about any kind of intruder of the body.  But we are far from finished.

Calamus: Most of us are probably not as familiar with this one. The scripture references are here. Calamus is awesome for Fibro and other pain related illnesses because it is a muscle relaxer and an inflammatory. It also cleans the kidneys so toxins can exit the body more efficiently.

Spikenard: This one is one of my favorites because of the stories related to it. Jesus was anointed with this oil three times in the week preceding his execution. When He was there, dying, spikenard was there, having been poured on his head by a woman who wished to bless Him in the way she could. This account is found in Mark 14:3. In this reference it is referred to as “nard”. Related references are here and in the Old Testament, here. More than just the anecdotal use, however, spikenard  is a mood enhancer, heals scar tissue, supports the cardiovascular system, and fights migraines.

 

Myrrh: Another “healing balm” familiar to most people. Mentioned 18 times directly and 138 times indirectly in scripture, myrrh was used by pregnant mothers to protect their unborn child, used in beautification and skincare, used to break “generational curses”, and as an insect repellent.  Modern research has found it to be chemically balancing to the thyroid, supports the immune system, is mood elevating, anti-fungal (such as thrush), and contains sesquiterpenes. Sesquiterpenes do the work before monoterpenes as  they go to the DNA level and erase mis-coded information. They create a clean slate which allows oils like frankincense to write new “data”.

Galbanum: This is one of my favorites and I have several of the blends in which it’s found – Humility, Gathering and Gratitude are among them. Not everyone likes the smell of this oil but it’s always brought a calmness to my spirit. In scripture it is referenced here. In ancient times it was used for pain relief, and various medicines.  Currently we know that it is good for coughs, cramps, pain relief, and is emotionally uplifting. I think it smells like fresh cut hay, which is a happy summer memory for me. Galbanum, like Frankincense is a monoterpene.

Last, but definitely not least is Hyssop. Hyssop branches were dipped in the blood of lambs and used to mark the doors of the Hebrews during the Passover of the “death angel”. It was used in purification ceremonies throughout the old testament. Finally, in the last atonement for all, a sponge was soaked and attached to a branch of hyssop and lifted to Jesus as an act of mercy while he was on the cross. More than just symbolic, Hyssop is known to help with respiratory issues and it is thought that it was used by these ladies of mercy to help those on the cross breath a little easier. Practically speaking, it helps with respiratory infections, relieves anxiety, arthritis, detoxifying, breaks additions, and is emotionally balancing. I have used hyssop on the roof of my mouth to drain stuffy sinuses. I will warn you that Hyssop on it’s own does not taste or smell great, though I don’t mind the smell at all.

After attending the class for the first time, I was faced with a 30 minute drive home. The blend Exodus II contains 8 of the 14 oils contained in scripture. All 14 oils are used in the class we teach and during the class you have the opportunity drop the oils on your hands in succession and smell each of them. The combination of all of the powerfully ancient oils left me with a feeling of a deep emotional cleanse (known in oil circles as an emotional release). I cried all the way home from that class, but it was cleansing tears. When I finally got home I was totally at ease and slept like a baby. To this day, this blend has a very soothing effect on me.   But aside from that I also think it is a quick exit from the symptoms of Fibromyalgia. With all of it’s detoxification qualities, anti-bacterial,  anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties, and pain relieving properties, I think it is a good choice, if you have tried other things that might not have worked as well for you.  My turn-around decision earlier this month proved successful. I struggled through a couple of weeks of pain, fatigue and migraines but once again, the oils came through. I think having experienced a quick remission is proof, to me anyway, that it is more than a coincidence or fluke that these oils bring relief, if not remission to Fibromyalgia. In addition to Exodus II, these oils are found in many of Young Living’s blends – Three Wise Men and The Gift, most notably.

Because it is a mystery as to what triggers this illness, I suspect that it might be something different in each of us. It could be toxins of any sort, a virus that is never fully eradicated from our system, or a chemical breakdown of the thyroid and/or adrenal system. Therefore, the oil you need may vary from what I need. In both Januarys (2013 and 2014) I have experienced nothing short of a miraculous turn around.  I give most credit to the oils, but also feel obligated to mention that this has been a no-beef January. Take me seriously…if you are chronically ill, try it. 30 days, no beef. See if you feel better. I always feel better when I avoid it, but complete remission of symptoms only comes when I am using my oil regimen. It starts out as a daily use and then becomes a maintenance thing. My husband and I have both attended CARE’s Raindrop Training and we trade off on giving raindrops to each other about every other week. The oils used in that application are similar in property to the ancient oils detailed above.

I hope this post has been insightful. If you are interested in trying this blend or wish to have more information on the properties of these oils please contact me.  We are in Tulsa and regularly host the Healing Oils of the Bible class.  All of our classes are for educational purposes and non-sales events. Erich and I live to teach others about the oils and how they can help. It’s never our goal to “sell” you something. We want to “sell” you on this lost knowledge of ancient times. How you chose it use it, is totally up  to you.

Thank you for reading. 🙂

How do you spell relief?

O-R-T-H-O-E-A-S-E

I’m writing this because I have just slathered this stuff on every painful stuff on my body.  If you have ever thought “if only I could put oils over my entire body, this just might work” – this post is for you.  You can, actually.  Ortho Ease is used in our raindrop application and we might not have thought of it otherwise.  It has a host of pain oils: WINTERGREEN, MARJORAM, PEPPERMINT, EUCALYPTUS, LEMONGRASS, JUNIPER, THYME, and VETIVER all blended in a soothing mix of wheat germ, almond, and coconut oils.  Pick your spot(s) and rub it in.  Ahhhh, relief.  Just a quick run down on some of these:

Wintergreen – Anti-inflammatory and great for bone pain;

Marjoram   – (most of you know) is excellent for muscle pain and is my go-to oil for on the spot relief;

Peppermint – pain relief, amplifies the effects of other oils, and leaves the fresh tingly feeling (but not too much as it is diluted in this mixture);

Eucalyptus – anti-inflammatory;

Lemongrass – repairs connective tissue – (ligaments, muscles, etc) and is also a soft muscle relaxer. Good to rub on the tummy for a stomach ache (like IBS).

For a more intense massage oil, try Ortho Sport (think “Biofreeze”). Add a hot or cold compress after application and feel the “icy-hot” sensation that melts away soreness.

Both of these will set you back about $30 (wholesale). We have had our bottle since last fall and even with giving Raindrop treatments to each other and others, we have not managed to go through an entire bottle.

Just thought I would share my glowing recommendation for these two massage oils. Especially with my fellow fibro fighters, but also with you healthy active types.

Raindrop oils on my feet, orthoease everywhere else. Thank you essential oils for saving the day! Time to get back to my life 🙂

Fighting the Good Fight

So here I am. Almost a year since I started this journey.  So how is everyone? Pain free, I hope, if not, at least hanging in there and taking care of yourself.  How am I? Well….I am right back where I started.  But here’s the good news:  I’ve walked this path already.  I know the answer and I know what’s coming.  I thought I would take the time to write the post to tell you how I got back here, give you some encouragement, and hopefully, bolster my own determination.

Have you ever met a goal, lapsed, and then were mad at yourself?  Maybe it was to lose weight, run a marathon, keep the house clean for one week?  It’s so great while you are there enjoying the view but if you have been there you know that we don’t have the luxury to sit back and relax and enjoy it for long.

Honestly, I was great for a really long time.  My last post was what? July? It has been my pleasure to share my story, the oils, mixing up blends, teaching others, and generally helping as much as I’m able.  I was so busy celebrating my “remission” that I stopped taking care of myself.   School started and the busy schedule set in.  Cheap and fast became the order of the day.  Then fall came, Halloween, then the holidays. Refined sugar, warm beef chili, hot roast and potatoes from Granny’s oven. Who can say no to that, right?  If you’ve read anything at all on this blog, you know I’m not a health nut.  If you haven’t read anything else….let me just take a moment to confirm it: I am not a label reader. Our income does not afford for our cabinets to be stocked from a whole foods store. And I really, really, really (like for real) hate veggies.  So I have always just done the best I could….until the aforementioned time frame.  By Christmas, I was having more and more pain.  I wanted badly to blame it on the cooler weather. But honestly, I just feel yucky in general.  12 hours into my day and I’m done! The pain is never ending. I’ve had more than one day that has been a “in bed” kind of day.  Oils? Have I been using them?  Oh….well, no. The blend I had mixed for myself ran out and I never got around to making more for myself.  For other people, sure, but not for myself.

So enough with all that. Here is the moral of the story – don’t get so excited about feeling good and bogged down in whatever life hands you to stop taking care of yourself. As I lay here wrapped in my heated throw with a heating pad on the parts the throw won’t reach, I’m reaching way down for the energy to start again.  Aggravated that I lost so much ground in the first place.  No more Twinkees (truly a cruel joke on the part of Hostess….I stop eating Twinkees and they go away….they come back and I am COMPELLED to eat them, no?) No beef, no processed, no refined sugar.  If all I eat all day are oranges and a chicken breast I will be better off than what I have been doing. So  it’s time I get back on the wagon to healthy.  My blend is remixed  – with the addition of black pepper oil.  Raindrop oils on my feet. Ready to hit the pavement back to the pain free days.  That means putting my needs first for a while. I hope I don’t offend anyone by bringing my own fruit salad to the next whatever, but truly, I just can’t eat that stuff. Not that I don’t love it. But I love being well even more.

I hope you haven’t given up on your journey. HOPE is the name of the game. Oils are still our best friend. No flu, no bronchitis, no vomiting….not in this house! The boys have their own packs of oils in their backpacks, they won’t be without them.  We are still seeing family and friends overcome illness and dis-ease and flush their prescriptions down the drain. Wounds healed, burns relieved, thyroids working, infections gone. It’s the real deal, Friends. My New Year’s resolution (starting January 13th) is to recommit to this path of wellness. I’ve made this journey once, I’ll make it again and prove it wasn’t just a fluke.  It’s a commitment to myself to put myself forward and hold myself accountable to my body, my family, and all of those wonderful people who are entering this sensational aromatic world of healing and goodness.  Will you join me?

Adrenal Fatigue – Part 4 Young Living Solutions

Beth’s Young Living solutions. Great information about oils and supplements that help your body rest and heal.

Adrenal Fatigue – Dietary and Lifestyle Solutions

Adrenal Fatigue Part III

Adrenal Fatigue Part Deux: Testing – Clinical and Home

Want to figure out if these Adrenal Fatigue posts apply to you? Check this one out. This will help you compare your symptoms.

Take Two of These and Email Me In the Morning

       I have been bed bound by a stomach virus today. So while I’m laying about I thought I might as well work my brain. I have this bottle of Ocotea that I received free with my order, a couple of months back, so I decided to research it.

Ocotea, I know is good for blood sugar, but what else? After looking at the EODR and Oil-Testimonials, I ran onto a really awesome article found here: http://www.raindropeducation.com/id66.html
It highlights the oils from the Amazon, in particular Copaiba and Ocotea. Here is what I found out:

Copaiba, among all of its other amazing properties that I talk about here,  is also an extremely strong anti-inflammatory, second only to Myrrh resin.  It also helps with stomach distress (along with other types of internal distress because it calms irritation in the body).   This would be a great aid to the IBS that most Fibro folks have.  It is also extremely oxygenating and crosses the blood brain barrier. More oxygen means more healing, better thinking, and less Fibro Fog.

Ocotea is also an anti-inflammatory and aids in digestive distress. But did you know that it contains a chemical type – Alpha-humulene – which balances the body’s internal response to irritation?  It also has natural purification properties.

Based on my recent reading it seems the path to healing lies in: detoxifying the body, calming the body’s response to toxins and trauma, and reducing the amount of inflammation found throughout the blood stream.  All of the oils in the Fibro Blend work toward this goal.  After today, I am thinking…if you have limited funds, or if you know someone with Fibromyalgia and want to have a good shot of giving them something to try, these two oils may be the way to go!

Both of these are safe to take internally, and personally, I really like the flavor of both, especially in tea.  Drinking copaiba in water is what allowed my muscles to stop the weird twitching thing and stop taking my muscle relaxer at night.  You could also put them in a capsule. So that would be my suggestion. These two oils, taken internally, preferably at night.

On a side note, after reading these articles and researching a bit more, I went and made a cup of tea and added a drop each of copaiba and ocotea. I am feeling a lot better. I believe spending my day this way was time well spent.

If you have read this and tried these oils out, I want to hear from you! Let me know if you have seen any results!!

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The Many Facets of the Humble Lemongrass

Not totally fibro related, but Lemongrass has such an uplifting scent. One of my favorites. In addition to these many health benefits, try my hair recipe:
Lemongrass + rosemary + coconut oil. Mix equal parts of essential oils with desired amount of coconut oil. Use a quarter size dab for medium length hair (less if shorter) and apply to hair for awesome smelling frizz free curls. With any use of he oils in your hair, avoid the scalp to avoid looking “oily”. Rosemary stimulates hair growth and lemongrass repels insects so it’s perfect for summer!