Monday, October 9, 2017

What is Wrong with Healthcare?

All Images provided by doTERRA International OR Flickr Creative Commons: Commercial Use Allowed

What is Wrong With Healthcare??

doTERRA steps forward to announce major NEW Healthcare Initiative in the US for 2018!

It is no secret that the healthcare system in the United States is broken. Every year we devote nearly $10,000 per capita per household to healthcare. Yet our infant mortality rate is higher than Japan, Italy, France, Germany OR the UK.  It is estimated that 1 in 3 American children born in 2015 now has a chance of becoming diabetic during his lifetime.

A 2015 study conducted by the World Health Organization reported that life expectancy in the US came in at a dismal 4th (78.9 years) behind Japan (83.7), France (82.8), and the UK (81.4).  At its current rate of decline, life expectancy in this country is projected to be on par with the likes of Czech Republic, Croatia, and Mexico by 2030. 
Much of what ails us is to be improved with simple lifestyle changes. What is the fix?  doTERRA has stepped up to offer a solution. During their 2017 Global Convention, company leadership announced the launch of their ambitious "doTERRA Healthcare Initiative."

Set to open its first integrative medical clinic in 2018, this new approach will implement a team of dedicated doctors (MDs and DOs), nutritionistsessential oil experts, and wellness coaches to ensure that patients become involved in and receive the highest level of care.

Additionally, patients will have 24/7 access to their doctors via telemedicine and more face time when they meet with their doctor in person.  
Dr. Brannick Riggs, MD has practiced medicine for 13 years in Roy, Utah.  He is a graduate of the University of Arizona College of Medicine and completed a fellowship with the Dr. Andrew Weil, MD of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.  He will serve as the Vice President of the newly launched doTERRA Healthcare Initiative and Chief Medical Director of doTERRA's first integrative healthcare clinic.

The clinic is set to open in the central Utah valley area in 2018, with other partner and affiliate clinics and a 24/7 tele-health service soon to follow.  
"The average doctor sees 45 patients a day.  Which leaves each patient just 7 minutes to spend with their physician." Explained central Utah family physician, Dr.  Brannick Riggs.  "It is impossible to accurately diagnose and treat in that amount of time."

Dr. Riggs went on to say that pharmaceutical and insurance companies are at the heart of the problem.

"Who else will take on healthcare?"  He asked.  "Pharmaceutical companies are lobbying heavily to keep the status quo.  And the insurance companies’ priority is to make a profit for investors… often at odds with what is best for the patient."

The project aims to incorporate essential oils and other integrative approaches into a traditional healthcare model. Empowering patients with natural solutions and good information which will inevitably lead to lower healthcare costs and improved patient outcomes.

Dr. Riggs currently practices Family Medicine in Roy, Utah. He will serve as the Vice President of the Initiative and Chief Medical Director of doTERRA's new medical clinic, set to open in north central Utah in 2018.

doTERRA partner clinics, along with a nationwide 24/7 tele-health service, will be soon to follow.
Excited Yet???  
To learn more and bring an integrative clinic to your area
{Click Here NOW!!!}


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Clove Oil and Breast Cancer

All Images provided by doTERRA International OR Flickr Creative Commons: Commercial Use Allowed


Breast Cancer:  Mother Nature's Cruel Trick and What You Can Do About it! 

It’s a good thing Mother Nature keeps on making me sick.  Because, let’s face it, if she didn’t I might run out of interesting subjects for our monthly newsletters!
You might remember that in January, I wrote about {how I used my essential oils to support my recovery} from a delicate nerve operation I underwent for Tarlov Cyst Disease.
Little did I know in January that my health challenges were just beginning. 
.....In March my routine mammogram came back suspicious.
.....In April I was diagnosed with invasive, hormone-positive, lobular carcinoma in my right breast.
.....In May I turned 50 and
.....In June I underwent a lumpectomy with reconstruction of both breasts. 
In July I came down with a case of Shingles because my immune system was tanked (no surprise there)... and in August I will begin 5 weeks of radiation therapy.  
At some point my oncologist wants me to begin taking hormone suppressing drugs to reduce my chances of a cancer recurrence. Unfortunately use of these hormone suppressing drugs will weaken my bones, putting the site of my nerve operation at risk and predisposing me to: 
  • Osteoporosis
  • Arthritis
  • Heart Disease
  • Bone pain
  • Weight gain 
and.... (drum roll please...) 
  • Depression. 
Groovy.
All of this has caused me to ask some pretty important questions: 
  • What can I do to turn this ship around? 
  • How can I restore my immune system? 
  • Can I use my oils to curb some of these unpleasant side effects?
  • Which oils can be used as complementary care? 
There is so much I would like address on these issues… but this month I think it is Clove oil that tickles my fancy.   And here’s why:
Native to Indonesia, Cloves are the reddish-black dried flower buds of the evergreen Clove tree.  Steam extracted from these buds, the oil possesses important anti-tumoral, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties.
In studies published in 20122013, and 2014 clove oil and its extract, eugenol showed great promise in the fight against Breast Cancer.  It was tested in vitro (in a petri dish) against a line of invasive, hormone-positive breast cancer cells exactly like mine.  
All three studies concluded that the eugenol in clove oil: 
  • Induced death in the cancer cells 
  • Inhibited the expression of proteins that cause the cancer cells to divide and move AND
  • Did not harm healthy human breast cells 
Perhaps most excitingly, the 2012 study concluded that the eugenol: 
  • Shut down estrogen receptors on these cancer cells and 
  • Had “similar or even better affinities to estrogen receptors than tamoxifen and its metabolites.”
This is a huge find!  It means that clove oil will essentially kill breast cancers like mine, shut down their estrogen positive properties, and prevent them from dividing or moving elsewhere... all without negative side effects.

WIN, WIN!!

I plan on working with my oncologist to complement my cancer treatments with clove oil for an even better outcome with fewer side effects.  Researching clove oil makes me feel empowered and gives me hope that I can improve my chances of survival without damaging the rest of me in the process.

Happy Oiling! 
~Juli 



Questions about essential oils?  Let me help!   


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Spring Cleaning: Non Toxic Cleaning for a Healthier Home

Spring Cleaning:  Protect Your Health While Amping Up Your Cleaning Power!

Have you ever wondered what your household cleaning products may be doing to your health?  If you have, you are not alone.

“We assume that our cleaning products are safe”  warns health and wellness author Jessie Sholl, “But, in fact, many popular household cleaners are dangerously toxic.”  This toxicity can tax your immune system and drive inflammation (a precursor to disease).

Adding insult to injury, terms like “biodegradable”, "natural" and “unscented” can be misleading to consumers.

But there are options out there.  It can even be fun to experiment with making your own natural cleaning products.

When I was first introduced to this concept I have to admit I found it a bit overwhelming.  After all, old habits die hard.  But I have come to realize that learning how to pair your essential oils with cheap, natural substances like vinegar, borax, baking soda, or castile soap can be empowering... and kind of fun.  And you don't have to do everything at once.

This issue is full of information and ideas.  Some of them I have tried and many of them I want to try.  So just spend some time with it. Pick one or two ideas that really appeal to you and give it a whirl!

Happy Oiling! 
~Juli 

5 Dangers Hiding in Your Cleaning Supplies 



 1.  Fragranced cleaning products, air fresheners, and scented toilet papers:  These products contain phthalates which are absorbed through inhalation and skin contact.  They are known to trigger migraines and asthma and disrupt hormone levels in your body.  
What to try instead: 
  • Ditch your Febreze and Glade!  Replace them with simple do-it-yourself deodorizing sprays. (See recipes below.) 
  • "Defunk" a kitchen dishwasher by adding lemon oil to the detergent cup when you run a load.  OR see the "Dishwasher Defunk" recipe below.  
  • {Click here} to learn how to make a simple, fragrant, "pthalate-free" furniture polish.

2.  "Antibacterial" anything:  The number one ingredient in antibacterial products is Triclosan.  The American Medical Association has found no evidence that Triclosan is making any of us healthier. In fact this chemical compound actually makes bacteria more antibiotic resistant. It is currently being investigated as a possible endocrine disruptor in the human body and is suspected to be a carcinogen.

In 2016 the FDA banned Triclosan from hand and bar soap but it still lingers in other consumer products such as acne treatments, dish soap, body washes, and toothpaste.  
What to try instead: 
  • On Guard is your best friend in this regard.  Consider the following: 
    • Sanitize your hands with a homemade solution of tap water and On Guard essential oil blend in {2 oz glass spray bottle}.  
    • Try doTERRA's On Guard foaming hand wash. I keep a dispenser of it at each sink in my house.
    • Replace your antibacterial dish soap with On Guard Cleaner Concentrate and use On Guard laundry detergent and toothpaste too!
  • Apply melaleuca oil with a carrier oil to promote healthy skin, especially for the Acne prone.  (or you can use doTERRA's HD Clear essential oil infused products.  My son uses these and they are AMAZING!)  

3.  Liquid fabric softener and dryer sheets:  These products contain quaternary ammonium compounds (or "quats"). This compound is (ironically) a known skin irritant in some people and suspected of contributing to many respiratory disorders.  The fragrances in these products are known hormone disrupters.

What to Try Instead: 
  • Soften your laundry naturally by adding 1/4 cup white vinegar and a few drops of melaleuca or lavender oil to your wash water.
  • Try using reusable {woolen dryer balls} to fluff and separate laundry as it dries. Sprinkle a few drops of your favorite oil on the balls to infuse a pleasant fragrance as they spin.

4.  Window, kitchen, and multipurpose household cleaners:  These products contain butoxyethanol.   This compound is a known throat irritant and can contribute to narcosis, pulmonary edema, and severe liver and kidney damage when one is exposed to high levels.  Yet, shockingly, manufacturers are not required to disclose its use on their labeling.    
What to try instead: 
  • Clean windows with newspaper and white vinegar for a streak free shine.
  • For kitchen and bathroom scouring tasks, stick to simple scouring products such as Bon Ami.  Or use the recipe at the end of this letter to concoct your own scouring powder.  
  • Clean kitchen counters and doorknobs with a solution of tap water and 2 Tbsp On Guard Cleaner Concentrate in an {8 ounce glass bottle}.  

5.  Oven cleaners and drain openers:  The active ingredient in these products is sodium hydroxide, more commonly known as lye.  It is extremely corrosive to skin and airways.  
What to try instead: 
  • Scour your oven with a paste made of baking soda, salt, vinegar, and lemon essential oil. Lemon oil is very effective at cutting grease and freshening a space.  The recipe for this paste is below.
  • Clear drains with a {mechanical snaking tool}, or use the essential oil drain clearing recipe below. 

Recipes...

(Links for purchasing materials are provided.)
Deodorizing Essentials

"Spring Fling" Room Spray
 20 drops each lemon, grapefruit and lime oils.  Fill spray bottle with distilled water.

Cat-Box Clean
Sprinkle lavender oil on floor then damp mop.

Bathroom Bliss: 
20 drops each lemon, lime, and lavender oils.  Fill spray bottle with distilled water. Shake before each use. 
Fill your spray bottle 3/4 of the way with tap water.  Add 10-20 drops of each oil and top off with water.  Adjust oil amounts to account for size of bottle and strength of smell desired.  Shake before spraying. I keep an {8 oz glass spray bottle} of "Bathroom Bliss" in each bathroom.  It is amazing how well this works! 

Want to try even more cool sprays?  {Check out this blog.}  She gets even jiggier with it, experimenting with things like Vodka and vanilla in her sprays!  
"Dishwasher Defunk"
 2 Tbsp {powdered citric acid}
5 drops lemon oil

Place citric acid in detergent cup with the lemon oil.  Run the machine through an entire cycle while not loaded. 
Natural Scouring Powder

1/2 cup baking soda
6 drops essential oil (lavender, rosemary, lemon, lime, or wild orange)
1/4 cup white vinegar

Rinse sink or bathtub thoroughly.  Prepare scouring agent by combining baking soda and essential oils . Sprinkle the scouring agent over the surface.  Wet the surface thoroughly with 1/4 cup white vinegar. When fizzing stops scour the surface and rinse. Scouring agent can be premixed and stored in a mason jar.  Amount can be adjusted according to size of surface.
Natural Carpet Shampoo

3 cups water
3/4 cup {Castile soap}
10 drops peppermint oil

Combine ingredients in {glass spray bottle}. Apply liberally to carpet.  Rub and foam into carpet with damp sponge.  Let dry thoroughly and vaccuum. 
Natural Oven
Cleaner


heatproof dish
water
1 cup salt
1 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar
10 drops lemon oil

Fill heatproof dish with water and place in oven. Turn on heat and allow enough time for steam to loosen baked on grease.  Once the oven is cool, apply a paste of equal parts salt, baking soda, and vinegar (with 10 drops lemon oil).  Scour and rinse.  

Drain Clearing Recipe
1 cup baking soda
10 drops lemon or grapefruit essential oil
1 cup white vinegar
Pour ingredients down the drain in order.  Plug drain for 30 minutes then rinse. 


Questions about essential oils?  Let me help!   

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Seasonal Allergy Alert!

BREATHE!
Spores, Pollens, and Danders... Oh, My!

Ragweed.  Juniper.  Pet dander.  Have you ever noticed that your environmental sensitivities tend to worsen as you age?  If you're like me, you didn’t have these issues when you were younger but now they seem to plague you more and more with every passing year.

So what's the problem?  And, more importantly, what can be done about it?  You may be surprised to hear that the root of your problem may actually be a sluggish colon and an overworked liver.

Think about it.  If your liver  (your largest filter) and your colon (your largest eliminator) have become sluggish from years of abuse, your body begins to suffer from a toxic overload.  In this toxic state your immune system goes on “high alert” and you become hypersensitive to otherwise harmless materials such as spores, pollens, and danders.  Histamine levels begin to rise, causing swelling, redness, itching and irritation to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract.

Your sluggish liver, responsible for regulating these levels in the bloodstream, becomes unable to keep up and you develop sensitivities to things that didn’t used to bother you.


Reduce inflammation and regulate your immune system:  

  





Clear and strengthen your colon: 
  • Get adequate fiber.  (about 35 grams for men and 25 grams for women...a little less if you are over 50.)  
  • Drink plenty of water.  (Shoot for at least 64 ounces a day. Add a water-soluble fiber supplement to your water to ensure adequate fiber intake.) 
  • Eat smaller amounts more often.
  • Take the doTERRA {digestive enzyme} supplement.
  • Purge your colon of candida overgrowth with s good essential oil {GI cleansing formula}.
  • Repopulate your gut with “good bacteria” using a {good probiotic}.

Give your Liver a Break
  • Eliminate smoking, alcohol, fast food, energy drinks, sodas, and processed foods from your diet. 
  • Reduce your toxic load by replacing harsh household chemicals, with {natural alternatives} whenever possible.  
  • Replace your use of over the counter medications with natural support whenever possible.  
  • Drink lemon oil in your water daily.  
  • Take a {Zendocrine Complex} (containing rhubarb, barberry root, milk thistle, marshmallow root and other herbs) and accompanying {Zendocrine blend} of tangerine, geranium, juniper berry, rosemary, and cilantro essential oils twice a day for one month.
Some people like to restore a clear liver-to-colon pathway by taking a regular cleansing series of enemas using castile or goat’s milk soap, warm salt water, and then organic coffee.   The {Zendocrine blend} can be added directly to the coffee enema to enhance its liver cleansing benefits.

Happy Oiling! 
~ Juli


Essential Help for Seasonal Symptoms  

Your essential oils are an important tool in soothing seasonal and environmental sensitivities.   Here are some tips that have worked for me in the past:  
  • Peppermint:  Opens airways, thins mucous
  • Lemon:  Dries up mucous
  • Lavender:  Inhale from bottle or from cupped hands to reduce minor irritation and itchiness of nasal passages 
Layer each oil in this trio on the inside of your wrists and inhale.  Do this one oil at a time.  You can also diffuse them or take them internally in a veggie capsule.  You can purchase {Triease Seasonal Blend} already premixed with these three oils in a convenient soft gel capsule as well.  
Other important oils for controlling minor seasonal irritations: 
  • Roman Chamomile:  Dab on temples to soothe itchy, watery eyes. (This is absolutely fabulous for me.  Sometimes I layer it with lavender.)
  • Eucalyptus (or respiratory blend):  Apply behind ears to relieve pressure in the Eustachian tubes.  (ear pressure).  Apply to chest and inhale from cupped hands to instantly relieve irritation in the bronchial tubes and lungs. 
  • Siberian Fir:  Layer with Eucalyptus on chest and neck and inhale from hands to soothe irritation and loosen mucous.
  • Basil:  Dilute with fractionated coconut oil and apply just inside the nostrils to soothe minor sinus irritation.
  • Digestive Blend:  Apply neat to cheekbones and forehead to break up clogged sinuses and relieve pressure.  Avoid getting too close to your eyes.     
Melaleuca and Lavender:  Add one drop of each to your shampoo when you lather up to soothe while you rinse away allergens. 


Questions about essential oils?  Let me help!   

Contact me here