How to Be An Aromatic Warrior

So you’re starting to feel a bit…off.  The sinking feeling might begin with just a thickness when you swallow, a sniffle or extreme tiredness and then it’s all downhill from there. Your preventative measures aren’t cutting it…or perhaps you indulged in too many Christmas cookies. The army of bad guys up their game and it becomes an all out WAR.  This post is on how to fight it and win…as quickly as possible.

I will share with you an arsenal of weapons for a kick ass armory.  Stock up for any eventuality so you are well prepared.

Here are the four principles to remember and solicit when you are down for the count…

1. Hit it hard
2. Frequency is better than quantity (doing something every hour is better than doing a lot of things all at one time)
3. Rotate your weapons, protocols and your oils
4. Stick with it for a few days after you are symptom free

A few disclaimers are always in order:  First, I am not a doctor, I am not here to diagnose, treat or cure you.  You are your own best doctor and your body is self healing if given the right supportive environment.  Secondly, there is no such thing as a perfect oil to shift the tide of battle if you are not enlisting common sense (which isn’t all that common any more). I will be addressing some sensible actions in this blog as well.  And thirdly, not all essential oils are created equal.  In order to be more than an aroma and to have those powerful qualities we need them for… they must be therapeutic grade and 100% pure.  I chose Young Living because I deeply admire their standard of excellence in every step of the process (click here to learn about their Seed to Seal guarantee)   If you don’t have this oily arsenal called, The Premium Starter Kit, get it today!

TWO WARNINGS

Flu Shots: Don’t be fooled into taking flu shots that may actually weaken the immune system and introduce toxins into your body that are proving to have long term ill effects. You can learn about the ever present ‘flu shot’ here: http://undergroundwellness.com/podcasts/the-truth-about-vaccines/

Antibiotics: Antibiotic, Anti=against  Biotic= life  There may be a time when taking an antibiotic is necessary but be sure you have tried a gentler approach first.  Antibiotics kills off everything indiscriminately the good and the bad flora. Antibiotics are programmed to seek out bacteria without discrimination.  In contrast, Dr. David Stewart writes in his book, The Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Simple. “No bacteria has ever been able to mutate against an essential oil, they have intelligence.  The widespread use of antibiotics has created super strains of bacteria more and more resistant to antibiotics.  Most viruses, fungi and bacteria cannot live in the presence of most essentials oils.”

In a day and age when SUPER BUGS are rendering the use of antibiotics ineffective it is nice to know that God has provided a better way.

PREVENTION PREFERRED

Ben Franklin said, ‘An ounce of Prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ We talked about this in my blog on staying WELL when everyone else is not…  In a quick summary, the best defense against seasonal YUCK is a strong immune system.  If the ‘host’ is strong it will tend to thwart illness, just as a healthy plant actually repels insects.  The reason you ‘catch a cold’ is because your immune system is impaired.  It’s not an inevitable event based on exposure alone.  Lifestyle factors that depress your immune system, alone or in combination, are more important than exposure to determine if you will get sick.  In my Winter Wellness blog I talked about “the Ounce of Prevention” to stay strong and impervious to germs and threats….but today I want to talk about the Pound of Cure.

HIT IT HARD

I have found from experience that if I hit symptoms hard at the onset I can turn the tide and not go down for the count.  Kick Butt essential oils (which are the plants medicine) used in a variety of protocols in conjunction with the common sense wisdom of real Nutrition, Lifestyle wisdom & recommended Supplements are powerful strategies to win most any battle and health challenge.

FREQUENCY & ROTATATION 

Once the war is on, frequency is better than quantity.  Do something aggressive every hour or so.  Stay hydrated, rotate your oils and your weapons of warfare.  Set the timer on your phone to remind you to fight with intention and win as fast as possible.

STAY WITH IT

As I was writing this blog in preparation for the video Kaci and I did together I found that uncomfortable feeling in the back of my throat and determined.  “NO WAY, I am going to sharpen my weapons and kick this thing fast!”  Just like I am recommending to you.  It worked.  Amazingly well.  We did the video and I felt great and then when all the discomfort had diminished I dropped my sword (so to speak) and began that downward tendency again.  So I stayed with it for a few extra days and have been victorious every since.  It is human nature to let down your guard once you think victory has been won.  Stick with it a bit longer to be sure to support your immune system well.

Kick Butt Oils

Oils in the Premium Starter Kit (R.C. Thieves, Purification, Lemon, Lavender, Frankincense, Peppermint, Copaiaba)

Outside the Starter Kit  Other anti microbial oils Cypress, Oregano, Melrose, Raven, Eucalyptus, Pine, Citrus Oils, Hyssop, Exodus 2, Immunopower… so  MANY good choices for stagnant respiratory conditions.  Check your Essential Oils Desk Reference Guide for more ideas.

Here is an arsenal of oily weapons to rotate throughout the day.  Remember the three ways to get oils into your cells are: Aromatically, Topically and Internally, these protocols will use all three avenues of application.

Aromatically

Diffuse: Keep a diffuser next to the head of your bed. My mother was bedridden for almost two years and keeping Thieves diffusing next to her 24/7 kept a protective shield about her.  She stayed well.  Hyssop, Cypress, RC and other circulatory essential oils are awesome to diffuse to get well in a hurry.

Breathe: Place a drop of essential oil in the palm of your hand and rub them in a clockwise manner to activate the oils, cup your hands together around your nose and mouth and breathe deeply.  Or just inhale deeply from bottleaaaaa

Steam Tent: One drop of YLEO added to hot but not boiling water right before putting your head under the towel to hold in the steam.  Try to stay under this ‘tent’ for a minute at a time, come up for a breather and do it again and then again…

Aromatic Kleenex Box: Put a few drops of Eucalyptus oil in a tissue box and keep cover till use. Amazing!

Topically

Feet:  The largest pores on the body are the bottoms of our feet.  Applying them there gets the oils action into every cell in the body within minutes.  Rub oils on bottom of feet (reflexology points)Chest: Drop oils over chest front and back and massage in with a bit of carrier oil, add hot pack to break up congestion. I also make a half pint mason jar of coconut oil with about 40 drops of Eucalyptus essential oil mixed in as a chest cream.

Gargle: A bit of sea salt in warm water, pinch of baking soda and a drop of Thieves  Do this often because it really breaks up invaders!

Neti Pot: Nasal passages are the first line of defense against pollution, allergens, and other irritants; it’s important to keep them clean and functioning. A nasal wash, also known as a rinse or irrigation, is an effective way to flush out mucus and toxins and keep your passages healthy.  A neti pot is a powerful way and simple way to raise the body’s defenses against illness.  I like using it in the shower so I don’t make a mess.  You can add a pinch of sea salt to the warm water in the neti pot

Head Drop: Frankincense on the crown of your head will do wonders.  Something so simple.  Make this part of your rotation of protocol.

Ear Discomfort: Massage oils along mastoid bone, massage ear lobes (reflexology points)

Detox Bath: Add oils to baking soda, Epsom salts then add to water after you get in the tub to keep the oils from floating on top of the tub water.  Stay in for 20 minutes.

Rollers:  Use an empty essential oil bottle add 5 drops each of Thieves, Melrose and Lemon, 7 drops each of Frankincense and Oregano  Fill bottle with carrier oil. Add a roller filament and roll on feet or over chest (front and back)

Raindrop Therapy 

‘Raindrop Technique®, created by Gary Young, the founder of Young Living Essential Oils, combines the art of aromatherapy with the techniques of Vita Flex and massage.  Raindrop Therapy uses a layering process of 9 different Young Living’s therapeutic/medicinal grade essential oils applied to the feet and spine. Raindrop Therapy has been known to increase the immune system, relieve back issues, and to create balance and harmony in the body – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Raindrop Therapy focuses the healing essence of the essential oils directly to the spinal column where it is believed that viruses and bacteria lie dormant until the immune system weakens. The oils create an environment that is not hospitable to these “foreign” agents in our bodies and causes them to be eliminated naturally. Raindrop Therapy is also a very effective detoxification and can assist you in eliminating symptoms associated with cold and flu, Herpes, Shingles, MRSA and a variety of other common conditions. Raindrop is a very gentle therapy and offers you the opportunity to completely relax while improving your overall wellbeing on all levels.’

I have only had one Raindrop Therapy session, it was just for the heck of it and not to combat a health challenge.  I felt amazing afterwards. I would like to try this simple technique to wage war on colds and flu and see how it works.  Here are the oils that are used in this modality.

Internally

Gelcaps:  Purchase vegetable capsules size 0 or 00.  Simply open the clear capsule add your essential oil or oils and carrier oil of choice and close the capsule.  Then just swallow the capsule with some water.  Super easy!!  The Immunity Blend roller combination of powerful oils  (listed under Topical) can be put in a gelcap and taken internally as well.  I like to make a lot of them at one time, labeling the baggie that I store them in and then freeze for ease of use.   Immune Defense is a Young Living blend of oil capsules that come already made and are very effective. I give these to my sons because they need them on hand and won’t likely take the time to make their own oily capsule bombs on their own.

Honey: A teaspoon of honey with 2 drops of YLEO Lemon in it is super effective with a scratchy throat.  This can also help soothe a hacking cough. Thieves Lozenges, Thieves Spray, numbing and makes for a happy throat

Immunity Blend: Use an empty essential oil bottle of 5 drops each of Thieves, Melrose and Lemon, 7 drops each of Frankincense and Oregano  Fill bottle with carrier oil. Add a roller filament to the 

Thieves Tea

A warm cup of tea with these kick ass oils in it will do wonders as one of your rotational strategies of war.   1 drop of Thieves, 2 drops of Lemon in 1 t of honey add to hot water, can also use Frankincense or Peppermint not boiling, but a drinkable temp to keep all the therapeutic properties of the oils

 

Don’t have these Kick Ass Essential Oils yet?  Join my oily family and I will empower you to use these precious oils to change your life too.   Getting Started with Young Living.

Remember there is no essential oil that will outrun the neglect of proper nutrition, hydration, and lifestyle choices.  Here is the common sense part of my blog

Nutrition

Drink Water

Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, I call him Dr. Batman, wrote a profound little book that transformed my thinking and practice in regards to water. His theory is that illness is your body’s cry for water. The subtitle to Dr. Batman’s book says, “You are not sick you are thirsty. Don’t treat dehydration with medications.”

Water flushes toxins and hydrates our cells so they can work properly.  If you get dehydrated your blood gets thickMake up a few gallons of YLEO citrus infused water and keep it next to you.  Set timer if you have to be reminded to drink every 10 minutes or so.  I find it rather intriguing that often people who go to the hospital the first thing that is done to them is to have an IV inserted into their arm. I wonder how much this forced hydration impacts the patients ability to get well.   Never underestimate the power of drinking water.

Dr. Batman claims that lack of water in the body -chronic dehydration- is the root cause of many an unnecessary health battle.  A tip that I have learned when drinking water so as to help the cells absorb the water and not just pee it out is to put a crystal of sea salt on the tongue before drinking.  I keep these salt bowls next to my bed, computer, in the kitchen, by the toilet… so I can make this an easy habit to follow

Avoid: sugar, carbs, processed ‘foods’, acidic foods, gluten, dairy

…all of these things weaken the immune system and will feed the problem.  Consuming all these ‘comfort’ foods when you are in a battle is like giving ammo and weapons to the enemy.  Stop it.

Alkalize:

Rather than get into a discussion here about why avoiding acid producing foods or why consume alkalizing foods is important to health I really like this article at Nutritiously.com on the why and how to alkalize your body.

Simple weapons to aid in this balancing act: simply take ¼ t of baking soda in warm water twice a day or Young Living has a delicious alternative called, Alkalyme.  It comes as a powder or you can buy the Alkalyme stick pack.  It has a bright lemon, lime sparkly taste and helps balance the body’s PH.  This is helpful as a daily habit but even more so when you are not well.

Fermented foods, water kefir: 

Balancing our gut flora is essential to our wellbeing.  I am so grateful that this is becoming more mainstream as the consequences of taking antibiotics, even once in our life time let alone multiple times, can be so damning.  Being intentional about gut health is a KEY to immunity. I love fermenting wild edible plants into saurkraut, making water kefirs, meads…but many people don’t have the time to create these time honored practices.  Always have a GREAT Probiotic in your arsenal but especially in the thick of battle.  I love Young Living’s Life – 9 probiotic. Life- 9 is in my Essential Rewards order every month.

Ningxia Red

Best antioxidant drink EVER, I drink this every day as a favorite preventative measure.  The nutrition in this bottle is remarkable.  It’s benefits are also legendary when getting well.  It’s hard to get good nutrition when you are under the weather and this is an easy and delicious way to give your body what it needs.  

Sea Salt for minerals

Sea Salt is critical for healthy blood pressure, cellular nutrition and mineralization, and proper  digestion. Take a pinch of Celtic Sea Salt on the tongue before drinking water at least 2x daily to hydrate the cells. Drink only between meals and minimally if at all with meals.

Bone Broth

I am the queen of bone broths!  It is unimaginable what I put in the stock pot but WOW is it nutritious!!  I wrote a blog on the Magic of Stone Soup if you want to read on the reason why Jewish mothers always made chicken soup not just to be good for the soul but to mend the body as well.

 

Supplements

I buy all my supplements from Young Living because they use our precious oils in the formulation and essential oils make the vitamins and minerals more bioavailable to our cells. As powerful as essential oils are they are not vitamins and minerals which our body needs as well.  Real food is supposed to provide all of that but in today’s food crisis I have found supplements to be helpful.  Here are some of the kick butt weapons in Young Living’s immunity supplements line up.  There are others but these are my go tos that I stock up on.

Super C 2-4 tablets a day

Life 9 Young Living’s Probiotic strain is outstanding

Inner Defense Young Living gave Inner Defense to their members as an August monthly promo and I am in love with this product.  I would like to have a stash of these on hand.

Longevity capsules (one every 4-5 hours for a few days, then one or two a day for awhile

Thieves Spray I carry a glass spray bottle of Thieves essential oil.  For a 2 ounce boston round add 23 drops of Thieves then fill with water, shake before using.  Spray on throat frequently.  The clove in it has a numbing effect. These oils are antimicrobial.

Thieves Cough Drops at the onset of a sore throat take 1,2 or 3 of these in succession til it goes away.

 

Life Style

Extra Sleep (sleep with a wedge or with head elevated so fluids can drain properly)

Vitamin D, sun exposure (naked at noon) Even in cold weather it is good to get Vitamin D via sun exposure to boost the immune system

Exercise, even a brisk walk is helpful to support immunity and circulation

Extra water ½ body weight in ounces minimum

Rebounder: bounce for 3 minutes morning and evening, moves the lymph, I like to do this while thumping my thymus!

Skin Brushing: move the lymph, release toxins

Energy Work

Thump Thymus  Here is an interesting article on why thumping the thymus gland can be helpful.  I put an essential oil over this area and thump while rebounding.  

Another energy tip from Donna Eden: Close your mouth and close off one nostril with your finger, take four or five slow breaths in and out the open nostril. Repeat through the other nostril

 

Concluding thoughts and a demo video on all of the above!

Once the battle has begun, it can be won quickly with a bit of preparation, knowledge and intentionality.  With a plan of attack you’ll find the duration of illness will be shortened and your body will return to health more easily.

For a demonstration of this arsenal of kick ass oils and common sense strategies you can watch the video I did with Kaci Florez to see how to prepare for future battles and win them for yourself and for your loved ones.

Here’s to a healthy happy Winter!!

Join this oily journey with Holly Drake