Candida Cleanse -- Long post

In January I was introduced to Candida cleansing from a friend.  I'm familiar with Candida but never thought about doing a cleanse before until it was presented to me.  Candida is a yeast-y bacteria that feeds off of sugar.  It is found in the colon and is good if kept at bay.  There are many ways that candida can form an overgrowth (antibiotics, poor diet, etc...) and it will spread throughout the body.  A few of the symptoms are: fatigue, yeast infections, sugar cravings, fuzzy brain, weight problems,  you get the idea.  You can take a questionnaire online and see if your physical ailments are caused from candida overgrowth.

How to do a Candida Cleanse?  Well, while researching I discovered that there are many ways to rid your body of candida.  One way that has worked for many people is using coconut oil.  I'll have to dedicate a post to just talk about coconut oil, it is AMAZING.  In connection with candida, you would take a therapeutic amount of coconut oil daily (slowly work up to 3 tablespoons a day) and do so until your symptoms go away. 



Coconut oil is antimicrobial and when you get a therapeutic amount of it, it will kill the candida.  I did this for a while and I definitely felt improvement in my digestion, energy level but I still craved sugar and carbs. 

So, I decided to start using essential oils (are you surprised?) to treat my candida.  There are several suggested blends of oils to take internally to kill the candida.  While reading up on everything, I made my own blend. 

Before I proceed, I want to say that I was prayerful in what to take.  The Essential Oils handbook recommended diluting the oils in a carrier oil (like olive oil or grapeseed oil) because the strength of the essential oils are intense.  When I took the questionnaire for candida, I was ranked very high on it.  This is a big problem for me.  So I decided to do it neat (without carrier oils).  If you decide to do this, please further your research or pray about it to know what is best for you.  It isn't going to hurt you, but you may start detoxing so intensely that it is extremely uncomfortable. Feel free to contact me too and I am happy to help you figure out what approach may be best for you. :)

So this is what I did:



I purchased a lot of capsules to put the EO in. 

 

 

6 drops of Oregano. In connection with candida, it is antibacterial, antifungal, anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory.  THIS KILLS BAD THINGS!!!!  On a side note, oregano helps with allergies.  Years ago, I would put it under my tongue and it burns like no other but my allergies improved.  After doing this cleanse, I went to a friend's how today with cats and a dog (I'm very allergic to cats and dog fur and I didn't have a single symptom.  That is unheard of for me)

 



2-3 drops of Grapefruit.  In connection with candida (and because I want to shed fat from my body), it is a metabolic stimulant, antiseptic, detoxifying, diuretic, fat dissolving, cleansing for kidney, lymphatic and vascular system, antidepressant. I LOVE GRAPEFRUIT EO.  I put it in my water to drink as well.  Wonderful stuff.

 



 

2-3 drops of Lemon.  This is more for digestion and losing weight as well.  My candida really shows in my weight so I wanted to combat my weight on many angles.  Lemon is antiseptic, immune stimulant (increases white blood cells), helps with obesity, parasites, digestive problems. (FYI... when a person struggles with candida, parasites often are present as well.  Gross, I know.  I have no idea if I have that problem)

 



2 Drops of Clove. Clove is anti-aging, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, stomach-protectant (ulcers).  Used for intestinal parasites.

 

 

2 Drops of Thieves.  Blend of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon Bark (antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal), Eucalyptus (antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory), Rosemary (antiseptic and antimicrobial)

 

 

So, I basically took a very powerful all natural "potion" to kill off all that Candida.  AND IT WORKED!!! Like the routine I mentioned in my post about Chest Colds.  I'd have my probiotics in the morning with my kefir (and I took some probiotic supplements as well to really boost that good bacteria in my body).  But to allow the probiotics to really be a blessing to my body, I wouldn't take the EO blend until the evening before I went to bed.  Then I let those good guys go fight my fight.

 

The first thing I noticed was I immediately had no desire for sugar.  NONE.  It was more social pressure that I had to work with.  My appetite decreased.  TRULY.  It was incredible to me.  The result was so drastic.  I would still put coconut oil in my green smoothies as well because it is soooooo good for our body.  But it was the essential oil that really made the difference.  

 

I've been eating extremely healthy which starves the candida as well but it hasn't been a challenge.  My body doesn't desire sugar. 

 

As far as how long to do this.  I just listened to my body.  I started out filling 2 capsules full of EO and taking it orally every night.  With 3 days, I experienced the "die off" which isn't pleasant.  It's when you body starts to detox when all the candida is dying.  If you detox too quickly, it can be rough.  I also noticed that my kidneys were achy a little bit.  I didn't feel like I was damaging anything but I also wanted to respect my body and so I went to 1 capsule and took some supplements to help my body eliminate the toxins more quickly.  Bentonite clay was one thing I used to help my body have a more graceful die-off. 

 

After a few more days I went back to 2 and did that for a week or more.  Then I went back to one capsule a day.  Just a couple days ago, I went to make it and I just felt done.  I can't explain it.  My body felt done.  Its nice to trust that my body will tell me what it needs. 

I did this for 3 weeks and my body shed off 9 lbs off my body.  It is being soooo good to me.  I'm very happy with how I'm feeling.  I'm grateful to have a knowledge of essential oils.  They are a gift from God.

***** Day 4 and 5 of the 21-Day Meditation was great!  I hope you'll check it out. 
******** Tomorrow is my 5K run.  We just had a huge storm today in Fargo.  We'll see how tomorrow looks.  I bought some warm gear to run in but we'll see.  I'll let you know.  If I run it, then I think I pass the test of being true North Dakotan. :)  Maybe I should say a true Califordakotan.  I dunno. :)

Chest Cold and how I'm fighting it...

My sweet husband shared his chest cold with me.  It hit me full force yesterday and I'm continuing to fight it today.  Here is what I'm doing to fight it off:  

1) First thing I have in the morning (after drinking a whole lot of water) is have a cup of Kefir. This is already a habit of mine but I know it's going to fill my gut with good probiotics to help my digestion and improve my immune system. (I'm going to get some kefir grains and start making my own. More economical and from what I see, it is super easy)


2) I make a quart of green smoothie and drink it all.  Well, Eliza and Sam usually want a sip but I drink the majority of it.  Mine aren't usually green because I put in frozen berries.  I put in Kale for my greens usually because it is richly dense with vitamins and minerals. :) This is also a daily habit I've had for almost a year.
3) For lunch, I've been eating a HUGE salad.  I mean, I chop up an entire head of romaine (sometimes mix it with other spring greens and basil).  Then I chop up a tomato, green onion, sprinkle kelp granules, avocado (if I have any on hand. The salad is so creamy), some nuts and/or beans and feta cheese (because I want to).  Then I splash some lemon juice, apple cider vinegar and flaxseed oil.  This meal completely satisfies me for the rest of the day. 

4) Since I've been sick, I've been drinking heated up broth in place of supper.  I'm not really hungry but the broth feels wonderful.

5) I also make myself lemon honey tea and drink lots of it.  Lots of water!!!!

6) I have been taking a tsp of apple cider vinegar straight.  Wowsers, that is strong but it really helps the body ward of illness and restores a healthy pH balance in the body and improves metabolic rate. It can do way more than that. Wonderful stuff.

7. Specifically for my cold, I've been rolling on my sinus and chest, Breath Again Essential oil blend.  I've been sniffing and putting on my chest and feet Eucalyptus EO (this helps break up mucus) and Peppermint (helps magnify other oils and with respiratory problems).  I've also been using the RC blend which stands for "respiratory condition".  It helps with breathing.    



8. Giving myself permission to rest and let my children play around me.  They have been very creative today building forts and enjoying the time together using their imaginations.  They also enjoy snuggling with me.  They've been sick too but it hasn't wiped them out like me. 

9. Because I'm so anxious to get this cold out of my system, I just started today and put some Bentonite clay in capsules and took it internally.  The negative charges of the clay attracts the charges of toxins in the body.  They bind together and exit your body because our body isn't able to absorb clay.  It's an ancient practice that is starting to get more attention again.



I'll let you know how it helps me.  I have my 5K run this Saturday and want to feel "tip top" for it. :)
I was a little surprised that I even got sick.  I've been eating extremely well and taking very good care of my body.  The only thing I can think of is that I had a minor medical procedure done last week and they gave me antibiotics through an IV.  Antibiotics weakens the immune system.  Luckily with all the kefir and good food I've been taking, I feel like my strength will return quickly. 





 ***** I did Day 2 of the 21-day Meditation Challenge.  My children were feeling a need to be near me so it was more difficult to focus today.  I think I may do it again tonight as I go to sleep. If you haven't looked into it yet, it's worth a try.  It is free.  The whole thing lasts 16 minutes which is a nice jumpstart. 

An alternative to Tylenol...

This weekend, Sammy and Michael both had high fevers.  My gut sometimes wants to rush to the cabinet and pull out Tylenol.  Fevers are a way for the body to help fight off whatever is causing havoc in the system.  It shouldn't be stopped unless it gets to high. 

What I decided to do for my boys since they both had colds and coughs was to use a couple Essential Oils to help with all of their symptoms. 

                                         

Among many things, Eucalyptus helps with any respiratory problem and opens up nasal air passages.  It also cools down the system when a fever gets too high.

Peppermint also has a wide range of uses but I chose to use it for the boys because it also helps with the three things I mentioned above with Eucalyptus.  The other reason why I wanted to use Peppermint is because it magnifies all other oils you use.  It takes the power up a notch or two. 

For Michael, I just used a drop per foot and rubbed the oils all around his toes.  In Reflexology, toes are related to the head, sinuses, etc.  I also rubbed in the balls of his feet where the lung reflexes are.  His fever came down fairly quickly afterwards.  He's still fighting this cough that has turned more asthmatic.  For that, I use our nebulizer and have him breath saline solution.  That helps.

I did the same protocol with Samuel and I also put the oil on his chest as well.  (I put Frankincense on Michael's chest because it breaks up mucus and helps with respiratory needs)

I love having natural solutions to help my children heal. 

What do I need to do today, to sleep well tonight?

Since the weekend, my days have not been as productive.  Daily house keeping suffers when I have sick children and I don't sleep well.  For myself, I thrive off of to-do lists.  I love to check off a list.  Something about it gives me a sense of accomplishment.  Also, having my to-do list in a visible place where I will see it frequently is important.  I have this huge white board (I got from my sister) in the hallway upstairs by my room and office.  It's in a great spot so I don't have to show it to everyone that comes over (except to everyone on the WWW).

 

I like to plan my day the night before.  It allows me to account for my day and plan accordingly for the next.  This habit helps me set goals and more easily achieve them.  I wasn't very good with my lists this weekend which I think contributed to my unproductivity.  But for the record, our bedrooms have stayed clean and my house hasn't gone to shambles.  As you see on my list, laundry needs attention. 

 

I sleep better with a list written down and not in my head.

Story Time: I made soap on Monday with my friend Brittany of Honey B Soap Company.  I was just going to do plain but she thought that was boring and brought over some fun lavadin oil and lavender flowers to use.  The batch makes 28 bars of soap.  This picture is before I cut it into bars.  When Sammy saw it, he said, "That is a BIG bar of soap, Mom."  Hahaha!  I had to laugh because the picture of me trying to wash my body with this hunk of soap was quite ridicules. :)

I love homemade soap.  It's free of chemicals and does a fantastic job.  Plus, it feels good to make something that will bless me and my family.

Audrey was playing with the phone while snuggling with Eliza on the bed.  Eliza was still pretty sick at this point.  We have continued the oil treatment every few hours.  It has helped a lot.  I also had her do some breathing treatments with our nebulizer but just used saline solution.  Eliza is a great patient.  She loves having oil rubbed on her chest and feet.  She loves to breath in the saline steam.  She drinks the lemon honey tea I make and says, "Nummy Tea, Mama".  Thankfully, she is over the worst.  The oils really helped her cough up a bunch of the crud in her chest (tmi).

Before you go to bed tonight, plan for tomorrow and ask yourself the question (today being tomorrow if that makes sense, haha),

 

 

"What do I need to do today, to sleep well tonight?"


That question has helped improve my day and my night.  Happy sleeping!

 

Blood and Hacking up a lung!

Story Time: On Saturday night, it was just me and the kids (Jared went on a spontaneous road trip with his brother to a Vikings game).  Everyone was settled in for bed.  I went to bed and was ready for some great sleep.  12:30 am: I hear screaming.  My sweet Sammy woke up with a bloody nose (he wiped a small sample on the wall... gross!).  He is prone to nosebleeds but it has never come at night.  That was pretty scary for the little man.  So he slept in bed with me and wanted me to hold him just so.  The girls found their way into my bed as well and were kicking each other and crying.  So I had to carry them back to bed and re-tuck them in.  It was so disruptive that it made getting us all ready for church an emotional adventure.
Michael slept through the night.  Lucky boy!

It just occurred to me that there is probably a way to help nose bleeds with E.O.  Oh well, next time I'll try out what I read.



 

Story Time #2: Yesterday I was running errands with a friend while kids were on a play date.  When I went to pick up the kids, Eliza was coughing nonstop.  I felt bad for her spreading germs with the other children.  Her cough continued to be constant throughout the evening and was extremely uncomfortable.  I got out my E.O. reference book and double checked on which oils I should use for her cough.  I love to play with oils and see what they'll do.  Since her coughing was one after the other, I decided to go full force. 

I put a drop or 2 of each oil in the palm of my left hand and then some (not much) V-6 oil to dilute it just a bit so it wasn't too intense on her skin.  With the tips of my fingers on my right hand, I would mix the oil in a *clockwise circular motion (there is a reason for that).  Then I applied the oil to her chest and neck and feet.  She would calm down almost immediately and this would settle her cough down to almost nothing for 2-3 hours.  We repeated this process throughout the night.  She's still coughing but not nearly as much as yesterday.  We'll continue to do this today. 

It amazes me how much the oils comfort my children as well.

These are the oils I used for various reason to combat all potential reasons for her cough:

 

 

1. Frankincense: Among many things, it is anti-catarrhal, anti-infectious, expectorant, immune-stimulant, and sedative.  It helps with asthma, colds, coughs, inflammation, respiratory problems, tension and strengthens the immune system.

 

2. Eucalyptus radiata: Anti-bacterial, anti-catarrhal, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and expectorant. Helps with bronchitis, sinusitis and many other things.

 

3. Melaleuca alternifolia: Analgesic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-parasitic, antiseptic, anti-viral, decongestant, expectorant, and immune stimulant. Helps with the respiratory system, bronchitis, colds, coughs and lots more. 

 

 

 

4. Peppermint: analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, etc... and among other things it helps with asthma, bronchitis, fever, respiratory function, and FATIGUE.

 

5. R.C.: Blend with Eucalyptus (E. globulus), Myrtle, Pine, Marjoram, Eucalyptus radiate, Eucalyptus citirodora, Lavender, Cypress, Tsuga, Peppermint.  Helps with Respiratory System, decongest, allergy-type symptoms, coughs, lung congestion.

 

6. Thieves: Blend of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus radiate, and Rosemary cineol.  Helps with bronchitis, pneumonia, coughs, infection, viruses, flue, etc... 

 

 

* The reason why you mix the oil in your hand in a clockwise circular motion is because it sets the oil molecules in a clockwise spin.  This is important because the cells in our body also rotate in a clockwise spin.  When applying oils to the body that have been mixed this way, it improves the quality of cell absorption in the body.  Interesting huh?  Science is fascinating.  Of course, you will still receive benefits if you don't do this.

 

 

 

Here's to healthy children and a better nights rest tonight!

 

 

Which Essential Oils improve Sleep?

 

Lavender is well known for its relaxing properties.  It is one of my favorite oils.  It helps with burns, acne, bites, etc... and with sleeping!  You can put some on your feet or rub it along your spine. You can either put it on your hands and breath in the vapors or diffuse it.  I do this with my kiddos as well. I don't put oils on their hands though because they may forget and touch their eyes.  E.O. are eye irritants.

 

For those reading that may not be familiar with essential oils, allow me to give a brief explanation.  There are 2 types of oils that a plant produces.  There is the fatty oil found in nuts and seeds and its main purpose is to provide nourishment to help the seed or nut grow into a plant.  The other oil isn't fatty, it is extremely refined and is essentially the blood for the plant, hence "essential" oil.  It is vital for plants survival and can greatly (sometime dramatically) improve our wellbeing as well.  



Gathering is a blend of Lavender, Galbanum, Frankincense Geranium, Ylang Ylang, Spruce, Cinnamon Bark, Rose, and Sandalwood.  From my reading, it is an amplifier for other oils but alone it amplifiers and "gathers" our thoughts, feelings, emotions. Be sure that when you're using it, especially for sleep, that you're focusing on positive thoughts and feelings. 

If you struggle with Restless Leg Syndrome, you can use this with Lavender and it will amplify the relaxation benefits of lavender.  I don't have RLS, so I haven't experimented with it.  If you have RLS, play around with it and see what works for you.  I'd put it on my feet and legs and breath it in.

 

The process to collect the oil from the plants is a very delicate process.  Thy use a cold press or low temperature steam distillation process.  The process needs to be gentle in order to keep the oil in its purest state.  Otherwise, it will be chemically altered and lose its therapeutic/healing abilities. 

Peace & Calming is a blend of Tangerine, Orange, Ylang Ylang, Patchouli and Blue Tansy.  I will use Peace & Calming whenever I'm stressed, overwhelmed or ready to sleep.  It is wonderful to diffuse or put on your feet or just sniff. I highly recommend this for children when they are throwing fits or you want to help them settle down.
I've put this in their baths if I'm anxious for them to relax. :)

Chemists have studied the chemical structure of essential oils and have discovered that due to the complicated structure, each oil is capable of helping with a wide variety of ailments  I took a class on essential oils a couple years ago and my instructor had his PhD in Chemistry and was a retired Methodist Minister. He described E.O. having the "pure word of God" in them and were able to enter the body and do whatever the body was needing at that time. 

I haven't used Myrtle myself. When I reading up on E.O. that help with sleep, I learned that if your sleep deprivation is hormonally related, this oil will help.   Sounds fantastic!!! I'll have to try this.  I'm sure I have plenty of hormonal imbalances. :)

 

If you're looking into getting oils for yourself, I personally use Young Living Oils because of their long history and outstanding reputation of producing quality oils.  I know friends who use DoTERRA and also have found wonderful results.  Whatever you decide, just do the research to make sure the oils aren't being damaged in the distillation process. They must be therapeutic grade in order to have healing properties. Good luck!

 



Story time: When Audrey was 2, we were in Utah for family reunions.  During the reunions, I was in a 4 day intensive training on Raindrop Therapy with CARE in SLC.  I had purchased some oils for everyday use.  The night before driving back home, Audrey got very sick.  I wasn't sure what to do.  Then I remembered my oils.  So I knelt down and asked Heavenly Father to tell me what to do with these "things".  I had a clear impression which I promptly followed.  I repeated the process throughout the night when she'd wake up again.  Her symptoms improved greatly!  To this day if Audrey isn't feeling well, she specifically asks for the oils.  My other children love them too. They work!!!

 

 

*The oils I've shared on this post are not the only oils that improve sleep.  I just wanted to highlight a few.