Other Dangers of Glyphosate

Glyphosate has been shown to…

• Destroy gut bacteria in humans, setting one up with chronic disease
• Bio-accumulate on the skin, absorbing to cause cancer systemically
• It may also be contributing to toxicity, nutritional deficiencies, and disorders like autism in children.

Glyphosate was found to be in 93% of the urine samples of the American public in a 2015 study.

Now that the law is recognizing that Monsanto knows their product causes cancer and has been hiding the information, and that the EPA did not regulate it’s use properly, it will be interesting to see what happens with Big Agriculture and our regulatory agencies.

What I’m most interested in is seeing how the public uses this information.

How about you? Are you going to wait until glyphosate is banned completely by the government? Or will you take action now?

Glyphosate Is Not The Only Harmful Toxin

If you visit EWG’s website, you’ll learn of many other substances that can harm our health – herbicides, pesticides, triclosan, phthalates and other chemicals in conventional food and personal care products.

I’m providing you with this information not to overwhelm you, but to empower you!

It’s in your best interest to become educated on this now and not rely on the government to tell you what you should be concerned about.

I always suggest that you talk to your doctor about any of the information I share on this blog before making health decisions.  However, you must realize that many are not trained in whole food nutrition and may not be educated about environmental toxins.

When I visited a family member who was in the hospital for a month, I was horrified at the food they were giving him (conventional processed food which I believe helped to create the condition he was getting treatment for – when I talked to his doctors about it they could not confirm or deny this). And the hospital cafeteria did not have ANY organic food. Government supported healthcare simply does not recognize industry used pesticides as being a problem.

10 Ways To Stay Safe From Toxins

1. Buy organic

Buy organic food, produce, and clothes when you can (cotton is a highly-sprayed crop). Living an organic lifestyle doesn’t have to be expensive. Follow my tips here.

2. Boycott these 68 Monsanto-owned companies who knowingly have glyphosate in their products

3. Stop eating processed food

Processed “junk” food typically has great amounts of corn and soy which use a ton of herbicides/pesticides in the crops. They are also Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), which have their own safety issues and should be avoided at all cost.

4. Align yourself with companies committed to health & safety

I buy all of my family’s personal care & cleaning products from dōTERRA because I share core values with the company’s mission and trust in their testing and transparency. For food and other items I can’t get from dōTERRA, I purchase from our local CSA, Whole Foods and New Leaf grocery stores. It’s not overwhelming at all to find safe food & products when there are only healthy options available from your source!

5. Detox your body regularly

It’s a good idea to aid your body’s natural detoxifying process by drinking plenty of water and moving your body often throughout the day. You can do more thorough detoxing quarterly. See this blog post for more details. (Contact me if you’re interested in following a detox protocol in kits that I can supply for you).  Detoxifying your body often is especially important if you’re vaccinating often, using conventional personal care products, and are unable to avoid other toxins.

6. Protect your gut health

Damage gut flora with exposure to toxins and you damage the great majority of your immune system. Read my 2-part series on gut health for more information on how to boost your gut health.

7. Investigate potential toxins in your home, work, & school

Again, please visit the EWG website to know what to look for at home and in the places you’re at often like work and your kid’s school. If you don’t like what you find, you can make easy changes at home. But if it’s at school, don’t worry about being the squeaky wheel. All parents need to know this information!

8. Wash your hands and body after playing on grass

Use safe body wash & soaps to rinse away any pesticides/herbicides that can accumulate on the skin with grass play. You can look up product ingredients on the EWG website.

9. Cook often and pack your own meals for outings

I know, this is more for you to do. I like getting a break from the kitchen here and there too! You have the most control over what you eat if you’re making it yourself though. So if avoiding toxins is important to you, then learning how to cook for your family is a priority.

10. Make your own heath decisions

You can do this! Learn to trust your instincts and educate yourself. I really encourage you to seek answers in many places until you feel confident in what you’ve learned.

Let’s help each other be as healthy as we can be! If you think of something else that I may have missed, please let us know in the comments!

Insect bites & stings

If pests get past your defenses, try these essential oil remedies to soothe the pain, itch, and swelling (from Modern Essentials, 8th edition):

Bee/Wasp/Hornet stings – After removing stinger, apply a cold compress of Roman Chamomile to the area for as long as possible.

Mosquito bites – apply lavender (diluted as recommended in chart at bottom) to the bites every few hours.

Spider bites – Dilute basil as recommended and apply as a cold compress to the area.

Tick bites – Don’t add oils to remove the tick or they may inject their toxin into the wound! Pull out the whole tick out close to the mouth without twisting. It’s wise to save the tick to get it, and the person bitten, examined by your doctor. Apply 1 drop of lavender to the wound every 5 minutes.

Sunburns

For minor sunburns, mix 10 drops of lavender with 1/4 cup water in a small spray bottle. Be sure to shake well so the oil is suspended in solution before spraying over the affected area.

Poison Oak

Though the red color on the “leaves of three” makes this plant more recognizable in the summer, avoiding it can still be tricky when it comes to kids and pets.

Rose, lavender, and Roman chamomile are all indicated for helping to relieve the itch. However, with conditions like this that ooze blisters, sometimes adding oil alone can spread the rash. You may want to look into combining the power of essential oils with a drying calamine lotion, or see an acupuncturist/Chinese herbalist for a drying solution like this one.

Indigestion

Eating heavily processed, greasy, and low quality foods at amusement parks or on the road can lead to an upset stomachs, gas, bloating, constipation, and/or diarrhea. DōTerra’s DigestZen blend can help immensely with all of these symptoms! Ginger, Fennel and peppermint are the main oils in this blend that help ease discomfort and can regulate the bowels. These oils have also been reported to help relieve food poisoning, stomach bugs, or motion sickness.

You may also consider increasing your whole food supplements to fill in any nutrition gaps, keeping your gut flora happy and your immune system working well while away from home.

Cooling down

Combine 2-3 drops of peppermint with 1/4 cup pure aloe vera and 1/4 cup witch hazel in a spray bottle. Shake well and mist body as needed to cool down which might be especially helpful at night to prevent restless sleep. This solution can also help easy sunburn discomfort.

Do you have any ideas for using essential oils in the Summer? Please let us know in the comments!  And if you enjoyed this article, please share it with your friends!

Why Support Menstruation Naturally?

Regular periods with little-to-no-discomfort signify good health and fertility.  Why don’t we celebrate this dance between hormones that help create potential new life?  Yes, there is the inconvenience and possible mess.  But the main reason most women dread their period is because pain and other symptoms of imbalance accompany it.

Treating symptoms with conventional medicine is challenging.  Medical doctors do not have answers for women experiencing difficult periods other than birth control pills and pain medications. Both types of pharmaceuticals have major, negative, long-term side effects.  It’s always best to consult with your doctor first to rule out any serious issues.  Usually though, natural medicine is safer and more effective.

Essential Oils for Menstruation

For those seeking to manage the mild symptoms of menstruation naturally at home, essential oils are a fantastic option to explore. Below are the oils you’ll want to keep handy to manage the most common complaints.  They’ll help during your flow, and also during the premenstrual phase and ovulation as well.

The essential oils can be used topically on the area of discomfort (3-4 drops diluted in ~ 1 T of carrier oil). They can also be diffused to help balance emotions that are often at the root of many physical complaints.  Feel free to blend them together too!

Geranium

(Pelargonium graveolens)

A sweet, harmonizing oil, geranium has been used since ancient times for regulating menses and for menorrhagia (excessive blood loss during menstruation). It continues to be a valuable oil for PMS symptoms such as agitation, nervous tension, cramping, headaches, backaches, stressed-adrenals, etc.  It can help resolve endometriosis as well.

Try this technique for painful or irregular periods:

Spread a drop of geranium on your foot arches, layer with castor oil, and cover with a sock. This covers important points in the Kidney and Spleen acupuncture channels on the foot that help regulate menstruation. The castor oil has an invigorating effect, helping to move blood & ease stagnation (which shows up as pain).

• Mild cases: apply 2x/day for 10-14 days, then 1x/day for 30 more days
• Moderate: apply 2x/day for 30 days, then 1x/day for 2 more months
• Severe: apply 2x/day for 3-4 months, then 1x/day for 4-5 more months

Clary Sage

(Salvia sclarea)

Clary sage is regulating oil that is known for calming nerves and cooling inflammation. It helps with dysmenorrhea, PMS, headaches, frigidity, and depression. It also soothes the GI organs, resolving bloating and gas.

Ylang Ylang

(Cananga odorata)

Ylang ylang is a sedative for the nervous system, yet a stimulant for the circulatory system. So, it’s very calming, yet invigorating for the blood and musculature.  It relieves tension, improve libido, regulate hormonal balance, and can lift a woman’s spirit.

True Lavender

(Lavandula angustifolia)

Everyone is familiar with lavender, as it’s considered one of most versatile essential oils available. It can help a woman immensely with menstrual discomfort. It’s indicated for PMS, headaches, migraines, cramps, depression, nervous tension, insomnia, and even gas.

Some of you may have heard that lavender has estrogenic effects and should be avoided by men. That is a myth addressed in this article by well-known Aromatherapist Robert Tisserand: Lavender Oil Is Not Estrogenic

Sweet Fennel

(Foeniculum vulgare)

Lavender does not have estrogenic effects, but fennel DOES. It can actually increase milk supply in mothers, is valuable in the transition to menopause, but should be avoided by pregnant women.

Women experiencing amenorrhea (skipped menstrual periods) as well as dysmenorrhea benefit from Fennel. It also helps with gastrointestinal problems many women experience during ovulation and menstruation such as constipation, stomachaches, nausea, and flatulence.

Roman Chamomile

(Chamaemelum nobile)

Roman chamomile is one of the safest essential oils, yet it is also potent and has a huge therapeutic range.

It helps cycling women with dysmenorrhea, headaches, migraines, nervous tension, and also with calming the mind and spirit.  Thereby, it helps support a restful night sleep.

If you experience difficult periods, I hope you’ll consider using essential oils as a natural remedy to ease your discomfort. Perhaps you can appreciate this special time in your life even more.  Essential oil brands differ greatly in quality and thereby efficacy though. You can view my recommendations here.

I’m eager to hear how essential oils are helping you manage your menses!  Let me know if you have any questions in the comments!  And if you enjoyed this article, please share with friends who can use this advice as well.

The liver is the organ that processes the body’s hormonal and metabolic waste as well as toxins.   A toxin is anything that stresses the body and decreases health.  Examples of toxins are pesticides and sugar in our food, phthalates in skin products, and sodium laurel sulfate in hair products.  Then, there’s chlorine & fluoride added to our city water, pollutants in the air, plastics, metals, pharmaceutical medications, etc.

The liver is aided by our excretory system and toxins are expelled through our sweat, urine, and bowel movements. This is an awesomely efficient system, except when the liver gets overwhelmed and sluggish. Typically, our bowels slow down and we experience constipation, weight gain, and inflammation.  Subsequently, skin rashes and acne may result from this GI tract congestion.

What are other signs that your body needs to cleanse? Take this questionnaire to find out.

We are more challenged than ever with environmental toxins.  Therefore, it’s nice to give the liver some extra support a few times a year with a thorough cleanse.

There are several whole food diet programs that help reduce the load on the liver and clear out all the excretory organs. However, many of these programs are quite challenging to stick with.

Fortunately, there are many changes you can make at home to help your body detox easily every day. Here’s how…

6 Ways To Detox At Home

1. Avoid Toxins!

Of course, it’s better to avoid toxins as much as you can.  Here are the things you want to look out for and change if possible.

• Adopt an organic lifestyle to avoid pesticides, herbicides, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
• Stop eating sugary, processed, packaged, and fast food made with trans fat.
• Avoid eating and drinking from plastics, cooking with aluminum foil and teflon, wearing fire retardants in clothes, burning candles and other synthetics substances, etc., whenever possible.
• Switch to natural beauty products that meet the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep criteria.
• Avoid pharmaceutical medications and seek out natural alternatives from a holistic health practitioners.
• Get home water and air filters.

2. Drink a few glasses of water first thing in the morning

Encourage peristalsis and get the bowels moving with a nice big flush of room temperature water.  If you add lemon and a splash of apple cider vinegar,  you’ll stimulate the liver and gall bladder to increase digestive function.

3. Load up on vegetables and fruits

Nature provides the best detoxing program! Just about every fruit and vegetable can support the liver and bowels in eliminating toxins.  However, some work better than others:

Top 10 Foods for Detoxing

Just make sure that they you’re eating organic produce or you’re missing the point!

4. Sweat it out

Saunas, steam showers, and hot baths have numerous therapeutic qualities. Releasing toxins is one of them.

In one study, samples were collected from 20 individuals (10 “healthy” and 10 with known health problems). “BPA (bisphenol-A from plastics) was found to differing degrees in each of blood, urine, and sweat. In 16 of 20 participants, BPA was identified in sweat, even in some individuals with no BPA detected in their serum or urine samples.”

5. Essential oils

Applying essential oils topically is an easy way to support organ detoxification.  Place a few drops on the liver area (right side of lower rib cage) and the soles of the feet (where there are numerous reflexology points) .

The oils below have antioxidant effects, support organ cleansing, and make up the dōTERRA Zendocrine Detoxification Blend:

• Cilantro
• Rosemary
• Juniper Berry
• Tangerine
• Geranium

6. Epsom salt baths

Soaking in an epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) bath pulls out heavy metals and other toxins through our porous skin. Dr. Axe suggests adding 2 cups of epsom salt to hot/very warm bath water and soak for 40 minutes.   (20 min. to purge toxins + 20 min. to replenish magnesium which helps with sleep & digestion!).

If you’re needing a detox, adopting one or more of these practices at home is a good place to start!

Do you have experience cleansing with one of these techniques? How did it work for you? Anything else to suggest? Let us know in the comments!

I’ve talked briefly about my wellness journey in previous posts.  I’m slowly regaining thyroid function after being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and hypothyroidism over a decade ago. I want to share the details of my story now since the time feels right.

If you suffer from thyroid disease too, you may want to know what’s possible for you too.  You’re not doomed to a lifetime of thyroid hormone replacement.  You can address the root cause of the disease instead, and be an active participant in your body’s healing process.

Before we get to possible solutions, let me explain how I got here…

My Inflammatory Beginning

I’m one of the 20 million Americans currently living with thyroid disease.  I have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks thyroid tissue. However, I’m also one of the many people who are placing their disease in remission and regaining thyroid function.

I’ve read many stories of people who were diagnosed with hypothyroidism after experiencing debilitating fatigue, depression, brain fog, hair loss, weight gain, and constipation.  My case was not that obvious or severe.

I complained to my M.D. about my inability to lose weight even with exercise and dieting. I had sluggish digestion too, but not enough to cause discomfort. On a hunch, my M.D. palpated my neck and noticed that my thyroid was enlarged. He then suggested we do a thyroid panel blood test.

Indeed, my thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroid hormone (T4) were within range.  However,  Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) antibodies were elevated to 101 IU/mL, confirming the diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

He had no explanation for why this happened.  This inflammation would eventually destroy my thyroid tissue.  It would lower T4 and increase TSH hormones.   Levothyroxine (synthetic T4) is an easy fix for this. I got my prescription and that was that.

Searching For Natural Solutions to Hypothyroid Disease

Shortly after my diagnosis, I made the decision to quit my job in Biotech and get my Masters Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). I had a more relaxed schedule and enjoyed what I was doing.  Life was good.

But then I started to question:

How could I be an effective alternative medicine practitioner if I could not heal myself?

I depended on a pharmaceutical product that simply put my thyroid gland to sleep.  Inflammation was the root cause of my condition.  Simply replacing thyroid hormone didn’t feel right.

My condition puzzled my Chinese Medicine teachers. This was over 10 years ago. Our clinic was just starting to notice the increase in Hashimoto’s patients.  We didn’t have a common TCM diagnosis amongst us. My teachers didn’t want to advise me not to take my prescribed medications either. I would get regular acupuncture, which I’m sure helped.  Levothyroxine was still keeping my thyroid asleep though, so full recovery wasn’t possible yet.

Experimenting With Possible Causes and Natural Solutions for Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism

• I started drinking filtered water since it’s a fact that fluoride suppresses thyroid function.

• Since there’s an association between gluten and Hashimoto’s (as well as other autoimmune diseases), I took gluten out of my diet ~4 years ago.

• I started taking probiotics and eating fermented foods because I finally realized the importance of gut health.  

• Once I decided to use food to gain my health back, I went off my thyroid medication so I could easily gauge thyroid function.  My thyroid was functioning better with improved symptoms (less inflammation and some weight loss).  I confirmed this with occasional blood tests.

• I knew that food intolerances can contribute to Hashimoto’s and other autoimmune diseases, so I went on an elimination diet .  Immediately, I dropped 10 pounds quickly.

• After exploring GAPS, SCD, and Ketogenic diets, I managed well on a low-carbohydrate Primal diet. My digestion was not perfect, but was the best it had been in years.

• A whole food supplement program supported my thyroid and general circulation.

• I altered my exercise routine, sticking with a daily moderate-level yoga practice and gentle hiking (no more running, swimming, or jump roping, which all seemed to stress my adrenals).

• I continued with acupuncture treatment on myself and working with other practitioners, but honestly, I did not do it as regularly as I would’ve liked.

My last blood test was 8 months ago.  Even though my TSH and TPO antibodies still on the high side, they’re now considered within range. Symptoms and how one feels are way more important than numbers on tests though. I still have a few extra pounds of water weight, cold hands & feet, and will occasionally miss a bowel movement here and there.  I know there is more work to do.

New Dietary Approach for Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism

Recently, I came across an intriguing article in GOOP featuring the “Medical Medium” Anthony William and his theory about Hashimoto’s thyroiditis & other autoimmune diseases and the Epstein-Barr virus.

I have his book now, Medical Medium Thyroid Healing (rated 5 stars with 500+ reviews on Amazon!).  I resonated with this book immediately and it gave me renewed hope. He’s knows a great deal about how bodies work & respond to the environment, toxins, and pathogens. He is sure to be criticized though, because his knowledge was not obtained through scientific methods. Instead, he received this wisdom from Spirit.

Standard health care has no answers at this point, so there’s nothing to lose in trying this out! Anthony William’s main message is a good one.  Our bodies ARE WORKING HARD for us to attack an elusive virus.  The body is not confused and self-destructive after all.

How to Continue Healing My Body 

I know I can overcome this illness with the help of immune boosting foods and avoiding the foods and toxins that feed the virus. This new knowledge has also strengthened my resolve to bring acupuncture back in as one of my main tools.  I know how effective it is at managing other viral diseases.

I’m only a few weeks into this new protocol. My predictable, effortless  bowel movements, more toned abdomen, adjusted appetite, and great craving for vegetables are telling me that it’s working!

The adoption of an organic lifestyle is not just a trend for the wealthy and naturally-minded.  It’s an important step we need to take to stay healthy, to increase the quality of our lives, to support our local economy, and to nurture the earth and the animals that roam it.  I have an organic lifestyle guide that can help you make this necessary change!

Many people are starting to understand this, especially here in California where it’s been proven that glyphosate causes cancer and that it’s everywhere in the conventional food chain.

Environmental toxins are polluting our water & soil, are obviously on the food we eat, and are being injected into us in trace amounts through vaccines. The toxic load is being passed on through generations, making children extremely vulnerable. This cumulative effect is one of the main reasons why more children are experiencing learning disabilities & behavior issues like ADD/ADHD, why chronic disease is increasing in the American population, and maybe why infertility is on the rise as well.

So what’s keeping YOU from going organic?

I’m guessing you think…

1. It’s too expensive
2. Going 100% organic is not possible and are confused about what you should prioritize as organic purchases.
3. Everything on store shelves is safe because our government protects us well, this organic thing is all hype, or I simply do not care.

I can’t help much if you’re aligned with #3, but if it’s #1 or #2 that are holding you back, I have a great guide here for you!

Buying organic does not need to be expensive and you don’t need to buy ALL organic, though it is nice to support the movement (thereby decreasing the price because of demand) if you’re able to.

Organic Lifestyle Guide – 10 Simple Changes You Can Start Making Today:

1. Buy organic from EWG’s Dirty Dozen list

Become familiar with the Environmental working group’s Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists that they publish every year. Note, this list has been pretty much the same since I started paying attention to it several years ago.

It’s handy to print out these lists and keep them on the refrigerator. You’ll have them memorized in no time!

2. Buy organic animal products and eat less meat

Buying organic animal meat, eggs, and dairy ensures that your food is pesticide, herbicide and antibiotic-free. It also means that you’re supporting better animal welfare standards (than conventional factory farms).

From Whole Food’s article Organic Meat: What Does Organic Really Mean?:

“Here are a few of the key requirements for organic poultry, cattle and pigs:

• Must be raised organically on certified organic land
• Must be fed certified organic feed
• No antibiotics or added growth hormones are allowed*
• Must have outdoor access

*Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in raising pork and poultry.”

My reducing your meat consumption to just a handful of times per week, you can save some money as well.

3. Buy in bulk at health food stores

For cereals, grains, nuts, seeds, and dried fruits, buying in bulk at health food stores is the way to go. Sure, they don’t have the fancy packaging that you might see in prepackaged food, but I’ve noticed time and time again, the price is well below what you buy with prepackaged foods.

Side note here: organic prepackaged foods are often more expensive in mainstream grocery stores than in health food stores, at least in my neighborhood.

4. Buy produce at Farmer’s markets

Going to a nearby Farmer’s Market can be fun for the whole family. It’s a great way to support local farms too!

I like to go with a list of exactly what I need and budget for treats. If you’re trying to save money, you may want to try go close to closing time. You may run the risk of not having many options, but some vendors may give you a discount if they need to sell everything. Some vendors may negotiate with you too.

5. Grow your own fruits and vegetables

Starting an organic garden may sound like a huge endeavor, but it’s really not. All you need is a small spot that gets sun for at least half the day.

My family has a potted lemon tree, raspberry bush, several strawberry plants, and many herbs on our very small townhouse balcony.

We also have a 4′ x 8′ plot in our community garden. This area used to be wasted space until several of us families contacted the homeowners association with our idea to turn it into a community garden. We produce large quantities of leafy green veggies all year round and other seasonal veggies. This year we have beautiful flowers as well.

If you’re saying you want a garden but don’t have enough space, maybe you just need to get creative or go in with a few friends who have a bit more land than you. It’s fun for the family to plan the garden and even more fun when a few families get involved!

6. Find discounts in online stores, warehouses, and CSAs

There are several online resources out there that have organic products like Amazon, Thrive, and Vitacost. You can probably find coupons and occasional discounts there.

Costco Wholesale is gradually increasing their stock of organic products. It’s not my favorite choice for my 3 person family though because I’m concerned about space and overconsumption. I don’t really need to buy 4 dozen eggs at a time!

You may also want to check out Community Supported Agriculture which provides produce and products from local farms. I L-O-V-E our local CSA: Real Food Bay Area. There are some artisan products that are on the pricey side, but the meat, dairy (they have super nutritious RAW goat & cow milk!), and produce are competitively priced.

7. Make homemade meals

Unless restaurants make a point of listing organic foods on their menu, you can best that they are using low-quality, conventional produce and animal products.

So if you’re committed to eating organic, you’ll need to start cooking more at home. You’ll have complete control over your menu and food quality, and of course this can save you some money too.

Sound exhausting? Not really if you plan your meals and get the family involved!

8. Buy organic skin and hair products, or DIY

This organic lifestyle guide would not be complete unless we address personal care toxins.  Anything we put on our skin and scalp is easily absorbed into our body, so we need to look closely at the ingredients in the products we buy.

Just because a product says it’s organic, doesn’t mean it’s necessarily safe though. From EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database FAQs:

“It’s hard to tell which ingredients are truly “organic” or “natural” because truth-in-marketing rules for food don’t apply in the cosmetics world. An exception – products bearing the USDA organic seal contain ingredients that come from plants grown without artificial pesticides and fertilizers.”

Joining the Do It Yourself movement can make moving to the organic movement much easier when it comes to skin products. Just type in DIY skin or DIY hair on Pinterest and you’ll find recipes to make just about anything.

You can follow my DIY Skin Board too:

9. Buy Organic Cotton, at least with underwear

Did you know that conventional cotton crops use 25% of the world’s insecticides and 10% of the world’s pesticides? Read more about this and other reasons why buying organic cotton is a better idea here:

Protecting Our Planet and Protecting Ourselves: The Importance of Organic Cotton

Avoiding conventional cotton is a huge endeavor though! It might be hard to buy a whole organic cotton wardrobe and you might not like the styles out there (unless you love the bohemian look!)

You can make wiser choices though, like buying organic underwear and pajamas for your family.

Here are some online resources I love:

Hanna Andersson (underwear for kids, pjs for the whole family)

Soul Flower (yoga & boho)

Blue Canoe (yoga & professional)

You can also find used organic clothing on eBay.

10. Relax, you can always detox

Know that any effort to steer your family toward an organic lifestyle is worthwhile. So try not to worry too much when you veer off course (like the fish tacos I had yesterday when traveling – at least they were wild-caught halibut!).

There are several ways you can detoxify your body from pesticides, through diet, essential oils, baths, and other methods that we discussed in:

The Best Natural Treatments for ADD/ADHD

6 Easy Ways to Detox at Home

Are you ready to take the leap to living organically?  If yes, did this guide help? If no, what’s holding you back?  Let’s discuss in the comments!

Sitting still and listening in a classroom is challenging for most kids and is just one of the many reasons why school is not a great fit for my family (we’ve been homeschooling for a year). But for kids with ADHD, time in the classroom can be unbearable. They tend to:

• daydream

• fidget

• talk out of turn

• engage in impulsive behavior

They also tend to get in trouble for these behaviors because they distract the other kids from focusing and make it hard for the teacher to manage the whole group. As a result, these kids can start to dislike school, get lower grades, and they often lose self-esteem. It is a serious issue because if not treated, these kids have a harder time finishing school and can grow into adults who have a greater chance of:

• Experiencing depression

• Abusing drugs & alcohol

• Job failure

• Incarceration

• Obesity

• Divorce

• Alzheimer’s disease

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The CDC reports that as of 2012 approximately 11% of children 4-17 years of age (6.4 million) have been diagnosed with ADHD.

You can use the checklist in this link to determine if your child has a problem with inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity that would fit their definition of ADHD.

What do I know about ADHD?

I know quite a lot, actually! My brother (who is 15 years younger than me) was diagnosed with ADHD when he was in high school. I tutored him quite often because homework and special projects were always a challenge for him. I was a grounding presence, constantly teaching him how to organize his thoughts and how to focus on the present moment.

He was tested for learning disabilities, but it was clear that was not the problem. Still, tests were hard for him to complete in time, his grades were low and school counselors were urging my mom to medicate him.

We just wanted him to be successful, so my mom did get a prescription filled for Ritalin, the standard medication for ADHD. He refused to take it. So instead, she focused on reducing sweets, managing his screen time, and making other lifestyle changes. It was hard and he barely made through high school, but he did make it. He is now a responsible grown man, doing great at a job he loves, while he supports his wife and 3 kids.

I learned great deal, through my brother’s experience, about how lifestyle choices can affect the brain (though I wish I knew then what I know now about natural remedies).

I also saw how easy it was to succumb to the pressure of school authorities to medicate and dampen the symptoms of the problem just to fit certain standards and make the teacher’s job easier.

Standard Treatment for ADHD

Ritalin and Adderall are the most common medications prescribed for ADHD. They are very effective in helping children focus better, but the side effects are pretty horrible for both:

Common side effects:

• trouble sleeping
• loss of appetite
• dry mouth
• anxiety
• increased heart rate
• irritability
• headache
• dizziness

Serious side effects can include:

• addiction
• heart rhythm problems
• psychosis, hallucinations, or feeling like bugs are crawling on your skin
• Raynaud’s syndrome
• slowed growth in children

Can you imagine a young child dealing with psychosis and addiction? There are dozens of other medications doctors can prescribe too, some of them classified as non-stimulants, but they have a reputation for not working as well. Luckily, there is much you can do before considering medication!

Natural Solutions For ADHD

1. Identify The Cause And Remove Triggers

If your child has signs of developing an attention disorder, determining the triggers and addressing them should be your first step.

Known causes of ADHD include birth trauma, maternal drug use, premature birth, and low birth weight. Environmental toxins definitely have an impact as well though. The CDC cites lead exposure as being a culprit in some cases, though mercury and aluminum exposure have a strong correlation with ADHD too and are way more predominant in our culture these days (through food, dental fillings, and an increasing load of vaccines).

The CDC also states that although they haven’t been proven to cause ADHD, eating too much sugar, eating junk food, watching too much TV, playing video games, and long periods of inactivity can make symptoms worse, so are recognized as triggers.

Avoiding the causes and removing the triggers can help immensely, even if there’s a history of ADHD in the family.

2. Heavy Metal Detoxification

Purging your child’s body of heavy metals is a good idea, even if you don’t think it’s the main cause of his/her symptoms. This is a great article explaining more about the prevalence of metals in our environment, in our bodies, and how we pass on this toxic load through the generations.

Detox can be done through diet, incorporating these foods into a daily smoothie:

• cilantro
• wild blueberries
• celery
• barley grass juice
• spirulina
• Atlantic dulse

You can also give your child a detox bath with these ingredients:

• 1 cup epsom salt
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 10 drops of essential oil, optional (citrus oils like wild orange, mint oils like spearmint, rosemary, clove, and myrrh are well-known for their detoxifying properties)

3. Traditional Chinese Medicine

Many of you may be puzzled as you imagine your hyperactive child laying still for several minutes with a dozen acupuncture needles. Is that even possible?! You may actually be surprised at how receptive your child is to acupuncture once they know how relaxing it can be! And with younger kids, needle retention is very brief.

But even for kids who are needle shy or cannot sit still, there are many other treatment options available: Tuina massage, cupping, cold laser, microcurrent, and shonishin (Japanese acupressure).

Side story here:

I was seeing an 8-year-old patient for his attention disorder and there was no way he would let me use needles. Even though his mom was urging me to assert my authority and do it anyway, I respected his wish and reassured her that other methods of treatment were just as effective as acupuncture.

We did Tuina massage instead. Every time, he would be squirmy and silly for the first 15 minutes and I’d engage him with jokes. But when I’d start working on his back and especially when I would massage his feet, he would fall asleep – every – single – time!

He looked forward to our treatments together and said that he could focus a little better in school, but the problem was that all the triggers for his behaviors were not being addressed.

His parents were divorced and he was constantly shuffled between the two homes. His dad was not supportive of what we were doing and the boy ate junk food, was constantly in front of the TV, and didn’t get enough sleep at his house. But his mom and I were happy that he was getting a much needed break when he was in her care and that he appreciated this natural approach to healing.

4. Balance Blood Sugar Levels

Riding the roller coaster of a sugar high and the subsequent crash can make matters much worse for a child with ADHD. To have the greatest success, decreasing the load of sugar in their diet is very important. Check out my post Have a Sweet Summer Without the Excess Sugar to learn how to balance blood sugar levels and make better choices (not just in the Summer, but for life!)

5. GAPS Diet & Rebuilding Gut Biome

The Gut and Psychology Syndrome diet is something you may want to explore for your child. Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride has had a great deal of success healing children and adults with not just A.D.D./A.D.H.D., but also autism, dyspraxia, dyslexia, depression, schizophrenia, and many autoimmune disorders.

GAPS children and adults all have digestive problems – colic, bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, and malnourishment – to different degrees. McBride and many other researchers believe that all disease begins in the gut and these are digestive disorders, not behavior disorders.

The focus of the diet is to eliminate grains (which are abrasive to the intestines, break down to considerable amounts of sugar and contribute to poor gut flora levels) and refined sugar, and then restore gut flora with healing broths, fermented foods, and supplements.

It’s not as hard as it sounds. I’ve done it for myself and did not starve. There are a lot of yummy recipes, including many bread substitutes, that your family will enjoy.

You can Follow my Pinterest GAPS Board for ideas.

If the GAPS diet sounds too daunting, then at least try the other methods of restoring gut health that I’ve outlined here: Improve Your Family’s Gut Health to Increase General Health, Part 2.

I know it’s challenging to eat a basic diet like this when we’re so used to stimulating processed food, large amounts of sugar, and artificial ingredients that make up the Standard American Diet. But this is one of the main reasons why Americans have one of the highest rates of chronic disease in the world and why our children are suffering. It’s important to go against the grain (pun intended) and make your child’s health a priority, even if it’s inconvenient!

6. Behavior Therapies/Mindfulness Practices

Managing ADHD will be easier if your child is aware of his/her behavior and what affects it. Psychologists, licensed counselors, and social workers can all provide behavior therapy that trains both children and their parents on how to control behavior.

The CDC has a directory for behavior therapists, including online resources.

Your family can also engage in mindfulness practices on your own that will help ground your energy, teach body awareness, and to provide insight about behavior and what brings you out of balance and out of control.

Walking meditation is perfect for kids with a lot of pent up energy, and especially for those with ADHD. Here’s a simple, fun, walking mediation practice from Jaclyn Long at Mind Body Moms: