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Falcon Healing Arts - Providing you with knowledge and support to care for your family naturally.
Home
Blog
About Me
Testimonials
Natural Products
Work With Brandy
Contact Me
Yoga Events
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About Me
  • Testimonials
  • Natural Products
  • Work With Brandy
  • Contact Me
  • Yoga Events
Chronic Disease, Emotional health, Environmental Concerns, Essential Oils, Kids Health, Natural pain relief, Organic lifestyle, Toxin-free living, Women's health

Why Is Everyone So Excited About Essential Oils?

excited about essential oils
There was a time in American history when essential oils were only used by traditional healers, massage therapists, and subculture flower children. But now, we have modern families, business owners, and even medical doctors using them in their homes and professions.  Why is everyone so excited about essential oils these days?

Here are 5 reasons why I believe essential oils are back to stay! After reading them, you may decide to incorporate them into your lifestyle too!

Why essential oils popular?

1. We need alternative healthcare

Essential oil knowledge was lost when modern medicine became popular in the United States. This is because people used to think Western medicine was more evolved, and therefore should have greater respect. Some innovations, like life-saving surgeries and fertility procedures are truly miraculous.  However, this standard of care is only focused on palliative measures.  It doesn’t address the root cause of health imbalances. We need and expect more.

We’re realizing that Western Medicine is not making us healthier. We are wising up and asking:

WHY is this happening to me?

WHAT does my body need to be healthier?

HOW can I maintain health?

Nature, traditional medicines, alternative health practitioners, and your own intuition are the best guides.

Essential oils are gifts from nature that help support physiological functions, improve mood, control infections, and thereby add to our health.

2. Essential oils are effective alternatives to toxic products

We are living in a toxic soup that triggers many health problems in our population. Visit EWG.org to learn more about pesticides, herbicides, antibacterial agents, and other threats in our environment. They’re still legal in the U.S., even they disrupt hormones, destroy gut flora, decrease immunity, and cause cancer. Therefore, it’s up to manufacturers to remove them from their products or up to consumers to stop buying them.

Essential oils can clean our homes and bodies. Many families make their own home and personal care products using essential oils. There’s also some trusted companies who provide ready-made products using essential oils.  These are safe and effective replacements to toxic conventional products found on grocery store shelves.

3. Essential oils have been used effectively for thousands of years

Did you know essential oils have been used from the beginning of history? Ancient Chinese, Indian, Greek, and Egyptian civilizations prized them for their beauty enhancing, spiritual, and therapeutic value. So even though they are new to Americans, that’s not so in the rest of the world.

Our culture is starting to respect older modalities like my profession of Chinese Medicine, as well as using Essential Oils. I would not call it a trend.  Americans are just now seeing what has always been around – an awakening of sorts!

4. People want to feel empowered & resourceful with health choices

Many people these days don’t believe that “doctors know best”. It’s important to have a health practitioner as a guide or for a different perspective.  However, most people have the awareness to know when they’re well or not though, and whether it’s an emergency. They know how to research and experiment with natural remedies and determine if they’re working.

Moms in particular, want to trust their instincts more.  They want to be resourceful and feel empowered with their choices, just as our ancestors were. They know their children better than anyone else! It’s easy for them to use essential oils and they’re accepted well by their children. Experience shows them that essential oils work well to manage illness in the family and to boost their health.

5. There’s tons of research to support essential oil efficacy

Each year, hundreds of research studies validate essential oil efficacy. Here are just a few that show essential oils can improve one’s health naturally:

  1. Protective essential oil attenuates influenza virus infection: An in vitro study in MDCK cells
  2. The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy in Reducing Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  3. The effects of preoperative aromatherapy massage on anxiety and sleep quality of colorectal surgery patients: A randomized controlled study

Certainly, the excitement behind essential oil use is backed by a compelling need! Do you want to try them out too? Visit my natural products page for more information on the oils I recommend. With over 20+ years of experience using them, I can help answer any questions you have as well!

Essential Oils, Gut Health, Natural Beauty, Natural Remedies, Supplements, Traditional Chinese Medicine

Natural Secrets For Beautiful Clear Skin

natural clear skin
This was a Facebook Live in our Blissful Living Community Group
for my dōTERRA customers.

Everyone desires beautiful skin!  Few have escaped the embarrassment of acne and blemishes. Many moms have experienced concern for their kids with rashes and eczema. As we age, and particularly in Autumn & Winter, we experience more dry, wrinkle-prone skin.   I’ve experienced and overcome all of those conditions.  Therefore, I’m thrilled to share my natural secrets for clear skin with you, while boosting your health & confidence!

In the Western Medicine approach to skin conditions, the focus is on treating the skin itself, oftentimes with harsh products that have many undesirable side effects. Many of these have questionable safety profiles and can damage other aspects of your health. 

Wouldn’t you rather get to the root of your skin issue and experience benefits only?  You’ll get that with a natural approach to skin health.  Want to know the secret?

The secret to having beautiful skin is to achieve health inside the body.

If you cleanse and support your body internally, you will see more positive results externally, because the skin is simply a reflection of what’s going on inside.

I’m not wearing any makeup at all in the picture above. I did use a soft-focus filter to make the tint more appealing for this post, but did not touch it up. My skin is not perfect, I still have wrinkles, scars, and monthly pimples.  It is tremendously better at 45 years old than it was in my 20’s though!

Back then my system was flooded with hormones from the birth control pills and low quality animal products I was consuming. My gut health was a mess. Later on I would develop an autoimmune condition because of it. It took me over a decade to gain all the knowledge I have today. In the process, I’ve healed myself from the inside. This skin, that I’m now proud to show off, is a natural byproduct of my efforts.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Skin Health

In TCM, it’s known that any skin issue is due to an imbalance of energy in the Lung & Large intestine paired organs and the channels that traverse them. We’re considered microcosms of nature and can be affected by the same elements we experience in our environment. When a rash, eczema or acne vents to the skin, it’s usually “damp heat” in these channels. Dryness of the skin is “dryness” in these channels. Oftentimes imbalances of other organs/channels can affect the Lung & Large Intestine as well, particularly the Stomach, Spleen, and Liver.

The etiology is often poor diet, overwork, and emotional imbalance. Treatment is focused on balancing the diet with support of appropriate herbs, acupuncture, and managing stress.  It’s essential that the large intestine energy is moving, meaning that you’re having daily, well-formed bowel movements.  This way, you’re clearing your body of “heat and toxins” through the bowels and not just the skin.


Before reading about my natural secrets for beautiful skin, you may want to get my FREE stress-relieving self-acupressure guide.  It will help you relieve tension and improve your sleep, in just 10 minutes!  I know you’ll love it, and you can get it here:

self acupressure guide


Natural Steps to Achieve Clear Skin from the Inside

Hydrate

Plump, moist skin is reflective of hydrated cells.  You’ll want to make sure you’re drinking enough water throughout the day, which should total half your body weight in ounces (eg. if you’re 160 lbs, you’ll drink 80 oz. of water).  Try to have much of it first things in the morning upon waking, so you’ll prime your digestion and hopefully poop.

Sweat to Detox

Toxins are released from the body through the pores of our skin as we sweat.  This is best done with exercise so you’re benefiting the lungs too with the exertion.  You only need to do enough to break a sweat, as you don’t want it pouring out, dehydrating you!  

Sweating in saunas and hot baths can also help free the body and benefit the skin.  Just be sure to have clean skin before you sweat.  If you’re wearing makeup or sunscreen, they can clog your pores, reducing the potential of detoxing through the skin.

Heal the Gut

Similar to the TCM approach, modern functional medicine also advises that you focus on gut health first when wanting to improve your skin. They recognize that the liver has a huge role to play as well. When it’s overburdened with pharmaceutical drugs, heavy metals, xenoestrogens from conventional personal care products, cortisol from stress, and excess of sex hormones, it becomes overburdened and sluggish. This can greatly impair digestive function.

Also, many of these same substances (including stress and too much sugar!) can damage beneficial bacteria in the gut. Without their defense, “bad” bacteria take over, making it more difficult to digest your favorite foods and causing inflammation. This inflammation vents to the skin.I always suggest doing an elimination diet which will help you identify any food intolerances and will also give you time to detox. If you follow this diet for 90 days, you’ll be giving your gut ample time to turnover damaged cells for healthy ones which may be enough to heal the intolerance.

Read these posts to learn more about how gut health is impaired and how to improve it:

Improve Your Family’s Gut Health, part 1

Improve Your Family’s Gut Health, part 2

I suggest this program when embarking on an elimination diet. I’ve done it a few times with great success:

The Elimination Diet

If you need even more structure, I recommend this program from Standard Process which includes some whole food supplements and a shake. If you’re interested, contact me for a consultation and I can help you get it:

Standard Process Purification Program

 

Essential Oils & Natural Products for Beautiful Skin

Cleansing the skin is still important on the outside, but we need to be careful because there are beneficial bacteria on the surface of the skin as well. I suggest always opting for natural products that can improve skin tone without stripping the skin of this important defense.

I am very particular about the essential oils I use.  I’ve aligned with one company because of their commitment to quality and purity. They are also making a huge impact integrating into and improving health care in this country while supporting global communities where these oils are sourced.

Best Essential Oils for Skin:

Melaleuca

Lavender

Frankincense

Myrrh

Yarrow/POM

My Favorite Products:

HD Clear (great for teens!)

Verage skin care

Detoxifying mud mask

Hydrating Cream

 

I hope you’re feeling hopeful about treating your skin issues with a natural, inside-out approach. I’d love to hear about your efforts in the comments! Please leave a comment below.

As you just learned, managing stress is key to keeping the gut and skin healthy! Download my FREE self-acupressure guide to stay ahead of the effects of stress, before they impact your gut and skin. You can get it here:

self acupressure guide
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natural clear skin secrets
Essential Oils, Gut Health, Kids Health, Natural Remedies, Natural Sleep Support, Seasons, Summer, Supplements, Toxin-free living, Women's health

Essential Oils You’ll Need For A Naturally-Healthy Summer

Healthy summer kids essential oils

Summer is a favorite season for many people, but it comes with certain challenges. Longer stretches of powerful sunlight, warm-weather pests, and eating unhealthy foods on family vacations are just some of things that can dampen one’s enthusiasm for summer fun. Be prepared with these essential oils for summer challenges to keep your family naturally healthy and happy all season long!

Essential Oil Remedies for Summer Challenges

Bug repellent

Do you have a family member who is a mosquito magnet?  That would be me, in my family.  So believe me, plant power is safer and equally effective at keeping them at bay than DEET-containing concoctions!

The recipe below incorporates dōTERRA Terrashield, which actually works fabulously on it’s own. The additional oils kick the power up a few notches.

essential oil bug repellent

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!

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essential oils for healthy summer kids

Dilution chart:

Chronic Disease, Essential Oils, Gut Health, Kids Health, Toxin-free living, Women's health

6 Easy Ways To Detox At Home

Detoxifying your body may seem like all the rage these days!   But what does it mean to detox and why is it so necessary?  And how do you detox at home?

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!

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Environmental Concerns, journaling, Kids Health, Natural Remedies, Parenting, Personal Development, Toxin-free living

How To Trust Your Parental Instincts

Trust your parental instincts

Do you trust your parental instincts? Does parenting in this modern age overwhelm you? It’s my hope that I can guide you just enough in this post so that you can start trusting your inner voice more.

I’ve been on a roll here, advising about environmental toxins like chlorine, harmful foods like sugar that damage gut flora & immunity, and how to heal without harmful pharmaceuticals. These are things that I think parents may want to know about as they try to keep their families well. With each discussion, I’m offering holistic alternatives and wisdom from Traditional Chinese Medicine. It’s my hope that you’ll learn how to prevent or deal with these challenges in a natural and effective way.

It occurred to me today that even though my focus is on helping you find solutions, that the vibe here may still be very “doom & gloom”. This may be especially if you become easily overwhelmed with parenting and health advice.

Who’s Parenting Advice Do You Follow?

I’m reminded of an article that came out a year ago, “Excuse Me While I Lather My Child In This Toxic Death Cream” by Sarah Kallies.  Many moms can relate as she vents her frustrations with life that has “too many rules about food… hygiene… clothing… education… development… medication… sleep… playtime… friends… car seats… breastfeeding… child-wearing… and TV.” She says that “this world will make you crazy if you aren’t there already.”

Kallies has a point that focusing on all these rules about what others think you should do can make you feel bad about your parenting choices.  I see other parents who are just as frustrated. I honestly do not have the same stress about these choices though!  Learning how to keep my family happy & well is actually enjoyable for me.

Why Do Many Parents Have A Hard Time Trusting Their Instincts?

I believe the main reason we’re challenged with information these days is that we’re out of touch with how to sustain our health for ourselves and our family on a very basic level.

We are no longer responsible for foraging or growing our own food.  We don’t know how to make our own clothes.  Most people can’t  imagine living without electricity, dependent on the sun’s schedule. We don’t have generations of family helping us with childrearing. We’re expected to sit back and let government officials & intellectuals tell us how to eat, sleep, and parent. The groups that we do find solace in are usually other parents who are just as confused about making choices for their kids (not very helpful).

Why I’m So Comfortable Making My Own Choices 

I am not a perfect parent, teacher, or health practitioner, but I’m very secure in these roles.  This is because the choices I make are aligned with my deep-rooted values. I rest knowing that our species has survived thousands of years by living in harmony with nature, by listening to our instincts, and valuing traditional healing arts & ancestral wisdom.

My instincts led me to find a natural parenting approach based on attachment parenting principles.  I breast-fed my son until he was 4 1/2, co-slept as long as he needed it, wore him in a pack constantly as a baby, and let him feed himself when we introduced foods (baby-led weaning). We value natural immunity, organic whole food, and unstructured learning too.

While it has felt like I’m going against the grain socially, parenting itself has been fairly easy. I feel like I’m going with the flow as my son develops beautifully. Each day I feel validated that I’m doing what’s best for him.

I know that my husband and I are responsible for the care of my son, not the government or doctors. And my instincts say that there is something seriously wrong with the Western medical approach to wellness, the U.S. dietary guidelines, and the toxic constituents in our medications & water supply.

When I hear about things like the toxic ingredients in sunscreen, I am not surprised  because I’m aware that many products on the market have not been rigorously tested and safety is questionable.  Instead of throwing up my arms and saying “well, everyone else is using it and we’re going to die of something anyway!”, I take action to avoid it.  For again, I’ve thought long and hard about how our ancestors dealt with sunny days back on the plains. They got just the right amount of sun to stimulate vitamin D production, covered up when their skin started to burn, or found shade when it was overwhelming. 

How You Can Learn To Trust Your Parental Instincts Too

You and I probably have enough in common if you’re still with me this far into the post.  I know my values are not completely the same as yours though, and I would never want to impose mine on you.  I want everyone to feel successful in life and would encourage you to think deeply about what you care about as a parent and a human in this modern age.

To help get in touch with your instincts, I first recommend you do some journaling to answer these questions.

  • What do you value?
  • What are you concerned about?
  • Are these gut feelings?
  • What are your own gifts?
  • How do you contribute to the world?
  • Are you living authentically?
  • How do you connect with nature?
  • Can you picture yourself living long ago, capable of taking care of yourself & family?
  • How would you have dealt with not having our modern conveniences?
  • Are you vigilant about dangers in the environment or assume that everything we’re exposed to is safe?
  • Do you feel qualified to make health choices for your family, or always refer to a Medical Doctor?

By answering these questions, it should become clear whether you trust yourself or not.

If you don’t use your instincts to care for your family, but want to, I suggest finding a group that has a similar goal or a book that can help you tap into your inner wisdom.

These are the resources that helped me immensely…

Mindful Parenting Groups

Mind Body Moms

Insight Meditation Center (Redwood City, CA) Youth & Family Programs

Attachment Parenting

Attachment Parenting International

Breastfeeding

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by Diane Wiessinger

KellyMom

Traditional Living & Diet

Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon

Primal Connection by Mark Sisson

Concerns About Environmental Toxins

Environmental Working Group

March Against Monsanto

A Voice for Choice

I also have a free guide for you that can help you care for your child, based on ancestral wisdom:

10 Ways to Boost Your Child’s Health & Maintain Your Sanity!

I would love to hear about your experience as a parent and making choices for your family. Are you in touch with your instincts?  If you have information that can help other parents,  please let us know in the comments!

Well wishes to you all…

Chronic Disease, Environmental Concerns, Gut Health, Kids Health, Natural Remedies, Parenting, Supplements, Toxin-free living, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Whole Food Diet

How to Treat Your Child’s Eczema Naturally

eczema
 

Does your child have eczema? Did your medical doctor prescribe steroid creams and other immune suppressors for him/her?  Do you want to address the condition holistically instead?  I’m happy to share what worked for my son.  Read on to learn how to get to the root of the condition as you treat eczema naturally.

I believe you have strong parental instincts if you’re concerned.  Eczema’s so common here in the United States that many doctors & parents assume that it’s normal and just a symptom of “sensitive skin”.  They blame harsh detergents, soaps, or other things in the external environment.  Any natural health practitioner will tell you eczema is a symptom of a deeper disharmony in your child’s body.

When my son developed eczema as a baby, I knew that it meant his immune system was challenged. I treated him appropriately with alternative medicine to resolve it quickly. I’m eager to share what I’ve learned with you so that your child can be comfortable in their skin once again!

Standard Medical Cause & Treatment of Eczema

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is an immune-mediated inflammation of the skin. It’s red, itchy, uncomfortable, sometimes oozy, and can be easily infected if scratched with dirty nails.

Merck Manual, 18th edition states that like asthma, eczema may be linked to an allergic T-cell immune response.  It says that it’s becoming more common in developed countries because of “trends toward smaller families, cleaner indoor environments, and early use of vaccinations and antibiotics deprive children of the early exposure to infections and allergens that suppress pro-allergic T cells and induce tolerance.”

Food intolerance, wool intolerance, conjunctivitis, and other features accompany eczema quite often.  Most medical doctors tell you to keep your child’s skin moist, but to decrease bathing & hand washing. They prescribe a corticosteroid creams to suppress the immune system, even though it’s already faulty.

In many cases,  mainstay steroid treatments can have harmful side effects. There’s also a strong association with eczema and developing childhood asthma later.  Therefore, it’s wise to explore holistic treatments that work with the original disharmony.

What Caused My Son’s Eczema?

My son developed eczema after his first round of vaccinations at 4 months old.  (I wanted to delay them until he was 2 years old, but was pressured into getting them by my son’s Pediatrician.) Most doctors refuse to admit that vaccines could have anything to do with it.  Just because they’re authority figures doesn’t mean they’re correct.   

It was pretty clear that after his second dose of Pediarix at 8 months old, it was most definitely the vaccines.  For both shots were done on different thighs.  The eczema rash, both times, originated at the injection site on the different thighs.

The first outbreak was delayed, so I didn’t make the connection to the shot. I gave him some Chinese herbs and it disappeared in a few weeks. But the second time the eczema appeared within a few days and spread quickly up to his torso and remained there.

How I Treated My Son’s Eczema Naturally

This was a huge awakening for me. I knew this was serious and vowed to treat the eczema naturally. I resumed the Chinese herbal therapy I gave him the first time.  It helped initially, but then the rash came back. Next, I did an elimination diet, removing the most inflammatory foods.  We quickly learned  he was intolerant to the dairy that he was consuming through my breastmilk.

When we went back for the next well-visit, he still had eczema on his thigh though most of his torso was now clear. I explained everything to his doctor.  I was prepared for her to become defensive and deny that the vaccines were the cause. Instead, she sincerely apologized. Still, I could not see her anymore.

We started seeing a new Pediatrician who respected my views and profession. She said that eczema & a dairy intolerance often arise after the DTaP (Diptheria, Tetanus, & Persussis) vaccine in her practice. She supported me fully with the treatment I had already started. By the time he was 2 years old, he was completely healed of eczema and his dairy intolerance.

How You Can Treat Your Child’s Eczema Naturally Too

(1) Eliminate the source of inflammation 

This is likely the most challenging part of healing your child because we’re forced to take a hard, honest look at what our child has been exposed to.  We need to question whether something we’ve been doing  “normally” (according to social norms) is contributing to the disease.  This step is important for treating eczema naturally.  Since it’s an allergic reaction, your child’s immune system needs a break.

Vaccines

Perhaps you’re not willing to stop or delay vaccinations though, even if it looks like they were the cause. If you continue vaccinating, try to implement the next few treatment options I have listed below.  Just realize that you maybe fighting an uphill battle throughout their childhood, though. If this is the strategy that works best for your family and your core beliefs, then I wish you the best of luck!

Food Intolerances

At the very least, it’s wise to place your child on an elimination diet to determine of they have a food intolerance.  Skin & blood tests for food allergies are notoriously faulty, so an elimination diet is your best bet for an accurate assessment.

This is a great post describing how to start a simple elimination diet that is great for the whole family.

I recommend the book The Elimination Diet by Alissa Segersten (of Nourishing Meals) & her husband Tom Malterre M.S., C.N.  They remove more inflammatory foods, but it’s manageable since the recipes included in the book are easy & super delicious!

If your child has a food intolerance, you’ll need to avoid that food for at least 90 days.  Then, gradually bring the food back into their diet to see if there’s an improvement. The intolerance should resolve within several months to a year if you’re diligent about the elimination diet.

(2) Improve their gut health to treat eczema naturally

People with eczema (& food intolerances) have compromised immune systems.  They also have low populations of “good” gut flora.  It’s vital to focus on improving gut health to heal the eczema & food intolerance.

I wrote about this extensively in the post Improve Your Family’s Gut Health to Increase General Health, part 1.  Please read this 2-part series to learn how to build up a good supply of beneficial microorganisms.  These organisms digest important vitamins & nutrients.  They also protect the lymphoid tissue in the gut lining that makes lymphocytes & immunoglobulins (important members of the immune system).  

(3) Include supplements to soothe inflammation

The following supplements have been shown to reduce inflammation (Read more about most of them here):

  • Fish oil (Omega-3 oils EPA & DHA – Omega-3s should be twice the amount of Omega-6 in your diet)
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamins A, C, and selenium (antioxidants)
  • Quercetin
  • Curcumin
  • Bromelain
  • Reservatol
  • Flax seed oil
  • Inositol

(4) Traditional Chinese Medicine to Treat Eczema Naturally

From the perspective of Chinese medicine, eczema is an accumulation of “damp heat and toxins” in the body that is venting out to the skin. The Lungs, Large Intestine, and Kidney organs & channels are all involved. Basically, you need to clear the heat & toxins and strengthen these organs/channels.  This is done with herbal remedies and acupuncture/acupressure.

It’s best to work with a Chinese medicine practitioner, even if you’re eager to do it alone. I just happened to be a newly licensed and enthusiastic Acupuncturist when I was dealing with my son’s issue. I still sought advice from my son’s second pediatrician (who also does acupuncture) to validate my diagnosis & treatment plan.

Chinese medicine practitioners see the root disharmony.  They can develop a treatment plan that will heal your child from the inside. Most of them embrace whole food nutrition and help you manage your family’s diet too.

(5) Sensible sun exposure

Alternative medicine recognizes the healing power of the sun. It’s is vital for vitamin D absorption, improving mood, boosting immunity, and maintaining a balanced circadian rhythm. Your child needs to experience short periods of unprotected (that’s right, no sunscreen) time in the sun to reap these benefits.  

Even mainstream medical doctors recommend sun exposure for treating eczema naturally. Also, you can use artificial UVA & UVB treatments too, so you can ask your doctor about that.

YOU CAN help your child because YOU KNOW them better than anyone else. Trust your gut Mamma or Papa! Please ask any questions in the comments.  If you have other advice that’s worked for you to treat eczema naturally, let’s hear about that too!

Well wishes to you all…

Download my helpful list: 10 Ways To Boost Your Child’s Health & Maintain Your Sanity!

 

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Chronic Disease, Environmental Concerns, Gut Health, Kids Health, Natural Remedies, Toxin-free living, Women's health

Improve Your Family’s Gut Health to Increase General Health: Part 1

gut healthy child
Most naturally-minded parents know that they and their children need abundant sunshine, plenty of outside activity, an organic balanced diet, and plenty of rest.    Did you know that focusing on boosting your family’s gut health is one of the best ways to keep them strong & healthy year-round?  In this article, you’ll learn about what damages gut health so you and your family can make the best health choices.

We mentioned the increase in chronic childhood illnesses in our last post. Actually, chronic diseases are increasing in adults as well, especially autoimmune diseases. The common denominator in most of these illnesses is poor gut flora.

“A well-functioning gut with healthy gut flora hold the roots of our health. And, just as a tree with sick roots is not going to thrive, the rest of the body cannot thrive without a well-functioning digestive system.” 

Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride M.D. in Gut and Psychology Syndrome

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help manage, improve or even completely heal many of these chronic conditions. It’s still important to beware of possible triggers that deplete beneficial microorganisms in the gut.  You’ll want to recognize symptoms of dysbiosis (when harmful organisms take over) and restore gut health if it’s damaged. When this is done concurrently with TCM treatment, complete healing is more likely to occur.

Good health starts with the mother!

Our gut flora is established at birth when we travel down the birth canal, swallowing bacteria in our mother’s vagina along the way , the “good” and the “bad”. The bacteria continue to grow and diversify as we get more probiotics from mother’s milk and they populate the length of the digestive tract.

We happily co-exist with these bacteria, who help us digest important vitamins & nutrients and protect the lymphoid tissue in the gut lining that makes lymphocytes & immunoglobulins (important members of the immune system). We enjoy good health unless something disrupts the inner environment and the balance of beneficial bacteria.

What Damages Gut Health?

C-section births

 
c-sections and gut health
 
 

Babies delivered by Cesarean have not had their sterile guts inoculated with the Mother’s vaginal flora. If beneficial bacteria do not start growing in a baby’s digestive tract by the first 20 days or so of life, then the baby may be immunocompromised. Breastfeeding is therefore essential for C-section babies since it’s the last opportunity for the mother to pass on her flora and immunity.

Poor Diet

 
sugar and gut health
 
 

Again, breastfeeding is best for babies to make sure their digestive tracts are inoculated. But even for children born naturally and who were breastfed, issues can start to occur later when solid foods are introduced.

Children and adults eating diets high in sugar or processed/sugary carbohydrates select for an increase in fungi like Candida species and opportunistic/potentially harmful bacteria and parasites.

Diets high in fiber from grains can negatively affect gut flora, body metabolism, and damage the gut lining. It’s best to eat fiber from vegetables and fruits instead. They are more gentle on the digestive tract as well.

Prolonged fasting and overeating can also change the balance of bacteria in the GI tract.

Antibiotics

 
antibiotics and gut health
 
 

It’s best to avoid antibiotics unless absolutely, positively necessary. Though they’re aiming at a certain group of bacteria causing disease symptoms, antibiotics decrease all bacterial populations (even the good guys!). Therefore, they can have a drastic affect on gut bacteria balance.

Also, most people don’t realize that all vaccines have antibiotics in them.  If you choose to vaccinate yourself and your children, you’ll want to focus on replenishing your gut health afterwards.

Stress

 
stress and gut health
 
 

Long-term stress can wreak havoc on one’s digestive health & gut flora. Here’s an article that explains more.

Environmental Toxins

 
toxins and gut health
 
 

Pollution, pesticides, GMO foods, alcohol, recreational drugs, and over-the-counter and prescribed pharmaceutical drugs (yes, vaccines too which contain antibiotics and toxic adjuvants) can all harm beneficial bacteria and throw off the balance.

What are the symptoms of dysbiosis?

Gas/bloating, diarrhea, constipation, bad breath, abdominal pain, anemia or other nutrient deficiencies, allergies, joint pain, hyperactivity, difficulty gaining/losing weight, acne, rashes, nail fungus, yeast infections, and more, are all symptoms of dysbiosis.

And if you or a family member has been diagnosed with the following, it is also likely there’s a reduced amount of beneficial bacteria & an abundance of harmful bacteria:

  • Any autoimmune disease
  • ADD/ADHD
  • Allergies
  • Anxiety
  • Asthma
  • Autism
  • Cancer
  • Chron’s
  • Colitis
  • Depression
  • Diabetes
  • Ear infections
  • Eczema
  • Epilepsy
  • Heart Disease
  • Irritable Bowels Syndrome (IBS)
  • Liver/Gall bladder disease
  • Obesity
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Schizophrenia
  • and more…

So this is the “bad” news, about what damages gut health.  Immune system performance and general health usually declines as a result. I share this so you realize what you are experiencing may not be normal, should not be tolerated, but CAN BE IMPROVED!

In our next post we’ll focus on the good news. We CAN restore our gut health through good food, supplements, and Eastern Medicine. You can read it below:

Part 2: How to Restore Gut Health

Please comment if you have anything to add or a question you’d like answered!  Well wishes to you all…

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BrandyFalconLAc

Brandy Falcon, L.Ac., E-RYT

“I help families manage modern health challenges naturally by connecting them back to traditional wisdom and healing practices.”

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