Being aware of symptoms

    My body talks to me and I try to listen. Last week a joint on my foot above my big toe told me it wasn’t happy. Lucky for me it was only in one joint, but it was painful enough that I was limping around all day. I started taking the Complete Tissue and Bone formula along with the Joint Formula throughout the day. By 7:00 pm I was worried that I hadn’t made any progress and with the 4th of July coming up I really did not want to wake up the next morning with my foot still hurting. If I’m not on top of these arthritis flare-ups they can last from a few days to sometimes a few weeks with more joints joining in on the fun. Since the pain was in my foot I decided to try some Dandelion extract, which is what I used years ago when I suffered with gout. I took a squirt right away and another squirt before I went to bed along with more Complete Tissue and Bone and Joint Formula. When I got up the next morning I went about my work all day and it wasn’t until I was going to bed that night that I realized my foot wasn’t hurting.  I was very happy with the next day being the 4th of July knowing that I could participate in the planned activities pain-free.

    I try to be aware of any changes in my body so that if a symptom crops up I can address the problem before it develops into a more serious situation.  It takes not only being aware of a change, but also having the herbs on hand that I may need. Most herbs treat many different symptoms, so it is helpful to have a variety of formulas as well as some well chosen single herbs on hand to choose from. 

    Dandelion was truly a lifesaver for me when I was working on clearing up the Rheumatoid Arthritis years ago.  I had gout so badly in my feet that I couldn’t wear shoes because it hurt too much to have anything touching my feet.  The Dandelion did an amazing job of breaking up the uric acid crystals that feel like you are walking on shards of broken glass in your feet.  This is one herb that I will always have in my herb cabinet.  Click to read my arthritis story

    Here is a short list of ailments that Dandelion can help with: Acne, Anemia, Arthritis, Asthma, Blood Purifier, Blood Cleanser, Breast Cancer and tumors, Eczema, Gall Bladder cleanser, Gout, Hepatitis, Hypoglycemia, Jaundice, Kidney Infections, Liver Disorders, Metabolism stimulator,  Rheumatism, Scurvy, Skin Problems, Water Retention, Weight loss and more.  This little weed is truly an amazing healing herb!  Try using the "milk" from the stem of a dandelion on your wart.  Apply for about a week and then watch it slowly fade away.  Talk about affordable medicine!

    I love using herbs to keep myself and my family healthy. The School of Natural Healing has a great deal on their online Family Herbalist course. If you are ready to take more responsibility for your health, this would be the place to start with that education. 

You can order online or call in your order at 801-228-1901

Introducing Ultra Raspberry Ketone

   We were able to bring in the bulk Raspberry Ketone a few months ago.  Many people have been interested in having it in a capsule.  Western Botanicals has come out with a great weighloss - weight maintenance blend.
Ultra Raspberry Ketone: Pure Raspberry Keytone and African Mango fruit with a compliment of natural herbs for maximum weight management and sustained energy.*

Ultra Raspberry Ketone can help in weight-loss efforts and weight maintenance, especially with regular exercise and a well-balanced diet of healthy whole foods.

Raspberry Ketone causes the fat within the cells to break up more effectively, helping the body burn fat faster.

African Mango Fruit promotes weight loss.

Maca root enhances energy and stamina.

Schizandra Berry is used as an adaptogen to fight fatigue and counteract the effects of stress.

Green Tea Extract has high antioxidant properties and promotes increased metabolism and fat oxidation.

Immature Bitter Orange works as an appetite suppressant as well as stimulating the breakdown of stored fat and increasing the resting metabolic rate.

Brigham Tea decreases the appetite and stimulates energy.

Suggested use: 1 capsule with water three times daily. It is important to drink at least 24 extra ounces of water per day while using this product. Do not exceed serving recommendations.

Western Botanicals Ultra Raspberry Ketone contains a proprietary blend of: Raspberry Ketone, African Mango Fruit, Organic Maca root, Organic Schizandra Berry, Green Tea Extract, Organic Immature Bitter Orange and Wild Crafted Brigham Tea.

*This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure. Not recommended if pregnant or nursing.

Herbs work great for pets

I have had great success with treating my dogs with Christopher's formulas.  I had to find out the hard way with a tricky dog that would “cheek” the capsules and spit them out when I wasn’t looking. It is so easy to open their mouth and squirt in the liquid herbs and the dosage is pretty small, so they really can’t spit it out.  Treating a pet is similar to treating an infant or small child that isn’t verbal.  You have to be in tune with your pet to know that there is a problem.  Every time I have treated my dog with one of our great herbal formulas it has worked. Makes you feel good to know that you can help keep your family healthy as well as your pets.

Pets can get eye infections and when this has happens I mix up a batch of the Herbal Eyebright eyewash by boiling some distilled water and put a tablespoon of the boiled water into a clean dropper bottle and add 2 drops of the Herbal Eyebright extract to the bottle.  I will then “wash” my pets eyes using the eyedropper to drop the liquid into their eyes several times a day.  This will usually clear up the problem in a day or two.  I mix up a fresh batch daily as well as boiling the bottle and pipette to make sure they are sterile.  This is an easy and affordable way to treat an eye problem in a pet.

Pets can get constipated. Kid-e-Reg or the Lower Bowel Formula in extract is easy to administer and works pretty quickly to take care of the issue.  Start with 2 to 5 drops for the small to medium sized dog or cat.  Use a larger amount for the big guys, but it is good to start out with a small dosage and work up from there.  Both Kid-e-Reg and the Lower Bowel Formula are gentle, but be wise by starting out with the lower dosage and going up from there to avoid any problems.

Pets can have allergic reactions just like people.  Kid-e-Soothe will help calm down the any allergic reaction and is quick and effective.  This is very mild tasting and easy to get pets to take.

Kid-e-Dry is a great formula for those aging pets that are having bladder issues.  Going through aging with pets can be challenging. Kid-e-Dry will help to strengthen the entire urethral canal, kidneys, bladder, etc. Also helpful for young pets learning to control their body functions.

The Complete Tissue and Bone formula is very effective for a pet that is recovering from an injury or an aging pet. It is available in syrup, but I wouldn’t hesitate to give my pet capsules, since this is a formula that I have used for myself in large amounts with good results.  Complete Tissue and Bone will help repair the aging joints and tissues that give pets problem in their old age. 

Kid-e-Col works great for the gassy dog that is going through gastrointestinal issues. It is tasty and works pretty quickly to take care of the problem.

We have used Relax-Eze to calm our dog while traveling.  Our present dog Suzy hadn’t traveled much and was pretty hyper in the car. I decided to give her the Relax-Eze and she was calm and happy on our two trips we made up to Washington when my father was dying. It was nice to be able to take her with us and great that she actually enjoyed the trip.

I would give my pet the Pancreas Formula if they were diabetic.  This happens when pets are fed sugary foods that their system can’t handle. Out in nature pets wouldn’t be eating those types of foods. It would be best to get their diet back to their natural foods, and along with the Pancreas Formula it should get them back to good health again.

A friend called me one day saying that her cat was sick and she could not afford to take her to the vet.  She hoped that I had something that would help.  I decided on some Echinacea Extract which is the same as Kid-e-Mune and works well to help boost the body's immune system.  I left a bottle with her and she let me know that the cat was acting more itself by the next day. She kept the bottle and was able to use it on several occasions which saved her several trips to the vet.

For any other issues with pets just think through what you would do for yourself and try it.  I have had great success with treating my dogs with the herbs.  I like using the liquid herbs, because you can adjust the dosage easier than with the capsules. I hope that you will enjoy using these great products for yourself, your family as well as your pets.

You can order online at Herbs First or call in an order at 801-228-1901.

Herbs for Childbirth and Miscarriage

    Dr. Christopher formulated two wonderful herbal formulas for women that cannot be found anywhere else.  Recently both formulas have been out of stock, due to scarce availability of the False Unicorn herb that is found in both products. It always amazes me how quickly people start ordering these formulas when we have them.  They are definitely herbs that women want to have on hand for the coming Childbirth as well as in case of threatened miscarriage.

    The Birth Prep formula formerly was called the six-weeks formula due to the fact that it is used only during the last six weeks of the pregnancy.  Birth Prep formula is an aid in giving elasticity to the pelvic and vaginal area and strengthening the reproductive organs for easier delivery.   It is also used for 2 - 3 weeks after the birth to help shrink the uterus and bring everything back into place.  I have heard many women talk of the birth experience without this formula and then the amazing difference when they used Birth Prep.  Women report that the birthing process is much shorter and less intense when the Birth Prep Formula was used. 

    In the book Dr. Mom’s Healthy Living, the author talks about the stories of Indian women working the the field until it was time to have their babies.  They would step into the trees, squat, give birth to their baby, put it in a papoose, strap them in, and go back to work.  Indian women were well aware of natural healing and knew which herbs to take in in order to prepare their body for childbirth.  This is exactly what the Birth Prep formula is meant to do, help get the job done quickly and efficiently and get back to life.

    Directions for using Birth Prep are: six weeks before the due date take 1 capsule daily for the first week, 2 capsules daily during the second week & 2 capsules three times a day for the third week and thereafter or as directed by your health care professional. Six capsules daily is the maximum dosage suggested.  Available in capsules.

    False Unicorn & Lobelia is the Anti-Miscarriage Formula.  In the book Dr. Mom’s Healthy Living, the author Sandra Ellis wants people to be aware that when using the False Unicorn & Lobelia Formula, it will help the body to accomplish whatever it needs to do.  If the baby is healthy and the pregnancy is viable, then it will help stop the miscarriage.  However, if there is something wrong with the baby or the pregnancy is not viable, then it will help the body to abort the fetus.  It is important to understand this principle, because if you are using this formula to stop a miscarriage from happening, you need to understand that it may have the opposite effect.  It may help the body to flush the pregnancy because there is something wrong. 

    In the book Every Woman’s Herbal by Dr. Christopher and Cathy Gileadi an experience is told of a woman that was threatening miscarriage.  A few of the students of Cathy who is a midwife went to help, and gave the woman False Unicorn and Lobelia.  It  was obvious that the miscarriage was going to happen so they took her to the hospital.  When the doctor had her on the table, she started to abort the baby.  The doctor gasped saying, “That baby is dead and has been dead about six weeks.  I have never seen a baby abort itself like this, you must have been using something special.”  He remarked that he would love to be able to give women this formula, but wouldn't dare for it would get him into trouble.

    Directions for using False Unicorn & Lobelia according to Dr. Mom’s Healthy Living: take 2 capsules every 1/2 hour until bleeding stops or becomes worse - then take 2 capsules every hour for the rest of the day.  Take 2 capsules three times per day after that.  Stay on bed rest, stay down and rest until the cramping and bleeding subside.  Available in capsules.

    Sandra Ellis, the author of Dr. Mom’s Healthy Living is a master herbalist, midwife and mother of 15 children and 40 grandchildren.  She also teaches at the School of Natural Healing.  I love her book, she has experienced so many things that we can all learn from.  This book will make a great addition to your herbal library.  Click here to order books.

Every Woman's Herbal, by Dr. Christopher & Cathy Gileadi
A book for women of all ages, who desire natural health and vitality. Dr. Christopher & Cathy Gileadi span the life of women, offering bountiful knowledge to aide puberty, preparation for childbearing, pregnancy, the new baby, healthy women, and menopause. Other topics include: Nutrition, Hormone Therapy, Infertility, Healthy Recipes and more. Hardbound, 232 pages.

   You can order online at Herbs First or call in an order at 801-228-1901.

Are you an herb dabbler?? Calling all Dr. Moms and Dr. Dads...

   

I grew up on one herbal remedy and that was Comfrey Extract. My mom learned how to make this extract when my little sister was sick with the croup.  She had been in the hospital and I remember my sister coming home and having a tent over her bed with the humidifier going.  The Comfrey saved her life and our family used Comfrey Extract from then on.  We moved around the US and the comfrey plant moved with us from Utah to California to South Carolina and then to Washington where my parents settled.  I was given a root of the plant, and it is growing in my yard today, as well as the yards of many other people that I have shared it with.  Until I became a parent, that was the only herb that I ever used.  Then things changed for the better....

When my daughter Valerie was in second grade she had an assignment to write about each member of her family.  Here is what she wrote about me: “My Mom is almost a doctor”.  This statement makes me smile and wonder what the teacher thought.  I know that at that point in time my seven year old couldn’t remember going to the doctor, though when my kids were little we had lots of trips to the doctor for ear infections.  This got to be very expensive and rather tiresome, especially with my son Kyle who never got better with all of the different antibiotics. 

An early lesson I learned was that a little bottle of Herbal Ear Drops that costs less than $10.00 can save a family hundreds and hundreds of dollars and many sleepless nights.  We  found some garlic ear drops when Kyle was three years old and that ended his battle with ear infections. The Herbal Ear Drops are so quick and easy to use, and when do kids usually get an ear infection?  At night of course.  So when they wake up crying and pulling on their ears just pop the bottle into some hot water to warm it up a bit, and then put a few drops in each ear.  I like to pull on the lobe to help it to go into the ear canal, and then cover with a cotton ball.  They usually wake up in the morning fine, but I always follow up the next night with another dose just to make sure. I keep the bottle refrigerated and replace it every two years since oil does go rancid.

Unfortunately the multiple ear infections caused some hearing loss and Kyle was developmentally delayed, so he attended preschool to help him catch up.  Before this time this little guy was sick for three weeks and well for two days all winter long. One of the first Christopher formulas that I learned about was Anti Plague, which is now called Super Garlic Immune Formula.  Kyle would take a dose of Anti Plague every day he was well and three to six times a day when he was sick.  After a year of this he became our healthy one. We quickly started to learn that if you treat something as soon as the symptoms occur that we could avoid illness.  Our kids were rarely sick and hardly ever missed school after this time. 

I woke up with a badly sprained ankle one day and after getting my kids to school just watched TV all day with a bottle of water and a bottle of Complete Tissue and Bone Formula.  I elevated my foot and iced it and took a dose every half hour of the Complete Tissue and Bone Formula.  When it was time to pick my kids up from school my ankle was completely healed.  Half a bottle of Complete Tissue and Bone formula costs $6.00 - how much does a trip to the ER cost, plus pain killers, crutches, time off of work?  Is it worth having a few bottles when you need them?

Valerie had a sleep-over over a long weekend with a friend when she was about ten.  It was dark when I picked her up and she mentioned that her face was bumpy.  I reached over and felt her face and was shocked at what I felt.  She had that kind of acne that is under the skin all over her entire face.  I knew a girl when I was going to high school that had this type of acne and it really frightened me to have this happen to my daughter.  I asked her what she had been eating and she said all junk - junky cereal, chips, cookies, crackers, lots of sugar, etc.  Not the type of food my kids  eat very often at our house.  I decided that she needed some cleansing, so I gave her the Liver Gall Bladder formula to see what that would do. In a day or two her face was back to normal, I was relieved as well as amazed at the quick results. She only had a few doses of herbs, so for less than $1.00 we took care of this problem.

I was happy for the quick resolving of the acne having no idea when I gave Valerie the Liver Gall Bladder formula if it would do anything.  That is how using natural medicine is, you think through the problem and then try something and see what happens.  Isn’t that what doctors do?  Except they are prescribing medications that have side effects and cost far more money in a visit and the cost of the medication than the herbs cost.  It is much wiser to try something natural on your family, and if it doesn’t work it doesn’t do any harm.  It makes sense to have some of these great products in our homes, so that when something happens we can think things through and then go to our own “pharmacy” and pick out the right formula for the problem.

Here is a short list of a minimum of what I would have on hand, though I have much more.  It would cost between $300.00 to $400.00 plus shipping for one of everything on this list - depending on if you need the herbs for children.  Having these formulas on hand is a great start to taking care of your family.  The money you spend on herbs now will be saved many times over in the money you would have incurred going to the doctor, emergency room, etc.

Herbs for children: Herbal Ear Drops, Kid-e-Col, Kid-e-Mune, Kid-e-Reg, Kid-e-Soothe, Kid-e-Well

Cleansing Herbs: Blood Stream Formula, Liver & Gall Blad Formula, Kidney Formula, & Lower Bowel Formula
Herbs for illness: Chest Formula, Cold Season Immune Formula, Infection Formula, Glandular System Formula, Immune System Formula, Lung & Bronchial Formula, Gland System Mass. Oil, X-Plague Essential Oil Blend.

Herbs for digestion/gastrointestinal issues: Gas-Eze, Soothing Digestion Formula, Digestion Essential Oil Blend.

Herbs for injuries, pain & healing: Complete Tissue & Bone formula & ointment, Deep Heat Ointment, Stop-Ache

Herbs for stress: Mindtrac, Relax-Eze, Slumber

Summer herbs & ointments: Immucalm, Sinus Plus Formula, Itch Ointment, Stings & Bites Ointment

Herbs for energy: Adrenal Formula, Bee Power Energy.
It is time to move from being an herb dabbler and jump right in and become a full fledged Dr. Mom or Dr. Dad!!!  You can do it!  The list could go on and on, learn how to use these and then learn about the other formulas and keep them on hand as well.  There is no health care crisis when you can take care of your family on your own,

One of my favorite books is back in print  -  Dr. Mom’s Healthy Living, by Sandra Ellis.  Sandra is a master herbalist, midwife and mother of 15 children and 40 grandchildren.  Sandra shares her experiences in natural healing; showing you how to take responsibility for your own health through the use of diet, exercise, herbal medicine, hydrotherapy, and other natural modalities.  Dr. Mom’s Healthy Living is a book people will enjoy reading because she shares so many personal healing experiences.  Regular price is $29.95, order it for $23.96 this month.

    Stock up on all of your favorite Christopher formulas - save an additional 10% off our already discounted pricing when you order two or more Christopher items.  You can order online at Herbs First or call in an order at 801-228-1901.

Herbs for Travel

It feels good to know that I can take care of my family’s health needs when we are home, but how do I get this herb cabinet into my suitcase when I am traveling?  Quite a dilemma. For several years I took a small duffle bag full of the bottles of herbs that I hoped would cover us in any situation, but after a few years it got to be too much and I had to find a way to consolidate things.

I finally came up with using the tiny bags where I can cram 25 capsules into each bag and then put them all into a quart sized ziplock bag.  It has worked well and I have continued to use this method for the last five years.   

Here is what I take on vacation:

Adrenal Formula - wow, is this the best ever formula for a vacation, so amazing for jet lag!  We used this when we went to Hawaii and no problem whatsoever with the time change.  I would never go on vacation without this formula.

Activated Charcoal - this one will be a lifesaver if you have the unfortunate situation of food poisoning.  I also take a small homeopathic kit and use Arsenicum for this problem. 

Anti-Plague - You never know when you might come down with something, no-one wants to be sick on vacation.

Blood Circulation Formula - this is the blood pressure formula and I tend to get stressed out sometimes and this is the one I need.

Cayenne - Dr. Christopher’s favorite, always have this one on hand in case of bleeding, heart attack, or stroke.  Open a few capsules and mix in warm water and drink it down.  My Grandma felt like she was having a heart attack one day and half an hour after giving her the cayenne she said she felt like it never happened.  This one is truly a lifesaver.

Complete Tissue and Bone Formula - one of my favorite formulas, it can heal sprained ankles, or just sore feet from all the extra walking.  Hopefully nothing big happens, you can go through a lot of capsules quickly when you need them. Depending on the trip I may opt to take a whole bottle just to be safe.

Cranberry Buchu - I tend to have bladder infection problems when I don’t have my alkaline water to drink.  We usually take about three gallons of water with us when we are driving, but on plane trips I am out of luck.  It only takes a few days off the alkaline water for my bladder to let me know that it isn’t happy.  These little guys get me through until I get home to my water.

Gas-Eze or Slippery Elm- great for gas and intestinal upsets.

Ginger - wow, does this ever work for airsickness or carsickness.  I take it about 15 minutes before the flight takes off and I am fine.  I will take it as we get into the car if we are going up a windy road and no sickness at all. It doesn’t put me to sleep like dramamine does!!

Headache Formula - long days in the sun will get to me at times, so it is good to have something in case of a headache!

Immucalm - if it is allergy season I take a full bottle, but the rest of the year a little bag is enough.  Great for calming down allergic reactions - food related or airborne.

Immune System Formula or Infection Formula - at least one of these along with the Anti-Plague will keep us covered in case of any illness, we take it at the first sign of illness before it ever has time to develop into a problem.

Joint - for those occasional flare-ups of arthritis that happen when not quite eating my regular diet or when over walking affects my knees.

Kava Kava - a favorite night time remedy to calm overworked muscles, which often happens when vacationing.  Very relaxing and I usually wake up feeling great.  If muscles are still an issue I use the Deep Heat Ointment.

Kidney Formula - I take this with the Cranberry Buchu if I have a bladder infection problem.

Lower Bowel Formula - a must for traveling, eating on vacation changes the system a bit and the Lower Bowel will keep things moving.

Lung and Bronchial - I have weak lungs, so in case a bug attempts to get me, or with hay fever where I sometimes get a cough this works great!

Mindtrac - for times of stress, and travel can be stressful. I take this one at night if my brain just won’t turn off.  We use the formula a lot at our house.

Relax-Eze - can be taken with the Mindtrac if something more is needed for stress.  Amazing for nerve pain.  Also a good sleep remedy.

Sinus Allergy - I take a big bottle of this if it is allergy season, but off season a little bag will get us through if we need it.

Besides all of the above I fill the little bags with a morning and evening herbs that each person needs to take daily. We also always take a bottle of Complete Tissue and Bone Ointment as well as the Deep Heat Ointment with us. 

I bring Stings and Bites ointment if we are going to be out in nature.  For sunburn Essential Skin Care Cream is wonderful, I always have it with me since it is my lotion of choice.  I also take Echinacea extract which is useful in case of poisonous bites of any kind where you would need to get to the hospital.  It will help bring your immune system up to fight off the poison until you can get help.  Take several squirts every 10 minutes or even more often than that if needed as you make your way to the hospital.

When packing for a trip the herbs are always the first thing I prepare.  I make sure the little bags are full and get the family’s personal herbs together. I never want to have some problem crop up that I can’t handle.  

You can order online at Herbs First or call in an order at 801-228-1901.

Essential Oils are healing

Spice Essential oils are uplifting and stimulating, improving circulation and digestion. As a circulatory stimulant they reduce bruising. They detoxify organs and muscle tissues, and are antispasmodic and pain relieving. As a digestive stimulant, they aid in indigestion, nausea and constipation. Spice Oils are strong antiviral and antibacterial and have the ability to boost the immune system. Basil, Black Pepper, Caraway, Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger, Juniper and Nutmeg are spice essential oils.

Herb Essential Oils work on the mind to induce deep relaxation. They are excellent for stress related to mental and emotional trauma and are uplifting and stimulating. Oils such as Marjoram, Melissa and Clary Sage are deeply sedating and act as a nerve tonic. Peppermint is warming in winter, and cooling in summer.  Rosemary, Sage and Thyme are excellent for hair growth, dandruff and other hair and scalp disorders. Basil, Clary Sage, Fennel, Hyssop, Marjoram, Melissa, Oregano, Patchouli, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage and Thyme are herb essential oils.

Flower Essential Oils work on the spirit and are relaxing, soothing and tranquillizing. They are the perfect choice for stress. Neroli and Chamomile (Roman) are perfect for teenagers battling to cope with life. These oils are also aphrodisiacs and are good for imbalances related to the reproductive system.
Geranium, Lavender, and Ylang Ylang are also flower essential oils.

Citrus Essential Oils are antiseptic and excellent for infections, which range from urinary tract to respiratory illness such as colds, flu, bronchitis and  pneumonia. Citrus oils are relaxing and relieve stress and can be used by children and pregnant women. They are cleansing oils, detoxifying the body and reducing weight, while dealing with cellulite as well. They have a cleansing effect on the digestive system and its organs. Good for skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis and blend well with tree oils for these conditions.
Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Mandarin, Orange and Tangerine are citrus essential oils.

Tree Essential Oils are high in antifungal, antiseptic, antiviral properties and are ideal for fungal, viral and infection related conditions. From athlete’s foot, candida, ringworm to respiratory infections such as the common cold, influenza and pneumonia. Tree oils are excellent in treating any infection involving other systems of the body such as cystitis or nephritis in the urinary system; meningitis in the nervous system; colitis or pancreatitis in the digestive system. They are good at getting stagnant things moving such as constipation, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, mucus. Good for chronic and acute allergy related conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, hayfever, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, etc. They are mild pain relievers and blend well with spice oils which are pain relievers as well. Cajeput, Camphor, Cassia, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Clove, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Niaouli, Petitgrain, Pine, Rosewood, Sandalwood and Tea Tree are tree essential oils.

Gum Oils come from trees and have the same properties as tree oils being antifungal, antiseptic, antiviral. They are cell rejuvenators and are quite beneficial in the treatment of wrinkles for mature skins. Gum oils blend well with tree and citrus oils in the treatment of respiratory and skin infections or inflammation. Benzoin, Frankincense and Myrrh are gum oils.

Grass Oils are insect repellents and tone the skin. These oils blend well with citrus and flower oils to aid in healing stretch marks. They are relaxing, soothing and toning. Citronella, Lemongrass and Palmarosa are grass oils.

Pure Essential oils are easy to use and have been a great way for us to add another form of natural healing to our home.  I love being able to take care of myself and my family with natural products that are never harmful and always helpful in maintaining the health of my family.  Be sure to purchase roller bottles and spray bottles, they make using the oils so easy.  

Order online at Herbs First, phone in your order 801-228-1901, or email me with an questions.

Have a great month!
Kathryn

I didn't know a sneeze could cause so much pain

Last Friday morning I had the windows open to take advantage of the nice little breeze.  A big wind came up and my husband ran around shutting all the windows, while I had a sneezing attack.  After sneezing about ten times I realized that I had thrown my back out in my “funny spot”.  This spot is in the lung area on my left side and it really isn’t funny when it goes out.  Every time I coughed or sneezed the pain was an intense stabbing pain.  Luckily I was able to get in to my Chiropractor,  he is the only Chiropractor that can ever get this spot back in for me.  I guess he is stuck with me, good thing he is younger than I am!!  After he got me all adjusted he asked if it felt better. I said no, but it never does feel better until I get some herbs in me to calm the muscles down.

    I started taking the Complete Tissue and Bone Formula along with the Pain Relief Formula and Anti-Inflammation Formula.  By bedtime I was still hurting so took some Kava Kava* which will usually do the trick of relaxing the muscles.  I woke up in the morning feeling worse than the day before and felt bad all day long, especially when I sneezed or coughed. I  took it easy all day and continued with the herbs hoping that by the next morning I would feel better.  That night before bed I asked my husband to put the Deep Heat Ointment on my back.  When I woke up in the morning I was still hurting but not as bad.  I had my husband put Deep Heat Ointment on me again and by early afternoon I was feeling much better.  He put it on me again before bed just to make sure. 

    I had been thinking that I would have to go to the Chiropractor again on Monday, but when I got up this morning I felt great!  It is amazing the difference the Deep Heat Ointment made.  I sure wish I had used it Friday, but at least the herbs work when you finally use the right one!

    I know people that have gone to the ER with problems like this.  They usually end up getting some muscle relaxant drugs, but to just walk into the ER is about $350.00.  My Chiropractic visit was $38.00 plus a few dollars in herbs.  I’m glad I know how to take care of myself, it sure saves us a lot of money!  Deep Heat is a Western Botanicals formula that I talked about a few months ago. You can read that blog here.  The $13.00 I spent on this bottle of Deep Heat Ointment has been so worth it! I love to use it on my shoulders and neck, it is so relaxing.  This is the best thing to relieve tired and sore muscles!

*Kava Kava is a great muscle relaxant herb.  Kava Kava is available in capsules, bulk and extract.

 My favorite educational CD’s are Dr. Christopher’s Herb Lectures.  These are the lectures you hear when you are on hold at the School of Natural Healing.  Ten CD’s are in the series for $62.95.   You can learn just about everything that Dr. Christopher ever taught on these CD’s.

     David Christopher,  Master Herbalist from the School of Natural Healing who is Dr. Christopher's son is available for short free consultations - Monday - Thursday 1:00 - 2:00  mountain time.  He is available for longer consultations for a minimal fee.  Please call 1-800-372-8255.

    You can order online at Herbs First or call in an order at 801-228-1901

Roller Bottles and Carrier Oils to use with Essential Oils

    We have added a few items to make using Essential Oils more enjoyable. The first item is a great little roller bottle.  This 10 ml. bottle is wonderful to use,  I bought quite a few so that I have one when I need it.

    I heard about a blend that people were using as a calming blend for children, and they also mentioned that it was great for sleep.  It has Vetiver in it and truthfully I don’t like the smell of Vetiver, but I love this little combo for sleep!  I just put it on my big toes as I hop into bed and off to dreamland I go! I sleep great!  I have heard lots of moms say how amazing it has been for calming down their children.  This little blend fits perfect in the 10 ml roller bottle,  add the oils, put the roller top on and and shake it up - great for ADD kids, as well!
5 drops Vetiver
2 drops Ylang Ylang
1 drop Frankincense
1 drop Clary Sage
1 drop Marjoram
Fill the rest of the way with Fractionated Coconut oil

    The second item that we have added is Carrier Oils.  It is very common to use carrier oils with essentail oils.  Using a carrier oil does not dilute the action of the oil, the oils are very potent and are meant to be mixed with a carrier oil. For one ounce of carrier oil, plan on adding up to a total of 30 drops of essential oils. The 10 ml bottle above is 1/3 of an ounce and has a total of 10 drops of essential oils added to the carrier oil.  You can order from what we have so far, we will add more as we can.  Note that most oils have a pretty short shelf life of a year or so, but the Fractionated Coconut oil has an a five+ year shelf life, it is the one that I like to use with essential oils.  We will add more of the carrier oils so people that like to make their own lotions and potions have a good selection to choose from. This is something that I have a secret ambition to learn how to do, but haven’t had time to explore.

    I am using the essential oils more and more. It takes time to learn something new and faith to give it a try. The results have been worth the time invested! It is great to be able to add essential oils to my family’s natural medicine cabinet.  I love the independence it gives me to have a variety of safe and effective remedies to choose from. Having the oils in my home is just one more way to help my family stay healthy!  We have saved so much money over the years by taking care of ourselves with herbs and now with essential oils.

    I recently made a hot flash oil for myself.  I infused regular Coconut Oil with Wild Yam root for two weeks in my dehydrator.  I then added the Vitality Essential Oil blend to it.  I use it twice a day and I rarely have hot flashes, when before I was having what I call power surges all day long.  I love the smell of Vitality, and  mixed with the Wild Yam Root it seems to be the perfect way to balance me.

    My niece Hollie uses quite a few of the blends to help her kids get through the winter season. Her four year old daughter Elaina was born with half a heart, as well as DeGeorge Syndrome.  She is fed via a feeding tube, is on oxygen as well as numerous medications to keep her alive. Elaina can’t use any of the herbs because they may interfere with her medication, so the Essential Oils have been a lifesaver for her.  Previous winters to this winter,  Elaina would spend some time in the hospital due to illness, but this year she was able to stay fairly healthy, avoid hospital stays and even go to preschool most of the time. You can tell from the picture that she really loves going to school!  Hollie adds  X-Plague to coconut oil and use it on Elaina’s feet, as well as the Repiratory Problems blend and Frankincense.  She also would diffuse it into the air via a vaporizer.  Hollie feels that the essential oils are the main thing that got them through this winter. It is great to know that a medically fragile child can use essential oils to overcome illness and stay healthy, and the price is so affordable.
    We hope you will learn to use the Essential Oils, they are always 20% off and from time to time we have an extra sale on them.  People are finding that the quality is comparable to the network marketed oils at one third of the cost.    You can order online at Herbs First or call in an order at 801-228-1901.

Herbs for Allergies and Hayfever Season

Allergy Season started early due to a milder winter this year and that is not good news for people that struggle with seasonal allergies.  I am one of those people.  I sometimes feel like I must have done something really really bad at some time in my life to be punished with this!  It is truly a horrible thing to go through. I am figuring out what works for me even though I end up having a few of those days that I would like to just die.  Those of you that have allergies likely have days like that too!  Not fun.

    A few years ago the Neti Pots were all the rage on the talk shows and it cracked me up to see this procedure done on so many shows.  Add a small scoop of salt to the pot and add water and rinse each nostril - I add xyletol to the salt which helps to kill bacteria.  It sounds pretty strange to let water run from one side of your nose and out the other, but if you haven’t tried this then you may be missing out on a big piece of the puzzle for allergy and sinus sufferers. I’m amazed at the difference in my sinus health, this is something I was a bit wishy-washy on for awhile, but I am hooked and sticking with it now. Before using it daily I would have one Eustachian tube that would clog up and affect my hearing, but that is not the case anymore.  It only takes a couple of minutes a day and is very affordable to do.  So if you have allergies and sinus issues this is something that is well worth adding in to your daily routine.  Note that tap water in some areas have bacteria in it, so it may be best to boil the water or use distilled water.

    A lot of people will be happy to know that Christopher’s Sinus Plus Formula is back in stock.  Sinus Plus works as a decongestant and natural antihistamine to dry up the sinuses and clear up the allergies.  If you are looking for natural relief, you have found it.  Available in capsules and extract.

    Immucalm is one I use throughout allergy season, it calms the “itchies” wheather it is in your throat or your eyes.  My eyes were super itchy last night and I took some Immucalm as I was going to bed.  It wasn’t long before I felt the itchiness just drift away.  I slept well and woke up feeling great, what a relief! Immucalm is available in capsules and extract as Kid-e-Soothe. 

    Lung and Bronchial is one that I need on those days that I’m coughing and have mucus in my throat which is common for people with allergies.  Lung & Bronchial is wonderful for people with asthma to keep the lungs clear on an every day basis.  I use it during allergy season as well as the winter months to keep my lungs heatlhy.  Available in capsules.

    There are some days that the allergies make me very tired and lethargic and this is due to the body fighting so hard so overcome the problem.  Those are the days to take some extra Adrenal formula.  I always take it in the morning, but will add a dose between 1:00 - 2:00 in the afternoon to help me get through the day.  This is also my favorite to take on vacation to help overcome jet-lag.  Available in capsules.

    Since we have been out of Christopher’s Sinus Plus I had the opportunity to try Western Botanicals Allergy formula and Sinus Allergy Formula.  People are different and some things work better than others, but I have found that their Sinus Allergy Formula works very well for me. It’s always nice to know if we are out of stock on Christopher’s that Western Botanicals Formulas do a great job.  Both formulas are available in capsules, alcohol extract and syrup.

    Allergies hit my eyes extra hard due to the fact that I have dry eyes.  This has not been a fun thing to have and I have been working for years on my diet and herbal supplements to figure out what I need to take care of this problem.  Recently in talking about Nature’s Way EFA Blend for Children that we suggest for ADD/ADHD kids, I noticed that it is for Eye and Brain Function.  I decided that I would start taking this and see if it would make any difference in my eyes.  I started it a month ago, which is when my allergies were first manifesting themselves.  I am quite amazed at the difference it has been to my eyes.  I had been taking them twice a day, but lately have found that I do better taking it three times a day.  I have to use lots of eye drops during the day and night to keep my eyes hydrated enough, and am finding with the EFA Blend that I am not needing to use the eye drops as often.  The oils in the blend are anti-inflammatory, inflammation is a big part of the dry eye issue.  I look forward to seeing what this will continue to do for my eyes, so far I am very impressed.  Available in capsules.

    If you struggle with seasonal allergies I hope that you will enjoy using some of these great formulas.  You can order online at Herbs First or call in an order at 801-228-1901.