Essential oils like anything are not a one size fits all kind of process...the nutrients we need come from our foods & not all SNP's require supplementation. Supporting genetic defects w/ EO's is simple in the sense, less is more & it's not advisable to select them based on the plant. Certain constituents assist the metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates & fats by stimulating cell communication. When we're talking about CBS & NOS, a more important factor is eliminating ammonia from the body that tends to build w/ a defect here. Walnuts are a super, more efficient way because they are a complete food & the body uses all the nutrients. To feed it incrementally w/ supplements creates challenges due to additives, etc. Because of this, bolstering the digestive system is imperative. The purpose for mentioning ammonia is because BH4 is used to scavenge ammonia. BH4 is also required for NOS. BH4 is produced via the transfer of hydrogen in the fermentation process. This can be assisted by including cinnamon into the diet. There is not a lot of oil in the powder; however, there is enough because less is more. As for including essential oils, it's not appropriate to say which ones to suggest because there are constituents that affect these cycles & understanding the individual genome is crucial. It's fair to say, some people see benefits, & some do not only because we're all different due to our diets, lifestyle, supplement choices, medications & genome. It is important to note, some constituents stimulate certain chemical reactions & some inhibit reactions. Two good examples are dopamine & BH4 ....There again, some SNP's are quiet, only to cause adverse reactions to certain chemicals & meds; therein, leading to yet another symptom or the feeling that something isn't working.. What I've found with my own disturbing health / SNP's as well as with my clients, is less is more. Genuine & authentic is the best way to go ... that & taking care of the digestive system along w/ 1 supplement. I happen to have well over 100 SNP's & with the assistance of a PhD in nutritional science who has been involved w/ genetic defects & the human genome for over 20 years & now a colleague of mine, I eat intentionally, use bio-individual oils & take my supplement, I am golden. I will say, I am confident in his abilities as he has developed a line of neutraceuticals & after reviewing my genome, he confirmed my approach. The effects do vary ... we see successes that last & we see some that appear to go backwards. This is when having someone to adjust the approach is beneficial. The body is a walking chemistry lab which means things change. There is a lot of information out there & having an outside professional perspective is a good idea. Essential oils are the reason we have medications. They are currently not regulated by the FDA because, for the most part, they are considered bath & body. What I can say is they do not heal the body. The body is the only thing that can heal itself. To make claims stating anything else is unfounded. Plant DNA repairs itself much like the human DNA; therefore, essential oils have the potential to modify gene expression that's all. Including them into your wellness plan assists the body to get the nutrition into the cells where it belongs & the more wholesome the nutrient source, the better the body responds.
Earlier today I was tagged in a discussion on a Facebook MTHFR page. It happened to be about the use of essential oils with specific defects, namely CBS and NOS. The following was my response. I'm sharing it here because I feel it is an important component to my position regarding the use of essential oils and how we've lost touch with their valuable nature....
Essential oils like anything are not a one size fits all kind of process...the nutrients we need come from our foods & not all SNP's require supplementation. Supporting genetic defects w/ EO's is simple in the sense, less is more & it's not advisable to select them based on the plant. Certain constituents assist the metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates & fats by stimulating cell communication. When we're talking about CBS & NOS, a more important factor is eliminating ammonia from the body that tends to build w/ a defect here. Walnuts are a super, more efficient way because they are a complete food & the body uses all the nutrients. To feed it incrementally w/ supplements creates challenges due to additives, etc. Because of this, bolstering the digestive system is imperative. The purpose for mentioning ammonia is because BH4 is used to scavenge ammonia. BH4 is also required for NOS. BH4 is produced via the transfer of hydrogen in the fermentation process. This can be assisted by including cinnamon into the diet. There is not a lot of oil in the powder; however, there is enough because less is more. As for including essential oils, it's not appropriate to say which ones to suggest because there are constituents that affect these cycles & understanding the individual genome is crucial. It's fair to say, some people see benefits, & some do not only because we're all different due to our diets, lifestyle, supplement choices, medications & genome. It is important to note, some constituents stimulate certain chemical reactions & some inhibit reactions. Two good examples are dopamine & BH4 ....There again, some SNP's are quiet, only to cause adverse reactions to certain chemicals & meds; therein, leading to yet another symptom or the feeling that something isn't working.. What I've found with my own disturbing health / SNP's as well as with my clients, is less is more. Genuine & authentic is the best way to go ... that & taking care of the digestive system along w/ 1 supplement. I happen to have well over 100 SNP's & with the assistance of a PhD in nutritional science who has been involved w/ genetic defects & the human genome for over 20 years & now a colleague of mine, I eat intentionally, use bio-individual oils & take my supplement, I am golden. I will say, I am confident in his abilities as he has developed a line of neutraceuticals & after reviewing my genome, he confirmed my approach. The effects do vary ... we see successes that last & we see some that appear to go backwards. This is when having someone to adjust the approach is beneficial. The body is a walking chemistry lab which means things change. There is a lot of information out there & having an outside professional perspective is a good idea. Essential oils are the reason we have medications. They are currently not regulated by the FDA because, for the most part, they are considered bath & body. What I can say is they do not heal the body. The body is the only thing that can heal itself. To make claims stating anything else is unfounded. Plant DNA repairs itself much like the human DNA; therefore, essential oils have the potential to modify gene expression that's all. Including them into your wellness plan assists the body to get the nutrition into the cells where it belongs & the more wholesome the nutrient source, the better the body responds.
0 Comments
Food: The Most Popular Pharmaceutical
Introduction I just read an article on ‘retiring the phrase ‘real women’’ which reminded me of a thought I have had for the last several weeks with regards to food. Every time I watch television (which is not all that often) I see grocery store commercials referring to food and natural food. Driving through cities I often see similar references letting the public know they actually have natural foods in addition to the artificial products on the shelf. My goodness, when did food become a synthesized habit rather than a natural requirement for sustaining our existence? When I was a child, we blessed our food; acknowledging the love that brought it to our table and the purpose it fueled. And for all I know, many people still do offer grace before eating; however, I cannot help but wonder if that has become just as much of a synthesized habit as the food being consumed because we are actually hoping and praying for ‘real food’. McChemicals Most of what we buy today is riddled with chemicals; additives, preservatives, artificial colors and flavorings, fillers, and the incremental secret ingredients NOT listed on the label because the FDA says it is okay. Oddly enough, there is a war on drugs; yet, we eat the most unnatural foods ever known to man. It used to be that food was simple; combining various ingredients to create different flavor experiences as well as compliment other dishes. Sadly due to difficult times, food needed to be ‘stretched’ so we developed ways to do just that in order to feed our hungry families. It did not take long for ‘man’ to discover the money making benefits to this thought process; hence, the birth of processed foods. While the intention was to be able to assure we did not go hungry, the result was the exact opposite. Today, we are a society of malnourished addicts fighting the wrong drug war. Drugs I believe it is time we start telling it like it is. We crave a lot of the junk foods because we are hooked on the chemicals used to fabricate them. I learned this first hand with Diet Coke. Many people claim to be addicted to sugar and / or caffeine. In fact, some have gone so far as to say this is why I ‘have to have a Diet Coke’; I need my caffeine fix. I beg to differ. My diet consists of some of the cleanest foods around with the exception of the occasional soft drink; so, why do I drink it? Because I am no different than any other human; I enjoy life and will intermittently partake in some things that taste good but are not exactly healthy. That being said, I am aware that when I go without a Diet Coke for a certain amount of time, I begin to feel ‘off’. I believe this has a lot to do with having such a healthy diet. So not soon after I enjoy a sip or two, I begin to sense a relief. I know for a fact when I drink a cup of coffee or caffeinated tea, I do NOT have the same result which is why I say I am hooked on the chemicals in Diet Coke and not the caffeine. And what is even stranger is the aspartame in Diet Coke depletes my body of the mineral magnesium which would make a person question why the body would desire more of something that is essentially causing it harm ….. hmmmm? My best educated guess is drugs! Defeating the Fog Drinks are not the only consumables laden with chemicals. However, until we have an appropriately equipped lab for identifying ALL of the harmful ingredients in the items we eat and drink, we will never truly know what we are ingesting that continues to ‘call our name’ when we are without it for any great length of time. In spite of this, there are things we can do to break the compulsions and ‘cleanup’; the first thing being to eliminate the phrases ‘organic, natural and / or real food’ and demand that junk food no longer be called food at all. Take a look at the following definitions: Food [ food ]
Now here is the word pharmakeia: Pharmakeia is the Greek word for pharmacy which literally means ‘to drug or poison’. Ancient Greeks used this word for their sorcerers who used drugs to produce altered states. When food is watered down with additives and chemicals, it is no longer nourishing the body; causing it to go into altered states which then craves more of the same stimulants and / or depressants. The more we allow this to go on, the hungrier we become. The best way to overcome what is happening to our food supply is to revert back to the ways of our ancestors and eat simply. It is time to delight in the cleansing and healing benefits of food and choose to occasionally consume foodstuff because it is fun or the ‘thing to do’; not the other way around. Natural, organic and real food is not a luxury; FOOD is a necessity. Junk is junk and I dream of the day when companies will have the courage to debunk the junk and restore spiritual wellness to our society by telling the truth. Conclusion We have reached the time in our society to rethink what we consume. Sadly this is challenging due to the poisons filling our bodies; however it is possible. Awareness of what is, is the first step; the second one is to make conscious choices that encourage our bodies and minds to heal. In doing so, we will rediscover our voices and continue making wiser choices. Life is our right and we have plenty of all that we need. By eating whole food we are sustaining the body, reducing the need to consume large amounts. Foodstuff manufacturers are no different than street drug dealers. They are cutting our food sources with additives which cause harmful addictions that perpetuate the hunger and buying cycle. We must not only wake up to what we want, we must wake up and call crap what it is. We are junkies with a narrow focus. It is time to start a drug war on the foodstuff companies and demand our lives back! Xylitol Benefits:
I was behind a woman in the coffee shop earlier this morning when I heard her faintly mutter, 'I guess I'll eat something healthy today.' I was astounded! Who was she trying to convince? Herself or those around her? And, for that matter, what was she trying to convince us of? That she knows better OR that she has joined the buzzword bandwagon?
From the second I heard her words, I was riddled with questions AND in awe of what this society has created! I'm sure I've heard this type of remark plenty of times in the past; yet, for some reason, it hit me between the eyes this morning. As a species, we have become spoiled by convenience. We've lost our ability to know what we need, when we need it and from where to get it. In other words, we've come to rely on our intelligence rather than our wisdom. As a matter of fact, this intelligence has become our greatest weapon of mass destruction and is rapidly taking the planet down. However, it's never too late! We may not be able to turn back the hands of time; yet, the possibility of stopping the progression of additional massive breakdowns is HUGE, which starts with reconnecting to our own basic needs. This level of internal and personal awareness gives rise to our innate ability to act in alignment with the needs of those around us as well as the planet; creating worldwide synergy. Now, how does one woman's comment on making a healthy food choice lead to this thought process? To me, she represented society's resistance to shifting our heady approach to life and actually trusting our body to know beyond a shadow of a doubt what it needs to be healthy and well. And since we are a microcosm of the macrocosm, there is no denying we ignore Mother Earth's little indicators as well because we think we know better. I'm not saying that we're oblivious to what would better serve us; not at all! There are scores of people around the world making every attempt to raise our awareness; we just happen to be addicted to some very damaging habits and until we redefine what healthy really is, it will forever be a buzzword for selling over processed chemical laden foods. Did you know that only 1% of a product has to be organic in order for it to have the word 'organic' on the label? And if this is the case for organic matter, imagine what's going into the 'nutritious' foods we see on the shelves (which is what this woman bought this morning ~ a 'healthy version of a nutrition snack bar). Up until 4 months ago, I ate something similar several times a day because 1) they were supposed to be healthy AND 2) they convenient ly fit into my very active life. Then, one morning, fruit sounded exceptionally good, so I rolled with it. In fact, I did this every day for weeks and slowly but surely, the bars vanished from my cupboards never to return. What else disppeared? About 7+ pounds; yet, I do not believe it had anything to do with calories. I eat as much if not more than I did before, it's just a different type of nutrition: clean, unadulterated AND simple; something my body could process efficiently. Interestingly enough, the more I followed these new eating habits, the clearer my thinking, the stronger I felt emotionally and physically and the healthier I was / am overall. How interesting! Rather than taking the word of something outside of me, I listened to my body and found the buzz to being healthy! More than a buzzword, Aromatherapy is the ancient practice of using botanical extracts for health and wellbeing.
The story of Aromatherapy begins nearly 6000 years ago in a time when all 'we' had were the natural resources around us to rely upon for nourishment and healing. Over the centuries, many practiced as well as researched the properties and applications turning what appeared to be primitive rituals into modern day practices. Unfortunately with the dominating nature of the Church along with the need for higher levels of Science and Technology, society lost touch with the healing potential available through the use of plants until the 20th century when a French chemist by the name of René-Maurice Gattefossé became interested in the medicinal properties of essential oils following an accident in his lab formulating perfumes. He experienced a severe burn on his arm and quickly reacted by lunging his arm into the closest vat of liquid which happened to be lavender. Not only did his arm heal quickly, there wasn't even a scar. In 1928 he wrote an article supporting the use of the essential oils as a complete molecule rather than breaking them down into their constituents and ultimatley coined the term Aromatherapy . In 1937 he wrote a book called Aromathérapie: Les Huiles essentielles hormones végétales which was later translated into english called Gattefossé's Aromatherapy. Fast forward 40 years and we're hearing from the highly respected Robert Tisserand who is introducing and illuminating the field of Aromatherapy to the English speaking world through articles and books like The Art of Aromatherapy. The premise of his work, to this day, is to bring integrity, clarity and understanding to the planet on what Aromatherapy truly is beginning with addressing the misleading nature of the word Aromatherapy as well as the neglectful references made by manufacturers, retailers and journalists regarding 'new' discoveries. Obviously, the word alludes to smelling and as much as smelling a fragrance may help, smelling synethetics or perfume grade oils is of no use to anyone other than possibly assisting with creating memories. Aromatherapy, or Holistic Aromatherapy, is the use of volatile plant essences for psychological and physical wellbeing. Depending on the reason for treatment, a practitioner will make the appropriate application recommendations. As an example, let's take a look at lavender. Lavender is widely known for its relaxing properties. It's also highly beneficial for burns as we discovered with Gattefossé. Knowing this, do you think simply smelling lavender will assist with healing a burn? That would be a 'no'. Additionally, lavender has demonstrated estrogen producing properties and is NOT recommended for anyone with breast cancer or the potential for developing it. Another dilemma with Aromatherapy is the lack of acceptance which appears to be due to comprehending the holistic properties of essential oils. It has been determined by such geniuses as Bruce Tainio that essential oils have energy ranging from 52 MHz to 320 MHz.. The cells in our body, when healthy, have a frequency between 62 and 68 MHz. Essential oils assist us with maintaining our energy body as we're inundated with stress, chemicals, poor quality food AND negative thoughts. Do they cure our ailments? You'd be kidding yourself if you thought they did. They do however, work in sync with other practices to raise our ability to heal. So, what in the world is Aromatherapy? It's an ancient practice of using plant extracts to supplement our bodies on a cellular level....working holistically to connect body, mind and spirit |