Category: health

Posted on

No one wants to be stuffy!!!

This has been the worst cold and flu season in years.

“As of Feb. 10, a total of 43 states continued to experience widespread flu activity, down from 48 the week before, according to the latest surveillance report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”  1Flu Season Shows First Signs of Slowing  WebMD

The incident map from CDC is also alarming.       CDC flu surveillance map

I know because I have had the flu or a severe upper respiratory infection  twice,  once in October, and again in January.  I am still fighting a sinus infection as a result.  I was having headaches, fever, chills and general malaise.  I was desperate at one point to open up my head and nothing seemed to work.  I tried several over the counter medicines, an finally  wound up in the Doctors office.  I am currently on a broad spectrum antibiotic and hopefully on the road to wellness.  Even though I do not go to the doctor unless desperate, I RECOMMEND being checked out by a Doctor or a secondary provider if you are suffering from flu like symptoms or symptoms of a sinus infection.  These can be very dangerous!!!  The secondary infections that result from a cold or flu should not be ignored.

So what else did I do?  I used my Essential Oils to relieve some of the symptoms.

To relieve the congestion, a couple of times a day I boiled water, poured it in a glass bowl and added Eucalyptus oil – two drops, Arborvitae oil – two drops  then carefully inhaled the steam.  It really helped, relieved the pressure and allowed my sinuses to drain.   So you ask , why those oils? Here is my rationale:
All of this information is taken from Modern Essentials  The Complete Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils    Ninth Edition  Available from Amazon.com

Eucalyptus Oil Properties -Analgesic, Antibacterial Anticatarrhal *, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antiviral.  Eucalyptus is used in rubs for symptom relief.  This oil can be applied neat, with dilution (recommended for children and sensitive skin) or diffused or inhaled.
*Anticatarrhal combats catarrh or  inflammation of a mucous membrane in humans or animals; especially : one chronically affecting the human nose and air passages.

Arborvitae Oil Properties – Antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiseptic. This oil can be applied with dilution or diffused.

Other oils that can be added to this are  Rosemary, antibacterial, anticatarrhal Thyme highly antibacterial,  Peppermint antibacterial, antiviral (prepare to be opened up) and Cinnamon.  Although I used Cinnamon in my mixture, and (inhaled carefully!!!) this oil is best applied with dilution to the feet or chest as it might irritate the mucus membranes.  Cinnamon has very strong antiviral and antibacterial properties.

As a side note, when my chest aches as in pleurisy, I rub Thyme neat (without dilution) on the affected areas and the ache goes away.  I smell like a pizza, but I feel much better.

So I hope this helps you.  If you want more information visit doTERRA Essential Oils

Or contact me at linda.leath@gmail.com

Thank you for reading this!!!!  Stay Healthy!!!!

 

 

 

 

Posted on

Why Wellness?

My name is Linda  and I hope this blog will be a forum for readers to share their ideas that help them maintain a good healthy lifestyle.

This is not a medical blog.  I do not diagnose. prescribe or advise.  My intention is to put new information and ideas here for consideration.  The idea is to share information  that may enable people like me who are concerned about their well-being  to take control of their wellness, health, and not break the bank.

I first became interested in alternative healthcare when I was in my thirties.  I found a book that discussed herbs, vitamins and minerals and their effect on overall health.  Up until then I had not realized how little I knew about the consequences  to health of poor diet and lack of sufficient vitamins and minerals. I grew up eating the typical southern diet that consisted of fried meats, overcooked vegetables and  breads made from refined flour. Biscuits and cornbread.   Delicious, but not nutritious.

I started using some of the suggestions in the book and realized that the information was not only accurate, but the vitamins and minerals worked!!!!

I will also write about essential oils and what I feel is their place in maintaining health.  Essential oils are concentrated herbs and offer the purest way to use the helpful properties of the plants that have been put on this earth to aid our well being.

I hope some of this information will be helpful and informative and I welcome suggestions.