So there is this one amazing essential oil made by Young Living that is called Gentle Baby. It is a special blend of oils that together create a uplifting yet calming and spiritual peaceful effect. It is so super soothing for pregnant women, newborns and children of all ages. I use it all day long at my office since I work with so many families. I find myself hypnotic and soothed most of the time! It kind of smells alot like geranium and alot like ylang ylang with some chamomile thrown in so quite floral but not in a perfume kind of way. Just sweet, innocent and peaceful. I make a salve using it and that is what I slather my hands in before I work on a baby. I find it soothes them, their mom AND they smell great. It works amazing for clearing up cradle cap too. Amazingly it is awesome for dogs paws AND is an awesome garden hand salve. Hmm, one pot wonder. I just whipped up another batch of salve.
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When my daughter was around four years old, we were headed into the kitchen for breakfast one morning when she decided to step outside, spread her arms toward the sky and stand with her mouth wide open. When I asked her what she was doing, she stated, “I’m getting my Vitamin D, mom”.
Over recent years, researchers have uncovered how important Vitamin D is for our health. Vitamin D has been shown to decrease inflammation, support neuromuscular function, strengthen the immune system, support healthy bones by promoting calcium absorption and has been shown to play a role in preventing colon, prostate and breast cancer. A deficiency in vitamin D is very common, especially in the winter, and it can come with a myriad of symptoms. If you have a tendency to get the winter blues, or suffer from seasonal affective disorder, you may have a Vitamin D deficiency. Other symptoms of deficiency include chronic pain, weakness, frequent illnesses and excessive sweating. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that acts like a hormone in your body. The best way to get Vitamin D is from the sunlight and is recommended to get 15-20 minutes of sun daily. Avoid slathering toxin-filled sunscreen (another subject that we will discuss later) on your body as it will block the absorption of this crucial vitamin/hormone. So what is one to do in the cold, winter tundra, when the sun hasn’t come out for days? Food sources are typically low in Vitamin D so the next best thing is supplementation. Vitamin D3 is the most biologically active form of Vitamin D and has been shown to provide the most benefit for the human body. When recommending dosage, it is important to know what your current Vitamin D serum level is. Most labs offer the 25-hydroxyvitamin D blood serum test. It is the most accurate test for Vitamin D levels. An optimal level should fall between 50-70ng/ml. Depending on your level of deficiency, recommended dosages may be from 8,000IU and up. However, it is very important to get advice from your trusty Chiropractic Physician or Medical Professional before determining the level appropriate for you! The latest research is also suggesting that K2 should be increased while taking vitamin D supplements (not necessary with only sun exposure). K2 has been shown to prevent abnormal calcium deposits in arteries and veins, which may be an issue when Vitamin D is taken alone. Food sources of K2 include egg yolks, chicken liver, chicken breast and ground beef. Many Vitamin D3 supplements are now being combined with K2 as well. Remember that you get what you pay for. Looking for a good buy on the Internet or your local drug store isn’t a good way to guarantee that you are getting what the label claims. Just so you know…the best form of D isn’t too far away…By Heather Elton, DC, DACBN So if you or your little one has itchy, irritated skin what do you do? Colloidal oatmeal is super for calming cranky skin irritations, red scaly patches of skin disorders, itch associated with things like chicken pox or bug bites and also sun crisped skin.
You can buy colloidal oatmeal (see photo of the one I like) or make your own by pulverizing whole old fashioned (not instant) oats into a fine powder. Add a cupful or more to running bath water. Soak for at least 10-15 min then pat dry. Make sure the water is like Luke warm NOT hot if they have eczema as it heals better in tepid water. It will be a milky white water. It goes down the drain just fine but you will need to rinse your tub after. Just like if you had a kid doused in mud hop in the tub. Ring around the tub. I have one kiddo with dry and irritated skin that he practically claws at until it bleeds. Adding a few spoonfuls of colloidal oatmeal to the lotion I make is so easy and super soothing for him. I amped his lotion up by adding some essential oils. He loves his "special" lotion. Aveeno has made a killing off of colloidal lotion and bath washes. Just make your own! As promised here is a chest rub perfect for soothing a cranky cough. Similar to a Vicks vapor rub just cleaned up and tweaked a bit.
1/2 cup olive or castor oil or coconut oil 2 tablespoons beeswax pellets 20 drops eucalyptus globulus 20 dropss peppermint 10 drops rosemary 10 drops lemon Melt the olive/castor oil and beeswax in a double boiler or mason jar set in a pot of water. Let cool then stir in the essential oils using a wooden chopstick. Pour into jelly jars or metal tins. Pop in the fridge to firm up faster. Apply as needs soles of feet and chest. For children, you need to dilute even further. Either set aside a container and only add a few drops to that container OR use this recipe and add a big scoop of coconut oil or castor oil before you apply it to their skin. The eucalyptus and peppermint could trigger a wheezing action in sensitive people so dilute, dilute, dilute. Castile soap continued! There is also a bar of castile soap that is handy for laundry. I have been making my own laundry soap for a few years now. It is so much cheaper AND I can completely control ingredients so it can still be effective and safe for our environment. There are sooooo many unnecessary chemicals in traditional laundry soap. Not only can they be irritating to super sensitive skin since they leave a residue on our skin (especially the liquid kind) but they are also contaminating our groundwater. I prefer powder for my HE washer but you can make liquid too. Anyone else get an itchy throat walking down the laundry aisle at Target?? Oh dryer sheets? Don't even get me started!!! I have 2 kinds. One, a container of wet rags just hanging out in a solution of water, vinegar and essential oils (EO). And two, I have these handy 100% wool dryer balls that I have added a few drops of different oils to that fluff our clothes as they dry AND make them smell divine. I can make my own Mountain Mist or Meadow Fresh Scent depending on my mood! Yep, I'm a frugal girl. detergent-Ratio of 1 cup borax to 1 cup Arm and Hammer washing soda to one bar of laundry soap like Fells Naptha, Dr. Bronners castille soap or dove sensitive. I usually triple the above recipe to make a big batch. Grind the bar of soap into the powders then add 10 drops of your favorite EO fragrance. Stir and put in a pretty container. Economical AND Earth friendly! I mix up a bunch so I use the entire box of borax, the entire box of washing soda plus 1/2 box of baking soda and 3 bars of Dr. Bronner's castile soap. Then I add 40 drops of essential oil (purification). Dryer sheets-fill a container with water and add a healthy splash of vinegar. Add 8 drops of your fav EO. Add cut up rags (I used an old, clean towel). Keep covered until time to add a wet rag to each wet dryer load. It will make your laundry smell heavenly and won't leave that gross film that dryer sheets do. Alternately, add a few drops EO to wool dryer balls! Fluffs up AND smells amaZING! Over the years, I have had a lot of patients ask me about my opinion on mammograms. First of all, I think breast health is extremely important with the high incidence of breast cancer in the United States today. It is important not to ignore your breasts and now, with more people questioning the safety of early and repeated mammograms, it is time to talk.
My opinion is as follows: It only makes sense to me that causing trauma by compression and radiating the breast would contribute to cancer growth, especially if abnormal cell division has already begun. Repeated and early mammograms in people “at risk” is quite questionable and I honestly think it is not appropriate. Research is becoming public about the concern with mammograms contributing to more cancer and unnecessary biopsies. As a result, the American Cancer Society has changed their age and frequency recommendations. It is important to understand that biopsies are also in question. They can also contribute to additional abnormal cell growth so if you ever are in a position where you need to have one, be sure they take the entire mass or region surrounding the questionable cells. The goal is to avoid breaking open the protective barrier around the mass, causing cell leakage and more abnormal division. With that being said, again…I stress that it is VERY important to NOT ignore your breast health and this is where the Thermogram comes in. Thermograms use infrared technology to look for abnormal heat patterns in the body. In the earliest stages of abnormal cell division, temperature changes occur and if these are noted on the scan, a breast MRI would be the next step. No radiation or compression is used in the Thermogram to cause or contribute to cellular damage. No zapping…no smashing...makes much more sense to me! Most cities offer Thermograms and for those in the Lincoln, NE area, Dr. Mark Osborn’s office is where I go. I suggest getting a baseline Thermogram and repeating them every year. Most insurance companies do not cover them but if we only followed insurance guidelines…well, don’t get me started! You are your breasts are worth it! By Dr. Heather Elton I get a lot of questions at work on alternatives to gluten and I want to touch on this topic here. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, which acts as a “glue” to help food keep its shape. It is found in the obvious foods such as bread, crackers, pastas, pastries, baked goods and it is also hidden in a lot of processed foods.
In deciding to go gluten-free (which I highly recommend), it is important to do your meal planning before heading to the grocery store. Planning meals for the week ahead makes it a lot easier to keep gluten out of your daily regimen. It may feel like a huge task and sacrifice at first but I can honestly say that once it becomes your new way of eating, it isn’t hard at all. For me, there is one exception…cake. What is it with girls and cake anyway? I am thankful for my new friend, Caitlin Golden and her Buff Cakes company as all her products are gluten-free and taste amazing! First of all, fresh meat, vegetables and fruit are ALL gluten-free! Keep in mind, that not all spices are gluten free (Cowhorn Pepper Company carries great spices that are gluten-free and originated in Nebraska by a good friend of mine) so buy your meat without spices and add your own! If you love to bake, there are many flours to choose from, one of my favorites is Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free baking flour, it is a blend of different flours and I find it more cost effective than buying a couple of different kinds. Almond flour, Rice flour, Coconut flour, buckwheat flour and chickpea flour are all good options. I think the key is experimentation. I love the taste of coconut so that is usually my “go-to”. When it comes to gluten-free bread, I usually stick to Udi’s. I don’t remember the last time I ate bread so I wouldn’t take the time to make my own, but if you eat it regularly, I encourage you to make it at home. If anyone has a good gluten-free recipe that you would like to share, please do!! Keep in mind that gluten helps food take on its shape so you will find Udi’s bread in the freezer section. I also don’t usually advise eating gluten-free bread without toasting it as it falls apart easier and has a grainier texture. Toast it lightly, spread with a little coconut butter or soy-free Vegannaise, avocado slices and a little Cowhorn Chef’s Blend spice (or whatever gluten-free spice you love) and another breakfast or lunch option is created! Another one of my favorites is the following recipe for pancakes. If you are short on time, Pamela’s gluten-free pancake mix is also awesome. • ½ gluten free flour (I use Bob’s Red Mill) • ¼ tsp xantham gum • ½ cup gluten-free oats • 1 Tbsp raw sugar • 1 tsp baking powder • ½ tsp baking soda • ½ tsp salt • ¾ cup coconut or rice milk • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 2 Tbsp grapeseed or coconut oil (liquid) • 1 egg Blend all ingredients in a food processor! Keep in mind that a trip down the gluten-free grocery isle can be the equivalent of cruising down the boxed cereal isle. Many of these food options are still highly processed and can still be inflammatory for our body. Keep these to a minimum, special occasions, etc. Real food creates healthy bodies! I clean my house with the same 4 items. This amazing multipurpose cleaner we will talk about, baking soda, vinegar and peroxide. Hands down the powerhouse of these is this Thieves home cleaner. You NEED this cleaner in your lives! I have tried every major brand I could buy. I even made my own using random essential oils. Now I just buy this concentrated cleaner and mix it with water and go! It is made by Young Living. Dr. Heather and I each have a wholesale account so we get that pricing. Ask us how to get wholesale pricing if you do not already have a shopping account with young living!
It has the popular essential oil Thieves in it so it smells divine (cinnamon/clove and lemony) and cleans great. Scientific studies show it kills the yucky stuff you worry about. I've even used it as a laundry detergent in a pinch. It works great in the dishwasher, cutting grease on the stove, bombing out the caked on crap in the microwave and keeps my floors shiny clean. Mix it with the baking soda to make a paste to apply to grout. Let it sit then scrub off. Pee stains or animal barf everywhere? Bring it! What's in YOUR household cleaners!? They are among the worst for toxin exposure in our home lives so PLEASE go green! Babies crawling on the floor? Animals? What are you washing the floors with?? Toxic toilet cleaner move on over! These easy to make toilet bombs freshen your bowl before you scrub as well as offer a lovely fragrance. I guess the toilet talk continues!💩😈😷
-1 cup baking soda -1/4 cup citric acid (find in canning aisle) -young Livings Thieves home cleaner in a spray bottle OR your favorite cleaning spray OR you can use Peroxide In a spray bottle -10-20 drops of essential oil for fragrance optional Mix the baking soda and citric acid together. Add essential oils if desired. I use the master of bombing-Thieves. Put your liquid in a spray bottle and spritz only one spray at a time. I used an old eyeglass cleaner bottle and added the concentrated Thieves home cleaner that I use. Spritz the powder. Squeeze the mixture after each spritz until it forms a clump which will only be a few spritzes. If you add too much liquid it will grow and multiply like a science experiment gone wrong! Jam the mix into an ice cube tray, soap mold, muffin cups or form with cookie scoop and set on parchment paper. It will fizz and foam and grow a bit so really jam the foam down into the mold. Let it dry overnight then pop out of the mold and keep in a jar. Add one to 2 molds into your toilet when it needs a freshen up. I personally add a squirt of Castile soap into the toilet bowl after a few minutes of foaming action then scrub away. Done! I just have to get a word in since the function of our gastrointestinal tract can tell us so much about our health! First of all, if you have a hard time going to the “loo” every day, you are not alone…constipation is a very common issue in today’s fast paced, “Standard American Diet” society. Remember our chat about Magnesium earlier this month? Magnesium is a great muscle relaxant, sleep aid AND bowel mover! If you find that you have a slow intestinal system, I would urge you to step away from the laxatives and choose a more natural option. 400-500 mg per day of Magnesium Citrate can be very helpful and don’t forget about our dear friend, exercise. Move your body, shake that booty and BAM…it gets your gut working too! Get adjusted by your Chiropractor…removing nerve interference through Chiropractic, helps ALL systems of the body function better! One of my other favorite recommendations for constipation is using George’s Aloe Vera Juice. A little bit goes a long way here and it is also a safe alternative for kids! Lastly….drink water! Our stool is made up of a lot of water and it you don’t have enough in your body…guess what?!?
As I mentioned, our intestinal tract can tell us a lot about our health. Did you know that if you have smelly toots, it is likely that you have a food intolerance or that you are not digesting protein properly?!? Plant digestive enzymes may be helpful for some, others benefit more from removing certain foods from their diet like gluten or dairy. During my nutrition training, I learned that a good healthy stool sinks down like a submarine. If you are dealing with floaters at the top, you may be getting too much fat in your diet OR you may be dealing with fat malabsorption, where your body is having trouble digesting fats. If you have an artistic eye…this next part is really going to excite you!! The COLOR of your stool should be medium to dark brown. If it is very dark or black, it can be blood that is originating from higher up, like the stomach or intestine and you should contact your Physician to determine the cause. If you have yellow/tan/clay colored, it can indicate bile in your bowel…(gall bladder). Greenish…think infection! Visible blood is typically coming from the lower GI system indicating rectal tearing, hemorrhoids, etc. Well, there you have it. The excitement is over. Time to wrap up the poo chat and move on... |
Hi, I'm Dr. Heidi!A mom of 3, pediatric chiropractor, natural remedy guru and wellness educator. Archives
April 2024
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