the Bacteria whisperer ...

... well, all things Life!

Parenting. Where were the instructions?

My upbringing. Like many people, I took mental notes. Some things I liked and others, not so much. Both gave me insight into working with my kids. For the first 8 years, I had a mild experience raising 4 boys.

They rough housed and got into …. stuff and situations, but nothing too outrageous that I was aware of (secrets were slowly leaked in their late teens). Around that time, I adopted sisters, ages 7 and 10.

Nuance, by Coty had a commercial in the late 70’s that said: ‘if you want to capture somebody’s attention, whisper’

Shortly after the girls moved in, the younger one started having, what seemed like, endless episodes of explosive screaming. Nothing anyone did could disrupt this painful drama. I don’t know who hurt more … her or us?

What I thought would calm and soothe her did the exact opposite, much like feeding a colicky baby.

Without missing a beat, Ashleigh lost herself one more time simply because I had asked her brother, my high school senior son, to keep an eye on her while I ran their brother to his sophomore registration.

Exhausted of ideas, Taylor called for advice. I told him to fill the tub with lukewarm water and have her sit in it fully clothed. Sounds strange, I know, and water soothes me. So, I figured it was worth a shot since his patience was being challenged.

As I arrived, I could hear her screaming from the driveway. One more time, we failed her. Walking in, a whisper within reminded me of Nuance. I kneeled next to the tub and began whispering, ‘What do you need?’ I repeated this over and over. The longer I whispered, the quieter she became.

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Compiling research for my upcoming Physician’s Desk Reference: Essential Oils in Healthcare, I no longer include such descriptions as:

• antimicrobial

• antibacterial / antibiotic

• anticancer

• anti-inflammatory

• antiviral

• antifungal

• antiproliferative

First of all, ‘anti’ simply means against. Nature, when it comes down to it, neutralizes. Maybe a better way to say it is ‘Nature is self-regulatory. It doesn’t need to think, worry or strategize. It simply responds to an event and adjusts itself accordingly.

Essential oils have profound effects … beyond the symptom relief every book and website suggest.

The anticancer one really gets me. I have more people than I can count interested in essential oils for cancer … as if an oil or two is going to stabilize the carcinogenic activity already taking place!?

I mean no disrespect with that statement. I get it.

Having lived through cancer myself, once the cancer is established and progressing, the system is already stimulating a hyperreaction. Essential oils may be good, and God knows I won’t live without them, BUT they are not that good.

Essential oils are not concentrated enough to even be considered for ‘killing cancer’. They won’t and they don’t.

This is a good example why mainstream promotions are dangerous.

At the same time, essential oils are the best adjunctive treatment to any medical issue. In fact, scientists are currently investigating the synergy between various oils and medication, including with vaccines.

However, if cancer is a concern, the first step is to become aware of why cancer scares you? This may sound strange and yet, the emotional reactions and thoughts that surround the thought of cancer are stressors which influence the production of pro-inflammatory hormones and immune reactions.

If it’s not cancer, what are you trying to prevent?

The body follows the mind!

The actions that come from fear, are an attempt to protect … a survival tactic. And again, I get it, yet you are never at peace. Peace is at the core of Life.

However, when you resist feeling ok or trusting your body to be ok, your actions more often than not, align with the fear. Now you do everything everyone suggests to intervene and prevent.

You choose foods because they’re anti-inflammatory, you get into herbal teas, natural supplements and various anti-inflammatory spices. You read up on essential oils and possibly start using things like oregano, peppermint, lavender ‘as needed’ for their relaxing and immune stimulating properties … not knowing all three have the potential to stimulate even more inflammation.

As do some foods, herbs and supplements…

‘I thought these things were anti-inflammatory.’

Sometimes they are … Sometimes they’re not. It depends on your system.

When it comes to oils, using them as needed or remembered does very little for your health. Anxiety, emotional distress, tension are re-actions to something or someone … often linked to a previous situation. Hence, re-acting. And that is a topic for another post / discussion.

So, to use them based on mainstream suggestions just to feel relief right now, does not honor your entire system. The brain, gut and immune system are synced. Emotional tension and anxiety are not a brain thing .. they’re a systemic thing.

Therefore, start today. Include them as part of your daily routine. Think of essential oils as ‘easy going negotiators’ … helping your system to find its way back to its natural state … peace.

You see, oils are both agonists and antagonists. They modulate, regulate, suppress, enable, inhibit countless cellular processes. They activate and inactivate various chemical reactions. They are low volumed molecules of communication.

Essential oils are whispers reminding your system how to regulate itself.

You are made up of 380 trillion viruses, 38 trillion bacteria, 80 genera (forms) of fungi and 30 trillion human cells. You are a host to a lot of life!

However, humans have normalized fighting against:

• a cold

• the flu

• cancer

• bacterial, viral and yeast infections

• we even battle allergies

You get the picture. This mindset … this type of thought process is fueled by emotional interpretations which amplify the belief that you / your body needs to be defended and protected, thereby motivating your actions.

This is how most people run their life. No fault. No misunderstanding ‘why’. Each of us learned how to manage and control our health in this manner.

Did someone mention chronic fatigue?

When I was a kid, no one talked about health unless they were sick. That’s when you went to the doctor. The closest I came to anything health related outside of a cold or ear infection was how to control weight. My family focused on exercise. Otherwise, it was a non-discussion until a relative was diagnosed with cancer … and then, the horror stories were shared … scaring me to death.

Thank goodness I caught that fear in time.

My sister had a congenital heart defect which I now realize happened because of a need to … of all things …control fluid weight gain. This was handled with medications. When my mom was pregnant with me, it was controlling her weight through starvation.

The history of fear and control is extensive.

Today’s circumstances albeit personal health, economic health, cultural health, global health, mental health and so on …. are a result of previous thoughts, feelings and actions.

The 1960’s were the era of Twiggy. Born Lesley Hornby, she is considered one of the first super models with her iconic slender appearance producing a generation that saw beauty in an entirely different light.

The thoughts and emotions of yesteryear have continually directed our focus towards outward appearances from people to situations. While it’s wise to be aware of reality, we’re losing our footing.

True wisdom is an inner knowing. Standing in this wisdom inspires peaceful actions.

Otherwise, a person is easily rocked and distressed seeking effective ways to control, manipulate and force things to go as needed.

I believe this is why the volume is being turned up on life … people yelling, protests, unbelievable and colorful social media antics ... shocking commentary, endless memes about cancer sucking, etc. We’re distracted by the noise … therefore, to thoughtfully add essential oils to your everyday life, assists your brain with regaining control despite the outer world.

This does not happen overnight … yet it happens.

So here’s a secret:

Becoming choosy with your oil selections not only aids in helping your system to regulate itself, but it also relieves symptoms.

Medications cannot do this …

• If you take medications, adding oils with a focus on supporting the system is how you maintain homeostasis.

• If you don’t take medications, more attention can be placed on symptoms while enhancing systemic homeostasis.

Again, this may take a while because you’ve been running on high alert for some time … and I can assure you it happens. If I can do it … you can too!

It’s how I became the bacteria whisperer. For that matter, the cancer, virus and candida whisperer too. I relinquished my need to have my hands on the wheel and FINALLY trusted the wisdom of my mind and body.

You see, regardless of human beliefs … which are stories we made up and adjusted over time … the core nature of Life is peace. All organisms exist in a state of harmony until a stressor presents itself.

In a world of human, bacterial and viral resistance, your inner peace is the remedy that changes everything. Pinky promise!