Combating Nausea: Peppermint Essential Oil
For more years than I can remember, I’ve suffered with seemingly random nausea and vomiting.  Naturally, I’ve tried many remedies for nausea to stop it: teas of every kind, ginger, pickle juice, ice packs, soups, even resorting to medication. Nothing I tried made much of a difference.  Chiropractic and massage therapy helped but it didn’t always immediately stop it once it started. When I was a kid, it created an anxiety that I would throw up, making the problem worse and almost guaranteeing a trip to the “oval office.” This has been going on and off again for almost 40 years. Good times.
              A few years ago, a friend introduced me to peppermint essential oil.  It was nothing short of miraculous. I now carry peppermint oil with me everywhere and it has changed my life. I know that sounds overly dramatic but when you have been nauseous for most of your life you tend to be a little dramatic. I’m very thankful that it works so well and now that I am part of doTerra I take their peppermint beadlets everywhere with me.  I keep the essential oil on my shelf for emergencies, however, the beadlets are much more convenient.  Massage therapy and chiropractic care has almost eradicated the nausea, praise God, but in between visits I can quickly grab a peppermint oil beadlet to calm my stomach.
              Apparently, I’m not the only one who thought peppermint for nausea was possible because there are studies showing that it is effective against nausea and vomiting after surgeries and when pregnant with morning sickness. I’ve listed them at the end of this article for some light reading.  Peppermint essential oil has many other benefits such as being antimicrobial and excellent for the respiratory tract and I use it for those purposes as well, but I have been especially blessed that it has worked for nausea. 
I do only recommend doTerra essential oil for the quality.  I have tried other brands and they are helpful; however, I’ve found doTerra to be the best and I don’t have to worry about ingesting something synthetic.
I really hope sharing my story helps someone else who shares my issues with nausea find some relief with peppermint essential oil. If you would like to become a doTerra member to be able to buy with the discounted prices, please let me know so I can help you sign up.
             


References
Fearrington MA, Qualls BW, Carey MG. Essential Oils to Reduce Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting. J Perianesth Nurs. 2019;
Efe Ertürk N, Taşcı S. The Effects of Peppermint Oil on Nausea, Vomiting and Retching in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: An Open Label Quasi-Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Complement Ther Med. 2021 Jan;56:102587. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102587. Epub 2020 Oct 9. PMID: 33197662.
 
Safajou F, Soltani N, Taghizadeh M, Amouzeshi Z, Sandrous M. The Effect of Combined Inhalation Aromatherapy with Lemon and Peppermint on Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy: A it.

5 Ways to Ease into Fasting
There is a lot of information out there about intermittent fasting and the benefits as well as the side effects. There is no argument that fasting can reverse type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and has many other advantages but fasting can seem like a huge undertaking if you have been under the AMA guidelines of eating 6 times a day to keep your blood glucose level.  The thought of missing a meal can create concern and if, like me, you are hypoglycemic (which is a step closer to hyperglycemia) it can create feelings of panic. There is hope and fasting doesn’t have to be the scary monster it’s made out to be.

1. Start with small goals. It really sounds great to just dive in and fast for a week until you’re in the middle of your first day, feeling miserable and shaky.  Start small. Start eating an hour later than you would normally have breakfast or stop eating at 6 pm after dinner. Give yourself little victories and practice fasting.  Dr. Jason Fung is a nephrologist and where I first learned about fasting to reverse type 2 diabetes, and he says that you have to strengthen your fasting muscle.  I totally agree. It really takes practice and soon you’ll be forgetting that you haven’t eaten all day!
2. Remember your salt. Salt is a vital mineral that your body needs. If you are practicing your fasting and you start feeling sluggish, hungry, or irritable try a pinch of Celtic Sea salt. It’s amazing how just a pinch of salt can make or break a fast.
3. Keep busy. Be sure to find something to do while you fast otherwise it will be harder to get your mind off of food. Clean the house, finish a project, paint a room, etc. Just find something to keep you distracted.
4. Stay hydrated. Be sure to drink plenty of water and if you aren’t too worried about having a “clean” fast then have tea, coffee or add some essential oils such as peppermint or Slim and Sassy to your water to help ease the hunger pains. 
5. If you feel miserable, break your fast. Hunger pains come and go but if they come and stay or you just feel awful, break your fast immediately.  Fasting is not torture; it’s about gaining control of your health.

Remember that gaining health is a marathon so take it slowly and make good habits that move towards a healthier you!
 
Note: Please consult your doctor before starting a fasting protocol.

5 Ways to Support Immune Health
The Christmas season is over and for many of us the snow is just beginning to fall.  It’s the time of year to sit by the fireplace and drink warm cocoa with your favorite book, however, this time of year can play havoc on our immune systems and with a certain variant that will remain nameless going around we want to do all we can to protect ourselves and others. So instead of changing that hot cocoa in front of the fireplace to chicken soup in bed let’s explore some ways to boost our immune health naturally and safely before we get sick.

1. Take your vitamins! Vitamin C, zinc, quercetin, vitamin D, probiotics are the winners here for immune boosting action.
2. Chicken soup is really good for you. There has been a lot of hoopla about bone broth lately and for good reason. A good quality broth that has been simmered with bones, marrow and cartilage can help soothe the digestive tract, which has been discovered to house much of the immune system and deliver many nutrients including amino acids and minerals to the body. So, add a lot of immune boosting garlic, onions and whatever vegetables suit your taste buds.
3. Use essential oils like Onguard, tea tree, oregano, frankincense oils. These are just a few of the oils for strengthening the immune system.  Diffuse them, smell them and/or rub them on your pulse points, chest, spine and on the bottom of the feet.
4. Sleep. Yes, I’m going to harp on sleep but, it’s so important! Create a restful, relaxed atmosphere to settle in for a healthy, deep sleep to recharge, reduce stress and keep viruses at bay.
5. Exercise is another tried and true immune boosting superstar just make sure you don’t over do it because that can actually have a negative effect on your immune function.

So, before we wind up sick for the New Year, let’s take care of ourselves and start 2022 on a healthy foot!