May 7, 2014How is Spring going for you? Are you enjoying the longer days of sunshine? What new life has shown itself to you?
I’m celebrating my new essential oil classes. I’ve been teaching about oils for a while now, mostly on a one-on-one basis and last week I finally fulfilled a long term wish of mine and taught my first group class and it was so fun!
Here’s a photo of the participants in “The Healing Power of Essential Oils” class – such happy faces!
We had such a good time that we’re having another class next month: Sunday, June 22nd from 1-4:30 at the Garden Sanctuary in Santa Cruz. We’ll go deeply into 5 individual oils and then create custom healing blends to take home. Hit reply to sign up (cost is $75 which includes all supplies) or with any questions you may have. If you’re in the area, I’d love to have you join us.
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One of my favorite tools in my medicine bag is essential oils. I spent years studying Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture, and I still use those tools all the time (among many others), but essential oils are often my go-to medicine for my patients and for myself.
Why? Because they can quickly and effectively address the emotional issues that someone might have, and as you’ve heard me say before, I believe emotions are often the root cause of someones illness or condition. That doesn’t mean the branch (the real physical symptoms) won’t need attention as well, but that healing the root is pretty crucial.
This field of psychoneuroimmunology (simply put, how our emotions and mental states affect our health) and has been my passion for many years now.
Even the emotions and memories of our ancestors can affect us! I’ve seen this to be true in my practice, but didn’t know until recently that science is saying this too (more on the fascinating topic of epigenetics in a future ezine; if you think you’re dealing with inherited emotional issues, you might like my blend Generational Healing).
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Moving from the gifts of Mother Nature to her potential challenges, I thought I’d re-post this article from the archives since spring allergies are really affecting people right now:
Your Modern Day Medicine Woman’s Allergy Recommendations
Take a shower! Yes, take a shower – at the end of the day. Sleep on clean sheets, not the layers of pollen your body and hair have picked up all day – eek.
Acupuncture: Make an appointment to see your friendly neighborhood acupuncturist. Very effective for treatment and prevention of seasonal allergies. Give it a few sessions. Even better, go at the change of seasons to boost your body’s defenses so you don’t get hit in the first place.
Herbal Anti-histamines & Nutrients: There are many good products out there, available through your local acupuncturist/healer or health food store/pharmacy. Some that I like: Xanthium Relieve Surface (by Health Concerns), Histoplex AB (by Biotics), Bi Yan Pian (traditional chinese herbal patent), Nettles (single herb available in liquid or powdered forms), and Vitamin C (at least 1,000 mg/day). I often do a combination of the above for best results.
Remember, these are plants – they are not synthetic, concentrated chemicals. They take time and repeated use to work. Take several times throughout the day until you feel better.
Essential Oils: One of my favorite ways to address allergies, essential oils can really help, but as with herbs, they must be used several times throughout the day. Recommended oils to try: Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint, Fir, and Pine. I usually use a combination of 2 or 3 of these.
How to use oils: Put a drop or 2 in your palm, rub your hands together to spread the oil around, then cup your hands around your nose and inhale deeply for a while. Be careful not to touch your eyes. You can then rub the remaining oil onto a tissue and continue to smell it throughout the day. In a pinch, just sniff from the bottle. Or try using a diffuser at home – a great way to treat yourself and your family.
You can also dilute the oils in a tablespoon of vegetable oil and apply to your chest, lung acupuncture points or even under your nose.
Weird Device: Try a neti pot. Yes, that weird thingy you fill with water and stick up your nose. It’s awkward at first but you get used to it. Helps flush out your sinuses of all that pollen you’re breathing in. Do it a couple of times per day. You can find them at your local health food store/pharmacy.
Dietary Suggestions: Drink lots and lots of water to flush out your system. Avoid mucus-increasing foods like dairy products and sugar. And go easy on the caffeine – it just further depletes your adrenals (see below).
Adrenal Support: Your adrenal glands are the ones that produce the fight-or-flight hormone called adrenaline. When your body is “assaulted” by pollen, this is considered to be an “invasion”, so the body pumps out adrenaline to fight it. Using up all your adrenaline makes you tired – that’s why you are so tired and groggy when you have allergies. Consider taking a nutritional supplement for your adrenals. A good one is Gaia Herbs’ Adrenal Support, available at any health food store.
Environmental: Consider getting an air purifier for your home, especially to run in the bedroom at night.
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Every little bit helps. Try implementing one or all of these suggestions and you should be feeling better soon. And falling back in love with Mother Nature, too.
To your health,
Colleen
Recommendations:
Jumpstart Your Healing Journey Program
*Special Offer for New Clients Only to experience working with a Modern Day Medicine Woman
What you’ll receive:
Two 45-minute healing sessions held over the phone, about one week apart
Identifying, healing and releasing the first layers of your physical and/or emotional concerns
Customized medicinal recommendations if needed
A plan to continue your travels on Your Healing Journey
Your modern day medicine woman, Colleen Burke, has many tools in her medicine bag. She is an acupuncturist, doctor of oriental medicine, herbalist, aromatherapist, medical dowser, and energy healer. She is available for phone sessions and in-person sessions in the Santa Cruz, CA area.
Her passion is helping difference-makers, conscious entrepreneurs and healing practitioners overcome the physical and/or emotional issues preventing them from doing the BIG work they are meant to do in this life.
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