According to a CDC study survey, 1 in 20  children have food allergies which is a 50% increase since the late 1990's, and 1 in 8 have contact allergies. Dr. Benjamin Perkus said at the Young Living Convention,  "kids and teens who are born abroad and immigrate to the United States are about half as likely to have asthma and allergies as those who are born in the U.S."


As a European who has lived in  several countries I have noticed a few things:

• More food in other countries contain less or no preservatives than here in USA.
• More  food in other countries contain natural food colorings (from vegetables) than here in USA.
• A lot of chemicals are forbidden in Europe but still allowed here in USA. American food manufactures have to make special products for the European market.
• Genetically modified food has been banned in many countries, and GMO food is required to be labeled in several countries. 
• The amount of vaccines children receive is less in many other countries than here in USA. Swedish children receive less vaccines than most other children in other countries and the amount of SID cases are among the lowest in the world. 

So I am not surprised to find out that children born abroad will develop less asthma and allergies than children born here in the U.S. The European Union has also taken an interest in what damage chemicals can do to children. It is now a law to label products aimed at children that contain artificial coloring.  EU recognizes that food dyes can cause allergies, asthma and cancer. 

Dr.Perkus recommends to use lavender, and an anti-microbial blend of rosemary cineol, clove, cinnamon, lemon and Eucalyptus radiata for children. He recommends to use the anti-microbial blend for mold. He also recommends to use probiotics and enzymes.


What to do about allergies
Fortunately as parents we can be proactive and protect our children here in the U.S. Whether your child is allergic or not, it has to start with the diet. 

• Make sure to purchase food that doesn't have any nasty chemicals, but as you will notice it will be hard to find good quality food in the stores. Your best bet is to make as much as possible from scratch and to buy organic. 
• Eat wholesome food with plenty of fruit and vegetables, replace the sugary snacks with some fruit, veggies, smoothies, chicken, eggs etc. 
• Make sure that your child receives sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals, it is said it is impossible to receive all the nutrients we need through food alone so purchase a good quality multivitamin. 
• Vitamin D and omega -3 fatty acids are said to decrease allergy symptoms.

Replace all the toxic household products and personal hygiene products with natural products. It doesn't have to be expensive, you can use vinegar and baking soda for a lot of things in the house. Check out my Natural Cleaning Post. 

It is recommended to keep a log once you notice your child show signs of allergies. It is important to ask what has your child touched, inhaled, smelled, eaten prior to the change. Contact and inhalant allergies are usually instant while food allergic are usually delayed 20 min - 2 hours.

I think essential oils should be used  in every home during cold and flu season since they are very important in fighting many types of infectious disease.  Essential oils are some of the most  powerful anti-microbials known today. It's already September and many are already sick with the flu. I use essential oils as prevention to boost the immune system so I don't get sick, and I very seldom get sick since I started using essential oils as prevention. 

• Make your own perfume
• Diffuse oils in your diffuser
• Use the essential oils for cleaning
• Sniff straight from the bottle
• Add essential oils to the Vita Flex points
• Add essential oils to lotion, liquid soap, or shampoo (make sure they don’t cause skin sensitivity)
• Add a few drops to dishwashing soap
• Put a few drops on a handkerchief and inhale
• If the oil is not contraindicated, mix with bath salts and take a healing bath

How to use essential oils when someone is sick

• At the first sign of a stuffy nose I inhale deeply straight from the bottle. I also diffuse appropriate oils in my diffuser
• I mix the essential oils with massage oil and apply on affected areas such as chest, sinuses, or back
• I add a few drops on a handkerchief and inhale deeply. Sometimes I put 2 or more drops into the palm of my left hand, rub clockwise with the flat palm of my right hand. Cup your hands together over the nose and mouth and inhale deeply. Don’t touch your eyes!
• My son successfully cleared congested sinuses within a few hours by doing steam inhalations with anti-viral and expectorant oils. Add a few drops of oil to a bowl of warm but not boiling water. Inhale the steaming vapors from the bowl. To increase intensity, drape a towel over your head and bowl before inhaling.
• I add a few drops to drinking water and gargle for a few minutes if I have a sore throat. I only do this with oils I trust and I don't swallow. Check with your essential oil provider first before you gargle.
• I often add essential oils to the Vita Flex points on the bottom of the feet. This is especially useful for children since some oils may be too strong to apply on other parts of the body.
• I used to drop cypress under my daughter’s pillow when we lived in Wales several years ago when she was coughing a lot due to moist weather.

As most of us know allergies can be triggered by many different things such as environmental chemicals, pollen, food, insect bites dander and dust. People with allergies may suffer from the following:

• Cramps, diarrhea, vomiting
• Dermatitis, rashes
• Itching lips, swelling of the tongue or lips
• Wheezing and labored breathing

Essential oils may be helpful
Essential oils may be of  help when suffering from allergies but it is also important to look into what is causing the allergy. Looking into the underlying causes of your allergy is important, my post Do You Have Allergies? will give you other natural tips to consider when suffering from allergies.


What we used on our dog
We managed to get our dog's congestionunder control with the help of frankincense, but we also changed her diet. We put a couple of drops of frankincense  on our hands and rubbed them together, then cupped them over her nose so that she could inhale the oil. It was an instant relief from her congestion. Our dog preferred frankincense since it also calmed her from the panic attacks she had when she couldn't breath. 






Antihistamines
According to the Reference Guide for Essential Oils,  Roman Chamomile, lavender and Melaleuca (tea tree) have antihistamine properties. It is important to avoid chamomile if you're allergic to the ragweed.  Studies how that luteolin- 7-orutinoside in peppermint  has antihistamine properties.

The Reference Guide for Essential Oils writes that patchouli, elemi (rashes), eucalyptus, melissa - Lemon Balm (skin and respiratory), and spkikenard are other single oils used for allergies.

What we do for allergies:

• We apply lavender to the sinuses to work as an antihistamine.
• We apply to bottom of feet.
• We put 2 or more drops into the palm of our left hand, rub clockwise with the flat palm or the right hand. Cup our hands together over the nose and mouth and inhale deeply. Don't touch your eyes!
• We apply oils to a cotton ball, tissue, or handkerchief and place in the air vent of the car. Make sure you don't use any synthetic materials. 
• Rub 2 or more drops on our wrists, chest, neck, or under the nose and ears. (Indirect inhalation)

Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.

This is my third post in the series about Herbal Antibiotics. I have decided to cover 15 antibiotic herbs in several posts. As mentioned in the first post, herbs are more complex than antibiotics and the bacteria has a harder to time to develop resistance to  herbs. In the second post I list the 15 top antibiotic herbs based on the book, Herbal Antibiotics by Stephen Harrod Buhner. Today I will focus on the herbs Acacia, aloe, and cryptolepsis.

According to Stephen Harrod Buhner:

Photo Credit

Acacia (Acacia spp.)
Acacia is part of the Mimosaceae family. All the parts of the plant can be used  and they can be picked at various times of the year. The pods can be gathered when they are green, the flowers when in bloom, and the roots can be chopped into small pieces before drying. The gum can be collected by cutting a line into the lower part of the bark.

Some of Acacia's therapeutic actions are:
Antimalarial, astringent, antibacterial, antimicrobial, anticatarrhal, anthelmintic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and sedative.

Acacia is active against:
Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, malaria, Shigella dysenteriae, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Buhner says Acacias are useful for excessive mucus, diarrhea, catarrh, hemorrhage, gum infections, dysentery and gastrointestinal ulceration. There are different species of Acacia and some species are used for parasitic infestation in some parts of the world.  Acacia is not used as much in the United States, but is widely used for its medicinal properties in other parts of the world. Acacia can found in the south and as far north as Kansas and all the way between California and Florida.

Acacia can be used as powder, tea, or wash. Pods, stems, and and leaves should be used powdered. Buhner recommends 3-12 cups a day for malaria, diarrhea, and dysentery. The leaves and flowers should be used as tea for gastrointestinal tract inflammation. The roots should be used to make mucilaginous tea that is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Tea of stems, pods, and leaves can be used to wash wounds according to Buhner.

Mesquite (Prosopis julifera) is a suitable alternative to Acacia if you can't find it. It may be used identically.

Photo Credit

Aloe ( Aloe vera and other species)
Aloe is part of the Liliaceae family. It is usually the fresh juice that is used but sometimes the dried plant is used internally. The fresh plant leaves can be used anytime. The leaves are cut open and the juice is applied to burns and wounds. 

Some of Aloe's therapeutic actions are:
External use: Antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral, wound healing, anti-ulcer, and inflammatory.
Internal use: Purgative, and it also stimulates smooth muscle contractions.

Aloe is active against:
Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Herpes simpex 1 and 2.

Buhner says that Aloe and honey can be applied externally to speed wound healing to prevent infection. Burn victims are extremely prone to Staphyloccus aureus infections. Since Aloe is a liquid it will keep the tissue moist and restore lost body fluid. It will also soothe the damaged tissues.

Slice open the leave of the fresh plant and apply liberally to a burn or wound. Aloe stimulates smooth muscle contraction when taken internally.

Honey can be used as an alternative to Aloe. Echinacea or St.John are less desirable choices to be used for wound healing.

Photo Credit

Cryptolepsis (Cryptolepsis sanguinolenta)
Cryptolepsis is part of the Asclepiadaceae family. The roots are used and they can be harvested anytime of the year. Cryptolepsis is a shrub found in several parts of Africa.


Some of Cryptolepsis' therapeutic actions are:
Antiparasitic, antimalarial, antibacterial, and antifungal.

Cryptolepsisis active against:
Staphylococcus aureus, malaria, Shigella dysenteriae, Escherichia coli, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Candida Albicans, Camphylobacter, both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

According to Buhner, Cryptolepsis has been used for centuries by African healers in treatments of fevers, bloody diarrhea, and malaria. Human clinical trials have shown that Cryptolepsis to be potent for malaria. 


Cryptolepsis can be used as powder, capsules, tincture, or tea. Crushed powder can be used externally for fungal or bacterial infections.

For malaria, Buhner recommends to use Artemisia annua or A. absinthium, Brucea javanita, Uvaria spp., or the bark of Cinchona spp as alternatives to Cryptolepsis.


The book, Herbal Antibiotics by Stephen Harrod Buhner gives you detail information about each herb on how to prepare them, what parts to use, and how much of each herbs to use for various ailments.

Stay tuned! I will cover the next three herbs on the list  in more  detail next time. You'll find out how  to use them and for what conditions they are traditionally used for.


Source: Herbal Antibiotics by Stephen Harrod Buhner.

This post is linked to:
Sunday School
Fat Tuesday 
Healthy 2Day Wednesday 
Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways 
Wildcrafting Wednesday 
Simple Lives Thursday

This information is for educational purposes only and  is not meant to prescribe. Essential oils are safe to use as long as contraindications have been researched prior to use. As always, consult with your health care practitioner if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or suffer from any medical conditions. Some oils are contraindicated in certain conditions, so check out this essential oil safety page to make sure the oils are safe for you.


This post is linked to:
Simple Lives Thursday
Fat Tuesday 
Healthy 2 Day Wednesdays hosted by the Humbled Homenaker
Wildcrafting Wednesday hosted by The Woodwife's Journal 
The Better Mom Mondays Link-Up
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