UTI's/Bladder Infections

Urinary Tract Infections, also known as bladder infections, are one of the most uncomfortable infections. Women are much more likely than men to develop UTIs due to the anatomical structure of the urethra.

In this post, I'll share some tips for preventing UTIs. I'm one of the lucky ones who experience recurring UTIs. I've tried a lot of things, and this is what works best for me. 

UTIs are caused when bacteria (usually E.coli) gets into the urethra (where you pee) and travels up to the bladder. The bacteria sink their sharp little selves into the bladder wall, causing irritation and pain. Minimizing the urethra's exposure to bacteria is key for preventing infection. Ways to minimize exposure include:

- Urinating after a bath or swimming (and skipping the bubbles).

- Urinating soon after sex.

- Cleansing ALL the private parts before sex (both partners).

- Wiping front to back.

Remember that the bacteria E.coli generally comes from your digestive tract, which gets eliminated very near the opening of the urethra. 

It's also important to practice these precautions:

- Drink plenty of water and urinate often so the bacteria don't have time to get cozy in your bladder.

- Empty the bladder completely each time.

- Avoid scented feminine products, including bubble baths.

For a lot of women, sex is the most common way to develop a UTI. This is the method that has worked the best for me:

1. Cleanse thoroughly before sex (both partners).

2. Urinate very soon after sex.

3. Take D-Mannose and cranberry pills either before or right after sex, and the day after.

4. Consistent use of femdophilus probiotics for healthy vaginal microbiome. 

Cranberry and D-Mannose discourage the bacteria from latching on to the bladder wall. It's important to note that traditional cranberry juice is NOT strong enough to be useful. Most cranberry juice at the grocery store has a low percentage of actual fruit juice and is full of sugar (which encourages bacteria to grow). If you want to try cranberry juice, you need to get a pure juice from a health food store. It's very tart, which is why most people prefer the pills. 

Femdophilus is a probiotic specifically for maintaining a healthy vaginal microbiome, which will help fight off bad bacteria. Just like our gut needs good bacteria to fight off the bad bacteria, so does our lady parts! 

You can also get a combination of D-Mannose, cranberry, and probiotics in one pill. The probiotic is different than what's in the femdophilus but can be helpful. I don't use this personally because my body didn't like it. 

Another helpful tool for preventing an infection, or nipping the beginnings of an infection in the bud, is Bragg's apple cider vinegar. If I catch the beginnings of an infection soon enough, I will throw back 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar (on a full stomach, not empty), drink lots and lots of water, and take the D-Mannose and cranberry as much as the muscle test will allow. If I catch it early enough, I can stop it in its tracks.

Getting a foot zone can also be very helpful in preventing or treating a bladder infection. I have heard of people using D-Mannose to clear up an active infection. You can also try drinking The Brew (which helps with any kind of infection). I will be the first to admit that when it comes to UTIs, I'm a giant wuss. I've had enough to know when it's gone far enough that I need an antibiotic. I try to avoid antibiotics as much as possible, but when it comes to a raging UTI...I don't hesitate!

To rebuild my gut after a round of antibiotics, I do a week of Bio-K+ probiotic, once a day. Then I do a month of Inner-Eco probiotics, once a day. I choose these probiotics because they are non-dairy and have been known to have better cultures because they stay refrigerated. 

Each body is unique and requires different tools to create health and wellness. Hopefully some of these suggestions will be helpful to you in your journey to health! 

Cold and Sore Throat Tea

This is my favorite remedy when I get slammed with a cold or sore throat. I don't get sick very often. Usually, when I feel like I'm coming down with something I can take my RC tincture and it goes away. But some viruses are just nasty and break through the herbs. Especially when you substitute teach at an elementary school.

This drink revives the energy, clears congestion, and eases a sore throat. But do prepare yourself before taking the first sip! The last time I made this, I was in a hurry and started gulping it down without taking a minute to prepare. It hit my sore throat and I had an involuntary reaction and started coughing and spluttering. The drink went up my nose! Apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper do NOT feel good on the nasal passages!

When purchasing apple cider vinegar, look for the Bragg's brand. It has "the mother" which is the floatie stuff in the vinegar. Some other brands have this also--just make sure you're not purchasing filtered vinegar like Heinz. It doesn't have the same health properties.

The Brew

A few years ago my teenager daughter contracted Mono. She became fatigued and developed a pain in her side which turned out to be an enlarged spleen. To her disdain, I pulled out this recipe for The Brew and made her drink it every day for about a week.

This recipe is excellent for viruses, bacteria, infections, detoxing, and regulating bleeding. For some people, it helps to jumpstart their metabolism. The key ingredient is apple cider vinegar. You have to make sure the apple cider vinegar has "the mother" which is the floaties in the vinegar. Do not buy the clear, filtered apple cider vinegar (like Heinz); it doesn't have the same health properties. My favorite brand is Bragg's.

You can purchase cayenne tincture/extract at health food stores. Start out with just a couple drops and test the temperature. You want the drink to be hot but drinkable.

It's important after drinking The Brew (or any kind of detox) to rebuild the body with probiotics and vitamins. I like to use liquid chlorophyll (aka alfalfa juice) for the rebuild phase.

The Brew

4 Tablespoons raw honey, dissolved in a small amount of warm water (not hot)
4 Tablespoons Bragg's apple cider vinegar
7-10 drops cayenne pepper tincture
A few dashes of cinnamon
Water

Dissolve the honey in a small amount of warm water (not hot). Pour it into a quart jar. Add the apple cider vinegar, a few drops of cayenne tincture, and a couple dashes of cinnamon. Fill the jar with filtered water. Test the temperature and add more cayenne drops until it's hot but drinkable. Keep refrigerated and drink over 2 days. You may want to do a second round of The Brew, or muscle test to see how much to do.

Other products I use to combat infections are Deliverance oil, RC tincture, IF tincture, colloidal silver, a neti pot for sinuses, garlic, and Oscillococcinum homeopathic.

Teacher Appreciation Gift

Another school year is over! I thought when my youngest started Kindergarten that I would have more time to do things like blog about essential oils...ha! Our Kindergarten is only half-day so that's not much time to do anything. His teacher was such a sweetheart and I wanted to give her a little something to say thanks. I had already given her a gift certificate for a foot zone for Christmas, so I decided to fall back on an old favorite and give it a twist. 

I got a cute plastic cup from Walmart and a box of True Lemon packets. Have you tried True Lemon? I love it! I can't stand most lemonade powders because they're too sweet. But True Lemon is made from crystallized lemon, cane sugar, and stevia and only has 1 gram of sugar per packet. To add some extra relaxation, I included a bottle of lavender essential oil. Since I don't know how familiar she is with essential oils, I included a print out of how to use it. Put it all inside the cup, punch a hole in the card and thread it onto the straw, tie a ribbon, and you're done! Feel free to use these images to make a gift for your favorite teacher! 

How to Order Oils

With the publication of my article about essential oils and PCOS, I'm receiving questions about how to order the essential oils I referenced. You can order directly from the Butterfly Express website: https://butterflyexpress.shop/?beid=45

As always, you are welcome to message me with any questions about essential oils! I love talking about oils!

Guest Post: Essential Oils and PCOS

Amy has been my health coach for the past 2 years. She is the founder of pcosdiva.com and is helping to inspire and empower women with PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome). I've known that I have PCOS since I was a teenager and finally took charge of my health in my 30's. I was honored to be asked to guest post on her website about my experience with essential oils and PCOS. You can read the full article here: http://pcosdiva.com/2015/10/you-asked-for-it-the-essential-oils-for-pcos/?inf_contact_key=a369e510edf7afaae7c8cfe805cb9a7b 

If you know anyone who struggles with PCOS, send them to Amy's website! They can download the free PCOS 101 Guide which contains helpful information for understanding this condition. I highly recommend the Jumpstart Program when you're ready to make a change, but don't know how to do it by yourself. Changing your diet and lifestyle can be overwhelming, especially if you don't feel good. Amy holds your hand through a week of online coaching and gives you the tools you need to succeed!

Amy offers seasonal meal plans that are perfectly designed for the PCOS body. What's even better is these meal plans are also wonderful for anyone who wants to eat healthier! The meals are low-glycemic, gluten-free, dairy-free, and processed sugar-free. It's a diet of whole foods which reduce inflammation in the body. This diet is helpful for anyone who has an auto-immune condition, insulin resistance, or just want to feel better.

If you have any questions about PCOS, you can contact me on my Facebook page.

How To Quickly Refresh Your Home

It's been hard for me to break up my love affair with Bath & Body Works room sprays and wall plug-ins. I love having a yummy smelling home! These days, my home always smells like last night's dinner, which includes onions and fresh garlic. That's not exactly the ambiance I'm going for. 

I don't remember where I saw it, but somewhere on the internet I found a brilliant idea for quickly refreshing your home: put a few drops of essential oils on the air filter in your vacuum! 

I had to give it a try! My kiddos have been fighting a virus for the past week, so I grabbed some SpiceC oil (click for more info). SpiceC is my favorite oil to diffuse during cold and flu season because of it's strong anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. It's very similar to Deliverance but has a warm, spicy smell that is perfect for fall and winter. Putting the oils on the air filter can achieve a similar effect as diffusing the oils by disbursing the small, volatile molecules of the essential oil into the air where it purifies the air and we can breathe it into our lungs.

My vacuum's air filter is easy to access at the top of the canister, so it was super simple to put a few drops on it. 

As I vacuumed all over my house, I could smell the SpiceC drifting up from the vacuum. It really lifted my spirits too! I'm going to do this every time I vacuum and try different oils. Because the oils evaporate and diffuse into the air, you will need to reapply with each vacuum. 

During the holidays I'm going to use Holiday Spirit. If my energy is feeling sluggish, peppermint would be helpful to perk things up. During the summer months lemon and lime and other citrus oils would be fun. There are so many possibilities!