Our kids need to know this!
Once the vitals were recorded, the medical assistant walked out saying: ‘She’ll be right with you.’. It had been a year since I last saw my nurse practitioner and as I glanced at the celebrity breast cancer survivor posters on the walls, I wondered what fabulous shoe she would be wearing today …
She has the best taste!
There it was. That gentle knock before the door eased open. Ready to greet Diane with my ‘happy to see you smile’, I turned to see my surgical oncologist walking in!
The doctor? Really? I get to see the doctor? I felt like the Cheshire cat grinning from ear to ear! I dug her from day one, and it had been 4 years, so this was a super cool surprise!
Not missing a beat, we chatted like old friends. During the exam, a question came up that led to me ask about her thoughts on the link between bacteria and cancer.
Stupefied, she stepped back to sit. Certainly not the reaction I was expecting. "That’s new to me.” was her response. Chatting a bit, she assured me she and her associate would look into it.
Back on the table, she asked one more question: what was my secret to recovering?
Recovery ….
How about we turn the tides on the trends and show women how to honor their bodies and selves in order to never have to worry about breast cancer?
Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing but gratitude for my body’s ability to heal or my doctor’s acknowledgment. However, how I ended up in recovery from breast cancer … is the million-dollar question.
Trusting family history is a grave mistake. Statistically, it only runs in the family with 5-10% of the women diagnosed. Now you know why I was floored when I became part of the pink ribbon movement.
Every woman is a prime candidate.
The research for my essential oil reference book is a process. SO much science on the compounds, yet the notations consistently say such things as
antimicrobial
anti-inflammatory
antiviral
antibacterial
calming
cytotoxic
antineoplastic
genotoxic
and so on …
Sounds good .. right? It’s the proof we want to know but for me, it’s only scratching the surface.
The human body has various processes for reducing inflammation. The same is so for protecting itself from bacteria, viruses, environmental toxins and cancer!
But I want to know the specifics. This remains either a scientific secret OR remains under investigation. My money is on the latter. Scientists devote tremendous time to understanding nature and the chemicals throughout.
Success leaves clues!
38 trillion. The number of bacteria in and on your body recognized as the biome. It’s not just in your gut. It’s everywhere … including the breast.
Harmony, not balance, is key.
Think of harmony as everything being in tune. Balance is relative. Even a wobble in yoga is considered balance because you can observe your body doing what it can to stabilize. This is what’s happening in your body when stressed.
You may feel out of balance, yet the system is stabilizing itself as needed, leaving you to feel wobbly, out of sorts, off, tired …..
When out of harmony, stress hormones influence microbial infections. What happens from there depends on your epigenome which is unique to you. You may have acquired certain things from your family line; however, your stress response (epigenome) adapts according to you, your life and lifestyle which includes environmental chemicals.
Although reversible, as long as the reaction to stressors remains consistent, your system is constantly doing what it can to remain as stable as possible. In the process, the immune system is put on high alert, now threatening the entire biome. The microbes do what they’re designed to do … protect themselves … from there, the more aggressive ones take over. Hence, gut issues, weight gain, blood sugar problems, etc.
The digestive tract is part of your hormonal system with estrogen receptors in the gut.
Estrogen, besides a factor in the monthly cycle and reproduction, is also a stress hormone.
This does not suggest or encourage you to focus on controlling estrogen. Based on conversations with gynecologists, endocrinologists and the research, it’s wiser to give your attention to the entire hormonal system.
Make harmonizing your brain and body a priority …
Endocrine remediation
Forget stress management or stress relief. Stress is necessary. Without it, your muscles atrophy. Your heart weakens. You lack motivation. Your body cannot repair itself. Stress matters as much as relaxation. Engage in activities with the intention of being the hormonal mediator so your brain can regulate homeostasis! Of course, this doesn’t eliminate pollutants affecting you but it does improve your body’s responses to them!
Your gut will thank you for this and your susceptibility to viral or bacterial infections goes away
Breathe into the heart of peace
Forget breathwork. And don’t wait for a tense moment. Set a reMinder to randomly take deep, conscious breaths. Notice the rigidity … the reluctance to release and relax. FEELNG this, experience yourself breathing into the stillness of your very essence ….
Why does pausing for a deep breath matter?
it feels good to actually breathe … not unlike going to bathroom after holding ‘it’ for longer than you cared too. You don’t pee a few drops at a time, so don’t breathe little breaths at a time.
it relaxes your chest muscles
it replaces the oxygen being rapidly used to produce oxidative stress
it releases toxins
slow deep breaths through your nose reinforce the health of the lung biome
the biome is a network throughout the system … when one is stressed, they’re all stressed and a stressed gut biome impacts the estroblome (a subset of microbes within the gastrointestinal tract).
When the gut microbes are out of balance (a state known as dysbiosis), beta-glucuronidase activity may be altered. In addition to variable levels of this enzyme activity, intestinal microbial richness overall also influences the balance of estrogens circulating in the body. This dysbiosis can lead to either a deficiency or an excess of free estrogen and imbalances between the various forms of estrogen and other hormones, which may promote the development of estrogen-related pathologies and chronic diseases.
Your system at ease promotes stillness and ease for every microbe you are host to … such a strange thing to say YET, it’s a fact or possibly the other way around.
Without a harmonious environment, a healthy lifestyle aimed at preventing breast cancer or any health issue is a waste of time, money and energy. The number of people diagnosed with cancer and other severe conditions in spite of a healthy diet and regular exercise is criminal.
Just yesterday, I learned that a new client, currently 50, has been living on blood thinners since the age of 43, has struggled with her weight since childhood, and despite following a whole food diet for the majority of her life, is the only one in her family to develop these challenges.
I know it’s not breast cancer, however it’s to the point. It takes more than thoughtful actions to be honestly healthy.
Honest means to regard with honor …
Turning the tide on these tragedies asks us to rethink our thoughts.
Embody yourSelf, don’t attempt to control your body. Although not the easiest shift to make if it’s been a way of life for a few years … and it is totally doable.
don’t exercise to lose or control your weight … exercise to feel your body move. Experience the strength and flexibility, taking note of your gains
don’t breathe because you feel stressed … breathe to celebrate life. Things happen. To BREATHE in the moment as a part of life (without judgment) is to receive life FULLY. You are empowering life as it is. In doing so, you are empowering your life.
don’t use essential oils as remedies to detox and/ or protect your health … use them to unite your system. Know better. Act in faith. Learn oils. Know how the body works and how to formulate for your system. Contact me for a free consultation to discuss your goals! Keep in mind that your body responds to natural chemicals before manmade ones, making this a good way to improve your body’s responses to the environment. It also speaks to why the way you combine them with medications matters.
Now I cannot list the ideal oils for you specifically due to unique lifestyles and individual nature, however, I will offer a few suggestions to begin the self-regulation process:
galbanum
douglas fir
turmeric (essential oil is different from the spice)
vetiver
cedarwood atlas
coriander seed
lime
celery seed
This is not set in stone, a guarantee and will definitely change over time. The secret is to introduce and begin using them every day on your tummy, front of your throat, between your toes and under your arms. Even though there are several companies that encourage the ingestion of oils … it is not advisable given the amount of inflammation and the fact that it disturbs the gut biome. Not to mention, topical application and inhalation are far more effective on neuroplasticity.
Experience this for yourself and lead the next generation of girls and boys into a healthier future. Our job is not to tell them, it’s to show them how to turn the tides.