Episodes
-
Also known as Chloasma, Melasma is a condition where there is hyperpigmentation of the skin (dark discolouration). It usually shows on the face, especially around the cheek area but can show over the whole face at times. It is also a condition which affects mainly females with South Eastern Asian genetics, but it can affect anyone including males.
What is the difference between Melasma and Chloasma?
Chloasma is when the discolouration is caused by pregnancy.
What triggers Melasma?
The primary trigger of Melasma is hormones. In particular, an imbalance between Progesterone and Estrogen.
Stress (a primary and secondary trigger) can aggravate the condition as well as other conditions which cause hormonal imbalance (for example, pregnancy).
How do we treat Melasma?
The first step is to see what your hormone levels are through a saliva test. We can then work on balancing your hormones.
For topical support (on the affected area) we use a natural exfoliator made with fruit peel along with other natural products.
Nutritional support is important if you are under long term stress (have something to ‘push’ through) or are pregnant.
Can it be cured?
In some cases we can reverse Melasma, but this depends on individual circumstances like age and general health. In most cases we can stop it from progressing or reduce the presentation.
Support
If you would like natural support for Melasma, visit https://www.aurorahealingcodes.com/ to book your appointment. -
Rosacea is often thought of as an appearance problem, where the person is red in the face. While this is not untrue, most people do not realise that, when aggravated, it causes eye-sight problems, pain and irritation and face deformity. It also does not just ‘appear’ out of nowhere and the primary cause needs to be addressed if the person wishes to recover.
Four types of Rosacea
There are four different kinds of Rosacea. This doesn’t mean there are four separate types of Rosacea, more that one Rosacea episode can lead into a more aggravated form.
The first stage is where everything is quite red and the face has capillaries (tiny blood vessels) that are quite noticeable. Many people feel embarrassed about this and with this the face flushes very easily. This is called Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea (a mouthful to pronounce!).
The next stage is Papilla Pustular Rosacea, where the skin presents with elevations, called papules. This can be quite agitating as the skin is already irritated and burning from the first stage. This often gets confused with Acne. The difference is the papules which form in acne contain pus whereas the Rosacea papules are generally just raised bumps.
Phymatous Rosacea is when the nose starts to enlarge and the person starts to get an out-of-shape, contorted nose. This can become quite evident, further adding to embarrassment.
The last stage is where the ocular comes into play and is usually the most aggravating phase. Ocular refers to the eye and with Ocular Rosacea the eyelid becomes droopy, the eyes become very red and eyesight is affected.
What causes Rosacea?
As I mentioned, Rosacea doesn’t just happen for no reason. There are primary and secondary triggers (as I have explained in previous episodes).
Primary Trigger (causal factor)
Hormones - Estrogen dominance, high levels of cortisol and the balance of your hormones generally is the best place to start your investigation.
Secondary Triggers (Aggravating factors)
These are often things that people become aware of through experience, for example:
Hot, spicy food Heat - For example, when washing your face use cool water and pat your face (don’t rub) to dry it (rubbing creates friction which means heat generation). Make-up and creams containing irritating chemicals Quick changes of temperature - Creates changes in the capillaries (dilation and constriction) Medication - Especially those that increase blood flow as they flush more blood to the area, forcing the capillaries to overstretch and then they have difficulty returning to normal. Histamine producing foods and drinks - For example, wine, tomatoes, fermented food and drinks, dairy, strawberries Stress - Directly affects your hormonal balanceTreatment
Getting the right diagnosis is important as skin rashes, hives, eczema etc can all look similar to the untrained eye but treatment may be different depending on the primary and secondary triggers.
Supplementation - Be careful to not take anything that is going to expand the blood vessels. Instead we want something with a cooling effect. Reduce and avoid secondary triggers Ocular and nose changes/damage - Once at this point it can be very difficult and perhaps impossible to completely revert the condition and the damage it has caused. Ointments - We have an ointment in the clinic which has a wonderful cooling effect and also works very well for the Papilla Pustular presentation.To book an appointment (over Zoom or in person) with Maria, contact Perth Psoriasis and Good Skin Clinic through the website https://www.perthpsoriasis.com.au/
Next week we will be talking about Lichen Planters. -
Missing episodes?
-
This week we are talking about Granuloma Annulare and like most skin conditions, it is an autoimmune condition. Granuloma Annulare is often mistaken for the fungal condition, Tinea Corporis (Ringworm) because it looks similar. It is not contagious, does not hurt or burn and can be addressed quite quickly through stress levels and diet.
The difference between Tinea Corporis and Granuloma Annulare
Tinea Corporis presents as a little raised, reddish, round lesion on the skin, with a well defined edge. It can also be flakey and/or itchy in the middle. Granuloma Annulare also has a well defined raised edge and circular appearance but it has a completely different centre. The centre of the Granuloma Annulare is flat, does not (usually) itch or flake and has a wave of different tones of pinks and purples.
It is worth remembering here that if you have any skin condition which is itchy, it is likely a result of your liver not functioning well (e.g. too much sugar and heavy foods) or you are dehydrated from the sun and/or from not drinking enough water.
Where does it present?
Granuloma Annulare is most common in females and young adults but can occur in anyone. It presents most commonly on the hands, feet and heels but I have seen it on faces and the trunk of the body as well. Diagnosis can be done through a biopsy.
Treatment
To treat this condition we look at primary and secondary triggers (as we have discussed previously). We know the primary trigger (what caused the condition) is active if there are new lesions appearing on the skin. A calm nervous system is essential for healing so we look at how much stress the body is under and how we can reduce it to help stop the primary trigger.
We can see if the secondary triggers (what aggravates the condition) are active by looking at whether or not the existing lesions are getting bigger or worse.
As I said, in most cases, Granuloma Annulare can be addressed quite quickly through stress levels and diet. This is because the Granuloma Annulare affects the fibrin net of the skin which is usually the elastin and collagen. This fibrin net requires nutrients to keep producing elastin and collagen (which is why we look at diet) but it also requires certain hormones (which is case specific).
Vitamin D, Vitamin E, coconut oil and apple cider vinegar can all be helpful when you have Granuloma Annulare as they are very supportive of the skin. However, they will not treat the condition. Treating the condition will require both internal and topical support in the majority of cases for a fast recovery. The longer the condition has been present (before seeking assistance) the longer it will (likely) take to recover.
Next week we are talking about Rosacea.
To book an appointment (over Zoom or in person) with Maria, contact Perth Psoriasis and Good Skin Clinic through the website https://www.perthpsoriasis.com.au/
-
This is episode four in our holistic care for skin series. Fungal conditions of the skin not only affect how your skin appears but can also be extremely painful, itchy and debilitating. Today we are talking about what the most common fungal conditions are and how we can treat them naturally.
Fungal conditions are something we call mycosis, which is an external fungus which is bigger than a bacteria and takes over your body. We normally know the fungal condition called Candida (or yeast) which makes many females panic because it can be a really tough issue to get on top of, especially because it tends to show up in the vaginal area which is very moist making it the perfect area for Candida to grow. In today’s episode however, we are not talking about internal presentations of Candida like this, but we will address it as a skin presentation.
Forms of fungal conditions on the skin:
Pityriasis Versicolor - Trunk, neck and/or arms
Tinea Corporis - Most common type, known as ringworm. Corporis Means in your body or comes from your core.
Tinea Pedis - Presents mostly between the toes but can also be seen between fingers.
Tinea Cruris - Presents in the groin area, between thighs and genitals.
Candida - Presents in the genital region (jocks itch) and also under the breasts
There are other forms as well but as these are the most common this is where we will focus our attention today.
For a fungal condition to take hold of the body it must have the right body conditions. The biggest factor is a low body pH (acidic). We have spoken about being too acid a lot in previous episodes. If you missed it I highly recommend going back and learning how to alkalise your body. Moisture and darkness are two other conditions which encourage fungal growth on the body.
Tinea Corporis (Ringworm) lives in soils, pets and water with the perfect conditions described above. If/when we come in contact with it and we have a low pH it will be able to grow and spread, using our body as a host. You can see the effects of ringworm on the skin where you get patches of light red circles with defined edges. They are almost flat and slightly flaky. These spots will not necessarily itch.
Tinea Pedis shows up more like a cut in between the toes. It can be very painful, especially when you sweat, due to the rawness and blistering it can create. Candida varies from Tinea in that it is a lot more red and itchy.
Pityriasis Versicolor is a different family or variety of fungus from Tinea. It prevents the sunlight from hitting the melanocytes (sun receptors on the skin which create pigment) and thus creates patchy, white areas over the body. Pityriasis Versicolor does not create flakiness or have a well defined edge.
What should you be aware of if a fungal condition has taken hold?
Look at what you are eating and drinking that could be contributing to a low pH. Reduce stress levels - High cortisol can definitely make you acid. Supplement to help neutralise the pH If it is on the toes, keep them dry. Avoid synthetics and polyester in which you will tend to sweat and trap the sweat in. Cotton is both breathable and cooling so it is the best option. Some people tend to use talcum powder to help with Tinea, but it is very toxic so it is not recommended. However, arrowroot powder is a good substitute and if you have essential oils you can blend a few drops of Lavender (not Lavandin as that will burn) with the arrowroot before applying. For the other types where they are covering large areas (that aren’t necessarily moist) we need to use an ointment. Sometimes we also need to exfoliate, especially with tinea corporis, as we need to remove the scale as the fungus dies so the new skin can come through. Exfoliation is best done twice a day as the skin regenerates about 3 times per day. Support the immune system as a low immune system leaves the door open for any number of parasites, bacteria, viruses etc and fungus is no exception. A good starting point is to supplement with some Zinc, Vitamin D and Vitamin C. Be mindful, that is some skin conditions, Vitamin C is not recommended as it can aggravate your skin.For support and to book an appointment with Maria, head to https://www.aurorahealingcodes.com/
-
This is the third episode in a series about natural treatment for skin conditions.
I have become known as a complementary dermatologist for supporting people with skin conditions in a natural way. Remember that the information I give is for guidance and for your understanding and not for treatment or diagnosis purposes.
What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition which can present in many different ways, according to the type of psoriasis. It can range in intensity and effect on quality of life from very mild to severe and even death. Most people are not aware there are nine forms of psoriasis or that most forms of psoriasis are not scaling conditions (where the skin flakes off). Psoriasis also often gets mistaken for candida (yeast) infections or fungal nail conditions, which makes patients believe there is no help for their symptoms (because the treatment given is not effective). However, with the right holistic treatment, great relief and healing occurs.
Where psoriasis presents on the body...
Plaque Psoriasis - Plaque psoriasis can either be thick plaques or hyperkeratotic plaques which often look like fish scales. Plaque psoriasis is often seen around the elbows and knees but it can also go to other parts of the body.
Erythrodermic psoriasis - This is when 90% of the body becomes red, hot, inflamed and oozing fluid. Erythrodermic psoriasis can literally kill patients and people with this condition are often hospitalised. It is a very exhausting and aggravating condition.
I recall having a young teen patient with erythrodermic psoriasis who, after a year in hospital, did not have much relief. With tissue salts and some other natural treatments this patient experienced great relief within two weeks and within a month she was almost fully restored.
Scalp psoriasis - On the head.
Palm or plantar psoriasis - On the base of the feet and palms of the hand.
Pustular psoriasis - Presents as little vesicles (small white or yellow pus-filled pustules). This condition can become quite nasty.
Flexural psoriasis - Is generally thin and red and is seen on the groin, armpit, where the mammary glands are (breasts) and/or umbilical area.
Joints - Psoriasis on the joints can be very painful and is often mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis. One of the keys to identifying it as psoriasis is noticing that it is on the small joints like the toe joints. It is common for psoriasis on the toe joint to become swollen, hot and very painful to the touch.
Aggravating substances to joint pain associated with psoriasis are grains (specifically wheat products) and aromatic synthetic substances. The key to keeping the joints happy is to alkalise the body. Joints and a low pH (acid) do not work well together.
Nail psoriasis - Nail psoriasis can make the nails very thick and sometimes there can be thick ridges and even drops of blood.
What else do we need to consider when supporting the body to heal psoriasis?
Reducing stress Supporting major organs, especially the liver Mineral support Topical supportPsoriasis is different to eczema and dermatitis as it needs to be supported locally on the part of the skin that is inflamed/hardened. The skin normally regenerates three times a day so having an application of ointment is essential to support the improvement otherwise the area can get quite dry. If the skin is dry then it will be itchy. The itchiness makes the person scratch and when the person scratches it brings a breakdown on the surface of the skin. As a consequence the person tends to rebuild their scale because there is normally a faulty system with psoriasis where the skin regenerates more than one layer. Hydration is also important for the same reason in that if you are dehydrated you will scratch more.
Diet wise, people with psoriasis should avoid histamine inducing foods and any food which is heavy on the liver. If the liver is not functioning properly then itchy skin is one of the effects of excess toxins in the body. Things we need to avoid include coffee, alcohol, excessive salt, anything high in sugar (drinks and food) and making sure you eat lots of greens (magnesium, calcium and Vit B which are all essential for skin health)
When psoriasis patches are healing you are not going to see extremely quick changes. What you will notice is the center of the lesion will become flatter and paler and then the edges will improve.
For nail psoriasis, the nails regenerate at a much slower pace than the skin so you can expect it to take longer. We do, however, have treatments at the clinic, which are very effective for nail psoriasis.
For professional support with your skin conditions
Book an appointment with Maria Arora at https://www.aurorahealingcodes.com/
-
This is the second of a series of episodes about skin conditions.
I have become known as a complementary dermatologist for supporting people with skin conditions in a natural way. Remember that the information I give is for guidance and for your understanding and not for treatment or diagnosis purposes.
Eczema is a distressing condition which affects many children and adults. It is often treated with steroid creams and treatments which do not help in the long term healing and rebalancing of the body. When you understand what is happening when the body presents with eczema you can find great relief and healing with the right steps of body support.
The difference between eczema and dermatitis
Eczema is usually more localised than dermatitis and you usually find it in the cubital fossa (inner elbow) or the popliteal fossa (behind the knee). Other common areas include around the neck, mouth and eyes. Eczema can be considered as an atopic presentation, meaning it is a long standing condition which tends to flare periodically.
There are different ways that eczema can present, including:
Nummular eczema - coin-like and responds a little different from normal type of eczema Generalized - Everything gets red itchy and extremely swollen (looks like a dermatitis presentation) Lichen-like presentation - when it looks leather-like, usually a chronic conditionWhat triggers eczema to flare?
When eczema flares, it is the immune system saying, “I am not happy. There is something annoying me. Please can we get rid of this trigger!” We then need to look at what these triggers may be and we address both external and internal factors.
External factors include pollens, grasses, animal fur, food, dust mites and chemical agents. We also have internal factors like stress hormones which can create an aggravation.
If the eczema is red, hot, itchy and/or burning then we know we are having a histamine response (see last week's episode # 30).
Factors to consider with eczema
Are proteins from dietary intake breaking down properly? Is the blood and gut pH balanced? Is the gut flora balanced Do we need to support any mineral deficiencies? What is the trigger and how can we remove it?We need to consider each of these factors and perhaps change more than one but not every case will need to have each area addressed. Quite often, the difficulty is trying to work out what is causing the problem. Is it internal or external, environmental or nutrition or a combination?!
As a rule of thumb, when we are treating eczema we:
Deworm - When parasites have been in the body for a while, we tend to get leaky gut, have poor digestion and uptake of nutrients and have an acid pH. As a consequence the immune response becomes higher (which can result in eczema flares). Introduce high quality probiotics Take digestive enzymes Cut histamines, grains, dairy, nuts and acid forming foods - Once the condition settles we can reintroduce slowly and notice how the body responds so we can work out if any are triggering an immune response.Acid forming foods include fizzy drinks, coffee, alcohol (especially spirits),wheat and dairy
Also look out for meals that can be triggering as a whole. For example Spaghetti bolognaise where the wheat is acid forming, the tomato is high in histamine and the cheese is both acid and histamine forming.
A big misunderstanding is when we say, cut out grains and then people reach for gluten free carbohydrates. Gluten-free is not necessarily the solution as there are other proteins which can be triggering to the immune system which are found in other grains, aside from wheat.
Avoid topical creams which will aggravate (including essential oils) Avoid hot water exposure - Hot water will increase the histamine response If the skin is weeping - No exposure to water on the skin at all (better to be a little smelly than worsen the condition!). When I see conditions that are weeping I also find that we need to support the liver and apply tissue salts topically to the affected areas. Topical application of tissue salts - With eczema, we find the topical application of tissue salts to be extremely beneficial. To apply the tissue salts, we crush them with the back of a spoon, sprinkle over the area and then tap to remove the excess. The tissue salts which can help may be 2, 11, 10 and 12. I highly recommend seeking professional help however as the tissue salts you will need and the quantity and frequency you should take them will depend on the individual circumstances (age, external factors etc).If there is an acute flare-up of a chronic condition, for example a person with red, how, swollen and itchy patches but who also has lichen-like patches of skin (usually around wrists and ankles), we look at treating the problem area first (the acute flare up) and then we address the bigger picture.
When we look at the bigger picture we quite often find more than one condition (not just eczema). For example, impetigo (school sores) and eczema or acne and eczema. In these cases we have to prioritise what we are treating (we can’t address everything at once). We prioritise by treating what is the most aggravating first.
For professional support with your skin conditions
Book an appointment with Maria Arora at https://www.aurorahealingcodes.co
-
I have become known as a complementary dermatologist for supporting people with skin conditions in a natural way. Contrary to popular belief skin conditions often involve many different body systems and can be complex to treat. I.e. A topical cream may be required but it likely won't be enough for full healing. This is the first of our holistic skin healing series.
Before we get stuck in, it is important to note that different conditions mean a different state of your immune system. Or, in simple terms, skin conditions can be caused by processes occurring (or not occurring) deep in the body. This can get quite complicated, so while I am speaking about how you can help yourself, keep in mind that you may require professional assistance to get to the root cause of the problem.
When looking at health and disease there are certain steps the body has to go through. For example, if you are diagnosed with cancer this comes from a progression of stages which has occurred within the body, involving many body systems. There is also a hierarchy within the organ systems and skin would be near the top of that hierarchy, where it is generally the first symptom you will notice and is often the last symptom to disappear. This is not true for every case but it is quite common.
There are also conditions which are more inflammatory in nature and which can come from either external or internal sources. For example, if you are stung by a bee (external inflammatory source) there will be redness, swelling and pain on the area of skin where you were stung. An internal inflammatory source would be something coming from inside of the body, like hormonal imbalance.
When we speak about chronic conditions we are speaking about conditions which develop over a period of time. As I indicated, these cases develop with many other organ systems involved and thus take longer to address because there are more of the body systems which need balancing.
The reason why I am taking the time to stress the hierarchy of body systems involved in many skin conditions is because many people believe that when there is a chronic skin condition that the gut is to blame. This is not true. The gut may well be part of the problem but there are many more systems which will need to be balanced to bring the skin back into harmony and it’s probable that these other systems will need to be prioritised over the gut.
Another way to look at skin conditions (instead of acute or chronic) is to think of it in terms of external triggers (e.g a bee sting or chemical exposure) vs internal triggers (body system malfunction).
Treating skin conditions is something that practitioners have been trying to master for a very long time and it takes a lot of study to begin understanding it.
As a general rule of thumb. If something is red, burning, swollen and itching then you need to reduce the amount of histamines you are ingesting, are exposing your body to or which are being produced by your body.
As an example, if you have a really hot shower and your skin gets red, the redness is a result of histamines being produced. This same effect can happen while exercising when you overheat.
Some foods like strawberries create a histamine response in the body. These are things that are imperative to remove (especially in acute cases) if we are going to address conditions coming from histamine responses (red, itchy, burning, swelling).
Our body also detoxifies through the skin when the liver, lymphatics and kidneys are not able to detox effectively. So you can see how important it is to have good nutrition not only to reduce the amount of histamine foods but also to supply the organs of detoxification (liver, lymphatic, kidneys) with the nutrition they need to work effectively.
A good example of this is when we have a diet with too much acid-forming foods and drinks (e.g. caffeine, fizzy drinks, sugar) and heavy foods containing too much cholesterol (e.g. fried foods, coconut oil etc).
We have spoken in previous episodes about how the extracellular space becomes very dense/thick when the body pH is too acid making it difficult to detox. (Listen to episode 20 for more information on body acidity and what causes it)
We need to consider the state of the liver, the PH of the body and consequently the minerals. If the minerals are not in balance you are going to be slow to regenerate your skin and have a good immune response. (I have recorded a whole series on mineral therapy. If you haven't listened already it is well worth your time in order to understand how minerals affect and regulate your body at the deepest level).
When we address skin conditions in this series we are going to look at primary triggers and secondary triggers. A primary trigger is something which initiates a condition, whereas a secondary trigger is something that continues to aggravate the original flare or symptoms.
Each condition has different primary and secondary triggers. For example, in the case of scabies there are little midgets that burrow under the skin, creating a tunneling system. In this case we can see that the midgets/scabies are the primary trigger. The body's immune response should be to rid itself of the scabies. If the immune response is not adequate we need to look at pH (acidity) and minerals to see what is out of balance/why the immune response is not working. Therefore the secondary trigger is likely to be pH and/or mineral imbalance. In this case, while we would support the immune response, we would look at attacking the initial agent (the scabies) itself as our primary focus.
In another example let's say we have a burn. The primary trigger is heat but as part of the healing process we look at nutrition and protection because we need to regenerate our skin (which requires protein, minerals and adequate fluids) and avoid infection from external sources. In this case, we are focusing on avoiding the potential secondary triggers (lack of nutrition and exposure to pathogens) as our main focus of treatment.
What happens when you have a long term inflammatory condition?
These types of conditions cause a lot of suffering and we often see people coming into the clinic desperate for help. Examples are eczema, dermatitis, granuloma annularis, rosacea, acne, fungal conditions and nine different forms of psoriasis.
As these conditions involve many body systems, we are going to be addressing these in the coming episodes.
If you require support for your skin problem (or any other health problem) head to https://www.aurorahealingcodes.com/ to book an appointment with Maria Arora.
-
Below is a brief synopsis of my journey into natural medicine. Have a listen to the podcast chat between myself and Michelle Marsh where I share some of my personal stories and anecdotes.
This is my journey and how I went from practicing Western Medicine into Natural Therapies despite the obstacles life threw at me which included constant moving, children, cancer, stroke and divorce.
I knew from the age of 9 years old that I was going to be helping people and as a child I would go to the library and get books out that taught about the human body purely because it was interesting to me.
In high school I moved from Chile to Brazil and when they assessed me they put me a grade up. This proved to be one of the first ‘challenges’ that life was to set for me as I had to learn both a new language as well as performing at a higher level.
After school, I almost didn’t go into medicine. The caring part of my personality wanted to be a nurse, however my father had different ideas and was horrified at the thought of my abilities not being put into medicine.
I of course enjoyed all of the subjects in medicine but I took a keen interest in Microbiology.
During my studies I had experience working in emergency and theatre and had a range of experiences from being punched in the face by drunk patients through to caring for people who are in the end stage of life.
My Hindu late husband exposed me to Homeopathy and a holistic approach. With my late husband I lived in India, Germany and many other countries. In India I was exposed to the ‘freshness’ of food in its natural state. I learned to cook from scratch and I noticed how unprocessed foods were accepted by the body more readily.
When we moved to Australia, in order to continue practicing medicine I would need to do further study. At this stage we had children however and I was already wanting to move into natural therapies so I enrolled to do Naturopathy majoring in Nutrition and Homeopathy.
It’s safe to say I have functioned at a high level for a long period of time but it wasn’t always smooth sailing.
Living in India with my late husband's family wasn’t easy. There was a big difference in culture and while my Western clothes were conservative they were still Western. I had to learn to grind spice and mill flour to make bread daily and I had chores which consisted of things like getting water from the street pump.
My late husband also made life difficult for me. He was not happy with my desire to study naturopathy and so said that if I choose to do it I must make sure I keep doing all the household responsibilities. I.e. cooking him 3 meals from scratch per day, staying home with the children and keeping the house impeccable. I also had to find a way to pay for my studies as he would not support them.
A year into my studies I developed cervical cancer, which became another bump in the road. Thankfully, I knew how to treat myself naturally.
Soon after I had healed, I was pregnant with my fourth baby. I didn’t return to study after my baby as my husband encouraged me to study nursing because it would produce a faster income (because of my medical training) than studying naturopathy.
It wasn’t long before things got worse in my marriage and there was abuse on many levels. When divorcing I represented myself in court, with the help of a very good friend and gained full custody of the children. I found myself in a position again where I could not continue my studies and so I left nursing and applied myself fully to my jobs as a nursing assistant, interpreter and mother to my beautiful children.
At this stage I was working the night shift and caring for my 2, 5, 7 and 9 year old children during the day. Sometimes I wouldn't sleep for two days in a row.
In hindsight it wasn’t surprising that one day I woke up paralysed down one side of my body. I was in hospital for 10 days after the stroke. When I went home I began to heal myself once again with natural medicine.
While still recovering from my stroke, my old teacher from Homeopathy called and told me I needed to return to my studies. My teacher was adamant and so I returned to finish my diploma despite working two jobs, being a single mother and not being well.
All of these difficulties enabled me to gain courage so I could become the resilient person I am today. Along the way I also had many people and moments which gave me the motivation to be the joyful, positive person I am. I have channeled all of these learnings into continuing my education and since graduating from Naturopathy I have studied something new every year, including Mineral Therapy (which became a cornerstone of my practice) Bowen Therapy, Bio regulatory medicine, Blood Analysis, Biological Medicine for Cancer, Essential Oils, Raindrop Technique, Relationship and Post-abortion Grief Counselling, Alfa Thermography, Genetics, Sound Healing, Mentoring and Mindset, Dermatology, Qi Gong and more.
https://www.aurorahealingcodes.com/
-
If you had to choose just four essential oils what would you choose? In today's episode we discuss why we choose the essential oils we use on a daily basis and how they could possibly help you too.
When I first found essential oils I was on the lookout for something that could help my patient’s to process emotions. I was introduced to a technique called Raindrop and I was astounded by the results, not only for my patients but also for myself as I was coming in contact with them for 4 hours every day as I was giving the treatments.
The essential oils in the Raindrop treatment are oregano, thyme, basil, wintergreen, cypress, Aroma Seize (blend), peppermint, marjoram and Valor (blend). These essential oils are stimulating and cleansing oils.
My top four essential oils:
1 - Sacred Frankincense
Sacred Frankincense is high frequency and works beautifully for the law of attraction. At the same time it is also a grounding, bringing us back into our bodies. This dual action of raising the vibration while also grounding makes it pretty special. In biblical times, Jesus was given Frankincense. Why? It’s assumed that it was sought after due to the quantity of infant mortality and disease. Sacred Frankincense is higher boswellic acid (the active ingredient) than other types of frankincense.
2 - Progessence Phyto Plus
Progessence Phyto Plus (blend) balances female hormones and energies (including mindset). I apply this essential oil on my thighs every morning.
3 - Clary Sage
Clary sage works well with the effect of Progessence Phyto Plus in keeping hormones in ratio with each other. I apply this essential oil over my stomach in the mornings and will add it to my home made face moisturiser if my skin is a bit flushed, which can be a sign of estrogen not being in equilibrium with the body.
4 - Gratitude
Gratitude is a beautiful blend which helps to balance the emotions and get our mindset in the right frame where we can attract high vibration experiences and manifestations.
My oily routine
As soon as I wake up I reach to my bedside table and choose something for a quick pick-me-up (the oil I choose changes). After my shower I put Sacred Frankincense on my face, Gratitude (blend) on my wrists, wintergreen on my neck, deodorant (made up with lavender tea tree and natural ingredients), progessence on my thighs and clary sage on my abdomen. I also make a moisturiser for my face. The essential oils in my moisturiser depends on what I feel I intuitively know as well as looking at my skin and choosing oils which will help. I look for redness, swelling, dry, too moist etc. For example, if it is: Too dry - I will not use frankincense because frankincense dries out the skin (which is why it is good for pimples) Flushed/hot - I know this is an imbalance between progesterone and estrogen so I put a bit of clary sage in the cream A bit puffy - I use geranium because geranium aids detoxification More wrinkly than normal then I reach for helichrysumDuring the day, I often add lemon essential oil to my water. Lemon essential oil has an active component called D-limonene which has a lot of benefits.
If I have eaten some sugar (usually dark chocolate), then I will put a drop of ocotea under my tongue and some Juvaflex (blend) over my liver.
My favourite scent from an essential oil (currently) is lemon myrtle and frankincense. Orange is also a big favourite as it puts you in a happy place almost instantly.
In the evening I use cedarwood on my forehead to help with sleep.
Michelle’s favourite oils:
Progessence and clary sage in the morning Digize in Ningxia to aid digestion Endoflex over adrenals and thyroid Shoulders - Aroma Seiz (blend), marjoram, wintergreen and Panaway (blend) are all used in different combination Orange in the diffuser (with almost every blend) Frankincense on my forehead for clarity Vetiver to help calm myself down (especially if my adrenals are working overtime and I am having trouble grounding). Idaho Balsam Fir is also very good for this. For an energy boost I reach for spruce or Shutran (blend)Should we rotate our essential oil routines?
While too much of anything can pose a risk to the human body, in the case of essential oils if we are applying them topically or inhaling them, this is unlikely to happen. This is because essential oils attach to receptor sites on cells and if the body does not require the essential oil there will be no receptor site for it to attach to and thus will be excreted out of the body. Essential oils have an action lifespan of about 20 minutes in the human body.
In saying this, if you are not using an essential oil that is pure then it will contain toxins that will absolutely accumulate and cause damage to the body. This is also true for rancid oils.
As far as changing your essential oil routine, your body usually naturally draws away from using it. You may find that you just forget to apply it or perhaps you are no longer drawn to it. Don’t be afraid to trust yourself and your inner guidance on what is good for you and when.
Mentoring
For mentoring and support around essential oils (or any other health related topic) head to www.aurorahealingcodes.com
You are also invited to join our Mindset for Success Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/815926559012448/
Podcast episode
This week’s episode was a conversation between host Maria Arora (Naturopath) and Michelle Marsh (Aromanosis Coach).
-
Have you heard the saying ‘green with envy?’ and wondered where it came from? It comes from the emotional association of envy (jealousy) with the liver and gallbladder. And funnily enough, the gallbladder produces bile, which is green!
Today we are talking about which emotions affect what body organs and systems. In a similar fashion to the green with envy example, we can look at different emotions and see the effects they have on certain parts of the body.
The Chinese medicine system helps us gain better understanding as it corresponds to the different body organs and systems with emotions. Drawing on this system, I have described some of the body systems and their corresponding emotions, as well as the recommended essential oils for these areas. But please keep in mind that this is a surface level look into a very deep and complex topic. So if you enjoy what you learn today, know that there is much much more to discover!
Kidneys
Our kidneys (and adrenals) are associated with fear. When the adrenals are overworked (due to too much nervous system stimulation) we get exhausted. So we know that where there is fear, there is also exhaustion.
When we are thinking about how to treat fear we can think of the law of opposites. The opposite of fear is knowledge. This is because fear is related to the unknown. When we are afraid we are scared of what might occur (be it in 10 seconds or 10 years). Ie. We are projecting into the future. The way we balance this is by focusing on the present. There is a beautiful essential oil blend called Present Time which works wonders for bringing the mind back to the here and now and thus is also extremely beneficial for states of fear. Another essential oil blend I highly recommend is called Valor because it helps us to have courage in the face of fear (Valor also contains oils which help to calm us, which work to also calm the adrenals).
Lungs & heart
When looking at the Chinese medicine system we look at the lungs & heart connection and grief is the emotion which affects these areas. If you think about what grief is, it is the loss of something. We also want to take note here that sadness does not necessarily mean grief. Sadness is an emotion which we can experience in reaction to a range of stimulus but grief is another level where we are feeling the pain of loss.
The opposite of grief (loss) is abundance. And so when looking at treating grief, we support the lungs and cardiovascular system as well as bringing in lots of support and nurturing emotionally so the person can experience emotional abundance again.
Because of the association with the lungs, people experiencing severe grief often experience respiratory illnesses - e.g. emphysema, chronic coughs, colds etc.
As we know by now, we can’t separate mind and body. If you know what oil works for the body then it will correspond with the emotion of that area and vice versa. Ylang Ylang is known to work well on the circulatory system and it is also a ‘happy’ oil which brings us connection and thus fills a void often experienced in grief.
Aromalife supports and strengthens the pumping action of the heart and is also a worthwhile blend to reach for.
Musculoskeletal
When looking at the emotional association with musculoskeletal injuries or problems as yourself, where is the injury and what is it preventing you from doing? How is this serving your current thought process? Are you avoiding something or feeling like you can’t get anywhere in life (legs/feet) or perhaps you are feeling unsupported (back pain)? You may notice that your comments relate not only to your problem but also to your thought processes and thus life generally.
Thyroid/throat
Your thyroid and throat area relate to speaking your truth. It also relates to listening to others and feeling like you are being heard. Someone who isn’t speaking their truth may make sounds like they are clearing their throat all the time. If this is you, or if you have any constriction or pain in the throat or thyroid area, ask yourself, what aren't you saying? Or what are you saying that you don't really believe? We often see this manifest in couples where one person is more dominant than the other. The submissive person often does not speak up and thus manifests problems with the throat or thyroid.
The essential oil myrtle really helps with self expression. It is also useful for anyone who has lost their voice.
Digestive problems
When the digestive system is not functioning properly it is losing nourishment and therefore is also related to not nourishing the self properly. The pancreas is closely related to digestive problems as it creates the enzymes needed to break down particles (and thus receive the nourishment). The pancreas is emotionally related to not having ‘sweetness’ in life. Do you see the connection? Physically the pancreas also regulates our blood sugar levels and people who have illnesses related to pancreas (eg diabetics) can often be bitter and dissatisfied with life. When people lose the sweetness from life they try to get it through sweet foods instead. This is how it affects the pancreas and leads to diabetes. The essential oils ocotea, cinnamon and cassia are wonderful essential oils for balancing this area.
When it comes to the bowels constipation often means you are not letting go of something whereas diarrhoea can mean you have finally let go!
Liver
The liver is a processor of strong negative emotions (eg anger, jealousy etc) and the essential oils which are beneficial for supporting the gallbladder and liver are german chamomile, geranium, ledum and a blend called JuvaCleanse.
A tip - If you are supporting yourself with essential oils to help with emotions associated with the liver, be mindful not to eat a heavy diet (fatty foods etc) that will burden the liver, as this will be counterproductive. We must support the body (eg eating low GI carbs, fresh vegetables, minerals, lots of water etc) when cleansing emotions just as we need to support the emotions (coaching/counselling, journaling, self development practices) when we are detoxifying the body.
If detoxifying emotions, use an oil blend called Release and apply over the liver.
Skin
We can’t really pinpoint just one emotion for the skin because when our skin is showing signs of chronically being upset, it is a symptom of a deeper problem, most likely related to hormones. These longer term skin issues are quite often related to feeling unseen.
An acute skin problem which is itchy and red is most likely related to detoxification, so there may be an emotion which you have repressed which is wanting to come out.
Emotions have STRONG effects!
Our emotions have very strong and REAL effects on the body. Many years ago I saw a girl who was experiencing hemorrhaging with no apparent cause. After speaking with her I found out she was engaged and that she was not wanting to go through with the wedding. After speaking with me she decided to be honest and cancel the wedding. Her hemorrhaging symptoms disappeared.
Be mindful of your words. “MY back pain” means you are owning it. Instead say “This back pain I am experiencing”... and then apply Panaway!
Essential Oils:
We have mentioned many essential oils in today’s blog. It’s worth noting that essential oils bind to receptor sites of cells to create an action. If the body doesn't need it, the oils won’t bind and thus will be excreted by the body. This is why different people get different results. Because we are all unique in our needs.
When choosing essential oils, trust your intuition. We have the same ability as animals to smell and sense what we need versus what we should avoid, we just don’t trust ourselves and have been taught to seek the answers for our problems outside of ourselves.
In saying this, it is handy to have a base level of education and if your problems are complicated, guidance may be helpful.
If you would like to learn more about essential oils and how to use them, please get in contact with the clinic to arrange an appointment with Maria, who will help you to choose the right ones for your specific circumstances as well as teach you how to use them.
Mentoring
For mentoring and support (physical and mental) head to www.aurorahealingcodes.com
You are also invited to join our Mindset for Success Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/815926559012448/
Podcast episode
This week’s episode was a conversation between host Maria Arora (Naturopath) and Michelle Marsh (Aromanosis Coach).
-
This is the third episode of our series on mindset and goal setting.
Today we are talking about mindset and how it affects you.
Mindset is the way you think and will affect your results. We have a thinking part of the brain which can accept and reject ideas. But we also have a subconscious part of the brain which automatically accepts what comes through to it. It is what is in our subconscious minds which determines our belief systems and paradigms. Our belief systems and paradigms lead us into actions and results.
When we have an undesirable result that keeps repeating, we know we need to look at our subconscious beliefs and patterns because this is what is driving us to make the decisions/actions which lead to the undesirable result.
How do we change subconscious beliefs and patterns?
By tapping into the emotions which are generated by these subconscious systems we begin to unlock and reshape them.
It sounds like a simple process, and it is, but it also requires steps that require a lot of discipline.
Before we are disciplined however, we need to make some choices.
Here are some tips:
1 - It may sound obvious but once you know what you want you need to dispose of the things which are not in alignment with your goal and keep (or add in) the things that are in alignment. If you stick to this formula it will help you to make faster choices.
2 - Connect to your feelings. Sometimes we spend a lot of time thinking about what we should do and we forget to check in with our feelings about the possible choices.
Once we have made a choice, we need to look at creating new habits and actions which will take us in the direction of that choice.
Most people can begin taking new steps or actions towards their goals, but this is another spot where many people revert back to their old ways. This is because, when we begin something new, we are ultimately faced with challenges that feel extremely difficult because we have not faced them before. This feels very uncomfortable but it is important to know that this feeling of discomfort is where your growth is. Most people however, retreat back to old habits and behaviours at this point because what is ‘known’ is much easier and feels comfortable.
As we said, creating new habits and sticking to them takes energy and diligence. We all have the capability, it is just whether or not you choose to use it.
Mentoring
For mentoring and support around your mindset and goal setting head to www.aurorahealingcodes.com
You are also invited to join our Mindset for Success Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/815926559012448/
-
This is the second episode of our series on mindset and goal setting.
Today we are talking about goals that have a high chance of succeeding.
There are three different types of goals: A goals, B goals and C goals.
A type Goals are things that you already know how to do. This type of goal does not generally fill you with as much passion as the other types of goals.
B type goals are things that if you practice and take certain action with diligence you will be able to achieve.
C type goals are more difficult to achieve and might even feel like a fantasy. C goals require a lot of steps and action to be taken to achieve.
The key to achieving any of these goals is the ‘taking action’ part. Without taking action your goals will remain a dream.
The trap people fall into when looking at C type goals, is being overwhelmed by all the steps needed to achieve the goal. Usually, with this type of goal, it is not possible to know ALL the steps and so it is not uncommon to be stuck in the phase of trying to plan everything out, instead of just getting started.
When you continue to dream about your vision you will stay in the energy of that dream and by the universal laws of action and reaction you will attract the same frequency. This means you will naturally create steps (or mini A and/or B goals) towards your big C goal.
Can you achieve big, amazing C goals? Absolutely! There are very few goals (we want) that are not attainable.
Will you put in the required energy to achieve it and believe in yourself enough to take action? This is the big question and the reason many people fail. Either they simply do not want to do the work required or they do not believe it is possible.
What is the difference between the person who succeeds at their chosen goal versus a person who does not? It comes down to persistence and diligence to keep moving forward, doing the things that most people think are too difficult or unpleasant. The person who succeeds, keeps working at their dream.
Mentoring
For mentoring and support around your mindset and goal setting head to www.aurorahealingcodes.com
You are also invited to join our Mindset for Success Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/815926559012448/
-
This is the first episode of our series on mindset and goal setting.
Do you know what motivates you?
Do you know what you really want?
Today we are talking about creating visions and goals.
We begin with choosing goals that inspire you. How do you do this?
The best way is to sit down for 15 minutes with some nice music playing in the background and just let your mind wander. Allowing your mind to wander is the important step. When we allow our minds to wander we are opening the door to creativity and it is through the creative mind that we will discover who we want to be, or what we want to do or have.
As different goals begin to evolve in your mind, a vision will begin to evolve. When we have a vision in life, the vision shapes the actions and decisions we make (our goals). And as we work towards our vision it ultimately evolves further, taking us closer to our purpose.
Working on our vision requires:
Planning Understanding Awareness Diligence And of course what your vision or destination is!Surprisingly a lot of people do not know what vision they are working towards. If you want to go on holiday but you haven’t chosen where, how do you know what plane to catch? Or even if you need a plane at all to get there? Without knowing your destination, you could end up traveling to the airport and buying a ticket that you don’t need. This is how we waste time, energy and resources and so I cannot stress how important this first step or choosing a destination/vision is. Also, keep in mind that you can always change your vision as you learn more about yourself and what fulfills you. The important thing is to choose something to work towards.
Once you know what your vision is, write it down and review it often. Speak it out loud and imagine what it will feel like once you have achieved it. There is a power in writing, speaking and repeating your goals which will allow you to start taking action, to believe more strongly in your direction and to begin creating.
Mentoring
For mentoring and support around your mindset and goal setting head to www.aurorahealingcodes.com
You are also invited to join our Mindset for Success Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/815926559012448/
-
This is the third episode in our three part series on stress.
Episode 21 - Glands, hormones and stress
Episode 22 - How sex hormones are affected by stress
Stress causes an excess production of cortisol. This can raise cortisol level very quickly. Cortisol also cycles through the day. It tends to increase in the morning, drop a little bit and then increase again in the afternoon, before dropping again towards the evening, when the body is preparing for sleep.
We also have a hormone called melatonin. Melatonin is not produced by the adrenal glands (like cortisol), it is produced in the pineal gland that sits roughly in the middle of the brain.
Melatonin levels change in response to the shadows/darkness that our eye receptors pick up on. Melatonin levels should be low in the morning and increase towards the evening as it gets dark.
People that are stressed, tend to have difficulty falling asleep, toss and turn all night and are unable to get into a deep sleep.
When this occurs we first need to consider sleep hygiene.
Sleep hygiene means thinking about your habits and altering them so they do not affect your ability to go to sleep (or the sleep quality). Factors to consider include:
Caffeinated drinks. Particularly in the afternoon and evening. For example, coffee and black or green tea. High intensity exercise in the evening. To push through a workout, our body releases cortisol, which will keep us awake. Blue light exposure. Blue light is the light that emanates from computer, phone and TV screens. This light has the ability to interfere with the pineal gland response to release melatonin as it gets darker at night.Sleep hygiene also includes adding in good habits that will encourage you body to sleep. These include:
Magnesium salt and essential oil baths Diffusing of applying essential oils (Lavender and the young Living blends of Stress Away and Peace and Calming are particularly good). Applying essential oils like Peace and Calming and Lemon after exercise (if you cannot avoid evening exercise)
A note on essential oils if you are using them, make sure you use the highest quality. Many essential oils contain nasty chemicals and once they are on your skin it will be in your bloodstream within 20 minutes.
How Stress affects Sleep
When we are stressed we release cortisol throughout the day, including the evening. The cortisol levels counteract the sleepy effect of the melatonin in the evening, making it difficult to switch off.
When this occurs, people often get a prescription for melatonin as this will increase the melatonin levels in relation to the cortisol levels. While melatonin can be sourced naturally and is not going to damage your body in the same way medication does, it is still a concern if this is the only action you are taking in response to this problem.
We need to address the problem, which is the high cortisol levels due to stress. If high levels of cortisol remain untreated there will be other consequences in the body like increased inflammation.
As we spoke about in episode 21 (What it means to be acid), it is while we are sleeping that the body corrects the pH levels of our blood to make it alkaline.
A low pH (acidic) can occur for many reasons, one of them being high cortisol. Refer back to episode 21 to understand just how detrimental low PH is to your health but let's consider the picture being built here.
You are stressed, so your cortisol rises. This makes your blood pH drop (acid). Your high cortisol means you are not sleeping properly so your body doesn’t have the opportunity to try and rebalance it. You are tired from not sleeping, so you eat sweets and drink coffee and other stimulants to stay awake. These stimulants further make your blood acid and also increase the insomnia at night. In short, you are in a downwards spiral where health issues very quickly arise.
Stress and your body clock
If we look at the Chinese Meridian System you will see that every 2 hours there is a different organ that the body focuses on. This repeats every 12 hours, so what occurs at 11am to 1pm during the day, also occurs at 11pm to 1am at night.
Utilising this system, we can look at what time of the night we are waking up and are unable to go back to sleep to work out what body organs/systems are struggling.
11 to 1 - gallbladder
1 to 3 - liver
3 to 5 - Emotions
5 to 7 - Colon
For example, if you are eating too many fatty or acid forming foods you may have trouble sleeping between 11pm and 3am. Or if you have unresolved emotions, you may wake at around 4am unable to go back to sleep.
Other considerations
A malfunctioning thyroid, low progesterone or high estrogen will also influence your ability to sleep.
Support
If you require more support in your health journey or have any questions, head to our website at https://www.aurorahealingcodes.com/
Music: Wholesome by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5050-wholesome
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
-
We are continuing our series on Stress. To listen from the beginning head back to episode 21.
Today we are talking about how prolonged stress can affect your estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels, which bring emotional changes and physical conditions.
Estrogen
Estrogen is important for healthy skin, to prevent depression, to prevent dryness in general and to feel more ‘sexy.’
We learned last week that prolonged stress makes your adrenal and thyroid glands secrete certain hormones. The metabolisation of these hormones eventually leads to increases in estrogens.
There are three forms of estrogen - E1, E2 and E3 which we will be focusing on today. E2 (estradiol) is the common estrogen tested in blood tests by doctors. Both males and females have estrogen AND testosterone. I.e. These hormones are not just for one gender. In females, their naturally higher levels of estrogen bring their beautiful, curvy body shape and also increases tissue development.
Understanding that estrogen increases tissue development is important because tissue development also means multiplication of cells generally and it is this function which enables females to develop and grow a baby. It is also the function of cell multiplicity which can encourage tumour formation if levels are too high.
We are focusing on stress today, but it is worth noting that certain chemicals (eg synthetic fragrances) have an estrogenic effect (raise estrogen levels). This can lead to fetus malformation, infertility and even cancers. This can happen in any gender.
As we have already explained, stress can also lead to increased estrogen production and this leads to the same consequences described.
Estrogen tends to increase fat cells as well. And fat cells tend to produce more estrogen which creates more fat cells. Fat cells attach water molecules and so as fat cells increase we end up with fluid retention. This is how an excess of estrogen results in fluid retention.
In perimenopause and post menopausal women, we often see an increase in weight and even further development of breasts tissue. This is because of the estrogen increase.
Women who seek help for menopausal symptoms or to avoid pregnancy, often end up taking medication that release estrogen. The estrogen being absorbed by the body compounds the effects of high estrogen levels like cell multiplication (eg tumour formation) and fat cell production. If you are using any of these products it is recommended that you get your levels checked frequently to try and avoid any undesirable effects.
When estrogen is high in men, they have a tendency towards baldness, enlargement of breasts and abdomen and a tendency for prostate issues. Excessive passing of urine at night time is often a sign of high estrogen. A broken flow of urine during the day is caused by an enlarged prostate. This symptom can happen as early as 30 years of age if the stress has been at a high level for a period of time.
Progesterone
Progesterone is often one of the first hormones to become depleted with high levels of stress. Without progesterone females tend to have high levels of anxiety, the mind will deteriorate, the hair will begin to grey, sleep will become shallow, aging comes prematurely, cholesterol tends to increase (independently of a good diet) and the body and mind starts to decline into a state of chaos.
It is important to understand that intrauterine devices that have some amounts of progesterone may not have adequate quantities to support the losses.
We also need to be aware that estrogen and progesterone need to be in a particular ratio. And the 3 estrogens also need to have a particular ratio among them. If this ratio is not kept, the person will have dysfunction in the body (eg weight gain).
Testosterone
Low progesterone brings more facial acne. It is not uncommon for clients to present with facial acne who tell me that they have been prescribed the contraceptive pill in an attempt to reduce testosterone in order to help the acne. Unfortunately, in these cases it is not usually testosterone causing the problem. When testosterone causes acne, it is more of a cystic presentation and can be seen on the upper chest, back and sometimes the arms.
With this cystic presentation, high testosterone can also result in the very well known condition of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which can lead to infertility.
Testosterone can increase dramatically with stress, bringing these undesirable effects.
Testosterone is responsible for the sex drive and is also involved in the uptake of calcium. An excess of testosterone will make the person more rigid in mind and behaviour. On the flip side, low testosterone can bring a drop in motivation, a lack of muscle strength and in men, a tendency towards depression.
Emotional and mindset effects
As we said low levels of:
Progesterone causes anxiety
Estrogen causes depression
Testosterone causes lack of motivation
Our emotions are closely linked with our hormone levels. This means that no matter how good you are with changing your mindset, your feelings can still deteriorate due to hormonal levels. Please reach out to us if this is occurring for you. There are ways we can naturally support your body and mind to regain its balance.
Keeping the balance
Hormonal balance is essential but it is also an aspect of health that can be quite complex so seek help if you are unsure.
Support
If you require more support in your health journey or have any questions, head to our website at https://www.aurorahealingcodes.com/
Music: Wholesome by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5050-wholesome
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
-
“Sometimes what we know, is not what we do.” Maria Arora
For the next 3 episodes we are talking about stress. Stress affects EVERYONE. Not just adults working hard. It affects children, the elderly, the sick and the healthy. No-one is immune.
What is stress?
Stress is when there is something that your body has to use energy and effort to cope with. This can include temperature changes, exercise, overthinking, overworking and any emotional stimulant. It can also be seemingly trivial things which you think will not affect you.
We measure cortisol levels to gauge the physical stress your body is under and it isn’t unusual to see levels double what they should be. These patients often remark they do not understand because they do not feel stressed. This is important to note, because we all have different perceptions of what stress is and thus depending on your mindset and what you experience on a daily basis, what you consider high stress will vary from another person.
By measuring hormones, we can see how stress affects the body and the effect of stress on the body still manifests even when the mind is ignoring the feeling of stress.
In this 3 week series we are going to be talking about:
How pH is affected by stress The hormonal responses of stress Stress and sleep The stress responseThe hormonal responses of stress
We have a glandular system and glands are like little factories that produce hormones. Hormones act like messengers in that they carry a message to instigate an action elsewhere in the body. For example we have hormones which tell our heart to pump faster or slower and hormones that create happy or sleepy feelings. Our hormones are the catalyst for every change in our body and so without hormones, the body will not function.
Understanding hormones is important when looking at stress, because your body will produce hormones in response to stress in an attempt to mediate its effects. Some of the hormones produced in response to stress are adrenaline, DHEA and cortisol.
To have enough hormones for all the actions we want to take place in the body, we require a few things to occur.
First we have dietary requirements with a major component being the need for adequate protein (2 serves of 20g per day for the average person) as amino acids (from protein) are the building blocks for hormones. But we also need certain minerals (eg iodine for Thyroid), vitamins (eg Vit B) and cholesterol for the production of hormones to occur.
Cholesterol often gets given a bad rap because we all know that if we have too much of it then it can clog the blood vessels and cause fatty liver. However, we do need a certain amount of it and one of its functions is to help in the production of hormones (known as a precursor).
The trick with getting the right amount of cholesterol without ingesting too many fats (and thus affecting your liver and other organs) is to choose good sources. Eggs are a wonderful choice as they are a good source of protein, Vitamin B and cholesterol without containing too much fat. On the flip side, we want to avoid cholesterol containing foods that also have a high fat content like dairy (cheese, chocolate, milk, cream etc), animal fat and deep fried foods.
Glands and Stress
The adrenal and thyroid glands are the two glands that produce hormones due to the stress response.
When stress occurs the adrenals produce adrenaline which helps the body to move and act. To balance the adrenalin, the adrenal glands then produce cortisol.
If the stress stimulus does not go away, we continually produce adrenaline and thus cortisol to manage the adrenaline and a process of what is known as upregulation occurs where there is more and more cortisol produced to the point of where the receptor in your brain saying to produce cortisol, will not turn off.
We then start to bioaccumulate cortisol and the body needs to find a way to metabolise (break down) the cortisol in order to keep the body in balance. This is where problems begin to occur as when the cortisol is metabolised it creates an increase in estrogen (E1 and E3 - the bad type). The high estrogen levels create an increase in inflammatory responses and we then trigger genetic conditions we are predisposed to (e.g. high cholesterol, breast cancer, crohn's disease, psoriasis etc).
DHEA is the precursor (the required trigger) to cortisol. DHEA levels are associated with aging and begin to drop when cortisol is being continually produced. This speeds up the process of aging. As an example, have you ever noticed how when a politician is sworn in as prime minister or president that after a couple of years they look like they have aged dramatically in that short time span? This is the effect of stress on the body and our skin is just a reflection of what is occurring internally.
The thyroid tends to go at the same speed as the adrenal glands. So if you are pushing hard and utilising cortisol to get through your day, day after day, then your thyroid will also be overworked. Eventually your thyroid will struggle to produce the required amount of hormones and this is why Hypothyroidism is such a common problem.
Vitamin B, magnesium and iodine are critical for supporting your adrenal glands and thyroid.
In conjunction with nutrition, we need to look at nervous system input. That is, anything that pushes the nervous system into overdrive. For example, long hours at work, too much noise, lack of sleep, extreme emotions (positive or negative). When the nervous system is activated in this way, adrenaline is produced and as discussed already, this puts an increased load on the adrenal and thyroid glands.
Calming down the nervous system is the best place to start. By calming the nervous system, the body can balance itself. If however, you are the exhaustion stage, you will need to support your adrenals and thyroid. But you need to note that depending on your hormone levels, you will need different types of support. So if you are feeling exhausted, this is when you need to reach out for support from a qualified therapist. Good therapist will also take your unique genetic factors into consideration when prescribing your treatment.
Support
If you require more support in your health journey or have any questions, head to our website at https://www.aurorahealingcodes.com/
Music: Wholesome by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5050-wholesome
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
-
You will often hear me talking about pH and if you have been wondering why, then keep reading/listening!
If your body’s pH is out then your body cannot take the steps it needs to keep it in balance. Too acid means you have a low pH and too alkaline means you have a high pH.
Our cells are braided into an extracellular space called the matrix. This matrix has a semifluid consistency. And this semi-fluid consistency is only kept at the right consistency if your blood pH is in balance between 6.8 to 7.2.
The extracellular space has a very important function in keeping you alive. The nutrients we put into our body and the oxygen we breath, travels through the matrix on the way to the cells that need them to function. If the fluid in the matrix is too acid it will thicken and the nutrients and oxygen will not be able to get to their destination, causing them to malfunction.
The thickening of the extracellular fluid also means the toxins being released from cells (or toxins we have put into our body) get stuck in the fluid and also in the intracellular space (inside of the cell), instead of passing through and being processed for elimination out of the body.
In short, if you do not have nutrients then your body cannot function. And if you cannot detox toxins out of your system then they will make you sick.
The matrix not only has the ability to bring nutrients to the cell and also wash away the toxins/debris but it also holds most of our bodies fluid. We are made up of about 85% fluid, so this is extremely important. And guess what? When the body is too acid, it cannot hold the fluid and this is when problems start happening.
What else happens when your pH is low (too acid)?
Immune
Your immune system produces ‘killer’ cells that it sends out when there is a virus or bacteria that needs controlling or when you have sick cells that need destroying. If the body is too acid then the affected cells get a halo around them which prevents the killer cells from reaching their target.
Body structure becomes rigid
Muscles and joints begin to ache and your body becomes generally stiff and rigid.
Sleep
It is during the first stage of sleep that the body alkalises itself before going into the deeper second and third stages of sleep where regeneration and clearing of emotions occurs.
If you are waking up around 3am in the morning needing to pass urine then this is a sign your body pH needs balancing because it has been working during the night to correct it (and thus preventing you from going into the 2nd and 3rd stages of sleep).
Skin
A low pH will lead to dry and flaky skin.
Aging
The lower your pH, the faster you will age because the body is dumping all the minerals you need to function properly.
Difficulty losing weight
When the toxins can not move through the matrix to be detoxified from the body, they are instead stored in fat cells, which is much safer than having them in the bloodstream where they will cause a lot of damage very quickly. In order to lose weight, we must first alkalise so the body can eliminate the toxins.
Weight loss becomes further hampered by a low pH when the matrix is clogged and hormonal and immune receptors are not functioning/receiving messages.
How does the body correct low pH?
If your blood pH is too acid the body will try to correct this by dumping minerals (beginning with calcium) from the tissues and bones into the bloodstream to buffer the pH. This works to a certain extent but it quickly deprives the tissues and organs of minerals they need to function.
On top of the mineral deprivation, when there are too many minerals in the bloodstream they can become sedimented and create deposits. For example, calcium spurs can form which can become quite painful.
What affects our pH?
The biggest culprit when it comes to pH is what we drink but foods also affect our acid levels. Below are some common low pH foods and drinks to look out for:
Spirits Carbonated water Fizzy drinks Coffee Alcohol Fruit juices (even freshly squeezed) Sugar High GI Carbohydrates (white bread, pasta etc) High protein foods like meatWhat else causes our pH to drop?
Stress Parasites Infections (bacteria produces lactic acid) Medications Excess of salt Dairy products Extreme exercise (We produce lactic acid when we exercise)As you can see by this list it is very important to keep a balance. Our body is built to keep this balance but if you do or consume too many acid promoting things then your body will not be able to keep it in balance long term, leading to very serious problems.
What should you do if you are worried about your body pH?
It is very common for people to reach for bicarb soda and to drink this with water. I do NOT recommend this as your body requires a balance of minerals. There are a few products I recommend that have a good balance for your body but I recommend reaching out to me to know what to use and when as there are other things we need to take into consideration like pregnancy and blood pressure medications.
Apple cider vinegar is another ‘go-to’ for many people. This is helpful for releasing digestive enzymes but will not be enough on it’s own to correct your pH.
Lemon juice is also not recommended as it is acidic initially and only becomes alkalising to the body once it has been metabolised. This means that it can create a problem with your teeth enamel due to the high acidity.
It is worth noting that many common ‘fixes’ are not enough on their own to correct the pH when it has been acid for a long time. This includes lemon juice, apple cider vinegar and green juicing. Green juicing will only be effective if the person goes on a complete green juicing diet for a period of time. It is not recommended you go on an extreme diet like this without professional guidance and support as there are many factors that need to be considered and there is likely a better way for you to reach your goal of alkalising the blood.
When we look at low pH we are not just considering how to alkalise/correct the pH but we are also looking at replacing the minerals already lost (due to dumping) as a high priority. For this reason, any supplement you take which helps to alkalise needs to have enough minerals to both buffer the pH and replace the ones which have been dumped/lost due to acid.
Support
If you require more support in your health journey or have any questions, head to our website at https://www.aurorahealingcodes.com/
Music: Wholesome by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5050-wholesome
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
-
This is the last episode of our Mineral Therapy Series. Hopefully you have learned many possible ways to use tissue salts in your everyday life. It is also important to note that we need to reach out for professional support if our problems are a bit deeper. To learn about the first 10 issue salts and why tissue salts are an incredible support to our bodies, head back to episode number 8 where we began this fascinating series.
The keyword for this tissue salt is permeability. If something is permeable, it means that a gas or liquid is able to move through it. For example, a piece of cloth is permeable, whereas plastic is not. Our skin is made up of a network of cells and our body can send signals to either increase or decrease the distance between the cells in order to increase or decrease the permeability.
Calc Sulph is an important tissue salt for clearing chronic infections. It does this by increasing the permeability of parts of your body that allow for the drainage of pus, infections and generally anything that shouldn’t be there. This action means it directly aids your lymphatic system.
Infections are generally dealt with by our bodies by moving the infectious particles through our lymphatic system to be processed and drained through our lymph nodes. Capillaries (tiny tubes) are found throughout our body and these vessels drain the fluid (which contains the infection) from the problematic area and carry it to the lymphatic organs so it can be cleared from the body. The lymphatic organs are located in the torso (ie, not the extremities or head) and include bone marrow, spleen, lymph nodes, thymus, tonsils and mucous membranes. This drainage happens mainly due to gravity so if we are standing for a long time it becomes stagnant in the feet.
If the lymphatic system is clogged for any reason (I.e. acid matrix), the body will have difficulty draining and getting rid of infection. In these cases the skin becomes the site where the infection is pushed out of the body.
Symptoms of Calc Sulph deficiency:
Chronic infections: If you have difficulty clearing infections then it is likely you are suffering deficiencies of all the calcium tissue salts as well as having a low pH (acid).
Infected toe nails: If you think about the time we spend standing (or even sitting) with our feet being at the lowest point of our body, the lymphatic system needs to work against gravity to clear the infection. Tissue salt 11 is very helpful along with tissue salt #12 for infected toenails. These tissue salts can be crushed and sprinkled over the infection.
Boils: This is an infection of accumulated fluid on the mucous membranes, due to toxicity. Boils can also occur due to external burns, viruses or bacteria.
Tongue: Inflamed with infected sores, flabby and yellow coating at the back.
Face: The face gets a certain look about it where it is chalk-like or porcelain beyond a normal ‘pale’ complexion. If the face is presenting like this we also want to replace tissue salts #1 and #2.
Convex wrinkles on the face: Scroll to the end of this blog post for more information on what our wrinkles tell us.
Detox headaches and sluggishness: If your body is trying to detox and you are suffering from headaches and or sluggishness Calc Sulph can help your lymphatic system to drain the toxins and thus release the pressure you are experiencing.
Acidity: Calc Sulph helps to break down acid.
Gout: Due to its ability to break down acid, Calc Suph is especially helpful for gout
Emotional: Lazy, fatigued or inactive. Worrying about things that will not likely happen. When the lymphatic system is not draining properly, the body ends up being full of toxins and body processes become sluggish. This sluggish feeling is translated not just to our physical energy but also to our emotional state.
Further looking at this emotional state, we can see that tissue salt #12 helps with any ‘stagnation,’ and thus it is helpful in cases of shock where the nervous system has gone into shut down.
An example of using it for mild shock is to use it for babies after their first bath. Often the first bath for newborns is a difficult experience and it's a good mineral to consider adding to the bath water (4 or 5 tablets) to help counter any effects of shock.
Dossage
In an adult this tissue salt is a little different in that we can take quite a lot in one dose (up to 10 tablets, three times a day). This higher than norm dose is because when we take it we are wanting to jump start the body into its processes of draining and moving. To take, pop 10 tablets into a bottle of warm water and sip it over half an hour.
For most cases when we are looking at improving draining and excretion of toxins we combine Calc Sulph (#12) with tissue salt # 9 and # 10. This is because # 9 helps to balance our pH (reduce acid) and #10 supports our liver.
It is also good to remind ourselves (again) that if we are supporting our body in flushing toxins/infection then diet is very important. If we are taking tissue salt #9 to help balance pH but we are drinking fizzy drinks and eating food that makes us acid, then we are counteracting the effect of the tissue salt.
It’s our last episode of this series so here are some reminders:
Wrinkles that appear when tissue salts are low:
#1 - Crows feet, parallel lines, lower eyelid
#2 - Diamond wrinkles
#9 - Parallel, perpendicular lines on top lip (often known as smoker lip)
#11 - Lines parallel to ear
#12 - Convex wrinkles on the cheek area
If you get to the point of having convex wrinkles on the cheek area and are needing Calc Sulph (#12), your calcium and silica have been chronically low and you have also been acid for a long time. Again, it is vitally important to look at your diet and ensure you are not eating foods and drinking liquids that are making you acid (dairy, fizzy drinks, sugar, refined carbohydrates etc).
Combining tissue salts
In the first two episodes we spoke about combining tissue salts effectively. Some work well together and other don’t so if you haven’t listened to those episode yet head back there, or read the associated blog posts at https://aurorahealingcodes.libsyn.com/
Dosages
How much to take will depend on the problem you are trying to solve. Each tissue salt works differently and age and health also need to be considered.
As a rough guide:
Acute: Use more (For example, 10 tablets dissolved in water and drank over 30 minutes)
Chronic Use less (For example, 1 tablet 3 times per day)
You will notice that each bottle says 1 tablet, 3 times a day. This is a direction for safety. In this series you will notice we have given different quantities for different indications. As always, it is up to you to do your research and if you are not sure, reach out to a professional.
Quality matters
Some brands are quite hard and do not dissolve very well. The ability to dissolve quickly in your mouth is important for the uptake of the mineral into your blood stream. For this reason, make sure you are purchasing quality mineral salts.
Where to purchase
We have high quality tissue salts available at the clinic at a very reasonable price.
Head to https://www.aurorahealingcodes.com/contact to contact the clinic.
Coming soon
A quick reference guide for mineral therapy at home. This is a book Maria has been working on and will be available soon to help you!
Support
If you require more support in your health journey or have any questions, head to our website at https://www.aurorahealingcodes.com/
Music: Wholesome by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5050-wholesome
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
-
Today we are talking about silica, which is tissue salt # 11. To learn about the first 10 issue salts and why tissue salts are an incredible support to our bodies, head back to episode number 8 where we began this fascinating series.
What is silica used for in the body?
Known as the beauty mineral, silica is most used by our body for skin health for strengthening the body’s organs.
As we know from previous episodes, our skin and bones have a similar composition of minerals and so silica is also good for our bones.
The emotional aspects of Silica
Silica also has an emotional component where if it is depleted the person will be a little bit shy, hypersensitive to light noise and cold and will be lacking in ‘grit.’
The reason for hypersensitivity is because silica is required for messages to be passed through our nerves and without it, the nervous system gets a little bit ‘glitchy.’
In a person suffering emotionally due to low silica, they will generally live in a dreamy world, procrastinate, show signs of insecurity and lack in life direction.
I am aware this sounds strange but there is a large proportion of the population suffering from silica deficiency because of the lack of minerals in the soil our vegetables grow in!
To give you an example, if you purchase some green vegetables and put them in your fridge and within two days they become limp, you will know that the silica content of those greens is very low.
We can look at this wilting vegetable example and apply the same principle to ourselves. If we do not have enough silica then we will ‘wilt’ both emotionally and physically (in our structure). (i.e. We need silica to be ‘strong.’)
How often should we take silica?
Quite often with tissue salts, when we take them we can see an immediate effect. But with silica, we need to take it for quite a long time before we see changes in our levels and symptoms begin to improve. For this reason we take 1 tablet, 3 times a day.
Taking silica is going to help with our calcium absorption as well, further improving the structure of our bones, teeth and hair.
Tissue salt #9 (which helps to balance our pH) is a good tissue salt to take alongside silica as if our pH is acid we are going to lose a lot of calcium and silica.
What else can we use silica for?
Silica can also help with the prevention of stretch marks and is great for females going through puberty where their body is changing rapidly. It can also be used safely during pregnancy for the same reason.
Silica is also known as a ‘flusher,’ as it flushes out deposits of waste including blood clots, calcium and fat deposits.
Signs you are low in silica:
Fragile skin
Scarring
Hernias
Hip pain
Hypersensitivity to light and noise
Sweaty hands and feet
Nails - cracks, deep fissures
Tongue - one side swelling (rare), hardening and ulcerated (if there is also infection), long tip, brownish colouring and ‘hair stuck on the tongue’ sensation
Face - Glass like sheen on the skin with the tip of the nose being shiny, parallel lines to ears (also due to low calcium), sunken eyes
Baldness - Can be due to silica but can also be other deficiencies and/or dysfunction
‘Shy stools’ - This is when the stool comes out a little and then pops backwards into the bowel. This is due to the muscles not contracting properly from calcium and silica deficiency.
Skin - Abscess, ulceration, fissures and anything to do with elasticity
Cleansing (removal of waste) - Due to silica’s flushing ability of fats, bowel, lymphatic, pus, blood (to name just a few). For example In-grown toenails can be treated very effectively with tissue salts 11 and 12. Silica doesn’t work by itself for this flushing ability but it is an essential building block for the function.
Support
If you require more support in your health journey or have any questions, head to our website at https://www.aurorahealingcodes.com/
Music: Wholesome by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5050-wholesome
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
-
Today we are talking about Sodium Sulphate (Nat Sulph), which is tissue salt # 10. To learn about the first 9 tissue salts and why tissue salts are an incredible support to our bodies, head back to episode number 8 where we began this fascinating series.
Nat Sulph is the 3rd Natrium (Sodium) Tissue Salt that we are talking about and is responsible for excretion. The other two tissue salts we have spoken about are:
Nat Mur which helps us if we are too dry or too moistNat Phos which helps us if we are too greasy and with pain
How Nat Sulph can help us:
Excreting extra fluid
Sodium Sulphate helps us to get rid of (excrete) extra fluid.
Detoxification
It also helps with decreasing toxicity in the body by shifting things around the body. Sodium Sulphate is connected to the liver and if you think about how detoxification is the major function of the liver you can connect the dots that Nat Sulph is going to help you with detoxification.
Nat Sulph is an extremely important tissue salt because of its detoxification properties. As we keep on saying, our skin is like a big mouth that continually gobbles up the toxins in our environment and we are constantly breathing in pollutants. We are of course, also consuming many toxins in the food, drinks and medication as well.
There are a range of supplements to support the detoxification process (as it is complicated) including Glutathione and liver enzymes but Nat Sulph is an important one.
Overindulgence
Nat Sulph can be used both in acute (short term) and chronic (long term) situations. For example, if you overindulge in chocolate or cheesecake and you are feeling a deep pain or heaviness under your ribs on the right hand side (where your liver is located). In this situation you can take two tablets every 5 minutes, for 15 minutes, until the feeling subsides. Or you can take two tablets every 15 minutes for one hour.
If you are finding that you are getting a lot of indigestion and heaviness but you are not getting vomiting or diarrhoea as we discussed when we talked about tissue salt #8, you will find tissue salt #10 helpful.
Coffee, Alcohol and Medication consumption
If you drink coffee regularly or take medication, your liver is working hard for you on a continuous basis to detox these things out. Nat Sulph will support your liver to perform better.
Recommendation
I often prescribe a tonic called Ningxia to patients along with Nat Sulph as they work together beautifully to detoxify the system.
Who can use Nat Sulph?
Tissue salt #10 can be used for babies through to the elderly and sick people and it has a very gentle action.
How do you know you need Nat Sulph?
Taste and tongue
You will know because you will have a bitter taste in your mouth and a result of the excess toxins being excreted via your breath.
A greenish brown/yellow swelling or coating of the tongue indicates toxicity and liver problems.
Face
A yellow-greenish tinge on your face, especially around the eyes is a common side effect of liver dysfunction. You may also notice ‘bags’ under the eye from fluid retention, an inflamed nose look (like someone has pinched the end of the nose!) and greyish chin.
Fluid retention can also lead to a ‘double chin’ look.
Digestion and bowel movements
You will also find that when you eat you will not only get a little bit of niggly pain but you will also notice that your bowel movements change and you can experience foul smelling gas (caused by the putrification of the contents of your bowel).
Skin Changes
The skin is an organ of elimination and if you have too many toxins in your body and/or your liver is not functioning properly the toxins will be pushed out through the skin for elimination. As they pass through your membranes, they agitate the skin causing many problems like blisters or eczema (with a papilia presentation) as well as fluid oozing through the skin.
When treating skin conditions we crush the tablets and combine them with other appropriate tissue salts depending on how the skin looks and feels (see previous episodes for detailed descriptions) and sprinkle onto the affected area.
Bladder
Your urine can get a bit stingy when you have too many toxins in the body.
Hand and feet swelling
Nat Sulph is all about the excretion of fluid and as such if there is swelling it works to excrete excess.
Head Injuries
If there is excess swelling and it is not reducing, Nat Sulph can be helpful.
Diverticulitis
A great support, particularly when alternating with tissue salt #3 and in conjunction with the appropriate supportive diet.
Emotional
There is a tendency towards depression (or feeling low generally) when Nat Sulph is needed in particular when the weather is cold or wet or if you have had a head injury.
Support
If you require more support in your health journey or have any questions, head to our website at https://www.aurorahealingcodes.com/
Music: Wholesome by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5050-wholesome
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
- Show more
