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Top 5 Essential Oils for Boosting Immunity
Hey Everyone, My name is Melissa. I’m a mama to 5 wonderful kiddos, one of which was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and has been one of the catalysts that started my journey to helping others with their health and wellness using essential oils. I was so excited when Kylene asked me to share a bit about essential oils and immunity. Through becoming a Crohn’s advocate and health coach, I love to use what I’ve learned on my health journey to help others. With that being said, let’s get to the good stuff!
When it comes to boosting our body’s immunity, there are many things that can be done. Obviously, focusing on eating healthier, getting adequate sleep and decreasing stress are great places to start. However, what I have found over the years is that sometimes our bodies need extra help.
Essential oils are a great tool to add to our daily routine to provide that extra help to support and boost our immune systems. Below are my top 5 essential oils for immune support. Some of you who are familiar with essential oil may be surprised to see that Thieves did not make the list. It is, by far, one of my favorite oils for this topic, however it is such a powerhouse oil that it deserves it’s own post!!
Top 5 Essential Oils for Boosting Immunity
First of all, what are essential oils? They are the lifeblood of a plant which is extracted from the flower, stem, leave, bark, or fruit. The oils provide nutrients to the plant as well protection from disease. Those same qualities of the plant can be used by our bodies to help increase our overall health. All essential oils have antimicrobial properties, however each differ in which properties they contain. When several are blended together and applied to the body or diffused, they provide a powerful compound which is especially useful for targeting a broad range of viruses and bacteria in the body or in the air.
Tea Tree
Tea Tree oil comes from the leaves of the melaleuca tree (or tea tree) and has been used for centuries by the aborigines to heal cuts, wounds, and skin infections. Not only is this powerful oil an immune stimulant, it also has twelve times the antiseptic power of phenol, as well as antiviral and antibacterial properties making it one of the most powerful immune-building essential oils.
Incorporate Tea Tree into your daily routine for immune support by adding a drop or two to the bottoms of your feet each morning. Because our feet contain the largest pores on our skin, applying oils there allows the benefits of the oil to be released into the body and absorbed more efficiently. Add 5 drops to a diffuser to purify the air.
2. Oregano
Like Tea Tree, Oregano comes from the leaves of the plant. Because of its antiviral and antiseptic properties, Oregano is profoundly beneficial for killing germs. It too is an incredible immune stimulant and is known for its ability to fight infection and inflammation. This oil is considered a “hot” oil, meaning when applied to the skin it can cause a warming or hot sensation. It is best to dilute this oil by applying with a carrier oil like fractionated coconut oil.
Combine Oregano with Tea Tree and coconut oil to the bottoms of your feet to fight viruses and help boost immunity. Add a few drops of Oregano to a diffuser along with a few drops of the next oil, Lemon, and enjoy a spicy and uplifting scent that purifies the air.
3. Lemon
All citrus oils are incredibly energizing and beneficial to those dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression. When diffused, Lemon oil has amazing properties that not only uplift your mood and ease anxiety, which contributes to our overall immune system health, but it also contains powerful antioxidants that boost the immune system by fighting off free radicals.
When ingested, Lemon oil helps remove toxins from the body and increase immunity. Try adding a drop of Lemon oil to your glass of water each day to stay healthy or help fight a cold. Sore throat? Add a drop of lemon to a spoonful of raw honey 3x a day. Diffuse 5 drops of Lemon throughout the day to purify the air and make you feel refreshed and energized. Please note that Lemon oil contains Limonene which can break down plastic. When adding it to drinking water use a glass jar and metal straw. Lemon oil is also phototoxic, so it should not be used on the skin before significant sun exposure.
4. Lavender & Frankincense
Both of these are “must have” essential oils for the home. Both are beneficial for almost any situation.
Lavender
This oil is incredibly versatile. In fact, it is known as the swiss army knife of oils for its countless uses. Unlike the other oils mentioned above that are immune stimulants, lavender helps the immune system by offering calming and soothing properties that can help reduce stress and ensure your body gets the restorative sleep it needs. Both stress and lack of sleep contribute to a lowered immune system.
Rub Lavender on bottoms of feet or Diffuse 8-10 drops of Lavender at night for restful sleep. To decrease stress and/or anxiety, add a drop of Lavender to each palm and rub together. Then cup your hands over your mouth and nose and breathe deeply several times. This can be done throughout the day or whenever stress or anxiety are elevated.
Frankincense
Like Lavender, Frankincense has numerous uses. Because of its grounding and antidepressant properties, it too works wonders in the lives of those dealing with stress and anxiety. When diffused or directly inhaled, this amazing oil balances emotions and has the ability to decrease elevated heart rates and high blood pressure, both contributors to stress, anxiety, and a weakened immune system. Where Frankincense differs from its friend Lavender, is its ability to fight against infection because of its anti-infectious, antiseptic, and immune-stimulant properties. Because of this, Frankincense acts as a shield, preventing the spread and development of germs in the body. Combining it in your household cleaner makes it a vital weapon against cold and flu as well!
For daily emotional and immune support, add a drop or two to the bottoms of your feet. Inhale directly from the bottle to uplift the mind and spirit or combine with other immune supporting oils mentioned above for an immune supporting powerhouse blend.
Immune Supporting Roller Blend:
Add 10 drops Frankincense, 10 drops Lemon, 10 drops Tea Tree, 5 drops Oregano, and 5 drops lavender to a 10ml glass roller bottle and top with fractionated coconut oil. Roll along the spine and bottoms of feet daily to boost the immune system. When the immune system is compromised or you are fighting a virus or cold, apply the oils more often throughout the day. Also, like any natural supplement or homeopathic, to see the effects you want, essential oils must be used frequently and consistently. They are tools to use daily to support overall health.
I encourage you to add essential oils into your daily routine! The above oils are great ones to start with. Essential oils are amazing tools to have in your tool kit to help support your emotions, sleep, and especially your immune system! Our family has been using them for years and we are the healthiest we have ever been! It’s important to note that not all essential oils are created equal. I only recommend pure therapeutic grade essential oils that you know have been grown, harvested, and distilled with the highest of standards.
If you are ready to incorporate oils into your life, I would love to help you or answer any questions you may have. You can find me over on instagram @well.made.essentials
Your at home UTI emergency guide
UTI’s are THE WORST. For a long time that was the one thing I would JUMP on an antibiotic for because they cause so much pain and discomfort! In fact, over the period of about a year to a year and a half, I had three. THREE!!!!! So I was VERY relieved when, after I became an FDN and started working on my gut health, I NEVER got them again….
That is, until January 3. Happy new year to me. You’ve beaten cancer, now let’s fight a UTI.
Let’s start at the beginning.
Disclaimer: This post is not intended to diagnoses treat, prevent or cure a disease. The author is not al licensed medical provider and should not be viewed as such. The advice listed on this website should not be taken for medical advice or in place of your doctors recommendations.
What IS a UTI?
A UTI is a bacterial infection. It can be located anywhere in your urinary tract system and all the way up the kidneys if it’s particularly bad. Usually if you are catching it quickly, you find it mostly in the urethra and bladder.
The most common bacteria that causes UTI’s is E coli (about 90% of cases) but could also be klebsiella or other opportunistic bacteria. This does make a difference in the approach.
Why do you get UTI’s?
Contributors may be:
Dehydration - not drinking enough water to flush the bacteria through your kidney and bladder fast enough.
Low beneficial bacteria or yeast. When we have a healthy balance, the good guys keep the bad guys in check.
Over-use of antibiotics (see above reason)
Poor hygiene
Suppressed immune system
Too much sugar
If you’re like me, you may find certain patterns or perhaps identify changes you made recently that can set you up for the imbalance. In this particular instance there were several changes that I think compiled….I recently switched probiotics, I dropped a supplement that fights gut pathogens extremely well, I allowed myself to get dehydrated, AND I ignored the initial warning signs.
I felt the UTI coming on, but ignored it since I hadn’t had one in so long. I should probably take things more seriously after chemo!!
Since I had SO many drugs pumped into my system in 2019, AND I had some MAJOR antibiotics thrown in on top of that due to an infection during round two, my gut bugs may not be totally restored….
What can you do about it?
You have several options. You can go conventional, non-traditional, or a blend of the two.
Conventional:
Actions: Go to the urgent care, or get an appointment with your regular doc asap.
Approach: Kill the bacteria (remembering that antibiotics don’t discriminate and will kill the good bacteria as well).
They will take a urine sample, send it off for a culture, and in the meantime provide you with an antibiotic and pain killer. In my previous experience, one of the reasons I would jump to this is because the antibiotics works very quickly for me an otherwise I would be stuck on the toilet because of the burning an discomfort.
Often, UTI’s recur leading to multiple antibiotic doses in a short time, or a long term low dose antibiotic. This may lead to other imbalances such as yeast infection, gastrointestinal symptoms, c diff and more…
Non-Traditional:
Actions: Hit a Whole Foods, health foods store, or your at home medicine cabinet.
Approach: Flush our the bacteria, hydrate, kill biofilms, increase beneficial bacteria, support immune system.
I am a believer in giving alternative therapies a strong effort when possible. Just like getting sick as a child helps the child build their immune system and create a resilience and resistance to disease, the same happens in adulthood.
Chemo is not only a major stressor on the body (obviously) but it can also create some antibiotic resistance. Hello - your body BEEFS up after getting exposed to dangerous things! So I really want to save my sensitivity for any future emergencies that may happen. In those instances I really want the antibiotics to WORK!
When you google at home UTI remedies you’ll find all sorts of recommendations like chew garlic and drink straight cranberry juice. While many suggestions are helpful and accurate, they may work for some and not others, or you may be in so much pain you don’t feel like they can be of any use whatsoever! I get it….you’ve got to weed through and find what work for you.
HOWEVER. Many natural remedies are REALLY effective. And I often believe that if you go natural, it’s best to do a combination approach or choose products that combine several ingredients so that you have the best chance of responding well.
Natural remedies and the reasoning behind them:
D-Mannose: Binds to e.coli and keeps it from adhering to the bladder wall. This helps flush it out! Works fairly quickly and if this is an e.coli UTI (90% of them are) this should work fairly effectively. Check out UT. Vibrance for a blended powder with other supportive herbs.
Uva Ursi: Several chemical compounds in this pant are shown to fight infection - best at the beginning of an infection and cannot be taken at high doses or for long periods of time. A study demonstrated it to be helpful in preventing recurring UTI’s when combined with dandelion. UT Vibrance includes D Mannose, Uva Ursi and dandelion together!
Cranberry: Controversial at best many studies think it’s better as a preventative than a treatment. The tannins are thought to be responsible for helping you fight a UTI. Capsules have a stronger concentration than juice does, so you have to drink more juice. However, you get the added benefit of hydration when choosing the juice option. If using cranberry, I would not recommend it as the only approach. Choose 100% organic and unsweetened cranberry juice and mix with pure water to dilute. *it may cause diarrhea in some.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C can make your urine acidic limiting the growth of some bacteria. It has also been suggested that Vitamin C is bacteriostatic (stops the bacteria from proliferating). If nothing else, it supports your immune system. Avoid the gastrointestinal upset with high doses of Vitamin C by choosing a liposomal version.
Biocidin: This is by far my favorite, and had I not been trying to give my body a break from this supplement it would have been my go to. This is an herbal blend which acts as an antibacterial, antibiotic, antiviral. Yes, it’s basically magic in a bottle. It kills bad bugs while sparing the good guys. It also busts biofilms. This supplement is particularly great because it would target E coli AND other bacteria covering your bases if you fall in that 10% of different bacterial infections. An acute dose would be 10 drops on the tongue, 3x/day for 10 days.
*I do feel the need to make a special note, and that is….be smart! If you feel that your infection is not improving and/or you feel pain in the your back like it’s spreading to the kidneys, go to the doctor immediately!!!! Or go to the doctor FIRST and get antibiotics as a back up so you don’t have to wait if your home remedies aren’t strong enough!
What I did:
I often take a very moderate, middle of the ground approach. I avoid medicine when I can, but appreciate it and accept it when necessary.
So I got an appointment with my doctor right away and got my backup prescriptions. Plus it was a Friday so better to be prepared over the weekend. The problem was that this pain began at 6am, and I couldn't get in until 11:55!! They would not send a prescription order to the pharmacy (new regulations I think) and I cried when I got off the phone because I had been experiencing SO much discomfort through the morning!!!
I got to work doing as much WOO as I could get my hands on in the house.
I took CYSTEX. Now, this is cheating a little bit because it’s technically an OTC medication for UTIs. It includes a pain killer an an antibacterial. I always recommend that if someone wants to go the natural route but is in a lot of discomfort or pain to try a few doses of this while everything else “kicks in”.
Dosed up on liposomal Vitamin C and biocidin. Often, a few pain killing doses of CYSTEX and a 10day round of biocidin will completely knock a UTI out. I’ve recommended that to people and they have seen great results. I’ve been almost DEPENDENT on that supplement for 3 years (every time I try to get off of it I get some kinda sick….case in point). So while I have that as a backup, I actually wanted to personally find another alternative. I was also already taking some liposomal Vitamin C, so I just kicked it up a notch.
Drank a TON of water with 100% cranberry juice. Yes, it is incredibly tart, but it really does seem to be useful. (In addition to helping you stay hydrated)
UT Vibrance. Like I said, normally I would just stick with my trusty biocidin but I wanted to try something different. So I ran to Whole Foods to get D-Mannose which tons of women swear by. Thankfully, I came across this product called UT Vibrance which includes D-Mannose, Uva Ursi, dandelion, and more…. It’s a powder that you mix in liquid 4x/day. Once I took that, my symptoms subsided an other than keeping up on my vitamin C and my cranberry hydration, I didn’t need anything else! The UT vibrance seemed to kick in very quickly and by the time I got to the doctor I was comfortable.
Probiotics. I had recently switched from my favorite long term probiotic Megaspore which is a spore based probiotic. But I knew that with some things going on in my gut recently that I needed another probiotic with a different blend. So I switched to Klaire labs ABX which is beneficial for balancing you out after a round of antibiotics. When the UTI started, I brought megaspore back in and did 1 tablet of each in the morning and another in the evening for a total of 4 tabs/day.
If I had to narrow it down to the bare necessities, it seemed that the combination of probiotic therapy + UT vibrance was the most effective for me. I only took the biocidin the morning it started and as able to drop it after that.
Conventional vs. Non-traditional/out of the box/alternative/holistic/whatever-you-want-to-call-them treatments.
As you can see, there is a time and place for both. I often fall somewhere in the middle, exhausting natural options before hitting medication if I need to.
The pros to medication are that it works fast and when it comes to pain killers you can get a stronger dose. The cons however are that the antibiotic might not work for your body or for that particular infection which means you may have to go through 2 or even 3 antibiotics before seeing the results you want. This can be devastating for your gut health in the long run. Even if an antibiotic does work, you can become resistant to it, and it kills the good bugs with the bad bugs….so depending on the balance that is left one it’s done, the stress you are under, how well you eat, what kind of water you drink etc….the opportunity arises for pathogenic bacteria to have a greater opportunity to overgrow taking you back to square one… One round of antibiotics can devastate some people and lead to more frustrating symptoms and long term side effects.
The pros to natural methods are:
There are typically no negative side effects (except occasionally things like bloating or diarrhea when taking high doses)*
You can mix and match until you figure out what works
They normally SUPPORT your body instead of FORCING the body to do something
They don’t damage beneficial gut bugs
The CONS however are that sometimes they are weaker, take longer to take effect, or in some cases might not be effective at all. This is why I usually take a blended approach when it comes to natural remedies instead of choosing one herb or ingredient.
*Any time you go in and shake up your microbiome things like diarrhea and bloating may occur. While slightly annoying, its not necessarily a bad thing. Diarrhea is your body getting things OUT, and as bad bugs die and the balance shifts, bloating may occur. I had both when I was at the highest dose of UT vibrance (20g of d mannose in a day). It was a small price to pay to kick the UTI and I lowered the dose as the days went on, regulating my poop and getting rid of the bloat!
What now?
I always recommend making a doctors appointment to confirm. Simply having a diagnosis can point you in the right direction. It can also provide you with emergency back ups if you DO need to use those prescriptions. If you have had UTI’s many times and are looking to support your body’s natural defenses and kick it for good, the natural approach may be more beneficial. If you are prone to UTI’s then stocking up on some of recommendations above may be helpful so you can tackle it as soon as you feel it coming on.
Always listen to your body, be smart about it, and don’t be afraid to use a combination therapy when needed! For example: should you need or choose to use the antibiotic approach, including a probiotic therapy at the same time can help mitigate the negative and long term effects. Work with a practitioner to make the best recommendations for you!
Interested in working together? My 1:1 clients get full access to me throughout our time together so if anything like this comes up, you can reach out and get support immediately!
If you are struggling with more chronic conditions like:
Recurring UTI’s
Recurring sinus infections
Diarrhea/constipation
Bloating
Acid Reflux
Mood swings
PMS
Fatigue
Then let’s talk! I work with my 1:1 clients very closely to make the best recommendations in testing and personalized protocols for their unique situation and needs. If you are serious about investing in your health and taking dramatic steps to feel your BEST, then click the link below to sign up for a free functional health assessment call where I can find out more ab out you and y our goals and struggles, share my process, and find out if working together is the right fit!
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Sources:
http://pennstatehershey.adam.com/content.aspx?productid=107&pid=33&gid=000278
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3370320/
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/urinary-tract-infections
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3784967/
4 Supplements to Help Your Immune System
School has begun!
Which means fall is here and so are all.the.viruses. Whether you want to boost your own immunity, recover from a cold, or just learn for the future, below are my top supplements for supporting your immune system this fall! You may be surprised that things like echinacea and zinc don’t make the list, but those are wonderful as well - zinc is in most over the counter cold remedies and echinacea seems to be popping up in everything as well so I’m assuming you already know about them :)
Bovine Colostrum
Colostrum is amazing! You may recognize the word as the substance that mothers produce in breast milk right after giving birth. This is why breast feeding is so helpful for babies within the first few weeks because colostrum helps build their immune system providing immunoglobulins and antibodies that they need! Mother cows do this as well, and our bodies respond very well to the bovine colostrum as it is very similar to human colostrum. It assists in healing the gut, calming inflammation and supporting your immune system, just like when you were a baby!
Don’t worry, if you are dairy sensitive you can still use colostrum, most people don’t have any issues with this.
Always look for a grass-fed source.
Vitamin C
Yes, sometimes the oldies are still goodies. However, I bet you don’t know that you can megadose vitamin C to give your immune system a big boost and get faster results! Megadosing is where you take 500-1000mg of Vitamin C every 30 minutes to an hour until you hit bowel tolerance (you get vitamin C diarrhea). There is no harm in this and it won’t hurt you, although some people do experience some bloating and tummy rumbles before this happens so if you feel uncomfortable just lessen the dose or stop. Vitamin C works as an antioxidant and boosts your immune system. Megadosing would be helpful in situations like colds, sinus infections, etc….
Make sure you don’t do this with chewables or any form of vitamin C supplementation that provides sugar. Otherwise you’ll be overdosing on sugar too!
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D is incredibly important for your immune system! In fact, many people who develop chronic diseases have really low levels of Vitamin D and over 40% of Americans are deficient! While everyone is telling you to lather up with sunscreen, you’re unconsciously avoiding one of the most beneficial health exposures you can get by being outside in the sun. Vitamin D3 is best gotten from direct sunlight. Yes - you heard me - avoid wearing sunscreen and soak up that D! Did you know that your body can produce up to 80,000 IU of vitamin D in 20 minutes of sun exposure? But guess what else - there are safety mechanisms built into your biology (God’s pretty smart) that shut down vitamin D production when you’ve had enough! So don’t go getting a sunburn by any means. Be responsible in the sun and cover up, get in the shade or go back inside. But GET direct sunlight on your skin every single day. Your body absorbs and utilizes vitamin D MOST effectively this way.
Here are some fascinating podcasts on the topic of sun exposure and it’s health benefits. I literally never wear sunscreen unless I’ll be out in direct sunlight in the middle of the day for multiple hours. Otherwise, I do my bet to get as much sun exposure as I can throughout the year!
When supplementing, you CAN overdose, so I would recommend working with a professional or getting your blood checked to monitor your levels if this is a concern for you.
Dr. Mercola interviews Marc Sorenson ( May 5, 2019 episode)
Is sunscreen ok to use? - Wise Traditions episode #193
Chaga
Mushrooms are a fungus and would usually be viewed as a food, but now that they are gaining popularity in everything from tumor fighting properties to immune system regulation and brain focus they come in powders that you can take in supplemental or powder form (mix in a smoothie etc…) Chaga is one famous medicinal mushroom know specifically for supporting the immune system.
I personally love to use Foursigmatic as my mushroom provider because they are very careful about quality, they use a dual extract process so the product has the most benefits, AND they provide you withmany delicious ways to get the mushrooms into your day like my favorite lions mane and chaga coffee, hot chocolates, teas, or superfoods blends. Use code TINYFITDIVA for 10% off if you choose to try it!
I hope this has has given you some new inspiration for the fall season! What immune boosting supplements are your favorite?
p.s. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Supplements I used during chemo
Hello friends!
Many of you have been interested in my use of an integrative approach to treatment during my 3 months of chemotherapy. I chose to follow the conventional method for 3 main reasons:
I wanted to stay home close to my family alternative care centers are based throughout the country and the world but would require me to live there for periods of time)
My specific cancer has an extremely high success rate when treated with chemo. This is not the case for all cancers. Even my holistic minded, naturopathic and functional medicine friends pointed me in this direction for this case.
I had already done SO much with supplementation and lifestyle, my goal was to eliminate the burden of the tumor in my body so that I could continue with my healthy lifestyle allowing it to remain in remission.
That being said, I took a very integrative approach to treatment and we spent over $20K out of pocket to incorporate things like a detox specialist (using after treatment) an emotional code therapist (to dig deeper to any emotional blocks or issues I needed to release that may be hindering my healing, hiring an integrative oncologist/naturopath to guide me through supplementation to counteract any side effects from the chemo and protect my body through the process keeping it as strong as possible, and Vitamin C IVs on the off weeks to help me recover, but also to act as an assist to the chemo itself.
That’s a pretty hefty price tag but one we were willing to pay. Choosing conventional treatment was something Patrick and I both had peace about, but living with long term side effects like heart damage, lung problems, or peripheral neuropathy was NOT something I wanted to deal with later. In my view, choosing to pay quite a bit up front to support my body through this journey is in replacement of paying for long term medical care the rest of my life.
One of the most effective and affordable portions of my investment were the supplements and many have asked what used! I wanted to share them below but first I must say that I don’t recommend just reading a book and incorporating supplements, or guessing at what your body needs. I know quite a bit about supplementation and my body but I hired a specialist to guide me through the process and the tweaks and adjustment she helped me make were invaluable the past 3 months. If you would like to hire the same woman I used you can visit her website at www.drheatherpaulson.com
So let’s get to it! Below are al the supplements I was taking by the end of my treatment and that I will remain taking for the next few months.
Most were recommended by my naturopath, some were from personal preference, some were added as we went along and some I was horrible at taking.
Acetyl L Carnitine - For protecting my heart, lungs, kidneys and possibly helping fatigue
L- glutamine - to maintain muscle mass, heal my gut and epithelial lining, prevent mouth sores, and protect against neuropathy
Vitamin E - immune system support
Vitamin D - immune system support
CoQ10 - protect the heart and mitochondrial support
Beef liver - provides B vitamins, Fit A, selenium, and I always feel better on it. In fact, I didn’t take this the first part of my treatments and I’m fairly certain my hair stopped falling out in conjunction with when I brought it back in to my daily regimen
Marrow plus - added in once my WBC began dropping after treatments.
Amy Myers Multivitamin - this was just a multi I really love and was already taking - I ran out and didn’t refill it towards the end just because I was taking so many other things
Vitamin C - immune system support
Complete B-Complex - B vitamins are very helpful with energy and preventing neuropathy. Always look for a high quality b complex that uses folate or L methyfolate and not folic acid
Alphs Lipoic Acid - protects against neuropathy
B-6 (pyridoxal 5 phosphate) - assist with nausea
Biocidin - this is an herbal antibiotic and I didn’t take this at first, but after getting an infection, spending an night in the hospital, and having to be on a ROUGH and strong antibiotic for 10 days, I immediately added this back in when that was over and never had any more problems. It’s the safest, most gentle and still most effecti antibiotic alternative I know of.
Fish oil - for inflammation and cell health. I was horrible at takin this but intend to be much more religious about it during recovery
Curcumin - anti-inflammatory - again I was horrible with taking this just on top of everything else!
And there you have it! This ended up being a VERY large handful of supplements at breakfast with a few second doses later in the day when I could remember and or make my self do it. It was quite a bit. But I will say, I think it helped me tremendously :)
