Emotional learning and memory take place in the amygdala which is part of the limbic system in your brain.  The limbic system has a direct effect on various chemicals for example cortisol & adrenalin as well as hormones in your body.  When you inhale an aroma it travels by way of the olfactory nerve pathways directly into the limbic system and amygdala.  This immediately evokes memories and emotions before you are consciously aware of them.  It totally bypasses your cerebrum which is your conscious thought center in the brain.  Where smells are concerned we react first and think later.  So inhaling a pleasant aroma can help you shift your mood in just 1-2 minutes!!

For example, have you ever walked into a shopping mall, smelled fresh cookies baking, and immediately had memories of you and a family member baking together accompanied by a sense of love or warm fuzzy feeling?  That is because it is imprinted in your amygdala.  I have always loved gardening and keep a few aromatic plants in my yard.  Gardening calms me and helps me to feel grounded and centered.  When I smell a floral oil such as ylang ylang, jasmine, or rose I feel my body starting to relax and my distress starts melting away.   Now I’m not saying all your anxiety or stress magically disappear but it will take the edge off,  break the fight-or-flight response and enable you to think more clearly

All you have to do is take 3-4 deep inhalations directly from the bottle whenever you feel anxious or stressed.  You can also put a few drops on a cotton ball or tissue, place in a plastic bag to take with you and use throughout your day.  Another option is to diffuse it in a room with an ultrasonic diffuser.

Below are just a few oils that are calming to the nervous system which helps in alleviating anxiety and stress.  Remember your emotional response to any oil depends upon your unique life experiences and chemistry.

Lavender – Lavandula angustifolia*        Marjoram – Origanum majorana

Mandarin – Citrus reticulate*          Roman Chamomile – Anthemis nobilis*

Rose – Rosa damascene                Ylang Ylang – Cananga dorata

Frankincense – Boswelia carteri

* I recommend these oils for children because they are very mild and children usually love their aromas.  They are very effective for adults too.

If you would like to find the specific oils your body wants to ease anxiety and/or stress contact me for an aromatherapy session.  Not sure this is for you?  Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with Laurie.

If you answered “yes” to any or all of these, then you know there is much that can affect your immune system including breathing recirculated air in airplanes or when in the house in the winter months.  Good news: Even with all this working against you, there are many ways to boost your immune system naturally.   

1. Essential Oils  – There are many oils with antibacterial and antiviral properties that can enhance your immune system and assist your body in staying healthy.   Young children, as well as adults, can benefit as long as you properly dilute them and adhere to any precautions.   

A few oils that are good for adults are:

•  Niaouli (Melaleuca viridiflora)
• Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
• Eucalyptus radiata 
• All citrus oils
• Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini)

You can inhale any of them 2-4 times a day directly from the bottle, place 5 – 6 drops on a tissue and take with you or diffuse for at least 15 minutes twice a day.   Apply 3% dilution ( 13 drops of essential oil in 15 ml of carrier oil) topically to neck and wrists 1-2 times a day.

It is better to alternate oils after 3-4 weeks to prevent sensitization and cover a variety of bacteria and viruses. 

My children’s immune blend for ages 2-12 years:  2 drops Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) + 2 drops Lemon (Citrus limon) + 2 drops Eucalyptus radiata  + 15 milliliters of carrier oil.  This is a little less than a 1.5% dilution. Apply to the back or abdomen of the child once or twice a day. If used daily take a break after 3 weeks or skip the weekends and use it for 6 weeks. 

 2. Adequate Sleep – This is when your body repairs and rejuvenates itself.  Research tells us 7-8 hours is optimal for most people.  If you have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep it could be affecting your immune system.  If you are experiencing sleeping issues I have many options for assisting you in getting a good night’s sleep. 

3. Keep your energy system open and flowing.  Research supports the hypothesis that disturbances in the human energy field occur before the actual onset of symptoms or dis-ease.  Performing the self-chakra connection one or more times a week can assist in keeping your energy field opened and balanced by decreasing stress, anxiety and promoting relaxation.  It can even help you sleep better at night!

4. Keep hands away from the face, wash hands frequently especially after being out in public areas like the grocery store. 

5. Listen to your body and think about what it is relaying to you.  If you are feeling fatigued, why?  Too little sleep, poor diet, or something else? 

If you wake up with an ache or pain or it comes on without physical exertion it may be more emotional then physical.  Think about what is going on in your life that could be contributing to your dis-ease. Are you feeling stressed at work? Perhaps you don’t feel heard or valued by your boss, spouse, family member or friend. 

Humans are very complicated beings and we must address our body, mind, and spirit in order to live vibrant, happy, healthy lives. 

If you need assistance staying healthy physically or emotionally contact me for a free consultation 510 381-3191, la****@***************od.com

The body, mind, and spirit are intricately interconnected, very complex and wise.  Our body, mind, and spirit are constantly sending us messages about our health and well-being.  Unfortunately, many of us don’t hear the messages it sends or we ignore them.

For example, when you get a headache do you:

1. stop and try to determine what is making your head hurt
2. take a Tylenol to suppress it and carry on

You’re already feeling stressed or overwhelmed and someone asks you to do something for them.  You immediately feel a knot in your stomach.  Do you:

1. ignore that feeling and say yes anyway
2.  set boundaries and say no
3. negotiate a time frame that works for you

Pain is one way the body tells us something is out of balance. Many people come to me because they want to relieve a physical pain.  After a few sessions, it becomes clear there are emotional components regardless if it started with a physical injury/accident or medical condition.

Others come with emotional or mental pain that has manifested in physical pain such as headaches from stress.  By addressing the whole person – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual – the root cause of the pain can be addressed resulting in deeper and long lasting pain relief.  Medications can alleviate pain temporarily but not treat the actual cause.  

One Client’s Story

This female client came to me with low back pain, she had a history of herniated disks in her lumbar spine and was wearing a back brace.  After each session, her back pain significantly improved and I gave her essential oils to use at home to help manage the pain.  After 3 visits she no longer needed to wear the back brace but the pain was still present at a lower intensity.  I noticed a pattern in her energy field, her second chakra was always compromised at the beginning of the sessions.

The 2^nd chakra has to do with relationships, feeling emotions, the stress response and the low back.  I asked her to think about any relationships that were challenging in her life or if she was repressing any emotion toward someone.  She shared with me a life event that had devastated her daughter.  She was deeply concerned for her mental and emotional well-being.  This occurred about 2 months earlier, which is when her back pain flared up. 

So there were emotional and energetic components to her physical pain.  First, she was stressed about her daughter.  Stress causes muscle tension (which increases pain) and affects the way you think.  Second, she was taking on some of her daughter’s energy which was at a lower vibration then her energy field.  My client needed to support her daughter without taking on her energy or causing stress in herself. 

We discussed a few strategies and agreed upon a couple she felt she could follow through with.  Now we were working directly with the root cause of the pain. 

After a few more sessions her back pain was mild, intermittent and she could easily manage it.    Emotionally she felt more positive and better able to support her daughter.  Her chakras were open and flowing at the beginning of the session.  This tells me she was in a much more balanced state.

The Therapies

I love the integrative healing therapies I use because they address the whole person and I don’t need to know all the details.

• Healing Touch was helping to release energy that was not her own as well as clearing congestion from her energy field. I did not need to know specifics about who was affecting her or why.
• Essential oils were working on her physical body by decreasing inflammation and providing analgesic effects along with raising her vibration and uplifting her spirits before I knew what the emotional issues were.

Once we both became aware of the issue we could address it directly for faster results.  However, if she had not shared her story with me the therapies are still effective, it just takes longer because the client is more passive.

If you’re experiencing pain and are interested in integrative therapies let’s talk!  You have nothing to lose but your pain.

Laurie Ratto, RN, BSN, HTCP/I, CCA, speaker and author has 40 years’ experience helping people to heal from physical, mental, and emotional pain.  She provides a safe, nurturing space and support for your mind, body, and spirit so you can release all forms of pain. Laurie specializes in integrative therapies and keeps her RN license current because she understands the power of balance as we heal.

• The chemo and radiation therapies can have major side effects that adversely and dramatically impact their quality of life. Most clients are scared, stressed and suffer from side effects such as fatigue, nausea/vomiting, pain, neuropathy, radiation burns.
• Adding one or more types of integrative therapies helps to break that stress response, allows them to relax and stop the mind chatter. This alone helps with healing the body, mind, and spirit.  Taking time to be quiet and receive someone’s full attention in a compassionate manner also raises spirits.

Healing Touch helps to open, balance and clear the energetic field of toxins, trauma, and fear.

It allows them to deeply relax so they get out of their head and ground to Mother Earth in order to feel more stable and calmer. I have found the first chakra is almost always comprised.  After all the root (1^st) chakra relates to overall health, survival, being connected to the earth, belonging to a community and the adrenal glands (stress response).

Breaking that stress cycle is crucial to healing and several healing touch techniques allow clients to relax and rejuvenate.  After a session, the root chakra is usually open and flowing again.  Clients say they feel deeply relaxed, have mental clarity and grateful to have taken time to address their well-being.

Frequently I will do imagery and help them find their safe, relaxing place which they can visit during chemotherapy to help pass the time and stop the stress response.

Another technique I like to use is having people envision the chemo going in and transforming the cancer cells into something else.  People are very creative.

• One person saw it as a Pac man game with the chemo gobbling up the cancer cells.
• Another imagined it as cancer being a robber and the chemo was the police coming to subdue it and take it away.
• Another image was that of the cancer transforming from a vicious werewolf into a compassionate, loving dog. As you can see everyone’s imagination is very different!

Both of these therapies help clients to cope with the anxiety and physical side effects of the treatments.  They say they feel less fearful and more at peace.  Many experienced significantly fewer or no side effects after their cancer treatments.  

Aromatherapy is also very useful for side effects of radiation and chemotherapy.  Let’s look at just a few:

• Lavender diluted in coconut oil or Vitamin E cream helps to soothe skin burns as well as Helichrysum (Everlasting).
• Smelling ginger, peppermint or lemon can help in relieving nausea/vomiting related to chemotherapy.

Many people require less medication when also incorporating essential oils into their care regimen.  In addition, all of the oils also have antibacterial properties to help keep the immune system strong.  Lemon and peppermint are also very uplifting and assist in preventing/alleviating depression.

Bottom line is all of these therapies improve the quality of life for anyone going through cancer treatments.  If you or a loved one is going through cancer treatment I encourage you to seek out integrative therapies, find what therapy resonates with you and use it to support yourself through this difficult time.

Please share this with anyone you feel could benefit from integrative care and anyone with an interest in learning more about integrative therapies.  Thank you.

Ceaser

1. Many essential oils offer support to your respiratory system. Eucalyptus oils are the respiratory tracts best friend because of the high 1.8 Cineole content. Eucalyptus radiate and Eucalyptus Blue (Eucalyptus bicostata) are the gentlest of the family. Diffuse for 30 minutes to an hour 3-4 times a day. You can also dilute them to a 5-10% solution and apply topically to chest or reflex points on the feet 1-3 times a day. CAUTION do not apply to or near the face of infants or children under the age of ten. DO NOT take orally.

A better choice for children is Ravensara (Ravensara aromatic), Ravintsara (Cinnamomum camphor) or Myrtle (Myrtus communis). All of these oils have 1.8 Cineole but in much lower percentages so are safe to use near a child’s face. Diffuse for 30 minutes to an hour up to 4 times a day. May apply 5 – 10% solution topically to chest, upper back or reflex points on the feet up to 4 times a day. These oils can be taken orally but I advise you work with a Certified Aromatherapist to determine correct dosage and frequency.

2. If you have asthma or other lung disease be sure to keep your rescue inhaler with you and USE IT if you feel short of breath or chest tightness. If you need to use it more than 3 times a day for 3 days contact your doctor, you may need additional help in decreasing lung inflammation. I believe in integrative medicine. I start with holistic therapies first and use medications when necessary.

3. Portable air purifiers, ionic or with HEPA filter, can further reduce indoor air pollution and particulates. I recommend using one in your bedroom since most people spend 6 – 8 hours there. It will help your body to recover and detoxify. Be sure you have the correct purifier for your room size.

4. If you must be outside, especially for extended periods, wearing a N95 or P 100 facemask will filter out harmful particles. A simple surgical mask or scarf will not filter out particles.

5. Emotions such as trauma, fear or anger contribute to physical illness so clearing, balancing and energizing your energy field can help support your respiratory system. Receiving healing touch or preforming the self-chakra connection on yourself can support your general health and well-being.

It is wonderful to help soothe muscle aches and joint pain.  If you have over done it in the garden or exercising this is very soothing.  It has analgesic and anti-spasmodic properties.  Sweet marjoram also helps with pain related to arthritis/rheumatism, osteoporosis and can ease muscle cramps.  It works well in a 5% solution of a carrier oil or lotion.  I suggest start by applying it 2 – 3 times a day to any painful areas.  Inhalation alone can also be effective.  Some hospitals give patient’s personal inhalers to use at the bedside to ease pain.  This is done in addition to any pain medications that you or a patient are taking.  The oil can improve pain relieve by intensifying pain relief and help it to last longer resulting in less medication.  I call that a win-win!

I don’t know about you but when I hurt I can get irritable, crabby and not sleep well.  This oil also has a relaxing, tranquilizing effect which can decrease agitation, irritability and promotes sleep.  One oil can do both!  If you wish to use it only for relaxation diffusing it or simple inhalation is also very effective.

This oil also helps with digestive issues such as heartburn, colitis and diarrhea caused by nerves.  Apply it to the abdomen or mid to lower chest area (depending upon the condition) as needed.  Dilute the same as above and apply topically.

This versatile oil may be used to help slow healing bedsores and other wounds. It has many antibacterial and antiviral properties.  Studies have been done to determine some specific organisms it is effective against.  It is best to work with an aromatherapist who is able to work with your doctor in this case.  Knowing what organism is present determines if marjoram is appropriate or not.  Also application methods vary so working with a professional, such as myself, is advised.

I hope you will add this great oil to your collection!  If you have any questions about aromatherapy I would be happy to talk with you, click here to contact me.

What are California facilities waiting for?  Why are many physicians so resistant?  Perhaps they think they will be considered to woo-woo or unprofessional if they endorse holistic therapies.  I don’t have the answers to these questions but I do know there is mounting evidence that the therapies are effective even if we cannot completely explain how they work.  The therapies that I use – healing touch, aromatherapy and guided imagery – actually fall under the scope of care for nurses as long as they have the proper training.  When I worked in the ER and started using healing touch (a form of energy medicine) on staff and patients the MDs were skeptical to say the least. Once they saw the positive results they started to ask me for treatments on their headaches and to help calm patients down. These therapies do not replace medications; patients do not have to choose between them.  They work together to help patients feel better faster and for a longer period of time.  Hence the term integrative medicine.

One study entitled, The Effectiveness of nurse-delivered aromatherapy in an acute care setting, by Jill R. Johnson et al, had over 10,000 documented aromatherapy sessions.  The study concluded that inhaling the appropriate essential oil generally resulted in significant improvements in pain, anxiety and nausea in patients.  Other smaller studies have demonstrated oils diffused in nursing stations help boost staff morale, efficiency and accuracy.  This is what administration wants in facilities:  improved patient care and satisfaction plus staff efficiency and satisfaction.

Numerous quantitative and qualitative research studies support the use of healing touch for pain management, improved sleep, management of side effects from chemotherapy and more!

There is some financial outlay in the beginning; setting up a program, training staff etc. but it is returned within a reasonable amount of time.  What is California waiting for?  If you are a health care professional or caregiver and want to learn more I teach classes in aromatherapy and healing touch.  If you are a health care facility I can guide you in implementing holistic therapies and programs.  Contact me with questions or for more information.

As an energy worker, I believe there should be some sort of exchange between people so this content is not for free. If you found it valuable, in exchange for payment, I ask that you do one or all of the following: 1) Share it with at least 2 people on Facebook, via email or any social media of your choice.   2) Answer the question or leave a comment.

Laurie Ratto, RN, Speaker, HTCP, CCA has 30+ years’ experience helping people to heal from physical, mental , and emotional pain. She provides 1:1 services and various classes to assist caregivers and health care providers in helping others and themselves. Laurie Ratto specializes in integrative medicine, as a holistic healer, she keeps her RN certification current because she understands the power of balance as we heal.

An essential oil is composed of hundreds of different chemicals so it can have many different effects on the body. For example peppermint oil has a significant amount of menthol in it so it is good for alleviating muscle pain. Due to its other components it can also curb appetite, alleviate nausea and has antibacterial and antiviral properties! The oils work with the body to maintain balance and homeostasis. Pharmaceutical drugs however are designed to have only one or two actions and often pull the body out of balance. For example if someone is taking Lasix the medication pulls fluid from the body. It also pulls potassium so then many patients must take a potassium supplement to keep the body in homeostasis.

Aromas have a powerful influence on the mind and emotions. When you inhale an oil the scent bypasses your thinking brain and goes straight to the amygdala located about center of your brain. This area stores past experiences and emotions and reacts quickly before your logical brain has time to think. For example have you ever smelled something and instantly a memory pops into your head? If the memory is a pleasant one you feel calm or uplifted, if the memory is something unpleasant you may feel fear or anger. For example whenever I smell cookies I immediately feel good inside because I am flooded with fond memories of my Mom and Grandma baking and eating cookies together. Oils also help release emotional trauma, relax and clear the mind.

I use essential oils every day. They are very complex and do not have any major side effects like medications do. Have you had an experience with essential oils? If so I would love to hear about it, leave a comment below or contact me at 510 381-3191.

As an energy worker, I believe there should be some sort of exchange between people so this content is not for free. If you found it valuable, in exchange for payment, I ask that you do one or all of the following: 1) Share it with at least 2 people on Facebook, via email or any social media of your choice.   2) Answer the question or leave a comment.

Laurie Ratto, RN, Speaker, HTCP, CCA has 30+ years’ experience helping people to heal from physical, mental , and emotional pain. She provides a safe, nurturing space for women to release fears and self-doubt, what spiritually ties us to pain. Laurie Ratto specializes in complementary medicine, as a holistic healer, she keeps her RN certification current because she understands the power of balance as we heal.