Prevention is key, following the CDC guidelines is crucial but does not address the whole person, body, mind, and spirit.  Below are approaches and techniques that can enhance your immune system using your body, and mind.   

BODY/PHYSICAL

1.Diffuse or directly inhale essential oils with anti-viral properties and/or oils that support your respiratory system. This is a partial list of oils with these properties.   Anti-viral oils:  Sage (Salvia officinalis), Thyme, Myrrh, Tea tree, Niaouli, Clove. Respiratory support oils:  All Eucalyptus oils, Ravintsara, Green myrtle. 

Inhalation is the fastest and easiest way to administer the oils.  You can diffuse one or more of the oils in a diffuser, smell it directly from the bottle, place a few drops on a cotton ball or Kleenex and give one to each member of the family to smell several times a day or create a personal aroma inhaler (available on Amazon, search under essential oil inhaler tubes with wicks). 

After some research, I have created an anti-viral & respiratory blend to support my family during this time.  I want to share it with all of you.  Please understand there has been no testing to see if these oils or blend decreases or stops the growth of this specific coronavirus.  I created a blend that covers a variety of known viruses, bacteria and that support your respiratory system in general. 

Anti-viral and Respiratory Support blend

Combine the following in a 15 ml glass bottle: 

3 ml Eucalyptus  radiata,  3 ml Ravintsara,  3 ml Spruce or Balsam fir, 2 ml Eucalyptus globulus,  2 ml Tea tree,  1ml Sage,  1 ml Thyme, 2 drops clove, 5-6 drops peppermint

You can diffuse this in your home so everyone in the room receives the benefits.  If you are new to essential oils I would start by diffusing for 30 minutes 3-4 times a day.  If you use oils, you can diffuse for 1 hour 2-3 times a day. 

Another option is to create a personal inhaler.  I use this before and after going to the grocery store or out for a walk. You can use it several times a day if you don’t have a diffuser.   

2. Exercise/body movement because it helps your lymphatic system.  Your lymphatic system plays a key role in the immune system, it produces white blood cells and removes toxins and debris from your cells.  However, unlike blood, the lymphatic fluid is not pumped but squeezed through the vessels when we use our muscles. You don’t have to do an intense workout just walking, dancing, yoga or other activity for 15 minutes helps keep this system functioning at its best.  

3. Sleep 7-9 hours per night. This is when your body repairs and rejuvenates itself.

4. Eat nutritious foods. You know the saying, “garbage in – garbage out’.  If you don’t give your body what it needs it can’t take care of you.  Avoid large amounts of sugar, bacteria, and viruses thrive on it.  Eat more vegetables, moderate amounts of fruit and don’t binge on carbohydrates.

MENTAL and EMOTIONAL

1. Decrease stress and fear because it suppresses your immune system.  Meditation, even just 5 minutes a day can help.  Click here for a 5-minute breath meditation.  Perform an activity you enjoy and just be in the present moment with it.  For example, garden, crochet, make models, do jigsaw puzzles, play or make music.  The main point is to focus on the activity and stop the mind chatter of “what if”.  This will help to strengthen your immune system.  

2. Practice gratitude, daily find 3 things you are grateful for.This decreases stress and studies suggest optimistic feelings fortify the immune system.  To learn more about how gratitude affects your health and well-being  click here. 

3. Receive a distance Healing Touch session.  This energy therapy supports and facilitates physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and self-healing.  It produces a profound sense of relaxation which promotes the production of endorphins (feel-good hormones) that help uplift your spirits.  Remember stress decreases your immune system so relaxation enhances it.  It also helps you to process, release, and clear thoughts and emotions (such as anxiety and fear) that are not serving you. 

During this time of social distancing, the safest thing to do is receive a session in the comfort of your own home and the practitioner in their home.   Energy has no boundaries, I have performed distance/remote sessions with clients in New York, Arizona, even Austria from my home in Calif and had wonderful results.  Think of it like radio waves going out and sending information to every home that is tuned in, only now it is sending energy to a specific person. 

I encourage you to schedule a healing touch session at least once a month during these uncertain times.  The session may be with me, another practitioner or you can do an exchange with a classmate if you have taken a healing touch class in the past.    

If you have questions about what a distance session consists of or want to schedule an appointment please contact me: la****@***************od.com or phone: 510 381-3191.

4. Maintain social ties but in a new way.   We are social beings so isolation can lead to depression and/or anxiety which depresses the immune system.  Stay connected with family and friends with telephone or video calls. I love video calls because I enjoy seeing the other person plus facial expressions and hand gestures add to the conversation. 

If you and a friend have no symptoms and the weather is nice you might consider meeting outdoors, staying at least 6 feet apart for a short visit. 

I hope you find these tips useful.  If you have any questions or just want to share a story with me I would love to hear from you.  Stay calm, carry on and be healthy!

When this chakra is in balance you are in touch with your emotions, relationships that you chose to be in are positive and supportive. Relationships that you would not voluntarily choose but are required, such as at work, you can express your feelings respectfully and remain neutral rather than getting upset and angry. Your creative juices flow and you embrace pleasure in all forms. You feel good about yourself.

When the sacral chakra is out of balance you may experience feelings of resentment, aggression, shyness, guilt. You may find it difficult to trust others. You may feel stuck in a situation or your life in general.

From the physical viewpoint this chakra governs the reproductive organs, kidneys, colon, immune system, bladder, hips and low back. When out of balance physical symptoms may present as pain in the hips, kidney problems, bladder infection or illness with reproductive organs such as terrible cramps, excessive bleeding, infertility, etc.

A client that came to me because stress at work was causing her physical symptoms of sleep problems, digestive issues and chronic fatigue. As we worked together I saw a pattern that her sacral chakra would be the last to flow and always congested by the next visit.  Talking with her l realized her primary cause of stress was conflict within herself about her career and job. We started focusing on this aspect with aromatherapy and guided imagery and finally she started to resolve this issue.

When I checked in with her a month later she had gained clarity on what direction to take in her career and had taken actions toward her goal. Her symptoms had resolved and she felt confident and happy.

This is just one example of how I can get to the root cause of issues with you when you may not be consciously aware of what is going on. If you’re experiencing issues in your relationships or have physical challenges related to the sacral chakra I invite you to work with me one-on-one to help you resolve it and reclaim your life full of joy and good health.

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.

The first thing I do is test the client to discover which tree oil or blend their body desires to help them get grounded.  I have the client inhale it for several deep breaths and then apply 1 – 2 drops topically. Once the client is on my table I do one of 3 different energy techniques to help ground them. We then implement step one in my 5 step system – Get Relief Now. I provide them with techniques that can help stop or at least decrease the worrying as well.

One client came to me stating she had no energy at night to enjoy the company of her husband, felt stressed, worried about her job and found it increasingly difficult to concentrate on one thing at a time. After our first session together her first chakra was still congested but she felt relaxed, more grounded and slept better that night. However when she returned to work the next day the worry and difficulty concentrating returned.

I spoke with her the following day and we came up with a plan where she did the grounding and relaxing technique on the way to work. She wasn’t driving herself. She also did a relaxation technique before bed.

I saw her 2 weeks later and although her first chakra was still congested a couple of the others were now open and flowing and she said she was starting to be less reactive at work and not taking on extra responsibilities. This session we also did some guided imagery work around what she wanted in the work environment. At the end of this session her root chakra was open and flowing.

After our third session together she said she was doing much better, able to handle the constant change at work, she released some of the added responsibility she had put on herself so she worried less. She had more energy in the evening to talk or go out with her husband.

How is your energy level and mental state? If you need a shift for the better give me a call and let’s talk about it 510 381-3191. You can also email me.

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 35+ 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.

I feel like our bodies are the same way. We understand a great deal about them yet when we have pain we do not always understand what it is trying to communicate to us. That chronic back pain you are experiencing can have a physical cause but the emotional disconnect of doing a job you hate or not being your true self with others can intensify it or make it continue even if the physical cause is corrected. Don’t wait 1, 5 or 10 years before discovering what your body is telling you. I invite you to work with me to learn what your body is communicating to you so you can heal.  Contact me for a free consultation.

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.

My Mom had asthma which became severe as she aged. She always told us that she did not want to be placed on life support if she were to stop breathing. She felt if her body was so exhausted it stopped breathing then it was her time to leave the physical world. She was fiercely independent.

One day my Mom stopped breathing when my sister (also a nurse) was there. She called 911 and started mouth to mouth resuscitation.

When I arrived at the hospital I was surprised to find out Mom was on life support. Then I felt really torn. As a nurse I know that being on a ventilator for a few days can give the lungs a rest and then the patient is weaned off it. However when she stopped breathing 2 years prior she “woke-up” in the ambulance and refused to be put on the ventilator even for a few days.

When my sister and I talked to the MD and told him her wishes he looked very startled at us. “ I think she still has some good years left in her,” was his comment. My Mom was only 72 and I felt like he was judging us for considering doing as she asked.

We asked the MD to do an EEG to see if she had any brain damage from the incident. The test came back very abnormal. Now there was no doubt in our minds what we should do – take her off life support. Even though it was painful because we loved her we knew it was what she wanted. Personally if we had kept her alive, just existing on the machine and not living life, I would have felt guilty.

We took her off the machine and several hours later she took her last breath, it was peaceful and easy. A sense of sadness and calm came over me. She was at peace, her wishes had been carried out and my siblings and I knew we had done the right thing for her.

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.

Exercise regularly to keep inflammation, chronic pain and your waist line down. So many people spend 8 or more hours sitting at work or at home. Our bodies were meant to move, our joints need to be put through the motions to maintain flexibility and prevent inflammation. If you have arthritis or other medical condition it should be gentle movement like yoga or Tia Chi to maintain your range of motion.  You don’t have to be a runner to get exercise, walking the dog or going for a stroll at whatever pace works for you is better than nothing.

Eat a healthy diet which means avoid refined sugar, simple carbohydrates, fried foods, trans-fats and foods that cause inflammation in you. The foods that cause inflammation vary from person to person because everyone’s chemistry is different. Many friends had told me about a book titled “The Plan” by Lyn-Genet Recitas. They told me it was based on the premise that trigger foods cause chemical reactions that lead to inflammation and weight gain.

When I noticed some arthritis showing up in one of my fingers I wanted to decrease the inflammation. Using my oils helped but I noticed that some days it was worse and other days better even when I used the same oil. I purchased the book because I wanted to learn about inflammatory foods and losing a few pounds wouldn’t hurt me either. While I was on the Plan my finger inflammation resolved and did not return, I also lost 5 pounds. By following the plan and introducing foods one by one to see if I developed inflammation which was tracked by checking my weight every morning I learned whitefish is good for me but scallops and crab actually cause inflammation in me! Now this does not mean that I will never eat them because they are delicious but I will eat them less often and eat non-inflammatory foods for a couple of days before and after to allow my body to come back into balance. This is truly a lifestyle change about how I eat. It is not a diet.

If your experiencing pain related to an inflammatory disease or know your stress level is constantly high and want to manage it better let’s talk. Contact me today, it is never too soon to start a healthier life.

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.

Chronic inflammation is not good for you. Constant low grade inflammation destroys the balance in your body and you become more susceptible to diseases and aging. Chronic stress which causes elevated cortisol levels, poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking and environmental toxins all contribute to chronic inflammation. The list goes on but my space is limited!

For example I noticed a stress pattern in me that continued for almost 20 years before I learned how to change it using holistic therapies. I was a wife and Mom and put everyone’s needs before my own. I would push myself between work, kids, husband and taking care of the house until my back would start hurting or I couldn’t sleep at night. I would get very irritable, feel exhausted, become ill and finally take some time to nourish myself. At this point I was breaking the stress cycle but then I would start the whole cycle over again! My immune system was also depressed and I caught colds often. My asthma also flared up regularly (an inflammatory disease). Since I learned how to manage my stress I am rarely sick, much less irritable and have more energy.

The ugly side of inflammation is that after MANY years in your body it finally manifests with clinical symptoms and disease. Diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, cancer, chronic pain, heart disease, stroke, asthma, thyroid problems and more!. Western medicine will prescribe drugs to decrease or suppress the inflammation but that is not addressing the root cause of the problem and can actually cause more damage to your body.  Just listen to all the potential side effects they talk about in the ads while showing happy, active people. You remember the images, not the words. I have seen firsthand how taking drugs over the long term can adversely affect your health and life. However I know that lifestyle changes are the best way to stop inflammation naturally. That will be addressed in my next post, control inflammation naturally.

If you’re ready to take action and make healthy lifestyle changes I can help. Contact me for a free consultation to explore the possibilities.

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.

It is important to continue to use the joints and stretch them out in order to decrease pain and maintain range of motion. Pain causes muscles to contract which decreases circulation and causes stiffness. By staying active and using the joints you bring more circulation to the area and bath the joint in the synovial fluid. This helps to maintain range of motion and decrease pain. My grandma’s hands were very deformed but she still cooked and did as much as possible for herself.

Essential oils can help increase circulation, decrease swelling and detoxify muscle tissues.  They can also relax muscles all of which can help increase range of motion and nourish your joints. If many joints are affected you can use oil blends (most companies have their own blends)  or work with an aromatherapist to make up a special recipe for your body. That is what I do when I work with clients one-on-one.  One client I worked with was legally blind and used a walker to get around. She had bad arthritis in her knees. I set her up with a pump top on the oil blend and she applied it 3 – 4 times a day. She told me she was able to cut back on her pain medication and that her knees felt more stable when using the oil.

I have also noticed clients that can recruit others to apply the oils using gentle massage get an increased effect.   I believe this is because human touch can be very healing when given by someone that is compassionate and caring. The gentle strokes also help improve circulation and the 1:1 attention makes people feel special, seen and heard. All of this leads to the release of …… You guessed it endorphins – the feel-good hormones!

When I work on myself or with clients I test to see what oil or oil blend the body wants. Marjoram, basil, wintergreen, lavender and clove are just some of the potential oils that can help. Using a blend has a synergistic effect and addresses multiple aspects of the issue.  I have had a few flare-ups of osteoarthritis in a couple of my fingers. I use essential oils to help decrease the swelling and stiffness and to reduce pain. I would like to help you find the appropriate oil for your pain. Call me at 510 381-3191 or email la****@**************od.com

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.

I was so THRILLED to read this! Pain must be addressed from many angles to get to the root cause and help people to manage it. Pills mask the symptoms but do nothing to help you make lasting changes. This is where holistic therapies come into play. The combination of therapies I use work together to help your mind, body and spirit come back into balance allowing your body to help heal itself. Aromatherapy can help ease joint stiffness and swelling allowing you to move with more ease. It can also help uplift your spirits and stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system which contributes to pain reduction. Healing touch can produce a profound sense of relaxation, help clear out old traumas that may be contributing to your pain and decrease or resolve your pain.   Using guided imagery I help you to tap into the power of your mind to find ways to decrease pain or find out why the pain is there.

There are many holistic therapies that are safe and effective that can help relieve pain, you just need to find the one that works for you! Managing chronic pain is not a quick fix, like taking a pill. It takes your participation and making some simple life style changes for long lasting results to occur. If you’re experiencing pain I’d love to talk with you about your challenges and explore options for decreasing it. click here/ for a free consultation.

Neurology September 30, 2014

When it was finally time for her to come home from the hospital a wave of fear ran through me. What if someone rear-ended me or I was caught in an accident driving her home? Any strong jolts could displace the fracture. I did not want my daughter to pick-up on my fear so I kept it too myself. The 25 minute ride home was very stressful for me.   We arrived home safely and got her settled in.

For the next several weeks I played nurse as well as Mom. In that time some magical things happened. My daughter and I had drifted apart during her turbulent teenage years. She had wanted to be “grown-up” and on her own at the age of 14! Anyway this accident made both of us stop and think about our relationship and life in general. She realized she had been given a gift to have survived and without any permanent disabling issues. Our relationship grew stronger and she started to see more of my point of view and vice-versa. She found a college she wanted to attend and a career to pursue. This accident literally changed her life and our relationship for the better! God works in mysterious ways sometimes. Have you had a bad experience that turned into something positive? If so I would love to hear about it.

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, BSN, 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.