Tip of the Week

Drink  1 Tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar every morning:

Breast Cancer Awareness Month should focus more on PREVENTION!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month has already quickly gone by..  While I believe this month is a great way to show your support for yourself or loved ones who have had the disease I think the focus of the month needs to change.

Sadly, October has not become a time of increasing awareness of the preventable causes of breast cancer.  Instead, as Dr. Mercola stated and I agree, ‘it has fed the breast cancer industry’s insatiable need to raise money for research into a pharmaceutical cure, and to promote its primary means of “prevention”: early detection via x-ray mammography.’

Instead of focusing on raising money for a pharmaceutical cure, October should be a month devoted to educating women on the causes and prevention of breast cancer.  This shift would greatly empower women and help them realize that they are in control.  Industries need to focus on this underlying message instead of getting wrapped up in ‘pink’ everything.

Many people believe that there is little, if anything, that can be done to prevent breast cancer.  But as I’ve written in my past posts, this couldn’t be farther from the truth!  Like so many cancers, breast cancer prevention can be greatly increased with a personal commitment to better health through dietary changes, exercise and an avoidance of toxins. 

Next Year (and every day for the matter!) our focus should be on P-R-E-V-E-N-T-I-O-N.  

As women, we should not only take a month out of our lives to remember Breast Cancer but focus every single day on what we can do to promote overall health and wellness in our lives.

Love yourself and treat your body (and your breasts!) right.

Be Well,

Tammy Kohlschmidt RDH, CCT, CBP

Basics of Breast Cancer Prevention

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer found in women in the United States. Women have a 1 in 8 chance of developing it in their lifetime!

We are in control of what we do in life.  In order to aid our bodies in the prevention of breast cancer here are a few tips to incorporate into your daily routine:

1) Proper Sleep!

2) Eat Organic Food

3) Know what you are putting on your skin!

4) Drink lots of properly filtered water

5) Exercise!!!

6) Take Supplements

This week I will focus on these 6 topics and break them down for you.

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Proper Sleep 

As I wrote about in ‘Breast Health Tip– Get enough Sleep!‘ it is very important for women to go to bed early and get proper rest.  Scientists have discovered that when it gets dark the pineal gland in our brain produces a hormone called melatonin.  Melatonin helps regulate the body’s circadian rhythms which helps us fall asleep.  Melatonin is extremely powerful against and fighting breast cancer.

Scientists have also found that less than six hours of sleep a night raises breast cancer risk by 60 %!

Proper sleep also allows us to feel refreshed and have energy to do some of my other breast cancer prevention suggestions like eat well and exercise.

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Eat Organic Food

Organic produce  might be a bit more expensive but it’s worth it in the long run!

Organic food is herbicide and pesticide free.  Did you know that on average, a person eats a gallon of these poisons from their daily fruits and vegetables in a year?!  This is one of the main reason it’s so important to buy organic produce.

For breast cancer prevention and overall health I suggest to eat at least seven servings of organic fresh fruit and vegetables every single day. The superstars for breast cancer protection include all cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower); dark leafy greens (collards, kale, spinach) ; carrots and tomatoes.   The best fruits include citrus, berries and cherries.  Eat away!

Organic Produce is also better for our environment.  It uses less energy to grow and helps replenish our soil.

I like the mantra about Nature and our environment:

“I’ll nurture and respect you, you nurture and respect me.”

For the cleanest and healthiest organic food that is delivered to your door I suggest to use:

www.luvorganicfood.com

All of these tips are quite easy to incorporate into your daily lives.  We should show our bodies love and take the time to do what’s best for it.

Stay tuned to learn about your skin and the importance of water!

Be Well,

Tammy Kohlschmidt RDH, CCT, CBP

How to do a Self Breast Exam

1 out of every 8 women will get Breast Cancer in their lives so it is very important to take the time out for yourself and do a Self Breast Exam.

These exams are easy and can be performed anywhere

It is important while doing a Self Breast Exam to both visually and manually inspect the breast.

To perform a Self Breast Exam:

Step 1: Start by looking in a mirror and placing your hands on your hips.  Examine each breast for changes in size, shape, color, lumps, swelling, dimples, a nipple that has changed position or has become inverted.

Step 2:  Next, raise both your arms over your head and look for the same changes.

Step 3: Keep your arms over your head and bring your hands behind your back.  The movement of your nipples should be synchronized.

Step 4:  Next, lie on your back with one arm behind your head.  Use your right hand to feel your left breast and your left hand to feel your right breast.  Start with your armpits (people always forget your breast tissue starts up there!) and use a firm smooth touch with the first few fingers of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together.  (Be sure to not lift them!)

It helps to use massage oil.

Step 5:  Make little bitty circles about half inch in diameter with your fingertips while you make a great big circle around the entire breast.

Step 6:  Checking Nipple Discharge- start this by placing your fingers about three inches away from the nipple.  Press down and move the fingers toward the nipple.  Repeat this for all four quadrants of the breast.  Gently squeeze each nipple between your finger and thumb and check for discharge

Step 7:  Lastly, feel your breasts (as taught in step 4) while you are sitting or standing ( I like to do this in the shower!)

**It is important to always start in the same place each time!

And Remember- this is an act of love.  Take your time and don’t rush!  If you find something you are suspicious about get a thermography exam or contact your doctor.  Don’t be scared to take that next step.

Early Detection Saves Lives.

Be Well,

Tammy Kohlschmidt RDH, CCT, CBP

(( These Self Breast Exam Steps are from a lovely Book, Breast Wisdom, by Dr. Ben Johnson (who is a thermography reader for Thermography for Health NY!) and Kathleen Barnes.  To read up on Health Breast check it out! ))

Know your breasts!

Don’t be shy- touch them!

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month rolls on I want to emphasize the importance of Self Breast Exams.  Breasts come in all different sizes and shapes.   It is very important for women to know their own breasts.  Being proactive and aware of our body and health is so important for women.   Self Breast Exams should be a part of your Self-Care Routine.

We should all know our breasts so well that we can detect if there’s something different or abnormal going on with them.  I recommend that all women ages 20+  do a Self Breast Exam every month ( right after your period.)

Is there a spot on one of your breasts that has recently changed? Do you feel a lump that wasn’t there before?

When we perform these Self Breast Exams we are performing an act of love on our body.  Most of us are not aware of how connected everything is in our bodies.    Taking care of oneself vibrates at the cellular level.  This “love exam and vibration” is felt by every cell in our body.  Our bodies are vibrating and the frequency of the vibration determines our health.

Love yourself- Make sure you are doing a monthly Breast Self-Exam.

Stay turned for my next post on ‘How to properly examine yourself.’

VIBRATE IN LOVE,

Tammy Kohlschmidt RDH, CCT, CBP

Thermography- Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I’m all for promoting Breast Cancer Awareness Month and ‘Early Detection’ but many people recommend and emphasize the wrong thing (Mammograms!) during this month.

In my practice, I focus on overall breast health and ways to prevent breast cancer in your daily life rather than putting the emphasis on testing, poking, and squeezing.  Mammograms have been the gold standard for years and many doctors recommend them because they think they are the best for detecting cancer early- but this is not true!  Studies show that a thermography exam can identify precancerous or cancerous cells earlier and will produce unambiguous results.  This can cut down on additional testing .

People need to educate themselves and know how dangerous Mammograms can be!

Mammograms emit a high level of radiation and can increase your risk of radiation inducted cancers.  They can also lead to false positive results.

But with a Thermography exam there is no harmful radiation, it is noninvasive and causes no pain or body contact.

Thermography is a safe and efficient way to access your overall health!

Be smart.  Learn what is out there and make your own informed choices.

Be Well,

Tammy Kohlschmidt RDH, CCT, CBP

Nurture yourself! – October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer awareness month is a good time for all women to remember to think about themselves.

This is a hard thing for many women to do.  We are always active and on the go- whether it’s helping our kids/family, making lunches, work projects, etc.  We give our time to others but we forget how important it is to take time for ourselves.

This time of the year, as the leaves start to fall- pick one up and turn it over.  Use this analogy in your everyday life!  Turning over a new leaf should start with nurturing the self.   Nurturing yourself is an act of love and is the number one defense in any disease prevention program.  Taking this time will make you a better more calm person!

In the following weeks we will focus on ways to enhance your well-being and minimize the risk for disease.

I have seen first hand the role this disease plays on a person’s life.  My mother is a breast cancer survivor and is living happy and well.   She is now more vibrant than ever.

I wish this for all of us!

Be Well,

Tammy Kohlschmidt RDH, CCT, CBP

doTERRA’s Philosophy about Essential Oils

Essential oils are, in theory, 100% natural;  however, modern processing methods can introduce contaminants into the oils.  Thus, it is important to use only 100% pure therapeutic-grade essential oils like doTERRA oils, in order to ensure that the essential oil you are using really contains the fundamental aromatic components of the plant — and no unwanted contaminants.

Consumers are often misled by the “organic” label, which seems to promise that the essential oil will be pure.  Did you know that many “organic” oils actually contain contaminants?    They can be labeled “organic” because the plants from which they are derived are grown according to organic standards.  However, when the plants are processed. these oils are diluted with carriers and sometimes synthetics.  Since the plants are grown organically, the oils are allowed to be labeled “organic” — even though they are filled with contaminants added during processing!

Sometimes, contamination of “organic” oils happens even before processing begins.  For instance, the fields of an “organic” farm can be right next to the fields of a non-organic farm.  In this scenario, chemicals and run-off will enter into the “organic” plants.  Consequently, the “organic” fruits and vegetables will be contaminated — yet they will still be certified organic.  “Organic” standards do not require plants to be examined to see if they are contaminated with chemicals or heavy metals.  In other words, the “organic” standard is quite lax and allows a lot of leeway for contamination.

However, doTERRA oils are held to a much higher standard than the “organic” standard.  doTERRA oils are (CPTG) Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade.  The CPTG standard goes far beyond organic standards, because organic standards just do not cut it.  Specifically, every doTERRA oil undergoes seven tests that use state-of-the art gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to scientifically validate that doTerra oils contain absolutely zero:
•    chemical residues
•    heavy metals
•    weeds
•    carrier oils
•    synthetics

The CPTG Certification ensures that the essential oil used by the consumer is truly 100% pure and contains absolutely no contaminants.  Please be sure to use only 100% pure therapeutic-grade essential oils like doTERRA oils.

Essential Oils Throughout History

Essential oils, in their pure form, have a long history of medicinal use dating back to ancient times.

The ancient Egyptians used essential oils for medicine, beauty treatments, food preparation, and religious ceremonies.  They believed that smell was the most important of the senses, and their embalming ritual involved the use of essential oils.  Hieroglyphics on the walls of their ancient temples explained how to prepare oil for use, and an ancient scroll discovered in 1817, called the Ebers Papyrus, describes hundreds of herbal medicine mixtures.  It is likely they used essential oils on their hair and nails as well.

The ancient Chinese and ancient Indians used essential oils as medicines, though unfortunately there seems to be relatively little information available about the specific formulations.
The ancient Greeks and Romans used essential oils for massage, aromatherapy, and personal cleanliness.  Indeed, Hippocrates, one of the most renowned doctors of the time, used numerous essential oils for massage and aromatherapy.
Europeans during the Middle Ages were forbidden to bathe by the Church, so they turned to essential oils to mitigate their stinky smell and improve air quality.  They were fortunate in that many essential oils have anti-bacterial properties which helped to prevent sicknesses.  Though monasteries during this time used essential oils to treat the sick, this practice was not widespread beyond the monasteries, as the Church persecuted as heretics those who dared to use essential oils in public as medicine.

The Muslim scientist and pharmacist Ibn al-Baytar, who was born in 1197 and lived during the Islamic Golden Age, was the first individual to write down how to produce essential oils.
During World War I, a French doctor named Dr. Monciere used essential oils to treat wounds and created several medicines using essential oils.

During World War II, a French doctor, Dr. Jean Valet, turned to essential oils out of desperation.  Based in China, he had run out of antibiotics and was unable to replenish his supply.  With no other recourse,  Dr. Valet tried using essential oils to treat soldiers’ wounds.  The oils proved to be surprisingly effective at warding off infection.

In 1992, a new way of steam distilling plants to extract the maximum quality of essential oil was developed.  This method is now employed by the most reputable companies selling essential oils.

In 2002, the botanical names of all the plants from which essential oils are derived were standardized by the International Organization for Standardization, paving the way for essential oils to be treated more seriously by the medical community.

The Benefits of Essential Oils

Essential oils are liquids containing aroma compounds from plants;  in other words, they contain the stuff that gives a plant its unique smell.  For example, the essential “oil of wintergreen” contains the aromatic components of the wintergreen plant and thus smells just like it.  In fact, the oils are called “essential” because they contain the fundamental aromatic components of the plant!

various essential oils

Essential oils, in their pure form, have a long history of medicinal use dating back to ancient times.  Indeed, since at least ancient Egyptian times, essential oils have been used in a variety of ways to improve both physical and emotional health.  This use has continued up until modern day;  however, mainstream medicinal practitioners do not generally use essential oils, in part because mainstream medicine tends to depend on clinical studies and relatively few studies are carried out on the aromatic compounds in essential oils.  There is relatively little profit incentive to carry out clinical studies on essential oils, because essential oils cannot be patented the way that pills invented in the laboratory can.  In other words, essential oils are not generally researched by pharmaceutical companies, because these companies stand to make far more profit from medicines that can be patented than from essential oils, which cannot be patented.

essential oil poured into the hand

Nevertheless, essential oils remain a significant part of the alternative medicine movement; they have been used for thousands of years to improve people’s health, and it thus seems likely that they have real health benefits, even if few studies have been carried out to scientifically validate the medicinal properties of essential oils.

the smell of some essential oils soothes and relaxes

Essential oils are remarkable in the versatility of their benefits.  For example, essential oils are widely used in aromatherapy to achieve varying physical effects — certain oils stimulate;  others relax and ease tension.  Essential oils are also used to improve cleanliness;  that is, releasing essential oils into the air removes bad smells and certain airborne pathogens. When added to laundry and surface cleaners, essential oils improve cleaning and purifying ability.  At massage and beauty parlors, essential oils are rubbed into a person’s skin, with numerous positive health effects: the person becomes calmer, his or her emotional and physical well-being are restored, the skin quality is improved at the area of application, and the oils are absorbed into the bloodstream and travel through the person’s internals, where they act as a disinfectant.  Certain essential oils are even used as dietary supplements, as many oils have powerful antioxidant properties;  however, it is important to be careful when ingesting essential oils, as taking the wrong oil can be harmful to one’s health — always make sure your essential oil is labeled as a dietary supplement and follow the label’s directions.