Treating Infections Naturally
Oil of Oregano
Wild Oil of Oregano is an edible medicinal grade essential oil that is grown from a wild species of oregano especially in the Mediterranean. There are a multitude of conditions that Oil of Oregano treats, but the most famous use is its ability to kill infections in the body. Most organisms cannot survive when exposed to the powerful phenols (carvacrol and thymol) which are the active ingredient in this Wild Oil of Oregano. These ingredients work well on their own but have an added potency when found together in nature. The ancient Greeks were among the first to take advantage of oregano’s medicinal qualities and termed the spice origanos, meaning “delight of the mountains.”
Here is a list of the powerful actions of Oil of Oregano
Here is a list of the many conditions that Oil of Oregano can treat:
The contraindication to using Oil of Oregano is if you are on blood thinners, pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are not on a blood thinner there is no risk with thin blood at all. It is not necessary to dilute Oil of Oregano, although many do because of its pungently strong taste. If you place 2 drops under your tongue and hold there for a few minutes, very little will make it to your taste buds. Diluting with olive or coconut oil is an option and there are also capsules for the light of heart and children. Use whatever compliance method will work for you. The most common dose of Oil of Oregano is 2-3 drops 3-4 times daily when acute or twice daily for maintenance. If using the capsules, use 100-150 mg capsule in lieu of the drops 3-4 times daily. Please do use the sublingual (under the tongue) drops if possible as your results will be quicker and stronger. Oil of oregano can safely be taken a dozen times daily, even more. Just use small amounts frequently.
Oil of Oregano is used topically for many conditions like arthritis, bursitis, carpel tunnel syndrome, and sore and stiff muscles. Apply a few drops of Oil of Oregano onto the skin covering the affected area several times throughout the day. Massage diluted Oil of Oregano (3 drops into 1 tsp of olive or coconut oil) and massage into the feet of babies to support their immune system and to calm them. Massage around the external ear for ear infections. Use this same dilution for acne, psoriasis, eczema and yeast infections.
Oil of Oregano has been tested side by side with antibiotics like penicillin and vancomycin and shown to be as protective for the same infection. The best attribute of Wild Oil of Oregano is that humans do not develop a resistance. People develop strains of bacteria that become resistant to antibiotics. This means that the antibiotics no longer penetrate the organism and the infection persists. The only symptoms of overdose are rash and vomiting
Iodine
Iodine has been used therapeutically in many immune pathologies from the common cold to cancer. It is interesting to note that iodine is accumulated in diseased tissues. Iodine uses a natural enzyme system in our body, (peroxidase) to kill foreign invaders (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites). What happens in white blood cells (the cells that fight infection) is that iodine (iodide) is accumulated into these cells when they are turned on by an invading organism. There is a process called phagocytosis – which is like Pac-man (white blood cells) chomping at the flashing dots (bacteria). When this is turned on, lots of iodine is mobilized from stores in the body to assist this function. If iodine is low, our own immune system is going to be weak in its attack. Because iodine is a crucial molecule in thyroid hormone, if our stores are low, iodine will be mobilized from thyroid hormones rendering a weakened thyroid response as well
I recommend that anyone that desires or is taking iodine supplementation that they have their levels checked. The reason is more for deficiency and less for toxicity reasons. The test to measure iodine is a 24 hour urine test. Once determined how deficient you are you will be dosed with it and re-measured. Toxicity is rare. Symptoms of iodine toxicity are skin rash, vomiting, and diarrhea
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is known as the “sunshine vitamin” because it has the potential to be manufactured by human skin when exposed to the sun, plays a major role in maintaining a healthy immune system. Sun exposure however is not enough to obtain levels that are immune-protective.
Vitamin D turns on the immune response by triggering and arming the cells that seek and destroy any invading organisms. Our immune defenses are simply not activated if our vitamin D levels are too low. Our immune system will not be able to react to and fight off serious infections in the body. This may look like chronic acute infections or may show up later in life as cancer without any warning. Our immune cells cannot begin to mobilize if there is not enough vitamin D in the body.
When you have acute symptoms of infection use all three nutrients every 2-3 hours while awake for two days:
For children 2-3 times daily is usually enough.
Each of us requires different doses of vitamin D to maintain solid blood levels of around 100. Many doctors shun the use of high vitamin D intake, but if you aren’t measuring your levels you have no idea how much you are absorbing and/or utilizing. Some patients require 10,000 IU twice daily (total of 20,000 IU daily) to even get close to a good blood level.
It is nearly impossible to have toxic levels of vitamin D. If you have any of the following symptoms and presume it to be vitamin D, get your levels checked. The other option is to stop using it and if your symptoms go away you have identified the culprit.
The symptoms of vitamin D overdose are: