Herbal Legacy Articles

Natural Herbal Treatment of Bronchitis Without the use of Steroids or Other Drugs- Jim Spalding M.H.

Have you ever been unable to breathe well? What a desperate feeling! What an equally helpless and panicky feeling to watch as a small child or other loved one struggles to get breath to sustain life.
If you know what I am talking about you have probably been through the conventional route of treatments. Antibiotics, possibly inhalers, maybe even oral steroids like cortisone. Some people may wonder what is wrong with these conventional treatments.

Before getting into the natural herbal treatment of bronchitis, consider the regular drug treatments that are given. Medical textbooks say that you will find inflammation of the bronchial walls and/or spasm of the muscles surrounding the bronchioles when bronchitis is occurring. These can be brought about by infection or irritation to the area.

When we use antibiotics, we treat bacterial infection. If there is viral infection then antibiotics do no good at all. An antibiotic will not kill a virus. The antibiotic will also be useless if the bronchitis is due to an irritation - either chemical or allergic. Even if the condition starts with a bacterial infection, an antibiotic is not effective in getting rid of the inflammation or bronchial constriction. The only positive action of an antibiotic is to kill bacteria. Their side effects can range from mild digestive distress such a diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting to fungal infections, kidney damage, deafness, and even fatal anaphylactic shock. They are Russian roulette in a pill. I personally will not take them unless there is absolutely no other effective remedy for a situation. I have not found that situation yet.

Inhalers can be helpful as a temporary crutch in some types of bronchitis. They can contain a drug that relaxes the muscles surrounding the bronchial tubes or a drug that reduces the swelling in the wall in the bronchial tubes. They also have side effects including increased blood pressure, nervousness, tremors, headache, bronchospasm, anaphylactic shock, oral thrush infection, and weakening of the muscles of the larynx. These are only a few of the problems reported. Among all drug treatments for bronchitis, these are the least harmful.
Oral steroids such as cortisone are drugs that treat only the inflammation (swelling) in the walls of the bronchial tubes. They do not do away with the cause of the swelling.  The side effects of these drugs would take a couple of pages. Among them are suppression of our own natural steroid production, disruption of the menstrual cycle, worsening of diabetes, acne, weight gain, fragile skin, depression, insomnia, osteoporosis leading to bone fractures, and so forth. In short, they can possibly ruin your health. There must be a better way!
I am so relieved that there IS a better way. One of the best remedies of which I am aware is a tea made from a combination of Mullein and Lobelia in a 3:1 ratio. When you hear this story, you will be able to understand my gratitude to our Creator for these herbs.
A few months ago I found out that my little grandson - going on three- had been sick with bronchitis for at least three weeks. Two rounds of antibiotics later he was still suffering. Mama and Papa were getting very little sleep as he struggled to get his breath. Brothers and sisters were irritable because they weren’t sleeping well either. My grandson looked bad. When I found out about this, I immediately went out to the farm and educated Mama on how to use these herbs. She did it. A tea of these herbs was made and applied to the chest. When I followed up with a phone call the next day I was told that he was breathing easily and all had slept better!

I hope that this makes life better for someone you love.

Jim Spalding is a Master Herbalist graduate of The School of Natural Healing. Speaking, writing, and individually teaching have become his way of advancing the health of this country. For questions and other help, contact can be made through his web site athttp://natural-healingwithherbs.com/.

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by Doreen Spackman M.H., M.G.

We want you to know of our wonderful website that many of our readers are unaware of - Herballegacy.com. This site has a list of Dr. Christopher’s formulas, a list of ailments and programs to help with those ailments, single herbs, recipes, herbal education information and more. I’m going to walk you through the site to help you find the information you’re looking for

Some easy ways of accessing the site:

1. At the bottom of your newsletter there is a section of Herbal Resource Links. Click on the second link that says “Herbal Legacy.”
2. Go to www.schoolofnaturalhealing.com On the left hand side in blue click on “Herbal Reference Links”, and then click on the “Herbal Legacy” link.
3. Type www.herballegacy.com into your browser bar.

Home page
We get many calls where readers want to give information from the newsletter to their family and friends. This is where you can direct them to sign up for the newsletter. They only need to type in their first name and email address, then click the submit button.

Tabs on the site:

1. Articles - Here is a list of previous newsletters with their name and the date the article came out. There are articles for everything from “Natural Protocol for systemic Yeast overgrowth & leaky gut syndrome” on May 5, 2010 to “Preparing a fomentation for injuries” on March 30, 2011 and everything in between.
2. Dr. Christopher formulas - Click here for a list of Dr. Christopher’s original formulas and the herbs in them.  Some let you know what each herb in that product does, and some will tell how many parts of the herb is contained in the product. It also tells different ways to use the products and testimonials of people who have used them and their results.
3. Ailment & Programs - Here you can learn about the difference between the 3 day juice cleanse,  the extended cleanse program, the incurables program, as well as a list of ailments from A-Z and the way Dr. Christopher taught how to take care of that problem.
4. Single Herbs - We have place School of Natural Healing graduates Thesis papers here so you can have more information on single herbs. Each thesis will tell the history, location, chemical constituent, medicinal qualities, contra-indications, some herbal formulas using that herb, dosages and applications, and personal experiences with those herbs.
5. Recipes -Everyone loves recipes and here is a great resource from breakfast and main dishes to snack, soups and of course desserts. Yummy!!
6. About Us - gives you some information about Dr. John R. Christopher and David Christopher.
7. Herbal Education -This gives you information about the School of Natural Healing and the times the general public can call and talk to a Master Herbalist for answers to health questions.

I love Herballegacy.com it has so much information on one site and so convenient to use. Have fun on the site and let us know what helped you most or send us some of your testimonials.

Have a Happy and Healthy Day!!!

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By Amanda Goodsell - General Manager of Wholistic Botanicals LLC - Utah
Throughout the years, we at Wholistic Botanicals LLC have received thousands of quality related comments and questions from customers of the Christopher’s Original Formulas product line.  At this time, I would like to take the opportunity to share with you what quality means to our company. It is our mission to stand true to the principles taught by Dr. John R Christopher and his son David Christopher M.H..

The quality of a dietary supplement cannot be determined by merely testing the finished product.  To produce a quality herbal dietary supplement the quality must be built in at every stage of the manufacturing process beginning with the sourcing of each raw material.  It is Wholistic Botanical’s policy to identity and verify each raw material against a vouchered/verified sample that a botanist has positively identified as a specific species of herb. One or more of the following tests are used to accomplish this identity verification:

1.    High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography

2.    High Performance Liquid Chromatography

3.    Gas Chromatography

4.     Organoleptic

After the identity has been verified each raw material is then tested for microbiological and heavy metal contaminates. These tests include:

1.    Aerobic

2.    Yeast

3.    Mold

4.    Coliform

5.    E-coli

6.    Salmonella

7.    ICP-MS for Heavy Metals

Each of the tests mentioned are performed before and after each raw material is purchased.  These tests are again performed on each lot of each finished product manufactured. Wholistic Botanicals LLC has made a commitment to only utilize the best raw materials available.  This means that Sulfate free vegetarian capsules are used in all of our encapsulated products, Kosher Glycerin derived from Palm is used in our Glycerin Extracts, and wild crafted and organic non-treated or steam treated herbs are used when available.

I have often heard from concerned customers regarding the occasional use of non-organic or wild crafted herbs in our products.  There are various reasons that this may occur such as failed crops or poor quality organic or wild crafted herbs.  Although uncommon our company has sourced organic herbs that have failed one or more of the quality tests that we perform. For example we have sourced Organic Goldenseal Root that did not pass several of the quality tests that we perform.  This particular lot of Organic Goldenseal Root was white in color when it should have been a deep gold.  After further testing using High Performance Thin Layer chromatography it was determined that this lot was Goldenseal however it was clearly altered and contaminated.  Needless to say that lot of Organic Goldenseal Root was not approved for purchase.  Another example occurred when we had sourced Horsetail grass that had been contaminated with another herb and did not pass our identity test.   Although it is uncommon, sometimes a better option than ordering a poor quality organic or wild crafted herb is to source conventionally grown herbs that are non GMO and are pesticide free.

After the highest quality herbs are selected, they are then manufactured in compliance with Current Good Manufacturing Practices.  The Christopher Original Formulas products are manufactured without the use of excipients or fillers. Excipients and fillers are commonly used in herbal dietary supplements not because of their superior nutritional value, but because they speed up the encapsulating process. The problem is that the consumer pays for ingredients that have little or no nutritional value.  Wholistic Botanicals provides dietary supplements that are designed to aid the body in cleansing and nourishing the body, not an encapsulating machine!

Wholistic Botanicals sales continue to grow even in this unique economy because our customers get the results they are expecting for competitive prices. Providing quality has to be a planned and does not happen by mistake! Our Quality Assurance policies go above and beyond what is required by the FDA mandated Current Good Manufacturing Practices. What we do at Wholistic Botanicals is important but how we do it is even of more importance. We manufacture our products to the highest quality standard because it is the right thing to do and it is what Dr. John R. Christopher intended for his formulas. We appreciate all our customers who continue to use and teach about our great products.

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By Noell Larsen H.N., M.H. - Oregon

Fall is one of my favorite seasons here in Oregon. At the local farmers market you will find a colorful palette of the region’s fresh organic apples. While it’s hardly arguable that nothing beats the refreshing taste of a crisp apple freshly picked, this is only one facet of my appreciation for the amazing apple and how it tops my charts as being one of the worlds most nutritious foods.

In 1998 the Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry published a study that highlighted the relation of pectin in the diet, it’s ability to lower cholesterol in the liver and its ability to bind and remove cholesterol from the body as it passes through the intestinal tract. At the conclusion of the study it was observed that, “… Serum cholesterol [total amount of cholesterol found in the body] only declined significantly in apple-fed groups. The decrease of cholesterol levels in liver and serum, and its increase in faeces could explain the beneficial effect of including these fibers in the diet to prevent some nowadays very frequent diseases.” Long before this study was published Dr. Christopher recommended the apple for use in the three-day Cleansing program. About the apple’s virtues Dr. Christopher exclaimed, “One of the most effective blood purifiers known is the common apple.”

In 2004 two studies were done, together they further magnified the benefits of the apple. In January 2004 Swiss Medical published a report showing how apple pectin significantly reduced the 137Cs cesium (radioisotope and unstable chemical) uptake in Ukrainian children affected by the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster. Results of this study showed a 62% reduction in 137C cesium. In May 2004 Nutrition Journal published a report that said, “Apples are a widely consumed, rich source of phytochemicals, and epidemiological studies have linked the consumption of apples with reduced risk of some cancers, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and diabetes. In the laboratory, apples have been found to have very strong antioxidant activity, inhibit cancer cell proliferation, decrease lipid oxidation, and lower cholesterol. Apples contain a variety of phytochemicals, including quercetin, catechin, phloridzin and chlorogenic acid, all of which are strong antioxidants.”

Way to pack a punch! The apple,  a good source of soluble fiber, controls blood sugar and insulin release, sweeps clean the intestinal tract, helps prevent cancer, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, is capable of removing heavy metals, radioactive particles … and tastes absolutely amazing!

Noell Larsen is a Holistic Nutritionist and Master Herbalist/ Masters of Science graduate of The School of Natural Healing. Together with her husband (a current Medical Student) and as a mother of two children… speaking, writing and tutoring others in health has become a family passion.

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by David Christopher M.H.

You have probably read the news about prostate screening for cancer, which appeared on the front page of many newspapers across the country.  On Thursday October 13, 2011 an Associated Press article by Marilynn Marchione basically blasted PSA tests.  It related that this test is only a measure of inflammation which can be elevated for many reasons including bike riding, recent sex, or normal enlargement of the prostate due to age.  She also debunks the claims that the screening saves lives. She makes these claims by drawing from a very large, well done American study, that\ showed that annual screening did not lower the chances of dying from prostate cancer.  Many men believe the screening saved their lives because their urologist erroneously told them it did.  These men and urologists become very vocal in promoting prostate cancer screening.

Less visible are the unfortunate men who test high for PSA and are then subjected to invasive testing that can harm or spread cancer.  One such case as reported in the article is, “… Donald Weaver who was a healthy 74 year old Kansas farmer until doctors went looking for prostate cancer.  A PSA test led to a biopsy and surgery, then a heart attack, organ failure and a coma. His grief stricken wife took him off life support. ‘He died of unnecessary preventive medicine,’ said his nephew, Dr. Jay Siwek, vice chairman of family medicine at Georgetown University.  Blood tests can kill you …”

The United States Preventive Task Force does not recommend the use of this test, and doctors have been warned by the AMA to leave slow-growing prostate cancer alone; that interference may spread the cancer. What should we do to prevent prostate cancer?  Well first, grow up and eat like an adult.  Stop eating those sugary breakfast cereals.  Stop drinking milk, it contains hormones that stimulate growth of prostate tissue.  The hormones found in meat can also negatively effect prostate health. Do eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, sprouted grains and legumes, and include nuts and seeds in your diet.  This program is preventative for not just prostate cancer, but all cancers. If prevention is too late, then do the extended herbal cleanse as explained in the Dr. Christopher Three Day Cleanse booklet.

Next eat the seeds highest in cancer preventing nitrilosides; which are apricot seeds. They are extremely bitter, but buck up and eat six seeds a day to start and work up to as many as 30 per day. These simple seeds are natures’ chemo therapy. Cyanide and benzaldehyde are the chemicals in the seed that destroy cancer cells. These two chemicals are bound to two glucose molecules and are inert until activated at the actual cancer site. This is accomplished enzymatically. The chemicals are released with beta-glucosidase which is found at cancer sites.  Healthy cells are surrounded by the enzyme rhodanese, which in the presence of sulfur, converts the cyanide into thiocyanate, which then converts to cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12).  The Benzaldehyde, in the presence of oxygen is converted to benzoic acid, an analgesic.

In conclusion, I ask “Why would anyone want to go through risky medical procedures to look for possible prostate cancer, when nature provides a safe and natural chemotherapy, specific to cancer cells and at the same time is nutritive to healthy cells?”

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By Tara Christopher Eyre

We had an interesting dinner the other evening–I had prepared a fabulous cashew sauce for our zucchini noodles and was excited for the kids to try it out.  My three year old took her first bite, said “Yum!” and then immediately had a look of horror cross her face.  Being the mom that I am, I thought, “Oh no you don’t - not tonight!” and immediately gave her another bite.  She cried and complained while I tried to enjoy some of my own dinner.  As I often do, I gathered my wits, force fed her another bite and ate some more.  But this was not the usual whining about something new for dinner.

Her cries got louder, her face turned red and all of a sudden she had big white bumps around her eyes.  The bumps multiplied, her eyes starting swelling shut, her stomach hurt and I sprang to action.  I grabbed a cold wash cloth for her eyes, held her in my arms and took a moment to think.  It seemed like her body was having a major reaction, that her immune system was just going crazy.  Best thing to calm the immune system?  Marshmallow and Astragalus.

So I had my son grab a bottle of Kid-e-Soothe and immediately gave her three droppersful.  I checked the washcloth, it was burning up, so I cooled that down and gave her three more droppersful of Kid-e-Soothe.  The swelling in her eyes and white bumps started decreasing, so I kept changing the cloth on her eyes and giving Kid-e-Soothe while I flipped through my homeopathic book (that I keep in the kitchen, specifically for times like this!) and finally found what I was looking for - Apis, a specific for hives, reactions, allergies, etc.  I gave her some immediately, and started alternating it with the Kid-e-Soothe.

She was able to lie on the couch while I started some Raspberry/Spearmint/Catnip Tea a favorite at our house for any sickness.  A few minutes later she was done with the cloth on her eyes - and they looked A LOT better.  The cloth wasn’t pulling out heat anymore.  I slowed down the Kid-e-Soothe and Apis because she wouldn’t take it.  And then (about ½ hour into the experience) she threw up.  She would only take one sip of the tea, which was fine, but she did want more Kid-e-Soothe and Apis.  I also put some Apis in a water cup and she sipped on that intermittently.

She threw up twice more that evening, each about an hour apart, and then slept soundly the rest of the night.  The next morning she was back to her old self, playing and laughing with her brothers–and completely starving for breakfast!  She had a few red areas on her face so I gave her more Kid-e-Soothe and Apis and it cleared up within an hour.  She was fine the rest of the day.

As I took care of my little sweetheart I let my mind put the pieces together that caused this experience and realized that she is definitely allergic to cashews.  The only other time she has eaten cashews is when I chopped them up in a homemade energy bar.  She threw up a ½ hour after eating those and again about an hour later.  I don’t remember any swelling or hives during that experience, but maybe it’s because she only had a little bit of the energy bar, not a concentrated amount like the cashew sauce.  The other thing that I realized is that she always refuses cashews when I offer them to her.  Somehow she knows that those aren’t good for her and stays away from them.  What amazing bodies we have!  She was listening to her body all along - it just took an experience like this one for me to understand!

I also felt so thankful for my upbringing and the School of Natural Healing course I am completing.  I was able to keep my wits about me, understand what my daughter’s symptoms were telling me, and act accordingly.  What a blessing!  No trip to the emergency room, no Benadryl, just the safe herbs and homeopathics I had in my kitchen.  What a fabulous dinner!

Tara Eyre is a busy mother of three fabulous children.  She grew up with herbs and is finishing up her Master Herbalist course through The School of Natural Healing.  She loves taking care of her children naturally at home.

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By Tara Christopher Eyre

We had an interesting dinner the other evening–I had prepared a fabulous cashew sauce for our zucchini noodles and was excited for the kids to try it out.  My three year old took her first bite, said “Yum!” and then immediately had a look of horror cross her face.  Being the mom that I am, I thought, “Oh no you don’t - not tonight!” and immediately gave her another bite.  She cried and complained while I tried to enjoy some of my own dinner.  As I often do, I gathered my wits, force fed her another bite and ate some more.  But this was not the usual whining about something new for dinner.

Her cries got louder, her face turned red and all of a sudden she had big white bumps around her eyes.  The bumps multiplied, her eyes starting swelling shut, her stomach hurt and I sprang to action.  I grabbed a cold wash cloth for her eyes, held her in my arms and took a moment to think.  It seemed like her body was having a major reaction, that her immune system was just going crazy.  Best thing to calm the immune system?  Marshmallow and Astragalus.

So I had my son grab a bottle of Kid-e-Soothe and immediately gave her three droppersful.  I checked the washcloth, it was burning up, so I cooled that down and gave her three more droppersful of Kid-e-Soothe.  The swelling in her eyes and white bumps started decreasing, so I kept changing the cloth on her eyes and giving Kid-e-Soothe while I flipped through my homeopathic book (that I keep in the kitchen, specifically for times like this!) and finally found what I was looking for - Apis, a specific for hives, reactions, allergies, etc.  I gave her some immediately, and started alternating it with the Kid-e-Soothe.

She was able to lie on the couch while I started some Raspberry/Spearmint/Catnip Tea a favorite at our house for any sickness.  A few minutes later she was done with the cloth on her eyes - and they looked A LOT better.  The cloth wasn’t pulling out heat anymore.  I slowed down the Kid-e-Soothe and Apis because she wouldn’t take it.  And then (about ½ hour into the experience) she threw up.  She would only take one sip of the tea, which was fine, but she did want more Kid-e-Soothe and Apis.  I also put some Apis in a water cup and she sipped on that intermittently.

She threw up twice more that evening, each about an hour apart, and then slept soundly the rest of the night.  The next morning she was back to her old self, playing and laughing with her brothers–and completely starving for breakfast!  She had a few red areas on her face so I gave her more Kid-e-Soothe and Apis and it cleared up within an hour.  She was fine the rest of the day.

As I took care of my little sweetheart I let my mind put the pieces together that caused this experience and realized that she is definitely allergic to cashews.  The only other time she has eaten cashews is when I chopped them up in a homemade energy bar.  She threw up a ½ hour after eating those and again about an hour later.  I don’t remember any swelling or hives during that experience, but maybe it’s because she only had a little bit of the energy bar, not a concentrated amount like the cashew sauce.  The other thing that I realized is that she always refuses cashews when I offer them to her.  Somehow she knows that those aren’t good for her and stays away from them.  What amazing bodies we have!  She was listening to her body all along - it just took an experience like this one for me to understand!

I also felt so thankful for my upbringing and the School of Natural Healing course I am completing.  I was able to keep my wits about me, understand what my daughter’s symptoms were telling me, and act accordingly.  What a blessing!  No trip to the emergency room, no Benadryl, just the safe herbs and homeopathics I had in my kitchen.  What a fabulous dinner!

Tara Eyre is a busy mother of three fabulous children.  She grew up with herbs and is finishing up her Master Herbalist course through The School of Natural Healing.  She loves taking care of her children naturally at home.   

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By Jo Francks M.H. - Utah

October is breast cancer awareness month.  Dr. Christopher was successful in helping many patients in overcoming many incurable diseases.  The following is an interesting experience he had on an airplane, shared from the book Every Woman’s Herbal.

While boarding a plane in Salt Lake City, Dr. Christopher had buckled up, and was ready to enjoy a little free time on the plane, reading, studying and meditating.  A lady sat down beside him.  As the plane took off, she began to talk, “Hello, where are you going?” she asked. “To Toronto, Canada.” said Dr. Christopher. “Why?” she asked further. “I lecture, and will be lecturing there. ” was Dr. Christopher’s response. Again she questioned,”What do you lecture on?” Dr. Christopher could see that he wouldn’t be getting much quiet meditation, and began to feel a little irritated, but he answered that he was an herb doctor, lecturing on healing the body. “Isn’t that interesting?” she responded, and began to tell him her story.

She said that two years before she had had pains in her breasts, so bad that she went to the doctor.  She had severe cancer of the breast, so the physician took her right to the hospital, and when she came out she had only one breast.  They assured her that he had cleaned out the cancer very thoroughly, but six months later her other breast started hurting.  It got so severe that she again went to the doctor, who said that he must have missed some of the cancer, so he rushed her to the hospital and they removed her second breast.  She went home with the assurance that this would be it, no more problems, but within six months, she was having abdominal pains in her organs and lower cavities and was in terrible pain.  When she was examined, the doctor told her that she would have to have her reproductive organs removed and part of her bowels, because the cancer had spread throughout her body.  She said that she wouldn’t let them do any more cutting on her.  They suggested chemotherapy, but she wouldn’t allow that either.  She said that if she was going to die, she didn’t want to be in pieces. She would die on her own.

She went home, not knowing where to turn, knowing nothing about diet, medicine, or anything.  She said she knelt down and prayed, and the answer came to her.  Did the Doctor want to know what it was? By this time, Dr. Christopher was all ears, and yes, of course, he very much wanted to know what it was! She changed her diet to eat fruits and vegetables, grains and seeds, as much as possible raw.  A few months went by and she was feeling better, like a different person entirely.  She went back to the doctor, who claimed that she had improved amazingly.  There was just a little cancer showing in her pap smear.  The doctor said to wait and see what happened.  She went back home, and in a few months on this diet of natural foods, she said even the pap smear cleared.

The thought went through Dr. Christopher, “Lord, what kind of a God are you?  It takes me forty years, and this woman kneels down and the answer comes immediately to her!  This is exactly what I’ve been teaching all these years, and learning it gradually.” This woman traveled all over the United States, speaking to women’s groups, women who fear they might get cancer or women who already have it, telling them to go to live foods and change their diet. Dr. Christopher felt that their conversation was time well spent!

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By Noell Larsen H.N., M.H. - Oregon

Fall is the perfect time to can and preserve or prepare what the summer has abundantly blessed us with. More specifically, as fall approaches, I find myself taking a mental inventory of the herbal preparations I have on hand, and the ones I will most likely need to restock as the cold winter months approach. Here are a few herbs/ herbal formulas my home surely would not want to be without this upcoming season and a few of the many ways in which we use them:

Dr. Christopher’s Kid-E-Mune: Echinacea Angustifolia prepared in a glycerine tincture. I like to use this whenever I feel a child’s immune system could use a boost and when we travel (via airplane) for the holidays. Is especially effective at the very first signs of irritation such as a sore throat or runny nose.

Echinacea Tincture (Alcohol or Glycerin Extract): I like to use this formula with the adults for the same reason of boosting the immune system when needed. Is especially effective at the very first signs of irritation such as a sore throat or runny nose.

Garlic oil: Easy to make yourself and great to use at the first hints/signs of ear infection. Worth it’s weight in gold when applied to the soles of the feet of sick little ones at night (make sure to cover with cotton socks).  Can also be applied on the chest of little ones (and anyone) with coughs.

Dr. Christopher’s Super Garlic Immune Formula: With fresh garlic juice, mullein, wormwood, lobelia, marshmallow root, white oak bark, black walnut, skull cap, gravel goot, plantain, aloe vera, pure apple cider vinegar and raw honey, using this formula is like bringing out the “big guns” in a battle with any cold and flu.

Dr. Christopher’s Kid-E-Well: A combination of yarrow flower, elder flower, peppermint leaf and echinacea angustifolia makes a great formula to help children work through and overcome the cold and flu.

Dr. Christopher’s Respiratory Massage Oil: A preparation of mullein leaf in oil and very effective in helping the body work through colds that have gone to the chest, especially with little ones. Rub on the chest at night combined with garlic oil and you have a great infection fighting formula that will also help the body expel mucus from the lungs/chest.

Mullein: Amazing herb for helping the body rid moisture/mucus from the lungs. This is especially effective for the cough that seems to linger.

Dr. Christopher’s Lower Bowel Formula: A formula of cascara sagrada bark, barberry bark, cayenne pepper, ginger root, lobelia herb, red raspberry leaf, turkey rhubarb root, fennel seed and goldenseal root. When dealing with illness it’s always a first priority to make sure the bowels are functioning properly. Most often blocked eliminatory channels are the tipping point of a virus/bacteria winning in the first responses of our immune system’s attempts to fight them off. Open/regular elimination channels allow the body to function optimally and are generally a sign of a good diet.

Dr. Christopher’s Kid-E-Reg: With slippery elm bark, licorice root, fennel seed, anise seed and fig syrup, you get a kid-friendly version of the lower bowel formula; helping children’s bowels eliminate properly so that the body can more effectively heal. Also effective in helping alleviating the source of post-holiday-stinky-behavior in children who have been eating a less-than optimal diet due to holiday indulgence - not that any of our children do that (sure :-).

Noell Larsen is a Holistic Nutritionist and Master Herbalist/ Masters of Science graduate of The School of Natural Healing. Together with her husband (a current Medical Student) and as a mother of two children… speaking, writing and tutoring others in health has become a family passion.

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by Yvonne L. Salcido M.H.

Most of us have grown up with the idea that we all want to have good health. Health is usually defined by absence of disease or injury, but it can also be classified as the general condition of the body and mind. A newer concept is that of “Wellness” this classification is referring to optimal health and vitality. A life with optimal health and vitality actually allows a person to have the quality of life they desire. This is a possibility if one is willing to take responsibility for their own health instead of placing that responsibility on others.
There are several areas that individuals need to focus on to take responsibility in creating a life of wellness. These are the most common referred to: Spiritual, Mental, Emotional, Physical, Interpersonal, and Environmental; additional areas not as popular are Financial Wellness and Occupational Wellness. All of these areas are contributing factors in our health

• Spiritual Wellness gives you principles to govern yourself, giving joy and purpose in life. This leads to the ability to love and forgive which is very healing.
• Mental Wellness gives you opportunities to challenge your mind through continuing education through life, seeking new experiences and mastering new skills.
• Emotional Wellness is being able to identify your thoughts and feelings and make conscious choices toward a positive emotional outlook. Very important to emotional wellness is the releasing of negative emotions. Negative emotions left unchecked cause physical imbalance leading to disease.
• Physical Wellness includes good nutritional practices following the “Mucusless Diet”, exercise, and using natural means to heal the body such as herbs when sick.
• Interpersonal Wellness is acquiring and upholding relationships this adds to a happy home, and community. Interpersonal wellness is a big factor in your physical and emotional health. Think of when you’ve been extremely upset with someone did you even feel like eating?
• Environmental Wellness allows one to have a healthy environment free of toxins with clean natural resources available such as water.
• Financial Wellness exercise of self -discipline in managing your money wisely, meeting financial obligations, budgeting, setting goals, and becoming and staying debt free. This eliminates your life of much stress.
• Occupational Wellness looks at your levels of happiness and fulfillment in the work you do for a living. Planning and moving towards goals to bring enjoyment in this area is important.

Setting goals to address all the areas of “Wellness” in our life will lead us to a balanced and happy life. I know I want to live a long life that is full of vitality and optimal Health!

Yvonne Lunt Salcido is a Student Advisor for and a Master Herbalist Graduate of the School of Natural Healing. She is a current student at Utah Valley University majoring in Health and Wellness Education.

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