You may primarily think of oregano as a culinary spice to jazz up your Italian dinner. However, essential oil derived from the leaves and shoots of the oregano herb can serve as a potent antimicrobial and antioxidant agent, and may offer other powerful health benefits, including helping your body's immune system fight off viruses such as herpes.

Oregano essential oil contains two important compounds: carvacrol and thymol. These monoterpenoid phenols are the force behind oregano oil's fragrance as well as its powerful antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. In a 2011 study, both of these phenols, but especially carvacrol, were shown to "permeabilize and depolarize the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane, resulting in cell death." In other words, kill bacteria.

The same study, which was specifically related to the swine industry but findings of which have far wider implications, also found that the high antioxidant activity of oregano essential oil may protect cells against inflammatory damage. The antioxidant properties of oregano can also help protect your body from damage caused by free radicals, which can build up in your body and lead to serious long-term health problems.

Impact on the Herpes Virus

A 1996 study tested the antiviral effects of oregano essential oil on enveloped viruses (such as herpes virus type 1), and found that the oil disintegrates the viral envelope, thus having a significant impact on enveloped viruses.

Research has also been done on the effects of oregano essential oil on strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as E.coli, and found that oregano oil inhibits the growth of E.coli and therefore may be an effective tool to fight this type of bacterial infection, in addition to viral infections such as herpes.

The potential health benefits of oregano essential oil are numerous, and if you're suffering from herpes or other viral infection or bacterial issue, oregano oil could help your body fight it off, or help strengthen your immune system to prevent you from getting sick in the first place.

We recommend using about 1-2 drops of Oregano Essential Oil or 4-10 drops of OHN Herpes Support Essential Oil Blend in a coconut oil suppository one to seven times a week to help fight herpes outbreaks.

The close proximity of the rectum to the sacrum contributes to the effectiveness of this treatment. The herpes virus attacks nerve cells and lies dormant within the sensory nerve ganglia in the sacral spine.

Cautions: Due to its potency, start with the smallest dose possible of oregano essential oil or a blend including it. Possible skin sensitivity. Oregano oil should be diluted with a carrier oil when applied to the skin. High in phenols, oregano may irritate the nasal membranes or skin if inhaled directly from diffuser or bottle. If pregnant or under a doctor's care, consult your physician. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid using it if you're allergic to mint, sage, basil, or lavender. If you're allergic to any of these, you're likely allergic to oregano as well. Don't take oregano oil if you have a bleeding disorder or are on any medications that alter clotting of your blood.

▶︎ How To Make Coconut Oil Suppositories

▶︎ Buy OHN Herpes Support Essential Oil Blend

▶︎ Buy Oregano Essential Oil

Labels: antiviral, essential oils, herpes, oregano, suppository, viruses

Overview, Best Probiotics for Enemas, and Step-By-Step Instructions

What Is a Probiotic?

Probiotics are living microorganisms — healthy bacteria — that have been shown to provide beneficial health effects to the host by replenishing natural gastrointestinal flora.

Having a healthy level of diverse probiotics in your gut means a healthier gut microbiome, which is important for the overall health of your body, the strength of your immune system, and the functioning of your digestive system.

According to research published in 2013, probiotics also help to improve cholesterol levels and treat numerous diseases such as Crohn's, ulcerative colitis, and IBS.

Probiotics are generally consumed orally as supplements, but recently more and more people are becoming interested in introducing probiotics directly into the colon via implants (retention enemas) or suppositories.

Two Basic Strains: Lactobacillus versus Bifidobacterium

There are two main strains of probiotics: bifidobacterium and lactobacillus. Some probiotic supplements are primarily one strain or the other, while others combine multiple strains.

Lactobacillus is one of the more common strains because it is more viable in gastric conditions than bifidobacterium due to its greater resistance to gastric acid. Up to 60% of probiotic bacteria can be killed by your stomach acid prior to reaching your intestine, which is one reason many people choose to use probiotic enemas.

There have been many scientific studies done on these two probiotic strains, and it is widely acknowledged that both strains have the ability to prevent and treat various health issues.

However, studies have also shown that some strains may be better for treating different health issues than others. For example, while Lactobacilli have been found to be effective for treating antibiotic-associated issues like diarrhea, bifidobacteria may be better for treating conditions like IBS and chronic constipation, and some reviews have found that it is the more effective of the two overall.

Most research just finds that probiotics overall are beneficial for health; more research is needed to fully understand the difference between the strains.

Are Probiotic Implants (Retention Enemas) Better Than Taking Capsules Orally?

In certain cases, delivering probiotics directly to the colon can be more effective than oral ingestion.

While it's true that some probiotics may be killed in digestion, most probiotic manufacturers have created delivery systems that are designed to keep the probiotics alive through the stomach acid and digestive process, until they reach the intestinal tract.

Both methods of taking probiotics are beneficial, but if you have the time and ability to regularly take enemas, if you are suffering from chronic constipation or IBS, or if taking oral probiotics makes you feel sick, a probiotic implant may be a good option for you.

If you don't have much time and/or are not suffering from a gut disease and just want to improve the health of your gut microbiome, eating more probiotic-rich food and taking an oral probiotic is certainly just fine too!

Best Probiotic Strain for Colon Implants

If you would like to try a probiotic implant (retention enema) at home, I have two different probiotic recommendations:

• Bifidonate — Containing Bifidobacterium bifidum Malyoth (2 billion CFU per ½ teaspoon), this probiotic produces B vitamins necessary for the digestive process, assists in the absorption of vitamins and minerals, inhibits harmful bacteria, supports healthy liver function, and helps to promote regularity. I recommend this over other strains such as lactobacillus because of research indicating that bifidobacteria are more beneficial for your health than lactobacilli. Additionally, lactobacillus' ability to survive stomach acid is not necessary if you are taking a probiotic via colon implant.
  
  
• Ortho Biotic — I recommend Ortho Biotic for both colon implants and oral ingestion. It does not need to be refrigerated and contains seven different probiotic strains which combine to support microflora balance, bowel regularity, and optimal immune function.

▶︎ How To Use Probiotics in Colon Implants

Suppositories and Probiotics

If you'd prefer that your probiotic is directly received by the colon, another option for administration is adding probiotics to suppositories. To do this, add the contents of 1 probiotic capsule, or ½ teaspoon of Bifidonate, to coconut oil, mix together, and freeze to make a suppository.

Certain essential oils provide health benefits for your colon and microbiome similar to probiotics. Optimal Health Network's Anti-Inflammatory and Flora Booster Essential Oil Blend and Colon Cleanse Essential Oil Blend are designed to support the healthy bacteria in your microbiome, reduce inflammation, strengthen the immune system, and act as a prebiotic.

Similar to taking probiotics, using targeted essential oils in suppositories or as part of a home enema regimen can help you to overcome many health challenges such as Candida overgrowth, ulcerative colitis, and IBS.

▶︎ How To Make Coconut Oil Suppositories

A Side Note: Probiotics in Food

While probiotic supplements are a great way to improve your gut health, eating healthy foods that contain probiotics is also beneficial for your overall health. Such foods include kombucha, sauerkraut, kefir, kimchi, miso, and high-quality yogurt with live cultures.

How To Do a Probiotic Implant (Retention Enema)

1. Take two cleansing enemas before taking a probiotic implant. It's best to do the first two enemas outlined in my recommended home enema series:
   • First Enema: Use Frankincense and Myrrh Goat Milk Soap. Soak the bar of soap in filtered water for 20-60 seconds to make a milky solution. Add to 1-4 quarts of filtered water and slowly take in this enema. Once fully taken in, you can release the enema on the toilet. There is no need to hold.
   • Second Enema: Use Colon Cleanse Essential Oil Blend mixed with Celtic Sea Salt. In a small bowl, add about 1 teaspoon of Celtic Sea Salt per quart of water. Mix 3-5 drops of the oil blend per quart of water into the salt. Add the salt and oil mixture to your enema bag and water once mixed.
2. After doing the first two enemas, empty 2-4 probiotic capsules of your choice. I recommend using Ortho Biotic. If you're using Ortho Biotic Powder, we recommend 2 scoops. If you're using Bifidonate, add 1 teaspoon of this probiotic to ½ to 2 cups of filtered water or aloe vera juice. Mix with water or aloe vera juice until fully dissolved. Add this solution to your enema bag, bucket, or implant syringe.
3. Take the colon implant into your body slowly, as you would an enema. By allowing 5-10 minutes to take in the entire volume of the implant, and by using a colon tube to deliver the solution deeper into the colon, your body will have an easier time holding the implant.
4. Retain the solution for as long as you are easily able to/have time to (ideally at least 15 minutes). If you aren’t able to hold the enema for the full 15 minutes, that's OK. Listen to your body and empty if you need to.
5. Empty the solution on the toilet.

▶︎ How To Take an Enema at Home

You can do a probiotic implant as frequently as you’d like, as long as you find that it's making you feel better and not worse. Listen to your body throughout the process, and remember to hydrate well before, during, and after enemas!

SUMMARY

Having a good amount of diverse strains of probiotics in your gut microbiome strengthens your immune system, helps prevent disease, and is important for your overall health. There are several good options for delivering more probiotics to your gut: taking a daily probiotic orally, eating more probiotic-rich foods, and taking regular probiotic implants and/or suppositories. All of these options can be beneficial. It's important to choose the option(s) that work best for you, and make your body feel its best!

Labels: colon implant, enema, essential oils, prebiotic, probiotics, suppository

Prostatitis and BPH

Many men have prostate issues as they age.

BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia), non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, affects approximately 50% of men aged 51-60 in the US, which makes it the most common prostate problem for men over 50.

Prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate), on the other hand, is the most common prostate problem for men younger than 50, and affects 10-15% of the US male population.

Just because these problems are common, however, doesn’t mean they are inevitable. With the use of essential oils, you may be able to naturally heal from and prevent these problems, and ensure that your prostate remains healthy throughout your life.

Essential Oils for Prostate Health

Optimal Health Network has created two essential oil blends specifically designed to help you heal from the prostate issues mentioned above.

Our BPH Essential Oil Blend supports overall prostate health, and should help to ease pain and optimize urinary function. It contains therapeutic-grade frankincense, myrrh, orange, sage, peppermint, and geranium essential oils.

• Frankincense is known to reduce pain and inflammation and inhibit the growth and spread of cancerous cells. 
• Myrrh has a relaxing effect on muscles, and has antiinflammatory, anticancer, and antibacterial benefits.
• Orange is anti-inflammatory and rich in limonene, which helps fight/prevent cancer.
• Sage is effective at fighting bacterial infections, is a nervous system stimulant, and helps balance hormones. It supports the reproductive, respiratory, and nervous systems.
• Peppermint has antiviral, antiinflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
• Geranium supports the immune system, is soothing for anxiety and stress, and effective at treating hormonal disturbances. Antibacterial, it promotes cellular regeneration and healthy urination.

Our Prostatitis Essential Oil Blend helps to reduce infection and swelling, improve urinary function, increase circulation, improve sexual function, and ease pain. It contains therapeutic-grade rosemary, myrtle, thyme, frankincense, myrrh, sage, and spruce essential oils.

• Rosemary is antibacterial, an immune stimulant, relieves pain, increases circulation, and reduces inflammation.
• Myrtle is antimicrobial and has beneficial effects on glandular imbalances.
• Thyme is antispasmodic and antiseptic and effectively supports the reproductive and immune systems.
• Frankincense is known to reduce pain and inflammation and inhibit the growth and spread of cancerous cells.
• Myrrh has a relaxing effect on muscles, and has antiinflammatory, anticancer, and antibacterial benefits.
• Sage is effective at fighting bacterial infections, is a nervous system stimulant, and helps balance hormones. It supports the reproductive, respiratory, and nervous systems.
• Spruce (Tsuga) relieves muscle pain, promotes balanced hormones, promotes a strong immune system, and may help boost testosterone levels.

These two OHN essential oil blends have a lot of power between them, and we regularly hear from patients how well they work. Use one or both of these blends in coconut oil suppositories and/or add them to your enema solution.

Additional Tips for a Healthy Prostate

If your prostate isn't at its healthiest, there are several other things you can do alongside using essential oils to help:

1. Take Supplements like Prostatrol Forte
   
   Ortho Prostatrol Forte is specifically designed to help men who suffer from BPH and/or prostatitis. Prostatrol forte contains saw palmetto extract, which reduces the amount of hormonal stimulation of the prostate. It also contains nettle root extract, which blocks estrogen binding; pygeum, which inhibits the effects of growth factors on prostate cells; zinc, which is necessary for prostate functioning; and selenium, which destroys free radicals and is needed for proper prostate function. Additionally, both saw palmetto and pygeum reduce the inflammatory pathways to help alleviate prostatitis.
2. Enema Series
   
   If you're suffering from prostatitis or BPH, I recommend taking the 3-step enema series 1 to 7 times per week for at least three months, in conjunction with essential oil suppositories. 
3. Diet/Detox
   
   One of the main jobs of the prostate gland is to protect sperm from unwanted toxins. Following the diet and detox program laid out in my book, Ten Days to Optimal Health, will help you fully cleanse toxins from your entire body, which will benefit any prostate issues you're experiencing, as well as your overall health.

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DISCLAIMER: If you have been diagnosed by your doctor with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or prostatitis, the Optimal Health Network offers the above therapeutic products and protocols to support your prostate health under the supervision of your doctor. We make no claim or guarantee for cure or relief of any specific symptom, medical condition, or disease when using any of these products or protocols.

Labels: BPH, coconut oil, detoxification, enema series, essential oils, prostatitis, suppository

Labels: anal fissure diet, Celtic Sea Salt, essential oils, goat milk soap, Super Salve, suppository

Opioids are effective pain relievers. However, opioids often have the side effect of constipation. How do opioids cause constipation?

These addictive pharmaceuticals cause constipation by affecting the gastrointestinal tract in a variety of ways. Opioids increase the amount of time it takes stool to move through the gastric system. Opioids increase nonpropulsive contractions in the middle of the small intestine (jejunum) and decrease longitudinal propulsive peristalsis - motions critical to moving food through the intestines. Due to this muscular interference, food fails to travel effectively through the digestive tract.

Opioids are also able to partially paralyze the stomach (gastroparesis) so that food remains in this digestive organ for a longer period of time. Additionally, opioids reduce digestive secretions and decrease the urge to defecate.

In the last 15 years alone, opioid abuse has drastically increased by about 200%. For more perspective, in 2014 the number of opioid drug overdose deaths reached 47,055 people, or the equivalent of about 125 Americans every day.

The dispensing of opioid analgesics in the U.S. grew from nearly 149 million prescriptions in early 2003 to 207 million in 2013.

Opioid-induced constipation:

• is one of the most common types of constipation
• does not tend to to go away over time
• can cause fecal impaction, overflow diarrhea, and pseudo-obstruction if left untreated
• is usually difficult to manage and unresponsive to common treatment regimens
• can occur at opioid doses lower than those needed to produce effective analgesia in many patients
• decreases intestinal motility, so fiber intake is not recommended

Optimal Health Network can help!

COFFEE ENEMAS - Coffee enemas have a long history of both reducing pain and relieving constipation. Before you try opioids, take a daily coffee enema for a month.

• Buy Coffee Enema Supplies

SUPPOSITORIES - For some, Optimal Health Network’s Coffee Enema Essential Oil Blend used in a daily suppository is a better choice due to not having space or time to take daily enemas.

• Buy Coffee Enema Essential Oil Blend

REACTED MAGNESIUM - Magnesium is a therapeutic, laxative-like supplement that can be titrated to bowel tolerance. It is a safe and effective method of emptying the bowel daily for adults, children, and infants.

• Buy Ortho Reacted Magnesium

DIET - The Ten Days to Optimal Health program is a clinically proven, easy-to-follow dietary and colon cleanse program, making it an excellent cure for constipation.

• Buy Kristina's Book, Ten Days to Optimal Health

EMOTIONAL HEALING - Working with your emotions around pain and addiction can be vital in overcoming opioid dependency. Kristina Amelong has worked with thousands of clients since 1998, and can support you to overcome opioid dependency.

• Learn More about Consultations with Kristina

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References:

• Opioid-Induced Constipation: Challenges and Therapeutic Opportunities
• All About Opioids and Opioid-Induced Constipation (OIC)
• Opioid-Induced Constipation: A Distinct Class and Cause
• Chronic Opioid-induced Constipation in Patients with Nonmalignant Pain: Challenges and Opportunities

Labels: constipation relief, constipation solutions, drug overdose, fiber, health consultations, magnesium, opioids, suppository

"I have found OHN so helpful to me and continue to follow your development as a healer. Thank you for all you do to educate and help your clients heal. OHN and the three-enema series has been a huge part of my healing journey. I don't think I could ever have made it this far in my battle with Lyme without the help of the coffee enema series. The essential oils have been miraculous. Not only has the combination of clove oil and cinnamon oil helped me battle the Lyme, but it has also been healing me of the neuralgia and nerve pain I was suffering. Taking these oils in the suppositories along with various other combinations of oils has dramatically improved the quality of my life. I no longer suffer from the burning, electric pain that used to radiate down both arms and prevent me from sleeping. I can now sleep on either side without my arms falling asleep. My left index finger that was constantly numb and burning is completely returned to normal. I'm still not completely cleared of the Lyme and have added both Monolaurin and photolytic enzymes to my protocol to speed up my recovery and eradicate the pathogens and support the dissolving of the biofilm in which Lyme likes to hide. However, I have found the essential oils to be so helpful in rebalancing all my bodily systems which have been devastated by the Lyme and am so grateful for you recommending them!" ~Ruth

LEARN MORE ABOUT HEALING FROM LYME DISEASE WITH ESSENTIAL OILS

Labels: biofilm, coffee enema, essential oils, Lyme disease, neuralgia, suppository

There are many ways to heal. And, there are many ways to heal from any individual set of symptoms, which is what diseases like Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, prostatitis, and irritable bowel syndrome are – a set of symptoms that commonly occur together and are thus labeled as a disease state in order to help the medical community come up with solutions for healing.

As Julie states, the Optimal Health Network's enema series is a way that one person is alleviating her symptoms called Lyme disease. We often hear stories like Julie's and it is these stories that, for us, truly back up the little science that has been done around the enema, the colon cleanse, and using therapeutics, such as essential oils, in the colon.

In this article, Butyrate-Induced Transcriptional Changes in Human Colonic Mucosa, published by PLOS ONE**, an international, peer-reviewed, non-profit online journal, researchers report that the enema is "a safe and reliable way to deliver a specific amount of substrate to the distal [descending/sigmoid] colon" and that "other techniques, such as oral intake of dietary fibers or encapsulated butyrate, do not allow to accurately target the distal colon." The study goes on to say that the enema was chosen as a delivery method of the butyrate intervention since "the incidence of carcinomas and diseases... of the colon is rising."

Due to science like the article above, and the healing stories of hundreds and hundreds of OHN clients over a 17-year period, we have developed products and enema protocols to deliver therapeutic substances such as butyrate (which is in our made-for-enema goat milk soaps) in order to optimize the health of the colon, as well as to help the body heal the myriad aches and pains and less-than-optimal functioning that we experience by simply being alive.

Here is the outline of another customer's therapeutic program:


If you have a moment, please share your own healing story with us, and with those around you. Health is the best gift we can give at any time of the year!


Further Reading:

1. Scientific Literature Absolutely Supports the Use of Enema Treatments

2. Best Colon Cleanse

3. Can Diet and Lifestyle Trump Genetics?

4. Need personalized, one-on-one support? Here is a sample consultation with Kristina!

Labels: Celtic Sea Salt, chemical sensitivities, coffee enema, enema series, essential oils, Lyme disease, suppository, toxin binders

Here is one client's account, expressed to Kristina via e-mail correspondence, of her experience of working with Kristina through the consultation process, and the resulting relief of her nightly Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS):

Labels: bone broth soup, detoxification, essential oils, licorice root, restless leg syndrome, RLS, suppository, trace minerals

If you were to find a fountain of youth, what would it look like? It would naturally have something to do with maintaining health, right? Yes, today we understand that a properly functioning immune system is a key part of maintaining good health... but what about really staying young? Finding a way to slow down the decay of our bodies?

According to researchers, viable anti-aging strategies may include:

• consuming antioxidants, especially from fruits and veggies
• caloric restriction to quench cell-damaging free radicals
• a balanced diet of proteins, good fats, and complex carbohydrates
• stress reduction or meditation (to avoid the poison of the hormone cortisol)
• good sleep
• regular exercise (and if you're exercising a lot, be sure to intercept those extra free radicals produced with antioxidants)
• avoidance of environmental and food-borne toxins
• supplementation of nutrients that decline with aging (such as CoQ10)
• drinking lots of water
• reducing inflammation

INFLAMMATION

Without inflammation present in the body, there is no way that cholesterol could accumulate in the walls of our blood vessels and cause heart disease and strokes. Without inflammation, cholesterol would move freely throughout the body as nature intended. It is inflammation that causes cholesterol to become trapped.

Reputable scientists worldwide are finding that inflammation may be the root cause of almost every major disease out there, from arteriosclerosis to autoimmune diseases to ulcerative colitis to allergies to cancers of all kinds.

When one looks deeper and deeper through an abundance of scientific research into the nature of many debilitating and killer diseases, the search for anti-aging strategies almost invariably points to the importance of reducing inflammation, which in turn commonly points to frankincense as an important tool in inhibiting inflammation.

FRANKINCENSE: COULD IT REALLY BE A "FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH"?

Science now recognizes that frankincense, an aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia, possesses therapeutic anti-inflammatory properties. (Boswellia is called Salai guggul in ancient Ayurvedic medicine, where guggul means "one that protects against diseases.")

Science specifically points to acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid, a constituent of Boswellia resin, as a key anti-inflammatory agent.

Along with the anti-aging strategies listed above, below are numerous scientific research articles validating the profound effects of Boswellia on your body, helping to keep it young by nipping inflammation in the bud. It's this simple: add Frankincense Essential Oil to your sacred medicine bag.

Couple this with ample scientific evidence that the colon is a superior delivery system for therapeutic agents, and I suggest we have a powerful anti-aging essential oil to use.

Use 4-20 drops of frankincense in the colon as often as once a day. Deliver it via a suppository, colon implant, or coffee enema.

• Buy Frankincense and Myrrh Made-for-Enema Goat Milk Soap
• Buy Kristina's book, Ten Days to Optimal Health,
  for support with an anti-inflammatory diet

FRANKINCENSE RESEARCH TO EXPLORE:

• RESIN OF BOSWELLIA HAS ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, ANTI-ARTHRITIC AND ANALGESIC PROPERTIES
  
  Natural anti-inflammatory agents for pain relief.
  
  READ MORE
• FRANKINCENSE INHIBITS ATHEROSCLEROSIS
  
  Anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic effects of the NF-kappaB inhibitor acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid in LPS-challenged ApoE-/- mice.
  
  "The inhibition of NF-kappaB activity by plant resins from species of the Boswellia family might represent an alternative for classical medicine treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis."
  
  READ MORE
• FRANKINCENSE INHIBITS COLORECTAL CANCER
  
  Boswellic acid inhibits growth and metastasis of human colorectal cancer in orthotopic mouse model by downregulating inflammatory, proliferative, invasive and angiogenic biomarkers.
  
  "Our findings suggest that this boswellic acid analog can inhibit the growth and metastasis of human CRC in vivo through downregulation of cancer-associated biomarkers."
  
  READ MORE
• FRANKINCENSE INHIBITS INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
  
  Acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid, a constituent of an herbal medicine from Boswellia serrata resin, attenuates experimental ileitis**.
  
  "Oral therapy with the Boswellia extract or AKBA significantly reduces macroscopic and microcirculatory inflammatory features normally associated with indomethacin administration, indicating that the anti-inflammatory actions of the Boswellia extract in IBD [inflammatory bowl disease] may be due in part to boswellic acids such as AKBA."
  
  READ MORE
  
  ** Ileitis, or inflammation of the ileum (a portion of the small intestine), is often caused by Crohn's disease. However, ileitis may be caused by a wide variety of other diseases.
• BOSWELLIC ACIDS SHOW ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTI-TUMORIC PROPERTIES
  
  Inhibition of microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1 as a molecular basis for the anti-inflammatory actions of boswellic acids from frankincense.
  
  "Frankincense, the gum resin derived from Boswellia species, showed anti-inflammatory efficacy in animal models and in pilot clinical studies... There is [also] accumulating evidence for... anti-tumorigenic effects of BAs. Pilot clinical studies have suggested some efficacy of frankincense preparations in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammatory bowel diseases, asthma and cancer."
  
  READ MORE
• FRANKINCENSE INHIBITS VARIOUS CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASES AND CANCER
  
  Boswellic acids: biological actions and molecular targets/
  
  "Gum resin extracts of Boswellia species have been traditionally applied in folk medicine for centuries to treat various chronic inflammatory diseases, and experimental data from animal models and studies with human subjects confirmed the potential of these extracts for the treatment of not only inflammation but also of cancer."
  
  READ MORE
• FRANKINCENSE IS POWERFUL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTI-ARTHRITIC AGENT; AIDS RECOVERING ARTICULAR CARTILAGE DAMAGE
  
  Cellular and molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammatory effect of Aflapin: a novel Boswellia serrata extract.
  
  "BE-30 (5-Loxin) and Aflapin [which contains B. serrata extract enriched in AKBA and non-volatile oil portion of B. serrata gum resin], exhibit powerful anti-inflammatory efficacy and anti-arthritic potential. In particular, in comparison with BE-30, Aflapin provides more potential benefits in recovering articular cartilage damage or protection from proteolytic degradation due to inflammatory insult in arthritis such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis."
  
  READ MORE
• FRANKINCENSE INHIBITS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, CHRONIC COLITIS, ULCERATIVE COLITIS, CROHN'S DISEASE, BRONCHIAL ASTHMA, AND PERITUMORAL BRAIN EDEMAS
  
  Boswellic acids (components of frankincense) as the active principle in treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.
  
  "Preparations from the gum resin of Boswellia serrata have been used as a traditional remedy in Ayurvedic medicine in India for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Compounds from the gum with genuine anti-inflammatory effects are pentacyclic triterpenes of the boswellic acid type. Boswellic acids inhibit the leukotriene biosynthesis in neutrophilic granulocytes by a non-redox, noncompetitive inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase. The effect is triggered by boswellic acids binding to the enzyme. Moreover certain boswellic acids have been described to inhibit elastase in leukocytes, to inhibit proliferation, induce apoptosis and to inhibit topoisomerases of leukoma and glioma cell lines. A series of chronic inflammatory diseases are thought to be perpetuated by leukotrienes. In clinical trials promising results were observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, chronic colitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, bronchial asthma, and peritumoral brain edemas."
  
  READ MORE
• FRANKINCENSE INHIBITS ASTHMA, CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE, EMPHYSEMA, REPERFUSION INJURY, PSORIASIS, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, CROHN'S DISEASE
  
  Identification of human cathepsin G as a functional target of Boswellic acids from the anti-inflammatory remedy frankincense.
  
  "[Cathepsin G] catG is a functional and pharmacologically relevant target of BAs, and interference with catG could explain some of the anti-inflammatory properties of frankincense...CatG, a neutral serine protease, is mainly expressed in neutrophils, stored in azurophilic granules, and released upon degranulation. After release into the plasma, it cleaves extracellular matrix proteins, including laminin, proteoglycans, collagen, fibronectin, and elastin, implying a role in local destruction of connective tissue at sites of injury. CatG also processes chemokines, functioning as chemoattractant for T cells and other leukocytes, and modulates integrin clustering on neutrophils. Moreover, catG stimulates platelets via the protease-activated receptor-4 for aggregation and secretion and acts as chemotactic agonist for the formyl peptide receptor on phagocytic leukocytes. Accordingly, catG inhibitors have been proposed to exhibit potential in treating certain inflammatory disorders such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, reperfusion injury, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis."
  
  READ MORE

Labels: antioxidants, balanced diet, boswellia, caloric restriction, cholesterol, coffee enema, colon implant, essential oils, frankincense, immunity support, inflammation, suppository

The medicinal herb hyssop (Hyssop officinalis) has been used therapeutically for thousands of years. Hyssop is a blood nourisher, an immune system strengthener, and possesses potent antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial activity. Today, researchers think that hyssop may be useful in the treatment of patients with AIDS.

Hyssop can be absorbed into the colon via enema or suppository as a single essential oil. Hyssop is also found in the essential oil blend ImmuPower, which gives the body the added healing benefits of mountain savory, cistus, ravensara, frankincense, oregano, clove, cumin and Idaho tansy.
1) In one study, extracts of dried leaves of Hyssop officinalis showed strong anti-HIV properties.

• Hyssop officinalis inhibits syncytia formation (the abnormal clustering of cells), HIV reverse transcriptase (RT, or how HIV viruses reproduce), and p17 and p24 antigen expression (an antigen is anything, like a protein foreign to the immune system, that stimulates the production of an antibody, so 'antigen expression' is the triggering of antibody release, an indicator of the presence of a foreign invader; antigens p17 and p24 are proteins found in human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV).
• Hyssop officinalis was non-toxic to the uninfected (Molt-3) cells.
• Caffeic acid was identified in the extracts. As a confirmation, commercial caffeic acid also showed good antiviral activity in i) the RT assay and ii) high to moderate antiviral activity in the syncytia assay and iii) high to moderate antiviral activity in p17 and p24 antigen expression.
• Tannic acid and gallic acid, commonly found in teas, was not identified in the extracts. But when these two acids from commercial products were tested, they showed high to moderate activity against HIV-1.
• Overall, Hyssop officinalis contains caffeic acid, unidentified tannins (a class of phytochemicals), and other compounds that show strong anti-HIV activity. Therefore Hyssop officinalis may be useful in treating AIDS patients.

2) In another study, a polysaccharide isolated from Hyssop officinalis also showed strong anti-HIV activity.

• The polysaccharide MAR-10 (polysaccharides are chains of sugars) isolated from Hyssop officinalis was found to inhibit HIV-1 replication by inhibiting HIV-1 p24 antigen and syncytia formation.
• MAR-10 had no toxicity or effect on lymphocyte functions or CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts.
• MAR-10 also has broad spectrum anti-glycosidase activity (inhibits HIV from replicating and inhibits HIV-mediated syncytium formation, ref: http://glycob.oxfordjournals.org/content/13/10/93R.long).
• This study shows that the polysaccharide MAR-10 has strong anti-HIV-1 activity and can be considered potent in treating people living with HIV or having AIDS (difference between the two here: www.healthcommunities.com/hiv-aids/hiv-aids-difference.shtml)

The scientific research on hyssop coupled with the ample scientific evidence that exists that the colon is an effective delivery system for therapeutic agents suggests that the hyssop enema and the hyssop suppository are powerful additions to the therapeutic tools in assisting people with AIDS.

SOURCES:

Inhibition of HIV replication by Hyssop officinalis extracts.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1708226

Isolation of a previously unidentified polysaccharide (MAR-10) from Hyssop officinalis that exhibits strong activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7741735

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FURTHER READING:

Screening of selected plant extracts for in vitro inhibitory activity on human immunodeficiency virus.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12237813

A Story Of AIDS & Essential Oils (You'll love this.)

• www.youtube.com//watch?v=hVnbVHdW5nc
• http://devkhalsa.com/essential-oils/
• www.youtube.com/user/devkhalsa
• http://spectrumhealing.net/

Hyssop (an Herb) Inhibits HIV per Federal Government
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4tHPfdMtOc

38 Natural Alternatives for HIV
www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/38-natural-alternatives-hiv

How Bananas and Herbs May Prevent the Transmission of HIV
www.foxnews.com/health/2011/01/11/bananas-herbs-prevent-transmission-hiv/

Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)

• www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=111697
• www.sigmaaldrich.com/life-science/nutrition-research/learning-center/plant-profiler/hyssopus-officinalis.html

Here is a sampling of scientific studies looking at the application of therapeutic agents directly into the colon:

• Colonic antigen administration induces significantly higher humoral levels of colonic and vaginal IgA, and serum IgG compared to oral administration
• Pathological influences on colonic motility: implications for drug delivery
• Butyrate-induced transcriptional changes in human colonic mucosa

Again, hyssop can be absorbed into the colon via enema or suppository as a single essential oil. Hyssop is also found in ImmuPower essential oil blend, which gives the body the added healing benefits (see below) of mountain savory, cistus, ravensara, frankincense, oregano, clove, cumin and Idaho tansy.

• Mountain savory (Satureja montana) has immune stimulant, antiviral, antifungal, anti-infectious, and anti-parasitic properties.
• Cistus (Cistus ladanifer) has antibacterial, anti-infectious, and antiviral properties. It is also an immune stimulant.
• Ravensara (Ravensara aromatica) has antibacterial, antifungal, anti-infectious, antiseptic, antiviral, and expectorant properties. It is a cross between the nutmeg and clove plants so it may support the adrenals.
• Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) has antidepressant, anti-infectious, and immune stimulating properties. The high sesquiterpenes level stimulates and oxygenates the limbic system of the brain which elevates our mood and helps us relax (overcome stress).
• Oregano (Origanum vulgare) has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also an immune stimulant.
• Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) has antiseptic, antiviral, anti-infectious, and antifungal properties. It is COX inhibitor (anti-inflammatory) and has one of the highest ORAC values of any plant in the world!
• Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) has antiseptic and immune stimulant properties.
• Idaho Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) has antiviral, antibacterial, anti-infectious, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also an immune stimulant.

Labels: AIDS, antibacterial, antifungal, colon, essential oils, HIV, hyssop, immunity support, suppository