Incorporating butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, into your enema routine can significantly enhance gut health, providing benefits beyond its well-known anti-inflammatory effects.

Research shows that butyrate supports the intestinal lining's integrity and regulates immune responses, helping to prevent harmful bacteria from adhering to the gut wall. This makes butyrate infusions particularly beneficial for individuals managing gut-related issues such as IBS or leaky gut syndrome.

Optimal Health Network's specially formulated made-for-enema goat milk soap, rich in butyrate, provides these benefits when used in a gentle, targeted solution. The properties of our Frankincense and Myrrh and Chamomile and Sage soaps allow for direct delivery to the colon during an enema, which can reduce inflammation and promote tissue healing. This is especially helpful for those with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.

By incorporating our butyrate-enriched goat milk enema soap into your health routine, you're nourishing your colon with an ingredient that not only helps you heal but also supports long-term digestive health. Regular use of this soap encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria, promoting a balanced microbiome. A healthy gut microbiome contributes to overall well-being, impacting everything from energy levels to immune function. You're fostering a healthier internal environment, leading to improved digestion and enhanced vitality.

▶︎ Buy Goat Milk Enema Soap

▶︎ Learn More about the Enema Series

▶︎ How the Health of Your Microbiome Supports Your Overall Health

Labels: butyrate, Crohn's disease, enema series, enemas, immunity, inflammation, leaky gut syndrome, ulcerative colitis

For many people, our pets are our friends, family members, children, and often play a major role in our physical and emotional well-being. Pets are companions that improve our lives in countless ways, and deserve to be treated with the same love and care as anyone else.

Our pets deserve more than an annual check-up — they deserve the best individualized nutritional support and care year round. For many cats and dogs, this means the support of Standard Process Veterinary Formulas.



The key to a pet's optimal health is a diet rich in a variety of high-quality, complex nutrients. These whole-food-based veterinary formulas contain ingredients that provide a broad spectrum of crucial nutrients to support multiple organs and systems in the body.

A variety of different health concerns and diseases are common in certain breeds of dogs. Cancer, diabetes, kennel cough, arthritis, dental diseases, skin infections, parasites, UTIs, and soft tissue injuries (pulled muscles or joint sprains) are all common health issues that can be treated or prevented using Standard Process' line of pet supplements.

Purebred dogs in general are often more prone to having serious health problems than other dogs. Bulldogs often have heart and respiratory issues, dachshunds are more prone to musculoskeletal conditions due to their short legs, German shepherds and golden retrievers are often at risk of hip dysplasia, and so on.

Targeted immune, cardio, thyroid, renal, musculoskeletal, hepatic, enteric, and/or whole body support can have a huge impact on these diseases and health problems for your dog, and Standard Process has nutritional supplements to support the health of each of these areas.

Similarly, cats can be at risk of cancer, diabetes, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), heartworm, respiratory infections, kidney disease, and liver disease, and our clients have seen great results treating these diseases with Standard Process feline supplements.



Standard Process' line of veterinary formulas was introduced in 2002, and has become a go-to source of nutritional supplementation for both veterinarians and pet owners. All of Standard Process' supplements, including its veterinary formulas, are made of high-quality, whole-food ingredients that are as close as possible to how they are found in nature.

Dogs are omnivores, so the canine formulas contain a wider variety of ingredients that combine animal tissues and botanical materials in one formulation. Cats in comparison are obligate carnivores, so the feline formulas contain fewer ingredients and focus on animal tissues. These ingredient combinations provide both targeted and whole-body support.

Each pet's unique needs are an evolving function of breed, age, activity level, and health status. It can sometimes be difficult to know the best way to care for your pets, especially since they aren't able to tell you when something's wrong.

▶︎ If you'd like more support with improving your pet's health, consider setting up a pet health consultation with Kristina.

▶︎ For a full list of Standard Process Veterinary Formulas, click here.

Labels: cats, dogs, nutrition, pet health, supplements

Do you strive to eat healthily and maintain a good skin care regime, yet for some unknown reason you just can't get rid of your acne?

About 85% of adolescents and young adults between the ages of 12 and 25 are affected by acne. Because this condition is especially common in Western countries, many believe that it's often caused by the average Western diet and its impact on the gut microbiome and overall health.

Indeed, ongoing research increasingly suggests a connection between poor gut health and poor skin health that many of us do not consider.

Your gut microbiome is made up of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microbes. A well-balanced gut microbiome is crucial to aiding digestion and supporting the immune system, and is a vital component of your overall health, including mental health. Thus an unbalanced microbiome can lead to many health issues including chronic constipation, hormonal imbalances, mood disorders, reduced immunity to viruses, and much more.

Your skin also has a microbiome, made up of bacteria and other microorganisms, and this microbiome is an extremely important part of skin health, including acting as a barrier against infections and environmental toxins and pollutants.

Just like the gut, it's important for your skin's microbiome to remain balanced and include a good amount of healthy bacteria. Using cleansers, toners, antibiotics, or other skin care products that are too harsh and kill off all bacteria in the skin, including those that are beneficial, will harm your skin microbiome.

Following a diet that supports the health of your gut microbiome can have a direct impact on both your gut and skin health. One such diet is the Ten Days to Optimal Health diet, which includes consuming good amounts of probiotic-rich foods and healthy fruits, proteins, and fats and avoiding processed foods and refined sugars.

Consuming foods that increase inflammation in the gut, such as alcohol, sugar, and artificial or processed foods, can cause systemic inflammation in your body, including in the skin....

There are some essential oils that are very beneficial for skin health and will not harm the skin's microbiome. Helichrysum is one I've especially seen great results with among my clients and would recommend....

▶︎ READ FULL ARTICLE

▶︎ Ten Days to Optimal Health Diet: Learn More

▶︎ How the Health of Your Microbiome Supports Your Overall Health

Labels: acne, bacteria, gut microbiome, gut-brain-skin axis, inflammation, skin microbiome, viruses

Different types of fasting, including intermittent fasting, conducted due to lifestyle, religious practices, or availability of food, have been common in many parts of the world throughout human history.

Intermittent fasting (IF) has grown in popularity as a health trend for those wanting to lose weight, improve metabolic health, improve blood pressure, reduce risk of diabetes, or improve overall health.

According to Johns Hopkins neuroscientist Mark Mattson, Ph.D., "Many things happen during intermittent fasting that can protect organs against chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, age-related neurodegenerative disorders, even inflammatory bowel disease and many cancers."

Intermittent fasting is a pattern of eating that includes both periods of fasting and periods of normal eating. IF specifies when you should eat, unlike traditional diets, which specify mostly what you should eat.

However, what you eat is still very important while intermittent fasting. I recommend following the dietary guidelines laid out in my Ten Days to Optimal Health program in conjunction with your intermittent fasting program.

My health program includes a 5-day fasting program, done alongside colon cleansing and using the Vit-Ra-Tox Kit. I recommend doing this program 3-6 times per year to detoxify the body.

Intermittent fasting is not recommended for everyone, including those with a history of eating disorders, those under the age of 18, pregnant or breastfeeding women, those with diabetes or blood sugar problems, or those with other underlying health conditions. Please consult with your doctor if you are unsure whether intermittent fasting is right for you.

▶︎ READ FULL ARTICLE

▶︎ HOW TO TAKE AN ENEMA SERIES

Need more detailed guidance in developing an intermittent fasting program?

Personal Health Consultations with Kristina Amelong, CCT, CNC

For personalized support, I would be happy to assist via a scheduled phone consultation. I charge affordable per-minute rates, for as many or as few minutes as you need!

First complete any relevant sections of my secure online intake form. Upon submitting the form, you will be prompted to schedule a consultation time with me via my online booking system.

If you are an international client who would like to use WhatsApp for your scheduled consultation, please email us for instructions on how to contact me at the time of your consultation.

Labels: blood pressure, cardiovascular health, colon cleansing, detox diet, diabetes, diet and lifestyle, enemas, intermittent fasting, metabolism, Vit-Ra-Tox Kit

Prostatic calcification and the formation of prostatic calculi is a common condition of the prostate gland, especially for men over the age of 50.

Prostatic calculi are small stones that form in the prostate, and are either endogenous (caused by obstruction of the prostate ducts around an enlarged prostate due to BPH or chronic inflammation) or extrinsic (caused by urine reflux).

Reports on the prevalence of prostatic calculi vary widely. It's estimated that anywhere from 7% to 70% of men may experience prostatic calcification in their lifetimes. Most cases do not present symptoms, and thus go unreported.

Although prostatic calcification is most commonly seen in men over the age of 50 and those with BPH, it is also possible for younger men without BPH to experience prostatic calcification, especially if they have an inflamed prostate (prostatitis). Calcium deposits may also occur in areas with injury, infection, or cancer.

Treatment is usually unnecessary if there are no symptoms, but for those experiencing pain or difficulty urinating, prostatic calculi can be removed by a doctor using a transurethral electroresection loop or a holmium laser.

If you are experiencing pain or difficulty urinating, or think you may have prostatic calculi, you should visit a doctor.

While doctors should be able to help with removing calcium deposits from the prostate, there are important steps you can take at home to help prevent prostatic calcification from occurring. As prostatic calculi usually go hand in hand with either BPH (an enlarged prostate) or prostatitis (an inflamed prostate), taking preventative measures to avoid these conditions and improve the health of your prostate is important.

By colon cleansing with the 3-step enema series and using essential oil suppositories, you can reduce pain and inflammation and remove toxins from the prostate, and help prevent or heal from BPH and/or prostatitis.

Prostate Health Recommendations:

• Do the 3-step enema series 1 to 3 times per week to help detoxify the liver and prostate.
• Use essential oil suppositories. We offer a Prostatitis Essential Oil Blend and a BPH Essential Oil Blend. I recommend using one of these blends in a daily suppository to help heal from these conditions and support overall prostate health.
• Take the dietary support supplement Prostatrol Forte. Prostatrol Forte's unique formula is specifically designed to help men who suffer from BPH or prostatitis, and improve overall prostate health. Saw palmetto extract reduces the amount of hormonal stimulation of the prostate gland. Nettles root extract blocks estrogen binding and pygeum inhibits the effects of growth factors on prostate cells. Both saw palmetto and pygeum reduce the inflammatory pathways which generate prostatitis. Zinc is necessary for proper prostate function. Selenium is also needed for proper prostate function and may reduce the incidence of prostate cancer.

Need more detailed guidance in supporting your prostate health?

Personal Health Consultations with Kristina Amelong, CCT, CNC

For personalized support, I would be happy to assist via a scheduled phone consultation. I charge affordable per-minute rates, for as many or as few minutes as you need!

First complete any relevant sections of my secure online intake form. Upon submitting the form, you will be prompted to schedule a consultation time with me via my online booking system.

If you are an international client who would like to use WhatsApp for your scheduled consultation, please email us for instructions on how to contact me at the time of your consultation.

Labels: benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH, calcification, calculi, difficult urination, enema series, essential oil suppositories, painful urination, prostate, prostate stones, prostatitis

Sources of Mercury Exposure

Mercury is a highly toxic chemical element that can be found in thermometers, electrical equipment, fluorescent light bulbs, dental fillings, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, seafood, and industrial waste.

Despite its toxicity, mercury is still used in dental amalgams (the silver-colored material used to fill teeth after removal of a cavity) in most of the world.

As a byproduct of industrialization, mercury can find its way into soil and water sources, and from there into the food we eat. Consuming foods that contain mercury is the most common cause of mercury poisoning, particularly for those who eat a lot of fish or other seafood, due to the mercury exposure and build-up that occurs in fish and other sea creatures living in polluted waters.

Other sources of possible mercury poisoning can include broken oral or rectal thermometers and exposure to toxic air or water if you live or work in highly industrialized areas.

Very small amounts of mercury are not necessarily harmful to your health, but significant mercury exposure can be very dangerous, even life-threatening, and in general we should all be trying to limit our exposure to mercury as much as possible.

Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning

Symptoms associated with mercury poisoning are primarily neurological and include:

• anxiety
• depression
• irritability
• memory problems
• tremors
• numbness, especially in hands and feet
• speech difficulty
• muscle weakness and lack of coordination
• changes in vision and hearing
• trouble walking
• insomnia

How To Diagnose Mercury Poisoning

You can test your mercury levels using either a blood test or a hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA).

Blood tests may give you the information you need about your body's mercury and other heavy metal levels, but it's also possible for blood tests to give you completely normal (but inaccurate) results even if you have elevated mercury levels. This is because the body is constantly removing heavy metals from the blood as a protective measure, and depositing them into tissues such as your bones, teeth, and hair.

For most heavy metals, including mercury, blood tests are primarily accurate for acute exposure to heavy metals (taking the test within 3-5 days of significant exposure should show elevated heavy metal levels), but are less accurate for testing longer-term heavy metal toxicity, because mercury (or copper, lead, etc.) levels decrease rapidly from the blood after initial exposure. Therefore, I recommend using a hair tissue mineral analysis to most accurately determine your body's heavy metal levels, and whether or not you have mercury toxicity.

Treatment for Mercury Poisoning

The first and most important way to treat mercury toxicity is to stop all possible sources of exposure. This may include removing seafood from your diet, replacing any fillings you have that contain mercury, and removing any other environmental sources of mercury you may be exposed to.

Additionally, doctors often recommend chelation therapy for severe cases of mercury poisoning to help the body remove and dispose of mercury. This type of therapy does have side effects and risks, so it's best to use only when necessary. If you think you have severe mercury poisoning, see a doctor right away.

I also recommend regularly doing my 3-step enema series protocol — which consists of two therapeutic cleansing enemas followed by a coffee enema — to help detox your body from many toxins and heavy metals, including mercury.

▶︎ Learn More about the Enema Series

There are also several supplements I recommend taking to help heal from mercury toxicity (or heavy metal toxicity in general):

• OHN Heavy Metals Detox Kit (pictured) — This kit contains four key supplements, including Ortho Z-Binder and Endo-Met GB-3, to help you detox from toxic heavy metals including copper, mercury, aluminum, and lead.
• Ortho Z-Binder — This is a broad-spectrum, naturally sourced binding formula which supports enhanced clearance of heavy metals from the GI tract. Binders have been used for centuries to treat toxin exposure and play an important role in many detoxification protocols.
• Taking chlorophyll before doing a coffee enema is extremely beneficial, as chlorophyll is a binding agent, and helps make sure toxins leave your body and are not reabsorbed after the coffee enema.
• Researched Nutritionals ToxinPul helps detoxify the body and can assist in removing pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metals in both the GI tract and systemically.
• Endo-Met GB-3 assists in the removal of toxic metals from the liver and supports GI health.

Finally, suppositories can be another great tool to help detoxify your body and heal from mercury toxicity. I recommend rotating OHN Liver Cleanse Essential Oil Blend and OHN Coffee Enema Essential Oil Blend in daily suppositories.

▶︎ Learn More about the Benefits of Essential Oil Suppositories

Additional Support

For individualized support around detoxifying your body, healing from heavy metal toxicity, balancing your body's mineral levels, or just learning more about your body's health, order a hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) testing kit. Testing includes a free 15-minute phone consultation with me to review the results and design a healing protocol.

▶︎ Buy HTMA Home Testing Kit

Need more detailed guidance in supporting your home detox program?

Personal Health Consultations with Kristina Amelong, CCT, CNC

For personalized support, I would be happy to assist via a scheduled phone consultation. I charge affordable per-minute rates, for as many or as few minutes as you need!

First complete any relevant sections of my secure online intake form. Upon submitting the form, you will be prompted to schedule a consultation time with me via my online booking system.

If you are an international client who would like to use WhatsApp for your scheduled consultation, please email us for instructions on how to contact me at the time of your consultation.

Labels: chlorophyll, colon cleansing, enemas, fish, hair tissue mineral analysis, heavy metal poisoning, HTMA, mercury exposure, mercury poisoning, seafood, suppositories

Constipation is often experienced during pregnancy. Although it usually does not become severe, it can reduce quality of life and sometimes lead to the development of anal fissures or hemorrhoids.

Constipation during pregnancy can be caused by changing hormone levels in the body, prenatal vitamins that many expecting mothers take, or pressure from the uterus in later pregnancy. It's important to be as comfortable and pain-free as possible during pregnancy, so avoiding the unpleasantness of constipation is beneficial, and enemas are one of several tools you can use to help with this.

Are Enemas Safe During Pregnancy?

While there are mixed opinions on the safety of enemas during pregnancy, and there has been very little scientific research done on this issue, many pregnant women find themselves needing to take enemas to alleviate uncomfortable constipation.

Many doctors agree that it is possible for enemas to stimulate labor, so while enemas can be perfectly safe and provide constipation relief for many pregnant women, I do recommend talking to your doctor first, especially if you are in your third trimester.

Constipation itself can also trigger preterm uterine contractions, however, so avoiding constipation in whatever way works best for you is important. I have worked with many pregnant women over the past 20+ years, and I find that for most mothers-to-be, enemas are a safe and beneficial thing you can do to improve your health while pregnant. I recommend reading this client's letter about her experience with constipation and enemas during pregnancy, in which she writes:

"I read your book, Ten Days to Optimal Health, and watched some how-to videos to find out how to do an enema. I was extremely cautious and slow with my enema experimentation. I used comfortably warm water and only allowed a small amount of fluid into my bowel at slow intervals so that my bowel could adjust and be completely comfortable with the enema. I did the enemas while soaking in an Epsom salt bath and I quickly felt very relaxed doing enemas. The enemas gave me immense relief and helped me to avoid constipation. I did not have any further uterine contractions and my baby was born at full term, with a wonderful natural birth."

▶︎ How To Take an Enema

Alternative Constipation Remedies

There are alternative solutions I would recommend pregnant women try if concerned about doing enemas, such as stool softeners and lifestyle and dietary changes.

Make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids, eating a lot of healthy fruits, vegetables, and proteins, and minimizing intake of gluten, dairy, and sugar. Doing regular, gentle forms of exercise (if your doctor says this is okay) can also help prevent or relieve constipation.

Additionally, I recommend taking Ortho Reacted Magnesium as a stool softener, which is safe for pregnant women.

Taking Endo-Met GB-3, vitamin C, and a probiotic such as Ortho Biotic can also help move your bowels and improve the health of your microbiome to prevent constipation.

Most doctors recommend avoiding harsher stimulative laxatives while pregnant, because they can induce contractions.

If you do decide to take an enema during your pregnancy, ensure you are in as relaxed a state as possible. Taking the enema during an Epsom salt bath with lavender essential oil can be the perfect calming setting.

As always, especially if you are new to enemas, take things slowly and check in with your body frequently. If you feel any pain or discomfort, do not continue with the enema. If you need any support, feel free to call us at 608-242-0200 or set up a phone consultation with me.

Healing Anal Fissures While Pregnant

Many women develop anal fissures while pregnant or while giving birth. Fissures can be extremely painful and can become a chronic issue for some. I have developed an anal fissure healing protocol that is safe for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers to use. The protocol consists of:

1. taking daily OHN Anal Fissure Essential Oil Blend suppositories
2. bathing the area around the fissure daily using Frankincense and Myrrh Goat Milk Soap
3. applying Super Salve to the fissure 1-3 times per day
4. using Reacted Magnesium as a stool softener if you are struggling with constipation or hard-to-pass stools
5. taking MSM daily to help heal the tissues and restore blood flow in the area around the fissure

Some people find colon cleansing with home enemas to be helpful in healing fissures, but again, use caution when attempting to colon cleanse while pregnant, and I recommend trying the above therapies first.

▶︎ More Information on Healing Anal Fissures

Need more detailed guidance in alleviating constipation or anal fissures during pregnancy?

Personal Health Consultations with Kristina Amelong, CCT, CNC

For personalized support, I would be happy to assist via a scheduled phone consultation. I charge affordable per-minute rates, for as many or as few minutes as you need!

First complete any relevant sections of my secure online intake form. Upon submitting the form, you will be prompted to schedule a consultation time with me via my online booking system.

If you are an international client who would like to use WhatsApp for your scheduled consultation, please email us for instructions on how to contact me at the time of your consultation.

Labels: anal fissure, colon cleansing, constipation during pregnancy, diet and lifestyle, enemas, labor, stool softeners