E is for Echinacea
E is for Echinacea
This month’s #hormone inspiration focuses on how chemicals impact us and Mother Gaia herself. I also discuss the benefits of echinacea – a wonderful plant for immunity.
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E is for Echinacea but C is for Chemical Free
Let me begin by discussing this months focus connecting with the cards Waters of Gaia and Chemical Free. These cards are intrinsically linked – the chemicals we place in ourselves we also place in Mother Earth. After all, Mother Gaia holds and supports us. She infuses every cell in our bodies and presides over the seasons and cycles. She is ever-present and the creative power which sustains life on earth. The Earth Mother is fertility itself, for mankind, creatures and plants. She is both the womb and the tomb, which is again the womb because she maintains the eternal, rhythmic balance of life. It is only right that we care for her as she cares for us.
“ Can I ask you to pause for a moment? Take a moment and reflect on this. How many chemicals do you think are within and around you at this moment in time? Well, you are in for a surprise because it is estimated that there are approximately 60,000 different chemicals which contaminate our water supply alone, right this second. Wow! So, knowing that humans are made up of approximately 70% water how many chemicals you could be ingesting every day?”
Every day a cloud of potentially hormone disrupting toxins surround us – pesticides and herbicides in our soil, chemicals and additives in food and vaccinations, our sanitary ware. chemicals are expelled into the environment via car exhausts, factory waste, in solvents, plastics, metal food cans, detergents, flame retardants, toys (including sex toys), pesticides, adhesives. Then there’s more – we trans-dermally absorb them through our skin – beauty products, cleansers, moisturisers, make up, shampoos, hair dyes, household cleaning products, mobile phones, air conditioning and Wi-Fi. Chemicals are also contained in our furniture, food packaging and carpets.
Occupational exposures such as lead and poisonings are estimated to account globally for 1 303 100 million deaths (2.3% of total) and 43 109 000 DALYs (1.6% of total) (1) . Did you know an estimated 9 million people died from pollution exposure alone during 2017. The Lancet (2017) suggests that 25% of premature deaths are attributed to air pollution and it remains the single biggest environmental threat to health in the UK, shortening tens of thousands of lives each year (2). Since 1950, more than 140,000 new chemicals have been synthesised globally. Those produced in the largest amounts are now dispersed throughout the environment. To date over 22,000 different synthetic chemicals have been registered in Europe as being produced in volumes over one tonne a year. In 2017, 81 million tonnes of chemicals hazardous to the environment were produced in Europe, including the UK. Chemicals can remain in the environment and the body for decades. Here is a list of occupations which are known to be toxic to reproductive wellbeing (3)(4)
- Welders, construction workers, painters, building trades. Asbestos, wood dust, insulation, paint, polyurethane, blown foam, carpeting, solvents, and glues can all release chemical fumes into the air, causing asthma, skin concerns, chronic bronchitis or worse. The intense heat and toxic gases affect reproductive wellbeing too.
- Pilots, Cabin crew and baggage screeners – University of Iceland found that airline pilots have 25 times the normal rate of malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Baggage screeners are affected by radiation, and cabin crew have lowered resistance to disease due to changes in their circadian rhythm
- Doctors, Dentists, Nurses and Technicians – Research shows radiology technicians are at an increased risk for thyroid cancer. The American Thyroid Association found a 1.5-fold rise in the risk of thyroid cancer among technologists who held patients for X-ray procedures at least 50 times.
- Drivers. Taxi drivers and truck drivers are associated with male infertility due to the vibration, heat and sedentary nature of these jobs affect sperm morphology and I am presuming affect women’s pelvic basin balance too.
- Athletes and personal trainers. It’s been found that long distance running can reduce testosterone and hormone levels adversely.
- Cooking – before we even discuss the quality of food heat from cooking reduces spermatogenic activity, and also adversely impacts oogenesis, oocyte maturation, fertilization development and implantation rate (5)
- Beauty Industry. U.S. researchers report that one in eight of the 82,000 ingredients used in personal care products are industrial chemicals, including carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, and hormone disruptors. Many products include plasticizers, degreasers and surfactants. Read more about this fascinating subject at The David Suzuki Foundation https://davidsuzuki.org/queen-of-green/dirty-dozen-cosmetic-chemicals-avoid/ . I have also written about this subject countless times so I have included some links for you to read more below.
- Stress also plays a huge part.
How can you help yourself this month?
Begin by considering how you can reduce your chemical impact. Start by taking stock of what is highly chemical in your life. Resolve to change it – whether it is emotional or physical. Download an app such as Think Dirty and EWG healthy living which will help identify the nasties.
Consider using hydrotherapy to aid oxygen absorption, increase tissue tone, stimulate the senses, energise, boost metabolism, support circulatory symptoms, boost the immune system, stimulate the liver, encourage chemical detoxification, reduce inflammation, distension, irritable bowel and digestive disturbance, hot flushes, insomnia, headaches and encourages you to re- vitalise.
Hydration: drink 2 litres of pure filtered water daily. Consider buying a reverse osmosis water filter or some Wayback water (high is oxygen and light energy). More about this is at https://www.conellaholdings.com/water-filters
Cleansing: This month you could consider joining me for my Autumn cleanse, or even consider the use of a floating water tank, an enema or colonic, a salt glow, sauna or a shower blitz
Shower Blitz: Cold blast (10-20 seconds). Apply at the end of your daily shower. A cold blast helps remove heat from the body (hot flushes), increase red blood cell count, increase tissue tone, stimulates metabolism, calms the nervous system (great for insomnia and anxiety) and helps toxin breakdown though the liver, spleen and bowels
Alternate hot blast with cold blasts (10-20 seconds of each – start with 3 of each and work up gradually to repeat a maximum of 10 times) – Believed to help prevent colds and congestion, support circulation, detox from alcohol, believed to support drug and tobacco withdrawal, low energy, oedema and bloating, nervous exhaustion, eating disorders and depression/anxiety. Placing your whole body in the alternative water temperatures may be too much for you to begin so I recommend you place a limb or part of your abdomen under the water jet until you feel confident.
If you suffer with hot flushes, anxiety or insomnia try placing a limb under running cold water for about 20 seconds. This helps reboot body temperature, a pounding heart or distressed sleep patterns. Alternatively, if the above will wake your partner then place a pair of cold wet socks in the fridge and if you can’t sleep, wake up anxious or suffer with a hormonal hot flush place them on your feet.
Download Creation Guide to Thermotherapy for Hormonal Symptoms
Buy Mother Gaia card and connect with her daily
Listen to this waterfall meditation daily (about 20 minutes)
E is for Echinacea – Spagyric plant of the month.
Echinacea is also called snake bite and cone flower. Echinacea is known as a wonderful immune boosting remedy.
E is for echinacea: Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, increases overall vitality, cleanses the kidneys, liver and lungs. Echinacea is a natural antibiotic, an adaptogen, increases your resistance to viruses and infections; cleanses the blood, and stimulates interferon, interleukins, activates B & T lymphocytes, encourages reduction of cancer cells and in Ayurvedic terms “destroys Ama” so is a powerful lymphatic boost. Your can also use it for anti-aging support and is fabulous for virus’s, coughs and colds, sinusitis, urinary tract infections, ear nose and throat health conditions, candida albicans, streptococcus, Streptococcus, Lyme, PID (pelvic inflammatory diseases) too.
Did you know echinacea is one of the best detoxifying plants in western herbalism – they even used it to help reduce radiation in Chernobyl
Native Americans crushed the flowers and ground the roots as a universal cure for snake bites, poisonings, toothache, sore throats, coughs, rabies, rheumatism, osteoarthritis , mumps, meals, influenza, chickenpox, mouth ulcers , STD’s and cancer! Homeopaths have used echinacea for general weakness and infections. “echinacea” types present with confusions, vague pains, are slow, frustrated and dislike being contradicted.
The energetic trinity of echinacea from Spagyric philosophy combines the physical, emotional and spiritual. We consider
Ech. Augustiflora – for the lower body. Physical
Ech. Purpurea – the trunk of the person. Emotional
Ech. Pallida – upper body and head. Spiritual aspect
As a Spagyric therapist I consider echinacea emotionally and use use it to help re-create a sense of integrity post trauma. It helps balance yin and yang and carries that wonderful “Christ” energy with it’s diamond and crystalline beams. Very in tune with 2021 echinacea acts like a beam of light to reveal our shadows and moves the ego from “to have” which is very much the human form to help it return a more authentic form which is “to be”. From a yogic philosophy it re-connects the shushuma, pingala and ida. As a fertility aid I have reformulated my TTC Men formula to include the 3 forms of echinacea to boost sperm health. Spagyric therapists consider it can be used as an aid to heal ancestral and karmic influences including within the womb. It marries the 3 aspects of the soul into physical matter.
So this month let’s
Download my waterfall audio meditation and listen to it daily
Consider hydrotherapy to boost your immunity and balance hormones or explore the Win Hoff method
Sign up for my autumn cleanse to boost your immunity and spend 10 days nurturing and nourishing yourself
Work towards being “chemical free”. Take this step by step and change your products to chemical free brands. There are amazing free apps such as Think Dirty and EWG healthy living which help you identify the nasties so let’s begin by buying products wisely.
Consider the use of Echinacea. Drink echinacea tea or use a supplement if you prefer. I use Spagyric medicine so contact me if you prefer a personalised 100ml Spagyric echinacea tincture for only £30 plus post and packing or order my immunity mix which contains all 3 forms of Spagyric echinacea (also £30 plus p&P for 100ml)
If you are trying to conceive then my TTC Men Spagyric tincture contains the 3 forms of echinacea.
Connect with Mother Gaia daily using the yoni mudra and the print.
It’s time to do something loving and giving and give back to the natural world. Consider ENVIRONMENTAL VOLUNTEERING connecting with lakes, natural ponds, streams, rivers, canals or volunteer for some beach combing at the sea.
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Justine Evans ND is a Hormone Alchemist and Fertility Expert.
A Registered Naturopath and Nutritional Therapist integrating Western science with Eastern philosophy, the moon, seasons and cycles. Call Justine on 07747 133170 to make an appointment or email contact@justineevans.co.uk
Disclaimer: This article has been written as personal opinion and guidance only and should not be construed as medical advice. I am not a medical doctor.
- https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/environment-and-health/chemical-safety/data-and-statistics
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/state-of-the-environment/state-of-the-environment-health-people-and-the-environment
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4059951/
- https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/jobs-with-increased-risk-occupational-disease.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5904646/
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