Reading Labels - How to Spot Gluten

Reading Labels - Excerpted From Getting Started Guide by CelebrateToday

Courtesy of Celiac Central

Hidden Gluten in Your Home

NFCA Hot Spots at Home Infographic by CelebrateToday

Courtesy of Celiac Central

How Essential Oils Can Be Used....

Essential Oils can be used in several ways

Aromatherapy ~ For Respiratory Ailments via Steam Inhalation & Chest Massage

Healing properties of Essential Oils inhaled into the lungs diffusing throughout the body.

 Methods for Aromatherapy ~

• Smell the Bottle of Essential Oils
• With Steam
• Use a Diffuser
• Aromatherapy Air Freshener
• Personal Perfume

 Massage Aromatherapy ~ For Physical, Emotional, or Mental Stress

 Massage Therapy stimulates circulation, releases toxins from the muscles, relaxes breathing and muscle  tension, and soothes  the nervous system.

 Recipes for Massage Therapy ~

• Simple Massage Lotion or Oil                                                                                                        *Use 1/2 to 1 Tsp. Essential Oil per Pint of Unscented Body Lotion or Botanical Oil (Sunflower or    Sweet Almond Oil)
• Simple Ailment Massage Lotion or Oil                                                                                        *Use 1oz Carrier Oil to 10 to 20 Drops of Essential Oils

 Bathing Aromatherapy ~ For Nervous Complaints

 Scented Baths assist with healing powers of Essential Oils

 Recipes for Bathing Aromatherapy

• Add a total of 6 to 10 drops Essential Oil to Full Bathtub
• For Sensitive Skin ~ Dilute Essential Oil in 1oz Carrier Oil first, then add up to 6 drops of the mixture to the tub

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender Essential Oil 

Benefits:

• Well known for its calming abilities, Lavender Essential Oil will melt stress and anxiety.
• Commonly used to quiet your mind and help you get a good night’s sleep.
• Lavender Oil is a must have for your family’s medicine cabinet. When mixed with JE Multi-Purpose Oil or Unscented Lotion, Lavender is considered safe enough to use for children’s minor cuts, scrapes, and mild sunburns.
• Lavender Oil is floral, fresh, sweet, herbaceous, and slightly fruity.

Ingredients: Lavandula Officinalis - 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil

Do Your Cosmetics Contain Gluten?

Recently diagnosed with Celiac's Disease, I am new to this whole phenomenon of reading labels on everything that I ingest or put on my skin. Learning the various ways to list Gluten, Wheat, Rye or Barley on labels has been a bit overwhelming! 

Research shows(to date) that skin care products containing Gluten cause no harm as the molecules are too large to enter the bloodstream. However, I have noticed getting a headache(Celiac Symptom) when I use products containing Gluten. 

Gluten is disguised in food & personal care products under other names. 

The research I have done has indicated that personal care products that can contain Gluten, Rye, Wheat or Barley are:

•          Shampoo
•         Toothpaste
•         Lipstick
•         Facial Cleansers
•         Lotions
•          Shaving gels
•         Hair spray
•         Soap

Gluten Derived Ingredients you Shouldn’t Overlook

Ingredients Derived from Wheat: 

• Tocopherols
• Mixed Tocopherols
• Fermented Grain Extract
• Amp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
• Hydrolyzed Wheat Gluten
• Starch
• PG-Propyl Silanetriol
• Amino Acids Hydroxypropyltrimonium 
• Steardimonium Hydroxypropyl Protein/PVP Crosspolymer
• Triticum Vulgare
• Bran Extract
• PG-Propyl Silanetriol
• Triticum Lipids
• Germamidopropyldimonium Hydroxypropyl
• Cyclodextrin
• Dextrin Palmitate
• Stearyldimoniumhydroxypropyl

Ingredients derived from Wheat Germ Oil: 

• Wheat Germ Glycerides
• Disodium Wheat Germamido PEG-2 Sulfosuccinat Vitamin E
• Germ Oil
• Triticum Vulgare
• Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
• Wheat Germ Glycerides
• Wheat Germ Extract

Ingredients derived from Oats that are likely cross-contaminated:  

• Avena Sativa
• Bran
• Protein or Extracts

Ingredients derived from Barley

• Barley Extract
• Samino Peptide Complex
• Hordeum Vulgare Phytosphingosine Extract
• Lipids

Resources:
You Beauty
Know Gluten
Celiac Central
Gluten Free Dietician
Mayo Clinic

Independent Consultant Since 2007- ID10653
Jordan Essentials

It All Makes Sense NOW

Celiac Disease. 

An autoimmune, genetic condition affecting 1/133 people in the United States.

I have suffered with symptoms that have been treated as "other" digestive conditions  since 1986. Western Medicine has wanted to mask the symptom and not test for the CAUSE of the issue.

Symptoms show up as a method the Body uses to COMMUNICATE with you that something is WRONG. 

Mainstream Medicine wants to call each symptom it’s own condition, pharmaceutical companies create drugs to treat the “conditions” that are really symptoms of a BIGGER issue.

Going to the ER 2 times in the month of February because my Primary Care doctor thought I was having a heart attack with the symptoms that I was having. I was referred to 2 Cardiologists to have EKG's, Echo Cardiograms, Treadmill Stress Test all to be told that I did indeed have heart disease and would need to go in for a Angiogram within 2 days to alleviate my chest pains. Instead of having the Angiogram that is an invasive procedure, I opted & fought to have a Coronary CT Scan that looks at the Vessels, Chambers, and Heart Function just as the Angiogram does. (Insurance does not readily pay for this procedure as they deem it Investigative, yet they will pay for an Angiogram & hospital stay). 

Low and Behold, the Coronary CT Scan showed NO SIGNS of Heart Disease and showed a Hiatal Hernia was causing all the symptoms that mimic a Heart Attack. 

Next step in my crazy journey was to the Gastroenterologist, who performed a Endoscopy. The results from that were devastating..... a Grade III Gastroesophageal Flap Valve (worst rating is a IV)and severe erosions in my esophogus. The erosions were causing the Chest Pains and NOT an Hiatal Hernia. I was prescribed Omeprazole to control the chest pain and heal the erosions.No dietary retrictions. Just medicate and go away.... can't see this doc again for 2 months due to the busy schedule he keeps. Still in PAIN.Food is my enemy.

I finally found a practitioner that would get to the root of the problem, blood work was finally done and GUESS WHAT?! I have Celiac's Disease. The Celiac's Disease led to the Grade III Gastroesophageal Flap Valve and the Esophagus Erosions. Celiac's Disease is an Auto Immune Disease that the body thinks it is under attack when fed Gluten, Wheat, Barley and Rye. Interestingly, the Omeprazole prescribed by the Gastro Doc has GLUTEN in it. WHAT????

Back to my symptoms...... dealing with them for almost 30 years and Western Medicine "doesn't know how to treat it, without medicines". I kept the doctors schedules full with all the appointments I had to try and feel better. Naturopathic medicine focuses on holistic, proactive prevention and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. Naturopathic physicians help facilitate the body’s inherent ability to restore and maintain optimal health. It is the naturopathic physician’s role to identify and remove barriers to good health by helping to create a healing internal and external environment.

So very thankful to finally know what is the cause of all my issues.

Celiac Symptoms

There are more than 300 symptoms of celiac disease, and some people may experience no symptoms at all. Learn about the varying symptoms and how different people are affected.

Here is a partial list:

Symptoms:

• General: 
  • Fatigue
  • Generalized ill feeling
  • Frequent colds & illnesses
  • Anemia, usually resulting from iron deficiency
  • Reduced functioning of the spleen (hyposplenism
  • Loss of bone density(osteoporosis) or softening of bone (osteomalacia)
  • Damage to dental enamel
• Neurologic: 
  • Headaches and fatigue
  • Numbness/Tingling
  • Memory/Concentration Problems (Brain Fog)
  • Nervous system injury, including numbness and tingling in the feet and hands
  • Possible problems with balance
• Gastrointestinal:  
  • Acid reflux and heartburn
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Pain
  • Bloating
  • Gas
  • Cramps
  • Vague non-specific abdominal complaints
• Hormonal:
  • PMS
  • Alteration in menstrual cycles
  • Correlated with thyroid disorders
  • Infertility
• Musculoskeletal: 
  • Muscular Pain
  • Knots ( Fibromyalgia like symptoms)
  • Back pain
  • Joint pain
• Skin: 
  • Nonspecific rashes
  • Eczema
  • Itchy, blistery skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis)

There are NO pharmaceutical cures for celiac disease.

A strict gluten-free diet is the only treatment for celiac disease.

Hoping the new diagnosis will lead me to feeling good and being able to function to my fullest capacity.

My next post will be about my next steps.

References:

Celiac Central

The Celiac MD

Essential Oils

The term Essential Oil is misleading. Essential Oils are not oily or greasy, they evaporate readily, leaving no residue. As they evaporate, the aromatic molecules permeate the air. When we inhale the aroma those molecules travel into the nose and to olfactory receptors where our sense of smell originates. These receptors  then transmit information about the odor to the limbic system in the brain. The essential oil molecules don't stop in the brain, they travel to the lungs and then to the bloodstream, where they improve on health by acting on individual cells.

Also, readily absorbed by the skin, they should be diluted by a carrier oil, such as almond oil to prevent irritation to the skin. Once the Essential Oils penetrate the skin, they can stimulate circulation and encourage cell regeneration.

Whether inhaled or absorbed through the skin, Essential Oils can fight bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microbes inside the body and can stimulate the immune system to help renew health.