*PREFACE: 
I am sharing this information for my endo sisters because this particular combination of #NAC, #ALPHALIPOICACID & #BROMELAIN has been an integral part in helping to manage pain along with the cupping. Check out my highlights titled ENDO RELIEF on Instagram if you or someone you know needs suggestions. If you live in Los Angeles, I highly recommend seeing the very incredible French holistic MD Dr Dominque Fradin-Read in Santa Monica. #endometriosis #endoawareness #endometriosisawareness #endosisters
 
This article by Lete et al. from Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain was published in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. A total of 398 patients with a mean age of 34.6 years participated, in which 92.7% reported moderate or intense endometriosis-associated pelvic pain. For the study, patients were given a combination N-acetyl cysteine 600 mg, alpha lipoic acid 200 mg, bromelain 25 mg and zinc 10 mg for 6 months at a dose of 2 tablets per day.
The results showed a significant decrease in the percentage of patients with endometriosis-associated pelvic pain, from 92.7% before treatment to 82.7% after the 6 months treatment. In addition, there was also a significant reduction in VAS score pain scale, with severe pain reported in 40.2% at baseline to 3.6% at 6 months. Therefore, the authors concluded that N-acetyl cysteine, alpha lipoic acid and bromelain combination showed promise to improve endometriosis-associated pelvic pain. click here to read more:
 
https://www.endonews.com/n-acetyl-cysteine-alpha-lipoic-acid-and-bromelain-improved-endometriosis-associated-pelvic-pain

 ***THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR REGULATED BY THE FDA.  WE ARE NOT DOCTORS, THEREFORE ALWAYS CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR FIRST.

Preface: I have stage IV endometriosis that I've been working on healing for 17 years.  In 2014 I was diagnosed with advanced adenomyosis.  The pain was something I never experienced.  I was bedridden up to 14 days a month and advised to get a hysterectomy.  From 2014 through most of 2018 the pain was getting increasingly worse.  I had four surgeries prior to 2010, then this past year a specialist in St Louis was going to perform the Osada procedure to remove the adenomyosis.  He made two incisions and woke me up to tell me that he was unable to operate due to all of the scar tissue and adhesions. He advised me to get a radical hysterectomy. I was losing hope. Sometimes the surgery severe pain because adhesions form wherever they make an incision and the fascia begins to clump together.  This is known as scar tissue, which causes nerve pain and the radiating pain you can feel in your lower back, ovaries, uterus, hips, buttocks and legs.  If you have endo I'm sure you are aware of this debilitating pain!. My sister began cupping me and using myofascial release in May.  Since August, I have been virtually pain free for the first time in almost five years. I invested in a cupping kit and I cupped whenever/wherever I had pain.  Each week the pain diminished.  Now I cup once or twice a week.  The cups have changed my life!  Watch my instagram highlights titled "endo relief" to learn more.  I wish I had known about this 17 years ago...

Wishing you all good health and wellness.  - Jena Covello

By Natasha M.

One of my favorite things as a little girl was watching my Grandma's healing techniques using cupping.  She was a little old lady who was known to help women heal most all of their uterine & fertility issues.  I didn’t fully understand at the time, but women came in sad and left happy. I was fascinated with the entire process and would run inside to watch her in hopes of doing the same one day! When I saw Jena's Instagram story about the success cupping had on her road to recovery with endometriosis, it brought me back to watching grandma use the same techniques helping women recover from symptoms. She also used things like frankincense, ovary adjustments, herbs & positive affirmations through prayer.  

By Natasha M @SimpleOrganix

Let’s talk Lemon Balm. Did you know that it actually has nothing to do with lemons? Outside of its lemon scent (which is a huge Honey Bee attractor), Melissa Officinilis is an herbaceous plant found in the mint family. Records concerning its medicinal use date back over 2000 years, including a recommendation by Paracelsus (1493–1541) that lemon balm would completely revivify a man and should be used for “all complaints supposed to proceed from a disordered state of the nervous system”.

One of the reasons why Lemon Balm is so successful with the central nervous system is due to rosemarinic acid, a chemical compound with significant antioxidant, antiviral and antibacterial properties. Rosmarinic acid has also shown free radical scavenging ability and suppression of allergic immunoglobulin. One of the most studied features of Lemon Balm’s rosmarinic acid is its anti-anxiety effect by increasing the availability of GABA.
GABA is one of the inhibitory neurotransmitters, used by the brain to prevent over-excitement and attain balance. It is responsible for making sure we are not stressed. It also plays a role in a healthier sleep cycle. Increasing stimulation of GABA receptors will produce a sedative or calming effect.

Another amazing compound found in Lemon Balm is terpenes, it has the ability to target the following:

•anxiety
•stress
•panic attacks
•hypertension
•depression
•high blood pressure
•heart palpitations
•pain
•Inflammation
•neurological issues
•gas & bloating

A study by Buchwald-Werner in 2014 showed that when all of these symptoms were tested, “The results demonstrate that Lemon Balm was capable of benefiting a number of aspects of mood and performance”. The only study that showed anxiety was still present was when there were artificial sweeteners found in the diet. Most all of the studies showed that when adding valerian root and Lemon Balm together, it doubled the success rate for all central nervous system functions.

The famous Swiss physician Paracelsus credited Lemon Balm as the “elixir of life.” He claimed that regular use could increase lifespan. With that said, Lemon Balm is extremely high in trace minerals which help support the entire body while at the same time detoxifying organs such as the kidneys and liver. This allows the body to be in constant regeneration.

Another studied aspect of Lemon Balm is the role it plays with the Herpes Simplex Virus. Numerous studies have linked a dramatic healing effect in all studies linked to ALL five strains of this virus which many believe causes more disease in humanity than science has yet to discover.

The name Herpes is best known as the cause of a worldwide epidemic of venereal disease.  However, this virus family plagues people of all ages and circumstances:

-The fetus susceptible to cytomegalovirus.
-The child to chicken pox.
-The adolescent to mononucleosis
-The adult pestered by recurrent cold sores & painful shingles.

Every stage of life is susceptible to The virus “waking up” from dormant sleep. Many of these viral strains are also linked to uterine, cervical and endometrial diseases of all sorts. What else is linked to uterine disease? Gut and nerve issues! This herb has separate compounds that help heal all 3 (gut, nerve , uterus) in synergy. Lemon Balm has been proven over and over again to support viral dormancy. This alone should have people’s attention.

Did you think that Lemon Balm forgot one of humanities largest problem? Cancer. A study done by Weidner C in 2015 concluded Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) extract inhibits the proliferation of colon carcinoma cells, brain gliomas and all gut cancers.

As science and natural medicine alike work on figuring out the way all of these viruses are linked to disease, another direction Lemon Balm has taken us to is the “auto immune” epidemic.

Auto Immune Diseases such as:
•Lyme
•Lupus
•Rheumatoid arthritis
•Crohns

All have shown promise and successful healing stories when bringing in anti viral herbs such as Lemon Balm and Nettle Leaf together. They work together like Batman and Robin in the world of herbs. And What do all these ailments have in common? Inflammation, which Lemon Balm also works on reducing.

Surprisingly, we can touch on almost every human function that finds a positive reaction with this particular herb.  Why isn’t it prescribed by Doctors you ask? Since this botanical extract can not be patented, its beneficial effects have been completely ignored by pharmaceutical interests. There is no money in cure.

The best way to take herbs such as Lemon Balm is through steeping dried leaves and drinking it as a tea or taking it through extraction. Once the herb is steeped or extracted, it activates its “magic”. The tongue and taste buds are equipped with receptors that signal the brain which identifies this “magic”. It then notifies the organs to prepare for dispersing. When herbs are taken orally via pills, this forces the herb to activate while trying to survive digestive enzymes and acids which intern kills most if not all of its “magic”. This method also gives you an advantage to begin purchasing herbs in bulk and saving money. Absolutely an herb to add In your daily tea regimen and begin your healing journey.

Although the information and history of this herb has been so vast, it all lead me to an old adage that states, “Do as the honey bees do”. Just like Lemon Balm is is attractive to a honey bee, it is absolutely attractive to healing. Yes, nature always knows.

Natasha M.
@SimpleOrganix

 ***THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR REGULATED BY THE FDA.  WE ARE NOT DOCTORS, THEREFORE ALWAYS CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR FIRST.

A study analyzed 39 salt brands from 21 countries and found that more than 90 percent contain microplastics. This new study evaluated salt brands worldwide and is the first on this scale to analyze the geographical spread of microplastic in sea salt and the connection to where plastic pollution is found in the environment. Researchers believe most people consume about 2,000 particles a year in their sea salt alone. 

Why Do You Need Salt?

According to Dr. David Brownstein, author of Salt Your Way to Health, pink Himalayan salt is an excellent detoxifier and high in mineral nutrients. There are around 80 minerals and essential trace elements in pink Himalayan salt. crops are lacking in many of these because the soil has been depleted of trace elements and minerals due to pesticides, herbicides and heavy metals. Some of the major minerals included with pink Himalayan salt are magnesium calcium, potassium, and sulfate. The body requires a specific sodium-to-potassium ratio to normalize blood pressure. Low salt intake contributes to an increased risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, low magnesium levels and other potential health risks. Researchers found women without high blood pressure who consumed the most potassium had a 21 percent reduced risk of stroke. When your body does not have enough salt it starts pulling sodium from your bones which strips magnesium and calcium to maintain a normal sodium level. This results in a reduction in sodium excretion in sweat, substituting magnesium and calcium instead. Low sodium also elevates aldosterone, a sodium-retaining hormone, which in turn reduces magnesium by passing it through your urine. 

Why is Pink Himalayan Salt a Good Option?

All salt is not created equally. Your body needs sodium and chloride ions in salt crystals, but is unable to produce them. Refined table salt is nearly all sodium chloride with man-made chemicals.

Pink Himalayan salt has a different balance of sodium and chloride with over 80 trace elements in their natural mineral form which the body needs in order to stay healthy. The crystals are untouched by pollutants. It is mined from salt beds created long before plastic and toxic chemicals were manufactured. When the ocean beds were lifted, as the Himalayan Mountains were formed, these salt beds rose from the sea and were later protected by lava and covered in snow and ice for thousands of years.

What is Glutathione?

Every cell in the body produces glutathione, a major antioxidant and molecule found naturally in your body. It is high in sulfur and can be found in all the cruciferous vegetables. Many longevity scientists believe that the level of glutathione in our cells predicts how long we will live. 

Glutathione allows your body to detoxify itself which enables you to stay healthy.  It has been coined with the term "master anti-oxidant" due to its essential role in maintaining anti-oxidants such as vitamin C & E in their active form. It is estimated that each cell in the body withstands 10,000 hits by free radicals each day. Glutathione rids these free radicals before they wreak havoc and cleans up the oxidative stress related damage that has occurred by protecting the body against disease, toxins, viruses, pollutants, radiation and drugs. It protects your DNA from damage, lowers inflammation and helps fend off heart disease, cancer, neurological decline and dementia. It neutralizes and clears heavy metals and toxins from the body. Glutathione plays a significant role in strengthening the immune system and preventing an overactive immune system which can trigger allergies and auto-immune diseases. 

Levels of glutathione begin to decline with aging as the majority of individuals in our society become more toxic and deficient. Additionally, our society has more environmental toxicity than ever before due to pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, pollution and pharmaceutical drugs. Unfortunately, many diets are void of the necessary precursors for this critical agent. For many people, this translates to low energy, a compromised immune system and illness. We can age gracefully and slowly and possibly stop major health problems by boosting our glutathione levels. If sufficient glutathione is not available in the body, the toxins will overload the liver and lead to fat soluble toxins being stored in fatty tissues. The central nervous system, breasts and prostate are the most susceptible areas but decreased glutathione levels also contribute to endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids and thyroid dysfunction. When serious glutathione deficiency occurs, we begin to suffer from cardiovascular and inflammatory issues, liver dysfunction and age-related diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Researchers credit the increase in neurological disease and cancer to depleted cellular glutathione. The brain produces more free radicals than any other tissue and is therefore in need of more glutathione than any other organ. They estimate that a 30% reduction of glutathione is enough for cellular dysfunction to occur.

Studies have shown that adequate vitamin D is necessary for optimal glutathione production. The vast majority of our society is extremely deficient in vitamin D. Optimal vitamin D levels should be between 60-100 ng/ml.  It’s important to combine vitamin D3 with vitamin K2 so that it can absorb properly. 

Glutathione precursors such as glycine, glutamic acid and cysteine should be consumed through organic sulfur, avocados, onions, garlic, turmeric, spinach and cruciferous vegetables.

How To Increase Glutathione:

• Exercise triggers glutathione but don’t over do it
• Unmanaged, chronic stress depletes glutathione, so meditate, listen to healing music, practice yoga and look into taking our adaptogen called holi youth, It lowers the stress hormone called cortisol. 
• Include the supplement organic suflur
• Include foods that stimulate glutathione production- organic garlic and onions, asparagus, avocados, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, parsley and watercress. Cinnamon, cardamom and curcumin also offer benefits.
• Minimize your exposure to toxins by eating organic, filtering your water, use natural cosmetics and cleaning products, switch to glass for food and water storage and reheating 
• To achieve optimal levels, look into glutathione IV drips. Not all are created equal.  Make sure your doctor or practitioner is using high quality glutathione that is not cut. I love to get mine from VitaLife in Santa Monica. Dr Dominique Fradin-Read is a phenomenal MD and holistic doctor. She was the first person in twenty years who was able to cut my insanely high estrogen levels by putting me on a high dose of melatonin and DIM. Dr Will Cole’s custom AIP diet and supplements that were tailored to my needs helped me as well. 

***THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR REGULATED BY THE FDA.  WE ARE NOT DOCTORS, THEREFORE ALWAYS CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR FIRST.

By Jena Covello

Personally, almonds never make me feel well and I believe it's because they are a bit inflammatory and most are pre-treated with Monsanto's Glyphosate.

The inflammation stems from omega 6 fatty acids which are an essential fatty acid that the body needs for normal growth and development. The body needs a healthy balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Excess consumption of omega-6s can trigger the body to produce pro-inflammatory chemicals. These fatty acids are found in nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils such as corn, safflower, sunflower, grapeseed, soy, peanut, and canola.

Would it be easier to simply cut out as much omega 6 fatty acids as possible?

Yes! Limit your intake of nuts. Nuts, except for MACADAMIA NUTS! Organic Oliva began teaching me all about this!  Most nuts are loaded with omega 6 fatty acids and contain little to no omega 3 fatty acids. For those of you who are skeptical of this please check out the following statistics for nuts:

Nutrition Data

Omega 3 vs Omega 6 in Milligrams

• Macadamias – 60 vs 360
• Almonds – 2 vs 3400
• Hazelnuts – 20 vs 2200
• Pistachios – 70 vs 3700
• Brazil Nuts – 5.1 vs 5800
• Cashews – 7 vs 2200
• Walnuts – 2500 vs 10,100
• Pine Nuts – 31 vs 9400
• Pecans – 280 vs 5800

I loved almond milk but it does not agree with my body which is why I decided to look for an alternative.

My friend gave me an amazing recipe for macadamia milk and the best part is that it takes two minutes and no straining is required:

1 cup of organic macadamia nuts

2-2.5 cups of filtered water (if you use less water the milk literally feels like heavy cream and it is AMAZING)

1 tablespoon of organic maple syrup (optional)

5 dashes of cinnamon (optional)

1 dash of pink Himalayan sea salt

Place all ingredients in the blender and voila! You don't have to strain macadamia nuts because they are so low in phytic acid. Enjoy!

1. Avoid foods and drinks that add stress to the immune system: sugar, processed foods, dairy, gluten, soy and alcohol.

2. Drink 2 liters of filtered water per day. 

3. Increases organic produce and herbs, including organic garlic and ginger.

4. Be sure to get enough rest.

5. Take the following supplements to support the liver and immune system by supplementing with high-quality vitamin C, turmeric, probiotics, vitamin D3 with K2 and zinc.

***THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR REGULATED BY THE FDA.  WE ARE NOT DOCTORS, THEREFORE ALWAYS CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR FIRST.