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As many of my friends, family and clients know, I have had my brain challenges. The good news is that my brain now functions better than it ever has before and I intend to make sure it stays that way.

My past periods of depression and compromised brain function were the result of various factors including, body and brain pollution from toxins, toxicant induced loss of tolerance (TILT), stress and stress sensitization, and lack of resilience. You can read about how I was affected by all of these in my blog posts and website ‘about‘ page. I am grateful for the information, guidance and natural strategies that have helped to restore my brain health.

With the looming statistics for dementia, which my mother suffered from, and Alzheimers, my focus moving forward is on preventing mental decline as I age.

What did it take to restore and improve my brain to better health?

What am I doing to protect my brain?

Learning and understanding the impact of brain and body pollution
Dealing with brain and body pollution using natural and added detoxification aids (whole body detoxification method using Botanical Spa Therapy)
Avoiding brain (including blood brain barrier) compromising factors
- Avoiding and testing for (muscle response testing for health protection) all foods and products that could potentially contain toxins including toxic personal care, house and laundry products
- Avoiding and testing (muscle response testing for health protection) foods that are potentially health/brain challenging:
  - According to the Blue Zones, In the blue zones region of Ikaria, Greece, dementia among people over 85 is rare — over 75 percent less common than it is in the United States. (About half of Americans over 85 years old show signs of Alzheimer’s disease. The NutritionFacts video breaks down the science of why dementia is much lower among people who eat a Mediterranean-style diet.
  - According to Nutrition Facts (https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/mental-health/) “chicken has been linked to a variety of neurological and psychiatric conditions. Arachidonic acid, found at particularly high levels in chicken and eggs, produces inflammatory compounds that may affect our brains. Chicken has low levels of omega 3 fatty acid, a vital nutrient for the brain. Toxoplasma brain parasites from meat have been linked to schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder. Glycotoxins—found primarily in chicken, pork, beef, and fish—increase the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. High consumption of fish has been associated with an increased risk of mental disorders, lower testosterone (which can lead to depression), and chronic fatigue syndrome and depression.”
  - Timeline of Alzheimer’s disease – https://www.naturalnews.com/2018-12-24-history-and-causes-of-alzheimers-disease.html
Adapting a healthy plant based diet and avoiding processed foods
Drinking filtered water
Ongoing assessing, restoring and maintaining of life balance
Regular walking in green spaces
Regular yoga and tai chi exercises
Regular reading of health promoting books, especially those about brain health and recovery. You can find my recommended reads in my book.
Practicing mind body healing strategies including affirmations, visualizations and meditation. You can find my recommendations in my book.
Adding in of natural supportive strategies including essential oils with healing properties. You can find my recommendations in my book and My Green Medicine Cabinet.

The preceding information may seem daunting. It took me 10 years of research and trial and error strategies to make major gains in my health. I now feel healthy, energetic and more resilient. I have condensed all of the information and resources that brought me to ‘my healthier me’ and you can use my holistic protocol (guide) to achieve your ‘healthier you’. It works! Each new client receives a copy of my book and uses it as a guide to help them restore and maintain their health.

RESEARCH: Credible resources for using essential oils for dementia and Alzeihmers

Alzheimers.net (https://www.alzheimers.net/10-10-14-essential-oils-dementia/)

is an online community dedicated to advocacy, education and supporting those whose lives have been impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Alzheimers.net was created by people touched by Alzheimer’s, to give caregivers and those with Alzheimer’s a place to share our passion for change and a cure for the disease.

Mayo Clinic on aromatherapy for dementia –

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/aromatherapy/faq-20058566

Pub Med, US National Library of Medicine – “WE FOUND AROMATHERAPY AN EFFICACIOUS NON-PHARMACOLOGICAL THERAPY FOR DEMENTIA. AROMATHERAPY MAY HAVE SOME POTENTIAL FOR IMPROVING COGNITIVE FUNCTION, ESPECIALLY IN AD PATIENTS”.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20377818

Research Gate – Article in Psychogeriatrics 9(4):173-9 · December 2009 with 553 Reads

DOI: 10.1111/j.1479-8301.2009.00299.x · Source: PubMed “In conclusion, we found aromatherapy an efficacious non-pharmacological therapy for dementia. Aromatherapy may have some potential for improving cognitive function, especially in AD patients.” https://www.researchgate.net/publication/43079177_Effect_of_aromatherapy_on_patients_with_Alzheimer’s_disease

Alzeihmer Society – “There is some evidence that aromatherapy may be effective in helping people with dementia to relax, and that certain oils may have the potential to improve cognition in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Research has specifically highlighted the potential benefits of the use of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) to improve cognition and mood in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, and lavender oil to reduce occurrences of aggressive behaviour in dementia.”

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/treatments/alternative-therapies/aromatherapy-massage

News – Medical Sciences:

“Japanese scientists have isolated active compounds in several plant medicines. These techniques helped the scientists identify and isolate active compounds found in Drynaria rhizome, a plant medicine that can improve memory. It has been proven to reduce disease characteristics in mice models with Alzheimer’s disease.

A 2012 study shows that rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), a common plant used to distil essential oil, can also help improve cognitive performance in healthy adults. Also, rosemary can boost brain performance.

In another study in 2013, scientists found that rosemary may enhance the ability to remember events. Also, it helps people keep future tasks in mind. Since memory loss is one of the hallmark symptoms of dementia, this function could make rosemary oil and important component of therapy to combat dementia.

Scientists also found that six essential oils, namely thyme, rose, clove, eucalyptus, bergamot and fennel, are capable of suppressing the inflammatory COX-2 enzyme. The effect is similar to that of resveratrol, one of the important compounds that gives red wine its health benefits.

Of all the essential oils, thyme produces the highest reduction in COX-2 levels by about 75 percent. The other essential oils reduced the COX-2 level by 25 percent. COX-2 is an inflammatory enzyme that has been also linked to the development of AD” https://www.news-medical.net/health/Aromatherapy-for-Dementia.aspx

Alzeihmers & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzeihmers Association

– https://www.alzheimersanddementia.com/article/S1552-5260(13)02003-7/abstract

Anti-Alzheimer’s disease effect of essential oil from aerial parts of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge –

http://www.ijcem.com/files/ijcem0059161.pdf

Neuroquantology – Progress of Essential Oils in Prevention and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease –

EO, as one of the effective constituents of natural plants, is more and more recognized by people for its medicinal value and health care value. Through the analysis of different pathogenic mechanisms of AD, the anti-oxidation of EO against acetylcholinesterase inhibition, Aβ depolymerization, free radical injury and the protection of PC12 injured cells, it can be seen that EO of various plants has the activity of preventing and treating AD. The use of EO has many kinds of ways, such as oral administration, fumigation, smearing and so on. Combined with its excellent anti-AD activity, EO has the potential value of developing natural drugs for the treatment of neurogenic diseases. At present, more studies on anti-AD activity of EO are ongoing, but we haven’t made clear the key components of many plants’ essential oil, the synergetic effect of each component in EO, and in-depth anti-AD mechanism, which needs more researches. https://www.neuroquantology.com/index.php/journal/article/view/1583

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Moving forward, my brain protection strategy includes the essential oil brain protection blend below. Read the research information above to determine which oils you feel you should add to your personal blend:

My Dementia and Alzeihmer’s Neuroprotective Blend

Frankincense – 4 drops (abates age related dendritic regression in the hipppocampus, anti-cancer )

Clove bud – 2 drops (reverses memory and learning deficits, anti-cancer)

Rosemary – 5 drops (improves cognitive performance, abates age related dendritic regression in the hipppocampus, anti-cancer)

Copaiba – 2 drops (neuroprotective)

Melissa – 5 drops (neuroprotective, anti-cancer – glioblastoma)

Lemongrass – 4 drops (neuroprotective)

Lavender – 4 drops (calming)

Add the preceding drops to a 10 ml roller ball bottle and top up with Fractionated Coconut Oil or a mix of grapeseed/olive oil. Apply to the toes (brain reflexology points) and brain stem twice daily.

Check with your regular healthcare provider before using essential oils or other recommendations found on my website, books and blog – there may be contraindications due to medications, health conditions or other factors.

Get started using essential oils for a healthier you and healthier brain!

Wishing you optimum health and happiness!

Elisabeth Hines, C.N.C., C.B.P. Holistic Wellness Practitioner, www.mybodycanhealitself.ca, elisabethlhines@gmail.com