If you suffer from frequent acid reflux, you may need to build up your stomach acids. Stomach acid allows your food to be digested with any discomfort. Stomach acid is beneficial for adequate digestion. Historically people have used teas, tinctures, and essential oils. Different cultural groups also consumed fermented foods daily which were prebiotics that aided their digestion. Examples are dill pickles and sauerkraut made in crocks without the process of canning. In Korea, kimchi is the same lacto-fermentation. These food prepare the stomach for digestion. To be beneficial to stomach health, the fermented foods cannot be canned or processed. You can make yourself or purchase from the refrigerated section of many graocery stores. Traditionally these fermented foods were most of our salad dressings, including mayonaisse. Now processing has made the ones on the grocery shelves ineffective. 

Easiest way to aid digestion is to take one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (brand name like Bragg’s) with water before the meal. You may wish to add an herbal tincture of digestive bitters or make your own using chamomile flowers, dill leaf and seeds, and peppermint leaf. (Can be purchased as well) .

Essential oil DoTerra’s Digestzen can be added with coconut oil to a veggie cap or purchased as a softgel. This can also be put into a roller bottle with fractionated coconut oil and rubbed on tummy. 

Another helpful aid is Manuka honey from New Zealand (purchased in health food stores). Take 1 teaspoon before meals to aid in digestion. 

Lastly is our meals themselves. Chew our food at least 30 times each mouthful. Some doctors say up to 100 times until food turns to liquid. Also smaller meals to reduce amount of stomach acid to digest intake. To give the stomach a break, you may wish to fast with bone broth or juice. Both allow nutrients through the intestional walls but help repair intestional cells, 

To learn more about essential oils, go to https://www.mydoterra.com/debrapeters/#/

Peppermint is one of the easiest plants to grow and multi-purposed for medicinal uses. Today we use peppermint flavoring and ignore all of the therapeutic uses.  With a resurgence to more homeopathic remedies, peppermint is once again used in homes to relieve headaches and fevers, sooth aching muscles, and calm upset bellies.
HISTORIC USES
Native Americans used peppermint for calming and numbing effects for all aches and pains in tinctures and poultices. Also used for flavoring. 
Colonial American gardens grew mints for candies, cough drops, toothpaste to freshen breath, and teas to reduce nausea. 
USAGE TODAY
Peppermint Essential Oil - Always use a therapeutic grade to ensure the integrity of the peppermint. It is available at mydoterra.com/debrapeters.  
Peppermint Tea - Use fresh mint leaves steeped in hot water 
Toothpaste - baking soda mixed with peppermint essential oil (none of the harmful chemicals in commercially produced toothpastes) May also be made with kaolin clay and baking soda. 
Mouthwash - Add one drop of essential oil with a drop of lemon for a fresh breath rinse (All natural and no chemicals)
Muscle Reliever - Mix 10 drops of peppermint essential oils with coconut oil. Massage into the achy muscle for momentary relief. 
Headaches and Fever Reducer - Rub a drop of peppermint oil onto your temples and/or forehead. It will have a tingling sensation, followed by a cooling that produces relief and cooling. Peppermint is not harmful to the liver and kidneys like over the counter medications (Tylenol or Alleve) 

More information on oils, check out at 

Currently I am on Day 11 of the Daniel Fast. My diet has no pleasure foods, but does include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and juices. No sugars, alcohol, flour. More information on this healthy fast can be found at the Daniel Fast Website. I am amazed at the mental clarity and better mood as a result of eating clean and healthy food. After traveling for six weeks I came home groggy and unhealthy. Using God's food, I eat less, feel better, and lost 8 pounds. 

I highly recommend using this as a starter fast, as it is not as drastic as a juice or water fast. Most importantly I spend time with God's word and it delivers profound messages that help me get through this turbulent political season. 
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Before Neosporin and Substitute for Neosporin

Neosporin is used frequently in America for all kinds of cuts, bruises, and burns. it is an antibiotic cream or jell. When I coached 40 years ago, Neosporin was in the first aid kit. When I coached 20 years ago, it was not in the first aid kit, because some people are allergic to it.I continued to use it in my home with my own children, not thinking anything about adding another antibiotic to their system through the skin.  

As a child, my parents and grandparents used Merthiolate, which is the compound thimerosal, that is comprised of mercury and sodium. This kills disease-causing microbes and burns when applied to the skin with an open wound. I remember holding my breath to brace myself before the applicator come out of the dark brown bottle. Now it is still used before medical procedures. Parents today commonly use creams like Neosporin, containing bacitracins. ​

Do we still want to expose our children to antibiotics for every small cut and/or burn? There are essential oil alternatives. At my home we call it “Boo Boo Spray.’