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Part 10 – The Glory of God Revealed

To read our story from the beginning click here.

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” – John 11:40

It was two years of pain, suffering, helplessness, and agony watching my child become sicker each day. Two years of unceasing prayer, faith, surrender, obedience, and hope. God promised I would see His glory if I persevered in faith and so it was—and for all to see.

Lucas’ Hospitalization

lucas at hospital monitoredIt had been a week since our son was hospitalized against our will (read part 9). At the time Lucas was admitted, he had no vomiting, no diarrhea, and his skin was white with no inflammation. Throughout the week, the symptoms we had worked so hard to heal began to reappear. First worsening of his eczema, then diarrhea, and finally vomiting. As parents, this was heartbreaking to watch but even more distressing was the fact that we could not advocate for our child for fear of losing custody. In my pain and hopelessness, God reassured me and said: “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today… The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:13-14

God filled me with peace, hope, and meekness as his symptoms became worse with each passing day. The climax of his deterioration came on Sunday, when for the first time ever he began wheezing and having trouble breathing. It was clear that he was reacting to the procedures that had been introduced, which included EleCare formula, two blood transfusion, TPN solution, and a diuretic. The nurse became concerned that the allergic reaction may worsen and called the rapid response team. Calling the medical emergency team was the fastest way to ensure Lucas was safe. It was the weekend and getting hold of the primary physician might have taken more time than we had.

God Sends Deliverance

Within minutes, our room was packed with medical staff. The nurse gave a quick summary of the events and the head emergency physician made an assessment to ensure Lucas’ immediate wellbeing. By this time, Lucas was calm and in my arms breastfeeding. The allergic reaction seemed to not advance any further. The doctor kneeled at the bedside to ask me questions. She wanted to know my account of the events and what I thought as his mom. Finally, I felt at liberty to speak up.

I informed the physician that I believed that Lucas was experiencing a severe allergic reaction to the formula and the different procedures. I explained that Lucas was very sensitive and reacted to most things. The doctor asked me a series of questions, and she came to the conclusion that Lucas may have also reacted to the diuretic. She took a look at his arm where the PICC line was placed and saw that it was not safe. The swelling was also a concern and an indication that something was not right. I expressed that we had been having serious trouble with the PICC line and I believed it was causing Lucas more harm than good. The nurse also began advocating for us and voiced her concerns about the situation. The physician showed remarkable knowledge, care, and empathy. She expressed she had personal experience with allergic reactions in children. She understood the struggle moms go through to protect their children from allergies.

The emergency physician ordered to stop giving Lucas the formula, take out the PICC line, and consider my expertise as his mom before doing anything. The nurse could not have been happier! We could not believe it!

As soon as the emergency team left, the nurse began working on removing the PICC line from Lucas. As she opened the bandage, we realized that the PICC line was almost fully out! Because it was so hard to tape it down and keep it in position, the line had been pulling out with every movement Lucas made.  This could have been so dangerous for Lucas and may have been the cause of his swelling (a PICC line needs to stay near the heart).

We were very relieved to have the PICC line out and have the authorization to stop giving him formula. It is as though God had sent the emergency doctor. Nevertheless, we questioned how Lucas could be stabilized now. It had taken us months to see him begin to recover. How long would it take now? When would physicians discharge Lucas?

New Medical Guidance

We were starting another week at the hospital and a new lead physician was assigned to us. Unlike the doctor from the previous week, she was very caring of the concerns I expressed. She valued my opinion and considered it at every stage. She went out of her way to check in on us and make sure Lucas was OK. Furthermore, she agreed with the emergency doctor assessment to remove the PICC line and stop the formula feeding.

The lead physician assigned the attending physician with the task to research what formula Lucas could tolerate and she asked for a nutritionist to meet with us. There were very few options doctors could offer us. The protocol had failed, and the only thing they continued was finding ways to get more calories in him. When the nutritionist met with us, she was amazed at all we had done and knew. In fact, she started asking me questions about recipes, foods, and nutrition. She had no further advice for us.

The next day, the attending physician came back with a proposed formula, Neocate Splash. This time, the physician asked me to read through the ingredients and get my opinion on it. The ingredients definitely sounded much better than the EleCare formula which contains 55 percent corn syrup and has soy oil. Although I had my doubts about some ingredients such as maltodextrin and the fact that it was still a highly processed food, it looked like a viable option to try. Furthermore, it was clear that we could not leave the hospital without a clear feeding plan.

Physicians were so earnest to have Lucas gain weight quickly that they wanted him to drink the formula during the day and have a nasogastric (NG) tube to feed him at night. I expressed my concern that Lucas might vomit from having a full tummy since he breastfed at night. Furthermore, although they never suggested that I stop breastfeeding Lucas, it was clear that the medical team preferred to have a tangible way to count how many calories Lucas was taking in. My breast milk was not considered in his calorie count because they did not know how much nutrition he was receiving from it. Lucas also ate solid food, but the only thing that mattered to physicians was how much formula he drank a day. In our desperation for Lucas to be discharged from the hospital, we stopped feeding Lucas solids and focused mainly on having him drink the formula.

lucas ng tube feeding
bottle feeding at hospital

We tried the NG tube for two nights. The first night he woke up vomiting because his tummy was full. They had to reduce the dose. The next day his cheeks were already getting irritated from the tape holding the NG tube in place. The following morning, the tape no longer held in place and Lucas pulled the tube out. I now had confidence to speak up and advocate for my son, so I requested that the NG tube not be placed back.

Miraculous Recovery

During the second week in the hospital, something truly miraculous occurred. In the past, when Lucas had severe allergic reactions, it would take him two weeks to recover. However, we had never seen him react as severely as he did in the hospital. We feared that it would be months before his skin and digestive track recovered.

Nevertheless, this time was different. Lucas began recovering the moment they removed the PICC line and stopped using the EleCare formula. In just a few days, Lucas’ skin inflammation went away, his stools normalized, and he stopped vomiting. Consequently, he began gaining weight again. Lucas quickly regained energy and strength. He even began crawling around the bed—something he could not do before. Lucas had experienced short moments of healing before, but we had never witnessed such a remarkable recovery. There was no explanation other than the healing power of God working in him. The hospital protocol had weakened our child to the core, but now, God alone was restoring him back to health. We were in awe.

amazing recovery for the glory of god - lucas stands at hospital

Many other events occurred that I cannot detail, or I would have to write a book. However, I can testify that the hand of the Lord was over Lucas, my husband, and I at every step of the way. As we were nearing the end of the third week in the hospital, the medical team felt Lucas was safe to be discharged. 

Lucas left the hospital with no drug prescription and no treatment. The doctors had more questions than answers. However, all that mattered was that Lucas was certainly recovering. All glory to God!

Child Protective Services Charges

We were free to go home and treat Lucas as we had done before the hospitalization (read part 7). At home, we performed enemas for a few days to rebalance his microbiome and to further reduce the inflammation caused by the hospitalization. However, we still had to face the Child Protective Services (CPS) charges. We had weekly weigh ins with the primary care physician and weekly doctor’s appointments with different specialists.

CPS followed up with the hospital nurses and physicians. I am confident the report was positive. The nurses advocated for us and saw how dedicated we were to Lucas. The last day at the hospital, I remember asking the attending who was discharging us if it was clear on Lucas’ chart that there was no medical neglect on our part. He assured me that this was the case, and added that it was a very difficult case that perplexed all of Lucas’ physicians.

After a few weeks at home, a police officer knocked on our door. He was there to investigate charges on child abuse and asked if he could come in. The officer was very kind and asked us a couple questions. We explained Lucas’ medical condition and that now he was finally on the road to recovery. After a few minutes, he said that it was clear there was no case of child abuse and that he would dismiss his side of the investigation. 

The last time we heard from CPS, was about a month after being discharged from the hospital. A public health nurse came to our house to weigh Lucas and do an in-home assessment. She was amazed at Lucas’ fast recovery. She could not believe it was the same boy. We explained what the physicians had tested for and how we were still seeing many specialists. It was clear that Lucas was on his way to healing. Yet, she made sure we understood that if we refused any medical treatment or missed any appointment, we would be in trouble.

New Homemade Formula

Lucas enjoyed drinking the Neocate Splash formula and at first it appeared to not cause him any harm. Yet, I never felt at ease with it. I researched one of the main ingredients in the formula, maltodextrin, and discovered that it was linked to digestive issues and an imbalance of the microbiota. By now, we had learned that the root cause of Lucas’ health issues was leaky gut and dysbiosis. I had a feeling this formula was disrupting his gut healing. I desperately wanted to change the formula but feared it would affect his weight. We were still required to do weekly weigh ins and could not take the risk of him not gaining weight one week.

Before Lucas was hospitalized, Mercy from Years Restored had talked to me about creating a homemade, high calorie formula for Lucas to drink to catch up on weight. We were about to implement it when Lucas was sent to the hospital. Now Lucas was fixed on Neocate Splash and I did not know how we could make the change. Then, a month after being on this formula, Lucas began having diarrhea again. I knew Neocate Splash was responsible for it and it would only get worse if we did not replace it soon.

We began planning to make the shift to a homemade formula. We had a few obstacles to think about. I suspected Lucas wouldn’t like the change at first and would deny drinking the new formula until he forgot about Neocate Splash. Lucas could also not lose weight by his next weigh in appointment. We prayed and left it in God’s hands as we thought about how we could do it.

At the next weigh in, the physician suggested to start weighing Lucas every two weeks instead of weekly. This gave us a two-week window to make the formula change and pray that if Lucas lost any weight, he would have enough time to recover it. The next day, we stopped giving Lucas Neocate Splash and I made the homemade formula.

making homemade formula

As expected, Lucas refused to drink it. We tried in all kinds of ways to get him to drink some, but he just wouldn’t. The second day, same thing happened. On the third day, I weighed him, and he was already losing weight. As I had always done, I kneeled and asked God for wisdom and guidance.

My mom suggested mixing the homemade made formula with the Neocate Splash. I thought it was worth the try. We poured half of the homemade formula without Lucas seeing and then we had him pour the other half with Neocate Splash. It worked! He drank it all!! Over the next three days, we added less Neocate Splash each time until Lucas was only drinking the homemade formula.

The result? Lucas’ diarrhea stopped and, at his next weigh in, he had surpassed his previous weight gains! We informed the physician of the change in formula and she was fine with it as long as Lucas continued to gain weight.

Lucas Begins to Thrive

Over the next few months Lucas began thriving and catching up on everything he had missed. An essential part to Lucas’ recovery was Occupational Therapy (OT). Lucas had sensory issues that caused him to not want to eat certain foods or vomit them due to the texture. He refused to touch food and would scream any time food or certain textures touched him. He could not tolerate sand, for example. OT gave us the tools to explore new textures and overcome his sensory issues so that he could continue to thrive in all areas.

beach play success due to occupational therapy
walking on the beach with lucas

Lucas’ weight gain and growth were remarkably fast. With each passing day his muscles gained strength and he was readily learning to use them. On September 18, 2018, at 2 years and 10 months, Lucas finally learned to walk.

We were blessed with the opportunity to again take Lucas to the Avène Hydrotherapy Center where his skin healed further and we were able to testify of the miracle of Lucas’ healing. He was one of the most severe cases ever treated at Avène and they could not believe the healing that had taken place. We repeatedly gave all glory to God.

lucas at avene hydrotherapy center for second time
compress at avene hydrotherapy center for second time
underwater massage at avene hydrotherapy center for second time

As Lucas began eating more solids and drinking more of the homemade formula, his body no longer needed my breast milk, and at nearly three years old, he weaned himself. I will never forget the last time I breastfed him. I knew it was the end of a long, painful, yet, beautiful journey. Lucas was finally healthy and independent to thrive on his own.

God’s Glory Revealed

In the months after the hospitalization, it became clear why God had allowed Lucas to be hospitalized. Everyone was to know that conventional medicine could not heal Lucas. It was God alone, through His natural means, who restored Lucas.

God spoke to me. We obeyed in faith at all cost. He delivered.

Today, Lucas is about to turn five years old. He still has some scars from the battle he fought, but you would never know that he was on the verge of death at one point. Every time you see Lucas, you see a miracle of God. You see the power of faith and the assurance that God still heals today. But above all, you see the glory of God.

lucas healed by god running

A Call to the Reader

We all need healing. We have all fallen short of the glory of God and need deliverance. Healing is just as available to you as it was for me and my son. Jesus, the Great Physician, is willing to heal you today. Will you accept Him? Will you believe His word above all? Surrender to Christ fully today and He will lead you to complete healing.

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Our Story

Part 5 – When Your Faith is Tested

Part 5 - When Your Faith is Tested

With the understanding that God had given me through His Word and the faith He implanted in my heart, I was determined to obey God and follow His instructions. However, the question remained, “What natural means will help my son heal?” As I studied scripture and daily gave my will to God, I stumbled upon a one-hour health lecture on YouTube by Barbara O’Neill. I was immediately captivated by her knowledge. She was teaching just what God had impressed in my heart and had so much wisdom in regard to using natural remedies for healing. I watched all of her lectures within a week, but I needed more specific knowledge to help my son, and that is when I found her email. I emailed her asking for her advice for my son’s case and to my surprise, she emailed me back the very same day. This first exchange started our daily email conversations as she began to guide me.

I knew God had guided me to find Barbara O’Neill and I immediately began implementing her recommendations—none of which could pose a risk for Lucas. Up to this point, we had experimented with several different elimination diets, but none seemed to help Lucas. I kept on eliminating foods and it felt like my son would not be able to eat anything because his symptoms continued. Barbara gave me some suggestions to change my diet one more time, for example replacing oats with millet and rice with quinoa. We also began giving Lucas some natural remedies like slippery elm.

The Decision To Take Our Son Off Drugs

Several things had happened at the same time: God revealing His plan to heal Lucas, me stumbling upon Barbara O’Neill, and the conviction in my heart that I had to take Lucas off all drug medications. Before I go on, I must be clear that none of the medications my son was taking were lifesaving; there was no imminent risk to take him off them. At this time, we were using a steroid oil on his skin from head to toe, high amounts of Hydroxyzine, and Budesonide (steroid medication) for his eosinophilic esophagitis. The only medication that maybe had some benefit was the Budesonide, because Lucas seemed to have started having less vomiting, but he was still not gaining weight. This drug, however, would not allow us to find out what he was truly allergic to because it masked the symptoms and it was not serving its purpose in helping Lucas gain weight as his severe diarrhea continued. At this time, we also decided that we would not be vaccinating Lucas at his one-year appointment.

I could give you countless scientific reasons and explanations for why we made the decision to take our son off the drugs, but at the end, it was simply an act of faith. God had made it very clear that He would heal our son but His way, without drugs. God had promised to reveal to me “great and might things which you do not know” to heal my son, but I had to take the first step of faith (Jeremiah 33:3).

To be honest, the decision wasn’t hard. It came naturally as a progression of everything God was revealing to me. It also helped that the drugs did not seem to help, and countless advice given by the physicians had only made Lucas get worse.

child with severe eczema itchingAs we weaned Lucas off his drugs, he began having pretty bad withdrawal symptoms. He began to be itch like never before— desperately. He just couldn’t stop. He did not want to do anything but scratch. His skin exploded in head to toe eczema like we had never seen before.We would slather him in a homemade shea butter cream I made and would do wet wrap therapy (one layer of wet clothes right after applying the cream and then one layer of dry clothes).

To prevent scratching as much as possible, we only put onesies on him and put tape around the wrist of his onesie so he couldn’t pull the sleeves up. He still found any way he could to scratch. Every diaper change was a battle to keep him from scratching. It was a horrific four weeks, but his body finally calmed down and we were able to see what his true, baseline eczema looked like. He still itched, but not as desperately. He still had eczema, but it was not as severe or inflamed.

child with eczema after bath begins to heal

Our Son Begins To Heal

After a month of making the dietary changes recommended by Barbara O’Neill, implementing natural remedies, and taking Lucas off the drugs, we finally began to see hope. His eczema became somewhat more manageable, and most importantly, his diarrhea stopped, and he began to gain weight after nearly 6 months of no weight gain! He began to develop quickly. All the things he had missed (from being so weak and constantly itching) he began to do. We finally had a baby full of energy ready to explore the world. He began to crawl at 11 months and quickly moved on to holding on to furniture to practice taking steps. He was not throwing up, he was eating well, and everything indicated that we had finally found healing. It could only get better from here.

child healing from eczema and failure to thrive crawling on the grass

Our Faith Is Tested

The future was looking bright. It seemed we had finally gotten out of this storm and could see the sunshine ahead of us. Then, out of nowhere, the storm came back stronger than we could have ever imagined. After all the progress Lucas had made, he came crashing down. The explosive diarrhea and vomiting came back, which quickly debilitated his entire system. Nothing had changed in his diet or environment, so his deterioration made absolutely no sense. Over the course of the next few months, Lucas began to lose the weight he had gained, he began to lose his hair, and his eczema was out of control. Due to the constant severe diarrhea, he had very low protein levels in his blood, which left him with no strength for his muscles to develop and grow. He went from almost walking by himself, to barely having the strength to sit.

child with dry eczema on face
severe childhood eczema bare skin healed naturally
child with severe eczema in apple cider vinegar bath

What were we to do now? Our son was disintegrating right in front of our eyes. Most alarming to doctors was his low protein level. However, once again, instead of focusing on what was causing it and how to heal it, the Gastroenterologist (GI) suggested to feed him with total parenteral nutrition (TPN), which is a method of feeding that bypasses the digestive tract and instead uses a special formula that is given through the vein to provide nutrients. This sounded like the least natural way to feed a human. We had a long conversation with the GI and decided not to go for it and wait it out.

What followed was a year full of trials and endless debates whether to use conventional medicine or not. It seemed that in trying the natural way, God’s way, it caused our son’s health to come crashing down in illness. We were so strict, so disciplined, and had done our work in faith. Why was God not providing healing? He was simply testing our faith.

God had promised He would heal Lucas, but He was very specific to tell me “not yet” and I didn’t know how long that would be. However, the way God revealed Himself to me was so powerful that I never doubted my son would be healed. Therefore, when the doctors told me that Lucas couldn’t live with such low protein levels, I thought, “you do not define whether my son dies or lives, God already established that he will live and be healed.” The question at hand was whether it was ok to use conventional medicine while we waited on God. I would be lying if I didn’t tell you of the countless times where all I wanted to do was run to the hospital and let the physicians do whatever they felt needed to be done to keep him alive and thrive. However, each time I felt that way, the power of the Holy Spirit was much stronger in me and I was reminded that God’s promise of healing was conditional that we obey Him. Hebrews 10:35-36 says, “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” I needed to persevere.

There were endless debates in my house, with family, and with friends about our decision to not use conventional medicine. I was judged and treated as a crazy person “hearing voices” by pastors, church leaders, therapist, and close friends. However, the conviction God gave me was much stronger than any argument anyone could throw at me. They argued I needed to hospitalize my son immediately to save his life; that God would bless the doctors and drugs to bring healing but the Spirit was telling me to “trust and obey.” I cannot put into words the divine strength and faith that God gave me. The conviction that I had to endure this trial and block out all human sense and advice, was only imparted by God. It was not human strength; it was supernatural power from the Holy Spirit. This is how I knew I was doing God’s will, because on my own I could not have possibly stood on my ground.

family faith tested with sick child

The year 2017 was full of pain, insecurity, and helplessness. However, at the same time, it was filled with faith, strength, and hope. I got to truly experience what it means to be closest to God when pain and trials are the greatest.

We barely slept that year. Some days, I had no emotional strength to go to work. Most days, I spent praying every hour, crying my eyes out and asking God to sustain me, my family, and my son. I look back and I can see God’s glory revealed throughout that entire year. He never left me. He was always there. He carried me, my husband, and my son in His arms. At the hardest times, I would kneel next to my son’s bed as he slept and asked Jesus to keep his heart beating through the night. I know Jesus did just that and only He sustained his life. As I saw my son’s life hanging by thread, I was constantly reminded that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18). And so it was, His glory we finally did see.

 

 

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Our Story

Part 1 – Diagnosis

Part 1 - Diagnosis

I had been married to my wonderful husband, Cristian, for a little over a year when we received the news that we would become parents. Our son Lucas was born in November 2015, at 37 weeks and weighing 2.365 kg (5 lbs., 3 oz), classifying him as an extremely underweight baby for his age and placing him on the 0% growth curve.  Although I had not gained much weight during my pregnancy, my doctor never had any concerns as the baby and I both seemed to be very healthy. In all the ultrasounds, Lucas appeared to be growing well. No one could explain why he was born so small. I was blessed to be able to breastfeed him right away without problem, perfect latch and plenty of milk supply. He immediately began gaining weight and his blood work was normal, so they sent us home from the hospital in hopes that Lucas would catch up quickly as most babies do.

newborn baby small for gestational age

During the first two months of Lucas’ life, he gained weight well and seemed to have no issues except for some cradle cap and baby acne, which the doctors assured us would go away on its own. However, when he was 2 months old—right after his vaccinations I must add—his body became covered in eczema from head to toe, and his weight gain stopped. One doctor we consulted was convinced this was an allergic reaction, which we found strange, as I had been eating the same healthy, plant-based diet for 5 years, so clearly it was no allergy to eggs, dairy, or meat. We did some basic blood allergy testing at 2 ½ months and it came positive for both items we tested, wheat and soy, and his antibodies, Immunoglobulin E (IgE), were off the charts. Later we would find out that he would test positive to every single food, and his IgE levels continued to go up higher and higher each month.

DSC09896.2 2

I was breastfeeding during this time, and the moment we received the positive test results for wheat and soy, I stopped eating every food containing those ingredients so as to not pass them on to Lucas. Unfortunately, eliminating these foods did absolutely nothing for Lucas. We kept on waiting in hope that we would see his eczema improve, but this was not the case. And here started our long, very long, journey of figuring out all his allergies and sensitivities. Things would get much worse before we would find healing.

From very early on, when he was about 4 months, I suspected a malabsorption issue as he was not gaining weight well, but was constantly breastfeeding. We always thought Lucas had too many bowel movements, even for a breastfeeding baby, and he also didn’t have too many wet diapers. When we started introducing solids to his diet at 6 months old, things got even worse. He began vomiting and it became clear that he had chronic diarrhea. At this point, he completely stopped gaining weight.

When Lucas was 8 months old, Doctors suggested hospitalizing him to feed him more calories through a NG tube and to run some tests. The result was more vomiting and diarrhea, which we believed was from the formula they were feeding him. They diagnosed him Eosinophilic Esophagitis, or inflammation of the esophagus due to food allergies. This is what was causing the vomiting, but it did not explain the root cause. We were sent home with a prescription of oral steroids.

The struggle continued over the next few months and years. His eczema became unceasingly worse, his diarrhea was out of control, and he would vomit any time he ate solids. On good days, he had 15 bowl movements, and on bad days, he could have up to 30. It was impossible for Lucas to gain weight like this. His weight would fluctuate a few ounces, but for 2 years he weighed only between 14 and 15 lbs.

child with severe eczema, failure to thrive, leaky gut, vomit, diarrhea

Can you imagine? A 2-year-old weighing only 14 pounds? We were desperate. We felt so powerless. My poor baby was in constant pain and discomfort. There were days he could do nothing but breastfeed. If he wasn’t breastfeeding, he was crying in pain. We tried everything to give him relief and health but had constant failures. No doctor seemed to be able to help. Our faith was tested to its limits. It would be 2 years of agony and suffering before we would find the right help—and see God reveal His glory in Lucas.

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Remedies

Oregano Oil for Bronchitis and the Flu

Oregano Oil for Bronchitis and the Flu

One of the most effective natural remedies my family has used is oregano oil-infused hot steam. When my son Lucas began to recover from his severe eczema, chronic diarrhea, and imbalance of the microbiome, his immune system was very weak and he became sick frequently—every six weeks or so. He didn’t just get a cold, he would immediately get bronchitis and have trouble breathing.

In one of the first occasions our son had bronchitis, we took him to the pediatrician. The doctor was very concerned when she heard Lucas’ lungs. His oxygen levels were below normal fluctuating between 87 percent to 90 percent. She gave him a breathing treatment with Albuterol which brought his oxygen level up to 92 percent but it quickly began to drop again. Therefore, the doctor sent us to the emergency room for further treatment.

At the hospital, the doctor wanted to admit our son and give him steroids because his oxygen levels remained low after repeated breathing treatments with Albuterol. Lucas’ wheezing was apparent and he had shortness of breath. The doctor estimated that our son would need to be hospitalized at least four days. She also warned that if we did not give him the steroids, he would most likely develop pneumonia. Our son had just began healing from all his health conditions and we knew that a hospital stay and the steroids would significantly set him back. But, we were blessed with a doctor who understood our concern and trusted us to know our child best. She let us go but requested that we go see a doctor first thing in the morning. We got home at around 1:30 am.

That night I didn’t sleep. I was up every hour doing oregano oil steams for my son. I was going to avoid the hospital and the steroids at all cost. God blessed my efforts and by morning time Lucas was breathing significantly better. We continued the oregano oil breathing treatments throughout the day and by the next night, Lucas did not need them anymore! The next day, he was back to himself. It took him just two days to clear the cough. Since then we have been very faithful to use the oregano oil breathing treatments any time Lucas, or any of us, gets sick.

oregano for lung infection

Oregano Oil for Healing

Oregano oil has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties. We also know that heat kills viruses and bacteria. Therefore, when you combine the properties of the oregano oil with hot steam, you get a perfect remedy for respiratory infections.

You can use this remedy at the first sight of illness, but it is also highly effective when you are very ill. We have used this treatment for bronchitis multiple times. It opens the lungs within 24 to 36 hours, unlike steroids that take days to reduce inflammation.

The Treatment

You will need to use oregano essential oil, not oil of oregano. Be cautious not to get the oil on your hands or any other part of your body, as it will burn you. It is very strong! (I learned this the hard way.) If you have an oregano plant in your garden, you can also grab a large bunch and boil that as well.

This treatment can be done with children and even infants. However, you must ensure the steam does not burn them. I give further tips on how to do it with children below.

tools for natural breathing treament for bronquitis and the flu

Items you will need:

  • Medium sized pot
  • Filtered water
  • Oregano essential oil
  • Eucalyptus essential oil (optional)
  • A spoon
  • Large towel or bed sheet
  • A comfortable place to sit with a table

Method:

  1. Fill a medium sized pot halfway with filtered water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat keeping it covered so the steam does not get away.
  2. Place it on a table where you can sit comfortably.
  3. Add one drop of oregano essential oil to a spoon and add it to the hot water, close the lid immediately.
  4. Put the towel or bed sheet over you and slowly, partially, open the lid of the pot. Be careful not to burn yourself! The oil will smell very strong at first, but it will quickly fade.
  5. Breath in as deep as you can to get the hot steam into your lungs. For 20 minutes, continue to breath in the steam through your nose and mouth.
  6. Add one drop of oregano oil every few minutes as the effect wears off. I also like to add a drop of eucalyptus oil in between.
  7. Add boiling water every few minutes if the steam begins to fade.
natural steam breathing treament with oregano oil

How often should you do the oregano oil treatment?

This will depend on the difficulty you are having to breath. If you are having shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest retractions, you will need to do the treatment every one to two hours. As symptoms improve, you can space out the treatments. Continue doing the treatment until you are breathing well again. On the other hand, if you are at the beginning stages of illness and don’t feel your lungs affected yet, you may do the steam only twice a day to prevent the infection from growing in your lungs.

**Using an essential oil diffuser will not have the same effect, as you need the hot steam to kill the virus.

Method for Young Children

The instructions will be the same as above but with little children we want to focus on safety. Get a king size bed sheet and think of a safe place where you could put the hot pot and do the treatment with your child. I suggest you use a large bed sheet so that you have enough space for yourself, your child, and a safe distance between your child and the hot pot.

Another measure to prevent burns is to wrap a towel or two around the pot. Your child will want to get out of the steam so be prepared to keep him safe from the pot. Be prepared to distract them, as this treatment takes time and patience. Your child may cry. Do the treatment for as long as you can, up to 20 minutes.

natural steam breathing treatment for children with oregano oil for bronquitis

Doing this treatment with children will require a bit of trial and error, but I will share how we have done it with our son. When our son was two years old, the only way we could get him to stay under the sheet safely and long enough was to do the treatment while he slept. I would put a chair right next to his bed with the steaming oregano oil pot and put the large bed sheet over us. It will be difficult for the children to tolerate the steam for too long. Therefore, it is a good idea to do it while they sleep so they can breathe it in for a longer time.  

Now that our son is 4 years old, we do it on his little play table and let him watch YouTube videos. Our son doesn’t get any screen time so when he does, he is very excited to sit still while we do the treatment.

Every child is different. Pray about it and let God guide you. If your child cannot tolerate it for more then a few minutes, try doing it in short, frequent increments. Remember that it is God who ultimately heals, so even if you manage to do it only for a few minutes, trust that with God’s blessing, it will be effective.

Categories
Lifestyle

8 Laws of Health – Principles for Healthy Living

The 8 Laws of Health

In nature we find eight laws that govern the health of our bodies. From creation, these laws were provided by God to give our bodies the ability to heal, and to also develop our mind. As with any law designed by God, if you are faithful to obey it, you will be blessed with health and healing of the body, mind, and spirit. The eight laws are very simple, but the benefits are infinite:

“Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, the use of water, trust in divine power—these are the true remedies” (Ministry of Healing, page 127). To remember the eight laws, the acronym NEW START was created: Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunlight, Temperance, Air, Rest, and Trust in God.

Health does not come from proper nutrition or exercise alone; complete health will be found when all eight principles are adopted. You may find it hard to put into practice all eight laws at once, but we can take one step at a time. Each person will begin in a different place and that’s okay. The important thing is to take steps forward with a goal in mind. You will find that some of these principles can be quickly added to your daily life without much effort, whereas others will require more discipline, education, and time to implement. Start where you can and don’t give up. With perseverance and God’s help, you will see how your body begins to heal and you will be motivated to keep going.

Principles for Healthy Living

1. Nutrition

  • Eat plant-based, incorporating many fruits, vegetables, legumes, seeds, nuts, and grains.
  • Avoid wheat. I highly recommend you look into the history of the current wheat we eat. Many people are becoming sensitive to this modern grain and it is causing inflammation.
  • Avoid processed foods and cook at home.
  • Take time to masticate your food well to improve digestion.
  • Eat your meals at the same time every day with no snacking in between.
  • Consider intermitting fasting and a 24 hour fast every week.
  • For further study, consider: Genesis 1:29, Genesis 3:18, Daniel 1, and the ideal diet God outlined for Israel.
nutrition - 8 laws of health

2. Exercise

  • Move your body daily in the way you most enjoy: Garden, walk, bike, go on hikes, tennis, soccer, run, etc.
  • Aim for at least 30 minutes a day, and ideally 1 hour.
  • Try to be as active as you can throughout the day. Get a standing work desk, make repeated walks to get water, take 10-minute walking breaks, stretch your body, etc.
exercise - 8 laws of health

3. Water

  • Drink plenty of water in between meals. Aim for at least 8 cups a day.
  • Avoid juices, sugary drinks, and caffeine, including black/green tea. Try non-caffeinated herbal teas instead.
  • Use water for healing. Hydrotherapy has powerful healing effects on the body. To learn more on hydrotherapy, I recommend you check out Traditional Hydrotherapy.
water - 8 laws of health

4. Sunlight

  • Get at least 15 minutes of sunlight exposure a day (without sunscreen). Slowly increase the time you spend in the sun to prevent sunburn—30 to 45 minutes is ideal.
  • When the weather permits, expose your arms, chest, and legs to receive as much sunlight as possible.
  • Get sunlight exposure in your eyes early in the morning. This will help with melatonin production at night and allow you to go to bed early and have better sleep.
  • When you are sick or have a chronic condition, try sunbathing. You may want to expose your back completely and get sunlight on your back, stomach, and chest. Lay in your backyard or balcony, 15 minutes on your back and 15 minutes on your stomach, to get the benefits the sun provides for fighting the disease.
  • In the summer, be mindful to not burn your skin. Avoid sun exposure from noon to 3 pm.
  • If you expose your body regularly to the sun, you will be less likely to burn. Everybody is different. Know your body and increase the time slowly.
sunlight - 8 laws of health

5. Temperance

  • “True temperance teaches us to dispense entirely with everything that is hurtful, and to use judiciously that which is healthful” (White, Patriarchs and Prophets, page 562). In other words, abstain from all that is bad and use wisely that which is good.
  • Don’t consume drugs, alcohol, smoking, or caffeine.
  • Avoid anything that is harmful to your body such as unhealthy food, eating in excess, eating too late, foods that trigger sensitivities, etc.
  • Use healthy foods and natural remedies with wisdom.
  • Take care of your mind. Consider what you are feeding your mind through social media, movies, TV shows, video games. Fill your mind with things that will connect you to rather than separate you from God.
  • “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10: 31).
temperance - 8 laws of health

6. Air

  • Get fresh air daily – ventilate your home, get an air purifier if needed, and spend time in forests weekly, where fresh oxygen is plentiful.
  • Take deep breaths and avoid tight clothes that impair the healthy flow of oxygen.
  • The forest is a great place to get fresh air and boost your immune system. Japanese doctors prescribe “forest bathing”. More on that idea here: Time Magazine and Forest Holidays
fresh air - 8 laws of health

7. Rest

  • Sleep 7 to 8 hours a day. The best sleep is obtained before midnight, therefore do your best to get as many hours of sleep as you can before then. If you struggle with going to bed early, try to go to bed 15 minutes earlier than you usually would. Every few days, make bedtime another 15 minutes earlier. Over time, your body will adjust.
  • Rest when your body asks for it. Sometimes we need to recognize when our mind and body need some time to recharge. Learn to identify those cues and make the time to rest.
  • Rest from your daily activities on the seventh day of the week (Saturday). God made a special day of the week to rest our mind and body. Let’s take advantage of this blessing and make the time to fellowship with God and others in His creation.
rest - 8 laws of helath

8. Trust in God

  • “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones” (Proverbs 3:8).
  • Read scripture daily and memorize promises. There is healing in the Word of God. Every time you feel overwhelmed, repeat God’s promises and you will be filled with peace.
  • Pray and fast.
  • Sing worship songs.
  • Trust God with every burden in your heart. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:3-4).
trust in God - 8 laws of health