It’s been a bit of a tumultuous time for Warren and I this past month or so with a few hospital visits under our belt. In late November, Warren was found to have Deep Vein Thrombosis in his right calf which ended up in his lungs resulting in multiple Pulmonary Embolisms.

Let’s just say it was a very close call and a frightening experience for us both given we thought it was nothing more than a pulled muscle we were dealing with. Crazy right?!

It seems to be a spontaneous occurrence which indicates that it could be a genetic predisposition. Further testing will tell us in a few months time.

As a result of this, he’s now on blood thinning medication to dissolve the remaining clots and prevent new ones until we can find the cause. Obviously this is something we are both rather unhappy about given our personal beliefs about Big Pharma, but in this situation, it’s a life threatening circumstance we have on our hands so we must follow the protocol dictated by the doctors….even when side effects are evident.

There will always be a time for conventional medicine but I will say that I am never going to get used to the idea of needing to worry about a simple cut or fall having the potential to result in a serious bleed that cannot be stopped because there is no antidote to the drug. Kinda feels just as risky as the actual DVT to me.

When it comes to essential oils, I’m diving deep into the research to understand which essential oils are safe to use on and around him given that many have natural anti-coagulation properties (Mumma Nature, you are SO smart) that could interfere with his medication in a serious way.

To give you an example, if I was to use Deep Blue or Wintergreen on him right now which are high in Methyl Salicylate, I could potentially thin his blood out way too much which could result in a potential haemorrhage.

Methyl Salicylate is what good old Aspirin is derived from friends and is often prescribed as a precautionary daily dose for hundreds of thousands of people with cardiovascular concerns.

It’s made me just a little nervous admittedly but the confidence is returning as I keep sinking my teeth into the research. Knowledge is power. Staying in a state of fear is dis-empowering and that helps no-one so I choose to arm myself with knowledge.

My hope is that once we are clear of this critical period, we can taper off the medication and introduce supplements and essential oils such as the Lifelong Vitality Supplements, Deep Blue Polyphenol Complex and DDR Prime to name a few, which all have natural blood thinning, anticoagulant, anti platelet and circulatory system supporting properties.

For now though, those on blood-thinning or anticoagulant medication such as Warfarin or Xarelto would be wise to steer clear of numerous essential oils when it comes to topical and internal application.

Please note that there may be some oil blends not included in the list I’ve put together and you will need to check the ingredients of each blend. Remember that this information is doTerra specific as they are the only brand of essential oils I trust inherently.
Also remember that there is a marked difference between how Warfarin works in the body VS Xarelto or Eliquis. Warfarin works via Vitamin Inhibition unlike the new era drugs which prevent blood clots by blocking a substance known as factor Xa. When factor Xa is blocked, it decreases the amount of an enzyme called thrombin in your body.

The most important oils to be mindful of if you are a Warfarin user are those that contain Methyl Salicylate and Eugenol. Methyl salicylate is absorbed through the skin and may increase warfarin action by affecting vitamin K metabolism or by displacing warfarin from protein-binding sites. Eugenol which is found in Clove, Oregano, Basil, Cinnamon and Cassia is a known anticoagulant and may potentiate the effects of medication.

All other essential oils mentioned have been indicated in research to either have anti-coagulant or anti-platelet activity.

A quick focus on Frankincense because I know that avoiding this oil in particular will make many want to cry 🙂

Firstly, Boswellic Acid which is NOT found in the essential oil because it’s too heavy a compound for distillation to capture, has definitely been indicated to increase anticoagulant and anti platelet activity. I cannot find any research on Frankincense essential oil and it’s constituents posing the same risk however, I do think it’s best to err on the side of caution despite this. Please keep in mind that the Alpha CRS from the Lifelong Vitality Range and the Deep Blue Polyphenol Complex most definitely DO contain Boswellic Acid ok.

Unfortunately the Lifelong Vitality Supplements, Deep Blue Polyphenol and Mito2Max are a no-go until you are either off the medication or looking to reduce your dose with the help of a physician.

I just want to reiterate here that avoiding these products is necessary because they are packed full of too many amazing ingredients such as Coenzyme Q10 and Ginseng that naturally support the circulatory system and may in theory, amplify the effects of medication. It is not because they are ‘no good’.

Just the XeOmega and it’s potent blend of fish oils and antioxidant rich fatty acids alone is a fantastic support agent for safeguarding the circulatory system against clots. There is oodles of research into the efficacy of fish oils and thrombosis prevention ok, go check some of it out.

It’s a little ironic that the oils we have to avoid are the very oils that have the ability to do exactly what the medication is doing…….knowing this does give me oodles of hope though that we can successfully make the switch from pharmaceuticals to plant medicine when we are given the all clear.

What I would suggest is to take your essential oils, LLV, Deep Blue Polyphenol Complex and Turmeric Capsules into your Haemotologist, Pharmacist or GP and ask if they are happy for you to be on a reduced dose of medication in conjunction with your supplements. Theoretically, there really shouldn’t be an issue with it but please discuss it with them before doing so.

So there you have it guys, I hope this information is helpful to you or someone you know.

Pharmaceuticals aren’t nice but sometimes they are necessary. Essential oils are powerful, doTerra’s even more so because of the integrity of the manner in which they are sourced.

Always seek to further your education and understanding of these most pure, plant medicines so that you can feel confident in it’s use and in turn, share that knowledge and confidence with others.

x Bec

UPDATE 14th of December 2019 – It’s evident that this blog post has been a big help to many of you which I’m so pleased about.

I thought it would be helpful to give you an update of where hubs is at now so here goes…….

At the 8 month mark, we decided to pull Warren off the blood thinners after much discussion and pleading with our GP. They originally started him on Apixaban (Eliquis) which he continued with for 4 months and then was moved at our request to Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) after developing severe vertigo, dizziness and tinnitus episodes the week he began medication. We were trying everything to get the dizziness under control but nothing seemed to work. After exploring many forums and researching online, it was evident that a whole lot of people taking Apixaban also experienced similar symptoms. Unfortunately changing medications didn’t do a damn thing hence why we decided to get him off altogether so that we could eliminate that as a causal factor.

What we did then was implement the following – High dose fish oils at 4000mg a day ( a combination of the Omega XOmega + Orthoplex Brand ), together with the rest of the Lifelong Vitality Supplements and High dose Turmeric. As soon as doTerra introduced the Turmeric Dual Chamber Capsules we swapped over to those as truly, they are really well designed. He takes two capsules a day which works out to just under 1000mg a day of Curcumin/ ar-Tumerones blend.

We then went and saw a Functional Practitioner who also had him include a herbal tonic blend of Maritime Pine Extract, Nattokinase and Arnica. These are all excellent natural and very safe alternatives to conventional blood thinning pharmaceuticals and well worth exploring with the help of a professional. Both Nattokinase and MPE have an abundance of research available on Pubmed into their anticoagulant properties. VenoFlow is a great supplement incorporating both of these.

It’s taken us a while to discover the underlying cause of Warren’s clot occurring in the first place (no thanks to the Haemotologist who was simply advising him to stay on medication for the rest of his life) but we finally have the answer. This was not a ‘spontaneous event’ as described by the medical professionals, it was caused by something which took a lot of research to uncover. Please understand that there is no such thing as a spontaneous event when it comes to the human body. Something caused that clot to develop, the medical community just have no idea where to start with identifying that cause. Don’t let that answer be your end point, keep searching and find yourself a fantastic Functional Practitioner who will do the tests that doctors don’t and view the body as a whole being.

It turns out that Warren has Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome or CIRS, also known as Mold or Biotoxin Illness. As part of CIRS impact on the body the following is impacted –

Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), Anti-cardiolipin Antibodies (ACA), and Von Willebrand Factor Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1).
All three of these biomarkers play a role in blood clotting. Inflammatory conditions such as CIRS can cause elevated PAI-1, which can increase the formation of blood clots as well as fibrosis (abnormal formation of connective tissue). ACA are antibodies that target our own tissues by interfering with the phospholipid proteins in cell membranes. ACA is elevated in connective tissue disorders such as scleroderma and lupus, and are associated with first-trimester miscarriages. Together, the combination of PAI-1 and ACA strongly increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). CIRS patients can also develop a type of acquired Von Willebrand Syndrome, which prevents blood from clotting properly, leading to symptoms of frequent or heavy nosebleeds and heavy periods in women.

As I mentioned above, CIRS is caused by Biotoxins such as Lyme, Waterborn Pathogens or in the case of 80% of patients – mold. We are now following what’s called The Shoemaker Protocol (linked above) to rid his body of these poisonous mold spores and heal his body of the conditions caused by it. Ironically, we now suspect that the hospital room he was in was mold affected which triggered the vertigo, tinnitus blurry vision and cognitive issues now being experienced. You would be surprised to learn that hospital’s air circulation units and vents are notorious for containing mold spores.

Dr David Berg is an expert in the area of hypercoagulation and is with AZ Coagulation Services in Phoenix, AZ. He shares the importance of looking at blood hypercoagulation in the treatment of chronic illnesses and vice versa, the importance of screening for underlying stealth viruses or biotoxins where so called ‘spontaneous’ clots occur.

Hypercoagulation is a condition where fibrin builds up in the various blood vessels. In its extreme form, fibrin deposition can lead to deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolisms, heart attacks, and stroke. In its less severe form, it can possibly lead to phlebitis, fibromyalgia (by cutting off blood flow), I.B.S., chronic low grade infections where the microbes are “protected” by residing in the fibrin meshes, miscarriages, headaches, chronic pain, etc.

The fibrin formation may be the body’s attempt to wall off the microbes. It is theorized by some that these newer recognized causes may account for many cases of pulmonary embolisms that were previously labeled as idiopathic.

Thicker blood supports the growth of microorganisms/ stealth pathogens as it creates an anaerobic environment with reduced oxygen. Do consider working with a great functional practitioner or naturopath who can organise screening for all the common biotoxins and pathogens to see if this is relevant for you as well as fibrinogen, D-dimer and C Reactive Protein.

Dr Berg recommends using systemic or Proteolytic enzymes as both prophylaxis and recovery support post coagulation events. The below enzymes are rated for their efficacy at breaking down fibrinogen and preventing hypercoagulation, we like using a combination of all five for Warren –

50% – Bromelain
60% – Wobenzym
70% – Serrapeptase
80% – Nattokinase
95% – Lumbrokinase

VenoFlow mentioned above, Advanced Fibrin Defence, Nattovena and Doctor’s Best Lumbrokinase are three good options.

Use systemic enzymes alongside plenty of raw Garlic, Vitamin E, Cod Liver Oil and K2 which has a host of benefits that may be helpful in regulating the coagulation system.

What I would suggest is this, if your DVT was an unexplained event, meaning you hadn’t been traveling, you’re otherwise fit, healthy and active with no genetic predisposition and you happen to tick more than 8 of the symptoms below…….please do check out CIRS/Biotoxin Ilness and Lymes as a possible reason why it occurred for you.

When it comes to ongoing testing for clotting factors, please also ask that your Doctor includes a Platelet count and form. It was noted in one of Warren’s December blood test check ups that his ‘Platelets were plentiful yet clumped together’ otherwise known as platelet aggregation, something you definitely don’t want to see in someone who has experienced a DVT. My concern with this (besides the fact the GP didn’t mention this once – yup) is that his biochemistry is showing a tendency still towards platelet aggregation that hasn’t yet been rectified, most likely because we are still working on addressing long term chronic inflammation.

I remembered a video of a live blood analysis screening which demonstrated the effects of doTerra’s Balance blend on platelet aggregation which I’ve linked below for you. We’ve begun incorporating Balance on the soles of his feet daily since.

Other oils that have demonstrated effective inhibition of platelet aggregation include Turmeric essential oil being the most studied for it’s anti platelet, anti inflammatory and lipid improvement properties, lavender, beta caryophyllene which is found in Copaiba, Melissa, Wintergreen and Sweet Marjoram.

Ask your doctor if they are willing to support you with incorporating some of these natural supporting agents into your regime and hopefully, help you taper off medication altogether.

Ok, I think I’ve kept you here long enough hey! I hope the update is helpful and by all means reach out if you have any Q’s.

x Bec

** Never stop your medication without speaking to your physician as it can be very dangerous to do so. This information is not intended to treat or diagnose.