It is the month of December, and we are focusing on the Integumentary System. This system of the body is made up of the external covering of the body. The main functions of this system are to protect the organs, help with the sensation of touch, pressure, pain, heat, and cold, allow the body to move, for Vitamin D production, for the excretion of wastes, to regulate temperature, to protect against dehydration, to store water and fat, and for immunity strength against infectious organisms. This week we are looking specifically at athelet's foot. Athlete's foot manifests from a fungus that infects the areas between the toes and skin of the feet. It can cause redness, flakiness, peeling, or cracking that may itch, sting, or burn the skin on the feet. Most of the time it comes from damp socks and shoes or warm, humid conditions where this particular fungus (dermatophytes) grows and thrives. Energetically, athlete's foot manifests out of frustration, not feeling accepted, or not being able to move forward in life with ease. Our three favorite essences that help work on healing athlete's foot are Opoponax, White Sage, and May Chang.
Opoponax is the "all healing vegetable juice" that serves as a powerful healing remedy for many different disharmonies. She is an oily gum resin from an evergreen tree that is anti-viral, anti-parasitic, anti-septic, and anti-infectiuous. She is amazing on the skin as a healing balm for eczema, wounds, ulcers, athlete's foot, boils, wrinkles, and chapped skin. Opoponax is wonderful in leading us in a positive direction, free from negativity, blame, fear, and conflict. She helps one to follow their inner guidance and have Faith in the self to shine.
White Sage is an evergreen perennial shrub that offers medicine used in sacred ceremonies, in cooking, and as medicine. She is anti-fungal and great for excess sweating, athlete's foot, candida, staph infections, and most skin disharmonies. Energetically, White Sage helps to ward off darkness, cleanse negativity, and smudge a space of low frequencies. She is a wonderful tool to connect to the spiritual world of Light.
May Chang comes from an evergreen tree that produces white flowers and red or black berries. These berries help to heal fungal infections, athlete's foot, excessive perspiration, and harmful microbes. She supports feeling "light-hearted" and open to intimacy, relaxation, and tranquility. By letting go of negative energy, she helps to open the heart chakra and find the joy that makes us excited to wake up each day.
 All three of these plant essences can be used together topically for best results. Layering them directly onto the skin area "neat", one after the other, is the best way to apply them for athlete's foot. It is best to use essences for one month for every year you have had the symptoms that are being treated. In general, for the average adult weight and height, five to ten drops "neat" on the skin is enough to start anointing each essence 2-3 times a day. Always do a test patch on the inner arm to make sure that the essences are not too powerful to anoint "neat" on your skin. If they bring up a healing response, then use the bottoms of the feet to anoint, and meditate on what is coming up and out emotionally for healing. All essences are safe to ingest in small amounts (3-5 drops in an ounce of water is a good start). Use your intuition to guide the way, and remember that less is always more in most cases, and the body knows what's best - so always listen to it.