Tag: natural

essential oils · health · natural lifestyle

Why I Chose Young Living

Essentially Better Living1 Comment
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In 2013, I experienced the bittersweet paradox of losing my mom to Alzheimer’s and giving birth to my daughter in the same year. It was then that I started pursuing a healthier, more natural way of living. I was searching for natural remedies to help promote memory for my mom before she passed, while at the same time learning healthier habits during my pregnancy and for my new baby following her birth. Since then, I have become passionate about health and wellbeing for myself, the ones I love, and really for everyone.

This was the beginning of my essential oils journey and I continue to use the protocols I that I learned during that difficult season of my life today. I consider myself to be a lifelong learner, always building and expanding on my knowledge of essential oils and wellness and sharing it with others. My personal mission is to promote natural health and wellness options to others and educate about harmful chemicals found in our daily products that are so heavily promoted and sadly trusted world-wide. Media and popularity evoke a feeling in us that what is common is normal and therefore safe. I want to challenge you to see it different: What’s healthy should be our normal, not what’s popular.

We have normalized antibiotics. When my girls were little, antibiotics seemed to be doctors’ answer to every ear infection and virus that we encountered, but I was simultaneously reading and learning about how too many prescribed antibiotics can weaken the immune system, impacting the gut microbiome. I realized they were annihilating the good bacteria as well as the bad, and making my children more susceptible to future illness. It’s why your child may be given an antibiotic only to immediatly catch another virus. I’ve seen it over and over with friends’ kids.

This led me to discovering THIEVES and a host of other immune system building protocols. This also led to me becoming the guardian of the threshold of my home – mindful of the foods we were eating and products we were using. Understanding that the air we breathe and what we put on our skin matters as much as the food we consume. The best change that you will make for your family is becoming discerning and skeptical about the products marketed to you.


This includes FRAGRANCE and PROCESSED FOODS. If you are wondering “if these are so bad, why are they allowed to be sold?” I have BILLIONS of reasons for you, and it is spelled M-O-N-E-Y. We are the least healthy generation that has ever lived on this planet. Our grandparents and their parents ate from the earth. They worked and moved and exercised all day long. They did not have the fertility issues that we have – they did not have hormone disrupting artificial fragrance (read that again). Yes, artificial fragrances can disrupt hormones and may impact fertility. Endocrine disruptors, including phthalates and parabens, found in many scented products, can interfere with hormone function, potentially leading to reproductive problems. 

Past generations didn’t even have access to all the drugs that we have. They relied on herbs and botanical tinctures that God put here for us. Why is it that people are so trusting of man-made drugs, but skeptical and downright resistant to the oldest pharmaceutical available – natural and plant based options?

I was particularly awakened to the impact artificial ingredients and food sensitivities can have when our oldest daughter (who is now a teen) struggled with severe and frequent migraine headaches. She showed dramatic improvement after we tried diet alterations (stemming from sensitivity to sugar, reactions to artificial colors and not drinking enough water). To protect her and our family, I became even more determined to be mindful of what we ate and brought into our home.

Young Living has ESSENTIALLY developed a non-toxic alternative for every toxic product we have in our homes. This thoughtful and innovative company has checked so many boxes for our family: 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oils (we use oils instead of meds for most physical ailments and especially to PREVENT THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE), bath and skincare products (from Lavender Lotion to Satin Mint Facial Scrub), non-toxic cleaner (Thieves Cleaner), high quality supplements. Young Living has became my one-stop shop for all things natural and has continued fill this need for our family for almost ten years now.

I continue to pursue a better lifestyle and live life by a mantra “things are getting better all the time.” We are constantly seeking out more real food and less ultra-processed foods. Maintaining a chemical free home something I will strive for as long as I live (I still have a lot to learn and many more changes to make!). As a result, I’m always seeking healthier options and research on improving health because we will never know it all, and there is always more to learn. You can be sure that as I do, I will be sharing it with others.

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Natural Deodorants and DIY Anti-perspirant
essential oils · health · natural lifestyle

Natural Deodorants and DIY Anti-perspirant

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Let’s talk DEO.

Anyone else out there who has tried several natural deodorants and even tried making their own? After many, many product tests and recipe attempts, Primal Pit Paste is my absolute favorite. Only it’s not an antiperspirant. So I took a shot at making my own spray.

The Essential Oils Desk Reference book recommended sage and Purification, and my ref guide 4 essential oils app added Endoflex to the list which my husband uses to support his thyroid. I love it!

I can’t say that I don’t sweat at all, but I don’t get wet circles under my arms and I know the body needs to sweat some to get rid of toxins. I’m just thankful not to be applying memory killer aluminum to my body anymore. I need all the brain cells I can get!

Please do your own research and you will find as I unfortunately did, that over-the-counter deodorants contain aluminum, which has been linked to breast cancer and Alzheimer’s.

To make your own anti-perspirant use any of these oils you may have on hand:

  • 2 oz spray bottle
  • 2 drops sage
  • 2 drops Endoflex
  • 2 drops Purification
  • 2 drops nutmeg
  • 2 drops petitgrain (EO that controls perspiration like no other, IMO)
  • a splash of witch hazel
  • fill rest of the way with water

If you don’t have all of these, I think just Purification or just petitgrain would work great. I’ve actually applied a drop of Purification under each arm on days I’ve left the house without using my spray. Works awesome in a pinch. 🤓

You can get started with the world leader in essential oils here.

Earthing: Getting dirty for your health.
natural lifestyle · quarantine · Uncategorized

Earthing: Getting dirty for your health.

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During this time of quarantine, I try to stay focused on ways to give myself and my family every advantage possible: to be the healthiest, mentally stable versions of ourselves. Healthy diet and self-care have been a priority for sure. We have slowed down, are eating better and exercising more than we did prior to this time.

But I am always open and seeking other ways to keep us at our best in a time where circumstances would point to the opposite. I follow a gal on Instagram who mentioned earthing in a post, and that she found her info on NCBI, and I was intrigued.

What is earthing? NCBI explains, “Earthing (also known as grounding) refers to contact with the Earth’s surface electrons by walking barefoot outside or sitting, working, or sleeping indoors connected to conductive systems, some of them patented, that transfer the energy from the ground into the body.”

Early humans walked the earth barefoot and even slept on the ground. Could this have given them a physical advantage over their modern-day, rubber-sole-wearing counterparts?

I also share the concern of many about the introduction of the fifth generation of wireless communication technology. The NBHI study gives us hope stating that earthing “essentially eliminates the ambient voltage induced on our bodies from common electrical sources.” 🌲❤️

After reading through the NBHI study on earthing, it does seem to show evidence that walking barefoot is more than beneficial. When we engage in earthing we are making direct physical contact with the vast supply of electrons on the surface of the Earth. Order up a serving of “sunshine, clean air and water, nutritious food, physical activity,” and add to that list…earthing. Research to date shows “it may be an essential element to the health equation.”

The past two days, I’ve experimented. I made a point to do simple outdoor tasks barefoot. Watering the flowers, checking the mail, having coffee. What I noticed afterward was not only a calming, but the nostalgia of that feeling of grass between my toes. And the realization that I am much more tender-footed than my ten-year-old self who could run across a gravel driveway unfazed. I have missed this.

Move over Lysol and Clorox wipes. Dirty feet may keep you healthy.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3265077/

Edited to add:

After reading this study several years ago on the effects of wifi, I quit sleeping with my phone and using it as an alarm clock. And it also birthed a skepticism and concern within me about the effects of our electronic devices on our bodies, and ultimately the writing of this post.

 

How Bubblegum is Made: Plastics and Rubber?
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How Bubblegum is Made: Plastics and Rubber?

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We watched this video for “science” this morning and then wished we didn’t. Gum used to be made from gum from trees but now it is made of synthetic rubber and plastic! We did more research after the video and learned that nowadays gum is not biodegradable.😷

Did you know most chewing gum contains plastic?

This is why mom always said, “Don’t swallow your gum!” I do not want my kids chewing on plastic and definitely don’t want them potentially swallowing it. Kids say they don’t but we know different. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Then we discovered Glee gum. It contains no plastics, is sugar free and contains no aspartame (associated with Alzheimer’s). Looks like a good one and I’m pretty sure I have seen it at our local pharmacy. Sorry and you’re welcome. We can’t unlearn this stuff.

DIY Thieves
essential oils · health · natural lifestyle

DIY Thieves

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DIY Thieves.

Last week, I did the unthinkable. I ran out of Thieves. 😭 And this is NOT the time to be without the king of immune system support oils!

Obviously I ordered more, but until it gets here, I had to get creative. I realized that not only do I have all of the ingredients to make my own Thieves, I realized that Young Living is giving most of these to their customers this month as promos for hitting different spending targets. They are giving us the gift of health!

How accurate this is, I’m not for sure, but all four recipes that I was able to find online generally had this ratio:

2 drops rosemary
3 drops eucalyptus
4 drops cinnamon bark
7 drops lemon
8 drops clove

I kept this ratio but multiplied each number times 5 and placed in an empty dropper bottle to make a synergy or mixture. I did not add any carrier oils. This way, I can simply add 4-6 drops of the mixture to our diffuser. And it almost smells just like our wonderful Thieves!

Notice I said “almost.” Rest assured when my bottle of Thieves arrives I will be going back to it. I’m no Gary Young over here! But if you’re ever in a pinch, this is good to know about.

I won’t be wasting this concoction. My family really likes it so it is going to be the “Thieves” for our kitchen diffuser.

Raise your hand if you have Thieves or something similar in your wellness cabinet!

Thieves Cleaner: Life Saver
natural lifestyle

Thieves Cleaner: Life Saver

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I can remember before we switched to all the natural things, I had to wear a mask and open all of the windows on cleaning day.

Cleaning day was every Saturday. I would fuss and complain and basically couldn’t breathe the rest of the day.

Flash forward to today and there is no more mask and no need to open windows.

Back then, I didn’t know any different. Everyone used Clorox wipes and Lysol and Windex and so did I. It was just so normal that I didn’t question it.

Then I entered learning communities on natural living and discovered all of the toxins that are in our popular and heavily marketed products. Why wouldn’t they want us to know? Dollar signs, obviously. And when you know better you do better.

I no longer dread cleaning day and would not want to live without this concentrate. It single-handedly replaces all of our commercial toxic stuff and for pennies per diluted spray bottle.

I have written a separate post with more information about Thieves Cleaner if you are interested in knowing more.

Elderberry Syrup: The New Wellness Cabinet Staple
natural lifestyle · Uncategorized

Elderberry Syrup: The New Wellness Cabinet Staple

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During flu and cold season our family has added elderberry syrup to our health and wellness regimen by taking at least a tablespoon each a day, to help support and protect our bodies.

Did you know…Elderberries are rich in vitamins A, B and C and are a traditional cold and flu remedy that has been used for hundreds of years? They are known to have high antioxidant activity and the bioflavonoids and other proteins in the juice of the berry destroy the ability of a cold or flu virus to infect a cell. *mic drop*

Check out some of the other benefits of this amazing, NATURAL elixir:

  • boosts immune system
  • protects the heart
  • anti-inflammatory (in other words, helps with pain)
  • lessens stress
  • helps with back and leg pain (sciatica)
  • helps with chronic fatigue syndrome
  • helps with allergies
  • relieves constipation
  • natural diuretic
  • supports skin
  • can help prevent cancer
  • supports brain health
  • boosts vision health

I add my tablespoon of elderberry to a shot of Ningxia Red, an impressive blend of wolfberry, plum, aronia, cherry, blueberry, and pomegranate juices. Ningxia boasts the same antioxidant activity I just described. Talk about a powerhouse of protection!

Do you have elderberry syrup as a part of your wellness arsenal or any other natural preventatives that you love? If you are interested in elderberry and other immune system boosters check out this post on some lesser known wellness supports.

 

Immune System Boosters You May Not Know About
essential oils · natural lifestyle · Uncategorized

Immune System Boosters You May Not Know About

Essentially Better Living1 Comment

Most folks already know to take Vitamin C, drink plenty of fluids and to get rest when they are sick. You may not be aware of some on this list. While doing some or all of these won’t guarantee you are protected, they significantly lower the risk. If you do find yourself exposed, I think you’ll be impressed how quickly you bounce back.

  1. Elderberry syrup. This one needs to be a staple. Keep it in the fridge all winter long. Give to everyone in the house at the first sign or mention of sickness. It not only boosts the immune system, but it is also an influenza preventative. You can check out a post to learn other elderberry benefits here.
  2. Turmeric. You know, legend has it that the “gold” that was given to the baby Jesus by the three wise men was actually turmeric which is also known as “golden spice.” So in a sense they gave him the gift of health. We Westerners and just catching on to what Indians have known for years and years: natural turmeric has medicinal value. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-cancer and has many many more health benefits. I was curious how to decide which turmeric/curcumin I should take (curcumin is the powerful constituent in turmeric) and what characteristics to look for. I love this post from Dr. Weil whose information I trust. And you can purchase the turmeric I use here.
  3. Raw local honey. Raw local honey boosts the immune system, can help with allergies, and soothes sore throats. It has so many health benefits. Don’t confuse raw local honey with that cute honey bear you get at Walmart. Very little benefit there. I have written an entirely separate post on raw local honey if you want to learn more.
  4. Probiotics. Do you take one? Everyone should take a good probiotic. Life 9 by Young Living is a great one. Why are probiotics so important? Marketing geniuses have programmed many to think all bacteria and germ exposure is bad. We are trained to Lysol and Clorox wipe everything, when in actuality, we are ridding our surfaces of both good and beneficial bacteria and germs. You don’t have to take my word for it. See what the Environmental Working Group has to say here. Same way, when we trustingly take that probiotic, we are killing the good and bad bacteria in your bodies, which is why so often you will see, they sicker some folks get the sicker they get. Antibiotics should only truly be in order when there is a bacterial infection like strep for example, but it has become commonplace unfortunately to give it for ear infections and other sicknesses. When you deplete your body of that good bacteria, you have none to fight off future illness. My advice if you absolutely must take an antibiotic is to take a probiotic daily to replenish that good bacteria supply.
  5. Ningxia Red or a comparable antioxidant drink. When you or anyone in your household is down and out, or if you have been exposed to anyone who is, reach for  all the blueberries, açaí, raspberries, and goji berries you can get your hands on. Or take me at my word when I tell you that Ningxia Red has one of the highest levels of antioxidants you can find. It contains the rare Ningxia wolfberry. For those of you who may not know, Ningxia China has the highest longevity in the world, and it is said to be a result of their consumption of the Ningxia wolfberry, the key ingredient in Ningxia Red. You can purchase the Ningxia Red Starter Kit here.
  6. Thieves Essential Oil Blend. I seriously would not want to live without Thieves. Immune system booster powerhouse. It contains cinnamon bark oil, for one. Here’s a tidbit: viruses can’t exist in the presence of cinnamon bark oil. Thieves contains it. Viruses live in the spine. I apply Thieves to the spines of all my people on the regular. As I am writing this I’m thinking of four ways I used it just this evening alone. Thieves on the throat and spines of my youngest and husband who said their throats hurt “a little bit.” I added it to my girls’ bath salts because tis’ the season. Thieves in the diffuser for the same reason. Thieves in a spoonful of honey, also for my husband to soothe his throat. A great way to get started with Thieves is either the Thieves kit which includes Thieves and the Thieves line of cleaning products, or the Young Living Premium Starter Kit which includes Thieves as well as a high quality diffuser and the other main essential oils you would need to get started. You can find both of those here.

 

Memory Resolution Technique
Uncategorized

Memory Resolution Technique

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Have you ever had a painful memory that kept haunting you? You couldn’t seem to get it out of your mind? The power of oils and scent is amazing!

I was skeptical at first, but I read the memory resolution chapter of this book, Aroma Freedom Technique, and followed the steps to a tee. I used the oils pictured exactly as it specified, and I have to say I am amazed how much relief I feel related to my memory. I went from obsessive thoughts of it to feeling it was very petty and old news by the end of the process.

You can find the book here. In addition to Lavender, Frankincense and Stress Away, you will also want Inner Child and Believe essential oil blends to complete this entire technique.

Do you have a memory resolution or aroma freedom technique success story? I would love to know in the comments!

Winter Must-Haves: Young Living Oils and Products
essential oils · natural lifestyle · Uncategorized

Winter Must-Haves: Young Living Oils and Products

Essentially Better Living2 Comments

It’s still technically fall, but today in Tennessee we have snow on the ground and temps in the 20s.

We need to be proactive during this cold and flu season to keep our families healthy!

Are you stocked up and ready for this?

Here are my must-have Young Living oils and products as we head into winter:

  • Thieves. And by Thieves I mean all the Thieves products: essential oil, roll-on, Thieves Cleaner, Fruit and Veggie Spray, Foaming Hand Soap. All of it. Thieves essential oil supports the immune system like nothing else I know. Thieves products purify and product your home. Ditch all the gross chemical filled products and go natural with Thieves. Best decision ever.
  • RC and Raven. Both offer the best respiratory support. If you’re on the fence and trying to decide between the two, I would opt for Raven. It supports the respiratory system but also your immune system. It is also in the current starter kit.
  • Thieves Lozenges. I already plugged Thieves products, I know, but I have to give a separate shoutout to these in particular. I talk for a living and keep these in my desk drawer at work, some in my purse and some at home. They are the best cough drop/lozenge I’ve ever had. They don’t just soothe, the support the body. What other drop does that?
  • Lavender Lotion. This lotion is the best ever. Most lotions you have to apply and reapply- like hourly. This lotion is truly soothing. Again I keep at work, home, and in the purse.
  • Lavender Lip Balm and Rose Ointment. I suffered from chronic chapped lips every winter until I discovered this duo. I apply daily, preventatively and can’t remember the last time my lips were chapped in winter since.
  • Digize and Life 9. Did you know that 70% of your immune system is located in your gut? We apply Digize when anyone is having tummy issues and Life 9 is an awesome probiotic to maintain healthy bacteria in the gut. Gut health is key!

There are so many products I love to have on hand in winter. This is really just scratching the surface but does represent my faves.

Do you have favorite Young Living oils and products for winter that aren’t on this list? I’d love to know what they are. Please share in the comments.

And if you are ready to dive in with Young Living and this wellness lifestyle you can get your starter kit here.