Essential Oils Mom

Spring Fresh!

2011-05-11T08:38:00.001-04:00

Citrus Fresh is one of my favorite oils blends. The combination of orange, grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, mandarin, and spearmint will energize your spirit and welcome feelings of spring and new possibilities.

I have put it in water (I get so tired of plain old water sometimes), diffused in the air, and just plain inhaled it. It can also be worn as a perfume for a fresh natural scent.When diffused, this proprietary essential oil blend both purifies the air and adds a clean, fresh scent. It's also great added to a home made sea salt body scrub, which I just LOVE. some have used it to calm hyperactive children. I haven't tried it personally yet, but I think next time my kids are over the top I'll be giving a little foot massage (or three foot masages) and doing some more diffusing. Enjoy!

** With any Citrus based oils, do NOT apply to the skin before going out into the sun.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose, or evaluate any medical condition or replace and professional medical information.

Spring Allergies

2011-05-06T09:00:00.001-04:00

If you live where I do and had the very wet and rainy winter/spring that led to a slow but now almost exponential pollen count, then this has probably been a difficult couple of weeks. If it has not, it might be soon. For years I suffered from pollen issues and have seen it get progressively worse each year with my own kids. Last year I tried using Lavender oil for my own allergies. (I continued to use an over the counter medication for my kids as it was going to be too difficult to monitor them using Lavender themselves in school). After the first sneeze, I take a couple of drops (you don't need more than two) of Lavender and put them in the palm of my hand. Rub my hands together, cover my mouth and nose and start inhaling. I had heard this works and was skeptical for a long time. Much to my surprise (a pleasant one at that) it works! After the first sneeze, I do this and am good for a couple of hours. I've also started diffusing Lavender in the house to release this natural antihistimine into the air. After such a long winter I hate having to keep the windows closed, but that seems to help too. My daughter puts a couple of drops under her nose and keeps a small vial with her in school to help through the day. There isn't much that can be done for itchy eyes, but I figure I'll take what I can get for the rest of me and use eye drops when I need to. Another thing to keep in mind: Lavender oil alone may not do it for you. There are some people who need to take two allergy medications in a day. One in the morning and one at night. If it were me, I would try Lavender oil to help reduce the need to take two medications in a day.

This information is for educational purposes and is not intended to treat, diagnose, or evaluate any medical condition or replace and professional medical information.

Necessitity is the Mother of Invention

2011-05-03T10:04:00.001-04:00

This is a common thought and never more true than when dealing with kids. As I am not the type of mom who is constantly hovering over my kids, accidents happen. The latest in these was a ball point pen that happened to be near my computer. With that tempting writing utensil easily at the disposal of my 3 year old, what happened was bound to happen. He simply picked it up and thought writing on my computer screen would be fun. Well, my bad. I thought I could live with the pen on the screen (I was the one not watching him after all) but alas, I could not. I took a risk. Lemon works great on removing just about any pen marks. (I've had great success with it removing the ink from a permanent marker from my kitchen table). So, I tried it on my computer screen. Just a drop or two on a Q-tip and problem solved. My screen was cleaned and best of all not damaged. So, there you have it. Use Lemon oil to remove pen from your computer screen.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose, or evaluate any medical condition or replace and professional medical information.

Is There a Pill for That? Omega Blue

2011-04-13T07:34:00.002-04:00

Omega Blue

There are good fats and bad fats. Omega-3 essential fatty acids found in fish oil are among the best good fats. Volumes of research confirm that omega-3 fats reduce systemic-inflammation and support cardiovascular, joint, eye and brain health. While eating more fish is one way to consume these essential fatty acids, it is important to note that fish is often polluted with mercury and other toxins. A great alternative to fish is to supplement daily with Omega Blue. Not only does this product provide a clinically proven dose of pure, un-concentrated fish oil, it is free from mercury and other toxins. In add addition to high-quality fish oils, Omega Blue contains our proprietary Omega Enhance essential oil blend with legendary Blue German chamomile, and Myrrh to support a healthy inflammatory response. Lemongrass provides cardiovascular protection and supports healthy cholesterol levels, while Clove and myrrh provide added antioxidant support.
The Omega enhance blend strengthens omega-3 fats and makes Omega Blue at least 10 times more stable
than other fish oils. What's more, a precision delivery coating triples omega-3 absorption by releasing
these stable, bioactive nutrients directly in the intestines.
This winter I have found much help from Omega Blue in my skin. Every winter as soon as the weather gets cold, the skin on my thumbs gets so dry and cracked it peels and bleeds. This year, I added Omega Blue to my daily supplement regimen and have sustained great results. The skin is much healthier than usual for this time of year and my hands are more comfortable.

*The information provided here is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose, or cure any disease.

The Power of Grapefruit

2011-04-07T07:00:00.001-04:00

Revive with Grapefruit

Feeling sluggish?

*Mix 5-10 drops of Grapefruit with a pure vegetable oil and massage
the lymphatic areas or apply to the feet, armpits or back of the head.

*Diffuse Grapefruit oil in the air. I love it mixed with Rosewood.
*Add a drop or two to your pure drinking water to promote lymph flow.

*Grapefruit oil has long been known as a fat-buster--. Dilute with pure vegetable oil (I like avocado) and massage on cellulite areas. Add 5-8 drops to a clear vegetable capsule and take daily.

Skin Rejuvenation

Revive a dull, oily complexion with a combination of equal parts Frankincense, Melaleuca and Orange oil. These oils are uplifting to the spirit and emotions.

These tips are from Everyday Uses for Essential Oils Compiled by Tamalu Watkins

*These statements are intended for educational purposes only and not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.

Diffusing Simplified

2011-04-01T07:00:00.002-04:00

Benefits of Diffusing

The easiest and simplest way of putting essential oils into the air for inhalation is to use an aromatic diffuser. A cold air diffuser uses room-temperature air to blow the oil up against a nebulizer. This breaks the oils up into a micro-fine mist that is then dispersed into the air. The oils, with their oxygenating molecules, will then remain suspended for several hours to freshen and improve the quality of the air. The anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and antiseptic properties of the oils kill bacteria and help reduce fungus and mold. Essential oils, when diffused, have been found to reduce the amount of airborne chemicals and metallics as well as help to create greater spiritual, physical, and emotional harmony.

Recommended Diffusing Time
While a diffusers can run continuously until it is out of oil, the greatest therapeutic benefit is received by diffusing oils for only 10 minutes out of an hour so that the olfactory system has time to recover before receiving more oils. This also helps to conserve your oils. A simple way to do this is to use a programmable timer that can automatically turn on your diffuser each hour for 10 minutes.

Oils for Air Purification
Cinnamon bark, mountain savory, oregano, and Thieves , were all tested by Weber State University and were shown to kill 99.96% of the airborne bacteria present when diffused into the atmosphere.* I have diffused Thieves with Frankincense and Oregano at the onset of a stomach bug in my house and each time, that bug has not spread far beyond where it started, meaning that while some of us my get sick, we don't all get sick. In my house, the last one who needs to get sick is me.

Oils for the Season: Fall/Winter
Fall and winter connote an earthy, heavy scent, rich with the traditions and memories of the holidays.
Oils that work well during this time include: cinnamon bark, pine, cedar, cedarwood, fir, frankincense, juniper, myrrh, orange, sandalwood, vetiver, nutmeg, oregano, spruce, tangerine, and thyme.
Oils for the Season: Spring/Summer
Spring and summer connote a light, airy scent, full of life, energy, and possibly a hint of romance!
Oils that work well during this time include: cardamom, citronella, coriander, eucalyptus, geranium, ginger, grapefruit, jasmine, lemon, peppermint, rose, spearmint, and ylang ylang.

Some of my favorite combinations
Thieves and Frankincense
Rosewood and Grapefruit
Purification and Lemon

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*The information provided is from the Reference Guide for Essential Oils by Connie & Alan Higley, and from KID-Radio broadcast, March 5, 1996 with Lance Richardson & Gary Young

Spring Sports

2011-03-25T07:00:00.003-04:00

Where I live, spring had sprung. And then it snowed. And today it's snowing again. Regardles, spring sports are getting underway. The newness of spring can be inspirational in many ways but if the body has spent the winter "at rest" it can take some adjusting to get everything back up and runnng smoothly again. It always did for me. Aside from sore muscles and shin splints, there is also the need to replenish the body from what it's lost. Here are some things to try to help ease the re-entry:
For sore muscles:
Rub PanAway into sore muscles to relieve the pain. The active ingredients in PanAway are stronger than the ones in Ben Gay and totally natural. Remember, the oil blend is hot so dilute with a pure vegetable oil and be sure to NOT touch any sensitive areas afterwards.
For shin splints:
Shin splints result from the continued punding of feet on a hard surface like a floor or running area. I was guaranteed to get them every spring during lacrosse practice, especially early in the season. There is very little that can be done for shin spilints, but I would suggest trying the following: Balsam Fir with Copaiba. Copaiba is highly anti-inflammatory and extreremly calming (it's also one of my favorite oils). I would also suggest BLM for bones, ligaments and muscles. I had been told in high school that shin splints were caused by the muscle separating from the bone. BLM will suppor healthy bone, ligament and muscle function.
Keep the body healthy: Aside from being sure to drink a lot of water, adding NingXia Red is a great way to repenish all those vitamins and minerals lost during working up a sweat. It has a low glycemic index so you don't have to worry about "sugaring up" your kids after a good healthy sports work out.

This information is for educational purposes and is not intended to treat, diagnose, or evaluate any medical condition or replace and professional medical information.

Winter Sinus Issues

2011-03-12T07:00:00.003-05:00

The chronic winter stuffy nose. I have to say that it took me a while to figure this one out. The short version is that my son has suffered from a chronic stuffy nose from about November until the end of March for the past four years. We've tried various things, and until this winter relied heavily on prescription decongestants to relieve symptoms. This year, the prescriptions didn't work. I want back to the simplest remedy I could find and it has proven to be the most effective. I guess I shouldn't be surprised; the basics often work the best.The answer for us is a daily saline nasal wash with a netti pot. I got lucky. My son is happy to use it because it works. Not all kids are like this, but with as much as he suffers, clearly the ability to breathe better outweighs any discomfort.
I should mention a couple of other things. A stuffy nose generally speaking is not a big deal. Our problem is that when his nose decides to drain on its own, all of the mucous dripping into his throat leads to coughing. The extended and harsh coughing leads to asthma problems. As fas as I can tell, the best way to combat this is to keep the nasal passages as clear as possible. Most often I use just salt and warm water. However, I recently received this information about adding oils to the saline solution to create an even more effective nasal wash. Rosemary and tea tree oils can be used in a saline solution for a very effective nasal irrigation.

Here is the recipe:
10 drops rosemary
6 drops Melaleuca ericifolia
8 tbls very fine salt. (salt flower)

The essential oils are mixed thoroughly in the fine salt and kept in a container. For each nasal irrigation session use 1 teaspoon of this salt mixture is dissolved into 1 1/2 cups distilled water. Then use the netti pot as you normally would.

This information is for educational purposes and is not intended to treat, diagnose, or evaluate any medical condition or replace and professional medical information.

The Lip

2011-03-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

When you burn the candle at both ends, you have to expect that one of those ends will give way and you are left with no one to blame but yourself. Or at least that's the way it is for me. I know I should know better. My life is always busy, but there are limitations to what can be done in a 24 hour period of time and when I ignore them, my body promptly reminds me. For me, the result is a cold sore which is usually followed by an eye infection. Here's my typical protocol:
Thieves oil- apply directly to the cold sore on my lip as soon as I feel it coming on.
Longevity supplement- first I have to say that I love taking this and I love all that it does. The blend of oils in here: Frankincense (a general cure-all, anti-depressant, immune stimulant and anti-tumoral), Orange (limonene in orange oil inhibits and regresses cancer), Thyme (fends off bronchial attacks) and Clove (highest ranked anti-oxidant on Earth) all work together to rebuild what my own stress and lack of sleep have taken away.
Life 5- typically I don't have a lot of digestive issues, but I do know that stress can lead to an upset stomach and an imbalance in the natural and healthy bacteria stored in our digestive systems. These bacteria regulate our bodies. When they are off, it can lead to many things, including yeast infections.
As for the eye infection. There are no oils I can apply directly to my eyes (oils should not go in the eyes) but I recently learned that NingXia Red is loaded with lutein which is great for eye health. One of my goals for the spring season is to include more NR into my diet, espeically during times I can't help but burn the candle at both ends.
And to round it all out- sleep. Sleep is required for the body to maintain helath and repair itself and replenish. I'm sure I need more of it on a regualr basis, and therin lies another goal.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information is for educational purposes only.

It's Been A While

2011-03-01T07:00:00.001-05:00

Sadly, or perhaps not as I haven't really decided yet, it's been a while since I've posted here. I should probably start by mentioning that one should be careful of what one wishes for and using Abundance at the same time. I've been away from this site because I've been in a place of Abundance in my life. Busy with writing, being involved in various school activities, and doing my best to take care of my family. In those times, I've been able to share my passion for Young Living as well, but have not been adding to this site.

Well, I'm back and using my beloved oils to give me strength, inspiration, and good health. That said, I received the below several weeks ago and love Frankincense so much I thought it would be a good piece to use to start. I've used Frankincense for everything from killing germs to fighting eczema to spiritual focus and most recently to help strengthen my nails. The winter is really tough on them and after having gel on them for 6 months, they need a little love.

So, here are some wonderful facts about Frankincense and all the ways it can be used and is beneficial. I originally tried it for one use, and ended up using it for something else, so you just never know. But it smells wonderful and I just really love it- plain and simple.

FRANKINCENSE (Boswellia carteri) was well known during the time of Christ as a treatment for a range of ailments. In fact, it is mentioned in one of the oldest known medical records, Ebers Papyrus, which lists frankincense in hundreds of prescriptions and recipes. It was considered more valuable than gold in ancient times and used to treat every known ill to man. It’s known for it’s antitumoral, immunostimulant, antidepressant, and muscle relaxing benefits. As well as stimulating to the limbic system of the brain and the hypothalamus, pineal, and pituitary glands.

How to use Frankincense:

Diffuse:

In diffuser therapy, frankincense can be used for congestion and voice loss, as well as to calm the mind, reduce mental strain, and cultivate internal peace.

Blend:

Frankincense can be blended with massage oil or diluted in the bath for circulatory support, respiratory support, exhaustion, and nightmares. It also has a good astringent effect on the skin; perks up older, more mature skin; and may assist the body in healing itself of wounds, sores, and ulcers.*

Creams and Lotions:

Frankincense can be added to a base cream or lotion to help with general skin tone and condition while reducing oily skin and rejuvenating more mature skin. In my house it has proven the most helpful to relieve eczema.

1. Concentration: use 1-2 drops Frankincense oil on temples and back of neck to improve concentration.

2. Immune System: apply 1-3 drops Frankincense oil on each foot to strengthen the immune system.

3. Blisters: dilute Frankincense oil 50/50 with pure vegetable oil and apply to a blistered area 3-5 times daily.

4. Insect Bites: put a drop of Frankincense oil on an insect bite to help reduce swelling and speed healing.

5. Depression: diffuse or inhale from the bottle to help with mood elevation.

6. Brittle Nails: apply 1-3 drops Frankincense on nails and at base of nails, 3 times per week.

7. Stretch Marks: rub a few drops on stretch marks 2 times a day.

8. Cysts: apply 1-2 drops on cyst 2 times a day until it disappears.

9. Skin Health: apply 1-2 drops Frankincense oil on sun damaged skin spots 2 times a day until it disappears.

10. Warts: put 2 drops on wart 2 times a day until disappears completely. Thieves also works on warts.

11. Breast Health: rub 2-3 drops on breasts and lower abdomen everyday.

12. Healthy Maintenance: dilute 1 drop Frankincense oil in 1tsp. honey or 4 oz. rice milk and ingest daily for health maintenance.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Antibacterial Concerns

2010-08-10T20:21:00.000-04:00

On CBS News last night (and repeated again at 6pm tonight) was a story about the dangers of the chemicals in antibacterial products. In short, the chemicals used in these common products can lead to both hormone and endocrine disruption. They also kill both the bad bacteria that make us sick as well as the good bacteria that can keep us healthy. If you haven't switched yet, now is the time to start using the Thieves household cleaner as well as the Thieves foaming hand soap. These products are safer for us and for our environment creating a synergistic environment killing both 99% of pathogens and building the immune system. Make the switch today!

**This information is for informational purposes and is not meant to treat or diagnose an illness.

For more on What's At Stake with our health and environment, contact Connie McDanel at cmcdanel@paulbunyan.net

Choose to Diffuse

2010-08-04T11:30:00.001-04:00

Whether it's summer and my house smells stale from the air conditioner and closed windows, or it's winter and my house smells like whatever I've cooked for dinner for the past three days, my goal is to get rid of those smells, unless of course I had just made brownies.
Until recently, I used candles to get rid of unwanted smells. The problem with scented candles, and other air freshener products, is that they are loaded with chemicals. Some of those chemicals are phthalates, commonly used fixatives and solvents. Phthalates are found in 12 of 14 air fresheners and are both endocrine and hormone disruptors. Not good for a small child's developing body or a teenagers developing body and hormone levels. Additionally the strong scents can irritate both children and adults with asthma.
If you have the choice, choose to diffuse. Diffusing essentials oils can eliminate bad odors and mold (Purification), help calm down excited children (Lavender), improve focus and concentration (Lemon and Peppermint), and aid in depression (Frankincense). For medicinal purposes, rather than emotional, I diffuse Thieves for 20 minutes, and this kills 99% of airborne bacteria--great during cold season or at that first sneeze. Diffusers can be purchased from one of several places depending on your budget. Abundant Health, Whole Foods, and Young Living all have great options and I highly recommend choosing to diffuse.

**This information is for informational purposes only and is not intended to treat or diagnose any health issues.

Summer Hair and Skin

2010-07-13T10:30:00.001-04:00

Summer is here and aside from what the chlorine does to my children's hair and skin, I welcome the season with open arms. I love afternoons at the pool as much as anyone else who is happy to have a break from packing lunch and doing homework, but it doesn't take long before the dry patches start to show on my youngest and my daughter's hair to feel like straw.
There are a couple of remedies I use that I think are worth sharing.
For the skin- I make sure to always use the Lavender Bath and Shower Gel immediately after swimming. Then I liberally use a combination of moisturizer with Frankincense and Copaiba. Both oils are great for the skin and the combination really seems to help him. Keeps his skin soft and controls the dry patches.
For the hair- I have all the kids use the Lemon Sage Clarifying shampoo. It definitely cleans the hair (I use it regularly once a week to remove the build up of the hair products I use daily) without stripping or drying. I think we will need to add the conditioner for summer considering the almost daily visits to the pool.

Bird Mites

2010-07-11T09:58:00.001-04:00

I had never heard of bird mites until about a week ago. Here is what happens. Birds build a nest. The eggs hatch and there are baby birds. The mites live off the baby and adult birds while they are in the nest, but then when everyone leaves, the mites need a place to go to find a host. They will look for humans next. Bird mites are difficult to find without a magnifying glass but can be found on furniture, carpets, and clothing. They like to hang out where humans hang out.
The good news is that they do not like orange, eucalyptus, peppermint, or lavender. The bites can itch and become inflamed.
There are a couple of things you can do to help with the inflammation and take a proactive approach to the prevention of more. I suggested to one person adding a few drops of RC to her shampoo. There are 3 different kinds of Eucalyptus in there along with Lavender and Peppermint. The inflammation was gone immediately. Next, she used Purification in the laundry to wash everything (also good for dust mites) and finally to help her body from the inside out, a drop of Peppermint in hot water for tea.

*this information is for educational purposes only and is not meant to treat or diagnose any disease.

Doing Laundry

2010-07-09T22:00:00.002-04:00

I do a lot of laundry. I joke about having 8,000 kids but I really only have 3. I didn't think the 3rd one would add all that much to my laundry responsibilities but I was wrong. Either way, I do laundry often. Really often. So, I tried an experiment. I had heard that the Thieves Household Cleaner worked well on laundry. While I wouldn't necessarily use Mr. Clean or Windex in my washing machine, I figured it might be worth trying a little cinnamon, rosemary, clove and lemon. I've learned a couple of things in this process:
1- My whites are whiter
2- My towels feel softer
3- I don't ever hear or feel that leftover soap bubbling after a load is done. This rinses cleaner.
4- Using 1 capful per medium sized load, I'm going to get about 50 loads from one 14oz. bottle. To be fair here though, I think there were times I should have used two capfuls.
5- I didn't find it great on stains, so on occasion (like after chocolate ice cream) I'd add a scoopful of Oxi-clean to the load.
6- My final note- the person in my house who notices laundry issues the most is my husband. Since he has not made any comments or suggestions about clothes not seeming clean, I'm going to keep using this as my detergent. Since I can't really tell what's in Tide (the only ingredient listed is a general "surfactants") I feel better knowing what our clothes are being cleaned with and knowing that when all that soapy water leaves my washing machine and goes through the pipes and into the waterways it's better for the environment.

Strange Allergies

2010-06-14T08:00:00.001-04:00

I went to the dentist the other day and while I was due for my 6 month cleaning, it was still a bit of an experiment. I had to switch away from commercial toothpastes a few years ago. At some point in my late 20s, I started to develop this (hold on, it's pretty gross) film on the inside of my mouth after brushing my teeth. I first noticed it with Colgate toothpaste, and then Crest. It was gross. I switched to Tom's of Maine and the film problem was gone. Recently though I've been using the Dentarome toothpaste, but since it has no fluoride in it, I wasn't sure what kind of report I'd get back. Good news- my teeth were beautiful, shiny, and cavity free!
I reviewed my mouth history at my appointment and learned that the allergy is to Sodium Laurel Sulfate. So I looked it up and SLS is in many commercial products like soaps, lotions, shampoos and yes, toothpaste. It doesn't seem like a common allergy, but I know my sister has it too. We can't be the only two people with this condition. I was talking to someone today who is allergic to lidocaine and its derivatives. Clearly, anything is possible.
All of these thoughts led to a question. If I'm allergic to SLS, could it be that one of my children (and others) are also allergic to it, but it shows on the skin instead of in the mouth? Could this be the cause of Eczema when I know it's not caused by food? I don't know for sure, but at our next allergist appointment, I'm going to ask. In the meantime, the reasoning behind removing all commercial skincare use when one has a chronic condition like Eczema is making more sense. Who knows what will irritate our skin and beyond? What goes on our body goes in our body and we have to be careful about what that is. I can say that using the Lavender Bath and Shower gel has my son's sandpaper skin soft again. The Rosewood shampoo has helped his dry scalp (a problem that started as cradle cap as a baby and has never seemed to fully go away). I tried to see if SLS is an ingredient in laundry detergent but there are no specific ingredients listed on any of the 7 different kinds of detergents I looked up.
So, while I feel I now have more questions than answers I do feel like I'm following logic. The same logic that says if you only treat the symptoms of an ailment or condition and not the condition itself, you are only addressing half the situation. This was my approach to dealing with my son's asthma and has proven to work well for us. by strengthening his respiratory function rather than just having an inhaler do it for him, we are in a good place. No inhaler and no need to see the pulmonologist for another year. What a blessing and what a lesson.

**This information is for educational purposes and is in no way intended to treat or diagnose any condition. As usual, this is just what worked for us.

Some Funky Bumps

2010-06-12T08:00:00.001-04:00

So there were these funky bumps on my son's elbows. I truly figured that once he outgrew his eczema, my skin concerns for my son were over. As it turns out, we just had a bit of a hiatus. Always one to go for the "glass half full" approach, I saw an opportunity. A few years ago, I would have rushed off to the dermatologist to find out what was on the elbows. This time, I didn't do that. I took out the Tea Tree oil (what YL calls Melaleuca Alternifolia) and applied it directly to the the bumps on the elbows (which looked like a cross between molluscum and a wart.) Within days, the bumps were cleared up. There was no blistering, no discomfort, no pain, nothing. When I checked the elbows after a couple of days they were all clear!
I have a friend who tried Tea Tree for molluscum on two of her children. It worked for one, not the other. So, just another example of how different oils work for different people for different conditions. For us, this one worked and worked quite well!

* These statements are not approved by the FDA and are not meant to treat or cure any disease.

More on Frankincense and Cancer

2010-05-14T08:00:00.001-04:00

I had learned early on that Frankincense is anti-tumoral. As I quoted originally from the BBC, researchers know that Frankincense works, it's just been a matter of isolating exactly which molecules are doing what. To give a quick recap from the first post, here is the condensed version:

Recent research by scientists showing that Omali frankincense contains an agent that halts the spread of cancer may reignite its popularity. According to immunologist Mahmoud Suhail, Frankincense resets the DNA code that has been corrupted by cancer cells and reprograms the correct code back into the cell. Frankincense also effectively separates the nuclei of cancer cells from their cytoplasm bodies which stops cancer cells from reproducing themselves and the corrupted DNA codes. Because frankincense attacks only malignant cells while leaving healthy cells alone, it could revolutionize cancer treatment protocols.

A little more background- Orange oil has also been shown to successfully regress cancer. One needs about 10ml per day (about 12 capsules worth) to see it work. The agent in orange oil (and as it turns out lemon, grapefruit and frankincense) that does much of the work is limonene. Frankincense is about 12% limonene and the citrus oils are about 90%-95%.

At the end of my first post, I wrote that I was concerned about the syntheticization of frankincense or the molecules that make it work the way it does. What I have learned, and shared below, is that syntheticization is no replacement for the full real molecule.

Here is how syntheticization works: Scientists often look to nature for healing effects in plants. They isolate the molecule that seems to be producing a certain effect. Next they synthetically create a similar molecule which becomes a drug, and which they can get a patent on. (You cannot get a patent on natural plant molecules.)
Unfortunately, when a molecule is isolated from the plant, it becomes somewhat toxic to us. When it is synthesized (created in a lab synthetically),in order to create pharmaceutical drugs for the specific result, it becomes even more toxic and often comes with a legal sized sheet of side effects.(You can ask your pharmacist for the insert, which lists side effects, for any drugs you are taking.)

So it is much more preferable to use the whole plant, or the whole essential oil of the plant, rather than an isolated molecule.

So, I will stick to my therapeutic grade YL oils and work with them directly. I take Longevity (which contains both frankincense and orange oils) every day and aside from the energy boost I get and the cell rebuilding happening daily, I believe I'm doing what I can to counteract the effects of the pollutants I face every day. The things that can damage my good cells and leave room for really bad cells to surface. Therapeutic grade essential oils(as opposed to industrial grade oils or synthetically produced fragrances) contain a balanced and complete molecular profile. That's why we get such amazing results.

As per frankincense and cancer- the research continues and is, in my opinion, worth following.

**Information provided here is for EDUCATION PURPOSES ONLY and is in NO WAY intended to replace proper medical advice. IT IS NOT for diagnostic or prescriptive use or to be construed as instruction on how to cure or treat any condition, illness or disease. Every individual is different, thus what may work for one may not work for another person. Consult with the professional health authorities of your choice. Remember, taking responsibility for your health is your own personal decision: do your research and choose wisely. We commend you!

How many chemicals are in your home????

2010-05-10T07:52:00.003-04:00

DID YOU KNOW?...
Air Fresheners are used in nearly 75% of U.S. households and the market has doubled since 2003 to $1.72 billion. The Natural Resources Defense Council evaluated 14 air fresheners. Twelve of them contained variable amounts of phthalates. Phthalates are connected with hormone imbalance, ADHD, cancer, etc.
By educating consumers to replace these toxic air fresheners with THIEVES, we could positively affect human health and the environment!

Share the phenomenal benefits of Thieves with others (or try it yourself for the first time). Working together we can take better care of our environment! I use every one of the products included and have seen so many benefits beyond just greening my home.

Thieves Pack: Includes Household Cleaner, Foaming Hand Soap, Hand Sanitizer, Thieves Spray, Mouthwash, Dentarome Ultra Toothpaste and
Thieves Essential Oil Blend

Click here to sign up today!

**These statements are not approved by the FDA

Young Living Green Initiative!

2010-05-09T14:00:00.001-04:00

Be Part of the YOUNG LIVING "GREEN INITIATIVE"

We have begun a "Green Iniatiative" for the health, safety and welfare of children in our care. This was due to a growing awareness of effects of chemicals on children in our cleaners, personal care products and over the counter medications. We did our homework, and it makes sense to look seriously at REDUCING chemicals in our schools and homes. Once we realized the impact we could have on the health of our staff and children the choice was clear.

Is there a concern for children?
Current statistics show there is a concern.
·Autism is rising fast
·Rheumatiod arthritus is the third most common chronic childhood disorder
·Obesity epidemic in children
·Brain tumors, leukemia, central nervous system malignancies are up 30%
·Childhood cancers are the leading cause of death by disease for children which has increased 21% between 1975 and 1998.

Education is key. We can take back control of the chemicals that we and our children are exposed to. A set of preschools and a high school biology classroom will be sharing what they are using-- a plant based cleaner called THIEVES. It is made of Cinnamon, Rosemary, Clove and Eucalyptus essential oils. It is safe, effective and kills germs..all without chemicals.
Diedre Imus' Book recommends Thieves cleaner in her book called: Green This!

*don't let marketing fool you, just because it says green on the label doesn't mean that is is.

We would like to invite you to a Webinar Monday, May 10th at 9pm EST. This Webinar will be hosted by Connie McDanel, an educator, who has spoken nationally on the subject of wellness. Her distinguished guest speakers incude:

Robert Fuller, PhD. Director of the Center for Earth and Enviromental Science at the State University of New York.
Katherine Fuller, M.S. AP Biology teacher in New York State.

The Webinar will be hosted to people all over the US.
Date: Monday, May 10th, 2010 9PM EST
TO REGISTER CLICK ON THIS LINK:

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/757568568

Many thanks to Kathy Kouwe for permission to reprint this piece.

Is There A Pill For That?- Life 5

2010-05-08T23:52:00.000-04:00

This post gets a little more personal than I usually get here, but the results are worth sharing. I've been usiing YL essential oils for over 2 years. Recently I've been experimenting with supplements. I've stated before that I'm not much of a "vitamin girl" but after continuous health related research last summer for a project I was working on, and more education about the body and how it works, I've decided to be more proactive with supplements. I've written about Longevity and how much I love it. Aside from the energy I feel at 3pm I've been receiving compliments on my skin. I suppose a little cell regeneration on the face never hurt anyone!
Last month while at a YL training, I learned about the gut (intestines, stomach, liver,colon) and what stress does to it. Simply put, anything and everything you ingest or feel is circulated through the digestive system. To think past food, think of how a difficult situation or nerves can affect your stomach- nausea, lack of appetite, binge eating. All of that, whether food or emotion, gets cycled through the digestive system and then to the rest of the body. So, it makes sense to protect and build the gut from the inside out. I don't have what I would call "stomach issues" but I bought some Life5 to try anyway.
I really wasn't sure of what to expect or why I was trying it. So I took it at night for 3 or 5 days. I didn't think I felt any different and considered just holding on to it in case I needed it later. So I skipped a night. The next morning, I realized that I was actually gassy. More so than I had been in recent mornings but when I thought back it was not more than usual. So I went back to taking a Life5 each night. And, while I can't predict individual results and I didn't think I had an issue, my gut has improved. I'll add this too. Many store bought probiotics are milk based. These can upset someone's stomach. The Life 5 did not have that effect on a friend who also tried it. So, even if you have not had great experiences previously, I'd recommend trying this. I was so pleasantly surprised, and I'm sure the people around me were too.....

Summer Feet

2010-04-30T09:18:00.000-04:00

We had a few warm days earlier this month so I broke out my summer shoes. What a great moment- I get so tired of boots and winter shoes by march. My feet, howver, were not quite as ready as I was. Someday, I will have more time for pedicures, but these days, I'm not quite there yet. However, I found some good combinations of oils and something I can do every day to take care of it on my own.
First- I use the Sea Salt Body Scrub on my feet (and elbows) daily. It makes it easier to maintain rough heels and I do love the smell.
Second- I combine Elemi and Joy oils with a moisturizer (I like Aveeno) and that addresses the cracks in heels really well. Both of these blends and combinations can easily be recreated by anyone, so I encourage you take control of your feet and try it!

*These statements are not approved by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose or treat any illness or disease.

A Surprise With Lavender

2010-04-25T09:17:00.000-04:00

I've been experimenting again. This time though, on myself. Allergy season arrived at the usual time this year- early April. I had heard of several people using Lavender oil to combat seasonal allergies. I have to be honest here and say I didn't believe it. I've suffered for almost 20 years and remember times where my eyes were so puffy I was stuck on the couch in pain with a cold washcloth over them unable to do much of anything else. Days when co-workers thought I was high because of red eyes. And finally, pneumonia or bronchitis from all that mucous dripping into my chest.
All of that said, here is what I have been doing:
At the first sneeze, I put about 2 drops of Lavender into the palm of my hands, rub together, and then cover my nose and mouth with my hands and inhale deeply. I inhale probably about 4 times or until the Lavender smell seems to be subsiding.
The result: I go for a couple of hours without sneezing! I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. After so many years of suffering and using products like Claritin and Zyrtec, I really didn't think there was another option. The only thing the Lavender doesn't seem to control is the itchy eyes. So, on occasion I am using eye drops.
If you feel like experimenting- this is a good one. It takes more focus than popping a pill once a day, but for the 6-8 weeks of my life I'm doing this, it's not so bad. Given the choice, why not use Lavender? I don't suspect we'll hear on the news in 10 years that there is a long term use side effect of Lavender, when that seems to happen so often with so many synthetic drugs.

*This information is not supported by the FDA and is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition. They are based on my experiences only.

Greening Your Greens

2010-03-31T08:55:00.001-04:00

About two months ago I watched the movie Food Inc. If you were ever concerned about or wondering where our food comes from, this movie will tell you. When it's done, you may feel motivated to do a little re-thinking about what you eat and where it comes from.
The good news is that re-thinking doesn't have to be drastic. Forever in search of "balance" in my life, there is certainly no need for extremes here. However, there are some changes/adjustments that can be helpful for everyone. Unable to go vegetarian, we've made the move to accept paying a premium at Whole Foods to know from what farm our meat hails. In his effort to help, my husband sent me this link for details on where to go organic and where to stay conventional. There is a general rule of thumb I've followed which is this- when it comes to fruits and vegetables, if there is a peelable skin conventional is fine. If you are going to eat the skin- go organic.
Additionally, here's a tip for making those fruits and vegetables we buy cleaner and last longer:
Add 3-4 drops of Lemon oil to a sink full of water and wash your greens. They will be cleaned and last longer. So go for balance in your life and add a little citrus!

* this information is for educational purposes only.

How Essential Oils Work

2010-03-27T08:00:00.002-04:00

Aromatherapy is the application of essential oils to promote the health and wellbeing of an individual. Essential oils have very specific aromas which have been used since the times of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Essential oils have numerous important qualities - they can be soothing, relaxing, stimulating, healing - all pure essential oils impart oxygen and many are antibiotic, anti-viral, antiseptic, anti-fungal and much more!

Essential oils can enter the body through the air via the nose and bronchial passages (inhalation) or can be absorbed through the skin directly into the bloodstream using massage (absorption).

Aromatherapy makes use of both inhalation and absorption. The power of smell is a very powerful trigger to the human nervous system. Some aromas, such as newly cut grass, baking bread, the air after a rainstorm - have evocative smells so powerful that simply reading the word can remind us of the aroma. An aroma usually has an immediate effect, which is why smelling salts can instantly revive someone. The nose contains tiny hair-like extensions of the brain which detect scent. The brain very rapidly interprets aromas that are inhaled.

We can use essential oils to treat a surprising number of ailments. Although serious conditions should always be treated by a qualified practitioner or by a physician, many common ailments can be relieved safely and effectively at home with aromatherapy. You may, in fact, soon come to regard essential oils as a vital part of your home first aid kit.

For self help, essential oils are most commonly used to relieve aches and pains, for relaxation and stress reductions, and for skin and hair care, but they also have much wider possibilities.

Many essential oils have constituents which allow them to be used as first aid and as an ongoing treatment for cuts, burns, insect bites and bruises. Other oils are anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and antiseptic. Some can be used as an aid in the overall management of more serious conditions such as candida, arthritis and rheumatism.

Essential oils are lipid soluble and can immediately penetrate the cell wall to bring in oxygen and nutrients. Jean Claude LaPraz' studies showed that the application of essential oils to the skin raised the availability of oxygen to the cell by up to 21%.

In addition, since the oils work through the brain to act on the emotions, they are very useful too, not only for stress relief, but for anxiety, overwork, stage fright, etc. Emotional trauma is held in the amygdala gland in the brain, and it has been proven that the only way to access that area is through the sense of smell. Therefore, many different kinds of emotional blocks can be removed using essential oils - allowing people to move forward and succeed in whatever they want to do.

Young Living's essential oils are wonderful.

They take the chaos out of life!

Bikes, Baseball and Bugs

2010-03-20T08:22:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again- spring! There isn't much in life that makes me happier than seeing my flowers come up in the spring. The Crocuses and Dwarf Iris are out- tulips and daffodils won't be far behind.
What this also means is it's time to ride bikes to school again and for some kids, baseball season is about to kick off.
Along with these great things, also comes the more popular season for lice. As I've said before, the last two things I want to do are pick lice out of my 2 year old's hair (I think we'd both have to be sedated) or pay someone to pick lice out of my hair.
So- if you have Purification- start using it. Put a couple of drops in your kids shampoo bottle and mix or put about 10 drops Purification and 10 drops of Peppermint in a 3 oz bottle filled with water and start spraying.
If sore muscles arrive as a result of getting back into the "swing" of things, I like to use Deep Relief for kids or a 1:1 diluted Peppermint or PanAway.

Happpy Spring!

*this information is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition. It is for educational (and helpful) reasons only.

Inspiring Spring Cleaning

2010-03-13T07:30:00.001-05:00

Did you know?

Many common commercial household cleaners contain chemicals that aggravate allergies, asthma and other health ailments.Not to mention a bunch of ingredients I cannot pronounce!

GO GREEN...Use Young Living for a healthy and happy home environment.

Warmer weather is almost here! My flowers are coming up and I'm sure we'll all be sneezing soon enough! It's time for me to clean out all the indoor allergens and dust that accumulated during the winter months. I can't say this is my favorite job, but there is a feeling of satisfaction when the winter air is cleaned out and windows are opened. Here are some tips that will help you create a clean, healthy house ready for a beautiful spring:

1. Gather your essential cleaning supplies: empty spray bottles, Thieves® Household Cleaner, Purification® essential oil blend, your favorite citrus oils, empty garbage bags, and a few rags.
2. Select your favorite air-purifying essential oil and diffuse it throughout your home while you are cleaning. Springtime favorites include the crisp aromas of lemongrass, orange, and Citrus Fresh™.
3. Launder all your bedding, towels, and curtains and add a capful, or about one teaspoon, of Thieves® Cleaner to each load for added freshness.
4. Thieves® cleaner, either diluted in a spray bottle or a pail, is excellent on most surfaces, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. For areas that need additional power, add four or five drops of Purification in a spray bottle and spray directly on the problem areas.
5. Finish your spring cleaning by vacuuming and dusting and opening windows.

It seems simple enough but will probably take me the better part of a weekend or several mornings while kids are in school. it will be all be worth it- I've seen a couple of cobwebs creeping around and I know my curtains are due for the washing machine!

*The information here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition. It's for informational purposes only.

Is There A Pill For That?- Longevity

2010-03-02T13:38:00.000-05:00

I'm not what I'd call a vitamin girl. My mother always had the theory that if you ate the right foods, you didn't need them. I suppose I've taken on that perspective- along with a few other things from my mother....
However, as I watch my parents age and as I've done more research on the long term damage our environment can have on our bodies, I'm thinking that a little help from nature's living energy might just strike the balance for which I strive. So I did some research on nutritional supplements to try to find the right one for me. I was torn between Immupro and Longevity. With three kids I need all the immune support I can get, but I also know what I've done to my body in the past 39 years. I decided on Longevity. Frankincense, Orange, Thyme, and Clove oils have individual strengths and purposes but being able to take them all together in a daily vitamin is the perfect match for my life.
Frankincense-to support cell regeneration and healthy immune function
Orange- to support normal cell growth
Thyme- to protect DHA levels for brain health (I need all the help here I can get)
Clove- nature's strongest antioxidant
With this combination of oils, I figured I'd get immune support as well as cell support from the inside out. I wasn't sure of what to expect once I started taking it, but I can say this:
I've had no strange side effects.
I have more energy throughout the day on a constant level than I had before.
It's easy on my stomach- no issues.

So, while I don't expect to live forever, I am thinking I can support my body better for the next 39 years. Our next adventure will be with supplements to address cholesterol. Stay tuned.....

*This information is not approved by the FDA. It is not meant to treat or diagnose a disease or health condition.

March 2010 Promotions

2010-02-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

These are such great promotions for March
I had to post them here!
Stress Away and Pan Away are two
of my favorite oil blends!
Enjoy!

GET A FREE STRESS AWAY™ ROLL-ON & A JOY™ ESSENTIAL OIL BLEND!
	Winter is coming to an end, and spring is just around the corner! Get ready with two of Young Living's most uplifting products! From March 1 to 31, 2010, when you place an order of 175 PV you'll receive a Stress Away roll-on and a 15 ml Joy essential oil blend absolutely free. That's a retail value of $79.27. Stress Away Roll-On is a unique blend of vanilla, lime, copaiba, and other pure essential oils that relieves daily stress, encourages relaxation, and reduces nervous tension. Joy is an uplifting blend of pure essential oils that creates magnetic energy and brings joy to the heart. Don't miss this chance to put a "spring" in your step—even before all the snow melts from the ground!
PROMOTION DETAILS: Offer valid 12:00 a.m. MT March 1, 2010 to 11:59 p.m. MT March 31, 2010. Limit one free stress away roll-on and one free 15 ml bottle of Joy essential oil blend per order. Offer valid on all orders of 175 PV or more. No limit on qualifying orders. Offer available to Young Living independent distributors, preferred customers, and retail customers. Valid on phone, Essential Rewards, and web orders only. Offer does not apply to Essential Reward point redemption orders. PV not earned for free product. Customer responsible for shipping costs associated with free product. Offer valid in the US and all NFR markets, except where restrictions prevent promotional product(s) from entering your country.
SAVE 10% ON PANAWAY® ESSENTIAL OIL
	Get 10% off all 5ml PanAway® essential oil blend purchases March 1–31, 2010. sku 3391 PanAway® is a soothing essential oil blend containing eugenol, a constituent used historically to numb gums.** Also containing wintergreen and clove, PanAway® aids the body's natural response to irritation and injury.* PanAway is an ideal companion to Ortho Ease® Massage Oil, copaiba essential oil, and Relieve It™ essential oil blend. * These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent and disease. ** Modern scientific research has not yet validated these historical claims.
PROMOTION DETAILS: Offer valid 12:00 a.m. MT March 1, 2010 to 11:59 p.m. MT March 31, 2010. No limit per customer. Offer available to Young Living independent distributors, preferred customers, and retail customers. Valid on phone, Essential Rewards, and web orders only. Offer does not apply to Essential Reward point redemption orders. Offer valid in the US and all NFR markets, except where restrictions prevent promotional product(s) from entering your country.

All My Gray Hair

2010-02-26T08:30:00.000-05:00

My first gray hair was found when I was 21. I didn't even find it myself, my lifelong hairdresser did. Then, to make matters even worse, I was recently informed during my last haircut that EVERY SINGLE HAIR COMING INTO MY HEAD IS GRAY. I suppose that's better than losing my hair, but still. However- short of turning back time, there is not a whole lot I can do. I color it on my own and have tried no less than a dozen products to try to moisturize and manage my color and texture-changing locks. I've spent a lot of money and hadn't used anything worth sharing until last week.
I chose to make the investment in Rosewood Moisturizing Shampoo. For the first time in many years I am happy with my hair! What a difference. It feels soft, the curls hold better, it's not frizzy and I actually feel good about it again. The bottle is not inexpensive but I only need a small amount (less than a quarter-sized circle) and I expect it to last a long time. It will be totally worth the continued investment.
Here's an added bonus- I can actually pronounce the ingredients on the bottle and I know the essential oils in there are therapeutic grade and do more than just make it smell good.

*Remember, each person is different and while I cannot promise the same results for everyone, I would absolutely recommend this product. None of this is approved by the FDA- just in case you were wondering. :)

I Love Thieves!

2010-02-24T12:12:00.002-05:00

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Thieves. I love everything about it from the story behind the name to what it tastes like to how well it works. It is the one oil I think every household should have.
What I didn't realize was how much I actually use Thieves or in how many ways- until I was talking to a friend about it. Here goes-
I've traded in my Mrs. Meyers household cleaner for the Thieves household cleaner. (It smells great and I only need a capful with a bucket of water. The formula was even recently improved)
I've moved from Method soap to Thieves foaming hand soap. (It doesn't dry out my hands and my kids actually want to wash their hands)
I started using the mouthwash and immediately noticed fresher breath in the morning and less tartar build up on my teeth. It's also great for swollen gums. I'll have to try the toothpaste next.
I use the hand sanitizer daily- I little goes a long way, it smells great and it doesn't dry out my hands.
The Thieves spray comes in especially handy when I get the phone call that a child who was recently been over for a play date is sick. I go right into the playroom and spray all the toys!
I've tried the Thieves dental floss- it was too thick to fit in between my teeth but tasted good.
Thieves lozenges. I've tried both the soft and hard. My opinion- the soft ones are a bit dry and like Tums- better as an Altoid-type replacement. The hard ones are great in lieu of a mint or gum and are fantastic if you have a sore throat.
And of course there's the Thieves oil. The kids get it every day, I put a couple of drops under my tongue daily and have used it directly on cancer sores or infected cuts.
I think if there were Thieves coffee I'd drink it!

*These statements are not supported by the FDA and are not intended to treat or diagnose any disease. However, I commend those of you who have taken your health and well-being into your own hands!

Stress....Away!

2010-02-16T13:22:00.007-05:00

Those of you who know me have probably heard me say, "there's nothing like a good fight with your husband or a nasty stomach bug to drop a couple of pounds." While true, neither of these items are especially comfortable. At least with a stomach bug you know that at some point it will just go away. When having a fight- you have to go through the motions of actually having the fight, calming down, and then making up. The making up part is always fun, but the stress leading up to it is just that- stress.
I don't like stress. It puts me in a bad mood, makes my jaw clench, my shoulders tense up, muscles hurt and on occasion I have trouble getting to sleep. When these things happen, I'm cranky. And I don't like to be cranky.
The tricky part is that with the winter weather, no gym membership with babysitting services, and few opportunities to do more than take a few deep breaths, I often feel like I'm stuck. I'll suddenly find my jaw clenched or my left shoulder up around my ear! I can't even imagine what it's doing to my insides- especially over long periods of time.
So, while I can't avoid all stressful activities for the rest of my life, I have learned to do a couple of things.
1- I stop doing or temporarily stop thinking about whatever it is that's stressing me out.
2- Prioritize what can and can't be done now and therefore what will have to wait.
3- Take several deep breaths. (I'd try a yoga pose or two but my 2 year old would see that as an opportunity to start climbing on me and turning my relaxation into a joy ride)
4- Whip out my Stress Away or Peace & Calming.

Stress Away usually wins for the quick fix because it's always in my bag and often, mysteriously, I will find my jaw tightly clenched while driving with all 3 kids. I quickly apply it to my neck so I can smell it any time I turn my head.

Once, after a fight with my husband, I was folding laundry with my jaw so tightly clenched it was giving me a headache. I put a little Peace & Calming on my arms near my pulse points. With each article of clothing I folded I smelled the P&C and within about 20 minutes my jaw was unclenched. The fight wasn't over, but I felt better. More in control and less stressed. It's not rocket science, but it did feel like magic- the power of nature's awesome essential oils.

*This information is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical conditions nor is it supported by the FDA. It's only my story and experience put into words to be shared.

Frankincense on the BBC

2010-02-13T23:07:00.006-05:00

I love Frankincense! I originally bought it to help with my son's asthma but after just a few days found that Oregano really worked best for him to build respiratory function. I held on to the bottle and wasn't really sure about what to do with it next. As I was working through my Eczema journey with my youngest son, I had read that Frankincense is an immuno-stimulant, anti-depressant, anti-tumoral, supportive of respiratory function and great for the skin. I tried it for Eczema and saw great results. Now, 6 months later, there are no patchy Eczema spots at all on my youngest son's skin. He still gets dry, but I suppose that's to be expected. Once again my bottle of Frankincense was about to go back on the shelf for a little while.
Not so fast! This past Tuesday there was an online article on BBC.com asking if Frankincense could be a cure for cancer. What a miracle that would be if science could take hold of a natural product and use it for such good. The 2nd half of the article says this:

Cancer hope

But immunologist Mahmoud Suhail is hoping to open a new chapter in the history of frankincense.

Scientists have observed that there is some agent within frankincense which stops cancer spreading, and which induces cancerous cells to close themselves down. He is trying to find out what this is.

"Cancer starts when the DNA code within the cell's nucleus becomes corrupted," he says. "It seems frankincense has a re-set function. It can tell the cell what the right DNA code should be.

"Frankincense separates the 'brain' of the cancerous cell - the nucleus - from the 'body' - the cytoplasm, and closes down the nucleus to stop it reproducing corrupted DNA codes."

Working with frankincense could revolutionise the treatment of cancer. Currently, with chemotherapy, doctors blast the area around a tumour to kill the cancer, but that also kills healthy cells, and weakens the patient. Treatment with frankincense could eradicate the cancerous cells alone and let the others live.

The task now is to isolate the agent within frankincense which, apparently, works this wonder. Some ingredients of frankincense are allergenic, so you cannot give a patient the whole thing.

Dr Suhail (who is originally from Iraq) has teamed up with medical scientists from the University of Oklahoma for the task.

In his laboratory in Salalah, he extracts the essential oil from locally produced frankincense. Then, he separates the oil into its constituent agents, such as Boswellic acid.

"There are 17 active agents in frankincense essential oil," says Dr Suhail. "We are using a process of elimination. We have cancer sufferers - for example, a horse in South Africa - and we are giving them tiny doses of each agent until we find the one which works."

"Some scientists think Boswellic acid is the key ingredient. But I think this is wrong. Many other essential oils - like oil from sandalwood - contain Boswellic acid, but they don't have this effect on cancer cells. So we are starting afresh."

The trials will take months to conduct and whatever results come out of them will take longer still to be verified. But this is a blink of the eye in the history of frankincense.

Nine thousand years ago, Omanis gathered it and burnt it for its curative and cleansing properties. It could be a key to the medical science of tomorrow.

Part of me fears the potential possibility of mass-production of a synthetic clone, but perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself.
What I will say is this- thankfully, cancer does not run in my family. It does however have an historical presence in my husband's which concerns me for my children. We are still years away from having definitive answers, but all things considered it would be worth adding a little Frankincense to our daily oil usage. Especially for my little ones.

My Toddler and his Fever

2010-02-03T07:41:00.004-05:00

I love trying new things- especially when it comes to oils. The catch- that usually means that there's a reason other than "just for fun." Earlier this week, the reason was a fever. It was a low fever- about 101. Something my youngest child has not had in well over a year. He hadn't been feeling well the night before and his nose was stuffy. I shouldn't have been surprised that he was feeling warm and a little lethargic.
For a fever, there are two oils suggested- Peppermint or Balsam fir. For kids, I like to use Balsam Fir as it is not a hot oil and doesn't require dilution before putting it on the skin. So, I grabbed my bottle and put about 3 drops in the palm of my hand and then rubbed it on the back of his neck and behind his ears. We sat on the couch and watched Word World. About 20 minutes later, my little guy was up and running around playing like normal. That was the first time I'd used Balsam Fir for a fever- what a great result.
I did follow up with Raven on his feet and RC on his chest to block any more congestion and am happy to report we had a full day of toddler energy and activity and a restful night the following night. He still has his cold, but there is no fever and as he was being chased by his older siblings around the house clearly he has all of his energy!

Visit my website to order your oils.

*These statements are not approved nor supported by the FDA. They represent my own experiences and are not meant to treat or diagnose a serious medical problem.

The Bug in Our House

2010-01-23T06:55:00.005-05:00

It arrived unexpectedly as most "bugs" usually do. I heard the tell tale cough that turned into puking at about 10:30 and new I was in for a long night. All things considered, the night wasn't all that bad. I was fortunate. It was a long weekend. We had nowhere to go and no school. As it passed from one child to the next I just stayed in comfy clothes, kept my rags in the ready and had my washing machine working overtime.
I mopped my floor with hot water, Thieves Cleaner and a few drops of Purification. The combination smelled great and as I was going for both anti- bacterial and anti-viral this seemed like a good combination. As my kids got better, I had one looming fear. What if I was next? Typically not a big deal, but this time my husband was out of town on business. If I was down and out over the bowl, we were all in trouble.
What I love about using essential oils for myself is that I'm in control. I started giving myself a few drops of Thieves every couple of hours. I added Frankincense to a Balance and Complete shake. I diffused (and I will always be thankful to Erika for this) Thieves, Purification and Oregano all over the first floor of my house and in my bedroom which had become "sick bay" over the previous days. I never got the "bug" and was ever so thankful.
Then the sore throat started. I felt the swelling in my throat and the pressure in my head. My neck was stiff and I feared the worst. This was still better than puking, but my husband was still away and me being sick wasn't going to help anyone. I bumped up my Thieves intake and kept it next to my bed for middle of the night pain. (Thieves is great for numbing a sore throat) I started rubbing my Raven, Balsam Fir, Copaiba combination all over my neck and throat. While I don't quite think I'm in the clear yet- I'm well on my way. I'm tired but that probably has more to do with sharing my toddler's bed than my cold. One more day of "drinking" Thieves and a good night's sleep should do it. As we know- if Mom gets sick we're all in trouble!

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*These statements are not approved by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose or cure any disease. They only represent my experiences.

Fun With Oils....

2010-01-09T11:47:00.002-05:00

My journey in using Young Living Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils began with, and has been primarily focused on, health benefits. Generally speaking, I'd say my experimenting has been fairly successful. My kids are healthy, colds don't last long, and it's been well over a year since 2 of my 3 kids have had a fever. Eczema and Asthma are well controlled without the use of daily steroids either topical or systemic. In short the two things to remember are that consistency is key (I use Thieves EVERY DAY) as well as catching any symptoms EARLY (like at the first sign of a cough or sneeze).
So- I decided to have some fun. I found a recipe for making my own Sea Salt Body Scrub. I love Sea Salt Body Scrubs, but hate paying $20 for a jar in Whole Foods. In the winter, the oils and salt help exfoliate my really dry skin and add a ton of extra moisturizing at the same time. I'm less itchy and get a little morning aromatherapy. In my first batch I used the YL blend Christmas Spirit which has orange, cinnamon and spruce and smells awesome! This little ritual has greatly enhanced the 10 minutes of peace I get each morning in the shower.
How to make your own: Combine a 1/2 cup of coarse sea salt, a little more than 1/4 cup of Avocado or Sweet Almond oil and 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil in a bowl and mix. This amount fits well in one of those little 4oz. Gladware plastic containers.
A couple of things to keep in mind: A blend such as Christmas Spirit works well here because it is diluted with avocado oil. If it weren't it would be hot on the skin because of the cinnamon. Body scrub can be slippery in the tub because of the oil so be careful. Also- do not use over any open cuts or sores as it may sting.
Have some fun mixing and feel free to share your findings!

Coming Back...

2009-12-31T11:40:00.002-05:00

It happens to me every year. I get a little carried away with the Christmas cookies. If it was just making them, that would be one thing, but it's eating them. And this goes way beyond the sampling to make sure that they turned out ok from the oven.
This year I've got some help. I've started to incorporate a Balance Complete shake into my daily meal regimen. I use it for either breakfast or lunch and since I just can't stomach the idea of doing a full 5 Day Cleanse, this will help me jump start getting back to normal post Christmas. It tastes good too!

Lotions and Potions

2009-12-30T21:35:00.005-05:00

I can't believe it's been 6 weeks (at least) since I've shared my latest discoveries. All those 5am wake ups caught up with me and of course Christmas was always looming in the near future. On top of it all throw in 2 sick kids and a sick husband right after Thanksgiving and that's been my life. The upside is that I've been playing with oil blends looking for ways to manage the winter weather. After some successful trials and some blends that just weren't meant to be, I've found a few things I thought were worth sharing.
First- Winter Skin. For the past few years I've suffered from the skin on my hands peeling and ultimately bleeding from being so dry. Whether it's the cold outside or the heat inside, they take a beating making it uncomfortable for knitting. Being that I have my priorities in order and would consider the inability to knit a major problem, I needed a solution. The result is a blend that after 3 days made a significant difference in my hands even after hand washing. I combined 5 drops of Frankincense with 5 drops of Copaiba (my new favorite oil) and added them to about 3oz. of regular Aveeno lotion. While it has done wonders for my hands, the health and immune supporting properties of Frankincense have done even more than that. The last cold that hit our family got everyone but me and my youngest. I've been using this lotion on him for his Eczema and we both remained healthy. In fact, the little guy hasn't had more than a runny nose so far this winter and considering the amount of wrestling between my two boys he really should have experienced more than he has.
Second- The Cough. You know what I'm talking about. The one your kids have lingering during the day and always seems to get worse at night. You start to wonder if the medicine in your cabinet has expired or was recalled. You envision a really cold trip to the 24 hour pharmacy in the middle of the night and then just hope and pray for the best. As the mother of a child with asthma, I've been on a mission to manage and build lung function in any way I can that doesn't involve the regular use of inhaled steroids. After some experimentation I found a combination that I use on both my son's chest and feet at the first sign of a cold or cough. I cannot say that he doesn't cough at all (there is a need to get all that junk out) but when the doctor has listened to his chest during a cold with a lingering cough, it's been clear. So- here is one of my favorite blends for both kids and adults: 10 drops of Raven, 10 drops of Balsam Fir, and 10 drops of Copaiba mixed together in either a roller bottle or a small 3oz. bottle with a pump. Add to it enough Avocado oil to fill almost to the top and roll the bottle around sideways to blend the oils. The smell of these 3 oils together is amazing and the blend helps to keep the chest clear and the cough productive. If you are making this yourself, it's important to use the avocado oil as it neutralizes the heat of the Raven oil on the skin and makes it more comfortable for the kids. Once this blend is on the chest, I'll also add a little Lavender directly to the skin to help calm the coughing an the muscles in the chest.
Third- Cabin Fever. This one I'm still experimenting with and while it's early in the season, I feel I may have more to do here, but my start is definitely worth sharing. As a child, my mom used to make these little spice balls comprised of tangerines or clementines completely covered in whole cloves, rolled in cinnamon, and topped with a little bow. They would sit on a platter in our dining room and smelled great. I've tried the cloves in the oranges and while they do smell great, the pain on the fingers to push in all those cloves is more than I can deal with right now. My solution: A blend of Citrus Fresh and Clove in the diffuser. These two oils together smell wonderful and make a great air freshener. If you don't have a diffuser, a few drops of each in a cup of hot water or added to a small spray bottle filled with water will work just as well. It's an uplifting combination that doesn't smell like winter. By the time March rolls around, I may need a different combination but for now, I feel as if I'm off to a good start on this one.

Outstanding! She Said.....

2009-11-15T22:21:00.003-05:00

Typically, my mother reserves the word "outstanding" for things like theater and cheesecake. However- this time it was different.
My mom told me about sleeping issues she had been having for quite a while. No trouble falling asleep, but staying asleep wasn't working so well. She had said it was part hormones and part stress. For me, I'm so tired at the end of the day that I usually pass out pretty quickly. If I'm up in the middle of the night, it's probably somebody else's fault.
In my effort to help- we all deserve the opportunity to sleep and let our bodies and brains rest- I suggested a new product from Young Living. It's called Sleep Essence. It works by inducing total relaxation and helping calm us down so we can sleep peacefully. I picked up a bottle at a meeting and held it for her. During a recent visit, she tried the pills. Totally natural and filled with ingredients like lavender, vetiver, valerian, and Ruta graveolens essential oils with the hormone melatonin—a well-known sleep aid. We both waited to see what would happen.
She took one pill 1/2 hour before bed and slept soundly until she was awakened by my nephew in the middle of the night. To her absolute delight- she had no problem getting back to sleep once my nephew was asleep. And the best news- she slept soundly until 7 the next morning. In her words: Sleep Essence does the same thing a prescription would but it's all natural which is so much better.

* These statements are not approved by the FDA, nor are they meant to diagnose or treat a medical problem.

Those Damn Bugs!

2009-10-10T21:00:00.003-04:00

The school year started off with bang- mostly. Then, within a week notices were sent home about lice already in the school. Typically this is a springtime problem, but apparently there were problems over the summer that never left the school.
There are a handful of simple truths about me. I am not one of those people who has the energy the deal with cleaning every spec of area in my house and washing sheets and pillows every day to deal with the problem of lice. Some might call it lazy, but I'm still on the fence about that one. Either way, what this means for me is that I need to avoid having lice come into my house at all possible costs or we're all in trouble.
So I did some research (inspired by a friend who called with a question about using YL oils for lice) and found what she had. There are a few oils that lice don't like. Rosemary, Lavender, Tea Tree, and Citronella. All of these essential oils are in the blend Purification. Some of those essential oils are also in the Fairy Tales products. Here is the difference I see and follow. Young Living essential oils are therapeutic grade and stronger than anything available in the mass market. While I admittedly have not done any scientific research, I'm basing my opinion on two things. One- any mass market essential oils I have seen in stores have warnings like "do not apply directly to the skin and do not ingest." The YL oils are meant to be used directly on the skin or even ingested depending on the oil. Two- I have seen the strength and potency of therapeutic grade oils and have to believe that anything mass marketed, and used without training, has to be "watered down."
That said, we have all begun using Purification as a way to prevent lice. There are a couple of ways we do this (even the 2 year old):

I add 1-2 drops to a handful of shampoo before washing the kids hair or mine.
I got tired of interrupting shower time for a special shampoo treatment and decided to add about 10 drops to the second 1/2 of a bottle of shampoo. Clearly the easier option.
I add 10 drops of Purification and 10 drops of Peppermint to a 3oz. spray bottle and spray their heads. (The preferred method for my middle child)

While I cannot make any guarantees, I am all for prevention with a strong natural product rather than treating an outbreak with chemicals and a very expensive and time consuming visit from the lice lady. So, there's my lice recommendation for all, including myself and my family.

To order Purification go to: www.youngliving.org/tracybermeo and click on the link to the left to sign up.

Disclaimer: *this information is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.

Settling a Tummy

2009-10-10T19:56:00.004-04:00

I recently had the pleasure of trying a new use for Peppermint. I use the word "pleasure" with a bit of my tongue in my cheek......
As it happens to be the beginning of cold season, we've had the pleasure of already having a cold or two in our house. What I have learned with my youngest (not yet 2) is that when he gets a cold the mucous drips into his stomach and causes a serious bout of diarrhea. The first time this happened, it took me a good day and a half to remember to use Peppermint for an upset stomach. As it's a hot oil, and he's still very young, I wanted to be very careful.
I put a drop of Peppermint on the bottom of each foot after the 4th dirty diaper (yes there were 4 before Noon) and that was it for soft poop for the rest of the day. What a relief. Settled stomach and then back to climbing up on tables.
On an older child there is another way to administer Peppermint for an upset stomach. We recently had the "pleasure" of trying this with my daughter who happens to have developed a sensitivity to cheese..... We rub two drops of Peppermint directly on her stomach in a circular motion. It helps almost immediately and the heat of the oil doesn't seem to bother her.
For an adult, add one (seriously, only 1) drop to a cup of tea. This works great for settling a stomach.

A thing or two to remember about Peppermint: It is a hot oil which means it's hot on the skin. If you feel there is a sensitivity to the heat, use a pure vegetable oil to dilute NOT water. And whatever you do, don't touch anything sensitive like an eye after using Peppermint with your hands.
If you would like to order Peppermint, go here: www.youngliving.org/tracybermeo and click on the left to sign up as a customer.

*this information is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical problem.

All Natural Hand Sanitizer- in the news!

2009-09-15T20:33:00.000-04:00

This morning my husband tells me that there's a piece on the news about an all natural hand sanitizer using a combination of rosemary, cinnamon, clove and lemon to create an all natural hand sanitizer. We just looked at each other- that's Thieves! And the thing our family practically lives on all year and especially in the winter. I actually drink it.
The article references the name- Thieves- and a pediatrician who recommends using this combination of oils. Lucky for me, I buy the YL pre-made sanitizer in a 3 pack and don't have to actually mix it myself. God knows what would happen then.
I love this essential oil blend for both the way it smells and what it does to keep my family healthy. Here's to a healthy winter!

Much Ado About Copaiba

2009-08-24T08:47:00.000-04:00

About a month ago I listened in on a conference call all about Copaiba. Looking back, I don't think I knew all that much more about Copaiba at the end of the call than I did at the beginning. All I knew was that there was a lot of excitement and it sounded interesting.
Of course, inspired by the call, I ordered the oil. It smells lovely. Like a woodsy, balsam sweet smell. It's known to support the digestive system as well as help muscles and joints. It's often used for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia. I have neither of these conditions, but I do run around after three kids all day. I bend, stretch, tickle, and lift anything from a toy to a child to a stroller up the stairs. In the meantime, I'm also becoming quite frustrated with the extra 10 lbs. from my last pregnancy that just won't seem to leave so I take the opportunity to walk with the stroller whenever I can.
Needless to say- at the end of the day I'm wiped. Aside from feeling it in my very heavy eyelids, I feel it in my tired muscles. Not soreness like you experience after a "fun" day at the gym, but just fatigue. On a whim, I tried Copiaba one night and rubbed it all over my legs before going to bed. (I also happen to have Restless Leg syndrome). Then I cupped my hands over my nose and mouth as my head hit the pillow and fell into an awesome relaxing sleep. I just can't make this stuff up. My experience is that the oil both relieves physical muscle and joint tiredness as well as offering a wonderfully relaxing aromatherapy before going to sleep. Recently, I gave some to my mother in law after she fell down some stairs (ugh- mine) during a visit, and within minutes she was freely moving her knee which bore the brunt of the fall.
I'm sure that Copaiba is great for many other things as well. The Brazilians have been using it for thousands of years. For this mother of 3, it relaxes me at the end of the day and sends me off into a fabulous sleep as well as prepares my tired muscles for another day of being Super- Mom!

*disclaimer: This information is not supported by the FDA and is in no way meant to treat or diagnose a serious illness. I just have fabulous experiences with it and wanted to share!

Oh Man That Stinks!

2009-08-24T08:06:00.001-04:00

In my constant quest to treat asthma without steroid based drugs, I have made an important realization. As excited as I was to have my middle son off his inhaler, and using only YLEO to control and help his breathing, I have found that he is now more susceptible to mold, basement dampness, and environmental allergies. For example, after playing in a friend's basement, there is definitely breathing difficulty. Also, it's ragweed season and guess what he's allergic to? Yes, ragweed. This is a never ending learning and management process. Technically, it isn't a problem, it just means that I have to be keenly aware of the environment and his breathing more so than I would if I were just giving him his inhaler every day. A fair trade off in my opinion.
So, the good news is that he has not needed to be on his inhaler daily. The bad news is that it's Ragweed season and very humid. Two weeks ago, after about a week's worth of rescue medicine and continued coughing (I really don't think the inhaler was helping as the cough was going on for two long) I had to revert to the one oil I didn't want to use. Not because it doesn't work, but because the smell is God-awful. The oil is Eucalyptus Blue. I had initially heard about it in a conference call and the people in the audience were literally cheering about it. So I bought it, and do did a friend of mine. We got our oils and my friend actually returned hers because it smelled so bad! I smelled it and kept my bottle closed and put the other one away in an enclosed area. Seriously one of the worst smells ever! Now, here I was contemplating using the oil. The cough was back (I think from an allergy drip) and I needed something strong. I reached for the Eucalyptus Blue and some socks.
So, here's the drill my son and I have fun with. I grab the oil, he grabs his socks. I very quickly put 1-2 drops of the oil in the bottoms of his feet and he follows quickly with the socks. The smell doesn't escape the socks and his breathing is 100% better. The stuff stinks, but is totally worth it!

*disclaimer: This information is not supported by the FDA nor is it intended to treat or diagnose a medical condition. It is based solely on my experience and what has worked for us!

Summer Skin Healed

2009-07-20T22:55:00.000-04:00

After 8 full days of treating my youngest son's very dry eczema damaged summer skin, I quickly learned yesterday what the culprit is. It's the chemicals in the pool water. After 5 minutes in the water the dry patches showed. I knew the peeling and itching would not be far away. Well, it's summer and I'm not spending mine indoors.
What I have seen in a week of diligent skin healing is amazing. One has to keep in mind that this treatment process worked well for my son based on his skin and body. However, I would certainly recommend it to any parent who has a child with the horrible itchy and dry patches. I had never thought that skin could be too dry to even absorb moisturizer, but it feels as though that's where the base of our problems started.
In short- my youngest son's skin was so dry and the top layer of skin so damaged that it couldn't absorb moisturizer. I even went back to leaving his skin wet after a bath and putting the avocado oil with either Lavender or Purification on him. They weren't working as well as they had previously so I had no choice but to try something else. Exfoliation seemed like the next logical step and of course because this is baby skin, I didn't want anything too abrasive. Orange Blossom facial wash was perfect and gentle and lucky for me I only needed a little bit and he still has a small body. I have come to use this as his soap after a day at the pool.
Frankincense played a role in healing the damaged skin and I think making the new skin stronger right from the start. Using it for 5-7 days is plenty based on how damaged the skin is. I am sure that as summer continues, I will need to go back to it, but for now we're doing really well with the Orange Blossom facial wash and the moisturizer. His skin is like butter and the problem areas are maintaining themselves.

Here is the plan of action I'd recommend to anyone willing to try it:

Each day wash with the Orange Blossom facial wash. (An amount the size of a dime is all you need on a washcloth). I found it easier to do this in a shower as a lot of the wash came off in the tub while trying to scrub those little legs.
After the bath immediately use equal parts avocado oil with Frankincense on the affected area. Repeat for each affected area.
When skin is dry and oil absorbed, moisturize as usual. Continue to moisturize as needed during the day.
In the next 12 hour increments for the next 2-3 days (depending on how bad the skin is) apply just the diluted Frankincense.

Essentially you are giving the oil treatment twice a day and exfoliating only once a day. I'd even do the exfoliation every other day so as not to potentially aggravate the skin as it's healing.
Continue for a week and be patient. These things take diligence and time.

*these statement are not meant to treat or diagnose any medical problem or condition. They are based on my own experiences.

Summer Skin Days 3-6

2009-07-20T22:44:00.000-04:00

Day 3-
I did not exfoliate today and in fact skipped the bath all together. I slathered the Frankincense with avocado oil on his legs generously. On the rest of his body I went with just lotion. Time to wait and see what the morning would bring.

Day 4-
His skin was dry this morning. I started with lotion and went right to Frankincense on his legs at breakfast. The booster seat is the perfect place to do this as his squirmy little body is trying to escape me! By the end of the day, his skin was still soft. Finally- he really seems to be holding the moisturizer. We had our exfoliation and oil session bedtime and optimistically hoped for the best in the morning.

Day 5-
Today I can see the most significant difference in his skin! The flakes are mostly gone and the tones in his skin are evening out. He's holding on to the moisture in his skin and his legs are definitely on the way to recovery. I'll stay away from the water again today and give him two "frankincense treatments" with moisturizer. In a moment of reminding myself to be patient, I remembered that even prescription antibiotics take 7-10 days to fully cure an illness.

Day 6-
His skin looks like normal-non-eczema skin! The tone is even, it's not dry or itchy. I used alittle Frankincense on his back and arms last night before bed and today he looks great. It wasn't as bad in those spots so one treatment seemed to work fine.

Summer Skin- Day 2

2009-07-13T11:09:00.001-04:00

Day 2. I used the Orange Blossom facial wash again yesterday during the bath and I think it's the perfect non-soap remedy for my youngest son's skin. He's holding the moisture from both the lotion and the avocado oil I'm using with either Purification or Frankincense. The Frankincense really seems to be repairing his worst parts- by his ankles. I have focused my Frankincense experiment on his legs (specifically his shins) so I can watch and compare to the rest of his body.
As I have learned with other uses of the YL Essential oils- the body needs a couple of days to absorb and heal. More to come as I continue in my Eczema quest but I'm feeling very confident about this. And as far as I'm concerned it sure beats the prescription steroid option from the dermatologist.

Summer Skin

2009-07-11T09:58:00.001-04:00

I love seeing my kids' tanned little bodies in the summer. Even with sunscreen SPF50 they still tan beautifully without burning. However, the sun, sunscreen, and chlorine in the pool water takes a toll on my youngest son's skin and makes it even drier. The result was that his skin was not absorbing the Lavender oil and just kept getting drier and drier. It was drier and flakier than it ever was even at it's worst in the winter.
I've recently been using the Orange Blossom facial wash (which I just love!) and it's so soft and soothing that I thought it would be a good exfoliator for my son without irritating his skin. So last night after washing the chlorine off his body with Ivory soap, I used the Orange Blossom facial wash all over his body. I only needed a very small amount (about the size of a dime) on a washcloth and it worked great. No irritation to his skin and 80% of the flakes were gone. I used Purification oil with his moisturizer before bed and hoped for the best.
This morning, his skin was the best it's been in a week or more. It retained the moisture from the lotion and oil the night before and he was not itchy at all. I added some Frankincense directly on his worst area (his legs) and will continue to do that for the next few days to see how it works. Frankincense is known today for skin healing properties* and I feel as though I'm beyond maintenance for the next week or so until his skin gets better. I'll be using the Orange Blossom facial wash each day too to continue removing the flakes.

*disclaimer: this statement is not approved or supported by the FDA, only be research from the people at Young Living.

Getting Off the Inhaler

2009-07-05T21:56:00.000-04:00

In my constant quest to combat asthma without using steroid based drugs that make the pharmaceuticals more money and keep my child dependent, I believe I am onto something great that's working for my son.
During our most recent visit to the pulmonologist she told me that the body makes its own steroids at 4am and 4pm. The doctor said to give my son his inhaler at a time of day that is not 4am or 4pm because otherwise his body will become dependent on the drugs rather than making its own steroids.
So I had to ask myself- why was I doing this? I had been using Oregano to build up lung function and Thieves for overall wellness. Recently as we were going through the early weaning process of two puffs a day to one my son said his breathing "didn't feel so well." Determined to not use the inhaler (unless absolutely necessary) I tried a combination of Raven and Balsam Fir diluted with avocado oil. I applied the combination to my son's chest and upper back. Within a couple of minutes I asked him how he felt and he said "good" with a big smile. Since then I've been giving him this oil combination once a day and continuing with the Oregano at bed time. I've also stopped the inhaler all together. He's blowing higher on his peak flow meter than he did when on his inhaler.
What an awesome moment to find something that works well and will make him stronger and healthier rather than dependent on a drug.*

*Disclaimer: None of this is approved or supported by the FDA- only my own experiences and the smile on my son's face.

It's That Time of Year Again

2009-07-04T08:26:00.000-04:00

The mosquitoes are here- at least in the northeastern part of the US where we live. In the past I have usually used the chemical/commercial bug sprays and while doing so squeezing my eyes shut and holding my breath so as not to inhale a nasty tasting mixture of God knows what. On others recommendations I also tried Avon's Skin So Soft, but alas was bitten anyway.
This year I'm trying Purification in a spray bottle with some water. You don't need more than a few drops of oil for a 4oz spray bottle filled about 80% with water. I'll be honest- as a result of my SSS experience, I was skeptical but still willing to try. Especially with kids (the youngest only 18 months) I'd rather stay away from the chemicals all together.
Excellent news! It works! After a month of rain and the summer heat finally showing up- the mosquitoes arrived too. I sprayed myself, my kids, my friends kids and their parents with the spray while watching our town Fireworks. We all did great and there were no bites. I will say though that as with anything natural sometimes we needed two sprays, but to me that was still better than the chemical alternative.
If you want, you can also combine a couple of other oils in your spray bottle as the newscaster/testers of NBC25 in Michigan did or you can go with just Purification. It's one of my favorite oils and it works!

The One Who Really Can't Get Sick

2009-07-04T08:12:00.000-04:00

In my house, we all agree that the one who absolutely, totally, and completely cannot get sick is me. If mom gets sick- things get really dicey. After a whirlwind month of June and moving up ceremonies, field days, end of school, half days and our first family vacation in almost a year it all caught up with me in the last days of the month.
I started with a sore throat. Mild at first but then fiery. No fever or other issues to speak of except being tired and at times unable to speak- a blessing for some I suppose. :) In an effort to completely avoid any of this getting any worse, I immediately doused myself in Thieves. Under the tongue and in the form of lozenges several times a day. I also massaged Raven on my throat and the back of my neck (the pain was extending to my ears) before bed and in the morning. The combination of these essential oils helped tremendously and in a day's time (along with some good solid rest) I was (and am) back to my normal self. Which is good because I hate being sick.

The Pig Hits Home

2009-06-12T09:18:00.000-04:00

I knew it would happen- the Swine Flu finally reached our town. It also reached my sister-in-law's town. She's 90 minutes away from us.

My opinion on the Swine Flu remains the same- it's a flu like any other and some people are more at risk than others. In the case of my sister in law- it hit hard and fast. In her kids high school 250+ kids were out sick. Hers included. As the flu progressed, she said quite simply her eyeballs hurt and she couldn't stand from the pain in her legs. Next, it developed into pneumonia and she ended up in the hospital. Thankfully, she and her kids are recovering. As an asthma sufferer, she was at high risk to begin with but had done nothing to build her immune system for an early defense. In case you're wondering, I suggested to the entire family to start using Thieves on a regular basis, but they chose otherwise. You can lead a horse to water.....

Two nights ago, we received a recorded message from the school superintendent stating that there was a case of Swine Flu in the school system but that the child was recovered and back in school. I am going to assume that there was time for the disease to spread before diagnosis. If I'm wrong that's the best news I could have. This high school student has younger siblings. One of them is in the same preschool and my friend's son. You do the math.

After hearing what my sister in law and her family experienced, I have been adamant with my children, my husband, my friends and myself to continue to build our immune systems. I've sent emails to friends encouraging them to use Thieves every day- especially if their kids are in day care.

Here is what we are doing*:
Thieves under my toungue every night.
Thieves in my youngest's milk every day- twice a day.
Eucalyptus Blue or Oregano and Thieves on my kids feet twice a day.
Thieves waterless hand sanitizer often- especially in school.
Raven and Purification in the baby's bath water. It's a beautiful smelling combination and the germ fighting power of Raven with the cleansing power of Purification makes me feel better.
Plenty of rest.
Lots of hand washing.

Be well! www.youngliving.org/tracybermeo

*Disclaimer- none of this is backed by the CDC or the FDA but we survived last flu season with no incidents and there were plenty of sick kids through out my kids schools.

Since we can't use cough medicine anymore.....

2009-05-13T16:50:00.000-04:00

As a kid I took lots of phenegran with codeine. I loved what we called "the purple medicine." Now, taking cough medicine is shunned and I suppose for good reason. First- coughing is good for us as it prevents pneumonia. I always tell my kids they have to cough up all the yucky stuff. Second- some parents just didn't know when to say "when" and gave their kids too much over the counter cough medicine and therefore ruined it for the rest of us. The result is that now the only remedies for a cough are the natural ones. At least there's something!

As it's allergy season and my kids are all drippy and itchy and sneezy it's inevitable that that drippy stuff (mucous) will cause a post nasal drip and lots of coughing. As a mom, I'm sure I'm supposed to be numb to coughing but let me tell you I've had just about enough.

Last night, I gave my daughter a combination of Lavender and Balsam Fir on her chest before bed. The Balsam Fir decreases mucous production and acts as an expectorant and the Lavender helped calm her chest. What I like about this combination is that it's not a "hot"oil like Raven, which I happen to love for decongesting, but requires dilution for kids as it contains peppermint.

Thankfully this little combination both smells good and provided everyone with a good nights rest. After all, sleep is required for the body to heal and get well. It also makes Mommy a happier person in the morning.

Old Wounds

2009-05-12T22:04:00.000-04:00

Twenty years ago my husband was boxing in the army. He made the mistake of sparring without wraps under his boxing gloves. The result was a very calloused scar where the skin on the knuckle was split for years. On occasion the skin would open and bleed- especially in the winter.
Just this past week I suggested he put some drops of Lavender on it to help it heal.
Within days the callous was gone as was the crack in the middle of the skin. The discoloration remains but it is mostly healed and looks better than it has in twenty years.

I always knew Lavender was great for the skin and have used it on all recent cuts and scrapes obtained by my kids, but to see it work on my husband was just great! Next I'm going to have to try it on the scars from the stitches my son has been collecting over the past 5 years.

Old Reliable!

2009-05-02T13:27:00.000-04:00

It is often said that the best defense is a strong offense. In the case of this new flu, my feeling is that there is nothing more true. As I understand it, this flu is no different from other flues floating around out there. It makes you sick, preys on the young and elderly, and is contracted by touch. The challenge with this flu is that since it's a mutation, none of us has any antibodies for it in our systems which makes us that much more vulnerable. My prediction: the flu shot given in the fall will be made to protect against the H1N1/Swine flu. With all the media attention- $20 says I'm right.
Either way- considering the germ fest that exists in schools, daycares, and child activity centers, I will be doing all I can to build up and keep my kids immune systems strong. With the warmer months approaching and a focus on spring allergies I had slacked off on the daily use of Thieves in our health regimen*. I will now reincorporate it and I think I'll even send a bottle to my mom.
Unfortunately, it's the one oil I DIDN'T bring with me while we are on vacation this week. Good thing we're not in Mexico.

How to use Thieves:

On your kids: Apply 2-3 drops on the bottoms of their feet in the morning and at bedtime. Use the hand soap at home or waterless hand sanitizer while in school. The kids love it!
For us parents: Apply in the same manner as the kids or place a few drops under the tongue 2-3 times a day. It's a little spicy in the mouth but I love it!

Order Thieves here.

*disclaimer: None of this information is approved or supported by the FDA. It's based on the fact that my kids already survived one flu season without getting sick and I intend to keep it that way.

Something for Mom

2009-04-24T17:59:00.000-04:00

I love food. I always have. Typically, my 4'11" frame can handle most of what I eat and usually my own will power takes care of the rest. However, after having our 3rd child at the "advanced maternal age" of 37 my metabolism isn't what it used to be.

Part of my challenge was that I envisioned the having a 3rd child to be like having just 1 child. Nap time is free time, plenty of opportunity for walking off the baby weight, and going to Target without someone presenting an emotional case for why she or he MUST HAVE A TOY RIGHT NOW! It is like that- mostly. What I hadn't anticipated (or perhaps I just forgot) is how long it takes to feed a baby, change a baby, and load a baby into the car. Throw in the requirement to be at school on time for picking up the older kids and I'm done. There is no time for exercise, at least for me. I do know some people who get up at 5:30 to exercise. Good for them! I get up at 5:30 to be with a 1 year old.

The result: No time to exercise, no "easy" way to lose the baby weight, and way too much Easter candy. My body was on sugar overload and gave no indication of stopping. So, time to do something for me and still get the laundry done, run errands, and cook dinner.

I tried the Young Living 5 Day Nutritive Cleanse. I was excited to start it and looking forward to breaking the sugar habit. I had read the instructions and felt that I could certainly handle this- I had given birth 3 times hadn't I? I had to clean out my system and kick the sugar habit. I could do this. And if I lost some weight in the process- bonus!

I did do it. All 5 days. However, as a mom who is responsible for 3 kids for 14 hours in a day, there are some things that I feel I should share for anyone else considering this.

Day 1- This was definitely the most difficult day. I had almost no energy- and I'm a pretty energetic person. I didn't feel the toxic symptoms of gas until after the 2nd "meal" and never felt bloated. I attribute this to the good eating habits I had for January through March. If you are a stay at home mom- I would start on a weekend when dad can help. I needed a nap in the afternoon- I was exhausted. The caffeine headache in the middle of the day was almost unbearable. I couldn't wait to go to bed so it would hopefully go away.

Day 2- I had slightly more energy, but not much. There was still some gas, but I never felt bloated. I didn't really experience food cravings (as the program literature warns) but I did miss food- especially dinner. The headache persisted as well- not easy on a Monday. I was committed though and kept going.

Day 3-Finally I awoke with more energy than I had the day before. The headache was subsiding and I was used to the protocol. Lots of water, some snacks of fruit (which I love) and I was actually having fun putting some of my favorite oils, lemon and Thieves, into the shake. On this day though, there was a new side effect. The Ninxja Red (a very high anti oxidant drink- think of V8 Splashers on steroids) was giving me heartburn- something to which I am not usually susceptible.

Day 4- I skipped the Ninxja Red in the morning, and was getting used to no coffee. I had almost my normal energy and there was no headache. I learned that in order to avoid the heart burn, I had to drink the Ninxja Red first then have the shake. That worked like a charm. However, by dinner time I was ready to quit. I missed food. A lot. I was still cooking dinner for a family and not being able to eat it was just plain sad. But I kept going. Had another shake for dinner and stuck to the plan. At this point I felt lighter and could see my belly (where a lot of my baby weight remained) getting smaller. My jeans fit better too. I knew I only had one more day to go. So far it was all worth it.

Day 5- I had my normal energy back. No headache. No heartburn. 5lbs. less on the scale. I cruised through my last day and high-fived my husband when I had my last shake for dinner.

In short- here are some highlights of things to consider as a parent before doing this cleanse:

Be prepared mentally.
If you are home with kids, start on a Saturday. If you work in an office, I'd start on a Monday.
Have the support of your spouse or partner.
Have the recommended snacks on hand and available.
Prepare your shakes a little while before you anticipate needing them. They are very filling but my most tempting time to quit was when I was hungry.

What I have learned and will take away from this experience:

This is only a first step. Maintaining with diet and exercise is next.
Eat healthier snacks that are high in protein and fiber.
Have more fruit on hand to have as a snack.
Cut back on bread even if it's whole wheat.
Drink more water. It flushes out the system.

My next steps:

Begin taking Thermaburn to raise my metabolism in my newly cleaned digestive system.
Have a shake instead of macaroni and cheese for lunch. The protein shake can be used as a meal replacement for continued weight management.
Remember how well my clothes fit now so I have fruit for dessert instead of getting back into sugar and candy
Have a cup of coffee.

Getting Closer

2009-04-22T15:52:00.000-04:00

Purification. After 10 days of trying a new Essential Oil for our little Eczema problem, I believe I have found a working solution. The most important thing to keep in mind here is that this is a working solution for my child and it took a few tries of different oils to make it work. Every child is different so by all means, try this but if it doesn't work, feel free to try something else.

What I have been looking for in my search is the almost immediate response to an Essential Oil like I saw with the lemon. My experience is that when it comes to the skin, a response is almost immediate, whereas finding relief with building up respiratory function or clearing up a cold, a serious positive response may take a day or two. I found that neither the Gentle Baby or the Frankincense were working the way I had hoped, so I did in fact move on to Purification.

Here is what worked for me and for my little one: Once a day I combine equal parts of Avocado oil with Purification (which is a proprietary Young Living blend of citronella, rosemary, tea tree and other oils) and rub it all over my little one's body. The upside for me: I love the smell! After more than a week of this, I have seen a continued improvement and healthy response from the skin. I believe the Lemon provided a first step to healthy skin, and the Purification provided the second step. As is often the case, there is not one oil or one solution for a particular problem, and in mine this two part process is now successful.

How I use Purification for me:

Put a few drops in a small spray bottle filled with water and clean my counter tops

How I use Purification for my kids:

Mix equal parts Purification with vegetable oil and rub all over the body for Eczema relief
Use directly on skin after a bug bite
Put a few drips in a small spray bottle filled with water and use a bug spray

*disclaimer: these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and the recommendations are solely based on personal experience.

Continued Quest

2009-04-14T22:47:00.001-04:00

An interesting thing happened today. After I put Lemon Essential Oil and Frankincense on my youngest son's feet, my fingers got very dry. Worse than they have been in months. I read up on my Lemon some more and found that lemon is used to balance skin and combat acne. It's all coming together.

Here is what I think happened. When I first used Lemon on my son, his skin balanced itself out. The parts that should have been soft and silky became that way and therefore the parts that were dry patches showed more clearly. This is when I introduced Frankincense. After seeing my almost immediate Lemon results I have noticed that in 3 days of Frankincense, the result is not what I had hoped. Not that anything is getting "worse" but it's just not getting better.

So, here I am in part 3 of my Eczema cure quest. I am now taking away Lemon from my daily routine (as I think it has served its purpose) and instead using a combination of Avocado oil and Gentle Baby. I use Avocado oil as a basic vegetable oil and,, as a friend told me you only want to use something that you would be willing to eat. Many people use almond oil, but as my kids have nut allergies, I went with avocado. Good news- you can cook with it too. Gentle Baby is a Young Living Blend which includes both Lemon and Lavender (Lavender was to be my next test) along with 8 other oils. For about 24 hours now I have taken a dime sized amount of Avocado oil and added 4 drops of Gentle Baby to it. I rub my hands together and then rub that combination on his body essentially everywhere. This combination can also be used on diaper rash.

There will be more to come on this, but if it doesn't work, next I'm trying the same thing iwth Purification- which I happen to love. I think the Lavender smell in Gentle Baby bothers me, but as I've said, you don't have to love the smell.

How Do I Get This Stuff?!

2009-04-13T12:28:00.000-04:00

Here is how and where to get these wonderful Young Living Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils.
Enjoy!

He Smells Like A Pizza

2009-04-12T21:13:00.000-04:00

Oregano. It does make my middle son smell like a pizza, but I do find that it is working to make his breathing much better. Oregano (Origanum compactum) is one of the most powerful and versatile essential oils. It contains strong immune-enhancing and antioxidant properties and supports the respiratory system. It can be used topically or diluted in rice or soy milk.

I started by putting 1-2 drops on the bottoms of my son's feet twice a day. At night I have to do it when he's sleeping because the smell is quite strong. In the morning I do it before putting his socks on for the day. I was patient and it took about 5 days to see a difference. Now I can see improvement in his early morning breathing. It is no longer strained while speaking first thing.

However, because of the smell I tried using Frankincense instead of the Oregano. When applied topically it helps to build respiratory function. The result was that within two days my son needed two puffs from his inhaler yesterday morning rather than the one he was getting. On its own, it was not strong enough for what I needed. I am back on the Oregano twice a day.

How I use Oregano on my kids:

1-2 drops on the feet twice a day.

How I use it for myself:

1-2 drops in any food I am cooking that could use a little taste of Oregano.

Eczema Relief Part II

2009-04-12T20:41:00.000-04:00

In my ongoing quest for an effective treatment for my youngest son's Eczema, I had thought I found the answer in Lemon essential oil alone. Now that I am 10 days into my experiment I have a clearer view into what's happening.
The Lemon essential oil has made my son's skin healthy overall from the inside out. This means that I can feel the difference in the elasticity and general smoothness compared to previously when it was just dry all over. The result is that I can now see all the little dry patches that still exist.
What this means: the cure all that I thought was a cure all needs some additional help.

My next steps: I am going to try both Frankincense and Lavender- both are be good for the skin. Lavender can help skin irritations as well as cuts. Frankincense is helpful for aging and dry skin.

I am trying Frankincense first on the bottoms of the feet and directly on the skin's dry patches. Hopefully I will be able to post results soon.

What a Pain in My Hands!

2009-04-07T22:57:00.000-04:00

Raven is a very soothing oil that I have typically used on my kids when they are congested. This week I found another use for myself and I finally have use of my hands. Both of them and full range.

It's all thanks to Raven. I had tried Peppermint and Idaho Balsam Fir for the carpal tunnel syndrome in both of my hands. After 4 days, none had worked so I knew I needed to try something else. The pain had gotten so bad that I was unable to hold anything heavy or drive easily- not good when you have 3 kids. As I was looking at the oils in this blend it contained most of what I had tried already but I thought perhaps something was missing from the single oils. So I massaged a few drops of Raven on my hand and was pain free for a few hours. I will be continuing with Raven a few times a day for the next few days as well as being very careful when picking up the wild child who needs me.

Addendum- after 2 days of using Raven on my hand, the pain was tremendously improved, but I noticed swelling. I turned to Peppermint as an anti-inflammatory and put it right on my hand a little while after using Raven. Now, at the end of the day the swelling is mostly gone and I think tomorrow I will try a combination of Raven and Peppermint at the same time. I believe that for my that will be just the right combination. If not, Deep Relief will be my next experiment.

How I use Raven on my kids:

Place 1-2 drops undiluted on the bottoms of their feet when congested.
Dilute and put 1-2 drops on their backs when congested.

How I use Raven for myself:

Directly on my hands for muscle pain relief from carpal tunnel syndrome
Combine (undiluted) with equal drops of lavender and rub on my abdomen to relive pain from cramps

400 Years Ago

2009-04-06T20:12:00.001-04:00

Thieves is right up there with R.C. and Lemon as essential oils that I truly feel I cannot live without. The story behind Thieves is this: 400 years ago a band of French thieves anointed themselves with an aromatic mixture prior to robbing plague victims. This homemade blend of natural ingredients prevented them from contracting the disease, and upon their capture they relinquished the secret recipe. The Young Living blend for Thieves is based on this same recipe and offers the same kind of defense, and has proven effective against airborne bacteria.

I use Thieves every day on my kids. They get the oil on their feet twice a day and all I can say is that my husband noticed that while this winter was particularly bad with the stomach flu and what was known as the "fever thing," our kids stayed healthy. It's important to mention another factor here as far as the flu is concerned. The flu shot.

Personally, I'm skeptical about the flu shot. I totally understand that it can help the youngest kids and older people to avoid this horrible sickness. I personally have only had a flu shot once in my life and that was at least 8 years ago. However, because one child has asthma, and the other is still just a toddler, I had all 3 kids get a flu shot. For my middle child it was required by the school so I didn't really have a choice there. Where this gets interesting is here: My son's entire school was required to get a flu shot and there were record numbers of kids out sick with the stomach flu in February and the first half of March. In my daughter's class, 6 kids went home in one day. In the other class for her grade, 11 kids were out in a single day. That's half the class. My kids stayed healthy. And if they did catch a cold, it was minor and gone in 3 days rather than 10. During this time, I had a play date with 6 of my son's friends during the short break in February. All I heard about that day was how all the kids visiting in my house had been throwing up and of course their siblings too. After everyone left, I used the Thieves spray to spray down the entire first floor, the playroom, and the toys. My kids never got sick. More importantly, I never got sick. We all agree, if MOM get sick, we're screwed.

So, I have come to love Thieves. I use the essential oil, the waterless hand sanitizer, the foaming hand soap, the throat lozenges, and soon I'll be trying the dental floss.

How my kids use Thieves:

I put 1-2 drops on the bottoms of their feet twice a day.
My daughter loves the smell so I put 2 drops on a tissue and put the tissue in her lunch box.

How I use Thieves:

I put 2 drops under my tongue and chase it with some Peppermint. Clears the head and helps the sore throat.
Thieves lozenges have cleared my sinus stuffiness
A friend of mine rubs it on his gums before going to the dentist because it has a natural numbing effect.

I Call it Liquid Gold

2009-04-06T18:25:00.001-04:00

R.C. This is one of the most important Young Living Essential Oils I have used. I bought it because I have a child with Asthma. One of the "good" things that came from my experience with this condition is that I learned the importance of catching a sickness from the very first sneeze or cough. In my son's case there is usually a cold that seems pre-programed to move from his head to his chest. That's when it gets nasty. And, in our case at the very first sign of a cold the amount of drugs needed to prevent the cold from moving to his chest and causing serious breathing issues doubled. Two inhalers with increased amount of dosages.

When I started using the YLEO products in my arsenal, I incorporated R.C. specifically for my son. I would rub it on his feet and put it directly on his chest and back twice a day. I also put Thieves on his feet at the same time. The result was calm sleep and a cold that lasted only 3 days (rather than 10) and did not escalate into an asthma problem.

R.C. success stories:

A friend of mine started using RC on her son's feet and was able to take her son off his nebulizer 5 days early.
Another friend (who also happens to be a nurse) was able to use RC during her daughter's cold and avoided putting her daughter back on a daily dose of Flovent.
The most important thing and best thing that R.C. does is help kids sleep at night. if a child is up all night coughing, guess who else is too.

What I am ultimately striving for is to take this coming spring and summer to build up my son's respiratory function with a combination of R.C. (when he has a cold) and Oregano daily.

How I Use RC on my children:
On my older son I use it on his feet twice a day during a cold.
On my younger son (a toddler) I put 1-2 drops on the bottom of his feet twice a day at the first sign of a green booger. Inevitably, the cold does not materialize at all.

Eczema Relief- Finally!

2009-04-04T18:13:00.001-04:00

Lemon. I have been on a mission for 13 months to find a safe and comfortable solution for my youngest child's Eczema. Dry patchy skin. Scabs from him scratching himself. Even some scarring from so much scratching. Cradle cap/dandruff as well to go with the overall condition. I have used 4 different soaps to wash him, used rigorous bathing and moisturizing plans, at least 3 different moisturizers, and a steriod based foam/lotion prescription from the dermatologist.

Until now, the only thing I did that worked well was to take 4000mg of Vitamin C myself knowing that he would get it in the breast milk. (Vitamin C is an anti-inflammatory and Eczema is an inflammation of the skin.) But this only lasted for about 9 months, and within 2 months of not nursing the very dry itchy skin was back with a vengeance.

On a whim, I decided to tried an experpiment with Lemon essential oil. Lemon is said to be good for the skin and revitalizing. So I started putting it on the bottoms of my son's feet about 2 days ago. Within the first 24 hours, I saw an incredible improvement. His skin is silky smooth, and his dandruff is all but gone. I was amazed, but more importantly, happy for my child and the comfort he will be feeling. I will continue to use the one moisturizer that seemed to work best for him (CeraVe) but am so relieved that I have found a solution. A healthy natural solution without steroids.

APPLICATION: 1-2 drops on the bottoms of the feet twice a day
WARNING: Avoid direct sunlight or UV rays for 12 hours after applying Lemon essential oil. (I fully expect to be able to continue usage on the bottoms of his feet even when we are more exposed to the sun on a daily basis in the coming summer months)

Using Young Living Essential Oils

2009-04-04T16:38:00.001-04:00

I use only Young Living Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils. There are some basics around using the oils that everyone should know before starting.
Some should not be used if you are pregnant or nursing. See website for exact details.
Some oils can be sensitive to the skin and if you are considering using them on a child, try it on your self first.
If you use an oil that does result in a sensitivity, use a pure vegetable oil to dilute it- NOT water. Water will only intensify the strength.
With some oils (such as the citrus based ones- lemon, grapefruit, citrus blend) require avoiding sun on the skin for up to 12 hours after using them. For these, I'd use them only on the soles of the feet or at night.
Single essential oils (rather than blends) can be ingested either alone or by mixing in food or water. Refer to the product guide or website if you are unsure of anything.
As I create posts and details about each oil I use, I will list any sensitivities I am aware of as well as if I ingest any directly.
For a look into the products, any restrictions, or more general information please visit the site for Young Living Essential Oils. Select your country and then view the products. There is very detailed information on the products and of course if I recommend anything to you directly, I'll give you all the details I can before use. These oils have started me and my family on a path of wellness that has enhanced and improved our lives. I still use conventional medicine, but I have seen these products work and I'll try just about anything to keep my kids happy and healthy.

Whoa That's Hot!

2009-04-04T16:37:00.000-04:00

Peppermint. When you smell Peppermint it just clears those nasal passages like nothing I've ever experienced before. It's very helpful for sore muscles, clearing the sinuses, and I'm hoping with the Carpal Tunnel in my wrists from carrying around a baby. Be careful: Peppermint is a HOT oil. It takes a minute or so, but once applied you can feel the heat working. For this reason, I would not place it on kids skin- even with dilution.

How I have used Peppermint:
Sore muscles. Place a few drops on the palm of your hand and rub your hands together. Then rub into sore muscles anywhere- neck and back, crampy abdomen, or your knee. I have been lazy about moving my legs properly when bending or shifting to pick up something like a child or a toy. The result is that for the first time in my life I have knee pain. Last week I put a couple of drops on directly on the area around my knee and within about a minute, my knee pain was gone and stayed gone for about 8 hours.
Place a drop on your thumb and then put your thumb on the roof of your mouth. I'm trying this one as I write this and I think I need another drop but I can feel the sinus pressure fading. This is awesome because I'm one of those people who does not get relief from something like Sudafed.
A word to the wise- don't rub peppermint on your body and then go to the bathroom. There could be a painful result there and I'll let you use your imagination on that one.

You Don't Have to Love the Smell

2009-04-04T16:35:00.000-04:00

Lavender. It's all over the place. It's in kids products, adults products, laundry detergent, cleaning products, dish washing soap, body soap and shampoo. When it's too strong I don't love the smell- in fact it's one of those things I just can't stand. (I have a friend who feels the same way about Basil in the essential oil form). However, it's wonderful for the skin and will relieve the pain from a scrape or cut. It also has a calming effect when used as aromatherapy.

How I have used Lavender for the kids:
cuts and scrapes (just put a few drops of the oil directly on a cut or burn)
calming my kids. I call it the After School Oil (just put a couple of drops on their pulse points or bottoms of their feet.) I'm not sure who's giving them caffeine before they are returned to me but SOMETHING makes them very jumpy and excited and some days that's just too much at 3pm.
How I have used Lavender for myself:
I combine a couple of drops of Lavender with either Peppermint or Raven and apply directly to my abdomen when I am crampy. Sometimes you just need advil, but the oil combination works well and smells good. It's great at night as the Lavender has a calming effect which is lovely just before bed. Lucky for me the Raven or Peppermint smell overpowers the Lavender and I can just let it work without my issues.

How I Got Started

2009-04-04T16:34:00.000-04:00

My journey into essential oils began a little over a year ago when I noticed that our youngest child had eczema. I suspected allergies to accompany the skin condition and was ultimately right. After several conversations with the pediatrician and confirmation of the allergies, I decided I needed to change my plan of attack for the health of the whole family. I was ready and willing to try anything.
Enter the mom's power breakfast! I got together with two of my mom friends and we went all out on natural remedies for babies and older kids. Actually, they talked and I listened. This whole aspect of health care was totally new for me. We talked about how to keep kids from getting sick in the first place and how to create a balance between conventional and natural medicine.
At the time of our first breakfast the baby had a cold. Not a huge deal except that at 5 weeks old, infants cannot take Tylenol for a fever. We were doing everything we could to avoid getting there. So at my friend's suggestion I started taking 4,000 mg Vitamin C for myself that the baby would get in the breast milk to help combat his cold. While Vitamin C is unable to stop a cold by itself I felt better knowing I was doing what I could. This is where my journey started.
I picked up a copy of Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child and started to incorporate the Young Living Essential Oils into my daily regimen of prevention.
Nothing will entirely prevent kids from getting sick. In fact, if they didn't get sick they wouldn't build up their immune systems. I was looking for a way to minimize the impact of the viruses they pick up and avoid that long 10 day green and yellow drippy nose. I believe I have found something close to the balance for which I strive.