Are You Toxic?

When I decided to do a Whole30 diet challenge, I didn’t know what to expect. I thought I would lose a little weight, but I didn’t have any chronic health problems I thought would suddenly be cured. My experience was dramatic as I lost 15 pounds in a month (I did not have a serious weight problem, just a little mommy/belly fat) and discovered that my allergies completely went away. A Whole30 is a strict paleo diet. You cannot eat any preservatives. One thing that happened during the month was that I developed a minor rash. After some research, I concluded it was a detox reaction. At this point, I realized I had eliminated toxins from my food, but I was still pouring them on my skin whenever I cleaned the house, washed my hair, etc. That realization led me to Young Living Essential Oils.

Some of you have begun using YLEO as well, and I am sure you love them as much as I do. I occasionally see people new to YL reporting that they have developed a rash. One person told me the oils I was wearing made her eyes water (I was treating a cold with Thieves). Whenever this concern comes up, the standard response is, “you’re probably detoxing.” I’m in a few discussion groups, and I know some new members/oil users have trouble swallowing that response. It is also possible that the person with the rash used a hot oil undiluted when the directions indicate diluting with a carrier oil. But the detoxing response is most likely right on the money.

If you haven’t picked up a copy of Essential Oils Desk Reference (www.lifesciencepublishing.com) yet, this is a must read. I have mostly been using it for reference, but I recently decided to actually read it from cover to cover. It contains so much valuable information, I just had to share. On toxic chemicals found in nearly all household and personal care products, it reads, “Chemicals can remain trapped in fatty tissues underneath the skin for several months or years until a topical substance like an essential oil starts to move them from their resting place and cause them to come out of the skin in an uncomfortable way. Besides skin irritation, you could experience nausea, headaches, and other slight temporary discomforts,” p. 1.51. The EODR (5th edition) is also filled with documented current research on essential oils and explanations for how they work.

Whether you think essential oils won’t work for you because your allergies are so bad, or you are experiencing some difficulties as a new oil user, I wholeheartedly encourage you to use them and to stop pouring toxins in and on your body. I have not experienced any problems with the oils personally. Detoxing is just something to be aware of. If it happens, be thankful! I am also convinced that I need to remain vigilant with my eating, and I need to use Young Living household cleaning and personal products exclusively in order to keep my body toxin free.

Unpacking the Premium Starter Kit

If you have been following me at all or happen to know me in person, you know I am really into these oils and that there’s something called a Premium Starter Kit I think everyone should have the privilege of owning. Today I would like to give a quick overview all in one place of what comes in this kit and how I have personally benefitted from it.

The Premium Starter Kit automatically comes with a wholesale membership. There are no further obligations as a wholesale member. You will simply be able to start purchasing the best essential oils in the world at 24% off retail price. When purchasing the starter kit, you will be asked for your social security number because you will be eligible to participate in the compensation plan.

The Premium Starter Kit includes the Home Diffuser, 10 individual samples (2 lemon, 2 Thieves, 2 Peppermint, 2 Lavender, and 2 Peace and Calming), 2 NingXia Red individual serving pouches, Stress Away Essential Oil blend, a roller fitment, a complete catalog, product usage information, and the Everyday Oils Collection.

Essential oils can be used topically, internally (when labeled “supplement”), and aromatically. For inhalation, nothing beats a good diffuser. We keep one going almost constantly at home. I’ve also been known to diffuse in my classroom. The Home Diffuser is a huge perk. The retail price for this item alone is $98.68.

I love the samples. They are so great to keep on hand for those times my friends start to sneeze, complain of a headache, experience anxiety, have a cold coming on, or have a hoarse voice. I’ll just pass them out to help people, which I love to do. You may not be interested in starting a business, but when those friends decide to order more, you may just get a thank you check in the mail from Young Living. Sounds like a win win to me.

NingXia Red is amazing. Enjoy those samples yourself. Find out how yummy it is and skip that cup of coffee. When I drink NR (as in as often as I can get my hands on it), I notice an improvement in my hair and nails, increased energy, elevated mood, and better digestion. It contains wolfberry puree from China’s Ningxia province, essential oils, and vitamin-rich whole fruits such as raspberries, blueberries, and pomegranates.

Stress Away is heavenly. It is a great oil to keep on hand with the roller fitment. Just roll it on as needed. It lives up to its name, I can tell you. Cedarwood is an amazing grounding oil, which helps with focus and combats negativity. And I mean, who wouldn’t get a boost from smelling like lime and vanilla? It also contains copaiba, ocotea, and lavender.

The Everyday Oils Collection contains 10 (5 ml) bottles of essential oils. Here is how they have benefitted my family and me.
Joy contains bergamot, lemon, palmarosa, ylang ylang, mandarin, rose, geranium, jasmine, Roman chamomile, and coriander. It puts a spring in my step. I apply topically right over my heart. Thanks to rose in particular, this oil has a very high frequency. This is no doubt part of my secret for staying happy and healthy even when surrounded by illness and stress.
Valor is my confidence blend. It’s a toss up between Valor and Stress Away, but I love how it smells. These oils are not to be confused with perfume, but I’ll tell you it is nice to smell good while enjoying all the benefits. I also use Valor to relax sore muscles. I like to roll it on or add it to Epsom salt for a relaxing bath. I put it on my jaw before bed to eliminate teeth grinding. I put it on my spine to help with alignment. Valor helps with physical and emotional balancing. I also apply to my wrists and hold them together to gain balance. Valor is a blend of spruce, frankincense, and blue tansy.
Thieves is a university tested blend that will combat and kill bacteria, mold and viruses. It is great to diffuse during cold season. I put it on my son’s feet when he starts getting sick. It stops nighttime coughing immediately. I take internally when sick or exposed to illness. I like to put a drop on my tongue or drink in a tea. Thieves contains clove, cinnamon bark, rosemary, lemon, and eucalyptus. I have whitened my teeth with Thieves, used it for healthier gums (just ask my dentist), and used it as a powerful household cleaner.
PanAway reminds me of Icy Hot except it’s all natural and beneficial. You get the tingly feeling, but it is not just a temporary relief. It will actually help the body heal. I use it for pain, bruising, and irritation. It is very powerful against muscle tension and headaches. This blend contains wintergreen, clove, helichrysum, and peppermint.
Purification is my go to for skin issues. Acne, bug bites, and cuts and scrapes are all covered with Purification. Even my teens use it for acne, and let me tell you, they don’t blindly take my advice. I used it on my dog to keep ticks away in rural Tennessee. I spray it on to keep mosquitos away. It is also a great deodorizer. Diffuse it to freshen the air. It smells like ginger to me but contains lemongrass, rosemary, melaleuca (tea tree), myrtle, and citronella.
Peace and Calming lives up to its name and smells delicious. It contains tangerine, ylang ylang, blue tansy, orange, and patchouli. We use it for anxiety and focus. ADHD anyone? I diffuse it when people are stressed. It is also helpful for insomnia. Apply on wrists, at brain stem, on chakra points (forehead is a good one), or on the bottom of the feet. The feet are an excellent entry point into all your cells by way of nerve endings.
Lavender is great for allergies, sleep, anxiety, and laundry care. I also use it for first aid. It goes on the Bandaid and heals skin very quickly.
Peppermint is a wonderful pick-me-up. It keeps me alert while driving. I keep some in my purse to freshen breath or rub on my temples when fatigue or head tension kicks in. It’s just awesome, what can I say? Also, great for nausea. Make a tea or rub on your belly for a quick turn around.
Lemon is another workhorse. It’s my favorite water flavor. Instead of filling up on unhealthy drinks, I drink lemon water and enjoy the uplifting and detoxing benefits of citrus oils. It smells fantastic in the diffuser and also helps with fatigue and focus. Lemon will clean anything too, at least anything I’ve tried. Imagine how that works in your body! For a hoarse throat, make a tea or rub some right on your neck.
Frankincense is another reason the Premium Starter Kit is such a fantastic value. I use it for pain and to kick illnesses quickly. Most notably, I used Frankincense along with the natural progesterone serum, Progessence Plus to completely eliminate my fibroid problem.

Do you have a kit yet? If so, please share your stories with us. If not, you can order it right here: http://www.youngliving.org/hollydoodle2013.

Enjoy!

Paleo Pitfalls

http://wp.me/p38Ni0-cT

Victories

It has been a very good week in the oils department. I’ve seen them in action, and I’ve got to share.

Early in the week, my little boy wiped out on his bike and got some boo boos.  I’ve shared about lavender helping with allergies, but another great use is for wound care.  All week, I had a few drops of lavender on his band aids.  Today I told him, “you’re good!”  All better.

At the beginning of choir practice Wednesday night, we did some stretching and my favorite- the group back rub.  I’ve always handled stress by tightening my muscles.  My shoulders, in particular, are always tight.  You can always count me in on a good, hard shoulder rub.  My choir partner’s comment was, “You’re tight, girl!”  So I decided to take action this weekend.  Both Saturday and Sunday I took baths with about 1/4 cup of Epson salt and a few drops of Valor.  Valor is an essential oil blend, which among other things relaxes muscles.  My shoulders are nice and squishy now.  I was quite impressed with the improvement.

The last victory happened this morning. A wave of nausea and cramping hit me with a vengeance. I climbed right back in bed and put a few oils to the test for assistance. I started with the blend, Digize, rubbed on my belly, for the nausea. I was ready to toss my cookies, but within 5 minutes the nausea was gone. I assumed hormones were involved, so I used a couple of drops of Progessence Plus. For the pain, I started with copaiba, also applied on location. After about 15 minutes I felt almost 100%. I decided to also apply Idaho Balsam Fir, another great choice for pain, before getting on with my day.

It was amazing how quickly these products worked. What a blessing to have such a safe and effective alternative!

Now What?

Recently, I’ve addressed financial concerns for those still thinking about trying the oils but not ready to take the plunge.  I’ve also explained Young Living’s Essential Rewards Program and our generous compensation plan. 

But what if you already purchased some oils and just want some simple instruction on getting started?

You’ve come to the right place. Read the label on each bottle for instructions. If the label says, “supplement”, it is safe to ingest. Some oils are not meant to be taken internally. PanAway is a blend meant to be rubbed on sore muscles. Peace and Calming is best inhaled.

Your catalog is a great introduction. Take notes on oils you would like to try for specific concerns.

Join Essential Rewards and commit to at least $50 per month towards your health. Each month you can try new oils and start checking them off your list.

Take advantage of the monthly promotions. Between promotions and ER points, I was able to get a large collection of oils quickly so I would always have what I need on hand.

After your oil supply is well stocked, try Ningxia Red (if you haven’t already) and the personal care products.

Now that I’ve been on ER a year, I get 20% back in free products. I’m now ordering the oral care products every month (my dentist noticed a lot of improvement) as well as other supplements and personal care products. My ER points are now spent on special oils or kits I want to try.

If you’re anything like me, you will want to know more. The next step is to purchase the Essential Oils Desk Reference available from Life Science Publishing. You can look up any concern and find out what products to use.

Nothing confusing here. Jump in and get going on a whole new you!