Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Young Living 's Dr. David Stewart on Martha Stewart
Young Living Essential Oils is making national headlines. So set your TiVo or VCR to record, you won't want to miss this!
On Thursday, May 24, 2007, The Martha Stewart Show will feature Young Living's very own Dr. David Hill, Director of Science and Education, along with respected fashion designer Donna Karan.
Dr. Hill recently served as a featured speaker for Karan's Urban Zen Initiative in New York, whose mission is “to create a working environment where the worlds of conventional and alternative medical practices unite to invent new ways of healing, health, and well-being for all of us” Urban Zen.
As a special guest of The Martha Stewart Show, Dr. Hill will discuss the benefits of essential oils, how they can be incorporated into daily activities and routines, and the health advantages essential oils provide. To find out on which station The Martha Stewart Show airs in your area, follow the steps below:
1. Go to Martha Stewart.com
2. Enter your zip code in the Local Show Schedule box (on the left). Links to all available cable, satellite, and network providers will be posted, depending on what is broadcast in your area.
3. Click on the link for your cable, satellite, or network provider. The stations and times for your local area will appear.
If you know anyone who is interested in high quality Young Living essential oils pass along my information to them. My contact information can be found by clicking here.
I'm looking for people who are interested in health, getting toxic products out of their home and personal care items, and, I am looking for people who would like to start a home based business like I have.
My contact information can be found by clicking here.
.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
For Your Health & Wellness -
is aspirin incresing or decreasing your risk of stroke?
Healthy older people who take regular aspirin to prevent stroke may actually be increasing their risk.
In the past 25 years the number of strokes associated with blood-thinning drugs such as aspirin or warfarin has risen seven-fold, a UK study found.
The risk is particularly high in the over 75s and aspirin may do more harm than good in healthy older people, The Lancet Neurology paper reported.
However, people advised to take daily aspirin by their GP should not stop.
Researchers at the University of Oxford compared figures on intracerebral haemorrhagic stroke - a type of stroke caused by bleeding in the brain - from 1981-85 and 2002-06.
They found that the number of strokes caused by high blood pressure had fallen by 65%, which in the under 75s meant the overall rate of strokes had halved.
"What our study suggests is that, particularly in the very elderly, the risks of aspirin outweigh the benefits."
Professor Peter Rothwell
But in the over 75's the stroke rate remained the same over the 25-year period.
A closer look at the data showed there had been an increase in the number of strokes in patients taking blood thinning drugs, known as antithrombotics.
In the first study the proportion of stroke patients on antithrombotic drugs was 4% but two decades later this had risen to 40%.
Lifestyle choice
People with cardiovascular disease, who have a high risk of blood clot, are prescribed drugs like aspirin to thin the blood and reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
But many healthy older people also take a regular aspirin in an attempt to ward off a stroke.
Study leader, Professor Peter Rothwell, said the increasing use of drugs such as aspirin may soon take over high blood
pressure as the leading cause of intracerebral haemorrhagic stroke in the over 75's.
He warned than in healthy older adults the risks of taking aspirin may outweigh any benefits.
"GPs have been treating high blood pressure very aggressively and that is bringing dividends but there are other causes of stroke in the elderly which have become important.
"There are good reasons for taking aspirin or warfarin but there are elderly who take aspirin as a lifestyle choice and in that situation the trials have shown there's no benefit.
"And what our study suggests is that, particularly in the very elderly, the risks of aspirin outweigh the benefits," he said. Dr Peter Coleman, deputy director of research and development for The Stroke Association said aspirin had gained a reputation of being part of a healthy lifestyle.
"However, this evidence indicates that if you are healthy and have a low risk of heart disease or stroke and unless advised by your GP to take aspirin on a daily basis then the increased risks from the side effects of aspirin are likely to outweigh the benefits of preventing a stroke."
He advised people to lower their risk of stroke by having regular blood pressure checks, eating a healthy diet, stopping smoking, only drinking alcohol in moderation, reducing salt intake and taking regular exercise.
Source: BBC News
Apparently, those in the know are saying the way to reduce your chance of stroke is to eat a proper diet and include Omega 3's. A few good sources, I use and where I shop, that are nutritious, delicious and contain Omega 3's are:
A fantastic source for seafood!
Grass-fed Meats are high in Omega 3's too! Learn more here.
Young Living's Omega Blue yes I sell it and I love it.
A previous post may be of interest too, Eating Right for ADD and ADHD
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Living and Speaking Your Truth:
A message from the Hopi Elders
Recent message from the Hopi Elders
You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour. Now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour. And there are things to be considered:
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth. Create your community. Be good to each other. And do not look outside yourself for the leader.
This could be a good time!
There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are being torn apart, and they will suffer greatly. Know the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water. See who is in there with you and celebrate.
At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally. Least of all, ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt. The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
The Elders
Oraibi, Arizona
Hopi Nation
*
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Direct Selling Women's Alliance:
VIP Access for 24 Hours
I’ve told you about the Direct Selling Women’s Alliance (see my previous post) and all they offer direct selling professionals like you and me – now I actually have the chance to give you a VIP look inside their vast Member Only area!
Between now and midnight Thursday, May 10th, I’ve arranged for you to have immediate VIP access to the endless resources of the DSWA by using the username and password below.
Username: visitor
Password: success
You are going to love this website rich with success-enhancing resources, tips, articles and over 250 archived tele-classes on topics related to growing your business. Go to the home page now and have fun exploring the possibilities! VIP Access
*
Direct Selling Women:
About the DSWA
(Direct Selling Women's Alliance)
Never, in the 100-year history of the direct selling industry has there been an Alliance that is dedicated solely to the needs of the independent direct seller. At last, it's here! Direct selling women from around the world now have a place to call their own... an Alliance designed with their success in mind.
The information DSWA provides members is offered in a spirit of sisterhood, aimed at uniting direct selling women toward a common vision of success for themselves, their teams, their companies and the industry.
Why Women?
Surveys conducted by the Direct Selling Association (DSA) revealed that approximately 87% of direct sellers are women, many of whom are mom's who want more flexible work schedules. Many of these women are now turning to the Internet as a convenient and reliable source of information and support while growing their businesses.
The DSWA addresses the needs of this powerful segment of the direct selling profession in an effort to strengthen the individual and therefore the industry. Through the DSWA website many issues are addresses that direct selling women face every day. Challenges such as juggling multiple roles, balancing career and family and developing the unique skills that will enhance their success are just a small part of the vision the DSWA holds.
While the DSWA efforts are focused on supporting women in the profession, the information offered is equally applicable to male direct sellers. The DSWA membership is open to all direct sellers regardless of gender, company affiliation, race or religion.
A Note To The Men
With 79.9% of the direct selling profession comprised of women, chances are you work with women every day as you build your organization. Nearly 20% of DSWA memberships are now comprised of men, you will be joining an elite group of forward thinking leaders who will be setting the pace for the profession's growth in the next decade.
Through your membership with DSWA, men can gain an understanding not only of the unique challenges that direct selling women face, but also the many strengths they can bring to your business.
Industry Facts:
According to the Direct Selling Association, there are nearly 14 million direct sellers in the United States and over 55 million worldwide doing an estimated 97 billion dollars in sales. 79.9% of all direct sellers are women.
The DSWA is dedicated solely to the success of all direct sellers who have helped shape this unique and empowering profession.
DSWA members receive numerous benefits which include: weekly educational conference calls, access to a wealth of educational archives, Principle Centered Coaching, managing money, archived TeleClasses, extensive list of articles written by experts on all aspects of your irect selling business.
I love the DSWA, I am a member too. I'm also taking their "ELITE Leadership Training" course which is absolutely amazing!
Here's a list of some of the privialeges membership include:
Art of Booking
Booking Games
Networking
Reducing Cancellations
Hostess Coaching
Team Coaching
A Profile of the Profession
DSWA Published Articles
Legal Issues
Contests & Challenges
Recognition
The Art of Motivation
Leadership
Business Management
Communication
Personality Profiles
Training
Beauty Basics
Creating Your Life
Fashion Focus
Time Management
To Your Health
Your Professional Image
Art of Selling
Closing Techniques
Customer Service
Increasing Sales
Seasonal Selling Ideas
Art of Sponsoring
Handling Objections
Interviewing Tips
Lead Generation
Training
Using Technology
Automating Your Business
E-mails & E-zines
Prospecting and Sponsoring
Domestic Diva
Involving Your Kids
Involving Your Partner
Living Your Values
Dollars & Sense
Record Keeping
Tax Talk
... and that's just some of the articles!
The education and training you'll receive from your DSWA membership will benefit you and your team significantly, like it has mine. You won't get training and information like this with your company or your upline (unless they are DSWA members).
And don't forget to take a look at the DSWA Store for a wealth of education books, audio's & DVD's for you and your team.
Monday, May 07, 2007
The Hole Story: Think the Ozone hole is on the mend?
It's gotten worse.
This article has nothing at all to do with essential oils. However, I thought I'd post it so that the word spreads even further, it's from Discover Magazine written by Stephen Ornes.
I think it's pretty important that we once again take a look around at what we have, what we do and see how we can make further changes in our lifestyles. For those inclined to do even more to lessen their impact on the environment I might suggest delving deeper into, how the things you do use and consume are made and where are they made. I'm thinking we need to be much more conscious of how the things were are using are manufactured and how far do they travel before they reach our homes.
I don't think we can count on companies and laws to do all the "Watch-Dog" work for us. A company may make a product that we might consider not terribly eco-friendly. Just because a product is expensive or cheap does not mean it's not a burden on the environment.
I for one have been not purchasing things, food included, that are not in alignment with what I personally consider to be eco-friendly. For milennia, man has been perfectly able to live without a lot of the stuff and processed foods we use today without a blink of an eye. Perhaps we need to be asking ourselves prior to each purchase, "is this item eco-friendly, in what ways will it benefit my life and is it worth consuming?"
Here's the article...
Hovering 10 miles above the South Pole is a sprawling patch of stratosphere with disturbingly low levels of radiation-absorbing ozone. The size of the hole (pictured in dark blue) wanes and waxes due to seasonal changes in temperature and shifting levels of ozone-depleting pollutants. In early October 2006, the Antarctic stratosphere was the coldest it has been since 1979, and the ozone hole loomed bigger than ever, spanning an area larger than North America. What's going on? Wasn't the 1987 United Nations Montreal Protocol—an international agreement that set limits on the emission of ozone-eating compounds like chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs—supposed to shrink Earth's life-threatening atmospheric bald spot?
The ozone hole in November 2006 is as big as ever. The thinnest ozone is blue-violet and the thickest ozone is yellow-green.
The ozone hole was just a slight thinning in 1979.
Like the chemistry of global warming, the answer is not simple. Unlike global warming, however, everyone agrees on why ozone depletion is a threat, what causes it, and what to do about it. Without a protective layer of ozone, life would be exposed to DNA-damaging ultraviolet rays from the sun. Unfortunately, the three-oxygen atom of ozone is also highly reactive, and the conditions in the stratospheric clouds over the South Pole render it even more so. When the temperature there dips below –126 degrees Fahrenheit, ozone-destroying chemical reactions begin. Chlorine atoms (liberated by the breakdown of chlorine-containing products) convert ozone into molecular oxygen, which provides far less UV protection. A single chlorine atom can tear apart thousands of ozone molecules.
Climate studies in the 1970s and 1980s provided the first evidence that CFCs—found in items like hair spray, refrigerants, pesticides, plastics, and fire retardants—work their way into the stratosphere and unleash the chlorine atoms that initiate this destructive chain reaction. The Montreal Protocol and subsequent amendments have made a major dent in the problem by banning the use of most CFCs. "I think it's safe to say we're on the threshold of recovery," says Michelle Santee, an atmospheric scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. But unlike pollutants that break down quickly, such as the sulfur compounds that cause acid rain, atmospheric chlorine can persist for more than 50 years. That helps explain why the ozone layer is still under attack, even though the amount of airborne chlorine is decreasing.
Still, why was this year's hole so huge? One possibility is that 2006 was simply colder than other years. Another possibility is that global warming could be contributing to the cold snap. Greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide and methane, trap heat down near the surface. The result: colder temperatures in the stratosphere.
Taking a long view, though, the news is good. In the last decade, global ozone levels have stabilized or increased only slightly. All the same, experts estimate that it will take 50 to 70 years for Antarctic ozone levels to get anywhere near pre-1980 levels. And that, of course, depends on continued control of the ozone eaters.
Source: Discover Magazine written by Stephen Ornes.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Eating Right for ADD and ADHD
Many of you know by now that I am a committed Young Living Essential Oil fan, I just love superior quality. What you may not know is that in my quest for the absolute best quality animal products/foods I have discovered US Wellness Meats. I cannot tell you how fantastic the meats and "real" butter taste.
My household has been organic for the past 30 years and I've paid more and have gone out of my way for quality foods. Something disturbing began happening within the past 5-6 years though... I was noticing that the "organic" foods I was buying no longer tasted or looked different than the regular store bought stuff. I have discovered that the organic meat sold in natural food chain stores is virtually as bad as the regular. Yes, meats and other animal products can be labeled "organic" and be raised in feedlots and in small cages indoors, as well as be fed GM corn and soybeans. In my mind this is NOT acceptable!
US Wellness Meats has a newsletter which I subscribe to and I felt that a recent article was worth putting out there for readers. If you keep wondering "why" we are the sickest country in the world (and we are) you may want to consider one of the large culprits to be... your "food source." I personally feel that what has been and continues to go on with our food is an absolute disgrace and I disapprove of what is being put on the shelves for unknowing consumers to purchase.
For example: I've bought organic butter for the past 30 years. When I got my first shipment of butter in from US Wellness Meats I did a taste test. Very unscientific, I took a little taste of the butter that came from US Wellness grass-fed cows and a few minutes later a taste of a nationally known brand of organic butter (which does not come from cows that are grass-fed). I couldn't believe what I experienced right in my own mouth!
I kid you not, if I didn't know any better I would have sworn that someone had come into my house and sprayed chemical household cleaner on my nationally known organic butter. It was so bad in fact that I literally spit it out into the kitchen sink and gasped, "oh my god, this tastes like poison and I've been eating it for years!" That's how bad it tasted in my unscientific side-by-side taste test. I will never purchase any animal products again that are not grass-fed.
I believe we are not getting the good nutrition from our foods because the plants and animals we eat are not getting fed properly. It's simple, if a vitamin or mineral is not in the soil and/or in the plant that we or animals eat there is no way that vitamin or mineral is going to be a part of the foods we eat.
Cows are suppose to eat grasses. Their digestive system is designed to process grass, not corn or soybeans, and especially not Genetically Modified corn or soybeans. You just don't have to be a rocket-scientist to figure out that there is something gravely wrong with our food production.
I'd like to share this article from US Wellness Meats by Catherine Ebeling, RN...
ADD and ADHD are some of the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorders in school age children today. The symptoms of ADD/ADHD center primarily on areas such as: attention, impulsivity, overactivity, and restlessness.
This group of particular behaviors can cause problems in school, as these children often perform poorly academically, have other learning disabilities, and tend to have conduct problems, as well. They may be disruptive in the classroom, and have trouble sitting still and experience difficulties getting along with other classmates and teachers.
It used to be thought that ADD/ADHD children outgrew their hyperactivity and other behavior problems, but it is now known that 50-80% of these children continue on into adulthood with symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Adults are sometimes able to compensate with other positive behaviors to allow them to function better in the adult world, but behavior and learning patterns established in childhood can have long term adverse effects. As adults, ADD/ADHD can show up as difficulties establishing and maintaining relationships, low self-esteem, forgetfulness, marital problems, anger management and impulsivity, and poor listening skills to name just a few.
Treatment Options
Stimulant medications are commonly used for treatment of symptoms of ADHD. The most common are: Ritalin, Concerta , Adderall, and Dexedrine. These medications have many side effects that include:
• Loss of appetite
• Headache
• Stomach upset or nausea
• Weight Loss
• Problems Sleeping
The more serious side effects of these medications can be:
• Anxiety, nervousness and mood changes
• Chest pain, irregular or fast heartbeat
• Increased blood pressure
• Joint pain
• Skin rash
• Uncontrollable tics
• Fever
Changing one's diet and eliminating certain foods such as trans fatty acids, sugar and refined grain products may impact such a drastic change as to eliminate any need for medication. A nutritious diet for a child or adult may seem nearly impossible and not that important, but it is actually very critical. In order for it to process all the metabolic functions, one's body needs to synthesize, make and process and store more than 100,000 chemicals. It must manufacture these chemicals out of only a few different essential raw materials, which include essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, glucose, and amino acids. If your child consumes the standard American diet (SAD) of starchy refined grains, sugary foods, trans fatty acids, and refined, processed and preservative-laden products, the body is not able to perform the chemical conversions it must have to maintain normal body and brain function. Even a diet following the standard food pyramid is sadly lacking in essential nutrients necessary for proper function.
One of the most important nutrients is essential fatty acids. Deficiency in EFA's has been shown to be one of the hallmarks of ADD/ADHD. What are essential fatty acids? EFA's are a major component of cell function. Each cell in our body has a membrane to separate it and protect it. The membrane is composed of essential fatty acids. EFA's can only come from our food sources such as Grassland ground beef and beef patties. EFA's are of two different types: Omega 3's and Omega 6's. The body cannot make Omega 3 fats from an intake of predominantly Omega 6's and vice versa. Omega 3 fats in the body must come from Omega 3 fats in the diet and similarly Omega 6's come from Omega 6's in one's diet.
The Omega 3 group of fats start with Alpha linoleic acid, and include eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexanoic acid (DHA). The Omega 6 group consists of linoleic acid, cis-linoleic acid, gamma-linoleic acid (GLA), dihomogammalinolenic acid (DGLA), and arachidonic acid (AA). (Stevens, Laura M.S., 12 Effective Ways to Help your ADD/ADHD Child, 2000). Essential fatty acids are critical for a couple of reasons. First the balance of omega 3's and omega 6's affects the properties in the cell membrane and the ability of molecules to enter and exit the cell. Omega 3's and 6's are also used by the body to manufacture prostaglandins. Prostaglandins help cells communicate with one another. Long-chain omega 6's and long chain Omega 3's are more concentrated in the brain and retina than in other cells. They play vital roles in brain and nerve function. They are also critical to proper functioning of the immune system.
Several years ago, studies were conducted on boys with ADHD and it was found that they had lower levels of critical EFA's in their blood than a control group of children with "normal" behavior. About 40% of the boys with ADHD reported many symptoms of EFA deficiency including: excessive thirst, frequent urination, visual disturbances, decreased learning abilities and abnormal behavior. The symptomatic boys showed lower levels of omega 3's and omega 6's. Low levels of Omega 6 EFAs contributed to higher incidents of illness (colds, flu, etc.), and deficits in Omega 3 EFAs contributed to problems with learning, behavior, sleep, and temper. These studies support the case for EFA supplementation as a part of the overall treatment approach to Attention Deficit Disorder - ADD ADHD.
Dietary sources of EFA's
In addition to the much publicized addition of wild caught salmon and other fatty fishes to one's diet, grass fed beef is a healthy and delicious alternative. Changing to grass fed, all natural, additive-free beef will increase Essential Fatty Acids in the diet. Kids love starting their day with grassfed beef bacon or beef sausage. And for a super charged snack, the beef pemmican cannot be beat when it comes to high concentrations of Omega 3's and Omega 6's. The whole family will love the delicious beef brisket, ribs, and stew beef. Everyone in the family benefits from this change. Not only do EFA's help with the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, but other family members benefit by enjoying a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, asthsma, arthritis, high blood pressure, and autoimmune disorders. EFA's also decrease inflammation.
Grass-finished beef such as the ribeye steaks is a great source for this essential nutrient. Research demonstrates that Omega 3 is great for individuals with heart disease, and other studies are showing that Omega 3 may also have an anti-carcinogenic effect. The source of Omega 3 is the green leaves of plants. When cattle eat their natural diet, beef becomes a great source of Omega 3. Grain is not a rich source of Omega 3, so standard, cattle-finishing practices cause the Omega 3 level to decrease dramatically. Our grass-finishing protocol produces a natural source for Omega 3, at U.S. Wellness Meats.
REDUCED FAT - Because U.S. Wellness Meats cattle are raised and finished in their natural environment, eating their natural diet, the meat is much leaner than the beef of standard, grain-finished livestock. Grass-fed beef has a much better fatty acid ration and less total fat than grain-fed animals! The myth is that cattle must be grain-fed to be tender and tasty, but we now know better. U.S. Wellness Meats is leaner, so you'll need to cook it at lower temperatures. Wait until you sink your teeth into the lean, clean flavor of U.S. Wellness Meats. You'll find that regular beef flavor has been replaced by a more robust beef flavor that you will love, AND as an added bonus, it's GREAT for you!
NATURAL, ADDITIVE-FREE BEEF - At U.S. Wellness Meats we eat what we sell! We are absolutely committed to the highest standards of food quality and safety. No pesticides or herbicides are used on the pastures where our cattle graze. No preservatives or additives are in our products. No growth implants, feed grade antibiotics or unnecessary antibiotics are given to the animals. Animals are only given antibiotics when necessitated for the treatment of illness. When this occurs the cattle must meet our required withdrawal time prior to processing, which is double that of the industry standard. Cattle graze on a managed rotation, which provides them with consistently fresh forage.
Make the change to all natural, high in EFA's organic beef, meats and poultry from U.S. Wellness. The positive benefits are noticeable and the change will be amazing!
Related articles:
Estrogen and Hormones: What we women need to know
The Future of Food
Aspartame: Ant Poison of Human Food Ingredient???
Hidden Sources of MSG in regular & organic foods
Do You Know What's in the Foods You're Eating?
The Truth About Non-Nutritive Sweeteners
If you would like to learn more here are two other terrific resources to obtain information that is not biased by some large comapny:
Dr. Mercola simply type in the search box the food or topic of interest.
Weston A. Price Foundation The Weston A. Price Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charity founded in 1999 to disseminate the research of nutrition pioneer Dr. Weston Price, whose studies of isolated nonindustrialized peoples established the parameters of human health and determined the optimum characteristics of human diets. Dr. Price's research demonstrated that humans achieve perfect physical form and perfect health generation after generation only when they consume nutrient-dense whole foods and the vital fat-soluble activators found exclusively in animal fats.
*
My household has been organic for the past 30 years and I've paid more and have gone out of my way for quality foods. Something disturbing began happening within the past 5-6 years though... I was noticing that the "organic" foods I was buying no longer tasted or looked different than the regular store bought stuff. I have discovered that the organic meat sold in natural food chain stores is virtually as bad as the regular. Yes, meats and other animal products can be labeled "organic" and be raised in feedlots and in small cages indoors, as well as be fed GM corn and soybeans. In my mind this is NOT acceptable!
US Wellness Meats has a newsletter which I subscribe to and I felt that a recent article was worth putting out there for readers. If you keep wondering "why" we are the sickest country in the world (and we are) you may want to consider one of the large culprits to be... your "food source." I personally feel that what has been and continues to go on with our food is an absolute disgrace and I disapprove of what is being put on the shelves for unknowing consumers to purchase.
For example: I've bought organic butter for the past 30 years. When I got my first shipment of butter in from US Wellness Meats I did a taste test. Very unscientific, I took a little taste of the butter that came from US Wellness grass-fed cows and a few minutes later a taste of a nationally known brand of organic butter (which does not come from cows that are grass-fed). I couldn't believe what I experienced right in my own mouth!
I kid you not, if I didn't know any better I would have sworn that someone had come into my house and sprayed chemical household cleaner on my nationally known organic butter. It was so bad in fact that I literally spit it out into the kitchen sink and gasped, "oh my god, this tastes like poison and I've been eating it for years!" That's how bad it tasted in my unscientific side-by-side taste test. I will never purchase any animal products again that are not grass-fed.
I believe we are not getting the good nutrition from our foods because the plants and animals we eat are not getting fed properly. It's simple, if a vitamin or mineral is not in the soil and/or in the plant that we or animals eat there is no way that vitamin or mineral is going to be a part of the foods we eat.
Cows are suppose to eat grasses. Their digestive system is designed to process grass, not corn or soybeans, and especially not Genetically Modified corn or soybeans. You just don't have to be a rocket-scientist to figure out that there is something gravely wrong with our food production.
I'd like to share this article from US Wellness Meats by Catherine Ebeling, RN...
ADD and ADHD are some of the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorders in school age children today. The symptoms of ADD/ADHD center primarily on areas such as: attention, impulsivity, overactivity, and restlessness.
This group of particular behaviors can cause problems in school, as these children often perform poorly academically, have other learning disabilities, and tend to have conduct problems, as well. They may be disruptive in the classroom, and have trouble sitting still and experience difficulties getting along with other classmates and teachers.
It used to be thought that ADD/ADHD children outgrew their hyperactivity and other behavior problems, but it is now known that 50-80% of these children continue on into adulthood with symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Adults are sometimes able to compensate with other positive behaviors to allow them to function better in the adult world, but behavior and learning patterns established in childhood can have long term adverse effects. As adults, ADD/ADHD can show up as difficulties establishing and maintaining relationships, low self-esteem, forgetfulness, marital problems, anger management and impulsivity, and poor listening skills to name just a few.
Treatment Options
Stimulant medications are commonly used for treatment of symptoms of ADHD. The most common are: Ritalin, Concerta , Adderall, and Dexedrine. These medications have many side effects that include:
• Loss of appetite
• Headache
• Stomach upset or nausea
• Weight Loss
• Problems Sleeping
The more serious side effects of these medications can be:
• Anxiety, nervousness and mood changes
• Chest pain, irregular or fast heartbeat
• Increased blood pressure
• Joint pain
• Skin rash
• Uncontrollable tics
• Fever
Changing one's diet and eliminating certain foods such as trans fatty acids, sugar and refined grain products may impact such a drastic change as to eliminate any need for medication. A nutritious diet for a child or adult may seem nearly impossible and not that important, but it is actually very critical. In order for it to process all the metabolic functions, one's body needs to synthesize, make and process and store more than 100,000 chemicals. It must manufacture these chemicals out of only a few different essential raw materials, which include essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, glucose, and amino acids. If your child consumes the standard American diet (SAD) of starchy refined grains, sugary foods, trans fatty acids, and refined, processed and preservative-laden products, the body is not able to perform the chemical conversions it must have to maintain normal body and brain function. Even a diet following the standard food pyramid is sadly lacking in essential nutrients necessary for proper function.
One of the most important nutrients is essential fatty acids. Deficiency in EFA's has been shown to be one of the hallmarks of ADD/ADHD. What are essential fatty acids? EFA's are a major component of cell function. Each cell in our body has a membrane to separate it and protect it. The membrane is composed of essential fatty acids. EFA's can only come from our food sources such as Grassland ground beef and beef patties. EFA's are of two different types: Omega 3's and Omega 6's. The body cannot make Omega 3 fats from an intake of predominantly Omega 6's and vice versa. Omega 3 fats in the body must come from Omega 3 fats in the diet and similarly Omega 6's come from Omega 6's in one's diet.
The Omega 3 group of fats start with Alpha linoleic acid, and include eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexanoic acid (DHA). The Omega 6 group consists of linoleic acid, cis-linoleic acid, gamma-linoleic acid (GLA), dihomogammalinolenic acid (DGLA), and arachidonic acid (AA). (Stevens, Laura M.S., 12 Effective Ways to Help your ADD/ADHD Child, 2000). Essential fatty acids are critical for a couple of reasons. First the balance of omega 3's and omega 6's affects the properties in the cell membrane and the ability of molecules to enter and exit the cell. Omega 3's and 6's are also used by the body to manufacture prostaglandins. Prostaglandins help cells communicate with one another. Long-chain omega 6's and long chain Omega 3's are more concentrated in the brain and retina than in other cells. They play vital roles in brain and nerve function. They are also critical to proper functioning of the immune system.
Several years ago, studies were conducted on boys with ADHD and it was found that they had lower levels of critical EFA's in their blood than a control group of children with "normal" behavior. About 40% of the boys with ADHD reported many symptoms of EFA deficiency including: excessive thirst, frequent urination, visual disturbances, decreased learning abilities and abnormal behavior. The symptomatic boys showed lower levels of omega 3's and omega 6's. Low levels of Omega 6 EFAs contributed to higher incidents of illness (colds, flu, etc.), and deficits in Omega 3 EFAs contributed to problems with learning, behavior, sleep, and temper. These studies support the case for EFA supplementation as a part of the overall treatment approach to Attention Deficit Disorder - ADD ADHD.
Dietary sources of EFA's
In addition to the much publicized addition of wild caught salmon and other fatty fishes to one's diet, grass fed beef is a healthy and delicious alternative. Changing to grass fed, all natural, additive-free beef will increase Essential Fatty Acids in the diet. Kids love starting their day with grassfed beef bacon or beef sausage. And for a super charged snack, the beef pemmican cannot be beat when it comes to high concentrations of Omega 3's and Omega 6's. The whole family will love the delicious beef brisket, ribs, and stew beef. Everyone in the family benefits from this change. Not only do EFA's help with the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, but other family members benefit by enjoying a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, asthsma, arthritis, high blood pressure, and autoimmune disorders. EFA's also decrease inflammation.
Grass-finished beef such as the ribeye steaks is a great source for this essential nutrient. Research demonstrates that Omega 3 is great for individuals with heart disease, and other studies are showing that Omega 3 may also have an anti-carcinogenic effect. The source of Omega 3 is the green leaves of plants. When cattle eat their natural diet, beef becomes a great source of Omega 3. Grain is not a rich source of Omega 3, so standard, cattle-finishing practices cause the Omega 3 level to decrease dramatically. Our grass-finishing protocol produces a natural source for Omega 3, at U.S. Wellness Meats.
REDUCED FAT - Because U.S. Wellness Meats cattle are raised and finished in their natural environment, eating their natural diet, the meat is much leaner than the beef of standard, grain-finished livestock. Grass-fed beef has a much better fatty acid ration and less total fat than grain-fed animals! The myth is that cattle must be grain-fed to be tender and tasty, but we now know better. U.S. Wellness Meats is leaner, so you'll need to cook it at lower temperatures. Wait until you sink your teeth into the lean, clean flavor of U.S. Wellness Meats. You'll find that regular beef flavor has been replaced by a more robust beef flavor that you will love, AND as an added bonus, it's GREAT for you!
NATURAL, ADDITIVE-FREE BEEF - At U.S. Wellness Meats we eat what we sell! We are absolutely committed to the highest standards of food quality and safety. No pesticides or herbicides are used on the pastures where our cattle graze. No preservatives or additives are in our products. No growth implants, feed grade antibiotics or unnecessary antibiotics are given to the animals. Animals are only given antibiotics when necessitated for the treatment of illness. When this occurs the cattle must meet our required withdrawal time prior to processing, which is double that of the industry standard. Cattle graze on a managed rotation, which provides them with consistently fresh forage.
Make the change to all natural, high in EFA's organic beef, meats and poultry from U.S. Wellness. The positive benefits are noticeable and the change will be amazing!
Related articles:
Estrogen and Hormones: What we women need to know
The Future of Food
Aspartame: Ant Poison of Human Food Ingredient???
Hidden Sources of MSG in regular & organic foods
Do You Know What's in the Foods You're Eating?
The Truth About Non-Nutritive Sweeteners
If you would like to learn more here are two other terrific resources to obtain information that is not biased by some large comapny:
Dr. Mercola simply type in the search box the food or topic of interest.
Weston A. Price Foundation The Weston A. Price Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charity founded in 1999 to disseminate the research of nutrition pioneer Dr. Weston Price, whose studies of isolated nonindustrialized peoples established the parameters of human health and determined the optimum characteristics of human diets. Dr. Price's research demonstrated that humans achieve perfect physical form and perfect health generation after generation only when they consume nutrient-dense whole foods and the vital fat-soluble activators found exclusively in animal fats.
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Friday, May 04, 2007
Essential Oils:
Denver Zoo Orangutans Now Calmed by a dab of Basil
by Louise Danielle Palmer
Rhonda Pietsch, the Denver Zoo’s primate specialist, has found a perfect (if bizarre-sounding) solution for controlling the adult male orangutan under her care: basil oil. Following the advice of Francis Cleveland, an expert in animal aromatherapy, Pietsch found that the scent calmed down her testy primates in the winter, when they tend to be in close proximity to one another. A dab of basil oil equals no more stick fights, spitting, or poking. It turns out aromatherapy works for the primate population; it is helpful in addressing a variety of animal ills, which is why Pietsch makes the rounds every morning, offering her orangutans a rather sophisticated and unusual side order to the typical zoo breakfast fare.
Pietsch moves from animal to animal, placing different scented oils on the tips of her fingers for their consideration. The animals indicate interest with different body signals, including pushing their foreheads, lips, chins, cheeks, or arms forward to receive the aromatherapy. Sally chooses yarrow and rose to make her aging body more agile. Mias wants a dab of frankincense on his forehead, and a bit of eucalyptus above his lip to clear his allergies.
In essence, these primates are self-medicating — just as they do in the wild, where they have been observed to pick and eat certain plants that have healing properties. Both humans and primates have highly developed smell receptors in their brains, though they have become less important to us as we have evolved. For most animals, though, sense of smell remains crucial to survival.
“They are very, very smart and are able to tune in and read the body,” Pietsch says. “They will refuse an oil if they don’t want or need it any longer. That’s how I know it is time for a change in oils. Likewise, they may take a great deal of interest in an oil and so I will offer it again to them in the afternoon.”
These primates instinctively know which kind of aromatherapy they need in order to balance out a bad mood, stabilize a nervous stomach, or fix a bad cold, Pietsch says. Mias, for example, has allergies that get worse in the winter when he is moved indoors. To alleviate his runny nose, the 300-pounder always picks two different kinds of eucalyptus, a plant commonly used by humans to relieve congestion. Mias also picks fennel and Roman chamomile to soothe his stomach when he’s nervous (the aromatherapy takes away his diarrhea problem, whereas the medicine the vet gives him does nothing, according to Pietsch).
Aromatherapy also alleviates emotional ills, Pietsch discovered. Allie, for example, was only six when her mother died. She quickly became despondent and depressed following her death. Looking for ways to help her heal, Cleveland recommended frankincense and sandalwood, both of which immediately helped Allie release some of the emotion around the death of her mother. After a month and a half, Pietsch says everyone began to see a noticeable change in her mood and behavior.
As far as Pietsch knows, Denver is the only zoo using aromatherapy to help its animals cope. Pietsch, who also gives aromatic oils to other animals she cares for as “enrichment,” says cats love musky scents, especially Possession. Red river hogs love Clinique perfume, but hate the Colors brand. “They won’t go near it,” she chuckles. ~ end ~
Buy pure organic therapeutic-grade Essential Oils here!
Rhonda Pietsch, the Denver Zoo’s primate specialist, has found a perfect (if bizarre-sounding) solution for controlling the adult male orangutan under her care: basil oil. Following the advice of Francis Cleveland, an expert in animal aromatherapy, Pietsch found that the scent calmed down her testy primates in the winter, when they tend to be in close proximity to one another. A dab of basil oil equals no more stick fights, spitting, or poking. It turns out aromatherapy works for the primate population; it is helpful in addressing a variety of animal ills, which is why Pietsch makes the rounds every morning, offering her orangutans a rather sophisticated and unusual side order to the typical zoo breakfast fare.
Pietsch moves from animal to animal, placing different scented oils on the tips of her fingers for their consideration. The animals indicate interest with different body signals, including pushing their foreheads, lips, chins, cheeks, or arms forward to receive the aromatherapy. Sally chooses yarrow and rose to make her aging body more agile. Mias wants a dab of frankincense on his forehead, and a bit of eucalyptus above his lip to clear his allergies.
In essence, these primates are self-medicating — just as they do in the wild, where they have been observed to pick and eat certain plants that have healing properties. Both humans and primates have highly developed smell receptors in their brains, though they have become less important to us as we have evolved. For most animals, though, sense of smell remains crucial to survival.
“They are very, very smart and are able to tune in and read the body,” Pietsch says. “They will refuse an oil if they don’t want or need it any longer. That’s how I know it is time for a change in oils. Likewise, they may take a great deal of interest in an oil and so I will offer it again to them in the afternoon.”
These primates instinctively know which kind of aromatherapy they need in order to balance out a bad mood, stabilize a nervous stomach, or fix a bad cold, Pietsch says. Mias, for example, has allergies that get worse in the winter when he is moved indoors. To alleviate his runny nose, the 300-pounder always picks two different kinds of eucalyptus, a plant commonly used by humans to relieve congestion. Mias also picks fennel and Roman chamomile to soothe his stomach when he’s nervous (the aromatherapy takes away his diarrhea problem, whereas the medicine the vet gives him does nothing, according to Pietsch).
Aromatherapy also alleviates emotional ills, Pietsch discovered. Allie, for example, was only six when her mother died. She quickly became despondent and depressed following her death. Looking for ways to help her heal, Cleveland recommended frankincense and sandalwood, both of which immediately helped Allie release some of the emotion around the death of her mother. After a month and a half, Pietsch says everyone began to see a noticeable change in her mood and behavior.
As far as Pietsch knows, Denver is the only zoo using aromatherapy to help its animals cope. Pietsch, who also gives aromatic oils to other animals she cares for as “enrichment,” says cats love musky scents, especially Possession. Red river hogs love Clinique perfume, but hate the Colors brand. “They won’t go near it,” she chuckles. ~ end ~
Buy pure organic therapeutic-grade Essential Oils here!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Mother's Day: The Forgotten History
by Craig Weatherby
The idea behind Mother's Day has roots among the ancient Greeks, who kept a festival dedicated to Cybele, a great mother of gods, around the vernal equinox, observed today on March 31.
The Greek tradition was adopted by ancient Romans, who moved the celebration to the Ides of March (March 15 to March 18). Ancient Romans also honored their mothers on the feast day of Matronalia, which was dedicated to Juno, the goddess of childbirth.
The predecessor to today’s holiday was first envisioned after the American Civil War by English social activist Julia Ward Howe, with the purpose of uniting women against war.
But it was the efforts of Philadelphia woman Anna Jarvis -- never a mother herself -- that led directly to broad celebration of Mother's Day.
Ms. Jarvis came up with the concept on the first anniversary of her mother's death in May, 1907, and actually trademarked "Mother's Day" in an attempt to defend, unsuccessfully, against rampant commercialization.
In 1914, President Wilson issued a National proclamation establishing the holiday: a watershed moment that made flower stores, candy makers, restaurants, card makers -- and, one hopes, many mothers -- quite happy. Everyone that is, but the modern holiday's creator!
While Mother’s Day grew to its current proportions largely in response to a persistent marketing push, mothers richly deserve a day dedicated to honoring their sacrifices ... no matter how the holiday came about!
*
The idea behind Mother's Day has roots among the ancient Greeks, who kept a festival dedicated to Cybele, a great mother of gods, around the vernal equinox, observed today on March 31.
The Greek tradition was adopted by ancient Romans, who moved the celebration to the Ides of March (March 15 to March 18). Ancient Romans also honored their mothers on the feast day of Matronalia, which was dedicated to Juno, the goddess of childbirth.
The predecessor to today’s holiday was first envisioned after the American Civil War by English social activist Julia Ward Howe, with the purpose of uniting women against war.
But it was the efforts of Philadelphia woman Anna Jarvis -- never a mother herself -- that led directly to broad celebration of Mother's Day.
Ms. Jarvis came up with the concept on the first anniversary of her mother's death in May, 1907, and actually trademarked "Mother's Day" in an attempt to defend, unsuccessfully, against rampant commercialization.
In 1914, President Wilson issued a National proclamation establishing the holiday: a watershed moment that made flower stores, candy makers, restaurants, card makers -- and, one hopes, many mothers -- quite happy. Everyone that is, but the modern holiday's creator!
While Mother’s Day grew to its current proportions largely in response to a persistent marketing push, mothers richly deserve a day dedicated to honoring their sacrifices ... no matter how the holiday came about!
*
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Essential Oils :
Aromatherapy Use Growing in Hospitals
By BOB GROVES
STAFF WRITER
The Record, www.northjersey.com
The fragrance of lavender and sweet almond was as soothing as the dreamy voice of Enya coming from the CD player. By the patient's bedside a dialysis machine beeped quietly.
The scents arose subtly from oils that Mary Mazzer, a registered nurse and aromatherapist, was rubbing gently on her patient's knuckles, palms and fingers. Next, she poured more oil from a small cup into her latex-gloved hand and applied it to her patient's shins, calves and toes, and to the balls of her feet.
"She has a lot of anxiety related to her illness," said Mazzer, in the patient's room at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. "We've been working together a couple months. She falls asleep with the touch therapy."
"Lavender allows me to relax," said the patient, Shelly Lomberg of Fair Lawn. She was hooked to the dialysis machine with wires, tubes and monitors.
"A lot of it is the touch," Lomberg said. "The aroma definitely takes me somewhere else." Her head lolled, and she drifted off.
At-home practice
If you try aromatherapy at home, make sure you purchase 100 percent essential oils [therapeutic-grade] – not oils mixed with synthetics.
How to use organic therapeutic-grade essential oils:
Essential Oils can be inhaled, or oils can be applied directly to the skin.
Scents are dispersed in the air by oil drops on a gauze pad or handkerchief, or from an electric fan diffuser, or a cold-air diffuser.
Essential Oils are applied to the surface of the skin by gentle touch therapy or in bath water dispersed by one ounce of milk or vodka. A skin allergy test may be required before application.
Essential oils from fruit, flowers, plants and trees can help relieve nausea, anxiety, pain and other symptoms by acting on the limbic system of the brain, associated with feelings and emotions.
Essential oils should be stored away from heat and light.
Aromatherapy is the use of so-called essential oils -- extracted from flowers, fruits, plants and trees -- to relieve anxiety, nausea, insomnia, pain and other symptoms. Scents from the oils are inhaled and stimulate the olfactory nerves in the nose. Or oils are applied to the skin, where they are absorbed and enter the bloodstream. Either way, they act on the limbic system of the brain, including the hippocampus and the amygdala, associated with feelings and emotions.
The treatment is used in many hospices and nursing homes and is beginning to catch on in hospitals. It can also be practiced at home.
Aromatherapy, which goes back to ancient Egypt, should not be confused with synthetically scented soaps and candles sold in New Age boutiques, practitioners maintain.
"We see aromatherapy everywhere," Mazzer said. "It's in dish detergents. But we're not talking about commercial fragrance use. (Note: there can be up to 1,000 different synthetics and/or chemicals allowed in the formulation of "fragrances.")
"We're not just going to make it smell nice, which is fine. We're talking about essential oil used in a specific way to obtain a specific, measurable clinical outcome," she said.
Valley added aromatherapy two years ago to its holistic services program and now has seven nurses certified to administer it, Mazzer said. But it took a while for some of the doctors at the hospital to get used to the idea, she said.
"Oh, you're that voodoo nurse," one physician said to her early in the program.
"Yes, you'll have to be careful," Mazzer replied with a laugh. "I'll put a spell on you."
Acceptance grows
But as the idea caught on, doctors, nurses, social workers and others began asking Mazzer to use aromatherapy on their patients, she said. Although she does not need a physician's order, Mazzer will consult with a patient's doctor, who can overrule using aromatherapy.
Mazzer limits her oils to a select few, such as lavender for anxiety and healing insect bites, and ginger for nausea. Black pepper is a blood-vessel dilator, which can be helpful in starting an intravenous line, she said. Peppermint is good for headache, rosemary for bursitis, neroli oil from orange blossoms is a fragrant relaxant, and eucalyptus is good for colds.
She puts a couple of drops on a gauze pad and wafts the scent toward the patient. She can also use an inhaler. Oils applied topically to the skin are often diluted with sweet almond extract to avoid irritation. Touch therapy is a light caress, not a deep muscle massage.
Mazzer is versed in 33 essential oils and hopes to expand the menu at Valley. "I'm not here to replace anyone" in traditional medical care, she said.
Holistic therapies should not be considered alternative or even complementary medicine. "We look at it as integrative" with standard care, she said. Treatment involves a patient's mind, body and spirit.
Aromatherapy is used in hospices and nursing homes throughout New Jersey, said Susan Coppola of Care Alternatives, a Cranford-based home-care provider in several states. The treatment helps terminally ill patients and families, said Coppola, a registered nurse and aromatherapist who lives in Wyckoff.
"We're looking at comfort in whatever form it comes," she said. "The wonderful thing about aromatherapy is its effectiveness with multiple issues. It's used in different areas of the body for different purposes."
The power of touch
Coppola puts a blend of grape seed, lemon, frankincense and juniper oil on different parts of the body. "The scent relaxes, and it's good for the skin," she said. "Usually these patients have very dehydrated, old skin."
The agency she works for requires a doctor's order and a skin test for allergic reaction, Coppola said.
"It's a wonderful thing to teach families to do, especially if there's been an estrangement," she said. "Touching each other brings closure. Oil has very positive multiple effects."
The scent of essential oils can reduce the stress of patients headed for surgery, said Charisse Gigli, an operating-room nurse at Barnert Hospital in Paterson. She recommends a blend of rose, bergamot (Turkish orange rind), sandalwood and frankincense.
"I carry an inhaler for myself," said Gigli, who is New Jersey director of the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy. "As a patient myself, it really relaxed me before surgery."
Everyday consumers can purchase essential oils commercially, but they should be cautious about quality, she said.
"The thing to worry about is, a lot of so-called fragrance oils are fake or might be a mixture of extract and a synthetic," Gigli said. "You have to be sure it's 100 percent essential oil."
Buy organic therapeutic-grade Essential Oils here!
~ Read more about essential oil quality in my previous posts:
Essential Oil Quality Tid-bits
Why Essential Oils Heal and Drugs Don't by David Stewart, Ph.D.
Purchase 100% pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils at The Very Essence.com
Smell Testing an Essential Oil
STAFF WRITER
The Record, www.northjersey.com
The fragrance of lavender and sweet almond was as soothing as the dreamy voice of Enya coming from the CD player. By the patient's bedside a dialysis machine beeped quietly.
The scents arose subtly from oils that Mary Mazzer, a registered nurse and aromatherapist, was rubbing gently on her patient's knuckles, palms and fingers. Next, she poured more oil from a small cup into her latex-gloved hand and applied it to her patient's shins, calves and toes, and to the balls of her feet.
"She has a lot of anxiety related to her illness," said Mazzer, in the patient's room at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. "We've been working together a couple months. She falls asleep with the touch therapy."
"Lavender allows me to relax," said the patient, Shelly Lomberg of Fair Lawn. She was hooked to the dialysis machine with wires, tubes and monitors.
"A lot of it is the touch," Lomberg said. "The aroma definitely takes me somewhere else." Her head lolled, and she drifted off.
At-home practice
If you try aromatherapy at home, make sure you purchase 100 percent essential oils [therapeutic-grade] – not oils mixed with synthetics.
How to use organic therapeutic-grade essential oils:
Essential Oils can be inhaled, or oils can be applied directly to the skin.
Scents are dispersed in the air by oil drops on a gauze pad or handkerchief, or from an electric fan diffuser, or a cold-air diffuser.
Essential Oils are applied to the surface of the skin by gentle touch therapy or in bath water dispersed by one ounce of milk or vodka. A skin allergy test may be required before application.
Essential oils from fruit, flowers, plants and trees can help relieve nausea, anxiety, pain and other symptoms by acting on the limbic system of the brain, associated with feelings and emotions.
Essential oils should be stored away from heat and light.
Aromatherapy is the use of so-called essential oils -- extracted from flowers, fruits, plants and trees -- to relieve anxiety, nausea, insomnia, pain and other symptoms. Scents from the oils are inhaled and stimulate the olfactory nerves in the nose. Or oils are applied to the skin, where they are absorbed and enter the bloodstream. Either way, they act on the limbic system of the brain, including the hippocampus and the amygdala, associated with feelings and emotions.
The treatment is used in many hospices and nursing homes and is beginning to catch on in hospitals. It can also be practiced at home.
Aromatherapy, which goes back to ancient Egypt, should not be confused with synthetically scented soaps and candles sold in New Age boutiques, practitioners maintain.
"We see aromatherapy everywhere," Mazzer said. "It's in dish detergents. But we're not talking about commercial fragrance use. (Note: there can be up to 1,000 different synthetics and/or chemicals allowed in the formulation of "fragrances.")
"We're not just going to make it smell nice, which is fine. We're talking about essential oil used in a specific way to obtain a specific, measurable clinical outcome," she said.
Valley added aromatherapy two years ago to its holistic services program and now has seven nurses certified to administer it, Mazzer said. But it took a while for some of the doctors at the hospital to get used to the idea, she said.
"Oh, you're that voodoo nurse," one physician said to her early in the program.
"Yes, you'll have to be careful," Mazzer replied with a laugh. "I'll put a spell on you."
Acceptance grows
But as the idea caught on, doctors, nurses, social workers and others began asking Mazzer to use aromatherapy on their patients, she said. Although she does not need a physician's order, Mazzer will consult with a patient's doctor, who can overrule using aromatherapy.
Mazzer limits her oils to a select few, such as lavender for anxiety and healing insect bites, and ginger for nausea. Black pepper is a blood-vessel dilator, which can be helpful in starting an intravenous line, she said. Peppermint is good for headache, rosemary for bursitis, neroli oil from orange blossoms is a fragrant relaxant, and eucalyptus is good for colds.
She puts a couple of drops on a gauze pad and wafts the scent toward the patient. She can also use an inhaler. Oils applied topically to the skin are often diluted with sweet almond extract to avoid irritation. Touch therapy is a light caress, not a deep muscle massage.
Mazzer is versed in 33 essential oils and hopes to expand the menu at Valley. "I'm not here to replace anyone" in traditional medical care, she said.
Holistic therapies should not be considered alternative or even complementary medicine. "We look at it as integrative" with standard care, she said. Treatment involves a patient's mind, body and spirit.
Aromatherapy is used in hospices and nursing homes throughout New Jersey, said Susan Coppola of Care Alternatives, a Cranford-based home-care provider in several states. The treatment helps terminally ill patients and families, said Coppola, a registered nurse and aromatherapist who lives in Wyckoff.
"We're looking at comfort in whatever form it comes," she said. "The wonderful thing about aromatherapy is its effectiveness with multiple issues. It's used in different areas of the body for different purposes."
The power of touch
Coppola puts a blend of grape seed, lemon, frankincense and juniper oil on different parts of the body. "The scent relaxes, and it's good for the skin," she said. "Usually these patients have very dehydrated, old skin."
The agency she works for requires a doctor's order and a skin test for allergic reaction, Coppola said.
"It's a wonderful thing to teach families to do, especially if there's been an estrangement," she said. "Touching each other brings closure. Oil has very positive multiple effects."
The scent of essential oils can reduce the stress of patients headed for surgery, said Charisse Gigli, an operating-room nurse at Barnert Hospital in Paterson. She recommends a blend of rose, bergamot (Turkish orange rind), sandalwood and frankincense.
"I carry an inhaler for myself," said Gigli, who is New Jersey director of the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy. "As a patient myself, it really relaxed me before surgery."
Everyday consumers can purchase essential oils commercially, but they should be cautious about quality, she said.
"The thing to worry about is, a lot of so-called fragrance oils are fake or might be a mixture of extract and a synthetic," Gigli said. "You have to be sure it's 100 percent essential oil."
Buy organic therapeutic-grade Essential Oils here!
~ Read more about essential oil quality in my previous posts:
Essential Oil Quality Tid-bits
Why Essential Oils Heal and Drugs Don't by David Stewart, Ph.D.
Purchase 100% pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils at The Very Essence.com
Smell Testing an Essential Oil
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Essential Oil Sugar Body Scrub
This is effective for your whole body. Do not rub as hard on your face as you would on your feet, facial skin is much more sensitive.
Use a plastic container to mix - glass may break in the bathroom. For storage, use glass.
Combine:
1/2 cup olive oil (or coconut oil)
1 cup of sugar
Few drops of your essential oil (sandalwood is nice!)
Do this in the bathroom. Use small amounts at a time and massage gently on the skin. You can leave it on for a minute or two for a tightening effect. Rinse.
Buy pure organic Young Living Essential Oils
*
Use a plastic container to mix - glass may break in the bathroom. For storage, use glass.
Combine:
1/2 cup olive oil (or coconut oil)
1 cup of sugar
Few drops of your essential oil (sandalwood is nice!)
Do this in the bathroom. Use small amounts at a time and massage gently on the skin. You can leave it on for a minute or two for a tightening effect. Rinse.
Buy pure organic Young Living Essential Oils
*
Monday, April 23, 2007
Cooking with Essential Oils
May Health and Wellness Seminar
Cooking with Essential Oils
Presented by Young Living NW
May 15, 2007 • 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Edmonds Conference Center
201 Fourth Avenue North
Edmonds, WA 98020
Free to the general public, $10 for YLEO Members
Pre-register through Evelyn Vincent at:
Young Living NW Online Registration
Add unique dimensions in flavvor & nutrition to your favorite recipes!
Everyday Cook? Professional Chef?
If your answer is “yes,” you will want to meet “Chef To Go,” Debra Lane, as she demonstrates the many easy ways that essential oils add an exquisite flair to enhance food preparation and daily nutrition.
Debra Lane's Chef to Go, is a whole foods gourmet meal delivery service Chef To Go serving the Seattle area. Debra's 17-year career in Seattle restaurants includes the Space Needle and the Seattle Yacht Club. Debra has certificates from the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Academy, US Personal Chef Institute, and Personal Chef Network. As a certified Nutritional Consultant, Debra is qualified to serve clients with specific dietary needs. She has recently completed a 3 series Diabetic course at Joslin Diabetic Center.
Chef Debra taught classes at 6 National Chef conventions in the US and Canada, and helped to develop training materials for 2 National chef associations. She is co-founder of the Puget Sound Personal Chefs and received a National award as the president of that group. Debra is presently active in Personal Chefs Network, and is a Sous Chef for the Washington State chapter. She was awarded the Pacesetter award in November 2004. Chef Debra is also a member of Slow Food USA, Women Chefs and Restauranteurs and the Personal Chefs Network.
Taste samples of Chef Debra’s essential oil recipes!
PRE-REGISTER WITH EVELYN VINCENT AT:
Young Living NW Online Registration
UPCOMING HEALTH AND WELLNESS SEMINARS
June 19th, 2007
Summer Skin Care
Learn about summer skin care and how liver health relates to the condition of your healthy glow!
July 17th, 2007
Young Living NW Open Forum
Bring your Young Living questions to this open forum. Get practical answers about using essential oils and more!
PRE-REGISTER WITH EVELYN VINCENT AT:
Young Living NW Online Registration
Get to know us... Meet the Young Living NW Team
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Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Article Writing -
Wildly Successful Article Writing & Marketing
with Jeff Herring
The Article Guy
We are just 2 days away from the preview call for the Article Writing & Marketing Secrets TeleCourse.
Get VIP access to a 90-minute teleseminar and discover Jeff Herring - The Internet Article Guy's "4 Pillars of Wildly Successful Article Writing & Marketing.”
Jeff Herring - The Internet Article Guy is hosting a 90 minute teleseminar on:
THE 4 PILLARS OF WILDLY SUCCESSFUL ARTICLE WRITING & MARKETING
This is a FREE Article Writing & Marketing Secrets 90+ minute Tele-Event for those interested in writing and marketing articles. Jeff Herring will share a lot of information that you can begin using immediately.
Date - Monday April 23, 2007
Time - 5:30 pm Pacific/8:30 pm Eastern
I've attended many of his past teleseminars and Jeff provides such great value and information that I know you will walk away with tools and strategies you can immediately use.
Here's just some of what you'll get in this 90 minute plus teleseminar:
> The 3 mistakes even experienced article writers make and what to do instead.
> The most powerful article writing template.
> How to write articles for more traffic, prospects, publicity & profits.
> The 3 most common near fatal article submission mistakes.
> 5 strategies to get your articles picked up and published over those of the competition
> The 3 most limiting article marketing mistakes.
> How to get creative when marketing your articles to beat the competition.
> The 3 most profit killing mistakes just about every article writer makes.
> How to monetize your articles.
> How you can turn just one article into multiple products!
> And Of Course Much More!!!
I invite you to visit ARTICLE WRITING AND MARKETING SECRETS and register for this tele-event right now to learn how to write articles that search engines love!
Jeff's TeleSeminars are terrific, he's articulate, easy to follow and has a wealth of information to share that will help you learn how to write articles that search engines and people love to read!
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Essential Oil Seminar, Edmonds, WA:
Kids, Pets, Fleas & Pests
APRIL HEALTH AND WELLNESS SEMINAR
Kids, Pets, Fleas & Pests
Presented by Young Living NW
April 17th, 2007 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Edmonds Conference Center
201 Fourth Avenue North
Edmonds, WA 98020
Free to the general public, $10 for YLEO Members
Is your First Aid Kit as good as it could be?
If you answered no, join the Young Living Northwest team in this lively and informative seminar and learn what we do to help our kids and pets when discomfort arises. We will also share how we have used essential oils on our kids, grandchildren, cats and dogs.
Our special guest speakers will include:
Debby Gallie-Miller founder of High Country Outfitters and Camp Wahoo a childrens horse camp, and her camp cook Jeani Krogstad.
Pre-register now,
reserve your seat through
Evelyn Vincent, go to
Young Living Northwest
GET EXCITED ABOUT LIVING WITH YOUNG LIVING,
ESSENTIAL OILS ARE SCENTS-SATIONAL
Upcoming Health and Wellness Seminars
May 15th, 2007
COOKING with ESSENTIAL OILS
Chef Debra Lane, of Chef To Go at mychefdelivers.com, will demonstrate how to expand your cooking repertoire!
June 19th, 2007
Summer Skin Care
Don't let sunburned & sundried skin ruin your summer, learn how we use essential oils to maintain lovely skin.
*
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
The Benefits of Peppermint Essential Oil
PEPPERMINT (Mentha piperita)
BOTANICAL FAMILY: Lamiaceae or Labiatae (mint).
PLANT ORIGIN: North America.
EXTRACTION METHOD: Steam distilled from leaves, stems, and flower buds.
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Monoterpenes: á pinene, â.pinene, limonene: Monoterpenols: menthol (38-48%); Monoterpenones: menthone (20-30%); Terpene oxides: 1,8 cineol; Terpene esters: menthol acetate; Coumarins, Sulfurs: dimenthalsulfide.
ACTION: Anticarcinogenic, supports digestion, expels worms, decongestant, antiinfectious, antibacterial, antifungal, mucolytic, stimulant, hypertensive, cardiotonic, stimulates gallbladder, pain-relieving, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory for the intestinal and urinary tract. It can heighten or restore the sense of taste by stimulating the trigeminal nerve.
FOUND IN THESE YOUNG LIVING BLENDS: Aroma Siez, Clarity, Di-Gize, Legacy, M-Grain, Mister, PanAway, Raven, RC, Relieve-It, Cinnamint Lip Balm, Dentarome Plus Toothpaste, Fresh Essence Mouthwash, Satin Scrub-Mint, NeuroGen, Regenolone, Satin Body Lotion, Morning Start Bath Gel, Peppermint-Cedarwood Soap, Morning Start Soap, Ortho Ease Massage Oil, Ortho Sport Massage Oil, Relaxation Massage Oil, ComforTone, Mineral Essence, Pro-Gen, ProMist, ThermaMist, and Thyromin. These essential oils and products can be found at my website The Very Essence.
TRADITIONAL USES: Peppermint is one of the oldest and most highly regarded herbs for soothing digestion. Jean Valnet, M.D., studied peppermint’s effect on the liver and respiratory systems. Other scientists have also researched peppermint’s role in affecting impaired taste and smell when inhaled. Dr. William N. Dember of the University of Cincinnati studied peppermint’s ability to improve concentration and mental accuracy. Alan Hirsch, M.D., studied peppermint’s ability to directly affect the brain’s satiety center (the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus) which triggers a sensation of fullness after meals.
INDICATIONS: Asthma, bronchitis, candida, diarrhea, digestive aid, reduces fever, halitosis, heartburn, hemorrhoids, hot flashes, indigestion, menstrual irregularity, headaches, motion sickness, nausea, tumor growth, respiratory infections, shock, itchy skin, throat infections, and varicose veins. Other Uses: This essential oil may help arthritis, indigestion, depression, skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis), food poisoning, headaches, hives, hysteria, inflammation, morning sickness, nerve regeneration, rheumatism, elevate and open sensory system, toothaches, and tuberculosis.
APPLICATIONS: Diffuse. Massage on the stomach or add to water or tea. Apply to bottom of feet or rub on the temples to treat headaches. To improve concentration, alertness, and memory, place several drops on the tongue. Add to food as a flavoring and preservative.
Buy Young Living Peppermint essential oil here!
• Rub 4-6 drops in the palm and rub over stomach and around the navel to relieve indigestion, flatulence and diarrhea.
• Add a drop of Peppermint essential oil to herbal tea to aid in digestion and relieve heartburn.
• Massage several drops of Peppermint essential oil on the area of injury to reduce inflammation.
• Apply Peppermint oil immediately to an injured area (bruised shin, hit on the foot or hand) to relieve pain. If there is a cut, apply the Peppermint essential oil around (not on) the open wound.
• Rub several drops of Peppermint oil on the bottoms of the feet to reduce fever.
• Apply a drop of Peppermint essential oil topically on unbroken skin to stop itching.
• For poison ivy or poison oak, apply Peppermint oil on location neat or dilute with V-6 Vegetable Mixing Oil.
• Inhale Peppermint essential oil before and during a workout to boost your mood and reduce fatigue.
• Massage several drops of Peppermint essential oil on the abdomen to relieve nausea.
• To relieve a headache rub a drop of Peppermint essential oil on the temples, forehead, over the sinuses (stay away from the eyes) and on the back of the neck.
• To stop hiccups, apply a drop of Peppermint essential oil on each side of the fifth cervical vertebra (up three notches from the large vertebra at the base of the neck).
• Diffuse Peppermint essential oil in the room while studying to improve concentration and accuracy. Inhale Peppermint oil while taking a test to improve recall.
• Rub 4 drops of Peppermint essential oil on chest and stomach to relieve travel sickness.
• Add Peppermint essential oil to food as a flavoring and a preservative.
• To deter rats, mice, ants or cockroaches, place two drops of Peppermint essential oil on a cotton ball and place along the path or point of entry for these pests.
• Mix one 15-ml. bottle of Peppermint essential oil into a 5 gallon can of paint to dispel the fumes.
• Place a couple of drops of Peppermint essential oil in a cup of hot water and enjoy in place of coffee or dried teas.
• To kill aphids add 4-5 drops of Peppermint essential oil to 4 ounces of water and spray the plants.
• Drink a drop of Peppermint essential oil mixed in a glass of cold water to cool off on a hot day.
• Rub Peppermint essential oil on joints to relieve arthritis or tendonitis pain.
• Inhale the fragrance of Peppermint essential oil to curb the appetite and lessen the impulse to overeat.
• Remove ticks by applying a drop of Peppermint essential oil on a cotton swab and swabbing the tick. Wait for it to unhedge its head and remove from your pet.
• Mix Peppermint essential oil with a carrier oil such as Almond or Olive Oil in a footbath to relieve sore feet. Keep water agitated while soaking feet.
FRAGRANT INFLUENCE: It is purifying and stimulating to the conscious mind.
Experience pure organic Peppermint essential oil for yourself Contact me if you have questions.
SAFETY DATA: If currently under a doctor’s care or pregnant, consult physician prior to use. Avoid contact with eyes, mucus membranes, or sensitive skin areas. Do not apply neat to a fresh wound or burn.
Information found here refers solely to products from Young Living Essential Oils and is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. We urge you to do the health related research necessary to learn what is right for you. Young Living uses only therapeutic grade oils. Perfume grade or poor quality oils may possibly be harmful due to unknown additives and poor plant or distillation conditions.
*
BOTANICAL FAMILY: Lamiaceae or Labiatae (mint).
PLANT ORIGIN: North America.
EXTRACTION METHOD: Steam distilled from leaves, stems, and flower buds.
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Monoterpenes: á pinene, â.pinene, limonene: Monoterpenols: menthol (38-48%); Monoterpenones: menthone (20-30%); Terpene oxides: 1,8 cineol; Terpene esters: menthol acetate; Coumarins, Sulfurs: dimenthalsulfide.
ACTION: Anticarcinogenic, supports digestion, expels worms, decongestant, antiinfectious, antibacterial, antifungal, mucolytic, stimulant, hypertensive, cardiotonic, stimulates gallbladder, pain-relieving, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory for the intestinal and urinary tract. It can heighten or restore the sense of taste by stimulating the trigeminal nerve.
FOUND IN THESE YOUNG LIVING BLENDS: Aroma Siez, Clarity, Di-Gize, Legacy, M-Grain, Mister, PanAway, Raven, RC, Relieve-It, Cinnamint Lip Balm, Dentarome Plus Toothpaste, Fresh Essence Mouthwash, Satin Scrub-Mint, NeuroGen, Regenolone, Satin Body Lotion, Morning Start Bath Gel, Peppermint-Cedarwood Soap, Morning Start Soap, Ortho Ease Massage Oil, Ortho Sport Massage Oil, Relaxation Massage Oil, ComforTone, Mineral Essence, Pro-Gen, ProMist, ThermaMist, and Thyromin. These essential oils and products can be found at my website The Very Essence.
TRADITIONAL USES: Peppermint is one of the oldest and most highly regarded herbs for soothing digestion. Jean Valnet, M.D., studied peppermint’s effect on the liver and respiratory systems. Other scientists have also researched peppermint’s role in affecting impaired taste and smell when inhaled. Dr. William N. Dember of the University of Cincinnati studied peppermint’s ability to improve concentration and mental accuracy. Alan Hirsch, M.D., studied peppermint’s ability to directly affect the brain’s satiety center (the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus) which triggers a sensation of fullness after meals.
INDICATIONS: Asthma, bronchitis, candida, diarrhea, digestive aid, reduces fever, halitosis, heartburn, hemorrhoids, hot flashes, indigestion, menstrual irregularity, headaches, motion sickness, nausea, tumor growth, respiratory infections, shock, itchy skin, throat infections, and varicose veins. Other Uses: This essential oil may help arthritis, indigestion, depression, skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis), food poisoning, headaches, hives, hysteria, inflammation, morning sickness, nerve regeneration, rheumatism, elevate and open sensory system, toothaches, and tuberculosis.
APPLICATIONS: Diffuse. Massage on the stomach or add to water or tea. Apply to bottom of feet or rub on the temples to treat headaches. To improve concentration, alertness, and memory, place several drops on the tongue. Add to food as a flavoring and preservative.
Buy Young Living Peppermint essential oil here!
• Rub 4-6 drops in the palm and rub over stomach and around the navel to relieve indigestion, flatulence and diarrhea.
• Add a drop of Peppermint essential oil to herbal tea to aid in digestion and relieve heartburn.
• Massage several drops of Peppermint essential oil on the area of injury to reduce inflammation.
• Apply Peppermint oil immediately to an injured area (bruised shin, hit on the foot or hand) to relieve pain. If there is a cut, apply the Peppermint essential oil around (not on) the open wound.
• Rub several drops of Peppermint oil on the bottoms of the feet to reduce fever.
• Apply a drop of Peppermint essential oil topically on unbroken skin to stop itching.
• For poison ivy or poison oak, apply Peppermint oil on location neat or dilute with V-6 Vegetable Mixing Oil.
• Inhale Peppermint essential oil before and during a workout to boost your mood and reduce fatigue.
• Massage several drops of Peppermint essential oil on the abdomen to relieve nausea.
• To relieve a headache rub a drop of Peppermint essential oil on the temples, forehead, over the sinuses (stay away from the eyes) and on the back of the neck.
• To stop hiccups, apply a drop of Peppermint essential oil on each side of the fifth cervical vertebra (up three notches from the large vertebra at the base of the neck).
• Diffuse Peppermint essential oil in the room while studying to improve concentration and accuracy. Inhale Peppermint oil while taking a test to improve recall.
• Rub 4 drops of Peppermint essential oil on chest and stomach to relieve travel sickness.
• Add Peppermint essential oil to food as a flavoring and a preservative.
• To deter rats, mice, ants or cockroaches, place two drops of Peppermint essential oil on a cotton ball and place along the path or point of entry for these pests.
• Mix one 15-ml. bottle of Peppermint essential oil into a 5 gallon can of paint to dispel the fumes.
• Place a couple of drops of Peppermint essential oil in a cup of hot water and enjoy in place of coffee or dried teas.
• To kill aphids add 4-5 drops of Peppermint essential oil to 4 ounces of water and spray the plants.
• Drink a drop of Peppermint essential oil mixed in a glass of cold water to cool off on a hot day.
• Rub Peppermint essential oil on joints to relieve arthritis or tendonitis pain.
• Inhale the fragrance of Peppermint essential oil to curb the appetite and lessen the impulse to overeat.
• Remove ticks by applying a drop of Peppermint essential oil on a cotton swab and swabbing the tick. Wait for it to unhedge its head and remove from your pet.
• Mix Peppermint essential oil with a carrier oil such as Almond or Olive Oil in a footbath to relieve sore feet. Keep water agitated while soaking feet.
FRAGRANT INFLUENCE: It is purifying and stimulating to the conscious mind.
Experience pure organic Peppermint essential oil for yourself Contact me if you have questions.
SAFETY DATA: If currently under a doctor’s care or pregnant, consult physician prior to use. Avoid contact with eyes, mucus membranes, or sensitive skin areas. Do not apply neat to a fresh wound or burn.
Information found here refers solely to products from Young Living Essential Oils and is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. We urge you to do the health related research necessary to learn what is right for you. Young Living uses only therapeutic grade oils. Perfume grade or poor quality oils may possibly be harmful due to unknown additives and poor plant or distillation conditions.
*
Friday, April 06, 2007
Natural Dyes for Easter Eggs
Dyeing eggs with natural substances doesn't take much more time than if you used commercial coloring kits - and it's alot more fun.
You can be very creative with what is in your kitchen already and your Easter eggs can come out very unique.
Here are the colors and the substance that makes those colors.
These are either a spice, fruit, vegetable, or foodstuff that will color your Easter in a very safe way:
- Red or Pink: Red beets, cranberries, frozen raspberries
- Light Green: Spinach leaves
- Yellow: Ground Cumin, Ground Tumeric, Shredded carrots
- Blue: Blueberries,blackberries, red cabbage leaves, grape juice
- Purple: Red Zinger® tea (by Celestial Seasonings)
- Brown: Brewed coffee
Here's how to make your Easter Egg dye:
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp. spice or 4 c. chopped fruit or vegetable, or more
4 c. water, or more
2 Tbsp. white vinegar (per 4 c. water)
Directions:
Combine spice or foodstuff with water and vinegar.
Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 to 30 minutes.
Eggs can be colored and cooked in the dye while it is being prepared. Or, they can be hard-cooked in advance, then dipped into the prepared dye (which can be either cold or hot).
*
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender is often called the "Universal Oil", or "Swiss Army Knife of Oils," because it can be used for so many things. It's nature's burn medication and stress reliever and much more. Lavender is a very mild essential oil that can often be used undiluted on the skin. It is a good essential oil to use with children.
A high quality lavender essential oil is an irreplaceable gift from nature because it provides so many benefits. When you don't know what oil to use, try lavender.
Historical Data: The French scientist Rene Gattefosse was the first to discover lavender's ability to promote tissue regeneration and speed wound healing when he severely burned his arm in a laboratory accident. Today, lavender is one of the few essential oils to still be listed in the British Pharmacopoeia.
Read my previous post on Is There Really "Therapy" in Aromatherapy?
Burns - Apply lavender essential oil* to a burn and experience almost immediate relief. Also use it to cleanse & soothe cuts or scrapes. NOTE: only use "therapeutic-grade" lavender - if the oil you're using is not therapeutic-grade it is adulterated (even if the label says it's 100% pure and organic) and could make a first degree burn a third degree burn - yes, it has happened and continues to happen with those who refuse to accept there are vast differences in quality - don't learn the hard way.
* IMPOTANT NOTE: make sure you have true lavender, Lavendula angustifolia, that has grown organically, not distilled with chemical solvents, and has not been adulterated with extenders. Lavendin is a cheaper oil and is often used to extend the true lavender, and is frequesntly sold in the US as Lavender. Lavendin, a hybrid lavender that is chemically very different from pure Lavendula angustifolia. Lavendin contains high levels of camphor (12 to 18%) and will burn the skin. Imagine applying camphor to an open wound or a second or third degree burn... Big Ouch!!
By contrast, true lavender contains virtually no camphor and does have burn-healing agents not found in Lavendin.
France exports to the US 100 times more Lavender essential oil than they distill. This means that most of the Lavender essential oil on the market is either not pure and true lavender and/or that it contains solvents and chemicals you do not want on your body or to even use for aromatherapy purposes.
University of Miami researchers found that inhalation of lavender essential oil increased beta waves in the brain, suggesting heightened relaxation. It also reduced depression and improved cognitive performance (Diego et al., 1998). A 2001 Osaka Kyoiku University study found that lavender reduced mental stress and increased alertness (Motomura et al., 2001).
Related article: Essential Oils & Dried Herbs
To Calm and Relax - Lavender is well known for its calming and sedative properties. Rub a couple drops on the back of the neck and shoulders. Inhaling also works wonders.
Suffering from insomnia? Try dripping 3-5 drops of lavender down your spine. 1-2 drops rubbed on the bottom of each foot, hop in bed and breathe the remaining oil. Read more on Sleep Disorders and Essential Oils
Headaches - Lavender can be good for headaches. Put a couple drops in your hand then inhale. Then rub a drop on your temples, the back of the neck across forehead or on location (being careful not to get any in your eyes).
Mood Uplifting - Diffuse or put a couple drops in your hand and then inhale. Apply direct application. Lavender may also help PMS symptoms.
Lavender can also be found in the following Young Living essential oil blends:
Dragon Time
M-Grain
R.C.
SARA
And in these Young Living products:
Lavender-Rosewood bar soap
Lavender volume shampoo
Lavender volume conditioner
LavaDerm
ClaraDerm
Buy Young Living therapeutic-grade essential oils here!
Disclaimer: Information found here refers solely to products from Young Living Essential Oils and is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. We urge you to do the health related research necessary to learn what is right for you. Young Living uses only organic and pure therapeutic grade oils.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Educational Video's on Our Health & Future Freedoms
If you like facts here are some terrific video's explaining what's been going on in our pharmaceutical industry, health care practices, our food industry, and provides some ideas on how you can begin to take control of your future health...
Prescription for Disaster is an in-depth investigation into the symbiotic relationships between the pharmaceutical industry, the FDA, lobbyists, lawmakers, medical schools, and researchers, and the impact this has on consumers and their health care. During this thorough investigation, we take a close look at patented drugs, why they are so readily prescribed by doctors, the role insurance companies and HMO's play in promoting compliance, and the problem of rising health care costs. We examine the marketing and public relations efforts on behalf of the pharmaceutical companies, including sales reps, medical journals and conferences.
Further, we look at alternatives to traditional pharmacology and drug therapy, such as vitamins and nutritional supplements, and why they are often perceived as a competitive threat to the drug manufacturers. Alternative therapies also include diet, exercise and a healthy lifestyle.
Prescription for Disaster takes you on a journey through the tangled web of big business, the way disease is treated today, and the consequences we suffer as a society.
Length of video 1hour 30 minutes.
If you have trouble believing that our health freedoms will be striped before our eyes in 2009-2010 may I recommend takng a look at this...
New Yorkers' Access to Supplements Under Attack - and Consumers Fight Back!
For release: March 30, 2007
March, 2007 - In the March issue of Nutrition Industry Executive magazine (http://vitaminretailer.com/NIE/2007/03/NIE0307FirstWord-WhatHappensNewYork.htm), James Gormley reports that there are four new bills in New York State that have been introduced by NY State Assemblyman Felix Ortiz (D-51st District) - six if you count two companion bills in the NY Senate. These bills take aim at consumers by targeting all supplement companies that sell into New York, which is virtually every manufacturer that exists; if passed, they would set an example certain to spread to other states. Earlier this month Citizens for Health mobilized its members in New York, and so far 1000 citizen activists have made their voices heard in opposition to this bill.
New Yorkers, tell your representatives to vote "No"!
The following is a list of the bills and what they entail:
Bill A3944 would require "that anyone selling dietary supplements that make health or appearance claims possess competent and scientific evidence substantiating those claims"; it would also require a warning statement on the product label or "handout" if the product claim is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Bill A4014 would prevent school employees, especially coaches, from recommending dietary supplements to students and would require schools to warn students of the risks of supplements.
Bill A3357 would establish a dietary supplements safety committee that would, apparently, create "adequate standards and enforcement for manufacturing, safety and effectiveness" of dietary supplements.
Bill A2068 would require labeling to indicate which products have been tested by the FDA for "purity."
If enacted, these bills would:
a. Create a completely unnecessary layer of bureaucracy at the state level (attempting to usurp Federal powers)
b. Limit consumers' access, and interfere with their right, to important information about supplements
c. Place an unnecessary economic burden on the nutritional and dietary supplement industry and its customers without providing any additional value to consumers.
These bills are not just bad for consumers of natural products---they are bad for the state of New York, and would set a dangerous precedent for the rest of the country.
For example, A3944 would promote a different, unwarranted, and unnecessary double standard for dietary supplement makers who sell products in New York. The costs of compliance would drive up the costs of products for the millions of consumers statewide who depend upon inherently safe supplements for health and well-being. It would also force many manufacturers to relocate to other states, while those who remain would pass their greater costs on down to consumers, forcing those same consumers to, in turn, look to other states for the supplements upon which they depend. And, if this policy spreads to the United States as a whole, there won't be any other states left to which to turn!
We at Citizens for Health join with the National Nutritional Foods Association-East in strongly opposing these bills, and urge you to tell your friends and family in New York State to do the same.
At best, they are unnecessary because sufficient regulations, enforcement and oversight already exist at the Federal level, like the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). At worst and realistically, the bills are burdensome and have the potential to create a confusing and unfairly hostile environment for supplements in New York State that would be used as a precedent for the establishment of similar regulations across the country.
~ Contact NY State Representatives and anyone else who can make a difference. Remember, we are up against very large companies and it ain't going to be easy winning this battle... but it will be worth the effort.
If the above isn't enough to set you into action, take a look at this video...
The Codex Alimentarius is a threat to the freedom of people to choose natural healing and alternative medicine and nutrition. Ratified by the World Health Organization, and going into Law in the United States in 2009, the threat to health freedom has never been greater.
This is the first part of a series of talks by Dr. Rima Laibow MD, available on DVD from the Natural Solutions Foundation, an non-profit organization dedicated to educating people about how to stop Codex Alimentarius from taking away our right to freely choose nutritional health.
Length 40 minutes.
And, if you really feel like getting up to speed on just how widespread these large companies are going to be controlling your life, your kids lives, and your grandchildrens lives, take a look at this video...
The Future of Food - A Very Important Documentary about the ills of corporate food production. As is typically the case with corporations, it's Quantity over Quality. GM foods are unnecessary and no corporation is really going to feed third world nations. It's a scam to increase corporate hegemony at the cost of humanity. What Nature does, humans haven't even begun to understand, yet we're modifying and engineering what took millions of years of evolution to come about. A recipe for disaster!
Very slowly, over the course of generations, we have been conditioned to fall into line like little ducks in a row. I'm not about to give up my natural and alternative health choices. Those choices have served me well for 50 years and I'm not about to let them go. The ingredients are ones my ancestors evolved with, my body recognizes and knows how to process them. I am not about to give up something that valuable for some synthetic or chemical that ultimately lines someones pocket who doesn't give a hoot about me or you.
Please do what you can to make a difference before it is too late. CODEX is literally right around the corner and it will happen unless we find a way to stop it.
To "our" freedoms!
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Cedarwood Essential Oil
CEDARWOOD (Cedrus atlantica)
Here's some information about one of my favorite oils...
Inhaling the oils of cedarwood increases the ability to think clearly and enhances the awareness needed for effective prayer and meditation. This is because of all the essential oils of the world, Cedarwood contains the highest concentration of sesquiterpenes, which have the ability to pass through the blood-brain barrier and oxygenate the brain directly upon inhalation by way of the nasal passages and the olfactory nerves. It has been suggested that cedarwood oil might prevent senility and Alzheimers disease.
Perhaps this is why the palaces of King David and King Solomon were built of cedar. King Solomon contracted King Hiram to supply all the materials needed (The Cedars of Lebanon) in return for wheat and fine oils for every year as long as it took to complete the temple. Unfortunately, the cedars of Lebanon were nearly forested to extinction and today only small patches exist in the far regions. Cedrus atlantica is believed to the closest in chemistry to the cedars of Biblical times.
Key Chemistry: Cedarwood contains 98% sesquiterpenes which deprogram misinformation written in the DNA due to trauma, abuse, loss and ancestral and limiting beliefs. Sesquiterpenes are considered the antidepressant in this valuable aspect.
Cedarwood may also be useful as a general cerebral stimulant. It may be diffused or applied topically as desired.
Fragrant Influence: Stimulates the limbic region of the brain (the center of emotions) and the pineal gland, which releases melatonin. Terry Friedmann, MD found in clinical tests that this essential oil was able to successfully treat ADD and ADHD (attention deficit disorders) in children. It is recognized for its calming, purifying properties.
Other Properties: may combat hair loss (alopecia areata), antibacterial, lymphatic stimulant.
USES: Hair loss, arteriosclerosis, ADHD, skin problems (acne, eczema)
Application: (1) Apply on location, (2) chakras/vitaflex points, (3) directly inhale, (4) diffuse.
CEDARWOOD FOR COLD/SORE THROAT TESTIMONIAL
I had a nasty cold and sore throat, a couple Sundays ago I woke up with a hacking cough and my wife told me to put Cedarwood on my throat & chest. I did, and it helped immensely. I was feeling rough enough I stayed home from church and read the first few chapters of the Essential Oils Desk Reference.
I also looked up Cedarwood and nowhere does it mention for respiratory problems. But it DOES help with this hacking cough!! I use it through the day.
At night I use Raven & RC (Young Living essential oil blends) in a travel diffuser. I get under the covers with it for about 15 minutes before going to sleep. Helps me sleep through most of the night w/o coughing. ~ Gary ~
CEDARWOOD FOR SLEEP
At night I place a drop or two of Cedarwood on my forehead and temples then dab the rest under my nose or perhaps on the outer rims of my ears. I fall asleep much more easily, perhaps because Cedarwood is known to stimulate melatonin, the sleep hormone. ~ Deborah ~
* Use only the BEST therapeutic grade essential oils. Essential oils from bath shops and natural foods stores are often perfume grade and thus may not yield therapeutic results. Perfume grade essential oils have been rendered toxic by the distillation method, fillers, chemical extractants, etc. and may cause adverse reactions.
To Learn More about Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils and their many uses please contact me through my website: The Very Essence
Information found here refers solely to products from Young Living Essential Oils and is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. We urge you to do the health related research necessary to learn what is right for you.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Dream Sweet:
Essential Oil recipes promote good sleep
SLEEP TIGHT
3 drops lavender essential oil
1 drop clary sage essential oil
Mix 3 drops lavender and 1 drop clary sage with a teaspoon of milk or cream. Add to a warm bath & soak.
~ o ~
CALM NERVES & PROMOTE SLEEP
4 drops lavender essential oil
4 drops of roman chamomile essential oil
Add lavender and chamomile to a teaspoon milk or cream. Pour into a warm bath and soak.
Or, add lavender and chamomile in a Cold-Air Diffuser and diffuse in your bedroom.
~ o ~
RELAXATION MASSAGE OIL
4 drops Lavender
1 drop Petitgrain
1 drop Frankincense
4 Tablespoons of massage oil, almond or olive oil
This blend may be added to a warm bath (about a tablespoon of the massage oil blend). Or, you can blend the essential oils 4 times the proportions and use in a Cold-Air Diffuser.
~ o ~
To see my online catalog of Diffusers and quality essential oils visit my website:
The Very Essence
Information found here refers solely to products from Young Living Essential Oils and is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. We urge you to do the health related research necessary to learn what is right for you. Young Living uses only organic therapeutic grade oils. Perfume grade or poor quality oils may possibly be harmful due to unknown additives and poor plant or distillation conditions.
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