Busy Busy Busy

This morning I was watching The Today Show when they asked the question, "Is saying you are 'so busy' a new buzzword of our society?" or something along those lines.  The discussion they had went on for a minute or so but it got me thinking…..how many times do I respond with "Oh been busy" to the question of "How have you been?"

Then I thought, it really is a bit of a silly answer.  Everyone is busy.  Somehow it seems that using the term, "Oh gosh, I have been so busy" has become more of a competition.  For me, I think that term has come to really mean, "I am stressed and please don't get mad at me if I have forgotten something."  For others, I think it might be a way to say no when they are just too afraid to use the two little letters with tons of power.  Maybe they don't want to hurt feelings because like I said, everyone in our society is busy.  

So today's blog is all about using that phrase "I am so busy" when you really are busy and just saying what you want to say the rest of the time.  Be authentic, be truthful, be confident that when you are asked "How have you been?" you can answer with your own personal truth.  The person asking more than likely cares about you and really wants to know.  

Now, the Oil of Truth is one of my all time faves…..Frank!  I have blogged a few times about the power of Frankincense.  From the book Emotions & Essential Oils it says, " This oil helps creat new perspective based on light and truth."  Light and truth…..doesn't that sound much more appealing than "busy".

Inhale directly from the bottle at regular intervals through the day or place 1-4 drops in a diffuser.

Topically, you can apply 1-3 drops on the crown of your head, forehead, behind the ears or on the bottoms of the feet.

If you are one that just can't say no, you need the Oil of Boundaries….Clove.  "It reignites the inner soul-fire and can assist anytime there has been damage to the Self,…"  Clove can help you say no and not fear rejection for being true to yourself.

This often comes up when I invite people to experience the oils.  They say yes but then give me reason after reason why they cannot attend a class, meet one on one or even try to use samples for 3-5 days.  Me, being a somewhat hopeful but rather direct person hears the "yes" then is confused by the behavior later.  Then a bit of frustration kicks in because I would rather hear, "no that isn't my thing."  Often, I hear, "I am really just so busy I can't meet you."  Then social media gives them away……damn that social media.  

That is where Thyme comes into play….the Oil of Releasing & Forgiving.  Funny how Thyme helps you heal over time.  Serenity is another great one for forgiving.

Now, if you are busy and really thriving because of it then keep that motivation going.  Empower yourself!  Ginger is the way to go.  Ginger has a purpose and will fulfill it!  Now that definetly sounds awesome to me.  This oil can help you be successful in life when you fully commit to it.

Again, inhale directly from the bottle at regular intervals through the day or place 1-4 drops in a diffuser.

Topcially, apply 1-3 drops over the stomach.  Dilute with a carrier oil is you desire.  Bonus…..no more tummy aches.












My goal in all of this is to actually say how I feel.  I remember my grandpa griping that "You kids say FINE when I ask you how your day went or how you are.  Don't you have anything else to say?"  I love that man!  He just wanted to talk to us.  He wanted to listen to us.  Isn't that really what we all want?!  Let your friends and family hear you so they feel connected to you.


Life is best when spent with people you love.  Be authentic and abundant!

Oh yes….there is an Oil of Abundance….Wild Orange!  Love it!

I've Got a New "Secret" - Purify

If you are part of doTERRA's Oil of the Month club, you are getting Purify this month.  Not in the oil of the month club, you should be!  This oil came in my initial kit but I wasn't really sure how to use it.  At that time, I didn't think much of it but I was glad to have it in my oil arsenal.  

Now, it is back on my radar so I decided to look into the many uses of this one little bottle.

My first stop is always my Modern Essentials book and everythingessential.me.  

Everythingessential.me gave me so great ideas including:

• Diffuse in living areas and office to kill pathogens.
• Diffuse to strengthen the immune system.
• Use topically for people who work in or have spent time in hospitals or around people that are ill.
• Apply topically at the onset of blemishes and cold sores.
• Prepare a spray and spritz bed sheets 1 hour prior to bedtime to disinfect, protect against and repel dust mites, bed bugs and other insects.
• Spritz your pet to guard against fleas and mites.
• Spritz in shoes to deodorize and combat odors.
• Place drops on a cotton ball and place in car vents to purify the air in the car.
• Place drops on the intake vent of a home HVAC system and run the fan for 1 hour. Do the same in a hotel room HVAC room filter.

Still it seemed to me that I wasn't going to use this one very much.  I don't work in a hospital, I don't have pets, and since my travelling days have slowed down the exposure to bed bugs in hotels has diminshed.  

Then I found this blog by doTERRA. I love their DIY series.  "Purify will aid in inhibiting bacterial growth and help the body detox"  Dr. Hales.  It made me think but I admit, I quickly dismissed it.

  

For years I have used your standard selection of antiperspirants so the idea of just using a natural deodarant made me think twice.  

But in my quest to really be more natural and less exposed to chemicals I thought I would switch.  My first step was to go another store bought option for deodarant.  

It was nice but I admit, it felt weird to feel wet under my arms even though I didn't smell bad.  

Why would I want to sweat especially under my arms?   Glad you asked.

Sweating is your body's way to detox daily.  About 10% of your daily water loss comes just from sweat, even if you are not exercising.  Sweating helps your skin remove the dirt and other junk which leads to healthier skin.  Finally, sweat helps regulate body temperature.  

Since sweat is mostly water, it is all the other toxic build up that cause the odor.  

Then they announced our Product of the Month - Purify and I was reminded of that DIY article above.

I say this all the time, what you put ON your skin will go into your body….quickly.  So it made sense to see what was in the standard deodorant/antiperspirants.  There are lots of chemicals…which keep you from sweating. 

Aluminum

Aluminum-based compounds are often the active ingredients in antiperspirants. They block the sweat glands to keep sweat from getting to the skin’s surface. Some research has suggested that these compounds may be absorbed by the skin and cause changes in estrogen receptors of breast cells. 

Parabens

Parabens in their many forms are a class of artificial preservatives widely used in cosmetics and personal care products that are being investigated for their possible role in breast cancer. Parabens mimic the activity of estrogen in the body. 

Propylene Glycol

Propylene glycol—a humectant which means it keeps substances from drying out, and it was originally developed as an anti-freeze, but is now included in some deodorants and antiperspirants. It is a neurotoxin known to cause contact dermatitis, kidney damage, and liver damage. 

Your underarm area is filled with lymph nodes which are essential in cleansing the body of toxins.  By putting on something that prevents them from working as designed, you can get a toxic build up and that can result in any number is issues.  

For me, it seemed like the right idea to make the change.  If I didn't like it after a few months, I change back.  No harm no foul.  

After I shower, I apply 1-2 drops per arm pit of Purify then apply my store bought deodarant.  I don't plan on wasting it.  Maybe later I will make my own….we shall see.  The scent of Purify is a strong citrus but has a clean scent.  I wasn't a huge fan when I smelled it in the bottle but I have started to like it as a deodarant.  

Bonus, it helps boost immunity and with it's blend of oils  - Lemon, Lime, Cilantro, Citronella and Melaleuca - helps my body detox gently.  Trying to that "Reduce Toxic Load"  lifestyle going…..

Oh Sweet Melissa!

Such a pretty flower but when distilled it becomes a potent essential oil!  What is it?  Melissa.  Another common name is Lemon Balm.  This is one of the most expensive essential oils you can buy.  It is doTERRA's most expensive oil.  

But what do you use it for?  Why would I want to spend all that money on such a tiny bottle?  Why is it so darn expensive?  Those were questions I had before I really looked into buying this oil.  

The uses as listed by everythingessential.me

• Analgesic
• Antidepressant
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antispasmodic
• Antiparasitic
• Antiviral
• Digestive
• Sedative

Around my house, we have used it successfully for it's antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.   I have had a very very busy Feburary and ended up starting my March with feeling rundown and lousy.  Along with my OnGuard + soft gels, I applied a swipe or two of Melissa to a tingly spot on my lip .  It is day two and the pain is down.  The nasty flare up that I usually got from events leaving me overstressed, overtired and exposed to every germ my kids brought home from school has not happened.  

Dr. Hill states on everything essential.me "Because it has now been confirmed that essential oils do penetrate the cells in our body and Melissa is 60% a phenylpropanoid (an organic compound associated with the structural components of the body’s cellular walls).  Therefore, Melissa, with its antiviral property can inactivate a virus before it enters a cell.  This is important since a virus needs a host cell before it can multiply and do its damage in the body.  This makes Melissa very very effective against the herpes virus that 98% of us have."

Dr. Hill also notes that Melissa is a great oil for calming and an antidepressant.  By diffusing Melissa at night you can help with depression, anger, Alzheimer’s, dementia, and cognitive impairments.  Layer with Frankincense for depression and Patchoili for other cognitive disorders.  

The biggest amazement I have seen with this oil has come from one of my IPC's.  Her son is an adorable little guy but had a rough start to life.  Just 3 months old and major skin issues started then snowballed into serious health concerns.  He had eczema but there was way more to it.  He was finally diagnosed with Red Skin Syndrome (RSS) and Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW).  After doing her research she found essential oils.  His mother contacted me and asked to buy some Melissa oil from me.  Knowing the cost, I was so afraid to tell her it would be expensive.  When I told her the price, she asked when I could meet her.  I was floored.  

She then shared this article from Spririt Newspaper with me and I just melted.  Good and bad.  Good in that I might be someone who was helpful for this adorable guy and bad because I never like to hear a story about a child who is sick.  I think I am like most mothers who just want the world filled with carefree, healthy kids.

His mom is quite a rockstar in making all sorts of awesome salves to help all sorts of issues.  Feel free to check her out Etsy.   She started by using Lemongrass.  She told me, "The lemongrass is what kicked the infection that 2 round of oral antibiotics, bactroban, chlorine baths etc, would not phase!"  Now she adds Melissa to the salve for its antihistamine properties.  I am happy to report this little guy looks and feels great.  He even is starting to just have those normal toddler issues like bumps and bruises from exploring his world.  It truly gives me chills to think how he is thriving.  Completely steroid and antihistamine free!  Read her full story in her own blog.  The pictures are amazing.

So why is it so expensive?  Because it is really difficult to produce.  3.5 to7.5 tons of plant material is needed to get just 1 pound of essential oil.  

If you are out shopping and find "Melissa" or "Lemon Balm" and it is really cheap, BEWARE.  More than likely it is a blend of Cintronella & Lemongrass.  It will smell similar but it will not work the same.

Melissa oil can irritate the skin so be cautious using on pregnant women, those with sensitive skin and children.  The great thing about this oil is that even in a diluted state, it is extremely effective.