A little thing called.....STRESS

Stress, we all have it.  Sometimes it is helpful, sometimes it is not.

Good stress can enhance your performance on tests, help you enjoy the amusement part roller coaster or keep you on the edge of your seat while watching your favorite sport.  Stress helps you change.

But today, I am not talking about the good stress.  I am talking about the bad stress.  The kind where you end up with a horrible headache, fatigue, frustration and generally a horrible mood.

Why?  Well, I had a week of bad stress.  The culprit.......the common one.....work.  Not my work with doTERRA but my other full time job.  Now, don't get me wrong, I love my job but sometimes you just have a day or a week where you ask, "really? are you kidding me?"  This was one of those weeks for me.  Odd schedule, tough tasks, lack of time to eat well led me to feel lousy.

From the Mayo Clinic....

Common effects of stress ...
... On your body	... On your mood	... On your behavior
Headache Muscle tension or pain Chest pain Fatigue Change in sex drive Stomach upset Sleep problems	Anxiety Restlessness Lack of motivation or focus Irritability or anger Sadness or depression	Overeating or undereating Angry outbursts Drug or alcohol abuse Tobacco use Social withdrawal

I had the headache, muscle tension, fatigue, lack of focus by the end of the week and craving sweets in a big way.  

Exercise is a great stress reducer but what happens when you schedule doesn't let you exercise?  This was my dilemma.  But trust me when I say, working out hard is a great way to get the stress and frustration out of your system.

I had my oils to use and I am so happy I did.

For the headache....Past Tense.

Past Tense has a great minty scent from both Peppermint and Wintergreen and cooling effect on your temples.  It took away my headache in minutes.  

Just apply it where it hurts keeping it out of your eyes.  That burns.  Trust me on this one.  

I applied it to my temples and to the back of my head.  The oils don't make your hair oily so don't worry about that.  

Headaches can be triggered by many things.  Past Tense can help.  Other great remedies would be a combo of Lavender and Peppermint.  Add Frank for migraine type headaches.   For sinus issues, use Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint.

But stress can make it hard to sleep.  I know I would lay day last week and my mind was running a million miles a minute.  That only increases the fatigue you feel.  Trust me....I am tired.  

 To get some quality rest, I turned to the every reliable Lavender.  Beautiful Lavender.

Lavender applied to my wrists and my jaw line helped keep me from clenching my teeth and relax my mind.  Just 4 drops provided success.

Now sometimes stomach issue can come with high stress levels.  I was lucky and didn't suffer this but if you do DigestZen will be your new BFF!  

If your stress causes anxiety, meditation can help or grab your bottle of Serenity or Citrus Bliss.  Both have great calming and mood properties.  The oils that make up the Mood Matrix are wonderful.  Balance and Elevation are oils I use daily.   Last week, I felt like I was bathing in Balance!  

Now Chronic Stress can truly lead to major health issues.  Heart disease, depression, high blood pressure, compromised immune systems, etc.  Keep your stress in check naturally with doTERRA essential oils!

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Tune up your body!

I recently read a very funny article about surviving Whole Foods.   In the article, the author references Candida.  You may have seen it and wondered, "what the heck is Candida?"  In the article the author says, "Ever notice that you don't meet poor people with special diet needs? .....A cab driver with Candida? Candida is what I call a rich, white person problem. You know you've really made it in this world when you get Candida. My personal theory is that Candida is something you get from too much hot yoga. All I'm saying is if I were a yeast, I would want to live in your yoga pants."

Funny but honestly, Candida is a problem with the average American's diet.  We, as Americans, are known worldwide for our love processed food, white bread and sugar.  Yes, all these things get the big coupons at the grocery. The more we consume the sicker this country is getting.  For an industrialized country, we are one of the sickest on the planet.  Obesity, leaky gut, acid reflux, chronic fatigue, eczema, hormonal balance, ADHD, and the list goes on and on.  

The official definition for Candida diploid fungus that grows both as yeast and filamentous cells and a causal agent of opportunistic oral and genital infections in humans.

In English.....a whole body yeast infection.  It can manifest in many ways from a skin issue to IBS.  Dr. Oz referenced it on his website back in 2009.  

Check out Amanda's story...does that sound familiar?

So how do you know if you have Candida?  Most doctors don't test you for an overgrowth of yeast.  Doctors barely have enough time to see you, treat your symptoms and not really get into the deeper issues of your health until you are REALLY REALLY sick.  Who wants to be REALLY REALLY sick to get some attention?  Not me.

A quiz to check and see if you might have an issue comes from TheYeastConnection.com

1. Have you taken repeated or prolonged courses of antibacterial drugs? 4 points for a yes

2. Have you been bothered by recurrent vaginal, prostate or urinary tract infections? 3 points for a yes

3. Do you feel "sick all over," yet the cause hasn't been found? 2 for a yes

4. Are you bothered by hormone disturbances, including PMS, menstrual irregularities, sexual dysfunction, sugar craving, low body temperature or fatigue? 2 for a yes

5. Are you unusually sensitive to tobacco smoke, perfumes, colognes and other chemical odors? 2 for a yes

6. Are you bothered by memory or concentration problems? Do you sometimes feel "spaced out"? 2 for a yes

7. Have you taken prolonged courses of prednisone or other steroids; or have you taken "the pill" for more than 3 years?
2 for a yes

8. Do some foods disagree with you or trigger your symptoms? 1 for a yes

9. Do you suffer with constipation, diarrhea, bloating or abdominal pain? 1 for a yes

10. Does your skin itch, tingle or burn; or is it unusually dry; or are you bothered by rashes? 1 for a yes

Scoring for women: If your score is 9 or more, your health problems are probably yeast-connected. If your score is 12 or more, your health problems are almost certainly yeast-connected.

Scoring for men: If your score is 7 or more, your health problems are probably yeast-connected. If your score is 10 or more, your health problems are almost certainly yeast-connected.

So you scored above 10 if you are a man or 12 if you are a woman...what now?

There are ways to kill off the yeast, regain your health and feel better.  

You will have to change your diet first and foremost.  

The processed food helped get you to this point and that means you are going to have to show it to the door.  There are many lifestyle diets that promote a way of eating that can help you do this without feeling like you are starving.  Eat Clean, Paleo, or the good old fashioned rule of thumb your MOTHER told you....eat your vegetables!  Yes, you might have a bit of time where you have intense cravings for sugar.....Candida LOVES sugar for growth.

Your journey to better health should start with your diet and not with your doctor!  

Eliminate white flour, white sugar and caffeine.  Candida thrives on this trio.  Once it overgrows, it produces toxins in your body that overtake the stuff your body needs to run optimally.  

Drink plenty of water flavored with a citrus oil, preferably Lemon oil.  Lemon oil helps to flush toxins through your body.

Exercise at least 20 minutes a day.  Walking is one of the best!

Take some supplements offered by doTERRA.  Follow this cleanse protocol by doTERRA US Founder, Laura Jacobs. 

Not enrolled in doTERRA?   The Cleanse and Restore Kit is a great way to start this process.

Now there are a few people out there that can't do this right now.  I am one at the moment. Lactacting mommas should NOT do a cleanse of any kind.  The toxins are release by all means to get out of your body and you don't want that junk going to the baby.  Wait until you are no longer nursing.   As a lactating momma, you should focus your diet to eliminate the processed food, increase fruits and veggies and get a good probiotic.  PB Assist is safe.  For a gentle daily cleanse, feel free to drink lots of Lemon water!  

You can be assured that when I wean this baby boy, I will be doing a full cleanse.  I will repeat the process for a couple months if necessary.  It really is a 15 day on the cleanse then 15 days off.  Currently, I have done small changes to decrease my sugar intake.  Cassia with a touch of honey in my coffee was one of the most recent.  It really tastes great!

I am sick of my sugar addiction, my thyroid issues, my skin issues and my weight issues.  I know that by helping my body with a tune up, will help it run better longer!  

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Operation....not really fun and games!

Last Thursday I went under the knife.  I am going to be perfectly honest and say it just sucked!  I am not the best patient.  I try very hard to remain calm and cool but really I am just big ball of nerves inside.  The internal voice that has helped protect me from harm and dismay in my "real job" kicks in high gear.  Let's just say, it isn't good.

So hernia surgery.  Umbilical hernia.  Thank you pregnancy.  I love my children with all my heart but a woman's body takes a huge hit through it all.  Luckily, mine was small but causing me some significant pain.  See my blog "It's the Bomb Baby" for more on the pain.

Prior to surgery it was recommended to me to stop using  my Long Life Vitality (LLV) pack and limit the use of Deep Blue.   LLV really helps your body regenerate cells so during a surgical procedure it can cause your blood to flow a bit more than you want.  Deep Blue is a blend of oils that help to with pain.  It works great but it has Wintergreen in the blend.  Wintergreen is amazing but can cause the blood to thin a bit.  

     

So for a week prior to surgery, none of the good stuff.  I will tell you, I felt the difference.  My energy levels went way down, my level on concentration suffered, and I got a bit of a cold.  Then top that with, no pain control for the stupid hernia.  Yes, it is stupid!!!

Surgery day arrived.  I was nervous.  I knew I couldn't use a ton of oils but I knew that had a couple options that no one would say anything about.  Lavender was the perfume of the day.  I needed to calm down.  I added a couple drops of Citrus Bliss because it just makes me happy. Finally, a drop of Balance down my neck. 

Surgery went well and we headed home that afternoon.  

The IV usually results in a HUGE bruise for me.  After gall bladder surgery, they missed on a couple attempts and I had 3 large bruises for over a month.  I had a great nurse this time but even great nurses leave me with a big bruise.  When I got home,  I used the Deep Blue around the area.  No bruise!  See for yourself.  

Now pain management......the doctor gave me great drugs.  Not gonna lie.  Of course, with the great pain control, you lose most of your other bodily control.  Percocet knocks me out.  COLD.  Day 1, I was OK since I was still under the influence of the anesthesia.  Day 2, I was ready to be a bit more awake.  My 4 year old was ready for me to be more awake.  But I couldn't beat the drugs and keep my eyes open.  There is no driving or operating heavy machinery when on the either.  Knowing I had to go to work meant not using them by Monday morning.  

Hello Frank & Marj! We meet again.   6 drops each of Marjoram and Frank in a veggie cap.  I took it every 3 to 4 hours as I needed to help me feel less pain.  

Today, that is all I have needed.  It has kept the soreness down and I have stayed "with it".  Love that.

On my incision, I applied a couple of things.  Helichrysum, Frank and Deep Blue.  Helichrysum acts like natural liquid bandaid.  Frank well is Frank....good for everything.  Both will help with reducing the scar tissue.   Deep Blue again was added for bruising and soreness.  My incision is looking pretty good for an incision.

Finally, I have taken On Guard both internally, around my incision and on my feet twice a day.  I was still run down and surgery always puts you at a big disadvantage to fight off germs.  I am giving my body everything I can to fight.  Rest, fluids and On Guard!

Am I sore 4 days post op?  Yep.  Will tomorrow better?  Yep.  Do I believe that using my oils have helped me recover faster?  Yep.  Mostly, because I was asked about a dozen times today "why are you at work?"   Now here is to another week and a half of "don't pick up anything over 10 lbs."  Do I really need to weigh my purse?  

Brush, floss and use EO's!

In the last three weeks I have had the "pleasure" of two visits to the dentist to fill cavities.  One of the things no one mentions to women prior to pregnancy is that all the hormonal changes can really mess with your dental health.  I ended up having a few areas that needed "attention".

This is the first time I have had to deal with anything more than a cleaning since starting the oils.  A couple days before the appointment I  checked out one of the best oil usage sites there is.....everythingessential.me.

As I left for the appointment, I applied Lavender to my temples and wrists.  After all my years on the planet, I still hate the shots given by dentists. Yes yes yes, I am a wimp!  I know it and don't care.   They try to make it not hurt and burn but there is only so much they can do.  Lavender helped chill me out a bit.

They numbed me from my eyeball to my jaw.  I will say, the numbing was stronger and lasted longer than anytime before.  I think my tongue doubled in size.  My dentist told me she had not changed anything so maybe I am just responding differently for whatever reason.  My theory is that eating a cleaner diet and using natural medicine has made my entire body more responsive to everything.  Have I ever mentioned how strong my sense of smell is these days?!  


Two cavities on one side and an hour later I was out the door.  My jaw HURT!

Clove oil to the rescue.  I added a bit more Lavender to my jaw line as well. 

Now I will be perfectly honest, clove oil is a bit "hot"!  As I applied it to the numb areas, I didn't notice much.  Then,  I got some down my throat.  Oops!  I was coughing just a bit.  The reaction lasted about a minute.  The relief lasted hours!

1 drop applied to the areas that hurt every few hours until you feel better.  

I needed about 5 applications.  Like I said, my jaw really hurt.  As the numbness wore off, the clove helped to keep the area mildly numbed without losing all feeling completely.  




The great thing about this protocol, with the addition of a nice tasting oil like Olive oil, this can be used on my teething baby.  The clove is too hot for his little body so you really need to dilute it.  Lavender is great along the jawline to help babies who are really suffering.  No risk of too much Tylenol or Motrin....or their numerous recalls.  

Mouth pain is some of the worst pain in my opinion.  I am so happy to report, I did not take any OTC pain relievers.  Less items processing through my liver makes me a happy girl.  No adverse side effects yet highly effective for treating the pain and discomfort.  A win-win if you ask me!

There are other great products for overall dental health.  Toothpaste, Throat Drops and oil can help your mouth stay fresh and clean while kicking the germs.  Give them a try!  I do love the toothpaste.

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What a difference!

I am closing in on a year using the oils and products from doTERRA.  October marks the official year.  I have learned and experienced so much from being a true oil junkie.

My daily routine has slowly expanded and changed since I started.  What started out as a way to help my kids get a good night's sleep has morphed into truly natural healthcare for everyone in the house.  Everyone in the house has their own daily routine.  Dr. Hill recommends this routine as a great starting point.

Depending on your own personal needs, you can vary that to help your body heal it's self.

Along with using the oils, we have switched to mostly organic foods.  We have tried to eliminate as many GMO's in our diet as possible.

So what has changed around here in the last 11 months......

For me:  I made it through third trimester with my blood pressure in check.   My second pregnancy reuslted in 8 weeks of bed rest for hypertension.  Despite having my third C-section, I have been able to nurse my baby boy for over 5 months.  My nursing experience with the first two kids was significantly shorter and frustrating.  Thank you Clary Sage, Fennel and Basil!

I have kept my thyroid levels stable and not needed an increase in dosage. Thank you Lemongrass and LLV!

I am off all my allergy medicines and strictly use Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint.

Despite 3 kids, a full time job and all that goes with a crazy American life, I have not taken a Tylenol since October.  Peppermint or Past Tense takes any headache away.

For my oldest:  She spent a good portion of her young life catching every sickness that blew past her.  At one point they had her on 5 medications for sinus and allergy issues.  She has had two set of ear tubes as well.  Her tiny body has been pumped with so much stuff, I breaks my heart and makes me worry so much.

Since October, she has had two colds.  No ear infections.  She has been a healthy kid without antibiotics!

Her regime daily is Balance, OnGuard every morning.  Serenity every night for a good night's sleep.  She also takes an A2Z chewable as well.

My middle child has always been healthy but she gets Balance and OnGuard as well.  It keeps her out of trouble at daycare and germ free.  She is a silly girl who talks and talks and talks.  Balance helps her be her silly self without getting into too much trouble for talking.

My baby boy remains healthy and growing like a weed.  His biggest transformation is documented in The Spot.  Since that post, the spot has decreased even more.  It is almost gone completely.  Thank you Frank & Geranium!

Even my husband uses the oils and the vitamins.  His skin has improved.  Despite joining me in the business of life, he has not gotten sick and kept his energy up.  His one cold hit him hard when he went OFF the LLV. He immediately asked me to order him his own set.  He hasn't gone without them since.

On average, we were at the doctor for a sick visit with one of the kids at least every other month.  Since October, well visits have been our only reason to head to the pediatrician.  Less time off from work and school is a beautiful thing.

The oils do work.  They are simple and effective.  These are not the oils I tried so many years ago to help me with stress relief and restful sleep.  If you are on the fence about whether to try them, I can assure you, you should.  My house is happier and healthier because of doTERRA!

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The skin you're in!

Ladies and gentlemen, this blog is for all but truly about one good guy and his success with the oils.  Yes guys, you too have many uses for the oils.  

Years ago, my husband developed a dry, scaly patch of skin on his leg.  It could be many things that prompted it to develop but it coincided with us moving from a very sunny climate to a not so sunny climate.  Unfortunately, moving back to a sunny climate has not given him relief from the psoriasis.  

From psoriasis.org:  "Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious."

I know how it feels since I tend to get a few dry patches on my elbows from time to time.  It itches, cracks and bleeds.  Really no fun and we both have mild cases.  I truly feel for anyone with a major case.  

We have tried the steroid creams.  You can only use those for a few days before they thin your skin too much.  So you stop, the patches come back.  And if you ask me, they come back bigger and badder than before.  

My husband was really scratching at his leg and asked me if "there is an oil for that?"  I looked it up and sure enough there is a really simple protocol to follow.

Lavender, Melaleuca and Fractionated Coconut Oil. 

1-2 drops of each applied twice daily.

Lavender helps to calm the skin and itching.

Melaleuca helps with almost any skin issue.  It is very antiseptic and antifungal.

Fractionated Coconut Oil is highly moisturizing.  

A few other nice benefits of this combo.....it is a natural sunburn relief and can help clear up diaper rash!  My middle child has received this mixture quite a few times.  

The dry patchy skin on my husband's leg has almost disappeared after just a few days use.  There is no worry about his skin thinning.  If anything, he has more moisturized skin.

A Candida Cleanse could also help to clear the skin up.   He is considering doing this soon.  I will have to wait until I am no longer breastfeeding.  The cleanse can release the "junk" into your milk.  I don't want to get healthy only to harm my baby.  

Men, you do not need to worry about the oils making you smell too feminine.  The combo actually produces a nice scent.  Stay manly my friend!

Let's eat!

When I first started with doTERRA, I was amazed that you can take these oils internally.   I had tried other brands of essential oils and always saw on the label...NOT FOR INTERNAL USE or ONLY FOR AROMATHERAPY.  If you have any essential oils at your house and are thinking of following the rest of this blog entry, please check the label first!

doTERRA's CPTG oils allow you to take them internally, topically or aromatically.  You can check out the many uses in a previous blog entry entitled Topically-aromatically-internally-oh my!

So today being the last day of summer vacation for my soon to be Pre-K'er, we had to come up with a few projects to keep her occupied.  I thought, lets bake up some stuff so we have easy hearty breakfast.  Baked oatmeal cups it is!

A great recipe is on this blog!  We decided to switch out the teaspoon of cinnamon for 3 drops of doTERRA Cinnamon Bark oil.  I must say, the house smells amazing right now.  I made a few using some berries but my little girl wanted some with banana.  The beauty of the cups is you can customize and they are more portable.  

The results look delish!  Tomorrow, we dine!

But baked oatmeal isn't the only thing you can do.  I have added 10 drops to sugar cookie dough for awesome and SIMPLE lemon cookies.  Of course, my Reinventing Healthcare attendees loved them.

Hot Chocolate Peppermint Cookies were also a hit!

And finally White Chocolate Peppermint covered Pretzels!

Want to try something other than desserts, check out this video to see how the oils can be incorporated through your entire meal!  Her cookbook is fabulous.  I got mine for Christmas.

The great thing about using the oils is that you don't lose the benefits they provide when you take them "neat".  OnGuard used in your banana bread will still help you boost your immune system and you aren't hungry since you ate a nice treat.  To me, that is a win-win!

Give them a try when you cook and report back!  I would love to hear the creative ways you use your oils too.