Essential Mama

An Oil A Day: Aloes (aka Sandalwood)

2012-02-04T20:46:00.002-05:00

This oil we are going to call by Sandalwood only because that is most commonly the name you will hear it called. Aloes is how it is referenced in the Bible. I want to stick with calling it by one name unless I'm referencing a specific Biblical quote, so as not to confuse anyone.

I love the Sandalwood oil. (FYI, you're going to hear me tell you I love many of the oils, perhaps nearly every single one...because it's true & they really are that amazing!!) I generally like to use Sandalwood on my face (it's great for skin) and when I need to calm down a bit. Sometimes even when I'm feeling a little negative. (Not so much negative anymore, I'm in a very happy place...must be all these oils!!) Sandalwood has a very earthy, calming aroma. (Very negative people will likely either LOVE or HATE this oil. It is quite funny sometimes to see how people react.) It's also a bit of a thicker oil, it won't come pouring out of the bottle like Cypress does.

Sandalwood is steam distilled from the wood of the tree. The tree originates in India. Folklore is that Sandalwood can awaken your life force energy while meditating and can free the soul of the deceased at funerals. Sandalwood is still sacred in many cultures.

Scriptures: Numbers 24:6 Psalms 45:8 Proverbs 7:17 Song of Solomon 4:14

Mentioned 5 times directly (never any indirect mentions) for a total of 5 Biblical mentions.

Known uses: antidepressant, antiseptic, anti-tumoral,antiviral, aphrodisiac, astringent, calming, immune stimulant, sedative, tonic

Uses:

Acne
Bronchitis
Cancer
Cartilage (help regenerate)
Catarrah
Circulation
Coughs
Cystitis
Diarrhea
Herpes (simplex, zoster, cold sores, HPV)
Hiccoughs
Hemorrhoids
Impotence
Lymph system
Meditation
Menstrual problems
Nerves
Nervous tension
Pineal & Pituitary glands (increase oxygen)
Skin (infection & regeneration, wrinkles & scars)
TB
Yoga- may help open the third eye. (It is said to vibrate b/n the 7th & 1st chakra)

Support Cardiovascular system
Remove negative programing from cells
Relief of Lumbago & Sciatica

Sandalwood and Frankincense are similar in their course of action.

Sandalwood contains:

80% Sesquiterpenes alcohols
12 % Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons
3% Sesquiterpene aldehydes
2% Carboxylic Acids

What this means: Well it means that this oil is around 95% Sesquiterpenes....Powerful BRAIN oil!!! So far that's 3 powerful brain oils in these Ancient Scriptural oils!!

Sesquiterpenes stimulate the limbic system of the brain which is the center of memory and emotions as well as the hypothalamus, pineal and pituitary glands. The hypothalamus again is the master gland of the body producing many vital hormones such as thyroid and growth hormone. Again, they also delete bad information from the cellular memory

Carboxylic Acids stimulating, cleansing, chemically active, antimicrobial, react with alcohols to make esters

****Please feel free to leave comments or email me with any questions. I'm more than happy to chat about the oils anytime!****

*Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor trying to give anyone any medical advise. I'm just a mom who loves her kids and giving you information based on the fun amazing oils we use everyday in our lives! Take from this and do with it what you will :)

An Oil A Day: Onycha

2012-02-04T01:51:00.003-05:00

First things first, my disclaimer: The information I will be providing you with over the course of the next several months pertains ONLY to YOUNG LIVING Essential Oils. I don't know the purity of, nor have I ever tried any other brands of oils out there. I know that these oils are of the highest quality and can be ingested, sniffed and worn on the skin :)

We're part way through and for those of you just joining us I need to add my disclaimer again and there are 2 previous blogs that explain what essential oils are in case you're wondering!

Onycha (Benzoin) This is yet another oil that I haven't really used by its self, I've only just used it with the rest of the 12 Oils of the Ancient Scripture. So basically this particular oil has been on my two big toes a hundred or so times along with being on my children's big toes too!

Onycha is steam distilled from the resin of the tree. It was used as a perfume, and blended in the holy incense.

Scriptures: Exodus 30:34

Mentioned 1 time directly and 54 times indirectly for a total of 55 Biblical mentions!

Known properties: anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antioxidant, astringent, deodorant, diuretic, expectorant, and sedative.

Uses:

Arthritis
Asthma
Bleeding (slow or stop)
Bronchitis
Chills
Circulation
Colic
Constipation
Control blood sugar levels
Cuts
Dermatitis
Flatulence
Flu
Gout
Laryngitis
Mucus (helps remove)
Nervous tension
Rheumatism
Sinusitis
Sore throats
Skin
Stimulate renal output
Stomach (pains)
Stress
UTI
Wounds
May help overcome sadness, loneliness, depression and anxiety

Onycha contains:

70% Esters
20% Carboxylic Acids
2% Aldehydes
1% Alcohols

What this means:

Esters soothing, balancing, emotionally releasing, antifungal, hormone-like, calming, fruity odors & and; flavors
Carboxylic Acids stimulating, cleansing, chemically active, antimicrobial, react with alcohols to make esters
Aldehydes strong aromas, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, aphrodisiac, cooling
Alcohols help cleanse the receptor site also, energizing, stimulating, toning, cleansing, bactericidal, antiviral, antiseptic, sweet floral fragrances, gentle and mild

Onycha's high acid content is what makes this oils such a powerful antimicrobial. It has been dissolved in ethyl alcohol for over 200 years and used as "Tincture of Benzoin" in hospitals as an effective antiseptic. There is a rediscovery of this now since there are so many strains of bacterial resistant to all the pharmaceuticals that are typically used.

****Please feel free to leave comments or email me with any questions. I'm more than happy to chat about the oils anytime!****

*Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor trying to give anyone any medical advise. I'm just a mom who loves her kids and giving you information based on the fun amazing oils we use everyday in our lives! Take from this and do with it what you will :)

An Oil A Day: Glabanum

2012-02-03T02:31:00.001-05:00

Galbanum is another oil I haven't used alone, just withing the 12 Scripture oils all together. So we are going to just have to dive into this one without a fun little personal story :)

Galbanum is steam distilled from the gum/resin derived from the stems and branches. It originates from France and Iran.

Scriptures: Exodus 30:34-36

Mentioned 1 time directly and 54 time indirectly for a total of 55 Biblical mentions!

Known properties: antiseptic, analgesic, light antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, circulatory stimulant, anticonvulsant, antiviral, antimicrobial, diuretic, expectorant, restorative and tonic

Uses:

Abscesses
Acne
Asthma
Boils
Bronchitis
Catarrah
Chronic coughs
Cramps
Cuts
Digestive problems (diarrhea)
Flatulence
Indigestion
Inflammation
Muscular aches
Nervous tension
Pineal gland
Poor circulation

Rheumatism
Skin conditions (scar tissue, wrinkles)
Swollen glands
Wounds

Galbanum contains:

75% Monoterpenes
4% Sesquiterpenes
3% Esters

2% Coumarins

What this means:

Monoterpenes restore/awaken the DNA
Sesquiterpenes delete bad information from cellular memory
Esters soothing, balancing, emotionally releasing, antifungal, hormone-like, calming, fruity odors & and; flavors
Coumarins antiseptic phenols which can cleanse the cells receptor sites.

Galbanum was used as a Holy anointing oil in ancient times. It was also used in various medicines, as perfume, spiritually uplifting yet grounding, pain relief, spasms and cramps, diuretic.It was also one of the oils used for embalming.

****Please feel free to leave comments or email me with any questions. I'm more than happy to chat about the oils anytime!****

*Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor trying to give anyone any medical advise. I'm just a mom who loves her kids and giving you information based on the fun amazing oils we use everyday in our lives! Take from this and do with it what you will :)

An Oil A Day: Cypress

2012-02-03T02:12:00.003-05:00

Cypress is my favorite oil!!! I LOVE it's aroma. Cypress is a very grounding oil (as are all the tree oils.) Which is why I like all of them but Cypress is my oil!! I tend to be a very ungrounded person and live with my head in the clouds. I've always been that way & and I'm certain that will never change, so Cypress and the rest of the treee oils are very good for me to have around! Cypress was one oil I used everyday when I was pregnant with both of my children. I would do a leg massage and rub from my feet up to above my knees to keep the circulation moving the way it should and I never had any swelling at all. It smells and feels so amazing! I did a leg massage with Cypress for one of my best friends when she was pregnant and she loved it too!

Cypress is steam distilled from the branches. The Phoenicians & Cretans used cypress for building ships & bows. The Egyptians & Greeks used it also. The Greek botanical name 'sempervirens' mean "live forever." Legend says the cross of Jesus was made from cypress wood.

Scriptures; Genesis 6:14 Isaiah 44:14; 41:19 I Kings 9:11 Song of Solomon 1:17

Mentioned 1 time directly and 4 times indirectly for a total of 5 Biblical mentions.

Known properties: Improves circulation, strengthens blood capillaries, anti-infectious, antispasmodic, discourages fluid retention, antibacterial, antimicrobial, mucolytic, antiseptic, astringent, deodorant, lyphatic, prostate decongestant, refreshing, relaxing, vasoconstrictor

Uses:

Arthritis
Bronchitis
Cancer
Circulation
Cramps
Diabetes
Grounding
Hemorrhoids
Insomnia
Intestinal parasites
Lymphatic decongestant
Menopausal problems
Menstrual pain
Pancreas insufficiencies
Pleurisy
Prostate decongestant
Pulmonary tuberculosis
Rheumatism
Spasms
Stabilizing
Throat problems
Varicose veins
Water retention

Cypress is also supportive of the cardiovascular system, eases feelings of loss, supportive of menstruation and menopause.

Cypress contains:

77% Monoterpenes
12% Sesquiterpenes
9% Alcohols
7% Esters
3% Diterpenes

What this means:

Monoterpenes restore/awaken the DNA
Sesquiterpenes delete bad information from cellular memory
Alcohols help cleanse the receptor site also, energizing, stimulating, toning, cleansing, bactericidal, antiviral, antiseptic, sweet floral fragrances, gentle and mild
Esters soothing, balancing, emotionally releasing, antifungal, hormone-like, calming, fruity odors & and; flavors
Diterpenes are similar to sesquiterpenes, they are also expectorants and purgatives, with effectiveness against fungi & viruses

****Please feel free to leave comments or email me with any questions. I'm more than happy to chat about the oils anytime!****

*Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor trying to give anyone any medical advise. I'm just a mom who loves her kids and giving you information based on the fun amazing oils we use everyday in our lives! Take from this and do with it what you will :)

An Oil A Day: Cistus (Rose of Sharon)

2012-02-03T00:59:00.001-05:00

My sincere apologizes this is a couple days late but here we go...

Cistus (Rose of Sharon) I have no personal stories for this particular oil, except to tell you I have 2 or 3 Rose of Sharon bushes in my front yard and when they bloom they are beautiful! The rest of the time not so much!

Cistus is steam distilled from the leaves and branches. The plant is originated in France & Spain.

Scriptures: Song of Solomon 2:1 Genesis 37:25, 43:11 Myrrh is mentioned here in English but the Hebrew word used ladanum, which is actually Rock Rose or Rose of Sharon.

Mentioned 1 time directly and 2 times indirectly for a total of 3 Biblical mentions.

Known properties: Antimicrobial, anti viral, anti-inflammatory, supports sympathetic nervous system, immune stimulant, antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, expectorant and tonic (can also aid in normal cell regeneration)

Uses:

Hemorrhages
Arthritis
Colds
Fatigue
Flu
Headaches
Minor infections
Migraine
Neuralgia
Excessive perspiration
Oily skin
Calming to the nerves
Elevates the emotions
Can be used to sanitize & deodorize food preparations surfaces
Combined with Cedarwood can be a great insect repellant

Cistus contains:

54% Monoterpenes
12% Alcohols
9% Esters
7% Ketones
5%Aldehydes

What this means:

Monoterpenes can restore/awaken the correct information in the cell (DNA)
Alcohols/Ketones help cleanse the receptor site also, energizing, stimulating, toning, cleansing, bactericidal, antiviral, antiseptic, sweet floral fragrances, gentle and mild
Esters soothing, balancing, emotionally releasing, antifungal, hormone-like, calming, fruity odors & and; flavors
Ketones strong odors, decongesting, analgesic, sedative, promote healing, cleanse receptor sites
Aldehydes strong aromas, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, aphrodisiac, cooling

****Please feel free to leave comments or email me with any questions. I'm more than happy to chat about the oils anytime!****

*Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor trying to give anyone any medical advise. I'm just a mom who loves her kids and giving you information based on the fun amazing oils we use everyday in our lives! Take from this and do with it what you will :)

An Oil A Day: Myrrh

2012-01-30T21:59:00.001-05:00

What oil better to follow Frankincense than the other most recognized Biblical oil and the #1 MOST mentioned oil in the Bible...Myrrh!

Myrrh is actually in the same family as Frankincense. Again, as we know it was one of the 3 gifts brought by the wise men as a gift to the baby Jesus. As I mentioned yesterday it was Frankincense and Myrrh that we applied to both of my children from head to toe after they were born. One thing I forgot to mention was that we did this for several days in a row.

It's interesting to me the difference in the Frankincense and Myrrh oils. They are in the same family, are both cut from the tree to let the sap drip which turns into resin and then steam distilled to get the oil. What's interesting is that when you open the Frankincense it smells sweet, and light and it's one of the "thinner" oils if you will. It would tend to drip quickly and easily out of the bottle. Myrrh, on the other hand, is a thick more pungent oil. I tend to feel like you can just tell that it comes from a resin it's a kind of funky oil, not in the sense that it smells bad, but almost unique in its aroma and consistency. I find it very neat how seemingly opposite the two oils are. I can't off hand think of any fun stories I have of using just Myrrh. For some odd reason, I have a tendency to always grab it with other oil, generally when I'm applying all 12 of the Scripture oils. I'll have to work on that :)

Myrrh is steam distilled from the gum/resin of the tree. The plant originates in Somalia.

Scriptures: Genesis 37:25; 43:11 Exodus 30:23 Esther 2:12 Psalms 45:8 Proverbs 7:17 (also Exodus 30:34 at "Stacte") Song of Solomon 1:13; 3:16; 4:6, 14; 5:1, 5, 13 Matthew 2:11, 26:7, 9, 12 Mark 14:3, 4, Mark 15:23 Luke 7:37, 38, 46; 23:56 John 11:2; 12:3, 5; 19:39

Myrrh is mentioned 18 times directly and 138 times indirectly for a grand total of 156 Biblical mentions! Obviously this is an important topic :)

Known properties: anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antitumor, astringent, tonic, antioxidant, antiviral, anti-parasitic, analgesic/anesthetic

Uses:

Diabetes
Cancer
Hepatitis
Fungal infections: candida, ringworm, exczema, thrush
Tooth/gum infections
Skin conditions: chapped, cracked, wrinkled, stretch marks
Bronchitis
Diarrhea
Dysentery
Hyperthyroidism
Ulcers
Viral hepatitis
Increase appetite
Asthma
Athlete's foot
Catarrah (mucus)
Coughs
Dyspepsia
Gas
Hemorrhoids
Mouth ulcers
Decongest prostate gland
Sore throats
Promotes spiritual awareness and is uplifiting

In Ancient times pregnant mothers would anoint themselves with Myrrh to protect against infectious diseases and elevate overall feelings of well-being. They also believed it would protect their unborn children from generational curses. (Exodus 20:5, 34:7 Numbers 14:18 Duteronomy 5:9) These women would also diffuse this oil during labor to reduce anxiety and create calmness. It was also massaged on the perineum to facilitate stretching. They also used it for reduction of stretchmarks. Myrrh was applied to the umbilical cords of the newborns to protect the naval from infection, which was symbolically meant to cut off generational curses inherited from ancestors. This may just be one of the reasons it was brought to Mary & baby Jesus.

The ancient people also used it for skin conditions, oral hygiene, embalming, and insect repellant. The Egyptians would add Myrrh to cones of fat they carried on their heads which would melt in the desert sun and bathe them in Myrrh and other oils.

Myrrh for many years has been used as a fixing oil to prolong the life of other fragrances in ointments & perfumes. In the Biblical Gospels the Greek word for myrrh "muron" was sometimes translated as "ointment" without actually saying it contained Myrrh.

Myrrh:

60% Sesquiterpenes
20% Furanoids
15% Ketones
5% Monoterpenes
5% Triterpenes
There are of course several other smaller components that aren't going to be mentioned here but all of these little percentages of different compounds is again what gives the essential oils their versatility. Of these base percentages these large groups can be broken down into smaller more specific components of each group which is just too complex of chemisty for this blog. (Which facinates me, seeing as that I have a Chemistry degree, but would bore and confuse you all too pieces so we will leave it simple!!)

What this means:

The high amount of sesquiterpenes in this oil makes it another powerful brain oil. Sesquiterpenes stimulate the limbic system of the brain which is the center of memory and emotions as well as the hypothalamus, pineal and puitary glands. The hypothalamus again is the master gland of the body producing many vital hormones such as thyroid and growth hormone.

Furanoids in Myrrh, because of the arrangement of its structure acts as a sunscreen :)

Monoterpenes again, can restore/awaken the correct information in the cell (DNA)

Triterpenes (here is the thing that makes this oil so viscous aka thick) triterpenes are generally too heavy to be distilled but in some oils they can be found in small amounts.

****Please feel free to leave comments or email me with any questions. I'm more than happy to chat about the oils anytime!****

*Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor trying to give anyone any medical advise. I'm just a mom who loves her kids and giving you information based on the fun amazing oils we use everyday in our lives! Take from this and do with it what you will :)

Justice for Lily

2012-01-30T14:17:00.003-05:00

This post is for those of you new to my blog, and my friends whom haven't done this yet :) Please go and click "like" on the Justice for Lily FB page. (Here is the direct link: https://www.facebook.com/JusticeForLily )

If you look under the info tab it will tell you about a sweet 2 1/2 year old who lost her life way too soon while in the care of her step mother who is about to stand trial for what happened that day. She has been alleged with several charges including murder and sexual assault. The trial starts Feb 14th and they would love to have 40,000 supporters by then. Please spread the word. It really helps the family to have so many people near and far praying for them and standing by them during this horrifying tragedy. This family is one of the strongest most amazing families I have ever met. Through all the hard times they still share so much love and joy to the people all around them. Lily's mother Lauren & her grandmother Lynette often share memories of Lily as well as update trial information on the page. The administrator for the page is a woman named Olivia and they each will post on the page. Olivia's job is to make sure that there is no profanity or statements made on the page that could cause the page to be shut down or cause an issue for the trial. So please spread the word and share Lily's story and help fight child abuse. Please be supportive, respectful and prayerful to this incredible family.

Thanks to you all & God Bless.

Justice for Lily is a non-profit organization Lauren started to help fight against child abuse. To date they have raised around $30,000 that has been donated to different child advocacy groups.

An Oil A Day: Frankincense

2012-01-30T01:35:00.002-05:00

Frankincense, likely the most recognized name of all the Bible oils! I love Frankincense...Here is one big reason why: I had both of my kids at home with a midwife. Goldie, The most amazing midwife might I add! My other amazing midwife unfortunately missed both of the kids births...go figure! Now, I don't recall if I actually read this somewhere or I just tried it for some reason but rubbing Frankincense on my low back completely took the edge off the contractions. I wouldn't go so far as to say it took all feeling away but WOW, it was incredible how much it lessened the intensity of the contractions. I highly recommend it to anyone about to have a baby whether you do hospital, or home birth it's a must have for labor!! We also took Frankincense & Myrrh ( which we will cover in a later post) mixed them with a carrier oil, (we used V-6, organic coconut or olive oil would work too) and rubbed it from head to toe on both babies just after they were born. It smells amazing, it's very soothing and calming & let's face it, birth is traumatic for babies!! I believe there is a reason they were 2 of the 3 gifts brought to Jesus after his birth!

If you ever ask any oiler they will tell you that Lavender is the duck tape of essential oils. Well let me just tell you Frankincense is too! When in doubt, grab your Frankincense and put it on! I like it just as well for anything and everything because it is so mild. I can just put it on the smallest of children without worrying it may cause them any discomfort, even if they inadvertently get it in their eyes!

Frankincense is steam distilled from the gum/resin of the tree. The tree gets cut and the gummy sap drips out & then hardens & that resin is where the oil comes from. The trees of the Bosweilla Carteri, which is the particular species of Frankincense we are discussing here, are found in Spain & Somolia.

Scriptures: Exodus 30:34 Leviticus 2:1, 2, 15, 16; 5:11; 6:15; 24:7 Numbers 5:15; 16:46-50 I Chronicles 9:29 Nehemiah 13:5, 9 Song of Solomon 3:6; 4:6, 14 Isaiah 59:20; 60:3, 6; 66:3 Jeremiah 6:20; 17:26; 41:5 Matthew 2:11 Revelations 18:13 *The six references from Jeremiah & Isaiah are translated as "incense" in KJV. In Hebrew however, in all cases is "lebonah" which is Frankincense. Also Bold verses are in reference to the gifts from the three wise men.

Frankincense is mentioned 22 times directly and 59 times indirectly for a total of 81 Biblical mentions.

Known properties: anticatarrhal, anticancer, antidepressant, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, anti-septic, antitumoral, expectorant, immune-stimulant, and sedative

Uses:

Helps maintain normal cellular regeneration
Cancer
Depression
Allergies
Headaches
Bronchitis
Herpes
Tonsillitis
Typhoid
Warts
Brain Damage
Massive head injuries
Immune builder
Expectorant
Aging
Bites (insect & snake)
Carbuncles
Colds
Coughs
Diarrhea
Diptheria
Gonorrhea
Healingemorrhaging
High blood pressure
jaundice
Laryngitis
Meningitis
Nervous conditions
Prostate problems
Pneumonia ( & other respiratory problems)
Prevent scarring
Sciatic pain
Spiritual awareness
Staph
Strep
Stress
Syphillis
TB
Tension
Tonsillitis
Typhoid

*May also help oxygenate the puititary & pineal glands as well as increase the activity of leukocytes. It may help in gaining a better attitude, which in turn can lead to a strengthened immune system.

In Ancient times Frankincense was used for a Holy Anointing Oil, a cure-all (see duck tape oil), to enhance meditation & elevate spiritual awareness. It has been thought to assist in the transition of death, embalming and perfume. It was used to anoint the newborn sons of kings & priests. (Perhaps why it was brought to the baby Jesus.)

Frankincense:

64-90% Monoterpenes
5-10% Sesquiterpenes
2-5% Alcohols

What this means:

The high amount of monoterpenes (help embrace God's image, his original, structural design; DNA) in Frankincense gives it the uncanny ability to cause permanent healing it that monoterpenes are the component that can restore/correct the DNA. The sesquiterpenes have the ability to cross the BBB once again, which is much of the reason this is a wonderful spiritual oil. The oil can stimulate the limbic system of the brain (the center for memory and emotions), the pineal and pituitary glands as well as the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is referred to as the master gland in that it controls many of the vital hormones in the body such as growth & and; thyroid hormones.

****Please feel free to leave comments or email me with any questions. I'm more than happy to chat about the oils anytime!****

*Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor trying to give anyone any medical advise. I'm just a mom who loves her kids and giving you information based on the fun amazing oils we use everyday in our lives! Take from this and do with it what you will :)

An Oil A Day: Cedarwood

2012-01-30T00:40:00.005-05:00

Today's disclaimer...or just something to keep in mind.1. Those of you new to my blog, thanks for joining us and please be aware that when I am discussing essential oils I am ALWAYS, ONLY speaking about YOUNG LIVING ESSENTIAL OILS. 2. Everyone's body chemistry is different so what one oil does to me quickly, doesn't mean it will do that to you. For instance: my cousin can rub lavender on & it will completely relax her nearly putting her to sleep, it has no such effect on me. In fact, I can take 10 or 11 capsules full (at one time, which I've done on several occasions) and it won't make me drowsy at all. With that in mind let me tell you a funny little story about an experience I've had with Cedarwood. This happened last year spring/summer ish. I decided that it would be a good idea to take a capsule FULL of Cedarwood oil at about 9:00 AM. (Note: I have a 2 & 4 year old, and at the time was babysitting my 4 year old nephew also.) Not having done this before I was completely unaware of what was about to occur. Within about 20 minutes my body had become so relaxed & sleepy I felt nearly paralyzed, I quickly laid the 2 year old down for a nap and put a movie on in my room for the older kids and laid down in my bed only to wake up about 2 hours later when the baby awoke. I'm quite certain it was the most bizarre experience I have every had with an oil. If I simply would have rubbed in on my feet or the back of my neck I would not have had the same experience. I know because I've rubbed that oil on a million times and never have had that happen. I also rubbed it all over just before I began writing this post! I have never felt like that before and I definitely learned my lesson that a capsule full of Cedarwood is best ingested in the evening when I am ready for bed and the kids are already asleep! I could seriously barely move, it was kind of funny. (I think my body may have been telling me something.) Now, if I were to do that again, I may not have the same sleepy experience at all, but I'll keep it to the evening just in case. Oh, and by the way, I haven't tried it again since :)

Here we go...

Cedarwood is steam distilled from the bark of the tree. This tree originates in Morocco & the USA. It is thought that Cedrus atlantica is the species that is most closely related to the Cedars of Lebanon mentioned in the Bible. The Biblical references mention Cedarwood 5 times directly and 65 times as trees or wood for a total of 70 Biblical mentions.

Scriptures: Leviticus 14:4, 6, 49, 51, 52 Numbers 19:6

Known properties: anti-fungal, anti-infectious, antiseptic (urinary & pulmonary), astringent, diuretic, insect repellant and sedative

Uses:

ADHD
Skin problems: exczema, acne
Hair loss
Arteriosclerosis
Anger
Bronchtis
Calming
Cellulite
Diuretic
Nervous tension
TB
Urinary infection
Gonorrhea
Anxiety
Arthritis
Congestion
Coughs
Cistitis
Dandruff
Psorasis
Purification
Sinusitis
Water retention
Stimulates melatonin
Emotional releases
Promote mental clarity
*It may help open the pineal gland, may also help oily secretions

In Ancient times Cedarwood was used for the cleansing of lepers, ritual cleansing from evil spirits, cosmetics, embalming, This oil may be the first & most ancient of the distilled oils. It was used by the Chinese, Sumerians and Ancient Egyptians for embalming, disinfecting, hygienic and many other purposes 5,000 years ago. Cedarwood was also mentioned on a Babylonian tablet dated 1800 B.C. The North American Indians used Cedarwood to enhance their spiritual communications. It can create the symbolic effect of an umbrella protecting the Earth. It is a tree that the animals lay under at night to bed beneath for protection and rejuvenation.

Cedarwood is a really cool oil in that it is upwards of 98% Sesquiterpenes.

This uniqueness is what allows for the spiritual and mental effects of the oil. Sesquiterpenes are incredibly special in the fact that they are very small molecules with the ability to cross the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB). This is very special because it makes it truly a "Brain" oil, as I like to call it! These tiny little molecules can actually get into the brain & thus the Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) and do GREAT healing. Just think if there are BAD things that have crossed into those areas, things that are not supposed to be there, the Cedarwood can battle those things. Due to the fact that it is an anti-septic, anti-fungal, and anti-infectious. It has the wonderful potential to kill bacteria, viruses, fungus', such as candida, that have unfortunately crossed into a zone that we really don't want them in the body. How can such things cross this barrier you ask, well any sort of spinal tap or epidural (which are virtually one in the same) can create an opening for bacteria, and viruses to enter. Let's face it these procedures happen in the most germ infested places in the world...the hospital! Of course it's easy for something to "sneak" in. Once it is in the CSF, which is the fluid that protects the brain and spinal cord it can reek havoc on the body. This is what is so amazing about the potential of God's glorious gifts to us...PLANTS!! These oils have the potential to do miracles!

Short explanation of the BBB for those of you that don't know. Basically it is a very, very, very thin layer of epithelial tissue (which is what the top layer of skin is) that is where the big blood vessels stop and only the tiniest of molecules can pass into the CSF that surrounds the brain and get into the intricate blood supply that is in that part of the body. Very cool indeed!!

Perhaps I should make another disclaimer in case any meanies read this (and you all know what I'm talking about.)

****Please feel free to leave comments or email me with any questions. I'm more than happy to chat about the oils anytime!****

*Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor trying to give anyone any medical advise. I'm just a mom who loves her kids and giving you information based on the fun amazing oils we use everyday in our lives! Take from this and do with it what you will :)

An Oil A Day: Update

2012-01-29T17:07:00.002-05:00

Yes, I know I missed yesterday...I will be bringing to you later this evening the oils of Cedarwood & Frankincense!! We are headed to my parents house to celebrate my dad's birthday so you will be getting both oils late tonight!!

An Oil A Day: Hyssop

2012-01-28T00:42:00.001-05:00

Today we are going to learn about the oil of Hyssop! When I first read the book, The Chemistry of Essential Oils: Made Simple, there was a passage that really stood out to me and I'm not exactly sure why. Perhaps it is because of some of the choices I've made throughout my life that made this resonate with me so intensely. The passage is Psalm 51:7, 9-10; "Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow...Blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Remember the PMS oils we talked about yesterday? This verse contains all the elements of PMS..."Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean" -implies the cleansing of the receptor sites (P). "Blot out all my iniquities"-suggests all the unwanted tendencies be deleted from the DNA (S). "Create in me a clean heart" and "Renew a right spirit within me" could be suggestive of the reprogramming and restoration of God's perfect image (M). The cleansing must have worked because after David repented in this way there were no other indications that he committed any more heinous acts in his life.

This was profound and powerful to me, and I love the parallel that exists!

Hyssop is steam distilled from stems and leaves of the plant. This plant originates from France and Hungary. Whether or not this particular species is that of the one referenced in the Bible, we can't know for sure. Hyssop has been used medicinally for nearly a millennium for it antiseptic properties. It has also been used for opening the respiratory system.

Scriptures: Exodus 12:22 Leviticus 14:4, 6, 49,51,52 Numbers 19:6, 18 I Kings 4:33 Psalms 51:7 John 19:29 Hebrews 9:19

Hyssop is mentioned 12 times directly and never indirectly for a total of 12 Biblical mentions!

Known properties: Mucolytic, decongestant, anti-inflammatory, regulates lipid metabolism, antiviral, antibacterial, and antiparasitic

Uses:

Respiratory infections/ congestion
Parasites (expelling worms)
Viral infections
Circulatory disorders
Spiritually cleansing
Focus the mind for meditation
Purification from sin
Addictions/destructive habits
Expectorant
Repeller of evil spirits
Relieve anxiety
Arthritis
Asthma
Sore throats
Cuts & wounds
Metabolizes fat
Detoxifying
Emotionally balancing

Hyssop contains:

Ketones 48%
Monoterpenes 30%
Sesquiterpenes 8%
Phenols 4%

What this means:

Phenols/Ketones (& Phenolic Aldehydes) cleanse the receptor sites of the cells
Sesquiterpenes delete bad information from the cellular memory
Monoterpenes restore/awaken/reprogram the correct information in the cell (DNA)

Again, just like in the oil of Spikenard, this is the perfect combination of the PMS molecules! They clean, erase and reprogram the cells so they can function perfectly as they were designed! I think I'll go dump some Hyssop over my head now :) I'll bet it makes you want some too!

****Please feel free to leave comments or email me with any questions. I'm more than happy to chat about the oils anytime!****

*Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor trying to give anyone any medical advise. I'm just a mom who loves her kids and giving you information based on the fun amazing oils we use everyday in our lives! Take from this and do with it what you will :)

An Oil A Day: Spikenard

2012-01-25T08:53:00.008-05:00

I would first like to say that my now 2 1/2 year old son was up every 2-3 hours for the first 15 1/2 months of his life. (Yes he was a nursing baby.) I wasn't until I started using the 12 Oils of the Ancient Scripture that he finally started sleeping through the night. It was 2 weeks after I started using them, we only put them on once a day on each of his big toes just before bed. He started sleeping from 6:00 PM until 8 or 8:30 AM!!! What a relief that was! (My children still go to bed at 6:00 PM!!)

The first oil I would like to introduce you to is SPIKENARD. I was feeling a little compelled to start with Frankincense but, my mother suggested I start with one that many of you may not have heard of...

Spikenard is steam stilled from the roots of the plant. The plant comes from India where it is highly regarded as a medicinal herb. In ancient times it was one of the most precious oils only to be used by kings, preists, and the like. Mary of Bethany used a Spikenard salve to anoint Jesus' feet before the Last Supper.

Scriptures: Song of Solomon 1:12; 4:13, 14 Matthew 26:6-7; Luke 7:36-38; Mark 14:3 John 12:1-3

Spikenard is mentioned 7 times directly, and 10 times indirectly for a total of 17 Biblical mentions!

Known properties: anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, relaxant, and immune stimulant

Uses:

Insomnia Nervous System-
Menstrual Problems/PMS Anxiety
Heart arrhythmia's
Absentmindedness
Nervous tension
Claustrophobia
Circulatory system- Blood Purifier
Indecision
Muscular System- Analgesic & anti-inflammatory
Convulsion (epilepsy & hysteria)
Digestive Aid
Panic Attacks
Intestinal worms
Cope with: fear, change, sadness, self criticism, tantrums, unforgiveness & worry
Kidney stones
Increase Metabolism to decrease fat
Hair Tonic- speed up growth, keeps original color
Dandruff
Skin care to heal rashes
Heal snake & scorpion bites
Rejuvenate mature skin

The complex chemistry of each oil is what makes them so incredibly versatile in the ability to heal from A-Z. The same goes for all of the oils. Each and every one consist of many different tiny molecules that all have different jobs, that is how they can do so many things as well as enter the cells and heal the DNA!

Here are some of the tiny chemical constituents of Spikenard, the combination of all of these compounds is what makes each and every oil unique & and versatile.

Spikenard contains:

36-50% Sesquiterpenes
27-45% Monoterpenes
6-11% Sesquiterpenols
7-1-% Ketones
1-2% Phenolic Aldehydes

What this means:

Phenols/ Ketones (& Phenolic Aldehydes) cleanse the receptor sites of the cells
Sesquiterpenes delete bad information from the cellular memory
Monoterpenes restore/awaken the correct information in the cell (DNA)

These 3 are called the PMS molecules :) they can actually get in and clean all the junk off on the outside surface of the cell (they get caked with substances that we are exposed to in the environment as well as junk in the food), erase the misinformation inside the cell, and then re-write the correct information or DNA. So basically the combination of these 3 components occurring in the oil can fix and heal the DNA!!

Sesquiterpenols are: antibacterial, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, cooling, grounding, immune stimulant, tonic for lymph,& veins

Essential Oils are truly incredible and I couldn't live a day without them! My children love them! They ask for them and apply them by themselves and they know when something happens to grab an oil and put it on!

****Please feel free to leave comments or email me with any questions. I'm more than happy to chat about the oils anytime!****

*Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor trying to give anyone any medical advise. I'm just a mom who loves her kids and giving you information based on the fun amazing oils we use everyday in our lives! Take from this and do with it what you will :)

An Oil A Day: Introduction to the Healing Oils of the Bible and more!

2012-01-24T23:27:00.003-05:00

Essential oils are volatile, aromatic liquids which, are a vital fluid to the life of a plant. They are the life blood of the plant and are called essential because they are necessary to life of the plant itself. Without them the plant would cease to live. The essential oils can be distilled from shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, bushes and seeds. These essential oils contain intelligence and vibrational energy as does any living organism. This, and their small molecular structure, is what makes them so powerful in healing the body. They are able to get into the cell and repair the body at the cellular level. (No pharmaceutical drug can do that.)

70 percent of the books of the Bible mention essential oils, their uses and/or the plants they are derived from. There are approximately 1035 references involving 33 different species of aromatic trees and herbs. Fragrant oils have been treasured and used since the earliest of Biblical times. After all think about the three gifts brought to the Baby Jesus, Frankincense, Myrrh and Gold. Obviously these things were of great value and highly regarded long ago. They knew the importance and value of such plants.

That being said... I am beginning a series that will last quite a while. I will be featuring An Oil A Day going through each and every oil that Young Living has to offer, beginning with the 12 Oils of the Ancient Scripture! I'm excited about this process as I hope you will be too. It will be fun and you will learn everything I can find about each an every oil that my family and I use everyday!!

2011-12-10T12:53:00.001-05:00

Enter to win the giveaway!! There are some awesome prizes for day 6 of this 12 day event!!! Head on over to win!

http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/my-favorite-things-event/

Giveaway!

2011-12-05T14:54:00.007-05:00

Head on over to one of my most favorite blogs for her 12 days of giveaways!!!

http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/my-favorite-things-event/

Enter to win all sorts of amazing cloth diapers & baby products! Thanks Autumn for doing this I'm very excited!

Protect the body from harmful EMF

2011-09-10T15:53:00.009-04:00

I was recently introduced to something that has certainly changed my life. I've been using Young Living Essential Oils for years, but adding in the C-PRIME band to block harmful EMF radiation has made a huge impact.

Here's the thing, our bodies are constantly being bombarded by those harmful frequencies coming off our cell phones, cell towers, wi fi, electricity running through the home, large electric towers, the list goes on. This is where the c Prime band comes in, it has the ability to block this radiation from effecting the frequency and flow of your body. This allows your body to work the way it was intended. Then, when Young Living oils are added in they are able to work 100% at healing your body rather than first trying to combat the bad EMF's and then healing the body.

I have had 2 major things happen to me since I started wearing the C-PRIME band:

Let me start out by saying that I have had Lyme disease for 20+ years and have suffered with fatigue, brain fog, memory loss and an asthmatic type lung issue that is amplified when I run, or work out.

1.2 weeks ago I ran in a 10 mile road race that I did NOT train for at all. I intended to train, and after not having/making the time I was just going to walk the race. I ended up bumping into a friend at the starting line and thought I'd try to run with her as far as I could then walk if I need to. Amazingly enough I ended up crossing the finish line with her. It wasn't until I was on my way home about 2 hours after the race when I realized that I had NO trouble breathing during the race, which absolutely amazed me. The entire 19 years I have been running I have struggled to breathe every single time! I did take 1 capsule of Dorado Azul before the race, which is something I have done several times before during training runs. Dorado Azul is a wonderful respiratory oil. I have never had the same result as I did with the combination of YL Oil & C-PRIME. It was an incredible feeling to complete a race that I hadn't trained for and actually feel WONDERFUL!!! (Bonus: it was only 15 min slower than last year...not too shabby!) I also only had tight muscles for the first night after the race, by the next morning I felt fine as if I hadn't run a 10 mile race. The other amazing thing is that in years past 10 miles is always my breaking point, it's where my body breaks down & I can't run anymore...literally, physically, can no longer run.

2. I have had horrible brain fog for pretty much my whole life. I have had one, 2 week period where the brain fog lifted and I felt like a normal person. Imagine going your entire life not being able to retain information, have a fluent thought or be able to remember things you have just said or done. It has been a challenge and a major source of frustration for me. In the past 3 weeks of wearing the C-PRIME bands my brain fog has lifted. It's not 100 % clear yet but it is absolutely a million times better. I can't wait to see how much it improves over the next couple of weeks!

Please feel free to visit the website: http://www.mycprime.com/kristymae

It is also extremely important to protect our children from the harmful EMF they are constantly exposed to & have been since in utero. Nothing makes me cringe more than to see a pregnant woman in a hoodie with her cell phone in the front pocket, basically directly contacting the fetus.
My children are 2 & 4 and they both have bands on their ankles. The 4 year old told me after having hers on for about 10 minutes that her legs didn't hurt anymore. This is a child who will complain & cry every night about her legs hurting. Since putting the bands on her I have not had one complaint at bedtime about her legs hurting. I couldn't be more thrilled!!

Please contact me with any questions, I'd be more than happy to answer them!

Biowashball

2011-08-23T23:59:00.002-04:00

I've been off the radar for well, about a year now...I'm back!!

I'm testing out a new product that my mother has introduced me to and for the next few days I will be reviewing it. It's called the biowashball. Basically you throw it in the washer, skip the detergent because this does the job and voila your clothes are clean and free of bacteria. All the while saving you money and helping save the environment.

So, tonight it is being put to the test...CLOTH DIAPERS!!! They are not very pleasant smelling right now either, so this will be a true test of this little bad boy!! The ball is made of hard plastic & it seems to have some sort of small rocks in it which eliminates the bacteria.

Testing begins...Update tomorrow!!

Seasonal Flu Vaccines

2010-09-21T05:44:00.000-04:00

I'm doing a little research this evening on the This years seasonal flu vaccines per the manufacturer's package inserts and it's very amusing that almost all of them list that there are no controlled clinical studies demonstrating a decrease in influenza disease after vaccination with their respecitve vaccines!!! Also note that if you have any form of egg allergy or any specific antibiotics allergies that you should not be vaccinated. Each manufacturer has different antibiotis listed in their ingredients so if you have allergies to them I have posted all of the inserts via the FDA!!!!

Afluria

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM220730.pdf

Agriflu

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM192127.pdf

Fluarix

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM220624.pdf

Flulava

lhttp://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM112904.pdf

Flumist

http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm094047.htm

Fluvirin

http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm112852.htm

Fluzone

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM195479.pdf

So here's the deal...The flu vaccines specific flu strains are determined by a group of officials who GUESS which flu strains MAY hit the US this year. There is no scientific data to show which ones wil actually come this year but here is what they decided on...

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm220718.htm

Just scroll down a little on that page and it'll fill you in on the 3 chosen strains...

If you haven't figured it out, my personal OPINION is the Flu shot is worthless and a giant money making scam!!! Yup you heard me right!

So basically when you get done sorting through mounds of stats you will learn that the number of death from the flu haven't really decreased since begining innoculating millions of individuals. Frankly unless you are SEVERLY immunocompromised ( like someone with HIV/AIDS, or have been going thru Chemo & Radiation) you are EXTREMELY UNLIKELY to actually die of the flu, and isn't that the point of their big bad vaccine to prevent deaths???

Definition of a Young Living Essential Oil

2010-06-11T15:40:00.003-04:00

Essential Oils have been used medicinally for thousands of years, to kill viruses, bacteria & fungi. Their fragrances can balance mood, lift the spirit, rid you of negative emotions & create a romantic atmosphere. They are known to stimulate the regeneration of tissue, or stimulate nerves. They carry nutrients to & oxygenate the cells, and can cleanse off the cells receptor site in order for those nutrients to actually get into the cells.

Essential Oils are so powerful due to their tiny molecular size. The medical community stated that if they could discover something small enough to cross the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) they could heal diseases such as Parkinsons, MS, ALS & other neurological diseases. Well guess what...Essential Oils are small enough to cross the BBB. Sesquiterpenes, are a large percentage of many essential oils, and these are the particular molecules can cross the Blood Brain Barrier and are highly effective in bringing oxygen & nutrients to the brain cells, which in turn allow the body to heal its self the way it was intended!!

Every drop of essential oil contains trillions of tiny living molecules. The Essential Oil is the life/blood of the plant. In the plant it is the essential oil that delivers oxygen & nutrients to the plant in order for it to sustain life, much like our blood does for us (hence the term ESSENTIAL OIL, it is ESSENTIAL for sustaining the life of the plant!) Molecule for molecule essential oils are very similar to our blood. This is what makes them such powerful healers for our bodies. Essential Oils are ALIVE, unlike dried herbs, and pharmaceutical drugs. The essential oil has an innate intelligence much like our bodies so it knows exactly what to do each and every time it is used. Essential Oils will ALWAYS bring balance to the body, they will never do the opposite...talk about intelligent!!!

When I speak of Essential Oils, I am only, always & forever speaking about Young Living's Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils. Young Living (YL) is the ONLY company out there that OWNS their own farms, and distills it's own oils! In fact Gary Young (founder of YL) actually designed & made the distillers. The Young Living Essential Oils are distilled for their Therapeutic Properties. The distillation process has to occur at a low temperature over a long period of time. Unfortunately this is not very lucrative for most companies so they just crank up the temperature, (or use chemicals) and get the oil out fast. Sure those oils have a nice aroma, but that's all they have. The therapeutic properties of the oil don't come out until the very end of the distillation process. This is what separates a medicinal grade oil from every other oil out there.

Every batch of oil that is made by Young Living is tested through GCMS, a specific form of Gas Chromotography, to ensure that ALL the healing properties that need to be there before it is bottled, are in fact, in the oil. If the oils do not meet the top notch standards, they will not be sold! (They may be kept to clean the warehouse instead, which actually happened with a batch of Peppermint oil that just didn't smell right. That particular batch of oil was never bottled and sold it was actually kept to clean the warehouse!!) I can't say I know of any other company out there that would forfeit the profits of barrels of Essential Oil just because it didn't smell right...can you?

Young Living is about Healing. It's about health & wellness, not profit. If you or someone you know is interested in healing their body from the inside out, or just keeping themselves healthy and getting rid of all the toxic chemicals in your home please contact me I'd love to help!

~Essential Mama
essentialmama@hotmail.com
~Reference # 852360

Hmmm.....Just a thought

2010-05-07T23:46:00.002-04:00

Malic Acid is a common ingredient in many nutritional supplements. I was looking at a product my sister in law was telling my mom & I about yesterday and there are 2 versions of this one supplement. One which contains Sucralose (Splenda which acts in the body the way aspartame does.) The other contains Malic Acid, and several other things which included natural flavors. We know that the listing of natural flavors can be a sketchy listing at times. I emailed the company and these natural flavors checked out as truly from the fruit natural. I also know from research that there are 2 forms of Malic Acid. d-Malic Acid & l-Malic Acid. l-Malic Acid is naturally occurring in fruit, which in my eyes is a suitable additive. d-Malic Acid however is synthetic (created in a lab.) This prompted me to email the company and find out which one they used. I received the email back and they use d-Malic Acid (the synthetic one.) I then of course checked the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) for d-Malic Acid & on everything I look at it said that it may be harmful if swallowed and can irritate the digestive tract. My question is how much of this is harmful. I would have to venture a guess that even in small doses this stuff can't be good.

My point in this is we need to really read labels and really ask questions. This stuff isn't listed the way it should be. Obviously the choice to use a synthetic version is because it's more cost effective. Don't ever be afraid to contact a company and ask. Call customer service and they can direct you where to go if they don't have the answer! That's what I did, and I discovered that this particular product is not something I would try and I will be informing my sister in law that it's not a good idea to recommend it to her Chiropractic patients!

What's in your beverages???

2010-04-28T23:12:00.005-04:00

When I was in HS, my mom and I tried a recipe for a cheesecake from a "diet" sort of cook book. It called for some Sweet & Low or Nutra Sweet, one of those sugar substitutes. So the cheesecake was made and we each took a slice. I took one bite and immediately my throat started closing up on me. I would have said at the time that I was allergic to aspartame, because that is what they are all made up of. Well I'm not so sure now that would be the correct statement. I would basically say that EVERYONE is "allergic" to aspartame. Granted we're not talking a true allergy here. I'm saying this because Aspartame is a neurotoxin just like MSG. We don't have receptor sites to utilize this substance in the body. Here's why...

Aspartame turns into methanol (a wood alcohol) which is quickly converted into formaldehyde in the body. Formaldehyde will eventually cause severe damage to the immune system, neurological system and ingestion of it over a long period of time can lead to genetic damage.

So as you're drinking your 1 or 2 diet cokes every day or grabbing that sugar free vanilla latte every morning, you could just drink some formaldehyde and cut out the middle man! I don't know about you but I'd rather not be embalmed before I'm dead...I'd rather let the coroner do his job. I may be exaggerating a little here but that's probably not too far off for those of you who choose to keep consuming diet, sugar free beverages & foods every day. You are slowly killing yourself by slowly shutting down your organs.

A friend whom I went to Chiropractic School with, shared a story with us about a diet she went on in undergrad. Like many of us women she wanted to loose some weight. She started eating and drinking all sorts of diet/fat free food. Those being the products labeled as "sugar-free" & "fat-free" meaning there was a sugar substitute. Some time had passed on the diet and she began having some health issues so she went to the doctor and was diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis). Turns out that all the aspartame she had been consuming was mimicking the effects of MS. Once she quit all of the diet food and drinks she all of her symptoms disappeared. It was never MS at all. Isn't that interesting the effect Aspartame has on the body. I wonder how many other people out there are being misdiagnosed with neurological diseases that have actually just been poisoned by Aspartame...

I've been bit by the lazy bug!

2010-04-28T01:11:00.002-04:00

I know, I've been ignoring my blog. Tomorrow I will be picking back up with some information on Aspartame. It too is a neurotoxin...need I say more??? Probably not, but rest assured I will!! We will also discuss some safer alternatives! Perhaps I will even include some solutions for how to overcome the lazy bugs!! This is the first night I've been awake past 9:30 in about a week. We have switched to drinking alkaline water and I've been detoxing...wow! Can't wait to see what I feel like on the other side...should be awesome! Happy Sleeping and Good Morning to all!

Is MSG hiding on your labels??

2010-04-13T23:28:00.004-04:00

Did you know that MSG is a neurotoxin?? Which means that it is a toxin to the neurons in the brain. The neurons are the tiny little things in the brain which transmit signals to each other in a relay system to send information from the brain to the body via the spinal cord. What MSG actually does in the brain is "cut" one of the "stems" (axons) off the neuron so that there isn't a straight line for the signal to travel. Instead it has to find a long way around, thus delaying signals and potentially losing information, leading to systems failing.

According to the FDA, MSG is naturally occuring. Natural doesn't mean safe it just means that it started in nature. This is how the FDA gets away with justifying many of the not so safe preservatives that they allow in our food & beverages. If you were to actually go on the FDA website and look around for a while, you will find lots of conflicting information.

It is important to note that the Chicken Pox vaccine does in fact contain 2 different forms of MSG. Also, any of the immunizations that are in the form of live vaccines also contain MSG.

So lets talk about MSG and all of it's names and what it is: MSG is a processed free glutamic acid. It's processed free glutamic acid that causes the brain lesions, endocrine disorders, adverse reactions and so much more. There are probably 50+ names of preservatives that are/contain processed free glutamic acid, including:

Glutamate (E 620)	Glutamic acid (E 620)	Monosodium glutamate (E 621)
Monopotassium glutamate (E 622)	Calcium glutamate (E 623)	Monoammonium glutamate (E 624)
Magnesium glutamate (E 625)	Natrium glutamate (natrium is Latin/German for sodium)	Gelatin
Calcium caseinate	Sodium caseinate	Textured protein
anything "hydrolyzed"	any "hydrolyzed ... protein"	Yeast nutrient
Yeast extract	Yeast food	Autolyzed yeast
Vetsin	Ajinomoto

These often contain or turn into MSG (processed free glutamic acid) during processing:

Carrageenan	Maltodextrin	Malt extract
Natural pork flavoring	Citric acid	Malt flavoring
Bouillon and Broth	Natural chicken flavoring	Soy protein isolate
Natural beef flavoring	Ultra-pasteurized	Soy sauce
Stock	Barley malt	Soy sauce extract
Whey protein concentrate	Pectin	Soy protein
Whey protein	Protease	Soy protein concentrate
Whey protein isolate	Protease enzymes	protein fortified
Flavors(s) & Flavoring(s) Here is a great website to reference: http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html Please be aware of the things you are consuming and feeding to your family. It is so important to READ labels!!	Anything enzyme modified	Anything fermented

Antifreeze anyone...

2010-04-08T12:06:00.004-04:00

I don't know about you but I would never go out to the garage, grab the antifreeze and drink a cap full of it! I think we'd all agree that's just plain crazy!! Right?! So would you be surprised if I told you that you were absorbing antifreeze into your body several times each and every day??

Now, with that in mind let's for a minute explore what most of us do on a typical day...

We wake up... go in the bathroom grab the toothpaste brush our teeth, hop in the shower, lather up rinse off, jump out and put on lotion, get dressed, grab a Nutri Grain bar and get the day rollin'.

Did you know in that short amount of time you have managed to brush, lather, rub & eat a pretty fair amount of antifreeze, which has now found it's way into you bloodstream to be distributed throughout your entire system? Don't believe me??...Run on in to Wal-Mart, grab yourself a bottle of antifreeze, and read the label. The orange colored RV antifreeze is the one that will say propylene glycol. The others will say ethylene glycol.

Then go back home and read every label in your house on the products you either consume, or rub on your body...I bet you'll be surprised to what you'll find!

Be aware that PEG (polyethylene glycol) is actually the same thing too. It's just a different chemical structure.

Speaking of Diaper Rash...

2010-04-06T20:29:00.002-04:00

While we're on the subject I'd like to take a moment to discuss the diaper rash issue. Diaper Rash is rarely a problem for me since I AM using cloth, however the situation has come up a time or two.

Part of my nature just happens to be really paying attention to when things occur and what could have possibly cause them. Here are some of the issues I have found; Detergents, washing machines that are not rinsing the diapers clean enough, things that are in the babies food or drink. I nurse and I avoid dyes like the plague. Well once a year around Easter I like to have a little treat...Cadbury mini eggs with that thin candy shell (which is full of dye!) I had few the other day and after a feeding that was several hours later my sweet baby boy had a diaper rash. I have no doubt in my mind it was the dye from those eggs that did it! So be careful what you are giving your baby.

Detergents: Don't ever use tide or any other toxic popular laundry detergents, you midas well skip the cloth and use the disposable diapers because you've just defeated the purpose! Great Alternatives are Seventh Generation powder detergent (unscented version), Rockin' Green, or you can always just use baking soda and hot water, throw in a little vinegar every so often and viola you're all set!

Baby wipes...also full of toxic chemicals. I use either hot water or my own solution with Young Living Essential Oils, V-6(a carrier oil) or olive/coconut oils, and water. My current knowledge on the wipes if you must use some get the Seventh Generation they are the least toxic. (I honestly usually go for the hot wash cloth & it works just fine!)

Now the reason I ONLY use the tender tush is because it works it's the best, has no toxic fillers just all natural ingredients that are found in nature not created in a lab!) Here are 2 reason's I don't use the others: 1. the creams such as Desitin, Burt's Bees, Aveeno (just to name a few) will actually form a barrier on the diaper leaving them unable to absorb the pee resulting in leaks, thus ruining the diaper! Which is actually the reason they work in the first place, they form a fluid proof barrier against the babies skin thus keeping it dry so no rash. 2. I actually used to use Burt's Bees (on my daughter now almost 3) until they got bought out by Clorox. I no longer believe this is a safe product! They are adding things to the cream that I would never want on my babies skin!

Just a heads up for all you Diapering Mama's out there!

Why I Cloth Diaper!

2010-04-05T10:07:00.007-04:00

Let's start with noting a very important fact...The SKIN is the largest organ in the body. Our skin is porous which translates to: everything we put on our bodies is absorbed directly into our blood stream and then transported to every organ, tissue & cell!

So, why is this important? Well...disposable diapers contain millions of tiny little gels that are laiden with chemicals (to make them super absorbent). These absorbent gels become activated when the diaper gets wet. This makes for less frequent need for a diaper change... so a baby can sit in a "wet" diaper for a good 4 hours or more without leaks! Woohoo you say less work for me don't have to change my baby as often!!! Well during that 4 hours the chemicals that have been activated by the babies urine are now seeping in through their bottoms and flowing throughout their entire system. So maybe I have to clean a little poop out of a diaper every once in a while but I'd take swishing a poopy diaper any day over having my sweet babies body exposed to all those chemicals!! These chemicals are one reason those sweet little bottoms end up with diaper rash! (There are other causes for diaper rash too...yucky baby wipes, nursing mother's diet...we'll get into those in another blog.)

My FAVORITE solution to the diaper rash problem...Young Living's TENDER TUSH Ointment... made with 100% Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils!! The only thing that gets put on my babies sweet tushie!

Ingredients in disposable diapers:

polyethylene and polypropylene plastic with bleached paper pulp,
AGM (a gelling substance),
petrolatum,
stearyl alcohol,
cellulose tissue,
elastic, and
perfume.

As with everything Cloth Diapers have also evolved and they are SUPER CUTE, and EASY to use. There are so many different choices of styles and colors, the possibilities are endless. There truly is something for everyone!! Get a couple and try them! I promise you'll love it!

Briefing...Blog 1

2010-04-04T23:20:00.005-04:00

Come along on a journey with me as I navigate my way through living naturally one exciting cloth diaper at a time! We shall be enlightened everyday through valuable lessons and research...just for fun! Let's see if we really know what's going on out there...is it good or are we falling prey to the Kings & Queen's of Marketing!