Although I do have some oils at home, I am not as fully into them as my sister so you will have to ask her advice for any true knowledge. I enjoy oils, but am still wishing for something we haven't gotten yet for foods, let alone this, more REAL studies and not observational ones.
I realize that we have forgotten a lot of knowledge we used to use in our rush to the Doctors office for the newest, latest and greatest drug big pharma has created. Does that mean I don't believe in drug treatments. NO! I am not that end of the spectrum. Am I at the one where it all has to be "natural". NO! Just ask my opinion of "organic". You might get an earful. Both need our brains and logic, but I don't want to throw out the baby with the bath water on either end.
What do I mean by the other direction? Well I tend to look into supplementation with minerals and other things. My favorite friend over the last year or so is Vitamin D. None of us living in the area we do are getting enough. Period. It's hard to do because you have to be outside WITHOUT sunscreen and fairly unclothed for your body to make enough. Get real.. this is UTAH. From the standpoint of what we wear, and how much of our year is spent tilted away from the sun, I believe everyone needs to supplement Vitamin D.
Tigersue is right, I can get pretty sick but the last two times I did get something, my total time sick was a lot less than I am used to. The cold I got last spring lasted 5 days. For me that is truly miraculous. I was done, over and no lingering cough like I usually get.
This stomach flu my family has been blessed with was a lot less virulent for me than the rest of my family. My poor husband was in really bad shape, and given that I got it, if it had been my usual before supplementing Vitamin D, I would have been down worse. I did okay. Was over in a day.
My other friends are Vitamin K2, to help with the building of bones and a mix of Magnesium, calcium and zinc. I sleep better with the magnesium, and notice if I miss my daily dose.
As with everything, you have to study for you and find what you feel right for you and your family. Don't feel pushed not to try things from the do it the mainstream crowd, and don't feel pushed by the "give your family this natural fix" crowd either. There is information out there for either and it is okay to go your road. You aren't more wrong if you don't even want to try my Vitamin D.. :) but I would encourage you to get your level taken. It might be the one single most thing you can do to help you heal.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Oregano, an essential oil to have in your medicine cabinet.
I thought I would talk about lemon, or lavender, or peppermint, but when I really understood the power of Oregano I knew I had to mention this one. As I have started this journey into researching essential oils I have learned so much and and I know I need to learn so much more. One of the things that bothers me is the arguing between the IPC of Doterra/Young Living and aromatherapist. Aromatherapists remind me of old school Dr.s and almost want to keep control of their living. They have all kinds of warnings, and you shouldn't do this or that because of this or that reason. On the other hand the Doterra/YLO group are so into doing it yourself they do tend to ignore that all things can have side effects, indeed one of the reasons oils can work and do work would be considered a side effect. So please do research and think logically about what you decide to do. Essential Oils are powerful and as such should be respected, they may be natures medicine but that doesn't mean there aren't risks and side effects to such things. I would be stupid to suggest that there weren't.
Case in point is Oregano, one of the most powerful of all essential oils, it is an antimicrobial and can kill many things. It has been studied and tested against antibiotics and it performs as well as the antibiotics it was tested against and better than a couple of them. Now I need to do more research to find out if bacteria can become resistant to an oil so use judiciously. From what I learned Oregano is one oil that you cannot take for more than 10 days, it will kill all good bacteria so be sure you take a good probiotic while you take it. Save it for those illnesses that need a bit more power. It is a hot oil, it will burn, don't give it to kids, turn to Melaluca for that. It also is antimicrobial but not as harsh or hot to the system. Oregano is an oil that I'm impressed with just because of its power. I plan on getting some and keeping it stocked in my cabinet. With more and more bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics there may come a time when Oregano Oil will be needed. Instructions I saw stated to use it for no more than 10 days, and to take it for two days beyond when you feel better. Example if you feel better on day 3, take it for 2 more days. Research, research, research, to find out what you are comfortable with.
I am a believer in modern medicine so don't ignore that Dr. visit, particularly for kids, strep is not an infection I would mess with, but I would talk to a Dr. about using essential oils in tandem with your health care. I believe God has blessed us with both and there is no reason to eliminate either out of our choice in caring for ourselves.
Case in point is Oregano, one of the most powerful of all essential oils, it is an antimicrobial and can kill many things. It has been studied and tested against antibiotics and it performs as well as the antibiotics it was tested against and better than a couple of them. Now I need to do more research to find out if bacteria can become resistant to an oil so use judiciously. From what I learned Oregano is one oil that you cannot take for more than 10 days, it will kill all good bacteria so be sure you take a good probiotic while you take it. Save it for those illnesses that need a bit more power. It is a hot oil, it will burn, don't give it to kids, turn to Melaluca for that. It also is antimicrobial but not as harsh or hot to the system. Oregano is an oil that I'm impressed with just because of its power. I plan on getting some and keeping it stocked in my cabinet. With more and more bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics there may come a time when Oregano Oil will be needed. Instructions I saw stated to use it for no more than 10 days, and to take it for two days beyond when you feel better. Example if you feel better on day 3, take it for 2 more days. Research, research, research, to find out what you are comfortable with.
I am a believer in modern medicine so don't ignore that Dr. visit, particularly for kids, strep is not an infection I would mess with, but I would talk to a Dr. about using essential oils in tandem with your health care. I believe God has blessed us with both and there is no reason to eliminate either out of our choice in caring for ourselves.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Essential Oils, Why?
First off, I will say that I am an Independent Product Consultant with Doterra essential oils. I have to say that right off because of legal issues with the doterra name, so anytime I mention the oils I need to mention that I am an ICP with Doterra and link to my store. That is not to say I am trying to push anyone to use the productions. I will explain why I started with them, and what I think so far.
Noelie and I both can get pretty sick when we come down with even a cold. We both can get bronchitis and it can slow us down so much it is sad. In September of 2012, I came down with a mild cold and a mild case of Bronchitis that was still hanging on in the middle of October. I was trying to do my walks but I could barely manage a bit and my pace was very slow. In one of my moanings and groanings about this on facebook and friend messaged me to tell me about Doterra essential oils. Although I knew of these oils I had never looked into them for medical purposes. For me it seemed a bit too good to be true. Then when I understood that essential oils come from different parts of plants, and these oils are protective to the plants was when I really started to get interested. I know most pharmaceuticals come from the study of plants and the healing benefits seen by tradition medicine workers in many cultures. I was intrigued.
I signed up with company because it made sense at the time for me financially. I can get my product at a great discount to fill my home with these oils. If you ever decide you want to do these there are a couple of ways to get them, either as and IPC (25% discount) or a preferred customer (lower sign up fee, and a 20% discount). They also have a great program that you can earn free product based on points, but that is for a discussion with someone really interested.
I have to be honest here, I signed up with Doterra because of my friend, I believe in helping those I know to make my dollars spread around better. I know there are other companies out there so do your research and ask questions. I don't know enough at this point, but I can research and look things up.
One thing I have learned is that there are different grades of oils, and this is what you need to research to understand. Essential Oils are not graded by the FDA so you have to understand what the industry standards are, and what they mean. You want to be sure your oils are pure, and natural and not contaminated. Know your company. The lowest grade I would be comfortable with is Theraputic Grade. In the best sense this grade has been tested to be sure the oils contain the structure you expect from an essential oil. This is where knowing your company is important. Theraputic Grade does not specify whether an oil is pure or synthetic. It does have the chemical structure but how was it manufactured or processed. There are some companies I would be comfortable with using, their products will be pure and natural. Research is in order.
Doterra came up with their own designation that is above Theraputic Grade, it is Certified Pure Theraputic Grade. They have different companies test their oils to be sure they are free from contaminates, and also pure and natural, not synthetic. I have seen lots of arguing between Doterra users and other companies loyal customers. CPTG is a great way to know what you are using, but only Doterra uses it, it isn't a government process for testing. Once I understood what it really meant I have no problem with it, it is just a designation to help the consumer know what they are getting and how to look at the purity of essential oils. As I said research so you know the quality of oils you are using. Compare if you can. I understand budget concerns, do the best you can and go from there.
I'm slowly building up my own stock of oils to supplement my medicine cabinet. I'm not foolish enough to think that I only need oils, but I do believe they can make a difference in my health and the health of my family. I will eventual post some of the benefits I have seen.
One more thing really pay attention to the labels on the bottles. Some oils can only be used aromatically or topically and can't be taken internally. A little bit can go a long way. Also remember oils are not designed to treat, cure, or diagnose disease. Although we may take them to cure, oils and blends may or may not work, or will work differently for different people. It can take some trial and error. My next few posts I will focus on the oils in The Family Physicians kit and how I used them in the first month of using the oils. Have fun, and the possibilities are endless with natures medicines.
Noelie and I both can get pretty sick when we come down with even a cold. We both can get bronchitis and it can slow us down so much it is sad. In September of 2012, I came down with a mild cold and a mild case of Bronchitis that was still hanging on in the middle of October. I was trying to do my walks but I could barely manage a bit and my pace was very slow. In one of my moanings and groanings about this on facebook and friend messaged me to tell me about Doterra essential oils. Although I knew of these oils I had never looked into them for medical purposes. For me it seemed a bit too good to be true. Then when I understood that essential oils come from different parts of plants, and these oils are protective to the plants was when I really started to get interested. I know most pharmaceuticals come from the study of plants and the healing benefits seen by tradition medicine workers in many cultures. I was intrigued.
I signed up with company because it made sense at the time for me financially. I can get my product at a great discount to fill my home with these oils. If you ever decide you want to do these there are a couple of ways to get them, either as and IPC (25% discount) or a preferred customer (lower sign up fee, and a 20% discount). They also have a great program that you can earn free product based on points, but that is for a discussion with someone really interested.
I have to be honest here, I signed up with Doterra because of my friend, I believe in helping those I know to make my dollars spread around better. I know there are other companies out there so do your research and ask questions. I don't know enough at this point, but I can research and look things up.
One thing I have learned is that there are different grades of oils, and this is what you need to research to understand. Essential Oils are not graded by the FDA so you have to understand what the industry standards are, and what they mean. You want to be sure your oils are pure, and natural and not contaminated. Know your company. The lowest grade I would be comfortable with is Theraputic Grade. In the best sense this grade has been tested to be sure the oils contain the structure you expect from an essential oil. This is where knowing your company is important. Theraputic Grade does not specify whether an oil is pure or synthetic. It does have the chemical structure but how was it manufactured or processed. There are some companies I would be comfortable with using, their products will be pure and natural. Research is in order.
Doterra came up with their own designation that is above Theraputic Grade, it is Certified Pure Theraputic Grade. They have different companies test their oils to be sure they are free from contaminates, and also pure and natural, not synthetic. I have seen lots of arguing between Doterra users and other companies loyal customers. CPTG is a great way to know what you are using, but only Doterra uses it, it isn't a government process for testing. Once I understood what it really meant I have no problem with it, it is just a designation to help the consumer know what they are getting and how to look at the purity of essential oils. As I said research so you know the quality of oils you are using. Compare if you can. I understand budget concerns, do the best you can and go from there.
I'm slowly building up my own stock of oils to supplement my medicine cabinet. I'm not foolish enough to think that I only need oils, but I do believe they can make a difference in my health and the health of my family. I will eventual post some of the benefits I have seen.
One more thing really pay attention to the labels on the bottles. Some oils can only be used aromatically or topically and can't be taken internally. A little bit can go a long way. Also remember oils are not designed to treat, cure, or diagnose disease. Although we may take them to cure, oils and blends may or may not work, or will work differently for different people. It can take some trial and error. My next few posts I will focus on the oils in The Family Physicians kit and how I used them in the first month of using the oils. Have fun, and the possibilities are endless with natures medicines.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
What is healthy?
That, dear reader, is the serious question. After all if you read the lame-stream media, no matter what you do someone will say it is either healthy, unhealthy, elongate your life, or end it tomorrow, and usually all at the same time, at the same publication in the same month.
What are people to do in the light of such a wealth of confusion?
What??? You came here for definitive answers?
You got the wrong girl or girls here.
What we really want to do is discuss things that we are trying, and share some of what we do already know for us, and sometimes for other people.... although of course we encourage you to think for yourselves and figure it out for yourself.
After all you might be a bodybuilder that also runs 20 miles a week or you might be someone that hasn't moved for years as you are suffering every symptom in the books. Something that might work for me might not work for you.
Yes, I will try to discuss some of the interesting tidbits out there. We can and will talk about making your own home cosmetics, treatments for flu's and colds, and things that might help for mental health and wellness.
I don't think there is one answer for everyone, or even for every sister. The three sisters that are right now actively working at physical fitness. We all have a fitbit, and we all enjoy it, but due to getting a little overworked it is our sweet Snobaybe that has continued with getting her steps in over the last few months. It won't always be only her as after the holiday I hope to follow through and make sure to get that goal in daily.
Tigersue is our expert in all things having to do with PCOS and essential oils.
Me.. I am the big sister. What did you think I was.. smart or something?
This is an extension of our exercise and diet blog, following our efforts to get the nutrition and exercise question. But I hope this one is a bit more.. "hey look at this" or "look at that" kind of a thing.
What are people to do in the light of such a wealth of confusion?
What??? You came here for definitive answers?
You got the wrong girl or girls here.
What we really want to do is discuss things that we are trying, and share some of what we do already know for us, and sometimes for other people.... although of course we encourage you to think for yourselves and figure it out for yourself.
After all you might be a bodybuilder that also runs 20 miles a week or you might be someone that hasn't moved for years as you are suffering every symptom in the books. Something that might work for me might not work for you.
Yes, I will try to discuss some of the interesting tidbits out there. We can and will talk about making your own home cosmetics, treatments for flu's and colds, and things that might help for mental health and wellness.
I don't think there is one answer for everyone, or even for every sister. The three sisters that are right now actively working at physical fitness. We all have a fitbit, and we all enjoy it, but due to getting a little overworked it is our sweet Snobaybe that has continued with getting her steps in over the last few months. It won't always be only her as after the holiday I hope to follow through and make sure to get that goal in daily.
Tigersue is our expert in all things having to do with PCOS and essential oils.
Me.. I am the big sister. What did you think I was.. smart or something?
This is an extension of our exercise and diet blog, following our efforts to get the nutrition and exercise question. But I hope this one is a bit more.. "hey look at this" or "look at that" kind of a thing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)