Emotions

August Young Living Gifts Plus College Kids Support

Liz James · August 1, 2024 ·

August is here, and so is Back To School! Whether you have littles heading to school for the first time, or young adults heading off to college (who doesn’t need the survival tools to energize, relax, focus, and stay well with all of the things life hits all of us with on the regular

??), start ’em off right with all the right tools!

Gifts with purchase this month are perfect for helping the littles (ahem, everyone) step into the stressors of a new situation with grace, ease, and a good night’s sleep.

SleepyIze is a great option to help relax and prepare the body for bedtime. Add a little foot rub with this amazing oil to your kiddo’s bedtime routine. Not only is this a good time to talk to them about their day, it’s also a way that you both receive the benefits of SleepyIze. Gentle enough for littles… it’s also effective on biggies too

KidPower (I know several adults who have said this is in their “top favorites” category) is a fantastic-smelling tool for the school year. Stepping into new and uncharted territory can be the source of doubt, fear, and worry. There’s solid science behind the oils in this blend….. KidPower doesn’t just smell AMAZING….. amazing is as amazing does! It’s designed to support feelings of emotional balance. Try it on yourself too….. it may just become a family favorite!

Does every bedroom have a diffuser? Sleep is arguably the most important part of our 24-hour day whether you’re big or little. Without a good night’s sleep, daytime activities can get pretty overwhelming pretty quick! Feather the Owl is a fun diffuser for the littles. Load it with sleepy oils at night, focus oils for homework, and calming oils when the chaos needs some help! (I have two baby showers coming up and will be giving diffusers as gifts. This freebie helps me out in that department!)

*************************************************

Don’t forget your college kiddos! As you plan your needs this month, if you’ve got young adults heading off to college, send them off with the right tools for success!

Have a great day friends and Happy August!!

xoxo~ liz

Does Everyone Need Hormone Support?

Liz James · January 17, 2024 ·

Hormone Quiz: True or False (answers are at the bottom

1. Hormones are no longer important after menopause.

2. There is a close relationship between hormones and gut health.

3. Synthetic hormones are safe and closely match our hormones.

4. Adequate sex hormones help protect and can even improve cognition and brain function.

5. Men and women have the same hormones, just different amounts.

6. We have hormone receptors in our kidneys.

7. Our lungs are healthier if we have adequate hormones serving them.

8. Women tend to live longer if they incorporate hormone support during their period and menopause.

9. Getting hormones checked with labwork after menopause is unnecessary.

10. Labs are important, but the most important indicator is how you feel.

11. Hormones play a role in our muscle mass before and after menopause.

12. Hormones don’t play a role in our sleep quality.

13. If hormones are unbalanced or deficient, it can affect the quality of my voice.

14. If I have junk (toxins) in my body that prevents hormones from “docking” on a receptor site, I just need more hormones on board to overcome that obstacle.

15. Phyto (plant-based) estrogens do not increase cancer risk.

Are you ready for some answers now? I’ll put numbers by each answer in the rest of this post.

Hormones are incredibly important throughout our body until the day we die! While that doesn’t mean having babies til we’re in our 90s like Sarah in the Bible, they have a profound effect elsewhere in the body. (1) Let’s talk about that, shall we? I’m hitting highlights here, but I think you’ll get the picture….. As our hormone production goes down, various parts of the body suffer. Our gut (and gallbladder) health declines because there are hormone receptors lining our digestive tract, where most of the immune system resides. Why are women more prone to acquiring autoimmune diseases than men? Could it be because our hormone (or lack thereof) production wanes drastically in the event of surgical or natural menopause, stress, or many other factors, and the gut is affected negatively? (2)

We have receptors for hormones throughout the brain. They help maintain cognition. An estimated 80% or more of the people in neurodegenerative facilities likely wouldn’t be there if they had given their brains an “assist” when hormones were waning. (4) This is especially important for progesterone support. It’s been found that those who do not support hormones as they age tend to age at their normal physiological rate (which picks up speed at every decade). Hormone support slows that process down. Yes, men need estrogen and progesterone too….. Just as women need testosterone, in different ratios of course (5).

After the age of 40, hormones begin waning, and another organ that potentially can take a hit is the kidneys. A decrease in hormones often results in a decrease in kidney filtration rate and function. (6)

The lungs in both men and women are especially responsive to progesterone (7) in several ways. Progesterone helps the lungs repair from injury and also helps protect FROM injury. They’ve done some studies during COVID and found that (according to the studies), progesterone appeared to help with lung recovery.

Multiple studies have shown that women live longer, more productive lives if they have hormone support. ( The largest study ever run by the NIH and Nat Library of Medicine looked at 1.5 million women who had estrogen-supportive therapy versus those who did nothing. The outcome? ….. Those with “help” lived 20% longer. (

Many doctors quit running hormone labs once you’ve gone through menopause. Is this ok? Noooooooooo. (9) Your hormones continue to require you to be the conductor of your life’s dance and a little labwork can help with that dance. The best indicator tho??? …… that‘s you. How do you feel? If you feel good, great!!! If you don’t feel great, productive, and energetic most days, it’s past time for an evaluation of what’s working and what’s not. (10)

This is your life, and you play the starring role. You’re also the Director of your life’s show. Exercise is important, as is keeping and building muscle mass. The loss of muscle mass happens as we age. It’s hugely common to hear women talking about losing their strength while gaining a few inches around their belly. You can thank lack of estrogen (11) support for that (as well as excess cortisol usually….. Go check out the post on cortisol!).

Sleep is equally important. We cannot heal and recover from anything without sleep, nor can we function optimally without it. Progesterone “deficiency” is one of the key players in the loss of sleep quality. (12) Yes….. why certainly you could take prescription meds for sleep, but there will be consequences (a 33% increased risk of dementia is one of them.)

Perhaps even you hear a change in people’s voices as they age. The quality (range, tone, strength) all begins to deteriorate. This is not surprising. We have hormone receptors on our esophagus and vocal cords (13)…. I think you’re getting the picture, right? Those little hormone receptors are EVERYWHERE.

To compound the problem, fake hormones (also known as endocrine disruptors) are everywhere. (3) Those little suckers plop themselves right into where the hormones are supposed to attach themselves to do their work. Once those receptor sites are filled up, there’s no more room, and what hormones our body IS producing can’t do their work properly. This is why it’s so important to keep toxins out of your body (which also includes synthetic hormones like birth control) and to detox pretty regularly (NingXia Red and SulfurZyme are both great daily gentle adjuvants for that course of action).

Now…… we are all created differently and need different amounts and even different help in some areas more than others. Here’s a picture of my 4 favorite things that have helped me in my journey through menopause and beyond. Others will have other favorites. I love that I can use plants to support my hormones safely (15).

Go through the entire Happy Hormones Class. It’s entirely worth your while. Live your life abundantly….. And you’re gonna need hormones to do just that!

Xoxo~ liz

(PS: how’d you do on the quiz?)

#happyhormones

Why We Love Evergreen

Liz James · December 20, 2023 ·

‘Tis the season!

Whether you are team “artificial tree” or “go real or go home”….. pull out your bottle of Evergreen Essence and add a little extra healthy festive forest into your world

EVERGREEN ESSENCE & EMOTIONS

Evergreen Essence is a blend of conifer oils, all of which contain alpha-pinene, a constituent that helps the mind and body reach a calming, peaceful environment (no wonder we love the smell of Christmas trees)

Tree oils can be a wonderful tool for processing feelings of Unimportant, Un-nurtured, or Disempowered. The Spruce and Evergreen family of oils are the ones to reach for when you feel like you are comparing yourself to others, are feeling undervalued, or as though your unique voice has no place. The alternate side to feeling unimportant is Empowerment. When we can rest secure in who we are then comparison melts away and our unique blend of magic can shine!

A 2011 study in Pharmacognosy Magazine (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3173901/) looked at the anxiolytic effects of an alcohol-based pine needle extract and its ability to soothe depression in rats.

Don’t we all feel like rats

in a race sometimes in our lives

Bottom line: however you approach it, pine and other conifer essential oils can be powerful health tools

….. but only if you open the bottle and use them

Interestingly, we are often drawn to these oils during the colder months, when we gather with friends and family, remember years past, and even grieve the things we have lost. Pine, Spruce, and Fir are calming and grounding and help us connect to feelings of strength and protection, which is something we need while processing those emotions. Adding Evergreen Essence to your daily routine is a wonderful way to support mental and emotional health during these times!

You can learn more about processing and releasing emotions in a book: Releasing Emotional Patterns with Essential Oils (https://amzn.to/3F0us4N).

* Diffuse this favorite on its own or with Tangerine, Cinnamon Bark, or Lavender.

* Drop onto porous holiday ornaments to create a passive diffuser.

* Some individuals take this oil in a capsule (diluted with olive or coconut oil) for targeted immune support during and after acute needs.

* Add a few drops directly onto the crown of the head for emotional support. Drop directly onto the scalp and avoid rubbing in and your hair will not be oily! Plus, you’ve now turned your hair into a diffuser. Win-win!

* Make a ‘Roaring 20s’ roller to take advantage of all the immune support of these conifer oils! Apply over lymph nodes, along the spine and/or on the bottom of the feet. In a 10mL roller add:* 20 drops Evergreen Essence, * Optional: 10 drops each Lemon, Frankincense, Geranium

* Fill with carrier. * Use liberally and frequently for acute needs.

DIFFUSE

Evergreen Essence is amazing diffused all on its own, or you can try one of these combinations:

* Roaring 20s: 5 drops Evergreen Essence, 3 drops Lemon, 3 drops Frankincense

* Sleep Tight: 4 drops each of Evergreen Essence, Lavender, Tangerine

* Campfire Calm: 4 drops Evergreen Essence, 3 drops Cinnamon Bark, 2 drops Vetiver, 2 drops Peppermint

* Relaxation: 4 drops Evergreen Essence, 3 drops Eucalyptus, 3 drops Rosemary, 2 drops Lemon

INGREDIENTS: imagine shopping for a real Christmas

there are 14 different tree types to choose from

…. now put that scent in a bottle!

xoxo- liz

Conifer Tree Oils Stop The Crazies

Liz James · September 13, 2023 ·

Wednesday PSA

For the nerdy inclined

, here’s an interesting study: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00226-023-01490-6 (Title: Utilization of essential oils mainly from Cupressaceae trees in the work environment creates a psychophysiological stress-relieving effect. )

Recap:

Study results suggest that certain conifer tree oils may help calm the crazy.

Inhaling our “fir” friends may be beneficial in helping the body’s relaxation response. (We live way too often in the fight,

flight,

or freeze

state of mind.)

Pro Tip: If the rest of your office (or home) tends to lean toward the cray cray meter, consider diffusing the situation.

xoxo~ liz

#ThanksYL

#appreciatingtrees

#BYOHD

#TakeChargeOfYourHealth

#takechargeofyourenvironment

August Young Living Freebies

Liz James · August 1, 2023 ·

When I was little, summer seemed to whiz by (and that was back when school started back around Labor Day week!)….. nowadays, it’s a blink and a nod, and kids (at least in our area) start back to school next week. Can you believe it? Happy August friends!

Here’s the scoop on the gift-with-purchase goodness to start the month off right!

Ginger vitality: I don’t recall seeing this one as a freebie before, and if it’s not one in your arsenal/wellness tool bag

, let’s chat for a sec. Ginger, first and foremost calms queasy stomachs….. A drop or two in hot water for Ginger tea……. sneak it into lunch boxes in the form of healthy gingersnap cookies (lots of recipes out there…. add a little extra oomph with a few drops of Ginger to the batter

. Fragrance-wise…. did you know that the aroma of ginger is historically known to promote feelings of courage? Makes sense, right?…. A queasy stomach often results from fretting about something (like a new school year situation)

Lemon is great for 101 different things…. while it actually has stomach-calming properties too, it’s also a key ingredient to our “world famous

” LLPC recipe…… if you struggle with seasonal sniffles and aren’t familiar with this favorite, ask a WiW old timer…. it’s the best for making things right! It’s also key in helping the lymphatic system function more optimally too.

Life 9: I can speak for hours on the benefits of a great probiotic’s effects on gut health. All probiotics are NOT created equally…… if you’ve never used Life 9 before, I challenge you to get it for free this month, and then take it daily for 30 days. In fact, I double-dog dare ya! See if you don’t feel the difference. Remember, good gut bacteria (as is your pooping ability) largely regulate your immune system. If you struggle with either of these (or heck, if you struggle with emotions that tend to upset the gut, oftentimes, getting a good gut balance, often straightens those things out too!)The best thing about free stuff is that you can try it for free and decide if it fits your healthy journey well. I’ll say this tho….. those of us who know Life9 intimately

use it daily!

Plus, it comes with that cute little supplement case!

Finally, MultiGreens! Is this a regular for you already? I tend to alternate between MultiGreens and NingXia Greens (love them both…. NRG is a powder and MG is a capsule and they are different products, but they are both VERY green

). So many people (big and little peeps alike) don’t get enough “greens” in their diet (Green M&M’s or green gummy worms don’t count….. in fact, that’s all the more reason to get the good greens into your day!) MultiGreens allows you to “get the greens in” and thereby helps your thyroid, nervous, and circulatory systems in ways your body may be telling you you’ve been missing them (are you reading your body’s clues?). Never tried it? This is another tool you’ll get to try for free!

Happy August friends! Which freebie are you most excited to get?

xoxo~ liz