Focus & Cognition

You Are Worth It! Move It!

Liz James · October 17, 2022 ·

Sitting for more than 6 hours a day raises your mortality risk no matter how hard (or how much) you exercise before or afterwards.

Chronic sitting has also found to be more deadly than obesity alone (so imagine what that might look like if those two are paired together

God gave us our bodies so that we would use them in all the gifts we have been given.

If you have a desk job, please …… for the health of it, consider these alternatives:

if affordable, use a stand up desk.

get up frequently and take a quick walk (grab the mail, take the dog for a walk, take the stairs instead of the elevator)

use part of your lunch break to take a power walk

park farther away from your destination purposefully

learn some basic chair yoga poses you can incorporate into your day.

walk whenever you have a choice of walking instead of driving.

The short term benefits of incorporating movement into your day improve mood, energy levels, and sleeping at night (not to mention the grounding benefits of getting outdoors if that is feasible in the situation you’re in).

Consider adding purposeful movement to your “to do” list for the day. NingXia Red, Zyng, and NingXia Nitro are all great Young Living pairings. (So is the essential oil blend ‘Motivation‘, if purposeful movement is low on your list of priorities

) You won’t regret it!

xoxo~ liz

Does Trauma Really Hurt My Body -part 2

Liz James · March 1, 2022 ·

The Enigmatic Endocrine System Part II: Supportive care for the Pineal, Hypothalamus, and Pituitary Glands

If I am able to drive home one thing in all that I share, it’s this: The body, mind, and spirit are interconnected, and if one is damaged, the other will suffer. Likewise, if nurturing, support, and healing do not occur within all three: mind, body, and spirit, healing will be impaired. Some of the deepest wounds to the physical body will never be seen by the human eye because of the trauma to the mind and spirit. Trauma dealt to the mind is not the same as trauma to the

brain, though both may be affected. Does that make sense?

There are many physical ways to support healthy pineal, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland function, but the most important of all is to become proficient in the skills required to overcome traumatic stress.

For a gland so tiny, there are books and even a journal (The Journal of Pineal Research) devoted to the study of the small ( but mighty) pineal gland. Traumatic stress appears to affect the pineal gland in profound ways that man and his science may never fully comprehend.

Here is what we do know:

Traumatic stress disrupts the pineal gland which in turn also disrupts melatonin.

Rene Descartes (French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist of the 16th century) described the pineal gland as “the seat of the soul”. He postulated that what we experience on “the outside of us” becomes an integral part of the mind (not to be confused with the physical brain). He was pretty much over the target

Many current day studies suggest that repeated stress or traumatic stress experiences may disturb mind integrity, memory, and experience.

Melatonin (in addition to regulating our circadian rhythm) has a role in the synchronization of memory. When the pineal gland is damaged by traumatic stress over time, memory formation and consolidation, cognition, and emotional processes may be altered.

Thankfully, love, community, and social connectedness have the power to influence, improve, and overcome the effects of traumatic stress.

Do not underestimate the power of a close knit community of friends

….. This is your first and most important “how to” take care of your endocrine system…. Find your tribe and love them ….. And (importantly) also let them love you

The Holy Spirit dwells within all who call to Him. The Holy Spirit is also our comforter and healer and guide. Don’t underestimate, undervalue, or decline this gift from God.

Real Solutions:

Physically, there are a myriad of ways to support the brain’s glandular system:

Chiropractic care. Yes, even a little time on the table with a fantastic chiropractor can improve the functional quality of the pineal, hypothalamus, and pituitary glands.

Eating a clean organic diet. The body can only thrive if it is given toxin free nutrition.

Control sugar intake. Processed sugar causes inflammation which affects pituitary function.

Be active! High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is especially helpful…. One of the most helpful body movements is squats. Who knew!?! Boost your entire endocrine system’s function with regular sets of squats!

Incorporate small amounts of iodine (not the kind found in commercial table salt) into your diet. Kelp is a fantastic natural iodine source (it’s a key ingredient in Young Living’s Multigreens!) Sadly, fluoride is found in many city water supplies, toothpaste, and mouthwash brands. Fluoride calcifies both the pineal and pituitary glands which, as you’ve learned, goes on to affect the integrity of the rest of the endocrine system. The Young Living Thieves Toothpaste ( available as Dentarome Plus, Aromabright, or the kiddos Kidscents Citrus flavor) and Thieves Mouthwash are fantastic alternatives to the fluoridated varieties, are immune system supportive and provide ingredients for stellar oral hygiene.

Fresh organic beet juice. Beets contain boron and B vitamins… necessary nutrients for a healthy endocrine system. Beet juice also helps counter the effects of fluoride and heavy metals.

Manganese (found in nuts, leafy greens, whole grains, and legumes) , Vitamins D, E, and A are all necessary for healthy glandular function. YL’s Master Formula contains kelp, boron, manganese, B vitamins, Vitamins D, E, and A among a whole host of additional micronutrients. If you are looking for a “one stop shop” this may be your “go to” supplement.

Good sleep hygiene. There are dozens of natural ways to improve sleep quality. Healing occurs best in a well rested body. Are you making full use of all the tools you may already have in your home? Essential oils well known to enhance sleep include Lavender, Cedarwood, Frankincense, Roman Chamomile, Orange, as well as blends RutaVala, Tranquil, Peace and Calming, and Stress Away all tend to support a good night’s sleep. Immupro and Sleep Essence are two sleep supportive supplements that may also be called in for duty if needed.

Sage (the plant and the essential oil) has some very interesting properties that appear to support the endocrine system. If you choose to dive down this rabbit hole in your research, use the key words “salvia officinalis”, and “endocrine” or “pituitary”. Salvia comes from the Latin word (salvarem) which means “to save”. It may be this plant that best signifies the “mind, body, spirit” healing aspect simply by its activity within the endocrine system.

One in eight women will develop a thyroid problem at some point in their lifetime. (It’s not quite that high in men). While many thyroid disorders have root cause found in the thyroid itself, as Yoda said…. “Slow your roll [downhill], you must.” The thyroid is a precision organ, and will not be able to adequately perform if the endocrine glands of the brain (and elsewhere) do not work well. Their work is worthy of our TLC, and giving it the nourishment and attention it needs to perform optimally. Each one of us is a finely tuned, amazingly made unique creation, and each body part is a part of a bigger design working in tandem.

xoxo~ liz

https://goodmedicine.info/my-book/ (it’s here! We’re keeping it at presale price for just a few more days)

#sharingiscaring

#ahealthyendocrinesystemisgoodmedicine

#becomingyourownhealthdetective

#goodmedicine

#ThanksYL

Attention Deficit

Liz James · February 21, 2022 ·

Do you find it interesting that the diagnosis of “attention deficit disorder” didn’t exist until 1980? I do. A “diagnosis” is important because without one, insurance companies won’t pay for a treatment. Insurance companies rarely pay for a holistic approach but nearly always pay for a pharmaceutical approach. Follow the money.

My formal pharmacist education took place in the late 80’s and very early 90’s where mental health disorders were “absolutely” attributed to a chemical imbalance in the brain. Thankfully, this theory has been debunked (though many people still erroneously believe it to be true, and sadly many many practitioners prescribe as though it is true). Later, it was blamed on genetics. This too has been debunked.

Just as with most mental health disorders, there is no biological marker (ie: no affirmative blood work) for diagnosing ADHD. All diagnosis is based on behavioral characteristics: lack of focus ability, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

After attention deficit disorder became an official diagnosis in 1980, the % of kiddos said to have it began creeping upwards. By the early 1980’s it was 3%… 5% by 1984….. and 10%+ now. Not coincidentally,

this timeline also coincides with a massive increase in the childhood vaccination schedule, decreased playtime outdoors, the introduction of and massive increase in screen time, less family time, increased toxin load including glyphosate and heavily processed foods as an eating way of life.

THIS is the most important piece of the article below:

” The problem doesn’t necessarily lie within the child, but rather arises from the child’s response to his or her environment. Society could see the “prevalence” of the disorder as a marker of distress in society.”

Take some time to read the study ( towards the end of the article) . The outcome of the study can be broken down as such:

There is no evidence in the trial of preschoolers that taking methylphidate actually facilitated better functioning children.

Kids put on methylphenidate frequently suffered moderate to severe adverse events (prone to crying, crabbiness, picking at their skin, insomnia, anxiety, loss of appetite).

At the end of the 10 month trial, the kids were notably shorter (20% less growth) and lighter in weight (52% less than expected).

Also of interest in this trial: (excerpt directly from the attached study)

Many toddlers apparently got better with parent training as a first intervention and parents removed their child from the study as a result.

In the randomized four-week trial, only 21% had an excellent response to the drug, compared to 13% in the placebo group. This means that if you medicated 100 preschoolers with methylphenidate, there would only be eight additional “excellent responders” than there would have been otherwise.

Adverse effects on methylphenidate were frequent and told of behavioral deterioration, particularly in the 10-month maintenance phase.

There is only a small percentage of preschoolers—10% to 15%—that could be said to enjoy a benefit from the treatment in terms of reduction of symptoms over the short term. That means that 85% or so of all toddlers treated with methylphenidate will experience the adverse effects of that drug without receiving any additional benefit, a net result that tells of harm done.

The study did have three and six year follow ups with the kids. Here is the outcome: At the 3 year mark 66% were on additional psychiatric drugs, and at the 6 year mark 73% were.

Another quote from the article following this information:

“The findings tell of stolen childhoods. These children were diagnosed with ADHD as preschoolers and that turned two-thirds of them into persistent mental patients who grew up constantly on psychiatric drugs. At their tenth birthdays, this group would have no memory of being alive without the mind-altering effects of psychiatric drugs.”

Additionally,

” What fate awaits as they move into their teenage years and into adulthood? While there are long lists of adverse effects associated with longer-term use of stimulants and other psychiatric drugs, which collectively tell of impaired physical health and social development, there is an absence of good research on how such drugs may fundamentally alter brain development over time. However, there have been animal studies studying the effects and those studies have sounded an alarm. ” A lifetime of exposure to stimulants in animals demonstrated disinterest in exploring new things, disinterest in the brain’s reward system, reduced ability to experience pleasure.

One final note on the PATS trial: in the published report of the safety and efficacy results, the authors collectively disclosed 72 “relationships” with pharmaceutical companies, with the manufacturers of ADHD drugs prominent on the list of disclosures. Do you understand what that means? Any study with ties to a pharmaceutical company will be slanted in favor those with the gold.

Our country’s babies are the canary in the coalmine.

Our job as healthcare professionals

should include assessing risk versus benefit and actually presenting that information so that informed decision making can be made as an opportunity to the client. We are the ultimate CEO’s of ourselves and our families. I see posts all the time “this or that”…. and people pick (ie: salty versus sweet). As simple as that sounds, we aren’t choosing blindly because we know what salty and sweet tastes like.

….. and yet, taking medication without full disclosure (similar to what I just wrote above regarding methylphenidate) or offering the exploration of an alternative plan of action instead rarely happens. Why is that?

Follow the money.

Informed consent. Everyone has a right to choose what works best for themselves and their family….. at least for now. Believe me, they’d like to take that away from each one of us.

Don’t give up your right to choose. But choose with informed consent. Do your own research and dig deeply…. beyond what anyone in a white coat tells you. Use your Holy Spirit discernment, and then dig in and do your due diligence. God gave that to each one of us who chooses to use it.

xoxo~ liz

#sharingiscaring

#becomingyourownhealthdetective

#freedomtochoose

#evaluatingriskversusbenefitisgoodmedicine

mad in america srticle-medicating preschoolers

Dopamine – part 4

Liz James · February 1, 2022 ·

Dopamine Deficiency Part IV: More Solutions

Do you struggle with belief in any area of your life? Maybe it’s work…. Self confidence…. Big goals…. If so, know that improving your dopamine balance will only help you grow into living what you struggle to believe. Now would be a great time to grab that bottle of Believe essential oil and become a walking diffuser for yourself. Go grab it now… I’ll wait for you!

Gary Young knew which plant chemicals stimulate, protect, and support healthy dopamine levels. And of course, he knew that belief is fueled by dopamine. Essential oils Balsam, Coriander, Bergamot, Frankincense, Idaho Blue Spruce, Ylang ylang , and Geranium all fuel belief through their effect on dopamine within us. These are the oils within the blend Believe. Pretty cool right? Gary never made a product that wasn’t highly purposeful!

Other oils that have been found to contain constituents supportive of healthy dopamine levels in the body include rosemary, oregano, thyme, rose, sandalwood, neroli , palmarosa , and marjoram . Did you notice that many of these oils are used in Raindrop massage? Just one more reason everyone should receive a Raindrop on the regular!

God has gifted us with so many natural ways to support dopamine levels. (Go back and review last week’s post so that you’ll have the full combined list!)

Mowing the yard! It may be hard work, but the aroma of fresh cut grass contains a chemical called hexanal (the “green” smell of grass) that stimulates dopamine release.

St. John’s Wort has been found to increase dopamine in the prefrontal cortex of the brain by 40%. Resveratrol has been found to perform similarly ( found in red wine, fresh grapes, dark chocolate, blueberries, peanut butter)

Organic coffee (No more than one cup a day or it may contribute to adrenal fatigue…. A dopamine high followed by a crash!) or a cuppa organic green tea (Have you tried the YL Vanilla Lemongrass Green Tea yet?) is a dopamine supportive treat.

Rhodiola is another herb known to stimulate dopamine receptors and inhibit enzymes that break down dopamine in the brain. Ashwagandha (You might recognize this as an ingredient in Powergize and Endogize) is also an effective adaptogen with supportive dopamine activity.

Pregnenolone is a natural hormone produced in the body that has a positive effect on dopamine levels in the brain. It is an ingredient in hormone supportive Cortistop capsules, PD 80/20 capsules, and Regenolone moisturizing cream. Do a little research on each of these to determine if they might fight your individual hormone balancing needs.

Acupuncture stimulates the vagus nerve, which in turn support healthy dopamine levels. (Go back and reread the section on low vagal tone!)

Creating and performing music boosts dopamine levels even more than listening to your favorite tunes, but all three are effective. Listening to music has even been shown to improve fine motor skills in Parkinson’s patients.

Chronic inflammation reduces dopamine synthesis and release in the brain. We’ve got tools on hand to support a healthy inflammatory response (as opposed to the runaway variety!). Sulfurzyme, BLM, Agilease, and OmegaGize3 are excellent supplements. Nobody can “out supplement” an unhealthy lifestyle…..examine your life and look for offending (and often hidden) toxin triggers in household chemicals, processed foods and drinks, body care products, and makeup.

Lack of sleep down regulates dopamine receptors and reduces dopamine receptor availability. You know what to do! Sleep is so very important in ALL aspects of health. Review your sleep hygiene practices and look for “holes in the armor” that may result in interrupted sleep. I LOVE and incorporate Rutavala on the base of my big toe and Immupro (chewable) in my bedtime rituals.

Iron plays a role in dopaminergic neurotransmission. Iron and ferritin levels are important lab values to watch (both for being too low and too high). Natural sources of iron include spirulina ( an ingredient in Multigreens), dark chocolate, spinach, shellfish, organ meats (I highly suggest Sally Fallon’s cookbook Nourishing Traditions), beans, lentils, chickpeas, red meat, pumpkin seeds, quinoa, turkey, broccoli, and fish.

Vitamin C assists with the formation and conversion of dopamine in the brain. Deficient levels of vitamin C may show up as a low mood. Super C Chewables are a tasty way to supplement daily.

Vitamins B6 and B9 are critical for dopamine synthesis. Low folate levels contribute massively to low dopamine levels which may ultimately lead to depression. Super B is another fantastic supplement to help the body in at least a thousand little and big ways.

Alternate between standing and sitting. “Chronic sitting” lowers dopamine levels. Our body was designed to move!

Finish a project. Who knew? This in itself causes the brain to flood with dopamine.

Huge (and easy) list, right? And yet, sometimes it may seem hard to get motivated to make the changes. Circle back around….. Grab your bottle of Believe, and start somewhere small. I promise you won’t regret finding your dopamine happy place!

xoxo~liz

#caringissharing #knowbetterdobetter #dopamineisdope #balanceddopamineisgoodmedicine #goodmedicine #BecomingYourOwnHealthDetective

#ThanksYL

Wolfberries for the Win

Liz James · July 14, 2020 ·

About 6 1/2 years ago, I ripped open the two oz NingXia Red packet that was in my YL Starter Kit and drank it. It was tasty, but I didn’t yet understand the significance, or the science behind what I had just consumed (other than that it was mighty tasty! ☺️). It wasn’t until I read the book you see in this picture, that I got a fuller understanding of just how much purpose was in that packet.
If you are a science nerd like me, this book will make your heart go pitter patter. (You can find it at www.DiscoverLSP.com)

I’ve heard soooooooo many personal stories about NingXia Red since I started drinking it myself. One of my health stories is this….. see those glasses on the table beside the book? They aren’t for reading and they aren’t for driving. I started wearing glasses when i was a Junior in college for nearsightedness.Well, the longer I drank NingXia Red consistently, the more my glasses started bothering me…. like my prescription was too strong. 😳 About 5 years ago, I went to my optometrist and had to get a weaker prescription. A couple years ago, I pretty much quit wearing glasses entirely.
I still carry them in my truck and do wear them if it is night time and I’m driving in an area I’m not familiar with…. but 99% of the time, I am glasses free. (The glasses you see on the table are blue blockers for protecting my eyes from the computer screen).

Can we talk science and genetics for a second? My family has a strong history of age related macular degeneration. My grandmother went blind from it and other older family members have it now. Protecting my eyes is high on my priority list.
Wolfberries are loaded with zeaxanthin and lutein, both of which have been shown to help support eye health in dramatic ways. Wolfberries are one of the main ingredients in NingXia Red.

A sweet friend of mine once said to me:
“You can pay the farmer 👩‍🌾 now, or you can pay the pharmacist 👩‍🔬 later.”
Truer words could not be spoken.
Is NingXia Red worth it? Are my eyes worth it… not to mention my brain and heart health? Absolutely.
Everyone’s NingXia Red story is different than anyone else’s because we are uniquely made…..I’d love to hear your NingXia Red success story!
xoxo~ liz

(If you’d like to try NingXia Red and do not currently have a Young Living membership, please message me!)
#allthingswolfberryYL
#ThanksYL
#productswithapurpose
#whatsyourstory
PS: see that little cardinal peering thru the window? I didn’t notice him until I had taken the picture. Cardinals were my grandmother’s favorite bird ❤️. I’d like to think she just gave her nod of approval to this message!