Immune
Health Preparedness
Hey there,
Let’s talk for a minute. You have been reading (and hopefully learning) on this site for about a month now.
We (my husband and I) are “preppers” in the truest sense. By definition, “to prep” means “to make ready”. As a responsible adult, shouldn’t we be doing this in ALL aspects of our lives. If you spend life flying by the seat of your pants, chances are you will be caught with your pants down more than you’d care to admit, right?
So we prepare for life… We have insurance. We have careers. We plan and save for our future and retirement. We plan for our vacations, and we plan what we’re going to get at the grocery store. We create goals in life. WE just happen to plan in the event that those safety nets (the government) that we assume are in place fail us.
In essence, ALL of us are preppers to one degree or another whether admitted or not…… AND YET….. When we discuss this, the reactions are all over the board:
- You might think us nuts.
- You might think…. “No worries, I’ll just come live with you should “the poop hit the oscillator”. (Ummmm, no you won’t…. unless you have a skill,trade, or asset that we believe can be utilized, or you have been previously invited).
- You might be the…“Hey! I’m with you in spirit, but I don’t have the knowhow or environment to do what you do. NOT. Everyone can learn and prepping can occur anywhere!
- Or, you might be walking right along side us and prepping in your way that is relevant to your way of living. If that’s you……hopefully you’ve now embraced the notion that you need to be preparing on a level that is unique to you and your family’s personal health concerns. (If so, message me or email me… it’s time to get serious about the planning.)
Health preparedness is different. It is not as simple as just storing product.
While product is nice to have on hand when you need it, the ability to apply knowledge that you’ve accumulated thru personal experience and thru experience of others could be a gamechanger. Proficiency in anything requires practice. It is my personal goal that every single person who joins in this journey with me will have access to as much education as they desire (in the form of private Facebook groups, books, education here (thru my blog and private emails), and also direction to science backed resources)….. so that they (you?) can become proficient in their unique health and wellness plan BEFORE a crisis situation dictates that it must be implemented. However, when a crisis happens (and it WILL happen someday), what if you don’t have access to your internet, phone, or your “go to person” when a “how to” question arises? Then you must rely on what you have stored in your brain & what you have in your Bug Out Bag to implement your plan.
Today’s the day… make a commitment to do this. Let’s pack your bag with the essentials that will be pertinent to YOUR health, (along with the 400+ page essential oil manual you’ll get for free from me) AND begin training your brain to think a bit differently. Let’s get some practice under your belt! Who knows…. by implementing what you learn now, you will likely become healthier for it, and THAT itself could actually save your life… even if the SHTF doesn’t happen anytime soon.
Toxins In Your Pits?
t’s me again… Your Wellness Prepper…. getting a little personal early on today! I’m going to talk about one of the most toxin laden sites on our bodies…. a site that needs some desperate help and is oft’ overlooked when it comes to health and wellness.
So, today’s the day we start thinking about detoxing ….our pits (yes, armpits!). Using standard commercial deodorant/antiperspirants are one of the most toxic things you can do to your body. Why?
- Because of the chemicals in most commercial deodorants (especially the aluminum based ones,)
- Because our armpits are highly populated with lymph nodes…. lymph nodes help remove and transport toxins and fight infection in our bodies, and they cannot work well if they are clogged with the ingredients in your current deodorant.
Why put a toxic product so close to your breasts?….. We need to be protecting and supporting our “girls” instead of hurting them! Right??
My challenge to you as we begin cleaning up our lives is to give an alternative product a chance, but first… DETOX! When switching over to safer deodorant, most of our initial body odor comes from not detoxing first, so when you first switch to a healthier deodorant… your switch may be short lived, simply because (without detoxing), odor will erupt from your pits!! So let’s do this right…..and begin by detoxing. THEN, after you have done this at least once (it may take more than once), begin using an alternative and CLEAN deodorant. Here is a great article on how to detox effectively.. And after you’ve done that, it’s time to clean up our act and give our pits a little love. How?
- Make your own safe deodorant! (there are tons of EO deodorant recipes on line to try, but these will get you started).
- Use Thieves Toothpaste…. yes people, a little dab will do ya’! What’s good for your mouth is also good for your pits! It is like free flying at first (very cool), but no odor and works like a charm if you don’t mind the initial cool feeling after first applying. If you are an uncomplicated traveler, you will find this solution to be ideal! One product = two jobs
- Young Living sells clean deodorants too… , Citriguard Deodorant, and now several more!
The challenge today is that we all become healthier this year, and this is a great place to start!
In Health,
Liz James, RPh
NSHC Certified Health Coach & Wellness Educator
YL Brand Partner #1602257
“Making Wellness A Contagious Pursuit”
Some Of My Best Friends Are Bacteria!
How do you feel about your gut? Did you know that you have roughly 100 trillion bacteria (3-4 lbs worth!) sharing your personal space with you?…. more to the point…. inside you? Our “friends” within us are terribly important to our health. They keep the bad bacteria (aka: the bullies) in check. When our gut is healthy, approximately 80-85% of our bacteria is good, and 15-20% are bad. At this ratio, the good bacteria are able to keep the bad bacteria “in check”. The good bacteria are team players. When they are healthy, and there are enough of them, they are able to keep the bad bacteria from overpopulating and causing damage, dysfunction, and disease.
In addition, good bacteria in the gut play a major role in many body functions…. including digestion and pooping, preventing inflammation of the intestinal wall, AND helping prevent leaky gut syndrome. Surprisingly, our little bacteria friends also play a large role in our mental health. Poor gut health has been found to be directly correlated with OCD, ADHD, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, learning disabilities, memory, and mood…. not to mention general poor gut health. Our gut population is also responsible for approximately 80% of our immunity, AND not having enough good bacteria can lead to autoimmune disorders, allergies and infection. Good gut bacteria is also important to our weight!
Gut health plays a huge part in overall body inflammation. When your intestinal lining is compromised, total body inflammation or inflammation in certain parts of the body… including the brain is virtually guaranteed. Inflammation within the brain is painless, and yet it is a factor in Parkinsons, Alzheimer’s, MS, and Autism.
Finally, as we age, our good bacteria tend to naturally die off… and this is not good…not good at all. (Everyone “of a certain age” should be on a probiotic for optimal health). Go back and re-read the paragraphs above…. is it any coincidence that the elderly have regular issues “being regular”, having brain fog/memory lapses, sleep disorders etc?
There are many ways we unintentionally damage and abuse our gut bacteria on a regular basis:
- Overuse of antibiotics. If you must use them…. Always, always always use a heavy round of probiotics both during and following antibiotic use (making sure to separate the antibiotic and probiotic dose by at least 2 hours).
- Alcohol, processed foods, refined sugar, and refined carbohydrates. All of these products feed bad bacteria and promote inflammation
- NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). They cause gut inflammation, damage the gut lining, and recent research indicates that their use induces gluten sensitivity.
- Antacids and Acid Reducers. (Did you know that most of these are not FDA approved for use longer than 8 weeks). Long term use promotes Candida (yeast) overgrowth.
- Minimize and control your stress levels. High levels of stress can cause major GI damage over the long term.
And finally…. when we reach ‘a certain age’, our good gut bacteria begins to naturally die off. When this happens, our overall body health is compromised unless we supplement!
Young Living offers one of the finest probiotics on the market: Life 9. And no, not all probiotics are created equally. Case Adams PhD, wrote a book: Probiotics-Protection Against Infection. In his book, he outlines what to look for in a good probiotic….. The type of capsule (HPMC), the diverse strains of bacteria (YL has 9 strains: 4bifido, 4lacto, and 1 strepto), the quantity of bacteria per capsule (10-15 BILLION Colony Forming Units is recommended for maintenance dosing), the container itself (glass with a metal lid…not plastic), and a moisture control (calcium carbonate). All of these requirements are so important… and they cumulatively make Life 9 the powerhouse for our health that it is. I know that there are tons of probiotics on the market, but MOST do not follow this advised criteria. Do your homework and then pick up a bottle of Life 9!
So, in a nutshell… we truly ARE what we ingest! But the zoo within us needs regular TLC and protection. Without that, you may end up with a gut gone rogue…. and that, my friends, is one of the worst things that could happen to your overall body health.
Feel free to contact me with any questions~
In health,
Liz
YL member#1602257
DISCLAIMER: ALL POSTS, ARTICLES, LINKS OR TESTIMONIALS ON THIS SITE ARE FROM OUR “INDEPENDENT YOUNG LIVING WHOLESALE MEMBERS” WHO RECEIVE COMMISSION ON THE SALE OF COMPANY PRODUCTS. THEY ARE INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES, REFLECTING THE REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES OF THOSE WHO USED OUR PRODUCTS. HOWEVER INDIVIDUAL RESULTS MAY VARY. WE DO NOT CLAIM, NOR SHOULD THE READER ASSUME, THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES RECOUNTED ARE TYPICAL OR REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT ANY OTHER CONSUMER MIGHT EXPERIENCE. TESTIMONIALS ARE NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT ANYONE ELSE USING OUR PRODUCTS MAY EXPERIENCE. YOUNG LIVING IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPINIONS OR COMMENTS POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE, AND DO NOT SHARE THE OPINIONS, VIEWS OR COMMENTARY OF POSTINGS ON THIS WEBSITE. ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE STRICTLY THE VIEWS OF THE POSTER OR REVIEWER. THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.
The Magnificent 7
Thanks for your continued interest in Young Living’s essential oils and supplements.
Essential oils have been treasured by nearly every ancient culture for thousands of years….Why? It wasn’t just that they smelled good. The unique thing about essential oils is that they are multipurpose… much like a Swiss Army Knife. And as you, The Prepper knows, multipurpose tools get bonus points in the bug out bag! To learn more about their incredible properties – feel free to Visit my Website
Although there are 11 oils in the Premium Bundle, here are 7 that I think you will find interesting and worthy of intensive researching. In fact, I would go so far as to call these ” The Prepper’s Magnificent 7” for your wellness preparations both before and after disaster strikes.
Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
Usually, when we think of Frankincense, we immediately think of the 3 Wise Men and this gift to baby Jesus. It turns out, those three were very wise indeed! Historically, Frankincense was used in healing, as a form of currency and barter, as a key ingredient in cosmetics and perfume, and even used in embalming/funeral preparations. In using “Frank” in your daily life, you will find it supports the following body systems: Immune, Respiratory, Integumentary (skin), Nervous, and Musculo-Skeletal systems. It is also amazing for emotional support. I’m pretty sure we are all going to need a little (or alot!) of emotional support when the SHTF, right?
Lemon (Citrus limon)
Lemon essential oil smells “happy”… as well it should. One of the key constituents within it, Limonene, is known to boost our emotions in a positive direction, if you get my drift. As Phil Robertson would say… “Happy, Happy, Happy!”. All that water we preppers have stored? Flavor it up with Lemon Vitality oil and boost your immune system majorly while you’re at it by doing this. A few drops is all it takes to make your world a better place.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
Ahhhh… Peppermint! It is as cool as it sounds… making it ideal for invigorating tired and sore muscles. It is one of the oldest and most highly regarded herbs for supporting normal digestion and gastrointestinal system comfort. No bug out bag should be without Peppermint Vitality. Considering that 74% of Americans have digestive issues….. and who knows what we’ll be eating should the SHTF….this is another must have for your bag. A single drop to help aid normal digestion…. Or place 2 drops of Peppermint Vitality on the tongue to support concentration and alertness. PS: mice and bugs don’t like peppermint!
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lavender: the ultimate oil “swiss army knife”. As a prepper who is “in the know”, I would be remiss if I didn’t suggest that you Google “Rene Gattefosse”. I hope you never need his information, but if you do, you can thank me later. His story is a powerful testimony. Lavender is also known for its abilities to take you to that calm and soothing place we all need to have within us.
PanAway (R)(oil blend)
Wintergreen, Helichrysum, Clove and Peppermint make this exclusive oil blend a powerhouse for supporting body tissue that has been physically strained. It also supports skin that has been discolored due to trauma… Rocky Balboa would have LOVED this one! I would encourage preppers to educate and familiarize themselves on each individual oil in this blend… individually, they are all Rockstars, but combined they are Super Heroes!
Thieves (R) (oil blend)
Eucalyptus Radiata, Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, and Rosemary. This oil blend is The Immune Boosting Powerhouse you’ve been looking for. While there are no guarantees, I choose to apply Thieves to the bottoms of my feet each day as a means of immune support (I am surrounded by germs daily at the pharmacy). Simply put, if you want to create an inhospitable environment for bacteria, make Thieves your teammate. It is a pleasant smelling blend that can be diffused, applied topically (diluted) or as a Thieves Vitality dietary essential oil to support healthy immune function, which “may” contribute to wellness when taken as a dietary supplement.
Purification(R) (oil blend)
At some point when the SHTF, life will stink…. Literally. And when it does, this is the oil you will turn to for help. Citronella, Rosemary, Lemongrass, Melaleuca Alternifola, Lavandin, and Myrtle. Diffuse it in the air, or put a few drops on cotton balls and place in musty bags, closets, shoes, or your car to freshen air and eliminate odors. Purification® can also be used topically as a diluted spray to keep your world “annoyance free”….especially if those annoyances have 6 or 8 legs.
Learn More About Essential Oils
Please feel free to contact me with any questions!
DISCLAIMER: ALL POSTS, ARTICLES, LINKS OR TESTIMONIALS ON THIS SITE ARE FROM OUR “INDEPENDENT YOUNG LIVING WHOLESALE MEMBERS” WHO RECEIVE COMMISSION ON THE SALE OF COMPANY PRODUCTS. THEY ARE INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES, REFLECTING THE REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES OF THOSE WHO USED OUR PRODUCTS. HOWEVER INDIVIDUAL RESULTS MAY VARY. WE DO NOT CLAIM, NOR SHOULD THE READER ASSUME, THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES RECOUNTED ARE TYPICAL OR REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT ANY OTHER CONSUMER MIGHT EXPERIENCE. TESTIMONIALS ARE NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT ANYONE ELSE USING OUR PRODUCTS MAY EXPERIENCE. YOUNG LIVING IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPINIONS OR COMMENTS POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE, AND DO NOT SHARE THE OPINIONS, VIEWS OR COMMENTARY OF POSTINGS ON THIS WEBSITE. ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE STRICTLY THE VIEWS OF THE POSTER OR REVIEWER. THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.