Preventive Health & Root-Cause Medicine

Walking Above The Line-Sustainability

Liz James · February 27, 2017 ·

Sustainable Wellness Practices. Sustainability defined by Websters: “able to be maintained at a certain rate or level.”

My career path (pharmacy) has placed me in a ringside seat of wellness gone south. Approximately 116 Million Americans suffer from chronic pain. Standard western medicine gives answers to chronic pain that are NOT sustainable solutions. There is not one Opioid or NSAID (Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory) or other pain reliever that provides a sustainable answer to a long term problem. Long term use of any of them will inevitably lead to a body system dysfunction.

I would encourage everyone to open their minds and seek alternative methods of chronic pain relief. Yoga, acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage, exercise, proper nutrition (especially proper nutrition!)… the list goes on. Sometimes relief comes in the form of a blend of these, and frequently, normal daily aches and pains can be managed or prevented with proper body system support.

I have used a mixture of ALL of the above in my adult life, and I’ve found my sweet spot with what works for me.

Today, I’d like to show you another powerhouse tool in my personal wellness tool box. Earlier, I shared Sulfurzyme. I’m hoping that you’ve ordered it, fallen in love with it, and are now telling others about it! I mean, who keeps things you love a secret??? Precisely……. And because we’re (virtual) friends, I’m going to let you in on another product….One that goes hand in hand with Sulfurzyme.

Today, I’d like to introduce you to Agilease. We are a busy hard working family out here on the farm, and a day rarely goes by that we DON’T go to bed sore and fatigued from the beating our bodies take. Sulfurzyme AND Agilease taken together ensures that we are able to rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat…. day after day. What makes THIS one so special, and why would you need both?

Agilease contains the following :

Frankincense (B. Sacra)
Calcium Fructoborate
Curcuminoids complex (Tumeric)
Piperine (Black Pepper Extract)
Collagen (undenatured type II)
Glucosamine sulfate
Hyaluronic Acid
Wintergreen
Copaiba
Clove
Black Spruce

What’s the ruckus about the above ingredients? Well friends, let me break this down for you piece by piece.

Frankincense (Boswellia Sacra) : majorly supports the skeletal system. The key constituents include alpha-pinene and beta-pinene. If you are science-minded, this is where I’m going to tell you to start doing some digging on an enormous scientific website called Pubmed.gov. You might want to start with those two constituents I just mentioned, or perhaps, even Frankincense/ Boswellia Sacra! As a side note, I’ve noticed that some well known OTC joint health brands are starting to add Frank (not sacred frank but another….. easier to attain but less effective…. variety to their blend).

Calcium Fructoborate: Boron is a trace mineral vital to our good health. This is a plant based Boron. There are stories of people who buy Borax and try to dose themselves. Don’t be one of them…..that is not a safe thing to do! We are frequently deficient of Boron, as a society, due to current commercial farming/chemical fertilizer practices. Hallmarks of Boron deficiency may include:

abnormal metabolism of calcium and magnesium
hyperthyroidism
sex hormone imbalances
osteoporosis
arthritis
neural malfunctions

We need it folks…. And we are likely not getting it in our diets the way we should be.

Tumeric: one of the most researched spices to date. Literally thousands of studies have been done on this spice. Why? Because more than 30 years ago, scientists acknowledged that the incidence of chronic illness and inflammation was much much lower in India than in Western countries (countries like the USA that consumed almost no Tumeric or Cumin in their diets). Please do your research on this spice! It has been found to be a powerful antioxidant….Oxidation within us causes chronic low grade inflammation which can affect every single system in our bodies….. not just our creaky joints. Tumeric curbs the oxidation process in our bodies.

Black Pepper Extract: (Piperine) Much like Frankincense, Black Pepper was once considered a rich man’s spice. It has many health benefits of its own, but it is widely known to magnify or enhance the effects of other herbal supplements. There are loads of studies on this spice, specifically on the constituent Piperine (another Pubmed.gov worthy assignment!)…. Please do your research as health benefits are not just limited to improving ease of movement.

Collagen (undenatured type II): Such an important ingredient to support joint health! Even if you are not a researcher, please take a look at close look at the studies that have been done on this ingredient. I’m going to be a spoiler here and quote the final line of a stellar study on Pubmed.gov : UC-II treated subjects showed significant enhancement in daily activities suggesting an improvement in their quality of life. (note: this comes from chicken, so if someone is strictly vegan, please be aware).

Glucosamine Sulfate: I would be surprised if you haven’t heard of this one. It is found in almost all pharmacies in the OTC joint health section. Glucosamine sulfate is a compound found in the human body. It is used by the body to produce a variety of other chemicals that are involved in building tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and the thick fluid that surrounds joints. Joints are cushioned by the fluid and cartilage that surround them. In some people, the cartilage breaks down and becomes thin. This results in more joint friction, pain, and stiffness. The Glucosamine in Agilease supports joint and bone health.

Hyaluronic Acid: This is another great addition to the Agilease. Hyaluronic acid is similar to a substance that also occurs naturally in the joints. It works by acting like a lubricant and shock absorber in the joints and helps the joints to work properly. Again, please do your research. Lots of studies out there! (note: in the past, this has almost always been derived from chicken as well. Another vegan fyi).

Wintergreen: I’m hoping you already know about YL’s wintergreen oil. It is a powerhouse for supporting joint health by providing relief from rusty feeling joints, and for musculo-skeletal support (especially when we over do it!). It is an oil also found in Young Living’s blends: PanAway (found in the Premium Starter Kit), Deep Relief, & Ortho Ease Massage oil to name a few. (A word of caution to folks on blood thinners: this is one product to only use with your doctor’s approval. Wintergreen has a constituent that acts a lot like aspirin).

Copaiba: One of my personal faves! I was happy to see this on the ingredient list. It has so many stellar qualities, but in this case, clearly the focus is the effects a major constituent, beta-carophyllene, has on our bodies. It is also well known to calm swelling. I would encourage you to do a little research on beta-carophyllene if you haven’t already!

Clove: Clove has three main constituents, eugenol, eugenol acetate, and our friend on the field…. Beta-carophyllene. (Seriously….get your inquisitive study cap on and go find out about beta-carophyllene) . The bang for your buck in this oil comes from Young Living’s commitment to use only clove BUD oil… not just the leaves. This is huge and makes all the difference in the therapeutic value of this particular oil. Clove oil (especially if derived from the buds) is one of the most potent antioxidants available to us.

Black Spruce: Spruce oil in general is great for supporting the immune system, the respiratory, the endocrine system, the musculoskeletal system… and so many more!

So there you have it. Agilease…. Because sometimes being a Superhero means you need quick recovery from what life throws at you.

Enjoy your day and make it a great one!

xoxo, Liz

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Body Chemistry 101

Liz James · February 2, 2017 ·

Body chemistry 101…. Is your body acidic or slightly basic?… and why does it matter?

pH is measured on a scale from 0 to 14, with “7” being neutral. Our bodies are generally happiest when we are slightly basic… somewhere between 7.35 to 7.45. However, without a proper diet, our bodies frequently hover in the acidic range, and when that happens, body system dysfunction begins occurring…sometimes on a grand scale.

A chronically acidic body will begin stealing minerals from your cells that make up your bones, organs, and tissues in an effort to become more alkaline (basic). Robbing minerals means that they won’t be available for use, and when THAT happens…. toxins build up, oxygenation within our body is negatively affected, pathogens become active, our immune system becomes depressed, and vitamin absorption is compromised…. and THIS is just the short list! Chronic acidity within our bodies has been identified as a contributing factor to a myriad of diseases and dysfunction over time… including chronic inflammatory conditions, diabetes, cancer, and osteoporosis. Kidney stones are also a not so gentle reminder that your body is likely chronically acidic.

So what causes acidosis? In a nutshell… it can happen predominantly thru our lungs (respiratory acidosis) or thru our kidneys (metabolic acidosis) by way of any of the following:

chronic airway conditions such as asthma or COPD
alcohol overuse
obesity
sedative overuse
antibiotic overuse
regular use of artificial sweeteners
chronic exposure to toxic household cleaners, BPA , pesticides, herbicides, and many beauty products
poor diet ……ie: regularly eating processed and refined foods (if the ingredients sound like chemicals, they probably are!)
pollution exposure
chronic stress

By far, the biggest contributing factor is our diet. We can encourage our bodies to stay at a more basic pH by eating more fruits and veggies (raw or lightly steamed is best), and avoiding processed foods, excessive quantities of dairy and standard processed red meat, and most grains (remember, corn is a grain, NOT a vegetable). Drinking alkaline water is also helpful, as is exercise.

You can read more about acidosis here

Alkalime is a supplement made by Young Living, and it is designed to help ensure the body’s proper pH balance…. thus preserving or even restoring our chances at better health. I encourage you to do more research on both acidosis and Alkalime…. it just might be the thing that helps you live above the wellness line!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!

Liz James · January 12, 2017 ·

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

Help…How Do I Know What To Use?

Liz James · January 11, 2017 ·

Everyone is built and wired differently.We each have our own physical and emotional baggage that we add to on a regular basis, and that makes us all very unique. The therapeutic grade oils and supplements that are exclusive to Young Living’s product line are unmatched for whatever body system or emotional support you need.

I have a few answers for that…

Let me help! With my unique background as a pharmacist, certified Health Coach, and holistic lifestyle specialist I can help you find your way. Please feel free to use me as a resource to find the oils and supplements that will support your health & wellness goals for your entire family. Our lifestyles are also unique. Although, as a fellow prepper, we should have some similarities, including becoming adequately preparedfor what is UNIQUELY important to you and your family’s health.
One of the great things about Young Living’s starter kits is that they include a variety incredibly versatile oils that will go a long way towards supporting virtually every body system. There is no better way to start adding to your health & wellness preparedness plan.
As a prepper, it is not just about gathering tools and supplies… it is also about learning to use (and even master) a new skill that will help you when the SHTF….all the tools in the world will be useless you are equipped to use them beforehand.
Remember, when purchasing a premium starter kit, I will also gift you a 400+ page Bug Out Bag ready manual to help you with your education and mastery. And of course, I am here to help you along the way :).

Can Oils Support Our Emotional Health?

Liz James · January 11, 2017 ·

Using essential oils is not a new found fad… it is something that has been used for thousands of years in most countries to help balance emotions. When Big Pharma entered into the picture, oils fell by the wayside in the United States. Young Living was and is key to reversing that trend, and you see inferior oils in many stores now. Do not be fooled by the others….. Young Living is THE world leader of Essential Oils… the oldest essential oil company in the world…. AND the only with with its own farms and Seed to Seal guarantee.

Survival tools should be multifunctional, and YL oils are no exception to this rule. Every single one of them has health promoting abilities and many have powerful emotional support.

Can you imagine how the spritz of fragrance from a fresh orange peel can brighten your day? Within the oil of the peel lies a constituent called Limonene. This is a naturally made chemical that works almost magically on our Limbic system as described above to promote feelings of calm and happiness. I encourage you to do some research on your own as each of the citrus oils (Lemon, Lime, Tangerine, Bergamot, Orange) do this very very well. Other oils can be very helpful with different emotions and feelings…..

StressAway: a blend of 5 oils known for their abilities to relieve daily stress and tension. This is a blend unique to Young Living, and is a personal favorite of mine. I carry it in my lab coat at work, and use it daily.
Lavender: probably the most well known of essential oils, and best known to create a calming and relaxing environment. When you are preparing your bag, this is one oil you won’t want to be without due to its many functionalities.
Anger is another emotion that can be difficult to harness and manage and can often lead to escalated issues. You may find that some or all of these oils of benefit if this is something that is struggled with: Tranquil (a blend), Bergamot, Lemon, Ylang ylang…. and many more…
Lack of concentration and focus can be detrimental, especially when focus is of utmost importance. Oils that may help with this would include Lemon, Rosemary, Peppermint, Clarity (a powerful blend) .
Grief and sorrow are both something we have to deal with on occasion. Oils that may help with this would include Bergamot, Joy (a blend), Juniper, White Angelica (a blend), and Gentle Baby (also a blend).
Fear is an emotion that none of us enjoy experiencing, and we all feel it on occasion…. whether that be thru our jobs, as we drive, or simply as we prepare for the unknown. Oils known to help alleviate these feelings may include Bergamot, Cypress, Geranium, and Valor (a blend)

Many of the oils mentioned above can be found in the Premium Starter Kit. If you’d like to learn more about managing emotions with oils, I’m happy to help!

In Health and Preparedness,
Liz James, RPh

NSHC Certified Health Coach & Wellness Educator
YL Silver Leader #1602257