Self-Care

Release Your (or maybe not) Burden

Liz James · February 24, 2021 ·

Someone here needs to hear this good word from my friend Jen Weir. She is the bomb with both words and knowledge!
Know what else is the bomb? The essential oil Kunzea. Have you tried it? If you have a bottle of it at home, but haven’t used it, you may find you have a hidden treasure after reading Jen’s words.
xoxo~ liz

#sharingiscaring
#shineon
#JesusandEOs
#ThanksYL

NOT YOURS
Can we talk about energy for a moment? Or, a lot of moments…
According to Mr. Einstein, everything is energy. Yet in many circles, particularly those of the more faith based nature, we shy away from energetics, deeming it woo woo, weird or, gasp, of the devil.
My soul, who do people think created energy?
enter exasperated eye roll….
Have you ever been so drawn to an oil but not sure why? Or better still, have you ever given yourself the space in your day to play with the oils, use something you’ve never tried or even, possibly dare open one that you’ve been saving for good? Hoarding is so 2020 you know.
Such was the case with me today and Kunzea. Remember her?
This precious oil was drawing me in, it literally jumped off the shelf and of course I began digging in.
The interesting part to this experience is that I have been asking the question- why won’t my shoulder heal? To be totally transparent, I had struggled with severe pain for eight long years. Ever since my baby girl was in the NICU this pain has been unbearable at times. I don’t talk about it because frankly drawing attention to dis ease is not my style. Yet today, I was done. Enough already.
Emotional releasing, yep, check.
Using CBD or any other pain essential oil blend, check check.
Prayed for healing, check check double check.
Short of smoking weed to numb it, I’d say I had done all the things.
End of rope officially reached.
And yet…
Knowing what I do about energy I had to ask the question abotu why I was drawn to this seemingly obscure oil. There had to be a connection to needing this one today and this incessant pain.
One of Kunzea’s unique features is that it can diffuse and transform deep emotional pain, that has hardened in the body. Where there is pain in the body, there is always an emotion attached to the pain. Kunzea assists in releasing emotional pain and in transforming the immediate shock of accidents.
Bingo.
The emotional pain attached was the burdens others have heaped on my shoulders.
The opinions of this THE way, rather than simple A way. Can anyone else relate? Just me?
So, there’s THE way to raise your people, not just A way.
There’s THE way to hear from God, not A way.
There’s THE (newest) way to eat, not A way.
There’s THE (again, newest) way to build a MLM biz, not A way.
There’s THE way to love your neighbor, not A way.
There’s THE way to respond to blatant tyranny, not A way.
You guys feel me? It’s heavy to even type all of this.
Let’s just say my entire adult life has consisted of others telling me every way I am doing x,y,z wrong, and possibly, sinning.
Being type A, wanting to do it all correctly, yet having the personality of non compliance was beginning to take its toll. hence the shoulder and neck pain…
You see, this specific may not be your story, and I pray it’s not. Yet some of you have pain, real physical pain that you take meds for, oils, weed, whatever your bandaid is. But healing is possible. It’s emotional. 100% of the time, it’s an emotion that has hardened itself in your body and needs to be chipped away. It won’t happen overnight. Or I don’t know, maybe it will. It’s really anyone’s guess.
But I can tell you, once I began to speak truth and stop believing other people’s truth, my should started to loosen. It was literally the weirdest freakiest thing evah. But it’s truth.
The cracking I heard when I stretch is at an all time minimum.
I’ve got a little more to go, a little more truth to tell myself, a little more business to do with Jesus and whole lot less business to do with other people’s opinions. But I’m on my way- me, Jesus and a little oil called Kunzea.
Let me ask you, is there an oil you have been drawn to? Before this did you know that your body/energy is trying to tell you something?
Just try it. Emotion talk is my jam and not everyone’s cup of tea. But I swear to you, not having physical pain feels so much better than having it. I mean, you do you. But I just thought you all should know.

Health Clues in Your Skin part 4

Liz James · February 23, 2021 ·

SKIN PART IV : Moles, Skin tags, Bruising, and Early Aging
Isn’t the skin an amazing treasure map of health clues? Today we’re going to dive into some of the signs we’ve all noticed either on ourselves (or others). Bumps, bruises, and wrinkles ….. Oh my!
Moles (nevi) are a common feature on dermal landscape, especially among the fair skinned population. Genetics, sun exposure and certain medications (eg: medications which suppress the immune system, certain antibiotics,synthetic hormones, and some antidepressants) can contribute to mole formation. Additionally, chronic nerve pain or nerve conditions often causes changes in color (mole production being part of those changes!) and temperature of skin. It’s not uncommon to develop a mole pattern on the back, legs, arms, neck etc when there has been damage to the “mothership” spinal cord from surgery or injury.
The most important thing to consider when looking yourself over for moles is noticing changes. Do you know your ABCDE’s of moles?
A: Asymmetry (one side doesn’t match the other)
B: Border (ragged, blurred, or irregular)
C: Color (different colors or shades within a singular mole)
D: Diameter (is it larger than a pencil eraser?)
E: Evolving (is it different from other moles you may have, and has it changed in size, shape or color?)
You’ll notice that the picture included in the graphic has several moles. The one with a red arrow pointing to it is an example of a concerning mole which should be seen by a health professional.
If you have any of the health risks listed above, consider having a skin check done every year by a thorough dermatologist. (I do!)
Other interesting historical and scientific factoids:
*Studies indicated that very “moley” skin have an increased risk for skin, colon and breast cancers
*Studies also indicate that very “moley” skin (greater than 100 moles) tend to have less risk for osteoporosis
*In the 18th century, men and women wore small velvet patches made to look like moles to cover up scars from smallpox.
*On average, only 1 in 100 people are born with a congenital mole.
*Moles come in different colors and shades: Black, red and brown most typically.
Just as moles can “appear”, they can also disappear when healing to the nerve circuitry occurs.
Skin Tags are different from moles. They may be considered an unappealing dermal feature and they are usually very harmless. That said, they are LOADED with health clues.
HPV (human papillomavirus) comes in more than 100 different varieties and affects all areas of the body. HPV is not deadly and it can be difficult to detect. Studies have found that nearly 70% of people with skin tags had a form of HPV. HPV is transmitted thru skin to skin transmission of any kind. While there is a vaccine sold for HPV, I am not a fan of it. As a pharmacist, I’ve done my research, and I feel that the benefits do not outweigh the risks of the vaccine. It is far more beneficial to boost the immune system daily in all the ways you are learning to do here in this group and to practice healthy lifestyle choices.
Skin tags are also an early indicator of diabetes. Diabetes causes a person’s hormones to fall further out of balance, and when hormones that are responsible for healthy skin grown are affected, skin tags may appear. Once normal blood sugar levels are restored AND MAINTAINED, skin tags tend to disappear on their own. If you notice you have skin tags, it may be worthwhile to check your blood sugar with either lab work or a home testing kit.
Obesity paired with friction (hormones and collagen production cannot keep up with the body’s repair needs)
Hormone imbalances (often seen in poly cystic ovarian syndrome PCOS…. In PCOS, skin tags generally start appearing rapidly…. Like a new one every month)
Age (its harder to balance hormones and collagen production is weaker)
All of these scenarios revolve around unbalanced hormones and impaired collagen production to some degree or another. Remember that you are the ultimate CEO of you, and only you can make changes for the betterment of your health long term. God is giving us “check engine lights” with these clues and it is to our individual benefit to heed these built in warning signs. #Sulfurzymesupportshealthycollagenproduction
Bruising, or rather “easy bruising” or bruises that can take weeks to heal have multiple causes:
>>Certain medications can cause this effect (especially blood thinners and “anti-platelet” medications). Other drugs that can do this too include some anti-depressants (prozac, celexa, and paxil), prednisone, and some chemotherapy agents.
>>Aged blood vessels become weaker and skin thins (collagen is depleted).
>>Vasculitis (inflamed blood vessels)
>>A small percentage of “easy bruisers” have a genetic bruising disorder, an autoimmune disorder, or another acquired deficiency.
>>Vitamin deficiencies (Vitamins C, K and/or B12)
>>Peripheral Vascular Disease can lead to decreased blood flow and cause unexplained bruising (most often in the legs)
Helichrysum essential oil has a chemical constituent within it called italidione. Italidione is known for being able to keep blood inside a vessel even after an injury has occurred. Italidione also supports the efficient breakdown of bruising and swelling which contributes to efficient healing time.
Roman Chamomile essential oil also helps support a healthy inflammatory response (not to be confused with the “run away train” variety!) and thereby also supports an efficient healing process.
Premature Aging. Everyone’s favorite right? Have you ever heard the term “sugar face”? This refers to a forehead with deeply carved lines and it happens when too much sugar is consumed on the regular. Overconsumption of processed sugary foods causes a breakdown of collagen and elastin, two substances in our bodies that keep our skin firm and taut. Sugar inflames the skin and generally will aggravate skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis. Because of what sugar does to our skin, it doesn’t just cause the breakdown of collagen, it also makes skin stiffer and more brittle. This will ultimately lead to fine lines and wrinkles we are all trying to avoid! Sulfurzyme will always be a helpful tool, but it can only do so much if excess sugar remains in the picture. Ultimately, our job is to give the body the tools it needs and to also take away that which is causing the problems to begin with.
Other causes of wrinkles include:
Excess sun exposure (especially in a toxin laden body)#ditchthetoxins
Smoking
Wearing our emotions on our faces (I personally find laugh lines a beautiful thing…. Frown lines, not so much!) Remember how your mama may have said, “be careful or your face will freeze that way!”…. Turns out she was kind of right. Your emotions will eventually weave a pattern into your face. The world needs more smile lines! Use your emotional releasing/supportive oils. They work when they are used and not kept on the shelf 😉.
Chronic Dehydration ( If you don’t like plain water, give those YL Vitality drops a try! They are delish!! )
Did you find these clues helpful? Remember to work with your favorite healthcare professional if something about any of these clues triggers an “ah ha” moment within in you!
xoxo~ liz😘

#caringissharing
#pharmacistandfarmacist
#applicationofknowledgeispower
#skininthegame
#goodmedicine
#goodmedicineisknowingthyselfwell
#yourskinisamirrortoyourhealth
#ThanksYL

Healthy Healing Graph

Liz James · February 10, 2021 ·

It’s not always easy, but it will always be worth it!
xoxo~ liz😘

#sharingiscaring
#healthyhealing
#ThanksYL

Health Clues in Your Skin #3

Liz James · February 9, 2021 ·

“To know a person’s experiences from the past, examine the body now.” ~ Ancient Anon.

(Here are links to skin clues in this chapter of the ‘Becoming Your Own Health Detective’ series)
Skin Part I: https://goodmedicine.info/blog/health-clues-in-our-skin-1
Skin Part II: https://goodmedicine.info/blog/health-clues-in-your-skin-part-2

Dry itchy skin is common in the winter, so this is probably a fairly hot topic right about now thanks to the winter climate❄️. Often easier said than remembered…… drink more water if dry skin is your current nemesis! People tend to consume less water in the winter, so be vigilant and conscientious of how much water you are actively consuming daily. If plain water isn’t your cuppa, add in YL’s Vitality Drops (Regular….. Grapefruit Bergamot & Lavender Lemon or for a little extra pep in your step, Energy….. Jade Lemon & Spearmint Tangerine). YL’s Coconut Lime Body Butter is a great tool for combating winter dry skin from the outside, and its smell makes me feel like it’s summer on the beach with a little umbrella adorned drink in my hand!

Beyond dehydration, there is a wide variety of other reasons for dry skin. If fairly localized (or patchy) consider the skin care products you are using. Harsh chemicals in standard skincare products are commonplace, and your skin will recognize the difference! We are blessed by Young Living’s skin care line, Thieves products, and Savvy Minerals makeup and these “clean” products are important tools for healthy skin.

Contact dermatitis is another localized type of dry or irritated skin. As its name suggests, it is inflammation 🔥resulting from contact to a trigger irritant or allergen. It usually clears up on its own over time as long as exposure to the trigger is halted.
Eczema (aka: atopic dermatitis) is a catch-all term for a group of conditions that make skin inflamed🔥 or irritated….. A bigger chronic problem. An estimated 10% of people in the USA have some form of eczema. Research suggests that eczema falls into the autoimmune condition category, and may have a genetic component (as do many autoimmune disorders). The good news is that, thanks to epigenetics (our environment is an enormous influencer of gene expression), WE ALL have a great deal of control of our environment, and can do quite a lot to keep the problematic genes from expressing themselves.

The term eczema comes from the Greek word ‘ekzein’ which means ‘to boil over’….. In this case, it’s an external sign that trouble is brewing in the gut. Keeping skin inflammation🔥 down ultimately lies in healing your digestive tract and avoiding food triggers such as sugar, gluten, and processed foods….. remembering that we are all uniquely made and one man’s trigger may not be another’s! It can be tricky to identify your trigger, but stick with it… it typically takes 6-8 weeks of avoiding a trigger for true healing to reveal itself.

Autoimmune disorders are like cats…. You may start out with one🐈, but people rarely typically end with just one🐈🐈🐈🐈, so it’s best to get eczema under control before it “boils over” into other body system dysfunctions. Sulfurzyme, Life 9 probiotic, and Essentialzyme4 are just a few of the amazing supportive tools we have available to us as Young Living members! #nobodywantstocollectAutoimmunedisorders

“Sallow skin” is another rather broad term for a general unhealthy skin tone that tends towards dullish, yellowish, or pale. Do not misinterpret this. There are very healthy people with a natural bent towards pale or olive complexion…… but if you walk into an oncologist’s waiting room, you’ll immediately know what this skin tone looks like. Sallow skin is very identifiable, and there are varying degrees of “sallow”. Regardless of the degree, it is definitely a clue to perk up and make some health and habit changes!

Common causes of sallow skin include:
👉Smoking
👉Vitamin Deficiency (esp Vit A, Vit B12, Vit C, Vit D, Vit E) #haveyoutriedMasterFormula
👉Serious chronic stress (long term “heavy” emotional stress)
👉Lack of Sleep
👉Poor skin care
👉An underlying chronic health condition
👉Certain medications

Rosacea, a red or “ruddy” complexion is also a branch of the autoimmune family tree, so it behooves the bearer of chronic rosy cheeks to support their immune and digestive systems.

Hair in unwanted places is a sure sign of a hormonal imbalance for women. Traditionally, we’ve been led to believe that unwanted hair growth is likely related to excess testosterone, and that is only partially true. The bigger picture is that our hormonal system is a finely tuned instrument and it only takes a fraction of an imbalance to cause significant problems. The balance between circulating testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone is important, as is insulin sensitivity.
Insulin (a hormone too!) resistance is typically caused by years of a diet high in sugar and refined carbs. In the insulin resistant individual, the body is losing its ability to respond to glucose and to properly metabolize food. Someone who is insulin resistant will have a hard time balancing sex hormones without addressing the insulin resistance component first. Insulin resistance is often seen in tandem with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Diet and exercise are absolutely critical tools to use when addressing the root cause. Advanced labwork is also a key tool. Simply measuring basic glucose is not enough. You’ll also want HbA1c and fasting insulin tested (as well as a hormone panel). Find your favorite holistic or integrative health provider to help walk you thru hormone balancing, and listen to you body! Insulin resistance will ultimately lead to Insulin injections if not addressed properly, and nobody wants that! We farmgirls call this “fish or cut bait time.” As the CEO of your own body, important decisions need to be made for your VIP company’s health.

As a reminder: I am not a doctor, and cannot diagnose, treat, or offer to cure you. The goal of this series is to provide thought provoking clues so that you can manage your own health a little more effectively and efficiently! I CAN help you learn to navigate how to do this in a way that honors your unique body and life.
That said, tried and true beginner thru advanced steps geared to improved health will ALWAYS include:
✅Getting rid of toxins
✅Cleaning up your diet
✅Staying well hydrated with “clean” water
✅Exercising regularly
✅Getting 7-8 hr of sleep
✅Managing stress properly
✅Working on decreasing inflammation
Have a beautiful day friends!
xoxo~ liz

#caringissharing
#pharmacistandfarmacist
#applicationofknowledgeispower
#skininthegame
#goodmedicine
#goodmedicineisknowingthyselfwell
#yourskinisamirrortoyourhealth
#ThanksYL

Health Clues in Your Skin # 2

Liz James · February 2, 2021 ·

Acne Face Mapping….. Have you heard of it?

We tend to look at acne as an unpleasant teenage memory, but blemishes, whether adolescent or adult, contains valuable health clues! There are some incredibly toxic prescription medications for acne, and if they can be avoided they should be. Young Living has a Maximum Strength Acne Treatment cream (item #23795) and the Charcoal Bar Soap (item #23799) that are both incredible tools in defeating acne from the outside. However, acne is representative of an imbalance within the body that should be addressed if a chronic situation is to be overcome in a healthy manner.

Clues can be found knowing the location of the blemish breakout, the “style” of the breakout, and the “type” of the breakout, and the frequency of the breakout.

Clue Type: Frequency
A chronic blemish problem on a specific area of the face is a strong indicator of which body system is lacking support. If the root cause goes unaddressed, there may eventually be spillover to other parts of the face or body.

Clue Type: Acne Appearance
Red Inflamed Skin in combination with acne- usually due to poor detoxification, so there is a buildup of toxins the body cannot get rid of fast enough. This is a key indicator that lifestyle changes must happen and that the liver is in need of supportive tender loving care.. Most often, a processed food diet and/or toxic skincare products are causative culprits. Genetically, we are all very different, and some people process toxins better than others, even within families. #MTHFRgenevarianceisagoodstudytopic

Painful red cystic acne- poor liver detoxification and a sluggish lymphatic system. (Note to self: are you supporting your lymphatic system with gentle lymphatic massage you can do yourself? #YouTubeisyourfriend Are you adding YL’s Lemon Vitality essential oil to your water on the regular for lymphatic system support?)
Acne closely surrounding the mouth: may indicate digestive system inflammation, food intolerances, underactive liver function, and too little hydrochloric acid in the stomach….. A quite common thing! There are other health clues indicating low stomach acid out #tobecoveredlater…. And EssentialZyme (regular EZyme, not the EZyme4) is an excellent product Young Living has which supports healthy stomach acid production as well as digestive enzymes. #haveyouhadyourdigestiveenzymestoday

Rash like pimples and uneven skin tone – may indicate candida (a yeast) overgrowth in the body. You may also find a rash in warm moist areas of the body such as armpits, groin, folds of skin on the torso, and on the feet. Investigate what a “candida diet” might mean for you. If you are not taking Young Living’s Life 9 probiotic, now would also be a good time to start in addition to changing eating habits. Candida overgrowth is a VERY common problem, especially for those whose diet is high in sugar and processed foods.

Breakouts along the jawline- these tend to wax and wane in a cyclic nature and are usually related to a hormonal imbalance. (Ex: Poly cystic ovarian syndrome, androgen dominance, or estrogen dominance are frequent offenders here). Be patient!! These can sometimes take awhile to get under control once you’ve begun addressing the problem. As many of you ladies already know, Progessence Plus can be a game changer for this type of acne as it supports healthy hormones (note: not recommended to be used in combination with Birth Control Pills containing progesterone. I’m not a fan of Birth Control Pills as a pharmacist…… they really do a number on your body, including adversely affecting your thyroid function. Many young women are put on BCP’s to control acne (not realizing they will be trading one problem for a host of others ) when all they usually need to do is clean up their diet and skincare and learn to detoxify properly.

Whiteheads or Blackheads- often due to the use of chemically “dirty” skincare or makeup, or failure to clean the skin properly with healthy skincare options (Have you tried Young Living’s ART , Bloom, or Orange Blossom skincare lines? YL’s Charcoal bar soap is a must have for anyone who need to up their skincare game.
Breakouts on the cheeks- often the result of a high fat and mucus forming diet, and also ….. This would be a diet high in “bad” fats, commercial dairy (not raw), refined sugar, and processed foods. Cheek acne, when paired with gum disease, tooth sensitivity, or tooth pain may also indicate a subclinical infection somewhere within the mouth.

Breakouts on the line from the outside corner of the nostril to the corner of the mouth- the colon!!!! I speak from personal experience on this one…. Whenever my personal “house” is out of order, I occasionally get a really interesting rash in this very location. Young Living’s Juvatone is very much one of my best friends, and I use it to support my liver which in turn supports my colon health!
Internal and External Factors Causing Acne: This list is not comprehensive, but it’s a great place to start! With nearly all of these factors, the root cause lies within the realm of “things we can control” if we choose to do the work.

🔥Candida, fungus and molds – usually will cause “shiny” skin that will be oilier than normal, most often affecting the T-Zone. Fungus and molds can hide quite easily in a home or office building, and it’s worth the effort to track it down and clean it up, especially if you have other health clues indicating that fungus/mold may indeed be amongst you and your loved ones.

🔥Congested Liver- lots of blackheads and clogged pores that are red and sore to the touch.

🔥PCOS, childbirth, menopause, estrogen dominance, breast feeding (all hormonal imbalance events)- acne most often sits just below the skin and is often tender to the touch. Women most often experience most of this type of acne along their jawline. Do not underestimate the power of a good friend like Progessence Plus in times such as these.

🔥Blemishes along the very edges of the hairline only are often a reaction to chemicals in skincare, makeup, or shampoo. #haveyoutriedtoxinfreeYLSavvyMinerals

Acne face mapping is quite revealing in terms of health clues as is face mapping in general! I could write for weeks on this particular topic, so hopefully this brief overview has given you the spark to do a little more digging on your own. Ultimately, inflammation, hormones, and/or an overtaxed liver are the three main causative agents of acne. Now it’s your turn…. What products have you found to be helpful in managing your skin’s health?
We have much more to cover on skin health clues……stay tuned!
xoxo~ liz

My goal is to teach you how to discerningly care for yourself! 😘

#caringissharing
#pharmacistandfarmacist
#applicationofknowledgeispower
#skininthegame
#goodmedicine
#goodmedicineisknowingthyselfwell
#yourfaceisamirrortoyourhealth
#ThanksYL