Sleep

September 2024 Young Living Extras

Liz James · September 2, 2024 ·

September.

It’s one of the month’s of change that we can expect every year without fail.

Kids go back to school

At some point in the month, those of us in the south will catch a break with cooler crisper morning temperatures, and Autumn

is officially ushered in, and you can even smell a change in the air!

I love Young Living’s gifts with purchase picks for us this month!

I mean, who doesn’t love Vanilla ?? (and frankly, I can’t believe it’s free with a 100PV (Loyalty Rewards) order… it’s $34.50 to purchase). Vanilla is known for making everything smell amazing, and like all of our YL essential oils, it has health benefits too, not the least of which is helping create a calming relaxing environment. I did a quick pubmed.gov search to see what studies I could find about vanilla, and there were some interesting finds there (go do a deep dive if you are curious!

). One of those studies suggested that smelling vanilla at night helps with sleep, and may actually also reduce the frequency of urination at night. This is a top complaint for many people over the age of 50, so it may be worthy of doing your own “at home” study to see if it works for you if this is something that is a problem for you.

Cinnamon Bark… do you use it? And if so, how? This is a staple for “Fall is in the air” diffuser blends. Don’t leave it there tho….. cinnamon bark isn’t just another pretty scent, it has many health benefits (one of the reasons it’s a key ingredient in Thieves). Again, I encourage you (even if you scientific words aren’t your jam) to let your fingers do the walking in pubmed.gov. Look up “cinnamomum zeylanicum” and see what I saw

. In less than 2 minutes, I found that our YL (true) cinnamon bark oil has potent activity on no less than 15 different health concerns. Remember that Cinnamon Bark oil is a “hot” oil, so you’ll always want to use/dilute heavily with a carrier oil if you choose to use topically….. and that diffusing is extremely effective in helping people around you be healthy without them even knowing it!

It’s also a key ingredient in the entire Thieves Household Cleaner line….. I mean, if you aren’t using THHC as your main cleaning supply, you’re missing a VIP way to keep your immune system supported and your house clean! (I don’t know of another household cleaner that actually improves your health while you use it! )

Immupro is one of my monthly faves, though I’ve been experimenting (and loving!) the new YL Deep Night Essence for sleep. Both products enhance my sleep (I tend to be a VERY light sleeper. I have no trouble going to sleep or going back to sleep if I get up, but I do tend to be easily awakened by light and any noise). Both Immupro and Deep Night Essence have proven to be helpful to me in that regard. One of the extra benefits of Immupro is that it helps with sleep AND it is immune system supportive. Immupro has zinc and selenium (important factors in immune system function), along with a bit of melatonin, orange essential oil, wolfberries and other ingredients. With the advent of the Fall season comes a need to be especially mindful of keeping a healthy strong immune system, because well…. we all know that Fall also usually signals “the sugar season” which drops everyone’s immune system when indulged. (Fall also signals that time of year when other “things” tend to trigger a drop in health…. IYKYK. Remember, God gave us a body that has the capacity to take care of itself when given the right tools: exercise, healthy whole foods, proper stress management, hydration, a great circle of friends/community, etc!)

Happy Sunday friends! xoxo ~ liz

( If you are not yet improving your health using YL products, I’d love to help you find your own unique healthy way to improve your health! )

Sleep Essentials

Liz James · August 5, 2024 ·

“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

One of the most important parts of the health equation is sleep. As you are learning to navigate your individual health journey in the 14 Day Reset community, do not underestimate the importance of 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night! If this is a struggle bus

topic for you, you are not alone.

Roughly 70 million adults in the USA experience sleep disorders, and 45% of Americans claim that poor sleep makes a negative impact on their daily life at least once a week. If you are an employer or are self employed, consider this…… insomnia costs the workplace an estimated $63.2 BILLION dollars a year

We all have someone in our immediate circle of “framily” who has been sorely affected by lack of sleep. If you struggle with losing weight efficiently and clearing toxin loads in the body, this might even pertain to you. Other effects of chronic sleep deprivation (anything less than 7 hrs falls into the deprivation category

) include decreased mental aptitude and decision making, a lowering of resting metabolic rate, increased risk of anxiety, depression and irritability, increased inflammation, an increased toxin load in the brain, decreased immune system function, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, decreased insulin sensitivity (a marker for type II diabetes), and increased evening cortisol levels.

Ouch.

Big Pharma has some very popular solutions for sleep which frankly also come with interesting side effects. One of the most common prescription sleep meds contains a possible side effect profile including: insomnia, dependency/addiction, “sleep driving”, worsening of depression, dementia, panic attacks, gout, menstrual disorders and about 150 other potential side effects. While an equally popular over the counter pharma option touts some of these possible side effects: liver damage, vision problems, difficulty urinating, restlessness, dry mucosal membranes.

(Side note: as a pharmacist, I have seen all of these side effects mentioned happen to pharmacy clients over the years. They are more common than you would imagine.)

While it’s not ok to to not get enough quality sleep, it’s also not ok to acquire new “medicate-able” health problems

while you’re trying to fix your poor sleep cycle! #ourhealthisacommodity

Thankfully, there are healthy options to remedy this situation, and it starts with good sleep hygiene. (We can choose to either be our own worst enemy or our own best friend!) Here are some ways to set yourself up for a good night’s sleep:

Stop screen time well before bedtime and keep electronics out of the bedroom

Get 10-20 minutes of full sunlight per day

Keep sleeping temperatures cool

Take an epsom salt bath before bed ( add in Lavender, Frankincense, Peace & Calming, Cedarwood, or Sandalwood) to the salts…. Or use them in the diffuser beside your bed!

Consider rigorous exercise earlier in the day, and use pre bed time for prayer, meditation, or gentle stretching exercises.

Stop eating 4-5 hours before bedtime.

Avoid artificial sweeteners (they can cause insomnia!)

Support a healthy night’s sleep with Young Living’s Immupro (chewable and contains melatonin) or Deep Night Essence (capsules loaded with sleepytime plant goodness!)

Use your magnesium! YL’s Super Magnesium is a stellar option (there are several types of magnesium and not all of them are highly bioavailable and there are others that can GI disturbances).

Make sure your mattress and your pillow are not contributing to the problem! We should be spending an average of ⅓ of our life in bed…. Make it comfy!

If quality sleep has been eluding you, what might you see changing when you pair a regular good night’s sleep with a NingXia Red Reset lifestyle?

What?? You haven’t entered into the 14 Day Reset Community lifestyle yet? You are missing out on being part of a close knit community who are committed to supporting one another, educating, and improving health in a sustainable lifestyle way.

Little habit changes add up to big wins over time!

If you’d like to join the Resetter Community, you’ll need enough NingXia Red for a 2 week run. (The Reset NR Kit supplies the number of packets you need for this). https://bit.ly/resetyourhealth14

xoxo~ liz

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!)

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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

Young Living 2024 Convention New Products

Liz James · July 19, 2024 ·

Oh my word! We have some incredibly innovative (ie: does not exist anywhere else) products released yesterday!

The 3 things I’m most excited about from a

perspective: the Deep Spectrum products that are finally available to all

., the light/sound/DOUBLE reservoir alarm clock (wake to slow light, sound, and your favorite energizing oil, AND go to sleep with your favorite sleepy oil and quiet noise), and the Inner boost and balance!

What are you most interested in?

Items go on sale on Monday for non convention peeps

(I’ll share more info as I have time…. such a purpose driven, science backed company we are blessed with!)

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