Wellness

Raindrop Training-Farm Style

Liz James · May 14, 2022 ·

Excellent Raindrop training day at the barn!

Though this session was for people, the dogs, horses and even the cows were asking when their turn was

. (I will be giving them their turn in the near future).

Raindrop. It isn’t just for humans and It does a body (two legged or four lagged!) good

If you haven’t yet both learned it and experienced it, you’re missing out on a VIP wellness tool in your toolbox.

Education is a big part of what we do. Personal empowerment is a key component of wellness.

xoxo~ liz

Endocrine System – part 2

Liz James · May 4, 2022 ·

Have you ever:

Been given medication without thorough labwork?
Been told you are “fine” by a healthcare professional, but you don’t feel fine?
Felt like you’ve been doing “all the things” to care for your struggling thyroid, but still felt unwell?

If you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions, the next series of clues might just be for you.

We’ve covered the northern endocrine family members (hypothalamus, pituitary, pineal, and thyroid). I’m hopeful that you’ve been piecing clues

together. Remember, cluster clues, including your personal “life experience” history, both physical and emotional, are where your answers most likely reside. Only you, and perhaps your parents if some events predate your memories, know these VIP clues. Keeping a journal

is often a key component to uncovering the root cause of a health situation.

There are more interesting members within the endocrine system family tree. Just south of the thyroid is a gland called the thymus. The thymus sits right behind the sternum (breastbone) in front of the heart, and is the “bootcamp” for the immune system’s T-cells, where they mature and turn into specialized agents of protection against bacteria, viruses, and cancer. The thymus is strongest and most active in children and teens. There is chronological aging as well as biological aging. Interestingly, if severe or chronic stress is part of a body’s environment, the thymus will rapidly “age” and begin shrinking, ultimately turning into a pocket of fat (literally!). Clues indicating

a “tired” thymus include being easily fatigued, lack of motivation, susceptibility to catching colds or flu, persistent chronic illness despite “doing all the things”, slow wound healing, and outward signs of an accelerated aging process.

As you may guess, thymus deterioration affects lifetime immune system function, so keeping this hidden gem healthy is a good idea! Supportive measures include:

Keeping toxin load low
Learning techniques to mediate physical and emotional stress. Imagine the health benefits if this was learned at a young age!
Eating nourishing foods that are high in micronutrient content
Restorative sleep
Exercise daily for improved blood flow throughout the body (cleansing and nourishing the thymus). Yoga is particularly beneficial for supporting thymus function.
Thymus thumping/tapping. Thump or tap gently (with either the tips of your fingers or the palm of hand) on your sternum for 30-60 seconds a couple times a day to stimulate the thymus.
Olive Leaf (YL’s Olive Essentials)
Melatonin – A 2003 study found a correlation between melatonin supplementation and a notable increase in thymus weight (size) and function. Additional studies have found that even when melatonin supplementation begins late in life, age related thymus “decay” is reversible and immune system function often improves. A 2006 study in the Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine found that supplementing melatonin during times of acutely severe or chronic stress prevented atrophy of the thymus. I am an enormous fan of Young Living’s Immupro for a good night’s sleep, and this is an additional reason to keep several bottles of this melatonin containing supplement on hand! (Great news for those of us who know and love it already…. It is scheduled to be back in stock later this month!). Sleep Essence is another night time product that also contains melatonin.

Further south, the twin adrenal glands show up in the endocrine family. These are two smallish quesadilla shaped glands that sit atop each kidney. God designed us masterfully well. These two glands sit remarkably close to the abdominal aorta (our major artery) and vena cava (our major vein). This close proximity allows for a quick dump of influential chemicals that facilitate acting quickly

when the need arises. I call this “running from the lion”

time. These two glands produce a very precise mixture of adrenaline, cortisol and other steroid hormones (DHEA, pregnenolone, estrogens, testosterones) and aldosterone (a steroid hormone that regulates potassium, sodium and fluid volume in the body). The mixture is uniquely compounded according to the event at hand. When a person feels any amount of stress, whether that be a mile long “to do” list or narrowly escaping being eaten by a lion, the hypothalmus and pituitary work together to signal the adrenal glands. The mind

doesn’t differentiate between a too long “to do” list and a lion in terms of stress, and stress becomes the squeaky wheel. Other mechanisms in the body slow down so that the squeaky wheel can be addressed.

Thyroid hormone production slows down
Reduced conversion of T4 (inactive) to T3 (active) thyroid hormone occurs
Thyroid receptors become less receptive to receiving thyroid hormones. This is important because even if you happen to be on thyroid medication, it won’t be utilized properly during a stress response. Recall that thyroid receptors are located throughout the body and must function properly in order that we may function optimally day to day. (Go back and read the section on thyroid and the gallbladder for a refresher!)

Chronic stress puts the adrenals on overdrive, flooding the body with cortisol, until the adrenals can no longer keep up, and adrenal fatigue (adrenal dysregulation) develops. Cortistop is another one of my very favorite Young Living supplements. It is designed to address the way women’s bodies react to the cortisol produced when under stress. When too much cortisol is released regularly, it can have some hefty health consequences which include feeling deep fatigue and often the addition of abdominal fat that seems to defy losing. Recall that those are also two very common symptoms of thyroid disorder. Odds are high that clues like these may have more than one culprit, and both will need to be addressed if that’s the case.

Cortistop is not designed to be taken continuously (Suggested use is 8 weeks on, 2-4 weeks off). Although the directions state to take two capsules in the morning before breakfast, my body responds favorably to one capsule a day. And although Cortistop is formulated for women, I do know some manly men who have found this particular supplement to be quite helpful during times of stress too. PRO TIP: I also recommend making a plan so that your Cortistop“off “ times do not correspond to anticipated times of high stress (such as tax season or project due dates!).

Interestingly, the vast majority of western healthcare practitioners do not recognize adrenal fatigue. While there is currently no black and white way to test for adrenal fatigue in a laboratory, there are many clues that point towards this very real condition that you, the discerning sleuther

, may uncover on your own or with the help of a health professional who does understand adrenal fatigue.

Next up…. A solid list of clues

useful for identifying adrenal fatigue, and ways to support the adrenal glands!

xoxo~ liz

#sharingiscaring

#adrenalfatigueisreal

#theapplicationofknowledgeispower

#goodmedicine

#BYOHD

#becomingyourownhealthdetective

#ThanksYL

Young Living May Bonus Gifts

Liz James · May 1, 2022 ·

It’s all about beauty as we step into May! I’m excited, seeing some old friends, newer favorites, and a couple I’ve yet to meet personally (plus 10 points for free just for purchasing on Subcribe to Save….. that’s like a 10% back coupon to spend how I wish!

If you aren’t utilizing Subscribe to Save, you truly are missing out on an added way to both save money

in the family budget AND get even more products for free. Pleeeease…. reach out to me or someone you know if you don’t understand the benefits of Subscribe to Save or how to set it up. It’s literally like having an open Amazon cart that you can add and subtract items that ships once a month (whatever you’ve chosen to put in your cart).

Chatting a little about each product this month, but I’d love to hear your stories on a few of these. (Someone who chimes in will receive a $25 product credit from me on Friday May 4th)

Lemongrass has been a staple in our home for oh…… I don’t know….. the last 7 years. It’s a “hot” oil, so best not to apply topically without also using a carrier oil! I’ve used it internally (it comes in the white label Vitality too…… remember, same oil in the bottles, just a different label to keep the FDA happy

. I literally take this oil internally every day in a capsule and won’t be without it. How do you use it and what do you use it for?

If you don’t yet own your own bottle of Vanilla, you are in for a treat! We had a mocktails, cocktails, and “pure”fume with a purpose event last night and this was a favorite oil used. It’s a fantastic edition to your diffuser line up. Springtime reminds me of those Dreamsicle popsicles….. try blending Citrus Fresh and Vanilla in your diffuser and see if that doesn’t put a smile on your face

. What other oils have you combined Vanilla with that elevate your mood? Pretty is AND pretty does…According to studies, vanilla isn’t just for smelling…. it helps stimulate secretion of testosterone and and estrogen, creates an inhospitable environment for bacterial cooties (especially those prone to causing infections in wounds), eases feelings of anxiety and depression, which may also help support healthy blood pressure. Is there any reason NOT to use vanilla whenever you can? Oh, the aroma of vanilla also helps curb cravings for other sweets. How about that?!?

Geranium bourbon. It’s a “fancier” version of the geranium we know and love. I use geranium two very different ways regularly. How do you most often use it?

It is a very valuable tool for our toolkit!

The Bloom Essential oil Blend is relatively new to our YL Lifestyle, and it’s one of the few YL products I don’t yet own but am looking forward to trying! Tell me, what has been your experience with it?

Have you seen the ingredients??

…. Vetiver, Blue Cypress, Davana, Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood, Jasmine, Sacred Frankincense,.. just to name a few! The YL website says it may be used topically or diffused. I bet it smells heavenly (not to mention all the beneficial properties those oils have on both the skin and the mind!).

And finally, the amethyst roller bottle. Who doesn’t need a little extra “pretty” in their life. Amethyst (and the color purple) happens to be one of my favorite gemstones and it always brings a smile to my face

All of these are free (171.19$ value) with qualifying purchase!

Enjoy your first day of May friends, and don’t forget to update your shopping carts! Have a blessed Sunday.~

xoxo~ liz

(If you are not yet supporting your healthy lifestyle with Young Living oils, but would like some help getting started, message me…. and I’ll help you match your order to your personal needs. It would be an honor to help you!)

#sharingiscaring

#toxinfreeisthewaytobe

#ThanksYL

#subscribetosave

Thyroid Clues Part 5-Medicine Cabinet Culprits

Liz James · April 20, 2022 ·

Remember the fable about the Princess

and the pea

? You may recall that the true princess felt the effects of a pea beneath twenty mattresses and had a terrible night’s sleep because of it. After all we’ve discussed, you well understand that the thyroid

is the discerning princess in the body……it feels everything!

It’s hard to pin down exactly how many people use medication chronically in the USA, but a rough estimate in 2017 was 66%. (I believe that number has risen significantly since 2020, but to date, official data has not yet been released).

I will forever and always say that there is a time and a place for medication, but that it should be used as a last resort whenever possible. Pharmaceuticals by very definition are a toxin to the body. While they may be performing their “FDA approved task” within the body, behind the scenes they are likely setting up trip wires, snares, and grenades elsewhere. Many commonly prescribed medications are quietly sabotaging thyroid hormone function as they outwardly “play nice” in their appointed tasks of lowering cholesterol, quelling aches and pains, placating gastric reflux symptoms, smoothing out moody days, etc.

Certain medications have the ability to affect thyroid hormones in at least four ways:

1. Some may alter the actual production of thyroid hormones.

2. Some may affect the release of of thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland.

3. Some may affect how well thyroid hormone attaches to (or utilized) at receptor sites.

4. Some may interfere with the conversion of inactive T4 into active T3 in the liver

Who are the thyroid accosting culprits?

As I hinted above, the gang is quite diverse. Nearly ⅓ of this gang of thieves bears a similar “tattoo”…….. They contain fluoride within their chemical structure. You’ll recall (hopefully!) that fluoride (and chlorine, another “tattoo” found in many medications) blocks iodine from its job helping the thyroid produce thyroid hormones. These small doses add up over time with chronic use medications.

Medications known to inhibit healthy thyroid function (in one of these four ways) with chronic use include:

Lipitor, Crestor, Vytorin, Zetia (cholesterol meds)

Prevacid (stomach acid / GERD)

Betamethasone, Clobetasol, Dexamethasone, Fluocinolone, Fluticasone (topical, oral or inhaled steroids)

Celebrex, Ibuprofen, Naproxen (NSAID pain)

Lexapro, Prozac, Celexa, Paxil, Zoloft (mood stabilizers)

Haldol, Risperdal, Lithium (mood stabilizers)

Levaquin, Cipro (antibiotics)

Synthetic hormone replacement therapies, birth control pills

Amiodarone (treats ventricular heart arrhythmia)

Fluconazole (antifungal)

Interferon Alfa, Sutent, Sorafenib (chemotherapy agents)

Pramipexole, Ropinirole (for Parkinson’s)

Metformin (Type II Diabetes)

Furosemide (diuretic)

Phenytoin and Carbamazepine (for seizures)

Excessive Niacin (Vit B3) intake

(Note that this is a short representation of a very long list of medications!)

I am in no way inferring that you should stop taking medication that you may be currently on because it may be affecting your thyroid function. That is a conversation between you and your trusted health professional. According to an article by the Natural Health Research Institute, almost 75% of chronic illness can be improved or cured with improved lifestyle choices. Has your health professional talked to you about this as part of your treatment protocol?

Statistics like this are meant to empower you. Chronic disorders are generally where chronic medication use comes into play, and changing lifestyle habits can have a huge impact on health outcomes and on pharmaceutical needs.

Five significant ways your choices can impact your health include:

1. Reduce exposure to toxins (thank goodness for our YL Thieves Household Cleaner, essential oils that do “all the things” in a natural gentle way, Savvy Minerals cosmetics and the ART, Bloom, and Orange Blossom skin care lines!)

2. Making better food choices (and ditching the toxic processed foods)

3. Exercise. There is an exercise program / type out there that will work no matter what health situation you may be living with! (NingXia Nitro or Zyng 15-20 minutes prior to workouts elevates my gym workout routine!)

4. Sleep….Make sleep a priority. Improve your sleep hygiene habits! Some of my favorite sleep aids are YL’s Tranquil or RutaVala Roll-on…. Give ‘em a try and load your bedtime diffuser with oils like Cedarwood, Lavender, Peace & Calming, Frankincense, Orange )

5. Manage stress. Recall that chronic stress is as dangerous as a regular cigarette habit to the body. Even simply working on the four previous suggestions will have a profound impact on better management of stress.

In addition to making healthier lifestyle choices that lead to a healthier version of you (and protecting your thyroid

in the process), here’s an added bonus: Annually, direct health care costs average $6032 out of pocket

for an individual with one chronic disease (that number goes up with each additional disorder). Indirectly, chronic disorders also have a profound impact on education, occupation opportunities, income, and social interaction. If your health professional has not offered up these five recommendations as part of protocols for any chronic disorder you may have, they are working as a dis-ease maintenance advocate instead of that as a healer. Ultimately though, it’s our personal responsibility to be our own advocates and in doing so, choosing whether to live in a space of dis-ease maintenance or healing. Care for that thyroid “princess” within your personal kingdom friends! It’s often the first organ in the body to recognize that something is amiss.

xoxo~ liz

#caringissharing

#becomingyourownhealthdetective

#BYOHD

#goodmedicine

#applicationofknowledgeispower

#supersleuthhealthclues

How Does My Feelings Affect My Thyroid?

Liz James · April 12, 2022 ·

Thyroid Clues Part IV: Emotions, Feelings, and the Thyroid

Mind

, body

and spirit

are so deeply interconnected that it is impossible to be robustly healthy if this triad is out of balance in any way. The “spirit” of what makes us ….”us” is a composite of beliefs, life experiences, relationships, and memories. Outwardly, this clue set may be exhibited to some small degree by our personality. Frankly though, an individual’s personality is the tip of the iceberg. What lies beneath the surface (feelings) always play a leading role in both sickness and health. No one holds the knowledge of your “submerged iceberg self” better than you, which is yet another reason why being your own CEO and chief health detective

is so utterly important.

Surely you’ve heard of people who have died of a broken

heart. This phenomenon has been closely studied and acknowledged by science. Interestingly, we (as a society) tend to lean more into accepting the role of emotions and feelings in a death than we do the role personal belief and hope plays in an abundant life, and we certainly tend to overlook them (emotions and feelings) as responsible parties in health and wellness in day to day living.

How does this fit into the puzzle

of thyroid health? Quite well actually! Every organ and part of the body is affected at a cellular level by emotions, feelings, and memories, and learning to let go of that which doesn’t serve us is profoundly important in wellness and healing. The thyroid is, as you may recall, highly sensitive to changes in its environment. The “frequency” in which we “bathe” ourselves daily affects the health and performance of the thyroid. Frequency is not voodoo. It’s biology and physics. Everything (including our cells) is in a constant state of vibration, and any disease process will be evident as a disturbance in the structure and function of these frequencies. Positive emotions and feelings drive frequencies upwards (healthy), while negative emotions and feelings drive frequencies downwards (unhealthy).

Emotions and feelings tend to get blended together, yet they are not interchangeable.

Emotions:

They may manifest either consciously or subconsciously, and are a physical state or reaction to an event.

They keep us alive! They are a primal response, and are deeply coded into our genetic being!

They happen before feelings evolve about the event that occurred.

They can be measured by facial expressions , body language, blood flow, racing heart, tightening of muscles, skin response, pupil dilation (etc)

They generally last anywhere from a few seconds to an hour. Once the emotion has passed, the body returns to balance ( homeostasis).

Feelings are quite different.

They are experienced consciously.

They are a reaction (caused by emotions), and often influenced by personal experience, beliefs, and memories

Feelings originate in the neocortical region of the brain (the home of conscious thought and separate from the limbic system which houses emotions ).

Feelings form when your brain assigns a meaning to the emotional experience, and are mental interpretations of a situation.

Feelings don’t drift off after an hour (like emotions do). They hang around because of a vast network of personal experiences, belief systems, and memories we hold individually.

Ultimately, feelings are psychological responses while emotions are biological actions.

The thyroid is the on location storage facility for some pretty hefty feelings. Some of these include:

Conflict between the conscious and subconscious

Feeling limited or stuck

Struggling with love of self or feeling unable to speak up for oneself

Feeling a need to be in total control or feeling out of control

Feelings of humiliation

Feeling fearful of self expression

Feeling a deep sense of frustration

Feeling chronically fearful of anxious

Pairing the storage site (thyroid) with the lower vibrational frequency of harboring any of these negative feelings long term, and you may unearth a clue that has tremendous value in your thyroid health journey.

Now, what to do with this clue? There are a couple of valuable resources I’d like to point you towards:

Who Switched off my Brain? Controlling toxic thoughts and emotions by Dr. Caroline Leaf

And…..

The Pathway to Emotional Healing by Jen McCraw

These two books are extraordinarily valuable resources for healing the damage that stored negative feelings can inflict on the body. Doing “all the other things” (avoiding gluten, managing your iodine and other micronutrients, exercise, sleep hygiene etc etc etc) will never be enough if your spirit is not at peace.

Some of the essential oils you may consider when working towards healthy feelings (and subsequently, a healthy thyroid) as you nurture your spirit might include:

Endoflex: supportive of mind, body (endocrine system) and spirit

Transformation: supports feelings of positivity and self awareness

Valor: supports feelings of courage and confidence

Envision: supports feelings of creativity and resourcefulness

Surrender: supports the desire to let go of either too much control or uncontrollable behaviors

Highest Potential or Awaken: supports an awareness of limitless potential!

Peace & Calming: supports a positive peaceful atmosphere and mindset

Sacred Mountain: supports feelings of strength and empowerment

Believe: supports and encourages feelings of faith and inner strength

Release: helps facilitate the ability to let go of anything that no longer serves you

Cardamom, Pine, Myrtle, Frankincense, and Lavender are additional oils that are helpful in supporting healthy (thyroid affective) feelings and letting go of those which do not serve.

Oils are not

magic friends. They are tools

just as are the two books I’ve mentioned above. Neither the oils or the books will be helpful if they are bought and put on a shelf unused. The tools

are there for the healer to use. YOU have the capability to be your own healer. It’s within you to do this. It’s hard work and it’s heart work, and you are worth the effort!

“Each patient carries his own doctor inside of him [or her!]. They come to us not knowing the truth. We are at our best when we give the doctor who resides within each patient a chance to go to work.” ~ Dr. Albert Einstein

xoxo~ liz

#sharingiscaring

#becomingyourownhealthdetective

#goodmedicine

#mindbodyspiritconnection

#healthythyroidhealthylife

#dothehardthings