April is National Stress Awareness Month

April is National Stress Awareness Month, and research has linked chronic stress with life-threatening illnesses such as heart attacks, stroke, depression, and chronic pain. For many of us, stress and the anxiety it causes are an unavoidable part of our daily lives. A low level of stress is indeed often necessary to motivate us, but it is important to keep its impact within a level you can tolerate. If allowed to dominate, stress can cause intense anxiety and a general deterioration in health. It can also increase the risk of more serious ailments developing, such as stomach ulcers. Inhaling certain aromas help to reduce stress by promoting relaxation.

Not all scents are created equal however. Synthetic fragrances found in most commercial perfumes, body care, and candles are petroleum based and can cause allergic reactions, one of which is irritability, headaches, and brain fog. Pure, natural plant oils such as Young Living Essential Oils contain carefully preserved therapeutic molecules without any fillers, pesticide residues, or synthetic ingredients.

Lavender is universally most well known for its relaxing properties. For relief from sudden stress, sprinkle 4 drops of Lavender on a tissue and inhale deeply. Other single oils that soothe stress are Roman Chamomile, Sandalwood, Idaho Balsam Fir, Clary Sage, Cedarwood, and Geranium. Any of these oils are wonderful in a cold air ultrasonic diffuser, which is the best method for dispersing a microfine mist into the air.A few drops may be added to a bath with sea salts and baking soda or in a little jojoba oil for a shoulder massage. An excellent remedy for stress is to simply ask someone who cares for you to hold you close!

My favorite blended oils are Young Living's Tranquil and Stress Away which are packaged in no fuss, easy to use, and portable roll on applicators. These are a must have for on-the-go stress relief! Valor and Peace and Calming blends are very popular choices among my massage clients.

To learn more about therapeutic essential oils, subscribe to the Oils For Wellness free e-newsletter . To order pure aromatherapy products call Jennifer at 715-381-6979 or use my ID #329194 on YoungLiving.com. Ask me about private consultations, spa/wellness parties, and workshops at your home, office, or event!

Essentials For Your Natural Medicine Cabinet

I have been thinking about compiling a "nutshell" list of what supplies one should have on hand to become an efficient user of everyday aromatherapy. You can add other first aid items to this list of course such as bandages, etc. These are the necessary tools for using essential oils safely and easily instead of commercial products and OTC medicines. This is what I use for my family's health care!

Essential Oils:

The Young Living Essential Oils Everyday Oils Kit detailed below will provide nine basic single oils and blends needed for your medicine cabinet. It is available for purchase here at retail or wholesale prices. The wholesale kit includes a coupon for 50% off the Home Diffuser. You can also watch a video presentation on these 9 oils on the website also.
Lavender
Apply 2-3 drops lavender oil on a minor burn or sunburn to decrease pain or on a rash to relieve itching.
Apply one drop on a cut to stop the bleeding.
For nosebleeds, put a drop of lavender on a tissue and wrap it around a small chip of ice, press under middle of top lip to the base of the nose and hold as long as comfortable or until bleeding stops, careful to not freeze lip or gum.

Peppermint
Rub 4-6 drops in the palm and rub over stomach and around navel to relieve indigestion, flatulence, nausea, and diarrhea.
Add a drop to a mug of warm water to aid in digestion and relieve heartburn.
Rub several drops on the bottoms of the feet to reduce a fever.

Lemon
Saturate a cotton swab and use between toes to clear athlete's foot.
Put a drop on bleeding gums caused by gingivitis or tooth extraction.
Rub a drop on to help reduce corn, callous, and bunion twice daily-am and pm.

PanAway Blend
Apply topically on sore muscles, arthritis, or injured area to reduce inflammation and bruising.
Rub a few drops on the temples, forehead, and back of the neck to relieve a headache.

Peace and Calming Blend
Diffuse in the room to calm autistic, ADD, overactive or hard to manage children.
Diffuse while sleeping to help stop nocturnal teeth grinding.

Purification Blend
Put a drop on insect bites to neutralize the poison and stop the itching.
Rub a drop on the outside of a sore throat when it is first beginning.
Rub a drop on a blister, cut, or scrape to cleanse and disinfect.

Thieves Blend

Place 2-3 drops in honey or a capsule or apply to the bottoms of the feet for immune system support especially during flu season.
Diffuse to eliminate bacteria, mold, allergens, and odors in the air.

Valor Blend
Massage into neck, chest, or shoulders to release tension.
Drop onto the wrists to ease anxiety and encourage confidence.

Frankincense
Massage several drops on the temples and back of the neck for stress relief.
Drop onto the skin to minimize or soothe scarring and stretch marks.
Apply on the face to minimize oil production and acne.

Other essential oils and items to keep on hand:

Melaleuca alternifolia (basic antiseptic/fights super germs)

Eucalyptus globulus (fights super germs/respiratory infection)

Eucalyptus radiata (for kids-respiratory illness)

Young Living Essential Oils Di-Gize Blend (stomach flu and food poisoning)

Young Living Thieves Antiseptic Spray (for cleansing minor abrasions and wounds)

Young Living Thieves Waterless Hand Sanitizer

Young Living Thieves Hard Lozenges (sore throats)

Young Living Essential Oils LavaDerm Spray (minor burns and sunburn)

Young Living Essential Oils Inner Defense softgels (for flu, candida, and infections-instead of antibiotics)

Young Living Essential Oils Life 5 Probiotic (restores intestinal flora-to be used with Inner Defense

Order Young Living products at the Oils For Wellness website, click through to enter the site and Get Started Now to access product catalog.

Aromatherapy Supplies You Will Need:

Storage case to hold at least 16 essential oil bottles

Cold air ultrasonic Home Diffuser

Glass droppers/pipettes for filling bottles, samples, or capsules

2 ounce amber or blue glass bottles for mixing/storing blended oils

2 and 4 Ounce solid white plastic bottles for creating bath gels or lotions.

Preprinted Young Living essential oil labels for bottles/samples.

Glass roll on applicators-great for applying diluted oils/blends for perfume and therapeutic use.

Half ounce plastic dropper bottles for administering EOs blended in a carrier oil

The aromatherapy supplies listed above are available at Abundant Health.

Carriers To Blend Essential Oils:

Pure jojoba (*my favorite-doesn't go rancid), grapeseed, almond, or Young Living V-6 Massage Oil (for topical use)

Pure aloe vera jelly or juice (burns, skin abrasions).

Honey or organic agave nectar, olive oil (dietary use)

Empty vegetarian capsules for dietary supplementation of essential oils.

Alba Botanica Unscented Body Lotion for creating your own scented lotions using EOs.

Young Living Essential Oils Bath Gel Base for making your own bath gels.

Epsom or sea salts for baths or foot soaks (injury, bruising, sore muscles)

Subscribe to the Oils For Wellness free e-newsletter to learn more about using therapeutic essential oils! Call me if you would like to order or need more information on becoming an everyday oiler! 715-381-6979

Be Well,

Jennifer Nordin

Help Young Living Help Haiti

Help Us Help Haiti!

Tuesday, January 12, the worst earthquake in 200 years struck the island nation of Haiti, leaving utter decimation in its wake. While we still don’t know the full extent of the damage, we can be confident that an already fierce, daily struggle to survive has taken a disastrous turn for many Haitians.

Thousands are feared dead, and without adequate water, food, shelter, and medical care the survivors won’t last long. There is an immediate need for worldwide support of the Haitian people.

In order to provide much needed funds, Young Living has partnered with The D. Gary Young Foundation: Young Living Outreach, and from now until January 31, 2010, 10% of all proceeds from the sale of lavender and Peace & Calming® essential oils will go directly to relief organizations working in Haiti.

We have the opportunity to help make a difference. Haiti’s infrastructure is completely demolished. The people of Haiti have no clean water to drink, no electricity, and all hospitals and aid centers have been severely damaged or destroyed entirely.

If you or anyone you know uses these oils, help us give more by increasing your order this month, and pass this message on to anyone who would be interested.

You can also make a monetary donation through The D. Gary Young Foundation: Young Living Outreach.

The need is immediate. Please help.

Lavender
Item No.: 3575

Retail customer Price: $27.30
Wholesale Price: $20.75

Peace & Calming
Item No.: 3393

Retail Customer Price: $43.09
Wholesale Price: $32.75

Please order these products through my secure Oils For Wellness website and the proceeds will automatically be donated to Haiti emergency efforts.

Thanks so much, Jen

Momma 'Tudes Reviews Young Living Peace and Calming Essential Oil Blend!

Thanks goes out to Karrie at Momma 'Tudes for her wonderful review of Young Living's Peace and Calming Essential Oil Blend. Check it out, be sure to leave some comment love and tell her that you visit/follow Oils For Wellness!

My First Product Review!

Thanks so much to Jennifer at The Dirty T Shirt blog for her review of Young Living's Peace and Calming essential oil blend! She will also be reviewing Young Living's Peppermint as well as Young Living's Valor essential oil blend this week. Be sure to check out The Dirty T Shirt and leave some comment love!

A Good Night's Sleep

The following is an excerpt from a great article found in Young Living's Essential Lifestyle magazine.


We have all felt the effects of sleep deprivation: that zombie-like feeling that consumes us the moment we roll out of bed. Our eyes are heavy, we can't think straight, everything is a blur. Like mechanical robots, we go about our day not fully comprehending what is going on around us.

The negative effects of sleep deprivation are quickly becoming an alarming issue. According to the National Sleep Foundation's 2002 Sleep in America Poll, 58 percent of adults in the US experience symptoms of insomnia several nights a week.

Sleep-deprived individuals find it hard to concentrate or feel productive during the day. Perhaps worst of all, more and more are driving drowsy. In fact, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 100,000 of reported crashes occur as a result of drowsiness.

Essential oils can promote good, restful sleep. Single essential oils such as Valerian, Spikenard, and Lavender are known for their ability to relax, calm, and emotionally ground a person. Peace and Calming and Gentle Baby are soothing essential oil blends that have similar effects. These oils can be diffused, inhaled, or massaged into the feet prior to retiring to help ease tension and settle the mind.

If you need a little help now and then getting a good night's rest, let pure essential oils do the work. Using the following tips, your nights will soon be spent the way they should be-- in peaceful slumber.

DURING THE DAY:

Tips provided by the National Sleep Foundation

• Consume less or no caffeine, particularly late in the day.
• Avoid alcohol or nicotine, especially close to bedtime.
• Exercise, but not within 3 hours before going to bed.
• Avoid naps especially late in the afternoon or evening.
• Establish a regular sleep schedule; don't try to make up for lost sleep.

BEFORE BEDTIME:

• Take a warm bath using Evening Peace Bath and Shower Gel to soothe away stress and tension before retiring at night.
• Rub a drop of an essential oil such as lavender on your palm and smooth over pillow to aid sleep.
• Apply Peace and Calming or other soothing oil to feet before bedtime to promote relaxation.

Another note.... I am a firm believer in "winding down" the day starting after supper. This is when soothing essential oils can be diffused throughout the house or car to start the relaxation process. It is my opinion that too many nights packed with sports and physical activities, especially for school age children, can be detrimental to getting the restful sleep needed for normal functioning and mental health. Sleep deprivation can contribute to attention difficulties, behavioral changes, anxiety, and depression. I wonder how many children and adults alike have been prescribed drugs for the above list when what their bodies needed was good, quality sleep!

Essence of the Season: Scents of Comfort and Joy

Nothing takes us instantly to a memory like our sense of smell. According to The Smell Report by Kate Fox of MCM Research, “The perception of smell consists not only of the sensation of the odors themselves but of the experiences and emotions associated with these sensations. Smells can evoke strong emotional reactions.”

The festive decorations and sparkling lights may come and go from our memories, but the scent of spicy cinnamon baked goods, minty candy canes, or the woodsy sweetness of a real Christmas tree seems indelibly etched into our minds. Often the holiday season can be very emotionally charged with memories of joyful times with loved ones gathering together, painful recollections of family strife, or tinged with the longing for those who cannot be near. All of these experiences are reflected in how we respond to the scents of the season. Because essential oils can activate the deepest emotional center of the brain, they not only can calm the stress associated with yuletide hustle and bustle, but also help soothe and heal the past emotional trauma which often results in anxiety, even depression, around what is expected to be the most joyous and peaceful time of year.

Need a way of taking a break from the holiday pressures, expectations, and tasks that leave you feeling overwhelmed? A nice relaxing aromatherapy bath! Believe me, it is a great healthy excuse to sit still for a few minutes and BREATHE! There is no fancy concocting of bath salts necessary. I just pour in a cup of Epsom salts and a tablespoon of baking soda, then drop in a few drops of pure essential oils while the tub is filling. Lavender, Believe Blend, and Peace and Calming Blend are among my favorites for relaxation.

Diffusing essential oils throughout your home is a wonderful method to create a calm and inviting atmosphere while purifying the air, killing cold and flu germs, and increasing indoor oxygen. Cold air diffusers work best for maintaining the therapeutic properties of essential oils. Avoid candle burners and light bulb rings, keeping in mind that E Os are extremely flammable and should not be allowed to scorch. Interestingly, pure cinnamon oil, whose fragrance is most commonly associated with the holiday season, is also one of the most antibacterial of all essential oils. Christmas Spirit Blend (orange, spruce, and cinnamon) is my top choice for diffusing during the holiday season.

“And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him. Then opening their treasures, they offered him gifts , gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11

Since childhood, whenever the Christmas story was read, I would be left pondering why frankincense and myrrh were included as gifts for the newborn King. Gold, that is extremely valuable and understandable, but why the smelly stuff, I wondered? I was pretty excited to lay my hands on the missing piece of that mystery when I became an aromatherapist! In ancient times, frankincense was often used as a currency equal to, or in some cases, considered more valuable than gold. It was used to anoint the newborn sons of kings and priests which is why it was a very appropriate gift for Baby Jesus. The value was not purely symbolic, however.

According to Egyptian writings, Frankincense was considered a powerful and versatile substance used to cure everything from “gout to a broken head” , in other words, it was healing from head to toe. Very spiritually uplifting as well and could be found in temples, chapels, and cathedrals for centuries. Researchers are now discovering in recent studies that frankincense contains properties that may inhibit tumor growth in certain cancers.

Kind of a “first aid” oil in Biblical times, Myrrh is highly antiseptic in nature, excellent for skin conditions, oral hygiene, and was customarily used on umbilical cords of newborns to protect the navel from infection. Mary would have had many uses for this ointment to help her own post partum healing and for protecting her new baby from illness. Yes, the Wise Men had their reasons for choosing those specific aromatic gifts and we are blessed to be provided with ancient clues that can benefit our own health in the modern world.

Christians are called to be the “fragrance of Christ” in the world, which is a delightful reminder of how we should celebrate the birth of our Savior.