Fragrance is a substantial focus of the American culture.  In the USA, hygiene and personal care products are a billion dollar industry, often with fragrance being the main factor to differentiate between brands.  Natural fragrance has been around since the beginning of time, but synthetic fragrance first became mass produced with the introduction of Chanel No. 5 perfume in 1921. In recent years, these synthetics have been linked to disrupting hormones which can affect your body’s ability to lose weight.  Many of these chemicals are also affecting our body’s natural chemistry which can impact your mood, attention span and ability to focus. Many of these chemicals have even been found in the cord blood of babies, passed on by the mother’s exposure, making many of these substances the “second hand smoke” of the 21st century.

How many products do you own with artificial fragrance? It should be easy to count, just look for the ingredient “fragrance” on your personal care products, shampoos, lotions, cosmetics. From here look at your cleaning products, laundry soaps and any air fresheners. You’ll probably be surprised where you’ll find fragrance.  Our country currently produces tens of thousands of chemicals each year, many targeted for use in body care products. Many people don’t realize they are becoming sensitive to synthetic fragrance because we are surrounded by it. What you use may also adversely affect those around you, like children who are especially vulnerable just due to their size. Individually a product may not cause problems, but when you layer product upon product on your body and in your home, you are increasing your risk of becoming sensitive to more chemicals. Synthetic ingredients are often stored in fatty tissue and major organs, slowing down your  body’s natural methods to detoxify, accelerating the signs of aging or making it tough for you to shed those unwanted pounds.

When we as consumers continue to purchase personal care products whether we need them or not, we are supporting the synthetic fragrance industry and continue to pollute our environment. The personal care and synthetic fragrance industries are booming markets. In our family we continue to use therapeutic essential oils because they are better for our health, better for the earth and it minimizes the products we purchase for personal care because the oils have multiple uses. My favorite “side effect” of using essential oils for health is they smell great and make the most natural fragrance you can wear.

Are your body care products making you sick?  Most personal care products, especially perfumes and anything with the ingredient “fragrance” in it is just a cocktail of unknown chemicals.  Therapeutic grade essential oils, however, are the purest form of fragrance and a wonderful way to scent your body. These precious oils can support your health and lift your spirits rather than  confusing your chemistry with chemical laden body care products.  If you are unsure whether you may be sensitive or responding negatively to any chemicals in your personal care products, the easiest way to find out is to eliminate some things for a week or two. The longer you wait to try something again, the more likely you’ll be able to notice what your body’s response is. This process is similar to an elimination diet that some undergo to see if they have sensitivities to foods. I’m actually surprised at the number of people who just start taking a prescription for conditions like anxiety and depression without first eliminating chemicals in their environment that might be affecting their body’s chemistry. I was on anti-depressants in my early 20′s and didn’t realize that the perfumes I was wearing may have had a negative impact on my body’s system.  Now I’ve worked on just minimizing my personal care routine and chemical exposure and incorporating essential oils to support healthy skin, gentle detox everyday, and as natural perfume.

The biggest benefit of using essential oils as perfumes is you are replacing synthetic chemicals found in over the counter fragrances that are most likely disrupting your body’s natural chemistry.  Therapeutic grade essential oils actually have DNA similar to human blood so our bodies can assimilate what it needs and eliminates what is not. Essential oils are smart and can circulate through your body to go where they are needed. When you apply any essential oils to your skin, even just for perfume, your body will benefit. Some of the results may be noticeable, such as clearer thinking or an overall feeling of wellness, while some may go unnoticed such as reducing inflammation somewhere in your body you might not be aware of. Essential oils that are pure and have no additives or carrier oils will not expire if kept in a cool, dry location. Commercial perfumes and products with “fragrance” will degrade over time as the chemicals break down and deteriorate. Essential oils are versatile and can be used for non-emergency situations to bring comfort to the body. Many essential oils are naturally anti-bacterial and anti-viral so when you wear some as fragrance or make your own air freshener, you’ll get a boost to your immune system.

Essential oils have varying characteristics, intensities and qualities making some better suited as perfume.  Essential oils, in fact, have been around for thousands of years, some being recorded in historical documents like the Bible and the Egyptian Papyrus. Many cultures equated perfumes and scents with the “arts” because it required a definite amount of creativity, experience and intuition to create oil blends that would be pleasing to the senses.  In modern times,  Therapuetic Grade oils are a suitable fit into the “healing arts”, merging Eastern philosophies of healing with Western medicine  and these precious substances are making their way into modern medical facilities like in the  UCLA Health System.

Watch for my article next week highlighting some essential oils and their characteristics, making it easy to choose oils to match your mood and personality.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended as a substitute for medical advice. If you need medical care, consult with your doctor.

When my two youngest kids started to cough in the midst of my daugher’s illness I diffused frankincense in their bedroom a few nights.  Thankfully the frankincense was enough to stop the spread of germs, their coughs disappeared and really didn’t turn into anything.

Frankincense has been used for hundreds of years, historically it was first given as a gift to the Christ Child.  It is one of the most valued essential oils and in Ancient Times it was worth more than gold.  It’s most common uses have been as a cough medicine and for asthma, and most recently it’s been included in the Journal of Royal Society Medicine (1991).  It has also been researched for it’s benefits in rejuvenating the skin.  Frankincense is gentle enough for babies, but only if it is the highest Therapeutic Grade like Young Living’s food grade Frankincense (Boswellia Carterri)  and Sacred Frankincense (Boswellia Sacra). Research is finding that the boswellic acid in frankincense is highly anti-inflammatory and blocks  the biosynthesis of leukotriene acids. Boswellic acid can have a positive affect on the body whether it is inhaled for respiratory issues, or applied topically to rejuvenate the skin and soothe arthritic joints.  Not all frankincense, however, contains boswellic acid.  Buyers should beware when shopping for frankincense as there is a great tendency to add fillers and additives to extend the volume of frankincense essential oil.  Boswellia frereana for example, is a species of frankincense that contains no boswellic acid and is only useful for perfumes or fragrance and has no therapeutic benefit.

Young Living offers 2 species of Frankincense, Boswellia Carteri and Boswellia Sacra: Sacred Frankincense.  Boswellia Sacra has higher levels of incensole acetate, found to have anti-anxiety effects.  The Sacra species also has higher levels of Alpha-pinene.  Young Living exclusively distills Boswellia Sacra frankincense from Oman, a region known in the essential oil industry to produce this superior species of frankincense.  Boswellia carteri contains higher levels of limonene, a component found effective against cancer cells.  Both species of frankincense support a healthy immune system and may even repair damaged DNA cells.

Frankincense (Boswellia carteri)            15ml   whsl  $69.75     retail $91.78

Sacred Frankincense (Boswellia sacra) 15ml whls    $89.75     retail $118.09

You can order Young Living oils at wholesale (select Independent Distributor and order a $40 Start Living Kit for lifetime wholesale pricing, and no monthly minimums, enter sponsor #1003003)  or retail (select customer).

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.  I am not a medical doctor, and I’m not prescribing treatment, I’m just a mom trying to keep her kids healthy.  This information is for educational purposes only and is not meant as a substitute for medical advise. If you need medical attention seek the counsel of your doctor.

Farid A. Badria, Eman A. Mohammad, Mohammed K. El-Badrawy, et al (2004). Natural Leukotriene Inhibitor from Boswellia: A Potential New Alternative for Treating Bronchial Asthma. Altern & Comp Therapies. 10 (5) 257-265.

Houssen M, Ragab A, Mesbah A, El-Samanoudy A, Othman G, Moustafa A, Badria F. (2010). Natural anti-inflammatory products and leukotriene inhibitors as complementary therapy for bronchial asthma. Clin Biochem 43 (10-11) 887-890.

Safayhi H, Rail B, Sailer E, Ammon H. (1997). Inhibition by Boswellic acids of Human Leukocyte Elastase. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 281 (1). 460-463.

Ziment I, Tashkin D. (2000). Alternative medicine for allergy and asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 106: 603-614.

Therapeutic Grade Melissa essential oil comes from the melissa officinalis plant, in the mint family. It’s commonly called “lemon balm” and   it is steam distilled from the aerial parts before flowering.  Historically it has been used for nervous disorders, to promote fertility and in Munich, Dr. Dietrich Wabner, a professor at the Technical University in Munich found it effective against the Herpes Simplex virus.  It may be helpful for depression, viral infections, anxiety and insomnia.  Diffuse 1-2 hours up to 3 times a day, apply to the skin or Vita Flex points to support the immune system.

Melissa essential oil is found in the Young Living blends of Awaken, Brain Power, Forgiveness, Hope, White Angelica and in the supplement Multi-Greens.

Our family has personally received the benefits of  melissa essential oil in the Thieves mouthwash blend and Multi-greens.  Awaken is one of my favorite Young Living blends, a combination of 5 different blends including 27 different essential oils including melissa essential oil.   It’s an exquisite blend that  I wear  as a “healthy” perfume.    When you use the essential oil blends or personal care items with melissa in it, you are getting a powerful oil in an economical way.

Select Research:

Kucera LS, et al. Antiviral activities of extracts of the lemon balm plant. Ann NY Acad Sci. 1965 Jul 30;130(1):474-82.

Sadraei H, Ghannadi A, Malekshahi K. Relaxant effect of essential oil of Melissa officinalis.  Fitoterapia. 2003 Jul;74(5);445-52.

1. Eat & Drink For Energy.  It may seem silly to talk about this but how many of you have gone through a busy day realizing later you haven’t eaten a meal?  Your body needs food and water, and good quality fuel at that.  Make sure you are nourishing your physical body with the best food.  Search out your city and find healthy restaurants. Many organic markets now offer prepared, nutritious foods when you are hurried.  A good starting point is Organichighways.com if you haven’t looked for organic food before. Don’t compromise your health with processed, junk foods to get you through an hour or two.  You need high quality nutrients that will carry you through the day.   Staying hydrated is essential too.  Even mild dehydration can cause headaches, compounding any stressful situation you may be dealing with.  Add fresh citrus to your water or citrus oils like lemon, grapefruit & orange.  Citrus oils will boost your spirits and give you a spark of energy that won’t crash like energy drinks or caffeine.  You’ll also be helping detoxify your system in a gentle way, something all of us can use.
2. Rest & put your feet up – One of my favorite position in yoga  is lying on the floor with my legs up the wall.   Every class we take 5-10 minutes of quiet, nothing but rest.  Try this when you can really be alone and uninterrupted, (even by the dog).    Try your best to get 8 hours of sleep each night.  Make sure you are getting enough calcium and magnesium to keep from waking through the night.  I use Young Living’s MegaCal powder which is mixed into water to enhance the absorption.
3. Pamper yourself over a weekend.  I’ve put together a weekend  detox that you could do by yourself or with some girlfriends. Save time and a lot of money from going to a spa – it’s easy to treat yourself to some mind & body soothing treatments right at home.
4. Read a book (or the comics)
5. Gather some Fall leaves or flowers.  Marveling at the wonders of creation and the beauty of things all around us can help us forget about the stresses of life.
6. Journal and take time to reflect.
7. Enjoy a hobby, preferably something that can be started and stopped at a moment’s notice.  This is not the time to take up something new and complex like Scherenschnitte that would only frustrate you and your family.   The alternative however, is if you participate in a specialty class scheduled away from home where you can focus on your chosen activity without interruptions.
8. Bring out the essential oils. Therapeutic grade oils can help alleviate stress just by smelling them.  Scented candles, and oils with additives or fillers should not be used as synthetic fragrance can disrupt your hormones, compounding the stress on your body.  Many essential oils like lavender, tangerine and rose can help you relax.  Tree oils like frankincense, cedarwood and sandalwood help you stay focused and to prioritize your duties.  The tree oils have also shown to lessen depression and anxiety in some research.

Surprisingly, many women suffer depression at one time or another.  Of course, depression has many suspected causes, hormones included.  Stress can play a huge role in this, especially if you are not taking care of your basic needs.  It is important for you to make time for yourself each day, even if for 15-20 minutes.  You are not being selfish by carving out this time, you will be more effective in all the roles you lead.  You need it and your family needs you to do it!

Anxiety, depression and attention disorders are on the rise. I believe the causes are two-fold, first simply because we live in a culture saturated with unimportant things. We have thousands of choices we can make every day, from the foods we eat to products for our home and health. Marketing campaigns reach for our hearts, showing that we will be happy if we just purchase their goods and services. We can have instant gratification: on-demand movies, fast food and drugs to take away our symptoms in an hour. These are solutions targeted at making us content for the moment. It’s easy to fall into habits that can be harmful to us if we only have a short term fix in mind, leading to anxiety with so much information or depression from lack of contentment.

I believe a second cause of the increase in these health issues is the vast amount of chemicals we are exposed to every day. Some have even said today we are exposed to more chemicals in a day than people 100 years ago were exposed to in a lifetime. This does not even include chemicals we choose to subject ourselves to: over the counter & prescription drugs, plastics, untested cosmetic ingredients, perfumes and artificial fragrance. All of these chemicals can wreak havoc on our bodies and may cause hormonal imbalance which also may contribute to anxiety & depression.
I saw a mom with a newborn baby in the home fragrance aisle at the store the other day contemplating which “home scent” to purchase, I couldn’t help myself and I just told her to avoid using any of it around her kids, for their sake. Our children’s bodies and ours are being bombarded with chemicals, many of them we consciously are burning and “plugging in” to our homes, poisoning our air. We are chemical beings and all these fragranced products are causing chemical reactions in our bodies – the evidence is mounting that these chemicals are linked to anxiety, depression and attention disorders to name only a few. Over the counter and prescription drugs are even worse, with these and other health issues listed as potential side effects. I’m actually surprised at how many people ask if essential oils will interact with the drugs they are taking, yet don’t give a thought to using a home cleansing wipe labeled “harmful to humans and domestic animals” or consider how common household products and cosmetics are interfering with their prescriptions. Perfumes and artificial fragrance are known to disrupt hormones and the endocrine system making us more vulnerable to symptoms of anxiety, depression and attention disorders.

If you are truly looking for help with issues like anxiety, depression or attention disorders, you seriously have to consider cleaning up your environment, diet and personal care products. Essential oils may offer some promise for dealing with these but they cannot compensate for a lack of common sense and poor choices. I myself have used essential oils to deal with anxiety and depression but I have been careful to assess what might be triggering these symptoms in my body. 

Anti-depressants are some of the most widely prescribed drugs, with prescribed usage doubling in just one decade: 1996-2005.  Some studies have even shown that their effects may be questionable.  Dr. Mercola offers some insight into this research and alternatives to prescription drugs even suggesting that placebos have as great an impact on improving your mood .   Keeping this in mind, essential oils may be a great side-effect free option to try before going on medications.   These suggestions have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.

Lavender essential oil helps balance the body, may help with insomnia and is calming. Simply smelling something pleasant can have a positive effect on our psyche. Make sure you are using only a pure, food grade lavender essential oil. I met someone the other day who had a bad experience with lavender. After applying a drop to her pillow, she developed a horrible headache. If an essential oils is altered or diluted with any chemical, one can never really know what side effects may occur from fillers. It is always best to use essential oils from a trusted source that verifiies the ingredients of their products. Mine is Young Living essential oils because I know they have the highest quality control standards in the industry.

Frankincense essential oil may be helpful in alleviating symptoms of depression. I apply Frankincense to my face every day, it’s excellent and nourishing to the skin plus it gives a boost to my psyche. Frankincense can be diffused to improve concentration and mental clarity. Because of this quality, it would be a great choice for using when a student needs to get homework done. This is an excellent oil to use for anxiety – when you have a lot of things going on and you don’t know where to begin. This oil is clearly evidence of divine creation – one breath in and your mind is clear and focused for the most important task at hand.

Valor is a Young Living essential oil blend that has similar qualities to frankincense – simply because frankincense is one of it’s ingredients. It also contains spruce which is grounding and helps create positive memory. I used this in one of my yoga classes and afterwards one student commented that at the beginning of relaxation her mind was running in several directions. She said that the second she smelled Valor, her mind was completely cleared and she could just relax. This blend may also be a good choice for helping focus and dealing with attention disorders.

Peace & Calming is a Young Living blend of essential oils. It’s a blend that appeals to most people, it’s a sweeter smell with tangerine essential oil. Some think it evokes thoughts of childhood. Just applying a drop to your carotid artery as a natural perfume can be calming. When it is applied to the soles of the feet it can help move you into a peaceful nights rest. This would be a good choice for overactive children and pets, or adults who suffer from nervous tension.

Stress Away – Roll-On is a Young Living blend that contains vanilla & lime essential oils. This is another blend that works well as a natural perfume with positive side effects of calming you when you are experiencing anxiety.

Peppermint oil is the first choice for mental clarity for attention disorders. Simply applying the oil to the temples can improve concentration and focus. Diffusing peppermint oil when you are studying can help improve memory retention. Peppermint may also be useful in treating headaches brought on by anxiety or depression.

Essential oils have the potential to even out moods, balance our emotions and help improve our mental clarity. But first, it is important to clear your environment and personal exposure to man-made chemicals that may be contributing to these issues. If you are on a lot of medications, have intelligent conversations with your doctor or pharmicist about potential side effects. There are many natural, drug free solutions to anxiety, depression and attention disorders for those willing to do some research and tune into themselves to figure what might be triggering these symptoms in the first place.

1.  Breathe!  Yes, we need to breathe to survive, but often in times of stress we tend to hold our breath.  This deprives our body of much needed oxygen and causes physical stress.  Breathing is one way our body eliminates toxins, especially as we exhale.  Practice regular breathing patterns when you realize you are getting tense.  Diffusing stress relieving essential oils like frankincense and sandalwood can  keep your thoughts focused and grounded.

2.  Laugh - a joyful heart is good medicine.  Research proves time and again that those with a positive outlook on life are healthier. Find what tickles your funny bone: watching a comedy, reading a joke book or watching kids or pets play can lighten your mood.

3.  Play with a baby or child.  If you don’t have your own children or are empty nesters, volunteer at a local day care or church.   Life is so simple for these little ones and when you bring yourself down to their level, the stress of adult life can be put into perspective.  Spending time with pets can help too.  Visit a local animal shelter and give some TLC to animals in need.

4.  Take a walk – simply getting a change of scenery can help diffuse stressful situations.

5.  Take a hot shower or bath - water is very therapeutic.  Add some lavender, breathe deeply and allow your physical body to relax.

6.  Listen to some music – just make sure it is soothing music that will calm your nerves and sooth your soul.  Classical, spa-type music or easy listening tunes can change your mood in an instant.  Choose music to suit your personal preference, check out iTunes samplings or visit your local library if you are looking for new sounds.

7.  Pray or Meditate – Read something inspirational, a devotional or scriptures from the book of Psalms.  Diffuse tree oils like frankincense or cedarwood to increase your spiritual awareness.

8.  Stretch – try some stress beating poses.  Apply Valor to the soles of your feet to improve muscle memory and keep muscles relaxed.  Applying oils like PanAway or Peace & Calming to your shoulders can help alleviate tension in the shoulders that might aggravate stress headaches.

9.  Find a hobby you like – arts & crafts, gardening, reading, playing an instrument to name a few.  Volunteering to help others can take the focus off your stressful situation.

10.  Count your blessings – even writing them down and journaling can be helpful at all times, but especially helpful to work out your feelings on paper.

Lastly, get help if you can’t cope – talk with a friend, pastor or counselor if needed.  It’s normal to feel overwhelmed or sad at times, but if these feelings continue over time or begin to cause physical symptoms that won’t go away it would be wise to seek professional help.  Hopefully with some foresight and taking time to restore your body and soul amidst the holiday bustle, you can avoid any stress related ailments and have a Merry Christmas!

This information is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. For medical treatment, see a doctor.

There are many diffusers made specifically for dispersing essential oils into the air.  Traditional oil burners/pot pourri pots and plug in type units are not safe for use with essential oils. (There are a few plug in units made specifically for essential oils that use a cotton pad to absorb the oils).  If essential oils are heated too high, the chemical structure of the oil can be altered, lessening the therapeutic effects and possibly producing toxic fumes.

Since many essential oils are anti-bacterial and anti-microbial, diffusing them helps purify the air.  We diffuse oils like Thieves and Purification when someone has a cold to prevent the spreading of infection.  Thieves is a powerful blend and can irritate the respiratory tract so it’s best to diffuse Thieves in an empty room for 15-20 minutes at a time.  I know a teacher who diffused Thieves in her classroom each day for 15 minutes before the kids came and she had significantly less sick children than previous years.

Purification is a blend that neutralizes odors without leaving a lingering scent.  I diffuse this in my kid’s rooms when they leave for school – it neutralizes the boy’s “locker room” odor and they don’t detect any fragrance when they get home.  Frankincense is also highly anti-microbial and safe even for babies.  I diffuse Frankincense in my kid’s rooms during cold season to keep their immune systems strong, and I don’t have to worry about it irritating their repiratory tract.   Lemon essential oil is also highly anti-bacterial, yet gentle and is still diffused in hospitals today in England to fight infection.  Diffusing Peppermint while you are studying can help with memory recall.

Fragrance is a powerful sensory tool and can affect our moods and emotions. Many oils can alleviate anxiety simply by inhaling them or diffusing in a room. Different oils have varying effects on the psyche.  Citrus oils for example are uplifting and may combat depression.  Peppermint is stimulating, chamomile and lavender can be relaxing.  Peace and Calming is one of my favorite blends for relaxing.- the tangerine essential oil in this blend is appealing even to children.  Cinnamon and spruce can be festive when diffused at Christmas time, and will keep your air pure.

Make sure any essential oil you diffuse is only a pure oil, therapeutic grade essential oil with no chemicals or fillers added.  If these are used, they are simply dispersing chemicals and toxins into the air and can be harmful.

Young Living carries several high quality diffusers.  When you enroll for wholesale pricing you can save quite a bit of money on your first diffuser.

Diffusing essential oils into your home or office can not only improve your mood and concentration, they are cleansing the air without harmful chemicals.

Frankincense has been used for centuries and was often more valued than gold.  It has been researched and found to be anti-tumoral, anti-inflammatory, an immune stimulant, anti-depressant and muscle relaxant.  Our family has found it to be effective for viruses (place 1 drop on the tongue or massaged into the feet – using only Young Living food grade therapeutic essential oils for internal use).  Frankincense also supports the respiratory tract and can be soothing when inhaled .  It is one of the most powerful essential oils, yet is gentle enough for newborn babies.  Frankincense is very high in sesquiterpenes which stimulate the limbic system of the brain – the center of memory and emotions, the hypothalamus, pineal and pituitary glands.

Frankincense promotes meditation and spiritual awareness – not surprising that the Lord instructed Moses to burn Frankincense in the temple as it would keep worship focused on him and keep worshipers healthy.  Frankincense helps you to focus and concentrate and has shown promising results in use with autism and ADHD/ADD treatments when combined with dietary changes.  It is also healing to sun damaged skin.

Gary Young has found a source of frankincense in Oman where he also distills the frankincense.  Frankincense is a most sought after oil and therefore, often diluted and adultered to extend a supply.  Verify any source of frankincense to be sure it is comprised of only frankincense-no additives, from the Boswelia Carteri or Boswelia Sacra species which are offered by Young Living.

Frankincense is found in many Young Living products including the ART skincare line, Boswelia wrinkle cream, the oil blends: Abundance, Acceptance,  Awaken, Believe, Brain Power, Egyptian Gold, Exodus II, Forgiveness, Gathering, Gratitude, Harmony, Highest Potential, Humility, ImmuPower,Inspiration, Into the Future, Longevity, 3 Wise Men, Trauma Life and Valor.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.