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In the past few weeks we have had several instances when someone in the house would have itchy eyes.  I had heard that lavender above the brow and down the cheek bone would help.  We tried it and had great results.  Then this morning my oldest son came to breakfast with really red and itchy eyes.  As a mom the first thing I think of is pink eye.  I have no idea if he had pink eye, but I remembered seeing in my Essential Oil pocket reference book pink eye the other day.  So I looked it up and it had several recommendations.  I placed a little olive oil on my finger and added a drop of  the lavender, I then placed it around his brow and cheek bone, told him to keep his eyes closed while I finished breakfast.  By the time breakfast was over, eyes no longer red and itchy.  Amazing.  I just checked again and still white eyes.

EDUCATE:      Essential Oils Pocket reference: Under EYE DISORDERS then Pink Eye.  Recommendations:  Myrrh, lavender.
Applications/Usage:  Inhalation:  diffuse choice oil at night while sleeping.  Topical:   Apply drops diluted 20/80 in a wide circle around the eye 1-3 times daily, being careful not to get any oil in the eyes or on the eyelids.  This may also help with puffiness.
Note:  If essential oils should ever accidently get into the eyes, dilute with V-6 Vegetable Oil Complex or other pure vegetable oil.  NEVER RINSE WITH WATER.  

EMPOWER:  Use lavender oil for itchy eyes from allergies or unknown causes.  No need to put any type of drops in  your eyes and no need for a prescription.

ENJOY:  The smell of lavender in the air and no red and itchy eyes.


 
Yesterday was a fun day for me.  I love to learn and I was blessed to sit next to my mom and learn about essential oils all day long.  The afternoon topic was Women's Health.  It was very informative and hope to share more information on it in the near future.  They had a book table set up and so many books to choose from.  I really wanted the Essential Oil Desk Reference, but budget comes first so it will have to wait.  However, I was able to get the Essential Oils pocket reference and it is full of information.  In the past I found all my information on-line or from booklets that I had rec'd.  This reference book allows me to go straight to an oil or to my favorite section Personal Usage.  For instance HEADACHE, it has information on causes of headaches, studies that used essential oils and acetaminophen.  Recommendations for single essential oils, blends, and serums.  Each topic has an Application and Usage area and then divides up headaches into types of headaches:  Migraines, Sinus, Tension.  I can tell you this book and I will be spending lots of time together in the near future.  
 
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Today, I am grateful for all of my blessings. Blessing #1:  I woke up to my husband leaving for bible study and work with a kiss and an "I love you."  Blessing #2:  I enjoyed a nice hot shower.  Blessing #3:   I later snuggled with my youngest in my bed after he woke up and asked "can we snuggle?"  Blessing #4:  Jennifer who I buy my raw milk from,  was ready for me at 8am with fresh milk and eggs.  (We were completely out.)  Blessing #5:  Spending the day with each of my blessings at home.  I also received hugs from my daughter and my oldest feeling a little better from having his wisdom teeth removed.  I am a blessed woman.
 
Often I hear people say they just want a "diagnosis".  Does having a diagnosis really fix the problem?  I just read this article and found it quite interesting. 

Making a Diagnosis is Less Important than Asking these 2 Questions
Frank LipmanJune 07


After 30 years of practicing Medicine, I have learned that for any chronic illness or ailment, treating underlying imbalances and dysfunctions is more important than making a diagnosis and naming the disease. Ultimately, asking the right questions is more important than giving a label to a set of observations.


 
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    This morning my oldest son Ryan went out to fix a gate and pick up a slide turned over after last night's storm.  I noticed him screaming and jumping around and then he ran inside to tell me that he was stung by a wasp and saw about 20 on the ground.
    We have had problems with wasp in the backyard before, last year our youngest son Bryce was stung multiple times.  I had tried several different topicals on him including making a paste out of baking soda and peroxide.  I always ended up giving him Tylenol or Advil to help with the pain and often sent him to bed to stop the crying.
    This morning the first thing I did was run to my bathroom and get the Purification essential oil.  I knew it was good for bug bites and had used it several times on Emily and Kevin.  So I put a few drops on his big toe.  He complained of the sting burning, but did not complain about the essential oil.  I then went on-line to see if anything else was recommended for wasp stings.  Purification was on the top of the list, but did recommend doing it several times.  At about 5 minutes his toe was red and beginning to swell.  At 10 minutes I put a few more drops of oil on his toe while he was eating breakfast.  He said that his leg had a weird sensation but that it wasn't painful, he moved his foot around and that sensation went away.  After an hour I put a few more drops of the Purification oil and their was no longer any swelling and the only redness was a red spot where he was stung.  He said it was only sore when he bent his big toe.  I will definitely keep Purification in my medicine cabinet.  Wish I had known about it last summer.



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EDUCATE:  Purification is a blend of essential oils made by Young Living:  Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus), lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Melaleuca (Melaleuca alternifolia) lavandin (Lavandula x hybrida), and myrtle (Myrtus communis). Purification® can be used directly on the skin to cleanse and soothe insect bites, cuts, and scrapes. When diffused, it helps to purify and cleanse the air from environmental impurities including cigarette smoke and other disagreeable odors.

EMPOWER: 
For topical or aromatic use. Diffuse, apply topically on location as needed, or put on cotton balls to place in air vents of home, car, hotel room and office. Diffuse and rub on feet for cleansing. Possible skin sensitivity. If pregnant or under a doctor's care, consult your physician. Dilution not required; suitable for all but the most sensitive skin. Generally safe for children over 2 years of age.

ENJOY: 
Dilute several drops of Purification essential oil blend in a spray bottle and spray to repel insects.  Apply one drop of Purification essential oil blend topically to soothe existing bug bites, stings or scratches. Add Purification essential oil blend to your washing machine to freshen laundry. Add a couple drops of Purification essential oil blend to shoes to help neutralize odors. Add a few drops of Purification essential oil blend to a cotton ball to help eliminate stale air in the office or your child’s room. Diffuse Purification essential oil blend to dispel unpleasant odors and clear the air of impurities. Diffuse Purification essential oil blend to eliminate odors after the dog returns from playing outdoors in the rain.

Information from Youngliving.com

 
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    I have lots to be grateful for everyday.  Today I would like to say how grateful I am for the young lady in my house.  She is a blessing to me each and everyday.  Now I wish I could say we see eye to eye, that we never argue and that we love on each other all day long, but that would not be the truth.  What I am grateful for is a healthy young lady that has a mind of her own, a loving and giving spirit, and a love for God.  She helps take care of her little brother and treats him like a prince.   She looks up to her big brother and can't imagine him not being around in a few  years.  My little girl is growing up and though it might make challenging days and at times I just want to scream, I know that I am the most blessed woman in the world to have my darling daughter Emily Ann.  What are you grateful for today? 
 
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Yesterday, I wrote about peppermint helping with hiccups.  Last night I had the opportunity to use peppermint again.  I had indulged myself to a Braums hamburger, french fries and shake after our All-City Swim Meet (by the way Homestead placed 1st again, Way to Go Hurricanes!).  Before I even got up from my seat my tummy hurt.  My first recommendation is prevention, don't indulge.  As an American I still have the tendency to partake of the SAD (Standard American Diet).  I went home not feeling well and thought what could I take or these days "use" to help my tummy ache go away.  Well last week my daughter had a tummy ache and I had used some peppermint oil on her tummy (she had gone to bed, so I never knew if the peppermint had helped).   So, I got out the peppermint essential oil and rubbed it clockwise on my stomach and began feeling better in about 15-20 minutes.  Yeh!  I also smelled good as I wondered the house and walked the dog.  So, Why do restaurants give away peppermints?

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EDUCATE:  Peppermint's Origins:  While the origin of peppermint candy is unclear, historical accounts show that peppermint oils have been used since ancient times to calm the stomach and for other remedies. Farmers in Europe began commercially growing the plant, which is a natural cross between watermint and spearmint, in the late 1700s.  Peppermint in Candy:  It is not known exactly when peppermint-flavored candy first appeared. The confection is mentioned by slaves in the Library of Congress' American Memory project. Smith Kendon developed altoids in 1780 to relieve intestinal discomfort, and Life Savers introduced its Pep-O-Mint flavor in 1912. In 1927, Eduard Haas, of Vienna, Austria, invented peppermint Pez candy and the original dispenser. 
    What about those peppermint candies at the restaurants?  The primary ingredient is sugar.   The second ingredient in Brach's Starbrite Peppermints hard candy, for example, is corn syrup, followed by citric acid and undisclosed artificial flavors, according to the Candy Favorites website.   So after we are miserable from the food we ate,  we indulge in a peppermint candy full of sugar.  Which is known to cause your stomach to  hurt after eating too much because of  gas. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, most carbohydrates can cause gas. Sugar, of course, is one type of carbohydrate.   So why do restaurants give away peppermint candy?  To help soothe your tummy.  Does it work? Probably not, unless it has real peppermint oil and isn't loaded with sugar.

EMPOWER:     No longer is our only choice in a medicine cabinet full of over the counter drugs or prescription drugs to help soothe a tummy ache.   We can use something natural like Peppermint oil.

ENJOY:  Rub a drop of peppermint on our belly, add it to a cup of water to drink , or a drop on our tongue to soothe our belly and freshen our breath.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/285229-stomach-cramps-after-eating-sugar/#ixzz1UO55VuQG
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/400099-peppermint-candy-ingredients/#ixzz1UO3u7yd1
Read more: What Is the History of Peppermint Candy? | eHow.co.uk http://www.ehow.co.uk/facts_7166459_history-peppermint-candy_.html#ixzz1UO2X3hJ4
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/peppermint-000269.htm
Studies on Peppermint Oil and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17420159
http://www.doctormurray.com/2011/03/peppermint-oil-for-the-irritable-bowel-syndrome/

 
How do you get rid of hiccups?  Do you hold your breath?  Do you drink water upside down?  Do you take a teaspoon of sugar?  I think most of us have tried one or more ways to get rid of the nasty hiccups.  We used to use a teaspoon of sugar in our house and it usually worked, but now that we don't have any white sugar in the house we weren't sure how to get rid of them.  I heard a lady a few weeks ago talk about getting rid of hiccups with peppermint.  She said it worked for everyone in her family.  Well a few days I got the hiccups and thought let's try it and see.  It worked and it worked fast, no holding my breath, no ruining my teeth eating a teaspoon of sugar.  I just inhaled some peppermint and rubbed it on the back of my neck and they were gone.  So of course I had to try it on anybody else that had the hiccups.  My daughter Emily has had them twice and it has worked both times. 
EDUCATE:  Peppermint has an invigorating, clean, fresh, menthol aroma. This important essential oil has been widely studied for its potential health benefits. It is native to Europe and is a hybrid of the wintergreen and spearmint plants. Growing to approximately two feet tall, peppermint plants bloom from July through August, sprouting tiny purple flowers in whorls
and terminal spikes. Simple, toothed, and fragrant leaves grow opposite the flowers. Preparations for extracting peppermint essential oil begin with the leaves and flowering tops of the plant, where menthol—peppermint’s primary active component—is extracted.
EMPOWER:  One of the oldest and most highly regarded herbs for soothing digestion, peppermint may also restore digestive efficiency. Jean Valnet MD studied peppermint’s supportive effect on the liver and respiratory systems. Other scientists
have also researched peppermint’s role in improving taste and smell when inhaled. Dr. William N. Dember of the University of Cincinnati studied peppermint’s ability to improve concentration and mental acuity. Alan Hirsch, MD studied peppermint’s ability to directly affect the brain’s satiety center, which triggers a sensation of fullness after meals.
ENJOY:      • Add a drop of peppermint essential oil to herbal tea to soothe digestion. • Apply a drop topically on unbroken skin to stop itching. • For poison ivy or poison oak, apply peppermint essential oil on location or dilute with V-6™ Enhanced Vegetable Oil Complex. • Inhale peppermint essential oil before and during a workout to boost your mood and reduce fatigue.
• Place two drops on the tongue and rub another drop under the nose to improve alertness and concentration.  • Rub four drops on chest and stomach to relieve travel sickness. • Add peppermint to food as a flavoring. • Mix one 15 ml bottle of peppermint essential oil into a five gallon can of paint to dispel the fumes. • Place a few drops in a cup of hot water and
enjoy in place of coffee. • Drink a drop of peppermint essential oil mixed In a glass of cold water to cool off on a hot day.• Inhale the fragrance of peppermint to curb the appetite and lessen the impulse to overeat. • Mix peppermint essential oil in a foot bath to relieve sore feet. Keep water agitated while soaking feet.  Use peppermint to get rid of the hiccups.

Note:  Caution Possible skin sensitivity. If pregnant or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Dilution recommended for both topical and internal use. Do not apply peppermint essential oil to a fresh wound or burn. Dilute before using on sensitive areas such as the face, neck, genital area, etc. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid using on infants and very small children.

©2008
 
EDUCATE:
I found this information to be very intriguing.  Young Living's Thieves essential oil blend was diffused in scientific tests against air- borne bacteria at Weber State University with up to a 96% reduction in 1997.
 
Airborne BACTERIA COUNT(CFU) STARTING AT 0 TO 4500
1.  With the bacteria of M. Luteus it was around 4100 and after using Thieves the count dropped to around 700

Micrococcus luteus is a Gram-positive, spherical, saprotrophic bacterium that belongs to the family Micrococcaceae.[1] An obligate aerobe, M. luteus is found in soil, dust, water and air, and as part of the normal flora of the mammalian skin. The bacterium also colonizes the human mouth, mucosae, oropharynx and upper respiratory tract.  Considered a contaminant in sick patients.M. luteus is resistant to reduced water potential and can tolerate drying and high salt concentrations.

2.  With P. aeruginosa it was around 2000 and after using Thieves it dropped to 1

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common bacterium that can cause disease in animals, including humans. It is found in soil, water, skin flora, and most man-made environments throughout the world. It thrives not only in normal atmospheres but also in hypoxic atmospheres, and has, thus, colonized many natural and artificial environments. It uses a wide range of organic material for food; in animals, the versatility enables the organism to infect damaged tissues or people with reduced immunity. The symptoms of such infections are generalized inflammation and sepsis. If such colonizations occur in critical body organs, such as the lungs, the urinary tract, and kidneys, the results can be fatal.[1] Because it thrives on most surfaces, this bacterium is also found on and in medical equipment, including catheters, causing cross-infections in hospitals and clinics. It is implicated in hot-tub rash. It is also able to decompose hydrocarbons and has been used to break down tarballs and oil from oil spills.[2


3.  With S. aureus it was around 2300 and after using Thieves it dropped to 1000.

Staphylococcus aureus/ˌstæfɨlɵˈkɒkəs ˈɔri.əs/; meaning the "golden grape-cluster berry," and also known as "golden staph" and Oro staphira, is a facultative anaerobic Gram-positive coccal bacterium. It is frequently part of the skin flora found in the nose and on skin, and in this manner about 20% of the human population are long-term carriers of S. aureus.[1] S. aureus is the most common species of staphylococci to cause Staph infections. One of the reasons for this is a carotenoid pigment staphyloxanthin that is responsible for the characteristic golden colour of S. aureus colonies. This pigment acts as a virulence factor, with an antioxidant action that helps the microbe evade death by reactive oxygen species used by the host immune system.[2][3]

S. aureus can cause a range of illnesses from minor skin infections, such as pimples, impetigo, boils (furuncles), cellulitis folliculitis, carbuncles, scalded skin syndrome, and abscesses, to life-threatening diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, toxic shock syndrome (TSS), chest pain, bacteremia, and sepsis. Its incidence is from skin, soft tissue, respiratory, bone, joint, endovascular to wound infections. It is still one of the five most common causes of nosocomial infections, often causing postsurgical wound infections. Each year, some 500,000 patients in American hospitals contract a staphylococcal infection.[4]

Methicillin-resistant S. aureus, abbreviated MRSA and often pronounced "mer-sa", is one of a number of greatly-feared strains of S. aureus which have become resistant to most antibiotics. MRSA strains are most often found associated with institutions such as hospitals, but are becoming increasingly prevalent in community-acquired infections. A recent study by the Translational Genomics Research Institute showed that nearly half (47%) of the meat and poultry in U.S. grocery stores were contaminated with S. aureus, with more than half (52%) of those bacteria resistant to antibiotics.[5]



THE EFFECT OF TIME ON BACTERIA COUNTS when diffusing Thieves:

THE BACTERIAL COUNT (CFU) 0 TO 10000

1.  Bacteria starting out at 10000 at zero minutes

2.  After 3 minutes of diffusing it dropped to 5000

3.  After 6 minutes of diffusing it dropped to 800

4.  After 9 minutes  of diffusing it dropped to 2

5.  After 12 minutes  of diffusing you can hardly see it.

EMPOWER:  From the above studies it's easy to see the importance of using a Young Living  diffuser specially designed to force a micro-fine mist into the air.

The smallness of the mist allows your essential oils to stay in the air longer, which gives the essential oil a greater chance of coming into contact with odors, germs, bacteria and mold. When that contact occurs, the essential oils can do their thing at neutralizing and killing them!

 
ENJOY:  The smell of Thieves is very inviting in the home.
http://www.youngliving.com/thieves/thieves-essential-oil
http://www.youngliving.com/oil-diffusers/Home-Diffuser