Articles by Shayla

Master Herbalist and homemaker, Shayla, has loved and studied alternative medicine for 20 years. She enjoys teaching those who come to her the benefits and importance of listening to their bodies, and taking responsibility of their health with alternative medicine and natural cleansing methods. Shayla lives in America’s heartland with her wonderful husband, children, and their big German Shepherd. Shayla is a Young Living Independent Distributor and would be happy to help you find answers to any questions you may have about Young Living or a more natural lifestyle so feel free to contact her!

Food Inc. The Movie, Where Is Our Food Coming From?

March 2, 2010 in Health, News, Nutrition / Diet by Shayla | No comments

Over the weekend, we viewed a documentary that completely changed the way our family looks at our food; the movie is called Food Inc. After watching it we feel it is a movie every American needs to watch! We actually found ours at the local video store, but you can also purchase it online which is what we are going to do (info on where below).

A basic overview; this is a very well done documentary, following our food from the grocery stores back to the manufacturer (well, some manufacturer’s anyways, some of the manufacturer’s wouldn’t let the investigation team in to look around)! This documentary was eye opening for us, we learned many things (for one, we learned that farmers-like the local ones around us as well as consumers like you and me) are being abused by corporate food tycoons.

If you love your family and fellow American, and would like to see safer food (like less e-coli and other food poisoning problems) as well as more nutritious food in stores, schools, and America as a whole, you will want to watch this one!

I really hope you will get this one, and am confident you won’t be sorry you did! After watching it, you may want to purchase more copies to lend to your friends and family, and you may even want to write a letter to your editor to encourage others to view it!

MORE INFO…

Hey, want to love your inbox again? Then contact me for more fun, daily quick tips!

Article by Shayla, Master Herbalist, Homemaker, and Young Living Independent Distributor.

See more articles by Shayla

shayla-young-living

"Assisting Families in their quest for greater health!"

Unless otherwise stated, these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This article is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, claim to cure, or treat disease. Seek the advice of a professional in the case of disease or medical emergency.

12 Diaper Bag Must Have’s

February 19, 2010 in Alternative Therapies, Kids, Natural, Peppermint, Thieves, Young Living Distributor, Young Living Essential Oils by Shayla | No comments

More Tips from the Mommy Trenches!

  1. 2 Extra Changes of Clothes for baby-(this may be a given, but here’s one that is not…
  2. An extra change of clothes for you! That’s right! Throw-up, leaky diapers, spills, you name it-it can and will happen! After only two children, I can tell you there will be a point in time when you will be very, very glad you have an extra change of clothes for yourself with you.
  3. A diaper pad. These are a good idea since God knows what could be on public changing tables! And, they will especially come in handy for the many public places that for some strange reason do not have changing tables (you only notice this absurd fact after you become a parent)!
  4. Hand sanitizer. We have all heard how dangerous the regular kinds can be, and how they are especially poisonous for children who lick their fingers. Since babies have a tendency to “chew and suck” on mama’s fingers as well as their own, I don’t use the regular kinds. I like to use Thieves, all natural, non-toxic, chemical free hand sanitizer (available here). It is really nice having this safe alternative available, especially considering that most babies majority of time is spent on the floor (which is fine in my home but not so much so at someone else’s!
  5. Thieves Disinfectant Spray. All natural, non-toxic, and safe for you and baby (available here). Great to use in places like bathrooms, and in places the  wipes are hard to use. This is also great for deodorizing. (Read this article for reasons why you shouldn’t use regular disinfectant sprays around your children).
  6. Empty plastic bags. You will need these for icky diapers and clothes that are soiled from the icky diapers!
  7. Spit- up cloths. This way, you will maybe be able to limit how many times you will need that extra change of clothes for yourself!
  8. Extra pacifiers, teether’s and toys. I am positive babies like to deliberately drop their pacifiers and toys onto the floors just to see how many times us mom’s will pick them up! Germ infested, filthy public floors mean nothing to baby, but they will assure you won’t be giving the toy’s back to the wee one, so substitutes are important (you may want to look for those ring links while out and about too)!
  9. 2 Bibs. Whether you are eating out, or just fed your baby, having a bib on them will perhaps save you from having to change their clothes as many times as you otherwise would have.
  10. Teething tablets/gel. I cannot count the number of times my little ones were teething, and having these in the diaper bag saved the day! I refuse to use regular kinds with drugs in them because of the possible side effects (including death). I LOVE Boiron-Camilia Teething Drops though, they are homeopathic and really seem to work wonders! Hyland’s teething tablets and gel are also good.
  11. In addition to diaper wipes, cleaning wipes are a very smart must have. You can use them for wiping off toys your little one dropped onto the floor, and for shopping carts and restaurant high chairs. Did you know you can make your own wipes? Click here for directions on how and reasons why you should make your own!
  12. DI-Gize Essential Oil*. This could be your greatest investment for your little one’s comfort and your sanity-especially out in public should your little one come down with a screaming belly ache!  Since you don’t use much, one bottle get you through however many babies you plan to have and then some! Simply dilute one drop in a teaspoon of olive oil and rub it onto the baby’s tummy. (This tip comes from Gentle Babies: Essential Oils and Natural Remedies for Pregnancy, Childbirth and Infant Care’ by Debra Raybern, N.D., M.H., C.N.C, I.C.A.).

Purchase Thieves Hand Sanitizer, Spray, and Therapeutic Grade Di-GIZE Oil HERE.

Hey, want to love your inbox again? Then contact me for more fun, daily quick tips!

Article by Shayla, Master Herbalist, Homemaker, and Young Living Independent Distributor.

See more articles by Shayla

shayla-young-living

"Assisting Families in their quest for greater health!"

Unless otherwise stated, these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This article is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, claim to cure, or treat disease. Seek the advice of a professional in the case of disease or medical emergency.

Antibiotics and Children

February 10, 2010 in Alternative Therapies, Family Health, Health, Immune System, Kids, Young Living Distributor by Shayla | No comments

The last medical professional I took my child to was a young mother, expecting her second child. “You have such an advantage over other mom’s” I said. “You probably don’t worry over every little thing with yours like the rest of us do.”

“Yes and no”, she answered.
“It is still worrisome. I know that antibiotics are not the cure all people think they are, and I don’t believe in getting my child an antibiotic for everything. So we end up taking care of most things at home, and there is still worry!”

Having researched the subject of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance, her view on them didn’t surprise me. Antibiotic overuse is becoming a real problem and medical science is growing concerned because they are finding that bacterias are learning how to mutate to make themselves immune to antibiotic treatment (also known as antibiotic resistance). The following information comes from an article by the American College of Physicians.

“Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide public health problem that continues to grow. It occurs when strains of bacteria in the human body become resistant to antibiotics due to improper use and abuse of antibiotics.

Despite information like this, antibiotic overuse is still happening. Dr’s know antibiotics are not a cure all, and that misusing them can be dangerous, so why is it taking the average American so long to believe this?

I cannot count anymore the number of people I have heard make the comment that their doctor didn’t want to prescribe them (or their child) an antibiotic, but they told him “……………….” and so he caved.  The  above article by the American College of Physicians went on to say that more the 133 million courses of antibiotics are prescribed to non-hospitalized patients by doctors each year, and that an estimated 50 percent of them are unnecessary. The main reason they are prescribed unnecessarily  is because patients insist on them.

The following quote comes from the popular online pediatrician, Dr. Greene:

“Recognizing the urgent problem of antibiotic overuse, in 1998 the Centers for Disease Control and the Academy of Pediatrics have issued guidelines for when to use (and when not to use) antibiotics for the most common pediatric respiratory infections (Pediatrics 1998; 101:163–184). Ear infections, sinus infections, bronchitis, sore throats, and colds account for three fourths of all antibiotic prescriptions. These guidelines should not be rigidly adhered to for every child, but they do give a good general idea of when to avoid antibiotics.”

I believe a deeper, and emotional answer to why antibiotic overuse is still occurring lies here; People don’t like being sick and they don’t like riding a sickness out, they especially don’t like worrying over their sick children (all understandable, who does)?

In addition to this, people don’t truly know how to effectively nourish theirs or their children’s bodies back to health and lastly, they want good health right now, they don’t want to have to wait for it.

Facts of life,

  • People will get sick.
  • Children need to get sick.
  • If children are not allowed to get sick and fight sickness, their immune systems will not mature.
  • When dealing with sicknesses, hard work is involved in nourishing the body back to health-doing this effectively will mean time off work
  • The doctor is right when they tell you that hydration is a very important key.
  • A host of childhood hospitalizations are due to de-hydration.
  • There are other options to antibiotics
  • Antibiotics can do more harm then good (read the devastating affect of antibiotics on this young man’s life in Patient Heal Thyself by Jordan Rubin, and this startling article by Scientific American and this definition of Antibiotic Resistance on Wikipedia)
  • Medical science is becoming concerned that if antibiotic resistance continues to increase that eventually they won’t be able to keep up with the bacteria “super bugs”

In conclusion, parenthood is worrisome. An antibiotic is not going to make that go away, and you may be exposing your child to more risk by insisting your doctor prescribe them one. If you would like to know more about some simple steps you can take to help yourself and your family naturally, then

Click here to read my article What To Do When Your Doctor Won’t Prescribe An Antibiotic

References;

  1. http://www.drgreene.com/article/guidelines-antibiotic-use
  2. Remaining references contained in the article

Hey, want to love your inbox again? Then contact me for more fun, daily quick tips!

Article by Shayla, Master Herbalist, Homemaker, and Young Living Independent Distributor.

See more articles by Shayla

shayla-young-living

"Assisting Families in their quest for greater health!"

Unless otherwise stated, these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This article is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, claim to cure, or treat disease. Seek the advice of a professional in the case of disease or medical emergency.

What To Do When Your Doctor Won’t Give You an Antibiotic

February 10, 2010 in Alternative Therapies, Aromatherapy, Best Essential Oils, Cold / Flu, Congestion / Respiratory, Essential Oil Supplements, Essential Oils, Family Health, Kids, Natural, Professional Wellness Products, Young Living Distributor, Young Living Essential Oils by Shayla | No comments

Antibiotic overuse is becoming a real problem. If you have already read my article, Antibiotics and Children, then you know that Medical science is growing concerned because they are finding that bacterias are smart, and that they are learning how to mutate to make themselves immune to antibiotic treatment (also known as antibiotic resistance). The following information comes from an article by the American College of Physicians.

“Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide public health problem that continues to grow. It occurs when strains of bacteria in the human body become resistant to antibiotics due to improper use and abuse of antibiotics.

The article went on to say that more the 133 million courses of antibiotics are prescribed to non-hospitalized patients by doctors each year, and that an estimated 50 percent of them are unnecessary. The main reason they are prescribed unnecessarily is because patients insist on them. This is what I like to call, playing with fire. In other words, what will we do when the bad bugs become too smart for medical science?

So, what do you do when the doctor will not prescribe you an antibiotic? First of all, there are many things you can do to nourish your body as means of prevention before you even get sick. Should you get sick, having taken care of your body before hand means you are more likely to bounce back quicker. However, if you are already sick, the 5 tips below are not only some things you can do to nourish the body and immune system, but they can even be useful in reducing symptoms for some who are already sick.

  1. Take Probiotics. This is perhaps the single most important thing you can do, and it is especially important if you must take an antibiotic! Why? Have you ever noticed how many times people continue to catch bad bugs after their antibiotic treatments? This is because the antibiotic wipes out the natural, good bacteria that protects us from bad bacterias. Supplementing with heavy doses of probiotics after antibiotic treatments is beneficial in repopulating the digestive system with healthy bacteria. I was recently informed that some antibiotics are beginning to come with a type of probiotic for people to follow up with, however our family loves Young Livings Life 5 purchased here. According to the product fact sheet on Life 5 it provides “Improved immunity: Probiotics, especially the super strain (LA-14), have been shown to be a tremendous support to immune function.*” A good probiotic should have over 1 billion live cultures, otherwise you should look for a different one (good ones appear expensive at first glance, but they beat the alternative). Young Livings Life 5 has “8 billion active cultures and improves colonization up to 10 times.” Read more on Life 5 here.
  2. Vitamin D-3. No doubt, you have heard about Vitamin D-3 this year. Studies have been published even in local newspapers about how most people are deficient in it, and how dangerous this deficiency is, especially for children. According to Wikipedia, it is beneficial for many things, including modulating normal, immune system function.
  3. Thieves! Thieves is an invaluable Young Living blend of highly antiviral, antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-infectious essential oils and has been clinically tested to kill airborne microorganisms. Further testing found that the longer Thieves was diffused into the air, the stronger it became, and although the bad bugs try to mutate it does them no good (1). Young Living provides a line of Thieves products (purchased here), including Inner Defense, Thieves lozenges, Household Cleaner and more. For children, Thieves Lozenges available from Young Living are phenomenal! They are chewable, and they are safe, but I will warn you, your children will want to eat them like candy so keep them up where they cannot get them! Products like Inner Defense (pills containing Thieves) are wonderful for supporting normal immune function, however the bottle says to seek a professional’s guidance on using this product on children (mine says it is okay for my children). I will say, the Thieves essential oil blend is one of the most used products in our home! More then once have sore throat symptoms disappeared after taking just one drop!
  4. Eat Healthy. The more you can cut sugar out of the diet during the sick seasons and replace it with healthy snacks like fruit, the better off you will be. Sugar has been proven to depress the immune system (2).
  5. Keep hydrated. It takes patience, and work, but even children can be taught to stay hydrated during a cold/flu.

Shop for Thieves and Life 5 HERE.

For more information regarding natural immune support, read my article entitled Natural Defense Plan Against Swine Flu, aka H1N1

References;
1. The Essential Oils Desk Reference, Thieves
2. http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/sugar.htm

recommend read; The Holistic Baby Guide

Hey, want to love your inbox again? Then contact me for more fun, daily quick tips!

Article by Shayla, Master Herbalist, Homemaker, and Young Living Independent Distributor.

See more articles by Shayla

shayla-young-living

"Assisting Families in their quest for greater health!"

Unless otherwise stated, these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This article is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, claim to cure, or treat disease. Seek the advice of a professional in the case of disease or medical emergency.

Mother, Take Care of Yourself Too-4 Top Tips

February 2, 2010 in Aromatherapy, Family Health, Health, Natural, Peace and Calming, Professional Wellness Products, Relaxation, Therapeutic-grade Essential Oil, Women's Health, Young Living Distributor, Young Living Essential Oils by Shayla | No comments

I was standing in line at the grocery store recently when, as usual, a tabloid jumped out at me-this one regarding the popular actresses Jeniffer Aniston and Angelina Jolie. It read something like “Angelina Jolie, tired and bony while Jennifer Aniston struts her stuff”. Now, I will admit, I am a fan of Aniston’s, and not so much Jolie, but as a mother the tabloids point was a huge dud. If that tabloid was designed to make Jolie jealous, it probably failed, as it should have.

What mother would get so jealous that she would trade one of her children in for a better body-even it it was the most beautiful body on the planet? Perhaps it is only us mother’s who could understand this fact of life!

We mom’s love our babies, and would do anything for them, including stay up all night with them and forget our own needs in order to put theirs first. And as the tabloid did successfully make clear, no actively involved mom is exempt from this! As a result we too often don’t look our best. Since we don’t count the costs, bags under the eyes and other not-so-great looks can add up fast, which can subtract from self esteem.

So, mom’s,  here are four;

Tips from the Mommy trenches!

Tip 1.

When you are totally frazzled at the end of the day, don’t underestimate the power of an Epsom salt Lavender bath. Bath fizzers can be made as well-see a video on how to make them here. True lavender is specifically noted in the Essential Oils Desk Reference for depression and relaxation. Cation; most true lavenders are extended with chemicals. I purchase and recommend only pure, quality oils purchased here.

Tip 2.

Invest in a good eye cream. Good ones are expensive, but they do last a LONG time, so don’t wilt too much at the cost because it will pay itself off. Remember, you are worth it, puffy bags under the eyes aren’t! Don’t forget to look for an all natural one.

Tip 3.

SUPPLEMENT yourself! A good multi-vitamin should help boost your energy, nourish and feed your body so that it can look it’s best from the inside out. I recommend only whole food vitamins because regular vitamins are not easily absorbed by the body. In fact, many are eliminated from the body without even disolving. If you cannot tell a difference on your multi-vitamin, it probably is not doing anything for you. My favorite is True Source from Young Living. I notice my skin stay’s clearer and prettier when I am on it too. You can learn more about why whole food vitamins are better here.

Tip 4.

Try aromatherapy. Once you have experienced the mind, spirit, and body revitalization abilities of pure, therapeutic grade essential oils, you know why I say TRY THEM!  You will never be the same again! They truly can transform your attitude from cranky, tired, and plain ugly to peaceful, postive, and beautiful in seconds, and what is it that the men folk love more then the perfect face and bod??? It is a SMILING, positive woman with a sparkle in her eye!!! Read my article entitled The Health and Beauty Connection.

The following 2 essential oil blends are some of my “mommy transformation” favorites!

  • Overwhelmed and can’t figure out what to take on first? Or just need something to help you relax (or your children relax)? I recommend applying a blend called Peace and Calming. It smells earthy and citrusy and is great for melting anxiety.
  • If you are just feeling down in the dumps, try the uplifting blend called Joy. Joy smells like a combination of floral and citrus.

Yes, these look expensive but when you consider that

  1. they are a very worth-while investment that will pay you back
  2. they will last a loooong time (there are 250 drops per bottle and you only use it by the drop)
  3. and when you consider all you do for others, that you deserve and could use the help these oils give, ask yourself,

ARE YOU NOT WORTH IT? Let me assure you, if you are a mom, you are worth it!

How to use these oils;

  • You can use them in a bath
  • Wear them as perfume on your wrists, neck, and by your ears
  • Put them on a necklace pendant to smell all day long
  • Inhalation therapy; place a drop or two of the oil in the palms of your hand, with fingertips twirl the oils in a clockwise motion, then cup your hands together over your mouth and nose and inhale!

Purchase These Oils Here

or if you are on a budget like me;
click here to learn about how to get these and other attitude adjusting oils at 24% discount prices!

Related articles you may enjoy;

Hey, want to love your inbox again? Then contact me for more fun, daily quick tips!

Article by Shayla, Master Herbalist, Homemaker, and Young Living Independent Distributor.

See more articles by Shayla

shayla-young-living

"Assisting Families in their quest for greater health!"

Unless otherwise stated, these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This article is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, claim to cure, or treat disease. Seek the advice of a professional in the case of disease or medical emergency.

5 Steps to A Natural Pregnancy

January 27, 2010 in Aromatherapy, Family Health, Kids, Pregnancy, Professional Wellness Products, Women's Health, Young Living Distributor, Young Living Essential Oils by Shayla | 1 comment

Hey mom’s, and moms-to-be, have you ever noticed that just about every popular pregnancy site you go to is full of un-natural, chemical based product advertisements? Based off of results in this study done by the EPA, chemical based products are the last thing a pregnant woman should be around. They not only degrade the mother’s health, but have been linked to many serious childhood health problems as well. During pregnancy is one of the most important times of all to go all-natural.

The problem is, so many mom’s these days have no idea where to start in going all-natural. Below are five simple, quick steps to get any wise, concerned mama started! Even if you can only incorporate a couple of these steps into your life it is still worth doing as you will be that many steps ahead!

  1. Whole Food Prenatal’s.  I cannot say enough about how much better, and more effective whole food prenatal’s are then synthetic. Rather then repeat myself, check out my article on the subject of whole food vitamins.
  2. If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t put it on your body! Please, ladies, just say no to synthetic, chemical based bath and beauty products!! What you put on the skin goes into the body, and into your baby’s body. Again, view this study by the EPA to see why this is so important. If you don’t know where to start in finding good bath and beauty products that build health instead of degrade it, Young Living is a great place to start. You can browse through their healthy Personal Care Products here.
  3. Ditch the regular household cleaning products and use eco-friendly ones. The EPA study explains this too. Vinegar, baking soda, a couple drops of lemon essential oil placed in a bucket of hot water, and a wonderful, disinfecting yet natural cleaning solution called Thieves Household Cleaner Concentrate, (you can dilute this cleaner with water and even use the diluted solution in a spray bottle for all-purpose cleaning) are my personal favorites for household cleaning.

    Both the Lemon oil and Thieves Cleaner are  available here. You can clean with what ever essential oil meets your fancy though just make sure it is pure, therapeutic grade like Young Livings-cleaning this way with essential oils is great fun if I may add! If you need help getting started in this area, visit Environmentally Friendly Cleaning for great idea’s and links today.

  4. Go Organic! The best way to do this is to grow your produce yourself, that way you can be assured you are getting chemical and preservative free food.Second best is to buy local, from growers you know fairly well and can quiz to as if they use pesticides/herbicides.

    An article worth reading on this subject can be found here-Note, this article was very good, but dated as they said there was no real proof that pesticide residues in food cause health problems and the EPA and other sources have since proven there is.

  5. Opt for natural remedies whenever possible. So many pain relievers and over the counter medications cannot even be taken in pregnancy, but natural preventatives like essential oils, vitamin D-3, carrot juice, and whole food supplements can!! Eating well, taking the best supplements, and getting enough sleep can go a long ways in any pregnancy regime, but should you get the normal aches and pains, or even sniffles, natural remedies are safe and effective.Young Living provides two things I would not want to be without during a pregnancy, Theives essential oil blend for when I feel something coming on and Deep Relief Roll-on for aches and pains! With my master’s in herbology (a degree in the use of herbs) I have used both of these during pregnancy without fear and to tremendous advantage, however it is recommended that you talk to you health practitioner prior to using them. I would find a good naturopathic doctor to talk to because an M.D. has no training in the use of alternative medicine as this.

How Much Does it Cost to Go Natural?

For moms who want to save the most money in going natural I highly recommend signing up for a wholesale account with Young Living, this way you’ll save 24% off their products.

The cost of all of the suggested products above at wholesale cost; (a Whole Food Supplement, Bath product, Thieves Concentrate Cleaner, Lemon oil, Thieves essential oil blend and Deep Relief Roll-On) will end up costing you roughly $130.00 (U.S.A.)*. The only item that would need to be replaced regularly is the Whole Food Supplement, the other items would last for quite some time.

Products are guaranteed pure, and delivered to your door saving you money in fuel expenses (and the inconvenient trips to stores with little one’s in tote). For more information on signing up for a wholesale account, click here.

Cost of having a healthy you and child-priceless.

Sign Up and/or Purchase Products HERE.

Other Related Articles you may enjoy;

If you would like to know more about having a natural pregnancy and raising your child naturally, I highly recommend Debra Rayburn’s easy reading book entitled Gentle Babies: Essential Oils and Natural Remedies for Pregnancy, Childbirth and Infant Care

Other References

  1. Gentle Babies by Debra Rayburn
  2. My Motherhood

*Shipping not included

Hey, want to love your inbox again? Then contact me for more fun, daily quick tips!

Article by Shayla, Master Herbalist, Homemaker, and Young Living Independent Distributor.

See more articles by Shayla

shayla-young-living

"Assisting Families in their quest for greater health!"

Unless otherwise stated, these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This article is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, claim to cure, or treat disease. Seek the advice of a professional in the case of disease or medical emergency.

Aromatherapy, Natural Help for Anxiety

January 20, 2010 in Anxiety, Essential Oils, Peace and Calming, Relaxation, Stress, Young Living Distributor, Young Living Essential Oils by Shayla | No comments

In preparing for this article, I was not too surprised to see that in the past month over 12,000 people searched  the Internet for answers regarding anxiety, and that was just through one search engine alone! I was told by web “guru’s” that you can safely multiply one major search engines results by four and figure that’s a more accurate estimate of how many people actually do searches for help on a topic. So, in this regard we can assume 48,000 searched the Internet for anxiety answers over the month.  That is allot of anxious people!

In times past, I was one of these anxious people myself. Yesterday, I realized it has been 8 months and counting since my last panic attack (my family and I were stuck on an interstate during a severe thunder/rainstorm/tornado warning last May-that is just cause for a panic attack, right?). Also, I can proclaim that it has been over a year since I suffered from anxiety attacks that had weekly racked my body, mind, and spirit.

My ‘frank’ secret?

There is no question about it, I do not suffer like I used to since I started using Young Living oils regularly and religiously. My oil of choice for “high wiredness” prevention is frankincense. It is my favorite simply because I love the scent and it is one of the scents recorded in Scripture to have been brought to baby Jesus.

I have been wondering if the three wise men brought Frankincense as a gift to baby Jesus for as much Mary’s benefit as Jesus’, because I know the frankincense helps me be a better mommy!  And I have the kind of children that you leave for 60 seconds and come back to find they’ve done a “dance of the grapes” with potato chips on my freshly vacuumed living room carpet! I.E. they are not exactly wall flowers if you know what I mean!

True, pure frankincense essential oil is expensive. As Dr. David Stewart says in The Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Easy;

“However, when you see a bottle of fluid labeled as “frankincense” for $10-$20 for a full ounce, you can be sure it has been diluted because you can’t gather the resins from the Arabian and Somalian deserts, transport them to France or England to be distilled, and then import them to North America (or any other country) for that  price and maintain quality and purity.”

On the bright side, a 15 ml bottle of Young Living’s essential oil has approximately 250 drops in it, and if you use 1/2 a drop a day, as I do, that will last you over a year. To me, that is a small price to pay for the value the oil brings to our lives!

How To Use

I usually put one half of a drop of Young Living Frankincense on my terracotta necklace pendant first thing in the morning. About a week after I started doing this routine, I noticed I was a more centered, and a more ‘able to cope with whatever’ person throughout the day.

Some other, less expensive oils that I have used for the same purpose which help me instantly and upon application are Young Living’s

  • Peace and Calming Blend
  • Release Blend
  • lavender

It doesn’t really matter which one I use, they all do the same thing for me; they calm and relax, and suddenly I feel like I can handle the “25 things to do at the same time” mommy syndrome without even being tempted to melt down like before! Therapeutic grade oils from Young Living really work!

Purchase these oils here!

Hey, want to love your inbox again? Then contact me for more fun, daily quick tips!

Article by Shayla, Master Herbalist, Homemaker, and Young Living Independent Distributor.

See more articles by Shayla

shayla-young-living

"Assisting Families in their quest for greater health!"

Unless otherwise stated, these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This article is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, claim to cure, or treat disease. Seek the advice of a professional in the case of disease or medical emergency.

Newborn Baby Wardrobe and Laundry Tips

January 13, 2010 in Aromatherapy, Kids, Laundry, Natural, Pregnancy, Young Living Distributor, Young Living Essential Oils by Shayla | 1 comment

pregnancy-peopleIf you are like most women, as you near the due date of your baby’s birth you enjoy planning and preparing for the little one’s arrival. This includes preparing your little one’s wardrobe so that you have what you need handy when the little one makes it’s debut! If you are a first time mother, and with all the advertising and the so called “must have’s”,  this task can go from fun to overwhelming fast since you have no clue what a new baby actually needs. And if you are on a budget it can get depressing quickly too with today’s economy.  So what all does a little one actually need to have in their wardrobe?

Below are three tips from the Mommy Trenches to assist you in your planning!

1. Color Scheming for Newborns and Toddlers.

Although the color scheming is great fun, the most practical color option is white. White looks good on all babies-especially in pictures, is easiest to get stains out of, and works for a boy or girl. If you are purchasing for your baby yourself, white is the most economical and long lived buy. Cotton is the healthiest fabric to wear, and organic cotton is the optimum.

2. Newborn Wardrobe necessities.

  • 6-9 Newborn Onesies (long sleeved)
  • 9-12 Medium Onesies (sleeves depend on season, some short sleeved ones are wise to have for under other clothing)
  • 4-6 Pullover Shirts
  • 3 Gowns
  • 6-9 footed pajama sleepers
  • 2-4 Cap and Bootie Sets
  • 3 Thin fleece Blankets
  • 8-12 Bibs- even though the baby won’t be eating solids, bibs are still good to catch spit up making less times a day you have to change their clothes!
  • 12 Washcloths
  • 7-9 Receiving Blankets
  • 1 package of socks-make sure to purchase the kind babies cannot kick off
  • 12 flat-fold cloth diapers (Gerber), for laying over your clothes to protect them from spit-up while burping

3. Laundering Tips for Baby Clothes

  1. First and foremost, in case you are not yet already aware, chemical based laundry detergents and fabric softeners should never be used on baby clothing as they are not only dangerous, but far too harsh for a baby’s skin. In fact, it is wise not even to use regular laundry detergent when pregnant. Why? The Environmental Working Group has done more then one study that found chemicals in babies blood tests; chemicals from everyday products we use, like laundry detergent, household cleaners and bath/body products. These chemicals have been linked to many devastating childhood health problems that are overwhelming today’s children, click here to learn more about this.
  2. Specialty laundry detergent is made for babies now and is worth the extra money since regular ones will more then likely give your newborns extra-sensitive new skin an uncomfortable rash. There are many, natural and organic laundry detergents available that are not only suitable for baby clothing, but superior as they do not contain harsh chemicals.
  3. You can also make your own home-made laundry detergent see recipe here. For whitening, Seventh Generation provides a natural, chlorine free bleach that is free of perfumes and dyes, is color safe and hypo-allergenic.
  4. Pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils of lavender, orange, and Young Living’s Gentle Baby blend are lovely oils you can use to scent a new baby’s clothing.
  5. In preparing my newborns clothing, one of my favorite things to do is place a drop of orange and a drop of lavender (or a couple drops of Gentle Baby) on one of the baby washcloths, place it in a 2 gallon seal-able plastic bag, along with baby clothes after I have washed and dried them.  By placing them in the sealed bag they are kept perfectly dust free and sanitary until the baby’s arrival, plus they seal the oils into the bag so they  permeate the clothing with gentle, relaxing aroma-therapeutic benefits while scenting them perfectly. I like using these oils because they are uplifting and yet relaxing, and perfect for newborns. Frankincense is another phenomenal oil I like to use as it was one of the scents brought to baby Jesus by the 3 wise men.
  6. Another tip in scenting baby clothes, is you can make your own aromatherapy spray mist to put on freshly laundered clothing while it is warm from the drier.

To make your own mist, simply combine in a two ounce mist bottle;

  1. 1 ounce pure, grain alcohol (helps the mist to evaporate quickly)
  2. 1 ounce pure, distilled water
  3. and approximately 20 drops pure therapeutic grade essential oil*.

Purchase these essential oils here

*Special Note To Moms on Using Essential Oils With Babies And Small Children

Never use non-therapeutic, perfume grade essential oils on a newborn or their clothing!

Therapeutic grade essential oils are the only kind that are safe for babies as they are they are guaranteed free of chemicals, solvents, and contaminants that can cause irritation and other problems. Young Living provides only the purest, therapeutic grade essential oils, and are the only ones I would ever trust and use on little ones. To learn more about why I trust Young Livings oils over others, click here.

For more highly beneficial information on essential oils and babies I recommend the highly informative book Gentle Babies: Essential Oils and Natural Remedies for Pregnancy, Childbirth and Infant Care by Debra Rayburn N.D., M.H., C.N.C, I.C.A. Related articles you might enjoy include;

Hey, want to love your inbox again? Then contact me for more fun, daily quick tips!

Article by Shayla, Master Herbalist, Homemaker, and Young Living Independent Distributor.

See more articles by Shayla

shayla-young-living

"Assisting Families in their quest for greater health!"

Unless otherwise stated, these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This article is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, claim to cure, or treat disease. Seek the advice of a professional in the case of disease or medical emergency.

« Older entries