Wintergreen: PanAway's Not so Secret Weapon

Wintergreen is strong stuff and is one of the primary constituents of Young Living's infamous soothing and refreshing blend - PanAway, which is included in the premium starter kits and one I have used very successfully to calm strained nerves and muscles. As an active mom on my feet a lot, it definitely comes in handy. Plus, it enhances other oils that it's blended with, while refreshing and energizing with its sweet, minty smell.

Young Living says: "Wintergreen essential oil has a refreshing, minty, and sweet aroma. This stimulating and invigorating scent makes it an ideal addition to lotions and ointments that are applied after activity. Wintergreen includes the naturally occurring constituent methyl salicylate, and is an important ingredient in Deep Relief™ Roll-On, Ortho Ease® and Ortho Sport® Massage Oils, PanAway® essential oil blend, and BLM™.
Wintergreen's fragrance may be attractive to children so always keep the child-resistant cap in place."

It is important to note that this oil is very potent so it is NOT generally recommended for children, pregnant women, or epileptics. This is why both it and PanAway come with child-resistant caps and should be kept out of reach of children. The active ingredient, methyl salicylate, is strong and effective, but it can cause allergic reactions in some so a diluted skin patch test is a must before using this oil.

Did you know that Wintergreen "leaves have been chewed to increase respiratory capacity by Native Americans when running long distances and performing difficult labor"? (Essential Oils Pocket Reference, 123). It is very stimulating and supports many areas of the body. My favorite use for it beyond PanAway roll-on blends, is diffusing it to create a refreshing and invigorating atmosphere.

Specific Blends & Uses:

• Diffuse or combine in roll-on blend with R.C. and Lemon or Lemon and Peppermint to support the respiratory system and energize.
• Diffuse or combine in a roll-on blend with Frankincense and Lavender to soothe, enhance focus, uplift, and calm.
• Add with Copaiba and Lavender to favorite lotions and ointments to enhance their soothing effects.
• Combine in a roll-on blend with DiGize to comfort and support the digestive system.
• Diffuse or combine in a roll-on blend with Stress Away or Lemon and Lavender to calm, uplift, and promote restful sleep.
• Diffuse or combine in a roll-on blend with Purification to support the respiratory system, deodorize and purify the air.
• Diffuse or combine in a roll-on blend with Thieves to create an inviting, holiday atmosphere, support the immune and respiratory systems, and purify the air.

Basically, if you're human, you're going to need this wonderful oil at some point in your life. Don't spend one more day without it! If you're curious and want to learn more email me at rach.dorian@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you.

*Disclaimer: This post is NOT intended as medical advice of any kind because I am not a doctor. These product(s) have not been tested or evaluated by the FDA and so they are not intended to cure, treat, or prevent disease. They only help your body to do what it was meant to do, like nutritional supplements. Caution should be exercised with first time oil use - skin patch tests prior to use and dilution with carrier oil - especially in children. Children, especially under the age of 6, should never ingest essential oils without advice of a healthcare professional since they are concentrated and potent. If you are under the care of a physician, nursing, taking prescription medication, or pregnant please consult your doctor prior to use. Keep essential oils out of reach of children.

Thieves: DIY Purifying Spray

As you may imagine by all my going on about it thus far, Thieves is an incredibly useful and indispensable essential oil blend to have around. It was pioneered by Young Living based upon the herbs and oils that four thieves and spice traders allegedly used to cover themselves in before robbing plague victims. They  managed to survive, but they were caught and they bargained their valuable secret for a lesser sentence. Thieves is cleansing, yummy smelling, antioxidant rich and formulated to support the immune system. The All Purpose Cleaner I make with it has been so popular and effective that I realized I needed to create a purse sized purifying spray with it too.

This spray works so well for hands, shopping carts, toys and so much more. No more worrying about strong alcohol or chemicals. I have personally always detested the smell of hand sanitizer and the way it would dry out my hands. This spray smells wonderful and is much gentler on our hands.

The recipe is as follows:

1 2oz. amber glass spray bottle

2 oz. Unscented Witch Hazel

5-25 drops Thieves essential oil

You can also use water with a bit of salt instead of Witch Hazel if you would like to use it for cleaning rather than skin purifying. I just used 5 drops of essential oil in mine to use around a baby, but you can always experiment with the amount. I wouldn't use more than 25 drops for a very concentrated solution. 5 drops is sufficient and 10 drops should be plenty.

Stick this handy spray bottle in your purse and never be without it. You can email me at rach.dorian@gmail.com to learn more about how to get started with essential oils.

*Disclaimer: This post is NOT intended as medical advice of any kind because I am not a doctor. These product(s) have not been tested or evaluated by the FDA and so they are not intended to cure, treat, or prevent disease. They only help your body to do what it was meant to do, like nutritional supplements. Caution should be exercised with first time oil use - skin patch tests prior to use and dilution with carrier oil - especially in children. Children, especially under the age of 6, should never ingest essential oils without advice of a healthcare professional since they are concentrated and potent. If you are under the care of a physician, nursing, taking prescription medication, or pregnant please consult your doctor prior to use. Keep essential oils out of reach of children.

Why Young Living?

When I first got seriously interested in taking control of mine and my family's health with essential oils, I was very confused and conflicted about which essential oil company to buy from. My primary concerns were that they be both effective and safe to use for myself and my baby. So far, I had heard about Young Living, but not much. So, I decided to do some research. The two companies I was really split between were DoTerra and Young Living. Truth be told, I had heard WAY more about DoTerra and their marketing and design is pretty on point. But I learned in my research that DoTerra was actually formed by executives that left Young Living, meaning they learned what they know from there. And the founder of Young Living, Gary Young, learned from and trained with experts in the field of essential oils in France and Germany where the oils are in fact used for medicinal purposes. Gary Young and the company he established with his very own farms and distillation are truly world leaders in essential oils considering how he pioneered their use in the US. They are marketed as "Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade" but that is only a trademark, not regulated, and those claims are made by every essential oil producer.

But what really convinced me to jump in with Young Living was the fact that they are committed to top notch quality and purity. And it isn't just some marketing ploy when they claim 100% pure, therapeutic grade. They are the ONLY essential oil company to own their own farms and make sure that all weed control is done by hand and all pest control is done using their own essential oils. How amazing is that?! This was one of the main selling points for me. They are beyond organic and they test each batch of oil with state of the art in house testing called Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry and 3rd party testing.

Now you might be thinking, is it really so significant if other companies adulterate their oils with synthetics and use lower quality distillations? YES, it is. One of the primary reasons that people turn to essential oils is because they are tired of the serious side effects, risks, and expense of being dependent on chemical and synthetic products. Adulterated or lower quality essential oils do not have the healing power and complex therapeutic chemical structure of true therapeutic grade essential oils. "Adulteration of essential oils will become more and more common as the supply of top-quality essential oils dwindles and demand continues to increase ... Adulterated oils that are mixed with synthetic extenders can be very detrimental, causing rashes, burns, and skin irritations" (Essential Oils Pocket Reference, 25). Certain pure, "hot" oils such as Oregano and Peppermint may also cause skin irritation if not diluted properly in a carrier oil, but their health benefits when pure are undeniable.

I was determined to only use the best on my baby and my family. So, Young Living was the natural choice. They have the most experience - 20+ years - and the largest selection of essential oils and blends on the market! I also love the pricing and design of their Premium Starter Kits. The 5ml bottles are perfect for discovering what you love, like, and maybe aren't all that crazy about (though they're all so useful you can not help but love them) at an affordable price.

The reason I started sharing essential oils is because I saw amazing results that can't be beat. I would never recommend something I didn't wholeheartedly believe in or anything but the very best, especially for children. This whole journey with essential oils has been so eye opening and empowering and I love helping others discover the miraculous benefits of these oils for everyday healthy living and wellness. So email me at rach.dorian@gmail.com to learn more! 

*Disclaimer: This post is NOT intended as medical advice of any kind because I am not a doctor. These product(s) have not been tested or evaluated by the FDA and so they are not intended to cure, treat, or prevent disease. They only help your body to heal itself. Any conditions mentioned above are things that myself and other people have experienced alleviation of when using essential oils and everyone can react differently. Caution should be exercised with first time oil use - skin patch tests prior to use and dilution with carrier oil - especially in children. Children, especially under the age of 6, should never ingest essential oils without advice of a healthcare professional since they are concentrated and potent. If you are under the care of a physician, nursing, taking prescription medication, or pregnant please consult your doctor prior to use. Keep essential oils out of reach of children.

Thy Faith hath made thee Whole

There comes a time in all of our mortal journeys when we are faced with the ultimate choice: whether to become angry with God, blame Him for the unfairness of life and shun Him or whether to fall to our knees and plead for His help and for faith. I remember facing those two roads. For the first time in my life I had been beset with such a soul crushing trial that I truly wondered if there could be a loving God and what I had done to deserve such pain. I felt as if He had deserted me. When I looked down that dark road of anger and pain and loneliness I could not bear to go down it. So, I fell to my knees and plead and sobbed to find a better way, to have faith.

Almost immediately, miracles began to unfold. The burden was not completely lifted, not all at once. But line upon line, precept upon precept, gradually and miraculously like the sun breaking through the darkness of a moonless night I began to see and hope again. One day, I will write about the trial, but it is not nearly so important as the path I found to healing.

That path was my Savior, Jesus Christ and his Atonement. It began with a heaven sent Priesthood blessing that dispelled some of the awful darkness. I no longer felt like I was suffocating and alone. It was still dark, but I could quite literally feel angels surrounding. I felt distinctly that they were mine and my husband's ancestors. I watched my baby girl, my sweet little angel given to me to keep me grounded through this trial, get up and take her first steps to me that very day. And I knew that my Heavenly Father was mindful of me and that He would guide me. I was lead to all the right resources and reading material and support that I needed. I was never alone. I came to believe that my Savior did have the power to heal me and my family.

The visiting teaching message for March is what inspired me to finally write this piece. What touched me most was this scripture story: "The scriptures tell us that in our earthly life, we should 'be patient in afflictions, for [we shall] have many.' God then gives us this comforting promise, 'Endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days' (D&C 24:8).

The following Bible story is an example of patience and faith.

'And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years … touched the border of [Christ’s] garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched [stopped].

'And Jesus said, … Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

'And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

'And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace' (Luke 8:43–48).

Like her, we can find blessings and comfort, and even healing, as we reach out to Jesus Christ—whose Atonement can heal us."

I love how in this story the Savior humbly attributes her miraculous healing to her own faith. By so doing, He teaches all of us that we all have the power already within ourselves to be healed if we will only have faith. But I think too often we get swept up in the world's definition of "whole" - the perfect smiling family, perfect health, perfect house, perfect vacations, perfect job, perfect figure. Too often we wonder why the Lord hasn't made our lives perfect when we exercise faith. We look at others with their seemingly perfect lives and think they must have a more perfect faith. Or worse, we begin to doubt and lose faith. But no matter how perfect anyone else seems, remember that we are ALL broken within in one way or another - we do not know or understand the private struggles of the mother with the perfect hair and makeup and home, or the high powered CEO, or the privileged children who seem to have everything handed to them. That mother might be suffering from depression, that CEO might be losing his family, those children might crave an absent parent's love and attention. We are all broken and we all struggle even if we can't see it. 

Only our faith in the Savior and His Atonement can make us whole. And by whole I do not mean picture perfect by the world's utterly imperfect standards. I mean whole within ourselves, in our own hearts. It is our hearts that He is trying to make whole, not our entire lives. The woman in the story was whole in her heart and her faith before she ever touched His garment and that was of far greater eternal worth. So "be of good comfort," and have faith. I know that when we exercise even a particle of faith the Lord will magnify it immeasurably. And whether or not you brought your trials upon yourself, no matter the lies and discouragement you have heaped upon yourself, He will see you through them if you turn to Him. He will heal you.

Lemon: All Natural and Multipurpose Windex

This amazing stuff combined with my All Purpose EO Cleaner is really all you need to clean your entire home naturally and effectively. They both work even just as well, if not better, than their chemical counterparts. Plus, they are completely non-toxic and safe to use around children! Even my mother-in-law, who is a bit skeptical about essential oils, has started using them in place of her other cleaners because they work SO well and they smell super yummy.

Recipe:

1 2oz. amber glass spray bottle

1 oz. (60 ml or halfway) white vinegar

1 oz. water

5-10 drops Lemon essential oil

This cleaner can shine and purify windows and mirrors.

I use it to wash our produce.

It can get gum out of hair, remove permanent marker, and stains out of carpet.

It can even purify the air. 

And of course, Lemon essential oil is included in the Young Living Premium Starter kit. So, if you're skeptical about essential oils "working," let me tell you, they work for cleaning. without question. You'll always find a reason to use them. Email me at rach.dorian@gmail.com if you're curious and want to learn more!

*Disclaimer: This post is NOT intended as medical advice of any kind because I am not a doctor. These product(s) have not been tested or evaluated by the FDA and so they are not intended to cure, treat, or prevent disease. Caution should be exercised with first time oil use - skin patch tests and dilution with carrier oil - especially in children.

All Natural & All Purpose Essential Oil Cleaner

I am so excited to share my miracle cleaner with you today! I honestly can not say enough good about this cleaner or these amazing oils. After searching the internet for a recipe for an all purpose essential oil cleaner I picked bits and pieces of what I liked and created my very own. I may modify it or create others in the future, but this one has worked so incredibly well! And it smells so good. Even my mother-in-law has been using it.

The recipe is as follows:

1 16 oz. Glass Spray Bottle (fill it up most of the way with warm water)

10 drops Thieves essential oil

10 drops Lemon essential oil

5 drops Melaleuca (Tea Tree) essential oil

1/3 cup. vinegar (you can always do more vinegar and less water but I didn't want it to smell too much like vinegar)

1/2 cup lemon juice

1-2 tsp. baking soda

The vinegar and soda will react with each other, creating a fizzy action, so do it over a sink. The reaction will neutralize them both since vinegar is an acid and baking soda is a base. This combination is excellent for removing hard water stains, and the essential oils will purify and cleanse. To add more cleaning, degreasing, and bleaching power add some extra lemon juice to the solution.

I decided to test the cleaner out first on the bathroom. And let's just say it had been way too long since I had cleaned this particular bathroom. There was staining on the toilet that I just didn't think my cleaner was going to be able to handle. So I used Clorox toilet cleaner first and in spite of my scrubbing it was not coming off. Sprayed it down with my essential oil cleaner and with only a little more effort it was sparkling white and clean. It did the same for the rest of the bathroom. I've honestly never been able to clean an entire bathroom so quickly in my entire life! Instead of chemical smells that make your eyes water, my essential oil cleaner made it smell like heaven - clove, lemon, cinnamon, and just yummy clean. I have since used it to clean counter tops, baby high chair, tile floors, and even the kitchen sink drain, all of which it excelled at and far surpassed any other cleaner.

If you're wondering how it could be so good, let me explain. Thieves is a Young Living proprietary blend with clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary essential oils. "Thieves® was created based on research about four thieves in France who covered themselves with cloves, rosemary, and other aromatics while robbing plague victims. This proprietary essential oil blend was university tested for its cleansing abilities. It is highly effective in supporting the immune system and good health."

Lemon is of course well known for its cleaning and especially whitening capabilities. There is no end to the amount of things it can clean and do.

And Melaleuca, more commonly known as Tea Tree, both supports the immune system and cleans beautifully.

And best of all, two out of three of these incredibly useful oils are included in the Young Living starter kit! Email me at rach.dorian@gmail.com if you want to learn more about how essential oils can benefit you and your family. They are the best towards living a non-toxic, healthier life without compromising on quality and effectiveness.

*Disclaimer: This post is NOT intended as medical advice of any kind because I am not a doctor. These product(s) have not been tested or evaluated by the FDA and so they are not intended to cure, treat, or prevent disease. Caution should be exercised with first time oil use - skin patch tests and dilution with carrier oil - especially in children.

Love is the Weapon of the Future

Something I know is that we are all children of God. But even though I know that I often have trouble believing it in this fallen world. Because something else I know, with every fiber of my being I know this one truth:

God is love.

So why is there so much anger in us and the world we have created if we are children of Love? Perhaps saying God is love may seem a trite oversimplification of the unimaginable greatness of God.

But is there anything more powerful, more all consuming, more sacred or life changing than love?

I'm not talking about the "love" that blindly worships anything and everything, that insists there can be no judging, no criticism whatsoever. No, that is not love - that is cowardice and lies. Christ was a perfect example of love but he guided, taught, criticized, challenged, even got angry. How can God be love and still capable of anger? I think that is a stumbling block for many in their refusal to accept the Bible as divine. They know that God is supposed to be love. Love is what we all want to worship. At our core we were born to be children of love. The youngest and innocent among us demonstrate that clearly with their natural inclinations towards love.

And so, I started to really think about the nature of love and anger. I have heard that hate and love are two sides of the same coin. You cannot know one without the other and while there may seem to be a chasm between them, it is often only a very fine line. It is tragic but true that those who often bear the brunt of our anger are those we love. That anger we so desperately throw at our loved ones is at best a cry for help from one lost in their turbulent sea of pain and at worst a selfish desire to inflict the pain that we can't escape onto another, to bring them down with us. That type of anger is evil at its core. It is the antithesis of love. And if indulged too often it can become a terrible tragedy, it can become who we are. Because that type of anger burns love - there is no room for something as wonderful and beautiful as love with something as terrible and ugly as selfish anger and pain clouding our hearts. 

Indulging in selfish anger is much like eating only sugar - it might give a temporary high that feels like power, like passion, almost like love in the intensity of it - but it will burn and leave you with nothing but a seared mind and charred conscience. It will not change anything - it will not spread love. It will only wage war and destroy until it implodes like a black hole.

Recorded instances of God professing anger, even wrath, may make us uncomfortable because we all want to believe God is love. And God is love, but love does not lie and so it will never assure you you are "perfect just the way you are" and you only have to "be yourself" to be happy. No, love challenges and changes. God's ultimate purpose is to "bring to pass the immortality of man" - to save and exalt us, but He cannot do that without some hard love. His anger is only a righteous anger - one that is not at all motivated by selfishness or a misguided attempt to assert superiority. Its only purpose is to save His children. He punishes them for sin because that is what a loving parent does. He warns, he sends his messengers, and then if all else fails, when man has become so consumed by selfish anger that all the love has been extinguished, he destroys. For God is love and selfish anger cannot exist in the presence of that kind of love. He will use whatever means necessary to save men from their fallen anger and pain, even if it means the destruction of the wicked.

We were made to love. But love does not accept evil. It fights it, sometimes with righteous anger. When motivated solely for the benefit of others anger has its place, and can indeed be loving. We must always check ourselves for any hint of selfish pain, and measure the effect of our anger - whether it will help or hurt. For example, yelling, name calling, hypocrisy, and belittling are all sure signs of selfish anger. They can only serve to harm and spread pain. Courtesy, consistency, service, sacrifice are all signs of righteous anger and love. They promote healing, even if that healing requires painful surgery and treatment to remove the cancer of evil. Love is not easy or accepting, but it is right.

Evil must be fought under the direction of God's prophet, and sometimes it even involves a sword. Even a sword can be wielded in love if it is done to protect the innocent, justly and with love predominating. Captain Moroni in The Book of Mormon is a prime example of loving, righteous anger. Never did he shed blood selfishly, always he was motivated to protect the wives and children and freedom of his people, and he earnestly sought to spare lives and end the bloody war he waged. Even in the midst of war and tyranny he fought with love. But he did fight, ruthlessly when necessary.

Thankfully, most of us are not called to make the difficult distinction between love and anger in such drastic, perilous circumstances. But we are fighting a war against evil. Every single day we must fight, and we must do it with love. Unyielding, selfless, bold.

I could never have shot a gun at another human being before becoming a mother. I would rather die myself than kill another. But I would take a life to protect my daughter and it would be an act of love and terrible sacrifice. Love does not mean being a doormat, but righteous anger will never justify tyranny or bullying either.

What I've realized is that both love and anger can be used in either a wrong or right way. When love is used as an excuse to remain in a bubble and never break outside a comfort zone, to promote blind acceptance even in the face of evil it is merely a mask for evil. And the devil is master of disguising evil with the most sacred of masks. When anger is utilized for good, is fueled by love, then it is of God. In the end, the only way we can determine whether we are being led by righteous love or crippling infatuation, by selfish anger or righteous indignation is to listen to the Spirit and remember that "by their fruits ye shall know them."