Be your own health advocate

WHY ESSENTIAL OILS?

Just one part of my wellness routine includes the use of plant-based products and essential oils. We live in a toxic world - more so now than ever before. We are bombarded with more synthetic chemicals than our bodies are equipped to handle, and as a result we are becoming a sicker species.  While it would be tough to avoid all of them, we should do our best each day to lessen our toxic load, reducing our risk for things like cancer, and increasing our ability to support the body's various systems to function properly. From the food we consume to the products we keep in our house, there are thousands of toxic chemicals we put in and on our bodies daily. Take control of your health and your family’s wellness by making simple changes - one at a time is fine.

Essential oils are a great place to start. Take a look in your bathroom. Our make-up, face washes, creams, lotions, perfumes are all chockfull of synthetic chemicals and so many of them can be replaced with natural alternatives quite easily. Take a look in your cleaning cabinet. Believe it or not, there are natural options there as well. I have even made the choice to say goodbye to some medicines I relied on for years as a person who suffered from chronic pain, migraines and insomnia.

What are essential oils?

We have used plants, herbs, flowers, shrubs and trees for centuries for medical, emotional and even spiritual well-being. Essential oils are the highly-concentrated, volatile liquid extracted from these gifts of nature. These tiny molecules are responsible for allowing our many body systems to function properly by removing toxins, oxygenating cells and stimulating tissue and nerve regeneration. It is no surprise so many rely on essential oils to maintain their health and speed up recovery when we do find ourselves sick: because oils are antimicrobial, antiviral, antibacterial and healing or cleansing in many other ways. 

Applying essential oils topically is a great way to boost your immune system or tackle other health problems. Making your own roll-on blends using high quality essential oils and a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil is an easy way for these tiny molecules to work their way into each and every cell of your body.  

Another great use for essential oils is through aromatherapy for emotional wellness. One of the best ways to experience this is with the help of a diffuser. These oils directly stimulate the limbic system - the emotional control center of the brain. When you inhale the airborne molecules, their powerful properties make their way through the olfactory receptors and to the limbic part of the brain. The limbic lobe can also activate the hypothalamus - a part of the brain that acts as our hormonal control center  that can effect many functions of the body. There are so many ways essential oils can support your health once you start doing the research. Be your own health advocate!

So we have talked about two of the three ways to use essential oils - topically and aromatically. The last avenue of use is internally. That's right, once your body becomes used to oils some people ingest them as well. However, not all oils are fit for ingestion, so do your research! Also, I would never suggest ingesting any other brand than Young Living. Which brings up an important point...

Why Young Living?