Day 19 - 90 Day Challenge - Nighttime Solace for Cramps

The last few nights I've awoken about 3:45 am with some odd abdominal cramps.  I guess it could be attributed to that fabulous thing women go through called ovulation.  It seems sometimes that this period of my month is just about as painful as the other period of my month!  It's woken me up multiple times from peaceful, blissful sleep!

Two nights ago I thought, "Man, I should go find my bottle of Solace and see if that helps."  Solace is doTERRA's "Monthly Blend for Women", but it is useful for so much more than that!  Routinely I have used this successfully to treat menstrual cramps, such that I do not recall the last time I had to pop an 800 mg ibuprofen to get rid of the pain – which was my go to before discovering oils.

I was too lazy two nights ago to get out of bed to try it.  But last night, realizing how painful the previous night's sleep had been, I decided to get up the first time I felt the cramping and see if I could avoid the multiple awakenings from the cramps.  I rolled it all over my lower abs, and massaged it in.  Close eyes, and cue sleep.

This stuff was fabulous. It is fabulous.  It will now be a staple on my nightstand.  I don't know why I didn't think of keeping it there sooner, as these nighttime cramps, at least for the PMS and now ovulation time of the month, have been something I have come to expect.  I'll be adding an extra bottle on my next LRP order, as I don't want to have to remove it from my nightstand for classes and traveling!

5 juices!
~Jen:)

p.s. - Specific content information for Solace can be found here.  Solace is a doTERRA essential oil blend which includes clary sage, lavender, bergamot, Roman chamomile, cedarwood, ylang ylang, geranium, fennel, carrot seed, palmarosa, and vitex, and can be purchased in a 10 ml roll on bottle.

*doTERRA IPC #90718. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. If you would like to learn more about essential oils, or doTERRA products, please don't hesitate to contact me at jenheadjen [at] gmail [dot] com for more information. Please include a detailed description of what kind of information you would like to know about, so I can more quickly address your questions or interests. xoxo!

Day 18 - 90 Day Challenge - Cleaning Bathrooms without the Cleaner-Fumes Headache

Since I've last written for my 90 Day Challenge series, I've had lots of great things happen!  Graduated massage school, passed the boards, and am on my way to getting licensed to practice massage!  With that in mind, I've been working on cleaning out a space to (hopefully) open an in-home massage business.

During the cleaning out, I've found several places that have been in need of some deeper cleaning than the normal wipe down.  Yesterday, I was watching some videos on doterrapro.com.  That's a great website for anyone looking to explore more in the essential oil world that is doTERRA.  However, you do need to create an account to access their features.  But it's free!  I highly recommend it – it's gotten much better over the last year especially, with new and updated videos and programs to follow.  It's a marvelous training tool for those looking to consider doing doT as a business as well.

Anyways, I was watching some videos, and came across some cool tips for all around the house cleaning.  One idea that actually wasn't mentioned was using doTERRA's OnGuard Cleaner Concentrate.

This is my bathroom mixup.  3 Tbsp of the Cleaner Concentrate in the bottle (b/c I want it "stronger" for bathroom cleanup and sanitizing), and then I filled the rest with water.  Voila!

I never realized, but one reason I have always been turned off from deeper cleaning is the fumes and smells of heavy duty cleaners.  This was always the case, especially when it came to cleaning grease off the stovetop or higher cupboards, bathrooms, or refrigerators.  Not that cleaning that stuff is ever fun, but the fumes made it all the worse, as I'd usually be heading toward headache-land by the time I was halfway through.  It was only after working with this product that I realized my dislike of cleaning was so much affected by the fumes.  But not so with this product.

doT's Cleaner Concentrate has all sorts of goodies in it that makes it a wonderful, powerful cleaner, but also it is one that I can safely trust in the hands of my small children.  (If you want details on the contents, see here.)  I don't have to worry that it's sitting below my sink, unlocked for my holy terrors to get into.  In fact, my children actually enjoy helping me clean the toilet with this mixture in a spray bottle, and none of us wind up with crazy headaches by the time we're done.

I would add that when sprayed on mirrors, this cleaner gets spots off quickly, and there is ZERO streaking.  I repeat, ZERO streaking.  No heavy wipedowns, no "make sure you use this newspaper to wipe it off 5 times" tricks.  Just a washcloth, paper towel, sweaty t-shirt, whatever.  Done.

This stuff retails for $19.50, but if you're a doTERRA IPC you can get it for $14.50 plus tax & shipping.  If you're not an IPC, let me know and I can help you join my favulus team, which I love.

5 juices for a streak-free shine, headache-free cleaner!
~Jen:)

*doTERRA IPC #90718.  These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. If you would like to learn more about essential oils, or doTERRA products, please don't hesitate to contact me at jenheadjen [at] gmail [dot] com for more information. Please include a detailed description of what kind of information you would like to know about, so I can more quickly address your questions or interests.  xoxo! 

Fat Sick & Nearly Dead Review

About 2 1/2 weeks ago my mom and I were shopping online for juicers.  As we were shopping, we introduced my husband to a movie that she and I had been watching the night before, called Fat Sick & Nearly Dead.  He normally likes fiction movies, but he humored me and hunkered down to watch this food/diet-based documentary.

(from Fat Sick & Nearly Dead)

Two hours later, he was convinced that it was time to lose many unwanted pounds he had been carrying on his body for years, and this was the way he was going to do it.  My mom was going to be the "juicer sponsor", and after searching reviews and videos for hours that same day, she finally was able to confidently pick one.  (Maybe I'll do a review on that one down the road.)  It took about a week or so of my mom and I juicing before Dan decided it was time to give it a go.

On Saturday – this past Saturday – he began his juicing adventure.  It has been almost 6 full days that he's been consuming nothing but wholesome, fruit and vegetable juices, and water.  This morning he weighed in 19 pounds less than when he began on Saturday.

The things pointed out in the movie were that by doing a "reboot" by switching to juicing for a period of time, the body is able to gain the vital nutrients for daily functions, but the gut also is able to rest, perhaps heal, and allow the person to shed unwanted toxins and fat.  I might be overstating their information, as I've been reading and studying quite a bit since watching the movie, but in essence, we learn by watching the people in the documentary, how it works.

The viewers learn through example that it is important for anyone who has special medical needs, or is taking medication, that if they are to follow their example, they should for sure check with a medical professional first, and even seek "supervision" by a qualified professional during their own "reboot".

The movie itself was informative, had a degree of medical authority sourcing, and was ridiculously inspiring.  While any dietary plan that involves change to one's diet has its doubters, the ideas presented seemed wholly appropriate with leading a well-balanced diet.

[Another online source I LOVE is the Facebook page for RawganicVegan.  She often shares recipes, insights, and high quality information to get you inspired to change your dietary habits.]

5 Mint Oreos to Fat Sick & Nearly Dead.  Maybe I should consider switching my rating system to 5 glasses of juice or something?  Have you seen this movie?  What are your thoughts of it?  Did it inspire you to try juicing?

~Jen:)

p.s. - I'm not a qualified health care professional, so don't take my review as medical recommendations.  Seek qualified assistance where necessary.  :)

   

Day 17 - 90 Day Challenge - What's a terpene? (Hydrocarbons, Part 1)

Carrying on about science basics... 

First, I totally messed up that graphic on the previous post!  Did anyone see the mistake?  Hydro+carbons = hydrocarbons, yes.  But it would've been more useful for learning to illustrate that Hydro = Hydrogen.  So Hydrogen + Carbon = Hydrocarbons.  Yay!  

Today I'm going to focus a little on hydrocarbons.  My reference book (Modern Essentials) points out that hydrocarbons are made up almost exclusively of terpenes.  These terpenes can be divided down into sub-categories of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and diterpenes.  

So what is a terpene then?  "Terpenes are the largest family of natural products and are found throughout nature."  Wow.  The LARGEST family?  Does that mean they're like, Godzilla large?  Or that they are the most commonly found?  (Insert your answer in the comments, please.;) 

"High concentrations of terpenes are found directly after flowering." (This citation links to this study: Paduch et al., 2007, although I cannot find the full citation in the book.  My apologies.  If you have the full source, please feel free to comment with it.) This is an interesting point.  When giving classes, I refer to doT's CPTG brochure, which points out how doTERRA's growers know the best time to pick the plant matter to get the maximum therapeutic benefit.  So here, we learn a little bit why it's important, if we're seeking for the therapeutic benefits found with terpenes, to ensure the plant matter is harvested directly after flowering.  That's very good to know!  I, for one, am wholly unskilled when it comes to knowing how or when to pick just about anything.  That is, assuming, that I have any luck getting what I planted to actually grow. :)

"The basic molecular structure of a terpene is an isoprene unit (which has a C5H8 molecular formula)."  (Mod. Ess., p.8)  This little facet of information is helpful for those who might be good at Chemistry.  If you're not great at it, just know that there are 5 molecules of Carbon, and 8 molecules of Hydrogen that are connected together in the "Hydrocarbon".  

(photo source, thanks!)

In the Modern Essentials book, there is a handy diagram on what this isoprene unit might look like.  We learn that depending on how many isoprene units are present, the name of the terpene will be changed, and their function will also be impacted.  I hope to go into detail on these, to help us understand our oils a little more in depth, especially on how they might affect our bodies.   

Does anyone find this interesting, or useful, or does it feel more like gibberish?  Please let me know your thoughts as we go!  

~Jen:)

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. If you would like to learn more about essential oils, or doTERRA products, please don't hesitate to contact me at jenheadjen [at] gmail [dot] com for more information. Please include a detailed description of what kind of information you would like to know about, so I can more quickly address your questions or interests.  p.s. - I am NOT a chemist!!!  The info in this post is only as good as its source, and at present that is the Modern Essentials book, published by Abundant Health, 3rd Edition, 2011, p. 8.  I do not claim liability for any misuse of this information.  Thanks!  :)

Day 16 - 90 Day Challenge - Super-Basics of Essential Oil Chemistry

Has anyone ever been interested in learning about the "science" of essential oils? This has been one facet of oils I have previously avoided learning about entirely, for a multitude of reasons.  There are "experts" in the field, and it seems at times as though by even trying to understand, you can get verbally slapped around for saying – or even thinking – anything out of place.  You could really hurt someone if you get it wrong, so why bother?  

Well, I'm deciding to forge through some of the roadblocks, and with my all-knowing, all-perfect Modern Essentials book, I'm going to voice some apparently well known facts about oils, and share my journey with you.  If you're scientifically un-inclined, I hope this helps straighten out a few things about oil makeup.  (And not the kind that gives zits!)

What I'm learning is that there are two "distinct groups when it comes to chemical consitituents: the hydrocarbons... and the oxygenated compounds..." (Modern Essentials, Abundant Health, Third Ed., Oct. 2011, p.8) While these might seem like big words, if we break them down, there are a few keywords that I see.

Hydro-carbons - putting hydrogens and carbons together in various combinations (H+C)
Oxygenated compounds - meaning two or more elements in combination with one or more molecules of oxygen (O+__)

Depending on which oil we're looking at, they will have properties of at least one of these two families.

For today, my goal is to solidify the names of these two families in my mind. HYDROCARBONS and OXYGENATED COMPOUNDS. Over the next few posts, I hope to help you learn a little more about what each of these things mean, and how they can impact the oils and the purposes for which we use them.

And here's a fabuloso infographic I've created to help, for those who need colors and pictures like me.  

(Feel free to Pin me! :)

~Jen:)

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. If you would like to learn more about essential oils, or doTERRA products, please don't hesitate to contact me at jenheadjen [at] gmail [dot] com for more information. Please include a detailed description of what kind of information you would like to know about, so I can more quickly address your questions or interests.