Search and Research

Search and Research

So how effective are essential oils when it really comes down to it? Sure, people have claims but testimonials from strangers are a dime a dozen. After all where is the proof? Well that is a tall order. Not because there is a lack of information, but because there is quite a bit of information. While there are areas in which studies have not been done and there is a long way to go, there is quite a bit out there already, despite reluctance from a number of interests. There is enough information that it takes a lot of time and effort to wade through it all. It is a particularly daunting task if you are a layman. Studies abound of various types but what has merit and what does not? How do you digest all of the information? Where to start?

 

There is only a small amount of ground that we can cover in a few short paragraphs. But consider a flu study out of Oklahoma in which influenza virus infectivity was suppressed by doTerra's On Guard essential oil treatment in a dose-dependent manner. The number of nascent viral particles released was reduced by 90% when virus was treated with 1 to 4,000 dilution and by 40% with a 1 to 6,000 dilution of the oil. Oil treatment of the virus also decreased direct infection of the cells as the number of infected cells decreased by 90% when virus was treated with 1 to 2,000 dilution of On Guard and by 45% with a 1 to 3,000 dilution of the oil. The suggestion appears to be that the antiviral effect may be due to inhibition of viral protein translation. No matter the reason, it is an impressive result.

 

There are also some interesting studies dealing with postoperative nausea. Anecdotal evidence abounds about the effectiveness of peppermint in staving off nausea. This led to a study from Liverpool University in which patients that were not in the control group inhaled either synthetic peppermint or peppermint essential oil after surgery. The results of the study demonstrated that those exposed to the synthetic substitute had twice the nausea as those using natural essential oil. In another study conducted in North Carolina patients were administered either isopropyl alcohol, ginger essential oil, or a combination of ginger, spearmint, peppermint, and cardamom. Aromatherapy with essential oils was found to be an effective, noninvasive, and cost effective treatment for postoperative nausea. 

 

How about work from the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine in 2003 dealing with helicobacter pylori, a microorganism found in the stomach that is responsible for ulcers and so much more. The thirteen different essential oils used were found to be bactericidal against helicobacter pylori without the development of an acquired resistance. Lemongrass was found to be particularly effective. Think about this as an alternative to antivirals, which viruses adapt to.

 

So where does this leave us?  A couple of quick references to a few favorable studies does not constitute significant proof on the validity of essential oils as an alternative method for dealing with a plethora of health issues. Does it? But... but, but, but. But there is so much more. Studies are showing up in more and more quarters, and the results of these studies are becoming harder to ignore. Rather than waiting to be told by the 'experts' what is good for you, perhaps it is time to take more ownership. The research is being done. The data is out there. While it seems overwhelming and the vocabulary and level of detail is intense, a person can wrap their brain around scholarly articles and scientific studies. It just takes some time, effort, and patience. As a layman writing a short blog, I have hardly done justice to the studies that I refer to, but I have made you the reader aware of them. Now it is your turn. Verify some of the things that you hear and read about. I would recommend Aromatics Science (https://www.aromaticscience.com/)  or PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/) to start out. YOU can do this. You CAN be the expert on your own health and happiness. And WE will be here to help you along the way. Ultimately that ball is in your court.

 

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Shared Culture, Shared Community

Shared Culture, Shared Community

Culture. What is culture? Every region and group has at one. Cultures take many different forms and they all have merit and value on some level. Often they are difficult to understand. The term culture does not just apply to large societal grouping though. For example, there are any number of subcultures to consider as well, or in some cases corporate cultures. Ultimately our culture is what defines us as a people or group, and as such, it is worthy of some reflection in order to consider what our values are. Recently Scott Ford was discussing the culture of doTerra as business and a number of interesting words were used by him and others. He stated that doTerra represents a culture of authenticity; but doTerra was also discussed as being a culture about people, family, sharing, service, and cooperation. How this manifests itself was discussed. And it can be seen in so much of what we do. That makes me proud. The starting point for everyone involved with doTerra Essential Oils is in wanting to help others. These are not just a class of business managers that we are talking about. We are talking about something entirely different. A group of people that are passionate about helping others and sharing with them.

It has been a long time coming, but American attitudes on healthcare are shifting. This because of any number of reasons, ranging from concerns over the cost and quality of health care, worries in changes to the health care system due to 'Obamacare,' and a more knowledgeable public that is willing and able to conduct research on their own. People are looking at more options in greater depth, rather than simply accepting standard practice. A majority of Americans now look to natural health care products in some capacity. Half of Americans use or have used essential oils in one form or another. That number is expected to grow as people become better versed in their options and as they come to understand how effective essential oils are. This is particularly true for doTerra Essential Oils.

The term doTerra means 'gift of the Earth'. And that is exactly what doTerra offers, in the form of absolutely pure, therapeutic grade, essential oils . The feeling is that the Earth bestows great gifts upon us in abundance and we need only to be good stewards so as to be able to participate in this feast of plenty. The gifts from the Earth after all, are gifts for the whole world. And it is doTerra's mission to share health and prosperity with every individual, family, and community in the world. That is a big goal. Yet despite the grand vision doTerra has the soul of a small company. There is an intimacy to the doTerra community that goes several steps beyond what you would expect. You need only work with us and it will become self-evident. We are a culture of caring, cooperation, and commitment. The way to providing health and prosperity to all can only be done by reaching out and touching people as individuals, one at a time. The world is changed not by grand sweeping gestures but by changing one life at a time. That is one reason why I have been doing doTerra.

Please contact me if you would like to know what doTerra Essential Oils can do for you.

Going for the Gold

Going for the Gold

As the Winter Olympics take place and again conclude in a far corner of the world, we are reminded of the quest for excellence. While most of us are not elite athletes, we all aspire to greater things, and when we see the dedication and degree of excellence that these fine people exhibit it is hard not to be impressed. But considering a bit deeper, there is the consideration of who these Olympians are. Some come from countries with ways of life or beliefs that we cannot quite understand. Some come from wealth while others have known squaller. Some come from families, programs, or countries with a legacy in a particular sport, others not so much. And some come from backgrounds and families not unlike our own. That is part all of the drama of the Olympics, whether we are from a big city, a small city, the mountains, the plains, the tropics, the tundra, no matter our language, religion, government, hobbies, interests, or politics there are people competing at this elite level that we see a bit of ourselves in. And that is inspiring. There is a bit of fantasy that take place in the imagination. Imagining and remembering the crunch of the snow under your cross country skis or boots, or feeling the rush as you catapult down a hill on a sled, inner tube, downhill skis, or snowboard you sometimes have a moment of understanding. 

It is also fun when we see that these Olympians have interests, likes, and habits like our own. Even with the intense focus, dedication, and regimen they are a reflection of those of us that are a bit more common. We are made of the same kind of stuff as these great competitors. 

Recently quite a few users of doTerra essential oils smiled after seeing a glimpse of the contents of Australian snowboarder and Olympic medalist Torah Bright's suitcase. Prominent items included quite a few doTerra products, including Deep Blue and the Lifelong Vitality Pack, among other things. On the one hand, it is not terribly surprising to learn that a very diet conscious and health oriented athlete such as Bright, would be using essential oils to deal with muscle fatigue and other issues. But it is, non the less, reassuring to see some of the things that you so value highly for health and wellness used by people competing at this elite level. On some levels Bright is someone that is very different from myself. Bright comes from a family full of snow based athletes that tend to be very holistic in their lifestyles, with a mother that is natural health therapist. When you add to that the fact that she is a Mormon, an Australian, as well as other factors; Torah Bright seems to be someone that is so very different then what I am. Yet despite differing lives, backgrounds, and perspectives we both have found the value of doTerra essential oils and how they can help you perform to a higher level and go for the gold. 

If you have questions, contact us here, on Facebook, Twitter, or at bendoingdoterra@gmail.com

Finding What You Need

Finding What You Need

It is a strange thing to realize that you do, at this reading, have, for the most part, the whole of human knowledge at your disposal. In a matter of a few clicks you can be learning about any subject in all fields of human understanding. Think about that for a moment. Anything that you want to learn about, see, hear, or experience is there to discover in one form or another. With a small amount of time, effort, and perhaps some guidance, you have the ability to master any number of areas.

Navigating through all of that information can be difficult though. Yes, the opening salvo is simple enough. It is a small matter to go to the Internet and type a few keywords into a search engine, but what to do with the results. The untold thousands of results will vary. There will be wikis, blogs, and advertisements. There will be sites, of all types, dispositions, quality, and accuracy. And they will be there by the millions. How to wade through all of that?

Researching subjects like essential oils are a good example. There are so many websites with so much information. But often it is conflicting information. Standard fact checks, encyclopedias, and so forth commonly have a lag in the timeliness of the information that they offer. Wading through data on medical trials and studies is a Herculean task for most laypeople. Blogs and websites range all over the map in what they offer. Some offer the views of skeptics and critics that will deny the obvious, others offer the views of cheerleaders embracing difference for its own sake. Often the seemingly contradictory information is based on different product lines from different companies with varying qualities. Often for example, I will come across warnings about the danger of ingesting essential oils and yet I know that almost all doTERRA essential oils are perfectly safe for human consumption. I know this because doTERRA oils are all Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade. 100%. No additives, no preservatives, no chemicals, no surprises.

So what to do? The main thing is to look for sources that you can trust, and voices that you can have some confidence in. For my part, as time goes by I shall try to direct you, the reader of this blog, links to sites that can help you on your quest for knowledge in this area. It is important that we share information, ideas, and opinions. That is how we grow as individuals and as a society.

For the moment, if you have questions you can post a message to me on this site. Another option is to message us on Facebook or Twitter at Ben Doing doTERRA. Or of course, you can email either me at educatorunderground@gmail.com or Kris at kris_piaskowski@yahoo.com. We will do our best to answer your questions and refer you to an appropriate source.

Thankfulness and Family

Thankfulness and Family

Thanksgiving stands at the cusp of autumn and winter, a time of transition and reverie. While New Years is often given the credit for reflection upon both what lies ahead and has transpired, it is during  Thanksgiving that we give such reflection context. This is truly the holiday of, by, and for the family. It is the essential holiday in many ways when you look at it simply through the prism of family. Yes, Easter, Christmas, and Hanukkah are vital religious holidays and times of family. Independence Day and Halloween offer their measures of family fun and also context for ourselves in important shared experiences. Like Independence Day, we have times like Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, President's Day, and Martin Luther King Day to also serve as punctuation marks to ideals that we value. Saint Patrick and Saint Valentine have sadly devolved somewhat, so rather than being viewed as religious days by Americans they are now more akin to Punxsutawney Phil's special day; non the less we have fun with them and are glad to celebrate. I could go on, but to the larger point.

Thanksgiving is unique. While it looks to the harvest, as the roots of Halloween once partially did, it is something entirely different. Think for a moment about the rituals and actions of Thanksgiving. What do we do? We gather, we eat, we visit. We say thank you, mostly offered as a prayer. No gifts, fireworks, noisemakers, costumes, or games. At least not as central parts of this holiday. We gather with family and sup together as we offer a bit of gratitude. Sure, the details vary. 'Family' might be friends, but they are close friends. We might go hunting before of after. We might be watching football as we feast. We might dress up or we might show up in blaze orange. If you are far enough north you might be setting up an ice shanty that day. But no matter how you slice it, Thanksgiving is about a shared moment of thankfulness with family. It is what we do as a people.

We should be thankful and thoughtful about our families. It is why we do so many of the things that we do. The health, happiness, and wholeness of our families does matter to us all. It informs the choices that we make. At the end of the day it is those that we care for are what matter. They are essential to us. When we chose an activity, food, or medicine for our families, we give the matter time and consideration because we cherish our families and want what is best for them. OUR families consistent use of essential oils is because we have tried them, read about them, spoken to experts on them, and as a result we have come to see them as a valuable addition to the life of our family. DoTERRA essential oils have aided us and our children through ailments and injuries, flavored our foods and beverage, cleaned our house, and eased our minds. So while my Thanksgiving prayer did not include doTERRA essential oils they are something that I am still grateful for, as in a fairly short period in my life they have had such an impact upon us. But in the end essential oils are simply a tool for aiding and enriching our lives. As we gather with family and friends in the coming weeks for holiday celebrations, keep in mind how important they are. No matter how difficult things can be it is all about family.

Having Your Cake and Eating It Too

Having Your Cake and Eating It Too

One particularly beautiful thing about essential oils is that they add to your quality of life. And this is particularly true with doTERRA. Unlike many other brands of essential oils, most doTERRA essential oils are ingestible. One reason for this is because doTERRA oils are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade. That means they are guaranteed to be 100% pure, which gives a whole extra dimension of possibilities to your use of oils. Think about it. No chemicals, no additives, no preservatives. Nothing but the best. 

Aromatic use of essential oils is a well known method of using the scent of purified oils extracted from plants to elicit a physical or psychological response in dealing with ailments. This is a practice that is age old and well documented. In addition to physical ailments, aromatherapy can be used for cognitive functioning and mood enhancement. This is what people often think about when they think of essential oils. There is mounting evidence in the form of studies regarding this. Peppermint stimulates mental awareness and wakefulness. Lavender aids in relaxation. Lemon is effective for mood elevation and relief of stress. And so forth. Moreover, it is pleasant. But regardless of citing studies on the correlation between aroma and various responses the real beauty of essential oils is that in addition to what they do for you, they are pleasing. How often can you say that about medicine.

The bigger thing to highlight though is taste. My family consistently uses essential oils in our food and drink. If you look at my Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest aptly titled 'Ben Doing doTERRA' you will see a few pictures from time to time of dishes and drinks that we have crafted using essential oils. Generally it is pretty simple, a drop of something like lime or lemon in a drink, any drink. Adding a drop or two to just your drinking water works wonders. Water becomes something that you look forward to. In addition to hydrating your body, which most of us fall well short on, you are selecting compounds that serve a beneficial purpose for your health. A small amount of time on everythingessential.me can help you select oils that work for you and your needs. In the case of water the flavor that you are adding is not overbearing, sweetened, false and carries with it the benefits of the oils that you have selected. In any number of recipes simply substituting an ingredient for a few drops of oil is so simple. Ranging from dips to desserts and from marinades to marmalades adding essential oil to your food is fun, simple, and delicious. How often can you say that about medicine. So in the case of doTERRA essential oils, you can have your cake and eat it too.

If you have questions please contact me on this blog, on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. Also you may email me at educatorunderground@gmail.com. 

Good Medicine

Good Medicine

Cold season comes. What to do? First and foremost is to not get sick in the first place. One common preventative measure is to consistently put a drop of lemon essential oil into your drinking water. If I feel concerned about a cold coming on I will rub a drop of OnGuard on my thyroids. If I feel like the immune system needs a bit more help then I make a "magic bullet". A magic bullet consists of two drops of melaleuca, tho drops of oregano, two drops of OnGuard, and four drops of lemon, all in a vegetable capsule. These steps seem to work very well. I get sick less often and with less severity since I have started doing this. OnGuard is an immune system booster, and the "magic bullets"deliver a double whammy to the viruses that cause the common cold. Oregano is particularly effective as an antiseptic and anti bacterial agent. Melaleuca is great for dealing a variety of fungi and bacteria.  And lemon is an excellent antibacterial agent. Put all of these items together and you have a powerful medicine. These measure help prior to a cold in staving it off but also with minimizing and shortening the cold itself.

Despite trying to be on top of things sometimes you get sick nonetheless. Essential oils can help with that also. Breathe helps clear the nasal passages brilliantly. Lacking Breathe, peppermint is a great standby. The other day, my nose was really clogged up and I happened to have a sample bottle of peppermint which I placed by my nostril and inhaled directly. Clear nostrils for the rest of the day. I also had a mildly sore throat. I placed a drop of lemon and a drop of OnGuard in a shot glass and filled it with water. I then gargled with a bit of it to ease my throat.  It worked nicely. Overall though, I felt somewhat miserable, miserable enough that I was concerned that I would not be able to sleep well. Two drops of lavender essential oil in a glass of water before bed and I slept like a baby. To top it off, I even have some not quite perfect, home made cough drops, made from honey and OnGuard.

I could go on, but the point is that I and my family have found some simple, effective, ways to deal with basic illnesses at home thats to doTERRA essential oils. You can too. That is a good thing to keep it mind as the cold weather approaches. If you have questions contact 'bendoingdoterra' on Facebook or Twitter. We are happy to help.

Are Essential Oils Safe?

Are Essential Oils Safe?

So you keep hearing about essential oils and in some cases they sound amazing. Maybe you have experimented a bit with them but are a little uptight. Can something as potent as essential oils be safe? I mean there have got to be some dangers or side effects, don't there? I remember having a significant concern myself when I first started using essential oils about a wound that I had had stitched shut and whether or not I should put oils on the wound. In retrospect, knowing what I know now, I wish that I had been more aggressive in my use of oils at the time. So from my perspective, I am very comfortable with essential oils for myself and my entire family. That said, there are always things to be aware of. This is science, after all, not magic. As such we must consider if there are possible tradeoffs to be aware of regarding our choices.

Most essential oils are perfectly safe and do not have any negative effects. They are also strongly antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral which makes them safe to use not only medically but also for cleaning. Because of their extremely small molecular size, essential oils are not only easily absorbed by the body but they also do not accumulate in the body. That said, as with anything that you put into your body it is important to be educated in their use and to use them properly.

Let's start with a few basics. Try not to get them in the eyes, any essential oil in the eye will sting. If you do get it in the eye, do not flush it out with water, that will only make it sting worse. Waiting it out seems to work the best but that can be tough to do. There are a few oils that are not really intended to be ingested even if you think that they should be. Most doTERRA essential oils are completely safe for consumption, particularly if diluted, but birch, cypress, cedarwood, eucalyptus, and wintergreen should not generally be used in this way. Also if you are allergic to a specific thing, you will in all likelihood be allergic that essential oil. Keep that in mind.

Good quality essential oils are concentrated and thus can be quite strong. This being the case, some oils applied directly to sensitive skin can be irritating. This is not the case with all oils but hot oils such as oregano, cinnamon, clove, thyme, and cassia should be used with caution when being applied directly to the skin. One way of using hot oils, or any oils for that matter on the skin is to use a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil, to dilute the essential oil. This is particularly true for children. Children have thinner more sensitive skin than adults, and as a result dosages might need to be more conservative and a carrier oil is advised. As with anything that is concentrated essential oils are not meant to be played with, it is advisable to keep them out of the reach of younger children. 

As with younger children a few cautions can be noted regarding pregnancy. It is important to use certified pure therapeutic grade essential oils in order to avoid any impurities. This is why product lines like doTERRA are such a Godsend, it is vital to know exactly what you are putting into your body and if it is what it is billed as. Aromatic use of most essential oils with the exception of birch, rosemary, thyme, or wintergreen is fine during pregnancy. For internal use basil, cinnamon, rosemary, and thyme are not recommended during pregnancy. And topically birch, cassia, cinnamon, rosemary, thyme and wintergreen are not recommended during pregnancy. Finally, the recommendation regarding doTERRA blends during pregnancy is that you consider diluting them as to make them less intense. Pregnancy is a time to be cherished and also a time to be cautious as you steward a young life into this world. Essential oils can play a key role during a pregnancy and can be used to great effect to ease some of the discomforts of carrying a child. A good starting point regarding pregnancy can be found on everything essential .me. 

As with all things in life there are pros and cons. Every choice that we make carries positives and negatives with it. Essential oils offer a clear, clean, comprehensive, and safe way of dealing with various aspects of our lives. They are quite safe in almost all regards carrying minimal risks and offering  any number of positives. Combined with proper diet, exercise, medical guidance, and a bit of education doTERRA essential oils are a safe and healthy option for your life. 

Family Essentials

Family Essentials

There are few things in life as fulfilling... or as maddening as parenting. It is difficult and daunting but we muddle our way through it. As much as we give up and sacrifice of ourselves it really does seem worthwhile on those few occasions when we really do manage to get things right. The problem is that it is pretty difficult to get things right most of the time. Children do not come with instruction manuals and the manuals that have been written are not always reliable, as if they were written for a different model of child then the ones that you have around. Add to that some of the seemingly impossible expectations of parenting nowadays and the fact that we do not exactly live in a child friendly society and you really can see how difficult it is to raise children today.

I remember when we were sent home from the hospital with our first child. We strapped him into the car and got in and looked at each other like "now what". It seemed strange that we were vested with the authority to take this little guy home. I still wonder most days if I am the right one for the job. At the time, I was terrified that this cute, little bundle of poop and baby puke was going to break when we weren't looking. From that point on everything that happened was virgin soil. Every fever, sniffle, bump, bruise, cut, scrape, sick tummy, rash was cause for fear. At least at first. Eventually you do start to get the hang of things and while you might not always get it right you at least don't get things totally wrong either. While that is cause for some satisfaction there are still a lot of frustrations.

Crying one month old babies don't generally explain to you what is wrong. Due to a lack of experience and vocabulary, children, even older ones, cannot always verbalize the specific nature of their problems. Sometimes you just cannot figure out what is wrong. Even when you do figure out what is wrong, you still need to help your little one through it and that is not always easy. One of the biggest frustrations as a parent is medication regarding kids. Age and medicine are a very frustrating mix. Most medications are not suitable for small children, sometimes it feels like until the age of twelve you can't give them anything without consulting a doctor. While there are medications available for children options are limited, effectiveness sometimes seems limited, and of course there you are pumping things into your child's body. 

This is where essential oils come in. DoTerra essential oils have been a Godsend for our family. For general health and wellness, illness, helping with sleep, concentration for homework, and so much more; essential oils have transformed the lives of our family. Balance and InTune have helped our kids with mental clarity. Peppermint, On Guard, DigestZen, 'magic bullets' and so forth have helped our kids avoid or deal with illness. Lavender and Serenity are helpful sleep aids in our house. The list continues.  Our children are becoming more self aware regarding their bodies and what they need. And we have no fear of overmedicating our children or the usual 'side effects' of taking medicine. My only regret is that I wish that our family had discovered essential oils sooner. Hopefully you can learn how to take advantage of what essential oils can offer your family.

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