Testimonial Time

WARNING:  This post might be redundant....but when I come across it again for myself, it will be a good reminder for me.

I often wonder how well extra nutrition is really working.  I know I have sung the praises so for of the multivitamins and the terrazymes, but I guess I didn't realize how much they really were affecting me until I started to run out this week and my new order had not come in yet.  For about 48 hours, I was unable to consume my normal amounts of terrazymes.  No biggie, right?  WRONG!  The stomach upset came back, the pain....the abdominal pain is the worst.  It starts in my belly and climbs up into my chest cavity.  It all came back including  the heavy-in-your-stomach feeling....ugh!  Last night, it got really bad.  Thankfully, yesterday the new shipment arrived.  I took two-three terrazymes at supper, but since I had not been taking them, I still had all the abdominal pain.  Thank goodness for peppermint and digestzen....I drank that last night and it helped resolved the pain.  This morning, I feel ALOT better.  The point?  I don't ever want to run out of those bad boys again.  That was miserable and even though I can cut the pain with some of the oils, I would rather just have the pills on hand all the time so I don't go without. I didn't realize going off for such a short time would affect me that much, but apparently it does. 

I will say this, I was already convinced these products were helping me, but after last night I have been 150% convinced.  Whatever my hang ups still are with MLM's (multilevel marketing companies) and whether oils are just another fad that might fade away, and whether or not they work all the time,  I cannot argue with what happened last night.  There is something behind the science of what this company has put together.....and I'm sold.

An added note to self:  It has been really easy, when I am faithfully taking the terrazymes, to get carried away with eating whatever I want, because now I can.  It doesn't hurt me anymore.  I can have ice cream and sugar and I don't get sick, PRAISE GOD!  uh, yeah......well, while terrazymes have regulated my tummy and digestive issues, it doesn't stop the fat and extra calories from said ice cream and sugary treats from depositing themselves onto my hips and affecting my blood pressure, my heart, my sugar levels, my health.......  Yes, the terrazymes help, but they are not an excuse to eat in an unhealthy way.  It reminds me of how the Bible talks about the grace of God.  The grace of God is amazing and a beautiful thing!  But it doesn't give us a license to do whatever we feel like cause after all God's grace will catch me when I fall on purpose.....Nope, it doesn't give us a license to walk all over the grace of God....terrazymes are like that ;)  They are amazing and beautiful little pills, but they do not give me or anyone else the license to eat whatever I feel like....the I-can-eat-whatever-I-feel-like mentality will eventually catch up with me and those consequences I still have to deal with.....like having a muffin whose top is getting just a bit larger and having to do funny little stretches once I'm in my now-painted-on-jeans in order to get them to fit a bit more comfortably.....and who knows, over time, other health issues that simply come from eating an unhealthy way.

These pills are a support system behind an already healthy life style.  I need to keep that in mind.

The Proof is in the Pudding

I am going to start this off by saying, I realize there are a million and one mommy bloggers out there blogging about essential oils....the blessings and the evils.  It's hard to know in the millions of voices out there, who to listen to.  I realize, I possibly am contributing to the noise :)  I want you to know....as I post things, I am in no way trying to sway you one way or another.  These are my experiences.  This is my journey.  This is what I am learning.  More than anything, if you are curious about oils, I encourage you to not take the word of others, though testimonials can be powerful, instead do your own research.  Try the products.  Give it a whirl.  That is all I am doing.  I have chosen to blog it as a way of journaling my experience for myself.  It is helpful to others along the way then that is just an added bonus.  On to the blog...... :)

It has almost been one month since I have started using the vitamins and terrazymes along with a minimal amount of oils.  I have swayed back and forth a million times....but I am finding, overall, I have been convinced.  I have seen my body change.  I have seen my husband change.  I have watched the affects of the oils on my children.  There have obviously been some things that have worked better than others and some things that take time to notice a difference, but in short here is what I have experienced with the vitamins, oils, and terrazymes:

-I sleep better
-My husbands snoring is noticeably quieter
-My digestive issues seem to have been sorted out
-My menstrual cycle has evened out
-My libido has come back from the grave

And with Oils:

-Peppermint and DigestZen without fail ease my stomach discomfort (I have had mixed reviews from my daughter, but generally it also seems to be relieving her pain)
-OnGuard seems to catch the beginning of a cold and keep it from turning into a full blown illness
-Past Tense relaxes me and helps me to sleep better
-Peppermint aides in relieving congestion and also has a cooling affect on shoulder pain....which in turn relieves headaches
-Orange (though my tummy doesn't tolerate this ingested) is fun to smell and actually is a bit energizing, though I might still just go take a nap if I feel tired :)

These are a few of my results.  There are things still out on the table that I want to experiment more with and I will continue to experiment with them and blog on the effects we as a family have from using them.  A few of the upcoming ones are:

-ClaryCalm:  I am on a new commitment to use it daily to see if it helps with menstrual cramping and PMS headaches if used on a daily basis throughout the month
-Breath:  We are going to see if this oil blend helps to clear up the rest of Rob's snoring
-Face Cleaning Products:  I have not ordered these yet, but will also be testing these out eventually

The list really could go on forever.  Now that a few products have had positive affects on us, I want to see what else might be beneficial.  I look forward to continuing on this journey.

In closing, I would like to address what I started with.  I have read a lot of blogs trying to find proof that doTerra is superior.  I can't find a single bit of proof, outside of doTerra itself, that proves to me it is the best.  There are blogs for it and blogs against, so I have been left with personal experience.  In my own experience, I have not once received oil burns from using the oils NEAT.  I have ingested them, and other than the awful taste, they have been healing to my body.  I leave you with this.  I have come to trust this company and it's products.  The claims others have made about the dangers of using oils, I have not personally experienced.  I encourage you....EDUCATE YOURSELF.  KNOW YOUR BODY.  AND RESEARCH THE PRODUCT.  There are of course different uses for different oils and proper application....please know these things before using them. 

If this feels overwhelming to you, please contact me....and while I am not a doctor, I can share with you what I have learned and hopefully point you into the right direction.

Disclaimer:  DO YOUR RESEARCH!  In no way am I diagnosing or able to treat illnesses.  The above comments are purely my own research using doTerra products.  Make sure you pick a pure essential oil and do not settle for something you are not sure about whether it be doTerra or any other product.

Vitamins and You: A Skeptics Point of View

The following is what I presented at the oil class last Saturday: 

Vitamins and You

First and Foremost I want to thank you for coming out today to join me in exploring the benefits of vitamins and minerals.  Secondly, I want to emphasize that I am NOT a doctor…simply a mom, wife, and woman who has embarked on an exploratory journey into more holistic living.  If you have been following my blog at all, you will know this journey has been a little hard for me to admit to and that I am highly skeptical.  However, I have opened myself up to trying some things out in order to see if they would improve the health of myself and my family.  I will say, that my trying  of these products took a bit of arm twisting for me ;) and when I was approached by a dear friend again about trying them to see if they would help me, my response was something like…”well, I don’t think they really work for me, but if I was going to try something else I will try the vitamins and digestive aides and go from there.”  I was very prepared to call her in a week or so and tell her that none of it had worked.  I was not fixable.  J 

A little about myself:  Food has always been a large part of my life.  I have struggled with eating disorders, found healing, got stubborn, went back to hold habits….anyway, you get the picture.  So, eating healthy and doing the best for my body has been a life long journey.  Several years ago, I had my gall bladder taken out and about 18 months ago or so I was diagnosed with MENS 1 which is a genetic disorder of the endocrine system that often can reak havoc on your digestive system.  Basically, since then, I have always been searching for the answer to help with some of the symptoms I struggle with.  I have taken supplements throughout my life, but never have really stuck to one thing or another, even though some of them, I found helpful.  Basically, I had just given up on finding much relief.

Several weeks ago, due to the prompting of a friend who wanted me to try ONE MORE THING to see if it would help, I began digging a bit deeper into the aspect of using supplemental vitamins.  This is nothing new to me and because of my health issues I have been on a search for a long time for something that would help my digestive issues.  I would find things here and there that would help, but nothing I ever stuck with.  I have tried everything from eating clean, including gluten free, to supplements, to giving up!  About four weeks ago, I started again and have had some positive results both with supplements and oils.  Keeping in mind, there are some things I have tried that haven’t worked while other things have.  My health issues, which take on the form of upset stomach, body aches, diarrhea, constipation, hemorrhoids have seemed to been improved since starting on vitamins.  Since beginning taking supplements, my potty issues have evened out and though, I still need to watch what I eat (lets face it, my body REALLY doesn’t like sugar, refined flour, corn, potatoes) the supplements have offered relief.  I have also found healing in other health related areas (these were not areas I was looking to fix by taking the vitamins as I didn’t realize I could find a solution for the issues.  It was more of a happy side affect.  I would be happy to share more about that privately after the class if you are interested in knowing more.)   I still take a vitamin d, because I only take a half dose of my vitamins (it’s an experiment and my husband is on them too, we wanted to save some money) and a half dose doesn’t offer enough vitamin D for me because of my hyperparathyroidism, but I have not had to take added calcium or magnesium for the leg cramps as the new supplements have been enough to deal with those issues.   Soooo, because I’m a skeptic, I had to ask why, but; because I am a skeptic ;), I wanted third party information. This is the way my mind worked as I received information from specific companies:  “Their doctor says it is the best, but of course he does.  What else is he going to say about a product he wants to sell?”  So,  I began looking up some information and this is what I have found:

 

In short, vitamins and minerals help our bodies work properly.  There are two kinds of vitamins.  Fat soluble (A, D, E, K) which are dissolved in the fat and stored in our bodies and water soluble (C and B complex vitamins) which are dissolved in water before being absorbed.  Water soluble do not store in our bodies as well and need to be replenished.  Vitamins and minerals boost the immune system, support growth, and helps cells and organs do their jobs.  For example, vitamin k helps blood to clot and carotenoids, found in carrots, are converted to vitamin A which helps prevent eye problems.

Vitamins and minerals are best obtained through the food we eat.  However, these foods need to be high quality foods.  In other words, you can get vitamins and minerals in processed foods, but they will not affect your body in the same way you would get them from eating whole foods.  The quality of food is important.  And in my experience, the more whole a food is the better.  An example of obtaining vitamins through food would be vitamin c.  In order to receive vitamin c through food is low fat yogurt, low fat cheese, sardines, salmon, perch, soybeans, spinach, and oatmeal….to name a few.  Getting everything you need through food takes careful meal planning.  As I looked at some of the meal plans suggested in order to get the proper vitamins, I had to ask myself, realistically, do I eat like this?  Is this a sustainable plan for me?  Honestly, for me, though I do what I can to eat healthy and for my family to eat healthy, the truth is we are busy, life gets crazy, food becomes fast, family meals become less, and meals become more processed.  One of the concerns I have found as I researched, was that too much of a good thing, including vitamins, can be also detrimental to ones health.  However, as I look at my current lifestyle, I am beginning to doubt that I or my family get too many vitamins at this point.  But, I will say, I think it is something to be watchful of just like you would be in eating too many cookies…..I think it would be safe to say that too much of anything is harmful to us.

 Click on the following link to see a recommended diet for getting your vitamins and minerals through diet:

http://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/getting-your-vitamins-and-minerals-through-diet

 

 

As I have done a bit more research, I have found that minerals and vitamins do help our bodies heal because they support our cells and cell function.  The stronger our cells are, the better they can function and therefore help our bodies heal.  They can do their jobs much better.

In light of my inability to eat completely clean all the time, I am finding that supplements are helpful for me.  THOUGH SUPPLEMENTS ARE NOT a substitute for a healthy diet, but they can help fill in the gaps we have.  I listened briefly to a woman named Melissa Guthrie who has studied nutrition for 20 years and is a triathlete.  I think what she said kind of sums it up…..Our bodies can heal themselves because of our lifestyles and choices.  Not saying that doctors are not beneficial!  They are!  I need my endocrinologist. But  His plan of attack for me though in dealing with MENS 1, hemmroids, diarrhea, upset stomach, and hyperparathyroidism?  Eat clean, take Vitamin D supplements (this fall I had added Magnesium and Calcium to help with painful leg cramps I was getting) Sounds familiar and quite holistic.  Be healthy and take what you need to fill in the gaps.  What I have been finding over the last several weeks, is the taking a supplement has been helpful to some of my issues.  My husband has also noticed a difference in his energy levels.

 

Out of curiosity, I also looked up  links between depression and proper vitamin and mineral levels in our bodies.  I have heard testimonies of others who have gone off of anti depressants as they began using supplements (though I would treat this as an experiment as going off of anti depressants, from my experience, can be hard business.  I suffered greatly for about a week when I went off cold turkey in my 20’s.  This was a spiritual choice.  That might be a different class)  But, I did find there is a connection low levels of b-12 and other b vitamins as well as vitamin d.  A study was done on women with low vitamin d levels we were severally depressed.  For 12 weeks, they were given vitamin d orally which brought their vitamin d levels up to normal.  The women reported that they felt better and were markedly less depressed.

Another study I recently read about the use of essential oils involved a study by the USDA on chickens.  96% of the antibiotics used in the US are consumed by livestock and 70% of them are considered medically important for human beings.  A resistance to these antibiotics are beginning to emerge and according to the CDC, 2 million illnesses in 2013 were due to antibiotic resistance along with an estimated 23,000 deaths.  This amounted to an extra $20 billion spent on healthcare.  The study I mentioned already, was to help find an alternative to the amount of antibiotics that are being given to chickens.  The study that was conducted was published in Poultry Science and their findings showed that chickens who consumed feed with added oregano oil had 59% lower mortality rate due to ascites, a common infection in chickens, compared to their counterparts who do not receive the oregano oil.

All of these studies I found to be very informative and pointed me into the direction that this oil “obsession” and alternative to health care might actually have something to offer me.

My next question has been…..why one company over another?  How do I know I am getting the best of the best?  And you know, the best answer for this that I have come up with is my own personal experience which I have shared with you a bit already.  I have tried several different supplements and companies and so far, the product I am currently on has been the most successful for me.  I have vacillated so much, especially in the use of oils, because if you google oils you come up with articles for it and articles against it.  You find success stories and you find horror stories and each company says it has the best and most pure of the essential oils.  It left me at a place of not knowing what I should believe  and, quite frankly, even more skeptical.  The best research I have done on this has come from the experiments I have done on my own family and they have been successful.  Now, I will add, ONE MUST KNOW THEIR BODY!  There is one oil in particular, because I have a more sensitive stomach, that I cannot ingest, but I have not had a problem with using it NEAT which is using it in an undiluted form, when I rub it into my skin.  So, again, why one company over another?  Go with the one that works.  Go with the one that you have researched and tried.  It is just like anything else in this life.  We have to be responsible.  We have to do our research.

 Overall, my point of view is this.  Supplements are beneficial to help fill in the gaps.  Diet is of foremost importance with quality foods, but supplements are helpful in giving us a good foundation for our health.  Just as our food must be of high quality, so must our supplements.  Just like in the study on children’s vitamins, just because it says vitamins on it doesn’t make it a healthy vitamin to take.  Just cause a processed food says it contains a daily dose of our vitamin and mineral requirements, doesn’t make it a healthy food to eat or a good source of those vitamins and minerals.  Also, I believe I is paramount to know your body well and to know what the root cause of your issues are in order to treat them affectively either through modern medicine or through a holistic approach.  I personally like the idea of bringing the two together…..I believe they can go hand in hand.  As far as oils go, I have also found them to be beneficial and therapeutic.  Lets be honest, there are certain scents that help reduce stress….Calgon did a good thing and were headed in the right direction when they coined the phrase, “Calgon, take me away.”  Why, because there just is something about certain scents that relax you.  I for one, love peppermint and lavender….I smell them and they instantly whisk me away to a Mexican spa and an hour and a half massage in view of the ocean.  But, like I said about the vitamins, one must know there body and their product.  I have read articles about people who have used or ingested oils only to find themselves in the ER.  Scary stuff for sure.  But what I don’t know from those articles is What kind of Essential Oil were they using?  What kind of quality was it?  Was it pure?  Was  it for incense or was it for holistic health care?  Did it have additives?  How long did they ingest it? (there are limits on that just like there are limits on how many asprin you should take in a 24 hour period and for how many days it is recommended that you use it.  I am finding oils are the same way.  In my experience, you use the oils like you would a medicine….you don’t take pain killers a daily basis in hopes of keeping headaches away, neither do you take Nyquil every day in hopes of warding off a cold.  You use it as you need it.  I am finding it is the same with oils.  Joanna, might have a bit more to add about this.)  My opinion on the topic of oils?  Be educated.  I for one, would not go to Walmart and purchase their Peppermint oil they sell in the candle aisle, add a drop to my water, and drink it to help my tummy or even rub it on my tummy.  That is not what that oil is intended for.  It would hurt me, but that doesn’t mean that all essential oils are detrimental to my health.  I would however, go with a company I have researched and experimented with.  I would also do my research and find out the proper way to use oils.  I have personally found a company that I am learning to trust.  If you are interested in learning even more about oils and how to use them and/or are interested in obtaining vitamins and oils to try in your own home….there was not enough time today to address that topic, please talk to me afterwards. 

 

Resources:  www.mayoclinic.org

www.webmd.com

www.psychologytoday.com

www.healthykids.org

www.familydoctor.org

www.greenmedinfo.com

www.theatlantic.com

www.health.harvard.edu.com

OnGuard

This morning I woke up with a bit of a sore throat starting and stuffy nose.  I have been using On Guard with seemingly good results already, but I thought I would kick it up a notch this morning and try something new.  I had heard you could gargle with OnGuard to help with sore throats, so I did.  I also inhaled  peppermint to clear my nasal cavity, anointed my toes with Onguard to work with my sinuses, and dabbed some on the side of my neck where I could feel the sore throat beginning to start.  For extra measure, :)....why not, I was on a roll anyway this morning, I added about 4 drops of the oil blend into my tea kettle with water, brought it to a boil, and let it steam for awhile..... I don't have a diffuser yet.  The verdict?  The sore throat seems to have lessened and is completely gone, however; I can still feel the left overs of it....if that makes sense.  I am pleased, though, with the way it seems to have helped already this morning.  Since the suggestion for using EO's is small amounts, but frequent application, I think I will continue to dab it on.  I am looking forward to good results!  By the way, a friend posted this on my facebook page yesterday and I thought it was hilarious, mainly because it is so true...... LOL!  Also, keep in mind, for those of you who would like more info, I am teaching a class on Saturday Morning at the Nottawa Township Library at 10:00.  Feel free to join us and if you bring a skeptical but curious friend along with you, you will both receive a free sample of oil ;)

Well......Here Goes Something I Said I Wouldn't Ever Do......Again

Seems like I often find myself in these situations where I will say something, like, "well, ok I will try it, but don't expect me to have a party, or a class, or for that matter, even come to one."  Hurrumph....and yet, here I am AGAIN, doing what I said I wouldn't do.  I am going to hold an oils class.  I struggled with this.  Mainly because I'm a skeptic.  And I don't want to stand up in front of a bunch of people of pretend to know or to be something I'm not.  So, as I pondered about doing this and, if I were to do it, how I would do it....I decided that I refuse to stand up in front of people and pretend to know something or be something I'm not.  I have decided, if I am going to this, that I am going to be me.

This class will be approached in the same way I have approached everything else on this journey....as objectively as possible.  So, if I were going to a class promoting oils and vitamins, I would have a few questions. 

Why are vitamins and minerals important and how do the support a healthy immune, digestive and brain system?

Do vitamins and minerals help our bodies to heal themselves?

And mostly, why do I need to take a supplement?

Since these are my questions, these are the things that I will try to present from the research I have done.  The thing is, I have experienced a good result taking supplements, but I kind of want to know why.  Why is it so important?

To be honest, I have found some things I like and some things I don't like, but as I have stated at the beginning of this experiment, my goal is simply to be honest about the results of my experience and now also, the results of my research.

The class will take place on Saturday, February 7 from 10 am- 11 am at the Nottawa Township Library.

I look forward to seeing you there.

A Quick Survey.....

 As most of you know, especially if you have been following my blog, I am a skeptic on a journey to find out more information about essential oils, putting the oils to the test, seeing how they work and if they work for our family.  My question is this, how many others feel skeptical about the oils?  How many have questions they would like answers to and how many would like to find out more?  Are you curious enough that you would be interested in coming to a class in order to ask questions and find out more about how oils can be beneficial? 

The reason I am asking these questions is because I am debating on holding a class geared towards skeptics just like me....the fellow eye rollers.  I have to admit, I have learned a lot in the several weeks that I have been on this journey.  I have learned, but I am still curious.  I would like to know more about the medical side, from someone in the medical field, what they think about oils and have they found them to be beneficial.  I would like to know more about the history of oils, how they were used in the past and what for.  From the bit of research I have done, my understanding is plants and oils were used in our first pharmaceuticals and were used for treatment before we had over the counter drugs....Not bashing those at all, because last night I had the mother load of a headache and was out of the ingredients for my Headache Buster.  I tried my best with the oils I had on hand, but to no avail.  It just got worse.  I finally gave in and took ibuprofen....leaving me, this morning with a residual headache, and feeling sluggish and tired.  My point is, in my opinion, I am finding oils to be helpful, BUT if I need an over the counter drug to take care of a massive headache, I will take that as well.

I digress, back to learning more about oils....so my question is this....if I were to hold a class, geared towards people like me who are curious, but hesitant, who would like to learn more, but don't want to be pressured, who would like feed back from someone in the medical profession, who would like to know more about the history of oils and how and why they were used in the past and how they helped, and who are curious to see if these oils would be beneficial for their own health issues and the health issues of their family....would you come?

I look forward to hearing back from you!  Maybe I am the only one with these questions, and if so, GREAT!  I will keep hunting out the answers, but I thought I'd put some feelers out there for others as well....maybe there are more people than just me who have some of these same questions.  If that is you, let me know and maybe we could pursue the answers to these questions together in the form of a class. 

Blessings,
Melody

An Accidental Experiment

It has been three weeks since my husband and I started taking the multivitamins sold by doTerra.  We have been taking half doses as a way of trying them out and also to help cut down on the cost.  If I remember correctly, even with a half dose, you are still getting about 100% of the vitamins you need per day.  Last week, we stumbled on an accidental experiment.  Rob forgot to take his vitamins for two days.  He kept coming home from work and saying how exhausted he was and he couldn't figure out why.  Nothing had changed in our schedule or lives, accept he had not taken his vitamins.  So, the following two days, he decided to make up for lost time and took two days worth of full doses.  I asked him yesterday how he was feeling since he had started back on the vitamins and he said he could tell a noticeable difference.  He wasn't feeling as tired and felt that the vitamins were definitely making a difference for him. 

As for me?  I have not thought I can tell a huge difference one way or another in how I feel, however; I have not gone off of them and I have no idea how I would feel if I did.  There has been one area that I have noticed a difference in though.  Before taking these vitamins, I struggled ALOT with digestive issues, hemorrhoids, constipation, and diarrhea.  In order to keep myself straightened out I had to eat clean, take either flax seed mixed into my food or extra fiber.  And while the flax seed worked well, the extra fiber gummies I was taking also added extra gas....not necessarily a happy side affect for me or for anyone in my family.  If I didn't eat clean or take one of the other supplements, I would begin to suffer again.  It has been a constant battle.  However, since taking the vitamins and the Terrazymes (they help to break down the food you eat which is helpful to me since I no longer have a gall bladder), I have not had the digestive issues.  I did seem to take some time to get things to even out.  The first two weeks I really felt frustrated, however; I am wondering if it just took some time to get into my system and get things evened out.  As of the last week, I have been pleased with how things have been "flowing" ;)  Pardon the pun!  Having these kinds of issues resolved for me is a big bonus!  I look forward to continuing with these products and see if they continue to help with my tummy issues.

The other product I was taking, Slim and Sassy, I have decided to discontinue using.  I have friends that love it, so in no way am I slamming the product.  I simply have found, that because of the grapefruit oil that is in it, I cannot take it.  It creates too much acid for me which I know is tied to MENS 1.  I would be curious what experience others have had with it though.