Health-Essentials Newsletter | January 2009

Greeting from Lincoln, NE.  I don't know what it's like where you are; but around here, we had temperatures in the 50s last week (I was out in my shorts and short-sleeved shirt) and this week it's bitterly cold and snowing.  I'm glad I have this newsletter to write.  It gives me the excuse to stay inside.

After last month's newsletter, this one is going to seem a little light, but I hope that it gives you some good, useful information.

Why dōTERRA™: The heartbreak that is Young Living

The following notice is written from a heavy heart.  It's not something I want to do; but, I feel that, if I'm to maintain any sort of integrity, I really need to address this with you.  So, here goes.

It seems that every time I mention dōTERRA™ in a newsletter, I have several people unsubscribe, and at least one sends me an email (usually anonymously) asking what I'm doing promoting this company in my newsletter.  Up to this point, I've mostly just said that, since I was introduced to dōTERRA's oil, I've found them to be of exceptional quality — even by Young Living's standards.  Since my loyalty is to quality and to you, I felt no sense of dissonance in offering dōTERRA™ essential oils to you, despite my long history with Young Living.

Now, some things have come to my attention that strengthen my position — at least, in my mind — about promoting dōTERRA™ essential oils in my newsletters.  But first, let me back up a bit and tell this story from the beginning.

Gnawing doubts about Young Living's essential oils

When I was first introduced to Young Living back in 1997, I couldn't believe what I had found.  The oils literally gave me back my life.  Every day was brightened with my amazement at the effect these oils were having.  They literally redefined for me the meaning of "health".

But, over the past few years, while I had the occasional flash of amazement, for the most part, the results I saw with the YL oils weren't all that spectacular.  I just chalked that up to the fact that I hadn't been using the oils quite as regularly as I once had (way too busy working at building this business), or that there was something else going on with me that blunted the effects of the oils.

I also noticed that, despite serious efforts to cleanse, I still carried a significant level of toxicity.  I noticed this in two areas, especially:

1. My liver always seemed to be congested, and
2. I was becoming more and more sensitive to lawn chemicals and insecticides.

I thought that some of this was just that I couldn't seem to drink enough water in a day and that there is a lot more use of lawn chemicals and insecticides in my neighborhood than in the past.  Still, I was starting to have some questions about whether Young Living's products were as good as they once were.

 

Problems with the oils from customers

Then, in the last year or two, I've had several customers contact me about skin problems they were having after using the oils.  They asked if there was something with the oils that would cause this, or what.  I gave them the answer that I had been taught: either their systems were toxic and needed a cleanse, their pH was out of balance or they were using personal care products with synthetic chemicals in them that were reacting to the oils.  As far as I knew, that would have been the problem.

I had one customer return some peppermint oil.  He just said that it was bad, and that he had reacted badly to it.

So, I had an idea that something was going on, but I had no idea what that would be.  By this time, I had been introduced to dōTERRA™, so I just started recommending these oils to people.

The story is told: "What we said we had is not what we had"

Then, this past week, I received some first-hand reports of what has been going on at Young Living.  I won't get into all the details I've heard; I'll just say that the commitment to quality that had always characterized Young Living has been significantly diminished.  The quality of the oils has been knowingly compromised.  Despite this, the company continues to claim both a standard of production and quality of the oils that it no longer has.  Some of the issues include:

• Spraying the fields with synthetic (petro-based) herbicides and insecticides.
• Spiking some oils (at least) with synthetic chemicals, to make them test up to standards.

Because of this, one of Young Living's trainers, after doing a demonstration of RainDrop at a meeting, broke out in hives from the oils.  He has reported other, more serious, reactions with others.  [Note: According to Dr David Stewart, author of The Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Simple, essential oils contain no molecules that could cause an allergic reaction.  None.  So, what's going on with Young Living's oils?]

Where I'm at right now

So, I find myself in a difficult place right now.  My heart is sick over this, and all that has been lost.  And, as a matter of ethics — or morality — I can't keep telling you that Young Living oils are the best, highest-quality oils on the market.  I can't continue to say that they are therapeutic-grade.  They are not.

So, I'm in a transitional phase right now.  I don't know where this will lead, but I wanted you to know what is going on and why I'm promoting dōTERRA™ oils.  I sincerely hope that you will join me in rediscovering what aromatherapy is really all about.

Essential first aid: Using essential oils in the event of an emergency

Just before Christmas 2008, my wife (Linda) sliced her hand with a box cutter.  Although we took some measures to deal with this emergency ourselves (applying some geranium oil to the wound), we ended up "erring on the side of caution" and going to the Emergency Room to have some stitches put in.

It's not that having the stitches done was such a bad idea; it's just that each stitch ended up costing us over $330.00.  What's more, the antibiotics and salve prescribed for Linda created a host of other problems that could have been avoided.

Worse still: we really knew better.

Rethinking the idea of "erring on the side of caution"

So often, when presented with the question of doing one medical thing or another, we decide to err on the side of caution.  It seems reasonable — even prudent.

But, when you think about it, which side is the cautious side?  Why do we assume that it's the medical side?

The point is: we know that the medical option is probably quite toxic and leads to side effects (which are symptoms of the imbalance it creates in the system).  On the other hand, we know that there are safe and effective natural alternatives that could be employed; alternatives that will also build up the body, not tear it down.

Medical costs alone cry out for an alternative

Healthcare costs are really out-of-control in this country.  And, having the government pay for it won't help that problem (whatever your views are on universal healthcare coverage).  What is really needed are natural — essential — measure, where we are empowered to handle emergencies like this on our own. 

Linda and I made the mistake of relying too much on the medical model — as if there wasn't really a fully viable alternative.  We paid for that mistake — in more ways than one.  And now, with the problems in the economy, it makes even more sense to discover for yourself the powerful alternatives that are open to you. 

You can read more about what we did — and could have done — to achieve a better outcome at a small fraction of the cost by going to Essential First Aid: Using essential oils in the event of an emergency.

Cold and flu season is here!

Although I haven't had so much as a sniffle so far this year, I'm told that the cold and flu season is again upon us.  Here are some suggestions on how you can hold off the bug:

1) You can make a soothing and effective cough "syrup" by mixing:

• 1 oz honey with
• 6-8 drops On Guard™ blend, and
• 6-8 drops lemon oil.

Store in a glass jar in the cupboard, away from light.  To relieve a sore throat or deal with a cough, hold 1/3 to 1/2 teaspoon of this mixture in your mouth for a few minutes before swallowing.  Take as often as needed.  (Thanks Jan M.)

2) Rub On Guard™ on the bottom of your feet — and your children's feet — morning and night, to create a protective barrier and boost your/their immune system.

[Note: For those who are familiar with Young Living's Thieve^® blend, On Guard™ is very similar, except that it includes wild orange instead of lemon oil.  And you can be sure that On Guard™ is certified pure therapeutic-grade™ (CPTG™), not adulterated with synthetic chemicals.]

Three health alerts

The following are articles that you might want to read, detailing some of the issues facing people who want a real choice in healthcare options, and one that really builds incredible confidence in the ability of the FDA to look out for our health.

• The end to scientifically supported nutritional supplements: The FDA defies DSHEA in latest threat to dietary supplements.
• Is the FDA's Interpretation of Provision 301 a Threat to Supplements?
• First It's Not Safe, and Then It Is!  The FDA Position on Melamine May Give Us All a Case of Whiplash

Adrenal Fatigue: What it is and what you can do about it

Adrenal fatigue (a.k.a. adrenal exhaustion) has become a very common problem today.  Between the stress of our fast-paced lives and environmental issues, poor eating habits and lack of nutritive value in even our best foods, we often place more adaptive demands upon the adrenals than they can possibly meet.  And, with all of the demands placed on them, it's no wonder they cry out for help.

In terms of its impact on your life, adrenal exhaustion can be anything from an annoyance to totally debilitating.  It can make daily life a real struggle, where even the simplest things can take on monumental proportions.  But, there are some simple things you can do to support the adrenals and minimize the load they carry.  You have to approach the issue from different directions, incorporating diet and other life-style matters, as well as dietary supplementation and aromatherapy. 

To learn what you can do, read the article Adrenal Fatigue (a.k.a. Adrenal Exhaustion): What you can do about this all-too-common problem.

 

Well that's about it for this issue.  I hope that it has been helpful.  If you have any questions, please ask me.  I'd be glad to help in any way I can.

Until next time,

Tom

Tom Anson | Health-Essentials.info
Health information you can use … from an alternative perspective

301 Glenhaven Dr | Lincoln, NE 68505
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