We have had round after round of winter yuck in this area and I am more thankful than ever for my options for managing my health and the bugs that sometimes sneak in. It took me by storm one Friday and as I reached for my Elderberry Syrup I realized I had NOT been taking a teaspoon a day as I encourage folks to do. Ugh. It was a couple days of absolute exhaustion, muscle aches, coughing, headache and sore throat. I took a teaspoon or two of elderberry syrup every few hours, used my Thieves Chest Rub on my chest and the bottoms of my feet, A drop of Thieves and Lemon in a teaspoon of honey a couple times a day, and Raven and a plethora of other oils in the diffuser. Also lots of Ningxia Red because I didn't feel like eating (that almost never happens) but knew my body needed the nutrients it provides. I also upped my Super C and Super Vitamin D. What do you do when the winter yuck hits?
If you need any of the items I have talked about, here is a wishlist....you can add any or all to your cart and have it ready when you need it! If you are new to Young Living, use the code shareyl to receive 10% off!
Interested in making your own elderberry syrup? It is really pretty easy, and this recipe makes about 24 ounces. It is recommended to take a teaspoon a day to boost your immune system, Of course, since it has local honey, kiddos under 1 year should abstain. For littles over one, a half a teaspoon is recommended.
Elderberry Syrup
2/3 cup dried elderberries (double that if using fresh berries)
3½ cups of water
1 cup raw organic honey (local if possible)
2 drops of Young Living Ginger Essential Oil
1 drop of Young Living Clove Essential Oil
4 drops of Young Living Thieves Essential Oil
1. Pour water into medium saucepan and add elderberries. It is beneficial to soak them overnight, but not required.
2. Bring to a boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer minutes until the liquid has reduced by almost half. Smash the berries, remove from heat and let cool enough to be handled. Pour through a strainer into a glass jar or bowl.
3. Let the liquid cool to lukewarm, then add 1 cup of honey and stir well. Adding the honey before the liquid is cooled may kill the important enzymes
4. Next add the oils, stir and then pour into a glass jar.
5. Keep refrigerated and take daily for its immune boosting properties. Some sources recommend taking only during the week and not on the weekends to boost immunity.
6. Standard dose is ½ tsp to 1 tsp for kids and 1 tsp for adults. If a cold or the flu does strike, take the normal dose every 2-3 hours instead of once a day until symptoms disappear.
We had such a great time being a part of the Ozarks Homesteading Expo in Marshfield! The event was filled with like-minded individuals working towards a self-reliant lifestyle and sharing their knowledge. We were thrilled to showcase what Young Living has to offer in terms of products and community.
In order to share some of our DIY recipes with those we met, we decided to create a blog series. Two of our most popular DIYs, Warrior Oil and Elderberry Syrup, were available at the event. Warrior Oil is a fantastic option for muscle-related issues, whether it's post-workout soreness or general discomfort. By simply adding a combination of Young Living essential oils such as Black Pepper, Frankincense or Elemi, Marjoram, Lemongrass, PanAway, Copaiba to a 5 ml bottle filled with OrthoSport Massage Oil, and topped with a roller, you'll have a powerful and effective solution.
Stay tuned for more DIY recipes coming soon!
Read more...
Next week, there will be a Facebook Class on caring for your immune system. Let me know if you would like to be added to it. Here is a story I have been wanting to share.
I traveled to Salt Lake for work two days before the end of the month, I would be there for 12 days, supporting a hospital go live of their new electronic medical record. I was SUPER excited to be staying just a mile or so from our Young Living Headquarters. I planned to pick up some product (my fav energy drink, Zyng, Ningxia Red and Nitro) on the first day of the month, my Loyalty Rewards order.
Life had other plans. I arrived in town, checked in to my hotel, went grocery shopping and headed to the hospital the next morning for go live prep. I had a headache, and later that night, i felt increasingly sick. Called my boss, she instructed me to get a test for "the sickness that shall not be named", and go straight back to my hotel and work from there.
I tested positive. I had to let the hotel know. I was quarantined in my room.
I had been diligent in utilizing numerous products to support my immune system, as I was traveling, routinely in hospitals, and working a ton of hours. I had my supplements sitting next to my computer, and upped my Super C and Super B and Super VItamin D, I had been taking extra Zinc and Quercetin, and lots of Ningxia Red. I knew I couldn't get out to go pick up an order. I was burning through my stash of all.the.things quickly.
Folks that I work with had offered to bring me anything I need. The VP of my firm brought me 4 bags of groceries. <3 I will never forget his kindness. My bosses hounded me daily on how I was feeling, did I have a temp, was I eating. :) But asking folks to go to Young Living headquarters and have them pick up my order? I just couldn't do it. I called Headquarters, just to ask-since I was literally a few blocks away- if maybe someone could drop off my order when they got off work. When I called, the girl I spoke to immediately said "let me get my boss". The woman I spoke to said "place your order and call us back and we will bring it right over". I began to cry for the first time since this ordeal began.
I was really sick, and not really thinking super clearly, and it took me like three tries to get everything I needed ordered. I literally had three different orders. I called and let them know I was finally done ordering. Within half an hour there was a knock on my door. I yelled out thank you, gave them time to walk away, and then opened the door. As I unpacked my order, the tears began again. Besides my order, there was also the following:
A bottle of Thieves Essential Oil
A tube of the Thieves Chest Rub (so new I forgot it existed)
A roller of Breathe Again
All of the freebies for the month because all my orders together met the minimum
A handmade Get Well Card
Have I mentioned I love this company?
Fast forward to last June, when I made it back to Headquarters and visited the area where my order was processed. I had to tell them the story. The girl behind the counter said, oh I bet that was Heather. Another girl said she thought she remember the situation. I asked if Heather was there, and they said she was working the convention.
The next day, as I was shopping at the convention, a woman named Heather waited on my, but she didn't meet the physical description. I was telling her the story, and she said, "Oh, I think she is working in the back, I will text her!"
I began to cry again, the Heather waiting on me was tearing up, and she came out and I could barely speak as I told her who I was and what her kindness meant to me. It was the highlight of the 4 day convention to get to hug her and thank her in person. We created quite a stir.
I truly believe that the proactive support of my immune system helped me as much as that stressful time in my life put me at risk. Once that order arrived, I guzzled Ningxia Red and tossed back B, C and D like candy. By the day I was allowed to travel, I was feeling comfortable doing so. I remember how sick I was, the fatigue was intense, and one night I truly gave myself the equivalent of a breathing treatment with Laurus Noblis. But what I will remember the most is the kindness of others, of my VP Dave bringing me groceries and Heather and her team going above and beyond making sure I had what I needed to get well.
If you would like a list of products suggested to have on hand to combat the "sickness that shall not be named" let me know.
One of the highlights of this year's Young Living Convention was hearing Dr Dan Purser speak during the Science Is Our Nature series. I knew that Dr Purser worked with our founder Gary Young to formulate our beloved Progessence Plus serum (if you don't know about it, please ask!) but I learned he also helped research and formulate Prenolone Plus Cream , PD 80/20, and Master Formula. He spoke from the stage about hormone health and then sat in the lobby and answered questions literally until people were done asking. I listened for over an hour, video taped some of it, and have listened and taken notes from it.
The answer for so many questions was vitamin deficiencies.
Several in the group gathered around him teared up when a beautiful young woman said "My one sister has six kids, and my other sister has five and I can't get pregnant." He explained that he sees many couples who are IVF fails, and has emails from several of them who now have children. He asked if she was tired all the time, she said yes, and he said it was likely a vitamin deficiency. He suggested 60 days of Master Formula and if she wasn't feeling better, to get a Cellular Micronutrient Assay (CMA) that measures over 100 different vitamins, minerals and amino acids at the cellular level. A woman piped up and said I have a baby because of you and everyone cheered. We could see the hope in that childless woman's eyes. It was an amazing moment.
So much more...notes I scribbled, protocols he suggested, explaining what supplement or serum was good for particular hormone levels that needed to be balanced. I will share more in a few days!
For now, here is a list of the top YL products for hormone and thyroid health.
I would encourage everyone interested in natural health options, hormone or thyroid related issues, or menopause to check out Dr Purser on Facebook, as well as his blog posts and podcasts.
Love and blessings- Karrie
Looking for natural ways to boost your immune system? Here are some ideas to get you started!
1. Get enough sleep and manage stress.
Sleep deprivation and stress overload increase the hormone cortisol, prolonged elevation of which suppresses immune function.
2. Use Thieves Essential Oil blend.
Apply a drop of the stellar blend on the bottom of your feet every night, and be amazed as your immune system thanks you. A blend of clove, cinnamon bark, lemon, eucalyptus and rosemary, it is a powerhouse tool in your wellness arsenal.
3. Take a teaspoon of Elderberry Syrup daily.
Studies show that elderberry syrup works better than old nasty Tamiflu when you are sick, and lots of folks take a tsp a day to support their immune system. Good to have on hand. Let me know if you need the recipe.
4. Avoid tobacco smoke.
It undermines basic immune defenses and raises the risk of bronchitis and pneumonia in everyone, and middle ear infections in kids. Also, candles create the same problems. Toss them and get a diffuser.
5. Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds.
A wide variety of veggies and fruit in various colors will provide your body with the nutrients your immune system needs. Not a fan? Ask me about the best high-nutrient drink on the planet to check off this box.
6. Consider probiotics.
YL's Life 9 and Mighty Pro are amazing options. Studies indicate supplements reduce the incidence of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. Fermented milk products have also been shown to reduce respiratory infections in adults and kids.
7. Catch some rays.
Sunlight triggers the skin’s production of vitamin D. In the summer, a 10-15 minute exposure (minus sunscreen) is enough. However, above 42 degrees latitude (Boston) from November through February, sunlight is too feeble and few foods contain this vitamin. Low vitamin D levels correlate with a greater risk of respiratory infection. Young Living just introduced their Super Vitamin D supplement, so there's that too.
8. Go for the garlic.
Garlic is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent and immune booster. Because heat deactivates a key active ingredient, add it to foods just before serving. I just chop up a clove and take it like a supplement. BAM!
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