Now that you’ve decided to try therapeutic grade essential oils and reap their many benefits, you may be confused as to where to start. With more than 125 different Young Living oils (and more being discovered every year) it can be a daunting process.

Let’s keep it simple and start with the oils and blends that have everyday applications for you, your family and pets. These oils can benefit your body and your home. Many of them can even be used in your favorite recipes!

Young Living has packaged a starter kit called “Essential 7” ™ It includes:

LAVENDER: (Lavandula angustifolia) is the most versatile of all essential oils. Therapeutic-grade lavender has been highly regarded for the skin. Lavender has been clinically evaluated for its relaxing effects. It may be used to cleanse cuts, bruises and skin irritations. The fragrance is calming, relaxing and balancing physically and emotionally.

Suggested Use:
Place a few drops of Lavender oil on a wet cloth and throw into the dryer, which will deodorize and freshen your laundry.

Put a drop of Lavender oil on a cold sore.

Diffusing Lavender oil may help alleviate the symptoms of allergies.

Spritz several drops of Lavender oil mixed with distilled water on a sunburn. It may decrease pain.

Apply a drop of Lavender oil on a cut to clean the wound and help with bacteria.

Applying 2-3 drops of Lavender oil to a rash may stop the itching and heal the skin.

Read the full article at EmpowHer.com.

*All information has been complied from Essential Oil Desk Reference, Higley’s Reference on Essential Oils and Young Living Essential Oils.

For those of you that have to endure what can only be described as “breast torture” annually, I empathize with you.  And for those of you that don’t, I’d liken the experience to that of slamming your breasts in the fridge door a few times.  And that’s no exaggeration because our breasts are compressed with a force equal to some 50 pounds during a mammogram!  In fact when I told my sister that I was going for a mammogram she asked whether I had practiced before hand using the fridge door. lol.

But breast health is no joking matter. And screening and early detection is key. In fact, according to the American Cancer Society, except for skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women.

And the most recent estimates for breast cancer in the US for 2010 aren’t pretty:

• About 207,090 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.

• About 54,010 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer).

• About 39,840 women will die from breast cancer

Mammography and self breast examination have been the mainstay of breast cancer detection for years. These procedures detect breast cancer – they confirm the existence of what already exists – cancer.

But what is there was a way to detect very small changes within the breast – at the cellular level – pre-cancerous changes? That would appear to be the optimal position, wouldn’t it?

And that’s exactly what digital breast thermography is. It’s a pictorial measurement of heat generated in the body and in particular, in our breasts. It allows for a careful analysis of skin and tissue temperatures.

Medical practitioners are therefore able to pick up abnormal chemical and blood vessel activity in breast tissue because they generate greater heat.

Areas of greater heat are therefore, often seen as red flags – possible pre-cancerous sites. Christiane Northrup, M.D. (ob/gyn) and bestselling author, wrote a brilliant article recently about breast heath and thermography in the Huffington Post.   She noted that thermography may be able to detect cancer activity 8 to 10 years earlier than any other screening method.  And that’s huge.

This would give women time to make changes to their diets, possibly ramp up on certain supplements and herbs, do some inner work – all in an effort to transform these cells before they became cancerous. Breast cancer prevention at its best.

And if all of this is possible with thermography and it’s also pain and radiation free, why aren’t we embracing this technology which incidentally is FDA approved?   Or is that a rhetorical question, after all, cancer treatment is hugely profitable?

Like any technology, thermography is only as good as the thermologist.  You can find a qualified thermologist in your area by visiting the International Academy of Clinical Thermology website at http:// iact-org.org

And just to be clear, I’m not advocating thermography over mammography.   I think women need to know what’s available, do their own research and make choices that are best for them.

Resources

http://www.breastthermography.com/breast_thermography_mf.htm

http://www.healingwell.com/library/breastcancer/article.asp?author=cockburn&id=1

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christiane-northrup/the-best-breast-test-the-_b_752503.html

http://iact-org.org/

And this is because Congress authorized funding of some $27 billion to promote the use of e-health records in an effort to cut health care costs as part of the overall stimulus plan.  And this technology includes the use of e-prescriptions and e-medical records.

According to Surescripts, the nations leading electronic prescribing network, the use of e-prescriptions is gaining ground.  The company reported there were 156,000 active prescribers in 2009 including physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. This represents a 109% increase in prescribers when compared with 2008 figures. But according to Reuters, the current figure is even higher at 200,000 prescribers.

How does e-prescribing work? Basically, the health care provider uses a computer with e-prescribing software to access patient prescription benefit information and then routes the prescription to patient’s pharmacy.

This is generally viewed as good news for patient, doctor and pharmacy for a number of reasons. For the patient it means a reduction in medical errors (including drug type and amount) caused by doctors customary poor hand writing. It also helps to ensure that patients actually fill and pick up their prescriptions as an estimated 20% of patients never make it to the pharmacy with their prescriptions.

Because the system has the technology to provide a review from the prescriber’s office against the patient’s medication history, it’s possible for the pharmacy to do allergy checks and drug to drug interactions checks – all important information to protect patient safety.

This system also gives physicians information as to which drug is being covered by the patient’s health plan and this should mean lower drug costs for the patient and fewer calls between doctors and pharmacists.

Reducing health care costs, improving patient safety and increasing efficiency all sound like pretty good reasons for doctors, nurse practitioners and  physician’s assistants to adopt this new technology in the near future.  Let’s hope so, because if they will most certainly face fines.

Here, Dr Sarah talks about some of the triggers of hot flashes and some strategies that we can employ to cope with hot flashes that support body wellness.

And here are some of Dr Sarah’s suggestions for women suffering from hot flashes:

start with cleaning up the diet, avoiding processed foods in favor of whole natural and organic foods

getting enough sleep

exercising regularly

stress reduction techniques

social and emotional support

If these strategies are not effective then a visit to a Doctor of Naturapothic Medicine may be necessary to determine the underlying cause for the hot flashes. Remember just because the symptoms (hot flashes) are the same does not mean that the underlying cause is the same!

A Naturopathic Approach to hot flashes allows for further analysis and “detective work” to help each woman on a case by case basis.

Watch Part II of our interview with Sarah LoBisco, ND below.  Dr Sarah can be reached at 518-885-9145.

And organic farming is also supposed to be better for the environment.  Many, including myself agree that these benefits are well worth the additional expense.

With the FDA having so many problems with items being imported from China, including food items, the question is: Would you buy organic foods from China?

What if you were told that Whole Foods – the leading retailer of organic and natural food was sourcing a number of its products from China? Sadly, this is true. And quite frankly as a consumer I feel let down and disappointed.

Foods like Edamame Blanched Shelled Soybeans, Organic Broccoli Florets , Organic Asparagus Spears and get this – California Blend Vegetables – all sourced from China and being marketed under the Whole Foods Brand – 365 Organic.

I think that Whole Foods has some explaining to do.   ABC News has revealed some disturbing questions about the validity of the organic certification of these products.  Whole Foods continued silence on the matter is also very unsettling.

The bottom line: Buyer Beware – read your food labels, even on things that we once considered sacrosanct.

Have a look at this ABC News 7 I-Team Report to find out the full details of this story. Be sure to download the Whole Foods – Product of Origin document as well. And please share this information with your family and friends.

I would love to hear your comments regarding this story. Are you a Whole Foods customer and what are your feelings about “organic” foods from China being sold at Whole Foods?

It is thought that the estrogen reduction experienced during menopause may disrupt the function of the hypothalamus which in turn leads to hot flashes.

Despite the fact that hot flashes are common, they are not natural, according to Sarah LoBisco, ND, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine.  Dr Sarah has over 8 years experience in wellness and is a graduate of the accredited four year post-graduate program in naturopathic medicine at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut.  She is also trained in whole foods supplements, herbal and essential oils therapy.

Dr Sarah believes in listening to her clients and working with them in order to facilitate wellness. She uses her background of essential oils, herbs, whole food supplements and psychology to form an integrated approach to each individual client.

And what does Dr Sarah have to say about hot flashes? Lots…..join me for a Natropathic look at hot flashes in Part 1 of my interview with Sarah LoBosco, ND.

Sarah LoBisco, ND

Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

18 Low St

Ballston Spa, NY 12020

518-885-9145

nd@dr-lobisco.com

Stay tuned for Part 2 in this interview series where Sarah LoBisco, ND discusses coping mechanisms for hot flashes, common triggers and lots more.

According to the experts, staying physically active ensures that our brain continues to receive and maintain good blood flow as well as encouraging new brain cell growth.

There have also been a number of studies which link low levels of Vitamin D to Alzheimer’s. It’s a good idea to get your Vitamin D levels checked and to supplement during the winter months. Hey it’s summer – get out and soak up some of that vital Vitamin D!

Protect your brain cells by adopting a brain healthy diet. As you would guess this includes loads of dark-skinned fruits and veggies which have the highest levels of antioxidants. Nuts that contain a good source of Vitamin E like almonds, walnuts and pecans are also recommended as well as cold water fish containing omega-3 fatty acids.

Keeping socially active as well as feeling a sense of community are other critical components for brain wellness as well as keeping mentally active. And here’s an interesting tidbit – higher levels of education appear to be somewhat protective against Alzheimer’s, possibly because brain cells and their connections are stronger.

Bottom Line: Get moving, stay mentally active, eat a healthy diet, and know your Vitamin D levels. Isn’t it funny that we keep getting the same advice over and over again to starve off a variety of illnesses?

What is Stroke?

Stroke is literally a brain attack which cuts off vital blood flow and oxygen to the brain. During a stroke two million brain cells die every minute, increasing risk of permanent brain damage, disability or death. A stroke can happen to anyone at anytime.

Unfortunately, I have first hand experience with strokes. My father suffered a Hemorrhagic stoke at the early age of 55. This means that a blood vessel in his brain broke and leaked blood into his brain.

In my Dad’s case, he had been having severe headaches for a few of days prior to his stroke. But we all thought that they were just that – headaches, possibly caused by stress. Dad was found unconscious on the floor in his office a few days later. No one knows for sure how long he had been lying there.

And I have yet another unfortunate experience with stroke. My sister-in-law recently suffered a stroke during a medical procedure about a month ago. This was an Ischemic stoke which occurs when arteries are blocked by blood clots or by the build-up of plaque and fatty deposits. Approximately 87% of all strokes are Ischemic strokes.

In my sister-in-law’s case, she has a long history of high blood pressure and being overweight – 2 common contributing factors for stroke.

Are you are risk for having a stroke?

Here are some public stoke prevention guidelines published by the National Stroke Association:

• Know your blood pressure. If it is elevated, work with your doctor to keep in under control because high blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke.

• Find out if you have arterial fibrillation (AF). AF is a cardiac rhythm disorder which can cause blood to collect in the chambers of the heart. And this blood can form clots and cause stroke. Your doctor will be able to detect AF by a careful check of the pulse.

• Smoking: If you smoke you are twice as likely to have a stroke. Stop smoking!

• Drinking: Drink in moderation. According to the National Stroke Association, moderate drinking (a glass of wine or beer a day) may actually lower our risk of stroke. But too much drinking increases our risk.

• High Cholesterol:  Again, like blood pressure – know your number. If it is high, diet and exercise is the first line of defense. High cholesterol can also indirectly increase stroke risk by putting you at greater risk of heart disease – an important stroke risk factor.

• Control Diabetes: Diabetes can put us at increased risk for stroke. Here again, lifestyle changes of diet and exercise are key.

• Exercise: 30 minutes a day is recommended and may reduce our risk for stroke.

• Lower fat/ lower salt:  Lower salt and lower fat may lower blood pressure and in turn lower our risk for stroke.

• If you have circulation problems work with your doctor to control them.

Most stroke is preventable. It’s really a matter of knowing your risk factors and implementing lifestyle changes to manage and mitigate risk.

Stay tuned for more in this series on stroke.

How bad can a bowl of KFC mashed potato with gravy be? Pretty darn bad. Ridiculously bad. Heart stopping bad….insanely bad. This “bowl” is described as a combination of popcorn chicken, gravy, mashed potatoes and corn topped with a three cheese blend. And if that description isn’t enough to turn you off, let’s have a closer look at the KFC Nutrition Guide.

Calories:  700   If we eat approximately 1,800 calories/day, this meal represents 40% of our daily intake – but that’s not counting a drink. And I’m figuring that we are going to need a very large drink once we see just how much sodium is in this baby.

Calories from Fat:  290 This is really high because 41% of the calories in this blow comes from fat.

Total fat:  32 (g)   The recommended daily fat intake is around 65 grams. So this bowl provides almost half of this amount in just one meal. Not good.

Saturated Fat: 8 (g) Less is more here because foods high in saturated fats are also high in cholesterol. The American Heart Association sets a daily limit of 16 (g) of saturated fat daily and this bowl provides half of this amount.

Cholesterol: 55 (mg)   Again, according to the American Heart Association we should be eating no more that 200 mg of cholesterol daily. This bowl provides more that a quarter of this allotment.

Sodium:   2,260 (mg)  Are you kidding me?  The amount of sodium in this meal is totally out of the ball park given that our recommended daily sodium intake is around 1,500 mg.

Carbohydrates: 57 (mg)  This one is a little tricky because it depends on how many calories we eat daily. What’s more important is the kind of carbs that we consume and we should be consuming unprocessed carbs for optimum nutrition. The carbs in this KFC bowl are highly processed. And how do we know that? By having a look at the ingredient list….but we’re not there yet.

Dietary Fiber:  6 (g) is woefully short of the recommended 21 – 38 grams required daily.

Protein:  27 (g) This is really quite high. We should be consuming about 15 (g) of protein with each meal or about 45 (g) daily.

When we ad up the ingredients listed for the popcorn chicken, the mashed potatoes, the gravy, corn and the three cheese blend, we come in at about 150 ingredients. But I’m going to give myself a 10% margin for error here because my eyes really did begin to gloss  over during the whole counting process.

Suffice it to say that a number of these ingredients are chemicals and chemical preservatives. Creepy unhealthy ingredients.

Bottom Line: the KFC Famous Bowls – Mashed Potato with Gravy is a no go. It’s not real food, it’s unhealthy, highly processed and loaded with fat and sodium. It’s absolutely not the kind of food that supports health and wellness.  KFC Nutrition?  I think we should pass on this one.

Freedom From Emotional Eating!

New – Mind Body Weight Loss Program

by Dr. Frank Lawlins and Gregori Palumbo

Endorsed by Dr Phil

Groundbreaking 8 part CD Series combines the latest in Psychology and Technology

Demonstrated to stop the brain from triggering hunger!

Are you tired trying to lose weight? Are you an emotional eater? If this sounds like you, then Mind Body Weight Loss Program is your answer for permanent weight loss.

According to psychologists, emotional eating is one of the biggest stress coping mechanisms we humans have. And it’s more common than most think, for both men and for women. Eating in response to our feelings, especially when we are not hungry is a good indicator that emotional eating is involved. And it means that our emotions, not our body, are dictating when and/or how much we eat.

Is this a health issue? Absolutely. With the obesity rate creeping ever higher (more than 33% at last count) we have reason to be concerned. Why? Because statistics suggest that a significant percentage of obese persons are also emotional eaters.

When I learned about program that was based on the Mind Body connection for weight loss, my curiosity was peaked and I decided to do some digging.

Their web page features our beloved Dr. Phil (and who wouldn’t love Dr. Phil with his words of wisdom, for calling a spade a spade, his cute bald head and his lovely wifey) supporting the Mind Body Weight Loss Program with this quote: “The Weight Wellness Series by Dr. Lawlis is the best program for weight reduction because it relieves stress related cravings and tension.” Below this quote is a video clip from the Dr. Phil show during which Dr. Phil endorsed the Mind Body Weight Loss Program.

So far so good I’m thinking. But who is Dr. Lawlis? As it turns out Dr. Lawlis has been associated with Dr. Phil for over 25 years. He was his professor while Dr. Phil he was studying for his Ph.D. and Dr. Phil claims that Dr. Lawlis as his mentor. In addition, Dr. Lawlis serves as a consultant to the Dr. Phil show, and his CDs have been featured in connection with weight loss, relaxation and general wellness. He is also an expert on ADD and ADHD, and offers advice on a host of issues from parenting with pills to dealing with violent children.

Gregori Palumbo is one of the leading figures in the field of music therapy and a graduate of the world renown Juilliard School. Palumbo uses audio and musical techniques that have been demonstrated to increase learning retention and induce a state of clinical relaxation. He paired up with Dr. Frank Lawlis to compose soundtrack compositions for the MINDBody CD Series.

Exactly does the Mind Body Series Weight Loss Program offer? It’s a series of 8 CDs that focus on imagery and relaxation for weight loss. It combines the use of Binaura Beats – rhythmic humming beats that have been proven to stop the brain from triggering hunger.

Disk 1 – Relaxation for Weight Loss

Disk 2 – Imagery for Weight Loss

Disk 3 – Curb Emotional Eating

Disk 4 – Imagery for Exercise

Disk 5 – Relaxation Music for Weight Loss

Disk 6 – Imagery Music for Weight Loss

Disk 7 – Music for Appetite Suppression

Disk 8 – Imagery Music for Exercise

What customers are saying about the Mind Body Weight Loss Program

“I’ve lost 30 pounds using the weight wellness series and am genuinely enjoying my life more than I have ever before! I just want to say thank you Dr Lawlis for believing in folks and doing your part to make their experiences healthy ones!! ~ my hat’s off to ya!” – Deb L. Atlanta, GA

“I have listened to it 7 times, since it arrived this week, and I can tell some very good things are happening already. After listening for the third time, I found myself taking my Pilates CD out of the package, and starting my Crest White Strips both of which had been sitting around here for weeks…go figure!” – Fran F – Fort Atkinson, WI

“I am amazed. I have yet to hear the cd all the way through or even practice the imagery. BUT…I put the earphones on when I go to bed, my cd player has been set to repeat, and so I fall asleep listening to the message and I wake up in the morning to the message. My appetite is way down, I WANT Good food and I do think I have more energy during the day! AMAZING! I wouldn’t believe it if it wasn’t happening to me.”

Tired of the diet roller coaster?

Looking for a 100% Natural way to control emotional eating?

CLICK HERE NOW for a 21 Day Trial AND FREE SHIPPING !

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