STUDY SUPPORT
This post is contributed by One Drop member – Ranna Seah.
It’s October and we are facing one of the biggest challenges ever…FINAL YEAR EXAM! It was exactly this experience which spurn this blog because we have some of the greatest tools on hand to support our kiddos through this. (I am not sure if I am in time for parents with kiddos going through the PSLE (Primary School Leaving Examination) which is such a huge determining factor of the child’s future. But I hope you can still have some key take away from this sharing.)
Well…it is a universal fact that a lot of studying is done by the brain (with the help of the other senses like sight, smell and sound). The brain controls speech, movements, thoughts and regulates the function of many organs. So it is the brain we should target support at.
Before we start, let us learn a little bit of the chemistry of essential oils first so we know how they work. I’ve already made it as painless as possible already…but it is this 3 we must know about: Monoterpenes, Sesquiterpenes and Phenolics. (If the information is too much for you, you may just skip to the last part to see what oils to use and etc…)
Monoterpenes react readily to air and heat sources. Most of our citrus oils are high in monoterpene and have a quick reaction to air, are readily oxidized and thus does not last very long.
Oils high in monoterpenes supported breathing, are energizing and uplifting. They have a stimulating effect on your concentration. They promote clarity of thought and purposes.
Oils high in Monoterpenes:
- Citrus Oils
- Elemi
- Fennel
- Angelica
- Frankincense
- Cypress
- Black Pepper
- Black Spruce
- Juniper
- Myrtle
- Nutmeg
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Thyme
Sesquiterpene molecules deliver oxygen molecules to cells and they are heavier than monoterpenes and they tend to appear only at the end towards the end of the distillation process. (This is also why it is important to buy oils from companies who really take the time to understand the plant and distill the materials enough to get all the goodness.)
Because essential oils high in sesquiterpenes are known to cross the blood brain barrier, they can stimulate brain activity in a non-toxic way, and one can hope and wait to see what possible benefits will appear. Particularly with sesquiterpenes molecules that are brain oxygenating.
Oils high in Sesquiterpenes:
- Black Pepper
- Cedarwood
- German Chamomile
- Clary Sage
- Copaiba
- Ginger
- Helichrysum
- Sandalwood
- Patchouli
- Myrrh
- Vetiver
- Frankincense
- Sacred Frankincense
- Eucalyptus Globulous
- Melissa
- Nutmeg
Phenolics clean receptor sites of cells. They typically have a high level of oxygenating molecules too. Phenols in oils carry many benefits but need to be applied with care and common sense as some of them can be very strong and can irritate the skin or create inflammation to sensitive tissues of the mouth or face. Oils containing Phenols have been used to support the nervous system and for lifting moods.
Oils high in Phenolics are:
- Wintergreen
- Anise
- Clove
- Basil
- Tarragon
- Fennel
- Oregano
- Thyme
Some recorded effects of aromas on the brain:
- The fragrances of diffused oils such as Lemon, have been reported to increase memory retention and recall.
- In a study conducted by Dr. Dember in the University of Cincinnati in 1994, shows that inhaling Peppermint increased mental accuracy by 28%.
- Pepper, Grapefruit and Fennel oils have been found to stimulate brain activity.
- In a study 2017 study involving 53 secondary school students aged 13-15 years old from Ukrainian metropolis, they found that the participants who inhaled rosemary essential oils has significantly increased short-term memory. Inhalation of rosemary also increased the memorization of numbers as well.
We have a whole list of oils you can consider to diffuse for the studying head, but the number one on my list for diffusing and thus oxygenating the brain is Cedarwood (at night) and Lemon (while revising). Oils such as Rosemary, Lavender, Thieves, Peppermint diffused can be really supportive too.
Besides diffusing, here’s how to get the oils on topically for the studying head:
Apply 2-3 drops on temples, forehead, mastoids (bone behind ears), and in brain stem (back of neck) as needed 3-6 times daily. Dilute 50:50 with V6 if necessary.
Oils to consider:
- Frankincense
- Brain Power
- Sandalwood
- Gathering
- Sacred Frankincense
Or you can even DIY your own Memory blend in a 5ml bottle:
- 2 drops Lavender
- 3 drops Geranium
- 3 drops Rosemary
- 3 drops Northern Lights Black Spruce
- 2 drops Tangerine
- 1 drop Spearmint
Top up with V6 and add on a roller!
Clinical studies on Ningxia Wolfberry have shown that it has an anti-senility effect and high oxidant foods such as spinach and blueberry dramatically improved learning and cognition. So, do make sure you load your kiddos with Ningxia Red, give them a pack to bring to school every day and serve them their greens to keep their brain weight healthy.
I wanna go into how processed food and white sugar can affect healthy brains but that will be another topic. 🙂
If you like my articles and would like to purchase the Young Living oils or have further clarifications, please drop me a message here or email me at fabulana@gmail.com. If you are ready to sign up as member to purchase, you can click here. I would love to support you in using the oils for yourself and your loved ones.
MY JOURNEY INTO ABUNDANCE
This post is contributed by One Drop member – Adelyn Chong.
All my life, I’ve always felt left out by lady luck. I was never that lucky girl. My journey in life, from growing up to adulthood, life had always seem to be hard for me. I was constantly struggling with something. Struggling to mass my exam…struggling to get past broken relationships…struggling to gain recognition for efforts put into my work…and struggling to make ends meet! I thought that was what life is all about. And that life has to be difficult.
But all that changed one day. It all happened on a day that I almost couldn’t make it to my first oiling class because of a huge downpour, a dying handphone and a fatigue body from work. If I hadn’t made it, I won’t be who I am today. It was a class filled with abundance. I felt like an old lock that finally found it’s correct key! That evening was the first evening I ever won a lottery (never in my life before!).
But now, with the experience, I learnt that I can ask for what I want. I started exploring the oils and how I can use them to support my mindset change. I learnt to shift my focus and put attention on things that matter. As I focused on my kids health, they got better. I then focus on building positive relationship, I reconnected with friends and family. Now I have a big community who has my back and supports me. And when I focused on my wealth, it grows!
Because the law of attraction says, positivity attracts goodness. And negativity brings “bad luck”. It is all about knowing how to attract and what to attract.
Here’s a simple 3-step protocol which I like to follow.
First, I release all negativity in me. I like to use oils like White Angelica, Stress Away and Thieves to help me. As I apply them over my head and shoulders, I instantly felt lighter and protected, like having an armour on!
Secondly, I manifest what I want using the power of thoughts. The stronger the signal I send to the universe, the faster I receive it. I use oils like Believe, Abundance and Highest Potential. One day as I use Abundance and brought my children to the zoo, I even received free rides tickets from a stranger!
Lastly, it’s about being grateful with what I have. The oils I use are Gratitude, Present Time and Joy. It feels like instant magic as I practice gratitude, more good things happen!
I also keep my body strong by taking Ningxia red and Sulfurzyme daily. A strong body with a positive mind is a powerful attractor. It is like charging a piece of magnet and making it perform at its best! You can, if you think you can!
Many people say that they are afraid of being over reliant on oils. I say I never looked back. I’m blessed to have oils and supplements that I can depend on and journey together.
If you would like to find out more about how law of attraction and the oils can work for you, drop me a note!
If you like Adelyn’s article and would like to purchase the Young Living oils or have further clarifications, please drop her a message here or email her at abundancebuds@outlook.sg. If you are ready to sign up as member to purchase, you can click here.
3 DIY RECIPES FOR CHRISTMAS
This post is contributed by One Drop member – Kaye Ng.
There is so much DIY you can do with your essential oils. Best of all, it’s not just making them for fun, but when you make your own DIYs, you can ensure that you are not adding any toxic chemicals into your products! This ensures that they are safe for everyone around you and will not cause problems in your system.
Here are 3 easy DIYs you can do:
🎄Holiday Joy Perfume
- 20 drops Peppermint
- 20 drops Frankincense
- 30 drops Cedarwood
- 5-ounce glass spray bottle
Mix all the oils together. After, add 4 ounces of vodka. Mix it well. After that, place the bottle in a cool dark place for several days (or up to several weeks) to let the scent develop. This allows the alcohol scent to fade and the scent of the essential oils to develop and intensify.
🎄Festive Sugar Scrub
- 6 drops Peppermint
- 2 drops Orange
- 2 drops Pine
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 1/4 cup Jojoba Oil or Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
- Glass Jar
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and place into the jar. To use, scoop out a small amount and rub onto desired areas for exfoliating action.
🎄Minty Lip Balm
- 10 drops Peppermint
- 2 tablespoons of Jojoba Oil or Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
- 2 teaspoons Beeswax Pellets
- 1/4 oz Glass Jars or Lip Gloss Containers
Melt beeswax and coconut oil together using a double broiler method: Place both ingredients into a glass Pyrex measuring cup and place the measuring cup into a pan with gently boiling water. Stir with a popsicle stick until melted. Once melted, remove from heat and mix in drops of essential oil. The mixture will harden very quickly so be fast and make sure you have everythig on hand. Pour evenly into as many lip balm containers as needed. You might need up to 5 containers. Once cooled completely, apply onto your lips.
If you like my articles and would like to purchase the Young Living oils or have further clarifications, please drop me a message here or email me at kaye@onedrop.sg. If you are ready to sign up as member to purchase, you can click here. I would love to support you in using the oils for yourself and your loved ones.
3 BAKING RECIPES FOR CHRISTMAS
This post is contributed by One Drop member – Ranna Seah.
Hello! It’s that time of the year when we get busy with planning for activities for our kiddos who are off school or entertaining friends for small gatherings? I thought consolidating some of the tried and tested recipes for easy baking with our wonderful Vitality/Plus series oils.
Here’s 3 carefully selected recipes for baking with your oils:
1) Guilt-Free Peppermint Brownies
(Recipe tested by my daughter Heidi Lam and she adores this!!!)
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 15-ounce can low-sodium black beans
- 1/3 Cup Coconut oil
- 1/4 Cup Unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/8 Teaspoon salt
- 2 Teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup Honey
- 3 Eggs
- 2 drops Peppermint Vitality Essential Oil
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Rinse and drain black beans.
- Melt coconut oil on stove until clear.
- Blend all ingredients except eggs in food processer until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, lightly whisk eggs until well beaten.
- Fold into chocolate mixture.
- Pour mixture into a greased 8×8 pan and bake 25–30 minutes.
- Let cool 15 minutes then cut.
- Let cool another 15 minutes and serve.
2) Lemon Crinkle Cookies
(recipe tried and tested by Wendy Lauw )
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 Cups All Purpose Flour
- 2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- 10 Tablespoon Softened Butter
- 1 Cup + 2 Tablespoon Sugar
- 1 Large Egg Yolk
- 1 Large Egg at Room Temperature
- 8 to 12 drops of Lemon Vitality Essential Oil
- 2 Tablespoon Milk
- 1/3 Cup Powdered Sugar
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Preheat your oven to 180 degrees C or 350F and line your trays with parchment paper.
- Mix all ingredients until well combined. Shape the mixture into 1 ½ inch balls, roll in powdered sugar and place on tray.
- Note to keep the cookies 2 inches apart. Bake 10-11 minutes and remove before the edges get brown. Cool 5 mins before moving to baker rack to cool.
3) Orange Infused Choc Chip Cookies
(Recipe tried and tested by Kaye Ng in another blog entry)
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 1/4 Cups All Purpose Flour
- 1/2 Cup Lightly Packed Brown Sugar
- 1/4 Cup Granulated White Sugar
- 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter Softened at Room Temperature
- 1 Large Egg at Room Temperature
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 3/4 Cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips or Chocolate Chunks
- 4 Drops of Young Living Orange Vitality Essential Oil
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Preheat your oven to 180 degrees C or 350F and line your trays with parchment paper.
2. Cream together the softened butter and the two sugars until light and fluffy.
3. Add in the egg and stir well until it is incorporated and there are no longer dark streaks from the egg yolk.
4. Add in the vanilla extract, salt and baking soda and stir until well mixed.
5. Stir in the flour and the chocolate chips until just combined. Stop when there are no more lumps of flour.
6. Drop in the orange vitality essential oil and stir until combined.
7. Drop by tablespoonfuls on the baking tray, leaving about 2.5 inches allowance for expansion during baking.
8. Bake for about 9-11 minutes or until golden brown around the edges.
9. Cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
And if your guests fancy something hot…why not make them a cup of Lavender Hot Chocolate?
4) Lavender Hot Chocolate Recipe
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 cups unsweetened almond, dairy, or other milk of your choice
- 8 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 teaspoons honey, or more to taste
- 4 Drops of Young Living Lavender Vitality Essential Oil
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Heat 4 cups of milk in a saucepan on medium-high heat.
- Add 8 tablespoons unsweetened raw cocoa, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 4 teaspoons honey; whisk until smooth.
- When warm, remove from heat and stir in 4 drops Lavender Vitality essential oil.
- Serve and enjoy!
If you like my articles and would like to purchase the Young Living oils or have further clarifications, please drop me a message here or email me at fabulana@gmail.com. If you are ready to sign up as member to purchase, you can click here. I would love to support you in using the oils for yourself and your loved ones.
THE BITTER TRUTH OF SUGAR
This post is contributed by One Drop member –Eva Rosdiana.
Dr Robert Lustig’s video in Youtube has reached 11 million views up to today. It is titled “Sugar – The Bitter Truth.” He is a paediatric endocrinologist who presented the biochemistry of how our body processes sugar in University of California, San Francisco. The fact was mind blowing.
Let’s talk about table sugar. In chemistry terms, table sugar is called sucrose -a two-chain carbohydrate that consists of one Glucose molecule and one Fructose molecule. When we consume sucrose, our body breaks it down into Glucose and Fructose very fast. Here is how Glucose and Fructose are processed in liver after being released to our bloodstream.
Summary of the above diagram:
| Glucose | Fructose | |
| In blood and body | 1. 80% goes to bloodstream to become blood glucose. 20% is sent to liver 2. Pancreas then secretes insulin to neutralize blood glucose 3. With help from insulin, glucose is sent to cells and organs, stored in muscle glycogen and fat cells. 4. Fat cells secretes leptin to signal satiety to brain | 1. 100% is sent straight to liver. 2. Only liver can metabolize fructose. Liver will accept any number of fructose even though it’s ‘exhausted’ |
| In liver | 5. Part of 20% glucose is stored into muscle glycogen 6. Another part is metabolized into VLDL and triglyceride | 3. When liver glycogen is filled up, liver will start new fat making process (De Novo Lipogenesis – DNL) 4. Part of fructose causes uric acid and subsequently high blood pressure 5. DNL process results in Non-Alcoholic Fatty liver disease (NAFLD), larger amount of VLDL, Triglyceride (that is glycated and prone to oxidation) 6. Fatty liver impacts insulin resistance, obesity and leptin resistance. |
In 2009, Dr Lustig mentioned that the metabolism of fructose in liver is equivalent to the metabolism of alcohol in liver. Fructose consumption has increased tremendously, especially after the invention of high fructose corn syrup and the campaign of “fats are the causes of heart disease” in 1950. As a result, obesity and many metabolic syndrome diseases such as diabetes type 2, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease keep increasing.
However, the bitter truth of sugar, is far beyond that…
Advanced Glycation End (AGE)
Our cells (including skin) are mainly made of amino acids. The amino acids from food is transported in the blood. Liver produces cholesterol, packs it in lipoprotein membranes, transports it to cells for hormone making. Cholesterol aids in inflammation. We cannot live without cholesterol. They are crucial.
AGE is the attachment process of sugar molecule and protein (amino acids) and/or fatty acids. When we have high blood glucose, there is tendency the glucose molecules will bind with amino acids and lipoprotein that are circulating in blood.
Imagine when we do meat barbecue and put some honey onto our meat. The meat will be cooked and browned faster. This happens when our cells or fats meet with sugar. They become ‘glycated’ or caramelized. It results in:
- Premature aging: collagen and cells become hardened and lose their elasticity. Skin becomes saggy, wrinkled, and loses of radiance.
- High level of inflammation. When cholesterol comes in to reduce inflammation, it meets with glucose. Cholesterol is then glycated, oxidized and built up as plaque in artery. So the culprit is sugar and not cholesterol.
Sugar decreases our immunity
Sugar disrupts the work of white blood cells in fighting infection in our body. This picture shows the comparison on the white blood cells – neutrophils and monocytes – performance on normal vs high blood glucose condition. They are very important
Natural sugar: Honey, Fruit Juice, Coconut Sugar, Palm Sugar
Are they better than sugar?
Honey, coconut sugar, palm sugar, contain both glucose and fructose. They are healthier than sugar due to minerals or prebiotics in them which may be beneficial for our gut in the raw and unrefined form.
BUT we still need to eat in moderation, especially if we already have pre-diabetic or high blood glucose conditions.
Honey contains more fructose than glucose and has lower GI. But the metabolism of fructose is burdening the liver.
Even though fruit contains fructose, in its whole form it contains fiber. Fiber slows down the sugar absorption. Juicing destroys the fiber and makes the body absorbs sugar faster. Eating an orange will give you more satiety as compare to drinking orange juice. Plus you use larger amount of fruit when you juice.
Let’s explore healthier sugar substitute.
Sugar Substitute
Artificial sweeteners are never good. Here are some recommended sugar substitutes.
| Recommended | OK in moderation |
· Stevia: Choose in green powder form. Avoid the white ones as they are added with maltodextrin. Read the ingredients · Monk Fruit/Lo Han Guo: The sweetness comes from an antioxidant called mogrosides not fructose. They are often sold as dried fruit. We can boil the fruit in a water and keep in fridge. Consume when needed. | · Erythritol: Erythritol is mainly derived from corn. It contains zero calories and is often used for sugar substitutes. · Xylitol: is a naturally occurring alcohol found in most plant material, including many fruits and vegetables. It is extracted from birch wood to make medicine. Xylitol still contains minor amount of calories. Both erythritol and xylitol are considered sugar alcohol or polyol. Monitor body reaction as they may cause some indigestion like bloating or laxative effect when taken excessively. |
Minimize Sugar intake whenever possible
Try to avoid sugar or at least take in moderation. Always read the ingredients in your food label because sugar can be in any forms. Avoid those ingredients ended with -ose because they are part of sugar.
You will notice how your overall health improve just by reducing / eliminating sugar and all refined and ultra-processed food in few months!
If you like Eva’s articles and would like to purchase the Young Living oils or have further clarifications, you may get in touch with Eva via Facebook or Instagram. If you are ready to sign up as member with Eva, you may click here.
