This post is contributed by One Drop member – Kaye Ng.
Its almost Spring time and that means flowers and pollen and the occasional AHH CHOOS! Lets talk a quick one on what Allergens are and the essential oils that can help to support the body’s natural system during this period of time.
ALLERGENS
An allergen is a substance that tricks the immune system — making it think that the allergen is an invader. The immune system then overreacts to the allergen, which is really a harmless substance, and produces antibodies. These antibodies travel to cells that release histamine and other chemicals, causing the allergic reaction.
The most common causes of a reaction include:
- Pollen
- Dust
- Mold
- Insect stings
- Animal dander
- Food
- Medications
- Latex
These allergens will trigger symptoms in the nose, throat, lungs, ears, sinuses and lining of the stomach or on the skin. The body responds in a certain way to an allergen because the immune system is in overdrive. When the body is already dealing with high inflammation, any allergen sets off an increased reaction. That means that when the body’s immune system is overworked and stressed, introducing an allergen sends the body into overreaction.
If the immune system and inflammation within the body was balanced, the reaction to the allergen would be normal; however, today these reactions are exaggerated and lead to the next unneeded allergic reaction.
This is why it is extremely important to support our body’s immune system. A healthy body will reduce the bodies susceptibility to outside sources and reduce the overreaction of the immune system when it is faced with a harmless intruder.
OILS WHICH YOU CAN USE
So lets jump into 5 basic oils which you can use to help your body natural defense against these allergens.
- Lavender Essential Oil Lavender essential oil will not only ease your allergic reaction, it has a calming and relaxing effect on body and mind, and smells great. Topically – Add 1 drop of lavender essential oil to your cheeks, forehead, and sinuses as needed to soothe allergic reactions or headaches. Before bed, add a few drops to the soles of your feet.
- Peppermint Essential Oil Peppermint essential oil has a strong, fresh, and minty aroma that works wonders to treat allergic reactions, especially those that cause respiratory or digestive issues.
- Lemon oil supports lymphatic system drainage and helps with overcoming respiratory conditions. Lemon essential oil works best in combination with lavender and peppermint.
- Eucalyptus Essential Oils improves circulation and reduces symptoms of allergies. Eucalyptus oil produces a cold sensation in the nose that helps to improve airflow. It is one of the best oils for supporting the respiratory system and it can also ease seasonal allergies. Eucalyptus oil is most effective when applied topically or when used as a steam inhalation.
- Tea tree essential oil can help support skin reactions and is also very helpful to keep unpleasant bugs from destroying your outdoor time.
So these are basic oils that can help support ur body in the face of allergens. 🙂 Let us know if you have other oils that help you!
If you are interested in trying out the Young Living oils, or would like to purchase any oils, do drop me an email at kaye@onedrop.sg or sign up to buy the products here.
DIRTY SECRETS: CHEMICALS IN YOUR HOME
This post is contributed by One Drop member – Kaye Ng
Before i started using Young Living, I never realized how much of an organ your skin is. Yes it is a barrier, but it also ABSORBS! This is why when you have a muscle ache you apply pain relief creams right? Because you do believe that the “medicine” will enter and help soothe the pain. When you have a mosquito bite, the ointment will ease the itch and reduce inflammation. Yet on the other hand, we do not watch the chemicals we touch when we clean out the grime in the kitchen, and what really is in that foundation that you wear on your face all day long?
It has been for many generations that women esp have been known to die from the items they put on their face.
Taken from this article by CNBC News:
“In the meantime, U.S. marshals seized more than 12,000 tubes of Age Intervention Eyelash , a product designed to promote eyelash growth, after the FDA determined it was an “adulterated cosmetic” and potentially dangerous. (The product contained bimatroprost, a prescription drug used to to treat elevated pressure inside the eye). And the state of Minnesota took it upon itself to officially ban the use of mercury in mascara, eye liners and skin-lightening creams. (Most makeup companies have phased out use of mercury, but it’s still used in some products as a preservative.)”
When I had my kid, it was instinctive to buy the all the baby shampoos and soaps. The safest of the safe because you want to put the mildest thing on them. WHY? Why do mothers do that? I know I did because I did not want any chemicals to enter her pure body. But the question is, what has changed that when we grow older, we forget and allow our bodies to absorb EVERYTHING? Is it simply because our liver is now more mature and ready to break down these harmful chemicals? Maybe, but should we really be abusing our organs like that. Toxins build up and while we may not GLOW from the chemicals like in movies, it does affect our health in MANY MANY ways.
I have always loved this article and info-graphic. So here is sharing this one with all of you. I will do another on makeup on another post! So before u read the article and I end my post, think abt this. Skeptics worrying abt applying essential oils which are naturally derived from nature, versus those green bubble chemicals that you are applying all over your skin. Doesn’t seem to add up to me.
7 Toxic Chemicals Hiding In Your Home And How To Reduce Exposure!
Your home can be your safe haven from all the germs and bacteria that you encounter in public places. When it comes to safeguarding your health, even the toughest antiseptics and antibacterial cleansers could actually be hurting, not helping. While cleanliness and good hygiene is a preventive measure of sickness and disease, your health is at risk due to the exposure of a number of toxic chemicals hiding in the home.
The nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) has found more than 80,000 chemicals are used in everyday goods, and each year, an estimated 2,000 new ones are introduced for use in such everyday items as foods, personal care products, prescription drugs, household cleaners, and lawn care products. These chemicals can be hiding in your bathroom cabinet, under your sink, laundry supplies, and through every square inch of your home. You can renovate your home and do some home improvement by identifying these seven harmful chemicals, their effects, and what you can do to reduce your exposure.
Infographic by Body Logic MD and Owain Lloyd-Williams, a UK-based writer and creative content author on behalf of BodyLogic MD.
- Bisphenol A (BPA)
What It Is: BPA is a common food contaminant used to make polycarbonate and epoxy resins, two common synthetics used for food and drink containers and the linings for food and beverage cans, and coating on receipts.
What It Does: The chemical is a synthetic estrogen that can disrupt the endocrine system, according to the EWG, that has been linked to a wide variety of ills such as infertility, breast and reproductive system cancer, and behavioral changes in children, among many others.
How To Reduce Exposure: You can avoid BPA by choosing fresh, frozen, or even homemade versions of canned foods. It’s best to limit your consumption of canned food, particularly if you are pregnant. You can also say “no, thanks” when your cashier asks if you would like a receipt.
- Dioxins
What It Is: This is a family of toxic chemicals that share a similar chemical structure and induce harm through a similar mechanism. Incineration of waste produces high levels of dioxins along with the bleaching of paper and wood pulp.
What It Does: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has characterized this chemical as likely human carcinogens that are expected to increase the risk of cancer. It can lower sperm quality and damage the immune and reproductive system.
How To Reduce Exposure: The most simple way to avoid dioxins is to cut back on your consumption of fatty meat and dairy products. You should also avoid chlorine-based bleach and bleached paper products, such as disposable diapers and toilet paper.
- Flame Retardants
What It Is: Chemical fire retardants are added to manufactured materials, such as plastics and textiles, to meet flammability standards. Although not all flame retardants present concerns, these types do: halogenated flame retardants and organophosphorous flame retardants. They contain chlorine or bromine, and phosphorous bonded to carbon, respectively.
What It Does: These toxic chemicals are known for their impact on thyroid hormones disruption, female infertility, and can lower sperm count. According to EWG, one class of flame retardants called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), have been taken off the market due to toxicity concerns but have been replaced with “chlorinated tris” (TDCIPP) and chemical mixtures such as Firemaster® 550. However, these chemicals can lead to deficits in motor skills, learning memory, and behavior in children.
How To Reduce Exposure: Fire retardants can be found in furniture, carpet padding, and even in some baby pillows. You can reduce exposure by dusting and using a heap filter vacuum cleaner, since they tend to bind to dust. Using a face mask when cleaning carpets is also advised.
- Lead
What It Is: This chemical is a naturally occurring element found in small amounts in the earth’s crust, says the EPA. Lead is found in the air, the soil, the water, and even inside your home. Lead and lead compounds are widely used in a variety of products found in the home such as paint, ceramics, pipes and pluming materials, solders, gasoline, batteries, ammunition, and cosmetics.
What It Does: Chronic exposure to lead can lower IQ and lead to brain damage, cause hearing and vision impairment, disrupt hormonal development in fetuses and premature birth, and lower sperm count. Lead is toxic to everyone, but unborn babies and young children are at risk for health problems because they’re smaller, growing bodies are more susceptible to absorbing and retaining lead. It can act like a poison when absorbed by the skin.
How To Reduce Exposure: Lead can show up in water, so it’s best to get a lead-removing water filter. It’s best to avoid old paint that is chipped to crumbling. To avoid lead found in soil, don’t wear outdoor shoes indoors.
- Organophosphate Pesticides
What It Is: These organophosphate-based pesticides are used as a form of agricultural insecticide in the U.S. on fruits and vegetables. The breakdown of OP pesticides occurs when they are exposed to light and air. However, it is not known whether they ever degrade fully, says the Center for Environmental Research and Children’s Health at UC Berkeley, School of Public Health.
What It Does: OP pesticides chronic exposure has been linked to Parkinson’s Disease, neurotoxic effects, decrease in male testosterone, and linked to a variety of cancers. This is a common but deadly pesticide.
How To Reduce Exposure: Eating organic can help reduce the presence of this insectide. Organic farmers do not use synthetic pesticides like organophosphates on their fields. If you can’t go organic, it’s best to dry your produce with a clean towel or paper towel to remove remaining pesticide residues. Also, remember to throw away the outer layers of leafy vegetables like lettuce or kale.
- Perfluroinated Chemicals (PFCs)
What It Is: PFCs are fluorine-containing chemicals that make materials stain- and stick-resistant. They break down very slowly in the environment and are often characterized as persistent, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. PFCs may be used to keep food from sticking to cookware, make sofas and carpets resistant to stains, male clothes and mattresses more waterproof, and sometimes they’re used in food packaging, including some firefighting materials. These large group of manufactured compounds are used in aerospace, automotive, building and construction, and electronics since they can help reduce friction.
What It Does: PFCs have been associated with breast cancer, disrupting sex hormone levels and sperm count, harm the immune system, and cause kidney problems.
How To Reduce Exposure: Cooks can reduce exposure by using ceramics and glassware instead of non-stick pans. You can look is there are any PFCs in stain-resistant carpets, cleaning products and cookware.
- Phthalates
What It Is: Phthalates are a group of chemicals used as plasticizers that provide flexibility and durability to plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), according to EPA. They are commonly used in applications that include building materials, clothing, cosmetics, perfumes, food packaging, toys, and vinyl products –flooring, shower curtains, and rain coats. These chemicals are also used in medical applications like blood transfusion bags and tubing, intravenous fluid bags and tubing, and other medical devices.
What It Does: They can damage the reproductive system, decrease sperm count, increase diabetes risk, and can induce early puberty in girls.
How To Reduce Exposure: You can avoid phthalates by not using PVC plastics and plastics marked with recycling label #3. Steer clear of products that have “added fragrance” on the label. Also, eat more organic fruits and vegetables.
Should you like to purchase the Young Living oils, please drop me a message at kaye@onedrop.sg or sign up here. I would love to support you in using the oils for yourself and your loved ones.
TRAVELING WITH THE PSK OILS
This post is contributed by One Drop Member – Kaye Ng
I can never leave home without my oils! But there are so many to bring and I always feel the need to bring all to ensure I cover all the WHAT IFs. Truth be told of course, it is impossible to bring all my oils with me. I musts have at least a hundred different bottles!
In my recent trip up to Ballina to visit my sister, I decided to bring focus on only bringing up MAINLY* my PSK (premium starter kit) oils. *Because I did bring up some others as well. WHAHAHA but for the sake of this post I shall just cover the oils in the PSK.
So lets go through this:
FRANKINCENSE: This honestly is my desperate oil. When I have no idea what to use and I have any sort of “ouch ouch” or “scratch scratch” or “ahem ahem” (trying to stay compliant LOL) , Frank gets whipped up to be used on the appropriate areas.
PANAWAY: Holidays often mean alot of walking and sleeping in hotel bed with pillows that are too soft or mattresses which might not be firm enough. So I can never go traveling without Panaway. As its name suggest its really good when you’re in pain. I used to do many business trips which required DAYS of EXTENSIVE walking. Honestly by the time I was done with half a day, I needed to find the nearest bench to sit and rest . So YES, PANAWAY. This is what you need.
DIGIZE: I’m not an adventurous food eater. In a restaurant – “YES PLEASE!” but ask me to go eat from a push cart off the streets of Bangkok and I will DEF say “HELL NO!”. BUT, I have a very sensitive and nervous tummy. Going to far away places, where the time zones flip and I’m eating breakfast at dinner times and dinner at breakfast times… mmmhmmm, that’s good enough to kill me. Plus I HATE searching out toilets in public places (who likes it seriously?) and so, I NEED DIGIZE! Just to ensure I don’t have an upset tummy and need to hunt down public toilets to do a big one.
LAVENDER: The swiss army knife of oils. Most importantly, I call this the ACCIDENT oil. If you have a toddler like me who climbs supermarket trolleys and sofas and railings, YOU NEED THIS. For all the times should those gymnastic acts turn bad and RED spills the ground. Also a great oil to help to calm everyone down after an exciting day out in a new place and sleep eludes everyone.
PURIFICTION: While in Singapore going outdoors might be more RARE, going on holidays often mean walking in the parks , visiting zoos etc. If you wish to have an undisturbed time in nature this is absolutely necessary. So I carry this sound with me to ensure that no one gets bitten and has to spend the rest of the holiday scratching through their clothes.
COPAIBA: I love this oil for IRRITATION. It helps the body deal with irritation. Not when someone irritates you, but perhaps when you ate too much of that yummy fried donut and your throat is starting to get irritated (I’m def toeing the compliant line here. eeeks), this is one you can ingest (Vitality Line) to help.
R.C: The oil for the most common…. AHHHHTTTTIIICHOOOOOO. Sorry something tickled my nose.
PEPPERMINT: This is one of my fav oils which can be used like Digize, or like Panaway or even like Purification. Its also great to keep u awake or to feel fresh when you are going on that long road trip. And if you are going to be living on a farm like me, remember, SPIDERS HATE PEPPERMINT!
THIEVES: AIYEAH! Cant live without this one right? You need it to protect everyone from falling ill and catching any bugs. This is one immune booster. No one wants to fall sick during a holiday ⛱ and so, should you find yourself starting to catch anything, HURRY USE THIEVES! I love using this also for bed bugs if necessary as well!
LEMON: Holidays for me also means NOT HOLDING BACK ON EATING. WHAHAHA And so I often carry my little bottle of lemon around to drop into my water to aid in supporting my body in detox. I like to think it helps negate all the crappy calories and makes me slimmer in the process. TEE HEE HEE
So yes, this is how I most commonly use the PSK oils when I travel! If you do sign up with Young Living, you would most likely have bough the PSK which means you got ALL THESE great oils in your hands. Use them – they work MAGIC!
If you are interested in trying out the Young Living oils, or would like to purchase the PSK do drop me an email at kaye@onedrop.sg or sign up to buy the products here.
TRAVELING WITH THIEVES
This post is contributed by One Drop member –Kaye Ng
The thieves range is not just for leaving at home to use for cleaning. I have found some of these are really great for bringing with you when you travel. They are my MUST HAVES when I see the world.
Here’s sharing my top 10 tips for using the thieves products:
- THIEVES SPRAY – Spray down the beds! It may not be a huge bug manifestation, but there are many times when you travel and you come across weird bites here and there as you sleep in unfamiliar beds. SPRAY THE BED DOWN. I do it very often whenever I sleep in hotel beds, just to make sure I do not get any bites!
- THIEVES SPRAY – Spray down the plane. Esp spritz the air, tray tables and the seat handles around you. Long hours in the plane with recycled air filled with hundreds of other passengers who may be carrying other microorganisms with them is the easiest way to get sick!
- THIEVES SPRAY – Spray your hotel rooms. I love use my Thieves spray to spray the aircon vents or even just the air and carpets of hotel rooms. Hotel rooms seldom gets cleaned thoroughly. Often they are made neat and the turn over is fast, so germs and smells still linger. Use the Thieves spray to help you with that.
- THIEVES SPRAY – Spray yourself! Sometimes, long flights with missed connections could mean wearing the same piece of clothing for hours. The thieves spray is a great way to get rid of some of that odor so that you do not “suffocate” the person next to you in the plane.
- THIEVES SPRAY – Spray everyone! If you ever visit wide open spaces, or decide to have a picnic outdoors to enjoy the weather or the beautiful park, spray some Thieves spray. It will protect you from uninvited multi-legged guests who might want to crash your party.
- THIEVES SPRAY – Spray your bite! Should the unfortunate event happen that you got bitten by an uninvited guest. I personally find that spraying some of the Thieves spray on your bite helps the itch disappear temporarily. As they say dont scratch – do keep spraying.
- THIEVES HAND SANITIZER – Perfect for grubby hands. Yup, if you have a toddler like me, holidays would mean visiting animal farms and markets. That also means grubby hands touching grass, animals, food and it all goes straight into the mouth! ARGHHH! Next thing you know, “MAMA! I HAVE A TUMMY ACHE!” 🙄 So carry this small little bottle with you to clean dirty hands.
- THIEVES VEGGIE SPRAY – Eat your fruits! On every trip that we go for, FRUITS is always a must. But washing them might not always be convenient, so this come in really handy to clean fruits because popping them into your mouth.
- THIEVES VEGGIE SPRAY – Spray the plates and utensils! Not just for fruits and veggie, but often when you travel to certain countries, you may find the flatware undesirable in terms of cleanliness, I like to use the veggie spray to help me clean off extra dirt so we can all eat with a peace of mind.
- THIEVES TOOTH PASTE – You got to brush your teeth anyway! So bring the Thieves toothpaste along with you. Its safe and gentle even for little teeth so sometimes my toddler and I will share a tube when we travel!
If you are interested in trying out the Young Living oils, or would like to purchase the PSK do drop me an email at kaye@onedrop.sg or sign up to buy the products here.
SAVVY MINERALS
This post is contributed by One Drop member – Kaye Ng.
WHOOOPPPEEE!!! Convention this year launched SO MANY NEW PRODUCTS, I almost doubled up and died on the spot when they announced them all! And the hype and excitement came with a 100% natural and toxic free make up range called SAVVY MINERALS. 😍
Needless to say I went back to the hotel that night, slept at 3am and ordered all the colours I wanted without even trying them. I have THAT much faith in YL and trust me, I wasn’t disappointed at all.
So here is the low down on what SM is:
Savvy Minerals cosmetics are pigmented with naturally derived minerals that meet Young Living’s superior ingredient standards and provide gorgeous, concentrated colors. Our mineral powders are free from bismuth and talc, which are inexpensive, low- quality, and potentially skin- damaging fillers used by other mineral makeup brands. This line uses mineral-based powders that are made of a finely ground mica base, resulting in a smooth, flawless application. [and] Like all Young Living products, Savvy Minerals was created with quality, purity, and safety as the ultimate goal.
Many people like to ask, “oh, so whats the difference from other mineral make up out there in the market like Bare Minerals?”
Well, WE ARE BETTER! mmmhmmm 😊 I personally have not seen a make up brand that has SO little ingredients in the list EVER. Most products only have 3 ingredients inside. The main ingredients are (but obviously not all they use):
- Micas Minerals – These give it the colour.
- Populus tremuloides bark extract – Gives it a super silky and fine feeling and works as a preservative.
- Kaolin clay – This is GREAT to control oil so you dont need to worry abt clumping through the day.
So why is SM better? Because it is FREE FROM:
- Talc
- Bismuth
- Mineral Oils
- Parabens
- Gluten
- Nano Particles
- Phthalates
- Dyes
- Petrochemicals
- Synthetic Fragrance
- Synthetic Colorants
and honestly this is our difference. Of course many people think, oh its got less stuff so its probably lousier. 🙄 Geez, the sterotypes. But, lets be honest here, its not going to be the BEST make up in the world that can cover tattoos (can you imagine what goes in those makeups?) and but in my opinion its a very gd daily makeup to use.
The coverage is great and the versatility is awesome. You can add them to creams to make it into a liquid foundation, add water to get it into a liquid liner, or blend two colours together to get what you want. On top of that, its build-able so you can go for a natural look or something completely over the top if you like.
The only con in my opinion is this, (but its the same with all mineral makeup) IT’S MESSY! 😱 Mineral makeup is messier because of all the powder flying all around. GAH! It kills the OCD in me who like my things nice and new and neat. But that being said, would I forgo the mess to know that at least for TODAY, I’m going chemical free and not putting toxins on my face? HELL YES.
I always tell people, its a journey. HEY, even smokers use oils. It’s not that you have to be a health freak to start paying attention! Do I eat Macdos? 🍔 Yes i do, but have I reduced my intake? YUP! I sure have.
Do you know that most women put on 100s of toxins on our bodies before we even get to breakfast time? Seriously. From your toothpaste to your skincare… so to be able to reduce 30 chemicals from just using a natural makeup range AND still get you looking awesome for the rest of the day is a win win. 💪🏻
Ok, enough preaching. Here is the current first launch of the range.
*image can be downloaded in the One Drop learning vault.
THERE IS MORE COMING SOON! A little birdie told me that Mascara will be available in August and December will launch a Holiday set. AM I EXCITED OR WHAT?!?! 😍
Should you be interested to purchase the Savvy Minerals range or any of the Young Living oils, please feel free to contact Kaye at kaye@onedrop.sg or sign up here.
