Why Raindrop?

We just hosted a Facebook class on the Raindrop technique.

Side Note: Yes, you can attend in your PJs. If that sounds like your kind of class, good news: we host an online class every month! Stay in the know here and here.

If you missed the class, or would love to keep learning, this post is for you. Here’s the spoiler: Raindrop = essential oils + massage.  

The Basics: What is the Raindrop Technique?

Before we go into the why of Raindrop, here’s a quick rundown of the what.

The Raindrop technique was developed by Young Living founder Gary Young back in the 1980s. As he developed this technique, he drew from his experience with Native American wellness traditions. The end result was a revolutionary means of supporting the body and mind.

The technique involves applying therapeutic grade essential oils to the spine, neck and feet. The application process is typically about an hour, but the benefits may last up to a week or more.

The Benefits: Why Raindrop?

What benefits? There are plenty of emotional and physical benefits and here are just a few…

• Invigorates the Mind

• Supports Healthy Body Energy and Emotions

• Aids the Body’s Response to Natural Irritation or Injury

• Promotes Healthy Circulation

• Helps with Structural Alignment

• Supports Stress Level

• Supports Immune Function

• Promotes Healthy Respiratory System

• Promotes Overall Body Wellness

The Beginning: What Oils are in the Raindrop?

The Raindrop Technique includes seven single oils and two oil blends. Check out all the benefits of these individual oils! So many “whys” here.

Thyme

Thyme is a key ingredient in Ortho Ease massage oil and is great for use after exercise. It is also believed to bring a sense of purpose when used aromatically, and is great for supporting your immune system.

Basil

Basil essential oil has a fresh, herbaceous aroma that can be calming, refreshing and bring clarity of thought. It can also help support the respiratory system. Ancient Greeks thought very highly of basil and considered it the “king of plants” and actually used it to anoint kings.

Peppermint

This oil can be diffused to create a stimulating, focused atmosphere for daily tasks. You can also apply it topically to create a cool, tingling sensation on the skin, which can be very soothing after hard physical activity.

Oregano

As an herb, oregano shines in Italian and Mediterranean cuisine; but as an essential oil, it has a wealth of benefits and uses outside the kitchen. Oregano essential oil’s warm, herbaceous scent is excellent at purifying the air when diffused with oils such as Peppermint. It also pairs especially well  with V-6™ Vegetable Oil Complex when used in massage for supporting the immune system.

Wintergreen

Wintergreen’s refreshing minty aroma is stimulating and invigorating. It’s a great addition to lotions that are applied after activity to support bone and muscle health. It is a key ingredient in our Cool Azul Pain Relief Cream.

Cypress

Cypress has a fresh, herbaceous aroma that can promote a sense of security and grounding. It is also known for supporting healthy circulation in the body.

Marjoram

Marjoram is a key oil used in the Raindrop Technique and can be used in massage after exercise. It can also be very calming and relaxing. It was known as the “herb of happiness” to the Romans and “joy of the mountains” to the Greeks.

Valor®  

Valor essential oil blend is one of our most popular products and was a favorite of Founder and Chairman of the Board D. Gary Young. A truly unique blend of Black Spruce, Blue Tansy, Camphor Wood, Geranium, and Frankincense, Valor has a woodsy, grounding aroma that is great for massages and other topical and aromatic uses. Use it to greet each morning with a positive attitude or to refocus at the end of a challenging day.

Aroma Siez™

A key Young Living blend, Aroma Siez™ combines the soothing and relaxing properties of Basil, Marjoram, Lavender, Peppermint and Cypress. A great blend for supporting healthy bones and muscles.

Is your interest peaked? Stay tuned! We’ll share the how’s of Raindrop soon.

September Promo: Fall Inspiration for Free

Happy Fall! We thought we’d kick off the season with details of the latest promo and some autumnal-inspiration for your diffuser. This month one of the promo’s stars is clove. Spicy and immune-supporting, clove is a must-have for fall baking and a traditional go-to for wellness. Other immune-boosting favorites you can earn this month: ImmunPower, Thieves Foaming Hand Soap, DiGize and Inner Defense.

Manuka offers another type of fall boost: refreshing support for dry skin!

300PV

Retail Value: $241.12

15-ml ImmuPower™

5-ml Manuka

Thieves® Foaming Hand Soap

Inner Defense®

Bonus Essential Rewards Exclusive:

15-ml DiGize®

5-ml Clove Vitality™

250PV

Retail Value: $107.89

Thieves® Foaming Hand Soap

Inner Defense®

Bonus Essential Rewards Exclusive:

15-ml DiGize®

5-ml Clove Vitality™

190PV

Retail Value: $90.46

Inner Defense®

Bonus Essential Rewards Exclusive:

15-ml DiGize®

5-ml Clove Vitality™

Get your pumpkin pie fix without the cals! Disclaimer: We totally support baking with your Clove Vitality™! Just let us know when your goodies are in the oven and we’ll be right over :)

100PV

Retail Value: $9.87

Bonus Essential Rewards Exclusive: 5-ml Clove Vitality™

What do you love to diffuse in the fall?

Deep Dive: Sulfurzyme Supplements

We thought we’d follow up our mini NingXia Red series with a deep dive into another antioxidant-rich supplement, Sulfurzyme. Jaynelle Leek-Binns recently broke down the whats and whys of this daily supplement for our team and the info was too good not to share! Enjoy:)

Support everything from skin health to your immune system with this must-have daily supplement! 

Why Do We Need Dietary Sulfur?

Our bodies need a naturally occurring organic form of dietary sulfur (MSM) to maintain optimal health. Yep, sure does! Biologically, sulfur is one of the most important nutrients (4th most plentiful found in the body), and we need it to maintain youth, energy and much more.

As we get older, our cells become rigid, we get stiff joints and our energy starts to decline. Although sulfur is found naturally (in small amounts) in a lot of foods, it is destroyed in the cooking/heating process. If we are not getting enough sulfur in our foods, then it is time to supplement!

What is in Sulfurzyme Capsules?

MSM (methylsulfonylmrthane) aka sulfa

Supports the immune system, liver and proper circulation. It also helps to rid your body of free radicals. Think of MSM as like little ninjas cleaning up your body.

Need to Know: Sulfur… No, not the same as Sulfa pharmaceuticals. Sulfur, MSM or methylsulfonylmrthane is totally different. I am allergic to Sulfa drugs and have no problem with Sulfurzyme.

Wolfberries

The wolfberries (like we have in our Ningxia Red) also contains minerals and coenzymes that help our bodies metabolize the sulfur. This is important because you want your body to be able to absorb the MSM and put it to use.

Pro Tip: If you want to optimize the absorption of your sulfurzyme, take it with Ningxia Red. You can even add it to your NR, throw a splash of lime (or lime vitality) in it and it will be a really yummy treat!

Main Uses for Sulfurzyme

This daily supplement…

• Helps maintain the structure of proteins in the body (great for sensitive skin)
• Supports the immune, liver, circulatory and gastrointestinal systems
• Protects cells and cell membranes (keeps you youthful!)
• Supports healthy skin (clear skin and wrinkles) and hair (thicker and fuller)
• Activates/maintains enzymes in the body
• Naturally increases energy

Hope you enjoyed learning about Sulfurzyme! How many of you are ready to add it to your daily routine now?! Please send any questions our way!

Oily Hacks for Mamas

Today, Natalie Mechell, first time-contributor and busy mom of two, shares some practical Oily Hacks for mamas. As she puts it, “Because we can always use a little more convenience and a lot more time.” We couldn’t agree more!

These little tricks have made naps and bedtimes go a little smoother, walking out the door before a busy day easier, and dealing with the seasonal-ick not quite so daunting.

So what do I do to make things easier, simpler? Here are a few of my …

Oily Hacks for Mamas

These roll-on oily hacks are easy to make and even easier to apply! Perfect for the busy oily mama. 

Immune Support

We use Thieves and Oregano Daily! This helps my family maintain healthy immune systems and protect us during the seasonal yuck we all dread come Back to School days! Here’s how to create a quick and easy immune-supporting rollerball for each of these mama must-have oils:

Thieves

What You Need

• 5 ml or 15 ml bottle of Thieves Vitality
• Fractionated coconut oil
• Roller fitment

What You Do

1. Dilute: When our Thieves bottle is about half full, I fill it back up with fractionated coconut oil for dilution. You can play with ratios to find the dilution that is best for your family!
2. Top: Click a roller fitment into the top of your bottle.
3. Roll: We roll on our spine, bottoms of feet, wrists, and – for us – wherever we can swipe really!

Oregano

What You Need

• 5 ml or 15 ml bottle of Oregano Vitality
• Fractionated coconut oil  
• Roller fitment

What You Do

1. Dilute: I pump fractionated coconut oil when our Oregano bottle is a little less than half way and then fill to the top. I dilute Oregano more because it can be quite uncomfortable when not diluted properly.
2. Top: Install roller fitment.
3. Roll: Apply on spine daily.

Sweet Dreams Support  

We love lavender! My daughter and I are big fans of this calming oil, especially when comes to our sleep routines. Here’s a quick DIY recipe for my favorite sleep blend, turned into, you guessed it: a convenient roll-on.

What You Need

• 25 drops of Lavender
• 25 drops of Stress Away
• Fractionated coconut oil
• Roller fitment
• Empty oil bottle
• Essential oil funnel

What You Do

1. Combine: Use funnel to help you neatly add oils to empty oil bottle.                                  Pro Tip: Use an empty Lavender or Stress Away bottle for the best results.
2. Dilute: Fill bottle with fractionated coconut oil.
3. Top: Place a roller fitment on top.
4. Roll: We roll this on the sides of our neck before naps and bedtime daily! (Daddy uses Lavender and Cedarwood.)

Of course this is what we use for our sleepy times, but you might love Cedarwood, Vetiver, Frankincense, or R.C.

Student Support

I use this tip to encourage my son (who is 3 years old) to not only smell great, but stay focused and tuned in to his fun-filled learning day!

What You Need

• Bottle of KidScents Geneyus
• Fractionated coconut oil
• Roller fitment

What You Do

1. Dilute: take an almost full bottle of Geneyus and fill with fractionated coconut oil. I barely dilute.
2. Top: Place roller fitment on top.
3. Roll: Roll on wrists and sides of neck before heading out the door.

Mama Support

Last but not certainly least, mama has her "perfume" I like to call it. I use a little Joy, Stress Away, and Grapefruit to give me a signature scent that keeps me bright for days.

What You Need

• 7 drops Joy
• 25 drops Stress Away
• 15 drops Grapefruit
• Fractionated coconut oil
• Roller fitment
• Empty oil bottle
• Essential oil funnel

What You Do

1. Combine: Add drops to your empty bottle carefully, using your funnel.
2. Dilute: Top off with fractionated coconut oil to dilute a little.
3. Top: Pop in a roller fitment and voila!
4. Roll: Apply wherever you would commercial perfume: neck, wrists, chest, even the back of your knees.

Of course you can change drops to your preference, but I love to smell the Stress Away!

Easy, Right?

These practical tips have helped mornings, naps and bedtimes go a little more smoothly without compromising time with too many steps.

What would you mix in a bottle and keep on hand for daily use?

May Promo MVPs: Ravintsara & Valor

Every month, we like to give extra insight on any unusual and exciting promo freebies, and today we’re doing just that with Ravintsara and Valor. If you’ve already earned them, (woo hoo!) we hope this quick look helps you enjoy your new oils, and, if you’re still planning your May purchase, here are a few reasons why you’ll love what you earn.

Ravintsara & Valor aren't just May Promo MVPs, they are daily MVPs. 

Ravintsara (earned at the 250 PV level)

Ravintsara is a little like Lavender. If you know and love the “Swiss Army knife” of essential oils, this is exciting news. This gentle oil has many applications.

A quick glance:

Source: Ravintsara is steam distilled from leaves and branches of Cinnamomum camphora in Madagascar.

Supports: As we alluded to, Ravinstara is an oily MVP. It helps support the respiratory system, immune system, skin, adrenal glands and helps provide spiritual grounding.

Use It:

• Aromatically: Diffuse for 30 minutes at a time for up to three hours daily. Great for respiratory support and focus during meditation.  
• Topically: Apply directly to area of concern, you can dilute with your favorite carrier oil.

Valor (earned at a new level, 340 PV!)

Valor is an all-time fave Young Living blend...and it was out of stock for over a year. So, we’re all pretty excited about the May promo over here.

A quick glance:

Components:

Let’s look at the oils that make Valor a Young Living bestseller.

• Black Spruce offers emotional support.
• Camphor (a member of the rosewood family) provides skin support and creates a feeling of peace.
• Blue Tansy supports the liver and lymphatic system.
• Frankincense may help promote a positive attitude.
• Geranium comforts with its aroma and pampers skin.

Supports: With a name like Valor, it’s no wonder this blend is beloved for its empowering, confidence-supporting aroma. On the other hand, it’s also a calming blend, like another all-time fave, Peace & Calming. Beyond mood, Valor can also support the spine, muscles, bones, skin, and the nervous system.

Application:

• Aromatically:
  • Diffuse in the morning to kickstart your day
  • Wear as a perfume for a midday pick-me-up
•  Topically: Apply to bottom of feet (6 drops per foot)

What’s your favorite oil blend? Let us know in the comments!

Young Living Fall Favs: NingXia Red

As temperatures drop and winter officially approaches, it’s more important than ever to give our immune systems a little encouragement. To help you do just that, we’re talking about NingXia Red, a great way to support and maintain a healthy body. Mix this liquid supplement in your favorite hot tea, and it’s like giving your an immune system a nice, warm hug. If that’s not encouraging (and cozy!), we don’t know what is. Read on to find out what makes it so great and creative ways you can treat yourself to the antioxidant goodness, too.

Behind on our series? Check out the rest of our Young Living Fall Favs here: Christmas Spirit, Release, Inner Defense, and R.C., Raven and Breathe Again. Don’t be without them this winter!  

What Makes NingXia Red So Great?

NingXia Red earns a spot on our Fall Favs list by encouraging healthy bodies, even as temperatures drop. 

The wolfberry (lycium barbarum) is a key ingredient to Young Living’s liquid supplement, NingXia Red. It is a macro nutrient rich fruit, maximizing the full potential of the most vital of antioxidant foods. Young Living chose to use the whole fruit for this purpose. Each bottle contains the pulp of the whole berry, not just the juice, so shake it up before you pour yourself some! The sediment in your beautiful bottle is so important.

Along with the wolfberry, NingXia Red contains blueberries, cherries, pomegranates, and aronia (choke berry), all high in antioxidant power, but, again, none can match that of the wolfberry. The wolfberry ranks highest on the ORAC scale at 1500 units per ounce. Don’t believe me? Go compare it to other whole foods.

Not only does the wolfberry make it great but so do the therapeutic grade essential oils that enhance the flavor and vitality of this supplement. NingXia Red contains Orange, Yuzu, Lemon, and Tangerine essential oil. These four oils provide each of their own unique properties, but all four are known for d-limonene, an amazing compound that supports many body systems from skin to digestion.

NingXia Red is packed full of antioxidants, immune stimulating polysaccharides, carotenoids, and has 15.6g of protein per 100g of fruit. This is just a snippet of the great properties of the NingXia wolfberry that make NingXia Red so amazing.

Great for the Whole Body!

NingXia Red aids in health functions of the whole body. It supports normal blood sugar, promotes regularity in digestion, supports circulation, helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels, aids in bone joint and ligament support, combats premature ageing, improves energy levels, supports vision, helps maintain healthy blood pressure, (whew!) … and so much more.

15 Ways to Drink Your NingXia Red

NingXia Red packets make it even easier to get your daily shot in. Pro-Tip: Bottles of NingXia Red may freeze during shipping in the winter, so packets are the way to go for the next few months. 

I drink NingXia Red every day. Sometimes I need a change from the same old way I drink my Red. There are many different recipes and creative little tricks to change up your NingXia routine. Let’s start with my new favorite. I just discovered it this week!

• A shot of NingXia Red to my herbal tea in the morning, or at night. I have cut out coffee, which is a process, of course, but I look forward to my cup of NingXia tea in the morning now.
• NingXia in seltzer water makes a great refreshing and revitalizing treat.
• A frozen packet of NingXia Red to make a NingXia popsicle.
• A shot of NingXia Red in your orange juice or other juice.
• NingXia Red in your smoothie.
• NingXia Red in your Balance Complete Shake.
• NingXia Red blended with ice.
• NingXia Red in your ice water. This is my standby. I like to add a different combination of essential oils every few days to change up the flavor.

Shoot it straight or dress it up with essential oils. Here are some tried and true recipes. Though, the combinations are limitless.

Atomic Fire Ball

• 1oz NingXia Red
• 2 drops Cinnamon Bark
• 1 drop Ocotea

Mind Blaster

• 1oz. NingXia Red
• 1 drop Lime
• 1 drop Peppermint
• 1 drop Lemon
• 1 drop Copaiba
• 1 drop Cinnamon Bark

Hot Flash

• 1 oz. NingXia Red
• 2 drops Cinnamon Bark
• 2 drops Peppermint

Dreamsicle

• 1 oz. NingXia Red
• 1 drop Orange
• 1 drop Lime
• 1 drop Tangerine
• 1 drop Copaiba
• 1 drop Grapefruit
• 1 drop Lemon

Cimply Smooth

• 1 oz. NingXia Red
• 2 drops Tangerine
• 2 drops Lime
• 1 drop StressAway

Jump Start

• 2 oz. NingXia Red
• 3 drops Lime
• 3 drops Orange
• 2 drops Frankincense
• 1 drop Black Pepper

Morning Glory

• 2 oz. NingXia Red
• 3 drops Citrus Fresh
• 1 drop Black Pepper
• 1 drop Bergamot

Note: Always drink 8-12 oz. of water with your NingXia Red to help your body absorb all of its nutrients.

Have you had your NingXia Red today? Share your favorite recipe in the comments!

Graduation Inspiration: Leaving the Nest (with Oils!)

A year ago, my oldest son graduated from high school. For those of you who are parents, you both look forward to that day and dread it. You do everything in your power to help your child become the young adult he should be. You have laughed, cried, played, disciplined, and prayed with and for your child through the years.

Then, there comes a time to loosen the apron strings and let go.

Will He Be Ready to Leave the Nest?

Andrew is dyslexic. From his early elementary years when we were more or less told he was not college material to when he graduated in the top 8% of his high school class, you can imagine the blood, sweat, tears, and prayers that went on. We never told him in those struggling years that he wasn’t college material because we knew he was! We believed in him! 

There were years of struggling, years of tutoring, and years of hard work. His confidence grew. His abilities grew. Success was imminent! But with success comes leaving for college — leaving the nest. Most of you probably haven’t gone through the exact scenario we have, but you have your own scenario when you wonder “will my child be ready to leave the nest?”

Time to Let Him Fly

Fast forward to letting to our baby bird fly. It was time for him to go to college. As a parent, you worry about your child’s Christian faith, about the friends he will make, about his study habits, and of course his health when he is away from home. That brings me to the purpose of a post on an essential oils blog — you were beginning to wonder, right?

A Premium Start(er Kit) 

Well, it was time to loosen the apron strings. It was time to have the faith that he would be okay leaving home for college. My husband and I equipped him the best we could through the years. We have prayed for our son often (as well as for our other kids who are younger than Andrew), and we will continue through his college years and beyond. 

We equipped him spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. But, we also taught him how to use the oils to maintain and support his health. (We became an oily family just in the past few years — around the time Andrew went into high school.) A physical, tangible item that could give me peace of mind as a mom was making sure that Andrew went off to college with a Premium Starter Kit. All of us parents need peace of mind, right?

Well, going off to college would test that — think of public bathrooms/showers that the dorm shares, think of living with a dorm full of kids who don’t always take care of themselves in a healthy and/or hygienic way, think about staying up late, think about being around classrooms full of students, think about cafeteria food that you know your child will not always make healthy choices from, and on and on.

So what is a mom supposed to do in a situation like that when she lives miles away from her child and does not “control” her child’s health environment? Send oils and Thieves cleaner, of course!

A Few College Pre-Requisites 

The new dorm essential: Thieves Cleaner!!

Andrew knows to use Thieves Vitality for immune support.  He knows to use Lavender Vitality and Peppermint Vitality for respiratory support.  He knows Purification helps him enjoy a hike outdoors annoyance free. (There are several great hiking areas within an hour of his college.) Andrew knows that Lavender is great for skin. He knows PanAway is great for massaging into his skin after playing intramural sports. He knows DiGize is good for digestive support.  

My point is Andrew knows how to use the oils. Equip your kids, even when they are young, with oily knowledge. They will then use them when they are leaving home, and you — the parent — can have such peace of mind!

Andrew had the knowledge needed to use the oils to maintain and support his health. He had the tools to do it — the oils. And, more importantly, he used them! I am happy to say that my son got through his first year of college with only a minor bump in the road now and then! As a mom, the oils gave me such peace of mind letting my baby bird fly.

Did I Let Him Fly?

So tell me, did I loosen the apron strings or not? The answer is YES to both! I did loosen them! He received a lot of independence! He was equipped spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally for leaving the nest.

He was ready to fly. I needed to let him go. It is the natural progression after all, right? But I also didn’t loosen the apron strings in a sense because I knew he had the oils and the knowledge and desire to use them, which gave me a sense of some control of his health! We moms need that, right?

Apron strings or no apron strings — who cares when they have a Premium Starter Kit in their hands!

The Perfect Graduation Gift 

It is graduation time for high school and college. A Premium Starter Kit makes a great gift! Let your baby birds fly with confidence! Support both the grad AND the parents during this exciting transition. If you have questions about getting started, let us help! 

Winter Wellness Toolkit

Sure, there are 38 days until Christmas (see our top picks in the Young Living catalog here!), but that also means that winter is just around the corner. Support your family’s health and mood with a Winter Wellness Toolkit. Bye bye winter blues, hello winter wonderland.

Top Winter Tool: Thieves Essential Oil Blend & Products

If you’ve ever read any of our posts, you know that Thieves is a year-long Tree of Life favorite. We especially adore it for Winter Wellness. In fact, no cold-weather kit is complete without a few Thieves products. This powerful blend can support everything from dental health to a chemical-free (and effortlessly clean!) home, but most of all, we value it for its immune system support. If you’re just getting started, here are 3 Winter Thieves Must-Haves.

3 Winter Thieves Must-Haves

1. Thieves Essential Oil Blend: Start simply with Thieves Essential Oil Blend. Use it daily in your diffuser and add it to your family’s night time routine. Just rub a couple drops on everyone’s feet before bed to help support your family’s immune system.

2. Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier: Take Thieves with you anywhere with the waterless hand purifier. Your family can support health and hygiene with just one squeeze of this powerful product. It also comes in a new larger 7.6 oz. size for every room in your house!  

3. Thieves Hard Lozenges: Give you family some soothing winter relief with Thieves Hard Lozenges. These lozenges are another great on-to-go winter solution.

Golden Touch I Kit

The Golden Touch I Kit tackles winter woes in one convenient package. Find out how this collection of 7 oils can help support your family’s health this season.

Winter Vitality: EndoFlex   

This blend of sesame seed oil, spearmint, sage, geranium, myrtle, nutmeg, and German chamomile supports the endocrine system. A healthy endocrine system translates to overall vitality for those long, cold winter months.

Digestive System: Di-Gize & JuvaFlex

You can use Di-Gize daily to promote a healthy gastrointestinal system and intestinal comfort. Complement this support with JuvaFlex. This blend supports liver function along with your digestive and lymphatic systems.

Respiratory System: Raven and RC

Diffuse Raven and RC or apply to your throat and chest to soothe your respiratory system as temperatures drop.

Skin Challenges: Melrose

Brisk breezes outside and drying heat inside can pose serious skin challenges. Use Melrose to create a protective barrier for your skin, no matter the weather.

Immune Support: Thieves

No surprises here, Golden Touch I Kit includes Thieves for all your winter wellness needs.

Have questions? Contact us today!

How do you stay warm, cozy and well during the winter months?