Spring is in Full Swing – My Face is Streaming! 😱

October 21, 2018October 21, 2018ClareWilliamson Leave a comment

You feel me? It’s beautiful sunshine outside, blossom flourishing everywhere, garden is brimming with green and you just want to get out and enjoy the change in season!

However… Your eyes are puffy and itchy, your nose is streaming and you want to rip your own face off 😬

For many a spring and then also into summer too I endured epic seasonal allergy symptoms. Before I started my natural journey I used to use antihistamines, but because of the severity and duration of my symptoms I would be on them for months on end!

I am pretty sure this extended use of prescription drugs was one of the many things that destroyed my gut health and added to my toxic load. And I’m also pretty sure my general state of health and bad diet were making my seasonal allergy symptoms worse! As you’ll know if you follow my blog, I’ve cleaned up my diet a lot and cut most of what was adding to my toxic load out. I do still suffer with symptoms though as we head into the spring/summer season, but I have found some really good natural remedies that help.

Read on as I share them!

1. Neti Pot & Saline

This is a really simple and effective idea. Pollen, dust, other particles hold onto the insides of our nose and the saline washes them away! It takes a while to get used to the sensation, but it is relatively effective!

2. Probiotics

Lactobacillus GG and L. gasseri are believed to be two of the best probiotics for allergies, along with L. acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis! Look for these in the ingredients of the probiotic you choose. I use the doTERRA PB Assist. Click here for more details.

3. Local honey

When a person eats local honey, they are thought to be ingesting local pollen. Over time, a person may become less sensitive to this pollen. As a result, they may experience fewer seasonal allergy symptoms.

I’ve got to say, I’m not sure if my love of local honey has helped my allergies or not. I just love local honey!

4. DNA Testing

Now this is a key one. And pretty advanced thinking too. One of the many things our genes show is whether we are prone to inflammation! If we are we can eat in a way that prevents inflammation, which should also help curb our allergy sysymptoms. The DNA test I took provides a detailed summary of how to eat and how to exercise and as our DNA never changes, it is information I can refer to for years to come when making decisions about my health. The test I used also sequences with life-sensing technology to keep the DNA information relevant to the present day because genes are predetermined and particular gene variants can affect the body in real-time. Learn more here

5. Allergy Testing

You know you are sneezing and it’s spring, but is that the full picture?

Many foods or drinks that we consume, especially on a daily basis, can affect our health and wellbeing and are linked to many unwanted effects including fatigue, headaches, skin problems, breathing problems as well as affecting our immune, nervous and digestive systems.

Www.allergytest.co.nz are the most helpful, most straightforward and most convenient allergy test service I have found. You can test from the comfort of your own home and choose the level of testing you have according to your budget. You an really get a full picture of the foods and environmental substances that are affecting you. Click here to learn more!

6. Essential Oils

There are 3 essential oils I have used to ease the symptoms of seasonal allergies: peppermint, lemon and lavender.

Lavender is so soothing and has natural antihistamine properties. Peppermint is known to reduce inflammation and clear respiratory passages. And lemon is also a natural antihistamine and naturally cleansing and gives you that lift when the drag of seasonal symptoms brings you down!

Using these 3 oils together is a great idea because they work better synergistically, but I have to be honest in that they have only been able to take the edge off for me when using them topically and aromatically. I raised this with another doTERRA Wellness Advocate and she suggested trying Triease, which is a capsule to take them internally. She suggested that the dose is more targeted and the body’s response to the oils quicker. I know there is some controversy over ingesting essential oils, so read more about that if you are concerned, here.

Learn more about Triease here.

If you want to purchase any of the doTERRA products, visit my web store here! And read why I chose to be an Advocate for this phenominal wellness company here!

Next we’ll tackle Mosquitoes! 😯

Much Love,

Essential Mum x x

5 Ways to Replace Harmful ‘Fragrance’ with Essential Oils

April 22, 2018April 22, 2018ClareWilliamson Leave a comment

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air pollution is among the top five environmental health risks!

The chemicals in our laundry detergent, multi-surface cleaner, even DUST can cause irritation of our eyes, nose, and throat, fatigue and nausea, or even longer-term more serious effects like respiratory diseases, heart disease and cancer.

Most of us are aware of outdoor pollutants, such as fuel exhaust and smoke. But

indoor air may be anywhere from two to five times as polluted as outdoor air! And we are much less vigilant about it, so I thought I’d help you out by sharing 5 ways to swap out one of the BIG chemical emissions in your home… FRAGRANCE (also listed as “parfum)!!

Have you seen this harmless word on the ingredients list of your favourite detergent or beauty products?

From Dr. Axe:

“A National Academy of Sciences points out some vital facts: About 95 percent of chemicals used in synthetic fragrances are derived from petroleum (crude oil). They include benzene derivatives (carcinogenic), aldehydes, toluene and many other known toxic chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions. (1) Unfortunately, 30 years later, toxic ingredients continue turn up in products we use and breathe in on a daily basis. Some of the worst toxic ingredients used in lotions, shampoos, laundry detergents, cleaning products and so much more include synthetic scents, often listed as on labels as the elusive “fragrance.” And many on the list are known or suspected endocrine disruptors, compounds that tinker with hormonal health that can trigger weight gain and even set you up for diseases decades down the line.”

If you are ready to start making a positive change TODAY, here is my top 5 ways to get started!

1. Make your own deoderant

Just fill a glass spray bottle with 120ml magnesium oil and add 15 drops of doTERRA Lemon. Or if you prefer not to make your own, or like a solid deoderant, one is available at my Online Apothecary

2. Make your own multi-purpose cleaner

Grab, preferably, a glass spray bottle (these ones are great!) Add in a 1:3 ratio of white vinegar to water and 30 drops doTERRA On Guard Essential Oil. On Guard contains a proven mix of certified pure therapeutic grade essential oils that when together work effectively to kill bacteria and viruses. I have used On Guard to clear an antibiotic resistant staph infection and a clinical study found it effective against the H1N1 flu virus. The science is emerging on this incredible blend, but I’d recommend it for everything! Read more here.

To buy essential oils, click here

3. Ditch the perfume!!!!!

Please, I know it is hard to give up your favourite scent, but the chemicals and the harm they can cause in perfume will surprise you. And our littlies breathe these chemicals too! With essential oils you can get a nice smell and a therapeutic effect. There will be lots of recipes to try on pinterest if you do a search, or visit my board for inspiration!

Pick Me Up and Calm Me Down also have a beautiful perfume as well as HUGE emotional benefits. Take a look here!

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4. Go no poo!

To be honest, the synthetic fragrance in your shampoo is probably the least of your worries! The harsh chemical mix in shampoos and conditioners strips your hair of its natural oils, ultimately making it more greasy and less healthy, and the myriad of chemicals are absorbed into our bodies and do significant damage (some are reportedly linked to cancer).

Instead you can easily make your own shampoo that leaves your hair feeling gorgeous! You can make using ingredients you have in your pantry, plus essential oils!

Honey (preferably raw and unfiltered) and/or coconut milk
Distilled water
An essential oil
A simple container or pump of some sort
A spoon. This is to mix all of the ingredients together.

I choose a mix of lavender and Rosemary from my shampoo because I find the lavender soothing and rosemary oil is wonderful for promoting hair growth, soothing dry scalps, and adding volume to your locks.

5. Replace your air freshener/wax melt/any synthetic frangrance with a diffuser

For all of the reasons above, synthetic scents to freshen the air in your home have to go. Did you know indoor air may be anywhere from two to five times as polluted as outdoor air?? This is because of all of those chemicals emitted from the products we use every day and also the electrosmog emitted from our mobile devices.

I’m really passionate about helping people to move away from synthetic scents and other chemicals because they can cause a myriad of problems, including migraines, skin problems and asthma attacks, and our babies just deserve better. They emerge from the safe, controlled environment of our wombs into a world that is fraught with risks. Chemical scents are one we can protect them from, and according to the Breast Cancer Fund, when it comes to the prevention of cancer, avoiding synthetic fragrance is one of the main ways to help yourself and them! (See article here.)

According to Dr. Axe, there at least 3,000 ingredients that could possibly be used to form a product’s scent and they don’t necessarily have to be listed on a product’s label. So with an essential oil you are just getting one, pure, natural oil that comes directly from the bark, stem, flower mother nature created for us. I encourage you to take a look at the following list, derived from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, to see just how many fragrance chemicals you can start replacing today, and as always, I am here to help!

Much Love,

Clare

Essential Mum | Non-Toxic Mama

Life after laundry detergent and fabric softener

March 17, 2018March 18, 2018ClareWilliamson Leave a comment

Nobody can deny how utterly scrumptious a laundry smells when you walk past and your favourite fragrance wafts up your nose. I actually connect laundry smells to different memories – of friends I had in the past, of university rooms, of loved ones who I have held close. It came as a shock to read that the laundry is one of the most carcinogenic places in a house!

In 2008, scientists reported on the toxic chemicals in laundry detergents and other laundry products and it wasn’t good news. A single fragrance can contain multiple toxic chemicals that have been linked to asthma, dermatitis and even cancer.

Researchers from the University of Washington studied top-selling laundry and air-freshening products and found that they emitted dozens of different chemicals. All of them gave off at least one identified as toxic or hazardous under federal laws in America. What’s worse is that because of current labelling laws, none of these chemicals were listed on the label.

Among the products tested were a dryer sheet, a fabric softener, and a laundry detergent, as well as spray and plug-in air fresheners. Results showed nearly 100 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from the six products, and none were on the label. “Five of the six products emitted one or more carcinogenic ‘hazardous air pollutants,’ which are considered by the Environmental Protection Agency to have no safe exposure level,” said study author Anne Steinemann.

A later 2011 study by the same researchers found that air vented from machines using top-selling scented liquid laundry detergent and scented dryer sheets contained hazardous chemicals, including two classified as carcinogens.

For the study, researchers ran a load of laundry once with no products, once with a leading brand of scented liquid laundry detergent, and once with both the detergent and a dryer sheet. They captured the exhaust from the dryer vent with a canister.

An analysis of the captured air showed more than 25 VOCs, including seven hazardous air pollutants. The two carcinogens were acetaldehyde and benzene.

“These products can affect not only personal health,” said Steinemann, “but also public and environmental health. The chemicals can go into the air, down the drain and into water bodies.”

You can Google for more information on the toxic chemicals in laundry products. Look for Fragrance (this is where multiple chemicals are used to make the desired smell), surfactants, stabilizers, bleach, 1,4-dioxane, brighteners, phosphates & EDTA. It’s scary stuff. Check to see if these are included in the laundry products you use too.

Thankfully, there are alternatives!

You can make your own laundry detergent. Wellness Mama has a great recipe, and you can find others online as well. You can add your favourite doTERRA essential oil for Fragrance
You can buy doTERRA’s On Guard laundry detergent, which I absolutely love! Read about it here.
Then you can skip the fabric softener completely and use woollen dryer balls or, if you’re going to dry outside, half-cup of vinegar added in the rinse cycle will produce the same results without the toxic chemicals.
Please do dump the dryer sheets! They a toxic shitstorm, if you’ll excuse my French! Dryer alls will also reduce static cling. I love my dryer balls, hence the title of this blog! (I literally did curse when I realised my favourite scents were so harmful and BALLS literally were my solution!) Again, I got mine from doTERRA and I add geranium essential oil every few times I use my dryer. Geranium is such a beautiful scent for laundry. It’s sweet, but not sickly, and it’s really calming. Great for your bed sheets! You can make your own using ( see DIYnatural) or if you don’t use a dryer you can even make a spray with 1 cup white vinegar to 3 cups of water and 30 drops of essential oils to spray on the washing when it is on the line ready to dry in the sun.

If you’d like to go chemical free in your laundry TODAY, and would like to have a look at the doTERRA products available and different essential oils you can use for scent, click here to be redirected to my webstore. Any questions, give me a shout!

Much Love x x x

Sources:

University of Washington, “Toxic Chemicals Found in Common Scented Laundry Products, Air Fresheners,” Science Daily, July 24, 2008, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080723134438.htm.

Anne C. Steinemann, Lisa G. Gallagher, Amy L. Davis, Ian C. MacGregor, “Chemical emissions from residential dryer vents during use of fragranced laundry products,” Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 2011; http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11869-011-0156-1.

Antioxidant support from Essential Oils

March 16, 2018March 18, 2018ClareWilliamson Leave a comment

I have been wanting to write a blog about DDR Prime Softgels for ages, but I just haven’t felt like I understand the product deeply enough. doTERRA created DDR Prime to help promote repair to damaged DNA. Research and studies have shown over and over again that essential oils work on a cellular level, meaning they can penetrate the cell walls and work within the cells, and one of the most fascinating abilities of essential oils is that they can differentiate between a healthy cell and a bad cell.

DDR Prime is meant to reduce oxidative stress, an imbalance between the production of free radicals and our body’s ability to counteract them. It’s a natural process, but it can greatly influence our overall well-being.

When I first started taking DDR Prime I had never heard of oxidative stress. I read that DDR Prime was full of antioxidants and I’d heard of those! (Antioxidants are molecules that are present in cells. These molecules donate electrons to unbalanced free radicals in order to balance them and stop the cycle of cellular degradation.) While antioxidants are found in abundance in many whole foods, it is often difficult to get the amount and specific types of antioxidants our body needs for peak cellular health. I also knew my chronic anxiety had taken a toll on my health physically as well as mentally, and this was enough for me to give them a shot.

The proprietary blend of essential oils in DDR Prime includes Clove, Thyme, Wild Orange, Frankincense, Lemongrass, Summer Savory, and Niaouli, because they offer antioxidant support for protection against oxidative stress.

Frankincense, Thyme and Lemongrass are chosen to prevent against DNA damage because of their preventative processes. Lemongrass, Clove and Niaouli (a form of Melaleuca) are chosen for their ability to destroy unhealthy and irreparable cells. Lastly, doTERRA looked at oils to guard against oxidative stress. These included clove, wild orange and summer savory. Clove essential oil is particularly powerful because it has the highest level of antioxidant properties ever known in a substance, making it a powerful support to anyone’s daily health routine.
DDR Prime Softgels make it easy to get your daily serving of free radical fighting essential oils for optimum well-being.

If you’d like to learn more from doTERRA’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Hill, watch the following:

From the doTERRA Blog:
“What Makes DDR Prime Softgels Unique?
The power of DDR Prime Softgels is in the proprietary blend of essential oils. Alone, all of the individual oils have been shown to provide support of cellular integrity, but the synergistic effects they provide when combined together is even more powerful.* Frankincense, Wild Orange, and Clove oil have all been shown to promote a healthy response to free radicals.* Thyme and Niaouli essential oils support cellular immunity and overall cellular health.* Summer Savory has been shown to support our body’s natural mechanisms to deal with oxidative stress.* Lastly, Lemongrass oil can protect against environmental threats.* Combined, this exclusive combination of essential oils offers unparalleled support of the body’s natural free-radical defense systems.*
DDR Prime Softgels Uses and Benefits

As mentioned, the support of healthy cellular integrity is important for overall well-being. DDR Prime Softgels help support cellular immunity and cellular health.* The proprietary combination of essential oils in DDR Prime Softgels promotes healthy responses to oxidative stress for optimal well-being.*
DDR Prime Softgels are also known to promote a healthy response to free-radicals.* The disruption of free radicals can cause a myriad of negative health effects. The essential oil blend contained within DDR Prime Softgels supports the body’s own defense mechanisms against free radicals.*
DDR Prime Softgels provide a simple, no-mess, convenient way to get the benefits of DDR Prime Cellular Complex, anytime anywhere. Simply place a bottle in your purse, travel bag, or on your desk at work and you’ll be able to reap the benefits of DDR Prime Cellular Complex when you are crunched for time, away from home, or in a hurry.”

So here began my journey with oxidative stress! I have since become a self-proclaimed mitochondriac. It’s like most of today’s common complaints can be brought back to the health of.our cells. All cells need three primary things in order to stay healthy: energy, primarily metabolic energy, protection from outside and internal threats, and resiliency.

In today’s world our diets do not provide the nutrition we need to provide the energy our cells need. Our cells are under attack from electromagnetic waves and toxins. Providing our cells with daily protection, while we reduce the toxins and threats in our environment, is a great way to enhance our body’s natural defense. The third way we can help our cells and maintain great health is to support the resiliency of our cells, so that whenever they are under attack, they can bounce back to where they should be. DDR Prime is a great place to start!

Talk to me today about how to get DDR Prime at a discount or buy now from my doTERRA store. This is not a blend you can go another day without! To learn more about oxidative stress and it’s impact on your body, click here

Much love x x x

Get The Happiness Habit

July 29, 2017July 29, 2017ClareWilliamson 2 Comments

In my Emotional Balance e-book I tell you “this is where you start to release and receive.”

I tell you this from first hand experience. There are a lot of weeds tied up in my emotional soil. Small ones and big ones. The final step in healing from them is releasing them.

While memories fade, our body doesn’t forget.

I’ll give you an example of what I mean by this…

I was made to feel incredibly ashamed, small and embarrassed at a family occasion once when I began to discuss my ideas around finding childcare so that I could go back to work part time. At the time I was feeling incredibly guilty and sad about having to go back to work at all. It was only for financial reasons. The response I got was like a stab in the stomach. My guts physically twisted and I thought I was going to be sick. My body burned with embarrassment and shame and I had to take myself off to the toilet to recompose.

Now, when I think about asking for help from anyone regarding the girls I start to feel these same physical sensations. That tiny ripple in time has left a significant physiological imprint in my body. The similar sensations I start to feel now as I begin to consider asking for help are my body remembering. And the thing is, needing help with my girls is inevitable, so these sensations aren’t helpful. I am a working mum with one very high needs child and her sister and the consequence of not asking for help is leaving me exhausted.

So how does one release the painful memories stored in their body?

I am addressing this in a blog because I am doing some really deep work on me at the moment. I have realised that a combination of the constant multitasking of motherhood and battle to keep bad memories in their box, with the lid shut tight where they can’t hurt me, has made me forget how to really live in the moment. In this way I have been working on meditation and consciously immersing myself fully in the moment I am in. This has included creating space to enter each moment in a peaceful, relaxed state of mind and honoring myself the space afterwards to appreciate what I have immersed myself in, even if only briefly before I move on to the next thing.

My goal is to be in a more peaceful state of being in 30 days time. I believe my self confidence is being blocked by this lack of peace and only by releasing the unhappiness of the past can I receive the happiness of my future. There are many intentions for my life that are living on Someday Island at the moment!

Last year I designed a life I truly believed would bring me happiness every day, but my emotional issues are preventing me from living it to its potential. It is time for change.

They say it takes 30 days to develop a new habit. Are you ready to develop the Happiness Habit with me?

I have done some extensive research and come up with my own plan to make that change and become the peaceful, confident person I want to be.

My essential oils have been an integral part of getting me to this point, which is what I teach you in the e-book, Emotional Balance. If you haven’t read it already I really recommend it to make a workable plan to lead a more balanced life, emotionally. We identify your triggers for emotional imbalance and the feelings that aren’t productive in your life and make a plan to manage them. Getting into a place where emotions do not obstruct you from being the person you want to be is just one part of designing a life that brings you happiness and fulfillment every day.

My own plan with the essential oils has brought me to the point I have reached now: ready and feeling able to release the emotional burden I have carried for too long. In essence, they have reconnected me to my heart.

“Essential oils raise the vibration of the physical body (Stewart, 2003.) As the body lives in higher vibrations, lower energies (such as supposed emotions) become unbearable. They want to release. Stagnant anger, sadness, grief, judgement and low self-worth cannot exist in the environment of balance and peace which essential oils help to create. Emotional healing occurs as old feelings surface and release (Morton, 1992). Sometimes this experience is confused with regression. People may perceive they are going backwards, or that the essential oils aren’t working. We are so used to symptomatic healing that we have been conditioned to view healing as the immediate cessation of all physical and emotional pain. In reality, the oils are working.” Daniel McDonald, Emotional Healing with Essential Oils.

Are you ready to develop the Happiness Habit with me? If any of what I have written resonates with you, The Happiness Habit might be of interest to you to support you on a journey to a place where your emotions remain calm and balanced.

You will get:

Mindfulness ideas
Self care ideas
Motivating Quotes
And more!

Giving yourself the permission to feel is a first step…

The other day I cried. Like I cried buckets. I cried at Coffee Group, then I cried at the gym after sparring, then I cried all the way home. I couldn’t really explain it at the time, but the next day I felt better; lighter.

I realised that unknowingly this healing process had begun and the feelings and emotions that are part of it are uncomfortable. #beingmum to Eden has been uncomfortable and I realised that it is because of the incredibly traumatic experience we had in that first year with her, when she was at her worst. She would cry inconsolably and often physically push me away.

When you are mum it is your job to have all the answers, or you feel it is. It is certainly your job to soothe your crying baby. I would try and hold her in my arms and love her pain away. She would just bring up her knees and arch her back, pushing me away. I felt hopeless. I felt like a crap mother because I couldn’t soothe her. I felt empty of solutions to help her and exhausted by her constant cries.

Now, I have noticed that I get the same physical sensations when I run out of ideas to “reach” her. I go into this default feeling of hopeless rather than empowered. I have got on top of the physical symptoms of Eden’s condition with the oils now, just about, but we are still learning our way through the emotional stuff and in a similar way to when she was a baby when she is emotionally uncomfortable she pushes me away and my emotional response is inappropriate and rooted in the past. And it’s uncomfortable.

It is time to release. I am ready to release and receive the the joys and fulfilment of ALL of the life I designed for myself a year ago.

Are you ready to develop the Happiness Habit with me? Click here and select “Join The Happiness Habit” from the dropdown box. It’s completely free and I will see you there!

Much love,

Clare

Cassia Baked Oatmeal Heaven!

July 24, 2017July 24, 2017ClareWilliamson Leave a comment

I haven’t shared a recipe in a while. And seen as though the air is cold, the mornings are dark and seasonal threats are rife, I thought this was a good choice!

Cassia essential oil used internally can help support healthy immune function. Cassia is a powerful commodity in protecting the body from seasonal threats!

You’ll need:

• 2 large eggs

• 1/3 cup coconut sugar

• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder

• 1 drop Cassia

• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1 1/4 cups rice milk

• 1/4 cup cacao butter, melted

• 3 cups rolled oats

Preheat oven to 350F. Whisk eggs together, then add cocosugar, baking powder, Cassia, vanilla and salt, and then whisk until no lumps remain. Stir in milk and melted cacao butter then mix in oats. Pour into a prepared 8×8 baking tray and bake until firm and ready!

Creating Community

June 10, 2017June 11, 2017ClareWilliamson Leave a comment

I had such a lovely day in the community today. I was invited by the Beachlands Community Trust to take part in their Remakery. This is such an amazing thing for the community! A chance to learn about composting, upcycling and more. I was there with my Make & Take Workshop teaching people how to make home essentials like deodorant WITHOUT synthetic fragrance and other dangerous chemicals, like SLS and parabens.

Those of you who follow Essential Mum will know that I am on a MISSION to get those things out of our family homes and get mums using easy, natural recipes with essential oils.

There was a great turn out from the community; young and old got their hands dirty!

It was great opportunity to answer questions about essential oils and talk about doTERRA’s amazing Co-impact sourcing, which of course was of great interest to the people at the Remakery because of their desire to make a positive difference to our world.

I am so excited about the Remakery continuing and that I have been invited back! I was also approached by a local lady who runs breastfeeding workshops to bring the essential oil education to new mums there, to help with common issues like thrush, nappy rash, disturbed sleep and baby blues naturally. I loved this opportunity (and if course said yes) and would be open to more, if anybody out there has a group that they think would benefit?

Jennie’s Art Projects did this little project with a child. He brought his own laundry basket and mixed up his own paint colour from leftovers. Then they painted the basket together. Good fun and a proud boy!

I urge people to also put the next Remakery, on the July 8th, into their diaries. We live in a disposable world that is causing such irreparable damage. Our children have more opportunities to learn how to waste than they do to how to conserve and protect. The Remakery is one way to change that. There were a few youngsters getting involved in my workshop today, making deodorant and room spray and multi surface cleaner and learning about the benefits of essential oils. It was great to see!

Jenny, who runs the Remakery, from the Beachlands Community Trust is full of great ideas and enthusiasm to keep our community great and improve it too. Essential Mum is committed to supporting her ideas and efforts. Especially because she said I reminded her of a young Anne Roddick… jokes 😉

If you came along today and enjoyed the Make & Take workshop, and you’d like to learn more about the essential oils you got to experiment with, I am running a FREE workshop on the 16th at my Beachlands Home. Learn more here!

To keep up to date with events like the Make & Take, follow me on Facebook.

My next event is a Creative Vision Board session as vehicle to looking within yourself for the guidance you need to be happy and healthy.

I am a certified Life Coach and this session is part of my Design Your Life June & July Series. Come along and get creative. Bring what you would like to create on (white board/ cork board, pens/pins, something else) and I’ll provide paper and magazines, scissors, etc.

The session costs $10, including coffee and tea.

If you’d like to receive a copy of the recipes I shared at the Remakery, CLICK HERE and complete the contact form with “RECIPES” in the comments. I’ll also send you the free copy of my eBook.

I’ll update this blog with names and links and photos as the other members of the Remakery share them with me, I was just too excited to wait before I shared the story of a wonderful day.

Thanks Beachlands Community Trust!

Much Love X X

The Value of Consistent Use of Essential Oils

June 6, 2017ClareWilliamson Leave a comment

Whether you are using essential oils to treat specific health symptoms or as a way to prevent ill health, consistent use is important. It took me a long time to get into the habit of this, but “habit” is definitely the key word here when it comes to the really effective use of essential oils for wellness!

Dr. David K. Hill, D.C. – Chief Medical Officer for doTERRA recommends that “routine and deliberate application of essential oils can often increase and even sustain health benefits. Routine exposure can be achieved through aromatic, topical, and internal consumption based on the individual needs and level of expertise.”

What is really important is appropriate dosing, as many scientific reviews and studies have verified this to be both efficacious and moreover, safe.

For us, what was really great about starting with the Family Physician kit was the opportunity to learn what worked for us as individuals. Everybody has an individual tolerance to the oils and individual preferences. It’s also better to use a wide range of oils, rather than just one or two. However, the commonality is the need for a daily model of consist use based on your unique health and lifestyle circumstances. For example, for my anxiety, Balance is my favourite essential oil and a constant in my daily oil regime. This oil is known to help establish a feeling of calm, peace and relaxation. It helps support your body’s physiological systems and helps bring a sense of tranquility and balance. This is my go-to oil for when I feel like a chicken running around with its head cut off — over-whelmed with no idea where to start, but more than that, it is the oil I start my day with now. I remind myself to take 30 seconds as soon as I wake up to apply a drop of Balance to each wrist and rub them together. Once it’s on my wrists, I lift them to my nose and inhale. I am instantly grounded and have a much clearer head to start my day. There are some really fun ways to integrate essential oils into your daily routine. For example, in the morning, I aromatically dress. This is a fancy way of saying I cover myself in essential oils after I get out of the shower. The oils I choose depends on the needs of the day, which can be energy, mental clarity, less stress, or some self-love. Learn more here!

In cases of illness, frequent use is imperative. Essential oils metabolize just like a paracetamol does. You can use as often as every couple of hours, but as doTERRA essential oils are highly concentrated and very potent, a small dose is all that is needed to achieve powerful benefits.

Here are Dr Hill’s 6 top tips to help you implement doTERRA essential oils into a daily model of consistency:

1. Quality

To prevent sensitivities, it is important to use only pure essential oils, such as essential oils that have the doTERRA CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade^® quality standard. Using altered essential oils dramatically increases the likelihood that a sensitivity or inappropriate response will develop. Join my newsletter list to learn about the dangers of essential oils altered with man-made laboratory created scents.

2. Chemistry

The chemical structure and reactivity of some essential oil elements makes them more potent than others. Phenols and aldehydes are especially strong. Diluting oils that contain a high proportion of these types of elements or using a lower dose is an excellent way to ensure safe application. Learn the basics of essential oils at my next workshop. Click here to see upcoming events.

3. Variety

A unique feature of essential oils is that they share many of the same benefits. There is safety and increased benefit from variety, which is one of the foundational principles of health. Try introducing a wide variety of oils into your personal usage protocol rather than focusing on just one or two main oils.

4. Amount

A common misconception is to assume that more is always better. While this may be true in some instances, it is not true with essential oils. They are highly concentrated and very potent, so a small dose is all that is needed to achieve powerful benefits. It is best to use smaller amounts of oil and apply more frequently.

5. Dilution

There are many benefits to diluting essential oils, including slowing the rate of absorption to prevent sensitivities and increasing the surface area of absorption. I generally recommend a dilution ratio of one drop of essential oil to three drops of carrier oil. This ratio can be altered depending on the chemistry of the oil and the preferences or sensitivities of the user.

6. Personal Consideration

Certain individuals, such as young children and the elderly, require special precautions when using essential oils because their skin is typically more sensitive. Appropriate dilution modifications or essential oil substitutions should be made to cater to their individual needs.

For a free essential oil consultation to discuss your needs, click here!

Much love x x

“Every time I start exercising I get a cold”

May 6, 2017May 6, 2017ClareWilliamson Leave a comment

Increasing exercise stresses our body and thus weakens our immune system. So, as we increase our exercise levels we need to increase the vitamins and minerals that are going to keep our immune system strong; like vitamin c and zinc.

The preferable way to do this is through your diet, but unfortunately nowadays our soils are very depleted of the vitamins and minerals we need and so we can end up deficient and needing to supplement them.

I am a very good example of this. I eat really well. Really clean with lots of fruit and colourful veg, but when I got a blood test I found I was lacking in a few things, especially zinc, so I started on the doTERRA long-life vitality supplements and have never looked back since! If you want to read more about this supplement system, click here. They are only available to doTERRA Wellness Advocates, but you can read about becoming one of those here. If you choose to buy a multivitamin over the counter, just take a look at the label carefully to check whether it contains synthetic vitamins that won’t be helpful.

We also need to get enough rest to properly recuperate between exercise sessions. Regular moderate exercise actually boosts the immune system. So it’s a fine balance, but maybe increasing frequency rather than intensity might help.

Gyms are also germ-laden and you’re exposed to a large variety of bacteria in spite of the gym’s good cleaning and hygiene efforts. I found this out when I got a staph infection in my thumb! I make a Cleansing Spray now for any mats & equipment I am using. It’s really easy! Just grab a 2–4 ounce spray bottle, 5 drops of doTERRA On Guard blend, Witch hazel (¼ of spray bottle) and some Filtered water. Combine all the ingredients together in the glass bottle. Mix well, spray, and wipe!

Finally, don’t rule out the effects of stress that is external to your new exercise regime that could be making you more susceptible to getting ill!

The impact of this stress makes the efforts we invest into our healthy eating, the supplements we take and how much we exercise, close to worthless and we are putting ourselves at increased risk for chronic and degenerative diseases like cancer, heart disease, autoimmune issues, thyroid problems, and diabetes.

Did you ever read, “Why Zebras don’t get Ulcers?” It’s about how we deal with stress. If a zebra were to be put under similar stress as us humans every day he wouldn’t get an ulcer. Basically because our body turns on the same physiological responses that the zebra’s does, but we don’t resolve conflict in the same way. Faced with a lion (pretty stressful), a zebra will stop and fight or flee. When faced with a massive deadline, chemicals like adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol will still release into our bloodstream, but we don’t use them to fight or flee. Over time this weakens our immune system and other defences in a big way. I regularly check in on myself and the ways that I can make little tweaks and changes to decrease the stress I feel on a daily basis.

The first thing we do as a family as soon as it feels like we are coming down with a cold, or others around us are dropping like flies, is apply doTERRA’s On Guard to the soles of our feet 3 times a day. 1 drop goes onto everyone, but I would advise diluting for babies under 1. You can read about the magic of On Guard and other essential oils in this blog, 10 Must Haves to Survive and Thrive this Winter. I roll my ‘Keep Me Well’ Rollerball to my feet every day, which contains many of the oils described in this blog (because mama doesn’t get the luxury of a sick day!), which gives my immune system a daily boost and colds are definitely less frequent than they used to be!

We are all refined sugar free in our house, but if you’re not it is a good thing to cut out while your body fights whatever infection or virus is bothering it. That includes fructose sugar too! Popular health site Mercola recommends adding in the following foods:

Raw, grass-fed organic milk, and/or high.-quality whey protein
Fermented foods such as raw kefir, kimchee, miso, pickles, sauerkraut
Raw, organic eggs from pastured chickens
Grass-fed beef
Coconuts and coconut oil
Organic vegetables and Garlic. Ideally consumed raw and crushed just before eating
Turmeric, oregano, cinnamon, cloves
Mushrooms, especially Reishi, Shiitake, and Maitake

We up the On Guard application to every couple of hours too and add zinc drops to our water. If after a couple of days we are not getting better, or we are getting worse, on day 3 we hit the THE FLU BOMB and I make a soothing and decongesting chest rub from Frankincense and doTERRA’s blend, Breathe. I share these recipes and others in my Essential Oils Made Easy eBook. To be notified when this can be purchased for sale, subscribe to my newsletter. You can read my latest one (3 free gifts for you) and subscribe at the top left of the page here!

My O2 on the Go portable oxygen units may also be helpful in your recovery from any illness and for meeting the physiological demands on the body in times of additional stress. Click here to check them out! This will certainly be advantageous to your exercise regime in general. Many athletes, singers, movie stars and stage actors are using portable Oxygen Generators. Oxygen gives them that superior performance and keeps them looking good and performing well. Oxygen can immediately alleviate fatigue after exercise, calm the pulse and activate blood circulation, generating vigour and energy.

What is a TERRAfit Challenge?

April 27, 2017April 27, 2017ClareWilliamson Leave a comment

Want to lose weight, get fit or both? Through doTERRA I discovered an amazing health challenge called TERRAfit. It was such a game changer for my health that I decided to become a coach!

This was me in 2014…

A muay thai LOVING mum at the peak of fitness, about to try my first amateur bout in the ring after a few novice fights. Then I unexpectedly fell pregnant! I lived off cheese sandwiches and marmite on toast for 9 months whilst battling debilitating morning sickness and basically felt YUCK. In total I gained 17 kilos.

I started TERRAfit because I needed HELP to get back to reasonable eating and workout habits. I was daunted by the idea of kickboxing again and unmotivated about the idea of eating clean. I don’t like fad diets or extreme exercise programmes and I don’t believe they work in the long-term. I need to be motivated and I like achieving as part of a team. The fact I could have both these things to help me lose weight and get fit again was what attracted me to TERRAfit!

TERRAfit provides support across 12 weeks to eat less and better and exercise more, as part of a team supported by a certified TERRA coach. You eat from a healthy food list, exercise 5 days a week and there are daily challenges to educate and inspire/motivate. An added bonus is the potential to win cash prizes at the end of the 90 days!

TERRAfit works on a point system that tracks your nutrition, hydration and exercise. You have to try and hit 100 points every day. Points are taken away for skipping exercise, meals and eating unhealthy foods. You get bonus points for supporting your progress with essential oils and supplements.

The motivation this challenge has given me is almost indescribable. It couldn’t have come at a better time either. I was a new mum, struggling the juggle of having 2 children instead of one. I guess my diet and exercise should have been the last thing on my mind, but as a mum need to be fit and healthy, just as much as you need exercise for the self care that protects mental health! Going to a gym is a lot more difficult though, when you have an entourage of small people! The GREAT thing about TERRAfit is that the workouts are streamed through your laptop/PC/tablet/phone; I do mine whenever I get my hands free and the support the first team I took part with gave me helped me in many more ways than just losing a few pounds of baby weight. The fact that TERRAfit focuses on nutrition and exercise and the support system provided is definitely its point of difference to all the other diet and exercise programmes out there on the market. It has also helped me improve my family’s health, as we are all eating better and enjoying real food!

If you’re thinking about joining or wanting to join a Terrafit team here’s what you’ll need:

1. A desire to form healthy lifestyle habits. Show your commitment with a $38.50 registration fee and clear your pantry of unhealthy foods!

2. Be committed to working out 5 times a week for at least 30 minutes a day (with rest days on Wednesdays and Sundays). Think of a time when you can slot these workouts in before you start.

You can stream the TERRAfit workouts for an additional monthly fee (this is called TERRAfit Advantage and costs $16.50 with your first week free).

You don’t have to do the TERRAfit workouts if you are happy with your existing exercise programme, but I really recommend them for their structure and effectiveness. Exercises are targeted to lean muscle development and weight loss. Workouts employ 4×4 high intensity interval training and believe me, it works! I couldn’t believe the difference in me across just 4 weeks and the essential oils and supplements I used in addition to eating really good, clean food really made me feel great and even improved other things, like my skin!

3. So a willingness to investigate the doTERRA products that can help you in your weightloss/fitness journey is preferable, but there is no obligation! I can help you discover the products that are right for you and introduce you to a way to purchase them economically across the 12-weeks. You get 10 extra points a day for using doTERRA products such as Deep Blue for muscle recovery, Slim and Sassy to support your metabolism and curb cravings, Lemon oil to detoxify, and the Life Long Vitality Pack of supplements to provide you with potent levels of essential nutrients and powerful metabolic factors for optimal health, energy, and longevity.

The registration fee, plus TERRAfit Advantage and an Athlete + Starter Kit costs jst $37.50 for the 12 weeks.

So, have I whet your appetite for change? Are you keen to realise your own transformation?

Check out the progress I made in just 3 weeks of my first challenge at the start of 2016!

Using the TERRAfit nutrition and fitness system I lost 15kgs, learnt how to eat clean and feed my family to boost their health as well and I got back in the ring as a Muay Thai Fighter.

Experience this amazing transformation yourself over 12 weeks with me and TERRAfit.

Gain access to workouts, products to support your weightloss, health and training, weekly progress calls, a Facebook support group, meal plans, recipes and discounts on coaching.

Carrie Harman, TERRAfit Participant, after 1 month in her first 12-week Challenge:

“I have two ‘exciting’ milestones as such…. 1. I am coping so much better with the exercise regime than I did my previous two sprint challenges… and
2. I am getting fuller easier. I am not finishing a whole plate of when my hubby dishes (bigger than I do), and not feeling that I should either. I am avoiding unwise food choices, and often not even tempted by them a lot of the time. I still have a wee way to go, as if I am not organised I find myself struggling on decent snacks – not ‘bad’ ones just not as energy boosting as they could be. I’m so excited to keep pushing myself as we head into month two! I still have things I want to improve and work on (mummy tummy, energy levels, fitness for my 10km run) and am glad to be doing this challenge with the three of you!!”

If you are ready to register for the next 12-week challenge to become the best version of you, email me now at nzessentialmum@gmail.com.

Here are my before and after pictures!

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