Do you ever feel like your brain just needs a little more attention
physically and mentally?
Our brain is the “control center” of our body. It
controls thought, memory, emotion, touch, motor skills, vision, breathing,
temperature, hunger and every process that regulates our body. I would
say it definitely deserves some love!
So what kind of things can we be doing to help in this department? Let’s
take a look…
Our brains need fuel to function optimally. But not just any ol’ fuel - proper
fuel. Our brains need foods rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, vitamins and
minerals. These provide the brain with energy and protection, as well as
support a healthy gut and inflammation response. A healthy gut means the hormones and neurotransmitters that affect cognitive function are working properly - the cycle can operate the way it should.
Try incorporating these foods into your diet: avocados; beets; blueberries
and other berries like strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries; bone
broth; broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, kale and
Brussels sprouts; celery; coconut oil; dark chocolate; egg yolks, extra virgin olive oil; green leafy vegetables; rosemary and other herbs; salmon;
turmeric; walnuts and other nuts.
Yum! Which of these do you want to eat first?
Regular cardiovascular exercise increases your heart rate and increases
blood flow to the brain and the rest of the body. According to a recent
study, individuals who were highly physically active showed 38% less risk of cognitive decline, and those who did low-to-moderate level exercise also showed a significantly 35% reduced risk. So don’t be afraid to break a sweat - it’s good for your brain!
What form of exercise do you want to start incorporating?
The brain needs exercise to stay in shape, right? So challenge it daily with
activities that stimulate it and keep it sharp. Research has shown that
challenging your mind in this way can boost your memory, concentration,
and focus. It can even make daily tasks quicker and easier if you make it a
regular thing. So what kind of activities can you do?
Put together a jigsaw puzzle, do a crossword puzzle, or play sudoku.
Engage in a card game like solitaire, bridge, rummy, or poker. Play an
instrument. Don’t know how to play? Pull up videos online and learn! Read
a book - or two. Research has shown it strengthens your brain by
improving connectivity.
Which activity do you want to implement first?
You can absolutely use essential oils to love on your brain. First of all, let
me share this amazing nugget of information with you. Our sense of smell
is the only one of our senses that connects to the limbic system, the
emotional control center of our brain. This system supports things like
behavior, motivation, and long term memory. It’s even connected to the
parts of the brain that control heart rate, hormones, blood pressure,
breathing, and stress. So grab those essential oils - from Young Living - and use them! Diffuse them or apply them topically and inhale! Here are some good ones to grab…
- Peppermint - purifying & stimulating to the conscious mind
- Rosemary - creates an environment conducive to work or study
- Clarity - promotes feelings of stability, focus, & a sense of productivity
- Brain Power - creates clarity & stability for an environment conducive to work or study
- M-Grain - creates an atmosphere conducive to releasing tension & daily stressors
- Geneyus - promotes an atmosphere for inspiration, productivity, & positivity
- Common Sense - promotes feelings of clarity & stability
Which oil do you think you will gravitate to most?
Ideally, you would get all the nutrients you need to support your brain
from the food and drinks you ingest. However, that’s not always practical
nor achievable for all. You might want to consider adding in some quality
supplements to your daily routine. Young Living has plenty to offer in this
department, plus they’re essential oil-infused, which makes them even
more powerful. Here are some you might want to look into…
MindWise - supports cognitive health using CoQ10, ALCR, GPC
ingredients, turmeric, fruit, & premium essential oils
NingXia Red - an antioxidant drink that provides a nutritive infusion for
whole-body support
OmegaGize³ - combines the power of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D3,
& CoQ10 along with essential oils to support normal brain function
NingXia Nitro - a delicious wolfberry drink that increases cognitive
alertness & enhances mental fitness
Master Formula - a full-spectrum supplement that provides vitamins &
minerals that supports brain function and more
Super B - a comprehensive B-vitamin supplement that supports a
healthy mood & cognitive function
What supplements do you want to start implementing?
When keeping brain health at the forefront of your mind, you most
definitely want to do your best to get proper rest. Sleep deprivation or
non-restorative sleep can have quite a negative impact on your cognitive
functioning - things like memory and judgment impairment, mood swings,
headaches, and clumsiness. When you are sleep-deprived, you can actually over-exert a portion of your brain that can impair things like concentration, alertness, and coordination. So how do you ensure you get enough rest?
Here are some suggestions…
-Get around 7-9 hours a night of sleep; preferably around the same time
every day.
-Get regular exercise. Not only can it help increase the effectiveness of
your sleep, it can help you release tension and stress.
-Spend time without screens and other technology distractions. Meditate,
stretch, read… give yourself time to unplug as you end the day.
What other ways can you help reduce your stress and get more rest?
Not only does the physical health of your brain matter, but the emotional
health of your brain matters as well. Depression can actually lead to
impaired brain function, learning, memory, and attention. It can even
reduce the speed at which your brain processes information and lead to
other things like poor psycho-social skills. We don’t want that!
But don’t try to “fix” something like depression on your own. Seek out help
from others, ideally from a licensed healthcare professional.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is a great place to start
your journey to better mental health: https://www.samhsa.gov. Love your
brain from the inside out!
What are some ways you can keep a positive attitude and boost your
mood? Share your tips!
I mentioned several essential oils and supplements from Young Living that I think your brain will love. So now let me tell you the most cost effective
way to get them! Friends don’t let friends pay full price! Am I right?
Send me a message and we will talk through it all!
Smile, it’s contagious
Vern Smoker/Young Living Support
We had the biggest garden in the neighborhood! No kidding.
We went out early in the morning, walked through rows and rows of corn until the wheel barrow was full and over flowing only to have to huck each ear that we picked and making sure not to let that white hair on the cob.
On the same day we picked what seemed to me like at least a hundred rows of peas and…(long rows I might add), but in all reality maybe 6 or 7 rows. And get this…we hauled the peas all by hand! The day my mom found a place to take the peas that actually went into a machine, imagine that! and… bingo…done! That was the best day ever!
Why is it that we feel the need to be productive all the time and… guilty if we’re not?
For me… it’s the culture I was raised in. I was taught to work and work hard. Always another weed to pull in the garden. Clean the house, help with meal prep…(not really my cup of tea). For the most part my older sister cooked and I cleaned. I preferred it that way. Lazy was not in our vocabulary. But one thing I learned is work ethic and for that I am grateful.
Do you feel guilty taking a nap in the middle of the day? I know I do, I feel like I always need to be productive. Really now; I certainly don’t want to look lazy do I? But guess what? I’m starting to change that mind set. In fact today I did just that! I took a nap! And it felt amazing!!
I’m learning that I need to be kind to myself. To treat my body and my mind with respect. Taking care of me is important. I may be learning it a bit late in life but non the less… It’s true. If I don’t schedule something and put (ME) on my calendar, I wouldn’t get it done. And no, it’s not being selfish to take care of you. In fact, it should be a priority. If mama is tired and grouchy ain’t no one happy and believe it or not… we do set the tone and the atmosphere in our home. If MaMa ain’t happy; ain’t no one happy. I kinda don’t like that.
Recharging our batteries is so so important!
Here are things I do:
- shopping totally by myself with no agenda and no time frame
- coffee with a friend at my favorite coffee shop
- sitting on my porch with a good cup of coffee and no agenda
- getting a pedicure while sitting on a relaxing massage chair
- taking a walk with my dog
Most times I am energized by people but I do need my space and alone time too.
Maybe just a walk is all you need. Walking can help relieve stress. It’s when I think and pray and listen to music. Did you know that breathing fresh air and feeling your body move is a natural stress-relief?
Studies found that walking in a natural environment had greater effects for stress relief than walking in an urban setting. If you don’t live in the country, try finding a park or a beach a lake or the mountains… somewhere where you are surrounded by nature and see if it makes a difference. Remember, it’s like charging your batteries. Dead batteries get you no where.
But…back to that nap! I think I’ll do more of those. Seriously! And without guilt. Well maybe just a twinge.
So…how do you recharge and refuel? What are some ways you unwind from the stresses of life? Please comment below.
I highly recommend that power nap! Even 15 minutes. It’s really ok. Just remind yourself you’re not lazy. Just like we keep our car full of gas to keep going down the highway…so it is with our bodies.
We need to refuel (US) so we can keep going for our families and... all the demands put on us as women.
By all means I highly recommend putting a diffuser with essential oils in your home and also in your bedroom while you sleep.
Check out some of my favorites self care, feel good oils.
- Orange - Uplifting
- Stress Away - (my favorite) helps remove stress
- Rosemary -eases anxiety
- Basil - fights mental fatigue
- Helichrysum - clarifying and grounding
P.S.
Self care is not being selfish. In fact it’s essential in finding peace in this crazy, sometimes overwhelming world we live in. We are better at supporting other by being refreshed and strong in order to serve and support other.
Smile at someone today, it’s contagious
Verna Smoker
Young Living Support
It’s 4:15 a.m. again… and I’m awake.
I used to wake up every night at the exact same time, 4:15 a.m., like clockwork. My mind would be racing, my stomach in knots, and I just couldn’t shake the anxious thoughts swirling around. I knew deep down that stress was a big factor, but I hated to admit it. The pressure of daily life was catching up to me in ways I hadn’t expected.
We all experience stress differently. Whether it’s the fast-paced demands of today’s world, juggling family dynamics, financial worries, or simply the uncertainty of the future—stress has a way of showing up in every corner of life.
Some people feel it physically, with tension, headaches, or sleepless nights. Others might notice it affecting their mood, feeling irritable or overwhelmed. Stress can even lead to burnout, especially when we're constantly trying to meet the endless demands of work, home, and everything in between.
The past eight months haven’t exactly been a walk in the park for me. My husband had a stroke, and eight months later, he underwent open-heart surgery for a quadruple bypass. Between months of therapy, countless doctor appointments, and the constant juggling of schedules, I found myself running on empty.
It became clear to me that if I was going to properly care for my husband, I needed to take care of myself first.
I discovered this game changer a few years ago and I'm especially grateful for this product during this time in my life
It’s designed to help keep our endocrine system balanced. When we’re stressed, our bodies produce cortisol—the stress hormone—and too much cortisol can lead to a host of health issues. I’d been told for years that my adrenals were "tired," though I wasn’t quite sure what that meant at the time. So, I started doing my own research, and that’s when I found Cortistop.
Excess cortisol can leave you feeling fatigued, struggling with low energy, weight gain, and even weaken your immune system. It also impacts the cardiovascular system, thyroid function, and so much more. Not exactly things you want when life is already stressful!
I started using Cortistop a few years ago, and now I take it on and off depending on my stress levels and what’s on my plate. My body lets me know when it’s time, and I’ve noticed a big difference. No more waking up at 4:15 a.m. with that pit in my stomach or those anxious thoughts running wild.
Do you ever experience something similar?
Here’s a testimony from a woman who experienced weight loss and stress relief using Cortistop.
According to Young Living, Cortistop is recommended for eight weeks of use, followed by a break of 2-4 weeks. It’s always a good idea to consult your doctor and consider doing a hormone panel before starting any new supplements. And, if you’re using other hormone-related supplements or medications (like birth control or hormone replacement therapy), make sure to check for any potential interactions. If you’re pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or nursing, it’s also important to approach hormone balance with extra caution.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the powerful ingredients in Cortistop:
- Pregnenolone A precursor hormone for progesterone, it also blocks cortisol receptors.
- Phosphatidylserine Supports cognitive function and brain health.
- Phosphatidylcholine Another great supporter of brain function.
- Black Cohosh Extract Helps balance estrogen and counteracts high cortisol levels.
- DHEA (from wild yam) Critical for the body’s production of progesterone.
- Canadian Fleabane Fights high cortisol and supports overall hormone function.
- Clary Sage Contains sclareol, a natural phytoestrogen that supports hormone function.
- Fennel Helps combat excess cortisol and supports gut and pancreas health.
- Frankincense Supports the immune system and, honestly, is amazing for so many things.
- Peppermint Offers wonderful support for hormone health.
And when you combine Ningxia Red with Cortistop, you’re setting yourself up for success! This dynamic duo helps boost energy, sharpens your mind, and brings excitement back into your life. As Gary Young would say, “There’s no stopping you!”
Here's what you need to know about Ningxia Red
If you are a customer do something kind for yourself and place cortistop and Ningxia Red on your next order.
If you are not a customer you can order it here:
NingXia Red / item # 3042
Vern Smoker
Young Living Leader
Smile, it’s contagious!😀
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I was 13. It was that time of the month again. One I dreaded!
I suppose I knew this day would come but was I prepared for it? No way! I really had no idea what was happening to my small body let alone, a load of emotions flooding my mind while watching my body develop. Instead of embracing the changes in my body, I was embarrassed and very conscientious how I was developing.
Month after month, I found my self laying on the floor in a fetal position, writhing in sheer agony! The pain unbearable! Do you suffer the same way? Or what about your teenage daughter, or maybe even your granddaughter? While there are several alternatives that I have since learned about, let’s talk about Clary Sage.
Clary Sage is a distinctly feminine oil that we love for everything from supporting healthy skin to wearing as a personal fragrance to supporting healthy hormone levels! This oil is a great choice for women for many reasons.
JUST A DROP OF CLARY SAGE...
- Has a calming, soothing, lightly floral aroma
- Promotes the appearance of healthy-looking skin and hair
- Helps soothe minor skin irritations
- Geared toward women for its hormone support properties
- Supports healthy estrogen levels through naturally occurring phytoestrogens
- Makes a lovely perfume
Clary Sage essential oil is a main component of the Dragon Time oil blend, a blend formulated for supporting normal, healthy emotions during the female monthly cycle. Clary Sage contains the naturally occurring constituent linalyl acetate, which contributes to its calming and soothing herbal aroma. Applied topically, Clary Sage essential oil promotes the appearance of healthy-looking skin, making this an oil every woman wants to have in her arsenal!
BACKGROUND
Native to the Mediterranean region, clary sage is a perennial shrub in the Salvia family. Traditionally used as a medicinal herb, it typically grows 3–4 feet tall and produces showy purple blooms that attract pollinators. Young Living’s Clary Sage essential oil is steam distilled from the flowering parts of the plant at the Mona, UT and Simiane-la-Rotonde, France farms.
KEY CONSTITUENTS
Constituents are naturally occurring compounds in plants (and therefore essential oils) that give them sprecic health-supporting properties.
- Linalyl acetate: a potent antioxidant that promotes circulatory health and allows the body to support healing from ischemic injury (injury as a result of poor blood flow)
- Linalool: supports stress relief and uplifts the mood, helps support the body during times of illness and stress.
CLARY SAGE & EMOTIONS
Clary Sage can be a powerful tool for female emotions! Since we know of its estrogen-support properties this makes a lot of sense. When our hormones are unbalanced it takes a toll on our health - both physical and emotional. Clary Sage is grounding and comforting and evokes feelings of feminine energy. It pairs well with citrus oils like Bergamot and Tangerine as well as patchouli and Lavender.
Clary Sage is also a component in the supplement CortiStop because of its ability to balance hormones and stop the stress response. Stress wreaks havoc on our health, so any ways we can find to support stress reduction are key! Pair daily use and inhalation of Clary Sage with meditation, journaling, affirmations and prayer.
CLARY SAGE & PREGNANCY
Because Clary Sage contains phytoestrogens, it can increase fertility in some women. It can also be used to support labor! Because of this some women choose to avoid excess use of clary sage during pregnancy until labor is desired.
PRODUCT OPTIONS
- Clary Sage Essential Oil
- Clary Sage is also found in Transformation Essential Oil Blend, Dragon Time Essential Oil Blend, SclarEssence and SclarEssence Vitality Essential Oil blends, Dragon Time Massage Oil, FemiGen capsules, CortiStop capsules, and EndoGize capsules among other products.
DAILY HABITS WITH CLARY SAGE:
Note: As with citrus oils, avoid direct sunlight or UV rays for up to 12 hours after applying clary sage.
- Inhale or diffuse Clary Sage in the evening to help create a tranquil environment, especially at bedtime.
- Add a few drops to your facial essence, serum, or moisturizer and apply at bedtime for healthy looking skin.
- Make this Glow Up Serum:
- 4oz dropper bottle
- Carrier of choice
- 25 drops each Clary Sage, Frankincense
- Optional 20 drops Blue Tansy or 5 dropperful CBD Beauty Boost
- Mix Clary Sage with aloe vera gel and apply it following sun or wind exposure.
- Make a simple DIY After Sun Spritz (you can use this after time out in the cold and wind as well!):
- 2oz glass spray bottle
- 20 drops Clary Sage
- 10 drops each Lavender, Copaiba, Frankincense
- Liquid carrier oil of choice
- Use in conjunction with Progessence Plus to support female hormone levels.
- Dilute with V-6 Vegetable Oil Complex and massage it over the lower abdomen and back as desired, especially during menstrual cramping.
- Make an Aunt Flo Roller:
- 10mL roller bottle
- 10 drops each Geranium, Bergamot, and Lavender, Cypress
- 20 drops each Clary Sage, Copaiba
- Liquid carrier of choice
- Apply it to your neck or wrists to create a soft, sweet personal fragrance. Use Clary Sage alone or pair it with Vanilla, Lavender, Grapefruit or Bergamot.
- Make this I am Beautiful perfume roller:
- 10mL roller bottle
- 10 drops each Frankincense, Clary Sage
- 5 drops each Geranium, Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit, Bergamot
- Fill with carrier of choice
- Make this Supermom roller for when you need to be calm and collected and get things done:
- 10mL roller bottle
- 15 drops Clary Sage
- 10 drops Lavender
- 5 drops each Geranium, Cedarwood, Ylang Ylang
- Carrier of choice
- Take a relaxing bath before bed. Add 10 drops each Clary Sage + Lavender to 1 cup epsom salt and place under warm running water.
- Make this Aunt Flo Massage Oil to support your body through cramps. Apply over the abdomen and lower back as needed.:
- ¼ cup V-6 Vegetable Oil Complex or other carrier oil
- 20 drops Clary Sage
- 20 drops Lavender
- 10 drops Bergamot
- 10 drops Cypress
- Optional: a few pumps Relaxation Massage Oil
- Add Clary Sage to your bath and body products for a slightly floral, herbaceous scent.
- Make a DIY Luscious Locks Hair Mask:
- ¼ cup coconut or avocado oil
- 25 drops Clary Sage
- 20 drops Cedarwood, Rosemary
- Apply to slightly damp hair or spot treat dry areas. Let sit for up to 10 minutes then shampoo as desired.
- Apply Clary Sage to the inside of the ankles and rub over the abdomen during labor to support contractions.
- Make a No Fear Labor Roller:
- 10mL roller bottle
- 30 drops Clary Sage,
- 20 drops Valor, Patchouli, Lavender, Tangerine
- Carrier of choice
- Whip up a Spring Blossoms room spray:
- 2oz glass spray bottle
- 20 drops Winter Nights
- 10 drops Tangerine or Orange
- 10 drops Ylang Ylang
- Splash witch hazel
- Fill with filtered water
DIFFUSE:
Diffusing is a wonderful health habit! We have our diffuser going almost 24/7 and love to choose blends that are supportive of individual needs or systems. Try some of these great combinations and enjoy the herbaceous floral aroma of Clary Sage!
- Spring Breeze: 4 drops each Grapefruit, Clary Sage, Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood
- Fresh Linens: 3 drops each Lavender, Clary Sage, 2 drops each Lemon, Lime, Vetiver
- Greenhouse: 3 drops Rosemary, 2 drops each Clary Sage, Jade Lemon, Tangerine, Thyme
- Feminine Energy: 4 drops Clary Sage, 3 drops each Lavender, Jasmine, 2 drops Rosemary
- Citrus & Sage: 4 drops Citrus Fresh, 3 drops each Lemon, Clary Sage
I hope you enjoyed learning all about Clary Sage and find it to be beneficial to you.
Easy peasy; Click on the button below..
- Type in Clary Sage in the search engine.
- Follow prompts with name, address, etc.
- Place your order.
Smile at someone today, it’s contagious
Verna Smoker
Young Living Support
The sun is our friend - we need it. Twenty minutes per day with no sun protection is how we get our vitamin D and happiness. You want to protect your skin from burning with non-toxic sunscreens. So what should you use? Mineral Sunscreens are the way to go!
Chemical Sunscreens absorb into the skin, Mineral Sunscreens with non-nano ingredients, such as Zinc Oxide, are barrier sunscreens. Basically, they sit on the skin. Here are a few ingredients you want to avoid: oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate.
SPF---Sun Protection Factor
Let’s first talk through what SPF even is. SPF stands for sun protection factor. It is a measure of how well an agent blocks UVB rays (the kind that causes skin cancer). When not wearing sunscreen, your skin will naturally change color and incur a certain amount of damage in one hour. If you are wearing an SPF of 2 you will incur that same amount of damage in 2 hours that you would have incurred in one hour without any SPF. An SPF of 10 will get you 10 hours, SPF 30 will get you 30 hours, etc.
Here’s the thing, SPF is not linear (i.e. you don’t get 10 times more protection going from SPF 1 to 10 or 10 to 100). When you apply SPF 10, you are blocking approximately 90% of UVB rays. SPF 15, approximately 93%; SPF 30, approximately 97%; and SPF 50, 98%. So applying an SPF of 30 only gives you 7% more protection than SPF 10.
Also worth considering: if you do not plan on spending more than 10 hours in the sun, you may not need the 30 hours of protection that an SPF 30 may offer. In fact, when is the last time you saw 30 hours of daylight?
The bottom line, lower SPFs, applied more often, may offer similar sun protection as higher SPFs. I don't think I can beg you any stronger to look at the ingredients on your sunscreens! Just because they are mineral-based does not mean you should use them!!
There are many sunscreens that are non-toxic, but my fave by far is the Mineral Sunscreen by YL. It comes in SPF 10 or 50. The ingredients are clean and it works!
Bug Spray
Don’t let bug bites ruin your family’s outdoor fun this summer! But, just say NO to DEET! Here are some lovely side effects of DEET in children reported by the CDC:
Children with DEET toxicity reported lethargy, headaches, tremors, involuntary movements, seizures, and convulsions, though the amount that led to this toxicity was unreported.
Young Living's insect repellent is our favorite way to keep mosquitos, ticks, and fleas away. It’s proven to repel them with 99 percent active ingredients, plus 1 percent vitamin E to moisturize and condition the skin. And the best part, it rubs easily into the skin without feeling greasy or sticky and you don’t feel like you need a shower after heading outdoors. It may seem pricey at first but one bottle has lasted our family for a couple of years.
In case you forget to use your insect repellent before heading outdoors, this roller comes in handy to bring relief and support healthy skin.
KID DILUTION (AGES 3-8)
8 drops Lavender essential oil
8 drops Purification® essential oil
5 drops Tea Tree (Melaleuca
Alternifolia) essential oil
Organic fractionated coconut oil or carrier oil of your choice
ADULT DILUTION
15 drops Lavender essential oil
15 drops Purification® essential oil
8 drops Tea Tree (Melaleuca
Alternifolia) essential oil
Organic fractionated coconut oil or carrier oil of your choice
Drop essential oils into a 10ml roller bottle. Fill the remainder of the bottle with fractionated coconut oil.
Smile at someone today, it’s contagious
Verna Smoker
Young Living Support
