Eucalyptus Oil by UpNature

If you follow my blog you know that I have been incorporating essential oils and other natural healing products into my routine. The most recent essential oil I have added to my routine is Eucalyptus Oil. 

 Eucalyptus oil has so many different uses and benefits. Eucalyptus is the distinct smell in Vick's Vapor Rub. Every time I smell Eucalyptus I think of slathering that vapor rub on when I catch a bug. Now, I can make my own natural vapor rub with this eucalyptus oil. I also plan to make my own shower bombs with eucalyptus oil for when my sinuses or chest are congested. 

Along with Eucalyptus oil's many health benefits due to its pain relieving, antiviral and antibacterial properties, it also has antiseptic and disinfectant properties that make it great for cleaning. I have seen people make their own bathroom or shower cleaning solution with eucalyptus oil. Eucalyptus oil has also been shown to treat lice and fleas!

I have added the eucalyptus oil to my Epsom salt baths and found it to be quite relaxing!

Eucalyptus oil has so many benefits and uses. If you are getting into essential oils and living a more natural life, I highly recommend you add eucalyptus to your collection.

I received my eucalyptus oil from UpNature to test out. I am very happy with it. It came bubble wrapped in a small box inside of a larger box. I see no way the glass bottle could have possibly been damaged in route to me. I received a 4 oz bottle, which is quite large and will last me awhile. The oil came with a dropper style lid. I love this style lid because it is easy to know exactly how many drops you are adding to your carrier oil.

Whenever I get a new essential oil, I always do the paper test. I place a drop of the oil on a white piece of paper and wait a few hours. If there is nothing on the paper it means the essential oil is 100% pure, if there is any oil ring or residue left that means the oil was most likely diluted with a cheaper carrier oil. This eucalyptus oil passed the test. I feel confident that when I use this oil I am using pure 100% eucalyptus oil.

If you are interested, you can purchase the UpNature Eucalyptus Oil here.

*Disclaimer: I received this product to test out in exchange for my honest, unbiased opinion. The above post is all my personal opinions of the product. I was in no other way compensated. I receive no percentage if you chose to purchase the product.*

Lemon Essential Oil

I mentioned last week that one of my goals in 2016 is to focus on natural ways of getting healthy and healing my body. One of the ways I plan to do that is by using essential oils more often. Coincidentally, Simply Earth sent me this lemon essential oil to test out.

I love the smell of this oil. Lemon has such an uplifting and clean smell. I have been using this oil for tons of things. 

• I have put it in my laundry soap before washing my clothes so they would come out smelling even cleaner than usual. 

• I have put a few drops in my water since lemon oil is a natural detox. (Please note that not all  essential oils are safe for consumption and I did not realize this until after I consumed this lemon oil.)

• I used the oil to remove sticker residue and I was extremely amazed that the oil broke down the adhesive and balled it up. I was able to roll the leftover adhesive right off.

• I put about 10 drops in my dishwasher before I started it and the whole kitchen had a lovely clean lemon smell while my dishes were being washed.

• Lemon oil is an antifungal and antiviral so I mixed white vinegar, lemon oil, and water to create a cleaning solution!

• I would also like to mention that if you mix lemon essential oil with water and soak your fruits and veggies. it will clean off some of the chemicals that can be found on the outside of non-organic produce. I have not yet tried this but I look forward to trying it because organic produce can be quite pricey!

I have heard some companies add carrier oils to save money and pass their product off as 100% essential oil. To test if this essential oil was a true lemon essential oil, I put a drop on a piece of computer paper and waited for it to dry. When it dried there was no oil ring left behind on the paper, this is a sign it is a true essential oil. 

Essential oils do not mix with water (like typical oil), but they are not truly oils so they should not leave behind any traces of oil.

I really liked this lemon essential oil and will continue to use it. I love that I can replace toxic cleaning supplies with a couple of household items and this essential oil. I hope to discover more ways to use it in my daily life (hello, Pinterest!). 

If you are interested in trying out some essential oils, I recommend you check out Simply Earth. A percent of proceeds go to helping human trafficking victims. A purchase from them is something you can feel good about and your body will thank you too!

Disclaimer: like stated above I received this product to test and give my honest, unbiased review based on my personal experience. I was in no other way compensated for this post and was not required to give positive feedback. 

  

Friday Favorites

Happy December! 

Welcome back to Friday Favorites. Hope you had a good week. 

As I mentioned at the beginning of this week I haven't been feeling very good lately. Sadly I am not doing much better but I was still able to discover some new favorites this week. 

Peppermint Mocha Coffee Creamer
     As I mentioned yesterday, it is peppermint season!! I am not a big coffee drinker. I go through phases where I crave it and drink it for a few days but I don't drink it daily. However, I have been craving peppermint mocha coffee and this delicious stuff is satisfying my new food kick!

Call of Duty
    I didn't think a shooting video game, or any video game would be on my favorites list. But I am really enjoying this game!  It started out as something to do with my husband that he loves.  I wasn't any good at it... I'm still not really very good. I am having fun though. We play it at night and talk with his family through Xbox live party chat. I even have been playing it on my own as practice.

Cinnamon French Toast Sticks
     My Mom told me about these little gems. I don't know if I should be thanking her or angry at her. They are so delicious. I have been eating them every day for breakfast since I purchased them. You can find them at your local Walmart in the frozen breakfast food section. They also offer original french toast sticks but I recommend you get the cinnamon if you are going to try them. One side is covered in a little cinnamon sugar mix! Sadly, these will probably be gone before the weekend is over.

Profusion Smokey Eye Palette
     I haven't really talked about makeup on the blog but I do love a good eye shadow palette. I picked up this one from Walgreens for less than $5. It is by a brand called Profusion which I had never heard of but they had a small section of their products (mostly palettes) near the holiday makeup section. I loved the colors and thought for such a cheap price I might as well give it a try.
     I have not used all of the colors yet but I already have a small handful that I love which make the palette worth the money already. Once I have had a chance to test all the colors I will post a review up on my blog!

Franklin's Favorite

Since I have only had this little guy a few weeks I am still learning his likes, dislikes, and quirks. Trust me, he is quirky, I love him and he fits in well in our family.

Rawhide Twists with Chicken
     His little nub of a tail starts wagging when he sees these little twists. He devotes an entire half hour to chewing on the stick until it is completely gone and then he sniffs around the house for a few minutes looking for more.
     Now I'll be honest, I don't know a ton about dogs. I thought this twist would take him a few days of chewing on it for a half an hour to hour. I was surprised when he devoured it so quickly. He is pretty little so I was hesitant to get him a bone, but I think I will go back and get him the mini bone version when he runs out of these.

Thanks for stopping by.

What have you been loving this week?

Any new discoveries?

*Linking up with Life in Leggings , Running4Cupcakes , and Grace & Love.*

30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know

     

Hello everyone! Invisible Illness Week is coming to an end and to help spread awareness I have decided to do the '30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know' meme that is going around. An invisible illness is an illness that is not visible from the outside, meaning from the outside we look 'healthy' or 'normal'. Having this type of illness can be very frustrating because many will think you are faking it, lazy, or making up our symptoms for attention because we do not look sick from the outside. 

1. The illness I live with is: I live with many but the main one is Autonomic Dysfunction (Dysautonomia/Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2013 (but wasn't truly confirmed until 2015)
3. But I had symptoms since: 2010
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Adjusting to my new normal & having to give up hobbies and dreams I had that I can't pursue due to my health
5. Most people assume: That I will 'get better soon'
6. The hardest part about mornings are: feeling 'hungover' (headache, lightheaded, dizzy, nauseous, etc); waiting for medication to kick in
7. My favorite medical TV show is: I don't really watch medical shows much anymore, I live it and don't want to watch it
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: my cell phone; it keeps me in contact with the outside world, keeps me entertained when i'm stuck in bed & it helps distract me from symptoms
9. The hardest part about nights are: the fatigue/exhaustion from the day, migraines & light sensitivity can be worse at night
10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. (No comments, please) 4 (I have taken up to 15 a day, but my illness is rare so there isn't drugs specifically for my neurological condition. Plus I am very sensitive to most medication.
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: have tried them before and they can be beneficial for some things. Acupuncture helped my migraines a lot.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Invisible Illness. I get stared at enough when I use my wheelchair or park in handicap parking, I would hate to get stared at even more because I 'look sick'. With an invisible illness I can at least fake a normal healthy 20-something girl on my good days
13. Regarding working and career: I am not healthy enough to work or go to school....
14. People would be surprised to know: I lift weights!! A few months ago I began taking a new medication and it has helped my blood pressure enough that I am able to workout a little bit on good days. Hopefully building muscle will help my body to manage my symptoms better. 
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: My body calls the shots. It is in charge. If I had plans to do something but I wake up and can barely stand, I have to cancel my plans no matter how much I was looking forward to them.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Workout!! Dysautonomia comes with the symptom exercise intolerance. But the right combination of medicine has given me stable enough vitals to workout on good days. Its not easy and I do deal with some payback from my body, but I feel myself getting stronger & able to stand and sit longer. I still deal with symptoms daily and spend a lot of time resting, but it is progress! :)
17. The commercials about my illness: what commercials?...
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is:Dancing. I miss dancing so much. 
19. It was really hard to have to give up: the idea that because I am not doing what others my age are doing that I am a failure. It is hard to not compare myself to others my age who are graduating college and starting careers.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: I have taken up quite a few different hobbies since my diagnosis but my current favorites are painting my nails, watching Netflix & blogging.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Ride rollercoaster rides all day, walk around lots, & dance with my husband
22. My illness has taught me: to appreciate what I do have, to enjoy the little moments, not take anything for granted & that the medical field does NOT know everything like they try to convince society. 
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: when people say I am looking really good... (it is an invisible illness - the outside does not reflect the inside.)  OR assume I am getting better because I was able to go out one day.
24. But I love it when people: understand I need rest & realize that going out and doing something will result in a flare of symptoms later that day or the next day.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: Quote - it is a bad day, not a bad life    Scripture - Isaiah 40:31 "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, They will soar on wings like eagles, They will run and not grow weary, They will walk and not be faint"

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: You are not alone. I know you are not faking it. Connect with others online. Find a genuine doctor who cares about you & your health. Do not compare yourself to others. Listen to your body. Rest.

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: I am genuinely happy. My situation is not ideal, but being upset about the cards I was dealt 24/7 won't make me healthier. Also, I like who I am now more than I liked who I was pre-illness. It has made me kinder, more understanding and compassionate of others.

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Take care of me. Believe in me. Have my back & stand up for me when I was too weak to do so myself.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I am sick of feeling judged for something I had no control over and didn't choose. We make hundreds of snap judgement about people we do not know on a daily basis. I ask people not to judge, you never know the invisible battle someone is facing. I also want everyone to be grateful for the health you do have, it could be taken in the blink of an eye. 
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: so happy & grateful. Thank you for reading about my invisible illness!! 

Please note: not everyone with my neurological condition can workout; I was bed bound for years & prior to my current medications, any small amount of exercise would make me so much worse I would have to consider the ER.

If you would like to read about others click here!

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY

 

     This past week I have been thinking a lot about listening to our bodies. Understanding what they need and how our body relays the message to us.  Like one of my doctors said, our bodies have patterns and changes in those patterns can be a red flag. 

     It is so easy to get tunnel vision with our goals. They become all we focus on. Being motivated and determined is a great thing, but make sure it isn't at the expense of your body. Listening to your body is very important. I feel the more I workout and focus on fitness, I am able to better 'hear' my body. I don't always know what the heck it is trying to tell me, but I can tell it is trying to tell me something is off.

   Your body could be telling you it needs a rest day or two. It could be telling you that you are injured, or close to injuring a joint, tendon, or muscle. Or it could be telling you it needs more of a certain macronutrient (carbs, fat, protein) or just more calories in general.

   Listening to your body is never going to result in a set back, because it is exactly what your body needs. Ignoring your bodies signals will not help your reach your goals faster, it will most likely take you longer.  And after all isn't the goal to become healthier? That requires a happy body!

Source

Linking to Thinking Out Loud at Running with Spoons, check out others posts here.

What is wrong with me?!

I have mentioned on here that I have health issues and that I am striving to have a more 'normal' life. I thought I would share one of the medical conditions I have. This is not the only health problem I have but it is the one I think I can possibly improve through fitness and more specifically building muscle.

I have a condition called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). My doctor believe it was caused by a viral infection years ago. I have had this condition for over 5 years. POTS affects the autonomic nervous system, which controls many things that happen automatically in our body. (get it? autonomic, automatic!) The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls things such as heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, digestion, and more! Since my ANS is messed up my heart rate and blood pressure are not receiving the correct signal telling them when to make changes to accommodate everyday activities such as sitting up or standing.

As the photo states, a change in position should result in a little bit of blood being pulled to the lower body but for someone with POTS a lot more blood gets pulled to the lower body due to gravity and the lack of a proper signal telling the blood vessels in the lower body to contract and stabilize blood pressure. For some the lack of blood in the upper body results in loss of consciousness, for others they see stars or lose their vision all together.  Along with this the heart rate also increases to attempt to compensate and get some blood moving and back to the head.

Along with these symptoms many with POTS suffer from headaches/migraines, digestive problems, abnormal sweating. chest pains, fatigue, shortness of breath, chronic pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, and heart palpitations.

It occurs most commonly in women. It is considered a rare condition because there is no cure and is not well known by many doctors. POTS is considered an "invisible illness", meaning from the outside we do not look sick. Many who suffer from this disease spend years getting a diagnoses because their symptoms are brushed off. There are medications doctors have found to have some success but they do not work on all patients and many patients are sensitive to medication because of the neurological condition. Many specialist will recommend exercise to build muscle and strengthen heart. This can be helpful but this is not an option for all patients due to the severity of their symptoms. I was unable to exercise until I found the right medication. I spent years trying other medicines and if I tried to exercise I would make myself 20xs worse and fear an ER trip was in my near future.

This condition can be very debilitating. I like many others can not drive or work due to the severity and amount of symptoms.  Sadly, like myself many who have POTS also have other health conditions as well. The reasoning for this is unknown as not much research has been done on POTS and other autonomic neurological conditions like it. 

Not all POTS patients are the same and this post is in no way a representation of all those suffering from POTS.