Monday, July 30, 2018

Relationship Guidance ~ Wisdom From Spirit








We are always looking for the perfect relationship. The goal is to find that perfect someone who will make our lives a better place to be. It is unfortunate that we do not realize perfection runs two ways. In order to find that perfect somebody, we must believe that, whatever perfect is, we have already achieved it. No one can give us what we don't already have. Mr. or Ms. Right cannot be to us what we are not. If we are unhappy, unfulfilled, not pleased about who we are ~ we owe it to ourselves to stop looking. We have to ask ourselves: Would I marry me? Am I doing my best, giving my all, being the best I can be to myself? If not, why are we pawning ourselves off on someone else? We need to take time to do some homework on self-love, self-esteem, and self-confidence. When we can pass the test of self-acceptance, the perfect someone who will compliment all that we already are will walk right through the door. 


The love and harmony within me reaches out and attracts the right someone.  

Monday, July 16, 2018

Debunking Myths and Misconceptions about Dogs





Remember the old party game “telephone” where a message is passed secretly through a line of people until the last player announces the message to the entire group? If you’ve played the game, you’re well aware that the initial message gets drastically altered as it’s passed on from one person to the next. The same thing can happen with any information ~ including “facts” about pets. As a caring pet parent, it’s important to stay “in the know” regarding the furry companions who reside under your roof. The internet provides a wealth of resources at your fingertips, however, you are not only exposed to helpful tips and advice on how to best care for your companion animals, you’ll also see some misinformation. So let’s take a look at five of the most commonly shared myths about pets and discover why you can’t always trust everything you read when it comes to your four-legged friends.


Myth 1 “A dog is a carnivore. Look at his teeth!”


Truth: There is much confusion out there in the pet world about what is the best diet to feed a dog. Many dog lovers insist on feeding their canine friends a pure meat diet because they think their dog is designed to be a pure carnivore. A better understanding of the definitions associated with the dietary needs of animals is a great place to start in understanding how to best feed your pet and tackle this hotly debated myth.



DEFINITIONS

CARNIVORE: An animal subsisting primarily on animal tissue.

HERBIVORE: An animal subsisting entirely on plant tissue.

OMNIVORE: An animal subsisting on both animal and plant tissue.

Cats and dogs are both members of the taxonomic order Carnivora. The confusing part is not all species of the Carnivora order are actually carnivores.

Cats are true carnivores because they have a higher protein requirement and higher dietary requirements for nutrients that aren’t available from plant sources, such as taurine, arginine, and methionine.

Some Carnivora species, including dogs, coyotes, and bears, are omnivores that thrive on a diet consisting of both plant and animal tissue.

One member of the Carnivora order, the panda, is primarily an herbivore - 99% of a panda’s diet consists of bamboo.

The truth to this myth is dogs belong to the taxonomic order Carnivora, but their behavior, anatomy, and feeding preferences reveal their ability to eat and be healthy on a diet consisting of both plant and animal foods, which classifies them as omnivores from a dietary perspective (Debraekeleer et al. 2010).


Myth 2: “My dog’s nose is dry and warm. He must have a fever.”


Truth: As with most ‘old wives’ tales’, there is some truth rooted in this myth. Back before vaccines, thickened, hard and crusty nose and footpads were sure signs of advanced Distemper virus in a canine. Thanks to widespread vaccination practices, while Distemper still exists, it is far less common today.

The truth is a dog’s nose fluctuates in temperature and moisture throughout the day depending on what he is doing. A dog’s nose is often warm and dry when he wakes up, is moist and cold if he is eating or sniffing, and dry and warm if he is sleeping - all in the same day. And all of these fluctuations are normal. A dog with a fever often displays other signs, such as lethargy, inappetence (which occurs when pets won’t eat or won’t eat as much as they need), coughing, sneezing, vomiting or diarrhea as well as a dry warm nose. However, a nose that is persistently dry and crusted, is bleeding or turning a different color may be a sign of a health problem. If you notice any of these signs, contact your veterinarian right away.


Myth 3: “Dogs are colorblind.”


Truth: Not so, say canine researchers. If, however, what you mean by colorblind is that dogs only see a portion of the visible spectrum compared to what people see, then yes, dogs could be called colorblind.

Dogs have two types of color receptors on the back of their eyes that recognize short and long wavelengths of light, corresponding to blue hues and red-yellow ones. In comparison, humans have three types of color receptors that make it possible for us to see a full range of colors. The colors dogs can see are almost identical to the ones a human who has red-green color blindness would see. Scientists determine this by shining beams of colored light into dogs eyes, analyzing the spectrum of light that is reflected back, and then comparing the spectrum with the pattern produced when the same lights are shined into human eyes. Scientists also study the way dogs respond to different colored lights, and have determined that dogs see in black, white, red-yellow, blue and many shades of gray.

It’s also interesting to note that dogs can see much better in low light than humans, can distinguish moving objects much better than stationary ones, and long-nosed breeds have very wide fields of vision, as much as 270 degrees.



Myth 4: “My dog’s happy. I can tell because his tail is wagging.”


While it is true that when a dog is happy, he will often wag his tail, but a wagging tail can also indicate agitation ~ such as an imminent attack ~ or even aggression. It all depends on two factors ~ the position of the tail and the frequency of the wag. A friendly, approachable, happy dog usually wags his tail ~ generally positioned in the middle of his body - slowly and loosely. If a dog is wagging his tail in a more rapid, twitch-like manner and is about 90 degrees high, it’s best to avoid the animal, as it could be indicating dominance and aggression. Conversely, if a dog’s tail is wagging low between the legs, it is considered a fearful, defensive stance.

Just like in humans, many factors come into play when interpreting a dog’s mood. Be sure to assess all of your pet’s body language, including the position of their ears and head as well as their expression and hackles before approaching him – this way, everyone’s happy.


Myth 5: “A dog ages 7 years for every human year.”


Although it is true that dogs age more rapidly than humans, which makes perfect sense since they are able to reproduce before they even reach one year of age, the rate that they age slows down as the dog ages. Stating that one human year equals seven dog years is an over-simplification of how dogs age. There’s simply no exact formula to determine a dog’s “human” age.

It’s important to note that the size and breed of the dog are the greatest indicators of the rate of aging. Many small breed dogs can live well into their 20s while larger breeds tend to live only 7-10 years ~ despite the fact that large breed puppies reach adulthood slower than their smaller counterparts.

Now that you know the truth, you’re on the path to becoming an even more well-informed pet parent! Share what you’ve learned with your animal-loving friends and help stop the spread of misinformation ~ your animal companions will thank you for it!




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Raven is an engaging entrepreneur who encourages others to celebrate pets (and ALL animals) as part of the family, as well as keep them happy, healthy, and spoiled with her Holistic Healing, Animal Intuition, Aromatherapy, Animal Reiki (www.HolisticPetsAndPeeps.com & www.HealingOilsForAnimals.com), as well as her premium pet food business (http://www.PremiumPetFoodStore.com)

For more information, please visit her Facebook page to PM her (https://www.facebook.com/HolisticPetsNPeeps), or email her at HolisticPetsAndPeeps@gmail.com.



Monday, July 9, 2018

YL July Newsletter + New Product Launch + PV Promotions!



LEARNSHOPJOIN

WATCH VIDEO
NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH FROM YOUNG LIVING'S FREEDOM CONVENTION
Young Living released so many exciting products at the 2018 International Grand Convention, it can be hard to keep track! But don't fret . . . here's a brief introduction to each product via this short video so you can start using them in your everyday life!
WATCH VIDEO

GET MIGHTYPRO
This prebiotic and probiotic supplement is specially formulated for children to support digestive and immune health, which can mean fewer days missed from school or daycare!
It features a great-tasting formula that can be added to cold food and drinks for easy consumption.
GET MIGHTYPRO


Can MightyPro be taken with other supplements?
-
Yes! MightyPro can be taken with KidScents MightyVites and KidScents MightyZyme.

Bring the energy and excitement of last month's convention to your home with essential oils and products that keep you motivated day in and day out . . . no matter what life may throw your way.

Click the button below to learn more about these products and how you can get them for FREE!

SEE PROMO



Want to receive my newsletter? Contact me with your email address or log on to 
then click on "Free Essential Oils 101 Class". 
This will open a pop-up box where you can enter your information and choose which emails you wish to receive from me! I promise not to spam you . . . . EVER!  

And, you are free to unsubscribe at any time but I hope you decide to stay!


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Raven is an engaging entrepreneur who encourages others to celebrate pets (and ALL animals) as part of the family, as well as keep them happy, healthy, and spoiled with her Holistic Healing, Animal Intuition, Aromatherapy, Animal Reiki (www.HolisticPetsAndPeeps.com & www.HealingOilsForAnimals.com), as well as her premium pet food business (http://www.PremiumPetFoodStore.com)

For more information, please visit her Facebook page to PM her (https://www.facebook.com/HolisticPetsNPeeps), or email her at HolisticPetsAndPeeps@gmail.com.
Raven Hannah
Young Living Distributor #1797711

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Friday, July 6, 2018

Essential Oils for Dog Allergies






Dogs are wonderful companions, and an important part of our families, which is why we only want the best for them when it comes to their good health. Yet, there are times when a health condition arises where many of us prefer using a more natural, yet effective solution for our precious fur kids. That being said, if traditional vet care is in their best interest, we would never recommend abandoning common sense just for the sake of taking the natural path. There are excellent holistic vets who offer traditional AND holistic medicine combined, some of which even incorporating remedies such as essential oils.

Our primary purpose at Holistic Pets & Peeps! is to educate you as to when certain essential oils may be used for specific issues your pet may be experiencing. Therapeutic grade essential oils are incredibly powerful healing (and preventative) tools that are effective for the majority of dogs (and other animals), however, they may not work for every animal, and the information presented here is not meant as a "magic pill" or cure-all. Not all essential oils are created equal, which is why we only recommend Young Living Essential Oils. Therefore, when we refer to any oil, we are referring to therapeutic grade essential oils by Young Living that are trusted and proven for over 20 years.

Now, on to the very complicated subject of dog allergies. Many pet parents tend to just assume that whatever they are feeding their dog is causing him or her to have allergies. Unfortunately, it is not that simple. We will concur that there are far too many substandard pet products on the market today with questionable ingredients, so we do recommend that pet parents educate themselves as to what they are feeding their pets. Pet food, treats, supplements and pet care products is a subject that requires an entire article unto itself, however, we are happy to offer our recommendations upon request.






Just like people, dogs come in all shapes and sizes, which is why we are addressing essential oils and dosing guidelines right away. Please consider these approximate sizes of dogs when determining the use of essential oils, and remember, when in doubt, start slowly (less is better when introducing EOs) and gradually increase the dosage once you have determined that your dog (or other animal) is responding well to treatment with essential oils.


Small Dogs ~ 1 - 20 Pounds (0 - 9 kg)
Medium Dogs ~ 20 - 50 Pounds (9 - 22 kg)
Large Dogs ~ 50 - 100 Pounds (23-45 kg)
X-Large Dogs ~ 100+ Pounds (45+ kg)


Dog allergies often require a full holistic health consultation, as well as expensive in-depth blood work to fully evaluate the underlying cause (or causes) of the allergies themselves. And yes, diet can be one of the culprits, depending on what you are feeding your dog. (For a great selection of premium holistic pet foods, treats & products, please CLICK HERE!)

Another huge culprit is household cleaners, air fresheners, sprays and other toxic items that are in your pet's face (and under their feet) every single day! If you want to see the world from their vantage point, we encourage you to get down on your hands and knees and imagine being bombarded with these things at their eye and smell level day after day. Whatever you clean with, freshen with, spray around the house is absorbed by your pets through their eyes, nose, skin, mouth and paw pads.

Changing household cleaners, first-aid, and other personal care products to Young Living products not only eliminates harmful chemicals but provides more exposure to beneficial therapeutic essential oils on a daily basis . . . . for your pets and for your entire family!









Treatment recommendations for battling allergies (other than switching to a healthy, holistically formulated diet) are as follows:

~ Diffuse:  Clove, Thieves, or Lavender


~ Antihistamine Oils to be Applied Orally, Topically, and / or Diffused:  Melissa, Ocotea,  Basil, Lavender


~ Anti-Inflammatory (steroid alternative):  Raindrop Technique


~ Nutritional Supplements:  Allerzyme, NingXia Red, Omega Blue, Sulfurzyme, Life 9


~ Other:  Animal Scents Shampoo, Thieves Household Cleaner (Cleaning & Bathing)


Secondary Recommendations:  

~ Polyzyme, Mightyzyme, Detoxzyme, Digest + Cleanse, Inner Defense


Additional Recommendations:

~ Give an Allerzyme digestive enzyme with every meal.  For Large Dogs ~ 2 or more capsules may be necessary.

~ Give NingXia Red with 1-2 drops of Lavender Essential Oil added. This may be given straight or mixed in with food.

Should you wish to get started with your own oils and products, we recommend that you enroll as a wholesale member in Young Living by purchasing the Premium Starter Kit, which gives you the Everyday Oils, a bonus oil called Stress Away, a Home Diffuser, as well as samples to try or share. This is an excellent investment in your health, as well as the health of your animals. 

You also have the option of joining as a Retail Member, as opposed to a Wholesale Member, so it is completely up to you. There are also options for monthly Essential Rewards orders, which earn you points that you can spend on additional products, as well as promotional items every month that you can earn for free, just by shopping for what you already need. 


Please ask me for additional information, or you may learn more by logging on to:


(then click on the Contact Me page for more info)


Thank you for joining me on this wonderfully holistic journey. I am truly grateful to have you here with me and look forward to helping you any way I can! ♥



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Raven is an engaging entrepreneur who encourages others to celebrate pets (and ALL animals) as part of the family, as well as keep them happy, healthy, and spoiled with her Holistic Healing, Animal Intuition, Aromatherapy, Animal Reiki (www.HolisticPetsAndPeeps.com & www.HealingOilsForAnimals.com), as well as her premium pet food business (http://www.PremiumPetFoodStore.com)

For more information, please visit her Facebook page to PM her (https://www.facebook.com/HolisticPetsNPeeps), or email her at HolisticPetsAndPeeps@gmail.com.



Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Sensitivities to Essential Oils by David Stewart, PhD, D.N.M




There are a couple of ways one can be sensitive to essential oils, but an allergic reaction is not one of them. Allergies are erroneous immune responses to proteins, peptides, and amino acids ~ all nitrogen compounds, none of which are found in essential oils.
You can have an allergic reaction to a vegetable oil such as olive, corn, peanut, walnut, almond, etc. since these are cold-pressed and can contain small amounts of proteins. For example, occasionally a person can develop an allergy to an oil blend such as Valor, which is sold by Young Living. The allergy is not due to the essential oils of spruce, frankincense, rosewood, and blue tansy in the blend. It is due to the almond oil in the blend. So read your labels. What may appear to be an allergic reaction to a blend of essential oils may be due to a carrier oil contained in the blend.
You can also have an allergic reaction to citrus oils which are cold-pressed from the rind. However, while we refer to citrus oils such as orange, lemon, lime, and grapefruit as "essential oils," strictly speaking they are not. By definition, a true essential oil must be steam distilled, not expressed.

There are also oils extracted by solvents such as onycha, jasmine, and neroli. Strictly speaking, they too are not true essential oils. Technically, they should be called absolutes, not essential oils. One can have a true allergic reaction to these because, like the citrus oils, they have not passed through a distillation process and can contain traces of proteins, peptides, or amino acids.

Because of the nature of distillation by heat, steam, and water, that true essential oils must undergo, they do not contain the necessary compounds to trigger allergies because these compounds do not pass through the distillation process.

Hence, sensitivities to essential oils, in the sense of allergic reactions, are not possible. Allergic sensitivities are due to the body developing antibodies in response to certain nitrogenous molecules. No one has ever found antibodies in humans from essential oils. So if one has a reaction to an essential oil, it is something else. Not an allergy.

Hot Oils

There are oils that are naturally hot, such as oregano, thyme, mountain savory, cinnamon, cassia, and a few others. This is because of their phenolic compound content which cleanses our cells and paves the way to healing. Such oils can be taken internally via capsules or applied to the skin directly with caution or diluted with a fatty oil.

If burning or irritation occurs to the skin from such oils, prompt application of a vegetable oil layered over the essential oil will take care of the problem in short order.

The same thing applies if you get an essential oil in your eyes or if you swallow a hot oil, like oregano, and it burns your mouth and throat. Don't use water, use a vegetable oil for immediate relief. Pour it directly in the eyes or take it orally if your mouth or throat are affected.


Detox Reactions

As for sensitivities to essential oils that produces a skin rash or other allergic-like symptoms such as headaches or nausea, this is always a detox reaction. While allergic reactions get worse and worse with each exposure to the offending substance (allergen), detox reactions eventually get less and less severe with each exposure to an essential oil until it disappears completely once the toxins are cleared from the system.

When one has a detox reaction from an essential oil (which is a good thing), they need to back off from using oils for a while and increase their water intake and, perhaps, get into a cleansing routine for a month or so, going light on the use of essential oils for a while. What is happening in this kind of sensitivity is that the oils are detoxing too rapidly for the colon and kidneys to handle so the toxins come out through the skin as the third avenue for excretion. It is better to keep the rate of detox down to levels that are flushed out through the kidneys and colon, if possible.

Emotional Sensitivities

In rare cases, a person can react to a perfectly pure therapeutic grade essential oil as if it were an allergen or a toxin, but in reality, the response is neither an allergy nor a detox. It is something else.

Another kind of sensitivity to essential oils has to do with emotions. In cases of extreme unresolved grief, which can be due to the loss of a loved one or other circumstances, one can become sensitive to anything, even the most harmless of things. In extreme cases, people can become universal responders, reacting to almost everything in what appears to be an allergic reaction. This malady is sometimes referred to as "Extreme Chemical Sensitivity" (ECS) or "Environmental Illness" (EI).

In such cases, some people have been known to react in an allergy-like fashion to even the purest of essential oils, such as those sold by Young Living. But healing from such an illness does not come by treating it as an allergy, because it is not an allergy in the classical sense. It is a spiritual-emotional disease and must be dealt with at that level.

The spiritual and symbolic message in this sort of reaction is that the individual is so depressed, unhappy, and unwilling to accept life as it has been given to them that they are rejecting all of creation and, thus, react negatively to everything. There is a scriptural reference to this in Proverbs 17:22, "A broken spirit dries the bones."

The basis of our immune system is in the marrow of the bones where the T-cells and other white corpuscles are formed. Allergies and other environmental or chemical sensitivities are due to malfunctions of the immune system at the level of the white corpuscles (leucocytes). Hence, this Bible verse is actually referring to a negative autoimmune response originating in the bones caused by an individual's rejection of the world around them stemming from extreme grief or a broken spirit.

The solution to this spiritually rooted illness is to recognize the source of the grief, accept it, and deal with it. When that is done, the sensitivities disappear, usually within a few days and sometimes overnight. Applying selected essential oils for emotional purposes can assist in revealing and releasing the buried feelings that underlie such a malady.

Adulterated Oils

There is one other source of sensitivity that may be blamed on essential oils and that has to do with perfume and food grade oils. True therapeutic grade essential oils are grown organically, harvested in proper ways and times, distilled gently at minimum temperatures and pressures, and bottled without any ingredients removed or added. All of the essential oils sold by Young Living are therapeutic grade oils. However, the vast majority of aromatic oils sold in retail stores and other places are perfume or food grade oils.

A true therapeutic grade essential oil contains hundreds of compounds, all of which are necessary in a proper balance for them to possess healing power. Since only a few of these compounds contribute significantly to aroma and/or taste, when essential oils are used for fragrances or flavors, the only compounds that matter to commercial users are the ones that have smell or taste. In some cases, this involves only 2 or 3 compounds in an oil, and the manufacturers and users don't care if these compounds are natural or synthetic so long as the smell and taste are there and the cost is cheap.

Hence, fragrance and food grade oils are always incomplete in their composition, containing only part of the chemical profile of a complete therapeutic grade oil. Furthermore, they are usually adulterated with synthetic compounds or diluted with petrochemicals to increase their volume and profitability.

One can have reactions to such oils, but these are not reactions to true essential oils. Such reactions are due to the adulterants in the oil. They are not caused by the natural essential oil components of the oil.

For More Information

So there you have it. As to what you should do in a given situation where sensitivities are encountered, you will have to decide. If you want a more detailed discussion on essential oils, reactions to them, and allergies, my book, "The Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Simple", has a lengthy discussion of the subject.  Order yours HERE.




To get started on your own amazing essential oils journey, log on here:








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Raven is an engaging entrepreneur who encourages others to celebrate pets (and ALL animals) as part of the family, as well as keep them happy, healthy, and spoiled with her Holistic Healing, Animal Intuition, Aromatherapy, Animal Reiki (www.HolisticPetsAndPeeps.com & www.HealingOilsForAnimals.com), as well as her premium pet food business (http://www.PremiumPetFoodStore.com)

For more information, please visit her Facebook page to PM her (https://www.facebook.com/HolisticPetsNPeeps), or email her at HolisticPetsAndPeeps@gmail.com.