Young Living Fall Favs: NingXia Red

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

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

What Makes NingXia Red So Great?

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

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

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

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

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

Great for the Whole Body!

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

15 Ways to Drink Your NingXia Red

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

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

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

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

Atomic Fire Ball

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

Mind Blaster

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

Hot Flash

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

Dreamsicle

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

Cimply Smooth

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

Jump Start

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

Morning Glory

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

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

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

Young Living Fall Favs: R.C., Raven & Breathe Again (What's the Difference?)

Sometimes this much-quoted Top Gun line comes to mind: “I feel the need, the need for SPEED!” Except, living in Houston, I find myself looking at my oil choices thinking, “I feel the need, the need to BREATHE!”

Fortunately, Young Living offers access to some really great oils to fill that need. While I sincerely appreciate the plants God created and YL’s ability to distill them into little bottles of oily awesomeness, TOO MANY CHOICES MAKE MY LITTLE BRAIN CONFUSED! Which one? How do I choose? What’s the difference?

Let’s focus on three of my favorite “breathing” oils! (See what I did there?!)

What’s the Difference? R.C., Raven & Breathe Again

R.C., Raven and Breathe Again all help support your respiratory system, but when should you use each? Good question! We're here with some helpful tips. 

First up: R.C.

R.C. is a blend of Eucalyptus (E. globulus), myrtle, pine, marjoram, eucalyptus radiata, eucalyptus citriodora, lavender, cypress, tsuga, and peppermint. What? Three different eucalyptus plants? Eucalyptus has great soothing properties, and RC delivers eucalyptus times 3! WOW! Add in myrtle, marjoram, peppermint and a few others, and you have powerful respiratory support.

I think everyone who breathes needs R.C., so let’s explore how to use it:

• Massage on chest, back and/or feet
• Use as compress on sinuses and nasal passages
• Rub around ears, neck and throat
• Use in diffuser
• Add to steaming water; put towel over your head and inhale

At this point, I’ll make a confession. Having been through nursing school, I understand the intricacies of the respiratory system. Lean in now because I’m about to whisper … at night when the lights are out in the bedroom my diffuser runs with R.C. and lavender. Why, you ask? My husband had a really bad habit of making excessive noises while he slept! With R.C. in the diffuser, I have a MUCH more peaceful night’s rest! A little extra R.C. on his throat and chest and – what’s that? – sweet silence! Shhhhhh.

Next up: Raven, an excellent companion oil to R.C.

Raven is a blend of Ravensara, lemon, wintergreen, peppermint, and Eucalyptus radiata. Although it has fewer oils, it goes “beyond R.C.” for your respiratory system. Ravensara is a heavy hitter. As a cross between clove and nutmeg, it also supports the endocrine system. The added wintergreen contains 99% methyl salicylate, which gives it an extra punch. Another great benefit of Raven is skin support, but use caution and/or add V-6 oil (carrier oil) to avoid skin sensitivity. How would I use Raven?

• Apply to lungs and throat
• Put on pillow at night
• Use in retention suppository with V-6 throughout the night to give lung support through the night
• Use in diffuser
• Add to steaming water; put towel over your head and inhale

Before I go further, it should be mentioned that alternating oils can be quite effective. R.C. and Raven can be exchanged and alternated effectively. For example, I might apply Raven on my feet and R.C. on my throat and chest, alternating morning and night.

Last up: Breathe Again Roll-On

If you like eucalyptus and you think R.C. is action packed, Breathe Again is your new best friend! This baby contains four (yep, count ‘em) FOUR single eucalyptus oils: eucalyptus staigeriana, eucalyptus globulus, laurel, rose hip, peppermint, eucalyptus radiata, copaiba, myrtle, manuka and eucalyptus blue.

Since it is a roll-on, it contains coconut oil as a carrier oil to help with the functionality of the roller filament. Typically, a one inch “roll” on the skin delivers about one drop of oil.  

Several of the single oils in this blend are noteworthy. Copaiba is extremely high in beta-caryophyllene. Manuka has a stabilizing and calming aroma. Eucalyptus blue’s invigorating scent offers a sense of peace and balance.

Even with the coconut oil added, be aware that this blend can cause skin sensitivity and is cautioned for use during pregnancy. How and/or when would I apply Breathe Again?

• Across the bridge of my nose
• On my sinus areas
• Under the nose
• Over the chest area

So, Which is Best?

You may still be wondering, ”Which one of the three is best?” Actually, it depends on your preference. In my family, one of my daughters prefers Raven and the other prefers R.C. I use both and carry Breathe Again in my purse.  

As I mentioned earlier, R.C. goes in my diffuser every night, but when I’m looking for serious respiratory support, I reach for Raven. If you want a particular result from an oil and aren’t getting the result you want, try switching oils. R.C., Raven and Breathe Again are only three of many YL oils you can choose. You might also consider adding Thieves and/or Frankincense to your respiratory support arsenal.  

If I had to make a comparison based on single oils in each blend, I would rate Raven as more powerful than R.C., and Breathe Again as a “convenience” oil due to the roller filament. I love the travel convenience of the roller aspect of Breathe Again, but when I am at home, I prefer inhaling oils from my hands, using them topically and in my diffuser. Try them all! Choose your favorite or alternate them! There is not a loser in the group!   

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Young Living Fall Favs: Inner Defense

Give me a “D”!  Give me an “E”!  Give me an “F”!  Give me an “E”!  Give me an “N”!  Give me an “S”!  Give me an “E”!  

What does it spell?  “DEFENSE!”  

What does it spell?  “DEFENSE!”  

What does it spell?  “DEFENSE!”  

We’ve all heard that cheer at some point in our lives, and we most likely think of football. But how about thinking outside the box and applying the principles of good defense to health?

A Good Offense is a Good Defense

When life throws us curveballs, we reach for Inner Defense. 

Everyone has also heard the saying that “A good offense is a good defense.”  Well, in the case of my family’s health, I have chosen to use Young Living essential oils and supplements for both the offense and defense this Fall (and year round).  

My Family’s Offensive Line

In football, you need a good offensive line to support the quarterback. To support our health, we take some things daily for support: Ningxia Red, Digest and Cleanse and Thieves. It’s just plain smart to be on the offensive to maintain your health!

My Family’s Defense

But, you also need a good defense for the best chance to win. For instance, we use Thieves Vitality to support a healthy immune system, which is our body’s defense.

Inner Defense

Well, as you can see, a good offense is a good defense. But, I want to take this to another level – a good Inner Defense.  So, time for another analogy:

For those of us who are Christians, a good foundation in the Bible and a close relationship with God is a good defense for a life not overcome by Satan. Choosing to go to church and keeping some close Christian friends is a good offense for supporting our walk with God. Choosing to not put unwholesome things into our mind and heart is a good spiritual Inner Defense.

Well, in health, we need a good Inner Defense as well. What we eat, if we exercise, and so on affects whether or not we have a good Inner Defense. (Sorry, but yes, you really do need to eat those carrots! Lol!)

When We Need Inner Defense

Sometimes, life throws us a few curveballs. Like not enough sleep because our kids have too much homework or because someone called right before you were going to bed and you talked for a couple hours! Or maybe the curveball is being surrounded by people at work who should have stayed home. Or maybe it’s that you have been overwhelmed for days, if not weeks or months, trying to figure out how to pay for your child’s braces – you’re losing sleep, and in general, are not yourself under all the stress.  

Our Answer to Curveballs: Young Living Inner Defense

In cases like these, we need a strong Inner Defense to help maintain our health. Well, my family loves a Young Living product called Inner Defense. We love to use it to promote, maintain, and support our inner well-being, a healthy immune system (our defense).    

Young Living's Inner Defense liquid soft gels reinforce systemic defenses, promote healthy respiratory function, and are rich in immune-supporting ingredients. WooHoo! Who doesn’t need that? It has Thieves essential oil in it (which contains clove, lemon, eucalyptus radiata, rosemary, and cinnamon bark oils). We all know what a great oil Thieves is! Inner Defense also includes oregano, thyme, and lemongrass – all amazing oils. It is such an awesome capsule; full of power for your immune system!

A Few Tips: When We Use Inner Defense

If my kids have been losing sleep for a few nights, guess what? They are going to take Inner Defense for a few days. My kids are runners. If they have a big race coming up and they seem to be getting run down (pardon the pun – I couldn’t resist!), I have them take Inner Defense for a few days prior to their race to help maintain their health. If my husband and I are surrounded at work by people who should have stayed home, we will take Inner Defense for a few days. Hmmmm, maybe since I’m up late typing this, I should go take an Inner Defense!

Our Fall Defensive Game Plan

Now, to return to my sports analogy, you need a strong defense to have a winning offense. To have a strong defense in sports, you practice daily! Likewise, we can take daily measures to support our health, such as drinking Ningxia Red daily, exercising, getting plenty of sleep, etc. But, you can also take an Inner Defense capsule daily instead of just when you feel like you might need to promote a better body defense. The instructions on the bottle even say to take 1 capsule daily in a.m. or take 1 capsule 3-5 times daily when stressed. That will surely help promote a strong Inner Defense!

So a good offense is a good defense is a good Inner Defense! So who’s with me? Give me a “D” … or better yet, make Inner Defense part of your healthy lifestyle!

Contact Beth, this week’s contributor, at oildroplets@gmail.com for any questions about your family’s Fall Defense plan.

Young Living Fall Favs: Release

Who isn’t stressed when it comes to the holidays? Planning that perfect gathering for your favorite and not-so-favorite relatives, especially that one who was weaned on wild ponderosa lemons as she grew up (or four ... if you were raised in an Italian family like I was).

What about holiday shopping? The crowds, the parking, the terrible traffic, the seemingly endless search for the perfect gift that sends you to Toys R Us for the 8th time; oh and don’t forget that white elephant and Mommy gift exchange that you signed up for.

How about cleaning because it is your year to host Thanksgiving? Or stringing lights when you live next to your communities’ reigning yard decorating champion? Nothing like the pressure to keep up with the Jones.

Then, add your corporate job stressors: deadlines, end of the year craziness, co-workers gone for a week or more and yet a client still wants or needs something that your co-worker is the subject matter expert in …

Whew.

How Do You Spell Release?

Release™ is a blend with a relaxing aroma that facilitates the ability to let go of anger and frustration. It also promotes and maintains harmony when diffused.

This year my family and I are incorporating a few extra essential oils to help us cope with this hectic and potentially stressful time of year. Cue the a little Frozen inspiration from Elsa ...

*singing* “Let it go, let it go, can't hold it back anymore.”

If you are a mommy like me, you have learned to embrace that song and wear it like Queen Elsa cloak!

It’s time to “Let it Go” and release all of that stuff that can put a damper on your life, and I will tell you a secret *whispers* this oil is fantastic for the other 10 months of the year, too.*end whisper* *meaningful wink*

The Ingredients:

The oils that comprise this phenomenon in a bottle are:

Ylang ylang, Olive oil, Lavandin, Geranium, Royal Hawaiian™ sandalwood, Grapefruit, Tangerine, Spearmint, Lemon, Blue cypress, Davana, Kaffir lime, Ocotea, Jasmine, Matricaria, Blue tansy, and Rose

The Benefits:

Release™ is a blend with a relaxing aroma that facilitates the ability to let go of anger and frustration. It also promotes and maintains harmony when diffused.

Be sure to put plenty of your release oil in your diffuser for when your sour and sarcastic Auntie Agnes comes over to your house for the holidays. (And maybe place your diffuser right behind her on the buffet, it couldn’t hurt right? I’m just saying!)

Helpful Hints: How do I use it?

Where can you put it? I always tell people in my classes there is no wrong way to use an oil, only a better application.

• Apply a few drops (2-4) to the wrists, edge of ears, neck and feet. I enjoy wearing it as a perfume too.
• Add several drops (6-8) to ¼ cup of bath salts (I prefer Himalayan pink sea salt) then add to your bath water.
• Apply to your vitaflex points.
• Inhale from the bottle, or your hands.
• Diffuse.

The Release Effect

Now that you have inhaled in all of the good and exhaled the negative out of your body you may wonder what are the side effects from using this oil? Release oil has a calming effect and when you are calm and in balance it will seem that those normal stressors no longer affect you like they once did.

So, bring on the holidays and bring on that sweet ole bitty Agnes because you have your secret weapon. Whatever is holding you back, or stressing you out, just grab your bottle of Release™ essential oil and “Let it Go...”!

Want to learn more? Contact Sunday Taylor at sundaytayloroil@gmail.com or message us and we'll get you connected right away! 

Young Living Fall Favs: Christmas Spirit

I wish that someone at Young Living would have called me to say, 'Hey we made this new blend with Orange, Cinnamon Bark, and Spruce, what would you like to call it?' Honestly, I wouldn't have called it Christmas Spirit. I think a lot of people only use this oil during the holidays which is an incredible waste. I diffuse this beauty all year long. 

Diffuse this blend of Orange, Cinnamon Bark and Spruce around the holidays ... and all year long! 

Let's Break it Down: The Recipe for Christmas Spirit

Orange

This oil is supportive for a wide range of systems, from emotional support to digestive. Plus, did you know that orange oil helps with oily skin?* And many people use this oil in their toothpaste to naturally whiten teeth. It may be supportive for your cardiac system as well. Case closed: Orange is an incredible oil.

*Safety Spotlight: Citrus oils are photo-sensitive and can cause a burn if exposed to the sun. Apply it at night or keep your skin out of direct sunlight.

Cinnamon Bark

When you add Cinnamon Bark to the mix, it gets kinda' "Ker-plow" for it's health powers. Let's just say it kills things, things you want dead, you get my drift?

This is one of my favorite oils for cold feet. What, you say, cold feet?... Yes! Unless you have been hanging out in the local stream, cold feet is usually a sign you need circulation support, and Cinnamon can work on that for you. It is also a great immune stimulant and works as a general purifier.

And um, can't really write about these two oils without saying, YUM-MY, so then there is that. 

Spruce

Ok, Spruce is powerful oil for emotional and respiratory support that has a really nice woodsy aroma. It is grounding and helps bring balance. Perhaps that is why this oil is in so many of our favorite blends.

Seriously, do you know how many blends contain Spruce? If you go to Young Living's site and put Spruce in the product search bar, you can get a list of all the blends that contain Spruce. Take note of how many are for grounding and emotional support! Perhaps this is why they tag this oil during the cold winter months and during the stressful holidays because of the type of support it offers.

A Gift for Any Season

So when you combine these three beneficial oils into one bottle, you get a little piece of Heaven that, now that you know, can become a year round favorite! Young Living Christmas Spirit is totally welcome well before Thanksgiving. 

It's Fall Y'all: New Series Kickoff!

We rounded out our series on each oil in the Premium Starter kit last week. If you missed it (or ever want to review), we collected all the posts on a brand new page. Check it out. You’re welcome.

Today, we’re giving you a sneak-peek to our new series: Fall Favorites.

It’s hard to pick our favorite thing about fall: Cooler weather. Beautiful leaves. Better coffee treats. The Holidays. But there are a few things about Fall that don’t make the “few of our favorite things” category. The kind of things that make immune support and mood boosting more important than ever.

That’s why we’ll spend the rest of the year sharing our favorite oils and Young Living products to help you take on everything Fall, from colder weather to hosting Thanksgiving dinner. 

We’ve got posts planned on oils, blends and supplements we’ve never covered before on the blog like Christmas Spirit, up next week. Other planned topics include Inner Defense, Eucalyptus, Raven, Breathe Again, RC and Ningxia.

What are your #YLFallFavs? Here are a few of ours! Inner Defense, Eucalyptus, Raven, Breathe Again, RC & Ningxia.

It's Fall Y'all! Be excited and stay tuned!