even a child knows, “don’t do drugs”

We know a lot about what is toxic. But what we know is outweighed by what we don’t. And there is even less research about the effects of chemicals found in everyday products on children.

For parents, the scariest thing to discover is that a product with “acceptable amounts” of toxins refers to acceptable adult levels – acceptable does not mean it’s safe, it just means you can be exposed to it longer before it makes you sick. There is often no information about the effect of chemical toxins on 20, 30, or 60 pound developing children – a very critical time of development in a young body. Nor is there information about the possible cummulative effect of toxic build-up in a child’s body.

According the the Environmental Working Group, babies are now being born with 300 chemicals polluting their little bodies. These chemicals are being linked to childhood cancer, autism, ADHD, learning deficits, infertility, and birth defects. This should be enough to outrage anybody, and not just parents! How do babies get all these chemicals in their tiny bodies? According the video 10 Americans found here, they get them primarily from their parents. Adults have up to 455 chemicals in their bodies. And where are these chemicals coming from? Unfortunately, they are coming from the food we eat, the water we drink, the chemical laden bath/body products we use, the chemical cleaners we clean our homes with, and the list goes on. Disease in not coincidence, and the children need us to do something! There are things we can do! People planning to have children may benefit from doing detoxes first, and there are products that children can take that may gently cleanse and nourish their little bodies! In addition to this, one can diminish chemical exposure to themselves and their precious children by getting the chemical household cleaning products, chemical bath and body products, and un-natural inorganic food out of the house. Begin to adopt a more healthy, eco-friendly and natural lifestyle, and teach those wee ones that “green is good”, and watch them thrive.

If it’s on the shelf it’s safe. Right?

Most consumers don’t read the ingredients. Even if they did, most wouldn’t know what to avoid and trying to find out can turn into a major research project.

But not according to Lynn Lawson, author of Staying Well in a Toxic World. “More than 85,000 new chemicals have been added to our economy since World War II, and 7,000 of those have chlorine in them (like sugar substitutes), which is known to have effects on skin, breathing and headaches,” says Lawson.

She suggests Steinman and Epstein’s book as a great 464-page reference for many common household products and whether they contain known carcinogens, toxins or neurotoxins. Windex, for example, is listed as having neurotoxins, says Lawson. And she won’t use bleach—at all – “We just don’t need it to clean our clothes or our dishes.”

When you use Windex, bleach, cleaning products, or dryer sheets, do you feel sick from the smell or the fumes? Imagine how it affects developing children’s bodies.

The National Academy of Sciences estimates that about 15 percent of the population has some type of chemical sensitivity.

This is tied to the level of synthetic chemicals in household products and furniture, according to The Safe Shopper’s Bible: A Consumer’s Guide to Nontoxic Household Products, Cosmetics, and Food by David Steinman and Samuel S. Epstein.

While the EPA is responsible for cracking down on outdoor pollution Ñ the smog, ozone and other chemicals that spew from tailpipes and smokestacks – protecting the air indoors is largely the responsibility of homeowners.

Prevention saves an enormous amount of money compared to medical bills when we become sick and diseased from exposure to toxic products.

Parents nation-wide who are dedicated to creating a safe, eco-friendly, and natural lifestyle for thier children are finding that it does pay off. There are less trips to the doctor, less need for antibiotics, and less need for prescription drugs that collect in the body and create low frequencies which drag the body down.

Is this similar to your story with your child…

Norma’s daughter used to wake up after naptime at school in pain. “At the end of my daughter’s kindergarten year, the school nurse told me that everyday after lunch, during nap, my daughter would come to her office complaining that her head was stuffed up and that she had a headache,” says the retired school psychologist.

“What we later found out was that my daughter was reacting to the cleaning materials and the dust in the rug when she laid on it for nap time,” says Norma, who realized her daughter had chemical sensitivity.

That was 10 years ago. Since then, Norma has come to realize the products (personal care and cleaning) in her own home also were irritating her daughter. So, she replaced many chemical-based cleaners with less toxic versions.

Most regular, main stream child care products out there are heavy laden with chemicals. Take simple baby wipes for example. Common, regular brands contain parabens,phthalaltes (endocrine disruptors banned in Europe’s cosmetics), propylene glycol (antifreeze, DMDM Hydantoin (a type of formaldehyde rated “High Hazard” and cancerous by the Environmental Working Group), as well as other chemicals that have not even been evaluated for safety! And the worst part is they contain products like EDTA (which hasn’t been evaluated for safety) and causes all these other dangerous chemicals to be absorbed more readily!

How do we get away from all of this unnecessary chemical exposure?

Fortunately we have excellent choices for those seeking to create a safer and Greener environment for their family.

Solution #1

Young Living makes products that are safe and beneficial for your kids. Take a look at the wonderful, effective and convenient KidScents products Young Living has available:

• KidScents Edible Toothpaste
• KidScents Lotion
• KidScents Shampoo
• KidScents Bath Gel
• Tender Tush
• KidScents MightyVites (chewable vitamin supplement, terrific for the elderly who cannot swallow horse pill vitamins)

Testimony

“I ordered the Kid Scents shampoo, lotion and Tender Tush and they are all wonderful. My 11 month old had a horrible rash behind his knees, crook of his elbows, behind his ears and on his cheeks. 1% cortisone wasn’t helping. The doctor wanted to prescribe a stronger steroid, but after reading the label, I threw it out. I used Tender Tush on the locations and topped it with the Kid Scents Lotion and it cleared up in two days. I applied probably 6 times (at diaper changes). Best of all, he’s sleeping peacefully because his skin isn’t itching and driving him crazy.

The shampoo is great. My 4 year old says it smells like punch (very citrus sweet). Both boys were pinging off the walls all day, and when I had them both in the bath and washed their hair, they mellowed out right away! That’s a plus in any mom’s book, I tell ya! Their hair feels soft and looks shiny. They went to bed without a fight too. I’m not going to ever be out of these products.” ~ Tina

Although this is a little more expensive than your “off the shelf” brands, all of the Young Living products go a lot further and bring all sorts of added benefits by way of the included pure Young Living therapeutic-grade essential oils.

Solution #2

For the Do-It-Yourself Mom and Dad who enjoy making their own household cleaning products

Creating safe household cleaners is much the same way as we would eat lower on the food chain… make your own homemade cleaners like your great-grandmother used.

But great-grandmothers recipes will not necessarily safely combat the superbugs and supergerms we are faced with today, everyday.

How do we ‘Super-Charge’ great-grandmothers homemade cleaner recipes?

Simple, we add a few drops of Young Living therapeutic-grade essential oils!

A 15ml bottle of Young Living essential oil contains about 250 drops – that’s a lot of powerful plant punch that goes a long way to make your home safer!

Therapeutic-grade essential oils are well known to be: anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic. This makes them perfect additions to any completely all-natural cleaning recipe you make at home.

An added benefit, the energy of your home and your mood will also be greatly enhanced and uplifted due to the aroma – therapy benefits of using an unadulterated essential oil.

Young Living therapeutic-grade essential oils are NOT adulterated and are the purest, best quality essential oils available in the world and are the best in the essential oil aromatherapy industry, there is no doubt about that!

Improve Health and Wellness with Essential Oils and Oil-Enhanced Products

Essential oils have transitioned to the mainstream. Unfortunately, many store-bought products now include synthetic or adulterated essential oils. What you will find with Young Living is that the therapeutic-grade essential oils make a difference in the performance of the product and the benefits. Which means you can easily have the “Green” home you have desired for yourself and your family.

Young Living’s Thieves® and KidScents product lines incorporate the benefits of Young Living Therapeutic Grade™ (YLTG) essential oils into your household without the toxic ingredients of most store-bought solutions.

Here are some of the ways we use Young Living oils and products for children

Please keep in mind that Young Living oils are vastly different than the novelty aromatherapy oils sold in stores. Young Living essential oils are far more pure and potent.

Keeping Kids Healthy at School

An inexpensive and easy solution to protect kids from the infections going around at school is to have them bring Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier in their backpacks. Show them how to use a tiny drop every time after going to the bathroom and several times during the day for protection.

Tip for mom and dad: the waterless hand purifier fits into a small purse, pocket or briefcase, and can be used by putting a drop into your hands before getting out of the car and after leaving public facilities. Whether at home or at your office, you could also have Thieves Foaming Hand Soap on your bathroom or kitchen sinks.

Essential Oils for Colds and Flu

These are some of the best Young Living essential oils to use for children when they have respiratory discomfort: R.C., Raven, Mountain Savory, Thieves and Oregano. These essential oils should always be diluted with a carrier oil, like Young Living’s V-6 or with olive oil, after being diluted with the carrier oil they can then be applied on the chest, back, spine and feet. Use 1-2 drops essential oil to 1 teaspoon of carrier oil.

Making sure your child is taking a good probiotic to keep his or her digestive system strong is also key. Young Living also has a great chewable multi-vitamin for kids: Mighty Vites (MightyVites is also an excellent choice for elderly who find swallowing vitamins difficult).

Children of all ages can also drink Ningxia Red, a fantastic antioxidant boost for their health that is far healthier than any juice found in stores (regardless of how good the advertising sounds). Simply mix one ounce of NingXia Red with 2-4 ounces of pure water. NingXia Red is an excellent choice for building a strong immune system.

Please take your children to a doctor whenever necessary as the ways we use Young Living products is not intended to diagnose, treat or prescribe any condition.

Aromatherapy for Babies

Using essential oils for babies is wonderful! Baby girls usually like the essential oil blend Gentle Baby in their bathwater. Baby boys often like the essential oil Valor. Which would be used like this: 1-2 drops in 1/8 cup of sea salt or a teaspoon of Young Living’s Bath & Shower Gel Base, mix into warm bath water.

If there has been any kind of trauma during the birthing process, or any difficulties at all, you might want to try adding the essential oil blend SARAH to the bath water. Just 1-2 drops in 1/8 cup of sea salt or a teaspoon of Young Living’s Bath & Shower Gel Base, mixed into warm bath water.

Essential oils can help with many conditions for babies and children. For example, babies who are pale or not growing sufficiently might be helped by mixing the essential oil SARAH with a carrier oil (V-6) and massaging the baby’s spine, legs and feet.

Aromatherapy for Healthy Ears

For fluid in the ears, a favorite is to place some Melrose essential oil blend on a cotton ball and place gently in the ears (not all the way in though).

Peppermint can be used externally on the chest and throat all the way up behind the ears when diluted with V-6 (carrier oil) – not recommended for topical use on children under 4 years. Peppermint is useful as a decongestant, for inhaling and diffusing.

For pain in the ears, try Thieves essential oil blend along the jawbone, neck and outside the ears, this should also be diluted with V-6 – 1-3 drops per one teaspoon of V-6.

Antibacterial Essential Oils

The bacteria known as MRSA has created quite a scare since it is no longer contained to just hospitals and nursing homes. It is not a very pleasant condition to acquire and your best line of defense is ‘prevention.’ MRSA means Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and is often referred to as ‘Staph Infection.’ Basically, it’s a type of bacteria that is resistant to anti-biotics and has mutated to this position due to over-prescribing of antibiotics.. Of the 107 Young Living essential oils that have been tested, 90% of the essential oils showed positive results, having anti-MRSA activity, though some work faster at killing MRSA than others.

Eleven single oils have the highest anti-MRSA activity, they are: lemongrass, mountain savory, cinnamon, melissa, thyme, tsuga, oregano.

Among essential oil blends, the most effective oils are: R.C., Longevity, and Motivation.

Please take measures to ‘prevent’ the contraction of MRSA

It is always far less expensive and easier to prevent exposure to something such as MRSA, than it is to treatment after the fact. Measures we regularly take to prevent exposure to this bacteria are to use: Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier, Thieves Foaming Hand Soap, diffuse daily any combination of the above listed essential oils, and the Young Living Bar Soaps and Shower Gels, and supplements to maintain a strong immune system.

Essential Oils for Discomforts of the Common Cold

There are many different viruses that can contribute to the symptoms that are commonly associated with colds. Several of Young Living’s essential oils can be used to help combat these symptoms are: Cypress and Idaho Balsam Fir (for aches and pains), Ecalyptus, Ravensara and Peppermint can help with nasal congestion and respiratory problems. These essential oils can be diffused or applied topically when mixed with a carrier oil (such as V-6) to the forehead, temples, back of neck and chest (keep away from eyes!)

As a steam inhaler: place 1-2 drops of essential oil in 1/2 cup of hot water and lean nose and mouth over cup (with eyes closed) and breathe. Do not leave children unattended with a hot cup of water.

For a sore throat, Thieves Lozenges are a perfect choice. This works best when done immediately upon noticing a sore throat. Thieves essential oil (one drop mixed with 1 teaspoon of V-6) can be applied behind the ears and down under the jaw line. Thieves Mouthwash is also terrific as a gargle (it’s edible, but strong – so some children would want it diluted).
Contributed by Shayla Pollert

BOOK “Gentle Babies: Essential Oils and Natural Remedies fro Pregnancy, Childbirth and Infant Care” by Debra Raybern (ITEM #8922)

BROCHURE “Essential Oils for Pregnancy and Childbirth” (ITEM #4036A)

BROCHURE “Essential Oils for Babies and Children” (ITEM #4038A)