Our Journey With Essential Oils - Petrochemical Weight Loss Protocol

I have always been battling with weight since young. So cellulite to me isn't something new.
Having putting on weight (lots of it) after 3 kids and an office job that have me sitting down for more than 7 hours a day doesn't help at all.

When I first chanced upon this Petrochemical Weight loss protocol, I was wondering what is it.
Petrochemical sound so scientific.

It looks pretty easy and fussy free (great for lazy people like me).

1. Mix 10 drops of Ledum essential oil into a full bottle of Citrus Fresh essential oil blend.
2. Apply on problem areas. Only do it at night as Citrus Fresh is photosensitive, which means it would darken or lighten your skin when you expose the area to sunlight.
3. Ingest 20 drops of Grapefruit essential oil in capsules before bedtime. This would help to detox your body of those fat that the mixture above have break down during the night.
Sound easy? Now do it for 6 weeks.

Why these 3 oils?

Ledum is diuretic & liver protectant, which helps with fluid retention & obesity.

Grapefruit is metabolic stimulant, detoxifying, diuretic, fat dissolving, cleansing for kidneys, lymphatic & vascular system. This makes it a very good essential oil to use for fluid retention, obesity and cellulite.

Citrus Fresh contains:
- Orange : helps with fluid retention
- Tangerine : helps with digestive problems, fluid retention, obesity
- Grapefruit
-Lemon : helps with circulatory problem, obesity
- Mandarin : helps with digestive problems, fluid retention
- Spearmint : increases metabolism, digestive aids


I did this protocol for 6 weeks.
Initially, I was contemplating should I take a before and after photo, which means it would put my fat thighs on display. But without photo, I would not know if it works other than measurement.
So~ for the greater good, I did take before & after photos.
(They are not taken very well, don't judge me. I'm lousy with taking photos.)

So here you go.

My result:






The photos are not exact measurements. Slightly smaller for the after photo.
But you could see that my thighs look smoother and not so bumpy.
I took measurements too. My thighs have lose at least 1.5 inches. Whee~!

I applied it on my tummy too, so there is another 1 inch off.

Note that I didn't change my diet nor do I exercise during these 6 weeks, just everything else as per normal.

Isn't this amazing?!


The results could be better if I had detox daily (read: go to toilet daily).
With Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), is not easy for me to detox daily. Well... that's another story for another day.



Note: This article is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. Please seek the counsel of a professional if you have a medical issue. 

Our Journey With Essential Oils - Insect bite

Love how YL essential oils have been helping us in improving our well-being.

My children are always having this "allergic reaction" to insect bites.

We used to apply steroid cream on the bites but it will still takes up to a week to heal.

Zachary had an insect bite on his feet last week and it became red & swollen and the area looked a little bruised too. So I used:
Lavender - for the itch
Valor - for the bruise looking area
Copaiba - to bring down the swelling

Just one application at night for the 1st day and I can see the difference on the next day.

Applied twice a day and the swelling is gone on the 3rd day. It used to take him at least 5 to 7 days for swelling to go away.

My sisters said I am "obsessed" with essential oils. I told them wait till they have children or when the oils really help them then say if I am still obsessed or it really works.

Can't help but to declare I am an oil addict.

Note: This article is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. Please seek the counsel of a professional if you have a medical issue. 

Our Journey with Essential Oils - Cracked Heels

I used to help my parents out at their food stall when I was 11.

Part of my job was to help my mom wash the dishes too.

Because of the oil from the food and harsh dishwasher detergent, my heels started to cracked as this combo wreck hell on my feet. It is painful at times when the cracks get too deep into the flesh.

From then on, I was very, very mindful about my heels. Trust me, I don't even let my husband have a good look at it. They look really awful.

I used many creams before, even spent $50/tub of body butter from Body Shop but no result. Those cream just help to moisturize the skin for a short while but after 2 hours, I can feel that my skin is thirsty again. I still have a tub or two in my drawer. Oh... how much money was being wasted.

After getting to know about Young Living, I went to do some research on it and what I found is that Lemon with Rose Ointment will help to repair those cracks. Rose Ointment on its own will help but together with Lemon EO, it has a better result.

I tried on this combo for 1 week and I can see that my heels become smoother, cracks are becoming lesser. For the 1st time, I am willing to let my hubby look at my heels because they are looking better. I was so happy with the result of just one week's usage.

As a busy mommy, I do miss some days of application but this doesn't make the cracks from forming again or becoming deeper. It simply stay the same.

After 1 month, all cracks are gone! I can't believe I can make the skin that was damaged for so many years heal by just using Lemon EO and Rose ointment.

I shall continue to apply it until my heels are all smoothed out, maybe then I will switch to twice a week or lesser for maintenance.

Note: This article is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. Please seek the counsel of a professional if you have a medical issue. 

Our Journey with Essential Oils - Ezcema

The wounds from eczema are healing!

Isabelle likes to scratch her back whenever she's sweaty and the eczema flares up. She couldn't stop scratching even when the skin is broke and bleeding. So I need to make her wound heals faster than she can break the skin again and something to stop the itch so she will not be tempted to scratch it. 

Steroid cream is out of question here.

I applied Lavender and Melrose EO which are both good for skin condition and seal it with Rose Ointment (which has Rose EO in it that is awesome for skin too).

We only apply twice a day, sometimes 3 if I get the luxury to do so for her. 8 days since we started this routine, the smaller wounds have already healed, left the bigger ones. Isn't it amazing that it's healing so well and fast too? 

I can throw all my steroid creams away!

Note: This article is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. Please seek the counsel of a professional if you have a medical issue. 

Our Journey with Essential Oils - Cough & Flu

I was down with cough and flu on last Tuesday, so I went to GP to get a diagnose and the much needed MC. I was prescribed with cough syrup, lozenges, 2 types of flu medicine, antibiotics and painkiller.

As my body reacts badly to drowsy medication (the drowsiness doesn't go away for 48 hours and I will get even more lethargic after a good rest), I decided not to take any medicine at all and rely solely on EO.

I applied RC on chest and diffused it in the room. Thieves on soles to give the extra boost to my immunity. My runny nose stop the next day.

However cough was much more tricky. It seemed to get worse, the itchiness on the throat area was very unbearable and caused me to cough even more. I took NXR with Thieves and Lemon to stop the itchiness and phlegm. That also help with the mild sore throat. 

The 3rd and 4th day were the most miserable then I realised I needed something to replace the antibiotics. So I took 3 drops of Frankincense, twice a day. By the 5th day, I was able to curb the coughing with just RC. After 1 week, I'm recovered!

So glad that for once I don't have to take medicine and feel even more unwell due to the drowsiness!



Note: This article is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. Please seek the counsel of a professional if you have a medical issue. 

Eu Yan Sang Power Up! Chicken Essence

We received 3 boxes of Power Up! Chicken Essence from Eu Yan Sang.
Many thanks to Nuffnang for the arrangement & the opportunity to review the products.

I have been worried if the 2 little ones are getting enough nutrients from the food that they choose to eat. Example, Isabelle doesn't take vegetable and Zachary eats very little during meals. It is hard for me to judge if they are getting what they need for them to grow strong & healthy.

I'm sure this is also one of the top most concern for all parents, especially if their children have food allergy, which will limit their choice of food to even lesser selection.

That is why Eu Yan Sang has formulated a new Essence of Chicken for kids that is easily       digestible for those as young as two years old. Protein is essential for toddlerhood as it is the fastest growth period.

Power Up! is packed with high quality proteins made with 100% premium-­grade Essence of Chicken and the finest ingredients used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to help boost kids’ appetite, improve eyesight and enhance sleep.   

Eu Yan Sang takes the word “pure” seriously. That means every bottle of  Power Up! is 100% free from caramel colouring, added flavouring or salt, preservatives, sugar, fat and cholesterol. Power Up! is safe for kids and is free of any stimulants or caffeine.

It is voted “Best in Natural Health Tonic 2014” by Parents World magazine, Power Up! stands out from competitors by being the first and only Essence of Chicken in the market formulated for kids that is caramel-­free.  

That means there are lesser additives and preservatives for their liver to detoxify which I like it a lot. I have been trying to reduce usage of synthetic medication and use more natural ways to help the body to recover and reach a balance. TCM is one of the holistic and natural methods to better health.

Power Up! comes in 3 different variants - Power Up! Concentration, Power Up! Vision & Power Up! Appetite.

Power Up! Vision is made with Wolfberries, Beiqi & Baihe extract, to help improves eyesight, boost mental power and promotes quality sleep.

Wolfberries help to improve vision (that's what my mom used to tell me), protect the liver and boost the immune system.

Beiqi helps to promote sleep. With better quality sleep, the children are able to let their body rest and perform their functions better. Not to forget, quality sleep means you will have a cheerful child in the morning.

Baihe is often use in TCM to treat insomia, inability to concentrate, restlessness and irritability.

Power Up! Concentration is 100% chicken essence. It helps to improve concentration, boost mental power and promotes growth. Good for children who are going thru test and exams.

Power Up! Appetite is made with Dangshen, Huaishan & Fuling, to help improves appetite, boost mental power and aids digestion.

Dangshen has the properties to help with increasing stamina & alertness, strengthen immune system and stimulate appetite. Its properties are very similar with Ginseng and it is often use as an inexpensive and yet effective substitute for Ginseng.

Huaishan is believed to invigorate the spleen and lift energy around the stomach area, which will help to improve the children's appetite & strengthen digestion. I have often use Huaishan while boiling soup.

Fuling is a well-known herb for correcting problems related to digestive system such as diarrhea, constipation and acidity.

Each bottle is 100% goodness from essence of chicken & herbs. No added colouring and flavouring!


I let Isabelle try out Power Up! Vision so she can have better sleep at night.
Zachary wanted to join in the fun too. I took the bottle straight from the box and gave to them, no heating up.

 

Isabelle managed to drink more than half a bottle.That night she slept much earlier and no crying in the middle of the night. How happy I was to sleep until 7, without tending to her.

I decided to try warming up the bottle the next day. But it seems like the taste of the chicken essence gets more intensify when it is warm, Isabelle refused to drink more than one mouthful.

So I decided to chill the next bottle of Power Up! Appetite.

It tasted slightly better when it is chilled. 

I think some children will not find the taste of chicken essence to their liking. So it is hard for me to let the children drink it daily.

So I did the next best thing, add the chicken essence into my cooking, so that it will mask up the taste.

I boiled soup yesterday and added in one bottle of chicken essence. The soup turned out to be so sweet. Like this, the children will be able take in all the goodness from Power Up! chicken essence and improve their health! 

I will continue to add chicken essence into their food so that they will be healthier.

Say Yay! to healthy kids!

Our Journey with Essential Oil - Bed time

Some people are very skeptical when they come to know about essential oils. They would think that how a few drops of oil can help in your well-being, or that it is poisonous, not safe, etc to your body so you should avoid it. 

We have been using essential oils for nearly 3 months and I have not regret my choice.

I have my reserves at first, who doesn't? But after reading more information, looking at people's testimonies (I read from those who really use it for their health and not as a mean to make you buy their product), I was starting to see a different light on it.

Initially it started out as a mean to stop the children's cough and Isabelle's frequent waking up at night.

The cough part was quite easy to tackle. The children have not use any Ventolin puff for the past 2 months and have not seen any doctor for the past 3 months. 

But the waking up part was quite tricky. I used Peace & Calming to help Isabelle to sleep better, but the EO just delay the timing to later and cut down to once a night that she will wake up.

There was one month, I received an EO - Ruta Vala as freebie. I did not have any idea what does the oil help in when I first got it. But Isabelle picked it up and told me she wanted to apply it. So I went to take a look at its property.

That was what I found. Since it helps with sleeping, I decided to give it a try.

For that night, Isabelle slept all the way till morning. However, it only lasted for one night. But I still continue to apply it on her because she will remind me to apply every night without fail. Somehow, her body knows what she needs so why should I stop her?

But still she had not sleep all the way till morning without waking up. I asked for advice on ONE Drop and someone mentioned that I should find the reason on why is she waking up.

After thinking through, hubby and I feel that she was feeling insecure as she used to sleep with us prior to us moving to our new house. So I need to focus on her insecurity instead. 

To solve that issue, I went to get this EO - White Angelica.

I diffuse this in their room and also apply on Isabelle's brain stem.

After 3 days of using this oil, she started to wake up at 5:30am and now she can sleep throughout the whole night until we wake her up at 7am.

From waking up 2 to 3 times each night, to once a night 3 am to 4 am to 5am and now she can sleep throughout. Tell me how can I not love those oils?

You can choose to think that those oils are fraud or a scam to get your hard earned money. I choose to believe until the oil has proven that it doesn't work at all. Ultimately, is the oil effective in improving your health or condition can be seen after using it for a short period of time, not those products which said it needs years to prove that it is effective.

I don't earn anything from helping others to get the oil, not even selling the oils at a higher price (which I could but I didn't). I share info because it does help, whether you believe it or not, is entirely up to you.
=)

Note: This article is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. Please seek the counsel of a professional if you have a medical issue. 

Our Journey With Essential Oil

I came to know of Young Living Essential Oil was when I saw my neighbour posting something in this Facebook group called ONE Drop.

I was rather curious about what she was asking, so I went to read up on the other posts in the group.

From there, I found out that people are using EO to help them with common illness & symptoms such as cough, cold, skin problem, etc. Which makes me very interested in knowing more. After two weeks of looking through the testimonies from other people, searching the Internet, I decided to buy the EO and give it a try.

My 1st order was:
Purification - To help the children with insect bites, minor cuts & bruises
R.C. - For cough and cold. Respiratory issues.
Thieves - Eliminating bacteria/virus, immune booster. 
Peace & Calming - For Isabelle to rest/sleep better, relax mind & body
Lavender - The multipurpose oil. From calming to stop bleeding to wounds to acne... So many uses. A must have for children.

After using R.C., I find that I no longer need to rely on medication to stop the 2 of them from coughing. The 1st few days after applying R.C. on their body, the body expel out the phlegm by itself. No medication needed.

P&C helps Isabelle to wake up less frequent in the night. She used to wake up at least 2-3 times in the night, but after using it, she will only wake up once, at about 4-5 am.

Seeing how the EO helps the children in their well-being, I decided to get more EO to tackle the more tricky problems.



Eucalytus Radiata, Eucalytus Blue & Idaho Blue Spruce (IBS) - For cough & cold.

IBS is really good to get rid of the mucus and unblock stuffy nose. I used it in bath when Zachary was having runny nose, after sitting in the tub for 5 mins, all the mucus came out. I don't even need to use something to suck out those mucus.
R.C. has E.Radiata & E. Blue in the blend, but when I need more concentrate to stop the cough faster, I would apply on the children so the cough will not get worse.

Frankincense & Cedarwood - I used them to help Isabelle to relax before sleep. Frankincense is good for skincare, removing of moles, antibacterial... so many uses. Cedarwood can help with hair loss too.

Valor, Peppermint & Deep Relief - Those oils help with pain.
Valor can help with snoring and is very good to apply on bruises. It can also help to relax your mind.
Peppermint is good to apply on joint pain, stomach to get rid of tummy ache and apply on soles or sponging on body when having fever. Isabelle's fever broke after 2 applications on her soles, I didn't give her any fever medicine.
I use Deep Relief for my headache and shoulder pain. My life saver when I feel pain on my neck area during working hours.

I put Grapefruit into my plain water to control my appetite. I feel that I eat lesser when I drink water with Grapefruit. I also add Lime for extra immune support and detox my body. I tend to go to toilet more often after taking water with EO.

Lemon & Thieves with honey is very good to stop sore throat and cold. I always drink it when I have sore throat and when I feel that I'm falling sick.


I shall stop this post now before it gets too long winded and cramp with too much info.
Will continue in another post about other EO at a later time!




Note: This article is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. Please seek the counsel of a professional if you have a medical issue. 

Family Photo Shoot - 2014

We went back to Ipoh in March because it was my parent-in-laws 40th wedding anniversary.

My PIL wanted to take a family portrait so my 2nd SIL arranged for it.

We chose a few photos that are not included in the package and the studio had finished the touch up.

I look very, very weird in those photos. =(

All the grandchildren.

Zachary looked so awful because he wanted me to carry him and we tried to bribe him with candy but failed.

Us and PIL.

Our own family portrait.

Our couple shoot. We are the only pair (other than PIL to take couple shoot. Oops!)

Love said he looks like uncle, but I don't really think so.

And I brought the Princess Aurora dress for Isabelle to take individual photo.

The "forever cannot smile nicely" daughter of mine. Sigh.

If it is possible, I would want to take family photo every year. But something it's too expensive, if not, those photos from coupon deals turn out not very nice.

Maybe next time when we have a car of our own (rather far fetched dream) we can go to JB to take~

Hahahaha.

Let me continue to day dream ok?

Daddy's Birthday 2014

Chrystel arranged for us to have dinner with dad for his 58th birthday.

So I made reservation at Dian Xiao Er for dinner. Dad likes Chinese cuisine so we have to choose something he will like to eat.

Olivia came along too. Mom asked if she can bring her out to have dinner with us.

The April birthday ladies & girl.

The April babies in my family.

My cheeky boy.

The food was not bad, I like their duck.

The $1.80 each abalone.

Chrystel & Lianna shared a cake for dad.

Family photo.

Happy birthday daddy! Hope you had enjoyed that dinner.