What Does Your Posture Say About Your Health: Part I
One of the most outwardly noticeable clues to the state of both physical and emotional health is posture.
Let’s stop here and do a quick assessment before getting into the how’s, what’s and why’s with this simple at home test:
1.Stand with your back next to a wall, with heels 2-4 inches from the wall. The back of head, shoulder blades, and bottom are all touching the wall.
2.Look (or feel) for correct lower back curve. You should just barely be able to slide your flat hand between your lower back and the wall. If there is too much space, bring your belly button inwards towards your spine.
3.Now, walk away from the wall holding correct posture. Return to the wall after a few minutes and see if you have maintained proper alignment. 
How’d it go for you?😀 If you’ve got some work to do, you’re not alone…. Poor posture is a modern day epidemic with enormous long term ramifications. 
*Why is posture so important? Simply put, a properly aligned body is considered a prerequisite for a healthy life! Think of a crooked little house. It’s outward appearance is evident, and undoubtedly its crookedness promises cracked walls and foundation, probably some leaky pipes, and maybe even an electrical fire somewhere in its future if the crookedness goes uncorrected. Over time, the crooked house will become more dilapidated until it eventually becomes uninhabitable. You’ve seen these houses. They look sad.
*Posture is one of the first things people notice in others... without even noticing they're noticing!  Posture outwardly portrays mood, emotions, health, and confidence level and is a key player in first impressions.
A 2004 study in the Journal of American Geriatrics👵👴 found that people with excellent posture tend to live longer than those with poor posture. Like the crooked little house, there is much more going on inside our “walls”:
*Poor posture (standing or sitting) leads to stiffness, pain, and increased likelihood of injuries. Perhaps this is because good posture is associated with better flexibility and balance. 
*Chronic poor posture often leads to arthritis and tendonitis.
*The state of one’s posture has a profound effect on the heart, lungs, brain function, immune system, and digestion.
*Poor posture results in excess energy utilized to simply “be”. This means less energy is available for healing, metabolism, and the brainwork of thought and meditation. 
*Slumping posture stretches the spinal cord and corresponding nerves. Remember that crooked house? This stretching of the nerves causes chronic stress, causing them to misfire, like a frayed or kinked electrical wire. Chronic slumping eventually leads to demyelination of the involved nerves. (Imagine how well a poorly insulated electrical cord works).
*Plumbing issues may result. Incontinence is often a problem in those with years of poor posture.
*Poor posture also adversely affects lung function.
*Poor posture plays a significant role in chronic pain and the effectiveness of pain management. 
Problems associated with poor posture include:
💥Headaches
💥Jaw pain
💥Back, hip, knee, and foot pain
💥Shoulder pain
💥Fatigue and breathing problems
💥Compressed organs (which makes it hard to digest food properly)
💥Exacerbation of lung conditions
💥Anxiety, panic attacks, and emotional disorders 
💥(A precursor to) cardiovascular issues
Posture is foundationally important to our health. Stay tuned! Part II will give you tools and suggestions for improving your posture. In the meantime, one of the best ways to improve posture is to move and move often! 💃
What’s your favorite oil that gets you moving? Mine comes in a can 😁 …. Lime and black pepper…. NingXia Zyng! Have you tried it?
xoxo~ liz
www.goodmedicine.info
#sharingiscaring
#goodmedicineishowweholdourselves
#ThanksYL
#goodmedicine

I'm a few days late on wishing everyone a wonderful World Bee Day! We had bees for several years and kept them organically.  Tragically,  we lost our two very strong hives to an outside toxin. Quite literally, thousands of bees died overnight😭😭😭. 
Someday, we'll keep bees again. For now, we are relying on a few wild hives to do our pollinating. Thankfully, they are bountiful on our farm. 
Did you know that for every 2 out of 3 bites of food you eat (provided it's REAL food.... not the synthetic junk you can't pronounce), you can thank a bee? 
15 years ago, I wrote a children's book on bees.... it's "nature fiction"... designed to teach kids and adults alike about the lifestyle of bees. In honor of World Bee Day, I'd love to bless someone with a copy of "Ebenezer the Claustrophobic Bee".  Comment below, and your name will be placed in the drawing.
xoxo~ liz 🐝
#worldbeeday2021 
#sharingiscaring
#beeUtiful 
#beesarethemoderndaycanaryinthecoalmine
#EbenezertheClaustrophobicBeebook
#beeallyouaredesignedtobe

Breath Clues: Part II
Becoming aware of HOW you breathe is important both as a health clue and an (inexpensive and valuable!) wellness tool. 
Did you take the quick quiz on the graphic?  If not, take a moment to do so!
Statistically, chronic shallow (mouth, neck, and upper chest) breathing is the most common type of breathing in Westernized cultures. This type of breathing  perpetuates stress and anxiety, activates the "fight or flight" (sympathetic response),  and suppresses the immune system. 
Conversely, diaphragmatic (deep belly) breathing balances the nervous system, supports heart health, improves circulation, promotes lymphatic drainage, reduces stress, calms the mind, and brings the body back into a more homeostatic state. 
Do you notice how some people remain calm, cool, and collected while others become a tightly wound spring with every stressor? The ability to pivot from "fight or flight" to "rest and digest" is incredibly important to health outcomes! ( Pharmacist tip: Learning to do this is helpful in keeping you away from the pharmacy!)  
The longest nerve in the body is called the  👉vagus nerve 👈. It runs from the brain thru the lungs and on to the gut, and affects every organ and body system it comes in contact with along the way ..... stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, heart, lungs, and the immune, endocrine, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems. In other words, the vagal nerve pathway is kind of a big deal! 😍
High vagal tone is incredibly important to overall health and wellbeing..... really, it's a use it or lose it situation. Low vagal tone is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, GI disorders, and depression. Diaphragmatic breathing increases vagal tone! 
If deep belly breathing is not something you do on the regular (ie: it's become second nature to you), Here are a few tips and tricks:
👉 Start with just 2 minutes several times a day. 
1. Place one hand on your upper chest and the other just below your rib cage, so you can feel your diaphragm move as you breathe.
2. Inhale deeply thru your nose for the count of 6-8 seconds (or 4-5 seconds if that's too much).... allowing your belly to expand. Try to fill your lungs with air. NOTE! The hand on your chest should remain as still as possible.
3. Slowly exhale through your nose for the count of 6-8 (or 4-5) drawing your belly button in and down as your abdomen moves inward.
4. As you breathe inward deeply, envision oxygen flowing inward and recharging your body. As you exhale, envision all the stress and tension leaving your body. 
5. Practice this for 2-3 minutes at a time (20-30 breath cycles). Graduate to 5 minutes as you are able! 
Scientifically noted benefits of diaphragmatic breathing can be further enhanced when you pair your breathing practice with Young Living essential oils known for their supportive roles in  health and wellness goals:
🌿Want to improve mood? Pair your practice with Citrus Fresh eo blend! 
🌿 Looking for better concentration? Try Brain Power or Frankincense!
🌿 Looking to better manage pain? (Yes, deep breathing helps with this too!) Add in PanAway or Deep Relief
🌿 Wanting to lower your blood pressure (Yep, deep breathing exercises does this too!)..... support happy vascular system breathing practices with Joy, Aroma Life, Ylang Ylang, or Lavender.
🌿Lowering blood sugar (amazing what regular deep breathing may do! Consider deep inhalations of Coriander, Melissa, or Christmas Spirit! 
🌿 Improve your sleep. Pair pre bedtime deep breathing with a diffuser loaded with Cedarwood, Orange, and Lavender! 
🌿  Use as a tool in your weight loss journey. Have you tried Grapefruit essential oil or Thieves on the bottom of the feet?
🌿 Strengthen the pelvic floor muscle (which will also improve bladder and bowel elimination function!). Consider pairing with Clary Sage, Cypress, or (Digize 👈 for colon support). 
🌿Better lymphatic flow?.... You'll love Lemon essential oil (both regular and vitality!)! 
Noticing how you are breathing, and then making corrections as needed is a simple, but VIP wellness tool and health clue! Just as diaphragmatic breathing is helpful, chronic shallow breathing will exacerbate many health problems, and over time, may also contribute to lung infections and lung diseases.
Just breathe...... deeply! 
xoxo~ liz
www.goodmedicine.info (👈 if you'd like to know more about additional breathing practices or the oils mentioned above, let's chat!)
#sharingiscaring 
#Godgaveusthetools 
#goodmedicineisgreatbreathinghabits
#goodmedicine 
#ThanksYL

Frequency (the measured electrical vibration of something) is often a hard concept to grasp. I have studied it pretty extensively over the last few years because understanding how frequency affects us as people, is key to vibrant health. Literally, it can make or break you.
Recently, I stumbled across a new genre of music termed 🌿"florganoleptic music". 🌿 
It's fascinating! Literally, science meets plant meets musician....... 
You can read more about it here: https://www.cosmicknotmusic.com/
........or listen to a better explanation along with a little music composed by humans and plants😍:
All I know is that I just learned something new and amazing today about plants! 
Frequency.... it's real. Singing plants, yep. They're real too😊 . This little evergreen is belting out the blues! (ha ha! must be a Northern Lights "Blues" spruce 😎)
Happy Monday friends!
Which plant juice (essential oil) makes you feel like singing?  🌿🎶🎶🎶🌿🎶🎶🎶🌿
xoxo~ liz

#sharingiscaring 
#hugatreeandthensingwithit
#Godisthecreatorofthemiraculous
#plantjuice 
#vibrationalhealing 
#ThanksYL

​Wow! Such an interesting 4 minute video and worth the listen. Dr. Michael Greger MD is a favorite of mine, and this is his video.
Topic?....... Improving cognitive performance using aromatherapy,  💖 especially in cases of neurodegenerative dis-ease. 
I stepped back from corporate pharmacy and into the roots (& flowers 🌹, leaves🌿, and trees🌳 😉 ) of pharmacognosy because of information (like this) which remains largely unrecognized by mainstream medicine..... literal golden nuggets of self care.... which allow us improved quality of life, increased autonomy, and educated self care. 
How many of you have seen a cognitively impaired patient who was so medicated that they were almost "zombi-fied"?
Roughly 50% of people with dementia experience behavioral or psychological symptoms that doctors often 'chemically restrain' by way of drugs that are often well known for their increased morbidity and mortality risks in the elderly.... not to mention dulling them cognitively even more. #riskvsbenefitfail
👆 Why?..... because it's easier to prescribe a drug than it is to offer non-pharmacological alternatives. To be fair,few western medicine health care workers are trained in aromatherapy, nor have they taken the time to learn on their own.  #notfundedbyBigPharma
Final tidbit..... I don't want to spill all the beans here.... Dr. Greger speaks of Lemon Balm. Friends, that is also known as "Melissa"...... grown on our Young Living Farm in St. Marie's, Idaho. 
Go. Learn. Apply your knowledge! Help a friend or loved one out and share what you know and may already have in your possession.

xoxo~ liz 
www.goodmedicine.info
#sharingiscaring
#theapplicationofknowledgeispower
#everythingweneedisinthegarden
PS: This post does not constitute medical advice. Nor does it attempt to diagnose, treat, cure, or heal what's ailing ya! 
You are the CEO of you.... never forget that!

​Good morning friends! These gift ornaments we will be receiving with our 300PV orders this month are life changers..... perhaps not for you (although they will be amazing diffusers and are beautiful!!), but for the ladies who have made them for each one of us! 

In a season where gratitude is celebrated, I wanted to share how grateful I am that Young Living partners with people who have been empowered by the Young Living Foundation to receive a hand up instead of a hand out.

Before watching this video, I had no idea these ornaments were100% hand made. This is no "made in China" mass produced ornament, created by some machine. I would imagine, if you looked closely, some of them may even include a fingerprint or two.

Please watch this 4 minute video. We are blessed beyond measure for all that we have, and I am grateful for these ladies, their handiwork, and the joy they have in being able to take care of their families because of partnering with YLF. 💖

​xoxo~ liz
www.goodmedicine.info 

#sharingiscaring
#receivingisalsogiving
#ThanksYLF 
#ThanksYL 
#goodmedicineindeed

Let me preface this post by saying it's never a good idea to get your hand in the way of a sharp object! That said, life happens.
One of the reasons I embraced YL 7 years ago was this: preparedness. We live on a farm,  and minor accidents are not an  uncommon thing. I've gotten really good at triaging what "we can fix ourselves" and what needs bigger attention by professionals who stitch for a living. 
I've heard it said that "your oils are expensive ". True. They can be pricey,  but quality products generally are. Let's compare pricing here: 
(We have a high deductible to meet, so all expenses would have been out of pocket)
Plan A: 
💰A trip to the ER for a stitch up while company was in from out of town (time)
💰A covid test (personally not a fan of this)
💰Time waiting in the emergency room with a bunch of other people who might actually be sick.
💰💰stitches (according to this article, on insurance,  it's 500$ per stitch  https://www.advisory.com/.../why-does-a-hospital-stitch... )
💰Avoiding a conversation as to what recommended toxins I should be adding to my body for the next 10 days. (priceless)
💰💰💰💰💰💰= roughly 1000$ or more (based on the link above, with insurance it probably would have been about 5 stitches)
OR
Plan B:
👀 Taking a look at my wound and recognizing that it was stitch worthy but relatively superficial.
* Applying the practical knowledge gleaned from reading and listening to others in our Young Living community. #PricelessEducation
*Having the tools on hand and having confidence in them. (Add Thieves foaming hand soap and Inner Defense to the list here)
💰 I estimate that I spent about 100$ on Plan B. 🙌🙏💗 #winnerwinner
Economics. Are our oils worth it? You betcha! 
Have a blessed Tuesday!
xoxo~ liz
www.goodmedicine.info (come learn alongside me!💗)
#frugalhealthandwellnessningja
#becauselifehappens
#betterthanbalingwireandducttape
#savingmoney 
#ThanksYL
#goodmedicine
PS: this post does not constitute medical advice!😘

Dr. Margarite Griesz- Brisson MD, Phd is a consultant neurologist and neurophysiologist with an additional PhD in pharmacology. She has a special focus in neurotoxicology, environmental medicine, neuroregeneration, and neuroplasticity. Those credentials certainly got my attention! 
This video and transcript is both fascinating and sobering. Here are just a couple of tidbits if you don't have time to read or watch:
* The human brain is very sensitive to oxygen deprivation... there are acute warning signs (headaches, drowsiness, dizziness, issues with concentration and cognition, and slowing down of reaction time). Over time, with chronic deprivation, those symptoms will disappear as the body adapts to "new normal", but the damage continues to occur whether you feel the symptoms or not. 
* Neurodegenerative diseases take years to decades to develop.... Dr. Griesz-Brisson is predicting an EXPONENTIAL INCREASE in dementia cases in the next decade thanks to #mandatorymaskingup. 
Please friends, the numbers don't lie. You have a greater chance of dying from a lightning strike⚡️ than the 'rona . I watched my dad walk thru dementia before he passed away 7 years ago, and it is a heartbreaking way to live out the sunset years of a life.  Is your brain function worth the oxygen deprivation? Medicine looks at something called risk versus benefit. If the risk of developing dementia does increase exponentially with #maskingup, is it worth it?
xoxo~ liz
www.goodmedicine.info
#sharingiscaring
#braverycomesinallforms
#thetruthisoutthereregardingtherona
#boostyourimmunesysteminstead
#Idlovetohelpyouhaveahealthywinterseason
#ThanksYL

​This past weekend, I co-hosted our 3rd annual Guns 'n Poses (yoga, health and wellness topics, and firearms instruction) event for our YL family. #memberperks Personal self care empowerment comes in many forms and it is something I deeply truly love about the Young Living lifestyle.....thru the application of what we learn from one another, we become more adept at being our own CEO of the temple that is our body.
My teaching topic for the event was frequency and how it relates to fear and how to raise your own frequency should you find it faltering. Fear is one of the lowest frequency emotions.  
Here are a few tidbits to chew on:
⚡️ Frequency is a term that measures electricity. It's not hoo hoo stuff... it's physics and biology. If you've ever had an EEG or EKG the frequency of your heart or brain has been measured.
⚡️ Certain emotions drive the body's frequency up or down. High frequency emotions are Joy, Freedom, Love, Empowerment, Happiness, Enthusiasm (and many more). 😃
Low frequency emotions include worry, frustration, doubt, anger, guilt, and others....... including fear. 😱Fear (chronic or acute) is one of the most damaging of all emotions..... especially the chronic variety. 
⚡️ Chronic fear is incredibly stressful to the body, and has been found to be equivalent to a pack of cigarettes a day habit.... not a place any of us wants our body to be in. Chronic fear is also quite hard on the immune system. 
The Bible says.... over 365 times.... "fear not." We are to have a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Tim 1:7) This is not simply a suggestion, it's also a health tip. 😉 We need to strive to live within  the higher frequency emotions and feelings so that we may retain a sound and strong mind and body. 
Lord knows this is something we need to be sharing far and wide right now! #2020hasbeenahotmess
Quick tips on raising your body's frequency:
⚡️ Work on getting your body more alkaline. (Fear and an acidic body tend to go hand in hand). Low voltage/frequency = low pH
Have you tried Alkalime (YL item #3199) ? It works to settle the belly, but it also gently raises the body's pH. 
⚡️ Positive thoughts drive positive emotions. Be kind, especially to yourself. We often tend to be our own worst critic. Words are powerful. Speak to yourself in love. Look into podcasts by Dr. Caroline Leaf if this is a struggle.
⚡️ Exercise! Grab your bottle of Motivation essential oil and use it if exercise is hard for you. The more you do it, the easier it will become. (promise!!)
 ⚡️  Ditch processed foods and focus on eating foods that have a positive electrical charge... Living whole foods!
⚡️  Make sure you are continuing to remove toxins from your lifestyle. Toxins are frequency zappers! We all have access to the cleanest products on the planet in the way of Thieves Household cleaner, our YL body and skin care products.... not to mention our Savvy Minerals (standard cosmetics are LOADED with toxins).
⚡️ Make sure you spend a little time in nature every single day, and disconnect when you are doing so (disconnect regularly even if you cannot get outside) ! (Leave your phone or laptop indoors while you enjoy the gifts God gave us). Electrically speaking, this is called "grounding". 
⚡️ High frequency oils are also very very helpful. Idaho Blue Spruce, Sacred Mountain, Rose, Joy, Forgiveness, Frankincense, Gentle Baby and Helichrysum are all in the higher frequency list. Apply topically or diffuse.  Diffusing any of these may be helpful in group situations too. (I call this my stealth happiness tool in group settings)
We are blessed to have all these tools available, making ourselves and our sphere of influence a less stressful, fear reduced environment. 
What's your "go to" in times of high stress or fear? I utilize all of the above depending on the situation, but my "go to" oils are Stress Away, Sacred Mountain, and Frankincense. 
xoxo~ liz
www.goodmedicine.info
#fearnot
#sharingiscaring 
#frequencyhealing
#goodmedicine
#knowbetterdobetter

There will never be a single tool to maintain and improve health, just like you wouldn't use a screwdriver when you really need a hammer. I stretch regularly, use my Young Living essential oils, Dolphin MPS myself when I can.... but occasionally, I can still feel when I'm out of alignment.... and when that happens, it's not just a structural snafu.... nerves can be pinched, and organs can start malfunctioning. Not coincidentally, the longer I felt my neck out of whack, congestion had started developing in my head and throat.😕
Yesterday, I made time to get adjusted by my chiropractor (thank you Newmyer Chiro in McKinney!) and could literally feel the congestion fade away once my neck and shoulders were back where they were supposed to be.
I tend to carry stress (and 50lb bags of animal feed!) on my shoulders, so it's no surprise.
I feel much more balanced and healthier this morning! 
What's an "out of the box" tool you use with great results? 
xoxo~ liz
www.goodmedicine.info
#fitnessfriday
#useyourtools
#oilsandchiroforthewinonthisone
#ThanksYL