Earlier this week, I posted a call for help to the incredible needs of Nepal in the aftermath of last weekend's devastating earthquake. It was also a promotion of wellness through the purchase of essential oils for your own needs. (Read "Give Wellness; Get Wellness") Since then, yet another opportunity has risen to assist with disaster relief, through the very company with which I work. 

dōTERRA International has a growing and sustainable reputation as a business who is committed to their mission of offering high quality essential oils globally, as well as opportunities of personal development for its advocates sharing the love. Additionally, their consciousness for renewability practices through native regional harvesting and co-impact sourcing separates them from any other multi-level marketing company out there. 

Perhaps most philanthropically notable is doTERRA's Healing Hands Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to improving lives through partnering with organizations that offer hope to millions around the world. Because of their close working and personal relationship with Nepal, they have committed to a first donation of $100,000 to their local relief partners. All of YOUR donations made to the Healing Hands Foundation through the month of May will be matched by doTERRA International up to $500,000 for targeted Nepal humanitarian relief. Amazing!

You can also help the Nepal recovery efforts by purchasing doTERRA’s Healing Hands Rose Lotion. One hundred percent of your purchase of this lovely Bulgarian rose CPTG® essential oil infused hand lotion will be donated to dōTERRA's Healing Hands Foundation. A perfect Mother's Day gift!

Shop today at www.mydoterra.com/mountaingaia

Human nature lends us to seek ways of helping in times of high need. Along with locally-tied Planet-Med, who is attempting to hand-deliver hundreds of tents and sleeping bags, one of our locally-based Himalayan tour guide companies, which currently has two groups near Mount Everest is lending relief. "One four-person outfit with the company has chosen to forgo its planned trek and assist American Red Cross efforts", according to one of our local papers. 

There are so many well-recognized relief organizations already in existence for global disaster situations, as well as new fundraisers and campaigns being formed by the minute in an effort to assist fellow mankind in its darkest hours, days, weeks, and maybe years ahead. While you may be inundated with requests and petitions to donate, please consider my offer as another soul in the quest of reaching out with the tools I have on hand.

As you continue to procure a well-life for your own family, now might be a great time to add essential oils to your toolbox. Now through the month of May, Mountain Gaia is offering to donate 25% of your retail purchases of doTERRA products through my online store for relief efforts in the most needed areas of Nepal. This money will go to the two campaigns below. To check them out or donate directly to them, click on the buttons below the images.

To give wellness, get your wellness first at www.mydoterra.com/mountaingaia. Thank you & Namaste!

1. Because everyone I know does it?
        2. Because it's something I've heard I should do for my body?
                3. Because it could support some vital systems for my overall wellness...
                        ...like increased energy, decreased GI discomfort, improved mood, clear skin, balanced 
                        hormones, stabilized food cravings, and even clarity of thought and decision-making?
                                                                                   
                                                                              BINGO!

Okay, now that I've identified my "whys", how do I find out which cleanses do what, or if there's an off-chance there could possibly be a cleanse so comprehensive to attend to my total wellness?
What am I willing to put my body through and/or give up? My perception has always been that a cleanse has to involve sacrifices and perhaps be painful to work. From colonics to coffee enemas, juicing to green smoothies, vegan-only to "The Master Cleanse" (which Beyonce made popular), it's tough to know what's really going to do your body good - without harm, not only in the short term, but for the long haul. I don't want to succumb to a fad, but rather find a lifelong system of support with intermittent intense attention.

I spent a lot of time researching, watching various webinars, and reading a lot of articles, which led me on various potentially dangerous, but curious tangents of self-diagnosis, as there are many reasons people "cleanse". Shape magazine says that 2014 was the year of the cleanse diet, so it wasn't hard to find plenty of material. But what I was looking for was not a lose-weight-quick starvation diet that kept surfacing in all of my Googling. I'm not into drinking strange tea concoctions or limiting my diet to juices, nor am I willing to cut out whole grains, fruits, and dairy like so many others try to tackle. Rather, I wanted a "cleanse" that allowed me to eat balanced and attends to the true meaning of the word: cleansing my body of the inevitable build-up of toxins that we are constantly exposed to - from pesticides, disinfectants, gases, and metals that may be stressing our filtering systems. In time, as we age and/or live in unavoidable toxicity, our naturally-produced enzymes just aren't able to support the liver, kidneys, colon, lungs, and skin any longer. The domino effect of this shows up in our deteriorated mood, decreased energy, fuzzy focus, crappy complexion, dull hair, achy joints, inflammation, irritable gut, and additionally for women, adverse pre-, peri-, and post-menstrual symptoms. In extreme cases, our bodies become a breeding ground for abnormal amounts of yeast, which in some theories, open the door to cancer.

Coincidentally, this "system" I was hoping to find turned up in my own backyard. doTERRA! The very company that's quickly been earning my trust, and thus the singing of accolades for their essential oils, has what I was looking for. It's called the "Cleanse & Restore" system, also referenced as "Cleanse, Renew, & Restart". It consists of several easy-to-digest, readily absorbable and useable supplements to be taken in addition to a balanced diet and LOTS of water. I listened to tutorials and testimonies, and read through each product guide. I'm no nutritionist, but I did put in a few good years in upper level college health, fitness, and sports medicine courses, so I know enough to say this shtuff's for real! Literally, with doTERRA's uberconscious business practice in wellness, true to their Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade standards, their supplements don't skimp on prime-potent whole-food nutrients, extracts, enzymes, minerals, fibers, and essential oils for healing.

I'm currently in day 23 of this cleanse - I have one week left of the more "intense" or focused part of the system, and I'm anxious to report when the month is over.  It doesn't mean that everything I'm taking will suddenly stop going into my body. These products are meant to be on-going support at different intervals of intensity. doTERRA intends for the 10-day GX Assist and PB Assist+ relay to be repeated once each month or once every three months. My current plan is to get through Day 30 and cut back to the Zendocrine Essential Oil Blend, Lemon, and the Daily Nutrient Pack of the Omegas and Food Nutrients, as well as the Mito2Max for energy. I will also continue taking the Phytoestrogen supplement for additional hormonal support. Because I don't tend to eat processed foods, I will only take the TerraZyme as needed. (Read about all of these below.)

I will emphasize the consumption of water with the anticipation that your gut may overreact at times. There have been some foggy days mixed with lethargy and headaches as well. But if there's anything to be said about how I tend to do business on the outside and it's translation to my insides, there's gotta be some increased chaotic crap (literally, ewe!) before the house gets clean! 

If you have yet to experience doTERRA's Powerfully Natural Wellness Products, maybe now's the time with a Spring Cleanse! Click on the image below of the Enrollment Kit designed specifically for this!
Included is you're $35 enrollment fee that gives you savings of 25% off retail for one year.

*Note this does not come with the Zendocrine™ Detoxification Complex.

As days get longer and warmer, the earth reveals itself - emerging from winter dormancy and embarking on a new season of growth and abundance. 

While we are thankful for the seasonal changes, 35 million Americans will suffer through spring as our immune systems mistakenly see pollen as foreign invaders and our antibodies go to war! This reaction releases chemicals called histamines into the blood, which are the culprits for runny noses, itchy eyes, and wheezy breath. 

Most sufferers live on synthetic antihistamines and decongestants or prescription medications to include steroids through the allergy season. I was one of these, for years opting into this "bandaid" approach, as my allergist referred to my prescribed regimen. Many choose to receive a "more natural" solution through allergy shots several times during the year for relief. Patients receive small but increasing quantities of the specific pollens, dust, pet dander and/or molds to which they are allergic. It is like getting vaccinated for allergies. It changes the way your immune system responds, thus reducing the allergic response, and theoretically the amount of medications you will need to control your symptoms for a handful of years. Still others feel a little eeked out by injecting the very allergens they are trying to avoid into their bodies, and are looking for a less invasive and more affordable solution, with the convenience of mobility, and independent flexibility of self-dosing.

doTerra essential oils, in all of their Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade glory, have the power to relieve the season's debilitating symptoms and provide the latter qualities of what many people search for in a remedy. There is a reason that doTerra's Introductory Kit contains the three oils it does. Individually, Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint offer support for a multitude of symptoms, and together, with their ability to maintain clear breathing and a healthy inflammatory response, kick sensitivities to the dirt. Lavender's notable soothing qualities with Lemon's cleansing properties and Peppermint's invigorating components provide a naturally therapeutic blend to support us through the spring blooms. 

What is our protocol for spring season symptoms?

• Topically - 15 drops each in a roller-bottle, topped off with Fractionated Coconut Oil and applied to sinuses (avoid eyes!), back of the neck, along the spine, on the chest, and bottoms of feet.
• Aromatically - Three drops each in a diffuser for a roomful of relief.
• Internally - One drop each in a glass of water a couple times a day. 
• For convenience-sake, doTerra makes a pre-mixed blend of these three super oils in quick-digest veggie caps appropriately called TriEase. Love these lil' gems! Follow directions on bottle.

Get your spring support at www.mydoterra.com/mountaingaia 

Ah, a week off coming right up! Only a zillion and one things to do in the next few days before we hit the road westward to our old stomping grounds of Oregon, but once we throw the lines off, we can take a deep breath. We're excited to remove ourselves from the daily grind and reconnect with family for a bit.

Coming along for the ride is our tote of "essentials" - our essential oils - our go to natural resources for anything that comes up. Funny, I can hardly remember how we coped without them. How do you cope without them? My guess is, the same way we did: with synthetic OTCs and prescription drugs. 
When that's all you know, that's how you roll. 

This is why I want to introduce you to doTERRA. To get you rolling with a new knowledge - new tools for your health and the wellness of your family. What doTERRA offers in terms of certified pure therapeutic grade essential oils has changed the way we remedy ourselves. We've become empowered to manage our own health and be independent wellness advocates for ourselves and others.

Our hope is to spread the love - to cultivate this independence and this balance in your lives. Take a minute to inventory your sick days you've taken for the team. Of course this doesn't magically disappear, but it can be drastically reduced with natural remedies, namely here: essential oils.

If you've read this far, I'd like to think you're even a little bit interested. I would LOVE to share while on the road, get you rolling with, and support you in your education of oils. 

We'll be in the Bend area next Sunday-Tuesday, and on the other side of the mountains just east of Salem Wednesday and Thursday. If you are in proximity, please give a shout-out. I'm coming prepared to put myself in front of a gaggle of gals and guys in the name of wellness!

Of course, if we don't connect in person, jump on my website at www.mountaingaia.com. 

Health is Happiness!

~Annie