By Anthony Stewart, FCCI, Executive Director

Which Oil Should I Use?

Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Simple

$49.95

Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Simple –  Whether you have a background in chemistry or not, you will understand and enjoy this book. It will enlighten and entertain you while demonstrating, by the chemistry of essential oils, that God’s power and divine nature can be seen through the things he has made. 

(Romans 1:20) 

Upcoming Care Events

Health Tip:

from Lora Lee Stewart, FCCI

Acid Reflux and the Monster of Stomach Issues

When I was a kid, growing up, I remember all of the ads on TV about Pepto Bismal and how it helps with indigestion or upset stomachs.

It wasn’t until much later in my life that doctors began referring to this ailment as “Acid Reflux!” When I first heard of Acid Reflux, I thought, {“Man, they just want to give a name to a common ailment so they can sell their new prescription drugs!”} And that is so true!

If you notice, in today’s society, when a new prescription drug is available, often it is accompanied by a new ailment or a new name for an ailment that has been around for years! Interesting!

Well, we DO acknowledge, that Heartburn, Indigestion, Upset Stomach (now known as Acid Reflux) exists in a huge number of us these days! Nexium is probably the most commonly prescribed drug for this long-time malady! Prilosec OTC is probably the most common over-the-counter remedy for this malady. But what do these medicines actually do to us? Upon closer inspection, they neutralize the acids in our stomach so that we don’t have flare-ups or upset stomachs. They seem to work for most people…. They do their job quite well. However, we actually NEED to have these natural acids in our stomachs in order to properly digest our food! So, neutralizing the acids causes poor or improper digestion which can cause OTHER stomach and digestion problems!

WOW! It’s a double-edged sword! So, what can we do? Our digestive system is really THE most essential process in our bodies. Our bodies rely on a constant source of Vital Energy (Called the Vital Force) in order to maintain health. We receive this “natural energy” through fresh air that we breathe and through the digestion of nutritious, healthy, foods that we eat. When our digestive system is compromised, (as it tends to be when we take prescription drugs or eat foods that are not nutritious or healthy) our bodies are not able to digest the nutritious, healthy foods that we do eat, therefore, we are unable to liberate the vital force within this food, and, therefore, our natural energy is low. When our natural energy declines, we are even MORE unable to digest things properly! It’s a vicious cycle that our bodies begin to circulate. So when you hear practitioners or doctors express the importance of “taking care of your gut,” HEED THEIR WORDS!

Here are some tips.

ONE ESSENTIAL thing that you can do EVERY morning when you wake up is drink 3 cups (24 ounces) of cool, pure water on an empty stomach. Do this as soon as you rise in the morning! Be sure it is cool water, not warm or hot. You don’t want to drink ice water either…. Just cool (room temperature, or perhaps slightly cooler). If water is too cold or you put ice in it, what happens is it shocks your body and suspends all of your stomach activity! However, room temperature or slightly cooler water will stimulate the stomach activity and encourage and promote healthy operations…

So why not warm or hot water? Warm or hot water tends to relax the stomach and other organs, therefore slowing their operations completely. This activity in the morning should be performed 45 minutes to an hour BEFORE eating any food. If you eat food prior to allowing the cool water to “do its job” then you will not receive any of its great effects! This cool water technique will stimulate the stomach muscles and lining, as well as all of your other bodily organs.

It will help cleanse your body, reduce acids formed from fermented foods in your stomach, it will also serve as a natural laxative, gently helping foods to process completely and sending them all the way down to your descending colon! If you can begin by performing this one task every day, you will see a world of difference. However, throughout the day, it is essential that you drink AT LEAST ½ of your body weight in ounces of water. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, you need to drink AT LEAST 100 ounces of water every day! If your digestive system is working at its peak performance, you should have 2-3 bowel movements daily with ease.

Of course, eating a non-inflammatory diet will also help in healing your digestive system. There are also some herbal supplements that you can take that will help, as well as some essential oils that might aid in the healing process. There are herbal cleanses that you can do that would help in “resetting” the bodily functions and allow them to work at their optimal levels.

For more information about some of these supplements, essential oils or cleanses that might help you along your journey, contact your nearest Young Living Brand Partner or contact the CARE Office at: 1-800-758-8629. Here’s to your health and wellness!

Raindrop Messenger Featured Book

God’s Existence – Can Science Prove It?

$5.95

Can God’s existence be scientifically proven?  In this treatise Dr. David Stewart thoroughly explores this question with a depth of understanding.  Being both a scientist and a theologian he was always intrigued by how these two fields related to one another.  In this booklet David explores the connection between God and science, and the possible…

Featured Instructor: Kristi Zittle , FCCI

Hello! I’m Kristi Zittle! I’m a fully certified C.A.R.E. instructor with a strong passion for learning and sharing knowledge in a fun and easy-to-understand manner. I was introduced to Raindrop in Claremore, Oklahoma, through the teachings of Carrie McVige and Curtis Eastin shortly after joining Young Living. Initially, I took the training to help my 14-year-old daughter with atypical migraines. However, witnessing how Emotional Release transformed my own life, made me realize that everyone should learn these techniques and information.

As an instructor for C.A.R.E., I’ve traveled to various parts of the world, including Canada, South America, Australia, and several countries in Asia, to teach. I have helped hundreds of students over the years and have also served as a mentor and champion for those aiming for certification and instructor status. I greatly value connection and community, and I cherish the family-like atmosphere among the Stewart’s and all current and past C.A.R.E. instructors.

By Anthony Stewart, FCCI, Executive Director

10 Reasons to Learn Raindrop from a CARE Instructor

Anthony Stewart demonstrating Raindrop Technique for CCIs.

1. Personal Attention from an Experienced Instructor
   
   When you attend a CARE Raindrop class (which is a total of 8 hours, usually broken into two 4-hour parts) you will watch a skillful instructor demonstrate and explain all parts of the Raindrop Technique. This is followed by 6 hours of guided practice for the students. We limit our Raindrop and Vitaflex classes to only ten students per instructor so that each attendee can receive personal attention and correction from the instructor. This is vital so that students can gain more than just a brief visual of how a Raindrop should look. In this setting students have the opportunity to execute every Vitaflex, every Feather Stroke, and every part of Raindrop with the faithful guidance and correction of a seasoned instructor. Certified CARE Instructors have completed at least 164 hours of thorough training, practice, testing, and annual skills checks to ensure that they are teaching and demonstrating correctly.
   
   
2. Faithfulness and Consistency in Raindrop Technique
   
   Our founders, David and Lee Stewart, learned Raindrop in January of 2000 from Gary Young (the originator) in Dallas, Texas. They took detailed notes from each session that Gary demonstrated the technique, and then took loving care to practice it exactly the way Gary taught it and put all the parts of Raindrop into easy-to-understand notes. You will find this version of Raindrop (sometimes referred to as the “Dallas Version”) still today in the Raindrop Notes that you receive when you take a CARE class. Over the years there have been many different versions of Raindrop Technique in the public eye. Some of these variations have come out of an attempt to make it simpler to teach large groups of people. David and Lee made a decision to remain faithful to the more complex and complete Raindrop that Gary Young taught in Dallas, and to limit Raindrop classes to only ten people so that students could really learn how to do a successful Raindrop. One of the reasons that we as CARE Instructors have an annual skills check is to make sure that we are all teaching Raindrop in the same way. While making some variations to a Raindrop session may be appropriate to fit the needs of a client, we find it is best to master the basics and become familiar with Raindrop in its original form first.
   
   
3. Extensive Training in Vitaflex
   
   When you take Raindrop from a CARE Instructor, you will first receive 4 hours of training in Applied Vitaflex. Some of these techniques are necessary to learn before doing Raindrop. But in addition to these, students will learn many other forms of Vitaflex that can help improve hearing, support the lungs, bronchial tubes, sinuses, relieve neck pain and headaches, improve lymphatic function, support the heart, and even lengthen a leg that is shorter than the other. Vitaflex consists of several techniques to address these and more. In a CARE class you will also learn how to implement oils along with Vitaflex to make the techniques even more powerful.
   
   
4. What if My Raindrop Client Has an Emotional Release While on the Table?
   
   The sense of smell is different than the other four senses. Unlike taste, touch, hearing, and sight, the sense of smell goes directly to the limbic system of the brain where emotions and memories are processed. If you have ever had a Raindrop, you know that it is a powerfully aromatic event. There are times that a client may spontaneously release emotionally while on the massage table. This may manifest in a variety of ways, and it is helpful for a Raindrop facilitator to understand what is happening and how to help the client move through this. CCCIs, FCCIs, and LCCIs teach CARE Intensives where students will learn in the Emotional Release class how emotions work, how they are stored in the body, and how to gently release emotions when needed. In this class students are given a basic understanding of what to do if a client starts to release during a Raindrop.
   
   
5. A Scientific Basis for Using Essential Oils
   
   In a CARE Intensive students learn about the unique chemistry of essential oils, and why they work so well with our bodies. Some people do not feel it necessary to understand the science behind the oils and would use them anyway simply because they work. But many of your Raindrop clients may want to glean from your knowledge to understand why they work, and why certain oils are used in Raindrop Technique and otherwise. CARE Instructors that are certified to do so teach 6 hours in Chemistry of Essential Oils within the intensive, and this class will often amaze even the most skeptic of skeptics.
   
   
6. A Scriptural Basis for Using Essential Oils
   
   One of CARE’s foundational classes is the History of Anointing and Laying on of Hands, aka Healing Oils of the Bible. Here we search through the scriptures and find a spiritual and practical basis for using oils topically and aromatically as we look at the people in both the Old and New Testaments that used these aromatics for healing. You and I may have friends and family who fear that essential oils go against their faith. This class answers many questions one may have about the Bible, and how God has gifted these precious oils from the plants for us to use. This is a 2-hour class and is based on David Stewart’s book Healing Oils of the Bible.
   
   
7. 25 Continuing Education Hours through NCBTMB
   
   CARE is an approved provider for the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. CARE Intensives are worth 25 CE hours, and Seminars are 12-14 CE hours. And this is good news if you have a massage license or if you are a bodyworker!
   
   
8. Become a Certified Raindrop Technique Specialist
   
   While many students simply want to gain the knowledge and skills from CARE classes so that they can do Raindrop on family and friends and address their own health needs, others choose to pursue the pathway of becoming certified so that they can legally accept clients and charge for services. Taking a 25-hour CARE Intensive is the beginning steps to completing this goal. In the course students learn how they can continue and become a Certified Raindrop Technique Specialist (CRTS) and Licensed Spiritual Healer (LSH).
   
   
9. Become a Certified CARE Instructor
   
   While each of our CARE Instructors have a unique background story, they all started their CARE journey by completing all five of CARE’s classes: Raindrop Technique, Vitaflex, Chemistry of Essential Oils, Emotional Release, and History of Anointing and Laying on of Hands. Often, students have no initial interest in teaching the CARE curriculum, but as the information and techniques learned make an impression, many choose to pursue a teaching career with CARE. Becoming a CARE Instructor is a wonderful way to share the gift of this empowering knowledge with others in your community and around the world. For us, this is a calling to help empower people with their health. If you feel such a calling in your life, talk to your CARE Instructor, or call the CARE office at 1-800-758-8629.
   
   
10. Not Just an Instructor
    
    Many of our students discover that their CARE Instructor is not just a teacher, but often our instructors become friends and mentors to the students. A great commonality I see in our instructors is that they “care” about their students, and often make themselves available beyond just teaching for a few hours during class time. CARE classes are a unique setting, where what is learned is not limited only to the vast wealth of information, but it is information with a heart and soul embodied in our instructors. CARE reaches people in a way that I have never before seen in any other setting. The program set forth by our founders is something very special.

CARE Instructors checking each other’s Raindrop and Vitaflex skills at CCI Summit.

Upcoming Care Events

Health Tip:

from Lora Lee Stewart, FCCI

Myrtle Oil and the Feelings of
Anger and Divisiveness and Healing the “Abdominal” Brain

What feelings come about when you think of Memorial Day? Perhaps such feelings as pride, patriotism, gratefulness, and humbleness, to name a few. However, Memorial Day is about remembering those who fought for our freedom. Why do we continually need to fight for our freedom? In our world today, as even in yesteryears long past, we are surrounded by anger, hate, divisiveness, rage, sadness, and hurt just for starters. We find ourselves filled with contradicting emotions, sometimes too overwhelming to overcome when we are faced with trials and tribulations on a regular basis. It’s all part of life! If only life could just be a nice bowl of ice cream every day! But it’s not…

Why even discuss this? Emotions and negative thoughts and feelings are statistically the number one cause of our major diseases! Studies have shown that most diseases stem from different stresses in our lives and unresolved feelings and emotions. Christians around the world recently celebrated Easter and Jesus’ resurrection and Jewish people celebrated the Passover. One of the central themes around these two historical events is that of being in exile. This is a highly relevant theme in this modern era characterized by divisiveness and separation between countries, among those with differing beliefs, within families, relationships etc. Also, the circumstances of modern existence cause many individuals to conform to the ideas and expectations of others, thus becoming enmeshed in a mode of socially controlled behavior and consequently estranged from his or her true soul nature.

Myrtle Oil is one of the leading essential oils that offers support to those dealing with these feelings of anger, divisiveness, exile, abandonment, low self-esteem, among many other negative thoughts and emotions. We can look to the Book of Esther in the Bible. Her story was a great example of how one Jew had the strength and courage to save her entire civilization from complete annihilation.

Esther wasn’t even her real name, once made Queen of Persia, she was given that name. Her actual Jewish name was Hadassah- meaning myrtle tree or branch. She kept her Jewish identity secret and followed her Divine guidance to lead the Jewish nation from exile and into freedom and safety.

Myrtle Oil proves very effective in supporting or helping with the following symptoms or emotions: anger, blame, frustration, anxiety, fear, fear of illness and/or death, despair, lack of composure, distraction, materialistic yearnings, insomnia, low self-esteem. It also promotes feelings of self-worth; it helps one overcome emotional repression by encouraging verbal expression; it has the ability to sedate the lower mind and enhance the connection with the higher self and intuitive process, thereby bringing knowledge and understanding.

Another oil I’d like to discuss is Blue Chamomile (Also known as German Chamomile) and its support of a healthy “Abdominal” Brain (or, in other words, OUR GUT!) Dr. Michael Gershon is a noted expert in the field of neurogastroenterology (also author of the book, The Second Brain¹) who has performed ground-breaking research revealing that our human bodies do, in fact, have a second “brain”- Our “Abdominal Brain” i.e. our gut.

How many times have you been in a situation where you had a “gut instinct” and when you didn’t follow that “gut instinct” you regretted it? I know that has happened to me NUMEROUS times! I know now, I need to listen to my “gut instincts” because they are always right! These “gut instincts” are the actual biological function of our “second brain.” In fact, some researchers suggest that our abdominal brain is actually our “first” brain rather than the “second,” hypothesizing that it may have evolved in animals long before the cranial brain took its current form.² SO, in light of this, don’t you now realize how VERY important it is to maintain a healthy gut? IT IS ESSENTIAL!

Blue Chamomile (also German Chamomile) has been used for millenniums as a medicinal plant; it is sometimes referred to as “the plant doctor” because some have observed that it supports the growth and well-being of other plants, especially those that produce essential oils such as mints.³ This herbal remedy has been used for thousands of years throughout ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. It is part of the Asteraceae family. The reason that many call it “Blue” Chamomile, is that it contains the naturally occurring constituent, chamazulene, that gives the essential oil a deeply rich blue color.

German Chamomile essential oil (Blue Chamomile) offers the following therapeutic actions: anodyne (reduces pain), anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, carminative (aids in digestion, bloating, sleep), cholagogue (promotes bile flow), immune stimulant (stimulates infection-fighting white blood cells, including macrophages and B-lymphocytes), nervine (calms the nervous system), sedative, stomachic and bitter tonic. It also promotes and supports a normal, healthy outlook during PMS.

This “plant doctor” has been found to be useful in the treatment of the following symptoms: nervous tension, irritability, anxiety, hysteria, insomnia, inflammation, digestive disorders, including indigestion, heartburn, colic, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, peptic ulcers, hiatus hernia, hemorrhoids, spleen weakness. This powerful essential oil also offers support for an array of emotional issues, including: anger, nervous tension, fear, timidity, anxiety, impatience, irritability related to menopause and PMS.

Both of these essential oils, if purchased from Young Living Essential Oils, can be applied to various reflex points on the body or taken internally in a gel pill capsule. The oils may also be diffused for up to 1 hour 3 times per day. German Chamomile can actually be applied topically to soothe minor skin irritations. If you would like to obtain these powerful oils or learn how essential oils can drastically improve your health, contact the CARE office at: 1-800-758-8629 or contact your nearest Young Living Essential Oils Brand Partner.

A final thought: Our understanding of health and disease today is largely shaped by allopathic medical dogma and pharmaceutical industry indoctrination. However, the power to cure disease resides only within OUR bodies! That innate power cannot fully prevail until the fundamental elements of life and health, in necessary measure, have been set in place, namely: proper diet, pure water, fresh air, sunlight, adequate exercise, warmth, rest and sleep, emotional harmony and proper posture.⁴ A forgotten “fundamental element” is fresh air. How often do you take an “Airbath?” What is an “Airbath?” It’s simply allowing your body to be drenched by the fresh air completely unclothed! It sounds crazy, I know! However, it is something that many of our forefathers, including Benjamin Franklin, participated in regularly and frequently! The best times are in the fresh morning hours or right before bedtime. It is best performed outside in the open air; however, if this is not possible, it can be achieved inside with open windows in a well-ventilated room. This Airbath can last anywhere from 1 minute to 1 hour, depending on the ability of the skin to react and rewarm itself quickly, and also depending on the season of the year. This should be a pleasant experience. One does not want to become too chilled. Afterwards, rub down the skin with a dry towel. This will help your body rewarm itself, thereby, bringing an immediate flow of blood which cleanses the cells! Try this simple health-giving gift! You’ll be amazed by its benefits! I hope you enjoy time with family and friends during this month’s Memorial Day weekend celebrations! Here’s to your health and well-being!

REFERENCES:

1. Gershon, Michael. The Second Brain: A Groundbreaking New Understanding of Nervous Disorders of the Stomach and Intestine. New York. Harper-Collins. 1998.

2. Spencer, Nick J. et al. Long-range synchronization within the enteric nervous system underlies propulsion along the large intestine in mice. Communications Biology. August 10, 2021.

3. Berkowsky, Bruce. Soothing the Abdominal Brain with Synergy of Blue Chamomile Essential Oil, Labradorite Gemstone Essence and Blue Light Therapy.  Nature’s Therapies E-Journal. April 16, 2024

4. Berkowsky, Bruce. The Airbath: A Simple Health-Building Nature’s Therapy. Nature’s Therapies E-Journal. July 7, 2011

Raindrop Messenger Featured Book

The ABC’s of Building a Young Living Organization

$9.95

The ABC’s of Building a Young Living Organization by Karen L. Hopkins – Essential oils are God’s gift to humankind. Karen has diligently and tirelessly taught hundreds of people how they can improve the health of themselves and their families and increase their happiness, and abundance.

Featured Instructor: Sherry Cummings Strayer, FCCI, LMT, BSN, BCRS, LSH, CCT II, CNHP

MY JOURNEY INTO C.A.R.E.

My Introduction to Center for Aromatherapy Research & Education began as a Young Living Distributor. My sister and I attended a number of Young Living conventions in the early days when we became members around 2002.  It was the rare occasion that Young Living would go to another city, but in 2007, they were in Washington D.C., so Robyn and I went since it was so close to home. It was there that I had my first Raindrop by Christina Hagan.  It was intriguing and I recall asking lots of questions! She was patient and informative….and told me about some ‘classes’ I could take to learn more!  I was thrilled, and in 2008, Robyn and I attended our first CARE Intensive in VA, 8 hours from our home. (This reminds me that when someone wants our education badly enough, they will find a way to us!)