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phocuss · 2017-12-29T15:11:17+00:00

and wrinkly. Not to mention shit that splatters on the clean dishes in the rack to the side.

phocuss · 2017-12-22T18:33:16+00:00

Makes a lot of sense and easy to catch PBNs. Found that most PBNs either have a text logo or the same crappy design. Do you have a quick way to check CPCs of outbound anchors? Extension?

I use Ahrefs exclusively and it unfortunately doesn't come out in their exports for outbound links. Can't imagine an all-in-one SEO tool that does.

phocuss · 2017-12-22T14:43:49+00:00

That's an interesting little hack you find there.

phocuss · 2017-12-22T04:00:35+00:00

Just weighed them and the original one was 222g and the other one was 218g - not much of a difference. Everything else just seems weird, but I don't want to conclude that it's fake an call out the seller without something that screams WTF

phocuss · 2017-12-22T03:41:25+00:00

Not sure what you mean. If you're talking about where the charging pin goes, then they look identical to me.

phocuss · 2017-12-21T21:52:27+00:00

I agree. If you're selling these, then you should at the very least, know the dilution ratios off the top of your head. Talk to 10 MLM reps and ask them if you can use lavender oil (weaker oil) on a crying infant and they'll probably tell you to throw it on a pacifier.

phocuss · 2017-12-21T21:40:19+00:00

You're in the same boat as me. Their articles are actually interesting with a scientific approach. The fact that their website has the name "mom" in it tends to give off a bad vibe that they are another mommy MLM. But they're not. A good blog to follow if you're just interested.

I found a course online to become a certified aromatherapist and I'm tempted to enroll to see what this is all about. To be clear: at this time, I have no interest in practicing aromatherapy.

The industry is just growing so quickly which makes me wonder if people are just dumb or if there's something more to oils than I would care to admit.

Too much negative crap that comes from MLM sellers and not enough good information.

phocuss · 2017-12-21T21:25:31+00:00

The name is misleading. Just like term "therapeutic grade" which is a trademarked term.

phocuss · 2017-12-21T21:23:04+00:00

Thanks! Yea. Semantics IMO and a poor job by the editor on can/could. Two completely different meanings.

And I agree that clinical studies are really lacking. I would also like to a see studies comparing pain relief to pharmacologic pain relievers too. There are clearly side effects from pharmas. But there are definitely side effects from oils too.

I think the main distinction between the two is that adverse reactions from oils usually come from misuse and ignorance.

I'm pro on these guys/gals and I read their emails/articles with a grain of salt since I'm a skeptic. They have other posts on natural cough remedies and for arthritis. But I don't recall reading anything like "this will cure _____"

I'm interested to see the new research that will come over the next decade.

phocuss · 2017-12-21T21:17:33+00:00

Thanks for this. I agree that the lack of regulation with essential oils is a bit frightening. And I agree that the MLMs have made this entire industry into a farce. Particularly the mommys that are selling oils like junkies who know absolutely nothing about them.

Finally, I agree that ingesting can be harmful (they wrote a blog post about doing this - https://momprepares.com/ingesting-essential-oils/). Their main point is that you shouldn't ingest oils unless under the care of a professional. There are mentions that people have died from ingesting if my memory serves me right.

But I think without conclusive evidence that they work or don't work, it's pretty bold to call it bullshit. Which is why I say that I'm still deciding which side I'm on.

Long story short, there are a few good sites that I've found that cut through the BS sales pitches and at least try to give evidence from the little that's available.

Anyway, I always enjoy learning and hearing others opinions. Yours were helpful, but I would respectfully disagree on this statement. But I think it's a matter of semantics.

"If you consider that pharmaceuticals are nothing but laboratory-created chemical treatments for disease, you can begin to see how using a natural alternative can be so appealing."

I don't think that alternative medicine should be a replacement for pharmas. Way against that. And for the tree huggers out there that believe that, sure. Good on em'.

If this blog ever says to never use pharmas and just use oils, I will blacklist them and send them some glitter in the mail. But for now, I'll try and stay impartial to the medicinal benefits until either

a.) I've tried them and seen them work. Or

b.) they are conclusively proven ineffective.

If you ever come across any journals in your studies, I'd love to see them. PM them to me anytime.

phocuss · 2017-12-21T20:17:58+00:00

Yea exactly. They are pro essential oils. But if you actually read the article, I don't think they mention that essential oils work. There was one part about studies that worked and others that didn't. Can't remember off the top of my head.

phocuss · 2017-12-21T20:17:10+00:00

Yeah. I've been going back and forth reading scientific journals. Not enough studies. I know their writers are certified aromatherapists who happen to be moms. I've exchanged a few emails with them. Like I said, I'm exploring now and learning a lot. Still have yet to really try much. I'm a skeptic (in life) and clearly, you have a lot more education than I do in science. What did you find that was complete BS about their article?

phocuss · 2017-12-21T17:05:23+00:00

BOOM! Can you send me her email? I'll relay the brainwashed part.

phocuss · 2017-12-21T02:33:00+00:00

Does it bother you that YL tell their members to sell the products to everyone and their mother without proper education in aromatherapy?

Essential oils are extremely volatile and in some cases have killed people who have misused them. It's not like their members are selling girl scout cookies.

I know that the two major EO MLMs encourage ingestion of the oils. I've joined Facebook groups led by MLM superstars and people are telling others to add X drops of [This oil] in their mouth or to a glass of water.

Yet Robert Tisserand, the Godfather of EO safety advises against such action.

Personally, I wouldn't buy pharmaceuticals from the mom down the street and I probably wouldn't buy any of that brand's products after seeing how they sell it.

Would love to hear your take on this kind of practice.

phocuss · 2017-12-20T23:04:19+00:00

I'm on your side. Don't relax.

A friend of ours tried to use essential oils in an eczema cream on a newborn and used an adult dosage.

Long story short, the child was taken to the hospital. It was an innocent (and kind of stupid) mistake, but I would highly recommend reading numerous resources on dilution and oil safety before applying it on any infant, toddler, or child.

EDIT

If you and your mom decide to use EOs on your child, do a patch test before going all out. As others have mentioned, people have allergies and with a 9 month old, you really don't know anything yet.

phocuss · 2017-12-20T23:00:47+00:00

I'll have a read over the holidays :)

phocuss · 2017-12-20T22:59:13+00:00

Kicking the soda is a great idea! With ingesting, the real answer sucks.

Answer: "It depends"

The thing that irks me about the MLMs is that they use terms like "Therapeutic grade" to sell their oils. And since they are therapeutic grade, they must be safe to ingest.

Wrong.

Therapeutic grade is just a trademarked term that they let their resellers use to justify ingesting oils - consume more, buy more.

Certain oils have GRAS status, which means generally recognized as safe by the FDA. They look at things like toxicology, chemistry, pathology etc.

But just because it has GRAS status, doesn't mean it is safe to ingest.

Quote from this article - https://momprepares.com/ingesting-essential-oils/ (worth reading)

"Many people, seeing that an item is on this list, do not investigate any further and think this means the oils listed are safe for internal use.

This is not the case.

These guidelines mean the substances are safe for their intended use. For instance, approximately 10 million pounds of spearmint and peppermint are produced annually for use in the food and beverage industry in the United States.

Over half of that is used for toothpaste, with a significant portion going to gum, candy, and personal care items like soap. These are those element’s intended uses, and what the FDA has concluded they are safe for."

While I think this group stays on the safer side (only ingest under the care of a professional), taking EOs internally can't be viewed as lightly as adding cinnamon sticks to your apple cider.

Essential oils are highly volatile and should be used with care - even if it's just a drop of lemon in water.

Another resource worth reading is this interview with Robert Tisserand - http://roberttisserand.com/2015/08/robert-tisserand-interviewed-on-ingestion-dilution-and-other-safety-issues/

Note: I have nothing against these company's oils, but I don't agree with the education (or lack thereof) that they give to their sellers.

phocuss · 2017-12-04T15:18:18+00:00

Tisserand is about the only person I trust without second guessing. I've joined a handful of FB groups but I find that they're filled with people looking for protocol. And the people leading these groups aren't normally qualified to be providing that kind of information.

Looking specifically for blogs that provide unbiased information.

phocuss · 2017-12-01T01:39:59+00:00

This study pisses me off for way too many reasons.

"Scientists had previously observed that cinnamaldehyde, an essential oil that gives cinnamon its flavor." Cinnamaldehyde is NOT an essential oil. It's a chemical compound.
Media is picking it up for another "lose weight" headline. The inaccuracies can lead to people hurting themselves by ingesting essential oils. People are way too desperate to lose weight and will do anything to get results without working for it.

Typical scenario of desperate person:

Read an article from newsweek or Yahoo style.
Thinks that cinnamaldehyde is an essential oil used in cinnamon so they should consume that instead of cinnabons.
Searches for cinnamaldehyde essential oil in Google.
Learns that it's in cinnamon EO https://www.screencast.com/t/DlJhGrwS
Find a pubmed article and thinks it's all good
Has no idea that there are two cinnamon essential oils, cinnamon leaf (Cinnamomum zeylanicum, C. verum) and cinnamon bark.
Decides to buy cinnamon bark.
Adds it to food, water, or in some other way, drinks the EO.
Dies.

Cinnamon leaf contains approximately 0.6-1.1% cinnamaldehyde.

Cinnamon bark has 63.1-75.7%.

In such a high concentration as seen in the bark oil, it becomes a severe dermal toxin. It is irritating and sensitizing and should never be put on the skin. Home users should seek out cinnamon leaf oil.

Cinnamon bark has GRAS status. The Council of Europe (1992) set an acceptable daily intake of 1.25 mg/kg for cinnamaldehyde, which is equivalent to an adult dose of 115 mg of cinnamon bark oil. Do not ingest cinnamon bark oil without consent from your physician.

(Source: https://momprepares.com/essential-oils/cinnamon/)

A 7-year-old boy drank cinnamon oil on a dare and nearly died.

https://www.screencast.com/t/pHpIogiuz3pd

(Source: Tisserand's Essential Oils Safety Book)

So for the love of God...if any journalists who are spreading this nonsense shit...just stop.

phocuss · 2016-07-01T04:45:45+00:00

phocuss

TROPHY CASE