Hello Readers,

LeeYen Anderson and I will be presenting an essential oils workshop "Grow your Young Living Business Through Self-Discovery" on Thursday July 17, in conjunction with the Young Living Conference. If you can't attend in-person, there is a remote option.

Summer officially begins tomorrow - is your sunblock safe and effective and up to the task of protecting your and your family?

How does Aloneness differ from Loneliness? Learn how to transmute Aloneness with Aroma Life Essential Oil.

Do you have a childlike joy and love for life? Do you feel better when consuming most of the day's calories by 2:00 PM? Is your head large in relation to your body? Then you may be a Pituitary body type.

My 12-week Practitioner’s Certification course “Emotional Wisdom with Essential Oils” begins on October 1. This will be the 6th run of this course which has been popular with individuals as well as practitioners.

As always, I hope and trust that these newsletters help you enjoy a happier, healthier life.


Health and Happiness,
Dr. Carolyn Mein

Summer is here, with all its outdoor gatherings and activities. Sunlight produces natural vitamin D, supporting the immune system, and boosting moods. But too much sunlight can result in sunburn, or worse.

Sun block comes in many forms with a variety of ingredients, some of which introduce toxicity into the body through the skin. How can you choose the best sunscreen for you and your family?


Good and Bad Sunlight

Vitamin D supports bones and the immune system. However, it’s challenging to obtain sufficient Vitamin D nutritionally as only a handful of food sources provide significant amounts. Sunlight is the best source of Vitamin D, by reacting with cholesterol in the skin. It’s estimated that about 40% of Americans are deficient in Vitamin D.

Sunlight includes ultraviolet light in 3 separate bands: UV-A (320 – 400 nanometer wavelength), UV-B (280 – 320 nm), and UV-C (100 – 280 nm). The atmosphere absorbs UV-C so that we are not exposed to it, which is why we don’t hear much about it.

Melanin is our defense shield, absorbing the UV rays and producing a tan. When the melanin is overwhelmed, a sunburn results. UV-A rays will produce an immediate tanning effect, while UV-B will continue to produce tanning for a few days after exposure. Excessive exposure to UV-A can affect the skin’s elasticity, producing wrinkles, as it penetrates deeper than UV-B. UV-B overexposure is thought to promote skin cancer, and it targets the top layer of skin, producing sunburn.


How Sunblock Works

There are 2 types of sunblock:

• Chemical screens – use chemical compounds to absorb the UV rays and convert them to heat
• Mineral screens – use specific minerals that reflect UV wavelengths

Chemical sunblocks are generally easier to apply and go on relatively transparent. They are also water resistant and may provide longer protection with water activities. The chemicals may produce skin irritations and rashes.

Chemical screens take about 20 minutes after application to absorb into the skin and become effective. This absorption is important to consider, as these chemicals are detectable in the skin and the blood stream weeks after use. They have even been detected in breast milk. These chemicals remain in the blood stream for weeks and can accumulate to high levels with frequent use.

Most of the chemicals used in popular sunscreens have serious health concerns – here are a few of the most common chemicals as an example:

• Oxybenzone (Benzophenone 3) – behaves like estrogen in the body, has been linked to endometriosis, lower birth weights, and lower testosterone and sperm counts; especially harmful to children. Considered the most dangerous ingredient in popular sunscreen brands
• Octinoxate (Octyl Methoxycinnamate) – linked to lowered testosterone and progesterone levels, and delayed puberty in boys
• Avobenzone – when combined with homosalate, has been linked to lower testosterone levels

The FDA has found that a single application of typical chemical sunscreen introduces maximum levels of several ingredients into the blood stream. The USA is lax in its limits on sunscreen chemical levels compared to the European Union, which has conducted significantly more research into the long term effects of these ingredients.

Chemical lotions have also lost favor in recent times because they are not “reef safe” – their ingredients are toxic to ocean life. NOAO (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association) lists 11 common ingredients in chemical lotions that are harmful to ocean life. In recent years they have been banned in some places, including Hawai’i, Key West, the Virgin Islands and Aruba for this reason.

Notably, some of these same chemicals are also found in some cosmetic products.

For a good resource reviewing the individual chemicals used in sunblock:

The Trouble with Sunscreen Chemicals

Mineral sunblocks are topical – they stay on the skin’s surface, and are less water- and sweat-resistant. They contain zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Both reflect UV-A and UV-B rays, although zinc oxide protects against a broader range of UV-A. Zinc oxide produces a white layer on the skin, although sunblock produced using nano particles of zinc oxide do blend into the skin better. These minerals, unlike every chemical used in chemical sunblocks, do not absorb into the skin or enter the blood stream. Notably, they are the only 2 sunscreen ingredients that the FDA considers “safe and effective.”


3rd Rock Sunblock

The best sunscreen that I have found is 3rd Rock Sunblock. Formulated by Dr. Guerry Grune, a PhD in Chemical Engineering and a world class surfer from Australia, 3rd Rock Sunblock actually nourishes the skin as it protects.

3rd Rock Sunblock is non-toxic, all-natural, produced with food grade ingredients and provides SPF 35 protection. The formulation is also safe for kids. It’s inorganic so it doesn’t break down as it protects the skin.

The formulation includes essential oils that nurture the skin during use. Frankincense essential oil promotes healthy skin, and rosemary essential oil supports the immune system.

Zinc oxide is used to treat burns, rash, and inflammatory skin conditions like acne, among other skin benefits, in addition to its use as a sunscreen. It is also recommended as a night cream.

Since Dr. Grune realized that cancer cells develop in acidity, he ensured the formulation was pH balanced for the skin.

Aloneness is the choice to be alone, to avoid people, usually in order to avoid hurt. While Loneliness is the result of being alone, Aloneness is an intentional decision. It is a form of resistance or avoidance, and there is an aloof quality to it – “I’m better off without other people.” Ultimately, any form of avoidance or resistance prevents spiritual growth.

Aloneness, which is a form of self-protection, is stored in the Heart Protector.

Aroma Life essential oil blend helps transmute Aloneness into Acceptance of All That Is. Acceptance is the path to releasing avoidance and resistance.

Aloneness is a Core Emotional Issue for the Pituitary body type.

This is the first time I have written about Aroma Life. This essential oil blend combines Cypress, Marjoram, Ylang Ylang, and Helichrysum in a sesame oil base to support feelings associated with heart-centered connections. Its calming, fresh, herbaceously sweet aroma may energize your spirit and promote a sense of connection.

Cypress essential oil’s clean, evergreen aroma creates an ambience of security and grounding. Topically it benefits the skin, hair and scalp. Marjoram essential oil soothes fatigued muscles and joints. Ylang Ylang essential oil promotes healthy skin and shiny hair, with a calming aroma that sets the mood for romance. Helichrysum essential oil rejuvenates skin texture and tone.

Suggested uses:

• Apply Aroma Life over your heart for a balanced, calm aroma
• Apply it to your wrists or behind your ears before going to bed
• Use it to uplift and revitalize your spirit
• Add it to the Raindrop Technique® to moisturize and hydrate the skin
• Use it to help moisturize for glowing, healthy-looking skin
• Apply Aroma Life directly to Vita Flex points on the feet and in massage for its soothing aroma

Learn more about Aroma Life essential oil in my Newsletter Archives.