Introducing: The Neurodivergent, and aging brain corner (aging brains are anyone over the age of 25 years old)
Why Diffusing First Thing in the Morning Matters:
When we put essential oils in the diffuser first thing in the morning, we’re not just making the house smell good. We’re signaling safety to the nervous system before the day begins.
Diffusing bypasses digestion. Essential oils enter the body with little effort. Some neurodivergent and aging-brain people are sensitive to substances applied to their bodies.
Diffusing positively affects the nervous system within seconds, not hours.
Meaning we all wake up with anxious thoughts and need to retrain our brains to focus on the positive in our lives (and that the world is a safe place with kind people looking out for one another).
For the next several weeks, we are going to focus on three essential oils:
Cedarwood
lavender,
rosemary
That’s it.
Not because there aren't more good oils.
But because consistency builds results.
For aging and neurodivergent brains that run busy, get distracted and overwhelmed, these three essential oils offer calm and focused support.
Cedarwood
Cedarwood is calming, grounding, and stabilizing.
Cedarwood helps settle overstimulation and supports parasympathetic needs (think rest and regulate).
Lavender
Lavender, it’s not just for sleep.
Lavender helps regulate the nervous system during the day and supports deeper sleep at night.
Sleep is brain repair time.
When sleep improves, everything improves.
Rosemary
Supports focus, circulation and mental clarity.
Rosemary supports alertness and cognitive energy, especially for anyone who feels foggy-headed in the morning.
Why we're repeating these for the next several weeks
Our brains thrive on rhythms.
Repetition builds familiarity, habits, and predictability in the nervous system. We don't need something new every week; we need something consistent.
My morning diffusing routine is two drops of Cedarwood, lavender and rosemary each in the diffuser. I run one diffuser in the kitchen, in our den (where I work on my computer) and in my son's bedroom while he is still asleep (I am an early riser).
On that note, when you purchase from Young Living on Loyalty Rewards, they thank you by sending you free things.
On your second month being on Loyalty Rewards of 50 PV, or more (basically $50 dollars), they send you a free diffuser like the one in the photo. I have one for every room of my house (we have been using Young Living products since 2010).
Now onto food for the brain.
Creamy Coconut chicken with mushrooms and artichokes
(One-pot stovetop dinner, you can use a crock pot if you have one and cook over low heat)
Time to cook 35-40 minutes
Texture: creamy, savory, comforting and dairy/gluten free
Ingredients
2-3 lbs organic (if possible) boneless chicken breasts
2 packs organic (if possible) bella mushrooms sliced
1 can artichoke hearts, drained
1 can organic (if possible) full-fat coconut milk
½ cup water
3-4 cloves garlic, chopped (or more if you love garlic)
2 teaspoons salt
Pepper to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
Tamari or coconut aminos (optional)
Instructions
In a large heavy pot:
Heat olive oil and butter over medium heat
Add sliced mushrooms and 1 teaspoon salt
Cook 6-8 minutes until mushrooms are softened and slightly golden
Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds
Add the chicken
Lay the whole chicken breasts directly on top of the mushrooms
Sprinkle the chicken with the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and pepper
Add coconut milk
Pour the can of coconut milk over the chicken
Add ½ cup water
The liquid should come up about halfway up the chicken (not fully submerged)
Simmer gently
Cover and reduce to low
Simmer 25-30 minutes until the chicken is tender
No hard boiling, simmer only
Finish
Stir in artichokes into the pan.
Turn off the heat and put cover back on
Let it sit for 5 minutes before serving, the sauce will thicken up slightly.
What you end up with
Tender chicken in a creamy, savory coconut-mushroom sauce with little pops of artichoke (artichokes are loaded with inulin, a prebiotic that nourishes gut flora and helps beneficial bacteria grow, which in turn calms the brain and encourages clarity of thought and speech).
How to serve
Over cauliflower rice or in a bowl like a stew. Drizzle with tamari or coconut aminos if desired
Picky Eater?
Blend the mushrooms for a smoother texture
Midday Movement Reset
Rhythmic movement helps the brain regulate digestion and blood sugar.
After a meal, try:
- Jumping up and down for 30–60 seconds
- 10 squats
- 3 deep nasal breaths
Food, scent, and movement work best together.
Everything I share here follows the same rhythm:
Calm the nervous system → Steady blood sugar → Support the gut → Build from there.
That’s exactly the approach behind the Metabolic Reset.
The February Metabolic Reset Started February 9th.
We began new round of the Metabolic Reset on February 9, and it runs as an ongoing support rhythm every single month.
This is a primal-based reset focused on:
- steady energy
- nervous-system regulation
- simple meals
- gentle movement
- daily metabolic support
Many women join the group to heal from gut inflammation and find that they can more easily lose belly fat, release negative thought patterns, and have brain fog disappear.
To join, you just need the Make a Shift Reset Kit ($145).
That includes NingXia Red and access to our private Metabolic Reset Facebook group.
You don’t need to overhaul your life.
You need rhythms your nervous system can trust.
A Daily Anchor: NingXia Red
NingXia Red
One small daily habit that supports energy, focus, and metabolic steadiness is NingXia Red.
I drink it before caffeine and often before food.
Simple. Consistent. Supportive.
…it’s starting the day with NingXia Red for:
Energy
Focus
Mood
Cravings
Nervous-system resilience
Ningxia Red provides:
Polyphenols for brain protection
Wolfberry for cellular energy
Gentle blood-sugar support
Easy nutrition for sensitive guts
📦 HOW TO ORDER
Order Online:
Visit YoungLiving.com
Log in
Add to cart or Loyalty Rewards
Young Living Brand Partner #1144276
630-301-9741
jane@janecaseyskitchen.comOr Text/Call Me:
630-301-9741
I can place the order for you.
You don’t need willpower.
You need a rhythm.
Warmly,
Jane Casey
FOOD & ESSENTIAL OILS EDUCATION
Practical, food-focused guidance to help simplify meals, reduce overwhelm in the kitchen, and support digestion through real, repeatable food.
This service is ideal for families who want help with:
What to cook
How to start
How to reduce food stress without forcing variety
What this includes
Meal and food strategy support
Kitchen simplification
Protein, fat, and mineral basics
Phased food transitions for picky eaters
Recipe guidance using Jane Casey’s Kitchen principles
