NATURAL REMEDY FOR MINOR BURNS

lavender fields

Hi Beautiful Ones!

Just had to share this quick post on a natural remedy. A few weeks ago, I burned my thumb as I was pulling one of the racks out of a hot oven. Immediately, my skin turned white and became quite tender. I immediately put my thumb under some cold running water to slow the burn. But in the midst of that, I was concerned about the injury blistering up. That would have been an issue for me seeing as a hair wash day was approaching. Ain't I funny. Concerned about being able to handle my hair.

So I consulted one of the books in my library, The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy, by Valerie Ann Worwood for a remedy. Here's what I found and did:

German Chamomile flowers

Took a small piece of gauze and soaked it in ice-cold water. Then I added 1 drop of the essential oils of lavender (natural antibiotic) and Chamomile (German) to the soaked gauze and applied to the burned area as a compress. I cannot tell you the exact amount of time that I kept in on my injury but I will guess-timate about an hour.

The result: The pain was remarkably gone and the injury did not blister up. As a matter of fact, by the next day I saw no signs of the burn.


Essential Oils for Treating Burns
Lavender
Yarrow
Chamomile Roman
Chamomile German

Fyi: Use 1 drop of oil for each square inch of skin affected.

Synergistic Blend for Treating Burns
Lavender                                10 drops
Chamomile German                10 drops
Chamomile Roman                   5 drops
Mix these together in this proportion.

Hope this helps someone.

Post Title → NATURAL REMEDY FOR MINOR BURNS

NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP

Hi Beautiful Ones!


I’m baa-ack. I strive to be an open book with everyone. Notice, I say “strive” as in I feel I have yet to fully attain this. Anyhoo, I mentioned in a previous post how I had been dealing with moving. Well, as a means of sucessfully surviving the jacked-up economy, I begrudgingly decided to move in with family. I’m at peace with it now but trust me, as an adult it took me many months of mulling over this before I settled on doing so.

You can only imagine having to combine 2 full households together but it is being done b/c ..it is what it is. And it’s all good. Now during this process, I have been sleeping on the floor until my bed gets here. I know. It sounds rough but after doing so for a couple of days, I’m not too sure that I want to go back to a bed. I know this may sound difficult to believe but I have been getting the best rest, the best sleep on the floor. I sleep through the night, dreaming and all, while on the floor. And guess what? I feel great when I wake up!

I recall reading a section of Victoria Boutenko’s 12 Steps to Raw Foods in which she talks about her and her family sleeping on a hard surface. It reads as follows:

…I used to like to sleep on a soft mattress. Then I read an article describing how healthy it is to sleep on a hard surface. I tried sleeping on the floor but had such an achy back the next morning that I immediately quit. Many years later, I went hiking in the Cascade Mountains and slept on the ground every night for one month. During the first week, I had an achy back. Then my sleep became so sweet, as never before in all my life. Since then I have slept on a hard surface. In addition, soft beds now make my back achy.

I certainly can attest to experiencing a “sweet” sleep.

She also wrote on her site, Raw Family Green Smoothie Blog, regarding this:

3. Sleep on a hard surface: Our body needs to stretch at night. All the bones and joints can only stretch out when we lay on a hard surface. The most important is the spine. During the day our spine is so improperly positioned (driving, sitting in front of the computer and watching TV) that some spinal joints don’t get adequate spinal fluid and blood enriched with oxygen. Kundalini is the life energy that can only flow freely when the spine is stretched. My entire family prefers to sleep on the floor in sleeping bags. You should see us sleeping on the floor around the king sized bed in hotels when we travel. Sometimes when we are forced by circumstances to sleep on soft beds, we wake up with headaches, feeling achy and not rested.

In skimming the web on this topic, I’ve read about people investing in a Japanese bed, as a similar way of sleeping. As a matter of fact, I actually found a website where someone (Patrick Clark) wrote an article entitled “The Ergonomics of Sleep”. In this article he talks about his search for the perfect sleep for many years. You can read the full article here. He included an excerpt from the Nishi website (which I was unable to successfully navigate) based on Katsuzo Nishi’s studies, a Japanese health pioneer, about the benefit of sleeping on a hard surface. Here’s what the excerpt says:

His theories are characterized by the idea that, in spite of the fact that the human bone structure and positioning of the internal organs are basically the same as those evolved for the mammalian species that ambulate on four legs, human beings have adopted a basically upright two-legged life style that places certain structural strains on the human bone structure, resulting in problems like obstruction of the flow of food through the intestines (constipation) due to the unnatural (vertical) positioning of the organs. As methods to compensate for these structural defects, Nishi conceived and encouraged the use of treatment through exercises such as the goldfish (movement) style spinal column rectification exercise and the Nishi-shiki health fortifying technique( (lateral vibration exercise know as the “Haifuku Undo”).



Furthermore, based on the structure of the human network of arteries and veins, Nishi refuted the heart-driven blood circulation theory of William Harvey, proposing instead a theory that the capillaries provided the true driving force of the circulatory system. And, in order to compensate for the obstruction of circulation in the four limbs resulting from the human species’ vertical posture, he proposed the Capillary Action- Inducing exercise (Mokan Undo), which involves lying on the back, raising the arms and legs and applying a slight vibrating motion.


Besides these exercises, Nishi also recommended methods making use of implements like a hard, half –cylinder pillow, design to keep the cerebral vertebrae in the ideal position from a structural standpoint and a flat sleeping platform (flat board) designed to do the same for the vertebrae of the spinal column. (2)

Hmmm…something to consider.



Now I’ve also come across people who are unable to sleep on hard surfaces due to chronic back pain. So I suppose this may be another case of doing what works best for and with your body.

What are your thoughts on this?....



*First pic is a Harry Peronius photo of Indiaphoto.org
**Second pic is a Raku Tatami Japanese bed from HaikuDesigns.com

Post Title → NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP

WHY JUICE?...a recap

Hi Gorgeous!

Since I'm on the subject and vibe of juicing, I felt like I needed to do a recap for my newer followers. You can read my other posts on my experiences with fresh juices here and here. You can also check out my interesting experience with beets juice here.

Here are a few experts weighing in on juicing:

According to Dr. Bernard Jensen:
Fresh fruit and veggie juices contain a broad array of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and various co-factors that both enhance and complement individual nutrients, so your body gets the most good from them. Because juices are assimilated with very little effort on the part of the digestive system, their nutrients have a health-building impact at a relatively low cost in energy.
By adding fresh juices to a balanced food regimen, you will help accelerate and enhance the process of restoring nutrients to chemically-starved tissues. It is on these very tissues that disease and illness thrive. In terms of prevention, the importance of juice cannot be overstressed.

According to Stephen Blauer:
Because of their nutritional excellence, juices may prevent diet-related illnesses. A growing body of research reveals that juice may even cure a variety of illnesses and conditions, as well. For instance, cabbage juice contains vitamin U, which has been shown to heal peptic ulcers; while fresh apple and prune juices are excellent laxatives. Green juices contain enzymes that foster weight loss by stimulating the metabolic system. Alfalfa sprout juice supplies vitamin K, a blood coagulant important to the health of pregnant women. Watermelon and cucumber juices have a safe, natural diuretic action. Studies done by the National Academy of Sciences conclude that the pro-vitamin A content of orange, yellow and green vegetable juices may help prevent some forms of cancer.

According to Natalia Rose:
Since the life force of freshly juiced produce peaks the moment it is made, try not to leave it too long before drinking. If you’d like it to keep, you may freeze it. When juicing, use organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible. It is more important to use organic vegetable for juicing than for other recipes, as juicing requires a much larger quantity of produce.

My Juice Du Jour

1 head of romaine lettuce
Several leaves of kale
1 stalk of fennel
1 Granny Smith apple
1 lemon

All wonderfully juiced in my Breville. I never knew how well my juicer would actually juice leafy greens until I put it to work. I am so pleased with the delicious results. This is another just that I just put together. As a natural sweetener, I knew the apple would make it more palatable to my tastes. I think the lemon assists in this also.

And here's a listing of the goodness that these simple, organic and all-natural ingredients bring.

Benefits of Romaine- It is an excellent source of calcium, chlorophyll, iron, magnesium, potassium, silicon, and vitamins A and E. Rebuilds hemoglobin in the blood. Adds shine, thickness, and health to the hair and skin. It does more to promote hair growth than hair dressings or scalp treatments because it stimulates growth by sending vital nutrients to the roots of the hairs. Its silicon content also promotes flexibility of the muscles and joints.

Conditions it responds to are anemia, constipation, hair loss, insomnia, liver disorders, nervous disorders & weight loss.

Benefits of kale- As a member of the cabbage family, its exceptionally high in calcium, chlorophyll, and vitamin A. The mixture of nutrients in kale makes its juice especially beneficial to eyesight, bones, teeth, blood, and lymph glands. It’s high chlorophyll content helps increase the oxygen and red cell content of the blood, improving circulation and cell respiration. Kale contains as much usable calcium as milk, ounce for ounce. Without the fat or cholesterol.

Conditions it responds to are anemia, asthma, arthritis, cancer, circulatory weakness, diabetes, eye disorders, hair loss, hay fever, impotence, liver disorders, pregnancy & delivery, pyorrhea, skin disorders, ulcers and weight loss.

Benefits of fennel- Nutritionally, fennel is similar to celery because it is rich in alkaline minerals but is lower in sodium. It is also high in energy-producing sugars. Due to its high calcium and magnesium content, fennel juice is very helpful in relaxing and calming the nerves.
Conditions it responds to are arthritis, bronchitis, gout, kidney troubles, nervous disorders and weight loss.

Benefits of apple- Contains a substantial amount of vitamins A, B-1, B-2, B-6, C, biotin, folic acid, pantothenic acid and a host of minerals. Due to its high mineral content, fresh apple juice is especially good for the health of the skin, hair, and fingernails. It vitamin C content helps prevent colds, flu and intestinal infections. Helps to normalize elimination due to constipation or diarrhea.
Conditions it responds to are arthritis, constipation, gout, indigestion, kidney disorders, liver disorders, rheumatism, and weight loss.

Benefits of lemon- Quite the strong cleanser due to its high citric acid and vitamin C content, its best to mix lemon with water and drink it in moderation. Try it before breakfast as a mild and safe cleanser of the small intestine and stomach. Lemons produce alkaline substances within our body. Its antibacterial, an antioxidant and can be used as a skin astringent.
Conditions it responds to are anemia, blood disorders, colds, constipation, cough, ear disorders, fever, gout, indigestion, infection, liver disorders, mucous membranes, pneumonia, pyorrhea, rheumatism, scurvy, skin disorders, sore throat and weight loss.

Hope this helps.
{{HUGS}},


Resources:
"The Juicing Book" by Stephen Blauer
"Raw Food Life Force Energy" by Natalia Rose

Post Title → WHY JUICE?...a recap

COMMITTMENT PHOB??.... MAYBE

No, it's not what you think. ;)

For awhile now, I’ve been contemplating wanting to do a juice-fast…. of some length. And when I say “of some length”, I mean for a full week. Hell, at this point I'd take three days. I see so many people out there doing a juice fast of some sort but for some odd reason I am having such a difficult time committing to it. If you really know me, then you’d know that I’ve done fasts before. At one time, I was pretty regular with it. Like a week, or at least a day, every other month or so. The only difference between then and now is the knowledge that I have. Then I was going straight to juice isles in the grocery stores and getting any old apple juice, orange juice, etc. Now, I feel like I can do it right. I have a juicer and know to go to the Farmer’s Market for some great veggies.

But lately, I’m having a hard time settling down to do one.

I would love to do 7 full days but I can barely wrap my mind around doing 1 full day. What da heck is up with that? I should really be over the “what I’ll be missing” phase. It’s like I’m afraid of being constrained or having to adhere to a strict regimen. Anybody have pointers or input on this?..I know it’s totally mental. But I will say that I’m being moved and inspired more everyday to go for it.


I’ve been watching videos of Dan McDonald (aka youtube’s Liferegenerator) making juices. Now keep in mind that I’ve been watching his videos. He’s hilarious and such a positive ball of energy. But for some odd reason, it just clicked in me to just go for it and drop some leafy greens into my juicer (Breville Juice Fountain Plus). It’s not the juicer that I want to juice my kale, lettuces and other leafy greens but it does a pretty good job. Dan seems to be working it quite well with his Breville. Now this does not change the fact that I still want a Hurom Slow juicer.
This baby is still on my list for this year.

Here’s a juice that I just put together the other day:
My First Green Juice (leafy green)

It consisted of kale, spinach, parsley,a Granny Smith apple and a lemon. It was as good as I expected it to be.

I also have a couple of books on juicing to help guide me.
The Juice Fasting Bible. Sandra Cabot, M.D.
The Juicing Book. Stephen Blauer

Although I must honestly say that I've been winging it with my concoctions, I still need some help on committing to a juice fast.
Any suggestions out there?....

Post Title → COMMITTMENT PHOB??.... MAYBE

HAIR + EXERCISE = SWEAT

Hi Gorgeous!

I hope that you all are having a wonderful week. Mine has been great. I've interviewed some awesome ladies for the "Heroine Entrepreneur" series, spent time with family & friends, and have been pretty consistent with working out.

Speaking of which, am I the only person who sweats from head-to-toe?! In particular, my scalp is soaking wet during and after a workout. Its part of the reason (outside of winter weather) that I've chosen to wear my hair in protective styles. These styles still don't keep my scalp from sweating but it does help to protect my hair a bit more from the salt in the sweat. Remember, the salt in sweat will dry your hair if you don't treat it.

Now, seeing as I'm not trying to manipulate my hair a lot, this does pose a slight dilemma. If I'm working out often, that means I'm sweating often. Sweat equates to salt on the scalp. Which also means that I need to cleanse my scalp from the threat of drying out. Cleans how? By washing/cleaning, however I don't want to wash my hair all the time cause that will negate the main reason for me wearing my hair in protective styles. Capiche?...

Well, here's what I've come up with. I swear I've read this somewhere. Witch hazel.

What is witch hazel?...

Witch hazel is a low growing shrub native to North America. It has a long history of use medicinally, and cultivation of the bush has spread to Europe for this purpose. Preparations of witch hazel ranging from tinctures to soothing creams are available in most drug stores, as well as specialty stores for skin care. The plant acts as an astringent, firming and tightening tissue and acting to reduce itching and irritation. Other properties have also been ascribed to witch hazel making it an excellent all-purpose addition to the medicine cabinet.

What I'm trying?.....

I used a cotton cloth and gently rub the witch hazel mixed w/distilled water throughout your scalp. I suppose you could also use a cotton ball or cotton swab. Then I moisturized my scalp. It is also suggested to cleanse your scalp once a week using witch hazel in spray bottle. Not sure if I wanna try that yet simply because it is an astringent. I certainly don't want to turn around a really dry my hair out. We'll see how my method works before graduating to the spray bottle method. If you exercise often, this cleansing method is especially suggested to do once a week.

Witch hazel can also be used on the scalp to treat dandruff, Psoriasis, oily and itchy scalp.
Here are some recipes to treat a couple of these issues:

Dandruff
Mix 2 oz. of witch hazel with 1 cup of distilled water and 3 tbsp. of lemon juice. Combine these ingredients thoroughly.

Apply the witch hazel mixture your scalp when your hair is damp and clean. Leave the mixture in rather than rinsing it out. Allow your hair to dry naturally and style it as usual.

Repeat the application of the witch hazel mixture two to three times a week. It helps to keep your dandruff under control and gives your hair a nice shine.

Add cider vinegar to witch hazel to treat dandruff. Mix witch hazel and lemon in the same proportions as described in Step 1, but instead of 1 cup distilled water, use cider vinegar. Again, ensure that you mix these ingredients thoroughly before use.

Put this second mixture on your scalp when the hair is dry. Leave it on for 30 minutes, then wash it off with a mild shampoo. You can repeat this procedure as often as needed and you can dry and style your hair as you would normally.

Oily Hair
You can help slow down oil secretion by applying a homemade astringent directly to your scalp. Apply a mixture of equal parts witch hazel and mouthwash, with cotton pads, to the scalp only. The witch hazel acts as an astringent and the mouthwash has antiseptic properties. If your scalp is very oily you can do this each time you shampoo.
Mouthwash?!.. Let me know if anyone has tried this one, eh.

And just for the road, here are plenty of other uses for witch hazel that I found on Wisebread.com.

15 USES FOR WITCH HAZEL

1. Spot and Blemish Control.
Witch hazel can reduce the inflammation on a pimple. Some people claim daily use helps with acne, and witch hazel can be found in many Over The Counter treatments. Application with a Witch Stick is the most convenient, but you can dab it on with a cotton ball. Ask your pharmacist before you do this though.

2. Soothe and Heal Diaper Rash
If your baby's rash isn't healing quick enough, apply witch hazel solution (Dickinson’s Is good) with a cotton ball and you should see immediate improvement to your baby's bottom.

3. Shrink Bags Under The Eyes
Some people say that the application of Hemorrhoid cream to those little baggies under your eyes can take them away. It’s not an old wives tale. One of the magic ingredients in a product like Preparation H is witch hazel, which helps tighten up the skin and reduce the bagginess. And that leads nicely to…

4. Soothe and Reduce External Hemorrhoids
Not only does witch hazel tighten skin, it’s also a good anti-itch remedy. By combining witch hazel with aloe, glycerin or petroleum jelly and rub it on external hemorrhoids, you will reduce itching significantly and dry up most bleeding.

5. Varicose Vein Relief
Soak wash cloths in witch hazel and lay on legs, which are propped straight out, to reduce pain and swelling from varicose veins. The witch hazel helps to tighten the veins, relieving the discomfort temporarily

6. Soothe Poison Ivy and Poison Oak
Just like acne and blemishes, the witch hazel reduces itching and relieves swelling. Something definitely worth packing on your next camping trip.

7. Treat Chicken Pox Blisters
A combination of aloe, honey, lavender and other essential oils create a spray that will vastly reduce the discomfort of Chicken Pox blisters. And it’s all-natural. Here’s what to do:
Mix together 1 tablespoon honey, 40 drops lavender essential oil, 15 drops lemon essential oil, 15 drops bergamot essential oil, 5 drops peppermint essential oil, 1 teaspoon carrot seed oil and 1/2 cup aloe vera gel.
Once completely mixed, and 1/2 cup distilled witch hazel and mix again. Pour mixture into spray bottle and use on affected areas (avoiding eyes). A more potent and less unsightly way to treat the Chicken Pox than traditional Calamine lotion.

8. Heal Your Bruises Faster
Been in a fight recently? Well, maybe not. But if you bang your leg or arm and are left with a nasty bruise, a thrice-daily dab of witch hazel can help speed up the healing time of the bruise.

9. Soothe Razor Burn (and in some instances, prevent it)
The anti-inflammatory properties of witch hazel stop itchy bumps from forming up around your irritated hair follicles. Apply before or after shaving, it should certainly have an impact on your itchy red skin (and that includes ladies, too).

10. Treat and Soothe A Nasty Sunburn
Healing damaged skin is one of witch hazel’s specialties. But as sunburn is also a type of skin inflammation, witch hazel is ideal for treating this too (despite swelling not being obvious). Treating sunburn with witch hazel will lessen healing time and prevent the infamous skin peeling and flaking.

11. Treat Dry Skin
Especially useful after showering, witch hazel can lock in the moisture in your skin. By applying witch hazel immediately after showering, you are locking in the moisture that has just soaked into your skin.

12. Use to Heal and Soothe Various Cuts and Bruises
Many chemists and pharmacists refer to witch hazel as nature’s answer to Neosporin. Applying a dab of it will cleanse the cut, protects against infection, and encourage quicker healing of minor skin breaks.

13. Take The Bite Out Of Bug Bites
With it’s anti-itch and anti-inflammatory properties, witch hazel is ideal for treating bug bites. Just dab a little on the affected area.

14. Refresh Tired Eyes
NOT by squirting witch hazel in them, but by soaking a clean rag in witch hazel and cold water and placing the cold compress over your closed eyes. After 10 minutes, your eyes should be refreshed, and any redness should be gone. If you’ve been doing a lot of crying, this can get you back to normal quickly.

15. Make Your Own Deodorant
Witch hazel is often used in deodorants due to it’s natural skin-healing and skin-care properties.

If you have similiar issues, what do you use to clean your scalp in-between washings?.. Or if you've used this or similiar methods, please share your experience with it.

Post Title → HAIR + EXERCISE = SWEAT

COMBATING WINTER BLUES

Happy Friday, Gorgeous!


I have to share with you that earlier this week; I was not feeling too happy. As a matter of fact, I felt downright blue as if there was some veil of sadness trying to creep up on me. Now I don't know about you but it sucks to feel sad or moody. So me being me, decided to analyze some things that may have been contributing to this feeling. First, I accepted that I needed to keep up the consistency in working out. I love to exercise, especially with company like a class. So I decided to keep up my with my workout classes at the gym that I’m a member of. Secondly, I’ve decided to be a stickler about keeping away from the holiday food that is prevalent right now. I’m sure you know, but I’ve had plenty of moments when I’ve wanted and succumbed to slice of pie, cake, cookies or peanut M&M’s. Remember, sugar will do the body bad. And a sucky diet sucks the life out of you—literally. Thirdly, make sure I get out in the sunlight, breathe and move. I don’t know about you, but the sun always makes me feel warm and lovely. Fourthly, get back on top of my daily affirmations. And lastly, stay prayerful.

Now, those were just some things that I made up my mind to do personally, but here is some more information on this issue and holistic ways to combat & defeat it.

I found that this feeling of sadness is not uncommon during the Fall and Winter seasons. It is often referred to as S.A.D.

What is S.A.D. or (seasonal affective disorder)?
Basically, it is a susceptibility to depression because of the shorter days and lack of sunlight. Some look upon S.A.D. as more of a theory regarding the decrease of sunlight in the colder months. According to health professionals, our bodies produce more melatonin (a hormone) with the increase in darkness during the fall and winter and that makes us sleepier. We translate that sleepiness as depression in our fast-paced lifestyles. Sunlight helps to boost serotonin production, the neurotransmitter responsible for making us feel calm and happy. With the shorter days, we create less serotonin, therefore are left feeling anxious and depressed. When this happens, our brains feel out of balance and in an effort to restore balance, we sometimes reach for food that will quickly boost serotonin production and begin self medicating with sugar. It is a vicious cycle because sugar ultimately makes it worse.


HERE ARE SOME HOLISTIC REMEDIES:

Eat Root Vegetables and Veggies that grow close to the ground: A desire to eat sugar to soothe ourselves is energetically linked to a desire to feel grounded. Think about it: we are anxious, stressed and with the flurry of activity, often un-tethered. When we eat sugar we are looking to feel calm and less frazzled. A wonderful way to offer your body what it needs on a regular basis, thereby offsetting the cravings for sugar is through root vegetables. Winter diets should always include yams, sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, butternut squash and pumpkin. Not surprisingly, these are the very vegetables that are in season during this time of the year. All of these vegetables contain a subtle sweetness that when eaten regularly offer your body the ingredients it needs to maintain healthy serotonin levels thereby offsetting sugar cravings. Additionally, they grow in the ground or close to the earth, providing an energetic sense of groundedness. Try to have a serving a day of these vegetables. If you have limited time for cooking, check out Pacific brand organic soups. They have butternut squash, carrot and sweet potato. Have a bowl a day as part of a meal.

Take flax: Flax seed is a plant based source of Omega 3 essential fatty acids and quite effective in its serotonin boosting properties. Flax is available in liquid, ground seeds, capsules and whole seeds. By far the most effective way to take it is in liquid form. Take one tablespoon per one hundred pounds of body weight. If you are quite depressed and anxious, you may want to go a bit beyond that initially to get a handle on your mood. You can use the oil as your salad dressing or add to already cooked food (do not cook with this oil. It is sensitive and can become rancid upon heating). Another great way to get your flax is with the ground seeds. Keep in mind that you need to take 3 tablespoons of ground seeds to get the equivalent of one tablespoon of oil. Add to oatmeal or cereal, sprinkle on salads or add to a little bit of juice. Another possibility is doing a combination of both the oil and the ground seeds. As for capsules, you need to take 12 capsules to get the equivalent of one tablespoon of oil, so that is not an option I recommend. And the whole seeds will only be effective as a laxative and will not help with mood.

Eliminate sugar: The reason that sugar helps to calm you down is that the insulin rush that accompanies sugar consumption floods out competing amino acids and allows tryptophan, the precursor to serotonin, to win the absorption race. While sugar may give you immediate relief from stress and anxiety because of the intense flood of serotonin that it unleashes, anything that goes up that high must come down and when it does it usually crashes. When you self medicate with sugar you are setting yourself up to feel depressed, anxious and sad in a vicious, ever changing cycle. It will feel hard to get a handle on your emotions and then as your waistline expands from the extra calories and insulin rush, this will add to your already compromised mood. Eliminating sugar will allow you to feel steady, balanced, calm and happy. You will find that while the external factors are the same, and nothing at work or at home has changed, your ability to deal with it all has. These suggestions will also help to contribute to a happy mood and a healthier body.

Walk in Sunlight: Take a walk on your lunch-break and get outside as much as possible when the sun is shining. Every ray of sunshine delivers a serotonin hit and the 5-minute outdoor break will probably go a long way towards promoting a sense of calm. If this doesn’t feel like enough, consider investing in a light box and getting some serious, at home light therapy.

Get a great nights sleep: Take a hot bath with lavender oil, and rub lavender oil on the soles of your feet as well. Drink some sleepy time tea and tuck into bed for a cozy night’s sleep.

You can also experiment with calming teas like Yogi Tea – Bedtime, which is a blend of Chamomile, Valerian, St. John’s Wort, Passion Flower and Skullcap. Calming herbal teas can help ease anxiety and bring the peace of mind you need at the end of the evening to get to sleep. The ritual of making your tea and then settling into your comfy spot to sip the tea and read can become a wonderful new winter tradition for you. Rituals have a profound influence on our mood, and finding one you feel positive about can help you overcome any bad mood.

Take a daily vitamin with magnesium, B complex, and minerals. Eat more salads and fruits.

Minimize/eliminate the intake of caffeine (and that includes tea.) Drink the herbal tea instead.

Exercise: In study after study, the research shows that exercise is as effective as antidepressants in managing mood. Even if it is a brisk walk three times a walk, moving your body will help you feel balanced, confident and help your mind feel steady and calm. And walking out doors will further contribute to serotonin production.

Full Spectrum Light Therapy: It has no precise scientific definition, but generally describes light bulbs that produce light that has certain desirable qualities that make it similar to natural sunlight. Like natural daylight, full spectrum light bulbs produce light that is seen by the human eye in a bluish white tint. The brightness value of the light is similar to that of daylight, and the bulbs have excellent color rendering capability.

Full spectrum light bulbs, since they mimic the qualities of natural sunlight, are very appropriate for individuals who suffer from Seasonal Affective Syndrome (SAD). Natural daylight has always had desirable qualities, and is often recommended for improving mood and motivation.

You can find full spectrum light bulbs online, or at your local stores like Home Depot and Lowes. You can also try alarm clocks that use full spectrum light. Minutes before the alarm is set to go off, a full spectrum light in the clock gradually increases, allowing your body to become adjusted to the light in a natural way rather than shocked by it. Also, leaving your curtains open to allow real sunlight in helps.

On another note, I tried a yummy remedy posted by Earthmother from In The Raw, who also alluded to S.A.D. It’s quite the simple and delicious recipe. And I sure felt good after drinking it. ;)


**Some of these remedies were posted by Barbara Mendez R.Ph M.S who is a New York based Nutritionist and Registered Pharmacist, specializing in integrative therapies for preventative health care. She is the founder of the nutritional consulting practice Lifestyle Nutrients in midtown Manhattan, and her blog BarbaraMendezNutrition.com is an informational bridge between western, allopathic medicine and alternative, proactive, holistic health care.**

Have a wonderful weekend!
{{HUGS}},
ChocolateOrchid

Post Title → COMBATING WINTER BLUES