Category Archives: Self Care

Holistic Health, Self Care

Warm Lemon or Lime Water Kickstarts Your Day

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Most people know that it’s really important to keep themselves hydrated. But most don’t realise they can take that further for better health and wellness simply by drinking lemon water or lime water first thing in the morning.

Tomorrow, March 22, is World Water Day and while it is about water co-operation practices, what better day is there to begin to improve our own personal hydration practices?

 

HOW POOR HYDRATION AFFECTS YOUR BODY

The way you begin each day is really important as it sets you up to either increase or reduce your resistance to disease. Starting out each day being properly hydrated has many other health benefits in addition to avoiding dehydration. These include kick-starting daily digestion and toxin elimination and helping prevent burnout, sometimes called adrenal fatigue. Cortisol imbalance is common in times of high stress.

Adequate water intake is essential for the proper elimination of toxins from your body. When you’re dehydrated it becomes really difficult for your body to eliminate waste products which leads to a toxic buildup. You start to feel stressed, get constipated, develop arthritis, get outbreaks on your skin and many more problems.

In addition your body stores more fat when you’re dehydrated due to added stress on the kidneys and liver so they do not perform at their best.

 

A SIMPLE WAY TO BOOST YOUR HEALTH

One very simple and surprisingly helpful practice to boost your intake of water comes from Yogic or Ayurvedic practice. It was used to stimulate the digestion and eliminate the toxic slime, called ama, that builds up in the gastro-intestinal tract.

It is the simple practice of drinking a mug of warm water with lemon or lime juice squeezed into it first thing in the morning. This helps to activate your body’s detoxifying process and also its natural cleansing processes.

 

 

7 REASONS TO DRINK LEMON WATER

1. Helps your liver eliminate toxins

Your liver loves warm lemon water and lime water because it purifies and stimulates your digestion and toxin elimination by liquefying bile and inhibiting excess bile flow. The liver is able to produce more enzymes from lemon/lime water than from any other food to promote better digestion.

Your liver works very hard and is crucial to the function of many other body processes – a little lemon or lime support and nurture leads to a healthy and happy liver.

2. Helps digestion

Warm lemon water or lime water increases the acidity of your digestive system as it’s very similar to saliva and the digestive juices in the stomach which break down food. It improves your body’s ability to absorb nutrients. An extra benefit of this process is to help with reducing hunger, great for weight loss.

3. Helps elimination of toxic wastes

Warm lemon or lime water helps your bowels to eliminate naturally and easily, reducing constipation. It also helps dilute accumulated uric acid which causes arthritis or gout when it builds up in the body.

By supporting the liver in its detoxifying role it helps prevent acne.

It gently flushes your kidneys and cleanses your lymphatic system, another channel for the elimination of toxic waste products.

4. Balances pH

Lemon water or lime water has an alkylizing effect in the body. Yes, even though they taste acidic they have an incredibly alkaline effect inside your body once they are metabolized! Drinking lemon water just before any meal helps your body maintain a higher pH than if you didn’t drink it.

When your body has a higher internal pH, that is, it’s more alkaline, it’s far more resistant to most major (and minor) diseases which thrive in an acidic environment. Cancer cells for example breed better in an acidic environment.

5. Protects your cardiovascular and nervous systems

Lemons and limes are high in potassium which is a mineral that works alongside sodium and is vital for keeping the nervous system and brain working smoothly. Low potassium levels can lead to depression, anxiety, forgetfulness and brain fog as well as muscle cramps and heart arrhythmias. Potassium is crucial for heart health and can help prevent stroke.

6. Boosts your immune system

Lemons and limes contain plentiful quantities of calcium and magnesium in good ratios. These minerals work together to prevent many health problems. One lemon has 30.7mg of the antioxidant Vitamin C which is great for fighting off colds and chest infections. Lemons and limes have very high levels of the antioxidant hesperidin which is anti-inflammatory and believed to have anti-cancer activity.

7. Help weight loss

Lemons are high in pectin fibre which helps fight hunger cravings. By cleaning out toxins and internal waste they may help speed up weight loss, and in addition promote quick bursts of energy. Because the effect works proportionally, the more you drink the more your weight loss should speed up. If you replace your other drinks with lemon water, you also have the advantage of a zero-kilojoule drink.

 

HOW TO TAKE LEMON WATER

Take lemon water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, before eating or drinking anything else. Squeeze half a lemon or lime into half a glass of warm water, stir it and drink. The water will turn cloudy when you add the lemon or lime. It’s good to then wait between half to one hour before you eat to get the best results.

  • Don’t use bottled lemon or lime juice – use fresh fruit.
  • Make sure the water you use is pure – filtered or spring water.
  • Make sure the water is warm – don’t use cold water as it is very hard on the digestion, slowing it down. Don’t use hot water either as it will kill the enzymes in freshly squeezed juice.
  • Don’t add sugar or other sweeteners.

If you want even more from your lemon/lime water, you can really spice up your metabolism by simply adding a pinch of ground cinnamon and a pinch of ground ginger. The cinnamon is a great addition if you have any issues with blood sugars.

 

This is such an easy habit to adopt, it’s cheap, easy and certain to build your health. Try it out for a month and see how it can radically change how you start your day.

Which of the benefits that warm lemon/lime water offers would be the one to get you started on drinking it daily? Tell me in the comments below. Or is you already know and love lemon water what benefits have you noticed?

Disclaimer.

All information and opinions presented here are for information only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before trying any of the treatment suggested on this site. 

 © Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health, 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health with appropriate and specific direction to the original content

Source articles:

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4769/Why-You-Should-Drink-Warm-Water-Lemon.html

http://nutritionistheprescription.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/start-your-day-with-lemon-or-lime-water/

http://www.naturalnews.com/033383_lemon_juice_digestion.html#ixzz2IZ0L8XRo

 

Holistic Health, Self Care

Wellness and Self Love

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You might wonder what wellness and self-love have in common?

Right from the time of our ancestors we’ve been told that while healthy food and exercise are essential to good health they’re not enough on their own. If we’re to achieve wholeself wellness we must also cultivate a good mindset, some form of spiritual (not necessarily religious) practice and balanced emotions.

There is no greater tool for transformation than deciding it’s time to start loving yourself.

Hating on yourself sabotages wellness and is a direct fast-route to creating imbalance. However, self-love and self-care gently support your emotional health, makings them an essential part of your holistic wellness practice.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of life it can be so easy to let self-care take a back seat as you rush about trying to get everything done.

To create a life you don’t feel desperate to escape, it’s vital you pay enough attention to your needs, your true needs. These are the choices you make that relax your body, calm your mind and make your soul feel wealthy. They’re little things in your daily life that rejuvenate and uplift you, like putting your phone aside to read a book. Or perhaps, a peaceful walk in nature, even the local park. Maybe it means an early night, or a calming bath before bed. Or even just ten uninterrupted minutes of quiet.

Your true needs are your own, they’re individual and different for everyone. Identify what creates that feeling of soul-wealth for YOU. And then commit to making them habits in your daily life.

5 Keys to Wellness

Of course there are many ways to create and maintain wellness, but these will get you started.

1. Make time every day to quiet your mind. Spending time in awareness in a place of stillness is one of the most powerful tools to restore balance. Daily meditation in all its forms from mindfulness to walking or dance meditation, helps this become a habit. Even five minutes is enough if it’s regular.

2. Support yourself to wellness by eating a healthy diet, loaded with antioxidant rich foods and superfoods. Try including the six flavours of salty, sweet, bitter, sour, pungent and astringent. Select and prepare your food with care and eat it with awareness.

3. Move!  Daily exercise is a must to keep your body flexible, mobile and young. It also keeps your mind sharp and improves your emotional wellbeing. Exercise takes many forms, find the one that’s right for both your preference and your age.

4. Create time for enough restful sleep. One of the most important factors for creating balance, and one that’s frequently overlooked, is good sleep. Sometimes being able to manage on little sleep is even viewed as a strength. But know this is not true! Adults need between seven and eight hours restful sleep every night to keep the immune system strong, the mind clear and the body in balance.

5. Release negative emotions like anger, shame, guilt or hurt. Hanging on to this residue from the past creates a toxic internal environment. Replace these with appreciation and love for all of yourself, your strengths and your challenges.

Holistic wellness is about harmonising and balancing on all levels, mind, body, emotions and spirit and we only achieve this balance when we address all these aspects of ourselves.

It’s crucial to your mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health to make time in your hectic schedule to look after and appreciate yourself.

The important message is, it’s never too late to improve your health.

Decide how you can best show yourself some love today. Start small and simple and watch your wellness bloom.

Disclaimer

All information and opinions presented here are for information only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before trying any of the treatment suggested on this site. 

© Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health, 2012. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health with appropriate and specific direction to the original content

Self Care, Stress & Overwhelm

Is Your Life In Balance? Take The Quiz

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Does trying to maintain balance in your life make you feel like a tightrope walker? Well, know you’re not alone!  Most of us have so many constant demands on our time and energy life can feel like a three-ring circus.

Balance has become just one more thing we long for in our lives but believe we can only deserve and have once we’ve earned it, through overwork or overwhelm.

Whether it’s in work-life, caregiving vs. self-care, daily routines, creative pursuits or a host of other areas, creating balance across our life can feel more and more out of reach and elusive with every passing day. Many people feel life just isn’t delivering all it promised. They can feel let down, unhappy and in some cases, even bitter.

But you can find balance right now.

Once you make the decision that you’re worth it, you can commit to making the changes you need to help you find balance in both your beliefs and practices. By changing, even in small ways you can once again find joy and balance.

True or False?

Do you have that balance right? How far away from the happy point are you?

Take this quiz to see how well you are meeting your responsibilities while at the same time recognising and fulfilling your personal needs and wants.

How well do these statements match you? Are they true for you or false?

1. The only way I can successfully manage my life is to take care of myself physically and emotionally.

2. Nurturing myself increases my capacity to help others.

3. I eat healthfully.

4. I exercise regularly.

5. I get check-ups, go to the dentist, and take preventative precautions to prevent illness.

6. I regularly set aside personal, quiet time for myself, whether I’m meditating or simply letting my thoughts drift.

7. I experience the gifts of each season: walking in the rain, cosy fires, bundled-up beach walks; gardening, hiking, more time outside, smelling the roses; camping, swimming, barbeques, walking barefoot on the earth; harvesting the bounty, gathering wood, spending more time inside, walking in the mist.

8. Creativity nurtures me. I do what I love, whether that’s cooking, drawing, knitting, writing, dancing, building, singing or any other creative pursuit.

9. Cleaning out the old makes way for the new. I recognise when things and attitudes no longer serve me and regularly declutter the old and outdated in my life for a lightness and clarity.

10. Reaching out to others enriches my life. I spend quality time with family and friends.

11. Contributing to the world provides connection and purpose, so I give my time, energy and experience where it is most useful.

12. I notice and heed the emotional signals that tell me I’m out of balance: irritability, overwhelm, resentment.

13. If I feel that I’m catching a cold, I realise I may have stressed my immune system with overdoing things, so I stop and take care of myself.

14. When I need or want to, I say “No” to requests for my time.

15. I acknowledge my successes, no matter how small. I give myself permission to feel proud of all my achievements.

16. I listen to and honour the requests my body makes for such things as a nap, a walk, green vegetables, hot soup, time out.

17. I practise gratitude to build inner strength and resilience to help me bounce back from stress. I remind myself every day of just how fortunate I am and of all the bounty and wonderful people in my life.

18. If I have something planned for myself, I don’t just toss that aside when someone makes a request of me.

19. I’m busy, but I find time to do the things I want to do.

20. I’m happy. I regularly experience well-being, contentment, even joy.

How Did You Score?

If you answered false to more than ten questions, that is more than you answered true, you need to make changes in your life to support you and prevent burn-out.

After all, burn-out often leads to serious health problems ranging from aches and pains, through adrenal fatigue to depression plus many, many more.

Even the smallest child knows the frustration of having no time for activities that make you feel alive, that fire your joy and passion and that nurture you, so you feel needed and special. Don’t wait until sickness strikes to change your life practices for the better.

Next Steps

Take a close look at all the questions to which you answered false. Is there a pattern?

Is it just one area of your life that’s having an impact on your wellbeing and sense of balance?  Or is it spread right across all areas of your life?

Do you have strong boundaries?

What is the message you take away from this exercise? 

Consider or meditate on how you can introduce changes into your life.  What practices would help you incorporate the message into your life?

Don’t try and change everything at once. That’s a fast-track to overwhelm. Start small with one thing and once you’re getting comfortable with that add another change. Build on your achievements. And please, don’t hesitate to contact a professional if you feel you need to explore this issue further.

So go ahead…consider yourself!

Disclaimer

The Information contained on this site is for your general health information. It is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes. The information is not a substitute for independent professional advice and should not be used as an alternative to professional health care. If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional.

Conscious Mindset, Self Care, Stress & Overwhelm

To Make Time, Take Time

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I’ve got something that might blow your mind. You know how we always feel like we’re running out of time? Like we have too much on our plate and not enough hours in the day? Like we’re constantly chasing deadlines, appointments, goals, and dreams, but never really enjoying the journey?

Well, what if I told you that time is not a fixed thing, but a flexible one? That you can actually change your relationship with time and make it work for you, not against you? That you can slow down, breathe, and savour every moment of your life, without feeling guilty or stressed?

Sounds too good to be true, right?

But it’s not. It’s possible.

And I’m going to show you how.

First of all, let me ask you this: If time were an animal, what kind would it be? A cheetah? A shark? A hummingbird? A snail?

Well, for most of us, it would probably be on the endangered species list. Or that’s how it seems with too much to do, too many places to be, too little time to do it. We feel like we’re imprisoned by our perception of time as a scarce and limited resource. We rush from one commitment to another, believe we don’t have a minute to spare, yearn for more time, and feel anxious and guilty when we’re idle.

Is this how life is supposed to be?

No! Nor does it have to be.

What Is Time?

The truth is, time is not something that happens to us. It’s something that we create. It’s a mental construct that we can shape and mould according to our needs and desires.

But until we change our relationship with time our lives will continue to speed away from us – at enormous cost to our health and our experience of ourselves and the world around us.

There’s no issue, no aspect of human life, that exceeds this in importance. As Jacob Needleman once said, “The destruction of time is literally the destruction of life”.

So how do we change our relationship with time? How do we make it our friend rather than our enemy? How do we reclaim our power over it and use it wisely and joyfully?

Well, there are many ways to do that, but here are some of the most effective ones I’ve found:

Pause

This is a simple but powerful technique that can help you break the cycle of hurry and stress. It’s inspired by the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh who suggested we “take a deep breath before answering the phone”.

The idea is to create conscious pauses throughout the day – a moment of silence before a meal, a few minutes of sitting in the car before entering the house after work – in order to “come home” to ourselves.

Conscious pauses help us reconnect with our body, our breath, our feelings, and our intentions. They remind us slow down and appreciate the present moment. They help us to remember what matters most.

“Nature requires us not only to be able to work well, but also to idle well”

~ Aristotle

Carve Out Idle Time Alone

This might sound counterintuitive, but sometimes the best way to get more done is to do less. Or better yet, to do nothing at all.

Aristotle said that “nature requires us not only to be able to work well, but also to idle well.” Just because we’re not doing anything doesn’t mean that nothing’s getting done!

On the contrary, it means that we’re giving ourselves the space and time to relax, recharge, reflect and create. We’re letting go of the external demands and expectations and listening to our inner voice. We give ourselves the space to explore our thoughts, feelings, dreams, and passions. This creates room for us to tap into our intuition and creativity. It opens the way to discover new possibilities and opportunities.

Live Fully in the Present Moment

One of the main reasons we feel like we don’t have enough time is because we’re not really here. We’re either dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. We’re missing out on the beauty and richness of the now, the only time that we actually have. The only time that matters. The only time that we can influence and enjoy.

So why not make the most of the present moment? Leave behind the thoughts of what was or what will be and focus on what is. Experience time more peacefully and joyfully by being fully present and aware of ourselves and our surroundings.

Toss Out Your Schedule Wherever You Can

Don’t get me wrong, having a schedule can be useful and helpful. It helps us organise our time and prioritise our tasks. It can also keep us focused to stay on track and achieve our goals.

But sometimes, having a schedule can also be limiting and stressful. It can make us feel like we’re trapped in a rigid routine that doesn’t allow for any spontaneity or flexibility. We can even end up feeling like we’re slaves to the clock rather than masters of our own time.

So why not try something different once in a while? Schedule some spontaneous time and surprise yourself. Follow your impulses and instincts rather than your plans and agendas. Take a risk and see what happens when you let go of control and embrace uncertainty.

Explore the Underlying Reasons for Your Busyness

Sometimes, we’re busy because we have to be. Often, we have responsibilities and obligations that we can’t ignore or avoid. Or we need to dedicate our time to goals and dreams that we are committed to achieving. But sometimes, we’re simply busy because we want to be, because we’re afraid of what would happen if we weren’t. We fill up our time because we’re avoiding emotions that we don’t want to face or questions that we don’t want to answer.

Consider what you are running from. Identify what are you hiding from. Perhaps there is something you are afraid of. What dreams and desires have you put to the side because there’s no room or time in your life? Become clear about what you really want, and what you need for your soul’s wellness. These are some of the questions that you need to consider if you want to understand and change your relationship with time.

Doing this emotional work might be challenging, but it’s essential if you want to stop running from your heart and start living from your soul.

Play

Remember when you were a kid and you used to play for hours without any worries or cares. Take your mind back and recall how the outside world disappeared as you were totally absorbed in the play. Can you recall how time seemed to stand still or fly by depending on how much fun you were having? Remember how you felt alive, free, and happy.

Well, guess what, you can still feel that way. You can still play, and you should. Because play is not just for children, it’s for everyone. Play is not only a natural and vital part of life, it’s also a way of expressing ourselves, exploring our potential, connecting with others, and enjoying ourselves.

Playing is a way of stepping outside time and entering a state of flow, where we’re fully immersed and engaged in what we’re doing.

So go ahead and play. Sing, dance, draw, write, cook, garden, paint, knit, build, invent, experiment, joke, laugh, smile, hug, kiss, cuddle, wrestle, tickle, shake your bootie – whatever makes you happy. Play helps us get outside time and inside ourselves.

Create Time Retreats

Sometimes, the best way to change our relationship with time is to change our environment and our routine. We all need to occasionally step out of our normal life and into a different one.

When we create a time retreat, we can shift into a different rhythm and experience time in a new way. This doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. It can be as simple as taking a day off from work and doing something that you love or something that you’ve never done before. Or it can be as elaborate as going on a vacation or a pilgrimage to a place that inspires you or challenges you. The point is to create some space and time for yourself where you can just “be” without the need to do anything or be anyone else.

Spend Time in Nature

One of the easiest and most effective ways to change our relationship with time is to spend more time in nature. Nature has its own pace and a rhythm that is unhurried and harmonious. it doesn’t rush or worry or stress. Nature just is.

When we’re immersed in nature, we can also learn to be unhurried and harmonious, aligned with nature’s rhythms, as we shift into our own calm, unhurried pace. We begin to slow down and sync up with the natural cycles of day and night, sun and moon, seasons and tides. As we come into alignment with nature, we begin to appreciate the beauty and wonder of the world around us. As we watch a bird, or a flower, or a cloud or a star time stretches out in our minds and hearts.

Time is Your Ally

These are just some ways that we can change our relationship with time and make it more meaningful and fulfilling. There are many more that you can discover and try for yourself. The important thing is to start somewhere and see what works for you. Watch your time reservoir refill as you allow yourself time to “breathe” in your life.

Remember:

Time is not your enemy. It’s your ally; it’s your gift; it’s your life.

Don’t waste it; don’t rush it; don’t regret it.

Cherish it. Enjoy it. Celebrate it.

DISCLAIMER

All information and opinions presented on this site are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Do not use this article to diagnose a health condition. Speak to your doctor if you think your condition may be serious or before discontinuing any prescribed medication. Please consult with your healthcare provider before following any of the treatment suggested anywhere on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

© Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health, 2024. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health with appropriate and specific direction to the original content

Nature's Rhythms, Self Care

Stay Well Through Autumn With Natural Remedies

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As the gentle energy of Autumn settles around us, wrapping us in her hazy sunny days and crisp evenings it is time to prepare for the turning inward that naturally occurs as we approach winter.  Autumn is a time of benevolence, when the activity of summer has slowed, when pastimes become gentler and more leisurely, when we turn our attention within to our own thoughts and dreams.

As the energies of Autumn contract and gather inwards, they cause us to also slow down in readiness for the stillness of the coming winter. The contemplative nature of the season allows time for inner reflection and awareness, providing a space to find clarity before setting the plans and goals to initiate in the Spring.

In readiness for increased awareness and understanding, Autumn is a time to embrace peace and avoid engaging in personal dramas. This is the time to step back and distance yourself from conflict, judgement and other triggers in your life. It is the time to take a deep breath and count to ten before responding to potential slights or conflicts.

Autumn Health

April is a time of transition for our whole body. As the evening air takes on a bite after the gentle warmth of the afternoon sun our bodies become more susceptible to health problems. Illnesses that have gone underground over the summer will re-appear and new coughs, colds and other infections appear.

If you don’t use this time to build your health and charge up your immune system, you may find yourself more susceptible to winter illness and less capable of throwing off any illness you develop by June.

Change Your Habits

By adjusting your lifestyle to align with the seasonal energies you can strengthen your whole system.

There are a number of changes you can make which all contribute to building your health.

Most people naturally change their foods when the weather cools and Summer salads make way for heavier meat and root vegetable stews and soups. But also adapting your life practices including exercise, meditation and sleep offers huge support through the colder months.

Sleep, Sleep, Sleep

Sleep autumn pexels

One of the most important lifestyle changes to make for Autumn and Winter health is to recognise that your body needs much more sleep as it turns inward. Getting seven hours sleep every night is one of the best ways to protect yourself against winter illness.

Unfortunately, your body doesn’t recover from a work-induced sleep deprived week by simply sleeping in on the weekend. It’s important to develop routines that make sufficient sleep every night a regular part of your daily health practice.

If you can’t get to sleep or stay asleep, speak to your natural health practitioner now, before Winter, for advice and treatment to help you break this pattern.

Push yourself to rest whenever you need it and take it easy. Develop great bedtime routines to maintain wellness and keep ‘office illness’ away.

These Sure-fire Strategies For Better Sleep will get you started.

Self Care

As Autumn settles in it is time to treat yourself with compassion. Be conscious this is the season to be gentle, and wrap yourself with TLC. If you are someone who is constantly there for everyone else, now is the time to turn that caring inwards and say ‘no’ to others.

It is only by first caring for your own needs that you can adequately care for those around you.

self care sleep

Modify Exercise

Exercise is a great way to boost immune health.

It increases oxygen levels in the blood. A recent study has shown that there is no place on earth that does not have some level of air pollution.  In major cities there’s significantly less oxygen in the air. When you consider that most people also breathe poorly and that many chronic diseases including cancer are associated with low oxygen levels, the importance of boosting oxygen intake becomes obvious.

Exercise makes you feel more alert, boosts your levels of endorphins so you feel positive, as well as improving oxygen levels in every cell of your body. However, during Autumn it is vital to tone down your exercise program to prevent your energy becoming depleted, as that adversely affects your immune system.

Yoga, t’ai chi or Qi Gong are very balancing and present the perfect exercise option for autumn. Deep breathing exercises and yoga stretching both support your immune system as well as your respiratory organs through the Winter. Brisk walking and bike riding are other great ways to exercise in Autumn.

Avoid heavy aerobic exercise outdoors in the cooler autumn months, as it may reduce vital energy and weaken your system.

autumn-colors

Susceptible Organs During Autumn

The lung and the colon are both organs of elimination and relate to your ability to “let go” on all levels. According to the teachings of Traditional Chinese Medicine if your immunity is weak these organs will be affected during Autumn, with respiratory problems including coughs, breathing difficulties and sinus problems, or gut issues like constipation and/or diarrhoea.

These are the organs that are affected when you hold on to grief and sadness. If you are holding on to unresolved grief or sadness the health and function of your lungs or large intestine will eventually be affected. They are sending you the message that it is “time to let go”.

Disclaimer

All information and opinions presented here are for information only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before trying any of the treatments suggested on this site.

© Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health, 2023. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Self Care

Why You Need To Go On Retreat

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The word ‘retreat’ has become the new event buzzword. It seems every second event is labelled ‘Retreat’ no matter what the focus and format. I’ve seen ‘retreats’ lasting from a single afternoon through to a couple of weeks. I’ve even seen online retreats! So you may be wondering exactly what makes a retreat different from other events. You may also be asking yourself “why would I want to go on retreat?”

Let me help…

 

go on a retreat

 

In common event-speak, retreats are now any event where you’re removed from of your day-to-day activity. Which basically could apply to pretty well every event!  The dictionary defines them as “an organised group withdrawal from regular activities, as for religious contemplation, the development of closer relationships, etc.”.  But neither really defines the nitty-gritty of a retreat.

 

Retreats generally have a theme. These vary from self-development, through skill development, creative refinement, business skills, religious practice, intuitive development, self-care pampering, finding your purpose, and many more. Many retreats also offer a deeper, non-religious spiritual experience to nourish your soul. You will always find a retreat with a theme that matches what you need in your life.

 

But here’s where things get confusing, as the format and structure of a retreat experience is not clear-cut.

 

 

What Makes An ‘Event’ A ‘Retreat’

 

Retreats generally have an element of coaching, as do many events. But events and retreats differ in that a retreat’s generally a journey of discovery – of yourself and others. Whether it’s about skill development, personal development or one of self-nurturing, retreats always take you to deeper levels of understanding and wisdom.

 

Retreats are usually live-in which disconnects you from the responsibilities of your daily life. This separation form the everyday world allows complete immersion in the retreat experience and journey. When you’re not being constantly pulled back into routine you receive new insights to make new conscious intentional choices with clarity.

 

And this is where the magic happens.  

 

By completely withdrawing from daily life and not returning home (or to an outside hotel) in the evening to cook dinner, do laundry or check social media, you’re able to completely immerse yourself in the retreat.

 

When you don’t downgrade your focus into mindless activity like social media or TV you stay completely connected to the energy of the closed group and the process.

 

When you don’t become distracted by the outside world, you can remain totally connected with the insights and challenges that arise as you journey through the workshops and experiences provided on the retreat. You can stay completely focused and allow the unfolding to occur fully in its natural progression and time.

 

If you shift outside the retreat, either physically or mentally by going online, you interrupt or shut down the process and halt the unfolding.

 

It is this complete immersion that defines an event as a retreat. It’s also what makes a retreat such a powerful tool for catalysing big shifts in perspectives, skills, knowledge and results.

 

 

4 Reasons To Go On Retreat

 

There are so many benefits that you’ll gain on a retreat. Here are four reasons why you should opt for a retreat over a regular vacation:

Continue reading…

 

 

Work With Me On Retreat…

 

Would you love to develop deep Self-Care practices to keep you grounded and energised, and your heart singing?

Join me on the Indochine Queen Women’s Retreat in Vietnam in March 2019.

Find all the details here

womens self care retreat

 

Disclaimer

All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

Sleep, Stress & Overwhelm

Sure-Fire Strategies For Better Sleep

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Giving advice for improved sleep is a normal part of any Wholistic Health practice, and I’m used to delivering. But today I am suffering the effects of a wakeful night after not ‘Walking My Talk’. Last night I sat up on the computer until well after midnight when the cold finally drove me to bed, only to then wake repeatedly through the night.

Sleep is so important, especially now as the days have shortened and we approach winter. Sufficient sleep allows our body to recover from the day and leads to improved brain function and memory.

But sleep doesn’t always come easily.

 

These simple actions will help you create a calm sleep-friendly environment.

De-Clutter and De- Junk

Is your bedroom a soothing sanctuary or is it also a place where you work? It is vital to establish and maintain the boundary between work and rest. Your bedroom needs to be a place where you unwind and take ‘you-time’. If the boundaries are unclear, you never get a break from the pressure and stress of work.

When you keep your bed for sleeping or other fun bedtime activities, your brain comes to associate bed with only these activities rather than work, which makes it easier for you to nod off.

Clear away clutter and mess; open the windows to refresh the energy; add fresh flowers, beautiful and meaningful ornaments, a candle or Himalayan Salt Lamp.

Create an EMF-Free Zone

If you are surrounded by electronic devices while you sleep your brain waves are affected throughout the night and you will never get good sleep. 

There’s some concern that the pulsed frequencies of electronic devices interfere with the body’s own signals. These electromagnetic fields (EMF’s) affect the emotions, the organs, hormone production and the immune system. Cosequently this can then lead to poor sleep, as well as many other problems.

There are many studies that show exposure to electronic devices (even electric lights) before going to bed interferes with sleep patterns. Far from allowing you to wind-down in the evening using electronic devices actually increase your alertness and interferes with REM sleep.

Light, from any source including the low levels of light emitted by electronic devices, disrupts circadian rhythms and causes poor sleep

There have also been studies into how electromagnetic fields (EMF’s) around electronic devices affect the release of melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone. In 2007 this study showed melatonin production, and therefore sleep quality, may be affected in some people.

For good sleep switch off your smartphone, your tablet, your laptop, your TV, e-reader and other devices at the source. If you need an alarm to wake, find an alternative to your phone. Sleeping close to an active smartphone (or other device) is absolutely NOT worth the wide-reaching adverse effects it has on you.

If you do need to leave any devices switched on, make sure they are well away from your body, at least two metres. Even better if they are right across the room or in the en suite.

Check your bedroom for electro-magnetic fields and remove the responsible devices.

mobile phone

Create Peace

If you need entertainment before sleep place some books or magazines in your room, or perhaps a journal. Not only does journaling empty your mind of annoying thoughts that keep you awake, it’s also has many health benefits. Research even shows it strengthens the immune system and reduces the symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.

Use your journal to establish gratitude practices to build your Happiness Bank.

Check the temperature. A moderate temperature about 20 degrees Celsius, not warmer, supports undisturbed sleep.

Darkness helps you sleep and even small amounts of light interrupt the production of the neurotransmitters needed for sound sleep. Use block-out curtains if there are lights outside your window. Don’t turn lights on suddenly during the night as they disrupt the production of the sleep-inducing hormones, melatonin and serotonin. Don’t use white light as a night light. The soft pink glow of a Himalayan Salt Lamp solves this problem, if you must have light in the bedroom. If you can’t block out light wear an eye mask.

Music is a wonderful aid to help you relax. Gentle, music, white noise or relaxation recordings will all help you unwind. The rhythmic sound of the surf washing onto the beach is one way to induce sleepiness.

No TV right before bed! Stop about thirty minutes before retiring and definitely don’t watch it in bed.

Turn your bedroom into a space you look forward to spending time in.

 

Create A Scent-sual Space

 Our sense of smell plays an important role in mood, memory and emotions. It is linked to the limbic system, which is considered the old primitive part of the brain. As well as promoting relaxation, research shows that certain bedtime scents can even influence the type of dreams people have.

There are a number of essential oils that induce relaxation and are powerful sleep aids.

Lavender stimulates the release of feel-good hormones and is a well known relaxant to help insomnia. Sprinkle a few drops of lavender essential oil on a cotton ball beside your pillow or in your room.

Vanilla, rose, chamomile, sandalwood and surprisingly, coffee are some others that can also help insomnia by calming you. (Although homeopathic Coffea is known to have excellent calming properties, and so maybe it’s not such a surprise!) 

Create A Healthy Eating Plan

 Shunning caffeine should be a no-brainer. Drinking coffee, tea or hot chocolate keeps some people awake. But many other foods such as soft drinks, processed foods and even medications often contain caffeine, and you need to be wary of those.

Some foods like dairy and wheat can cause gastric disturbances that may keep you awake. Avoid them altogether or at least in the later part of the day.

L-tryptophan found in protein foods promotes the production of melatonin and serotonin to aid sleep. A small protein-rich snack such as nuts in the evening may help you sleep better.

Avoid sugar and processed grain snacks before bed to avoid the rapid spikes and drops in blood sugars that interrupt sleep.

Alcohol is a ‘no-no’ for sound sleep. Although it produces sleepiness and initially sends you to sleep, it prevents you entering the deeper, restorative, sleep cycles.  Also, alcohol’s effect is short-lived. After a few hours you are likely to wake up, completely unable to return to sleep.

Chamomile tea before bed is an excellent for promoting good sleep. It has a slight homeopathic effect to relieve anxiety and promote relaxation.

Support your body with nurturing foods to create balance

Create A Sleep-Ready Body

Exercising daily for at least thirty minutes helps you fall asleep but be sure not to do it too close to bedtime. This is because exercise stimulates the release of metabolising hormones that will keep you awake.

Create A Night-Time Ritual

Setting a bed-time ritual sends cues to your brain that it is time for it to prepare to sleep.  Just as you might read a bed-time story to a child to help them relax before they sleep, setting routines also reminds your mind it’s time to relax and sleep.

Develop your own night-time routine.  It may include a warm bath, some yoga, reading, listening to music, writing your journal, in fact anything that soothes and relaxes you.  Repeat this every evening in the thirty minutes before bed so your brain and body associate this activity with sleep.

Write down your list of whatever you need to do in the morning, earlier in the evening before.  This shuts down the ideas and thoughts that normally run around your head while you’re trying to drop off to sleep.  The same goes for any plans, worries or other thoughts that might keep you awake into the early hours of the morning.

Going to bed at the same time each night and rising at the same time each day allows your body clock to synchronise with these times, making both sleep and waking easier.

A hot shower or bath before bed increases your body temperature.  As it falls again you will relax and fall asleep. If you have cold feet warm them with socks to prevent sleep disturbance.

If noise wakes you or keeps you awake wear ear plugs.

Take time to reflect on the day passed as well as the brand-new day ahead, so you can leave stress behind and start the new day afresh.

If you can’t sleep get up and address the cause or do some quiet activity until you feel calm and ready to return to bed.

Don’t watch the clock! If you aren’t sleeping put the clock away. Watching the hours tick away will only leave you stressed

Sleep Problems of Menopause

For some women passing through menopause, insomnia becomes a real and distressing issue.  Hormonal changes causing hot flushes, palpitations, or night sweats can interrupt sleep and cause havoc.  Before taking Hormonal replacement Therapy (HRT) have a talk to a Wholistic Health Practitioner about the many natural options available to balance hormones and reduce these debilitating symptoms.

Creating an environment that nurtures and supports you allows your body to release the stress from your busy life and relax into sleep at night

What are your favourite ways to ensure you get good sleep? Tell us in the comments below.

Disclaimer

All information and opinions presented here are for information purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

  © Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health, 2012. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health with appropriate and specific direction to the original content

Natural Remedies & Homeopathy, Sleep, Stress & Overwhelm

Could It Be Your Thyroid Causing Your Poor Health?

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For many people an underactive thyroid slows them down and leads to a host of other unpleasant symptoms.  Most of those people are never diagnosed with the disorder. Many are never treated. Many fail to make the changes in their diet and lifestyle that can really help ease their symptoms. Most go on living their life in a debilitated state.lust for life

The Thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland in the middle of the front of your throat. It’s purpose is to release hormones that help in the regulation of many body functions – metabolism, heart rate, maintaining your core temperature, healthy skin, your weight, fertility and more. It slows you down or revs you up to make you more energetic. It also activates your immune system. It plays a part in most of the body’s physiological processes, so when it is out of balance, so are you. In fact every cell in your body has receptors for thyroid hormones.

Sometimes the thyroid does not work as it should and, depending on whether it is pumping out too many hormones or too few, it becomes under- or over-active, what is known as either Hyperthyroidism (too many thyroid hormones in the blood) or Hypothyroidism (too few).

Thyroid conditions can be quite common and it is estimated that about thyroid20-25% of the female population may suffer from hypothyroidism. An estimated 30% more of people over the age of 35 may suffer from “subclinical” hypothyroidism, where they either have no obvious symptoms, or their test results are within the ‘normal’ range but they have mild symptoms of low thyroid function.

Many people live with the symptoms of low thyroid function often for years, where their thyroid gland works sluggishly without them even realizing it. With too few thyroid hormones in the blood the body processes start slowing down, and so do they.

However, there are some telltale signs to look out for. Here are some of them, although there are many more:

  • Fluid retention or swelling in the legs, feet, arms or face
  • Cold hands or feet, poor circulation and intolerance of cold
  • Dry skin, acne and eczema
  • Lethargy, fatigue, poor stamina and sleeepiness
  • Forgetfulness, slow cognitive function, brain fog
  • Depression
  • Constipation, indigestion
  • Weight gain, or difficulty losing weight
  • Poor brittle, slow-growing nails and hair, hair loss
  • Heavy periods, irregular cycle, PMS
  • Infertility, low libido
  • Insomnia
  • Muscle and joint aches and pains
  • Food cravings, food intolerances, hypoglycaemia
  • High cholesterol/ triglycerides, palpitations, high or very low blood pressure

Illnesses where symptoms seem vague or scattered could actually be providing warning signs that you have a problem with your thyroid. Diseases and syndromes such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, menopausal symptoms, muscle and joint pains, IBS, PMS, heart disease or depression, which all have a wide variance in the symptoms they present with, may be improved when underlying thyroid issues are redressed. Sometimes an underactive thyroid can be due to an autoimmune disease, Hasimoto’s disease.

However, low thyroid function may actually not be the root of the problem. There is a strong relationship between your adrenal and thyroid glands and it is very common for adrenal fatigue to go hand-in-hand with hypothyroidism. In many cases the adrenal glands become weakened, leading to a malfunctioning thyroid gland. If treatment is only directed towards the thyroid gland and the adrenal issues are not addressed then the person’s health will simply not improve. It’s important to reduce stress in your life as both the adrenals and the thyroid are very sensitive to stress. Practicing meditation, yoga, qi gong, or relaxation techniques will go a long way to reducing the stress response and support the action of these glands.

Two hormones, T4 and T3 are produced by the thyroid. T3 is the active form of thyroid and is the one that does the vast majority of work in the body. When levels are low enough the traditional approach is to use synthetic hormone, but they only contain T4 and the problem with this is that most people have difficulty converting T4 into T3.

Thyroid hormone levels can be tested with a blood test. If symptoms are vague and do not point directly to a disorder, testing will probably be done alongside other blood tests.

The normal range for tests is 0.5 to 5.5 IU/ml.

The problem for many people is that they suffer symptoms of low thyroid function when their measured levels of the hormone are between 2.0 IU/ml and 5.5IU/ml – levels that are considered to show ‘normal’ thyroid function. They are told their levels are normal and left with no explanation or treatment for their symptoms. When it comes to thyroid hormones setting the boundaries of ‘normal’ for thyroid levels is very misleading as there really isn’t any ‘normal’ level…the levels change depending on factors such as age or health.

All the different hormones of the body work together in a delicate dance and when one is not working all the others are affected also.
All the different hormones of the body work together in a delicate dance and when one is not working all the others are affected also.

All the different hormones of the body work together in a delicate dance and when one is not working all the others are affected also. Many reproductive hormone-related symptoms may be experienced when thyroid hormones are low. PMS, infertility, fibroids, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, heavy bleeding, menopause symptoms, fibrocystic breasts or even post-natal depression may all result.

Low thyroid function can easily be confused with the symptoms of menopause. While symptoms such as hot flushes, period irregularities, weight gain, night sweats and insomnia are often experienced during peri-menopause or menopause, night sweats and insomnia in particular, may also be key symptoms of low thyroid function. Using hormone replacement to deal with these symptoms simply makes the problem worse, as the oestrogen in the medications interferes with the thyroid hormones further, impairing the thyroid function even more. This in turn slows down metabolism and leads to weight gain. It is a vicious circle.

As usual it is easy to point the finger at poor diet and lifestyle as contributing factors to thyroid dysfunction and sugar, processed foods, stress, lack of exercise or toxic environments all play their part.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Low thyroid function can be addressed in a number of more natural ways.

I treat many people (mainly women) for low thyroid function with huge success using carefully selected Homeopathic remedies, reversing their debilitating symptoms and allowing them to live a normal life. But with this being a complicated chronic issue it is not one that can be self-treated and requires prescribing by a fully-trained professional Homeopath.

But luckily there are a number of things that you can do as a first-line defense for hypothyroidism, and using natural methods avoids the side effects of medications.

DIET

A well balanced diet that is made up of unprocessed, unrefined whole foods, with organic or biodynamic vegetables, fruits, meat and dairy, is the best way to combat hypothyroidism, if you also include the following guidelines.

It’s so important that you stay away from sugar and caffeine which simply cause thyroid burn-out. If going ‘cold-turkey’ is too hard then cut back more gradually. Cut out refined and processed carbohydrates as well as they behave just like sugar when they are metabolized in your body.

Make sure to eat protein as it transports thyroid hormone into your cells. Include nuts, nut butters, legumes, quinoa, and less frequently and in smaller quantities eggs, meats, fish and dairy.

Good fats help to create hormone balance (including thyroid hormones) – avocados (one of my favourite good fat sources), coconuts and coconut milk and oil, olives and olive oil, raw nuts and nut butters, organic butter and yoghurt, organic egg yolks, flax seeds. Avoid trans fats.

Make sure you are getting enough Vitamins and minerals, especially Vitamin A, Vitamin D, the Vitamin B’s, iodine, selenium, zinc, copper, iron and omega-3 essential fatty acids. Organic produce will be higher in vitamins and minerals as long as it isn’t old and wilting.

Thyroid hormone production is just another of the many functions of Vitamin D which is produced in the body from sunlight. This is yet another reason to have levels of this crucial vitamin tested and maintained, and you may actually need to supplement this.

Cut out gluten especially if you have Hashimoto’s as the gluten mimics thyroid tissue and aggravates the autoimmune response

Watch out for foods that interfere with thyroid function especially those containing goitrogens and don’t eat them unless they are cooked – cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, turnips, spinach, strawberries, peanuts, millet

Get tested for food sensitivities, especially if you find there is a food or food group that you crave, as eating these foods sets up an autoimmune response in the body.

The thyroid gland requires iodine to make thyroid hormones so iodine deficiency may be a contributing factor to hypothyroidism. Many people are deficient in iodine so include more sources of iodine in your diet like seaweed (kelp, dulce, nori), shellfish, saltwater fish, eggs, yoghurt, mozzarella cheese

SUPPLEMENTS

Supplement with probiotics as good thyroid function depends on healthy gut flora

Add vitamins and minerals particularly if you are not getting adequate amounts in your diet.

Other supplements that help thyroid activity and the manufacture of thyroid hormones are Tyrosine, Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), magnesium citrate and Potassium iodide. Look for these in a combined thyroid supplement.

HERBS

Ashwaganda is a herb that can help to improve the level of T4 hormone and guggal Commiphora wightii to convert the T4 into the active T3. Guggal has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine and is now difficult to source due to its scarcity after overuse – you may want to reconsider using this herb for this reason.

Exercise lowers insulin levels and increases thyroid function
Exercise lowers insulin levels and increases thyroid function

EXERCISE

Exercise lowers insulin levels and increases thyroid function. Work out or walk for 40 minutes three times a week, and make sure you get out of breath.

Disclaimer 2

Source articles:

http://www.thyroid.org/what-is-hypothyroidism/

http://www.drnorthrup.com/womenshealth/healthcenter/topic_details.php?topic_id=59

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/01/02/Many-Symptoms-Suggest-Sluggish-Thyroid.aspx

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-3139/13-Ways-to-Treat-Hypothyroidism-Naturally.html

http://vistamaglive.com/the-low-thyroid-epidemic-in-canada

http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/lisa-lynn/3-ways-boost-thyroid-function

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/hypothyroidism-000093.htm

http://www.elliotthealthcare.com/low_thyroid.htm

http://www.naturalendocrinesolutions.com/articles/truth-protein-carbs-fats-thyroid-health

Related articles

 

Natural Remedies & Homeopathy, Sleep

Do You Dream Of Dreaming…If Only You Could Get To Sleep?

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It seems that almost everyone I have spoken to over the last week has had problems sleeping, whether it is in getting to sleep, waking during the night or, for those that are sleeping, having vivid crazy dreams. Insomnia, or sleeplessness, can be either an inability to fall asleep or waking up through the night before the expected waking time. As anyone who has ever experienced a poor nights sleep knows, the impact of sleeplessness shows up the next day as a reduced ability to concentrate, lethargy, and fragile emotions.dream of dreaming

The body actually requires sleep just as it does water, food and oxygen in order to function. Without sleep we would literally go crazy. When insomnia is long term (more than 3-4 weeks) it can have a major impact on your health, leading to memory problems, depression, irritability, with an increased risk of heart disease.

Tossing and turning for hours on end, worrying about not being able to get to sleep, or being unable to switch off can be very frustrating, and can even worsen the insomnia. The more you try to sleep, the more frustrated you get and the harder sleep becomes

For many people insomnia is an ongoing issue that has some pretty big repercussions on their life. While it can be caused by many things for a large number it is often the result of poor sleep behaviour, sometimes resulting from patterns established during childhood.

SOME CAUSES

There are quite a number of poor lifestyle habits that can actually be the cause or sleeplessness, or else worsen it. Here are a few of them that you may need to address:

·         Going to bed at different times each night

·         Daytime napping

·         Poor sleeping environment, such as too much noise or light – your bedroom should be a ‘haven of calm’

·         Spending too much time in bed while you are still awake

·         Working evening or night shifts

·         Not getting enough exercise

·         Using the television, computer, or smartphone in bed 

The use of some medications and drugs may also affect sleep.

  • Alcohol for instance may help you fall asleep initially but generally leads to waking up through the night.
  • Too much caffeine is well known as a cause of insomnia, especially when it is drunk later in the day.
  • There are a number of medications, including cold medicines and diet pills that can cause poor sleep. Be very careful about self-prescribing unless you know exactly what the effects of what you are taking are, as some herbs and supplements can lead to insomnia.
  • Heavy smoking can be a problem.
  • If you take sleeping pills regularly it is easy to become used to them, so they stop working as well as they did initially.

In addition to lifestyle habits there are a number of other physical, social, and mental health issues that can affect sleep patterns, including: anxiety disorders, Bipolar Disorder, certain medical conditions such as thyroid disease, feeling sad or depressed, physical pain or discomfort, stress whether it is short-term or long-term.

CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS

However sometimes there is just no obvious reason for sleeplessness.

We have our own inbuilt body clock called the circadian rhythm, that regulates our sleep patterns. This is what makes us fall asleep at night and wake up again the next morning. The body clock is easily thrown out by overseas flying, rotating shift work, or even a few late nights. When your body clock gets disrupted you experience symptoms like jet lag.

Taking sleeping pills to help you sleep often leaves you with a ‘hangover’ effect which is something you will avoid by using natural cures instead.

For many the prospect of sleeping like a baby, anywhere, anytime seems like a remote daydream. There are some natural remedies with proven success that may offer relief.
For many the prospect of sleeping like a baby, anywhere, anytime seems like a remote daydream, but there are some natural remedies with proven success that may offer relief.

RESET YOUR BODY CLOCK NATURALLY

There are a number of very effective natural ways that you can reset the body clock so you can get back to good sleeping patterns. Here are a few that have proven success.

Melatonin: Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland of the brain which helps to relax us so that we can fall asleep. It is quite well-known for its ability to rebalance your body clock and is often used to treat jet lag. It is usually released in the absence of light, but we need to have spent some time in daylight in order to make enough in the first place. This is why it is recommended that you spend time outside after you have flown a long-haul flight. Taking a melatonin supplement can help to reset the body clock. But if you prefer to use food as medicine you can address melatonin deficiency with foods that boost serotonin (melatonin is made from serotonin) such as raw cacao , magnesium, fish oils and herbal tea containing hops, chamomile, ashwaganda and lemon balm.

Homeopathy: Homeopathy has a marvelous history treating insomnia. There are many Homeopathic remedies that work to reset the body’s sleep patterns, calm your mind and get restful sleep. While there are a number of combination mixes available over the counter, the ones that have the deepest and most long lasting effect are those that are prescribed individually by a Homeopath to suit your individual insomnia symptoms.

Some that a Homeopathic practitioner may consider for insomnia are Arsenicum Album – useful when anxiety, fear, or worry prevents sleep; Coffea – when you are unable to sleep because your thoughts are too active or you are excited about a surprise, or good or bad news; Nux-vomica – when very irritable, waking between 2-4am with racing thoughts only to fall asleep again about daybreak, with much stress caused by overstudy or work; Ignatia –  sleepless after disappointment or grief; and Passiflora – for restless sleeplessness with exhaustion – the choice between these and many more would depend on these, and all the other symptoms you were experiencing. But check with your Homeopath as the remedies need to be selected and taken according to homeopathic principles

Herbs: There is a range of herbs that are very useful to induce sleep. Valerian root is one that is quite well known and often used. It is quite powerful and often used when changing time zones for fast results. Valerian is useful when you have difficulty staying asleep. Some people however get the opposite effect from valerian and can get hyped-up after taking it. It is good combined with Passionflower which helps to fall asleep initially. Some of the others that can be helpful are Kava which is again available after having been taken off the market for a while, can be used for short-term relief. It is good to relieve anxiety in the moment. Scullcap is great to use when you are very hyped-up and just can’t slow down, or are experiencing anxiety and are emotionally stressed, and you can use it for longer periods.

Aromatherapy: Using Essential Oils can help bring on sleep. While there are a number of oils that induce sleep, lavender has long been recognized as being the ‘Queen of Calm’, and lavender essential oil will effectively calm down overwrought nervous systems. A few drops added to a warm bath before bed or on a cotton ball under the pillow should bring on sleep.

SETTING A PERFECT SLEEP ENVIRONMENT

Make sure your sleeping environment is calm and serene. THE KEY IS TO SWITCH OFF. Leave your worries at the bedroom door. Switch off all gadgets – phones (put them in flight mode), iPad, laptop, TV etc. Take some time to settle down and relax. Set aside 30 minutes before bed as ‘unwind and de-stress time’ – read a good book, wite your journal, listen to soft music – anything that you find relaxes you and does not involve an electronic gadget. Remember, exposure to artificial light (electronics) before going to bed increases your alertness and suppresses melatonin and so will keep you awake.

So, here’s to a great sleep.

What are some of the ways you deal with sleeplessness?

Worrying about not being able to get to sleep can worsen the insomnia
Worrying about not being able to get to sleep can worsen the insomnia

Disclaimer.

All information and opinions presented here are for information only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before trying any of the treatment suggested on this site. 

Source articles:

http://www.movenourishbelieve.com/nourish/are-you-getting-enough-sleep-4-natural-ways-to-create-a-sleep-friendly-environment

http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/article/can_i_reset_my_body_clock

http://homeopathyplus.com.au/getting-a-good-nights-sleep

Related articles
Metaphysics, Sleep, Stress & Overwhelm

Get Down To Earth By Grounding Yourself

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This year I decided to ditch my footwear inside the house, ever since reading up on Barefoot Earthing or Grounding. This is a radical new health practice that is quickly gaining momentum as word about its benefits spreads. Its impact can be quite far-reaching and yet it is incredibly simple to do, costs nothing, is always available and feels great.

Have you ever noticed how good you feel when you take off your shoes to walk barefoot? Well it seems there is a scientific explanation, and research into the practice of Grounding has found that it can significantly improve all sorts of health problems. It can help your energy levels, reduce stress, improve your sleep, decrease muscular inflammation and stiffness as well as other chronic pain, reduce anxiety, improve circulation, prevent free-radical damage and associated premature ageing and even heal injuries faster. It brings you back into a state of equilibrium where your body is best able to heal itself. Those who use the practice on a regular basis report great results. I am certainly finding I have less aches and pains whenever I walk round without shoes than when I leave them on.

It all has to do with electrical fields.

These days we live completely immersed in electro-magnetic waves (EMFs) from a huge number of everyday items including mobile phones, computers, wireless technology, many electrical appliances, and even compact fluorescent lights. The air in our houses, our workplaces, our schools and in some outdoor places is full of electro-pollution, harmful positive ions produced by this multitude of electrical contraptions that surround us.

These positive ions contribute to ill health.

Electrical Stress

Electrical stress is now recognized as a significant contributor to many health problems and in fact a new chronic illness, “Diabetes Type 3”, has been coined to describe illness believed to be caused by electropollution. 

Surrounding yourself with sources of negative ions helps to rebalance this disharmony, as does being in places where negative ions are in abundance.

The surface of the earth is electically conductive and has a permanent supply of free electrons sitting just above the surface. The charge on the earth surface is negative and anything that is close to the surface will also carry that charge.

Your body also has an electrical field, sometimes referred to as the biofield or the aura. When your bare feet are in contact with the earth negative electrons can easily pass into you. Grounding helps to prevent a build-up of harmful electrons in your body as well as promoting a discharge of the positive ions from your body into the earth. Simultaneously you receive a flood of free electrons from the earth.

When the ions in your body and the Earth are very different an ion exchange occurs. These neutralize the free radicals in your body which cause inflammation and are responsible for many health problems. The flood of electrons immediately ‘re-balances’ you, which is why you feel so good when you walk outside barefoot.

In case you got lost in that explanation, simply, standing on the earth rebalances the electromagnetic field of your body, helping to strengthen your immune system, and boosting both your health and your wellbeing.

For most of our existence humans have gone barefoot and often slept directly on the ground. Things now are very different. As well as being surrounded by electromagnetic pollution we are cut off from receiving the rebalancing benefits from the earth because the shoes that we now wear have rubber and synthetic soles that insulate and block transmission of the natural beneficial energy of the earth. Think how rubber gloves can provide protection from electrical shock. Your shoes act in much the same way.

How to Ground Yourself

Take your shoes off and stand or walk barefoot on grass, beach, bare earth, even concrete when it is laid directly on the earth (but not if it is painted or sealed) whenever you can.

To gain the full health benefit you need to walk around on the earth for about thirty minutes.

Other ways to ground yourself and reap the benefits are to swim in lakes, rivers, or the sea; wear shoes with leather soles; purchase and use an indoor grounding mat or an earthing bed sheet.

The reason I am able to benefit from earthing when walking barefoot indoors is because my floor is made of unglazed slate sitting on a concrete slab which is set directly onto a rock shelf on the side of a hill. There are no substances between my feet and the Earth to block the passage of negative ions. You would not get earthing benefit in a home raised above the ground, or with glazed tiles covering the floor, or a layer between the concrete and tile, or with other floor coverings.

If you would like to read up on Earthing also then get a copy of the book EARTHING – The Most Important Health Discovery Ever?  by Clint Ober, Dr Stephen T Sinatra and Martin Zucker.

Remember though, Grounding is not a substitute for medical treatment and if you have a medical condition you need to consult your healthcare provider.

Taking your shoes off and walking barefoot in the sea helps to rebalance your energetic field.
Taking your shoes off and walking barefoot in the sea helps to rebalance your energetic field.

Disclaimer.

All information and opinions presented here are for information only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before trying any of the treatment suggested on this site. 

© Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health, 2024. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Source articles:

http://www.barefoothealing.com.au/

https://www.naturalnews.com/028967_electropollution_diabetes.html

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/11/04/why-does-walking-barefoot-on-the-earth-make-you-feel-better.aspx