Seasons & Universal Cycles, Self Care, Stress & Overwhelm

5 Great Self-Care Practices For Autumn

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As Autumn settles in it’s 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.

Although we know that self care is so important it can be difficult to know how to start.  Self care begins with self love.  Self love has nothing to do with being selfish.  Rather, it’s about attending to your needs not about putting yourself before others.  It is a vital step on the pathway to Soul Empowered Wellness.

how to practice self care

If you wish to grow in consciousness and walk a path of integrity and authentic power, one of the most fundamental steps is to attend to your self-care.  It all begins with self-love, the simple act of honouring yourself with kindness and respect.  Practicing self care requires you tune into your body, your emotions, your mind and your soul and attend to what it is you really need and desire.

Silence Your Inner Critic

In order to care for ourselves we must first recognise and banish the inner critic.  That inner ‘mean girl’, ‘critic’, ‘judge’, ‘saboteur’ or whatever you call it, (I call mine ‘The Committee’) serves us at certain times in our life.  But at others it undermines our dreams.

This is that voice that always casts doubt on your inspiration, your actions or even just you.

There are times in our life we really need that inner voice.  It is the voice of caution that pops up to keep us safe.  But it is also the voice that keeps us small, limited, and unfulfilled.

In the interests of self-care it is at these times that you need to reclaim the control to direct your own life.  When you don’t do this your inner voice will keep you restricted with old stories and belief systems that don’t support your personal growth.

The second part of the process is to attend to your needs.  A lot of people think this is about pampering but it is much more.  While pampering can be a part of self-care it’s not the crux.  At its centre self care is about tuning in to your body, emotions, mind and spirit and addressing what it is you need on all these levels.

It can be hard to know how to begin the process of self care.  Here are five suggestions.

Guide To Self Care

1. Shut Down Your Inner Mean Voice

I began the process of self-care by dealing with the voice of my ‘Inner Committee’.  The very first step was to recognise it when it very first showed up and stop it dead.  I used strong language first and then spoke back to it.  I reminded it that I was the driver on our life journey; that it was welcome to come along for the ride, but I was in charge.

Continue reading this article…

“When perfectionism is driving us, shame is riding shotgun and fear is that annoying backseat driver.”                           ~  Brene Brown

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 with your health care provider.  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 health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

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Create Your Wellness Blueprint For Great Health

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It’s often during their fifties or sixties that many first receive shocking news about their health. It may be they have pre-diabetes or high blood pressure. They may be diagnosed with thyroid disease or another autoimmune condition.  Menopause may be tiresome and seem tireless. Or they even have serious life-threatening disease like stroke, heart disease or cancer. This is the age when it’s crucial to take control and create your own Wellness Plan to keep you healthy in your fifties and beyond.

Create your wellness blueprint

 

Your Wellness Plan

 

But creating a Wellness Plan that fits with YOUR life can be difficult. Where to begin?  What do you do when the advice on “Dr Google” seems to be contradictory?  You can’t change everything at once so how do you know which changes are the most important?  And what about natural remedies?  There are sure to be some that will help your situation.

And then there’s the issue of different advice coming from different people. What happens when your doctors and therapists are all focused on a different part of you so they all tell you to do something different?  For example, you may be told you need to walk every day for your health. But what if your arthritis or foot problems make this really difficult. What if you’re recommended a diet based on foods you know don’t sit well with you?

The situation can become confusing and may result in you making only minimal changes at best. For many it’s just too overwhelming and they give up before they even begin.

And of course there’s the whole challenge of how you begin when you need to make dramatic changes.  W hat is the very first step?

 

Information Overload 

 

I have seen this situation occur in many of my clients who are left confused, frustrated and scared.  They want to make changes to their lifestyle to become healthier and reduce the likelihood of further problems.

But too often they end up drowning in an overload of information. They lose sight of the big picture and sink below the details. They need the key to managing the situation. Only then they can go ahead and continue to enjoy their life.

That key is to create the Big Plan which I call the WELLNESS BLUEPRINT.

When dramatic change seems overwhelmingly huge it can help to break down the changes needed into small steps. If you have been told to cut out coffee or alcohol for example, cutting back gradually can make it easier. It help breaks the habit so you achieve your goal over a few weeks.

Of course in the case of certain serious illnesses you need to do much more than just give up coffee. And you usually need to make the changes immediately.  But by making small changes across your whole life you begin the process. Change happens in small increments in many different ways at the same time. Later changes are much easier to make because you’re already part of the way towards successfully achieving them.

There’s no doubt that in order to stay healthy, feel young and continue to enjoy life we must change our lifestyle behaviours and ditch bad habits. But the way you go about it will dictate whether it is easy or difficult. More importantly, it also impacts how successful you are at making long-term sustainable change.

After all, if you just slip back into your old habits nothing is gained. Whether it happens immediately or not for a year or so, you’ll again find yourself back in a health crisis.

The message in a health wake-up call is to make changes that are sustainable.

Continue reading to discover how to  create long-term sustainable wellness…

 

 

 

 

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 with your health care provider. 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 health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

 

Natural Health, Stress & Overwhelm

Coffee: Good or Bad for You?

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For most people the question of whether coffee is good or bad for you is entirely irrelevant. Whatever the answer, it makes no difference to their coffee habit.

Lots of us rely on our morning java to get us going and for some that first cup is followed by refills through the day. But caffeine is highly addictive and can lead to adrenal fatigue.  

So, in the balance, is coffee good or bad for you?

Coffee is often touted as having health benefits, but the simple truth is that coffee is not a health food. Like other drugs there are side effects to any benefit that it offers. There are better, less risky ways to achieve any of the professed benefits of coffee consumption.

Coffee serves different purposes for each individual. From simply being a taste indulgence to a pick-me-up, it can wake you up or get you through depression or anxiety. But the caffeine provides the adrenaline rush, the temporary jolt, also has a dark side. It puts stress on your adrenal glands, increases your stress hormones and leads to a vicious cycle of stress and anxiety. When you drink lots of coffee the adrenaline rush initially makes you alert. But as it wears off cortisol builds up. When this cycle is repeated frequently it creates the same effect on your body as chronic stress.

It’s interesting that the heaviest coffee consumption occurs in regions that are overcast, drizzly or lack sunshine for long periods and are generally dreary. Caffeine seems to help with depression initially by contributing to dopamine production, which in turn helps lift our mood. But increased coffee consumption can then create the vicious circle that actually leads to depression.

Caffeine is also present in some other foods like chocolate, cola and tea, but most caffeine in our diet comes from coffee. However, caffeine only makes up 1 – 2% of the coffee bean and it is the other constituents of the bean that are now being researched for their effect on our health.

Benefits Of Coffee

For some years coffee has been recognised as having benefits for you in addition to being harmful. As a result, the belief that you need to avoid coffee in order to be healthy has eased.

Caffeine can certainly benefit those suffering from Alzheimer’s or Parkinsons disease. Research from twenty to thirty years ago found there was a likely relationship between coffee and diabetes. Drinking more coffee lowered the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.

However, more recently it’s been found that the caffeine in coffee could be causing insulin spikes and contributing to hypoglycemia. Considering insulin imbalance plays a big role in the rapidly growing problem of ‘diabesity’ the alarm bells are now ringing.

Coffee Is Acidic

Coffee is a very acidifying food. Foods that cause an acidic reaction in the body contribute to a wide range of health problems, quite apart from digestive upsets. These include arthritis and gout.

Some symptoms of acidification in your body are:

  • General: Constant fatigue and low energy; heaviness in the limbs; feeling cold, low body temperature
  • Mind: Depression; nervousness; easy agitation; easily stressed
  • Headaches
  • Eyes: Easily tear, conjunctivitis, inflamed eyelids and corneas
  • Mouth: inflamed gums, ulcers, loose teeth, cracks in the mouth corners, frequent throat infections, teeth chip easily, teeth are sensitive to heat and cold, nerve pain in the teeth
  • Gut: Excess stomach acid; acid reflux; gastritis; ulcers
  • Hair and Skin: Nails split easily; dry skin; hives; hair is dull, split ends and falls out
  • Legs: Cramps

Health Problems from Coffee

Caffeine is a diuretic, causing the body to release more fluid. This also causes you to excrete high levels of minerals, including calcium, magnesium and potassium. This becomes particularly significant in Australia where the soil is already very mineral deficient. Foods grown in this type of soil is also low in minerals. Therefore, your levels of these vital minerals are likely to be low to begin with, even before drinking coffee.

So many people are now stressed, depressed, overworked, sick, nutritionally deficient, hormonally imbalanced and generally living with inflamed or toxic bodies. With the incidence of chronic illness also constantly increasing it seems that the time has arrived for many to kick their coffee habit.

Health effects of caffeine on the body include:

  • Contributes to fertility problems including increased miscarriage and infertility
  • Triggers the secretion of stomach acids and causes heartburn
  • Contributes to hypoglycemia, an imbalance of blood sugars
  • Increases weight gain over the long term linked to the production of stress hormones
  • Hastens osteoporosis because it interferes with mineral absorption in the bones
  • Affects the normal detoxifying process in the liver
  • Causes dehydration which then can lead to many other problems including wrinkles and stretch marks.
  • It can even contribute to gluten intolerance or Coeliac disease.

How to Quit Coffee

Caffeine is very addictive and when it’s combined with stress the coffee habit can get out of control. But some people don’t actually want to consider that they may have an addiction, let alone to kick it.

Quitting coffee can be very difficult. Apart from leaving you feeling weak and tired it can cause all sorts of side effects. Headache, fatigue, depression and difficulty concentrating are a few, as anyone who’s had to forgo their normal fix knows very well.

The answer is not to turn to de-caf coffee but to turn to healthier alternatives. Decaf coffee is often subjected to nasty toxins in the decaffeinating process such as solvents. It also still contains trace amounts of caffeine. Choose NO-CAF over DE-CAF.

Caffeine withdrawal doesn’t have to be overwhelming and there are natural remedies that can ease it. Homeopathic remedies can be extremely helpful to stop cravings for all manner of substances, including coffee. Hypnotherapy and EFT are other strategies that can successfully break addictive habits. Supplementing with the amino acids L-Tyrosine or Phenylalanine can also help. Some people do better on one and some on the other.

Healthy Alternatives to Coffee

When my clients need to cut back on their coffee, I encourage them to do it in small manageable steps. They start by drinking just one cup less each day. Gradually over time, they work down to one ‘high quality’ coffee treat on the weekend, or even better, no coffee. The easiest way to do this is to replace some of the coffees with healthier alternatives.

Begin to wean yourself off coffee by replacing one or some of your coffees with any drinks from this list. Then gradually decrease the coffees and increase the alternatives.

Dandelion Coffee

Dandelion coffee has a strong, slightly bitter flavour, very similar to coffee but it contains no caffeine. It has an astonishing range of health benefits. It is nutrient rich, supports the liver and kidneys to remove impurities, aids digestion and decreases inflammation, plus much more. The root is roasted and sometimes mixed with chicory root. You can drink it black, with milk, make a latte or take it any other way you prefer your coffee. It is frequently used to make a chai.

Chicory has many health benefits but is known for it’s ability to reduce the effects of stress and for liver support.  Try the pure dandelion root and the chicory/dandelion mix to discover which you prefer. You could also have an occasional dandelion / coffee mix.

Dandelion coffee is simple to make, and you’ll find instructions on google. If harvesting your own plants, make certain you’re using true dandelion and not the very similar Catsear.

Teechino

Teechino gives the energy feel of caffeine without the crash. It tastes like coffee but is made of carob, barley, chicory, dates, figs and almonds. However, this drink contains gluten so don’t use Teechino if you avoid eating gluten.

Yerba Mate

Yerba mate (pronounced yerba matay) is a herbal tea from South America. It doesn’t taste exactly like coffee but has a pleasant flavour of its own. It is rich in antioxidants and minerals. Like coffee it boosts energy and fights fatigue. It does contain caffeine, but the levels are lower than in coffee or even tea. You can also find Yerba Mate in some herbal tea blends.

Green Tea

Green tea has small amounts of caffeine, about 20 grams a serve, but these are substantially less than in coffee. It has high levels of antioxidants that fight free radical damage, improve cardiovascular health, reduce the risk of cancer and help with weight loss. By the way, your green tea needs to be green, if it is brown it has been oxidised.

White Tea

Even better than green tea is white tea which is less processed and retains a higher number of antioxidants than green. It also has less caffeine than green with only 15 grams a serve and is light and delicious.

Rooibos Tea

Rooibos is a pleasant full flavoured, slightly sweet and nutty tea from South Africa. Like coffee it can be mixed with milk. It contains no caffeine and very little tannin. It’s also rich in antioxidants and minerals. It reduces stress, irritability and headaches, the opposite of coffee. Plus, rooibos has many other health benefits as well as relieving many illnesses.

Reishi Mushroom Tea

Reishi Mushroom tea is the one to take when you’re determined to wipe the slate clean, although it is certainly an acquired taste. This tea has many qualities to recommend it. It’s loaded with antioxidants, a wonderful immune stimulant, lowers blood pressure and is purported to have cancer fighting qualities. It requires long brewing, and you may need to add ginger for flavour, or to sweeten it.

Healthier Coffee

If in spite of everything, you wish to continue drinking coffee then consider the coffee you drink and choose the best options around.

  • Firstly, opt for Organic fair-Trade varieties. Coffee is notorious for its dangerous growing practices.
  • If your coffee is milky you might want to think again. Lattes offered by Starbucks for example are high in kilojoules, sometimes as high as fattening desserts like ice-cream or chocolate cake. What’s more, those joules are all in the form of unhealthy fats.
  • The way coffee is prepared affects the caffeine levels. Espresso coffee contains less caffeine than drip coffee and also has the most antioxidants. But it is also the one linked to higher levels of Triglycerides and LDLs.
  • The amount of caffeine in light and dark roasts varies only slightly so choose whichever you like best as it makes little difference.

After all this bad news are you still reading?

If you’re still with me let me know in the comments below what your favourite coffee alternative is.

  

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 your health care provider before trying any of the treatment suggested on this site. 

Natural Health, Natural Remedies & Homeopathy

Natural Remedies For Hay Fever Relief

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As winter loses it’s grip and we have the occasional sunny day some unfortunate people already face the prospect of seasonal allergies. That’s right, we’re at the onset of hay fever season. Seasonal allergy sufferers have a choice between using conventional treatment or being housebound. Either they’re unable to get out and enjoy the beautiful Spring sun, or they can take medications with side effects that really knock them about. But there are many natural remedies for hay fever relief.

 

 

natural remedies for hay fever

 

Hay fever occurs when pollen released from grasses and other plants is carried through the air on spring winds. These pollens affect the immune system and cause inflammatory reactions on the mucous membranes. Sneezing, itching, runny nose, coughing and congestion, hay fever (or seasonal allergic rhinitis) is enough to ruin anyone’s day. It can affect any of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, sinuses, throat and palate, or all of them at once.

 

But it doesn’t need to be like this!

 

 

Natural Remedies For Hay Fever

 

There are many natural alternatives that provide natural antihistamines and can effectively knock hay fever symptoms on the head. These include herbs, vitamins, kitchen cures and my favourite, homeopathy,

In addition to actual remedies some precautionary practices can help minimise the effect of the allergen on your system.

Gifting your liver a Spring clean can reduce the allergic effect. These tips will help you gently detox your liver without doing a ‘full detox’.

  • Vitamin C and the bioflavonoid quercetin have an antihistamine effect to reduce the release of histamine.
  • Vitamin A helps maintain healthy mucous membranes which can improve your response to allergens.
  • Studies have shown a link between low zinc intake and higher allergy risk. Therefore a zinc supplement may help anyone who falls into this category.
  • With any aggravation of the mucous membranes it’s essential to reduce the amount of dairy food you eat. Dairy foods increase the production of mucous on these surfaces and exacerbate congestion. So eat less milk, cheese, ice-cream, cream, yoghurt and butter during hay fever season. And watch for “milk solids” often added to processed foods.
  • Refined starches can also stimulate mucous production. Limit bread and other baked goods to reduce the severity of your symptoms.
  • Increase your intake of omega 3 fatty acids over the season. These can help decrease your hay fever because they help lower the amount of inflammatory chemicals produced when you’re exposed to an allergen.
  • Many herbs including chamomile, stinging nettle, ginger, and butterbur have great use blocking histamine and relieving symptoms. But their effect is often limited to just some of your symptoms, not all. Plus they can take time to have an effect.

 

Reduce Hay Fever

 

Many alternative treatments, including nutrition and supplements, can alleviate hay fever by strengthening the immune system. However they don’t always give immediate relief in the moment when symptoms strike. Some can reduce symptoms when taken in mega dosage but often need to be taken in combination with others.

 

Continue reading   for more natural ways to get hay fever relief fast.

 

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 with your health care provider. 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 health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

 

Natural Health, Natural Remedies & Homeopathy, Stress & Overwhelm

How To Reduce Chronic Inflammation

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chronic inflammation

Many people think of inflammation as being skin redness, joint swelling after exercise, or even a pimple. And it is. But there’s a different kind of inflammation that is more insidious. This is chronic inflammation, or systemic inflammation. It’s a slow, silent attack on your body and health that never switches off. And worse, it’s the underlying cause of many serious chronic diseases in our lives. Luckily there are simple changes you can easily make to reduce the chronic inflammation in your cells.

You actually need some degree of inflammation in your body to stay healthy. However it’s more and more common for the inflammatory response to get out of hand.

Inflammation serves an important purpose but when it continues indefinitely it can become dangerous. You know your immune system is stuck in “high alert” when inflammation doesn’t recede. And this is where chronic disease develops.

Effects of Chronic Inflammation

Most of the common chronic illnesses today are thought to develop when the body is in a state of chronic (or systemic) inflammation. Osteoarthritis, autoimmune diseases, allergies, asthma, IBS, heart disease and even cancer are just some indicators of chronic inflammation.

Many things in life both contribute to and maintain chronic inflammation. Excess weight, lack of exercise, poor diet, excess alcohol, poor oral health and ongoing stress are just some factors that lead to it. Others such as pollution and toxins in our environment can also contribute.

Stress And Chronic Inflammation

For many people stress can be the major problem. Cortisol is an important part of your body’s stress response to perceived threats. So levels of the hormone cortisol rise in response to any stressful situation.  However, when stress of any type is ongoing the cortisol release mechanism doesn’t turn off. This results in persistent low grade inflammation. In some cases it can go on forever.

The first step to turn off the chronic inflammation response is to change your lifestyle. Simply switch to an anti-inflammatory diet for a significant impact.

Conditions Caused By Chronic Inflammation

  • Heart disease – stroke, hypertension
  • Diabetes
  • Lung issues – asthma, hay fever, COPD, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, breathing difficulties
  • Bone and joint disease – all forms of arthritis, osteoporosis
  • Depression – including feeling down, sleep problems, appetite loss
  • Cancer
  • Anger disorders, aggressive behaviour
  • Autoimmune – Crohn’s, Lupus, Type 1 Diabetes, colitis, IBD,
  • Neurological disorders –  Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, depression, Multiple Schlerosis,

Common Causes Of Inflammation

Excess Weight

Stacking on the kilos causes fat cells to grow. This leads to immune system distress and results in an inflammatory response within the fat cells.  Over time these cells become insulin-resistant which can lead to diabetes.

Chronic stress

Whether it’s a terrible job, unhappy marriage, sick parents, overfull diary or worry about your kids makes you anxious, they’re all chronic stressors. And chronic stress causes unchecked chronic inflammation.

Poor Air Quality

Chronic inflammation is one result of smog or any other form of pollution. Tobacco smoke is probably the worst form of air pollution.

Gut Health

The gut is integral to your immune system. Seventy percent of it is seated within the gut. Therefore bacteria balance is crucial to the regulation of inflammation. Beneficial bacteria suppress inflammation and harmful bacteria activate it. Boost the beneficial bacteria and reduce inflammation.

Certain foods contain inulin, a prebiotic which feeds beneficial gut bacteria and keeps your gut healthy. These include onions, raw asparagus, raw dandelion greens, raw banana, yoghurt, sour cream, and raw leeks.

Gut inflammation can initiate diseases like Crohn’s or rheumatoid arthritis.

Discover how to fight inflammation in your body.

Continue reading …

Disclaimer

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

Healthy Home, Stress & Overwhelm

Salt Lamps: Positive Benefits Of Negative Ions

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Salt lamps are beautiful. They create a soft gentle ambience in any room; make marvelous night lights for children; plus, they lift our spirits. But salt lamps also play an important role in maintaining your health. Significantly, Himalayan salt lamp benefits include their ability to counteract the negative effects of indoor electromagnetic (EM) radiation.

Himalayan Salt Lamp benefits

Spending too long indoors can leave you feeling sleepy, head-achey, inattentive and generally unwell. But it’s not simply the lack of fresh air that leaves you feeling so low. Science shows it’s due to the excessive positive ions in the air in our homes, workplaces and schools. These harmful positive ions are largely created by the electronic devices and synthetic substances surrounding us.

Although you can’t see EM radiation it’s believed to have serious long-term health effects. With over two thousand studies supporting the toxic impact, it’s known that being constantly exposed to EM radiation increases stress, causes fatigue and compromises your immune system.

Positive vs Negative Ions

Positive and negative ions are charged particles in the air. Each is produced in particular circumstances and each affects us in opposite ways. Strangely, negative ions are not the “bad guys”, as that honour goes to the positive ions.

Beneficial Negative Ions

Beneficial negative ions form around water, especially if it’s moving – oceans, rivers, waterfalls, thunderstorms, lush gardens and even the shower. In these places they can exist in quantities up to 100,000 per cubic centimetre. But in some offices and homes the levels can sit at just a few hundred per cubic centimetre and sometimes, as low as zero. These are the environments that cause unhealthy symptoms and illness.

Negative ions affect the levels of serotonin we produce and leave us feeling happier. They also positively affect how our body functions, reduce pain and improve many illnesses.

Negative ions have a purifying effect on the air. They neutralise extra positive ions and help re-balance our environments to benefit our health.

Besides watery environments, the air around Himalayan salt lamps also contains higher numbers of negative ions.

Harmful Positive Ions

Positive ions are found where there are lots of electronic devices, synthetic materials or toxins like cigarette smoke. They have a detrimental effect on our health and feelings of wellbeing. In excess they affect body functions and leave us feeling tired, sick and depressed. They’re found in alarming levels in our indoor environments wherever there is a concentration of electronic equipment.

Negative Health Effect of Positive Ions

When you hang out in places of high positive ionic activity it’s not simply your mood and sense of wellbeing that’s affected. Excess positive ions impair many body functions including the brain and they suppress the immune system.

Symptoms include:

  • headaches
  • fatigue
  • irritability
  • poor concentration
  • depression
  • lack of energy
  • anxiety
  • nausea
  • vertigo
  • breathing difficulty and asthma
  • dry throat.

Chronic exposure can cause cancer, reduce immunity and contribute to many other chronic diseases including Alzheimer’s, heart disease and dementia.

Once in the body positive ions can become free radicals which destroy cells, lead to premature aging and cause illnesses like cancer.

How Negative and Positive Ions Affect the Body

Beneficial Negative Ions
Harmful Positive Ions
Blood vessels Dilate blood vessels Constrict blood vessels
Blood Pressure Stabilize BP Increase BP
Blood Increase blood alkalinity Increase blood acidity
Bones Strengthen bones Weaken bones
Urinary tract Promote urination;
increase nitrogen in urine		 Suppress urination;
decrease nitrogen in urine
Respiratory Stabilize respiration and make breathing easier Accelerate respiration and make breathing more difficult
Pulse rate Decrease pulse rate Increase pulse rate
Heart Enhance heart function Impair heart function
Fatigue Speed physical recovery Prolong physical recovery
Autonomic Nervous System Calm and relax nerves Tense and strain the nervous system
Growth Promote healthy growth Suppress and delay growth

Source: www.kiflow.com

Negative Ions & Health 

Way back in 1910 a Japanese study found that arthritis sufferers endured increased pain when weather changes cause positive ions in the atmosphere to increase. (cold fronts and low-pressure systems, and positive ion winds).

There have been a number of studies that have found negative ions have measurable health benefits. One was conducted by Dr Kornblueh from the University of Pennsylvania found they can sedate and relieve pain, helping with illnesses such as depression and arthritis. It also found positively ionised air led to headaches, dizziness and mucous membrane irritation.

Himalayan Salt Lamp Benefits

  1. Promote restful sleephimalayan salt lamp benefits
  2. Improve asthma and allergy symptoms
  3. Reduce electromagnetic radiation
  4. Purify air
  5. Improve mood
  6. Reduce stress
  7. Improve respiratory distress
  8. Reduce anxiety
  9. Help alleviate depression
  10. Increase energy
  11. Enhance immune function
  12. Protect against chronic disease

Salt lamps provide their health-giving benefits when they’re warm so they must be lit up. Although there are no studies into Himalayan salt lamp benefits there are many others that show the benefits of salt therapy in general.

Salt Lamps Create Healthier Environments

We’re swimming in a pool of electromagnetic radiation. With wi-fi, mobile phone, TV, computers, bluetooth, and a myriad of electrical gadgets we cannot escape its impact. This makes the benefits offered by salt lamps even more valuable.

Spending time in nature, especially around running water is an awesome way to increase your exposure to negative ions. But you can’t always do that, so Himalayan salt lamps help reduce harmful electro smog when you’re stuck indoors.

Anything we can do to reduce the negative effect on our health as we live surrounded by this electro smog helps protect our immune system and maintain our wellness.

Become aware of your surroundings.

  • Move children away from electronic hotspots particularly when they’re trying to study
  • Sit outside in the garden or take a walk beside fast flowing water whenever possible
  • Place plants around your home
  • Install a few Himalayan crystal salt lamps to counteract the harmful effects of wi-fi and other positive ion producers
  • Place all electronic devices away from your body while you sleep, preferably in another room.

We can’t completely avoid dangerous levels of positive ions while we live in a modern society. But we can take steps to reduce the impact on our health and wellness using simple practices and objects. Becoming proactive by simply introducing indoor plants, water fountains and Himalayan salt lamps benefits us and helps counteract the damage.

salt lamp benefits

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 with your health care provider. 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 health care provider before following any of the treatment suggested on this site, particularly if you have an ongoing health issue.

Seasons & Universal Cycles

End Of Year Release Ritual

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END OF YEAR RELEASE RITUAL

 

2016 is coming to a close and it’s naturally time to reflect back on the year… and start to look forward to 2017. It’s been a heavy year of releasing for many people, a year of endings. As we enter the countdown to 2017 many of us are still holding things that no longer serve us. In order to make the quantum leap into the New Year and the new cycle filled with awakened potential it’s essential to release these in the next few weeks. A 2016 releasing ceremony is the perfect way to weeks to round off the energetic cycle of 2016 and make the transition into 2017.

release ritual

2016: End Of A Cycle

 

2016 is the final year in a nine year cycle of growth. As it winds down spend time to acknowledge how far you’ve come over the last 9 years; reflect on your lessons and new awareness; embrace wisdom gained and re-remembered and be GRATEFUL for all the joyous moments in your life.

Many people start off their New Year by making a list of resolutions. Many also don’t reach any of their goals. Often they make the same resolution year after year without achieving it!

Trying to set achievable goals to reach your dreams without first firming a solid foundation is like building a home over a sink-hole. Without firm footings it will collapse. The footings you need in order to create achievable goals are found by getting really clear about where you’re starting out from. The 2016  Releasing Ceremony does just that by highlighting both the journey you traveled and the lessons and achievements you encountered along way.

2016 has been a difficult year for many. It was filled with difficult challenges that provided great opportunity for personal development and spiritual growth. Many of these challenges revisited familiar life lessons. Lessons that repeat over and over, spiraling back upon themselves. Each revisit brings a variation of the core lesson providing the opportunity to reach a deeper awareness of both the lesson and yourself.

Coming at the end of a nine year cycle the lessons of 2016 are the culmination of this spiraling awareness and deepening consciousness. It’s essential to now finalise them or they will be carried into the new nine year cycle to be repeated yet again.

Bear in mind that the significant aspects of 2016 will be those that bring these nine year long lessons to culmination.

Are you enjoying this article? Read more to discover the 11 steps to create your own release ritual…

 

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Sick Or Healthy: It’s In Your Thoughts

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Watch your thoughts, they affect your health

Your thoughts can have a huge impact on your health. The human mind is the most powerful supercomputer in the world. It controls all the functions of your body, your behaviour, and your emotions. But your mind doesn’t necessarily control you, and recent research shows that you have the power to control your mind. The secret lies in the way you think because thoughts affect health. It turns out the power of positive thought may be stronger than we thought, and it can be harnessed to create health and wellbeing. The way you think can either make you sick or it can make you healthy. 

IMPACT OF THOUGHTS

How we think determines how we speak and what we talk about which then impacts how we feel. Every decision, choice and action we make is influenced by how we feel.

Studies have shown that mindsets can change us in ways we had not imagined possible. So science is now asking if mindsets can change us, can we then deliberately choose our mindsets to improve our abilities. And the answer appears to be yes.

The cells in your body react to your thinking. Your thoughts can literally change your health by altering the cells and how they function. Every thought you have causes neurochemical changes within your brain and these can either help or harm you.

THOUGHTS AFFECT HEALTH

Your thoughts can alter your performance. They can alter your engagement and enjoyment of life. They can even alter your energetic body.

This really is a case of mind over matter.

Studies have produced much evidence that the way we think can create or change real-life physical and mental outcomes.

It’s been shown that our expectations can change brain chemistry and circuitry. This results in cognitive and physiological changes such as reduced anxiety, elevated hormone levels, or lower immune system reactions. Thoughts alone can improve our vision, weight loss, fitness, fatigue level, and can even stop allergic skin reactions.

Essentially your brain is shaped by your thoughts. And apparently your health and wellbeing is too.

THE PLACEBO EFFECT

Dr Lissa Rankin MD conducted extensive research and became completely convinced that a combination of positive belief and nurturing care activates the body’s natural self-repair mechanisms and helps the body heal itself. “The medical establishment has been proving that the mins can heal the body for over 50 years. We call it ‘the placebo effect‘”, she says.

But as she explains in her book Mind Over Medicine: Scientific Proof That You Can Heal Yourself the opposite is also true. Negative beliefs you hold about your health and harsh insensitive treatment by the health care system can poison your body.

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Best Tips For Spring Health And Wellness

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BEST TIPS FOR SPRING HEALTH AND WELLNESS

 

After a long cold, wet, winter we’re all quite ready to bid it farewell! Spring has blossomed bringing the reminder of youth, and the promise of new beginnings. We’re ready to shrug off winter, stretch and expand our energy up and outwards. Spring is the time of transformation and growth. Spring’s the time to renew your energy and change your life. These top tips for Spring health will launch your momentum to rise to your fullest Summer potential.

As the days warm and lengthen in Spring you’ll start to feel lighter, both emotionally and physically.

 

best tips for spring health and wellness

 

AWAKEN

Get outside. Play, socialize and have fun just as a child would. The sun is up earlier and staying later. Join him and get outside to watch the dawn. Even if you wake grumpy give yourself the opportunity to get out, feel the earth under your feet and soak in all the benefits of grounding.

 

MOVE

Instead of letting restlessness irritate you in spring use it to kick-start your exercise program.

Spring is a great time to overhaul – or begin – your exercise routine. Walk faster, join a dance class, try yoga or tai chi, even join a hiking group or cricket team. Honour your body by not overdoing it, and remember to keep hydrated or you’ll become fatigued very quickly.

 

RELEASE

If you want to bring the new into your life you must make space for it. Whether it’s a new spring wardrobe, new habits or new thought patterns, if you want it to create a new you, you need to de-clutter first. The first step is to release everything that no longer serves you.

Spring offers a great opportunity to clear the mind and get rid of thoughts that undermine our self-esteem or are toxic to relationships. Once you clear out old toxic thought patterns you can start planting positivity seeds to create a life you love.

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Health Benefits Of Lemons

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There are so many new and exotic superfoods around and it seems their numbers just keep growing. With all the hype surrounding the new it’s very easy to forget the simple traditional superfoods that have stood the test of time. These are the superfoods we’ve been using every day for generations without even thinking of the incredible health benefits they bestow. They are readily available and much less costly. One of the most valuable of the traditional superfoods is the humble lemon, peel and all, which certainly packs a powerful punch when it comes to turbo-charging your health.

health benefits of lemons

Lemons really are a wonder food loaded with nutrients. Well-known as an excellent source of vitamin C, they also contain a wide range of other nutrients including flavonoids, vitamin B-complex, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper and phosphorous, citric acid and fibre. You can’t help but love all the lemons health benefits.

 

LEMONS – ACIDIC OR ALKALINE?

Many people get confused about whether lemons are acidic or alkaline. They wonder how lemons can be an “alkaline food” when they’re so acidic to taste. In fact they’re both.

Outside the body lemon juice is acidic. But once the lemon juice has been fully metabolized within the body and its minerals have been dissociated into the bloodstream its effect is alkalizing..

This means it raises the pH of body tissues making them alkaline. In acidic environments the structure and function of the cell are damaged. Lemons help to return the body to a healthier alkaline state to fight off the wide range of dangerous and unpleasant illnesses including cancer associated with acidic body fluids.

Lemons are one of the most alkalizing foods around.

 

WARM LEMON WATER, THE NUMBER 1 HEALTH PRACTICE

I always recommend if someone can only do ONE thing to improve their health then it should be to drink the juice of half a lemon in a glass of warm water in the morning. The trick is to do it when they first rise in the morning, half an hour before they eat or drink anything else. The combination of lemon and warm water encourages the production of bile to support the liver, to prevent liver disease and help eliminate toxins. it stimulates gastric juices and acts well to cleanse the bowel.

Even just adding a few drops of lemon juice to water or food can aid digestion and cleanse the system.

Simply, here are some ways warm lemon water can boost your health:

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Soulful Wellness: Where Mind, Body, and Spirit Align.