10 Tips to Stay Healthy through the Cold & Flu Season

With cold and flu season underway, many of our families are being hit hard by illness. In fact, some people have learned to just expect that at least one member of their family will be sick at all times throughout the winter season. Colder temperatures and inclement weather have most of us spending much more time indoors, with doors and windows closed, breathing recirculated air and wishing for the sun to come out again.

The cold and flu season hits us every year, and every year the media plays on our fears and leaves us feeling helpless to keep ourselves healthy. Over the last few years the media circus has been quite intense and, unfortunately, the public is often in a frenzy of panic.

I want to empower people to be in charge of their own health and wellness.

We are far from helpless when it comes to preventing and treating winter colds and flus. Natural remedies abound for the prevention and treatment of these types of illnesses. I’d like to illustrate just a few of the ways we can accomplish the goal of staying well during the winter season using natural modalities.

In this post, I’ll delve into some of the more practical tools and techniques that can be used effectively to prevent and alleviate winter illnesses and the symptoms that go along with them.

Nature

In looking more deeply at the first factor, it is important to realize that exposure to fresh air and the natural environment on a regular basis is critical to our health. There has been much awareness lately around the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku or “forest bathing”. It is attracting attention because of recent studies showing improved immune function and mental health from the practice. It turns out that what we have known all along is true – when we are more to connected to the natural world around us, we are healthier.

 

Physical Activity

Because we are spending more time indoors, for most of us, that also means we are less physically active. There have been numerous studies linking physical activity with better immunity. I think the key thing to think about here is that while we may be more limited in the options for physical activity, there are still many ways to keep our bodies moving during the winter. Yoga, Tai Chi and various forms of dance are great ways to keep your body moving and to maintain flexibility the whole year round.

 

Food

Many of us tend to gravitate more toward food in the winter. There are a variety of reasons for this: holiday celebrations, spending more time inside, closer to the kitchen, feeling the need to nurture ourselves and families, feeling pulled into a sort of natural hibernation mode which results in the need to store up food to last us through the cold season, etc. All of these are good things, though. And, I think that doing these things more mindfully and selectively can actually help to keep us healthy instead of being a factor of illness.

 

Flow

As an extension of the previous thoughts, I feel it is vital to step back into the natural flow of health and well-being that can only come from understanding how we are all part of the cycles of nature. Winter is a time when all the natural world slows down, takes time to sleep and dream and gather energy for the rebirth of the spring. This is an invitation for us to do the same. When we ignore that opportunity to rebuild our energy stores and nurture ourselves in quieter, gentler, more restorative ways, we miss out on the opening to take our health to the next level. Winter is a time of introspection and envisioning our future. If we choose to come into the awareness of the flow of nature, our body, mind, and spirit will follow suit and exist within the flow of health and well-being.

Prevention

One of the best ways to stay healthy is to focus on prevention first. A healthy diet centered around nutrient-dense foods, including an abundance of vitamin-packed organic vegetables and fruits and clean, pure water, is of course, your most effective ally in preventing illness. However, there are many other tools in the health toolkit, as well.

Elderberry – This is one of the most common (for good reason) and effective herbal remedies to keep your immune system in top form throughout the year, but especially throughout the cold and flu season. There are many ways to prepare elderberry, but you can read about my absolute favorite here.

Fire Cider – All the rage right now in the herbal world, Fire Cider recipes can be individualized to suit your unique needs and tastes and is, personally, my first line of defense against infectious illnesses. It’s so simple to make and use. Here is a quick and easy tutorial to follow.

Adaptogens – Adaptogens are a class of herbs that have gained a lot of attention in the press lately. As their name suggests, they help the body ‘adapt’ to stress. Since, even among conventional health practitioners, it is known that stress contributes to the vast majority of disease states and almost 90% of doctor visits, helping the body deal with stress more effectively is a priority to maintain health. Here are just a few adaptogens you might want to consider to optimize your own well-being.

 

Onset of Illness

There are a few remedies that can nip a cold or flu in the bud if taken at the very start of an illness. As soon as symptoms are felt, taking these remedies can shorten the severity and length of an illness and sometimes prevent it altogether.

Oscillococcinum – This is a homeopathic remedy that is well-known for preventing a full-blown cold or flu when taken at the very onset of the illness. I have personally used it may times and can attest to its effectiveness.

Influenzinum – Another homeopathic remedy that can halt the flu in its tracks. Again, it should be taken at the very first signs of symptoms in order to be effective.

Fire Cider – I am listing this herbal remedy again because, not only is it effective at prevention of illness, but I have found that if I load up on Fire Cider (take a teaspoon every few hours) at the first sign of illness, I can completely avert the illness from taking hold.

 

Addressing Symptoms of Illness

Once a cold or flu has been contracted and symptoms are being experienced, it is important to support the body so that it can do its job of dealing with the disease state and bringing the body back to a balanced state of health. There are so many different symptoms one can experience while ill, and so many wonderful remedies to address those possible symptoms, it is beyond the scope of this post to address them all. However, you might want to look at my previous article about what to stock in your home medicine kit to get an idea of all the possible remedies you might want to have on hand and which symptoms they can address.

Rest – One of the most crucial, but overlooked, remedies for addressing an illness is rest. Our bodies heal when we are at rest. If we are dealing with a sickness, our body will need extra time to rest in order to do its healing work. If we insist on maintaining our daily schedules and routines, we are overburdening our bodies at the critical time that it really needs our support to heal and recover.

Fluids – In order to shunt more energy to the immune system to deal with an illness, the body diverts energy from other systems, including digestion. One of the best ways to support the body during illness is not to overload it with food, but to focus instead on fluids. Pure, clean water is important, as well as broths (vegetable or bone) and electrolyte solutions, if needed. A great homemade electrolyte solution can be found here.

 

Herbal Support

  • Gut/Detox – “Start with the gut” is a motto that many natural practitioners stand by. If the GI tract is not able to digest properly, then nothing you put into it will be as effective as it should be. Here are some herbs that are specific for healing the gut.
    • Aloe – soothing and healing to the lining of the GI tract
    • Ginger – carminative, good for nausea, diffusive, warming, anti-inflammatory
    • Dandelion/burdock/yellow dock – alteratives, liver & gallbladder support and detoxification
    • Calendula – antiseptic, healing to mucus membranes of the GI tract, astringent
    • Plantain – emollient & astringent, healing to GI tract
  • Immune – These herbs support the immune system and its function in a variety of ways.
    •  Astragalus – long term immunity tonic
    • Elderberry – immunomodulating tonic
    • Rose Hips – high vitamin C & antioxidant content
    • Garlic – anti-microbial, immune builder (+ keeps people who may have colds away from you!)
    • Reishi – long term immune enhancing tonic
  • Symptomatic – The following herbs help the body deal with various symptoms that are often experienced during cold and flu infections.
    • First indications – Echinacea, Fire Cider, Cayenne
    • Fevers – elderflower, yarrow, peppermint, ginger
    •  Anti-microbial – garlic, lemon balm, self heal, usnea, cottonwood buds, bee balm , Oregon Grape root
    •  Sore Throat/cough – licorice, marshmallow, mullein, horehound, sage, elecampane, calendula, peppermint, thyme
  • Nourishing Infusions – This category of herbs can be considered as intensely nourishing foods for your body. They are high in mineral and vitamin content and can be taken by the quart daily for prevention of disease and well as recuperation: stinging nettle, oatstraw, evening primrose, red raspberry, red clover, violet leaf, alfalfa and linden.

Homeopathic Support

Another category of natural remedies that can be used very successfully to treat colds and flus is homeopathy. Following are just a few of the most effective remedies to consider.

  •  Onset of illness– These remedies can be used at the first sign of symptoms and can often nip an illness in the bud: oscillococcinum, influenzinum, Arsenicum, Aconite
  • Symptomatic – The following remedies help the body deal with various symptoms that are often experienced during cold and flu infections.
    • Fever (low) – Ferrum Phos,
    • Fever (high) – Baptisia, Bryonia, Belladonna
    • Chills – Arsenicum, Eupatorium, Nux Vomica, Gelsemium
    •  Aches/Pains – Baptisia, Bryonia, Eupatorium, Nux Vomica, Gelsemium
    • Cough – Bryonia, Aconite, Belladonna, Drosera, Spongia, Coccus Cacti, Antimonium tartaricum , Ipecac
    • Headache – Eupatorium, Gelsemium
    • Recuperation – China, Gelsemium, Inlfuenzinum
  • Constitutional – Having a professional Homeopath find your constitutional remedy is very useful in that it can be used whenever the body is experiencing symptoms to bring it back into balance and activate its innate healing capabilities.

There are so many exceptional, effective ways to keep healthy naturally throughout the year! Which of the remedies and modalities above have you used? What are your favorites?

Staying Fit Throughout the Menopausal Journey: Exploring the Unique Exercise Needs of Women in Peri-Mid-Post-Menopause

“My body doesn’t respond to exercise the way it used to…”

“It seems like the more I exercise and diet, the more weight I gain!”

These are common frustrations I hear from women as they approach their 40s, 50s, and 60s. It seems harder and harder to maintain a healthy weight during this phase of life, so women begin to exercise harder, exercise longer, and exercise more intensely. They may decide to restrict their caloric intake or return to a strict diet they might have tried in the past. 

The result? 

More challenges with weight and metabolism, and additionally, perhaps new symptoms such as lack of energy, brain fog, or insomnia.

What’s going on? 

Well, to get a better understanding of why this happens and what to do instead, we need to look at a few key points.

We need to tailor our movement to our life stage

Firstly, as women transition through the various stages of menopause, our bodies undergo significant transformations. As our hormones shift and change, our bodies’ unique needs change and our movement routines need to change along with them. 

Recent studies have underscored the importance of adapting exercise routines to align with the unique needs of women in perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. For example, research published in the “Journal of Women’s Health” (2018) highlights the evolving exercise needs of women as they transition through menopause, which demonstrates that traditional exercise routines may not fully address the specific physical changes and challenges women face during this phase.

In addition, recent findings in the “International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching” (2022) reveal that intense exercise regimens, such as aerobics and running, can pose risks to women in the menopausal stage. High-impact activities may lead to excess stress on the body, including joint and bone stress, exacerbating the physical challenges already associated with menopause.

One of the critical reasons we need to change up our movement routines is that as our reproductive hormones decline, we become more sensitive to stress.

And, we often have many sources of stress in our lives during midlife! Excess stress raises cortisol levels.

And elevated cortisol levels cause imbalances in our endocrine system.

Why is this important to know?

Because during this life phase, hardcore aerobic exercise causes excess stress to our bodies! And, that in turn, triggers fat storage as a survival mechanism, which can completely derail our efforts to maintain a weight that feels good to us.

Our bodies have different needs

Secondly, we need to ask why we don’t hear this information more often. Why are we told to exercise more and eat less? Well, the reason is simple. Most scientific research is done on males in their 20s and 30s. According to Debra Atkinson, MS, CSCS, only 39% of all exercise and sports medicine research features women. A fraction of that features women in peri-menopause, menopause, and post-menopause.

We are not male and we are not in our 20s and 30s anymore. Our bodies do not respond the same way a male body responds. Our bodies do not have the same requirements as a male body in their 20s or 30s.

Women go through many natural hormonal phases throughout their lifetime, which men do not, and recent research has illuminated the distinct exercise needs of women as they journey through peri-mid-post-menopause. 

Movements for midlife women

So what types of movement do we require at this time? These stages of life come with evolving physical requirements, particularly a call for gentle, flexibility-enhancing movements and strength training or weight-bearing exercises. 

According to  Dr. Joel Furhman, “Resistance training is the only exercise that can boost metabolism without increasing aging.” 

Resistance training, also called strength training or weight-bearing exercise, utilizes the resistance of body weight. In this context, natural forms of movement such as belly dance, yoga, tai chi, qi gong, and walking emerge as tailored solutions to meet these specific needs.

These natural movement practices, as well as squatting, carrying, lifting and reaching, getting up from sitting positions often, and other normal daily movements done with intention, offer precisely the kind of exercise that aligns with the distinct needs of women in these menopausal stages. 

Another advantage is that these practices not only provide physical benefits but also address mental and emotional well-being:

  • Belly dance enhances flexibility, coordination, and balance. Its fluid, rhythmic movements improve joint mobility and reduce stiffness, making it an ideal choice for women going through menopause.
  • Targeted weight-bearing and resistance training exercises can improve balance and flexibility, reducing the risk of falls and injuries.
  • Recent research showcases the stress-reducing properties of gentle natural movements such as yoga, tai chi, qigong, and belly dance. This is essential as perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause can bring increased stress and anxiety. The mindful, rhythmic movements induce a state of flow, which can be calming and meditative.
  • Studies also reveal that belly dance, along with yoga and similar natural movement practices, can significantly improve body image and self-esteem. It empowers women to reconnect with their femininity and sensuality, fostering self-confidence and body positivity.
  • We know that mindfulness and meditation are critical components of stress reduction as well as personal and spiritual development. These forms of natural movement can provide a space for women to connect with their inner selves, tap into creativity, and find a sense of grounding through tradition and history.

By embracing these practices, we can navigate the transformation of menopause with grace and vitality while honoring our changing bodies and embracing the beauty and wisdom of our bodies as mature women.

If you’re interested in learning the beautiful and strengthening practice of belly dance, join us here: https://vanessa-nixon.xperiencify.io/bellydancing-thru-life/order/

From Hot Flashes to Herbal Remedies: The Power of Natural Solutions for Menopause

If you’re experiencing hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain, low libido, brain fog, insomnia, or any of the dozens of symptoms women can experience along the journey or peri-mid-post menopause, you’re not alone. Menopause is a natural part of aging that affects every woman, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer through it.

Let’s explore the power of natural solutions for menopause, including increasing phytoestrogens in your diet, incorporating natural movement, and using herbal remedies to balance hormones, reduce symptoms and elevate health and well-being naturally!

Phytoestrogens

First, let’s talk about phytoestrogens. These are plant-based compounds that can balance the effects of estrogen in your body. By increasing your intake of phytoestrogens, you can help balance your hormone levels naturally. Some foods that are high in phytoestrogens include soy, flaxseeds, chickpeas, and lentils.

Natural Movement

Incorporating natural movement into your daily routine can also help balance your hormones. This means moving your body in ways that feel good and natural, such as walking, dancing, or swimming. By doing so, you can reduce stress and improve your mood, both of which are essential for hormonal balance.

Herbal Remedies

Finally, let’s talk about herbal remedies. Ashwaganda, red clover, and nettles are all herbs that can help balance your hormones during menopause.

Ashwaganda is an adaptogenic herb that helps your body adapt to stress. It has been shown to reduce cortisol levels, which is essential for reducing stress-related symptoms such as hot flashes and mood swings.

Red clover is one of the richest sources of phytoestrogens, which, as we learned already, can help balance your hormone levels naturally. It has been shown to help with infertility, reduce hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms.

Nettles are another herb that can help balance your hormones during menopause. They are rich in vitamins and minerals, including iron and calcium, which are important for bone health. Nettles can also help reduce inflammation and improve your immune system.

So even though menopause is a natural part of a woman’s life in which she can experience a range of symptoms, you don’t have to suffer through it. By increasing your intake of phytoestrogens, incorporating natural movement into your daily routine, and using herbal remedies such as ashwaganda, red clover, and nettles, you can help balance your hormones naturally, reduce your symptoms, and feel vibrant and empowered throughout this potent phase of life!

To go deeper and learn about more tools, resources, and techniques to help you navigate the menopausal journey with ease and confidence, see Meno-Morphosis ~ Rituals, Spells and Natural Remedies for Peri, Mid and Postmenopausal Women and it’s companion title Meno~Morphosis Playbook.

Shimmying through Menopause

How Belly Dance Can Improve Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health in Women

As women go through perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause, their bodies undergo significant changes. These changes can impact their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

Fortunately, natural movement practices, such as belly dancing, can help women navigate this transition with more ease and grace. Let’s explore the benefits of natural movement for women entering the menopausal portal.

Physical Benefits

Belly dance is a low-impact, weight-bearing form of exercise that can improve balance, flexibility, coordination, and strength. This is particularly important for women in peri-, mid-, and post-menopause, as they may experience a decline in bone density and an increased risk of falls. Belly dance involves fluid, circular movements that can also help improve joint mobility and reduce stiffness.

According to a study published in the Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy, women who participated in a 12-week belly dance program experienced significant improvements in balance, flexibility, and muscular endurance. They also reported reduced pain and increased self-esteem.

In addition to the physical benefits, belly dance can also help women connect with their bodies and feel more comfortable in their own skin. This is especially important during a time when many women may be experiencing changes in their body shape and size.

Mental Benefits

Belly dance can also have significant mental health benefits. It can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, which are common during the menopausal journey. The mindful, rhythmic movements of belly dance can induce a state of flow, which can be calming, centering, and meditative.

In a study published in the Journal of Complementary Medicine Research, women who participated in a belly dance program reported significant reductions in stress and anxiety. They also reported improved mood and a greater sense of well-being.

Emotional Benefits

Belly dance can also have powerful emotional benefits. It can help women reconnect with their femininity and sensuality, which can be empowering and healing. Belly dance celebrates the natural curves and movements of the female body, which can help women feel more confident, empowered, and comfortable in their own skin.

In a study published in the Journal of Dance Medicine & Science, women who participated in a belly dance program reported increased body image satisfaction and self-esteem. They also reported feeling more connected to their bodies and more confident in their ability to express themselves.

Spiritual Benefits

Belly dance can also have spiritual benefits. It can help women connect with their inner selves and tap into their creativity and intuition. The ancient origins of belly dance can also imbue the practice with a sense of history and tradition, which can be grounding and inspiring.

In a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, women who participated in a belly dance program reported increased spiritual well-being and a greater sense of connection to something greater than themselves.

In essence, belly dance and other forms of natural movement can offer a wealth of benefits for women in perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. These practices can improve physical health, reduce stress and anxiety, increase body image satisfaction and self-esteem, and promote spiritual well-being. By connecting with their bodies in this way, women can navigate this transition with greater ease and grace, and embrace this new phase of life with confidence and vitality.

If you would like to learn more about how natural movements such as belly dance can support you during the menopausal transition (and try it out for yourself!), I have a fun, supportive belly dance membership you can check out here: https://vanessa-nixon.xperiencify.io/bellydancing-thru-life/learn-more/

5 Reasons Lemon Balm is the Herb for You!

One of the most perfect herbs for those new to herbalism is Lemon Balm. Lemon Balm, whose botanical name is Melissa officionalis, is remarkably versatile in its uses. Its pleasant taste makes it great as a beverage tea, while its medicinal properties make it valuable for healing a variety of issues.

Throughout history, Lemon Balm has been used medicinally. The writings of Dioscorides and Pliny the Elder mention the use of Lemon Balm on surgical dressing for wounds, and to treat venomous bites and stings. The 12th century herbalist, Saint Hildegarde von Bingen, said “Lemon balm contains within it the virtues of a dozen other plants.”

Here are a few of the areas in which Lemon Balm excels:

Melissa officinalis

Brain

Recent studies show that Lemon Balm is helpful in improving brain function. In one study, a significant increase in the speed of mathematical processing, with no reduction in accuracy was observed. In another study, after just one dose of Lemon Balm, subjects showed improved cognitive performance and lengthened attention span!

 

Stress

In those same studies, another benefit that was observed was improved mood and a sense of calmness. In fact, Lemon Balm has been used traditionally for reducing stress of all kinds. Stress-induced anxiety and/or depression is specifically indicated for the use of Lemon Balm. It has an uplifting nature that can dissolve tension and induce a balancing of the nervous system.

 

Sleep

The relaxing effect that Lemon Balm has on the nervous system can also be helpful for those with sleep issues. In Germany, lemon balm is actually licensed as a standard medicinal tea for sleep disorders. In The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia it is listed as a sedative. Western herbalists often use it in combination with other relaxing and sedative herbs to promote sleep.

 

Viruses

Lemon Balm is highly anti-viral. It has been studied for its effectiveness against herpes virus as well as HIV with positive results. In one study on 115 patients, a proprietary preparation of lemon balm extract in a lip balm showed efficacy in treating lip sores associated with the herpes simplex virus. Studies of various mint family plants, including Lemon Balm, showed efficacy against human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

 

Children

Even though Lemon Balm is a powerfully medicinal herb, it is gentle enough for children. It is indicated for use in ADHD and hyperactivity in kids. Because of its gentle nature, it is the herb for choice when a child has any of the various issues listed above – problems falling asleep, a viral infection, learning disorders or any sort of stress-induced condition. Because of its delightful flavor, it is a favorite among even the pickiest of children, making it even more valuable as a medicine.

Lemon Balm is a standby in our household and brings its uplifting nature and agreeable, lemony flavor to so many medicinal blends and remedies, it would be difficult to be without it!

While this, by no means, is a complete list of all the benefits Lemon Balm possesses, it is a nice place to start. Do you use Lemon Balm? What is your favorite way to use it?

Melissa officinalis

5 to Thrive – 5 Great Herbs for Children

* Chamomile – Wonderful for soothing upset tummies and easing fevers.

 

* Lemon Balm – Soothing, calming and perfect for viral fevers.

 

* Cinnamon – Eases tummy troubles and tastes great too!

 

* Peppermint – Fevers, coughs, tummy-aches – peppermint can help just about anything…

 

*Elderberry – Makes a delicious syrup and supports the immune system at the same time.

 

What herbs do your children love the most?

 

5 to Thrive – 5 Great Spring Herbs

* Dandelion – The leaf, root and flower are all edible and a great herb for a spring detox.

 

* Chickweed – All above ground parts of the herb are a great addition to fresh spring salads.

 

* Nettles – Full of minerals and one of the best sources of plant protein – great for nourishing the body after a long winter.

 

* Cleavers – A great lymphatic cleanser – add immature aerial parts to salads or juice the plant.

 

*Oregon Grape Root – The rhizomes of this plant are a wonderful liver herb, making it a great plant for spring detoxing.

 

What herbs do you like to use in the spring?

 

10 Steps to Wellness

1. Let food be thy medicine – Eat whole, real, unprocessed foods. As Micheal Pollan says “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” Eating as much of your foods in their raw, whole, unprocessed, organic state as possible is critical. If you are not able to obtain all your foods in an organic state, be sure at least, to only consume animal foods that are organic. Pesticides, antibiotics and  artificial growth hormones bioaccumulate in animal fats, so it is crucial to avoid them.

2. Drink pure water….and lots of it – Since our bodies are made up of over 70% water, it is one of the most important aspects of our health. Did you know that experts believe that 90% of all headaches are caused by dehydration? A good way to keep your body hydrated is this: whenever you feel the least bit thirsty or hungry – drink a glass of water first! Also remember that city tap water contains many substances that are harmful to your body such as chlorine and fluoride. Make sure you either use a good filter or better yet, find a local source of spring water.

3. Breathe – fresh air, outside, in the sun, preferably in a forest, on a beach, or watching the sunset…It’s amazing how easy it is for us humans to forget to breathe. We have become a people who breathe shallowly with bodies deprived of oxygen. Take full, slow, breaths down into the depths of your lungs until you can’t take in any more and then slowly exhale, fully and completely until you feel all the breath gone from your body, Then do it again, and again.

4. Exercise – We all know that exercise is a vital part of health and well-being. Moving our bodies is what allows all the wonderful nutrients that we put into our bodies to circulate and what moves the blood and lymph throughout the body. Bernard Jensen says that “A body can become anemic with the best blood stream in the world if the blood does not circulate fast enough.” In order to live a long life, filled with exhuberent energy you must move your body… and do it often.

5. Sleep – In our fast-paced culture, most of us either do not get enough sleep, or when we do, we do not sleep well enough. One of the biggest blocks we have to getting good sleep is the acknowledgement that we need a good solid 8-9 hours of sleep each night to support our health. We want to believe we can get by on 6 hours a night so we can get back to our multi-tasking rat race. Once we realize how important sleep is to our well-being, we can begin to find ways to support it – breathing exercises, meditation and relaxing baths, are just a few of the many options.

6. Spend time in Nature – Nature, whether it be in the form of a soft furry animal, a sweet smelling flower, or the soothing feel of a summer breeze, has the innate ability to connect with the deepest part of us, that part that comes from nature itself. That fundamental connection is one of the integral elements of well-being. Many of us have lost that connection, and suffer the consequences on a daily basis. But it is easy to reconnect….just open your door and step outside…

7. “Follow your Bliss” – This is one of my favorite quotes, from the late mythologist/theologist Joseph Campbell. In our society, doing what we love is not valued very highly. Instead, we are taught to value what will bring us the most financial wealth and prestige. However, we need to look further at what really makes us happy in life. Doing the things we love on a daily basis, whether it be painting, dancing or skiing is one of the most important things to keep ourselves in a state of vibrant health.

8. Be Present – “…the foundation for greatness is honoring the small things of the present moment instead of pursuing the idea of greatness.”  Ekhart Tolle.  Living life in the present, instead of constantly reliving the past, or living for the future is essential to our happiness, which in turn is essential to stress reduction, which in turn is essential to health and wellness.


9. Use natural remedies – Our bodies respond to natural remedies very readily and efficiently. Natural remedies, like herbs, homeopathics, healing foods and body work function by working with your body to support the immune system, provide nutrients and detoxify the tissues. Conventional medical intervention has it’s place, but it is usually best used as a last resort.

10. Use your Brain – Never stop learning. We all were born with an innate desire to learn. For many, as we grew up, that desire was taught out of us. Rekindle that desire and make it a goal to learn something new every day!

Natural Health

For many decades now, our society has been a culture that discourages it’s people from taking responsibility for their own health. We are encouraged to enter into paid, contractual relationships with only those medical professionals who have a degree in medicine. We are convinced to think that only those who attend medical school can possibly know how to take care of our health.  We are persuaded to believe that everything the doctor tells us is fact, and that if we disagree, it must only be because of our ignorance. We are taught to second guess our own intuition regarding what’s best for our health and that of our children.

This state of health care in industrialized nations like the US is actually quite new. We think of modern medicine as having a long history, but it has only been in the last 100 years that the vast array of drugs, such as antibiotics, anti-depressants, blood pressure medication, etc,  that make up the trick of bags of most medical doctors these days, have been available. For hundreds, and even thousands of years before that, people relied on natural healing when they became ill.

In fact, most people had a basic, common knowledge of natural healing and kept and used many medicinal herbs, remedies and healing foods in their homes for those occasions when they might need them, or even for daily use to stay healthy in the first place. This common knowledge of wellness was passed down through the generations and provided the knowledge that most people needed to stay well and healthy. There were those times, of course, when a healer might need to be called in – whether it be a wise woman, medicine man, shaman or homeopath – but the common man and woman not only had a basic sense of how to heal common illnesses, but they were much more in touch with their intuition and innate sense of wellness.

Unfortunately, with the rise of the pharmaceutical industry, the AMA (which go hand in hand, in fact) as well as the processed food industry, much of our intuitive knowledge of healing has been suppressed. We have found ourselves in the position of not knowing how our own bodies work, not knowing how to keep them healthy and not knowing how to heal them.

However, natural healing, no matter how far it has been buried, is still with us, in all cultures, throughout the world. All we need to do is reconnect with our intuition,  re-educate ourselves, school ourselves in the natural methods of healing that are available to each one of us. Natural healing is something that we can incorporate into our lives, everyday, every meal, every breath. It is not hard and it is not expensive. We need to re-lean what foods to eat (or in some cases, what food really is and is not!), what plants can heal and how to breath. We need to remember how to move our bodies and how we are all connected.

Modern medicine definitely has it’s place and it can be a life saver in emergency situations. However, the time has come for everyday healing to be placed back into the hands of everyday people. We all need to take responsibility for our own health and trust the innate wisdom inside each of us that knows how to heal our own body, mind and spirit.


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