Natural Relief from Migraines, pt. 2

For most factors and symptoms of migraines, you can lie down in a cool room and rest your head. Put some drops of peppermint oil to the temples to reduce the throbbing and nausea. Ask family to give you time to rest as migraines are serious occurances that are not easy to deal with. This may be a talk you need to have ahead of time. Try to nap, if possible. You can put a cool cloth soaked in water and camphor for relief.

Drink sips of water regularly to help the blood vessels return to normal. If nausea persists, you can eat an organic piece of ginger candy to ease the stomach. As you lie there, you can also ask someone to quietly come and rub the portion of your hand between your thumb and index finger. This is a trigger point to relieve headache pressure.

Although migraines are not the same thing as headaches, a lot of the same techniques can be used for both conditions.

Natural Relief from Migraines

A migraine is the onset of a variety of symptoms, with the most common being a major headache. This can be accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness and other symptoms. This can be brought about due to a drop in caffeine, an onset of too much caffeine, lack of sleep, drop in blood sugars, suddent change of temperature and other factors.

The first step to do would be to decide which of the factors above caused the migraine. If it is low blood sugar, eat a meal. For extreme heat, sit in the shade and drink a large bottle of water. If it is due to lack of sleep, take a nap. If you are trying to cut back on coffee and are having a caffeine attack, from now on reduce your use, not eliminate it all together. It is important to take notice of what triggers your migraines so you can avoid them in the future as well.

Spirituality

One’s spirituality is just as important to a healthy life as other aspects of it, such as eating and exercise. Sprituality is health food and exercise for the soul. Its what protects it from harm, helps you cope through hard times and celebrate the good. Spirituality doesn’t have to be part of a religion. It can be how you center yourself in tense times. For example, you can pick up yoga or meditation as a way to be spiritual. Many benefit from a sacred altar they set up themselves, complete with a candle that calls to them, inense and images of spiritual elements that brings them closer to their center. This can be angels, goddesses, animal spirits or any number of spiritual beings.

What mattes is that your spirituality reflects who you are and is something you can turn to with any emotion, tragedy, sorrow or even celebration. You stregnthen your soul when you are spiritual with yourself.

Easy and healthy snacks

When you want to reach for a snack, chips and cookies are the easiest to get. Yet, these are unhealthy and not nutritious. Here are some easy snacks you can make for yourself when you get the munchies.

In a bowl, add baby carrots and a colby jack cheese stick. On the side, add lite cucumber ranch dressing. It is so good for dipping and really makes a good snack. You can also add celery sticks.

This is what I really to do with celery sticks. Take a small bowl and add a few tablespoons of crunchy almong butter. Add in a teaspoon of agave nectar (it’s like honey but with less sugar). Then dip the celery sticks inside for a healthy, sweet treat.

Take strawberries and slice without the tops. Take splenda and sprinkle on top. Add sliced swiss cheese to the tops. It’s a sort of tangy, hearty treat that is unlike anything you’d ever made.

DIY Natural Acne Treatment

Here’s a recipe you can make at home to treat acne naturally. It is non abrasive but can be strong in scent for some. I used to hate the smell of it and now I enjoy it, for some reason.

In a mixing bowl combine glycerin water or witchhazel (about 1/2 cup or so). Take a dropper and drop in 10 drops of 100% pure tea tree oil. (You can find this for a great 3 for 1 price at Traditional Medicinals) Mix the oil and water or witchhazel together. You can even shake in a container. Bottle in a small bottle with a lid that screws on top.

Take organic cotton rounds and slightly soak with the solution you have created. Wipe your face with it at least twice a day. Tea tree oil has natural antibacterial, antifungal and healing properties that will clear up that acne over time. It may take longer than harsh chemicals but at least you won’t be destroying your face to do so.

Living a healthy life

Living a healthy life means healthy is body, mind and spirit. It doesn’t mean just having a fit body and eating right. It also means living a well balanced life. Life is meant to be enjoyed and lived. When you sit in your house all day watching tv and flipping through the tube, you are not being healthy. Even if you eat the best diet in the world and excercise daily (sometime between your shows), that is only a part of your health.

You need to get out and explore the world and see what it has to offer. You have to pick up a hobby, have conversations with others, learn new things and explore life. Tell your family you love them, show your friends you care. Most of all, show yourself you care and are worth more than doing nothing with your life.

This can be as simple as taking a walk in the park or volunteering at a soup kitchen. Either way, live life.

My favorite natural sleep remedy

In the wintertime I like to make me a hot cup of Sleepytime Tea from Celestial Seasonings. Chamomile is a nice subsitute but I still prefer Sleepytime. I add in some agave nectar or a spoonful of local honey to really make it delicious. The herbs make me fall asleep in a natural way, unlike sleeping pills which hit me hard.

However, in the summer time I want something more refreshing at night to ease my dry throat. Hot teas don’t do it for me when I’m sweaty, hot and in need of the AC. So, this is what I do instead. During the day I’ll brew a cup of Sleepytime tea. When its nice and hot I’ll add in my honey or agave. Sometimes Splenda, but only if I’m out of the other two. I’ll stick it in a cup with a lid (often a sippy cup) and let it cool for the nighttime when I drink it right before bed!

American vegetarian dinner.

Often when people think of vegetarian meals they are reminiscent of other cultures such as Italian, Mediterannian, Indian or Asian. American meals most often contain a large portion of meat as their dinner meal, such as roast beef, pork chops, burgers and ribs. Well, you can still have a vegetarian meal that is American, and here’s how:

Grill up some delicious veggie burgers from Morningstar. Serve these hot on whole wheat buns and use barbeque sauce as your condiment. These taste really delicious and compliment eachother well. Morningstar makes the best veggie burgers, in my opinion. Even better than Boca and Garden Burger.

Next, in the oven prepare sweet potato fries. These are healthier for you than regular fries and are nutrious too. Use a ketchup with low-sugar and made from organic tomatoes.

Serve the veggie burger and fries with a nice cold glass of homemade lemonade made with real lemons and cane sugar.

Happy BIRTH day to YOU

Yup, to you, MOM! If you biologically had your children, then you should celebrate the day you gave birth. It was truly an amazing experience like no other and you deserve all the credit in the world for enduring that. Remember all those contractions, screaming, sweating, hunger pains and crying? All that produced a little child you now hold in your arms or a teenager you can’t imagine was ever tiny enough to fit inside your belly.

If you wrote a birth story, go back and re-read it and relive those memories. Don’t concentrate on the negatives. Concentrate on what an adrenaline-filled experience it was for all involved. Can you believe you really gave birth? You should be honored for doing so!

So celebrate YOU as well when your child has a birthday. You really deserve it. Just don’t get too graphic with your kids, I don’t think they want to bask in those moments!

Uses for Celery

I once read that eating celery burns more calories that it takes to consume it. So basically, if you eat celery, you will lose weight. I thought this was interesting. And at only $0.88 a bunch, there are numerous ways you can use celery in your diet!

1. Use in homemade soups and stews for a healthy touch.
2. Chop up and use in chicken salads and tuna salads, even fruit salads!
3. Smear peanut butter on it and add raisins for ants on a log.
4. Dip in honey for a tasty and nutritious treat.
5. Put fat free sour cream inside and sprinkle sea salt, pepper and paprika for a delicious snack.
6. Eat a celery with cream cheese instead of a bagel so save on carbs and sugar.
7. Use in vegetable salads for a yummy crunch.
8. Cut up in smaller sticks and take it to lunch with you as a mid-morning snack. Combine with cheese.

Next Page »