Kellie Green.comOnline health & Wellbeing magazine

Insomnia

Sleep is an essential part of good health. A good night’s sleep can help you feel good, look healthy, work effectively and think clearly.

But sleep is not always so easy to come by. If you sometimes have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, you’re not alone. A 1991 Gallup study found that more than one-third of all Americans suffer occasional or chronic insomnia.

People often are surprised to learn that daytime drowsiness is not an inevitable, harmless byproduct of modern life, but rather a key sign of a sleep problem that could be disastrous if not treated.

Recent figures show that nearly a quarter of the population regularly cannot go to, or remain asleep, and every year doctors write out more than 14 million prescriptions for sleeping tablets.

The causes of sleeplessness are many and varied. ‘It can be due to a medical condition, such as chronic pain from rheumatism or arthritis,’ says Professor Jim Horne, who runs the Sleep Research Laboratory at Loughborough University. ‘Or it can be chemical, as a result of drinking tea, coffee or alcohol. Chronic or long-term insomnia is often associated with depression or anxiety, and environmental factors certainly contribute.’

And sleepless nights, staring wild-eyed into the darkness, are worse than bad dreams,

For too many people–most of the population at one time or another–a good night’s sleep is an elusive goal. The consequences of fatigue from chronic sleeplessness include accidents in the car and at work, a dramatically increased risk of major depression, and worsening physical illness.

Immediate relief is available.After checking the clients medication or diet isn’t causing the problem, I usually start my clients or on occastion myself, on a remedy of Black eyed susan and crowea which eases the mind of over activity worry and chatter. I almost always combine it with basic yoga, always making sure that the person can pyshically do yoga first. It is rare that this combonation dosen’t work.

When it doesn’t I will always go into deeper emotional issues that the person has and address these with other Essences and emotional realese techniques, usually still encouraging the use of yoga or similar gentle exercise.

Botanical Name: Citrus limonum
Plant Part: Peel of the fruit
Extraction Method: Cold Pressed
Colour: A light yellow
Consistency: Light
Note: Top   (how quickly the essence evaporates, used mainly for perfume mixing)
Strength of Aroma: The aroma is similar to fresh lemon rinds except richer and more concentrated.

Therapeutic value: Lemon is highly prized for its high anti-bacterial properties. On skin and hair it can be used for its cleansing effect, as well as for treating cuts and boils. I mix it with a base oil such as macadamia or almond and use as a cuticle remover.

Mix 10 or so drops into 100ml of water and shake very well, than use as a rinse for oilly and fine hair.

This is a fresh energizing scent to put into your electric oil burner in the mornings to get everyone off to a great start for the day. I often mix it with lavender in my oil burner to give an energized balance to the house or office.

Most oils are not to be applied neat (undiluted) to the skin and lemon is included in this. The only time I will use it neat is by applying it to a cotton bud and then to a wart or skin tag to help remove them. Please remember DO NOT let it touch the skin surrounding the wart or skin tag as it might  irritate.

Adding lemon to your skin care in the appropriate doses can be of benefit especially if you live in cold sunless environments. Using it in the morning can really lift the spirits and aid in combating cabin fever and depression due to being shut indoors due to weather.

Because it is a top note and evaporates quickly I like to mix it with a base or middle note such as lavender  to hold the fragrance longer.

Another blend I use it in is a mind stimulater blend, lemon mixed with rosemary, it clears fogginess, aids memory and gets you thinking outside the box especially when mixed with the flower essences turkey bush and bush fushia. I will make this mix into a spritz or mix it into a base oil or cream for  temple massage. It also works well in an electric burner.

On a more physical level lemon essential oil is a liver and gall bladder tonic, helping with digestion. It stimulates the gall bladder to produce more bile which brakes down your food.

There are many more uses for this fine oil, as long as it is used in the correct dosages, if you aren’t sure then the basic rule is don’t use it. Find out from a respected aromatherapist the correct and safe usages.

Cautions:Non-toxic, but may cause skin irritation in some. Lemon is also phototoxic and should be avoided prior to exposure to direct sunlight. This means it can make you burn faster.
 
Important Note: The information provided is for educational purposes only.

Kellie Green

Editors notes: I personally use Linn’s herbs and advice, she knows what she is talking about. This is especially good for all those in fear of the dreaded swine flu. Prevention is the best cure and if your immunity is high you are less suseptable to these kind of outbreaks.

There are many diseases for which no vaccination is available. Against these we are left with only one defence – our own natural immunity. Now more than ever, with new diseases emerging and antibiotic resistance at an all time high, it is important for you to know how to support your body’s inbuilt immune system. Here are some simple natural steps you can take. 

CLEAN LYMPHATICS
Your lymphatic system picks up metabolic wastes and environmental toxins from throughout your body and excretes them through your skin or bowel. When your “glands are up” (your lymph nodes are swollen) this is a sign they have gathered an amount of toxic waste (i.e. they are doing their job). When you get sick your lymph nodes help isolate the infection. As the infection passes they should slowly and safely excrete their wastes. Unfortunately, in modern times we have many toxins in our body that it was never designed to deal with, so the lymphatic system is often permanently congested and sluggish. Exercise helps pump lymph and clean this system through sweating. If you don’t sweat or your sweat smells or you are showing a lymphatic rosary in your iris, your lymphatic system needs cleaning. Specific herbs can achieve this. This detox mix helps cleanse both your lymphatic system and blood:
http://www.medicinalherbsforwomen.com/product/herb09″

The Australian Bush Flower Essence ‘Bush Iris’ can also support the lymphatic system energetically http://www.medicinalherbsforwomen.com/product/ABFE-14

HEALTHY BLOOD

“Dirty blood” is a naturopathic term referring to blood laden with waste products. Iron deficiency can contribute to this. Good iron levels are necessary to oxygenate all the cells in the body and to burn out infection. The long term effects of low iron levels are potentially very serious. Vegetarians, those who don’t eat a lot of red meat, and women who menstruate heavily are most prone. If blood tests show low iron or haemoglobin levels, natural iron supplements are recommended. Synthetic iron tablets often cause constipation and are not as readily absorbable by your body.

TRY HERBAL ANTIBIOTICS
Like any part of the body, the immune system gets stronger the more it is used. “Use it lose it” definitely applies here. Over use of antibiotics can lead to a lazy immune system, antibiotic resistance and / or yeast overgrowth (thrush and candida). Combine this with a weak immune system and the outlook can be grim if a really serious infection occurs. There are many very effective herbal medicines for bacterial, viral and fungal infections. Other herbs can be used to stimulate the immune system when necessary. No resistance seems to develop against herbal remedies and they support the healing process rather than suppress it. Even in medical circles, stress is now known to lower immunity. Your adrenal glands must be healthy for you to mount an effective response against any challenge – including disease. Stress, worry and anxiety all deplete your adrenal glands. There are many herbs and flower essences which act as adrenal tonics and assist during times of stress. Flower essences include Black-Eyed Susan www.medicinalherbsforwomen.com/product/ABFE-07 and also Macrocarpa www.medicinalherbsforwomen.com/product/ABFE-36
Remember to take time out to relax with family, friends and hobbies. Live and work somewhere you like, with people whose company you enjoy. Live joyfully.

…. as much as you can afford to buy and have time to grow. The much higher life force from plants and animals being nurtured on good quality soil, using traditional farming practises, is well worth the extra expense. Mass produced food is grown in tired soil, stimulated with chemical fertilisers to grow fast, and sprayed with toxic chemicals to control pests. Some is also genetically modified to look good, travel well and last a long time on the supermarket shelf. The end result has dramatically lowered nutritional value. The cost of organic food is the true cost of (nutritious) food. The true cost of non organic food is chronic sub health and the recent alarming rise in serious diseases in western society. Every step of processing food lessens its nutritional value. So use as much whole, organic food as time and budget permit and cook it yourself. It’s the only way to really know what you are eating.

LIMIT ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS
They increase the work your liver, kidneys, skin, lungs and lymphatics have to do. Take a serious look at every cleaning product and personal care item in your house. If you can’t eat it, don’t breathe it or let it touch your skin. Many natural products do just as good a job as their chemical equivalents and using them does you, your children, your grandchildren and the environment a huge favour. Copyright Linn Wiggins. Wholistic Herbalist. http://www.medicinalherbsforwomen.com

I have had such a good response with the Hulla Hoop videos that I have added more detailed ones.
I am even going to start to do this today!

I figure I might as well enjoy lossing wieght and getting fit. Bring on the Funky music!!!

Starting out

What direction do you feel most comfortable hooping?

How to Hulla Hoop

Keeping the hoop up

How to prepare & wind down

Get better

Hand movements

Stalling the Hoop

I’ll put more up next week but for now I think mastering these shall be a challange and fun.

Come on girls lets do this together. Let me know how you go.

I am starting at 79kgs on the 28/5/09 , I will see how much I shape up over the next weeks and let you know.
I am already laughing at myself just imagening me doing this!

Make sure you check out this video to get some inspirationand some lovely music…

Organic skin care refers to the use of natural skin care products or therapies. The ingredients of these natural products are grown organically in places that are rich in nutrients, unlike similar products that are only manufactured using synthetic processes and ingredients. 

Organic skin care makes use of several different types of plants, extracts, herbs, flowers, and natural oils. Organic skin care products are merely an extension of natural skin care therapies. 

Organic skin care products are non-toxic and full of essential nutrients for the skin extracted from natural sources. These products nourish the skin and rejuvenate it gently. Some of the problems they can cure are dark circles, wrinkles, and pimples. The overall effect of organic skin care products is younger and healthier looking skin. 

There are different organic skin care products available for the face and for other parts of the body. Since the structure of skin is different depending on the part of the body, it is important to choose the appropriate product. 
 
Apart from rejuvenating the skin, organic skin care products also have a soothing and healing effect on the body. Some of the ingredients are quite rich in soothing essences that have a calming effect. Organic skin care products can make you feel fresh in addition to nourishing your skin. 

Newer products do not merely rely on plants and flowers. Some of them have already started using the special qualities of herbs and herbal extracts. Aloe vera, lavender,  jojoba, olive oil, and rosemary extract are now regular ingredients in many organic skin care products. 

Nourishment of the skin takes place through cleansing, moisturizing, and toning. Regular use of organic skin care products will ensure that your skin has no blemishes, pimples, or allergies. These products also keep the skin soft and supple. Healthy skin will produce fewer wrinkles because of its firmness.