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.

Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning spinning wheel.  These are a system of seven energy centers located along the spine.  Each chakra corresponds to an area of the body, a set of behavioral characteristics and stages of spiritual growth.  Practicing yoga and focusing your energies during different postures can help you to align your chakras and get all the wheels spinning in the same direction and speed.  Understanding how to fine tune and control your chakras through yoga and meditation can help bring balance and peace to your mind, body and spirit.

There are seven chakras, each associated with a different part of the body along the spine from the perineum to the crown of your head.  Each chakra is associated with a particular body location, a color, a central emotional/behavioral issue, as well as many other personal aspects including identity, goals, rights, etc. 

The seven chakras are:  Muladhara- base of the spine; Svadhisthana- abdomen, genitals, lower back/hip; Manipura- solar plexus; Anahata- heart area; Visshudha- throat; Ajna- brow; Sahasrara- top of head, cerebral cortex.

Through the movements and postures of yoga, you can learn to focus your concentration and energy to and from the various chakras in your body.  This can allow you to compensate for areas that may be out of synch with the rest of your body or not active at all.  By balancing the energy among all seven of the chakras, balance can be achieved.  This spiritual energy is known as Kundalini energy.  In its dormant state, it can be visualized as a coiled up snake resting at the base of your spine, the Muladhara chakra.  Since the chakras act as valves or pumps regulating the flow of energy through your system, controlled and purposeful movements such as yoga can be extremely beneficial in realigning your chakras in a way that can cause great benefits to you in your physical and emotional wellbeing.

Are you questioning the need to take antibiotics for every minor complaint, but are not sure of the alternatives? Read on.
People used to die from infections that a course of antibiotics would have cured, and still do in third world countries today. Antibiotics were hailed as a miracle cure when they were discovered for this very reason, and as a nurse I have seen them work wonders on many occasions. However as a herbalist I also know that there is a price to be paid when you take them. It is the intention of this article to explain what that price is and what you can do about it in order to enjoy the best of both worlds and the best of health. 
I am personally opposed to the use of antibiotics for every little thing, but they most definitely have their place, especially when other treatments aren’t working as strongly or as quickly as they need to. That said, it makes good sense to limit antibiotic use for several reasons. The first is the ever worsening problem of antibiotic resistance, something which is of increasing concern in medical circles. 
RESISTANCE

Antibiotic resistance is when a bacteria mutates so as to become unaffected by an antibiotic that previously would have killed it. This has been a big problem in hospitals for decades and new (stronger) antibiotics need to be developed constantly in order to keep ahead of the cleverness of the bacteria. These stronger antibiotics also often have stronger side effects. Using natural alternatives to pharmaceutical antibiotics will help slow this trend. 
If you do need to take doctor prescribed antibiotics, commit to it fully. Make sure you complete the entire course, even if you feel completely recovered and still have some pills to take. Antibiotics work by vastly and rapidly reducing the number of bacteria  infecting you. A few days into treatment you can feel pretty much better, but still have a reasonably high count of the bacteria (which have been weakened but not killed by the antibiotics you have been taking). If you stop before the course is complete you allow these bacteria to recover, and when they do they will be resistant to the antibiotic and so will their offspring. You also run the risk of the infection flaring up again and needing another lot of (perhaps stronger) antibiotics to get on top of it.
ALLERGIES

If you overuse an antibiotic there is a small possibility that you become allergic to that antibiotic, preventing you from using it in the future. Make no mistake, antibiotics are very effective at treating infections, especially big ones. No-one ever wants to think they may have a serious accident or health crisis, but if you ever do it is best to have as many treatment options open as possible and that includes a wide range of antibiotics. 
THRUSH

The other major issue with taking antibiotics is that they don’t discriminate between good bacteria and bad bacteria – they kill the lot. So if you are taking antibiotics by mouth they will kill all the good bacteria in your bowel. You need these good bacteria to properly digest your food (and so get the goodness out of it) and help kill off the germs that cause food poisoning. They also help keep yeast, fungus and parasite populations under control. If you take antibiotics you need to replace them – with one bottle of good quality acidophilus + bifidus at the recommended dosage for every course of antibiotics. Otherwise you run the risk of getting thrush and / or Candida. 
Yoghurt contains acidophilus and bifidus, but not in the very high amounts available in supplements. You would need loads of it for many months to undo the damage of just a single course of antibiotics. By all means yoghurt is brilliant to support your population of good bowel bacteria, but use it as a maintenance food rather than a cure for thrush or Candida. 
Green Essence www.medicinalherbsfowomen.com/product/ABFE-24 for two weeks is also useful for helping to rebalance your bowel flora after antibiotics.
For some mysterious reason, natural remedies know good bowel flora from bad and only target harmful bacteria; one of the wonders of using nature’s pharmacy. Thrush and irritable bowel syndrome never occur following herbal antibiotic treatment; in fact herbs are very effective for treating both these complaints. 
NATURAL IMMUNITY

Your own immune system becomes strong by being used – just like muscles do. Fighting things off on your own or with the assistance of herbs helps to strengthen your immune system and build up your natural immunity to things. 
HERBAL ANTISEPTICS

Topical antiseptics include Lavender Essential Oil (always use diluted) and Calendula www.medicinalherbsforwomen.com/product/OINT02  
HERBAL ANTIBIOTICS

It takes three years to train a herbalist. Herbs have strong actions in the body and, like pharmaceutical drugs, need to be prescribed by people who know how they work, what to give, when to give it, how much to give and for how long. In short, it is not a good idea to self diagnose or self prescribe. 
If you would like to use herbal antibiotics instead of pharmaceutical antibiotics, book a consultation with a qualified herbalist, who will know the best herbs for your situation and whether they have a good chance of working or if it is at the point where you need to take drugs.
There are very effective herbs for systemic infections. These include herbs that can boost your own natural immune response, and for staphylococcal, streptococcal, fungal and viral infections. 
There are also herbs, available only to professional herbalists, that support specific areas in the body. Herbs are available to treat infections in all the organs including the lungs, reproductive organs, kidneys, bladder, liver and bowel, but the strongest (most effective) are not sold over the counter. 
Herbal remedies are certainly an option in most cases and it is worth seeing a professional herbalist to make you up an individual remedy. This often costs less than you would expect, usually about the same as a trip to the health food shop (where you may or may not get what you need after self-prescribing or on the advice of a shop assistant who may or may not be qualified). It is also comparable to the combined cost of a trip to the doctor and chemist.
Antibiotics definitely have their place, but ideally should be reserved for really big infections requiring drastic measures. Every day infections, even fairly severe ones, can be and are successfully treated with herbs without the unpleasant side effects of pharmaceutical antibiotics. Herbs, properly taken, will completely remove the infection and restore the affected area to full health and enhance natural immunity for the future.

Please note that the information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to replace the advice of a qualified health professional. Under no circumstances should you self diagnose or self treat – if you are unwell, it is important that you seek assistance from a doctor or qualified herbalist.”
Linn Wiggins. R.N. Dip Herb Med.

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

POSSIBLE REASONS FOR BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS

In the amazing 21^st century world we live in today there is an abundance of reasons and explanations for children having behavioural problems. Let’s look at only a few possibilities children may be acting the way they do so as to have a holistic understanding of bad behaviour – naughty behaviour. 

1. FOOD

 In this modern day living, especially in the western countries of affluence, we have the luxury of pre made food. This luxury can be obtained from any variety store including newsagents, petrol stations and of course the grocery stores. Gone are the days of having to grow and harvest food with the convenience of pre packed food which can be eaten on the run quickly and disposed of easily. But with this convenience also comes specific outcomes, including behavioural problems. We know that sugar and fat can increase obesity with children but what about the chemical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects. Processed food has an abundance of additives and chemicals which preserve them to stay fresh in the packages. In doing so, you have changed the chemical structure of the food and also added ‘chemicals’ which are NOT natural to that food source. The additives can trigger allergies and intolerances for certain children, which can create behavioural problems as well as illnesses. When doing research into the preservatives, some of these have been proven to be carcinogenic.

Foods that are high in sugar will affect the liver and pancreas in children, related to their behaviour. On a Metaphysical level the liver is about planning, organising and the storage of the emotion anger. On a physical level the liver processes sugar with the pancreas. So children who eat highly sugared food can be disorganised, overwhelmed in planning themselves and definitely ANGRY. With some children this reaction to sugar brings the outcome of anger which can be within 15 – 30 minutes. The behaviour is aggressive and unreachable. Hence why the behaviour problems, which can be avoided with minimal sugar intake.

On the mental aspect of health, processed food, especially when containing excess sugar can affect the perception of the child. Food has specific patterns when viewing it from a quantum physics and energy level. Processed food and especially the more chemically enhanced food with additives, preservative and artificial colourings will affect how children with normally loving behaviour can become angry, resist, not follow instructions and more. This is related to the pancreas on a Metaphysical level as the pancreas is the organ of the subconscious brain and the processed food alters our perception from loving to fearful.

All of the above is linked with an aspect of health which is not considered in western health – emotions and emotional care. The internationally recognised Dr Candice Pert scientifically has proven that emotions relate to disease within the body. Her teachings show how the emotions are critical in the overall care for a holistic approach. Applying this to food, the emotions are definitely affected when food has been processed, had additives, and of course contains sugar. The emotions that are triggered are FEAR based including anger, resentment, fear, excitement and more. This all equates to naughty behaviour or bad behaviour.

2. SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Many children in the modern day living do not get enough sleep. This maybe due to over commitments such as sport, parents working long hours, homework and even home duties. Some children can experience anxiety and excitement as they are uncertain as to where they are sleeping in regards to separated or divorced parents. Children are expected to swap houses for parental care creating uncertainty and behaviour issues.

Certain children will not feel safe during sleep, experiencing the dark as a void and scary. (The AQUA, STAR and CRYSTAL children relate to this concept). There is an abundance of reasons for this, so much so that would be another article. When children sleep, this a time for the body to rest and process the day and all that happened. The natural body clock organised by the hypothalamus gland requires the body to stop for at least 6 hours a day so that healing, integration and resting may occur. Children actually require more sleep as they have so much to learn and integrate. When a child does not have enough sleep or has disturbed sleep, this affects the brain. The perception and understanding of everyday life is distorted and the outcome can be behavioural problems. In the defence forces around the world, one of the forms of torture they use is sleep deprivation.

Article written by

Jean Sheehan
www.absoluteempowerment.com/Aqua.Child.php

Parts 3 &4 are on the emotions real life ways of transforming your relationship with your kids into a positive, healthy and much more. I will post them in the next couple of days.