With the holiday season just a week away, comes the need for creating calm in our daily lives. This helps tie in the conclusion of the “Optimal Healing” series and begin our holiday festivities with a plan for less pain inducing foods and practices, leaving time for the true joy in the holiday season.
In the first two parts of the series we covered some of the key foods and supplements that can help promote a healthy, anti-inflammatory balance. The missing part to creating a complete balanced affect is obtaining quality sleep and calming any added stress. This not only applies to preparing for those unexpected health issues, but also good rules to follow this time of year, that can keep us feeling light and energized throughout the holiday season. It starts with surprising research on how we eat and ending with some of my favorite tools for a restful sleep (vital to our health).
Did you know that how we eat, is equally as important as to what we eat? Just making the shift to the simple act of sitting while we eat (even if it’s only a ten minute meal), rather than standing at the kitchen counter or in front of the TV, can make all the difference! Take it a step further by making family mealtimes a daily habit, with everyone sitting together to enjoy at least one meal a day at the same table without electronics, while talking and discovering how each person went about their day. And the bonus game changer is practicing gratitude at mealtime. These simple three habits/rituals can help manage stress and improve digestion at mealtime, helping to increase the absorption of vital nutrients.
Relaxation and sleep are the vital lifestyle habits that can help pull our health into balance. One of my favorite tools for ensuring a restful, sound sleep is essential oils. They have been part of my nightly bedtime ritual for several years and they can help create instant calm with their wonderful aromas and calming qualities.
One thing that’s important to remember if you are new to essential oils is that oil quality is very important since anything we breathe, put on our skin, or ingest, all enters into our body. When it’s not pure we are adding toxins that only create more inflammation with the buildup of toxins over time. Please contact me if you’d like more information on how to obtain and use essential oils, I’d be happy to share my experiences and resources.
Here are a few of my favorite essential oil recipes that can be added to a diffuser in the bedroom at night, or you can put a drop of each on the bottom of your foot or the back of your neck. Remember, we are all unique so find the blend that works best for YOU!
My sleepy time favorites…
Recipe: 2 drops Lavender + 2 drops Vetiver rubbed gently on the bottom of each foot –or– put 2-3 drops of each in the diffuser and add water.
Diffuser Recipe: 2-4 drops Cedarwood + 2-4 drops Lavender in the diffuser, added to water
Lavender has been used for centuries for its wonderful, calming aroma and its ability to reduce tension*. Common applications are to diffuse it at bedtime for its calming effect, and also to apply a drop to the back of the neck to help reduce tension. A few drops can also be placed on the pillow or bedding or in a soothing bath to help promote a restful night’s sleep.
Cedarwood is another favorite for relaxation. With its woodsy aroma it can have a grounding effect, making it perfect to diffuse with Lavender after a more stressful day.
Vetiver is another essential oil with a unique, exotic scent that is known for its calming and grounding effects. It pairs perfectly with Lavender to create a diffuser blend or to rub a drop or two on the bottom of feet for promoting a restful sleep*.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product and/or statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or
prevent any disease and is not intended as a substitute for seeking medical advice from a healthcare practitioner.
