December 18, 2012
Welcome to the holiday season. If this sentence makes you cringe, you’re not alone.
A time that is supposed to help us feel more connected to others, to our loved ones, and even to God, can often wreak havoc with our stress levels and our immune systems.
Overeating, over-drinking, and just generally over-consuming, including thinking we need to buy gifts for everyone we know, can tip us over the edge.
Fa la la la la la la read on…….
Blessings to you for a peaceful season.
May all beings know love, Colleen
Your Modern Day Medicine Woman’s Holiday Survival Guide
*note: all products available at any health food store or natural pharmacy
EMOTIONAL CONCERNS
My number one recommendation: Let go of the need to be perfect. Just be yourself – just show up as the precious human that you are. That is enough. So much stress comes from feeling like we have to perform somehow, that we have to be perfect and put-together, baking dozens of homemade cookies to give away to impress people with how homey you are, when really, you just hate to bake! Only do it if you love to do it, not to impress people. I’m a big believer in showing people you care every day, not just because the calendar says its time. Stress can also come from being around people who don’t really know who you are, who you’ve grown up to be. That’s okay – you know who you are – just remember that, and do your best in these situations without letting yourself be squeezed into someone else’s idea of who you are. And before jumping out of bed in the morning or rushing to cross yet another thing off of your to-do list, take a few moments to just breathe and connect to yourself, and to the reason why you are doing all of this in the first place. Or maybe you don’t even know why you’re doing it! Find a reason in your heart. To connect to friends and family? To connect to your spirituality, however that looks? To acknowledge the transition back toward the light after months of long, dark nights?
To soothe frayed nerves and stress, try Rescue Remedy – a well known homeopathic product. It is a combination of flower essences, that is really easy to take (I prefer the little spray bottle over the dropper bottle for ease of use), and has no negative side effects or problematic interactions with medication. It is for when you need to be “rescued”, or for any stressful or emotional issue. Just spray it in your mouth a few times a day and you’ll be surprised at how it can take the edge off. It is subtly soothing and supportive. Don’t leave home without it! It’s also excellent for pets who may be experiencing these same issues. Just spray a bit in their drinking water.
Use Essential Oils – lavender, peppermint, bergamot, lemon, and orange are all wonderful for stress, anxiety, worry, and overwhelm. Just sniff straight from the bottle, diffuse throughout your home, or apply a drop or two to your wrists.
Try a Salt bath – to relax yourself and rinse off the stress of the day. Add a cup of Epsom salt or sea salt to hot water (and essential oils, if you’d like) and soak away.
Get Acupuncture – visit your friendly neighborhood acupuncturist for a tune-up and to remove any effects of stress on your body.
PHYSICAL CONCERNS
We all know we should eat well and avoid junk food, but its hard during the holiday season, isn’t it? So if you’re human, and you’ve overindulged, here are a few tips:
For general overeating, leading to bloating, gas, indigestion, etc., add in a digestive enzyme product – these are the substances that help to break down our food. Sometimes you need a little extra, and these can help (just ask for a general blend at the store). Take one with each meal. This is best done on a regular basis.
The Chinese herbal remedy called Curing Pills is a great option for over-eating and feeling bloated, if you can find it. Take as directed.
Also helpful for digestive distress are essential oils. A drop of lemon, orange, peppermint or ginger (all should be organic) in your water is lovely. Or try a cup of peppermint tea after dinner to help your digestion.
Probiotics (acidophilus products) – not a bad idea to start taking some now to keep things running smoothly. If you tend to get candida bloom from eating too much sugar, and you have indulged, try a yeast-clearing supplement. I like Yeast-Cleanse by Solaray. Just take it as directed for a few days and you should feel more balanced.
Hangover? Try lemon or grapefruit essential oils (again, organic). A drop or two in your drinking water will help. You can also add 4-5 drops to a warm bath, or dilute in some vegetable oil and rub over your liver/belly.
Speaking of essential oils, if you have a diffuser, you can create a nice, non-toxic holiday scent for your home by using cinnamon, orange, fir and peppermint – yum!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS – HAVE FUN!!
I came across this video on facebook recently and just loved it. I think sometimes we need to be reminded of the good things done by humanity. Get a kleenex before clicking the link. Seriously. Get one, and then get your heart warmed.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/moments-that-restored-our-faith-in-humanity-this-y
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