The Benefits of Lemon Water

One thing that I do every morning, 30 minutes before I eat breakfast, is to drink a pot of hot water with half a lemon's juice squeezed in. Its important to dilute the lemon due to the acidity of the juice, and the implications this could have on your teeth, not to mention you may have a tummy ache for a while afterwards. Lemons are packed with Vitamin C, Iron, Magnesium, Calcium and B complex Vitamins; all necessary and vital to a healthy, and optimum immune system, digestive system, blood flow, and brain health.
So what are the benefits to this habit ? Well, there are quite a few...
1. It reduces Inflammation in the body- despite lemon juice being acidic, drinking lemon water can actually reduce the acidity level in the human body. If the body is in an acidic state then there is an increased risk of disease and illness- The lemon water removes Uric Acid in joints, which is the main cause of inflammation.
2. It aids digestion- It loosens toxins in the digestive tract and helps to remove these from the body. It can also help with heartburn and bloating as it can decrease the time that food is digested and moved through the bowels.
3. It helps people to lose weight- Lemon contains Pectin- a fibre that can help to reduce hunger cravings and helps the body to feel full.
4. It helps to remove blemishes from the face and clears skin- Lemon contains Antioxidants that help 'mop up' free radicals that are produced during the breakdown on chemical laden food and products.
5. Immune system boost- due to the Vitamin C that lemon contains.
6. A good source of Potassium- this is a Micronutrient that is vital for heart health, brain and nerve function.
7. Freshens breath- It can also relieve toothache. Lemon is Antibacterial so can help to kill all those nasties that can lead to poor smelling breath. Can help with Gingivitis too- an inflammation of the gums.
8. It gives an energy boost- The Essential oil of Lemon (not to be consumed orally and should only be used on advice of a qualified therapist), is a superb oil for lifting the spirits, clearing away negative energies and boosting the vitality of s client- the smell of fresh lemons in a morning definitely gives that boost too.
9. It helps to fight viral infections- If ever I have a sore throat Lemon and Manuka honey are my go to saviours !! They are both anti bacterial and will help to soothe the harshness of a sore, inflamed throat.
10. It cleanses the system from top to toe, flushes toxins, stimulates the liver and enhances enzymatic function (the chemical processes that are happening every second in your body to allow you to move, talk, digest food, even breathe!)

There are other ways to use Lemon water- if you decide that one cup is enough, you can put the rest to good use. Add the lemon water to a small spray bottle and use to banish the odours from carpets, sofas and curtains... check t a small amount on a piece of unseen fabric first as the lemon may discolour the material.
Also the lemon water can be added to an equal part of Apple Cider Vinegar to help cut through grease in the kitchen and clean windows !! For example 60ml lemon water with 60ml Apple Cider Vinegar.

It really is a great Holistic, natural way to start the day... and If you are a caffeine addict, after a few days this could change your life completely. It did take a few days to get used to not starting the day with a cup of English tea, but after doing this for so long its now part of a great holistic routine that I follow. It helps wake me up and starts my system firing on all cylinders. I drink a pot full (see picture above) around 30 minutes before breakfast, as it is better to start on an empty stomach so it can be digested and flushed through the system fully. Be careful not to brush your teeth straight away as the acidity in the lemon will help to remove tooth enamel if you brush too quickly afterwards. I usually drink the lemon water, have breakfast, then follow with the Oil pulling and tooth care routine. Give it a go, see what you think !!

Stand still and breeaatthhheee

When life all seems a little too much, a lot of the time people can literally forget to breathe. Its a physiological response to react to stressors in a certain way... either to fight or flight. Either way the Autonomic nervous system produces enough adrenaline for you to act appropriately (either fight a threat or run from it). However this automatic response will occur during any stressful event or situation which a lot of the time would be inappropriate to fight or flight.. and just being aware of why you may feel a certain way.. tense, pent up, breathless, hot. All effects of the adrenaline. But one thing you can do to help is STOP AND BREATHE. Stand or sit for 5 mins and juat take a few breaths.. tell yourself that there is no threat. The response is real, but you are overriding it as you dont need the adrenaline. Concentrate on the breathing.. notice how it slows and becomes deeper... do for as long as you can... but 5 minutes can make all the difference.

Only You

Who can change the way you feel
Stop you feeling blue,
Make you believe in yourself again
My darling, Only You.

Who can stop all those running thoughts,
That aren't even true
The ones that tell you you're not good enough
My darling, only you.

Who can treat you the way you want
Who can show the truth
Who can set a good example
My darling, only you.

Who can comfort you from within
Like no hug can never do,
Who can tell you to stand up again
My darling, only you.

When things have changed and you don't know why
When you wonder what to do
someone has the answers inside,
My darling, only you.

When all those have been and gone
The ones you expected to be true
There's always someone to bring you back
My darling, only you.

When family wains and friends are faint
When relationships are through,
You will never be alone my love
because you will always have you.

Tibetan singing bowl

Many of you may look at this and wonder what it is. That's OK. Its a little hidden gem that isn't widely used enough by the modern population. This Tibetan singing bowl can help in many ways, and ways that you may not have even thought about. These have been used for centuries as part of healing and meditations and they can create a range of sounds; which helps to restore the normal vibrational frequencies of sick, diseased and unbalanced parts of the body and mind. The idea is to stroke the wooden striker around the rim of the bowl until in hums/sings. The vibration that this creates can clear a room of stagnant and negative energy, and I use these sometimes at the beginning and end of treatments.
The wooden striker can also be tapped gently against the side to create a bell type sound. I usually walk the length of the client tapping gently at each chakra, and noticing any differences there may be in the sound/vibration. This way, before I even begin Reiki I will have an idea of which chakras may be unbalanced.
The Tibetan Singing Bowl is used as a form of energy medicine, closely connected to that of Reiki. However the sound waves produced entrain the brain waves to synchronise with the sounds, and the vibrations allow the body to feel rather than just hear. It deeply touches and transforms cells on a physical, spiritual and emotional level.
All matter is vibrating energy. The structure of a material (wood, water, human beings) all depends on how fast the vibrations are moving. Altering the state of vibration, alters the state of the matter. This is the same principle as working with Reiki, all energy is vibrational, and that energy that is being sourced and given to a client (or yourself) is lifting the energies and vibrations of your physical body; therefore increasing the resonance of it being similar (energy wise) to your soul/energy self. The Tibetan Singing Bowl is a fabulous tool to use in treatments as it gives the clients something to focus on at the beginning and end of a session, and the difference in sound can be incredible, so the clients leave knowing there has been some change. It is a great precursor to sleep too- I have found it useful during bouts of sleeplessness to help me drift off and also improve the quality of the sleep. The brain moves to Theta waves when it is hearing the sound made, and these are what the brain prodcues when they are in deep meditative and peaceful states. This in turn impacts the nervous system and helps the body to relax. I also have a playlist of Tibetan bowl music on my phone for when it isn't too appropriate to get a bowl out... and that is just as effective. So if you would like to try and use the Singing Bowl sounds to enhance your life, maybe try some music first. But I love how pretty mine is, and its invaluable during treatments.

Hero

Im currently reading "Hero" by Rhonda Byrne. If you're having one of those moments where you think all that you ever dreamed of will never come true, these snippets of inspirations from several succesful souls can definately lift the spirits. It shows how you can do what you want, however 'out there' or far away it seems, with a bit of willpower and never losing sight of that dream. My dream has always been to start a succesful businesa is health and therapies... whilst Ive already done that, I would love to take it further. More clients, getting the message out to more people about living holistically and training in more therapies. Time to put things into motion. Its def worth a read !!

Hero

Im currently reading "Hero" by Rhonda Byrne. If you're having one of those moments where you think all that you ever dreamed of will never come true, these snippets of inspirations from several succesful souls can definately lift the spirits. It shows how you can do what you want, however 'out there' or far away it seems, with a bit of willpower and never losing sight of that dream. My dream has always been to start a succesful businesa is health and therapies... whilst Ive already done that, I would love to take it further. More clients, getting the message out to more people about living holistically and training in more therapies. Time to put things into motion. Its def worth a read !!

Apple 'Cider' Vinegar is my only booze

This is one of my go to products for everything, a little bit like Coconut Oil. I use a dash of ACV in rose water as a toner for my face and also as a hair rinse after shampooing.. the shine it gives is amazing !
The dog has also been rinsed this way to improve her coat and act as flea repellent...
I use it mixed with water as a degreaser in the kitchen.. and it helps to remove the burnt on stains left on cooking pots.
I gargle with it if I have a sore throat and soaking in a bath is a great cleanser after a long day !
ACV is relatively cheap and can be used in so many ways... and is a lot healthier and gentle than the harsh, abrasive cleaners and products out there !