You are the light you seek. That light you look to for guidance is actually YOU.

Guide me little lantern
help me find my way,
I know that things are over
it's the start of a new day.

Guide me little lantern
although you may be small,
Your words have meant so much to me
whilst walking through it all.

Guide me little lantern
you always seem to know,
The path I should be taking
and just how far to go.

Guide me little lantern
your light is always bright,
I can always see you glowing
through daytime and at night.

Some people call you angel
Some people call you guide
Some prefer to call you god
or spirit from the other side

But I don't believe you're separate
that you're not a part of me
that lantern burning bright again
is the light inside of me.

The healing benefits of Tea. Everything can be made better with a cuppa

The healing benefits of Tea have been long documented. It has been used for centuries around the world, but it is only within the last few years that Tea has been what they might term, Fashionable. Due to the advance in international produce available and the effects of researching for natural alternatives, Tea has become the go-to for many things now. And I for one, will sing its praises.

Green Tea, in my opinion, is my go-to throughout the day. It can provide the 'pick you up' that you may need from an espresso or a Starbucks Latte, but is gentler and much more healthier ! Whilst Green Tea has caffeine that can provide the surge in energy, it doesn't provide the 'slump' afterwards that you will get from a full fat, sugar loaded coffee.
It is high in Antioxidants, making it healthier than regular teas and can actually help to encourage cell growth. This doesn't mean you can feast on McDonalds but soak in the virtue of "I'm a green Tea drinker". But it does mean that it will help to mop up free radicals in your blood and it can help reduce bad cholesterol to boot. Green Tea can help give you beautiful skin and hair due to its present amount of Epigallocatechin. (Yes, I looked this one up... ). It acts as an anti ageing ingredient, can stimulate hair growth but can actually supress the growth of cancerous cells in the body.
With so many different flavours to try on the market today, it would be rude not to !!

Chamomile is my evening treat ! (See above picture). Out comes the teapot and a book, and away goes all of the stresses of a long tiring day. I use Chamomile essential oil a lot for clients who are stressed or anxious as it promotes relaxation and helps to bring peace and calm to the mind. So with that said, why wouldn't I sit down with a Cham Tea after a long day ?
Chamomile is a fantastic relaxant and can help soothe tense muscles, particular in the cause of migraines and headaches, and also with IBS symptoms. Chamomile can help soothe the gut and the bowel and ease cramps that are particularly nasty (I know as this is a condition which I live with and treat accordingly on a daily basis). Chamomile tea is a great aid for digestion, and I have used very weak blends of it to help soothe the colicky pain that my one year old has suffered in the past. Chamomile tea is also known to help the immune system fight infections and reduce inflammation, so is great if you have a cold rearing its ugly head. Use alongside the advice given in previous post regarding colds, sinuses etc. I have used this tea regularly for years to help with tensions and strains of everyday life, and it is my first port of call should I need to relax and de-stress, particularly before bedtime.

Peppermint tea is another strong contender in the fight against my IBS. Some days are just very uncomfortable, and no 'loose clothes', exercise (although that helps) or suggestion seems to help as well as this tea. Peppermint helps to combat indigestion and ease pain associated with bloating, constipation and gas, but can also help quell the feeling of nausea. It is a natural anti inflammatory so can help with Rheumatism and associated conditions too.  It was one of my main products in the fight against morning sickness (along with ginger tea), and helped to keep me hydrated as well as keeping sickness at bay for a while. Peppermint can help to suppress the appetite, but if you are anything like me, a Belgian bun is a Belgian bun, no matter how much tea you drink. But like everything, moderation is key.
It can help with Halitosis (bad breath), which is why chewing gum uses this oil a lot ! Peppermint is cooling, and is a great tea to use in summer if you cannot do without a cuppa. It increases perspiration so helps to have a cooling effect on the body in the summer heat. Cool peppermint tea can be applied with a cotton pad as a natural toner for the skin, as it helps to remove blackheads and eases greasy skin.

There are so many teas to talk about, but these are my main loves in the tea world. Don't get me wrong my cupboard os full of different types and I enjoy tasting them all, but if I need a pick me up, a calming one or one to help with IBS pain these are my main three of choice. Enjoy !! I may update on further posts with benefits of others I use.

The dreaded cold season

My little one and I have recently been hit with the dreaded cold/flu that hits around 3 times a year. As a holistic therapist I try to not use medication if possible and treat the symptoms all naturally. A lot of people will automatically reach for painkillers and anti inflammatories, and that is ok every once in a while if you feel really ill. But when you do this every time you have a headache it can be doing more harm than good. I often get a lot of sinus pain and blockage and so I will run through what I use to treat all these symptoms naturally.

Cold- The best thing to do is to do a steam inhalation, twice a day if possible. Add 2 drops of Eucalyptus oil into a bowl of steaming hot water. Hover your head over the steam and cover your head with a towel- for as long as possible. Try and breathe through your nose if possible. This will also help to clear the lungs and any chestiness that may have developed through the cold symptoms. A lot of people believe that the feeling they get in the nose is all the congestion caused by mucus. In fact it isn't, the feeling is caused by the swollen blood vessels in the nose. A natural anti inflammatory is garlic, ginger and onions. So Increase your intake of these and the cold may pass quicker. Make a spaghetti bolognaise and abundantly add all these ingredients ! Some people I know {not that I am suggesting you do this!) will eat a raw onion at the slight feeling of a cold.

Sore throat- Gargle 3 x daily with Himalayan Rock Salted Water. Salt is a natural anti septic and will help reduce the bacteria in the throat. Follow with a warm water, lemon juice and Manuka honey drink to help soothe the throat. Manuka honey is also anti bacterial as well as soothing and will help ease the pain.
Throughout the day take small amounts of coconut oil to help soothe when needed- but be warned coconut oil is calorific so not too much ! Little and often folks.

Sinus Pain- I have this regularly and it can be very very painful. I find the thing that helps the most is the steam inhalation. I add a few drops of Eucalyptus and peppermint to boiling water and steam as above. Once I have finished seaming I add a cold compress to the facial areas in most pain- usually forehead and cheeks. You can use a cold flannel if you have one....I use a muslin cloth usually soaked in Tea Tree oil (as this will help my congested skin at the same time). You can do this process as often as you like- the hot and cold treatments will help restrict the blood flow to these areas so it is less painful. I also use an old method to help drain the sinuses if they are really bad. stick in tongue on the roof of your mouth and press upwards. At the same time press quite firmly with 2 fingers in between the eyebrows and hold for 20seconds- this helps to drain the sinuses. After around 30 minutes I will use some coconut oil mixed with either Eucalyptus or Tea Tree and will massage the areas in most pain. (I usually use fingers to press pressure points around these areas too).

Also taking an Echinacea supplement may help the cold/flu symptoms disappear quicker as it encourages a healthy immune system. As with any illness, a healthy immune system to begin with will increase the chances of the symptoms disappearing sooner- so if you can practice a healthy lifestyle by increasing veg and fruit in your diet, plenty of protein and water for cell repair and carbohydrates for energy. A balanced diet can work wonders and can help ward off these illnesses that may be appearing more often than you like. Take a decent vitamin and mineral supplement and try to do some exercise daily, outside if possible to help keep your vitamin D level up.

Stress is also a game changer when it comes to health. Stress can put unnecessary pressure on every organ and process in the human body- so if you are stressed there are less resources available to the body to help build an immune response to illnesses. This is why when people have a large stressful event happening they suffer with colds/flu/digestive problems/arthritis etc. It is because the body has less resources to give because it is dealing with the stress. I will be completing a separate blog post on stress soon so keep a look out.

Living Holistically

On Saturday I met with a friend I hadn't seen for a long while... when I told her I was 'living holistically' now she asked 'well what does that mean?'.
Good question. Although I live and breathe for health and fitness  (even though I don't always reflect that), I still had to stop and think a response.
Well here goes....
I now try and live as close as to our natural selves as possible. We were never designed to eat all the rubbish that we do, or smoke or drink alcohol/take drugs the way some people do. I intend to eat more fruit and veg, lean meats and whole grains.... milk is still on the agenda but we were never designed to drink as much as we do ! I use all natural products that contain no nasties (this includes toothpaste, shampoo and soaps) and drink a lot more water and herbal tea. Our culture is defined by illnesses that are caused by stress, the environment, fatty fooda, cigarettes and general nastiness man made. So im going back to the way we were ! Im utilising the fact that we have evolved to live in a home and have medicines (if really needed), but trying to be as close to 'natural' as possible.
And this all helps with Reiki too.. living holistically will help me embrace the 'soul' and energy I really am. And that's going further back to me than any diet could get me !

back to basics

 Last week I was completing a garden for someone when I pulled my back quite badly. The human mind told me she was annoyed, frustrated even... "why now?". But the reiki told me to stop and listen to what my body was trying to say. It was my back... Firstly that means it concerns ME. who am I ? What do I want from life ?
Next day i awoke with sudden dizziness and ear problems.... a confirmation that I wasn't listening to my body. It was to confirm that the back was sending a message, and I hadn't listened.
So. Who am I ? Well that I do not know. But I look forward to finding out.
What do I want from life ? Well... a lot more. I want to live more holistically. I want to be smaller in size... I feel that as a being I have become lighter, but my heavier body is holding me 'back'  a little. I am doing a lot more physically in terms of healing... but to help others I need to help myself. And to do that I need to be a lot more healthier both physically and energetically. I need to self heal with Reiki and just take care of myself. And energetically if I am able to heal people, they will be drawn to an aura that is healthier !
So next time you have a physical issue... stop and think what your body is trying to tell you. Metaphysically a physical problem is the last stage of an issue that has manifested in your energy field quite some time before.

Oil Pulling

One thing I have tried recently is Oil Pulling. The theory behind it is that toxins and bacteria that is found in the mouth, if not removed, will enter your system and toxify your immune system. Oil pulling involves swishing a tablespoon of cold pressed non refined oil (i use coconut) around your mouth. Push the oil through your teeth and use the tongue to move it all over the areas of the mouth and tongue... but dont swallow the oil. After around 5-10 minutes spit out the oil (and the harboured bacteria).. and use a flouride free toothpaste to clean your mouth. It can take a few weeks to see the effects of extra energy and vibrancy, and whiter teeth... but I'm told to keep at it !! Ive only been doing it for a week, watch this space !

Reiki is NOT just channeling energy !

If there is one thing I have learnt since being attuned at level 2, Reiki is not just about channelling energy. For those people that think Level 2 is just about being able to practice and earn money, well that may be perfect for them, but for me it is much much more.
Reiki is about living with the principles that were given Usui Mikao. It is about embracing the lifestyle and living as though you ARE the energy that you are channelling. It has only been in this last week of being attuned to level 2 that I have realised this. Its not another holistic therapy under my belt, it's a new, much more promising way of life.
There are a few things that I have to put into practice a LOT more. Although everything in a given moment is perfect, and just right for you, this doesn't mean that you sit back and allow Reiki to do things for you. You still have to take a lead on your life and make the changes, but just allow Reiki to guide you and assist you. I read once that it doesn't matter who you go to for therapy, medicine, cures, YOU are the only one that is actually healing yourself. Your wonderful human physical body is the one that is healing... and Reiki assists. More posts to follow on Reiki..... especially regarding Metaphysical healing. But right now I feel enlightened regarding a new way of life that is about to take place for me.