Blue Moon

It is a rare blue moon tonight ! Its called this because of the additional moon we are getting in the month of July this year, its an extra. Where a year normally has 12 moons, this year we are being treated to 13. And its where the saying originated, 'Once in a Blue Moon'.
So just think, tonight, a Moonbow may be happening somewhere out there.
Although its not a rare celestial event, it wont happen again until January 2018. So get out there and take a look. My crystals are cleansed and waiting to be charged by the beautiful beam of light that radiates from our gorgeous satellite.
A piece about the magic of the Moon and its myths will appear on here shortly. And hopefully I will be able to get a good picture of the Blue Moon tonight to accompany it.

Salt of the Earth

I have been asked a few times recently what personal cleaning products I use. As I have become more holistic in my every day living I have made the transition one product at a time- and to be honest I make a lot of my own products now as there are so many added toxins and down right poison added to things these days. The recipes and pictures of these are to follow shortly. But one thing I have used for a few years now, and absolutely love, is Himalayan Rock Salt. Its versatility and ability to make you FEEL clean is invaluable. But there is so much more to this, what people would refer to as a table condiment.

HRS is mined from the Himalayan mountain range and was formed hundreds of millions of years ago due to sea beds being covered with Lava. This Lava and snow and ice that cover it all year round mean that it is the purest form of salt to be found on the Earth, owing to the fact that it is protected by modern day pollution. So why is it so good for us ?

* It is Rich in Iodine
* There are 84 minerals found in HRS, there are only 96 trace elements in the human body so this can replenish a lot of the minerals needed by us
* it is 85% sodium chloride and the rest are made up of these elements such as sulphate, magnesium, calcium and potassium
Because of these minerals, the salt can help to balance electrolytes and regulate water in and out of cells. It can also help to balance PH levels, increase hydration, lower blood pressure and improve circulation. That's a lot of power for something we could have switched over to years ago.

So how can you use HRS ? Well it comes in different forms, so the answer to that is quite a few. The rock salt found in a supermarket can be used for cooking, substituting table salt that has been bleached and chemically refined and cleaned which strips its minerals during the process. Table salt has anti caking agents added so that it doesn't clog in the containers and these prevent the salt from dissolving in our own systems, encouraging a build up in organs and tissues. Iodine is added back into the chemically refined structure and this is hard for the body to process.

The rock salt can also be used to cleanse and purify crystals, adding them for at least an hour. it draws out the negative energies and dissipates them. Also rock salt can be used to make a purifying body scrub... add a few crushed rocks to castile oil and rub gently on the area. Some sensitive skins my be irritated, so take care with this. Add a handful of these rock salts to a bath f warm water and a few drops of essential oil for a fabulous muscle soak and de-stresser.

However the best way to wash with salt is by using a HRS soap bar. This is literally a bar of salt looking similar to soap. Rub the bar between your hands and gently wipe the salt over your body and allow to dry.. it doesn't lather and it doesn't smell so you may feel like nothing is happening. But this salt is anti bacterial so can remove germs better than any wash, it softens skin by gently exfoliating and binds water with the protective layer of skin so it does not dry out. It strengthens the skins structure and stimulates circulation. It may initially worsen some inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, but as in other healing treatments this is a healing reaction and shows signs that the toxins are leaving the system. you must allow time for the skin to regenerate. This salt bar can also be used as a deodorant. YES A DEODRANT. Apply to damp arm pits and rub gently as if applying a roll on. It is a fantastic anti bacterial and will kill any germs that may cause sweat to smell. I have used for a while and it is bar far the best natural deodorant I have used. But I actually use a salt deodorant stick that can be found in good health stores.

The other way that HRS can be incorporated into your daily routine is a Salt Lamp. These purify the air and bind the positive ions in the air with negative ones, neutralising a positively charged atmosphere. A TV/computer monitor radiates at 100-160hertz, whereas the brain waves are around 8hertz, meaning that the body is subjected to over 20 times the recommended amount. This can cause nervousness, insomnia and a lack of concentration, but the salt lamp can help to absorb these positive ions being pumped into the atmosphere.  A salt lamp placed by a TV will change the energy of a room, literally !!
So all in all, why on earth have you not got any ? It is invaluable in the home and I have used it for many years as a throat gargle for when my Tonsils would flare up. It is one of the best natural anti bacterial products you can find, and is much gentler and natural than using toxin laden products such as deodorants and bath foams. Seriously, get buying !

Climb ANOTHER mountain

 One thing I have learnt about myself recently is that I really enjoy being back in natural surroundings. My quest to live more holistically has finally become a reality. See blogs shortly for home made products that I have substituted for my regular routine products and their effectiveness. I climbed Snowdon not long ago, and I enjoyed every second. I really felt like I was meant to be there. That I was part of something bigger. And I was. We all are. Those rocks that make the mountain are made from the same energy, it just vibrates and oscillates slower. But it is ALIVE.
I also had the opportunity to make a great new soul mate. We had been friends since the last climb, but I really feel we connected on this trip. I believe we are meant to do things, that our energy guides us to take steps we may never have done. And Reiki encouraged me to attempt the second mountain of the year. And I'm very glad I did.

Sleeping like a baby.... not mine !!

I have a 15 month old little boy that was born with a few health issues. I have often used my holistic therapy background with him to help alleviate his pain and his health in general. But this time the regular massage with aromatherapy oils just wasnt cutting it. At all.
Harry is chronically overtired. He's hyper, tempramental, demanding and just down right hard work most days. He was tube fed so getting him to eat and drink a little has been a miracle. But a few weeks ago every thing just got a whole lot worse  (i thought it couldn't be worse than it was!). he refused sleep, food and drink.
I massaged using lavender and chamomile and gave regular reiki. Alas, no.
I decided to tape 2 pieces of amethyst quartz to the bars underneath his cot, so he cant reach them. Amethyst is the best for all sleep problems and any reason why sleep may not be happening. I also got harry into a routine of going to his room/in the bath with no light on an hour before bed. We need a hormone called melatonin to be released so we sleep. If you are put in a dark environment, it gets released and helps to reduce the amount of cortisol in the system. So far its worked a lot more than anything else... although its not great, he will now relax a bit easier and doesnt always need rocking to sleep. So im hoping we have a good combination at the moment.now just have to carry on until it becomes routine.

Put in his dark room at 6:30pm
Bath at 7pm in the dark. 3 drops of lavender
Massage with a drop of chamomile in coconut oil
In his cot at 7:30pm latest... amethyst taped underneath.

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.