Inspiration for Fruitful, Juicy Living
I was raised by the song
Of the murmuring grove
And loving I learned
Among Flowers.
- Friedrich Holderlin
The sacred tree, the sacred stone are not adored as stone or tree;
they are worshipped precisely because they are hierophanies,
because they show something that is no longer stone or tree but sacred,
the ganz andere or 'wholly other.'
- Mircea Eliade, Myths, Dreams and Mysteries
St. Theresa's Prayer
May
today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly
where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite
possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you
have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you
be content knowing you are a child of God.... Let this presence settle
into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance,
praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.
GOLDEN SLUMBERS
Restful sleep is important to our good health. Our bodies need time to rest and repair and our minds and spirits need the rejuventation available from dreamtime.
Insomnia can be either difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Causes of sleep-onset (difficulty falling asleep) insomnia can be: anxiety, environmental change or disruptive environment, stirred up emotions, fear of sleep, pain, caffeine, alcohol. Sleep-maintenance (difficulty staying asleep) insomnia may be caused by: depression, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, hypoglycemia, environmental change, pain, drugs, alcohol, health conditions that cause you to wake (eg. for frequent urination).
Lifestyle changes can help you with either of these forms of sleep disruption. Learning relaxation techniques and reducing stress can enable your body and mind to get into a state conducive to sleep. Coming up with a personalized, relaxing bedtime routine and sticking to it programs you to get ready for sleep as you perform those actions. For instance, taking a bath, reading something comforting, then doing some deep breathing as you lie in bed would be a simple routine. Avoid substances known to inhibit sleep like caffeine, tobacco or alcohol. Eat protein/complex carbohydrates at night to avoid waking up hungry in the middle of the night. Eating a big meal too late in the evening can inhibit sleep. Avoid mental or emotional stimulation, such as TV, too late into the evening. Exercise outdoors. Moms have observed how children have better appetites and sleep better when they get outside to play. Eat a whole foods diet and especially nourish the nervous system. Increase foods that are high in B vitamins such as nutritional yeast, whole grains, organ meats and eggs.
Herbs are useful allies that promote proper nervous system function and relaxation. You can use tea, infusion, decoction, tincture, glycerite or capsules. Dose will depend on the form of herb, the herb used and your body weight and metabolism. Follow instructions from the company or your herbalist. Here are a few of my favorites. I recommend them as warm infusions (Steep herb for 2 hours at least, strain, rewarm to drink) as part of your bedtime routine (unless the drinking later in the evening is going to get you up to the bathroom later). You could then drink it earlier or use tincture or other preparations.
Oats (Avena sativa) have a mild sweet taste. Use the milky tops/seeds. It is nourishing to the nervous system because of its high mineral content. This herb is also suitable for children.
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) leaves and flowers is also a soothing and nourishing nervine used for treating all sorts of nervous disorders. It relieves tension and is moderately sedating and pain relieving.
Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata) is another well known remedy for insomnia. It combines well with Valerian (Valeriana officinalis). Its beautiful flowers do look to me like an overactive, stressed out nervous sytem.
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is mildly sedating and also relieves cramps.
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) helps digestion and is calming. Nice in a bath. Use this one at tea strength as it becomes bitter with longer steeping.
Lavender (Lavendula officianlis and other species) has a reputation for relieving stress, being antidepressant and sedative. A little sprinkle in tea is enough. Include it in sleep pillows or use the essential oil in a bath or massage oil.
You can make a sleep pillow with the herbs listed above (go easy on the valerian or leave it out) or make an infusion to add to your bath water.
These herbs and lifestyle suggestions should definitely help with occasional insomnia. They will also help with more longstanding problems but you may need the assistance of a health professional as well.
Here’s wishing you uninterrupted slumbers and sweet dreams!
BABIES AND KIDS
Did you know that fever is a good sign that the body’s defenses are working properly? It is the body’s way of ridding itself of invaders. By raising your temperature it is harder for bacteria and viruses to reproduce, production of immune system components is speeded up as is elimination of waste products and toxins from the microbes. It is important NOT to suppress this mechanism with drugs like aspirin or acetaminophen (hurts the liver as well).
Herbs work by helping the body do what it is trying to do.
A good tea from a Rosemary Gladstar recipe:
2 parts catnip
2 parts elder blossoms
1 part peppermint
1 part echinacea root
Mix herbs and store in an airtight container. Use 1 teaspoon per 1 cup of boiling water. Steep for 1 hour. Take every half hour.
Fevers are usually not dangerous and respond well to herbal treatment. Danger signs would be if the temperature is 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher and does not respond to treatment, the child acts confused and loses consciousness, has rolling of the eyes or body twitching or the fever is accompanied by headache and stiff neck. Then a healthcare practitioner should be consulted.
After your child recovers from an illness be sure to give time for convalescence. Taking an extra day home from school to recuperate helps prevent relapses or secondary infections.
A good book for those of you questioning whether or not to vaccinate your children is “Vaccinations- A Thoughtful Parents' Guide” by Aviva Romm. It provides a balanced, well researched, wholistic overview of the subject.
CANDLES
Beeswax candles with all cotton wicks are healthier to use than paraffin wax ones. If you think about it, paraffin is a petroleum product. As we burn the candle we are breathing in the soot and chemicals (some of them carcinogenic) that are released. Probably not too good for us. Some commercial candle wicking contains a lead core. Obviously not too healthy either.
Beeswax candles emit negative ions to help cleanse the air of allergens and toxins in the air. They have a long burning time and smell delicious. People with asthma can tolerate these candles quite well.
Beeswax facts: Beeswax is produced by bees under 14 days old. They must consume 8-10 pounds of honey to produce 1 pound of beeswax. Thanks to the bees!