Beat Hoilday Stress

Beat the Holiday Stress!

The holidays are a busy time of year for most of us. It is also a very stressful time for some. It is not surprising that researchers have found a 5% increase in heart attacks around the holidays. Many factors play a role in why that is. In my opinion the best medicine is preventive medicine. That means getting regular physical exams including blood work, addressing pain when it starts (not 3 months later), exercise, healthy diet and finding effective ways to address stress.

Stress can come in many forms and has many side effects. Some people experience anxiety from stress, some depression,insomnia, fatigue, tension and pain weight gain or loss and the list goes on and on. Even with all the new technology to "make our lives easier" and all the medications, many still can't control their stress levels.

3 Things you should be doing on a daily basis (no excuses)!

1. Eating regular nutrient rich meals, whether that is 3 meals or 5 small meals a day. Eating in regular intervals will reduce the risk of a drop in blood sugar that can cause jitters, fatigue and headaches just to name a few. When in a rush eating at least a healthy snack such as orange slices, almonds or granola, is very important.

2. Exercise: This doesn't mean 2 hours at the gym everyday. I personally find 3-4 days of hard cardio are needed but on my "off" days I just aim for walking for 15 minutes or taking the stairs a few times a day. Exercise is good for our heart and blood circulation but more importantly it detoxifies our bodies and helps decrease stress hormones in the blood. Exercise is something you NEED to do for yourself.

3. Taking time for "Self Care"! Between work and all our daily chores we "have" to do, it doesn't leave much time for ourselves. Remember you are not as good of a wife/husband, mother/father, or employee if you are not taking care of yourself first. I hear people all the time saying I don't have enough time to exercise, meditate, cook, or whatever else their passion is because they are too busy doing everything else. Everyday take at least 15 minutes to do something you love. Life is too short to not enjoy it.

Lastly and most importantly remember what the Holidays are all about. Be grateful for all you have and have had in your life. Remember the great times you shared with loved ones that have passed away and rejoice in their memories. Spend time with family and friends and let them know how very much they mean to you. Celebrate your life, love and joy!

Meet Our New Massage Therapist!

Meet our new massage therapist Hayley LaFave!

 

Hayley is a certified massage therapist who is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association. She received her training and graduated from an 800 hour massage program at Lincoln Technical Institute in 2007 from which stemmed a broad array of career opportunities that have led her to work with iron men and professional athletes such as Shaun White. Her specialty is Deep Tissue, Trigger point, and Therapeutic massage. She approaches massage with a healing intention and works with her patients to achieve their relaxation while simultaneously improving their health. Hayley truly enjoys her work and it shows in her results.

"I believe the power of therapeutic touch with the right intention has the potential to holistically change lives. I have a deep respect for the body and the need to balance it as a whole. My will and passion for massage has allowed me to thrive and grow to become the therapist i am today."

 

December Whole Body Healing Newsletter

Please check out my December newsletter!

Suffering from allergies, asthma or bronchitis?

I have probably shared this great recipe before but its so simple and effective. Last week my husband came down with a horrible cold that went right to his lungs. Over the weekend I started to feel a little wheezy myself. This recipe is great for a dry throat and cough.

Chuan Bei Mu Baked Pears

Ingredients:

2 Asian Pears (you can use other varieties but make sure they are very ripe, you want plenty of juice.

2 TBSP of crushed chuan bei mu (Fritillaria Bulb) I live in Vermont so it might be hard to get this here but some Asian markets sell this. Also I am more than happy to send some to anyone that is interested if you pay for the shipping and cost of the herbs)

1 TBSP of honey.

Directions:

1. Cut pears in slices making sure to leave the pit and seeds out.

2. Sprinkle evenly the 2 tbsp of chuan bei mu over the pears

3. Pour the tbsp of honey over the pears

4. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until pears are soft.
( Don't over cook the more juice the better)



I think I overcooked this batch but they were still tasty! My husband and I ate them up. This is great for picky children who don't take herbs or medicine well.

If using for medicinal purposes I suggest 1 pear per day for 3-7 days.

Can Acupuncture or herbal medicine help with PMS?

Dear Elizabeth,

I am 28 years old and suffer from terrible PMS. I have very bad mood swings. One minute I am happy and the next I'm crying or angry. I also think my anxiety gets worse before my period. Is this something you work with?

Julie

Hi Julie,

Acupuncture works really well for all those symptoms. It also can help regulate your hormones so you don't continue to have all these symptoms in the future. Make sure you are exercising regularly especially around this time of the month. Exercise can really help with anxiety as well as the irritability/anger. One trick I like to use in my office along with acupuncture and Chinese herbs is a Castor oil pack over the liver. You can make one very easily. All you need is some Castor oil, a paper towel and a heating pad. Just put some of the Castor oil on the paper towel and place it over your liver. The liver is located on the right side just below your ribs. Then cover it with a heating pad. I use a bean bag that I put in the microwave to warm up. You may want to put a cloth or something in between the heating pad and Castor oil covered paper towel otherwise it can get a bit messy. I like to leave it on for about 10-15 minutes. A Castor oil pack is great for PMS symptoms, is relaxing and feels great. The liver in Chinese medicine is often thought of as the culprit for most PMS symptoms. Try it out and let me know how it goes!

To Health, Healing and Happiness,
Elizabeth

What supplements should I be taking?

Hello Everyone,

   I regularly get asked "What supplements should I be taking?". My first instinct is to say nothing as eating a healthy diet should provide you with all the nutrients that your body needs, however with today's food choices this is rarely the case. From mass farming the soils have become depleted and therefore our foods are lacking in the essential nutrients our bodies need, not to mention most Amercians don't eat a balance diet anyways. How many of you out there can honestly say you eat 4 servings of fruit (2 cups a day) and 5 servings of vegetables (2 1/2 cups a day)? I personally would argue that the fruit and vegetables should really be organic and fresh, not frozen or canned. Therefore when people ask me what supplements should they take, I answer:

"Everyone is different and has individual needs, this is what I take and love."

1. Vitamin D: A natural source of vitamin D is the sun. However with skin cancer on the rise and living in New England, we can go days without sunshine. A base level of Vitamin D is about 2000iu. I personally take quite a bit more in the winter because I have found this supplement to be very helpful in dealing with my asthma. It decreases inflammation within the body. Inflammation in the body can effect asthma, allergies, arthritis and most autoimmune disorders just to name a few. I personally use a liquid vitamin D as I feel it is absorbed into our body faster and more effectively.

2. Calcium/Magnesium: Relaxes the smooth muscles and helps keep our bones strong. I love my powder calcium/magnesium supplement it has a very nice calming effect that is great before bed or a stressful day. I take a powder because I can mix it into any kind of drink or smoothie and know it is easily getting absorbed. If you have tight muscles, respiratory disease or have reached menopause this supplement is important for you.

3. Green supplements preferably one that has some probiotics in them. I love geens but rarely get enough of them. Chlorophyll within green plants can easily be transformed into red blood cells. Also by adding the probiotics to it you get the added benefit of a healthy gut! A healthy gut means less allergies, Candida infections and overall better immunity, just to name a few of the benefits.

I do take other supplements as needed and depending on what is going on in my life. I love supplements but the most important piece of all is taking a good quality supplement because otherwise its just going to come out in the toilet! Please don't buy Walmart brand supplements and expect to see and feel results. You have to take a quality vitamin that can easily be digested and absorbed by the body. In my office I use Food Science of Vermont brand. It's a local company here in Vermont that provides a large variety of supplements at a reasonable price. To learn more please visit my website: http://wholebodyhealingvermont.com/page/nutritional-supplements/ .

To Health, Healing and Happiness!
Elizabeth

Are you willing to try this for 1 week?

Once a day (first thing in the morning is always a good start to the day), say to yourself;
"I am healthy"
"I am happy"
"I am loved"
"I love myself."

If you are brave enough, say them out loud to yourself while looking into a mirror. I still mostly say this affirmation every morning quietly to myself and if I remember before I go to bed. It may seem silly to you at first and even as I write this I feel a bit unsure for suggesting it. Just try it for a week.

I want these things for you, health, happiness and love, so if suggesting it brings more of them into your life then it also brings more into mine.

To health, healing and happiness,
Elizabeth

PS. If you want more information on affirmations a great source is Louise Hay. Some of her books can easily be found on the side bar of this blog through amazon.