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ayurveda, blissful living, health and wellness, healthy eating, healthy living, stress reduction, Uncategorized

Healthy Ways to Stop Headache Pain

Did you know that almost a fifth of the people presenting to the emergency department go there for headache pain and for women between the ages of 18 to 44, I jumps to a third of the visits. Wow when I read this it was mind boggling to me.  You see severe headaches and migraines can leave you in agony, but even mild headaches can be painful enough to negatively affect your life. And stress, hormones and life can play a major part in bringing a headache on.

Instead of focusing on the headache pain and causes, I am going to focus on natural treatments for your headache pain.

The first remedy that I would like to talk about is the Boswellia tree. This ancient tree contains a resin that has potent anti-inflammatory properties. This tree resin has been included in studies treating people with cluster headaches, which occurred over the course of weeks, month, or even years. Cluster headaches are so intense that they have often been called the “suicide headaches.” The wonderful thing is that the Boswellia tree resin has been shown to provide long –lasting pain relief and has also been shown to decrease the intensity and frequency of these headaches.

Next there’s Butterbur. This is a perennial shrub and has been used to treat pain relief and headache prevention. This beauty has been shown to prevent migraine headaches, in clinical research studies. Butterbur taken twice per day has been shown to decrease the frequency of migraine headaches.  Please note that some Butterbur contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which may cause liver damage, so be careful when selecting your supplement to ensure you get a supplement that’s free of these harmful compounds.

Lastly, I want to share this goody for decreasing headache pain and you are going to flip when you find out. Ready? Well it is the good old vitamin B complex. B vitamins have become a popular treatment for the reduction or the severity of migraines and headaches. B vitamins contain riboflavin that has been deemed effective for the prevention of migraines. In addition vitamin B-6 has been shown to decrease headaches associates with the menstrual cycle.  Vitamin B-6 may even help decrease headaches associated with oral contraceptives.

All of these are available as supplements at your natural health stores. It is always suggested that you check with your healthcare provider for the correct dosage to take for you.

Wishing you peace, wellness and tranquility!

 

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

Host of Blissful Living Show

www.rochelelawson.com

www.healthhealingwellness.com

www.blissful-living.net

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ayurveda, blissful living, health and wellness, healthy eating, healthy living, stress reduction, Uncategorized

Blissful Ways to Cultivate Calm

We live in a society that is constantly on the go. Do you ever feel like your life is just passing you by and there is nothing that you can do to slow it down? Ayurveda teaches the practice of being mindful with what you do and how you live your life. Living a balanced, mindful and calm life can lead to health, well-being, longevity, vitality and Bliss.  Living a balanced life involves being mindful of what you do in your day-to-day life. It is this mindfulness that leads to cultivating calm in the mind and the body.

Mindfulness is the practice of living in the present, paying attention and accepting your life without judgment. Practicing mindfulness can help you become less stressed, improve your memory and attention and enhance your relationships as well as your well-being.

Below you will find seven tips to help you cultivate calm and bring more bliss into your life. Have fun practicing the blissful tips and feel free to experiment with the tips such as using 2 tips a day. At the end of each day take some time to reflect on how often you used the tip and how it made you feel throughout the day. The more you practice using the tips in your day to day living, the calmer your life will become and the easier it will be for you to eliminate stress from your mind, body and life.

BLISSFULNESS TIPS TO CULTIVATE CALM EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK:

  1. FIND OUR THE EXACT MOMENT OF THE SUNSET IN YOUR AREA.

For two minutes before and two minutes after, simply watch the sun set without thinking about what happened today or what will happen tomorrow.

  1. BREATHE

At various times thought the day, take a few second to focus on your breath entering and leaving your body.

  1. GO TO THE WATER

Whether it’s a pond, a river, a lake, or an ocean, take a moment to watch the water move.

  1. ABSTAIN FROM SOCIAL MEDIA, WHETHER IT’S FACEBOOK, TWITTER, OR ANY OTHER SOCIAL APP.

Instead make today about face-to-face connections.

  1. FOR TWO MINUTES TODAY, TAKE A SERENITY BREAK.

Close your eyes and breathe deeply while focusing on how your body is feeling. Need help? Go to (add link for Blissful Living Article)

  1. WHEN YOU INTERACT WITH OTHERS TODAY, LET GO OF HOW THEY MAY AFFECT YOU.

Instead, think of how what you will say and what you will do affects them.

  1. USING THREE BLANK PIECES OF PAPER, WRITE ABOUT WHATEVER COMES TO MIND.

It doesn’t have to be good. Just write about something. Don’t stop until you’ve filled your three pages.

Mindfulness helps to cultivate calm which leads to cultivating Bliss, that enhances our physical, mental and emotional well-being. The beauty of being in a calm, balanced state is that it is enchanting, tantalizing and hypnotic guaranteed to leave you wanting more.

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

 

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

Host of Blissful Living

Twitter: @rochelelawson

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Reverse Mourning the Mornings

How many of you dread waking up in the morning? No matter how much sleep you get you simply hate getting up in the morning and not because you are tired but rather because it is the morning? We have all been there. It’s morning and when that dreaded alarm clock goes off you muster up all the ump you have in you and you either hit the snooze button or you get up.

Sadly most of us are sleep deprived due to various reasons from insomnia to over stimulation of the mind. When we are plague with sleep challenges it is difficult for our brains and bodies that have been asleep for hours, to shift from sleep to wake at the sound of an alarm.  Often times a busy day lies ahead so we must struggle to get a grip on our immediate racing thoughts upon waking up. Having a morning mindfulness routine and practice can help awaken the brain and bring balance and focus to your morning. You may even find with a regular routine of morning mindfulness, you begin to enjoy waking up for the quiet and peaceful moments that starts your day.

Here are a few blissful tips to help you enjoy waking up in the morning.

Upon Waking Up Observe Your Breath

Feel your breath as it moves in and out of your body. Focus on this breath and allow your mind to engage in the process of inhaling and exhaling. If your mind wanders in to other thoughts such as how you would like to just stay in bed, simply note the thought, take 5 more deep breaths in and release them out then rise and get out of bed.

Let The Sunshine In

Upon arising out of bed, before you do anything else such as going to the bathroom or taking a shower, open up the blinds and curtains in your room and let the sunshine in. If the day is a cloudy day do not fret, still open up your window dressings and let the day light in. This has an immediate effect on your brain stimulating the receptors in the brain that differentiate day and night. The light awakens the brain, which then sends signals to the body to wake up and get ready for the day.

Find A Comfortable Spot

Once you have opened up your windows, find a comfortable spot to sit near the window, stretch your arms over your head and then relax them at your sides and let the warmth of the sunshine hit your face so that it can awaken the circulation in your face.  Thus further enhancing the mindfulness waking up process.

Observe The Weather

Look out the window and bath your face in the natural light. Take a moment to observe the weather outside as you gaze out your window from your comfortable spot. Notice if the day is sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy or foggy? What color is the sky? How bright is the sunshining?

Become aware of your feelings, positive or negative about the current weather situation outside. Notice what arises in your mind as you allow yourself to experience the weather in this manner. Take a deep breath in and release it out.

Stand Up And Start Your Day

Plant your feet firmly on the ground and sit there for a moment or two. Notice the texture of the floor. Is it carpeted, hard wood or tile? Does it feel cold? Hot? Stand straight up, stretch your arms up high above your head and take a deep breath in and exhale out, lower your arms and get moving toward your Blissful Day!

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

 

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect Sin título

www.rochelelawson.com
www.healthhealingwellness.com
www.blissful-living.net
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ayurveda, health and wellness, healthy eating, healthy living, stress reduction, Uncategorized

Green Super Foods For A Super You #1

Now a days we hear a lot of talk about super foods and how we should incorporate them into our daily diet, but what exactly are super foods and how can they be beneficial to us? Stress is a fantastic way to use up or burn up the precious vitamins and minerals that our bodies need to function, yet most people don’t even realized that they are stress, let alone as to what the stress is doing to the internal resources and fuel sources of their body. As the seasons change from fall to winter, winter to spring and spring to summer, we have an abundant supply of veggies available to us that fall into the “super food” category. Springtime is a great time of year to be adventurous and begin to incorporate these super foods into your diet. This is the time of the year when greens are especially fresh and nutritious, so why not take the plunge and reacquaint yourself with nature’s vast variety of super foods. This will do your mind and your body good.

You may be asking so what is the big deal about these super foods, why should I be concerned about them and what’s in it for me if I eat them? So here are the answers to all of your questions concerning super foods:

  • If you want to rock your workout, here is a super food that, you will want to incorporate into your daily diet, it is Arugula. Arugula provides more nitrates than other top vegetable source, such as rhubarb, celery and spinach. Why is that beneficial for you? Nitrates relax the blood vessels and lowers blood pressure, accelerating blood flow so energizing oxygen is delivered to cells throughout your body more efficiently. As a result, your workout might feel a little easer: Nitrates reduce your muscles’ need for oxygen during exercise, so you don’t tire as quickly.
  • To improve your digestion, eat more asparagus. These tender thin green stalks are rich in inulin, a unique fiber that doesn’t break down in our digestive system until it arrives at the large intestines. When it gets to the large intestines it feeds the beneficial bacteria that keep your intestine healthy and may help your body absorb more nutrients. Asparagus is also rich in vitamin A, Zeaxanthin and lutein, all great for eye health.
  • If you are looking to maintain strong bones or improve your bone health then you will want to incorporate Bok Choy into your diet. This cabbage variant is packed with bone friendly nutrients, such as calcium, which is well absorbed for a vegetable sour of the mineral. The reason is that Bok Choy is low in oxalates, compounds present in many green leafy veggies that can bind to calcium making it harder for your body to absorb. Just two cups of this yummy, low calorie vegetable delivers as much calcium as a half a glass of milk. Two cups of raw Bok Choy provides 80 percent of your daily dose of vitamin K needed to bind calcium to bone.
  • If you have been told that you are Pre-Diabetic or you want to just fend off Diabetes, then you definitely want to incorporate more Chard into your diet. One cup of cooked Chard delivers nearly four grams of fiber. Chard slows the rate at which carbohydrates enter your blood stream, preventing blood-sugar dips and spikes. This plant is a top source of magnesium, a mineral that helps the body use the glucose-regulating hormone insulin more effectively. Chard also contains syringic acid, a substance that blocks the breakdown of starch into sugars, helping to regulate blood sugar levels. Given the fact that many of us only get half the fiber and less than two-thirds of the magnesium we need, Chard is a good source of these blood sugar balancing nutrients.
  • Looking to build your immune system up or to fight off a cold, then you want to eat more dandelion greens. This veggie is high in vitamin A, a nutrient that keeps the lining of our airways healthy, which is one of the first defenses against bacteria and pathogens that cause the common cold and other respiratory illness. Just one cup of raw dandelion greens boast 110 percent of your daily dose of Vitamin A, which is twice the amount you’d get from the same serving of spinach and 10 times the amount you would get from eating the same amount of broccoli. Dandelion greens are high in vitamin C, which is great for boosting the immune system.

Here’s a little tip, if you want to get more of these yummy green veggies into your diet, you can incorporate them into salads, stir-fry’s or smoothies. Once you start eating these goodies, I guarantee that you will love them and your mind and body will thank in you many ways beginning with the essence of feeling more energized, healthy and vibrant. So eat up. What are you waiting for?

I welcome your comments, tips and suggestions below.

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeing Fabulous

www.rochelelawson.com

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Eating Wisely to Cleanse and Revitalize

I have a diet that most people would consider to be healthy. Most of the time I eat organically grown fruits and vegetables and try to get my fruits and vegetables from locally grown sources. I avoid processed ingredients and listen to what my body says it needs and how much of it is needed. However when I get super busy or am traveling a lot, I often find myself getting creative to make sure that I stay on cue with eating what is best for me and my dosha. One way I do that is to “Go Green,” which means increasing my fruit and vegetable intake.

When I have been on a long and extended trip as soon as I return from my trip, I dive head first into my “Go Green” diet. This involves me going through a short 4-9 day detox or cleanse based on what I eat, to rid my mind and body of the toxins that I pick up when I travel. I don’t like making rules for myself around food other than eating what is right for my dosha so after I  “ Go Green,” I go back to eating my normal cycle for my dosha. It is during my “Go Green” way of eating that I increase my intake of fruits and vegetables by 60-70% and I do my best to eat the freshest food possible.

If you have ever done a cleanse/detox you know that it is a process of clearing the mind and the body. You will experience more clarity, energy, you will feel more hydrated and will notice that your cravings for sweets have either diminished or are gone, just to name a few of the benefits. In Ayurveda the cleanse/detox process is called Panchakarma. I give this information just as some baseline information for you to keep in the back of your mind to think about exploring as I go on.

If you’re like many people that are becoming more health conscious, you are probably paying more attention to what you are putting into your body. This awareness opens up a whole new way of what you think when you see food. Fresh produce is one of the best things that we can eat for our bodies and mind. Fresh produce contains many of the vital nutrients that the body needs to function optimally  Summer is a great season to incorporate into you eating plan more fresh fruits and vegetables because of all that we have available to us during this season. It’s no mystery that the season invites us to replenish, nourish and revitalize ourselves

Longer days increase our exposure to sunlight, creating a biological surge of energy and optimism. This is perfect season to take a look at your diet. By incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet, especially when they are right for your dosha, will allow the body to naturally hydrate itself, synthesize and process the nutrients within the food more efficiently and naturally allow the colon to sweep itself out which aids the body in naturally removing toxins.

I know it sounds simple to just add more fruits and vegetables to what you eat, but we all know that changing eating patterns ever so slightly can be complicated. The body adapts to what we feed it and eating certain ingredients can be difficult and even physically uncomfortable. Also with all the busyness and activity that the summer season brings dietary adjustments can be even harder.

I would like to share with you how you can increase the fruits and vegetables that you eat without much difficulty at all.

The first step is to eat more salads. This does multiple things such a provide nutrients to the body and also it helps to naturally cleanse the colon. Be creative with your salads by dressing them with lots of fruits and vegetable combinations such as mango, red pepper, papaya, mint and lime juice or grapes, cucumber, bell peppers and carrots. Remember a salad is something that you can have anytime of the day that is nourishing and hydrating.

  • You can have a salad as the main meal for your lunch and a side salad with your dinner.
  • For dinner you can make some pasta and add fresh bell peppers, onions, garlic, tomatoes, zucchini or mint in the pasta and then have a side salad with arugula, grapes, strawberries, peaches, pears or plums with a nice vinaigrette dressing.
  • For breakfast you can make a smoothie with strawberries, apples, carrots, kale, spinach, pineapple, peaches, mango, or plums with ice and a little coconut water.

The second step is know that your system will be taking in nourishment as it goes through a natural detoxification process an in order to stabilize your energy and avoid fatigue, I am suggesting that you eat more fruits and vegetables as snacks in between meals.

  • Have carrot or celery sticks for snacks; eat a handful of grapes or a plum, peach, pear or apple.
  • Enjoy a slice of a cantaloupe, honey dew or water melon. – {these are naturally hydrating fruits and contain a high content of water}.
  • Grab some blueberries, raspberries or cherries as a wholesome, healthy and energizing snack full of antioxidants and nutrients.
  • To boost energy on the spot, eat an orange, tangerine or squeeze a little fresh lemon or lime juice into water or coconut water for an uplifting and naturally hydrating and energizing drink.

Lastly, don’t be too hard on yourself or too structured with eating wisely. Have fun by experimenting and listening to what your body says to you. If your body is feeling good and your mind is clear then keep eating the produce that you are eating. It just may be right for your dosha. If you are experiencing challenges within your mind and body then you may need to make some adjustments to eat what is right for your dosha. You can learn more about your dosha by visiting www.freegiftsfromrochele.com and taking the mini dosha quiz. Eating what is wise and right for your body type (dosha) will help you to eliminate toxins from your mind and body so that you can clear the clutter to make space for a more beautiful you.

Wishing you health and wellness.

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

http://www.rochelelawson.com

http://www.healthhealingwellness.com

Twitter:@rochelelawson

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ayurveda, blissful living, health and wellness, healthy living, stress reduction, Uncategorized

How Stress is Affecting Your Health

In our modern world, being in a stressful state is often regarded as normal or even laudable as a sign of hard work. The reality is that when you’re under stress, no matter how well you handle it, eventually you will begin to see the affects on your physical, mental and spiritual health.

 Fight or Flight

When our bodies are in a stressful state, they release endorphins, the fight or flight stress hormone, as well as adrenaline, epinephrine and norepinephrine. When you’re in a constant state of stress, the hormones and steroids that should only operate when you’re truly in a fight of flight situation are constantly being released into your body.

When this happens, the weakest part of your body will be affected first. You may begin to develop high blood pressure or have kidney issues. You may suffer like I did (https://ayurvedahealing.org/2014/01/13/ayurveda-honor…ndividual-body) from digestive challenges or have problems in the mind, such as intense anger, depression or extreme anxiety that begin to affect the way you treat others.

When all these things are going on constantly, the body shifts into a frantic and panicked state.

How to Tell if You’re Under Stress

It’s not unusual for someone under prolonged stress to get so used to it that she or he begins to think that’s just how life goes. They may not realize something is off until another person points it out to them, or they’re suddenly dealing with a crisis that forces them to change their ways. So how can you tell if you’re living with the kind of stress that will affect your health?

Pay attention to the signs. Physically, people under tremendous stress being to experience chest pains or more frequent migraines. Rapid weight loss or weight gain is also common, depending on how the person is dealing with stress.

Another sure sign of stress is the state of your relationships. When you’re stressed, you interact with your friends, co-workers and loved ones differently. For instance, when I am under a lot of stress, I become short-tempered and have a sharp tongue. I don’t care what I say or if I’ve hurt your feelings, and I become vindictive. That’s not normal for me, and when I act like that it pushes people away and it’s a clear sign that something is out of balance.

What You Can Do Today

If you’re feeling a lot of stress, or if you recognize any of the symptoms above as your own, there are several things you can do right now to replace stress hormones with feel-good hormones, and they’re all very easy!

Take a walk in nature. Let yourself be pulled away from the everyday stresses at work and with your family.

If you can’t do that, turn on some music you like – blast it! If you’re driving and you feel yourself getting angry, turn on some nice music on the radio and just chill, relax.

Spend time with uplifting friends. Even just sitting down for a 40-minute cup of coffee with someone you like can make a great difference in your stress levels.

Stress is definitely very present in our 21st century lives, but it is also manageable and doesn’t have to make you miserable. Have you tried any of these simple tricks to relieve stress? Share your experience in the comments below.

Wishing You Much Health and Wellness!

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

http://www.rochelelawson.com

http://www.healthhealingwellness.com

http://www.facebook.com/rochelelawson

Twitter: @rochelelawson

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http://www.freegiftsfromrochele.com

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ayurveda, blissful living, health and wellness, healthy living, stress reduction

Do You Have Resilience?

I’ve always thought that I was a pretty resilient person however after recently reading an article on resiliency; I realized that I have some work to do. Let me explain. You see there was a 40 year study conducted on the island of Kauai and it involved the development of children. During this period close to 700 children were observed in the area of their development. What was observed was that 1/3rd of the children grew up to be contented, successful and caring adults. The conclusion for this was that it was due to their great resiliency. These children had the ability to not let things get them down and to find happiness despite adversity.

Psychologists have discovered that resilient people share some of the same characteristics. It is based on this information that I discovered that I needed to do some more work in this area. Take a look at the information below to see if you have the characteristics of resiliency.

1)    Emotional control: Changing from a negative state of mind to a positive state

of mind is not a challenge for highly resilient people.

2)    Considered behavior: Resilient people are not easily distracted. They pursue

their goals with concentration and discipline. They do not give into their whims.

3)    Causal analysis: In negative situations they ask “why” instead of indulging in

being angry.

4)    Empathy: They are able to see things from another person’s point of view

and can change their perspective based on this information.

5)    Realistic optimism: They harbor no illusions about reality. ( It is what it is).

They have an optimistic outlook on life.

6)    Goal orientation: These people are always setting new goals and work at these

goals consistently.

            7)  Self- belief: They believe they can change themselves and their lives.

Now that you know some of the qualities of a resilient person, how many of these qualities do you exhibit or do you need improvement in areas?

After looking at these qualities and realizing that I needed to do some work in some areas to improve my resiliency, I decided to examine my practice of wellbeing to see how I could improve my resiliency. What I discovered is that I have some tremendous tools that I use and share with my clients to improve their health that can actually be used improve resiliency too. I have decided to share some of the tools that I use that are geared toward overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles and bounce back after a crisis.

Use the little irritations and challenges in your daily life as opportunities to train yourself to become more resilient.

Often people wish the world would change to suit them but in reality it just does not work that way. It is much easier to change yourself because you posses the ability to interpret and evaluate incidents in many different ways. You have the ultimate control over how you think and feel. If you have difficulty in this area here is something that may help you.

Find out which attitudes and convictions are responsible for your negative emotions. Once you do this ask yourself why you feel this way. Feel free to write this down in a journal or on a piece of paper. Writing it out helps you to see it in a more realistic and personal manner. Then write a new conviction opposite of what you have just written down that identifies how you want to feel. Cross out the old one and keep the new one with you where you will come across it frequently such as in your pocket, purse or wallet. Each time you come across it read it silently and once out loud.

While you can’t expect to change your old convictions immediately, when you realize how fabulous your new thoughts make you feel you will want to make the new thoughts a permanent part of your life. What is important to note is that as you do this you are increasing your flexibility while becoming more resilient.

Another tool you can use to increase your resiliency is to understand and question your negative emotions. Let me explain. The same situation may trigger different emotions in different people; the key is to understand what this reveals about you. When you know what makes you respond the way you do, it will become easier to control your emotions. For example, if you are often angry, ask yourself if it is because you feel someone has violated your rights or if it is something else. Being aware of this can be the key in permanently changing your convictions to a more positive state.

In Ayurveda, the goal is to keep the mind and body in a state of balance“bliss” as much as possible and increasing your resiliency is a great way to help your mind and body stay in a state of “bliss.”

Wishing you much health and wellness!

Namaste,

Rochele Lawson, RN,AHP,CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous

www.freegiftsfromrochele.com

www.rochelelawson.com

www.meditationsforbliss.com

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