Therapeutic Thursday?

Epsom Salts

source: tranquilityisyours.com

souce photos: web

Epsom Salt is a natural stress reliever. Epsom Salt also

relieves muscle and joint pain. It can flush toxins out of

your body, and much more. Just add two cups of Epsom

Salts to warm bath water to take advantage of the

benefits of Epsom Salt.

• Improve heart and circulatory health by reducing irregular heartbeats, preventing hardening of the arteries, reducing blood clots and lowering blood pressure.

• Flush toxins, harmful substances, and heavy metals out of your system thereby easing muscle and joint pain.

• Improve nerve function by regulating electrolytes, and help maintain proper calcium levels in the blood.

Magnesium is a natural stress reliever. Excess adrenaline and stress are

believed to drain the body of magnesium. Proper amounts of magnesium

help the body bind adequate amounts of serotonin; a mood-elevating

chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of well-being and relaxation.

While increasing your magnesium levels, Epsom Salt also delivers sulfates to the

body, which are difficult to get through food, but are readily absorbed through the

skin. Sulfates are also very important to our body’s functions, and are said to

benefit joint and digestive tract proteins, brain tissue, stimulate the pancreas to

generate digestive enzymes, and helps to detoxify the body of medicine residue

and environmental contaminants.

Magnesium:

• Reduces stress and improves sleep and concentration

• Reduces muscle inflammation, pain and cramps

• Improves muscle and nerve function

• Improves the bodies use of oxygen

• Regulates enzymes

• Prevents hardening of the arteries and blood clots

• Helps insulin perform more effectively

Sulfates:

• Flush toxins from the body

• Eases migraine headaches

• Improves the absorption of nutrients

• Improves the formation of joint and digestive tract proteins and brain

tissue.

Use of Epsom Salt for Stress Relief

The most effective way to receive the benefits of Epsom Salt is to absorb it

through your skin, and soaking in an Epsom Salt bath is said to be the most

effective means of delivering magnesium and sulfates to your body. Add two cups

of Epsom Salt to warm water in a standard-size bathtub, more if it’s larger.

Soaking in an Epsom Salt bath once a week for at least 15 minutes is good to

receive the stress relieving benefits from the magnesium and sulfates, but if you

are trying to ease muscle or joint pain, bathe in Epsom Salt at three times a week.

When magnesium sulfate is absorbed through the skin it sedates the nervous

system, reduces swelling, relaxes muscles, relieves stress, and is also a natural

emollient and defoliator.

Compresses:

Use 2 cups of Epsom Salt per gallon of water to relieve sore muscles, bruising,

swelling or bug bites.

Foot Baths:

Use a cup of Epsom Salt in a container of warm water to soothe aches, remove

odors, pull out toxins and soften rough skin.

Skin Exfoliation:

Massage a handful of Epsom Salt over wet skin on any area to exfoliate an area

of your skin. Rinse very with warm water.

Experience the wide-ranging benefits of Epsom Salt. It's been used as a home

remedy for years. The benefits of Epsom Salt are not folk lore, or just an old

wives tale. The benefits and uses of Epsom Salt is backed by scientific studies

and years of research. You can find more information on the benefits of Epsom

Salt at the Epsom Salt Industry Council.

Therapeutic Thursday?

Light Therapy

source: tranquilityisyours.com

source photos: web

Depression and stress have a tendency to intermingle, making it difficult to put your finger on the exact reason why you feel depressed or stressed. You may even feel that it’s

not one thing that’s getting you down. It’s everything, and you just can’t seem to kick a consistent feeling of gloom? You can probably categorize those feelings as depression.

For some people that feeling of gloom and depression is called SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder. SAD is a depression disorder associated with light deprivation during the winter

months. Seasonal Affective Disorder is caused by a melatonin imbalance initiated by a lack of exposure to sunlight. SAD sufferers are not the only ones feeling stress, depression and the negative health affects caused by a lack of appropriate sunlight. We are all feeling its impact. Our lifestyles limit our exposure to sunlight. You naturally get vitamin D from sunlight, and a lack of exposure to sunlight is the main cause of vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D deficiencies can cause severe health issues. Osteoporosis is linked to a lack of vitamin D. Rickets is another bone-wasting disease that is linked to a vitamin D deficiency, and chronic vitamin D deficiency is often misdiagnosed as Fibromyalgia, because the symptoms are so similar; muscle weakness, depression, and unexplained aches and pains.

You can get vitamin D through food and supplements, but sunlight exposure is the only reliable way to generate vitamin D in your body. Studies show that healthy levels of vitamin D inhibit prostate cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, depression, and even schizophrenia.

People with dark skin tend to need 20 – 30 times as much exposure to sunlight as fair-skinned people to generate the same amount of vitamin D. In fact, doctors have now discovered that vitamin D deficiency is causing high rates of prostate cancer in Black males. People who are over weight have been found to need twice as much vitamin D, because obesity tends to impair how the body utilizes vitamin D. In general, studies show that your risk of developing serious

diseases like diabetes and cancer can be reduced by 50% - 80% with simple and sensible exposure to natural sunlight on an average of two to three times each week.

When your exposure to natural sunlight is limited, you can combat the depression related to SAD or the health issues associated with sunlight deficiencies with light therapy or photo therapy. Light therapy is exposure to light through special light therapy lamps or light boxes that are brighter than indoor light, but not as bright as direct sunlight. Light therapy has been found to be effective against depression, and it can reset your biological clock, or circadian rhythms, which controls when you sleep and when you wake up. Exposure to this special light has been found to be close enough to natural sunlight to allow the body to produce needed vitamin D.

Light therapy can offer effective mood altering and physical health benefits for generally anyone, and it has already been clinically proven to reduce stress.

Light therapy may be most effective when used first thing in the morning when

you wake up. You and your doctor can determine when light therapy works best

for you. You usually sit approximately 12" from the light anywhere from 10 to 30

minutes per session. It is neither recommended nor necessary to stare directly

into the light. A positive response to light therapy usually occurs within 2 to 4

days, but it may take up to three weeks before symptoms of SAD or depression

are relieved, and it can take months to correct a vitamin D deficiency.

We can all benefit from the use of light therapy. More often than not, most

people usually do not get the kind of exposure to the sun that could be

beneficial. You tend to be stuck inside buildings all day long. You may go to

work before sunrise, and get out of work as the sun is going down, or has

already set. If that sounds like your lifestyle, you may be a good candidate for

light therapy.

Light therapy is a viable alternative to consider when stress or depression has

taken over, and you need more than aromatherapy, candles, or relaxation to get

results.

Therapeutic Thursday?

A good cry

source: tranquilityisyours.com

source photos: web

There is a natural body function that helps relieve stress,

but unfortunately it is something you probably have been

discouraged from doing. Just like perspiration, the natural

function to keep the body from overheating. The natural

body function to relieve stress, anxiety and other emotional

build-ups is crying. You should allow yourself to cry.

From very young ages most of us are told not to cry. “Don’t

you cry! You stop that crying right now.” If you cry you’re

considered weak. In some cultures it’s considered

undignified, but crying is a natural stress reliever.

Sometimes you have no choice. Your body overrides any

effort to suppress the urge to cry. When you hold back

your tears, you only amplify the emotions or stress your

body is trying to release through crying.

A study by the University of Minnesota discovered that the chemicals that build

up in your body during emotional stress can be removed in your tears, and

unreleased stress can increase your risk for heart attack and damage certain

areas of your brain. So your human ability to cry is not only therapeutic, but

could even be considered a survival tactic.

Yes, there are times when it’s acceptable to cry. You can cry tears of joy, right?

You can cry at weddings, graduations or births. You can even cry when you

laugh. So why should you stuff down the tears when you really need to let them

out; when you are emotionally stressed, sad, in physical pain or depressed?

Natural stress relief is really the best of all options.

Types of Tears

There are three types of tears produced by the lachrymal gland in the eye.

Continuous or basal tears:

Keep the eye surface permanently moist and protected and contain water, lipids

or fats, proteins, and compounds that protect against infection.

Reflex tears:

Contain a similar make-up, and are produced as a reaction to irritants or foreign

objects.

Emotional tears:

Have a different make-up, and include enkephalin, an endorphin and natural

painkiller.

"Emotional tears contain higher concentrations of proteins, manganese,

and the hormone prolactin which is produced during stress-induced

danger or arousal,'' Dr. Carrie Lane of the University of Texas.

Women have more leeway than men to cry. It’s not quite fair, but it’s true.

Women can usually release tears much more easily than men because it’s

accepted. Men rarely consider it acceptable for themselves or other men to

cry. Most men don't even consider crying an option, but they should put down

that armor and allow themselves to cry.

Crying is a great form of stress relief when you really let it out. Let the tears well-

up in your eyes, or roll down your cheeks, or just break into a full-out sob. Pick

a place where you won’t be disturbed, and have a good cry. Of course you may

experience the side effects of crying; puffy eyes, runny nose. Just remember to

use a cold compress to control the swelling around your eyes. A cold face-cloth

pressed against your eyes is good enough. If you don't use a cold compress,

your eyes could remain swollen for hours.

After a thorough cry you will feel better. A study by the University of South

Florida found that almost everyone feels better after a cry, and that personality

has a major effect on how often we cry. An overwhelming majority of

participants reported mood improvement after crying.

Sometimes crying helps to clear the mind, and may even help you think things

through a little more clearly than you would if you hold those stressful emotions

inside. We all know that emotional decisions tend to be riddled with difficulty.

When I was a kid, my Mother use to say, “Cry, cry harder. Come on, you can do

better than that.” Of course her egging would only make me and my siblings

more upset, and we would cry harder. But when we stopped crying, we would

feel relieved of the emotions that made us cry in the first place and we moved on.

Crying may not be the answer to everyone’s stress, but the latest research

suggests it's highly effective at encouraging the body to heal, and it improves

the mood of 88.8% of those who weep. Only 8.4% of the subjects reported

feeling worse after crying. Researchers suggest that crying is so beneficial that

there may be a case for inducing crying in those who find it difficult to let go.

Therapeutic Thursday?

Relaxing Exercises

source: tranquilityisyours.com

Learning how to relax can greatly improve your health and

well-being. That's why it is so important to find ways to

introduce more relaxation into your everyday life. If you

don't learn to manage stress, stress will manage you; and

left unchecked, stress can be draining, cause anxiety, and

even trigger health issues.

Relaxation exercises are a great way to relieve stress.

The exercises below can work wonders on the stress knots

in your shoulders and neck regions - on the stress that

accumulates in your muscles - and even against certain

stress headaches. These relaxation exercises are also

great, because they are not strenuous. Each position is

very easy to perform, can induce relaxation when you are

tense, and can also provide instant stress relief.

Relaxation Exercise #1 - Legs across chair

Begin by getting a chair. Now lie on your back on the floor, and place your

legs across the seat in a sideways position. Make sure the chair is right up

against the bend in your knees. This relaxation exercise provides stress relief

to your lower back. It also allows your whole body to let go of tension and begin

to relax. Slow down your breathing too. Breathe slowly in and out through

your nose. If you really want to go deep with this relaxation exercise, try

covering your eyes with a moist warm towel. Stay in this position for several

minutes. Try ten to fifteen minutes to enjoy the full benefits.

Relaxation Exercise #2 - Bottom against wall

Next, put the chair aside and move your buttocks up to the base of a wall and

extend your legs straight up the wall. Make sure your bottom is as close to the

base of the wall as possible, and that the small of your back is flat against the

floor. You can place your arms straight out on either side, or just keep them

by your sides. Again, keep your breathing slow, or do some breathing

exercises. This position really gets your blood flowing and helps the body

release stress.

Relaxation Exercise #3 - Knees into the chest

Now bend your knees and bring them close to your chest. Hold your legs to

your chest with your hands if you can. That really helps stretch the lower

back. If holding your knees close to your chest is not relaxing to you, just keep

your knees in a bent position as close to your chest as possible. Close your

eyes, breathe in through your nose and breathe out through your mouth. Slow

breathing is important here to help keep your body from tensing up.

Relaxation Exercise #4 - Blanket against back

Now here's the last of the relaxation exercises, and it’s the best. Slowly move

away from the wall. Don't jump up quickly. Instead, roll over on your side, and

use your hands to push yourself up into a sitting position. Now take a blanket,

towel or cloth and roll it into the shape of a log. Place it on the floor and lie

back on the cloth so that it's horizontally straight across your shoulder blades.

This is a great shoulder relaxation exercise. It stretches out your shoulders

blades and opens up your chest. This feels great after hunching over a

computer all day, and really helps to release the stress knots in your

shoulders, and other tensions that can form in your neck and back regions.

There you have it. Simple, easy, and effective relaxation exercises to help

relief stress. Remember, when you're done, don't get up quickly. Roll over on

your side, and use your hands and arms to push yourself up into a sitting

position, and then continue to get up slowly. Do any or all of the relaxation

exercises separately, or in the order demonstrated.

The key to finding true relaxation is balance. If you are use to a hectic lifestyle

you may feel that relaxing might make you lose your edge. You may also be

addicted to the affects of adrenaline, and find it problematic to relax. But

remember your body can't remain on high alert all the time. It will eventually

lead to burn out, and encourage physical ailments.

Therapeutic Thursday?

*note from Prattle*

Why be a "CrochetRockstar" and what does it mean? Well, for one thing I'm REALLY good at it.. I don't toot my own horn very often, but this is one gift I KNOW I have been given! And now that my grandmothers have passed, it's a way for me to remember them.

Finding any hobby is a stress reliever, anything that can get your mind on what is in front of you for a while and de-compress is healthy. I am sometimes a #crochetaddict or a #cookingaddict or a #craftingaddict, but it's things I enjoy and helps me deal with stress. I hope all our readers have something they enjoy to "get away from it all" for a while every couple of days!

Knitting and Crochet Tote Releases Stress

By: Marly Schuman

source text: http://tinyurl.com/2fvcseu

source photos: mine, Prattle

A knitting and crochet tote is something a lot of people simply walk past in tourist shops or push to the back of their closet most of the year. This is not the case in my family. Knitting and crochet has always been a big part of my grandma's life, and I never really knew why until last week.

For every possible holiday my grandma would throw in a knitting and crochet tote along with another little gift. I think she knew I didn't use them, even though I hung each one on the back of my door like I would need to use it any day. She just said she made so many that she didn't need them anymore. I think she always hoped that I would start getting interested in knitting and crochet just like she did when she was my age.

I volunteered to drive my grandma to her knitting and crochet club last Tuesday, not knowing it was over half an hour away. She walked up to the car with her usual knitting and crochet tote and her supplies in tow. We had a lot of time to pass, so naturally we started talking about her knitting club meeting that day. She told me how she started knitting and crocheting in the first place and why she continued to keep the habit for 62 years and counting. She said that with all the stress in her life with working and raising three kids, she needed something to keep her calm. She needed something constant that could keep her mind off of everything else in her life that was bothering her.

I didn't believe her at first that each knitting and crochet tote I saw her carrying acted as a stress reliever. After some research online later, I found out that she was right! Activities like knitting and crochet have a calming effect that can help manage anxiety and, as a result, even help medical conditions such as asthma or panic attacks. As a result of the stress relieving properties, knitting and crochet can also strengthen the body's immune system.

So yesterday when I was driving my grandma back to her last club meeting, I looked at her knitting and crochet tote with a feeling of admiration and interest. I decided to do something I generally vowed never to do: I went into the meeting. I did go very well prepared, though. I looked up a Complete Beginners Guide to Knitting and Free Easy Crochet Patterns and Beginners Help. I was pretty much baffled on my own and I was getting stressed just trying to figure out what all of these new terms meant.

At this last meeting I began something of my own. I made a crochet tote bag that was so easy, and I finally had a knitting and crochet tote bag of my own for all my supplies. I finally made a bag that I'm going to actually use! After the meeting I decided that I'm going to look into some other stress relieving techniques, like a Ripple Afghan Crochet Pattern for my new apartment. Who knew staying calm and healthy could be so easy?