A natural remedy to help with stress

We all sometimes look to the quick fixes of mass produced medication / tablets to ease our stress or stress related problems. These methods are quick and easy but at what cost to our long term health? For this reason, more and more people are now turning to natural medicines that have been around for centuries.

Lavender oil is used as an antiseptic, to soothe minor cuts and burns, to calm and relax, for insomnia and to soothe headaches and migraines. Is it any wonder that Lavender is a popular natural remedy for stress and an aid to relaxation?

• Anti-Stress – Calming and soothing effects help counteract stress hormones
• Antidepressant – Lavender is a well-documented antidepressant essential oil.
• Refreshing and Uplifting – Can help balance mood swings and PMS symptoms
• Insomnia – A mild sedative effect for restless or anxious nights

You can can buy Lavender dried or as an oil, for example. For help sleeping, try a lavender pillow or room spray. Lavender oil is used in creams and combined with other essential oils in aromatherapy to help with various problems like insect bites or depression.

Enquire at your local health store for more details*

*A word about essential oils: All essential oils are highly concentrated, but very few are suitable for undiluted (neat) use on the skin. Dilute essential oils in carrier oils such; put a few drops in a cup of Epsom salts and dissolve in a bath tub of water or use drops in a diffuser, vaporizer or humidifier. Only the highest quality essential oils should be used. Please consult your health care professional with any questions or concerns about your natural health care program.

How do you like to relax?

There are so many ways in which people relax. What is right for one person may not be right for another.

From researching, which involves a quick hand count of people i know, i received some common examples of ways in which people like to relax.

The following are some of the answers.

• Massage
• Meditation
• Yoga
  
• Hot deep bubble bath
• Reading a book
• Spending time with family pet
• Watching a good film from the comfort of the sofa
  
• Baking
• Drawing & other Art projects
• Country Walks
  

I am now curious, what are your favourite ways to relax and what would you recommend?

Why visulisation and relaxing are important tools for life

Imagery and visualisation techniques are great tools to develop. They can help in everyday situations and be used for you to achieve your own goals or ambitions. The tools are often promoted by people who have been successful and achieved their own goals. You will find that even a person using the tools to just get through a normal day find them invaluable.

Here are some examples of when visualisation and imagery can be used:

• Visualization when using relaxation and guiding techniques for meditation
  

• Visualization of performance in a every day situation or a specific event
  

• Visualization of result or outcome for any performance or presentation

• Goal setting and overall achievement in a situation

When using visualisation techniques it is important to first get relaxed in a safe and comfortable environment in your mind. For example you may think of the beach, a forest, a room in a house, or a mountain top. Remember the choice is up to you and everyone has their own favourite places they want to be. You can be detailed or you can keep it simple.

The more detailed the visualisation the more effective it is likely to be. Focus on details that appeal to the senses like smells, touch, sound and sight.

Use a simple breathing technique to get your body into a relaxed state and then begin visualisations of your safe place.

If your visualisation exercise is to achieve a goal then start to imagine yourself in the situation and go through the steps of what would happen in your mind. Don't forget all the little details.

Practise the technique as much as possible and eventually incorporate it into your daily routine. Writing down your goals or ambitions is a great way to keep organised and remember why you are doing the techniques. Goals can be big or small.

I recommend having a beautiful notebook to record your goals along with writing down your feelings or anything else which may be a positive influence for you.

Remember to concentrate on what your ideal outcome is for using the visualisation tool. It may be to simply relax or it may be to practice for a work presentation. If you find yourself relaxed in your visualisation sessions then the real events will become easier and you have more potential to achieve your goals.

Good luck and keep aiming for what you want out of life.

Little steps in the right direction should eventually get you to where you want to go.