From Ayurvedic point of view Lavender is the perfect oil that is suitable for any person. And I truly believe that no medicine cabinet or pantry should go without it.

Lavender has been used continuously for centuries to enhance food and for health as dried flowers, herbed oils, and essential oils. People were using Lavender from washing linens to soothing teas, from hiding under the corset of beautiful ladies for a pleasant smell to healing wounds of a soldier.

It is important to say that among various species of Lavender only Lavandula officinalis (other names: Lavandula angustifora, Lavandula vera) can be used therapeutically. Therapeutic Lavender is not cheap and is the most often adulterated oil. There are more than 30 different types of Lavender oils for sale. Not all of them are of a therapeutic and organic grade. Some species of Lavender contain too much ketones and are too toxic to be used in aromatherapy. Buy your lavender only from the reputable sources.

Medicinal properties of Lavender:

• Analgetic (arthritis/rheumatism, muscle pain, bruises)
• Antibacterial (according to some research it is effective against: diphtheria, pneumonia, acute sinusitis, otitis media, meningitis, sepsis, septic arthritis, endocarditis, peritonitis, pericarditis, cellulitis, brain abscess, urinary tract infections, E. coli, septicemia, ankylosing spondylitis, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus, salmonella, staphylococcus, streptococcus, gastrointestinal illness to name a few)
• Antifungal (candida, nail infection, chlamydia, tinea capitis)
• Anti-inflammatory (eczema, insect bites, sinusitis, cystitis, bruises, spraines, acne, otitis)
• Antiseptic (acne, bronchial secretions, cystitis, otitis, skin infection, influenza, sinusitis, tuberculosis)
• Antispasmodic (cramps, coughing)
• Balancing (nervous system)
• Calming, sedative (headaches, migranes, anxiety, insomnia, sleep problems)
• Cardiotonic  (tachycardia)
• Carminative (flatulence, colic)
• Cicatrizant (burns, scars, varicose ulcers, wounds)
• Emmenagogic (scanty periods)
• Hypotensor (hypertension)

At this point you might feel completely overwhelmed.

Not to worry. Follow these simple rules to be on the safe side:

• Always consult doctor if you have any serious problems. Never self-diagnose or self-medicate.
• Never drink essential oils.
• Never put essential oils in your eyes, nose, or on private parts.
• Only use essential oils from the reputable sources

The following are a few suggestions on how safely use lavender for your family.

• Insect repellent:

o   Add few drops to a skin lotion, apply just before your daily walk in the park

o   Put a few drops on your hands, rub together, than rub your body just before going out

o   While traveling, put a drop on your bed and a drop on the pillow

Note: for outdoor use you will need to reapply essential oil every few hours.

• Insect bites – apply one drop and rub in.
• Burns – apply one drop immediately, do not rub if the blister appears. For the bigger burns: soak gauze and gently cover the injured place, and go to the hospital.
• Skin rushes – apply a few drops, gently rub. Contact the doctor if the rushes persist and no improvements show in the next day or two.
• Small cuts – apply 1-2 drops. It will disinfect, ease the pain and help with healing.
• Cough, cold, flu, sinus infection – diffuse the oil in the room for a couple of hours or as long as you want. 20 drops to 1 cup of water.
• Ear infection – 1 drop of Lavender massage around the ear. 1 drop of Lavender (can be mixed with 1 drop of Chamomile) on the cotton ball, place a cotton ball into the ear. Must be applied to both ears even when the pain affects only one.
• Insomnia – diffuse the oil in the room during the night. 20 drops to 1 cup of water. Puts restless babies to sleep like a charm.
• Headache – 1 drop of lavender (can be mixed with 1 drop of Peppermint) applied around the hairline.
• Muscle pain, arthritis, back pain – ease the pain by applying 1-2 drops of Lavender directly to the affected area.
• Depression, anxiety, mood swings – diffuse the oil in the room for a couple of hours or as long as you want. 20 drops to 1 cup of water.
• Ice-cream – yummy.  Only use therapeutic or food grade oil for it. Instead of vanilla flavoring add 1 drop of Lavender oil for 2 cups of ice-cream mixture before putting it in the ice-cream maker. It adds unforgettable flavor.

A word about diffusers: Only use cold diffusers (ionic diffusers) because heat destroys therapeutic properties of essential oils.

Suggested sources of good quality essential oils:

Young Living: https://www.youngliving.org/harmony66

Tisserand: http://www.tisserandusa.com/

admin, Reiki http://www.surchange.com/437/lavender-the-wonder-oil/

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The further research convinced her that she is right.

Exercise and counseling seams so natural to combine. Even mild exercises metabolize stress hormones of cortisol and adrenaline.

Heather meets her clients at the park for a walk and talk. She noticed that her clients gain new prospective easier with this approach.

Exercise increases serotonin (the hormone of serenity and happiness) naturally. The 16 weeks long study of 4 groups of mildly depressed patients (one group took an antidepressant, one group took placebo, one group exercised at home alone and the 4th group exercised in supervised group setting.) showed no significant difference between the group taking the antidepressant and either of the exercise groups.  Exercise was just as effective as the anti-depressant. Not to overlook one small, “insignificant” fact: exercises have no side effects.

“People are under a lot of stress nowadays. But it is not the bad economy, or personal problems that make our life miserable, it’s our responses. Everybody has power and control. I teach people how to change behavior patterns and keep the body resilient to stress by regular exercise and healthy choices”

“Blaming, complaining and worry – is passive and make one powerless. Self-awareness, self responsibility, and conscious choices are power and put you in control.”

Heather Brewer, a licensed clinical social worker, runs her own practice for 3.5 years from her office close to the Wake Forest Historic downtown.

Heather Brewer can answer questions at:

(919) 349-8246

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2. Raleigh International Festival as a cure for depression from self-inflicted house arrest.
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We can not survive alone emotionally. Computers and TV shows will never be a sufficient substitution for a human contact, a touch, a smile, a whisper, an experience.

As the number of deaths from the misuse of prescription drugs are soaring and the number of antidepressant prescriptions uncontrollably climbs up (and the age of antidepressant users goes down) we should ask ourselves: What did we do to deserve it?

And the answer is: we stay at home alone, we imposed a house arrest, and we just go out for working and shopping. Less and less people attend community events, more and more hours are spent in front of a TV or a computer or a video game. We grew fat and unhappy and alone. Depressing isn’t it? No, it is not a time for a pill or an ice cream. It is a time to break free.

Annual International Festival of Raleigh is a perfect opportunity to break the habit and take some time from your busy “in front of TV” schedule to get out into the crowd.

Consider it a healthy exercise, a therapy.

Dancing and singing was originally used to build bonds among tribe members before a hunt or a war or a big celebration. So join in the dance, feel how wonderful it is to be a part of something bigger. Have fun, talk to a complete stranger, smile, sample endless national foods, shop for wonders from other countries, ask questions, and free yourself of a bad mood from self-inflicted house arrest.

The festival will take place October 2 – 4.

For more information visit Annual International Festival of Raleigh on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=86801601332&ref=ts

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Marilyn Shannon

Do you know that you can be brain dead, but you can not be heart dead? Does your breathing make you sick? Do you know that improper breathing can trigger panic?

Do you know the secret formula of life?

Event + response = outcome

Our response is dictated by our stress level. Our stress level affects our breathing that becomes fast and shallow. Our breathing affects all our organs and first of all the heart rate. Increased heart rate destroys the harmony that exists in our body and induces excessive production of stress hormone cortisone. Too much cortisone is not healthy and is hard to get out of the system. Cortisone also stops the production of DHEA, a vitally important hormone building block, dramatically decreasing our memory, immune system response and muscles flexibility

For seven years, Marilyn Shannon, a life coach and a mediator and the founder of Power of Dialogue, used HeartMath breathing technique to training clients of all ages to change the response, shift attitude, and create different emotional landscape and as a result changing the outcome.

HeartMath breathing technique helps with:

• ADD
• Stress management
• Eating disorders
• Concentration and creativity
• Addictions
• Test preparation
• Insomnia
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Intuition
• Positive emotions development

“HeartMath breathing technique helps developing ability to live the moment, to be present in the moment.”, – said Marilyn. –“It gives us opportunity to be clear, to receive the information faster, and to react appropriately.”

The sensor attached to the ear or finger measures the HRV, heart rate variability that is closely related to our emotions, and sends a reading to sophisticated software that presents heart’s beats on the computer screen.

“When you develop the balance, you can do anything. “, – Marilyn uses numerous therapeutic computer games assisting her clients with the proper breathing techniques so they can achieve their goals from concentration and stress management, to addictions and depression.

Many American hospitals use HeartMath. Our local emergency room staff at Duke Hospital, one of the top American hospitals, uses HeartMath to lower doctor’s and nurses’ stress level.

HeartMath breathing techniques is easy to learn and easy to apply even by children as young as three years of age.

Marilyn Shannon can be reached at:
(919) 362-7133
http://www.powerofdialogue.com/

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3. Acupuncture Center of Cary provides gentle Japanese style acupuncture since 1996

After returning home to the United States she had the opportunity to learn Japanese acupuncture with well-known acupuncturist Kiiko Matsumoto, who studied with many top acupuncture masters in Japan.

In 1995 Bonnie moved back to North Carolina, where she was born, and established Acupuncture Center of Cary with her husband Dr. Richard Shwery, OMD, L.Ac. (who has thirty years of experience).

The World Health Organization has established that acupuncture is effective against almost forty diseases, including those of gynecology, gastroenterology, urology and neurology.

“Japanese style acupuncture is somewhat different from the traditional Chinese methods. The acupuncture points are the same, though the location of some points is slightly different, and a few extra points are used,” said Bonnie Shwery, MA, L.Ac. “The main philosophy is to determine the organ that is not functioning properly, and to improve the whole system to bring the affected organ into balance. Japanese needles are also thinner and the insertion technique is gentler and more comfortable.”

“Diagnosing is also different,” she continued. “In the Japanese system we use abdominal palpation to determine the tender points that show patterns of disharmony in the body. And then we use needles to bring the body back into harmony”.

Many people come to get relief from pain and inflammation, including back pain and arthritis. Acupuncture can help regulate most body processes, such as:

* blood pressure (hypertension and hypotension),
* digestion,
* gynecological problems,
* fertility and morning sickness,
* anxiety.

It reduces sinus congestion, lessens allergic reactions and reduces stress and insomnia to name a few more. Some diseases, like blood sugar problems, can be treated in the very early stages at the acupuncturist’s office before it develops into a full-blown medical condition.

With the combined experience of more than fifty years the husband-wife team at Acupuncture Center of Cary offers alternative ways of treatment and prevention to the growing Triangle community.

They can be reached at:
Acupuncture Center of Cary
http://www.acupuncturecenterofcary.com
875 Walnut Street, Suite 320
Cary, NC, 27511
Telephone (919) 461-0730

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3. Acupuncture Relieves Fibromyalgia !

Marina Lando, MS, RM, 1059 CRP

Single oils:

* Bergamot – uplifting
* Chamomile for relaxation
* Clary sage – natural antidepressant
* Dalmatian Sage – balancing and uplifting
* Frankincense – balancing, natural antidepressant
* Geranium – balancing
* Grapefruit, mandarin, sweet orange, lemon – uplifting
* Jasmine – emotionally warming and uplifting, natural antidepressant
* Melissa – natural antidepressant
* Neroli – natural antidepressant
* Peppermint – uplifting
* Rose – calming, uplifting, natural antidepressant
* Rosemary – uplifting
* Rovensara – balancing
* Sweet thyme – relaxing
* Tea-Tree – uplifting
* Ylang ylang – sedative

Blends:

* Mix lavender, marjoram and clary sage to ease anxiety.
* Blend grapefruit and ylang ylang for a lift.
* Blend bergamot (uplifting) with vetiver (known in India as oil of tranquility) and rose

More advice:

“Lavender plant is the best. You can carry a piece of it in your pocket and smell it when you’re stressed. Also Lavender Oil drops mixed in with any Lavender spray. I spray my pillows and myself with it!!”, – suggested Rachel Lynne

Or

“Cook something with lemon and basil then take a nice calming bath with lavender and eucalyptus”,- wrote Kasey Marie

So what to choose? It is simple. Trust your senses. Choose the smell you like most and enjoy your life.

Contributors:Marina Lando, Heather Thomas, Angela Jane Adams, Farida Moolla, Rachel Lynne, Kelly Finbow, Ewa Majchrzak, Kasey Marie, Renee Zepeda, Barbara-Lynn Freed, Cherie Tice. Farida Moolla, Jam Chang

More info:

Join the group or read recent posts
Purchase therapeutic grade essential oils

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* Don’t spend too much time in the dark room
* Walk in the park
* Stop watching TV.
* Allow yourself at least 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep (8-9 hrs. is better)
* Spend more time with your family, friends, significant other, and your pet.
* Spend 15 minutes a day bathing in the sunlight (do not use sun block)
* Make love on a regular basis

Food and depression:

* Drink plenty of clean water
* Drink Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) tea.
* Don’t eat processed food.
* Don’t eat any food that have a lot of sugar and/or corn syrup
* Cut on fat
* No coffee or caffeinated drinks.

Essential oils that promote good mood and fight anxiety and depression: Bergamot, Frankincense, Ylang ylang, Neroli, Lemon, Cypres, Lavender, Melissa, Rose, Clary sage

Therapies for anxiety and depression:

* Reiki – promotes peace and tranquility
* Acupuncture - helps with stress, depression and anxiety
* Therapies with Psychologist – helps to deal with causes of depression

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