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5 Calming Herbal Teas – Slow Down and Enjoy Life

5 Calming Herbal Teas – Slow Down and Enjoy Life

RELAX, STRESS BUSTERS, TEA

The stresses of daily life can sure take a toll.

 

Sometimes I just need to take a break and reboot my mind back to factory settings. Whether it’s taking a mental break, calming my frazzled nerves, or getting some much needed sleep, a nice cup of the right tea can go a long way to setting me straight again.

Here are some of my favorites when I need a break from this wacky world.  

 

1. Chamomile Tea

One of my go-to gentle calming teas has always been chamomile. Those pretty little daisy-like flowers not only help to calm your nerves and reduce stress, but they can also help to treat insomnia. A cup of chamomile tea before bed has gotten me to sleep on more than one occasion.

Uses: Calming jangled nerves. Insomnia – drink before bed.

How to prepare:

Fresh chamomile: Add chamomile flowers into a pot of freshly boiled water (not boiling) and steep for 5 minutes. Strain before serving.

Dry chamomile: 3-4 tablespoons of dried flowers in 8 ounces of freshly boiled water (not boiling). Steep for 5 minutes. Strain before serving.

Chamomile kind of tastes like fragrant hay to me. If I’m already agitated it’s not going to help calm me down if I’m bumming out on the flavor – lol! So I add a ½ teaspoon of agave sweetener, or 1-teaspoon honey. With a little sweetness everything stays lovely. I pretty much do this with all of them actually.

 

2. Lemon Balm Tea

Lemon Balm has the reputation of relaxing the body without causing drowsiness. Lemon Balm reduces a stress hormone called cortisol so it’s also very helpful in elevating the mood. Lemon Balm is a member of the mint family so there is a touch of mint in addition to it’s lemony scent and flavor.

Uses: Relaxing the body without drowsiness. Lifting one’s mood.

How to Prepare:

Fresh Lemon Balm: 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon balm in 6oz of freshly boiled water. Steep 5 minutes. Strain before drinking.

Dried Lemon Balm: 1 tablespoon dried lemon balm in 6oz of freshly boiled water. Steep 5 minutes. Strain before drinking.

 

3. Passion Flower Tea

Another excellent natural remedy for anxiety and stress is Passion Flower tea. It is a gentle anti-anxiety and mildly sedative herb that can be used to induce a good night’s sleep. Passion Flower is known to be a muscle relaxant as well as containing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

NOTE: Pregnant women or nursing mothers should not take this herb. Also, those on blood pressure medication should not consume this herb as it can lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. Do not take if using other sedatives.

Uses: Anti-anxiety, muscle relaxant, and sleep aid.

How to Prepare:

Dried, Cut Passion Flower: 1 tablespoon dried passionflower in 6oz of freshly boiled water. Steep 10 minutes. Strain before drinking.

 

4. Peppermint Tea

I Love Peppermint! There’s nothing like peppermint when you’re feeling stressed out. Because it has a relaxing scent and no caffeine, it makes a very nice tea to drink before bed.

How to Prepare:

Fresh Peppermint: 2 Tablespoons fresh peppermint in 6oz of freshly boiled water. Steep 5 minutes. Strain before drinking.

Dried Peppermint: 1 tablespoon dried peppermint in 6oz of freshly boiled water. Steep 5 minutes. Strain before drinking.

 

5. Rose Tea

Roses and Rosebuds have been used in tea and medicines for thousands of years. In addition to Rose’s long list of benefits it also helps to reduce stress and anxiety. The calming effects of rose tea are excellent for helping you to sleep well.

Uses: Anti-anxiety and sleep aid.

How to Prepare:

Dried Rose Petals: 1 tablespoon dried rose petals in 6oz of freshly boiled water. Steep 10 minutes. Strain before drinking.

Fresh Rose Petals: Wash petals thoroughly before adding them to boiling water. Reduce heat and steep for 10 minutes until petals turn dark. Strain before drinking.

 

Bottom Line

As with any relaxing moment you must savor it. Don’t just chug these teas – sip them, enjoy the fragrance, the warmth, and allow yourself to slip into a soothing moment. Put on some meditative music, write in your journal, or just stare out the window.

No matter what you do, be sure to create a space between you and the rest of the world.

Keep your focus on the positive and in no time you’ll begin to feel more refreshed and ready to take on the next challenge with a clearer head and a much better perspective.

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Using Fragrance for a Peaceful Atmosphere and Happy Vibe

Using Fragrance for a Peaceful Atmosphere and Happy Vibe

AROMATHERAPY, Meditation, RELAX, STRESS BUSTERS

Creating different moods in your home is easy with carefully chosen scents.

 

Whether it’s in a candle, incense, or aroma sticks, scents can have invigorating or calming effects on the entire household.

When deciding what type of atmosphere you’re looking to create, choose your scent based on the age-old science of aromatherapy.

If you just need to kick back, bathe away your stress, or simply meditate then Lavender, Sandalwood or Vanilla could be exactly what you need. But if you’re having a fall or winter party you’ll want something bold like cinnamon or clove for a warm inviting feeling. For a summer party, perhaps a bright scent like lemon or pineapple to keep your guests happy and chatty.

 

Keep the following basic essential oils on hand.

You can also find candles or aroma sticks that include these essential oils in their list of ingredients.

Lavender

Breathe in this calming scent and prepare to drift off into a calm, meditative state. Be careful when using lavender scented candles; you may find yourself closing your eyes and falling into a deep sleep. This is never a good idea when a fire is burning in your room – even a small one atop the wick of your candle. Therefore, to achieve the calming effects of the scented candle and still stay safe, burn your lavender candle an hour before bedtime. Snuff it out before you climb into bed. Relax and enjoy the calm.

Eucalyptus

These leaves are good for more than a koala bear’s diet. Eucalyptus is a strong minty scent that helps lessen muscle tension, clear the sinuses and bring about an all-around feeling of alertness. It is often overwhelming in large doses, but in smaller amounts, it can be just the scent you need to feel renewed.

Peppermint

The smell of Peppermint is invigorating and makes one feel refreshed. Studies have shown that students who chew peppermint flavored gum before a test get higher scores. Light scented candles infused with peppermint while you re studying for that next term paper.

Lemon

Decrease your stress level and make any room smell squeaky clean by lighting some scented candles or aroma sticks infused with essential lemon oil.

Sandalwood

Think Zen. This ancient aromatherapy favorite lends a sweet, woodsy scent to the room, bringing those who inhale it closer to the earth and thus closer to true fulfillment.

Vanilla

Bring back visions of home by lighting a vanilla scented candle. A sweet reminder of happy days, vanilla delights the senses. Imagine warm sugar cookies baking in an oven, and you have a good idea of the aroma a quality scented vanilla candle exudes. Make sure you do not pair your vanilla candle with one that is designed to invigorate if you are looking to wind down after a tough day.

Those are just a few of the basic scents to start your essential oil collection with. There are many more on the market today to choose from including loads of designer blends  to cover all of your changing moods.

Watch for more posts regarding the power of fragrance coming soon!

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The Problem with Too Much Information – Take the Time to Breathe

The Problem with Too Much Information – Take the Time to Breathe

RELAX, STRESS BUSTERS

Information is everywhere.

 

The internet fills our screens 24/7 with anything and everything we can possibly want to know. Then the dreaded “pop ups” pull us off track even further into yet another article that we seem to “have to read right now”. It’s like drinking water from a fire hydrant. Much of it will spill out and be lost.

Everyone is in such a hurry these days trying to do too much with too little time. We live in a “gotta have it now” society and we’re fast-forwarding through our lives while missing the best part – the present moment. Unfortunately our minds and bodies are paying the price from lack of sleep, improper nutrition, and numerous other stresses of living in today’s world.  

Feeling Too Much Stress

One of the main symptoms of information overload is to feel stress. Some people feel like their brain is being bombarded by so much information that it’s as though it comes in one side and goes out the other. This causes people to forget things, which makes the stress build.  

Lack of Confidence

When there is so much contrary information available, it’s hard for people to choose the right course of action. For example, there are numerous reports that spanking is both bad for kids and good for kids. How do you know what information is right and what is wrong, and how do you proceed? The lack of confidence can cause people to not make any choices or feel bad about the choices they make.  

Improper Information Filtering

When too much information is transmitted, the person receiving it often shuts off in a way. Normally the filtering process categorizes information as important or not important, but when there is too much there is often improper filtering called twigging. This essentially means that everything is general and all information is the same.  

Not Knowing What’s Right or Wrong

When there is so much information with seemingly factual studies supporting them, it’s hard to know what’s factually correct or wrong.

 

Feeling Confused about Common Knowledge

When you don’t know what information is real, what’s right and wrong, and you can’t see the details for the forest, it leads to confusion about things that people generally know to be true about the world.  

Increasing the Fear of Change

When you can’t determine what the information you receive means, it can cause you to fear change because you don’t know if that change is good or bad. Since information overload leads to black and white thinking, this can increase the fear of change that most people have naturally.

 

Taking on Too Much Too Fast

Sometimes information overload can make people feel as if they can multitask everything and do more than they can. But the truth is, as shown in study after study, humans aren’t designed for multitasking. Check out this Forbes article about multitasking:  Multi-tasking Damages Your Brain and Career New Studies Suggest – Forbes – By Travis Bradberry.

 

Bottom Line

You can work toward controlling information overload. Limit your exposure to screens and try to focus on what you’re doing at the time you’re doing it. Take 15-20 minute breaks. Avoid multitasking whenever you can especially if it’s necessary to absorb the information at hand properly.

 

Views: 60