MAGNESIUM

Have you ever found yourself lost in the magnesium jungle?
There are many forms of Magnesium, here is a list of the most helpful ones:

MAGNESIUM GLYCINATE
well absorbed by the body, very calming, great for better sleep and to cope with anxiety. Also helps with pms.
preferred time to take: in the evening

MAGNESIUM MALATE
well absorbed by the body, helps to relax your muscles and might even be helpful if you have migraines
preferred time to take: in the evening

MAGNESIUM THREONATE
well absorbed by the body, great for the brain – it can improve cognitive function.
preferred time to take: in the morning

MAGNESIUM CITRATE
the most common form of magnesium.
might help if you suffer from constipation – but be careful not to take too much

MAGNESIUM OXIDE
not well absorbed by the body, but it can be very helpful to get regular bowel movements

PRO TIP: rich sources of magnesium are greens, nuts, seeds, dry beans, whole grains, wheat germ, wheat and oat bran.

how to breathe

1. Use your nose
Breathing through the nose can slow the breath and make the lungs work more efficiently. It also facilitates the intake of nitric oxide, which helps with oxygen transportation throughout the body.
It helps: 

• filter toxins and allergens from the air, thereby preventing them from entering the body
• warm air that is too cold
• humidify air that is too dry

However, breathing through the mouth is sometimes necessary if a person is exercising or has sinus congestion.

2. And Your Belly
Humans are “belly breathers,” and just above your stomach is a major muscle in the respiration process, the diaphragm. Proper breathing starts in the nose and then moves to the stomach as your diaphragm contracts, the belly expands and your lungs fill with air. “It is the most efficient way to breathe, as it pulls down on the lungs, creating negative pressure in the chest, resulting in air flowing into your lungs.”

(via: The American Lung Association)

3. Breathe with the book
A therapist showed me how to relax and strengthen the diaphragm: Lie on your back, a thick book on your upper abdomen. Now breathe in on a count of 5 while lifting the book. Exhale on 5 and lower the book again.

(also helped me with tachycardia)

vegan options to support your adrenals

You can nourish and revitalize your adrenal glands by combining fruits and vegetables rich in the essential minerals. Ideally your meals should contain a balance of potassium, sodium, and natural sugar (i.e. from fruits, which contain critical nutrients, not table sugar!) 

Examples of adrenal-supportive meals include:

  • A date (potassium), two celery sticks (sodium), an apple (sugar)
  • Half an avocado (potassium), spinach (sodium), an orange (sugar)
  • A sweet potato (potassium), parsley (sodium), lemon squeezed on kale (sugar)

find out more at medicalmedium: 

https://www.medicalmedium.com/blog/adrenal-fatigue

 
 

burning bay leaves

Bay leaves are not only for tomato sauce: burn them at home to 

  • boost your immune system
  • relief anxiety
  • reduce inflammation
  • repell insects
  • increase mindfulness
  • and to open your respiratory system

(safety first: use a fireproof bowl, carefully light the end of one leaf, place the leaf in the fireproof dish. Never leave burning leaves or even the embers unattended.)

The One Body Part You Shouldn’t Wash In The Shower

For most people, taking a shower means cleaning from head to toe. Though it might be easier to wash your entire body at one go, doctors have pointed out one area to ignore when taking a shower: your face.

Dermatologists note that the face is one of the most sensitive areas of your body, so it’s crucial for it to be cleaned gently. If you’re someone who takes steaming hot showers, leave out your face because the heat can cause long-lasting damage to your skin.

“Hot water and temperatures will dilate blood vessels and capillaries,” Rachel Nazarian, MD, from Schweiger Dermatology Group, informed Marie Claire. “That can leave skin red and aggravate conditions like rosacea, which ultimately leads to broken and permanently dilated vessels.”

 

Doctors Reveal The One Body Part You Shouldn’t Wash In The Shower — designtaxi 
Wait—It’s Bad to Wash Your Face in the Shower?? — marieclaire

Image via Shutterstock

 

4 ways to have a better posture

1 standing — stand with both feet firmly on the ground. Roll your shoulders back and stretch your head, like someone is pulling it towards  the sky

2 sitting — place your feet flat on the floor and roll your shoulders back

3 breathing (don’t hold your breath)

4 keep moving — even micromovements count

How to soothe your cat in heat

If your cat is in heat and for some reason you cannot have it spayed or let it out, here is help:
 
 
All-you-can-eat: Give the cat all the food it wants. Being in heat and hungry is a bad combination.
Cat massage — there is an acupressure point that is really helpful (YouTube Tutorial: here), but if it doesn’t like it, just massage it a bit wilder and more creative than usual
Playtime: Games in which the cat runs and jumps a lot, this is very distracting and makes your cat tired
Herbal remedies — try catnip, it has a calming effect on some cats
Soothing music (YouTube: here)
Isolation: Keep your cat only in one room when going to bed, so that it does not walk around all night.
Bedtime ritual: Try to perform the same ritual every night, for example: Play, massage, food, doors closed, soft music
 

SIX WAYS TO CLEAR YOUR ENERGETIC FIELD

a wonderful article at anima mundi on how to clear your energy

  1. visualize
  2. de-cord
  3. field-clearing
  4. medical baths to seal the aura
  5. clear your physical space
  6. renew your grounding cord

continue reading  here

energy balls

Healthy snacks all day long

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of oatmeal
  • 1 tablespoon of flaxseed
  • 1 tablespoon coconut flakes
  • 3 dried figs
  • 3 dried dates
    (or whatever dried fruit, dried apricots are also delicious)
  • 1 teaspoon peanut butter
    (or almond butter or coconut oil)
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon sugar-cinnamon mixture on a plate

Put all ingredients into a mixer and mix until you have a dough that you can shape well, maybe add some water. But be very careful, the dough should not become too soft.
To create the balls, take a teaspoonful of the dough, roll it between your hands. Then roll the balls in a plate with sugar-cinnamon mixture, so that they are sweet on the outside.
Keep the energy balls in a locked container in the fridge.

Treating COVID-19 Symptoms

We suffered from COVID-like symptoms (we were not tested, so we are not sure exactly what it was). We had coughs, headaches, severe fatigue, and cold symptoms.

What helped us a lot was Olivia’s Orange Peel Tea recipe.

In a large pot, boil the following ingredients:

  • orange peel
  • red onions
  • fennel seeds
  • ginger
  • rosemary
  • sage

Let it simmer for some time and drink all day long.

Thank you, Organic Olivia!

Back Pain

I suffered from backpain for several weeks. I could neither sit nor stand nor lie down. It was extremely painful and I spent nights trying to sleep while cradling a large pillow. The doctors could not help me and painkillers did not work. I was desperate.

I tried many things, but the pain finally disappeared after I followed this regimen:

  • Star anise (for pain)
  • Zilgrei (a self-healing method consisting of breathing and posture therapy;
    I did the exercises in an eBook that I downloaded)
  • Vitamin B

handwriting therapy

The method was invented by Vimala Rodgers, the author of the book “Your handwriting can change your life”. According to her theory, you can change your thought and behavior patterns by changing your handwriting.

Each letter represents something specific. For example, ‘o’ is the letter of verbal communication, ‘n’ is the letter of friendship, ‘i’ is the letter of clear perception and ‘j’ is the letter of intuition.

You only work on one letter at a time. Then you move on to the next one.

I always start by writing an entire alphabet and pick the letter that looks the strangest. Then I write it, in the form suggested by her, for 3 lines, in lower and upper case, as another 3 lines with words that begin, end or contain the letter.

While you write this letter over and over again, you work on the topic. And while you write it in a certain way, it creates space for you to experience the topic with new eyes.

I have been doing this for years now, and I will probably do it forever – it is the only form of meditation that works for me.

 

when you wake up at night

I inherited this trick from my grandmother: she always had a little piece of chocolate by her bed. When she woke up at night, the little piece of chocolate would help her to fall asleep again quickly. (please don’t tell your dentist)

Rosemary

Rosemary tea helps if you suffer from COVID-like symptoms: 

Put twigs of fresh rosemary and sage in a teapot and add boiling water. Let it sit for a while. 

(I never take the herbs out of the pot, so the tea becomes more intense with time. It also smells good.)

honey and cinnamon

You can cure almost everything with honey and cinnamon—both are antibacterial and anti-inflammatory and fight fungal infections

  • they boost immunity
  • they treat digestive problems
  • they contain minerals, vitamins, and other essential nutrients
  • they lower the risk of heart disease
  • they cure throat problems
  • they treat coughs and colds

plus: they are even a potent antidepressant!

All you need is a tablespoon of honey and the same amount of ground cinnamon. Mix it until you have a paste and eat it as a snack or tiny desert.

How to get unstuck

Chris Do from thefutur.com says we’re often stuck because we’re trying too hard to do the hardest things. He says it’s much better to concentrate on the things that come easily to us.

Start with what’s easy. My new mantra.

Home Office At Night

When I’m working from home, I often receive emails just before the end of the workday or even at weekends. I’m torn between wanting to respond because I’m still working anyways, and wanting my coworkers and clients to respect my free time.

My way to cope with it: I work on the task as much as I want to, I even create the responding email, but I’m not sending it before the next workday. This way, I feel satisfied but not taken advantage of. On the next workday, I’m already one step ahead, which makes a good start. And I get fewer and fewer requests in my free time because no one is used to me working then. If people want me to answer the same day, they hurry to ask me earlier.

So this is my Tipp: don’t answer emails at night or on weekends. Work on them if you want, but whatever you do, don’t hit send.

Rosacea

I had Rosacea for more than a year: My cheeks were red and full of little pimples. Sometimes I felt like just not having skin anymore. Way too often my face started to burn and turn bright red. With make-up, it could be covered a little bit, but not completely. And there was nothing that could have cooled it down. By chance I found out that it became better if I avoided histamine-rich food such as spinach, arugula, strawberries, white wine, chocolate, and soy sauce.

Substitutes for histamine-rich foods:
Strawberries -> Cherries
Arugula -> Lamb’s lettuce
White wine -> Dry martini
Sugar -> Honey, agave syrup
Chocolate -> Licorice
Soy sauce -> Salt and herbs
Aged cheese -> Goat, gouda

But the real gamechanger was bringing dairy back into my diet. I had cut out dairy products a long time ago and replaced them with oat milk, almond milk, and soy products. When I started adding milk to my coffee again, my skin went back to normal. I also stocked up on calcium supplements because that felt right.

Now that my Rosacea is gone, I’m mostly vegan again. Only if there is a hint of a relapse do I steal some of the milk that my spouse keeps in the fridge. The next day my skin is always fine again.

TRIGGERS

I know everyone is different. My cold sores take place between my nose and my lips; there are some triggers I found out.
Those are:

  • almonds in every form (tarte au chocolat, amarettini, almond milk),
  • chocolate, dark and light,
  • sugar in higher doses than I’m used to,
  • the first and last days of my period.

Besides avoiding those triggers when possible, I take a L-Lysine supplement almost every day. I bought a massive amount so I’ll be fine for a year with one jar.

Alone doesn’t mean low or lonely

01
stay in touch with family and friends over the phone or on social media

02
try to keep yourself busy – you could try activities like cooking,
reading, online learning and watching films

03
do light exercise, if you feel well enough to

HOW TO REST

Make yourself comfortable:

  1. Stay home to rest and reduce the risk of spreading the disease.
  2. Take paracetamol to help ease your symptoms.
  3. Stay in touch with family and friends over the phone or on social media, to help you avoid feeling low or lonely.

Lemon Ginger Tea

Boost your immune system:

1 fresh lemon, squeezed:
gives you fresh breath, acts as an immunity booster, improves skin and helps with digestion

1-inch fresh ginger root:
detoxifies, helps with digestion,
1 cup of boiling water

leave to steep for 3 mins or until cool enough to sip.

optional: honey or other sweeteners of your choice
optional II: 1 shot good quality whiskey  (nothing that would give you headaches)

enjoy!

All around my mouth

My lips and my mouth seem to be my weakest spots. I have several problems, and this is what helped me so far:

Cracks in the corners of the mouth:
everything iron, supplements, and iron-rich food

For a sore tongue:
saltwater gargling, vitamin B, brushing your teeth often with a gentle toothbrush and a sensitive toothpaste, avoiding acids.

One thing

As an HSP and an Introvert I’m sometimes dreaming of a life that is uncomplicated, adventurous and filled with fun and ease.  I am afraid of things that are pretty natural for most people. I assume.

To challenge me, I try to do one thing that scares me every day. Only one. A real door opener. And it provides me with the feeling that I have done something. It’s therapy. That’s what this “One thing” is all about.

Start with a random list of things:

If I weren’t too shy I would…
… go to this shiny store, smile at the saleswoman, get lost in the products.
… make this call. It’s just a call.
… write this email.
… try a new yoga center.
… go to the farmer’s market.

Today’s “One thing” is all about recalibrating your habits in ways that help you to participate more without feeling drained. Babysteps!

Pain.

Star Anise

For what: Toothache.
Remedy: A tea made from freshly ground star anise.

This helped me when no medicine did.

Small Talk

Are you desperately looking for topics when it comes to small talk?
What helps me is the random question:

First, choose one of the W words:
What, when, why, which, where, who?
Stick to it.
Then add something that refers to the last sentence your conversation partner said.

For example:
“We were in Chile this winter.”
— “What did you eat?”
— “Where would you go next?”
— “Who joined you?”

or:
“I read a book on Sartre.”
— “When will you finish it?”
— “What is your favorite bookshop?”
— “What’s on the cover?”

I often surprise myself with this method. Let’s talk.

Screen Eyes

Screens are everywhere — desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones. In the evening, your eyes are exhausted. One possible trigger is the UV-A, UV-B, and blue light rays that make you tired.

What helps is blue light filters. You can get an extra pair of anti-blue ray computer glasses or you can simply get blue light filter lenses for your favorite frame.

Caution: Taboo for designers, artists, or other people who depend on true-color display. The glasses have a slight tint and everything looks yellowish when you wear them, which makes it very difficult to judge colors correctly.

Sea Salt

Sea salt peeling for oily skin

You do not need expensive peelings at all. Just take some fine sea salt,
Mix it with olive or coconut oil or just use it pure:
on wet skin in the shower. Massage your skin gently,
rinse it off thoroughly – your skin is smooth and clean.

(To be on the safe side, ask a dermatologist first)

concentration, creativity, etc.

I have a decent collection of mushrooms, in the form of pills and powder. 3 of them I use regularly:

1. concentration
When I need a brainbuster that makes me clear, focused and goal-oriented, Hericium is my favorite. It works immediately. Nice side effect: It seems to keep my digestion in order.

2. creativity
I like to take Gotu Kola in the evening. It makes my creative juices flow in a friendly and gentle way.
Once I took it in the morning before I went to a meeting and I found it hard to communicate – so I didn’t try again.

3. general well-being
Reishi is a mushroom that can be taken as a cure. I like to take it in the evening, after dinner (that’s why I take it when I want to lose weight.)

Preparation: Combine one spoon of the Reishi powder with hot water in a tiny cup, like an espresso. Yes, it is bitter. But so good.

Clear your space overnight

A simple way to make you feel less hazy or stuck, or to clear a space after an argument:

Cut a lemon into wedges. Put the wedges into two glasses of water and arrange them on both sides of the bed. Leave them overnight. It will help clear the air.

Idea: Dana Claudat from fengshuidana.com