Our goal is to provide authentic healing formulas that stimulate the innate propensity for positive change.
Navigating the Mind Fields fo Daily Stress
“If you ask what is the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say, "avoiding worry, stress, and tension." And if you didn't ask me, I'd still have to say it.”
—George F. Burns
As a flower essence practitioner and aromatherapist, Anamarie came to me with blinding headaches; the first question I asked was what was going on in her life. As we talked she revealed her issues were three-fold and all related to financial difficulties. As a freelance interior designer jobs were slowing down while bills kept on coming, her husband was on medical leave, and there was no telling when or if he would be able to work again and to top it all off her son was still in college and the money was running out. I had no specific answers for her life issues; they would have to resolve themselves. But we did some exercises to put these challenges into perspective. We took a piece of paper and wrote down the possibilities of how to bring in more money and how to downsize her bills and then the last thing we did was write down the worse case scenario and how she could live and work through it. This effort was done to work on her sense of helplessness, she felt she was in a hole and there was no way out. Through this exercise she discovered a number of things she actually could do. In the immediate moment what she really needed was to reduce the stress in her life that was debilitating her body and mind, compounding everything. The last thing she wanted was to add drugs to the mix, that’s the reason she came to me in the first place.
“Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.”
—Chinese Proverb
A Perfect Solution for Stress Reduction
Flower Essences can help diminish stress levels so that you can move forward in your life. Once stress in under control the immune system is restored and harmony and balance is reestablished in your life. I worked with Anamarie giving her a number of flower essences for anxiety, exhaustion, excessive worry and helplessness. I also added aromatherapy and some powerful stress relief practices as a holistic complimentary therapy. Within two weeks, she was feeling better, more positive and her headaches were slowly fading away. She was able to implement some of the marketing strategies we explored to get her freelance work back on track. The main result was that she began to accept her challenges rather than resist and combat them.
Especially, in today's uncertain times, we can all relate to the fact that stress can literally wreak havoc on a body's systems. Yet, with new and emerging wellness options and alternative complimentary paradigms we can make healthier lifestyle choices and discover an enhanced quality of life to face any challenges that may come our way.
A Few Flower Essences to Help with Stress
Flower Essences are herbal infusions that uniquely address emotional and mental aspects of wellness. In simple terms, it is a tincture harvested from nature; an imprint of its core essence. Essences fortify, support, and stabilize one’s emotions. The results range from renewed energy and the ability to identify new insights in a positive way.
Lotus (Himalayan)
The symbolic lotus flower is mentioned in many of the Eastern wisdom texts. This beautiful flower rises from the mud of the murky pond. As a flower essence, found in the heart of the Himalayas, it is a spiritual elixir, which helps to calm the mind and balance emotions.
Impatiens (Bach)
As its name implies this helps to ward off impatience and bring a calming acceptance to situations that may ordinarily bother us.
Bistort (Bailey)
Change is often a major challenge and can bring much anxiety and stress. Even small daily changes in our schedule can provoke a reaction. This remedy brings positive encouragement and support during this time.
Opium Poppy (Alaskan)
In the rugged landscape of the Alaskan mountains the perennial flower opium poppy survives the hot summer and frigid winter. As a flower essence it helps to find a true balance between activity and rest, especially during deep exhaustion and difficult life lessons.
Chamomile (Californian)
This is both an herb and plant that often grows like a weed on the side of the road throughout the northern hemisphere. Used as an herbal tea to relax you before bed, as a flower essence like its bright yellow flower and delicate scent, it brings serenity and emotional balance—especially to the stomach area, where stress often resides.
Black-Eyed Susan (Australian Bush)
This is a lovely flower that grows in the Australian outback, with its contrasting leaves and deep black eye. As a flower essence it helps you slow down, turn inward, and be still. It’s perfect for those who don’t know how to step down from the overflowing commitments of everyday life.
“With subtly developed body awareness, it is possible for the individual to
become the conscious orchestrator of health.”
—Jean Houston
Aromatherapy to Head-Off Stress
Essential oils are inhaled into the respiratory and olfactory systems offering psychological and physical therapeutic benefits. The aroma of the natural essential oil stimulates the brain to trigger a reaction.
Orange Oil
The scent of orange helps to promote calm and relaxation. In one study, when the essential oil of orange was diffused into the air it was found to have a relaxing effect on people in a dentist’s waiting room. This was compared to a control group who sat in the waiting room without any aroma. It was also noted that women, in particular, felt lower levels of anxiety and a more positive mood when exposed to the orange oil.
Hint: For an afternoon snack, peel an orange. Before eating the orange and discarding the peel, take a good, long whiff of the strong aroma that emanates from the pith inside of the peel, which contains its essential oil.
Lavender Oil
One of the best oils for heading off stress is lavender. It has been found to increase alpha waves (found in adults who are in a relaxed state), in those people who inhaled the essence of lavender. In one study the individuals who received the lavender treatment were more relaxed and calm. In another controlled trial in Ireland, it was found that long-stay neurology hospital patients felt less psychological distress and improved moods when they used the aromatherapy treatment, which included lavender, as well as tea tree, and rosemary.
Hint: Keep lavender hand cream in your workspace or burn lavender candles.
Take an Aromatherapy Break
In times of stress if one takes a few deep breaths while inhaling a soothing essential oil it can produce an almost immediate sense of calm and relaxation. For a quick and simple aromatherapy break put a drop of a single essential oil or a blend onto a tissue and inhale.
Managing Stress through Conscious Awareness In the 1970s J. Krishnamurti coined the terms “the observer” and “the observed.” Becoming the observer of life rather than its prisoner is very liberating. When we become the observer we let go of our intense attachments and step back to simply observe without judgment and labeling. It may not be easy at first since we have been conditioned to label and judge from our earliest childhood. But we can begin to make the practice of observing a natural habit.
“Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment
is the only one you know you have for sure.”
—Oprah Winfrey
Practice
When you find yourself confronted with a challenge, or before the normal reactions set in, turn it around and see if you can see it from the nonjudgmental perspective of the observer rather than the participant. It’s like sitting in an airport and watching the “show” of people coming and going, witnessing the happy reunions or strained relationships playing out in front of you. But they do not affect you in any way. Make your own life the witness to the play in front of you.
“Knowledge is learning something every day. Wisdom is letting go of something every day.”
—Zen Proverb
