SLEEP SUPPORT AND DEEPER REST

Studies have shown that inadequate rest is more than just frustrating: Poor sleep has been linked to a greater risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.  Sleeping pills may help with acute sleep problems but generally aren’t helpful for chronic insomnia. Most carry risky side effects, which can include addiction or even an increased risk of early mortality.  In contrast, taking non-addictive, natural alternatives listed below may gently help adjust your body and brain chemistry to promote relaxation and making it easier to fall asleep. The key is to have deeper rest.  I am sure anyone who is reading this blog has had the same situation of having a full night’s sleep and feeling more tried then when you went to bed. And imaged that we probably went several rounds in a boxing match with our pillow. 

I can identify with that, because: as a young single mother, my daily routine Monday to Friday started at 6:00 a.m. in the morning, with fixing breakfast, and double-checking that consent forms were signed. I touched up my hair, and then made sure my child was properly attired in her school uniform. Then I took her to school; which was a ten-minute walk. We had two smooches at the school entrance door. The day continued with a thirty-minute drive to work, eight hours in the office and another thirty minutes going back towards home. I would pick up my daughter from after school, fix and eat dinner, check homework, have a conversation, laugh, talk, give a bath and then tuck her into bed with another two smooches. Oh! And remember to check the answering machine for messages. And through all that activity I didn’t feel washed out or over tried and managed only to have a good three to four hours of restful sleep.  

Now, when I reach home in the evening I find it difficult to wind down, with the onset of having a compulsion to catch up with my evening routine the moment I walk through the door, I am checking messages on the answering machine, and emails on the computer. I find myself mentally over tried because my mind is over stimulated. And sometimes during the week I would find it difficult to have adequate rest and insomnia would triumph. In my quest to find a sleep aid for myself I came across an herbal extract made of Valerian and Passion Flower along with the supplements listed below.  They are not intended to treat any conditions or illnesses. It is also a good idea to speak with your health care provider before starting to take any new supplements.

L-theanine. Found primarily in green tea, L-theanine boots alpha waves in the brain, promoting mental focus and relaxation. Stronger-flavored (and longer-brewed) varieties of Camellia Sinensis, such as green and black tea, contain more L-theanine. Some research suggests it helps counter caffeine’s stimulating effects. L-theanine capsules contain no caffeine. Suggested Dosage: 50-200 mg up to three times daily.

GABA. Gamma-aminobutyric acid serves both as an amino acid, or protein building block, and as a mood-regulating neurotransmitter. It helps the brain filter out the extraneous, thereby promoting a calmer mood. It may be beneficial to combine GABA with L-theanine. Suggested Dosage: 500 mg one to three times daily, at least one hour apart from food.

Magnesium. You often store tension in your muscles, making it difficult to relax. Muscle cramps are a common sign of magnesium deficiency, according to Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, and medical director of the Nutritional Magnesium Association. Magnesium helps the body relax and produce serotonin, a calming neurotransmitter. Choose a well-absorbed form such as magnesium citrate. Suggested Dosage: 200 mg twice daily.

L-tryprtophan and 5-HTP. L-tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) are two forms of the same nutrient, an amino acid that serves as a key building block of serotonin and, indirectly, of melatonin. Either form can help you drift off to sleep. Suggested Dosage: 50 mg 5-HTP three times daily, with the last dose about 30-60 minutes before bedtime; 500-1,000 mg L-tryptophan before bed.

Melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that regulates your circulation, or daily, body rhythm. Melatonin levels, normally increase toward nightfall, making you sleepy, and then decrease toward morning. When it’s cloudy or when you spend too much time indoors, you’re less likely to dispose of excess melatonin, leaving you feeling sleepy when you should be sharp. To reset your body clock, start with a low dose. Many people can take up to 3 mg nightly. Don’t drive after taking melatonin, and don’t combine it with alcohol or other sedatives. Suggested Dosage: 250- 500 mcg one to two hours before bedtime.

Valerian and hops. Traditional sedative herbs, valerian (Valeriana officinals) and hops (Humulus lupulus) have been used for millennia as folk treatments for insomnia. Several recent studies confirm that taking the herbs together can reduce the time it takes to fall asleep and improve overall sleep quality. Both herbs are available in capsules and tinctures that may contain other soporifics. Suggested Dosage: Follow label directions.

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Do You Have Lint In Your Belly Button

Happy New Year to everyone. Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to serving you, by offering products of quality and value.

If someone walked up to me and asked me what the most neglected area on my body is, I would have said my belly button. Let’s face it; there are times we forget to do a good dig in to get the lint out.

Ask that same question to a hair care professional and the answer would be the scalp. Doesn’t sound feasible since we shampoo, condition and style our hair constantly. Ah! Hello, the scalp is underneath the hair. You know the skin.

Think of the scalp as the foundation with a neighborhood of 130,000 or so deeply rooted follicles. These follicles keep hair strands shiny and healthy by distributing oils and nutrients from root to tip.

Our scalps need to be cleaned and exfoliated just like our faces to remove dead skin cells. Our styling products cause build-up. Sebum and pollutants stick to the dead patches, causing hair to look limp and can slow down hair growth or even cause premature hair loss.

Hair care professionals recommend shampooing once a week to remove buildup on the scalp, increase circulation and clear the skin surface so healthier hair can grow through.
Ask your stylist for recommendations on products you can use between salon visits.

My favorite is Uplifting Shampoo by Organic Root Stimulator (Namaste Laboratories). This shampoo is very affordable and can be found at your local beauty product supply stores. The shampoo gently cleans the hair and exfoliates the scalp, while irrigating the hair follicles and imparting strength and moisture.

What I appreciate about the products developed by this company is its dedication to identifying holistic remedies for healing and the renewal of hair.

My Butt Is In A Rut

I just found out that I am in a rut. Believe me when I tell you I was totally shocked by this discovery. I always though being in a rut meant you couldn’t get started – but it also means you can’t stop. I’m a workaholic and I’ve spent the last two years making sure women have allowed their hair to get a good night’s sleep. Now I have to make sure the rest of my body and everyone else's body gets a good rest.

While using your satin hair care pillowcase make sure you pick the right pillow. Hey! I’ve brought those inexpensive pillows 2 for $5.00 without giving thought to whether my head was being properly supported. Let’s face it when we have a good night’s rest we feel healthier and more focused during the day.

Today we are being made aware of holistic sleep helpers. Aromatherapy is the buzz word for your senses feeling good. Lavender is reported to aid in relaxation, and is being found in such products as fabric softener and dish detergent. Invest in some Lavender fragranced bath products and have a good soak before bedtime. Vanilla is another fragrance that has relaxing properties.

With Father Winter rearing his ugly head a cup of cocoa sounds like a great idea but drinking a cup too close to bed time may hinder your falling to sleep since cocoa contains caffeine.

I made a big booboo. I purchased this wonderful lap tray. You sit it on your lap while in bed or sitting on the sofa. You hardly know it’s there. I thought this would be great to help me read. But give me an inch and I will take a yard. I ended up using my bedroom as an extended office with my bed as the desk. This will stop as I un-rut myself.

And last but not least I have come to have a great admiration for Chamomile Tea. I use it in all my handmade bath and body products because of its soothing qualities. Enjoy a cup.

My Mother Never Told Me Women Can Go Bald

When I was in junior high school many, many years ago, I stopped at a friend’s house after school. Her grandmother was visiting from down south. I remember thinking how regal this woman looked because her hair was extremely long and she had it styled in a fabulous bun on top of her head.

As I was sitting in the living room having a conversation with my friend’s grandmother she started taking her bun apart. As she untied the bun her hair fell down around her shoulders. I was startled because she was completely bald in the middle of her head. I had never seen a bald woman before or even knew that women can go bald.

It became a major concern for me and at a very young age I began to hope that I would not become bald in my golden years. Now that I am in my 50’s I realize I have to do more than hope. We loose 50 to 80 strands of hair per day. It’s a normal situation we shouldn’t be concerned with unless we have a deficiency in our diet or we are in ill health.

Not to worry our lost hair is replaced quickly by new ones. Each hair grows a quarter to a half inch in length each month. It is essential to remember that hair must be treated gently. Excessive stretching and tugging with hard combs and styling appliances, exposure to heat, regular use of rollers, blow drying, perming and coloring can lead to hair loss.

Never ever brush your hair when it is wet, this only leads to their breakage. Many hair manufactures now offer hair products with botanicals (plant extracts). If you use any herbal products on your hair make sure you find out the ingredients. Also conduct a patch test on the inside of your elbow to avoid any allergic reactions.

I'm Too Sexy For My Hair

I have maintained a short hair cut most of my life. Simply because as a working mother it was easy to just get up, moisturize, brush and go. As of late and now that I am in my early fifties I have decided that I want longer hair. Now I am well aware that longer hair will make me look older, but I don’t care. I want longer hair. My stylist has been cringing because I will not let her cut it. Let’s face it the cut and style of your hair can transform your look and personality from oh! my gosh! I am having a very bad hair day to I’m too sexy for my hair glamour. For Breast Cancer Awareness month I wanted to put together a similar event like the one I had read about that was done by a salon in Texas. I wanted this event to help raise money and the event would be a cut-a-thon. Then I realized that wouldn’t work. I am loyal to my stylist and I have only allowed her to cut my hair the last ten years. One Saturday I made the mistake while babysitting my grandsons to take them around the corner to a local barber shop to get their hair cut. I don’t think my son-in-law ever forgave me for deviating from his regular barber. He said their hair was cut slightly crocked. We know that if our hair is cut wrong for the shape of our faces it will detract from our good looks (smile) our charm and glamour which is innate to every face. Also realize that if you mishandle your hair it could lead to your hair becoming the worst feature of your appearance. I know because I’ve been there and done that plenty of times. About eight years ago I decided I wanted to be bold and different for the summer. I wanted my hair to look dark while having a slight purplish tint that should only be noticeable if the light hit my hair a certain way. Well low and behold my hair turned out light, bright lavender. Just a note, never, ever dye your hair on a Sunday night when you have to go to work on Monday morning and you ain’t got time to correct the mistake. Another lesson learned was never compromise on quality. Now I use a natural hair dye, not Henna which is a little too drying for me. But having said that, I recommend Mayonnaise as a great conditioner for dry hair. Depending on the length of your hair, it is recommended to apply approximately a ½ cup. Work it in really well, and then cover your hair with a plastic bag for about fifteen minutes. And of course rise thoroughly and then shampoo as usual. Think of this as a pre-conditioning step