Reset Sunday: Stop working and have fun!

This Reset Sunday post is going to be short and sweet. This is the time of year for spring cleaning, organizing, and checking off to-do lists. While these are all worthy pursuits, it is easy to get caught up in all the things we need to do to keep our lives in order and running somewhat smoothly. We tend to glorify working and "being busy." Don't tell me you don't get a little rush of self-importance every time you tell someone you have been "really busy". It's only natural to feel happy to be engaged in your work and your pursuits. But just as important, if not more important is the ability to set yourself free from your to-do's and your chores and even your big dreams for at least one day and just do something that is purely fun without a specific goal or end in mind. What taps you into the spirit of play? I challenge you, especially if this has been missing from your life lately, to clear the slate of an entire day for fun. Play hooky from work. Find a babysitter. Leave the bathroom messy, the laundry dirty. Be irresponsible just for a day. Don't be tricked into believing that you have to be productive all the time. Let go for now, for a day, and do something spontaneous and purely fun instead. Don't over-think it! Just set yourself free!

Reset Sunday: Wet Earth, Lemons, and your Sense of Smell

The smell of damp earth instantly transports me to the beloved forests of my childhood. I feel peaceful,  awake, and curious just as I did then. The smell of jasmine gives me that languid, relaxed feeling that summer is on it's way. The sun will linger longer and time will stretch out like a golden cat in the middle of an afternoon nap. The smell of lemon makes me feel fresh and alert, tuning in to the energy of the perfect morning filled with potential and renewal.

Smell is very direct and often psychologically powerful. At the end of you nasal passage, behind the nose is a cluster of neurons about the size of a postage stamp that's exposed to the air. These neurons are covered with cilia, hair-like structures that increase surface area. Molecules from everything that you can smell float into your nose, bind to the cilia, and send a message through the neuron. This is how you smell that fresh baked bread, that spring of wild rosemary, and everything else. 

This week, for Reset Sunday, I propose we tune in to our sense of smell and experiment with its affects on our mood and mind-set. 

5 Ways to Use the Sense of Smell for Self-discovery and Healing

1. Tune-in. Take some deep breaths through out the day and notice what you are smelling and how you are feeling. See if tuning into the smell changes you how you feel. Maybe it simply pulls you out of your head and into the moment. When you walk to your car in the morning, smell the air. It will put you in direct contact with your surroundings.
   
2. Smell your food before you take a bite. Enjoying the aroma of our food can help slow us down before we start eating. It can initiate a mindful attitude and tune us in to the quality of our food. Notice the feeling, memories, or sensations associated with each smell. This process will enrich your meal and it can provide insight into your food choices.
   
3. Rose Water. If you have never had a mister of rose water on hand, I suggest you pick one up and enjoy it's magical powers. :) If you wake up feeling groggy, grumpy or anxious misting yourself with rose water can instantly transport you to a lovely garden where fairies frolic and elves dance. Even if it doesn't swoop you into fantasia, rose water helps break up a negative thoughts and reminds you of the good simple things in life. Use it when you are feeling angry, sad, bored, scared, or just plain blah. You can find rose water at health food stores or online. The rose water I have on my bedside table is Heritage Products Rosewater. I love it and spray it daily.
   
4. Burning sage and/or palo santo. Both of these you light with a match and then blow out the flame, letting it smoke. You can carry it around your home, smudging your rooms with the smoke. Traditionally, the smoke is said to clear darkened or stagnant energies. I personally find that smudging with palo santo and sage combines a meditative ritual with a wonderful earthy smell that is calming and grounding.
   
5. Experiment with essential oils. You can find essential oils at natural food stores or online. I like the Young Living Essences a lot and many of the Aura Cacia essences as well. I like to carry Lavender essential oil in my purse when I go into the office. Whenever I feel stressed or disconnected, I pull it out and take a moment to smell it. Somehow, it helps me relax and keep my projects and deadlines in perspective. Offices can be devoid of nourishing scents. These sumptuous aromas can reinvigorate and bring a smile to your face even in the dreary land of plastic, metal and fluorescent lights.
   
   I suggest you choose your essential oils by actually smelling them and seeing which ones have the most noticeable effect on you. Usually, there are testers in stores. If you are still not sure which ones to get or need to buy them online, you can also use this aromatherapy chart to help you decide.
   
   My current favorites from the Young Living line are: Lavender, Peace and Calming, Theives, Lemon and Peppermint. The essential oil my boyfriend can not live with out is Wyndmere Joyful Spirit. Another favorite from my best friend's essential oil collection is Aura Cacia Pep Talk which is the amazingly sunshiny combination of orange and peppermint.

Reset Sunday: Herbal Play

Dandelion, while considered a weed by most people, has many healing properties

There are so many amazing healing plants and medicinal mushrooms out there, that it is easy to get overwhelmed and not try any of them or just stick to a few favorite standby's and not exploresomething new. This week, chose one herb or medicinal mushroom that you would like to learn more about and try. You can use you intuition to pick one or you can research according to a specific ailment or condition. If you want to try chinese herbs, I would suggest making an appointment with an acupuncturist or an herbalist to procure the perfect formula. When researching your herb, ask the following questions:

1. What are the health benefits?
2. How is it traditionally prepared (in a tea, as a powdered supplement, fresh, as a tincture)?
3. Are there any contraindications or precautions you need to take?
4. Is it a tonic herb that you take daily to support your health or is it something you take short-term to help heal an acute condition like a urinary tract infection or a cold?
5. What is the recommended dosage?
6. Where can I find the most potent organic or wild-harvested version of this plant? (Don't trust pre-made formulas from unknown or unrecommended websites/companies. Many places make lofty cure-all claims and the quality or there herbs may not be up to standard.)

After you have researched and sourced the herb, experiment with it and see if you notice any changes to your health. I have found herbal support to be crucial in preventing colds and flus, restoring my health when I start to feel sick or run-down, and in curing infections.

You may be able to find the herbs you are looking for in your local health food store but remember that not all herbal products have the same potency and hence, effectiveness. Here are some resources for finding organic/wild-harvested herbs and mushrooms online:

Mountain Rose Herbs: a great place to buy a wide variety of bulk loose leaf herbs

Ultimate Superfoods: a place to find a selection of ayurvedic herbs as well as high-quality superfoods

Banyan Botanicals: organic ayurvedic herbs

Mushroom Harvest: my source for all medicinal mushrooms such as reishi and cordyceps

The following are 3 products that I use to stop myself from getting colds and flus. They are not cheap but if I take them when I start feeling sick, I can kick the illness before it gets me. The Echinacea and Super Tonic, I take when I notice a lot of people around me seem to be catching colds or if I am really busy and may be taxing my immune system more than usual. I also take them if it would be particularly inconvenient time to get sick. If I feel the slightest signs of sickness such as a tickle in my throat or general fatigue, these are my first defense. The Cold and Flu Herbal shots, I take when I feel that I am truly getting sick or the symptoms are worsening quickly and they seem to restore my health fairly quickly. 

Echinacea plus

Super Tonic

Cold and Flu Herbal Shots

Here is a short list of some of my favorite healing plants and mushrooms:

Ginger root (tea or fresh): soothes nausea, fights colds and sore throats, aids digestion

Mint (tea): aids digestion, invigorating

Roasted Dandelion Root (tea): liver support

Reishi Mushrooms (tea, tincture, powdered): immune booster, many healing properties make this a great daily tonic

Echinacea (tincture): powerful immune booster

Garlic (fresh, tincture, juice): fights colds, immune booster, anti-oxidant rich, may prevent heart disease

Tumeric (fresh, powder): anti-inflammatory, extremely healing and can be used daily in cooking and as a supplement

Dianthus formula: chinese herbal formula for treatment of UTI's 

 If you find any herbs that you that you particularly like, please share your experiences with them in the comments. I am always excited to learn about new plants and enjoy their healing properties. Good luck on your herbal journey.