It seems almost unbelievable that we’re approaching the end of 2020 (already?). What a year. Not what we expected.
In times of crisis it’s all about solutions. If you get a worrying diagnosis, get another opinion or perhaps better, another opinion from a practitioner specialising in a different modality or approach.
I believe in the intelligence of nature and our own bodies’ healing capacity if we do everything right instead of regarding an illness as a battle.
The terminology about “fighting” a disease is a double edged sword, but whatever works for the individual, that’s what is most important. And there are diseases like Alzheimer’s which are beginning to be halted or reversed – look at US neurologist Dr Dale Bredesen’s work for example. (Book: The End Of Alzheimer’s) Over 2,000 cases now improved or reversed, with some patients returning to work after not being able to leave the house. Dr Bredesen would be on my Nobel Prize list and his ReCode Protocol is being rolled out in other countries by ReCode practitioners. He started with just 9/10 successful outcomes among a tiny group and the numbers are multiplying. Or CBD, which is helping some Parkinsons sufferers.
Although Dr Bredesen’s is a scientific approach, it’s the many nutrients and supplements he recommends – curcumin, B12 to lower homocysteine, Omega 3, magnesium l-threonate (the only magnesium that crosses the blood-brain barrier) and more – that play a big role here. Brain training, good sleep and exercise are both important, too, of course.
Now on to the products:
So on a positive note, I thought this would be a good time of year to share some Beauty Shortlist Wellbeing Awards (March 2020) winners. I have also personally used every product in this particular edit focusing on managing stress and anxiety.
Speaking of which, ENTRIES ARE NOW OPEN for The 2021 Beauty Shortlist Wellbeing Awards. Click here to view all the new and expanded categories or to enter:
2021 BEAUTY SHORTLIST AWARDS ENTRY FORM
So on with my natural health heroes recommendations for the new season – the equinox is an important time to deal with any nagging issues or immune system or nutrition weaknesses. Of course sleep, fresh air, sunlight (especially morning), staying in touch with nature, grounding and daily exercise and STRESS MANAGEMENT are all massively important wellbeing and balance boosters.
BetterYou Magnesium Body Spray
In addition to its obvious sports application, this could be worth trying for RSI-related issues. Most of us are magnesium-deficient as it is. What’s more, this is seabed magnesium, naturally purified over 250 million years to guarantee it is free from man-made pollutants and heavy metals. (A best-seller). I’ve just ordered it for tennis elbow which is plaguing me (too much typing at 100mph, clearly RSI-triggered) so I want to find out if it helps with this particular issue which is tendinopathy, excessive tightness and internal scar tissue pain v tendonitis inflammation pain. (One acupuncture session actually helped last week, going back this week).
Hello Day’s Sleep Rest
I remember this supplement clearly as one of the standouts of the 2020 Wellbeing Awards, it worked instantly for me, the first night, and it got rave reviews from the other judges. 10/10!
The ingredients:
Lemon Balm (Melissa) Leaf Extract
Valerian Root Extract
L-Tryptophan
Lime Tree (Linden) Flower Extract
I’ve run out of Sleep Rest but I would happily take these on an ongoing basis. They are small, smooth and easy to swallow tablets. Good sleep and just getting to sleep have been elusive for a lot of people this year and these always work for me.
Garden of Life high-dose vitamin B12 drops
The important side
This bright red all-natural organic raspberry spray delivers a potent dose of B12. If you struggle with fatigue because of say Hashimoto’s, adrenal fatigue, or chronic fatigue, this could be worth trying.
I go back to this product once or twice a year when I feel really tired (eg emotional exhaustion last year when my mum was ill, and this year after she passed away in May). It’s like getting 2 extra hours of sleep daily.
I find it works within 2-3 days. Also good for brain health. And methylcobalamin is the type of B12 you want to be taking. And it’s a *whole food* vitamin which is important.
Bach Flower Remedies (my grief-soothing heroes)
Although almost everybody knows about Rescue Remedy, Bach’s Mimulus is an interesting one for stress with sleep issues because if there is an element of fear, this can work brilliantly. I have been using three remedies together since my mum died, not as much now in fact just occasionally, but I would say they were *the* single things that helped more than anything else for grief in May, June and July.
The 3 I chose are:
– mimulus (fear)
– olive (exhaustion)
And the grief comforter:
– star of bethlehem (grief – worked immediately and I took it every day for a month or so)
Here’s what The Bach Centre says about Mimulus:
…is the remedy for known fears. Whenever you are frightened or anxious about something, and you can say what that ‘something’ is, then Mimulus is the remedy to take.
Mimulus fears are those of every day: fear of public speaking, of the dark, of aggressive dogs, of illness and pain. Phobias can also be Mimulus fears if the cause of the fear – whether spiders, birds or open spaces – can be named. Rock Rose might be preferred where the phobia causes real terror. Where the fear is vague and there is general anxiety and apprehension without a specific named cause, there Aspen might be a better choice.
Mimulus is used as a type or personality remedy for those of us who tend generally to be nervous, timid and shy. We might blush easily or stammer, and will usually avoid social occasions and any event where we will be in the limelight.
Mimulus brings out the quiet courage and strength that lies hidden in all of us so that we can face the everyday trials of life without fear.
I think Dr Bach is one of the most important healers of all time, but flower essences are such an energetic thing and work so subtly, so like other homoeopathic remedies, if you flat out don’t believe in them, then they may well not work. I find them extraordinarily helpful.
How these work almost defies pragmatic logic, but that is exactly the magical nature of nature and her healing powers. I’m going to study more about flower remedies in December, because I was stunned at the balancing effect these had when I was completely alone in a temporary flat for 2 months (during lockdown) and lost my mum. Worst time of my life. These kept me going.
Again, I don’t know if I would say these remedies work for everyone, it probably depends how energetically and mentally and emotionally receptive a person is, but I took these for the first time with an open mind just hoping they’d help and they were the best ‘supporters’ I could have wished for. They worked IMMEDIATELY. Same day. They last for ages and are affordable (eg from Amazon).
I also recommended Olive to a friend whose father died at the same time and she emailed me to said it was definitely helping her tiredness.
[YOU MIGHT ENJOY? Coming soon: an interview with the founder of Saskia’s Flower Essences)
Calmaid by Fushi
This one is sitting on my bedside table right now.
I absolutely love this Fushi formulation: apple cider vinegar, calcium citrate, inositol, holy basil, L-tryptophan, magnesium, phosphatidyl choline, L-Theanine, Vitamin B complex including very generous amounts of B1, B2, B9 and a decent amount of B12….and more.
This is a whole food supplement, from natural sources including plants. You can take two capsules a day with water or if sleep is a problem then try taking 2 half an hour before going to bed.
Formulated to help with restful sleep, cognitive function and alleviating stress – and vegan.
I think Calmaid would be a good life supporter to keep on hand for times of stress, disrupted sleep, or even when you feel a little fatigued as the B vitamins and holy basil (adrenals, fatigue, lowers cortisol, boosts resilience) will help.
Bee Calm by Unbeelievable
Another really good formula, which you can pick up at Holland and Barrett. Beauty Shortlist Wellbeing Awards winner Unbeelievable combines royal jelly with adaptogens, calming lemon balm, magnesium and more, including Pantothenic Acid and Lion’s Mane (a medicinal mushroom for brain health) and Passion Flower.
Calming and concentration-boosting, good for exams, presentations or when you’re on deadlines or just to add extra chill to your day/s.
And 3 more “tried and worked” suggestions I’d recommend off the top of my head would be:
Epsom Salts, an easy, full body relaxing pre-pillow solution especially if you’re worried about something and your body has been tense all day. Dr Teal’s does different blends – lavender for sleep, eucalyptus and peppermint for muscles/colds, etc.
Tisserand’s Essential Oils
…are a part of my life!
Even when I was travelling a lot I would always bring two little bottles with me like sweet orange which I used as a travel perfume or a mini mood boost, and peppermint which does so many things there’s no room to even list them here!
Peppermint’s great for warding off flies (pour a few drops on a tissue, wipe over the table – gone!) and ants hate it too.
Useful for helping you focus when you feel like you’re flagging in the afternoon, or add a few drops to coconut oil for oil pulling (you could add clove in there too for added antibacterial support).
I’m currently fixated with lemon for some reason. If I’d been able to go on holiday this summer I think it would have been Italy or Greece, and this oil reminds me of the lemon groves there.
So for stress/sleep, an obvious one would be lavender. But you could try frankincense or a woody/green/grounding oil like pine/spruce, and geranium (or rose) is gorgeous before sleep.
Geranium has potent nerve-soothing properties so it can be useful for anxiety.
Together Health Night Time Marine Magnesium Complex
This is another favourite of mine, and full marks for the small, low key, lightweight pouch. The magnesium here comes from purified seawater, and Together Health has added hops and 5-HTP (Griffonia extract) and lithothamnium seaweed*. Two vegecaps 30 mins before bed for a relaxed mind. Try this if you sometimes get leg cramps.
* What’s Lithothamnium calcareum red seaweed? It’s natural source of bioavailable minerals, rich in calcium.
I’ve always loved gardens and nature, the thing about a garden is that you can grow ancient medicinal herbs among the flowers. It’s no coincidence that people like the Sardinians, Greek Islanders and Japanese have been drinking Mountain Herb teas for centuries – one of the ways the world’s healthiest and oldest Blue Zones inhabitants stay healthy.
What do you find works for you, or has done, especially this year?