Fennel-Did You Know?

Did You Know, Essential Oil Information, , , , , , , , , , ,

Fennel
Did you know fennel essential oil is the oil of responsibility? Fennel supports the person who has a lack of self esteem. This person may feel overwhelmed with life and all the things they are accountable for, having little to zero desire to improve their situation. Fennel is especially important by supporting people to listen and reconnect to the natural messages of the body, where there has been a loss of connection due to emotional eating, severe dieting and even drug abuse.

Fennel can grow up to six feet in height and has delicate, feathery leaves. Most fennel originated in India, Egypt and China. It also dates back to Pliny the Roman author of Naturalis Historie written between 23-79 AD. He used fennel for 22 different ailments. Roman warriors were said to have consumed Fennel to make them strong and ready for battle.

We know King Edward I of England consumed large amounts of fennel because his account book listed a purchase of 8½ pounds. This seed was a one month supply. In the 1300s fennel was used as a condiment and an appetite suppressant. During medieval times, people thought evil spirits could freely move around as the sun moved south. It was thought when fennel was hung over doorways you were protected from the spirits. Fennel seeds inserted into keyholes were thought to protect homes from ghosts especially in the summer.

Fennel is best known for its distinct licorice aroma and taste, yet its ability to ease digestive troubles, and monthly menstrual cycles are equally noteworthy. Fennel can be added to tea to calm the digestive system, as well as the mind and emotions. Fennel can be very soothing when applied to the abdomen during monthly menstrual cycles, and those same properties can lessen the discomfort associated with minor skin irritations. Fennel is also known to support a healthy lymphatic system.

The Battle of Two Wolves

Better Living, , , , ,

Battle of Two WolvesOne evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two “wolves” inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith”. “The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf wins?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
Author Unknown

Turmeric – Wellness Gold

Better Living

lavenderlifestyle's avatarLavender Lifestyle

tumeric powder

If you love Indian food, you recognize the rich, deep-yellow color found in any modern Indian curry dish.  Tumeric has been a go-to item for thousands of years in India, China and Indonesia, not only as a food and a dye, but also as a curative herb.  While the use of Tumeric dates back to the 7th century, the herb’s natural healing ability continues to gather attention as modern sientific research validates its potency and popularity among modern wellness advocates in Asia, Europe and North America.

Found primarily in Soutern Asia, turmeric is a perennial plant and member of the ginger family.  Fully grown, it reaches heights of five to six feet and boasts deep, dark yellow trumpet shaped flowers.  However, it’s the root of the plant that boiled, dried and ground into that familiar yellow powder.

Historically, holistic medicine dictated the use of turmeric for a long list of…

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Why Affirmations Work

Personal stories, , , , ,

I Believe in MiraclesBy choosing to think and say positive affirmations as true, the subconscious is forced into one of three reactions – avoidance, reappraisal and acceptance. The bigger the issue the bigger the gap between the positive affirmation and the perceived inner truth, and the more likely that one is going to experience resistance.

This is where the subconscious finds it easier to stay with its perceived inner truth and avoid the challenge, using any means at its disposal to avoid examining the issue.
You will recognize this reaction by a strong negative feeling inside as you state the positive affirmations. Equally, if your experience is a sense of joy and well being, your mind is instinctively responding to something it believes to be true.

When you get this emotion you know your affirmations are working! When you are continually repeating affirmations with conviction and passion, this will help remove even the strongest resistance. Once the resistance is broken, your subconscious is able to re-examine the core belief and patterns you have been working on. The effect can be startling, and things can change very quickly as the dysfunctional beliefs get identified and replaced by your own new inner truth.

Depending on how deep into your consciousness these beliefs lay, every other learned pattern and belief that relied on the original belief as a foundation becomes unfounded. The subconscious has to reexamine them all. This can lead to a period of self reflection.

Due to the fact that affirmations reprogram your thought patterns, they change the way you think and feel about things. Since you have replaced dysfunctional beliefs with your own new positive beliefs, positive change comes easily and naturally. This will start to reflect in your external life. You will start to experience major changes for the better in many aspects of your life.

The Twin Study

Better Living, , , ,

Twins suit and T- shirtThere have been studies on twins as children and how their environment reflects who they become as adults. There were twin brothers who grew up in a home with an alcoholic father. One grew up to become an alcoholic like his father. The other one grew up sober and very successful in his community. The alcoholic twin was asked why are you the way you are? His response was I grew up with an alcoholic father, so that’s the reason I am the way I am. The other twin was asked why he was so successful. He responded with “my father was an alcoholic, so I promised myself I would never become like my father.” It all comes down to attitude.

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact attitude has on our life. Attitude to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, education, money, circumstances, failures, successes, and what other people think, or say, or do. It is more important than appearance, our talents or skills. It will make or break a company, a church, or a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for the day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is focus our attitude toward the positive.

Clove-Did You Know?

Did You Know, Essential Oil Information, , , , , , , , ,

clovesDid you know the word clove comes from the French word clov, meaning nail? Clove essential oil is the oil of boundaries helping people to let go of their victim mentality. Clove can assist us in letting go of regular displays of self-betrayal and emotional reliance on a partner by reconnecting them with their personal strong moral values. Clove gives the pushover the power to say “no”.

Each unopened flower bud of the clove tree becomes a clove bud, a tropical evergreen member of the Myrtle family. A clove tree, known botanically as Eugenia aromatica, may live 100 years. They begin producing fruit at seven years and come into full maturity around 25 years. The average crop yield is eight pounds although each year is different. The trees are native to the Moluccas, also known as the Spice Islands.

As early as 200 BC, the Chinese used cloves to freshen their breath during audiences with the emperor. During the late Middle Ages, cloves were used in Europe to preserve, flavor, and garnish food. Clove cultivation was almost entirely confined to Indonesia, because the Dutch government had a monopoly on this valuable spice. Later In the 18th century, the French smuggled cloves from the East Indies to Indian Ocean islands and the New World, breaking the Dutch monopoly on this prized spice.

Clove has been used for years in dental preparations,candy, and gum for its flavor and ability to promote oral health, yet it provides a myriad of health benefits. Its main chemical component, eugenol, makes it a very stimulating and energizing essential oil that can promote blood circulation and benefit cardiovascular health.Due to its high phenol content, caution should be taken when inhaling Clove directly and it should be diluted when applied to the skin. As a cooking spice, Clove adds a spicy flavor to any dish or dessert while providing internal health benefits.

Wipe Out Negatives

Personal stories, , ,

Toilet PaperTwo of the heroes in my life are my parents. Their positive attitudes are contagious. For years my mom has answered the phone with, “It’s a great day at the Fishes.” One day when she answered the phone, the person not identifying herself said, “It really is true.” Then she hung up. All she wanted, was to hear my mother say those positive words when she answered the phone.

For years my mother has hung a sign over the toilet paper that says, “Wipe out negatives.” This always gets people to smile. My dad, when asked how he is doing, will say I am doing great, but I am getting better. What a great attitude he has!

My dad loves to ask people how they are doing and when their response is positive he says, “Serves you right.” You know, he is absolutely right. Our attitude reflects a lot about who we are.

I remember being a young, tired father, frustrated that my son would not stop crying one evening. As long as I was irritated my son sensed my negative attitude and energy towards him. Then I started showing him unconditional love. He then could sense my love toward him, and stopped crying.

How many times are we critical of ourselves? Many people are great at verbally beating themselves up with words of, “I am not good enough, too fat, too dumb, too whatever, you insert your own word.” No one knows enough to be a pessimist.