Virginia Satir, one of the great pioneers of family therapy, has been quoted as saying, “Life is not what it’s supposed to be. It’s what it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.” Acceptance of a situation does not mean that we have to agree with it; nor does it mean that we must sit idle and do nothing. What acceptance does accomplish is to give us the gift of noticing all of the components of this exact moment. By doing so, we can decipher between the things that we cannot change and thus be free to make adjustments to the current situation. In this way, we embody a more preferred posture for the next ensuing moment in time. Life is what it is!

Almost everybody experiences headache pain at some point. For some people, headaches are a regular occurrence and for others headaches are rare. 1. Stress can cause tight muscles which lead to tension headaches. Learn to manage your stress with exercise, meditation and massage. 2. Trigger Points are hard knots found in the muscles that can refer pain into the head and mimic headaches. Massage therapy can help dramatically reduce trigger points. 3. Dehydration- At the first sign of a headache drink a glass of water and continue taking small sips throughout the day 4. Improper pillows- try changing your pillow and see if this helps reduce your headaches.

The ease of wheat flour production took it out of the lime light, but it’s making a comeback in a big way. Spelt, unchanged and unmodified for thousands of years is showing up all over the place – why? Because it’s an absolute powerhouse in the nutrition category – High protein (21 % of your RDD), all nine essential amino acids, high in fiber (30%) and, low in gluten. In addition to, due to its water solubility, it rates very high on the bioavailability scale. What does that mean for you? Your body is actually able to absorb a vast percentage of those nutrients, leading to significant health benefits with less of the unsavory irritants of other grains. Another fantastic feature? You can substitute it 1:1 for wheat flour in recipes! Give Spelt a try, it tastes great, and your body will thank you.

We know quality counts, and we’ve all experienced having what seemed like a good deal at the outset, turn into not such a good deal. Quality and purity are especially important when it comes to products that we use aromatically, on our person, or as dietary supplements. Sadly, essential oil quality and purity are not as carefully regulated as we might think. According to some experts, the majority of essential oils on the retail market are adulterated in some fashion. What qualifies an essential oil as being “pure therapeutic grade” is a recognized standard of independent third party testing that incorporates methods such as Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry. Pure essential oils from particular plant species, grown in the optimum conditions, and provided through ethical processes are well worth the price. As with all purchase decisions, it pays to get educated first!

Green tea extract is a powerful fat burner loaded with beneficial antioxidants called catechins that help support immune function, cardiovascular health, and fat loss. Studies show that regular consumption of green tea extract has a positive effect on overall health and to your dietary habits. It also contains 2% to 4% caffeine, which affects thinking and alertness, increases urine output and may improve the function of brain messengers. The addition of caffeine to the potent mix of catechins revs up your production of noradrenaline, pumping you with feel good confidence, stimulating the nervous system, heart, and muscles by increasing the release of certain chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. To safely incorporate green tea extract into your weight loss regimen, consider drinking plenty of water. One of the active ingredients in SlimROAST weight loss coffee from Valentus – The Healthiest Coffee on the Planet!

Dysfunction in the Sacroiliac Joint (also called the SI Joint) causes low back pain. The SI Joint is located between the sacrum and base of the spine. When the SI Joint ligaments are damaged or compensating for any inhibited muscles, the SI Joint may become inflamed and irritated. Degenerative disease, falls, trauma and childbirth may be potential causes of SI Joint Syndrome. In addition to lower back pain, SI Joint problems may also cause pain in the groin, hip, thigh, as well as pain that radiates into the buttocks and down the path of the sciatic nerve. SI Joint dysfunction is often overlooked as the cause of suffering. To avoid unnecessary frustration, pain, and surgery, SI Joint Syndrome should be considered in any low back diagnosis. Acupuncture, Osteopathic Manual Therapy, and Prolotherapy are effective, non-surgical treatments that can not only help you manage your pain but also help you attain optimal health.

Inappropriate footwear can increase an elderly person’s chance of a fall. Many people purchase the wrong footwear because they want to help their aging parent by finding something that is easy to put on, and they think that softer is better. Not true. As we age, our motor and sensory skills decline. Our loss of proprioception skills (one’s ability to sense where our limbs are in space) makes us feel less sure of our footing and therefore less balanced. Loose fitting, soft-soled footwear do not provide appropriate signals to the feet to inform them of where they are in relation to the ground. Properly fitting, sturdy shoes with non-skid soles provide more direct contact between the ground and the foot, sending sharper signals to the brain. Choosing lace-up or velcro closure shoes instead of slip-ons ensures the best stabilization of the foot within the shoe.

Remember those summer days as a kid when mosquitoes would come out in the early evening to interrupt your fun? As a farm boy who loved to run around in bare feet and cut-off jeans, preferring the coolness and sense of freedom over feeling protected from the bugs, I was an easy target. I still remember how my head would spin, and my senses cringe when my mother pulled out the old spray-bomb of bug repellent and covered me in a small cloud of noxious chemicals. Granted, there was less awareness of natural alternatives back then, and she was only doing what she thought was best. I’m sure glad that now when I want to extend my gardening pleasure well into the evening, I can reach for a safe and effective blend of essential oils that is so simple to use.