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Lifestyle Hacks – Reverse pain, stiffness and aging in fingers, hands, wrists & lower arms naturally

Posted on September 14, 2024 | Leave a comment

Sometimes the greatest gifts are unexpected. While testing some oil mixtures for my face I had left overs in the bowl and decided to put them on my hands, wrists, and lower arms. Then I read about how an inexpensive face mask could hold the moisture during the facial. I decided to try it and remembered I had vinyl gloves. Wearing the gloves over the oils made a significant difference in the effects of the absorption of the oils.

When taking the gloves off and rubbing in the oils there was a significant felt sense difference in all the joints and soft tissue. This is when my Feldenkrais Practical mindfulness kicked in. Working with students in chronic long term pain in these areas has been a huge focus of attention in teaching Awareness through Movement Lessons and in personal Functional Integration sessions. This little hack could have the potential to soften the connective tissue that has become habitually inflamed and hardened. This harden and stiff tissue becomes the environmental influence of how the bone and joints are used. As it softens the bones and joints have more range potential in their movement patterns and this reduces the pain.

The bonus is the oils also reduce the look of aging in the skins appearances. One of the oil I use in this combination is Caster Oil. It removes, lumps, bumps and supports scar healing. The other oil is Sea Buckthorn which I have successfully used to remove pigmentation spots. The other ingredients is what gives it the aliveness and luxuriousness effect.

Here are the ingredients:

Caster Oil
Sea Buckthorn Oil
Aloe Vera Gel
Facial Mask
Vinyl Gloves

I added a small amount of Aloe Vera Gel, 1 teaspoon to tablespoon, with a teaspoon or less of Caster Oil and 6 to 8 drops of Sea Buckthorn Oil. Mixed together and applied. Remember the Sea Buckthorn Oil is orange. Don’t wear good clothing. It may appear orange on your face however doesn’t stain your skin orange, unless you lave it on. I usually do this in the evening or on a day off for self-care.

It takes less than three minutes to mix the ingredient and I leave on for twenty minutes. It’s the best 1/2 hour you’ll spend. I wouldn’t wait until later in life to take action. I would begin early in life. My mother-in-law had be start paying attention before I was 21! I would say you can start at any age, however the habitual behaviour is important. It’s easier to follow a habit than it is to start something new.

Castor Oil

This is a versatile oil. It is used as an antibacterial moisturizer, to reduce scars and skin spots, and bumps of all sorts. It reduces scar marks and supports major organs when used as a poultice. Also used to regrow hair.

Here is a link to Caster Oil on Amazon

Sea Buckthorn Oil

A skin moisturizing oil to reduce pigment spots and rough raised spots.

Here is an affiliate link to Sea Buckthorn Oil on Amazon

Aloe Vera Gel

This is a brand that can be used in juice and for skin.

Aloe Vera Gel affiliate link on Amazon

Vinyl Gloves

For use in hand treatments with oils, etc. Link to Vinyl gloves on Amazon.

Silicone Facial Mask

Keeps in moisture during an oil facial. Here is an affiliate link to this Mask on Amazon.

More suggestions for skin and health care

ATE: Healing gut with Inulin, Berberine, L-glutamine

Posted on September 11, 2020 | 1 comment

ATE: AWARENESS THROUGH EATING

After becoming an empty nester I had time and energy to ‘explore living food’ versus dieting. With only a question in mind (no rules and no should’s), I started to explore what nutrition was available in my own backyard. The focus was on weeds, trees, plants and grasses. Organically it flowed, in that familiar pattern I have learned from Feldenkrais® Awareness through Movement® Lessons, so I have fondly begun to refer to it as Awareness through Eating. My great regret is not having this focus with kids at home!

Along the journey of growing, gathering and consuming many backyard plants I discovered new sensations of physical wellness. This new feeling of aliveness if fueled and motivated by endless curiosity and exploration. Life-changing as these actions integrate a deeper inner and outer connection to the natural world. A connection I wouldn’t have known by previous experiences. This journey led me to a new definition of ‘being connected’.

Instead of following old patterns of gathering food resources, I began to create new ones. That was the first step. The second step was creating these backyard resources that led to new relationships with them. Eventually leading to an interest in exploring fermented foods in my own kitchen.

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

Immediately there was an improvement of gut health and brain function. Increased vitality and stamina followed with a decrease in emotions of anxiety, fear, pain and frustration. This experience led to a deepening connection to my environment with more clarity of the existing plants and animals. For me, this means being less distracted and more present in the moment.

Recently I was intrigued by a video’s content that was created by a celebrity. Someone I had witnessed years earlier being overweight with obvious movement and breathing issues. Now this same person was slim and seemed to be in better health. He had partnered with a new product. A product created to mimic foods he ate to become healthy. Curious I took time to listen to the ingredients that supported their healthy change. I was happy and surprised to hear that it was the same foods I had unknowingly introduced into my eating plan with similar results. Only they decided to create a supplement with those same nutritional values instead of continuing with the healthy real foods. I was disappointed to hear that as my perspective differs. I believe that taking a supplement doesn’t allow for the integration of new behaviours. It simply contributes to the fix-me attitude. Mentally it increases the chatter of self-judgment and of right and wrong thinking. This mental focus doesn’t have the opportunity to shift into the awe of the exploration as how this celebrity and I both experienced.

However, in support of some of my students these past years, who have taught me that sometimes they simply can’t take the time to explore the basics and integrate, I am going to share the top three nutrients that made the most significant change in gut and brain health. These three nutrients can be eaten each day to heal your gut which not only improves your brain function, it improves your immune system and both emotional and physical function. Included are the top real food sources of these nutrients.

Chicory Root & Sugar Beets

Inulin

Chicory Root
Sugar Beets
Leeks
Asparagus
Onions
Garlic
Dandelion Root
Elecampane Root
Bananas
Wheat

Berberine

Oregon Grape Leave & Roots for Tea

European Barberry
Goldenseal
Goldthread
Oregon grape
Tree Turmeric

Sauerkraut

L-glutamine

beef
chicken
fish
dairy products
eggs, vegetables
like beans, beets
cabbage
spinach
carrots
parsley
vegetable juices
wheat
papaya
Brussels sprouts
celery
kale
fermented foods
- miso
- kimchi
- sauerkraut
- kefir

Remember:

We are what we eat

Whether we eat out or have groceries delivered organized with recipes for preparing them, that food becomes the invisible pathway stimulating an immediate experience (reaction) and future eating habits.

The environment created by food choices

When hearing the use of the term environment one’s thoughts may immediately go to the forest, sky, ocean, animals and plants. Many of us may not consider the food we consume is a part of the environment that stimulates us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Food is the environment that fuels all your functions and each function has different nutritional needs.