Embracing Emotional Changes

On this beautiful cool, crisp morning, I walk along the road awakened to the subtle changes in the plants as they move into the Fall Season. With perfect harmony the frail grasses faded back, vibrant colors made their first appearance on the leaves and the winter berries began to ripen. Nature quietly reminds us that change is a part of growth and balance in life.

Each morning we are greeted by the ever changing sunrise which welcomes us to look for new perspectives and the light within our lives. In the evening, the beautiful sunset and changing cloud formations remind us to let go of those things which hold us back. And in the still darkness of the night, the illuminated moon reminds us that light is always present even in the darkest hours of our life. The songs of the crickets, tree frogs and night birds sung in the depth of the night, reminding us to listen for the guidance of Spirit when we cannot see our path clearly.

During this beautiful fall season, I challenge you to embrace the changes your Soul is longing for. I challenge you to let go of your fears and doubts, to seek to find the beauty which lies within the changes that are asking to unfold. Allowing for change can make us become stronger, more complete human beings, empowered by the ability to create our lives.

Blessings, Valerie

Herbs to support emotional changes

Many of you have learned to use herbs for their medicinal properties or nutritional value, but did you know that herbs have energetic and emotional supporting properties as well? Flower essences and essential oils focus on the emotional supporting attributes of the plants that they are produced from. In addition, the whole plant also offers aspects of emotional support. One of the more well-known examples is the herb hawthorn, which supports the heart and circulatory system and is known to help impart courage to those who take it. Here are some of my recommendations for herbs to support the emotional changes you’d like to make.

Alfalfa Herb (#30-2) – One of my favorite all time herbs I have used this consistently with myself and clients for 30 years. Alfalfa is a rich source of minerals and trace minerals as well as Vitamins A, D, K and E carotene and chlorophyll. A wonderful blood builder and liver tonic alfalfa restores energy and vitality. Alfalfa is one of the best plants for alkalizing the blood which helps release toxins from the cells, making it a good choice during weight loss and cleansing.

Emotionally Alfalfa has many properties, it’s deep roots indicate that the plant helps you to stay grounded and balanced. Its purple flowers hint at its ability to calm the nervous system. Alfalfa gives you strength to move forward and assists you in letting go of unwanted toxic thoughts or beliefs in your life. I recommend 6 capsules per day for 2-4 weeks and then take as desired.

Marshmallow Root (#440-0) – This plant has a beautiful white flower with a violet colored center which speaks of its calming and soothing properties. Marshmallow root is most known for soothing the urinary system. Often people who have had repeated urinary infections will find that their body will overcome them once they take some marshmallow to soothe and repair the bladder wall. Marshmallow is a favorite herb for easing the passage of kidney stones through the urinary tract. It also helps in reducing night time urination. Because it’s soothing properties will work on any mucus membrane I have also used it to soothe the lungs if I have respiratory irritations or the stomach or intestines when they get irritated.

Emotionally Marshmallow herb is calming and relaxing helping a person come to a place of stillness. If you think about why people develop digestive problems, it is often linked to stress and internalizing it, in addition, urinary problems have been linked to the emotion of fear. It makes sense then that an herb which would heal and soothe the physical body would also be soothing to the emotional body as well. Marshmallow herb is a great herb to keep in your natural medicine cabinet. I typically take 3 capsules 2-3 times a day when needed.

Balancing our Shen - When our mind and heart are in balance with each other we feel good. We have something Chinese practitioners refer to as balanced Shen. This term refers to our being balanced in consciousness, mental functions and vitality. It is when we are connected to our life force energy and our Soul’s purpose. Our body reflects the presence of Shen in our eyes which shine with brightness and life. There are times in each of our lives when we may feel we have become disconnected from our spirit and our heart. This often comes when we have spent too much time in our head, dwelling on events or perceived problems in our life and we find our ourselves trapped in our thoughts. We have lost our inspiration, our sense of clarity and balance. At times like this it is easy for anxiety, fears and sleep issues to occur. Moreover, we feel depressed and lose the ability to discern what path we should be following.

Chinese Mood Elevator is a wonderful formula designed to help restore vitality and balance Shen. I have used this formula so many times over the years when my heart felt sad and I would be depressed for no good reason. It helps the body to balance itself, to take the focus off the mind and back on the heart. I was feel like the birds are singing again after being on this formula for several days. This ray of sunlight is enough to get you to focus again on the things that are truly important in your life. As your balance is restored in your body, you gain new insight and your intuition awakens again. Chinese Mood Elevator is a wonderful formula to take whenever you need to rekindle your life force energy and connect to your heart.

Mood Elevator regular strength, 100 ct. # 1878-8

Mood Elevator TCM concentrate, 60 ct. #1035-7

Flower Essences: helping us to move through the changes in our lives

A flower essence formula, like a homeopathic formula, are vibrational formulas. They are based on the personalities of the plants and the challenges they over come in nature. Dr. Edward Bach an English medical doctor from the 1930’s worked with flower remedies creating 38 remedies which were the pioneer formulas that brought this science to light. Flower essences work in the field of energy medicine; they were well known for their emotion supporting properties. Flower essences are liquid formulas with little to no taste, so they are very easy to take and incorporate into your day.

Nature’s Sunshine has a line of flower essence formulas, one of my favorite is:

Distress Remedy #8778-3 (formulated after Dr. Bach’s famous Rescue Remedy) - this formula helps in situations of emotional distress or trauma. Did you come home from work all upset because you nearly wrecked your car in an accident, or perhaps you received a call that contained troubling news? Reach for Distress Remedy, it will help you have courage to overcome fear, panic or traumatic experiences. Distress Remedy allows one to find the calm amid the storm, allowing you to move through a stressful situation which you are uncomfortable with and find your sense of trust and peace. This is a wonderful formula to have on hand in every home. You can take 10-15 drops under the tongue or sipped in a little water. Take it every 10 minutes or so, until you feel yourself move into a place of balance. After 2-4 times a day is good for a few days. That just follow the instructions on the label. Distress remedy is great to have on hand for children when they hurt themselves or get upset and lose control of their emotions.

Other Nature’s Sunshine Flower Essence Formulas:

Keep Cool (#8784-2) – for a person who easily loses their temper, is easily irritated or impatient. This formula helps you to feel more tolerant and accepting of others behaviors or ideas, promotes a more receptive attitude, promotes forgiveness and cooperation.

Find Strength (#8781-4) – promotes healthy personal boundaries, helps a person who is feeling abused stand up for themselves, gives people the ability to say “no” to unreasonable expectations or demands.

Open Heart (#8782-6) -helps a person to move past emotional wounds and open their heart to learn to love and give love again.

Release it (#8779-1) – this formula helps a person to move though the emotion of grief or loss. Release it also gives us strength to let go of the past and find their inner strength to carry on or move forward.

Be Courageous (#8786-0) – encourages self-confidence, courage and self-reliance. Helps you overcome your fears and learn to trust your own judgment.

Be Response-Able (#8783-8) –helps a person to get in touch with their sense of self awareness and responsibility. This formula can help you overcome additive, compulsive or self-defeating behavior and begin to make better choices.

Save when you buy the complete Flower Essence pack (#18787-2)

Flower essences are gentle and safe remedies which can be used by children of all ages (including infants), adults of all ages and pets.

The following notes on flower essences have been paraphrased from Steven Horne's article. Steven Horne, professional clinical herbalist helped formulate these remedies for Nature’s Sunshine and provided the educational materials about them. Thank you Steven for these great formulas and educational materials.

Read Steven Horne's full article on the Flower Essence formulas At this Link

As a painter lifts the brush to his pallet to create his painting, we too create our lives stroke by stroke, as we choose to focus our attention on the good, or on the bad, on abundance or on lack. It is in our power to choose the next emotion we embrace, what dream to hold on to, or which magical door to open.

It is from this gift of choice that we create our lives.

I pray that I remember to slow down several times throughout my day and stop the chatter in my mind long enough to listen to my heart. I pray I learn to recognize the yearnings of my spirit, to listen to the guidance of my Angels, and to remember that I am free to choose my path.

Blessings, Valerie Greguire

www.RestoringLight.com

Disclaimer: Supplement recommendations are not designed to treat a disease condition. Discussions are for educational purposes only. Supplements should be used to nourish and strengthen the natural function of the various body organs and systems so that they will have a greater capacity to heal themselves. It is not intended to replace your doctor's recommendations. Any questions or concerns that you have regarding existing medical conditions, or the use of medications with supplements, should be discussed with your nutritionally oriented medical doctor.