Help For Restless Legs, Finally!

I have had restless legs since I was a child. I used to think that they were, what we call, 'growing pains'. Long after I was done 'growing' I still had restless legs, especially at night.

Not only did I have restless legs, but I also have, what I figured out to be as I diagnosed myself based upon a book on insomnia, is 'primary insomnia'. It is basically an insomnia that it hard to cure.

The insomnia got worse when I was in my 50's. I actually could not fall asleep, and the scary part was that even Benadryl didn't help most of the time, anymore.

I went for sleep studies. I used melatonin. I did research on the Internet and tried many different recommended supplements. Nothing happened. I still could not get to sleep or stay asleep for very long. I went to different doctors. Each one had their suggestions, but again, nothing really helped.

So, since I can't sleep at night, I decided to just stay up until I got things done around the house, or things I never got to during the day. I actually felt fine at 2 am. Everything was there during the night that I needed to have during the day. But try getting up at 7 or 8 am in the morning!

Not only do I have a problem with insomnia, but also have a hard time with restless leg syndrome, known as RLS. RLS was there every night, along with insomnia. They seem to work well together.

Again, many of the suggestions were fine and worked for most people, however, they did not work for me. I resolved myself to the fact that I would have to take this dreaded medicine that one doctor told me I would have to be on for the rest of my life once I started taking it.

I had heard about the side effects of this drug as well. I try to avoid taking any kind of drug if I have to. I thought that perhaps this would be a drug I could take only as needed, which ended up being every other night instead of every night.

The drug helped very well when I took it. But the RLS got so bad, I even had it during the day, especially if we were traveling or if I had to sit for a long time.

Months ago, I started using essential oils in a diffuser. I also put them on my hair at night!! I put them on my face, on my legs, and on the bottoms of my feet. I have a couple of diffusers in the house now and use them continually. But there is a difference in some of the problems I have been having with sleep and with RLS.

My original thought was to try to help my husband sleep well. I basically gave up on myself, but I thought if he could sleep well, that would even be helpful to me. He has a hard time breathing at night, so I have been putting the oils in the diffuser and on his pillow to help him with that. He even said that he is sleeping better now. But what I didn't realize was how well all this was going to help me sleep. Most of the time, when I do the essential oils ritual in our home at night, I can fall asleep and stay asleep for a much longer period of time than before. When I take a nap, I fall into a deep sleep many times. I have the diffuser going for that as well.

For the RLS, I use a combination of essential oils. Basil, Vetiver, an oil combination called, 'Aromatouch' which has helped many with RLS. I add wintergreen and fractionated coconut oil. as well as  Ylang Ylang.

Another thing people have said about RLS is that you have to have magnesium, or even just minerals. I tried mineral supplements, but nothing much happened. I upped my magnesium, but still had RLS. I do take large doses of magnesium now, and that may be helping as well. I take a magnesium supplement three times a day, then I take 2 magnesium malate tablets (they are huge and I have to chew them. Yuk!) at night. All this really seems to help with both insomnia and RLS.

I haven't had to take the RLS medicine for a over a month now, and I have had a much easier time falling asleep at night. All these new measures really seem to work.

Disclaimer: This is something that works for me. If you struggle with these same symptoms, I cannot guarantee they will work the same for you. It is good to do research and if you have the time and money, to experiment. Also, check with your physician or family doctor to find the root of your problem and see if there are alternatives that will work. If you are dependent on taking a certain medicine, do not go off that medicine unless you are absolutely positively sure that you can go with out it. Again, check with your doctor and ask for his wisdom.

If you are interested in learning about these oils, send me an email at omasworkshop@bellsouth.net

I bought two of these diffusers.
They work well and they stay
on for three hours. You can
also turn off the light. 

Eastern Medicine And Essential Oils - Two Things I learned This Week

What have I learned, that has been beneficial this week? I do a lot of research and study a lot of health related issues mainly on the Internet. I am grateful for medical doctors who love to help people and continue their studies on health.

  One of the things I learned this week, is about Reflexology and Acupressure. I found this video and this is a form of 'Qi' which is the energy force in our bodies. This is a good alternative to having to take drugs.
I would be very interested in learning how to do reflexology and especially using oils with reflexology. I think this is so much better than using medication in trying to help us with the symptoms of sickness.

 The other thing that I love that I learned this week, was how nice the effect of using two essential oils on my face. I used geranium and frankincense mixed with fractionated coconut oil on my skin. My skin looks smoother than it used to. I am impressed.

As with any Eastern medicine or practice, we do need to be discerning. There is nothing wrong with touch and using reflex methods to help our bodies. But when the teacher or instructor uses terms that indicate a supernatural force that is used to accomplish healing, then we need to back off. I believe God heals people, even today. When Jesus was walking on the earth, He healed many, many people from all kinds of illnesses. But there is a subtle belief in Eastern religions that sometimes comes out in their medical practices.

  Sometimes, it sounds a little like Norman Vincent Peale's teaching about our having some kind of spiritual asset inside of us. New Age and the Eastern religions teach that there is a force within you that you need to acknowledge and bring out. There are even some teachings that would say that 'you are a co-creator with God (or whoever the ultimate being is)'. This is scary because it is not only false, but it sets people up for disappointment. God is creator. We are the created. But, because we are created in God's image, we do have creative abilities. That is not the same as being a co-creator with God.

  Aside from all that, there is a lot of good and helpful information we can learn in reflexology. We can help others by simply learning the zoning areas (meridians) mainly on the feet, and how they correspond to the different organs that make up our bodies. For example, did you know that the area that corresponds to the thyroid is below the big, right toe, on the bottom of the foot? How cool is that? A simple way to reach the thyroid, without having to go inside the body.

   Here is a book I am reading, carefully. It explains the subject of reflexology and Acupressure (which tie in with each other, even though they are two different methods of healing).

I can't wait to learn everything in this book, as well as everything about the benefits of using essential oils! So many good and helpful things are available to us today, that we didn't have in the past.

The Oil Experiment With Bugs

For the past two months, I have been using essential oils. Each month, I invest in a couple of new oils that I think I can use. I have had some success with oils so far. One of them is with sleep. We are using some of the recommended oils for sleep and relaxation, and they do seem to help.

   A couple of weeks ago, we went to Canada for a business conference. One of the activities we did on our own was to go hiking. I don't know if the bugs in Canada are different than the ones in the U.S., but I didn't have much problems with bugs like mosquitos.

   On the Fourth of July, we were planning to go see fireworks. I got an idea of taking some oils and rubbing them on our palms. I took peppermint oil, but we also used some of the citrus oils. When we went to see the fireworks at night, we had very little, if any problems with mosquitos or flying insects. Hmm. Maybe we are onto something.

   My husband said the same thing. He was not bothered by the bugs, like usual on the Fourth of July. Perhaps it was just coincidence though. But the theory seems plausible. Bugs do not like the taste of oils.

   Whenever I go out into my garden in the evenings on warm nights, the bugs are so bad. I get tons of bites from mosquitos or even horse flies. But I have a bottle of citronella, and it really does help to keep the bugs away when I use it on my skin.

   So, this experiment seems to have worked positively. We can also use the bug zapper light we have which is really cool. Bugs hit this light continually, and then get zapped.

   I now wonder if because I have oils in my body, will that repel the bugs like mosquitos and horse flies? I hope so.

  I will update my blog page with more experiment results for you to enjoy!

   Just came up with another idea. Since I have a problem with roaches, and since bugs hate the smell of peppermint, how about if I try using peppermint oil in the kitchen? Should be interesting. I will love to see the results of whether or not it will help to get rid of roaches.

Tropical Iced Green Tea

Here is a recipe I made a couple of weeks ago, and it tastes pretty good. Plus, while the weather is getting hotter and we need more liquids in us, using coconut water is beneficial. Coconut water has electrolytes and will be helpful to us in keeping us hydrated.

Tropical Iced Green Tea

4 cups water (use spring or filtered)

4 green tea bags

2 cups coconut water

*4 drops lemon essential oil

*1 drop peppermint oil (optional)

Sweetener to taste (use Stevia or xylitol)

    Place the water in a pot and let it get hot, but not boiling. Remove pot and add tea bags. Let steep for several minutes (if you let it steep too long, the tea will not be green, but more like an orange color). Remove tea bags and place tea in a glass jar. Refrigerate. Add coconut water, essential oils, and sweetener. If adding peppermint oil, add only 1 drop as peppermint oil is extremely potent.

Tropical Iced Green Tea

* An alternative to lemon oil and peppermint oil is to wash a lemon or lime, slice thin, place in jar of tea. You could also put a sprig of peppermint or spearmint in your iced tea. 

     Pretty soon I will be getting spearmint oil and can't wait to try that one in this iced tea drink. You could probably use 4 TBS. coconut sugar, but it may turn the tea to a darker color. 

Essential Oils and Animals

I was watching Janet Roarke DVM, who was a featured speaker on a group of summit videos on essential oils, and, of course, I learned a lot. I learned that cows actually like some essential oils and they even get to pick out which ones they would like to be used on them! Lavender seems to be a favorite oil for using with animals. Melaleuca is very potent and has to be used carefully around animals.

She recommended taking a cup of baking soda, and adding 4 drops of an essential oil in it. Leave it sit overnight, then sprinkle on the litter in the litter box. I wonder if Frankie likes the new smell in his litter boxes??? I used lavender and placed the drops in the baking soda. Baking soda is good for litter boxes anyway. I was in Costco one time, and was looking at the baking soda. A lady was commenting to someone else that she puts it in her litter box and the litter boxes did not stink.

   Janet Roarke used some essential oils on a horse that was sick with respiratory problems, and the horse actually recovered. Makes me want to use oils in every room in my house! Time to buy another diffuser!

  Have you used essential oils with your animals, and if so, what has your experience been?

Make Your Own Vapor Rub

We have alternatives for all kinds of things available to us, but did you know that there is even an alternative for Vick's VaporRub?

You might be asking, what is wrong with Vick's VaporRub? After all, we have been using it for years.

As you might have already guessed, Vick's VaporRub is made from petroleum. You don't want petroleum in your body because it is a toxin. Many cosmetics are made out of petroleum as well.

The recipe was made from 4 teaspoons grated bee's wax, 3 Tablespoons of Shea butter, and 7 Tablespoons of coconut oil. You heat the Shea butter and bee's wax first, then add the coconut oil. There were many options of oils to use, but I used peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary, and menthol. The menthol was like crystals (hmmm. Menthol. Maybe they mean meth). I added the oils after adding coconut oil. I put it in a plastic margarine container (Some family members have not given up their love for 'fake butter' so, until they do, I will have little containers when the 'fake butter' is gone).

Here is the web site I got the recipe from:
http://www.mommypotamus.com/diy-vicks-vapor-rub/

Remember, never put peppermint oil on small children. It could be very harmful for them.

I am actually going to use the vapor rub on my pots that are holding plants, because the scent should repel squirrels and other animals, and it should stay on for a while, even after a rain.

They are not cute. They are evil. They will hate the smell
of peppermint oil in the homemade vapor rub mixture.

Top Products/Ideas For Good Health

I am overwhelmed with ideas on how to stay healthy, so I want to compile them on a page in order to organize my own thoughts. I will list some ideas that have been touted as bringing about good health.

1. Vitamin D3 is necessary for good health. Many Vitamin D3 supplements come with probiotics. Probiotics are so necessary for good gut health.


2. Eat clean. Avoid foods that are processed and have preservatives and artificial colorings. Also avoid food that is genetically modified, or irradiated. When it comes to eating produce, eat organic. Avoid food that has been sprayed with pesticides. Watch the Food, Inc. trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2sgaO44_1c

3. Avoid toxins. Eating clean is included under this. We live in a toxic society, and toxins contribute to our lack of well-being. Everything that touches your skin will end up in your bloodstream. Whatever you breathe in goes into your lungs and other parts of your body. It is not just what we eat, that brings toxins into our bodies. It is whatever we touch or breathe in that also brings toxins inside of us.

4. Detox. There are products on the market specifically made for detoxing. Chlorella is good to use to help with detoxing as well. Maximized Living carries a good detox package.



5. Moderate exercise. Exercise helps the blood to flow better throughout your body. It is also good for your heart. Weights are good to use in exercising. Walking is one of the best exercises to do.

6. I have heard about Earthing and there are people with testimonies of how Earthing has helped them. Earthing is also known as 'grounding'. It involves allowing your feet to touch the soil in order to receive the proper balance of electrons. I know this sounds very weird, and it is not some kind of strange religion. It is very scientific, and I personally can see where it matches what it taught in the Bible about man being created out of the dust of the earth. Earthing is not only done by walking in the soil in your bare feet. You can buy sheets, socks, blankets, and some clothing items that have the same effect as if you walked in your bare feet. It is supposed to help with insomnia. *http://wellnessmama.com/5600/earthing-sleep/
*http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/11/04/why-does-walking-barefoot-on-the-earth-make-you-feel-better.aspx

7. Get fresh air and let the air come through your house. Of course, if you have birds in your house, you definitely do not want them to get a draft (birds are very draft sensitive and could easily catch pneumonia and die). You need to get rid of the recycled air in the house. Also, new houses have many chemicals in them that are toxic to breathe in. Grow houseplants which will create oxygen inside the house. If your car is parked inside a garage, make sure that there are no air carriers that would bring in the air from the garage, which would be filled with the gasses from the car that is parked in the garage.

8. Grow Your Own Food - You can do your own gardening and grow your own food, without the use of chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, etc. Gardening can be hard work, but there are several places on the Internet that can help. http://www.gardenweb.com 

9. Get adjusted by a chiropractor. This is so easily overlooked or misunderstood. Many think that a chiropractor is one who helps with back problems, but nothing could be further from the truth. Our brain was made to interact with other parts of the body, and the signals from the brain to the other body parts has to go through the spine. Many times, there is blockage in the spine, so the signals from the brain do not get to the body parts that they were intended to get to. A chiropractor works on the spine to open it up so the signal from the brain can go to the organ or whatever part of the body that the signal is being sent to. I have heard that just one adjustment can boost your immunity by 200%!

Products that are recommended for good heath

1. Essential Oils - If you know anything about essential oils and their benefits, you are aware that there are at least two big essential oil brands that are widely used. One is called 'Young Living' and the other is 'DoTerra'. Of course, DoTerra has a line over their o and I cannot make that with my computer! A note about oils and their medicinal purposes: Essential oil companies are not allowed legally to sell their oils by describing their oils as cures for various ailments. The reason for this is due to the fact that, according to the FDA (I think), it puts the essential oils into another category, which would correspond to medicine. In other words, essential oils cannot be advertised in connection with curing diseases, or we would not be able to sell them unless we have a medical license to do so.
(Here is a link to my web site. I would like to write all the benefits of the oils*, that I have here on paper, but it would take too long and make this article too long for people to read through. http://www.mydoterra.com/susanseifert1/#/ )

2. Garden of Life vitamins - If you have to take vitamins, Garden of Life is a good brand. Be careful of just buying over the counter vitamins. Many have been tested and have been found wanting.



3. Juice Plus+. This is one of my favorites. The people at Juice Plus+ have a real vision for getting nourishment into people's bodies. They have created a food item that has the nourishment of the amount of vegetables and fruits for 9-13 servings. They come in capsule form and also available, and not only for kids, they make a chewable version. The chewables are similar to Gummy Bears. Juice Plus+ has a program where children who are ages 4 and up can go on Juice Plus+ at no cost, with a subscribing adult. So, if both mom and dad are taking Juice Plus+, they can have two of their children on Juice Plus+ and they do not have to pay for the children's subscriptions. Other items of interest that Juice Plus+ makes are Complete, which is a protein shake, and bars. For more information, please go to:
http://www.ss.juiceplus.com (Note: Juice Plus+ is not a vitamin supplement. It is much more than that.)

4. Tower Garden. This is one way to grow a garden in one place! Instead of sprawling through the yard, plants are grown vertically. You can grow anything on this except plants with bulbs or that grow underground. http://www.ss.towergarden.com

5. Maximized Living. Very good for learning about the 5 M's. Maximized Oxygen and Lean Muscle (exercise), Maximized Mind, Maximized nerve supply (chiropractic adjustments), Maximized Quality Nutrition, and Minimized Toxins. They also carry a line of supplements and have exercise programs as well as informative videos. http://www.maximizedliving.com

* I can give a couple of examples of oils we use right now. I have heard that oil of marjoram is good to help with snoring. We are using one put out by 'Now' brand called 'Peaceful Sleep'. Peppermint oil is good to help with breathing, but it not recommended to not use on children six years old or under. I am going to make a recipe that will be like VapoRub, but without the petroleum. It calls for coconut oil, shea butter and some oils like eucalyptus and peppermint. I have menthol but it is hard as a rock and I cannot get it out of the jar. I will use it if I can get it to melt.

There is always more to do and learn. That is why I have this blog. We have in no way arrived at our knowledge of keeping well. We are just at the beginning of this.

Throughout History, people always got sick. There were many reasons for this. Some of it was due to unsanitary conditions. Some people only had access to certain types of food. There were times of drought when food and water were scarce. But today, we have an entirely different type of environment, and people, in large amounts, are getting sick and not recovering. Today, we have toxins that civilizations in the past were not exposed to. Toxins are the killer for us. We have toxins in our cosmetics, household cleaners, building products, food, air, etc.

I hope this has been helpful. As I experiment with different things, and find new answers to old problems, I will update the page. As I learn new things, I will write about them. I hope you enjoy journeying with me while I am traveling this road.