SchoolofCT

The School of Complementary Therapies

Why Self-Care will Change Your Life

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And you need to start NOW!

JFairbrass | SchoolofCT | self-care | Feeling Absolutely Fabulous | Reflexology | Reflexology Ottawa | Learn to heal

Autumn Blessing: ‘When hips and haws bring dwindling days, and fiery leaves set the land ablaze, kindle the fire and welcome all whose hearts respond to autumn’s call’ (copyright Danielle Barlow 2015)

It’s perfect timing to begin a self-care regime, but most of us haven’t got a clue where to start. Let me help you with that.

Self-care is all about our holistic health and wellness: which means body, mind, emotions and spirit. It’s not all about drinking green smoothies and getting vampire facials (and yes, that is a thing…thanks Kim Kardashian!) Although, if that’s what floats your boat, make it so.

Now is the perfect time to take some time for you. When the seasons change, like it’s doing here in the Pacific Northwest…big time, our body goes through natural changes too. Did you know that?

You may notice that as Autumn creeps in your diet changes up a bit. You don’t fancy that salad as much as a nice bowl of veggie soup. Same food combos, but different ways of serving.

For me, I’m not up for a hike in the woods, as much as a leisurely stroll with the pup. I crave root vegetables, which are now in season. And I feel the urge to snuggle in my pj’s on a Sunday afternoon instead of heading out to the Farmers’ Markets and Festivals. What’s changing up for you?

And our immune systems have to gear-up. During the summer we’re less likely to develop colds and flus, but come the change of temperature and lights, our immune systems needs a boost. To be honest, self-care is all about paying attention to what we need. What we crave. Not from an icky-place of ‘must do it right’ or the naughty-space of ‘chips and sodas’. But really listening to what the body, spirit, mind and emotions want. Then giving it to ourselves.

Rest more. Resting isn’t doing nothing…it’s resting. And when we rest, we repair. The body goes into homeostasis, which means it comes back to balance. For me, a rainy Sunday with Netflix, pj’s or snuggly sweaters, hot tea, and a steaming bowl of home-made soup…and I’m ready to take on the world come Monday morning.

JFairbrass | SchoolofCT | self-care | Sunday | Feeling Absolutely Fabulous

Your may find your sleep cycle changes-up a bit. That’s good. Means you sleep a little longer, and the body’s immune system gets a chance to take care of you, getting a much needed boost. And of course, that helps your emotional well-being. See, how simple self-care can be?

See how it can change your life!

Even the spiritual aspect of life comes to the surface as the seasons change. This week we see the start of Autumn in the northern hemisphere. We honor the Goddess Maeve, by celebrating the ebb and flow of life. And we think of Thanksgiving coming, as we enjoy the harvest. Each country has its own version of celebrating the harvest and abundance of the end of summer fruits and veg.

Take time to think about what that means to you. Is it time to head back to Church on a Sunday? Or join that Drumming Circle you’ve been thinking about? Maybe get some oracle cards and start each day with a message from the Divine. Whatever appeals, do some of that.

And of course, we never enter Autumn (or Fall) without thinking about ‘back-to-school’). Want to learn more about how to eat healthy, without the fads and trends? Nutrition 101 — How to Eat Healthy was designed just for you. Even if you aren’t interested in professional training, you’ll gain super benefits from this, as you explore your eating habits and make healthy changes. Easily!

So tell me, what will you do to be kinder to your beautiful body, radiant spirit, creative mind and ravishing emotions? I want to know!

PS Course prices are going up soon, so take advantage of the deals and sign-up NOW! 

 

Summer-fun – How Natural Health Helps Healing Part Two – Beat the Heat

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Summer-fun continues in the Northern Hemisphere. But not for all of us…

summer fun | SchoolofCT | Jacqueline Fairbrass | Natural Health | Bramble Cottage SnoValley

Some fair-skinned peeps out here in the real world just don’t get on terribly well with sunshine. Leading to a lack of summer-fun and a whole heap of summer-ick. Yes, I love sunshine, but too much heat and I’m a hot mess!

If this happens to you, or to your children and babes, I’ve got fabulous natural health tips and advice to help you get soothed and calm again.

Summer-fun Heat Rash

For me, it starts with little bumps, that get more and more itchy. And the next thing you know, I’m hating the heat and heading for an air-conditioned room. My Celtic background just doesn’t love a whole-whack of sunshine and/or heat.

What to do? A cooling bath. Ahh…into the tub, with a few drops of lavender essential oil and I’m on my way back to being a happy camper all-over again. But wait…there’s more! How about taking an old tea-towel or wash-cloth and some oatmeal and making a personalized bathing cloth.

summer-fun | Jacqueline Fairbrass | Aromatherapy | SchoolofCT | Natural Health | Holistic Healthcare

Get your fabric and put at least one cup of oatmeal, a nice big-flake one works best. (Scottish works best, as the Irish steel-cut doesn’t have as much surface to soak.) Tie it up in the cloth. (In my Holistic Aromatherapy Training Program I have students tie up herbs etc. in a J-cloth…so be inventive!)

Toss the package into the bath as the water runs. Once the tub is filled, add your lavender essential oil. I use about ten drops myself. Swoosh before you get in. Don’t want an undiluted e/o on your sensitive bits…even if it is gentle lavender. Climb in. Soak for 10 to 15 minutes. The water will be ‘milky’ from the oatmeal. Then use the cloth-bag to rub over your skin. Get out, and gently pat yourself dry.

Still bothering you? Now it’s time for some good old-fashioned calamine lotion to soothe those bumps. But if you catch it in time, the oatmeal and lavender bath will work wonders.

(Why the cloth-bag? Otherwise you’ll be bathing in porridge, and you’ll get more hot and bothered rinsing it out of your nooks and crannies…Hahaha!)

What about the kiddies? Babies and Young Children in the Heat

sumer-fun | SchoolofCT | Jacqueline Fairbrass | Natural Health

Diaper or Nappy Rash

Happy babies need happy bums! Summer can really be hard on little bottoms, so here’s some simple ways to help baby stay happy and help mum keep her cool.

Mix 1 drop each of lavender and Roman chamomile essential oils to 20 ml of calendula oil and apply to baby at every change until completely healed.

Also, be sure to take special care to wash and dry baby well after each nappy or diaper change.

Be especially careful of using powders with mineral oils as they clog the skin. Avoid plastic pants and if you can, disposable diapers or nappies as they discourage the circulation of air around the baby’s body, while retaining body heat and moisture.

A little nudey-pants time (no diapers or nappies) after the evening bath is a great addition to the bath routine. Perhaps sit and read a book together. Pop a towel on the sofa, just in case!

Heat Rash

Bathe baby in a bath in which 2 drops of lavender essential oil has been added to one liter (or two pints) of cooled chamomile tea.

summertime fun | chamomile tea | Jacqueline Fairbrass | Natural Healing | SchoolofCT

Make extra tea to sip as it’s super for keeping calm. And you might need some help with your summer-fun if baby is cranky!

Insect Bite and Sun Burns

In the palm of your hand, measure out one teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda. Add one drop of lavender essential oil. Mix into a paste with a little cold water. Apply to the bite or sting.

Apply as often as necessary.

As always, if in doubt, or you have any concerns, go to see your primary health care provider. It’s always better to be careful. And that’s their job, so you aren’t bothering them.

And if you’d like some help with your Natural Health and well-being, you can always contact me or get started and take a course to learn how to help you and your family stay well.

Enjoy the rest of your summer-fun, and remember,

Stay Fabulous!

Jacqueline Fairbrass | Stay Fabulous | Feeling Absolutely Fabulous | Bramble Cottage | School of Complementary Therapies | SchoolofCT

Want to learn more about how I can help you gain clarity and focus, and let go of worry?  Click to read.

 

Summertime Blues Be Gone – How Natural Health Helps Healing (part one)

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Summertime is finally here in the Northern Hemisphere. Hooray!

But as we strip down more and get out to enjoy a healthy dose of free Vitamin D, we run into a few problems and glitches that make give us a dose of the Summertime Blues.

summertime blues | SchoolofCT | Jacqueline Fairbrass | Natural Healing | Bramble Cottage

Jacqueline to the rescue. (So, yeah, I’ve a Wonder Woman archetype…don’t we all?) No golden lariat and I promise to keep my knickers under my clothes. But what I do have is a multi-parter Blog Post with lots of juicy tips and tidbits to alleviate those Summertime Blues.

So, let’s get going.

Number one ickyness each summer for me, is the dreaded battle with bugs. So, let’s start with…

Stings and Bites

During summer months it’s so easy to find yourself (or someone around you) on the losing end of an encounter with a bee or wasp. Ugh!

Witch hazel rocks!

Instead of reaching for some expensive and toxic over-the counter-medication, try using witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) to ease discomfort and heal the wound. Witch hazel is a liquid distillation of the leaves, bark and twigs of the tree Hamamelis virginiana which may be found on most drugstore shelves in the areas near to rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide.

summertime blues | SchoolofCT | Jacqueline Fairbrass | Feeling Absolutely Fabulous | Natural Healing | Bramble Cottage

Cheap, cheerful and effective. I like Thayers brand myself, and my current fave includes rose petal water for hydration. But the lemon is also a close runner-up. (Link to buy below.)

To treat stings and irritation, douse a cotton pad with witch hazel and apply to the affected area. You can’t overdose, so just go for it.

This treatment isn’t just for insect bites, but also helps sun and wind burn. And you may also use in the same way to disinfect minor cuts and abrasions.

Important to know: Witch hazel has no drug interactions and may be used safely by both children and adults.

(And, if you tend towards skin a little on the greasy side, it makes a fab astringent. Yes, so gentle you can use on your fabulous face!)

Next, not so much me, but hubby suffers from:

Seasonal Allergies

When sneezing, snuffles and itchy eyes become part of day-to-day life through summer months, you may have summertime allergies. (You can always get tested by your Doc or Naturopath, but let’s face it…most of us know when we have them!)

Think about adding the following herbs/supplements/foods to your diet, and then you can see if they have any beneficial effects on your allergy symptoms:

Let’s start with tea.

(Yeah, I know, I’m soooo predictable, but really, try it.) Singing nettles and butterbur make a fab combo for allergy relief.

Get a mason jar, fill it with the fresh herbs and pour boiling water over. (Or buy tea bags or dried herbs from the local nutrition shop of on-line.) Make it strong and drink a couple of cups each day.

summertime blues | Jacqueline Fairbrass | SchoolofCT | Natural Healing | Bramble Cottage | Feeling Absolutely Fabulous | Tea

Why? Both herbs are reputed to perform as well as antihistamines, without the drowsiness or constipation of meds. Gotta be worth a go.

(And if you don’t like the green taste, add some honey or fruit or fizzy water, or any combo to make it taste good to you. Me? I like a little honey in mine.)

There’s a link below for a good quality tincture for you if the thought of tea makes you queasy!

No more Moo.

Eliminate dairy from your diet to avoid summertime immune-system irritation. I know, that’s a hard one, but there are some coconut, soy and rice substitutes for ice-cream that are really yummy! Even though I don’t have the allergies, I enjoy some of the coconut ice-creams so much, I buy them just for a treat.

Check out the local supermarket for cheese alternates. I know it sucks to not have cheese on those summer hamburgers, but the alternates are now really good. (Remind me to tell you about the hemp cheese I tried back in the 80s…nasty!)

What about tea? Yes, I take milk in my tea. But 1) you could go without and pop a slice of lemon into the tea instead or 2) use one of the substitutes. My friend Cindy always has coconut milk in her Bramble Cottage tea and she loves it!

(You can get your Bramble Cottage tea here, btw. Just click.)

Omega-3

Increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids to calm inflammation and boost immune resistance. Eat more wild Alaskan salmon, freshly ground flaxseeds or fish oil supplements.

Berry Good

Eat plenty of antioxidant-rich fruits such as berries and cherries to help modify the body’s inflammatory response.

Isn’t it wonderful how Mother Nature supplies antidotes at just the right time. Berries and cherries are in season in summertime. Berries and cherries alleviate inflammation and boost Vitamin C. Eat lots.

Unclog those Sinuses

You may also want to try nasal douching. Use a neti pot (or bottle) with a warm saline solution. Follow the instructions on the box the neti-pot arrives in. (I just use premeasured salt. I like things nice and easy. And talking nice and easy, scroll down for a link to get yourself a nice neti pot.)

And, of course, drink plenty of water to both keep nasal passages hydrated, and to flush toxins out your body.

Not ‘fessing up, but some people do like a little drinky-poo in the summertime.

Summertime Partying

Sometimes summertime means more alcohol than our body is used to: beers at the barbecue, coolers at the cottage, exotic cocktails when we travel.

summer time blues | party | SchoolofCT | Jacqueline Fairbrass | Natural Healing | Bramble Cottage | Feeling Absolutely Fabulous

If you are more frequently using alcohol, I suggest you take milk thistle (Silybum marianum) regularly. It is available in capsules, but I believe you get more from using a tincture. Purchase from a reputable health food store or on-line from a recommended company. Follow the instructions on the label.

Milk thistle for liver health comes from the European folk medicine tradition. It is said to enhance the metabolism of liver cells and help protect them from toxic injury.

(Milk thistle may also help those with chronic hepatitis, abnormal liver function, and those using pharmaceutical drugs that are hard on the liver, including cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy).

BTW: This herb is considered non-toxic, so as long as you aren’t sensitive to it, you can stay on it indefinitely.

(However, if your alcohol consumption does not reduce at the end of summertime or you perceive it to be affecting your quality of life please call me at 206.883-3842 for an appointment. We’ll assess your health and get you on a personalized wellness program asap.)

 

I’ll have some more ideas for you next time, but in the meantime, if there are other issues you would care to discuss or you require a more in-depth consultation, please contact me.

Stay fabulous,

Jacqueline Fairbrass | Stay Fabulous | Feeling Absolutely Fabulous | Bramble Cottage | School of Complementary Therapies | SchoolofCT




The Low-Down on Multi-Level-Marketing and Aromatherapy

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Something that’s been bothering me for a while is the rise of multi-level-marketing (MLM) companies selling essential oils.

multi-level-marketing | Traditional Holistic Aromatherapy | Aromatherapy | Aromatherapy training | SchoolofCT | Natural healing | Jacqueline Fairbrass

(And, to be honest, I get a lot of students and clients asking me about the quality of the essential oils, etc., too!)

So, I went searching and found someone who has done the research. She found that MLM prices are on average 3.22x more expensive than traditional online outlets. With some individual oils being p to 5x more expensive.

Yes, that’s right, up to five times more expensive.

Basically, it works like this. All companies get the essential oils from a small number of international supplies. These suppliers in turn, get them from the growers. So, the bigger the company, and the more the overhead, the higher the price of the essential oils.

With the MLM company structure, the prices have to be higher.

(Now, I’m not saying I’m against MLM, as I do purchase some cosmetics and vitamins from friends via multi-level-marketing companies. And I like that personal touch.)

But I don’t think people realize that the cost is higher than buying essential oils directly from an on-line independent distributor.

Here’s a couple of companies whose essential oils I like (and I’m not an affiliate, just sharing the good stuff.)

Amrita (USA)

Alypsis (Canada)

In addition, (you knew there’d be more, didn’t you?) I personally don’t like the standardization of the essential oils distributed by MLM companies. It’s the same as adulteration, which quite simply means the natural plant essences are altered in a laboratory, so they contain the same chemical constituents every time.

I recommend small companies, and looking for the product labeled with its Latin name. That way, you’re more likely to get essential oil from the plant and not the lab.

If this approach appeals to you, then check out Traditional Holistic Aromatherapy training with us. Click here for more info.

Stay fabulous,

Jacqueline Fairbrass | Stay Fabulous | Feeling Absolutely Fabulous | Bramble Cottage | School of Complementary Therapies | SchoolofCT

Planning Ahead and Back to Basics Save Time and Money

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Delia Smith, Well-Known British Cook, Urged Us To Go Back To Basics in 2005

It’s now 2017, and I’m still wondering: ‘do you know what’s in your food?’

More and more we are becoming inundated with information on food additives. But do we really pay any attention? Yes! We are becoming conscious of what we are eating. People are reading the labels on the packaging.

But with manufacturing companies becoming more savvy, they hide things with different names. For example, the food additive Sudan 1 has 52 other names.

And while I’m frightening you with the horror of labeling, did you know that ‘natural’ can pretty much  mean anything? For example Sudan 1 is an organic compound, so literally it’s natural. But it’s still proven to cause cancer in clinical testing.

In 2005 we were exposed to the carcinogenic properties of food dye Sudan 1 as it was used in most ready made meals and processed foods. It has since been banned in many countries, however, there is no checking process to make sure it’s not being used. And much of what is in ready-made food actually comes from third world countries. You’ve guessed it, they’re the ones that haven’t banned it.

So, how about going back to basics.

Back to Delia: Delia Smith advocated a return to “basic, old- fashioned cooking” in the March 4, 2005 Daily Mail.  She said: “You do suddenly see the horror of what can happen through one little mistake…I believe that food is a wonderful gift and it is good to give it our full attention.”

I like that. Pay attention to your food. And it’s not just ready meals. Fast food and many restaurants now order food-in-a-bag and have it delivered.

Buyer beware!

However, Delia did acknowledge that ready made meals have their place in our busy lives. “I do know that time can play a part.”

So, what do you think? Is it realistic to expect busy women and men to make every meal from scratch, or do we simply accept that we don’t have the time or energy to cook a full-blown meal every day?

There is something we can do!

Take time to plan our meals.

Breathe! Before you panic and think “oh no, here’s another thing to add into my hectic schedule” take a deep breath and relax.

Planning ahead the week’s meals will save you money at the grocery store. And save you money.

Worth reading on? I think so…planning ahead…

First,  make a menu. Just take sometime one evening a week to write a list of meals for each day. Honestly, I get mine done in about ten minutes. Get off Facebook for ten minutes. See, I’ve even found the time for you.

Then, make a shopping list. Remember to take it to the store. This is where you start to save money. Honestly, we throw less away because we are buying what we need. We also don’t fall prey to ‘ooh, that looks nice’. Well, not as much anyhoos!

Post the menu on the fridge, and remember to add snacks.

When you get home, or the kids get home, all anyone has to do is look at the menu. No time standing in front of the fridge thinking “what’ll we eat tonight?” See how we begin to save some time and energy?

When preparing meals make two or three extras and freeze them – ready meals without the additives. For example, last night I made two lasagna. Dinner last night and tonight from one. And the other has gone in the freezer.

Last week I did the same with shepherd’s pie. (Want the best Shepherd’s Pie recipe, click here.)

Planning Ahead | Shepherd's Pie | SchoolofCT | School of Complementary Therapies | Jacqueline Fairbrass | Bramble Cottage | Feeling Absolutely Fabulous

I also do the same with chili, pot-roast, stews and soups. Also a ton of easy cook chicken recipes. And when the kids were small I used to cook up a batch of brown rice on a Sunday and keep it in the fridge to be warmed up during the week (without any substantial loss of B vitamins.)

My daughter, Sarah, roasts root vegetables with a little olive oil and fresh herbs, then warms them up as needed.

I’m also a big fan of the slow-cooker, and oh my goodness, but how the recipes have improved. No, slow-cooking doesn’t always taste the same. But throwing something in the slow-cooker, heading out to work for the day, and then coming home to dinner already cooked–heaven!

(I’ve not branched into the new fast cooker thingies, as they remind me of pressure cooking and I’m not a big fan. But I hear good things. If you like them, let me know why. Drop a comment below.)

Now that the seed is planted, I bet you can think of lots of ways to spend a little time in the kitchen and not eat so many ready meals, processed foods and take-outs.

Anything to share? Pop a comment below, so we can all take advantage.

Stay fabulous,

Jacqueline Fairbrass | SchoolofCT | School of Complementary Therapies | Bramble Cottage | Feeling Absolutely Fabulous

The Fridge Door is Open ~ It Must Be Anxiety!

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Does this sound familiar? I’m feeling stressed, so I’ve opened the fridge door. Or perhaps it’s anxiety. And maybe it’s the pantry?

When we are feeling stressed or anxious we often reach for food as a way to comfort ourselves. Just popping in a few tasty morsels to quell the anxiety can’t be so bad, can it?

It may be chips (salty and crunchy) for one person, while another is drawn to chocolate (sweet and creamy). Or sometimes it just seems we can’t eat enough, so we keep eating whatever is around. Yikes!!!

The drawback is, what seemed soothing and stress relieving at the time often makes us feel worse later. We can end up feeling bloated. And what is even worse, we can end up feeling guilty and/or ashamed.

Guess what happens next? We start to feel anxious or stressed about feeling bloated and guilty. And we find ourselves standing in front of the fridge or the pantry again. Looking for the same sense of relief as we tuck into something that makes us feel better.

Sometimes this cycle appears over weeks, sometimes we can find ourselves living several rounds in one evening! And yes, unless we get a handle on this we are going to continue to suffer. What can we do?

Aha! That’s where The Happiness Coach comes to the rescue. When I was President of the Anxiety Disorders Assocation of Ontario (a charity based in Canda) I became an expert on anxiety and nutrition. Today, I’m sharing some of what I learned to help you get out of the anxiety/fridge cycle.

Try a glass of water first

If you find yourself standing in front of the fridge when stressed, here are a few things to think about:

  • Drink Before You Eat

  • First thing – go get a glass of water. Sometimes we are thirsty and we don’t realize it! Make sure you get your six to eight glasses a day. This helps to fill you up and helps the digestive system stay healthy. (It’s also good for your skin.) So, drink before you eat.

  • However, don’t drink alcohol or caffeine when stressed.

  •  Although maybe giving you a temporary soothing sensation, they will actually make your feelings worse or prolong your anxiety and its side effects.

  • Just Breathe!

  • Stop all activity for a few moments and take several long slow deep breaths. You will probably notice that your breathing became quite shallow, and this will help you get back to normal breathing.

  • Snuff out that ciggie

  • Do not smoke – all the carcinogeous stuff in ciggies increases anxiety…it’s the deep breathing that relaxes you. Just pretend you have a cigarette in your hand, and breathe!

  • Check In

  • Now, you have had a glass of water and you are deep breathing, check in with yourself – are you hungry? If the answer is yes…

  • Eat Regularly

  • Remember to keep your blood sugar levels stable by eating three nutritious meals and a couple of healthy snacks daily rather than three large meals, or the ever popular “skip a meal because you don’t want the calories.” That will bite you back!

  • Eat Healthy

  • Do your best to include some omega-3 fatty acid rich foods in your diet. These help you keep your cool and include flaxseeds and walnuts, salmon and deep sea fish.

  • Eat Smart

  • Eating food high in magnesium is proven to help relax muscles and is good for your brain too. Magnesium is found in most foods, especially dairy products, fish, meat and seafood. Also include in your diet apples, bananas, brown rice and tofu.
  • And magnesium is found in chocolate! Mwah!!!

Oh well, we are not looking to be perfect, just to be healthy.

Final Tip ~ Walk Away!

If anxiety is causing you misery and your eating feels like it is out of control, try helping yourself by improving your diet and drinking more water. If you need more help, please contact me for an appointment and we will work together to get you back on track.

  • Walk Away

  • And my final tip…walk away from the fridge and the pantry, and take a brisk walk outdoors. You will breathe deeply, get some exercise and begin to clear your thoughts.

Jacqueline Fairbrass

You may reprint this article and include this information:
Reprinted with permission by Health Steps, the School of Complementary Therapies Education division of Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC Newsletter. Jacqueline Fairbrass is the founder of the School of Complementary Therapies, a leader in the field of CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) education. For more information go to SchoolofCT or Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC JacquelineFairbrass, call 206.201.2764 or contact us on-line.

 

The Easy Way to Choose Happy & Get Healthy

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Do you ever sit and daydream? Imagining living the Happy Life? Making pictures in your mind’s eye about…

  • living with higher self-confidence and self-worth
  • enjoying better health and great sleep
  • having more energy
  • achieving your goals
  • becoming popular and having lots of friends
  • achieving more of what you truly want
  • balancing the different areas of your life
  • being truly Happy!

If you can do any of the above, you can begin to improve your life and Choose Happy with hypnotherapy! Really! Let me tell you how…

Hypnotherapy is a Complementary Alternate Medicine therapy that allows you to reach levels of deep relaxation. When you are relaxed the conscious and the sub-conscious mind are very close together. You simply have to relax and think of new ways of being for your mind to make changes.

My aim is to help you help yourself.

Hypnotherapy is not about one person controlling another’s mind, but about a sensitive and caring relationship developed between therapist and client, in which a true understanding of each client’s goals, ideals and objectives are established. I am dedicated to helping each client achieve their objectives in the shortest possible time, in accord with their best interests.

Hypnotherapy or Clinical Hypnosis can be used to help in an almost unlimited number of ways, and is especially useful in behavior modification (big words that mean ‘changing your habits’):

  • relaxing,
  • relieving anxiety and depression,
  • quit smoking,
  • changing eating habits,
  • overcoming fears and phobias,
  • improving memory and study habits
  • and much more.

My studies in hypnotherapy have led me to believe it to be one of the simplest tools of change we can use. Currently,  I am working with clients who have anxiety, depression, phobias, weight issues and sleep problems. Each and every one is feeling better using hypnotherapy! And that is how to Choose Happy!

Hypnotherapy can allow you to escape from your typical patterns of response and behavior, allowing you to achieve greater flexibility and choice.

It works by allowing you to relax deeply, so giving you the ability to choose new ways of doing, being and thinking, without being controlled by past experiences.

I want you to be able to achieve your objectives and Choose Happy in the shortest possible time, with your best interests in mind.

When you make an appointment with me because you are ready to feel better in any area of your life, whether it body, mind, emotions or spirit, hypnotherapy is one thing we consider. Sessions are personalized and highly enjoyable experiences.

Thank you for being ready to change and ready to Choose Happy. I look forward to helping you achieve your full potential! To make an appointment to try a hypnotherapy session or begin a series of life-changing sessions, please contact me.

Keep it Up!

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Stopping for a break ~ herbal tea and some fruit ~ keeping up my blood sugar!

It’s important for you to know and be aware about blood sugar. Blood sugar stabilizing is important for reducing stress and lessening feelings of anxiety. And there are many other benefits you will find from maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. Click here for more information.

As defined in the dictionary, blood sugar is the glucose in blood that rises and falls depending upon what we eat. All carbohydrates are ultimately converted to glucose to be used by the body as fuel for the brain and muscles.

When we are feeling low on energy we often crave sugar or caffeine. Caffeine appears to release stored glucose. Instinctively we know that these substances will raise our energy (or sugar) level quickly.

So, what’s wrong with that? The problem is that this high concentration overloads the system, causing the levels to swing up above normal giving  us a lift, then fall rapidly to way below normal. Then we feel even more tired and crave more sugar or caffeine…so, we have another cup of coffee, glass of coke, sugary snack…our energy swings up again and crashes down again…over and over!

Riding on the chemical roller coaster leads to irritability, depression, anxiety, confusion and fatigue. It actually becomes an addiction cycle! We are not nurturing and taking care of ourselves when we are in this pattern.

Ideally we want a strong, steady level of energy all day long. We want to avoid the swings up and down by eating healthy food in healthy amounts. We need to avoid sugar and caffeine, and instead eat whole foods that are digested slowly.

These are complex carbohydrates: fruits, vegetables, grains. These foods slowly release their energy into the body. As a Natural Health Consultant I suggest most people need to eat three meals a day and two to three snacks, so your body is receiving quality energy all day.

  • Start kicking coffee by using good quality decaffeinated coffee. You will have the taste without the caffeine. If you are a heavy coffee user, wean yourself off by cutting the number of cups you drink daily. Caffeine withdrawal produces bad headaches and other side effects that may give you an excuse to give up. Go slowly, this is a process of loving yourself, not punishing. Try herbal teas. There are hundreds on the market, buy sample packs and find your favourites. Try coffee substitutes, you may find you like them.
  • And drink water! At least six glasses daily. Don’t like water? Try fizzy spring water with ice and a slice of lemon in a beautiful glass. Put some pleasant tasting chlorophyll into the water-Nature’s Sunshine has a spearmint oil added. Take a 1.5 litre bottle with you in the morning and promise yourself you’ll finish it by bedtime, then finish it by noon and feel pleased with yourself!

If you would like to learn more about “Eating Well as Part of Loving Yourself” and integrating good eating habits into your life, give me a call or drop me a line and we’ll set you up with an appointment and get you started on a personalized wellness program or take the fabulous SCT Course Nutrition 101.

And remember the important thing about blood sugar ~ keep it up!

August 2012 ~ health steps ~ Top Tips for Happy Healthy Hair

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Top Tips for Happy Healthy Hair

This month, a client of Jacqueline’s shares a question.

Question: My hair is thinning and I’m only in my twenties! What should I do?

Okay, your thin hair situation. It started when you you lost a lot of weight in one year. I believe it is a nourishment issue. You also have a bit of a tendency to under-eat and over the years you haven’t built your reserves back.

So, let’s start with building up nutritionally:

Start with getting yourself a bottle of Floradix and taking it daily. One bottle will last one month.

You need to be taking a good multivitamin. I suggest to get started you take Salus Haus Epresat Multivitamin Energeticum. It’s the same make as Floradix, so another liquid supplement.

Taking liquid supplements you will get the most absorption and although expensive, the best bang for your buck.

Either drink oatstraw tea, as much as you like and as strong as you can, or get horsetail tincture. They both contain lots of silica, which is necessary for healthy hair growth.

Drink green tea, indicated in clinical studies to alleviate hair loss.

Now, let’s consider the physical condition of your hair and scalp and tune that up:

In case there are little icky mites in your scalp doing damage … next time you wash your hair, massage 10 drops tea tree or manuka essential oil into your scalp before washing. Massage your head often. Wash your hair with Shampure by Aveda. Wash once only, don’t rinse and repeat. Massage your scalp. Blot hair carefully as it is fragile when wet.

Lay off the products. Use Shampure or a ph balanced natural shampoo and then as a final rinse … 2 TBsp apple cider vinegar (Bragg’s is best) and sage tea. Make the tea and let it cool. this helps hair to grow. Wash as little as you can, try every other day to begin with. Now the weather is improving, don’t blow dry and allow your hair to dry naturally. Don’t use tongs or straighteners. Remember, this is a healing process, so the hair has to be treated with loving care. You have a very nice natural wave, just let it do its thing. You are beautiful and getting your hair health back will take some time, but will be well worth it.

Stop wearing your hair pulled back in a ponytail … causes stress on the hair and makes hair fall out. If you want it off your face, use an alice band. Sorry, I know you pull your hair back, but this has to stop for now.

Back to nutrition:

Make sure you eat a diet high in frutis and veggies and low in starch. This is indicated to slow down the process of hair loss. They are high in flavonoids, which are antioxidants. This will help protect the hair follicles and actually encourage hair growth. Sprinkle sunflower seeds on your salads, eat brown rice instead of white and add green peas to your diet. These are high in biotin which is necessary for health hair and skin. There is a hormone indicated in hair loss, dihydro-testosterone, which is inhibited somewhat by the addition of soy to the diet. So, make your meat-free Mondays a tofu day!

Go off alcohol for a month. It depletes your B vitamins, which are being depleted by the stress of your work anyway. Without the B vitamins, your hair suffers. This will add more impact to the supplements you are taking.

So, do this to start and we’ll check-in in about 3 weeks to see where we go next.

June 2012 Health Steps ~ Get Physical With Some Love

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Walking the dog ~ an excellent way to add exercise to your life!

Over the years I have listened to hundreds of clients and students make excuses for not exercising—seriously, I think I’ve heard them all. And I always say ‘the key is finding something you love to do’.

So today I’m going to share some of my tips to making exercise more fun:

  • Don’t do it alone. Go with a friend. The buddy system works so well. If you are not feeling motivated, maybe your friend is, or vice versa.
  • Don’t over do it! The temptation to get stuck in and work like mad because you haven’t exercised for a while is so strong. Resist! Go gently. As we say at Feeling Absolutely Fabulous, ‘gentle change leads to permanent results’. Take it easy and you won’t injure yourself. You have all the time in the world.
  • Don’t commit to an exercise regime until you have tried it for a while. Sometimes the initial endorphin rush is mistaken for loving the exercise. See if it works for you and your lifestyle first. Then make the commitment.
  • Do schedule exercise into your daily calender. If you make an appointment with yourself you are more likely to keep it than saying ‘I’ll get round to it when I’ve done everything else’.
  • Do something you can afford. The stress out-weighs the benefits if you cannot afford to do it. Walking is free. Running is free. Doing the housework vigorously is free, which brings me to my final tip for today:
  • Moving your body is exercise. You don’t have to wait until you can join a program or pay for a gym membership. Get physical and clean the house. Get physical and go shopping: park the car away from the mall entrance and walk vigorously around the mall. Make love with enthusiasm—teehee! Get down on the floor and play with the kids/grand-kids/pets. Move it or lose it!
  • And think about what you eat! Good nutrition partnered with some exercise and you’ll soon be Feeling Absolutely Fabulous!
  • And get physical with some love.

Welcome To The School Of Complementary Therapies

jacqui

Hi, I’m Jacqueline Fairbrass—licensed Hypnotherapist, holistic wellness therapist, vivacious health coach, and founder of the School of Complementary Therapies.