Dancers, athletes, and anyone else who uses their body for a living know the importance of massage. For those of us who incorporate massage and body work into our daily health regimen, going a year without access to these resources as we social distance has threatened our usual routines of wellness. It’s never been more valuable to find an at-home alternative to massage that can provide the same level of relief. My brother Craig Inaba and his amazing company Muscle Hammer have created the perfect muscle massaging device that can help to bridge these gaps when getting a massage is difficult.
There are many personal massagers on the market, but I love the Muscle Hammer for so many reasons. It’s weighted perfectly so that those of us who suffer from carpal tunnel or spinal stenosis (I have both) don’t have to struggle with discomfort in our wrists or forearms to counteract the weight. The Muscle Hammer also comes with so many attachments for different needs, including ones so delicate you can use them near your spine without causing damage.
I’m so excited to share my brother’s work with you; he’s created a truly exceptional product and I couldn’t be happier to talk to him about what makes the Muscle Hammer special.
Carrie Ann: Craig, thanks so much for doing this interview. It’s so cool to get to interview my brother, especially about such an amazing product that I use so much and that has helped me so much with pain management. First off, what made you want to create the Muscle Hammer?
Craig: Two reasons. First, there are too many people suffering from pain caused by muscle tension simply because they cannot afford the massage therapy needed to alleviate their pain. Second, I wanted to help level the playing field for all athletes. Wealthy athletes always have an advantage because they can afford the therapies needed to keep their bodies performing at peak levels and come back from injuries better and faster. The Muscle Hammer gives all athletes access to the kind of body maintenance therapy that in the past was only available to wealthy and elite athletes.
Carrie Ann: It’s so admirable that you want to equalize people’s access to taking good care of their bodies because everyone deserve to feel their best. What makes the Muscle Hammer different from other similar devices on the market?
Craig: Quality of product and quality of service. We are so confident in our product that we offer an industry leading 60 day money back guarantee, free return shipping, and we give a ten dollar Amazon gift card to anyone who returns their device because they are not satisfied. So basically, if someone tries a Muscle Hammer and doesn’t like it and returns it, they actually end up ten dollars ahead! We are not aware of any other company in the world that is willing to pay customers if they don’t like their product. We also guarantee a three day repair turnaround if your device breaks under warranty.
Carrie Ann: It’s great that you offer a guarantee like that! Is there any specific group of people who can benefit more from the Muscle Hammer?
Craig: People in pain caused by chronic muscle tension or any soft tissue inflammation, athletes who want to perform better and recover faster, and people who just love massage.
Carrie Ann: Well, I know I certainly fit into that group. What’s a special move, placement or attachment for the Muscle Hammer that more people should know about?
Craig: With the five attachments that come with a Muscle Hammer, users will always get exactly what they want, from a soothing relaxing massage to an intense deep tissue massage.
Carrie Ann: Is there a muscle that people tend to ignore that they should be covering with the Muscle Hammer?
Craig: Not really; everyone is different. They just need to use it in areas that cause them pain or discomfort or hinder their athletic performance.
Carrie Ann: Should people take care to protect their bones while using the Muscle Hammer and are there practices or attachments you would recommend to help keep them safe?
Craig: We offer one tip that can be used directly on bones if desired – we call it the “Accordion” tip and it is designed to absorb impact. It is great to use on or around bones, and also great for kids, seniors, and thinly muscled individuals who may not be able to handle the hard impact of the other tips. It is so soft, you can even use it for a relaxing face massage.
Carrie Ann: Is there anyone who shouldn’t use the Muscle Hammer?
Craig: If someone is very fragile and is known to have weak bones, we recommend they do not use a Muscle Hammer. It is a very powerful device meant to provide deep tissue therapy.
Carrie Ann: Is there any other advice or knowledge about taking care of the body you’d like to add?
Craig: Your body does not last forever. You need to take care of it. Chronic muscle tension and soft tissue injuries in general can always lead to worse injuries and more pain if not addressed. By owning a Muscle Hammer, you can immediately address muscle tension and injuries as they arise, which will help keep your body healthy and active for longer!
Carrie Ann: Thank you so much again for sharing with us about this incredible product. I love my Muscle Hammer and am so thankful for the relief it’s brought me in the time I’ve been using it.
For more information about specific times to use the Muscle Hammer, Craig suggested this video created by the Muscle Hammer team. It advises that the four best times a day to use Muscle Hammer are first thing in the morning to relieve post-sleep stiffness, before a workout to loosen up and prevent injury, after a workout to optimize recovery, and right before sleep to help your muscles relax.
For me, the Sana Health device was truly a gift from the universe. I’ve been very open about my struggles with pain stemming from my autoimmune disorders and I was extremely grateful when representatives at Sana connected with me and offered to send me a device to help with my healing. I’m always deeply touched when people reach out to me about my health journey and this product is incredible.
When you live with conditions like fibromyalgia, lupus and Sjogren’s syndrome or struggle with the pain of rheumatoid arthritis or spinal stenosis like I do, the pain can often be accompanied by brain fog, blurry vision, frustration, depression and anxiety. In my experience this can all contribute to a feeling of deep disorientation and disconnection inside your body. Throughout this past year, the stressful conditions of the pandemic translated to a surge in my pain levels which even forced me to take off time from work. During that period I incorporated the Sana device into my healing routine and I found that it had the ability to bring my body down from its heightened fight-or-flight state. When I’m getting ready to use the device I’ll find a comfy place to lie down and go through some meditations. Sometimes I’ll even pull out my BEMER Pad, but that’s a story for a different day.
I’m so grateful to Sana for this device. Using it always grounds me, calms my system down and gets me back in sync with myself. It also makes me feel so cool and futuristic! I’m very excited to spread the word about devices like Sana’s that can help people live a better life. We had the chance to speak to Richard Hanbury, the founder and CEO of Sana Health about his personal journey in pain management and how he hopes to change lives with Sana’s technology. Get ready to be inspired by his incredible story.
Carrie Ann: Richard, thank you for taking the time to share your story with us and give us more information about this incredible technology. How does the technology in the Sana device work? What’s the science behind it?
Richard: The device uses carefully coordinated pulses of light and sound to produce a deep state of relaxation very quickly. This process works by entrainment. Entrainment is when the brain senses a speed and a pattern in incoming signals and adopts them. This is the same reason that fast paced music wakes you up, and lullabies relax— we take this process to its most precise, to produce the exact patterns in the brain that bring deep relaxation.
Carrie Ann: I think this is why the device appeals to me so much— I have always been deeply affected by music and rhythm, so the concept of entrainment makes a lot of sense to me. May I ask, do you suffer from chronic pain yourself?
Richard: I developed the first prototype to save my own life— I had been given a 5 year life expectancy because of severe nerve damage caused by spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. The device wiped out all of my nerve damage pain, and now I am a health and wellness user. We are carrying out clinical trials in both fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain in pursuit of an FDA approval for these conditions. (Editor’s Note: At the time of publication, Sana has received breakthrough designation for the treatment of fibromyalgia.)
For most people Sana is not a silver bullet like it was for me. We are aiming to be a tool in peoples toolkits, to use as and when works for them, to help manage their condition. At present we are on market for improving sleep and wellness.
Carrie Ann: In my journey with fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, lupus and spinal stenosis I have learned that sleep is truly vital to any sort of healing or wellness.
I always believe that people find a life in healing because they have gone through something themselves in their personal life. What inspired this device to be created?
Richard: The above injuries were caused by my having to crash a Jeep off a bridge in the Yemen, near the capital Sanaa— hence the company name. I went 60 feet down into a dry river bed, broke my back, ripped my aorta, and sustained a brain injury. I was clinically dead for eight minutes, in a coma for six weeks, then in hospital for a further year.
In hospital I realized I was in too much pain to learn to meditate. But when a film put me in a flow state, I realized I might be able to create a new type of pain relief. At first this was just for me, but it has become a lifelong mission to get this out to help others.
Carrie Ann: Thank you so much for sharing that. What an incredibly inspiring story; I can truly feel your passion for helping others. Now, what do you say to people who think medication is the only way to deal with pain?
Richard: If you are suffering and you are getting the relief you want from pain meds, and the side effects are not too severe, and you are happy, then congratulations on successful pain management. For everyone else, then medication is likely just part of a solution to get you to your least amount of pain possible.
Carrie Ann: For people who suffer from chronic pain, pain management is truly like the holy grail and finding ways not to have to use medication is such a great gift. I’ve used quantum biofeedback in the past; is the Sana device similar to that?
Richard: The similarity is that both systems aim to correct imbalances. The massive advantage of Sana is that it is done at home whenever someone needs it, and provides instant benefits.
Courtesy of Sana Health
Carrie Ann: I love how accessible the device is and how it’s always at hand when needed. How often can we use the Sana device and what is the best way to use it for pain management?
Richard: I now use it whenever I fly long-haul, whenever I work too late and need to speed-unwind for bed, or middle of the day for a nap if I only have 20 minutes to get some zip back to my day.
For pain management the clinical trials are being run with the instructions to use twice a day and whenever symptoms get too much for you to enjoy what you are doing. Once we have finished the clinical trials, and gained FDA approval, then we will be able to release the results of those studies as to how the device is best used to treat pain.
Carrie Ann: This is exciting as someone who suffers from fibromyalgia. Is there a type of pain that this works better on?
Richard: Our early results suggest any pain that is made worse by stress, anxiety or sleep disruption, we might be able to help with. The clinical trials in fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain are the first two, and many more will follow.
Carrie Ann: I can definitely attest to the fact that pain is made worse by anxiety and sleep disruption, so thank you for putting your efforts into helping people like me to experience more relief. Can you explain the connection between using the mask and better sleep?
Richard: In my early days with the first prototype, I realized that if I received pain as I was going to sleep – it improved my time to sleep and my quality of sleep, and this reduced my pain for all of the following day. Getting to sleep is easier and sleep is better quality, if you are more relaxed as you are going to sleep – the device achieves this.
Carrie Ann: Richard, thank you so much again for sharing all of this knowledge and for dedicating your life to relieving pain. As someone who lives with chronic pain from my autoimmune conditions, I want to thank you for looking for solutions. Not only is the Sana device interesting looking and comfortable to wear, but I’ve felt noticeable results when I’ve used it. Thank you for reaching out to me and thank you for helping people who are working to find solutions for pain relief. I look forward to following this revolutionary device’s journey in the future.
Whether you’re in a creative field professionally or not, creativity is one of the most important parts of being human. No matter what outlet or form it takes, creative expression allows us to explore and understand our thoughts, experiences, and deeper impressions in a way that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to. Being creative helps us construct our own world and explore the way it looks through our eyes. We experience so many things every day, have millions of thoughts and feelings, and creative expression is the main way we’re able to get all of these ideas out of our heads. Spending time focusing on your own perspective can help you understand yourself and the world better, as well as increase your confidence; the more time you spend listening to your own deeper thoughts, the more you will come to realize that the way you view the world and the ideas you have are unique and important!
Getting In Touch With Your Creative Side
Creativity is important, but how do we get started? It can be so difficult to get motivated, or even know where to begin. If you’re feeling stuck, stagnant, or just feel lost without a routine, here are a few tips to start building creativity.
Try the “Blurt” Method
When you’re getting into a creative mode, one of the most important things to do is silence your inner critic. We’re so accustomed to editing ourselves and thinking about what others will think of us. But when we’re creating, we need to learn to let this voice go and give up on trying to control everything. Not every first idea will be brilliant, but getting them all out is the most important thing at first. In her writing book Bird By Bird, author Anne Lamott talks about the importance of a “sh*tty first draft.” She says that nobody, not even the most acclaimed authors, sit down and spin gold on their first try. The most important thing is simply to sit down and start. “Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere. Start by getting something— anything— down on paper.” The first draft is for getting everything down, she says, and the editing and fixing and polishing comes later.
This is true of any creative pursuit, not just writing. Whether you’re just starting out or have been pursuing an art form for years, don’t let yourself get caught up in trying to be perfect. This is where the “Blurt” method comes in. If you’re trying to write something, simply sit down with a pen and paper and just write down whatever comes to mind without trying to self edit. The important thing is getting everything out so that later you can make connections. If you’re drawing, just let your pen or pencil wander, creating whatever shapes are appealing to you until it starts turning into something you want to create. If you’re dancing, just start moving, and if you’re singing or writing music just start with the sounds you feel like creating. Trust the process and know that even when these first attempts are messy, they’re simply the first steps towards something that’s going to be great.
Start Journaling
Keeping a journal is a great way to keep track of your thoughts and feelings each day. We experience so many things every day; simply getting down a record of things that happen and the way they make you feel can be so helpful. Not only does it help provide a record of your life to turn to when you’re looking for inspiration but it will also train you to be more mindful throughout your days, remembering more and more things that are significant or interesting.
Designate A Time For Creativity
In this day and age, distractions are hard to escape from. We have screens with us at all times, vying for our attention and eating away at our time. One of the easiest ways to get more creative is just to make it more of a priority. Set a time for creativity every day (or every week, whatever feels right) where you put all distractions aside, turn your phone off, and put your whole energy into being creative. The more often you commit to this kind of schedule, the more your mind will start to catch on and get used to switching into creative mode on command.
Get Moving
Time and time again, we’ve seen that moving around is one of the best ways to problem solve and get creative. The physical act of moving helps us feel like we’re moving through whatever obstacles or blocks we’re experiencing in our minds. As soon as you start moving, something you’ve been trying to work out for hours with no success might suddenly become clear and straightforward. Whether it’s pacing around your house or getting out for a jog, putting your body in motion can help your brain make new connections. When we spoke to author Alex Kahler about his process, he shared that going for a long walk was one of his favorite methods for engaging his creativity.
Revisit Your Favorite Work
It can seem counterintuitive to look at someone else’s work when you’re trying to create something original, but getting in touch with something you truly love can be a great place to start if you’re feeling stuck. Whether it’s a favorite book, movie, painting or song, pay attention to what you love about it and how it makes you feel. This can often help reveal more about what you’re hoping to create, giving you some inspiration for the feelings you hope to invoke with your own work.
Try A New Medium
A great way to invite more creativity into your life is to switch things up. If you’re used to drawing or painting, see what writing a brief essay or piece of prose unlocks for you. If you’re more of a writer and less of a visual person, getting loose with some watercolors or experimenting with an instrument could give you fresh inspiration or a fresh sense of satisfaction.
Learn About Something New
If you’re feeling fresh out of ideas, it can be helpful to stock up on inspiration. Pick up a book about a new subject, put on a documentary or even just dive into something new on Wikipedia. You never know what new piece of inspiration will spark a new idea or connect to something you’ve been pondering for a while.
Pick Up A Book About Creativity
There are so many great books about engaging your creativity; why not seek out advice from the experts?
In Big Magic Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love and City of Girls, shares about her creative process and encourages readers in discovering their own regardless of their life path. This book is full of encouragement to embrace creativity, break free from the fear of failing, and find the special magic within each of us.
Steal Like An Artist is a great book with tons of bite-sized pieces of advice for readers who like books that are a bit less linear. Stocked with tons of quotes, analogies and explainers, this books is perfect to pick up whenever you’re looking for a fresh dash of inspiration.
Just like with any other practice, self care in creativity is vital. Stacie Bloomfield’s guide provides the perfect reminder to not take our mistakes too seriously. Full of gorgeous illustrations and stories, this book can help you remember to take a breath and hold love for yourself as well as the creative process.
Who better to consult on the process of creativity than one of the creators of Monty Python? As a lifelong writer, John Cleese has so many pearls of wisdom to lend about getting into a creative mindset and embracing inspiration. Without being too long or overbearing, this book is a fun yet practical aid for having fun with inventing something new.
No matter what format, medium or venue you’re drawn to, creativity has something to offer each one of us. It can help us learn more about ourselves. give us an outlet to express ideas that are hard to pin down and it can give us an escape from everyday life. I hope some of these tips help you capture the magic of creativity in your own life.
Boiron has been a fixture in holistic health since it was founded in 1932, working to help provide homeopathic health solutions to the community. Homeopathy has been such an important resource in my health journey, as it has been for many looking to supplement their health regimens and treatments with resources outside of conventional Western medicine. Whether you’ve been enjoying Boiron products like Arnicare and Occilococcinum for years or are just getting curious about what the world of homeopathy has to offer you, Boiron has so much to offer anyone looking to incorporate holistic treatments into their life. I had the chance to talk to Deborah Kelly, who has worked as the Director of Public Relations at Boiron for over a decade. Deborah had so much wisdom to share with us about Boiron’s passion for homeopathy and the community that has formed around it in its almost century of existence.
Carrie Ann: Thank you so much for being a part of Carrie Ann Conversations and sharing about Boiron with us today. To start, could you speak a bit to Boiron’s philosophy and mission?
Deborah: Since our early beginnings in 1932, our mission has been to provide the purest medicines possible while employing sustainable practices to protect and preserve the environment. Quality has always been our passion, and our ultimate goal is the well-being of our consumers as our vision of health care puts people at its center. This focus on improving the quality of life for each and every person is our true purpose just like our founding pharmacists Jean and Henri Boiron intended. We are committed to the pursuit of a holistic vision of health care for all in a way that’s better for people, the environment, and our community. Our strong sense of obligation and respect for the environment is reflected in our commitment to good harvesting, manufacturing, and control practices that guarantee the quality, traceability, and reliability of our medicines.
Carrie Ann: How would you define homeopathy? What are the roots of homeopathy, and what do you think homeopathy has to offer the modern consumer?
Deborah: Homeopathy is a therapeutic method that uses highly diluted extracts of plants, animals, and minerals to relieve symptoms. Homeopathy largely relies on the ‘principle of similars’ where a highly diluted preparation of an active substance will relieve symptoms similar to those produced by the same substance given in a concentrated dose. For example, a microdose of a coffee bean can help relieve nervousness.
The use of homeopathy in medicine dates as far back as Hippocrates and in modern form since the late 18th century when German physician Samuel Hahnemann first discovered the homeopathic principle of ‘like cures like.’ Homeopathic medicines have been regulated as drugs by the FDA since 1938. Just like their conventional over-the-counter counterparts, homeopathic medicines are clearly labeled for specific indications and are available in a variety of forms such as tablets, gels, ointments and creams, syrups, eye drops, and suppositories.
Homeopathic medicines are considered a mainstream choice in Europe but are now being discovered by more and more Americans. They value that these medicines will not cause drowsiness or hyperactivity or interact with any conventional medications, supplements or herbal remedies that they may already be taking. For those that want to take an integrative or more personalized approach to their health, homeopathic medicines are serving as a complement to other treatments. Homeopathy is also a big draw to busy individuals who can’t afford to lose personal or professional productivity to drowsiness, seniors who are taking multiple medications, and athletes and fitness buffs who need to avoid performance-hindering or prohibitive substances.
Oscillococcinum Homeopathic Medicine, Photo Courtesy of Boiron
Carrie Ann: There are certainly a lot of reasons someone would want to incorporate homeopathy into their health regimen. You mentioned that more and more Americans are finding their way to homeopathy. As of 2019, homeopathy was a 1.2-billion-dollar industry in the U.S. Why do you think homeopathic solutions have been booming so much in recent years here?
Deborah: Homeopathy is booming as it is considered to be one of the safest choices for self-treatment. Parents can give their children homeopathic medicines if they have concerns about medications that might cause drowsiness or hyperactivity or interactions with other drugs or remedies. Homeopathic medicines are not contraindicated with pre-existing conditions, making them ideal for even those considered high-risk. They are also safe for use in small children and older adults. In recent years, consumers have been pulling back on their use of traditional over-the-counter medications because of safety and purity concerns. Research shows that when consumers are given a choice, they will purchase a ‘better for you’ or more natural medicine versus a conventional one. As consumers found themselves spending more time at home during the worst of the pandemic, they realized that keeping their medicine cabinets stocked with homeopathic medicines and at the ready was essential for good self-care and important in managing minor health issues.
Carrie Ann: I’ve definitely found it helpful to stock up on a variety of holistic solutions so that they’re always available, whether I’m going through an autoimmune flare or just feeling worn out. What do you see as the ideal relationship between homeopathy and conventional Western medicine?
Deborah: Many healthcare professionals have incorporated some form of complementary or alternative medicine as part of standard care in their practices. Some of this is driven by patients increasingly asking for something other than conventional treatment. A therapy such as homeopathy allows patients to receive more individualized care which in turn gives health care professionals a better way to serve these patients and differentiate their practices. Naturally, doctors want to recommend the most appropriate tool in their toolbox while adhering to the creed to ‘do no harm.’ Homeopathic medicines can easily and safely be used as a complement with other more conventional or Western medicines, including those available by prescription.
Like all therapeutic methods, homeopathy does have its limits. Its scope is limited to everyday health conditions like allergies, coughs, colds, flu, stress, muscle pain, and teething. When the condition treated is not reversible like Type 1 diabetes where the function of the organ is gravely impaired or when the patient is unable to react to homeopathic stimulation such as a deep-rooted infection, then homeopathic medicines should not be used.
Carrie Ann: What are your most popular wellness products? Some of my personal favorites are Arnicare, Nux Vomica and Oscillococcinum.
Deborah: Those are good choices as Arnicare and Oscillococcinum are two of our best-known medicines! Many consumers are first introduced to Boiron medicines and homeopathy through Oscillococcinum, our flu medicine which has been on the market for more than 75 years. Our Arnicare line of pain relievers has grown so popular that we now offer it in a variety of forms such as meltaway tablets and oral pellets, topical creams and gels, and formulas for arthritis, leg cramps and bruising. In recent years, our Camilia for teething pain, Acidil for heartburn and indigestion, and our StressCalm and SleepCalm medicines have grown so much in popularity that they now can be found in many drug store chains and mainstream stores. Appealing to health-conscious consumers like yourself, our medicines have no known interactions with other medications or supplements, are non-drowsy, and won’t mask symptoms of a more serious condition. We also do not use artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives in our pellets and tablets or use any fragrances, dyes, and parabens in our topicals.
Aerial View of the Boiron Medicinal Garden, Photo Courtesy of Boiron
Carrie Ann: I’ve always loved that my favorite Boiron products are effective without having side effects or strong odors or tastes.
Pain management is such a personal journey, especially for those of us who struggle with chronic pain. Can you speak to what homeopathic products like Arnicare have to offer people as a tool in their pain management arsenal?
Deborah: When it comes to pain, many people will try a multitude of products and medicines to bring themselves much-needed relief. Our Arnicare line of pain relief products can be taken alongside conventional internal and external pain relievers, and its use may help to decrease dependency on options that might have long-term use risks. Made with fresh Arnica mountain daisies responsibly sourced from the French mountains, Arnicare can provide relief from everyday muscle aches and pains.* It can easily be used at the first sign of back, neck, knee, shoulder, and leg pain, swelling from injuries, and on bruises.* Our popular topical gels and creams do not have that traditional strong medicine smell and do not contain menthol, camphor, methyl salicylate, capsaicin, fragrances, dyes, or parabens which is especially important when you are concerned about what you put in and on your body.
Carrie Ann: Community is obviously a big part of Boiron— could you speak to the role of community in Boiron’s mission and for homeopathic healing at large?
Deborah: As world leader in homeopathic medicines, Boiron is committed to lead by example. Our employees have a great deal of passion for homeopathy and so much pride in our compassionate, ecological, and comprehensive approach to medicine. You can see it in our interactions with and close connections to our loyal consumers, retailers, medical community, and community advocates. We have a team of people devoted to the public answering live phone calls, email, and social media posts every day. Boiron’s pharmacy education, medical and retail teams are continually educating thousands of retail staff and health professionals representing a variety of specialties.
Our medicines have always enjoyed tremendous word of mouth but this has been amplified on social media by our rich community of enthusiasts sharing with us and the world their positive experiences with homeopathy and our medicines. Moms are especially active and vocal when it comes to learning and sharing information about homeopathy. And let’s not forget our amazing long-time community partners like Rodale Institute, Holistic Moms Network, and National Center for Homeopathy, just to name a few, whose missions mirror our own and center around our values of health, education and green living. With the help of these partners and others, we are able to educate a wider audience on the many benefits homeopathy has to offer and the necessity of modern medicine to heal without harm.
Carrie Ann: Boiron’s mission is clearly grounded in a relationship with and respect for the natural world- could you speak to how this relationship plays out through projects like the Boiron Medicinal Garden and the sustainable harvest of arnica montana, the flower used in Arnicare?
Deborah: One of Boiron’s long-time partners is Rodale Institute, whose mission is to grow the regenerative organic movement through research, farmer training, and consumer education. Our Boiron Medicinal Garden, an educational showcase for flowers and herbs used in manufacturing homeopathic medicines, is located at the institute’s 333-acre farm in Kutztown, Pa. This beautiful garden, which first opened to the public in June 2015, features therapeutic plants like calendula, chamomile, St. John’s wort, rue, comfrey and many others commonly found as active ingredients in Boiron’s most popular medicines. This year, we have partnered with our friend Danny Seo and his Naturally House at Serenbe to create a similar garden as another display of homeopathy’s connection to nature.
As a company, we have a strong sense of obligation to respect the environment not only through our partnerships but the way we conduct our daily business. Preparation of our medicines has a limited impact on the environment, and we promote re-supplying wild and organically farmed plants when possible. This, in turn, improves the quality of raw materials we use and the future of our medicines. We also work with botanist-harvesters well-versed in diagnosing the land and employing harvesting strategies to anticipate continuity of supplies for the future. They generally harvest plants from their natural surroundings. Boiron’s high-quality Arnicare products are derived from the French mountains, where Arnica flowers are hand-picked the way founders Jean and Henri Boiron did in the 1930s. Within 48 hours, the fresh plants arrive at Boiron’s lab. A team of botanists and pharmacists transform this mountain daisy into Arnicare, one of today’s most widely relied upon homeopathic pain relief lines.
A Harvest of Arnica, Photo Courtesy of Boiron
Carrie Ann: That’s so fascinating! I love the idea that a product like Arnicare can make you feel good about using it, both for your own health and for its sustainability for the planet. For someone who’s just learning about homeopathy, it can be intimidating to know where to start. What resources or products would you recommend to a newcomer?
Deborah: Our website is certainly a great place to start for newcomers to homeopathy. Our site offers a wealth of information that includes recommended books and guides, online interactive trainings for consumers, retailers and health care professionals, video library and FAQs. Consumers can explore our website for information on the various homeopathic medicines available and the many symptoms and conditions they can treat. They can also access or download our free interactive app, the Boiron Medicine Finder, that helps match hundreds of symptoms to the right medicines for more personalized self-care. We also have a Wellness Naturally blog that is updated weekly and offers a deeper dive into the history and traditional uses of many homeopathic medicines.
Carrie Ann: What are Boiron’s “staples” you think everyone should keep in their cabinet?
Deborah: Keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet is vital to good self-care! Boiron specialties that should be in every medicine cabinet include our Oscillococcinum to relieve flu-like symptoms including body aches, fever, chills, headache, and fatigue.* If it’s a cold coming on then you want to stock essentials like ColdCalm and our Chestal Honey cough syrup. Arnicare is offered in oral pellets and tablets as well as gel and cream topicals for relief of muscle aches, pain, stiffness and bruising.* For first aid needs like cuts, scrapes, bug bites and minor burns, you should always keep on hand a tube of Calendula, available in ointment, cream, or gel.* For occasional bouts of heartburn, acid indigestion, bloating, upset stomach, and other digestive upsets, there are Acidil meltaway tablets.* For those stressful days and restless nights, you can manage them better with StressCalm for occasional nervous tension, irritability, hypersensitivity, and fatigue due to everyday stress, and melatonin-free SleepCalm for occasional sleeplessness, restless sleep, and intermittent awakening.*
We also offer our ‘blue tube’ single-active ingredient medicines for more seasoned users of homeopathic medicines or those wanting a more customized solution. Some of the more popular singles are Nux vomica when you have indulged in too much food or drink, Hypericum perforatum for nerve pain, Histaminum for hay fever and hives, Ignatia amara for hypersensitivity, irritability, moodiness and apprehension, and Arsenicum album for diarrhea and vomiting relief.*
Carrie Ann: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us today and share all of the ways Boiron is working to make a difference in people’s lives and in the future of the planet. I love the products I’ve been stocking up on for years and I’m excited to try more in the future!
It’s no secret that there are times in everyone’s life when things just feel…off. I think many of us have or will experience periods where we don’t exactly feel like ourselves, or are so stressed that it’s all we can do to keep our head above water. Oftentimes we are so immersed in our daily lives that it can be hard to even step back and recognize the fact that something is wrong. We keep moving, keep trudging along, until it’s painfully obvious that something needs to change. Recognizing and accepting that things are out of balance in your life seems to be half the battle. So how do you recognize when things are off, and more importantly, how do you start to fix it?
Signs That You’re Out of Balance
You know yourself better than anyone else, so sometimes all it takes is pausing to step back and observe your own behavior. And, if you know the right questions to ask yourself, it becomes a lot easier to pinpoint what is throwing your life out of whack.
Have you been fighting with your significant other more often?
Are you more reactive to things that may have not bothered you so much in the past?
Are you feeling sad many days in a row? Are you having more “blah” days than normal?
Do you find it hard to do simple tasks? Are you less motivated than normal?
Are you obsessing over small things?
How often are you doing the things that make you happy? Have you seen friends or picked up your favorite hobby lately?
Is your body trying to tell you something? Are you feeling fatigued or sore and ignoring it?
Are you working long hours, or is your work causing you undue stress?
Have you let your normal routine fall to the wayside?
Are you eating less healthy or not getting any exercise?
What To Do About It
You’ve asked yourself these questions, and you have your answers. Now it’s time to take action! So where do you start? There are so many options out there as far as self-help and self-improvement go, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick one that is best for you. However, there are a few tried and true methods that in my opinion, are a great start for anyone looking to bring balance back into their lives.
1. Hit The Reset Button
Sometimes the first step is to take things back to the basics. This could be in your relationship, home life, work life, or any other sphere. Hitting the reset button means getting rid of the extraneous, non-essential, or potentially stressful parts of your life and taking that time to relax and decide what is actually important to you. Maybe the problem is as simple as being overscheduled. Once you make sure that your basic needs are being met, you can slowly start to add things back in, one at a time. It’s sort of like an elimination diet, but for your life.
2. Talk To Someone
If you are finding it hard to do simple tasks, are having trouble sleeping, and feeling sad more often than not, it might be time to seek professional help. Even if you aren’t experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression, talking to someone can be extremely beneficial when things are feeling “off”. There’s no shame in getting help from a licensed therapist. If you’re someone that feels hesitant to do this, know that you’re not alone. It might be helpful to look at your session as a “getting to know you” meeting. Remember, if it doesn’t feel like the right fit you can keep trying other therapists until it does.
3. Schedule Fun & Relaxation
If you’re having trouble finding the joy in every day, or are in a stress cycle you can’t get out of, it might be helpful to actually schedule fun into your day. If something is written down or added into your iCalendar you might be more likely to actually take that moment for yourself. And that could mean anything! Maybe it’s a Facetime call with a friend, a game night with the family, or going to an exercise class. It’s important to not let work or anxiety consume your every thought until your head hits the pillow. That’s not what life is about, and you’ll thank yourself later for prioritizing your happiness.
A simple adjustment is sometimes all it takes to get your life back into balance. It is human and normal to not feel absolutely amazing every single day, but if those feelings become more regular it’s time to take a step back. Evaluate, reassess, and realign. Your future self will thank you for it.
The ongoing pandemic has taken a toll on our lives in so many ways, especially in terms of our mental health. It’s been reported that higher percentages of adult Americans have experienced symptoms of anxiety and depression in 2020 and 2021 than in years past. However, as vaccination rates rise and the US looks toward a summer that will certainly be an improvement from the last, it seems like we can finally take a breath and start to recover.
As we collectively navigate the new normal and start venturing past our doorsteps, it’s encouraging to know that mental health and self-help resources are more accessible than ever. Support is at our fingertips, with online therapy services like BetterHelp becoming more and more prevalent (the amount of podcast ads I hear about this service alone gives me hope for the normalization of discussing mental health). There also seems to be new wave of self-help influencers, doctors, and licensed therapists gaining popularity on social media. These accounts are wonderful if you’re looking for a quick boost or dose of positivity at any given moment. I’ve rounded up a few of my favorites on Instagram that range from relationship experts to TED Talk masters.
Dr. Nicole LePera (@the.holistic.psychologist) is a psychologist and author who teaches, as it says in her bio, “how to heal + consciously create a new version of yourself.” She focuses on identifying and defining different types of trauma, and how to rebuild yourself mentally. With 3.7M followers on Instagram, she’s doing something right. Her posts are thoughtful, helpful, and informative. She breaks down larger concepts into bite sized nuggets of wisdom that include actionable steps on how to change your behavior or mindset.
Nedra Glover Tawwab (@nedratawwab) is a licensed therapist, author, and “boundaries expert” who helps people “create healthy relationships with themselves and others.” If you learn best through lists and bullet points, her page is for you. She gets straight to the point and lays out facts, advice, and words of encouragement. Posts like “Boundaries with Family Sound Like” and “7 Ways to Protect Your Energy” make putting her advice into practice that much easier.
Mel Robbins (@melrobbins) is an author and motivational speaker, most famous for her “5 Second Rule” TED Talk. She’s turned her social media into an extension of that talk, with vlogs, interviews, and videos on all things self-help. One thing that makes her stand out is her vulnerability and honesty. She often explores a topic that pertains to something that she is currently going through, and breaks down how she gets through those difficult moments.
Susan David (@susandavid_phd) is a Harvard Medical School psychologist, author, and TED speaker. David is an expert in “emotions, happiness, and achievement,” and her bestselling book, Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life, tackles those topics. Her Instagram is a treasure trove of tips for unlocking your emotions and learning how to be kinder to yourself.
Lewis Howes (@lewishowes) is a former pro football player turned author, speaker, and podcast host in the self-help and mental health space. His podcast, “The School of Greatness,” features interviews with top thought leaders, including people like Susan David and Dr. Nicole LePera. His Instagram is full of insightful, inspiring clips from his interviews, and his own tips for improving your self-confidence and mental wellness.
Lisa Bilyeu (@lisabilyeu) is an entrepreneurial success story as the co-founder of Quest Nutrition (yes, those protein bars you see at every grocery store). What makes her different, however, is the way she has used that success to create an uplifting online platform that’s all about personal growth. Both she and her husband, Tom Bilyeu, interview thought leaders, authors, and other professionals on their YouTube series, “Impact Theory.” Bilyeu also has a channel that focuses on female empowerment, called “Women of Impact.” If you need a quick dose of positivity though, I recommend taking a look at her Instagram page. She shares empowering messages on the daily.
The mental wellness space is constantly expanding, and it’s amazing to see so many positive voices rising to the top. These are just a few of the experts spreading their knowledge on social media, so I encourage you to do some of your own research and find what works best for you! Self-help is not one size fits all, which is why it’s great that all types of thought leaders, psychologists, and therapists are moving into mainstream culture. It’s never been more trendy to care about your mental health, and that is a bandwagon worth jumping on.
We’ve known for a long time that elements from the Earth can help improve our spaces and our health, from protective stones like tourmaline to cleansing ones like quartz. Keeping crystals in our homes can help balance our energy and provide neutralizing frequencies as well as beautifying our spaces. But keeping these stones on us in the form of bracelets, necklaces and anklets can also be a great way to introduce the benefits of healing crystals to your daily routine. Taking these crystals wherever you go and letting them provide you with their calming and balancing effects as you go through your day can help give you more of a buffer in even stressful situations. Here are a few interesting- and stylish- ways to keep healing crystals close.
For Protection
Tourmaline has three different kinds of energy that make it powerful as a healer. It helps to convert body heat into healing far infrared energy, it’s capable of producing negative ions, which can improve cognition and keep depression at bay, and most importantly it generates a therapeutic flow of electrons that can help to align us with the planet’s natural flow. Tourmaline resonates at the same frequency as the Earth, and keeping it on your person can help realign you with the “Earth’s heartbeat.”
Historically, black tourmaline has a connection to the root chakra, and as such it is known for having the ability to ground and protect. It’s very useful for keeping negative energy at bay, which makes it an especially helpful ally for empaths or anyone else who tends to take on others’ energy and worries. Keeping black tourmaline with you in a piece of jewelry will keep you grounded in yourself and shield you from negativity.
Rose quartz has a strong connection to the heart chakra, making it the perfect place to start if you’re looking to harness crystals to increase self love and compassion. With its direct connection to the heart, rose quartz can do a lot to clear out emotional blocks and open us up to receive new connections, relationships and perspectives. It can also help to provide deep comfort in times of grief. If you find yourself in a tumultuous time or feel out of balance emotionally, rose quartz is a perfect stone to keep close by.
Especially when combined with rose quartz, African opal’s purifying qualities can help to create emotional clarity and bring stability to the heart chakra. It can also help to foster creativity and bring fresh inspiration, so it’s a great choice if you’ve been experiencing stagnation or want more imagination in your daily life.
Rhodonite is a very nurturing crystal that helps to create emotional balance and fuel compassion within ourselves and for others. It can help to gently mend old wounds, creating space for new growth and allowing us to move forward to fresh emotional ground. Wearing it in a piece of jewelry will help you feel embraced by this crystal’s soothing energy all day long and it can be especially helpful if you’ve been going through a difficult emotional time.
Using the power of scent to change our surroundings and foster emotional boosts doesn’t have to end at home! Some types of jewelry are specifically designed to help you bring the benefits of aromatherapy, and the healing properties of essential oils, with you as you move through the world.
Lava stone has a connection to the root chakra; when you wear it as jewelry, it serves to help keep you grounded throughout your day. What’s more, because of the stone’s natural porousness, a lot of lava stone jewelry can be used to diffuse a small amount of essential oil so you can create the desired energy around you at all times.
Amethyst is a crystal that has been used for bringing on clarity since the times of Ancient Greece; it gets its name from the Greek word amethystos, meaning literally “not drunk.” In modern times it’s still considered very useful for creating tranquility, dispelling negative thoughts and creating mental clarity. It’s a great stone to incorporate into your jewelry if you spend a lot of your time encountering stressors like a fast-paced work environment or challenging living situation. It can help to create a protective buffer for your personal sense of calm against stressful energy our outside negativity.
Jewelry that incorporates crystals can be the perfect way to carry their help and protection with you wherever you go. After all, so many of the emotional challenges we face happen when we’re away from home, so why not equip ourselves for emotional grounding and stability in all circumstances? Whether you need the love-boosting qualities of rose quartz or tourmaline’s ability to keep you in step with the Earth, healing crystals have a lot to offer anyone who’s looking for more peace and wellness in their daily lives.
In his book Last Child in the Woods, author Richard Louv coined the term “nature deficit disorder” to describe the experience common to many of us who live in cities and spend most of our time indoors. Louv argues that we need nature to survive, and that without it our mental and physical health are both affected. I’m sure you’ve found this to be true in your own life. Think about the last time you enjoyed your favorite outdoor place, whether it was a beach, a hiking trail, or a park filled with trees and flowers. If you come away from these places feeling more invigorated and happy, it’s not just your imagination. Science can confirm that being outside is essential to our health and wellness.
Health Benefits of Nature
Studies have found that spending at least two hours outdoors a week can unlock so many benefits for our physical and mental health.One study showed that accessing green spaces like parks, hiking trails, and other natural environments can help to undo the negative impacts we face in modern society, from anxiety to high blood pressure, and can even improve our immune systems.
One study in England even found that when a community has more access to natural, green spaces, the crime rate goes down significantly. A study by the University of Illinois found something similar, noting that public housing residents who lived near trees and green space reported a closer community, felt a greater sense of belonging and even said they knew more people than residents without this access to nature. Putting yourself near nature really can impact the way you view the world and keep you feeling happier and healthier.
What Nature Does to Our Brains
Scientists think that one big reason why being in nature is so good for us is that it gives our brains exactly what they want. A concept called Attention Restoration Theory, which was first coined in the 1970s, says that living in urban environments surrounded by man-made sounds like traffic and construction make it actively harder for our brains to pay attention and process information. Going outside and being surrounded by natural sounds gives our brains a chance to finally relax and take in information without having to work so hard.
A study by the University of Sussex confirmed this. The study compared MRI scans of people’s brains while they listened to natural sounds to scans taken while they listened to artificial, or man made, sounds. It found that when subjects were listening to artificial noises their brains were directing a lot of attention inward, which is similar to what brains do when they’re experiencing anxiety, PTSD and depression. On the other hand, when the sounds of nature were played, the scans showed that the subjects’ brains were directing focus outward. When we’re out in the sounds of nature, our brains find it much easier to pay attention to the world around us and burn through stress. This same study even found that the more stressed you are, the more you have to gain from nature’s restorative impacts.
The Power of Sound
You probably already know about the power that sound can have on your mental state; a song or white noise machine can bring you peace or boost your energy, while distracting or annoying noises can easily derail your focus and happiness. As it turns out, natural sounds have immensely healing powers. A report on 36 studies on the impact of natural sounds on people found that just the sounds of nature on their own can have a healing effect and can even reduce pain. The noise of running water, like streams, brooks and lakes, were found to be very good for increasing subjects’ happiness and cognition, while bird sounds were the best for relieving stress and annoyance.
This means that if you live in a very urban area, going to your local park might not be quite enough to get the full benefits of nature— if you can still hear sounds of traffic, your brain isn’t getting the chance to wind down and open up, and all the activity might scare away the birds and their healing calls. If you’re really looking to take advantage of nature’s healing abilities, finding a more remote park or hiking area where it’s quiet enough to hear the sounds of the ecosystem will be worth it. And if there happens to be a river or water feature, even better!
Negative Ions
If you ever find yourself drawn to the beauty of a crashing coastline or rushing waterfall, you might be benefiting from more than just a pretty view. Negative ions are created in the air anywhere that water crashes into itself, whether it’s at the beach, a river, or even a fountain or park water feature. Just getting out into the rain can get you close to these negative ions. Many studies have been done on the impact of negative ions on our health, and there’s some good evidence that they can have positive side effects. In particular, being near negative ions can reduce the symptoms of depression and seasonal affective disorder. There’s evidence that these ions might also help normalize sleeping patterns, lower stress levels, and give immune systems a boost. If you live near a beach or any other place where there’s moving water, consider paying one of these locations a visit and reaping the health benefits they have to offer.
The Importance of Fun in the Sun
We all know the joy of seeing the sun for the first time after a long winter or rainy week. There’s a good reason for this response; spending time in the sunlight has many health benefits. Sunlight causes your brain to produce serotonin, a chemical responsible for positive feelings and a sense of calm. Sunlight also helps you regulate your sleep better; your circadian rhythm takes its cue from the sun, telling you to wake up when it’s light out and causing you to get sleepy after it gets dark. Research shows that getting an hour of natural light in the morning can help reinforce your body’s natural clock, helping you to get better sleep at night.
Sunlight is also our greatest source for getting vitamin D. Spending just five to thirty minutes a day outside while it’s sunny helps our bodies produce more of this vitamin, which contributes directly to strong and healthy bones and keeps our immune systems strong.
All of these benefits and more are a great argument for going out and getting your recommended dose of sun. Just remember to put on sunscreen before going out to avoid risks of skin cancer or skin damage.
Nature has always called to us as human beings, inspiring some of the greatest works of art and serving as daily inspiration for us all. Not only is nature good for our souls, it’s also a powerful source of both mental and physical wellness, helping get our natural rhythms in sync and giving our brains some much-needed calm and rest. If you’ve been feeling physically drained or mentally distracted, try getting out into nature and drinking in all the benefits it has for you.
There’s something very meditative about cleaning a fish tank. Once every few weeks Creature, my 1.5 year old betta fish, finds herself unexpectedly scooped into the little plastic cup she came home from the local PetSmart in and swims warily back and forth watching me complete my mission. I used to have a tank in my childhood bedroom and that’s when my dad taught me the basics of maintenance; he taught me how to use a rubber hose to siphon dirty water out of a tank into the obligatory 5 gallon Home Depot bucket while preparing fresh, conditioned new water in a second bucket. Next, I take out all the accessories— the moss balls and aquarium plants (all silk because bettas have soft fins that can get torn on anything sharp or scratchy) and rinse them all off and wipe down the sides of the tank to get any algae that’s grown. A small acclimation period later and Creature finds herself back in a brighter, cleaner version of her same old world. It’s a repetitive process, with the same steps and same results every time, and something about that is soothing to me.
I got my first betta fish, Wallace, about a year after I moved to LA. I wanted a pet and betta fish are often advertised as the lowest maintenance of the low maintenance. What I didn’t expect was how much fun fish parenthood would be. Getting to pick out all the foliage, color of the gravel, find out about fun extras like real wooden logs or fake leaf hammocks just for bettas to feel happier in their homes; I was obsessed.
It was amazing to me how much of a difference this small addition to my household made to my everyday life. Having a little responsibility, a little life that was waiting for me to come home and give it love in the form of pellets and proximity, was a bastion in a year that was often difficult. I know now that my experience isn’t out of the ordinary; there are studies that show that watching a fish in a tank can lower blood pressure and improve mental wellbeing. There’s something comforting about the sight of a fish slowly circling a tank accompanied by the white noise sounds of the water filter.
A Courtesy of Author
Betta fish have so much personality for beings that are roughly the same size as a novelty keychain. Every betta I’ve ever had swims up to greet me whenever I enter the room. They are also, almost uniformly, extremely dramatic. When I first introduced Wallace to a tank with a filtration system (in an attempt to be the best fish parent I could be), it created a little current in the water which was apparently a world ender for Wallace. He would intentionally swim into the path of the current and then act FURIOUS when he was blown to the side by the incoming water. Wallace’s other favorite activities included intentionally jamming himself between an aquarium plant and the wall of the tank and then getting frustrated that he had to wiggle out of it (he would do this no less than 3 times a day) and lying on the floor of the tank extremely still to make me think he had died. Oh, and sometimes if his little leaf hammock came detached from the tank wall he would watch me fix it and then knock it back down again. We had a good time. Wallace died the day after I traveled home for Christmas, creating an extremely uncomfortable situation where a subletter I had only shared about ten words with had to become a fish funeral director for a pet that wasn’t hers, but in his defense this was a very funny prank and therefore very on brand for him.
Now that I work from home and my desk is set up near her tank, my current fish Creature will often gravitate towards me, keeping an eye on me as I work. She also recently caused me to waste about ten dollars on meal worm-based food I was promised was healthier and better for her but which she hated on sight and refuses to eat. Every betta fish I’ve had is this exact mix of sweet and uppity in a way I have a hard time explaining to people who have never had one.
Courtesy of Author
Something that really endears me to betta fish is how resilient they are. I knew from my childhood experiences with fish and the many, many mournful trips to the local PetCo that followed that fish are fragile and the main thing that they do is die. I’ve gotten in the habit of making my fish earn their names, waiting a set period to make sure they don’t expire on me before I blow a name on them. I waited so long to name Creature that she got stuck with what is basically a non-name. With the occasional exception, bettas generally don’t require this kind of fuss. They have truly lived up to their low-maintenance reputation, in my experience. They ‘re unbothered by skipping meals, although overfeeding can be more dangerous. You can trust them, to a certain extent, to just keep swimming. I find that comforting.
I struggle to describe the connection I feel to bettas in a way that doesn’t make me sound like Tom Hanks’ character in Castaway drawing a smiley face on a volleyball. The truth is that bettas have this amazing ability to make you care more about them than you thought you would. When I made the choice for the “low-maintenance option” I didn’t anticipate breathlessly asking a pet store attendant what he thought I should do to cure Popeye or prevent The Ick, or that I would have an entire shelf full of water treatments and pH kits to make a bowl of water more perfectly imitate some gross lake somewhere.
If you’re looking for an investment in your mental health, bringing a fish home is a little work for so much reward. Having a beautiful, living display to watch in the evenings and getting the companionship of these weird little roommates has paid off in spades. Betta fish have taught me lessons along the way as well; lessons in resilience, and in empathy. If I could find compassion for and even relate to something as small and different from me as a little fish, I can absolutely find the same empathy for myself and others. Bettas create such a perfect glass in which we can see our own needs: compassion, intentionality, and sometimes, a meditative hour just spent cleaning a tank out.
It’s easy to dismiss things like candles, plug-ins, scent warmers, or even perfume as frivolous additions to your home and life. You have to wonder if some scented products are just marketing ploys, designed to get you to try a new detergent or buy that expensive French candle sitting on every influencer’s bathroom shelf. But marketers are catering to a very real human response, because it’s no secret that we are all affected by scents. They can take us back to a time, place, or even remind us of a person. We respond to scents, whether we like it or not. It’s why realtors bake cookies in homes they are showing, and why the global fragrance industry is currently worth around $33.69 billion.
So how can you incorporate scents into your home and life meaningfully? One way is to know what response certain scents can illicit. Do you want to feel calm or energized? Understanding the basics of aromatherapy can help to transform a space and how you feel about it. And that’s why, in my opinion, incorporating candles or perfumes into your life is an act of self-care. Sometimes all it takes is your favorite scent to boost your mood. Here’s a list of moods or states of mind and which scents aid in facilitating them.
There’s nothing better than drawing a bath and lighting your favorite calming candles. Lavender, tangerine, and vanilla are all scents that can help bring you into a relaxed state. Chamomile and sandalwood are also great options. And if candles aren’t your thing, that’s okay! You can still get the aromatherapy benefits from a scent through room sprays, perfumes, and essential oil diffusers. A simple trick is putting a drop of essential oil into a spray bottle of distilled water to create your own calming or cleansing mist.
As a lot of us have shifted to working from home, it may take a little more effort to get fully concentrated. Especially if you don’t have a dedicated office and live with family members or roommates, giving your body and mind more cues that it’s time to focus can help get you into the proper mindset. Lemon, eucalyptus, peppermint, and cinnamon can all help with this.
This NEST candle, filled with fragrances of wild mint and eucalyptus, is the perfect combo to get you into the zone
Pine, clove, peppermint, lemon, and tea tree scents are said to have an effect on your energy levels. Next time you’re feeling fatigued, consider adding something like tea tree to an ultrasonic essential oil diffuser. The light scent will fill up the room and just might give you the boost that you need. However, take caution if you have pets. Essential oils like tea tree can be toxic to them even in diffusers.
Lighting a candle while you sleep is not advised, but there are many pillow sprays out there that will stimulate your senses as your fall asleep. Lavender, chamomile, and sandalwood are wonderful relaxing options. You can also incorporate these scents into your nighttime routine through body washes, hand soaps, or scented plug ins.
Thisworks’ Deep Sleep Pillow Spray has a blend of chamomile, lavender, and vetiver, perfect for creating a restful evening and catching up on some quality sleep.
Orange, bergamot, sandalwood, ylang-ylang, and tangerine can all have an uplifting effect on your mood. If you’re on the move a lot, you might want to try incorporating some of these scents into a perfume that will last throughout the day. Throw it in your bag and spray it on whenever you need a little moment of joy.
Picking out scents should be a fun and relaxing way to create the environment you want to live in. Next time you see a candle or perfume that makes you happy, don’t feel like you’re wasting your money. Scents play a huge role in our worlds, so why wouldn’t you want yours to smell amazing?
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