These are some easy, low or no cost tips to nurture yourself and others.  They're effective, but should not replace professional help. 

This page came about when my Mom was diagnosed with stage III Ovarian Cancer. She had severe nausea, acute sensitivity to scents, drugs & foods.  I discovered all kinds of simple, gentle home remedies to help ease her pain and bring a smile to her face.

See Video: Using Aromatherapy during cancer.

Enjoy these and good health!  They really work.  You'll be surprised.

Share your home remedies - send us an email and we'll post them here.

Coughing: Hot towels on neck, back & chest, especially during coughing jags.  Eat a teaspoon of honey to coat the throat.  Avoid ice & cold drinks, which cause coughing & phlegm.

Nausea - Aromatherapy abdominal massage for anxiety, panic, digestion & detox.  Call or email us for more information on this technique or come to one of our Massage for Amateurs classes.

Panic Attacks - Recent or old trauma, stress, overwork/overdoing, drug interactions / allergies / overdose and emotional overwhelm can cause panic attacks.  During a panic attack, it's very common to feel like you're going to die, have shortness of breath, terror, racing heart and dizziness.  Try these: see bottom of page. 

Shingles: Gently massage our shingles formula on afflicted areas.  Also, cold gel packs or a ice wrapped in a towel on the affected area will help.

Sleep problems - If you can't sleep or have difficulty staying asleep, eat a little protein: (a boiled egg, yogurt, bananas, warm milk with molasses, a slice of turkey near bedtime or during the night).  A small snack and/or some water can help you sleep.

Use an Eye pillow - amazingly helpful.

Take a warm bath before bed - our anti-stress formula helps sleep.

Health food stores have lots of good herbal remedies for sleep

Deep slow breathing and prayer are also effective.  If you're not religious, find something positive to say or read to yourself, to bring comfort, ease & distraction.  I like the St. Francis prayer, because it's long, and when I say it over and over my mind gets distracted from anxiety or resentment, and I get sleepy.  

Panic attacks (continued) - Anxiety, stress, trauma, drugs, etc., can cause the stomach to tighten & push up against the lungs, we start to hyperventilate (quick, shallow breathing), the heart races, this sends a panic message to the central nervous system & voila – you’re gasping & terrified or the room is spinning!  You’re having a panic attack.

Get professional help for panic attacks.  Call 911, a therapist, or an M.D.  Make sure it's not something else - like a heart problem.  A panic attack is a sign of extreme emotional & physical overwhelm.  Get help now.

Meanwhile, try this:

• Sit down or lay down.
• Breath some fresh air.  Go outside (especially if there’s greenery), or open a window. 
• Take a deep breath, exhale through your nose, making the exhale take to the count of 10.
• Cover your nose & mouth with an open paper bag & breath into the paper bag a few minutes.
• Pray or say something positive & soothing to yourself over & over until you calm down.
• Call somebody safe (who won’t join your panic) & talk about your overwhelm.
• Take a Zantac – over the counter antacid, which will relax your stomach.  Only do this if you have taken no other medications & your doctor gives the ok.
• When you calm down, drink some water, eat, rest.
• A chiropractor or massage therapist can massage your stomach back into place to help prevent future attacks.
• Bodywork sends a profound “relax” message to your central nervous system & provides nurturing to calm anxiety.
• Support groups can also help.
• Change your life.  Get help.  What’s causing the attack, the anxiety?  Ongoing self care helps: rest, massage, yoga, walking, meditation, support, drink water, avoid: negative people, junk food, caffeine, Nicotine, drugs, stress, overwork.  Get & give hugs.



Self Care & Nurturing others:

Try these tips to soothe your body & spirit - especially after a long day. 

It's very important to nurture yourself when others are relying on you to nurture & care for them. A good rule of thumb with these remedies is:

If it feels good, it's probably helping. 

Simple Pleasures & Remedies:

Foot baths: Fill a basin with hot water & epsom salts.  Soak for 10 - 20 minutes.  Dry off & moisturize your feet.  Rub your feet, ankles and lower legs.  Mmm!  Ask your partner to share this delight with you.

Hot or cold towels: Just run a small towel under hot or cold water and apply to hands, feet, back of neck.  Refreshing & relaxing.

Hot packs / cold packs: If you're achey & stiff, try microwaving a hot pack, lay down, and put it on your back or the area bothering you.  If you have inflammation or pain, try a cold pack, instead.  Generally, with hot & cold, you'll know if it's working, because you feel better.  If it doesn't feel good, STOP.  Heat on inflammation or cold on stiff muscles, can make it worse.

Gel eyepacks:  Just get these at any drug or health food store & keep one in the fridge or freezer.  Lay down and put the gel pack over closed eyes or forehead to alleviate eye tension & headache.

Peppermint:  Get perky without caffeine.  Need a lift, but have to sleep later?  Have a cup of peppermint tea or try our peppermint refresher to lighten your mood & get energy.  Peppermint is also wonderful for upset stomach and stress.

Back pain?  For lower back pain, try these: put on sneakers and take a 10 minute relaxing walk.  This stretches & relaxes the muscles, alleviating pain.  Also, stretching for a few minutes, deep breathing, less or no caffeine.  Avoid high fructose corn syrup (read bread, dessert & fruit juice labels).

Deep breathing: Take a very deep breath, count to ten as you exhale.  Repeat this several times. Fabulous for stress, lower back pain (especially if you sit a lot), panic, and even nausea.

Essential oils: Good for grief, stress, exhaustion, cleansing, refreshing.  Aromatherapy massage can really help.  Or try an essential oil diffuser.  Health food stores & specialty drug stores sell them.  

Massage - you don't have to be professionally trained to give a good massage.  You just need to listen closely, be respectful, gentle, and present.  Massage helps with poor circulation, nauseau, stress, depression, sore & achey muscles. 

Meditation.  If you don't know how, just try this: sit quietly & comfortably in a chair or on the floor.  Close your eyes, practice deep breathing.  At first, your thoughts will be very chaotic.  That's ok.  Just keep breathing and sitting there.  Visualize a candle flame, waves going in and out at the shoreline, being in a forest or a clearing in the woods, whatever works for you.  Just try this for 5 - 10 minutes at first.

Speak softly- when someone is very ill, they are highly sensitive to stimulus.  Speak gently to them, keep music & noise low.  Ask, rather than tell, what they need.

Walking & Yoga: Try exercise that's relaxing.  Open up your breath.  You can run hard or pump iron tomorrow.  Today is a good day to take it easy and feel peaceful.