Do you remember the books your parents read to you before bed? If you have young children you might get to tell them stories or read to them as they get ready to fall asleep. This is a special time to bond with your child and make them feel safe for the long dark snooze. Bedtime stories are an ancient ritual probably as old as the campfires our ancestors snuggled down next to in their caves. People who could tell good stories to make the evenings less fearful were popular. Storytelling became an art and helped us with communication and preserving history. Writing didn’t begin until about 1700 B.C in Phoenicia, but cave paintings and later pictograms and hieroglyphics tell...
Heat therapy goes back to ancient times when the Chinese, Japanese, and Greeks used hot springs to treat injuries and sore muscles. Hot baths with Epsom salts and aromatherapy herbs can help soothe and relax sore muscles. Heating pads like our organic cherry pit heating pad can be helpful to relieve neck shoulder and body aches. Our heating pad is a nice way to wind down after a long day. It can also be a part of your nighttime routine for getting ready for sleep. Heating pads can soothe menstrual pain, lower back pain, and many other types of chronic pain. Hot compresses and heating pads are often used for gallbladder pain. Saunas and heating pads are a type of...
Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for our overall health. Adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night to function well during the day. But it can be difficult to get to sleep after a long day of work. It is an ancient tradition to drink something warm to help you get to sleep quickly at night. Hot milk or a “hot toddy” is thought to help you fall asleep. But is there any truth to this hot drink theory? Part of the soothing quality of any hot drink before bed is the psychological expectation of being warm and cozy. We associate the warmth of a hot drink before bed with settling down and getting drowsy for...
There's nothing more satisfying than sinking into your mattress on top of your fluffy, comfortable pillow at the end of a super tiring day. But more than an enjoyable experience, sleeping is necessary for your body. Medical research shows that sleeping is just as essential as eating and drinking. As a matter of fact, sleeping gives our body the time it needs to repair itself and to process all information. If your quality of sleep decreases, the chances of you getting anxiety and depression add up as well. Furthermore, the lack of proper sleep causes emotional instability that opens the doors to mood and anxiety disorders. Not only is your mental health greatly affected, but the low quality of...
How to Get the Best Sleep at Night by Following Your Natural Circadian Rhythms To get the best sleep at night you need to go to bed at the right time for your natural circadian rhythms. But with Television, smartphones, and computer screens, many of us have trouble winding down at night. Often we don’t even know what our natural bedtime is. We are so used to overriding our natural rhythms with too much stimulus. How Much Sleep Do We Need? Doctors say most people need seven to nine hours of sleep per night to function optimally. We say sleep at least 8 hours a night. Lack of sleep can affect your physical health and mental performance if...
Do you have a certain pillow that you prefer sleeping with every night? When you find the best pillow for your sleeping style, it’s easy to see why you won’t leave home without it. Whether you are trying to avoid neck pain or improve your comfort – there’s no doubt that the right pillow is an important factor that will affect how well you sleep each night. The truth is that comfort isn’t the only factor you need to consider when choosing a pillow. Look at other health factors, such as the type of material, firmness, and body position. When you are spending 8 hours a night using this pillow, there’s no question that it can impact your health and...
Have you ever experienced such severe pain in your neck, and back you would do almost anything to get rid of it? I know I have! Years ago, when I was a student, I spent a summer working as a receptionist at a chiropractic clinic. There was one moment during my time there that really stuck with me. We had this one patient - let's call him Dave. Dave was about 40 years old, over 6 feet tall, and in great shape. He was always such a happy guy and would only come in about once a month for "maintenance". One day this strong, healthy man was at home, bent down to pick up a sock, and that was...
Getting a good night’s sleep is vital. It helps to ensure your mind and body are prepared for the day, allowing you to seize every opportunity you can. However, many people struggle with their sleep, so if you are having trouble sleeping, here are three essentials to help you enjoy the best night’s slumber possible: Choosing the right mattress: One of the most critical ingredients to a good night’s sleep is having the right mattress. If you are struggling to sleep, then your old and lumpy mattress could well be the issue and result in you tossing and turning all night long. Finding the right mattress can completely transform your sleeping behavior, leaving you feeling like you are floating on...
Memory Foam Pillows and Mattresses are all over the place in today's world, whereas Latex Products are still sort of a niche product most people don't know about. Here's some pro's and con's of both: Advantages of Memory Foam: Uses your heat and body pressure to adjust to your body which gives you that contour feeling when you lay down on it. Reduces pressure points (very helpful for people with back pain or hip issues) Hypoallergenic. Great for people with allergies. The high density of memory foam reduces the dust, mold and all sorts of allergens) Disadvantages of Memory Foam: Depending on the density of the foam, it can be very heavy. This is partially a reason why a lot...
Bedding can make all the difference when it comes to sleep quality. Nothing is better than getting into a clean, freshly made bed with top quality bedding, a comfortable mattress, and supportive pillows! You can have a luxury bed at home with high-quality cotton bedding and pillowcases. Spa's and high-end luxury hotels use cotton because of its hypoallergenic nature, luxurious feel, comfort, flexibility, cleanliness, and easy maintenance. If you are thinking of replacing your bedding, cotton is the way to go! It has been the preferred choice for bedding for centuries, and there are plenty of reasons why. There are several benefits of cotton bedding and cotton pillowcases. If you’re looking for luxury and functionality, it should definitely be your...
We often take a good night's rest for granted. That is until we have a bad night and find ourselves having trouble sleeping. Just one night of disrupted sleep can leave you feeling "out of it." You may feel weak, easily confused, have brain fog, a headache, nauseous, racing heart, etc. A few more nights of this, and it just gets worse! The greater our sleep debt, the worse these symptoms become. Sleep disorders like insomnia can result in diabetes, heart conditions, and depression. It's not just a nicety; a good night's rest is essential for our health and wellness. There are many options to try and combat sleep disturbances and disorders. A solid sleep routine and bedtime, a comfortable...
According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, an estimated 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder occurring when a person’s breathing is interrupted when they sleep. As you can imagine, this has a significant impact on your health! When sleep apnea is left untreated, there can be serious consequences such as stroke, heart attack, diabetes, headaches, depression, fatigue and high blood pressure. There are two types of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea. OSA is caused when the airway is blocked, typically by soft tissue collapsing during sleep. This is the most common type of sleep apnea and the type I am referring to in this post. The other...
