Raspberry Moon Skin Therapy

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Health

Bright Pink and Delicious – Aloha from Maui Series

DragonfruitMondays adventure in Lahaina was to the Maui Dragon Fruit Farm, which is the largest one here on Maui! Mom was on the fence about going because she says dragon fruit doesn’t have much flavor and I would’ve had to agree. The only times I have had it there wasn’t much flavor but I think they are a beautiful fruit and I wanted to check out the farm since they have 16 different varieties. I am so glad that we did!

Us with our guide Lewis

The staff had a lovely platter of fresh fruit for us to try before our tour as well as some locally made jam that is so delicious. Our tour guide was Lewis, who has only been on island for 3 weeks. He is a surfer from the Northern part of Cali who used to teach 5-to-10-year-olds how to surf. Mom and I could both see him doing this and being a great teacher. Lewis has a very kind spirit and you can instantly like him. Of course Mom had to mother him about being sure he is prepared for the future and her normal stuff, which he took in stride.

A ripening dragonfruit

I can tell you the fresh Dragon Fruit we had in Maui was nothing like other ones we have tried before.

The work that goes into growing these fruits is very labor intensive and Maui Fruit Farms is a totally organic farm. The flowers are hand pollinated at night from 9pm until around midnight. There is only a small window for pollination. They do have bees that help to pollinate but they are usually out during the day and you can’t rely on them solely.

Dragonfruit flower awaiting pollinationAfter hand pollination, the fruit is ready in about 45 days. It will turn a lovely shade of pink and be soft to the touch.

Peeling of a dragon fruit!

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They use a Chinese method of planting vertically (the Chinese have had a heavy influence here in Hawaii but more about that later). The plants are grown on these vertical cement type poles to allow support and easier picking. Fruit is just starting to be ready and in another week or so it will be like mad with pollinating and harvesting. The largest threat to the fruit are birds so there are these soft white mesh bags that are placed around the fruit so the birds won’t mess with it.

Dragonfruit growth support

The farm also grows some pineapple, passion fruit, cacao, bananas and papaya, long ones we are used to seeing and then these round ones that are called strawberry papaya. They also have a zipline and this water ball thing that basically you are in a big bubble and you roll down the hill inside the ball. Makes me seasick just thinking about it.

The flowers on the farm are beautiful be sure to check out Raspberry Moon Facebook or Instagram for some more pictures.

Flower at the dragonfruit farm

Sleep Better Series – Natural Remedies for Soothing Sleep

This post is part of a series on sleep based on a Face & Body Southeast Spa Expo and Conference presentation given by Trish Greene of Balnea Spa Products.

Sleep Better Series - Natural Remedies for Soothing SleepRead the previous posts in this series:

Sleep Better Series – What’s the Big Deal?

Sleep Better Series – The Basics

Sleep Better Series – The Effect of Light on Sleep

Sleep Better Series – Eat Right to Sleep Right

Trish talked about several different supplements and essential oils that you could use to help you sleep better.

Below are some Natural Remedies that Trish recommended in class.

Passionflower

Passionflower is a naturally grown medicinal herb and used as a mild herbal sedative. Approved all over the world for the treatment of insomnia and nervousness. Anxiety is the underlying cause. Also safe during the day. According to Trish the recommended dosage is 4,000 to 8,000 milligrams of dried passionflower capsules or follow the recommended dosage on your bottle.

Valerian Root

Valerian Root is another naturally grown herb that helps people fall asleep faster without the ‘hangover’ affect of some sleeping pills. Valerian binds to the same receptors in the brain that tranquilizers such as diazepam bind to. Take two capsules of Valerian root an hour before bed or read the recommended dosage on your bottle.

Lavender

Lavender Essential OilLavender has a reputation as a mild tranquilizer. Simply dab a bit of the oil (infused in a carrier oil, not neat) onto your temples and forehead before you hit the pillow. The aroma should help send you off to sleep.

Jasmine

Put a drop of jasmine essential oil (that is in a carrier oil, not neat) on each wrist or apply neat on a tissue that can be placed some where near you or in your pillow case just before you go to bed. In studies conducted at Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia, researchers discovered that people who spent the night in jasmine-scented rooms slept more peacefully than people who stayed in unscented or even lavender-scented rooms.

A Warm Bath

Try a soothing aromatic bath before bedtime. Add 5 drops lavender oil and 3 drops ylang-ylang oil as well as some type of medium like milk or bath salts, to warm bathwater and enjoy a nice soak.

A Sleepy Blend of Essential Oil

Trish carries a line called Eve Taylor. I purchased several blends of theirs to try. I have been using their Sleep Well blend in my diffuser in my bedroom. It contains the following essential oils:

  • Cedarwood
  • Sweet Orange
  • Lavender
  • Valerian Root

It is meant to create a calm, comfortable stillness. Soothes the body and mind into a deep peaceful slumber. I have really been enjoying this. It is a very potent blend so it takes 1 no more than 2 drops in my small Allay diffuser (I carry these at the shop).

 

So that’s the conclusion (for now) of our sleep series. Have you tried any of the suggestions in these posts? What has worked for you? Please comment and let me know!

 

This information was given by Trish Greene of Balnea Spa Products. She is a Board Certified Aromatherapist, Dr of Homeopathy and a Cidesco trained Esthetician. She practices in Canada and has been an Eve Taylor rep for 25 years.

All the crazy legalize stuff I need to say. Consult your physician before taking anything suggested in this informational piece. I am not a Doctor, I am simply sharing the interesting information that I learned at a recent class. Do anything at your own risk, use common sense, and try to get some healthy sleep. No one is responsible for the choices you make except for yourself. None of us are responsible for anything you choose to do on your own accord. 

Sleep Better Series – Eat Right to Sleep Right

This post is part of a series on sleep based on a Face & Body Southeast Spa Expo and Conference presentation given by Trish Greene of Balnea Spa Products.

Spicy Food can keep you up at nightRead the previous posts in this series:

Sleep Better Series – What’s the Big Deal?

Sleep Better Series – The Basics

Sleep Better Series – The Effect of Light on Sleep

Smart Food Choices = Better Sleep

So following this series on sleep here are some things we can do to help our sleep patterns with food.

  • Eat 3 nutritious meals a day.
  • Have a slice of turkey or chicken, or a banana before heading to bed. These foods contain tryptophan, an amino acid that’s used to make serotonin. And serotonin is a brain chemical that helps you sleep.
  • Carbohydrates help tryptophan enter the brain. Try a glass of warm milk (milk contains tryptophan) and a cookie, or warm milk with a spoonful of honey.
  • Eliminate or restrict stimulants such as caffeine.
  • Avoid big meals late in the evening. You need three to four hours to digest a big meal.
  • Spicy or sugary food, even at suppertime, is usually a bad idea. Spices can irritate your stomach, and when it tosses and turns, so will you. Having a lot of sugary food, especially chocolate which contains caffeine, can make you feel jumpy.
  • Avoid alcohol. It interferes with Melatonin levels. It may help you fall asleep but it also causes you to wake up in the middle of the night.
  • A handful of granola can be a good bedtime snack.
  • Trish didn’t mention a herbal tea but that can also help.

Somehow I need to figure out how to eat dinner 3 to 4 hours before I go to bed at 10 pm. And on salsa nights that schedule just gets out of whack!

Our next post in this series will talk about natural remedies for sleep.

 

This information was given by Trish Greene of Balnea Spa Products. She is a Board Certified Aromatherapist, Dr of Homeopathy and a Cidesco trained Esthetician. She practices in Canada and has been an Eve Taylor rep for 25 years.

All the crazy legalize stuff I need to say. Consult your physician before taking anything suggested in this informational piece. I am not a Doctor, I am simply sharing the interesting information that I learned at a recent class. Do anything at your own risk, use common sense, and try to get some healthy sleep. No one is responsible for the choices you make except for yourself. None of us are responsible for anything you choose to do on your own accord. 

Sleep Better Series – The Effect of Light on Sleep

This is part of a series on sleep based on a Face & Body Southeast Spa Expo and Conference presentation given by Trish Greene of Balnea Spa Products.

Sleep Better Series - The Effect of Light on SleepRead the previous posts in this series:

Sleep Better Series – What’s the Big Deal?

Sleep Better Series – The Basics

Limit Light at Night, Get Outside During the Day

People exposed to light at night have shallower sleep and are more likely to experience mini-arousals during the night in a 2013 study in the journal Sleep Medicine. “Melatonin levels are suppressed by even low levels of light, and that in turn is associated with disturbed sleep,” says Phyllis Zee, MD, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Northwestern University.

  • If you read on a tablet, switch from a white background with black font to a black background with white font, which emits less light. Also, dim your device to half brightness or less, and hold it 14 inches away from your eyes.
  • Turn your alarm clock so that you can’t see it from bed. We all know how annoyed we get when we keep glancing at the clock and still haven’t fallen asleep!
  • I would think most of us are guilty of messing around on our phones when we can’t sleep which actually cause us not to fall asleep so get those phones out of the room.

    Exposure to sunlight during the day can help you sleep better at night.

  • Exposure to natural light during the day can improve your sleep. Researchers at Northwestern recently found that people whose workplaces had windows got 173% more light exposure during the day and slept an average of 47 more minutes per night than their windowless coworkers. Natural daylight may enhance melatonin production come nightfall—one key to a solid night’s slumber.

I need to order an alarm clock for real and get my phone out of my room! Start reading a paper book around 10pm to help me start to fall asleep. For sure I need to get a little more time outdoors every day. Once my day starts at the shop, I barely leave. Maybe I walk next door to grab a bite to eat but that’s about it. I do have a window but I have black out curtains on it for facial treatments.

Watch for the next post that will talk about what types of foods can help with sleep and why you really shouldn’t go to bed hungry.  

 

This information was given by Trish Greene of Balnea Spa Products. She is a Board Certified Aromatherapist, Dr of Homeopathy and a Cidesco trained Esthetician. She practices in Canada and has been an Eve Taylor rep for 25 years.

All the crazy legalize stuff I need to say. Consult your physician before taking anything suggested in this informational piece. I am not a Doctor, I am simply sharing the interesting information that I learned at a recent class. Do anything at your own risk, use common sense, and try to get some healthy sleep. No one is responsible for the choices you make except for yourself. None of us are responsible for anything you choose to do on your own accord. 

Sleep Better Series – The Basics

This post is part of a series on sleep based on a Face & Body Southeast Spa Expo and Conference presentation given by Trish Greene of Balnea Spa Products.

Read the previous post in this series – Sleep Better Series – What’s the Big Deal?

The Sleep Better Basics

The basics of better sleep ~ Raspberry Moon Skin TherapySo we all know we need to get more sleep but how do we manage that? For me there is just no way to go to bed before 10 pm. Some nights I don’t even get home from work until after 8. By the time I make something to eat and settle in, it is really time to go to sleep. My weekday mornings start with an alarm at 530 so I can hit the gym or yoga at 6am. I don’t do this because I am a morning person, I do it to help my mental state and I do think it helps me sleep better.

Here are Trish’s recommendations on how to sleep better:

  • Exercise regularly.
  • Go to bed by 10pm.
  • Wear comfortable clothing to bed.
  • Do not bring work related material into the bedroom.
  • Do not have TVs in the bedroom.
  • Avoid EMF’s. Electromagnetic frequencies can disrupt the flow of Melatonin.
  • Turn your thermostat down a few degrees before heading to bed. Most people sleep better when their surroundings are cool. This is me for sure. I like for it to be very cold at night and pile on the soft, fuzzy blankets. When I get the new system installed in my house the temp will automatically start to get warmer in the morning so it helps me get out of bed and moving.
  • If you share your bed, consider buying a queen- or king-size mattress so you don’t keep one another up. Or consider sleeping in separate beds. (Be sure to emphasize that your wish for separate beds is based on pragmatism rather than preference.)

So are you doing any of these now?  Are there things that you could be doing to help you sleep better to ensure that you are staying as healthy as you can? Tell me how you are doing or one thing that you plan to do after reading this post.

For me, I do most of these except EMFs which I will be checking into more. It’s hard to be in bed by 10pm when sometimes I don’t get home from work until after 8, but I do the best I can.

Stay tuned for our next post in the Sleep Better series, which will talk about light and dark.

 

This information was given by Trish Greene of Balnea Spa Products. She is a Board Certified Aromatherapist, Dr of Homeopathy and a Cidesco trained Esthetician. She practices in Canada and has been an Eve Taylor rep for 25 years.

All the crazy legalize stuff I need to say. Consult your physician before taking anything suggested in this informational piece. I am not a Doctor, I am simply sharing the interesting information that I learned at a recent class. Do anything at your own risk, use common sense, and try to get some healthy sleep. No one is responsible for the choices you make except for yourself. None of us are responsible for anything you choose to do on your own accord. 

Sleep Better Series – What’s the Big Deal?

L.R.’s and my first class at Face & Body Southeast Spa Expo and Conference in Atlanta was on sleep and understanding how critically important it is to get a good night’s rest. Trish Green was the presenter and gave a very informative presentation. L.R. loved this class as well.

Anxious about sleepThe items I took from this presentation will be broken down into a series of Sleep Better posts because there was just so much information given. Trish is a Board Certified Aromatherapist (yes in Europe the use of essential oils is more strictly governed than in the US), she is also a Doctor of Homeopathy, a distributer of Eve Taylor for over 25 years, a Cidesco Certified Esthetician, and a Bach Flower Therapist.

This doesn’t technically have to do with sleep BUT one of the first things she talked about was NOT DIGESTING ESSENTIAL OILS!! Essential oils are not something to play with. I have noticed a difference in the strength of her more clinical grade essential oils (in Europe Aromatherapy is looked at much differently than in the US) than even the high quality of essential oils I usually use. I use about half of Eve Taylor Essential Oils than my other oils. For some great resources on Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, you can check out my blog post on New Essential Oil Tips.

The Sleepless Epidemic

Anxiety and sleep issues are an epidemic among Millenials. I was talking with a client about this and she agrees. There are just so many things going on every day and we let ourselves get so busy that we forget to rest. Or feel like we don’t have time to rest.

I am also always shocked at really how many kids have anxiety issues and are on meds for anxiety, depression, and sleep issues.  It’s not just the Millenials that are affected, but they are being affected even more than my age group.

Why is sleep so important?

How did it get to be that so many young people are having anxiety and depression?

What can we all do to help achieve better, more restful sleep?

These questions and more will be answered in this series of blog posts on sleep.

So why is sleep so important?

Lack of sleep has affected us all for one reason or another. I think it is safe to say that we all realize that lack of sleep makes everything else just harder to deal with. But why else is sleep important? Well for starters, your body works to heal itself while you are sleeping. Your taxed adrenals have a chance to rest and repair between 10pm and 2 am (I am sure my poor adrenals don’t appreciate salsa nights!).

Increased cortisol suppresses serotonin, the hormone important for sleep and mood. Increased cortisol does not allow the body to shut down and sleep.

Sleep is your best anti-inflammatory! When you don’t get enough sleep, your cortisol increases which suppresses your serotonin and with the increased cortisol, it never really allows the body to rest. “Increased cortisol suppresses serotonin, the hormone important for sleep and mood. Increased cortisol does not allow the body to shut down and sleep.” When your serotonin is suppressed, sleep problems, depression and negative mood sinks in. All of these contribute to anxiety, agitation, and irritability, creates neurologial disorders, impairs memory and learning.

And of course the better sleep you get the more likely you are to have a better day or to be able to handle the stressors of the day better. I don’t ever remember being a person that just jumps out of bed refreshed and ready to start the day. It is pretty much always a struggle for me. I have had serious bouts of sleepless nights and they really take a toll on me. Luckily, I don’t have those nights very often any more.

According to Trish’s presentation, Depression is one of the most serious and costly health problems in the world today and anxiety is 800% more common than all forms of cancer. That is pretty drastic! How do we correct this epidemic amongst ourselves and the younger generations?

It starts with better sleep, and our next blog post will cover the basics of a good night’s sleep.

 

This information was given by Trish Greene of Balnea Spa Products. She is a Board Certified Aromatherapist, Dr of Homeopathy and a Cidesco trained Esthetician. She practices in Canada and has been an Eve Taylor rep for 25 years.

All the crazy legalize stuff I need to say. Consult your physician before taking anything suggested in this informational piece. I am not a Doctor, I am simply sharing the interesting information that I learned at a recent class. Do anything at your own risk, use common sense, and try to get some healthy sleep. No one is responsible for the choices you make except for yourself. None of us are responsible for anything you choose to do on your own accord.