Stress and Alternative Pain Relief Blog

A busy Mom needs your help!

2010-04-14T20:54:00.001-04:00

Hi There-

I have since moved my blog to http://www.specialmomspace.com/
I hope you will follow me there.

In the meantime, I'm trying to get featured as the #1 Blogger on the Bizymoms home page for Yonkers or NY.

All I have to do to be featured is get as many of my widgets published on other sites as possible. So, if you don't mind please copy the widget below and add to your blog or website. I really appreciate it.

Thank You In Advance! Here is the widget:

Michelle'is a featured blogger in Yonkers moms& New york
Click Here To view more

Read This Post or You'll Be Sorry

2010-04-01T13:13:00.009-04:00

Sorry that you missed out on continuing to receive the information you need to combat stress and pain naturally that is.

You see, I'm no longer posting here on blogger as of today. It's too time consuming to keep this blog up along with my original which you can find at www.antistressandpain.com/blog

Therefore, to continue receiving updates to help you with your stress and pain, subscribe to the new blog here: http://feeds.feedburner.com/AlternativePainStressRelief

Thanks and Continue to Work Toward Being Stress Free!

#1 Reason Women Say No To Sex

2010-03-26T19:01:00.002-04:00

I'll bet that one caught your attention huh?

It's no secret that us women can do a hundred different things and sex not even cross the brain. However, let it be a man. Men think about sex all of the time! Just answer me one question...What on earth does grocery shopping have to do with sex? I rest my case.

So, to answer the question or rather address the statement. The number one reason women say no to sex is STRESS. Yes, that's right.

When we are under pressure to pay bills, when the kids are stressing us out all day and even when our husbands think they are slick by skipping out on chores, leaving us to do it all (oh wait, that was my bad)...You get the picture! Sex is the LAST thing on the list of priorities when we are stressed out.

Now, some men may think she made that up. Nope. Not only would I bet that a number of women will agree with me, a research study was also conducted and the findings were reported in SHAPE magazine.

How you like them apples men. The next time you are so hot for sex, take the kids for a day, clean the house and pay all the bills. We'll be ripe for the pickin' then.

Michelle H Smith is a stress and pain management professional, published author and New York Wellness Examiner. If you liked this post, she's got 10 days worth of stuff to share on ways to actually relieve stress. Sign up for the 10 day Stress Less Recipe to find out more. There are a couple of bonuses for giving out your email address too. And don't worry, the bonuses don't entitle her to nor will she ever rent, sell or gift your email address to some sleeze ball who can't convince you to give it to him the honest way.

DANGER: Big FDA Food Recall

2010-03-18T18:36:00.000-04:00

I am passing along some information that I received from business source:

FDA Food Recall. If you're experiencing symptoms of Salmonella, what should you do? Full story below:
The FDA announced that HVP manufactured by Basic Food Flavors has been recalled, and an estimated 10,000 products are affected by this recall. Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) is a flavor enhancer commonly used in processed foods.

HVP is found in snack foods such as potato chips and pretzels. It's also used in dry mixes for chip dips, gravy, au jus and marinades. HVP is also used in frozen foods (such as taquitos and quesadillas) and in fresh foods such as potato salad and fresh dips. In addition to these items, it is also used in many other grocery products.

The recall was issued due to possible salmonella contamination. Salmonella is one of the most common causes of bacterial food-borne illness in the United States. It can cause fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

The following soup and dip mix products are included in the HVP recall.
Castella Chicken Soup Base
Concord Foods Vegetable Dip Seasoning - Homestyle
De la Casa Spinach Dip
Dean's - various brands of soup/soup mix & dip/dip mix
Delicioso Spinach Dip
Follow Your Heart Beef Au Jus
Fresh Food Concepts Garden Fresh Spinach & Spinach Dip with Real Yogurt
Great Value Ranch Chip Dip
Healthwise Cream of Mushroom Soup
Homemade Gourmet Tortilla Soup Mix
Johnny's French Dip Powdered Au Jus
Kroger Onion & Beefy Onion Soup Dip Mix
McCormick French Onion & Vegetable Dip Mix
Mrs. Gerry's Crab Creole Spread & Old Home/Old Fashioned Spinach Dip
Oak Lake Farms French Onion Chip Dip
Publix Beef Flavored Stew Mix
Reser's soup and dip mixes
Rojo's Garden Fresh Spinach Dip
T. Marzetti soup and dip mixes

Bouillon products
Herbox chicken, beef & vegetable bouillon

Dressing and dressing mix products
Follow Your Heart Organic Creamy Ranch Dressing
Reser's Ranch House Dressing
Trader Joe's Organic Creamy Ranch Dressing & Dip

Flavoring base and seasoning products
Garden Harvest Special Blend Seasoning
Minor's Bacon Base
Publix Meatloaf Seasoning

Gravy mix products
McCormick Onion Gravy mix
Publix Mushroom & Au Jus gravy mixes

Sauce and marinade mix products
Durkee Spaghetti & Marinade Mix
French's Thick Spaghetti Sauce Mix
Weber Grill Creations Italian Herb Marinade Mix

The following is a list of snack and snack mix products that are included in the HVP recall.

CVS Honey Mustard Pretzel Bites
Great Nut Supply Honey Mustard Pretzels & Bar Mix
HK Anderson Honey Mustard Pretzel Bites
Tim's Cascade Hawaiian style snacks
Herr's Sea Salt Flavored Kettle Style Potato Chips
National Pretzel Company (various)
President's Choice Honey Mustard Onion Pretzel Bite snack
Pringles Restaurant Cravers Cheeseburger & Family Faves Taco Night
Quaker Baked Cheddar Snack Mix
Rouses Louisiana's Best Snack Mix
Safeway brand Honey Mustard Onion Nugget Pretzels
Spec's Wines & Fine Foods
Sunflower Markets Honey Mustard Nugget Snack Mix

Frozen foods
Casa Solana Shredded Mini Beef Taquitos
E-Z Eats! Beef Taquitos
El Pasado Shredded Beef Mini and Beef Taquitos & Grilled Chicken Quesadillas
Giant Eagle Steak Taquitos
Jose Ole Taquitos
Posada Corn & Shredded Beef Taquitos
Tornados Ranchero Beef & Cheese

Prepared salad products
Reser's Redskin Potato Salad
Safeway brand Redskin Potato Salad
Walmart brand Redskin Potato Salad

Ready-to-eat meal products
Follow Your Heart Ready-to-Eat Meals

Stuffing products
McCormick Corn Bread Stuffing

Reduce Neck Strain - With These Alternatives

2010-03-17T21:24:00.061-04:00

Awakening after sleeping in a poor position and spending long hours in front of a computer can all result in neck strain. Neck strain is a result of your muscle tensing up due to being in the same position for an extended period of time.

Here are some tips to reduce neck strain when you arise in the morning:

Sleep on a firm mattress and a pillow that is not too firm and not too soft. It should conform to the natural contours of your neck. A good option is a magnetic therapy pillow. It helps to alleviate stress by providing a therapeutic night's rest.
Before going to bed, loosen up your neck muscles by doing some neck stretching exercises.

Try to sleep on your side. Sleeping on your stomach puts your neck in a very un-natural position

Here are some additional tips to reduce neck strain resulting from long work hours in front of a computer:

Take a break 2 minute break every 40 minutes. Get up from the computer, take a walk, get a cup of water. Just take a break
Check your posture every so often to make sure you are sitting up straight
Get an ergonomic evaluation of your work area. Most large companies have someone on site to handle these requests. Otherwise, here's a useful computer user checklist I discovered online.
Try a neck traction device. It sounds more complex than it actually is. They are quite portable and are Excellent for relieving neck pain by gently stretching the muscles and joints. Dr. Josh Renkens, Chiropractor, DC, ART, MAT states, "I have had wonderful success in treating patients with cervical disk disorders. The ChiSoft neck traction has proven to be very instrumental in the success my patients and I have realized. Patients love it! They find it is easy to use, very practical, and it works! I enthusiastically recommend the ChiSoft for neck traction!"

About the author: Michelle Howard Smith is the founder of AntiStressAndPain.com. She writes about ways to reduce and prevent stress and pain. At the heart of her service is the belief that stress and pain are connected. If you focus on reducing stress, you will reduce your instance of pain. If you enjoyed this post, sign up for the Stress Less newsletter to received additional methods for managing the stress in your life.

Sinus Pain Relief Remedies So You Can Finally Rest

2010-03-12T16:23:00.044-05:00

Sinus pressure is major cause of headaches, dizziness and tenderness to the sinus area. The cause of sinus pain could be a bacterial infection, the common cold or something more serious. If you don't have any sinus pain relief after a week or so, you should consult a doctor to rule out more serious problems.

In the meantime, treating sinus pain is relatively easy and in most instances, it can be done right in your own home.

There a number of remedies for sinus pain relief:

Steam water with added peppermint essential oil and inhale the vapor
Take pharmaceutical drugs to relieve the pressure
Apply a sinus pain relief pillow to the affected area. The sinus soother applies slight pressure with a mix of peppermint and eucalyptus for decongesting aromatherapy
Apply a warm compress to the sinus area
Nasal irrigation with a Neti pot (performed by a physician or you can get one at Whole Foods)

Regardless to the method you choose, sinus pain relief is available. If one method doesn't work, try another.

About the author: Michelle Howard Smith is the founder of AntiStressAndPain.com. She writes about ways to reduce and prevent stress and pain. At the heart of her service is the belief that stress and pain are connected. If you focus on reducing stress, you will reduce your instance of pain. If you enjoyed this post, sign up for the Stress Less newsletter to received additional methods for managing the stress in your life.

Reduce Migraines and Headaches In an Instant

2010-03-09T15:23:00.004-05:00

Pain in the neck and shoulders is often a result of stress to the area. Maybe it's due to long work hours or just plain pore posture, if you keep your neck and spine aligned you will notice a serious reduction in neck pain.

The Result: Reduced instances of headaches and migraines, resting more comfortably, and overall feeling of wellness

There are many products available on the market to reduce neck pain and strain but I'd like to introduce you to one that many people are not aware of...Buckwheat.

Buckwheat therapy products like buckwheat hull pillows are so beneficial because the buckwheat hulls in the pillow encourage natural circulation of air between the hulls and the pillow. Combined with aromatherapy within the pillow, the gentle scent of lavender reduces mental and physical fatigue.

Learn more about Buckwheat hull pillows

Warm Up Those Cold Hands and Feet

2010-03-06T09:23:00.003-05:00

While we will enjoy warmer temperatures in a couple of months, there's nothing like cold hands and feet to damper a mood!

If you are stuck indoors, there's a tendency to start feeling down. I was thinking about my last post about The Weather Affecting Your Mood and thought of some more ways to help you keep your spirits up why the weather is funky outdoors.

If you live in a place where you have no control over your own heat, there's a chance you won't get satisfactory heat when you want it. Even if you live in your own house, there could be times where you don't want to crank up the heat due to the rising costs of fuel. In either event, the first thing that's affected is your hands and feet and if you are anything like me, you hate having cold hands and feet!

So, how can you warm up those cold hands and feet?

Here are a couple of ways:

* Microwave 2 clean pair of socks on high for 10 seconds. Run hands and feet under warm (not hot) water and then moisturize with a thick cream to seal in moisture. Immediately after, put one pair of the warmed socks and one pair on your feet. Toasty!

* Don't want to go the "creative" route, then a portable TDP Lamp offers a great solution. TDP Lamps are useful for reducing inflammation and soreness and are popularly sold throughout the winter months. BUT, they are also great for simply heating up your cold limbs

Don't suffer for one minute with cold hands and feet. I've just given you two ways to heat them and neither of them will break your budget

About the author: Michelle Howard Smith is the founder of AntiStressandPain.com. She writes about ways to reduce and prevent stress and pain. At the heart of her service is the belief that stress and pain are connected. If you focus on reducing stress, you will reduce your instance of pain. If you enjoyed this post, sign up for the Stress Less newsletter to received additional methods for managing the stress in your life.

Leaving Blogger

2010-03-05T16:31:00.000-05:00

Not sure if you saw some of my previous notes but I'm leaving blogger for a bigger, brighter world out there :)
I'm moving on to Wordpress in just a few weeks but I wanted to give you a heads up. Once I have it set up and running, I will give you the new blog address and feed address.

In the meantime, I have some great posts for you in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

Weather Affecting Your Mood?

2010-03-03T10:17:00.002-05:00

With all of the nasty weather we've been having here in New York, it's easy to get "under the weather" and stay there for a bit. However, the weather doesn't have to affect your mood unless you allow it to.

It doesn't matter if you are in the snowy, cold New York City area or in a town that's normally got great weather but has fallen prey to a dismal climate. There are things you can do to keep yourself or get yourself out of a funk:
* For one, don't stay indoors with the lights dim. That just adds to a funky mood. Regardless of the weather, spend some time outdoors (ie movies, shopping)

* If the weather is just too foul, take some much needed time to pamper yourself. There are so many relaxation products available on the market that you can use at home while huddled up with a good cup of hot cocoa and comedy dvd.

* Turn up the lights, dust off your computer and start writing your autobiography. Or better yet, how about a good fiction piece? It's ok if it's not real "writer's quality." This is for your entertainment and who knows. You may discover a hidden talent!

There's no reason to sit around letting the weather affect your mood. Now get up and do something!
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About the author: Michelle Howard Smith is the founder of AntiStressandPain.com. She writes about ways to reduce and prevent stress and pain. At the heart of her service is the belief that stress and pain are connected. If you focus on reducing stress, you will reduce your instance of pain. If you enjoyed this post, sign up for the Stress Less newsletter to received additional methods for managing the stress in your life.

Organizing Wrap Up

2010-02-28T12:28:00.000-05:00

As we wrap up February, I'm going to wrap up the topic of Getting Organized for the month. For the month of May I will focus on helping you prevent and reduce stress by focusing on Strategies for Stress Reduction.

In the meantime, to wrap up our discussions on organizing, I wanted to share with you two popular ways of organizing. There's so much to be organized:

Clothes, Shoes, Accessories
Important papers
Cabinets
Closets
Drawers
Toys
Coupons
Photos
Music & TV CDs, DVD's etc.
the list goes on...

With all of the things that need to be organized in your life, it's no wonder things can spiral out of control, eventually causing stress and anxiety. Fortunately, there's help and there are a lot of professional organizers out there willing to help you get a hold of yourself.

Sometimes, the personal services of a professional organizer can be a little costly so I wanted to share with you a couple of methods for organizing that you can incorporate into your life. Ultimately, it's up to you to determine if you need additional help but these should get you started:

* Using Lists (Electronic or handwritten)
* Using Planners (ie Franklin Covey)

The reason these two methods are popular is because everyone is using them and they don't require much though. However, they don't get to the root of how to organize the specific things in your life in detail (the list I mentioned above) nor do they provide for cost cutting and time saving ways to organize.

Clutterbugs is an Organizing System that I discovered a while ago that has some great down to earth (some free) ways to organize without breaking your budget. This program has been highlighted in The Ultimate Guide for Professional Organizers 2009 Edition, Real Simple, Business Watch, Scrapbooks etc, and more. Check out the affordable solutions offered by Getting Clutterbugs to Get Organized.

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Choosing to visit the Clutterbugs link above may result in an affiliate commission on my behalf should you make a purchase. However, in no way will I ever promote a product or service to you that I am not satisfied with myself. Additionally, any purchase you decide to make will not result in the release of any of your personal information to me or anyone I am affiliated with nor will it increase your cost in any way.

Blog ReDesign

2010-02-22T13:41:00.002-05:00

Figured it would be a good idea to match this blog with the Stress & Alternative Pain Relief Online Shop. Hence the redesign.

Resolving to Stay Organized - Here's Your Reinforcement

2010-02-22T13:34:00.001-05:00

Hi there boys and girls (hey we all want to feel younger!)

I wanted to continue with the subject of organizing for the rest of this month. Many people have given up on their resolve to get organized and work towards keeping things organized. (Remember, it's not a one time thing) That's because a lack of organization is a major cause of stress in many people's lives.

So, I put together a little something that will help you to Get More Organized and Find a New or Renewed Sense of Freedom. Yes, click that link for a free tips sheet. It's not just about organizing your stuff. It starts with YOU.

Enjoy and Pass It On...

Running On $5

2010-02-15T14:21:00.000-05:00

Who wants to earn $5 a day? Certainly, we all want to earn more than that. As a home business owner and entrepreneur, I just read a book that completely changed my business life as I know it.

It's changed how I will run my business going forward. This book has helped provide me with the FOCUS I need to be more successful and I invite you to join me...

The book has a pretty strange title: "5 Bucks A Day." I don't want to give all the book offers away. You're going to have to make the investment for yourself like I did.

At any rate, I am writing to you because my first project is going to take me away from blogging for a little bit and I didn't want you to think that I abandoned you. Here's a little about my first project:

* Focusing on God's Word and nothing but His Word to grow my business.

Now, you may be thinking "How is that going to grow your business?" You will understand when you read the book...if you read the book. It's not a religious book and your projects may well certainly be different than mine. Your projects are your choice. This first project I just shared is my first choice. Others will certainly be more directly related to business building but I just wanted to let you in on why I won't be around for a little bit. Now go get your copy of 5 Bucks A Day and discover what I did. It will change the way you run your business.

Should you choose to pick up the full version of 5 Bucks A Day, I may earn a commission on your purchase. However, please note that I will NEVER recommend any product just for the sake of making money. If the product is no good I will tell you. If it's something I feel is good for you, I will tell you. If it's good enough for me, it's good enough for you. And YES, I purchased the full version for myself.

Tips to Help You Clear Clutter

2010-02-08T16:19:00.001-05:00

Have you ever heard of the term, "stuck on stupid?" It basically means a state of being where a person is totally clueless. Well, I think we have all been there. Especially when it comes to organizing our lives and clearing out the clutter that keeps us from being productive. What other term could you call yourself other than "stuck on stupid" when you continue to do the same things to relieve the stress of disorganization but continue to get the same results?

Below are some tips for helping you to clear clutter. Some are based on tips provided by the two organizing systems I shared with you in my post, "What Organizing System Is Right For You?" Others are my own.

"The best thing you can do to find balance and get organized is take care of yourself" Get organized with Clutterbugs!
Assign a place for everything (files, keys, makeup etc.) and put things back in their proper place as soon as you are done with them.
Schedule time to clear your clutter several times a year and let nothing interfere. Turn off the tv, radio and phones to get things done. This can include clearing out your medicine cabinet of expired medicines, giving away/throwing away old clothes & shoes, shredding papers you no longer need, cleaning out the purse it takes you 5 minutes to find your keys in and even clearing out your kitchen cabinets. Don't you think it's about time to get rid of that chipped plate? Oh wait that's my bad :)
Try Green Living. You will eliminate waste faster. (ex: no more corners cluttered with plastic bags!)
Be realistic with yourself. Clutter doesn't happen over night and it won't clear out over night. Take time each day to work on a task of clearing clutter, uninterrupted

Again, while I may receive an affiliate commission if you choose to subscribe or buy from Clutter Bugs or Clutter Diet, I will never recommend you buy or even try a product if it isn't worth it. Reaping what you have sown is real (I started to say "...a mother" but then realized that may be construed as a naughty saying...I digress *sigh)
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Michelle Howard Smith is a stress management professional. Michelle offers a wealth of wisdom in her complimentary monthly Stress Less Newsletter. Subscribe today and receive a free health report along with access to special deals on stress relief products.

What Organizing System Is Right For You?

2010-02-03T15:51:00.001-05:00

Part of the chaos we as humans find ourselves in when trying to get organized is trying to do things the way everyone else does them. Well, it's a fact that what works for one person does not work for another.

There a bunch of different systems and techniques available to help you get organized but you should decide on hot to organize and which organizing system to use based on your personality. Some of the organizing systems are very methodical and may be a bit too "anal" for some.

Here are 2 of organizing systems that I have come across and recommend based on the ease of use and the quality information given by the program creators:

Clutter Bugs - Get organized with almost no spending.

Clutter Diet - Offers a free Report, "30 Ways to Get Organized"

Check one or both of these systems out and share your experience. What's nice is they both offer free information and affordable solutions.

Note that if you choose to purchase any of the systems above or related products, I will receive an affiliate commission. HOWEVER, I will never recommend crap. I like these organizing systems for their simplicity and the fact that they make organizing kind of fun! I have not received any compensation for recommending the products to you.
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Michelle Howard Smith is a stress management professional. Michelle offers a wealth of wisdom in her complimentary monthly Stress Less Newsletter. Subscribe today and receive a free health report along with access to special deals on stress relief products.

Organizing Your Life for Sanity

2010-02-01T14:24:00.000-05:00

You've heard it before and you will hear it again and again. At least until you tell me, "Michelle, stop! I'm there. I'm organized and loving it!" Ok, the chances of that happening for EVERY subscriber and follower of this blog is slim right? Sooooo, I will keep on sharing and providing information that helps you to reduce stress in your life and a big one is Disorganization.

It doesn't matter if you work inside or outside of the home, organizing your life will help you in every area. At work and at home. So consider the month of February here at the Stress and Alternative Pain Relief Blog, your "Guide to Organizing" That will be our focus.
A few months back, I shared information on organizing particular areas of your home such as your closet and your drawers. I want to pick this topic back up because a tidy home, workspace etc. provides relief for clutter free thinking and a clutter free spirit.

So, What Is Organizing Your Life All About?

It may seem like a simple saying, "Just get organize." but it's actually more difficult than you think. It's easy to put things in certain places but keeping them there and putting things in their proper places based on a system that's based on WHO YOU ARE is the tough part.

For the whole month of February, I want to provide you with extensive tools, information and organizing clutter tips to make your life easier through organization so you can stress less and keep your sanity! Stay tuned for Thursday's post as we delve deeper into creating your Guide to Organizing. At the end of the month, I'll put it all together for you in my favorite freebie format...layman's terms.
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Michelle Howard Smith is a true to life stress and pain management professional and published author. Michelle offers a wealth of wisdom in layman's terms and has personally overcome many stressful challenges due to raising a disabled child with multiple health challenges.

Michelle offers a complimentary monthly Stress Less Newsletter. Subscribe today and receive a free health report along with access to special deals on alternative health products

Massage Stone Sale!

2010-01-23T11:38:00.000-05:00

Save 10% Off All Hot and Cold Massage Stones when you use discount code: EASE to shop online at www.stressreliefbyrv.com

Remember the benefits of Massage Stones I shared from my recent posts: Hot Stones Improve Energy and Improve Pain and Contrasting Cold and Hot Stones and How They Can Help You

Now you can pick up the Hot or Cold Stone of your choice at a 10% savings.

5 Days Only. Counting Down now..........

Have a Happy and Safe Weekend,

Contrasting Cold & Hot Stones and How They Can Help You

2010-01-21T09:31:00.009-05:00

The reason I started this blog was not just to sell products. On the contrary, it is my goal to also educate people on the importance of how to care for the body once it has encountered illness or injury. With that, the other day I wrote a post about Hot Stones and how they can benefit you. Did you see it? I hope so because at some time or another in your life, you will experience pain and popping pills is not the safe way to go.

Today I want to share with you the benefits of cold stones.

Cold stone massage is a form of cryotherapy which is used in medical treatments for when using cold is appropriate. The difference between hot stones and cold stones is not only the application but also the type of stones used and the types of benefits experienced.

Cold stone massage is performed with marble stones while hot stone massage is performed with basalt stones. The reason is that marble is more effective at maintaining colder temperatures and basalt is excellent at maintaining hot temperatures. This is due to the natural make up of the the two types of stones. Both cold and hot stones are effective for increasing the therapeutic benefits of massage but even more than that.

Now that I'm explained the differences between hot and cold stones, let's look at the specific benefits of cold stones.

Cold Stone Benefits:

When placed over the sinuses, cold stones help to decongest and relieve sinus pressure
Reduces wrinkles and fine lines around the eye area
Shrinks swelling resulting from injuries. The cold stones help to release accumulated blood in the muscles and surrounding tissues. An example of this would be when you get puffy eyes or dark circles under the eyes. The cold stones can greatly alleviate the swelling- Even better than cucumbers!
Decreasing muscles spasms that result from injury, stress or exercise
Positions tense muscles to be massaged so that the pressure applied during massage is easier tolerated

Cold stone therapy and cold stone massage treatments can be costly when done by a professional masseuse. You can however still benefit from cold stone treatments in the privacy from your own home. Step on over to www.stressreliefbyrv.com to get a better understanding of the types of Cold marble stones and hot basalt stones available.
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Michelle Howard Smith is a stress and pain management professional. Stepping out of the traditional way of addressing physical and mental challenges, Michelle offers a wealth of wisdom in her complimentary monthly Stress Less Newsletter. Subscribe today and receive a free health report along with access to special deals on alternative health products.

Hot Stones Improve Energy and Ease Pain

2010-01-18T22:20:00.000-05:00

A little over a week ago, I introduced a new line of massage stones offered at www.stressreliefbyrv.com
What I provide you with was an overview of sorts but now I'd like to break down the two types of massage stone therapy that are offered: Hot and Cold Stones

Let's look specifically at hot stones and how they can help a number of painful conditions.

Hot stone therapy when combined with massage can:

Relieve Stress
Relax muscles and tissues
Release toxins from the body
Minimize and Ease Pain from a variety of conditions including: back pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis
Improve circulation

My goal is to offer you the very best stress and pain relief solutions available on the market. Therefore, I'm pleased to offer hot stones to the product line. Currently, magnetic therapy is also offered on the site which is another very effective manner for easing pain naturally and safely.

Natural and alternative pain relief can be very effective but also some products work best for different people. That's why you will find Magnetic Therapy, Heat Relief Products and now Massage Stones available so that you may choose your method of safe pain relief.
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Michelle Howard Smith is a stress and pain management professional. Stepping out of the traditional way of addressing physical and mental challenges, Michelle offers a wealth of wisdom in her complimentary monthly Stress Less Newsletter. Subscribe today and receive a free health report along with access to special deals on alternative health products.

Stress and Pain All Wrapped Into One

2010-01-13T22:02:00.000-05:00

I never thought I'd be sharing a personal stress and pain story but this is one outlet where I can share my story and not have to worry about somebody making a "decision" on it.

I won't get into all the details but the last few days have been stressful and also painful emotionally.

3 years ago my husband was viciously beaten by 6 police officers. Some may think, "Well what did he do?" Other than have a flip mouth toward the police nothing. And the last time I checked, that wasn't a crime.

Well today we had our day in court. Yes we sued the police department and the City of Yonkers. To sit and listen to the lies was very painful. My daughter and I both gave an account of exactly what happened and those lying cops gave their account.

Our one consolation is that we know the truth and God is on our side. Also, our attorney proved that the cops were lying. How is it that they lie to Internal Affairs and say they didn't hit my husband and then admit on the stand after being pushed that they stomped him in the face? That's a very big deal. On top of that for the cops to say that they didn't see any of their fellow officers hit him yet he was all beat up and they had no marks or injuries yet they say he fought them.

That's very stressful and painful. Cops took an oath to serve and protect. Now, I know all cops are not bad but this really has us on the defense against them.

Through this stressful ordeal over the past 3 years, I've learned the only way we have survived and maintained some peace is to keep our trust and faith in God.

The jury will continual deliberating tomorrow and I expect a positive outcome. I will let you all know. The evidence speaks.

Knock Out The Kinks with Massage Stones

2010-01-06T16:39:00.000-05:00

You know that getting a massage is the (thee for emphasis!) way to go when you need some good old fashion stress relief. If you don't know then you should try it if even just a mini massage at one of those kiosks at the mall.

Adding massage stones increases the effectiveness of a massage. The massage stones allow for a deep tissue manipulation that a regular massage can not match.

Massage therapists are well versed on the effectiveness of massage stones. However, getting a professional hot or cold stone massage can be a little pricey. Also, massage stones can be used for a number of treatments other than massage.

There are a number of at home treatments you can experience with massage stones that go beyond the typical massage:

* Palm/Manicure treatments
* Tension release in the neck
* Easing of menstrual cramps
* Reduction of swollen eyes
* Relaxation of the thighs and buttocks

The type of home treatment you are interested in will determine the type of stone you will use. Basalt stones. Marble stones are used for hot stone treatments and are used for cold stone treatments.

Examples:

Hot Basalt stones are used to release rigid tight muscles in the palms of the hands just before getting a manicure

Cold Marble stones can be used therapeutically to reduce swelling and wrinkles around the eye area

Click the link to view an assortment of Hot and Cold Massage stones.
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Michelle Howard Smith is a stress and management professional. Stepping out of the traditional way of addressing physical and mental challenges, Michelle offers a wealth of wisdom in her complimentary monthly Stress Less Newsletter. Subscribe today and receive a free health report along with access to special deals on alternative health products.

Being Alone Doesn't Have To Mean Being Lonely

2010-01-04T14:39:00.003-05:00

Well 2010 is here and while it's a new year, if you have issues with loneliness, the new year won't be any different unless you change your outlook.

The most lonely day of the year for many is Valentine's Day. February 14th is a day where sweethearts everywhere express their love in a variety of ways....giving of gifts, going out on special dates etc. But what if you don't have a sweetheart? What if on the most romantic day of the year, you are alone?
Being alone doesn't mean you have to be lonely. Yes, Valentine's day is for lovers but the one person you should love more than any other human being on the earth is YOURSELF.

Where is it written that you have to go out on a date with someone else on February 14th or that you have to receive candies, flowers or other gifts from a lover? I submit to you that you can be your own Valentine. That may sound like fluff to some but who better to spend Valentine's Day with than the one person you know who will never leave you?

There are a number of thing single folks can do for Valentine's Day. Here are some ideas for you should you be one of them:

Take yourself to dinner and a movie (make it a comedy)
Get some pampering done (a massage, a manicure etc.)
Buy yourself flowers and put them on your coffee table to admire
Buy yourself something nice. No. Something exquisite
Start a special project like writing your autobiography

Don't allow this year's Valentine's Day to get you all stressed out and feeling lonely if you are not in a relationship. Your time will come. We've all been there.
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Michelle Howard Smith is a stress/pain management professional and published author. She's helped numerous individuals to improve their health naturally while avoiding the side effects of traditional medicine. Subscribe to her monthly Stress Less newsletter and receive a free health report.

Free 2010 New Year Stress Less Guide

2009-12-31T16:40:00.000-05:00

2009 is almost behind us. I hope you've been preparing for 2010 but not to worry if you haven't done anything to get ready for the new year yet. You should however do something different to enter 2010 than you did when you entered 2009. That is unless you want to stay the same.

Preparing for a new year is especially important if you are going to proactively reduce or prevent stress...emotional, physical, and mental.

I put together a little resource that I hope you will find helpful. It's the 2010 New Year, New You Stress Less Guide. Read it, follow the advice in it and share it with friends and family!

Happy New Year !

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T19:20:00.000-05:00

Here's wishing you a Very Merry Christmas...

May the Love of Christ Fill Your Hearts and Your Homes...

Forgiveness Freebie Tools

2009-12-19T20:15:00.005-05:00

After all of the talk about forgiveness, the importance of forgiveness, why to forgive and ways to forgive, I compiled a nice couple of reminder sheets that you can print out, post up (for a reminder) and share with others.

Grab your Forgiveness Tools today!

Here's go entering 2010 with a clean slate...

Forgiveness with Aromatherapy

2009-12-14T17:13:00.000-05:00

For the last week or so, the focus has been placed on forgiveness and learning to forgive people who have offended you. The reason this subject is so important is because we are about to enter a new year shortly. Do you want to bring old baggage with you into a new season of your life? I know I don't. That's why it's my goal to help anyone with problems "letting things go" to find as many ways possible to forgive.

While forgiving can sometimes be difficult and daunting, it's not impossible. I wanted to share something with you that I believe with prove beneficial if you are having trouble getting in the right frame of mind to forgive.

It's called Forgiveness Essential Oil. Let me explain...

Forgiveness is a proprietary blend of therapeutic grade essential oils offered by Young Living, the leader in aromatherapy oils.

Forgiveness essential oil blend is a soothing and uplifting mix of essential oils that may enhance your ability to release traumatic and hurtful memories. These oils allow for the release of negative emotions and promotes a willingness to move forward.

While you may have doubts, there is no doubt that people (including myself) have been using aromatherapy therapeutically for years with much success. If you are having difficult forgiving others or even yourself then trying Forgiveness is worth a try.

Forgiveness Essential Oil contains the following blend of essential oils: Melissa, Geranium, Frankincense, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Angelica, Lavender, Lemon, Jasmine, Roman Chamomile, Bergamot, Ylan ylang, Palmarosa, Helichrysum and Rose in a base of sesame seed oil.

Simply apply "Forgiveness" topically around the navel area on the belly or on the neck and forearms. This precious oil can also be diffused into the air.

To obtain the Forgiveness Essential Oil Blend, visit Young Living, sign up to purchase and use distributor # 1066504 to obtain your product. Discover the power of Aromatherapy to heal emotional wounds.

In a few days I have a special treat for you to help you leave unforgiveness in 2009 and be prepared to enter 2010 with a forgiving attitude and a fresh new outlook on life.

Fostering an Atmosphere of Forgiveness

2009-12-10T18:31:00.001-05:00

A few days ago, I shared with you the importance of forgiveness. Now, I would like to share how you can foster an atmosphere of forgiveness.

While forgiving others may prove difficult, aromatherapy is an alternative method of fostering an atmosphere of forgiveness. Certain essential oils are very effective at releasing negative emotions. A simple explanation is that certain scents can calm and relax the mind and body. Using aromatherapy oils helps release emotional trauma and promotes a forgiving environment. Here are some essential oils that are known among naturalists for their abilities to help you release stress and promote emotional healing:

Bergamot - This oil is very uplifting and has a highly balancing quality. Inhaling directly or while bathing promotes relaxation

Chamomille - Releases pinned up energy and brings peace

Frankincense - This precious essential oil helps to ease emotional hurt and trauma. The scent from the oil stabilizes your mental faculties and relieves burdens

Geranium - Helps to release anger, tension, anxiety and negative memories

Lavender - A popular oil for helping to balance the emotions

Peppermint - Helps to alleviate depression, release anger and stimulate the subconscious

There are other essential oils that can foster an atmosphere of forgiveness but there's a synergistic oil blend offered by Young Living that may enhance the ability of a person to release hurtful memories and negative emotions which paves the way to forgiveness. This essential oil blend is called "Forgiveness" and fittingly so. "Forgiveness" is a combination of Melissa, Geranium, Lavender, Frankincense, Sandalwood, Rosewood, Jasmine, Lemon, Angelica, Bergamot, Ylang ylang, Palmarosa, Rose, and Helichrysum Essential Oils.

This precious blend can be inhaled directly or applied topically to the body. "Forgiveness" can be obtained from Young Living at www.youngliving.org. You'll need a distributor # to purchase. Use 1066504.

Here's to forgiveness and moving on...

Why Forgive - Reasons for Forgiving

2009-12-08T14:28:00.001-05:00

When a person hurts or upsets you, do you sometimes feel like you couldn't possibly forgive them? You are not part of a rare breed.

Forgiveness is not always easy but is extremely necessary - necessary if you are going to live a peaceful, productive and whole life. There are a number of reasons why you should always forgive, no matter what has been done to you. Of course, it's easier said than done but it's possible to always forgive. I will share ways you can learn to forgive in a few days but check out a few reasons for forgiving:

When you forgive, you release the past and the pain
When you forgive, God will forgive you for your sins
When you don't forgive, you are opening a door for evil to be present in your life

There are many other reasons why you should forgive people when they offend you. In addition to sharing some little know ways you can learn to forgive, I will provide you with a complete, comprehensive list of more reasons why forgiveness is necessary. Stay tuned

Back from Hiatus

2009-12-08T14:17:00.000-05:00

Hi There-

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I am back from my hiatus from blogging.

My product launch was a success and I'm introducing the new Blended Naturals line at various events scheduled through the remainder of 2009 and some of 2010.

I hope everyone is preparing to enjoy stress free holidays!

Time for A Break - Guest Post

2009-11-13T08:16:00.000-05:00

TIME FOR A BREAK

Ever hear someone quip, “I know hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance on being the first victim?”

It’s good for laughs, but it’s based on false premises. Hard work has killed many people, and its typical murder weapon is a decade or two of emotional overexertion. Workaholics never stop running to keep up with little inner whispers: “Finish this… don’t forget the deadline… don’t forget the next item… get this right… you must… you have to…”

Your car wouldn’t tolerate being driven 24/7 indefinitely. Neither will your body. People who “never have time to rest” tend to eventually get their rest in the hospital—or the cemetery.

We all know as much, but our lip service to “time off” typically loses out to the idea that “the more I work now, the sooner I’ll build up a million-dollar retirement account—and then I can rest.” But once we get into the perpetual-motion habit, no amount of money in the bank ever seems enough. The time to rest is briefly but frequently—starting now.

To develop the frequent-rest habit without becoming lazy:

Get up every hour for a five-minute break. Stretch, visit the bathroom, or look out the window.
Go to bed seven to nine hours before you plan to get up—or take an afternoon nap.
Practice deep breathing and other forms of physical and mental relaxation. A church or other religious center, or a yoga or meditation course, can provide guidance.
Take one full day off every week—and use it for real rest, not for home maintenance (unless you find “handy” work genuinely relaxing).
Take at least one full week of vacation—preferably two to eight—every year. And do leave home during vacation time, and don’t bring your laptop along.

Surprisingly, people who take frequent breaks are more productive. They rebuild depleted energy faster. They are less mentally distracted. And they dread their work less. (A frequent cause of working frantically, yet getting nowhere, is fear of starting the really important tasks.)

By all means, work hard. But don’t let it take over—and maybe destroy—your whole life.

For more information:

· How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie, Chapter 23, “How to Add One Hour a Day to Your Waking Life.”

www.timeday.org
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Katherine Swarts is a full-time freelance writer specializing in articles, for business newsletters and blogs as well as magazines. (Visit her Web site at www.spreadthewordcommercialwriting.com) She lives in Houston, Texas. Her favorite spare-time activities are reading, bird-watching, attending community events, and writing Christian poetry (she maintains a devotional/poetry blog at http://newsongsfromtheheart.blogspot.com)

First Things First - Guest Post

2009-11-10T20:33:00.000-05:00

I know I told you all I'd be having a short hiatus but in the interim I still wanted to provide you would some good quality information. That's why I have a guest blogger, Katherine Swarts who has been so considerate enough to share her insight on a couple of topics that provide direction to help you avoid stress. So without further ado...

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Working on the Priority System

You’ve heard it before: If you fail to plan, you might as well plan to fail. That holds particularly true for home-office workers with no nagging supervisors and no paychecks during idle times.

And, too often, few rewards for busy times—because many home-office workers keep busy with the wrong things.

Letting the urgent crowd out the important is a habit almost impossible to overcome without planning. If you’ve been saying that “someday” you’ll learn social networking or build a long-term marketing plan, now is the time to turn “someday” into now.

Start by organizing your work days on a priority system:

· Make a master list of tasks: things you know you should do; things you’re already doing regularly or have scheduled for set times; things you’ve thought about doing someday. Divide complicated projects (“earn a master’s degree”) into segments (“look up 20 schools”; “contact top 10 choices”; “send applications to top 3 choices”; etc.).

· Assign a “priority value” to each task:

o A: very important to long-term business goals.

o B: pretty important to either long-term goals or effective daily operations.

o C: might be helpful but can wait; or, won’t be important for at least a month. (Don’t use this category as an excuse to procrastinate on starting big projects. Assign A or B importance to whatever parts should be done now.)

o D: nothing to lose by scrapping the whole idea.

· Organize tasks within each category: A1 for the most important task, A2 for the second most important, and so on.

· Most people spend an embarrassing amount of time on Cs and Ds. As the first step out of that habit, pinpoint what time of day your energy level is at its peak: are you a morning person or a night person? Start each day’s A1 task, followed by A2 and A3, when you’re physically and mentally at your best. Save Cs and low Bs for lower-energy periods.

· Begin or end (whichever works best for you) each day by reviewing and reprioritizing the list.

· Enjoy increased productivity and success!

For more information:

· How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life by Alan Lakein

· The KISS Guide to Organizing Your Life by Donald Wetmore

· The Productivity Institute (http://www.balancetime.com/)

www.stephencovey.com
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Katherine Swarts is a full-time freelance writer specializing in articles, for business newsletters and blogs as well as magazines. (Visit her Web site at www.spreadthewordcommercialwriting.com.) She lives in Houston, Texas. Her favorite spare-time activities are reading, bird-watching, attending community events, and writing Christian poetry (she maintains a devotional/poetry blog at www.newsongsfromtheheart.blogspot.com).

Short Hiatus

2009-11-04T13:13:00.000-05:00

Hi There-

I just wanted to let you all know that I'm preparing for two product launches for each of my websites so my posts here on the blog will be on hiatus until around November 15th.

I will be back with a vengeance though!

Michelle
www.stressreliefbyrv.com

Fall Aroma Scents for Stress Relief

2009-10-24T19:38:00.002-04:00

It's officially fall out here in the East and winter is not far behind. If you are under the cooling temperatures, popular fall scents will be most enjoyable for you during the holidays.

Imagine the scents of: Peppermint, Orange Clove, Cranberry Fig or Mulling Spices filling your home during the Holidays. Browse Scented Soy Candles available.

100% Soy Wax Candles Scented with Essential Oils promote relaxation among a host of other benefits.

No artificial colors or preservatives

Free of Lead and Zinc - Healthier for You to Breathe in than Paraffin Candles

Read About The Benefits of Soy Wax Candles

An Easy Stress Reliever

2009-10-21T19:01:00.000-04:00

Believe it or not there are many ways that you can alleviate your stress. Some require spending a little money on items to promote relaxation. Other ways are simple and straight forward such as..........

Writing for Stress Relief

Writing down your thoughts is a great way to release tension
Plann your days by writing your To-do's: this keeps you focused and definitely relieves stress. Don't multi-task, you get less done and are frazzled by end of day

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Take care of yourself: Michelle Howard offers you and effective line of stress and pain management products. Shop for stress or alternative pain relief products for your special need.

Combatting Negative Thoughts with Positive Words

2009-10-16T12:34:00.000-04:00

Your mind is the battleground for faith or for defeat. When you have a negative thought that causes pressure to be applied to your flesh (stress), do you just let that thought fester inside of your head? Do you try to just ignore the thought? There's a better and effective way to fight negative thoughts that eventually lead to stress and defeat.

Fighting negative thoughts that lead to stress with positive words is your only solution to defeating those bad thoughts. For the Christian, we fight negative thoughts with the word of God. God's Word is powerful and sharper than even a two edged sword. It's alive, powerful and can defeat any negative thought that comes across your mind. I've experienced this in my own life.

Besides, isn't it better to focus on words that speak life versus words that speak defeat, depression, debt, and death? I was about to go on a roll with the bad "d" words but I think you get the picture.

The next time you have a bad, negative, stress inducing thought, open your mouth and speak against it - preferably with God's Word. Don't allow negative thoughts to control your emotions which is then lead to making bad or negative decisions.
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Michelle is the true to life resource for satisfaction guaranteed stress and alternative pain relief products. Get on the path to wellness and SAVE when you purchase one of her already low cost Stress Relief Products with discount code: REVIVE.

"When life throws lemons, make lemonade!" - Unknown

Negative Words vs. Positive Words

2009-10-15T17:47:00.002-04:00

Did you know that your negative words can talk you right into stress, depression or any other negative emotion?

The Bible says, "Life and death are in the power of the tongue and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Proverbs 18:21

When you grumble, complain or murmur, you negatively affect your spirit, causing negative emotions to arise. Those negative emotions will then eventually cause you to make negative decisions and negative decisions will cause negative actions.

Watch the words that come out of your mouth, the negative words. Just as you can birth negative results in your life by speaking negative words, you can birth positive results in your life by speaking positive words.

Monitor the words of your mouth for your desired outcome in life.
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Michelle Smith can help you to relieve stress on a practical level. Sign up for her highly-acclaimed and miraculously free Stress Less Newsletter and be kept informed of alternative ways to reduce stress and ease pain without medication.

Ponder These Before You Allow Stress To Consume You

2009-10-12T15:14:00.000-04:00

Stress is a very serious matter worth addressing head on.. I hope you have been informed, refreshed or enlightened some these past few weeks and I would love to hear from you.

I want to wrap up my mini-overview on stress with some powerful quotes to really get you thinking, "Is it worth it?"

"Stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness." *Richard Carlson

"Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that important." *Natalie Goldberg

"Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one." *Dr. Hans Selye

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." *Bill Cosby

"Sometimes it is harder to deprive oneself of a pain than of a pleasure." *F. Scott Fitzgerald

"Gray hair is God's graffiti." *Bill Cosby

Michelle Howard Smith is a stress and pain relief professional helping individuals to address health from a natural perspective. Subscribe to The Stress Less newsletter to receive valuable information on stress and pain management monthly.

10 Ways to Identify Physical Stress

2009-10-09T19:51:00.000-04:00

Stress brings with it a number of physical and emotional symptoms. Physical symptoms are your body reacting to the stress. Really, your body is in defense mode. Physical symptoms of stress include but certainly are not limited to:

1. Upset stomach
2. Unexplained indigestion
3. Headaches, Back aches, shoulder pain
4. Muscle Spasms
5. Skipping monthly menstrual periods (women)
6. Constipation
7. Diarrhea
8. Hyperventilation (shortness of breathe)
9. A rash/rashes on the skin
10. Weight loss (including lack of eating)

The American Psychological Association reports, "One-third of Americans are living with extreme stress and nearly half of Americans (48 percent) believe that their stress has increased over the past five years."

What's Your State's Stress Level?

2009-10-06T15:07:00.000-04:00

Have you ever stopped to think about the fact that us individuals are not the only ones to experience stress? On the contrary, whole counties, states and nations also experience stress and are susceptible to high stress levels.

Yahoo recently released results from Associated Press' Economic Stress Index. Scores are calculated from 1 to 100 for counties within a state and factors such as unemployment, foreclosure and bankruptcy rates have the biggest impact. Counties within a state are considered under high stress levels when its score exceeds 11.

I was quite interested in this due to the fact that I live in New York, working in New York City. People always think that New York City is one of number one states with the highest stress levels. Well, you may be pleasantly surprised by the results.

Previously Nevada (21.32), Michigan (17.59) and California (16.31) topped the list of the most economically stressed states.

The most stressed counties were Imperial County, Calif. (31.83); Yuma County, Ariz. (27.58); Merced County, California (24.28); Lyon County, Nevada (24.02); and Lauderdale, Tennessee (23.56).

The states with the biggest year-to-year increases in economic stress in August were Nevada, Oregon and Michigan.

Isn't that something? Who would have thought that these states that you don't hear much from were higher in stress levels than the famously fast paced New York City. That gives you something to think about.
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Michelle Howard Smith is President of Reviyve LLC, a distributor of stress and alternative pain relief products. Subscribe to the Stress Less Newsletter receive stress management tips, alternative health info and exclusive offers for subscribers only.

The Number One Reason People Get Stressed

2009-10-04T14:09:00.000-04:00

The number one reason people get stressed out is money problems. Financial problems are not the actual cause of stress but more the result of actions that led to the pressure behind the money problems.

When a person mismanages their finances for whatever reason, that leads to money problems which then lead to stress. So the actual cause of the stress is not the money problems but the mismanagement of the money.

Read about ways to prevent stress.

3 U's that Cause Stress

2009-10-01T08:07:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe but the TRUE causes of stress are not what you read in the papers or what you hear in the doctor's office while laying down on his or her couch. If the causes of stress that you are used to hearing about were really the root causes, don't you think that you would have eliminated those causes by now? Many people can't form into the words why stress is such a big problem.

Ok, so what are the causes of stress?

Summarized in three little words that begin with U (no, not YOU): Uncertainty, Unrealistic Expectations and Unresolved conflict.

That's it. No, it's not money. Money problems stem from one of the three U's.
Let me explain:

Uncertainty
The uncertainties of life will cause you stress if you allow yourself to worry about them continuously. Some things you can control. Others you can't. With a firm faith in God and relationship with Him, you can be certain that He will take care of all of your needs. You won't need to stress because you believe that God is your source and will supply of whatever need you have.

Unrealistic Expectations
Comparing yourself to someone else, what someone else has or what someone else can do is a major cause of stress. You set unrealistic expectations when you do this because you can not guarantee that your success, physical appearance, bank account or whatever will match that of what you are comparing yourself and ultimately your life to. That's not to say that you should not set goals. However, you must be content in the state that you are in before you can climb higher.

Unresolved Conflict
Holding on to unforgiveness or bitterness against another will causes unresolved conflict in your life. This unresolved conflict will cause you stress because because it will affect your sleep, your thought life and your overall demeanor. While you are replaying the offense or problem over and again in your head, that person is going on with their life or the situation remains unchanged. Deal with any conflict in your life as soon as it arises, forgive and move on.

Michelle Howard Smith is a stress and pain relief professional helping individuals to address health from a natural perspective. Subscribe to The Stress Less newsletter to receive information on stress and pain like that in this post.

These Behaviors Identify Stress

2009-09-29T23:10:00.002-04:00

In further examining stress and it's effects on life, it's important to identify certain behaviors that could potentially identify stress in your life:

A lack of concentration
Anger
Irritability
Insomnia / sleep disorders
Nervousness
Fear and phobias
Eating Disorders
Erratic behavior (ex: crying for no reason)
Taking drugs, drinking, illicit sexual activity
Feelings of betrayal
Feeling ashamed
Guilty feelings
Loneliness

If you can identify with these behaviors that may indicate severe stress in your life, don't ignore them. Seek professional help and look for ways to practically reduce stress in your life. My Learning Center has a number of stress management articles available to help assist.

Michelle Howard Smith is a stress and pain relief professional helping individuals to address health from a natural perspective. She distributes Young Living essential oils under distributor # 1066504. Subscribe to The Stress Less newsletter to receive information on stress and pain management.

Stress - Things to Consider

2009-09-23T19:51:00.000-04:00

As a stress and alternative pain relief infopreneur, I thought it befitting to do a series on stress and pain relief. I won't make each post very long, just long enough for you to digest the points and ponder them over until the next point.

Starting with the topic of stress, there are some things that you really need to know. Some of them you may already know. Others may be an eye opener or even a refresher. In any case, if you are going to be successful at managing your stress levels or meeting stress head on by using some techniques I'll share down the line, then you must first be armed with guess what? INFORMATION. Yippee my favorite word.

Let's get started. What is Stress?

A simplified yet very practical definition is: Stress is physical, chemical, or emotional pressure causing your body or mind to experience tension that may result in disease or illness.

Now that's a pretty serious definition. Think about it for a while. I'll be back in a couple of days to build upon it.

Pain and Stress are brothers

2009-09-17T15:21:00.003-04:00

I started to say that pain and stress are sisters but hey I'm a woman. Why would I equate two such annoying and disturbing conditions with women? Nope. The men can have those titles (sorry fellas).

Anyway, I've been really busy for the last week or so. I've been promoting my beauty brand, Blended Naturals and also attended a beauty tour and blog summit. That's why I haven't had as much time to devote to writing here and dumping my brain with topics on stress and pain.

While I will say that stress has been a close companion this last week or so. It's mainly because I have so much to do with not enough time. I have to evaluate a number of beauty products and brands, write reviews and also work on my search engine optimization for my websites. I am a one woman show so some things have to wait.

What I wanted to give you today is more of a nugget to chew on and think about:

"If you stop to think, pain that is caused from an injury, illness or surgery can result in tremendous levels of stress. Even if all is well in your world, if you are in pain your mind and emotions can be overwhelmed. Stress and pain are brothers!"

Think about that. Mull it over and let me know your thoughts. I'll start writing more in the next week or so. I'd also like to know what topics you would like for me to write about. Share!

Detox Your Mind for Stress Relief

2009-09-11T22:16:00.003-04:00

I'm off the organization kick and on the detox kick now. There are so many ways for you to find stress relief that I am going to share as many as I can find and share them with you.

Today I want to talk about detoxing your mind with aromatherapy for stress relief.

There are ten key therapeutic essential oils beneficial for detoxifying your mind:

Atlas Cedarwood
Chamomile
Eucalyptus
Geranium
Jasmine
Lavender
Lemon
Lime
Rose
Ylang-ylang

These therapeutic essential oils are very potent and can be administered for stress relief in 3 main ways:

Diluted with a carrier oil such as almond oil followed by a full body massage
Added to bath water for a relaxing soak that allows the oils to penetrate your skin, traveling through your bloodstream for natural wellness
Added to steaming hot water for inhalation

In a few days I will talk about another way to help ease stress...Relaxing breathing techniques

The Easiest Way to Organize Your Closet

2009-09-07T20:29:00.009-04:00

Last week I started on this organizing kick to help avoid the stress of disorganization. One of the most stressful encounters can be when you get up in the morning and can't find a thing to wear! That's when you know it's either time to go shopping for a new wardrobe because you've outgrown the old one or maybe you just need to do some good ole closet organizing.

Let's say you have put on a little weight. That doesn't mean everything you have doesn't fit. However, it does mean you need to organize your closet and get rid of some things. Not only clothes either. Maybe your shoes and purses are no longer in fashion. You need to work through those as well.

First, to organize your closet start by working on different things at a time. Some will say you should empty out the entire closet but let's make it easier. Rather than empty it out and make a bigger mess, start with the floor. Pull out all those shoes, boxes, falling bags and whatever else may be hiding amongst the dust bunnies. Go through those items and dump or give away what's no longer fashionable, can't fit or damaged beyond repair.

Second, tackle your closet shelves one at a time. Backtracking a bit, if you don't have them already, pick up some plastic shoe boxes and/or hat boxes to help you organize items such as purses and hats! Yes, and of course other things that you have hidden away up in the top of your closet. You can hang your purses by size smallest first - if you have hooks

Lastly, it's time to go through your clothes. Pair up shirts, blazers, skirts and pants together that match. This way you won't have as much difficulty finding a complete outfit each morning. Another way is to put all the shirts together on one side of the closet, followed by the blazers, then the pants, then the skirts and dresses (assuming you wear them). It's all about your personal choice. Just make sure you give away or throw away anything you can't fit or haven't worn in at least 6 months. You probably won't ever wear them again.

Send clothing that needs to be repaired (if you still fit it), or cleaned to the cleaners and when you pick them up, always take the plastic off. The chemical residue picked up at the cleaners is not good for you to inhale.

Now, I want to hear from anyone else who has organizing tips. Organizing helps avoid stress. Of course, not major stress but hey. Address the things you can control. Don't just leave it up to fate. You'll have plenty of other things that you can't control. 'Toodles and til next time....

Increase Energy and Improve Mood

2009-09-03T12:55:00.003-04:00

A new all natural product that is supposed to increase energy and improve your mood is in pre-launch to be launched this weekend to the public. I came across this information in one of my professional groups on Linked-In.

For 1 week samples will be offered at http://www.StressFreeHomeBusiness.com. It has been reported that over 80% of participants are seeing results the very 1st week and over 95% the second week. I don't have the details on this but since the product is all natural perhaps you'd be interested in checking it out. If you are feeling Tired, Stressed, or Depressed visit http://www.StressFreeHomeBusiness.com today to sign up for the free trial.

For therapeutic stress relief products that are not ingested such as massagers, aromatherapy and alternative pain relievers, visit http://stressreliefbyrv.com

Why Go Green with Eco-Friendly Products?

2009-09-03T10:54:00.001-04:00

Your decisions and actions affect not only yourself, but others. Many people are so focused on what they want and need that they forget the impact these decisions have on other people as well as other things.

Reducing your consumption and making "greener" choices with respect to your personal care, household and other items will not only help you, it will help protect our planet and reduce your negative impact (carbon footprint) on our environment.

Looking for a major source for your eco-friendly products? You have a number of greener eco-friendly choices for yourself and your business:

Organizing Ideas for Your Undergarments

2009-08-31T14:12:00.000-04:00

For some reason I'm stuck on the whole clutter thing. I guess it's because clutter can cause undue stress. There are too many things in the world that cause stress that we can't control. You may as well work on the things you can control. That's why I'm going to continue offering organizing ideas that will help reduce clutter and ultimately your stress levels.

Today's post is especially for the ladies. I want to teach you in 4 simple steps how to organize your undergarments. Sounds fun right?

For starters, let me point out that when I say undergarments, I am referring to it all...your bras, panties, pantyhose, girdles, slips, and SEXY lingerie. Now let's get organized:

If it doesn't fit or is worn out, toss it. Maybe buy some more like the ones in the image (courtesy of Victoria's Secret)
Now, separate your undergarments by type. In other words panties with panties, bras with bras, handcuffs oops not that....all together.
Now fold your bras in half, tucking in the straps. Fold panties and other items tucking in corners and any hooks. We don't want any accidental snags.
Finally, assign each item type a drawer. If you don't have enough drawers then combine two item types that go together in one drawer. For example, add bras and panties to the same drawer or add slips and girdles to the same drawer. Tip: get a plastic divider to put in your drawers to help keep items organized and separate

So, now that we've organized our undergarments, let me think about what else needs organizing to reduce clutter. I'm thinking the junk drawer, closets, desks and you guessed it....pocket books! If you have any organizing ideas, please feel free to share.

Michelle is President of Reviyve LLC, an online stress and alternative pain relief resource. Michelle conducts regular research related to alternative health and has helped many to achieve stress and natural pain relief. Subscribe to Michelle's monthly Stress Less newsletter for stress management and alternative health information.

Getting Rid of Clutter

2009-08-27T14:47:00.000-04:00

Tinted Stacking Drawers from The Container Store

Clutter can be a big cause of stress. When things are out of order and can't be found, your schedule is thrown out of wack, your plans are put on hold and your ability to move from task to task is now delayed. Getting rid of clutter gets your life back on track.

I know when I accumulate clutter I start to feel overwhelmed and that eventually leads to stress! You know how sometimes you know what to do but neglect to do it anyway, then you have a ton of clutter? Well that's the story of my life! At least thus far. If you are a "hoarder" like me then you may be dealing with clutter too.

Getting rid of clutter is however a cycle that you may have to go through over and over before you get it right. You may not ever get it 100% right but getting rid of even 50% of your clutter and working towards clutter control is better than doing nothing at all.

Here are some things I recommend (some I actually do!) to get rid of clutter:

Control clutter daily by addressing your incoming mail. Open, file, shred...immediately!
Storage and more storage: Buy containers, storage boxes, plastic shoe boxes, file boxes..all the storage you need to be able to organize. The Container Store has a ton of neat stuff to help you organize.
Schedule it - Add a monthly date to your calendar (preferably the weekend) when you can go through any clutter you managed to accumulate through out the month. If necessary, make it a weekly appointment
Go through your cabinets on a monthly basis (add that to the schedule) and get rid of old food, supplies etc. Don't forget to clean out your junk drawer of old batteries, screws, nonworking pens, etc.

Finally, give yourself a break. Don't be too hard on yourself if you are a clutter bug. Keep at it and you will find that getting rid of clutter isn't so hard after all.

Michelle is a full time working mother of three. She enjoys doing research related to alternative health and has helped many people to achieve natural pain relief. Subscribe to Michelle's monthly Stress Less newsletter for stress relief and alternative health information.

Know Your Headache

2009-08-24T10:31:00.006-04:00

Headaches are big pain (no pun intended) for many people. There are tension headaches, migraine headaches, and cluster headaches. Many times headaches are the result of stress. However, sometimes there are underlying medical conditions that cause headaches.

Below is an excerpt from an article I read online at the Brigham and Women's Hospital website. It provides a comprehensive overview of what headaches are, the type of headaches, causes of headaches treatment and more:

What is a headache?

A headache is pain or discomfort in the head or face area. Headaches vary greatly in terms of pain location, pain intensity, and how frequently they occur. As a result of this variation, several categories of headache have been created by the International Headache Society (IHS) to more precisely define specific types of headaches.

What aches when you have a headache?

There are several areas in the head that can hurt when you have a headache, including the following:

a network of nerves that extends over the scalp
certain nerves in the face, mouth, and throat
muscles of the head
blood vessels found along the surface and at the base of the brain (these contain delicate nerve fibers)

The bones of the skull and tissues of the brain itself do not hurt because they do not have pain-sensitive nerve fibers. Read More

Michelle Howard Smith is President of Reviyve LLC, a distributor of stress and alternative pain relief products. Subscribe to the Stress Less Newsletter to receive stress management tips, alternative health info and exclusive offers for subscribers only.

Melatonin: A Natural Insomnia Remedy

2009-08-22T00:14:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd give you just one more natural insomnia remedy...just in case you need a little more powerful help.

If you are not sleeping well, consider going to your health food store and picking up some melatonin supplements.

Melatonin is a hormone produced by your body naturally and promotes sleep. If your melatonin levels are off, that may be the reason why you are having difficulty sleeping and experiencing insomnia.

Well, I hope the last week of natural insomnia remedies have helped. I don't want to ever recommend pharmaceutical drugs. It's always best to go the natural route and I'm confident that one of these natural insomnia remedies will help you.

Have A Blessed And Sleepy Evening!

Wondering what this is? click on it

Insomnia Remedies Finally!

2009-08-19T00:03:00.003-04:00

So how are we doing with sleep this week? I hope some of the natural insomnia remedies I've shared are helping. Here are the last few that you can try:

Just before going to bed, try a little reading (I like the Bible...it always puts me to sleep...ok that didn't sound right but I meant it to be right). Turn off the tv and all other distractions. Electronics are stimulating so it's best to keep them out of the bedroom. Ok maybe not the tv but at least computers and video games.
Pray. I don't believe in counting sheep. Those sheep would be dead by the time I fell asleep. Anyway, what better way to fall sound asleep than communing with the Creator of the Universe at the end of your day.
Create a schedule for what time to go to bed and stick to it. I know it's easier said than done but if you stick to your sleep schedule, you will be training your body. Since your body needs approximately 8 hours of sleep (like that will ever happen!) to refuel for the next day, you should aim to get to bed no later than 10pm. Then again that depends on your day schedule. If you work at night, you will have to adjust to make sure you get your 8 hours.

Natural Insomnia Remedies 2 More!

2009-08-16T16:30:00.000-04:00

I hope all you insomnia sufferers out there are getting some sleep after my last two natural insomnia remedies. If not, here are two more you can try:

Make sure your bedroom is the right temperature. If it's too warm then you won't be able to sleep well. It's written somewhere that your thermostat shouldn't be above 70 degrees in order to sleep well at night.
Apply therapeutic grade Valerian essential oil to the soles of your feet. The Valerian root has been used for thousands of years for its calming, grounding, and emotionally balancing influences. (Purchase therapeutic grade oils either retail or wholesale at www.youngliving.org with distributor # 1066504)

Michelle is a full time working mother of three. She enjoys doing research related to alternative health and has helped many people to achieve stress and pain relief. Subscribe to Michelle's monthly Stress Less newsletter

Natural Insomnia Remedies - 2

2009-08-13T18:29:00.000-04:00

Not being able to sleep is really a bummer (for lack of a better word). You can't adequately function when you don't get enough rest. I have quite a few natural insomnia remedies to recommend to those who have insomnia and are having difficulty sleeping. For the sake of not reading your eyes off (since you are probably tired anyway), I'll offer two each day until you know them all. Here we go:

Avoid eating sweets before bedtime. Foods high in carbs can cause your blood sugar to spike and then crash. Having an up and down blood sugar party makes it difficult for you to sleep. If you must snack, do so with a small amount of lean protein and whole grains (ex: a turkey cold cut - without nitrates or nitrites in it, on a whole wheat cracker)
No Caffeine. This is nothing new but deserves to be reinforced. Caffeine can keep you up at night so have your last cup 4 hours ahead of time

Back in a few days with 2 more! Try these and let me know how they work.

Get Out Of Debt Help Advice

2009-08-10T16:33:00.000-04:00

When you are having money problems, not only does your credit suffer so does your peace of mind. I know. I got out of debt twice and stupidly got myself back in it. This caused a lot of tension in my home, especially with me and my husband. The worst part is when you get out of debt and get back in it, it's usually worst than before.

Having too much debt can cause undue stress and it's important to get it under control at the first sign of trouble.

Here's what NOT to do to get out of debt:

Don't close your credit accounts. By all means cut up the cards but don't close the accounts or transfer the debt into one account. This will negatively affect your credit rating and score.
Don't use home equity to pay off debt. You are putting your home at risk and you need to live somewhere while you are getting out of debt and even after you are out of debt.

Here is the number one option I recommend to help you get out of debt if you don't see any other way out and you can't make ends meet (been here done it and now my credit score is in the mid 700s):

Consult a Credit counseling Agency. In many cases, they will set you up on a debt management plan and they can help get your creditors to lower your interest rates or payments. On top of that, you will only have to make one monthly payment that will be distributed amongst all of your creditors.

A word of caution: Before entering an agreement with any credit counseling agency, make sure they are members of the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA) or the National Foundation of Credit Counseling (NFCC). These two organizations regulate and monitor these credit counseling agencies to make sure they operate legally and are not taking advantage of those who are in debt looking for help.
_______________________________________________
Michelle Howard Smith is President of Reviyve LLC, a distributor of stress and alternative pain relief products. Subscribe to the Stress Less Newsletter to receive stress management tips, alternative health info and exclusive offers for subscribers only.

Article Thieves!

2009-08-07T16:40:00.003-04:00

You want to talk about stress, how about the fact that I just discovered that two different people stole original articles that I have written and not given me credit for it!

I contacted both websites and no response so i'm blowing them up right here as well as reporting them. I work too hard writing articles and dumping my brain every day onto paper for people to come along and claim my work.

So here the two lying article thieves have stolen my work and now they are so cowardly they don't even have the decency to reply.

I wrote an article entitled, "STRESS: Is It Your Silent Killer?" and I submitted a copy of it to Ezinearticles (http://ezinearticles.com/?STRESS---Is-it-Your-Silent-Killer?&id=1080550) in March of 2008. The article thief posted it on their blog at burnettconsult.com/stress-is-it-your-silent-killer.htm (and no i didn't create it as a link because why should I help their search engine rankings) word for freaking word! On top of it, he or she has no contact info. on their blog other than a comments form for each post. He/she has not responded to me. The original article is on my site at http://www.stressreliefbyrv.com/stress. You'll notice in the article that I post scriptures in the Bible and everything. I even talk about a situation where I at work and had a difficult time with a co-worker. This person probably doesn't even believe in God!

The other article I wrote, "Understanding Adult Acne and Hormones" was stolen from ezine articles (http://ezinearticles.com/?Understanding-Adult-Acne-and-Hormones&id=2637614) where I am credited as the author but it's posted on kissawayacne.com/2009/07/understanding-adult-acne-and-hormones as if they are the author. The original work (mine) is also on my site at http://www.deadseastorebyrv.com/adult_acne_and_hormones. I talk about how I got adult acne and didn't have it too much as a teen. Notice however that on the original article posted on my site, there is one little line at the very end that does not appear in the ezinearticles version or the thief's copy. It says "I suggest the latter." It's on my site because I'm the author!!!

I guess I shouldn 't be shocked since there are always going to be devious dishonest people in the world but I am. I am so pissed off I can't even begin to express. I have experienced some horrible people talking about me like a dog for the last few days and now this. I don't bother anybody and I keep to myself. Is it too much to ask for people to treat me the way I treat them???

Blogging is a great outlet for me to write but I certainly don't appreciate that all of my writing is being done to be stolen and profited by someone else. However, the Bible says that you will reap what you have sown so for all of the article thieves, back biters, liars and the like I say this: "You will have your day when you have to stand before the God of the universe to give an account for every evil deed and you WILL pay for everything you have done unless you repent.

That's all I have to say. I'm going to try and enjoy my weekend and I hope everyone reading does the same.

Share What You See Get A Free Ebook

2009-08-05T16:28:00.001-04:00

What Do You See In This Image?

Share and the Most Thought Provoking Responder will receive my complimentary new e-book,
"Is Your Home Your Refuge or Is It Making You Sick"

Blue Tansy Therapeutic Essential Oil Blends

2009-08-01T15:30:00.000-04:00

Woo it's been a busy week! I've been running around taking care of business for my two sons and boy has it been a handful. I am looking at new schools for my youngest one and there aren't many choices close to home for a little boy with cerebral palsy so... Then the oldest one has his issues but that's another story. I thought once they turned 21, my job was over NOT!

Anyway, our final essential oil for natural pain relief is Blue Tansy. Over the past few weeks I presented to you Frankincense, Basil, White Fir, Pine, Peppermint and Balsam Fir, each with unique properties to alleviate pain in various parts of the body. Today let's talk about Therapeutic Grade Blue Tansy Essential Oil.

Blue Tansy is a natural anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent and may be used to alleviate a number of painful ailments and diseases from sore muscles to rheumatoid arthritis. Blue Tansy can be used full strength or combined with a carrier oil for natural pain relief to ease aching muscles, musclur sprains, joint pain and even sciatica.

Young Living offers a number of therapeutic grade essential oil blends that contain blue tansy including Australian Blue, Peace & Calming, Release, Sara, and Valor. Here's a little about each:

Australian Blue™ is a powerful, exotic essential oil to with calming and stabilizing effects.

Peace & Calming™ is a gentle fragrance that promotes relaxation and when massaged on the bottoms of the feet can cause a wonderfully peaceful night's sleep.

Release™ may stimulate a sense of harmony and balance within the mind and body

SARA™ has a fragrance that stimulates relaxation and the ability to cope with painful memories

Valor™ helps balance electrical energies within the body and has also been found to help the body self-correct its balance and alignment.

Therapeutic grade essential oils for natural pain relief can be obtained from Young Living (shop with distributor # 1066504).

What Do You See July 29, 2008

2009-07-29T13:56:00.008-04:00

What Do You See?

Do You See What I See?

The Person with The Most Interesting Response will receive a jar of Sooting, Relaxing Dead Sea Bath Salts formulated with Chammomille Essential Oils by Blended Naturals.

No replies and I just put it back in stock and sell it to one of my customers, who is really into achieving stress relief and relaxation.

Deadline: Midnight on August 1st, 2009

What Do You See Wednesday - July 22nd '09

2009-07-22T14:21:00.003-04:00

What Do You See?

I will continue to add these abstract images until I get responses. I think this can be a useful exercise for getting to the root of stress.

Still Giving Away A Free Summer Care E-book for
the First Five to Respond

Frankincense for Arthritis Pain

2009-07-21T10:36:00.006-04:00

Next on our 7 essential oils for pain relief is Frankincense. Frankincense is a well know essential oil referenced in the Bible. Frankincense was given to Christ (the Anointed One) at His birth. Frankincense oil is a very precious oil and was used by the Levitican priesthood and early Christian church as a holy anointing oil.

About Frankincense: Frankincense is a resin extracted from the bark of a boswellia tree which grows without soil out of polished marble rocks. The resin that oozes from trees and plants is either clear or translucent and has a yellowish or brownish substance. Frankincense resin is light yellow, and hardens quickly after being extracted from the tree. The frankincense globules are scraped off and distilled for the essential oil. It's medium strength balsamic aroma is a cross between spicy and fruity with a fresh woodiness to it.

Benefits of Frankincense: Frankincense has proven anti-inflammatory properties and can ease many aches and pains, clear the lungs (ie bronchitis), act as a skin tonic to revive aging skin, heal wounds and sores, reduce skin inflammation, as well as calm and soothe the whole body and mind.

Check out this clip from an article published in Science Daily:

"ScienceDaily (July 31, 2008) — An enriched extract of the 'Indian Frankincense' herb Boswellia serrata has been proven to reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Research published today in BioMed Central's open access journal Arthritis Research & Therapy has shown that patients taking the herbal remedy showed significant improvement in as little as seven days."

This is a testament to the power of natural herbs used for combating sickness and providing alternative pain relief.

Frankincense can be diffused, used in a vaporizer, blended with massage oil, added as a lotion base, and diluted in bath water.

Therapeutic grade Frankincense can be obtained from Young Living (shop with distributor # 1066504). Young Living has chosen a vendor in northern Africa near the Arabian Peninsula as its primary source for frankincense. D. Gary Young has found the frankincense from northern Africa to be the truest form of Biblical frankincense.

Basil for Muscle Pain Relief

2009-07-19T09:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Sunday...We're getting closer to winding up my presentation of the 7 essential oils for pain relief. So far I presented before you Peppermint, Pine, Balsim Fir, and White Fir. Today's featured oil is Basil.
A little bit of history about Basil: It's aroma is strong and spicy and helps to stimulate the sense of smell. Basil was initially most popular in India, Central and South East Asia and the European Union. Basil has made it's entry way in to the US and is popular for cooking with to season food.

Basil is a natural analgesic and therefore provides effective relief from pain for sore muscles. Basil can also be used to ease pain associated with arthritis and is good for soothing painfully uncomfortable insect bites. If you injury yourself or over exert your muscles, you'll discover that therapeutic grade basil essential oil will be one of your most comforting friends.

I have used Basil to cook with but isn't it amazing that the very items available to us from nature, have multiple purposes? Eat it or rub it on...Basil's good for ya!

Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils are available from Young Living with sponsor/distributor # 1066504. Young Living has the highest quality therapeutic essential oils available on the market.

Note: The Use of Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil is a MUST for maximum effectiveness. Basil essential oil is quite gentle so it does not have to be diluted to use. If pregnant or under a doctor's care, consult your physician. Do not use near fire, flame, heat or sparks.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

America's Best Hospitals

2009-07-16T13:33:00.003-04:00

I came across a report conducted by US News featured on Yahoo that I thought was interesting to share about America's Hospitals. There are 174 hospitals that are ranked in one or more specialties, 21 qualified for be listed as one of America's Best Hospitals by earning high scores in at least six specialties.

Hospitals were ranked by giving 2 points if they were at or close to the top in a specialty and they were given 1 point if ranked slightly lower. Here are America's Best Hospitals for 2009-2010:

Rank	Hospital	Points	Specialties
1	Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore	30	15
2	Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.	28	15
3	Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles	26	15
4	Cleveland Clinic	26	13
5	Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston	25	13
6	New York-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell	24	13
7	University of California, San Francisco Medical Center	21	11
8	Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia	19	12
9	Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University, St. Louis	17	12
10	Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston	17	10
10	Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C.	17	10
12	University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle	16	8
13	UPMC-University of Pittsburgh Medical Center	13	8
14	University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers, Ann Arbor	12	8
15	Stanford Hospital and Clinics, Stanford, Calif.	11	7
16	Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville	11	6
17	NYU Medical Center, New York	10	7
17	Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Conn.	10	7
19	Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York	9	7
20	Methodist Hospital, Houston	8	7
21	Ohio State University Hospital, Columbus	7	6

Do You See What I See?

2009-07-14T21:40:00.005-04:00

What Do You See?

Share What You See By 12 midnight July 16th and Receive a Free E-book

Subscribe to my Stress Less Ezine here for Stress & Pain Related Info. and Special Exclusive Discounts on Related Products!

White Fir for Inflammation

2009-07-12T18:42:00.008-04:00

Well, with so much going on, I got a little off track from our Therapeutic Essential Oils for pain. Well, back on track. The 4th Essential Oil on our 7 Essential Oils for pain is White Fir.

Therapeutic Grade White Fir Essential Oil is beneficial for alleviating pain due to inflammation and can also be used in massage to help relieve discomfort associated with exercised muscles. White Fir also has antiseptic properties so it can also inhibit the growth of bacteria.

Application: Dilute by adding 10-12 drops of White Fir with a carrier oil (a vegetable or base oil) such as almond, sunflower or olive oil. You can also dilute with an unscented massage oil and massage the diluted White Fir Essential Oil into affected areas.

Buy Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils from Young Living (www.youngliving.org sponsor/distributor # 1066504). Young Living has the highest quality therapeutic essential oils available on the market.

Note: The Use of Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil is a MUST for maximum effectiveness. However, possible skin sensitivity could occur so should always be diluted with a carrier oil. If pregnant or under a doctor's care, consult your physician. Do not use near fire, flame, heat or sparks.

What Do You See Wednesdays

2009-07-08T13:16:00.006-04:00

I decided to start something new on Wednesdays. While I will continue to offer useful information and other content, I'd like to begin what I'm calling "What Do You See Wednesdays." The plan is to post a photo every Wednesday that I want you to look at carefully and tell me what you see. Everyone will have a different reaction of course because it won't just be a photo of a house or something but it will be an abstract photo. There are no right or wrong answers but I welcome everyone to comment (respectfully) on why you think someone is seeing an image one way vs. the way you may see it. Make sense? Don't worry it will in time.

The purpose of these "What Do You Sees" is to get people to really take a look at their perspectives and how they view things. Some people look at a glass half empty and some half full so to speak. The interesting thing is many people don't even realize if they are focusing on the negative vs. the positive side of life.

Oh and just for humoring me, I'll be offering complimentary information products, e-books etc. for those who respond with a thorough and complete response within 24 hours of the post each week. No junk replies please. They will be disregarded.

Today's complimentary product is an e-book you will find filled with useful information to help you make it through the summer. I will send you the e-book within 24 hours of your reply. Here is your first image:

What Do You See?

Pine Essential Oil for Pain

2009-07-06T10:42:00.006-04:00

I hope you had a happy independence day this weekend. My family visited a vendor fair in NYC for the day and then we had a BBQ on Sunday. It was very relaxing and peaceful which brings me to my next post...

The third essential oil in our "7 Essential oils for Pain Relief" series is therapeutic grade pine essential oil. Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine was one of the first to evaluate the properties of Pine. It has been discovered that Pine is a natural analgesic and a very effective natural remedy for joint pain associated with rheumatism and arthritis.

A testament to the effectiveness of pine for pain relief can be attributed to that of the Swiss. In Switzerland, mattresses are filled with pine needles to help ease pain associated with rheumatism. Oh and how about this. . . Native Americans used pine needles in their mattresses to repel lice and fleas - another benefit of pine.

Pine has a refreshing and invigorating aroma so while you are experiencing its analgesic properties, you can enjoy it's aromatic fragrance. It shares many of the same properties as Eucalyptus globulus essential oil and the action of both oils is enhanced when they are blended.

Purchase Therapeutic Grade Pine amongst other essential oils with distributor #1066504 at Young Living www.youngliving.org.

Alleviate Neck and Back Pain

2009-07-02T12:31:00.004-04:00

Deep Pain Relief

The next targeted alternative to alleviating pain on our list is a proprietary blend of powerful therapeutic grade essential oils called Deep Relief Roll On manufactured by Young Living. Deep Relief is formulated to relieve muscle soreness and tension resulting from injury and fatigue.

My husband periodically suffers from back and shoulder pain due to an old injury. We were given a complimentary bottle of Balsam Firm with one of our past essential oil purchases. Boy, I'm glad we received this. Honestly, it sat in the box for a while because we didn't have any need for it initially. Then my husband pulled a muscle in his neck and shoulder after a battle with the bumper cars at Playland! My 6 foot 2 husband was nearly in tears from the pain. He took an Advil (which of course I was not too happy with since I prefer safer, alternative methods) and still he was in pain. So, I remembered the Balsam Fir and suggested he try it. He was amazed at how well it worked and now I've got him on my side to using alternative pain relievers instead of popping a pharmaceutical drug stuffed with chemicals.

Deep Relief is formulated with the following therapeutic grade essential oils: Balsam fir, peppermint, wintergreen, and copaiba. This essential blend plays an integral part in giving Deep Relief the ability to help ease tight and sore muscles. Deep Relief is available in a portable roll-on applicator, making natural relief available anywhere.

Here's a little more detail on Young Living's Balsam Fir: The oil was recently harvested on Young Living's own Balsam Fir Farm and contains optimal levels of four important constituents: alpha pineane, beta pineane, camphene, and limonene, which gives it many of its soothing characteristics.

Try Deep Relief Roll On (product # 3534) today. Only available at www.youngliving.org with distributor # 1066504.

Discover the Power of Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils today.

* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Peppermint for Headaches

2009-06-29T12:47:00.006-04:00

The last few days have been sad for so many people. The tragic death of Michael Jackson has many people upset including yours truly. While I didn't know him personally (like many of us did) and he has a questionable past, one thing can not be denied. He was a great musician and entertainer and my heart and prayers are extended to his family. Like Janet said, "To us he was a performer but to the Jackson's he was family." Besides, let he who has no sin cast the first stone.

However, it's now time to get back on focus (I'm sure Michael would want us to do that....life must go on). In my last post before Michael's death I started talking about essential oils and how a number of therapeutic grade essential oils have the ability to relieve and ease pain. Today I'm going to share the properties and benefits of using pure therapeutic grade peppermint oil to help alleviate headaches.

Quick Background on Peppeprmint
Peppermint is derived from the Greek name Mintha which means mint (aka Mentha piperita) and is a cross between spearmint and water mint. Peppermint is usually sterile and produces no seeds, only reproducing vegetatively. Peppermint has a strong, clean, fresh, minty aroma and is highly regarded for soothing digestion. Peppermint also has a high menthol content and can be inhaled to boost your mood before a workout*.

Peppermint for Headaches
One of the most astounding properties of peppermint is it's ability to soothe and even eliminate headaches altogether.* I've had much success using therapeutic grade peppermint essential oil to alleviate my headaches. I no longer pop a Tylenol or an Advil, both of which have been discovered to cause liver or kidney damage after repeated use.

Usage
I highly recommend Young Living Therapeutic Grade essential oils because I know they are effective. I use them often. Once obtaining your peppermint essential oil, simply apply one drop of Peppermint oil to your temples, front of forehead and base of the neck. You don't want to over do it because peppermint oil has a very strong aroma. One-two drops to cover those 3 areas is sufficient. I have had so much experience with peppermint essential oil, I'll never use a pharmaceutical drug for a headache again. Not only does the peppermint oil alleviate the headache, it clears your sinuses and eases the sinus pressure.*

To purchase Young Living Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil, please visit www.youngliving.org, sign up to become a wholesale or retail customer with distributor #1066504 and discover like I have, the power of Peppermint Essential Oil to alleviate headaches, sinus pressure and even soothe digestive concerns.*

Peppermint as a powerful essential oil is often diluted before topical application but can be used directly on skin as long as there are no open wounds. As with most essential oils, if you are pregnant or under a doctor's supervision you should consult your doctor before using.

In a few days, I'll share with you the essential oil that is absolutely phenomenal at alleviating neck and back pains. Stay tuned...

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA (however, I've experienced the results personally)

May God Comfort Michael's and Farrah's Families

2009-06-25T19:31:00.001-04:00

I Hope They Are Resting In Peace...

I can't believe both Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett are both dead. I can't believe it. I don't know what to say. I had been having this feeling like someone famous would die soon over the past few days but didn't think it would be Michael Jackson. Of course, he's not immortal and his health failing is probably due to some of the horrible things he's done to his body...but still. I feel for the Jackson family. I just hope both he and Farrah got to know Jesus Christ as their Savior before they breathed their last...

7 Essential Oils for Pain Relief Series

2009-06-24T13:19:00.007-04:00

For the next few posts I'd like to share some very specific therapeutic grade essential oils that are very effective at providing alternative pain relief.

The reason I love essential oils so much is that they are God's gift to humanity with natural healing properties. Pure essential oils serve many purposes but I am especially intrigued with their preventative and therapeutic properties.

I'd like you to stick with me for the next 7 posts as I will do an in depth review of 7 therapeutic grade essential oils (I chose 7 for it is God's number of completion) that have the ability to truly help you with pain relief. You will learn how to relieve pain associated with:

Headaches and Sinus Pressure
Neck and Shoulder Pain
Back Pain
Sciatica
and more!

Stay tuned...

Defeat Stress with Homeostasis

2009-06-18T13:23:00.009-04:00

Below is a short clip from an article I received from the publisher of the Clutter Diet that I thought would be helpful. One way to fight stress is to have a balanced home by preventing clutter. Enjoy:

"Homeostasis is a medical term that refers to the tendency of the human body to seek and maintain balance. What is your house's "HOME-eostasis?" What is that balanced condition of your home to which you would always like to return?

Homeostasis n. [hoh-mee-oh-stay-sis] The tendency of the body to seek and maintain a condition of balance or equilibrium within its internal environment, even when faced with external changes. A simple example of homeostasis is the body's ability to maintain an internal temperature around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, whatever the temperature outside. (definition from The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005.)

Your house's homeostasis results from preventing clutter, reducing the clutter you have to a manageable and acceptable level, and consistently maintaining your home with systems and routines. It's a state of balance and readiness-the kind of feeling you have when you've just straightened up the house for company to come over for dinner. It's a state of satisfaction, pride, and comfort. Homeostasis is your definition of success!"

Click Here for Expert Decluttering Help

Beat the Stress with a Family Beach Vacation

2009-06-15T20:54:00.004-04:00

Summer is just about here and what better way to beat stress than to take a family vacation, specifically one where there's a beach!

For the best family beach vacations, there are a few things to consider based on your lifestyle:

Is the resort kid friendly?
Is it affordable for your budget?
Are there a wide variety of activities available?
What are the dining options in the area?

So, once you have the answers to these questions, you can plan a relaxing stress free family beach beach vacation! Here are some family beach vacation ideas:

The best beaches can be found along the Atlantic and Pacific Coast. Here are a few ideas you may wish to consider for your next family beach vacation.

Florida - This is a prime resort area for family vacations. The weather is great and there are miles of beaches. Not only that, it's affordable and kid friendly. You also have some very close surrounding attractions for when you need a little break from the beach (as if!): Cocoa Beach is an hour away from the Kennedy Space Center and Disney World.

Hawaii - The most fantastic black sand beaches in the US are in Maui and Kauai. Great for the entire family

Myrtle Beach (named the number one choice for beach family vacations in America) - There are many activities for children including: Ripley’s Aquarium, Le Grande Cirque - a famous acrobatics show and Myrtle Waves Water Park. Also, don't forget to check out the NASCAR Speedpark.

The Hamptons - This is a very affordable family beach vacation in East Hampton, New York. While you have to bring your own groceries or eat at a nearby local restaurant, this location is prime for a beach vacation. The location is kept extraordinarily spotless, again, it's affordable and you also have a pool and tennis court at your disposal.

Redondo Beach in Santa Monica Bay - This has a reputation for being the perfect location for family beach vacations. You can enjoy water sports, fishing bicycling, and kayaking among the fine restaurants and shops.

Start Dreaming and Planning That Stress Free Vacation and while you're at it:

Save Almost 80% On Your Vacation - Click here for details!

Discounted Online Shopping Event

2009-06-11T17:09:00.001-04:00

Take Advantage of Exclusive Unadvertised Special Deals
1 week only

Tomorrow begins the start of Online Shopping Mall's Mall Crawl.

Visitors at the mall will shop EXCLUSIVE UNADVERTISED SALES for a limited time only. This is the perfect event for deal seekers, craft & artisan lovers and lovers of one-of-a-kind unique products.

The Mall Crawl starts Friday June 12th and ends Friday June 19th.
Access The Online Mall Here

Here’s just a sampling of the types of stores you’ll find at the mall:

Baby & Children Items

Jewelry

Accessories

Gift Boutiques

Health, Beauty & Wellness

Arts & Crafts

Home Décor

Food & Drink

Kitchen & Bath

Cookware

Bridal & Wedding

More!

Don't miss out on these LIMITED TIME DISCOUNTS.

See you at the Mall & Happy Shopping!
http://onlineshoppingmall.ning.com/

Healthy Living

2009-06-10T12:47:00.002-04:00

Living naturally should be the goal for every human being. Sometimes we need help. With the microwave generation we live in, it's a wonder our body's break down. Convenience food, pollution, and other environmental factors keep our body's from peak performance.

Here are some natural resources that you can access to alleviate some pretty common conditions:

Stress Relief Resource Articles

2009-06-10T11:36:00.005-04:00

When it comes to stress, people approach how they are going to manage it differently. Some people buy stress relief products which can be very effective when you know just what it is that is bothering you. Others may not know how to obtain stress relief so they will more than likely educate themselves to compare the different ways they can manage stress.

Whatever your method for obtaining stress relief, it is beneficial to educate yourself about the types of stress, causes of stress and stress management techniques available.

I put together a pretty thorough Learning Center on my Stress Relief site that I believe you will benefit from. You'll find articles that fall under the following categories:

Stress Management

Stress Information

Aromatherapy

Massage

Relationships and more

Stop by http://www.stressreliefbyrv.com/ and check out the Learning Center. You're sure to find an article that applies to your situation.

Here's to Beating Stress to the Max!

Sensory Stimulation and Developmental Delays

2009-06-07T18:29:00.007-04:00

Every human being is supposed to be born with five senses: sense of touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing. However, when one is born with a developmental delay, the sensory mechanisms can be affected.

I would like to share a short experience with all my readers. I have a little boy who is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. He is significantly developmentally delayed but his therapists have discovered that through sensory touch stimulation, he is calmed and able to relax his muscles. If you know anything about cerebral palsy then you know that the muscles tend to either be very spastic (stiff and rigid) or flaccid (extremely loose). My son suffers from spasticity so for him to receive sensory touch therapy is very beneficial.

If you or someone you know suffers from spastic muscles then they can benefit from sensory touch therapy. Here are a couple techniques that work for my son:

Massaging his limbs with whipped lotion or body cream that has a natural aroma such as that derived from essential oils
Swirling his hands around in mouse or whipped cream and rubbing it along the sides of his face help to stimulate his sense of touch

Having a disability is difficult in and of itself. Doing things to promote sensory stimulation or relaxing of spastic limbs is very beneficial and affects the physical condition as well as the mood of the person. Many individuals afflicted by cerebral palsy know exactly what's going on. The problem is that many times they just have difficult expressing themselves. In the case of my son, he understands most of what I say to him. He just has difficulty articulating himself.

Alternative Pain Relief for Arthritis

2009-06-04T10:42:00.005-04:00

Do You or Does Someone You Know Suffer with Arthritis?
Then you need to be armed with information before determining or continuing your course of pain relief treatment.

Here are some startling facts about Arthritis:

As of 2005, the The National Arthritis Data Workgroup reported that approximately 46 million Americans are afflicted with Rheumatoid arthritis
The average American is at a 13.5% risk of getting arthritis as reported by the CDC (Center for Disease Control)
Joint pain due to arthritis can limit sexual activity. While drugs is an option to alleviate pain, in some cases drugs can reduce sexual desire
More than 60% of arthritis patients are women
The most common side effects for taking medication to alleviate arthritis pain are: bleeding ulcers, upper gastrointestinal problems, mild weakness in the arm and leg muscles, easy skin bruising, blurred vision, mood swings and even death as a complication

While these facts about arthritis are very alarming, there is better news. If you or someone you knows suffers from arthritis, please know there is safe help available. There are alternative pain relief products on the market that can help to ease and in many case completely eliminate your pain. One particular form of alternative pain relief for arthritis that I'd like to address in this post is Magnetic Therapy. Over 300 peer reviewed studies have been conducted by major universities and hospitals around the world. The results were that magnetic therapy is safe and effective.

How Does Magnetic Therapy Work?

A short explanation would be that applying magnetic therapy to an area where there is pain and swelling causes your capillary walls and surrounding tissues to safely relax, increase blood flow and provide more oxygen to the affected area so that inflammation is reduced and your body can heal itself faster. Your pain and swelling are the result of an electromagnetic field being out of balance.

Note that the correct size, strength and placement of the magnets used in magnetic therapy is critical. You can not use just any ole magnet product unless you want to expect any ole results.

Stop suffering with pain, consider the side effects of traditional medicine and give magnetic therapy a try today.

Safe Stress and Pain Relief

2009-05-31T20:57:00.007-04:00

Happy Sunday! A few days ago I left you with the following questions to ponder:

What type of stress am I under?
How do I handle pain?
Do I take medication more than once per week for pain?
Is it really safe for me to take medication for pain?

I hope you took the time to really ponder your answers to these questions. The purpose was not to for me to be deep but to for you to be deep, to get you to look at how you manage pain and stress. I want to show you that you don't have to manage or handle your stress and pain the way the rest of the world does - the common ways that are not even safe for you.
There IS a Safe and Effective Way to Manage Stress and Pain.

The Solution is quite simple and nothing new really. Your Safe Effective way to manage stress and pain lies in Alternative Health Products. See, I told you it was nothing earth shattering. Most of you probably even figured it out before I wrote this post. There are different types of Alternative Health Products but the ones I have found to be effective are Chi Health Products, Magnetic Therapy Products and TDP Lamps.

Magnetic Therapy is a safe, non-invasive method of applying magnetic fields to the body for therapeutic purposes. Magnetic therapy treatment is recommended for the relief of joint and muscle pain, inflammation and stiffness. Magnetic therapy treatment has been shown to help speed up the healing process.

Chi Health Products are alternative health products that the Chinese promote in their health practices. The Chinese believe that sicknesses and infirmities are attributed primarily to imbalances in the chi (vital life functions) of the body.

TDP Lamps focus on providing deep heat which reduces inflammation and facilitates the stimulation of the warmth and comfort of another actual person.

Here is what I'd like to offer my readers. If you are experiencing stress or pain, First I would like for you to try an alternative health or alternative pain relief product. You have 30 days to try one of these products and if you are not completely satisfied, I will take the product back, no questions asked. The only cost you will incur is the cost to have the product shipped to you. You will not even have to pay to ship it back. Isn't that fair? Second, To Help You even further I want to offer you 10% Off Any of the Alternative Health Products available on the site. That's how convinced I am based on my own personal use of the Alternative Pain Relief Products. Just Use Coupon Code STBLGR and 10% will automatically be deducted from your total order. This offer is good Only Until April 10th. Buy Stress Relief and Alternative Pain Relief Products Now

I am Offering a Third Bonus to anyone willing to try one of these alternative health products. After you have used your Alternative Health Product for a while (I don't anticipate you returning it), I would love it if you would write and share your story. As a matter of fact, my partner has an international radio show and I will arrange for you to share your story live on the radio. This could be free press for your business as well, if you have one.

Shop for Alternative Health Products Here

Have A Stress Free, Pain Free Awesome Day!
Michelle
email: info@stressreliefbyrv.com

Your Stress and Your Pain - Closely Related

2009-05-29T11:25:00.006-04:00

Did you know that Stress and Pain are so closely related they can be likened unto twin brothers (After all, females can't possibly be associated with pain or stress) Behind every cause of pain is a form of stress. Not convinced? Let me prove it to you.

Stressful Scenario #1

Your boss told you if you were late for work one more time, you'd be docked for pay. Of course your alarm clock didn't go off like you told it too (stupid clock) and you are now running to catch your bus. Running to the catch the bus down the hill you lose footing, fall and fracture your ankle. You are now in excruciating pain and find out after a 3 hour wait in the emergency room, that you have a stress fracture. The stress of putting pressure on your foot made your ankle give way and your bones couldn't handle it. You were initially under pressure (stress) to catch that bus so you wouldn't be late for work. You started off stress (slight pressure to be on time) and you ended up with more stress - pressure added to your flesh causing pain, more stress. OK, so maybe this scenario is a bit glum and extreme (entirely possible though)

How about a more common scenario:

You've been at work all day staring at a computer screen and you are now experiencing neck or back pain. Sitting in one position trying to accomplish many tasks and do a good job is now reflecting signs in your physical body. While a neck ache may not be as severe as a franctured bone, the reason the neck is hurting in the first place is because of stress applied to the muscles (sitting in one place for an extended period of time)

So, now that you see how closely stress and pain are related, what's the first thing you do when you are in pain? You seek some sort of relief right? Do you take a pill to make the pain go away? What if I told you there's a safer way to obtain stress relief? Hmm, well you are going to have to read this Sunday's post to find out the answer to that. I'm not trying to make you sweat here. I just want you to take some time to absorb what I just told you. Take a couple of days to examine your life and answer these 4 questions:

What type of stress am I under?
How do I handle pain?
Do I take medication more than once per week for pain?
Is it really safe for me to take medication for pain?

I'll be back in a couple of days to help you out with some of those answers. Until then....

Stress Less & Be Blessed

Honoring on Memorial Day

2009-05-25T10:47:00.005-04:00

Today is Memorial Day, the day we honor those who have lost their lives serving our country in military service. It's a beautiful day here in New York, a perfect day for a parade.

While some may find this day to be a sad day due to the loss of a loved one who served in Iraq or other war, be encouraged. Your loved one provided a priceless service to this nation. Because of their sacrifice, many people have the freedom to live peaceful lives.

I want to say that it does not matter if the person lost their life after one year or ten years of service, this nation would not be as fruitful as it has been. In spite of the recession, in spite of the horrific things that go on day to day, the U.S. of A. is still the greatest country on the planet. Ok, some may not agree. That's just my humble opinion. Of course, there are other great nations but since I'm in the USA and I benefit from what goes on in this nation more than others, that's my vote! I don't like everything that goes on here but in spite of it, I can walk around a free black woman.

Thank God for our Service Men and Women

Stress Relief for Father's Day

2009-05-20T16:06:00.010-04:00

This father's day, why not give stress or pain relief as a father's day gift? Fathers are often overlooked on father's day for various reasons. Mother's day is always the big parent day of the year but it's time to show some appreciation to dads even if it's just to thank them for contributing their....you know.....to life.

You will find a great alternative pain relief or massage gift for dad at great prices at http://www.stressreliefbyrv.com. There, you'll find a unique assortment of father's day gifts, that are not available or are hard to find in stores. Use Discount Code DADDYO thru June 12th and Save 10%.

Fathers that are up in age or experiencing physical problems that cause pain will enjoy and be thankful for stress relief or alternative pain relief items such as Joint Heating Pads, Chi Suction Cupping Sets, and Magnetic Back Support Pads. Give dad a Snore Stopper for father's day and mom (or his significant other) will thank you!

Pets feel Stress Too

2009-05-18T18:36:00.003-04:00

If you have a cat or a dog, you know how much a part of the family these little characters can be. I used to have a dog but now I have a cat. I've had 3 cats and 2 dogs in my life. One cat is still liveing but the others are deceased. It's very difficult to watch your pet experience any kind of stress or pain.

While animals don't experience the same type of stress that humans do, they certainly do experience stress from various types of pain such as from an illness, accident or operation. Dogs are so in tuned with people that some people actually treat them better than they do their family members. Dogs are loyal for the most part and as owners, we need to take care of them the best that we can.

When it comes to pain, just like us humans, we need to be careful how we treat that pain. Medication is sometimes necesary for certain health conditions but as far as easing that pain, there is safe alternative pain relief.....Magnetic Therapy for Pets.

Magnetic Therapy products for pets provides safe alternative pain relief and effectively eases discomfort. Magnetic therapy pads and wraps can be used on aching body parts of dogs and cats just as they can be used on humans. As your pet gets older, he or she may experience arthritis. Applying a Magnetic Comfort Wrap or Magnetic Pad can be very effective easing pain with no side effects.

Consider a Magnetic Pet Bed constructed of genuine shearling for your dog to provide the little fella with supreme orthopaedic and therapeutic comfort. Based on the size of your dog or your cat, you can get the magnetic pet bed that's just the right size.

Choosing no to Stress

2009-05-13T21:03:00.003-04:00

When you don't know what to do, what do you do? When you don't have wisdom what do you do? Do you stress and worry? I had 4 days of challenging circumstances and while they were very stressful and I found myself on the brink of crying because I didn't know what to do, my husband made me realize that I needed to collect myself and realize that stressing out over my circumstances was not helping and certainly didn't change anything.

My car's transmission imploded after 10 years. It was such a personal experience for me because that was my first car and we have been places together. This car knows things that I've done that nobody else does! I cried because I had to say goodbye. At the end of it all, I didn't know what to do but after some of God's favor and direction, I chose not to stress. Walking in a peaceful frame of mind is a choice.

Choose not to stress when you don't know what to do. Look to God for wisdom and favor and He'll lead you and show you what to do when you don't know what to do.

Be Blessed,
Michelle

Ankle Stress Fractures

2009-05-07T16:05:00.008-04:00

Did you know that your ankles and feet have a high risk of stress fractures if any of the following conditions applies?:

You play high impact sports such as basketball, soccer, tennis
You run track
You have decreased bone mass due to hormonal imbalances
You are a dancer
You had a previous ankle injury

Stress fractures are a small fracture that occur in the bone as a result of your muscles lacking the ability to absorb the shock from a high impact.

Some symptoms that indicate that you may have an ankle stress fracture are:

General, unexplained swelling throughout the foot and ankle

Difficulty walking on the foot/ankle without feeling pain

Pain, bruising or a popping sensation in the ankle directly after an injury

Feeling like the ankle is dislocated

If you have a stress fracture or are at risk of getting one, then you would greatly benefit from wearing some form of ankle support that has the ability to minimize swelling and pain. The only effective ankle support products on the market that accomplish all of this is a Magnetic Ankle Support Brace or a Magnetic Therapy Ankle Brace. The Magnetic Ankle Support Brace eases pain from moderate levels of pain and inflammation in the ankles resulting from Arthritis, sprains and strains. It provides optimal comfort, support and excellent shock absorption. The Magnetic Therapy Ankle Brace provides the most effective relief for higher levels of ankle pain and swelling resulting from ankle sprains, fractures, tendinitis and arthritis. The former is protective and preventative. The latter mentioned brace is protective and therapeutic.

Magnetic Ankle Support Brace Magnetic Therapy Ankle Brace

Stress Relief Resources

2009-05-03T19:42:00.005-04:00

People are experiencing loads of stress like never before. We live in a complicated society with complicated problems. There are so many issues going on that people don't seem to know where to turn to.

I have a number of stress relief resources that I assembled and am constantly working on that I believe is quite helpful for individuals experiencing any form of stress: Mental, Physical and Spiritual. If you are armed with information, you are more successful at treating your problems. Here are some stress relief resources at your disposal:

Learning Center
Alternative Pain Relief Products
Magnetic Therapy
Monthly Stress Less Ezine
Complimentary Healthy Heart E-Course
Complimentary article with any Stress Relief or Pain Relief Product Purchase: Effective Steps to Manage Anxiety
This Blog which keeps you updated on a variety of state of the art products and solutions to manage stress

If you would like to see more or specific stress relief resources made available, please contact me. I love helping people and providing people with helpful information.

Healthy Heart E-Course

2009-04-30T19:21:00.005-04:00

I was recently thinking of ways to offer my customers and website visitors informative content relating to stress relief and to help combat stress. That's when I decided to actually take it a step further and not only provide valuable stress relief information but provide really valuable stress relief information AND information to improve one's health.

I'm proud to introduce you to my new Healthy Heart E-course. This e-course consists of 5 days of solid content that I have researched and compiled together. The Healthy Heart E-course is going to be one of many e-courses I offer to help people live healthier, more productive lives with less stress. In the case of the Healthy Heart E-course, less stress on the body, specifically the heart. Here's what is covered in the Healthy Heart E-course:

* How to Create Heart Friendly Health Habits
* Heart friendly foods for a healthy heart
* Foods to avoid to maintain a healthy heart
* How to Raise Your HDLs
* Reduce your life stress to protect your heart
* Healthy Heart Recipes!

The Healthy Heart E-course is complimentary for all who choose to subscribe. It's my way of providing my customers and visitors with vital information. Some may be wondering why I'm offering the information for free if it's so vital. The answer is simple and straight forward. This e-course is helpful for it's subscribers but it's also helpful for me to establish my expertise in the area of stress relief. I have no hidden agenda. There it is laid out on the table. Not only that, but at the the end of the Healthy Heart E-course I am offering an e-book at a nominal charge which compiles the information from the e-book in one place AND also offers additional information such as additional healthy heart resources, a host of healthy heart recipes and a special audio message.

There are good things in life that are for free so subscribe to the5 day Healthy Heart E-course today.

Advertise Your Blog for Free!

2009-04-25T21:45:00.008-04:00

I came across a great way to earn a little extra "cheddar" for advertising on your blog. Of course, while making money off your blog is a good thing, it is still better to provide your readers with useful content that they can actually benefit from.

So, while I am a little off topic for my blog right now, I wanted to get the word out about Blogsvertise. Blogsvertise is a resource for you to advertise products and services on your blog as well as promote your website. After setting up your account, the process is simple and laid out. You are sent via email a website url along with a brief note about it. All you have to do is mention the website in your blog and provide at least 3 links to the website in your blog entry. That's it. Of course, your blog entry must be permanent. No funny business. You don't have to endorse any products or services. All you have to do is give it a little buzz, meaning talk about it.

Did I mention you can also earn income from your blog's journal entry? All you need to earn money after blogging, is to have a PayPal account. Now, I know you are all wondering how much you will be paid to do this. Well, currently Blogsvertise is paying $4 - $25 per entry for new accounts and based on the task assigned. You must complete the task, submit it to Blogsvertise for approval and once approved, you'll be paid for your blogging. To read more about the program, visit Blogsvertise's FAQ Page.

Register with Blogsvertise today and start making money on your blog!

Breathing Meditation

2009-04-25T16:33:00.003-04:00

Every day of our lives we experience some form of stress, and at different levels. You could be driving home from work and get stuck in traffic, thereby changing your plans. That can cause stress.

Sometimes, we have so much to do and so many responsibilities that we forget to slow down and take care of ourselves. We often neglect ourselves for others which can also cause stress.

Breathing meditation has immeasurable benefits, and is widely used to relieve the daily stress we face. Breathing meditation is an effective way to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve the immune system. Breathing meditation has also been used to help people break bad habits such as smoking.

Meditation promotes an inner balance and calms the mind and the body. Once you are relaxed, focus on your breathing and slow it down to the point where you are in a deep meditative state. After a short period of breathing meditation, you feel renewed and the anxiety and stress is either reduced or eliminated. Note that it will take a few sessions to get the technique just right, but it is worth the effort to work towards obtaining significant stress relief on the days when you are being overwhelmed by the many responsibilities of your life.

In order for breathing meditation to be effective, it requires you to engage in this practice on a daily basis. The more you practice breathing meditation, the better you will become at relaxing and calming your mind. You can do this breathing exercise at home, at work, or while traveling. All you need is a quiet place. While traveling, you can put on ear phones to block out noise.

No matter what you are doing during the course of the day, take ten minutes to quiet your mind in order to relieve whatever stress or anxiety you are experiencing. Just as you take care of others’ needs, it is just as important to concentrate on your own well being. Give breathing meditation a try.

Improving Sleep Reduces Stress

2009-04-23T16:08:00.007-04:00

Did you know that when you don't get adequate sleep, your body and your emotions are not in the best shape to fend off stress?

Two channels that robs people of restful sleep is insomnia and snoring. Insomnia is a big problem for many people. It can caused by many factors such as physical pain (ex: headaches, arthritis), breathing problems, menopause, substance abuse, worrying....the list goes on. Snoring can be caused by a variety of factors as well but the main reason is poor muscle tone in the tongue and throat which causes airway problems leading to snoring.

Both insomnia and snoring can cause health problems. Sleep deprivation as a result of insomnia decreases your ability to function throughout your day and insomnia can also lead to memory loss and other mental problems. Snoring is so serious that if left unchecked, can actually cause heart problems and strokes.

I discovered two state of the art devices that each treat insomnia and snoring holistically without any side effects, thereby providing you with the help you need to reduce stress caused by these conditions:

Chi Dream Sleep Aid: This device has many benefits and is quite effective for insomnia:

* Portable & great to take on vacation
* Vibrating Micro Massage on the Wrist
* Improved Circulation

This Sleep Aid contains a vibrating motor that provides a comfortable micro massage that helps to improve circulation thereby reducing stress. The vibrating pulse provide acupuncture pressure points to improve circulation and invoke sleep.

Chi Snore Stopper: This revolutionary device reduces the frequency and level of snoring

The snore stopper detects snoring, and then a gentle and safe 4-5 second electrical pulse will be sent automatically to stimulate nerves on the skin WITHOUT waking you up. The brain receives a signal, sensing this nerve stimulation and you subconsciously change your posture of sleep. The result is a reduction in snoring - Results in 1-2 weeks with daily use.

Don't allow Insomnia, Snoring or any other speed problems cause you stress.

Stress Relief Learning Center

2009-04-19T20:12:00.004-04:00

I was pondering what I would make my next entry about in this blog when I decided that it would be a good idea to provide my readers with a list of resources that provide practical information about stress and stress management.

I just updated my Stress Relief site with a new Learning Center that provides quality, original information on the subject of stress and it's effects. You will find articles such as:

Stress Defined
Dating Peer Pressure
Financial Stress
Stress At Work
Normalcy, A Disability?
and much more!

Please visit the site to read some of this information. It doesn't matter if you are a parent, single, a teenager, business owner or other working professional. You will find something that interests you and more than likely answers some questions you may have about stress and ways to manage stress.

You will also find a very unique and rich line of stress relief and alternative pain relief products.

Here's to Stress Free Living...

Oxidative Stress

2009-04-10T11:15:00.003-04:00

Oxidative Stress is not something that many people know about. While oxidation is a part of our body’s normal process - combining elements of oxygen, which cause free radicals to produce. The problem with free radicals is they destroy the healthy cells of the body. This is why it's important to consume antioxidants day.

I wrote an article about oxidative stress that I would recommend people read because it goes into further detail.

I have seriously been eating poorly lately so I know my body is under severe oxidative stress. As a result, I've decided to go on a 5 Day Nutritive Cleanse (products are from Young Living) which will cleanse my body of toxins and remove the cravings for bad food. I started the fast today and I'm detailing my experiences while on the fast on my Fresh Radiant Skin blog.

I suggest that anyone who eats poorly do a cleanse quarterly. Not only do I suggest that, the experts do as well. The 5 Day cleanse will take care of the oxidative stress my body has been under. Part of the cleanse is to consume NingXa Red a super antioxidant drink along with therapeutic grade essential oils and NingXa Wolfberries which are high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Fight oxidative stress today ad restore a healthier you.

For the Love of Peppermint!

2009-04-06T18:11:00.006-04:00

I never thought I’d be writing about loving peppermint. The candies always reminded me of old people. When I was younger my grandmothers always had peppermints on hand in church for when they got dry throat and started coughing LOL.

Ok all jokes aside I was introduced to Young Living Therapeutic Grade Peppermint Essential Oil about a week or so ago. Actually I was introduced to an array of oils manufactured by Young Living but I want to share my experience with each oil/product in a different post so as not to confuse anyone. Also, just a note that Therapeutic Grade is very pure and unlike what you find in the pharmacies or health food stores. That stuff is water compared to what I'm about to share.

I received my order of Peppermint Essential Oil on Saturday (April 4, 2009) and I couldn’t wait to use it because I have been experiencing seasonal allergies with tons of coughing, congestion and I even lost my sense of taste/smell for a couple of days. I will keep it short and sweet and straight to the point. Therapeutic Grade Peppermint Essential Oil is some POWERFUL stuff! Just one drop in the palm of the hand and inhaled was enough to pop my lungs wide open. The chest congestion I had been experiencing was significantly reduced with just one inhalation. Then to top that off, the Essential Oils Guide Book says that Peppermint Essential Oil can be used for sinus congestion. So, as per the instructions I applied one drop to my temples, forehead and back of my neck. What an amazing experience. Not only was I able to breathe much clearer, I slept better. It's as if my head was surround by a cool aura. I also used a drop of peppermint on the tip of my tongue. One drop on Saturday, One drop on Sunday and by Sunday night I completely had my sense of taste back!

The difference with the peppermint candies from my grandma’s days and this therapeutic grade essential oil of peppermint is dramatic. It’s not so much a sweet scent as it is a pure crisp freshness. I’ll not leave home without my peppermint!

If you are interested in experiencing the power of “For the Love of Peppermint” (sorry but I’m renaming it to this for personal reasons!), you can pick up Therapeutic Grade Peppermint Essential Oil at Young Living. You’ll need to subscribe to purchase with a distributor #. You can use distributor # 1066504. I hope you enjoy and benefit from it as much as I do.

Chi Health Products

2009-04-05T12:07:00.009-04:00

For a few days I side tracked from a previous post which stated I would introduce the category and products available on Reviyve's Natural Stress Relief site. I already touched a bit on Magnet Therapy, Massage and Aromatherapy. While I am going to return to talking about our aromatherapy products, therapeutic essential oils and how they are beneficial, today I want to introduce you to our Chi Health Products.

Chi is short for and stands for Chinese "vital energy" so these products are basically alternative health products that the Chinese promote in their health practices. Just to give you a bit of background about traditional Chinese medicine - the Chinese believe that sicknesses and infirmities are attributed primarily to imbalances in the chi (vital life functions) of the body. Most people have heard of acupuncture which is a technique that helps to alleviate pain. The Chinese believe that the technique is actually restoring an imbalance which leads to the alleviation of pain.

While it is not determined that Chi Health Products are re-balancing specific imbalances, it is however determined that Chi Health Products are quite effective for alleviating pain and various other conditions in a safe manner.

At Reviyve's Natural Stress Relief Alternatives website, you will find a number of Chi Health Products that help to alleviate joint pain, neck pain and even help for sleep disorders.

Chi Knee & Joint Heat Pad:

The Chi Knee & Joint Heating Pad is portable and easy to use. There are no wires. It contains infrared technology and can be microwaved for fast heating. We also carry the Chi Heating Belt to treat larger areas such as the shoulders

BENEFITS: Helps to loosen sore muscles by heating up the affected areas. The result is alleviated stress and tension

Chi Alternative Neck Pain Relief - Neck Traction Device:
This is quite a nifty device and it's so safe because you have control over how much pressure to apply. It comes in a basic design. The image to your left is the Pro II and is excellent for relieving neck pain by gently stretching the muscles and joints.

BENEFITS: Loosens tight muscles, prevents bad posture, helps ease pain from degenerative discs and joints, alleviates tension headaches.

Chi Dream Sleep Aid:
This chi health product is unique in that it is one of few that can help improve your sleep without the dangerous side effects of medication. The Chi Dream Sleep Aid functions according to the priciples behind acupuncture. It contains a vibrating motor that provides a pulse to the acupuncture pressure points on the wrist.

BENEFITS: Improved circulation, Reduced Stress, Better Sleep

Chi Snore Stopper:
This is another portable chi health product like the Chi Dream Sleep Aid. It contains a biosensor that sends a safe electrical pulse to the wrist, thereby stimulating the nerves on the skin WITHOUT waking you up. The brain receives a signal, and you subconsciously change your posture of sleep.

BENEFITS: Improves quality of sleep, Reduces your risks of health problems such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and fatigue - all potential problems from snoring

Chi Spa Aromatherapy Diffuser:
This diffuser is special because it is a state of the art, multifunctional diffuser. It not only diffuses essential oils, it also functions as a humidifier, an atomizer, AND an air purifier!

BENEFITS: Helps improve your respiratory system by improving your air quality, provides fresh, oxygenated air

So there you have it. The Chi Health Products available at www.stressreliefbyrv.com. We also carry Chinese Cupping Sets but we have those categorized under our Personal Massage category which I will introduce you to in a few days.

Have a Stress Free Day!

Massage for Alternative Care

2009-03-31T11:03:00.005-04:00

The art of massage has been around for many years. When you think about getting a massage, the first thought that comes to mind is the relaxation of sore or tight muscles. While that is a great benefit of massage, there are other benefits.

Additional benefits of massage is the permeation of nutritional ingredients into the skin to tighten & firm the skin and to release harmful toxins from the body which can results in few breakouts on the skin.

Some months ago I stumbled upon a very innovative product called the Fyola Facial Massager. The Fyola Facial Massager is an ultrasonic device with 6 modes to promote cleansing, moisturizing, nutrition, lifting, whitening, wrinkle care and massaging of the skin. Fyola gives you a non-surgical face lift. You can now save money on expensive facial massages at spas with this innovative facial massager.

The Fyola Facial Massager boasts the following:

• Reduction of Acne
• Tightening & Firming of the skin
• Lightening of Age Spots
• Cuticle Removing
• Cuticle Removing
• Removal of "eye-sack" and "black eye rim"
• Accelerate blood and lymph circulation
• Disolving of fat (accomplished by the ultrasound heat)

I have found that the Fyola massager retails online from as low as $279 (at www.stressreliefbyrv.com) to as high as $400.

Essential Oils

2009-03-29T22:00:00.005-04:00

Last Friday I attended an Aromatherapy party. Now, I always knew that essential oils had the ability to relax you and even had some health benefits but I didn't know just how much essential oils promote health and wellness.

So, at the party we sampled a variety of Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils by Young Living. I can not even describe the potency of these oils. All I can say is I walked in all congested in my nose and chest and after inhaling Peppermint Essential Oil, I was completed cleared. My feet were also very swollen (from my foot surgery in November - takes up to a year to totally heal). I had various therapeutic grade essential oils rubbed into the bottom of my feet and my calves. By the end of the night I felt invigorated and I was walking much better.

Ok, so here's my learnings about the essential oils I sampled:

Essential oils can be applied behind the ears and on the bottom of the feet to enhance and promote over all wellness. The various essential oils have their very specific benefits
Peppermint Essential Oil & Frankincense Essential Oil are anti-inflammatory agents
Lavender Essential Oil is good for treating eczema, reducing cholesterol, skin issues, allergies and more
Thieves is a proprietary blend of Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils by Young Living that is composed of the very natural ingredients that French thieves put all over their body to avoid getting the plague when they went to rob the graves of individuals that had it. They have been proven to fight airborne diseases
Lavender, Cedarwood, Rosemary can be applied to the scalp to help the hair grow
Frankincense Essential Oil is a cancer fighter

Now there is much more that I learned that space won't permit me to type here. I'd be writing a book. Of course, the US FDA requires me to say that none of these statements have been proven by the FDA. While they have not proven it, many many many people have experienced the very benefits that are supposedly unproven. I'll just say this. I was so impressed from the application of the essential oils that I purchased an Every Day Essential Oils Kit which consists of 5ml each of Lavender, Peppermint, Lemon, Thieves, Frankincense, Valor, PanAway, Peace & Calming, and Purification Essential Oils and Essential Oils Blends. I can't wait to begin using them on a regular basis, especially the Lavender (Note: my son has epilepsy and Lavender and Frankincense are noted for treating seizures holistically with much success)

I'm also proud to be a new distributor of Young Living Therapeutic Grade essential oils. If you are interested in learning more about the wonderful health benefits derived from using therapeutic grade essential oils, visit www.youngliving.us. Should you decide to become a distributor or order some of the products, you can order on the site as a customer or preferred customer. You'll need a sponsor to do so. My sponsor/distributor number is 1066504. I'm proud to be introducing anyone who is readiing this to Young Living.

To Order Young Living Essential Oils without signing up for anything, you will find a selection of Young Living Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils at http://www.stressreliefbyrv.com/products/aromatherapy

You will not be disappointed. I know I'm not. Here's to your health and mine......naturally