When You Want to Stop Smoking...

It seems like nearly everyone who smokes wishes they didn't, but how to quit?

There's a prescription drug called Chantix that many say is the cure. But, prescription drugs come with side-effects, and some of them are pretty awful.

I read about one man who went into such a deep depression that nothing seemed to help. He went to emergency rooms and mental health clinics, but to no avail. His doctor finally put him on an anti-depressant medication, but it wasn't really helping either. This man, who had been happy to quit smoking at last, told his daughter that he didn't think he would ever be happy again.

His doctor didn't want to believe that the prescription caused the depression, but the side-effects are listed for all to see. They include depression, thoughts of suicide, and bizarre behavior. That’s while you’re taking it – and withdrawal symptoms can be just as bad.

The "bizarre behavior" seems to include violence. I've read reports of people becoming extremely violent, even with those they dearly love. This effect is intensified by alcohol, so if you take the drug, beware of drinking.

So what is a better, safer way to quit?

FeelBach! offers a Bach flower essences formula called Quit Smoking.

While nicotine is physically addictive, behaviors can be emotionally addictive.
As a result, strong ties to the past and an image of "who you are" can render prescription remedies useless. If you really want to quit, Quit Smoking will balance your system and help you overcome both the chemical and the emotional sides of addiction.

Anti-stress Cucumber Steam Treatment

We all know that Feel5ive will relieve stress and help us stay on an even keel. But what if you want an activity you can do that will help you focus on unwinding and letting go while it soothes you?

Try a cucumber steam treatment.

Cut up a whole cucumber and put it in a pot of boiling water. Tests have shown this to be effective in reducing anxiety levels in new mothers, and in college students during exam time. And it carries a bonus: The vitamins and minerals from the cucumber steam will give your face a skin-smoothing, beautifying treatment at the same time.

It turns out that cucumber has quite a few more uses than just adding taste to a salad or sandwich, and this is one of them. It's also useful as a soothing treatment for tired eyes, a breath mint, and as a way to avoid a hangover after a night of over indulgence.

For your eyes, cut a couple of slices and place over your eyes while you relax and breathe deeply for a few minutes. As a breath mint, cut a slice and use your tongue to hold it on the roof of your mouth for about 30 seconds, and for hangover avoidance, eat several slices before going to bed.

We all know that cucumbers are low in calories, so are a good snack food for those trying to avoid weight gain. But did you know that they contain most of the vitamins you need every day? A cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

Because cucumbers contain B vitamins and carbohydrates, they can be a quick pick-me-up that lasts for hours and will help you avoid the temptation of calorie-laden sodas or candy bars.

Do You Get Enough Sleep? Do Your Children?

The hours we spend sleeping are vital to our well being... this is when our bodies can turn their attention away from activity and work on repairing themselves.

In kids, sleep is when hormones that help them grow are released and when tissues not only repair themselves, but grow. Without sufficient sleep time, they can suffer serious long term damage.

Studies now show that kids between 5 and 12 years of age need 11 hours of sleep each night and teens need 8 1/2 to 9 hours.

Parents are right to be concerned about kids not getting sufficient rest, but wrong when they think that as adults they don't need to pay attention to their own sleep patterns.

The average adult needs about about 8 hours – and we should take it, no matter how many tasks and obligations demand our time. Our bodies also need time to repair, and without adequate rest, we aren't very efficient at taking care of all those obligations that keep us awake.

But it isn't always demands on our time that rob us of sleep. Sometimes it's our minds and emotions that keep us awake long after we've turned out the lights.

Because this is so common, Feel Bach! has created 4 different Sweet Dreams blends to help you break the "sleepless" pattern and begin getting the rest you need.

Because they're Bach Flower Essences, they won't leave you drugged and groggy in the morning - and you need have no fear of side effects. Unlike pharmaceuticals, they won't cause you to get up and go driving while you're asleep!

Sweet Dreams #1 is for people who can't let go of the day, but instead lay in bed thinking about unfinished work and what needs to be done tomorrow. This one can turn into a chronic habit that's difficult to break - I know, because I did this for years.

In fact, during an especially busy period of my life, I actually stored things away to think about after I went to bed, because I just didn't have enough quiet time earlier in the day. Talk about a wrong approach!

Sweet Dreams #2 is for those who can't relax enough to ignore the little noises of the night, or when you're worried about waking up on time in the morning. The very night when you should get plenty of rest to be sharp for a morning presentation turns into the night when you lay awake until an hour before the alarm rings.

Sweet Dreams #3 helps calm the fears that keep you awake. If you lay there and worry about something that may happen, or re-live something that did happen, this is the blend for you.

Sweet Dreams #4 is for folks who fall asleep easily, but then awaken far earlier than necessary.

If you're not getting enough sleep because you simply aren't going to bed when you should, change your habits. Your health is at stake and it's worth more than that TV show or last chapter of a good book.

If your lack of rest is because you agree to do too many things, begin saying "No" when it means you'll lose out on sleep.

But if the problem is that you just "can't sleep," try one of the Sweet Dreams formulas.

You'll feel better physically and mentally - and you'll probably accomplish more every day as well.

Do You Suffer From Eye Strain?

Working at a computer all day, working in a dusty environment, or living with stress can all put plenty of undue stress on your eyes, but there are natural, healthy ways to relieve the strain and let you see clearly again.

If you have the luxury of coming home to relax a few moments before getting on with evening chores, try a cucumber slice on each eye for soothing, immediate relief. Then, to remove the debris that may be causing irritation, wash your eyes with an ounce of distilled water containing one drop of pure lemon juice.

To protect your eyes and prevent the strain, try adding colorful fruits and vegetables to your diet. The reds, oranges, and yellows provide Lutein & other carotenoids, and protect the eyes from sun and age damage.

The Red and pink fruits and vegetables contain a range of carotenoids and vitamin C, and protect eyes from free radicals.

Dark green vegetables provide potent antioxidants and prevent age-related damage of the eye.

The dark blues and purples contain Anthocyanin, which protects the eyes from cancer.

While you can buy supplements for eye health at your health food store, the vitamins and minerals in colorful fruits and vegetables will add to your whole body health - and they taste good.

But what if all your vision problems come down to stress? You can either choose a bottle of Feel5ive for generalized stress, or you can dig deeper to find the cause and treat it with one or more of the 38 Bach Flower Remedies.

Start with the guide on the FeelBach! website, then go to www.bachflower.org to learn more about the Bach Flower Essences you've chosen.