When we find ourselves in times of change, our bodies and our nervous systems go on high alert. We feel unsettled, our digestion can become disturbed. We can loose sleep and find our minds perseverating on ‘worst case scenario's’ with deep concerns over the future and regrets over the past. All of this strains our immune systems and we can become ill. These situations leave us feeling vulnerable and ill-equipped to face the challenges that well may lay ahead. So, it is in our best interest to take steps to avoid a full downward spiral and reverse that trend. I’d like to share a few tools that I’ve learned that help me to calm my body and my nervous system. Enlisting some or all of these can enable us to better approach whatever may lay ahead.
First, we’ve all heard this one, because it really helps and that is to breathe. Breathing while counting to ten before responding is one variation that helps us to react more calmly. Meditator's often inhale to a count of four and exhale to a count of eight. A slower exhalation shifts our nervous system to a calmer state. My favorite, I learned from the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hahn, who was exiled from unthinkable conditions in his home country of Vietnam and established a monastery in France. He taught a wonderfully calming open-eyed meditation where we say either to ourself or aloud, “Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile.” Just the act of smiling, engaging those particular muscles on our face, helps to relax us.
Then, there is laughter. Sometimes in periods of great stress this can seem nearly impossible and yet it is such a deep relief if we can find our way there. I’ve heard stories of individuals with serious physical conditions who have healed their way back to wholeness by watching beloved comedies on television. My husband and I enjoy the very funny sit-com from the 1990’s about a couple of psychiatrist brothers titled, Frasier. We’ve seen all eleven seasons at least several times and they always make us laugh out loud, generally three or more times per show.
Also, good quality sleep is absolutely essential for good peace of mind. So often when we are stressed, we can lie awake or we don’t get to bed at a decent hour. This represents a serious health concern and one that is grossly underestimated in our culture, where sleep is almost looked upon as an inconvenient interruption to our busy lives. But almost nothing is more important for healthy mental and physical well being. So, set a regular sleep schedule and stick to it. Turn off the LED lights and start to calm yourself at least an hour before bedtime. Try not to take large meals, too much exercise or too many fluids before bed. Get some natural sunlight on your body everyday, but have a nice dark room, which is a little cool, perhaps with a cracked window, at night. For more tips on good sleeping habits and the importance of sleep in our lives, I recommend reading the book, Why We Sleep, by Matthew Walker. I think his work is brilliant. Science is so important and helpful in our lives.
Keeping well hydrated is another trick for easing the stress of change. Alcohol and caffeinated beverages leave us more dehydrated so they are best avoided in times of stress. Plus they both seriously undermine the good quality of our sleep, sometimes rendering it impossible.
Try Maya Nut or Caffix as a nice morning substitute, instead of caffeinated beverages. They will provide some nutrition and help to keep you out of left brain dominance which is where caffeine puts us and is where our concerns about the past and future dwell. Non-caffeinated beverages give us greater freedom to embrace more right brain living, the seat of our higher consciousness and playfulness, which is considerably better for stress reduction and for calmer bodies and minds.
For some decent coffee substitutes please visit BlueZones and Corner Coffee Store. For more information about the affects of coffee on your brain and in your life, consider reading Michael Pollan’s most excellent book, This is Your Mind on Plants. For an insightful exploration of our right brain and left brain attributes I strongly recommend reading Jill Bolte Taylor’s Whole Brain Living.
Herbal teas and flavored waters are also lovely. But, carbonated and sugary or artificially sweetened diet drinks are best left off the list as they dip the immunity and steal minerals and vitamins from our bodies. Lately I’ve been enjoying a nice big sixteen ounce glass of water with the juice of one lime and one passion fruit sweetened with a few drops of stevia. This gives the added boost of a nice dose of electrolytes and vitamin C. If I’m out and about, I carry this with me usually in a reused glass juice jar. Glass is easy to clean and doesn’t contribute to the ubiquitous plastic pollution of our planet from water bottles. It is not easy to avoid plastics, but I try to do so wherever I can.
I also enjoy vinegar water. One to two tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar in a glass of water, once or twice a day, helps to balance our pH so all of our metabolic processes run more soothly. I’ll often add a little organic vanilla or some orange extract to mine to increase the flavor profile. Many people add a little honey, stirring well, for the rich nutrition and sweetness that honey brings to life. And it is not a bad idea to rinse the mouth with a gulp or two of clear water after enjoying beverages made with citrus or vinegar to protect the enamel of the teeth.
Ideally, our bodies do best with somewhere around a gallon of water per day. This really flushes and cleans our systems. Clean systems make for clean bodies and brains. And cleaner brains make for cleaner minds and less difficulties in processing stress and change. So drink up! Hydration is key and too often it is overlooked.
And now we come to fats, healthy fats. Our nervous systems thrive in the presence of fats and suffer in their absence. The ‘fat-free’ diet craze of the 90’s left many a slim figure, but at the cost of a healthy nervous system and subsequent higher levels of stress. The bad fats are perhaps even worse than no fat at all. I remember, while growing up, using processed American cheese as bait for fishing while living on a lake. This is made with only 50% cheese with a whole lot of enticing and preserving additives. I kept a small block of it in my tackle box and it typically didn’t change at all for months. It globbed nicely onto the hook and attracted the little fish like crazy. Unfortunately, it attracts people too. But it is probably not so good for you as far as fats go. Then there is that wedding cake frosting, you know the stuff that sticks onto the plate and won’t even rinse off in super hot running water. Yuck. Scary. And high heat animal fats, like crispy bacon, oh, so delicious, but not so healthy. But the good fats, they are great for our nervous systems and minds. Essential even.
Avocados, organic raw nuts and nut butters provide great fats for our nutrition. The First Nation’s People had the staple of leached oak acorn meal. Differing somewhat with each species of oak, acorns provide somewhere around 14% carbohydrates, 40% total fats and 11% protein. A near perfect human food. Also, pasture raised organic butter and actual olive oil, virgin, organic and not heat treated, have long served humanity. Many people love coconut oil, but in general, I try to stay away from modern processed vegetable oils like corn or peanut oil, or even worse, GMO created canola oil. But we do need fats and it’s best if we choose the good ones. And that can get tricky when eating at potlucks or dining out in restaurants.
Next we have the herbal kingdom. The plants are our original doctors and they can help us in almost every situation. Stress and overwhelm is no exception. Years ago, while healing from major injury, I came across a recipe for “Nerve Tea” in a book called Healthy Healing by Linda Rector Page, a Naturopath. This book alone can reduce stress as it is chock full of self-empowering and helpful home remedies for all sorts of health conditions.
Stress always rises when we or our loved ones are not feeling well. Linda’s book has been updated with new editions over a dozen times and anyone of her many variations is full of relief to be found among her pages. And that is where I found her ‘Nerve Tea.’ This is made from a combination of six well known nerve rejuvenation herbs. They are Lavender, Peppermint and Lemon Balm, Saint John’s Wort, Blessed Thistle and Valerian. The first three can commonly be found in dried leaf form in the bulk herb section of most healthy food stores and the second three are commonly available in herbal extracts. Using roughly equal parts, I brew mine with one rounded teaspoonful of each of the dried herbs and one dropperful each (or fifteen drops) of the extracted herbs. These are placed in a teapot, with one quart of boiling water to make four cups of tea. Typically, I’ll enjoy two to three cups a day and sometimes all four if I’ve really been rattled. And it always calms me right down.
Another great stress reducer is Dr. Richard Schulze’s ’Nerve Tonic.’ A dropperful or two of this formula also brings great peace to the mind and body. Simply call 1(800) herbdoc or visit www.herbdoc.com to get some. I always have both this tonic and the ingredients for Linda’s “Nerve Tea” on hand and ready to brew to help me more easily overcome the hurdles of stress and change that come too often with life.
For those who prefer subtle medicine, the Bach Flower Remedies can be very helpful. Rescue Remedy is perhaps the most commonly appreciated of these healers, but there are a number of other flower essences that can help to ease specific types of fears or stress as well. Homeopathic medicines are another potential avenue for subtle yet potent assistance for regaining mental, emotional and physical well being. Usually a selection of both of these types of medicines, homeopathic and flower essence remedies, can be found in healthy food stores, each with a brief description of specific action listed on the label.
Lastly, of course, we need to free ourselves to have a little fun. Singing and being out in nature, spending time with our loved ones and getting some exercise, these activities always lift our spirits and help us to return to a state of joy. So, look at the sky, let your eyes play over the diamonds of light reflecting off the water. Volunteer at the animal shelter and connect with other beings in need of love. Let your dog take you to the beach. Spend some time giggling and playing with children. A few friends and I have been meeting at the park every week to learn and sing songs of inspiration, hope and joy. We’ve been singing protest songs from the civil rights movement: If I had a hammer..., This land is your land..., We shall overcome..., Blowing in the Wind..., and John Lennon’s incredible “Imagine.” One friend has written a whole raft of new songs, simple and so dear, and we’re learning those and singing them out loud and true. Hike up a hill. Splash in the waves. Yes, do what you must do, but also carve out some time for play. Move your body and connect with others. You’ll come home refreshed, more relaxed and much more calm.
Blessings to you all as we celebrate the holiday season.
Josephine Laing
© 2025
As a Clairvoyant Healer, Spiritual Counselor and Intuition Instructor, I share many tips for leading a healthy and fulfilling life. Please be advised that I am not a doctor. Nor am I licensed in any healing modality. However, I have had years of experience in alternative and complementary health and healing. All healing programs, including standard western medical protocols in addition to natural therapies, can cause harm rather than the benefit that you may be searching for. After all some people can have a strong reaction to something as seemingly innocent as peanuts or strawberries. Therefore, anything that I may recommend in these blogs and in my videos could be dangerous for you to try. So, it is important that you Ask Your Doctor First before trying any natural healing protocol. However, most medical doctors have little experience regarding natural healing programs and herbal medicine. So please understand if your doctor is unfamiliar with these ideas.
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