The month for apple picking, pumpkin carving, leaf peeping…and Halloween!!! We’ve been looking forward to this season for so many reasons, but who doesn’t love a few tricks and a whole lot of treats? Take a peek at our version of this time-honored tradition…
TRICKS
1. Is your neck feeling a little tight? Got a splitting headache or maybe some ringing in your ears? How about a jaw that feels jammed? These aren’t things a heat wrap or heating pad can’t help until you get to your massage therapist, chiropractor or acupuncturist. Sometimes spinal nerves can become impinged, causing symptoms just like these. Adding some heat to your neck can help loosen the musculature and relieve the pressure on those nerves.
2. Scar tissue from surgeries performed a long time ago can cause issues even today. A compress of hot castor oil just might be the trick. Although a little messy, warm castor oil used externally can help promote circulation within the scar tissue and heal the tissues and organs underneath the skin. This Edgar Cayce-inspired, holistic approach can even be effective for conditions like epilepsy, gallstones, scleroderma, constipation and other intestinal conditions. Check out this video on preparing your very own compress (an oldie, but goodie)… www.youtube.com/watch?v=
3. The arrival of Halloween means the inevitable approach of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s – all within 60 days of each other. And this usually means a lot of stress. Just sit back and breathe. Literally. Most people breathe shallowly and rapidly. So not only are their bodies not getting the proper amount of oxygen, their adrenal glands go into fight-or-flight mode and begin pumping out stress hormones, including cortisol. With cortisol elevated, immune cells slow and pathogens slip by, causing a breakdown in our immune systems. Be conscious of your breath and learn to breathe deeply through your nose and into the bottoms of your lungs, imagining the breath moving to an area below your belly button.
TREATS
1. Forego the usual sweet tarts, peanut butter cups and M&Ms. We all know they’re just so unhealthy. Take advantage of this month’s produce — including apples, pears, pumpkin and corn — and opt for recipes featuring those fruits and veggies peaked and primed for picking. And if you’re still hankering for something a little sweet, local honey always adds a nice touch.
2. Take time to be alone. Away from the kids, away from the job, away from your significant other. It’s the best time to renew and regenerate. A 10-minute meditation or a short walk or hike each day can make a world of difference. This area has lots of options – beaches, walking paths, even the Palmetto Trail in Awendaw offer quiet spaces away from the normal rush of life.
3. Get the costume ready. People live for this time of year — the only day we can dress like a zombie, German barmaid, or Pac-Man and not be considered mad. And if dressing up isn’t your thing, there’s nothing like getting crafty with a pumpkin and a carving knife. And who doesn’t love munching on its roasted seeds as a nighttime snack?
4. Get your weekly massage, facial, chiropractic adjustment and acupuncture treatments. You’re not only benefiting your body, but you’re also getting the time to unwind and chill out. An even bigger treat — we’re offering sweet October specials! Get your second acupuncture treatment for $65 (a savings of $10).
photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/31499593@N03/4006205690″>Thanksgiving Cottage 184</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/”>(license)</a>
