SLEEP – THE BODY’S HEALING TIME & HOW TO MAXIMIZE IT

“What I wouldn’t give for a good night’s sleep.” These words resonate with about 99% of the population. Generally lack of sleep is caused by environmental influences … stress, work related issues, body aches and pain, anxiety, some medications, alcohol and more … things we can change and have some measure of control over but when there’s something in the brain running interference such as in the case of dementia, what the heck do you do?

Problems with sleeping are a common occurrence for people with dementia.

Some people sleep during the day and are awake and restless at night. Some are no longer able to tell the difference between night and day, while others are simply not as active as they used to be and consequently need less sleep.

It is important to try to recognize what may be causing the problem – is it the environment, the dementia or the medications used? This will help to decide on which strategies may be helpful.

Some families and caregivers find that keeping a log or diary may help them see the pattern of behavior that may be developing, enabling the cause of the problem to be pinpointed.

POSSIBLE CAUSES:

Physiological or Medical Causes 

• The brain damage caused by the dementia has affected the 'biological clock' in the brain, which directs our sleep patterns
• Illness such as angina, congestive heart failure, diabetes or ulcers
• Pain caused by such things as arthritis
• A urinary tract infection which causes a frequent need to urinate
• 'Restless legs' or leg cramps which can indicate a metabolic problem
• Depression which causes early morning wakening and an inability to go back to sleep
• Side effects of medication such as diuretics
• Sleep apnea and snoring
• A need for less sleep as a person gets older

Environmental Causes 

• The bedroom may be too hot or too cold
• Poor lighting may cause a person with dementia to become disoriented
• They may not be able to find the bathroom
• Changes in the environment, such as moving to a new home or having to be hospitalized, can cause disorientation and confusion.

Other Causes 

• Going to bed too early
• Sleeping too much during the day
• Over-tiredness causing tenseness and an inability to fall asleep
• Insufficient exercise so that they do not feel tired
• Too much caffeine or alcohol
• Feeling hungry
• Agitation following an upsetting situation
• Disturbing dreams

SO … WHAT TO DO? 

First, eliminate as many of the possible FIRST LINE causes that you can. Next, integrate Alternatives and record what works and what doesn’t.

In the case of Psychological or Medical causes, here are some FIRST LINE suggestions: 

• Discuss with the doctor stopping or changing diuretic medication if you feel this may be contributing to the problem
• Arrange a medical check-up to identify and treat physical symptoms
• Discuss with the doctor whether sedatives may be contributing to the problem
• Ask the doctor whether an assessment for depression may be necessary
• Ask the doctor about possible side-effects of medication

Ruling out these possible issues is essential but two of the more common of these possible causes are the use of additional sleep medication or pain at night.

In some situations, the doctor may decide to use tranquilizing medications or sleep medications. While these may be helpful, consider first the fact that both types of medications can have negative side effects such as increased confusion and depression.

Pain at bedtime is another issue that is often treated with an analgesic but adding yet another pharmaceutical can also be avoided.

Keep reading and check the Alternative Solutions Section of this Article.

In the case of Environmental causes, here are a few FIRST LINE suggestions: 

• Keep the environment as consistent as possible
• Check whether the person is too hot or too cold on wakening. Dementia may affect their internal thermostat
• Shadows, glare or poor lighting may contribute to agitation and hallucinations, so provide adequate lighting
• Not recognizing self or others in a bedroom mirror may cause confusion. Moving the mirror may be helpful
• Night lights might help cut down on confusion at night and may assist them to find the bathroom
• If finding the bathroom is a problem, a commode by the bed might help
• Make sure the bed and bedroom are comfortable. Familiar objects may help with orientation
• Avoid having day-time clothing in view at night as this may indicate that it is time to get up

For all OTHER possible causes, here are a few FIRST LINE suggestions: 

Food and drink

• Cut down on caffeine (coffee, cola, tea, chocolate) during the day and eliminate altogether after 5pm
• Cut down on alcohol and discuss with the doctor any possible interaction between alcohol and medication
• If you think the person may be hungry at night, try a light snack just before bed or when they first wake up

Daily routines

• Try not to do any tasks that may be upsetting in the late afternoon
• If the person is refusing to go to bed, try offering alternatives such as sleeping on the couch
• If the person wanders at night, consider allowing this, but check that the house is safe
• Try a softly playing radio beside the bed
• Gently remind the person that it is night-time and time to sleep

Read on and Check the Alternative Suggestions Section

Problems with sleeping or late evening agitation are often a stage in dementia that eventually passes. Many people with dementia sleep more during the latter stages of the condition.

Sleep problems are among the most difficult symptoms of dementia. Families and caregivers must be able to get adequate sleep themselves. Try to ensure regular periods of rest and regular breaks for yourself, as well as for the person with dementia.

The Alternative Suggestions: 

There are two specific Alternatives I am recommending. Not only will the dementia sufferer benefit but the Caregiver will find exceptional benefits as well.

• Using essential oils to calm, promote sleep, alleviate pain and bring balance back into the daily / nighttime routines is by far one of the most natural and effective things to use.
• I am adding Music / Sound Therapy suggestions to this article as well simply because of how the specific frequencies affect brain function.

Try setting up a daily routine of Alternative Therapies by incorporating the following regime:

Exercise, Grounding and Balance: 

Once all these issues have been checked and resolved, consider exercise or the lack of it as a possibility.

• Try to make sure that they are getting enough exercise. 
• Try taking one or two walks each day. 
• If they are not independently mobile and confined to a wheelchair, by all means just getting them out into fresh air helps to ease and relax mind and body. 

It’s important that both caregivers and their charges be balanced and grounded.

Find a place where there is grass and each day, preferably morning and late afternoon, go to this place and take off your shoes…yep yours and theirs! Allow the bare feet to sit on the grass or dirt. Walk around if you can.

The earth resonates at a frequency that is highly beneficial to the body helping to ground and balance the body’s systems. This action impacts the sense of touch, sight and smell. The smell of fresh mown grass, rain, flowers and even dirt, to many, can be relaxing and grounding.

Connecting to nature is one of the most beneficial things you can do.

To Calm and Aid sleep or to Calm and improve Energy and Focus: 

Review the article on my blog regarding Touch Therapy / Massage Therapy for pictorial information on hand massages.

First, determine what you want to accomplish by using this therapy. Certainly for sleep, you would use this in the evenings or prior to an afternoon nap. To improve energy and focus, use this in the mornings or mid day depending on what you want to accomplish.

I would suggest scheduling a hand massage in the morning before an outside jaunt or just before an afternoon nap and most definitely in the evenings before bedtime.

Try a back rub before bed or during wakeful periods

Using this as a Preventative Measure helps to reset the body’s clock and get sleep patterns back on track.

The following is a list of Essential Oils that will serve to help reset the body’s timer for appropriate sleep cycles. Some should only be used at night and others during the day.

Please NOTE: Not all essential oils are alike and most purchased in stores contain chemicals that can be detrimental to topical applications and cannot be ingested. ALWAYS check the labels. Look for Nutritional Information on the label. The Essential Oils I have recommended here are safe, effective and are Certified Therapeutic Grade. Most are ingestible…use them for teas or for cooking. To read more about these oils, please click here:. If you have ANY questions about the safety or efficacy of these oils, please don’t hesitate to contact me at regina@lbdtools.com .

ESSENTIAL OILS TO CONSIDER: 

The following Essential Oils can be used topically (hand or foot massage) and Aromatically (in a diffuser).

DIFFUSING– this provides greater coverage and at night will help to induce longer periods of sleep.

If using TOPICALLY, always use a carrier oil. I recommend Fractionated Coconut Oil as your carrier oil and a ratio of 5 drops carrier oil to 3 drops Essential Oil. (unless otherwise noted)

• Lavender – will calm but may also relax to a point of going to sleep. You may want to relegate Lavender to night time use or if they do take a nap during the day, before nap to promote deeper sleep. 

• Balance – Excellent for daytime use and will promote improved physical balance as well as mental balance 

• AromaTouch: This is an exceptional oil and most assuredly a mild relaxer but also aids in eliminating pain. This can be used in the daytime and at night as an analgesic in place of aspirin, ibuprofen, Motrin and Tylenol. Side Note for Parkinson’s sufferers: Mix 3 drops Aroma Touch to 5 drops Fractionated Coconut Oil and spread down the spine starting at the base of the neck down to the tail bone. I have seen up to 8 hours relief from tremors. 

• Serenity – This Is my absolute favorite for nighttime use. Serenity promotes deep relaxing sleep 

• Lemongrass - Fresh lemon grass is often added to teas or lemonade to promote relaxation and calmness. The scent can relieve anxiety and promote restful sleep among seniors with dementia. Try pairing lemongrass with other citrus scents like sweet orange, and diffuse the essential oils to boost your loved one’s energy levels and mood. 

• Clary Sage – Clary Sage is beneficial for seniors with dementia. Added to a diffuser, Clary Sage promotes better cognitive function and enhances mood. You can also blend sage with other essential oils like Peppermint and / or Rosemary to create an herb-based scent that boosts memory and promotes a calmer, more optimistic mood. 

• Bergamot - Bergamot is a warm floral scent that reduces anxiety and stress and encourages a calmer, more relaxed mood. The flowers are often added to tea, including classic Earl Grey blends. When using the essential oil, add one to three drops to the bath, a diffuser, or an ounce of carrier oil to provide the soothing benefits. 

• Chamomile - Dried chamomile flowers are well known for their pain relieving and stress reducing properties. In aromatherapy, chamomile essential oil offers the same calming properties. Add a few drops of chamomile essential oil to 5 drops of carrier oil, and use the blend for hand massages to enjoy the calming benefits of chamomile. 

• YlangYlang - Ylang ylang reduces anxiety, boosts mood, and promotes restful sleep, making it an excellent addition to your loved one’s bedtime routine. Use ylang ylang in a diffuser immediately before bed to help your loved one fall asleep easily. If your loved one is agitated, a short hand massage with ylang ylang essential oil in a carrier oil base can calm his or her mood. 

• Rosemary - Rosemary has been found to stimulate memory, making it one of the best essential oils to incorporate into your loved one’s aromatherapy blends. Combine rosemary with peppermint to stimulate cognitive function and increase energy, or blend rosemary with lavender to calm your loved one. 

• Peppermint - Peppermint is an invigorating scent that also boosts cognitive function while encouraging feelings of calmness. Diffuse peppermint essential oil in the morning to begin the day with relaxed energy, or diffuse the scent in the afternoon if your loved one begins to feel tired or agitated. 

IF PAIN AT BEDTIME IS AN ISSUE: 

Try these remedies as your analgesic before resorting to sleep inducing pharmaceuticals.

There are different types of pain: Joint, Muscle, Nerve and Bone.

Anxiety inevitably accompanies pain regardless of the type and relieving the anxiety first is half the battle.

Find out where the pain is located

Determine if it is Joint, Nerve, Muscle or Bone Pain and use the following combination of Essential Oils based on what is needed.

PAIN RUB: (Joint / Nerve / Muscle) 

Mix 3 drops Fractionated Coconut Oil with 1 drop AromaTouch in the palm of your hand and rub gently on the affected area.

Next, put 2 drops Serenity into the palm of your hand and rub over the affected area layering on top of the Aroma Touch.

(Additional carrier oil is not needed with the second layer unless the skin is exceptionally dry and it quickly absorbed the first layer.)

A PRE-MIXED ROLLER BALL FOR PAIN ANYTIME: (Joint / Nerve Bone) 

A great addition to any medicine cabinet is a pre-mix roller ball called ‘Past Tense.”Originally designed to relieve headaches and neck and head tension (which is does), I have found this particular Essential Oil blend to be HIGHLY effective on joint, nerve and bone pains. Just roll on the affected area and gently rub in!

NIGHTTIME PAIN: (Joint, Muscle, Nerve, Bone) 

Mix 3 drops carrier oil with 3 drops Lavender and 3 drops Peppermint. Rub on affected area

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS: 

• Herbal teas and warm milk may be helpful
• Soothing high frequency music (these can be downloaded free from You Tube) ie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3qJHIb1lyI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc94ZofWHBM *** 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17RB5oq_yAY *** 

***If using a type of high frequency music, it is best to use headphones or earbuds to gain the greatest benefit from the frequencies.

IN CLOSING: 

The goal is to establish a familiar daily routine that will aid in emotional and physical comfort and when the routine is disrupted for any reason, any negative emotional and physical response will be minor and limited. The use of Essential Oils and Music as two primary Alternative solutions WILL provide balance, structure, and enhanced emotional, mental, physical and spiritual comfort.

If you have ANY questions about the safety or efficacy of these oils, issues not listed here or other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at regina@lbdtools.com . If you are asking for information, please include as many details about what you are seeking information for. The more I have to work with, the better the information I can give you. Also, remember to please include your email address.


COMING UP LATER THIS MONTH: 
Sound and Vibration Healing and the Research Behind its Success.

RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH A NEW YOU

Happy New Year to each and every one of you. 2018 shows promise as truly a NEW Year but as is everything in life, to make it NEW will require YOUR participation.

This month’s blog post isn’t about any therapies. It’s about going into a New Year, a year of possibilities and YOUR ability to make it everything you desire . If you were a Numerologist, you’d say it was the Year of Angels filled with excitement, love, relationships, peace and success. Astrologers would say we are headed into a Universal Fresh Start!

Well, I believe it’s the Year of YOU, that everything predicted by numerologists and Astrologers is about YOU. But what does that really mean?

It means, this is the year of change in YOUR life…through positive change IN you. The laws of the Universe are pretty well convincing when it comes to change. The ONLY thing in this world that you have ANY control over changing is…YOU. When you change the way you think, let go of old thoughts that truly do not serve a positive purpose in your life, YOU change and like dominoes falling, everything around you changes for the better.

That kind of goes against the grain of everything you are and believe as a caregiver right? Well…give this some thought…

If you were on an airplane and suddenly the masks fell from the ceiling… would you try to help the people around you first or would you put your mask on first and then help those around you?

I was 13 when my Mother, the Quantum Physicists, first asked me that question and with my chest puffed out and my heart filled with compassion, my answer was, “I’d help everyone I could.” Her response was, “Well, my darling girl, that’s a very noble gesture but also a very stupid thing to do and I would miss you terribly.” “Miss me?” I asked. “Well of course,” she said with that you’re about to get that 2 by 4 across the head kind of lesson look on her face. “You have so much compassion in your heart for people. You are truly fulfilled when serving others but, my dearest daughter, if you do not take care of yourself first, you will be dead and unable to help anyone and that would be such a waste.” Wow … lesson received.

Taking care of YOU … FIRST. That is a very hard concept for caregivers to get their head around but trust this, YOU matter. YOU have value and worth not only to yourself but to so many others but unless you are mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually healthy, you can do little to help anyone.

Achieving YOUR desires. Finding JOY and Peace in YOUR life. Being the VERY BEST of YOU. Creating the life YOU want and deserve. Yes, YOU can have it all!

It’s the New Year … NEW … that’s the key word here. It’s the year of the NEW YOU and yes, you can create it all and it’s easier than you think. Read on …

That week between Christmas and New Years Day is generally a time to rest, reflect and renew the spirit with promises for change in the coming year. We create NEW resolutions (more than likely reworded repeats of old resolutions) with a twist on new resolves. At least, that seems to be the case with 99% of my friends. So what about that 1%? What their Secret?

I have a few friends that are always successful in creating and fulfilling their New Years Resolutions so about 10 years ago, I sat down with each of them to find out what their secret was. Oddly enough, what they told me, I already knew. What I wasn’t doing was applying it to my New Year Resolutions like I was to everything else in my life. What the heck was I thinking?

Change is something most people resist. Change can be intimidating…but it really depends on your perspective. Technology can be intimidating … Cooking a 6 course meal for 30 people can be intimidating … for many people, going to social functions with 300 strangers can be intimidating but simply changing the way you see things, the way you think about things is … really simple because it is about what you believe to be true and considering the possibilities of a different outcome. Feeling intimidated by change is simply fear of stepping out of the box you’ve created for yourself.

How do you feel when you get a haircut or buy a new shirt or blouse or a new pair of shoes? That feeling is being excited about the CHANGE in you! You stepped outside your box and created a NEW YOU if only for a day, a week or even a single moment.

Here’s Why:

Thoughts create words, words create energy, energy transforms matter. In other words, everything you think or speak is like the energy of a prayer. That energy has the ability to change things including the DNA in your body on a cellular level.

So, HOW do you do that? Stay with me now …

According to Dr. Jeffrey Utz, Neuroscience, pediatrics, Allegheny University, different people have different percentages of their bodies made up of water. Babies have the most, being born at about 78%. By one year of age, that amount drops to about 65%. In adult men, about 60% of their bodies are water. However, fat tissue does not have as much water as lean tissue. In adult women, fat makes up more of the body than men, so they have about 55% of their bodies made of water. 

As we age, the amount of water in our bodies diminishes contributing greatly to the ageing process. But water acts as our bodies “carrier or transport system. The excellent ability of water to dissolve so many substances allows our cells to use valuable nutrients, minerals, and chemicals in biological processes.
Water's "stickiness" (from surface tension) plays a part in our body's ability to transport these materials all through ourselves. The carbohydrates and proteins that our bodies use as food are metabolized and transported by water in the bloodstream. No less important is the ability of water to transport waste material out of our bodies.

In 1994, Physicist Masaur Emoto began experimenting with photographing water crystals…something that had never been done before. Emoto believed that water in the body not only carried nutrients or waste throughout our bodies but also carries the energy of everything around us…everything we are exposed to in our environments … the good, the bad and the ugly and the positive or negative impact it has on our bodies at a cellular level.

Emoto set out to prove his theory by exposing pure, unadulterated distilled water to a variety of images, music, words and prayer. He used distilled because there is nothing to start with that could alter the results. Once exposed, he froze the water and photographed the crystals that formed on its surface. Here are some examples of exposure to several variables and what happened:

Water and Music: (Apply this to things you HEAR)

The differences in the crystal formations is pretty amazing but take a look at what happens when the water is exposed to specific photographed images:

Water and Photographed Images: (Things you SEE)

The water crystals take on the life of what it is shown. Is this telling us that what we “see” impacts our bodies? You bet it does. If images of beauty can do this, imagine what images of violence does to us.

Water and Words: (Words you take to heart)

Taking it even further, look at the impact the spoken word has on the body. Remember, negative words said in jest will have as negative an impact as those spoken with ill intent.

Prayer is powerful. We’ve all heard that and most of us believe it. Emoto believed in the power of prayer and proved just how powerful and cleansing it can be. The following before and after photos are of two very polluted water sources, one in the Bahamas and the other in Japan and how the power of prayer changed them.

Water and Prayer: (Feeding the Spiritual You)

So, you ask, does this mean I need to drink distilled water? Nope.

The point here is to show you that in your body you have something (water) that carries the intention of thought, sound, words and visuals throughout your body and impacts it by changing and sculpting you on a cellular level. Your thoughts and spoken words create the energy that transforms you. Everything you hear or see does the same. You have the power to change your environment ... what you are exposed to, the power to change your perception, the power to change your thoughts and the power to strengthen your mental, physical, emotional self to guard against any impact from sources over which you have no control. So the question begs to be asked….what would you prefer to be? The Beauty … or The Beast?

Here are 7 suggestions to get started on creating YOUR Beauty:

1. The first step would be to look at the things you expose yourself to on a daily basis.  Do you read the newspapers, watch the news on TV, and listen to the news on the radio? What kind of music do you listen to daily? What about your words you use regularly….are they positive or negative? Are you constantly worried or focused on how things will turn out? Eliminating the bad news the media is constantly hyping is the first step. I stopped watching the news and reading the paper years ago and I still manage to stay abreast of current affairs without hearing all the garbage. Try it for a few days. I think you’ll find your stress levels reduced dramatically.

2. You can’t avoid negative thinking entirely. Sometimes negative thoughts just pop into your head. When this happens, you must be aware, so that you immediately recognize when you are thinking negatively. When you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts you can change the way you think about things … If you're worried and focusing on what could go wrong in a situation, change your thoughts to what could go right. Your mind can only think one thought at a time, so changing the negative thought into a positive one eliminates the negative. For example:  instead of thinking, “I am going to have a hard time adjusting to working with this patient because he/she is so difficult,” think, “I MAY face some challenges in this situation, but I will come up with solutions that we will both be happy with.” With this, you have opened up the possibilities of a completely different outcome and giving yourself the power to discover how ingenious you really are in being creative with solutions.

3. Surround yourself with Positive Quotes as reminders of joy, peace, love, happiness. Using a piece of paper and pen, write the words, I AM LOVE, I AM JOY, I AM PEACE, I AM GRATITUDE and tape it to the bottle you drink water from. These words will infuse the water with the frequency and vibration of Love, Joy, Peace and Gratitude and every time you drink it, you will take in that frequency and vibration. Write the words, I AM AWESOME on a piece of paper and tape it to your mirror. Read them to yourself and look at yourself in the mirror as you brush your teeth or your hair. I like to place Post-It notes with positive quotes on my computer, fridge door, and mirror as reminders to stay positive. Also, I’d like to share with you a quote by an unknown author that was shared in a meditation class that I attended:

Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.

4. Make a list of 5 things you are grateful for right now. Do this every few days. Doing this helps you to stay in the moment and appreciate what you already have. If there is something you don’t have that you want, add it to your list as though it is on its way. One of my first lists was … I am grateful for my checkup coming out clean, for my dog that greets me so excited every day, for the flowers on my porch that are finally blooming, for this excellent coffee someone suggested I try and for my car continuing to run until my new car appears. Yep…my car was gasping for life everyday and it was just a matter of time before it died but instead of focusing on being fearful of it dying and leaving me stranded or without transportation, I changed it to being grateful for it continuing to perform until I could afford to get another car. Two weeks into showing gratitude for it continuing to perform, I got a call from my son who had made arrangements with a friend of his that owned a used car dealership for me to buy a good car with payments within my budget and the day I drove my old car into the lot to pick up my new car, it took its last breath. Remember…energy flows where you focus goes. If you’re focused on what you have, you will receive more of it. If you focus on what you don’t have, you’ll get more of the same.

5. Do Yoga. There are a number of types of Yoga being taught. I started doing stretch yoga about 25 years ago. Amazingly enough, the instructor I learned it from was in her 70’s at the time. Stretch yoga allows you to work muscle groups, relaxing, while strengthening and toning at the same time. The physical aspects will help you achieve greater flexibility and strength. It took my focus away from my thoughts and brought my attention to my breath. Proper breath is highly important. Breathing deeply and slowly through your nose and exhaling slowly and fully will increase the oxygen in your body and increase blood flow. This aids in relaxing the muscles and eliminates lactic acid build up which is what causes soreness when you exercise. Yoga helps me to stay present to my experience so instead of my thoughts jumping to what could happen, it brought me back to the now—the only moment, the most important moment and what I want to have happen.

6. Meditation is something that to this day I still have difficulties with but  something I have learned is to let my body dictate how long to meditate. I use the same breath exercise that I do in Yoga. This relaxes both body and mind. I focus on nothingness or visualizing myself in a white room filled with warm sunlight and train my gaze on the light source. This helps to calm my mind and eliminate thoughts. I love what meditation does. By clearing the mind even for a few minutes, answers suddenly appear so whatever I was struggling with becomes very clear and I know a resolution is at hand. I talk to a lot of people that seem to have the same difficulty as I do but even more people that have difficulty visualizing. If that’s the case with you, let me suggest an inexpensive meditation tool that has been highly effective for me. It’s called a Crystal Meditation Energy Grid. These grids use Sacred Geometry and Fractal Imagery to help the brain calm and balance bringing the brain into a higher functioning state which allows you to eliminate the chaotic thoughts and integrate in a meditative state. It incorporates the breath, visual and tactile senses and the results are amazing.

A SIDE NOTE: People with dementia respond very well to fractal imagery. If they are incapable of following instructions for breath and visualizing, they can simply use the tactile modality … finger tracing over the image …. To relax the mind, reduce anxiety and stress. Doing this on a regular basis helps their body relax. You may even see a drop in blood pressure and if they have lucid moments, they would be able to follow instructions to learn the breath technique and perhaps even visualize. 

These Crystal Meditation Energy Grids are available at http://fractalvibes.com/energy-grids.php

7. Smile. Since I work from my home and am here daily by myself, I don’t do much of this unless I am reading or watching something funny, so I literally have to bring myself in front of a mirror and force myself to smile. It really does help change your mood and relieve stress. I also feel lighter because it takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown. Besides, frowning ages the heck out of your face!

“See the positive side, the potential, and make an effort.”
~Dalai Lama~

Even though I live and practice daily therapies such as Yoga and Meditation, I still find it’s easy to fall prey to negative thinking. Having negative thoughts plays out like a movie and can only bring you physical, mental and emotional pain, something that most have experienced many times throughout their life.

Negative thoughts drain you of energy and keep you from being in the present moment. The more you give in to your negative thoughts, the stronger they become much like a small ball rolling along the ground, and as it rolls, it becomes bigger and faster.

That’s what one small negative thought can turn into: a huge, speeding ball of ugliness. On the contrary, a small positive thought can have the same effect blossoming into a beautiful outcome.

I’ve included this video (below) of Emoto’s work to remind you that what you expose yourself to can heal or damage. Be the “Beautiful Outcome” in 2018. It’s a New Year … YOU have the tools to be a New YOU!

If you would like more information, please feel free to contact Regina at regina@lbdtools.com.  If you would like a reply, please include your contact information, any questions you have and specifics regarding the issue you are inquiring about.

THE GIFT OF AWARENESS AND EMPOWERMENT

Every Christmas, I sit down and make my list of people that I am gifting to. Of course there is always the kiddos, grand kiddos and in my case the great grand kiddo, special friends and those wonderful service workers that make each and every day so pleasant with their friendly hello's and extra help doing something more than their job description calls for.... you know....trash guys, bug sprayer, mailman, ups driver, the handyman. You probably have the same kind of list but if your list includes a caregiver, here's my suggestion ... consider giving them a Gift of Awareness. That will be a gift that keeps on giving.

On a daily basis I come in contact with the caregivers that take care of some of my neighbors.
More times than not, they are family members but pretty often, it's a friend of the family, a home care agency or an non-relation live in caregiver but always .... I see the many ways they go above and beyond in their care-giving. I think the harshest thing I recognize in all of them is their outpouring of love and concern and often, fear of not knowing something they think they should.

Jim and Helen Whitworth are not doctors ... at least neither has that sheepskin hanging on their wall but both have walked the walk of the Care Giver and both do a heck of a job talking the talk. While their individual journeys are somewhat different, their first hand experiences have set them on a mission to help both professionals and family members learn how to make this precious time more comforting and less stressful for both caregiver and their charges. Their passion resulted in 2 Award Winning Books, (A Caregivers Guide to Lewy Body Dementia and Managing Cognitive Issues in Parkinson's and Lewy Body Dementia) an Award Winning Blog, (The Lewy Body Rollercoaster)  a highly recognized caregiver training manual ( Riding a Rollercoaster with Lewy Body Dementia) and another book soon to be released.

Jim's first wife passed away in early 2003.  Annie, died with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD). At the time, most people, including the medical community, knew very little about LBD. In the Whitworth's live seminars, Jim tells of the mounting frustrations with the medical community and is often heard saying, " I tried to tell the doctors about symptoms that didn't match Alzheimer's and DID match what I'd researched about LBD but they said, 'Never heard of it!' and ignored me."  That frustration led to his determination to make increasing awareness about LBD, and its interplay with other dementia his mission. Jim is an avid reader and meticulous researcher. He was an early member of LBD online support groups and in late 2003, partnered with four other caregivers to co-found the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA). As its first president, he helped the organization start growing towards its present highly recognized status.

Helen does have a medical background as a nurse and educator. She dealt with patients with a variety of disorders and their family members but when her husband was diagnosed with cancer, she experienced care-giving from a family point of view. Soon after he passed away, she retired from the nursing profession to spend a good part of the following five years as caregiver for three more family members (one at a time), including a sister with Parkinson's.

They have been through a myriad of physicians, care facilities, in home aid and alternative options. They have seen the good, the bad and the horrific ugly yet their research, trial and error and determination to create optimal care and comfort has provided them with effective tools they now share with other caregivers.

I've had the honor and pleasure of working with Jim and Helen for the past 3 years and can tell you these are two people filled with compassion. They have and will always make themselves available to speak to caregivers and are diligent in answering e-mails, letters and phone calls from the many they have met on this journey. They generously give of their time to care facilities, in home agencies and caregiver groups around the US to raise awareness of LBD, it's interplay with other diseases and disorders and alternative therapies for dementia care.

Although Helen has a medical background, neither she nor Jim speaks with medical authority. Rather, they both bring you a well-informed caregiver's point of view. 

In my estimation, their trio of books are the gift of Awareness and Empowerment for any caregiver so if you are looking for that perfect gift for the caregiver in your life or to gift yourself as a caregiver, consider this:

The Trio Pack Special

My wish for each of you is a Joy filled Christmas and Peace of Mind in the coming year.

Namaste'

Feel free to contact me at regina@lbdtools.com with any question you may have. If you are using the form on the lbdtools.com website, please, remember to include your name, phone or email preference. Without that, I am unable to reply.

ESSENTIAL OILS FOR: STRESS REDUCTION, IMPROVED SLEEP, MEMORY & COGNITION

Believe it or not, certain kinds of stress can be very beneficial. According to experts, stress is a burst of energy that basically advises you on what to do. In small doses, stress has many advantages. For instance, stress can help you meet daily challenges and motivate you to reach your goals. In fact, stress can help you accomplish tasks more efficiently. It can even boost memory.

In addition, there are various health benefits with a little bit of stress. Researchers believe that some stress can help to support the immune system. For instance, stress can improve how your heart works and protect your body from infection. In one study, individuals who experienced moderate levels of stress before surgery were able to recover faster than individuals who had low or high levels of stress.

Stress can also be a vital warning system, producing the fight-or-flight response. When the brain perceives some kind of stress, it starts flooding the body with chemicals like epinephrine, norepinephrine and cortisol. This creates a variety of reactions such as an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Plus, the senses suddenly have a laser-like focus so you can avoid physically stressful situations — such as jumping away from a moving car — and be safe.

Stress is key for survival, but too much stress can be detrimental. The kind of stress that dementia patients and their caregivers experience is Emotional Stress and that kind of stress stays around for weeks or months weakening the immune system and causing high blood pressure, fatigue, depression, anxiety and even heart disease. In particular, too much epinephrine can be harmful to your heart and elevated levels of cotosol can cause adrenal fatigue leading to even more devastating physical damage. It can change the arteries and how their cells are able to regenerate.

Unchecked, the body will fall into a chronic condition, maintaining high levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine and cortisol and Chronic stress can lead to — or worsen — serious health problems, including high blood pressure, autoimmune illnesses, digestive issues, while creating a chronic sense of being overwhelmed that exacerbates depression and anxiety.

Stress is an inevitable part of life. I find it amusing when someone says, “You can manage your stress” when in reality, the ONLY thing you can “manage” is to CHANGE the way you respond to it and avoid or change some of the situations that create negative stress.

Dementia patients, especially in the early period, experience stress related to fear of what is happening to them, memory loss, confusion and extreme levels of frustration and anger that can lead to anxiety, agitation and sometimes result in physical violence.

As a caregiver, your emotional heart goes out to them. There is a certain feeling of helplessness as you watch them suffer with these issues and the limited ability to express themselves. In reality, you can do more than you think you can.

Something you as a Caregiver need to take into consideration … if YOU are stressed, your patient / charge WILL become stressed even more. Your emotional, physical and spiritual connection with your patient / charge is unique and through that connection alone they will feed off of your energy and behavior. You may think you hide stress well … WRONG! It’s a heightened 6^th sense in caregivers and patients and they will sense that kind of energy emanating from you immediately just as you do when they cannot communicate to you what is wrong.

So … what to do?

In this article, we will explore in depth, those Essential Oils that have been shown to have the greatest impact and provide exceptional results for stress reduction, improved memory and cognition for you AND your charge / patient. Yep, you can, pardon the expression, … “kill two birds with one stone” so to speak by providing relief for your patient / charge while ALSO taking care of YOU.

As a Caregiver, changing the way YOU respond to stress is something you are able to do on an intellectual level but what about your charge / patient? Expecting them to consciously change anything with lasting results is well beyond reality however; by you incorporating Aromatherapy with Touch Therapy into their daily routine can help them achieve those changes

My last blog talked about Touch Therapy and Massage therapy, their extreme benefits for both you and your patient. What I am covering in depth here are those Essential Oils that have found to be far more beneficial to dementia patients. This blog covers the specific selection of oils, their properties and relation to dementia issues and how best to use them.

BEST APPLICATIONS FOR ESSENTIAL OILS:

There are three applications for essential oils, topical (to the skin), aromatic (Aromatherapy) and ingesting. For this issue, we are working with topical and aromatic applications.

TOPICAL APPLICATION:

Hand massage, (or Touch Therapy as discussed in my last article) is highly effective for both you and your charge. The massage along is relaxing for both of you but using specific essential oils for the massage can make a huge difference in lasting effects.

A 1998 study in Australia found that when patients in a dementia day-care facility received a 10 to 15 min hand-massage with a mix of essential oils, the patients showed significant improvement in all areas measured.

These areas included;

• the patients’ feelings of well-being
• increased alertness
• decreased aggression and anxiety
• improved sleeping patterns

(Kilstoff and Chenoweth, 1998).

AROMATHERAPY:

Aromatherapy is best performed with a misting diffuser. There are a multitude of them on the market and each has its own bells or whistles however they can also be pricy and worthless.

My recommendation is the GreenAir©SpaVapor.

GreenAir© now makes 3 SpaVapors, the difference being the automated run time and the square footage they cover. These diffusers start around $22.00 to $45.00. I have four in my 1,700sq. ft home. Each of mine provides coverage for about 400sq ft and I have run them pretty much daily for the past 5 years. My 3 recommendations cover a Good / Better / Best scenario. In my estimation these are an excellent buy for the money. I’ve included links at the end of this article to the three I mentioned in the event you want to investigate their individual properties and compare them before making any purchase. Also, Amazon’s pricing is a bit below other suppliers.

WHY ESSENTIAL OILS WORK:

When essential oils are put into a diffuser, the oil is broken up into miniscule drops that are transmitted through a mist and disbursed into the air.

The Essential Oils you will want to consider using are those that are highest in sesquiterpenes, the chemical constituent which allows these molecules of oil to cross the blood brain barrier and beyond and Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade. Here’s why;

The blood-brain barrier is the filtering mechanism between the circulating blood and the brain that prevents certain damaging substances from reaching brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid. A common mis-conception is that all small molecules cross the blood brain barrier. However, an unbelievable 98% of small molecule pharmaceuticals can not cross the blood-brain barrier. (Pardridge; 2009).

Dr. William M. Pardridge, an expert in blood-brain barrier research, determined that “ The development of new drugs for the brain has not kept pace with progress in molecular neurosciences because the majority of new drugs discovered do not cross the blood –brain barrier” The ability to cross this barrier is essential for the treatment of brain diseases and disorders.

The chemical constituent called sesquiterpenes found in some essential oils, are known to be able to go beyond the blood-brain barrier thereby directly interacting with brain cells and unlike many pharmaceuticals, can impact the brain therapeutically. They are in fact known to interact with neurotransmitter receptors, specifically; glycine, dopamine and serotonin receptors. (Wang et al., 2012; Okugawa et al., 2000)

Even if a particular essential oil does not cross the blood-brain barrier, this oil can still affect the brain through activation of the olfactory bulb. Odors and emotions are processed in similar brain structures located in the limbic system.

All of the oils listed below are high in sesquiterpenes however; although these oils suggested are known to have the greatest positive impact, each person will differ in their response so it is important to do a bit of research to see which ones impact your patient / charge in the most positive of ways. 

There are several that, while not containing a high rate of sesquiterpenes, they are recommended because of their beneficial impact and their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.

I also want to remind you that not all Essential Oils are alike. The oils I refer to in this blog are of the highest quality and Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade. Most of these oils recommended have generally been recognized as safe (GRAS) for human consumption by the FDA (21CFR182.20).

Caution: When using any Essential Oil for topical application (skin contact) it is best to blend it with Fractionated Coconut Oil to prevent possible skin irritation or desensitizing. The recommended blend is 1 drop Essential Oil to 4 or 5 drops Fractionated Coconut Oil.

RECOMMENDED OILS FOR TOPICAL APPLICATION & AROMATHERAPY:

The following 2 oils are not high in sesquiterpenes but are highly recommended for their enhancement and equalizing properties as well as other health benefits.

·       Sandalwood; Sandalwood is a high intensity oil and while it does not register high in sesquiterpenes, it is highly recommended to use with those suffering from dementia. Its aromatic influence helps to calm, harmonizes and balances the emotions, enhances brain function, and improves memory. (Blends well with Frankincense, Lemon, Myrrh and Ylang Ylang)

·       Frankincense; Frankincense is a high intensity oil and while it does not register high in sesquiterpenes, it is highly recommended to use with those suffering from dementia and related disorders. Its aromatic influence helps focus and improve concentration while minimizing distractions. It eases impatience, irritability and restlessness and can enhance spiritual awareness and thought. (Frankincense blends well in particular with Clary Sage, Lemon, Sandalwood, Peppermint but can blend with any oil as an enhancer)

On A Personal Note: Both Sandalwood and Frankincense are fairly pricy. If I were to choose one over the other, it would have to be Frankincense. Every client, and I mean every client I have ever worked with responded positively to Frankincense and the two combinations I found were very well received were Frankincense and Clary Sage or Frankincense and Peppermint. If you want to skip that cup of coffee in the morning and be ready for the day, diffuse Frankincense and Peppermint. It’s AWESOME! As a side note, I wear the Frankincense and Clary Sage combination daily. It keeps me grounded, focused, improves my recall, enhances my thought processes, keeps me calm and fills my heart with such a positive sense of self. It doesn’t get much better than that!

The oils highest in sesquiterpenes are:

·       Ginger: Aside from improving digestion, ginger acts as a soothing agent reducing anxiety. Its aroma can help influence an increase in energy and appetite. (Ginger blends well with Lemon, Rosemary and Frankincense)

·       Myrrh: Myrrh is very soothing to the body. As an anti-inflammatory, Myrrh works directly on the immune and nervous system and may also help improve appetites that are waning. (Myrrh blends well with Frankincense, Lavender and Sandalwood)

·       Vetiver: Has been found to help depression, insomnia, extreme nervousness and stress. (Vetiver blends well with Clary Sage, Lavender, Sandalwood and Ylang Ylang)

·       Ylang Ylang: has been found to help slow rapid breathing, aids in balancing the equilibrium, alleviate frustration, balance heart function, reduce infection and eliminate shock. Ylang Ylang has also been used for centuries to stimulate the adrenal glands if fatigued, can bring about a calming and relaxing effect and alleviate anger. ( Ylang Ylang blends well with Lemon, Sandalwood and Vetiver)

If using any of the oils, listed above, solo or blended with another for hand massage, it is also recommended to apply a small amount of this oil over the brain stem area on the back of the neck.

On a Personal Note: Ginger, Coriander, Rosemary, Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint can ALL be used to cook with however….USE EXTREME CAUTION. An EO isn’t like dried spices. Start by using a toothpick and dip it into the bottle then into your food. Taste it before adding any more. I can assure you from my own personal experience, 3 drops of Peppermint in a box of brownie mix will feel like the frozen tundra has just landed in your body. When it comes to using EO’s in cooking…..LESS is more!

Other oils tested and highly recommended for use in dementia sufferers are:

·       Coriander: Coriander is a gentle stimulant for those with low physical energy. It also helps one relax during times of stress and irritability and nervousness. It can also provide a calming effect to those suffering from shock or fear. Regular use may help prevent memory impairment. Use sparingly as Coriander can be stupefying if over done. (Coriander blends well with Cinnamon, Clary Sage, Ginger, Sandalwood and Frankincense)

·       Rosemary: Rosemary has been used in multiple dementia studies around the world and has been found to enhance the quality of memory when inhaled. It also demonstrates a calming relaxing effect. Combining Rosemary and Lavender in a diffuser has been shown to relax and calm while improving memory and provides extended periods of cognition. Combining Rosemary and Peppermint in a diffuser provides a more energetic and stimulating effect while improving memory and recall. (Rosemary blends well with, Peppermint, Lavender, and Frankincense)

·       Lemon: Lemon is invigorating and has been found to have strong anti-stress, anti-anxiety and anti-depressant properties as well as can improve memory and concentration. I recommend drinking up to 5 drops of lemon oil in a glass of water several times daily. It aids digestion, helps dehydration and excess fluid retention, strengthens the immune system, promotes energy and is highly refreshing. (Lemon blends well with Frankincense, Peppermint, Sandalwood and Ylang Ylang)

·       Clary Sage: Widely used to alleviate depression, Clary Sage is excellent for insomnia, fatigue, mood swings, muscle fatigue and Parkinsons. (Clary Sage blends well with Lemon, Sandalwood and Frankincense

·       Lavender: Lavender has been used over centuries for a variety of ailments however is best known for its calming, anti-depressant properties and is used for restful sleep. When in doubt, use Lavender. Recent studies have shown that combining Rosemary and Lavender in a diffuser will relax and calm while improving memory and provides extended periods of cognition. (Lavender blends well with Clary Sage, Lemon)

·       Peppermint: Peppermint has been used for centuries for a wide variety of ailments from improving Alertness to reducing fevers, eliminating nausea and other digestive issues, muscle aches and headaches. Peppermint is purifying and stimulating to the conscious mind and has been shown to improve memory and mental performance. It can also be used to help with anger, depression, fatigue, and hysteria. (Peppermint blends well with, Rosemary, Lemon and Frankincense)

CAUTION: Use sparingly and with caution if dealing with someone suffering from hypertension / high blood pressure. In this case, diffusing is best.

Coming up next: Meditation: Slowing the Progression of Dementia

I wish you all a most Happy Thanksgiving and hope your holiday is filled with love, joy, hope and peace.

Namaste'

To reach Regina with your questions or feedback, please, click the link below and fill in the form. It is imperative that you include your name, the manner in which you would like to be contacted (email address or phone number). Without that, she is unable to reply to you. 
http://www.lbdtools.com/contact2.php

Please join us at http://alternativetherapiesfordementia.blogspot.com/ for upcoming articles.

For more in depth information about Essential Oils and the health benefits, please click here. https://www.doterra.com/US/en/site/healingthings

If you would like to know how to purchase these oils at wholesale pricing, please contact me here: http://www.lbdtools.com/contact2.php

Feel free to contact me at regina@lbdtools.com with any question you may have. If you are using the form on the lbdtools.com website, please, remember to include your name, phone or email preference. Without that, I am unable to reply.

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