Dream Prophesy

Have you ever tried Linden Leaves products? If you haven’t, you have to move it to the top of your MUST DO list. It’s as good as Bath & Body Works, and that’s the highest of praise.

The set above is the Absolute Dreams Little Indulgence Box

Product Description:

A bottle of natural plant-derived body oil and a selection of pure New Zealand sea salt for the bath, infused with a mellow blend of lavender, sandalwood, cedarwood and orange to balance, calm and relax. You have several options here, you can either add a few drops of oil to fragrance your bath while you soak away the aches and pains of the day or you can add a sachet of bath salts to your bath to soften the water and detoxify the skin. Then after soaking apply a small amount of body oil to the skin while skin is still warm and moist.

Ah, the stuff sweet dreams are made of!

The Lavender Escape Diffuser, above, goes along with what we were talking about in the last post. This beauty actually fills your room with the relaxing, calming, bring-on-the-zzzzzs fragrance of lavender.

It’d be perfect for anyone, of course, but it seems like it’d be especially perfect for males who don’t necessarily want to smell like lavender. This way, they can still get their macho on - but still benefit from great sleep. And we all know that macho men need their rest!

Gorgeous, isn’t it?

Most of the e-mail I receive is from beautiful dreamers wanting to know what their dreams are trying to tell them. However, about 1 in 6 is from people who are experiencing problems with sleep in some way - snoring, insomnia, frequent waking, etc. A very common comlaint lately seems to be “falling asleep.” I’ve experienced this problem, myself, before and I know how frustrating it can be. The harder you try to drift OFF to sleep, the further you actually drift AWAY from sleep. Plus, when we have so much going on in our daily lives, it’s almost impossible to shut it all off at a moment’s notice. Web Designers will think of color schemes when the lights go off, salesmen will think of potential clients, teachers will think of students, etc.

I’ve been experimenting with a few natural remedies to see what I could recommend to those of you having this problem. I’ve come across a few that are as great as they’re cracked up to be.

First of all, lavender. See the body cream at the top of the post? It’s NATURALS Lavender & Chamomile Body Lotion from AVON and it’s Heaven in a bottle. If you were to ask a genie for a magical sleep balm, this is what she’d conjure up!

Also, Downy makes a Fabric Softener with lavender (in the purple bottle, of course) - I use it only on my linens and my family’s bed clothes. This way, the scent is associated with sleep. When you use the lotion only at night and your bed clohtes carry the same relaxing scent - you create a beautiful world that represents sleep and relaxation to your mind.

If you were to ask that same genie for a magical sleep elixer (after all, any genie worth their weight is going to give you more than one wish), she’d place a warm cup of Chamomile Tea in your hand before you even got the words out. My husband and I love tea and we’re always trying out new flavors, leaves, blends, etc. A few nights ago, I tried a Delicious new flavor from Celestial Seasonings: Honey Vanilla Chamomile. It was absolutely delicious, but the real amazing thing was how it relaxed me. I’ve been VERY much under the weather off and on all month, and it’s been interfering with my sleep (hard to sleep with a head and chest cold - you feel like you’re drowning and being suffocated at the same time!). The warmth of the tea seemed to open my breathing passages up while the Chamomile put a relaxing spell on me. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I dozed off so fast.

Avon’s incredible line of Lavender-Scented products also includes the following. Click each link to give them a closer look. Their price and quality can’t be beat - I’d rank them a perfect 10 in every area.

FLORAL PRINTS Lavender Linen and Room Spray

FLORAL PRINTS Lavender Body Spray

FLORAL PRINTS Lavender Bath and Shower Gel

FOOTWORKS LAVENDER COMFORT MASSAGE LOTION

Sleep problems? What sleep problems?!

How much do you know about Sleep Apnea? I really didn’t know a lot about it until recently. I started studying Sleep Apnea while working on an article for Dream Prophesy.com - I was amazed at how dangerous this disorder can be. Read over the symptoms below and if any of them sound familiar, please see a doctor to be on the safe side.

First of all, what is Sleep Apnea? Sleep apnea means “cessation of breath.” Basically the person’s airways become obstructed, and I don’t have to tell you how dangerous this sort of thing could be! Oddly enough, the person doesn’t even realize they have the disorder - the person in the bed with them is very often the one who recognizes that something isn’t right.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea:

* Excessive daytime sleepiness
* Frequent episodes of obstructed breathing during sleep.
* Loud snoring
* Morning headaches
* Unrefreshing sleep
* A dry mouth upon awakening
* Chest retraction during sleep in young children (chest pulls in)
* High blood pressure
* Overweight
* Irritability
* Change in personality
* Depression
* Difficulty concentrating
* Excessive perspiring during sleep
* Heartburn
* Reduced libido
* Insomnia
* Frequent nocturnal urination (nocturia)
* Restless sleep
* Nocturnal snorting, gasping, choking (may wake self up)
* Rapid weight gain
* Confusion upon awakening

Again, if several of these apply to you or to someone you know, you should see a doctor to play it safe. A sleep test, called polysomnography is usually done to diagnose sleep apnea. Chances are you (or the other person) simply snore and wake yourself up often with the noise! But, be safe.

Mild Sleep Apnea is usually treated by simple behavioral changes. Losing weight, sleeping on your side are often recommended and often do a world of good. There are even some oral mouth devices on the market that may help to reduce snoring in three different ways. They help to keep the airways open. Some devices (1) bring the jaw forward or (2) elevate the soft palate or (3) retain the tongue (from falling back in the airway and blocking breathing). Sleep Apnea is a progessive condition (gets worse as you age) and should not be taken lightly.

Okay, one last time - Look into this if you’re at all suspicious!

Joi

Have you ever browsed around BizRate.com? I promise you, they can hook you up with anything you’re looking for, and they’ll find the best price out there. Honestly, buying something without first checking BizRate is a risky thing!!!

Joi

I’m totally convinced that a lot of the problems we face can be directly linked to a lack of sleep. I’ve been doing a lot of research on sleep and sleep deprivation lately - and I’m more convinced than ever that we need more sleep! Below is an interesting article on “Natural Sleep Aids”:

Sleep aids are required by millions of people on a regular basis. The most common way to deal with the less serious sleep problems is to go to the doctors, who invariable offers sleeping pills, which do work for many people. However there are many more sleep aids that will help you to tackle sleep problems in a more organic and holistic way.

Sleep is a necessary and vital biological function. It is essential to a person’s physical and emotional well being. Studies show that without enough sleep, a person’s ability to perform declines dramatically. It is estimated that 50 percent of the adult population is sleep deprived and these people would benefit from some good information about the many sleep aids that are available.

In general it is important to get between 6 to 8 hours of sleep per day. Although sleep requirements vary from person to person. Since we now know how important sleep is for us individually and for the productivity of society as a whole, it is important that we start counting those sheep. Incidentally, counting sheep is a very effective sleep aid that as been around for hundreds of years and it does work.

The stress that may be attributed to longer work hours and increased commute times, unfortunately contributes to insomnia and other sleep disorders.

Also some medical problems that can lead to insomnia are:
1) Over-activity of the thyroid gland, 2) Depression and/or anxiety, 3) Allergies, 4) Any illness, injury or surgery that causes pain, 5) Sexual problems, 6) Urinary, gastrointestinal or neurological disorders and 7) Side effects of certain medications.

There are other things that can lead to insomnia, such as, emotional stress, stimulants, lack of physical exercise, or the lack of a sex partner. If you believe you are suffering insomnia from one or more of these reasons, then you should consult your doctor as soon as possible.
Even if you are not an insomniac, but just having some difficulty sleeping, there are many sleep aids that can help you get a good night sleep.

Some of the sleep aids and helpful guides are listed below:

* Avoid caffeine of all forms after lunchtime. * Avoid long naps during the day. * Avoid more than two alcohol servings at dinnertime. * Take a warm bath before bed. * Read a book or do a tedious activity (avoid T.V.). * Make your bedroom comfortable. * Develop a bedtime routine * Count sheep (again repetition). * Herbal sleep aids, prescribed by a professional herbalist * Melatonin * Acupuncture * Massage * Relaxation techniques, meditation, yoga * Reiki healing

Do not take sleep medications unless prescribed by your physician.

Try these time-tested sleep aids. If they do not work, then this may be an indication that you may have a more serious, medical condition. Therefore, consult your physician when possible.

About the Author:
Malcolm Moorhouse www.sleepok.com info@sleepok.com Copyright Malcolm Moorhouse 2006

First of all, I apologize for the lack of posts lately. My mom passed away last month, so needless to say, my mind and heart have been elsewhere!

However, I’ve learned that life does indeed continue, even after a crushing heartbreak and devastating loss. So, I’m back at work (even though my office is in my home, I hadn’t realy been here).

There are a few absolutely excellent articles you’ll want to check out - they’re linked below and I recommend them wholeheartedly. You’ll get a lot out of them.

Solve Problems in Your Sleep

Dream Away Problems

I just noticed, it’s time to change my graphic at the top, isn’t it? The penguin was perfect when there was snow on the ground, but now that spring flowers have sprung, she’s kind of inappropriate!

Take care, and tell everyone you love that you love them muchly!
Joi

Below is a link to a neat little article about sleep positions - specifically how they give clues to your personality. For example, if you sleep in the Log position (Lying on your side with both arms down by your side) - you are said to be easy going and social. Yiy kike being part of the in-crowd, and tend to trust strangers. However, you also may be gullible.

Give it a quick read-over and see how accurate it is for you. Oddly enough, I recognize two different sleep positions from my own sleep (though usually I curl up in the foetus)- because, basically, I just move and thrash around until I fall asleep. We’re shopping for a new bed (ours is just one step above sleeping on pavement), but until we settle on one, I’ll be flipping and flopping - then sleeping in whatever position I land in!

Thanks, Michael, for sending me the link!

Joi

I was working on a health-related article for one of our self-help blogs earlier and I noticed that every expert recommends getting enough sleep for optimum health and fitness. A whole slew of misery can be warded off simply by giving our bodies the rest they need.

I found a great article on making your bedroom as sleep-friendly as possible. There are quite a few really clever ideas! Give it a look: Turn Your Bedroom Into a Cozy Getaway.

Have a dream-y Friday!
Joi

BE KISSABLE COTTON SLEEPSHIRT WITH BOXER

Get a load of this sexy sleepwear! Nice.

Joi