...Where being come,
Instruction's pleasant air
Refreshed my senses which were almost dead,
And fragrant flowers of sage and fruitful plants
Did send sweet savors up into my head.
And taste of science appetite did move,
To augment
Theory of things above...
(from
Rachel Speght's A Dream, 1621)
Now that Spring is
fully engaged and gainfully employed, I begin to notice the somewhat less pleasant effects of this engagement and employment: Allergies! There is pollen in them thar Camellias and other lovelies we find so attractive at first and then a bit annoying. SAM says he has been taking a Claritin tablet every day to keep from wheezing and coughing. Apparently, Tallahassee is renowned for its pollen and subsequent effects. When we lived in Illinois, Spring was my season of misery. Yes, I know; it's supposed to be a joyous occasion of renewal and celebration. It is, as long as you have an arsenal of weapons to fend off those annoying allergens. Some people choose manmade chemical weapons; some of them choose a more natural approach. Guess which one I choose?
When the handwriting is on the wall--or the bark, in this case of a pine tree--I see evidence of a great force at work in the Creation/Nature. What protects a tree from the likes of invaders such as the destructive pine beetle? Plants have a natural defense working for them 24/7:
Essential oils. It's not clear why sometimes this natural defense works and why it sometimes fails. I try to employ it as often as I can. It makes more sense to me to glean from nature what works for nature than to rely on manmade chemicals produced in the laboratory.
SAM gave me a gift at Christmas that I just redeemed today: a massage from my favorite licensed massage therapist (besides Daughter). She incorporates specific essential oils into this Raindrop Massage and targets areas of imbalance in the musculoskeletal system. Boy, do I have a lot of imbalance going on there! She found it, using more pressure on areas where I needed a lot of help: the lower spine, scapular area, calf muscles. I was tempted to jump off the table at times, but I practiced something I learned in childbirth class years ago: deep breathing. It helps with the removal of toxins and relaxes the body. The oils she used found their way into my tissues via the skin as well as my respiratory system, a double whammy of introduction. The last time I got a massage from Tina Brito Stebbing, she chided me for not breathing deeply enough. I did not hear any complaints this time so I must be learning how to behave as a client. Sometimes all it takes is a little Instruction.
Please visit
Ramblingwoods.com for this week's Nature Notes/Signs of the Season post and other bloggers' links to the same.
Good morning. I know what you mean by allergies in Illinois. I'm allergic to everything from pollen to pets to molds. Spring is the worst but summer and fall are miserable too.
ReplyDeleteMarnie
A massage sounds wonderful. I have had one in my life (gift from daughter) and so enjoyed the pampering. He didn't use essential oils though. That would make it ever so nice I'm thinking. I haven't used my oils you gave me yet, but plan to soon. Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteMarnie, I hope you are finding some relief, be it natural or not. Some people (like SAM) don't find the oils to be very effective for allergies.
ReplyDeleteTina, maybe you should start dropping some hints about a massage gift certificate for Mother's Day. You know, I can't remember what kind of oils I gave you. If you could let me know, I'd be more than happy to recommend some uses. If nothing else, most oils (a drop or two) can be added to a cup of Epsom salts and poured into a hot bath for a nice, long, aromatherapy soak. I will be doing a post soon about some of my favorite uses for various oils.
I am going to check them out right now. I wonder if epson salts would work in a hot tub? I keep saying that would be nice! I'll email you.
ReplyDeleteI never knew people had allergies to pollen and I can understand how difficult it would be to think Spring as a time of misery. But I'm glad to hear that you're resorting to natural means. Take care! Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteshall I curse myself and say I am fine with pollen ;') I hope you have a spring filled with healthy breathing.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard about essential oils for allergies. How do you know which one to try? We're in the throes of oak bloom & pollen explosion here...
ReplyDeleteI think the allergies have been better here in NC for the past few years because we've had a lot of rain. They are terrible in the spring when we don't have enough rain. Good post for nature notes.
ReplyDeleteI almost went to a masseuse for a tricky kink in my upper back, but then out of the blue, just when I least expected it, it went away. Now, if I could only figure out what the trick was!
ReplyDeleteWe had some allergy problems in Florida a few weeks back. Here in the North Country its been more of a fall problem. Go figure?
ReplyDeleteI sympathize with the allergy issue. I wouldn't have thought of massage with oils as a treatment, but I just may give it a try.
ReplyDeleteMassage is the best!
ReplyDeleteI have been saved from surgery a few times by having massage treatments. Now if only I could get my insurance company to pick up the tab!
Sherry
Sorry to hear about the allergy. And with all the blooming of flowers it must be difficult!
ReplyDeleteI've had a massage done once and it left me feeling sore. The girls (there were two of them) must've been over-enthusiastic!!! I'm not likely to repeat the experience any time now:(
Love the photo of you and Micah on your sidebar.
Purdy pic.
ReplyDeleteI have severe seasonal allergies. Horrid. I wish natural remedies or something worked. Ahhh, so happy for you that you go a massage. Oh, would I LOVE to have a regular visit with a massage therapist. I have a disorder that would benefit needs it, but insurance feels differently than the doctors. Hubby gives a good one, but nothing like a pro!
gel
http://SoulCrayons.typepad.com
Tina, I just sent you an e-mail with suggestions. I hope they help!
ReplyDeleteChandramouli, it's interesting that you say that. So people in India generally do not suffer from pollen-related allergic symptoms? I am very curious to know why so many Americans are so affected to the point of being debilitated. Stress-related immune system compromise? Overexposure to synthetic chemicals? Hmm...
Wayne, I hope the pollen remains your friend forever!
Kathleen, I'm finding out that not every person responds to one particular oil in the same way. And sometimes, one oil that works one year may not work so well the next. It all has to do with the complexity of the oils' chemical composition. They are natural plant products (at least the best ones are) and are therefore variable in nature. In general, breathing in single oils like lavender, German chamomile, Roman chamomile, and ledum (something I haven't tried yet!) are good for relieving hayfever symptoms. I use a blend of oils that works for me, and it includes clove, cinnamon, lemon, rosemary, and eucalyptus.
Carver, I'm glad that it's not been so bad for you lately. The rain does help to wash the pollen down. I need to get busy washing the car after this weekend's visit to Tallahassee. The car looks positively yellow-green from the stuff!
ReplyDeleteMr. S, if you find out, let me know! Actually, the massage practitioners prefer to be called licensed massage therapists (LMTs) these days. A good deal of training and ongoing continuing education is required to maintain the licensure. The old name (masseuse) has some bad connotations for some reason. Too French maybe?
Aha, TB! Ain't Florida grand this time of year? It really is!
MM, I hope it works for you.
Sherry, it is sad that most medical experts in this country either don't know or care about the benefits of massage therapy, especially with essential oils. There is too much pharmaceutical conformity and not enough curiosity about or trust in alternative therapies. Charlatans abound, I guess. It's why I've become my own guinea pig. I try different oils to see what works best, and I don't wait (or at least my loved ones don't) for the insurance company to pick up the tab for my health. The ICs these days seem more interested in treating disease than in preventing it.
Thanks, Kanak! It's good to see you commenting here. Don't give up on massage just because your first experience was a flop. I'm not sure what kind of credentials are required of the therapists there, but if there is an agency that oversees licensure, there is probably a list of therapists who practice in your area. That is a good place to start, and word-of-mouth recommendations will usually finish the search for you.
Gel, just get yourself a regular massage, girl! If it helps relieve symptoms of your disorder, then it's worth every penny, insurance payout or not. Maybe if enough people talked/blogged about this insurance oversight/shortchange, then the situation would improve.
You should have eaten at the Chinese joint we ate at yesterday. If that spicy stuff does not open you up, nothing will, lol. We are lucky that we don’t have sinus issues with pollen in the air. I get clogged during the winter months with the dry air in the house from gas heat. The Saint had issues while living in Texas. We are so lucky with pollen issues…
ReplyDeleteI think every garden gal should get a full body massage and oil treatment twice a year! Are you hubby’s listening??? Great gift SAM…
I noticed you posted a comment on my blog back in November and seem to have missed it. It was about my blog layout. Everything behind the text is actually the same image.
ReplyDeleteI took a plant picture, then using a program called 'gimp' put a white layer over it that was the same width as my text. Then I added the shadows on the side. Finally I uploaded it to picasa web albums, linked to it in the html and set it to be fixed so it doesn't scroll.
Sorry I took so long to respond. You can probably click on my name to see my blog if you don't remember.
Sorry to hear about your allergies, W2W; that seems to be a common complaint for many this time of year. I grew up allergy-free, but as I've gotten older, certain things seem to bother me. Digging in the dirt and dusting the house seem to be the worst triggers. That hasn't stopped me from gardening, although I avoid dusting as much as possible:)
ReplyDeleteA massage sounds wonderful, and the oils sound like an interesting alternative to popping a pill.
I never thought of the oils in that way. I too have allergies and I have to double what I usually take and had a nasal spray so that the asthma doesn't get going, so I am with you on that.. My daughter swears by massages. I had one once but only felt weird about the almost naked part. But that might help me manage some of my pain issues better. Thanks for the idea..I thought I had read all the Nature Notes and come to find out, I hadn't which is why I am so late... Michelle
ReplyDeleteLovely flower image and poem! Wow, this is the third post I’ve read on camellias today. Sorry to hear about the allergies. I have mild ones to tree pollen. What a pretty but destructive insect. Nice gift from SAM!
ReplyDeleteThanks, sounds like it's worth a try to experiment. I know that breathing in the perfume of a patch of bluebonnets will cure just about anything. And we're in luck now with a wildflower explosion in the Texas Hill Country.
ReplyDeleteSkeeter, I'm glad you and the Saint aren't bothered by the pollen. Whatever was bothering SAM and me must be finished with its business because we haven't been sneezing as much the past few days. You're right about needing that massage on a regular basis. We garden gals need to stay balanced or things might go haywire in the garden!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Aerelonian, for catching up with me. I'm a little slow myself sometimes when it comes to responding to comments or questions or visiting other blogs. I do remember you, and I will try to visit again soon.
Rose, I'd much rather be digging in the dirt than dusting the house. I think the dirt outside is probably healthier than what's inside, and it's much more fun to play in it!
Michelle, it does take a time or two to get over feeling "exposed" with the massage. Now I don't even think about it. It helps to have a therapist who makes you feel comfortable. The draping technique is important too. Massage really is a healing art if the practitioner is a good one.
Sarah, my hayfever really isn't that bad anymore, thank goodness. I get along better with the pollen in Florida than I did in Illinois for some reason.
Kathleen, I am not familiar with the bluebonnet, except as a brand of margarine, LOL! I bet it is lovely with a whole field of them in bloom. Thanks for stopping by again. I'll be over for a visit.
Is sweat an essential oil? With temps in the 80s here, spring cleaning has felt more like summer cleaning!
ReplyDeleteI think I'd enjoy a massage. But what I'd really like is to have my nails done (toes too).
I hope your musculoskeletal system has recuperated.