Tag Archives: health

The Best Herbs For Pain Relief

Those who suffer from an injury or chronic pain will know how it feels to have tried almost everything to relieve their pain. Every medication, special mattress, wrap, and back support that is on the market (or so it seems!). An interesting alternative is working these marvelous pain-relieving herbs into your cooking. Feel better – naturally!

herbs 

Ginger: Long used in Chinese culture, ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Also used to calm and settle upset stomachs, ginger is incredible for reducing osteoarthritic pain!

Red Pepper: Including both cayenne and chili, you’d never guess that red peppers are a crucial and often overlooked component of pain relief. Red pepper can help, as when a heat increase is felt in the body, VR1 (the body’s vanillin receptor 1) changes its shape and signals nerve cells to feel heat as well, fooling the brain into relieving your pain signals.

Oregano: Oregano is a triple threat in that it is anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Long used in the Mediterranean for its natural healing properties, many who suffer from muscle spasms or arthritis swear by it!

Clove: If you have sensitive teeth and suffer from toothaches, look no further. Cloves are frequently a main ingredient in many dental products intended for pain relief. This is because cloves are host to numerous antiseptic, anti fungal and anesthetic properties.

Liquorice: Not the type that your Grandma kept in her candy bowl, liquorice is a longtime source of pain relief. In addition to blocking and preventing inflammation, liquorice has also been known to quell anxiety and nervous disorders.

 

What will you be whipping up tonight with your newly learned arsenal of natural, pain reliving herbs? Share your recipes with us on our Facebook page!

Wellness Guru: Why Massages Are Great For Your Health

Getting a massage is one of the most relaxing and luxurious experiences you can have. The dim lighting, soft music, and soothing voice of a talented masseuse all work in conjunction to help create optimal relaxation conditions. In addition to the pleasure we get from giving ourselves a much deserved treat, there are a few unexpected benefits as well!

Massage QRay

Counter Balance

If you sit at your desk all day, you may not realize the negative impact it’s having on your body. The human form isn’t intended to sit upright for extended periods of time – especially if you’re not getting additional exercise! A fantastic way to counteract the daily stress of a desk job is by scheduling massages. This will help to release the stress that builds up in your shoulders and neck. So go ahead, treat yourself!

Feel Better

A medical study shows that women who had regular massages while suffering from breast cancer were actually less depressed. Participants suffered from less anxiety and pain while experiencing more vigor and higher dopamine levels!

 

Sweet Dreams

There is an unsurprising connection between pain and sleep deprivation. Not only can pain prevent you from sleeping well, but your body also does not receive the necessary sleep time to restore and heal. Massage triggers your body’s parasympathetic “rest and relax” system, the system opposite to fight or flight. Massage combats both mental and physical stress making it easier to sleep and for your body to heal.

Blood Pressure

Just as the body’s parasympathetic helps your body to heal and relax, it also helps to restore balance and homeostasis. Though temporary, this can have powerful effects on the body and the heart!

So go ahead and schedule that massage! Not only is it an incredibly relaxing treat, but now you know that it’s actually good for you as well! What’s another way to improve your body’s wellness? A QRay bracelet!

How To Balance Your Chakras

According to ancient Buddhist beliefs, chakras are considered to be energy sources within the body. The word ‘chakra’is Sanskrit and literally means‘wheel’or ‘disk’. Chakras are said to be centres in our body through which energy flow. They are located at the base of the spine and go all the way up to the crown of the head. Each chakra is a motor and relates to a different area of our life, personality and wellbeing. For each of the 7 chakras, there is a delicate balance to maintain in order to ensure both happiness and satisfaction. Should you find any one of these chakras imbalanced, try these rebalancing techniques:

ChakrasWomanDescription

Root Chakra

Located in the base of your spine, the root chakra is associated with the feeling of comfort. It encompasses the first three vertebrae as well as the bladder and the colon. When this chakra is open, you feel safe and calm. If you find this chakra imbalanced, surround yourself with the color red to rebalance it. Try the stones of garnet and hematite or the aromas of cinnamon, patchouli, nutmeg and ginger.

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Sacral Chakra

The sacral chakra is located below the navel and above the pubic bone. This chakra correlates with feelings and intimacy. If you find yourself hypersensitive or overemotional, this may mean your chakra is overactive. Conversely, if you have issues with attachment, intimacy and expressing emotion, it may be underactive. Under activity may also be expressed through depression, eating disorders and asthma. If you find this chakra to be imbalanced, surround yourself with the color orange. Try the stones carnelian and orange calcite and the aromas of sandalwood, orange and geranium.

Detailed and colorful image of carnelian mineral

Naval Chakra

The naval chakra is located just above the belly button at the lower abdomen. This chakra corresponds to self-confidence and ego. If you find yourself to be an aggressive and rather domineering personality type, it is likely that your naval chakra is overactive. Ulcers, extreme anxiety, as well as digestive issues are all indicators of an imbalanced naval chakra. Should you find this chakra to be imbalanced, try the following: surround yourself with the colour yellow with the stones of yellow jasper and citrine and the aromas of myrrh, frankincense and lemon.

Gold Frankincense and Myrrh

Heart Chakra

The heart chakra is located exactly where you’d imagine – in the center of one’s chest. This chakra pertains kindness, affection and love. When open, you are compassionate and effective at creating and maintaining relationships. When closed, one tends to be distant and cold. If you believe this chakra to be imbalanced, surround yourself with the following with the colour green, such as the stones of rose quartz and jade as well as the aromas of rosemary, peppermint and tea tree.

Fresh herbs

Throat Chakra

The throat chakra, located in the throat, deals with communication and self-expression. When open, you have no issues with self-expression and effectively communicate and listen with peers. If closed, you may have issues expressing yourself and opening up. Should you find this chakra to become imbalanced, surround yourself with the following: the colour blue, such as the stones of turquoise and blue calcite as well as the aromas of lavender, geranium and chamomile.

blue calcite

Third Eye Chakra

The third eye chakra, located between the eyebrows, deals with inner wisdom, insight and the ability to connect with the outer universe. While open you are able to connect with your intuition and imagination. When your third eye chakra is closed, you may rely heavily on others and suffer from great confusion. If you believe this chakra has become imbalanced, surround yourself with shades of indigo, the stone azurite and the aromas of vanilla, orange or lemon.

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Crown Chakra

The seventh and final chakra, the crown chakra, also known as the ‘thousand petal lotus’, is located at the very top of the head. This chakra regards enlightenment and connection with our higher self as well as the divine. If this chakra has become imbalanced, surround yourself with the colour violet, the stones of amethyst or white topaz and the scents of ylang-ylang and jasmine.

Minerals and crystals - Amethyst

Do you have your own remedies to balance your chakras? Share them with us on our Facebook page!

Oil Pulling

coconut cooking oil

What is it? Oil pulling is the ancient practice of swishing oil (typically coconut, sesame or sunflower) around your mouth for approximately 20 minutes and then spitting it out. Make sure whichever oil you choose is cold-pressed and not in warm liquid form! It’s best to practice oil pulling first thing in the morning before you drink anything, eat anything or brush your teeth. Make sure the oil touches every part of your mouth, but try to keep it away from your throat. If you swallow the oil, your body will reabsorb the toxins that were just pulled from your body.

What are the benefits?Studies have suggested that oil pulling is beneficial in fighting gingivitis, plaque and even bad breath. Other non-teeth related benefits include healthier skin and hair, relief of headaches, insomnia and some even suggest depression.

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Are there negative aspects? Essentially the only negative of oil pulling is the unusual taste and feel.

 

Have you tried oil pulling? Let us know your thoughts!

Your 2015 Guide to Unplugging

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Often times we’re so plugged into what’s going on with our Smartphone, tablet, laptop (or all of the above) that we miss out on what’s going on in our actual lives. Make 2015 a year where you don’t care how many likes your Instagram posts receive, how many people retweeted your dinner last night, or just the general noise and constant bombardment that the Internet endlessly supplies. Here is your guide to unplugging in 2015:

Why You Should Unplug

You might be asking yourself, do I really need to unplug this year? Or better yet, do I really want to? We’re here to tell you yes! Give your mind a break. Do you really need to see Becky’s brunch photos? Do you really need to know the top 5 cats doing crazy things underwater (or something equally as ridiculous)? No, you don’t. Your mind is being swamped with continual, useless information. Unplugging from this seemingly endless stream of nonsense will enable your mind to be quiet. It’s important to be alone with your thoughts and in turn, get to know yourself better. Whether you realize it or not, your phone can be an unwelcome third wheel when spending time with friends, family and other loved ones. By putting the Internet away in all forms, you can encourage stronger and overall more fulfilling relationships. Lastly, setting a ‘tech-curfew’ will enable you to get a better and more satisfying sleep. Staring at bright screens tricks your brain into thinking that it’s not actually night time, and will keep you up later, producing a cranky version of yourself come the morning!

How To Unplug

So now you’re thinking, “Being available and easy to reach is an integral part of my livelihood, I can’t just shut off technology.” The answer to this is prioritizing, and here’s how to do it:

  • Email: It’s all about organizing. All of the spammy, fluffy restaurant deals, clothing sales and whatnot – shuffle them into your spam folder or create a separate folder that is not feeding into your main inbox. If you’re going on vacation, take a vacation from e-mails as well. It’s fairly simple to add an automatic vacation / out-of-office response. Add the date you will be coming back and someone else that they can reach should their matter be time sensitive. This way you can have a streamlined inbox of what matters and also actually enjoy your vacation!
  • Phone: Simplicity is key. How often are you on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and other social media sites when you’re on your tablet, laptop or desktop? Probably a lot. Do you really need all of these apps on your phone as well? If you find yourself constantly using an app that’s really not providing any use, just delete it! If you’re going to be checking it on your laptop later in the day or after work or school, wait until then! Also, did you know that most smartphones have a ‘do not disturb’ option? This handy little feature will silence all incoming calls and alerts while the feature is turned on!

Now that you’ve been enlightened with all of this useful information, it’s time to set some ground-rules. Here are some tips we encourage to ensure you’re just the right amount unplugged to start living in the real world again:

  • No phones in bed! Leave it to charge somewhere other than the bedroom
  • Set a firm tech curfew – (no cheating!)
  • Focus on who is in front of you – set simple rules when with family or friends such as ‘no phones at the table’
  • Take a break – if you’re going for a walk, to the gym, or to meet a friend for coffee, leave your phone!
  • Out of sight, out of mind. Put your phone or tablet in a drawer, cupboard or some other place out of eyesight.

It’s so important to connect with the world around us, and not just through a screen. When we are able to successfully disconnect, we are able to better appreciate the people in our lives, the world around us, and in turn feel a more genuine sense of content and calm. What’s your excuse for not disconnecting in 2015?

The Health Benefits of Your Morning Coffee

Everyone loves starting their day off with a nice cup of coffee, but did you know that it could also improve your health? Coffee has a number of healthy benefits that may help you feel better and it could even prevent some serious illnesses. Check out all of the amazing ways that coffee could help to make you feel healthier!

morning coffee

Wake Up Call

Obvious, right? Well, actually: it turns out that coffee can wake you up before you even drink it. Recent studies have proven that coffee can make you feel less sleepy just by smelling it! Not only is this an amazing discovery, but it also explains why the smell of a fresh brewed pot can get you out of bed even on the hardest days.

Athletic Performance

We all know that coffee can wake you up and keep you up for long periods of time. Even at the gym, coffee can help stave off the effects of exhaustion, allowing some athletes to give their workouts an extra boost.

Eyesight

Talk about a morning eye opener! Studies have shown that coffee may prevent retinal degeneration which means that it could keep your eyes healthy and in tip-top shape for longer. The world is a better place with coffee – you’ll see!

Focus!

This time we aren’t talking about your eyes, but your mind! Coffee can make you more productive and more efficient by improving your ability to focus. No wonder you need a cup before starting work for the day!

Possible Help with Parkinson’s Disease

Some people with Parkinson’s disease have reported that coffee helped them with better controlling their movement.

Healthy Mind

A number of studies suggest that moderate coffee drinking may reduce the possibility or delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Live Longer

Recent studies have found that coffee drinkers are less likely to die from many different causes including: heart disease, stroke, injuries, accidents, diabetes, and infections.

Have any more questions about how you can lead a healthier life? Contact us!

The 10 Most Peaceful Beaches from Around the World

Now that summer is over and the weather is starting to cool down, you’re probably dreaming of a beautiful beach paradise somewhere far away. All over the world, there are scenic beaches just waiting for you to escape to! We’ve collected some of the most peaceful photographs of our favorite beaches to help you find some relaxation in your daily life. Gain some inner peace as you look at these photos and meditate on the quieter moments in your life. Maybe you’ll even find the perfect spot for your next vacation!

1.

Peaceful Beach
Source: Reddit.com

Coron, Palawan, Philippines.

2.

Peaceful Beach
Source: Reddit.com

Sango Bay, Durness, Scotland.

3.

Source: Reddit.com
Source: Reddit.com

La Jolla Shores, San Diego, California.

4.

Beautiful Mexican Beach
Source: Reddit.com

Baja California, Mexico.

5.

Beautiful Australian Beach
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Brighton Beach, Adelaide, Australia.

6.

New York Beach
Source: Reddit.com

Ditch Plains, Montauk, New York.

7.

Beautiful Barbados Beach
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Palm and Rocks, Barbados.

8.

Greece Beach
Source: Reddit.com

Porto Katsiki Beach, Lefkada Island, Greece.

9.

Oregon Beach
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Cannon Beach, Oregon.

10.

Barbados Beach
Source: Pinterest.com/cranebarbados

The Crane, Barbados.

Did we miss your favorite spot? Share it with us on Twitter!

 

Laughing Positive Couple

Why Our Sterling Silver Series is the Perfect Fit for You

Have you heard? Our Sterling Silver Series of QRay bracelets are some of our most exciting options yet! These bracelets will help you look great and feel even better with a fantastic combination of style and comfort. The best part about our Sterling Silver Series is that each bracelet is uniquely designed to fit your lifestyle. Which one will you choose?

Pearl 925 Silver – The Fashionista

This sleek bracelet is perfect for you if you love putting together stylish outfits! Featuring a beautiful gemstone, the Pearl 925 Silver is lightweight and always looks classy. Bring a new level of elegance to your wardrobe with this form fitting piece. Wear it on your next night out or look like you just walked off the runway all the time!

Love Knot Sterling Silver – The Romantic

Do you love being in love? Are you fascinated by the awesome power of nature? Either way, this is your ideal bracelet if you find meaning in those larger than life feelings that bring us happiness! The Love Knot Sterling Silver is an amazing example of intricate modern design. This double banded silver cuff bracelet will always remind you of the important things in life and keep you focused on the positivity in your day!

Hammer Sterling Silver – The Athlete

You know the value of living right and looking good. The Hammer Sterling Silver bracelet is an excellent choice for your active lifestyle and can help you achieve balance between your fitness, wellness, and relationships. Crafted with a low profile design to allow for maximum function, this bracelet will fit your lifestyle as easily as it will slide onto your wrist. Find your center within your busy life and focus on what really matters!

Which bracelet will you choose? Let us know! For more QRay products, please visit our online store.

Older Men Drinking Water After Exercise Healthy Living

Why You Should Drink More Water

Are you feeling tired, sore, and uncomfortable in your own skin? Believe it or not, the source of your problems may be that you aren’t drinking enough water. Staying hydrated has a wide variety of health benefits that can help you feel refreshed and improve your mood. To better understand the advantages of drinking more water, we’ve put together a helpful guide to improving your life with H20. It’s easy – just add water!

Feel Energized

One of the most noticeable signs of dehydration is feeling sluggish and fatigued. Water can give you a quick energy boost and bring you back to a normal level of alertness.

Control Your Weight

You may have heard this one before, but water is great for helping you control your calorie intake! Your body often can’t tell the difference between hunger and thirst, so sometimes drinking a big glass of water can help you feel fuller. Replacing drinks like juice and soda with water can also help you cut down on unnecessary calories.

Detoxify

Drinking more water can help your body push out more toxins and waste by encouraging sweating and urination. This can also help reduce the risk of nasty problems like kidney stones and urinary tract infections.

Rejuvenate Your Skin

By staying hydrated, your skin will feel moisturized and fresh which will give you a youthful glow. A great way to easily look and feel younger!

Regulate Digestion

Water is a key part of the digestive process and can help keep things running smoothly. Improve the health of your gastrointestinal tract and prevent constipation by having a tall glass right now!

Relieve Aches and Pains

Headaches, migraines, joint pain, and back pain are all common side effects of dehydration. If you feel any aches starting to come on, start drinking up before it gets worse!

Have any more questions about how water can help you feel healthier? Don’t be afraid to ask!

Living Stress-Free Reading Alone Time

Simple Ways to Live a Stress-Free Life

It’s no secret: our lives are more stressful than ever. Modern society can be noisy, hectic, and overwhelming, but you shouldn’t let it get to you. Even though some stress can be unavoidable, there are many ways that you can change your habits to help you better deal with whatever life throws at you. Take a look at these simple, straightforward methods for living a more stress-free life!

Be an Early Riser

You already know that the early bird gets the worm, but did you know that the early bird also leads a less stressful life? Give yourself an extra 15 minutes in the morning to relax, read the news, catch up on social media, and think about your day. Leaving the house in a rush always starts your day off on the wrong foot, so walk out the door feeling calm and balanced instead. Your day will reflect your mood!

Stay Organized

Organized people are just people who are too lazy to go looking for something later! Keep all of your things in order and you won’t have to experience the stress of searching for them in the future. That old saying rings true: a clear desk is a clear mind! Keep both your workspace and your living space organized to feel more relaxed and in control.

Start a Hobby

Hobbies are not only a fun pastime, but also a great way to get your mind focused on things other than the stressors in your life. Try playing guitar, gardening, or painting – any activity that feels meaningful to you! You’ll find yourself feeling more fulfilled, at ease, and with less time to fret over unnecessary anxieties.

Exercise More

Exercise is great for your mind and even better for your body. Not only will you feel better about yourself, but you will also have a worthwhile distraction from your daily worries. Exercise also releases natural endorphins that will lift your mood and give you a more positive outlook on life!

Set Aside Alone Time

It can be difficult to get away from the hustle and bustle of modern life, but it’s extremely important to set time aside for yourself. Always focusing on the needs of others can be a stressful experience, so make sure you schedule yourself a bit of alone time to relax and think about your needs everyday.

How do you deal with your daily stress? Let us know below or share your tips with us on Facebook!