Health Blog

Just in time for the three weeks of “just right” weather we’re likely to get, Houston, here are some good reasons to spend some time outdoors.

Step outside. How wild is the landscape you’re in? It could be a garden patch or the canopy of trees you walk under if you live in the city, and the wildlife that calls it home. Biodiversity, (defined as the variety of organisms that exist in a certain environment) human-managed or not, is an essential contributor to our well-being, physical and mental. We feel better when close to nature, which is why we need to redesign shared habitats to address this inescapable and worthwhile connection.

Navigating uncertain times is no small feat, especially for parents who are concerned about how to keep their kids happy and safe. Measures such as school shutdowns, frequent handwashing, and physical distancing that were (and, in some cases, may still be) in place to protect against COVID-19 have also contributed to a fair bit of worry among parents and kids alike.

While there isn’t sufficient data to recommend natural treatments for this particular viral strain, take heart in knowing there are ways to naturally support your child’s immune system so that it’s stronger and more resilient against infections that might come their way, including those caused by seasonal cold and flu viruses.

As summer rapidly bounds towards its close, we turn our minds to the next phase of our year: the start of school, the beginning preparations for the parade of holidays as the earth changes seasons, slowly turning from the oppressive heat of this height of summer to the cold, brisk temperatures of winter. These changes in seasons can cause added stress to already busy lives, as our day planners begin to fill with activities when there are only so many hours in a day.

At BetsyHealth, we believe that you can be prepared for anything, from concurrent soccer games for your high schooler and eighth grader to that holiday dinner when 24 people crowd your dining room table and every chair in the house, including the lopsided cane back that little Joey used to prove his hacksaw could cut through anything, spreads out before you in an odd mixture of blessing and embarrassment.

This back-to-school season, don’t just stock up on books and other supplies; consider adding essential oils to help enhance your learning experience! 

What is aromatherapy?

When we talk about aromatherapy, we’re talking about the therapeutic use of natural oils that are extracted from flowers, plants, trees, resins, and other botanical elements in nature.

From the second your alarm clock jars you into consciousness, your brain processes the sights, sounds, thoughts, and stressors you experience throughout your day. Exposure to a constant barrage of email notifications and the endless to-do list running the monologue of the mind makes up just a smidgen of what the brain has to process. And considering the increase of stress and anxiety since the onset of the pandemic, we all need some serious R&R.

A logical solution to overstimulation is to reduce stimulation, and one such way is to practice silence. Researchers now acknowledge that silence plays a significant role in healthy human physiology, well-being, and spirituality.

While escaping to the woods for a seven-day silent retreat would likely work wonders to calm the mind, it’s just not feasible (or desirable) for most of us to live in silence for the rest of our lives just to keep stress at bay.

But you can find moments throughout your day to create a special retreat from the many stressors constantly surrounding you by practicing intermittent silence.