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62 ways to feel great naturally: these gems work like magic to make you calmer, happier, and more energetic - Cover Story
Natural Health, May-June, 2003 by Amy Rapaport Karlson
19 Munch Berries
Dried schisandra berries (Schisandra chinensis) relax you fast when you're stressed, says naturopath Letitia Cain, N.D., resident at the Bastyr Center for Natural Health, a clinic in Seattle. Find them at natural food stores; chew I teaspoon twice a day. Skip schisandra berries if you're pregnant.
20 Stay Hydrated
To keep fatigue at bay, drink four to six 8-ounce glasses of filtered water a day. Drink even more if you're exercising strenuously or sweating.
21 Sample Something New
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Taste star fruit or another food you've never eaten before. Try a new exercise class. Making little changes wipes away mental cobwebs and gets your energy flowing, says Mira Kirshenbaum, clinical director of the Chestnut Hill Institute, a therapy center in Boston, and author of The Emotional Energy Factor (Delacorte Press, 2003).
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22 Ax Stress With Your Fingertips
To ease stress, pinch the bottom of one of your earlobes with your thumb and index finger. Maintain the pressure for two minutes, breathing deeply. Repeat on the other ear.
23 Munch a Brazil Nut
Just one contains your recommended daily allowance of selenium (50 to 100 mcg), a mineral that may prevent depression.
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24 Perform a Kind Act
Allow another motorist into traffic in front of you or run an errand for an elderly neighbor. Small generosities like these give both the doer and the receiver a little lift.
25 Sip a Cup of Calm
Unwind with this treat. Pour 1/2 cup of boiling water over a bag of chamomile tea (Matricaria recutita), steep for 10 minutes, remove the bag, and add 1/2 cup of warm almond milk, says Phoebe Yin, N.D., a naturopath and resident at the Bastyr Center for Natural Health, a clinic in Seattle. "Chamomile is relaxing, and almond milk contains L-tryptophan, which helps with relaxation and mood stability," she says. Skip this drink if you are pregnant.
26 Just Do Something
Immobility saps your energy, but taking action empowers and recharges you. "When you feel yourself haunted by worry, fear, and frustration, don't think of the best thing to do. Just think of a good thing to do, and then do it," says therapist Kirshenbaum.
27 Imagine a Fantasy Getaway
Take 10 minutes to fantasize about a vacation you'd love to take. Close your eyes and consider all the details: your anticipation as you step off the plane, what you'll wear, who you'll share it with. Retreat to this image when you need a break.
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28 Visualize a Waterfall
When you're feeling overwhelmed, picture yourself entering a cave behind a thundering waterfall, says life coach Beck. Imagine that your thoughts and worries have been magically moved to the falling water. From the safety of the cave, feel the water's cool spray and "watch the contents of your mind thunder past you," she says. Separating yourself from your thoughts and worries calms you.
29 Draw Citrus Bath
To lift your mood when you're feeling blue, add 4 drops of lemon (Citrus x limon), 3 drops of grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi), and 3 drops of peppermint (Mentha x piperita) essential oils to a small glass. Draw a warm bath and as you fill the tub, add this oil blend. Soak for 15 minutes.
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