Harvard Research: Flowers are the Perfect Pick-Me-Up to Boost Morning Moods

Recent research confirms that flowers might be the perfect pick-me-up for millions of Americans who do not consider themselves “morning people.” Participants of a behavioral study conducted by researchers at Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital confirmed that they feel least positive in the early hours but reported being happier and more energetic after looking at flowers first thing in the morning.

“The morning blahs, it turns out, is a real phenomenon, with positive moods – happiness, friendliness and warmth, for example – manifesting much later in the day,” says lead researcher Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D. “Interestingly, when we placed a small bouquet of flowers into their morning routines, people perked up.”

Dr. Etcoff is referencing the fact that participants in the study responded to the flowers, which had been placed in rooms they frequented in the morning. Overall, the participants reported they liked to look at the blooms first thing in the morning, particularly in the kitchen. The final study results demonstrate that flowers impact people emotionally at home, causing them to feel less anxious and more compassionate. They even reported a boost of energy that lasted through their day.

“What I find interesting is that by starting the day in a more positive mood, you are likely to transfer those happier feelings to others – it’s what is called mood contagion,” says Etcoff. “And, the kitchen is the place where families tend to gather in the morning – imagine how big a difference a better morning mood can make.”

Jenny’s Lavender Lemonade

Summertime and the living is easy…I made this delicious lemonade with english lavender (but you can substitute with any lavender)

Lavender Lemonade

Serves 4 -6

1/4 cucumber

1 small orange

several sprigs of mint & lavender

ice cubes

1-2 lemon squeezed

1/2 cup honey or 1/2 cup agave syrup

1) to prepare the lavender flowers, pull lavender flowers off them stem. gently squeeze the flower to assist in the expressing of the essential oils

to prepare the mint, remove leaves from stalk and chop or tear the leaves into small pieces

2) halve the cucumber lenthway &  thinly slice

3) chop the orange into small chunks leaving the skin on

4) add the honey or agave syrup to a  cup of warm water. stir until dissolved

5) pour sweetened syrup into a large jug. add water, lemon juice, cucumbers, orange, mint, and ice cubes.

6) top with lavender flowers

Sustainable Seafood Guide

If you eat fish,  choose sustainable fish for you, your family and gaia.  Click on the map for a link to the Monterey Bay Aquariums Seafood Watch Guide.

Come Join Us!

I will at this event  (Thursday 6-8pm ) offering custom flower essence readings. Please RSVP to reserve your time slot! A portion of the proceeds goes to help renovate the Iyengar Yoga Institute.

Boosting immunity with Essential Oils

We already know that food can be our best medicine. We look to herbs, vegetables and fruits to boost the immune system. But did you know that you can also boost your immunity AND protect yourself from infectious diseases through inhaling the essential oils of plants?

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Essential oil-containing aromatic plants have been used for anti-infectious purposes for millennia. Sewage, rotting garbage, sick people, environmental pollution, and other sources of unpleasant smells reveal the presence of proliferating microbial toxins. Without knowing the details of what pathogenic agents were present, people understood that where there were bad vapors, diseases lurked. Aromatic plants have been the primary antidote for these evil spirits. Traditional medical systems, such as Ayurveda, had a general concept of microscopic pathogens and knew that substances such as essential oils counteracted those toxins. ( referenced from “The Antimicrobial Effects of Essential Oils By David Crow, L.Ac. - http://www.floracopeia.com/content/monographs/26)

WHERE DO I GET MY HANDS ON THIS GOOD STUFF?

My friend Liz is an attorney who travels a lot for her job and she easily falls ill when she is on the road.  Her diet includes organic veggies and grass-fed meats, she exercises and she takes food grade vitamins. Her career, however, is very stressful and traveling puts additional stress on her body. Her biggest complaint is that she tends to catch colds whenever she travels. I put together a combination of herbs for her to take to boost her immune system and set her up with our new AT HOME remedy ( which will be available for purchase on our website June 6th).

AT HOME is a beautifully scented aromatic remedy that clears stagnant air; improving respiratory health, hydrating the nasal and respiratory passages. This comforting remedy diminishes the unsettling side effects of travel including nausea, jet-lag and stress.

AROMA | concentrated  plants oils of Silver Fir, Clove, Lemon Petitgrain & Jasmine rounds out the formula and adds a delicious scent to the formula. This remedy should be sprayed into the air and inhaled on the plane, hotel room or car.

ESSENCE | homeopathic sequoia essences helps you feel rooted to the earth

TELL ME MORE!

Learn more about the oils in our formula :

Silver Fir -  Santene, alpha-Pinene, 1-Limonene, Bornyl-Acetate, Lauralaldehyde, Decylaldehyde  | antimicrobial, antineuralgic, antirheumatic, antiviral, bactericidal, insecticide

Clove – Eugenol, Eugenyl-Acetate, beta-Caryophyllene, Methyl-n-amyl Cetone | antibiotic, antiseptic, antiviral

Lemon Petitgrain –  Limonene, Citral, Geraniol, Nerol, Linalol, Linalyl-Acetate, Geranyl-Acetate | the leaves and flowers of the lemon tree

Jasmine – Benzyl-Acetate, Linalol, Linalyl-Acetate, Jasmone, Indole, Methyl-Anthranilate  | anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, expectorant, sedative

HOW EXACTLY DO ESSENTIAL OILS BOOST THE IMMUNE SYSTEM?

The immunological functions of essential oils within plants are also directly related to their effects on human immunity. Essential oils are secondary metabolic byproducts which serve several physiological purposes, including anti-bacterial, anti-vital, and wound healing. The molecules within an essential oil can be thought of as the expression of the plants immunological intelligence; when we utilize essential oils we are using botanical immuno-chemical intelligence to repel and destroy pathogens common to both plants and humans, and to activate healing processes that are likewise similar in both. It is interesting to note that most aromatic plants are not vulnerable to common pathogens and pests that affect non-aromatic plants; likewise, those who have worked with essential oils during times of epidemics, such as distillers and professional perfumers, have a historical reputation of being less vulnerable to contagious illnesses. ( referenced from “The Antimicrobial Effects of Essential Oils By David Crow, L.Ac. - http://www.floracopeia.com/content/monographs/26)

We are so grateful to share Nectar Essences…

Wow – we are so grateful here at Nectar Essences. In the last month, our little home grown business has grown by 6  new retailers and we are overjoyed. We have been in business for 15 months now and we just added our 40th retailer. We are in the process of launching our new website and it should be up in the next three weeks.

A huge welcome to our new retailers :

CPMC – California Pacific Medical Center – Institute for Health and Healing – San Francisco, CA

Stillpoint Wellness Center - Holistic center in lower Pacific Heights, San Francisco, CA

Japonica – Floral and Gift Boutique in San Francisco, CA

In the Clover Beauty – a beauty and gift store in Wiscasset, Maine

Blue Vista Spa @ the Monterey Plaza Hotel – a beautiful spa in neighboring Monterey

Pavia Day Spa – a holistic day spa in Saratoga, CA (my hometown).

Wisdom Titles – another reason why I need an iphone

I have a Blackberry. It’s very functional. It keeps me in touch and I can type super fast without looking down. I even have a relaxing gong as my ring tone. But as much as I’ve tried to convince myself that I need a Blackberry because I am a business woman, the deep yearning for an iphone just won’t go away.

Now I have even more of a reason to switch to an iphone. My friend, Martin Adams, has launched a wonderful application for the iphone called “Wisdom Titles.” This app lets you read the best books for self-mastery from a cutting-edge ebook reader. Now, how could I ever read anything but an email from my Blackberry curve?

Titles such as “The Way of the Peaceful Warrior” and the “Power of Now” are books I’ve had on my list and while I would love to read them, these days I only get to read for about 20 minutes before my head hits the pillow. Wisdom Titles is the perfect solution for busy people, like myself. Now, all I need is an iphone and I can get wise.              

                                    

Quick and Easy Superfood Breakfast

Most mornings I start my day off with this shake. Try it and let me know what you think. You’ll want to go ahead and get the higher energy organic ingredients, trust me. It’s my savior when I’m on the road and eating out. On my last flight, I brought my powder onto the plane and the flight attendants wanted to know what was in it, so here are the ingredients :

 

organic raw cacao

organic greens powder

chia seed - yes, same seed as the chia pet

 

Ms. Nectar’s Superfood Shake

1 Tblsp organic Green Powder (recommendations below)
 1 Tblsp organic Chia Seed 
 1 Tblsp organic Raw Cacao powder*
 2 scoops organic Protein Powder ( i prefer rice or hemp)                                                                                                                                                                      

Variations : try 1 tsp organic Flax oil, 1 tsp flax seeds, 2 tablespoons oat powder, unsweetened nut milks such as almond or macadamia

To drink : mix this concoction with 2 cups purified water and shake well. I like to use a large mason jar. If you wish, you can sweeten with half a banana, 1 tsp of honey or agave syrup ( also add a tsp of cinnamon for blood sugar balance).

If you like, you can combine all dry ingredients and store a big jar of it in your fridge.

*When I get my raw cacao, I put it in the coffee grinder (* reserved only for herbs and spices) and make it into a powder. I store it in a glass jar.

Additional information : 

Live food resource : http://www.sunfood.com/Categories/1/raw-organic-chocolate-cacao.aspx

Green Powder Recommendations:  Pure Synergy or Metagenics Phyto Complete

Why Chia Seed?  : http://www.living-foods.com/articles/chia.html

Protein Powder: I like organic Manitoba Harvest hemp protein. I recommend you only buy organic rice protein ; rice protein is notorious for mold contamination.

New Retailers

Nectar Essence is bringing smiles to people’s faces everyday and as a company, we have much to smile about. Despite the increasing tension in the world economy, we are growing every day. Perhaps in these uncertain times, people are even more drawn to flowers and the soothing energy that they transmit. We would like to welcome our new retailers.

Newport Restoration Foundation Museum Store, Newport, RI

Naturopathica Holistic Spa, East Hampton NY

Juvenescence Wellness Center, Morgan Hill, CA

BioIntelligent Wellness Center, La Jolla, CA

P+A Furniture, Vancouver Canada

Scarlett Alley, Philadelphia, PA

Cambria Cove Catalog

Tune in to KEST 1450 AM, Thursday 8-9 am

Dr. John Nieters, Acupuncturist & Health Educator has asked me to be on his radio show, the Balancing Point this thursday from 8 -9 am. The show focuses on health, acupuncture, herbs, supplements & nutrition.

I’ll be talking about flower essence therapy and how flower essences support emotional and mental well-being. Please tune in!

I’ll also be speaking at the Living Healthy Expo this Saturday at the Santa Clara Convention Center. Please come by and say hello! I will be speaking in the Living Green Pavilion from 2:15 – 3:15pm.