"GOD ...is able to do far more than we would dare to ask or even dream of --infinitely beyond our highest prayer, desires, thoughts or hopes."
Ephesians 3:20
"All big men are dreamers. They see things in the soft haze of a spring day or in the red fire of a long winter's evening. Some of us let our dreams die, but others nourish and protect them, nurse them through bad days till they bring them to sunshine and light, which always come to those who sincerely believe that their dreams will come true." - Woodrow Wilson
When I think of the word dream, many thoughts come to mind. One of those words is fun. Do you want to have fun today? The answer to that question is very simple--YES. So relax without any guilt and do not worry about the work that is not done. It will eventually get done. If I do not have a full schedule I want to have fun. I will needlepoint, paint, and even write my blog earlier. I even let myself enjoy work. Yes, work can be pleasurable too! If you decide to have fun, you must remember to LET YOURSELF ENJOY IT.
We all have dreams. Maybe not in the sense of remembering every aspect of that happy dream last night. A dream is a succession of images, sounds or emotions that the mind experiences during sleep. The content and purpose of dreams are not fully understood, though they have been a topic of speculation and interest throughout recorded history. The scientific study of dreams is known as oneirology.
When I wrote dream I knew people would think of the above definition.
Are your dreams your aspirations or desires? Are your dreams unrealistic? Is it your dream to want to be a star on the Broadway stage, or a famous writer with a book on the top 10 list? I know when I rid myself of unnecessary stress... clean 'house' of bad karma, pray and meditate for serenity and peace-- I can see my dreams more clearly.
Be grateful today and acknowledge all of your dreams. Open yourself up to try on a daily basis to achieve that dream to the best of your ability. Take responsibility for making that dream come true.
How do I go from dreams to medicine to plants... I will discuss the nervous system. So lets discuss herbal sleeping drugs. Sleep is not easily understood. There are many phases we go through when we sleep. It is not as simple as scientists once thought. Everyone goes through stages of REM sleep. REM is rapid eye movement. This is a stage of sleep where dreaming is associated with movements of muscle and the rapid eye movements. This is an active process of the brain. No one should disturb this stage or suppress the dreams. I do know that herbal medicines for sleep do not interfere with abreaction and are not powerful enough to suppress REM. Prescriptions or conventional drugs do interfere with REM. For this reason alone I would prefer to use herbal preparations to induce relaxation at night, thus helping the patient to get ready for sleep.
There are many remedies available. I love meditation and prayer before going to sleep. This alone may induce sleep. How can one induce relaxation? Lying quietly in bed has many recuperative powers. Of course, this is without the Nightly News, David Letterman, the Cooking Channel, or four books on your nightstand. Oh yes without your unfinished stitched canvas, too! Remember the older you get the less sleep you need. I do not understand this, but it has been well researched. The only advice I give to older individuals is to accept the idea of lying in bed awake. I know some individuals of that age group who do not accept this. But this is the process of aging.
When I think of the Nervous System, drugs are grouped into different categories. These are tranquilizers, anti depressants, sedatives, barbiturates and narcotics. The plant kingdom is no different, although it does depend on what book you are reading. At one point I should discuss the narcotic opium. Certainly, not my favorite with the exception of its long historical content, and the fact that Margaret Hamilton (Wicked Witch of the West) places a Poppy Field in the way of Dorothy, The Cowardly Lion and the Scarecow (Judy Garland, Bert Lahr, and Jack Haley Sr) during their trip to the Emerald City in the 1939 Classic, The Wizard of Oz.
One plant a day is my new motto. Starting with the sedatives. Valerian, Valeriana officinalis is a sedative. It is a hardy perennial flowering plant with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers. Did you know that Valerian comes from a plant with beautifully scented flowers? The flowers are in bloom in the northern hemisphere from June to September. Its flowers have a pleasant scent,so it was used as a perfume in the sixteenth century.
Native to Europe and parts of Asia, valerian has been introduced into North America. It is consumed as food by the larvae of some Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) species. I think it is beautiful on a warm day to see butterflies grazing the flowers of a garden. This is a serene moment. A moment of clarity. A moment of connection with nature.
Valerian, in pharmacology and phytotherapic medicine, is prepared from roots of the plant, which, after maceration, trituration and dehydration processes, are conveniently packaged, usually into capsules, that may be used for certain effects, including sedation and anxiolytic effect. I prefer Valerian tea or a homepathic remedy that contains Valerian.
All historical aspects of herbs have myths and legends. In medieval Sweden, it was sometimes placed in the wedding clothes of the groom to ward off the "envy" of the elves. Valerian has been used as a medicinal herb since at least the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Many herbs date back to this time period. Hippocrates described its properties, and Galen later prescribed it as a remedy for insomnia.
If you are already taking a prescription sedative, please consult your health care practitioner before taking any herb.
The photographs are of Valerian, and Woodrow Wilson. Do you remember who Woodrow Wilson was?
He was the 28th President of the United States after Taft and before Harding. His history as President in unique. He served 1913-1921, yet in 1919 he suffered a major cerebrovascular accident (stroke) which was concealed from the public for some time and revealed only after his death in 1924. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1919.
Think of song lyrics with DREAM in the title. Listen to these songs.
Until tomorrow...
No comments:
Post a Comment