My two-year-old rarely sleeps through the night. I’ve heard that essential oils can help. What would you recommend?
Many people immediately think of lavender essential oil when looking for sleep aids. However, lavender can sometimes be stimulant so it can have the opposite effect.
A more reliable oil is sweet marjoram (Majorana hortensis or Origanum majorana). Sweet marjoram essential oil not only promotes sleep, it is also good for the respiratory system and is also a good antiviral oil.
You just need to use a little of this oil as it has a powerful effect – 1-2 drops in a diffuser to prepare the bedroom for an hour before the bed is enough. Turn off the diffuser before your child goes to bed so as not to overuse the oil and reduce its effectiveness.
If you want to alternate oils or make a bespoke blend, bergamot, Roman chamomile, neroli (orange blossom), petitgrain, sweet orange, and sandalwood are other oils that will aid sleep.
You can put this in a spray bottle with witch hazel and hydrosol or flower water (1-2% essential oil concentration – i.e. 1-2 ml essential oils per 100 ml spray).
I developed sciatica during my second pregnancy. It now flickers occasionally when I lift a heavy object. What treatment would you suggest?
The sciatic nerve extends through the lower back, buttocks and down to the back of the legs, which is why it causes such pain when it flares up.
Sciatica is the term used to describe the pressure on this nerve that causes pain and difficulty moving – which affects the lower back, buttocks, and legs due to the expanded nature of the nerve.
Sciatica can be triggered by a number of events, from pinching the nerve to a herniated disc in the spine. While men are more prone to sciatica than women, it is very common in women in later stages of pregnancy due to the added pressure on the nerve.
In the long term, if left untreated, sciatica can affect both the immune system and the nervous system. However, it is uncommon for it to cause permanent damage.
You can manage symptoms at home with proper exercise, hot and cold packs, and anti-inflammatory agents or medications as needed.
To learn more about which exercises and movements are effective for your particular situation, it makes sense to work with a professional who understands exactly what is happening in your body.
A therapist can also help you monitor your progress. This can be difficult if you’re still in pain.
There are a number of physical therapies that can help
Relief, including physical therapy, acupuncture, massage, chiropractic, osteopathy, reflexology, and yoga.
If you have severe weakness, lack of sensation in your extremities, and tingling or tingling sensations, you should see a doctor as this may indicate more severe compression along the nerve.
Loss of control in the bladder or bowel are signs that you should see a doctor right away.
Nutritional therapy is also worth considering.
Julian Whitaker, MD of the Whitaker Wellness Center in California, found that relief from chronic sciatica can be achieved by consuming large amounts of foods rich in potassium. Such foods include sweet potato, tomato paste and puree, beetroot vegetables, live culture yogurt, most beans and legumes, bananas, oranges, potatoes, plum juice, and carrot juice.
Good hydration is essential for all nerve disorders.
