The Holistic Wisdom Journal  

June 15, 2001 ~ Articles In This Issue...

~ Holistic Tips On Menstrual Problems: Including PMS

~ There Are Spirits In My House!

Holistic Tips On Menstrual Problems: Including PMS
By Lisa S. Lawless, Ph.D.
Holistic Wisdom C.E.O.

The most common menstrual problems are dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual bleeding), menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding), and amenorrhea (no menstrual bleeding). Then there is also the over diagnosed P.M.S. (Premenstrual Syndrome).

Certainly if you find that you are struggling with having a normal menstrual cycle which includes regularity, bright red blood, with no cramping, or mood swings; you should make sure that you have discussed your symptoms with you doctor.

I also highly recommend acupuncture for any menstrual problems. Personally, I used to have terrible cramps, and then after the birth of my son noticed that I was also beginning to have some mood swings. Life is stressful enough... who needs any of that! I had gone to a couple of acupuncture sessions before and mentioned it the next time I went. My acupuncturist began to treat me for my cramping and mood swings that came with my menstruation. Within 2 months, I had the most perfect menstrual cycle. I was shocked. What was a menstrual cycle without cramps, bloating, etc? Try wonderful! I confess I actually enjoyed that time of the month for the first time in my life!

My acupuncturist explained that it was stagnant "chi," or energy in my abdomen area that was not allowing my menstruation to flow normally. Needless to say, I was very happy with the treatments.

If you struggle with menstrual cramping or even severe symptoms such as excess bleeding, not bleeding, terrible cramping, mood swings, and many others, I recommend acupuncture as the second thing you do (going to the doctor, being the first).

Here are also some herbal remedies that may be helpful-

(As a precaution, please do not use any of these herbs if you suspect you may be pregnant.)

Chinese Herbalism:
~ Ginger, Ginseng and cinnamon for cramps and/or little blood flow
~ Cornelian Asiatic Cherry for heavy menstrual bleeding

Herbalism:
~ A warm bath with an infusion of cramp bark for cramps
~ A cup of warm Thyme tea in the morning and evening for excessive blood flow.
~ Catnip tea for cramps and pain.
~ Peppermint tea for bloating and pain.

Aromatherapy:
~ Clary sage- for cramps and to help regulate hormones
~ Cypress- for cramps
~ Lavender- for cramps
~ Geranium rose - heavy menstrual bleeding
~ Fennel- to help regulate hormones

Use in bath, on skin mixed with a light carrier oil, or apply a few drops to your handkerchief to put in your pillow.

Flower Essences:
~ Mustard for depression.
~ Scleranthus for mood swings.
~ Olive for fatigue
~ Crab Apple for feelings of low self esteem.

Vitamins & Minerals:
~ Evening Primrose oil
~ Vitamins C, E, B6
~ Magnesium
~ Zinc
~ Iron

There Are Spirits In My House!
By Lisa S. Lawless, Ph.D.
Holistic Wisdom C.E.O.

I recently received an e-mail from a very concerned mother of an eight year old girl who indicated that her daughter was seeing and communicating with spirits in the house. It gets more complicated as the daughter is scared of these entities and she has told her mother that they are chasing her. The daughter runs out of the house and does not want to go back in.

The mother has taken her daughter to the school counselor who does not believe the little girl and refuses to examine the spirits as a possibility. The mother expressed in her e-mail to me that she believes her daughter, but she does not know what to do.

This is not the first e-mail that I have received with this kind of dilemma. It seems that there are many people who experience "spirits." I know that I personally have encountered them, and I suspect that if you have not experienced communication with them, you have most likely known someone who has.

How can we dismiss something so basic to most of our religious or spiritual beliefs in this society? The majority of the people in the country are Christians. The Christian faith shows a belief in spirits & angels... and yet most every day people refuse to look at this as a possibility when a child is running out of the house, terrified of the "people in her room that are scaring her."

Being a mental health therapist, I have worked on in-patient psychiatric hospitals, and all other levels of mental health care. In every one of those settings I have found many patients claiming to have experienced something of this nature.

Now, I do not believe that everyone of them really had experienced spirits, as many of them were mentally ill and were indeed delusional. However, I do extend the possibility that some of them had experienced spirits. It may just be that part of mental illness includes an increased sensitivity to these energies which leads to confusion, disassociation or delusions.

So what did I say to this concerned mother? Well, here is part of my e-mail to her. (I have kept specifics out of this article to protect her and her daughter's identity.)

...First let me address the logical, mental health side of this, and then I will get into the "meat" of things spiritually. As a therapist who has worked with small children, I feel it important to first rule out the logical side of this matter.

I recommend that you have a local, professional therapist explore what is happening in your child's environment. When looking for this therapist make sure you ask them if they are open to your spiritual beliefs. Basic questions need to be answered. Questions such as: Has this child had any emotional trauma, physical trauma in their life? Are the parents divorced, alive, etc.? Has the child ever been abused verbally, mentally or physically? (If the answer is yes, is it happening now?) Often we humans create external crisis when we feel that there is something going on inside us that is overwhelming. Many children create fantastic stories to get attention. Getting to know the child should help rule out the possibility that the "spirits" are "made up".

The alternative way to explore this...

Your daughter may very well be seeing spirits that have passed on or whom have never even been on the earth plane. Children in particular are more receptive to these experiences as they are less prone to block their own psychic senses. I have a few suggestions-

1) Talk to your daughter in depth about her experiences, let her know you are
     open to her and that you are interested in what she thinks should be done or
     would like to have happen.

2) Allow her the comfort of being with you more frequently. If she wants to sleep
     with you, or stay close by, let her... these experiences can be a bit
     overwhelming to anyone and sometimes can be scary.

3) Check out the book "The Eagle And The Rose" by Rosemary Altea.
     She experienced these types of occurrences as a child and it may
     assist you in getting a better understanding of it. To buy it on Amazon.com
     click the following link- Paperback, $6.75

4) Develop your own intuition so that you are more "in tune" with your daughter
    and what she is experiences. Use your own psychic awareness to sense what
    will most help her and you.

5) Do some "clearing" of your home. Make sure that you pick up clutter in the
     rooms that your daughter experiences these spirits. Hold a spiritual
     ceremony with your daughter and spiritually "clear" your house. You can
     use essential oils such as Frankincense... (I buy all my essential oils from-
     Amaranthine or another one is- Wellington Fragrance.

6) Use Sage and burn it in a bowl wafting the smoke around the house...
     holding the intention to "clear" any negative energy or influences in the house.
     You can purchase sage and other new age items online through a store I hold
     close to my heart and know the owner of. It is based in Virginia (near
     Washington DC, where I used to live.) Here is a link to the online store-
     Terra Christa. There are other online stores that are probably cheaper.
     You might try searching under Wicca stores or new age stores, they usually
     carry items that will be helpful. During your ceremony inform any spirits
     residing in the house to leave to go to their own paradise that is waiting for
     them in the light.
    

(I always smile and think of the movie Poltergeist when I say that phrase... it's funny to think of all the pop culture that stays in our minds). I know this may sound like it is straight out of a horror movie... but there is some truth in those movies as to how you can "clear" a house.

The most important thing to remember is that all dark or negative spirits are afraid of light ,truth, purity, and all that is God. When you approach them with pure heartfelt love, compassion, wisdom, and spiritual power they can not bring harm. All that darkness is... is the absence of light. It is like a shadow... when you shine light onto it... it disappears as it is overwhelmed with light.

That holds true with dark spirits. Often they find that they can intimidate, manipulate children, and even adults... they do this because they come from envy, low self esteem, anger, grief, and are unable to find the light that they have within them... so they look outward to innocence... like that of a child so that they can feel powerful over.

Remember their power (based in fear) is an illusion... it is not real. True power comes from self love and love of others. From the pureness of connecting with spirit (God). Teach your daughter these things. Empower her to know that she is more powerful than any dark or scary spirit who may be angry or jealous of her life and her beautiful energy. That is why they may be attempting to try to scare her. Negative, dark spirits do what bullies do... they pick on others to feel better about themselves...even though it never really fills the void within them, and only furthers their feelings of being alone and cut off from their heart.

In doing a ceremony you may let the spirits know this. Let them know that you are tired of them being so angry, so caught up in pain. Let them know they are no longer on the earth plane and it is time for them to reconnect with their soul, with light, with the beauty that they have within them. Then end your ceremony with the phrase "So be it," or "Amen" to provide closure to it. Hopefully those ideas will assist you and your daughter.

Thank You For Reading The Articles Contained In The Holistic Wisdom Journal

...Namaste
(I honor Spirit within you,
as you honor Spirit within me)