This year I’ll be giving out healthy Christmas gifts.
That’s because we’re surrounded by poisons, in the air and in our water. Our food is contaminated with genetically modified ingredients. Our soil is depleted. This means we’re missing out on all of the micronutrients we need.
Sadly, in recent years, I’ve lost a number of relatives to cancer. Many holistic health experts believe this is due to systemic toxins, coupled with poor nutrition. Excess stress plays a role as well.
As someone who’s pretty much recovered from an “incurable” nerve disease, I know that lifestyle plays a big role in disease prevention.
So, this year, many of the people on my Christmas list will be getting at least one healthy gift. Last year, I sent my Mom, who lives in a faraway state, essential oils. I also sent her a cold-air essential oil diffuser. She likes using these aromatics. I like the fact they contain germ-fighting compounds. Since she’s 80, this is a big plus when she gets the flu.
I also don’t worry about her as much when she has a protective blend in the house. She likes doTerra oils, so I’ll be sending her some of this company’s germ-fighting OnGuard blend. (I buy my oils elsewhere, but I want my Mom to like her Christmas presents.)
Healthy Gift Ideas for Christmas
In addition to essential oils, once again this year, I plan to buy multiple packages of pure pink Himalayan salt for various people on my Christmas list. This is the type of salt we use in our house, for cooking and seasoning our food. We own no other.
Many holistic health experts believe regular table salt is toxic. It’s heavily processed. It may contain additives, such as aluminum. Years ago, we threw away all of our table salt and never looked back. Both my husband and I have felt much better since we ditched this questionable condiment.
Himalayan Salt Good Health
Himalayan salt, on the other hand, is good for you. It has a delicious and delicate flavor. It also contains minerals and trace elements often lacking in our diets. This natural pink salt adds these nutrients back into the food we eat. My hope is that my gift will help my loved ones stay healthy.
&
Essential Oils for Health Benefits
Stress is a modern epidemic. It can do a number of your health. Just about everyone I know seems to be dealing with one or more difficult situations. Although we can’t make these problems go away, we can give someone tools to cope.
When faced with a stressful situation, first I pray. Then I reach for my essential oils. Many of these plant extracts contain compounds that act as natural tranquilizers and mood elevators. It seems unlikely that something so simple as a whiff of patchouli oil or lavender essential oil can have a profound effect on your emotions. But natural healers have been using essential oils for years to treat the mind, as well as the body.
Modern research is catching up. The University of Maryland Medical Center even includes information on its website about how certain oils do seem to have a calming effect. According to the UMMC, various studies have found that aromatics help women relax during labor, reducing the need for medication. (If you’re pregnant, though, you shouldn’t use essential oils unless under the direction of a doctor or a midwife.)
The UMMC also cited a report that found neroli oil helped reduce anxiety in people about to undergo a stressful medical procedure.
I often inhale essential oils just before going to bed. I’ve noticed they help me sleep a lot better. Thanks to my oils, my chronic insomnia has greatly improved, to the point I don’t worry about it very much. (It used to pretty much run my life.)
Edens Garden Essential Oil Sets
The Edens Garden De-Stress Set, seen below, contains three blends designed for calming and relaxation. For specific conditions, aromatherapists often recommend using multiple oils together. This creates a synergy, more powerful than using oils individually. This kit contains three synergy mixes. It allows you to rotate your relaxation oils. For me, this seems to make them work better.
The Calming Synergy Blend contains lemongrass, sweet orange and ylang ylang essential oil. The bottle of Relaxation contains chamomile, geranium, lavender, mandarin, sweet marjoram and patchouli oils. The Stress Relief blend is made from bergamot, blood orange, grapefruit, patchouli and ylang ylang essential oil.
Edens Garden is a well-known American-based company that makes 100 percent pure therapeutic grade essential oils. This company has an excellent reputation. Whenever possible, it uses only organically grown plants, according to its website. The oils in this De-Stress set will make a unique and much appreciated Christmas gift.
&
Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffusers
People who enjoy essential oils might will undoubtedly appreciate a nice aromatherapy diffuser. This is one of the best ways to use these oils. They are too strong to be ingested. (Some people do swallow them, but this practice is generally considered unsafe unless you’re working with a well-trained aromatherapist.) That’s because these plant extracts are highly concentrated. I’ve heard varying estimates. But one drop of peppermint oil is the therapeutic equivalent of 15 to 40 cups of peppermint tea.
So diffusing the oils is a good way to reap their benefits. Here is an aromatherapy diffuser that changes colors as it runs, for up to six hours. It shuts off by itself when the water in the well runs low.
Color Changing Essential Oil Diffuser
&
Gluten Free Christmas Presents
Because of my nerve condition, fueled by excess inflammation, I’m on a gluten-free diet. But I’m not suffering. That’s because so many delicious gluten-free products exist. One of my favorites is Mary’s Gone Crackers. These are delicious organic brown rice crackers with flax and sesame seeds. They come in different flavors. My favorites are the Original and Black Pepper.
You can see Mary’s Gone Crackers Original Crackers below. Trust me, if someone on your Christmas list is gluten free, they will love these filling snacks. They’re especially great for when you’re traveling. You can easily pack them in a suitcase. They’re practically a necessity for road trips. It’s not always easy find gluten free food when you’re away from home.
&
Organic Tea Gifts
I found some pretty gift sets online. But they weren’t organic. So I’m not showing them here. That’s because of revelations that tea grown in China and in India contains unacceptable levels of pesticides. Some of these were chemicals were used illegally, since they were banned. These reports were compiled by Greenpeace. So I only buy organic tea for presents. A health-conscious recipient will be very appreciative of the fact you shopped organically.
The Portland, Oregon-based Stash tea company makes delicious teas. Here is a box of organic peppermint tea. It contains 100 individually wrapped tea bags.
&
Buy Amazon Gift Card Online
If you’re still stuck, here’s an easy way to please that hard-to-shop-for health-conscious person on your Christmas list. An Amazon gift card will allow them to choose their own supplements, herbal teas and essential oils.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. People with health concerns should discuss them with a doctor. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils, unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.
I’m not a healthcare professional, so all of the above statements are my personal opinion, and are not intended as medical advice.
Heather says
November 18, 2015 at 9:37 amgreat list of healthy gifts!
Organic Palace Queen says
November 18, 2015 at 2:44 pmHi Heather, thank you so much for reading.