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Tag Archives: sleep

The Disabled Diva’s Review of Earthley Good Night Lotion

Chronic Life, fibromyalgia, pain relief, Product and Company reviews, Product Picks, psoriatic arthritis February 17, 2019 Leave a comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do leg cramps or muscle spasms wake you up in the middle of the night?  *Yep!

Do restless legs prevent you from falling asleep? *Raises hand!

Weather changes like heatwaves or the pressure pushing in storms have always caused my legs to cramp and spasm.  However, prior to using topical CBD lotions and oils, leg cramps and spasms were an every day and night occurrence.

When I saw that Earthley had a lotion to help with restless legs, I just had to try it!!!

Although CBD lotions and topical oils are fantastic for restless legs, cramps, and spasms, they are also expensive!!! My first thought was how great would this be if it worked, because it would give those who couldn’t afford a quality topical CBD product an affordable option.

Wondering if Good Night Lotion from Earthley works?  Keep reading…….

*Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. Meaning that at no additional cost to you, I receive a commission when you make a purchase through my links. The proceeds earned fund the giveaways I host in my Facebook groups. I am not a medical professional and am not issuing medical advice.

Love at first night

OMG!! I was skeptical, as I am with every product that claims to help reduce pain or symptoms from my chronic illnesses. However, I was pleasantly surprised.

As you know, I have a long list of chronic illnesses.  They include, but are not limited to: fibromyalgia, psoriatic arthritis, degenerative disc disease, coccydynia, and abdominal adhesions (result of endometriosis and surgical scarring).  They all have a role in the pain that I experience throughout my body.  Each night, even after I have treated my abdomen all day with PEMF therapy and have vaped my evening dose of cannabis, I still struggle to get my legs, lower back muscles, and abdominal muscles to relax.

On that first night, I rubbed Good Night Lotion on hips, lower back, legs, and feet. At first I felt nothing different, but the label did say to do it 10-15 minutes before going to bed making me think that maybe there is a slight delay in effect.

I was right!! Soon after I crawled under my blankets and arranged my pillows, I felt the areas that I had applied the lotion melt.  Seriously, it felt like they had turned into melted butter.  Of course now the tension in my neck, shoulders, wrists, and abdominal muscles was more noticeable, so I applied the lotion to those areas as well.  I had the best sleep ever!!! And the best part was waking up without my muscles feeling tight or sore.

To put this product to the test, I continued to do the same night after night for an entire week.  I picked an amazing week to do so, as it was a stormy one!!  And guess what? I wasn’t woken up with leg cramps or spasms, nor did my legs feel restless like they would normally during that type of weather.

To further my test of the product, I discontinued use the following week, also a stormy week.  Can you guess what happened?  I experienced horrific spasms.  Seriously, knots so bad that I would wake up crying and screaming.

As you may have guessed, I quickly resumed use of Good Night Lotion.

I want to note that I am not stingy in my use of the product.  I don’t use a smidgen, I use a lot!  However, my body has always been deficient in magnesium which may be why I need more than what is suggested on the packaging.  But so far so good… I haven’t had any unpleasant or unwanted side effects from this product like I have from any other magnesium supplement I have tried in the past.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$$$$$$

The best part about this product, aside from it working better than I expected it to, is that even with the amounts that I use each night, it won’t bankrupt me!

It is available in two forms, one with lavender essential oils and unscented.  I am using the lavender one and haven’t had a problem.  And I am someone who has to buy almost everything unscented or for sensitive skin. Both cost the same amount and are available in 4 and 8oz jars.

As you may have noticed in the picture above, Good Night Lotion is on SALE!  Use promo code GOODNIGHTS to save 20% through Friday 2/22/2019 11:59pm PST. Click here to order!

Tell me more

Magnesium chloride promotes normal sleep cycles to help you stay asleep longer, while lavender promotes a restful sleep. This product is make with 100% clean, mostly organic ingredients, and is always free of parabens, fragrances, common allergens, and is now vegan.

Ingredients:

Good Night Lotion:
apricot oil
organic shea butter
organic mango butter
magnesium chloride flakes
candelilla wax
lavender essential oil

Good Night Lotion Sensitive:
apricot oil
organic mango butter
kokum butter
magnesium chloride flakes
candelilla wax

If you are hesitant to try CBD products or just can’t afford them, this option is just as good, if not better than many CBD topical products available.

Click here to learn more about Good Night Lotion and/or to order a jar today!

 

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Natural and Alternative Sleep Tips

Chronic Life February 12, 2019 Leave a comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you tired of being tired?

I was!

Want to fall asleep faster?

I did!

Does sleeping through the night sound like a fairytale?

There was a time when I believed that chronic pain from fibromyalgia, psoriatic arthritis, degenerative disc disease, coccydynia, and abdominal adhesions would never allow me to sleep through the night.

I tried every sleeping pill out there…. Unfortunately, I am one of those freaks who either suffers from the worst possible side effects or experiences the complete opposite effect of pharmaceutical medications.  With that said, you may have guessed that instead of inducing sleepiness, sleeping pills, both prescription and over the counter, kept me wide awake.

My only hope of sleeping was to take high dosages of opioids and valium.  This was a dangerous cocktail as I risked overdosing and those pills were also causing more health issues.

In 2012 I made the decision to stop addressing symptoms with pharmaceutical medications and to start experimenting with natural and alternative methods.  I am so glad that I did, because the results have been phenomenal.

I went from someone who often couldn’t sleep for more than 20 minutes and felt lucky to get 2-4 hours of sleep per night, to sleeping 7-10 hours every night.

And here is how I achieved it:

*Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. Meaning that at no additional cost to you, I receive a commission when you make a purchase through my links. The proceeds earned fund the giveaways I host in my Facebook groups. I am not a medical professional and am not issuing medical advice. 

Cannabis

I began with cannabis, specifically edibles. The reason I chose edibles in the beginning is that the pain relieving effect lasts longer than when I smoke or vape marijuana.  Edibles provided the all-night relief my body desperately needed.

PEMF Therapy

There are reports of how PEMF therapy can help with sleep disorders.  Click here to read some.  Whether it can or not, I don’t know… What I do know is this, PEMF therapy significantly reduces the pain and inflammation I experience from my chronic illnesses.  Less pain makes it easier to fall and stay asleep.  Click here to discover all the ways that PEMF therapy has improved my chronic life and then visit Oska Wellness to find out why it was able to help me.  (Shhh don’t tell anyone, okay, who am I kidding, please shout it from the rooftops, that everyone can save $55 with my discount code DIVA.)

CBD

CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid.  It provides muscle relaxation, calms anxiety, helps with depression, and provides pain relief.  And for those who don’t like the high that accompanies cannabis, CBD is the perfect alternative.  It provides much of the same relief without the high.

What form I use varies night to night.  Depending on how tightly wound my muscles are I may vape it or when I need a stronger dosage I will place 25-30mgs of a CBD isolate under my tongue.  Sometimes I unwind by putting the isolate into a cup of hot chocolate or tea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good Night Lotion

Each night as I am getting ready for bed (10-15 minutes before) I rub my legs, feet, belly, shoulders, and neck with Earthley’s Good Night Lotion.  It is a magnesium body lotion that promotes restful sleep, helps with leg cramps, occasional headaches, and constipation.  With all the storms that southern California has been hit with recently, I began having nightly leg cramps.  Eating a banana a day wasn’t cutting it, so I tried this lotion.

I have been using it nightly for the past two weeks and although the weather has yet to stabilize, I am no longer suffering from leg cramps.  Because of the turmoil that abdominal adhesions are causing within my belly, I have been experiencing horrendous muscle spasms throughout the area.  That is until I began rubbing my belly with this lotion.  Click here to learn more about it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow the leader

If you are like me and do not work outside your home or don’t have to follow a rigid schedule, listen to your body.  When there is a shift in seasons or a major weather upset, my sleep pattern gets thrown for a loop.  This often results in my living like a vampire for a week or two.  In the past I have tried fighting it, but that only induced a higher level of fatigue.  By giving in and allowing my body to sleep when it wants my body and mind get the 7-10 hours they need to function.  Eventually, my body gets back on track and I return to a normal schedule.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journal

Have problems letting go of the day’s events?  Try journaling.  Release your thoughts by putting them down on paper.  Journaling isn’t just therapeutic, it can also shed light to ways you can improve your life when you reflect on your entries.

What helps you fall and stay asleep?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Give your love the best Valentine’s day gift ever!

Chronic Life, fibromyalgia, Gift Ideas, Oska Pulse, pain relief, psoriatic arthritis, Valentine's Day February 10, 2019 Leave a comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Want to give your Valentine a gift they will cherish and use forever?!

Forget lingerie or jewelry! This year purchase something that you and they can appreciate and benefit from.  Give them and yourself the gift of pain relief!

*Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. Meaning that at no additional cost to you, I receive a commission when you make a purchase through my links. The proceeds earned fund the giveaways I host in my Facebook groups.

Seriously, give them the drug free pain relief device known as Oska Pulse.  It is something that you can both use.  It relieves chronic pain, pain from an injury, fall, migraine, sinuses, and more….

How does it do it? By reducing inflammation with pulsed electromagnetic fields.

Before daily PEMF treatments with Oska Pulse

Before PEMF therapy

The picture above is how I had to leave the house before I began daily PEMF treatments with Oska Pulse.  Chronic pain from fibromyalgia, psoriatic arthritis, degenerative disc disease, coccydynia, and abdominal adhesions from endometriosis and surgical scarring depleted all of my energy and strength.  I would get winded just walking from my bed to the bathroom located just a few steps away.  My feet, spine, and legs wouldn’t allow me to stand or walk for more than a few minutes per day.

 

After PEMF therapy

 

 

 

 

 

 

After PEMF therapy

This picture was taken three years after the one above and almost two years after I added daily PEMF treatments to my pain management plan.  PEMF therapy with Oska Pulse reduces the inflammation I experience from my chronic illnesses like nothing I have ever tried before.  With some patience, some relief wasn’t experienced for a few months, and commitment to seeing what could happen I went from requiring a wheelchair when I left the house to being able to walk on my own two feet.  Sometimes I use a rollator, but no matter what I am always walking.  The picture above was taken on my first ever hike!!!! This, this was what this device has done for me.  After 17 years of pain saying no you can’t, I am not only saying yes I can, I am doing everything I was told I would never be able to do again!!

I don’t know what kind of results you will have, but isn’t it worth taking a chance?  I am glad I thought so….

Don’t take my word, do some research.  Click here to read third party reports on how PEMF therapy has helped with a plethora of symptoms and illnesses.  You will quickly see how this device can improve the lives of well, just about anyone!  You can use it together while resting in bed or on the sofa or use it separately, either way you both win.

While you are at it be sure to see what others are saying about this fantastic device by clicking here.

And last but not least, to help you give you and your partner some much needed pain relief, I have a discount code to share with you.  Save $55 when you enter promo code DIVA at checkout.  Click here to check out this life changing pain relief product. Oh and one more thing! If you live in the United States, you get FREE 2 DAY shipping!!!!

This drug-free pain relief device relieves pain and inflammation like nothing I have ever tried! Click here to check it out and don’t forget that discount code DIVA will save you $55.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Simple Ways to Use CBD Isolate

CBD, pain relief January 31, 2019 Leave a comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I first began using CBD to combat chronic pain, anxiety, and depression in 2013. At that time the only forms I knew of and was comfortable using were tinctures, topicals, and edibles.  In the past year I gave two more forms a try and fell in love with them! Vaping and isolates have become my favorite forms of CBD.  What I love about using a CBD isolate is that there are many different ways to use it, it’s easy to measure, and since a little goes a long way it is also cost effective.  Here are two of my favorite ways to medicate with CBD isolates.

*Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. Meaning that at no additional cost to you, I receive a commission when you make a purchase through my links. The proceeds earned fund the giveaways I host in my Facebook groups. Any medical statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and this product is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure anything.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Straight up

The easiest and quickest way to consume a CBD isolate is to place it under your tongue.  It is flavorless and dissolves quickly.  Click here for milligram measuring spoons.  I have yet to experiment to see what dosage would work best for me for daytime use or to quiet an anxiety attack, but for night time muscle relaxation and calming I consume 25-30mgs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sprinkled

I haven’t tried cooking with it yet, as I have heard that if you cook at too high of a temperature the isolate loses effectiveness.  Instead I like to sprinkle it on a bedtime smoothie bowl or ice cream. I also like to add it to an evening cup of hot cocoa, but not until I give the cocoa a moment to cool off.  Again it has no flavor so it you don’t even notice it, that is until it kicks in!

My next project will be to make my own topical oil!

Anyways, if you are looking for an easy and affordable way to use CBD, I would recommend starting with an isolate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CBD: Does the form you choose make a difference?

CBD, fibromyalgia, pain relief, psoriatic arthritis January 22, 2019 Leave a comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So you tried CBD once and didn’t achieve the relief you expected…. Maybe you tried a different brand and still didn’t reach the level of relief that you hoped for…..  Or maybe you just don’t know where to begin.  While the effects can vary from one brand to another, the form you choose can also make a difference.

Before I share the forms and dosages I take for various symptoms, I want to disclose that CBD is just one part of my pain management plan.  I am successfully reducing chronic pain from fibromyalgia, psoriatic arthritis, degenerative disc disease, coccydynia, and abdominal adhesions with a combination of natural and alternative treatments.  Click here to learn more.

With that said, CBD helps me with many symptoms.  Below are the various forms that CBD is available in, which of my symptoms they help the best with, and my dosage.  When choosing for yourself, keep in mind that there is no right dosage.  You will have to experiment to find yours as I did to discover mine.

*Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. Meaning that at no additional cost to you, I receive a commission when you make a purchase through my links. The proceeds earned fund the giveaways I host in my Facebook groups. I am not a medical professional and am not issuing medical advice.  I am sharing my experience and results.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vape

I prefer vaping CBD for anxiety.  One or two draws from my cartridge is all I need to return to my normal state when I feel anxious.  Normal is my goal, not sedated.  Vaping to relax muscles and reduce inflammation will put me to sleep.  Because I take CBD in other forms, I don’t have to use my vape pen every day to keep my anxiety and depression in line.  Vaping is convenient and affordable.

Medical marijuana dispensaries often carry CBD cartridges and battery pens for much less than what is available online. For those of you who don’t have access to dispensaries or would rather order online, there are many quality options.

CBD vape options

BioCBD+ “I am Peace”: CBD cartridge only or Combo kit which includes cartridge, battery, and carrying case.

Soothe puff CBD vaporizer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Topical oils, balms, salves, and lotions

I use CBD lotions and oils daily! They provide immediate relief for minor muscle aches, reduces pain from severe aches, spasms, nerve pain, and stops reactionary pain in its tracks.  The best part about using topicals is that they don’t make me sleepy. I apply CBD topicals as needed throughout my day.

BioCBD+ Muscle & Joint Relief Topical Oil

Soothe Nano Relief Lotion

CBDfx CBD Hemp Cream

Tincture

Even though tinctures are the most popular form of consuming CBD, I personally do not use them.  The reason I don’t isn’t because they don’t work, because they do, instead it is because I have had one too many allergic reactions to the oils used to make them.  I do not know of anyone else who has the issue that I have, in fact many of my friends and family members love them and have had no problems at all.  With that said, tinctures are great for daily dosing for pain relief, muscle spasms, depression, and anxiety.  Like vaping, using a tincture will give you immediate results, which is important when hit with a panic or anxiety attack.

To use a tincture, place a few drops under your tongue.  How many drops and how often you will need to do it will vary from person to person.  Just remember that larger doses will act as a sedative.

The following recommendations are what works best for my friends and family:

Honey Colony

Remedi CBD Essential Drops CBD Tincture

Blue Moon Hemp Tru Blu CBD Tincture – Peppermint Flavor

Isolate

Medicating with a CBD isolate has recently become one of my favorite forms.  I take 25-30mgs of CBD isolate most nights, approximately one hour before bedtime.  I double my dosage when suffering from severe muscle tension.  Within an hour my mind and body are relaxed and ready for bed.  I add the isolate to a bowl of ice cream, a glass of juice, or just place it under my tongue and let it dissolve.  It is flavorless and effective.

MTN CBD Premium Hemp CBD Isolate Powder

CBDistillery 99+% Pure CBD Isolate Powder from Hemp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capsules

Capsules are perfect for the person who doesn’t want to measure dosages, like the flavor of tinctures, or is unable to vape due to respiratory issues such as COPD or asthma.

Follow manufacture’s guidelines for dosing, as not every product is the same.  Also, note that some products are stronger than others.  While I may need 50mgs of an isolate at night, I can also get the same result from one 5mg capsule from BioCBD+.

BioCBD+™ Total Body Care

CBDistillery Full Spectrum CBD Infused Softgels

Edibles

Medicating with premade edibles is the most expensive form.  With that said, if premade edibles are what you would like to try, click here to see some options.  FYI, I have not tried any of the edible products featured in the link provided.

Take away

To answer the question of whether the form you choose makes a difference, it depends on which form works best with your body and achieves the results you desire.  If one brand doesn’t help you, try another… If one form doesn’t work, try another….. It may take some experimenting to find the right form, combination, and dosage, but whatever you do, don’t give up until you have tried various forms and dosages.  Also keep in mind that you may need more or less from one day to the next.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Riding out the storm: How I deal with rain pain

Chronic Life, pain relief January 14, 2019 Leave a comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few days ago, I shared on Facebook how a cluster of storms heading towards southern California had knocked me down. The pre-storm pain forced me to take a day off from working on anything other than tending to the needs of my body. The pain and fatigue my body experienced decreased just as the first storm hit, giving me just enough time and energy to enjoy a few hours at Disneyland over the weekend.

Typically, I only experience joint/muscle tenderness and a low level of fatigue once a storm has hit. However, this round is a bit different as we are expecting rain most of the week. When dealing with multiple storm fronts, I have to make changes to how I live, work, and play in order to keep my world from falling apart. Today I am sharing my secrets to surviving a week of rain without losing my mind and body to pain.

*Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. Meaning that at no additional cost to you, I receive a commission when you make a purchase through my links. The proceeds earned fund the giveaways I host in my Facebook groups.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

React

I’m a weather watcher. My favorite app is the weather app on my phone.  I always have my eye on the extended forecast and watch for changes.  When I see a disturbance nearing I react by going into a mode of defense. I pay extra attention to my main pain source. In my case that pain source is my spine, from my the tip of my tailbone to the top of my neck.  When I experience swelling at any part of my spine all hell breaks loose.  To keep the inflammation down, I alternate treating the base of neck and my lower back with ice, heat, and PEMF treatments.  As you may already know, PEMF treatments are part of my daily pain management plan, but when weather increases swelling I increase the number of treatments I would normally run on a typical day.

 

PEMF therapy with Oska Pulse reduces pain and inflammation like nothing I have ever tried or have been prescribed. Promo code DIVA saves you $55.00.  Click here to check it out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rest

A stormy week is no time to prove how much I am capable of.  To come out of the storm feeling strong, I need to rest when my body wants to.  Multiple naps are not unusual, nor is sleeping later or falling asleep later than normal.  It is not uncommon for me to be awake at odd hours or to have my nights and days turned around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remind

I remind myself that storms don’t last forever.  Ramping up my pain relief treatments may feel burdensome at the time, but I have to remind myself that this I will be back to my regular routine once the storm ends.  I also remember how I felt after the last time I paid extra attention to my symptoms throughout a storm and vow to work as hard this time too.  Most importantly, I remind myself that I can’t control the weather and this upswing of pain and fatigue is not my fault.

How do you get through a week of wicked weather?

Pin Me!

How much do you know about CBD?

CBD August 13, 2018 Leave a comment

I am sure by now you have heard of CBD.  You may have heard how it has helped someone with their chronic pain, nausea, depression, anxiety, seizures, etc., but nothing from your doctors.  Your doctor may have never mentioned it or dismissed it when you asked about it. I and others who have benefitted from medicating with CBD, could talk until we were blue in the face about CBD and how it helped us and  you would still have unanswered questions.  So where does one turn to get those questions answered?

diva How much do you know about CBD pin*This post contains affiliate links.  Meaning that when you click on them or make a purchase I earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Thankfully my good friends at Green Flower Media have put together a guide to CBD.  Click here to learn more about CBD and its amazing health benefits.  Since not everyone has access to a medical marijuana dispensary where high quality CBD is usually sold, I am sharing my top three favorite CBD products that can be purchased online.

Bio CBD+

Bio CBD+ is one of my favorite CBD companies for several reasons.  The first is that their products work!! The second is that because they are so strong, stronger than other CBD products available online, a little goes a long way. I share more reasons in my product reviews.

Click here to read my reviews of their topical oil, capsules, and vape and find out all of the reasons I love this CBD company!

Click here to visit Bio CBD+

Triniti CBD

Triniti CBD addresses an issue many have with CBD oils; the taste!!! Not everyone likes the taste of CBD oils, to be honest I couldn’t stand the taste when I began using them.  Over time I got used to it, but not everyone does.  For those who really want to utilize CBD for its amazing health benefits, but just can’t put one more awful tasting drop into their mouths, Triniti offers flavors!!

Click here to read my review.

Click here to visit Triniti CBD

NuLeaf

Most CBD manufactures only offer their tinctures in one size.  Not NuLeaf!  They offer theirs in various sizes to fit your budget and needs.  I am in the process of writing a review for this awesome company and will insert it when it is done.  For now I will say this, it works wonderfully for anxiety and depression.  Same goes for their pet version! My anxious Chihuahua was calm and relaxed the last time my neighbors decided to set off fireworks!

Click here to visit NuLeaf

mmj online.png

Click here to get or renew your California medical marijuana recommendation

Click here to get or renew your New York medical marijuana recommendation

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