Be your own Valentine with a healthy heart

Happy Valentine’s day. Today is a good day to remember to give some love to yourself in the form of heart health as it is so vital to your wellbeing. It’s something we should be constantly conscious about because heart disease is often called the silent killer. Many people don’t know they have it as symptoms are not always obvious. That’s why I love the American Heart Foundation’s GO RED acronym. It’s a reminder about what we need to do to keep our heart in good condition.

Physical heart health

As well as GO RED, further things you can do for your physical heart health are listed in my Valentine’s Day blog from last year here.

Emotional heart health

There can also be underlying emotional aspects to your heart health. Stress, anxiety, depression, loss, grief, anger, frustration, boredom, lack of enthusiasm etc. can all impact your heart. Types of therapies to explore for emotional heart health include:

Flower / shell / gem essences

These work on the principle of vibrational energy and stimulate the body’s natural capacity to bring itself back to homeostasis or balance. They are usually made by floating the item in a bowl of spring water and leaving it in full sunshine for a few hours. The water then has the energy signature or life force of the item. This water is then preserved in a solution of brandy and diluted to make stock bottles.

Find out more information on:

Flower essences through my practicing clinic’s sister site Yorkshire Flower Essences

Shell essences here.

Gem essences here. This site also outlines many other types of vibrational essences too.

Therapies that improve the flow of energy through your mind and body include

Mindfulness and meditation

These practices can help your emotions and as a result often help reduce high blood pressure. In addition, they help you get better quality sleep and help you feel more balanced. This all adds up to lowering your risk of heart disease.

See here for a good explanation of the differences between the two practices and some how to steps for each.

Hypnotherapy

Through guided visualisation, hypnotherapy can help reduce high pressure and manage pain associated with some heart disease conditions. It can also help you manage your emotions. Contact my colleague for more information on how it could help you.

Rekei, Bowen and Reflexology

These therapies can help improve circulation for heart health, manage pain and emotions.

Contact my practicing clinic, Ilkley Complementary Therapies for more information on which therapy may be best for you.

Acupuncture

Helps blood circulation throughout the body and specifically the heart. Also, through the mechanism of homeostasis, it brings the body back into a state of balance. Find a registered practitioner here.

Qi gong

The practice of working with vital life force through gentle breathing, stretching and meditative exercises. It revitalises body, mind, heart and spirit and brings all these aspects into harmony with the universe. Find classes here.

Polarity therapy

Developed by the chiropractor and osteopath Randolph Stone, it involves balancing the flow of energy in the body to improve or maintain health. Find out more here.

Grounding

Grounding or earthing, is a therapeutic technique that involves electrically reconnecting you to the earth. An article in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine concluded that grounding increases the surface charge on red blood cells and thereby reduces blood viscosity and clumping. It helps reduce cardiovascular risk and cardiovascular events.

See here for more information and how to do it.

Always seek qualified practitioners and always check with your doctor before undertaking new therapies.