Magnifying the Love in your Life

Valentine's Day brings up different emotions for different people. Do you long to feel more loved and appreciated? Or maybe you're moved to shower those you cherish most with oodles of love? Read on for some of Dr. M's favorite plants, potions and practices to help magnify the love in your life- both the giving and receiving sides of the flow.

Pick #1- Hawthorne (Crataegus spp) is the Queen Of Hearts in the herb world. Her flowers, leaves and berries are all used as a warming heart tonic for physical, emotional and spiritual matters of the heart. From heartache stemming from heartbreak or disconnection from spirit, to an emotionally hardened heart finding forgiveness difficult, to heart disease including high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure and valvular disease, hawthorne has medicine to give. One of Dr. Mottola's favorite ways to take hawthorne is Hawthorne Solid Extract, Wise Woman Herbals, an extract of Hawthorne berries in glycerin and honey. Take it directly off the spoon, added to tea, smoothies, used as a spread or add it to your favorite recipes as a sweetener this season of love. Hawthorn delivers a slow acting, heart-mending medicine, with best results seen when taken long term- for 3 months or more ideally.  Over time, hawthorne can decrease the need for cardiac medications so individuals who consume hawthorne should have heart meds monitored by their prescribing physician. 

Pick #2 & #3- What better way to say I love you than the gift of massage? Whether it be a scalp massage/deep conditioning hair treatment for yourself or your love using NOW's nourishing Tranquil Rose Massage Oil, perhaps after a deliciously decadent rose petal studded, candlelit bath, to booking a massage as a gift to yourself or your love. Taking time out of your week to unplug, close your eyes, let the world fade away and receive the gift of therapeutic touch is sometimes just what the doctor ordered. In this case, that's exactly the case- Dr. Mottola encourages you to treat yourself or your honey to a massage at In Good Hands Bodywork with the fabulous Charlotte Cadieux. Write “self love” in the booking notes to receive $10.00 off your first session. Book here!

Pick #4- Aphrodisiac herbs are plants that can increase our access to pleasure by stimulating, nourishing, or helping sustain our sexual or sensual desires. They do this in a wide variety of ways depending on the herb- from dilating our blood vessels while improving oxygenation/energy flow to our heart and pelvis, to helping us relax so we feel more open to intimacy and receiving pleasure, to actually enhancing our pleasure promoting hormones and neurotransmitters. Did you know that Cacao (Theobroma cacao), the plant that gifts us chocolate and hot cocoa, whose latin name translates to 'Food of the Gods"is an herbal aphrodisiac? It stimulates the release of the neurotransmitter anandamide which takes its name from the Sanskrit word ananda, meaning "joy, bliss, delight," Dr. Mottola's next pick- Host Defense's MycoBrew Cocoa is a chocolatey drink mix that combines the pleasure promoting powers of cocoa with the neuro-protective, stress-relieving powers of Lion's Mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) with a touch of coconut sugar to make for a delicious love potion that is a pleasure to consume in and of itself while supporting a relaxed yet vital mind and body which may enhance your access to other pleasures! Incorporate this offering in your next date night or gathering of your beloveds. 

Pick #5-  The reduction in hormones that comes with late perimenopause and menopause can lead to vaginal changes including increased dryness and irritation that can make sex uncomfortable. What a drag! Topical, intravaginal estrogen creams/suppositories can help combat this. Talk with your doctor about prescription options or consider Dr. Mottola's next pick- Emerita's Estriol Cream which provides a locally acting topical solution that nourishes, hydrates and plumps the vagina leading to more comfortable, pleasurable sex. Best results are seen with daily application for a few weeks and ongoing application a few times a week thereafter. Please talk with your doc before starting this cream so they can advise about safety, efficacy and dosing that best fits your needs. 

We know that with time, intention and presence, this list will support you in fostering a curious, pleasurable and fun connection to your sensual self and greater access to and abundance of love in your life!  Feel free to include the above potions in your supplement order when taking advantage of our upcoming Celebration of Love Sale that starts tomorrow February 13th and runs through Valentine's Day- where we invite you to enjoy 14% off all orders placed!  It is our honor to extend this sensual gift to you!
 
Your presence in and support of our practice in the myriad ways you show it are so very appreciated! Please take advantage of our sale starting TOMORROW by placing orders directly with Colleen in ChARM, with Jessica by phone at 704-504-7901 ext 1, or in our online dispensary.

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