Health

Massage ?not the areas that hurt

Some experts think that arthritic conditions or pain conditions in general aggravate and flare up trigger points, and that one can get additional relief to arthritis symptoms trough self massage.

The idea is not to massage the area where it hurts, but to find pressure tender areas in your muscles near the actual pain area, and massage them instead.

For example, if your arthritis pain is in your knee joint, then you would find and massage tender points from your quadriceps muscles.

Exercises -lose it or use it

Not moving will only make matters worse in the long run, it’s important to maintain as active lifestyle as possible.

Besides maintaining functionality, exercise can work as a natural pain medicine, because it helps to release endorphins, body’s natural pain killers.

Just a half an hour long walk, can be all what’s needed to release enough endorphins to make a difference.

Nutrition ? dietary supplements may help

While not everybody agrees that supplements are useful, there is quite a lot of anecdotal evidence to support them.

Now, more that ever, concerned physicians are beginning to ask about and understand the role of non-drug therapies to assist patients with headache. These therapies, alone or in combination with medications can significantly impact on headache treatment.

This pleases me. As a Family Physician and Clinical Hypnotist with thirty years experience in the field, I applaud this trend. Certainly, a capable and compassionate physician will struggle to assist his/her patient find headache relief by whatever methods, complimentary, traditional or both. Much can be gained if we look at hypnosis as a helpful tool in the battle for headache relief.

As our understanding of how the brain works and which compounds or “neurotransmitters” control our pain response develops, we begin to suspect that relaxation therapies including hypnosis, may alter in a positive and fundamental way our brain chemistry such that pain relief is more likely. An interesting study was performed with patients who learned relaxation skills. The researchers checked the subjects’ monoamine oxidase levels-since monoamine oxidase is what metabolizes serotonin, a pain relief chemical, and found changes in those levels consistent with what you would expect with preventive drug therapy! The study suggests that it is not just a matter of feeling relaxed that’s important but actually learning via these relaxation therapies to turn off and on certain pain pathways in the nervous system by changing monoamine oxidase levels and consequently serotonin levels.

The word Ayurveda is made up of two Sanskrit words ayur and veda meaning ‘life’ and ‘knowledge’ respectively. Taken together they mean the ’science of life’; in a more limited sense, the term is used to imply the science of medicine.

Legend has it that Brahma, the Creator (a part of the Hindu holy trinity of gods) first perceived it and taught it to his sons, Daksha Prajapati. Subsequently, Lord Dhanwantri, the God of healing and the teacher of the medical sciences passed it on the prominent Hindu sages Atreya, Bharadvaja, Kashyapa, Sushruta, Parashara and Charaka. Sage Atreya’s disciple Agnivesha is said to have written the original Agnivesha Samhita around 1000 BC which has come down to us in the form of Charaka Samhita. This text is considered an authoritative pronouncement of Ayurvedic doctrine.

The universe is made up of the pancha mahabhutas or five primary elements:

Fire (Agni),

Water (jala),

Ether (akasha),

Earth (prithvi) and

Air (vayu).

An individual similarly according to Vedic philosophy, is made up of five layers: the physical body which is the outer layer and four inner layers: the astral body, the psyche, the intellect and the layer at which complete bliss can be felt.

Natural Alternatives: A growing phenomenon across this world which is a very diverse concept yet very divine and instrumental in healing health diseases. It might be thought as any health care which is not a part of the mainstream medical establishment. Despite the tremendous disparity in philosophy, organization, practice, and origins of the myriad types of alternative medicine, the growing acceptance and use of these therapies is part of a single cultural phenomenon. It is also an extremely dangerous and pretty costly too.

Firstly let me deal with the critical differences between mainstream medicine and alternative medicine. And why the latter is cause for concern. In short, prescription drugs are a scientific endeavor, and alternative medicine is not. We know that alternative medicine (Natural Alternative) was being used in ancient times long before conventional medicine came into the scene. Mainstream medicine is finally taking note of the herbal industry.

More and more people are taking note of herbal therapies to treat various kinds of ailments in place of mainstream medicine. Herbal supplements are a type of dietary supplement that contain herbs, either singly or in mixtures. An herb (also called a botanical) is a plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor, and/or therapeutic properties. It is interesting to note that there were not so many mortal pestilence diseases in those days. What has caused this never-ending increase of deadly diseases that is inflicting such havoc on the body today?

Bee’s and Bee Nutrition

What is the buzz about bee Nutrition? Well, you cant get more down to nature then bee products. Powerful anti-oxidants, skin creams, supplements, and much more. Let’s look into the small world of nature’s busiest insects.

Royal Jelly

Taken as a supplement to promote good health and also for potent anti-aging and anti-oxidant qualities.

Royal Jelly is a creamy white liquid made by worker bees meant only for the queen bee. This substance changes a common bee into a Queen Bee, hence the name Royal Jelly. This miracle elixir also may extend her life from 2 months to possibly five years! Royal Jelly is packed full of essential minerals, proteins, B vitamins, amino & fatty acids, just to name a few!

Propolis

Propolis in its rawest form has up to 500 x more bioflavonoids than oranges. Propolis has anti-ibiotic, antibiotic, antifungal, antibacterial, anti-septic, and antiviral properties. Superior propolis must have high concentrations of resin and little wax.

Natural bee honey

Bee honey is well known for its energy, vitality and anti aging properties. Bee Honey in particular is known widely for its healing properties and even help in some gastric problems. Bee products have been widely know in the European community for some time now and just recently becoming popular on this side of the ocean.

Control Appetite

In studies of 105 subjects, it was found that people who inhaled a chocolate-like aroma when they felt hungry lost almost 3 pounds in 2 weeks. A research study of 3,193 people found that a whiff of banana, green apples or peppermint scents find out an average weight loss of 30 pounds in 6 months.

By sniffing the above aromas often, and remembering to smell all foods before you eat. This will make your brain believe that you’re eating more, while in reality lessening your appetite.

Boost Energy Levels The following scents stir the portion of the brain that enhance wakefulness…

Jasmine causes a high level of beta waves in the brain, which will rev-up alertness, drinking jasmine tea is agreat pick-me-up.

Stawberries and buttered popcorn will cause people who exercise to burn more calories.

Peppermint will also work to boost alertness. Chewing peppermint gum or eating a peppermint candy can result mid-day wake up call.

Freshly Brewed Coffee aroma and its connection with caffeine helps the brain feel the energizing effects without the caffeine rush.

Improve Your Romance

Men and Women are sexually aroused by scents, but smells that stimulate are not the same.

Body Work is more than just a massage, it’s a whole concept. Body work theororizes that within our anatomy, is a story of unresolved problems and past traumas — both physical and psychological. Body Work is a massage technique where deep, hard pressure is applied to the acupressure and related points of the blockages (in the body). This form of body work massage frees the client to release tension and feelings; is usually done through yelling, crying, muscular vibrations, release — then followed by an overall sense of well being.

A body work session begins with breathing exercises. (Preferrably with a selected partner) While breathing, the client’s eyes are closed. (Inhalations and exhalations are monitored.) Downward pressure is then applied to the intercostal spaces between the client’s ribs. Concurrently, feelings of sadness or joy may be revealed and released during this part of the body work therapy.

Body work focuses on the upper body first; gradually massaging downward. Chi breathing is utilized through the duration of the massage session to evoke feelings from within. Employing Chakra massage and gentle touch to balance energy in the body; body work “frees” the body of stress, tension and aids in overall well-being.

REIKI is a form of natural healing through direct application of Universal Life Force Energy, or CHI (the term used by Chinese mystics and martial artists for the underlying Universal force, otherwise, energy). Through Reiki, energy is thought to be effected by thought. Reiki implies that our energy can be shaped and manipulated by thought patterns.

Both Quantum Physics and ancient Metaphysics incorporate this unique understanding of Reiki. As in ancient times when Jesus walked our Earth, Reiki would be the explanatory cause to His miraculous healing touch. Research shows that prayer imporves health for those who are being prayed for; in other words, the thoughts have transcended to reality. Reiki is very easy to learn, simple to use and very beneficial. A technique of application, Reiki, utilizes an energy force commonly known as vibration. (This term is merely descriptive of how the energy feels.)

Reiki healing is performed easily as a practitioner places his or her hands upon the person to be healed, confident that the healing will indeed occur; then the energy strats to flow. (Reiki can also be performed on one’s self.) Reiki energy simply knows where to go, what to do when it gets there as if it is being guided by a Higher Force. Reiki’s energy manages its own flow to and internally of the recipient. Drawing from the healer the precise amount of energy which the client needs.

Stripped from the scenes from science fiction novels and films, shockwave therapy is a newage alternative to chronic pain sufferers. Utilized not only on humans for over 25 years for urologic and orthopedic conditions, shockwave therapy has even been introduced to veterinary and equine medicine as well. Helping individuals suffering from a range of conditions, including: golf or tennis elbow, stiff shoulders, calcaneal spurs, joint calcification, chronic tendon pain, and many other musculoskeletal disorders; shockwave therapy could possibly be the answer to help and healing.

To learn about Shockwave Therapy, I contacted Ms. LuJean Smith (Public Relations’ Director) of Siemens Medical Solutions. In an informal interview, I asked Ms. Smith a few questions about this revolutionary therapy and how it aids patients with healing:

[C. Bailey-Lloyd]: “Could you please tell me who developed and first began utilizing shockwave therapy?”

[L. Smith]: “German aerospace engineers realized the concept caused pitting or cavitation on aircraft parts. The first use of the technology for health care was for kidney stones in the 1970s.”

(*Through further research, I discovered that 98% of all kidney stones are treated with shockwave therapy, also known as lithotripsy.)

Ms. Smith explained exactly how shockwave therapy works:

How did acupuncture start?

The story was met with widespread disbelief.

During a visit to China in 1978, cardiologist Doctor Isadore Rosenfeld witnessed open-heart surgery on a patient, anaesthetised only with acupuncture. A major operation and the patient was awake! Nothing like it had ever been seen before in the west.

But acupuncture is over 5000 years old. There is evidence that it was practiced by the ancient Egyptians. South African tribesmen scratched their bodies to cure disease and the Eskimos used a simple form of acupuncture. In ancient China the Yellow Emperor’s bible on internal medicine talks about the importance of acupuncture for curing disease and restoring health.

Today, in China and Taiwan there are over 232,000 traditional Chinese medical doctors practicing acupuncture. In America there are more than 8000 qualified acupuncturists, 16 acupuncture schools and 2 medical schools teaching acupuncture. As a treatment it’s accepted and practiced worldwide.

What ailments can acupuncture treat?

Many people assume that acupuncture is used as a simple pain control technique. A technique where needles are inserted to interrupt the nerve pathways that send pain messages to the brain. But acupuncture is much more than this. It’s designed to treat any malady and works to balance the energy of your entire body.