Therapeutic Hands Blog

How Day Spas Actually Stress You Out!

2011-08-24T21:33:00.006-05:00

The Reasons you need to get a massage at your place avoiding the spas and have the most relaxing time of your week!

Many day spas have an assembly-line approach that leaves you feeling like "the clock was ticking." Most of the popular day spas have a never-ending revolving door of massage therapists working for them. As soon as you find a massage therapist you like, they're gone.

Combine that with the added stress of commuting to and from your appointment, wasting precious time you may not have, fighting through bad weather, traffic, etc.

Suddenly a trip to a day spa might not be as relaxing as it first seemed. Did you know that those interferences can often prevent or, even worse, reverse the benefits of a wonderful massage?

In today's hectic world, people more than ever want and need a relaxing, stress-reducing massage but don't have the extra time or energy to get in their car and drive yet again to another location.

Between the frustrating daily commute, long work hours and family priorities, it's getting more and more difficult to take time for yourself and squeeze everything into a single day.

Finally there's a solution just for you!

The benefits to let the massage come to you are numerous! Among them are...

No traveling required! Enjoy the pleasure of staying in your own comfortable surroundings and holding onto the benefits of your massage longer without any outside interruptions.

No miserable or dangerous weather you'll have to risk driving through.

You don't have to listen people talking on hallways of the spa, phones ringing and getting dressed without taking a shower (most of day spas don't have showers).

You save time for yourself at your place: you can start relaxing before your massage by taking a hot shower or hot bath, drinking a hot tea, listening to your favorite music and read that book you have been waiting to have the time to read it!

Keeping your blood pressure low by completely eliminating the stress of traffic jams, construction and aggravation.

Did you know that...

Therapeutic massage is a natural, healthier response to stress or pain than aspirin or other pills and drugs. Massage is also advocated by most traditional as well as alternative doctors.

Provides Muscle relaxation. Massage has been found to dramatically reduce stress by relieving muscular tension and stiffness as well as aid in relaxation of the muscles.

Provides pain reduction. Because massage can reduce muscle spasm and give comfort to aching muscles, those who have back pains or muscle pains often go to massage centers to alleviate pain.

Provides enhancement of blood circulation. This is why those who are diagnosed with circulatory problems are often encouraged to receive massage therapies.

Improves flexibility, athletic performance and range of motion. It's not a surprise that many athletes indulge in massage. Not only does this improve their performance, it is also a good way to prevent injuries.

Provides easy rehabilitation. Massage facilitates easy recovery from an injury such as a leg sprain.

Is a good treatment and improvement of some medical conditions such as Arthritis, Hypertension and musculoskeletal problems.

Relieves pain from exercise and sports-related activities. People who participate in all kinds of physical activities often say that regular massage improves their performance thanks to improved flexibility, range of motion and pain-free movement.

Helps in Stress Management. Experts show that a high number of health problems root from stress. Stress from work, relationships and day-to-day living contribute largely too many diseases. And because it's impossible to eradicate stress on the face of the earth, a good option is proper stress management. Massage is an effective way of managing stress because it allows to you to have momentary peace of mind and a relaxed mental state which are important in keeping yourself mentally healthy.

Helps reduction of anxiety and fatigue. Better sleep quality. It is for this reason why people diagnosed with insomnia love getting massages.

True enough, the value of massage therapy is priceless. With the countless benefits to get a massage at your place, it is just right to treat yourself with a session every once in a while.As awareness grows and misconceptions fade regarding the value of massage therapy, more and more people are discovering the profound benefits available to them through regular body work.

Getting regular massage treatments should be part of your normal health program. It should be viewed just like diet and exercise. This is something that you should do on a daily basis. It is important not to wait to you need a massage, but rather get one before the need arises.

So what are you waiting for?

Invest in yourself

Invest in your health

Angela Lind
Licensed Massage Therapist
Lic#MA45645
www.therapeutic-hands.com

News: Massage helped 2 women that medication couldn't

2011-08-18T17:59:00.000-05:00

Massage more effective for low back pain than standard care.

2011-07-06T18:57:00.001-05:00

Low back pain is one of the most common reasons patients see a physician. Massage therapy is frequently used as an alternative treatment for chronic low back pain, but there is limited evidence as to its effectiveness. According to a new study, massage may be more effective than usual medical interventions for improving pain and function in patients with chronic low back pain.

The High Price on High Heels

2010-08-30T00:06:00.009-05:00

You like high heels. When you are wearing high heels your legs are beautiful. You probably think high heels are the height of elegance. You should know that high heels can affect your health. Wearing high heels is your choice, but you should at least be aware of the problems related to high heals. Women have four times as many foot problems as men. Wearing high heels is a major reason for this. Physical problems associated with high heels include foot pain, foot deformities, a change in back posture, knee osteoarthritis and balance impairment.

High heels dangerous to your health

The idea that high heels can be hazardous to your health isn't new—orthopedists have warned women for years that high heels can contribute to the development of a variety of conditions from corns and calluses to hammertoes, arthritis, chronic knee pain, sprained ankles and back problems.

Orthopedists think that high heels can contribute to the development of a variety of conditions like arthritis, chronic knee pain, sprained ankles and back problems. High heels can also result in a variety of foot problems. High heels could be the cause of knee osteoarthritis, a painful, degenerative joint disease. The knee osteoarthritis is characterized by the breakdown of the cartilage surrounding the knee.

High heels and headaches: Wearing high heels on a regular basis can cause toe pain, mid foot pain, heel pain, ankle pain, knee pain, hip pain, lower back pain, mid back pain, upper back pain, and headaches. When you wearing high heels that cause unnecessary stress on your ankles, knees, pelvis, and potentially throughout your entire spine. The compensatory changes that result from wearing heels can cause the muscles behind your neck to be stiff, putting pressure on nerves that can result in chronic headaches.

The Knees: High heels cause much more pressure to be exerted on the knees. The force that causes such pressure is more than what the knees are designed for, and can give rise to a condition called osteoarthritis.

Posture: Consider that when you tip you cause all your weight to be projected towards the ball of your feet. You will involuntarily adjust your posture to compensate for a shift in your center of gravity. This is a similar occurrence to wearing high heels, and it will be worse because the feet will be in a fixed position. A woman will have to bend her spine in the lower back more to keep her balance. Women may wonder where certain back, shoulder and neck pain may come from. Well, high heels are a prime cause of such pain in the torso.

The Lower Legs: The calves will tend to retain the contracted and shortened state due to the feet being in high heels. The calf muscles may become difficult or virtually impossible to straighten without medical intervention. A similar condition can occur with the Achilles' tendon where it too can retain it's shortened state even when a woman is not wearing heels.

Lower back pain and Sciatica: High heels make you raise your heel and as soon as you do that your center of gravity is pushed forward.What happens then is you bend your lower back to compensate for this and that changes the position of your spine, putting pressure on nerves in the back. This can cause sciatica, a painful condition where nerves become trapped, triggering pain and numbness as far down as the feet.

Achilles Tendonitis: Another common problem, is that the Achilles tendon – which runs up the back of the leg from the heel – becomes permanently damaged. This tendon is designed to be flexible, so the foot can lie flat or point. But many women who wear high heels too often suffer a shortening of the tendon because once the heel is pointed upwards, it tightens up. Stretching it again can be very painful.When you try to put your foot into flat shoes you get a lot of pain in the back of the heel. 70-year-olds still hobbling around in high heels because they can’t put their feet flat any more, because it’s just too painful.

Can't give up high heels? If you can't imagine life without your favorite accessory, just make adjustments. Fashion and comfort don't have to be at odds.

Wear Properly Fitting Shoes

-Choose comfort rather than style or fashion. This should rule shoe selection.

-Judge shoes by how they fit, not by the size marked on the box; shoe sizes vary by brand and style.

-Have both feet measured when you purchase shoes; foot size increases with age.

-Fit shoes to your longest foot; most people have one foot that is larger than the other.

-Avoid high-heels and shoes with pointed or tapered toes.

-Fit shoes at the end of the day when your feet are their longest.

-Try on both shoes and walk a few steps to make sure they are comfortable.

-When the shoes are on, wiggle your toes to ensure that you can move them freely.

-Keep in mind this basic principle: Your shoes should conform to the shape of your foot. Your feet should never conform to the shape of your shoes.

-Mix in flats and low pumps to your daily shoe wardrobe. Save your high heels for special occasions.

-Wear flats for walking distances. You can bring your heels to change into once you get to where you're going.

-Take smaller steps in high heels. Put your heel down first and try to glide to minimize damage to feet.

-Try to buy short, chunky heels with plenty of room for your toes. Lower heels usually give you more stability, better shock absorption and greater comfort.

-Avoid wearing backless heels for any length of time because they strain your muscles. A strap or laces over the instep will also keep feet from sliding forward.

-Stretch your calf, heel and foot muscles to help them relax and increase range of movement.

-Treat them to a soak or massage at day's end.

-Lastly, if you suffer foot or ankle pain, see a doctor. Foot problems are harder to treat once they become chronic.

Angela Lind. LMT

www.therapeutic-hands.com

Be Healthy ~ Clean Green

2010-03-27T22:38:00.004-05:00

Cleaning might be a chore, but it doesn't have to be toxic, too! Safer products and practices are available and easy. Why not go green when you clean? Your family's health is (naturally) worth it.

WHY YOU SHOULD CLEAN GREENER

It's straightforward: There are health risks associated with many conventional cleaning products. These products can contain ingredients linked to asthma, cancer, reproductive toxicity, hormone disruption, neurotoxicity and other health effects. People who use or are around cleaning products at home or on the job may increase their risk of developing asthma or triggering asthma attacks.

Children accidentally exposed to harsh, corrosive cleaners can suffer burns to skin and eyes, and inhaling the fumes can cause lung damage. Exposure to low levels of these chemicals over a lifetime may increase the risk of developing serious health conditions, such as cancer or reproductive problems.

HOW TO CHOOSE GREENER CLEANING SUPPLIES

To pick a safer cleaner, you need to:
Find out what's in your cleaning supplies.

If you want to know what ingredients are in your cleaning products, you probably won't find them on the label (with a few exceptions).

Instead, you'll need to call the company or try looking on the product manufacturer's website, because manufacturers are not currently required to label their products with a full list of ingredients. Some companies will provide more information if you call or, increasingly, you can check the product's website. There is also new industry website to check called "Ingredient Central," where you can start your hunt for ingredients in a wide range of cleaning supplies.

It can be challenging to track cleaning ingredients down because the government doesn't require that cleaning products carry a list of ingredients, or even that products and ingredients are tested for health and safety. There are a few exceptions, like antibacterial cleaning products. These contain pesticides that have undergone testing overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency and the pesticide content must be on the label. In California, cleaning supplies that emit certain state-identified carcinogens and reproductive toxins at levels above health-based limits must have a warning label.

Once you know the ingredients, you should avoid these:

2-butoxyethanol (or ethylene glycol monobutyl ether) and other glycol ethers.

Alkylphenol ethoxylates (some common ones are: nonyl- and octylphenol ethoxylates, or non- and octoxynols).

Dye (companies often hide chemical information behind this word; when it's unknown, it's safer to skip it).

Ethanolamines (common ones to look out for are: mono-, di-, and tri-ethanolamine).

Fragrance

Pine or citrus oil (on smoggy or high ozone days, compounds in the oils can react with ozone in the air to form the carcinogenic chemical formaldehyde).

Quaternary ammonium compounds (look out for these: alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (ADBAC), benzalkonium chloride, and didecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride).

TIPS FOR CLEANING GREENER AT HOME

Do them all today or take it step by step -- whatever works to get you cleaning greener!

Less is more: Dilute your cleaning supplies according to instructions and use only what's needed to get the job done.

Open the window: Clean with windows and doors open so you don't trap air pollution inside your home.

Use gloves and other precautions: Cleaning chemicals may harm or penetrate skin and eyes -- check warning labels.

Keep kids away:Children are more vulnerable to toxic chemicals. If they like to help, let them clean with soap and water, not toxic cleaners.

Avoid "antibacterial": If your family is generally healthy, there's no need to use potentially toxic "antibacterial" products, according to the American Medical Association. Wash your hands with plain soap and water.

Never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar, or other acids: These combinations can produce deadly gases.

Don't be fooled by labels -- buy certified green products: Label claims aren't always true. Cleaning supplies certified by Green Seal or EcoLogo meet green standards.

Try natural alternatives: Experiment with non-toxic options like vinegar (great for windows when diluted with a little water -- wipe with old newspaper or rags) and baking soda (mix with water to form a paste for scrubbing). Of course mix with care; some ingredients are dangerous when combined.

Take care with pine and citrus oil cleaners:Avoid using these cleaners especially on smoggy days, when the ingredients can react with ozone to produce cancer-causing formaldehyde.
Skip the biggest hazards: Avoid air fresheners, use a baking soda and water paste to clean the oven and tackle toilet stains, and use a mechanical snake to unclog the drain.

Dispose of your old toxics safely: If you choose to toss your old cleaners instead of using them up, drop them off at your local hazardous waste facility. Don't pour cleaning supplies down the drain -- some of the ingredients can harm wildlife as well as people.

In the Kitchen:

Skip the biggest kitchen hazards, use safer alternatives: Replace oven cleaners with a baking soda and water paste and corrosive drain cleaners with baking soda and vinegar or a mechanical snake.

Fight germs without nasty chemicals: Microwave your sponge -- wet it and zap for two minutes to kill germs.

More non-toxic ways to fight germs: Wash your hands often with regular soap and water -- no need for "antibacterial" soap. Wash dishes and clean counters frequently so germs don't collect and avoid "antibacterial" dish soap. Take out the garbage regularly to avoid germs, pests, and bad odors.

In the Bathroom:

Skip the biggest bathroom hazards, use safer alternatives: Scrub toilets with baking soda and water instead of an acidic toilet-bowl cleaner. Use baking soda and vinegar or a mechanical snake instead of corrosive drain cleaners when you have a clogged drain (prevent clogs by using a drain cover).

Fight germs without nasty chemicals: Focus on the toilet -- keep germs isolated by tossing toilet cleaning rags into the wash right away and keeping the scrub brush in an out-of-the-way spot.

More non-toxic ways to fight germs:Wash your hands often with regular soap and water -- no need for "antibacterial" soap. Wipe down showers after each use to prevent mold and mildew.

Forgo air fresheners: Air fresheners are unnecessary and potentially harmful. They only disguise odors, while pumping a bunch of potentially toxic chemicals into the air. Open a window, run a fan, and try to identify and clean up the real source of the smell. A box of baking soda is another safe way to eliminate odor.

Your Floors and Furniture:

Sweep and vacuum frequently to remove dust, which often harbors household toxins.

Mop with a dilute vinegar solution (e.g., ¼ cup vinegar in 1 quart of water).Try a microfiber mop to remove dust and dirt efficiently while using smaller amounts of both water and cleaning supplies.

Dust with a soft or microfiber cloth and skip dusting sprays.

Clean spills promptly so they are more easily removed with less toxic products.

INVESTIGATE ALTERNATIVES TO IN-HOME PESTICIDES

It's best to keep pesticides away from your home -- in and out. At-home exposures are one of the main ways people are exposed to pesticides, and since they're designed to kill, they can (not surprisingly) be dangerous to living beings (people, pets, wildlife).

Lawn and garden care. Organic gardening and lawn care is effective, and "how to" advice is readily available. Organic is healthier for your kids, pets and the environment than chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.

Indoor pest control. Try preventive and non-toxic alternatives first, there are lots of effective options that don't contain pesticides. Pesticides should be a last resort. While pesticides must be listed on product labels, the other inert ingredients usually aren't and inert ingredients aren't necessarily safe.

Pet treatments.Ridding your pets of bothersome and harmful pests presents a unique challenge since pests (like ticks) can carry disease, but pesticides can harm the pet as well as human family members. Try some simple prevention steps, like frequent bathing and combing, and of course vacuuming to catch any bugs and their eggs. If you choose to apply pesticides to your pet, follow the product's instructions, wash hands immediately, and be sure young children are unlikely to have contact with the pet for 24 hours. The US EPA offers tips for pet owners who use pesticides to do so with caution to reduce adverse effects on treated pets.

Thanks to the Environmental Working Group for this great information.

www.therapeutic-hands.com

Alkalize your Body for Optimum Health

2010-03-23T11:55:00.011-05:00

Research shows that unless the body's pH level is slightly alkaline, the body cannot heal itself. So no matter what means you choose to take care of your health, it won't be effective until the pH level is balanced. If your body's pH is not balanced, for example, you cannot effectively assimilate vitamins, minerals and food supplements. Your body pH affects everything.

Acidosis will decrease the body's ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients, decrease the energy production in the cells, decrease it's ability to repair damaged cells, decrease it's ability to detoxify heavy metals, make tumor cells thrive, and make it more susceptible to fatigue and illness.

An acidic pH can occur from an acid-forming diet, emotional stress, toxic overload, and/or immune reactions or any process that deprives the cells of oxygen and other nutrients. The body will try to compensate for acidic pH by using alkaline minerals. If the diet does not contain enough minerals to compensate, a build up of acids in the cells will occur.

Most of us aren’t aware of what foods causes an increase of acid vs. alkaline. Having your body in a more alkaline state is what you want. The benefit of having less acid and more alkaline is better health and thus fewer diseases. Think of it this way, when your body is full of acid, it is in a constant state of trying to regain its balance. Your body is open to all kinds of diseases that it cannot fight off because it is at a low. Fatigue, migraines, heartburn, diabetes, Osteoporosis, joint pain, weight gain and obesity, etc. could all be avoided in an alkaline body.

SWIM OR SINK

Think of your body as a fish tank. Imagine the importance of maintaining the integrity of the internal flu ids of the body that we swim in daily. Imagine the fish in this tank are your cells and organ systems bathing in the fluids, which transport food and remove waste. Now imagine I back up my car and put the tailpipe up against the air intake filter supplying oxygen to the water in the tank. The water becomes filled with carbon monoxide lowering the pH, creating and acidic environment and threatening the health of the (fish), (your cells and organs). What if throw in too much food or the wrong kind of food and the fish are unable to consume or digest it all and the food starts to decompose and putrefy? Toxic waste chemicals build up as the food breaks down, creating more acidic by-products, altering the optimal pH. This is a small example of what we are doing to our internal fluids daily, some of us more than others. We are polluting our internal flu ids with acidic toxins like nicotine, drugs, excessive in take of acid forming foods, acidic beverages and social drugs such as coffee, carbonated beverages and alcohol, which all compromise the delicate balance of pH that maintains homeostasis.

When you give your body foods that have an alkaline base, you promote a healthy environment and your body can fight off the diseases that try to invade it. It takes a commitment on your part to eat the right foods and to eliminate the acid causing foods, but it can be done.

Here are the most important tips to rid your body of that over-acidic state:

-Avoid artificial sweeteners! and also eliminate sugar. Sugar is poison and not only increases your body’s acid levels but it eats away at your brain. I know this is hard to digest but it is true. You can find tons of information supporting why we should eliminate sugar, yet everything on the supermarket shelves has sugar. Agave and grade B maple syrup, maple sugar (from dried maple syrup), and date sugar (from dried dates) (all alkaline sweeteners) are great substitutes for processed sugar and honey. If you don’t want to do it for yourself than do it for your children.

-Eat more vegetables that are alkaline. Especially Celery.This is one of the most alkaline foods you can eat. It quickly neutralizes acids. Eat it before, after or during a meal. Celery is so high in water content that is also works as an excellent thirst quencher. Celery is excellent for digestion. Eating more green vegetables will decrease the acidity in your body and make it more alkaline. Vegetables like avocado, asparagus, bell peppers, cucumber, kale, okra, mustard greens, squash, and green beans are just a few to get you started.

-Switch from cow’s milk, to coconut or almond milk. Cows milk has shown to produce an abundance of mucous in the human body. There are also few adults who can metabolize the protein in cow’s milk properly. This protein, casein, is what a cow’s metabolism needs for proper health, not for a human beings health. Also note that most dairy cows are injected with hormones such as the Bovine Growth Hormone to increase their milk production. Many of these hormones have potentially horrific side effects that can be passed on when consumed. Coconut and almond milk are excellent alternatives to dairy. They are well worth trying out.

-Minimize/Avoid processed and refined foods.That means anything made with white flour and white sugar or food coloring. Our bodies were not designed to digest these chemicals. Eliminating processed foods is very challenging to do because we are living in a fast-food society but is it vital to your ability to become less acidic. Remember to shop on the walls of the supermarket and you will stay away from the processed foods. If it is on the shelf unfortunately that means it is processed.

-Eat a grapefruit in the morning wait 15 minutes before ingesting a carb or protein.
Grapefruit, similar to lemons, is also alkalizing when ingested. Some people believe grapefruit to be a miracle fruit and I tend to support that group. Grapefruits have a very high water content and are highly alkalizing. Eat one first thing in the morning, and wait 15 minutes before eating a carbohydrate or protein (one or the other – do not mix). (The 15-minute suggestion is in accordance with proper food combining and allows your system to more easily digest. This recommendation applies to eating any fruit – fruit shouldn’t be combined with any other food type.

-Eliminate consumption of red meat, pork, lamb…substitute chicken, turkey or fresh fish in small quantities. Red meats, pork and lamb are highly acidic a very low water content, not to mention being hard on the digestive system. If you must have meat, opt for chicken or turkey.

-Drink pure alkaline water. Pure water meaning water that is filtered – the finest choice is an alkaline ionization unit. Alkaline water means water with a pH over 7.5. Alkaline water adds oxygen to your water and helps to neutralize acids. A simple way to alkalize your water is with a dash of baking soda. There are also wonderful alkalizing agents you can purchase to buffer and alkalize the water.There are several companies that sells these ionic water systems. For example, you can try the pH ion booster that www.phionbalance.com offer.

-Drink a top quality super green supplement. Organic super greens are known to be some of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet. They infuse the body with easily absorbed vitamins, minerals, amino acids chlorophyll, enzymes, phytonutients and alkaline salts that help neutralize acids in the blood and tissues.

Be aware that a food's acid or alkaline-forming tendency in the body has nothing to do with the actual pH of the food itself. For example, lemons are very acidic, however the end-products they produce after digestion and assimilation are alkaline so lemons are alkaline-forming in the body. Likewise, meat will test alkaline before digestion but it leaves acidic residue in the body so, like nearly all animal products, meat is classified as acid-forming.

It is recommended that you test your pH levels to determine if your body's pH needs immediate attention. By using pH test strips (Litmus Paper), you can determine your pH factor quickly and easily in the privacy of your own home. The best time to test your pH is about one hour before a meal and two hours after a meal.

For many people, these secrets represent a huge life change. I urge you to educate yourself on alkalinity and the pH balance. I highly recommend Christopher Vasey's Book: "The Acid-Alkaline Diet for Optimum Health".

10 Foods that help reduce stress

2010-03-04T02:22:00.004-05:00

Reducing stress might be as easy as eating the right foods.

How you feel can be directly related to what you eat. If you frequently feel stressed out, it is tempting to grab refined carbohydrates, otherwise known as comfort foods, and eat them in unhealthy quantities. Instead of reaching for a pint of premium chocolate ice cream, try changing your diet to include some of the foods below, and see if your stress level decreases. Chances are, when you add in these vitamin powerhouses, you will feel a difference.

1. Blueberries
Besides having been identified as one of the healthiest foods around, blueberries are very high in vitamin C, which has been shown to give the body added reserves to help it deal with high levels of stress. Also, blueberries contain a high amount of fiber, which helps regulate blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels that fluctuate too much are a major contributor to stress for some people.

2. Low fat or skim milk
Milk is very high in calcium and B vitamins, which help to build your bones and protect nerve health. It is also high in protein, and protein also helps blood sugar to stay stabilized. Try mixing some milk, a sweetener and some frozen blueberries in the blender for a healthy pick-me-up that is super good for you, and an excellent alternative to ice cream!

3.Oranges
Oranges are very rich in vitamin C. When you are stressed, your body releases even more free radicals than usual. Vitamin C helps to keep the free radicals in check, and repairs the body. Basically, it helps protect the body from the cumulative effects of stress.

4. Green vegetables
Broccoli, kale, and other dark green vegetables are powerhouses of vitamins that help replenish our bodies in times of stress. Many vegetables also contain potassium, which is good for our nerves and can calm them. Also, when we eat a diet high in vegetables, we do not feel weighed down by our diet, and it is easier to get stress-reducing exercise.

5.Brown rice
All whole grains, including bulger wheat, quinoa, oats and brown rice contain plenty of B vitamins and also supply serotonin producing carbohydrates that do not spike blood sugar levels. They also contain plenty of healthy fiber.

6. Dried apricots
hese are rich in magnesium, which is a stress-buster. Some people even say that magnesium helps reduce heart palpitations brought on by stress. Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant as well. Apricots are also high in fiber and vitamin C. Don’t eat too many of them, though, because they also contain quite a bit of fructose, a type of sugar.

7. Turkey
Turkey contains an amino acid called L-Tryptophan. This amino acid triggers the release of serotonin, which is a feel-good brain chemical. This is the reason why many people who eat turkey feel relaxed, or even tired, after eating it. L-Tryptophan has a documented calming effect. Chicken is also high in this amino acid. However, don’t eat them fried, or your body will be so busy digesting the fats that you will miss out on the benefit of these foods!

8. Soy
Try adding foods that are made out of soy to your diet, such as soymilk, tofu, tempeh and soy nuts. Soy is high in protein, B vitamins, calcium and magnesium.

9. Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes can be particularly stress reducing because they can satisfy the urge we get for carbohydrates and sweets when we are under a great deal of stress. Instead of reaching for a donut, eat one of these instead. They are packed full of beta-carotene and other vitamins, and the fiber helps your body to process the carbohydrates in a slow and steady manner.

10. Water
While technically not a food, it is important to have sufficient water intake, as even a mild state of dehydration can stress your entire body. Keep your nerves steady by staying well hydrated.

As you can see, the foods listed above are not only healthy, but they taste good as well! Next time you crave sweets because of stress, reach for some dried apricots, a sweet potato, or make a blueberry smoothie. Eat other wholesome foods the rest of the time, and eventually, your level of stress will decrease, leaving you less susceptible to unhealthy food cravings.

Reduce stress by getting a massage:
www.therapeutic-hands.com

Massage for Old Injuries

2010-02-14T23:30:00.004-05:00

Injuries such as chronic back pain, trick knees, and sticky shoulders are not necessarily something you just have to live with. Massage techniques might hold the key to unlocking this old pain.

Will Massage Help?

The benefits of massage will depend on the extent of the injury, how long ago it occurred, and on the skill of the therapist. Chronic and old injuries often require deeper and more precise treatments with less emphasis on general relaxation and working on the whole body. Massage works best for soft tissue injuries to muscles and tendons and is most effective in releasing adhesions and lengthening muscles that have shortened due to compensatory reactions to the injury. Tight and fibrous muscles not only hurt at the muscle or its tendon, but can also interfere with proper joint movement and cause pain far away from the original injury.

Therapists who perform such work often have specialized names for their work--such as orthopedic massage, Neuromuscular therapy, myofascial release, medical massage, etc.,but many massage therapists utilize an eclectic approach combining the best of the specialties.

It Works!

A recent Consumer Reports article ran the results of a survey of thousands of its readers and reported that massage was equal to chiropractic care in many areas, including back and neck pain. Massage also ranked significantly higher than some other forms of treatment, such as physical therapy or drugs.

If that nagging injury persists, consider booking a massage. Be sure to discuss the injury with your practitioner: How did you receive the injury? Have you reinjured it? And what exactly are your symptoms? Often, the body compensates in one area to protect another that has been traumatized, and this can create new problems.

Discuss the issues with your massage therapist. (Sometimes just talking about old injuries can play a significant role in the healing process.) Together, the two of you can work to determine a treatment plan.

Invest in yourself.
Invest in your health.

Art Riggs

Healing with Aromatherapy

2010-02-01T22:48:00.003-05:00

Aromatherapy is one of the oldest methods of holistic healing, equipped to rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit with the use of fragrance or aroma. Aromas or scents have the power to transform our emotion, and heal our bodies. They not only treat our physical bodies, but also elevate our state of mind. Indeed, aromas influence our emotions and behavior.

Today, aromatherapy is one of the most popular of all complementary therapies, offering a wide range of highly effective treatments to both the acute and chronic stages of illness and disease. At the same time, regular use of aromatherapy treatments and home-use products can help to strengthen the immune system, thereby establishing a preventative approach to overall health.

Stress makes you sick

It has long been known that stress accounts for a staggering amount of illness in modern society, and aromatherapy offers one of the finest ways of combating the ravages of stress without having to resort to drugs which can be habit forming and damaging to your health. This is yet another reason that aromatherapists believe taking an holistic approach with aromatherapy promotes positive physical and mental balance.

The holistic healing of Aromatherapy restores and enhances mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health. It is a therapy, which rejuvenates, nourishes and heals. The therapy demonstrates the link between aroma and immune system function that helps to cure many ailments and boost health. Undoubtedly, this therapy is unique and powerful in rendering holistic health through the power of aroma.

Oils – A Natural Remedy for Common Ailments

To ease Muscle and Joint Pain: Marjoram, Rosemary

To soothe Nausea and Stomach discomfort: Chamomile, Peppermint

To relieve Headaches and Mental Strain: Sandalwood, Chamomile

To relieve Stress and Nervous Tension: Black Spruce, Mandarin

For Menstrual Problems, High Blood Pressure, Dyspepsia: Clary Sage

For Asthma, Bronchitis, Coughs, Sinusitis, Colds, Flu: Eucalyptus Oil

For Dermatitis, Ulcers, Wounds Burns, Cuts: Geranium

For Stress Related Conditions: Jasmine

For Rheumatism, Psoriasis, Lumbago, Sciatica: Lavender

Indigestion, Nosebleeds, Mouth Ulcers, Infectious, Warts, Anemia: Lemon

Toothache, Bad Breath, Digestive System disorders, Neuralgia, Scabies, Ringworm: Peppermint

For Skinproblems, Greasy Skin and Hair, Convalescence: Petit Grain

For Arteriosclerosis, Colitis, Dyspepsia, Bronchitis, Gout, Dandruff, Eczema: Rosemary

For Depression, Insomnia, Nervous Tension, Catarrh: Sandalwood

For Bronchitis, Sinusitis, Vaginitis, Cystitis: Tea Tree

The emotions listed below can be gently eased by one or a combination of the following essential oils:

Anxiety: bergamot, cedarwood, clary sage, frankincense, lavender, patchouli, Roman chamomile, rose, sandalwood.

Fatigue, Burnout: basil, ginger, grapefruit, jasmine, lemon, peppermint, rosemary, sandalwood.

Stress: Bergamot, frankincense, geranium, lavender, mandarin, neroli, patchouli, Roman chamomile, ylang ylang.

Anger: Jasmine, neroli, orange, patchouli, petitgrain, Roman chamomile, rose, vetiver, ylang ylang.

Confidence: Cypress, Grapefruit, Rosemary

Depression: Lemon, Orange, Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Manderin, Grapefruit

Grief: Vetiver, Rose, Sandalwood

Happiness and Peace: Ylang Ylang, Rose, Orange

Insecurity: Vetiver

Many pure essential oils need to be diluted, as they can cause irritation when applied directly to the skin. To guarantee safe and correct usage, consult a trained herbalist or practitioner.

Ten tips for a healthy brain

2009-12-27T17:18:00.003-05:00

1.Eat the Rainbow

Believe it or not, your brain rusts as you get older. The end result is Alzheimer’s, or as someone called it, “old timer’s disease”. But thankfully, nature has provided the perfect WD-40 lubricant. It is the rainbow of colorful fruits and vegetables – the dark purples of blueberries, the deep reds of pomegranates, the rich green of kale and collards, the bright orange of sweet potatoes. All these colorful foods provide powerful antioxidants. That’s a good thing, because, as a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found, people who ate more dietary antioxidants had 70% less Alzheimer’s and dementia. This is one powerful way to control one of the major causes of all disease – rusting or oxidative stress. Eat 8 – 10 servings (1/2 cup = 1 serving) of these lifesaving colorful fruits and vegetables a day to protect your brain.

2.Fix your Homocystiene

Many Americans are vitamin deficient. We are the most overfed and undernourished country in the world. The meat, sugar, alcohol, coffee and cigarettes we consume in excess all deplete us of critical B vitamins that are needed to keep us healthy. Without adequate amounts of folate, B6 and B12 we are at increased risk for Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, and depression, not to mention heart attacks, strokes, breast, colon, cervical, lung and prostate cancer. If that isn’t enough, women deficient in folate before or during pregnancy are more likely to give birth to children with spinal cord defects and Down’s syndrome. One recent study found those with the highest homocysteine had twice the risk of getting dementia and Alzheimer’s. Thankfully, you can easily fix this. First ask your doctor to check your blood level of homocysteine. The ideal level is less than 9. Most people do well with about 1000 mcg of folic acid (the minimum RDA level is 400 micrograms), 25-50 mg of B6 and 500-1000 mcg of B12. But be sure to recheck your blood level of homocysteine and make sure it is in range. Also cut down on meat, alcohol, caffeine and sugar and increase your intake of beans and dark green leafy vegetables (collards, kale, broccoli, etc.)

3.Cool the Heat

If your brain is aging quickly or your memory impaired your brain is on fire! Many things fan the flames of inflammation – hidden infections, allergens, environmental toxins like mercury and lead, emotional stress, lack of exercise, excess sugar and animal fat and most commonly a fat belly! Those little fat cells in your ever-expanding middle are little factories for inflammation. A blood test, C-reactive protein, is the best way to tell if you are on fire. If your level is greater than 1.0, then you should begin to cool the heat. Start by exercising regularly, finding ways to experience deep relaxation, getting rid of excess sugar and animal fat in your diet, eating anti-inflammatory foods such as wild fish especially sardines and herring, and using anti-inflammatory herbs and spices including ginger, rosemary, turmeric (the yellow spice in curry). You might need your doctor’s help to find hidden allergies (especially from foods like gluten), hidden infections and toxins. Finding the fire and cooling the heat will go a long way not only in preventing dementia, but also heart attacks, cancer and the slowing the aging process.

4.Stop the Sugar

The sugar epidemic (an average of 150 lbs per person per year) is directly responsible for obesity in 2/3 of Americans. Diabetics have four times the risk of getting dementia. Too much sugar leads to high levels of insulin [link to healing / insulin resistance] in your blood. That makes you gain weight around the middle, raises your blood pressure and leads to rusting [prevention / rust] and inflammation [prevention / heat]. So next time you reach for that cookie or soda, just think of what’s happening in your brain. Thankfully this problem can be prevented by eating properly and exercising regularly:

-Avoid the "white menace" - white sugar, white flour and white fat (Crisco or "hydrogenated fat".)
-Eat more fiber
-Eat some protein with every meal.
-Exercise in your target heart zone for 30 to 40 minutes at least 4 times a week

Thankfully you can tell if you are in trouble and have to mend your devilishly sweet ways. Just ask your doctor for a blood test. It is called a glucose tolerance test. Be sure you ask your doctor to measure BOTH glucose AND insulin. Two hours after a sugar drink (we recommend 75-grams of glucose) your blood sugar should be less than 140 and your insulin less than 30. If not, you better quit the sugar and get moving!

5.Chill Out

Dr. Robert Sapolsky, a renowned Stanford neurobiologist, explained the dangers of stress in his book Why Zebra’s Don’t Get Ulcers. The zebras are busy eating grass until a lion starts chasing them. Then they go crazy, running all over the place, until the lion kills a zebra. Then all the other zebras relax and go back to grazing while the lion eats his dinner right next to them. The problem with humans is we don’t discharge our stress by running like crazy or relaxing after a stressful event. We just sit and stew in our stress juices. One of these juices is a hormone called cortisol. Unfortunately, besides causing or contributing to over 95% of all illness, chronic exposure to cortisol shrinks your brain. Dr. Sapolsky has shown that cortisol damages brain cells in the hippocampus - one of our memory centers. We can’t avoid stress, so we must learn to discharge its effects every day. Go to a yoga class, learn tai qi, get a massage, make love, go for a jog, play with your children, take a walk in the woods, watch a sunset, but whatever you do, don’t just stew in your stress juices!

6.Get an Oil Change

Most of your brain is fat – but not the kind that comes from hamburgers or Twinkies. Even though most of us have been taught that fat is BAD, without the right kind of fat our brains can’t function; our memory and thinking become impaired, we get depressed and are even at higher risk for dementia and Parkinson’s.

Studies have shown those who eat excess animal fat or hydrogenated fats (as found in margarine, shortening and processed foods) have a higher risk of dementia. On the other hand, increasing your intake of fish and other sources of omega-3 fatty acids reduce risk. So get an oil change by cutting out "trans" or hydrogenated fats (read labels) and fried foods, and by reducing animal fats from meats and dairy products. Increase your intake of wild fish, sardines, herring, olive oil, nuts, flax and other seeds.

7.Rest Up

Most of us who have pulled an "all nighter", or lost a night’s sleep know how poorly our brain works when deprived of sleep. The trend of super-caffeinated, sleep-deprived Americans is a deadly problem. When we lose sleep, or don’t sleep at regular times, our brain hormones become imbalanced, leading to higher cortisol (one of our stress hormones), and lower growth hormone (a healing and repair hormone).

Over time the stress of sleep deprivation eats away at our brain function. Most of us need more and better sleep. Here are some tips for improved sleep:

Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day and try to get to sleep before midnight .
Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night.
If you have trouble falling asleep, try a little sleep ritual – Stop your day at least one or two hours before bedtime to wind down. Don’t watch TV or check your email. Take a hot bath with Epsom salt and 10 drops of lavender oil and just soak and relax for 20 minutes.
Try some supplemental magnesium. Magnesium is the relaxation mineral. – up to 300 to 600 mg a day of an absorbable form such as magnesium glycinate.

8.Get Moving

Exercise should no longer be considered a luxury or indulgence. It is THE most important anti-aging medicine known. Not only will it help to prevent Alzheimer’s, but also almost every other age-related disease. It is a natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and stress buster. It will also help you sleep better, lower your cholesterol, lower your blood sugar and insulin levels and even improve your sex life! Put it in your appointment book at least 4 times a week – anything goes. Walking, running, swimming, dancing, roller blading – do something, anything, please and you will rapidly see the benefits. Try to do a vigorous cardiovascular workout for 30 to 40 minutes at least four to five times a week in your target heart rate. Your brain will thank you.

9.Clean House

Hidden environmental toxins can put us at risk for premature brain aging and dementia. We know that lead exposure in children lowers IQ and reduces performance. Two recent studies highlighted additional dangers of mercury and lead.

The first showed that those people who had the highest mercury levels were at greater risk for heart attacks, and those with high lead levels had chronic kidney failure. Our brain is also at risk.

It's not just metals, but pesticides, herbicides and dioxins found in our food and water. Household gardening chemicals have been associated with Parkinson’s disease.

But don’t panic - there are things we can do. Here are some suggestions:

-Choose organic plant and animal products
-Drink lots of clean, filtered water - 8 glasses per day.
-Eat detoxifying foods including collards, kale, broccoli, watercress, pomegranate, rosemary, garlic and onions.
-Take saunas and steam baths to promote sweating, which helps to eliminate toxins through the skin.
-Increase your fiber intake to promote healthy elimination. One study found that people who were constipated had a fourfold increased risk of Parkinson’s. So load up on those organic ground flax seeds (1 to 2 tablespoons a day)

10.Use Your Head

The well-known aging nun study showed that nuns using more complex sentence structure and thought patterns were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s as they aged. Many other studies have shown that using your head – whether it is reading, doing crossword puzzles, games or being actively engaged in intellectual pursuits reduces your risk of dementia. So don’t forget to use your head and exercise your brain!

Thanks to Mark Hyman, MD and Mark Liponis, MD for these amazing tips.

The Scoop on Meditation

2009-12-17T02:54:00.001-05:00

A Simple Practice with Profound Benefits

People who meditate regularly appear internally and externally five to 10 years younger than their non-meditating peers, according to author Deepak Chopra. That's good news for the estimated 10 million people who practice meditation on an ongoing basis and experience the resulting calm it cultivates.

The rich benefits come from doing something that looks like nothing: Sitting still, being quiet, and breathing deeply. Meditation works simply but profoundly by defusing the onslaughts of life -- a racing mind, busyness, deadlines, commutes, all of which have physiological effects on well-being. Meditation calms the nervous system, decreases metabolic rate, heart rate, and blood pressure, and lowers levels of cholesterol, stress hormones, and free radicals. It also has a direct effect on breathing, slowing and deepening respiration so more oxygen circulates throughout the body. Not only that, meditation is said to lessen feelings of anxiety and depression and improve memory and concentration. And all of this culminates in slowing the aging process, as Chopra notes.

There are many meditation techniques, including focusing on a mantra, a sacred word or phrase, or your breath. But the basic intent of all meditation is focus and attention. And it doesn't take hours a day in an ashram to meditate effectively. Benefits kick in with even a short period of devoted time.

How to begin? Wear comfortable clothes, sit on a cushion or chair with your back straight (think once again, comfort), rest your hands on your legs, let your eyes go soft and out of focus or close them, breathe slowly and deeply, and -- the hardest part -- attempt to empty your mind of thoughts and quiet the internal dialogue. When thoughts flit through your mind, let them pass without judging them and come back to your focus (your mantra, counting, etc.) and breathing.

Meditation is completely free. It requires no special equipment, and is not complicated to learn. It can be practiced anywhere, at any given moment, and it is not time consuming (15-20 min. per day is good). Best of all, meditation has NO negative side effects. Bottom line, there is nothing but positive to be gained from it!

On the Rocks

2009-12-06T19:53:00.004-05:00

Are you in need of something to help you relax, relieve muscle tension, or make you forget about your rough day? If so, then a hot stone massage, also known as hot stone therapy, may be the solution you have been looking for. The therapeutic benefits of a hot stone massage have been around for centuries. Ancient cultures and Native Americans used this technique to improve overall mental, spiritual, and physical wellness. Native Americans used hot stones to detoxify and to find harmony and balance. In some European cultures, hot stones or bricks were wrapped in cloth and placed over a person’s injury for relief. In China, hot stone therapy was used as early as 1500 BC as a method for relieving muscle aches and tension. Today, hot stone therapy is used much in the same way as it was centuries ago and for the same benefits. One session can help you to relax, release, and rejuvenate.

The technique provides a deeply relaxing, healing, detoxifying, and, some say, spiritual experience. Typically, the stones are smooth, black rounds of basalt in varying sizes heated in water to temperatures between 125 and 140 degrees. Warm stones encourage the exchange of blood and lymph and provide soothing heat for deep-tissue work. Cold stones are also used to aide with inflammation, moving blood out of the area, and balancing male/female energies. The alternating heat and cold of thermotherapy brings the entire body into the healing process, with a rapid exchange of blood and oxygen and alternating rise and fall of respiration rate as the body seeks homeostasis.

During treatment the stones are anointed with oil, allowing them to slide smoothly over the body releasing tension, stress and emotional fatigue. Also, the hot stones are placed on energy pathways. Some are covered with a towel and positioned to apply steady warmth and pressure along the spine and neck. Others are placed between fingers and toes and on the stomach and forehead -- key spots where energy flow can get blocked. Still others are used almost as an extension of the practitioner's hands to help go deeper into resistant muscle tissue. This requires less effort from the practitioner's own body and delivers healing warmth to the hands, benefiting the therapist, as well as the client.

Hot stone therapy relieves muscle aches and pain. The penetrating heat also helps to relieve pain associated with arthritis. It improves blood circulation keeping your heart healthy. The therapy also helps stimulates the flow of oxygen and nutrients helping your body to detoxify and heal. This helps create a calming effect on the nervous system increasing vitality. The end result is a feeling of overall good health.

Hot stone therapy is a wonderful treat for the body. It is very rewarding with lots of benefits. Hot stone massages can be found at almost every medical spa around the globe. This therapy is also offered at regular day spas and at vacation destination spa resorts. Everyone needs a break from time to time. Taking the time to get a hot stone massage is worth both the time and money. You will be able to relax, release, and rejuvenate. Reconnecting with you is priceless.

Promotional Video

2009-11-08T11:28:00.008-05:00

Watch my new promotional video:

Music Therapy for Stress Relief

2009-10-27T00:14:00.004-05:00

Listening to music does wonders to alleviate stress.Research has shown that music has a profound effect on your body and psyche. In fact, there’s a growing field of health care known as "Music Therapy", which uses music to heal. Those who practice music therapy are finding a benefit in using music to help cancer patients, children with ADD, and others, and even hospitals are beginning to use music and music therapy to help with pain management, to help ward off depression, to promote movement, to calm patients, to ease muscle tension, and for many other benefits that music and music therapy can bring. This is not surprising, as music affects the body and mind in many powerful ways.

The following are some of effects of music, which help to explain the effectiveness of music therapy:

•Brain Waves: Research has shown that music with a strong beat can stimulate brainwaves to resonate in sync with the beat, with faster beats bringing sharper concentration and more alert thinking, and a slower tempo promoting a calm, meditative state. Also, research has found that the change in brainwave activity levels that music can bring can also enable the brain to shift speeds more easily on its own as needed, which means that music can bring lasting benefits to your state of mind, even after you’ve stopped listening.

•Breathing and Heart Rate: With alterations in brainwaves comes changes in other bodily functions. Those governed by the autonomic nervous system, such as breathing and heart rate can also be altered by the changes music can bring. This can mean slower breathing, slower heart rate, and an activation of the relaxation response, among other things. This is why music and music therapy can help counteract or prevent the damaging effects of chronic stress, greatly promoting not only relaxation, but health.

•State of Mind: Music can also be used to bring a more positive state of mind, helping to keep depression and anxiety at bay. This can help prevent the stress response from wreaking havoc on the body, and can help keep creativity and optimism levels higher, bringing manyother benefits.

•Other Benefits:Music has also been found to bring many other benefits, such as lowering blood pressure (which can also reduce the risk of stroke and other health problems over time), boost immunity, ease muscle tension, and more. With so many benefits and such profound physical effects, it’s no surprise that so many are seeing music as an important tool to help the body in staying (or becoming) healthy.

If you listen to music that has affirming lyrics you are feeding your brain positive thoughts. This may make music therapy twice as successful. It will surround you with positive energy instead of negative energy. The positive energy should decrease your stress levels.

Our energetic system is affected by the tone of music. This causes a physical reaction to certain sounds and frequencies. No one likes the same type of music. Whatever you choose to listen to should make you feel comfortable. Listen to your emotions. Make sure your nerves feels soothed. That way you'll know if it is a positive type of music for your individual taste. Fast paced beats can speed up your heart rate and cause difficulty in relaxing your mind. Slow beats or rhythms will slow down your thoughts and you will naturally relax.

Calm your Mind ~ Heal your Body

2009-09-13T18:05:00.003-05:00

Thoughts are things. They can heal or harm. Beliefs mold your brain.

This is not just a figurative metaphor for what happens. Your brain literally stiffens, slows, and loses function in direct relationship to your thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes about you and your place in the world. How each of us responds to our life -- to our perceptions -- has enormous implications for how we feel, how we age, and the health of our brain.The most powerful pharmacy in the world is right between your ears!

In fact, every cell in your body listens to your thoughts.Your immune cells know your deepest feelings.Your stem cells are wired to your brain and help you repair and regenerate. But they ONLY turn on and make new brain cells when you relax! And you don’t need placental injections or embryos to get them to work.Research has shown over and over again that learning to relax is one of the most important keys to long-term health and vitality. In fact,relaxing helps your brain regenerate and renew itself.You need to learn how to hit your “pause button” if you want to heal your brain.But that doesn’t mean sipping a glass of Chardonnay while watching TV . You have to learn how to deeply relax and stimulate your vagus nerve.Your immune cells, your stem cells, and all of the other organs and tissues in your body are connected to your vagus nerve -- a long nerve that goes from your brain, through your chest and diaphragm, and throughout your body.Your vagus nerve is a very special part of your nervous system that helps you calm your mind and turn on a cascade of healing that can reverse depression and dementia and help sharpen your mind -- making old brains young again.It does this by turning off your stress response and activating your relaxation response -- “hitting the pause button” -- which most of us don’t know how to do.Most of us don’t need any help turning on the alarm system. Your stress response gets turned on automatically day after day.However, very few of us know how to calm this system down. We don’t know where our pause button is, and we don’t know how to push it.This is a serious health concern, because stress is very bad for your brain.

The effects of stress on brain health cannot be overstated. It shrinks the hippocampus, the memory center of the brain; reduces serotonin; lowers BDNF (brain derived neutrophic factor), which acts like Miracle-Gro for your brain cells; increases inflammation; increases belly fat; lowers thyroid function; and much more.It is one of the chief causes of our broken brains. Stress destroys our brains. But what is stress? Stress is defined as any real or imagined threat to your body or your ego. What does that mean? It means the part of your biochemistry that governs the stress response reacts the same when you are in real danger (for example, if you are about to be run down by an oncoming car) as it does when you perceive danger (for example, if your boss tells you he thinks you are doing a poor job at work). In both cases, a flood of cortisol and other chemicals, like epinephrine and norepinephrine, is released into your bloodstream. These chemicals send messages far and wide, telling your body—and brain—to get ready for the danger at hand.In the first instance, the stress response is adaptive. It prepares you physically and mentally to move out of the way of that oncoming vehicle.In the second instance, the stress response is worse than useless—your body prepares for real physical danger but there isn’t any. There is only the perceived danger of your boss’s disappointment. The result is that you stew in your stress juices, and they poison your body and brain.If you hadn’t perceived your boss’s frustration as a threat, this response would not have occurred.So how we think and what we believe make a huge difference in how healthy we are.There’s no doubt about it. Optimists live longer and are healthier!

In small and large ways, our sense of control, meaning, purpose, and connection in life is one of the most powerful factors that determine our health and well-being.What do you feel connected to? What gives you meaning and purpose in life? Answers to questions like these define who we are, not only mentally, but also physically. Disease is a disconnection from our sense of place in the world; a loss of control and meaning as we drift from television channel to television channel looking for a program to satisfy us; consume food disconnected from its origins, processed and unidentifiable from its natural state; as our families separate, disconnect, and communicate through text messaging and e-mail. Poverty alone does not increase disease. A lost sense of culture, control, and meaning is a major factor.How do you take a pill to fix that? And what about the stress of the food we eat? We now have identified a phenomena that comes from eating “stressed food”—food grown on agribusiness farms, animals raised in confined animal feeding operations, otherwise known as feedlots. This is called xenohormesis and means that when you eat stressed food, it produces stress molecules in your body that make you sick! Our bodies see this food as foreign and dangerous—it’s actually stressful to eat it. We have become so disconnected from feeling relaxed and at peace that many of us don’t even realize we are stressed out anymore. We aren’t awake to the fact that our beliefs have an impact on our health and we don’t realize the foods we eat make us feel even more stress.

So, how do you know if you are stressed? Well, you might crave salt and sugar, feel dizzy when you stand up, have trouble falling asleep, have sweaty palms or feel wiped out after exercise, or you might feel tired and wired. If so, you may have burned out your adrenal glands—the glands that kick into gear whenever there is stress. So what’s the cure for burn out? How do you turn off the stress response and begin to heal from its effects? The easiest way to start: just breathe! Here is a great Breathing Relaxation Exercise Video.

Another few more ideas on how to push your pause button—and heal your brain:

• Make choices that make your life balanced -- practice saying “NO” to others and “YES” to yourself.
• Try yoga or meditation and of course, a MASSAGE!.
• Get enough sleep.
• Eat whole foods that decrease the stress response.
• Avoid stressed foods. The next time you reach for that industrial packaged food product, or fast food lunch just ask yourself if your food is “relaxed.”
• You might even try some herbs that can balance out the stress response, such as ginseng or rhodiola.

Simple dietary changes, a few nutritional supplements, a little exercise, enough sleep, and a little time each day for activating the relaxation response can transform deep-seated symptoms that show up as altered mood, behavior, attention, and memory.

Your brain can thrive. You just have to provide the right conditions!

Thanks to Dr. Mark Hyman for this information and his great "Ultramind" Book.

Why Detox?

2009-09-03T12:41:00.004-05:00

Do you know why detox dieting will help you achieve a healthy, vibrant body that feels and looks good more effectively than any conventional diet plan? Because most of your unhealthy weight gain, chronic diseases and unpleasant symptoms are caused by toxic build up in your body.

Just like your car needs a regular oil change to run well mile after mile, your body needs regular cleansing to feel well year after year. A gentle customized detox diet will alleviate many of your nagging symptoms, help you lose weight and give you more energy, clearer thinking, healthier skin and better digestion.

TOXINS AND OBESITY

Obesity and weight problems are not always related to what we eat or how much we exercise. New research points to the role that environmental toxins play in causing weight gain and preventing weight loss. That’s why learning to avoid toxins and to detoxify is a critical component to long-term health and weight loss.

What Makes Us Toxic?
Toxins in the broadest sense, is the sum of total of our poor diet, chronic stress, and environmental pollutants that overload and poison our bodies and minds. This includes toxic foods such as sugar, high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, food additives and preservatives, pesticides, hormones and antibiotics in our food supply and water supply, as well as mercury, lead and other heavy metals. Beware too from the toxins in your medicine cabinet. Certain drugs can have toxic effects and cause weight gain.

It also includes toxic thoughts, behaviors and beliefs that keep us chronically stressed. These thoughts produce a flood of hormones, such as cortisol, that promote weight gain around the middle, increase our blood sugar and blood pressure and even kill brain cells.

Detoxification is a natural and critical part of our biology. It is the process of eliminating toxins from your body and your life. By eliminating the major sources of toxins in your life -> addictive habits such as coffee, sugar, alcohol, processed foods, fast food, junk food, trans fats and HFCS, and reducing toxic stress, your body can renew and rejuvenate itself.

Take away the things that make you toxic and inflamed. Provide your body with foods and activities that help you detoxify and cool inflammation. Your body does the rest automatically. It has a natural ability to find balance and heal once you stop doing things that throw it off balance and provide things that put it back in balance. The real trick is that the same things that make people sick make them fat. In fact, being overweight is actually a symptom of an underlying health problem.

In summary:

-Toxins can cause weight gain and prevent weight loss.
-Toxins slow your metabolic rate, lower your thyroid hormones, increase inflammation, slow down fat and calorie burning, and damage your appetite control system.
-Sugar, stress, lack of exercise, toxins and food allergies all cause inflammation.
-Inflammation causes weight gain and prevents weight loss.
-Healing your digestive system can reduce the severity and number of your food allergies over the long term.

You can successfully eliminate toxins from your body through diet, exercise, supplements and sweating.If you want to enhance your detoxification process, I highly recommend the book "THE ULTRASIMPLE DIET" by Mark Hyman. Is a step-by-step program that gives you everything you need to know to completely free your system of these harmful chemicals. You can start now by downloading for free the “Ultrasimple Diet” guide of 184 pages which explains what to buy and what to do for a 1 week program of detoxification. Here is the link:

http://www.ultrawellness.com/files/USD-Guide.pdf

Most of us have no idea how our choice of foods and our behaviors influence how we feel. We have the power to transform our life forever by choosing to work with our body, rather than against it.

Taken from the amazing book "The ultrasimple diet" by Mark Hyman.

Get rid of Stress

2009-08-05T22:05:00.009-05:00

It’s a crazy and hectic world in which we live! It may seem that there’s nothing you can do about your stress level. The bills aren’t going to stop coming, there will never be more hours in the day for all your errands, and your career or family responsibilities will always be demanding. But you have a lot more control than you might think. In fact, the simple realization that you’re in control of your life is the foundation of stress management.

Managing stress is all about taking charge: taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems. The ultimate goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun – plus the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head on.

Beyond a take-charge approach and a positive attitude, you can reduce stress in your life by nurturing yourself. If you regularly make time for fun and relaxation, you’ll be in a better place to handle life’s stressors when they inevitably come.

Healthy ways to relax and recharge

There are a multitude of ways of dealing with stress. Some have been borrowed from other cultures and religions. The Hindus have yoga and the Japenese have zen. Both of these methods are excellent ways of relieving stress. Yoga is a method of stretching the muscles of various body parts as well as use of positions to relax various parts of the body. Zen is more of a psychological approach to relaxation. It emphasizes relaxing the body through meditation. It can be very effective at relieving stress, especially if practiced on a daily basis.

Get a Massage

Our body is like a car engine. To function properly, it needs all the essential parts to perform efficiently. All the parts are subject to wear and tear. In order to survive, our body needs to have a regular maintenance. With today high stress lifestyle, our bodies are always in demand to perform optimally. If you don't take care of your body, it will break down in many ways and leave you unable to perform your daily activities.

It's ironic that many people who own cars do remember to send their cars for regular maintenance. Some even wash their cars everyday and give them a good wax so that they look shiny and brand new. But when it comes to taking care of their own bodies, they've somehow forgotten it. So if your car deserves your care, don't you think your body deserves more?

Getting a massage in a regular basis is part of having a good health.If you're a busy professional with hectic work schedule, find time to pamper your body by giving it a massage therapy.A massage could help you get rid of stress and keep you going for a whole week of hectic workloads.

Get a healthy lifestyle

You can increase your resistance to stress by strengthening your physical health.

Exercise regularly.. Physical activity plays a key role in reducing and preventing the effects of stress. Make time for at least 30 minutes of exercise, three times per week. Nothing beats aerobic exercise for releasing pent-up stress and tension.

Eat a healthy diet. Well-nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with stress, so be mindful of what you eat. Start your day right with breakfast, and keep your energy up and your mind clear with balanced, nutritious meals throughout the day.

Reduce caffeine and sugar. The temporary "highs" caffeine and sugar provide often end in with a crash in mood and energy. By reducing the amount of coffee, soft drinks, chocolate, and sugar snacks in your diet, you’ll feel more relaxed and you’ll sleep better.

Get enough sleep. Adequate sleep fuels your mind, as well as your body. Feeling tired will increase your stress because it may cause you to think irrationally.

Other ways to relax are:

Go for a walk.
Spend time in nature.
Take a long bath.
Light scented candles
Savor a warm of tea.
Play with a pet.
Work in your garden.
Curl up with a good book.
Listen to music.
Watch a comedy

Statistics show that the most common cause of todays health problems is stress. Aside from improper diet and unhealthy life style, prolonged periods of stress subconsciously affect many systems of the human body.

Don’t get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life that you forget to take care of your own needs. Nurturing yourself is a necessity, not a luxury.Set aside relaxation time. Include rest and relaxation in your daily schedule. Don’t allow other obligations to encroach. This is your time to take a break from all responsibilities and recharge your batteries.

10 tips for Longevity

2009-07-21T12:39:00.002-05:00

It is human instinct to want to live a youthful, long and healthy life. Some people are even blessed with a genetic predisposition for longevity. However, most of us must adopt a very healthy life style in order to live long satisfying lives. For the 99% of us that have to work for our longevity, here are ten tips to help keep us as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

Eating right
Your food intake is one of the most important aspects of a long and healthy life. Eat in moderation because overeating can lead to a number of diseases and problems that will shorten your life expectancy. You should also keep an eye on your fat intake and be sure that the foods you eat are generally high in fiber and overall nutrition. This means that you should eliminate empty calories like soda and sweets. Studies on animals have shown that calorie-restriction increases life expectancy quite significantly. As you grow in age, your body needs fewer calories but more vitamins. This means that you should eat more fruits and vegetables and select natural unprocessed foods rich in Vitamin C, E and beta-carotene. Also, select those foods containing antioxidants, which fight the free radicals that promote the ageing of your body. Include an intake of about 1500 mg of calcium in your diet to support your bone structure and in women to help avoid osteoporosis. A balanced and nutritious diet is a great contributing factor for long life.

Exercise regularly
Build into your daily routine a program of regular physical exercise that is appropriate to you. A regular 30-minute work out, five days a week, is the minimum requirement for most people. Incorporate some amount of weight training to help strengthen and maintain your muscles. A 20-minute program of lifting weights appropriate to your fitness level, at least twice a week, will also be helpful. The main idea of eating right and exercising right is to achieve and maintain your ideal body weight, which is a very important factor for long life.

Be physically active
Keep moving as frequently as you can throughout the day. Your daily activity should not just consist of going to the gym. Leading a sedentary life is not at all helpful to your health. If you can get an electronic pedometer, try to register a few thousand steps on it per day. 10,000 would be ideal. Try to get outside for your activity as your body needs the Vitamin D the sun’s rays provide.

Sleep well
Getting adequate sleep and rest is an essential aspect of healthy living. Sleep deprivation is detrimental to your goal of living long. Depending on age, a minimum of eight or nine of hours of sound sleep promotes good health and, naturally, long life. Also, learn good relaxation techniques that will prevent or control hypertension.

Reduce stress
Life is filled with problems of one type or another. Learn to face them without putting yourself under too much stress. Learn coping strategies to overcome the ill effects of traumatic events like accident, divorce, death and so on.

Have a positive attitude
Adopting a positive attitude is found to be conducive to good health, to the reduction of problems associated with ageing, and to longevity.

Learn something new
Remember, learning is a life-long activity. Learn a new hobby, activity, or even something strange, as long as it is something you have never attempted to learn. Engaging your mind like this keeps your mind young and active. Exercising your mind is as important for long life as exercising your body.

Avoid toxins
Studies on most people well into their nineties show that almost all of them do not smoke and drink. Some limit their consumption of alcohol. Almost all stimulants and intoxicants affect your health adversely so avoid them whenever possible. This means avoiding alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, overuse of over-the-counter drugs and even processed foods.

Preventative health
Have regular health checks to help maintain good health. The age-old golden rule of prevention being better than cure is good for a long healthy life.

Connect with others
Healthy emotional and social connections contribute to long life. Have a goal or purpose in life and actively strive for it. Friends can be a wonderful way to stay young by providing a release from the stresses of everyday life and by bringing laughter and fun into your life.

Five easy steps for a cleaner,greener,safer home

2009-07-07T23:52:00.002-05:00

1) MANAGE PESTS SAFELY: Choose nontoxic lawn and garden products for insecticides, pesticides, weed killers, fertilizers and flea/tick control. Remember to encourage good sanitation habits, such as washing hands after being outdoors and taking shoes off at the door.

2) USE NONTOXIC PRODUCTS: Remember to read the labels and ask questions. USE products labeled nontoxic, chlorine-free, phosphate-free, natural fragrance, paraben-free, hypoallergenic, vegetable/bio/water based, petroleum-free, organic, and low or zero VOC, recycled or reclaimed, and formaldehyde-free. AVOID using products that say poison, danger, warning or caution.

3) CLEAN UP INDOOR AIR: Ventilate your home, especially the bedrooms and nursery, by simply opening windows. Change the filters in your air-conditioning and heating units- and the bag in your vacuum cleaner- to greatly improve indoor air quality. Sanitize and cleanse air with help from indoor plants and air purifiers with approved HEPA filters. Look for low VOC paints and stains. Avoid synthetic carpets when possible.

4) SHOP SMART: Eat organic fruits and vegetables when available. Make wise protein choices with meat, poultry, seafood, eggs and milk products from animals raised on vegetarian feed without hormones or antibiotics. Avoid foods high in sugar, high in fat, or highly processed, as well as fast foods.

5) BE WISE WITH PLASTICS: Replace vinyl chew toys made of soft plastic, especially any labeled PVC, V, OR #3. Opt for toys and books made with natural wood, cloth, or metal. Avoid using plastic or containers and cling wrap in the microwave. Instead select reusable containers made of glass or ceramic (lead free). Choose safer plastics such as polyethylene (#1,#2,#4), and polypropylene(#5). Avoid use of polycarbonate plastics for baby and look for products that state no phthalates or No bisphenol A (BPA).

Source: "Healthy child, healthy world". Christopher Gavigan.

Alkaline & Ionic Water

2009-06-29T13:13:00.002-05:00

Water, Ionic Water & Pure Water.

There are 4 different criteria that the water you drink should be judged by. 1. Purity 2. pH 3. Mineral Content 4. Oxygen content. If you're looking for the BEST water, it must pass the test of all four of these criteria!

Watch this revealing video, by www.PhionBalance.com

Self Care: How to prolong the positive effects of massage

2009-06-19T00:06:00.005-05:00

Don't we all wish that the fuzzy, good feelings that we receive after a good massage could linger just a little bit longer? Well, with a little bit of homework and good self care, you can! Remember to refer to these important guidelines in the days/weeks following your massage:

Massage Frequency: Check-in with how you feel before the massage and then afterwards, pay attention to your body’s signals and get massage when your body reminds you that it needs it.

Be consistent with getting massage: Don’t go long periods without receiving massage if you can help it, your body and mind deserve the attention at regular intervals.

Drink Water!: Common guidelines state that we need 64oz. a day to help our body eliminate toxins and cleanse the circulatory system.

Stretch, Stretch, Stretch!: Another helpful habit is stretching between massages to maintain joint mobility, prevent muscles from tightening up again, and keeping the life energy flowing.

Exercise: Working out can also help maintain the benefits of massage, and this habit should be continually cultivated.

Body Awareness: After a massage, respect how your body feels. If your body seems to ask for rest, give in to that demand. After a massage, take a hot bath when you get home, you are reminding your body of the therapy you just received and you will further improve your sleep patterns.

Diet: Finally, since you've just rid the body of toxins, support the body's renewed state by adhering to a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, which will continue the detoxification process. Lay off the espresso and all adrenaline-challenges for a time -- which would short-circuit relaxation anyway -- and enjoy the calm.

If having good health is a necessity, then a massage is not a luxury, it's a necessity!

Take time for yourself, take time for your health.

Angela Lind.LMT

www.therapeutic-hands.com

Breathing relaxation exercise

2009-05-28T03:38:00.005-05:00

Breathing will cost you nothing. It does not require time. You can breathe while watching television, lying in bed, travelling to work, absolutely anywhere and anytime.The only place I do not recommend deep breathing is in a steam filled environment, not in the bath or shower as water often has chlorine and other chemicals in it.

Regular deep breathing minimizes stress.Deep breathing also relaxes muscles.The immune system needs oxygen to function effectively.Correct breathing helps to prevent premature aging and degenerative diseases.The best beauty treatment available is breathing.Deep breathing reduces pain. Anyone who has experienced childbirth can vouch for that.Deep breathing greatly influences emotions and general well-being. With deep breathing, we can calm ourselves when in a state of anxiety or fear.

I am highly recommending that you try deep, long, slow breathing as a daily exercise to improve health and well-being, release stress, and re-energize your mind and body. Hope you like this video and experience the benefits.

Angela Lind. LMT.
www.therapeutic-hands.com

Relax and lose weight

2009-03-10T23:26:00.007-05:00

Thousands of years ago, stress was our friend and it serves us well. When we were confronted with danger, (like a predator that wanted to eat us), stress chemicals will quickly flood the body, enhancing our ability to either fight or flee.As soon as the danger dissipated, the stress-chemical levels would quickly-drop, and so would the feelings of stress.

Today, however, we're under constant stress. We're bombarded by inputs of the media,cell phones, pagers, computers, e-mail, voicemail, faxes, etc. We're inundated with bad news, bad relationships, stressful jobs and difficult living environments. Even worse, just thinking about negative things (wether they're real or not), can trigger the stress response. So understanding stress and how you can reduce it is critical to living a healthy and happy life.

Stress is fatiguing. Fatigue is demoralizing. And demoralization may lead us to seek quick highs from sugar, caffeine, alcohol and other drugs. So, what happen to your body when you are stressed?

The body responds to stress by releasing hormones, including one called cortisol. Cortisol levels are suposed to go up and down quickly. But when you're under chronic stress, cortisol continues to pump out. And it triggers a cascade of events. For example, cortisol causes fat to be stored around your middle. That belly fat causes most of the "silent inflammation" that leads to diabetes, heart disease, and virtually all other chronic conditions that humans suffer from. Cortisol is the principal hormone of stress, so when you are under stress, the brain starts responding chemically by slowing down your metabolism and everything gets slower, the body stores more fat, the blood sugar levels increases and you start suffering of acid reflux and constipation. So yes, stress makes you fat! being stressed won't help you to lose weight properly even if you are on a diet or doing exercise. So, in conclusion: being stressed makes you fat, being relaxed help you to lose weight!

Reducing stress requires ACTIVE relaxation. Most of us think relaxation is a passive "nonactivity" that requires a couch, a beer, and a Tv. But stress reduction requires profound, deep relaxation, which is not something that happens automatically.You have to ACTIVELY relax.And yes, the best way to relax is by getting a Massage! Doing deep breathing, meditation and yoga can help you to relax too.

By decreasing mental stress and noticing the profound benefits to your nervous system, sleep habits, and digestion, you will learn about the subtle but powerful connection between psychological, spiritual and physical toxins. When your nervous system is balanced,when your digestion is working properly, when you are relaxed and rested and when you are healthier inside and out, you may find you have much more energy and happiness for your everyday life.

Start rewarding and taking care of your body now! Getting a massage is not longer a luxury, it's a necessity, it's one of the keys for a healthier life.

Visit my website for my contact information,

http://www.therapeutic-hands.com/

Angela Lind. LMT

Source: "The Ultrasimple Diet" by Mark Hyman.

Is your body pH Balanced?

2008-05-11T00:01:00.009-05:00

The pH of your internal fluids affects every cell in your body. Acicification can overwhelm your body.Proper pH balance is the foundation for optimal health.

Your body is alkaline by design. The fluids that make up 70% of your body must remain alkaline for you to experience optimal health. Your body is acidic by function. Every metabolic process that your body undergoes produces acid. Your body is always seeking to maintain proper pH balance-the balance between acid and alkaline.

When you become too acidic, your body becomes vulnerable to a whole host of health problems.Your body will go to such great lengths to maintain pH balance in the fluids that it will even create stress on cells, tissues, bones and organs in order to do so.

Chronic acidification will interrupt all cellular activities and functions -it interferes with life itself.When the pH of your body becomes too acidic, you may experience low energy, fatigue, excess weight, poor digestion, aches and pains, and even more serious disorders.

Your body becomes pH imbalanced and onverly acidic primarily as a result of three things: the ingestion of acids, the creation of acids, and the improper elimination of acids.

When you discover the magic of pH balance, you'll experience vibrant health and energy. When your body is pH balanced, it is full of vitality. You'll find that you have increased energy, metal clarify, and you'll even notice that your skin has regained that healthy glow. Simply put, a body in pH balance functions properly and operates optimally. The good news is that if you've suffered the negative impact of an overly acidic body, you can regain your health and you can regain balance. The process of re-establishing pH balance begins with proper diet and nutrition. This includes eating alkalizing foods (vegetable, low sugar fruits, etc.), hydrating properly (drinking plenty of alkaline, ionic, structured water), and integreating proper nutritional supplementation.

Proper hydration is the most crucial factor in establishing and maintaining proper pH. Since your body is 70% water, it is extremely important to constantly replenish your supply of it. Your body loses 2.5 liters of water every day just through normal bodily functions.

The QUALITY of the water that you drink is just as important as the QUANTITY of water that you drink. The water you put in your body must be able to prevent toxins and chemicals subtances from accumulation, thus preventing destructive influences on cells.

Water must also transport minerals and nutrients required for cell metabolism and remove any substances that can damage the cell. Ideally, the water you drink should have a pH between 9 and 10, and you should be drinking 3-4 liters of it daily.

In order to hydrate your body optimally, you need to drink water that is alkaline and ionized. Alkaline water helps to neutralize stored acid wastes. Once these acids are neutralized, they can then be removed by the body. Alkaline water containing ionic minerals also acts as a conductor of electrochemical activity from cell to cell.

There are plenty places on the internet you can find ionized/alkaline filters or natural products to help you get a balanced pH. I personally suggest this one:

http://www.phi-ion.com . The book "The acid-alkaline Diet" by Christopher Vasey is one of the best books I have read for optimum health.

Vibrant health and energy begins with a pH balance. Start changing your life now!

Source: pH ion.

Traveling for business or pleasure?

2008-02-25T17:39:00.004-05:00

"Traveling can really take a toll on your body", says Lara Bracciante, online properties director for Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP). "Cramped airplane seating, extensive driving, lumpy hotel beds, and varying time zones can leave you feeling fatigued, stressed, and sore. In addition, your immune system can become depleted, leaving you susceptible to illness. Fortunately, massage in an excellent tool for restoring and reenergizing the body when traveling and getting you back to your normal, vital self."

Too much time spending in the same position on an airplane or car, can put more stress and tightness on your body. Your muscles need to continuously stretch in order to be soft and receive good source of oxygen through your blood.

Massage Therapy combined with passive stretching (thai-yoga) is the best choice to improve your circulation, move your muscles and prevent on getting future knots, cramps, numbness and tingling on your extremities, especially your legs.

Take care of your body and don't let traveling on an airplane or car affect your health and wellness.

Angela Lind. LMT
http://www.therapeutic-hands.com/

How do I know if I should put heat or ice on an injury?

2007-08-24T17:17:00.000-05:00

One of my preferred educators is Art Riggs. He says that it's difficult to establish a fail-safe rule for what to apply ice or heat.

The general rule is to apply ice for the first forty-eight to seventy-two hours after an acute injury and then to switch to heat. It is important to have a thin covering of cloth or paper towel between the ice and your skin. Be careful of falling asleep while lying on a heating pad. Usually, ten to fifteen minutes should be the maximum amount of time of application. For ice, frequent applications are helpful. If alternating ice and heat:the heat will increase circulations and soften tissue, while the ice will flush out the blood and curtail inflammation. So it's best to end with the ice.

The reality is that many conditions are not necessarily the result of a specific injury. I call these conditions "recurrent acute" and find them by far the most common: sciatica that occurs when you drive a car; backs that flare up every time you garden, or tennis elbow from intense computer work. In these cases, consistent and frequent applications of ice may prove very helpful over long periods of time, particularly immediately after the event that causes problems.

On the other side, back or other muscle spasms that are caused by overexertion rather than injury, may benefit greatly from heat immediately upon the onset of symptoms or immediately after exercise in order to relax the muscles and increase circulation. Generally, muscle belly pain not resulting from acute and serious trauma responds well to heat, which can break the spasms and release the strain. Nerve and tendon pain, regardless of the duration of symptoms, even for months, benefit from ice.

Finally different individuals will constitutionally vary greatly in their reactions. Some people are more prone to the types of inflammation exarcerbated by heat, while others find their bodies contracting and tightening at just the mention of ice. Try each and see what works best for you.

Hydrotherapy

2007-04-30T18:53:00.001-05:00

New research concludes:

In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.

Even mild dehydration will slow down one`s metabolism as much as 3 %.

One glass of water shuts down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a U-Washington study.

Lack of water is the number one trigger of daytime fatigue.

8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing ont the computer screen or on a printed page.

Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

If you care about healthful eating, chances are you`re getting enough protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. But you may be forgetting one of the most important items of all: water!

Water accounts for 60% of body weight and is vital for all body functions. It`s used to generate energy, propel nerve impulses and drive muscle contractions.

You cannot funciton at peak capacity without enough water. Yet one third of all Americans suffer from chronic dehydration.

Over time, even mild dehydration poses numerous health risks.

In conclusion: If you feel tired, stressed, your body might be dehydrated because the body needs to be constantly flushing out toxins and water is the mediator for this to happen. If you are having joint pain, might be dehydrated because the joints in order to function normally need synovial fluid that is based of water. If you are having back pain, you might be dehydrated because the tissue dries and get tighter. The tight muscles are mostly caused by dehydration and water helps the muscles be maleable and more flexible. If you are under medication and you are having too many side effects, the cause might be lack of water, because dehydration concentrates drugs in the body, effectively raising the doses and this increases the risk of side effects and toxicity in your body.

So, please... DRINK WATER! =0)

Angela Lind. LMT

http://www.therapeutic-hands.com/

FEET: Foundation of your Body.

2007-03-24T20:58:00.000-05:00

Your feet are the foundation of your body. They support you when you stand, walk, or run. And they help protect your spine, bones, and soft tissues from damaging stress as you move around. Your feet perform better when all their muscles, arches, and bones are in their ideal stable positions.The foot is constructed with three arches which, when properly maintained, give exceptional supportive strength. These three arches form a supporting vault that distributes the weight of the entire body.If there is compromise of one arch in the foot, the other arches must compensate and are subject to additional stresses, which usually leads to further compromise.

It’s a chain reaction.

Alleviating pain in one part of your body often requires treating a different part. The pain you feel in your neck could be caused by a misalignment in your spine that is caused by unbalanced positioning in your feet. See? It’s a chain reaction.

Call me and let me help you to recognize the specific muscles you need to be addressed and the specific measurement or thickness for your shoe inserts. By stabilizing and balancing your feet and performing the neuromuscular therapy, this together will enhance your body’s performance and efficiency, reduce pain and contribute to your total body wellness.

Angela Lind.LMT
www.therapeutic-hands.com

Source: Foot Levelers

Suffering of Hip Pain?

2007-03-24T20:48:00.001-05:00

Facts about Hip Pain:

Your hip is a weight-bearing joint, and all of your weight above the waistline has to be supported by your hips. Whenever you stand, walk, or run, your hip joints are subjected to stress and strain.

If you haven`t experience a traumatic injury such a car accident or a fall on the hip, and your pain seems to lessen when you`re resting, your hip pain could be caused by imbalances in your feet.

The feet are the foundation of your body: they support everything above them, including the hips. When your feet aren`t balanced, it puts more stress and pressure on your hips.

Hip pain can occasionally be a symptom of a more serious problem, such as arthritis, osteoporosis, or an infection in the joint. If your hip pain doesn`t go away, you should make an appointment to be evaluated by a health care professional.

How can I help you?
In the beginning, I would suggest rest or cold packs to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
I recommend custom-made, flexible spinal pelvic stabilizers, which are inserts that you place in your shoes. Stabilizers help your feet maintain their structural and functional balance as you move. Thay also absorb harmful shock.
I may also suggest that you do rehabilitative exercises to build muscle strength, stabilize the hip joint and reduce your risk of addtional injuries.

What can you do at home to recover faster?
Lifestyle changes such as exercising regularly and losing weight can help. Excess weight causes additional stress and strain on all of your joints, particularly the hips.
To avoid hip problems in the future, make sure that you get adequate amounts of calcium and vitamind D. This will heep your bones healthy and strong, and can even help prevent osteoporosis, a leading cause of hip fractures.

Take this test to see if feet stabilizers can help you:

Do you stand or walk on hard surfaces for more than 4 hours daily?
Do you participate regularly in any physical sport?
Are you age 40 or over?
Have you had a prior injury to your knee, back or neck?
Have you had a knee surgery?
Do your shoes wear unevenly?
Do you have joint pain while standing, walking, or running?
Is one of your legs shorter than the other?
Do you have knock-knees of bow legs?
Do you have obvious foot problems? (bunions, corns, flat feet, etc)

If you checked any of the above, Spinal Pelvic Stabilizers can help you. And I can help you find the best stabilizer for you, and customize specially for your feet.

Visit my website www.therapeutic-hands.com to know how to reach me.

Will be happy to help you!

Angela Lind. LMT.

Source: Foot Levelers.

Deep Tissue vs. Neuromuscular Therapy (aka. Trigger Point Therapy)

2007-03-24T20:41:00.000-05:00

DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE is just what it sounds like. Very deep pressure, a good hurt, is applied to release tight taut muscle areas not touched by conventional pressure. Often the movements are directed against the grain of the muscles (cross fiber) using the fingers, thumbs and/or elbows. It is applied with greater pressure and at deeper levels than Swedish Massage. Deep Tissue is used only at your request and not generally part of a regular session unless you feel you need it and can take deep pressure. Deep Tissue Massage lends itself to being more focused on a problem area.

TRIGGER POINT THERAPY (also known as Neuromuscular Therapy) is the application of very deep, pin point finger pressure done on adhesions or knots in your muscles to break them down and disperse them. These intense knots of muscle tension are called Trigger Points, as they seem to trigger a pain pattern, or referred pain to other parts of the body. The points are located and "deactivated" and new blood flow to the area will reduce spasm of the muscle. Finger pressure is applied to individual muscles for a short time, which can be momentarily painful but is greatly relieving. Like Deep Tissue Massage, it is not performed unless you specifically request it or I recommend it and you consent to it.

Visit my website: www.therapeutic-hands.com . Maybe this is the best for you!

Angela Lind. LMT.

Source: Hardy Massage.

The Breath Therapy

2007-03-24T20:37:00.001-05:00

A correct breathing improves body-awareness as well as improvement in postural control and low-back pain.But when the breath is incorrect, It can be a perpetuating factor for a number of pain syndromes, as well part and parcel of many stress-related disorders. It`s incorrect breathing reaising the chest and pulling in of the abdomen. So it`s very important that this type of breathing should be corrected. The following exercise can help retrain breathing patterns:

Take a slow breath, allowing the musculature of the stomach and abdomen to expand somewaht with the breath. Breath in this way for a few moments, allowing the breath to move down into the lower portions of the thorax. As constrictions of abdominal and/or thoracic musculature are felt, intentionally relax the area. If the chest or shoulders rise up, return to the focus of dropping the breath into the lower areas of the body.

Now inhale deeply. Allow the musculature of the thorax to relax. As the musculature relaxes the chest will expand slightly in an anterior direction, in a lateral direction and in a posterior direction. This will happen naturally in the relaxed body. Sense that a container is being filled: first the lower portion fills, then the upper portion.

Now exhale, emptying the upper portion first and then the lower portion. Allow the body to deflate as a balloon deflates. It will do so evenly-anteriorly, posteriorly and laterally.

Relax the breath and continue to breath fully and completely, paying attention to the pitfalls: the shoulders may want to rise up, the abdominal muscles may tighten. Keep them relaxed.

Try to practice in front of a mirror.
Remember: a correct breathing is part of your relaxation and healing process.

Take care!

Angela Lind. LMT

www.therapeutic-hands.com

Ambiance vs. Health

2007-03-24T20:18:00.000-05:00

I have been working at the Red Door Spas, a great and nice place to be and get relaxed. Nice relaxation room, nice hallways, nice customer service, nice massage rooms, nice music, a large etcetera that converges in two words: great ambiance. I have seen how lots of people spends lot of money wanting to get relaxed, and they decide going to this kind of spas. They get relaxed for an hour or so with the massage, and then, have to step out the room,step out the spa, take the car and drive. Their relaxation state is almost completely gone, because have to be very alert to drive back again. The reflexes after the massage are not good because the body it`s been laying down on the table with the increasing of blood circulation. That`s why is highly recommended to drink plenty of water for not fainting or feeling dizzy. Are kind of the same symptoms when someone is under alcohol`s influence or when the person is very sleepy. Very dangerous for a person when is driving, but in this case, the person just drink water, and break the relaxation state voluntarily, and easily get alert and ready to drive back. So, why the people spend so much money for ambiance and to get relaxed just a short time?What I think, it`s much better receiving a massage at home. After the massage, I don`t have to worry about driving. After the massage, I jump to my shower, then jump to my bed, go to sleep, or just watch tv. But the relaxation state remains longer. I think that the best place to get relaxed is in my own house, my own shower, my own bed. This is how the money spent for massage has more value.It`s wonderful going to nice resorts with great ambiances and luxurious atmospheres, but that not happens all the time. You don`t live at these resorts the 365 days of the year. Health, is an every day matter.

Receiving a massage in a regular basis is part of your good health.Stress unfortunately is part of our lives, gravity that pull bones and muscles in a constant force that causes misalignments and therefore stiffness, pain and discomfort. Massage reduce stress, stiffness and pain.

If having good health is a necessity, then getting a massage is not a luxury, it`s a necessity.If you want to participate more in your own care rather than paying exorbitant amounts for ambiance, call me.I really look forward to giving you the opportunity to help with your healing and health improvement for now, tomorrow and the future.

Best wishes,

Angela Lind. LMT
www.therapeutic-hands.com

The Real Swedish Massage

2007-03-24T20:12:00.001-05:00

With the experience of giving massage everyday, I have realized that other massage therapists don`t give a real swedish massage. How can I know this? because my clients tell me that they want deep or firm pressure, not light. And when I perform a deep and firm pressure, they ask me to go lighter. This means, that there are lots of massage therapists that perform a "swedish massage" but just putting on the lotion or oil, but not manipulating the muscles. A real swedish massage is with light to moderate pressure, or manipulating the muscles lightly to moderately. Just putting lotion with slow motions doesn`t really give the person all the benefits of a real swedish massage.Try the real swedish massage, and feel the difference!

Angela Lind. LMT.
http://www.therapeutic-hands.com/