Guest Spot: Massage - A Healthy Indulgence By Mark Bromson, M.D.

Massage - A Healthy Indulgence
By Mark Bromson, M.D.

Many of my patients see massage therapy as an indulgence. They might go to a spa a few times a year as a special treat, or to relax after a period of stress. As an orthopedic surgeon, I know there are more benefits to massage than simply an hour of relaxation. It is an important component in many treatment plans, and it can target your individual needs if you understand the difference between massage techniques. Here is what you need to know about the most popular types of massage to discover which one is right for you.

Swedish Massage

If you go to a day spa or make an appointment at hotel spa, you are almost certain to get a Swedish massage. Considered an all-purpose therapy, Swedish technique is certainly relaxing and beneficial to a wide range of people. The goal is to stimulate circulation with the use of long, flowing strokes, all focused in the direction of the heart. Massage oil or lotion may be used to reduce friction. A well-trained therapist should discuss with you beforehand any specific injuries or areas you may be concerned about. The massage may be light or firm, based on your preference. By increasing circulation, this technique may reduce swelling and speed healing.

Shiatsu

This Japanese technique uses firm pressure applied with the fingers. By stimulating the traditional acupressure points, increased energy and balance in the body is encouraged. The technique is surprisingly relaxing and gentle for people who are concerned about muscle soreness. Shiatsu is a popular alternative method of relieving pain. By restoring balance in the organs and circulatory system, it is believed that this method helps the body resist disease.

Hot Stone Massage

This technique, in which smooth, flat stones are heated and placed on various pressure points, is enjoyable for its novelty. It is highly relaxing and the warmth is comforting to many people. If Swedish massage is too vigorous for you, the gentler nature of hot stone massage is a good choice. Although somewhat light, this technique may effectively ease muscle tension. It is a good choice for people whose main goal is stress-relief.

Thai Massage

This technique stands apart from other forms of massage. Instead of lying passively on a table, you are guided through various stretches and positions by a therapist working on a mat. One may compare Thai massage to a gentle yoga session without doing the work yourself. Like Shiatsu, specific pressure points are utilized to stimulate the body's organs and promote circulation. The therapist may use his or her body weight to massage different parts of the body, and you will not have to disrobe for Thai massage. It is a good choice if you are not managing an injury and want to improve flexibility and energy.

Aromatherapy Massage

This technique is centered on scented plant oils, called essential oils. It is critical that the therapist discusses your goals ahead of time so he or she can choose the essential oils that will best complement your treatment. Certain scents are known to promote various outcomes, such as relaxation, energy, calm, balance and focus. The scent should be defused throughout the room, and will also be applied as massage oil. Throughout the session, you may be given various scents to sniff to enhance your experience. If you would like to use massage as a relief from emotional trauma or stressful situations with strong emotional components, aromatherapy is a good choice.

Sports Massage

This type of massage is useful not only for athletes, but anyone who engages in a lot of physical activity. The strokes are similar to Swedish massage, but may be more vigorous. It can be used before an event to increase energy and circulation; after an activity to calm the nervous system, sooth tired muscles and reduce recovery time; and after an injury to increase flexibility and stimulate healing in the muscle tissues. Sports massage is always geared to your specific activity, physical condition and goals.

Whatever technique you choose, massage is a highly rewarding experience. If you consider your goals beforehand and discuss them with your therapist, it can have a dramatic effect on your treatment and well-being.

Mark Bromson, M.D. http://www.vitalmaxvitamins.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Bromson,_M.D.

Time goes faster as you get older....

I remember being a kid. Summer lasted forever. School would end in mid June, and it would be forever until September when it restarted. Now, I look at the clock and think, where did the day go. Seems it was only a few hours ago I got up, but that was 12 hours ago. The days go by in a blur as you get older it seems. Oh to recapture the slow glacial pace of childhood.

Almost Spring.....

Snows mostly gone from WNY, temperatures are starting to stay in the 40's, touching the 50's even. Springs almost here, thankfully. I'm finding as I get older, that my allergies start kicking in around mid November and stay in full swing until late April. I'm of course referring to my allergy to snow, cold, and long dark nights.

I'm lookingvery forward to spring, when the grass starts to green, the trees regain their shade, adn the flowers poke their heads up through the ground and the air is sweet.

Plus, I can open the windows for the cats and watch them go nuts teasing the birds. :)

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM? By Bob Hubbard

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM?
By Bob Hubbard

Medicine today is high technology field, involving all types of advanced equipment, complex chemicals, and designer drugs. American’s spend billions of dollars every year on treatments and doctor visits. But what if there was an alternate to the complex and sometimes complicated system of healing?

Enter Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM for short. What is it? Let us start with what it is not.

TCM is not a substitute for regular checkups with your primary physician, a miracle cure, or black magic. It is an alternate system of healing and healthy living that has been developed, researched and refined over several thousand years by one of the oldest continuous advanced civilizations in the world. By comparison, in conventional, or Western medicine, you visit your doctor when you feel ill, and your doctor will often prescribe medicine to treat your symptoms. Take this to stop your nose from leaking, take this to calm your stomach, and so on.

TCM by comparison seeks to diagnose the cause of illness and unrest, treat it, and prevent it from happening again. It seeks to restore balance to your body, believing that a body in balance is healthy, by treating the whole person, not just trying to mask the symptoms of illness. TCM practitioners seek to balance ones life force, also called chi or qi (pronounced chee) through a combination of healthy living, and controlled redirection under the care of a trained professional.

Some of the methods used include:

• Acupuncture – A system where thin steel needles are inserted into certain specific points on the body to unblock and rebalance the flow of chi.
• Acupressure – This is similar to acupuncture, but uses manual manipulation of these points rather than needles.
• Herbal medicines – Chinese herbal treatments such as ginseng and ginko work to rebalance the body from within. Self treatment is highly discouraged, and a trained herbalist’s skill is essential for proper and safe treatment.
• Tai Chi – Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art known for promoting energy flow and flexibility in the body using slow graceful movements, most commonly in a low to no impact environment. Most Tai Chi taught in the US today focuses on the therapeutic rather than the martial aspects, and is a good match to senior citizens looking to maintain or improve their health.
• Qi gong – Qi Gong is a sort of moving meditation, combining slow careful movements and focused breathing. Qi Gong is a component in Tai Chi and many other Chinese arts, but is also a system all it’s own. Practice is recommended under the guidance of an experienced instructor as incorrect Qi Gong can cause problems.

When choosing to visit a TCM doctor, be certain to check credentials.
Here are four basic questions to ask when choosing an acupuncturist, herbologist or doctor of TCM:

1) Where did he or she train?
2) How many years did he or she been train?
3) How many years has he or she been practicing acupuncture or herbology?
4) Does he or she have an NCCAOM certificate in acupuncture or herbology?.

Another important point is to check for a valid license and certifications. In the US, NCCAOM is the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. They put out the National Exam that most, if not all, states recognize.

If you are in the US visit the NCCAOM web site at http://www.nccaom.org/find.htm and check credentials and find qualified TCM practitioners in your area.

TCM is a safe and reliable alternate system of healing that has been practiced for generations and is worth looking at in conjunction with the Western system for a complete healthy existence.

===
Bob Hubbard is an administrator of the popular martial arts portal site MartialTalk.com and president of SilverStar WebDesigns inc., a web site design and hosting company specializing in affordable solutions for martial artists. Bob can be reached at webmaster@martialtalk.com
Article Copyright © 2009 - Bob Hubbard - All Rights Reserved. This article may be reproduced provided all text, the author bio and these terms are kept intact.

Guest Spot: Chiropractic Care For Your Health By Outarow Chuong

Chiropractic Care For Your Health
By Outarow Chuong

Chiropractic care is often thought of as a treatment for back and spine problems, but there is a lot more to the practice than just dealing with the spine. It is thought by practitioners of chiropractic care that disorders and problems with the musculoskeletal system can affect the functioning of the body in a variety of ways.

Chiropractic care is usually used as a complementary medicine that is used in conjunction with traditional approaches to illness and injury. The practice will focus on manipulation of the soft tissue and joints of the spine as well as other areas. Many chiropractors will also teach patients how to perform exercises on their own at home to help their condition. Lifestyle and the overall health of the patient is also counseled for patients who are experiencing health concerns.

There are two different types of chiropractic care that you can receive. The first group are considered to be straight chiropractors and believe that spinal adjustments and vitalism are key to all illness and conditions experienced in the body. These practitioners are not the mainstream of chiropractors any longer. The second type of chiropractor are the mixers and these practitioners believe in the benefits of spinal adjustments and other areas of chiropractic care along with other alternative and traditional methods of medicine.

In the beginnings of chiropractic care, it was not thought of as an appropriate form of therapy. There were a number of chiropractic practitioners who were prosecuted for practicing medicine without a medical license. In recent years, it has been established as an appropriate form of medicine and has gained increased support among the medical community. Many health plans even cover chiropractic care for patients who are in need of their services. Mainstream medicine has embraced the practices of chiropractors when it is used in conjunction with traditional medicine.

The safety of chiropractic care has been under scrutiny in the past, but today it is widely regarded as safe for most patients. Of course, there are some patients who should not use chiropractic care and your doctor should determine if you are physically able to withstand the manipulations and adjustments that are common in chiropractic care.

It is important that you check with your regular doctor to be sure that chiropractic is safe for you. While the practice is quite safe, it is not always appropriate for all patients. Those with osteoporosis should use care when deciding on chiropractic care for the treatment of their conditions or injury. Your doctor is best able to make the call.

Outarow Chhuong has been involved in alternative health since 1997, and is currently writing health articles related to anti wrinkle cream, and anti aging wrinkle cream.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Outarow_Chuong

Sweet Tooth? Try Stevia! By Bob Hubbard

Sweet Tooth? Try Stevia!
By Bob Hubbard

Walk through your sweetener area and you’ll find a wide range of choices. Cane Sugar our old stand by, as well as corn syrups, molasses, and a wide array of artificial sweeteners made in labs, each with it’s own associated health risks and concerns. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a safe natural low/no calorie sweetener to use instead of sugar, that tasted as good, and didn’t have the concerns of the laboratory creations?

Time to check out Stevia.

Stevia, or “Sweet Leaf” is an natural sweetener, tracing back to Central America. The leaves of the Stevia plant have 30–45 times the sweetness of ordinary table sugar with a slower onset and longer duration. It’s negligible effect on blood glucose makes it an attractive natural sweetener, and it’s low calorie nature helps make it a choice alternate to regular sugar and it’s high calorie count.

The United States banned it’s use as a sweetener in the 1990’s, but recently partially reversed that at the urging of Coca Cola and Pepsi, and there are now several Stevia derivatives available at your local super market under names such as Rebiana, Truvia and PureVia. Stevia has been widely used as a sweetener in Japan, and is also available in Canada as a dietary supplement.

Native tribes in South America used Stevia to sweeten various medical compounds. Recent research has shown Stevia to be a promising aid in treating obesity, high blood pressure and hypertension, as well as possibly enhancing glucose tolerance. It’s being researched as a possible treatment for osteoporosis as well. Stevia’s nature also makes it a good option for diabetics.

Stevia is however not without it’s controversy. Critics claim a wide range of concerns such as its compounds breaking down into mutagens, carcinogens, etc.

In general stevia constituents have not been found to be harmful. There is no evidence that stevia constituents cause cancer or birth defects. For over thirty years millions of Japanese have been using stevia with no reported or known harmful effects. Similarly, stevia leaves have been used for centuries in South America spanning multiple generations.

The World Health Organization performed a thorough evaluation of recent experimental studies of stevioside and steviols conducted on animals and humans, and concluded that there was no evidence of carcinogenic activity, or birth defects, and that there is some evidence of pharmacological effects in patients with hypertension or with type-2 diabetes, but that further study was required.

Overall, Stevia looks to be a safe, natural alternate to sugar, free of many of the concerns of artificial chemical sweeteners. Look for it at your local supermarket and health food store. Remember, a little bit goes a long way with Stevia.

===
Bob Hubbard is an administrator of the popular martial arts portal site MartialTalk.com and president of SilverStar WebDesigns inc., a web site design and hosting company specializing in affordable solutions for martial artists. Bob can be reached at webmaster@martialtalk.com
Article Copyright © 2009 - Bob Hubbard - All Rights Reserved. This article may be reproduced provided all text, the author bio and these terms are kept intact.