MASSAGE THERAPY AS COMPLIMENTARY ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Massage therapy is a broad term that encompasses a wide variety of procedures and methods of pressing, rubbing and manipulating muscles and other soft body tissues such as tendons, ligaments, skin and connective tissues. The main objective of massage therapy is to relax the soft tissues while promoting an increased delivery of blood and oxygen to the areas being massages and, therefore, to decrease tightness and pain. Massage therapy is most often accomplished by utilizing the massage therapists fingers, hands, arms, elbows and/or feet. Occasionally, however, mechanical and electronic devices may be also used.

As a matter of fact, there are more than eighty official types of massage therapy treatments but some of the most widely known are the following:

* The Deep Tissue Massage. This technique uses a combination of strokes and deep finger pressure applied way down under the skin and into the muscles at the painful sites in order to breakup knots and loosen tightness.

* The Trigger Point Massage. This procedure is also known as the Pressure Point Massage and it is more focused on specific myofascial trigger points with a stronger force than the Deep Tissue Massage. The goal here is to dissolve the painful knots that were formed in the muscles as well as to relieve additional symptoms in more remote areas of the body.

* The Swedish Massage. This system utilizes oblong smooth strokes, kneading and friction of the muscles as well as movement of the joints to increase their range of motion and flexibility.

* The Shiatsu Massage. Using altering rhythmic pressure, tapping, squeezing and rubbing along the meridian and on various other parts of the body, the main objective of this Eastern massage therapy is to enhance the flow of a fundamentally important energy called gi. And this energy, in the ancient Chinese medicine is believed to be the life force that regulates a persons spiritual, emotional, mental and physical wellness that is easily affected when subjected to the rival forces of yin and yang.

Whether the four most often practiced massage therapies I mentioned above are used as complimentary alternative medicine (also known as CAM) or any one of the other recognized eighty which are available to a lesser or greater extent, there are important points to be considered:

* No massage therapy should ever be used in place of regular or ongoing medical care.

* Massage therapy should not be the cause or the excuse to postpone visiting a medical professional for existing medical issues.

* The massage therapists schooling and credentials must be verified as well as his or her experience with specific health and medical conditions.
* Any additional complimentary alternative medicine (CAM) such as herbs, supplements, special diets or other treatments which are suggested by the massage therapist must first be reviewed with a medical professional.

* Although the subject of massage therapy (how it works and why) has been studied for many years and continues to be studies, much of it still remains within the realm of a mystery.

* If and when massage therapy is performed by a well training and experienced professional, few risks are involved and the worst of them may be temporary pain or discomfort, bruising, swelling or an allergic reaction to the massage oils. The small number of serious injuries which have been reported were triggered by untrained hands that were not aware that certain medical conditions should not be massaged. It is, therefore, essential to consult a medical professional before undergoing massage therapy, particularly under the following circumstances:

* Deep vein thrombosis
* A bleeding disorder or when taking blood thinners
* Damaged blood vessels
* Weakened bones from osteoporosis, a recent fracture or cancer
* The presence of high body temperature
* Open or healing wounds, tumors, damaged nerves, an infection, a severe inflammation or fragile skin
* Pregnancy
* Heart problems
* Dermatomyositis or any other skin disease
* History of physical abuse

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Suffering from Osteoarthritis? Acupuncture to the Rescue

Suffering from Osteoarthritis? Acupuncture to the Rescue
C. Bailey-Lloyd/LadyCamelot

Keeping in tune with our commitment to providing the latest, medical breakthroughs, I recently had the rare pleasure of speaking with Professor Jorge Vas Ruiz , (Subdirector of the Master University of Acupuncture, ACMAS Huangdi located in Sevilla, Spain) regarding acupuncture’s effectiveness on osteoarthritis of the knee. For over 8 years, Professor Ruiz and his team of elite professors have investigated the effectiveness of Acupuncture treatment. In the past two years, his work focused on a trial of 40 patients whereby acupuncture and relative therapies were applied. The discoveries were that Acupuncture Techniques relatively proceeded to exceedingly heighten internal healing organisms. Professor Ruiz writes, “The art of traditional Chinese Medicine categorized Osteoarthritis as ‘Bi Syndromes,’ Blockages in Qi energy circulation, which results in ill health. From Ancient Widsom, analgesic properties were founded through points of acupuncture. Numerous studies have demonstrated which nervous system neurotransmitters and natural antigens respond to the stimulus of Acupuncture; and how the analgesic effectiveness of acupuncture fine tunes the peptide pathways and allows natural opiote substances into the undefined gray areas. In the case of Osteoarthritis, acupuncture has effectively reduced and alleviated pain improving mobility of the joints, and finally, increasing the quality of life and overall wellbeing. Recognizing which treatment is greater for the majority as opposed to surgery, our Investigation demonstrated that acupuncture is a good treatment for arthritis of the knee. Normally, 10-12 repetitive treatments are a necessary process depending on seriousness. Normally, patients did not require treatment past 6 months. Dr. Ruiz further explained that, “…Leading trials from patients affected by chonic neck pain were completed just a month ago and should have published results shortly. Another trial centered on acupuncture’s effectiveness on shoulder pain involving 500 patients is set to begin in one month as well.” In closing, Professor Ruiz elaborated that, “Overall, the process of osteoarthritis responds well to acupuncture. Depending on one’s initial stage of arthritis, this medical treatment can effectively help with pain and inflammation.” Professor Jorge Vas Ruiz is the Subdirector for, ACMAS Huangdi a practicing and teaching university of Acupuncture and traditional Chinese Medicine. His research has been featured on several medical media journals, including the British Medical Journal.____________________________________________________________________________ To read this and other articles like this one, go to www.holisticjunction.com today! 12/2004 Suffering from Osteoarthritis? Acupuncture to the Rescue Report by, C. Bailey-Lloyd aka. LadyCamelot Public Relations’ Director & Staff Writer www.HolisticJunction.com www.MediaPositiveRadio.com www.911LawOffices.com About the Author
12/2004 Suffering from Osteoarthritis? Acupuncture to the Rescue Report by, C. Bailey-Lloyd aka. LadyCamelot Public Relations’ Director & Staff Writer
www.HolisticJunction.com www.MediaPositiveRadio.com www.911LawOffices.com

How to Treat Genital Warts at Home

Genital warts are usually treated by professionals. Some people, though, have found that they are able to treat genital warts in the privacy of their own homes. They find these methods preferable to subjecting themselves to a doctor’s treatments.

Some home remedies for genital warts involve some form of vinegar. You can dab cider vinegar on the warts. You can also use red wine vinegar and mix it with garlic to put on the warts. Or, you can use white vinegar. White vinegar has no unpleasant odor.

Certain oils have been used. Coconut oil removes warts, and is soothing as well. Vitamin E oil is also a good choice. It loosens the wart. At the same time, it is good for the surrounding skin.

Herbal remedies are numerous. There is a powder called Job’s Tears, a plant extract called hatomugi. It can be found in Chinese medicine shops. It also comes in tea and bags of dried herbs. If you take this substance for a few days, genital warts will fall off.

Other herbs are used in an effort to boost your immune system. Genital warts are caused by the human papilloma virus. This is why when you have one, you often have many. To help your body fight the virus, you can use herbs along with other immune system building activities.

Echinacea helps to fight off viruses by using the natural acids of your own body. Goldenseal has been used for centuries for wound care. It has recently been discovered that goldenseal has antibiotic properties. It can be used, and works especially well with prescription medications for genital warts.

Astragalus is another Chinese herb that has been used for thousands of years. It has been used as a remedy for genital warts. Today, there is proof that this herb actually does energize the immune system. This helps it fight off the virus that causes genital warts.

Some other herbs used in the treatment of genital warts are St. John’s Wort, Ginkgo biloba, and Olive leaf. These herbs are usually taken orally to help the body combat the virus. The herbs are easy to find in any pharmacy or health food store.

To go along with these herbal treatments, you should be taking time to care for yourself, too. Eat healthily, drink plenty of water, and get an adequate amount of sleep. Exercise is also helpful in helping to boost your natural immune system.

Garlic, in its many forms, has been used for a long time to fight genital warts. It can be used raw, or it can be found in capsules or ointments. You can take it by mouth or you can put it directly on the wart. It will not injure the surrounding tissue, so it is perfectly safe.

Actually, the most unsafe thing about these home remedies is that your condition may need to be seen by a physician. As little as you would like to tell someone about this problem, it may be necessary. When left untreated, genital warts can be very dangerous at times. If you have them, it’s best to ask a doctor before you try a home remedy anyway.

Acupuncture: A gain to the well Individual?

Do you ever feel like you know just enough about alternative medicine to be dangerous? Let’s see if we can fill in some of the gaps with the latest info from alternative medicine experts.
Acupuncture: A gain to the well Individual?

Word Interpolate:
588

Summary:
Before we begin a discussion about the benefits of acupuncture, lets talk about the origins of acupuncture. It was first used in China over 2000 years ago, and is one of the oldest medical procedures in the world. It is a family of procedures that stimulates the anatomy of the body and helps to b

Keywords:
acupuncture, health

Fairy tale Body:
Before we begin a discussion about the benefits of acupuncture, lets talk about the origins of acupuncture. It was first used in China over 2000 years ago, and is individual of the oldest medical procedures in the world. Live is a family of procedures that stimulates the anatomy of the body and helps to balance the energy flow throughout the body. It is this kind of acupuncture that is practiced in the United Sates today, through the use of tiny, metallic needles placed in affected areas and manipulated by hand or by electrical stimulation.
Acupuncture is the mere foundation for Traditional Chinese Medicine and is based on the belief that there are two incompatible and inseparable forces within our body. They are known because the Yin and Yang of the entire person. The Yin is representative of the cold, slow, or drowsy principle, and yang represents the hot, excited or active principle. A healthy state is achieved by maintaining a balance state of the yin and yang. This is done through vital pathways or meridians that allow for the flow of qi, or vital energy. The vital energy flow occurs along pathways known as meridians. These meridians connect over 2, 000 acupuncture points along the body. There are 12 main meridians, and 8 secondary meridians. Although traditional western medicine does not completely understand how acupuncture works, the proof that it does work has been shown in several studies conducted by western medical facilities.
Now, lets shift to the question of does existent work? According to the National Set about of Health, the answer would be yes. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in many areas of health care. Areas such as postoperative nausea, chemotherapy side effects, osteoarthritis, low – back pain, headache, menstrual cramps, addiction, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma, just to name a few. The study revealed that acupuncture was able to provide pain relief, improve function and mobility of joints due to arthritis inflammation, again served to complement standard care.
Although there are many who would doubt the effectiveness of acupuncture, once they are a patient, they are believers. It has been proposed that acupuncture works and produces its effects through regulating the nervous arrangement. The theory proposes that since acupuncture produces its effect through regulation of the jittery system, existent induces the release of endorphins and unsusceptible system cells at individualizing sites on the body. There is also the theory that acupuncture alters the brain chemistry by the changing the neurotransmitters in the brain.
Without doubt acupuncture was a profit in the study, and as a patient myself, I can vouch in that the wonderful effect it has had on my back. Although acupuncture is classified as an alternative medicine therapy, and there is quiescent much to be understood about the way it works, it is a proven aid in maintaining optimal health.
But what about the well distinct, can acupuncture provide a benefit to them? Absolutely. Because acupuncture works off the assurance that we exigency maintain balance of our name-of-the-game energy flow in order to remain healthy, acupuncture serves as the tool over realignment. Our vital racket flow can be out of balance, and we still feel and appear quite healthy. It is in this capacity that acupuncture serves as a sort of surety medicine. Checking and balancing the flow of energy on the meridian points significance your body is like your car receiving a tune – up before it is in devoir of a repair. get more health and fitness articles at http://www.anabolic.ca and http://www.takingsteroids.com

Now you can understand why there’s a growing interest in alternative medicine. When people start looking for more information about alternative medicine, you’ll be in a position to meet their needs.