Tag: Health Conditions

RISKS OF MASSAGE THERAPY

By and large, massage therapy that is performed by a properly schooled and well experienced massage therapist who practices his or her art prudently and with due caution, is risk free to its recipients health and wellbeing. For that reason along, if for no other, massage therapists must be selected very carefully as credentials and licenses are scrutinized meticulously, references are checked with diligence and questions are asked relentlessly. Regardless of how it is phrased or worded, one question which must always be asked of a potential massage therapist is the following, Which health conditions would you consider preclusive of massage therapy and why? And the correct answer, whether stated in exactly those words or different ones, should be, There are certain health conditions which must rule out massage therapy and those are And he or she must name the following:

* Cancer. Massage therapy comes in different forms which affect the body differently. There are also many different types of cancers and patients may be at different stages and receiving different treatments. In some cases and certain types of massage therapy may lead to life threatening results while in other cases with another type of massage therapy the results may be extraordinarily beneficial. Because of such complexity, it is essential to consult with the medical provider who knows the particulars of the case in question before proceeding with a massage therapy of any kind.

The potential risks involved in performing massage therapy on cancer patients do not inevitably discard the entire concept of massage therapy but it does mean that extra caution must be practiced and, perhaps, moderate to extreme alteration of the treatment is in order. And the health risks are the following:

– Fractures of bones. Certain forms of cancer and their treatments weaken bones to the extent that they can easily break under pressure.

– Bleeding. Many cancer patients have the tendency to bleed easily. Deep tissue massage can cause dangerous internal bleeding.

– Spreading of cancerous tumors. There is an ongoing debate about the effects of massage therapy on tumors. Some claim that applying vigorous pressure to the area where the tumor is present will cause it to metastasis (break down and to spread or to increase its rate of growth). Others, however, deny that claim as unsubstantiated and untrue. It is best to play it safe and not massage the tumor region or its surrounding soft tissues.

– Lymphedema (the buildup of lymph in soft tissue which leads to swelling of the limbs). Certain types of massage therapy in patients who have had their lymph nodes removed due to cancer may lead to lymphedema.

– Flu-like symptoms. Patients who are going through chemotherapy can often develop symptoms which look and feel like the flu after having been treated to certain types of massage therapy.

– Pain. Cancer patients frequently suffer a great deal of pain and most massage therapy techniques can result in some temporary pain immediately after the treatment. That may translate to added pain when too much of it is already present and that can be quite literally unbearable.

* Post-surgery. Shortly after surgery, the wound is still in the process of healing visually on the surface of the skin as well as internally. Applying pressure to the site may cause a series of risky health problems such as reopening the incision, trigger internal and/or external bleeding or blood clotting, and so on.

* Skin conditions. Areas where the skin is infected, inflamed or covered with rashes or sores should not be massaged as it can lead to worsening of the condition.

Even when taking into account all the risks which have been mentioned above, massage therapy can still be very beneficial to most people in most situations. Rather than discounting it completely due to specific concerns, I would advise consulting a physician.

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Pain Relief and Yoga

Are you in pain? If you are, then you will be glad to hear that there is another pain relief option available to you Yoga. A lot of individuals suffering from any kind of pain are now turning to alternative methods to relieve pain. They have grown tired of using medicines or drugs which oftentimes have undesirable side effects.

A great number of people are suffering from chronic pain and for quite some time now, they were able to spend a huge amount of money in purchasing pain relievers. You dont need to spend a lot of money to get rid of pain. Read on and you will find out how to naturally address your body aches in an inexpensive way.

Perhaps youre already familiar with meditation. People who are suffering from pain can benefit greatly from mind and body medicine. Through centuries, meditation was used by people to achieve a relaxed state of mind and body. It is truly an effective tool in relieving pain. Aside from relieving pain, meditation can also maintain your overall health and it helps in boosting the bodys resistance against diseases.

If you want to cope with pain, try meditation now. Meditation techniques are now being taught in some clinics all over the world. Stress is a very common cause of pain which can lead to headaches, eczema, arthritis, back pains, and other health conditions. Meditation can also work for almost anything especially if you do it right.

The body produces endorphins and this hormone is said to give humans a good feeling. It is also helps in alleviating stress and in reducing pain. Through meditation, the production of endorphins is enhanced so you will soon feel better.

When youre meditating, your brain is in a coherent and synchronous state. Large quantities of endorphins are produced so you will feel good. You will be at peace. Its easier to feel happy and connected to your body and mind.

Pleasurable experiences stimulate the brain and because of this fact, it will be easier to overcome pain and depression. Yoga meditation makes use of different techniques and you can choose only the ones you prefer.

Breathing is usually the initial step to achieve awareness. Breathing patterns are followed to provide body relaxation. When the breathing rate is slowed down, your body will also calm down and relax. If your body is relaxed, you will also feel less pain.

When meditating, you will also ponder on the realities of life and its ever changing concepts. You must be able to understand yourself in order to view things differently. When your perspectives are changed, you will also begin to deal with problems or pain effectively. Inner peace is achieved and you will feel more in control of your life. Emotional transformation can improve your overall health and it helps in reducing physical symptoms and pain.

Pain and anxiety can also be effectively addressed through visualization techniques. You will simply imagine a relaxing and pleasant place or activity from your past. By doing so, you will feel calm and relaxed thereby reducing pain.

Through meditation, chi or prana flows through your body giving you more energy. Such energy can be directed to improve health conditions and relieve pain. Yoga meditation has its benefits and for centuries, people have already proved its efficacy. Learn the various yoga meditation techniques now and use it as a pain relief tool.

Diet and Lifestyle Changes For Sinus Infections

Your diet plays a significant role in your everyday life. It can also serve as a basis for determining the health of an individual. If youre used to eating unhealthy choices of foods, then your body tends to be weak and cant resist viral and bacterial attacks. Sinus infections can be caused by bacteria, virus, and fungi. There are lots of treatments for this condition but prevention is still the best way to fight this infection. Having a healthy body and strong immune system will help you a lot in fighting infections, including that of the sinus.

Living a healthy life entails a lot of work. You need to be conscious about the foods youre eating and the mental activities that youre engaging. You must also ensure that youre getting enough exercise.

Making certian changes in your lifestyle may sound very difficult at first but if youre determined to prevent future health conditions, you will do everything in your power to incorporate these changes in your life.

For the prevention of sinus infections, here are some changes that you should do:

1.Drink enough water everyday; 8-10 glasses of water everyday can help you attain a healthier body

2.Fresh fruit juices are also good for your health; drink plenty of it as well

3.Eat your vegetables, just like your mother told you when youre still a kid; but you need to lessen your consumption of zucchini, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

4.Take lots of bitter tasting or pungent items; warm foods are also good for fighting sinus infections

5.Eat more of pear, apples, and other lighter fruits but reduce on sour fruits like oranges, pineapples, bananas, dates, figs, coconuts, avocados, and melons.

6.Eat cottage cheese and yogurt but eat less of dairy foods

7.Lessen your consumption of oily, heavy, and cold foods; as well as sour, salty, and sweet tasting foods

8.Consume less of millet and barley, rice or wheat

9.To relieve congestion, sinus pressure, and increase mucus flow, drink hot liquids

10.Take honey but avoid sugary products; you can also take boiled milk but only the low-fat ones

11.Include garlic in your diet

12.Avoid strongly scented perfumes, body and hair oils

13.Avoid taking frequent naps; if the weather is damp or cold, keep yourself warm all the time

14.Steam inhalation is very good for getting rid of the clogged mucus; add some eucalyptus oil to the water for better results

15.Early to bed and early to rise; and dont forget to do some yoga practices like fish, sun salutation, locust; you can also do some meditation and pranayama

16.Sesame oil massage is great but take a soothing warm shower first

17.Dont get too attached to emotional upsets; learn to let go

According to yoga and ayurveda specialists, sinus infections are caused by imbalanced doshas. In order to address your sinusitis, you have to be compassionate to yourself so that you can balance the doshas once more.

Yoga and other alternative treatments are quite effective but it will depend on your willingness to undertake some drastic changes in your life. True enough, you cant change overnight and so you need to introduce the changes gradually. If you start now, you will thank yourself in the near future. You will soon cure your sinus infections and other health conditions.

Home Remedies for Removing Unwanted Warts

Are you a believer in home remedies? It seems as if home remedies have been used since the beginning of time. While a large number of individuals feel that home remedies are only a waste of time, there are others who literally live by them. If properly done, there are a number of health conditions that can be treated or prevented with home remedies. One of those conditions is warts.

Warts are often deemed as unwanted or as unpleasant. This is because they are growths that appear on the skin. These growths are, almost always, non-cancerous, but they are still unwanted. If you are looking for an effective, but low-cost way to have your wart or warts removed, you may want to think about trying a home remedy. Online you can find a number of these home remedies. If you are interested in getting started, a few popular wart removal home remedies are described below.

Perhaps, the most popular home remedy used to remove warts involves duct tape. It has been said; in fact, it has also been backed by scientific research, that duct tape is effective at removing or eliminating warts. If you are interested in giving this home remedy a try, you will need to apply duct tape to your warts. After keeping the warts covered, for about a week, you will want to remove the tape, soak your wart in water, and then scrub it with a pumice stone. If your wart does not come off right away, you are advised to repeat the procedure again, for at least another one to two weeks.

It has also been said that aloe is effective at eliminating warts. You are advised to soak a small cotton ball in aloe, preferably the gel. After the soaking has occurred, for around about a minute or so, you will want to tape the cotton ball to your wart. You will want to add aloe to the wart or piece of cotton every few hours. By leaving the cotton ball in place, with the exception of changing it daily, your wart should fall off in a few days or weeks.

Apparently, caster oil is also considered an effective wart removal remedy. When using caster oil, you will want to apply the oil to your wart. It is then suggested that you rub or massage the area with your fingers. After doing this day and night for a number of weeks, your wart should disappear. You could also use caster oil by apply it directly to the wart, twice a day, and by keeping it covered. By keeping the wart covered with a bandage, only to remove it when changing, the wart should disappear after about three weeks.

The above mentioned home remedies are just a few of the many that you can find online or in a home remedy book. Additional remedies include using chalk, dandelion, aspirin, bananas, baking soda, papaya, lemon juice, and milkweed. When choosing a home remedy, it is important to keep the ingredients in mind. You will want to refrain from using any items that you may be allergic to. If and when you are in doubt, it may be best to choose another home remedy to use.

It is also important to remember, when using home remedies for wart removal, that the results are not guaranteed. Just because one home remedy worked for someone else, it does not mean that it will also work for you. However, with a wide variety of different home remedies to choose from, you are sure to find at least one successful remedy.

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