Tag: multiple sclerosis

THE HOT STONE MASSAGE

The Hot Stone massage is a therapeutic massage technique in which a heated stone is held by the massage therapist who uses it to apply the customary and traditional Swedish massage strokes. Because they have the tendency to absorb heat and retain it for extended periods of time, the stones which are used are usual smooth, black volcanic basalt rocks of various sizes and shapes. For the most part, these rocks are heated in water at 120 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Native Americans are known to also have used hot stones for medicinal purposes but those were heated by direct fire. This technique of fire-heated stones was restored by Mary Nelson, a native of Tucson, Arizona and she trademarked it as LaStone Therapy.

Primarily due to the effects of the heat from the stones, the Hot Stone massage is profoundly calming and delightfully relaxing as it rapidly releases the tension out of every soft tissue, be it muscle, tendon or ligament, which is included in this treatment while gentle and comforting peace washes over the client almost immediately. The hot stones are used throughout the entire session to massage, to stroke, to press, to manipulate and to knead the clients soft tissues. On occasion, heated stones are laid out to rest at strategic spots along the spine as well as in the palms of the clients hands and between the toes. This maneuver promotes the optimal flow of energy throughout the entire body. As soon as the stones cool down, the massage therapist will replace them with newly heated ones but areas that are inflamed, injured or swollen, will often be treated with cold stones instead of the hot ones.

To derive the most out of the Hot Stone massage therapy, clients are encouraged to:

* Indicate any discomforts such as those which might be created by stones which are too hot, by the massage therapist applying pressure with too much force, by the background music which may be too loud, by the room temperature which could be too hot or too cold and so on.

* Refrain from consuming a heavy meal and to abstain from ingesting any amount of alcohol shortly before the session.

* Arrive in plenty of time to check in and to relax before the treatment.

* Take a sauna, a steam bath or a hot tub before the session as it will relax and soften the muscles for better end results from the entire treatment. If the hot tub was treated with chlorine, the clients are asked to take hot showers in order to rinse off the chemical.

* Remove all their clothing and be assured that they will remain completely covered with a towel. This will give the massage therapist better access and direct contact with the skin.

* Take slow, deep breaths throughout the session as it helps to relax the body and release more toxins.

* To banish irrelevant thoughts from racing through their heads by concentrating on the feel of the therapists movements over their bare skins.

* Get off the massage table after the session very slowly as dizziness may set in otherwise.

* Absorb the full results of the massage treatment by allowing some quiet time in a peaceful place.

* Drink extra water after the massage to flush out and wash away the toxins released during the treatment.

The Hot Stone massage is beneficial in many ways as it promotes deep muscle and soft tissue relaxation, eases stress, releases toxins, alleviates pain, improves circulation and calms the mind. Quite appropriately, therefore, there is an impressive list of ailments which are treated with Hot Stone massages and they are:

* Muscle aches and pains due to over use, injury or stress.
* Back pain caused by injury, poor posture or misuse.
* Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
* Arthritis.
* Fibromyalgia.
* Stress, anxiety, nervousness and depression.
* Insomnia.
* Any number of circulatory problems.

The Hot Stone massage requires specialized training, it involved more preparation time for disinfecting and heating the stones, the session are often somewhat longer than usual and more time is spent cleaning up. As a consequence, the Hot Stone massage tends to be more costly than any other conventional and basic Swedish massage. But it is worth it and you are worthy of it!

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Alternative Spider Vein Treatment

Laser treatment and sclerotherapy are just two of the options if you want to undergo spider vein treatment. If these do not suit you, there are alternative forms available.

The first option will be to take herbs. One of the most widely used happens to be horse chestnut. The active ingredient here is aescin. Studies have shown that this blocks the release of enzymes that damage capillary walls.

In order for people to take it, manufacturers have to remove the toxic component known as esculin. If this is not done properly, those who take it may experience convulsions, diarrhea, headache, nausea or vomiting.

Not everybody can take horse chestnut especially those who have kidney or liver disease. Does it have adverse effects on women who are pregnant or nursing has yet to be established.

To avoid complications, doctors advise patients not to combine horse chestnut with certain medications. These include aspirin, coumadin, plavix, ticlid and trental as well as other anticoagulant drugs unless these are deemed to be safe for you by your doctor.

Spider veins can also be treated with grape seed and pine bark extracts because both contain oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes (OPCs). These are antioxidants that appear to strengthen the connective tissue structure of blood vessels and reduce inflammation.

People should not confuse grape seed extract with grapefruit seed extract because these are two different things. Unfortunately, there are also side effects if you decide to take it such as nausea and upset stomach.

Those who have autoimmune conditions like Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis should not take this herb. Just like the first herb, doctors have not studied if there are any side effects for nursing mothers or pregnant women.

Another herb is butchers broom. This plant is also known as box holly or knee holly and contains ruscogenins, which strengthen collagen in blood vessel walls and improve circulation. At one point, some doctors believed that it tightens weak, stretched vessels such as those associated with varicose veins.

The side effects of this herb include indigestion and nausea. Those who have high blood pressure or benign prostate hyperplasia should not take butcher’s broom unless they first consult with their doctor.

Aside from taking herbs, there is a form of therapy that focuses primarily on your feet namely reflexology. Studies have shown that massaging the feet helps reduce leg swelling. The best part is that there are no side effects unlike those mentioned when you take any of these herbs.

Alternative forms of spider vein treatment are cheaper than laser treatment or sclerotherapy. It should be pointed out though that taking these herbs or getting a massage should not replace what medical science can do for the patient.

But before you try any form of spider vein treatment, you should see if wearing compression stockings will improve the situation. This has to be worn the whole day so it can help improve blood flow within the veins and leg muscles.

It should be pointed out that the amount of compression varies by type and brand. It also comes in different colors and types so you should check them out before using it daily.

Spider vein treatment is available. You can check with your doctor what options are available and also inquire about alternative medicine.