Tui Na – Massage and Chinese Medicine in One

February 26, 2010 By marie Leave a Comment

Do you want to relax and benefit from the healing miracles of Chinese medicine? You can now do this with Tui Na. This is a massage therapy that is classified as an external method within the system of traditional Chinese medicine. This type of massage is particularly best for infants and elderly persons.

Tui Na has been practiced in China for over 2,000 years. In traditional Chinese medicine, the belief is that the disease and pain are more of a result of an imbalance in the flow and amount of Qi. Tui Na was made in order to bring that balance back.

Tui Na literally means “pushing” and “grasping”. You will find in the session that the Tui Na practitioner would be brushing, rolling, kneading, pressing or rubbing areas between the joints. This is in order to open the defensive chi of the patient and in order to get the energy moving. Tui Na also makes use of traction and massage stimulating the acupressure points of the body. So basically we can say that the diagnosis and treatments of this massage is also based on the same principles of acupuncture.

There are a lot of Eastern Asian traditions that uses a form of Tui Na to manage or alleviate pain and injury that are caused by training or training related injuries when it comes to martial arts. It has saved a lot of martial artists deal with unmanageable injuries which could often lead to life and death consequences.

A typical Tui Na session would normally last for 30 minutes to an hour depending on the specific problems that you may be having. Your practitioner would probable tell you to return for treatment as frequently as once a week. By the end of the treatment you would usually feel relaxed and energized.

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Natural Ways to Get Rid of Skin Problems

February 24, 2010 By marie Leave a Comment

Your skin is one of the biggest factors that can affect your physical looks – especially when it comes to your face. Generally, the secret to proper skin care is to determine your skin type and maintaining treatment. The choice of treatment that you go through is also important. There are a lot of skin problems that a person must deal with.

This is why there are a lot of cosmetic and beauty products in the market that promises radiant, glowing and fresh looking skin. However, we all can not avoid the truth which is that most of these products contain harmful chemicals that can be dangerous to your skin.

It is a good thing that you do not have to expose your skins to these harmful elements since there are a number of natural skin care treatments that you can use to help maintain a healthy skin.

Acne is a common skin problem, especially when it comes to teenagers. Studies show that acne is usually caused by exhaustion and stress. Lack of sleep is also one factor when it comes to stress. A natural method to get rid of this is to make sure that you are getting a lot of sleep so that you get healthy skin.

For oily skin, you can always make use of tomatoes. Oily skin can be eliminated by cutting a tomato in half and rubbing it across your skin. Let the juice of the tomato soak in your skin and let dry. After that, you can wash your skin off with hot water, followed by cold water. The temperature change in the water closes the pores which would help keep out bacteria that causes oily skin.

If you find that you have dry skin then you should try skipping the use of soap. Washing daily with soap is a factor that leads to drying out your skin because it removes the natural oil that makes your skin soft and smooth. You can simply sponge off every other or switch your soap to a moisturizing one.

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Eat Up and Get a Good Night’s Sleep

February 22, 2010 By marie 1 Comment

Do you have trouble sleeping? Maybe you need to check your diet. Food can help solve your dilemma and get you that eight hour rest that you deserve. Here are some food suggestions that you should eat in order to catch your forty winks.

Food and sleep actually affects each other. If you do not eat right you also do not rest right. And at the same case, if you do not get enough sleep, your eating habits are also affected. The lack of sleep causes leptin which is an appetite regulating hormone. The leptin crashes if you do not get enough sleep and this causes you to eat more. This is why sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain and obesity.

Here are some foods that promote sleep and try to add this to your diet so that you can adjust it accordingly:

  • Fruits – instead of getting a high calorie dessert after your dinner why not get fruits instead? Mangoes, Bananas and Dates are rich in tryptophan which is a sleep inducing hormone. Another benefit that you can get when you eat these fruits is that they have a high antioxidant content so as you sleep, your body gets all cleaned up.

  • Herbal teas – this is the perfect way to unwind at night. Instead of taking the usual night cap of wine or your favorite alcohol drink get a cup of tea instead. Teas that have chamomile, mint and lavender are ideal for those that want to get some sleep. Drinking caffeine free tea made out of gentle herbal varieties helps the body relax as it calms the digestion and it also helps soothe down your stomach. Make sure that you take your cup of tea in a cozy spot so that you can relax well.

  • Soup – soup and stews are usually filled with veggies and legumes that are rich in fiber. These low fat casseroles helps you relax and stay calm compared to meats and spicy foods. The cooking process alone can help you calm down and relax as it would require a long period of time to cook over low temperatures.

These are just three of the many sleep enhancing foods that you can add to your diet in order to get a good night’s sleep. Remember that sleep is important for our overall health. Make sure that you have enough z’s to help your body rejuvenate.

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Massage Tips

February 18, 2010 By marie Leave a Comment

A lot of people go to spas in order to get a massage treatment. A massage is one of the best ways to relax and remove the tension from the body. A massage would involve the hands, feet elbows and other body parts since its aim is to manipulate the muscles of the body. There are different forms of styles of massage and each style will vary in their pressure points, their form of manipulation, goals and other factors.

Relaxation is not the only thing that you can get with a massage. There are a lot of benefits that can help your body and general health improve. A massage can help you in your well being, helps you have a better immune system, faster healing and so many more.

You can also use scented oils in order to make you feel more relaxed. There are different types of oil that can be used. If you are sensitive to smells there are unscented oils or light smelling ones that may suit your preferences. Some of these oils would have herbs and are being used for their healing properties.

Here are some tips that can make you get the most out of the whole massage experience:

During the massage, if you feel that the pressure is too light or too hard, you can always ask to have the pressure changed. This would help you be free from any pain after the session. You will never be relaxed if you are in pain or if you do not feel anything at all.

It is best to tell the masseuse if you feel uncomfortable. Some people prefer to have the lights dimmed, to have less blankets, to have the heat turned up – anything that can interfere with the way they relax. Remember that you are asking for their services so that you can feel good.

If you are getting a massage treatments in order to get some relief for pain tell your masseuse where it hurts. This way, he or she will be able to focus in that area because that is where you need the treatment the most.

After the massage it would help to drink a lot of water. This can help your body release the toxins that were released and loose during your massage treatment. It is better if you do light things after the first 30 minutes of your treatment. Go on a short walk or simply sit or lie down quietly. This will make the massage settle into the body.  To make you feel more relaxed, you can always get a hot bath after your treatment.

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Heliotherapy – Soaking Up the Sun

February 16, 2010 By marie Leave a Comment

Since ancient times natural light was considered to have a lot of positive physiological effects on the human body. Even the Father of Medicine Hippocrates made use of the sun’s rays in his naturopathic treatments for diseases. This practice is now known as Heliotherapy.

Heliotherapy is the method that makes use of the sun’s ultraviolet waves in order to enhance the production of nutrients and vitamins in the skin and the body. This would result to an elevated rate of metabolism that would assist the body in increasing its rate of creating multiple enzymes that is being used for tissue restoration. The process allows cells to rejuvenate and work together. This allows an increase in the pace rhythm of the blood flow which later on leads to an improvement of oxygen supply.

If this treatment is done consistently Heliotherapy can reduce the chance of prostrate breast cancer, osteoporosis, psoriasis and other skin diseases. This therapy can also be used as a natural antibiotic. As a stress reliever it works by relaxing tense muscles and promoting mood stability. It is also proven to help enhance the immune system. Heliotherapy can also assist in wound healing and can eliminate the microbes from the skin. It can help reduce the pain that is brought about by neuralgia and arthritis as well.

Heliotherapy is recommended especially for those who are experiencing symptoms of stress or hypertension. It is said to lower the chances for people to have breast cancer, osteoporosis, psoriasis, acne, prostrate cancer and many more.

You do not have to worry about sunburn when following this therapy due to the fact that the practice should only be done in small doses and is more advised to be done during early morning. All you need to do is get natural sunlight fifteen minutes a day preferably early in the morning before 9:00 am. The whole method is so simple yet you get so many benefits for it.

So if you are an early morning person, why not try heliotherapy to enhance your health and start relaxing in a stress free way.

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Yoga for Women

February 15, 2010 By marie Leave a Comment

A woman leads a stressful life – compared to men, women are more exposed to health risks and emotional pressure which can cause their health to depreciate.  Aside from that, women also have to deal with hormonal changes which greatly influence a woman’s health. These hormonal changes are one of the reasons why women have to bear increased levels of emotional and mental stress and it is a fact that these distresses are already considered to be an illness and sign of physical weakness.

Pregnancy is also another stage in a woman’s life that can bring various changes in her health.  The different stages that a woman goes through also offer different problems in her health. For instance, menstrual problems and premenstrual syndrome are one of the most leading issues that are affecting a lot of women world wide.

Practicing yoga can greatly help you overcome the health problems that can come your way. Aside from that yoga can give you benefits that will help you become healthier making you overcome these obstacles easily.

For one, practicing yoga regularly can help minimize the negative effects of pregnancy such as nausea and sickness. The stretching poses of yoga will not only make you feel relaxed but it will also stretch your muscles for easy functioning.

If you put yoga in your daily routine, you can balance out your stress and depression which you can use in times of your menstrual periods. Yoga helps you strengthen your abdominal muscles which would give effective relief if you get menstrual cramps.

For pregnant women, the breathing techniques that you learn in yoga can also be helpful when you give birth since they will help you concentrate on the delivery of your baby.

  • Fish pose – this particular pose would be great for relaxing and it can help improve your breathing. This will help improve your nervous system and your responsiveness as well. It also helps strengthen the muscles in your neck and back.
  • Hero pose – this particular pose would be the best one to use if you only want to have a period of time for meditation
  • Cat pose – if you want to relax your muscles then you should do this yoga pose. Anyone can do this regardless of age and physical condition.

These are just three of the many yoga postures that women can do to help improve their health. For better tolerance and more strength to face every day stressors and dilemmas, start doing yoga regularly.

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Kahuna Massage – Relaxing the Hawaiian Way

February 12, 2010 By marie Leave a Comment

If you are looking for a unique way to start relaxing then you should try the Kahuna Massage. This is an ancient Hawaiian massage that has been made based on the idea of “lomi lomi” or “the loving touch”. This type of massage is believed to have a connection between your hand, heart and soul. It is believed that you will feel a warm feeling of love all over your body with this massage.

The Kahuna massage is considered as a holistic healing method since it aims to regain the balance in your body. The massage can affect you not only physically but emotionally as well since the massage would be targeting your mind and your body.

This type of massage is considered to be very unique since the massage practitioner will not only be using their hands but also their elbows and forearms. You will find the massage practitioner moving around the massage table so that he or she can work on your whole body. As you can see, it does not use the usual isolated finger pressure in this form of massage. You will be feeling long pressure strokes in your body and the feeling can be very fantastic.

What makes this Hawaiian massage unique is the fact that you will be treated in a tranquil and serene environment. You will find that most spas would set up an ambiance of aromatherapy candles, soft lighting and soothing music for this type of massage.

The massage is said to be very beneficial in regards to the way you would look at your life. It can absorb negative feelings from the body and can help you think positively. This will also help you meditate and focus on the best things in life.

You can also benefit from the healing properties of the massage. The Kahuna massage can help improve your digestive, respiratory and immune systems. The massage lets your body’s energy flow and will make your figure feel more flexible after.

If you need a release from everyday stress then get a Kahuna massage treatment and let the wonderful feeling of peace and calm surround you.

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The Essence of Lavender

February 8, 2010 By marie Leave a Comment

Most spas prefer to use lavender when it comes to aromatherapy because it is a perfect way to make a person relax. The lavender is a very fragrant herb that is very aromatic especially when dried or converted to oil.

Lavender has a lot of medical properties. It can give you relief from bug bites, stings and itchy skin due to its analgesic properties. The lavender is also effective when it comes to the treatment of acne, scabies and athlete’s foot because of its antiseptic quality.

Respiratory conditions can also be treated with the help of lavender. Bronchitis, congestion from colds and flu and even sinusitis can be treated by adding a few drops of lavender oil to a bowl of steamy hot water and then making the person breathe the vapors.

If you need instant relief from headaches or sinus, then you can dab lavender oil on each eyebrow and each cheek.

Lavender can not only affect you physically but psychologically as well. The smell of lavender can be used to treat anxiety and get rid of exhaustion. The smell is also considered to be an effective treatment when it comes to getting some sleep. All you have to do is to place the lavender by your pillow.

A lot of alternative therapies like acupuncture and chiropractic and massage treatments use lavender oil because it helps the patient respond positively to the therapy which calls for better and more satisfying results.

There are some precautions that you have to take in mind though when it comes to using lavender. It is safe to put undiluted lavender oil in the body compared to other herbal oils but it is important that you avoid getting the oil in your eyes, lips, nose or other mucous membranes since it can irritate the said body parts. Lavender oil should not be used in open wounds as well.

With its relaxing scent, it is no wonder why a lot of companies use it for their creams, lotions and perfumes products. If you are longing for some relaxation and relief then you should use lavender to give you immediate peace and calm.

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