Overcoming the Obstacles in Life
Posts tagged massage
Therapeutic vs. Relaxation Massage
Apr 21st
I have mentioned my love for massage in several of my posts. I was a Licensed Massage Therapist for years and practiced with an emphasis on Therapeutic Massage. There is a big difference in getting a massage for relaxation purposes, and one for a particular complaint, such as back pain. I believe that a great massage is one that incorporates both the therapeutic value, as well as reducing stress. To me, this is a true massage. During my practice, I witnessed many clients being transformed by massage. Massage can be a life saver by eliminating pain, increasing blood flow to limbs affected by strokes, erasing migraines, etc. The list is endless. There are many types of massage and each can help a particular problem, or can be combined to achieve even better results. I will focus on Swedish Massage, Polarity Therapy, and Cranial Sacral Therapy in this article. But please keep in mind, these are just a few of the techniques available today.
First of all, there are great Massage Therapists, good Massage Therapists, and really bad Massage Therapists. This of course is based on my personal opinion. I used to think that a massage was a massage. But, I realize now that is not true. Some people have the gift in their hands. It is nothing really miraculous, it’s just that some people were meant for Massage Therapy. They seem to have a touch that compells healing. Let’s put it this way, if you are around someone that is negative and in a bad mood, it will almost always rub off onto you. We are influenced by others, especially negative energy. It is the same for a Massage Therapist. You want to get a massage from someone with good energy, because your body is influenced by whoever touches you. This is really important in the healing process.
Swedish Massage is a common type of treatment used by Massage Therapists. It consist of various strokes devised for relaxation as well as getting the blood to flow. It can be very useful for relieving stress, improving pain, helping back pain, neck pain etc., and aiding blood flow to limbs that have been affected by strokes or injuries. Done properly, this type of massage can be very beneficial.
Polarity Therapy focuses on removing blockages by working on the energy of the person. There are various trigger points that correllate to energy. If there is a problem in energy, a person will experience illness and pain. This type of body work is great for Manic-Depressive Disorders, migraines, stress and various other ailments. It is less aggressive than Swedish Massage, but very effective.
Cranial-Sacral Therapy is my favorite. It works by manipulating various facial bones and the sacrum. The body needs proper flow of the cerebral spinal fluid through the spinal cord and into the brain. It works by removing blockages and improving this flow. It is great for migraines, seizures, back pain, leg pain, etc. It is very subtle, but a powerful healing tool.
In conclusion, be picky about who you let work on your body. A positive experience will be based on the touch of a person. Massage can be very beneficial for many illnesses and injuries. Choose a therapist that you are comfortable with, and one that has good energy.
Raynaud’s Condition
Mar 17th
As far back as I can remember, I have had problems with my ring fingers turning white, and getting numb when I would get cold. My feet were always cold as well. Recently I was diagnosed with Raynaud’s. I had never really heard of the condition until then. I was told that 1 in 4 women suffer from the condition. Only a few men are known to have the condition. There apparently are no known cures or remedies for Raynaud’s. A tropical climate seems to be best for management of symptoms.
Dr. Maurice Raynaud was the first person to document this disease in 1888. Cold was the precipitating cause, and sometimes a stressful event brought symptoms. The skin of the affected parts become white or yellow, numbness is evident, and the digits turn red when recovering from the attacks. A Raynaud’s attack can be very painful and last a long time. Keeping the body warm seems to help tremendously. The good news is that this condition has only rarely been known to deteriorate to the degree of gangrene or amputation.
Today there are believed to be two levels of Raynaud’s disorder. The first level is Primary Raynaud’s which includes mild symptoms being present without being associated with any other disease.What is actually occurring is at the finger tips and toes there occurs a transference from artery to vein that flows without the existence of capillary beds. This junction is called the A-V shunt. The A-V shunts are coiled vessels with thick muscular walls that are supplied with many nerve endings. A-V shunts are most numerous in the nail bed. The integration and regulation of the circulation including finger blood flow is accomplished in the hypothalamus. It regulates flow through the cutaneous A-V anastomoses to control body temperature and blood pressure.
The secondary Raynaud’s Syndrome is believed to occur in people due to a more severe problems. There are four main groups that are held responsible for the deteriorating effects of Raynaud’s.
These 4 groups are Peripheral arterial occlusions (arteriosclerosis, embolism, injury), Arterial or neural lesions (thoracic outlet syndrome), Intoxication (ergot, heavy metals) and Systemic disease (scleroderma, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis).
There are tests to check blood flow in the fingers and toes as well as more extensive tests like an arteriogram in order to confirm diagnosis, There is a charting time of at least 2 years to properly diagnose this condition. It is a mystery as far as what causes Raynaud’s and what the cure may be. Seasonal changes and stress seems to be factors in bringing on an attack. It is important to keep warm at all times. I have begun getting massage which has helped me a lot. By increasing the blood flow through my fingers, it has resulted in less attacks. In addition, I have been taking herbs. Kelp and Butcher’s Broom have allowed faster recovery time from an attack. As I experience what else may help, I will share with others.
Natural Remedies for Bipolar Disorders
Mar 1st
There are many people who experience the effects of Bipolar Disorders. I have a friend who advised me that there are 2 types of this disorder. There is Bipolar I and Bipolar II. I had always thought that everyone was categorized into one.
Bipolar I is characterized by severe mood swings from mania to depression. When in mania mode, the person is unable to control actions. Treatment usually consists of Lithium, Tegretol, and Volproic Acid. Natural remedies have been pretty unsuccessful in controlling type I Bipolar Disorder.
Diet, massage, aromatherapy, supplements, exercise, support groups, and counseling have been helpful to those suffering from Bipolar Disorders.
Diet plays a significant role in how we feel and function. Diets high in sugar, caffeine, fat, dairy and processed foods intensify the manic and depressive phases of Bipolar Disease. A diet high in complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables is preferred. While a person is taking Lithium, adequate water intake is crucial in balancing the salt in a person’s system.
Massage is a wonderful thing for anyone. If someone is experiencing mania, a massage can help things slow down. The massage would want to consist of slow Swedish Massage or perhaps Polarity Therapy. In the depressive phase, aromatherapy can be useful with a more vigourous massage.
Essential oils can have a profound effect on one’s central nervous system. A great blend is Lavender and tangerine in equal parts to help with both depression and anxiety.
Supplements work well and can be taken with Lithium. Calcium, Magnesium, and B-Complex vitamins are useful to Bipolar Disorders.
Exercise brings on endorphin production and helps relieve depression. Exercise can also increase metabolism of excess adrenalin and thyroxin in the bloodstream, that can cause a state of arousal in the body in mania. S0 consistent exercise is important. However, mild exercise is stressed because a vigorous one can exacerbate the mania phase.
Support groups allow people to not feel alone. Bipolars get fed up with their mood swings, and sharing feelings with others can help. To find out about support groups in your area, call 703-524-7600.(NAMI).
Counseling can help Bipolars deal with the illness. Charting mood swings can be helpful in figuring out triggers for an individual. Often, patterns can be determined and allow the Bipolar to be aware of an upcoming phase so that appropriate measures can be taken.
Natural therapies can be a blessing with those suffering from Bipolar Disease. These individuals are not crazy, they are simply suffering from a chemical imbalance. If you know someone with Bipolar illness, help them by pointing out observations when they cycle. But, do not be overbearing.
Craniosacral Therapy’s Magic
Feb 2nd
I began receiving craniosacral therapy treatments on a weekly basis in an attempt to help my uncontrollable seizure disorder. Before the treatments, I was averaging 6 grand mal seizures a week. The treatments are very subtle, and it is hard to believe there is any therapeutic value. Craniosacral Therapy is based on the notion that the cranium is composed of smaller bones that can be palpated by those with sensitive hands. The cranium and spine makes up the basis of life, and if there is blockage(physical or emotional), the body will not be able to operate properly. By enabling the fluid to flow in and between the head and spine, the body can often times heal.
I do want to stress that it takes a practicioner with sensitive hands, well, one that has the gift in order for this treatment to work. I felt the changes right away, after and during my treatments. There were times that I cried, without knowing why. It was releases within me, things I had stored in my memories, as well as in my body. Being as I believe illness is a product of things we have held onto in our bodies, I was able to work through issues that allowed the craniosacral therapy to have even more of an impact. My seizures were initially reduced to 2 grand mal seizures a week, and as of now, I have been seizure free for over 10 years, without any anti-convulsant medications.
Even if you are a skeptic, I urge you to give Craniosacral Therapy a try. There are no contraindications for this therapy, and it can only help. Not only is it good for epileptics, there are numerous other illnesses and problems that are diminished and even banished by the treatment’s magic.
How I Began A Seizure Free Life
Jan 30th
I had seizures from about the age of 19 till I was in my 30’s. They came on sudden, but became more violent through the years. I had every test imaginable and more. I had some abnormal brain activity…well, more than what would just cause “dinginess”, but doctors were baffled by the uncontrollable seizures that overtook my life. I was diagnosed with depression…well, who wouldn’t be depressed? Afterall, my life consist of being unconscious most of the time. Not a fun way to live life. I had other things going on during that time and in earlier years, that eventually was diagnosed as Lupus in 1998. Because I have been seizure free since about 1996, I do not know if the seizures were part of the lupus. I am just glad they are gone, and want to share what I did to get here.
I do know the pain and agony that comes with epilepsy. I have felt the pain in every aspect, as well as the total discouragement that they bring. Doctors were at wits end with me, and many simply blamed some psychological phenomenon on what was happening to me. I remember the night that changed my life. I had hit my bottom with seizures, and all that goes along with them. I had been scheduled to be evaluated in Arizona for the surgey that removes part of a person’s brain to prevent seizures. I went and was denied the surgery. I was devastated for it had been my last hope. I went home and prepared to die. Well, I just did not care anymore. I know that there are others who have had that feeling too. After a few days of my giving up phase, I suddenly realized I had to do something in my life to make myself feel useful, something that would allow me to contribute to society in some way. The other alternative for me was suicide. It had gotten that bad for me.
I don’t remember calling, but the next day I picked up the phone and heard a voice that literally would be the beginning of my road to life. It was a massage school, confirming my plans to enroll. Divine intervention? God does work in mysterious ways. I guess I never knew I wanted to massage for a living, but said yes to the voice on the phone.
I attended Massage Therapy school in Albuquerque, NM. It was a rough beginning for everyone involved. I continued to have seizures, and disrupted class quite often. The head honcho wanted to kick me out at times. I wanted to kick myself out at times as well. But I continued, and thankfully there were people there that were about to become a part of a plan that noone could ever imagine.
There was a teacher, who has become my best friend, who helped me in so many ways during school. While you attend massage school, you give and recieve massages as a way to learn. Well, it became apparent, that the massages at times made me seize, and other times, helped stop the chaos. It seemed to depend on what kind of massage and through who’s hands it was received. This became very interesting to me as well as to those trying to help me.
I used a combination of massage, herbs, homeopathy, craniosacral therapy, and using the support of friends to conquer my seizures. In future blogs, I will begin to try to share this miracle as I remember it piece by piece.
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