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| Alternative Medicine Information |
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Sleep And Massage Therapy
Hands-On Therapy for Peaceful Sleep One alternative medicine approach is a perfect option for relaxing your tension and allowing you to sink into deep, restful sleep: massage therapy. If you are comfortable with someone touching your body, a therapeutic massage is a wonderful sleep aid. In simple terms, massage therapy turns OFF the sympathetic nervous system, and turns ON the parasympathetic system. Thus, it relaxes the body and relieves neuromuscular problems. I (Dr. Nikos) recently tried this method by actually getting a massage during a recent trip to the suburbs of Chicago. I peacefully drifted off to sleep with no trouble at all, even during the massage. Relaxation techniques, such as massage therapy, can reduce the frustrations, stresses, and other turmoil that lead to a night of tossing and turning-and anxiousness and poor performance during the daytime. It seems we all have the need for human touch. Therapeutic massage can have both an internal psychological benefit and an external physical benefit-improving physiological responses for the body. Therapeutic massage can help with sleep disorders that have a neuromuscular origin such as pain, tension, involuntary muscle contractions, and "restless muscle" syndromes, notably, "restless legs syndrome." After having a daily massage for ten days, even adults with chronic fatigue syndrome sleep better. BALMS AND OILS Massage and aromatherapy can relax your muscles and offer improved blood and lymph circulation. A backrub can reduce nerve irritation and assist by increasing production of pain-killing endorphins. The time-honored healing potential of a good back massage is well known and has many enthusiasts. Several sweetly-scented natural balms and massage oils are available to use with massage therapy to relieve stress. The aroma, texture, and feel of the oils offer a calming effect in a relaxing environment. RELIEVING INSOMNIA Insomnia is common problem for hospitalized patients. Consequently, a search for non-drug alternatives for the treatment of insomnia has been necessary. Massage has been useful as an adjunct or alternative option to drug therapy for insomnia, for example benzodiazepines. One study, conducted at the University of Arkansas, concluded that back massage is useful for promoting sleep in critically ill older men. SOOTHING YOUR CHILD WITH INFANT MASSAGE It may interest you to know that restless babies and children may also benefit from a massage by sleeping more peacefully. In one study of children and adolescents, those who participated in a 30-minute massage (daily for five days) slept longer and more soundly. In addition to helping an infant sleep, the "calming touch" of a parent establishes a valuable opportunity to soothe and nurture your baby. As little as 15 minutes of massage a day significantly benefits infant weight gain as well as mental and motor development, according to research. Infants' sleep patterns improved with deeper sleep of longer duration. Baby massage has many benefits, including improved parent-infant interaction, infant relaxation and reduced crying for colicky babies. Some newborns may develop a more regular sleep cycle as well. In addition, a study by Dieter, et al., discovered that pre-term infants given five days of massage therapy gained weight and improved sleep-wake behavior. The therapy used was a simple, easy-to-learn method of body stroking combined with passive limb movements for three 15-minute periods per day to improve the health of the stable pre-term infants. THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE TECHNIQUES Massage can also help a couple reconnect. It can be a great way to re-acquaint with your partner. You might want to give each other a nightly massage before sleep. Some of the most common therapeutic massage techniques are: ˇ Swedish massage: a smooth, flowing style that improves overall relaxation, circulation and range of movement, and relieves muscular tension. ˇ Deep-tissue or Neuromuscular massage: a style that reaches the connective tissues, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. This releases tension areas called "trigger points." ˇ Sports massage: a style that improves athletic performance by massaging specific muscles, tendons and ligaments. ˇ Reflexology: a style for massaging specific "reflex zones" on your feet that relieves tension and pain, and improves circulation in areas of your body corresponding to reflex zones of the feet. ˇ Specialized forms: other forms of therapeutic massage. A "PEACEFUL, EASY FEELING"-- AND A POEM After you have experienced a therapeutic massage, drink plenty of water (to avoid dehydration and to help in the removal and filtration of toxins) and enjoy the sweet peace of relaxation to benefit your sleep. As I was drifting into relaxation by the end of my own massage therapy session, the therapist recited a wonderful poem. It had an effect when it was spoken slowly and received in a restful state. "Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, but Today is a gift-that's why they call it the Present." Try physician-fomulated NYTEX - a natural supplement that contains a powerful antioxidant, PROCIDIN, and the proper dosage of ingredients & vitamins that address all cycles of sleep http://www.buynytex.com ... A product of Tharos Labs. Nikos Linardakis, M.D. is a chief physician in Boston, Massachusetts for Tharos Laboratories, Inc. He currently writes and has previously published articles on evidence-based natural alternatives. He is the author of several medical books, and Editor-in-Chief at McGraw-Hill Companies Health Sciences Division, New York. He can be reached at Nikos@TharosLabs.com Carli Dixon, M.A., M.S. is a writer/editor who specializes in health, nutrition, the management of stress and change, and current research findings that focus on anti-aging and wellness issues. Sources and additional reading Agarwal KN, Gupta A, Pushkarna R, et al. Effects of massage & use of oil on growth, blood flow & sleep pattern in infants. Indian J Med Res 2000; 112: 212-217. Azad, N., et al. Hospitalized patients' preference in the treatment of insomnia: Pharmacological versus non-pharmacological. Can J Clin Pharmacol. 2003 Summer; 10(2): 89-92. Dieter, JN, et al. Stable preterm infants gain more weight and sleep less after five days of massage therapy. J Pediatr Psychol. 2003 Sep; 28(6): 403-11. Ferber, S, et al. Massage therapy by mothers enhances the adjustment of circadian rhythms to the nocturnal period in full-term infants. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2002 Dec; 23(6): 410-5. Richards, KC, Effect of a back massage and relaxation intervention on sleep in critically ill patients. Am J Crit Care. 1998 Jul; 7(4): 288-99. About Dr. Nikos... o CEO of Tharos Laboratories, Inc. - a nutritional supplement company o Published author of over a dozen books, including The World of Children's Sleep o Former Editor-in-Chief of McGraw-Hill Companies, Health Sciences Division in New York. o Former Director of Clinical Research for The Natural Standard in Cambridge, MA o Served as the author of clinical review monographs covering natural extracts o Scientific Advisory Board Member of the Cranberry Institute o Research Associate at the Sleep & Behavioral Institute in Chicago, IL o Author of Ten Natural Ways to Healthy Sleep o An active lecturer o Monthly columnist for Sleep and Health News Journal Dr. Nikos has extensive experience in the development and manufacturing of nutraceutical products, and has worked for both public as well as privately held companies in this market sector. He has a vast knowledge in FDA compliance, protocol design, and other physician-liaison functions.
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Alternative Medicine CPT Codes; What are you Getting Billed for? All of us visit some sort of medical office from time to time and some of us make the visit a routine. No matter how many times we go in for a checkup or treatment we usually end up paying a relatively inexpensive co-pay for the services rendered to us. So who makes up the difference and how do they pay it? Obviously, the doctors and nurses that we visit are not making a living off of our co-pay; so how do they obtain the additional money from our heath care provider? In this article, I will tell you the basic information about CPT Codes and what they are used for. Use Fresh Herbs In Your Cooking Many common herbs that you might use in cooking are well known for there healing properties. Using them in cooking is a great way to incorporate the healing attributes of natural herbs with your meals. Chances are you probably already use some herbs in your cooking like basil and thyme but experimenting with even more herbs can add taste to your dishes while improving health. How to Clean-up Your Allergies with 2 Easy Home Tips It's that time of year again when people who have allergies complain about nasal congestion, coughing, and wheezing, itching, shortness of breath, headache, fatigue, hives and other skin rashes. Many people experience allergies due to pollens from outdoors combined with foods and indoor stagnant air carrying dust, mold, and other air pollutants. Aromatherapy Candles Nothing turns a commonplace, ho-hum room into a radiant, inviting setting faster than the flicker of a few ordinary candles scattered strategically throughout the room. Add scented candles and you can quickly evoke childhood memories, transport your imagination to a tropical island, or infuse the room with the crisp scent of a pine forest. Aromatherapy candles add yet another dimension to the equation. Air Purifiers And Air Filters Can Help The Health Of Allergy And Asthma Sufferers Indoor air pollution in the form of dander, dust and pollen particulate matter can be a real irritant for suffers of asthma, allergies and other respiratory conditions. In addition to removal of all direct irritant sources and minimizing the irritant containment materials in your house, you should also consider the indoor ventilation and filtration system of home. Pain Anatomy 101: How Pain Works, And How Your Subconscious May Be Able to Short-Circuit It In building a strategy for pain relief it may be helpful to understand how pain works. Here's a quick primer to help you grasp the mechanics, and show you the points where your subconscious may be able to intervene to relieve your pain. Prevent Disease By Thinking Differently Than Experts Did you know that all physicians and medical researchers have been indoctrinated with a flawed model of thinking dating to the 17th century? Ethical Guidelines For Hypnotherapy The study of ethics concerns moral choices, generally in the areas of relationships, agreements between parties, intentions, and possible outcomes. In practice this starts as the observation of the moral choices people make and the reasons given for these choices. Ethical thinking is then responsible for producing theories about what is, or should be, the basis for moral choice. In the case of a practicing hypno-psychotherapist the main place for ethical consideration concerns questions of what expectations clients can have basically the laws which govern the therapist, and the rights of the client. Aromatherapy Although the word aromatherapy has not been around forever, the use of plants, herbs, fruits and flowers for healing have been centuries long. Aromatherapy is still being researched today for it's wide variety of uses, including the healing effects that is has on the body. Aromatherapy at Home: Beating the Cold Bug It seems that nearly everyone I know has been either fighting or recovering from a cold or flu these last few weeks. And many of my clients have been asking how essential oils can help them prevent or heal their illnesses. There are a few things you can do to prevent yourself from catching a bad cold: Addressing The Cause And Finding A Cure: Why Cause is Everything When It Comes To Low Back Pain There is an epidemic, at least in the States when it comes to treating back pain. Most doctors do just that... treat back pain rather than finding and eliminating the cause. Hemorrhoids & its Symptoms Hemorrhoids are conditions where there is a swelling of the veins around the anus. The veins may be inflammed sometimes. Hemorrhoids can be internal or external. Internal hemorrhoids are found inside the anus or the rectum and the external is found external to the anus or rectum but near them. The internal hemorrhoid may sometime protrude and it is called protruding hemorrhoid. Hemorrhoids are caused due to straining in moving the stool. How to Stop Bleeding Gums Bleeding gums can be one sign of periodontal disease, gingivitis, or other serious problems. Other symptoms like bad breath, toothache, and receding gums indicate poor dental health. The 5 Hidden Dangers In Toothpaste A Must Read if You Have Children! Toxins Make You Fat and Shorten Your Life When your body is toxic, toxins hide and embed themselves in your body fat. This causes your cells and organs to become sluggish and lose efficiency. The fatter you are, the more toxins you can store. As your organs and body systems lose their ability to function properly, they lose their ability to metabolize and process fat effectively. This is one reason why some of you find it difficult to lose weight - your body is not functioning properly. When you start to lose weight, this causes fat to be used up in your cells as energy and causes toxins to be released into your blood stream. If you lose weight to fast, you will have excess toxins released into your blood and this creates a variety of unhealthy symptoms and conditions - headaches, mucus, flu like symptoms, joint pains. Excessive toxins in your blood can remain there for over a year and cause you harm and that is why you need to lose weight slowly like 2 lbs a week. What are toxins and where do toxins really come from? They come from Dopamine Relieves Pain Try Encouraging Your Subconscious To Supply It Dopamine has long been known to be linked to positive experiences such as eating and sex. But it's now known to be released when you are in pain, so you may want to try increasing your supply of it--naturally. Balancing the Light and Dark Integrating my dark side was a fairly torturous process for me, partly because I made it harder than it had to be. Apparently I do that a lot. :) How To Find Your Way To Healthy Longevity As the old saying goes, are you "a picture of health"? You may have a problem answering this question, but it's important to know just where you stand on this issue. I guess we all would like to be the healthiest person we can be but it's not always possible. It seems like we were never worried as much about our health when we were younger. Home Remedies Ever have a bee sting? Try rubbing an aspirin on it. Gum in hair? Soak the gum-coated hair in CokeŽ and it should wipe out easily. While not being a replacement for medical attention, and you should always seek your doctor when you feel you have to and please take these home remedies with a grain of salt.Here you go and enjoy Five Simple Steps For Treating Heel Pain If you experience a sharp pain in your heel at the first step in the morning, chances are you have plantar fasciitis (plan * tar fash* ee * I * tis). "Plantar" means the bottom of the foot. The "fascia" is a long ligament type structure. "Itis" means inflammation. Plantar fasciitis is a tearing of the ligament on the bottom of the foot. The tearing causes inflammation and the inflammation causes pain. Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. Many individuals with plantar fasciitis find that they hobble to the bathroom every morning because of the pain. They must grab onto the dresser or the wall to balance themselves. After fifteen minutes or so, the pain works itself out, only to come back with a vengeance at the end of the day. Not all individuals with plantar fasciitis experience pain in the morning. Many find that they only experience heel pain at the end of the day or during certain types of activity.
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