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Massage Reduces Chronic Tension Headache
15/07/2010 University of Granada researchers have shown that a 30 minute massage is able to reduce tension headache symptoms. The project involved cooperation between the University of Granada, the University Rey Juan Carlos and the Clinical Hospital San Cecilio. Between them they revealed how massage changes the physiological as well as psychological state of tension headache patients inside of 24 hours from receiving the massage.
The standard treatment for tension headaches, which are becoming increasingly prevalent in the population, is to administer analgesics, but these only temporarily relieve the symptoms.
The researchers already understood that one of the main reasons for the development of tension headaches is the presence of trigger points, which are specific points on the body that literally trigger pain or headaches.
Leader of the study was researcher Cristina Toro Velasco, who worked under the supervision of Professor Manuel Arroyo Morales. She worked on massaging the cervical trigger points of her patients for 30 minutes in order to improve the regulation of the autonomic nervous system.
Interestingly, the treatment led to both a physiological improvement as well as a better psychological state in the form of a reduction in the "stress and anxiety associated to such a disturbing disorder".
Within 24 hours of treatment, the patients were reporting relief from their symptoms. The researchers think that this was due to the massage lowering the pain activated by the trigger points which in turn resulted in a better general sense of well being in the patients.
The American Journal of Manipulative Physiological and Therapeutics is to publish the study.
via www.healthypages.com
Post Surgery Massage
If you are having a surgery, it is normal to feel anxious and worried about the procedure itself, the pain that you might feel afterward, and the scarring that may occur. While there are some great conventional therapies that can help you with all of these, why not complement them with massage? Getting post surgery massage will help you feel better, stimulate healing, reduce pain, and it can even help to reduce the appearance of scars. Read on for more information.
Why Post Surgery Massage is Beneficial
Massage after surgery is beneficial for a number of reasons. Firstly, it helps to relieve the pain that can occur after surgery, reducing the need to take conventional painkilling drugs. It also helps to relax the muscles that can tighten after surgery as they tend to contract in order to “guard” the area that has been operated on. Massage can also help to reduce the swelling that can occur after surgery as it stimulates the lymphatic system to drain more efficiently.
Massage also increases the blood circulation, ensuring that oxygen and nutrients can get to the affected area easily. The massage can also help to strengthen the immune system which is important in guarding against post operative infections and helping the body to heal. Massage also helps with the formation of scar tissue. This is because it can soften the skin through reducing and softening the build up of excess collagen fibres which lead to obvious and sometimes painful scars. Breaking down the excess collagen will result in smaller scars.
Massage is also very relaxing which is important emotionally, helping you to release the stress and anxiety that is often associated with surgery and the pain afterwards.
Choosing a Massage Therapist Post Surgery
There are several different types of massage that can be beneficial post surgery such as Manual Lymphatic Drainage, and Swedish massage, so you can choose the one that you feel will be of the most benefit to you personally. Make sure you have clearance from your surgeon or doctor before beginning the massage. Massage can be done as little as a few days after your surgery but you may have to wait for a number of weeks before beginning it. Your therapist should also be trained in post surgery massage, so that they will not do damage to the healing area.
from The Natural Therapy Pages www.naturaltherapypages.com.au
Relaxing Extends Cancer Survival
10/06/2010
A study has revealed that women with breast cancer are able to extend cancer survival by learning to relax. The study conducted in the U.S. examined the survival rates of women who had their cancer return after their initial treatment. The group of women volunteers worked with psychologists to come up with ways to reduce stress; stress being one of the main causes of cancer complications.
Reducing stress levels enabled the immune system to remain strong and resulted in Improvements in the quality of the women’s lives. The women who were part of the support group that helped them deal with stress lived on average 6 months longer than those that did not.
From Ohio State University, Columbus psychology professor Barbara Andersen said, "If you have someone who can provide effective, research-supported ways to reduce your stress, not only will that affect your mental health. It will likely affect your symptoms and your recovery."
The 227 women who volunteered for the study were newly diagnosed with Stage II or III breast cancer. Some of the women received therapy to enable them to understand their stress, cope with it, stick to the cancer treatment prescribed to them and develop an over all better emotional state. The other women received a psychological assessment.
What was unusual about the results was that the therapy enhanced the women’s survival rates which had not been known before in other studies.
Andersen further explained the details of the study, saying: "It was far more than the popular notion of support groups of patients in a room talking about their troubles," adding that “Certain patients talked about things that were stressful to them, but they also learned really effective ways to cope with that stress."
Previous parts of the study showed that 45% of women who had attended the support group had less likelihood of their breast cancer returning after 11 years of follow ups.
The enhanced survival rates revealed in this last phase of the study were above and beyond any drug treatment improvements.
From Washington University in St. Louis, Sarah Gehlert stated that "An intervention that increased survival would be incredibly valuable. It represents a new tool for improving the lives of women with breast cancer." She had no connection with the study.
The Cancer Clinical Research journal is to publish the findings
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In the Reiki room
By Julie GoodaleAs I wrote in my last post, I volunteered last Sunday at the Manhattan JCC for Spa Day, offering around 150 women with breast or ovarian cancer a half-day of wellness activities. The first part of my Spa Day volunteering was spent offering Reiki to the participant.
Reiki is a healing practice that helps promote balance of mind, body, and spirit. It is a completely gentle, non-invasive treatment. It does not directly address any specific symptoms, but rather balances your system. There is nothing about Reiki treatment that can interfere with medical care; Reiki has been given to patients during chemotherapy treatments or surgery. Some commonly reported benefits of Reiki treatment include relaxation, reduced pain, improved sleep, reduced anxiety, and reduced side effects from medicines and cancer treatments.
The Reiki room was run by Pamela Miles, a New York-based Reiki master. Pamela has worked with numerous doctors and hospitals to integrate Reiki into more traditional medical practices. She ran a Reiki program for AIDS patients through the Gay Men's Health Crisis, has treated surgery patients at several New York hospitals, and is the author of "Reiki: A Comprehensive Guide". Pamela has also been featured on the Dr. Oz Show talking about Reiki.
I went to Pamela last year for a treatment and was so interested and excited about it that the following week I took her Reiki training class. Since then, I practice Reiki on myself every day (well, almost), and have offered treatment to friends. I've also taken part in a couple group Reiki events with Pamela.
I have a strong belief in our ability to help our bodies. There is much we can do to help our bodies heal and be healthier. I also believe in conventional medicine; we have a lot of very strong treatments and procedures that can save our lives. What I like about Reiki is it that it can work with conventional treatments. It's complementary, not alternative! If I'm facing a powerful disease, I want all the tools available to fight it. I don't want to limit myself.
I also have a streak of skepticism in me. I want proof; I want to understand why. After practicing Reiki for a year, I'm not sure I understand why yet. But I know I feel better when I do it. And I know I feel worse if I don't. The skeptic in me says: maybe it's just that you sit quietly for 20 minutes or an hour. Maybe, but if that's all it is, is that bad? Maybe the why doesn't matter so much.
Few of the women on Sunday had any previous experience with Reiki. Whether they were curious, enthusiastic or skeptical, they filed in, laid down on the tables, and put themselves in our hands. In pairs, we offered 20 minutes of Reiki. Whatever their feelings before Reiki, I didn't see a single woman who wasn't grateful for how she felt after Reiki.
Editor's note: This article appeared originally on Julie's blog, fitness for survivors.
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Catholic Priest Writes Reiki Book
Angela Gorman, copyright 2009-2010
I recently had the honour of spending some time in conversation with Father Padraig Leonard. Back in Dublin for a holiday, he is the authour of a recently published book titled Reiki for Christians. His book is currently only available in Portuguese but it is planned that it will be printed in English in the near future. Father Padraig Leonard was born in 1925 in Delvin, County Westmeath. He is a member of the Holy Ghost Congregation with 43 years missionary experience in Brazil. In 1991 Fr. Padraig founded the Health Education Institute of Itajuba in Brazil with Sr. Marie do Carmo Costo. The centre was dedicated to a holistic approach to spirituality and actively used complementary therapies. Clientele at the centre were mainly religious and lay people engaged in church work. It was at this centre that Fr. Padraig was introduced to Reiki. He attended his first Reiki workshop in 1998 and completed his Reiki training by 2000. The Catholic Church in Brazil is very open to Reiki. Fr. Padraig is a frequent guest on a radio show run by a Catholic Bishop and he has experienced no resistance to his direct involvement with holistic therapies. Of the nearly 300 people he has taught Reiki to, the majority of them are priests and nuns. They in turn use and integrate Reiki in their work with their congregations. One of the aims and objectives of his book is to answer the questions and doubts which many Christians have about Reiki. During his holiday in Ireland, Fr. Padraig was interviewed twice on Ocean FM radio, as a result of concerns some Catholics have about Reiki. I was very impressed by Fr. Padraig's practical approach to Reiki. As I waved good bye to him, I couldn't help but think, he was looking forward to returning to Brazil, where the Catholic Church appear to be more open minded to holistic therapies. | |
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Natural Pain Management Techniques ~ May 2010
If you suffer from any form of pain, whether chronic or acute, it may not be necessary to rely on traditional medicine such as pain medication to relieve it. There are many natural pain management techniques that are available to try so it is just a matter of finding the best one for you. Some of the most popular are outlined below.
Pain Management Technique #1: Acupuncture
In acupuncture, fine needles are inserted into the skin in order to unblock the meridians (energy channels) and balance the flow of energy through the body.
Pain Management Technique #2: Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is where water is applied to the body using a shower, bath, compress or sauna. It aims to ease stress, rid the body of toxins that cause pain and inflammation, and stimulate the flow of blood.
Pain Management Technique #3: Massage
Massage is where a practitioner applies pressure to the soft tissues of the body in order to relieve tension, improve the circulation, and reduce or eliminate pain. There are many forms of massage that can be used.
Pain Management Technique #4: Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy is where an irritant such as dextrose solution is injected into soft tissues in order to produce a proliferation of inflammation in the area which promotes healing. It may also be known as non-surgical ligament reconstruction.
Pain Management Technique #5: Tai Chi
Tai Chi is where a person performs a series of slow movements coordinated with deep breathing and mental focus. It is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Pain Management Technique #6: Yoga
Yoga is about stretching and holding poses in order to balance the mind, body, and spirit; building strength; and stabilising joints. There are several different forms of yoga but Iyengar, Anusara, and Integral yoga are particularly helpful.
Pain Management Technique #7: Stress Management
Stress is a big psychological factor when it comes to suffering from pain, as stressed people tend to have tense muscles which exacerbate pain. To manage your stress levels, try relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, visualization, and massage or try distracting yourself with an enjoyable activity.
Pain Management Technique #8: Herbal Medicine
Herbs have been used for their pain relieving qualities for centuries. You will need to visit a herbalist or naturopath to get the right herb for your condition but some pain relieving herbs include peppermint, feverfew, skullcap, angelica, rosemary and valerian root.
Pain Management Technique #9: Guided Imagery
Guided imagery, also known as visualization, can help to control pain as it encourages pain sufferers to think in pictures that eliminate negative thoughts and thus raise the levels of good brain chemicals which decrease anxiety and improve the immune system. Guided imagery helps the mind to direct the body’s energy better for the goal of pain relief.
Pain Management Technique #10: Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a therapy that uses a variety of relaxation techniques along with essure. Over time, it can train an individual to control their own pain.
Pain Management Technique #11: Biomesotherapy
Biomesotherapy is a type of therapy that uses homoeopathic products and the stimulation of specific points of the body with a saline solution via injections. Most injections are given under the skin or into the muscles. Biomesotherapy stimulates the body’s cutivisceral response and oral homoeopathic medicines are given orally at the same time and this medicine focuses on the organ or illness that needs treating. It stimulates the body’s own natural healing mechanisms.instruments that monitor the individual’s responses to a particular therapy. After several treatments, biofeedback trains the body to consciously regulate autonomic functions such as heart rate and blood pressure. Over time, it can train an individual to control their own pain.
Pain Management Technique #11: Biomesotherapy
Biomesotherapy is a type of therapy that uses homoeopathic products and the stimulation of specific points of the body with a saline solution via injections. Most injections are given under the skin or into the muscles. Biomesotherapy stimulates the body’s cutivisceral response and oral homoeopathic medicines are given orally at the same time and this medicine focuses on the organ or illness that needs treating. It stimulates the body’s own natural healing mechanisms.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Crouse Hospital offers stress treatment - Reiki therapy
It's a great way to reduce stress and it's being offered for free at Crouse Hospital. Reiki therapy promotes healing by applying treatment to various parts of the body. Our Andy Mattison has more on how it works.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- It's a great way to reduce stress and it's being offered for free at Crouse Hospital. Reiki therapy promotes healing by applying treatment to areas around a person's head, shoulders, stomach, legs and feet.
One session normally lasts about 20 minutes and sometimes patients can feel so relaxed they fall asleep.
Reiki therapy is a popular form of treatment on maternity patients and the staff at Crouse hospital says it's a technique that has many uses.
"Reiki we found helps a lot with pain control, decreases stress and helps with their relaxation, helps them sleep better all of which makes for a more relaxed happier patient who may be able to heal faster," said Reiki therapy program coordinator Joyce Appel.
MEDITATION FOR DEPRESSION
Imagine you could cure depression with a therapy that was more effective and long-lasting than expensive drugs, and which did not have any side effects. These are the claims being made for a form of Buddhist meditation.
Last week, psychologists from the University of Exeter published a study into "mindfulness-based cognitive therapy" (MBCT), finding it to be better than drugs or counselling for depression. Four months after starting, three quarters of the patients felt well enough to stop taking antidepressants.
MBCT marries Eastern meditation with Western cognitive therapy. Patients are taught the simple technique over eight sessions and then practise it at home for 30 minutes a day. Professor Willem Kuyken, whose team at the Mood Disorders Centre of the University of Exeter carried out the research, says: "Anti-depressants are widely used by people who suffer from depression and that's because they tend to work. While they're very effective in helping reduce the symptoms of depression, when people come off them they are particularly vulnerable to relapse. For many people, MBCT seems to prevent that relapse. It could be an alternative to long-term antidepressant medication."
MBCT was developed in the mid-Nineties by psychologists at the universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Toronto to help stabilise patients' moods during and after use of antidepressants. About half of patients relapse into depression – even if they continue taking the medication. One common reason for a relapse is when a normal period of sadness turns into obsessive brooding.
"Brooding is a key feature of depression," says Mark Williams, professor of clinical psychology at the University of Oxford and leader of the team that developed MBCT. "In mentally healthy people, sad thoughts pass quite quickly but in people who suffer from depression they don't. MBCT tackles brooding and teaches people to be more compassionate to themselves and others."
The MBCT technique is simple, and revolves around ''mindfulness meditation''. In this, you sit with your eyes closed and focus on your breathing. (See box for details). Concentrating on the rhythm of the breath helps produce a feeling of detachment. The idea is that you come to realise that thoughts come and go of their own accord, and that your conscious self is distinct from your thoughts. This realisation is encouraged by gentle question-and-answer sessions modelled on those in cognitive therapy.
In the University of Exeter study, funded by the Medical Research Council, 47 per cent of patients with long-term depression suffered a relapse; the figure was 60 per cent among those taking medication alone. Other studies, including two published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, had comparable outcomes. As a result, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has recommended MBCT since 2004. But NHS availability is still patchy. Many sufferers seek private treatment, with courses at Buddhist centres costing around £120.
"One of the key features of depression is that it hijacks your attention," says Prof Williams. "We all tend to bring to the forefront of our minds the thoughts and feelings that reflect our current mood. If you are sad, depressed or anxious, then you tend to remember the bad things that have happened to you and not the good. This drives you into a downward spiral that leads from sadness into a deeper depression. MBCT prevents and breaks that spiral."
1. Sit upright in a straight-backed chair, with your spine about an inch from the back of the chair, and your feet flat on the floor.
2. Close your eyes. Use your mind to watch your breath as it flows in and out. Observe your sensations without judgement. Do not try to alter your breathing.
3. After a while your mind will wander. Gently bring your attention back to your breath. The act of realising that your mind has wandered – and bringing your attention back – is the key thing.
4. Your mind will eventually become calm.
5. Repeat every day for 20–30 minutes.
Massage for Sickle Cell Disease
13/08/2009 Massage is now being used extensively for physical as well as psychological benefits. To help publicise these benefits researchers from the at Nationwide Children's Hospital have published their ‘Journal of Paediatric Psychology’ that illustrates how effective massage has been in the areas of physical medicine, rehabilitation and with organ transplants patients.
The journal especially highlights the effectiveness of massage in dealing with depression, pain and anxiety experienced in children who had Sickle Cell Disease.
Sickle Cell Disease is a genetic disorder affecting the red blood cells, altering their shape and texture. The children’s hospital used massage and encouraged the children’s’ parents to also provide a massage service to the children. They trained 18 parents of children with Sickle Cell Disease in the art of massage using trained massage therapists. The results say Kathleen Lemanek, PhD, and Mark Ranalli, MD were very successful as the children experienced a reduction in pain, depression and anxiety after being massaged by their parents.
Dr. Ranalli, who is a doctor in Haematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, said "Massage is an inexpensive and easy way to manage pain, which is a big part of having Sickle Cell Disease." He further elaborated on the benefits by revealing the alternative to massage. He said "Pain management for Sickle Cell Disease typically includes hydration, nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs and narcotics. Massage as a pain management technique can relax the muscles, increase circulation and help medication take a more effective route."
Paediatric psychologist from Nationwide Children's Hospital, Dr. Lemanek, issued some cautions regarding the blanket use of massage, saying "It's important to note that massage may not be right for all patients with Sickle Cell Disease or even patients who may suffer from chronic pain," and that "You have to consider personal characteristic and comfort levels of both the parents and child first before determining if massage is right."
Dr. Lemanek, who is an Ohio State University College of Medicine faculty member said, "Even though parents' anxiety levels were increased, parents from the study said they would continue to use massage as a pain management tool." He said this baring in mind that "When your kids are in pain, despite medication, and parents feel hopeless like they have exhausted all options, massage can help them feel in control of the disease. When your child looks at you in pain, massage gives you the opportunity to do something to actively try and help.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/160546.php
ADHD Symptoms Reduced by Meditation
A study involving school children revealed that regular meditation practice reduces ADHD by 50%. ADHD is a condition on epidemic proportions. Although the pharmaceutical companies were quick to label it a medical condition that was in need of drugs, many experts believe it is more to do with lifestyle and diet than it is with biology.
To find a non invasive, non pharmaceutical aid to ADHD, a group of medical experts conducted a trial on middle school level children with ADHD who were requested to practice transcendental meditation two times a day.
Cognitive learning specialist Sarina J. Grosswald, Ed.D from George Washington University who was also the study leader, said "The effect was much greater than we expected," in that "The children also showed improvements in attention, working memory, organization, and behaviour regulation."
On describing in more detail the immediate benefits of the meditation sessions, she said "teachers reported they were able to teach more, and students were able to learn more because they were less stressed and anxious."
Study co-author, Professor William Stixrud a clinical neuropsychologist indicated to previous research that told how ADHD children had brains that developed slower and in turn were less equipped to deal with stress. He said "Stress interferes with the ability to learn - it shuts down the brain."
When the topic of pharmaceuticals came up as a way of dealing with ADHD, Strixrud said "Medication for ADHD is very effective for some children, but it is marginally or not effective for others. Even for those children who show improved symptoms with the medication, the improvement is often insufficient or accompanied by troubling side effects,"
To summarise the expected benefits from the study, Grosswald said "What's significant about these new findings is that among children who have difficulty with focus and attention, we see the same results. TM doesn't require concentration, controlling the mind or disciplined focus. The fact that these children are able to do TM, and do it easily shows us that this technique may be particularly well suited for children with ADHD."
The study and results are to be published in the Current Issues in Education journal.
Another study dedicated to transcendental meditation and ADHD is planned and will be funded with £1.4 million.
The British College of Integrated Medicine
The Integrated Health Trust, formed in November 2007, announced its first achievement - the formation of the British College of Integrated Medicine which will start its first courses to educate doctors and nurses in all aspects of the IM model in January 2009. This course will be run by IM pioneers Dr Rosy Daniel and Dr Mark Atkinson and other leaders in the IM field. It will be professionally validated by the team of Professor Karol Sikora at his innovative Medical School at the University of Buckingham.
Integrated healthcare combines the very best of all medicines -
orthodox, complementary*,
psychological*, nutritional,
spiritual* and self-help*
- for the care of the sick and the prevention of illness. IM practitioners treat the cause and not just the symptoms of illness and enhance the self-healing potential of the body, mind and spirit.
* all these treatments are available from
'Healing In The Workplace'
please contact us for details on
info@healingintheworkplace.co.uk
Professor Karol Sikora, Clinical Dean at Buckingham University and Medical Director of Cancer Partners UK* is one of the Trust’s advisors, and will be speaking at the launch about the importance of Integrated Medicine in the UK. He said: “This is a remarkable and ambitious initiative aiming to bring IM into routine use throughout healthcare in Britain. .... new approaches can be found to return people to health with simpler and cheaper holistic strategies.”
Mac Jeffery, a beneficiary of integrated medicine who will be speaking at the launch, said: “Integrated Medicine has played such an important part in my survival from cancer. I have received excellent orthodox treatment, accessed the best in complementary therapy and on the way met some amazing practitioners.
Integrated Medicine has focused on 'all of me' not just my illness and given me strategies to take control of my life and health.”