health alternative blog

You Must Consider These Factors When Buying A Massage Chair

The society is becoming more and more fast-paced. In fact, many people have become so busy that they hardly have time for recovering from the stresses of daily life. People barely have time to go out, have fun, see a movie, relax on the beach, or make a massage appointment.

No matter how busy a person may be, they still need/must take time out for relaxation. You may not have time or the resources to go out to the theatre every weekend however you could rent a movie and watch it at home. You may not live in the tropics and just run down to the beach every weekend for relaxation. But you can invest in a massage chair, and get a massage anytime you want.

If you use a massage chair correctly your body will thank you, and you will feel the benefits for years to come. Stress will be reduced, blood pressure will lower, you will feel your immune system improve, and the blood circulation throughout your body will be enhanced to where you look and feel better.

When shopping for a massage chair there are so many options available from color, shapes and sizes so shopping shouldn’t be too difficult. Below are a list of factors that will also help you when choosing your personal massage chair.

Seats are available in materials like leather, polished wood, plastic, fabric, synthetic leather, or combination of any of these. Leather is the preferred choice of many consumers because this is most comfortable and it can easily complement many kinds of furniture.

It is important to choose a massage chair that comes with a durable motor. To do this, rely on a reputable brand that is known for high quality products. This would ensure that the massage recliner would last a long time with you.

Massage chairs come with various features. There are those that have controls on speed, intensity or both, and there are those that have MP3 players, reclining systems, or heating elements. With so many options, take your time and consider what are the most important features for you.

The number of rollers in a massage chair is about 8 to 10. Some even have 12 to 16 rollers. Although the quantity contributes to the efficiency of the massage, it is still more important to consider the size, quality and type of material used to make the roller.

The size is also an important factor to consider. Most massage chairs are quite large and need a bulk of space in the house. Getting a large-sized massage recliner will not be advisable if you have small space in your home. However, we are not only thinking size here for the space you will put it in when you get home, but who will be using this chair and does it meet that need as well.

Massage chairs are the best of investments, so although they can be expensive you can find some wonderful deals, especially when you shop around on-line. Please remember that quality should still be your priority. Do not rely on extremely cheap products that may not be able to do the job right.

Like shopping for new furniture, shopping for a massage chair can be allot of fun. Keep in mind it will also be great for your health!

Massage chairs come in different shapes and sizes. When shopping for a massage chair there are many features to consider.

Conquering Fibromyalgia Now

Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by widespread muscle and joint pain, which is often misdiagnosed and misunderstood. It is known as a syndrome (a set of symptoms) rather than a disease because it has no specific symptom or cause. It can be symptoms that commonly occur together such as anxiety, depression, debilitating fatigue, widespread pain and low pain threshold. Fibromyalgia was once thought to be purely psychological in nature, but now physicians know that it is a physical reality exacerbated by psychological stress. They do not know what causes the condition and have no tests to identify it. There are multiple tender points on the body where even a slight amount of pressure will cause pain. These sites are used for diagnosis and they are located around the neck, shoulder, chest, hip, knee and elbow regions. There are millions of people suffering from this painful condition which can lead to depression and social isolation. Conquering fibromyalgia forever is necessary, because of the tremendous impact it has on lives.

Signs and Symptoms

For those suffering from fibromyalgia, the symptoms can be many, including debilitating fatigue, sleep disorders, and joint stiffness with numbness and tingling. Other symptoms include irritable bowel, chronic headaches, jaw pain, anxiety and depression. Some feel that their symptoms were brought on by a physical or emotional trauma, while in others there was no triggering event. It is estimated that 2-4% of the population suffers from fibromyalgia and therefore it affects millions of people worldwide. For those who suffer from severe symptoms, conquering fibromyalgia is possible and essential for basic daily activities.

Fibromyalgia is known as a syndrome because symptoms commonly occur together, such as anxiety or depression, tender points, incapacitating fatigue and widespread pain in muscles and joints. Physicians rely on physical examination and medical history to make an accurate diagnosis. They will rule out other conditions that mimic fibromyalgia, which is called a diagnosis of exclusion. In’90 The American College of Rheumatology published a study in which they were able to distinguish fibromyalgia from other chronic pain illnesses 88% of the time. It is considered the benchmark for the inclusion of fibromyalgia as a known physical disorder.

Causes

People who suffer from fibromyalgia have found specific factors that worsen their pain. Certain individuals are at higher risk because of gender, age, disturbed sleep patterns, family history and rheumatic disease. Other factors include stress and anxiety, depression or physical exhaustion, lack of sleep and restless leg syndrome. Researchers tend to believe that it could be a variety of factors working together, such as genetics, infections, and physical or emotional trauma. Women are more likely than men to develop fibromyalgia, so for them conquering fibromyalgia now is of particular concern to them.

Recommendations

When an individual is suffering from fatigue and the lack of sleep because of the pain, they are looking for some relief. Conquering fibromyalgia forever is possible and pain management is the first goal in treating this disorder. A program using both traditional and alternative therapies can be involved in the treatment. Some individuals find that low doses of antidepressants control their pain very well. Therapeutic massage helps ease the pain and daily moist heat applications benefits joint stiffness. Others get better control from stress management, exercise and hydrotherapy. Managing stress is very important, because stress increases pain over tender points and decreases the ability to cope with pain. Taking time each day for rest and relaxation will reduce the stress. Another recommendation includes maintaining a healthy lifestyle by getting enough sleep and exercising regularly.

Who Can Help?

There are millions of people worldwide who suffer from fibromyalgia. They do best when supported by each other and family and friends. This condition causes depression and social isolation. Help and advice can be found in organizations such as the Arthritis Foundation and the American Chronic Pain Association. They provide classes and access to support groups where individuals find each other and know they are not alone in this fight in conquering fibromyalgia forever.

Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread muscle and joint pain. It is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed, because it is known as a non-disease, with no specific symptom or cause. Those individuals suffering debilitating pain from fibromyalgia need help for their depression and social isolation.

Before you purchase something online regarding conquering fibromyalgia,view Tre Pleggi’s excellent research on ways to cure it. She hasshownseveral fibromyalgia reviews that you really must see to make the right decision.

You Don’t Need To Suffer From Toothache, There Are Answers.

Are you a toothache sufferer? If you are you know it can be debilitating and depressing. Toothache can cause the sufferer some intense pain and can be very distressing.

What exactly is a toothache? It would seem a simple question. It’s a tooth that hurts. And certainly that’s correct. However that doesn’t accurately describe the intensity of the pain that a sufferer can feel and it doesn’t describe exactly how much a simple pain in the tooth can impact on just about every aspect of your life.

And that simple explanation doesn’t really tell you how something as simple as a tooth that hurts can impact on so many areas of your life.

And it can describe different things. For example there is tooth “sensitivity” that feels pretty much like pain in the teeth. Sensitivity can be caused by a number of factors like excessive wear on the teeth from grinding the teeth at night. Or by recession of the gum that exposes more of the outer layer of the tooth to the effects of hot and cold food particularly.

Some other factors that can cause toothache could be gingivitis that is a recession of the gums resulting from a build up of tartar from inadequate teeth brushing. Or a cracked tooth. Or flu. Or sinus problems.

Poor gum health is a major cause of a wide range of dental problems, including pain. It is the leading cause of tooth loss in the population in the US.

And there are some medical conditions that you would never have thought could cause toothache but can do so. Like Angina.

If you’re a sufferer you ought be aware that some serious medical and dental conditions can cause jaw and tooth pain, and these ought to be diagnosed and treated speedily by a dental or medical professional.

Notwithstanding, it’s quite possible to treat the pain, or even get rid of it, by some simple home remedies for toothache. This won’t eliminate any underlying medical or dental conditions but will certainly leave you feeling much better at the time.

You’d be surprised at how simple, fast and inexpensive some of the simple home remedies for toothache can be.

So if you have a problem with toothache have the problem diagnosed, but remember you don’t need to suffer from the pain unnecessarily. There are answers that will provide fast pain relief for you without the use of painkiller drugs in many cases.

And if you need to perform at your peak you can’t with aching teeth, so you need all the help you can get.

You’ll find out more at my website.

Peter has a book which you can get at his website about Toothache Remedies full of tips and tricks and Home Remedies for Toothache

Muscle Pain and Soft Tissue Pain Secrets Revealed!

Why is it called a hidden source of Muscle Pain and Soft Tissue Pain?

There is a Muscle Pain and Soft Tissue Pain source that is difficult to pinpoint, because the pain is felt someplace other than the source of the problem, and if it is not treated properly, it can be difficult to resolve. That is why it has been deemed as a Muscle Pain and Soft Tissue Pain Secret. This secret and hidden source of pain is also called Myofascial Pain or Myofascial Pain Syndrome.

What is Myofascial Pain or Myofascial Pain Syndrome?

Sometimes it feels as though your muscles are tied up in knots, and when you press on those knots, you feel pain someplace else on your body. You are probably experiencing Myofascial Pain, or Myofascial Pain Syndrome. Myo means muscle, and Fascia means connective tissue, so Myofascial translates to muscle and connective tissue. Syndrome means a group of symptoms. Therefore, Myofascial Pain Syndrome means muscle and connective tissue pain symptoms. Myofascial Pain Syndrome is directly associated with Trigger Points.

What are Trigger Points?

Trigger Points are extremely irritable knots in taut bands of muscle and connective tissue that can produce tenderness, a twitch response in part of the soft tissue, and a neurological phenomenon of referred pain to different locations of the body when external pressure is placed upon them, hence the term Trigger Point.

What are some descriptions of the response generated by putting external pressure on a Trigger Point?

When external pressure is exerted upon a Trigger Point, the descriptions of the result of that pressure vary according to the patient, the source of the problem, and where the symptoms are referred to. Some symptoms have been labeled as being tender, burning, searing, itching, tingling, twitching, and electrical in feeling.

Where are Trigger Points commonly found?

Trigger Points can be found in many different types of soft tissue such as muscle, tendon, ligament, skin, scar tissue, and joint capsules. Trigger Points can be caused by other trigger points, direct trauma to soft tissue, infection, disease, radiculopathy-nerve root pain, repetitive stress injury, smoking, or psychological distress. Trigger points also inhibit blood flow, which can make the pain worse unless treated. Trigger Points have different characteristics, qualities and predictable pain patterns that can overlap and require extensive and often intensive treatment to eliminate them.

What are some characteristics of Trigger Points?

Key Trigger Points have pain referral patterns that activate or create a Latent trigger point along a nerve pathway. Key trigger points also activate Satellite Trigger Points in other soft tissue structures. Both must be treated in order to alleviate both sources of pain. Latent Trigger Points only refer pain when some type of pressure or force is placed upon the trigger point itself or to the soft tissue structure where the latent trigger point is located. Active Trigger Points actively refer pain along nerve pathways locally, or to adjacent locations. Primary trigger points may activate Secondary trigger points in other structures, and again, both must be treated in order to alleviate both sources of pain.

What are the treatment options for Myofascial Pain Syndrome?

Depending upon the health or medical practitioner, treatment options include low-level laser therapy, ultrasound, dry needling, injections, spray and stretch using a vapocoolant spray, electrostimulation, ischemic compression, and medical massage therapy emphasizing the specified treatment of trigger points. Stretch and spray technique is when the muscle and trigger point are sprayed with a coolant, then the muscle is slowly stretched. Injections of Lidocaine can be performed by Physiatrists, but keep in mind that Muscle Soreness is a common side effect for that technique and many others.

What is a proven and effective treatment method for Myofascial Pain?

A highly skilled Medical Massage Therapist can apply a combination of Myofascial Release, Quasi-Static Pressure, Muscle Energy Technique, and Counterstrain to get rid of Myofascial Pain and can minimize the effects of Muscle Soreness simultaneously. Muscle Energy Technique and Counterstrain work on sensors in soft tissue known as Proprioceptors to relax muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Myofascial Release stretches and loosens the Fascia so that your body can move freely, removing pain and restriction. Quasi-Static pressure works within the patients pain tolerance.

What does Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Trigger Points represent, and is it enough just to directly treat either condition?

It is important for all of us to understand that Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Trigger Points represent the effect of a problem or problems, and not the cause of a problem. This means that Myofascial Pain or Trigger Points were created by something, and that something most commonly is some kind of soft tissue injury. In most cases, the injury is caused by repetitive stress, trauma, or weakness. This means that we must look beyond the direct treatment of Myofascial Pain or Trigger Points if we are to truly resolve both the cause and effect of the problems we are experiencing, or we will more than likely have to treat the same conditions over and over again.

What will help to ensure that Myofascial Pain and Trigger Points don’t return after they are treated?

The source of repetitive stress must be alleviated to provide for a rehabilitative environment if that is the problem, or healing will never take place. Weakness is usually a very big cause of the problem, and lengthening and stretching already overstretched Muscle Groups will make muscles that are already weak even weaker. Likewise, strengthening the wrong muscle groups will only serve to make the problem worse, not better.

What needs to happen before we treat Myofascial Pain?

A skilled Medical Massage Therapist or other Healthcare Professional should conduct a Diagnostic Pain Assessment consisting of tests for Soft Tissue Palpation, Muscular Strength, Muscular Weakness, AROM-Active Range of Motion, PROM-Passive Range of Motion, and RROM-Resisted Range of Motion prior to treatment for Myofascial Pain and Trigger Points. Assessment outcome will determine an effective treatment plan for shortened soft tissue structures that need to be lengthened, and weak muscles and soft tissue that need to be strengthened, as well as providing the Therapist with a Map of the Trigger Points and soft tissue dysfunction that was encountered.

What should be done at home to enhance the effective treatment of our soft tissue problems?

If repetitive stress, muscle weakness, and shortened musculature is the cause of the problem, then Myofascial Pain Syndrome cannot be treated solely and effectively by a healthcare practitioner. Myofascial Pain treatment will benefit from applications of hydrotherapy, stretching and strengthening, and self-trigger point therapy at home to prevent reoccurrence of trigger point restriction, increase blood flow, maintain flexibility, and promote healing.

What then is the best way to treat and rehabilitate Myofascial Pain Syndrome?

An organized, multi-faceted treatment approach, put together by a highly skilled Medical Massage Therapist, based upon the results of a Diagnostic Pain Assessment, Cutting Edge Medical Massage Therapy, and At-Home Rehabilitation is the very best way to ensure that the Myofascial Pain and Trigger Points we are experiencing will be effectively eliminated and will never bother us again.

Relieve Back Pain Naturally

Back pain is one of humanity’s most repeated complaints. Back pain is one of the most common medical problems today, affecting 8 out of 10 people at some point during their lives. The pain can range from a dull constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain. This conditions may be the result of an infection in the bone (osteomyelitis) or in the spinal cord. Pain in the lower back or low back pain is by far the most common concern, affecting up to 90% of Americans at some point in their lifetime. Back pain is a common problem most frequently caused by overusing or misusing the muscles of the back. The pain may not be prevented completely, but there are things you can do to reduce the severity or frequency.

Treatment

Treatment of back problems should be directed at the cause. Treatments will range from doing nothing to spinal surgery. Many find relief from back pain through stretching exercises or alternative therapies like yoga, but chronic back pain may require medication and treatment that is more intensive. There are trouble-free home treatment along with proper body mechanics, which will often heal your back within a few weeks and keep it functional for the long haul.

One of the simplest ways to relieve back pain is to use hot and cold compressed. You must be sure alternate the compresses. First do five minutes as hot as you can stand it. Then one minute of an ice cold compress. Repeat this five to seven times. You will be amazed at how well this works. This brings great temporary relief.

Here are some examples of common herbs used to treat back pain:

Some natural pain reliever:
Feverfew
Burdock
Stringing Nettle
Willow Bark
Ginger

Here are some natural anti-inflammatory:
Saw Palmetto
Rosemary
Bromelain
Cat’s Claw
Licorice
Valeria

And here are some antispasmodics:
Angelica
Cramp Bark
Black Haw

Exercises

Exercises are important to prevent, reduce, and ultimately get rid of the pain. They must consist of stretching exercises. These include exercised for the back and leg muscles. Any exercise program must have strength, stamina, and stabilizing exercises also. These include exercises for the back, stomach and leg muscles. There are particular exercises to strengthen and stretch the muscles in the abdomen, buttocks, and back can help stabilize the spine and decrease strain on he disk that cushion the spine and the ligaments that hold it in place.

In conclusion, we must realize that back pain is not a diagnosis, it is a symptom of an underlying condition. Back pain is a symptom that can arise from many causes. Being one of humanity’s most frequent complaints, you can be sure though back pain may not be prevented completely, but there are natural things that you can do to reduce the severity or frequency.

Can Hypnosis Help to Eliminate Pain?

Pain is a subject that touches everyone. After all, it is a human condition from which we all suffer at one time or another. There are headaches, dental procedures, sports injuries, broken bones, soft-tissue injuries, and psychosomatic pain.

Research shows that 75% to 80% of all adults will experience lower back pain at some time in their lives. Approximately 40 million Americans suffer from arthritis pain and as many as 45 million suffer from chronic, recurring headaches. There are thousands of people every year who suffer the agony of surgical interventions and thousands more who endure the pain of debilitating or terminal illnesses.

All of this pain falls into two basic categories: (1) acute pain, which is of short duration and (2) chronic pain, which continues for weeks, months or years.

Most people respond to pain - whether acute or chronic - by taking drugs of some kind. But drugs are often a temporary solution.

What few people realize is that the ancient art of hypnosis offers a safe, effective alternative for reducing sensitivity to pain.

Hypnosis has been shown effective in the management of various types of pain. Besides providing an effective solution for maladies such as headaches and acute injuries, hypnosis offers a unique solution for those suffering from chronic conditions like back pain and arthritis as well as intermediate and advanced stages of cancer. Studies show that patients with chronic diseases require fewer painkillers to achieve pain relief when they practice hypnosis. These same patients exhibit fewer signs of anxiety and experience greater comfort during medical procedures.

Hypnosis also has been shown to be effective in reducing nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients.

The most effective approach for acute pain appears to be the use of hypnotic suggestions focusing on anxiety reduction and minimizing the importance of the pain. For chronic pain, it is more effective to confront the pain directly under hypnosis, dealing with both the pain’s physical and psychological effects.

Another area where hypnosis offers significant positive results is in dealing with pre- and post-operative patients. Using hypnosis in preparation for surgery has been shown to reduce the experience of pain during surgery, resulting in the need for less anesthetics. Hypnosis as a pain management tool with surgical patients also has been shown to reduce nausea and greatly increase the recovery rate in most patients, thereby truncating the length of time spent in the hospital. (That creates another rarely mentioned positive result: reduced medical costs!)

But efficacy and lower medical expenses are not the only positives related to the use of hypnosis for pain management. This modality has no dangerous side effects. Unlike medications, hypnosis does not become less effective with use and does not require stronger and stronger doses to cope with pain. While patients may have to ingest costly medications several times a day for years, they have the potential for reducing or eliminating their pain in just a few hypnotic sessions for significantly less cost.

Does hypnosis always work? In the area of pain control, everyone can be helped to SOME degree. There are essentially five categories into which subjects fall:

1. Those who find total and permanent relief.
2. Those that have a decrease in the severity of pain.
3. Those who experience pain relief initially, but who need occasional reinforcement.
4. Those that experience intermittent relief.
5. Those that still have pain, but feel 10-30% less pain than before.

What accounts for these differences in relief? The answer appears to be the patient’s susceptibility to hypnosis - the level of relaxation reached during the hypnotic sessions. The deeper the relaxation, the more effective the pain reduction.

Certainly, no treatment for pain - whether chemical, physical or psychological - is effective all the time. However, hypnosis has shown over and over again that it can help people reduce or eliminate both acute and chronic pain. Best of all, it works its magic without any side effects.

As a safe, effective alternative for reducing sensitivity to pain, hypnosis is second to none.

Have You Tried Reflexology?

One form of alternative treatment for pain relief that is becoming more and more popular is reflexology. This natural method uses your feet to treat your whole body and is gentle and painless.

Reflexology can be used to achieve good health and balance or to alleviate symptoms from stress, migraines, infertility, back pain, arthritis and injury. It is not a means to cure ailments but rather a method to soothe and ease pain without the side effects of medications. Reflexology can speed the healing process and may be used alongside traditional medicine and medications.

The benefits of reflexology extend past simply relieving pain. This alternative method of healing can also be used to achieve balance and health as well as to maintain good health.

If you are thinking of adding reflexology to your regime, then you must take care when selecting your practitioner. Since reflexology is becoming more and more popular, you should have plenty to pick from in your area. Make sure the practitioner you choose has the appropriate qualifications and is someone that you feel comfortable with. If you do not like your practitioner or they do not have a demeanor that is soothing to you, your sessions could be adversely affected.

Your first session will be mostly a learning session for the practitioner. This is a time for them to get to know about you and your problems so that they can map out the best course of treatment. This is actually the most important part of the therapy as learning about the patient is critical to choosing the treatment that will best suit your needs. You will also receive your first reflexology session using your feet. Plan an hour for each treatment. Once the practitioner zeros in on where your pain is, they will be able to use your feet to treat your inner organs.

After the session, pay particular attention to how you react as this information is important feedback for your practitioner. It is important that you report back your reactions so be sure to write them down and bring the paper to your next session. Everyone responds differently to treatment, but most people report a feeling of total relaxation and well being. Remember, the healing process is different for everyone and can take time so don’t expect miracles on your first visit.

Reflexology is a great alternative method to relieving pain or just maintaining your general well being. It is totally natural, non invasive and has no adverse side effects. Why suffer needlessly from back pain, migraines or any other ailment when you could give reflexology a try?

Living with Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic and painful condition that is extremely hard to diagnose. The main symptoms are constant pain and stiffness in the musculoskeletal parts of the body, soft tissue tenderness and sleep disturbances leading to extreme tiredness. The pain is mostly felt in the neck, back, pelvic girdle and hands, though any other parts of the body may be affected.

This disease is very hard to diagnose because so many of the symptoms are similar to other problems like chronic fatigue, rheumatism and arthritis. Doctors must rely a great deal on their patients’ description of symptoms. There is a manual standardized test that can be given to discover if there is pain at specified points of the body. If 11 out of 18 of these specified points are tender, and the patient has had pain in all four quadrants of the body for at least three months then Fibromyalgia is certainly suspected.

A compounding problem is that these symptoms can come and go from week to week. Numbness, tingling and burning may also be present and the pain can be affected by emotional stress, trauma and also by weather conditions such as humidity and cold. Too little or too much activity can also play a part in the amount of pain experienced.

Sometimes FM can be triggered by an illness or injury, but it is also thought to be genetic. New research has shown that it may be caused by an interpretive defect of the central nervous system that causes abnormal pain perception.

Once the condition has been diagnosed, there is much the patient can do to relieve the symptoms. Certainly the advice of a medical health-care provider should be sought and followed, but there are many alternative treatments that offer relief from the symptoms and most doctors agree that sufferers of FM should put into place a multi-faceted treatment regimen that includes nutrition, exercise, dietary supplements, acupuncture, aroma-therapy, relaxation techniques and even the use of hot-cold therapies and humor to aid in pain relief.

Over the counter pain relief medication such as ibuprofen can be used, while low doses of anti-depressants from the doctor can certainly help the sufferer to get better sleep. Lidocaine injections into tender pain points may also be needed for relief. Gentle exercise and stretching will prevent the muscles from wasting away and is also beneficial in reducing pain and stiffness

Because living with a chronic illness such as FM can be so debilitating, sufferers need emotional support as well as physical. Joining an FM support group can provide helpful insights into the disease, while counseling sessions with a trained professional can open communication with friends and family who often cannot understand the extensive disabilities caused by FM. If you are an FM sufferer, it is important to keep a hopeful attitude even in the face of debilitating pain, because this disease does tend to improve over time and there are always new and different treatments being discovered.