Dead Sea Herbs

By Rachelle Holmes of Chicago Breast Augmentation and Chicago Liposuction Center, MetropolitanMDs

Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of health care and treatments on the planet, but it still serves its purposes even today. Now, while inserting dozens of needles into your body doesn’t seem like the most fun way to treat ailments, acupuncture is a tried and true therapeutic practice that has helped people deal with pain for centuries.

By inserting needles into various pressure points around the body, physical pain and stress can be relieved and even treated using acupuncture. For most, it’s funny to think that sticking needles into the pain areas and pressure points of the body would be the answer, but when it comes to people who suffer from fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, it might just be that.

New studies have shown that that acupuncture in certain areas of the body releases adenosine, which is a natural pain killer that is usually released after an injury. This allows people who are suffering from constant fibromyalgia to gain some much-needed relief.

By releasing adenosine, pain signals can be blocked from ever reaching the brain thus helping sufferers deal with their pain problems. This brings up a lot of questions about how much acupuncture has to do with adenosine release and if this is the reason that so many benefit from it. Yet, whatever the reason, studies have shown acupuncture to be great at treating the condition and helping the people who suffer from it.

From the fatigue angle, the study also went on to show that adenosine released from acupuncture has a lot to do with the regulation of the sleep cycle. By being able to regulate sleep correctly, chronic fatigue syndrome may be able to be properly treated and even fixed.

Acupuncture paired with the correct medicine can help both constant pain and fatigue, as new studies have gone on to show. This is good news for sufferers of both ailments, and goes to show that this ancient art of health may still have some new tricks to share.

from USNews.com 

We’re dynamic creatures, and we aren’t supposed to sit for eight or 10 hours at a time. If you look at our muscularity, we’re meant to be lower down, in a hunched position. By sitting all day, you’re shortening the iliopsoas [a powerful muscle group that flexes the hip and the trunk], and when you try to stand up, it can cause a lot of discomfort [in the back muscles, which are forced to constantly pull back to keep the spine straight].

If we looked at the musculature, we might say, hey, listen, it’s really short and tight, so let’s reduce that tightness [with manual therapies designed to loosen up muscles and break up scar tissue] to improve pain. If we took that conservative [step] first, along with stretching and strengthening, we wouldn’t have to look at the structural problems. Now I’m talking about the vague back pain so many people have, not something potentially serious.

Do you recommend stretching to prevent pain or muscle problems?
Instead of generally asking “to stretch, or not to stretch,” the question should be: Should you stretch for a particular condition, and if so, what kind? For example, static stretching [traditional stretching, bringing the muscle right to the end of its range of motion and holding it for 20 or 30 seconds] really seems to have its place in post-surgical rehab for injuries to the capsule [a sleeve of collagen surrounding a joint], for example, in the hip joint or shoulder joint. It can really break up post-surgical scars. It can also really increase the flexibility of the joint capsule for people who need it, like ballet dancers or gymnasts. [The book notes that static stretching for most athletes has not been shown to be particularly helpful in reducing injury or boosting performance.]

Dynamic stretches [which incorporate movement to bring blood to the area; an example is simply moving your outstretched arms from the front to the side and back, crisscrossing in front of the chest] are great for people who want a little more flexibility before a run, for example. They’re also a great progression to a more active role after surgery. I’d rather see athletes do no stretching at all rather than the wrong stretch. I’d rather see them warm up really well, doing their activity for 10 to 15 minutes at a very low level.

I love these oils and creams before and after the stretching. And Levona Stress Relief Bath Emulsion is the best thing in this world before you go to sleep.

If you have pain in your back, knee, ankle, or other body part, whom should you turn to for help?
We’re often taught to go to the top of the diagnostic chain, the orthopedist. But the truth is that most orthopedic surgeons, unless they [have some particular interest or specialty], don’t want to see patients unless it’s a surgical case. Otherwise, it’s just evaluating and referring out. A good manual therapist who will refer out when it’s necessary–whether a chiropractor, a physical therapist, or an internist who works with manual therapy–is a good port of entry.

But some of the indications to see an orthopedist [first] include tingling and numbness, an extremity with swelling or redness, edema, or pain in the area that really limits your range of motion. And anything that’s a result of an acute injury should be checked out. You should immediately seek medical help if you have any injury or trauma in the vicinity of the spinal cord, progressive muscle weakness in any part of your body, or a change in your bowel or bladder function. Heat and fever are also symptoms that should make you head to a doctor.]

Are there easy ways to deal with back pain on your own?
You can definitely loosen up the quadriceps, the hamstrings, and the glutes [by self-massage and stretching]. (Check out the New Rules of Stretching.) Unfortunately, the most important thing--the psoas–you cannot self-treat. That’s in the front of the lumbar spine and should be left to the experts. Lotions and ointments are helpful. There are many available but we suggest all natural stuff.

A lot of people experience the excruciating symptoms of arthritis and its related diseases. These include swelling, inflammation, pain, redness, and stiffness. When it comes to treatments, there are prescription medications that can be used but they may come with potentially harmful side effects. Although these drugs can help treat symptoms, the possible adverse effects led people to seek safer and natural alternatives.

Natural remedies for joint pain relief from arthritic conditions have been found to be a better solution for suffers that are at risk for dangerous side effects. Safer treatments for joint pain now include natural oils, minerals, and even effective ointments made from organic ingredients.

When it comes to treating common ailments, from a headache to a skin rash, nothing beats going natural. I’d rather rely on natural herbal products because I know they are effective yet safe.

Natural skin products, for instance, are particularly advisable for people with sensitive skin who are prone to allergic reactions. Children, especially infants, also have sensitive and delicate skin. Hence, it is better for them not to use creams or lotions that are filled with synthetic ingredients.

Sometimes after a long day of working at my construction job my back aches horribly. Last year I thought I might need to look for different work because the aches were becoming so frequent. Then my foreman suggested I try taking hot baths to relax my aching back muscles. I know–guys don’t normally talk to each other about taking baths, right? But I am glad we did, because after the first week of trying the hot bath method for back pain relief my pain was already subsiding.

Now whenever any of the guys at work complain about aches and pains I tell take to take a soak.

The human body can take a pummeling due to doing simple things such as running, lifting objects or even typing.  It’s not uncommon to know several people suffering from some form of ache.  Of course, there is muscle pain relief out there. 

By using natural healing products, you can relax your muscles and relive the tension that may lie within your body.  Even doing something like drinking tea will ease your body and will allow you to begin the healing process.  Once you achieve this calm, making your body recover can truly begin.