SkyBlue Cross Alternative Health Blog

Saturday, 26 May 2012

Massage Oils Provide a Therapeutic Effect

By: http://www.skybluecross.com/

Massage therapists know best. They make use of special massage oils to bring forth the feeling of rejuvenation that each and everyone asks for.

The Benefit of the Oils as Employed in Massage Therapy

As used in the science of massage therapy, the oils are the best additions to a relaxing and healing experience. They don't only bring you into such a relaxing state in the course of the massage session but they trigger healing, so to speak. There is nothing new in the use of oil because it has been practiced since time immemorial. In fact, the great men Plato, Homer, and Socrates had mentioned in their writings the benefits of the oils in assisting in the relief of body pain. The latter is also one of the main reasons why oils are utilized during the execution of massage. Other benefits of which include the enhancement of the skin condition and of course, the improvement of the overall health.

Selecting the Type of Oil to Use

Is there a particular guideline in selecting the oil to be used during the therapy itself? Well, it is best to remember that people's skin type varies. One kind of oil may be safe for one but it may irritate another person's sensitive skin. There are also individuals who may not find the scent too pleasing to their sense of smell.

More so, when choosing the oil it is important to get those that are expeller-pressed or cold-pressed. They have gone through an extensive processing so they are known to last longer. Likewise, you may combine the essential oils of your choice but just ensure that they will produce a good scent. Your massage therapist is likely to ask you of your preferred combination.
Different Types of Oil to Use

For massage therapy, you have a wide range of options. Stated below are the various oils that are commonly used.

The sweet almond oil bears the anti-inflammatory components. It is light and applicable generally for many skin types. It works best for people who have dry skin.

The apricot kernel oil is known to employ balance in the skin. It heals the prematurely aging skin too.

The avocado oil is defined as heavy so it is important to dilute it in lighter oil.

The Castor oil is sticky and thick yet is best in drawing out the toxins. It is best used to treat the scar tissue.

Coconut oil has to be warmed first. It treats cracked skin.

Emu oil is good for sore muscles, arthritis, eczema, and bruising.

Grapeseed oil is safe to use because of its non-allergenic components.

Jojoba oil and kukui nut oil contain anti-bacterial elements.

Olive oil provides relief to stiffness due to its warming effect.

The wheat germ oil is high in vitamin E component as well as in the essential fatty acids. It aids in the healing of scar tissue, stretch marks, sun damaged skin, in improving the circulation of the blood, and in treating the symptoms of dermatitis.

Holy oil is best recognized for its molecular structure. It goes deep into the skin.

Hazelnut oil is a best moisturizer which tightens and tones the skin while assisting in the regeneration of the cells and enhancing the capillaries.

Massage oils are simply therapeutic. They don't only soothe your tired and tight muscles but they are also able to make you feel better emotionally and mentally.




Friday, 25 May 2012

A Good Night’s Sleep – The Natural Way

By: http://www.skybluecross.com
There is probably nothing worse than not being able to sleep. Whether you have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, you have probably struggled to find ways to overcome your insomnia. Most people assume that taking sleeping pills are the only way to cure insomnia but contrary to popular opinion, there are natural means to curing insomnia. Although sleeping pills may initially help you fall asleep successfully, almost all are addictive and do not really facilitate a state of restful sleep or most importantly, allow R.E.M. (rapid-eye movement) sleep. If you have never tried a natural remedy for insomnia, it is definitely worth a try to get a restful night of sleep.
1. Regular exercise during the day. We could learn a thing or two from children. Watch them run around the entire day and sleep soundly at night. Start a regular exercise regimen, particularly in the afternoon, which can help facilitate deeper sleep. However, do avoid strenuous exercise within the 2 hours before bedtime, which can have the opposite effect.
2. Avoid daytime napping. Common sense dictates that if you nap throughout the day, you would definitely have trouble sleeping at night. Late afternoon is generally a “sleepy time” for most people. Naps are fine as long as they are limited to about 30-45 minutes and are not taken later than 3 pm.
3. Re-evaluate your diet. The simplest way to cure insomnia would be to change your diet. A diet rich in junk food and caffeinated products, including coffee, tea, chocolate, and some types of sodas will throw off your natural brain chemistry and cause you to lose sleep.
4. Turn off the lights. Our sleep patterns, or circadian rhythms, are closely linked to the presence of light and dark. So, unless you have issues with sleeping in the dark, turn off all the lights in your bedroom when you’re going to bed. Or alternatively, use a dim nightlight.
Adequate sleep and rest is essential for a healthy and active life. If you are still unable to get a good night’s rest after trying these natural remedies, do seek medical attention.

Thursday, 24 May 2012

Pain Relief for Your Aching Muscles

 By: http://www.skybluecross.com/ 



Soft tissues are vulnerable to injuries, both chronic and acute. The best way to repair injured soft tissues is through hands-on approach. Consult a chiropractic doctor or an osteopath because they know how to manipulate the soft tissues and how to mobilize them. Aside from that, you can also try physical therapy and massage.

Individuals who haven’t tried Massage Therapy are hesitant to try such approach and they get really nervous. Well, you’re not the only person who’s anxious of getting a massage. Oftentimes, patients tend to ask question like if they need to take off their clothes, if they should talk to the massager, or what they would do just in case they get uncomfortable. These are common questions that require immediate answers.

Firstly, you need to look for a massage therapist in your area. You can ask for referrals or you can check out the different massage parlors in your locality. Once you find a massage parlor, it’s now time to talk with the therapist. You will be asked to provide some vital information about your health and your current health concerns. You see, the therapist needs to analyze your condition so that he or she can determine what techniques to use and what not to use. This is important to ensure your safety.

Aside from the personal questions, the therapist will also ask you about your preference when it comes to the actual therapy. The therapist will try to meet all your preferences to ensure comfort. The most commonly used oils are lavender, cajeput, and tea tree oil but you will still be asked to choose scented oils. The reason why therapists prefer these oils is because they soothe inflammations and irritations. The oils also desensitize and penetrate nerve endings, thereby giving pain relief. However, if the therapist doesn’t ask you, you can bring up your concerns and preferences.

The question of getting undressed is another consideration. Therapists prefer to work with a patient who doesn’t have clothes on because they can easily work on the different areas of the body. However, if you’re uncomfortable in such setting, you can talk to your therapist about it. Besides, you will not be asked to expose your whole body because you will use a drape. If you still want to wear clothes, make sure that you wear loose clothes so that the therapist can still work well on the affected areas of your body.

You will simply lie down on the massage table. Some tables have bolsters for more comfort. There are also times when you will be asked to move so that the therapist can better access the area being massaged. If the position makes you uncomfortable, tell the therapist at once.

During the therapy, you can talk to the therapist or you can remain silent. When changing positions, then there is a need to talk but after that, there is no need to converse with the therapist. It is up to you to tell the therapist if you like a conversation during the therapy or if you prefer to be silent.

Don’t worry if your body is oily after the massage. The therapist will help you in removing them so that the oils will not stain your clothes.

Massage is an effective pain relief tool. Why don’t you try it now?



Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Getting anxious over Anxiety Depression?

By: http://www.skybluecross.com

A lot of people who are exerting too much of their brain power usually exhaust not only their physical strength when engaging in various multi-tasking activities, they also tend to over extend their brains up to the point when it plainly needs some good old time for relaxation. A lot of busy people who seem to cannot fathom the idea of relaxing and taking time of from work, as well as their worries, tend to actually start having nervous breakdowns, anxiety depression and all sorts of mental illnesses that can cause a person's sanity to go haywire, fortunately, if you're one of those poor unfortunate ones who are unable to distress and is constantly worried and fussing over things, there are actually available cures and various treatments for treating anxiety depression.

Anxiety depression is actually characterized by all sorts of irregularities and erratic behavior from the person who is suffering from it, this is usuallu due to certain stress triggers that may tend to easily cause a person undue jitters and stress. Also, a lot of people who tend to get easily nervous over stressful activities are actually prone to having anxiety depression, its just a matter of being strong-willed when it comes to facing difficult and stress-prone activities. It may be pretty hard to overcome at first, but trying to be calm and cool in times of extreme pressure is what'll actually save your mental health from going totally downward spiral.

When it comes to effectively curing one's self from a mental illness, one must keep in mind that you have to be actually honest with yourself and assess what kind of depression or mental illness you actually have, go to reputable psychiatrist to get yourself diagnosed correctly as well as be able to get the right depression treatment for yourself. Here are the various types of depression:

Manic or Bipolar depression - characterized by sudden and extreme changes in one's mood wherein one minute he or she is in an elevated state of euphoria while the
next minute (day or week) he or she is feeling to be in a personal hell.

Postpartum depression - characterized by a prolonged sadness and a feeling of emptiness by a new mother wherein physical stress during child birth, an uncertain sense of responsibility towards the new born baby can be just some of the possible factors why some new mother go through this.

Dysthimia - characterized by a slight similarity with depression, although this time, it's been proven to be a lot less severe, but of course with any case, should be treated immediately.

Cyclothemia - characterized by a slight similarity with Manic or Bipolar depression wherein the individual suffering from this mental illness may occasionally suffer from severe changes in one's moods.

Seasonal Affective Disorder - characterized by falling in a rut only during specific seasons (i.e. Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall) studies however, prove that more people
actually fall in to a rut more during the Winter and Fall seasons and lastly, Mood swings, wherein a person's mood may shift from happy to sad to angry in just a short time.

But the type of depression that has actually been proven to be quite common among people is anxiety depression, which is actually characterized by the state of being overly anxious about things. Anxiety, a supposedly normal behavior that'll actually help a person adjust more to a certain stressful activity like first date jitters or a grueling exam the following day. Anxiety actually helps you get psyched up towards facing certain "difficult situations"; anxiety therefore is actually a good thing. Anxiety depression however, is simply the opposite, not to be easily dismissed as a "case of the nerves"; Anxiety depression is in actuality an illness that can be caused from the biological makeup of an individual, or in other words, a hereditary illness.

Also, there are actually various types of Anxiety depression, each having its own unique characteristics. Take for example Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD, this kind of Anxiety depression is a lot more complicated than the average Anxiety depression, in spite of possibly being a day-to-day habit for those who suffer this kind of Anxiety depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder actually makes the individual quite more paranoid than usual, anxiety attacks are more frequent, even absurd at times. They can even be anxious even when there's no apparent reason that calls for them to behave in such a way. People suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder actually shows a lot of symptoms, from lack of sleep, to being unable to relax, getting tired easily, cannot concentrate on what they're doing and even suffering from depression. This kind of Anxiety depression is still curable; just a little work will actually do the trick.

Consult a reputable cognitive behavior therapist who'll help give the individual the therapy that he or she needs to help him or her loosen up, also prescribed medicines are sort of a must to help these individuals battle anxiety attacks, help them calm down and relax.


Tuesday, 22 May 2012

Essential Information on Pain Relief

By: http://www.skybluecross.com


 As you know, too much of anything is not good. This also applies to the use of drugs for pain relief. Being too dependent on drugs is also not good for your body. Because of this fact, many people are now turning to electronic machines or devices for pain relief. If you don’t want to feel any side effects from the use of pain reliever drugs, the best option would be the devices or machines. Such digital machines are convenient because once you wear them the pain relieving action takes effect. Your routine activities are not even affected.

 Have you ever about the effectiveness of TENs? TENs or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation works through your skin. In order to use it, you will put the patch on the skin area where you feel any pain. This conductive patch will serve as the entry point of the electrical impulses from the TENs machine.

 Your brain tells you that you’re in pain. The electronic impulses from the machine block the sensory nerves of your body so that the pain signals cannot go to the brain. If the pain signals are blocked, you will not feel any pain; thus, resulting to pain relief. The machine generates signals that aid in the release of ‘feel good’ hormones or endorphin.

 Back pain is quite common and if you’re also suffering from it, you can try using the machine. According to a Swedish study, the machine really works. In fact, about 70% of workers were satisfied of the pain relieving results of the TENs.

 The recent TENs kits already comes with an electrical probe which can help in stimulating the acupuncture points of your body. The machines always come with cautions so that users will know where to put the pads. For neck and head pain, you should follow the machine instructions so that you can determine the acupuncture points or the channels. Read the manual carefully so that you won’t encounter any problems.

 For the machine to be effective, you should know how to position the electrode pads. If you’re suffering from joint or muscle pain, the pads should be positioned near the pain source. For those suffering from nerve pain (sciatic), the pads should be placed over the sides of the spinal column and the leg’s top portion. Consult your medical specialist and ask about the machine. There are lots of medical practitioners out there who encourage the use of TENs. They can help you in effectively using the equipment. Proper placement of the electrode pads is vital. Always follow the guideline of the manufacturer so that you can get the best results. Keep in mind that the electrode pads should not be placed over the brain/neck/throat nerves, as well as near your eyes.

 The machine allows users to control the electrical signals received by the body. You should always check for the settings of the machine. Muscle twitching is an indication that the control setting is too high. Make sure that you feel only tingling sensations when using the TENs.

 Don’t use the machine without the supervision of a qualified medical professional. You see, not all pain conditions can be relieved by the machine. Through expert help, you can determine if the TENs is the most suitable pain relief option for you. Ask your doctor now and if he or she recommends the use of the machine, you can always try it out.

Alternative Pain Relief Options

By: http://www.skybluecross.com

Certain drugs have undesirable effects and for this reason, a great number of individuals have second thoughts in using them. Here are alternative pain relief options for you.

Ever since humans existed, pain is already a part of life. Pain also has varying degrees. An individual can suffer from emotional pain, physical pain, etc. It would be impossible to avoid pain all the days of y9ur life. You must accept the fact that pain is part of life but if you don’t want to use conventional medicine, you can always turn to alternative methods.

Famous drugs can indeed help especially in the case of tooth extraction or when there is injury. Trademark medicines are numerous these days and there are also creams to relieve any kind of pain. For common pains, you can also use certain natural treatments and herbal supplements.

What are the alternative options for pain relief? Well, here they are:

Massage – many years ago, ancient civilization was already using massage to get rid of certain body pains. Oriental traditions believe that at the center of the massager’s palm is an energy source that can immediately rid the patient of pain. Its efficacy has long been proven. Have you ever heard about infant massage? Mothers are encouraged to give their babies infant massage to relieve muscular pains. At present, massage therapy is already considered a profession. If you don’t want to take medicines, consider this an effective and affordable pain relief option.

Acupuncture – this ancient science was first used in China. In this method, the acupuncturist inserts tiny needles to the ‘meridians’ found in the different parts of the body. You can find a lot of information about acupuncture on magazines, newspapers, and on the internet. If you want to choose this option, make sure that you contact a real acupuncturist to ensure your safety. Get only the professional.

Herbs – herbs have healing wonders. Depending on the location and nature of the pain, there is always an appropriate herb that you can use. You can now find natural herbal supplements and preparations for ease of use. Minor pains can be effectively addressed using herbs.

Relaxation Therapy - you need to achieve deep relaxation of the mind and body. A therapy is now widely prescribed by some medical experts; examples are Reiki and Yoga.

Even if you plan to use these alternative options, it is still important that you seek medical attention from a qualified professional. If you plan to turn to herbs, you need to consult an herbalist so that you can make the appropriate herbal preparations. The other alternative options also require professional attention so that you can ensure the efficacy and safety of such methods. It may take a while before you can see the effects but you need to be patient especially if you’re learning Reiki and Yoga.

If you exert a little effort in learning the alternative methods, you can achieve desirable results. For centuries, people relied on natural ways to relieve pain. There is no harm in trying and if such alternative methods don’t work, you can always go back to using conventional medicine. Safety should always be your first consideration when using pain relievers. Who would want to worsen their situation right? So what’s its going to be – massage, acupuncture, herbs, or relaxation therapy? Choose now and experience a different way to get rid of pain.

Monday, 21 May 2012

Ancient Rituals Of Spiritual Awakening

By: http://www.skybluecross.com/

Spiritual awakening is a goal that everyone seems to be looking for. Ever since the prehistoric period, people seem to be in quest for a divine union and enlightenment. There are different ancient rituals performed by different groups of people worldwide. Indigenous cultures that are still existing until now, shows us a glimpse of how ancient people quest on having a deeper understanding of the earth and the spirits.

Unfortunately, rituals are considered to be of old-world and not accepted in our current times. It is brushed off as an irrational, superstitious and primitive act. The Church have totally rejected these rituals, quoting them as pagan acts and condemned by the Church. Through these rituals, people get to understand and journey towards spiritual awakening.

In the ancient times there were mystery schools dedicated in discovering and exploring the mysteries of life and therefore touching some aspects of spirituality. These schools flourished in Egypt, Tibet and Persia.

Ancient Egyptians have toning of special chants and sounds which took place during midnight in different locations like the sacred man-made lake and the secret chamber below the Great Sphinx. This chanting and sounds stimulates a part of the head that can open up the brain to universal energy and electrical stimulation. This could unleash or release your psychic gifts and abilities. Once it has been opened, more psychic and spiritual gifts will be experienced by the person. Gifts would include intuition, creativity, clairvoyant abilities, and emphatic abilities.

Aside from that ancient Egypt recognizes the end of the year as the time of reckoning, reflection and engendering towards spiritual enlightenment. Ushet Rekhat or Mother Worship starts with a meditation ritual which strengthen the understanding and devotion of the follower. Meditation would also draw wisdom and health to those who share the ritual.

Homa is an Indian ancient fire ritual which is done with the intention of helping you have goof relationships, find a partner, have children and even remove bad karma or negative aspects in a horoscope.

In Buddhist and Hindu traditions, tantra is used to express and advance spirituality. Tantra is not really a tradition but are rituals that maintain spiritual core. Tantra, the word itself, means web and enlightenment. This has been used in ancient India to attain spiritual enlightenment and advancement. Today, Tantra has evolved into a sexual/spiritual phenomenon. Unfortunately, the ritual which is used to be a path to awakening is now used for sexual perversion and scattered among pornography and prostitution.

Ancient Iran also have a unique way of looking at spiritual awakening and enlightenment. To achieve awakening, it is important to attain spiritual perfection and later on immortality of the soul. Spiritual strength is also important in realizing God.

In Tibet, interestingly the making of the thangkas paintings is supposed to lead to developing attitudes like peacefulness, patience, perseverance, concentration, self-development and spiritual enlightenment. Thangkas paintings are similar to the art of pata chitra, which is very much known in India as early as 1st century. The ancient practices are still being used until today.
Whether these rituals are credible and applicable until now, most of the indigenous tribes who have started these rituals are still practicing and believing them until now. Spiritual awakening is not only achievable by undergoing different rituals among different regions, this inner and self-communication should start from the person looking for spiritual awakening.

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