Hassel Free Living

Archive for April, 2010

More than 20 million North Americans suffer from migraine, a one-sided, severe, throbbing or pulsating headache often accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound, as well as by nausea and vomiting. Migraines are also called vascular headaches, because they usually involve spasm of the arteries of the head, resulting in a pulsating pain. There are no successful medicines for it, only natural migraine treatments can help.

Herbal Medicine The herb feverfew is one of the most effective natural medicines for migraine. Dried feverfew is sold in capsules by health food stores, and the recommended daily dose is 125mg, or one fresh leaf in a sandwich daily. Valerian is a natural herbal sedative that helps reduce stress and is useful for headaches: pour a cup of boiling water onto two teaspoons of the root and infuse. Willow bark and meadowsweet are natural herbal painkillers. Lavender can also help.

Oral medications include Tribhuvankirti, Bhallatakasav, Triphala Guggulu and Godanti Bhasma. Several single and compound herbal medicines are used to treat the presenting symptom of headache as also treatment of blood impurity and reduction of stress and anxiety. However, a detailed history for the symptoms and a detailed study of the constitutional framework of the patient is essential in deciding the ideal combination of medicines for each patient, so as to get maximum results. Overall, with oral medications, and sometimes accompanied by some simple nasal drops, the majority of patients suffering from mild to moderate migraine get significant improvement in 1 – 3 months of treatment. Severe migraine sufferers may require more prolonged treatment.

Drink plenty of water. Proper hydration is also one home treatment for migraine. Sometimes headache starts from dehydration that is why it is important to drink plenty of water. It is recommended that we drink at least 8 glasses of water daily.

The herb feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) has been used for centuries as a folk remedy for headache, migraine, arthritis, pain, and fever in Europe. Natural remedies for migraine treatment generally can be grouped into two distinct areas of opportunity, these being manual therapies such as hypnosis, meditation , acupuncture , shiatsu or herbal remedies using herbs with specific nutrients to treat migraine.

Magnesium Magnesium is a mineral that is used for many purposes. The hsbaltimore, Health Series Institue e-Alert (September 14, 2004) website informs us a good intake of magnesium may promote bone flexibility, help prevent type 2 diabetes and heart disease.Recent studies show that magnesium is also essential for keeping your teeth healthy. There have also been studies on a relationship between magnesium and headaches.

Various drugs have proven to be an effective migraine treatment. Beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants all have a demonstrated record of migraine prevention. Migraine treatment that focuses on prevention can allow frequent sufferers to reduce the amount of pain medication they are using and the side effects those medications may have.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Surprisingly, apple cider vinegar can be a natural remedy for migraine. Boil together equal parts of natural apple cider vinegar and water in an open pan. When fumes begin to rise, and become comfortably strong, inhale for 50 to 60 deep breaths.

Relieving tension can often relieve migraine headaches. Tension can be relieved in many ways such as with biofeedback training (as explained above), taking a warm bath or shower, lying down and resting in a quiet dark room, putting something cold on the back of the neck (at the base of the skull) or having someone massage your neck muscles and possibly your temporal region to help relieve your tension and muscle spasms. Regular exercise can also, over time, reduce tension.

Scott Gillespie
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/migraine-relief-treatment-for-migraine-726260.html

If you believe that you may be suffering from Restless Leg Syndrome, your smart move is to consult your physician who can help pinpoint the cause and prescribe proper treatment. This article is for your additional information only.

Restless Leg Syndrome is an all too common neurologic movement disorder that is somewhat treatable and often under diagnosed and can ruin many nights sleep. This medical problem is defined by extremely uncomfortable feelings and sensations in the legs, especially when resting or sleeping, resulting in the necessity to move the legs. This need to keep re-positioning the legs results in sleep interference, insomnia and difficulty resting or even sitting at a computer or watching television. This problem can result in insomnia or loss of sleep, serious stress, the inability to take a good rest and general discomfort and lessening of quality of life.

It has been estimated that as many as up to 15% of the population has this problem. RLS frequency generally increases with age but may also occur in children. People with severe RLS had problems prior to twenty years of age.

Someone who has this medical problem generally will have symptoms in their legs, although arms and other places can be affected. Generally the problems are worse in the night, when trying to rest. The degree of problems range from light to severe.

Restless Leg Syndrome has been described as feeling like the skin is creeping or crawling, burning or itching legs, aching, restless legs that can not get comfortable and just plain painful legs.

Generally, RLS is caused by a central nervous system disorder. This disorder often runs in families which suggests a genetic cause. Symptoms can be aggravated by stress and psychiatric problems and of course the loss of sleep that this problem causes can increase stress and psychological problems.

Possible secondary causes of this medical problem are iron deficiency, neurological lesions, end stage kidney failure, certain drugs and pregnancy.

Decreased iron stores in a patient can help cause or worsen RLS. Generally, a person should have serum ferritin levels above 50 mcg/L. Reading below this can cause or worsen conditions.

Neurological lesions associated with the spinal cord and peripheral nerve lesions have been known to cause this problem, as well as people with vertebral disc disease.

Up to 19% of pregnant women can exhibit this medical condition of the legs but it usually disappears within several weeks postpartum.

Up to 50% of end stage kidney failure or dialysis patients can experience this leg problem. Additionally, kidney transplant patients may also experience these symptoms.

Certain drugs such as caffeine, tricyclic antidepressants, lithium, dopamine antagonists and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can worsen this leg problem.

Restless Leg Syndrome can be treated with drugs but there is no silver bullet. No medication works well with all patients so each sufferer has to be individually treated.

Dopaminergic agents are usually the first line of treatment for many cases. Pregnant women may not be administered any drugs, depending upon the physician. Other drugs that may or may not be used to treat Restless Leg Syndrome are Dopaminergic Agents such as carbidopa-levodopa for a one time use or as need requires.

Dopamine agonists such as Pergolide, Pramipexole and Ropiniole, may be used in moderate to severe cases.

Opioids such as Codeine, Tramadol, Propoxyphene, Oxycodone and Hydrocodone may be prescribed. These are often used occasionally.

Benzodiazepines such as Temazepam and Clonazepam can be helpful when certain other medications cannot be tolerated.

Anticonvulsants such as Carbamazepine and Gabapentin can be used when dopamine agonists have failed. Iron or ferrous sulfate can be used in iron deficient patients. Finally, Clonidine may be used with patients with high blood pressure.

In general, most patients with Restless Leg Syndrome can be effectively treated by the primary care physician. If insomnia still results after treatment, a referral to a movement disorders specialist or sleep specialist may be in order.

Mitch Endick
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/do-you-have-rls-or-restless-leg-syndrome-and-is-it-ruining-your-sleep-69248.html

Herbal life vitamins are those types of vitamins that are processed from foods. Many herbal vitamins are going to tell you they do not process or use any chemicals in the creation of their vitamins – and this is what you should be looking for. If you do not see the vitamins are not chemically made, you should not purchase that type of vitamin.

Often times, if you were to put a vitamin in water, you will see how it will dissolve. If the vitamin is chemically processed, it is not going to dissolve very quickly in water. While this may seem silly, that means your processed, chemical vitamin is not going to absorb into your blood stream easily either. Look for vitamins that are herbal that are natural, and that are going to digest easily for the best possible outcomes for your health.

What does the words herbal life vitamins mean? These vitamins are derived from foods that are taken from nature, that are considered better for your body needs overall. Herbal is all the vitamins and nutrients that are found in nature. Life is your life. Vitamins are the types of herbs that are being bought right now. Therefore, you have natural, living, nutrients for your body, which in the long run is a very good thing for your life, no matter what your age.

Herbal life vitamins are those vitamins that are most required for your body to avoid sickness and disease while boosting your good feelings about life in general. Herbal vitamins are those that are found in nature. Herbal vitamins are the types that were taken by your grandparents, but in their foods. Our grandparents didn’t need to take supplements and vitamins because they made their own foods, and were not faced with a long line of processed foods. The more processed and canned goods you eat daily the more you need to think about taking vitamins for the betterment of your life.

Think about the children right now. How much food are they eating that are actually home made, not from a can, not from a box? The more you cook from scratch, the more you eat home made foods, the better the life quality will be in the future and the higher their resistance is to problems in the future. If you do not know when the last home made meal was, think about using herbal life vitamins as a supplement so they are getting all those things in life they really need.

Roger Thompson
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/herbal-life-vitamins-131807.html

All around you, everywhere is a Universal Life force of unlimited potential and creativity. Just as fish swim in an invisible (to them) atmosphere called the ocean, we too have an energy field around us that is always there, yet invisible to the naked eye. When we are living in the present moment, our minds open and receive this Universal Life force; we are always guided towards correct action and our lives are fulfilling. If you have ever felt yourself completely in the flow of life, in sync, or inspired then you know the feeling of allowing Spirit to move through you and direct your life. In fact, the word inspired could be translated to in-spirit.

Yet most of us, quite often, block the flow of Spirit and therefore isolate ourselves from the Source, causing distress. When we close ourselves off from the power and flow of Spirit; when we push too hard or act out of fear, we block Spirit from moving through us and close ourselves off from its power. This is what is often referred to as “ego” mind.

Before I discuss further how to better connect Spirit, I would like to remind you of the ways we block the flow of Spirit and revert into ego mind. Perhaps you can relate to some of them:

You:

• Worry about what others think about you
• Judge yourself by your possessions
• Define your self worth by what you do or your achievements
• Feel competitive or jealous of others
• Feel disconnected from and criticized by God
• Fear for the future
• Dwell on the past
• Compare yourself and circumstances to others

So how do you get back to allowing Spirit to guide us and connect to the Divine Will? The good news is since Spirit is always there for you, you don’t have to strive to find it. You just need to stop blocking it.

Meditation is a powerful tool for stilling the mind and opening yourself to Spirit. If you do not already have a practice, or don’t know how to do it, take heart – it’s easy! There are many techniques out there, with thousands of books and tapes on the process. Below you will find a basic technique to get you started if you are not already doing so.

Sit in a comfortable chair with your feet on the floor and palms on your lap – or sit on a cushion on the floor. Make sure your phone is unplugged so you will not be disturbed. Mentally, scan your body for any tension. Start with your toes, ankles, legs, etc all the way up to the top of your head. If you notice any tension, release it. Now, breathe in and slowly let the breath out. You may want to count to five on the “in” and “out” breaths until your breath is slow and even. Pay attention to the breath as it fills your body. Breathe in. Breathe out. Feel your breath sink into your body and cleanse you. As you are doing this, you may notice that you have many thoughts that try to steal your attention from your breath. This is natural. For this moment, just let the thought pass without indulging in it. Put your attention back to the breath. Thoughts come, thoughts go. Your breath is the focus. Breathe in. Breathe out. It’s easy!

Meditation practice helps to still the mind so you do not indulge in ego thoughts, merely let them pass while you focus your intention on something life enhancing. You may use a mantra, image or affirmation too. Try this for at least ten minutes a day, and you will definitely start to feel more relaxed and peaceful.

But why settle for just ten minutes? What about the other fifteen hours and fifty minutes or so of your waking hours? You do not need to be in sitting meditation to utilize this peaceful technique. In fact, meditation is a practice to help you discipline your mind so you can maintain presence during your daily activities. So try this:

Watch all of your thoughts as an observer. Expand your awareness this week (month, year, life, etc.) during your daily activities and notice when you are reverting back to ego mind. You will know when it happens instantly, and instead of indulging in your thoughts, try to step back from them for a moment and focus on your breath as you let them pass. These thoughts are like clouds that obscure the clear blue sky, yet are not the sky themselves. We can get lost in habitual thinking, feeling as if our life will fall apart if we do not continually try to figure everything out. Ironically, the more you do this, the less powerful you are. True power comes from stilling the mind and allowing the flow of Divine Will – the ultimate power. So remind yourself of this if you are tempted to indulge in your thoughts. Let them pass like clouds in the sky.

As you do this, you will notice that you feel more relaxed, joyful, present. As you continue to do this, your life will indeed start to change for the better as you receive inspired guidance.

Be well. Be peaceful. Have fun.

Kari Samuels
http://www.articlesbase.com/stress-management-articles/meditation-for-presence-self-love-and-inner-peace-704864.html

One of the most popular and rising styles of the massage industry is the hot stone massage therapy. It is a practice of manipulating tissues and muscles with the use of a heated massage rock or stone placed on certain energy points of the body. If it’s your first time to hear about this massage and you are wondering how stones could actually help relax your body, then here are some essential facts you should learn regarding a hot stone massage therapy.

A hot stone massage therapy has been around for centuries and is now one of the most requested types of massages offered in spas and wellness centers. It is a method of using a combination of a Swedish massage and placing warmed massage rock or cold stone on certain energy centers of the body. The La Stone therapy is one popular version where cold and hot stones are used alternately to achieve a desired effect.

Nowadays, a stone massage therapy one of the most requested types of massage therapy in day spas and healing centers. It is a soothing way of relaxing the muscles and relieving tension in the whole body. This massage is used with a combination of a Swedish massage and hot massage stones placed on the client’s body.

A hot stone massage therapy has become a popular and one of the most requested massages in spas and practices all around the world. It is a massage therapy that uses different kinds of cold or hot stones. It relieves muscle spasms and sometimes is even used for alternative therapy in alleviating pain in illnesses or injuries. It is used with a combination of a Swedish massage with deep heat and pressure provided by warm basalt stones.

It is a wonderful break from your hectic lifestyle which gives you relief from stress and brings you relaxation like no other. For a couple of minutes, you will be taken to a wonderful and peaceful place where no office work, traffic jams, or household chores will bother you.

The stone therapy is a specialty massage which uses basalt, black volcanic rock that absorbs and retains heat well. The heat coming from the rocks has a deeply soothing effect and a very relaxing massage. These rocks are chosen because of its ability to retain heat well. It is placed in specific points of the spine or placed in the palms of the hands or between the toes of the feet to open up meridians of energy throughout the body.

A hot stone massage therapy is a specialty massage that integrates smooth, heated stones. These stones are often basalt stones, a black volcanic rock rich in iron that is able to retain and absorb heat very well. This type of massage is very soothing and relaxing. The heat from the stones helps tight muscles to release tension and stress.

peterhutch
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/hot-stone-massage-therapy-benefits-of-hot-stone-therapy-698844.html