Anti-Aging, Health & Nutrition Facts

The most common type of massage therapy done across the United States is known as Swedish massage, which involves kneading with the hands as well as long, smooth strokes, and a variety of other movements that are done by qualified massage therapists. These strokes and movements concentrate on the superficial layers of the muscles of the body and often are made easier in their execution by way of massage lotion or massage oil.

Massage therapy works by way of improving blood circulation and making it easier for oxygen and nutrients to reach the tissues of the body. Massage therapy works wonders for relieving the pain and tension associated with tight, sore muscles and it also increases the level of mobility and flexibility in muscles. But that is not all, massage therapy also helps to rid the body of lactic acid and other types of waste which can play an important role in decreasing stiffness and pain that takes place in the joints and muscles.
Individuals seek out the services of a massage therapist for a number of different reasons and sometimes it is a combination of reasons. Back pain is a common reason that a person goes for massage therapy as are a variety of inflammatory related conditions such as tendonitis and arthritis. Headaches and in particular migraine headaches are common reasons that people look to massage therapy for help and stress relief is a big one as well as a variety of stress related disorders. Stress has a way of tightening up the joints and muscles and making the neck, shoulders and back feel stiff and uncomfortable.

But that is not all. Massage therapy is an effective holistic treatment for the discomfort that often accompanies repetitive types of strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, which is becoming more and more prevalent as more and more individuals use computers on a consistent basis at their places of work. Many muscle problems such as sprains strains and spasms respond well to massage therapy as do a variety of circulatory problems as well as respiratory problems such as asthma for example. Patients often seek out massage therapy to help in their rehabilitation efforts after an injury or after they have undergone a surgical procedure.

There is no doubt whatsoever that massage therapy helps to relieve stress in the body and often the mind as well. Massage encourages the body to begin to repair and heal itself and by so doing it becomes stronger. The body’s stress response is triggered by way of massage therapy and this encourages the reduction in the levels of stress hormones known as cortisol. Research studies have also pointed to massage therapy as a way of improving the functioning of the immune system.

Often times when it comes to health problems it is a good idea to combine massage therapy with chiropractic treatments. Misaligned joints need to be put into proper place in order fro massage to work to its optimum best. Which type of therapy to have first is something you will have to discuss with the massage therapist and chiropractor. Different professionals will recommend different techniques. A massage will relax soft tissue which might facilitate a better chiropractic adjustment and if a chiropractic treatment causes you anxiety then a massage first could melt away a great deal of your worries.

About the author: Brad Bahr is the editor of many health related websites and publications. He has been testing and reviewing nutritional supplements for over 20 years. After trying hundreds of products, he recommends one supplement above all others for renewing health and energy: Learn More

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It is rare to find someone who claims never to have suffered from a headache. On the other hand some people have headaches every day.

Several research studies over the past 20 years indicate that about 40 to 50 percent of headaches originate somewhere in the upper back or neck. This obviously is not in the head, and is why chiropractors and other manual therapists have a steady stream of patients who consult for this common problem.

Obviously there are many more causes. The good news is that most of these other causes are lifestyle dependent. Meaning that our choices in either what we eat or what we do are able to offer us help.

We are bombarded with the pharmaceutical industry’s tablets for headache symptoms, and as you may know, this is big business for them, to the tune of billions of dollars. This is great for them, but not so good for the individual.

Therefore let us consider a different approach to dealing with a headache as a symptom, based on the evidence.

Eye strain can cause headaches. Studies have found that workers who spent more than 11 hours per week in front of a computer were 50 percent more likely to suffer from weekly headaches. Solution, limit computer time and/or get more active.

Alcoholic beverages, especially red wine and beer are implicated with some headache sufferers who are sensitive to histamines. Cheese, chocolate, refined carbohydrates, Chinese food, coffee and food additives; such as nitrates and aspartame are implicated for others. People with specific food allergies often get a headache with ingestion of the offending food.

Other telltale signs are either a postural mal-alignment; such as, forward head posture, or restricted joint mobility in the cervical vertebrae. These are usually easily corrected through spinal adjustments and corrective postural retraining exercises. Once corrected, many people find that what they originally thought was the problem (such as eye strain), was not the problem after all.

This may surprise some, but many researchers are now warning that one common cause of a headache is called MOH - medication overuse headache. This simply means that a person’s headache is caused from consuming too much medication designed to give relief.
Many medications that are commonly prescribed for functional health problems such as; high cholesterol, hormone replacement therapy and depression, list headaches as common side effects.

There is no substitute for choosing a healthy lifestyle. Aim for seven hours sleep nightly. Sleep deprivation and snoring are linked with headaches.

Regular exercise is associated with a lowered tendency to headache. Ask anyone who is regular with cardiovascular exercise and they will tell you that one primary benefit is feeling healthy and energetic; with few headaches, among other positive health benefits.

Runners and others who are very active know that regular participation demands that you take care with your lifestyle choices. You must drink enough water, avoid junk food, eat nutritionally (snack regularly), and not pollute your body with common contaminants such as; cigarette smoke, household chemicals, cleaning supplies and garden pesticides.

There is no such thing as having a normal number of headaches. They are all a warning that something is not right. Try the lifestyle approach, taking things one step at a time, and see what changes. Consulting with a more holistic health care practitioner should help figure out what other potential causes might be lurking around.

Brad Bahr is the editor of many health related websites and publications. He has been testing and reviewing nutritional supplements for over 20 years. After trying hundreds of products, he recommends one supplement above all others for renewing health and energy: http://www.hgh-facts.com

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