New Info available at our new site www.HealingWithMassage.com







News Article of the week

Above All Web Editor Comment: the following two articles clearly point out the interrelated nature of the body "parts". Our massage services are specifically designed and personalized so that they address the various aspects of any and all conditions that you may present to us. Massage can be genuinly therapeutic, only if it is preformed in this way. (Read advanced medical massage)

Tackling Four Sources of Back Pain, Part 1

By Robert Gibson
Epoch Times U.K. Staff
 Feb 25, 2006

BACKACHE: May have a hidden cause (Photos.com)

Back pain and all forms of spinal malfunction are poorly understood by most of us. This leads to delay in seeking early treatment, and can also lead to inappropriate diagnosis and treatment. Back pain is often referred pain, that is, the origin of the pain is not the back itself.

If you have an aching hip, the cause could be in your foot; if you get blinding headaches, you may have a problem with your jaw; your recurring back pain may come from your intestines and your sacroiliac joint may be the cause of your sciatica.

A Compromised Organ

The ileocecal valve, normally a one-way valve, safely separates the contents of the small intestine from the large intestine. When this valve is malfunctioning, the following problems can occur: palpitations, chest pains, back pain, pain in the right arm/shoulder, migraines, swollen ankles, hemorrhoids, arthritis, skin and digestive conditions.

When this valve is the cause and the malfunction is corrected, these signs and symptoms will disappear.

Stress and other causes can make this valve malfunction. The one-way flow of the valve is compromised and the toxic contents of the colon push back into the small intestine, causing irritation.

Associated nerve fibers become inflamed and irritated, causing reflex lesions of the spinal nerve roots. These occur at the spinal nerves of lumber 1–2, thoracic 4–5 and/or cervical 3–4, causing the above-mentioned symptoms.

Obviously, these symptoms can have other causes. Nevertheless, when conventional diagnosis or treatment fails, the cause may be a malfunctioning ileocecal valve. The incidence of this condition is quite high among those with recurrent back pain.

Slipped Disc or Sacroiliac Slip?

The sacrum and iliac bones form the sacroiliac joint. The pitted surfaces form interlocking irregularities, which limit and direct any movement. Yet, the joint is lubricated, similar to a moving joint. In the front of our bodies, about four inches below our navel, the pelvic bones meet with a "disc-like" cartilage pad between, to form the joint known as the symphysis pubis. This limited "play" in these two joints is important in everyday walking and during childbirth. The main function of this type of joint is to absorb the jarring shock of the feet walking on hard ground.

When normal joint play is lost, the pain generated can be agonizingly similar to—and is often assumed to be—a vertebral "disc" problem and can lead to ineffective treatment.

The causes of sacroiliac "slip" are various; a blow to the heel, uneven weight bearing on the pelvis, dental problems and childbirth are the most frequent. Clinical experience and studies suggest that 50 to 70 percent of sciatica and low back pain are associated with sacroiliac slip. The pain can be in the hip, buttocks or the thigh, since the pyriformus muscle in spasm squeezes the sciatic nerve.

Next week we will look at our jaw and feet as possible sources of back pain.

Robert Gibson is a retired member of the London and Counties Society of Physiologists. He co-founded the Body/Mind Clinic in Fife, Scotland, where he was a therapist for 10 years. Link to article http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/6-2-25/38675.html



Tackling Four Sources of Back Pain, Part 2

By Robert Gibson
Epoch Times U.K. Staff
 Mar 09, 2006

Fallen arches put strain on the lower back (Joel Benjamin/The Epoch Times)

Last week we said that back pain, spinal malfunctions and their origin are poorly understood by most of us.

This week we will look at our jaw and feet as unlikely sources of back pain.

The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)

This is the most used joint in the body. We use it while talking, chewing, swallowing and yawning—even snoring.

This joint can be the principal cause of tension down one side of our body and can cause one leg to be shorter than the other, sacroiliac slip, tension headaches, burning cheek pain, neck and back pain unyielding to treatment, dizziness and tinnitus.

There is a close functional relationship between the head, neck, shoulder, pelvic girdle and jaw movement—a short leg could cause a sore jaw or the other way around!

In the healthy stance, the teeth close symmetrically, with head weight transferred through the teeth to the lower jaw and with the facial muscles relaxed.

During motion, the locked jaw first unhinges, and then is drawn forward to allow the mouth to open. The lock/hinge mechanism is crucial to normal jaw function and to its harmonious relationship with the head and neck.

From a variety of causes, one side of the jaw fails to engage the hinge/lock and is then held by muscular spasm. This tension is transmitted to the neck and then spreads down the spinal attachments. TMJ syndrome ranges from minor to severe, depending on the type of trigger involved. In some cases, an orthodontist may be needed for a treatment program. In others, dental treatment may have caused the problem.

Conversely, the TMJ, when relaxed, may be the key to total body relaxation.

Fallen Arches

The foot is a superb piece of bioengineering, consisting of 26 bones, each shaped differently, and arranged to form two arches. These arches enable the foot to provide an ideal distribution of body weight—yielding and springing back as weight shifts with all bodily movement and absorbing shock with each new contact with hard ground.

The integrity of all the other musculoskeletal structures of the body depends on the feet performing these tasks.

The bones composing the arches are held in position by ligaments and tendons, with the cuboid bone acting as a keystone. A decreased or fallen arch results from a weakening and stretching of the ligaments and tendons. The tendons are extensions from the muscles of the lower leg, attached to the bones of the foot, at the other end.

A diminished or fallen metatarsal arch interferes with the proper function of the foot, causing stress on the knee, hip, sacroiliac joint and/or the lower lumbar vertebra from the strain imposed by the shift in weight distribution. Under these conditions, unless we correct the problem with the foot, all other treatments will be only temporary.

Treatment

The bones need to be restored to their normal position. The cuboid bone is most commonly slightly displaced.

The muscles of the lower leg and the short muscles of the foot need re-toning.

In addition, arch supports may be necessary to reduce strain on the ligaments.

The body is very clever at compensating for back pain, but in a way that may not be beneficial in the long term.

link to article http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/6-3-9/39113.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Relax – Stress Might Make You Sick

By James D. Smith
The Epoch Times

Mar 22, 2005

 

Science has already proven that stress is a causative or aggravating factor in many common diseases, from asthma to stomach problems. Many of us just accept it as a part of life, and think, “that’s just the way it is.”

Let’s look at how stress affects the body. Your body has two functioning modes, in laymen’s terms; we call it “rest and digest” and “fight or flight.”

“Rest and digest” is when your body is at ease, adrenaline levels are low, breathing is deep, blood pressure is low, blood vessels are dilated and the immune system is doing its work keeping bacteria and viruses in check. Everything is in harmony.

“Fight or flight” results from clinging to our concerns. Blood pressure rises, the adrenal glands pump out adrenaline, breathing is shallow, muscles are tense and the immune system is “on hold.” Everything is in suspense.
It’s clear from the description that the “rest and digest” mode is where we’ll feel our best and the “fight or flight” mode is best reserved for when were doing just that, fighting or fleeing.

These days life is so busy and we all have too many concerns. It seems we can’t even live without our adrenals working overtime. Is there any way we can actually function in a relaxed state? Yes, there is!

When viewed objectively, we find it is possible to be relaxed and move quickly. How? By changing our minds! Organization is a good first step. But it’s not enough.
Try this: drop your shoulders, close your mouth, take a deep breath, relax your face and just be in the moment. Clear your mind. Let ambitions and daily problems melt away.

In short, when our minds get overwhelmed our bodies go into the “fight or flight” mode; as our arteries narrow, so does our thinking, and then we are not relaxed. This stress will eventually bring about different forms of cellular breakdown leading to disease.

       

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Foot-Nerve Therapy

Dr. Alice Fan
Special to The Epoch Times
 Jan 01, 2006
DOCTOR'S DELIGHT: Dr. Fan's foot-nerve therapy enables her to have better results without side effects. (Alice Fan/The Epoch Times)

Foot-Nerve Therapy (FNT) originated during the Ming Dynasty, in China, 350 to 400 years ago. Since then it has been passed on through nine generations of healers. This therapy uses only the human hand. No medications, surgery or mechanical instruments are involved.

Chang Ji Yan, the ninth-generation master, said that the therapy dates back to the mid-1650s and originated in Northern China. He had successfully treated many patients until the Cultural Revolution in the mid-1960s, when he became sick with asthma and coronary arteriosclerosis. Since FNT requires the patient to lie down flat on the back, it is not possible to treat oneself, so he was not able to help himself. He was hospitalized for more than a decade and unable to continue his practice.

In 1980, Master Chang, then 70 years old, realized that there was no one to continue his therapy if he died. At that time I was a medical doctor specializing in coronary care and Master Chang was one of my patients. Using a combination of Eastern medicine, Western medicine and Master Chang's foot points, I did my best to restore his health. In gratitude for my hard work and success, Master Chang decided to pass on his complete teachings to me. Since he taught everything from memory, I obtained permission to tape our conversations and transcribe them.

When I realized that FNT can actually cure patients instead of just palliating them, I stopped practicing as a cardiologist and decided to investigate this treatment full time. I have since continued to practice this therapy and research it using a combination of Eastern and Western medicinal techniques. My research has shown that the success of FNT depends neither on Western nor Eastern medicine—it stands alone as a separate specialty. In 1998, I taught this therapy to some special students.

The Principles of Foot-Nerve Therapy

FNT stimulates the transmission function of the nerves, which restores the vitality of the nerve cells, thereby revitalizing the internal organs. It adjusts and balances energy and blood levels within the body to restore normal functions, ensuring a cure and strengthening the immune system.

The wonderful thing about FNT is that it works like magic on many hard and seemingly incurable cases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), diabetes and autism, without using drugs or other medication. It also allows patients to continue their normal daily routines without hospitalization.

Therapy Points

FNT uses 62 separate groups of points in the instep of the foot, with each group containing three individual points for different functions. Altogether there are 186 different points in the instep.

In traditional acupuncture, points can be found in parallel locations throughout the body, but this is not the case in FNT. These points are not organized in a pattern, and they differ from foot to foot. Each point controls a different part of the body. For example, we have only one heart, stomach and liver. The points that influence them are single points. Double points influence paired parts such as, legs, arms, eyes and lungs, and can be found on both feet in similar locations.

FNT treatment of specific points on the instep differs from foot reflexology, which treats broad areas of the whole foot. Foot reflexology does not cause strong sensations in the organs.

Program

During a treatment session, the patient lies flat on a table and is completely relaxed. The doctor selects six to ten points determined by the nature of the patient's condition. Each treatment lasts 25 to 30 minutes. Normally a treatment cycle will require at least ten sessions.

Finger Technique

Only the fingers are used in FNT to find and treat the nerve points. Experience teaches how to locate the points, which are often very small and located under muscles. Gentle pressure on a point causes the energy to flow upward throughout the body.

Only finger pressure can provide the necessary stimulation, since attempts to duplicate the treatment using acupuncture needles were unsuccessful.

Treatment Features

As the energy circulates from the feet to the head and back to the fingers and toes, the patient will experience a variety of sensations including heat, swelling, cold, tingling or electric shock. The response in the internal organs can be contraction, swelling or pulsation. In the limbs, the effects can be felt as a contraction of muscles and joints or jumping and stretching. The head feels pressure, and then a sensation of cold air pushing out.

The pressure will also enter and stimulate the various organs found in the chest and abdominal areas of the body. The beating of the heart will either slow or increase, depending on the patient's condition. Breathing patterns also change. In the abdomen there may be movement or tightening of the stomach, spleen or liver—with temperature variations such as extreme cold, as if there were pieces of ice in the organ.

FNT is one of the medical modalities, which, if practiced more widely, could substantially reduce health-care costs.

Please direct questions or comments to alice_fan3@hotmail.com


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


(Sorry the picture diagrams of this article are missing, the link to the origional article is at the end of the article)

Origins of Chinese Wisdoms of Wellness

Daniel Monti, M.D., and Jingduan Yang, M.D.
 Mar 08, 2005

Working in a university-based integrative medicine program, we have observed a tremendous surge in attention to and use of Classic Chinese medicine (CCM), which in part may be due to greater availability of CCM modalities and increased research reports validating the efficacy of CCM, especially when used in conjunction with conventional Western Medicine.

There are now numerous studies that have shown that CCM techniques can be very helpful for a wide variety of pain problems such as headaches, and that certain illness populations such as cancer patients can achieve symptom relief of things like chemotherapy-induced nausea. There are many other examples as well.

However, one of the difficulties for people in the Western world is an understanding of what CCM is, where it came from, and how its different components are related. Those questions are sometimes a challenge even for people in the East, especially because we do not really know when in time CCM began; the roots are definitely before recorded history. The earliest recordings are very interesting and give us a sense of the foundation of CCM.

As we take a look at them, it is important to keep in mind that CCM comes from a broad philosophy of life, and that well-known techniques such as acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Tai Chi, I-chin and Feng Shui are derived from this larger framework. Sometimes there is a tendency with these modalities to cut them away from the holistic framework that founded them.

So, let’s take a look at this broader framework by briefly exploring some of the early recordings and reviewing the basic philosophical concepts that define this all-encompassing framework of health, illness, contentment, spirituality; in essence life itself.

Let’s start with the stories of He Tu and Lo Shu.

The Story of He Tu (The River Map)

Fu Hsi was believed to be the first of China's mythical emperors. His miraculous birth as a divine being with a serpent body is said to have occurred in the 29th Century BC.

One day, as Fu Hsi was sitting on the bank of the Yellow River, a mythical divine animal called Chi Lin rose out of the waters and approached him. On its back it carried certain markings that represented the secrets of life. The markings are organized in a pattern called He Tu, as shown below:


In this pattern, there are two kinds of dots, black dots, and white dots. The black one represents Yin, and the white one represents Yang. On each side, there are both White dots and black dots, which means Yin and Yang are always together.

This is the source of Yin/Yang theory that everything possesses a positive bright side (Yang) but at the same time has a negative dark side (Yin), that is often represented in the popular tai chi symbol. Yin and Yang are complementary and integrate with each other, and it is believed that harmony can only be achieved with a balance between the two. In this sense, the terms positive and negative are not meant to suggest good or bad, but rather the qualitative aspects of the two poles of energy within every living thing.

In this pattern, you can see that the dots are arranged in five distinct groups, each of which represents one of the five elements: water, fire, earth, wood, and metal and five directions. These five elements represent the material aspects of the universe. That is, every tangible thing in the universe is composed of one or more of these elements. More importantly, living things, such as human beings, are composed of all of the five elements. This is the source of five elements theory.


The clockwise direction of the overall pattern: starting from the center (Earth) to the West (Metal), then to the North (Water), then to the East (Wood), then to the South (Fire), then back to the Center (Earth), represents the cycle of birth.


In other words: Earth [5,10] produces Metal [4,9], Metal produces Water [1,6], Water nourishes Wood [3,8], Wood nourishes Fire [2,7], Fire produces Earth and so on).

Cycle of Birth

This cycle of birth (shen) has guided Chinese medicine to rebalance the human body system and its functions. It especially provides a foundation for understanding elemental states of deficiency and excess.

There is another important cycle in TCM called the Cycle of Death (ko). This cycle was discovered separately and provides another level of understanding of the balance of states of deficiency and excess. Like the shen cycle, the discovery of the ko cycle has a mythological story.

Story of Luo Shu

Hsia Yu

The schematic symbol of the death or ko cycle is Luo Shu, which translates as the book of the Luo River. However, it is not actually a book but, like He tu, it is a schematic of aspects of the five-element system. The Luo Shu was said to be discovered by a prehistoric personality, Hsia Yu, whose claim to fame was taming the Yellow River of floods.

One day Hsia Yu saw some very interesting markings on the shell of a giant tortoise that emerged from the River Lo in Central China. The pattern of the markings has become known as Lo Shu.

A reproduction of the original Lo Shu is like this:

Again, you see both white dots and black dots representing Yin and Yang.

If you put it into numbers of the dots, you will get form of a 9-square chart with each square representing a direction in the compass (see diagram below) namely North, South, East, West, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest and the center (total 9 locations.)


In this chart, you can see five groups of numbers, and they are exactly the same as the He Tu.

If you examine the chart counter-clockwise, you will get this:

This forms the cycle of death: Earth [5] destroys Water [1 & 6], Water destroys Fire [2 & 7], Fire destroys Metal [4 & 9], Metal destroys Wood [3 & 8], and Wood destroys Earth.
Again, this cycle of death guides treatment strategy in classic Chinese medicine.

Thus, the five elements have a systematic relationship. They describe the qualities of a living being and encompass all aspects of a living being, from emotions to energy channels.

One example of how an illness would be thought about in this system is arthritis. Arthritis in Chinese medicine involves at least three elements: water, wood and earth, that corresponds with the kidney, liver and spleen respectively. You have to address all these elements in treatment.

In chronic arthritis, deficiency and blockage in the above three elements are responsible for causing the pain, therefore, selecting acupuncture points and Chinese herbal formula that strengthen these elements are the key to reduce the pain. Using cycles of birth and death theories, you can further strengthen the water by enhance the metal as metal gives birth to water, also you reduce fire (manifested as inflammations at times) by enhance the water which controls fire.

Moreover, emotion of fear, anger and worry affects the three elements respectively; therefore, taking care of emotional balance is also important aspects of treatment.

In this example, everything in the person’s entire mind-body-energy system is considered, and the particular joint causing pain is only one of many considerations in the overall approach. That is the essence of TCM in its purest form; harmonious balance on all levels is the goal.

This approach requires a broader perspective of human life, and ideally both the health practitioner and patient would share in this perspective. It has been our experience that when that happens, the journey forward has many rewards and possibilities.

The interesting thing is that even though this may seem for some to be a new way of looking at health and illness, it is actually goes so far back that we are unable to put an originating date on it. This pre-historic wisdom has not only survived the ages, but is now re-emerging as a valid approach to health and illness, which is interesting to consider given that often times people assume that prehistoric cultures were primitive.

We have only scratched the surface in this brief program of the intricacy and mathematical elegance that is integral to the foundation of this ancient science.


(link to origional article http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/5-3-8/26842.html)


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Massage: More than Just a Rub Down

James D. Smith
The Epoch Times

Apr 11, 2005

 

From ancient Egypt to modern Manhattan, massage is one of the oldest forms of therapy known to man.

However, massage is more than just a rub down. When used medicinally, massage is helpful in addressing many ailments, both as prevention and rehabilitation. Because therapeutic massage hastens detoxification and keeps soft tissue pliable, massage is beneficial for both athletes and the desk-locked pencil pushers.

By releasing excessive tension of muscles, massage can enable to body to realign its structural system, and allow increased blood flow to/through the muscles. The improved circulation of blood also improves the flow of the lymphatic system.

Massage is not only good for you, but it can send you into pure bliss. Never mind all the health benefits, when else can you just drift away while all the concerns and tensions melt away into a cloud of comfort.

You don’t have to feel guilty the next time you’re “indulging” in the ancient medicinal art form of massage. According to the chief therapist of a Long Island massage clinic, recent clinical findings have demonstrated that stress is definitely an aggravating factor that will worsen almost any medical condition. “Our consistent patients/clients have reported to us that they have less recurrences of the symptoms related to various medical problems such as cervical muscle spasms, Tourette’s syndrome, Crohn’s disease, insomnia, and the list goes on. We in the massage community have not been able to provide a clear and definitive answer as to why it is that massage can help such a wide range of conditions, but it seems to us that massage simply allows people to untangle their complicated thoughts, free themselves, and get out of their own way, this way people begin to heal themselves.”

Note: Not all LMT’s (Licensed Massage Therapists) are trained to deal with the above-listed medical conditions. If you are considering using massage as an adjunctive treatment, please find a qualified LMT that is experienced with your specific condition.

Link to article: http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/5-3-22/27234.html

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Massage Today
March, 2006, Volume 06, Issue 03

Massage Effective in Treating Common Ailments

An increasing amount of research suggests that massage helps to ease or prevent common ailments that are most often treated with prescription drugs and/or extended hospitalization. Some of the most surprising research supports the effectiveness of massage therapy in reinforcing psychological stability and its positive effects on preterm infants.

Studies show that massage therapy can reduce anxiety and depression associated with anorexia and bulimia, post traumatic stress disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Patients suffering from eating disorders who received massage therapy two times a week for a little over a month experienced a decrease in anxiety, depression, and body dissatisfaction, while their dopamine levels increased.1,2 Survivors of the 1996 Hurricane Andrew underwent massage therapy to treat symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder. They also experienced decreased anxiety and depression, and an decrease in cortisol (stress hormone levels).3 And following 10 days of massage therapy, chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers experienced fewer somatic symptoms, and less difficulty sleeping as cortisol levels decreased and dopamine levels increased.4

Massage also has affected the weight gain, sleep quality, and overall development of preterm infants. Infants who were massaged before sleeping, had a tendency to fall asleep more quickly and exhibited more consistent sleeping patterns than infants who were not massaged.6 After eight months, the same infants who received massage therapy as newborns displayed optimal cognitive and motor control development.7

References

  1. Hart, S, et al. Anorexia symptoms are reduced by massage therapy. Eating Disorders. 9; 2001; 289-299.

  2. Field, T, et al. Bulimic adolescents benefit from massage therapy. Adolescence. 33; 1998; 555-563.

  3. Field, T., et al. Alleviating posttraumatic stress in children following Hurricane Andrew. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology. 17; 1996; 37-50.

  4. Field, T., et al. Chronic fatigue syndrome: Massage therapy effects on depression and somatic symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. 3;1999;108-112.

  5. Scafidi, F, et al. Effects of tactile/kinesthetic stimulation on the clinical course and sleep/wake behavior of preterm neonates. Infant Behavior and Development. 9; 1986; 91-105.

  6. Scafidi, F, et al. Massage of preterm newborns to improve growth and development. Pediatric Nursing. 13; 1987; 285-387.

Written by Julie Engebretson

 



 Home
Locations & Directions  Services