Ubud Suchi

Hilot

2009-08-13T02:26:00.000-07:00

Whether they are Filipinos, who are returning home from work overseas or are migrants coming home for much-awaited family reunions and tropical vacations, they continue to look for the healing touch of the Hilot.

And while it is common among many Filipinos to seek the Western mode of medical treatment for ailments, the Hilot, as a remedy, still retains its esteemed and recognized place in the hierarchy of non-invasive, traditional healing methods.

Hilot is a word from the Tagalog dialect meaning massage-rubbing or touch with soothing strokes. Touch is the modality of Hilot. Initially, one might think it is simply a massage, but Hilot is more. It is energy manipulation.

While many popular massages had predetermined sequences of strokes, Hilot manipulates the electrical charges of the body that creates a biochemical reaction where it is needed. It harnesses bio-energies for balance, harmony, health and wellness. When this is done properly, the biochemical reaction brings balance once again to the body.

What is Hilot?
Hilot is the age-old indigenous Filipino healing practice associated with elderly healers. It is relatively complex way of healing methodology complete with philosophy, health concept, healing concept and healing methodologies. The Hilot Master or Manghihilot could identify body illnesses or areas of energy imbalance in the body through many unconventional methods like pulse reading, hot and cold analysis, phrenology, stool/urine/perspiration analysis. It is the oldest and the most secret arts in the Philippines. Due to the secrecy of the art, very rarely do Manghihilot teach this art to the general public. Most Hilot in the Philippines are either learned from relatives, through hands on practice, or inherited from their forefathers, passing the art from one generation to the next.

Backgroud of Hilot
The practice of Hilot is a part of the Filipino way of life. Traditionally, prior to the popularity of modern medical doctors, the Manghihilot was the health care giver of the community. Like all traditions, it has seen its share of being pushed to the background at the arrival of new methods, new medicines and new technology.

Lately, in the worldwide resurgence of alternative forms of medicine and the research and study of the old ways of healing, Hilot is re-established as the Filipino Healing Art based on scientific- universal and natural laws.

Concept of Hilot
Man is considered healthy or “at-ease” if his faculties (mind, emotion and body) are in harmony with the Universal Law. This harmony sets the phase for the balance and precise combination of the Elements of the body (earth, water, fire and air). The unique combination of the four Elements varies according to man's existing patterns and programs that are called genes. Furthermore, the unique combinations are also dependent on man's lifestyle, culture and environment. This combination has its own individual limitations, and once limitations are violated, imbalances happen. The imbalance is called “dis-ease.”

Imbalances of elements of the body could be corrected by the introduction of changes through; biochemical, neuro-electrical, electro-magnetic and bio mechanical means.

Making of a Hilot
The training of Hilot Practitioners or the Manghihilot involves learning the concepts and philosophy of traditional healing, instilling an individual valuing process and its relevance to Hilot Healing and understanding the body functions. The education of the Manghihilot is holistic, - holistic involving the biological, social, behavioural and psychological aspects of life and living.

A good hilot practitioner would know the type of ailment his client is suffering from just by looking at him and sensing his energy. A good healer can tell if the elements in one’s body—fire, water, earth and air—are in harmony. Fire refers to the body’s electric impulses; water, the blood; the earth, bone and flesh; while air corresponds to the air that one breathes.

To correct the imbalance in the patient’s energy that leads to a distorted metabolism, a healer would have to give the patient a massage to create the desired biochemical reactions that helps the body heal itself.

Spotting a fake Hilot should be easy. Anything that did not conform to the natural law would cause pain, so if one felt sore after a Hilot massage then something was not right.

Tuina & Cupping Therapy for Shoulder

2009-07-10T02:32:00.000-07:00

Swedish Massage Redefined

2009-07-02T01:10:00.000-07:00

Swedish massage did not originate in Sweden, nor was it created by a Swede. Also, in Sweden there is no "Swedish massage"; instead, massage is referred to almost universally as "classic massage." And in most of Europe the term classic massage is much more prevalent than Swedish massage. But in America, the term classic massage is used very little, while Swedish massage is considered the classic and most basic of all massage methods.

And so the term "Swedish massage" is a misnomer in a number of ways. I don’t know of a massage textbook written during the last 100 years that does not attribute Swedish massage to Peter Henry Ling (1776-1837), a Swede. Setting aside the argument that Swedish massage is a misnomer and would be more historically correct if it were called classic massage, Peter Ling was not the creator of Swedish massage. This may come as a shock to many readers, but it is absolutely true. Peter Ling is not the "father of Swedish massage," because Swedish massage was not a part of Ling’s Swedish Gymnastic Movements nor the curriculum of the Royal Central Gymnastic Institute founded by Ling in 1813.

Swedish massage is defined in large part by the original strokes that compose its method: effleurage (stroking), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (striking), and frictions (rubbing), with vibration added later. The French terms - effleurage, petrissage, frictions (massage a’ frictions) and tapotement - were never used by Peter Ling, by any of his successors nor by the Central Gymnastic Institute. So where did these terms come from?

Dutch practitioner Johan Georg Mezger (1838-1909) is generally credited (by physicians such as Emil Kleen and Richard Hael, who researched the origins of massage and gymnastics) as the man who adopted the French names to denote the basic strokes under which he systemized massage as we know it today, as Swedish or classic massage. Somehow, the term Swedish Movement System was transposed to Swedish Massage System sometime during the second half of the 19th century. Ling’s system was the Swedish Movement System or Swedish Gymnastic Movement System. This may be how he has become incorrectly associated for so long with Swedish massage. When the first books were written about Ling's Swedish Gymnastic System, the writers used the French terms so prevalent since Mezger's use of them. Later writers evidently attributed the French terms to Ling because of this.1

George Taylor, M.D., writing in 1885, uses the terms "clappings, knockings, stroking, kneading, pullings, shakings and vibratings" as the passive movements used by Ling in his Swedish gymnastic system. However, he gives very little attention to describing those movements. This may be explained first because Ling provided no explanations and second by the following passage from Taylor: "But the employment of duplicated [passive] movements, it must be confessed, is attended with difficulties that will prevent their general use as a medical resource. An ordinary course of medical instruction does not confer the necessary qualifications for their successful application; the tact necessary to prescribe and apply them properly is only acquired by long and patient practice, and the labor is excessively severe."

Even so, by 1890 a number of physicians and non-physicians had published books describing in detail with text and illustrations the massage movements we now refer to as Swedish Massage. And Swedish, or classic, massage was used extensively in a number of sanitariums, including the great one run by John Harvey Kellogg, M.D., and other establishments in Europe and North America.

These writings and use of massage movements successfully ended the commingling of massage with any of the gymnastic or movement systems found so prevalent earlier in the century and brought about the advent of massage as a stand-alone therapeutic tool for the first time in its long history. And the first to stand alone were the massage methods systemized by Mezger and expanded upon ever since.

Rawatan Selepas Bersalin

2009-06-24T02:24:00.000-07:00

Mengurut, bertungku, ganggang dan bengkung adalah antara ciri-ciri yang menjadi kemestian bagi masyarakat Melayu dalam menjalankan rawatan selepas bersalin. Ini diikuti dengan rawatan dalaman, iaitu dengan menggunakan jamu. Rawatan ini telah lama diamalkan oleh nenek moyang kita di zaman dahulu.

Tempoh rawatan merangkumi 44 hari salepas bersalin. Ia bertujuan memulihkan kembali organ-organ peranakan dan membentuk kembali posisi badan. Terdapat beberapa jenama produk jamu lengkap selepas bersalin termasuk Mustika Ratu, Nyonya Meneer, Nyonya Rogay, Air Mancur dan lain-lain lagi.

Langkah pertama bagi ibu selepas bersalin adalah untuk diurut sebanyak tiga, lima atau tujuh hari selepas lima hari melahirkan cahaya mata, sebaik-baiknya selepas mandi pagi. Ia bertujuan mengembalikan kesegaran badan dan melancarkan peredaran darah. Urutan ini dituruti dengan bertungku atau ganggang selama 40 hari kerana ia membantu mengeluarkan darah kotor, juga mengelakkan kembung perut.

Kedua ialah dengan satu set jamu selapan (lengkap) sama ada serbuk atau pun berbentuk kapsul atau pil. Selepas bertungku atau ganggang, sedikit tapel atau minyak tapil disapukan pada bahagian perut untuk mendapatkan kesan yang positif. Kemudian, perut dilapikkan dengan secebis kain atau tuala dan kemudian diikat dengan bengkung. Amalkan setiap hari selama 40 hari.

Untuk mendapatkan mata yang kelihatan bersinar, jernih dan bercahaya, pilis disapukan di bahagian dahi sehingga kering. Param gaya baru pula dilumatkan dengan air hangat secukupnya dapat menghilangkan rasa lesu, letih dan sengal-sengal dan melancarkan peredaran darah sehingga mencegah pembengkakan yang menonjolnya pembuluh darah di kaki ibu selepas bersalin. Hendaklah dilumurkan pada bahagian tubuh yang memerlukan.

Param beras kencur pula dilumatkan dengan air dingin secukupnya dan dilumurkan pada sekujur tubuh. Ia dapat mengurangkan rasa letih, lesu dan memberi rasa sejuk pada badan ibu selepas bersalin.

Jamu dan ubat periuk pula dimakan untuk membersihkan sisa-sisa darah kotor di dalam perut, memulihkan kembali tenaga supaya kelihatan berseri dan lebih bermaya dan melancarkan air susu untuk bayi. Minyak telon pula disapu di perut ibu dan bayi selepas mandi, ia bertujuan untuk mengelakkan angin dan kembung perut.

Dari segi pemakanan, ibu dinasihatkan supaya mengelakkan makanan yang sejuk, berminyak dan berempah, dan lebihkan memakan ulam-ulaman yang terbukti berkhasiat. Meminum air kunyit untuk penyembuhan luka boleh diamalakan selama beberapa hari sehingga luka mengering dan sembuh. Selepas dalam hari, ibu digalakkan memakan kapsul, jamu atau ubat periuk yang berkhasiat.

Shirodhara

2009-06-18T01:35:00.000-07:00

Modern lifestyles lead to poor health in many ways. However, the use of simple and natural methods can significantly improve health and vitality. Purification therapy is a unique feature of Ayurveda involving the complete cleansing of body and thereby eliminating vitiated doshas. The technique effectively treats doshic balances in their advanced stages. Vitiated doshas causing blocked channels in a system, which needs purification, approach. Shirodhara is one of the great purification and rejuvenating therapy.

Shirodhara is an ancient Ayurvedic healing practice performed in India for over 5,000 years. The word shirodhara breaks down into two ideas: “shiro,” meaning head, and “dhara,” which means flow. Together they form a concept that aims to bring physical and emotional balance by rejuvenating the spirit and preserving health. This is achieved through a relaxing technique in which warmed oil is poured over a client’s forehead for an extended period of time.

There are specialised forms of shirodhara called tailadhara, ksheeradhara, takradhara and jaladhara.

Shirodhara works primarily on the mental sheath or "manomaya kosha" as it is referred to in Ayurveda. Shirodhara is traditionally used to calm the nerves, harmonize vata constitutions, restore the nerves, release stored emotions, and purify the mind. In Ayurvedic Medicine, it is considered an important tool in the pursuit of higher states of consciousness. Shirodhara has been traditionally shown to help with fatigue, mental exhaustion, anxiety, insomnia, some mental disorders, headache, excessive thinking, nervousness, and many other conditions commonly affecting persons in today’s active lifestyle.

Benifits of Shirodhara:
Regular shirodhara enhances blood circulation to the brain, improves memory, nourishes hair and scalp, assists in providing sound sleep and calms the body and mind. Shirodhara is one of the most effective treatments for reducing stress and nervous tension.

Ultimate mental and emotional relaxation therapy
Beneficial for many diseases connected with the head, neck, eyes, ears, nose and throat
Beneficial for many diseases of the nervous system like nerve disorders, facial palsy, paralysis and ptosis (drooping) of the eyelids
Beneficial for curing long standing insomnia and schizophrenia
Beneficial for fits in epilepsy when used in conjunction with other medicines
Prevents hair lose, premature graying and cracking of hair
Relieves headache and burning sensation of the head
Nourishes and rejuvenates the body
Stimulates the nervous system giving sturdiness to the body
Improves digestion
Sharpens the sense organs
Improves the quality of voice
Gives strength to the neck and head
Improves the health of the skin
Cools the body and relieves pain
Invigorates the body and mind and stimulate cognitive memories
Helps relieve fatigue, tension, anxiety, anger, chronic headaches, rheumatism, hypertension, asthma, hair problems and stress
Disperses negative electrical impulses that accumulate at the skull and hairline from stress
Renews the sweetness of life
Rejuvenates the entire face and softens worry lines
Opens the third eye of lord Shiva by this therapeutic Marma based head massage
Activates the pituitary gland
Increases spiritual awareness
Regulates mood and depression disorders
Activates the memory & stimulates the 6 & 7th charka which regulates our breathing patterns
Increases intuition
It improves concentration, intelligence, confidence and self-esteem

Du'a mohon kemurahan rezqi dan ilmu manfaat

2009-05-31T01:02:00.000-07:00

Para ibu bapa yang mempunyai anak-anak yang masih belajar digalakkan supaya membaca du'a-du'a ini sebelum belajar; sekurang-kurangnya sekali atau 3 kali. Dan untuk sesiapa yang kesempitan, sama dalam perniagaan atau pekerjaan, bacalah du'a-du'a ini sebanyak yang termampu. Terutma ketika duduk di dalam kedai atau pejabat. Du'a ini juga berupaya untuk menyembuhkan penyakit dengan izin Allah, insyaAllah. Semoga usaha anda berjaya, Amin.

بِِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

اَللَّهُمَّ اِنَّانَسْئَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا وَقَلْبًا خَاشِعًا وَيَقِيْنَا صَادِقًا وَدِيْنًا قَيِّمًا وَرِزْقًا وَسِعًا وَعَمَلاً صَالِحاً وَشِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ وَحَسْنُ الْخَاتِمَةِ

Dengan Nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Pengasih
Wahai Tuhan, aku mohon ilmu yang munafaat dan hati yang khusuk dan yakin yang benar dan agama (Islam) yang kuat dan rezqi yang luas dan amal yang soleh dan pemyembuh daripada setiap penyakit dan kematian iman.

بِِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

اَللَّهُمَّ رَبِّ زِدْنَا عِلْماً نَافِعًا . اَللَّهُمَّ زِدْنَا رِزْقًا حَلاَ لاً طَيْباً.

Dengan Nama Allah Yang Maha Pemurah Lagi Maha Pengasih.
Wahai tuhan tambahlah aku akan ilmu yang munafaat. Wahai tuhan tambahlah akan aku rezeki yang halal lagi baik.

Kiwi

2009-05-30T07:01:00.000-07:00

Kiwi fruits are rich in many Vitamins, flavonoids and minerals. In particular, they contain a high amount of Vitamin C (more than oranges), as much potassium as bananas and a good amount of beta-carotene.

Studies in Italy, though, performed on 6-7 year old children, have also demonstrated additional health benefits to the respiratory tract. In particular, children that were fed 5-7 portions a week of citrus and kiwifruits had 44% less probability wheezing compared to children eating less than once a week.

Shortness of breath was reduced by 32%,night time cough by 27%, severe wheeze by 41%, chronic cough by 25%, and runny nose by 28%. This results is not only traceable to the content in Vitamin C or Potassium, but in substances which are still largely unknown contained in kiwi fruit.

These substances are most likely flavonoids that help protect our cells from oxidative damage, and are therefore considered very helpful in protecting our DNA from mutations and damage.

Protection from Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD)
A series of studies published by the Archives of Ophthalmology have proven that consuming 3 or more servings of fruit per day (including kiwi fruits) can reduce by 36% the risk of developing an eye-related disease called ARMD (the primary cause of vision impairment in adults), if compared to people who only consume 1.5 servings of fruit per day.

The study was conducted on 110.000 women and men and lasted several decades. Surprisingly, the study found that while vegetables were not correlated with an improved resistance to the disease, fruits containing high amount of Vitamin C,A and E (the most common antioxidant vitamins) helped significantly in protecting against ARMD.

Anti Oxidant properties of Kiwi Fruit
It is important to note that kiwi fruits contain a remarkable amount of Vitamin C, E and A. Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that has been proven to protect our body from free radicals, dramatically improving the health of individuals who consumed it regularly against all kinds of disease, from cardiovascular problems to cancer and obesity.

Vitamin E has been proven to have similar effects, but is fat-soluble and thus is complimentary to Vitamin C in its functions. Kiwi fruits contain both these vitamins in high amount, which help protect our body against free radicals from all fronts.

Kiwi fruits have a high fiber content
The high content in dietary fiber helps improving diseases such as diabetes, by controlling sugar levels, and cancer color, since fiber binds to toxic compounds in the colon and helps us expel them.

Fiber has also been proven to reduce cholesterol levels, improving the conditions of patients with cardiovascular diseases and lowering the probability of heart attacks.

Summary of Kiwifruit Health Benefits
Eating kiwi fruit is clearly a healthy choice, and it is particularly useful in these cases:

Prevents Asthma
Prevents wheezing and coughing, especially in children
Protects our DNA from mutations
Provides a healthy amount of antioxidants and vitamins
Helps prevent colon cancer thanks to a high fiber content

A Baby is a Miracle

2009-05-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

This little tiny baby
Was sent from God above
To fill our hearts with happiness
And touch our lives with love
He must have known
We'd give our all
And always do our best
To give our precious baby love
And be grateful and so blessed

2009-05-07T19:28:00.001-07:00

Am I too Controlling?

Still Pond

Your personality isn’t dominated by an excessive need to be in control. You are likely to be comfortable with your feelings and tolerant of other people. You realize that you are imperfect, and therefore you understand the failings of others. It is easy for you to let events take their own course, and surprises don’t throw you off balance. You probably place a high value on spontaneity and the expression of emotions.

Fun quizzes, surveys & blog quizzes by

Cardamon

2009-03-28T00:54:00.000-07:00

Action: Antitussive, Carmative, Diaphoretic, Expectorant, Stimulant & Stomachic
Taste: Hot
Parts Used: Seed

Application: Cardamon is known for its stimulating qualities and soothing effects on the gastrointestinal system. The tea is taken all over the world for flatulence, bloated stomach, sluggish digestion, irritable bowel syndrome and gastritis. Cardamom is widely used as a cough supressant, as as well to treat colds, bronchitis, asthma and laryngitis.

Preparation: Pound dried cardamon seeds. Take 2 tbsp in warm water or in herbal tea after meals. For cough, drink tea or suck whole seeds.

Athlete's Foot

2009-03-26T07:23:00.000-07:00

Itching between the toe fingers is the most common symptom of athlete’s foot. After sometimes moist and white lesions develop between the toe fingers. There may be burning sensation, blisters and inflammation. There may be pungent smell from the toe. There may be redness and scales on the toe. Moist and damp conditions are suitable for the growth of the fungus causing athlete’s foot. They mostly occur on feet because shoes and commonly visited places like swimming pool, showers, bathrooms and so on provides the suitable environment for the fungus to grow. You can get infected by sharing socks or shoes with an infected person. Sometimes you may get infected through pets because they carry the fungus on their fur.

Prepare a solution of water and white vinegar – one part of white vinegar to four part of water; soak your feet for 20 to 30 minutes twice day. Sprinkle some baking soda between your toe fingers and rinse your feet after fifteen minutes. It is as effective as an expensive antifungal powder. Rub tea tree oil between your toe fingers, it has antifungal properties. For immediate relief from itching or burning, soak your feet in an antiseptic mouthwash like Listerine. Corn starch is effective in soaking moisture, so keep your toe fingers dry by sprinkling some corn starch on them

Avoid eating baked products and products that have high yeast content in them. Avoid alcohol, sugar, cola drinks and grains. Eat a healthy and a balanced diet, avoid processed foods. Your diet must include fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables. Avoid fried and greasy food. Garlic has a good antifungal property, eat raw garlic or include it in your diet.

Always keep your feet dry. Use hair dryer to dry your feet rather than towels. Use some antiperspirant to keep your toe fingers dry. Use antifungal powder rather than antifungal cream. Use cotton socks. Clean your shoes from inside using a paper or a cotton cloth. Use only natural fiber footwear. Use mild soaps and avoid deodorant soap.

Fatigue

2009-03-11T01:41:00.000-07:00

Rosemary 2 drops
Lavender 2 drops
Peppermint 2 drops

blend with 20 ml carrier oil for massage

Use in a massage or in a burner to relieve fatigue, after a hard day at work

Health; redefined

2009-03-05T00:39:00.000-08:00

Health is an ill-defined term. In the West, people tend to concepualise health as " black or white". You are healthy unless you have a disease. Many people even go to a doctor with some conditions that the doctor cannot succesfully diagnose as a disease, and the doctor will discharge them saying: “You are in the pink of health to me."

I feel it is more useful to look at health as a grayscale of say 1 to 100 - 1 being almost dead and 100 being incredibly healthy. In this way a person can always be motivated to get healthier. As a person progresses down the scale to ill health, that is when they start to have diseases that a doctor can identify such as heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis etc… Many of these conditions could have been prevented had the person looked at health in the way of getting healthier way before they get ill.

So that begs the question of what exactly is health?

According to Ayurveda, the oldest existing medical system in the world, health can be seen from several different layers. At the core of health is spiritual health. Spiritual health can be defined as living a life that is in harmony with your true purpose in life. It can also be defined as a life in service of someone or some cause greater than just yourself. Another aspect to spiritual health is to lead a life that does not cause harm to other living beings. This is why in Ayurveda a vegetarian diet is recommended for spiritual health even if in a few rare cases it may be better for a person’s physical health to eat meat. Spiritual health is more important than physical health, but it is also the basis of all the other forms of health such as emotional and mental health.

The next layer of health is your mental and emotional health. Dr Bach, from the UK, recognised the importance of this level of health when he introduced his 38 flower remedies to the world in the 1930’s. He believed that mental and emotional health imbalances usually lead to physical diseases and that Nature had given people remedies that could help their mental and emotional health. This is where the idea of the Bach flower remedies, such Rescue Remedy, came from.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda too, recognise the importance of this layer for optimum health. In TCM for instance someone who gets angry a lot can easily get liver problems. Too much sadness affects the heart. Herbs, acupuncture, exercises and lifestyle changes will bring a person back into balance.

The last layer of health is physical health. If a person is spiritually and emotionally healthy, then physical health is usually a lot easier to come by. This is the level where diet and exercise plays a part. There are many people who just emphasise this level of health. For example, sports enthusiasts and bodybuilders. Sometimes these people suddenly get cancer or drop from a heart attack and people wonder why. It is usually because they have been out of balance on the deeper layers of health.

So which activities can I engage in, in order to stay healthy?

On a spiritual level of health activities such as meditation and prayer help one to understand their true life purpose as well as generally get them more in touch with deeper aspects of themselves. Following practices of ahimsa, or non-violence, also enhances a person’s spiritual health. Taking a caring rather than judgmental attitude towards our fellow living entities will also enhance a person’s spiritual health.

Another aspect of spiritual health is service. It is the nature of the human being to serve someone other than themselves. Spiritual service of some sort will also be a major component in health.

On a mental and emotional level there are many practices than can be beneficial. Meditation and prayer again plays a role here, with calming the mind and getting rid of anxiety. Massage plays a big role in promoting a deep sense of relaxation and in getting rid of deep-seated stress and old emotions. Walking in a peaceful place such as a beach or in the forest allows the mind time to digest the many thoughts that overwhelm it during normal daily activities. Listening to peaceful music and having peaceful colours around will also help. As I mentioned earlier, the Bach Flower Remedies and other flower essences can play a big role in helping bring people back balance on an emotional and mental level. In Ayurveda, eating food more of a sattvic nature will help calm the mind. Sattvic foods are vegetarian and dairy foods that are fresh, preferably organically-grown, and avoid strongly stimulating herbs such as garlic , onions and chilies except in the case of a disease such as a cold or flu, where these herbs are very useful. Overuse however will cause too much rajas, or passion in the mind.

For mental and emotional health it is also important to know one's limits and not push our minds and bodies too hard for too long. Proper rest is important and not overworking or neglecting ones family relationships.

From a physical health point of view, exercise, stretching, nutrition and massage are the basis of good physical health. Obviously other activities such as not smoking, taking drugs and not having too toxic an environment are also very important.

Exercise in general stimulates blood and lymph flow that keeps the circulation going. A person should combine strength building exercises with flexibility-increasing exercises. One of the best and most ancient forms of exercise is yoga. Yoga involves stretching and opening up the body as well as stimulating blood and nerve supply throughout the body. Yoga benefits a person’s health on a physical, mental and emotional level and can be adapted to suit all ages and levels of fitness. Qi Gong is an ancient Chinese practice similar to yoga that is also very good for health.

Nutrition is one of the most important factors involved in overall health of the body. Nutrition is a vast subject and filled with many conflicting philosophies. However, in most ancient and current opinions the basis of a good diet is a balanced diet of whole foods that are organically-grown. In my view, specifics of what diet is best for you are best approached by learning your Ayurvedic prakruti (constitution), and then making your diet support and nourish your constitution. So what foods may be helpful for one person may actually aggravate another person, and that is why some people may diet for a long time but have no success.

Lastly, receiving a massage on a regular basis is one the other best things a person can do to stay healthy or to increase their level of health. Traditional Javanese massage, or other forms of deep tissue massage and or acupressure are some of the best forms of massage that get in and unblock the blockages in the flow of Qi in the body as well as get deep seated muscle tension out of the body. Many people who have held tension for years in their body can feel 20 years younger after receiving a good deep massage. Most people need quite a few massage treatments to get them to the stage where there is no tension in their body, and then will need a treatment between once a week and once a month to maintain a tension-free body. Some people in stressful jobs may benefit from more than one massage a week.

Colds & Flu

2009-03-01T18:05:00.000-08:00

People often get colds and flu during extreme cold and hot weathers. The symptoms include runny nose, cough, chesty congestion, headache, aching body and sometimes fever.

Colds are said to be "water-air" conditions, which builds up excess of cool moisture, resulting in congestion and runny nose, and at the same time it may suffer from excess "air", which reduces "gastric fire", leading to chills, loss of appetite, and/or poor digestion.

The best natural remedy for colds is ginger.

Combine the following:

Ginger 1 part
Cinnamon 1 part
Lemongrass 2 parts

Steep 1 teaspoon of this remedy for about 10 minutes in 1 cup of hot water, strain and add honey for sweetness if preferred. This simple herbal tea will help with cold, congestion and flu.

Reflexology

2009-02-25T23:56:00.000-08:00

Reflexology is an art and science that is based on the principle that there are minimaps of the entire body mirrored on the feet, hands and ears. Pressure applied to specific points on these minimaps helps to create balance within the body, soothing the nervous system, improving circulation and reducing stress.

It is a science as it requires careful study, practice, a sound knowledge of techniques, anatomy and physiology, pathology and skill, but is also an art as the reflexologist has to work with focused intention, dedication, patience and loving care.

Reflexologists use a holistic approach to healthcare. They do not diagnose or treat for a specific illness but regular sessions help to create optimum conditions to allow the body the best chance of healing itself naturally. Acute conditions may improve with one or two sessions but more chronic conditions will take your body longer to heal.

Benefits of reflexology:
Stress reduction
Deep relaxation
Increased energy
Pain reduction or elimination
Improved circulation
Healthy internal balance
Natural detoxification

Although there is no exact historical record, the earliest evidence of reflexology dates back to early Egypt in the form of a pictograph in the tomb of a medical doctor, second to the king, around 5,00o years ago. From here the knowledge of reflexology traveled to Greece, Arabia and Europe through the Roman Empire. In the east the history can be traced from India to China and then onto Japan.

In 1917 William H. Fitzgerald M.D. an ear, nose and throat specialist in the United States developed vertical zone theory of the human body and proved that applying pressure on a specific area on one part of the feet or hands had an anesthetic effect on another area in the body. In 1924 Joe Shelby Riley MD further developed this theory by dividing the vertical zones into horizontal zones, his work also included the ear.

Foot and Hand Reflexology was further developed by Eunice D. Ingham, a nurse and physiotherapist who worked with Joe Shelby Riley, in the 1930s and 1940s. Ingham claimed that the feet and hands were especially sensitive, and then mapped the entire body into "reflexes" on the feet. It was at this time that "zone therapy" was renamed reflexology.

Although some reflex points on the outer ear were known in Ancient China, Ancient Mediterranean countries as well as in the Dark and Middle Ages of Europe it was not until 1957 that a map representing the human body was discovered in the outer ear by another MD - Dr Paul Nogier in France. This map was generally verified in China in 1959 - discovering some differences but may similarities and has been used for Acupuncture and Acupressure since this time.

Chi Nei Tsang

2009-02-24T23:10:00.000-08:00

Chi Nei Tsang (Chinese "Chi" meaning energy, and "Nei Tsang" meaning internal organs) is a traditional Chinese system of healing massage that utilises the five elements of Traditional Chinese medicine and focuses on the navel centre of the body; conditioning the organs to work more efficiently.

It originated in Taoist monasteries to help monks detoxify, strengthen and refine their bodies in order to carry the high energy required to perform the highest levels of spiritual practices. Chi Nei Tsang is a unique internal organ therapy using applied Qigong to help create balance of body, mind and spirit.

It addresses all the vital systems of the body: digestive, respiratory, lymphatic, nervous, endocrine, urinary, reproductive, integumentary and muscular. A Chi Nei Tsang session includes coaching in breathing, nutrition, visualization, and self-manipulation promoting the ethic of self-responsibility and breaking the cycle of dependency in a practical manner.

Che Nei Tsang frees the blockages in the abdomen and guides the healing energy through the entire body. The benefits of Chi Nei Tsang include:
Get rid of abdominal pains
Digest and assimilate better
Eliminate regularly
Breathe more fully and effortlessly
Release physiological and emotional blockages
Detoxify and strengthen weak or damaged organs
Correct old chronic structural problems that resisted other treatments
Boosts immunity

2009-01-22T02:12:00.000-08:00

Live in rooms full of light
Avoid heavy food
Be moderate in the drinking of wine
Take massage, baths, exercise, and gymnastics
Fight insomnia with gentle rocking or the sound of running water
Change surroundings and take long journeys
Strictly avoid frightening ideas
Indulge in cheerful conversation and amusements
Listen to music

A Cornelius Celsus

Ginger

2009-01-19T05:27:00.000-08:00

Scientific name: Zingiber officinale
Action: Advujent, Analgesic, Antiemetic, Anti-inflammatory, Antirheumetic, Antiseptic, Antitussive, Aphrodisiac, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Expectorant, Stimulant, Tonic
Taste: Hot

Internal Application: Ginger is the quintessential panacea in many traditional medicine pharmacopoeia. As a hot herb, ginger is a powerful stimulant, especially for the digestive tract. It is the herb choice for stimulation of digestion, and is used to combat flatulence, indigestion, gastritis, peptic ulcer, diarrhea, sluggish digestion, nausea and vomitting. Ginger tea is also used in colds, congestion, sore throat, fevers, nausea, seasickness, mouth sores, hemorrhoids, and beri-beri (vitamin B1 deficiency), earning it the reputaion as a cure-all. Traditional healers give ginger tea to mothers immediately following birth to promote health and rapid recovery. Ginger also acts as galactogogue, encouraging production of breast milk. Ginger is used as an adjuvant in many herbal preparations in order to lessen side effects and increase potency of other herbs, and is the most frequently used herbs in this preparation.

Preparation: Decoction from one thumb-length (about 5g) fresh ginger, finely chopped, grated or mashed. Boil 10-15 minutes; drink after meals. For cough and cold, add lemon juice.

Topical application: Ginger has a powerful antiseptic action and may be used topically for bacterial and fungal skin infections, parasites and acne.

Preparation: Mash fresh ginger and make a paste. Apply topically to skin. For sores within the mouth, gargle with ginger tea and pinch of salt.

The Law of Pure Potentiality

2009-01-10T23:41:00.000-08:00

The source of all creation is pure consciousness. Pure potentiality seeking expression from the unmanifest to the manifest. And when we realize that our true Self is one of pure potentiality, we align with the power that manifests everything in nature.

I will put the Law of Pure Potentiality into effect by making a commitment to take the following steps:

1. I will get in touch with the field of pure potentiality by taking time each day to be silent, to just Be. I will also sit alone in silent meditation at least twice a day for approximately thirty minutes in the morning and thirty minutes in the evening.

2. I will take time each day to commune with nature and to silently witness the intelligence within every living thing. I will sit silently and watch a sunset, or listen to the sound of the ocean or a stream, or simply smell the scent of a flower. In the ecstasy of my own silence, and by communing with nature, I will enjoy the life throb of ages, the field of pure potentiality and unbounded creativity.

3. I will practice non-judgment. I will begin my day with the statement, "Today, I shall judge nothing that occurs", and throughout the day I will remind myself not to judge.

from chopra.com

The Warrior Within

2009-01-08T01:12:00.000-08:00

Awaken your inner wisdom, vision and spirit. These grounding blends will uplift and empower you as you grow in the process of awakening the warrior within. Known to nurture willpower and alleviate feelings of loss of self-esteem, they will bring you a positive and empowering energy, helping build the confidence to break out and embrace your own energy.

Warming
3 drops Clary Sage
3 drops Vetiver

Cooling
3 drops Pine
3 drops Cypress

by Judy Chapman

Ayurvedic Eye Exercises

2009-01-02T18:01:00.000-08:00

The following exercises will stregnthen your eyes:

First, blink the eyes rapidly several times. Then, with the eyes open, move your eyes in this pattern:
up and down
side to side
diagonally from top left to bottom right
diagonally from top right to bottom left
clockwise in a circle
counterclockwise in a circle

Hold your arm outstretched in front of you. Look at the tip of your index finger, and gradually bring the finger close to you, following it with your ryes, until it touches your "third eye", between the eyebrows.

Look at the tip of your nose, and then towards your "third eye".

Finally, close your eyes tightly, then release. These exercises are beneficial for improving the circulation of eccentric muscles of the eyeball.

After finishing the exercises, or anytime your eyes feel tired or strained, rub your palms vigorously together for a few seconds to generate some warmth, then place them lightly over your eyes. Feel how soothing the warmth is. Keep them there for a minute or two to strengthen and nourish your eyes.

by Vasant Lad, BAMS, MASc

Aromatic Mouth Washes

2008-12-24T22:42:00.000-08:00

To Sooth Toothache
Water 150 ml
Clove 1 drop

To Treat Mouth Ulcers
Water 150 ml
Tea Tree 2 drops

Stir the water as essential oils are non-soluble. Gargle the mixture in the mouth and do not swallow. Repeat twice daily after meals when the teeth have been cleaned.

Post-Event Sports Massage

2008-12-19T01:47:00.000-08:00

by Boris Prilutsky, MA

For some reason, massage therapists that specialize in treatments of sport related injuries are calling this method sport massage. In my opinion, if someone sprains/strains the lower back, upper back, shoulder, knee, etc., by playing sport or working at home, or at the workplace, the pathology that will be developed due to kind of injury disturbing orthopedic status. Utilization of massage in cases of back and limb disorders we call orthopedic massage. There is no doubt that there is huge room for orthopedic massage available in sport rehabilitative medicine. It is proven that orthopedic massage therapy is a very effective tool in treating sport-related, industrial injuries, as well as helping people experience less pain in cases of degenerative diseases of the support and movement systems such as osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease and other types of spondylosis. Really sport massage that is utilized only in industry of sport is a pre-event sport massage and post-event rehabilitative sport massage. These two types of massage therapy are very important efforts in order to improve the athletes performances, to prevent to a maximum extent, sport related injuries, as well as to eliminate side effects of exercise stress/overtraining. 20 years ago, training in sport massage was limited to massage therapists who worked with professional teams, Olympian teams, etc. Nowadays, sport massage has value not only for professional athletes, but also for the modern fitness enthusiast. If you will pay attention to the behavior of today's gym members, you will see people who are working out as if they are preparing themselves for competition. It is obvious that most of them are pushing themselves to the limit. In most cases, people don't or forget to ask themselves, ?Why am I in the gym? If you will ask them this question, no doubt their answer will be ?to keep (themselves) in shape and to contribute to (their) health. But the manner of working out like a professional athlete in the long run causes more harm than good. What a lot of people do not realize is that professional sport-like training is not contributing to health. Professional sports actually is a tough rough show business and nothing else. I personally don't believe that we are capable of changing the minds of gym enthusiasts that vigorous exercise (which most gym enthusiasts are engaging in) is not a good idea. But there is no doubt that post-event rehabilitative sport massage can be of tremendous help to the health of these gym enthusiasts. The post-event rehabilitative sport massage that I offering to you today was initially developed and proposed by professor Alexander Dembo, MD, PhD, former Leningrad, now Peterburg School of Medicine in 1964.

It is important for us to understand the side effects of vigorous intense exercise. They are:

1. Accumulation of higher resting tonus in the muscular structures all over the body leads to disturbances of microcirculation that causes soreness and/or pain in muscles, and disturbances of biomechanics. Biomechanical imbalances lead to compensatory movement which starts a chain reaction of negative factors, building like a snowball and leading to higher susceptibility to sport-related injury, development of myofascial pain syndromes, and more.

2. Vigorous exercise always causes microtrauma that naturally leads to small scar formations which means adhesions of the soft tissues, etc. If these mini-scars will not be managed right, soft tissue loses elasticity accumulating deposits of calcium, functionally shortness of muscles happen, etc. As you can imagine, any attempt at fast movement in the presence of the above mentioned condition can cause significant tears in muscles, tendons, ligaments, herniation of discs, subluxations of the facet joints, etc.

3. At nighttime, over-tensed muscles, especially those of the lower and upper extremities cause a significant increase of peripheral vascular resistance. Peripheral vascular resistance is the main opposition to left atria cardiac work. The harder the cardiac work will be the more stress hormone production will be stimulated. Studies show (A. Dembo, 1962) that increase of peripheral vascular resistance occurs mostly between the hours of 1am-3am. As you understand, if this phenomenon will not be eliminated, it is hard to believe that people will rest at night as they are supposed to. Insufficient quality of rest causes development of chronic fatigue syndrome and can even initiate depression. Constant higher resting tonus of the muscular structures responsible for joint & spine stabilization and movement causes exhaustion of the joint cartilage, (fissuring of the cartilage, erosion), and can lead to significant arthritis development at an uncharacteristically young age of athlete. With time, an overworked heart can even exhaust the muscles and connective tissues of the cardiac structure.

The evidence of overtraining is that in the morning when the gym enthusiast is waking up he/she feels a kind of tension and aches all over the body and feels tired. It takes a while for this person to walk themselves out of this kind of condition, and they often need a warm shower, coffee or other energy boost drinks, etc. The next session of vigorous exercise for them is like medicine. They begin to warm up, stimulating circulation, ?loosening up? their tight muscles, and they start to feel better as the exercise stimulates endorphins production. They become psychologically and physiologically dependent upon maintaining this hard regimen in order to feel good. It is very important to incorporate stretching techniques in full-body post-event sport rehabilitative massage. Full-body stretching techniques play a very important role in maintenance of the results that we achieve by providing massage therapy. The importance of the role of fascia in our function is hard to overestimate. Stretching significantly helps to maintain normal tension in fascia and muscles, ultimately translating to stabilized metabolism, which is condition for good health.

Goals
1. Reduce the tension in muscles and connective tissue.
2. Accelerate the drainage of venous blood as well as lymphatic fluid.
3. Reduce peripheral vascular resistance.
4. Balance the activities of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.

Beras Kencur (Javanese herbal decoction)

2008-12-11T01:50:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
Rice - 11/2 ounce
Kencur (galingale) - 11/2 ounce
Cardamoms - 6 pieces
Ginger - 1/2 ounce
Limes - 2 to 3
Tamarind - 1/2 ounce
Brown sugar - 1/2 kg
Salt to taste
Water - 4 litres
Directions:
Cook water along with brown sugar and tamarind. Cook until simmer while stirring well. Then add some salt and leave to cool and then filter.
Wash ginger and galingale, then peel and chop.
Wash the chopped ginger, galingale and cardamom with hot water, then blend with some fresh water. If they have been blended well, if not filter it and add directly into the tamarind-brown sugar mixture. Stir well.
You can serve it directly or you can store the mixture into a dry, clean bottle, then refrigerate.

Lemongrass

2008-12-02T22:56:00.000-08:00

Scientific Name: Cymbogon cutratus
Action: Antiemetic, anti-inflammatory, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, expectorant, stomachic and tonic
Taste: Hot and aromatic
Part used: Stem

Internal Application: The lower part of the lemongrass stalk (the rhizome) is white in colour and possesses the strongest flavour. This part is a common ingredient in many Asian soups and curries. Lemongrass tea is used as a therapy for colds, congestion, fever, cough, sore throat and laryngitis. As a hot herb, lemongrass is also used as a digestion stimulant in cases of flatulence, indigestion and constipation. Lemongrass is also used to counter stomach pains, nausea, vomitting, and back pain. It is also used by hill-tribes as a general tonic, for bone and joint pain, and typically for bruises and sore muscles.

Preparation: Finely chop or pound 3-4 fresh stalks; make tea. Take 3 times daily before meals.

Medical Massage & Control of Hypertension (A Pilot Study)

2008-11-30T16:10:00.000-08:00

by Boris Prilutsky, MA

The medical benefits of massage therapy in cases of musculoskeletal abnormalities are gaining acceptance from health practitioners. However, another advance in cases of various inner organ disorders, as of yet, is not recognized. In an attempt to bridge the gap between the two developments, I, with the cooperation of Victor Gura, M.D. (an associate clinical professor at the UCLA School of Medicine), have conducted a pilot study using six subjects with diagnosed arterial hypertension. Ross Turchaninov, M.D. (medical massage practitioner) advised on the project’s protocol.

Chain Reaction
Medical massage therapy is a soft tissue mobilization method. Several factors explain its physiological effects. Medical massage creates a mechanical acceleration of venous blood flow and lymphatic drainage, mechanical breakdown of pathological accumulation (e.g., soft tissue calcifications), and passive exercise on soft tissues. By mobilizing the skin, connective tissue, muscle tissue and the periosteum, receptors located in these areas are stimulated, generating afferent electrical impulses. These impulses reach the central nervous system, stimulating the body to react via beneficial reflex mechanisms. The end results are vasodilation (resulting in decreased blood pressure and heart rate), increased arterial blood supply to tissues, muscular tension release and other healthful reactions.

Explaining EH
The control of increased arterial blood pressure in those with hypertension is an important medical and social challenge. Hypertension is considered to be a major cause of heart attacks and strokes. An interesting fact, however, is that out of all hypertension cases, only 10 percent of patients have an established cause explaining their condition. For example, narrowing of the aorta, adrenal tumors or glomerulonephritis produces hypertension secondarily. In 90 percent of patients, the cause of hypertension is unknown. In such cases, the patient has “essential hypertension” or EH.

Modern conventional medicine recognizes an imbalance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system as the initial trigger of EH. An increase in sympathetic tone produces arteriolar vasoconstriction with a subsequent increase in the peripheral vascular resistance. At the onset, these changes exhibit a transient character and the body uses self-regulatory mechanisms to restore the proper relationship between sympathetic and parasympathetic tones. This is why in earlier stages there are episodes of increased arterial blood pressure, without symptoms of hypertension. With time and repeated episodes of hypertension attacks, the body resets special receptors, called baroreceptors, in the arterial circulation to the new level, and the elevation of arterial blood pressure becomes sustained. As we have found, a correctly formulated protocol of medical massage therapy may play a critical role in controlling arterial blood pressure in some patients with EH.

The Physiology
First, let’s quickly review how medical massage therapy affects the arterial blood pressure in patients with EH. There are three major mechanisms which massage practitioners should use to help patients with hypertension: Balance the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system, vasodilate the vertebral arteries and reduce peripheral vascular resistance. These three mechanisms are intimately correlated, hence the need to discuss them together as parts of the same process.

Vertebral arteries arise from the subclavian arteries. They ascend through the cervical vertebrae and enter the skull where they unite to form the basilar artery, supplying the posterior part of the brain. The vertebral arteries also give off two important arterial branches that supply the entire spinal cord: The anterior spinal artery and two posterior spinal arteries. The pathway of the vertebral arteries through the cervical vertebrae is quite complex. The transverse process of each cervical vertebra has a special opening called the transverse foramen through which the vertebral artery passes. Cervical vertebrae are positioned on top of one another such that these openings form a bony canal through which the vertebral arteries ascend.

The walls of vertebral arteries have their own sympathetic plexus innervation, regulating their constriction and dilation. It follows that any irritation to this plexus may result in their contraction. Even a minor facet joint subluxation, which may not even be visible by radiographic means, can produce an irritation slightly compressing the vertebral arteries. This constriction may lead to a reduced blood supply to the brain, which in turn will cause further vasoconstriction in an attempt to compensate for compromised circulation. The result is an inevitable increase in blood pressure or EH.

Other mechanisms that may cause a decrease in blood flow through the vertebral arteries are cervical spondylosis, emotional stress and physical overload of the neck and upper back muscles. As a result of these, a hypertonus develops in the cervical muscles. In order to maintain proper function, the brain’s daily perfusion has to be approximately 2,000 quarts of arterial blood. This rate is regulated by special vascular receptors in the arterial structures of the brain. Even a minor reduction in the amount of blood circulation triggers compensatory reactions such as an increased heart rate, increased cardiac output and, most importantly, an increased peripheral vascular resistance.

Peripheral vascular resistance is a major opposing force to the heart’s work. Every time the left ventricle ejects blood, the force of the cardiac contraction has to overcome the resistance of arterial vessels (especially on the level of middle-sized arteries in skeletal muscles). Thus, an increased sympathetic tone triggers arteriolar vasoconstriction, which increases peripheral vascular resistance, resulting in the heart having to work harder to pump blood.

The body has a protective mechanism designed to safeguard the blood supply to the brain. If circulation in the vertebral arteries decreases even slightly, peripheral vascular receptors report to the vasomotor center in the medulla oblongata and the heart rate increases. At the same time, motor (efferent) impulses are sent to the vascular structures in the skeletal muscles to constrict and decrease local arterial blood flow. This change allows for an extra amount of arterial blood to be available for the restoration of brain perfusion. The combination of an increased heart rate and an increased peripheral vascular resistance triggers hypertension. With a more persistent vasoconstriction of the vertebral arteries, the arterial hypertension becomes more enduring, resulting in higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure values.

Treatment Method and Approach
The main objective of this pilot study was to determine whether or not the elimination of somatic abnormalities in the reflex zones would bring about an elimination of pain symptoms (neck, upper back and headaches), increased range of motion and hypertension reduction. This hypothesis was first proposed in 1973 by Professor Alexander Dembo of Leningrad. Unfortunately, his work was never fully embraced in the United States, hence my decision to replicate the pilot study in this country.

Six participants were involved: Two Caucasian females ages 34 and 54; three Caucasian males ages 42, 60 and 65; and a 32-year-old African American male.

All the research subjects were diagnosed with hypertension, combined with somatic abnormalities: Headaches, dizziness, pain and tension in the cervical and upper thoracic areas, referral of pain to the upper extremities, and range of motion restrictions in the cervical spine and shoulder joints. Diagnostic evaluation of somatic components revealed abundant abnormalities in the skin, connective tissue zones, skeletal muscles and the periosteum in the neck, anterior, lateral and posterior surfaces of the thoracic cage, as well as in the upper extremities. Each subject received a treatment every other day for a total of 15 treatments, followed by a two-week interim, and then an additional course of 15 treatments. Hemodynamic examinations — cardio work, peripheral vascular resistance and blood pressure — were conducted prior to the start of treatments and upon their conclusion.

The protocol for each session included three stages Ñ introduction, body of the work and conclusion. During the introduction stage of the session, treatment began by releasing tension in the cervical and upper shoulder muscles using medical massage techniques in the inhibitory regimen, a process of minimizing disconnection.

For example, every receptor has its own level of adaptation, which means its capability to produce electrical activities (also known as impulse or action potential). To work in the inhibitory regime means to minimize disconnection and to keep a rhythm of 70Ð80 movements per minute while gradually increasing pressure. Receptors will eventually not produce any more action potential, but the flow of afferent neural impulses from the contact area of our hands will continue. The motor and vasomotor centers include pain-analyzing systems, responding in vasodilation and dispolarization of the neuron, causing a reduction of pain sensation and muscular relaxation. This approach aimed at reducing the sympathetic tone and restoring balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system. During the main stage of the treatment, work proceeded toward cardiac reflex zones in the skin, connective tissue, skeletal muscles and periosteum according to the zone maps of physicians O. Glezer and V.A. Dalicho (see illustration at left and “The Development of Modern Medical Massage” on page 68). Direct massage influence was generated on the areas of the vertebral arteries. This bodywork included gentle pressure and circular motions on the localization of the insertion of the vertebral artery to the brain’s circulatory system. Taking the distance from the mastoid process and C2 spinal process, the localization of this point will be one-third the distance from the mastoid process. By gently placing the finger there, the practitioner will be able to feel a pulse. Gentle, circular motion causes vasodilation of the vertebral artery, which originates from the sub-clavian artery. Now we have the capability to influence if we massage the area where the anterior scalene muscles insert into the first rib.

Peripheral vascular resistance (in the skeletal muscle groups of the upper and lower extremities) was reduced by using a combination of different kneading techniques especially designed for this purpose. In the final stage of the session, post-isometric muscular relaxation of the cervical musculature was applied. In cases of prolonged accumulation of pathological tonous in muscles, muscle fibers could be constricted creating an energetic imbalance inside the muscle. Any movement overloads the constricted part of the muscle, meaning that the more exercise is performed, the more pathology is accumulated. At the time of isometric tension (30 seconds), muscles will stretch instead of shorten, helping balance the tonous of muscles. After the 30 seconds, post-isometric stretching is performed, which additionally contributes to this balancing.

Results and Discussion
It’s important to remember that this pilot study was conducted to determine if more scientifically organized, double-blinded studies should be designed. Thus, results were not statistically examined due to the small group of subjects and are to be treated anecdotally. However, these results are important in that they open the door for discussion within the profession and give massage practitioners important information to discuss with other health practitioners.

At the end of the course of treatment, all subjects reported the disappearance of their somatic complaints. It was also evident, upon palpatory examination, that clinical symptoms were eliminated from reflex zones in the skin, fascia, skeletal muscles and periosteum. As originally expected, the elimination of somatic abnormalities was accompanied by normalization of blood pressure and restoration of proper hemodynamics in all participants.

Potential Impact
The results of this pilot study provide the opportunity for the design of a larger double-blinded study that will be conducted under the supervision and participation of Gura. At this point, volunteer subjects are being sought to participate in this new study. Volunteers must have at least a six-month history of EH. The study will include those who are and are not already taking medications. Age and gender do not matter. Those enrolled will receive a complete physical examination, blood tests, hemodynamic reports and treatments at no cost. Researchers will also conduct diagnostic evaluations of somatic abnormalities in the reflex zone areas of the participants.

The potential impact of further studies is evident. More than 50 million Americans are suffering from EH, according to the U.S. Academy of Cardiology. Medications to control it have an array of side effects, including impotence in males. Add the enormous costs endured by individuals and insurance companies to treat it, and it’s easy to see that massage, as performed in this pilot study, would be an inexpensive and welcome course of therapy. Since 1973, this massage method has been utilized in the former Soviet Union and proven to be very effective. If further studies in this country prove that massage therapy helps not only to reduce blood pressure but also to stabilize it, then the utilization of massage in treating people with high blood pressure will be recognized as a legitimate and effective alternative.

Boris Prilutsky is director and senior instructor of the Institute of Professional Practical Therapy, School of Massage, Physical Therapy Aides and Chiropractic Assistants in Los Angeles, Calif. He has more than 30 years of clinical experience and 26 years in the area of massage therapy education.

Hawaian Lomi Lomi

2008-11-02T06:35:00.000-08:00

Lomi Lomi is the Hawaiian word for Massage. Literally meaning to push, pull and knead. There are various forms of Lomi Lomi, each equal in power.

This is a healing system which brings balance, restoration and heart-opening peace to the body.

When we speak of the body we are also speaking of the energetic body surrounding the physical body. Energy blockages are released allowing spirit, circulation, oxygen and life flow through mind and body. On all levels there is unity.

Lomi Lomi is derived from ancient Polynesian methods of healing, where bodywork/massage was an important part of life, and a preventative of illness as well as dis-ease. It is believed that a treatment could last for hours, sometimes days.

The integrity and skill of the practitioner was of utmost importance, as it is only through pure intent that true healing can take place.

Now in modern times the basic Hawaiian philosophy (Huna) is preserved as well as the sacredness behind this beautiful ritual.

This flowing style of Hawaiian bodywork includes long fluid rhythmic strokes over the whole body with the hands - as a tool of the heart. This creates a dance like movement which with deep breathing leaves the practitioner in a clear meditative space and the client in a state of peace.

What are the benefits of Lomi Lomi?

Opens heart
Lymphatic Drainage
Improves circulation
Releases blocked energy and emotions
Healing for mind, body and spirit
Stimulates immune respiratory, and digestive systems
Relaxes the mind, recharges the body
Nurtures, calms and restores you to yourself

Calming Blend

2008-10-29T23:50:00.000-07:00

Blend 1
Lavender 3 drops
Geranium 1 drop
Bergamot 5 drops
Rosewood 3 drops
Blend with 40 ml carrier oil

A complex blend that calms the mind and lifts the spirit

Blend 2
Chamomile 3 drops
Ylang ylang 3 drops
Jasmine 1 drop
Rose 1 drop
Blend with 30 ml carrier oil

A premium blend that centres the heart and puts the mind at peace

Blend 3
Sandalwood 4 drops
Frankincense 2 drops
Myrrh 2 drops
blend with 30 ml carrier oil

A blend that is excellent for meditation that calms the mind and nurture the spirit.

Javanese Wedding Ritual for Wellness

2008-10-28T00:21:00.000-07:00

A Historical Perspective
Some of the most popular Indonesian beauty and wellness modalities can be traced back to the history of the Mataram Kingdom that ruled Central Java 1,300 years ago. These rituals have been passed down from one generation to another - Jamu, pijat, lulur, pilis, tapel, parem, bengkung, herbal steam, flower bath, meditation and fasting are some of the Javanese rituals to promote wellness.

There are murals carved on the walls of the ancient Keraton (palaces) found at various locations that reflect these practices. In the Mojokerto and Kendiri area, which was the site of the Singosari Kingdom, there is a large pool of bricks called the jalatunda, where King Erlengga spent his daily quiet time to meditate. At the famous Borodubur, the walls that depict Queen Maya being massaged by her household also remained. Near Mount Merapi, bas-reliefs show royalties and women engaged in health and beauty rituals such as having a massage, bathing, receiving scrubs and drinking herbal decoctions. There was a special class of people called Abdi Dalem, whose task was to serve the royal family and were experts at conducting special rituals for the various stages of life of a royalty.

Wellness from Within
In Indonesia, the birthplace of many natural health and beauty secrets, there is an ancient Javanese expression – rupasampat wahya bhiantara. Loosely translated, it means ‘the balance between inner and outer beauty, between that which is visible and that which lies within’, a life of balance. It is this notion and guide by which women in this part of the world live. According to Javanese tradition, a balance between inner and outer beauty could be attained through various paths. One central aspect of the Javanese philosophy of wellness is that of respecting nature. It is believed that maintaining one’s connection and union with nature is a way to achieve balance and harmony between the inner and outer being. This forms the holistic principle of many Javanese practices in preserving beauty and wellness.

Meditation, fasting, consuming jamu and acts of giving and charity address the inner needs. Rituals aimed at delivering outer beauty, health and wellness involve treatments using natural ingredients for skin, hair and body. They include nyuboming rogo (body steam), siraman (bathing), pijat (massage), lulur (scrubs), parem (masks) and bengkung (a kind of body wrap). Music therapy is also part of Javanese rituals to wellness, but a minor one. Gendhing gamelan, tembang and joget (traditional dance) form the core on which this therapy revolves.

The Javanese Wedding Ritual
In the Javanese philosophy, a human goes through eight life stages and each needs Divine blessings, as well as from family and the society. This has remained and is preserved in the younger generations. One prominent stage in every human’s life is the experience of love and marriage. When one enters this stage, it begins with a pingitan, a forty-day pre-marital treatment for the bride-to-be from tip-to-toe.

The treatment series begins with pijat, a traditional Javanese massage that aims to soothe the body and calm the nerves. Another form of massage known as urut, which works on nervous pathways and deeper muscle layers is also incorporated. This is followed by lulur, an ancient Javanese body scrub. Lulur is made from herbs such as ginger, turmeric, tamarind and cloves. These natural ingredients have antiseptic and cleansing properties that help to exfoliate dead cells and rejuvenate the skin. Other treatments using natural herbs, spices and aromatics are also administered for the hair, face, hands and feet. Jamu, a herbal decoction is given to the bride to prepare her for pregnancy and motherhood.

Another significant ritual is the mandian, a flower bathing ceremony for the couple-to-be to represent their union of love, with the hope that it will last for generations to come. In this ceremony, sweet-scented flowers known as kembang setaman are used, which are normally cempaka, red and white roses, jasmine, cananga, opandanus leaves and kanthil. In this bath, water symbolizes purity and the sweet fragrant flowers symbolise happiness. More importantly, the mandian is an act of physical purification to prepare the couple for their big day.

The akad nikah, or marriage solemnisation is held on the wedding day, where the groom formally asks the bride’s father for her daughter’s hand in marriage. Kacar kucur is also held on the wedding day where the groom gives mixtures of rice, beans and gold coins as symbols of fertility and wealth. The way in which the groom presents the bride the mixture is like a stream of waterfall, called kucuran.

The Javanese Tradition Relived
Presently, the Javanese wellness traditions are adopted and integrated in luxurious modern spas and wellness centres. Brides-to-be usually opt for a seven-day treatment, which usually includes massages, body scrubs, body wraps and floral baths. Although these practices are derived from the culture and tradition of the ancient Javanese, today these are regarded and appreciated as routines that promote personal hygiene and preserve beauty and wellness by many. In essence, the Javanese traditions share the common fundamental belief of achieving balance and total wellness as with Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda.

Cupping Therapy

2008-07-25T02:44:00.000-07:00

The earliest use of cupping that is recorded is from the famous Taoist alchemist and herbalist, Ge Hong (281–341 A.D.). The method was described in his book, A Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies, in which the cups were actually animal horns, used for draining pustules. As a result of using horns, cupping has been known as jiaofa, or the horn technique. In a Tang Dynasty book, Necessities of a Frontier Official, cupping was prescribed for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis (or a similar disorder). More recently, Zhao Xuemin, during the Qing Dynasty, wrote Supplement to Outline of Materia Medica, including an entire chapter on “fire jar qi” (huoquan qi). In it, he emphasized the value of this treatment, using cups made of bamboo or pottery, in alleviating headache of wind-cold type, bi syndrome of wind origin, dizziness, and abdominal pain. The cups could be placed over acupuncture needles for these treatments. One of the traditional indications for cupping is dispelling cold in the channels. This indication is partly the result of applying hot cups. For example, bamboo cups would be boiled in an herbal decoction just prior to applying to the skin (this is one type of shuiguanfa, or liquid cupping, so-called because a liquid is incorporated into the treatment). Both liquid cupping and cupping over an acupuncture needle are favored for treatment of arthralgia. Cupping also is thought to dispel cold by virtue of its ability to release external pathogenic factors, including invasion of wind, damp, and cold.

Cupping is done with a cup applied to the skin and the pressure in the cup is reduced (by using change in heat or by suctioning out air), so that the skin and superficial muscle layer is drawn into and held in the cup. In some cases, the cup may be moved while the suction of skin is active, causing a regional pulling of the skin and muscle (the technique is called gliding cupping).

This treatment has some relation to certain massage techniques, such as the rapid skin pinching along the back that is an important aspect of tuina. In that practice, the skin is pinched, sometimes at specific points (e.g., bladder meridian points), until a redness is generated. Cupping is applied by acupuncturists to certain acupuncture points, as well as to regions of the body that are affected by pain (where the pain is deeper than the tissues to be pulled). When the cups are moved along the surface of the skin, the treatment is somewhat like guasha (literally, sand scraping), a folk remedy of southeast Asia which is often carried out by scraping the skin with a coin or other object with the intention of breaking up stagnation. Movement of the cups is a gentler technique than guasha, as a lubricant allows the cup to slide without causing as much of the subcutaneous bruising that is an objective of guasha. Still, a certain amount of bruising is expected both from fixed position cupping (especially at the site of the cup rim) and with movement of the cups.

Traditional cupping, with use of heated cups, also has some similarity to moxibustion therapy. Heating of the cups was the method used to obtain suction: the hot air in the cups has a low density and, as the cups cool with the opening sealed by the skin, the pressure within the cups declines, sucking the skin into it. In this case, the cups are hot and have a stimulating effect something like that of burning moxa wool.

In some cases, a small amount of blood letting (luoci; vein pricking) is done first, using a pricking needle, and then the cup is applied over the site. The pricking is usually done with a three-edged needle, applied to a vein, and it typically draws 3–4 drops of blood (sometimes the skin on either side is squeezed to aid release of blood). A standard thick-gauge acupuncture needle or plum blossom needle may be used instead. This technique is said to promote blood circulation, remove stasis, and alleviate swelling and pain. It is employed especially when there is a toxic heat syndrome and for a variety of acute ailments.

Abhyanga Massage

2008-07-08T02:50:00.000-07:00

Abhyanga is the Sanskrit word for massage given to the entire body. It is an integral part of the daily routine (Dincharya) recommended by oldest healthcare system for maintaining good health. For thousands of years people have used Abhyanga to maintain health, benefit sleep patterns, and increase longevity. It has also been used as a medicine for certain disorders.

What Should Be Used For Massage?
Herbalized massage oils contain a blend of carefully chosen herbs known for their ability to strengthen the physiology and balance the mind. So the daily massage with a herbal massage oil has twice the beneficial power - the benefits from the performance of the actual massage and the added healing wisdom of the herbs.

Brahmi, Shatavari and Nirgundi are some Ayurvedic herbs you'll find in herbalized massage oils. Shatavari is renowned for its nourishing effect on the physiology. Narayani is the other name of Shatavari in Ayurveda and it means helpful in any way either you are taking it orally or topically or as nasya or may be as ear drops. It pacifies vata and pitta. It is very much useful as tonic (Balya) to general body weakness, hair, headache and all vata disorders.

Bliss Vata oil is an improved version of traditional Ayurvedic formula Mahanarayana oil. This oil is used throughout India to restore vitality to the skin, promote the gentle elimination of toxins, and improve the circulation and keep the joints fit.

Bliss Vata massage oil contains a blend of carefully chosen herbs known for their benefit for thousand of years. So the daily massage with Bliss Vata oil has double benefit first from the massage itself and secondly the power of herbs. Skin, “the largest organ which has got maximum power of absorption”, absorbs most of the applied oil and the herbs present in them and allow nutrients to go deeper.

How Abhyanga Is Performed?
This herbal oil massage should be performed in the morning, before your bath or shower however you can enjoy it any time according to your ease. A daily full-body Bliss vata oil massage acts as a powerful recharger and rejuvenator of mind and body. Try whole body Bliss vata oil massage on a daily basis preferably, otherwise on alternate day or twice a week according to your comfort. It is nourishing, pacifies Vata, pitta and Kapha, relieves physical and mental fatigue, provides stamina, pleasure and perfect sleep, enhances the complexion and the luster of the skin, promotes longevity and nourishes all parts of the body.

Abhyanga massage is a gentle but firm whole body massage from head to toe using warm medicated oils. Oils are chosen according to the Prakruti (psychosomatic constitution) and the illness.

The massage is done in a soft rhythmic way with one or two persons massaging at the same time for forty five to sixty minutes.

After the massage a steam bath or hot shower is highly recommended.

Abhyanga massage is a deeply relaxing, rejuvenating experience as well as a treatment in certain illness.

A regular Abhyanga protects from stress, anxiety, exhaustion and Vata disorder. It nourishes the body, extends the life span, provides good sleep, improves the skin texture, improves the vision and provides better physical stability.

Benefits Of Abhyanga:
Abhyanga treatment is the best way to control and balance Vata in the body. Vata is the predominant entity in the sense of touch and skin is the organ of touch.

The health benefits of the self-abhyanga, pleasant daily ritual can be yours for less than ten minutes each day.

Increases circulation, especially to nerve endings

Toning of the muscles and the whole physiology

Calming for the nerves

Lubrication of the joints

Increased mental alertness

Improved elimination of impurities from the body

Softer, smoother skin

Increased level of stamina through the day

Better, deeper sleep at night

Balance Vyanavata and Pranavata

Nourishes Shleshka kapha and Bhrajaka pitta

Relieves fatigue and mental exhaustion

Pumps up circulation upto deeper level (microcirculation), especially to nerve endings

ones up the muscles and the whole physiology

Calming and soothing for the nerves

Lubricates joints and surrounding structures

Helps Increase mental alertness

Drains out day to day to stress

Improved elimination of impurities (Ama) from the body

Helps increase the smoothness and softness of skin

Increases level of physical and mental stamina

Promotes better quality of sleep

A daily full-body oil massage therefore acts as a powerful recharger and rejuvenator of mind, body and soul.

The Role of Sports Massage

2008-07-06T18:45:00.000-07:00

After a hard training session or athletic event, taxed muscles become constricted and shortened. Micro tearing of the muscle fibers also results from extended strenuous activity leading to swelling and adhesions, not unlike strands of spaghetti stuck together. Without proper rest and stretching between exercise, muscles become increasingly fatigued and contracted. The constrictions or contractions prevent the free muscle movement we expect from fully healthy muscles. The tension in our muscles literally destroys motion. During a sports massage session, circulation is stimulated and muscle tissue is stretched helping muscle recover faster and more completely. Sports massage is geared for each athlete because it focuses on the muscle groups most used by the athlete and incorporates stretches to maintain muscle elasticity. Over time, sports massage helps athletes sustain higher levels of performance and remain free of injuries.

Rest Period
There should be a period of rest after hard training to allow muscle recovery to take place. Depending on the intensity of the physical activity, the rest period can be anywhere between a day to several weeks. By stimulating circulation and the lymphatic system, sports massage coupled with appropriate low-level activity can increase the quality and effectiveness of the rest period. Some refer to this combination as ‘turbo-charging.’

Warm up and Warm down
Neglecting to warm up can result in injury because cold muscles are less elastic and more vulnerable to damage. A proper warm down with ample stretches helps the muscle recovery process to begin since stretching helps re-align muscle fibers and prevents tightness.

Age Factor
As we get older, our muscles become more prone to damage due to wear and tear. Stretching and proper warm-up and warm-down become more important. Since it takes muscles longer to recover as we age, a longer rest period and more regular massage is beneficial.

Pre-Event Massage
Pre-event massage can take place from two days to two minutes before a race. Two days before, it can be thorough and deep to ensure you are in optimum condition and fully recovered from any previous exercise. Sports massage shortly before an event uses passive stretches and muscle warming techniques for maximum muscle elasticity. Some also choose to get massage the day of an athletic event with the goal of either relaxing their nerves or “firing-up” for the competition, depending on the athlete’s particular needs.

Post-Event Massage
If you are like many, you may be skipping the warm-down after an athletic event, whether due to exhaustion, elation or forgetfulness. Whatever the reason, massage can be a reasonable substitute for a warm-down since it stretches muscle fibers and helps completely remove metabolic waste through increased circulation. If there is an injury, cold therapy and cross-fiber massage techniques can be used to reduce swelling and remove muscle adhesions. The key role of sports massage in competition helps active individuals maintain flexibility, a good rest period, and healthy muscle tissue that leads to improved athletic performance. If you consistently suffer from stiffness or muscle fatigue after athletic activity, consider adding sports massage to your overall routine.

Herb of the Week

2008-06-25T02:40:00.000-07:00

Green Tea
Camellia sinesis

Action: Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Astringent, Bitter Tonic, Cardiac, Disgestive, Diuretic, Stomachic
Taste: Bitter
Parts used: Leaf
Application: Green tea is possibly the most popular beverage in Asia. Its beneficial properties are due to tannins, antibiotic alkanoids that occur naturally in the leaf. In modern times, green tea has shown to be rich in antioxidants, which seems to confirm its long-standing reputation as a general tonic. Taken regularly, green tea promotes a healthy immune system, protecting agianst infections and cancers of the respiratory and digestive systems. Green tea has a regulating and alkalising effect on the disgestive system and helps both constipation and diarrhoea. In general, it is used as a digetive, although different proccesing and roasting methods produce different results. Green tea is also beneficial for blood circulation, aids in disinfecting bacterial infections of the mouth, and protects against tooth and gum disease. Topically, green tea is an anti-inflammatory for burns and skin irritations.

Preparation: Soak leaves in hot water; apply lukewarm leaves to affected areas.

Active After-day Bath

2008-06-19T19:24:00.000-07:00

Give yourself an enliving pick-me-up with this blend that is excellent after a day of intense physical activity.

1 drop Sage
2 drops Arnica
1 drop Bergamot
1 tbsp peach kernel oil
Combine the oils and add to a full bath

Colds & Flu Blend

2008-06-17T01:07:00.000-07:00

3 drops Tea Tree
3 drops Eucalyptus
blend with 20 ml carrier oil for massage

A strong anti-bacterial blend, with Eucalyptus to sooth congestion

Chinese Tuina

2008-06-12T23:48:00.000-07:00

Tuina, or Chinese medical massage, literally means "pushing (and) grasping." However, this term did not occur in the Chinese literature until the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) where it first appeared in a book on pediatric tuina (a specialized branch of Chinese medical massage. Prior to this period, the most popular term for therapeutic massage was "anmo" which literally means "pressing (and) rubbing."

Anmo has played an important role in the practice of medicine in China since ancient times. Archeologists, studying the inscriptions found on bones and tortoise shells used in divination practice, have found references to massage treatment for illnesses written in jiaguwen, the earliest extant form of writing in China, dating back to as early as the Shang Dynasty (16th-11th centuries BC).

The earliest biography of an individual physician in the history of China is an account by Han Dynasty historian Si Maqian of the life of Bian Que, a doctor who probably lived around 500 BC. Bian Que was allegedly a master of all medical trades, skilled in the use of herbal formulas, acupuncture, anmo, therapeutic exercise and even surgery. In one passage of his biography it is written that he could cure an illness "without herbal decoctions or wines, only using stone needles (an early form of acupuncture), exercises, pressing, rocking and applying topical agents."

Several references can be found in the Chinese histories to a work entitled Huangdi Qipo Anmo, which was supposedly the earliest Chinese medical text devoted entirely to the practice of anmo. The original is unfortunately lost, but quotes from the text can be found in other books. These include a reference to "cai bei" or massage using the feet, stepping on the recipient's back. In combination with heated topical agents, this treatment was reportedly used to resuscitate unconscious patients.

The Huangdi Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic, c. 200 BC?) is the earliest surviving canonical text of traditional Chinese medicine. Anmo is referred to in 30 different chapters of the Nei Jing. In one chapter, anmo is said to have originated in the central area of China (Henan, Luoyang). Elsewhere, anmo is indicated for the treatment of various disorders, including joint pain, muscle weakness and atony, facial paralysis and stomach pain.

Historical records suggest that the Tang dynasty was a period in which great developments were made in both the techniques and range of application of anmo. One popular therapy at this time (which continues today in China) was the combination of anmo with herbal ointments, liniments and salves derived from the Chinese materia medica. A number of "anmo ointments" are described in Tang literature, such as Dr. Fei's Five Toxins Spirit Ointment, Hua Tuo Tiger Bone Ointment, Salvia Ointment and Aconite Ointment.

Tang textbooks prescribed anmo for a wider variety of disorders than ever before. Internal medicine indications for anmo included colds and flu's, hemiplegia, cardiac pain, abdominal pain, fever, convulsions, dementia, anuria, edema, headache and arthralgia. Dermatological indications included furuncles, urticaria, and lymphoid tuberculosis. Otorhinolaryngological indications included nasal congestion, deafness, and toothache. Pediatric indications included fever, abdominal distension, and "failure to speak." Gynecological indications including difficult delivery, infertility, and amenorrhea.

In Tang literature, there are many references to the manual compression of specific acupuncture points (that is, "acupressure"). The most famous example, perhaps, is Ge Hong's use of the thumbnail to compress Renzhong DU26 (in the groove above the upper lip) to treat loss of consciousness, a technique which first appeared in his book Zhou Hou Jiu Zu Fang. It was also at this time that Chinese anmo was first brought to Korea, Japan and other Asian countries where separate developments began (i.e. Japanese amma and shiatsu).

In the Song Dynasty (960-1279), there were several developments in the practice of anmo in China. The first was primarily theoretical. Song was a period of great philosophical speculation and scientific inquiry in China. A number of medical texts began to differentiate the effects and indications of different anmo techniques (i.e. compressing versus gliding). Attempts were also made to explain the physiological mechanisms behind anmo's therapeutic effectiveness. The principal effect of anmo was described as "warming, disinhibiting and releasing blockages and stagnation in the channels." Anmo "mobilizes and free up the joints and opens blockages so that circulation of the defense qi can be restored," which suggests that it helps strengthen the immune function through improving circulation. Certain forms of anmo were recognized as having a diaphoretic effect which "releases the exterior" (hence its use for colds and flu's, which TCM theory sees as evil qi "binding" in the exterior layers of the body ã skin, subcutaneous layers, muscles). In Ru Men Shi Qin, Zhang Congzheng described how percussing the point Fengfu DU16 (at the base of the occiput) until sweating is induced can "release the exterior" and thus treat colds and flu's.

During the Song dynasty, anmo was especially important in the treatment of bone fractures and dislocations. At this time, Chinese anatomical knowledge made great strides, to the benefit of anmo practice. Books such as Ou Xi Fan Wu Zang Tu and Cun Zhen Tu described the location of the all the internal organs, and gave fairly accurate descriptions of the spinal vertebrae and the joints of the limbs. During the Song period, Song Ci (1186-1249) wrote what is probably the earliest systematic treatise on forensic medicine in world medical literature, Xi Yuan Ji Lu ("Collected Records for Righting Injustice"). Anatomy figured prominently in this work. In Shi Yi De Xiao Fang, Song orthopedist Cui Yilin not only described the structure of the elbow and hip joints, but also went into great detail in recording the manipulations used for setting various types of fractures. These manipulations included the use of suspended traction in the treatment of vertebral fractures. Elsewhere, Song physician Pang An described the use of anmo techniques in turning breech babies and assisting in difficult deliveries.

In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), pediatric massage (which, for the first time, was referred to as "tuina") evolved into a highly systematic treatment modality which is still popular today. Some sources have suggested the term "tuina" (pushing and pulling) was originally a description of the movements required to pin down the squirming young recipient! In any case, pediatric tuina has a number of unique characteristics. Unlike traditional acupuncture treatment, which is primarily directed at individual points (connected together into "channels"), pediatric tuina recognizes three types of active zones for anmo application: points, lines and surfaces. The "points" include all the traditional acupuncture points. The "lines" include the "Three Gates" line and the "Six Viscera" line, among others. The Three Gates is a line along the anterolateral aspect of the forearm. The line is gently stroked 100-300 times, in the direction of the elbow, using the thumb. The effect is warming and tonifying. The Six Viscera line lies along the medial aspect of the forearm. Gently stroking in the direction of the wrist 100-300 times has a cooling effect and can treat various "heat" diseases (fever, agitation, thirst, mouth sores, mumps, constipation, and so on). "Surfaces" in pediatric tuina include the anterior aspects of the fingers, each of which is correlated with a different organ. Circular gliding of the thumb over the surface of a particular organ's finger is said to warm and tonify the qi of that organ in cases of deficiency. In cases of excess, unidirectional stroking toward the tip of the finger is said to cool and subdue hyperactivity of that organ.

The Qing dynasty (1644-1911) saw the publication of a number of books on tuina, and especially saw the development and refinement of the use of anmo in traumatology and orthopedics.

Anmo has always been (and continues to be) a thriving part of Chinese folk medicine (which, besides using acupuncture points and channels, often has no relationship with TCM theory). Many of these folk practitioners, like the traditional Japanese acupuncture practitioners, were blind. Even today, on street corners across the country, one can still see signs outside small Chinese massage clinics which read "Blind Person Anmo." During the Qing Dynasty, several prominent schools of folk anmo arose. One of the more well-known schools is the "nei gong" (internal art) massage associated with the martial arts masters of the Shao Lin Temple. Many martial artists in China are trained in anmo techniques, especially for treating trauma (including bone-setting).

Another Qing Dynasty school called the "Rolling Method School" derived their therapy from variations on a single technique, "yi zhi chan," a form of oscillating compression using mainly the thumb. Yi zhi chan (literally "one point Zen" or "one finger Zen") is a Buddhist term which means "all things are of one nature." There are no historical records of the Rolling Method School, so all we know of it comes from modern heirs to the tradition, especially the students of Dr. Ding Fengshan, many of whom still practice in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. Another school ("the Spine Pinching school") evolved around the technique of rolling the skin between the thumb and fingers over the vertebral column.

Like all areas of traditional Chinese culture, anmo suffered its share of setbacks during the tumultuous years of the twentieth century. Perhaps the greatest blow was dealt during the Nationalist period (1911-1949) when the government led a campaign against traditional Chinese medicine. In 1929, at the first meeting of the Central Health Committee, the policy of "throwing out the old medicine and sweeping away obstacles to medical activity" was instituted. In 1936, the government announced that "traditional medicine has no scientific foundation" and its practice was banned. During this time, very few physicians went into anmo practice. Nevertheless, anmo continued to be a popular form of healing amongst the common people, and its techniques were preserved outside the halls of officially-sanctioned medical practice.

After the Communist Revolution in 1949, the new government began a policy of promoting traditional medicine. The disparate and often contradictory theories, techniques and schools which made up traditional medicine in China were standardized and systematized into "zhong yi" ã literally "Chinese Medicine" or, as it is known in the West, "Traditional Chinese Medicine" (TCM). In recent years in the People's Republic of China, there has been a tendency to use the term "tuina" to distinguish massage therapy based on the theories of TCM from popular folk massage, which is now simply called "anmo." If you look up "massage" in an English-Chinese dictionary, you will likely find the word "anmo," whereas "tuina" has become a more specialized TCM term, indicating its foundation in TCM theories of yin/yang, jingluo, zangfu, and so on. In 1956, a government-sponsored tuina training program in was set up in Shanghai. In 1958, the government established both a tuina clinic and a tuina school in Shanghai. Although the practice of tuina/anmo suffered further setbacks during the Cultural Revolution in the 60's and 70's, it continued to develop throughout the rest of the 20th century.

In the modern era, the practice of anmo has evolved into a rich repertoire of techniques, many of which are also found in the classic Western massage developed by Ling, Mezger and others. These include effleurage (gliding), petrissage (kneading), vibration, shaking, rocking, tapotement (percussion), friction and foulage. They also include a number of unique techniques, especially the oscillating compressions, such as "yi zhi chan" and "gun fa" (rolling). In performing anmo techniques, practitioners use their fingers, thumbs, palms, knuckles, forearms, elbows, knees, and feet. One of the trademarks of Chinese anmo, and of the other Asian massage therapies that evolved out of it, is the extensive use of compression, particularly of acupuncture points. Anmo therapy also includes joint manipulations, such as traction, circumduction, stretching, and "mobilization with impulse" (a.k.a. "cracking" or, in Chinese, "ban fa") "Ban" literally means a trigger, wrench or lever. It refers to sudden mobilization ("wrenching") of the vertebrae or other joints following relaxation of the surrounding soft tissue with gliding, kneading, etc. It is traditionally performed with the patient in a side-lying position, seated position or even borne on the back of the practitioner (back-to-back, with elbows interlocked). When done with the hands, the practitioner often uses palpation skills to direct the impulse to a specific vertebra.

In recent years, anmo has seen a renaissance in China. The range of conditions treated by anmo has once again expanded to include most branches of medicine (internal medicine, gynecology, pediatrics, traumatology and otorhinolaryngology). Experimentation has also been done in the field of anmo anesthesia. In 1979, the Shanghai College of Traditional Chinese Medicine established an "acupuncture/tuina" major. In 1982, Beijing and many of the other colleges of TCM across China followed suit. Most of the Chinese-language journals of traditional Chinese medicine regularly feature articles and research on anmo, and at least one national journal (Anmo Yu Daoyin) is devoted exclusively to news and research in the field of anmo. A good deal of research has been done in China on the biomechanical and physiological principles of anmo treatment, and numerous trial studies have been done on its clinical applications. Unfortunately, very little of this modern Chinese research on anmo has been translated into English (the same is true of Chinese acupuncture research). As more of this material is translated, it will probably prove to be of great benefit to the development and understanding of similar manual therapies in the West.

Traditional Thai Massage

2008-06-11T23:52:00.000-07:00

Traditional Thai massage dates back at a long history of therapeutic healing. If one traces the evolution of the techniques of healing massage practised in Thailand, one discovers the astonishing fact that the earliest roots of Thai massage lie not in Thailand, but in India. The legendary founder of the healing system is believed to have been a doctor from northern India, known as Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha. He was a contemporary Buddhist and personal physician to the Magadha King Bimbisara over 2,500years ago. The teachings of Kumar Bhaccha probably reached what is now Thailand at the same time as Buddhism – as early as the 3rd or 2nd century B.C.

The theoretical foundation of Thai massage is based on the concept of energy lines running through the body called sen. The Indian origin and influence is obvious here since the background of this theory clearly lies in Yoga philosophy. Yoga philosophy states that life energy, called prana, is absorbed through the air we breathe and the food we eat. Along a network of energy lines, the Prana Nadis, the human being is then supplied with this vital energy. Out of these energy lines Thai massage has selected 10 main lines on which there are important acupressure points. Massaging these lines and points makes it possible to treat a whole range of diseases or to relieve pain. The 10 lines are sufficient to conduct practical treatment for the whole body and its internal organs. Disturbances in the flow of energy result in an insufficient supply of Prana, which will in turn lead to sickness. Working on the energy lines with massage can unblock stagnation, stimulate the free flow of prana, and help to restore general well-being.

Looking back at the tradition of Thai massage, it was never seen as merely a job. Massage was always considered to be a spiritual practice closely connected with the teachings of the Buddha. Until recently it was at the Buddhist temples, where massage was taught and practised. The establishment of healing massage facilities outside of the temples is a recent development.

The giving of massage was understood to be a physical application of Metta, the Pali and Thai word used in Theravada Buddhism to denote loving kindness,and devoted masseurs still work in such a spirit today. A truly good masseur performs his art in a meditative mood. He starts with a Puja, a meditative prayer, to fully centre himself on the work and on the healing he is about to perform. And he works with full awareness, mindfulness and concentration. There is a world of a difference between a massage performed in a meditative mood and a massage just done as a job. Only a masseur working in a meditative mood can develop an intuition for the energy flow in the body and for the energy lines.

Contrary to Western massage, traditional Thai massage does not primarily work with the physical body but rather with the energy. The kneading of muscles, which dominates in Western style massage, is not done from Thai massage. Energy points are pressed or general pressure is used instead. There is a lot of stretching involved and many exercises might well be described as 'applied Hatha Yoga' or 'applied physical Yoga'. Rather than using the term Thai massage, it wouldn't be a bad idea to actually call it Thai Yoga massage since that's what this art essentially is.

Increasingly, the native Thais seem to realise that for certain ailments like asthma, constipation or frozen shoulders and to help recovery after a heart attack or to regain mobility of the limbs after a stroke – to mention only a few – Thai massage treatment is far superior to conventional medicine and therapy.

So within one decade Thai massage has regained the credibility it rightly deserves and not only has Thai massage survived but is more established than ever.

Muscle Relief Blend

2008-06-10T22:17:00.000-07:00

Muscle Relief Blend

2 drops Cedarwood
2 drops Chamomile
2 drops Lavender
2 drops Lemongrass
Blend with 30 ml carrier oil for massage

A soothing blend that treats aching muscles and promotes sleep

Herb of the Week

2008-06-09T18:55:00.000-07:00

Chinese: Jinyinhua (Gold-Silver Flower)
Common Name: Japanese Honeysuckle
Chinese Name: Gold-silver Flower
Scientific Name: Lonicera japonia Thunb, Lonicera hypoglauca Miq, Lonicera confuca DC and Lonicera dasytstyle Rehd
Part Used: Buds
Dosage: 12g
Flavour: Sweet
Energy: Cold
Class: Herbs to reduce excessive heat in the body
Meridians: Lung, Stomach, Heart and Spleen
Actions: To clear up heat, counteract toxic effects, cool down the blood and disperse wind and heat

Experiments have shown that jinyinhua can produce five major effects. It can protect the liver, inhibit influenza, inhibit mumps, reduce blood fat and can be used as an anti-bacterial herb. In addition, since this herb contains lonicerin, saponin and inositol and has been found to possess anti-bacterial and anti-viral effects, it is now being widely used to trat common cold, influenza, cystitis, arthritis, eye and throat infections and contagious hepatitis.

Shiatsu

2008-06-06T22:52:00.000-07:00

Shiatsu is derived from a Japanese word meaning "finger pressure". It is a new name for the oldest form of medicine - healing with hands. It is characterised by its great simplicity. It grew from earlier forms of massage, called Anma in Japan (Anmo or Tuina in China) which use rubbing, stroking, squeezing, tapping, pushing, and pulling to influence the muscles and circulatory systems of the body. Shiatsu, by contrast, uses few techniques and it would appear that little is happening - merely a still, relaxed pressure at various points on the body with the hand or thumb, an easy leaning of the elbows or a simple rotation of a limb.

The Oriental tradition describes the world in terms of energy. All things are considered to be manifestations of a vital universal force, called 'Ki' by the Japanese, ''Chi", or 'Qi', in China. Because of the Japanese origins of shiatsu therapy, the Japanese word Ki is used in preference to the Chinese word, Chi. Ki is the vital force of life. It is most often described as "energy", but Ki is also synonymous with breath in the Japanese and Chinese languages. In Oriental medicine, harmony of Ki within the human body is conceived as being essential to health. All its endeavours are addressed to this end.

Shiatsu was developed in the early part of the 20th century by a Japanese practitioner, Tamai Tempaku, who incorporated the newer Western medical knowledge of anatomy and physiology into several older methods of treatment. Originally he called it "Shiatsu Ryoho", or "finger pressure way of healing", then "Shiatsu Ho ", "finger pressure method". Now known simply as "Shiatsu", it was officially recognized as a therapy by the Japanese Government in 1964, so distinguishing it from the older form of traditional massage, Anma. The role of shiatsu therapists is to diagnose and treat according to the principles of Oriental medicine.

Many early Shiatsu practitioners developed their own style and some, including Tokojiro Namikoshi andd Shizuto Masunaga, founded schools that helped establish Shiatsu as a therapy. There are many different styles of Shiatsu today. Some concentrate on "acupressure (acupuncture) points". Some emphasise more general work on the body or along the pathways of energy to influence the Ki that flows in them. Others highlight diagnostic systems, such as the "Five Element'' system or the macro-biotic approach. But all of these are based on traditional Chinese-medicine.

Masunaga incorporated his experience of Shiatsu into his studies of Western psychology and Chinese medicine; he also refined the existing methods of diagnosis. His extended system incorporated special exercises, known as "Makko Ho', to stimulate the flow of Ki, and he developed a set of guiding principles to make the techniques more effective. He called his system "Zen Shiatsu" after the simple and direct approach to spirituality of the Zen Buddhist monks in Japan.

Herb of the Week

2008-02-16T20:56:00.000-08:00

Chinese Name: Juhua
Common Name: Mulberry-leaved Chrysanthemum
Scientific Name: Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat
Family: Compositae
Flavour: Sweet and bitter
Energy: Cool
Meridians: Lungs, liver and kidneys
Indications: Eye diseases, pain in ears, dizziness, swelling and headache due to wind heat

Juhua is good for dispersing wind heat in the liver and gallbladder meridians and also in the ears and eyes. It is often used to treat pinkeye, pain in ears and vertigo due to wind heat.

Is is estimated that in China, there are several hundred varieties of this herb. However, only the four are commonly used: juhua, which is yellowish and is used to disperse wind and reduce fever; white juhua, which is drunk as tea and is used to clear liver and sharpen vision; aromatic juhua, which is white and aromatic and is used to treat dizziness and twitching in warm-hot diseases; and wild juhua, which is used to clear heat and detoxify.

Juhua Tea: Steep 4 to 6 pieces of juhua and add pure honey to sweeten to drink as tea during warm-hot weathers

Jamu: Healing Elixir of Indonesia

2008-02-16T07:34:00.000-08:00

Jamu is believed to have originated during the 17th century, when princesses in the Central Javanese courts of Surakarta and Yogjakarta began experimenting with plants, herbs and spices to make beauty potions. Since then, the use of jamu has expanded massively and an entire beauty regime can be created just on jamu alone, from facial masks to hair conditioners and hand creams.

Jamu has four basic functions: to cure illness, to prevent disease and maintain good health (by promoting blood circulation and increasing metabolism), to relieve aches and pains (by reducing inflammation and aiding digestion) and to correct malfunctions (such as infertility and irregular menstruation).

Up to 150 natural ingredients are used to produce jamu. Raw ingredients include the leaves, bark and roots of spices such as ginger, tamarind, tumeric and cinnamon with natural sweeteners like palm sugar often added for flavour.

Today, jamu gendong (ladies selling jamu) can be seen throughout Indonesia. With bottles of jamu in a basket slung over their shoulders with a slendang (carry cloth), they go from door to door in the kampung, keeping the age-old tradition alive.

Ayurveda: Health Treasures of India

2008-02-02T22:45:00.000-08:00

Translated from the ancient Sanskrit language, Ayurveda means ‘the Science of Life’ (Ayur-Life and Veda-Science) and is regarded by scholars as the oldest form of medicine in the world. It remains as the main healing tradition of the people of India, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

According to Ayurvedic belief, everything was ‘one’ in the beginning when the first sound, aum, was heard. Its radiating energy resulted in the creation of the five elements – air, space, fire, water and earth – from which everything in the universe is made.

At the heart of Ayurvedic philosophy is the understanding that our bodies are microcosm of the universe with three universal governing energies at work: vatta (air and space), pitta (fire and water) and kapha (earth and water). These energies are known as doshas, each consisting of unique physical, mental and emotional characteristics.

Achieving balance and harmony of the three doshas is the aim of Ayurvedic therapies and this forms the foundation of health and well-being. The proper constitution of vatta promotes creativity and flexibility, pitta generates understanding and analytical ability, and kapha engenders stability, affection and generosity.

Imbalance in the doshas are thought to distrupt the flow of prana, the ‘life force’ that enters the body through food and breath, and impede agni, the digestive fire that facilitates metabolic processes, supports immunity and produces processes of thought and feeling.

Therapies are mainly divided into curative and preventive, all following the essentials of dosha balancing. A typical regime could include abhyanga (herbal oil massage), shirodhara (oiling of the forehead) and samana (herbal medicine). Intensive treatment such as panchkarma (total purification) therapy will be administered for serious medical ailments.

For those who are in good health, preventive measures through self-care techniques are advised to revitalize and protect the body. The key to Ayurveda is treating the mind, body and spirit as a unified entity to maintain health, balance and harmony.

Traditional Chinese Medicine: Balancing the Life Force Within

2008-01-31T02:03:00.001-08:00

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) dateds back to almost 5,000 years during the Shang and early Zhou dynasties. It is based on the classical works of two emperors - Red Emperor Shen Nong's Classics of Herbal Medicine and Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine.In TCM, the universe exists as a unified whole, comprising of two opposing yet complementary forces known as yin and yang. This interdependent forces governs qi, the energy that governs the universe and nourishes every living cell. The philosophy of yin and yang is further refined into the theory of five elements - earth (tu), fire (huo), metal (jin), water (shui) and wood (mu), with each nurturing, supporting and controlling one another to keep the body in balance, health and harmony.When a person is in good health, the movement of qi and blood through the body is harmonious. Qi flows along a network of meridians to empower each and every cell and organ in the body. These meridians comprise of 12 main channels (six yin and six yang meridians) and eight 'extraordinary channels' that are spread throughout the body. Situated along the meridians are energy points called acupoints.TCM therapies such as acupuncture, moxibustion, accupressure, tuina and reflexology, exercises such as qi gong and tai qi are aimed towards removing blockages along the meridians and promote a smoother flow of qi.