Saturday, July 21, 2012

How to keep your Lymphatic System Healthy

From:  HawaiianExperienceSpa.com
By:       Mariposa, L.E., M.T.

Our lymphatic system is our body’s first line of defense, and keeping our lymph flowing is crucial. Our lymph, unlike our blood, does not have a pump to keep it moving. If you get swollen lymph nodes or swelling in your extremities this may be a sign of stagnant lymph. There are some simple yet effective self care methods to help your lymph flow properly that I would like to share with you.

Dry Brushing: Dry brushing has been used primarily by Europeans for decades and is one of the most understated simple ways to a healthy lymphatic system. A dry brush, like the name implies, is always used dry with no water or lotion on your skin. It is best done right before your shower or bath. Brush upwards in light sweeping or circular motion going up on extremities and clockwise on the abdomen. Your neck is the only place you brush down towards your heart. Dry brushing is an excellent way to encourage your lymph to flow and also removes dead skin cells leaving your skin soft and supple.

Infrared Sauna:  infrared saunas that go deep into your tissues and helps to sweat out toxins relieving the lymphatic system.

Rebounding: Bouncing on a rebounder (mini trampoline) is the best form of exercise to jump start your lymphatic system. You do not need to jump high but rather focus on your heels and feeling your body reverberating. You can also do this exercise in a pool.

Qigong tapping and bouncing: Qigong is an ancient Chinese form of energy work. Tapping along meridians is similar to an acupuncture effect. Bouncing is much like rebounding with specific hand movements and can have powerful effect on your overall health.

Being mindful of tight shoes and clothing that constrict your lymph flow is important as well as staying hydrated with pure water.

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From Connie, Spa Director:  Stevenswood Spa Resort offers complimentary use of our infrared sauna to our lodging and spa guests.


Friday, July 20, 2012

10 Ways to Alkalize Your Body Today


From:  Care2.com
By:  Michelle Schoffro Cook

Acidity has been linked to pain, excess weight and many other health issues. Fortunately, making your body more alkaline (the opposite of acidic) is easy.  Here are 10 ways to alkalize your body for more energy and vitality:
1. Start your day with a large glass of water with the juice of a whole, freshly-squeezed lemon. While lemons may seem acidic, they have the opposite effect on your body as it metabolizes them.
2. Eat a large green salad tossed in lemon juice and olive oil. Greens are among the best sources of alkaline minerals, like calcium.
3. Snack on raw, unsalted almonds. Almonds are packed with natural alkaline minerals like calcium and magnesium, which help to balance out acidity while balancing blood sugar.
4. Drink an almond milk and berry smoothie with added green powder like spirulina, chlorella, or other greens. Choose almond milk over cow’s milk, since the latter is acid-forming.
5. Go for a brisk walk or some other exercise. Exercise helps move acidic waste products so your body can better eliminate them.
6. Breathe deeply. Ideally, choose a spot that has fresh, oxygen-rich air. And, sorry Febreze, Glade, and all the other so-called “air fresheners”: air filled with these scents is not what I’m talking about here.
7. Go meat-free for a day… or longer if you like. During the metabolism of meat, there is an acid residue left behind.
8. Skip the sugar-laden dessert or soda.  Sugar is one of the mosyogt acidic foods we consume. You need over 30 glasses of neutral water just to neutralize the acidity of ONE can of soda.
9. Add more veggies to your diet. No, potatoes don’t count. But sweet potatoes are a good choice (provided you’re not slathering them in sweeteners or butter).  Asparagus, squash, peppers, and other vegetables are also excellent choices.
10. Sprout it out. Add more sprouts to your daily diet. They are extremely alkalizing and supercharged with nutrients and energy-boosting enzymes.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-ways-to-alkalize-your-body-today.html#ixzz21BnoqTVG

Saturday, July 7, 2012

The Roots of Acupuncture and Benefits To Excellent Overall Health


From:  ebsummit.com 

By:  Karina, Wellness Articles

The historic Chinese medical gurus discovered and improved upon acupuncture for various physical problems. However it wasn’t until not too long ago, maybe a few hundreds years, that this mode of therapy made its way into Europe. Yet, this ancient Chinese procedure began to be widely accepted in Western countries in the course of the second half of the twentieth century. Along with this popularity, the medical and professional society has been engaged in research on many aspects of acupuncture. In the US, it is common to see certified acupuncture professionals, as well as qualified Chinese doctors of traditional Chinese medicine offering their services.
Exclusive acupuncture needles are utilized in this treatment, and they are skillfully put into the patient’s skin but not too deeply. According to Chinese medical theory, there are very many uses and disease situations that can be properly treated using acupuncture. We must also state that you should always check with your family practitioner for any medical condition. It is simply a very wise and good idea to seek the advice of your doctor, first, and make sure you are cleared to do this. However along with all the other information and knowledge, where the needles are required are all in accordance with the primary principle.
Just as a general overview, there are certain meridian lines in the body which are the areas for the points. Meridians are situated all over the body, and the number of them is conceivably several hundred. Meridians are the energetic routes that are essential for life and health, and energy must flow unimpeded. Precisely where the needles are put are determined by the particular reason, or medical condition, for which a person seeks therapy.
According to acupuncture texts, it is the impediment, or increased resistance, of energy at a location that leads to particular medical problems. While the needles are inserted, subsequently the effect will be a return to healthy energy passage. Nonetheless acupuncture is acknowledged to also help with other situations such as pain reduction. That is why very many persons undergo acupuncture, and it’s for alleviation of pain from other problems. If a person can feel pain relief this way, then there is certainly no need to take pain relievers given by doctors.
All of the different conditions and scenarios for which acupuncture may be useful, or effective, have not been thoroughly studied. Acupuncture can be efficient for controlling stress and the types of headaches that can end up from it. Furthermore those who experience migraine headaches state good levels of success with acupuncture. Always see your physician, and then be very certain you only receive treatment from a certified individual. Any possible side effects of acupuncture are very nominal, if any at all, but the very best thing is to talk about that with a specialist. Sometimes, for alleviation from pain, people can manage their pain with acupuncture rather than standard medicines.

 

How Infrared Saunas Support Mental, PhysicalHealth


From:  ebssummit.com, Wellness Articles
By:  Danna Norek

Everyone needs to escape the cold, cruel realities of the real world once in a while. Whether that escape involves massages, working out, or simply meditating, there is no doubt that we NEED these types of escapes. Our life enjoyment would not be where it should.
Infrared saunas have become exactly that type of escape for many people. They are not just an escape into a “perpetual summer,” but they also offer such an array of health and psychological benefits that they are one of the best therapeutic devices out there.
One of the biggest reasons that people invest in an infrared sauna is for the healing, pain-relieving and rejuvenating heat that is emitted. People with consistent muscle or nerve pain find that these aches and pains melt away with the penetrating and therapeutic heat exposure.
For those of us that live in climates where the winters can be cold, long and harsh, infrared saunas also serve as a temporary escape from the bone chilling cold. There’s nothing like stepping into the enveloping warmth and soothing cedar scent of a sauna in the dead of winter. It seems like troubles just melt away when I set foot in our sauna.
When you feel relaxed, it does a great deal for your body. Your blood pressure lowers, your levels of cortisol, the “stress hormone,” go down, and your body returns to a state of zen, like it’s meant to be in all of the time.
Cortisol is an extremely destructive hormone. When you are under a lot of stress and going through periods of increased anxiety, your body releases more of this toxic hormone. It is linked to weight gain, mood imbalances, and even heart troubles. You can see why lowering levels of anxiety and stress are beneficial.
Having a sanctuary of peace in your home is important. Whether that sanctuary is an infrared sauna or some other designated place of relaxation is up to you. However, there are a lot of other considerations that you may want to be aware of when it comes to FIR (Far Infrared) saunas.
FIR saunas use a concept in heating called radiant heat. Instead of heating the environment around an object (in this case YOU), it heats the object (YOU) directly. This means that you can tolerate higher heat for a longer period of time than you could in a regular sauna that uses surrounding heat.
The longer you can stay in, the more you can benefit from the relaxation and detoxification benefits of the sauna, which is why many believe FIR saunas are superior to traditional saunas.
I can tell you from my own personal experience of owning an infrared sauna some of the benefits I’ve enjoyed. I’ve noticed that my back and neck pain have been much more easily managed. The sauna really penetrates my problem areas well, and relieves this pain effectively.
I feel like a new woman when I step out of it, my pain is usually completely dissolved after about thirty minutes. My anxiety and stress are much more easily controlled. If I’ve had a long, hard day at work, I come home and sit in the sauna for a while, and it melts my tension and stress away, enveloping me in a dry, soothing, and therapeutic heat.
My skin looks great, especially when I’m using the sauna regularly. It stays clear from acne, and it takes on a much more youthful appearance after a few sessions in the sauna. I think it must give me some sort of “facial” every time I’m in there, because I notice my skin glows the next day.
I notice that I do not catch colds and flues that are going around at the office when I’m using the sauna regularly. This may have something to do with the sauna’s high temperatures keeping viruses away, but I can’t be sure of any exact science behind it, I just know my experience.
For me, stepping into our infrared sauna is like stepping into a sanctuary of peace and warmth. I am able to listen to classical music, unwind and soak in the therapeutic warmth that leaves me refreshed and pain free.
To have something like that in your own home, well, that to me, is priceless.

Note from Connie, Stevenswood Spa Director:  Stevenswood offers an infrared sauna in our fitness room for complimentary use for our lodging and spa guests.