Do Eye Care Vitamins Work?

I had gone to my eye doctor for my regular check up and we discovered that my left eye was showing signs of less than perfect vision. It was not bad enough to require glasses but he said that at some point I may need to look into them if my vision continues to deteriorate. It was then that I asked him about eye care vitamins. I had heard about vitamin A and Lutein, as well as others. Did these eye vitamins really do anything or was it just a scam concocted by the manufacturers. The eye doctor went on to tell me that research as indicated that certain vitamins are critical for proper eye health. Many of these are ingested through a proper diet but that taking supplements is simply an insurance policy. considering that my vision was showing signs of deterioration now was a good time for me to look into eye care vitamins for eye health.

When I got home I turned to the internet for information on the types of vitamins that are recommended for eye health. Surprizingly there are quite a few more than I realized. Vitamins such as A,C,E, Zinc, and Copper were the ones that I read about the most but there were over 20 different ones that were recommended for eye health. I wanted to find a complete supplement that did not included any dairy, gluten, salt or fillers of any kind. The eye doctor also told me that I may notice an improvement with my dry eyes. At different times of the years this dry, pain in my eyes can be a real problem. Not only are these eye care vitamins good for the eyes but many of them have other important health benefits for the body as well. All in all I thought taking a specialized supplement was a good idea and my doctor agreed. I admit it was a bit scary to have the doctor tell me that my vision was not as good as it had been in the past. It was a real wake up call for me to start to care for my eyes.

Many of us just take our good vision for granted. I fall right into that category. It is only when we begin to loose that great eye sight that we begin to consider the potential benefits of eye care vitamins. If I can keep from getting glasses and hold onto the vision that I have I am more then willing to take my vitamins.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-Eye-Care-Vitamins-Work?&id=1815119

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Mom's obesity tied to higher infant mortality

Babies born to obese moms died more often in first 28 days of life

Research shows that babies born to obese mothers are at increased risk for dying, particularly in the first weeks of life, compared to babies born to normal-weight mothers.

Given high infant mortality rates in the US as compared to other developed nations, the researchers say, if the results are confirmed, obesity prevention should be explored as a measure to reduce infant mortality.

Obese pregnant women are known to be at greater risk of fetal death, while there is also some evidence that death rates are higher among babies born to obese women, according to Dr. Aimin Chen of Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska and colleagues.

To investigate the relationship in more detail, the researchers compared records for 4,265 babies who died in infancy and 7,293 surviving babies, using data from the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey.

Among the infants that died, 8.8 percent had obese mothers, compared to 5.9 percent of surviving infants. Babies born to obese women were at greater risk of death in their first year, and were also more likely to die in their first 28 days of life than infants born to normal-weight women.

Risk highest among heaviest mothers
While risk was increased for obese women no matter how much weight they gained, infant mortality was greatest among women who gained the most weight (0.45 kilogram or one pound and up each week), who were at nearly triple the risk of infant death. Risk was the second-highest for the obese women who gained the least weight (less than 0.15 kg or 0.33 pound a week), who were at 1.75 times greater risk of infant death.

A similar pattern was seen among overweight women, with those who gained the most weight and those who gained the least at highest risk.

A mother's pre-pregnancy body mass index had the greatest influence on neonatal death. Deaths due to complications of pregnancy, labor and delivery as well as problems related to preterm birth or low birth weight were higher among infants born to all obese women, no matter how much weight a woman gained in pregnancy; however, increased risk of death due to respiratory problems, birth defects, and SIDS was only seen for the obese women in the highest weight-gain category.

One problem with their study, Chen and colleagues point out, is that the data is "old;" since 1988, the prevalence of obesity and the average amount of weight women gain during pregnancy has increased, while infant morality rates have dropped by around 20 percent. However, they note, deaths related to prematurity or low birth weight have not seen declined and may even be on the rise, "which may be related to increasing obesity and infertility treatment

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28936421/#storyContinued

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More workers get massage and yoga on company time (press release)

One U.S. West Coast marketing agency encourages employees to stop work and duck out for massages, while at one New York hedge fund, workers break during the day for yoga classes.

More companies are offering employees the on-site pleasures of massage and yoga, not just to make their staff happy but to be competitive and even boost the bottom line.

Such programs, once the provenance of nontraditional companies but now popular in bastions of business, help retain employees in a job market where they might easily leave to work for a competitor, companies say.

"We have to do whatever we can to keep our employees happy. There's a lot of competition right now in our industry," said Tracy Cote, head of human resources at San Francisco-based Organic Inc., a digital marketing agency that is part of Omnicom Group Inc..

"There's been an upswing in the market in the past 12 months. Business is better for us, but business also is better for our competitors," she said. "It's all about recruiting and retaining."

Organic first offered on-site massage once a month and, due to demand, increased to twice a month. Now it's grown so popular the company is considering offering it every week.

In a sign of their appeal, programs such as on-site massage -- when a company may hire a licensed masseuse to set up shop in a spare room -- typically show up as desirable factors in lists of the best U.S. places to work.

Companies are digging deeper into their pockets to pay for such benefits, said Meredith Stern, a partner at Infinite Massage in San Francisco.

ADDED PERK

"With the economy jumping up again, we have noticed that companies are adding this as a perk," she said. "They're trying to find ways to spend money on their employees to keep them, because it's harder to replace somebody."

A survey by Massage Therapy Journal found at most companies that offer massage, more than half added it in the last five years.

In or out of the workplace, some 47 million Americans got a massage in a 12-month period that ended last July, up by 2 million from the previous year, research shows.

"My argument is, you're going to do much better in terms of productivity if you allow your employees to get up and move around for a little bit, and it's better than smoking a cigarette or even having a cup of coffee," said Stern. "But I don't really have to make an argument these days."

In New York, a number of hedge funds offer employees massage or yoga during their workdays.

"It's wonderful, it's a stress reliever, it's good for employee morale," said a worker at one hedge fund.

Research shows massage can lower stress, tension and fatigue, and one study in the International Journal of Neuroscience showed people given massage therapy proved more alert and calculated math problems faster and more accurately.

Demand is on an upswing, said Michael Wald of Namaste New York, which offers anti-stress programs for offices.

"What I'm seeing is increased budgets," said Wald of his business clients. "Each year it has increased.

"I don't have a CEO saying, 'We made X amount of dollars more because of this. It's too hard to quantify," he added. "But morale and the atmosphere are better, and we're seeing a decrease in absenteeism as well as attrition."

At Organic, Cote compared the value of massage to an allegory about two people cutting down trees.

"One of them stops to sharpen their saw, and their tree is going to get cut down faster than the one who doesn't," she said. "That is true about the workplace."

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/019872.html

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Massage Tips at Home

Massage is a lovely way of spending some quality time with your partner. With massage you can not only help each other to relax but also ease the aches and pains of work stress.

It can be hard to know where to begin so here are some tips to get you started:

Make sure the environment is conducive to relaxation:

1. Warm
2. Soft lighting
3. Work and household stuff out of the way
4. Some nice music
5. Scented candles or incense.

The first touch is the most important:
1. The first contact leads the way for the rest, a light gentle reassuring connecting touch lets the body know that its okay to relax and trust the massage.

2. Keep your hands soft, light and gentle rather than (heavy, hard and tense). Use your body for strength rather than your hands.

The massage itself:

1. Put very simply massage can be divided in to 3 sections:
- Warming the muscles
- Relaxing and releasing the muscles
- Integrating the part worked on back into the rest of the body

2. Strokes to experiment with:
Effleurage - this is a basic stroking movement. Using the palm of your hand, allow your hand to softly mould around the body part you are working on and with a medium pressure glide up and down the body, spreading the oil and ‘reading’ or scanning the body for tension spots. This stroke warms the muscles in preparation for deeper work.

Kneading - this is a rhythmic rolling motion with your fingers and thumbs picking up and rolling the muscle, similar to kneading bread. The slower and deeper the stoke, the more beneficial it is.

Wringing - using the whole of your hand with your thumbs close to your fingers move your hands over the area in alternate back and forth motions, in a continuous flow lifting the skin towards you with one hand and pushing it away with the other in a gentle wringing motion.

Friction - this is a stroke that is used to really release tension in muscles once they are warmed by the preceeding strokes. Find a spot that feels tight and using knuckles or your thumb gently lean into the tight spot, only moving in further as you feel the tissue release and let you in -rather than using force think of your hands melting into the muscle and gently persuading the tension to release.

Pummelling - make your hands into loose fists and let them rain and bounce off the muscle in a fast rhythmic beat, avoid bony spots, or any inflamed areas, and the area over the kidneys, adjust your strength according to body part, for example the back can take quite a bit of pressure, but the calves are often sensitive.

Feathering - this is a light touch with the finger tips running from the top of the body downwards, this stroke relaxes and calms the body and also sensitises all the nerve endings after the deeper work

1. Make sure you get feedback from your partner about what feels good and what pressure is the right amount for your partner.

2. Ensure that your own body is comfortable and relaxed, don’t worry too much about getting a technique right, rather let yourself relax into the flow of the massage, focus on making your touch as delicious as you can so your partner feels delicious too!

After the massage:
- Drink some water
- Ease yourself gently back into the world
- Enjoy the relaxed feeling in your body and the intimacy with your partner

For a more in-depth approach with specific techniques contact the BTS office, we would love to come and do a session with you showing you how to massage your partner. We can show you some tips and techniques and teach you in the comfort of your own home.

Source: http://www.bodytissue.com/library/massage-therapy-articles/massage-tips-at-home/

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Avoiding Common First Time Massage Mistakes

You can’t really make a mistake when you receive a massage. However, there are a few things that most first-timers do that can make it harder to relax and that create difficulty for the therapist. Knowing about these things in advance will help you avoid them and have a better experience.

Getting Frustrated: Receiving massage is a skill like any other. It takes time to allow yourself to fall into a comfortable rhythm with your therapist and focus on the massage. It’s easy to get frustrated with yourself for not being able to pay attention and simply relax. After you’ve received your first massage you’ll know what to expect. There are no “massage police” and no one is going to know if your mind wanders a few times or you fall asleep (unless you snore, of course!). Try focusing on your breath and on feeling the sensation of the therapist’s hands.

Helping: When the therapist is lifting or moving your head, arms, or legs, you don’t need to help unless asked. Pretend that you are a limp noodle and simply let him or her move you. Tensing up or trying to help and anticipate what they want will negate the therapeutic effects of the range of motion, stretching, or muscle positioning. Helping can even cause the therapist to work harder.

Not Communicating: It’s very important that your therapist know what your goals for the session are as well as if the pressure is comfortable. Many people complain that the massage wasn’t deep enough or it was too deep and hurt. When asked if they said something, the answer is almost always no. Take responsibility for your experience so that you can get the most out of it. And by all means, please speak up if the room is too cold!

Tough Guy/Girl: So many people think that in order to have an hour of “me time”, there has to be something uncomfortable, tedious, or downright painful to justify it. If you don’t enjoy or need deep pressure, don’t say, “you can go deeper if you want.” We only want to go deeper if YOU want. It’s up to you. Don’t ever feel that we’re holding you up to some standard and that if the pressure isn’t as deep as it was for the last guy we’re going to ridicule you. Many of our clients want a light but firm massage, and there’s nothing wrong with that! Ask for what YOU want, not what you think you should want.

Canceling: As the first massage appointment creeps up on the calendar, many new clients get nervous or suddenly feel guilty for spending time or money on themselves. Being on a massage table and trusting someone with your physical being is a little stressful the first time. This is normal. Being nervous is normal. Therapists are used to it and sometimes sharing your feelings with them helps. A variation to this theme is only making an appointment if they can take you same day. A talented therapist likely already has a steady client base and may not be able to accommodate the last minute request. Please don’t decide not to get a massage if you can’t get in immediately.

One=All Syndrome: Each massage therapist is completely different. Personality, training, talent, compassion, listening skills, and many other aspects go into the experience that is created for their clients. Keep in mind that your own state of being will impact the massage as well. Should you have a bad experience, please recognize that every massage by every therapist will be different. If you have a great experience—and you likely will—reward that therapist by rebooking (making another appointment) and telling your friends and coworkers. Referrals are the lifeblood of our business.

Harboring Unrealistic Expectations: Massage should be a part of your wellness plan, however it is not to be taken in place of medical advice. Multiple sessions are usually needed to get maximum relief, depending on your injury or pain, and sometimes maintenance treatments will also be needed. In addition, you will need to be compliant with (actually do) any homework the therapist gives you such as stretching, drinking more water, and self-treatments.

Source: http://massagetherapyarticles.com/?p=382

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Deep Muscle Therapy

Deep Muscle Therapy defines itself as a means through which the therapist would stimulate the lymphatic and circulatory systems to promote cellular repair while wading off the hazardous toxins. The toxins that are accumulated and of no designated use in the body form the toxic fluids and they in turn harm the body with their potential toxins. Deep muscle therapy is a very successful form of remedial massage that, as the name suggests works into the deeper levels of muscles. It doesn’t just hit the surface for salvation, but moves deeper to the origin of the problem and with certain subtle maneuvers and manipulations by the practitioner afford effective relief.

The basic principle of a healthy body is to have healthy blood, which can only be achieved by good circulation. If each and every cell of the body is well nourished and healthy then so too will the whole body be healthy. But the cells get sick and so the body gets sick. Surrounding each cell is Lymphatic fluid; obviously the purity of the lymph depends on the quality of the blood and the vigor of the circulation. The cleansing action of the lymph, being as important as the nourishing action. To achieve hemostasis (perfectly balanced body chemistry), the blood and the lymph must flow freely. Rich in nutrients and oxygen and free from unwanted substances and toxins.

Deep Muscle Therapy cures by softening hardened muscle fibers and releasing muscles that have adhered; lymph flow between the muscles will be restored and an improved circulation into the muscles; will result. It is apparent that working down the muscles will not open the fibers as required and working across the muscles does help, although, it is not completely successful. By working at different angles the treatment becomes very successful and this technique will help in many different conditions. By softening hardened muscle fibers and releasing the muscles that have become adhered; the lymph flow between the muscles would be restored and improved circulation into the muscles; will result. Deep Muscle Therapy uncovers the pain that is already there. It depends on the condition of the muscles. The tighter the muscles; the more pain will be felt. This may be minimized by the use of a natural analgesic cream. The first treatment is always the most intense. As muscles become free - pain decreases. Deep Muscle Therapy is an essential ingredient to achieving optimum results by improving the circulation and therefore; maintaining good health.

Source: http://massagetherapyarticles.com/

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Massage therapy is good medicine, not merely relaxation

If doctors knew the true causes of health and healing, they'd be prescribing massage therapy to most of their patients rather than prescription drugs. Massage therapy is good medicine, and it's a far more potent healing therapy than most people realize. In fact, I believe that every person, healthy or otherwise, should receive a massage therapy treatment at least once a month.

Why is massage therapy such good medicine? Because it helps move lymph, blood and oxygen to the various organs and tissues in ways that normally don't happen in the bodies of most people. This is especially true for those who don't exercise: for them, massage therapy is critical for maintaining any degree of health.

There's also the "touch factor" of massage therapy that I believe to be remarkably healing. There's something almost magical about the human touch, and its qualities can't be measured with scientific instruments (yet), but researchers know very well that it has powerful physiological effects: touch calms people. It reduces blood pressure, it boost immune system function, and it makes people feel loved. These are very important for those seeking health and healing. (And if you don't believe me, just volunteer at a nursing home some time and offer free hand massages to the patients. I've done this, and you'd be amazed to see the different it makes in the people you're touching.)

The human touch is powerful medicine, which is why I find it so bizarre that doctors seem so afraid of touching their patients. But you don't need a doctor for this kind of healing: find yourself a good massage therapist and get some healing on a monthly basis.

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/001088.html

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Massage therapy, healing touch are good medicine for the treatment and prevention of chronic disease

As more and more people are discovering, massage therapy and healing touch therapies are proving to be extremely good medicine for treating those with chronic diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis, depression, and even circulatory disorders. There are several good reasons for this, such as the fact that massage therapy helps move lymph fluid around the body and oxygenate organs and tissues. Plus, there's probably something healthy going on in the fact that human touch is taking place. However, there is a widespread belief, especially among the leaders in Western medicine, that massage therapy can't possibly be considered a medical treatment. Most insurance companies still refuse to pay for massage therapies, and few doctors prescribe it, although the number of doctors recommending it has been increasing over the last few years.

I believe that massage therapy is shunned by the medical community primarily because it is considered an unsophisticated treatment -- you don't need a medical degree to give someone an effective massage. There's not a lot of equipment involved in massage therapy, it doesn't have a lot of cool technology, and it doesn't require years of training. And thus, it is looked upon as something that is below Western medicine, both by doctors and by many patients.

But all of this is a distortion -- something doesn't have to be complicated or cool to be effective as a healing treatment. Massage therapy gets to the fundamentals -- that is, the power of human touch, and the spiritual healing potential of one person's hands touching another person's body along with positive healing intent. These are timeless principles of healing that don't require technology to be effective.

Given that massage therapy and therapeutic touch are so effective in helping patients heal themselves, I find it astounding to observe the lack of physical contact between doctors and their patients in clinics and hospitals across the country. Doctors almost seem scared to touch their patients, and in fact, many doctors don't want to be touched, either. This lack of touch keeps everything at a "safe distance" - it makes their interactions non-personal and sterile. It also allows the doctor to keep patients at a distance, where they can perceive them as patients with patient IDs rather than human beings with souls and spirits and emotions. It is this distance -- this chasm between doctors and patients -- that contributes to the lack of effectiveness in modern medicine.

True healers are willing to get involved with their patients in terms of understanding them, seeing the world from their perspective, and even touching them in a healing way with positive intent. That's why our modern physicians are outstanding technicians, but terrible healers. Personally, I would much rather see a massage therapist than a physician, unless I were suffering from sort of radical, acute injury such as an accident in which case, of course, Western doctors and surgeons are the very best in the world. But when it comes to treating chronic disease and maintaining a high degree of health on a regular basis, massage therapy and healing touch offer an outstanding system of healing that I highly recommend.

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/001531.html

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A Review of Recent Research Touting the Benefits of Therapeutic Massage

The myriad health benefits of massage therapy are being validated by a number of fascinating scientific research studies. In the past, massage has been associated largely with exclusive, exotic, luxury spas and upscale health clubs. With more affordable opportunities -- along with increasing support from the medical community, massage therapy is gaining in popularity.

Exciting and proven benefits of massage begin with the very young. In one study, preterm infants gained 47% more weight, were discharged six days earlier (at a hospital cost savings of $10,000 per infant), and become more socially responsive. If the 470,000 preemies born in the U.S. each year were to receive this simple, soothing, and natural treatment, that would translate to annual savings of 4.7 billion dollars.

Preschool children who receive massage right before bedtime fall asleep sooner and stay asleep longer. In another study, preschoolers were given tests before and after receiving a 15 minute massage or spending 15 minutes reading stories with an experimenter. Performance and accuracy improvement were greater for the massage group.

Massage has also been shown to help troubled adolescents. In an interesting study, depressed, hospitalized, adolescents were divided into two groups. One group received 30-minute back massages daily for five days. Another group watched relaxing videotapes. The massaged subjects were less depressed and anxious and had lower cortisol (a stress hormone) levels after the massage. In another study, seventeen aggressive adolescents were randomly assigned to a massage therapy group or a relaxation therapy group. Each group received massage or relaxation therapy for twenty minutes, twice a week, for five weeks. The results demonstrated that the massaged adolescents had lower anxiety and reported feeling less hostile. The parents of the participants perceived their children as being less aggressive after the massage therapy. Significant differences were not found for the teenagers in the relaxation group.

Anorexia nervosa is extremely difficult to treat. Massage therapy is showing great promise with this population. In a study with women diagnosed with anorexia, the results demonstrated that after receiving a massage twice a week for five weeks, the patients reported lower stress and anxiety levels. These women also had lower cortisol levels and increased dopamine and norepinephrine (the “feel good” hormones) after the treatments. A promising result of the treatment was that they reported decreased body dissatisfaction on the Eating Disorders Inventory.

In a study exploring the role of massage therapy for treating migraine headaches, researchers designed a randomized study comparing two groups of subjects. One group received massage therapy for 13 weeks, the other did not. The subjects from both groups were asked to maintain a daily log recording their perceived stress levels and coping efficacy. They were also asked to keep a daily journal of their perceived levels of stress and sleep. Levels of anxiety, heart rate, and cortisol levels were assessed. Compared with the control group, the massage participants showed decreased heart rates less anxious moods, along with lower cortisol levels. The highlight of this study was that the massage group experienced fewer migraines during the study period.

Studies demonstrating the success of massage therapy in treating stress number over one thousand. Currently there are a vast array of theories as to why massage therapy is so successful in managing stress. One can read through extensive scientific studies focusing on measuring neurochemicals and reactions in the SNS (sympathetic nervous system) and the PNS (peripheral nervous system) in order to solve the mystery as to why massage is so effective on various stress disorders. Yet, a simple explanation might be that stress increases muscle tension, massage decreases muscle tension. When a muscle is tensed, circulation is reduced, blocking the absorption of oxygen and nutrients. Massage, on the other hand, loosens up the muscles, increasing circulation, bringing oxygen and nutrients back to the area of tension. Massage may also release stored toxins, which might explain the sense of wellbeing after a massage.

In a recent study in New Zealand involving nurses working in emergency departments, aromatherapy massages with music dramatically reduced stress levels amongst the study participants.

The researchers of this study found that sixty percent of the nursing staff in their experiment reported that they suffer from moderate to extreme anxiety due to their work. The percentage of nurses reporting anxiety dropped to just eight percent after aromatherapy massage treatments. The massages were provided by a licensed massage therapist who sprayed an aromatherapy mist above the heads of the participants. The participants were able to choose the scent. The essential oils were rose, lavender, lime, ocean breeze, or a combination of lavender, ylang ylang, bergamot and patchouli.

A reduction of anxiety from sixty to eight percent is statistically significant. This study demonstrates that massage therapy is a powerful tool with tremendous potential. Introducing such healing therapies in the workplace would be a valuable tool for employers for treating, managing and possibly preventing stress disorders.

Other recent studies have shown that massage therapy can help with pain management (including labor), aiding children with diabetes, sports-related soreness, alcohol withdrawal, immune function, and cancer treatment.

Who knows? Maybe someday, a trip to the spa may be just what your doctor orders.

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/023391.html

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