Article Archive

Bath Time

Create an Experience

A good soak in a warm bath is a wonderful wintertime ritual. Utilize some of Mother Nature’s simplest gifts in the process, and you’ve got an “experience.”

It really is hard to beat the relaxing, cathartic effects of lounging in a warm bath, where the mind can so easily find peace and calm. But add a handful of rose petals, several tablespoons of sea salts, or some sprigs of rosemary and see how the experience is enhanced. A sense of guilty pleasure will hopefully make way for the realization that you are entitled to these moments of indulgence, and all in the name of self-care.

A Good Laugh

News Notes

Giggle your way to health. Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine have found that 15 minutes of chuckling each day can improve health by expanding blood flow and relaxing and enlarging vessel lining, also known as endothelium. By inducing relaxation, laughter relieves the body of emotional stress — one of the primary causes of restricted vessel lining and reduced blood flow — thus decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Shedding Light on Suspicious Seafood

News Note

Thanks to a recent government law known as Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), you can now trust the say-so of your local supermarket’s seafood section. Grocers are now required to label the country of origin and source of fish products. For instance, did that salmon come from Chile or Oregon? Was it farm-raised or wild?

Originally published in Body Sense magazine, August/Winter 2005. Copyright 2005. Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. All rights reserved.

Ayurvedic Advisory

News Note

Ayurvedic medicine, a traditional form of Indian healing, often uses heavy metals in many of its medicinal products because of their reputed therapeutic values. However, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that some of these products may contain a high proportion of lead, mercury, and arsenic and may pose health risks for consumers. While the 70 products that were tested originated from 27 different companies, most were created in either India or Thailand.

Blueberry Boost

News Note

While not able to cure Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases, eating blueberries certainly has its benefits. Studies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Rutgers Blueberry and Cranberry Research Center suggests the fruit ranks very high in antioxidant capacity, can help ward off urinary tract infections, lowers the risk of blood clots, and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Though positive research does exist regarding its success at lowering dementia-type illnesses, most of the research has only been conducted on rodents.

CAM and Conventional Medicine

News Note

More and more of you are turning to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). According to Mayo Clinic Health Letter, Americans often choose CAM for a variety of reasons, including believing in its effectiveness in combination with conventional medicine, because it seems interesting to try, because it was suggested by their traditional medical professional, and because of its cost effectiveness in comparison with conventional medicine.

Approving Your Physician

News Note

Does your doctor’s age affect your confidence in her? While a youthful physician may not understand exam room nuances and how to handle delicate issues, an older physician may be too set in her ways and not up to date on the latest medical advances. Though there is no perfect M.D., Bottom Line Health suggests three factors to consider when choosing a physician.

First, take into account her responsiveness. Is your physician always rushed, inattentive, and uncaring about your concerns? Do you feel like a number? If this is a problem, move on.

Lingering Effects of Massage?

Ask A Therapist

Q. I’m a newcomer to bodywork, but it seems that some of the effects of my sessions come long after I’ve walked out of my practitioner’s office. Is it all in my mind?

A. The effects of bodywork vary from one modality to another, and from one practitioner to another, and perhaps most greatly, from one recipient to another, according to Utah massage therapist and bodywork author Ruth Werner. “Receiving massage is a learned skill,” she says. “The more often you do it, the more you’ll get out of it.”

Antiaging Techniques for the Neck and Chest

Ask a Therapist

Q. Sometimes I feel the years are catching up to my skin. Can you give me some guidance on how to keep the area under my chin and around my neck looking as young as possible?

A. Absolutely, says Melanie Vasseur, California cosmetic chemist and esthetician. That area is your décolleté (day-kol-tay) — an often-overlooked, but most age-revealing part of the body. Vasseur offers these tips to keep your décolleté looking as young as your face.

Are Massage Tools Valid?

Ask a Therapist

Q. I see a variety of massage tools advertised. Don’t massage therapists just use their hands?

A. According to deep tissue massage expert Art Riggs, tools have their place in the profession. He comments: “I think it is safe to say that no mechanical ‘tool’ will ever replace the effectiveness and personal contact of human touch transmitted through the hands or other tools such as knuckles, fists, forearms, or elbows.

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