At times when foot pain stops you dead in your tracks, there seems to be nothing better to do than to lie down.  Apparently never-ending doctor’s appointments, work absences, inactivity, and even gaining weight can all be side effects of chronic pain in your feet. Nevertheless, there are some viable options.  Acupuncture, special massage therapies, insoles for high heels,  and specialized foot compounds can aid your feet be renewed and free of discomfort.

Not only will your feet have less pain in the foot ligaments such as metatarsalgia, but the swelling will subside so that sensitive areas can heal and be calmed.  Foot muscles can also be a source for extreme pain in the feet and toes.. All three of these healing, all natural fixes will have you free from foot discomfort right away.

Trying Needle Therapy Can Pay Off Big Time with Morton’s Neuroma

Acupuncture is the practice of inserting thin needles into “chi”, which are points in the body to bring back the energy and blood flow that has been cut off because of swelling or tissue damage. This can easily happen on our feet with neglecting the feet, which can lead to ailments such as metatarsalgia and Morton’s Neuroma.  Therapy for Mortons Neuroma can begin with a variety of massage techniques and needle acupuncture to relieve painful areas and help to start the healing process.

Acupuncture specialists practice a valuable art in that they are almost always able to effectively remove persistent foot pain in their patients. In a 1999 study reported in the journal “Acupuncture in Medicine”, researchers have reported that electrical stimulation of the needles augmented blood flow to the trouble spots and improved healing.

Massage Can Reduce Metatarsalgia

Healthy blood flow is necessary when trying to cure problems of  the feet. Massage methods can help with metatarsalgia and aid in Mortons Neuroma. These methods are becoming very popular among doctors, sports medicine professionals, reflexologists, and physical therapists. By handling the bottoms of the feet with a gentle, sweeping motion, blood flow is restored to the feet instantaneously.

According to the American Massage Therapy Association, two great methods involve specifically using the thumbs. Several therapies seem to work best, including the sliding rub and walking methods. With the first technique, the thumbs are placed on the top of the feet and then rub in a sweeping motion up and down. The second procedure involves the thumbs being positioned on the bottom of the feet and are walked in an upward motion while pressing steadily.

Nature’s Little Miracles Help Metatarsalgia

There’s no one smarter than Mother Nature when it comes to foot cures.  Some of the most effective foot products have natural oils in the ingredients to provide relief, cool down, and improve blood flow.  One such essential oil is menthol. Taken from the leaves of the mint plant, once applied to the skin, menthol provides a cooling sensation.

Eucalyptus and camphor are also sometimes found in foot creams and oils.  These substances have similar benefits to menthol because they give a feeling of cooling to the feet while raising blood flow. Aloe also helps fight dry skin and cleanses feet while giving lubrication during massage therapy.  For people who would benefit from a warm water foot soak, Epsom salts help detoxify the feet while decreasing swelling.

One of the key ways to relieving foot pain caused by wearing fashionable dress shoes are high heel orthotics.  These devices support your arches and metatarsal areas, thus diminishing the pressure on our metatarsals.

Whether you have ball of foot pain, are already using insoles for high heels, or need Morton’s Neuroma; seeing an acupuncturist, getting a massage, and using essential oils can aid your foot pain. Ease the pain and get back on your feet today by trying out these three fabulous techniques.

Technorati Tags: acupuncture, ball of foot pain, foot pain, insoles, massage, metatarsalgia, orthotics, therapy

The anatomy of the human body needs synergy to survive and be healthy. Unfortunately, the head is balanced upon a narrow column of bone and muscles. With gravity forcing down upon the head, the neck has a tough job. Neck pain is so commonly mistaken as a pain or an ache.

The body tells the brain, in safety pin kind of cycle, that something is not well in the form of pain. The problems may ease but the cause may still be there. Using a licensed chiropractor to evaluate and address the bones and muscles can allow neck issues to be subdued and minimize the chance of it returning.

Neck pain can be caused in numerous different ways, whether it is a major reason such as a car accident or something simple such as sitting in a weird position. The body and indeed cervical spine bend in many ways which can not only cause discomfort, but visceral problems. If the spine, neck and skull are in-line and balanced, the cervical pains should be relieved and wellness will be enhanced.

Chiropractors have the understanding and necessary tools to diagnose and assess any issues associated with cervical problems. The main reason to solving the problem is to find it early. Having regular chiropractic evaluations and assessments can be important in reducing poor heath.

The neck needs care as it can cause more issues with the spine and shoulders. Headaches are also a common problem with neck problems and sometimes frequently medicated, which only temporarily masks pain. Many people hide the problem rather than finding an answer to the cause.

A chiropractor’s plan is to evaluate, align and keep on top of the true natural synergy of the human body. This can reduce occurence to more injury or poor health. As wellness is an overview of human function, having proper nutrition, regular body work and visiting your local chiropractor will move you towards being healthy and more comfortable with daily living.

Whether it has been work accidents or falling, sleeping off or extra stress, pains in the neck have to be near the top on the priority list to being addressed. Patients who leave neck problems for weeks will end up having more concerns. Those who rely on over the counter medication are only blacking out the pain, as it does not get to the root cause of the problem. Once the natural balance of the body is moved aside or has been worsened, the issues and headaches will increase. Only then, which is not taken well, do patients try treatments to decrease the problem. Treatments with a chiropractor can help decrease the risk of pain.

As you can see, neck symptoms may be caused by certain accidents which make daily life increasingly difficult. A symptom is the body’s way of asking for a cure. Medication is only a temporary solution and it can cause more issues to the structure of the body. Having the proper alignment of spine and body will bring easier living.

Dr. Wander and staff have been treating patients with neck issues for over 25 years. To get more data on neck issues and these Bethesda Chiropractors, call 301-770-1818.

Technorati Tags: alternative medicine, alternative therapy, chiropractic, fitness, headache, health, health and fitness, homeopathy, massage, Medical, pain, self improvement, spinal decompression, wellness

Calendula flowers have a long history of use in traditional medicine, with the beautiful flowers being soaked in oils to extract their medicinal qualities. Now, advanced technology in the field of botanical extracts has created the first Calendula essential oil, with an incredibly strong concentration of the therapeutic components of the flower. This essential oil, known as a Total Supcritical Critical Carbon Dioxide Extract, is very easily used by both natural health practitioners and by mothers using aromatherapy as a natural healing alternative in their home. A large body of scientific research has grown in the last decade revealing quite a list of profound healing properties of this extract. It has been found to have regenerative, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, antitumorial, and organ-protective effects.

Calendula Flowers: Nature’s Gentle Healer

Calendula flowers show off their antioxidant content with their deep red, orange and gold colors. The plants are a type of Marigold, commonly found in home gardens the world over. An oil infusion of the flowers, made by simply soaking the flowers in a “fixed” oil (like Almond or Jojoba oil) for up to several months. This infusion has been an exceptionally popular, if hard to come by, ingredient in skin care recipes, especially for infants and toddlers. Anyone prone to skin irritation would benefit from application of this very soothing oil. However, the infused oil has been generally difficult to find, and limits one to the oils included in any recipe. By using the Calendula essential oil in small concentrations, any carrier, with specific desired therapeutic properties can be used.

New Methods Offer Easy-To-Use Essential Oil

With an essential oil of Calendula finally available, great flexibility of formulation has been afforded to the home user. This oil is often noted as Calendula CO2, indicating the use of pressurized carbon dioxide (the natural gas which becomes liquid at high pressures) used for extraction of the active constituents of the flowers. The product of this new extraction process has been the subject of MANY scientific inquiries, available through pubmed.gov, the database of the National Institute of Health. A search for “Calendula” currently produces 195 results, with abstracts published in peer-reviewed journals around the world.

A Look at the Research

The researchers, prompted by the great historical use of this flower as medicine, have investigated a great many of its healing properties. These include the speeding of wound healing, potent anti-inflammatory action, strong anti-oxidant activity, and a myriad of protective effects to various organs. The research notes that the extract actually increases the speed at which skin cells form, has uniquely strong antioxidant activity due to the red and orange pigmentation, and prevents damage to the liver and kidneys when they’re exposed to toxic chemicals. The conclusions of these studies indicate quite clearly the efficacy of the flower extract in a wide variety of applications. So how can we make use of this oil?

Home Care Formulas Using the Essential Oil

Simply adding a few drops of Calendula essential oil to topical wound healing and pain relief formulas is the most simple means. Calendula will synergize with essential oils such as Helichrysum, Lavender and Tea Tree depending on your needs. For wound healing, with the possibility of scar and hematoma reduction, try 5% Helichrysum, 3% Calendula, 3% Lavender and 3% Tea Tree in a base of virgin Tamanu and Coconut oils. This formula can prevent infection, sooth the injury, and speed the overall healing process. For joint and muscle pain, or injuries to muscles and connective tissue, increase the amount of Helichrysum essential oil to up to 25%, and use 5% Calendula in any carrier oil as a base. Helichrysum is known to be very effective at relieving pain and reducing inflammation, as is Calendula — the two together may provide an even more profound healing effect for many people. Calendula’s profound antioxidant activity make it a first choice for beauty care preparations as well, as its radical-scavenging activity will likely prevent premature skin aging.

Organ Supportive Formulation

Topical therapeutic application may be best performed using the practice of reflexology. Calendula and other essential oils used for support of the liver and kidney can be massaged into the reflex points of the feet corresponding to these organs. These points are directly behind the ball of the foot (away from the toes, toward the arch) — the liver point is in-line between the big toe and the second toe, the kidneys in-line with the split between the 4th and pinky toe. These areas can be massaged, with the practitioner and massage recipient communicating to find the exact points most in need of attention. An excellent detoxifying blend can be made with Calendula (10%), Helichrysum (3-5%), Blue Tansy (5%) and Carrot Seed (5%) in virgin Coconut oil. This same blend can be diluted in half again and applied on the body in the regions of the organs themselves.

Calendula Extract: Generally Recognized as Safe

Calendula essential oil has been listed by the FDA as being safe for ingestion in commonly-used amounts. What does this mean? When essential oils are ingested, they are typically consumed by the drop, and usually in the range of only 1-3 drops per day. Ingesting the oil may be a way to utilize the liver and kidney anti-toxicity protective effects described in the research. While typically essential oil ingestion is frowned upon in the United States, the real challenge is proper education about dosages. Calendula CO2 extract specifically should be quite tame, although perhaps the most tasty thing one has ever put in their body! Ingestion of 3 drops daily, put in an empty cellulose capsule if you like, may impart a range of benefits, from antioxidant activity, to chemo-protective, to antibacterial and antiparasitic potential actions.

Calendula: Now One of the Most Highly Regarded Natural Medicines

Calendula is a profoundly-healing plant, with both great historical AND scientific backing supporting its use. The most obvious and easy use of the essential oil is for treatment of skin irritation and wound healing of all varieties. Calendula synergizes with Helichrysum essential oil to speed wound healing, reduce inflammation, and provide support for injuries to the musculoskeletal system (painful joints, muscles, tendons and the like). Calendula extract has also been noted by researchers as protective for the liver and kidneys, and has other protective effects for nearly every aspect of our physiology. The extract can be safely ingested in small amounts, offering a range of supportive activity. You’ll readily find Calendula CO2 essential oil on websites offering therapeutic grade essential oils — look for one that’s described as a thick liquid rather than a paste, as it will be easier to work with for all needs. If these effects of Calendula seem like something you or your family members could use, its long history of medicinal use, along with scientific validation, make it a worthwhile product to investigate further.

Technorati Tags: aging, alternative health, aromatherapy, beauty, CHILDREN, essential oil, health, health care, massage, pain, skin care, supplements, wellness, women

Perhaps one of the most revered formulations for skin care in natural medicine has been Calendula flower oil. Gentle and effective for children, the elderly, and everyone in-between, many generations have been mothered with the soft touch of this wonderful oil. At the same time, its use was rather limited; but now, Calendula essential oil has become available on a wide scale, allowing folks to make use of the recently elucidated VERY broad range of healing properties.

Calendula Flowers: Nature’s Gentle Healer

Calendula flowers show off their antioxidant content with their deep red, orange and gold colors. The plants are a type of Marigold, commonly found in home gardens the world over. An oil infusion of the flowers, made by simply soaking the flowers in a “fixed” oil (like Almond or Jojoba oil) for up to several months. This infusion has been an exceptionally popular, if hard to come by, ingredient in skin care recipes, especially for infants and toddlers. Anyone prone to skin irritation would benefit from application of this very soothing oil. However, the infused oil has been generally difficult to find, and limits one to the oils included in any recipe. By using the Calendula essential oil in small concentrations, any carrier, with specific desired therapeutic properties can be used.

The Healing Potential of the New Calendula Extract

With an essential oil of Calendula finally available, great flexibility of formulation has been afforded to the home user. This oil is often noted as Calendula CO2, indicating the use of pressurized carbon dioxide (the natural gas which becomes liquid at high pressures) used for extraction of the active constituents of the flowers. The product of this new extraction process has been the subject of MANY scientific inquiries, available through pubmed.gov, the database of the National Institute of Health. A search for “Calendula” currently produces 195 results, with abstracts published in peer-reviewed journals around the world.

The Data Is In: Calendula Has A Wide Range of Therapeutic Activity

The researchers, prompted by the great historical use of this flower as medicine, have investigated a great many of its healing properties. These include the speeding of wound healing, potent anti-inflammatory action, strong anti-oxidant activity, and a myriad of protective effects to various organs. The research notes that the extract actually increases the speed at which skin cells form, has uniquely strong antioxidant activity due to the red and orange pigmentation, and prevents damage to the liver and kidneys when they’re exposed to toxic chemicals. The conclusions of these studies indicate quite clearly the efficacy of the flower extract in a wide variety of applications. So how can we make use of this oil?

Home Care Formulas Using the Essential Oil

The easiest uses of Calendula essential oil will be in externally-applied topical formulas. Simply include a few drops per ounce of your recipe. For example, an excellent wound-healing AND anti-inflammatory blend could be made with 3 milliliters of Helichrysum italicum essential oil (a profound wound-healing and pain relieving essential oil) and 1 milliliter Calendula essential oil in a base of equal parts Tamanu, Coconut and Rosehip seed oils. This would be useful for treatment of wounds after accidents or surgery (while it should not be applied directly to open wounds — around the open area would be fine). A stronger formula would be useful for deep tissue injuries, like sports injuries, muscle strains, sprains and the like. Use up to 25% Helichrysum and 5% Calendula in a simple base of pure Jojoba oil, massaging into painful areas up to 3 times daily. This type of formula utilizes the strong anti-inflammatory action of Helichrysum along with the wound healing and antioxidant effects of Calendula to speed healing and relieve pain of connective-tissue damage. Calendula is safe for use with both children and the elderly, though the overall concentrations of these formulas should be reduced accordingly depending on the age group (there are many online references for essential oil concentrations with different age groups). Beyond wound healing, simply antioxidant activity in skin preparations will limit free-radical damage that is often associated with skin aging, making Calendula a great ingredient in every beauty-care recipe.

Organ Supportive Formulation

Calendula’s organ-protective effects can be utilized by applying the essential oil to the feet, which are highly receptive to the energetics of essential oils. The liver and kidney points are directly behind the ball of the foot, at the front of the arch. One can make one ounce of an organ-supportive blend by using 3 milliliters of Calendula, 1 and 1/2 milliliters each of Helichrysum italicum, Blue Tansy and Carrot Seed essential oils in organic Coconut. Regular massage in the area described with this blend is intended to ‘clear’ these organs and support their healthy function. With further dilution, this formula can be massaged in the low back and abdomen for further therapeutic support.

Safe, Safe, Safe

Calendula essential oil has been listed by the FDA as being safe for ingestion in commonly-used amounts. What does this mean? When essential oils are ingested, they are typically consumed by the drop, and usually in the range of only 1-3 drops per day. Ingesting the oil may be a way to utilize the liver and kidney anti-toxicity protective effects described in the research. While typically essential oil ingestion is frowned upon in the United States, the real challenge is proper education about dosages. Calendula CO2 extract specifically should be quite tame, although perhaps the most tasty thing one has ever put in their body! Ingestion of 3 drops daily, put in an empty cellulose capsule if you like, may impart a range of benefits, from antioxidant activity, to chemo-protective, to antibacterial and antiparasitic potential actions.

Conclusion: Calendula Essential Oil is Worth A Look!

Calendula is a profoundly-healing plant, with both extensive folklore as well as scientific research supporting its use. An effective and easy method of using Calendula essential oil is to use it therapeutically in instances of skin irritation and wound healing of all varieties. Calendula and Helichrysum essential oils synergize to enhance the rate of wound healing, the reduction of inflammation, and therapeutically for injuries to the musculoskeletal system (painful joints, muscles, tendons and so on). Calendula extract has also been noted by researchers as supportive and protective for both the kidneys and the liver, and has other protective effects for nearly every aspect of one’s physiology. If these effects of Calendula seem like something you or your loved ones could use, its long history of direct application in therapeutic use along with scientific validation make it a worthwhile product to investigate further.

Technorati Tags: aging, alternative health, aromatherapy, beauty, CHILDREN, essential oil, health, health care, massage, pain, skin care, supplements, wellness, women

These chairs, designed by the scientists at NASA for use in the Space Industry have also been noted for their health benefits for us earth bound individuals. A Zero Gravity Chair will help support your entire body weight, release stress from your muscles and do this in perfect harmony with your entire body.

The perfect angle and body shape was discovered by the NASA team whereby the person in the chair would be supported and balanced correctly to reduce the amount of stress placed on the body during lift off situations. During the lift off of a space rocket, the pilot or passenger undergoes extreme gravitational forces and therefore needs to have their body supported correctly and safely.

The amazing design of these chairs makes sure that the stress on the heart of the user is reduced. It also relieves tension and stress on the spine as it is fully supported by the unique design. The lower legs should be fully raised to be above the level of your heart too, which will increase circulation, increase lung and breathing performance and reduce blood pressure. The chairs are also made from very modern and stylish materials, so it will not look out of place in your home.

Any room in your home is a great place to have a Zero Gravity Chair. They are no longer items that you might associate with hospitals or medical procedures. The comfortable leather upholstery, combined with natural wooden frames and finishes ensures that the chair will not look out of place anywhere. Used in the den as a place to play games, read or watch TV or in the bedroom for the ultimate in relaxation and quiet – a Zero Gravity Chair is a perfect addition to any household.

If you suffer from other muscle or back related pain, you may also want to consider opting for a Zero Gravity Massage Chair that has a shiatsu massage function built in. These massage pads, vibrators and heated areas allow your body to totally relax and benefit from the holistic treatments they give. These chairs are great for helping people with back problems, neck and shoulder stress or tension.

Visit the authors website for a unbiased zero gravity chair review and details about the various zero gravity chair products available to buy today.

Technorati Tags: 0 gravity chair, back pain, fitness, furniture, health, massage, Muscle Pain, pain, pain relief, stress relief, zero gravity chair