Archive for April, 2009

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Crystal Healing and The Sacral Chakra


2009
04.30

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The Sacral or Naval (Belly) Chakra is located just below the naval.

It has 6 petals.

It governs the organs of reproduction

The endocrine glands are the gonads

It is associated with the Etheric/Astral level.

Colour for this Chakra is Orange

Crystal for this Chakra is Orange Aventurine

The Sacral Chakra: It’s located below the navel and above the pubic bone. This is where we find the energy to turn the desire into action. The blockages of this chakra are common to many in this modern age. Unless you had a nurturing and loving childhood and have not been influenced by the western world then maybe you will have balanced Sacral Chakra, but this is almost impossible to achieve these days. The Sacral chakra is the energy center that controls your passions, your sexual needs, and the abundance that you allow into your life.

This Chakra is a very feminine Chakra, a blocked Chakra will usually manifest in problems with reproduction, feminine identity problems, aggression issues, sexual dysfunctions, apathy, back pain, urinary tract problems, lack of control of physical desires, and feelings of creatively having been cut off, you can also tend to be stiff and unemotional.

This chakra deals with creativity sexuality and socialisation. It is the place of joy and the place where the inner child is located. It is associated with the testes in men and the ovaries in women. It is here that the will to procreate is located. Often when people who have relationship problems this is the chakra that will be out of balance. Most people’s lives are driven by the desire for sex. Unfortunately People use sex to manipulate others, to get what they want. Although the sacral chakra is strongly related to misuse of sexual energies, its negative qualities also relate to power and money. There is a strong connection between the sacral and the solar plexus charkas. When healing the problems associated with sex, power and money. The sacral chakra transfers energy to the throat chakra. People use the power of speech to manipulate to get what they want. Those with an under active chakra do not express their desires and emotions.

Disorders that can be associated with an unbalanced Sacral Chakra are:

Bladder -Constipation-Endometriosis-Frigidity-Impotency-Irritable Bowel Syndrome – Lower Back Pain-Menstrual Problems-Mood Swings- Muscle Spasms -Ovarian Cysts-Sciatica-Testicular Disease-Urinary Problems.

The energy of the Sacral Chakra can help us to get moving, to grow and change. Emotional pleasures including intimacy are also governed by this Chakra. Things like self-respect, learning how to give and take, to pursue creative activities. The Sacral Chakra is also related to things like emotional ups and downs, empathy, guilt, obsession and manipulative natures.

POSITIVES: Creative – Emotionally Balanced – Independent – Joyful – Relates to Others Well- Sociable

NEGATIVES: Control Issues – Destructive – Despondent – Obsessive – Over-Dependent – Withdrawn.

A balanced Sacral Chakra enables us to accept and solve the challenges of life in a creative manner; to understand and incorporate our sexuality responsibly, and to feel and express our emotions and helps you to enjoy the pleasures of life. When in a state of balance the colour should be Vibrant Orange.

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Knee Pain Relief – The Unhappy Triad Knee Injury – Knee Braces That Help Provide Support


2009
04.28

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The “Unhappy Triad” is a knee injury which usually occurs in contact sports such as football, when the knee is hit on the lateral (outside) aspect, and is forced inward. The Unhappy Triad injury has also been referred to as the terrible triad, or O’Donoghue’s triad. This causes an injury to three important structures in your knee which are the : anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), meniscus, and the medial collateral ligament (MCL).

A “plant and turn” non-contact movement can cause ACL tears and meniscus tears. In this example, of an Unhappy Triad injury the MCL injury occurs with some type of lateral blow or fall. A lateral blow to the knee, like from the action of a tackle, can cause an Unhappy Triad injury.

As the knee is hit from the outside, your ACL can tear, thus causing the knee to shift. When the knee shifts like this, your femur and tibia compress against the meniscus, inevitably causing damage to this cartilage. Due to the resulting position of the knee the MCL can also tear.

As a result, your knee can become extremely unstable due to this kind of knee injury.

So, now what? – What can you do to help your knee, both before and after such an injury?

Surgery can help reconstruct the injured knee ligaments, but after the surgery is complete, this does not mean that your knee is perfectly healthy. – The use of a well designed knee brace can help improve your stability and can also help reduce your knee pain as a result of the support that it can provide.

Moreover, a knee brace can also be used for prophylactic reasons before a terrible triad injury ever occurs.. The likely hood of this kind of injury occurring would be far less if you wore a knee brace for support. This is achieved because the medial and lateral uprights on the brace would help to prevent excessive medial movements at the knee and this would decrease the chances of this injury. You are in essence helping to take away the way the injury needs to occur, which will allow you to keep playing the sport your are participating in.

Do not look back in the future wishing that you would have taken these words more seriously. This information can help you avoid any future regrets.

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Dental Hygiene, an Ancient Practice – The History of the Toothbrush


2009
04.28

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One of the most asked questions by adults and children is the origin of the toothbrush. There are several schools of thought on when the real toothbrush was created, but you need to look far into the past for the first evidences of oral hygiene.

The Chinese were believed to create the first real toothbrush, or a device that was used to clean teeth, but it was much different than the ones that we are used to today. These first toothbrushes, crafted in the 1400s, did not use nylon for bristles, or plastic for the handles. They were crafted from bamboo, one of the most common plants from that area. The bamboo formed the handle for people to hold on to. Attached to this handle was a set of bristles, which were crafted from the tough hair of the Siberian wild boar. The hairs used came from the back of the neck of this animal. This is the toothbrush associated with having been the ancestor of the one that we use today.

However, there is evidence that there was another form of the toothbrush dating up to 3000 years before the birth of Christ. Due to this, the history of the toothbrush proves that this device is one of the oldest still used by man, only truly outdated by the wheel. This form of the toothbrush was found within pyramids of the Egyptians. These toothbrushes were crafted from a stick. Unlike the Chinese version of the toothbrush, the end of the stick was flayed so that the fibers of the wood were more soft. This stick was then rubbed against the teeth to serve as a form of oral hygiene. This form of the toothbrush did not become far spread as the Chinese version.

The Chinese version of the toothbrush spread to Europe, where the Siberian wild boar took the brunt of the growing popularity of the invention. The only downside to the hairs of the Siberian wild boar was the fact that it was very rough on the gums. On account of this, some people began to use the hairs found on the backs of horses to craft the bristles on their brushes, as this was much easier on their gums and teeth. Despite the added softness of the horse hair bristles, the boar hairs were more commonly used, as horses were too valuable to Europeans during this period of time.

The boar hair toothbrush continued to be used until the early 1900s. In 1937, nylon was created in the Du Pont laboratories by Wallace H. Carothers. This invention forever changed the history of the toothbrush, as well as every other device that required a fibrous material, including ropes. In 1938, Nylon became the sign of modernization, from the creation of nylon stockings to Dr. West’s first nylon toothbrush. This brush was called Dr. West’s Miracle Toothbrush. Even with this breakthrough in the toothbrush, it wasn’t until World War II that Americans began to take oral hygiene more seriously. This was a direct result of the war. This influence spurred on the development of better toothbrushes.

Toothpaste & Whiteners

Another aspect of toothbrush history that should be taken into account is toothpaste and other whiteners. These are usually used with the toothbrush in order to make certain that the teeth and breath were acceptable. The concept of toothpaste and mouth washes is pretty old – almost as old as the Egyptians toothbrush. The earliest known toothpaste was created by the Egyptians. It was said to contain a drachma of rock salt, two drachmas of mint, one drachma of dried iris flowers and 20 grains of pepper. This was then crushed and mixed together to form a powder. When mixed with saliva and applied to the teeth, it would help whiten and clean your teeth. When experimented with by an Australian dentist, the mixture worked far better than anything else created until the twenty first century. The only downside was the fact that it caused his gums to bleed.

In the 18th Century, the next recorded version of toothpaste occurred. This mixture called for dragon’s blood, cinnamon and burn alum. This mixture tends to be more of an amusement for many scientists, as there is no proof that “dragon’s” existed. What may have really been considered to be dragon’s blood is unknown.

The 19th Century saw a lot of innovations to toothpaste, although many of them would be repulsive compared to what we are used to today. Charcoal, for example, was used to clean teeth. Most of the toothpastes of this time were powders that became a paste when introduced to saliva. A lot of these different toothpastes were designed to both clean teeth and give the user better breath. This is where the modern idea for toothpaste came of, and one of the turn points in the history of toothpaste. The combination of these pastes and the toothbrush worked to ensure that there was a higher chance of cleaner and healthier teeth and gums.

It wasn’t until the 1900s that toothpastes evolved to be more modern. Colgate, and many other toothpaste companies, worked to design toothpastes that tasted good while providing the means to clean teeth while not causing gums to bleed. Many ingredients are now used in toothpastes, with Fluoride being one of the most common. There are a wide variety of “herbal” toothpastes as well, which do not contain this component. Each of these types are designed to fit the needs and wants of every type of person out there. This high level of choice is the primary evolution of toothpastes. While only a few were available as early as the Egyptian days, now there is something for everyone.

The combination of the toothpaste and modern toothbrush gives everyone the oral hygiene and dental health that they need to be able to have the sparkling teeth that is desired by so many. This combination also helps prevent the loss of your teeth later in life, so that dentures are not required as early. The history of the toothbrush and toothpaste shouldn’t be looked down upon, as the options used back then were no where near as pleasant as the types available today.

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CranioSacral Therapy and SomatoEmotional Release – What the Heck is That?


2009
04.28

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What the Heck is CranioSacral Therapy?

CranioSacral Therapy is a subtle bodywork modality performed on a person fully clothed, in a quiet, peaceful setting. Using a light touch – generally no more than the weight of a nickel – the CranioSacral Therapist monitors the rhythm of the craniosacral system to detect potential restrictions and imbalances.

Using careful listening and delicate manual techniques, the therapist releases those problem areas and relieves undue pressure on the brain and spinal chord. A CranioSacral Therapy session lasts about an hour. The result is a central nervous system free of restrictions and a body that’s able to return to its greatest levels of performance.

This gentle method of detection and correction encourages your own natural healing mechanisms to dissipate the negative effects of stress on your central nervous system. You also benefit from better overall health and resistance to disease.

I remember when I first studied CranioSacral Therapy. I had been suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for 5 months following a near head on car crash. My companion and I were not hurt in the crash, although the car was totalled. It was a miracle we survived without even a scratch. However, when I went to sleep at night, all I could see were the truck headlights coming right at us on that dark, icy road and I would awaken at the sound of the crash.

In our final practice session of my CranioSacral Therapy I class, I felt sensations emerging from the back of my head that I could only describe as hot bubbles. My practice partner felt intense heat leaving my body. In about 20 minutes, the PTSD was released from my body and I never had an issue with that car crash again!

Not every session will be a once and done wonder like mine, but many conditions can be addressed and treated successfully with CranioSacral Therapy.

What Conditions does CranioSacral Therapy Address?

CranioSacral Therapy strengthens your body’s ability to take better care of you. It helps alleviate a range of illness, pain and dysfunction, including, and not limited to:

Migraines and headaches Chronic neck and back pain Motor-coordination impairments Stress and tension-related problems Fibromyalgia Childhood disorders ADD/ADHD Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries Chronic fatigue Scoliosis Central nervous system disorders Emotional difficulties Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ) Learning disabilities Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Orthopedic issues And many other conditions
Even when CranioSacral Therapy releases restrictions in body tissues, sometimes a release of emotional energy is necessary to fully discharge a trauma. In those cases, the CranioSacral Therapist may gently encourage a SomatoEmotional Release (SER).

OK, Then What the Heck is SomatoEmotional Release?

Research conducted in the late ’70′s by John Upledger, DO, and biophysicist Zvi Karni led to the discovery that the body often retains the emotional imprint of physical trauma. These imprints, especially those of intense feelings that may have been present at the time of the injury, leave residues in the body in areas they called “energy cysts.”

Although you can adapt to energy cysts, over time your body needs extra energy to continue performing its day-to-day functions. As years pass and the body becomes more stressed, it can lose its ability to adapt. That’s when symptoms and dysfunctions begin to appear and become difficult to suppress or ignore.

In this process, the therapist engages in imaging and dialoguing techniques that can guide the client through an otherwise challenging encounter with long-held emotions. As the release occurs, the therapist can feel the tissues of the body relax as the energy cyst is expelled and the body is free to return to optimal levels of functioning.

In a SomatoEmotional Release session with a client we worked on a rotator cuff injury. I had them vocalize what it looked like to them inside their shoulder. They described silver threads that had torn and fallen down into the upper arm. Through the guided imagery and discussion with the shoulder, this person was able to heal the small tear and returned their shoulder to normal. It was a truly amazing experience for them and for me.

If you haven’t tried CranioSacral Therapy, I strongly recommend it. The body is remarkable and able to do so much in healing itself and CranioSacral Therapy, often using SomatoEmotional Release, can help.

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Fall Dust Allergies


2009
04.26

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If dust and dust mites are the bane of your existence, then you should read this article. Early fall often is prime production time for several different allergens. If you already know that you are allergic to dust mites, animal dander or pollen, you can assume that dust will be an ever-present allergen. For those of us with sensitivities to mold spores, pollen and dust mites, early August to Late November, the dust in our homes may carry with it an increased chance of triggering our symptoms. This is because dust basically is a collection of allergens that has settled in corners, under furniture and on window sills.

A Recipe for Dust

The primary ingredient in dust is dead skin. The tiny glimmering specs of dust that you see whirling in a ray of sunlight are actually your one shed skin cells. Your bed, armchair or sofa is overflowing with this sort of dust, which makes these items the perfect environment for dust mites. Dust mite allergen is a major factor in sparking attacks for those with allergic asthma (about 90% of allergic asthmatics are sensitive to dust mites).

Other little bits of debris joins the mixture, including fibers, dirt and sand tracked in on shoes, pollen, mold spores, specks of carbon from furnaces, sawdust, plant and insect parts, etc. Dust bunnies are a product of fiber dust-those tiny bits of fuzz from clothes, carpets and furniture collect to form a larger ball of dust.

Fall Dust Woes: why are dust allergies worse in the fall?

During the months of July and August, dust mite populations hit their year-round peak because of the ample amounts of warmth and moisture (derived from your sweat and environmental humidity). So if you find that you are waking up with dry eyes or a stuffed up nose, you can assume that you have some sensitivity to dust mites. Early August to early November is the pollinating season for ragweed, which is why it is the leading cause of fall allergies. Ragweed relies on the wind to spread its pollen, which means (unlike other plants that produce pretty or scented flowers to attract insects to pollinate them) this plant produces enormous amounts of tiny pollen grains that are carried on gust of air. Because this pollination technique is completely hit or miss, the more pollen the plant produces will increase its chances of pollination. As damp leaves pile up, mold growth is prolific. Leaves are a perfect food source for molds, so it only takes a small amount of moisture and a few warm days for molds to quickly sprout and produce large amounts of spores.
If you have moderate to severe dust, mold, pollen or dust mite allergies, now may be the time of year when the dust in your home is made up of these seasonal allergens. If you are looking for relief beyond basic cleaning, you want to dust-proof your room.

How to prep the room:

pack up all your belongings as if you were moving and empty out the room. empty out your closet–clean the contents and seal in plastic bags or Tupperware containers. keep clothing in zippered plastic bags and shoes in shoe boxes up off of the floor. remove any loose carpets. clean and scrub the woodwork and floors to remove all of the dust present. wipe all of the wood, tile or linoleum surfaces in the room with water, then wax or oil them. re-cement any lifted linoleum to the floor so that there are no hiding places from dust. if the room is a guest room, keep all of the windows and doors closed
Maintenance:

(Remember, if you are allergic to dust, you might want to wear a mask while cleaning.) thoroughly clean the room once a week. clean the floors, furniture, tops of doors and door frames and window sills with a damp cloth or oiled dusting rag. vacuum carpets and upholstery on a regular basis (preferably using a vacuum specially made to filter out allergens) remember to wash your curtains, because they can collect a lot of dust. Soak them in a bucket of hot water (130 degrees Fahrenheit) to rid them of dust mites. open the windows and “air out” the room. Because of the airtight construction used to improve energy efficiency, there are 200% more allergens trapped indoors that older, drafty homes. Though you might think that open windows bring in more allergens like pollen and dust, the amount that collects in the room over the period of a week or two is substantially more. In the end, you have more allergens leaving the room than entering it. if you have wall-to-wall carpeting, you may want to remove it, because it tends to collect dust bedding should be washed weekly – for more tips on laundering your bedding, read my post with tips for ridding your bedroom of dust mites. installing an air filter can dramatically reduce the amount of dust in the air and, in turn, cut down on how much dust is piling up on your belongings.

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Taking Care of You – 25 Great Ways to Self-Nurture


2009
04.25

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Self-nurturing is taking care of yourself. Many people put themselves at the bottom of their own list of priorities. The result is burnout, exhaustion and resentment. We are unable to be at our best if we don’t take time out for ourselves to rest, relax and renew. Self-nurturing does not have to be difficult or overly time-consuming. Anything that helps us feel more positive and joyful is self-nurturing. Below is a list of 25 ideas, but don’t limit yourself. Think about simple pleasures that speak to you personally and incorporate them into your life each and every day. The result? A happier, healthier you!

1. Be Grateful (Keep a Gratitude Journal . . . write down 5 things you are grateful for each day)
2. Practice Relaxation Techniques/Relaxation Therapy
3. Surround Yourself with Positive People (Choose people who help you grow and thrive, Re-connect with loved ones with whom you’ve lost touch)
4. Practice Kindness and Compassion (Remember to help and pray for others)
5. Give Praise and Let Go of Criticism
6. Visualize (Choose where you want to be vs. where you are for your visualizations)
7. Do Not Complain (Learn to let it go)
8. Listen to Music You Enjoy (and if you can, dance)
9. Exercise (Choose something you really enjoy, why not try a type of mind/body/spirit exercise like yoga, tai chi or qi gong?)
10. Volunteer and Donate (Promote a cycle of goodwill; pay it forward)
11. Learn Proper Self-Care (Get enough sleep, detoxify, eat a healthy, balanced diet and drink plenty of water . . . learn to listen to your body)
12. Create a Comfort Drawer for Yourself (fill it with goodies your love including favorite teas, bubble bath, magazines, the sky’s the limit!)
13. Seek New Experiences and Knowledge (why not try a holistic therapy such as acupuncture or that store you’ve always wanted to go in, but never took the time)
14. Follow Your Bliss (Use your creativity, gifts and talents . . . begin a hobby or career you are passionate about)
15. Have Great Sex (Especially Tantric/Sacred Sex or a romantic evening with that special someone)
16. Read a Good Book or Watch a Great Movie (Why not try reading some poetry?)
17. Laugh (Laughter truly is the best medicine)
18. Seek Solitude (Meditate, go within and get creative, try a fun excursion by yourself)
19. Use Positive Affirmations (Make a conscious choice to be happy)
20. Take A Long, Hot Bath (Add soft music and candlelight for ambience or some relaxing aromatherapy Lavender . . . simply add a couple of drops of Lavender essential oil)
21. Spend Time with Your Pet(s)
22. Have a Cup of Your Favorite Coffee or Tea (Chamomile Tea is especially relaxing; avoid caffeine before bed)
23. Get Out in Nature (Try a walking meditation in the warm sunshine, spending time near the water, cloudwatching or enjoying a beautiful sunset)
24. Get a Massage (Touch can be very healing)
25. Remember the Purpose of Life is Joy!

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