Traditional Chinese Cupping Therapy Provides Pain Relief And Reduces Muscle Aches
Cupping is an ancient therapeutic practice that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2,500 years. In the early days, healers originally used cattle horns or pieces of bamboo as cups that were boiled in water or lit on fire to expel oxygen and suck the skin, according to the Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences. By the 1950s, the clinical development of cupping as an alternative pain therapy increased rapidly, as it became a more respected practice in the field of medicine.
Today, traditional cupping uses fire and is performed by acupuncturists or massage therapists who typically heat the air inside a glass cup by lighting cotton swabs on fire before quickly applying it to the skin on a person’s back. The cup may be left in place for several minutes until it’s removed, often leaving behind a bright red, circular welt. Another form of the practice is wet cupping that involves a needle prick in the skin before the cup is placed down over the area of treatment.
upping promotes localized pressure into an area of the body by creating a suction cup, which draws the skin up under the cup. As the skin gets vacuumed up by the fire, it causes fresh blood to rush into the area and ultimately improve circulation. The practice is most commonly used for aches, pain, muscular discomfort, and respiratory problems. According to the Mayo Clinic, when cupping is combined with acupuncture, it may even reduce the muscle pain and tenderness symptoms caused by fibromyalgia more effectively than medication.
Source:Samantha Olson For Medical Daily
Original article and pictures take www.corespirit.com site
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In a country like India where people commonly suffer from pollution related illnesses like Sinusitis, it can be quite pervasive and troublesome. Affecting different parts of the face, the sinus can be classified as frontal sinus, maxillary sinus and sphenoid sinus. Sinuses drain into the nose through a small tube the size of a ball-point pen refill and tend to get blocked very easily. When blocked, fluid accumulates in the sinus and causes sinusitis or the inflammation of the mucousal layer lining the sinuses.
The function of sinus is to remove dirt particles, pollen, smoke, and other suspended particles. A person started feeling pain when these sinuses are infected leading to swelling and congestion within the spaces. In some cases, this infection spreads to the ears, throat and lungs.
If you suffer from sinusitis, here is how you can differentiate between the different types:
The frontal sinus starts above the eyebrows and when infected the pain radiates to the top or back of the head. In the case of an infection in the maxillary sinus, you will feel pain in and around the cheeks or teeth. And finally in the case of a sphenoid sinus infection, you will experience pain behind the eyes.
Complications of sinusitis
Sinusitis can cause eye problems such as pain, swelling, puffiness, redness in the eye, dark circles and it can also leads to poor vision. Besides, astigmatism and squinting can also occur as affected person repeatedly press and rub their eyes. According to Ayurvedic texts chronic sinusitis can also develop into Glaucoma. Other side effects of sinusitis are toothache, halitosis (foul breath), tonsillitis and adenoids, ear infections, meningitis, lung infections and indigestion. Sinusitis is often caused due to a common cold, but it could also be due to a bacterial infection, allergies or fungal infection. If the sinusitis is persistent it can also lead to serious infections and complications that may make the person feel breathless.
Ayurvedic remedies for sinusitis
Remedy 1: Steam inhalation taken five to six times a day with holy basil (Tulsi) can be very effective in curing sinusitis. In case of acute sinus pain, steam may be required for seven to ten days and in chronic sinusitis pain it may continue for two years. Doing Pranayam (yogic breathing) in the form of Kapal Bhaati (forced exhalation) can help to drain out pollutants from the sinuses.
Remedy 2: One should practice ‘kunjar’, ‘jalneti’ ‘rubberneti’ and ‘ghritneti’ after waking up at 4:30 am and relieving oneself. Thereafter, at around six in the morning a person should massage their abdomen, face and spinal cord and then have a foot bath and sponge bath using water water infused with neem leaves. At eight am, you should have some lemon juice with honey or orange juice in half a glass of warm water. At eleven in the morning aperson should have lemon juice, honey, orange or some seasonal fruits. In the afternoon at 2 pm, take water, honey, soup or fruit juice. Keep covering your face and neck after taking hot steam. At 6 pm take seasonal fruits like pomegranate, orange, sweet orange, papaya, apple, pear or others.
Remedy 3: Avoid having milk, sugar, coffee, white flour, fried or oily products made of gram flour, refined fast food, carbonated soft drinks and other such drinks, biscuits, bread, meat, liquor, cigarette, toffee and chocolates.Improvement in diet regime is the permanent treatment of the disease.
Remedy 4: In the beginning of the problem, one should have lemon juice with water for three days or fast, having water only. Then, for next five days keep a strict watch on your diet, eliminating the above mentioned foods. After a week, increase the amount you eat, including foods like roti during lunch and dinner along with vegetables, salad, curd and sprouted cereals. After recovery, the patient should regularly have a vapour bath in the morning. Afterwards, cold waist bath and spinal cord bath is also suggested, which increases one’s immunity.
Remedy 5: A good remedy is to have ginger with honey. All you need to do is mix ginger powder with jaggery and make tablets weighing 5 grams (approx.). Have these tablets twice a day. Alternatively, you could have a concoction made with 11 leaves of basil (tulsi), black pepper 11 in number, sugar candy 20 grams, ginger 2 grams and one glass full of water. Boil all the ingredients till it is reduced to half, strain it and have it while it is still warm. Don’t take bath for around one-and-a-half hour after having this medicine and make sure you rest for a while. Continue these activities for five days and you should get imminent relief.
Remedy 6: One should perform pranayama, janusheershasan, ardhmatyendrasan, dhanurasan, chakrasan, shalabasan, bhujangasan, sarvangasan, halasan, matyasan, shavasan, morning walk and meditation for 15 minutes, which helps in increasing the immunity. These are some simple steps to avoid and overcome sinusitis.
• Should perform yoga every day.
• Sinusitis can be cured through steam inhalation of basil leaves.
• Inhalation should be done six times a day.
• Do Pranayam (yogic breathing) in the form of Kapal Bharathi (forced exhalation).
• In chronic sinus pain the steam may need to be continued for 2 years.
Acharya Balakrishna, is an exponent of Ayurveda and a renowned botanist. He is also the co-founder of Patanjali Yogpeeth, Haridwar.
Original article and pictures take www.corespirit.com site
Top 10 Strategies to Overcome Your Spring Allergies
Spring is the time of year for seasonal allergies. As the trees start to bloom and the pollen is released into the atmosphere, allergy sufferers begin their annual ritual of sniffling and sneezing. Each year more than 50 million Americans suffer through a season of itchy noses, watery eyes and scratchy throats, an allergic reaction to springtime’s pollens, molds, weeds and grasses. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, that number is rising along with the global temperature. You may have been struggling with spring allergies for years, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn a few new tricks about coping with them. Here you can find top 10 strategies to overcome your spring allergy hat can help you enjoy spring instead of just suffering through it.
1. Flush Your Nose
Got a stuffy nose from allergies or a cold? Nasal irrigation may help. Using a saltwater nose rinse is a natural option that can help clear out pollen and other irritants in the nose. A 2007 study found that irrigating your nose works better than using commercial saline nasal sprays. As it flows through your nasal cavity into the other nostril, it washes out mucus and allergens. Use this step-by-step guide to see how to do it.
2. Take Probiotics
The researchers have found that probiotic (friendly bacteria) not only help fighting with the food allergy they can help also with the allergic rhinitis. According to funding published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition a daily dose of probiotic bacteria may help manage allergic responses during pollen season. Check out our article about Top 10 Beneficial Probiotic Food to Add To Your Diet, and include the probiotics from food sources not supplements such as capsules, tablets, and powders.
3. Eat Clean
Load up on anti-inflammatory foods like deeply pigmented fruits and veggies (leafy greens, orange vegetables and colourful berries are all good choices).Here you can find a list of potential foods and swap ideas would be useful as well as the recipes for each of the 8 high allergen/sensitivity groups.
4. Take a Supplement
While allergies can range from mild to severe, there are some supplements that can offer sufferers relief. High-powered antioxidants (found in apples, onions, tea and tomatoes) and vitamin C (found in oranges, kiwi, strawberries and broccoli) have been shown to minimize the body’s reaction to pollen.
5. Take a Shower
Each time you walk into your home, you bring small pieces of the outside world with you. After being outdoors, your clothes, shoes, hair, and skin are covered with tiny particles from everywhere you’ve been. Taking a shower and changing your clothes will help wash away any allergens.
6. De-stress
Your body releases a cascade of hormones in response to stress. Chronic stress weakens the immune system, and overworked or maladaptive immune system can trigger allergic reactions. Relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, breath, work and exercise, on the other hand, can strengthen your immune system and keep allergies at bay.
7. Acupuncture for Allergies
For the best and safe treatment of allergies the use of acupuncture has been started in recent few years. The results show the acupuncture for allergies is the more effective method of treatment of all types of allergies as compared to any other method of treatment.
8. Get Rid of the Allergens
Unless you remove the source of your trouble, which are the allergens that are initiating your symptoms, you will never escape your allergies. By thoroughly cleaning your floors, furniture, and air ducts, you can get to the root of your allergy problem and eliminate allergens like dirt, dust, and pet dander.
9. Clear the Air
If you think staying locked inside your house during allergy season is going to help decrease your symptoms, you might find yourself suffering more than normal. Dirty air ducts can actually make your allergies worse. See here what improving your indoor air quality and what you can do to decrease your allergy symptoms.
10. Change the Way You Clean
Many popular cleaning products contain dangerous chemicals that can damage our health and the environment. When we use cleaning products, we expose our bodies to chemicals. We may inhale those chemicals, absorb them through our skin, or make contact with mucous membranes. By that you can worst you allergy condition. You can choose safer alternatives that are just as effective!
Original article and pictures take www.topinspired.com site
“Whenever I light a candle in my home I send blessings and protection to those I love, to the world for peace and for my home to be filled with love. What rituals do you have and what rituals can you change?” ~ Michele Knight
As most of us should know by now, the power of ritual or the microcosm is an essential thing to change if we are wishing to change the larger ritual of our lives, the macrocosm of our particular universe.
As right thoughts lead to right speech, and right speech lead to right action, and they in turn lead to right destiny, we must take care over the little things; the hundreds of thousands of things we do throughout the day.
Sometimes changing seemingly inconsequential habits and rituals throughout our day can give us the strength to gently but determinedly steer our lives into the direction we want them to go.
Crafting your daily ritual can be a creative and important practice, and requires a balance that honours all cycles inherent in life. Just as we welcome the sun and honour the new and limitless potential a day can bring, we also honour the night and those shimmering moments when all is still and we can rest.
Taking great care to get this right, also honours love for ourselves and (without aiming to be too productive as this can actually dampen our qi and stress us out) can naturally make us more creative in the long run.
The Stomach 7am-9am
Our days generally begin when the sun rises, and if we rise with the sun we can hope to gain more energy and clarity as a perfect way to start our days. I like to try to start the day with the affirmation: I am enough. That way, I remind myself that just my existence is enough to accomplish for the day to come, which stops me from beating myself up about anything I don’t get done, meaning I usually end up doing so much more than I even intended to.
In Chinese medicine, the hours between 7 and 9 am are ruled by the stomach. Starting the day with a healthy breakfast is essential; something raw and lovingly prepared like a fruit salad with fresh mint and yogurt can make the difference to the whole day. (Although according to The Foundations of Chinese Medicine by Giovanni Maciocia, it’s better to have a protein-rich diet in the morning)
Imbalance happens when we are too anxious or taking on others energy without letting ourselves enjoy life. Breathing meditation to our chakras, Kundalini yoga or some light qi gong will loosen up this area and help us be innocent and bouncy like a child.
Spleen 9am-11am
This is usually the time when we are naturally at our most productive, although again we must avoid too much worry and keep our intentions for the day clear and positive so as not get stuck in negative patterns which might escalate as the day progresses. This is generally the time to move at warp speed if you are going to, but keep it playful and unattached to too rigid a goal.
Working meditation, in particular working on the land meditation will help balance this element in your body as it is ruled by Earth. This will help you be grounded, at peace and cleansed.
Heart 11am-1pm
This is the perfect time to sit outside with friends or family and soak up the sun, eating your largest meal when the fires of your body and the joy of the heart are at their height. This is also the time when, if experiencing a weakness in heart energy might suffer from heart palpitations if we are working ourselves over our limit and not taking enough breaks.
Small Intestine 1pm-3pm
Having eaten a hearty (pun intended) lunch, this is when the body has optimal time for healthy bowel movements. It’s also a good time to have a nutritional snack to get your vitamins. Having achieved your most productive part of the day, now is the time to do some creative but relaxing activities as well as some socializing. Our bodies will be slowing down and more sleepy at this time. You might even want to take a quick siesta, depending on how hot the country you live in is, and split the day into two making you feel like you’re getting so much more out of your day than you already are!
Bladder 3pm-5pm
Either the time for building up to your second wind or possibly a time for some reflection and study of your deeper fears. The bladder and imbalance and disharmony in the bladder can lead to fears, something to be examined through dream interpretation and Jungian analysis. Writing down your fears and any sensitivity’s during this time will apparently help them pass out in your urine. If you are balanced in your water element this will be a time for conserving your energy and relaxing, or beginning to get the last of those tasks tied up.
Kidneys 5pm-7pm
Another water element, this is the time to get your energy back up, laugh, sing and dance around but with a deeper understanding and freer way about yourself as you prepare for the night and your evening meal. This is the time of courage and self awareness, as excitement and the days obstacles are all but faced.
Pericardium 7pm-9pm
The time to eat your evening meal, enjoy others company, chant, do an evening meditation and engage in loving and healthy sexual intimacy! The time before bed is when we honour the divine feminine with the protector of the heart; the Pericardium. This is when we deliver gratitude and open ourselves to receptivity, praying for loved ones and radiating in perhaps our most potent spike of energy since the day began.
Fire ceremony, song and chakra meditation are best at these times, and it is the time when we turn inwards and wholly accept every part of ourselves and other; not trying to progress, not trying to succeed, but just resting in our essence and under a carpet of stars.
Triple Burner 9pm-11pm
As we get further into the night, the festivities are winding down or perhaps our bed is calling, we are ruled by the Thorax, Abdomen and Pelvis. The Thorax controls intake, the Abdomen transformation, and the Pelvis eliminations. This is the most potent time for transforming blockages and receiving insight and a great inner knowing.
Gallbladder, Liver, Lung and Large Intestine 11pm-7am
Though perhaps we will be sleeping, the Gallbladder time is worth making notes of our dreams as it can be disharmonized if ruled by anger, as is the time of the liver, between 1-3am. If you wake up between either of these states it may mean you are avoiding a suppressed anger that needs to be addressed.
The Metal time of the Lung is when our minds (ironically considering we are generally asleep) is at its sharpest and most productive. Waking up at 3am and working until 5am can be an incredibly productive time; when we are nurtured by our dreams yet the rest of the world is asleep, it truly is the witching hour. If you try it yourself you will probably find that you will feel sharply awake and have a great clarity for creative or difficult projects that require maximum mind power.
And finally, the Large Intestine between 5-7am. This time before the sun rises can be an optimal time to rise, when our dreams are still close to the surface and we are at our most reflective. This is also the best time to wake and drink a glass or two of warm water with lemon juice to clean out the system before you break your fast and begin any rituals for the day ahead.
Reference:
Image Sources:
Original article and pictures take cdn.fractalenlightenment.com site
So when I saw this exclusive method for providing minor pain relief using my ears, I was obviously skeptical, but also curious.
I can’t always do stretches in the middle of my office, and I know that the doctor can’t always help with minor soreness — but something as simple as putting a clothespin on my ear? Well, it sounds crazy, but it has to be worth a shot!
While this method should never take the place of medical advice, I will definitely be giving this ear reflexology method a try — whether with a clothespin or just my fingertips.
Did this ear reflexology idea work for you? Let us know in the comments.
Each of these 6 different points on the ear is connected to pain and soreness in a specific part of the body. By applying pressure to each spot, you can relieve those aches.
Scroll through to find the part of the body that is ailing you!
The upper-most portion of the ear is directly connected to your back and shoulders. Applying a clothespin for about a minute should go a long way to reduce built-up tension. Try this several times a day to lessen that back and shoulder pain.
The next spot down on the ear is the one that is connected to the body’s organs. Obviously, if you have severe internal pain, you should be seeing a doctor. But for minor internal tenderness or discomfort, use a clothespin or your fingers on this spot. It may just give you the internal relief you are looking for.
The upper-middle part of the ear is the part that is most closely associated with pain and stiffness in the joints. Applying pressure with a clothespin or your fingers can offer some much needed relief. Chronic problems should necessitate a trip to the doctor, but why not try this simple method first?
The lower-middle part of the ear is the one that is connected to the sinuses and throat. When seeking relief from a cold or sinus infection, applying pressure to this spot can aid in the reducing of tension. A clothespin can go a long way to cutting down on pesky throat soreness.
Just above the lobe of the ear is a place most commonly associated with digestion. Using a clothespin to apply pressure can help relieve digestive issues and minor stomach problems. And if you are a person who often feels digestive discomfort, you can use this method in advance to try to be preventative.
The lowest place on the ear — the lobe — is the spot that is connected with two of the most important parts of the body: the head and the heart. Applying pressure to the ear lobe can work to promote heart health and to relieve unwanted pressure in the head. This method can be quite effective in eliminating pressure headaches.
This ear reflexology is so easy to do and can make a large difference in your day!
Will you be giving any of these a try? Let us know which ones in the comments.
Please SHARE this vital pain relief method with friends and family.
The upper-most portion of the ear is directly connected to your back and shoulders. Applying a clothespin for about a minute should go a long way to reduce built-up tension. Try this several times a day to lessen that back and shoulder pain.
The next spot down on the ear is the one that is connected to the body’s organs. Obviously, if you have severe internal pain, you should be seeing a doctor. But for minor internal tenderness or discomfort, use a clothespin or your fingers on this spot. It may just give you the internal relief you are looking for.
The upper-middle part of the ear is the part that is most closely associated with pain and stiffness in the joints. Applying pressure with a clothespin or your fingers can offer some much needed relief. Chronic problems should necessitate a trip to the doctor, but why not try this simple method first?
The lower-middle part of the ear is the one that is connected to the sinuses and throat. When seeking relief from a cold or sinus infection, applying pressure to this spot can aid in the reducing of tension. A clothespin can go a long way to cutting down on pesky throat soreness.
Just above the lobe of the ear is a place most commonly associated with digestion. Using a clothespin to apply pressure can help relieve digestive issues and minor stomach problems. And if you are a person who often feels digestive discomfort, you can use this method in advance to try to be preventative.
The lowest place on the ear — the lobe — is the spot that is connected with two of the most important parts of the body: the head and the heart. Applying pressure to the ear lobe can work to promote heart health and to relieve unwanted pressure in the head. This method can be quite effective in eliminating pressure headaches.
Back and shoulders
Organs
Joints
Sinuses and throat
Digestive area
Head and heart
This ear reflexology is so easy to do and can make a large difference in your day!
Will you be giving any of these a try? Let us know which ones in the comments.
Please SHARE this vital pain relief method with friends and family.
Original article and pictures take cdn7.littlethings.com site
