Fascia, “Fuzz,”…the Saran Wrap of Our Bodies and Why It’s So Important, Part One

Date: September 23, 2011

Author: meganb

Categories: Massage and Bodywork, Massage for Health

by Megan Belanger, LMT, NCTMB

When you think about our bodies and the things inside that keep us upright, that help us move, certainly bones and muscles come to mind. Based on anatomy illustrations we’ve seen in science classes or books, we picture a network of bones, joints, and cartilage, with muscles/tendons attaching to those bones, and our skin covering over everything, all nice and neat and compartmentalized.

But we’re leaving out a major piece of the puzzle – the connective tissue that, well, connects everything to everything. Fascia connects your skin to the layer of fat beneath it, it connects that fat to the underlying muscles, the muscles to the bones. Fascia encompasses those muscles, it wraps around every muscle fiber, every blood vessel, lymph vessel, and nerve, it surrounds your organs and holds them in place…it is a continuous network that permeates the human body.

What was once thought of as “the stuff that wraps around more important stuff to protect it” is now being studied and increasingly thought of as a key player in posture and movement, and possibly even more. As Helene Langevin states in her 2005 article, “Connective tissue: A body-wide signaling network?”: “Connective tissue…may function as a previously unrecognized whole body communication system. Since connective tissue is intimately associated with all other tissues (e.g. lung, intestine), connective tissue signaling may coherently influence (and be influenced by) the normal or pathological function of a wide variety of organ systems. Demonstrating the existence of a connective signaling network therefore may profoundly influence our understanding of health and disease.”

Noted anatomist Gil Hedley calls it “fuzz,” and he talks about how sometimes it can get overabundant in the wrong places, particularly in between the sliding surfaces of our musculature, whether from injury or from lack of movement or both, and how we need to physically move (and receive bodywork!) in order to “melt our fuzz” so that we can restore our movement along those sliding surfaces. (If you want to get nerdy and don’t mind images of cadavers, you can find a video of his 5-minute “fuzz speech” here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FtSP-tkSug).

Want to see fascial loosening at work in your own body? In massage school, one of my instructors taught me this trick and I have given it to many clients as “homework” ever since:

Grab a golf ball (or a Superball or some other kind of small, firm ball if you don’t have a golf ball handy, but I’m a fan of the golf ball) and keep it nearby. Stand comfortably, with your feet about shoulder-width apart and flat on the floor, and then bend forward as far as you can, hands toward the ground, as if trying to touch your toes. Don’t force anything – just take note of what’s going on. How far down can you reach? How does it feel along the back side of your body? Does it feel tight in places?

Once you’ve assessed this, stand up, and if your shoes aren’t already off, take them off (socks are fine) and place the golf ball on the floor. Hold on to something for balance if you need to and place one foot on the golf ball. Now simply roll the ball around underneath your foot as a kind of self-foot massage – no rules here: put as much weight on it as feels comfortable (watch that balance!), if you find a certain spot that feels like it needs a little more attention, hang out there for a little bit. Do this for about a minute or two, and then do the same thing under the other foot for a minute or two.

Place both feet flat on the floor again and bend over and touch your toes for the second time. What do you notice? Most people notice that they gain an inch or even more as far as how far down they can bend, and they may notice that where they felt stiffness the first time now feels just a little bit looser. Even more amazing is that some people find that self-foot massage like this can help alleviate or stave off a tension headache!

“But I only rubbed the bottoms of my feet!” you might be thinking. You did, but with all that fabulous connective fascia inside, your body—with all the differently-named bones and muscles—is one piece. The bottoms of the feet are where the Superficial Back Line of fascia begins, a meridian (one of many) of connective tissue that is pulling in the same direction, traveling up the backs of the legs, up alongside the spine, and all the way up to the top of the head. We are literally connected from head to toe.

This is where massage plays such a powerful role. The very heat and friction produced by a massage therapist’s work, including simple Swedish techniques, helps to change the consistency of that fuzz to make it more pliable and less “sticky”, and by working one area of the body (like the feet), we can effect change along fascial lines and throughout the body, hopefully helping to restore some movement and increase our clients’ comfort levels in their daily activities.

This is only Part One. More to come on the wonders of fascia, for sure. It’s hard to hold back!

Sources: Langevin, Helene M. “Connective tissue: A body-wide signaling network?” Medical Hypotheses, Volume 66, Issue 6, June 2006, pages 1074-1077.

Myers, Thomas W. Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual and Movement Therapists, Second Edition. (Elsevier Limited, 2009).

What is Neuromuscular Therapy(NMT) and how does it work?

Date: August 27, 2011

Author: Aaron

Categories: Massage for Athletes, Specialty Massage

Comments: Leave a reply

By Aaron Robbins , LMT

As most people are aware massage therapy can be useful in multiple ways ranging from relaxation and stress relief to pain and injury relief. Another effective treatment for muscle and soft tissue pain is neuromuscular therapy. It is a form of massage that specializes in two things: the location of pain areas, usually called trigger points, and the alleviation and removal of these points.

Neuromuscular therapy is based on how skeletal muscles work and the neural effects of their manipulation. Central to neuromuscular massage is the knowledge of trigger points, which are also referred to as myofascial points. These point are considered as tissues that are strained and stressed, and the goal of the massage is to stimulate these points sufficiently with the aim of relaxing them. This is how the pain is taken away.

Myofascial trigger points can be caused by injury, trauma, and ischemia, or the lack of supply of oxygen. Neuromuscular therapy works by applying pressure to these points in regular intervals. This is the unique feature to this form of massage. It does not apply pressure or stimulation directly to the trigger point, but to surrounding areas or to areas that affect it. This is why knowledge of the human anatomy and skeletal muscle structure is essential. By knowing on which points are causing pain, the neuromuscular therapist can then know which areas of the body to work on to treat the trigger points. This is also why neuromuscular massage is considered holistic in its approach at pain management and relief.

Neuromuscular therapy uses the hands, fingers, and thumbs. Should the situation need it, the elbows are also sometimes used. As to the sensation, people often report some level of pain associated with the massage. But as with any other massage, you would have to give the treatment some time to feel the effect. Usually, the calming effect can be felt within the therapy or at the end of it. Some patients are also confused at why the therapist would focus on areas that seem to be unrelated to the painful areas. As mentioned earlier, neuromuscular therapy works by addressing the areas that are affecting the trigger point, and these may not be located at the painful area itself.

Some of the conditions that neuromuscular massage can address are postural distortion, ischemia, tight joints and muscles, adhesions in the tissues, and sore muscles. It can also lead to stress relief if the source of stress is physical exhaustion or muscle fatigue.

You can get neuromuscular massage from physical therapists and other health professionals. Since the practice of neuromuscular massage requires ample knowledge of the human body, it requires training and education to be qualified to practice it. You should look for certification should you want to try neuromuscular therapy yourself.

What’s different about neuromuscular therapy is that it takes a more scientific approach at massage by basing it on the human physique. Through the manipulation of myofascial trigger points, this massage aims to relieve pain and stress on the muscles and tissues. If you prefer a massage that is more grounded on how the body works, then you could give neuromuscular therapy a try.

Celebrating the Power of Relaxation in Massage

Date: August 26, 2011

Author: meganb

Categories: Massage for Stress Relief

Comments: Leave a reply

by Megan Belanger, LMT

I’ve heard this a few times before a massage session: “I just want a relaxation massage today. Nothing major.”

Or after a more focused, therapeutic session: “Oh my gosh, I am SO relaxed” (followed by a sheepish look, as if that wasn’t supposed to happen and the client seems almost embarrassed to have let themselves relax).

Why “just” a relaxation massage? Why the chagrin over that fabulous, feel-good loopiness after you rise from the massage table and float out the door? Relaxation is one of the rare gifts that a therapist can give to their clients (how many times have you left, say, the dentist’s office or your primary care doctor’s office feeling that way?), but it is also valuable and beneficial for your body and your mind in ways that go far beyond just that initial “massage head:” euphoric feeling.

When the body is relaxed, when trust between therapist and client has been built, when the parasympathetic nervous system (the “rest and digest” state, as opposed to the highly anxious “fight or flight” sympathetic state) kicks in—this is when real healing begins. All those frenzied, rapid-fire thoughts that swing from one to the next—what Buddhists call your “monkey mind”—slow down to a calming purr. You can feel your muscles let go of some of the tension they have been holding, and this in itself creates benefits that you can feel, but this foundation of relaxation in a more focused, stuctural massage session also allows your therapist to manipulate your soft tissues more effectively and more comfortably for you. Further, it’s believed that relaxation as result of massage increases your systemic circulation, decreases your respiratory rate, that it promotes feelings of well-being and enhances the mind-body connection as well as lifts mood. What’s not to love?

In a recent randomized, controlled trial, both relaxation massage and more specific “structural massage” were studied as treatment for chronic low back pain. Not only did the results demonstrate that massage therapy improved function and decreased pain in participants with low back pain after 10 weeks, it also showed that a course of relaxation massage alone “had effects similar to those of structural massage. Both types of massage were associated with improved function at 26 weeks.” (Cherkin et al, 2011). The study also credited the results with possible nonspecific effects such as “time spent in a relaxing environment, being touched, receiving care from a caring therapist, being given self-care advice, or increased body awareness.” All of these are wonderful components of the work of massage, and, in my opinion, deserve to be celebrated.

It’s easy to think of taking time to relax as “doing nothing.” For some, if their massage therapist isn’t making them hurt for the whole session (“no pain, no gain”), then it’s just a “fluff and buff” and a “waste of time.” It’s okay to appreciate the softer side of massage—to recognize and relish in the specific, tangible results that come from specific, deep, focused work but to also unabashedly languish in those Swedish “dessert strokes” that make you melt. Enjoy the relaxation benefits, and walk out of your therapist’s office wearing your “massage head” with pride.

Source: “A Comparison of the Effects of 2 Types of Massage and Usual Care on Chronic Low Back Pain.” Daniel C. Cherkin, PhD; Karen J. Sherman, PhD, MPH; Janet Kahn, PhD; Robert Wellman, MS; Andrea J. Cook, PhD; Eric Johnson, MS; Janet Erro, RN, MN; Kristin Delaney, MPH; and Richard A. Deyo, MD, MPH. Annals of Internal Medicine, July 5, 2011, Vol. 155, No. 1, 1-9.

Are You a Computer Slave? How Massage Therapy Can Benefit You

Date: August 17, 2011

Author: meganb

Categories: Massage for Health

Comments: Leave a reply

by Megan Belanger, LMT

Even if you love your desk job, working at a computer all day can be a pain in the neck…and back, shoulders, hips, head….

If you’re like most folks, when you sit at your computer, your shoulders are slumped and rounded forward, your head is held forward as if you can WILL the computer screen to come closer to your face, your feet may be tucked under your chair or you may cross one leg over the other. And by the end of the day, or when you’re getting out of bed the next morning, or—if you’re lucky—maybe months or YEARS down the road, it hits ya. Pain, stiffness, headaches, maybe even chronic digestion problems. All thanks to being a computer slave.

And let’s be honest, I feel your pain, because I hold this cruddy posture too. I’m doing it as I’m writing this (hel-LO crossed legs!) and have to consciously force myself to put my feet flat on the floor and straighten my spine and shoulders. Because when you sit this way, certain back, neck, and chest muscles become overly contracted and shortened from having to support your head and spine in this position, while other muscles become overly weakened and lengthened. This imbalance gives you that pain, stiffness, and tension. You’re also essentially smooshing your blood vessels, reducing blood supply to your muscles, resulting in more pain, plus an increased risk of fatigue and a higher chance of injury, not to mention less oxygen to your brain. Not pretty.

Okay, enough blah blah blah about how the computer is wrecking my body. I ain’t giving up my PC anytime soon, so what can we do about it?

The beauty of massage for us computer slaves is that your therapist can identify which of those neck, back, shoulder, or hip muscles are in that shortened or lengthened pattern and manually help coax them back to their intended state. Through both superficial and deep work with those muscles’ fibers and the surrounding fascia (the “Saran Wrap” that covers everything in our bodies and has recently been shown to play a major role in posture. More on fascia in future articles, mainly because I think it is the COOLEST tissue in our bodies), massage therapy can relax and create length in those overly contracted bits and “wake up” and create breadth in those poor stretched-out and weakened muscles (like that spot between your shoulder blades. You know the one I’m talking about). Between the work that your massage therapist does during your sessions plus the stretches and posture tweaks that they’ll show you how to do at home, your body starts to get a sense of “Oh, right, THIS is how I’m supposed to carry myself.” The next time you’re at your desk, maybe you’re more aware of those shoulders creeping forward and you take a deep breath and slowly bring them back and down away from your ears, maybe you pull your head up straight and take notice how—even though it’s not your “normal”—it feels…right. Suddenly you’re one step further away from that chronic pain and tension, one step closer to feeling better, not just after your massage, but every day.

Sleep Disorders – Something You Always Want Know About

Date: June 6, 2011

Author: admin

Categories: Sleep and Rest

Definition
A sleep disorder (somnipathy) is a medical disorder of the sleep patterns. It’s important to understand why sleep disorder can deteriorate your health and interfere with normal physical, mental and emotional functioning as it effects your nervous system in the production of the natural hormone melatonin which is necessary for sleep and wakefulness. Polysomnography testing can help to evaluate and detect the patterns of sleep disorder.

The basic of sleep
Why sleep is so important, you might already know that a normal night of sleep is about eight hours as recommended by most doctors. Why it is important, because during sleep our bodies repair the wear ant tear of muscle tissue, consolidate memories, and release hormones to regulate our growth and appetites and enhance the immune system, etc. The effect of disorder sleep can reduce the functions of the immune system in fighting against disease and sickness.

Most Common sleep disorders – The symptoms
1. Primary insomnia
Most of us might find hard to sleep and maintaining sleep sometime during our life time because of what ever reasons, but prolonged period of difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or both without primary reason is considered the medical issue as chronic insomnia. It effects about 10% of general population.

2. Bruxism
Bruxism is a condition in which you grind, gnash or clench your teeth while sleeping, involuntarily.

3. Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS)
Delayed sleep phase syndrome affects about 10% of all chronic insomnia cases. It is defined as a sleep disorder of people who have a natural inclination to go to bed later other than normal sleep routine and difficult to wake up at the desired time as it also interferes with daily activities, such as school or work, that requires to wake up earlier than would otherwise be natural, leading to sleep deprivation and other issues.

4. Hypopnea syndrome
Hypopnea Syndrome is a condition in which an individual experiences overly shallow breathing or a abnormally slow rate of airflow during sleep, leading to disruption in breathing causes lower oxygen absorption that affect the blood oxygen level that disrupts the stages of sleep. Individual with hyponea syndrome even though get full night sleep but still feels tiredness at daytime.

5. Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder caused by the brain’s inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles normally, causing overwhelming daytime drowsiness, leading to extreme fatigue and possibly falls asleep at inappropriate times that interferes with daily routine activities. People with narcolepsy often find it hard to stay awake for long periods of time.

6. Night terror
Night terror is defined as a health condition with characteristic of fear, flailing and screaming while asleep. It is most happened to children with age two to six and affects about fifteen percent of all children. Night terror often is paired with sleepwalking.
7. Parasomnias:
Parasomnias are sleep disorders characterized by abnormal and unnatural movements, behaviors, emotions, perceptions, etc. including bedwetting, sleepwalking, nightmares.

8. Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD)
Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) is a condition in which a person crampsor jerks the legs repetitively and uncontrollably during asleep causing excessive daytime sleepiness and falling to sleep during the day. PLMD can occur at any age but happens most common in middle-aged and older people.

9. Rapid eye movement behavior disorder
Rapid eye movement behavior disorder is a sleep disorder characterized by abnormal behavior while sleeping with rapid eye movement. It is mostly associated with the elderly with neurodegenerative disorders.

10. Restless legs syndrome (RLS):
RLS is a neurological disorder characterized by an irresistible to move your legs while you’re sitting or lying down due to comforting if stop.

11. Situational circadian rhythm sleep disorders
Circadian rhythm sleep disorders is characterized as health condition of disruptions in a person’s circadian rhythm, leading to excessive sleepiness and a lack of daytime alertness that interferes with normal work, school, and social needs.

13. Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more abnormal pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep. Each pause in breathing called an apnea can last for a few seconds but sometime minutes. This types of abnormal breathing can occur 30 times or more in an hour.

14. Sleep paralysis
Sleep paralysis consists of a period of inability to perform voluntary movements either at sleep onset (called hypnogogic or predormital form) or upon awakening (called hypnopompic or postdormtal form). It can occur in healthy persons or may be associated with excessive daytime sleepiness, a sudden loss of muscle tone, etc.

15. Sleepwalking
Sleep walking or somnambulism is defined as an disorder of is a disorder of walking or doing any activity when sleeping.These activities can be as benign or extremely hazardous.

16. Nocturia
Nocturia or nycturiais a condition in which you need to get up during the night to go to washroom to urinate.

17. Somniphobia
Somniphobia or hypnophobia is an abnormal fear of sleep. It may result from a feeling of control loss, anxiety around bedtime, panic attacks, repeating nightmares, etc.

18. Etc.

Causes and Risk Factors
1. Genetics
Narcolepsy is a type of neurological sleep disorder caused by a number of genetic abnormalities such as Chromosome 6 also known as the human leukocyte antigen system, inherited from parents affecting certain biologic functions in the brain, together with other environmental factors during the child early brain’s development.

2. Working the night shift
Working night shift may interfere with the brain natural production of the sleep hormone serotonin and normal functions of the inner biological clocks, leading to drowsiness. If this type of problem happened in a prolonged period of time may cause sleep disorder.

3. Medications
Certain types of medicines such as medication for high blood pressure, oral contraceptives, diet pills, anti depression, etc. and medication with with caffeine can increase the risk of sleep disorder.

4. Aging
The risk of sleep disorder increases with age as over half of adults over the age of 65 have some sort of sleep disorder.

5. Smoking
Cigarette contains high amount of nicotine, a stimulant which can cause sleep disorder as researchers found that smokers enhances daytime sleepiness more than do nonsmokers, especially in younger age groups.

6. Illegal drugs
Illegal drugs interfere natural brain normal functions in productions of certain hormones and blocks certain chemicals’ function in transporting important neural signals, leading to sleep disorder.

7. Alcohol
Although it is considered as a sedative or calming drug, but it increases the number of times a person awakens in the later half of the night, leading to lead daytime fatigue and sleepiness causing alcohol-related sleep disorders.

8. Etc.

Improve your diet
1. Tryptophan rich foods
Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, the precursor to serotonin, in turn, converted to melatonin, via N-acetyltransferase and 5-hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase activities which are necessary neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting nerve impulses in the brain and induce relaxation and natural sleep, but high levels of tryptophan can increase the risk of drowsiness and cause harmful harmful effects of the age-related increase in brain serotonin. Intake food rich of tryptophan from the food below.
a. Chicken breast and Turkey
b. Tuna
c. Soybean
d. Beef
e. Lamb
f. Halibut
g. Shrimp
h. Salmon
i. Etc.

2. Carbohydrate
Eating foods with high in carbohydrate stimulates the pancreas in production and releasing insulin in the blood stream as it also reduce others amino acids which would otherwise complete with trytophan, leading to the production of serotonin, which in return enhances the production melatonin, the natural sleep induced hormone.
a. Bread and pasta
b. Whole gain cereal
c. Potatoes
d. Apple pie and
e. Ice cream
f. Oatmeal and raisin cookies
g. Etc.
High amount of simple carbohydrate over prolonged period of time can increase the risk of type II diabetes due to over work that diminishes the function of pancreas in production of insulin. It If you are any symptom of sleep disorder, eating turkey combined with complex carbohydrate rich foods would be a better choice for meat and glucose. What is your choice?

3. Chlorophyll
All green plants including algae contain at least one type of chlorophyll, the green pigment of plants which allows plants to absorb sun light and convert them into usable energy. Beside it is best known as oxygen uptaker to the blood, it is also important to calm the nervous system, to induce sleep due to rich amount of magnesium.
a. All dark green plants( Roman lettuce is the best choice)
b. Algae (Fresh water organic growth is the best choice)
c. Etc.

4. Magnesium
Magnesium is a natural sedative and stabilization of abnormal nerve excitation as it is used in conjunction with other medication to treat depressed elderly type 2 diabetics.. The mineral is important in manipulating of ATP, DNA, and RNA and many enzymes.
a. Leaf green vegetables (due to high amount of Chlorophyll)
b. Almonds
c. Sesame seed
d. Blackstrap molasses
e. Brewer’s yeast
f. Whole grains
g. Etc.

Improve your Lifestyle
1. Cut down intake of alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine
Alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine are stimulant, some may have health benefits for the short time, but prolonged of period of using them can cause tension of nervous system, affecting the brain in transmitting information between nerve cells and cells in other parts of the body, causing many kinds of disorder, including sleep disorder.

2. Artificial ingredients
Artificial ingredients are man made chemical compounds which have been proven to be harmful to our health and sleep, if eating in measure amounts. Drinking water will keep the body hydrated, dilute toxins concentration and eliminate toxins. Always wash your fruit and vegetables in cold water before eating to prevent pesticides.

3. Toxins induced sleep disorder
Heavy metals and toxic chemicals in the blood can cause sleep disorder. Exposure to heavy metals and toxic chemicals over a prolonged periods of time also interrupt the normal function of brain in production of hormones and damage to the body organs, leading to diseases, including hormone imbalance and sleep disorder.

4. Improve sleep
There are some steps which you can do to improve healthy sleep and prevent to become a victim of sleep disorder. Researcher found that a good night’s sleep not only boosts the immune system in fighting against foreign invasion but also repairs all tear and wear of the body after daily activity in previous day and restore energy and keep you functioning during times when sleep is limited.

5. Eating healthy foods
Eating some kinds of healthy food above enhances the production of serotonin which induces sleep and protects us against the accumulation of toxins by promoting the immune system to cope with today out of our controllable environment hazard.

6. Exercise
Exercise not only improves blood circulation and enhance body movement but also help to cleanse our body organs by eliminating toxins from the blood and lymph system.

7. Weight loss
Weight loss for overweight or obesity person may reduce the symptoms of disorder or cure your sleep disorder entirely. Researcher found that overweight and obese individuals slept less than those of normal weight and sleeping less than 8 hours a day, time of sleeplessness increases proportionally with weight gain of BMI index.

8. Etc.

Detoxification
1. With nutritional supplements
There is no quick way in detoxification, fasting too fast may even harmful to your health. Nutritional supplements not only help to improve our health, restore our energy but also revitalize our metabolism, the chemical processes in our body by restoring and balancing the existing deficiencies of nutrition required by our organs to detox. Types of nutritional supplements used to detox include
a. Beta Carotene
b. Vitamin A
c. Vitamin C
d. Vitamin E
e. Calcium
f. Folate acid
g. Vitamin B Complexes
h. Selenium
i. Zinc
g. Lycopene
k. Etc.

2. With diet
Detox diet is a short-term diet, focused on cleansing environmental and dietary toxins accumulated in our body system, often focused on removing toxins from the body by increasing the frequency of bowel movements and urination, as it provides an optimal conditions for our bodies to focus on self-healing, retore and raise energy levels, enhance organs and system functions, stimulate optimal health, prevent premature aging, disease, etc. by minimizing intake of the amount of toxic chemicals, eating foods with high amount of vitamins, nutrients, antioxidants, high fiber and water.

3. Juice fasting
Juice fasting is a type of fasting and detox diet in which a person consumes only fruit and vegetable juices. Since juice contains little to no fiber, it is often used to cleanse your body toxins by expelling waste from the intestines and colon.The below are used generally in juice fasting
a. Vegetables
Celery, cucumber, bell pepper, etc.
b. Leaf Greens
Parsley, kale, beet greens, chard, spinach, etc.
c. Cruciferous vegetables
Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, etc.
d. Root vegetables
Carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, etc.
e. Fruits
Dark grapes, apples, lemon, etc.
f. Wheat grass
g. Etc.

For details of foods of above visit 100+ Healthy Foods Classification or
Super Food Health Effects

4. Organs detoxification
4.1. Liver detoxification
Liver is the first line of defense. It helps to regulate the level of cholesterol in the circulatory system by producing bile to the digestive system. It also help to balance our body hormones such as estrogen level in women as well as protecting our body from inflammation. Weakened liver will cause many types of diseases, such as cholesterol and triglyceride building up in our blood, inflammation, hormonal imbalance, etc. The natural remedies used for liver cleansing include
a. Milk thistle
Milk thistle, a flower plant of the daisy family have been traditionally claimed in treating chronic liver disease. It contains silymarin that helps to protect liver function and the liver in expelling toxins.

b. St. John wort
St. John wort is also known as tipton weed or klamath weed. It has been used traditionally in treating depression. It contains different flavonoids and 3-O-coumaroylquinic acid that has anti-inflammation and antioxidant effects by stimulating the immune system in fighting allergies and liver protection from toxins.

c. Fennel
Fennel contains anethole, polymers and essential oil that helps the liver and pancreas in the metabolism of fats and sugars. It also helps to dissolve fat deposits of the body and restore damaged liver cells that cause jaundice, hepatitis and other liver disorders.

d. Etc.

4.2. Lung detoxification
The best lung cleansing method is exercise. Moderate exercise such as walking, Tai chi only helps to improve the respiratory muscle functions, but also helps our lung to expel toxins accumulated through the air. Natural remedies used for lung detoxification include
a. Wild Cherry Bark
Wild cherry bark traditionally has been used to treat irritable and persistent, cough of bronchitis, and pertussis due to increased irritability of respiratory mucosa. Since it has antispasmodic qualities, it has been used with other herbs to treat asthma and enhance relaxation as well as removing toxins from the lung.

b. Platycodon
Root Platycodon has been used in Chinese medicine for over a century in treating abscesses, respiratory disorders, and intestinal disorders. Study shows that platycodon roots not only help to treat coughs due to purulent sputum and inflammation in the chest area but also removes toxins in the lung.

c. Mullein Mullein contains coumarin and rotenone. It has a long history of being used as a medicine and is an effective treatment for asthma and respiratory disorders. Mullein also helps in soothing the mucous membranes, reducing inflammation and encouraging healthy fluid production in the lungs.

d. Etc.

4.3. Bowl detoxification
Bowel detoxification is particularly helpful for improving body conditions and controlling weight loss. It brushes the intestine clean and helps the liver to cleanse toxins rapidly, so you can get rid of all parasites and plaques in your stomach, intestines and colon. The choice of bowl cleansing include
a. Flax seed
Flax seed contains high amounts of omega 3 fatty acid, fiber and lignan that not only helps in controlling cholesterol in the blood stream and provides essential nutrition to our body, its fiber also helps to soften the stool and promote bowel movements for relief of constipation by removing all toxins accumulated in the colon.

b. Psyllium
Psyllium contains about 70% soluble fiber and 30% insoluble fiber. Besides having proven record in Chinese medicine in treating high levels of cholesterol, its fiber portion has been used to treat constipation by softening stools and easing bowel movements.

c. Bentonite
Bentonite is a natural clay that comes from volcanic ash. Taken internally, the adsorbent action of bentonite helps to eliminate and remove toxic material from the intestine.

d. Liquid clay Liquid clay moves through our body and attaches to any bacteria, virus as well as toxins in our intestine and removes them out of our body as wastes resulting in improved intestinal regularity, easing chronic constipation and easing indigestion.

e. Etc.

4.4. Circulatory detoxification
Chelation therapy is the first choice of treatment, with the IV above your head, the substances in the IV help to cleanse the toxic chemicals such as lead, mercury, calcium, etc in your arteries and brain. It is usually applied to people with pre existing heart conditions and between ages of 35-45. Natural remedies include
a. Raw sauerkraut
Sauerkraut is finely shredded cabbage and has been fermented by various lactic acid bacteria with distinct sour flavor. It contains high amounts of vitamin C, lactobacilli and other nutrients that helps to improve blood circulation and increase level of oxygen in the blood stream. It also is said to have done a super job in purifying your blood as well as anti aging effects.

b. Garlic Garlic is nature’s super food. Besides having been used in strengthening the immune system, fighting inflammation and infection caused by bacteria, virus, and chronic illness. It also is a blood thinner, blood purifier as well as increasing the level of oxygen in the blood and improving blood circulation.

c. Dang Qui
Dang qui has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousand of years in improving blood quality and purity, and help strengthen the immune system as it supports the body’s removal of toxins in the blood.

d. Etc.

4.5. Skin detoxification
Skin is our body third line of defense. If the weaken liver and kidney can not completely eliminate all the toxins in our body, our body will try to eliminate them through the skin causing certain types of skin diseases such as free radicals.
a. Chromium
Chromium is very important in rejuvenating the skin condition. It helps to balance the blood sugar, and lower stress and depression. Both are main factors that impact skin problems. It also helps to get rid of skin toxins caused by bacteria and virus infection.

b. Zinc
Deficiency of zinc causes the thickening of skin. It is also a powerful antibiotic in treating acne and other forms of skin diseases caused by skin inflammation and toxins accumulation as a resulting of stimulating the release of vitamin A from the skin.

c. Lecithin
Lecithin is a fat-like substance, or phospholipid, produced by every healthy liver that is needed for a healthy skin. Lecithin helps the body in utilizing vitamins A, D, E in fighting against the bacteria and virus that causes skin problems. It also helps to eliminate the toxins on the skin or around the eyes caused by fatty deposits.

d. Strawberry leaf
Strawberries come in endless varieties but all leaves of all strawberries contain healing tannins. It has also been used to aid in the treatment of anemia, eczema, jaundice and other skin problems caused by weakening of the liver.

e. Etc.

4.6. Kidney detoxification
Our kidneys process a special function to eliminate waste products and extra fluids from our blood. The waste and extra fluids flow through ureters as you urinate. If your kidneys are damaged or weakened, the wastes would build up in the blood causing blood poison and damaging other organs. Natural remedies used to cleanse kidney include

a. Dandelion leaf
Dandelion is a rich source of vitamins A, B complex, C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc. Dandelion root has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine in treating liver disease by stimulating the removal of liver toxins. Dandelion leaf on the other hand are used as a diuretic to stimulate the excretion of urine in removing the toxin accumulated in the kidney.

b. Echinacea
Commonly called purple coneflower. It contains a wide variety of chemicals that not only helps to strengthen the immune system but also stimulates the removal of toxins that causes kidney inflammation and infection.

c. Corn silk
Corn silks are the silky fibers that are found under the leaves and on top of an ear of corn. It contains flavonoids, essential oil and minerals that helps effectively in treating acute and chronic inflammation of the urinary system caused by toxins accumulated in the kidney.

d. Etc.

4.7. How to sharpen your brain
The best method to cleanse your brain is oxygen therapy. By providing the oxygen necessary for brain cells needs, it helps to rejuvenate and sharpen the brain cells. Study shows that oxygen therapy helps to restore some cells in patient with Alzheimer diseases. Natural remedies used to sharpen brain functions include
a. Gingko
Ginkgo is perhaps the most widely currently used herbal treatment in memory enhancing. Extracts of Ginkgo leaves contain active and potent form of terpenoids such as bilobalides and ginkgolides that help to enhance the central nervous system functions. Ginkgo should only be taken under the guidance of a knowledgeable medical professional because of risk of bleeding .

b. Rosmary
Rosemary is a hardy bushy perennial shrub with aromatic, evergreen leaves and pale-blue flowers around the stem. It contains phenolic acids , bitter diterpenes, triterpenes, and flavonoids. it is used for headaches, nervous system disorder as well as preventing forming of free radical with its amazing antioxidant properties.

c. Etc.

5. With Melatonin
Beside it is used as a supplement in promoting immune system and anti-aging, melatonin supplement also benefits for varies sleep-wake rhythm. Melatonin pills work quickly, usually people taking the pill fall into sleep in less than an hour. Unfortunately, prolonged period of using the supplement may reduce the functions of endocrine system in production its own melatonin in regulating the sleep cycle if you constantly supply the body with external sources.
Synthetic melatonin is different than natural one, it can cause some unknown long term effects.
Also researcher have not found out the optimal dose to make the supplement working in perfect objective, it is up to individual to experiment with different dose before finding the right dose for their needs.

Treatments
Treatments for sleep disorders generally can be grouped into four categories:
1. Psychotherapeutic treatments
a. Behavior therapy
Behavior therapy is a psychotherapy pproach based on learning theory with purpose to treat sleep disorder by reinforceing desirable habits and eliminating undesired behaviors by replcaing them with more satisfying behavior.

b. Congnitive behavior therapy
Cognitive behavior therapy is another psychotherapy approach and mental health counseling with a purpose to solve problems concerning dysfunctional emotions, behaviors that affect the the sleep patterns by teaching people specific cognitive and behavioral skills to help them control and preventing dysfunctional emotions, behaviors and cognition through a systematic method.

c. Interpersonal therapy
Interpersonal therapy is another form of psychotherapy approach has been used successfully with depressed patients causes of sleep disorder by improving the quality of patient’s interpersonal world, relationships, etc.

d. Gestalt therapy
Gestalt therapy is a psychotherapy approach based on the philosophy of existentialism and phenomenology by emphasizing personal responsibility, focussing upon the individual’s experience in the present and working together (The therapist and patient) work together to help the patient understand the environmental and social contexts of a person’s life. The theory was developed by Fritz Perls, Laura Perls and Paul Goodman in the 1940s and 1950s.

e. Etc.

2. Rehabilitation
Polysomnography is one most common used sleep machine to record patients sleep behavior usually performed at night by monitoring the body functions including brain (EEG), eye movements (EOG), muscle activity or skeletal muscle activation (EMG) and heart rhythm (ECG) during sleep, etc. Once the symptoms of sleep disorder is identified, the specific rehabitation program is desired for the patient to obtain an optimal result.

3. Medications
Medication used depending to particular sleep problems of each individual
a. Anti-Parkinsonian drugs (dopamine agonists)
Used to treat restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder

b. Benzodiazepines, including in a class of drugs called hypnotics.
Used to treat parasomnias, bruxism (teeth grinding) and short-term insomnia.

c. Non-benzodiazepine hypnotics
Used to treat short-term insomnia.

d. Antinarcoleptics
Mainly used to reduce daytime drowsiness for shift workers or suffered from narcolepsy or sleep apnea.

e. Anticonvulsants
Used to treat nocturnal eating syndrome, restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, and insomnia related to bipolar disorder.

f. Etc.

4. Other somatic treatments
a. Surgical treatments
Surgical treatment may sometime is necessary to treat breathing-related sleep disorders in some patients, such as obstruction or airway abnormality.

b. Phototherapy or light therapy
Phototherapy uses bright, specific wavelengths of light in a prescribed amount of time to change the timing of sleep and wakefulness. It is worked specially well for patient with Circadian rhythm sleep disorders such as chronic CRSD, and situational CRSD.

c. etc.

5. Etc.

We will come back with the same subject viewed under the microscope of Traditional Chinese Medicine. At the mean time, enjoy reading.

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http://medicaladvisorjournals.blogspot.com
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