February 4, 2012

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Massage Therapy: A Natural Stress Reliever

October 15, 2009 By

For decades, massage has been touted as a method of stress relief, but unless you`ve experienced the benefits of a good massage yourself, you might be skeptical. After all, a decent massage can put a bit of a hole in your wallet, so is it really worth it? Will you really be relaxed and calm after some bodywork?

What Is Massage?

Very simply put, massage therapy is when the masseuse manipulates the tissues, muscles and tendons in someone. This is usually done using the hands and fingers, but there are assorted methods of massage that involve everything from special tools to actually using feet and elbows to maneuver the recipient`s body. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Stress and Relaxation Tagged With: ,


Rehab and Detox – Natural Choices

July 20, 2009 By

If you or a loved one is suffering with an addiction, eating disorder or depression, you may have considered intervention centers. Whether you’ve seen Intervention on the television, or are just personally aware of how difficult it is to cope with addiction, you know there’s an end to the downward spiral. But it doesn’t have to be a negative one.

Alternative medicine is now playing a big part in rehab and detox centers across North America. Spas, accupunture, massage and yoga is often part of many treatment programs. It’s all made to help you feel relaxed and safe while you go through the program. You will also find healthy gourmet meals, internet access and a relaxing atmosphere are also quite the norm. Rehab aind detox centers really can be positive, nurturing places to be while you recuperate.

If you or a loved one is suffering with an eating disorder like Bulimia or Anorexia, you know that help is necissary. When looking for a support and treatment program, a good place to look is at your local community services – they can help you find a residential eating disorders treatment program that suits your family and budget. You don’t have to do it alone.

Or perhaps your loved one is suffering with drug addiction. Local community centers will be able to put you in touch with residential drug treatment facilities. Get the professional help and support you need to ensure a safe and effective transition back to health and happiness.

Filed Under: Disabilities and Disorders, Stress and Relaxation


Treat ADD Without Medication

November 8, 2008 By

Having a child with ADD is a difficult thing. Learning to deal with your child and helping him/her live and learn is a challenge. But what is really difficult is when your child’s school insists on medication. It should never be someone else who makes that decision for you or you child, and certainly not people who aren’t even doctors. It’s a terrible thing when you are forced to consider pharmaceuticals that have ingredients you know are potentially harmful and toxic. Especially when long term effects or testing is negligible or non-existant.

There are other options for parents who do not want to be forced to medicate their ADD child. A fairly new discover is that EEG (Electroencephalography) can improve attention and behavioral control. You CAN treat ADD without medication.

Filed Under: Mental Health Tagged With:


Take a Spa Time Out

November 7, 2008 By

Mom’s know best that taking a time out for yourself is often the last thing on your huge daily to-do list. You need to get up early enough to get the kids fed and ready for school, see them off to school, go to work, get home to prepare and cook supper and clean up again after you are all done. A mom’s work is never done!

A mom really needs to take time for herself. If you can only do it once in a while, DO it. Don’t think you should or could, just do it! I bet a facial or massage at a Pickering spa would be just the thing to help you unwind. Treat yourself for once. Maybe a pedicure and manicure combo? A mom should be pampered once in a while, don’t you think?

Filed Under: Spa Treatments, Stress and Relaxation


Common Uses for Bach Flower Essences

September 26, 2008 By

For thousands of years, our ancestors used natural remedies to help individuals with physical or mental health problems.  These formulas were passed from generation to generation for centuries until modern medicine came into being.  Modern medicine, while it saves lives and does amazing things, may be missing out on the potential benefits associated with natural health products.

The Origin of Bach Flower Essences

Bach Flower Essences are named for Dr. Edward Bach, a British physician.  He was an extremely successful physician but felt concerned about the tendency of modern medicine to focus on disease, rather than the patient’s health as a whole.  He gave up his practice in 1930 and devoted his time and energy to finding natural remedies.

Dr. Bach found that there were 38 essences that would unblock the natural health potential in himself and his patients.  These 38 essences corresponded to various mental states and were composed of refined herbal extracts.

What Exactly Are the Bach Flower Essences?

Bach Flower Essences are natural remedies made using an all-natural process.  Natural wild flower infusions are added to spring water by steeping it in the sun or by boiling it.  Hand made in England, the 38 Bach Flower Essences are preserved using grape brandy.

The principle behind the use of natural remedies like the Bach Flower Essences is that there is a mind-body connection.  If the mind is at peace, then the body will also return to a healthy condition.  This natural health approach is based on the idea that dispelling negative feelings like anger, anxiety, and indecisiveness will allow the body to heal itself.

How Animals Can Benefit from Bach Flower Essences

Most animal lovers will tell you that animals also feel emotions.  You can tell when your dog is depressed or anxious or when he feels jealous or angry.  Animal behavior is also affected by these emotions, so it important to get animal emotions in balance.  Bach Flower Essences are one way to help restore emotional equilibrium in your pet.

Bach Flower Essences During Pregnancy

Both your intuition and you doctor will tell you that you must be careful what you consume during pregnancy.  There is a long list of forbidden foods and medications.  However, Bach Flower Essences are not on that list.  They promote natural health and are safe for expectant mothers.

Pregnancy is a time of great emotional turmoil, making it also a very important time to consider natural remedies for emotional issues.  Hormonal imbalances and simply adjusting to the state of pregnancy can cause rush of feelings that are difficult to process and can lead to health problems.  Bach Flower Essences are one of the safest ways to deal with these concerns.

Children and Bach Flower Essences

Childhood is often described as a carefree time, but most of us know that simply isn’t true.  Children, especially the children of today, feel anxious and depressed at times.  These feelings can lead to greater health problems and should be resolved as quickly and simply as possible.

Since you don’t want to endanger your child’s health with any unnecessary chemicals, natural remedies are a good way to restore balance to your child’s emotional health.  Bach Flower Essences are completely safe for children and babies.

Why Natural Health is Sometimes Better

Conventional medicine is extremely effective in many areas; however, there is a tendency, as Dr. Bach discovered, for many medical doctors to focus on curing specific physical ailments, rather than looking deeper into the patient’s emotional health.  In addition, medical remedies often carry warnings about side effects and dangerous overdoses.  Natural remedies are much safer and provide a complementary therapy to regular medical care.

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine, Aromatherapy, Mental Health, Natural Health, Natural Remedies Tagged With: , , , ,


Traveling With Peace of Mind

August 29, 2008 By

Usually a vacation or weekend retreat involves a lot of relaxation. Perhaps some personal reflection and some really, really good food. It’s easy to find peace of mind while you are on holiday with long evening strolls on the beach after a day of lazing by the water with a good book.

So why risk your holiday happiness with a huge bill you didn’t expect if you fall ill to a local bug, or suffer food poisoning? If your medical insurance does not cover more than the basic minimum, you may find yourself without medical care if you think to buy visitors medical insurance before you started your trip.

Even worse, if you needed emergency medical evacuation from that quaint village that was just a bit too far off the beaten trail, you could find yourself having to resort to the ministrations of whatever local ‘doctor’ that could be found.

Don’t take the risk of being caught without visitors health insurance whether you are traveling within your own country, or abroad. Make sure you know what is covered, or not, in your own medical insurance plan before you go. It is very likely you will need additional coverage.

Filed Under: Stress and Relaxation Tagged With: