Are you suffering from allergies, asthma & sinus problems? I know more than a few people who are, myself included. According to allergy experts, with record pollen counts this fall has been one of the worst, and longest, allergy seasons yet. Due to a particularly wet summer, ragweed pollen levels have surged and standing water left over from summer flooding and Hurricane Irene has increased the amount of mold, a common year-round allergen, in the air. What’s more, the allergy season is expected to last a few weeks longer than usual this year, according to research published earlier this year in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
For natural relief, try this reflexology tip: Hold a hard ball, ideally a golf ball or if you’re lucky enough to have a massage ball, in your hand. Clasp your two hands together, interlinking fingers. Roll the golf ball over your palms for 30 secs. Target the area below your thumbs-the adrenal reflex area. Focus pressure on areas where it is most sensitive.
On the hand, this “allergy relief” area is found on the palms of both hands, halfway down the long first metacarpal bone of the hand below the thumb. To find the area (first on your left hand), rest your right thumb on top of your left thumb. Slide the right hand down toward the wrist, so that your thumb presses in the fleshy area bewteen the base of your thumb and your wrist. Your hand is now positioned so that your right index finger can curl around the hand and you can use your right thumb to exert pressure at the midpoint between wrist and the base of the thumb. Press here with your thumb and make small circles for about 15-20 seconds.
Does the area feel normal or tender and sensitive? If it’s sensitive, you’re right on target to the reflex area to the adrenals. If not, reposition your thumb slightly to press and test another area. 
Another reflex area to stimulate is the tip of each finger, which is the reflex area to the sinuses. Pinch each fingertip with your other hand for about 10 seconds each.
Stress relief from my what?! 
In this day and age, who isn’t anxious once in a while? It’s a chaotic world, and it’s often hard to let go and really relax. Unfortunately, stress is very damaging to our entire system and most doctors agree that over 75% of our health problems can be linked to stress. When we’re stressed, our body’s defense mechanism begins to break down, making us more susceptible to illness and disease. 
Anyone feeling stressed should become familiar with the SOLAR PLEXUS, the “nerve switchboard” of the body. This complex network of nerves, located behind the stomach and in front of the diaphragm, sends energy impulses to the upper part of the abdomen. Also called the “abdominal brain”, its purpose is to help balance the sympathetic nervous system, regulate the functions of the organs, and restore calm. It’s often affected by stress, anger, and depression.
Reflexology is extremely effective for calming and balancing the nervous system. It can help you let go of tension and soothe your mind. Reflexology is a drug-free coping mechanism for stress and a way to get in touch with what’s happening on the inside. For a quick route to stress relief, stimulate the reflex area to the SOLAR PLEXUS,
which is located on both feet, in the center of the foot, about half-way between the toes and the heel. This is a great starting point to relax yourself or your partner. Press the solar plexus point for 20 seconds to balance your nervous system and bring inner calm. Repeat this several times on each foot.
Stimulating the reflex to the solar plexus can relax the entire body and bring overall stress relief. It also promotes better, deeper breathing, and relieves the discomfort of allergies, asthma, and even acne. This reflex point is also the center of the third chakra, the Solar Plexus chakra, which relates to your personal power. Located an inch or two above the navel, this chakra is the focus point for our sense of power, ego, authority, self-control and discipline. It’s where the personality is formed. In addition to relieving stress, stimulate the SOLAR PLEXUS to better express your individuality and strength.
Have you ever had a salad that just blows you away? I just used my hands to make a “Massaged Kale Salad” and I’m in heaven. While I normally don’t post recipes on my blog, this one I have to share because it is absolutely delicious, super healthy, and hey, it has something to do with massage.
Kale is an amazingly nutritious leafy green vegetable. It contains high amounts of beta carotene and vitamin C. It’s also rich in minerals and high in folic acid. This ‘Superfood’ is a low in carbs and high in protein. One cup of cooked kale contains :
– 50 Calories
– 10 gm of Carbohydrates
– 3 gm of protein
– 2 to 3 gm of fiber
– 8000 IUs Vitamin A
– 150 to 200 mg of Calcium
– 30 mg of Magnesium
– 2 mg of Iron
– 300 mg of Potassium
– 125 mg of Vitamin C
– Less than 50 mg of Sodium
– 40 mcg of Folic acid
The high calcium and magnesium content of kale helps in building bones and is great for preventing osteoporosis. Vitamin A and C are antioxidants that protect against many degenerative diseases. The high potassium and low sodium content of Kale makes it an alkaline food and helps those who suffer from acidity and other digestive disorders. Potassium also reduces blood pressure and helps in fighting heart disease. Being a cruciferous vegetable, Kale contains sulfur compounds which help in fighting cancer.
Now, onto my new favorite salad…
Michelle’s Massaged Kale Salad
1 bunch curly kale
½ cup cooked quinoa
½ cup yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 carrots, peeled & grated
1 avocado, cubed
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
2-4 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 tbs. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. sea salt
½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
Rinse kale and tear the leaves from the stem. Rip them into smaller pieces. Place in a big bowl with the quinoa, onion, carrot, and avocado.
In a separate small bowl, whisk the apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, garlic powder, and sea salt.
Now, here’s the fun part: With both hands firmly massage all the ingredients together. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. Massage the avocado into the kale so that it smooshes and there are no more chunks. Do this for about one minute so that all the leaves are covered with the dressing. This massage, together with the lemon juice and apple cider vinegar, helps to tenderize the kale.
Finally, add the tomatoes, gently toss the salad, and put it into the refrigerator for 6-8 hours. I like to make this salad the day before I plan to eat it and let all the juices sink in. Remember, the longer it stays in the fridge, the better it gets!
Just before serving, give it a hearty round of freshly ground pepper and taste to see if it needs more salt.
You can beef up this recipe with more grated carrot, avocado and additional quinoa if you like. ENJOY!
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http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2009.0634
School is finally back in session and children are forced to focus their attention in the classroom. Unfortunately, this is often difficult for children who suffer from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The good news is that recent studies at the Touch Research Institute in Miami have shown that massage can help children and adolescents with ADHA by calming the body and improving alertness in a similar way that it helps adults.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is rapidly rising as the most common psychiatric diagnostic label for children. Anywhere from 3-7% of all school-age children and adolescents may have it, and it is one of the primary causes of behavioral problems in general pediatric settings. Nine boys are diagnosed with ADHD for every girl, but the rate of diagnosis for girls has been rising as well, and girls who are diagnosed have the same level of impairment as boys.
Kids with ADHD show difficulty holding attention and display impulsive behaviors and overactivity levels beyond what might be expected for their age group. They typically show poorer academic performance, have difficulty in social settings, and can’t adapt as well emotionally as kids without ADHD. Studies show that a diagnosis of ADHD puts kids at higher risk for delinquent behaviors and substance abuse. Other diagnoses such as learning disabilities, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders are often seen in the same children.
Currently, the drug Ritalin is the most common medication prescribed for children diagnosed with ADHD. In fact, it’s the most common drug prescribed for any childhood disorder and it’s been estimated that more than five million school-age children take Ritalin annually. Known to stimulate areas of the brain associated with attention, arousal, and inhibition, Ritalin seems to help improve ADHD symptoms in about 75% of cases, but its effects last only as long as it’s taken, and it does produce side-effects. Nervousness, headaches, sleeplessness, and rapid heart rate are sometimes seen with its use, and overdose can produce severe effects such as agitation, hallucinations, high blood pressure, seizures, heart arrhythmias, and psychosis. In addition, studies are only now being conducted on long-term effects.
The Good News…
Two recent studies conducted by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami reported that regular massage therapy and an ultrasonic humidifier with essential oils can be an effective treatment for kids with ADHD. One study found adolescent boys who received ten 15-minute daily massages were observed by their teachers to be more focused in their schoolwork, and they fidgeted less. In addition, the children rated themselves as happier than those who participated in a relaxation therapy program.
Another study involved kids aged 7-18, 20% of whom were girls. Each subject received a 20-minute massage twice a week. They showed immediate improvement in their moods and longer-term behavioral improvement in the classroom. They also reported feeling happier and their teachers found them to be more attentive.
In adult studies, massage has been shown to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, helping to mitigate the active fight-or-flight response. Massage also helps improve math computation performance and raises alertness levels, as measured on electroencephalograms (EEGs). Finally, massage decreases depression and increases mental focus. The same effects are seen in children and teenagers with ADHD.
By introducing and incorporating massage into your child’s daily routine, you can help your child develop an age-appropriate ability to focus, a calmer disposition, and even increased confidence. Studies report that two 20-minute massages a week are enough to show significant improvement in ADHD children. Since these kids have trouble staying still for prolonged periods, they better tolerate shorter, more frequent massages.
For massage on children with ADHD, a therapist generally uses simple, moderate-pressure strokes to the child’s head/neck, arms, torso, legs, and back. Dividing time between these areas–say four minutes each–will address the full body and is enough to get the desired effect. Most kids do fine fully clothed. For parents seeking skilled bodywork for their kids, chair massage is a great choice, done with the child fully clothed and for about 20-30 minutes at a time.
In addition, supplementing with home massages between professional sessions can also be useful. Talk to your massage therapist about private massage lessons for you. You can learn simple, effective techniques to use on your child when frequent visits to the massage therapist may not be practical.
By adding massage to your child’s routine, you’re giving him much needed physical contact and helping to calm his nervous system, which will improve his ability to do school work, interact with peers and teachers, and be happier in general, we also recommend getting information about nugenix supplements. And if you’re massaging your child yourself, you’ll create the opportunity for a stronger emotional bond between the two of you.
**Information from the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals by Cathy Ulrich
