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September 5, 2010 In Health & Well-Being, Massage, Massage Lotion & OIl, Men, Pregnancy, Reflexology, Research Studies, Stress-Relief, Toddler Massage, Touch Therapy & Sex, Uncategorized, Women

The Power of Holding Hands – A Study on Reducing Fear & Pain

I’ve always believed in the healing power of touch, but I recently came across a fascinating research study by Richard Davidson, a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin, which proves that touch can actually reduce feelings of fear, loneliness and physical pain.

In this study, scientists observed studied the levels of fear and pain experienced by women when they were given mild electric shocks. (Now, what woman would submit herself to this kind of research study is a mystery to me, but that is another story.) Anyway, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) measurements were taken of the women’s brain activity and the results were remarkable.

When left completely alone while receiving shocks, the women felt fear and pain, and the areas of their brains responsible for emotion were particularly active. However, if a member of the laboratory team held their hands (and this was someone they had never met before whose face they could not see) the women felt less fear, even though they were in physical pain.

Finally, and most interestingly, when the women’s partners held their hands during the electric shocks their brain activity calmed down markedly at every level. It’s almost as if holding their partner’s hands was like a drug that effectively reduced their pain and anxiety. In fact, the effect on the women’s brains was directly proportional to the love they felt for their partners.
While the women’s hands were held, in the MRI’s changes were visible in the hypothalamus, the brain area involved most in processing emotions. The hypothalamus controls secretion of the body’s hormones, in particular stress hormones. The researchers at the University of Wisconsin call emotional relationships “the hidden regulator” because they have a profound effect on brain function in situations of stress and threat. However, their effect is imperceptible when everything is going fine.

So, I say hold your partner’s hand whenever you can. And if you don’t have a partner, grab a hold of a friend’s hand and give it a squeeze. The power of touch may be imperceptible but it’s there and it’s effective.

**For any science enthusiasts out there, here’s the abstract called “Lending a Hand–Social Regulation of the Neural Response to Threat from the “Psychological Science” Journal:

ABSTRACT—Social contact promotes enhanced health and well-being, likely as a function of the social regulation of emotional responding in the face of various life stressors. For this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, 16 married women were subjected to the threat of electric shock while holding their husband’s hand, the hand of an anonymous male experimenter, or no hand at all. Results indicated a pervasive attenuation of activation in the neural systems supporting emotional and behavioral threat responses when the women held their husband’s hand. A more limited attenuation of activation in these systems occurred when they held the hand of a stranger. Most strikingly, the effects of spousal hand-holding on neural threat responses varied as a function of marital quality, with higher marital quality predicting less threat- related neural activation in the right anterior insula, su- perior frontal gyrus, and hypothalamus during spousal, but not stranger, hand-holding.

To read the entire research study, go to: http://psyphz.psych.wisc.edu/web/pubs/2006/CoanLendingPsychSci.pdf

August 19, 2010 In Health & Well-Being, Massage, Men, Reflexology, Stress-Relief, Uncategorized, Women

Hangover Help

Had a rough night? One too many drinks?  (I certainly did last weekend at my birthday party!)  If you wake up with a throbbing head, an upset stomach, tired eyes, and the feeling of a heavy cloud hanging over your head, you are in desperate need of hangover help.

Rather than just lying in bed waiting for the alcohol to seep out of your body so you can feel better, be proactive and take control of your hangover. Try reflexology on the reflex areas of the body that need the most help, namely the liver, kidneys, stomach, brain and solar plexus.

Reflexology really can help relieve the after-effects of too much alcohol. While I recommend stimulating the entire foot to soothe your entire body, even just a few minutes spent stimulating these five reflex areas can perk you up. Try it… It works!

Start with your liver point in order to help push out the remaining alcohol in your body. This is located on the outer edge of the right foot, starting from about the middle of the foot.  This areas is approximated the size of a quarter. Press here for 10 seconds, release and repeat again.

Next, move to the kidneys, which coordinate with the liver in the elimination process, and drink lots of water!  This reflex area is located on both feet, in the middle of the foot moving towards the heel.  Press for 10 seconds, release & repeat.

To get rid of a headache, press the fleshy part of both big toes, just behind the nail.  You can apply firm pressure here.  Some people even use clothespins on their big toes to prevent and relieve headaches.

If you’re experiencing nausea, stimulate the stomach point, located on the inner edge of both feet about midway between the heel and toes.  Finally, stimulate the solar plexus region, located in the middle of both feet, if you find your entire sense of center has been disrupted by the hangover.

In addition to this, to get rid of a hangover I personally recommend an icy Coke and a large order of McDonald’s fries.  Good luck!  And pass this on to fellow party lovers who may be in need of help.

August 11, 2010 In Health & Well-Being, Massage, Massage Lotion & OIl, Men, Pregnancy, Reflexology, Research Studies, Stress-Relief, Uncategorized, Women

No More Back Pain!

“My back is killing me!”  This is something I hear all the time.  Back pain is one of the most common complaints of people all over the world. It affects about seventy-five percent of the population at some time during their adult lives, so chances are you will already have experienced, or are likely to experience, back pain severe enough to make you reduce or even stop normal activity for a while.

Most people don’t realize the importance of the spine in the well-being of their entire body until something happens and they feel a pinch between their shoulders or a spasm in their lower back. Most back pain is caused from strain in the muscles that support the spine. However, pain in the back is not just a physical problem. It is also a manifestation of anxiety and pressure. Emotional distress often surfaces in the body as chronic back pain. More specifically, emotional stress from relationships often manifests as pain in the middle back, which is directly opposite the Heart chakra.

Sudden, severe pain in the back, often the lower back, is one of the most common, painful, and disabling conditions human beings can suffer. It can occur as a result of lifting a heavy object, tripping or falling, or can be due to viral illness or emotional trauma. The pain may be felt immediately or may develop slowly, getting worse and worse each day. For the most part, the majority of acute back pain is caused by intense muscle spasms.  As any woman who has gone through labor will tell you, spasms of the back muscles can be extremely painful and often unbearable. When back spasms, which are caused by a nervous reflex in the spinal cord, are so strong and persistent that they lead to inflammation, a vicious cycle is created that causes even more spasms and inflammation. Worse still, chronic back pain can lead to other problems, including neck and shoulder pain and migraine headaches.

The good news is that reflexology can provide relief, sometimes instantly, from acute and chronic back pain. I have worked with many clients who complained about back pain for years. After just a few reflexology sessions, they could not believe the improvement and relief they felt. Most people who complain of back pain find that the inner soles of their feet are extremely sensitive and tender to the touch. I recommend getting a tennis ball and rolling the arch of both feet on it, from the heel of the foot all the way to the toes and back. The pressure of the tennis ball affects the reflex area to the spine just as well as your fingers can affect it. By leaning some of your body weight onto the ball with your foot on top, you can control the pressure and allow the ball to sink in deeply. I find this to be a very relaxing yet invigorating way to start the day.

For the spine reflex point, work your thumbs up and down the inner soles of your feet, concentrating on the area of your back that needs it the most. For lower back pain, spend more time on the area along the inner sole between the heel and the middle of the foot. For middle back pain, work your thumbs along the middle section of the inner edge. For upper back problems, including neck pain, work the area along the inner edge of the foot from middle of the foot to the base of the big toe. To stimulate the entire back, begin at the heel and thumb-walk up the inner edge of the foot all the way to the base of the big toe. Do this several times, spending extra time on any area that feels tender or “grainy.”

Next, work on the reflex area neck region to relieve pressure and discomfort.  This is located at the base of the big toe on both feet. This will also help your entire back, since seven of the spine’s thirty-three vertebrae are located here! Similarly, work the shoulder area, located on the outer edge of both feet from just below your pinky toe to the middle of the foot, to alleviate the discomfort and de-stress the entire upper body.

If you stimulate these areas regularly, you can relieve and even prevent back pain from ruining your day!

July 29, 2010 In Baby Massage, Health & Well-Being, Massage, Massage Lotion & OIl, Men, Pregnancy, Reflexology, Research Studies, Stress-Relief, Toddler Massage, Touch Therapy & Sex, Uncategorized, Weight Issues, Women

Silky Skin Tip: The Best Moisturizer & Massage Oil

People often ask me what I recommend to use for massage and for daily after-shower moisturizing.  While I have to admit I am a sucker for delicious-smelling, rich creamy lotions in beautiful packaging, when it comes time to slather something on own skin, I always reach for one thing, Sesame Oil, and I’ll tell you why.

Your skin is the largest organ in your body.  It breathes and absorbs, so whatever you put on it is ingested into the bloodstream to become raw material for tissue building.  After learning this, I started thinking of body products as food for my skin and just as I feed my body, I want to feed my skin with healthy moisturizing natural products as amazon eye masks for baby.

More importantly, in 2004, research from the Marin County Cancer Project concerning harmful chemicals in everyday personal care products confirmed my belief that using all-natural products on the body is the only way to go.

In April 2002, Judy Shils started the Marin Cancer Project after attending a meeting where county leadership announced that breast cancer rates in Marin County, California had risen 60 percent in eight years. At the meeting, announcements were made that funds didn’t exist to do the necessary studies that would uncover the cancer’s cause. As Shils watched one of her close friends struggle to overcome breast cancer, she believed it was her responsibility to take care of the problem.

In November 2002, after mobilizing more than 2,000 volunteers, the Marin County Cancer Project surveyed 65,000 households and raised $150,000 dollars to map out the cause of cancer rates in each Marin County city and town.  After two years of research, the project has published the following list of 15 chemicals found in everyday personal care products such as cosmetics, perfumes, shampoos, conditioners, soaps, lotions, and shaving creams that are toxic, in order to educate the public about the possible health concerns for each.

I don’t want to scare you, but I do believe that after reading this list you will want to read the ingredients on the labels of the lotions in your bathroom and clean house.  Sesame Oil, is an all-natural, light, clean, unscented moisturizer and massage oil.  It is inexpensive and leaves a silky, not greasy, finish on your skin when used after a bath or shower.  If you want a scent, you can always add a few drops of essential aromatherapy oil.  (I like lavender and geranium.)  Give Sesame Oil a try, I think you’ll like it!  But first, read this list of chemicals to avoid in your personal care products (and forward this article to friends who you care about):

1. Butyl Acetate

•  Function: This chemical is a solvent that prevents chipping.

•  Product types: nail polishes and treatments such as strengtheners, hardeners and base coats.

•  Health concerns: Continuous use of products with this chemical cause dry, cracked skin, and the vapors induce drowsiness and dizziness.

2. Butylated Hydroxytoluene

•  Function: As an anti-oxidant, this product slows the amount of time it takes for products to change color.

•  Product types: lip makeup, moisturizer, eye makeup, anti-aging treatment, foundation, fragrance, bar soap, shaving products, anti-perspirant/deodorant, concealer, sunscreen, facial cleanser, body wash, blush, shampoo, conditioner, acne treatment, body lotion/oil, powder, makeup remover, depilatory cream, toothpaste, styling product, exfoliator, and nail treatments.

•  Health concerns: Eye and skin irritant.

3. Coal Tar

•  Function: This chemical helps stop itching, controls eczema, and makes hard, scaly, rough skin soft. It is also used as a colorant in hair dyes.

•  Product types: shampoos and hair dyes.

•  Health concerns: International agency government research on cancer says there is enough evidence to suggest that coal tars are carcinogenic in humans. Coal tar has been banned by the European Union since 2004.

4. Cocamide DEA/Lauramide DEA

•  Function: This chemical is used in shampoos and bath products as an emulsifying agent in cosmetics and as a foaming and cleansing agent to improve how one’s mouth feels.

•  Product Types: shampoo, body wash/cleansers, bath oils, facial cleanser, liquid hand soap, bar soap, acne treatment, baby wash, shaving products, body scrubs, foot odor/cream/treatment, deodorant, moisturizer, and hair dye/spray.

•  Health Concerns: This chemical may be infected with impurities connected with certain types of cancers. After absorption through the skin, it can create carcinogenic compounds called nitrosamines. Insufficient toxicity data is available to determine the safety of the product when inhaled.

5. Diazolidinyl Urea

•  Function: This chemical releases formaldehyde and acts as a preservative.

•  Product Types: moisturizer, styling products, shampoo/conditioner, hair spray/dyes, anti-aging treatment, facial cleanser, sunscreen, facial moisturizer, foundation, eye makeup, acne treatment, mascara, body wash/cleansers, deodorant, concealer, exfoliator, powder, body scrubs, bath oils/salts, eye/contact care, lip makeup, shaving products, after-sun product, douche/personal cleanser, makeup remover/depilatory cream/hair remover, liquid hand soap, nail treatments, pain relief rub/ointment, and fragrance.

•  Health Concerns: It may contain carcinogenic impurities and is associated with other significant health problems.

6. Ethyl Acetate

•  Function: Solvent.

•  Product Types: nail polish, mascara, tooth whitening, perfume.

•  Health Concerns: eye and skin irritant.

7. Formaldehyde

•  Function: This chemical acts as a disinfectant, germicide, fungicide, and preservative.

•  Product Types: deodorants, nail polish, soap, shampoo, and shaving products.

•  Health Concerns: This is considered a possible human carcinogen, may trigger asthma, irritates eyes and the upper respiratory tract, can damage DNA, and is banned by the European Union.

8. Parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl)

 

•  Function: These are a large group of chemicals used as preservatives in cosmetics to prevent bacteria, yeast, and mold formations in products such as toothpaste.

•  Product Types: moisturizers, shampoos, conditioners, hair styling gels, nail creams, foundations, facial masks, skin creams, deodorants, and baby lotions.

•  Health Concerns: This chemical may impair fertility; alter hormone levels; increase risks for certain types of cancers; alter reproductive development, cause skin irritation, rashes, and allergic reactions; and some studies have found parabens in breast tumors.

9. Propylene Glycol

•  Function: This chemical acts as a penetration enhancer and keeps products from melting in high heat or freezing when it is cold.

•  Product Types: shampoo/conditioner, bar soap, body wash, face cleanser, liquid hand soap, acne treatment, hair dye, shaving products, moisturizer, makeup remover, toothpaste, sunscreen, perfume, cologne, deodorant, toner/astringent, foundation, bronzer powder, nail polish, lip products, eye shadow/pencil, and mascara.

•  Health Concerns: This chemical alters the structure of the skin by allowing chemicals to penetrate deep beneath it while increasing their ability to reach the blood stream.  It can also be a skin irritant and cause allergic reactions.

10. Phthalates

•  Function: These are industrial chemicals used as solvents and plasticizers in cosmetics.

•  Product Types: nail polish, deodorant, fragrance, hair spray, hair gel/mousse, and lotions.

•  Health Concerns: Phthalates can damage the liver, kidneys, and lungs and acts as a reproductive toxin in males.

11. Triethanolamine

•  Function: This is used as a coating ingredient for fresh fruits and is used as a dispersing ingredient.

•  Product Types: hand and body lotions, shaving products, soaps, shampoos, and bath powders.

•  Health Concerns: This chemical can form carcinogenic nitrosamine compounds (these are compounds formed when nitrates react with anime, a natural chemical found in food and in the body) that creates one of the most potent cancer-causing agents. Based on limited data, it has been shown to cause cancer in humans.

12. Talc

 

•  Function: Talc is designed to absorb moisture.

•  Product Types: blush, powder eye shadow, perfumed powder, baby powder, deodorant, and soap.

•  Health Concerns: Talc is a proven carcinogen and is linked to ovarian cancer. The chemical has particles similar to asbestos and data suggests that it can cause lung tumors.

13. Toluene

•  Function: This is used as a solvent that improves adhesion and gloss.

•  Product Types: nail polish and hair dyes.

•  Health Concerns: This product is a possible reproductive and developmental toxin that reduces the chance for a healthy, full-term pregnancy while decreasing fertility. Although there is limited data, it may also cause cancer. It also contains possible gastrointestinal, liver, kidney, and blood toxins. It is also harmful for inhalation and for the respiratory tract.

14. Petrolatum

•  Function: This is a petrochemical that forms a barrier on skin, making lipstick shine and creams smoother and skin softer.

•  Product Types: Almost every personal care product, especially creams, lotions, wax depilatories, eyebrow pencils, eye shadow, liquid powder, and lipstick.

•  Health Concerns: This chemical may contain harmful impurities that may break down into chemicals linked to cancer. It also may cause allergic reactions and other significant health problems. It is banned by the European Union.

15. Sodium Laureth/Sodium Laurel Sulfate

 

•  Function: Acts as a penetration enhancer.

•  Product Types: shampoo/conditioner, bar soap, body wash, face cleanser, liquid hand soap, acne treatment, hair dye, mascara, shaving products, moisturizer, toothpaste, sunscreen, makeup remover, perfume, cologne.

Health Concerns: This chemical alters the structure of the skin and allows chemicals to penetrate deep into the skin, increasing the amount of chemicals reaching the blood stream.