Heat Therapy – How to get the best results.

13 May

Posted by chiropractor Dr. Craig Buscomb

The ice and heat debate is a never ending discussion.  Depending on what book you read or who you talk to, you will get different answers as to what is best and how to use them effectively.  Here is my take on heat therapy.

Heat therapy can have numerous benefits and has long been associated with comfort and relaxation.  However, it can provide both pain relief and healing benefits for injuries.  Heat is best used for sub-acute and chronic or long term conditions.Image

So how does it work? 

Heat therapy can help provide relief through several mechanisms:

Heat therapy dilates the blood vessels in the area.  This process increases the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles and washes away the toxin build up, helping to heal the tissue and reduce pain.

Short term heat application will only penetrate a few mm’s.  Deeper tissue reactions are due to local reflexes and require more than 15 minutes of heat.

If mild heat is used it can decrease sensation of sensory nerve endings.  This means that applying heat to the area will decrease the transmission of pain signals to the brain and help relieve the discomfort.

Heat application also facilitates stretching the soft tissues around the spine, including muscles, connective tissues and adhesions.  As a result of this, there will be a decrease in stiffness as well as pain, with an increase in flexibility and overall feeling of comfort.

How to use heat therapy effectively

My suggestion for using heat therapy is to have a good heat source like a wheat bag, hot pack or a heat lamp.  My favourite thing to use is a wheat bag for its ease of use and safety (if you follow the instructions and heat it correctly).  If you are using a microwave to heat a wheat bag, make sure you put a cup of water in the microwave to avoid overheating the wheat.

When applying the heat I have found short bursts tend to work more effectively from a physiological perspective.  Apply the heat for 20min (to make sure it penetrates deeper tissues) them remove the heat for approximately 40 min before re-applying for a further 20min.  These short bursts will help bring two big rushes of fresh oxygenated and nutrient rich blood to the area to help speed up the healing process.  You can leave the heat on for longer, but applying it this way will give you the best physiological response.

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Juicing for Health

8 May

Posted by Brisbane Naturopath Aimee Matijevic

Fresh juices can be incredibly healing for the body. They help to support the body’s natural detoxification systems, and can provide a range of essential vitamins, minerals and other important phytochemicals to boost all areas of health. In a liquid form, these essential nutrients are easily digested and absorbed by the body. This can be particularly useful where there is decreased digestive ability as it means you get the most benefit out of your fruits and vegetables. Fresh juicing is an excellent way of increasing your fruit and vegetable intake, as well as fibre intake.

Juices can be made fresh first thing in the morning to wake up the digestive system and provide your body with a range of nutrients and energy to start the day. Breakfast juices are particularly useful for people who are not hungry in the morning, and skip breakfast.

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How to Juice?

All you need is a juicer or blender, some fresh fruit and vegetables and a little inspiration!

Watermelon Twist

1 medium green apple

1/8th of a Watermelon

A handful of fresh mint leaves

½ cup water

 

Super Juice

1 medium green apple

1 squeeze fresh lemon

½ a carrot

1 handful baby spinach

A handful of blueberries (fresh or frozen)

¾-1 cup water

 

Drink fresh juices immediately to obtain the maximum benefit and retain taste.

Be creative and discover your own favourite recipes! Add mango, apricots, nectarines, celery, parsley, ginger, cucumber, kale, cinnamon, beetroot, or kiwifruit to your juices. The combinations are endless!

Try a fresh juice today to help energise, re-invigorate, and heal the body.

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Fig and Walnut Fortune Cookie

30 Apr
Posted by Brisbane Acupuncturist Andrew McDougall
 
The future is bright with this simple snack. The real fortune comes from the nourishing properties of figs, walnuts and cinnamon that combine to make a sticky and sweet crunchy treat.
 
Take a handful of dried figs and slice an opening in the side of each fig.
Stuff each one with a walnut and then lightly dust or roll them in cinnamon.
Toast under a warm grill for about 10mins.
Serve warm and wait for the crunch.
 
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As a true aphrodisiac, the real fortune of this ‘cookie’ is how it enhances fertility while warming the lower organs (kidneys) to improve sexual function. Walnuts are rich in omega-3 oils and nourish the adrenals, brain, sperm and colon. Walnuts specifically improve kidney ‘yang’ (libido) and enhance longevity. Figs and their seeds also nourish on a basal level – sperm and ova – and nourish blood. Cinnamon warms the body and nourishes blood to prevent pain and spasms. Including this simple snack in your diet will increase sperm and egg quality, help with the treatment of menstrual disorders and increase energy.

 

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Preventing Pain and Dysfunction in Kids using Mobiles and Video Games -

24 Apr

Posted by Brisbane Chiropractor Dr. Tressa Fuss

I see so many kids in my office curled up, crouched over, head down, eyes on the screen of their video games or mobile phones.  They often even run into the wall or door frame on their way in from reception because they are so enthralled they haven’t put the device down!  When I look at some of the poor hunched over elderly and know how much outdoor and varied activity they would have done as a child, it really scares me as to what the young generation are going to look like at that age.  Not to mention what sort of state their spines will be in and how much pain they may suffer.

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A curved spine, slouched forward and head down is detrimental to posture and spinal health. Most kids tend to sit in this position, sometimes for long periods. 

Watch your child when they use one of these devices.  They are hand-held and small, so they will usually barely move any part of their body for more than a centimetre, for what can be hours.  The easiest place to hold them without tiring the arms is about belly button height so they slouch down, bottom forward in the seat, back curved, shoulders rounded, hands in and head down.  Pretty much opposite to the position we should be in. 

Most children and teens I see with headaches, neck or back pain have either suffered some type of injury or use these gadgets.  Poor positioning of the body causes irritation to spinal joints and nerves, tight muscles, weak muscles, bad posture and sets them up for pain and early degeneration.  The longer they stay still, the harder it is to do basic activities like standing, walking, running and jumping.  The brain gets so entrenched in the screen that it can actually switch off to the body and almost even forget it’s there.  This makes good health and healing very difficult.  Research shows that every hour spent on this increases

the risk of death from chronic disease by 11% and doubles the risk of bowel cancer, not to mention eye damage.  In short, not moving can actually shave a few years off their lives!

 

What can you do about it?

Make it comfortable for them to sit right:

Teach and encourage your child to sit in a good position while playing or message.  This can even be done on the couch!  Get them with their bottom at the very back of the chair, so their back is touching the whole way up.  Pile a few pillows on their lap and place the elbow on the pillows so that the screen is at eye height.  This way their back should be straight, shoulders back against the chair and head upright. Keep a few cushions in the car for this reason.  If there are no pillows, they can use their school bag.  A bag even works on trains or buses to and from school.

good posture

Getting your child to sit with their back straight, shoulders back and head up will help prevent spinal problems.

Set a timer:

Limit the time they spend on electronics.  Set a timer for 30 minutes.  After that they need to get up and do another activity for a while.  Even if they come back to it for another 30 minutes later on, at least they’ve moved and reconnected their brain and body for a period of time.  Be tough – it’s their life you are protecting.

 

Get their spine checked by a professional:

If your child’s posture remains poor when they are out of these awkward positions, get them checked by a chiropractor.  They can not only help to correct any problems that may be there already but can give you advice, exercises and stretches to help prevent future problems.

 

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Chinese suction cupping – how does it work?

22 Apr

Posted by Brisbane Acupuncturist Andrew McDougall

Suction cupping is a simple technique with profound effects. Placing a flame inside the ball-shaped glass cups will burn up oxygen and create a vacuum. Quickly placing them down on the skin creates a tight seal and a pulling feeling. This is known as suction cupping and has been practiced in a variety of cultures including Russia and Europe for centuries. Cups can be applied to most areas of the body but are usually applied on the back. The therapy is an excellent method for eliminating stress and suctioning away tension from the neck, shoulders and upper back. It makes an excellent accompaniment to massage and acupuncture.

ImageCupping works by promoting micro-circulation, pulling blood through vessels and muscles. Lack of blood flow to any area of the body will reduce it’s flexibility and function. Blood flow to a muscle can be obstructed by injury, lack of circulation, lack of movement in the area, lack of blood, poor posture, computer use, aging, fatigue and tension. Compared to massage, cupping has a deeper force and stronger effect in promoting the movement of blood which is evident from the temporary markings it leaves behind.

Areas with restricted circulation allow for a build-up of dead blood cells that should ordinarily be excreted from the body. Their waste products (toxins) linger and manifest as heat, pain and stiffness. Cupping therefore compliments detox regimes by accelerating the processing of toxins and explains further the relief from tension and stress.

The amount of circular bruising that results after cupping indicates the abundance of blood in the treated area. Dark bruises, although unsightly, are a good indication of old blood that was obstructing an area and that has now been pushed through capillaries. This is important to ensure fresh, oxygen-rich blood can feed muscles and tendons to restore strength and flexibility. Refreshed circulation allows any bruising to dissipate after a few days. A lack of bruising from suction cupping can indicate a lack of blood either at the site or systemically.

In Traditional Chinese Medical theory, wind is regarded as an ‘external evil’ that stirs up pathogens and combines with cold or heat to penetrate the flesh. It makes sense then that the neck and shoulders are the main target for exposure to cold wind and react with contraction and slowing of circulation.  At the first signs of colds and flu – headaches, chills, fevers, muscular aches and pains – cups are employed to release the pathogenic influences and restore defenses.

There are a few different techniques used with cupping. Asides from placing the cups and letting them sit for about ten minutes, they can also be made to slide along the back to promote more general circulation. ‘Lightning Cups’ are the quick succession of placement and removal of cups that invigorate the blood and enliven a patient with a more deficient constitution. In the history of cupping, their surgical use has been applied to the removal of poisons and blood-letting of varicose veins.

Bio-medically defined disorders such as frozen shoulder, wry neck and migraine can be successfully aided by cupping. Cupping can be used as a preventative health measure for stress and pain-relief. Suction cups ensure optimal circulation to an area preventing the development of ‘stagnation disorders’ (pain and immobility).

 

Where it all started

20 Apr

Reblogged from The Plant Based Journey:

The Naturopath.

About 2-3 weeks ago, I visited a naturopath at Brisbane Natural Health like I said in my first post. They asked me to fill in a questionnaire as to why I was visiting; I didn't really have a particular reason to visit, only that I had been to an irridologist a few times when I was younger, and I really believe that there is something in natural therapies and medicines.

Read more… 920 more words

A past naturopathy patient, Suzi, shares her experience about her first visit in her great blog, The Plant Based Diet. Thanks Suzi!

Ward off a hangover by... eating asparagus

19 Apr

Reblogged from Your health. Your life.:

Click to visit the original post

I just came across this study, admittedly several years old now, which has linked eating asparagus to a better recovery following a night on tiles. Well, yes ok, the researchers didn't quite look at it that way... but we can extrapolate (and have).

According to researchers at the Institute of Medical Science, and Jeju National University in South Korea, amino acids and minerals found in asparagus shoots and leaves may alleviate hangover symptoms by protecting liver cells against toxins.

Read more… 225 more words

Sometimes the simplest things can work the best...

How to Make Haloumi

8 Apr

Reblogged from rhubarb whine:

In the world of a foodie, everybody wants to own a cow. Or part of a cow, at least.

Why a cow? Well, owning a cow means one can legally use raw milk for consumption or in cooking, or if you're feeling luxurious enough - in  a bath.

Well, let me tell you the milk I get from the cow goes straight into my belly.

Read more… 324 more words

Love Haloumi? Make it yourself!

What does your naturopath do between visits?

26 Mar

Posted by Brisbane Naturopath Holly George

When you visit your Naturopath you get one whole hour as an initial vistit, followed by thirty minutes for subsequent visits (this may vary at other clinics). In this time you are able to discuss how you are feeling, how your treatment is being managed and what changes are made to your program.

But did you know that your Naturopath works for you between visits?

Your Naturopath can be doing any number of the following between consultations:

  • Researching your condition to establish the latest research and medical advances.
  • Researching your medications to be sure of side effects and safety.
  • Collaborating with your doctor or health care team – Always with your permission first.
  • Attending seminars and developing professional knowledge in their field.
  • Preparing and maintaining your personal care plan.
  • Answering your emails and quick questions.

It is nice to know that someone is working for you even when you are not there. The great thing about working with a Naturopath is that they know your health inside and out. If something pops up for you between visits like a medication change or you catch a cold, it is important to let your Naturopath know via a quick email. When something a bit more complicated pops up it is best to wait until your next consultation, or book in another appointment in the mean time. This allows greater record keeping which in turn leads to better care for you.

Making coloured Easter eggs – healthy and fun!

24 Mar
Decorating hard boiled eggs is an oldie but a goodie – children love to make their own coloured eggs. Make sure you wear old clothes and cover your table with a thick layer of newspaper before you begin.
- First, hard boil some organic eggs
- In large cups put 1 cup water, 1 tsp vinegar and a small amount of food dye. You can also use beetroot juice, turmeric or spinach juice!
- Dip eggs in with a spoon, and leave until you are happy with the colour
- Put in an empty egg carton to dry
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Try drawing on the eggs with a white crayon, wrapping tape of rubber bands around or putting stickers on them before dying them to make different patterns. You can even lightly crack the shell all over to give a lovely effect. Place them in a bowl on the table for a stunning edible centrepiece!
For a demonstration, check out this youtube video:
Have an eggcellent time making your coloured eggs, and feel free to post photos of your outcome!

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