Archive for February, 2009

Feb 27

Mind and Body – Positive Effects of Massage



There is definitely more to massage than just getting the rest and relaxation that your body has been craving for all these time. Yes, while it’s true that there is probably no more effective way to relax and recharge than to get oneself a pleasurable and sensual massage, research studies over the years have proved that there are more important benefits that one can acquire from getting a massage.

Since people recognize the healing power of touch, massage has been a frequent topic of a diverse collection of studies and research.

The mind is one area where the benefits of a therapeutic massage can be seen. Here are just few of the many mental benefits of massage:

Stress Management. Experts show that a high number of health problems root from stress. Stress from work, relationships and day-to-day living contribute largely to many diseases. And because it’s impossible to eradicate stress on the face of the earth, a good option is proper stress management. Massage is an effective way of managing stress because it allows to you to have momentary peace of mind and a relaxed mental state which are important in keeping yourself mentally healthy. Emotional benefits. It’s easy to see how a calming and soothing massage session can give one’s spirits a lift, resulting in much happier and more cheerful person and perspective on life. Satisfaction of craving for nurturing touch. Babies are not the only ones who long for another person’s loving touch. Even grown-ups do. And because it’s not possible to have everybody within a hug’s reach every minute of the day, a massage will give you the nurturing touch you’re unconsciously longing for. Reduction of anxiety and fatigue. Better sleep quality. It is for this reason why people diagnosed with insomnia love getting massages. Massage is way better than sleeping pills.
But the mind isn’t the sole recipient of massage’s positive effects. In fact, it also does wonders for the body and a person’s physical state. Some of the countless physical benefits of massage include:

Muscle relaxation. Massage has been found to dramatically reduce stress by relieving muscular tension and stiffness as well as aid in relaxation of the muscles. Pain reduction. Because massage can reduce muscle spasm and give comfort to aching muscles, those who have back pains or muscle pains often go to massage centers to alleviate pain. Enhancement of blood circulation. This is why those who are diagnosed with circulatory problems are often encouraged to get massage therapies. Improvement of flexibility, athletic performance and range of motion. It’s not a surprise that many athletes indulge in massage. Not only does this improve their performance, it is also a good way to prevent injuries. Easy rehabilitation. A massage facilitates easy recovery from an injury such as a leg sprain. Treatment and improvement of some medical conditions such as Arthritis, Hypertension and musculoskeletal problems.
True enough, the value of massage therapy is priceless. With the countless of benefits one can get from a massage, it is just right to treat yourself with a session every once in a while.

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Feb 27

How to Clean and Care For Invisalign Aligners, and Keep Them Cleaner



If you recently got Invisalign aligner braces to straighten your teeth, congratulations on taking the first step toward a better smile! Even though your aligner trays are changed every few weeks, you still need to take good care of them. This article will give you a few pointers.

How to Wear Your Aligner Trays

First of all, wear your aligner trays exactly the way your orthodontist or dentist recommends. Do not wear them for less hours than he tells you or you will not get the sort of results that are necessary to properly move your teeth. Most dentists recommend wearing the aligners about 80% of each day, taking them out only for eating and cleaning.

Although you will be tempted to eat and drink with your aligner trays in, it may not be comfortable or good for the aligners. If you drink a sugary liquid such as soda, the sugar will stay on your teeth longer because the trays hold the liquid to your teeth. This will give you tooth decay. You cannot drink hot liquids with the trays in, as they may warp the trays. Follow your orthodontist’s instructions and brush your teeth often.

Cleaning Your Invisalign Aligner Trays

Because the aligner trays are in your mouth for so many hours, they are exposed to the same sort of bacteria and plaque as your teeth. If you don’t clean your aligner trays regularly, they will soon develop an ugly white buildup of film that can be very difficult to remove. The best way to clean your trays is with a commercial cleaning product for that purpose. Some dental offices sell the Invisalign cleaning system. It works very well but is the most expensive cleaner, so not everyone can afford the cleaning crystals.

The SonicBrite system is a very effective cleaner for aligner trays. The sonic bath that comes with the system helps to get the cleaning product into all the little crevices of the aligner and does a very good job at keeping the white buildup away.

Retainer Brite can also be used for aligner trays. As long as you use it on a daily basis, it will not allow the white plaque to accumulate on your trays. However, if the white plaque is already there, Retainer Brite won’t remove it, but SonicBrite will.

Occasionally you can soak your aligner trays in a weak solution of hydrogen peroxide and water, or even mouthwash to help kill germs and make it smell fresh. If you are away from home and can’t use a cleaning product, at least rinse your trays very well with warm water, and make sure to clean them properly once you get back home.

Use a Retainer Case

If you remove your aligner trays at home, you will probably immediately put them into a cup. But when you are out and about at school or work, you must be sure to use a retainer case. Never wrap your Invisalign aligners in a napkin — that is one sure way to lose it and have it wind up in the trash. A good retainer case solves this problem. Always carry a retainer case with you to store your aligner trays when they are not in your mouth. Get into the habit of always putting your trays into the case. Invisalign aligners are expensive, so take good care of them!

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Posted in Dental

Feb 26

Hypnotheraphy – Keep in Mind Your Individuality



Training is important. In fact, the first goal you can set yourself in advance of your therapy session is to prepare some useful information. Your hypnotherapist will want to know as much as possible about how you experience your problem. And, as hypnotherapy is about gaining answers and creating solutions, your hypnotherapist needs to know what you want to achieve by coming for therapy. The answers here may seem obvious: ‘I experience my problem like everyone else’ and ‘I want to get rid of my problem completely.’ To which your therapist can reply in an unconvinced yet sympathetic manner, ‘Do you?’

The reason for his scepticism is that, even though he’s no doubt treated many people before with your particular problem, the way you experience your problem is entirely individual. People often bite their nails in different ways, their smoking habits may differ, and people who are scared of spiders frequently react in completely different ways to the sight of a spider. So, for example, even if you and your best friend are both scared of spiders, you each experience your phobia in different ways. You may freeze when you see a spider, whilst your friend runs screaming from the room. You may not be frightened of small spiders, whilst your friend collapses into a quivering wreck when one scuttles across the floor.

The same individuality applies to what you want to achieve from therapy. In respect of the spider phobia example, you may want to be able to pick up the spider on the end of a piece of newspaper and flick it out the window, whilst your friend just wants to be able to ignore the wretched thing and let it get on with its little spider life. In fact, your goal for therapy is as individual as your response to the problem for which you are seeking help.

Factors that help shape your goal include the following:

Your personality and attitude

Are you an optimist or are you a pessimist? If you are an optimist, you may well find yourself setting a goal that a pessimist will consider unattainable. On the other hand, if you are a pessimist then you may set a goal that an optimist will find too low. Or perhaps you’re the go-get-’em type. If so, you may have the belief that you can attain the world and are therefore more likely to set a much higher goal than the softly, softly type of personality.

Your other goals

Do you have other goals in life that may influence your therapy goal? For example, if you have a flying phobia, you may have the ultimate goal of going abroad on a nice holiday. That ultimate goal deter- mines that your therapy goal is to feel fine and comfortable on a plane. On the other hand, if your ultimate goal is to be able to meet friends, family, or work colleagues at an airport, then your therapy goal may well be to feel fine.

Whatever your goal, in order for your therapy to be effective it’s particularly important that your hypnotherapist has all the facts that directly relate to your problem and your goal for therapy.

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