Posts Tagged ‘pain’
Massage: The Benefits of Massage Therapy
There are many massage therapy benefits for the patients or clients of skilled masseuses and masseurs. Although massage therapy is most often associated with alleviating lower back pain and improving the range of motion for those who undergo regular treatments, there are many other conditions that it can help with. Whether you are an athlete, someone living with chronic pain or just an office worker with tight muscles from sitting down during the day, you can benefit in many ways from massage therapy.
There are massage therapy benefits for expectant mothers including assistance with shorter labors and maternity stays, as well as for pain medication users who want to reduce or eliminate their dependence on prescription drugs with the release of endorphins. It can even help migraine headache sufferers. Athletes can benefit from it as they prepare for and recover from strenuous workouts ranging from marathons to basketball games to cardiovascular dance classes. Depressed people often find that massage therapy can help to reduce their anxiety and depression, and people who have undergone surgery often find that regular massages can help to reduce adhesions and swelling.
Massage therapy benefits don’t end there. Many also firmly believe that regular massage treatments can boost the immune system by stimulating lymph flow and that it can increase joint flexibility, improve skin conditions, reduce muscle spasms and cramping, promote tissue regeneration, and reduce scar tissue and stretch marks. It has been proven to exercise and stretch weak, tight or atrophied muscles and it helps to relax and soften muscles that have become injured, overused or just plain tired. It also helps to improve circulation by pumping oxygen and nutrients into the tissues and vital organs of the body.
There are clearly many benefits, but it is important to be sure you are working with a skilled, trained and licensed massage therapist. You must also be consistent with your massage therapy treatments and come back as often as your therapist suggests for your particular conditions. This way you can get the maximum benefits and truly get your money’s worth.
Home Remedies: Benefits of Using Home Cold Sore Remedies
Many home cold sore remedies help to strengthen the immune system, making the body strong enough to fight the virus or keep it dormant. Vitamins, herbs and trace elements help prevent outbreaks of the herpes simplex virus and reduce their duration. Other home remedies ease the pain and irritation cold sores cause. Prescription or over the counter medication for cold sores relieve the symptoms or may shorten the duration and intensity of an outbreak.
One of the benefits to home remedies is that they are often available at the first sign of a cold sore attack. Milk, ice and cooled, wet tea bags placed on the fever blisters can help with any pain. Ice is said to reduce the duration of a herpes simplex attack if applied at the first warning signs, known as the prodrome period, when tingling or burning can be felt in the site where the blisters will emerge.
Strengthening your immune system with vitamins C, B and zinc can hold off the herpes simplex virus. A strong immune system will also prevent other viruses and bacteria. Eating foods rich in these vitamins or taking supplements are a home remedy which can improve your general health as well as preventing the disease outbreaks.
Stress is a known trigger for the disease. Yoga, meditation and other stress management techniques can help combat stress. An added benefit is that your general well being will also improve.
Natural remedies for cold sores, like the complex amino acid lysine, Echinacea and St John’s Wort can promote the antibodies needed to fight viruses such as herpes simplex. Lysine is found in foods such as milk, cheese, eggs, fish and red meat. Echinacea and St John’s Wort can be taken as a supplement. These supports to the immune system can improve your overall health as well as hold off the disease attacks.
Over the counter medications for it are generally topical creams. These are applied a few times a day once the tingling or burning which marks the onset of an attack is sensed. They can reduce the length of the outbreak, healing time and pain.
Prescription medications for the disease can reduce the duration, severity and healing time for an outbreak. When taken as a daily dose they may also prevent cold sore outbreaks. Prescribed medicine it should be taken under guidance from a general practitioner.
Home cold sore remedies are generally preventative in nature, attempting to boost the immune system to keep the virus in its dormant state. An added bonus is that they are easily available and will improve your general health. Medication and medicines for treating the disease are used once they have erupted or as a preventative.