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Tips for Dealing With Shin Splints

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 02:30:00 -0800

If you've ever experienced shin splints then you know they are no fun and can really put a damper on your running schedule. The good news is that they aren't usually serious. The bad news is that when it comes to healing them, time is the best medicine. Here are some good tips on dealing with shin splints:

Most shin splints will benefit from plenty of rest. You should not exercise for at least a week, and take a break of at least two-to-four weeks from running.
Ice the injury for 20 minutes, at least twice a day. (I like to use the Cryocup.)
Use over-the-counter pain relievers to ease discomfort.
For stress fractures, diagnosed by a doctor, at least a month's rest is required. You should not run or exercise during that time.

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What Type of Alternative Medicine are You Using Now?

FitSugar — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 14:00:00 -0700

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Western medicine's pills and prescriptions can keep us healthy, but most of the time they just deal with the symptoms. Alternative medicine on the other hand, tries to get to the root of the problem, by working with the body's energy.

Many people have found great success with healing therapies such as Acupuncture and Chiropractics. So I want to know...

Yoga Helping Cancer Patients

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 03:00:00 -0700

A while back I told you about yogaHOPE, a non-profit organization that offers yoga classes to women in recovery. They believe that yoga can produce positive motivational change in people by helping them to regain their personal strength, and I completely agree.

Doctors at the MD Anderson Cancer Center also feel that it can help patients battling cancer. Dr. Maria Jorgenson and yoga instructor Michael Moritz are working on researching the benefits of Tibetan yoga in helping patients to relieve the side effects of cancer treatments.

Cancer patients who suffer from severe pain, fatigue, and mental stress can use yoga to calm their nerves and empower their souls. In their weekly classes, they practice breathing exercises that can help them get though times when they are suffering great pain or feelings of discomfort. Patients try to eliminate the negative thoughts they have about cancer and being sick, so they can then concentrate their energy on healing.

We can all benefits from the calming effects of yoga, from both the poses and the breath work. Yoga - it encompasses so much more than just the physical body - it's a way to heal, stretch, and strengthen your emotional self too.

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Comfort Yourself With Comfrey

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 13:05:00 -0800

Comfrey is a pretty miraculous herb. The roots and leaves contain a substance called allantoin, which promotes healing and tissue regeneration. Applied to wounds, it reduces inflammation and promotes healing of damaged or injured tissues.

Taken internally, comfrey has been used to treat a wide variety of ailments ranging from bronchial problems, arthritis, stomach pains and diarrhea, even asthma. But it isn't recommended to be taken internally due to the presence of dangerous, cancer-causing compounds.

However, it is widely applied externally in ointment form and is great for bruises, sprains, severe burns, dislocated bones, joint pain, acne, and other skin conditions.

Comfrey is purported to have bone and teeth building properties in children, as well as to be beneficial in treating many "female disorders." It was even believed way back when that comfrey could repair the hymen and thus "restore virginity." What would Madonna say to that?

It's a great idea to keep some comfrey along with arnica in your medicine cabinet if you prefer to use natural pain relieving remedies. Try this one from Burt's Bees called Dr. Burt's Res-Q Ointment for only $5.

Get Sun Drenched: Sunlight Saunas

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 03:00:00 -0800

Some people just need a little something to detox themselves and some people need something more.

That is why Sunlight Saunas were created, using infrared and far-infrared light. First of all, what is infrared and is it safe? Infrared light is part of the sun's invisible spectrum and far-infrared light has the ability to easily penetrate human tissue. When this happens, it creates a natural resonance, which has many beneficial properties (detoxification, pain relief, etc). The far-infrared heat penetrating your skin feels just about the same as being in the sun with sunscreen for awhile (doesn't hurt or burn). It's nothing like a microwave or tanning bed (as most people may think). In fact, far-infrared heat is so safe it is used in some hospitals to warm newborn infants in incubators.

Ok, so why do we care? Far-infrared saunas, like Sunlight Saunas can assist in weight loss, pain management, skin purification, detoxification and stress reduction. Far-infrared saunas can also provide relief to people suffering from arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, Fibromyalgia and some skin conditions. However, most people use Sunlight Saunas simply to detox cells, which is where our body stores waste and harmful toxins, such as cholesterol and heavy metals.

The portable sauna can be used on a massage table, bed, or floor. Set one of the domes on end to use while sitting up, watching TV or reading. If you have a big enough closet you can then store it away until next time. For more information and pricing, contact Sunlight Saunas directly.

MyPath*TV

FitSugar — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 04:00:00 -0800

Sometimes, I want to sign up for classes and be with people while I learn. Other times, I want to stay in my pj's and learn via computer.

For those pj times, try MyPath*TV. MyPath*TV is an online resource and community that provides hundreds of videos on virtually any topic you can think of relating to health and wellness. The videos tend to be a bit low budget and cheesy (nobody is looking to win an Oscar here), but they definitely contain good quality content. The site is motivational and soothing. The best part is there are videos from industry notables like Dr. Andrew Weil, a "guru" in the natural and preventative medicine world. There is one snag though: You have to subscribe. A daily subscription is $1.95, a monthly subscription is $9.95 and a 3-month subscription is $25.35.

Opie and Dixie's Healing Paw Balm: It Really Works!

PetSugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:15:01 -0700

OK, so I go for my twice monthly mani-pedis and North sits at home and waits. I admit it, I feel bad. And although I wouldn't subject North to "pawnail" polish (hello, he's a boy!), I did treat him to a few paw treatments with Opie and Dixie's Healing Paw Balm ($15).

As soon as I opened the jar, I smelled hints of chamomile, lavender, rosemary, tea tree, and basil, which made me feel like I was at a spa myself. And after just a few treatments, North's dry and cracked paws were as soft as they were when he was a puppy! I've barely broken in the jar after about six applications (on all four paws), and for only $15 bucks, the price seems to be right for a nice treat for your pampered pup.

Relax Already: Try Reiki

FitSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:30:36 -0700

After being laid off and collecting unemployment for a few weeks, an amazing career opportunity has just fallen into your lap, and you have a job interview tomorrow. Needless to say, you're anxious and stressed, and it's nothing a hot bath or cup of tea can handle. A Reiki session could be just the thing to calm your nerves and release tension from your tight muscles. Reiki is a type of Japanese healing therapy. The word Reiki translates to "spiritually guided life force energy." It's based on the idea that life force energy flows through us and around us (our aura), and it's what nourishes our organs and cells. When the flow of energy is disrupted, that's when emotional and physical issues arise.

A Reiki treatment feels somewhat like getting a massage, although there is minimal touching if any at all. As you lie on a comfy table, the practitioner will place her hands on various areas of your body, but often holds the hands a few centimeters above the body. The hands are kept still for a few minutes before moving to the next position, usually involving the head, front and back of the torso, knees and feet. A session usually lasts about an hour or an hour and a half.

I know it doesn't seem like much is going on, but Reiki practitioners are believed to have the ability and intuition to balance a person's life force energy. Not only does a Reiki session completely relax you (like you've just slept for 12 hours straight), but it can also be used to heal the body. I've experienced Reiki when I broke my thumb, and I swear, it helped relieve my pain.

Have any of you ever tried Reiki?

Wikipedia

Home Spa Treatment: Heal Dry Hands With Heated Socks

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:16 -0800

Colder weather means dry skin, and for me, my hands and cuticles are the worst since I'm constantly washing my hands. Here's a soothing and inexpensive remedy you can treat yourself to at home. If you suffer from dry skin on your feet, you can use this treatment on your tootsies too.

To learn how to heal your dry skin keep reading

The Pleasures of Placenta Keep Expanding

babysugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:00:32 -0800

Often called the "tree of life," placentas are known to have special healing powers for postpartum moms and some even believe they have a way with spirits. Taye Diggs's wife Irina had hers turned into pills while Camila Alves and Matthew McConaughey had plans to plant theirs under a tree. Some, like myself, told the doctors to take it to a place never to be seen again. Perhaps I should have saved mine and sold it as they seem to be a hot commodity among the elite these days. Hollywood's hotshots are partaking in placenta beauty treatments and famous athletes are turning to the often trashed organ for healing powers. Soccer star Robin Van Persie is hoping that a horse's placenta will work magic on his ankle ligament injury. Physiotherapist Mariana Kovacevic is known for her mystical techniques, one which will have her massaging liquid from a horse's placenta into the player's affected area.

It seems the placenta is the wonder organ that keeps on giving. Would you partake in any of these special treatments?