“Knowledge is not the same as wisdom.” “Yeah, what’s the difference?” “You know how to clean a windshield, right?” “Yeah.” “Wisdom is doing it.” Peaceful Warrior
Did You Know…?
Experts are saying that the fruit and vegetables that people choose are not always the best choice. The researchers from the U.S. presented their discoveries at a health meeting and suggested that people would be better off eating papaya instead of oranges and sweet potato instead of carrots.
They base their conclusions on the data revealing that most people get the majority of their nutrients from only a few fruits and vegetables and that there are better choices available. They said there was a rich source of disease preventing phytonutrients from watercress, kale and raspberries.
The researchers explained, saying that for beta carotene most people ate carrots, for beta-cryptoxanthin most people got it from oranges, for lutein/zeaxanthin it was spinach and for ellagic acid it was strawberries. They then described which vegetables offered a greater source of these nutrients.
Sweet potatoes provide double the amount of beta carotene than carrots, papaya provides 15 times more beta-cryptoxanthin compared to oranges and kale possesses three times more lutein/zeaxanthin compared to spinach. Also raspberries contain three times more ellagic acid compared to strawberries.
Keith Randolph, the leader of the study said, “This data highlights the importance of not only the quantity but also the significant impact the quality and variety of the fruits and vegetables you eat can have on your health.”
The British Nutrition Foundation however, cautioned about depending on just a few select food types to enhance health and said there was not really any “superfood”.
From the British Nutrition Foundation Dr Emma Williams said: “They are right that some foods are richer sources of phytonutrients. But at the end of the day, to be healthy you need to make sure you have a varied and balanced diet,” adding that “No one food can give you everything you need.”
Have You Ever Tried…?
Aloe Vera?!
With summer just round the corner, my Product of the Month for June is Aloe First. The unique blend of aloe and herbs provide a soothing, pH balanced spray, that is easy to apply to the most sensitive of skins. Every bathroom cabinet should contain this wonderful versatile product, especially during the summer months.
“Bad hair day? Reach for the Aloe First Spray - shield the eyes, and spray around 4-6 times from a distance of around 15-20cm from the head, then comb through. This tames the hair and feeds it with nourishment!”
Sent in by Anne Smith
“I always get terrible prickly heat when I go on holiday but this year I applied Aloe First liberally every day after sunbathing and didn’t suffer from prickly heat at all.”
Sent in by Gaynor Dixon
- It may help maintain a healthy digestive system
- Maintains energy levels
- Can help a variety of skin problems
- May help balance the immune system
Take a look and buy online here…
“Let’s not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and we obey them without realizing it.” Vincent Van Gogh
Did You Know…?
A study has revealed that people in bereavement can be consoled with soothing massages. The study found that an eight week course in hand and foot massage provides considerable relief to people in grieving.
The study involved 18 people from 34 to 78 years of age who had recently lost a relative due to cancer. They were offered foot or hand massages for an 8 week period. The sessions took place once a week at home, work or hospital and lasted 25 minutes. Eight of them selected hand massage, nine selected foot massage and one selected both.
Dr Berit S Cronfalk the study author and palliative care provider from the Sjukhem Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden, said “Details about the massage study were included in an information pack provided by the palliative care team when people’s relatives died.” Describing the massage, Dr Cronfalk said, “Soft tissue massage is gentle, but firm. This activates touch receptors which then release oxytocin, a hormone known for its positive effects on well-being and relaxation.” He further explained that “In this study the hand or foot massage was done with slow strokes, light pressure and circling movements using oil lightly scented with citrus or hawthorn.” After which “The relatives were then encouraged to relax for a further 30 minutes.”
Before starting the massage sessions, some baseline information was gained from the volunteers during a 60-minute interview. Another 60-minute interview was carried out a week following the end of the 8 week program. During the interviews one of the grieving relatives said, “Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect. I just felt I needed to do something to get rid of that pain and it seemed like a good alternative.” Another one said, “I suddenly realised that I could go through my thoughts in a much calmer way…I was more sensible in my thinking.” The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing’s April edition.
Have You Ever Tried…?
Aloe Vera Gel drink?!
Aloe Vera Gel contains an abundance of vitamins & minerals, including the rare vitamin B12 (one of the only 2 vegetable sources available). This makes Aloe Vera Gel a vital supplement for vegetarians & vegans. Folic acid, recommended by the Department of Health for all women planning a pregnancy, is also found naturally in the gel. Together it provides 7 essential amino acids which are directly linked to cell growth, & which cannot be manufactured within the body.
This totally organically grown & completely natural (no synthetic chemicals, only ones found naturally) & ethically manufactured drink is a MUST for everyone in my eyes! I SWEAR by it!! 60-180ml a day (depending on the reason for you drinking) can really make a difference. Read more about Aloe here…
- It helps maintain a healthy digestive system
- Maintains energy levels
- Can be used as a daily nutritional drink
- Balances the immune system
Take a look & buy online
“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” Jon Kabat-Zinn
Did You Know…?
A Chinese medicine practitioner pleaded guilty to selling a banned substance. The CHM practitioner, was accused of selling herbal medicine that contained the banned substance, aristolochic acid.
The pills were sold to help a patient with some stubborn patches of facial spots. However, the CHM practitioner was totally unaware that the pills contained a banned substance.
The Judge accepted that no harm was intended and therefore gave a conditional discharge. He also stated that whilst the MHRA, government agency for regulating standards of safety and quality of medicines, tried to make everyone aware of the dangers of this herb, it was not a ‘ foolproof system’.
Aristolochic acid could only be supplied by prescription originally. Later, the substance was banned outright from sale in the UK.
Representing 450 herbal practitioners, the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine, said this highlighted the case for “the urgent need for the statutory regulation of herbal medicine in the UK”.
Professor Monique Simmonds said about Aristolochic acid: “Traditionally this would be used maybe once or twice by a doctor who would know about its toxicity, but sometimes it might get into a formulation which is then used by somebody who doesn’t have this wealth of experience.”
Have You Ever Tried…?
People making herbal shampoo at home are claiming that it is making their hair grow faster. Although hair loss is a natural, although unwanted result of getting older, many people go to great lengths (excuse the pun) to stop it disappearing. Several herbs have been discovered to help in reducing the extent of hair loss and actually encourage healthy hair to grow faster.
Natural herbal shampoos work by enabling the herbs to be absorbed into the scalp and it is the effect of these herbs that lead to hair growth. The reason why homemade shampoos are proving more successful over their commercial counterparts is because they do not contain the damaging chemical agents that the commercial one does.
The main advice given to anyone wanting to get their hair back is to clean their scalp with a mild cleansing soap that does not contain any petroleum products. Castile is recommended.
“The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.” William James
Did You Know…?
The Council of Europe‘s Parliamentary Assembly has accepted that there is a need to launch a Swine Flu enquiry. This is due to high level and serious allegations of gross conflicts of interest of the experts who were advising the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare that swine flu was a pandemic.
Of specific concern is the fact that out of the 20 members of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE), 11 of them are either linked to pharmaceutical companies via their universities or have profited from work they have done for them. Some of the scientists have declared that they have interests in GlaxoSmithKline, which as a manufacturer of Swine flu vaccines has been poised to benefit the most due to the pandemic.
Interestingly, the definition of a pandemic used to be: “a new virus that quickly went around, for which people were not immune and that produced a high morbidity and mortality rate.” The recent changes dropped the requirement of “a high morbidity and mortality rate” in the definition and it was on this new definition that the Swine flu was declared a pandemic.
One of the UK experts on Swine flu is rector of Imperial College, London, Professor Sir Roy Anderson who is also a non-executive director of GlaxoSmithKline. The Chief Medical Officer of the UK warned that there could be 65,000 deaths due to the pandemic, yet it currently stands at 251. Due to massive orders of the vaccine by the government during the height of the Swine flu outbreak, they now have nearly a £1 billion worth of vaccine that they are trying to shift, with less and less chance of doing so.
Have You Ever Tried…?
Curing your ills with herbs?!
Ethnomedica is a project aimed at preserving the medicinal knowledge of British herbs. 150 years ago when Britain was a predominantly rural society, much of the knowledge regarding herbs and their medicinal uses was commonly known. Now however, the demographics are very different and the number of people familiar with herbs is dwindling fast.
For this reason, the Ethnomedica project was born in order to save out British heritage for future generations. Several qualified individuals, especially Herbalists, are to be trained in ways to gather information from the older generation who have had practical experience in using locally growing herbs for a variety of medicinal purposes when they were younger. Herbalists are preferred because of possessing knowledge of herbal medicines as well as botanical training that will help them identify the herbs that the participating older generation mentions.
The information once gleaned will be archived as a scientifically collected list of traditional British plant lore and will be made accessible to all, from medical researchers to local journalists. The internet will be employed extensively in the project to facilitate the collecting of information but especially to offer a fully searchable online database. As well as the internet, printed media will also be used so people without internet access can get the benefit of the information.
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” Lao Tzu
Did You Know…?
Scientists are concerned that there is no safe level of trans fat consumption. Despite a large amount of negative press about trans fast, they are still being widely used by food manufacturers in the UK. Scientists say that that they are not even necessary as an ingredient in food and a safe level of trans fat consumption does not exist.
The majority of people are now aware that fats essentially fall into two categories. One is good fats that are unsaturated and the other is bad fasts that are saturated. The saturated fats are mostly found in fried foods, dairy products and meat and eating too much of them puts the person at risk of heart problems and stroke. Unsaturated fats such as polyunsaturates and monounsaturates are mostly obtained from plants and are beneficial to health.
Trans fast are industrially produced trans fatty acids and are much more damaging to the arteries and heart than saturated fats. They are created by turning liquid vegetable oils into solid fats via an industrial process called hydrogenation. For this reason trans fats are also known as hydrogenated fats. For more than 100 years food manufacturers have been using them in products such as cereals, pastries, cakes, chips, biscuits as they provide a longer shelf life.
In the UK, there is no legal requirement for retailers or food manufacturers to mention that their products contain trans fats. However, they are obliged to mention the presence of hydrogenated fats. (They are the same thing.) These will be listed as Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (PHVO) or hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (HVO). Also the word ‘shortenings’ indicates trans fat content.
Many countries have banned the use of trans fats but in the UK there is only a “Voluntary agreement adopted by the British Retail Consortium, representing 85% of retailers in the market, to phase out trans fats as an ingredient in their own-brand products. However, there are no sanctions for those producers who drag their heels, and the voluntary commitment does not cover imported foods.”
Have You Ever Tried…?
A Detox?!
The festivities are over and many people are counting the cost. The cost is not only financial but also in the amount of toxins left in the body and how much weight is gained. To help people detox their body several products or ‘systems’ are on the market promising a detox sometimes in as little as 3 days.
The British Dietetic Association (BDA), who represents 6,000 dieticians in the UK, warns that no “potion or lotion” can “magically” eliminate the body from chemicals.
Spokesperson and dietician, Catherine Collins said on behalf of the BDA “You are buying into a marketing myth if you choose, say, a three-day detox kit,” and that “These detox products often take a convoluted approach to getting rid of toxins and try to blind people with science – and can be very expensive.”
The body has some of its own very powerful detox organs that are quite capable of removing unwanted chemicals from the body. They are the kidneys, lymphatic system, skin and liver. To assist these organs “Small and simple changes to your lifestyle are the obvious long-term solution – and this doesn’t cost a thing,” said dietician Sian Porter from Northamptonshire. Collins suggested we “Alter the proportions of the food on your plate by piling on more fruit and vegetable.”
Pretty much all the dieticians believed that a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables plus a good amount of exercise and fresh air is all the body needs to keep fit and remove toxins.
Porter said “Doing anything that gets the heart beating faster will help your body shift toxins,” adding that “Ideally, you want to be breathless rather than speechless for the best effect.”
“There is really nothing you must be. And there is nothing you must do. There is really nothing you must have. And there is nothing you must know. There is really nothing you must become. However it helps to understand that fire burns, and when it rains the earth gets wet.” Japanese Zen Scroll
Did You Know…?
Sustainable workplaces are starting to become an important consideration in urban development. With many older buildings suffering from sick building syndrome, it not only affects the building but also the people working within them. Some of the signs are greater mental disturbance and more time nursing ill health.
Some of the more common features adopted in sustainable buildings are natural light exposure, an accessible workplace environment and routinely monitored air quality. These and other considerations are leading to a healthier workforce that becomes more productive.
A study conducted by a real estate journal concluded that sick buildings are “caused by inadequate ventilation, chemicals and biological contaminants like mould.” The study also reported that “healthier buildings reduce sick time and increase productivity, making it easier to recruit and retain employees.”
Professor Jeffrey Pfeffer from Stamford is concerned that many companies do not value sustainability in the workplace, neither in regards to their employees or the environment and as a result they are actually losing money. Pfeffer believes that it would be much cheaper to adopt sustainable practices than to keep increasing spending on health care to treat sick employees.
Professor John Robinson from the University of British Columbia said that “It’s not enough to just have a building be green; it needs to be humane from a human’s point of view.”
Have You Ever Tried…?
Milk Thistle?!
A recent study has indicated that the herb may reduce the extent of damage done by chemo. It has been in use as a medicinal herb since ancient times especially for liver and gall bladder problems.
The study that involved 50 children all undergoing chemotherapy has produced results that experts are seeing as ‘promising’, but not conclusive and so are requiring further research to establish a more specific result.
The children all had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and by taking Milk Thistle it appeared that they needed less liver related treatment due to reduced levels of inflammation.
From New York’s Columbia University Medical Center paediatric oncologist and senior researcher Dr. Kara M. Kelly was keen to find a solution to the liver damage that resulted from chemotherapy.
Whenever patients have experienced side effects from chemo, doctors have responded by reducing the patients’ chemotherapy doses, but that then lowers the chances of reaching complete remission. Therefore “we still need an alternative option,” said Kelly.
The study, randomly assigned 50 children with ALL to either take a placebo or the milk thistle capsules over a period of one month while their “maintenance” round of chemotherapy was going on. Prior to the start of the study all the children had liver inflammation signs gained from their previous round of treatment.
One month later the milk thistle group were found to have reduced levels of two liver enzymes. Additionally this same group were lest in need of having their chemo dose lowered. But as the margin was only 11% as compared to the placebo group it was not considered statistically significant.
The researchers agreed that further research is required before it can be concluded that Milk Thistle can be considered as an effective side effect treatment.
“Play exists for its own sake. Play is for the moment; it is not hurried, even when the pace is fast and timing seems important. When we play, we also celebrate holy uselessness. Like the calf frolicking in the meadow, we need no pretense or excuses. Work is productive; play, in its disinterestedness and self-forgetting, can be fruitful.” Margaret Guenther
Did You Know…?
At the bi-annual meeting with Professional Associations on 17th November 2009, Kate Ling, Head of European and Specialist Legislation at the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that “CNHC (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council) is the only voluntary regulatory body for complementary healthcare which has official government backing. No other organisation has the same exacting criteria or focus on patient safety and quality across a range of therapies… The more people who register with the CNHC the more it will be recognised as the only orgnaisation which provides the guarantees that members or the public are looking for”.
She went on to say that whilst it was not possible to make CNHC registration a requirement or condition for GP’s or PCTs referral, “we are recommending that referrals should only be made to CNHC registered professionals”.
Have You Ever Tried…?
“Put an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of your home and never get affected by flu….”
There’s no scientific basis for this old wives’ tale, which dates at least as far back as the 1500s, when it was believed that distributing raw onions around a residence guarded against the bubonic plague. This was long before germs were discovered, of course, and a prevalent theory held that contagious diseases were spread by miasma, or “noxious air.” It was apparently believed that onions, whose absorbent qualities had been well known since ancient times, could cleanse the air by trapping harmful odors.
“When a home was visited by the plague,” writes Lee Pearson in Elizabethans at Home (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1957), “slices of onion were laid on plates throughout the house and not removed till ten days after the last case had died or recovered. Since onions, sliced, were supposed to absorb elements of infection, they were also used in poultices to draw out infection.”
In the ensuing centures the technique remained a staple of folk medicine, with application not only as a preventative for the plague, but to ward off all kinds of epidemic diseases, including smallpox, influenza, and other “infectious fevers.” It even outlasted the concept of miasma, which began to give way to the germ theory of infectious disease in the late 1800s.
This transition is illustrated by passages from two different 19th-century texts, one of which claims that sliced onions will absorb a “poisonous atmosphere,” while the other says onions can absorb “all the germs” in a sickroom.
“Whenever and wherever a person is suffering from any infectious fever,” we read in Duret’s Practical Household Cookery, published in 1891, “let a peeled onion be kept on a plate in the room of the patient. No one will ever catch the disease, provided the said onion be replaced every day by one freshly peeled, as then it will have absorbed the whole of the poisonous atmosphere of the room, and become black.”
“It has been repeatedly observed that an onion patch in the immediate vicinity of a house acts as a shield against the pestilence,” states the Western Dental Review, published in 1887. “Sliced onions in a sick room absorb all the germs and prevent contagion.”
There is, of course, no more scientific basis for the belief that onions absorb all the germs in a room than for the belief that they rid the air of “poisons.”
They do have powerful antibacterial, antiseptic properties.
Also note that LEFT OVER ONIONS ARE POISONOUS.
“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” Pericles
Did You Know…?
A CBS4 report reveals that more people are seeking alternative health remedies due to the bad economy. The costs of medical care in the US are very high and as a result a rapidly growing number of people are discovering that alternative medicine and therapies are often much cheaper than conventional health care. The National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) released statistics showing that 12% of children and 38% of adults are treating pain with alternative therapies.
With the swine flu vaccine shortage, thousands of people are looking to alternative medicine as a means of flu prevention. The Washington Post wrote: “Mounting concern about swine flu and shortages of the vaccine recently approved to battle it are refocusing attention on homeopathic remedies, which are increasingly being used in this country and abroad as an alternative to prevent or treat various forms of flu: swine, bird and seasonal.”
Such treatments like lymphatic drainage massage would also be good due to its intrinsic link with the immune system. Lymphatic facials are great for sinus problems, hayfever, people who suffer from repetitive coughs and colds.
Have You Ever Tried…?
Going organic?!
With the massive boom going on in organic produce, most of the large companies are trying to cash in. Last year the US organic foods market alone was worth $24 billions there is a lot at stake. Large household names such as Kellogg are doing their best to buy up the smaller organic farms and organic food companies.
At the same time as trying to sweep up the organic produce companies, the larger multi nationals are not letting on that they are the owners. One organic food company owner says he has got an offer from every food producer in the US for his company, Eden Foods Inc. The founder and chairman, Michael Potter said “Every food company you have ever heard of has tried to buy this company; Not most of them. Every one of them.”
But Potter believes that selling his company would be like selling out what organics stands for. He explained how so many of the small organic food producers have been bought out and now the brand is being promoted as ‘local’ or ‘home farm’ produce when in fact it is now part of the huge conglomerate machine in which many of the ‘organic’ ingredients are being severely watered down to reduce costs. The major players in organic foods are companies like Kellogg’s, Dean Foods and General Mills. In most cases their names are not on the labels as people believe they are helping the small local organic farms by buying the product.
Potter explained, saying: “The large companies go to great lengths to hide that they’re the owners,” adding that “There’s a great deal of effort that goes into shielding that from the public. There’s smoke and mirrors in the marketing of organic foods.”
Potter also said that many of the companies are importing their organic ingredients making it much more difficult to be sure that proper organic farming practices are being followed.
“If you are sad. When there are no more tears, life will go on.” Anonymous Chinese saying
Did You Know…?
A recently published report reveals how traditional Chinese medicine has effectively treated cases of endometriosis. British scientists have published a report in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews that highlights how well CHM was effective at treating endometriosis. It was actually equal to the effect of pharmaceuticals and laparascopic surgery which are the usual route that sufferers would take. Side effects were negligible.
Endometriosis is a condition that affects women and for which the treatment that is normally administered is marginally effective and has sometimes severe side effects.
The condition is one where tissue lining the uterus grows much more than normal and can extend itself onto the bladder, bowels and ovaries. This has the result of causing great pain and chronic pelvic discomfort. In many cases it leads to damaging relationships as the woman’s suffering can get quite extreme.
The National Institutes of Health states that there are 5.5 million North American women with the disorder. The actual cause is not known, so medics do their best to prescribe treatments that they estimate will have a positive effect.
From the University of Southampton’s Complementary Medicine Research Unit in the United Kingdom, Andrew Flower who led the study said, “These findings suggest that Chinese herbs may be just as effective as certain conventional drug treatments for women suffering from endometriosis, but at present we don’t have enough evidence to generalize the results.”
The scientists evaluated the results from 158 women who had participated in two trials using CHM to treat endometriosis. One of the clinical trials used Chinese herbs that led to a reduction of endometrial symptoms equal to the prescribed hormone treatment gestrinone, but with very few adverse effects. The second trial with Chinese herbs proved more effective than the drug danazol that is an alternative hormone treatment to gestrinone and once again with virtually no side effects.
Have You Ever Tried…?
Barefeet?!
Throwing out the shoes and going barefoot is being taken more and more seriously. Originally seen as a short term fad, going around with no shoes on is becoming quite a popular tendency, especially amongst women. The stiletto is a notoriously uncomfortable and even damaging type of shoe to wear, but as it is at the center of women’s fashion, it can be very difficult to renounce.
To help people overcome their apprehension about going barefoot, blogs and websites have been set up. One called ‘Society for Barefoot Living’ state that it is both liberating to go barefoot and is also a cure for herniated discs and bursitis.
Sales of the Masai Barefoot Technology ‘shoe’ and the Vibram FiveFingers, both of which are like rubber gloves for the feet have been doubling every year.
The Royal Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (RCP) conducted a survey from which they discovered that 80% of British women have at some time suffered from foot problems like, cracked heals, bunions and corns. They also learned that 37% of women had purchased shoes that they knew wouldn’t fit them.
Despite the barefoot trend, high street retailer, Debenhams have launched what they say is the ”highest heel on the high street,” a stiletto 6 inches high!
RCP podiatrist, Lorraine Jones said “Many of us find it hard to resist the latest fashion must-have,” adding that “But it’s important to remember that by buying ill-fitting shoes, you’re not only going to end up in discomfort, but you are also putting your health at risk.”
The potential damage from choosing the wrong shoe can be torn ligaments, knee pain, sprained ankles and even deformity. A heal over 3 inches high magnifies the pressure placed on the ball of the foot seven times. Jones said that the wrong footwear could lead to “long-term damage and even disability.”
Barefoot supporters said in response to concerns that going barefoot may lead to foot damage: “When you take off your shoes your feet grow stronger and tougher, you learn to move your whole body more efficiently and to ”read” the ground beneath your feet.”
“No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” John Donne
Did You Know…?
We all know the benefits of blueberries on the brain but recent research has led to the hope that there is a way to bring relief to the 270 to 300 million people suffering from Hepatitis C from the compound proanthocyandin which is found in Blueberry leaves.
Hepatitis C affects the liver and sometimes can take 20 years before it fully manifests. He therefore concluded that a dietary supplement could be very effective at inhibiting or at least slowing down that manifestation.
Over 300 agricultural products were screened to try and find one that was effective against HCV (Hepatitis C Virus). They found one in rabbit-eye blueberry leaves. This plant is a native in the South East of the US. The Blueberry leaf extract was able to block Hepatitis C virus’ replication ability which effectively shut it down.
Although Hepatitis C infections can be relatively mild, over time the virus can lead to liver scarring, cirrhosis and even liver cancer or liver failure. Apparently, in 85% of cases of infection, the virus does produce chronic affects on the liver. Current treatment relies on pharmaceuticals such as ribavirin and peginterferon. These have a 50% success rate at eliminating the virus but the price can be very high in the form of debilitating side effects.
Have You Ever Tried…?
Massage?!
Massage is now being used extensively for physical as well as psychological benefits. To help publicise these benefits researchers from the at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have published their ‘Journal of Paediatric Psychology’ that illustrates how effective massage has been in the areas of physical medicine, rehabilitation and with organ transplants patients.
The journal especially highlights the effectiveness of massage in dealing with depression, pain and anxiety experienced in children who had Sickle Cell Disease.
Sickle Cell Disease is a genetic disorder affecting the red blood cells, altering their shape and texture. The children’s hospital used massage and encouraged the children’s’ parents to also provide a massage service to the children. They trained 18 parents of children with Sickle Cell Disease in the art of massage using trained massage therapists. The results say Kathleen Lemanek, PhD, and Mark Ranalli, MD were very successful as the children experienced a reduction in pain, depression and anxiety after being massaged.
Dr. Ranalli, who is a doctor in Haematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, said “Massage is an inexpensive and easy way to manage pain, which is a big part of having Sickle Cell Disease.” He further elaborated on the benefits by revealing the alternative to massage. He said “Pain management for Sickle Cell Disease typically includes hydration, nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs and narcotics. Massage as a pain management technique can relax the muscles, increase circulation and help medication take a more effective route.”
Paediatric psychologist from Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Dr. Lemanek, issued some cautions regarding the blanket use of massage, saying “It’s important to note that massage may not be right for all patients with Sickle Cell Disease or even patients who may suffer from chronic pain,” and that “You have to consider personal characteristic and comfort levels of both the parents and child first before determining if massage is right.” “Even though parents’ anxiety levels were increased, parents from the study said they would continue to use massage as a pain management tool.” He said this baring in mind that “When your kids are in pain, despite medication, and parents feel hopeless like they have exhausted all options, massage can help them feel in control of the disease. When your child looks at you in pain, massage gives you the opportunity to do something to actively try and help.”
