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1. Improve your posture. It is important to keep your spine as straight as possible, so that your muscles do not strain and contract unnecessarily. Also, in order to keep energy circulating throughout your body, it is important to keep your spine straight and nerves unhindered.

1. Consider “trigger point massage” for pain relief. If you are plagued by continuous pain and conventional pain medicines are not working to help eliminate it, consider this special type of massage. It will help to not only ease the pain – but to eliminate its source as well.

1. Try acupuncture. Acupuncture is type of holistic/alternative medicine that has been commonly practiced in the eastern part of the world for thousands of years. Five thousand years ago, the intention of acupuncture was to prolong life. With many alternative medical techniques, the intention is to prevent rather than to cure a specific or general ailment. The oldest recorded practice of acupuncture was over 5,000 years ago. Basically, acupuncture is used to stimulate the nerves in the body and as a result positively affect all of the other bodily systems.

1. Try Reiki healing. Reiki is a healing art that uses the body’s energy to begin and further the healing process. It is performed by using one’s hands to follow a specific pattern of massage, in order to stimulate energy movement throughout the body. There are many Reiki healers who are specially trained to perform the healing massage, or you can read about it or take a class to become a proficient Reiki healer yourself.

1. Consider a complete body cleansing. There are many different products on the market today that can help you to eliminate toxins from the body and increase the efficiency and overall health of your body. A complete cleanse will remove toxins and other harmful matter from your kidneys, liver and intestines. Generally how they work is you follow a strict dietary regimen for a few weeks while the cleansing process occurs. Most people who try this agree that it makes them feel healthier and they often report a fair amount of weight loss after the process is complete.

1. Try to avoid television. Believe it or not, television actually induces negative feelings in most viewers as a result of the commonplace violence and gossip. Television viewing is not nearly as relaxing as some people claim. Try giving up your television shows for a week, replacing them with other activities. You will most likely find that you are better rested, happier and less stressed at the end of that week.

1. Don’t forget to relax. No human being is equipped to function in constant stress mode. It is unhealthy to have a life filled with all work and no play. Some of the most common health problems that result when a person doesn’t relax enough include high blood pressure, stomach ulcers and other digestive disorders. Be sure to take some time out for yourself at least once a week, preferably once a day. This can help to prevent, and in some cases eliminate, these chronic health problems.

1. Consider biofeedback therapy. If you are experiencing health problems and cannot seem to find the source, a biofeedback therapist will monitor your body and how it reacts to daily activities in order to find out where it is not performing optimally. In this treatment, you would wear a monitor that actually records how your body is reacting while it is turned on. If you are an athlete suffering from muscle problems, you might want to consider this treatment to determine whether you are properly resting your muscles between activities.

1. Improve your sleeping habits. One of the best things that everyone can do to improve their well-being is to moderate their sleeping patterns. Unfortunately, poor sleep is a habit learned by nearly everyone during the teenage years. It is critical to allow your body the time it needs to wind down and relax so that you can be rejuvenated. If you feel tired during the day, when you awaken in the morning or exhausted before bedtime it is a sign that you are not getting the right amount of sleep. This could be too much, or too little. Try setting aside eight hours for sleep each night, getting into bed no less than half an hour prior to the time that you want to be asleep. If you do this for a few weeks, you will find positive improvements in your overall health and productivity.

1. Breathe mindfully. The process of mindful breathing is a form of meditation; however it is also a great way to get more oxygen into your blood and tissues. If you start right now and pay attention to how you are breathing, it is more than likely that you will find yourself breathing quite shallowly. This is not a healthy breathing pattern. You can start out by just inhaling completely and then slowly exhaling completely. If you take one minute to just do this focused breathing each day, you will find that you feel better during that minute. And, you will catch yourself paying attention to your breathing several times throughout the day. If you are stressed or tired, take a minute out of your day to breathe mindfully.

Source: Taken from Holistic Therapy Guide - get your copy here: school of life studies

How the Oils Work

In the Therapy Angel Luna Online Studies Introduction to Aromatherapy course we briefly touched on this subject, but if you are to become a professional Aromatherapist you need to be fully conversant with this to help tailor your treatments accordingly.

Inhalation
Aromas stimulate the olfactory nerves at the back of the nose, which send messages to the olfactory bulb which is in the third ventricle of the brain (the limbic system). This part of the brain looks after our thirst, hunger and sex drives.

The pituitary gland and the hypothalamus are both situated in the same area with responsibility for the release of hormones into our systems that control body functions and release emotions and memories.  So stimulating these nerves can have a direct effect on the body and the mind.  The pituitary gland is head of the endocrine system and regulates the production of hormones by all glands.

The hypothalamus is part of the neurological system that controls the autonomic nervous system, ie controls all the involuntary muscles such as the heart, lungs etc. It also works with the pituitary gland to regulate female sex hormones and is related to the control of the appetite.

So the inhalation of essential oils has a powerful effect on the hormones in the endocrine system and is particularly useful in the treatment of hormonal conditions.

Absorption

Essential oils that are absorbed into the skin go directly into the blood stream; so this can be achieved in many ways such as in the bath/shower, compress, massage and applied neat onto the skin. Inhalation of oils can also be absorbed through the lungs as they enter into the bloodstream in the surrounding blood vessels.

Essential oils go directly into the bloodstream and boost the levels of vitamins, minerals, proteins and acids that are naturally produced in the body.  They are really clever in that they seek out where the body is deficient in some way help with the chemical balance.  Additionally essential oils that are absorbed through the skin can trigger our immune system by locating molecules in the body and sending a signal to our cells to attack and invade organisms.

What you do need to be aware of is that the absorption rates vary in individuals and the oils. Although it only takes a minute for the oil to penetrate into the skin, the absorption rate varies from the bloodstream and into the relevant organs depending on the size, circulation and general health of the individual – which can be from 70 minutes to 6 hours.  It might be useful for you to record on the treatment card how the client felt soon after and then following the treatment.

The body then gets rid of the oil through urine, faeces, perspiration and exhalation which can take from 3 to 14 hours.  It is believed that the oils do not leave toxins when expelled unlike more traditional type medicines.

Room Burner (oil burner, diffuser and vaporiser)

Room burners are specially made for use with essential oils, there any many different retail outlets that offer them in different shapes, themes, sizes and designs.  However, a couple of useful tips: make sure the bowl element of the burner is fairly deep; the candle chamber is large and has sufficient ventilation to allow the excess heat to escape.  The base of the burner should be thick, or have a raised rim to life the centre of the base from the surface to avoid unnecessary damage.  A glazed burner does not crack, burn or stain and easy to keep clean – I personally had a beautiful clear glass burner that broke because I had forgotton to refill it with water - so this is always something to take into account.  Night candles should be used, and to speed up the aroma process add a little warm  water to the bowl.

This particular system is really good for psychological conditions, headaches and respiratory problems and good for airborne viruses and bacteria.  I personally like a burner with added lavender essential oil after a long day at work as it helps me to chill and wind down.  The obvious other benefit is that it makes any room smell nice.

Therapy Angel Luna Online Home Studies

The above information has been taken from our new Advanced Aromatherapy Course which is due to be published soon. As with all of our courses this one will be comprehensive, easy to follow and fun.  Because we intend to include more on massage, we plan to introduce a short video to demonstrate the specific hand techniques that are used during the treatment.

We know that studying can be hard going, so we have taken this into account by incorporating pictures, diagrams and soon to be introduced short videos for our new courses.

Before Therapy Angel Luna Online Studies was set up, extensive research was undertaken, therefore we can guarantee that the courses are the best by being more interactive, using plain English and fun.  The Therapy Angel Luna Online Home Study Group has so many years experience in holistic therapies, Palmistry and Tarot, Marketing and Learning and Development.

We offer practical advice when you get started in your new profession, how many other course providers offer that service.  We operate a 7 day money back guarantee if you are not happy – we are that confident about our products.

So why not train today in Aromatherapy, Angel and Crystal Therapy, Professional Tarot and Palmistry reading, Crystal and Reiki Healing today.  It is an opportunity to earn extra money in something you love to do – or even start a new full time career.  The earning potential is so great, it is fact that today many people prefer less traditional methods of medicine and advice.

Coming soon - New courses in Advanced Aromatherapy, Indian Head Massage and Hopi Ear Candles.

introduction to aromatherapy

Benefits Of Full Body Massage by Caroline Colby

Full body massage can produce multiple benefits for your health. These benefits go far beyond an hour spent in relaxing quietly, escaping the day. An increasing amount of evidence indicates that stress and tension form the root causes of many diseases and illnesses. Hence, if you able to find ways to alleviate or relieve your stress, you are preventing health problems from emerging or becoming worse.

Going for a full body massage on a regular basis is one excellent way to help you fight off tensions. Full body massage stimulates the production of endorphins that promotes relaxation and drowsiness.

When you go for full body massage, your head to your toes and feet are massaged both front and back. A variety of strokes that includes kneading, pulling, wringing, hacking and gliding are used on various parts of the body.

If you are already ill or suffering from constant fatigue or pain, then full body massage can play a big part in your treatment. A full body massage helps to improve blood circulation and blood becomes more easily transportable to the vital organs in your body. This is vital for smooth functioning of your internal body parts. In addition, when blood is supplied to areas that have been injured before, repair and renewal of cells and tissues take place more easily. Combined with conventional medicine and other therapies, repeat sessions of full body massage can do much to accelerate your recovery.

Here are a few disorders that benefit from regular full body massage:

* Depression
* Infertility
* Eating disorders
* Post-operative recovery
* Autism
* Immune-suppressed systems
* Diabetes
* High blood pressure
* Sleep disorders
* Cancer related fatigue
* Low back pain
* Spinal cord injuries

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When you choose full body massage, you choose a non-invasive procedure. In addition, full massage therapy, which is relatively safe, can be a complementary treatment to other medical treatments.

Other than improved blood circulation, here are other benefits that you can expect to experience from a full body massage.

* Stimulated lymph system
* Stimulated immune system
* Relaxed muscles
* Reduced cramps
* Increased flexibility
* Reduced recovery time
* Released endorphins
* Reduced post-operative scar tissue and edema
* Reduced migraine pain
* Improved range of motion
* Reduced depression
* Shortened labor and delivery in expectant mothers

As helpful as full body massage can be, those with certain illnesses should avoid the treatment. These include phlebitis, certain cancers, certain heart conditions, certain skin problems, and contagious diseases.

To be absolutely sure, check with your doctor first if you are chronically ill. Otherwise, enjoy on a regular basis!

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About the Author: Caroline Colby writes on massage therapy, massage techniques, massage chairs, and massage spas around the world. She also has easy recipes for massage oils. Please go to http://www.massage-therapy-central.com

Article Source: http://newagearticles.com

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Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the use of volatile plant oils for preventative care, healing and general physical well-being. Although the term aromatherapy was not used until the 20th Century, the foundations of Aromatherapy date back thousands of years and can be traced back through to ancient Roman, Greek, Egyptian and Chinese cultures.

Essential oils can be used in different ways, including massage, bathing and inhalation. When essential oils are inhaled, olfactory receptor cells are stimulated and the impulse is transmitted to the emotional centre of the brain, or “limbic system”. The limbic system is connected to areas of the brain linked to memory, breathing, and blood circulation, as well as the endocrine glands that regulate hormone levels in the body. The properties of the oil, the fragrance and its effects, determine stimulation of these systems. When used in massage, essential oils are not only inhaled, but absorbed through the skin as well. They penetrate the tissues and find their way into the bloodstream where they are transported to the organs and systems of the body. Different oils are thought to act on the body in different ways, having a relaxing, energizing, calming or uplifting effect.

Popular because of its non-invasive nature, aromatherapy is used for a wide range of health problems such as anxiety, stress, insomnia, anxiety and stress related conditions. Many people find it useful in treating arthritic and rheumatoid pain, headaches, and pre-menstrual tension. It is sometimes available in maternity services and is widely used in palliative and cancer care in hospitals and hospices. Some people also use aromatherapy just for its relaxation effects.

Therapists need to be made aware of any health problems the patient may have, particularly cardiac, respiratory, neurological or dermatological conditions, as some essential oils have to be avoided for people with these conditions. There is also the possibility of some essential oils interacting with prescribed medications, so patients should check with their GP as well as informing their therapist of any medication they are taking. Pregnant women are advised to avoid essential oils in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy and some should not be used at all during pregnancy.

Source;From the NHS Directory of Complimentary and Alternative Practioners

See also international practitioners of holistic medicine