Blue Orchid Massage
  • Home
  • Pricing and Services
    • Massage Services >
      • Aromatherapy Massage
      • Bamboo Massage
      • Deep Tissue massage
      • Hot Stone massage
      • Swedish massage
      • Trigger Point Therapy
    • Pricing
    • Massage Wellness Plans
    • Scheduling
  • Gift Certificates
  • About
    • About the Practitioner
    • Contact Information
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Our Clients Love Us
    • Why we don't accept tips
    • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
    • Benefits of Massage

Are You Stretching Properly?

7/14/2017

 
Several studies have been done the last few years focused on the proper time to stretch.
What they’ve found is pretty amazing and completely opposite of how most of us stretch today.

The Findings

  • Static stretching before exercise is counter-productive and could be potentially harmful. Think of it like extending a rubber band to its limit. When you stretch to the maximum you are more likely to pull a muscle.
  • When stretching before exercise, your body may think it is being overstretched. To make up for this, your muscles contract and become short and tense.  The result is you aren't able to move as freely or as fast.
  • It was discovered that static stretching before exercise has a negative impact on athletic performance regardless of the subject’s age, gender or fitness level.
  • Several studies have found static stretching before playing sports makes you slower and weaker!

What should you do instead?

Picture
  • Warm up with a light jog. You want to increase your heart rate and blood flow to the muscles, which also warms up the body.​
  • Dynamic stretching mimics the body’s movements during physical activity with running, jumping, kicking and pumping motions, and primes muscle groups that will be used during a full workout.​
  • Once you're done with your work-out, stretch to your hearts content!

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports

Are there dangers for your pet lurking in your garden?

5/26/2017

 
Picture
Spring has sprung and the gardens are calling!
But let's not forget about our pet friends and the dangers that can be lurking in your garden.


​While most of these things are obvious (fertilizer, insecticides) others might surprise you (Easter lilies!)
Fertilizer, insecticides, weed spray
The most dangerous forms of pesticides include: 
  • Snail bait with metaldehyde 
  • Fly bait with methomyl 
  • Systemic insecticides with the ingredients disyston or disulfoton
  • Most forms of rat poisons. Read the manufacturer's label carefully for proper usage and storage. 
  • Most herbicides made for residential use are generally considered to be safe for use in environments where animals frequent, as long as the label instructions are followed exactly. For example, if a weed killer spray label states, "Keep animals away from treated areas until dry," it is important to adhere to these instructions in order to avoid problems. If these instructions are not followed, affected animals might exhibit such symptoms as mild skin or gastrointestinal irritation, or the desirable vegetation could be damaged from unintentional spread of the herbicide.​
Picture
Cocoa Mulch
Found in most home garden centers, cocoa mulch is known for its sweet chocolate smell and fine texture. Cocoa mulch contains theobromine and caffeine, 2 key ingredients in chocolate. 
From the ASPCA:
What happens if a 50 pound dog eats cocoa mulch?
  • 2 ounces will cause gastrointestinal upset
  • 4.5 ounces will cause increased heart rate
  •  5.3 ounces may induce seizures
  • 9+ ounces can be lethal
In contrast
A 50 pound dog who eats milk chocolate:
  • 7.5 ounces may cause gastrointestinal upset
  • And more than 1 pound is needed to increase heart rate

Top Poisonous Plants
  • Autumn Crocus - Autumn Crocus is highly toxic
  • Azalea
  • Cyclamen
  • Kalanchoe
  • Lillies - Tiger, Day, Asiatic, Easter and Jamanese Show
  • Oleander
  • Dieffenbachia
  • Daffodils
  • Lily of the Valley
  • Sago Palm
  • Tulips 
  • Hyacinths
Complete List of Poisonous Plants for Pets

TMJ Pain and What To Do

4/27/2017

 
PictureMayoclinic.org
    Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) is a type of temporomandibular disorder (TMD).
The Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the skull (temporal bone) in front of the ear. You have one on each side acting like a sliding hinge. If you place your fingers just in front of your ears and open and close your mouth, you should be able to feel the joint move. If you move your jaw side to side you can feel that the joint has a wide range of motion. Problems with the joint or muscles can cause jaw pain, neck pain, headaches, or ear pain.

Causes
The exact cause of TMJ pain can be difficult to determine and in many cases the causes are unclear. Dentist believe the problems originate from the muscles in the jaw or the joint itself. 
  • Grinding and/or clenching your teeth 
  • Disk has eroded or moved out of its proper alignment
  • Arthritis in the joint
  • Accident - whiplash or heavy blow to the jaw
  • Stress
Picture
http://anatomybody101.org
Signs and Symptoms
  • Pain or tenderness in jaw joint, face, neck and shoulders.
  • Aching pain in or around your ear
  • Jaw getting "stuck" or "locked" in the open or closed position.
  • Pain or difficulty chewing
  • Clicking, popping or grating sounds when you open your mouth or chew. 
  • Swelling around the jaw. 
  • Toothaches, earaches, ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
  • Headaches, neck and shoulder pain, dizziness
Seek medical attention if you have persistent pain or tenderness in your jaw, or if you can't open or close your jaw completely.

What You Can Do To Relieve The Pain


See Your Dentist

Your dentist can replace crowns, bridges or braces to make the biting surface more balanced or correct your bite. They can also recommend a splint or night guard to lessen the effects of clenching and grinding.  

Jaw Exercises and Stretches


Use Heat or Cold

If you wake up in the morning and  your jaw is sore or painful, use a warm washcloth to warm up the area then do a few gentle jaw stretches. You can also use ice packs on your jaw and temple area for about 10 minutes, followed with a warm washcloth for 5 minutes. You can follow this up with either gentle stretches or self-massage. 

Be Nice To Your Jaw

Avoid extreme jaw movements, which means no chewing gum or ice. Try not to yell, sing, or do anything that forces you to open your mouth wide. Don't rest your chin on your hand.
Keep your teeth slightly apart, this relieves pressure on your jaw. 

​Jaw Self Massage


Professional Massage

Your therapist will focus on neck, shoulder, and facial muscles.  They will eliminate trigger points and release tension in the muscles around your neck, head, face, and jaw.  
Book Your Appointment Today

Online scheduling
Get Rid of Tension Headaches
What is Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)
Texting Thumb Got You Down?

Is Your Smartphone Hurting You?

4/24/2017

 
Picture
Texting thumb, BlackBerry thumb, Gamer's thumb, Washerwoman's sprain, Radial styloid tenosynovitis,
​de Quervain disease, de Quervain's tenosynovitis,
Mother's wrist, Mommy's thumb.
Picture
Americans love technology! We love it so much that we have multiple names for the Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) that happens when we use our smartphones, tablets, or other devices too much.  The average person spends around 23 hours a week texting, giving our hands, arms and elbows a workout without realizing it. 
The muscles and tendons that allow and support the movement of the thumb are very strong but were not designed for the intense repetitive texting that has become a common day occurrence. The cramped position that is required to hold our smart phones causes muscle fatigue, strain and tension. This leads to aches and pain in our thumbs, hands, neck and shoulder muscles. 
What It Feels Like:
  • Pain and numbness at the base of thumb
  • Swelling in base of thumb
  • Spasms, tenderness, burning sensation in hand
  • Tingling and numbness in hand, including joints
  • Difficulty gripping with hand
  • Pain in elbow
Picture
What You Can Do To Relieve The Pain:
Picture
Change The Way You Text​
Avoid using your thumbs for texting. Instead hold your phone firmly in one hand and use your forefinger of the other hand to type. Use speech to text feature whenever possible to reduce texting with your thumbs. 


Give Yourself a Massage
Gently massage around your thumb and into your palm. You can also use a Knobble wooden tool to get firmer pressure. Move up and massage your wrists and forearms. Make sure to do both sides! 

Daily Hand Strengthening Exercises 

Get a Professional Massage
If your pain is daily and debilitating, you may need to get deeper work to release trigger points in the hand and forearms. Your therapist will not only work on your hands and forearms, but also your neck and shoulder muscles. 
Use Heat and Ice
If you only been experiencing pain for about a week, cold is best as it will reduce swelling and inflammation. If you the pain is chronic or lasts longer than a week, using heat will help relax the muscles. 

Immobilize The Thumb
Our thumb is the most commonly used fingers and every day we inadvertently use it over and over. Resting the thumb (by NOT texting) and immobilizing it can speed recovery time.  Many different types of hand and wrist braces are also designed to immobilize the thumb. 


Daily Hand and Finger Exercises
Picture








​

Picture

Best postures for gardening

4/21/2017

 
I do love spring time in the Rockies. Time to start prepping and planning for the garden!
Here are some tips to help avoid back pain while gardening.
Picture
1.  While weeding, keep your back straight from the base of your neck all the way down to the end of your spine. If this is difficult, you can wear a back brace for extra help maintaining this posture.
Picture
2.  Take breaks and do light stretches. Here’s a link to basic stretches from the Mayo Clinic or next time you’re in for a massage, ask for a free stretching sheet.

3.  Don’t twist. Turn your entire body towards what you are working on. This includes when you are picking things up.
Picture
4.  If you’ll be spending a lot of time working close to the ground, I suggest picking up a lightweight garden stool to protect your knees and joints. There are many designs out there, so you have plenty of options! Amazon Gardening Stools

5.  I know you hear it all the time, but it’s important to BEND FROM YOUR KNEES. When picking anything up, bend at your knees and straighten your back before lifting.
6.  Alternate using your right and lefts hands. This balances the workout and helps to prevent repetitive motion injuries. BONUS: Using your 'wrong' hand for simple tasks helps train your self-control.
8.  Just as athletes need to cool down after a race, it’s important for you to cool down once you have finished gardening. Stretch and if you’re feeling sore, use heat or ice to relax the muscles.
Picture
​​7. Don’t forget sunscreen. In Colorado there's 25 percent less protection from the sun, sunscreen is a must.


​​Good luck and may your plants grow healthy and fast!
Sciatic Pain and Piriformis Syndrome
Picture

Get Rid of Tension Headaches
Picture
9 Interesting Facts About Aromatherapy
Picture

Get Rid Of Tension Headaches

4/17/2017

 
Tension headaches are one of the most common types of headaches. Although some people get tension headaches for no apparent reason, they are usually caused by muscle tension in the neck and shoulders. Tension headaches are not hereditary. ​​
Picture
Common causes for tension headaches:
  • Bad posture
  • Fatigue
  • Stress, including anxiety and depression
  • Hunger
  • Teeth grinding or clenching
  • Injury (whiplash, shoulder injuries)

Up to 80% of adults get tension headaches with women being two times more likely to get them as men.  If you experience a tension headache daily, you have chronic tension headaches and should consult with your doctor.
Picture
The suboccipital muscles sit at the base of your skull. These four pairs of muscles are responsible for subtle movements between the skull and first and second vertebrae of the neck.  Tension in this group of muscles is a common reason for tension headaches. 
Tension headaches usually start with a dull pain or tightness in the base of your neck and shoulders. This can then wrap around the head and forehead. It has been described as feeling like a clamp is squeezing the skull.

It's best to treat tension headaches at the first sign when symptoms are still mild. The goal is to stop them from happening and to relieve any pain you're in. ​
Get Rid Of Tension Headaches Now
  • First thing if you can, take an aspirin or ibuprofen - right away - now - immediately - without delay - these pills have ingredients that help to shrink the swollen vessels that are contributing to your headache. If there is a medical reason or a possible other reason why you should not take such medication , then of course don't take them..
  • Start sipping very cold, ice water. Place the glass next to where you're lying down or sitting and sip it frequently.
  • Try applying a hot or cold pack to the base of the skull for 15-20 minute intervals.
  • Stuff two tennis balls into a sock and tie it off tightly. Lie on your back on the floor. Place the tennis balls under the base of your skull and allow your head to compress against them. Gently rock your head back and forth and side to side for a few minutes.
  • A 30-minute massage that concentrates on the neck and shoulders can be an effective way to relieve tension headaches. ​
  • If you feel a migraine coming on, you can place your feet in warm water and place a cold wash rag around your neck.  This causes the blood to rush to your feet and can relieve symptoms.
  • Many people have found either White Flower Oil or Tiger Balm to be very effective with relieving tension headaches.  
Long Term Prevention
If your headaches persist, are daily, or excessively painful, or came on suddenly, we strongly advise you to consult a doctor, without delay.  There can be more serious conditions that are causing the headache that require medical attention. ​
Improve your workstation to make ergonomically friendly using these 4 Steps!​
Picture
Work on ​Your Posture
Regular Massage​
​
Receiving massage on a regular basis, can greatly reduce the occurrence of tension headaches. Massage will relax tense muscles and trigger points. It can also reduce intensity, frequency, and duration of tension headaches.
Online scheduling
Picture
During the massage, your therapist will focus on the muscles causing the tension headaches, most likely in your neck, face, shoulders and back. Specifically treating the suboccipital muscles to relieve pain and tension quickly.

5 Amazing Things We've Learned About The Body

4/14/2017

 
The human body is so complex, with each year we have a better understanding of it's many mysteries.  The 21st century has been no different and researchers have made amazing new discoveries about the body!
Picture
APPENDIX
It has long been thought that the appendix was useless, having lost its functions millions of years ago, but according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center, the appendix is very useful for the bacteria in your digestive system. They found that the appendix acts as a “safe house” for good bacteria, allowing you to reboot your gut following a bout of gastrointestinal illness. 
One of the most convincing pieces of evidence comes from a 2012 study, which found that patients without an appendix were four times more likely to have a recurrence of Clostridium difficile colitis (C.diff)
Researchers at Midwestern University gathered data on the presence or absence of the appendix on 533 mammal species over the past 11.244 million years. They found that once the organ appeared, it almost never disappears, leading researchers to reject the hypothesis that the appendix is a vestigial organ (an organ that has lost it’s function over time.)

Picture
Gut bacteria
The microbes in your gut will affect whether you develop gut diseases like infectious colitis or inflammatory bowel disease, but a growing body of research suggests that gut bacteria may influence much more than just digestion.  
Studies have found that obese people have less diversity in their gut flora and increases or decreases in certain groups of bacteria have been linked to obesity. In 2013, a Washington University study of twins, where one was lean and the other obese, was conducted. When gut bacteria from the twins were introduced to mice, the ones with the obese bacteria put on weight, while the lean bacteria mice stayed lean.  
One study found that approximately 90% of the body’s serotonin is made in the digestive tract.  Cultivated by certain bacteria in the gut, a lack of this peripheral serotonin could affect mental health. 
Other studies suggest that the health of your gut bacteria may affect brain function, depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and cancer.

Picture
New Knee ligament
In 2013 two knee surgeons in Belgium announced they had found a new ligament in the knee. Positioned at the front portion on the outside of the knee, they named it the anterolateral ligament (ALL). While some surgeons had noted that a ligament seemed to exist there, no one named or systematically studied it. In 1879, French surgeon Paul Segoned first observed that in addition to the four structural knee ligaments, other ligaments must exist or the knee would not be stable. During dissection he noticed a “pearly, resistant fibrous band” originating on the outside, front part of the thighbone and continuing to the shinbone. He believed that this was the stabilizer ligament preventing the knee from collapsing inwards. However, he never named it and its existence was either ignored or forgotten. 
The presence of this band could help better understand and treat the most common sports injury worldwide - the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. 

Picture
A New Layer in the Eye
Professor Harminder Dua discovered a new layer in the human eye. Named the “Dua’s Layer", it is located in the back of the cornea between the corneal stroma and the Descemet’s membrane. Measuring only 15 microns thick, it’s an extremely strong layer that is impervious to air. The discovery means that ophthalmology textbooks will have to be re-written. ​

Picture
Mesentery
Previously thought to consist of fragmented and disparate structures, in 2012 scientists found that it is one continuous organ.
​
Known as the mesentery, it spans the length of the upper small intestine to the end of the large bowel. The mesentery attaches your intestine to the wall of your abdomen, keeping everything in place. Leonardo da Vinci first depicted it as one continuous organ and it remained that way until 1885, when Sir Frederick Treves presented findings stating that the mesentery was fragmented among the small and large intestine.  While its specific function is still unknown, recognizing it as it’s own organ could lead to new discoveries about its role in abdominal diseases.

What is Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)?

4/3/2017

 
Thoracic outlet syndrome is a group of disorders that occur when nerves or blood vessels in the area between your collarbone and first rib (thoracic outlet) are compressed. This narrow passageway is crowded with blood vessels, muscles, and nerves. This generally causes pain in your shoulders and neck and numbness in your fingers. Diagnosing can be very difficult and is often confused with carpal tunnel syndrome, frozen shoulder, brachial plexus syndrome, rotator cuff syndrome and bursitis.​
Picture
There are three main types of TOS, named according to the cause of the symptoms; however because TOS is not well understood, there is still much controversy among physicians over these classifications.
Vascular - Rare and usually involves compression of the subclavian artery or vein. 
Neurogenic - Involves compression of the brachial plexus. The majority of TOS cases are neurogenic.  
Nonspecific-type - Involves unexplained pain in the cervical region, scapular region, and arm. Symptoms typically begin after a traumatic event.
What Causes TOS
  • Physical trauma or injury
  • Repetitive injuries from job or sports related activities
  • vigorous overhead arm activity
  • Weight gain
  • Anatomical abnormalities - such as having an extra rib
  • Pregnancy
Signs and Symptoms
Depending on which structures are compressed, symptoms can vary. 
Vascular:
  • Bluish color in hand
  • Arm pain and swelling
  • Lack of color in one or more of your fingers or your entire hand
  • Weak or no pulse in the affected arm
  • Cold fingers, hands or arms
  • Numbness or tingling in your fingers
  • Weakness of arm or neck
  • Throbbing lump near your collarbone
Neurogenic:
  • Muscle wasting in the fleshy base of your thumb.
  • Numbness or tingling in your arm or fingers
  • Pain or aches in your neck, shoulder or hand
  • Weakening grip

What You Can Do To Relieve The Pain

Massage Therapy
Massage is effective if the impingement is due to muscle tightness or spasm. Massage helps by relaxing the muscles, increasing circulation and reducing inflammation. If symptoms do not diminish with massage, impingement may be due to another cause and you should see your doctor. 
Stretches and Exercises
Ice or Heat
Using either ice or heat on the collar bone, shoulder blades and armpits and give some relief.  Generally rule is 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off. 
Physical Therapy
Manual (hands-on) therapy may be applied to manipulate or mobilize the nerves of the arm to help reduce symptoms, such as pain and numbness/tingling. 
Acupuncture
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, symptoms of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome such as pain, tingling and numbness is seen as a "stagnation of Qi and Xue”. Specific placement of single use, hair-thin needles can help release this stagnation, promoting smooth flow and inhibiting pain.
Improve Your Posture
Use a Tennis Ball
Picture
When To See A Doctor
See your doctor if you are consistently experiencing any of the signs and symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome.

Jaw Pain? Tips to help ease the pain!

3/31/2017

 
Experiencing jaw pain? Does your jaw click or pop when you are eating?
While tiny, your jaw joint the TMJ is a vital part of your health. Any type of jaw pain can prevent healthy eating and chronic pain of any kind can begin to affect your quality of life.

Common causes of jaw pain:
  • Whiplash
  • Head or face injury
  • Teeth grinding and/or clenching
  • Stress – As a response to stress, it’s natural to hold the body tight, including the jaw.
  • Common Symptoms of TMJ Dysfunction:
  • Jaw, face or ear pain
  • Popping or clicking in the jaw
  • Difficulty in opening or closing your mouth
  • Headaches
If you suspect you have TMJ problems, you should first go see your dentist.

At-Home Tips You Can Use To Help Ease Tension and Pain

  • If you notice that your jaw hurts on the same side as you sleep this could be a major contributing factor. Try wedging a pillow under your back to prevent you from sleeping on that side.
  • Your jaw muscles work every day, and yet, are rarely treated to a soothing massage.  Take a few minutes each day to massage your face.  Gently use your fingers to massage, in small circular motions, along your cheek bone to the jaw angle looking for tender spots. If you feel tenderness that is a trigger point, press on the tender area for 15 seconds. You should start to feel the pain go away as you press. Continue to massage your cheeks, temples and forehead. It is best to repeat this daily to help the muscle stay relaxed.
  • Use an ice pack wrapped in a towel several times a day, for about 10-15 minutes each time. If you’re recovering from locked jaw, you may benefit from using heat packs. Once again, use for 10-15 minutes each time.
  • ​Spend long periods of time with your jaw wide open. The extreme reversal from clenched to wide open helps to break the habit of clenching.  You want your mouth to be wide open, but only as comfortable for you. Saying “ahhh” can help achieve this. Hold this for an hour, if you catch yourself with your teeth together, simply stretch your mouth open again.​
IMPORTANT : There can be many reasons for jaw pain symptoms labeled as TMJD and is often misdiagnosed. If your jaw pain does not improve with relaxation and TMJ massage, we strongly suggest that you get a second medical opinion. Jaw pain can be a sign of serious bacterial or fungal infection, or even Lyme disease. All can be very serious if left untreated.

You Might Also Like

Get Rid Of Tension Headaches

Picture

Relieve TMJ Pain

Picture

7 Modern Health Problems That Aren’t So Modern

3/27/2017

 
Our modern lifestyles are often blamed for many common health problems, but surprisingly our ancestors suffered many of the same diseases.
Picture
Heart Disease
It was believed that ancient cultures were not stricken with the same heart diseases as modern men, mainly due to their diet which was free from high levels of sugar and fat.
​

However in March 2013, findings were published that found signs of heart disease in mummies from five different ancient cultures. Researchers who examined around 140 mummies found that not only the wealthy, who enjoyed a richer diet and a more sedentary lifestyle, but also the lower class people suffered from heart disease. Researchers believe that chronic inflammation from parasites, repeated infections and smoke from cooking fires could have been additional risk factors. ​

Picture
Cancer
Recent debates have emerged discussing whether cancer is man-made or environmental. There are so few examples of mummies with cancer, that it seemed as if the ailment didn’t exist in ancient times. Recently evidence has been uncovered that our ancestors also had to battle with cancer.
​

In the region known as the Cradle of Humankind in South Africa, scientist have discovered the earliest known case of cancer. An aggressive type of cancer called osteosarcoma was found in a foot belonging to a human ancestor that died 1.6-1.8 million years ago. In 2007 the oldest known case of prostate cancer was found in the remains of a 2,700 year old Russia Scythian king. Also in 2016, scientists identified a genetic mutation that increases cancer risk in an 18th century mummy. ​

Picture
Brucellosis 
Common to rural farming areas in the Mediterranean, brucellosis, a bacterial infection, was believed to have only been around since the early 20th century. The most common way to be infected is by eating or drinking unpasteurized dairy products. In 2012 a researcher found 2 Albanian skeletons believed to belong to teenage males from the 10th to 13th century. Examinations on both showed bone damage consistent with brucellosis, suggesting that the disease has been present in Albania since the Middle Ages.

Schistosomiasis - Parasitic worms

Schistosomiasis is contracted through the skin when a person comes into contact with worm-infested waters. Prevalent in the delta region of Egypt, researchers have always assumed that it was a more recent pathogen, linked to urban life and stagnant water in irrigation ditches.  
​In 2011 Researchers took tissue from Nubian mummies that dated between 1,200 and 1,500 years ago. They found around 34% were infected with Schistosomiasis, showing that the disease dates back thousands of years. 

Picture
Tooth Decay
Sugar was introduced to England in the 13th century and things went downhill quickly. Queen Elizabeth 1st was known for her love of sweets, which ended up causing black and decaying teeth. It was reported that foreign ambassadors found it difficult to understand her speech because she had lost so many teeth. At that time sugar was expensive, making it a luxury that only the rich could afford and black teeth became a sign of wealth. It soon became common among lower classes to darken their teeth as to appear more wealthy.
​
A 2,100 year old Egyptian mummy was found to have a mouthful of cavities and tooth ailments. The man, in his 20's or 30's, had sought out an ancient dentist to help relieve the pain. Researchers found one of his cavities packed with linen cloth, which was perhaps dipped in medicinal oil to help relieve his pain. 
​

Picture
Japan’s custom of dyeing one’s teeth black, Ohaguro, had been around until the 18th century. It was commonly practiced by imperial and aristocratic families.  We would usually assume that this became common because of rotting black teeth, but researchers have since proven that the lacquer used to blacken the teeth was a treatment to help stop tooth decay.

Stomach Ulcers
Stomach ulcers aren't just a problem of our stressful modern world. In 2008, researchers found the bacteria Helicobacter Pylori for the first time in a 700 year old Mexican mummy. Although previous research had suggested that H. pylori was present in these communities, this was the first evidence that it caused gastric infections that led to ulcer formation.

Picture
Obesity/Diabetes
The modern diet has rendered famine rare in the developed world, but the body continues to respond to times of plenty as if starvation is still just around the corner. We know that this can result in diabetes and obesity. But we’ve found that our ancestors were not immune. Historically, obesity and diabetes were linked only to the wealthy who could afford to binge on food and wine.
​ 

Hesy-Ra, one the world’s first documented physicians, wrote about an illness resulting in frequent urination during the 3rd Egyptian Dynasty. The Greek physician Areataeus was the first to coin the term “diabetes”, derived from the Greek word siphon. Sources show that Indian, Persian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean doctors were aware of the condition, although not sure why it happened or how to treat it.  The 6th century Indian surgeon Sushruta was one of the earliest to relate obesity to diabetes and heart disorders.
​
​
Henry VIII was renowned for his large appetite and waist size (oh and beheading his wives.) Many historians believe his massive increase in weight was the result of overindulgence and possibly diabetes. Henry enjoyed 13 dishes each day consisting of lots of meat and pastries. He also drink around 70 pints of ale a week! By the end of his reign, the 6ft 1 in king weighed approximately 300 to 320 pounds. ​
​

Bonus

Using a 10th Century Potion to Kill MRSA
Picture
Scientists from the University of Nottingham’s Center for Biomolecular Sciences and Anglo-Saxon Expert Dr. Christina Lee worked together to create a remedy found in Bald’s Leechbook. Written in Old English, it is believed to be one of the earliest known books of medical advice. The medieval salve was used to treat eye infections and included: 2 species of Allium (garlic, onion or leek), wine and cow bile. The recipe gave very specific instructions of how to make the salve including using a brass vessel to brew in, straining for purity and leaving the mixture for nine days before use. To the surprise of researchers, the ingredients had little effect on their own but when combined killed 90% of MRSA cultures in a laboratory setting.




<<Previous

    Heather McNay

    I've been a Licensed Massage Therapist since 2006. In my free time I enjoy hiking with my husband and dog. I also have a passion for cooking, baking and gardening.

    Archives

    January 2021
    February 2018
    January 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017

    Categories

    All
    Gardening
    Massage
    The Body

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Pricing and Services
    • Massage Services >
      • Aromatherapy Massage
      • Bamboo Massage
      • Deep Tissue massage
      • Hot Stone massage
      • Swedish massage
      • Trigger Point Therapy
    • Pricing
    • Massage Wellness Plans
    • Scheduling
  • Gift Certificates
  • About
    • About the Practitioner
    • Contact Information
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Our Clients Love Us
    • Why we don't accept tips
    • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
    • Benefits of Massage