Deep Tissue Massage Heals Internal Scar Tissue?

You may benefit from using deep tissue massage to break down internal scar tissue, also called lesions. In order to reach deep lesions, the massage must penetrate the area with scar tissue. Often the massage itself initially causes pain. While deep tissue massage won't relax your body like a Swedish massage, it does release toxins, increase blood circulation and decrease inflammation. Along with breaking down scar tissue, a deep tissue massage works to eliminate crystallization, restore muscle tone and help chemically balance the body.

Livestrong author claims that deep tissue massage can heal internal scar tissue. 

Ouch!  

You may benefit from using deep tissue massage to break down internal scar tissue, also called lesions. In order to reach deep lesions, the massage must penetrate the area with scar tissue. Often the massage itself initially causes pain. While deep tissue massage won't relax your body like a Swedish massage, it does release toxins, increase blood circulation and decrease inflammation. Along with breaking down scar tissue, a deep tissue massage works to eliminate crystallization, restore muscle tone and help chemically balance the body.

Scar Tissue Connects Organs

Internal scar tissue affects every part of your body including your organs, muscles and connective tissue. Scar tissue forms when the body undergoes trauma or inflammation of your cells and tissue. In some cases, scar tissues link to form an adhesion, which is a band of scar tissue. The adhesion connects two internal parts, which may restrict movement or hinder things like organs from performing their intended functions. Often people with adhesions experience no symptoms or complications. For those who do suffer from adhesions, doctors may perform surgery to remedy the situation.

Break Down Scar Tissue

You may benefit from using deep tissue massage to break down internal scar tissue, also called lesions. In order to reach deep lesions, the massage must penetrate the area with scar tissue. Often the massage itself initially causes pain. While deep tissue massage won't relax your body like a Swedish massage, it does release toxins, increase blood circulation and decrease inflammation. Along with breaking down scar tissue, a deep tissue massage works to eliminate crystallization, restore muscle tone and help chemically balance the body.

Heal Old Wounds

The body forms scars as a way of repairing damage, so allow your body 6 to 12 weeks to heal before beginning any type treatment for scar tissue. Some treatment centers won't agree to work on scar tissue younger than 12 weeks without a doctor's release. Studies show that treatments help with scar tissue 20 to 30 years old, which means you don't need to rush the healing process.

Release the Trigger

Myofascial Release (MFR) is a non-invasive collection of techniques designed to treat problems in the fascia, a net-like membrane that surrounds and separates internal systems like nerves, muscles and organs. Scar tissue binds the fascia together preventing it from functioning. In MFR, therapists use cross-hand stretches, skin rolling, deep stretches and trigger point release to increase hydration, separate the fascia, restore elasticity and decrease compression. Trigger points indicate areas in the body where fibers contract irregularly. The trigger point generally radiates pain and may cause secondary trigger points to develop, further restricting fascia.

Fight Scar Tissue Naturally

Using a variety of herbal remedies often helps dissolve or repair scar tissue. 400 to 800 IU of vitamin E twice daily along with 1,000 mg of vitamin C promotes healing of collagen and connective tissue. Bioflavonoids like hesperetin, quercetin and rutin help the body absorb vitamin C. Thiosinaminum, calcium fluoroide, causticum and graphites also repair scar tissue damage. Depending on the cause of scar tissue, you may respond better to different treatments, so you may need to experiment to find the best combination of herbs.  

There are places in Los Angeles to get a deep tissue massage.  Check out the list from Yelp and call places near you, check for prices and hours.  Get some healin'.  

Classical Stretch by Essentrics

I'd never heard of it until just last week.  It's called the "Classical Stretch by Essentrics."  The stretch is designed to straighten your spine.

Maybe I should let the site speak for itself:

Essentrics Workout

1)  A dynamic workout based on the theories of Miranda Esmonde-White that simultaneously lengthens and strengthens every muscle in the body, resulting in greater joint mobility and lean, long muscles.

2)  A full-body technique that works through the muscles chains, liberating and empowering the muscles, relieving them from tension in the process.

3)  A completely original workout that draws on the flowing movements of Tai Chi which create health and balance, the strengthening theories behind ballet create long, lean, and flexible muscles and the healing principle of physiotherapy which create a pain free body.

There are three basic types of muscle contractions and Essentrics is loosely based on the concept of eccentric muscle contractions.

Medical Definition:  Eccentric training is defined as active contraction of a muscle occurring simultaneously with lengthening of the muscle.

You can read more as to what Essentrics Stretching is about, what it is for and who it is for here.  

Cayenne Pepper, Among Many Things, Stops Heart Attacks

by Healthy Life Tricks

Did you know that cayenne pepper can prevent heart attack in a minute? So you better make sure you always have it on hand or at least in your kitchen cabinet, cause you never know when you might need this valuable ingredient.

An American herbalist, Dr. Christopher, has never lost a patient to a heart attack in his 35-year career. What he does is he gives a cup of cayenne pepper tea (a teaspoon to a cup of water) to patients who are still conscious.  These theory is scientifically proven from personal experience and not on studies done in controlled conditions. So it is even more trustworthy.

The reason why Cayenne pepper helps with heart attack is because it has at least 90,000 Scoville units, according to the Scoville Heat Units (SHU). This also includes Habanero, Thai Chi, African Bird, Jalapeño, Jamaican Hot Pepper, and Scotch Bonet. 

A combination of a teaspoon of cayenne pepper and a glass of water can be given to patients who have had a heart attack, but are still conscious and breathing.

If the person is unconscious, put a few drops of cayenne pepper extract under the patient’s tongue.

This will increase the heart rate and carries blood to all parts of the body, thus balancing circulation. It has hemostatic effect, stops bleeding, and helps in heart recovery.

The remedy below is considered to be the best remedy for emergency cases of heart attacks. Just remember to use cayenne pepper and not hot pepper.

Ingredients:

• Cayenne pepper powder
• a few fresh cayenne peppers
• 50% alcohol (you can use vodka)
• glass bottle (1 litre)
• Gloves

Preparation:

1.   Put your gloves on because cayenne peppers are pretty hot.

2.   Fill a quarter of the glass bottle with cayenne pepper powder and put enough alcohol to cover the powder. If possible, do this on the first day of a New Moon.

3.   Blend a few fresh cayenne peppers, and add enough alcohol so it gets a sauce-like texture.

4.   Add the mixture to the bottle which should now be 3/4 full.

5.   Fill the bottle to the top with alcohol and close it well. Shake it several times during the day.

6.   Leave the tincture until the next New Moon (after 28 – 29 days), and strain it using a gauze. Keep it in a dark bottle.

7.   If you want to have a very strong tincture, strain it after 3 months.

8.   Close the bottle and store it in a dry and dark place. It doesn’t spoil, so you can use it as long as you want.

Dosage: 5 – 10 drops of the tincture to a conscious patient who has suffered a heart attack or a stroke. Add another 5-10 drops in 5 minutes. Repeat the treatment until the patient’s condition improves.

If the patient is unconscious, put 1-3 drops under the tongue, and start a CPR. Repeat the treatment every 5 minutes until the patient’s condition improves.

Health benefits:

• Cayenne pepper has antifungal properties which prevent the occurrence of Phomopsis and Colletotrichum
• It has a beneficial effect on the digestive system – it stimulates the production of gastric juices, and relieves gases.
• It has anticancer properties, especially for lung cancer and smokers. The capsaicin in cayenne pepper is known to prevent the development of tumors caused by tobacco, and similar results are noticed in patients diagnosed with liver cancer.
• It helps in the treatment of stomach problems, migraines, flu symptoms, allergies, obesity, redness, toothache and arthritis.

There are 26 different nutrients in cayenne pepper, like calcium, zinc, selenium, magnesium, vitamins C and A.

Prepare this remedy and always have it handy, because cayenne pepper is one of the strongest natural spices that can do miracles for the heart.

Source: HealthyFoodHouse.com

Tofu: Not So Good

I don't eat tofu or any forms of soy.  I don't drink soy milk, don't eat soy ice cream, and don't eat soy byproducts.  I don't because of the estrogen producing factors in soy.  I can't speak to how they might produce so many kidney stones in one man.  Charlotte Middlehurst, The Telegraph writer stationed in Shanghai, has the story on one man and his consumption of tofu.

Doctors in China have removed 420 kidney stones from a man's body, blaming an excessive amount of tofu in his daily diet.

Mr He from Zhejiang Province in eastern China, checked into the Dongyang People's Hospital complaining of intense pain in his abdomen last month. A CT scan revealed that his left kidney was packed full of stones, most of them tiny.

Doctors operated on Friday in an agonising procedure that lasted about two hours.

Mr He said he had a history of suffering from kidney stones. Twenty years ago he had 10 stones removed using a procedure called lithotripsy, which sends shock waves to break up stones in the kidney, bladder, or ureter until they are small enough to pass in the urine.

"I have worked as a doctor for 30 years and have never seen so many stones," said Zhou Changchun, the attending surgeon, according to state newspaper Qianjiang Evening Post.

The unusually high number of stones was attributed to the high concentration of gypsum tofu, a popular local food, in Mr He's diet. The tofu contains calcium sulphate, which cannot be expelled from the body without a sufficient intake of water.

Wei Yubin, the chief surgeon, said that the kidney would have stopped working had Mr He delayed seeking medical attention any longer, and the kidney most likely removed.

This time, the doctors used forceps to remove each stone one by one.

"We spent 45 minutes just taking out the tiny stones," said Dr Wei. "After the operation, my hands and legs were both numb."

Following the operation, Mr He took his stones home with him in a plastic bag.

The medical name for kidney stones is nephrolithiasis. If the stones cause severe pain, this is known as renal colic. Most kidney stones are small enough, between 4 to 5mm in diameter, to be passed naturally.

Kidney stones are quite common and usually affect people aged 30 to 60 years. It is estimated that renal colic affects about 10 to 20 per cent of men and three to five per cent of women, according to the NHS.

Honey: Nature's Nectar or Another Sugar Substitute?

Getting to the truth of the value of a food requires that we compare the claims on it.  How many times have you read that this food or herb heals or cures a certain ailment?  Perhaps some foods can help in alleviating symptoms.  And if some foods can heal or or cure an ailment, the real question is can it do it for me?  And can it do it more than once?  And perhaps the final question might be "What are its healing properties?" To answer these questions we really need to read comparative claims, which might only leave us with information that makes us less confident when using the food for performance.  

Case in point: honey.  I don't know how many times I have read that honey is a super food, that honey has healing properties, that it is so much better than sugar or artificial sweeteners.  Okay, on that last claim I tend to adhere to that view, but honey as a super food?  Prove it.

I mean I have heard claims of its super power to treat every ailment from arthritis to heart murmurs to brain cognitive deficits.  Here's one article titled "7 Health Benefits of Honey That Could Heal Your Whole Body." That's quite a claim.  So let's take a look at what Lizette Borreli claims honey can do.

#1: Alleviates Allergies

#2: All Natural Energy Drink

#3: Boosts Memory

#4: Cough Suppressant

#5: Sleep Aid

#6: Treats Dandruff

#7: Treats Wounds & Burns

Hmm.  I have my doubts.  But let's review the statements.  First, the allergies.  Apparently, honey produces an immune response that produces antibodies that one's body can use to fight against allergies. Okay.

Second, All Natural Energy Drink.  

Five, as a sleep aid.  Here is what Lizette Borreli claims:

Honey can be a health aid for sleepless nights. Similar to sugar, honey can cause a rise in insulin and release serotonin — a neurotransmitter that improves mood and happiness. “The body converts serotonin into melatonin, a chemical compound that regulates the length and the quality of sleep,” Rene Ficek, registered dietitian and lead dietitian nutritionist at Seattle Sutton's Healthy Eating in Chicago, Ill., told Medical Daily in an email.

Moreover, honey also contains several amino acids, including tryptophan that is commonly associated with turkey. Honey’s steady rise in insulin, according to Brennecke, causes the tryptophan in honey to enter the brain, where it’s then converted into serotonin and then into melatonin, which is a sleep aid. This hormone is responsible for regulating sleep and wake cycles.

Perhaps all of this is true in an unadulterated, 25 year old body.  But again what happens when you're using food to improve performance or restore function?  Do these claims still hold, say, in a 63 year old body?  Is honey still the miracle food in a 63 year old body?  That is the question isn't? The question being does this work for me too?  

Another article claims that honey is actually poison.  If so, the health and nutrition and the honey industry have combined to pull the proverbial wool over the eyes of many, including myself who look to honey not just as a natural sweetener but as some kind of mysterious super food produced by the pollenating bees in wonderful nature.

Without these acids and the drying, honey would readily ferment and prove unusable for the bee which must have a dependable food supply for up to eight months in some of the harsher climates. Because of these acids and dehydration, honey is impregnable to bacteria. It is rather poisonous in the human digestive tract.

As a food for us honey is woefully mineral and vitamin deficient. Humans require infinitely more food factors than bees.

While honey contains several very desirable sugars, these have been rendered toxic by the protective acids imparted to them by the bees. These acids are the bees’ preservatives. Humans do not have the enzymes to break these acids down, as have the bees, and must rob their bodies of vital base-forming minerals to neutralize the acids.

I recently ate 2 tablespoons of honey with cheese.  The results? Well, it definitely helps one to sleep, but I woke up feeling exhausted and yawning over and over.  I was also dehydrated. This effect concerned me since the night before I had a couple liters of water.

When humans eat honey, it immediately begins to reabsorb moisture from the stomach and stomach flora. It destroys our symbiotic bacterial population wholesale. Several tablespoons of honey makes most people very sick.

In humans honey, more so than cane and beet sugars, is acid-forming and decalcifying. The body draws calcium from its teeth and bones, if necessary, to neutralize the acids introduced and formed.

Manite acid of honey is a protoplasmic poison. It interacts with protein and from this, forms alcohol, ammonia and carbonic acid.

As eaten, honey is an atrocious food. It is usually added to starches and proteins as a sweetener. It readily ferments when held up in the stomach with other longer-digesting foods. The byproducts alcohol, ammonia and carbonic acid are deleterious to human health.

Honey is, therefore, neither a nutritious nor a safe food.  Life Scientists should not use honey as a part of their diet.

For me it is the dehydrating effects of the honey that cause me concern. And by dehydration I mean my organs were dry--my stomach, my muscles, my head.  It was awful.  No more honey for me. 

Mark Sisson testifies to honey's ability to relieve allergies:

But my personal opinion is that it can really work for seasonal, pollen allergies, because I’ve experienced it firsthand. On a family camping trip to Big Sur, I got a horrible case of hay fever. It was insanely windy all week, so all sorts of allergenic plant compounds were blowing around. It was like I had a tiny cloud of dust and pollen following me around, a la Pigpen from Peanuts. I’d never had it that bad – headache, stuffy nose, bleary red eyes – and it hit me about three hours after our arrival. I felt like I had the worst cold in the history of the world. I actually wanted to go home. On our second day, however, while on a hike, I came across an old guy selling raw, local wildflower honey by the side of the road. A handcrafted cardboard sign read “Good for hay fever.” I thought, “Why not?” and bought a pint. The guy was nice and enthusiastic about his product, and I always like to support small apiaries.

I took a big glug of it and continued on the hike. It was real good, not too sweet and with a raw floral quality to it. Again, I don’t eat a lot of honey, but this stuff was legit – even through my clogged nasal passages. We got back to camp, made dinner, and I went to bed soon after darkness fell. Nose was still stuffy, head was still congested, misery level was still elevated.

And then I woke up, and while things were still backed up, I could tell it was better. A thin jet of air even squeaked through my clogged right nostril, allowing me to breathe and (most importantly) taste the bacon that morning. Another glug of honey down the hatch. Overall, I’d say things were 25% better at this point. By late afternoon, I was 75% better. I kept taking hits of honey and by next morning, I was perfectly fine. Now, I suppose it’s possible that the honey acted as a placebo and my hay fever was already on its way out – I didn’t control for variables, there were no placebos involved, and I randomized absolutely nothing, so there’s no telling for sure. But I doubt it had no effect. Too many other people report similar experiences to make me dismiss my own experience as nonsense or coincidence.

I will say that if you’re going to use raw honey to fight pollen allergies, you’ll want to buy honey that comes from bees who deal with the same plants and flowers that produce the allergenic pollen in question. That means buying local, preferably wildflower honey. Unless you know for sure that your allergy is caused by a specific pollen from a specific plant, wildflower will give you the most bang for your buck by covering a large assortment of plants. So, while raw, unfiltered honey lovingly puked up by bees who subsist only on wild edelweiss growing in the Swiss Alps might taste amazing, it probably won’t do much for your allergies if you’re not allergic to edelweiss pollen.

So perhaps generalized claims about honey cannot be made; that, in fact, in order for the claims about honey to be true one must look at a particular variety or a particular brand of honey to work its magic.