It’s A Long And Winding Road

When we speak of energy healing, we are referring to the “life force” (also called vital force, Prana, Qi or Chi). Life force goes beyond an individual’s body or even that of all the Earth’s people. It extends through the universe and all that is (that we, as humans, may not be aware of). In essence, each one of is part of the “whole.” Many of the therapies we have spoken of in the Naturally Pain Free series easily overlap into different areas. For example, meditation is certainly a mind-body medicine, but it is also an energy healing therapy, as does yoga, tai chi and others. They work to connect with the life force. Each of the alternative therapies transcend into other areas of healing. They also work in tandem for a holistic health approach to health and healing.

Energy Therapies

Acupuncture is an ancient healing practice using long, thin needles to unblock the movement of the life force in the body. The body is made up of energetic pathways called meridians. Physical and/or emotional disease can unbalance or block the energy fields. Specific body locations (acu-points) along the 14 major meridians, when stimulated, can correct chi disruption.

Acupressure works on much the same principle of acupressure except the acu-points are stimulated by physical manipulation rather than needles. It can be performed on the self or on another person anyplace, anytime without the need of special tools or a certified acupuncturist.

Reiki also deals with the life force. The reiki practitioner places their hands at certain locations of the patient’s body in order to transfer healing reiki energy. The touch may be light or not touching at all. When a person learning reiki becomes attuned by her reiki teacher she is given special symbols to be used in her visualization during reiki treatments.

Chigong (Qigong or Chi Kung) means “energy cultivation” and is similar to tai chi, as mentioned in segment 1 of this series, in that it is a slow movement exercise. There are literally thousands of Chigong exercises, all with the same principles of using breath, mind, eyes, movement and spirit all focused on intention.

In part 5 of Naturally Pain Free we will discuss the use of physical manipulation for pain relief.

Mind-Body Relievers

By refocusing attention away from pain as well as reducing stress, panic and fear much can be accomplished. Some of the pain therapies we are discussing in this series of articles are many time used as a complementary medicine to conventional medicine. If pain is extreme, a drug may be warranted. However, holistic means can be used to lessen the medication needed. And, that is always better for the body, mind and spirit of a person.

Relieving Pain With the Mind

* Meditation can be used to focus your mind on your breathing or a repeated word/phrase and away from the concentration of pain. The ability of the body to change the bodies responders (adrenaline) to pain, when using meditation, alleviates tenseness.

* Guided Imagery (also called positive visualization) is the process of imagining either the process up to and including the preferred outcome or just concentrating on the ideal outcome. Tapes or a guide can be used to lead you through the therapy steps. However, after learning the basics, a person can mentally take them through their visualization.

*Biofeedback works as a useful tool for the sufferer to control his own pain. The biofeedback machine can alert you about very minute changes in your body’s reaction. You can learn new responses in order to control muscle tension and blood flow that in tern can relieve pain.

* Relaxation is a process of learning to use focus and breathing in order to relieve pain. Placing yourself in a dark, quiet room where you won’t be disturbed is the first step to learning to relax. It is a learned response that takes much concentration in the beginning. Specific techniques such as altered focus, disassociation, sensory splitting, mental anesthesia and mental analgesia are used.

In segment 4 of “Naturally Pain Free” we will focus on pain relief through energy healing sources.

Nutritional Remedies

With so much physical pain in the world, we should be able to manage some of it naturally. In part one of this series on alternative treatments for pain we discussed movement based therapies. In part two we are discussing nutritional based remedies. Chronic pain can be helped by nutritional improvement and/or supplements. However, certain types of pain are helped more than others. Nutritional remedies help abdominal, inflammatory and headache pain. In general, they may help by improving sleeplessness, decreasing inflammation and boosting the bodies natural immunity.

Nutrition and Supplement Therapies

* Anti-inflammatory diets such as a Mediterranean diet which is high in fresh fruits, whole grains, leafy vegetables, fish and extra virgin olive oil has shown to reduce boy inflammation.

* Omega 3 fatty acids also reduce boy inflammation. Including more fish and/or flaxseed into your diet or by adding supplements containing fish oil or flaxseed oil will improve painful conditions over time.

* Ginger has been shown to reduce pain-causing molecules in the body. It’s also good for nausea.

* Turmeric supplements or as a spice in food reduces inflammation.

* MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) is a natural bone and cartilage building nutrient.

* Capsaicin (a component of chili peppers) temporarily reduces pain. It’s a great benefit to arthritis sufferers who use it as a topical application in cream form.

* Sam-e (Sadenosylmethionine) is a naturally occurring amino acid and seems to relieve inflammation and increases brain chemicals that are considered the “feel good” chemicals, which is why it is used for depression.

In part 3 of Naturally Pain Free we will be discussing mind-body alternative treatments for relieving pain.

Movement Based Therapies

Considering lost wages, medical treatment, medication, low productivity and legal charges, chronic pain is said to be the most expensive health problem in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 70 to 85 percent of the population suffer from some form of back condition at sometime in their lives. Cancer patients in intermediate or sever stages suffer pain. 47 million Americans have arthritis pain each year.

There are two different kinds of pain:

Acute pain ends after a particular condition is resolved and may be caused by tissue damage, inflammation, illness, injury or a recent surgical procedure.

Chronic pain continues to reek havoc for sufferers for a long period of time, sometimes even years.

Conventional medical treatment for pain may include over the counter medication such as NSAIDS, acetaminophen or aspirin. For those needing stronger relief prescriptions including narcotics and antidepressants may be ordered by their health care professional. Sometimes surgery is required to repair a problem that hasn’t responded to any other treatment. There are non-drug alternatives to treating pain. And, indeed, conventional physicians are starting to take a look and even prescribe some of these methods.

Muscle Based Therapies

The conditions helped by muscle based therapies are: joint pain, lower back pain and musculoskeletal pain. They work by strengthening supporting muscles, improving alignment and the release of endorphins. Muscle based therapies are:

* Physical therapy which works to strengthen areas of the body through resistance training.

* Yoga works through relaxation, meditation, breathing, stretching and balance to relieve pain. It is thought that it helps the brain’s pain center regulate the spinal cord’s pain gate controlled mechanism as well as release the bodies natural pain relievers.

* Pilates strengthens core muscles through a resistance training.

* Tai chi uses slow, fluid movement that improves body alignment, flexibility, strength, coordination, balance and stamina.

* Feidenkrais uses painless, gentle exercises to retrain the body to it’s proper alignment and movement.

In Pain Free, part 2we will discuss herbal and nutritional remedies for the relief of pain.

The skin disease Psoriasis is linked to obesity by the hormone Leptin which is produced by fat. A new report shows that individuals suffering with psoriasis produce more Leptin than those without the skin disease. Psoriasis produces a red, scaly rash on the skin and is known to be an autoimmune condition. The condition required more tests and studies due to it’s higher association with hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome.

A study performed by Yi-Ju Chen, M.D. in Taiwan at the Taichung Veterans General Hospital and National Chung Hsing University showed that, out of 158 test patients, those with Psoriasis were more likely than others to be obese and suffer from hypertension as well as elevated levels of glucose in their blood. High levels of Leptin were also found in the Psoriasis sufferers with the highest percentage in women who had the skin disease.

Body weight loss improves the conditions of Psoriasis and blood glucose levels. However, the additional Leptin makes it difficult to lose weight. It’s a “Catch 22.” Other studies have shown diabetic patients to have a high Leptin hormone production.

There are probably a million different resolutions you could make for the new year. People even come up with themes for their resolutions, most of the time it has something to do with our health, dieting, exercise, stop smoking, and so on. All of them are good choices. In addition, why not make a list of “green” resolutions.

1. Walk. As the weather improves into spring, if you live within a few miles of your workplace, choose at least one day of the week that you will walk back and forth to work. Maybe, if others in your workplace live along the way you can talk them into joining you. You could call it “Walking Wednesday.” If you live a little further, try biking one day a week.

2. Recycle. If you have been separating your newspapers, plastics, glass and metal for pickup, great. But, a new year is a great time to clean out closets, garages and cupboards. Box up all the things you not longer use or want and donate them so that someone else can make use of those things.

3. Water. By now we all know it’s good for us to remain hydrated, but those “throw-away” plastic bottles are just going to the landfill. Find a more permanent solution to your take-along water bottle, such as a permanent container.

4. No Meat Menu. Take meat off of the family menu for one day a week. It’s not that hard. Oatmeal and fruit for breakfast, salad for lunch, grilled cheese and potato or tomato soup for dinner. There are a million different options.

5. Grocery Bags. Keep canvas grocery bags in your trunk so you won’t need to use the plastic ones they give you at the grocery store.

Migraine headaches are nothing to scoff at. Sometimes a conventional treatment will do the trick, but not often and there are side effects. However, for some people nothing seems to help. Worse yet, most times doctors don’t know why people get them. Consider the following when you feel a migraine coming on and then try one at a time to see if they offer any relief.

* Cut out artificial sweeteners as some people are allergic.

* Cut out MSG or any food containing this chemical - again some people are allergic.

* Low Blood Sugar can be the cause of a migraine onset. Eat something when you feel one coming on.

* Stress can bring on a migraine attach. Find a quite, dark place to lay down and take a break.

* Feverfew is an herb that has shown promise when a study was conducted at a London Migraine Clinic.

* Omega 3 fatty acids with their anti-inflammatory abilities have helped migraines.

* Magnesium helps to make connections from the brain to blood flow in the arteries. This mineral deficiency has been linked, in some cases, to migraines.

* Common Food Allergies: corn, wheat, oats, tea, caffeine, tomato, sugar, peanuts, cows milk, pork, yeast, eggs, rice, rye, fish.

You might want to consider adding potassium rich foods to your diet if you have high blood pressure, poor circulation, diabetes, insomnia, water retention or have a tendency to get muscle cramps. Potassium is a mineral that is also considered an electrolyte (regulates body fluid). Potassium also benefits arthritis sufferers by releasing acids from joints which relieves stiffness. Because it’s a water soluble mineral your body only uses what it needs at the moment and releases the rest. Therefore, it is best to eat potassium rich foods throughout the day rather than at one sitting.

Potassium rich foods

Banana 422 mg potassium
Avocado 974 mg
Cantaloupe 427 mg (1 cup)
Tomatoes 427 mg (1 cup)
Swiss Chard 364 mg (2 leaves)
Spinach 335 mg (1 cup)
Broccoli 287 mg (1 cup)
Celery 263 mg (1 cup)

This is my version of low calorie Christmas dessert.

Low Calorie Brownies
Ingredients:
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 splenda
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon espresso powder, instant
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup milk chocolate chips, white chocolate chips or crunched candy canes
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Grease an 8×8-inch non-stick cake pan.
In a mixing bowl, combine the applesauce, vanilla, egg , and Splenda until they are
mixed. Add the flour, cocoa powder, instant espresso powder, baking powder, and
salt. Stir until it is just combined. Pour it into the pan. Sprinkle the chocolate chips
over the top. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool about 5 minutes before cutting.
While they are still warm add a scoop of low carb or no sugar added vanilla ice
cream.

It is estimated that 1 in 4 women have a sluggish thyroid. Many don’t get tested believing there are other reasons for their weight gain or difficulty in losing weight, such as menopause, heredity or others. Studies have already determined that a diet higher in protein (30%) will eventually start to rev up your thyroid function, for many people. It’s difficult to know what’s best for our bodies at a time that nutrition reports tell us to eat less protein.

Dr. Bruce Fife, who is conducting studies on the use of coconut oil in reference to benefiting those with a sluggish thyroid, says, “Since it’s a food and not a drug, it’s free of side effects and is safe and smart for everyone.” Dr. Fife, University of Colorado, found that coconut oil could increase the bodies ability to burn calories up to 50% more while stimulating the thyroid hormone production. The amount in the taken in the study was 3 tablespoons a day.

Coconut Oil.com goes into detail regarding the history and research done with coconut oil. At the bottom of the page you can click on the site’s forum and see what other people are saying about it. As always, informed decisions are recommended and encouraged.