Your Life-Your Choice ISSN 1488-0253 April, 2001 Issue 71 Letter From the Editor Here's a subject that is not often discussed, but is becoming more accredited in light of it's success. Sound Therapy is used in hospitals, schools, and psychological treatment programs. Sound and music can have a very powerful effect on an individual's health. It is an effective treatment to reduce stress, alleviate pain, and lower blood pressure, among many other ailments. There aremore than 5,000 registered music therapists in the United States. Music therapy is also recognized by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Now... how does it work and what can it do for you? People respond to sound vibrations in 2 ways; Rhythm Entrainment and Resonance. There is evidence that the rhythm of a person's heartbeat will adjust itself to that of an external sound source. This could include the rhythmic pulse of music, the hammering of a neighbour making repairs or the humming of your furnace. This action is referred to as Rhythm Entrainment. Different frequencies or pitches of sound stimulate the body to vibrate in various areas. This is known as Resonance. Typically, low sounds resonate in the lower body parts, whereas high sounds resonate in the higher body parts. The health benefits of Sound and Music Therapy are countless and very diversified. Music therapy offers numerous benefits to Alzheimer patients. It can improve mood, reduce the need for medication, and may prevent deterioration by stimulating the brain. A study led by Dr. Frederick Tims of Michigan State University and published in the November 1999 issue of Alternative Therapies showed that patients with Alzheimer's Disease who underwent four weeks of structured music therapy showed significant increases in their level of melatonin, a neurohormone linked with sleep regulation and believed to influence the immune system. Another study examined the effects of music therapy on 30 older adults diagnosed with depressive disorder. Those assigned to the treatment group who underwent at-home music therapy on a weekly basis performed significantly better on standardized tests for depression and also reported less distress, a better mood, and more self-esteem than the untreated control group. A study of 38 adults who arrived in the emergency room with cuts large enough to require stitches were randomly assigned to undergo the procedure with or without music. The group with music reported significantly less pain during the procedure. A study of music therapy in 25 elderly people with sleep disturbances revealed that music therapy improved sleep patterns in 24 of the 25 subjects. There has been significant success with Sound Therapy in helping those with autism learn to communicate. Naturally, there is a complete science to the specific types of sounds and how specific areas of the body and the brain are influenced by those sounds. Clearly it is much too involved to do proper justice in a single article. However, I do encourage you to further your research on the subject of Sound and Music Therapy. Can you think of a nicer way to cure what ails you? --- Sources: Alternative Medicine; The Definitive Guide The Reference Center - http://www.knowledgecenters.versaware.com AMC; American Music Conference - http://www.amc-music.org/ Brigitte Synesael Editor of Your Life-Your Choice Make it your business to be informed! No one cares more about you than YOU. http://www.Life-Choices.com =========================================== ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE: 1. "Mindful Massage Therapy" 2. Top Dog - For Nervous and Hyperactive Pets 3. Tea Tips - Green Tea Soothes Skin 4. Spring Cleaning - Don't Forget Your Body! *** Please rate this Ezine at the Cumuli Ezine Finder. http://www.cumuli.com/ezines/info/default.ldml?pub_code=alterh =========================================== Section 1 "Mindful Massage Therapy" by Laurel Duran, CMT http://www2.amigo.net/bluecord In today's world, professional massage therapy is more commonly accepted as a holistic healing modality than ever before, and the public demand for trained professional massage therapists is increasing daily. In order to meet tomorrow's even greater demand for skilled certified massage therapists, competing massage schools are offering prospective students a vast array of bodywork and holistic health techniques that encompass much more than the anatomy/physiology, Swedish (deep muscle medical) massage techniques, and passive/active exercise basics. The curricula of many certified massage schools also include courses in Polarity energy therapy, Shiatsu, Reiki, Chi Gong, cranio-sacral techniques, injury assessment/treatment, pregnancy massage, infant massage, sports massage, lymphatic drainage techniques, herbology, aromatherapy, nutrition, yoga, meditation techniques and biofeedback just to name a few. While energetic young people are entering the potentially lucrative and fulfilling career of massage therapy, so are some experienced business professionals also leaving corporate jobs for attractive new careers as certified massage therapists. I believe this trend suggests a gradual, natural change of direction in our health care because it is driven by consumer choice. In the 21 years I have been in private practice as a massage therapist, I have received many different kinds of massage myself. Regardless of what formal techniques the therapist uses, I believe there is one single skill that I want my massage therapist to apply to the massage I receive. That skill is "mindfulness". Mindfulness means more than paying attention to the client during the massage hour. To me, massage therapy is a compassionate conversation between the client and the therapist, conveyed through the therapist's hands. Physically, a good therapist's hands seem to intuitively speak to the clients' soft tissue, responding to their resistive or painful energy pockets with kind acceptance. Mindfulness means giving one's full attention to intuitively sensing and meeting the client's unique therapeutic needs in the present moment. When a client first comes to me I begin by querying them about their health history. I find out what health challenges they are currently facing, and I ask them "What led you to come for a massage today?" As they describe their personal reasons and physical tensions, I intuitively observe their entire energy field so that I can perceive where their energy seems blocked. If I intuitively sense their body's energy could be blocked in a certain area they have not mentioned, I ask them about it. When I begin to administer the massage, I listen to them - to their body, their words and their feelings - with my rational mind and my intuition. This mindfulness guides where I place my hands and how I respond to their unique need with my hands. When I first touch the client, I intuitively apply an amount of pressure and motion that will be immediately acceptable to them. After a while, as they begin to trust what my hands are saying, they begin to surrender and allow themselves to safely fall into a deeper state of non-resistance. In other words, they begin to "unwind". When this happens I can feel the change. If they want me to go deeper into their soft tissue to help solve their tension and pain problems, I am able to delve in more deeply, without counter productively forcing excessive pressure on them, causing their soft tissue to resist by contracting. I can only sense my client's unconscious soft-tissue responses by paying full attention. If I were chatting with my client about my life, I would lose focus. If I used my captive-audience client's therapy hour as an opportunity to pour out my personal troubles to her, I would not only be reducing my client’s unwinding potential, but I would be behaving unethically by using my client for my OWN purposes without her consent. Respecting the necessary boundaries in any client/therapist relationship is essential to achieving the session's healing goal. I take my responsibility to each massage client very seriously. I personally feel that administering massage therapy not only carries high standards of professionalism, but it carries an even greater spiritual responsibility. The moment I step over the threshold of my massage treatment room, I enter into a potentially miraculous world of healing. I leave my own personal needs behind me as I focus all of my attention on my client's needs in the moment. In an instant of mindful choice, I become a neutral conduit for God's unlimited healing power. When I use mindfulness as my guide, massage therapy sessions cross over the illusionary boundaries between body, mind and spirit, and become the reality of holistic healing! ----- Read about Laurel Duran on our Meet the Team page; http://www.Life-Choices.com/team.html ******************************************* Our sponsors make this newsletter FREE to subscribers. Please take a moment to visit them. ******************************************* Fed up with being FAT and FRUSTRATED? There's a good chance that food is NOT the cause of your weight problem. Learn the true secrets of successful weight loss. Order now and receive free gifts with every report. http://www.diets-dont-work.com/?ylyc ********************************************* Awaken your creativity. Eliminate mental fatigue. Relieve tension. Our pure essential oils address your lifestyle needs through therapeutic aromatherapy. We manufacture the purest aromatherapy body care products available. Our products are made with uncompromising quality, using the highest grade therapeutic essential oils from around the world. Our products do not contain mineral oil, artificial coal tar dyes, or synthetic scents. Adorn the goddess within, and create a euphoric effect on the soul. http://life-choices.com/cj/spa.html ********************************************* Section 2 Top Dog - For Nervous and Hyperactive Pets Some pets are by nature excitable, worriers, and/or hyperactive. They may need a little help to relax and "smell the roses", if you will. The following herbs are helpful in situations such as these and a carefully measured combination can help "soothe your anxious pet". Black Cohosh is a powerful herb and helpful for all nervous conditions, fits, convulsions and spasmodic afflictions. Hops is an excellent nervine and will promote sleep. Lobelia is a powerful relaxant, can be experienced throughout the body. Scullcap has a calming effect especially for pets who worry and brings about a natural sleep. Mistletoe is not just for smooching under at Christmas time. It will quiet, soothe and tone the nerves of your anxious pet. A formula similar to this would be helpful given to an animal the day before going on a trip. For hyperactive breeds I would put drops in the pets water everyday to slow them down just a bit. St. John`s Wort also is effective for some nervous problems. Vitamin E supports the nervous system and Lecithin helps to strengthen the myelin sheath thus helping nervous disorders ----- Do you have a specific question about your pet's health that you would like to have an answer to? Talk to our TOP DOG. http://www.life-choices.com/cj/pet.html *************************************** Section 3 Tea Tips- Green Tea Soothes Skin Soaking in a mixture of green tea and oatmeal can be a wonderful way to soothe and tone sensitive skin, according to an article entitled "Natural Beauty: Five Rejuvenating Home Remedies" in Prevention magazine (http://www.prevention.com). "A green tea bath is a delicious way to unwind after a stressful day," Audra Senkus and Gabrielle Ophals, owners of Haven, a New York City day spa, told the magazine. Just combine one-half cup of loose green tea leaves with one-half cup of rolled or instant oatmeal in a muslin or cheesecloth bag. Tie up the bag and steep it in warm water as you fill the tub. Then remove the bag and soak yourself for a delightful 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse, towel, moisturize. As with every tea time, don't forget to use a new mix each time! --- Source: Thousand Cranes Tea http://www.life-choices.com/cj/tea.html *************************************** Our sponsors make this newsletter FREE to subscribers. Please take a moment to visit them. *************************************** The NutriCounter can help you to lose weight quickly, moderately, or slowly and be able to stay with it literally forever. You will look great, feel great, and be healthier than ever! And you will still be eating the foods you love! You WILL get the results you are looking for. Guaranteed or your money back - no questions asked. http://life-choices.com/cj/nutricounter.html *************************************** **Special Easter Offer** Prepare the perfect cup of Thousand Cranes loose-leaf tea in one of our favorite infusers designed to stop brewing at exactly the right moment. Receive a free set of BODUM® Bistro Nouveau teacups with any purchase over $45.00. http://www.life-choices.com/cj/tea.html *************************************** Section 4 Spring Cleaning - Don't Forget Your Body! by June Kaminski, RN MSN http://www.visionsofadonai.com Spring is becoming a reality in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere - a time of rebirth, renewal and spring cleaning. By all means, spruce up your environment, your home, your wardrobe. But don't forget your most intimate environment of all - your body. In many cultures, through many ages, spring cleansing has been a fact of life. Its the time of year to shed any congestion, built-up toxins and give your digestion, liver and energy level a good boost and cleaning. During the winter we tend to eat a more acidic diet, such as high protein foods which can cause the intestines to secrete a heavy mucous coating. This means the intestine is not able to absorb nutrients as well. Too much acidic food also cause the intestines to harbor harmful bacteria. These two problems can lead to constipation and autointoxication. This causes the intestines to re-absorb toxic materials back into the blood stream. This causes strain on the liver which eventually can't keep up with the blood needing detoxicification. When the body is overburdened with toxins, the liver may be stressed causing symptoms such as allergies, headaches, nausea, irritability, foggy thinking, muscle tension, skin eruptions, itching and fatigue. In women, PMS, fibroid tumors, and endometriosis are signs of liver stress, since the liver must process excess estrogens out of the bloodstream. This is where spring cleansing fits in. You can give your intestines and liver a break by helping them get rid of the built-up toxins. There are many different ways to engage in spring body cleansing. This week we will address a few of the most common ones. Give them a try, if you're so inclined. You'll likely feel more energetic,. lighter, with less aches and digestion troubles. Don't go off on any tangents though - tonics and cleansing diets are great, but don't let them impede your ingestion of the necessary nutrients your body needs for day to day repair and maintenance. These suggestions are meant to supplement your normal healthy daily diet, not substitute for them. Dr Elson Haas suggests using the Master Cleanser method of internal body cleansing. This includes the doctor's recipe: The Master Cleanser 2 Tablespoons of fresh lemon (or lime) juice 1 Tablespoon pure maple syrup 1/10 teaspoon cayenne pepper 8 ounces of spring water Read more about the Cleanser at http://www.elsonhaas.com/article/spring.html Dine on Spring Morsels Several wild and natural foods are wonderful spring tonics. Try one or more of the following. If prepared right, they are delicious and oh, so nutritious, full of enzymes, minerals and other nutrients, as well as having cleansing properties. 1. Dandelion leaves 2. Sorrel 3. Nettles 4. Yellow dock 5. Red Beet 6. Watercress are all wonderful tonics for the liver, bringing renewed strength and vitality to the body. 7. Barberry 8. Milk Thistle 9. Red Clover 10.Burdock are herbs that are excellent for cleansing the liver and gall bladder, which boost the digestive and immune systems. Herbs for Intestinal Cleansing Two herbs Psyllium and Cascara Sagrada are wonderful cleansers for the intestines and colon. Psyllium (Plantago ovata seed and husk) is a bulk natural laxative -- its mucilaginous action cleanses the intestines. Psyllium also reduces low density lipoproteins ("bad" cholesterol) and normalizes blood sugar levels. Cascara Sagrada (Rhamnus purshiana bark) stimulates the intestinal lining and relieve a sluggish colon. The combination of both Psyllium (as a bulking agent) and Cascara (as a stimulant laxative) is a wonderful colon cleanser. Chinese Spring Medicine In Chinese medicine, spring is the season of the wood element, corresponding to the liver and gall bladder. The liver governs the smooth flow of energy in the body and for cleansing and storing the blood. Gall bladder problems frequently show up in the spring, often brought on by fatty foods such as dairy (especially cheese), fried foods and red meat or pork. Indigestion or nausea following eating, pain under the right rib cage toward the stomach, or radiating pain between the shoulder blades are all signs of a stressed gall bladder. In spring, the body moves into a cycle of rebuilding and cleansing various organs and systems. Just as sap rises in the trees, our bodies need to move upward. We need to cleanse the past toxins from our bodies and minds and rebuild. In doing so, we move beyond "the trunk of the tree". The organs rebuilding and cleansing in spring are ones located high up in the body. During the season of the Wood element, energy is focused on the liver and gall bladder. March 11 through May 22 is the Wood Element Season. Later, the Fire element season begins during the last month of spring and the energy moves on to the heart and small intestines, including the circulatory and endocrine systems. For extensive further reading on Chinese spring cleansers and health boosters, visit Julia Chang's site at http://www.sensiblehealth.com/ Now is the time of year to focus on YOUR state of health and well being. If you're like most of us, it's time for some inner cleansing. Combine the use of fresh spring greens with the herbs mentioned as well as plenty of water, exercise, fresh air, steam baths and skin toning to help your body purify itself and prepare for the warm summer months ahead. You'll only feel better for it - full of renewed energy and strength, ready for healthy energetic frolics and warm weather fun. ----- Read about June Kaminski on our Meet the Team page; http://www.Life-Choices.com/team.html //////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Disclaimer All material appearing in this newsletter is provided for educational purposes only. It is provided with the understanding that authors and contributors are not offering medical advice or services. We strongly encourage you to consult with your own physician regarding any recommendations with respect to your own medical condition. Advertisement in the Your Life- Your Choice newsletter does not indicate endorsement on our part. 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