The researchers note that the Conception Vessel (CV, Ren channel) and Governing Vessel (GV, Du channel) are effective acupuncture meridians to “prevent and treat neural injuries following cerebral ischemia.”

Recent studies demonstrate that neural stem cells (NSCs) in the brain have the “ability of self-duplication, self regeneration and continuous differentiation into neuron and neuroglial cells.” Studies show that acupuncture on the Conception and Governing Vessels promotes “proliferation and differentiation of NSCs in the ischemic brain.” Two specific Acupuncture points “increase the release of nerve growth factors (NGFs) to make nerve cells survive and axons (specialized part of the neural cell) grow, synthesize neurotransmitters, (and) metabolize toxic substances….” Treatment of these two acupuncture points can stimulate the brain to start repairing the damaged area through neural cell division and growth, while cleaning up the damaged tissue.

The research notes that needling specific Conception Vessel points “could inhibit excessive proliferation of the hippocampal astrocytes and promote cellular differentiation.” The research also notes that these points increase GFAP/NSE double-labeled cells. GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) is a marker of astrocyte activation and NSE (neuron-specific enolase) is a marker of the neurons.

The research shows that acupuncture plays an important role in the physiological process involving the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels. Acupuncture at specific Governing Vessel points increases neural cell repair following cerebral ischemia (lack of blood flow to areas of the brain). These points increased the expression of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor, which stimulates growth of blood vessel wall lining) and Ang-1 (angioprotein 1, needed for growth of blood vessels) in the area damaged by reduced blood flow. Both VEGF and Ang-1 are important blood vessel growth modulators, and when stimulated to increase in quantity by Acupuncture, Blood Vessel and Neural Cell repair in the Brain will increase also

The research also documents that acupuncture at other points on the Governing Vessel effects the contents and expressions of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs). STATs play an important role in Janus kinase (JAK-STAT) – a pathway that transmits information from chemical signals outside the cell, through the cell membrane and into gene promoters on the DNA in the cell nucleus (causing DNA transcription and activity/growth in the cell).

The researchers note that the influence of acupuncture on STATs indicates that acupuncture activates bodily self-protection and reduction of “apoptosis (death) of the nerve cells in and around the ischemic focus.”

Reference:
Research advances in treatment of cerebral ischemic injury by acupuncture of conception and governor vessels to promote nerve regeneration. Zhou-xin Yang, Peng-dian Chen, Hai-bo Yu, Wen-shu Luo, Yong-Gang Wu, Min Pi, Jun-hua Peng, Yong-feng Liu, Shao-yun Zhang, Yan-hua Gou. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, Jan. 2012. vol. 10, 1. Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Province, China.

http://www.healthcmi.com/index.php/acupuncturist-news-online/495-acupunctureceusbrainstrokerepair

The symptoms of mild dizziness can include feeling lightheaded, blurry vision and feeling unsteady. Sometimes it can be relieved by closing your eyes and holding still for a moment. In severe cases the dizziness, which is also called vertigo, can cause a sensation that the room is moving, an inability to stand, nausea, vomiting, and even fainting.

We mostly think of phlegm in all its grossness as something that accumulates in your lungs and causes you to cough, or causes you to blow your nose when you have a cold. However, in Chinese medicine, there is also something akin to “invisible phlegm” that can cause all kinds of symptoms like asthma, nausea, and in this case, dizziness. The phlegm is considered to be an obstruction, and is accompanied by chest tightness, nausea, and well…actual phlegm. It clogs things up in your head, obstructs clarity, and causes vertigo.

Dizziness or vertigo from deficiency may come from a couple of sources. First, when the nourishing coolant that is your body’s Yin is in short supply, Yang rises upward. Much like your car’s radiator overheating, this kind of dizziness tends to come with a little heat; a red face, red or irritated eyes, a bitter taste in your mouth, headache, and possibly tinnitus (ringing in your ears). Sometimes this kind of dizziness can be worse with stress, anger, or other strong emotions.

A second kind of deficiency that can make you dizzy is a depletion of energy and blood. The dizziness you experience comes from not having enough energy and blood to nourish your brain. Basically, you’re kind of wiped out, and it’s making you light headed, especially when you stand up or exert yourself. This kind of dizziness is usually not too severe, and you might also experience fatigue, a pale complexion, heart palpitations, and insomnia with it.

Finally, a third kind of deficiency that can cause you to be dizzy is a depletion of Kidney Essence. This is a very deep depletion at your body’s core, and may be accompanied by tinnitus, a sore and weak lower back and legs, deep fatigue, and poor memory.

So, can acupuncture and Chinese medicine help dizziness and vertigo? The answer is yes, in many cases depending on the cause. After completing a thorough exam and health history, a practitioner of Chinese medicine will likely combine acupuncture with an herbal formula for the best results. In most cases, especially with conditions of deficiency, dietary therapy would also be part of the healing process.

Beyond seeking out the help of a good practitioner of Chinese medicine, here are a few things you can do if you’re suffering from dizziness:

• Check your medications. Dizziness can be a side effect of certain medications, including some antihistamines, blood pressure medications, sedatives, tranquilizers, and many others. Review your medications with your doctor or pharmacist for side effects.
• Stay hydrated. Dehydration can cause you to feel lightheaded or dizzy. Make sure you’re getting enough water or other liquids during the day.
• Limit your intake of caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco. All have the ability to cause you to feel dizzy.
• Stand up slowly, as this is a prime cause of some episodes of dizziness.
• If you’re feeling dizzy, sit still and either close your eyes, or focus on one point until things calm down.
• Take a good, critical look at your diet. Are you getting enough protein, whole grains, vegetables, and fruit each day, or are you tearing open a package or a box for each meal? Diet can be incredibly important in the course of your dizziness, especially if it’s caused by being depleted.
• Always check with your doctor, especially if your symptoms are new. First of all, your doctor can rule out anything serious. Secondly, your dizziness may be easily treated. In some cases, dizziness is caused by something called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV, or BPV), which can be alleviated with some simple therapeutic positional changes of your head.

If you have any questions about Dizziness and if we can help treat it, please contact us via Phone or Email to have a chat about how we can help.

1. http://acupuncturetwincities.com/2011/12/acupuncture-for-dizziness/

Cancer drugs called taxanes, vinca alkaloids and platinum compounds can damage peripheral nerves, especially in the calves and feet, resulting in severe nerve pain or difficulty walking.

Currently, there is no effective treatment for the condition, called chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy.

This small, preliminary study included six patients with peripheral neuropathy who underwent acupuncture and five patients with peripheral neuropathy who served as a comparison group. The acupuncture treatment involved insertion of 20 needles at specific points and depths, which were left in place for 20 minutes during each of the 10 sessions delivered by a doctor over a period of three months.

Tests of the signalling speed and intensity of two nerves in the same calf were conducted before acupuncture and again six months after chemotherapy. The same tests were carried out on patients who did not receive acupuncture.

The researchers found that both the speed and intensity of nerve signalling improved in five of the six patients who had acupuncture, and the five patients also said that their condition had improved.

Among patients in the comparison group, nerve speed stayed the same in three, improved in one and decreased in one. Nerve intensity improved in two, decreased in two, and stayed the same in one.

The study appears online in the journal Acupuncture in Medicine.

Previous research has suggested that acupuncture may increase blood flow in the legs, which may help repair nerve damage, the study authors noted.

They concluded that the findings of their pilot study are “encouraging” and warrant further investigation in a larger study.

More information

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about chemotherapy side effects.

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/cancer/articles/2011/12/12/acupuncture-might-ease-chemotherapy-pain

© BMBS Acupuncture

Heat in the environment and in the body is common in summer. Inside us, heat behaves much as you might expect it to. Heat rises and dries moisture, and causes us to seek sources of cold.

Some of the signs of excessive heat include a red face or red eyes. Health issues that can appear because of heat include heat exhaustion, fever, high blood pressure, acne, skin eruptions, nosebleeds, constipation, phlegm, headaches, irritability excessive sweating, shortness of breath, or wheezing.

Bitter and sweet are the flavors of summer. They are connected to the heart and spleen respectively. Remember to think about the ingredients in a meal, the season and your own personal needs. An increase in the amount of fruit, vegetables and grain eaten in summer will help deal with heat and benefit the heart and spleen.

Foods that specifically clear heat during summer include, avocado, banana, kiwifruit, mulberry, peach, pineapple, strawberry, watermelon (and other melons), alfalfa, asparagus, barley, celery, crabmeat, cucumber, lettuce, peppermint, radish, tofu, tomato, watercress and wheat. Drink chrysanthemum tea to clear heat.

Salads are best eaten when the weather is hot but they need to be well chewed. Since raw foods take heat and energy to be broken down, consider whether you have energy to spare. Exercise creates more heat in the body, so if you exercise a lot, your digestive system will have more heat.

To prevent summer ills and remain in harmony with the environment of summer, ancient Chinese physicians advised: awaken earlier in the morning, go to bed later in the evening, rest at midday, and drink plenty of fluids. Enjoy the summer evenings and long days.

1. Wong, L., Knapsey, K., 2002, Food for the Seasons, Red Dog, Australia

It is quite common for patients to come into the clinic complaining that their Headaches continue to return days or even a week after a Massage or Manipulation from their Chiropractor or Osteopath; or maybe not even alleviate at all. It’s not that the treatment wasn’t successful; it just means that there are deeper underlying imbalances going on in the ‘Qi and Blood’ system that are causing the tension and misalignment in the spine and muscles to occur, rather than the issue being a simple tense neck. This basically means that treatment from Massage and Osteopathy etc will alleviate the symptoms short term, but won’t eradicate the headaches for good.

These underlying imbalances allow for the muscles in the Neck, Shoulder and back, to fatigue a lot earlier than what they normally should. Muscle fatigue commonly results in muscle tension and spasm, structural misalignment of Vertebra (Bones in your spine), nerve and blood vessel compression; eventually resulting in Tension, Temporal, Occipital and/or Migraine Headache.

Many Headaches, although associated with structural and tension problems in the skeletal system, come from deeper causes. In this article I will only go into deeper detail with the most common Headache we are seeing lately in the clinic, and then briefly touch on other common causes.

The most common type of Headache currently presenting in the clinic are Sugar Imbalance Headaches. These headaches come on when the body isn’t utilising Sugar [Glucose, Maltose, Fructise etc] properly. This can be due to an overindulgence in Sugars, Carbohydrates and even Sweet Fruits like Mangoes; as well as an increased energy demand on the body from Stress at work or a very busy lifestyle without adequate rest. When the system is under stress, the blood leaves the digestive system and is pushed out into the arms and legs in a ‘Fight or Flight,’ or Sympathetic Nervous System response. This allows us to have maximum energy to function physically, concentrate mentally and adapt to any situation at a rapid response. The problem though, with being in this mode for too long a period without rest, is that the Sugar absorption and utilisation in the Digestive System becomes impaired from the lack of Blood flow to the area around the Stomach, Liver and Small Intestine. This basically affects the function of the Pancreas and its Ducts, which become a little tight and inflamed, causing tension and discomfort in the upper abdomen, as well as in the spine about half way down the back. Because of the large area covered by the Trapezius muscle, and the level of the spine at which the Trapezius Muscle starts, the whole upper back and neck becomes very tense causing a reduction in blood flow to the head as well as nerve compression through the Neck and Shoulders. This will leave you feeling anything from a Migraine to a dull constant headache, through to a foggy cloudy mind where you can’t concentrate properly or think clearly. Other common symptoms of a Sugar Imbalance are Sweet Food Cravings, Variable Energy Levels, especially soon after eating and slight tremors if you haven’t eaten for 2-3 hours.

There are many other types of Headache origins, which are just as long in explanation, but as mentioned above, in this article I will keep these brief:

Hormonal Based

• Adrenal Exhaustion and Endocrine System Problems also fit into this category, where problems with the Adrenals, Thyroid, Pituitary Gland, Ovaries etc all create hormone imbalance issues, which eventually link back to and disturb the function of the Pituitary Gland
• These Headaches tend to present above the Eyes and at the base of the Skull, especially around Menstruation in Females and more often with overwork and irregular/poor diet in Females and Males

Sinus Based

• Congested Sinuses also cause a large majority of Headaches
• This type of Headache is commonly due to an Immune Imbalance where the Liver and overall Immune System can’t eliminate Bacteria and Toxins from the system quick enough; which results in a heightened external immune reaction of congestion in the orifices that open into the world in order to stop bacteria or viruses getting in
• The congestion causes immense pressure and discomfort in the Sinuses
• These Headaches occur above the eyebrows and behind the eyes, as well as below the eyes and on the temples
• See our previous articles for tips on reducing Sinusitis at home!

Deep Tension in the Neck

• This type is commonly due to long periods in front of the computer or at a desk
• The muscles and ligaments deep in the Neck, beside the Spine, become so tight that the Artery in the back of the Spine that supplies blood to the brain becomes compressed and partially blocked, causing a dull lingering headache at the base of the Skull and an uncomfortable feeling in the back of the Neck
• Acupuncture treatment strategies for this type of headache aim to release the deep tissues and increase the Qi and Blood flow to the area so the muscles can endure greater periods of looking at a computer, or staying in the same position, without going into spasm and compressing the nerves in the Neck

TMJ/Jaw Tension

• This is another common cause of Headaches where continual grinding of the Teeth or Clenching of the jaw creates deep tension in the Muscles surrounding the joint just in front of the Ear
• Tension in the TMJ then creates tension in the front of the Neck, which pulls the Head and Neck forward, thereby creating further spasm and compression in the muscles and vertebrae at the Back of the Neck
• All of this reduces blood flow to the head resulting in Headaches as well as creating muscle tension and nerve compression to varying degrees
• This headache generally presents above the Eyes and on the Side of the Head

Depending on which cause is affecting you, there are many things you can do at home to help ease the Headaches. This will be discussed in the consultation once we have assessed and diagnosed you properly…

Using Acupuncture, we can successfully help many patients with common causes of Headaches, which include:

• Stress, Excessive Computer and Desk Work
• Mum’s carrying Kids around
• Chronically Stiff Neck and Shoulders which compress nerves and blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the head
• Chronically Tense Shoulders and Neck with a History of Diabetes or Thyroid Disorders
• Hormonal Based Headaches which commonly occur at the Front of the Head above the Eyes
• Sinusitis based Headaches
• Problems with Liver function, increased alcohol and sugar consumption
• Previous Whiplash or Head trauma injuries (which may not respond well to Massage or Osteopathy)
• Patients that have unknown reasons for the Headache – this is commonly due to your genetic build

The treatment for the majority of reoccurring and even acute Headaches is quiet simple from the Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture perspective and most of the time is extremely fast acting. Generally for most sufferers it only requires 4 to 5 consecutive treatments to reduce the severity of Chronic Headache; with most patients requiring fortnightly or monthly treatments thereafter to completely resolve the Headaches

If any part of this articles sounds like you or someone you know, make sure you come in for treatment asap to eliminate those headaches for good!!

Christmas is time where we tend to overindulge and no matter how much we try to avoid it, it happens! Why not ease the load a little on the body by trying this Gluten & Dairy Free Christmas Pudding recipe; use Organic produce as much as possible to keep that chemical load down and make it as healthy as you can get!

Makes 2 small puddings. The pudding can be made up to three months ahead and kept refrigerated or made up to one year ahead and frozen. To reheat, thaw in refrigerator for up to 2 days; remove plastic wrap, return to steamer and steam for 2 hours.

What you’ll need:

1 1/3 cup (225g) raisins
1 ½ cups (240g) sultanas
1 ½ cups (225g) currants
1/3 cup (55g) mixed peel
1/3 cup (55g) coarsely chopped dates
¼ cup (50g) coarsely chopped glace cherries
1 small (130g) apple, peeled, grated2 teaspoons finely grated orange rind
¼ cup (60ml) brandy
2 tablespoons orange juice
125g Nutelex, softened (Dairy Free Margerine)
1¼ cups (250g) firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons golden syrup
4 eggs
½ cup cooked mashed pumpkin
3 cups (320g) gluten-free stale breadcrumbs (not dry)
1 teaspoon QUEEN vanilla essence
1/3 cup (50g) cornflour (100% corn or maize)
1 tablespoon milk powder
1/3 cup (50g) rice flour
2 teaspoons gluten-free baking powder
½ teaspoon mixed spice
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

What to do:

Place fruit, rind, brandy and juice in a large bowl; cover; stand overnight.
Beat butter, sugar and golden syrup in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until combined; add eggs one at a time, beating until just combined between additions. Stir in pumpkin, breadcrumbs, vanilla and sifted dry ingredients until combined.
Grease two 5-cup capacity pudding steamers. Divide mixture evenly between pudding steamers. Top with pleated baking paper and double thickness of foil; secure with kitchen string or lid.
Place puddings in two large boilers with enough boiling water to come halfway up side of steamers. Cover boilers with tight fitting lids; boil for 5 hours. Replenish with boiling water as required. Stand puddings for 15 minutes before turning out.
Serve puddings with Dairy Free custard or ice cream, if desired.

Source: Womens Weekly Online – http://aww.ninemsn.com.au/food/cookbooks/782643/gluten-free-christmas-pudding

Let’s face it men are known to be more indifferent towards their health, especially when compared to the efforts of women, who proactively and publicly address their health issues in a way not traditionally seen with men. As a result, today the levels of awareness, understanding and funding for support of male health issues, like prostate cancer and depression in men, lag significantly behind women’s causes such as breast cancer.

The reasons for the poor state of men’s health in Australia and around the world are numerous and complex and this is primarily due to a lack of awareness of the health issues men face. This can largely be attributed to the reluctance of men openly discussing the subject due to longstanding traditions, coupled with an ‘it’ll be alright’ attitude. Men are less likely to schedule doctors’ appointments when they feel ill or for an annual physical, thereby denying them the chance of early detection and effective treatment of common diseases.

The funds raised in Australia support equally the two biggest health issues men face – prostate cancer and depression. The funds raised are directed to programs run directly by Movember and our men’s health partners, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and beyondblue: the national depression initiative.

http://au.movember.com/?home

Lets start with how Back Pain is caused structurally. One major cause of Back pain is our posture and a lack of strength through the core muscles, which are supposed to stabilize the spine and pelvis. Most of us have very poor core muscle strength, which leads to the muscles in the lower Back and Hips taking over the majority of the work when the muscles throughout our mid section are overused lifting things, sitting in one position for too long etc. The problem with this is, the muscles in the Back and Hips are much stronger than the muscles through our stomach, and when they tighten in response to muscle fatigue, they tighten with force; this in turn compresses the spine in the lower back. Apart from the bones, disks and muscles being severely compressed, the nerves coming out of the spine and running through the muscles become trapped or impinged, which creates a great deal of Pain – this is the body telling you to stop and rest as the muscles in the area are fatigued and can’t continue to operate without causing severe damage. In this situation, Acupuncture is great for stimulating Blood and Qi flow to the area, which helps to relieve strain and pain as well as repairing the muscle tissue faster and helping the muscles repair with greater strength; meaning they can withstand greater use in the future.

Chinese Medicine also has a belief that the health of the Kidneys/Adrenals dictates the strength and health of the Lower Back and Knees. If our Kidney/Adrenal energy becomes weak (from overwork and not enough rest, or prolonged stressful lifestyle), the flow of Blood and Qi through the area of the Kidneys in the Lower Back becomes weak also, leaving the muscles and the spine in the same area without the support they need to function, thereby allowing them to become tight and painful.

Another cause for Lower Back Pain we find a lot in Females, is to do with the Blood and Qi flow through the Pelvis. Because of monthly menstruation and Pregnancies (including Caesarian Scars etc), unobstructed Blood flow through the pelvis is very important not only for a pain free period and healthy pregnancy, but also for the healthy repair of (normal) daily damage to the lower back. If the Blood and Qi aren’t flowing in the pelvis due to Menstrual or Pregnancy complications (such as Endometriosis, Fibroids, Poly Cystic Ovaries etc), Blood and Qi flow in the Lower Back is going to become stagnant or ‘backed up’ and the muscles will tighten due to a lack of fresh oxygenated blood flow to repair the tissues.

This also extends into Hormonal Imbalances, where too many hormones in the Blood flowing through overworked or poorly cared for muscles, can actually irritate the muscle tissue even more and create further tension or pain. We see this a lot with permanent Contraceptive methods such as the Merina implant and IUDs. The IUD can also create a structural blockage within the pelvis, which impedes on other muscular tissue, further creating a ‘Pelvic Imbalance’ where the stimulation for the pelvis to be constantly out of alignment is coming from within. This is also true for the Merina implant and other Hormonal Imbalances, where a bone in the head called the Sphenoid bone can have its structural position altered by an over worked Pituitary Gland (the Hormonal Control Tower). The issue here is, studies and clinical experience have shown that the Sphenoid bone tends to mirror an imbalance in the Pelvis, and the Pelvis tends to mirror an imbalance in the Sphenoid Bone. If the Pituitary is over worked due to a Contraceptive induced hormonal imbalance, and it swells enough to put pressure on and move the Sphenoid bone, the Hips will reciprocate the imbalance and leave the Lower Back area unstable – this causes muscles to constantly tighten and cause tension and pain throughout the Lower Back and Hips. The most common presentation of this scenario is when you have a history of Period problems, Hip/Lower Back pain which responds to massage or Physio for a few days, but then returns again.

The Diet, believe it or not, can contribute to Lower Back Pain as well. There is strategy/theory in chinese medicine where the Spleen (the Digestive Organ in Chinese Medicine) is controlled by the Liver and Gall Bladder. If the Spleen (Digestive System) becomes weak, from eating too much of the wrong foods, or eating the right foods but at inappropriate times before bed or in a rush, the Liver/Gall Bladder can become excessive, and upset the digestive process even more. The excess in the Gall Bladder and Liver can then also be reflected in the pathway of the Gall Bladder channel, which passes through the hips, as tightened muscles – this can cause compression in the Lower Back and therefore Lower Back Pain

Overuse and prolonged sitting is a big cause of Lower Back Pain and Piriformis Syndrome in the Hip. Overuse of the Back and excessive sitting is seen to weaken the Kidney energy, which then causes more Lower Back weakness and tension, which weakens the Kidney more – this pattern usually continues until the pain becomes too much and different treatments options are sought. Too much repetitive lifting, lifting in the wrong manner (without using the legs), Lifting objects that are too heavy etc all weaken the lower back and Kidney energy.

As mentioned above about Caesarian scars, Previous surgeries to the lower abdomen for Gynecological Issues, Bowel issues or Appendicitis, or previous surgeries in the Lower Back will all produce a degree of Scar tissue and adhesions. This Scar Tissue and Adhesions in the Pelvic Area are another major cause of Lower Back Pain. The Adhesions and congested mess inside the pelvis, pull internal muscular structures out of alignment, placing counterbalancing strain on other muscle groups. More often than not, this process produces varying degrees of compression through the Sacrum and Spine, which translates into nerve compression, inflammation and pain in the Lower Back, especially if overused or strained in the wrong way. Not only are the muscular components out of alignment and not structurally sound to withstand overuse and otherwise normal amounts of weight, but the blockage of adequate blood flow to the area means the muscles aren’t receiving the nourishment they need for repair and endurance of daily use.

Most conventional treatment options for severe Back Pain involve long term pain medications (which deplete and weaken the Kidney energy) and/or surgery. This approach is limited in the way that down the track the underlying problem is going to either remain unresolved when coming off the pain medication, or, surgery will create more structural imbalances and reduced blood flow to the pelvic and lower back area. Physiotherapy or Osteopathy are both other options to treat the Lower Back Pain. Both have their place in treating Lower Back Pain as they address the structural and muscular imbalances, but again they don’t address the underlying cause of the Back Pain issue.

Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs address the underlying weakness at the Organ level (why the Lower Back Tissue isn’t receiving the Blood and Qi supply it constantly needs), as well as relieving the spasm in the tissue and easing the Pain. If there is a structural imbalance that can’t be resolved by Acupuncture or Japanese Structural Alignment techniques, our team will always recommend a trusted Osteopath or Chiropractor to work in with the treatment plan to relieve the pain.

Apart from coming in for some treatment as soon as possible, stretching and heat is best for chronic low grade pain and aches. If there is sharp continuous pain that is debilitating and preventing you from sleeping or daily activities, call us for a referral to a trusted Osteopath who can order MRI or CT imaging after a detailed assessment.

The best stretches for general Lower Back Pain from tension in the Hips are:

• Bring both knees to the chest while laying on your back (this stretches the Lower Back Muscles and decompresses the spine);
• While keeping the Right leg flat and laying on your back, pull your left knee towards the right shoulder as far as it will comfortably go; your left hand should be on the knee itself while the Right hand should be half way down your shin bone pulling the lower leg slightly to the right
• You will know if you’re doing this correctly when you feel a stretch through your butt cheek on the side of the leg that is being used; hold the stretch for 3 seconds and then release the pressure; repeat another 2 times

• Repeat this whole procedure with the Right Leg

Tips

• Lying flat can make your sinuses feel more stuffed up, so when sleeping try lying on the side that lets you breathe best
• Try applying moist heat by breathing in steam through a cloth or towel, or by holding a warm wet towel against your face
• Using Saline solution, rinse your sinuses
• Sip hot liquids and drink plenty of Fluids
• Eat plenty of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for Vitamin C and Bioflavonoids
• Eat Whole grain products, Legumes, Nuts and other foods high in B Vitamins
• Sunflower Seeds, Vegetable Oils and Avocados for Vit E
• Garlic, Onions and Chillies to alleviate Sinus congestion by opening the nasal passages and thinning the mucous
• Avoid Smoking and Dry, Over heated rooms

If you have been under physical or emotional stress, inactive or without exercise for too long, or have been eating all the wrong foods or eating at irregular times, toxic waste from medications and cells in your body will have most likely accumulated in the Blood and Tissues, and will be overloading the Liver and Kidneys and obstructing the Lymph flow. This basically means that the Toxic waste and Free Radicals in your body arent being eliminated, leaving you more susceptible to Health conditions such as Digestive Upset, Recurrent Inflammatory Diseases and Musclar Injuries, Sinus and Immune Problems, ongoing Fatigue and an increase in Weight.

The Detox Kit is great, especially at this time of year, for cleansing the body of those Toxins which have accumulated with inactivity throughout the Winter months and by fighting off everyone elses germs. Conditions such as Inflammatory and Chronic Injuries, Chronic Muscle Tension, Sinusitis, Headaches, Recurrent Colds, Fluid Retention/Inability to lose Weight, Digestive Upset and Lack of Energy can all be greatly alleviated with the Detox Kit.