Category: #pain

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TEN NON-SURGICAL TREATMENTS FOR LOWER BACK PAIN…

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  1. Muscle relaxants – This medication acts as a depressant of the central nervous system and increases mobility of tense muscles, relieving pain from muscle tightness or spasms
  2. Narcotic pain medications – Narcotic medications are most often used for treating intense, short-term pain, such as acute pain.
  3. Lifestyle changes – Take note of the activities that worsen your pain and avoid them if possible. 
  4. Epidural steroid injections – This injection involves a steroid administered directly into the outer part of the dural sac, which surrounds the spinal cord.
  5. Manual manipulation – A chiropractor or other healthcare provider makes physical adjustments to the spine with the goals of improving mobility and reducing stiffness, discomfort, or pain. 
  6. Acupuncture –  Acupuncture stimulates points on the body thought to correct the body’s “qi,” or life force.
  7. Massage Therapy –  Massage to your lower back can relieve the muscle spasms that usually contribute to low back pain. 
  8. Mindful Meditation – Meditation may be helpful in reducing the perception of pain, and can reduce depression, anxiety and sleep problems that commonly occur with chronic pain. 
  9. Physical Therapy – Exercise is the foundation of chronic back pain treatment. It’s one of the first treatments you should try under the guidance of your physician and spine physical therapist. The exercises have to be tailored to your specific symptoms and condition.
  10. Diet – Maintaining a healthy weight can help to lessen your back pain by reducing the pressure on your spine.

Source: Spine Health Hopkins Medicine

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9 FRAGRANT SCENTS TO GROW AND CREATE YOUR OWN AROMATHERAPY GARDEN…

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For hundreds of years, people have believed that scents have the power to boost your mood, health, and well being. Now, a scientific study has proved that this is the case.

Parts of our brain that process smell, memory, and emotions are closely related, and scents can affect our brainwaves in powerful and measurable ways according to a recent article.

Lavender for example helps with a cognitive performance for our mood and sleep and also as a muscle relaxant and migraine reliever. This happens due to the lavender’s pleasant smell leading to a positive emotional response. Evidence also suggests that physiological effects, including the scent interacting with brain receptors and neurotransmitters to promote relaxation.

Eucalyptus is an excellent addition to an aromatherapy garden. The vapors might help relieve sinus congestion when inhaled or soothe minor wounds when applied topically.

Ylang, Ylang, Perfect for soothing an argument, ylang ylang is known for its relaxing properties. “The pure essential oil of these blossoms has been found to aid issues of palpitations, anxiety, depression, and high blood pressure.

Lavender, which I have already written about and is a very popular choice. The sweetly scented plant has long been believed to relieve stress, soothe wounds, aid with poor sleep, and ease menstrual pain. The essential oil from these fragrant perennials is also used in aromatherapy for depression and anxiety.

Lemon, Citrus scents work wonders at calming work stress. Lemon and other citrus fragrances improve concentration and have calming properties.

Chamomile, Chamomile is a beautiful garden plant with fragrant flowers and a long history of use in herbal medicine.In addition to its lovely smell, chamomile is said to have skin-healing properties, too.

Mint, Its aroma and medicinal properties being linked to stress and pain relief, as well as appetite stimulation and digestive support.

Jasmine, also used in teas, its extract is believed to help relieve stress, headaches, depression, anxiety, and PMS symptoms.

Lilac, with its sweet and intoxicating scent, lilac eases tension and lifts spirits, and some even claim that lilac oil can increase concentration and boost mental activity when inhaled.

And finally, Rosemary, A stressful supermarket shop can be eased by rosemary. It can improve your memory and reduce feelings of mental and physical tiredness due to its stimulating properties.

When designing your own therapeutic garden, think about whether you want an area for relaxation, which might include planting some of the above or marjoram, or damask rose or an area to increase your concentration so you could then add peppermint or a trellis of jasmine.

I have just planted a row of lavender just under my dining room window which is near my front door as I thought a smell coming into the house of lavender would be lovely as well as smelling it while dining. Here are a number of books available on this but my favourite which I bought recently is the RHS Your Wellbeing Garden by Professor Alistair Griffiths and award-winning garden designer Matt Keightley.

Learn how connecting with nature can reduce stress and improve wellbeing. You don’t even need a garden – even a balcony or houseplants can help to boost your mood. Every recommendation is backed by scientific research, drawn together by the team of RHS scientists and experts. Favourite garden designer at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Matt Keightley then suggests how to translate the science into ideas for your green space.

With this groundbreaking book, find out how, in sometimes very simple ways, you can create an outdoor space that nourishes your mind and body, and is good for our planet too.

Source: Bobvila, Amazon

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HOW TO COPE WITH HAYFEVER NATURALLY…

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For hayfever sufferers, enjoying sunny spring and summer days is often a longed-for luxury, with the season spent sniffling and sneezing instead. And if missing out on outdoor events to avoid puffy eyes and a runny nose wasn’t bad enough, some may also suffer from drowsiness caused by over the counter remedies. 

Health Plus and other good stockists provide a range of immune system boosting natural supplements to help cope with the symptoms of hayfever. Bee Propolis, collected from tree buds and botanical sources by honey bees, is thought to help allergy sufferers, whilst offering a rich source of nutrients, flavonoids, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. It can also increase energy levels, so has the added bonus of helping you get the most out of action-packed outdoor activities. 

Hayfever unfortunately is a very common allergy that can be extremely limiting for sufferers during a time of the year when we should all be able to enjoy the outdoors. Many people prefer not to take conventional medication to deal with allergies, but there are lots of natural ways to help cope with hayfever.

Hay fever is usually worse between late March and September, especially when it’s warm, humid and windy. This is when the pollen count is at its highest.

Tips for coping with hayfever season: 

  1. Wear wraparound sunglasses whilst outdoors or in the car to protect your eyes from pollen.
  2. Hoover your home regularly – pollen spores can collect on fabrics so it’s important to keep your home as allergen free as possible.
  3. Pollen counts are highest in the early morning and late afternoon, so scheduling your outdoor activity between these times can help reduce symptoms.
  4. Boost your vitamin intake throughout the year with a multivitamin supplement, to ensure your immune system is at its optimum level for coping with hayfever. 
  5. Put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen.
  6. Keep an eye on the pollen count and keep windows and doors closed on high count days.
  7. Dry laundry indoors or in a dryer; hanging them on an outside washing line can lead to pollen spores being collected on clothing.
  8. Avoid keeping fresh flowers in your home.
  9. Taking trips to the beach can be beneficial, as the pollen count is usually lower nearer to the coast.
  10. Pets can bring in pollen from outside on their coats, so try and avoid close contact with them when your symptoms are bad, and give them regular baths.
  11. Shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash pollen off.
  12. Buy a pollen filter for the air vents in your car and a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.

Source: Health Plus NHS Halfords