Arm Massage for Lymph Node Dissection Pain

People undergo lymph node dissection for many reasons: for diagnostic purposes, for cancer staging, or as part of the surgical treatment of cancer. Women suffering from breast cancer, if they are to undergo surgery, usually undergo lymph node dissection at one point.

Unfortunately, lymph node dissection can be painful, proving to be another cause for worry for someone who is already suffering from breast cancer. The discomfort right after lymph node dissection surgery may cause a person to have limitation of arm mobility, reduced arm function, or even lymphedema. It is therefore important for someone to have effective pain relief and to be able to move their arms with minimal discomfort.

Many post-operative patients massage their arms or ask others to give them massage therapy. Because of reported relief after massage therapy, a study was done to evaluate the effectiveness of arm massage as a modality that provides natural pain relief for patients who have just undergone lymph node dissection.

Details of the study:

• The study was done to determine the effectiveness of arm massage done by a loved one on a patient who has just undergone lymph node dissection.
• Information was collected from the patients before the surgery, within one day after the dissection, within ten to fourteen days after the dissection, and lastly, four months after the dissection.
• There were 59 women from ages 21 up to 78 who participated in the study. They all had to undergo lymph node dissection and had a loved one with them after the surgery.
• The patients were randomly assigned to groups. One group was to undergo arm massage while the other group will undergo only the usual post-op care.
• The group who was assigned to do arm massage was taught how to perform it properly. The patients’ loved ones were taught proper arm massage. They then performed the arm massage on the patients after their surgery.
• Pain after the surgery and closeness/ support felt by the patients was evaluated to determine the usefulness of massage done by a loved one.

Read the results of the arm massage study here.

Proof That Massage Is An Effective Natural Therapy

Massage has long been known as an accepted natural therapy for many conditions. There exists many types of massage, including those that involve manipulation and traction of body extremities. The different types of massage give different benefits, catering to a varied list of medical conditions and complaints. But all these types of massage have one thing in common: they all involve human touch.

What is massage?

Massage involves the manipulation of different soft tissues, aimed at promoting healing. The effects of massage include neurological, mechanical, reflexive, and psychological effects. It has been used therapeutically to achieve pain relief, reduce adhesions, provide better sleep, promote fluid mobilization, promote muscle relaxation, and induce vasodilatation. But unlike manipulation per se which deals with joint segments, massage targets softer tissues.

Massage involves the movement of the hands, sometimes involving pulling or traction.

Is massage therapy really therapeutic?

About seventy years ago, Rene Spitz filed a report about healthy infants who were given adequate nutrition and care but were deprived of human touch. These infants were soon diagnosed with FTT (failure to thrive) and eventually died. Because of this curious phenomenon, the physiology of touch and massage has been studied over and over. It has been theorized that massage is powerful not only because of its mechanical manipulation, but also because it involves touch, which obviously plays an important role in keeping people healthy. Touch has, in fact, been considered a vital factor in keeping babies healthy; touch is important in the normal growth and development of any human being.

Massage and touch therapy both possess the capacity to heal and maintain the health of individuals. It might have been the first tool that man has used to combat sickness and pain.

What kinds of massage exist?

Massage therapy has different cultural concepts; it may inculcate both Western and Eastern medicine principles. Massage influenced by Western medicine has previously lost popularity because of many new technolocial discoveries; however, massage is again being studied in terms of its role in healing and health and should become popular as a natural and safe therapeutic tool very soon.

Because of the millions of anecdotal accounts as to the effectiveness of massage, more research is being done to establish how massage works and if it really does work as a natural means to provide pain relief.

What are the specific types of massage?

Many types of massage exist, including reflexology, shiatsu, and many others. To find out more about these massage types, click here.

Homeopathy for Tinnitus

Tinnitus is defined as a ringing or buzzing sound in the ear, a sound not related to any source outside of the body. People usually experience tinnitus right after a loud sound, such as a gunshot, or even  after a rock concert with speakers blaring loudly. Thankfully, that kind of tinnitus goes away immediately. However, for other people, tinnitus stays for days, even months. This chronic tinnitus can be quite a pain, leading to other pain syndromes related to stress, such as headaches.

 

Tinnitus may be caused by serious medical conditions, especially in certain scenarios (read the list of dangerous tinnitus symptoms). Regardless of the cause, tinnitus can become quite a problem, driving people to the end of their ropes.

 

Natural Relief of Tinnitus through Homeopathy

Because tinnitus can be a cause of emotional and psychological suffering, many treatments exist to try to relieve people of this symptom. Below is a continuation of homeopathic remedies for tinnitus (see the rest of the homeopathic treatments for tinnitus here):

• Supplements. Many vitamins and supplements are available specifically for the relief of tinnitus. These supplements usually contain vitamins with antioxidant properties, thought to slow down hearing loss related to aging. Also, melatonin may be an ingredient in these supplements, a chemical that promotes restful sleep. This combination is useful in people who can’t sleep because of their tinnitus.
• Acupuncture. There have been reports of people with tinnitus reporting complete relief after acupuncture. However, there are still no good studies done to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in providing natural relief for tinnitus. Previous studies have shown that usually, success is achieved if a person goes to an acupuncturist he trusts, suggesting that psychological factors are important in affording relief from tinnitus. Some studies also show that the relief that people get from acupuncture may just be a placebo effect. Regardless, a patient suffering from tinnitus should be entitled to safe and natural treatment modalities that may provide relief for them.

If you’re suffering from tinnitus, it is hard to imagine what kind of discomfort you are going through. There are many medications that may provide relief for you. But if these don’t work and your tinnitus isn’t caused by a serious medical condition, there is no harm in trying other more natural ways to provide relief, including the ones enumerated above.

Source: “Inner Ear, Tinnitus” by Aaron Benson, MD

Homeopathic Treatment for Tinnitus (Ear Ringing)

Tinnitus is a very bothersome symptom experienced by a lot of people. Imagine a constant ringing in your ear that doesn’t go away, something that makes you feel like there’s something buzzing around your ear – that’s what people with tinnitus feel.

Frequently, people suffering from tinnitus seem to be hearing a ringing sound but without a related outside origin. However, sometimes, tinnitus is actually produced by muscular abnormalities that produce contraction or spasm inside the ear. This type of tinnitus may actually be audible to other people, giving it the name “objective tinnitus”.

Are there dangerous types of tinnitus?

The tinnitus in itself may not be dangerous, but tinnitus may be a sign of a serious underlying disorder. It is therefore important to find out what is causing tinnitus, especially in the following scenarios:

• Pulsatile tinnitus
• Fluctuating tinnitus
• Vertigo and tinnitus
• Unilateral tinnitus

What are natural ways of relieving tinnitus?

Homeopathic treatment has actually been used repeatedly for the relief of tinnitus, especially in the last five years. Examples of these treatments are enumerated below:

• Ginkgo biloba. Ginkgo biloba leaves are used to help provide natural relief for tinnitus. The ginkgo biloba leaf extract containts terpene lactones and bioflavonoids, chemicals that regulate the elasticity of blood vessels, inhibit the aggregation of platelets, and increase blood flow going to the brain. The ideal does is 80 mg given three times a day using an extract with about six percent terpene lactones and twenty-five percent bioflavonoids. It may take up to three months before results are seen, so treatment should be continued for this length of time.
• Niacin. Niacin may not work consistently, but it relaxes smooth muscles and increases blood flow in small blood vessels, including those that supply the inner ear. In fact, people taking niacin get a pink glow in their cheeks due to dilation of the blood vessels in the cheeks. Approximately fifty percent of patients actually respond to niacin treatment; most report a tangible decrease in either the severity or the intensity of their tinnitus.

There are more homeopathic treatment modalities available for people suffering from tinnitus. Read the continuation here.

Acupuncture for Lumbosacral Spondylolysis

Lumbosacral spondylolysis is a condition common among dancers, weight lifters, and people who carry heavy things for a living. It causes back pain when bending backward, but may have no symptoms when a person bends forward.

What activities can lead to lumbar sponydylolysis?

Certain activities and sports are also associated with a higher incidence of lumbosacral spondylolysis:

• Sports that involve throwing
• Gymnastics
• Rowing
• Wrestling
• Diving
• Weight lifting
• Ballet (especially when a ballet dancer overcompensates by bending back)
• Football
• Dancing
• Volleyball
• Repeated extension, flexion, torsion, and rotation of the back, especially if done against resistance

What are the signs and symptoms of lumbar spondylolysis?

Here are a few symptoms of this condition:

• Forward bending may not elicit pain, but backward bending does
• Sciatica (a syndrome of pain, tingling, and weakness that indicates sciatic nerve involvement)
• Tight hamstrings, tight lumbar muscles
• Thigh and buttock pain
• Hyperlordosis (exaggerated curvature of the back that makes the buttocks project outwards)

How can acupuncture help people with lumbar spondylolysis?

Acupuncture has been studied repeatedly when it comes to its usefulness in lumbar spondylysis and in many other conditions. According to a review of several studies evaluating acupuncture’s effectiveness against low back pain, acupuncture seems to be effective.

Evidence strongly suggests, in fact, that acupuncture can be a very good addition to many treatments for low back pain. There is also moderate evidence indicating that acupuncture, whether sham or not, does bring about relief.

People who choose not to take medications for their low back pain may benefit from acupuncture. It does not come with the side effects of drugs and is a more natural means of achieving pain relief from lumbosacral spondylolysis.

A study has also been done to determine if fake or simulated acupuncture actually has the same effects as real acupuncture. According to the evidence presented, there seems to be no difference. This means that even simulated or sham acupuncture can help a person in pain due to lumbosacral spondylolysis.

Whether or not this healing effect is because of a psychological or “placebo” effect is uncertain. But to people in pain, what matters is that it does provide pain relief – and it does so in a natural way.

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Lumbosacral Spondylolysis: Natural Relief

Lumbosacral spondylolysis may seem like a mouthful, but it is actually a common disorder, especially in athletes, daaannncers, and people who carry heavy loads. It can result in pain or discomfort involving the back, causing a considerable health burden in many countries.

This condition is then best prevented through proper posture and by knowing your physical limits. However, once you have it, you have to learn how to avoid further injury. You should also know how to get pain relief.

Pain or discomfort from lumbosacral spondylolysis may be achieved through pharmaceutical products; however, long term use of drugs eventually results in side effects. Fortunately, there are more natural ways to afford relief from pain due to lumbosacral spondylolysis.

What is lumbosacral spondylolysis?

Lumbosacral spondylolysis is a defect of a part of the vertebrae, called the pars interarticularis, involved in ensuring a strong attachment among the bones of the vertebra.

What causes lumbosacral spondylolysis?

This condition is caused by many factors, such as:

• Fractures or repeated/ accumulated microfractures involving the vertebrae. This results in weakening of the structures of the vertebrae, predisposing to lumbar spondylolysis.
• Too much stress on the backbone. This puts much stress on the pars articularis, eventually leading to its damage.
• Weak supporting structures. Strong supporting structures prevent stress on the pars articularis, protecting the vertebrae from spondylolysis.
• Growth and development. Yes, even normal growth can lead to spondylolysis, especially if a person has a genetic predisposition.
• Abnormalities of the pars articularis. People born with abnormalities of the pars articularis are of course predisposed to damaging it.
• Repeated carrying of heavy loads. This is especially true when the back is hyperextended, such as when you carry a big, heavy box and you lean back to maintain balance.
• Repeated hyperextension of the back. This puts repeated stress on the pars articularis, eventually causing damage and leading to spondylolysis.

Natural treatment for lumbar spondylolysis

Although many analgesics are prescribed for pain due to lumbar spondylolysis, there are also natural ways to achieve pain relief. For example, acupuncture is a more natural means to achieve pain relief.

 

How does acupuncture give relief for lumbar spondylolysis?

Read about how acupuncture works in the next article.

Natural Pain Remedies for Menstrual Cramps

It’s that time of the month. And for some women, this time is a dreaded one because of menstrual cramps. And a busy schedule at work or at home gives little relief. Dysmenorrhea, or menstrual cramps are not only a pain to the body, but can be a hassle when beating deadlines or doing a ton of housework.

Are you one of these women who are just begging for relief? Here are some quick – and some long-term solutions – to menstrual cramps:

• Hydrotherapy. Naturopathic doctors swear by this method to relieve you of menstrual cramps in as fast as five minutes and up to 30 minutes. Placing a hot pack on your abdomen until you experience relief is the way to go. This is because muscle contractions in the pelvic area are usually the culprit for menstrual cramps.
• Juice therapy. For those with juicers out there, getting rid of menstrual cramps is a piece of cake. Just whip up a tall glass of fresh pineapple juice. Its enzyme, bromelain, is effective in relaxing muscles, according to certified nutritionist Cherie Calbom. You can also add celery and fennel to that juice to increase the effect as both can also reduce discomfort and give relief during menstruation.
• Herbal tea. Feeling especially painful menstrual cramps? If you’re into different kinds of herbal remedies, perhaps you have this handy. Tea from cramp bark tea is effective in giving relief. In a pot, put four tablespoons of cramp bark, one to two teaspoons of fresh ginger – preferably grated – and one tablespoon of pennyroyal. Pour around a quart of cold water. Boil and let the pot simmer for just around two or three minutes. Steep, then strain. Drink one fourth of a cup 15-minute intervals until the menstrual cramps stop. Just look for these in health stores if you are new to herbal cures.
• Flower essence therapy. The California flower essence pomegranate is a winner in relieving menstrual cramps. Not only that, it can make you more at home with your sexuality as well. Family practice doctor Cynthia Mervis says menstrual cramps can be caused by women’s anxiety about their sexuality. So this flower essence does the trick in giving relief. Again, just look for flower essences like this in health stores.

If your menstrual cramps persist every month, consult a physician to see if you have endometriosis, a condition that can cause infertility.

So, getting relief from menstrual cramps is quite easy. Try any of these solutions and see for yourself. And if you have other natural pain remedies, do share them by posting a comment!

Heartburn Natural Remedies

You feel you are on fire – and it is definitely not the good kind. It is burning hot and uncomfortable in your chest and esophagus. And you reach for the trusty firefighter you know – heartburn medicine. Why not opt for a firefighter that will give you natural relief?

The fire in heartburn can definitely be put out the natural way, with no side effects. Below are some tips for natural relief:

• Ginger. Ginger in general is an anti-inflammatory agent and it is also an excellent choice for natural relief from heartburn. A cup of ginger tea can actually give fast relief. Just shred fresh ginger and put a teaspoonful of it on a cup of boiling water. After ten minutes, you can strain it and let it cool before drinking.
• Herbal tea. Another effective tea for heartburn is a combination of fennel seeds, anise seeds and dill seeds. Again, put these on a cup of boiling water. Put two teaspoons of each. After straining and letting the drink cool, take teaspoons of this tea every few minutes to give you that natural relief.
• Activated charcoal. This can give quick natural relief from heartburn. Mix two tablespoons of this in powder form with a small amount of water in a tall glass. Add more water a little portion at a time. When the glass is full, drink it all with a straw. You can look for activated charcoal in pharmacies and health food stores.
• Improved eating habits. This is a long-term and perhaps permanent solution to heartburn. Too much protein-rich food at the dinner table does not sit well with the stomach and produces that gastric acid responsible for heartburn. Then, the next morning, you will feel that burning sensation. So to get long-term natural relief from heartburn, eat carbohydrate-rich foods instead of protein-rich foods at dinner. Pastas, beans and rice are excellent choices. Don’t overdo it, though. Those carbohydrates can just very well turn into fat when the calories are not burned.

Heartburn can also be caused by eating too fast. So to avoid it, eat more slowly, breathing deeply between bites. That should give you natural relief in the long run.

Getting rid of that heartburn should be a breeze with these tips. Follow any of these and you are on your way to natural pain relief.

Anything you would want to contribute to the list? Share it through the comment form and we’ll look it up!

Natural Relief for Headaches

Tired of popping an aspirin or your usual meds when that headache kicks in? Below are some tips for natural relief from headache:

• Peppermint oil. Aromatherapy is in, and not only for calming or relaxation. It is also one of the safest – not to mention soothing – ways to give you natural relief from headache. Los Angeles aromatherapist Michael Scholes claims that inhaling the peppermint scent directly from the bottle can ease headache pain. A drop of this oil can also be added to your facial lotion and patted under your nose and behind your ears. To get natural relief from the more severe headaches like migraine, however, rosemary oil, a more potent essential oil, is recommended.
• Head massage. This is especially helpful for headaches caused by tension. Massage your scalp using your fingertips, moving your scalp back and forth by around half an inch. Do this for the entire scalp area. Afterwards, gently pull your hair, one clump at a time, to stimulate your scalp. Then massage your forehead and temples. This head massage will not only give you natural relief – it will also make your head feel deliciously relaxed afterwards!
• Meditation. Headaches are often caused by tension and stress. Meditation can help you reduce your tension and stress levels, and thus give you natural relief. There are many kinds of meditation, but one simple meditation technique is to simply breathe in and out deeply for at least ten minutes every day. Feel and be aware of each breath going in and out of your body. In addition to this technique or as a separate technique, you can also regularly visualize and imagine that you are in a place that relaxes you, like a pristine beach on a summer day or a deep blue mountain lake surrounded by evergreen trees.
• Eat right. This is a long-term but wise solution, especially if you have a recurring headache. With this method, though, your natural relief will not be temporary but will definitely last. First, avoid foods with monosodium glutamate (MSG) and aspartame (like Nutrasweet) as these are usually triggers for headaches. Then, start eating more foods with omega-3 fatty acids like sardines, mackerel, salmon and anchovies as these inhibit blood clotting, which reduces headache and its intensity. Fruits and vegetables that also help are carrots, garlic, ginger, parsley and cantaloupe.

With these methods for natural relief, trust that your headache will be a thing of the past.

Did you know that according to researchers from Peninsula Medical School, magnetic bracelets provide natural pain relief? Read about how magnets provide relief.

And feel free to post your comments!

Uncommon Uses for Four Common Herbs

Herbs are arguably one of the most natural – and safest – cures for many illnesses and kinds of discomfort. And yes, when it comes to different kinds of pain, from body pain to headache and more, there is definitely a corresponding herbal remedy.

Feeling pain in any part of your body – even in your internal organs? The next time you do, instead of opening your medicine cabinet, why not open nature’s medicine chest instead, and consider what herbal remedy is best for your problem?

Below are some common herbs and their cures.

• Peppermint. It’s not just a flavor in your candy or an aroma of your essential oil, it is also one hell of an herbal remedy! Peppermint is a soothing and tasty way to relieve you from stomach and intestinal pain. This is definitely good for upset stomachs and indigestion problems. Just prepare peppermint tea by boiling leaves and straining. You can also forgo the straining and just chew on the leaves while you drink the tea! Or, if you like it fast, just buy peppermint in tea bags. Peppermint, in its essential oil form, is also a good herbal remedy for itching. Rub a small drop of it on insect bites and other itches. And, peppermint oil is also good for probably the most common and widely-experienced pain – headache. Just inhale the oil direct from the bottle or put a few drops on your temples and behind your ears and rub your way to relief.
• Basil. Now that only does not look great as a garnish or delicious in your pesto pasta – basil is also good for pain relief. Just put a teaspoon of ground basil on a cup of hot water. Let the leaves infuse for ten minutes, and there you have this delicious herb as an herbal remedy for headache!
• Chamomile. You must have heard that this herb lets you go off to dreamland quickly and easily, but do you know that this is also a good herbal remedy for excess gas in your stomach, cramps in your bowels and even as a pain relief for stomach flu? Just infuse a cup of water with a tablespoon full of chamomile flowers. Drink this infusion five times a day.
• Rosemary. Like peppermint, the tea from this fragrant herb is good for upset stomachs. Its oil is also good in soothing pain from cuts, bruises and scrapes. Its essential oil is an effective herbal remedy for the more painful type of headache – migraine.

If you have these herbs in your garden and use them for cooking, now you know you can use each as a good herbal remedy as well – and not only for pain, mind you. If you do a little research, you will find more cures from these herbs.

The above are well-known herbal remedies. However, if you want natural pain remedies that have been proven by studies to really help relieve pain, you might want to read on how Tai Chi has been proven to relieve osteoarthritis pain.