Medicine ball exercises are an excellent way of beginning a program or adding intensity to a current program. Medicine balls or fitness balls are easy to use, cheap and give you a great workout. The balls are made of elastic rubber and are usually between 22 and 34 inches high. They are also called Swiss Balls.

Medicine ball exercises are key to use in pilates, as training aids, in physical therapy and as timing balls that develop accuracy and timing for kicks in martial arts. Physical therapists use them frequently to treat low back pain and to develop core muscles that stabilize the spine.

The size of the ball is important. When the client sits on the ball the hips should come level or just slightly higher than the knees. Medicine ball exercises can also be done with people who are overweight. Medicine balls are made that are burst resistant that can hold over 600 pounds.  Read more...

Back pain is such a common condition that many doctors and researchers consider the complaint a normal part of life, similar to having an occasional cold or flu. If you are a back pain sufferer, you are not alone: Back pain affects more than 80 percent of the population at some time during their lifetime.

Back pain is second only to the common cold as a reason for visits to the doctor and it is second only to childbirth as a reason for hospitalizatio… More >>

Back Pain Remedies for Dummies

A kidney cleanse is quite simply a detoxification of the kidneys. If you have ever been plagued by kidney stone a kidney cleanses will dissolve them and flush out the tissues of the kidneys.

As some kidney stones are more stubborn than others it may take days to months to accomplish dissolving them. Stones are formed by the crystals that accumulate inside the kidneys. The medical term for kidney stones is nephrolithiasis. The components that make up kidney stones consist of salts such as uric acid, cystines, xanthines, and/or calcium oxalates. Due to factors such as dehydration, which comes from not drinking enough liquids, and high levels of these salts they become more concentrated. If the levels elevate to the point of not being able to dissolve on their own kidney stones will develop.

One known way to partake in a kidney cleanse is with the use of watermelons. Several large watermelons eaten throughout the course of a day will help to make you urinate more easily as watermelon is made up of mostly water. Large amounts of liquid will also accomplish this task. These two methods of hydrating your body will force you to urinate many times throughout the day.  Read more...

If you’ve ever suffered from low back pain, the exercises presented in this videotape are specifically designed to:offer you effective relief from low back pain relax your back muscles let you get back to normal life and feel great again.

Why this tape is different: Before you view this tape, we’d like you to know this is not another “me too” workout tape with a lot of song and dance!

This educational videotape is based on the book, “How to Deal Simply With Back Pain and… More >>

How to Deal with Back Pain by F. Batmanghelidj, M.D. – 25 Minute Video Tape

Spinal Stabilization – The New Science of Back Pain, 2nd Edition is the most comprehensive and scientifically accurate resource for the general public on the subject of low back pain.

Updated and expanded to include the most current research regarding low back pain and its treatment, this easy-to-read guide provides readers with ‘need to know’ information about the spine, effectively taking the mystery out of back pain and its treatment. Based upon sound and current… More >>

Spinal Stabilization: The New Science of Back Pain, 2nd Edition

If you stretch the lower back you should reduce back pain and ease pressure on the calves.

We recommend:

RealHeal is a natural, safe, effective herbal and homeopathic remedy to naturally promote faster healing and contains ingredients chosen for their rapid healing, pain relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. RealHeal is taken internally to promote faster and more comfortable healing. It is effective in speeding up the healing process after surgery, childbirth (including Caesarean birth) or injury, and will also promote faster healing of bruising. Use RealHeal to relieve pain and promote faster healing after surgery (including cosmetic surgery), after natural or Caesarean birth, after physical injury or trauma, to promote faster healing and disappearance of bruising. Formulated by a clinical psychologist, RealHeal is pharmaceutically manufactured to the highest standards.

Pain is a massive problem in our society, in fact it is estimated that at any given time, around one third of the population are in pain. Pain of any type is the most frequent reason for physician consultation. It is a major symptom in many medical conditions, significantly interfering with quality of life and general functioning.

Pain management is therefore an extremely important part of health care because people forced to continue living with extreme pain often become depressed and have poor treatment outcomes.

Some types of pain are still not really understood with as many as a third of cases having unknown origins.

Here are some of the things we do know:

* Pain is constant for about 20% of people.

* Back pain is the most common pain.

* Most chronic pain sufferers have had pain for at least 3 years.

* As can be expected, the incidence of pain increases with advancing age.

* Women report pain more often than men.  Read more...

Backaches are very common and are best described as pain in the lower back that is either severe or minor. The lower part of the back has to work really hard because it is responsible for carrying both the weight of your upper body and the rest of your weight. Many things can cause a backache including: a tumor, injury, aging or a disease. Backaches can become worse when bending forward or trying to lift an object.

A backache can carry over to pain in the legs in older people. This is in part due to the added pressure that is put onto the nerves in the spine. Most backaches can be described as either acute or chronic. An acute backache comes out of nowhere and is often incredibly painful. A chronic backache can be caused by just about anything and often sticks around for months at a time.  Read more...

Learn how to do the cat cow progression pose when using yoga poses for lower back pain relief in this free exercise video from a hatha yoga instructor. Expert: Elizabeth Rose Bio: Elizabeth Rose is a registered Hatha yoga teacher with a background in modern dance, gymnastics, martial arts, and circus arts. Filmmaker: randy primm

Back pain is a common problem affecting literally millions of people. It can range from minor, temporary pain, to sustained pain in different parts of the back, neck or shoulders or involve the pinching of nerves, affecting the legs or arms.   The causes of back pain vary and can often be a combination of factors. Some of the factors identified by practitioners are set out below.

Sprains and strains An out-of-condition back or one with pre-existing problems is more vulnerable to soft tissue injuries like sprains and strains. A sprain isa joint injury that involves stretching or tearing of the ligaments. A strainisan injury to muscle or tendons. Stretching a ligament or muscle too quickly can result in a tear. Excessive force and certain repetitive use may also damage muscles.

Disc problems The intervertebral discs are the cushions between our vertebrae. These discs dry out and harden with age, making them susceptible to injury. Common disc complaints involve the disc bulging (prolapse), herniating or even rupturing.  Read more...

If you are wondering what Reiki is all about, here would be a good place to start.

Imagine that you have gone along to a Natural Healing Exhibition and you are going to sit in on a talk about Reiki. You will find out what Reiki is and where it comes from. You will discover what it is like to give and receive a treatment. You will hear about the effects of Reiki treatments and come to understand how being attuned to Reiki can change your life.

So, get yourself comfortable in your chair, and let’s listen in on the talk.

Hello and welcome to an introductory talk about Reiki. My name is Taggart King, from Reiki Evolution, and I am a Reiki Master, which just means that I can teach Reiki. Over the next half an hour or so, we are going to be talking about lots of different things to do with the ‘Usui system of Natural healing’, as Reiki is also known.  Read more...

Here is some info on a few herbal essential oils that are a very helpful addition to your familys First Aid kit

Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)

* Clary Sage is used in aromatherapy in preference to Sage (Salvia Officinalis) because Sage can be quite toxic. Clary possesses the positive effects of Sage without the danger. One should avoid the use of alcohol while using Clary Sage because the combination can bring on severe Nightmares. Clary produces a heightened state akin to euphoria and relaxation. It is used in treating Asthma, and during convalescence of the flu. It is used in abdominal massage for digestive problems. (Source: A-Z Aromatherapy by Patricia Davis)
* Most valuable uses: Muscular fatigue, menstrual problems, PMS, Fertility, exhaustion, Insomnia, Menopausal problems, calming, stress, depression, cramps, excessive Perspiration.
* Therapeutic properties: Antiseptic, calmative, tonic, emmenagogue, anti-infectious, anti-spasmodic, anti-sudorific, Aphrodisiac, Nerve Tonic, nervine, estrogen-like
* Main chemical components: Linalol, Linalyl Acetate, Germacrene, Ceranyl acetate
* Contraindication: Avoid during Pregnancy.

(Source: Essential Aromatherapy: A Pocket Guide to Essential Oils & Aromatherapy by Susan Worwood Valerie Worwood)  Read more...

Fibromyalgia is a chronic medical condition that was once thought to be purely psychological in nature. Today physicians know that has a basis in the physical that is exacerbated by psychological stress. It is characterized by wide spread pain in the ligaments and tendons. Fibromyalgia also causes fatigue and multiple tender points. These are places on the body where even a slight amount of pressure will cause pain.

There are 18 different sites used for fibromyalgia diagnosis which are considered tender points. These sites cluster around the neck, shoulder, chest, hip, knee and elbow regions. During an examination the physician applies as much pressure as what would be required to cause a finger nail bed to blanch, or start to become white. Others have found over 75 different tender points but these are not used for diagnostic purposes. They do however cause individuals pain and discomfort.  Read more...

We all know Acupressure has been around for some 5,000 years now and those of us involved in Holistic and wellness remain convinced that the procedures encompassed within this sphere are more efficacious than physical therapy.

Every living being has a life force, or energy, called qi or chi (pronounced “chee”). When this energy, which runs along meridians, is in balance and flowing freely, the body is in a state of health. Acupoints tap into the the major energy pathways of the body.

When this energy is blocked or deficient, illness can result. These energy disruptions are often the result of stress or injury. It is believed that acupressure causes the brain to release endorphins. Endorphins play an important role in immune function, pain relief, stress reduction, and slowing the aging process.

Lower back pain has long been the bain of the modern world not only in lost man hours but also because of the numerous side effects, complications and nuances of lower back pain complaints. Further studies now confirm the benefits of acupressure over physical therapy.  Read more...

Everyone needs a massage from time to time. Massage therapy unknots hard-working muscles and gives your body time to relax and release stress. One massage technique is Rolfing.

The name sounds like something to do with vomiting, but it is actually a technique for rehabilitative massage therapy. Any number of things in your life can get your body out of whack. The problem with being out of whack is that you seldom return your body to its normal state. For some, aches and pains become a usual everyday occurrence.

Living with the effects of stress, poor body alignment and injury is not supposed to be a fact of life. With Rolfing, that can be changed for the better. Rolfing massage therapy is often done in a group of ten sessions for maximum benefit to the participant.

The process deals with muscles and the fascial layer that binds them together. When you have injuries that result in aches, the muscles are out of line. Scarring of the fascial tissues as they reform and heal can cause the muscles to reposition in the wrong place. Therefore, straightening an injured finger or stretching your knee can become harder and more painful until you stop moving it much altogether.  Read more...

Have you ever felt that you were losing your touch at something? Maybe your movements have become less and less productive? Learn to move with renewed purpose and understanding of your body using the Feldenkrais Method of Somatic Education.

The Feldenkrais Method was developed by a Russian named Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais. He was somewhat of a renaissance man being a physicist, an educator, a martial artist and a mechanical engineer. Feldenkrais was actually his own test subject for the method that bears his name. When knee injuries hindered his ability to walk, he used his knowledge to teach himself to walk again.

The Feldenkrais Method teaches you to move with purpose. Think about it. When we learn to eat, we are satisfied with getting a utensil to the mouth with food still on it. The same goes for anything else that we learn. It is just enough to learn the action but not to further perfect it. With this method, movement is combined with knowledge to make each and everything we do easier and with greater range of motion.  Read more...

Have you had a massage lately? If you haven’t, then think about aromatherapy. Like the name suggests, the room will be filled with the scent of oils used to heal the body of a number of ailments.

Aromatherapy is part of the treatments known as alternative medicine. It does not replace traditional medicine but is used to relieve the symptoms of some more common complaints like:

* Headaches
* Back pain
* Digestive complaints

The belief of many ancient medical practices is that the body is constantly trying to reach homeostasis (a state of balance). The use of natural substances like plants, flowers, herbs and fruits can aid in that balanced state. Aromatherapy, like other alternative medicine techniques, stresses natural over chemical to heal the body.

That said, aromatherapy itself uses extracts created from various plants, flowers and herbs. Absorbing these smells through the nose can ease the symptoms of the complaint. Aromatherapy massage takes that one step further and allows the extracts to seep into the skin to affect changes in the body as well.  Read more...

What is the one body part that seems to take the most work? Yes, it is the belly. That last stubborn bit of fluff doesn’t always want to let go of you. Here are five tips to help you to achieve that flat belly you have been dreaming about.

Is there a secret to a flat belly? In a word – no. The way to achieve any fitness goal is through discipline and a healthy outlook. Exercise and eating right help too.

When products on the market advertise that they can promise a flat belly, or gimmicky equipment hits your television late at night, don’t believe it. There is no substitute for doing the work that is needed to reach your goals.

1. You are what you eat. Losing weight or fat begins with what you put into your mouth. The body needs certain nutrients to function daily. That doesn’t include greasy fast food or high calorie drinks. Putting good stuff in will help you get the results that you want. Stick with fresh, not processed foods and create a healthy diet that incorporates protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.  Read more...

Have you noticed that your back hurts or you are feeling strains in certain muscles that you didn’t before? Your body may be out of line with your center of gravity. To put everything back into proper alignment, you might want to try spinal touch therapy.

Spinal touch therapy is an non-invasive alternative therapy. It is used to return your body to a natural state that will make you feel better.

Before we go further, here are a few words about your body and the earth. Our bodies are meant to be in line with the universe, and in particular, the Earth. Gravity is the force that holds us on the Earth. To function properly, your body must remain in alignment along your center of gravity. The center of gravity is where your body is in a state where the spine is aligned, your pelvis is tilted to the correct position and all of your muscles are relaxed.  Read more...