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...

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...

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...

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) can affect anyone at any time. It usually occurs in adulthood but children are not immune. If your child has been diagnosed with this disease, there are ways that you can help.

The cause of CFS is unknown. Researchers have speculated that it could be the result of a viral or bacterial infection or other illness but there is as yet no proof. For now, doctors are dealing with the symptoms.

Children have also been affected by chronic fatigue syndrome. Because of the developmental stages of children and their unpredictability, it takes a watchful parent to notice that something is wrong. The symptoms of the disease include:

* Pain in the joints
* Tiredness that persists for more than 24 hours
* Headaches
* Problems concentrating
* Sore throat
* Lymph node tenderness in armpits and neck
* Chills
* Diarrhea
* Appetite and weight changes
* Mild fever  Read more...

Foot massage or foot Reflexology has a Chinese origin. It dates back to more than 3,000 years ago and is used in the prevention and cure of many health ailments.

Some in fact say, foot massage dates back to ancient Eygyptian times due to archaeological findings in cave drawings in Egypt.

The principle of foot massage rests in the premise that the meridian network connects all tissues, organs and cells in our body. Each organ in the body is connected to a specific reflex point on the foot through the intermediary of 300 nerves. A trained foot reflexologist can put pressure on different meridians or energy lines on the sole and side of the feet to determine the cause of illness.

By using pressure to these the reflex points, the foot massage is good for stimulating the activity internal organs, and to improve blood and lymph Circulation. Thus, the top to bottom well being of a person can be made through the foot.  Read more...

Did you know when pain acts out that your backers will kick in? The backers are your emotions. The devilish radicals of our human makeup can lead us to consequences we ordinarily would not accept. Sometimes the radicals are angels that work as guiders to back our every step.

Back pain and emotions go hand in hand, since when one experiences pain it causes threat to the emotions. When the emotions are threatened, Look out Henry, John Doe is in the house. Back pain has symptoms, which include depression, irritation and hopelessness, which starts with back pain and ends with emotions. The person will often accept the proposal that the emotions deliver, leaving them to believe that no help is present. In most back pain instances however, help is sitting in front of you.

The rule of thumb is to listen, learn, and take action. When you learn all you can about your condition, you can move to accept its symptoms and take action to resolve your problem. In fact, the information you gain can work in your favor, since you may learn strategies that relieve your pain without costing you a fortune.  Read more...

A patient of psychological disorder would usually get his treatments through medication and services of a mental health institution or facilities. However, advocates of Complementary and Alternative Medicine believe that there are less intensive, more holistic approaches that could be rendered to these patients in conjunction to their medical treatments. While they do not have approved therapeutic claim and there are no conclusive proofs that these alternatives really work they have been practiced for years and have yielded significant positive results in their own fields. Here are the suggested alternative solutions to mental health care:

Slowing down

Daily stressors contribute to the development of several mental health disorders. In fact, stress itself is considered as a threat to mental health. It disrupts sleep, thinking and rest and it usually affects the way we function everyday. Thus it is suggested to adopt several methods that will help lessen and manage the negative stressors we are exposed to everyday.  Read more...

Through the simple process of touch, Reflexology is so effective in the healing process. In the hi-tech world that we live in, touch has taken second place to machines.

Physiotherapists are now using machines instead of their hands. Doctors use machines to scan bodies and no longer rely on their hands for diagnosis. People have forgotten how to hug one another. They now shake hands. They walk past one another in the streets and do not even greet each other.

Electric blankets are used to keep warm in bed – human arms have become redundant. Healing takes place through an exchange of human energies and not through an exchange of electricity.

There is sufficient evidence that over-exposure to electricity increases the risk of cancer. Even living near high voltage pylons is reputed to deplete the Immune System.

Research was done in an orphanage in London where the mortality rate of babies was very high. People were paid to come into the orphanage and to play with an experimental group of babies. The mortality rate remained the same for the babies in the control group but the experimental group babies who were played with every day showed a higher survival rate.  Read more...

There are many popular therapies and practices that are used for common complaints and health reasons such as prayer intercession for health reasons, herbs and nutritional supplements, chiropractic care, deep breathing exercising or meditation, and massage.

Intercessory prayer is when a prayer is said for someone other than the person doing the praying. Someone pleads with god on behalf of someone who in in desperate need of God’s intervention regarding a health issue.

Intercessory prayer has biblical foundation in 1 Peter 2:5, Peter 2:9, and Revelation 1:5.

When using herbs and supplements it is important to let your primary care physician know which herbs and supplements you intend to use because some may have adverse effects on medicines you may be taking.

There can also be safety concerns especially when it comes to overdosing, so again, speaking with your health care provider is recommended. There are herbs and dietary supplements that can be used for a wide range of ailments and these herbs and supplements can also support efforts to have a nutritious diet that will boost your immune system and help heal the body.  Read more...