Hawthorn for Your Heart

Tuesday, May 07, 2013
By: Byron J. Richards,
Board Certified Clinical NutritionistPrintE-mail Tweet

Widely recognized as a cardiovascular tonic, hawthorn berry relaxes the heart while supporting its ability to produce and sustain energetic output. Since the heart never gets a vacation, the rejuvenating effect of hawthorn may be the next best thing. Hawthorn berries are used in traditional medicine1 in the treatment of chronic heart failure, high blood pressure, irregular heart beat, and digestive problems. They also have mild diuretic properties and a beneficial impact on cholesterol. 

Hawthorn berries contain a wide range of flavonoids Plant compound that is associated with pigmentation. Flavonoids have been shown to modify allergens, viruses, inflammation, and various carcinogens. Found in green tea, citrus, berries, onions, parsley, red wine, dark chocolate, and others., which are responsible for their diverse mechanisms of operation. These flavonoids Plant compound that is associated with pigmentation. Flavonoids have been shown to modify allergens, viruses, inflammation, and various carcinogens. Found in green tea, citrus, berries, onions, parsley, red wine, dark chocolate, and others. include hyperoside, rutin, quercetin, vitexin, epicatechin, catechin, and proanthocyanidins. Hawthorn also contains germ-controlling phenols such as chlorogenic acid. 

There are several varieties of hawthorn. The preferred form for nutritional supplementation is Crataegus oxyacantha, which is standardized at 1.8% to contain the heart-friendly flavonoid vitexin. Common doses used in hawthorn studies range from 160-1800 mg, with the most common doses tested in the range of 600-900 mg per day. 

Hawthorn and Heart Failure

Hawthorn is widely used in Europe as an approved treatment for the initial stages of heart failure (Class I and II), with the goal of improving patients without the use of drugs. It has also been used to help patients with Class III heart failure, in conjunction with medical treatment.

Heart failure implies that the heart is not fit enough to supply blood for the body’s needs. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, fluid retention (especially ankle swelling), fatigue, and a reduced ability to exercise. The severity of the problem is classified by the heart’s performance based on a four-class scale known as the New York Heart Association Functional Classification.
•Class I: no limitation is experienced in any activities; there are no symptoms from ordinary activities. 
•Class II: slight, mild limitation of activity; the patient is comfortable at rest or with mild exertion. 
•Class III: marked limitation of any activity; the patient is comfortable only at rest.
•Class IV: any physical activity brings on discomfort and symptoms occur at rest.

A recent scientific review of all double-blind controlled studies on hawthorn2 (of which there are many) found a “significant benefit in symptom control and physiologic outcomes from hawthorn extract as an adjunctive treatment for chronic heart failure.” Hawthorn was shown to improve the heart’s maximum workload, which resulted in improved exercise tolerance. Shortness of breath and fatigue were significantly improved, and the heart’s ability to use oxygen was enhanced. These are very significant findings for a dietary supplement.

Hawthorn Berry In Action

Hawthorn has a relaxing effect3 on the arteries, improving circulation and facilitating healthy blood pressure. Hawthorn has been shown to enhance the flow of blood4 through the heart, while helping the heart beat tone up (inotropic effect). In fact, hawthorn was found to be far friendlier and more energy efficient than drugs in helping the heart muscle contract5 to produce an effective beat. A randomized controlled trial showed that hawthorn lowered diastolic blood pressure6 (the lower number) in patients with type II diabetes.

A flavonoid contained in hawthorn has been shown to have a natural regulating effect on angiotensin converting enzyme7, acting as a natural ACE inhibitor. ACE converts the inactive form of angiotensin (angiotensin I) into the active vasoconstrictor (angiotensin II). A system with inadequate brakes leads to higher blood pressure. Better tone in this system also supports kidney health.

During times of circulatory stress, immune cells may release an enzyme called human neutrophil elastase8 (HNE). While this is a normal enzyme, excess amounts can induce wear and tear. Hawthorn berry helps to modulate the release of HNE, thereby supporting cardiovascular health.

Hawthorn has also been shown to protect animals from experimentally induced heart attack9 by maintaining antioxidant status and boosting oxygen utilization within the heart. In another experiment, researchers showed that hawthorn protected the liver10 from adverse changes during a heart attack, indicating hawthorn’s protective effect beyond just the heart and circulation.

In a study of rabbits fed a high cholesterol diet, those on hawthorn had a 23% reduction in total cholesterol11 and a 22% reduction in triglycerides. Researchers believed hawthorn helped reduce cholesterol absorption from the diet. This finding is similar to another animal study, which not only found similar reductions in cholesterol12 and triglycerides, but also found that damage to the liver did not occur at the same rate with hawthorn supplementation. Yet another animal study found that hawthorn helped activate LDL receptors13 in the liver, promoting the natural clearance of cholesterol through the bile.

Hawthorn helps prevent free radical-induced oxidation14 of LDL cholesterol Low-density lipoprotein. It is a group of lipids and proteins that allow lipids like cholesterol, triglycerides, and fat soluble nutrients (Vitamin A, D, E , K, Q 10, carotenes) to be transported with the water-based bloodstream. , a step that must occur before LDL can form plaque in arteries. It was also shown to protect vitamin E from damage and synergistically boost vitamin E status by 18%-20%.

While hawthorn has been extensively studied and widely used in Europe for heart failure, its general effect on the heart is relaxing and toning, improving overall fitness. Furthermore, hawthorn’s multiple actions in the circulatory system are synergistic with many other cardio-friendly nutrients toward the goal of improved cardiovascular health.

Supplements that contain hawthornRelated Entries:

Is Resveratrol the Fountain of Youth? Tweet
Read More:  Blood Pressure News, Cardiovascular Health News, Cholesterol News, Circulation News Your e-mail will be kept private | Newsletter details
Referenced Studies: ^ Hawthorn Uses, Inflammation,  Anti-Oxidant, Mild Germ Killer  J Agric Food Chem.  Tadić VM, Dobrić S, Marković GM, Dordević SM, Arsić IA, Menković NR, Stević T. ^ Hawthorn Helps Heart Failure  Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews  Pittler MH, Guo R, Ernst E. ^ Hawthorn Relaxes Arteries   Life Sci.   Chen ZY, Zhang ZS, Kwan KY, Zhu M, Ho WK, Huang Y. ^ Hawthorn Helps Blood Flow in Heart and Heart Strength  Arzneimittelforschung.   Schüssler M, Hölzl J, Fricke U. ^ Hawthorn is a Friendly Way to Strengthen Heart Beats  Arzneimittelforschung.   Pöpping S, Rose H, Ionescu I, Fischer Y, Kammermeier H. ^ Hawthorn Lowers Diastolic Blood Pressure in Diabetics  Br J Gen Pract.  Walker AF, Marakis G, Simpson E, Hope JL, Robinson PA, Hassanein M, Simpson HC. ^ Flavonoid in Hawthorn Acts as Natural ACE Inhibitor  The Japanese Journal of Pharmacology.  Shinji UCHIDA, Nobuhiko IKARI, Hisashi OHTA2, Masami NIWA, Gen-ichiro NONAKA, Itsuo NISHIOKA and Masayori OZAKI.  ^ Hawthorn Protects Circulation from Stress  Arzneimittelforschung.   Chatterjee SS, Koch E, Jaggy H, Krzeminski T. ^ Hawthorn Protects Against Experimentally Induced Heart Attack  J Pharm Pharmacol.  Jayalakshmi R, Niranjali Devaraj S. ^ Hawthorn is Also a Liver Protector  J Med Food.  Thirupurasundari CJ, Jayalakshmi R, Niranjali Devaraj S. ^ Hawthorn Reduces Cholesterol and Triglycerides  J Nutr.  Zhang Z, Ho WK, Huang Y, James AE, Lam LW, Chen ZY. ^ Hawthorn Helps Lower Cholesterol, Protect Liver from High Fat Diet  Indian J Biochem Biophys.  Shanthi S, Parasakthy K, Deepalakshmi PD, Devaraj SN. ^ Hawthorn Helps the Liver Clear LDL Cholesterol  Atherosclerosis.   Rajendran S, Deepalakshmi PD, Parasakthy K, Devaraj H, Devaraj SN. ^ Hawthorn Helps Protect LDL Cholesterol from Damage   J Nutr Biochem.  Zhang Z, Chang Q, Zhu M, Huang Y, Ho WK, Chen Z.

More Health News

Pulling Data...Loading Navigation...Loading Content...

View complete Health News Archives My cart is empty.  View Cart | Login
Find Supplement Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) Activator Plus™ B, Super B Complex Blood Booster™ Bone & Joint Helper™ Brain Protector™ C, Vitamin C CalActive™ Calcium AEP Calcium, Coral Calcium Calcium, Daily Bone Xcel™ Calcium, Daily Builder™ Calcium, Tri-Cal Candida Helper™ Cardio Helper™ Carnosine Cell Defender™ Chlorella Chondroitin Plus™ Cinnamon Plus™ Colloidal Silver D, Vitamin D Daily Balancer™ Daily Bone Xcel™ Daily Builder™ Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin™Daily Prenatal Multi Vitamin™Daily Protector™ Daily Protein™ Daily Protein Plus™ Daily Super E™ Daily Super Pack™ Daily DHA, Fish OilDHA, DHA Kids Digestive Helper™ d-Limonene Female Plus™ Femme Balance™ Fiber Helper™ Fiber, LeptiFiber™ Fish Oil, Daily DHAGI & Muscle Helper™ GI Soother™ Gluco Plus™ Green Tea Extract Hyaluronic Acid Immune Plus™ Iosol Iodine JointAll™ LeptiCardio Pack™ LeptiFiber™ Leptin Control Pack® Leptinal® - The Leptin Helper LeptiSlim® Lipid Helper™ Lipoic Acid, R-AlphaMagnesium, Muscle Mag™Magnesium, RelaxaMag™ Male Plus™Mangosteen Plus™Melatonin Motility Helper™ Multiple Vitamin, Daily EnergyNiacin Plus™ Noni Oregano Oil Pantethine Performa Plus™ PhosphatidylSerine (PS) Pine Nut Oil Potassium Plus™Prenatal Vitamin Preventor Plus™ Pro Femme Creme™ Protein, Daily Protein™ Protein, Daily Protein Plus™ Pycnogenols, Pyc 50 Q10, CoQ10 and Super CoQ10 Q10, Ubiquinol Quercetin R-Alpha Lipoic Acid Rejuvenation Pack™ RelaxaMag™Repair Plus™ Saw Palmetto Skin Rejuvenator™ Sleep Helper® Squalene Strengthener Plus™ Stress Helper® Sulfur Plus Super Brain Booster™ Super Dophilus Super EFA Super Immune Booster™ Super Mini-Multi™ Thyroid Helper® Thyroid Energy Package™ Tri-Cal Find Health Topic Supplement Guide Adrenals Blood Pressure Blood SugarBone Health Brain, Memory & Focus Cardiovascular HealthCellulite Reduction Children's Health Cholesterol Daily Supplement Program Detoxification & Liver Support Digestive Health Energy & Motivation FibromyalgiaFemale NutritionHeart Health High School & College Immune Support Joints and RepairLeptin & Weight Loss Men's Nutrition Muscles & Nerves Postpartum Nutrition Prenatal Nutrition Rejuvenation & Repair Skin & Hair Sleep Sports NutritionStress & Mood The Leptin Diet™ Thyroid & MetabolismWeight Management & Leptin Women's Nutrition Find Supplement Find Supplement Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) Activator Plus™ B, Super B Complex Blood Booster™ Bone & Joint Helper™ Brain Protector™ C, Vitamin C CalActive™ Calcium AEP Calcium, Coral Calcium Calcium, Daily Bone Xcel™ Calcium, Daily Builder™ Calcium, Tri-Cal Candida Helper™ Cardio Helper™ Carnosine Cell Defender™ Chlorella Chondroitin Plus™ Cinnamon Plus™ Colloidal Silver D, Vitamin D Daily Balancer™ Daily Bone Xcel™ Daily Builder™ Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin™Daily Prenatal Multi Vitamin™Daily Protector™ Daily Protein™ Daily Protein Plus™ Daily Super E™ Daily Super Pack™ Daily DHA, Fish OilDHA, DHA Kids Digestive Helper™ d-Limonene Female Plus™ Femme Balance™ Fiber Helper™ Fiber, LeptiFiber™ Fish Oil, Daily DHAGI & Muscle Helper™ GI Soother™ Gluco Plus™ Green Tea Extract Hyaluronic Acid Immune Plus™ Iosol Iodine JointAll™ LeptiCardio Pack™ LeptiFiber™ Leptin Control Pack® Leptinal® - The Leptin Helper LeptiSlim® Lipid Helper™ Lipoic Acid, R-AlphaMagnesium, Muscle Mag™Magnesium, RelaxaMag™ Male Plus™Mangosteen Plus™Melatonin Motility Helper™ Multiple Vitamin, Daily EnergyNiacin Plus™ Noni Oregano Oil Pantethine Performa Plus™ PhosphatidylSerine (PS) Pine Nut Oil Potassium Plus™Prenatal Vitamin Preventor Plus™ Pro Femme Creme™ Protein, Daily Protein™ Protein, Daily Protein Plus™ Pycnogenols, Pyc 50 Q10, CoQ10 and Super CoQ10 Q10, Ubiquinol Quercetin R-Alpha Lipoic Acid Rejuvenation Pack™ RelaxaMag™Repair Plus™ Saw Palmetto Skin Rejuvenator™ Sleep Helper® Squalene Strengthener Plus™ Stress Helper® Sulfur Plus Super Brain Booster™ Super Dophilus Super EFA Super Immune Booster™ Super Mini-Multi™ Thyroid Helper® Thyroid Energy Package™ Tri-Cal Find Health Topic Supplement Guide Adrenals Blood Pressure Blood SugarBone Health Brain, Memory & Focus Cardiovascular HealthCellulite Reduction Children's Health Cholesterol Daily Supplement Program Detoxification & Liver Support Digestive Health Energy & Motivation FibromyalgiaFemale NutritionHeart Health High School & College Immune Support Joints and RepairLeptin & Weight Loss Men's Nutrition Muscles & Nerves Postpartum Nutrition Prenatal Nutrition Rejuvenation & Repair Skin & Hair Sleep Sports NutritionStress & Mood The Leptin Diet™ Thyroid & MetabolismWeight Management & Leptin Women's Nutrition E-mail: Your e-mail will be kept private.
Health Newsletter Details Popular Related News: The Facts on Magnesium Stearate
Taking Q10 for a Test Drive – Is Ubiquinol Better?
Why High Quality DHA is So Important
Thyroid and Kidney Problems Overlap
Insulin, Leptin, and Blood Sugar – Why Diabetic Medication Fails

About Wellness Resources:Vision & HistoryProduction PhilosophyQuality ChartConsultationsSuccess StoriesContact Us ABOUT USSUPPLEMENTSHEALTH TOPICSSALE WELLNESS REWARDSAFFILIATE PROGRAMCONTACT USCUSTOMER SERVICEHOME

952-929-4575 800-717-WELL (9355) 7155 Amundson Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55439
Copyright © Wellness Resources, Inc. 1999-2013 - Terms & Conditions of Use

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Note: the asterisk mark following a paragraph and linking to the above FDA disclaimer applies to any or all statements in that paragraph.

Pillossage a New approach to massage

It didn't happen overnight...it took several years to develop this modality in a manner that would make sense to both your client's body and you...the therapist.  The goal of Thermal Therapy is to create massage techniques working through heat to support the client's body as tissues gently respond to change...without pain using heated silky smooth Golden Flax and Herbal (unscented for classes) Mother Earth Pillows®, you will learn how to apply measured, wave-like compressions and therapeutic stretches to affect all layers of connective tissues...down to the depth of the periosteum where the deepest pain may reside.  This is done without causing 'poking' or vertical discomfort for the client.

This modality is ideal for therapists who are looking for techniques to provide skillful therapy that can
stand alone or be integrated with other modalities to offer to clients who live with conditions that include
chronic pain, high levels of stress or who are in need of rehabilitation.
 
You will learn novel Self-Care techniques so therapy can continue after the session. Benefits and results achieved with Thermal Connective Tissue Release last far beyond the massage session. You will learn methods to help clients prolong and accelerate their healing, rehabilitation, and improve quality of life. As you learn the dance of Pillossage™, you will find easier ways to offer deep therapy without strain.

How to Prevent Vaccine Injury

Friday, March 08, 2013
By: Byron J. Richards,
Board Certified Clinical NutritionistPrintE-mail Tweet

It is a colossal failure on the part of our government not to warn parents of the actual risks associated with vaccines.  The blind insistence that vaccines are safe and effective is not supported by science, at least for a significant number of our children.  There are now 25,000 children per year who develop autism (one in 150), a problem that has expanded in direct proportion to the increase in vaccinations.  How do you know if your child is at risk?

The government’s primary goal appears to be to prevent parents, en masse, from refusing to vaccinate their children.  To prevent such a “run on the public health bank” all caution is being recklessly thrown to the wind.  American children are now the most vaccinated people in the world.  What are we actually doing?  The vaccination problem needs to be objectively solved so that public health is maintained, yet needless vaccine injury is avoided.

It should not be of any great comfort to parents that scientists hardly understand how the immune system works.  The simplistic idea that vaccines offer protection against disease has an element of truth along with a significant element of risk.  This article explores the risk in greater depth.  I first explain what is known about the nature of the risk, and follow with some natural options that can help. 

Vaccine Adjuvants – A Double-Edged Sword

Giving a fully active virus as a vaccine would obviously cause the disease.  On the other hand, a weakened or deadened form of the virus may not produce much of an immune response, thereby making the vaccine worthless.  This problem has been “solved” by combining the weakened disease with an immune activator called an adjuvant.

An adjuvant does not contain the disease, rather it is intended to initiate the first step in fighting an infection – the inflammatory response.  This is like giving a general wake-up call to the immune system.  This can be done with an irritant or a more specific toxin the immune system is likely to recognize based on eons of exposure.

In the irritant category, the most common adjuvants used in vaccines your child will get are salts of aluminum (aluminum phosphate and aluminum hydroxide).  The safety of aluminum salts has been called into question following the poor health of many Gulf War Veterans who received multiple aluminum adjuvant vaccinations.  Many scientists consider that their poor health was caused by the adjuvants in the vaccines they were given.  In 2003 French researchers identified aluminum hydroxide vaccine adjuvants1 as the cause of a new disease consisting of pain and chronic fatigue, noting similarities to problems Gulf War soldiers experienced.

In a recent study mice were given aluminum hydroxide at doses comparable to those of the Gulf War soldiers.  The mice were extensively tested for cognitive ability, and their nervous systems analyzed upon sacrifice.  The results showed that aluminum hydroxide caused nerve-related motor defects2.  Analysis of brain tissue showed 255 percent increase in inflammatory markers along with 35 percent loss of motor neurons. 

It has been more than a year since this study was published.  Why isn’t the CDC doing the same experiment with the adjuvant load from their recommended vaccine schedule?  Any substance that is adversely neurotoxic in an adult is likely to be more neurotoxic in the evolving nervous system of a baby.  Not following up on this is gross negligence on the part of the CDC.

Another common adjuvant is bacterial endotoxin (the outer membrane of the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria), also known as lipopolysaccharide or LPS.  Since we have been battling bacteria since the beginning of our evolution, our immune systems recognize LPS as an invasion – setting off a powerful inflammatory immune system reaction.  The toxicity of any bacterial infection relates to LPS.

Scientists at the National Institutes of Health3 freely acknowledge that the pro-inflammatory effects of adjuvants in vaccines “underlie many of the observed toxic effects.”  The new science shows very clearly that all the inflammation generated by adjuvants is actually not necessary for activating the immune response.

This means that our government is sticking by a vaccine program that relies on firing a toxic shotgun at the immune system even though they know a laser-guided approach would have much less risk of vaccine injury from direct toxicity.  The problem for our government is that they don’t currently have the ability to make safer vaccines, thus they blindly defend the safety of a very crude approach and refuse to conduct tests that would easily show that the current vaccine program is not safe.  It is quite clear that an inflamed nervous system4 is an undeniable feature in autism.

What Does NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. Have to Do With It?

Nuclear Factor kappa-B is the “brain” residing within every cell of your body, including cells of your nervous system.  It is a gene transcription factor, meaning that it tells your cells how to behave depending on what is happening.  When everything runs smoothly, NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. has its feet up on the lawn chair in a relaxed mode of operation.  Under stress NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. initiates survival strategies.  NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. is the main regulator of all inflammatory and immune responses, and is intimately involved with the healthy function of your nervous system.  NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. is an active intelligence within your cells.  The last thing you would ever want to do is mess up NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. .

Adjuvants, due to their intentionally inflammatory mode of operation, activate NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. .  This is done to ramp-up the immune system so it can “see” the weakened virus in the vaccine.  The million dollar question is:  “How much NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. activation can children take before their NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. systems overheat and set a fire in their brain called autism?”  When NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. overheats it generates large amounts of inflammatory immune system messengers (like TNFa Cytokine involved with systemic inflammation and regulation of immune cells. It is able to induce cell death, and inhibits tumorigenesis and viral replication. When dysfunctional it is associated with a number of disease processes. and IL6) and massive numbers of free radicals that damage nerve cells.

If a child is already acutely inflamed then the NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. pump has already been primed and the risk for vaccine injury is greater.  Acute inflammation is caused by illness, injury, surgery, poor diet, and stress at home.  This problem is magnified if the child had a history of inflammation while in the womb, was born prematurely, or had health struggles during the first few years of life.  Even a previous round of vaccines can prime the inflammatory NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. pump.  Environmental toxicity is another factor that cannot be ignored, as is the health of the mother prior to and during pregnancy.  A mother’s obesity and eating habits have a significant effect on the nerve health of her child.

The main point to understand is that if the NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. system is already on the edge of overheating due to other factors, then the intentional pushing of this system with vaccines poses a serious risk to the child.  Multiple vaccines given at one time, with multiple pro-inflammatory adjuvants, obviously increase the risk.  Any person who objectively reviews the science on this issue could reach no other conclusion.

The issue of NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. is so important that the next generation of vaccines5 will utilize it in an attempt to make less toxic vaccines6 (the laser-guided approach rather than the shotgun).  While NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. -targeted vaccines will be less blatantly toxic, making them free of adverse side effects is another story altogether.  Manipulating NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. is playing with the essence of the life force of a cell.  At any given time numerous on’s and off’s relate to how NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. naturally works to maintain health.  The new vaccines will turn on the inflammatory aspect of NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. , which could easily upset the applecart in some other needed aspect of health. 

No matter how good research scientists are at developing new vaccines, there will always be a percentage of at-risk-already-inflamed children who are likely to respond in a poor manner.  Vaccine safety is not just about better vaccines; it’s also about protecting those who are most likely to have poor reactions to them.  It is not possible to have a good public health policy for disease prevention that fails to take this fact into account.

Nutrients that Can Help

Mother Nature provides an array of NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. modulating compounds.  Unlike drugs, nutrients are far more compatible with genes, since we evolved using nutrition to assist survival.  When we provide our cells with needed nutrients, NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. seems to know what to do with them.  It is very clear that NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. uses nutrition to help cool itself off – like a tall glass of ice water on a hot day.

A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables is the foundation for NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. anti-inflammatory nutrition.  When a mother eats this type of diet during pregnancy and while nursing she passes tremendous benefit to her child.  It is now clear that such good health habits are passed along, a type of fetal programming of the taste system, wherein the child is now more likely to eat healthfully and consequently have better function of NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. .

On top of a good diet, certain “super nutrients” significantly help NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. behave in a healthy manner.  These help NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. not get overheated or too bent out of shape.  The following list of nutrients is by no means complete.  I’ve selected them because I’ve used them for years and I know they work.  Plenty of science supports their common sense use, for young and old alike.

Such extra nutrient support can be used as needed to:
1)Calm down nerves from existing life stress or a pattern of wear and tear
2)Calm down nerves following an inflammatory event, such as vaccinations
3)Stabilize nerves that are struggling
4)Generally improve cognitive function and nerve development

The five nutrients I’ve selected for discussion are the tocotrienol Specialized form of vitamin E. Powerful antioxidant showing positive benefits for cholesterol, cardiovascular, neurological health and cancer risk reduction. form of vitamin E, grape seed extract, lipoic acid, acetyl-l-carnitine, and the herb silymarin.  They offer a treasure trove of NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. modulating nerve and energy support nutrients.

Tocotrienols are a special form of vitamin E with unique antioxidant properties that are in many ways superior to plain vitamin E.  For example, a recent study showed that tocotrienols offered superior protection to the nervous system from methylmercury7 – a potent nerve toxin.  It is very clear that tocotrienols work by modulating NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. 118, are a superior brain protecting nutrient9, and are also helpful for inflammation in the circulatory system10 by reducing NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. .
 
Silymarin or Milk Thistle is an herb that is commonly used to protect the liver as well as to help it clear toxins.  Silymarin also works by modulating NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. 118 to turn down inflammation.  One study showed it was able to stop the LPS induced toxicity12 in brain cells.  Another study showed it stopped the autoimmune driven damage13 to nerves (demyelination) while reducing inflammation. 

Grape seed extracts contain proanthocyanidins that have also been shown to directly turn off LPS toxicity1914 by turning down NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. .  Taking the extract before damage to the nerves, as from alcohol consumption, helps prevent brain damage15.  Taking the extract after damage to nerves is already in progress helps stop the damage16.  Grape seed extracts are another top choice for nerve protection.

R-Alpha Lipoic Acid and Acetyl-L-Carnitine work synergistically to restore mitochondrial energy production17 in nerve cells.  It is now believed that one factor involved with vaccine injury is poor mitochondrial function.  Lipoic Acid is another nutrient now proven to lower NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. 18 and reduce the inflammation associated with LPS toxicity1914.  Acetyl-l-Carnitine has been extensively studied for its role in memory and cognitive function.  It also exerts powerful nerve protection20 by a variety of different mechanisms.

As you can see, plenty of science supports the use of nutrition to help out the brain, and this is just a sample of some of the better options.  These nutrients are typically quite easy to mix into juice, apple sauce, or yogurt.  The tocotrienol Specialized form of vitamin E. Powerful antioxidant showing positive benefits for cholesterol, cardiovascular, neurological health and cancer risk reduction. oil can be squeezed from the softgel capsule directly into the mouth.  Powders can be mixed in water and administered with a dropper during nursing.  Nursing moms can take any of these nutrients, which will transfer in her milk.

Nutrition excels at the safe and natural regulation of inflammation, including nerve inflammation, primarily by helping NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. work normally.

Related article:  CNN Helps Autism Debacle Blow Up in Government’s Face

 

Supplements that contain tocotrienol Supplements that contain silymarin Supplements that support stress and moodRelated Entries:

The Potential for Intelligence is Inherited Tweet
Read More:  Inflammation NewsE-mail:Your e-mail will be kept private | Newsletter details-->
Referenced Studies: ^ Aluminum Vaccine Adjuvant Linked to Chronic Fatigue and Pain  Rev Neurol (Paris).  Gherardi RK. ^ Aluminum Vaccine Adjuvant is Nerve Toxic  Neuromolecular Med.  Petrik MS, Wong MC, Tabata RC, Garry RF, Shaw CA. ^ Adjuvants Pose Significant Toxicity Problem  Front Biosci.  Hauguel TM, Hackett CJ. ^ Glial Nerve Cell Inflammation in Autism  Ann Neurol.  Vargas DL, Nascimbene C, Krishnan C, Zimmerman AW, Pardo CA. ^ Manipulating NF-kappaB is Crucial in Better Vaccine Development  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.   Andreakos E, Williams RO, Wales J, Foxwell BM, Feldmann M. ^ Strategies for new Vaccines  Expert Rev Vaccines.  Wales J, Foxwell B, Feldmann M. ^ Brain Protection Against Methylmercury from Tocotrienols  Brain Res.  Shichiri M, Takanezawa Y, Uchida K, Tamai H, Arai H. ^ Tocotrienols Work In Part by Modulating NF-kappaB   J Biol Chem.   Ahn KS, Sethi G, Krishnan K, Aggarwal BB. ^ Tocotrienols for Brain Health  Ann N Y Acad Sci.  Sen CK, Khanna S, Roy S. ^ Tocotrienols Modulate NF-kappaB-Driven Circulatory Stress  Atherosclerosis  Theriault A, Chao JT, Gapor A. ^ Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Silymarin  J Immunol.   Manna SK, Mukhopadhyay A, Van NT, Aggarwal BB. ^ Silymarin Protects Your Brain from Excitotoxic Damage  Eur J Neurosci.   Wang MJ, Lin WW, Chen HL, Chang YH, Ou HC, Kuo JS, Hong JS, Jeng KC. ^ Silymarin Stops Nerve Damage  Arch Pharm Res.  Min K, Yoon WK, Kim SK, Kim BH. ^ Grape Seed Extracts Protect Against LPS-Induced Toxic Inflammation  : J Agric Food Chem.   Terra X, Valls J, Vitrac X, Mérrillon JM, Arola L, Ardèvol A, Bladé C, Fernandez-Larrea J, Pujadas G, Salvadó J, Blay M. ^ Grape Seed Extracts Protect Your Brain from Damage  J Agric Food Chem.  Guo L, Wang LH, Sun B, Yang JY, Zhao YQ, Dong YX, Spranger MI, Wu CF. ^ Grape Seed Extracts Protect Brain from Ongoing Damage  Pediatr Res.   Feng Y, Liu YM, Leblanc MH, Bhatt AJ, Rhodes PG. ^ Lipoic Acid and ALC Improve Brain Energy Function  J Cell Mol Med.   Aliev G, Liu J, Shenk JC, Fischbach K, Pacheco GJ, Chen SG, Obrenovich ME, Ward WF, Richardson AG, Smith MA, Gasimov E, Perry G, Ames BN. ^ Lipoic Acid Reduces Inflammation by Turning Down NF-kappaB  Int Immunopharmacol.  Lee CK, Lee EY, Kim YG, Mun SH, Moon HB, Yoo B. ^ Lipoic Acid stops LPS-Induced Inflammatory Toxicity  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.  Zhang WJ, Wei H, Hagen T, Frei B. ^ Acetyl-L-Carnitine Protects Nerves from Damage  Ann N Y Acad Sci.   Zanelli SA, Solenski NJ, Rosenthal RE, Fiskum G.

More Health News

Pulling Data...Loading Navigation...Loading Content...

View complete Health News Archives My cart is empty.  View Cart | Login
Find Supplement Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) Activator Plus™ B, Super B Complex Blood Booster™ Bone & Joint Helper™ Brain Protector™ C, Vitamin C CalActive™ Calcium AEP Calcium, Coral Calcium Calcium, Daily Bone Xcel™ Calcium, Daily Builder™ Calcium, Tri-Cal Candida Helper™ Cardio Helper™ Carnosine Cell Defender™ Chlorella Chondroitin Plus™ Cinnamon Plus™ Colloidal Silver D, Vitamin D Daily Balancer™ Daily Bone Xcel™ Daily Builder™ Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin™Daily Prenatal Multi Vitamin™Daily Protector™ Daily Protein™ Daily Protein Plus™ Daily Super E™ Daily Super Pack™ Daily DHA, Fish OilDHA, DHA Kids Digestive Helper™ d-Limonene Female Plus™ Femme Balance™ Fiber Helper™ Fiber, LeptiFiber™ Fish Oil, Daily DHAGI & Muscle Helper™ GI Soother™ Gluco Plus™ Green Tea Extract Hyaluronic Acid Immune Plus™ Iosol Iodine JointAll™ LeptiCardio Pack™ LeptiFiber™ Leptin Control Pack® Leptinal® - The Leptin Helper LeptiSlim® Lipid Helper™ Lipoic Acid, R-AlphaMagnesium, Muscle Mag™Magnesium, RelaxaMag™ Male Plus™Mangosteen Plus™Melatonin Motility Helper™ Multiple Vitamin, Daily EnergyNiacin Plus™ Noni Oregano Oil Pantethine Performa Plus™ PhosphatidylSerine (PS) Pine Nut Oil Potassium Plus™Prenatal Vitamin Preventor Plus™ Pro Femme Creme™ Protein, Daily Protein™ Protein, Daily Protein Plus™ Pycnogenols, Pyc 50 Q10, CoQ10 and Super CoQ10 Q10, Ubiquinol Quercetin R-Alpha Lipoic Acid Rejuvenation Pack™ RelaxaMag™Repair Plus™ Saw Palmetto Skin Rejuvenator™ Sleep Helper® Squalene Strengthener Plus™ Stress Helper® Sulfur Plus Super Brain Booster™ Super Dophilus Super EFA Super Immune Booster™ Super Mini-Multi™ Thyroid Helper® Thyroid Energy Package™ Tri-Cal Find Health Topic Supplement Guide Adrenals Blood Pressure Blood SugarBone Health Brain, Memory & Focus Cardiovascular HealthCellulite Reduction Children's Health Cholesterol Daily Supplement Program Detoxification & Liver Support Digestive Health Energy & Motivation FibromyalgiaFemale NutritionHeart Health High School & College Immune Support Joints and RepairLeptin & Weight Loss Men's Nutrition Muscles & Nerves Postpartum Nutrition Prenatal Nutrition Rejuvenation & Repair Skin & Hair Sleep Sports NutritionStress & Mood The Leptin Diet™ Thyroid & MetabolismWeight Management & Leptin Women's Nutrition Find Supplement Find Supplement Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) Activator Plus™ B, Super B Complex Blood Booster™ Bone & Joint Helper™ Brain Protector™ C, Vitamin C CalActive™ Calcium AEP Calcium, Coral Calcium Calcium, Daily Bone Xcel™ Calcium, Daily Builder™ Calcium, Tri-Cal Candida Helper™ Cardio Helper™ Carnosine Cell Defender™ Chlorella Chondroitin Plus™ Cinnamon Plus™ Colloidal Silver D, Vitamin D Daily Balancer™ Daily Bone Xcel™ Daily Builder™ Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin™Daily Prenatal Multi Vitamin™Daily Protector™ Daily Protein™ Daily Protein Plus™ Daily Super E™ Daily Super Pack™ Daily DHA, Fish OilDHA, DHA Kids Digestive Helper™ d-Limonene Female Plus™ Femme Balance™ Fiber Helper™ Fiber, LeptiFiber™ Fish Oil, Daily DHAGI & Muscle Helper™ GI Soother™ Gluco Plus™ Green Tea Extract Hyaluronic Acid Immune Plus™ Iosol Iodine JointAll™ LeptiCardio Pack™ LeptiFiber™ Leptin Control Pack® Leptinal® - The Leptin Helper LeptiSlim® Lipid Helper™ Lipoic Acid, R-AlphaMagnesium, Muscle Mag™Magnesium, RelaxaMag™ Male Plus™Mangosteen Plus™Melatonin Motility Helper™ Multiple Vitamin, Daily EnergyNiacin Plus™ Noni Oregano Oil Pantethine Performa Plus™ PhosphatidylSerine (PS) Pine Nut Oil Potassium Plus™Prenatal Vitamin Preventor Plus™ Pro Femme Creme™ Protein, Daily Protein™ Protein, Daily Protein Plus™ Pycnogenols, Pyc 50 Q10, CoQ10 and Super CoQ10 Q10, Ubiquinol Quercetin R-Alpha Lipoic Acid Rejuvenation Pack™ RelaxaMag™Repair Plus™ Saw Palmetto Skin Rejuvenator™ Sleep Helper® Squalene Strengthener Plus™ Stress Helper® Sulfur Plus Super Brain Booster™ Super Dophilus Super EFA Super Immune Booster™ Super Mini-Multi™ Thyroid Helper® Thyroid Energy Package™ Tri-Cal Find Health Topic Supplement Guide Adrenals Blood Pressure Blood SugarBone Health Brain, Memory & Focus Cardiovascular HealthCellulite Reduction Children's Health Cholesterol Daily Supplement Program Detoxification & Liver Support Digestive Health Energy & Motivation FibromyalgiaFemale NutritionHeart Health High School & College Immune Support Joints and RepairLeptin & Weight Loss Men's Nutrition Muscles & Nerves Postpartum Nutrition Prenatal Nutrition Rejuvenation & Repair Skin & Hair Sleep Sports NutritionStress & Mood The Leptin Diet™ Thyroid & MetabolismWeight Management & Leptin Women's Nutrition E-mail: Your e-mail will be kept private.
Health Newsletter Details Popular Related News: Unclog Your Liver & Lose Abdominal Fat – Leptin Diet Weight Loss Challenge #6
Why High Quality DHA is So Important
Using Nutrition to Help Perceive and Combat Flu
Thyroid and Kidney Problems Overlap
Zinc, Alcohol Damage, and Thyroid Function

About Wellness Resources:Vision & HistoryProduction PhilosophyQuality ChartConsultationsSuccess StoriesContact Us ABOUT USSUPPLEMENTSHEALTH TOPICSSALE WELLNESS REWARDSAFFILIATE PROGRAMCONTACT USCUSTOMER SERVICEHOME

952-929-4575 800-717-WELL (9355) 7155 Amundson Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55439
Copyright © Wellness Resources, Inc. 1999-2013 - Terms & Conditions of Use

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Note: the asterisk mark following a paragraph and linking to the above FDA disclaimer applies to any or all statements in that paragraph.

Benefits of massage.. it's good medicine!

Benefits of Massage
Good Medicine


As you lie on the table under crisp, fresh sheets, hushed music draws you into the moment. The smell of sage fills the air and you hear the gentle sound of massage oil being warmed in your therapist's hands. The pains of age, the throbbing from your overstressed muscles, the sheer need to be touched -- all cry out for therapeutic hands to start their work. Once the session gets underway, the problems of the world fade into an oblivious 60 minutes of relief and all you can comprehend right now is not wanting it to end.

But what if that hour of massage did more for you than just take the pressures of the day away? What if that gentle, Swedish massage helped you combat cancer? What if bodywork helped you recover from a strained hamstring in half the time? What if your sleep, digestion and mood all improved with massage and bodywork? What if these weren't just "what ifs"?

Evidence is showing that the more massage you can allow yourself, the better you'll feel. Here's why.

Massage as a healing tool has been around for thousands of years in many cultures. Touching is a natural human reaction to pain and stress, and for conveying compassion and support. Think of the last time you bumped your head or had a sore calf. What did you do? Rubbed it, right? The same was true of our earliest ancestors. Healers throughout time and throughout the world have instinctually and independently developed a wide range of therapeutic techniques using touch. Many are still in use today, and with good reason. We now have scientific proof of the benefits of massage - benefits ranging from treating chronic diseases and injuries to alleviating the growing tensions of our modern lifestyles. Having a massage does more than just relax your body and mind - there are specific physiological and psychological changes which occur, even more so when massage is utilized as a preventative, frequent therapy and not simply mere luxury. Massage not only feels good, but it can cure what ails you.


The Consequences of Stress
Experts estimate that 80 percent to 90 percent of disease is stress-related. Massage and bodywork is there to combat that frightening number by helping us remember what it means to relax. The physical changes massage brings to your body can have a positive effect in many areas of your life. Besides increasing relaxation and decreasing anxiety, massage lowers your blood pressure, increases circulation, improves recovery from injury, helps you to sleep better and can increase your concentration. It reduces fatigue and gives you more energy to handle stressful situations.

Massage is a perfect elixir for good health, but it can also provide an integration of body and mind. By producing a meditative state or heightened awareness of living in the present moment, massage can provide emotional and spiritual balance, bringing with it true relaxation and peace.

The incredible benefits of massage are doubly powerful if taken in regular "doses." Dr. Maria Hernandez-Reif, from the Touch Research Institute (TRI) at the University of Miami, is known for her massage research, along with colleague Tiffany Field. Together, they and other researchers have done outstanding work proving the value of massage. While their studies have shown we can benefit from massage even in small doses (15 minutes of chair massage or a half-hour table session), Hernandez-Reif says they know from their research that receiving bodywork 2-3 times a week is highly beneficial. And if we lived in a fantasy world, Hernandez-Reif has the answer. "I feel a daily massage is optimal."

It's undoubtedly a wonderful thing when your therapist begins unwinding those stress-tightened muscles, and your day's troubles begin to fade away. But it's the cherry on top to know this "medicine" only gets better with frequency.


What You Already Know: The Benefits of Massage
In an age of technical and, at times, impersonal medicine, massage offers a drug-free, non-invasive and humanistic approach based on the body's natural ability to heal itself. So what exactly are the benefits to receiving regular massage and/or bodywork treatments?

- Increases circulation, allowing the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs.

- Stimulates the flow of lymph, the body's natural defense system, against toxic invaders. For example, in breast cancer patients, massage has been shown to increase the cells that fight cancer.

- Increased circulation of blood and lymph systems improves the condition of the body's largest organ - the skin.

- Relaxes and softens injured and overused muscles

- Reduces spasms and cramping

- Increases joint flexibility.

- Reduces recovery time, helps prepare for strenuous workouts and eliminates subsequent pains of the athlete at any level.

- Releases endorphins - the body's natural painkiller - and is being used in chronic illness, injury and recovery from surgery to control and relieve pain.

- Reduces post-surgery adhesions and edema and can be used to reduce and realign scar tissue after healing has occurred.

- Improves range-of-motion and decreases discomfort for patients with low back pain.

- Relieves pain for migraine sufferers and decreases the need for medication.

- Provides exercise and stretching for atrophied muscles and reduces shortening of the muscles for those with restricted range of motion.

- Assists with shorter labor for expectant mothers, as well as less need for medication, less depression and anxiety, and shorter hospital stays.


Other Body Therapies
Alexander Technique - A movement re-education therapy that was created by a mid-19th century actor who tried to understand his own movement dysfunctions on stage. The emphasis is on observing and modifying improper movement patterns, thereby reducing physical stress on the body.

Craniosacral Therapy - A gentle method of manipulating the body's craniosacral system (consisting of thin membranes and cerebrospinal fluid which surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord) in an attempt to improve the function of the central nervous system, dissipate the negative effects of stress and enhance health and resistance to disease.

Reiki - A therapy based on universal life energy that serves to align chakras and bring healing energy to organs and glands. Utilizes visualization as practitioner acts as a channel for the life energy.

Rolfing - Used to reorder the major body segments, this technique utilizes physical manipulation and movement awareness to bring the body into vertical alignment. Treatments are offered in a 10-session series.

Shiatsu - A deep, finger-pressure technique using the traditional acupuncture points of Asian healing. Works to unblock energy flows and restore balance to meridians and organs.


The Need for Touch
As a society, we are touch deprived and this can lead to disease or emotional dysfunction. From the cradle to the nursing home, tactile stimulation and the emotional assurance of caring touch bring about a sense of well-being and security. In numerous studies conducted on massage for infants, TRI researchers have found improved weight gain and development in pre-term infants, improved weight gain and motor behavior in cocaine-exposed infants, and improved weight gain and decreased stress behavior in HIV-exposed infants. Full-term infants also benefit with increased alertness and social behavior, less crying and increased weight gain.

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

Treatment Of DOMS


There have been many different treatment strategies to help reduce the intensity of DOMS and to return the athlete to training as fast as possible. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, have demonstrated dose-dependent effects but can be influenced by when the dose was given.

I am not against all NSAIDS for there are times when the patient might need them on a temporary basis to relieve the symptoms, but I would suggest only using these when other methods have failed. Many problems can occur with the over medication of these drugs that far outweigh their usage. The key word in the use of NSAIDS is TEMPORARY.

Massage has also shown some varying results that can be attributed to the time and type of massage technique used. I love the benefits of massage and tell my patients that weekly massage treatments will do a lot of good for their overall health


n a study published in the Journal of Athletic Training in 2003, ten healthy subjects (5 men, 5 women) with no history of upper arm injury and no experience in resistance training were asked to perform 10 sets of 6 maximal isokinetic eccentric movements of the elbow flexors with both arms.

One arm received 10 minutes of massage 3 hours after the exercise; the other arm received no treatment. They concluded that massage was effective in alleviating DOMS by approximately 30% and reducing swelling, but it had no effects on muscle function.

According to a study published by the School of Community Health and Sports Studies: Cryotherapy (ice packs), stretching, homeopathy, ultrasound and electrical current modalities (muscle stimulation) all have demonstrated no effect on the alleviation of muscle or other DOMS related symptoms.

Exercise is the most effective means of relieving pain during DOMS, but the analgesic effect is temporary. If you have to train on a daily basis, then you should reduce the duration and intensity of exercise for 1-2 days following the exercise that caused the DOMS. You can also train less effected body parts to allow time for the body to recover.

Another key is to train a hard day/light day after you start a new program or routine. Rest is often overlooked in the training regime and you should plan for it. I believe that we usually over train and never give our bodies the required "rest" that it needs to rebuild and repair itself. I know that the "burn" feels good after a workout but it isn't the best thing for you.

Your body is designed to adapt to whatever stress is imposed upon it so if you want to grow, or get in better shape, you have to make changes periodically in your routine to stop from hitting a plateau and getting bored. Any significant change in your workout can increase the risk of DOMS. When it happens, use the suggestions provided above... and don't let your kids decide that today is "wrestling day".

Who chooses which sex of a massage therapist

IT’S often the first, and most awkward, question at a spa: “Do you prefer a male or female massage therapist?”

The therapist Robin Duffy says women like masseuses because they see it as a chat session.
Various thoughts may swirl through a client’s head. For many women, it brings up body issues and safety concerns: Will a male therapist be attracted to me? What if I forgot to shave my legs? Will they see my stretch marks?

For many men, it makes them self-conscious and tongue-tied: Will a female therapist be strong enough? If I choose a man, will they think I’m gay? What if I become aroused?

These are all valid questions, said John Ellsworth, a massage therapist in New York with 10 years’ experience. “You’re completely naked and someone is rubbing oil all over your body,” he said. “It’s a level of intimacy with a stranger that is unfamiliar for most people.”

Most women ask for female massage therapists, spa managers say. The same goes for men. Lynne McNees, president of the International Spa Association, attributes it to basic numbers. “Seventy percent of spa-goers are female, and there are more female therapists, so it makes sense that this would be the preference,” she said. Indeed, 85 percent of massage therapists in the United States are women, according to the American Massage Therapy Association.

But culture and nationality also play a role. American and Middle Eastern women tend to ask for masseuses, while Europeans often don’t care either way, said Sandra Sadowski, the spa director at the Ritz-Carlton in New York, which has a large international clientele.

Certain religions also dictate whether a client picks a male or female therapist. The concept of negiah, practiced by Orthodox Jews, restricts physical contact between those of opposite genders who are not related by blood or marriage. Islam also forbids a man to touch a woman who is not in his family, even with a barrier.

But in most cases, massage therapists say, clients choose a masseuse because of their own comfort level and biases.

Even women who see themselves as open-minded prefer a woman to give them a massage. Bettina Barrow, 31, a recent U.C.L.A. Law School graduate, believed she had no preference, until one experience changed her mind.

“I had a massage from a really good-looking therapist,” said Ms. Barrow, recalling an experience in Los Angeles. Being with a man made her nervous. “With a woman, I don’t think about it as much and I’m able to relax,” she added.

Robin Duffy, a massage therapist with private practices in North Carolina and New York, points to another reason that women prefer a female therapist. Many of her clients, she said, treat their visit like a chat session among gal pals. “It’s actually their way of relaxing: telling you all of these intimate details of their lives,” she said.

Men seem to prefer female therapists for different reasons. Some don’t want another man massaging their bodies, because it brings up uncomfortable associations with being gay. Ken Morris, spa director at the Canyon Ranch Spa in Tucson, Ariz., said that American men have very little physical contact with other men, apart from handshakes in a business setting or contact sports. “When do men physically touch each other?” he asked rhetorically.

But there are some instances where both women and men request a male therapist. The most commonly cited reason is that masseurs are stronger and can deliver a deeper massage.

Whether that’s true is up for debate. Ben Brown, a massage therapist at a Bliss Spa in New York, said this is a misconception. “Really good massage is about leverage,” he said. “You don’t have to be a male or female. You just have to be good and know how to use your body.”

But Jay Anthony, a guest services counselor at the Ashram retreat in Calabasas, Calif., said he had seen guests gravitate toward male therapists over the course of their stay. “Many men will only wish to have a gentle, nurturing female therapist,” he said. “But by the end of the week, they want the strongest possible male therapists that can get into their muscles as deep as possible.”


Some women ask for male therapists because they feel competitive around other women. “They want to avoid the judgment they might feel from another woman,” said Mr. Ellsworth, the New York masseur. Other times, he added, “they want the attention of someone who might find them attractive.”

Then there is a more embarrassing reason for preferring a male therapist. For heterosexual men, having a guy give the massage may lessen the chances of becoming aroused, Mr. Ellsworth said. “If you’re not sexually attracted to the person, that is less likely to happen,” he added.

Not everyone agrees. George Powell-Lopez, general manager of the Red Door Spas Elizabeth Arden in New York, said that arousal during a massage is common, and sometimes has little to do with sexual attraction. “We’re moving blood around very quickly, and this happens sometimes,” he said.

When it does, therapists rely on their training. The first step is usually to ignore it. If that fails, they may redirect the massage to a neutral part of the body. And if the therapist senses that the session has taken on an inappropriate sexual tone, they may gently remind the client of the boundaries, saying, “This is not that type of massage.”

Therapists can just as easily end the massage, and report the situation to the spa manager or security. Cases of appointments being terminated are few, said Ms. Sadowski of the Ritz-Carlton, adding, “If the therapist is uncomfortable at any moment, they can simply leave the room.”

“You don’t want to lose a massage client for the rest of their life because they were embarrassed,” Mr. Powell-Lopez said.

The question of masseuse or masseur seems to matter less over time. Experienced spa-goers say they care less and less with each visit.

When Allan Share, president of the Day Spa Association, gets a massage, he said, he simply asks for the best therapist available. “I always get a chuckle from the receptionist like, ‘Oh, someone who gets it,’ ” he said.

Quercetin, Skin Issues, and Stress

Friday, January 18, 2013
By: Byron J. Richards, Board Certified Clinical NutritionistPrintE-mailTweet

Quercetin has been found to powerfully stabilize mast cells1, helping prevent stress-induced anxiety and allergic reactions. A chain of recent discoveries helps place the significance of these discoveries in context, with far ranging implications for human health, and improved nerve tolerance for managing stress.
One study shows that stress2 itself is adequate to begin the migration of immune cells toward your skin, as if preparing to deal with a wound or infection – clearly an evolutionary strategy wherein stress typically implied injury of some type. Another new study shows that stress turns up the volume on mast cells3, priming them to release inflammatory chemicals that are typically involved with allergies, asthma, skin conditions, and digestive problems. Furthermore, the communication coming from mast cells feeds back to nerves, and modulates behavior through a sense of anxiety. Mice that are bred with no mast cells have no fear; they boldly venture out and are easy prey.
Additionally, irritants besides stress can also activate immune cells, causing skin problems or other allergy reactions on mucosal surfaces (like your lungs or sinuses). A case in point is an overgrowth of Candida in your digestive tract, whose allergic by-products are now associated with asthma and skin problems. Such issues invariably involve excessive mast cell activation. 
This data paints a clear picture that stress, behavior, skin problems, and other allergy issues are linked with mast cells as modulators. Problems occur when the mast cells are primed and set in an overreactive mode. This means that a common stimulus, such as a moderate amount of stress, could trigger anxiety, allergic reactions, sneezing, or in more advanced situations could lock in chronic skin or breathing problems.
A natural way to help stabilize mast cells can help them calm down and behave more appropriately, rather than having a subconscious saber-tooth tiger at the door. While many nutrients found typically in fresh fruits and vegetables are likely to help, quercetin stands out as the top nutrient to help stabilize mast cells. Of course, reducing the trigger that is punching mast cells in the nose, such as stress or Candida, will also help.
One study with mice showed that pretreating them with quercetin prevented the anxiety response4 to experimental stress via mast cell stabilization. The researchers found that quercetin was highly protective to the nervous system. The dose used translates to 1,500 mg – 3,000 mg per day for a 150 pound adult. Quercetin not only prevents mast cells from inappropriately releasing irritant chemicals5 like histamine, but it also reduces the inflammatory6 immune system signals like IL-6 that come from mast cells and are known to talk to nerve cells (glial cells).
It is also worth noting that quercetin helps improve the overall efficiency of your immune response to combat infection. One recent study showed that quercetin simultaneously offset the effects of stress while it reduced susceptibility to the flu. 
Quercetin has a stabilizing effect of your nervous system and immune system primarily by modulating mast cell function. It is an effective nutrient for any person prone to allergy issues, sinus problems, breathing problems, skin problems, or digestive problems – especially when stress aggravates these issues.

Supplements that contain quercetinRelated Entries:
Quercetin Reduces Flu Susceptibility
Quercetin: A Rising Star for Nerves, Immunity, and Metabolism
Quercetin for the Common Cold, Allergies, & Lung Problems
Quercetin Reduces Pain, Anxiety, and Depression
Quercetin Reduces the Symptoms of Asthma