Gaia Heals

astrolocherry: Birthday Personology November 20 Sun:...

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 10:18:10 -0400

Birthday Personology

November 20

Sun: Scorpio/Sagittarius (depending on year)

Ruling Planet: The Moon

Strengths: Enthusiastic, Energetic, Idealistic

Weaknesses: Volatile, Anti Social, Frustrated

Photo

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:24:10 -0500

Photo

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 21:36:12 -0500

laterna: Vitamin String Quartet - New Born

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 20:12:15 -0500

laterna:

Vitamin String Quartet - New Born

iamyoustudio: PASCHIMOTTANASANA: Sit with your legs extended...

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 18:48:13 -0500

iamyoustudio:

PASCHIMOTTANASANA: Sit with your legs extended in front of you, feet flexed. Pull your glutes straight back to expose your entire hamstring. Sit up tall with hands by your hips. Inhale. Exhale fold forward and hold for 5-25 breaths. Great for your spine, lower back, traps, digestion, and stress relief.

lebeveraenderung: Veränderung ist die Essenz von Leben. Öffne...

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 18:48:29 -0500

lebeveraenderung:

Veränderung ist die Essenz von Leben. Öffne dich dafür, das aufzugeben was du bist für das, was du sein kannst

(www.facebook.com/goodthoughtsaboutlife)

As Above, So Below: Brain waves synchronize to environmental sounds

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:24:22 -0500

As Above, So Below: Brain waves synchronize to environmental sounds:

metaconscious:

Our world is full of cyclic phenomena: For example, many people experience their attention span changing over the course of a day. Maybe you yourself are more alert in the morning, others more in the afternoon. Bodily functions cyclically change or “oscillate” with environmental rhythms, like…

Get A Leg Up On Varicose Veins

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 22:08:47 -0500

By Anna Soref

It’s time to get dressed for yoga class, and you’re faced with a wardrobe decision: Will it be the leotard, the shorts, or the leggings? If you’re one of the 50percent of people who suffer from varicose veins, the leggings will probably win out. But with a little help from the plant world, the bulging blood vessels could be a thing of the past, leaving your wardrobe options wide open.

Varicose veins are caused by damage to the valves which prevents vascular flow from moving in one direction, as it usually does. This in turn causes the blood to pool and the vein to swell. Aside from being unattractive, these swollen veins can cause extreme pain and lead to more severe problems.

To counteract this effect, Mindy Green, director of education for the Herb Research Foundation in Boulder, Colorado, recommends taking herbs that increase circulation, such as horse chestnut, gotukola, and butcher’s broom. Their ability to treat varicose veins has been confirmed in numerous studies conducted in Europe, where these herbs are widely used. A study published in the British medical journal The Lancet, for instance, found that 50mg of horse chestnut extract taken twice a day proved just as effective as using the expensive and cumbersome leg-stockings often recommended by doctors.

Green says to follow the manufacturer’s dosage instructions for these herbs as their strength may vary, “especially with horse chestnut, which can be toxic when overtaken.”

Green also suggests applying horse chestnut tincture directly to the skin daily as a preventative measure, and adds that compresses with astringent herbs such as white oak bark or witch hazel have a toning effect.

Many health practitioners recommend spending as much time as possible with the legs elevated to get the blood moving. Yoga postures such as Viparita Karani (pictured above), with the legs up against a wall, are ideal. Standing and sitting for too long (especially with legs crossed) can aggravate symptoms, so take frequent stretching and walking breaks when working at a desk.

Studies also demonstrate that a diet high in flavonoid-rich foods such as berries can help prevent the development of varicose veins and maintain vein wall integrity.

A tea made from buckwheat, high in the bioflavonoid rutin, has been shown to alleviate symptoms. Also, indulge in high-fiber fruits and vegetables to enhance overall circulation and supply vitamins and minerals necessary for healthy and beautiful legs.

acupuncturegirl: Winter.

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 21:34:33 -0400

acupuncturegirl:

Winter.

Herbology vs. Medications

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 20:10:43 -0400

Herbology vs. Medications:

altmedsdotcom:

One doctor’s opinion about the validity and efficacy of Herbology in medical practice

Photo

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 18:44:21 -0400

Coffee, an infusion of ground and roasted coffee beans, is one...

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 17:21:13 -0400

Coffee, an infusion of ground and roasted coffee beans, is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. Although the negative effects of caffeine have received the most attention from health writers, coffee is a complex mixture of chemicals, many of which are beneficial to our health. A ground and brewed cup of coffee is a rich source of antioxidants and other healthy compounds. This is good news for the 80% of Americans who drink coffee - downing an average of 3.2 cups per day.

About 54% of adults in the USA drink coffee every day. In countries such as Germany, Austria, and Finland adults drink twice as much as those in the United States. Populations consuming a modern diet of refined and processed foods suffer obesity, heart disease and a host of other degenerative diseases. Is a high level of coffee consumption contributing to the problem? The answer is that in excess it may. But I’m glad to say that regular and moderate coffee consumption is a good protection against many of these diseases. One of the best ways to protect yourself from degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer is to eat a diet rich in antioxidants. But many of us do not eat enough fresh vegetables and fruit - the best source of antioxidants. Guess where many people are getting their antioxidants instead?

Coffee, several studies say (2,3,4,15,17,25). In fact, coffee is the top dietary source of antioxidants in many populations, including that in the USA. This is in addition to studies discussed in Grow Youthful that show that regular drinkers of tea and coffee have substantially lower ‘all causes’ death rates than non-drinkers (25). One of these studies (19) showed that the lower mortality of coffee drinkers included heart disease. Coffee is a rich source of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, alkaloids and phenolic compounds. It also contains a range of antioxidants, caffeine and other yet-to-be researched compounds. It seems that coffee has several health benefits, although most of the research is in the early stages.

Roasted coffee residues retain their antioxidant ability; it isn’t lost in processing. If you don’t already drink coffee, the news about antioxidants is probably not a good enough reason to start the habit. And if you already drink it, it’s no excuse to stop eating fruits and veggies. Your best bet is to eat your fruits and veggies, and limit yourself to one or at the most two small cups of coffee per day. That way you will consume no more than 250 milligrams of caffeine per day, the limit recommended by most of these studies… .

For the rest of the article, visit: http://www.growyouthful.com/tips/coffee-antioxidants.php

Arnica in Herbal First Aid Kits

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 21:34:07 -0400

Arnica in Herbal First Aid Kits:

altmedsdotcom:

Arnica used for first aid to treat numerous injuries is effective in some

crezalyn: Cosmos on Flickr.

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 20:01:13 -0400

crezalyn:

Cosmos on Flickr.

thereluctantrawfoodist: Every day x

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 18:38:39 -0400

thereluctantrawfoodist:

Every day x

mudita, the wellspring of joy (article excerpt)

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 17:16:01 -0400

mudita, the wellspring of joy (article excerpt)

massage-mom: What conditions is shiatsu used...

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 21:23:46 -0400

massage-mom:

What conditions is shiatsu used for?

Relaxation

Back pain

Headache

Premenstrual syndrome

Anxiety

Insomnia

Neck and shoulder pain

Tiredness

Recovery from injuries

Stress

Arthritis pain

Poor digestion

Constipation

Depression

Precautions

Shiatsu is not recommended for certain people:

infectious skin disease, rash, or open wounds

immediately after surgery

immediately after chemotherapy or radiation, unless recommended by your doctor

people with osteoporosis should consult their doctor before having shiatsu

prone to blood clots. There is a risk of blood clots being dislodged. If you have heart disease, check with your doctor before having shiatsu

pregnant women should check with their doctor first if they are considering getting any type of massage or bodywork. Shiatsu in pregnant women should be done by massage therapists who are certified in pregnancy massage.

shiatsu should not be done directly over bruises, inflamed skin, unhealed wounds, tumors, abdominal hernia, or areas of recent fractures.

essenceandqi: Welcome to week 2 of our massage modality demos!...

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 20:09:46 -0400

essenceandqi:

Welcome to week 2 of our massage modality demos! Today’s feature is Shiatsu massage with Pacific College Faculty Member Deb Davies. Learn about what shiatsu (“finger pressure” in Japanese) can do for you. If you missed last Thursday, check out our special on Thai massage!

moronqueen: I was trying to remember what that elemental thing...

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:41:32 -0400

moronqueen:

I was trying to remember what that elemental thing I’d posted earlier reminded me of.

It was the elemental cycle in the Chinese system. I learned it as the mothering (creative) and grandmothering (controlling) cycles back in massage school.

Starting at the top for creative - Fire burns to create earth (ash), earth births metal (‘cause it’s dug up), earth creates water (condensation - they didn’t know the science of the concept way back when), water creates wood (water a seed and it grows into a tree), wood creates fire (because it burns)

Starting at the top for controlling - Fire controls Metal (it melts it), Metal controls Wood (it chops it), Wood controls Earth (it pulverizes/grows through it), Earth controls Water (it absorbs or consumes it), Water controls Fire (it douses it)

If I recall correctly, in Shiatsu, those five elements are used to bring balance back to the body. In theory, if one of the meridians ruled by fire is too full or active, you can manipulate a water meridian to ease the pressure on the fire meridian.

…yeah…random geekery, I suppose.

I should really be researching specific learning disabilities instead of kicking around Tumblr…

Which Massage Type is Right for You?

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:20:26 -0400

essenceandqi:

With so many massage types or “modalities” out there, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out which one is right for you. Each massage modality is unique and uses different techniques to best address the needs of the patient. One common trait you will find amongst the Asian modalities is that they are performed with the patient’s clothes on, unlike Western “Swedish” massages, which use oils and are done without clothing. Find out more about the different styles below and click on the links to watch short video demos of each, performed by Pacific College faculty experts.

Swedish Massage: This is the most commonly practiced form of Western massage. If you’re going to a spa, they will offer Swedish massage. It uses a variety of techniques to relax muscles by applying light, moderate, or deep pressure to muscles and bones, and increases the range of motion at joints and promotes blood circulation to the heart. The main purpose of Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. If you’re looking for a relaxing massage to help you unwind, you can’t go wrong with Swedish. See a Swedish demonstration HERE.

Shiatsu: (Japanese from ‘shi’, meaning finger, and ‘atsu’, meaning pressure) is a traditional hands-on therapy originating in Japan. There are two main Shiatsu schools: one based on Western anatomical and physiological theory and the other based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Shiatsu is an evolving form, and its various styles incorporate (to differing degrees) aspects of Japanese massage traditions, Chinese Medicine practice, and Western anatomy and physiology. This modality is usually performed on the floor and uses pressure points, applied through the fingers instead of the entire palm, so pressure may feel more firm. Shiatsu has been used to treat a wide array of conditions including headaches, insomnia, injury recovery, and more. See a Shiatsu demonstration HERE.

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