Acid reflux online

JOINT INFLAMMATION is a very painful, with multiple sets of conditions (100), progressively leading to joint damage, deformity and loss of mobility. Swelling of extremity joints is the hallmark of the syndrome. Chronic pain, disability and death are unfortunate results.

Joint inflammation has an estimated prevalence of 1 to 2%. Prevalence increases with age, approaching 5% in women over age 55. The average annual incidence in the United States is about 70 per 100,000 annually. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs two to three times more in women than in men. Although rheumatoid arthritis may present at any age, patients most commonly are first affected in the third to sixth decades.

Joint inflammation, collectively affect nearly 46 million adults and 300,000 children in the U.S. It is not selective. The condition can happen to anyone. All arthritic conditions impact the musculoskeletal system and specifically the joints - where two or more bones meet.

Joint inflammation problems include:

• pain
• stiffness
• damage to joint cartilage (the tough, smooth tissue that covers the ends of the bones, enabling them to glide against one another) and surrounding structures.

HOW DO WE GET JOINT INFLAMMATION?

The blood has become obstructed by external cold or hot-damp or drying imbalancing influences. The condition includes:

• cold or hot and painful joints
• difficulty in flexing and extending the joints
• aversion to cold or hot with attraction to the opposite condition
• In some cases the limbs and joints will be aching, numb, painful
• overall physical body feels heavy.
• tongue is pale or the opposite

   

 There are graduating arthritic conditions where the site of pain and deformity are more intense, with heat or cold predominating, however, the primary appraoch is to get the obstruction to move. This is done by changing the internal environment by opposing the wind-cold/hot-damp/dry and altering any external conditions contributing to the obstructions. Additional attention needs to be given to the general emotional state that may indirectly support the blockage.

HOW DO WE GET BETTER?

JOINT INFLAMMATION: FOOD THERAPY  & HERBAL HERBS

“We are what we eat.” Most of us would agree that most conditions of imbalance are determined by what we put in our mouth. We unkowingly create imbalances by not being aware of how critical this area is, especially in the latter years. If we are choose foods and supplements which worsen our condition then it would serve us well to become very aware of our body type and foods which enhance balance. Below, you can begin to choose foods that deliver balance for this obstructive condition: 

Foods That Benefit & Foods To Avoid

Foods to Counter Joint Pain: Asparagus, Cabbage (poultice & ingestion), Celery, Cod, Cherry, Chives, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic, Ginger, Goats milk, Grape, Kelp, Oranges, Papaya, Pineapple (Bromelain), Pumpkin Seeds, Royal Jelly, Scallions, Sesame oll, Spelt, Spirulina, Soy products, Strawberry, Sprouts (mung, red clover, radish, mustard, lentil, adzuki, garbanzo, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds), Tumeric, Water melon, Barley products, Wheat grass products, Alfalfa products (tablets, tea), Chlorophyll foods, Almonds (5-6 dy.),

Foods to Avoid: Excess meat (some fish is best), Excess protein, Intoxicants (alcohol, coffee, tobacco, marijuana, etc.), refined sugar and other sweets, Oxalic acid foods (rhubarb, cranberry, plum, chard, beet greens, spinach), Solanine foods (Nightshade family veggies: tomato, eggplant, bell pepper, potato, if sensitive), Dairy (cow’s milk & bi-products), Nuts, Nut butters, oil-rich seeds,

“When the heart is calm, pain seems negligible.” — Inner Classic

  HERB FORMULAS FOR PAIN   Formulas are created and rendered, taking into consideration, a person’s constitution, environment, life energy (qi), lifestyle and emotional status to name a few concerns. Traditional Chinese Herbs and medicine focuses on bringing all these areas into balance. The chief focus is to provide a formula that specifically targets the painful site, resolves the underlying imbalance in the body without inciting more physical maladies.

Additionally, the quality of the herbs are not the same. If lesser quality is contained in a formula then the results will not hold up as indicated in research findings. While it may sound impressive to make marketing statements that a formula containing an herb is beneficial it is not enough. The grade of herb is critical. Ginseng alone has more than 6 grades and each level provides a different result. Quality, alone, can determine whether the formula works or not. A seasoned herbologist does not skimp in this area, while many commercial manufacturing operations prefer profit when dealing with innocent distributers, who sell to wholesalers, retailers and then to you the consumer. This practice in America gives herbology and products a bad name. This bait and switch practice eventually erodes trust by consumers where when a real herbologist comes forward then it is difficult to move ailing customers to take the leap of beneficial faith.

JOINT IMBALANCE doesn’t happen overnight and once understood, can resolve quicker than you realize. According to Traditional Chinese herbs and medicine, the primary problem underlying arthritis is obstruction with painful results. With varying degrees, there is an exhaustion of both the Liver and Kidneys and insufficiency of the physical energy (qi).

Mark Hammer, C.M.H., Master Herbalist,   Longevity Mountain    

Technorati Tags: alternative, ankle pain, arm pain, Arthritis, back pain, chest pain, chronic pain, elbow pain, finger pain, foot pain, headache, knee pain, leg pain, muscle pain, neck pain, pain, Rheumatoid Arthritis, shoulder pain, stomachache, toe pain, wrist pain

Low back pain doesn’t happen overnight and once understood, can resolve quicker than you realize. We have to look at our lifestyle, nutrition, how we think & feel, etc. to unravel the condition. You could take a pain reliever but still the underlying imbalance will be there after the relief is gone. The key word for low back pain is DEFICIENCY.

Contributing Environment: Our work and personal life may be stressing us out to the degree that our circulation is constricted not allowing nutrients to feed our organs and toxins to be eliminated. Our food choices in America are too rich, filled with processed, empty nutrients, preservatives, pesticides, hormones, unless you know the verifiable source. This generation endures more stress, changes and emotions keeping us up later and/or deep sleep is not achieved. The result is we lack the necessary energy or life force to be our best. This further makes us irritable in our relationships which worsens all the scenarios described before.

As we break down our energy, immunity and support, our self image and esteem parallels our internal organs ability to weather the challenge. In particular our kidneys and adrenals become weakened or deficient requiring us to take back what has been given up to regain our essence, vitality, our quality of life.

To begin, we need to construct successful strategies in the areas of nutrition, sleep, and lifestyle. This resource is designed to provide some winning solutions so you can quickly re-engage living rather than aging or dying too soon.

The source of deficiency stems from 4 main areas: 

• LEFT KIDNEY DEFICIENCY
• RIGHT KIDNEY DEFICIENCY
• KIDNEY ENERGY DEFICIENCY
• EXTREME CHRONIC FATIGUE

FOOD THERAPY: LOW BACK PAIN 

This issue may involve not only low back pain but also sciatic pain complicated by other syndromes such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, Epstein Barr, etc. 4 Causes of Low Back & Leg Pain.

There are several categories based on Chinese medicine nutrition and Traditional Chinese herbs that support and correct low back pain:

LEFT KIDNEY (yin) DEFICIENCY:
Characteristics: Heat symptoms, dizziness, ringing in the ears, dry throat, dry mouth, fever, low backache, weak legs, involuntary seminal emission, spontaneous sweating, red tongue, emaciation, deep shiny red tongue

Foods: millet, barley, tofu, string bean, black bean, black soy bean, mung bean, mung bean sprouts, kidney bean, azuki bean, and most other beans, kuzu root, watermelon and most others, blackberry, mulberry, blueberry, huckleberry, water chestnut, wheat germ, potato, seaweeds, spirulina, chlorella, black sesame seed, sardine, crab, clam, eggs, pork, cheese
Herbs: marshmallow root, rehmannia root, Asparagus root, aloe vera gel, colloidal silver (If the constitution is cold and/or most or low back & sciatic is cold and/or moist then choose from the groups below)

RIGHT KIDNEY (yang) DEFICIENCY:
Characteristics: cold signs or aversion to cold, cold extremities, pale complexion, weak knees and low er back, mental lethargy, lack of libido or sexual desire, depression, irregular menses, clear vaginal discharge, sterility, frequent urination, clear urine, inability to urinate, edema, asthma, lack of will power, lack of direction, enlarged pale tongue, appears inactive, indecisive, unproductive

Foods: walnuts, black beans, onion family (onion, garlic, chives, scallions, leeks), quinoa, chicken, lamb, trout, salmon
Spices: cloves, fenugreek, fennel seeds, dried ginger
Avoid cooling foods, fruit, raw foods, excessive salt, use seaweed cautiously.

KIDNEY ENERGY (qi) DEFICIENCY:
Characteristics: low energy, low back pain, weak knees, pale tongue, minor cold signs, frequent urination, incontinence, inability to urinate, dribbling, involuntary seminal emission, other seminal/urinary problems.

Foods: wheat berry, sweet rice, parsley
Herbs: rose hips, oyster shell, clam shell, schizandra berry, raspberry and blackberry leaves, gravel root

EXTREME CHRONIC FATIGUE (Jing Deficiency):
Characteristics: dizziness, ringing in ears, loose teeth, loss of head hair, painful knees and lower back

Food: micro-algae (chlorella, spirulina, wild blue-green), fish, liver, kidney, brain, bone and its marrow, human placenta, cereal grasses, wheat grass,solomon seal, almonds, ghee (clarified butter), goat’s milk, nettle leaves, royal jelly, bee pollen, Doddler seeds, millet, wheat, black sesame seeds, soybeans, chestnuts, mulberries, raspberries, strawberries, seitan, walnuts
Herbs: deer antler, deer horn velvet, Deer Placenta, Lycium fruit, Polygonum multiflorum root, Eucommia bark, Dendrobium stem, Cinnamon bark, white ginseng, semen cuscutae, astragali seed (complanati), cordyceps, astragalus, codonopsis, reishi, morinda, eleuthero root, paeonia , gambir, gecko, cibot rhizome, tianshan snow lotus, tibet carthami

For final decision on which foods to choose for your condition, please consult a trained master herbalist with in-depth knowledge of Traditional Chinese herbs and food therapy, American herbology and other nutritional systems.

Mark Hammer C.M.H., Master Herbalist           Longevity Mountain    5/09

Sources:

Bensky & Barolet, “Formulas & Strategies”  1990 

Paul Pitchford, “Healing With Whole Foods”, 3rd Edition

Technorati Tags: adrenal deficiency, alternative, back pain, chinese herbs, chinese medicine, chronic fatigue, herbal herbs, herbs, kidney deficincy, leg pain, low back pain, nutrition, sciatic pain, sciatica, traditional chinese herbs, weakness

Now that you know common causes of back pain you may have a better understanding of how to prevent and treat it in the first place. Relief from your pain is worth the effort it takes to lose a few pounds. A big part of relief for your back is using correct posture and lifting with your legs.

But sometimes you need to do something more than all of this. Even if you are extremely careful you still have back pain - after all, you can’t very well live your life in cotton wool or refuse to pick up your children just to keep yourself safe from potential injury!  So when you have soreness and pain, what can you do?

PRESSURE RELIEF

Sometimes the pain you feel is simply muscles cramping up to protect themselves so that they can heal and repair minor injuriesves. Relieving the pressure on your back can help your body to heal on its own.

Making a movement without involving the back is virtually impossible. Even while you are sitting, the back muscles are working to keep your upper body straight and supported.

Keeping this in mind, you realize how important it is to be in a reclined position that tilts your body back and relieves that pressure on your midsection.  When your feet are higher than your pelvic area then you have less pressure on your back and it can heal.  Many have found that stretching out on the floor with pillows under the knees can help tremendously, however, do not put the pillows under your feet. This puts added pressure on the area of the hips which results in the back muscles tensing up even more.

If you’re laying flat on your stomach your back is still working as the front of your body collapses and your back keeps you straight. Cushions or pillows under your stomach and upper body area will provide support so that the back is not working as hard.

HEAT

Why is it that heat can help to relieve body pain?  Simply put, heat draws blood to that area of the body where heat is applied and blood delivers important nutrients and healing elements.  When you apply heat to your muscles they relax because the increased blood flow forces them to “unclench” themselves, and especially in areas of the back can this be important.

When your back is in pain you don’t want to overdo it with the heat and of course there are injuries and other conditions that won’t respond readily to heat - if you have a herniated disk that’s not going to be healed with a heating pad! - but often muscles that have been overworked and strained can relax with a simple application of heat. If you’re at work all day see if it is somehow possible to arrange a heating pad behind you for the duration of the day.  When you notice your back getting tense, lean back and stay that way for a few minutes so that the heat has a chance to work.

Care needs to be taken with hot heating pads on bare skin.  Never sleep on top of one or turn it up too high. It pays to keep some protective material between the heating pad and your skin so if the pad is not covered be sure to wrap it in cloth or similar.

Moist heat can also help the body to relax as the moisture loosens the muscles and skin as well.  You can get a thin towel or washcloth wet and put it between the heating pad and your back.

A hot shower or bath can also go a long way toward relieving that pressure.  A shower massage especially can work those muscles like a massage and force them to loosen up and soothe back pain.

STRETCHING

By making those back muscles relax when they want to clamp up you can reduce the pain.  Stretching your back and your sides is a great way to reduce your pain.

This however is a place where caution is also needed. Overextending yourself could cause more damage. Don’t forget to stretch properly so that you don’t put added strain on your back.  Many bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts actually do a lot of damage to their back when stretching and working out simply because they don’t support it the way they should.

Usually it’s best to sit on the floor and put your hands behind you and just stretch your back slightly.  This will give it support as you pull those muscles loose.  Moving forward carefully and slowly until your body is extended out in front of you can also loosen those muscles.

Extension and flexion

In terms of stretching, flexion means bending forward and extension means moving backwards.Stretching forward helps to relieve pressure on the vertebrae and creates more space between them which helps to alleviate the pressure and grinding that is common with back pain. Standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and then bending straight forward to touch your toes is often enough to relieve pressure and pain in the back.  You need to watch your posture even as you do this so that you’re not curling yourself up and putting more pressure on your spine, but a simple stretch like this can help to loosen those tight and sore muscles.

Be careful when bending backwards that you watch your posture and make sure you don’t overextend.  Some have a tendency to think of a particular area they want to touch or span they want to reach, but you need to be mindful of your body’s own flexibility.

EXERCISE

Is exercise a goal for the average person?  Sure, there are some who do but not everyone is like this.  Most people see exercise as a chore to be dreaded and would rather spend their free time stretched out in a favorite chair in front of the television or movie screen.

There are innumerable benefits to regular physical activity for humans, no matter what your physical situation. The increase in blood circulation due to exercise is what brings the required oxygen and nutrients to every cell in the body.  The digestive system, skin, bones, and major organs all benefit in this way from increased blood circulation. Exercise makes the heart and lungs work harder which in turn makes them stronger and a person is less likely to suffer from asthma, shortness of breath, heart disease, and conditions such as this. A primary benefit of exercise is weight control and a healthy weight has additional benefits.

But exercise can help repair back problems and prevent a person from having painful back problems.  How so?

The first connection has to do with one’s weight; as we’ve mentioned excess body weight means more stress and strain on the back as it needs to work harder to move that weight around and to keep the body steady and upright.  Many who are overweight also find that their posture suffers quite a bit as this excessive weight pulls them forward, and this too keeps the back muscles tense and painful.

There is more to the connection between exercise and back problems than just weight.  That increased blood circulation means that your back muscles are also getting those important nutrients and healing agents that are delivered by the blood.  Oxygen is one of the most important elements the body needs and uses for healing any wound or injury, and oxygen is delivered by the blood. It’s when your back muscles are overused, injured or tense, that oxygen is really important for your body to heal itself.

Exercise helps those back muscles stay loose and relaxed.  When you walk or cycle or do anything else along those lines, the back muscles are worked and forced to loosen up.  This means that they’re relaxed and less likely to be pulled or cramped when in use.

They also become that much stronger when exercised, just as other muscles in the body do as well.  When the back muscles are stronger they’re more resistant to pulls, tears, and overuse.  Regular exercise is good for the back muscles in this way and can help to alleviate pain from these types of injuries.

The bones are strengthened by regular exercise.  This may be because the blood circulation also helps the bones to strengthen themselves, and if the bones in the back are stronger then the back is more supported.

Technorati Tags: back pain, back pain remedies, back pain remedy

SLM Back Pain & Sciatica

If you are an individual that has suffered back pain then this combined program may be what you have been looking for. A muscle therapist and back pain specialist, including lower back muscle pain, Steve Lockhart is a specialist with over 20 years experience. He has had enormous success treating every known back condition, using a a relatively unknown but effective therapy method called SLM Bodywork.

SLM Bodywork is not for all intensive purposes considered a a fix for lower back muscle back pain, but it is considered an ancient system that has proven itself over time. Steve has been one of the lucky few people in the world to be taught the ancient art of bodywork by John Guttenbiel who in SLM circles is considered a true master.Growing up on an Island in Tonga, John Guttenbiel was trained by a Japanese man on the Island.

Most underlying problems for lower back pain are usually related to muscle imbalance. The SLM program helps individuals to understand the issues of these underlying problems and helps to teach them how to correct them.

The combined SLM program teachings include some of the following:

• Self diagnosis’s  of your own back condition and exactly which approaches will provide the best chance of fixing it. 
• What therapies won’t help your pain and why - (This alone can save you hundreds of dollars in unnecessary costs.) 
• Some of the exercises you should be doing and which ones you should avoid for the best results. 
• When and how you should do particular exercises to maximise their benefit. Information such as how you can spend one hour in front of TV in the evening to ensure a good nights sleep. 
• An understanding about your body and back pain that you are unlikely to get from a Doctor or conventional therapist. 
• Certain aspects of your lifestyle that may be worth addressing to minimize any pain you do get. 

To help your lower back muscle pain and find out more about this amazing program Click Here! I highly recommend having a look at Steve Lochart’s site and finding out more for yourself, don’t miss this great opportunity to rid yourself of lower back muscle pain! To find out more information on all types of back pain visit Your Back Health.

Technorati Tags: back pain, back pain treatment, lower back muscle pain, product review

A comfortable, “pro body shoe” is on the market. Actually, MBT sandals calls them the “Anti-shoe.” Why the Anti-Shoe? Because the human body was not originally designed to wear sneakers. Shoes have flattened the terrain and unknowingly cause the human race to struggle with back, knee and hip problems due to ineffective and poorly designed shoes.

The human foot was designed to walk on unstable ground. These were shoes inspired by the Masai Tribe of Africa. This tribe emulates a regal posture and limited back and joint pain, all attributed to consistently walking on uneven surfaces. Engineers at MBT shoes took this basic concept and turned it into Masai Barefoot Technology, now called MBT Shoes. These shoes then become the Anti-Shoe based on the premise that they are designed to recreate the feeling of walking barefoot on uneven ground.

All the pressure points a person hits, while walking barefoot, are simulated in the unique round sole MBT Shoe design. These shoes designed with a negative heel, actually work more muscle groups to a greater degree over better joint and back relief by building the surrounding muscles. In fact, with MBT shoes, the buttock region is worked 9% more than regular shoes. The rear thigh muscle activity increases by 19%. The lower limbs receive 18% more activity all while reducing the stress on the knee joints by 19%. The result of casually working these muscles increases abdominal strength and in turn better posture.

MBT shoes also offer benefits for those whose job requires a significant percentage of time standing. The shoes work muscle groups while relieving joint pain and back stress. MBT shoes offers a variety of styles all featuring the unique MBT technology. Shoes range from sport shoes, sandals, professional wear and even a select styles of boots. According to the MBT website (http://www.swissmasaius.com), these shoes are best for walking, fitness walking and light jogging.

Many medical professionals use MBT shoes to accelerate recovery and relieve various types of foot, leg, and back pain ailments. For athletes, MBT shoes are used for endurance training, as well as prevention of injuries and recovery. Although the look of MBT Shoes are quite uncoventional based on their regular shoe counterpart, the benefits these shoes offer far outweigh the concern of being, “unconventional.” Customers report having purchased a pair of MBT Shoes and “never looking back.” Fashion does not have to hurt. Find more information on MBT footwear at Shoesblog.com.

Technorati Tags: back pain, boots, clogs, exercise, fashion, footwear, Health, sandals, shoes, shopping, walking