Massage Healing Benefits for Cancer Patients

By: (Guest Contributor) Melanie Bowen
Awareness Advocate for Natural Health

Massage therapy doesn't cure cancer, but for those dealing with the disease, it offers a variety of benefits for mind, spirit and body. Used in conjunction with conventional treatments, massage in all its forms can provide relief from stress and pain, enhance flexibility in joints and muscles, and improve circulation. Some studies suggest it may even improve immune responses. In general, massage can restore a sense of control and body awareness that focuses on healing rather than illness.

In many hospitals and clinics, massage therapists are partnering with healthcare teams to provide complementary therapy that can enhance quality of life and reduce pain and suffering, and top-level massage therapy training program are including training in massage for those coping with cancer as well as other life-threatening diseases. The American Cancer Society has fully embraced massage as an important tool in the overall treatment plan.

How does massage work benefit cancer patients? The Western model of massage, most clearly represented by the so-called Swedish massage, uses pressure, stroking and rubbing motions with hands, massage tools or arms to relax tension in muscles and encourage better circulation. Deep tissue massage focuses on the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissues, while myotherapy and neuromuscular therapy work with trigger points, knots and tight muscle tissue that cause pain or limit flexibility.

These types of massage encourage the oxygenation of muscle tissue and increases blood flow in the targeted areas, causing biochemical signals that modulate pain responses in the brain. Improved  circulation and muscle flexibility can reduce fatigue and improve a patient's overall sense of well being. The very experience of massage can have therapeutic benefits, too. Many sessions offer gentle touch in a relaxing setting that can include soft light, music or aromatic oils, far removed from the clinical settings of traditional treatments.

Professional massage therapists point out that there is a massage or bodywork alternative to fit virtually every caner patient's situation. Even bedridden individuals and those in late stages of the disease  can benefit from gentle massage or Eastern traditions of pressure point massage, and, according to the Associated  Bodywork and Massage Professionals, massage can support cancer survivors in maintaining their health long-term.

 Although massage can be effective in promoting well-being and reducing pain for those coping with cancers such as mesothelioma, breast and bone cancers and tumors of the brain and other organs, experts caution that massage practitioners must be aware of the need for caution. Cancer treatments can cause bleeding, easy bruising and bone fragility. surgical interventions leave scarring. Medications can cause tenderness and irritation of the skin. For this reason, cancer specialists stress the importance of specialized training for massage therapists working with cancer patients.

While massage does not claim to cure cancer, getting massage treatments during cancer care can improve overall well-being, reduce pain and may even boost immune responses -  a gentle way to enhance quality of life during a difficult time.

For more information, please visit: http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog

"Eating healthy is too expensive"

I run into this phrase everyday when talking to people about diet and exercise. A quick walk through the grocery store and immediately, "I can't afford that... brand, type or selection of food."

I've actually discovered this through my own personal process of changing my lifestyle and trying to make my best friend, my body, happy and healthy. It is more expensive to buy fresh fruits, vegetables and lean meats vs.hot dogs, ramen soup, chips and soda. This is true. What I did learn during the switch over is that "sweet is the first taste humans prefer from birth" according to Christine Gerbstadt M.D. RD, a dietitian and spokeswoman for The American Dietetic Association. The taste of sweet releases those feel good endorphin's that calm and relax us giving us that natural "high" and when we crash, we crave more.

On the simplest level our bodies get thirsty, hungry and tired. We require things like carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins & minerals, sleep and water to live & function.Our bodies do not crave soda when we are thirsty, we are conditioned but mostly crave the sugar in the soda. When our body does not get what is required the hunger, or cravings don't stop. The body say's "Hey, we need energy  to keep running or build muscle to take the load we are carrying or energy to fire those brain receptors to pass that big exam." We eat some chips that don't satisfy the muscle building demand our body is looking for. "NEXT" our digestive system says, and we eat more until it get's what it needs. Our brains just interpret "I'm hungry".  We never ask ourselves "what kind of hungry am I?" Next time look at the item you are consuming, wonder what purpose is serves. A soda. Am I thirsty, craving sweets or both? Try a glass of water and a piece of fruit.

Filling your grocery cart with unbalanced, empty  foods leads to unbalanced bodies. The more your body does not get what it is looking for the more it will be hungry, the more we buy, the more we eat. A plate that contains carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals will satisfy the average persons daily requirements. If your're still hungry after you eat, try looking at how much refined sugar you may be consuming. Sugar is HUGELY addictive. So not only are you not getting what your body needs but trying to satisfy an addiction too. See the vicious circle?

Bottom line:
When we eat a balance of nutrients, our bodies get what it requires to function. We eat A LOT less and  have more energy. Having more energy makes us feel better physically, mentally and emotionally fending off boredom eating, weight gain and depression.

FYI

• A $3.99 whole roasted chicken yields more sandwiches than a pound of $7.99 processed deli meat.
• A $2.49 pound of apples offers more energy, fiber and longer satisfaction than a $4.29 bag of chips.
• Water hydrates the body, smooths the skin, softens muscle fibers, carries nutrients, etc.
• Sugar is an inflammatory. 
• Everyday we find out new information on the damage processed foods, additives and artificial ingredients do to our bodies. Headaches, digestive problems, heartburn, high blood pressure, constipation, depression, hormone imbalances, etc. Add up not only how much you spend on large quantities of cheap foods and doctor visits but over the counter medications to treat things caused by cheap, unhealthy foods.

It really isn't worth saving .50 cents on an cup of yogurt that contains added sugars and processed ingredients that make you crave more and be tired. Technically all the fillers that go into most inexpensive food makes is more expensive per ounce when you remove the fillers. Most cheap foods contain cheap ingredients that get marked up to just below the healthy alternative making it look like a better deal while reaping HUGE profits then pouring those profits into more advertising. UGH!!! The healthy food industry is catching on with GMO's yielding more apples and fatter chickens. Read labels.

We are becoming more aware that just because you can upgrade to a 64oz. soda for .10 more it's not worth the extra 150 calories. More & bigger is not always better. What goes IN your body is far more important that anything you can put ON your body. Is it possible that the garbage we are eating along with marketing is fueling our "anit-aging" obsessed generation? Everything on the inside manifests on the outside eventually.

We may apparently get less food for our money buying healthy food but we eat less, are satisfied, have more energy,  are happier and make much fewer trips through the pharmacy department in the end. So eating real & healthy food is cheaper.

The 30 day NO High Fructose Corn Syrup Challenge!

So we've seen all the advertisements on tv basically pleading the public to see that "sugar is sugar, you're body can't tell the difference" while studies are being done and revealed that sugar is NOT sugar. As of 2010 the corn industry has petitioned the FDA to change the term "High Fructose Corn Syrup" to "Corn Sugar", but if sugar is sugar, why? Marketing....

According to Dr. Michael Rosin Phd. stated:

High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), a sweetener that is found in many processed foods, can strongly affect your brain's satiety center---in a bad way.

Here's how it works: When you eat calories from healthy sources, they turn off you desire to eat by inhibiting production of NPY (a chemical that decreases metabolism and increases appetite), or by producing more CART (a chemical that increases metabolism and reduces appetite). But high-fructose corn syrup, which sweetens our soft drinks and salad dressings, isn't seen by your brain as a regular food.

Because your brain doesn't see any of the thousands of HFCS-containing foods as excess calories or as NPY supressants, your body wants you to keep eating (which means that even low-fat foods can have extremely bad consequences, calorie-and appetite-wise). Author of "You on a Diet"

So January 1, 2012 I eliminated high fructose corn syrup from my diet. I did not however eliminate sugar like honey, raw sugar and fruit. The first week I was cranky and dieing for a soda but I kept going. The second week I felt the bloating going down, one because I stopped eating out which reduced sodium intake, HFCS and MSG they put in foods. The third week my cravings were still there but replaced them with fruit, cravings satisfied. By the fourth week my joints stopped hurting and I actually felt calmer & my sleep improved. The fifth week, I can now see habitual eating vs. the actual hunger eating. Everytime I get a craving I asked myself. "Am I actually hungry or is it just habit to munch?" As soon as I realized most was habit eating I focused on listening to my body to eat only when hungry. I feel AMAZING!

When I had HFCS in my diet I was hungry ALL THE TIME, so I ate. Now I have found I am no longer  hungry all the time and that a bowl of strawberries and honey satisfies the sweet craving wonderfully. I've lost weight so far doing nothing and the rest will keep coming off. My actual sugar intake after calculating with HFCS & sugar vs. NO HFCS & sugar dropped from 170mg to 50mg per day! That's huge because it's in everything on the grocery store shelf.

Now this all could be just a placebo effect that I'm feeling but no joint pain, not hungry all the time and loosing weight, Ill take it. So I ask everyone to try the no HFCS challenge (cause it's a challenge at first). You have nothing to loose but feeling like crap all the time. 

The only way you'll know your not healthy, is to feel healthy.  

What is your idea of Healthy Eating?

When I ask people this question I get alot of the same replies.

"Organic foods"

"Not eating chips, sodas and candy."

"No more hot dogs..."

"Wheat bread, juice vs. soda and organic milk"

"McDonalds salad and yougurt with a diet Coke"

I was at the grocery store the other day and the checker asked me if this particular bag of chips I was buying were good.

"They are very good" I said.

"Eating healthy is expensive. I wish I could do it." She replied.

Organic meats, farm fresh produce & dairy products can be expensive you're right, but what about the winter months or regions of the country where people don't have access to those things? What we are left with; the grocery store.

Companies are getting smarter about advertising because people are taking notice of the chemicals in their foods and are demanding healthier alternatives. With the ever expanding shelves at the grocery store, how do you know which peanut butter to buy? Wouldn't you think peanut butter was just, peanut butter? Who has time to read every label especially when you're not sure about what you're looking for. We are seeing labels pop up everywhere "Natural", "No MSG", "Whole grain", "Sugar Free", etc. Beware, most of the time these are just marketing flags to bring your attention to their product. The FDA has NO regulations on the term "Natural", yet. The only way we can know is to read the label and have a basic idea of what we're looking for.

Everytime I go to the store I read a few more labels. This is very time consuming if you read every label. Once you know which pasta sauce, yogurt and chips to buy you can move on to other products you might want to try or that you're wondering about. 

Start simple. Start with things like high fructose corn syrup and sugars. You'll be suprised to find it in everything, even things like refried beans, canned tomatoes and breading mix for your chicken breasts. And yes, it's in some big name peanut butters reading "Natural" in HUGE letters. If you must choose go for sugar vs. it's chemical alternative.

Then you can move on to things like MSG & all of its other names, colors and preservatives like BHT. The FDA and many people will claim that these things are safe, ok maybe they are, but what if they're not? The FDA has also approved many things that get ripped off shelves when a large enough population gets sick.

Get used to reading labels. You being healthy & feeling good is the most important thing on this planet! If you're unsure of what something is, look for an alternative with simple ingredients that you know. When in doubt eat simple foods like meat, vegetables, fruits and water. Food is medicine and should heal us, energize us and make us feel happy.

Food Labels for GMOs

Everyone has the right to know what they're eating, informed choice. This campaign isn't against GMOs, it's to have it put on the label giving you the choice whether or not you want to eat it. Here is the link to the petition.

An explanation of GE foods from the Just Label it! website:

"Genetically engineered (GE) foods, also referred to as genetically modified, or GMOs, are those that are altered at the molecular level in ways that could not happen naturally. This means plants and animals that have had their genetic makeup altered to exhibit traits that are not naturally theirs. These techniques use DNA molecules from different sources, sometimes different species, and combine them into one molecule to create a new set of genes (e.g. mixing of founder genes into tomatoes so the tomatoes would be resistant to cold temperatures.)

"While there is some GE produce in supermarket bins, it's estimated that 60%-70% of processed foods available in U.S. grocery stores likely contain some GE material. The majority of the livestock (with the exception of USDA certified organic livestock or Non-GMO Project Verified) that Amercians consume have been raised on genetically engineered crops are corn and soy which are used in many processed foods and most animal feeds."

Please pass this along and help get it on our labels.

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10 Ways to Ease Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

It's that time of year again when the sun shines brightly over the southern hempishere giving us here in the north less light which has been linked to those winter blues. November through March are the months closely associated with increased doctor visits for depression. 10%-20% of adults in the US suffer from SAD every year with the majority of those living in colder, darker climates. (Read details here)

1. Get a Massage

Massage Therapy boosts the production of endorphines in the brain that relax muscles, interupt pain cycles and reduce anxiety and panic. Massage also triggers melatonin giving the body a sense of calm which leads to a better nights sleep. This is also a great way to not forget ourselves when we get so busy with life.

2. Music & Exercise

Start your day right. Instead of turning on the tv listening to depressing news put on your head phones with music that gets you motivated and move your body. Music heals, uplifts our spirits and gets our blood circulating adding to the relase of these feel good chemicals in our brains putting us in the right state of mind for our day. Don't forget to end it with soothing music, deep breathing and a light stretch routine before bed. Turn off the tv and concentrate on the music and your body, this is a great meditation.

3. Laughter

Laughter also releases those feel good chemicals. Find ways of laughing throught your day. Watch comedy movies, subscibe to joke web sites, put funny or inspiring pictures on your computer wallpaper, on your phone, desk calendars, etc. Pass those funny jokes on to your co-workers by adding to the possitive energy in your office bringing up others around you who may also be down.

4. Fresh Flowers

The florists in the grocery stores are great at putting together winter arrangements. Add color and life to your space even if it's with a simple potted plant for your desk at work. This is a great visual to remind us that life is not dead. There are many plants and flowers that thrive this time of year. Evergreen is one.

5. Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy can come in many forms, some you may not be aware of. Aside from the known oils in diffusers that stimulate or supress brain chemicals, everyday smells affect us too. Smells can induce memories. If a smell stirs a sense of sadness, longing, anger, or fear then get rid of it. If you had a bad year last year, don't bring out that old apple candle that immediately takes you back there, chuck it. Take a sniff test field trip to a local store that sells smelly stuff and I find one that stirs peace and happiness. Find something that has NO mental or emotional memory to it. Start fresh.

6. Relfect

According to many cultures on our planet winter is a time to relect. Depression is anger turned inward. One of the best ways of dealing with things that bother us is to write about it. Get it out of your head. Writing slows our racing minds to a pace we can comprehend making it easier to see answers that may be right in front of us the whole time. If you're affraid someon will read your thoughts, burn the pages. This is an old trick at getting our minds to let go of old issues we are holding onto.

7. Talking

Talking is also an amazing way to release the chatter of the mind. Talk with friends, have coffee, dinner, or wine and a movie. Connecting with others is sometimes hard when we're held up in our homes all winter. Talk to yourself! Oh to contrary belief it's amazing therapy. In our technological era you can ramble away in the car on your way to work and no one is the wiser, for all they know you're on speaker phone being a safe diver. Be careful not to "dump" your negativity on others around you, dump it on dashboard, it won't care.

8. Light Therapy

Increasing your exposure to full spectrum light boosts endorphines easing depression. Tanning beds should not be used for this purpose. Full specturm light from light boxes or bulbs sold commercially don't contain ultraviolet or infrared frequencies which can lead to skin damage. White light contains all the colors of the spectrum, nature is amazing.

9. Vitamin Supplements

 Our diets change this time of year with the decreased availability of some fruits and vegetables. B Vitamins and fish oil boost our mood elevators and give us energy. Comfort foods keep us warm and give us a sense of well-being like soups, stews and earthy root vegetables.

10. Medical Intervention

If the winter blues are too much even after attempts to resolve it on your own, seek medical advise. Taking an anti-depressant to help get through things should never be viewed as bad. Thoughts of suicide, excessive weight gain, uncontrolled emotions or anything affecting your work or personal life negatively is bad. Doctors and councelors are well trained to help with things like this. In our modern world of medicine new drugs, lower doses, research and education are very different now. Never be ashamed to ask for help, that's what they are there for; YOUR health and well-being.

Nature hybernates and slows down during the winter, we are no different, we are nature. But the business world doesn't. One more reason to teach ourselves it's ok to slow down after work. It's natural to be more tired in the winter, there's nothing wrong. Chinese medicine and winter season article.

Remember to love yourself. Seasons change year after year. Every spring the sun always comes back, flowers bloom and so do we. Surround yourself with visuals that stimulate good feelings and put away any pictures, smells or sounds that stir up negative emotions. Find things that you enjoy, painting, music, learn to knit, take a cooking class at the local community college, start a "tea with friends" night at your house or spend time with your pets. Make winter happy.

New findings on the science of longevity and meditation.

Telomeres, Telomerase & Meditation

"Telomeres are sequences of DNA at the end of chromosomes that tend to get shorter every time a cell divides. When telomeres drop below a critical length, the cell can no longer divide properly and eventually dies. Telomerase is the enzyme that can rebuild and lengthen telomeres. Other studies suggest that telomerase activity may be a link between psychological stress and physical health." - ScienceDaily

"We have found that meditation promotes positive psychological changes, and that meditators showing the greatest improvement on various psychological measures had the highest levels of telomerase," said Clifford Saron, associate research scientist at the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain.

Meditation has a direct effect on one's sense of well-being leading to increased telomerase enzymes which according to some studies, slows aging. Why would a massage not contribute to increased telomerase enzyme? The person receiving the massage can easily find the same place in the mind while a soothing massage of the muscles releases endorphines enducing a deeper meditation and sense of well-being.  

Read the full article:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101103171642.htm