Headaches are one of the most common health problems but because they vary so much, it can be difficult to find the right cure. It is important to identify what triggers your headache.
Keep a headache diary
To identify what triggers your headaches, keep a detailed diary noting down your emotions during the day, the weather, your menstrual cycle, what you ate and when/how you slept. If the same situation or emotions appear before each headache you know what to try and avoid in the future. It is common knowledge that chocolate, cheese and red wine can trigger a migraine but it is better to note down all foods you have eaten in the 48 hours before an attack to see if the same foods are causing the problem.
Types of headaches
1. Cluster headaches – this type usually strikes with little warning. The pain usually affects just one side of the face, centring on the eye. It typically lasts for between 15 minutes and 3 hours and may return up to 10 times a day for 6 to 10 weeks (the cluster period) before disappearing for months or years.
The cause – doctors are not sure of the exact cause but it is thought that some sort of irritation to the facial nerves may be to blame. Cluster headaches are more common in men especially those who smoke or drink.
2. Tension headaches – this is the most common type and is characterized by a dull, steady pain on both sides of the head. The sufferer often feels as if a tight band, or heavy weight, were pressing down on them.
The cause – these headaches are usually a direct result of stress, which causes the muscles of the neck and scalp to knot up. It can also be brought on by bad posture, sitting in a draught, bright light, too much noise or sitting in an awkward position.
3. Migraines – these can be divided into two main categories. Classic migraines are usually preceded by a visual disturbance such as flashing light, zig-zag patterns and general blurring. With common migraines there is little or no warning. The pain develops slowly into a throbbing ache, often aggravated by movement or noise. Nausea and vomiting are common with both types.
The cause – the Migraine Association claim that migraines are the result of changes in neurotransmitters and blood vessels in the brain. What causes these changes however is unknown. Triggers include: stress; foods such as cheese, chocolate and alcohol; irregular meals or lack of food; fatigue or hormonal factors such as periods. 10% of female migraine sufferers suffer from menstrual migraines which are thought to relate to the drop in oestrogen at this time of the month.
4. Chronic daily headaches – for a headache to be termed “chronic”, the pain has to occur on more than 15 days every month.
The cause – this could be due to a neck or head injury such as whiplash or the over-use of painkillers. If you take painkillers every day a vicious circle can develop. As the painkillers wear off there is a rebound headache so you take more painkillers and the painkillers start to fuel the headache and so on and so on.
Feverfew
The City of London Migraine Clinic carried out a trial which showed that in 70% of cases the herb Feverfew either prevented or lessened the severity of the headaches of the people taking part. It also lessened the symptoms of nausea and vomiting. You can buy Feverfew tablets from health shops; take them as directed on the packet.
How complimentary therapies can help
Stress has been identified as a significant migraine trigger so any therapy that encourages relaxation can help. Manipulation therapies can encourage blood flow to the brain and help to relieve any postural or musculo-skeletal problems that could be at the root of the headache. Eastern therapies, based on the belief that blocked energy causes headaches aim to restore the smooth flow of energy in the body. Here are some therapies which can be particularly helpful for the relief of headaches and migraines.
Acupressure
Acupressure works on the principle that headaches are due to blocked energy in the invisible energy channels (known as meridians) that run through our body. To relieve pain, gentle pressure is applied to certain points, and this stimulates the body’s own healing powers. Acupuncture is based on the same concept but uses needles instead of finger massage.
Acupressure is particularly useful as it is something you can do yourself. Try the following when you next get a headache - find the acupoint in the web between your forefinger and thumb then press firmly on the point with the ball of your thumb or tips of your fingers for a couple of minutes, gradually increasing the pressure.
Chiropractic
A chiropractor can manipulate the spine to try and correct any displacement of the vertebrae, as this is believed to disturb the electrical impulses carried by the nerves, leading to headaches and migraines. This type of therapy is especially good if the migraine is related to spinal problems.
Cranial osteopathy
Cranial osteopaths say they can sense the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (this fluid protects and nourishes the membranes around the brain) by placing their hands around a patient’s head. Any imbalance in the flow is said to indicate pressure on the cranial bones, or tension/trauma elsewhere in the body caused by injury, illness or emotional stress. They believe these pressures or trauma can manifest as headaches which may be eased by gently manipulating the cranial /spinal bones to regulate the flow of cerebrospinal fluid.
Homeopathy
It is advisable to consult a practitioner who will prescribe remedies according to your symptoms and individual circumstances.
Indian head massage
Because this treatment concentrates on the upper part of the body, in particular the upper back, shoulders, neck and scalp it is very effective in treating people who suffer regularly with headaches. It is very relaxing and excellent for getting rid of tension.
Massage
Massage is good for releasing muscle tension and encouraging the blood to flow normally to the blood vessels in the head, face and scalp. You can either go to a fully qualified therapist or give yourself a massage. Massaging around your temples in circular movements using a blend containing lavender and peppermint essential oil is a good way to help relieve tension headaches (add 2 drops lavender and 1 drop peppermint to 5ml of carrier oil)
Reflexology
Reflexology works on the principle that every part of the body is reflected in points on the hands or feet. By pressing on these points, reflexologists say they can relieve tension in the corresponding parts of the body.
These Headache aids are available here at: reiki healing spain
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008
How Do I Get a Flat Stomach?
There certainly is no shortage of advice on how to get a flat stomach but unfortunately, much of the advice that you're going to get is going to be off base. Don't get too upset with the people that are telling you this, especially if you know them personally. The reason why many of these individuals are giving you this misinformation is because they were misinformed themselves at one time. The fact of the matter is, there are ways that you can get a flat stomach but you need to make sure that you are exercising in the proper way and eating the proper way as well.
First of all, let's talk a little bit about the eating program that is going to help you to get a flat stomach. Far too many individuals are told that it is necessary for them to eat diet foods that are chock full of artificial ingredients and sweeteners in order to make them palatable. Yes, they may be low on fats and calories but what you probably don't realize is that many of the chemicals that go into these products actually make you fat of the long run. It's the dirty little secret of the dieting community, foods that are supposed to make you thin actually make you addicted and fat.
That is why it is necessary for you to go with a basic diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables and they need the proper types of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Yes, there is a bit of a learning curve involved here but the simple fact of the matter is, once you get used to eating this way you will feel so good and be burning so much fat that you will never want to go back. Simply eat a balanced diet and don't deprive yourself of carbohydrates or fats in an effort to lose weight, it does not work for the long term.
Exercise is where many of us stumble as far as weight loss is concerned. If you're asking yourself, how do I get a flat stomach, you probably have heard that you need to do an inordinate amount of abdominal exercises. Unfortunately, this is never going to help you to have a flat stomach that you want because it is always going to be covered up with a layer of fat. In order for you to truly achieve a flat midsection, you need to burn the fat with the right kind of exercise and that does not include abdominal exercises.
Concentrate on the larger muscles of your body, such as your legs, chest and back. Do multi-joint exercises that are designed to add lean muscle mass to these areas of your body and you will see the fat disappear very quickly from your stomach. It's really just a matter of building these areas of your body up so that you can have your metabolism running at top speed. This is the only way for you to truly have a flat stomach and to lose the fat that you may be carrying around.
Check out LoseBellyFatFaster.com for more of the latest tips, techniques and exercises on how to get flat abs.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Home Remedies for Wrinkles
Having wrinkles on your face or on your body is a normal fact of life. You can accept it for what it is or do something about it. Instead of buying expensive creams and moisturizers, perhaps you can try some home remedies that have proven to be effective against wrinkles.
You can apply egg whites under the eyes. For those that want to prevent wrinkles, you may also use odor free castor oil and put this to the skin, under the eyes or the throat.
Those who want to make their own cleansers can do so by emptying the contents of 3 Vitamin E capsules into a small bowl and then mixing this with 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt, half a tablespoon of honey as well as half a tablespoon of lemon juice. When this is mixed together, you get a cotton ball and rub this on your face and leave it on for 10 minutes then rinse.
Another mixture may come from a quarter cup of comfrey infusion, a quarter cup of witch hazel and 10 drops of patchouli essential oil. What is nice about it is that you can store the excess in a clean bottle so you can use it again later on.
You may also mix 1 teaspoon of raspberry juice with one teaspoon of orange juice, a teaspoon of olive oil, whipped egg yolk and 2 tablespoons of grind oatmeal. After mixing everything, you wait 20 minutes and smear this on the face. Once it dries, you wash this off with warm water.
If you happen to have coconut oil around, apply this in skin pore areas nightly before going to bed. For those that pineapple at home, you can cut this open and then rub the core of the fruit on your face for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing.
You can also use green Thompson seedless grapes. Once you cut this in half, you gently crush this on your face so the juice will be absorbed by the skin. Make sure to leave it there for 20 minutes, rinse with warm water and then let it dry with natural air.
A paste of turmeric made with sugarcane juice can also be used as it has proven to be effective in getting rid of wrinkles and slow skin aging.
No matter what you use, be sure to have regular facials as this is very effective in controlling wrinkles. You should also give yourself a facial massage as this helps increase blood circulation which results in the tightening of the muscles which reduces the fleshiness of the skin and restores your youthful look.
When you do this, make sure you always start from the neck upwards and then end at the forehead. A faster way of doing this will require using all your fingers and massaging rapidly in a circular motion. If there are wrinkles on the jaw, pinch the skin between your thumb and fingers.
Before you apply any of the home remedies for wrinkles on the face, make sure you clean the area first with wet cotton so you are able to remove make up and be able to open the pores on the skin. If you need to go outdoors, the only thing you can do to protect yourself from the sun is to use a pair of sunglasses and wear a hat which helps delay the onset of wrinkles on the sides of the eyes strangely referred to as crow’s feet.
You can apply egg whites under the eyes. For those that want to prevent wrinkles, you may also use odor free castor oil and put this to the skin, under the eyes or the throat.
Those who want to make their own cleansers can do so by emptying the contents of 3 Vitamin E capsules into a small bowl and then mixing this with 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt, half a tablespoon of honey as well as half a tablespoon of lemon juice. When this is mixed together, you get a cotton ball and rub this on your face and leave it on for 10 minutes then rinse.
Another mixture may come from a quarter cup of comfrey infusion, a quarter cup of witch hazel and 10 drops of patchouli essential oil. What is nice about it is that you can store the excess in a clean bottle so you can use it again later on.
You may also mix 1 teaspoon of raspberry juice with one teaspoon of orange juice, a teaspoon of olive oil, whipped egg yolk and 2 tablespoons of grind oatmeal. After mixing everything, you wait 20 minutes and smear this on the face. Once it dries, you wash this off with warm water.
If you happen to have coconut oil around, apply this in skin pore areas nightly before going to bed. For those that pineapple at home, you can cut this open and then rub the core of the fruit on your face for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing.
You can also use green Thompson seedless grapes. Once you cut this in half, you gently crush this on your face so the juice will be absorbed by the skin. Make sure to leave it there for 20 minutes, rinse with warm water and then let it dry with natural air.
A paste of turmeric made with sugarcane juice can also be used as it has proven to be effective in getting rid of wrinkles and slow skin aging.
No matter what you use, be sure to have regular facials as this is very effective in controlling wrinkles. You should also give yourself a facial massage as this helps increase blood circulation which results in the tightening of the muscles which reduces the fleshiness of the skin and restores your youthful look.
When you do this, make sure you always start from the neck upwards and then end at the forehead. A faster way of doing this will require using all your fingers and massaging rapidly in a circular motion. If there are wrinkles on the jaw, pinch the skin between your thumb and fingers.
Before you apply any of the home remedies for wrinkles on the face, make sure you clean the area first with wet cotton so you are able to remove make up and be able to open the pores on the skin. If you need to go outdoors, the only thing you can do to protect yourself from the sun is to use a pair of sunglasses and wear a hat which helps delay the onset of wrinkles on the sides of the eyes strangely referred to as crow’s feet.
Monday, August 18, 2008
1000 Crunches per Day Won't Get You a Six Pack
I can remember when I was a child that my mother was doing a series of crunches on a daily basis in order to get a lean and flat stomach. She read this in a woman's health magazine and believe it or not, she was doing 700 or more crunches on a daily basis every day for several weeks. Unfortunately, she ended up getting discouraged as a result of these exercises because they were not producing the results that she desired. The fact of the matter is, 1000 crunches per day won't get you a six pack and typically, it will just leave you feeling as if nothing you're going to do is going to work.
The reason why this is the case is because it is impossible for you to target specific areas of fat on your body by exercising those regions of your body. Although it never hurts for you to do crunches and to make sure that you have a strong core, the simple fact of the matter is that you're not going to get a six pack unless you get rid of the layer of fat that is covering it up. Even if you have the most awesome stomach muscles on the planet, it is going to do little good if they are covered up by a layer of belly fat.
In order for you to overcome this problem, you need to have a combination of the proper diet and a proper series of exercises. The first thing that you need to do is to clear your mind of all of the things that you have ever learned in the past because unfortunately, many of them were false. Typically, we get our information through commercial means and because they are trying to sell us a product, they usually make that product out to be the best thing possible. Forget everything you know, here is how to get those six pack abs to show through.
The first thing that you need to do is eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water on a daily basis. I'm not talking about cutting out all of the carbohydrates or fats out from your diet, that is not healthy at all. Eat a balanced diet that contains as much raw fruits and vegetables as possible. It is also a good idea for you to eat a protein and a legume every time you sit down at a meal as this will help to build muscle in your body and to stabilize your blood sugar levels.
Exercise is also a great idea and you need to make sure that you are doing multi-joint exercises that are targeting the largest muscles in your body. Putting lean muscle mass on your body in your legs, back and chest is going to melt the fat off of your body and allow that six pack abs that you have been working on to finally show through.
Check out cbmall.com/to/flatabs for more of the latest tips, techniques and exercises on how to get flat abs.
The reason why this is the case is because it is impossible for you to target specific areas of fat on your body by exercising those regions of your body. Although it never hurts for you to do crunches and to make sure that you have a strong core, the simple fact of the matter is that you're not going to get a six pack unless you get rid of the layer of fat that is covering it up. Even if you have the most awesome stomach muscles on the planet, it is going to do little good if they are covered up by a layer of belly fat.
In order for you to overcome this problem, you need to have a combination of the proper diet and a proper series of exercises. The first thing that you need to do is to clear your mind of all of the things that you have ever learned in the past because unfortunately, many of them were false. Typically, we get our information through commercial means and because they are trying to sell us a product, they usually make that product out to be the best thing possible. Forget everything you know, here is how to get those six pack abs to show through.
The first thing that you need to do is eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water on a daily basis. I'm not talking about cutting out all of the carbohydrates or fats out from your diet, that is not healthy at all. Eat a balanced diet that contains as much raw fruits and vegetables as possible. It is also a good idea for you to eat a protein and a legume every time you sit down at a meal as this will help to build muscle in your body and to stabilize your blood sugar levels.
Exercise is also a great idea and you need to make sure that you are doing multi-joint exercises that are targeting the largest muscles in your body. Putting lean muscle mass on your body in your legs, back and chest is going to melt the fat off of your body and allow that six pack abs that you have been working on to finally show through.
Check out cbmall.com/to/flatabs for more of the latest tips, techniques and exercises on how to get flat abs.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Setting Your Personal Fitness Goals
Many people make the mistake of setting their fitness goals too high when they embark on an exercise program. This leads them to abandon their plans out of frustration and impatience. Setting manageable goals is key to maintaining a fitness program over time.
If you have been completely sedentary you need to start out your fitness regimen by working towards small and realistic goals. These can be as simple as walking around the block once a day for a week, and adding another block each subsequent week until they reach the 30 minutes recommended by health professionals. A few sessions with a personal trainer can help you set reasonable goals for weight-bearing exercise like weight training. In the beginning focus on overall conditioning rather than building muscle. Check with staff at your gym or fitness center for recommendations about what exercise classes are right for your current fitness level.
When you're just starting out, it's easy to make rash promises like exercising every day. It's hard for even people in top condition to make time each and every day for training. Start off three or four days a week and build up from there. If you're taking up a new sport like swimming, skiing or golf, consider taking lessons with a professional so that you develop good habits from the beginning.
If you've been getting moderate exercise your goals can be a little more ambitious. If you're walking the recommended 30 minutes per day, why not add hand weights to your routine? This might also be the time to consider adding more weight to your lifting or taking an intermediate fitness course. You may also be ready to speak to a personal trainer about beginning to work on building specific muscle groups.
Once you've attained a high level of fitness, then it's time for some serious goal setting. Plan to run a marathon or participate in a 5K walking event. There are many of these events run to benefit charity, giving a double benefit of both funds raised and health benefits to participants. When preparing for an event of this nature, return to your early habit of setting small, realistic goals. Add miles to your run on a weekly basis until you are able to complete the full distance. Speak with your trainer to establish a regular schedule of weight-bearing exercise that will help improve your stamina and flexibility.
If you have been completely sedentary you need to start out your fitness regimen by working towards small and realistic goals. These can be as simple as walking around the block once a day for a week, and adding another block each subsequent week until they reach the 30 minutes recommended by health professionals. A few sessions with a personal trainer can help you set reasonable goals for weight-bearing exercise like weight training. In the beginning focus on overall conditioning rather than building muscle. Check with staff at your gym or fitness center for recommendations about what exercise classes are right for your current fitness level.
When you're just starting out, it's easy to make rash promises like exercising every day. It's hard for even people in top condition to make time each and every day for training. Start off three or four days a week and build up from there. If you're taking up a new sport like swimming, skiing or golf, consider taking lessons with a professional so that you develop good habits from the beginning.
If you've been getting moderate exercise your goals can be a little more ambitious. If you're walking the recommended 30 minutes per day, why not add hand weights to your routine? This might also be the time to consider adding more weight to your lifting or taking an intermediate fitness course. You may also be ready to speak to a personal trainer about beginning to work on building specific muscle groups.
Once you've attained a high level of fitness, then it's time for some serious goal setting. Plan to run a marathon or participate in a 5K walking event. There are many of these events run to benefit charity, giving a double benefit of both funds raised and health benefits to participants. When preparing for an event of this nature, return to your early habit of setting small, realistic goals. Add miles to your run on a weekly basis until you are able to complete the full distance. Speak with your trainer to establish a regular schedule of weight-bearing exercise that will help improve your stamina and flexibility.
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