Lymphatic Massage Benefits

Lymphatic massage is used in facial treatments to reduce congestion & puffiness. It is also effective in decreasing swelling & bruising from cosmetic surgery, liposuction, breast reduction or implants, & laser surgery. In addition, the technique can be used to reduce the appearance of varicose & spider veins, wrinkles, rosacea & acne.

Lymphatic Massage: Promoting recovery & good health with a gentle touch
Lymphatic massage is a technique used since the 1930s to promote health & aid recovery from certain illnesses. Also called lymphatic drainage or manual lymph drainage, lymphatic massage is now widely used in European hospitals & clinics. It is becoming better known in the U.S. due to its benefits for breast cancer survivors. Used to promote wellness, this gentle technique can prevent or reduce fluid retention, enhance the removal of toxins from the body tissues, & support the immune system.

Promotes deep relaxation to aid with:
Insomnia,Depression Stress, and loss of vitality

Promotes Detoxification to aid with:
Cellulite Reduction
Major Detox of the system
Ease of pain from lactic acid after beginning a workout program

The Lymphatic System
Benefits of lymphatic massage stem from its ability to enhance the function of the lymphatic system. Lymph is a fluid rich in white blood cells that fight viruses, cancer & bacteria. Every 24 hours, about three quarts of lymph circulate around the body via an elaborate system of lymph vessels. Lymph carries the body’s waste to lymph nodes where filtering & detoxification occur. The swollen “glands” you feel in your neck when you are coming down with a virus are actually lymph nodes working to free the body of waste products.

Lymphatic Massage for good health
Lymphatic massage uses light, rhythmic touch to improve lymph circulation. If you are healthy, improved lymph flow can promote your vitality & sense of well-being. When the lymphatic system is not performing efficiently due to stress or illness, or when there’s an accumulation of fluid from infection, blockages or damage to the lymph vessels, lymphatic massage can aid recovery & enhance lymphatic system function.

How does Lymphatic Massage help?
When lymph flow is enhanced, toxic & infectious materials, as well as excess bodily substances like water & protein are removed more effectively from tissues. This supports the immune system & helps rid the body of wastes that can increase pain or cause fatigue. In scarred or otherwise injured areas, damaged cells & amp;inflammatory wastes can be moved out, helping to speed healing.

The Reduction of Swelling
Lymphatic massage can reduce the pain, inflammation & scarring associated with fluid retention, edema. Whether swelling is due to injury, cancer treatment, surgery or an illness such as fibromyalgia, lymphatic massage can have remarkable results. in conjunction with medical attention, it is also very effective for lymphedema, the chronic accumulation of lymphatic fluid in body tissues. Swelling & other discomforts stemming from sinusitis or allergies may also be reduced.

Skin Care & Cosmetic surgery
Lymphatic massage is used in facial treatments to reduce congestion & puffiness. It is also effective in decreasing swelling & bruising from cosmetic surgery, liposuction, breast reduction or implants, & laser surgery. In addition, the technique can be used to reduce the appearance of varicose & spider veins, wrinkles, rosacea & acne.

Stress & Pain relief
The gentle touch of lymphatic massage soothes & calms the nervous system. This can improve sleep & reduce depression, anxiety & other effects of stress. As attention shifts to the pleasant sensations of relaxation, the grip of pain may also gently recede. This deeply relaxing technique can even help relieve chronic pain from conditions such as fibromyalgia, arthritis & headaches.
Breast Care
Many people hear about lymphatic massage due to its ability to reduce pain & swelling associated with removal of lymph nodes during breast cancer treatment. If received regularly, it may also enhance the function of the healthy breast tissue with improved lymph flow. In addition, it can reduce discomforts of breast and/or nipples during & after pregnancy. Excellent relief for engorgement for breast feeding mothers.

Conditions requiring extra care
It is very important to inform your massage therapist if you have lymphedema or a damaged lymphatic system because special considerations are required. No massage techniques should be used on anyone with an active skin infection, thrombosis, an open wound or a fever. If you have heart or kidney disease or are seeing a doctor for any other reason, be sure to inform the practitioner.
What is a session like?

Because many of the lymph vessels are just under the skin, moving the lymph requires a very light touch, barely the weight of a teaspoon of water. Practitioners use flat hands and finger pads in painless, rhythmic movements light enough to be described as “feather touch.” Lymphatic massage can be incorporated into, and may enhance, your regular massage session. Expect it to feel much lighter and slower than standard massage. Most people experience lymphatic massage as deeply relaxing and some fall asleep.

After The Session
After your session, it’s possible to feel light-headed so you may wish to rest for an hour or two. You may also find that you feel rejuvenated, invigorated or simply lighter in the hours or days following as session. You may be thirsty during or after your massage, & you are advised to drink extra water.

Acne Causes

Three factors contribute to the formation of acne:

Overproduction of oil (sebum)
Irregular shedding of dead skin cells resulting in irritation of the hair follicles of your skin
Buildup of bacteria
Acne occurs when the hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. Hair follicles are connected to sebaceous glands. These glands secrete an oily substance known as sebum to lubricate your hair and skin. Sebum normally travels up along the hair shafts and then out through the openings of the hair follicles onto the surface of your skin. When your body produces an excess amount of sebum and dead skin cells, the two can build up in the hair follicles and form together as a soft plug, creating an environment where bacteria can thrive.

This plug may cause the follicle wall to bulge and produce a whitehead. Or, the plug may be open to the surface and may darken, causing a blackhead. Pimples are raised red spots with a white center that develop when blocked hair follicles become inflamed or infected. Blockages and inflammation that develop deep inside hair follicles produce lumps beneath the surface of your skin called cysts. Other pores in your skin, which are the openings of the sweat glands onto your skin, aren’t normally involved in acne.

Factors that may worsen acne
These factors can trigger or aggravate an existing case of acne:

Hormones. Androgens are hormones that increase in boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy and the use of oral contraceptives can also affect sebum production.
Certain medications. Drugs containing corticosteroids, androgens or lithium are known to cause acne.
Diet. Studies indicate that certain dietary factors, including dairy products and carbohydrate-rich foods — such as bread, bagels and chips, which increase blood sugar — may trigger acne.
Acne myths
Contrary to what some people think, these factors have little effect on acne:

Greasy foods and chocolate have proved to have little to no effect on the development or course of acne.
Dirty skin. Acne isn’t caused by dirt. In fact, scrubbing the skin too hard or cleansing with harsh soaps or chemicals irritates the skin and can make acne worse. Simple cleansing of the skin to remove excess oil and dead skin cells is all that’s required.

Apple Cider Vinegar & it’s Benefits

Apple cider vinegar is my new obsession. I recently began taking apple cider vinegar shots a few times a day for a quick and effective energy burst. However, I’ve since discovered so many other useful ways to incorporate apple cider vinegar (ACV) into my daily routine.

It’s effective for pretty much anything—your skin, your hair, your house, and even your pets can benefit from its qualities. Raw, organic, unfiltered and unpasteurized, apple cider vinegar is so much more than a salad dressing!

1. Apple cider vinegar can detoxify your home.

It’s made from apple juice and is fermented to hard apple cider. It’s then fermented a second time to become apple cider vinegar. By using ACV in lieu of other products, we instantly decrease the consumption of unnatural chemicals in our homes and daily lives.

2. It can make your hair shine.

Apple cider vinegar can be used as a rinse for your hair after shampooing, and will boost your hair’s body and shine. I recommend recycling an old shampoo bottle, then filling it with 1/2 a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a cup of cold water. Pour the solution through your hair after shampooing several times a week for dramatic results.

3. Natural apple cider vinegar regulates the pH of your skin.

Dilute ACV with two parts water, and spread the concoction over your face with a cotton ball to replace your current toner. You can do this at night after washing, and in the morning before you apply your moisturizer. A dab of apple cider vinegar can also be left on the skin overnight to fade age spots or acne scars.

It’s also a recommended agent for warts. For warts, soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar, then fasten the cotton ball over the wart with a Band-Aid overnight. The skin may swell some as it reacts with the solution. However, the wart will fall off. Once it falls off, the treatment should be continued for a few more days, to make sure the wart doesn’t return.

4. It can remove stains from teeth.

Rub teeth directly with apple cider vinegar, and rinse with water.

5. It can soothe sunburnt skin.

Add a cup of apple cider vinegar to your bath, and soak for 10 minutes to eliminate discomfort from sunburn.

6. Apple cider vinegar can be used as a natural aftershave.

Fill a bottle with equal parts apple cider vinegar and water, and shake before applying to the face.

7. It’s an all-natural massage treatment.

Rubbing apple cider vinegar on your hands and feet will give massage-like benefits and relief to tired hands and feet.

8. Apple cider vinegar can aid in weight loss.

For daily weight management, add 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to 16 ounces of water. This concoction can be sipped throughout the day. Data shows some limited, yet significant, weight loss benefits from sustained daily intake of acetic acid (which is a main ingredient in apple cider vinegar).

In a 2009 study published in Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, it was found that subjects that consumed acetic acid for 12 weeks experienced significant declines in body weight, abdominal fat, waist circumference and triglycerides. Triglycerides contribute to the bad cholesterol that we want to avoid.

9. Apple cider vinegar will balance your entire inner body system.

The body constantly strives to achieve a state of equilibrium. Apple cider vinegar helps the body maintain a healthy alkaline pH level. Research shows that higher acid levels (lower pH level) leads to a lack of energy and higher incidences of infection. Hence, my desire to sip some a few times a day for a natural boost of energy.

10. It can help you detox.

As part of balancing the body’s pH, apple cider vinegar creates an overall detoxification of the body. Research shows that it can help stimulate cardiovascular circulation and help detoxify the liver.

11. ACV is great for your lymphatic system.

This miracle vinegar helps to break up mucous throughout the body and cleanse the lymph nodes. Believe it or not, research suggests that apple cider vinegar can help with allergies because of its ability to reduce mucous and sinus congestion. When reducing the effects of allergies, it can also help stave off sinus infections and their related symptoms, such as sore throats and headaches.

12. It can help your body get rid of candida.

This vinegar is rich in natural enzymes that can help rid your body of candida—yeasts that are attributed to thrush in humans. Candida also is blamed for creating symptoms of fatigue, poor memory, sugar cravings, and yeast infections.

13. ACV can help you reduce heartburn.

Though it might seem like an oxymoron to treat stomach acid with an acid-containing vinegar, there is research suggesting that apple cider vinegar works by correcting low acid, hence reducing heartburn. Natural remedy experts say you should begin to feel relief very shortly after taking a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar followed by a glass of water. Note that apple cider vinegar will not give relief if you have an ulcer.

14. The use of apple cider vinegar is effective in repelling fleas on your pets.

One part vinegar and one part water can be sprayed on your pets fur and rubbed in generously to the skin. Saturate the entire coat, and continue every day for a few days to a week. Any flea infestation will surely be gone.

15. It’s an all-natural room freshener.

Apple cider vinegar will clean your toilets and leave your bathroom smelling like apples! Just pour apple cider vinegar into the toilet, and allow it to sit overnight. It can also be used in dishwashers as a substitute for dish detergent. Mix 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup water, and you can use this solution to clean microwaves, kitchen surfaces, windows, glasses and mirrors, too.

As you can see, apple cider vinegar is a miracle product that cab be used in a multitude of ways. I highly recommend its use!

Body Scrub

What are the benefits of a body scrub?
Exfoliation is one of the primary keys to a healthy skin. The removal of coarse skin and dead cells allows for better penetration of products such as oils and lotions, leaving the skin soft & smooth. All Body Scrub recipes help to remove dead cells from your skin, allowing new cells to grow. A scrub can be really invigorating as well, and improve the circulation of blood and lymph to the surface of the skin, helping to fight cellulite and improve your skin tone.

A body scrub also forms the basis of other body treatments:
* it prepares your skin for an even tan
* it opens the pores and wakens the skin before a body treatment
* the oils used can relax or stimulate your senses ready for any similarly-focused treatment that you might be having afterwards.

SALT SCRUB INSTRUCTIONS

YOU WILL NEED:
1. refined sea salt (about 1-2 cups per scrub)
2. oil to cover
3. potentially: dedicated pajamas & towel
4. good, strong cleanser for the tub

Get yourself some refined sea salt (in the bulk area – usually about .50/#) and sunflower or safflower oil. (Any oil will do, these are simply nice and cheap! If you run cold or tend toward stagnancy, inertia, or lack of motivation, raw sesame oil is a great choice, too.) Add the two in a jar or bowl, stopping at toothpaste consistency. Start with just a little bit, unless you want to make a lot to keep for later. (It will keep, so feel free – a mason jar is great for storage and looks nice, too.)
Stand in the tub as it fills (to contain the mess), take a handful of the mixture and scrub your skin, working in the direction of your venous return and lymph flow – from your feet towards your heart, then from your hands towards your heart. Keep scrubbing one area until the skin turns pink, then move on to the next area. (The pinkness indicates circulation.) Once you’re done scrubbing your whole body, soak in the tub – oil, salt, and all. The oil will penetrate your skin deeply (with the water and heat) and the salt, as it dissolves in the water, will pull toxins from your body. Hence: nourishing and detoxifying.
Do not soap off – if you’re feeling over-oily, just rinse a little off in the shower. (Make sure to have a dedicated pair of PJs and a towel for the purpose – after a few scrubs your clothes will get a little oily. Also be sure to clean the tub/shower with hot hot hot water after – vinegar and baking soda or bon ami also help.)
Salt scrubs increase lymph flow and circulation, hydrate the tissues and nerves. (In instances where lymphatic stagnancy is present, they can often contribute to weight loss.) They also aid motivation, groundedness and healthy boundaries.

Do not use the body scrub too often because frequent scrubbing can damage the young skin layer once the dead skin is off the body surface. You can use a body scrub once every week or two. Also remember to use a very gentle body scrub in case you have a dry skin. Also be very careful during winter when too much scrubbing can damage already dry skin.

Food Cravings? Here Is What Your Body Really Wants.

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If you crave this…. What you really need is… And here are healthy foods that have it:

Chocolate. Magnesium Raw nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits

Sweets. Chromium Broccoli, grapes, cheese, dried beans, calves liver,
Carbon Fresh fruits
Phosphorus Chicken, beef, liver, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes, grains
Sulfur Cranberries, horseradish, cruciferous vegetables, kale, cabbage
Tryptophan Cheese, liver, lamb, raisins, sweet potato, spinach

Bread, toast. Nitrogen High protein foods: fish, meat, nuts, beans

Oily snacks,
fatty foods. Calcium Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame

Coffee or tea. Phosphorous Chicken, beef, liver, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes
Sulfur Egg yolks, red peppers, muscle protein, garlic, onion, cruciferous vegetables
NaCl (salt) Sea salt, apple cider vinegar (on salad)
Iron Meat, fish and poultry, seaweed, greens, black cherries

Alcohol,
recreational drugs. Protein Meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, nuts
Avenin Granola, oatmeal
Calcium Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
Glutamine Supplement glutamine powder for withdrawal, raw cabbage juice
Potassium Sun-dried black olives, potato peel broth, seaweed, bitter greens

Chewing
ice. Iron Meat, fish, poultry, seaweed, greens, black cherries

Burned food. Carbon Fresh fruits

Soda and other
carbonated drinks. Calcium Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame

Salty foods. Chloride Raw goat milk, fish, unrefined sea salt

Acid foods. Magnesium Raw nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits

Preference for
liquids
rather than solids. Water Flavor water with lemon or lime. You need 8 to 10 glasses per day.

Preference for
solids rather
than liquids. Water You have been so dehydrated for so long that
you have lost your thirst. Flavor water with lemon or lime.
You need 8 to 10 glasses per day.

Cool drinks. Manganese Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pineapple, blueberries

Pre-menstrual
cravings. Zinc Red meats (especially organ meats), seafood, leafy vegetables, root vegetables

General
overeating. Silicon Nuts, seeds; avoid refined starches
Tryptophan Cheese, liver, lamb, raisins, sweet potato, spinach
Tyrosine Vitamin C supplements or orange, green, red fruits and vegetables

Lack of appetite. Vitamin B1 Nuts, seeds, beans, liver and other organ meats
Vitamin B3 Tuna, halibut, beef, chicken, turkey, pork, seeds and legumes
Manganese Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pineapple, blueberries
Chloride Raw goat milk, unrefined sea salt

Tobacco. Silicon Nuts, seeds; avoid refined starches
Tyrosine Vitamin C supplements or orange, green and red fruits and vegetables

Sugar & how it effects the body

Is Sugar Aging Me?
The answer is yes.
Sugar, not only affects your waistline and heart health, it also impacts your skin. With Halloween and the holidays nearby, there are many sweet temptations, but before you grab a candy bar, you should know how sugar affects your skin and what you can do about it.

1. How does the body react to sugar?
Sugar, and foods that rapidly convert to sugar (such as high glycemic starches; bread, pasta, chips etc.) cause sudden spikes in blood sugar levels, resulting in the release of insulin into the blood stream. This causes us to store, rather than burn fat. However, that is not the only negative by-product. As these sugars and starches are eaten, they cause a burst of inflammation throughout the body.

2. How does sugar affect the aging process of skin?
Sugar, can permanently attach to the collagen present in our skin and other parts of the body through a process known as glycation. At the point of attachment, there is a small mechanism creating inflammation, which then becomes a source of inflammation in its own right. This inflammation produces enzymes that break down collagen, the connective tissue in our body that holds together our joints and gives us supple skin. The result? Glycation, which causes cross-linking in our collagen, making it stiff and inflexible where it was once soft and supple, resulting in dull, dry and even brittle looking skin.

3. Which ingredients can help offset damage from sugar?
Alpha lipoic acid, one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances, works to quell inflammation, not only on the inside of the body, but also on the surface of the skin.

Alpha lipoic acid prevents, and may even reverse, the attachment of sugar to collagen by allowing better metabolism of sugar in the cell, preventing buildup and enabling the body’s natural repair mechanisms to function better.

There is some evidence that when alpha lipoic acid is taken orally or applied to the skin, it can reverse glycation or the sugar damage that has already occurred.

Of course, when it comes to sugar toxicity, the answer isn’t merely alpha lipoic acid. The real answer is to consume less sugar and follow an anti-inflammatory diet, which helps to regulate the amount of sugar in your blood stream.

4. I’ve heard that even fruits can have a negative impact on the skin because of sugar. Which fruits are the best choices my skin?
Fruits are high in sugars (sucrose and fructose), which means that they provide quick energy to satisfy hunger. However, their high levels of sugar would be a pro-inflammatory influence, if not for their high fiber content which helps them rank surprisingly low on the “glycemic index”, which measures the impact of foods on blood sugar levels. Fruits are high in anti-inflammatory phytonutrients (beneficial plant chemicals), which are typically concentrated in the skins or peels. For example, research has shown that consuming strawberries, blackberries, loganberries and apple peels can “turn off” key genetic switches that promote inflammation in the body.

Despite their relatively high sugar levels, apples actually exert a stabilizing effect on blood sugar, due in part to their high fiber content and because they contain phloretin, a flavonoid-type, blood-sugar-stabilizing phytonutrient found exclusively in apples. A study out of Finland found that eating apples can lower the risk of Type 2 Diabetes. The researchers attributed apples’ anti-diabetes effect to the antioxidant activity of quercetin, a major component of apple peels. This is another reason to buy organic, unsprayed fruit so that you can safely eat the skin.

5. Should I stay away from chocolate?
No, the good news is you do not need to stay away from all chocolate. Dark chocolate and cocoa protect the cardiovascular system, significantly reducing the incidence of atherosclerosis. Chocolate is also similar to the blueberry in that it affords protection to our brain. As we know, substances that are neuroprotective are also therapeutic to the skin in what I call the brain-beauty connection.

Chocolate is also rich in oleic acid, the monounsaturated fat found in olive oil, which helps us to absorb important nutrients. The presence of this healthy fat also helps to slow down the absorption of the sugar.

Cocoa has many benefits to the body including the skin. A chemical from cocoa protects skin from the damaging effects of sun exposure and prevents the skin from aging.

For optimum health benefits and enjoyment, choose extra dark chocolate—at least 70 to 85% cocoa content.

6. Which foods are best for my skin? Worst?
As always, avoid high glycemic and processed foods, which are pro-inflammatory and can provoke a host of skin issues including wrinkles, dullness and even breakouts. Some of the best foods for healthy skin include.

Wild salmon and other Cold Water Fish-are great sources of protein, necessary to maintain and repair the body—including the skin on a cellular level.

Watercress-Herbalists have used Watercress as a blood purifier with system cleansing properties that help to clear toxins from the body. By cleansing the blood, watercress has been useful in treating skin eruptions, eczema, acne, rashes, and other skin infections.

Turmeric-is a superb anti-inflammatory thanks to its superior antioxidant properties and its high levels of the super antioxidant curcumin. It increases blood levels of the enzyme glutathione S-transferase, an important antioxidant and vital in the body’s detoxification system, to keep skin clear, firm, toned and radiant.

Coconut-The relatively small molecular structure of the medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) found in coconut makes them highly skin-compatible. They help strengthen the skin’s connective tissues to help keep skin soft, smooth, supple and radiant.

Raspberries-are a rich source of vitamin C—key for collagen production. This is important because collagen is the principal protein in connective tissue. This fibrous, structural molecule provides strength and elasticity to tissue, skin, cartilage, ligaments, tendons and bones. Collagen supply is vital to the skin’s elasticity, keeping it toned and supple, strong and flexible.