Addicted to Anxiety: How Commonly Prescribed Anxiety Medication Can Be As Addictive As Heroin.

Did you know that the medications used to treat anxiety and depression can be as addictive as heroin or cannabis?

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health disorders in today's society. For the sufferer, it can often be a crippling condition and can impact immensely on their health, their relationships as well as their overall well-being.

Anxiety is a broad umbrella term and can include but is not limited to:

- Phobias

- Panic attacks

- Obsessive-compulsive disease

- Post-traumatic stress disorder as well as

- Generalized anxiety disorders.

In terms of treatment, sufferers commonly choose to either do nothing about it or resort to pharmaceutical means which in turn, can adversely affect their health and sanity.

Commonly prescribes drugs such as Valium, Xanax and Ativan are able to help exert a calming effect by boosting the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter in the brain.

Activation of GABA will trigger the release of dopamine - another neurotransmitter, which plays an important role in behaviour and cognition, voluntary movement, sleep, mood, attention, learning and memory. Dopamine is also responsible for regulating the "reward pathways" such as feelings of punishment and sexual gratification.

Studies haves shown that people with higher levels of dopamine in their brain tend to be more prone to addictive behaviours.

It is alarming how in today's society, medication is fast becoming the preferred treatment method for people with anxiety, depression and other mental health related disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyper-activity Disorder.

Something that is also quite disturbing, is how much easier it is to obtain prescribed drugs rather than illicit drugs for the purpose of satisfying addiction.

In lieu of this, as a natural therapist, these are my suggestions for how you can combat anxiety without the need to medicate:

1. Exercise and Diet.

Whatever happened to "the good old days" when Doctors would prescribe exercise and diet?

Exercising three times a week for 30 minutes at a time, with enough effort to raise a sweat will help to increase the level of serotonin and endorphin in the body. These are your body's natural "feel-good" chemicals which prescribed drugs seek to imitate and activate.

It is also important to be eating plenty of raw fruits and vegetables as part of your daily diet rather than rely on processed and manufactured foods.

2. Natural Therapies.

Acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage and meditation are great ways to help calm your mental and nervous system so that you are better able to deal with any anxiety and/or stress.

While acupuncture can help to stimulate the body's natural energy flow (Chi), it is also beneficial in treating anxiety and depression as it can help to restore harmony within the body.

Likewise, meditation is a wonderful way to become more relaxed and grounded, which helps you to deal more effectively with stress.

Massage is a great way to release the physical tension that builds up in your body, and combined with aromatherapy can be most beneficial on a physical, emotional and mental level.

3. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Behavioural Therapy and Hypnotherapy.

Despite the popularity of drugs for anxiety disorder, these conventional methods of treatment are simple and effective ways of teaching someone how they can deal with anxious situations through identifying triggers and teaching the person safe and immediate methods of coping with the situation at hand.

For more information about any of the above mentioned natural therapies and also hypnotherapy, please visit our website: www.sydneyremedialmassage.com.au.

Yours in health until next time!

Please note: We appreciate that anxiety can be a very serious disorder for some people. All information contained in this article should be used as a guide only - please seek appropriate medical advice and consultation before commencing and/or discontinuing any currently prescribed medications. 

Why Laughter Really Is the Best Medicine!

Hiya!

Right, are you ready for the funniest joke "in the world"?*

Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed.

The other guy whips out his phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps, "My friend is dead! What can I do?"

The operator says "Calm down. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead."

There is a silence, then a shot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says "OK, now what?"

And as you sit there and shake your head and laugh, stop for a moment to think about how you're doing yourself a favour.

According to scientists, humans are the only species capable of laughter and the average person laughs approximately 17 times a day.

It gets better - Can you believe that laughing 100 times is equivalent to a 10 minute workout on a rowing machine!?!

While laughter has also been shown to help

- reduce the level of stress hormones (adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol)

- increase the number of circulating feel-good hormones like endorphins

- boost immunity (enhances the effectiveness of T-cells)

- increase vascular blood flow

- and increase oxygenation of the blood,

It also is a good mental and/or emotional release and can also give your body a great internal workout (remember the last time you laughed till your belly hurt?!).

So, grab a few mates together or call up your best friend and share a joke today!

Yours in health until next time!

* World's Funniest Joke. Source: www.google.com.au and www.laughlab.co.uk.

How the Humble Cup of Tea May Save Your Life....

Hi and Welcome to 2010!

Stop! Before you read this article, do me a quick favour and run over to the kitchen and put the kettle on, because....

Today's blog is inspired by something that is just as ancient as the practise of massage and linked to our Relaxation Tip No 2: Have a cup of tea and a chat with a good friend.

Not only will this give you some quality time out with your friend, you're also secretly doing yourself a world of internal good.

Ever since tea was first infused, over 4700 years ago in ancient China, there has been many health benefits attributed to this humble plant, Camellia sinensis.

There are many varieties of tea, however the most popular types are Green and Black tea, followed by Oolong (red) and White tea.

There are also many flavours of Herbal teas available, however they are not strictly "tea" as they are not derived from the same plant. They are instead, an infusion of herbs, flowers, fruits, spices or other parts of other plants.

The colour of your tea will depend on how long it's been processed. Green and White tea are steamed quickly before being packed, and therefore are the least processed and will contain the most amount of anti-oxidants. Black and Oolong tea are partially dried, crushed and fermented prior to packaging, and will have a darker quality to it.

The main benefit of drinking tea is attributed to its content of polyphenols - a chemical which is found in the leaves of the plant, which contains the anti-oxidants.

Numerous scientific studies have claimed that tea is able to help the body

- prevent oxidative stress

- lower cholesterol levels

- boost mental alertness

- increase metabolic rate

- boost its immune system and

- protect against cardiovascular disease.

Tea has also been proven to have anti-cancer properties.

SO, now that the kettle's boiled, why not call a friend over to share a chat and a cuppa while you kick back and relax in the knowledge that like having a massage, it's you taking the time out to look after you.

Yours in health, until next time!

I ♥ Massage

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a serious condition that affects over 2 million Australians*.

There are two types of hypertension - essential (primary) and secondary.

Primary hypertension makes up approximately 95% of cases and although scientists do not know the exact cause, it is compounded by a myriad of factors - eg. leading a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, lack of Vitamin D and syndrome X.

Secondary hypertension on the other hand, stems from an identifiable cause which may include: kidney disorders, Cushing's Disease, chronic alcohol use or it may also be caused by certain medications.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease* and is also a precursor to Type II diabetes**.

The news is not all bad though...

A study by Olney^ in 2005 found that a 10 minute back massage, 3 times a week was able to significantly reduce blood pressure in hypertensive patients.

More recently, Cambron and colleagues^^ have reported that Swedish massage can help to reduce blood pressure in normotensive individuals.

Just imagine, if having a regular massage could help reduce your chance of dying from cardiovascular disease, wouldn't you visit your massage therapist on a more regular basis?

Of course, it is recommended that you also choose a healthy lifestyle which includes abstaining from smoking, maintaining a proper weight, regular exercise and eating a balanced diet, rich in fruits and vegetables.

Until next time!

Yours in health,

Mel

* Australian Bureau of Statistics. 4821.0.55.001 - Cardiovascular Disease in Australia: A Snapshot, 2004-05

** Australian Bureau of Statistics. 1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2008

^ Olney CM. Biol Res Nurs. 2005 Oct;7(2):98-105.

^^ Cambron JA, Dexheimer J, et al. J Altern Complement Med. 2006 Jan-Feb;12(1):65-70

Thumbs Up for Massage.

Hiya!

As you read this, do me a favour... Take a look at your hands - a good long look.

Roll your wrists around. Did you hear anything crack?

Now, rub your hands together.

Feel your hands as you clench each of them into a tight fist, and then open and close them five times, and finally, wiggle your fingers about and touch your thumb to each of your fingers, making a ring with the thumb and finger, running up and down from your first finger to your little finger, and back again.

Did you do that??

If you did, well done! And if you didn't (but know that you could if you wanted to), you can rest in the knowledge that your hands are unique and that they're an evolutionary gift.

The opposable thumb is a distinguishing feature shared by many primates, and is used primarily for precision gripping - a skill that allows us to do everything - like swinging from the monkey bars like a child in the sunshine, to throwing a ball to your beloved pet, to creating masterpieces that transcends eras and live in our hearts forever.

This also means that your hands are perhaps one of the most used parts of your body - and also probably the most taken for granted!

So ask yourself honestly- when did you last have them massaged?

Hand massage or hand reflexology is wonderful way to relax.

A recent study by Osaka et. al. (2009)*, found that a 5 minute hand massage was able to significantly reduce the level of stress in patients with advanced stages of cancer, as measured by comparing the level of chromogranin A (CgA) before and after a hand massage.

Likewise, Cronfalk et. al.** reported in the Journal of Clinical Nursing that regular hand massage for carers of terminally ill family members resulted in  "feelings of 'being cared for', 'body vitality' and 'peace of mind'."

So why not make sure that when you have your next massage, that you look after your evolutionary gift and take advantage of the many benefits of incorporating a hand reflexology massage into your session.

Until next time... yours in health,

Mel

*J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Sep;15(9):981-5.

** J Clin Nurs. 2009 Aug;18(15):2225-33.

ABBA, Greta Garbo, The Nobel Prize, Meatballs... and Massage.

Hiya!

So you're probably wondering what Greta Garbo, The Nobel Prize (Alfred Nobel) and ABBA have to do with meatballs and massage right?

Well, they're all synonymous with being from Sweden.

And so is Pehr Henrik Ling.

Who??

Ling (1776 - 1839) was a famous Swedish medical-gymnastic practitioner and is most famous for having developed the techniques for "Swedish Massage".

Called 'classic massage' in Sweden, it is the best-known and most popular type of massage offered nowadays.

It was first introduced to the United States by two New York physicians in the mid 1800's and has spread to many other countries and gained much in popularity ever since.

It is the foundation for many other types of Western massage - such as sports, deep tissue and aromatherapy.

Swedish massage is based on five different techniques:

1. Effleurage: long gliding or sliding strokes

2. Petrissage: lifting and kneading of the muscle

3. Tapotement: rhythmic tapping

4. Friction: firm, deep, circular rubbing movements

5. Vibration: rapid shaking of the muscles

Swedish massage uses firm yet gentle pressure and can:

- promote relaxation

- ease muscle tension

- provide relief from pain

- reduce anxiety and depression

- temporarily reduce blood pressure and heart rate

- increase the capacity of the blood to carry oxygen

- help eliminate waste from the lymphatic system.

The therapist will use particular oils during the session so that it's comfortable for you and it also makes it easier for you to relax and enjoy the many medically proven beneficial effects without having to do anything yourself!

So next time, before you decide to book your ticket to Sweden - why not book an appointment with your local Swedish masseuse and enjoy a nice relaxing massage instead!

Yours in health, until next time..

Mel

"What is Remedial Massage?"

Hiya!

Ok, today's blog is in response to a question that I often get asked - "What is remedial massage?"

With so many different types of massage available, eg. Thai, Swedish, Shiatsu, Hot Stone, Reflexology etc., it can be confusing and sometimes, I find that the term Remedial Massage is in itself, quite ambiguous.

So, let's start by first defining the words 'Remedial' and 'Massage':

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, remedial has two definitions:

1. Intended as a remedy

2. Concerned with the correction of faulty study habits

And massage (originating from the French masser and Arabic massa), is defined as the manipulation of tissues (as by rubbing, kneading or tapping) with the hand or an instrument for therapeutic purposes.

So put together, it appears that Remedial Massage is a remedy which is administered via the manipulation of tissues - right?

Yes... and no!

Remedial massage actually is a whole lot more than that.

It is a holistic way of treating the body which looks at the entire body as a functional whole, as well as targets the specific area that requires attention.

The body is a wonderfully complicated mechanism and often, the site of pain is a symptom, not the cause.

So the primary aim of a remedial massage therapist is to find and treat the cause rather than just provide temporary relief.

For example, most people have experienced pain in their shoulders and upper back area - usually just above the shoulder blades. Rubbing that area when it feels tense will bring greater blood flow to the area and provide temporary relief.

But when you visit your remedial massage therapist, they might ask you - do you spend long hours sitting in front of a computer?

More often than not the answer is yes, and no, they never sit in the ideal touch-typist's posture all day long.

These people are usually hunched over the keyboard and hyperextending their neck as they look up at the screen. This puts stress on the trapezius muscle as it is virtually being over-used for extended periods every day and as such, will manifest itself as a chronic pain in that area. They might also be able to feel a "knot" or adhesion, which basically blocks the circulation to the area and creates pain while inhibiting movement.

The rhomboid muscles (the area between your shoulder blade and spine) will often also be affected as well as they're being consistently over-stretched on a daily basis.

Your remedial massage therapist can use deep tissue massage techniques such as applying pressure and/or friction to the area in a specific manner. This will help by physically breaking down the adhesions, thereby increasing blood flow to the area and relieving the pain as well as relaxing the muscles.

With deep tissue massage, sometimes people may experience a little discomfort or pain during the session - it is very important for you to communicate with your therapist during your treatment if the pain is outside of your threshold levels.

Also, some people may experience stiffness or pain following a deep tissue massage - this is not uncommon and will subside within a day or two.

A good therapist also understands that your body and your muscles work by contracting and relaxing in combination with each other.

Sometimes the person with the pain will also be quite tender in their chest area - this is because as they are hunching over, they're keeping their pectoralis muscles shortened or in a state of constant contraction.

Massaging the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor in particular, will help to release and relax those muscles, which means that when the person sits at the computer desk in the following weeks, that they will not hunch as much and therefore, put less strain on their back and shoulder muscles.

Your remedial massage therapist will also show you specific stretches that you can do every day to help strengthen or relax particular muscles and as such, you will be able ensure that you're looking after your health in between your regular treatments.

So, as you can see, remedial massage isn't just about the massage itself - a good therapist will look at the body as a functional whole and identify the reason as to why you're experiencing the pain, and help you to eliminate it using a variety of techniques.

I hope that this has helped you to understand a little more about what it is that I do, and if you have any questions or would like more information - please feel free to post a comment below!

Until next time... yours in health,

Mel