How to Use Hot Stone Therapy

How to Use Hot Stone Therapy



Hot stone therapy involves using water-heated stones on key points of the body. This relaxes your body and opens you to the full benefits of a subsequent massage. The use of hot stone therapy can help people with various physical problems, including muscular aches, poor circulation, arthritis, Fibromyalgia, MS, back pain, stress, anxiety, tension insomnia and depression.









1


Experience a hot stone therapy session with a licensed practitioner. Your therapist will use traditional Swedish massage strokes while holding a heated stone. As one stone cools, your therapist will replace it with another.





2


Relax as the warmth penetrates your tight muscles. A little oil will be applied to the stones so the therapist can glide it across your skin, in essence "ironing out" your very rumpled muscles.





3


Know that during the massage your therapist may place some of the heated stones on your back, in your palms, in between your toes or on other areas in need of extra attention and relaxation. Towels will be used as buffers to keep the sensation comfortable.





4


Tell your therapist if you've had an injury to a particular muscle, or if your hands or feet have been falling asleep more than usual. These are among the conditions that can be helped with a combination warm and cold stone regime.





5


Enjoy the experience. Some hot stone therapists use crystals, aromatherapy and relaxing music to enhance the session. Tell your therapist if the stones become uncomfortable at any point during the session.





6


Teach yourself how to use hot stone therapy, either on yourself or on someone else. There are numerous on-location or home study courses available, but you must find out the certification requirements if you plan to use the skill commercially.








Tips & Warnings










Different therapists use different types of stones. Some use basalt, a smooth volcanic rock found in rivers. Others use Mexican beach pebbles, which are composed of basalt, quartzite, feldspar and dacite.



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How to Use Home Remedies for Colds

How to Use Home Remedies for Colds



The common cold has many causes, but there is no cure. However, there are a few things that you can do at home, which can calm your symptoms and shorten the length of your cold. Read on to learn how to use home remedies to treat your cold and avoid the harsh side effects of many over-the-counter cold remedies.







Things You'll Need:





Vitamin C




Garlic or garlic supplements




Chicken soup




Table salt




Menthol or thyme leaves









1


Take Vitamin C, a proven remedy for the common cold that can ease symptoms and significantly shorten the length of your cold. Vitamin C works to boost your immune system; a dosage of 1.5 to 2 g a the onset of a cold is recommended. Eat citrus, like oranges and grapefruits, as they are high in Vitamin C.





2


Consume garlic. Simply put it in your mouth and chew to relieve your cold symptoms. If the garlic is too strong, you can also take garlic supplements and avoid the harsh taste and bad breath.





3


Eat chicken soup. This traditional home remedy is now getting attention in the medical community as a great treatment for colds. You can buy pre-made soup or make your own. The steam from the soup can help with congestion and chicken broth is believed to have anti-inflammatory effects, which will help to alleviate your symptoms.





4


Use salt. Make your own nasal drops for a dry and stuffy nose by adding 1/4 tsp. of table salt to about 5 ml of lukewarm water. Use one to two drops, three to four times daily. For a sore throat, gargle several times a day with 1 tsp. of salt dissolved into a glass of warm water .





5


Clear a blocked nose by mixing menthol or thyme leaves in a bowl of hot water. Place your nose over the bowl and cover your head with a towel, breathing deeply. A hot bath with a few drops of cinnamon can also help relieve a stuffy nose.


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How to Use Home Remedies for Back Pain

How to Use Home Remedies for Back Pain



Did you try to move the immovable by pushing, twisting, bending, lifting, pulling and straining in ways you never thought possible? Now you have a terrible pain in your back. But don't worry, there are several home remedies that you can employ to get you back from that back attack.









1


Lie down for a day or two. The only thing you will want to do is lay in bed for a few days, and you should. Your body needs time to recover, so keep activity to a minimum for a couple of days.





2


Cool down your flaming back pain with ice. Ice helps to reduce strain and swelling on back muscles. For best results, massage the area with ice for seven or eight minutes, three times a day for the first couple of days.





3


Get out of bed as soon as the pain begins to subside. The length of your bed rest will depend on the level of severity of your injury; so, if you are still hurting after two days, it doesn't hurt to rest another day. However, lounging too long can do you more harm than good.





4


Relieve your pain with heat after the first few days of ice. Use a soft towel and place it in a basin of warm water and wring it out. Lie chest down with support under your hips and ankles and place the towel on your back. Put some plastic wrap over the towel to hold in the heat and place a heating pad on top, set to medium heat.








Tips & Warnings










Some back pain will not respond to home remedies and will require a visit to the doctor. If you experience pain for no apparent reason or have other symptoms like fever, stomach ache, chest pain or difficulty breathing, or if your pain last more than two weeks without relief, see a doctor.



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How to Use Herbs to Treat Endometriosis

How to Use Herbs to Treat Endometriosis



Endometriosis is a condition that affects up to 10 percent of the women in America and is responsible for many cases of infertility. Since women suffer for years with this condition and often have to take hormone-altering medication that can produce extreme side effects, many endometriosis sufferers are eager to find treatments which are effective without producing the side effects. Herbal remedies are a kinder, gentler way of treating endometriosis.









1


Balance your estrogen by taking vitex berries and eating soy. These substances naturally help regulate estrogen which is the cause of endometriosis.





2


Treat your liver, which helps clear excess estrogen, with Burdock root or milk thistle.





3


Reduce bleeding and cramps during your period with red raspberry, wild yam, evening primrose and ginger.





4


Apply castor oil packs to the pelvic area to relieve pain.





5


Take baths with drops of chamomile and
lavender
oil to reduce inflammation.





6


Boost your immune system with Echinacea and Vitamin C.





7


Experiment by drinking the above-mentioned herbs in a tea form. Boil a teaspoon of each kind of herb for a few minutes, strain and drink as a tea with honey.








Tips & Warnings










Keep in mind herbal remedies do not work immediately. You will need patience, since it can take a few weeks before you will see results from herbal remedies. However, the patience pays off, since you can comfortably take herbal remedies long term.








Don't assume that herbs have no side effects. If you do not feel well after taking a certain herb, discontinue use.



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How to Take Ginger for Health

How to Take Ginger for Health



Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a perennial that originates from southern China, although its commercial cultivation has now spread to the Caribbean, India, Southeast Asia and West Africa. The term "ginger" also applies to the rhizome (underground stem) of the plant that is used as a spice and for medicinal purposes. The following steps will help you decide whether or not to take this herbal supplement.









1


Read about the historical uses of ginger. Ginger has been used as a medicine in China for more than 2,000 years primarily to treat diarrhea, indigestion, nausea and stomach upset. It also has been given for other ailments such as arthritis, colic and heart conditions.





2


Take ginger for mild stomach upset, nausea or vomiting or as recommended by a health professional. The important active ingredients are thought to be volatile oils and phenols such as gingerols and shogaols.





3


Look at the results from modern scientific testing of ginger. Ginger has been studied extensively and some trials have shown it may be more effective than placebo in treating motion sickness. Other studies have shown it to be less effective than commonly prescribed medication.





4


Study the side effects of ginger. These are rare but large doses can cause belching, mild heartburn and stomach upset. These can be relieved by taking ginger as a capsule. You should not take ginger if you have a bleeding disorder or are taking blood-thinning medication.





5


Take no more than four grams of ginger per day. The recommended dose of ginger as a dietary supplement should be limited to 2 g when standardized to 4-percent volatile oils.


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How to Select Shoes to Wear With Wide-Leg Pants (Women)

How to Select Shoes to Wear With Wide-Leg Pants (Women)



Wide-leg pants are a classic suit component, and complement full figures well. Look for shoes that balance the width of the pants.







Things You'll Need:





Sneakers



Women's Boots



Women's Closed-toed Shoes



Women's Dress Shoes



Women's Sandals









Step
1



Choose pumps that have a wider heel and toe for dressier work environments. This will balance the foot with the apparently wider leg.




Step
2



Pair wide-leg trousers with leather loafers for a casual work look or dressy leisure look. Match the color of your belt to that of your shoes.




Step
3



Match ankle or knee-high boots with heavier pants in the winter. Ensure that the boots fit snugly to avoid indenting the pant legs. Choose a wider heel over a thin or pointed one.




Step
4



Dress down casual cotton pants with wide-toe canvas sneakers, or dress them up with round-toe slip-on sandals with chunky heels.




Step
5



Remember that black is the dressiest shoe color and will complement most outfits, except for pastel ones. Brown will make a rich contrast to navy or tan pants, but is definitely viewed as more casual than black.




Step
6



Shine leather shoes regularly for a more polished appearance, and to extend the life of your shoes.







Tips & Warnings









When your good leather shoes get caught in the rain or land in a puddle, blot the excess moisture and air-dry them. Avoid drying them with any heat sources, as this will parch the leather and damage the shoes.



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How to Select Shoes to Wear With Straight-Leg Pants (Women)

How to Select Shoes to Wear With Straight-Leg Pants (Women)



Change your shoes as you move from day to evening, casual to dressy. Straight-leg pants are perfect for many occasions.







Things You'll Need:





Sneakers



Women's Boots



Women's Closed-toed Shoes



Women's Dress Shoes



Women's Sandals









Step
1



Pair straight-leg pants with medium-heeled pumps or loafers for a classic office look.




Step
2



Choose hose or thin nylon socks that match the color of your shoes to achieve a dressier look. The lighter the stocking, the more casual the look.




Step
3



Dress up straight-leg cotton or nylon casual pants with quilted ballet slippers or flirty mules.




Step
4



Opt for ankle boots during the winter months. Make sure your pants hang comfortably over the top. Since they may ride up when you sit down and cross your legs, choose socks that work well with the rest of your ensemble.




Step
5



Go for canvas sneakers or walking shoes when you can dress down, but must stay on your feet or do a lot of running around.




Step
6



Create the illusion of longer legs by matching your shoes to the color of your pants.




Step
7



Remember that black is the dressiest color, while brown is viewed as more casual. Match the color of your belt to that of your shoes.







Tips & Warnings









When your good leather shoes get caught in the rain or land in a puddle, blot the excess moisture and air-dry them. Avoid drying them with any heat sources, as this will parch the leather and damage the shoes.



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