How to Determine if it is Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

If you’ve been feeling pain in your pelvic region, don’t assume that it’s not a valid condition. Chronic pelvic pain syndrome is a condition where the individual experiences pelvic pain that lasts six months or longer. Chronic pelvic pain syndrome can be a symptom of another condition or can be a problem on its own. Sometimes pelvic pain can develop for no apparent reason, without any definitive source or cause. However, there has been a significant increase in research in the past decade to study the cause and optimal treatment for chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

There is “cure” for chronic pelvic pain syndrome, but there are many forms of treatments that can alleviate the pain; as well as relieve the psychological and emotional stressors caused by the chronic pain. continue reading »

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Adding the Benefits of Aromatherapy to Your Life

aromatherapyAromatherapy is becoming widely popular as an alternative treatment for infections, stress, and other health problems. You can find many lotions, candles, and beauty products that are sold as “aromatherapy”. Most of these products actually contains synthetic fragrances and don’t have the same properties as essential oils.

Aromatherapy is natural, non-invasive use of essential oils for physiological, psychological, and spiritual healing. Essentials oils are concentrated extracts taken from the roots, leaves, seeds, or blossoms of plants.  During an aromatherapy session, you may inhale the essential oils from a cloth (pillow and sheets), steam inhalations, vaporizers, or sprays. You can experience aromatherapy topically by applying diluted essentials oils during a massage.  Aromatherapy massage has been a popular way of incorporating essential oils in your life because it allows for your body to absorb the oils and breathe them in. All while enjoying the physical and emotional benefits of massage therapy. continue reading »

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Are You Suffering From Compassion Fatigue?

tiredHave you been feeling emotionally drained lately? Well it’s more common than you think. It’s called “compassion fatigue”. Compassion defined is the sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.  Compassion fatigue is extreme tension and preoccupation of suffering from helping people in distress. The “helper” absorbs the emotional pain from another and suffers from it as well.

Those who are typically in a “helping” profession are the most vulnerable to compassion fatigue, but anyone can have it if they are exposed to enough traumas. This includes nurses, doctors, counselors, social workers, emergency response workers, and caregivers. These workers struggle to function in care giving environments that face emotional challenges and trauma on a daily basis. The emotional impact of hearing stories involving abuse and other traumas can be transmitted through deep psychological processes with empathy.

Compassion can be confused with attachment, our own personal investment in the outcome of the situation. It’s important to distinguish if compassionate to the needs of another person or personal emotional needs that might be affecting you.

Unlike burnout, caused from everyday work stress and dissatisfaction with our employment situation, compassion fatigue results from taking on the emotional burden of a patient in agony. It has commonly been compared to a post-traumatic stress disorder, except the stress is a reaction to the trauma of another person. continue reading »

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The History of Massage Therapy in Ancient Civilizations

Akmanthor

Akmanthor

Pehr Ling, a Swedish physical therapist, was credited for the birth of the Swedish massage around 1776. It is common for most individuals to know what a “Swedish massage” is, but contrary to belief Swedish massage was not the first form of massage therapy.

There is a plethora of evidence to support that massage therapy has been used as a natural healing method in many ancient civilizations including China, India, Japan, Egypt, Korea, Rome, Greece, and Mesopotamia. Some say massage began as a sacred system of natural healing for injuries, pain, stress, and illnesses. Others disagree and believe that massage was not advocated or practiced until modern times. Prior to that, it was believed to be incorporated in other healing methods.

The history of massage is not easily found from research and there is much debate over the exact details, but here’s a brief overview of massage therapy throughout ancient history. continue reading »

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Benefits of Pediatric and Infant Massage

babiesWhen working with any pediatric client, massage therapy not only address their physical ailments, but their emotional care as well. Even if your child doesn’t have any health conditions, they are still experiencing pressure academically and socially more than ever before. Even as an infant, massage therapy is a way of communicating with baby, while building trust and understanding.

There are some very clear distinctions between the two modalities of infant massage and pediatric massage. Infant massage is generally limited to the age of 0 to 12 months. From birth to 18 years of age is generally considered pediatric. It’s important to know how each modality can help your child and why it’s important to start massage as early as possible. continue reading »

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