For much of our history, we\’ve employed herbs to reduce painful injuries and illnesses, and inflammation in muscles, joints, and connective tissues. A tree had given us \’the wonder drug\’ to treat pain, that occurs because of its anti-inflammatory properties. These days, a lot of expert natural health therapists and home-users are instead turning to aromatic oils for their anti-inflammatory properties, as well as addressing the painful symptoms of inflammation.

Therapeutic grade essential oils offer an easy method of utilizing the profound inflammation-reducing actions that holistic treatments can provide. All one does is measure a few drops of essential oil in with a seed or nut oil and rub in for nearly instant, often long-lasting, pain alleviating results.

A review of the latest data reveals a long list of abstracts in which researchers have validated the anti-inflammatory potential of therapeutic essential oils. The oils utilized in treatments have been meticulously produced to keep their curative activity. You\’ll see these labeled as \”therapeutic grade\” essential oils.

The aromatic oils used in aroma therapeutic practices are in-fact diverse natural chemical compounds, comprised of many individual chemicals. Based on the plant source, may provide an effective biochemical action which puts a halt to the formation of inflammation-causing molecules in the body. Certain essential oils whose potential for this activity is somewhat obvious, being produced from medicinal herbs that have long been used for this need. Ginger root is one of these, as is Curcuma longa, where both the plants and the essential oils have this action.

Carbon-dioxide distillations (a new, cooler-temperature method of producing aromatherapy oils) of each these roots are found in nutrition supplement formulations. These CO2 extracted oils can easily be bought for any practitioner to utilize anti-inflammatory actions in their own formulations.

Recently released in the Journal of Lipid Research are the data from a study performed in Japan that confirm the inflammation-reducing action of a few essential oils. This supports the idea of using aromatherapy oils in recipes for reducing pain and inflammation. The essential oils shown to lessen the inflammatory response from occurring act by means of suppression of the COX-2 pro-inflammatory enzyme. The pure essential oils used in the experiments included oils from edible herbs like oregano and fennel, and a variety of others such as rose, bergamot and eucalyptus.

The plant oils renown by knowledgeable therapists to have the strongest inflammation reducing properties commonly used in aromatherapy practice have yet to be researched (oils like Helichrysum and German Chamomile). The implication is that there are naturally a great many of compounds present in pure essential oils that have anti-inflammation properties.

The most pronounced inflammation relief in the research was produced by the natural essential oil from the common herb of thyme. The research continued using individual constituents of the oil, and it was found that a molecule called \”carvacrol\” demonstrated the the most profound anti-inflammatory activity. This constituent is found in a great number other essential oils as well.

This is just the tip of the ice burg, examining anti-inflammation activity of distilled plant oils. The take home message is that essential oils can provide a truly efficacious, cost-effective practice of addressing symptoms of inflammation, certainly those resulting from joint degeneration in addition to other physical pain related to aging. Essential oils are also typically are not just masking the symptoms of pain, but can really help heal the disease, such that the pain in the future can be eliminated after a course of therapy.

Podiatrists from orthotics Sydney companies are people who make inner soles for peoples shoes. These inner soles are otherwise known as orthotics and they can be bought randomly or custom made. The benefits to using these are numerous and sports people in particular will benefit from this.

Soles that are already inside the shoes will be removed and replaced with the new custom made ones. Wearers of these new inners will notice that they have better support and that their posture improves significantly. It is best to go to registered podiatrists as they will have a good quality of work that will give customers the results that they are looking for.

The inner soles must be made to last for a considerable amount of time. They also need to fit the shoes properly. Non custom made soles are often branded and are stocked by the podiatrists. Sports people such as runners, baseball and basketball players will be advised to get the customized variety. People who wear casual shoes and trainers should also have them.

There will be much support for the feet and at the same time strain will be reduced on other body parts such as the knees, hips and ankles. Misalignment of the feet is corrected by the inners and this improves the posture. It will become very noticeable that pain diminishes rather rapidly when people make the switch to these inners.

People with arch problems such as too high or fallen arches will experience much relief from the use of inners. For people with neutral arches, better foot alignment is promoted. The inners function better and this helps the shape of the archers. People will find that joint pains in the hips, ankles and knees reduces quite a lot.

Sports people know how important their feet are. Specially designed sports insoles are helpful in supporting the ball of the foot and the heel, which makes walking and running a pleasure. Tired feet are re-energized, thanks to orthotics Sydney.

Dating back to 3000BC or perhaps as far back as the Stone Age, there has been said that acupuncture is in fact one of the oldest means of medical care on the planet. Acupuncture and meridians being confusing enough, trying to figure out the reason why they contribute to better health can be quite the task. We will take a look at the exact nature of this practice by asking and answering some questions, specifically those surrounding acupuncture meridians.

The Meaning of Acupuncture

Acupuncture is used to balance energy levels and eliminate blockages, which may be preventing your health from achieving its optimum state. The energy system of the body can be manipulated with the use of very fine acupuncture needles. This energy system flows through the body, and can be accessed via a variety of 500 specific acupuncture points found along what is called the acupuncture meridians. These points are related to every system and function of the body, housing both positive and negative energy.

The Meridians

There are twelve main meridians which connect the 500 acupuncture points, and they are found along your legs and arms. With balance they provide optimal health and happiness. When unbalance they result in life and health being unbalanced as well. The Yin and Yang can be compared to the flip sides of the same coin. This is where the balance needs to be in order for all aspects to be positive and aligned.

When making the association between Yin and Yang, picture the two sides of a coin as mentioned above. On the one side, the Yin holds responsibility for negative aspects, such as darkness, passivity, coldness, wetness and the feminine. The other side would be the Yang, which holds responsibility for all positive aspects such as brightness, activeness, dryness, heat and masculine. You will also find that each of the main meridians house their own elements of Yin and Yang.

These twelve meridians are located:

At the inside of your arms, body to fingertips – Yin

Along the outside of your arm from your fingertips to your face – Yang

Along the outside of your leg from your face to your feet – Yang

And along the inside of your leg from your feet to your body – Yin

The following organs are affected by the 12 main meridians:

1. Lungs

2. Large Intestine

3. Stomach

4. Spleen

5. Heart

6. Small Intestine

7. Urinary Bladder

8. Kidney

9. Pericardium

10. Triple Warmer – This meridian affects the thyroid and the adrenal glands which regulate your metabolism and affect your immune system and has a profound affect on your stress reaction.

11. Gall Bladder

12. Liver

The Yin side includes lungs, heart and pericardium with the arm meridians, while the Yang side of the arm houses the meridians for the small intestine, triple warmer and the large intestine. As for the leg meridians, the Yin side covers spleen, kidney and liver, while the Yang side covers stomach, gall bladder and bladder.

Each of your organs, as you probably already know, play a valuable and essential function in the effectiveness of your overall health and the optimal functioning of your body. When one is out of balance, blocked, or not functioning optimally your entire body and even your emotional state can be significantly affected.

There is a reason why this practice of acupuncture and the balancing of the body’s energy through accessing meridians is still practiced today – it works.

According to Hindu thought, chakras are the energy centers of the human body. These are the key points at which our life force move through the body and are what keeps our body and mind functioning properly and in harmony with each other. While you can’t see your chakras, the major chakras are closely associated with the major parts of your endocrine system (which is tangible).

Our chakras are responsible for controlling the flow of energy into and out of our bodies. We depend on this constant flow of energy both internally and between our bodies and our environment. To keep in good health, our chakras must be in a balanced state.

The seven major chakras are ties to the function of a particular gland in our endocrine system. Our chakras are tied to everything we go through; each feeling, sensation and experience we have are related to our chakras.

Physical, emotional and mental stress can cause imbalance in the function of our chakras and when this occurs we feel lethargic or show signs of physical illnesses. This illness is a manifestation that there is something not right about how our chakra functions.

To get the most of the harmonious function of our chakras, chakra balance must be maintained. Regular chakra balancing is key to keeping in good health, similar to the way that a machine needs preventative maintenance.

Importance of Chakra Balancing There are many different ways to balance your chakras; others are always being developed to help people reach a state of perfect balance in their chakras. This is the goal of those who want to have a more healthy, happy and productive life.

This all begins with an understanding that each chakra resonates to a different frequency; these frequencies are naturally occurring and help the chakras to perform their important function of transmitting and receiving energy; also known as prana or chi.

During periods of illnesses, our chakras are still functioning but may be out of synch which can hamper the free flow of energy to further aggravate our physical and/or mental and emotional illness. Other contributory factors to the malfunction of our chakra system are undue stress or the inability to cope, suppressed emotions, unhealthy food intake, and lack of exercise.

The balance of your chakras can, happily, be restored; although they will get out of balance from time to time, but this can be corrected.

Tools of Chakra Balancing: The methods which are most commonly employed to restore chakra balance are crystals and gems, light, sound, color and aromatherapy.

Colors: Commonly used colors and their corresponding chakras are red (the root chakra), orange (the sacral chakra), yellow (the solar plexus chakra), green and turquoise (the heart chakra), blue (the throat chakra), violet (the crown chakra) and white for any of the primary chakras.

Crystals and Gems: For millennia, laying gens, crystals and stones on the body at the location of the chakras has been used to restore chakra balance., Each chakra corresponds to a different color; so laying a stone of this color on the bodily area which corresponds to it can help to reach the proper balance, which in turn helps the body to heal.

The light reflected by these stones can also help by getting this light into the body (and your chakras).

Light: Light therapy employs light not only on the eyes, but also on the reflex points and the meridian points of acupuncture to restore chakra balance. The broad spectrum of light is very beneficial here, including both visible and invisible frequencies, including those corresponding to the chakras.

Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy uses essential oils, massage oils which are scented as well as scented bath soaps to help the body heal and to restore proper chakra balance. Essential oils can return mental and emotional stability to a person who is out of balance. Aromatherapy is also effective in relieving stress, promoting relaxation and can also assist in alleviating depression and helping one to reach a meditative state.

Sound: Sound therapy utilizes music, tuning forks, quartz, Tibetan singing bowls and other sound creating objects to create a state of well being and to generate frequencies which are resonant with the chakras. Sound has a natural soothing and therapeutic effect due to its direct appeal to the emotions. A beautiful sound can create a state of serenity, while a harsh, discordant on will produce anxiety. Sound can in fact bring about faster healing and a higher state of consciousness.

Until very recently, chakra balancing was a difficult process which could take a great deal of time. However, technological advances in the audio field have brought us binaural frequencies, subliminal sound and self-hypnosis recordings; all of which have made chakra balancing much easier to achieve.

With the new labels of CO2 and SCO2 next to the traditional steam and hydro-distillations, solvent-extracted absolutes, and cold-pressed, a little education for the aromatherapy enthusiast is in order. Does one produce a nicer smelling oil, or one with more therapeutic value? Is one process better than another? Essential oil production, similar to the making of fine wines, is an art form as well as a science. The value of each process depends greatly on the experience and care of the distiller. Each method is important, and has it’s place in the making of aromatherapy-grade essential oils.

Steam and Hydro-Distillation

Steam distillation, the most common method of essential oil production, involves the flow of steam into a chamber holding the raw plant material. The steam causes small sacs containing essential oil to burst. The oil is then carried by the steam out of the chamber and into a chilled condenser, where the steam once again becomes water. (Hydro-distillation is a similar process where the plant material is boiled, with the resultant steam being captured and condensed). The oil and water are then separated; the water, referred to as a hydrosol, can be retained as it will have some of the plant essence. Rose hydrosol, for example, is commonly used for it’s mild antiseptic and soothing properties, as well as it’s pleasing floral aroma.

A number of factors determine the final quality of a steam distilled essential oil. Aside from the plant material itself, most important are time, temperature and pressure, and the quality of the distillation equipment. Essential oils are very complex products; each is made up of many, sometimes hundreds, of distinct molecules which come together to form the oil’s aroma and therapeutic properties. Some of these molecules are fairly delicate structures which can be altered or destroyed by adverse environmental conditions. So, much like a fine meal is more flavorful when made with patience, most oils benefit from a long, slow ‘cooking’ process.

The temperature of the extraction chamber should be maintained within a reasonable range, lest some components of the oil be altered or destroyed. This also applies to the chamber pressure. The essential oil of Lavender flowers, for example, should not be processed at over 245 degrees and three pounds per square inch. Tougher conditions will result in a harsh scent – more chemical than floral.

High temperatures and pressures are often used to produces large quantities of oil in a short period of time. The oils are often destined for use in cosmetic and food products, but can sold as essential oils for use in aromatherapy. These oils will be less expensive, though they are of limited therapeutic value.

What are Absolutes?

Some plants, and their flowers cannot be processed through steam distilling. They are too delicate, or their fragrance and therapeutic essences wil not be totally released by water. These oils will be produced as ‘absolutes – and while not technically considered essential oils they can still be of therapeutic value (the technical description of an essential oil is the aromatic compounds of a plant produced by steam distillation). Jasmine oil and Rose oil in particular are delicate flowers who’s oils are often found in absolute form. Jasmine oil is only found as an absolute, whereas rose is available in both a a steam distilled form and as an absolute.

The processing of an absolute first involves the hydrocarbon solvent extraction of a ‘concrete’ from the plant material, a semi-solid mixture of typically 50% wax and 50% volatile oil. The concrete is again processed using ethyl alcohol (the same alcohol found in beer, wine, etc.) in which the wax is only slightly soluble. The volatile plant oil separates into the alcohol and this mixture is removed. The alcohol is then evaporated and the result is an almost pure plant extract – depending on the care taken in the evaporation process, sometimes 2% or less of the ethyl alcohol may remain. The use of solvents in the extraction process notwithstanding, absolutes can have incredibly deep and complex aromas.

CO2′s and SCO2′s – Using Carbon Dioxide as a Solvent

The most modern technologies are Carbon Dioxide and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide distillation. Both methods involve the use of carbon dioxide as the solvent which carries the essential oil away from the raw plant material – though the gas essentially acts as the steam in steam distillation. The only difference between the two are the temperatures and pressures used – though neither uses a temperature greater than 87 degrees. With release of the pressure in either process, the carbon dioxide escapes in its gaseous form, leaving the essential oil behind.

These carbon dioxide methods have noteworthy benefits: Like steam distillation, there are no solvent residues left behind, and the resultant product is quite pure. Like solvent extraction, there is no heat applied to the plant material or essential oil to alter it in any way. The oil produced is very accurate with respect to the original state of the plant. The CO2 methods also are the most efficient, producing the most oil per amount of plant (one of the reasons for the high cost of essential oils is the low yield of oil from most plants – one ton of Rose petals produces less than 1 pound of oil, for example). The efficiency of CO2 extraction is particularly important when rare or endangered plant species are involved, such as Indian Sandalwood oil – less of the precious plant is needed to produce an equivalent amount of oil.

The Simple Cold Press

Cold pressing from the rinds of citrus fruit proudces oils such as Bergamot, Sweet Orange, Lemon, Lime, and the like. This involves the simple pressing of the peels at about 120 degrees. Little, if any, alteration from the oil’s original makup occurs – these oils retain their bright and uplifting aromas, like that of smelling a wonderfully ripe fruit.

Is there a Best Method?

CO2′s, with some obvious advantages, are not always the best choice for a particular need. They still are the most expensive, despite their higher yields. The resultant product differs slightly compared to one produced another way – the oils produced by steam distillation of some plants may sometimes be found to have a more agreeable aroma. Patchouli oil, for example, seems to benefit from the steam distillation process by becoming a little warmer and richer. Many other essential oils are quite effectively produced via steam distillation, with little alteration from the original plant state. Oils from other plant species do seem more ‘complete’ with CO2 processing, with Frankincense oil and most of the ‘spice’ oils being good examples where a little something special is present in the aroma. This likely translates to greater therapeautic properties.

Producing essential oils of aromatherapeutic grade is skill requiring years of experience. It takes the work of a dedicated artesian at every step, from growing and harvesting to fine-tuning the distillation process, to produce a truly fine oil. The making of a fine essential oil relies far more on knowledge and experience than it does on the particular extraction method. There are, however, legitimate reasons to select one distillation method over another – some plants simply require a particular process to produce a fine oil, and the oil needed for a particular application may only be made by one process. In the end, as is often the case in aromatherapy, your own sense of smell can tell you which oil will work best for you.

Back pain at some point will rear its ugly head with most of it. It may be lower back, shoulders or maybe the neck. Either it is the result of injury or it is the more gradual progression. If it is more gradual, then do not wait until it is a problem to get it looked at. If you are injured you go immediately, but when back pain just creeps up, then we do nothing. There are treatment options available. Preventative options are better. Check with your health care professional on a course of action for you. Most likely, massage therapy will be part of the healing process. Professional massage therapy is preferred, but not always convenient. Massage chairs are another alternative with many benefits

There are many possible causes for back pain, but the most common are from lifting, posture, sitting, pregnancy, stress and injury. More traumatic back pain is usually associated with lifting and injury. Usually a sudden sharp pain is felt and the damage is done immediately. Minor back pain, on the other hand, may result from posture, sitting, stress, or even pregnancy. These pains accumulate over a period of time and result in dull, prolonged aches and pains. These can be cumbersome to live with and cause considerable discomfort. Finding out how to help heal these conditions requires a multi-prong approach.

Getting diagnosed is the first step. Your health care professional can chart out a plan of action for you. Following the treatment is important to actually achieve progress in healing your condition. Minor back pain can cause considerable discomfort. These back pains are accumulating and tend to build through time. The result is minor back pain that can be uncomfortable. On the treatment side, unfortunately, treatments require time. The healing process is not overnight. New routines may need to be established. These new routines are to correct the causes to stop the damage.

Usually one needs to takes some form of corrective action to start to correct the problem causing the back pain. In the case of minor back pain, changes in sitting position may be required. Posture may require holding your shoulders back and not slouching. Stress may require more resting and decompression time. In any event, your doctor or chiropractor can help set you on the right course for treatment. Then the healing process needs to get established.

Tension, aches, pains, anxiety and soreness are all symptoms of back pain. Although we start to change our habits, these symptoms may not go away immediately. We may need relief from some of these symptoms. Massage therapy is an effective modulator of these symptoms. Most people think of going to a therapist to get a massage. However, massage chairs have advanced with the ages and provide some amazing full body massages. Massages range from deep tissue to Shiatsu to Hawaiian. Nothing like having a massage therapy machine at your disposal 24/7.

Consult with your doctor or chiropractor and find the best course of action for your particular condition. Do not just continue to live with the pain. Find relief for your back pain. There are many options available today. You owe it to yourself and your family to get the healing process going. Relieving your discomfort can go a long way to changing your outlook on life. Do not wait find out how you can get relief today.