Eclectic Healing Guide's Menu

Here's a little taste of what Colette offers at the office.

Can you benefit from Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral Massage

 is a subtle form of bodywork in which the therapist works with the subtle third rhythm of the body that falls beneath the breath and the heartbeat. The therapist uses gentle holding, compression like hand positions to stimulate the client’s natural internal healing abilities. As the cerebral spinal fluid rhythm re-balances the skull bones are allowed to re-align, connective tissue unwinds and re-alignment within the connection of the cranium, spine and sacrum occur.  Clients wear loose comfortable clothing and remain fully clothed throughout the session.  Clients are on their back for the entire session. Hugely relaxing with clients often falling to sleep, this form of bodywork has been helpful reducing symptoms related to ADHD, migraines, TMJ and Chronic pain. It is also helpful when preparing to become pregnant and following child birth.

Little insight into Thai Massage

Thai Massage 

can be thought of as passive yoga for the client and active yoga for the therapist. It is an Eastern form of bodywork incorporating meridian stimulation (known as Sen lines), compression, abdominal massage, tapotement and emphasizing stretching. For the most benefit the therapist structures a routine to fit the client's needs and the balance between the client and practitioner. The client wears loose, comfortable clothing and remains clothed throughout the session. This massage takes place on a mat on the floor. Working on the floor allows the therapist to maximize leverage and increases the stretching benefits. Thai massage improves the flow of energy throughout the body, increasing vitality, flexibility and muscle tone. A traditional Thai massage has a minimal duration of one and one half hours.

Ice vs Heat Dilemma

People always ask which is better when it comes to sore muscles and soft tissue injuries, Ice or Heat.

Before a good answer can be given we must first understand what inflammation is and how it works with the body.

A basic definition of inflammation is the appearance of Heat, Redness, Swelling and Pain in and around an area of the body.

Inflammation is our body's response to disease, illness, infection or trauma. It is part of the body's immune system's first line of defense. When the body detects a foreign invader/substance or trauma it begins a chemical reaction. The resulting substances from the White Blood Cells are rushed to the site through an increase in blood flow. This increase in blood flow is seen and felt as heat and redness. Due to the rapid increase of the volume of immune substances in one area fluid can leak into the surrounding spaces which is then noted as swelling. The expansion of tissue and the response to this tension on the surrounding tissue can activate local nerves to transmit a pain response. As long as this event is short term/acute the process is reparative.  In the short term inflammation helps an injured area by increasing oxygen, proteins and other nutrients, destroying pathogens and toxins, and delivering repair materials and molecules. 

In general there are 3 phases of healing. Inflammation which can take between 1-3 days. Then Proliferation occurs which is the process of repair and requires a sufficient and proper supply of oxygen, nutrients and fibroblast. Finally is the Maturation phase which happens once the surface of the wound is closed.

The immediate response in the inflammatory phase is a contraction of the damaged area's blood vessels to prevent an excessive amount of blood loss. When the area switches to active inflammation the blood vessels dilate. Vessel dilation helps to increase the flow of blood and  increase the level of oxygen and nutrients. 

However, if inflammation goes on past 3 days it then is considered chronic and could then become damaging to the process of healing. The key factors in an area remaining in a state of healthy repair vs unhealthy is the degree and duration of blood vessel dilation, degree of permeability of blood vessels to properly regulate the amount and type of fluid, proteins, leukocytes into the healing area. For a healthy repair response blood vessel dilation should begin within 30 mins after the initial constriction of the blood vessels and the closure of the wound.

The main factor when determining when to use ice vs heat comes from the timing of the area requiring the blood vessels to be in a state of constriction vs dilation. If the blood vessels remain constricted for too long then the delivery of oxygen, nutrients and fibroblast is delayed and healing is thus delayed. However, blood vessels constriction does reduce or eliminate the experience of pain by inhibiting the communication of nerve impulses in the affected area. Sometimes it is necessary to initially inhibit the transmission of pain in order for the brain to allow the person to begin to calm down and thus direct the energy toward repair rather than defense. 

For many years the Gold Standard was set by Dr. Gabe Mirkin who developed the concept of RICE= Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. Due to the surfacing of new research Dr.Mirkin has now begun to alter his stance on ice. The key factor in the change came with the discovery that the macrophases (part of the immune cascade) produce as substance called Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1) which is the determining hormone for healing. The presence of this factor is required for both wound healing and muscle/soft tissue damage. 

When discussing soft tissue or muscle issues/damage, I believe we must now be considering whether the area is experiencing fascial dehydration rather than blood vessel damage or fiber damage. We would start by learning if there was a direct incident of trauma i.e. cut, hit or fall that could have resulted in broken bones or damaged tissue.  With a lack of contact trauma we then ask for an indication of tissue damage such as sign of broken blood vessels, bruising, redness, swelling or heat. If none of those signs and symptoms are reported but rather the person speaks of being unable to pin point the pain, there being a sensation of burning or pulling or a sharp stabbing pain that comes and goes and if these symptoms come following a minor task such as bending over to pick up a towel, repetitive motion tasks or after extreme exercise then we more then likely are dealing with a circumstance of fascial dehydration.

Ice is a tricky substance to use when treating the body because just like inflammation or any other beneficial thing too much of a good thing can lead to trouble. Ice is also tricky when used on an area which has signs of inflammation because the indications ice has been left on an area too long is redness, swelling, tingling and pain. See the problem? We usually know the negative affects of prolonged cold as an area turning blue, purple or black. These are extreme signs and if you see these it is too late. The other more settle sign is a white appears with a surface hardness. Again you don't want to get to this stage because that means you will lose the surface tissue due to cell death. 

Alrighty, so you are now probably saying OK Colette get with it and tells us when and how we should use ice. 

In general, if you are experiencing pain and you feel called to use ice, I would recommend using an ice cube and gentle rubbing it over the painful area. As the ice begins to melt stop and pat the area dry. This gives you a chance to determine if the pain is beginning to decrease. I would not do more that three passes and no longer than 10 mins total of ice in one area. If the area is too big or you are not able to reach it to move the ice cube then use an ice pack, bag or strap but only allowing it to remain in any one area for no longer than 10 mins and staying closer to 5 mins or less is ideal. By doing this you will be able to reduce pain, start taking the nervous system into a parasympathetic state which will calm the body and remain within the optimal time frame for the initiation of vessel dilation and the production of IGF-1.

If there is no pain then it is best to avoid ice!

New research involving the recovery time and performance of athletes now also offers more reasons to avoid ice. These studies show ice can reduce an athlete's strengthen, speed, coordination and endurance. In my opinion we must again consider fascia. When we understand fascia is in every cell of the body,  it runs through muscles fibers and it has 10 times more nerve ending in it than muscles carry; it makes sense that if the vessels flowing through it are constricted, then it will become dehydrated and without fluid there is less nerve communication. Less nerve communication means there will be a decrease in the sensation of strengthen, there will be a delay in motor response leading to a decrease in speed, there will be miscommunication from one area to another resulting in poor coordination and finally with nerve inhibition there will be muscle fatigue which means a decrease in stamina or endurance. 

Ligaments and tendons are a form of fascial tissue and they have less blood vessels than muscles. The limited number of blood vessels makes these tissues prone to delayed healing when compared to muscles and other soft tissue injuries. From what you now know about ice you see that icing these tissue will only decrease an already compromised state of wound repair.

When looking at duration of ice application we must bring our attention to research as far back as the 1980s that revealed the body will remain cold for several hours following stagnate ice of only 20 mins. When the body remains cold for this long the nerves again will decrease in conduction and can lead to permanent damage with the appearance of nerve palsies. However, if after icing, the area is rewarmed soon enough the risk of damage is greatly reduced, if not eliminated all together. This then speaks to the benefit of contrast thermal therapy. One can either accomplish this through a contrast shower or topical application in which one alternates cold, hot, cold, hot. If there were pain one would start with hot, cold, hot, end hot. If there was swelling one would start with cold, hot, cold, end on cold. In either case you would only apply the cold for no more than 10 mins.

Now for heat. You want to avoid heat where you see acute inflammation. If there is already an increase in blood flow, redness, and swelling you do not need heat. Heat will only further dilate blood vessels and increase the inflammatory response. 

Warm moist heat is the best when it comes to tissue repair. Using a hot water bottle, whirl pool or hot tub are the best options to providing a soothing environment to stimulate the rehydration of fascia and the relaxation of contracted muscles.  Water conducts heat better than air, with better conduction the heat is retained longer and can penetrate deeper into the muscle layers. The heat then is mimicking the inflammatory process of dilating blood vessels which increases blood flow and the delivery of oxygen and nutrients which allow the muscle to recover faster.  Dry heat such as from an electric heating pad can actually dry out the skin. Dry skin leads to dehydrated fascia, dehydrated fascia leads to pain. The best results are to apply the moist heat for no longer than 30 mins at any given time.

In conclusion, when trying to decide between ice and heat your choice will depend on how much you can tolerate pain and if there is swelling present. To achieve the best and longest lasting healing results and performance when it comes to sports, avoid ice unless there is pain or swelling. In those cases do not use ice for longer than 10 mins and if possible alternate ice with moist heat.  Moist heat is your best options when it comes to general, chronic muscle tension.

I hope you were introduced to new information and you find this information helpful.

Remember, I always advise you see a doctor if you suspect you have injured yourself so we know for sure if there is any bone damage or other serve tissue damage.

www.colette.massagetherapy.com

Are You Missing Your Core

All you have to do is ask google what your core is and the images you will see will be something like this

(Picture from Anatomy Altas)

Heavy on the Abdominal muscles. You'll see a lot of photos of bulging 6 packs. You will be given exercises focused on getting every muscle in your abdominal cavity rock hard. If your core is made up of all these "stomach" muscles then why are we still so unstable? What are we missing when it comes to strengtheing our core?

What we and most trainers are overlooking is the Diaphragm!

By definition a Core is the central, most important part of something.

Researchers in recent years are putting  out more and more information showing how the diaphragm is linked to just about every major system that keeps us alive. One of the biggest systems supported by the diaphragm is the body's Respiratory functions. As a person would die without being able to breath why have we ignored the diaphragm for so long? Maybe because it isn't out in front showing off like the Rectus Abdominis (pictured above) better known as the stomach's 6 pack.


When asked what is the primary muscle of respiration, I bet you wouldn't say the diaphragm. After reading to the end I'm sure you will now.


The diaphragm is so much more than just the primary muscle of respiration. It is one of our most complex muscles.

However, here I'm going to try not to get us lost in the complexity but rather try to reveal it's importance and wide reaching connection to other parts of the body.

In simple terms we can say the diaphragm is composed of  muscle, tendentious and fascial material. It is connected to the lower 6 ribs, the sternum, the spinal vertebrae, the Transersus Abdominis muscle and the Psoas muscle. It is part of the information super highway with various important nerves passing through it. Via its neuronal connections it is associated with the functioning of the TMJ, floor of the mouth and the pelvic floor. Its contraction and connection to the thoracic duct makes it the main facilitator of the lymph fluid being delivered to its final destination within the heart. It helps regulate oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. Finally it helps to regulate stress. Are we starting to understand why it is truly the body's core?


Since the diaphragm has be hidden and misunderstood for so long many of us are walking around with a dysfunctional core. You might be amazed how many of your aches and pains are probably due to this dysfunction.

What are some signs your diaphragm is offline and not functioning properly?

1. Your lower stomach extends down and past your hip bones while your low back sways/curves
2. Your upper stomach appears sunken under your lower ribs and your chest appears puffed out
3. When you raise your arms to your ears your elbows bend outward
4. Your head tilts excessively forward
5. You suck your stomach in when you inhale a breath
6. You raise your shoulders as you inhale
7. You push your upper chest forward as you inhale
8. You have chronic rib pain and/or need regular rib adjustments
9. You have chronic horizontal mid back pain
10. You breath through your mouth when resting
11. You have to take frequent deep breaths with a sigh and/or yawn
12. You have or had a hiatal and/or inguinal hernia

Ways to help get your diaphragm back online, enhance your posture and improve your breathing

1.  Soften and stretch the  fascia of your abdomen
2.  Stop trying to create rock hard abdominal muscles
3.  Stretch your quadratus muscles
4.  Strengthen your hamstrings and lower glutes
5.  Stretch the pectoral muscles
6.  Stretch the psoas muscles
7.  Begin to do more with your left hand
8.  Intentionally walk making sure to move opposing limbs i.e. take your first step with your left  foot while swinging your right arm forward and then your right foot with your left arm.
9.  Go back to crawling like a baby at least once a week. Here again use an opposing limb  movement.
10.  Stretch and soften your jaw muscles
11.  Practice extending your exhale

Now let's play around with some techniques to help activate your diaphragm and enhance your breathing.  


1. Extending your exhale:

• Either start by laying on your back or standing ( you want to make sure there is no bending       around the bottom ribs if possible) now inhale for a count of 1, hold for 1 and exhale for             your goal is to reach an 8 count
• Try exhaling with a candle : sit in front of a candle, create a circle with your lips (like you are going to breath through a straw), now breath slowing and gentle into the candle trying to make it flicker but not extinguishing the flame.

 2.  Connecting with the sides of your body. Lateral rib expansion:

       * Place your hands on the sides of your ribs, inhale through your nose while expanding your ribs
          into your hands, exhale through your mouth and feel your ribs drop toward your hips and                     make less contact with your hands. Repeat three times
3.   Modified circular breathin
      * Place your tongue to the roof of your mouth, inhale through your nose, pause, release your                  tongue, slowly drop open your jaw while exhaling through the mouth

One of the cutting edge information providers is the Postural Restoration Institute. From their site I have learned of the benefits of balloon breathing and the 90-90 hip lift balloon breath. The later is a pretty advanced technique, therefore I recommend you start with everything above building up to the full 90-90. You may also want to come in for help to make sure you are using proper form.

Variation one:

1. Hold a balloon to your mouth with your left hand
    put your tongue to the roof of your mouth
    inhale through your nose
    pause and release your tongue
    exhale into the balloon for a count of 4
    clamp the balloon closed with your left fingers,
    pause for a count of 4
    repeat : starting with the inhale through the nose
    You'll do 4 breaths in through the nose and
    3 breaths exhaled into the balloon with the 4th out          
    breath without the balloon

 Variation Two:

2. Lay on your back with your feet flat, shoulder width apart and touching a wall

    (don't push into the wall)

    put a ball or something between your knees

    keep your stomach soft throughout

    using your hamstrings lift your pelvis off the ground

    while keeping your back flat on the ground

    make sure not to press your feet into the wall

    repeat 4 times

   

Variation Three:

3. Combine 1 and 2

         Lay on your back with feet flat, shoulder width apart and touching a wall

         put a ball or something between your knees

         keep stomach soft

         lift the pelvis with your hamstrings

         hold a balloon to your mouth with left hand

         put your tongue to the roof of your mouth inhale through your nose

         release the tongue and exhale into the balloon

         clamp off the balloon with the fingers and count to 4

         keep the pelvis lifted

         repeat the breaths with a total of 4 inhales, 3 exhales into balloon

         and 1 exhale out of mouth without the balloon

         through out the right arm is by your side with hand palm up

      Arm variations for #3
        a. Do 3 with arm variation of right arm extended flat on surface next to the ear with straight                     elbow
        b. Do 3 with arm variation of right arm extended next to ear and raised into the air
     

Now that you have looked at the signs you have not been using your diaphragm properly and you have an idea of how to start addressing and changing your diaphragm's functioning you might be interested in more details.

Let's really get to know the diaphragm. It looks similar to a parachute.  It is dome shaped with the exterior being skeletal muscle and the interior being fascia (connective tissue). It is higher, thicker and stronger on the right side of the body than the left . The higher position on the right is due to the internal organs making space for the big shot, the Heart, on the left side of the body. It separates the upper part of the body (or thoracic cavity) holding up the heart and lungs from the lower part of the body (or abdominal cavity) surrounding the liver, gall bladder, spleen and stomach. It has fascia (connective tissue) that attaches to the back side of the sternum on both the right and left at the Xiphod process. 6 of its fascial threads attach to the lower 6 ribs (ribs 7-12) on both the right and left sides. Remembering there is an inner and outer component to the diaphragm therefore there is also fascial threads extending to the upper right border of the 5th rib and the lower left border of the 5th rib.  At the back of the body it has threads attaching on the right side to the first three  lumbar vertebrae and their intervertebral discs and on the left side to the first two lumbar vertebrae. Coming from the sides of the body going down toward the feet its fascia thickens and joins with the front portion of the psoas muscle and joins with the upper portion of the back muscle the quadratus lumborum. There is also a fascial connection into the transverse abdominal muscles. The diaphragm also has three major and several minor opening to allow the esophagus, vena cava, aorta and nerves and blood vessels to pass from the chest cavity to the abdominal cavity and vice versa.

The shape of the diaphragm changes as it works and depends on what and how the rib muscles are working.  The ideal method of breathing requires us to work the respiratory system in 3 dimensions. With need to be able to move vertically (from the hips to the clavicle and back down) , horizontally (moving the rib cage out to the arms and back in) and front to back (to the spine and away from it). How does this ideally happen? When you inhale the diaphragm is contracted, its central fascia is pulled down toward the feet which increases the vertical diameter of the chest allowing the lungs to expand and air to enter. At the same time the accessory breathing muscles, the muscles between the ribs pull the ribs up and out. As you exhale the diaphragm relaxes and folds in on itself pushing up on the lungs and the rib muscles pull the ribs in and down which pushes air out of the lungs. Due to the diaphragm's attachment into the spine the chest cavity also pulls away from the spine and in toward the spine to push air in and out.

It's the  diaphragm's relationship to the ribs and pelvic floor ( via the fascial connections to the psoas, quadratus lumborum and transverse abdominals) or the amount of contact between them which creates the true body core. The technical term for this contact is the Zone of Apposition (ZOA). The core stability comes from your diaphragm being able to achieve a  balance of pressure within the chest cavity and the abdominal cavity.When we have a balance of thoracic and abdominal pressure we stabilize our spine due to the diaphragm's fascial connections to the spine. This ideal is rarely achieved by most people. Most people are heavily relaying on their accessory rib muscles, the neck muscles connecting to the ribs (scalenes) and the pectoral muscles (chest muscles). The utilization of these muscles create what is known as a chest breather. The longer we chest breathe the more slack we place on the diaphragm. This slack in turn translates to a laxity of the abdominal contents the small intestines begin to slump down and forward. In an attempt to compensate the pelvis begins to tilt either too far forward or backward.

How does this loss of diaphragm power and chest breathing create more problems for the over all functioning of the body? As the intercostal muscles (rib cage muscles) and the chest muscles take over the lungs begin to get less and less space. This also happens when the body is placed in a dangerous situation. When we are in danger our fight or flight response kicks in and we recruit muscles which use less energy. In this situation our bodies release stress hormones like cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrine. The unfortunate thing for our health is the brain doesn't know the difference between chest breathing due to poor posture verses our body being in danger and consequently the brain signals stress hormones for both situations. Therefore, continual chest breathing equals continual low grade stress response. Now we are in a vicious cycle of dysfunctional breathing causing a stress response and the stress response causing tension on the muscles.To break this cycle practice the 11 tips above to retrain your brain and get your diaphragm back online.

This final picture shows a very simplified take on how we breath. It also shows that if we are heavily focusing on the abdominal muscles we are primarily utilizing one directional breaths.

We want to keep remembering 3 dimensional breathing. Our goal is not to replace chest breathing with abdominal breathing but rather to lead with diaphragmatic breathing that incorporates all the respiratory muscles as well as establishing proper functional thoracic and abdominal pressure.


Want a little jump start to your diaphragm rehabilitation program?
Come on in for a massage. We can use manual manipulation of the rib cage to loosen the intercostal muscles; abdominal massage to help soften the fascia of the stomach which will help to release the diaphragm. Massaging the psoas and quadratus muscle to address the imbalance of the pelvic girdle and improve the abdominal tension. Addressing any held tension in the jaw muscles to help break the stress hormone cycle. If this all sounds good, don't wait to put your self care first, Book Your Massage Now.

Click here:
http://eclectichealingguide.fullslate.com/

Thank you for reading.

All pictures from the Anatomy Atlas. Except for my personal photo :)

An Overview of Colette's Massage Modalities

Ever wonder what type of massages techniques influence Colette's fusion style?

Wonder what she is thinking as she plans your massage? Well, here you go:

In general Colette's massage sessions are eclectic. She pulls from several of the modalities below at any given area in a person’s body depending on what the muscles are asking for in the moment. The most important aid in her massage is the client’s ability to provide her with as much of the story of their muscles as they can in any given session. The more guidance she has as to what the muscles have been doing during the week, months or years, the more focused she can make the session and  better long term results will occur. 

Listed below you will see an overview of some of what goes on at Eclectic Healing Guide.

Therapeutic Massage:

This form of massage is geared to more chronic muscle tension and is a more focused massage targeting specific muscle groups rather than a generalized full body. The Therapeutic form of massage Colette utilizes is Deep tissue.  Her style of Deep tissue is based on Orthopedic Massage as taught by James Waslaski.

Deep Tissue Massage is not a massage just with increased pressure. It is a massage that employs the understanding of muscle action, tissue layers, tissue manipulation, muscle fiber direction, muscle shortening and lengthening capabilities and holding patterns. Deep refers to the therapist's ability to work with the muscles and tissue in a slow, focused manner that allows the body to take the therapist to a depth that will release the muscle restrictions. The goals of deep tissue are alleviation of pain, better posture, increased flexibility and range of motion and longer lasting benefits over time.

 Wellness Massage:

Wellness massage optimized touch to work with the body's chakra system, meridian system, circulation, lymphatic system and immune system to establish and maintain a good physical condition and health. The client is invited to relax and improve muscle tone leading to therapeutic effects on the respiratory, nervous and circulatory centers. Finding comfort the individual can more readily re-align in a state of mind, body and spirit balance.

Types of wellness massage:

Dry Brush Massage

As this technique takes about 5-10 mins. it is a great addition to the beginning of any massage. Our Skin is the largest organ of elimination. Many Naturopathic doctors recommend dry brushing for detoxification programs. This can be a way to combine your beauty and wellness routines. The process begins at the soles of the feet up the legs, hands and arms, back, abdomen, neck and ends at the chest.  Dry brushing removes dead skin and impurities, stimulates blood circulation and lymphatic flow, awakens skin nerve endings, and keeps pores open.  Therefore you will improve muscle tone, repair complexion and overall enhance your well-being. It is also recommend for those dealing with lymphedema.

Swedish Massage is the most well know form of relaxation bodywork techniques. It incorporates gliding, kneading, friction, vibration, compression and tapping (tapotement) in a stylized manner.

Thai Massage can be thought of as passive yoga for the client and active yoga for the therapist. It is an Eastern form of bodywork incorporating meridian stimulation (known as Sen lines), compression, abdominal massage, tapotement and emphasizing stretching. For the most benefit the therapist structures a routine to fit the client's needs and the balance between the client and practitioner. The client wears loose, comfortable clothing and remains clothed throughout the session. This massage takes place on a mat on the floor. Working on the floor allows the therapist to maximize leverage and increases the stretching benefits. Thai massage improves the flow of energy throughout the body, increasing vitality, flexibility and muscle tone. A traditional Thai massage has a minimal duration of one and one half hours.

Craniosacral Massage is a subtle form of bodywork in which the therapist works with the subtle third rhythm of the body that falls beneath the breath and the heartbeat. The therapist uses gentle holding, compression like hand positions to stimulate the client’s natural internal healing abilities. As the cerebral spinal fluid rhythm re-balances the skull bones are allowed to re-align, connective tissue unwinds and re-alignment within the connection of the cranium, spine and sacrum occur.  Clients wear loose comfortable clothing and remain fully clothed throughout the session.  Clients are on their back for the entire session. Hugely relaxing with clients often falling to sleep, this form of bodywork has been helpful reducing symptoms related to ADHD, migraines, TMJ and Chronic pain. It is also helpful when preparing to become pregnant and following child birth.

Therapeutic Aromatic Massage is a combination of Swedish massage and aromatherapy.  This is more than just for a pleasant smell to induce relaxation. The client selects from our list of oils to address their desired massage outcome and the oils are added to a base oil of coconut oil. The  essential oils Colette applies are free of copper, aluminum, herbicides and other agrochemicals.  Through this beautiful marriage of massage and aromatic oils the therapist seeks to promote emotional, physical and spiritual well-being.

Thai Aroma Massage is a combination of Thai pressure points to the head, face, feet, and back, Swedish and myofascial release techniques to back muscles, hydrotherapy and wellness supportive essential oils. The massage begins with energetic points in the head, face. Moving to the feet where the therapist applies oils while stimulating points in the feet. The client then turns onto their stomach for the therapist to utilize specific massage techniques and oils. The massage ends with heated towels on the back.

Reiki is a purely energetic bodywork technique. This session is mainly used for relaxation and chakra balancing. For those more familiar with Reiki the session will be customized to your physical, mental, emotional or spiritual needs. A full session will utilizes hand positions on both the front and back of the body. Energy travels from the chakras in the practitioners hands to the client’s chakras. This energy is experienced differently by different people. The sensations have been described as heat, cold, tingling or a variety of other sensations. Clients often fall asleep.  There is no manipulation of muscles or skeletal structure. The client wears loose, comfortable clothing and remains clothed throughout the session.

Foot soaks and massage:

This therapy is based on Traditional Chinese foot massage which consists of a foot bath followed by a massage on various pressure points in the feet, ankles and legs. The session begins with the client comfortable seated in a chair while soaking the feet in hot water infused with tea, herbs or essential oils and/ or Epsom salts for 5-15 mins. The feet are then removed from the water; one foot is wrapped in a warm towel while the therapist massages the other foot and low leg this should take about 15 mins. After both feet and low legs are massaged they are dried. The client can end the massage by relaxing alone with a cup of tea.

Maternity or pre-natal massage (I reserve this modality for established clients.)

This is a gentle massage that varies depending on the stage of pregnancy. At all stages the therapist avoids applying pressure to certain locations of the body. In the early stages of massage when the mother can still lie on her stomach the massage is similar to non-pregnancy massage except for avoiding heat and pressure points at certain locations. During later stages the therapist adds pillows or the use of a body cushion, for support and can even preform a full body massage while the mother is side- lying. The overall goal is the safety and comfort of both the mother and fetus.

Where are the Toes

Have you ever looked at your feet and wondered what was going on with those toes?

Since most of us regularly and frequently wear shoes and often wear shoes more for style than health and comfort, most of us have some mis-alignment of our feet and toes.

A.

This picture is from a site called our health network. com I think it is great to show what is going on with the different types of toe issues.

B.

This picture is from a site called md guide lines. This condition can often be seen joining hammer toes.

Most of the toe issues I see are in Women. The main reason for this is our footwear.  For the most part stylish shoes for women tend to be too pointy, too tight, high-heeled and sometimes too short. These conditions on a repeated basis cause pressure on the toes. Over time this pressure leads to toe muscle imbalance which leads to a pull and tension on the toe tendons. The longer the tendons are held under tension, they will become rigid and pull the toe joints out of alignment.

All of the conditions pictured above can start with poor, unhealthy footwear.

Another cause for Hammer toes is muscle imbalance starting in the low leg. When the calf muscles are overworked or over contracted and are not taken back to their normal resting length, the tendons of these muscles are placed under tension. The low leg muscle tendons end on the bones of the foot and toes. As these tendons pull the joints out of alignment and inflammatory process can occur. This process can then lead to Arthritis. Once Arthritis is on the scene we have a revolving door where one issue contributes to the other.

Finally, some people are prone to Hammer toes because their DNA sets them up for weaker or unstable structural support. A couple of examples would be flat feet or high arches. These conditions do not present by themselves, they usual arise from a postural deformity. The combination of the unstable structural support and muscle imbalances that follow lead to what has been described above.

What is going on exactly with the joints to show up as what we call Hammer toes?

C.

We can see the placement of the phalanges (Toe bones) in this great picture from fp notebook.

In a Hammer toe the metatarsal bone has bent down toward the floor shortening the tendon which causes the middle phalanges to raise up (refer back to picture A). A side effect of this joint raise is some degree of skin blister, callus or corn.

Claw toes like Hammer toes are the result of muscle imbalances, leading to ligament and tendon tension which leads to the mis-alignment of the toe joints. Again as with Hammer toes, this condition can have a revolving door occurrence with Arthritis.

What sets a Claw tow apart from a Hammer is the affect joint position.  It is believed that Claw toes are never seen affecting the Big toe. In a claw tow, again, the metatarsal bones are bent down toward the floor. However, now the middle and distal phalanges raise up.

One will most likely see a Mallet toe in the second toe, as this toe tends to be the longs toe on many feet. Like the other two, the issue starts with the metatarsal bending down toward the floor. However, the only joint affected here is the distal phalanges.

Now what is happening with the accompanying Bunion often seen with Hammer toes? 

Take a look at picture B. What you are seeing is the Big toe bone being pushed toward the first toe. Sometimes the Big toe can be pushed over or under the first toe depending on the degree and angle of pressure.  The longer pressure is applied to the Big toe bones, gradually the metatarsal bone will migrate lateral (to the outside).

D. 

This is nicely shown in this picture from wikipedia.

Over time, if left in this condition, the lateral (outer edge) of either or both of the lateral head of the metatarsal or lateral aspect of the distal head of the proximal phalanges can develop an over growth (thickening) of bone or tissue. For the most part the larger bump that is seen is the normal anatomy of the head of the metatarsal. The area often being tender to touch, red and swollen is the bursal sac at the joint junction. If the pinky toe is affect it is termed a bunionette.

It is interesting to note, people who live in cultures where they go barefoot all the time, lack signs of bunions. This would suggest that the major cause of bunions is ill fitting shoes.

I believe with early detection all of these conditions can be prevented or at least supported in a fashion in which they remain mild, do not lead to more issues and do not require surgical correction.

Even if you have had one or more of these conditions for a while we can help to stop its progress and provide better out comes if surgery is believed necessary.

How can massage help these conditions?
1.  we can locate the source of a postural issue and help to bring awareness and hopefully correction.
2. we can help to re-align muscles to help correct the muscle imbalances which in turn can alleviate the tension on the ligaments and tendons
3. with paraffin treatments we can help to bring new blood and oxygen to the ligament and tendons which in turn will help regain their flexibility and thus allow the  joints to move back into proper alignment with time.

What will you need to do to help your massage process be its most effective?
1. be willing to wear healthier shoes
    ones that have wider toe boxes, are flat and the proper size
2. speak to your MD regarding splints or other corrective devices
3. become aware of your posture and work to alter it to help balance your muscles

As always discuss your issues and how to treat them with your MD. So that you can go into your MD with more information check out healthyfeetstore.com to find great ideas for sandals, socks, shoes and devices. For a jumping off point google Correct Toes. For more support google Yoga Toes.

These are just a few ideas which with team work can help achieve healthy, pain free, sandal friendly feet.

For an appointment to plan for massage ways to address your foot issues visit :
 http://eclectichealingguide.fullslate.com/.

How to Start a Supported and Healthy Cleanse (part One)

The most important way to start a healthy and supported cleanse is to find the right medical practitioner. You want someone who will listen to your goals, needs and examine you to ensure all your systems can handle the cleanse you select.


Before you run out and buy a cleanse kit or a bunch of veggies to juice, stop and ask yourself why you want to start the cleanse in the first place.

1.  Are you doing it for more energy?
2.  Do you want to loss weight?
3.  Have you been eating processed foods, or a poor quality diet and you want to change your eating habits? With this change in your eating habits do you want to clear out the toxic effects of the poor diet and revitalize your system?
4. Have you been on antibiotics or other drugs that need to be cleared from your system? 
5. Have you quit or are you attempting to quit smoking and you want to clear out the toxins from this change?
6. Have you had extensive dental work with a lot of anesthetic and want to clean your system from this event?
7. Have you been told you have gingivitis or periodontal disease and you want to start healing your gums?
8. Do you think you have good eating habits but still don't feel like your are getting all the nutrients from your food? You want to cleanse to improve nutrient absorption?
9. Do you have poor digestion and want to improve the balance within your digestive system?
10. Do you come down with a lot of colds and you want to improve your immune system?
11. Are you prone to acne and other skin conditions and you want a healthier complexion?
12. Do you feel like you have brain fog and want better cognition?
13. How much time can you give to this cleanse?
14. Will you be working, going to school, taking care of a family or all of the above while doing this cleanse?
15. Will you be working out or preparing for an athletic event?

These are all important question for you to ask yourself. When choosing a practitioner to help support you through your cleanse, you should hear similar questions from them. If you don't they may not be the right provider to help you with a healthy and safe cleanse.

 You need a medical provider on board to examine you to make sure all your organs of elimination are functioning properly and can handle the extra load of toxins that will be released during the cleanse. In the naturopathic world the main organs of elimination are called, "emunctories”.

What are your organs of elimination?

1. Skin
2. Lungs
3. Kidneys
4. Colon
5. Liver

Some other systems that come into play during a cleanse are the

1. Lymphatic system
2. Heart
3. Mucus membranes
4. Energetic/emotional bodies

Some people should only attempt a cleanse under close supervision of a medical provider and some people will not be able to cleanse at all. Here is a list of some conditions that absolutely require a person to be examined by a doctor prior to undergoing a detox program.

1. Recent heart attack
2. Any Heart condition
3. Problems emptying stomach contents
4. Inflammatory Bowl disease
5. Increased calcium in the kidneys
6. Gastric bypass or other stomach surgeries
7. Inflammation of the large intestine
8. High amount of phosphate in the blood
9. Low amount of calcium in the blood
10. High or low amount of sodium in the blood
11. Low amount of potassium in the blood
12. imbalance of body fluids
13. Kidney impairment
14. Symptoms of Alcohol withdrawal
15. Any abnormalities of the colon or intestine
16. Fatty Liver Disease (AKA Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis or NASH)

The Basic labs that should be ordered prior to starting a healthy and supported cleanse are

1. Comprehensive metablic panel
2. Lipoproteins
3. Cholesterol
4. Triglycerides
5. Urinalysis

When you look at the conditions 8-12 above you begin to see why some of the fade cleanses like drinking salt water can be extremely dangerous for some people. Most of us really don't know if our electrolytes are in balance and if we go for the wrong cleanse we can make our systems more out of balance and then become sick. When this happens most people think it was just the cleanse eliminating toxins and they stop for a while not realizing something more serious is going on. Others think cleanses just are not for them and never go to a doctor to see what else could have gone wrong. Now just think if you attempted a detox program with one of the more severe conditions?

Another reason to have a medical provider on board with your cleanse program is to help you correct an imbalance prior to beginning a cleanse. In the process of correcting the imbalance your system will naturally go through a form of a detox. Furthermore, you may be completely healthy but need to work a full time job or care for a family and you can't afford to have low energy. A Naturopathic doctor can help you maintain your energy level while detoxing by providing you with IV supplementation and B12 injections. Naturopathes can also discuss other alternative therapies that can enhance your detox process, such as

1. Dry Brushing
2. Herbal Tea Foot Soaks
3. Abdominal Massage with Castor Oil Packs
4. Colonic therapy
5. Acupuncture

Your Medical provider can help you determine what type of cleanse your body really needs i.e.

1. Just an elimination diet = taking out all foods that could been seen by the body as an allergen
2. An elimination diet with Raw food only
3. An elimination diet with lightly cooked food
4. A combination of an elimination diet and herbal supplementation
5. A combination of an elimination diet and juicing
6. A combination of an elimination diet, herbal supplementation and juicing
7. A fast prior to any of the above
8. A fast only

I hope you now have a better understanding that one cleanse does not fit all people and there really is a need to have medical support.

I also hope that I have not frightened you about pursuing a cleanse if you have a medical condition. I did some form of a cleanse, fast or detox all through my 18 months of Cancer therapies while at the same time working part time, and going to school part time. The only way I was able to do this and be able to function was having a well trained team of Naturopaths on my side. They introduced me to IV supplementation, B12 injections, and acupuncture. They made sure to review all my labs to ensure that my liver, kidneys and other systems could still support me through the process. It was with this help that I believe I was able to avoid much of the side effects of Cancer therapy.

My goal here is to help you achieve the best possible health in the safest way!

Now get out there and research your health care provider and start your cleanse so that you can transition like the Earth.

Like I mentioned on my Facebook page I started this cleanse by visiting
Dr. Khivan Oberoi
You can find her at www.maansihealth.com

She and I had a great visit. Dr. Oberoi preformed a exam of my heart, lungs and took a blood pressure. She did an in office urinalysis and sent me for labs. It took a couple days and she called me with the results of my labs and gave me the OK to start the plan we came up with.

Stay tuned for my next installment of how to go through a supported and healthy cleanse.....

My journey with Lymphedema

My journey started with edema and actually I didn’t realize I had any selling outside of what I thought was normal for my surgery.  All things considered my initial swelling was probably within normal limits for a routine lumpectomy and nodal dissection.  I was fairly lucky as I only had four axillary lymph nodes removed during my surgery.  Until my left breast (the side that was affected by the tumor) started to decrease in size I lacked a true understanding of the degree of my swelling.   My lack of understanding came from the fact that my left breast after the lumpectomy was the same size it always had been and fit the same inside my bra. Once the swelling went down I dropped a cup size in the affected (left) breast. It has taken some getting use- to this change but I have grown to accept my asymmetry.  Many women have told me that I now live in the real world, for most women have  a marked asymmetry to their breast naturally. This edema I experienced was normal residual effects of surgery, not lymphedema.

My first experience with lymphedema didn’t happen for about 6 months after I had finished all my treatments.  My treatment journey consisted of chemo to decrease the tumor (which it did), lumpectomy to remove the tumor, another round of chemo (to address any residual cancerous cells in the lymph nodes) and ended with radiation.   Roughly, several months after radiation, I came down with chicken pox. Yes, chicken pox, not shingles, but a revisit of childhood type chicken pox. My primary physician at the time said it was probably due to the fact that chemo and radiation removed the immune history previous present in my body. Consequently it appeared, my body was not recognizing I had already been exposed to this antigen and now had to rebuild its antibody history. It was after this that I first noticed a mild swelling in my left arm. A visit to my oncologist gave me a diagnosis of lymphedema.  I was able to resolve that first bout of lymphedema with dry brushing and essential oils.  The next bout of edema occurred after I attended an advanced massage training course that lasted for five days.  This incident was much worse than the first. I was swollen from my left ear, the left side of my face, down into my left hand. What my doctor and I came up with regarding that occurrence was it was probably too much massage in too short of a time frame, along with, not clearing the lymph in the left arm before and after the deep work. Again I was able to resolve the situation, this time with dry brushing, essential oils and the addition of acupuncture. I was back to normal within 48 hours of this combination of treatments.  More recently I developed lymphedema, either, after a burn from my tea pot or performing massage with poor body mechanics, or a combination of the two. This time I was out of essential oils, I waited over a week to see my acupuncturist and three weeks later I was still dealing with the edema.  I was able to get it under control enough to return to my profession of massage. However, the lymphedema persisted at a low grade level and this time I developed fibrotic tissue.  I am not one to just sit by and let things be as they are; for this is what my oncologist had originally advised would be the case with lymphedema. He said once you get it, you probably won’t get rid of it and you will remain with some degree of swelling.  To see if there was something new out there I could incorporate to get back to a more normal state, I turned to the ever helpful internet.  What I came up with was the idea of heat therapy. Now this is not your standard idea of heat. This is Near Infrared heat via and LED light. My first session I used it in 15 min. increments from my left hand into my armpit, for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. By the next morning more of the swelling was gone, the pain was gone and there was a breakdown of the fibrotic tissue. I began to use the Near Infrared light three times a day for 30 minutes, had three more acupuncture treatments, performed dry brushing once a week jumped on my mini-trampoline and continued with my essential oils. It took a month from start to finish to get my left arm free of lymphedema this time.  I guess I should mention I am over 5 years clear of my cancer.  For perspective, I have had three bouts of lymphedema over a span of 5+ years.

From what my oncologist has said and what I’ve read via the internet, doctors cannot tell who will develop, when they will develop or exactly why they will develop lymphedema. My story is an example of lymphedema  being somewhat unpredictable and attests to the fact that recognizing it early and starting treatment right away can help manage it and possible resolve it (at least for a time).

I am writing this blog to provide insight as to what lymphedema is and to give tips on how to help manage it. If you are one of the few to have to experience it, hopefully through these tips, you won’t have to suffer quit so much.

There are two forms of lymphedema, primary and secondary. In the world of cancer a person is generally diagnosed with secondary lymphedema. This form is defined as; a swelling of a body region (arm, leg, stomach, neck etc.) due to a build- up of lymph fluid in the fatty tissues in the spaces just under the skin. It can occur as a result of cancer, cancer related treatments or disease; basically anything that damages the normal healthy functioning of the lymphatic system.

Let us start by directing our attention to what the lymphatic system is and how it works. The lymphatic system is important in eliminating toxins from the body. It also helps prevent infections and other diseases. Our lymphatic systems are a complex network of lymphatic vessels, tissues and capillaries. Lymphatic capillaries can be found in the connective tissue of nearly all organs and drain into larger connecting vessels which contain valves. These vessels push their contents toward the nearest lymph node and from there into nodal sinuses. Eventually the large vessels drain into the thoracic duct and the right lymphatic duct. Tonsils, lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow and thymus are examples of lymphatic tissues. Cells associated with this healing network that help identify and remove harmful viruses, bacteria, fungi as well as other harmful substances are, lymphocytes (T-cells and B-cells), leukocytes, macrophages and plasma cells. The spleen is the organ that filters and purifies the blood and lymph fluids. T-lymphocytes come to maturity in response to a hormone in the Thymus and are released from this organ as T-cells.

In general terms, when we speak of improving the immune system we are discussing how well the body, once exposed to a pathogen, can create an attack in the form of a physical barrier and an antibody. What this means is your body basically has to get sick before it can heal itself. The more your body is exposed to antigens (what the systems deems as a foreign substance), the better able and faster able it will be in healing itself. Your body's first defense is the epidermis and its ability to prevent foreign substances and matter from penetrating to the deeper skin layers. The second line of defense is a bit more complex and involves those cells we mentioned above, the Lymphocytes, Leukocytes, and macrophages, which work together to identify, bind to and remove what they deem as invaders.

If the immune system along with the body's ability to bring blood to an area (inflammation= blood flow with heat and redness) works overtime, then we can have an abundance of antibody-antigen complexes, immune cells and inflammatory molecules in an area. This abundance can block blood flow and prevent tissues and organs from being properly nourished and ultimately causes damage and break down. Luckily the body has a complementary system that helps keep this immune system soluble and flowing steadily. The lymphatic system is involved in keeping the balance here.

The circulatory system, the movement of blood, is run by the pumping of the heart. They lymphatic circulation does not have a pump. Lymphatic fluid moves in only one direction, upward to the heart, from the extremities (feet and hands). The valves we spoke of earlier that are housed within the lymph vessels are one way valves to prevent back flow. Body movement, smooth muscle contraction and pressure from breaths create the movement of lymph fluid. The ultimate goal is to get this clear plasma; that has traveled all over the body, between cells, within cells and in the space of tissues, back to the heart. The movement of muscle and pressure of breath must be great enough to bring this fluid out of all the spaces and into the vessels. Basically the body needs to drain it back to the heart via the thoracic duct. There are two separate and unequal drainage routes for this lymph fluid.

The right side route takes fluid from:

• right side of head and neck
• right arm
• upper right quadrant of the body
• to the right lymphatic duct at the clavicle
• which empties into the right subclavian vein

The left side route takes fluid from:

• left side of the head and neck
• left arm
• upper left quadrant of the body
• lower trunk and both legs
• approximately at the middle of the abdomen is the cistrena chyli a midway station
• then to the thoracic duct which empties into the left lymphatic duct
• then into left subclavian vein

The lymph is taken from the veins into the heart to be cycled again in its fresh state.

In the world of cancer the healthy lymphatic system becomes compromised in some form. With some people, their body attempts to rid them of their foreign bodies, i.e. cancerous cells by trying to process them through the lymph nodes. However, if there are too many of these cells and/or if the immune system is not functioning at top performance, then the lymph nodes can’t sufficiently eliminate these harmful cells and they remain. With the nodes clogged the lymphatic system can’t do its job of being a detoxifier. In other individuals the nodes are free of cancer but to find this out the surgeon must first remove at least one node.  Lymph vessels are also removed as they wrap around and travel into the nodes. Thus depending on the number of nodes removed the individual’s already slow moving lymphatic pump is made even more in adequate.

Then we have the complication of radiation, which can destroy or create (create, meaning radiation can also cause cancer by damaging to the point of creating free radicals). The medical field tells us that radiation can put a woman at higher risk for lymphedema. However, we are never really told how our risk is increased by this process that can kill our cancer cells. I think it’s because that would be a very long and complicated discussion to have with our radiologist at a time when we just want to get healthy. Here, I will use my limited knowledge and understanding of this process to try to decrease the complication of this subject. The nature of radiation is to direct high doses of an ionizing energy to the field affected by free radicals (our cancerous cells), and affect the cell at the level of its chemical bonds and change them. The high powered beam of energy, that is directed between our little tattoo marks, enters our body and begins to break chemical bonds and alter the composition and/or structure of the cells in the pin pointed area.  We want this damage to be great enough to kill cancer cells.  This cell death can either be a loss of function (the cell can no longer perform the job it was made to do) or a loss of reproductive ability (the cell can no longer reproduce other cells but can still complete its functions).  It would be ideal if the only death that occurred was to the free radicals. However, we know this is not currently the case. We can see the death of other cells when we notice our energy level decreasing or we see “sunburned” skin. There are also more severe and less common signs such as nerve, bone, and lung damage and swelling from lack of proper lymph flow.

If a woman has a combination of surgical removal of lymph nodes/vessels and radiation then her risk for lymphedema increases due to the fact that she has doubted the damage to her lymphatic system.  Now when this woman is faced with infection; a pathogen, toxin build –up, prolonged static compression, blood vessel damage, or some other trauma to the compromised region or body in general her limited pump free lymphatic system is asked to work overtime.

For most women their body figures a way to pick up the slack so to speak and they never experience lymphedema.  Let’s remember there is a difference between acute swelling from surgery and radiation and lymphedema. Once again, in general, swelling after any surgery is to be expected in some degree.  However, for those who we know are going to go through surgery and radiation for breast cancer we should share our helpful tips so that we can increase the number of women who never have to experience lymphedema. Make sure the person going through surgery or radiation consults with their doctor first and gets a time frame for when the follow tips will be OK to start:

·         Use the affected arm to do your normal daily functional activities, such as brushing your hair and teeth, dressing, bathing and eating. These activities will re-activate the pumping of the lymphatic fluid and guard against tightening of scar tissue and muscles

·         Raise your affected arm above the level of your heart 2 to 3 times a day for at least 45 minutes. You can lie down with your arm support by placing pillows under it so that your hand is higher than your wrist and your elbow is higher than your shoulder. What you are doing is trying to work with the natural flow of the lymph fluid. Remember the lymph flows in one direction toward the heart. By raising the hand above the wrist, elbow above the shoulder you are allowing gravity to draw the fluid toward the heart.

·         Perform functional movement to your affected arm by either *supporting it while raising it above the level of your heart to open and close the hand 15 to 25 times, or * supporting it while shaking the hand for 5 minutes. Repeat  3 to 4 times a day. This will help by pumping the lymph fluid through the undamaged lymph nodes and vessels. Remember the lymphatic system lacks its own pump and needs external help even in a healthy undamaged state.

·         Again if your doctor gives you the OK. Begin to work towards resuming your normal shoulder and arm range of motion by gentle functional exercise about a week after surgery. Your doctor will either give you exercises or refer you to a physical therapist for the right ones for your condition. With these exercises you should regain full range of motion within 4 to 6 weeks.

On the other hand a few women‘s lymphatic systems will not be able to handle the extra load and lymph fluid  will back into the fatty tissue and spaces just below the skin  When this happens these women will experience swelling and even pain which will be diagnosed as lymphedema. Again when this will happen is not predictable. It can occur a week after treatments, months after or even years later. However, the longer lymphedema is left untreated the more and longer lasting damage it can create in the affected body region. Also, it is my understanding, lymphedema lacks a permanent cure. Due to these facts we need to spread the word about what to look for and how to go about getting the situation evaluated by a doctor.

Here are some things to look for when trying to decide if you should consult your doctor:

·         Swelling in the breast, arm, chest, wrist, hand, fingers, face or neck

·         An area feels full or heavy

·         An area feels tight  (you may take this to be a tight muscles)

·         Less movement or flexibility of a joint (shoulder, elbow or wrist)

·         A thickening feeling of the skin

·         The skin may appear to have blisters or warts

·         The skin may have a change in texture

·         The skin may have a color change of some kind

·         Skin may appear to have developed a rash or red bumps

·         The skin or part of the arm or shoulder feels hard

·         Clothing or jewelry isn’t fitting the same and you haven’t gained weight

·         Skin feels itchy or has a burning sensation

·         New ach or discomfort in the breast, arm shoulder or hand

·         Trouble sleeping

·         Loss of hair in the area

You should immediately call your doctor or nurse if you have any of the following symptoms:

·         New pain in the affected area with no known cause

·         A temperature of 100.5 degrees or higher not related to a cold or flu

·         Any part of the affected area that looks red, feels hot and swells suddenly

With any of the signs and symptoms above you want to see a doctor not only to diagnose lymphedema but to rule out other issues.

 What types of test are there to determine lymphedema?

·         Review of your medical history, current habits and a physical exam

·         Lymphoscintigraphy which is an image of the lymph system to located blockages or other issues. A radioactive substance is injected under the skin and taken up by the lymph vessels. The substance is detected by a scanner and analyzed by a computer.

·         MRI a series of detailed digital images of the inside of the body done by magnet, radio waves and analyzed by a computer.

If your doctor does diagnose you with lymphedema they will probably judge how severe it is to determine what course of action you should take to treat the episode. In general this is what they will look for:

·         The area is mildly swollen and feels heavy. When the doctor presses on the area they leave a pit or dent.  This situation they my say will just go away with time or they will try having you raise your arm to drain the fluid or they will send you for lymphatic drainage therapy

·         The area is moderately swollen, feels spongy or hard. Hardness is a sign of fibrosis. When the doctor pressing on the skin it does not leave a pit or dent. With this situation they will probably send you for therapy.

·         The area is severely swollen. If it is advanced enough it can be called lymphostatic elephantiasis. And they will definitely speak to you about treatment options.

There are things to do to help lower your risk of developing lymphedema that you should do or request for the rest of your life:

      ·         Wear a medical alert tag that states you are at risk for lymphedema

·         Always tell any health care provider that you are at risk for lymphedema so that they avoid drawing your blood, placing IVs, giving you injections, and flu shots or vaccines on the affected arm.

·         Have good hygiene and careful skin care to lower the risk and avoid infection

·         If you get an insect bite, torn cuticle, hangnail, cuts or scratches specially from an animal, tend to it immediately by cleaning and disinfecting the area

·         Avoid cutting your cuticles with scissors by keeping your hands moisturized and cuticles soft

·         Wear protective gloves when doing heavy manual work, working in the yard, using chemical cleansers that could open the skin or steel wool

·         Protect against needle or pin pricks my wearing a thimble while sewing

·         Try to avoid using a razor or hair removal cream (go with an electric shaver)

·         Use organic chemical free insect repellent to avoid bug bites

·         Avoid extreme cold which can cause rebound swelling leading to skin chapping and possible infection

All of the above is geared to help lower the risk and/or prevent infection. Why do we need to be so diligent about infection? Remember your first defense against infection is your immune system. This system’s response is to send white blood cells and other immune fluid to fight against any detected pathogen. Often this process creates extra fluid which will trigger the secondary defense which is the lymphatic system. However, in your case your lymphatic system is missing or has damaged lymph nodes and vessel and thus can’t redirect the extra fluid fast enough. Consequently, you can now develop edema.

Make sure you aware of what you are doing in the kitchen and while outdoors. Some of these suggestions are going to be harder to follow than others.

·         Wear oven mitts that cover your lower arms

·         Use SPF 15 or higher sunscreen that is free of chemicals and metals. Take special care to put sunscreen on any area that received radiation. In general once you have under gone radiation your body is more prone to sunburn. Try to avoid full sun exposure during the hours of 10 am and 4 pm when the sun rays are the strongest.

·         Avoid oils splashes from frying, steam from boiling liquids and microwave steam

·         Avoid heating pads to the affected area

·         Avoid high heat of saunas and hot tubs

Again we are trying to avoid increasing a fluid build-up in the affected area. The body’s response to burns is one of protection and an attempt to heal, which is done once again through the immune system which can increase the amount of fluid that they lymphatic system must deal with. And the body’s response to High heat is dilation, which means an increase in fluid flow to the area. And again we are at risk for lymphedema.

Become mindful of stagnate constriction or prolonger pressure to your affected arm. This can be done by:

·         Reminding your health care provider to take your blood pressure on the opposite arm. This is easy if your affected arm is the right one because it is standard of care to take blood pressure on the left arm because it is closer to the heart.

·         If both arms are affected a pressure can be taken from the thigh or ankle

·         Avoid anything that creates a tight/snug, band/grip around your arm, wrist or fingers such as tight clothing, jewelry, gloves

·         Avoid wearing straps from briefcases and/or purses on the affected side

·         Make sure you are sized and fitted for a proper bra. Avoid bra straps that dig or leave impressions in the skin.

·         Directly after mastectomy start with a lighter weight prosthesis

·         Prepare a head of time for air travel due to the increase in cabin pressure. It is a good idea to discuss your travel plans with your doctor and talk about getting fitted for a compression sleeve. You want to be professional fitted because a sleeve that is not made for you and your lymph flow could actually further restrict and back up your lymph fluid which would double the pressure imposed on the body by the cabin pressure.

What we are taking into consideration here is compression or squeezing can increase blood flow into nearby blood vessels. While stagnate constriction (compression that is prolonged and non-moving) can increase pressure in the nearby blood vessels. Both of these can trigger a back-up in fluid and thus lead to lymphedema. Remember the lymph flows in one direction toward the heart. If you place something in its way it will be like putting a barrier in a stream or river.

Become more aware of how you move your body throughout the day and try to avoid over working your muscles. This can be done by:

·         When possible using the unaffected arm or both arms to lift or carry heavy packages, groceries, purses or children. These activities can cause an increase in pressure or a stagnate compression as we discussed above.

·         Avoid exercising to the point of strain or tearing muscles. If the muscles experience a strain or tear the body will trigger an immune response leading to inflammation and depending on the degree of injury can lead to lymphedema.

Some have found weight gain to be connected to an onset of lymphedema. This could be due to the fact most foods that help us put on the extra pounds also are a source of inflammation to the body and a source of toxins. Further extra fat increase the need for more supportive blood vessels. All of this can then lead to an extra burden on the lymphatic system.

To review the most important way to help lower the risk and/or prevent lymphedema is to take care of your whole body (physical, emotional, mental and spiritual) first and for most!

Where can you start on your journey of making your health a priority? Start with what you put into your mouth. Seek books that will enlighten you on what works best for your type of cancer. Here are a few that I know of as helpful:

·         Anticancer: A New Way of Life by  David Servan-Schreiber MD, PhD

·         Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health by William R. Davis and William Davis

·         The Anti-inflammation Diet and Recipe Book by Jessica Black

Basically, it is all about increasing your vital life force. This can be done not only through nutrition but also through complimentary health care, such as acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, yoga, Chiropractic care, physical therapy, massage and mediation. If you live in Portland, Oregon a great way to have someone introduce you to a means to network with all of these care options is to contact a fellow survivor Tonya Priestly through her non-profit organization Sisters4survivors (www.sisters4survivors.org).

Here are some other things I have tried personally:

·         Essential oils to support the circulatory systems 

·        Dry brushing; I refer you to my blog about dry brushing for its benefits

·         Manual lymph pump, this must be done by another person to you

·         Manual lymph drainage, you can be taught how to do this for yourself or go to a trained therapist

·         Mini-trampoline, this helps to increase the flow of lymph

·         Near infrared Led Light, I received my through a company named Gaiam

Here are a couple of things I haven’t tried but know are out there for treating lymphedema:

·         Lymphedema pump machines for home use

·         Compression sleeves

·         Lymphedema surgery (this is still not perfected and has mixed results, as far as I have read to date)

I truly hope that my experience and what I have learned from it can be helpful to you or someone you know. May your light grow, may your passion increase and may your life force be inspiring to those around you.