Health

Medical Spa Treatments for Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders can be frustrating and debilitating, affecting everything from your mood to your ability to concentrate during the day. While medication can be helpful, many people are looking for natural alternatives to improve their sleep. Medical spas offer a variety of treatments that can help to improve sleep quality and reduce the symptoms of sleep disorders. Let’s take a look at some of the medical spa treatments that can help with sleep disorders.

1. Massage Therapy

Massage therapy can help to relax the body and mind, reducing stress and anxiety that can interfere with sleep. A licensed massage therapist can work with you to create a customized treatment plan that addresses your specific sleep issues. They can use techniques such as Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, and reflexology to help you feel more relaxed and comfortable.

2. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body. It can help to balance the body’s energy and improve overall health and wellness. For sleep disorders, acupuncture can be used to target specific points that are associated with relaxation and improved sleep quality.

3. Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy involves the use of essential oils to promote relaxation and reduce stress. Different scents can have different effects on the body and mind, so a medical spa professional can help you choose the best oils for your specific sleep issues. Essential oils can be diffused into the air or applied directly to the skin for maximum benefits.

4. Float Therapy

Float therapy involves floating in a tank of water that is saturated with Epsom salts. The buoyancy of the water allows the body to fully relax, while the Epsom salts can help to reduce muscle tension and improve circulation. Float therapy has been shown to improve sleep quality and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

5. Yoga and Meditation

Yoga and meditation can help to reduce stress and promote relaxation, making them helpful tools for improving sleep quality. Many medical spas offer yoga and meditation classes or private sessions with a trained instructor. These sessions can be customized to meet your specific needs and goals.

Conclusion

Sleep disorders can be challenging to manage, but there are many natural remedies that can be effective. Medical spa treatments such as massage therapy, acupuncture, aromatherapy, float therapy, and yoga and meditation can help to reduce stress, promote relaxation, and improve sleep quality. By working with a licensed and experienced medical spa professional, you can create a customized treatment plan that addresses your specific sleep issues and helps you get the restful, restorative sleep you need.

Pemmican vs. Jerky: Which One is Better for Survival Situations?

When it comes to survival situations, having a source of food is essential. Two popular options for preserving meat are pemmican and jerky. But which one is better? In this article, we’ll compare pemmican and jerky and explore which one is more suitable for survival situations.

What is Pemmican?

Pemmican is a traditional food of Native American and Canadian First Nations people. It’s a mixture of dried meat, fat, and berries that’s ground into a powder and then compressed into small, dense cakes. Pemmican has been used for centuries as a portable, high-energy food source for hunters, trappers, and explorers.

What is Jerky?

Jerky is a dried meat product that’s been popular for centuries. It’s made by cutting lean meat into thin strips and then drying it in the sun or a dehydrator. Jerky is lightweight, portable, and can last for months without refrigeration.

Nutritional Value

Both pemmican and jerky are high in protein, but pemmican is a more complete food source. Pemmican contains not only protein but also fat and carbohydrates. The fat in pemmican provides a slow-burning energy source, which is essential for survival situations where food may be scarce. In addition, the berries in pemmican provide vitamin C, which is important for preventing scurvy.

Jerky, on the other hand, is primarily protein. While it’s a great source of energy, it lacks the essential fats and carbohydrates found in pemmican.

Preparation Time

The preparation time for pemmican is longer than that of jerky. Pemmican requires drying the meat, berries, and fat separately before grinding them into a powder and compressing them into cakes. This process can take several days.

Jerky, on the other hand, can be made in a matter of hours. The meat is sliced, seasoned, and then dried in a dehydrator or the sun.

Storage

Both pemmican and jerky can be stored for long periods without refrigeration, making them ideal for survival situations. Pemmican can last for years if stored in a cool, dry place. Jerky can last for several months but may lose some of its flavor and texture over time.

Taste

The taste of pemmican and jerky is a matter of personal preference. Pemmican has a rich, savory flavor that comes from the combination of meat, fat, and berries. Jerky has a smoky, salty flavor that’s popular among many people.

Both pemmican and jerky are great options for preserving meat for survival situations. Pemmican is a more complete food source, providing protein, fat, and carbohydrates, as well as vitamin C. However, it takes longer to prepare than jerky. Jerky is a quick and easy way to preserve meat, but it lacks the essential fats and carbohydrates found in pemmican.

Ultimately, the choice between pemmican and jerky comes down to personal preference and the specific needs of the situation. Both are great options for survival situations and can provide essential nutrition when food is scarce.

DIY Tropical Spa Set

The best of the beach. Two recipes that are spicy and sweet.

These two aromatic treats are sure to make you feel like you spent the day pampering yourself on the beach.  The great moisturizing and skin rejuvenating elements in this soap will do well for just about any skin type.  And the salt is just as wonderful a treat.  The two recipes are fairly easy to make and won’t break the bank either.

Tropical Soap

This spicy sweet scented soap is great for a morning shower.  You can pamper yourself with the moisturizing and stimulating effect of the essential oils before you are off to start your day.

Clear Glycerin Soap Base

Key Lime Essential Oil

Anise Essential Oil

Coconut Essential Oil

Coarse Rock Sea Salt

Turquoise Liquid Soap Coloring

Melt the soap base in a double boiler.  Prepare your mold with a mold release.  Then add the rock salt in a thin layer on the bottom of your mold.  Once your soap base is completely melted, remove from the heat, add your coloring and mix very well.  Next add your essential oils and stir then into the soap.  Pour the soap into the mold slowly being careful not to disrupt the salt in the bottom.  Let your soap set completely.  Once it is totally cool , unmold your soap and cut as desired.  Wrap in plastic for storage. 

Tropical Foaming Bath Salt

You can use this great salt in the tub for a great smelling bubble bath or you can wrap it in a washcloth and scrub in the shower with it.  Either way you will feel as if you had stepped out onto the beach.

1 Part Finely Ground Sea Salt

2 Parts Mineral Salt

Anise Essential Oil

Key Lime Essential Oil

Coconut Essential Oil

Grated Tropical Soap

Turquoise Liquid Soap Coloring

Put the sea salt in a sealable container.  Add the coloring and the essential oils and mix well.  Add the mineral Salt and soap shavings.  You will need to use a small bar of the above tropical soap for this recipe.  After you have made the soap above, set one aside unwrapped and with the sea salt area cut off.  Let it sit out for a few days to dry up a bit before grating it.  If you are having difficulty grating your soap dip it in sea salt ever few swipes on the grater.  (If you use additional salt to grate the soap add a couple extra drops of color.)  Store this mixture for at least a week stirring it everyday.  As the salt breaks down the soap, and it can take a good deal of coconut oil to balance the anise, your salt mixture may be wet or paste like.  That is perfectly fine.  It makes a great salt type scrub.

Source: Best Spa near Barrington

Do I Need Career Counseling?

Figuring out what you want to do with your life is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make, and landing the job you want is a challenge you may or may not be quite ready for. So how do you know when you need help?

Look at Where You Are and Where You Want to Go

1. Write down your long-range professional goals.

2. For each goal, write down the steps you need to take to reach that goal.

3. Think about where you are now. Is your current professional life satisfying? Does it fit who you are? Does it use your strongest abilities? Is your current professional life likely to lead you in the direction in which you want to go?

4. If the answer to any of the above questions is no, decide if you know specifically what you do want. Do you know what you need to do to get on track? If not, you could likely use some guidance to clarify and implement your goals.

Evaluate Your Job-Search Effectiveness

If you’re job-hunting:

1. Develop a job-search action plan. Include all the job-search strategies you can think of.

2. Assess your response to your resume. Are you getting interviews for at least 10% of the resumes you send to employers?

3. Make a list of possible ways to network.

4. Write down typical interviewing questions, effective ways to answer them, and questions for you to ask the interviewer.

5. List websites and other resources that have helpful and up-to-date information on a variety of job-search topics.

6. If you have difficulty with any of the above, a career counselor can help you develop and implement your career or job-search plan.

Tips

• Consider that it can be confusing and time-consuming to sort through all the information out there on job-search and careers.

• Remember it can be challenging to determine on your own which information is up-to-date and which is not (and the date it was written isn’t always a good indicator).

• Remember that, while it’s important to be proactive and independent in your career search, it’s also important to seek professional assistance when you need it.

Alternative Medicine – Acupuncture

The World Health organization recognizes over 40 conditions that acupuncture can treat. Migraines, Sinusitis, Asthma, Paralysis, Myopia to name just a few.

Acupuncture eases the pain and boosts the immune system by balancing the flow of life energy through the body. It has been used in China for thousands of years. The West however, uses it as a stand-alone treatment for a broad range of disease and conditions, from cold and flu to addictions, to chronic fatigue.

It is based on the belief that the body has a balanced flow called ‘qi’ ( also called chi) which flows through the body in 12 energy points. These are called ‘meridians’, linked to specific organs in the body.

Most modern acupuncturist uses sterile disposable needles that are so hair-thin ( about 0.007 to 0.020 -or – 0.18mm to 0.51mm) and therefore less painful. The upper third of the needle is wound with copper wire or plastic to stiffen the needle for insertion. Size, type, and how far inserted depends on the acupuncture used.

Western medicine treat vascular headaches with pills, but in acupuncture, it is treated by inserting the needles in the center, between thumb and the palm of the hand called the he-gu points. In acupuncture, this area is said to treat the head and face of the body.

Research has shown there is a relationship between the acupuncture points, called meridians and the electrical current in the body.

Acupuncture has also been shown to be beneficial to kids with ADHD. Studies show that 50% of kids treated with acupuncture improved the symptoms. Thus, researchers have concluded acupuncture is a good alternative to pills for hyperactive kids.

Acupuncture is growing in accepting by conventional medicine because almost a 3^rd of the Medical schools are now requiring something in relation to acupuncture be part of the courses.

As with other forms of alternative medicine, the legal aspects of varies from state to state. Some state’s has to requirement of acupuncture, while other states limit the practice of it. Still others require a referral to an acupuncturist from a regular Dr. Where it is legal, the acupuncturist must graduate form a state approved medical school, and pass a state licensing exam.

Healthcare providers can be used for referrals, in addition to national acupuncture organizations, a simple web-search can help. Also, ask the acupuncturist how much treatments are, and how many are needed. Some insurance companies cover these cost’s, and some don’t. Check with your insurance to see if acupuncture is covered before getting treatment.

Piriformis Syndrome

Piriformis Syndrome is caused by an entrapment (pinching) of the sciatic nerve as it exits the Greater Sciatic notch in the gluteal region. There are two normal variations for the exit of the sciatic nerve in this region. The first places the sciatic nerve inferior (below) to the Piriformis muscle and superior (above) the gemellus muscle. Entrapment in this area is likely due to a myospasm or contracture (tightening or shortening respectively) of either of these two muscles.

The second common site of entrapment is when the sciatic nerve actually pierces the piriformis muscle itself. This can occur in about 1% to 10% of all humans. In this case myospasm and or contraction of the piriformis muscle itself can lead to pain along the back of the thigh to the knee, loss of sensation or numbness and tingling in the sole of the foot. This particular syndrome can often mimic its more notorious counterpart known as sciatica, and that being the case, it is often misdiagnosed as sciatica. The main difference between sciatica and piriformis syndrome is in the cause. Sciatica is directly due to a lumbar disc pressing on the sciatic nerve as it exits the intervertebral foramen in the lumbar spine. What both of these complaints have in common is that both can produce pain, numbness and tingling below the knee and into the foot.

The main diagnostic tests performed by your doctor of Chiropractic is what distinguishes one from the other. With piriformis syndrome your chiropractor will not get positive tests results that indicate lumbar spine involvement. Often the patient may not be aware that there is a problem. Some cases won’t show up until a complete neurological exam is performed on the lower extremity. The patient may have chief complaints ranging from no pain to pain in the lower back to gluteal pain to numbness and tingling in the foot. As can be seen the symptoms in this condition can vary widely making the doctor who is not used to differentially diagnosing this condition from sciatica confused as to the cause of the condition.

Many weekend athletes and people who spend long hours sitting are prone to this syndrome. The athlete’s cause is primarily due to improper stretching and warm-up exercises as well as overuse during activity. In this case it is most likely that the piriformis muscle is irritated and usually in spasm.

For the patient who sits for extended periods of time, their primary cause is due to contracture of the piriformis muscle. In this case the piriformis muscle is shortened and does not allow for the smooth movement of the sciatic nerve during leg motion. A one-time direct trauma to the pelvis is very rarely a cause for piriformis syndrome due to the protection afforded the pelvis by the overlying musculature and fat. The causes of myospasm are many. Over use as during excessive fast walking without proper warm up and stretching (as during exercise), prolonged sitting, as for your treatment, many variables can hamper your successful recovery. Smoking, obesity, job and exercise as noted above in prolonged sitting and not warming up and stretching.

Any treatment plan must include stretching of the gluteal muscles as well as stretching of the piriformis muscles. Your Chiropractor can help you by instructing you on the proper exercises and stretches to perform. Many Chiropractors may also prescribe some form of massage be performed to the piriformis muscle in the gluteal region in order to relax these muscles.

Your chiropractor may also prescribe certain herbals remedies such as valerian root and passion flower to help relax the associated muscles during your recovery phase. Spinal adjustment as well as hip adjustment may also be required to relieve your symptoms.

Copyright: Acupuncture in Arlington Heights IL