Face Massage Techniques

There are several different types of face massage techniques used in health spas, massage therapy centers and beauty salons. Many benefits are attributed to a soothing face massage from reversing the aging process to clearing up acne and reducing a double chin. You can learn how to give yourself a face massage easily.

Performing a Soothing Face Massage

Indian mothers teach their daughters to massage their faces regularly. This is done by cleaning the face with warm water and a mild cleanser, then applying a liberal amount of face cream or moisturizer. Using dabs of cold water on the fingers, the entire face is stroked with firm, long strokes. You will want to stroke your face upwards, including under your chin and up onto your face, always lifting the skin upwards, resisting the pull of gravity. Rub in circles around the eyes, then massage the third eye in the center of your forehead with circular motion. Finish the massage with a light misting of cool water scented with something mild like rose petals.

Yoga Facial Massage

Yoga facial massage is another face massage technique gaining popularity. This is done after a yoga session. You will want to lie on your back and stroke your face gently with prescribed motions. Start with two fingers on the sides of your face and stroke up and down along the points where your ears join your face. Then move to the temples, and using two fingers on each side of your temples, massage in a circular motion, allowing the circles to grow wider and wider until you are massaging your entire jaw. Next, run your hands through your hair, gently combing your hair, and then massaging the scalp.

When you are done with this, rub your hands together to generate heat in your palms.

The Perfect Meal To Boost Your Health

Good nutrition is vital to a strong and healthy mind and body. It's true what they say - you are what you eat.

This statement points out very effectively that if you feed your body with low nutritional and sugary garbage, your body has nothing to work with and you'll end up eventually feeling like garbage.

On the other hand, if you nourish your body with food that is packed with nutrients such as vitamins, fiber, healthy fats, whole grains and omega-3's, you'll notice a huge difference in how you look and feel...especially if you make this type of food a dietary habit.

Right now we're at a crossroad - we know we should be eating better, but there are so many restaurants available offering "bad" food and it's making the obesity rate skyrocket. Even restaurants that offer fish platters and other health-conscious meals end up not so good because of the amount of calories you ingest between the bread, large portions and dessert.

You have two options:

1. Stay away from fast rood restaurants - and when you eat out at restaurants, be strict about what you eat. Stay away from the bread and don't finish everything on your plate...bring the rest home for a meal you can eat the next day.

2. Make a meal at home yourself using ingredients you buy at the grocery store, not frozen entrees.

The focus of this article is on number two because by making your own meal, you can control exactly what goes into it. The end result is a meal that you know is nutritious and NOT packed with health-deteriorating ingredients.

Here's an example of the perfect meal you can make at home. It has everything you need for better health.

What you'll need is:

1 9-10 ounce bag of baby spinach
1 can of wild Alaskan pink salmon
1-2 teaspoons of olive oil
1-2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar
1/2-3/4 cup of brown rice

Here's a breakdown of each food's health benefits:

Spinach - this green leaf is packed with phytonutrients, vitamins and fiber - and it's low in calories.

Wild Alaskan Pink Salmon - yes, canned! It tastes better than you think. The reason this is recommended is because the food is a powerhouse of good fats, protein and omega-3's and is low in calories and carbohydrates. The salmon you would normally buy is potentially high in mercury, which is bad. This Wild Alaskan form is free of mercury...and it's inexpensive.

In case you're wondering, Omega-3's are vital for healthy weight loss, brain health and a healthy cardiovascular system.

Olive Oil - full of good fat which your body does need. When you buy olive oil, make sure it's 100% authentic. Some brands are now mixing olive oil with refined oils...the end result is olive oil, but not really.

Balsamic Vinegar - vinegar reportedly controls your blood sugar level when eating which is important for overall health. Furthermore, it gives the meal more taste.

Brown Rice - whole grains are full of vitamins and fiber. Check out Uncle Ben's instant brown rice...it's pretty good and quick to make.

Making the meal is easy. You simply lay the spinach out on a platter- you can more or less use however much you want- and drizzle 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the spinach.

Let this sit for 10 minutes or so- this gives the spinach a chance to soak up the oil and vinegar. While this is sitting, cook the brown rice and open up the can of salmon.

When ready, simply spread the salmon over the spinach and put the brown rice either on the side or in a separate bowl.

And now the best part of all - ENJOY!

This meal will take you 15 minutes max to make and each bite will nourish your body from the inside out. And once you get used to eating healthy, you'll find yourself experimenting with all types of different meals.

This article shared with you one example of a perfect meal, but there are many many more!

Fibromyalgia Q&A: Understanding Fibromyalgia

* What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia, also sometimes called Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Fibromyositis, Fibrositis, or Myofascial pain syndrome, is a continual disorder characterized by extensive musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, tenderness in contained areas of the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips sometimes referred to as multiple tender points or pressure points. It may cause sleep disorders, morning firmness, irritable bowel syndrome and nervousness.


* What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?

Though the symptoms of fibromyalgia can be unbearable, they are not serious. Symptoms may differ, depending on stress level, physical action, time of day, and the weather.

Pain is the main symptom, found in almost 100 percent of cases, particularly, pain and tenderness in some areas of the body when pressure is applied.

Fibromyalgia is a constant condition and symptoms may be continuous or irregular for years. Some of the most common symptoms of fibromyalgia consist of:

• Sleep problems
• Gastrointestinal such as abdominal pain, bloating and constipation
• Lack of feeling or irritations
• Unrelieved headaches
• Sharp sensitivity to odors, noises, bright lights, different foods, medication and
• Dysmenorrhea and painful sexual contact
• Repeated urination, strong urge to urinate, and painful urination
• Fast or irregular heart rate, and breathlessness
• Bulging sensation in the hands and feet, although swelling is not visible


* Are there different forms of fibromyalgia?

Yes, there are actually different forms of fibromyaligia. These forms are categorized according to the symptoms a person experiences. They are:

•Post traumatic – there is a record of a single incident such as a car accident the pre-dates the pain syndrome. The accident commonly is an effect of an intense tremor and wounding of spinal muscles. Patients first complain of headaches and afterwards complain of arm or leg stiffness or itchiness or pain.

•Repetitive Traumatic - The idea of this is that a repeated injury can add up to the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

•Mood related fibromyalgia - usually, most fibromyalgics suffer this syndrome especially if they are suffering from extreme anxiety and pain. As a result, to this, fibromyalgics develop mood disorders such as depression.

•Hormonal abnormalities such as hyperthyroidism – this commonly cause enlarged muscle tension, anxiety and sleep disorder (a perfect ingredient indicative of fibromyalgia).


* What causes fibromyalgia?

The causes for fibromyalgia are not identified. The condition creates unclear signs and symptoms connected with reduced blood flow to some parts of the brain and improved amounts of substance P believed to be a sensory neurotransmitter included in the message of pain, touch and temperature from the body to brain.

However, researches have found some other potential causes, includes the:

• Autonomic malfunctioning of the nervous system
• Constant sleep problems
• Psychological strain or distress
• Malfunctioning of the immune or endocrine system
• Upper spinal cord damage
• Viral or bacterial infection underwent


* Is fibromyalgia a real disease or just in my head?

Patients with fibromyalgias know that the pain is real and not just a fake. Fibromyalgia specialits also know their patients are experiencing real symptoms.

In addition, there is now evidence that fibromyalgia patients’ intense feeling of pain is not just an illusion or imagination.

It is now probable to look at the brain and see accurately where it is active. This thorough brain scan is referred to as functional magnetic resonance imaging. There is no escaping the fact that there is malfunctioning sensory activity going on in the brain when Fibromyalgics undergo this series of brain scans.

How Long Is The Healing Time After LASIK Surgery

LASIK is the most prevalent of all refractive eye surgery procedures. Though it’s quite intricate when we take into account the technology wielded by it, superficially, LASIK is a simplistic procedure that takes only about half an hour to accomplish. However, it is the postoperative period of LASIK that is often a source of mild discomfort to the patients. This is when the corneal flap, which was cut out during surgery, acts as a natural bandage and the cornea is healed – the healing time after LASIK surgery.

In general, LASIK allows for a rapid visual recovery. Most patients experience enhanced vision within a few days after surgery. However, don’t expect to jump off the operation table after surgery – the effects are not instantaneous. The refractive error will be corrected at the time of surgery but your vision may be blurry or hazy for the first day at least. It’s better to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery, since you certainly won’t be in a position to do it by yourself.

Though LASIK has several potential complications that might set in during the healing period, one of the most common is the dry eye condition. The surgeon would typically prescribe certain eye drops to avert infection and moisten the eyes. Regular postoperative checkups are pivotal during the healing period, since they help evaluate the recovery progress. The first follow up visit should typically be around 24-48 hours after surgery, and should be followed by regular visits until the first six months after surgery.

God forbid, any complications occur, your visual acuity will be restored within a few days. Any fluctuations or side effects normally subside and the prescription stabilizes within six months following surgery. However, the complete healing of the corneal flap may take up to a year or so, and the healing period may vary from one patient to another. What’s imperative is that the healing process must be meticulously monitored by the surgeon. Thus your main concern is to stick to a follow up visit schedule, and to heed to your surgeon’s advice on postoperative care.

If you find a LASIK surgeon that you are confident with, you will be able to get more information about post LASIK healing times.

Fasting A Day Helps In Many Ways

It may be a surprise for many but fasting is very good for our body if not done in excess. It is one of the best ways to clear toxins which are clogged in your body. It cleanses your body and improves your health. The accumulated fat in the body becomes a good source of energy. It is also said, by fasting on regular intervals your mind works sharply. You are not required to starve yourself to death while fasting.

If you are suffering from some disease it is a sign, given by your body, to stop eating. If you consume food during your illness it would be similar, to providing food to your sickness. The healing capacity increases by not eating. During the process of fasting you may suffer from headaches, nausea which is very normal. These conditions will bother you for few days.

Due to the decomposition of the toxic waste we can prevent many diseases like cardiovascular and circulatory glitches. Problems of digestion can be easily cleared by having clear bowel movements. Respiratory troubles like asthma and bronchitis can be slowly and gradually cured. Fasting also reduces weight because being overweight brings too many diseases along with it.

This act of avoiding food helps you to break free from addictions like caffeine and alcohol. Your bad eating habits get reduced tremendously. Junk food which we keep having creates unwanted problems for our system. A good diet gives you a disease free and healthy body. Every organ gets exerted to provide you with a fit and fine body. It grants you freedom from some of the common ailments like cold, flu, sinusitis and allergies.

If you are planning to manage your day just by drinking, you can use this herbal drink to clear your stomach. Take 8 cups of water in that mix ingredients like 4 tsp. cumin, 4 tsp. coriander powder, 8 cardamom pods, 4 tsp. crushed fennel seeds, 2 pinch black pepper, 1/2 tsp ginger powder or slice of ginger. After bringing this mixture to boil, simmer for five minute. Remove from gas and keep it covered with a lid for 15-20 minutes. Strain this liquid and have it warm throughout the day. You can also have clarified butter mixed in hot water every morning on empty stomach to remove toxins.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.