Detoxification for a Healthier and More Energetic You

Do you feel tired all the time and have low energy? Do you have frequent headaches or are you sensitive to certain foods or chemicals? Are your hands and feet cold? These are some of the indications that your body may be toxic. Today there are 77,000 chemicals that are in active production in North America and more than 3,000 chemicals are added to our food supply. And one of the best ways to rid the body of these toxins is with the far infrared sauna.


Chemicals are everywhere. The EPA estimates there are more than 20,000 chemicals that our bodies cannot metabolize and everyday, we ingest tiny amounts of these chemicals. Pesticide residues are detectable in 50% - 95% of the food consumed in the U.S. “Silver" dental fillings contain mercury (a cause of Parkinson's disease and many other neurological disorders) that leaches out and is absorbed by the surrounding tissue and lungs. The average carpet outgases more than 12 chemicals (such as benzene, a known cause of leukemia) all of which can cause disease.

Dr. Sherry Rogers in her book Detoxify or Die elaborates of the pervasiveness of chemicals. “Air pollution and water pollution are only a small part of the toxicity story. There are thousands of harmful environmental toxins, some of which we’re aware of -- such as pesticides, chemicals, household cleansers, fertilizers -- and others, which seem perfectly innocent, such as those ubiquitous plastic water bottles, styrene cups, dental fillings, and plastic wrap. These are just a few small examples of the alarming amount of harmful toxins our bodies are absorbing every day.”

Studies show that most of us have between 400 and 800 chemical residues stored in the fat cells of our bodies. The Columbia University School of Public Health reports that 95% of cancer is caused by diet and environmental toxicity. If the chemicals are unable to be excreted from the body, they find their way into our liver, and then migrate to fat cells in organs throughout the body where they are stored. When our bodies exceed the limit for toxins we can excrete, those too are stored. Chemicals and heavy metals make up our "total toxic burden". This bioaccumulation compromises our physiological and psychological health and leads to chronic disease. As these chemicals build up, they alter our metabolism, cause enzyme dysfunction and nutritional deficiencies, create hormonal imbalances, damage brain chemistry, and cause cancer.

Because the chemicals accumulate in different parts of the body and at different rates and in different combinations, there is a disturbingly large variety of different chronic illnesses that can result. And because the complex interrelationship of these chemicals to the unique health history of each individual, the symptoms of chemical toxicity can manifest differently in each of us. Some of these may include:
HeadachesSkin ConditionsInflammatory DiseasesAutoimmune DiseasesChronic Fatigue and more
The sauna generates infrared light which is part of the Sun's invisible spectrum. It has the ability to easily penetrate human tissue. You can be exposed to Far Infrared heat for hours, and it will never cause your skin to burn. Far Infrared heat is completely healthy and safe for all living things. It is what makes the sun feel warm to you. Infrared heat is not the UV rays that cause sunburn. The temperature range for an infrared sauna is from 100-130° F and is much less than a normal Finnish sauna which ranges from 150-220°F. The waves of the infrared sauna penetrate the skin about 1 _-2 inches deep. This creates a natural resonance, which has many beneficial properties. Primarily it causes water in cells to react, causing the release of toxins in blood, sweat and urine.

Some of the benefits of an infrared sauna experience are:
Enhanced circulation and oxygenated tissuesIncreased energy production facilitating healingIncreased metabolismEnhanced sex lifeElimination of toxinsOpening of nasal passagesMore rapid healing of infectionsHastened tumor deathImproved nervous disordersRelief from digestive disordersEnhanced weight lossNormalization of blood pressure These are some of the many benefits that may accrue to the user of an infrared sauna. The sauna can be used by just about anyone and there are very few contraindications. Everyone has some form of chemical toxicity in their bodies, the only difference is the amount of chemicals and how the symptoms manifest. The infra red sauna is one of the best ways to rid the body of these unwanted toxins.

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Gentle Therapy For Seniors And The Infirmed

CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle, non-invasive form of bodywork that enhances the body's natural healing mechanisms by helping it dissipate the negative effects of stress on the central nervous system. This therapy is increasingly used by many as a preventative measure to maintain good health. Because of the gentle application of CranioSacral Therapy it is especially appealing to seniors and the infirmed.


Seniors
I first began treating on of my clients, who is 73 years old, because he had been suffering from chronic migraine headaches his entire adult life. Especially under times of stress, he would experience an unrelenting headache that would last 4 or more days at a time. Pain medication would barely bring him relief. He had come to accept the headaches as a way of life, but decided to try CranioSacral therapy on the advice of a friend.

During his first therapy session I discovered that the patient had experienced a blow to the head at the age of 19 when he was in the military. After his first 2 CranioSacral sessions this patient noticed a reduction in the frequency of his headaches. He continued therapy sessions with me twice a month. After 6 sessions, this patient noticed that he would get the feeling that a headache was about to begin, but the sensation would disappear and never turn into a full-blown headache. By his eighth session this patient was no longer experiencing migraine headaches. He now receives treatment once every two months to maintain the state of his health.

Seniors, especially once their spouse has passed away, are rarely touched in a nurturing way. The same situation exists for those who are infirmed. They are usually only touched by someone who is caring for their medical needs. CranioSacral Therapy gives me the opportunity to give seniors and the infirmed healthy, nurturing touch.

The Infirmed
My work as a hospice therapist brings me in contact with seniors in nursing homes and those who are bedridden and terminally ill. CranioSacral Therapy is such a gentle therapy that it can be used even on patients to are seriously ill. It can safely be used in conjunction with other therapeutic and medical procedures.

One of my CranioSacral patients was a 69 year old who had recently revocered from surgery and chemotherapy for bladder cancer. The patient's main complaint when he began treatment was that he was having trouble sleeping. He explained that since the surgery he could sleep for no more than 2 hours at a time. He had to get up all night long with the urge to empty his bladder. The morning after his first CranioSacral session this patient phoned me to say that for the first time since his surgery he had been able to sleep for 6 hours straight. This patient received only 2 more sessions and now, a year later, reports that he continues to sleep through the night.

How CranioSacral Therapy Works
The cranium, or skull, is made up of 22 separate bones. There is a misconception that the cranial bones grow together and fuse as we age. In fact, barring some trauma or rare condition, these bones continue to move throughout our lifetime, ideally in a rhythmic, healthy pattern. CranioSacral Therapy involves the therapist following the rhythm of the CranioSacral system and balancing and gently aligning the cranial bones and the sacrum. A very light pressure of as little as 5 grams is used. This is about the weight of a nickel.

A CranioSacral session usually takes place with the patient remaining fully clothed and reclining on a treatment table. For the patient who is seriously ill, the session can take place with the client on a bed. A therapy session can last from about 15 minutes to more than an hour. As a practitioner of CranioSacral Therapy I have seen my senior and infirmed clients benefit with better memory, better circulation, more energy and fewer aches and pains.

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