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Posts Tagged ‘shoulder’
Nature Creation Valentine Gift Sets
February 4th, 2011
Grandparents Special from Nature Creation
August 17th, 2010
There is no better way to let your grandparents know, if you really
care and love them by sending some beautiful gifts
from Nature Creation on Grandparent’s Day!
You also will be eligble to get FREE SHIPPING,
if the total amount of purchase is above $50.00
(Customers must select “FEH — FedEX Ground Service (USA Only)“
shipping method during checkout to receive FREE SHIPPING)
Nature Creation Neck Wrap — $10.00 only
August 2nd, 2010
You also will be eligble to get FREE SHIPPING,
if the total amount of purchase is above $50.00
(Customers must select “FEH — FedEX Ground Service (USA Only)“
shipping method during checkout to receive FREE SHIPPING)
Introduction
Many people experience a stiff neck once in a while. Although a stiff
neck is usually nothing to worry about, the discomfort can make it
difficult to concentrate on anything else. Some people may experience
more frequent neck pain. It can be caused by stress, injury or by
other health problems. Chiropractors may offer relief, such as a
simple massage to alleviate pain caused by muscles spasms or other
injuries. Unfortunately, this service can be quite costly and is not
always available at the time of need.
Nature Creation® is offering simple to use products, which can be
applied instantly with immediate results. Our natural packs, filled
with a blend of 9 herbs can help alleviate any discomfort and pain in
your shoulder and neck area:
Nature
Creation® Neck Wrap
This pack has a simple “U” shape design, which can be used either hot
or cold. This anatomically designed wrap will precisely follow the
contour of your neck and upper back area to provide excellent supports
and comfort. The Nature
Creation Neck Wrap can also provide support for your neck while
sleeping or resting. If you heat it up, the pack will help relieve
muscle tension, stress, minor headaches and pain around the neck area.
It can help with sprains, stiffness, neck injuries, and other traumas
to the area. The natural scents produced by the herbs are also very
soothing and relaxing. as the pack’s cold application can help reduce
muscle stiffness and inflammation in the neck.
Product Details:
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Box Contains
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1 Set of Neck Wrap |
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Available Colors
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Black, Blue, Green, Purple, Red.
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Product Size
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Approximately 12.0″ x 12.0″ x 1.50″ (U-Shape)
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Product Warranty
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1 Year Craftsmanship Warranty
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Application
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Hot, Cold, Moist
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Materials/ Fabrics
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100% Cotton
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Filling Ingredients
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100% Natural Herbs (Chamomile, Cinnamon, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Rosemary, Spearmint, Yarrow, Yellow-Dock Root, White Willow), Flax Seeds, Wheats.
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Manufacture
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Made in USA
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Habits to worsen your back
June 24th, 2010
back care
It’s the fifth most common reason for hospitalizations and third most common cause of surgery. And 56% of people with lower-back aches say symptoms disrupt their daily routines, including sleep and sex. Talk about a pain in the…back.
There are many possible causes of back pain, which means there are also many non-invasive solutions, according to Todd Sinett, a chiropractor and coauthor of The Truth about Back Pain. “Back pain is rarely one catastrophic event,” he says in the book, “but several situations combining to create pain.” And it turns out that some seemingly insignificant everyday habits can take a big toll on your back over time. Here, the top 14 mistakes that may be causing your aches and how to correct them.
1. You’re Chained to Your Desk
Did you know that sitting puts 40% more pressure on your spine than standing?
Let’s be honest: Maintaining proper posture is probably the last thing you’re thinking about when under a major work deadline. And on a jam-packed day, regular stretching breaks may not seem like a wise way to spend your time. But skipping these habits may cause your back to suffer. That’s because back muscles will weaken if you don’t use them; inactive joints lose lubrication and age more quickly.
Fix It: Sitting at a 135-degree angle can reduce compression of the discs in the spine, so lean back slightly every now and then. Do it when you take a phone call or a coworker stops by to chat, Sinett recommends. Make sure your office chair supports the curve of your spine, he says: Your lower back should be supported, and your head should be straight—not lurching forward—when you look at your computer screen. Get up and walk around for a couple of minutes every half hour—take trips to get water, use the bathroom, or grab papers off the printer.
2. You Have a Long Commute
Just like at your desk, hunching over a steering wheel can tighten chest muscles and cause your shoulders to round.
Slumping posture can zap energy and make you look heavier, not to mention cause back and neck problems. Back pain is the number one complaint of the patients of Darran W. Marlow, DC, director of the chiropractic division at the Texas Back Institute, and he advises them to first think about their driving posture.
Fix it: “Be sure you sit at a 90-degree angle, close to the wheel so you don’t have to stretch,” he says. “Extending your leg puts your back in a compromised position, but many people don’t even realize they’re doing it.”
3. You’ve Been Ditching the Gym
Get moving to alleviate aches and pains and fix back pain faster.
New research shows that 40% of people become less active after back pain strikes—a strategy that’s likely to delay healing or even make their condition worse.
Fix it: In fact, most sufferers would benefit from more exercise—particularly frequent walks, which ease stiffness, says spine surgeon Raj Rao, MD. For instant relief, he recommends stretching your hamstrings and hips.
4. You Don’t Do Yoga
By improving circulation and lowering stress, just about any kind of exercise promotes back pain recovery. But yoga may be best.
University of Washington researchers say yoga eases lower-back pain faster than conventional exercises. In a different study, 101 patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups. The first group took weekly yoga classes and practiced at home; the second group participated in weekly exercise sessions developed by a physical therapist, plus practiced at home; and the third group received a self-help back care book. After 3 months, the yoga group had better back-related functioning, compared with the other two groups. And after 6 months, patients who took yoga reported less back pain and better back-related functioning. Because it promotes deep breathing and relaxation, as well as stretching and strength, yoga may help with both emotional and structural triggers of back pain.
Fix it: You can find yoga classes everywhere—at gyms, YMCAs, and local studios. Make sure to tell the instructor about your pain so she can help modify certain moves for you.
5. You’re Addicted to Crunches
Sit-ups and crunches may actually cause more back pain than they prevent, according to Sinett.
We hear all the time how a strong core protects your back, which is true. But crunches don’t work the ab muscles that stabilize your back. In fact, they can contribute to pain by causing what Sinett calls core imbalance, “a condition of excessive compression, which results in the spine curving forward in a C-like shape.”
Fix it: You don’t have to ditch crunches entirely, but you should do them slowly and use proper form. Include them as part of a broader core workout that also strengthens your transverse abdominus. This muscle is particularly important for a strong, steady core that supports your back, and the best way to strengthen it is with (noncrunch!)
6. You’re Not the Healthiest Eater
Research shows that eating habits that are good for your heart, weight, and blood sugar are also good for your back.
Finnish research found that people who suffered from back pain were more likely to have clogged arteries to the spine than healthy control subjects. Healthy circulation brings nutrients to the spine and removes waste, says Sinett. If this doesn’t happen, inflammation can result, and inflammatory chemicals in the back can trigger nerves to send pain signals to the brain.
Fix it: A back-healthy diet is one that reduces inflammation, according
to the The Truth about Back Pain. The book’s plan advises avoiding excess caffeine and processed foods (read ingredient labels for the following: hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, enriched wheat flour, words ending in –ose, and additives that end in –ates or –ites), and eating more whole grains, soy, nuts and seeds, protein (chicken, fish, lean meat), vegetables, and fruit.
7. You Carry Your Entire Life in Your Purse
A stuffed-to-the-gills handbag may cause back damage that’s comparable to a sports injury!
When you tote a heavy bag, your shoulders become imbalanced, says Sinett. Your body elevates the shoulder carrying the bag, which throws your spine off-kilter. Doing this every day can cause back muscles to ache over time.
Fix it: First, carry the lightest bag possible. (Some of today’s styles—with chains, studs, and other hardware—are heavy even when empty!) The American Chiropractic Association recommends that your bag—when fully loaded—weighs no more than 10% of your body weight. Alternate which shoulder you carry the bag with from day to day, and consider splitting your stuff between two bags (one for each arm), which will pain-proof your load by distributing it more evenly.
8. Your Mattress Is from Another Decade
Can’t remember the last time you replaced it? Your back may be in trouble.
A good mattress lasts 9 to 10 years, according to the National Sleep Foundation, but consider replacing yours every 5 to 7 years if you don’t sleep well or your back throbs. A study at Oklahoma State University found that most people who switched to new bedding after 5 years slept significantly better and had less back pain.
Fix it: When you do replace your mattress, take a Goldilocks approach: Pick one that’s not too squishy or too hard. Very firm mattresses can increase pressure on the spine and worsen pain, say Spanish researchers. A study of 313 people revealed that those who caught Zzzs on medium-firm mattresses were more likely to report pain improvement than those on firmer ones. To help ease nighttime discomfort even more, tuck a pillow under your knees if you sleep on your back, between your knees if you’re a side sleeper, or beneath your stomach and hips if you snooze on your belly.
9. You Have a Thing for High Heels
Or flip-flops. Both lead to foot instability, which can in turn affect your back.
High heels force you to arch your back, making your spinal muscles work harder. Backless shoes like sandals cause your feet to move from side to side, according to Sinett, which distributes your body weight unevenly and can cause pain.
Fix it: You don’t have to forgo trendy footwear—just don’t walk long distances in them. Commute in comfy flats or supportive sneakers, and consider adding cushioning inserts to uncomfy shoes. When Lehigh University researchers gave back-pain sufferers lightweight, flexible shoes with simple cushions, 80% reported significant relief within a year.
10. You Ignore the Pain
Trying to block out pain could make it worse, finds research from the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.
A better approach: Let yourself consciously experience the hurt. In a standard pain test, psychologists had 68 back-pain sufferers plunge their hands or feet into ice water. When the volunteers were instructed to suppress the shock of the icy water, a key muscle in the back clenched. In contrast, the muscle didn’t tense up when volunteers thought only about the shock. Over time, an increase in muscle tension intensifies pain, says lead researcher John W. Burns, PhD.
Fix it: Accepting pain may be the best way to mentally cope. “Try thinking about the sensory details of the experience, not the negative emotions,” says Burns. “If you have a back spasm, describe the pain to yourself—if it’s burning or throbbing—and remind yourself that it will pass.”
Overall, if you are looking for temporary natural back pain reliever, there is Nature Creation. Nature Creation is made of 9 essential herbs, which can be used as wrapper for hot or cold pain relief therapy. There are many sizes and designs to fit comfortably to your body and ergonomically sculpture to wrap around the pain area. Please visit the company site at http://www.naturecreation.com or call 1–888-250‑2010 to learn more of this amazing product
Note: Article was quoted from Prevention Magazine
The Best Ways To Feel Better
April 2nd, 2010There are many ways to reduce tension and relax. Here are the ten stress relievers I believe are most effective for the amount of work and time involved. Some can be learned in the time it takes to read this page, while others take a little more practice, but there’s something here for everyone!
1. Breathing Exercises
Deep breathing is an easy stress reliever that has numerous benefits for the body, including oxygenating the blood, which ‘wakes up’ the brain, relaxing muscles and quieting the mind. Breathing exercises are especially helpful because you can do them anywhere, and they work quickly so you can de-stress in a flash. The Karate Breathing Meditation is a great exercise to start with, and this basic breathing exercise can be done anywhere!
Also, Nature Creation is offering Mint Pillow, a small pack contains 100% natural spearmint and peppermints for refreshing breath, sinus congestion, and relaxation therapy.
2. Meditation
Meditation builds on deep breathing, and takes it a step further. When you meditate, your brain enters an area of functioning that’s similar to sleep, but carries some added benefits you can’t achieve as well in any other state, including the release of certain hormones that promote health. Also, the mental focus on nothingness keeps your mind from working overtime and increasing your stress level. Here’s an article on different types of meditation to help you get started.
Nature Creation is offering Shoulder Wrap and Upper Body Wrap, which are designed to create warmness around your body, to relax and relief stiff muscles due to stress.
3. Guided Imagery
It takes slightly more time to practice guided imagery, but this is a great way to leave your stress behind for a while and relax your body. Some find it easier to practice than meditation, as lots of us find it more doable to focus on ‘something’ than on ‘nothing’. You can play natural sounds in the background as you practice, to promote a more immersive experience.
4. Visualizations
Building on guided imagery, you can also imagine yourself achieving goals like becoming healthier and more relaxed, doing well at tasks, and handling conflict in better ways. Also, visualizing yourself doing well on tasks you’re trying to master actually functions like physical practice, so you can improve your performance through visualizations as well!
5. Self-hypnosis
Self-hypnosis incorporates some of the features of guided imagery and visualizations, with the added benefit of enabling you to communicate directly you’re your subconscious mind to enhance your abilities, more easily give up bad habits, feel less pain, more effectively develop healthier habits, and even find answers to questions that may not be clear to your waking mind! It takes some practice and training, but is well worth it. Learn more about using hypnosis to manage stress in your life.
6. Exercise
Many people exercise to control weight and get in better physical condition to become more healthy or physically attractive, but exercise and stress management are also closely linked. Exercise provides a distraction from stressful situations, as well as an outlet for frustrations, and gives you a lift via endorphins as well. This article can tell you more about the stress management benefits of exercise, and help you get more active in your daily life.
7. Progressive Muscle Relaxation
By tensing and relaxing all the muscle groups in your body, you can relieve tension and feel much more relaxed in minutes, with no special training or equipment. Start by tensing all the muscles in your face, holding a tight grimace ten seconds, then completely relaxing for ten seconds. Repeat this with your neck, followed by your shoulders, etc. You can do this anywhere, and as you practice, you will find you can relax more quickly and easily, reducing tension as quickly as it starts!
Nature Creation offers variety products to help you relax and relieve muscle tensions. There are Ultimate Set, which contains the most comprehensive package to ultimately relax your mind and body from the head to back. There is also Full Set, which is similar to Ultimate Set, but offer with smaller back belt design and non-enclosed shoulder wrap.
8. Sex
You probably already know that sex is a great tension reliever, but have you officially thought of it as a stress-relieving practice? Perhaps you should. The physical benefits of sex are numerous, and most of them work very well toward relieving stress. Sadly, many people have less sex when their stress levels are high. Learn how to avoid this trap!
9. Music
Music therapy has shown numerous health benefits for people with conditions ranging from mild (like stress) to severe (like cancer). When dealing with stress, the right music can actually lower your blood pressure, relax your body and calm your mind. Here are some suggestions of different types of music to listen to, and how to use music in your daily life for effective stress management.
10. Yoga
Yoga is one of the oldest self-improvement practices around, dating back over 5 thousand years! It combines the practices of several other stress management techniques such as breathing, meditation, imagery and movement, giving you a lot of benefit for the amount of time and energy required. Learn more about how to manage stress with yoga.
Nature Creation — The Ultimate Natural Therapy Solution
March 11th, 2010Introduction
Nature Creation® was established in 1996 and started out as a simple herbal pack business. In 2004, it evolved to become the leading manufacture of natural hot & cold herbal therapy pack in USA.
Nature Creation® products are easily found in major shopping malls and our exclusive website, www.naturecreation.com. Our manufacturing facility is located in Chatsworth, California and we have two strategic distribution facilities in USA to support fast delivery to our clients.
Why is Nature Creation®?
If you’re nursing limb or joint problems ranging from sports injuries to arthritis, conventional flat hot or cold packs miss the mark — literally. They provide only partial coverage of the traumatized area because of their rectangular construction and inability to bend when frozen.
The herbs pack therapy from Nature Creation® conquers those flaws with a patented comfort design that completely encircles the area with heat or cold for faster and better treatment. Nature Creation® is a manufacture of family of reusable herbal pack that fit over the shoulder, wrist, knee, thigh or other body parts. These innovative packs wrap the limb or joint in a flexible, cushion-like padding that stays in position with
straps & wraps for rapid hands-free use. The total coverage allows the entire circumference of the injured area to be treated at one time instead of in stages as required with a flat pack. The proprietary of 9 essential natural herbs filling stay soft when frozen or heated to allow the pack to mold to the body, ensuring deep hot or cold penetration of soft tissues. Together, these features reduce treatment time, provide faster pain relief, keep swelling to a minimum, and increase overall effectiveness.
Used hot, the Nature Creation® herbal packs provide soothing surround-the-limb relief for arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, muscle aches, post-operative pain and more. They heat in the microwave in about one minute or two, and their ability to be used repeatedly can save hundreds of dollars over expensive one-time-use hot packs.
Used cold, Nature Creation® herbal packs provide first aid for acute soft tissue injuries, tennis elbow and other conditions that require cold applications to combat swelling, pain and bruising. The insulating protective cover solution that is offered as a an option with each pack will protect the skin from extreme temperatures also supplies slight compression, allowing the herbs to address two of the four steps in the RICE (rest,
ice, compression, elevation) method of injury treatment.
Nature Creation® Hot/Cold Therapy herbal packs are natural solution of pain therapy and can go from freezer to microwave and back over and over again.
Nature Creation® Commitment to Quality & Values
The ideal design of Nature Creation® products is to provide natural soothing therapy in the comfort of your daily life. Through out the years, we had many compliments and suggestions on what to expect and how to improve the designs and the execution of our products.
We did all the researches and experiments, which finally came out in details as followed:
- Perfect Balanced of Blended Formula from 9 Essential Natural Herbs
Unlike the previous blend, the new blend contains smaller particles of high quality natural herbs. They will not harsh or absurd the skins, which allow the users to put the 
packs on almost any parts of the body or to walk comfortably, while maintain the heat and cold effect on the product. The hand-selected herbs include Chamomile, Cinnamon, Lemon grass, Peppermint, Rosemary, Spearmint, White Willow, Yarrow, Yellow-Dock Root. In addition, we add Flax Seed and Wheat as the heating and cooling elements to the blends.
- Extended & Improved Sewing Methods
Durability and comfort are two main reasons of this improvement. We experimented extensively with various durable, but soft materials for the inner sole, padding, and outer fabrics. Yet, we always put the priority of comfort to the users. As the final designs revealed, we discovered new method of sewing patterns to strengthen the joints and combined to better fabrics, which eventually improved the users’ experiences of excellent heating & cooling effects. This new multi layers Zigzag sewing patterns and new fabrics will guarantee to improve the durability of all Nature Creation® products.
- Easy Opening and Sealed of Protective Covers
It is now easier to remove or replace the protective covers onto the packs. The improved design of the protective covers extends the flexibility, while the new sewing systems allow the covers to open wider to take-in & out of the packs easily
- Colors of Synergy
The thicker, but soft outer fabrics will enhance the durability & comfort, yet they match the marble colors of other Nature Creation® products. Now, you can use the complete sets of Nature Creation® collections and be in harmony of perfect synergy with your favorite colors.
- 1-Year Craftsmanship Warranty
We are confident to the quality, comfort and soothing therapy of our new & improved products, which we back it up with 1-year craftsmanship warranty. If you find any workmanship defects or issues within the first year of purchase, we will replace your products and extend the warranty on the replacement for an additional 1-year.
Nature Creation® Features Products
Upper Body Wrap
This is a special patented design of Nature Creation® collections. This ultimate Upper Body Wrap will cover the upper back, shoulders, neck and chest area in one convenient wrap! The Upper Body Wrap measures approximately 18”x11” and the Velcro straps make it easy to wrap around your neck and shoulders, holding the pack comfortably in place.
The 9 essential filling natural herbs will work simultaneously to reduce stiffness and relive muscular pain in the upper back and shoulders on hot application. It also will promote muscle relaxation, relieve pain due to sprains, injured muscles and minor headaches on cold application.
Shoulder Wrap
Shoulder Wrap is our best seller, since it was incepted in 2004. The design will conform easily around the neck, shoulders, and upper back. The Shoulder Wrap can be used as hot or cold application. If you use it hot, the filling of the natural herbs will 
elevate muscle aches, stiffness around the neck/ shoulder area and upper back. If used as cold application, it will relief minor headaches, reduce swelling and shoulder cramps.
Shoulder Wrap is also available as unscented product. It is filled with 100% natural grains.
Neck Wrap
The Neck Wrap is designed for the base of the neck. It is very supportive and very suitable for most travelers who likely to sleep in the car or on the airplane. The Neck Wrap is also very gratifying for most people who love to read books or watch 
television. The natural herbal seeds inside the pack may adjust to the proportion of the neck to provide excellent grab for ultimate treatments. If you heat it, it will relieve neck stiffness, muscle pain and shoulder tension. If you use it cold, it may reduce swelling, fever, and promote muscle relaxation.
The aroma of inside herbs is soothing and refreshing. It may rejuvenate your mind and body, in addition to relief minor headaches. The Neck Wrap is available in multiple colors, such as Black, Blue, Green, Purple, Orange and Red.
Spine/ Back Pack
The Spine/ Back Wrap is Nature Creation® original multi-purpose design intended to relive lower and upper back pain. This long pack is measured approximately 16.5” x 8” and can be placed around your lower back or along your spine. It is effective
to relief aches and pain or to reduce stiffness.
Wrap your abdomen with the pack to relieve menstrual cramps and muscle pain. Secured with two Velcro straps, the Nature Creation® Back/ Spine Pack is so comfortable; you are free to walk around with it at anytime.
Back/ Abdomen Pack
Nature Creation® Back/ Abdomen Pack is measured approximately 15.5” x 5” and can be placed comfortably around your lower back to relieve menstrual pains, back 
aches and stomach pain or other muscular pain issues within the area.
Eye Lavender Wrap
The Eye Lavender Wrap is packed with 100% natural Lavender flowers seeds. Lavender has strong enchanting smell, which is great to relieve migraines, headaches, stress and depression. The design is very comfortable for your eyes, while it will reduce puffiness and sore eye muscles.
The Eve Lavender Wrap is designed for cold temperature. Please do not heat the 
pack. The Eye Lavender wrap comes in multiple colors, such as Black, Blue, Green, Grey, Orange and Red.
Herb Pack
This is Nature Creation® Multi-Purpose Herb Pack. It is multi– purpose because it is very adaptable and flexible, which can be applied to most part of the body. It can be used as a heating pack to relieve common muscle aches and pain. 
Some women also applied it to relief menstrual cramps or commonly used by both male and female to relief stomach pain. When the pack is cold, it is suitable to reduce fever; swelling, minor burns/ bruises and muscle sprains/ join pain. The application is almost endless and the herb pack is always reusable.
Some people just love the smell of the herb pack. The enchanting smell is proven to relief minor headaches or aromatherapy.
The Herb Pack comes in multiple colors, such as Black, Blue, Green, Grey, Orange and Red.
There is no doubt that you are purchasing products from a company with excellent customer services and quality in mind. We understand your high expectations and always work hard to pursuit of perfection to satisfy your needs. We are not only looking for one transaction to fulfill our commitment to excellence. Yet, we are always looking absolute satisfaction of your clients and our business relation in the future.
Please visit http://www.naturecreation.com/wholesale to learn more of our other products designs and updates of our company. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@naturecreation.com
Nature Creation March 2010 Special — Extensive Price Reductions
March 4th, 2010
What is Headache…?
February 3rd, 2010
Headache
Common Causes
Tension headaches are due to tight, contracted muscles in your shoulders, neck, scalp, and jaw. They are often related to stress, depression, or anxiety. Overworking, not getting enough sleep, missing meals, and using alcohol or street drugs can make you more susceptible to them. Headaches can be triggered by chocolate, cheese, and monosodium glutamate (MSG). People who drink caffeine can have headaches when they don’t get their usual daily amount.
Other common causes include:
* Holding your head in one position for a long time, like at a computer, microscope, or typewriter
* Poor sleep position
* Overexerting yourself
* Clenching or grinding your teeth
Tension headaches tend to be on both sides of your head. They often start at the back of your head and spread forward. The pain may feel dull or squeezing, like a tight band or vice. Your shoulders, neck, or jaw may feel tight and sore.
Migraine headaches are severe, recurrent headaches generally accompanied by other symptoms like visual disturbances or nausea. They tend to begin on one side of your head, although the pain may spread to both sides. You may have an “aura” (warning symptoms that start before your headache) and feel throbbing, pounding, or pulsating pain.
For information on migraine, see migraine headache.
Other types of headaches:
* Cluster headaches are sharp, extremely painful headaches that tend to occur several times per day for months and then go away for a similar period. They are far less common.
* Sinus headaches cause pain in the front of your head and face. They are due to inflammation in the sinus passages that lie behind the cheeks, nose, and eyes. The pain tends to be worse when you bend forward and when you first wake up in the morning. Postnasal drip, sore throat, and nasal discharge usually occur with these headaches.
Headaches may occur if you have a cold, the flu, fever, or premenstrual syndrome.
If you are over age 50 and are experiencing headaches for the first time, a condition called temporal arteritis may prove to be the cause. Symptoms of this condition include impaired vision and pain aggravated by chewing. There is a risk of becoming blind with this condition. Therefore, it must be treated by your doctor right away.
Rare causes of headache include:
* Brain aneurysm — a weakening of the wall of a blood vessel that can rupture and bleed into the brain
* Brain tumor
* Stroke or TIA
* Brain infection like meningitis or encephalitis
Home Care
Keep a headache diary to help identify the source or trigger of your symptoms. Then modify your environment or habits to avoid future headaches. When a headache occurs, write down the date and time the headache began, what you ate for the past 24 hours, how long you slept the night before, what you were doing and thinking about just before the headache started, any stress in your life, how long the headache lasts, and what you did to make it stop. After a period of time, you may begin to see a pattern.
A headache may be relieved by resting with your eyes closed and head supported. Relaxation techniques can help. A massage or heat applied to the back of the upper neck can be effective in relieving tension headaches.
Try acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen for tension headaches. DO NOT give aspirin to children because of the risk of Reye syndrome.
Migraine headaches may respond to aspirin, naproxen, or combination migraine medications.
If over-the-counter remedies do not control your pain, talk to your doctor about possible prescription medications.
Prescription medications used for migraine headaches include ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine with caffeine (Cafergot), isometheptene (Midrin), and triptans like sumatriptan (Imitrex), rizatriptan (Maxalt), eletriptan (Relpax), almotriptan (Axert), and zolmitriptan (Zomig). Sometimes medications to relieve nausea and vomiting are helpful for other migraine symptoms.
If you get headaches often, your doctor may prescribe medication to prevent headaches before they occur. Examples of these include:
* Antidepressants such as nortriptyline (Pamelor), amitriptyline (Elavil), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), sertraline (Zoloft), or paroxetine (Paxil) for tension or migraine headache
* Beta-blockers such as propranolol (Inderal) for frequent migraine headaches
* Calcium channel blockers such as verapamil for frequent migraine headaches
* Anti-epileptic medicines such as topiramate (Topamax)
If you are using pain medications more than 2 days a week, you may be suffering from rebound headaches. Rebound headaches are caused by a cycle of using pain medications for short-term relief, followed by the headache pain returning for increasingly longer periods of time despite taking more pain medications.
All types of pain pills (including over-the-counter drugs), muscle relaxants, some decongestants, and caffeine can cause this pattern. If you think this may be a problem for you, talk to your health care provider.
Call your health care provider if
Take the following symptoms seriously. If you cannot see your health care provider immediately, go to the emergency room or call 911:
* Your headache comes on suddenly and is explosive or violent.
* You would describe your headache as “your worst ever”, even if you are prone to headaches.
* Your headache is associated with slurred speech, change in vision, problems moving your arms or legs, loss of balance, confusion, or memory loss.
* Your headache gets progressively worse over a 24-hour period.
* Your headache is accompanied by fever, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting.
* Your headache occurs with a head injury.
* Your headache is severe and localized to one eye with redness in that eye.
* You are over age 50 and your headaches just began, especially with impaired vision and pain while chewing.
See your provider soon if:
* Your headaches wake you up from sleep.
* A headache lasts more than a few days.
* Headaches are worse in the morning.
* You have a history of headaches but they have changed in pattern or intensity.
* You have headaches frequently, and there is no known cause.
What to expect at your health care provider’s office
Your health care provider will obtain your medical history and will perform an examination of your head, eyes, ears, nose, throat, neck, and nervous system.
The diagnosis is usually based on your history of symptoms. A “headache diary” may be helpful for recording information about headaches over a period of time. Your doctor may ask questions such as the following:
* Is the headache located in the forehead, around the eyes, in the back of the head, near the temples, behind the eyeball, or all over?
* Is the headache on one side only?
* Is this a new type of headache for you?
* Would you describe the headache as throbbing?
* Is there a pressure or band-like sensation?
* When does the headache occur? How long have you had headaches? How long does each headache last?
* Does the headache awaken you from sleep? Are the headaches worse during the day and better at night?
* Did other symptoms begin shortly after the headaches began? Do headaches occur repeatedly?
* Does the headache reach maximum intensity over 1 to 2 hours?
* Are the headaches worse when you are lying down? Standing up?
* Are the headaches worse when you cough or strain?
* Do they occur at a specific time related to your menstrual period?
* What home treatment have you tried? How effective was it?
Migraine
* Head CT scan
* Head MRI
* Sinuses x-rays
* Temporal artery biopsy
* Lumbar puncture
If a migraine is diagnosed, medications that contain ergot may be prescribed. Temporal arteritis must be treated with steroids to help prevent blindness. Other disorders are treated as is appropriate.
Prevention
The following healthy habits can lessen stress and reduce your chance of getting headaches:
* Getting adequate sleep
* Eating a healthy diet
* Exercising regularly
* Stretching your neck and upper body, especially if your work involves typing or using a computer
* Learning proper posture
* Quitting smoking
* Learning to relax using meditation, deep breathing, yoga, or other techniques
Fibromyalgia and Alternative Treatments
January 19th, 2010From acupuncture to chiropractic, from massage to meditation, alternative treatments are in great demand. That’s especially true for people with pain-related illnesses such as fibromyalgia. Alternative medicine, including herbal therapy and homeopathy, it is used in place of conventional medicine. These systems are based on the belief that the body has the power to heal itself with multiple techniques including those that involve the mind, body and spirit. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine.
For people with fibromyalgia, some alternative treatments work well. That’s because holistic therapies influence your total being. In that way, they may allow you to reduce your medications and increase your normal activities.
Study findings show that standard acupuncture may be effective in treating some people with fibromyalgia. Both biofeedback and electroacupuncture have also been used for relief of fibromyalgia symptoms. However, before you try alternative treatments, talk with your doctor. Check to see what limitations might apply to you. Working with your doctor, you can find an acceptable way to blend conventional medicine with alternative treatments or natural remedies. When you do, you may be able to increase restful sleep and reduce your fibromyalgia pain.
Can acupuncture treat fibromyalgia?
With acupuncture, a practitioner inserts one or more dry needles into the skin and underlying tissues at specific points. Gently twisting or otherwise manipulating the needles causes a measurable release of endorphins into the bloodstream. Endorphins are the body’s natural opioids. In addition, according to acupuncture practitioners, energy blocks are removed. Removing them is said to restore the flow of energy along the meridians, which are specific energy channels.
Studies show that acupuncture may alter brain chemistry. It appears to do this by changing the release of neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters stimulate or inhibit nerve impulses in the brain that relay information about external stimuli and sensations such as pain. In this way, the patient’s pain tolerance is increased. One acupuncture treatment in some patients may last weeks to help alleviate chronic pain.
What is electroacupuncture?
Electroacupuncture is another way of stimulating the acupuncture points. It uses a needle hooked up to small wires connected to very slight electrical currents. Heat — moxibustion — and massage — acupressure — can also be used during this electroacupuncture process.
Laser acupuncture is yet another offshoot of this alternative therapy. It may occasionally be effective for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. While it uses the same points, there are no needles involved.
There are precautions to take if you want to try acupuncture. First, make sure you find a licensed acupuncturist who has a lot of experience. Also, make sure the acupuncturist uses only disposable needles.
There are multiple styles of acupuncture. The style used depends on where the practitioner studied. For instance, Chinese acupuncture depends on larger bore needles and the practitioner may be more aggressive with moving them. Japanese acupuncture uses thinner bore needles with a relatively gentle approach. You’ll need to find the style that suits your fibromyalgia needs.
How can chiropractic help fibromyalgia?
Chiropractic care is a very common alternative treatment for fibromyalgia pain. People use it to treat pain of pressure points, back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches, and pain from musculoskeletal injuries. Chiropractic may be effective for fibromyalgia because it helps improve pain levels and increase cervical and lumbar ranges of motion.
Chiropractic is based on the principle that the body is a self-healing organism. To reduce pain and increase healing, the doctor of chiropractic uses spinal adjustments. The goal is to increase the mobility between spinal vertebrae, which have become restricted, locked, or slightly out of proper position.
Chiropractors do this by using hand adjustments. With gentle pressure or stretching, multiple gentle movements of one area, or specific high-velocity thrusts, the adjustments are said to help return the bones to a more normal position or motion. This return is said to relieve pain and reduce ill health.
Can massage ease fibromyalgia pain?
With Swedish massage, the practitioner uses a system of long strokes, kneading, and friction techniques. With these, the practitioner massages the more superficial layers of the muscles. The massage is combined with active and passive movements of the joints.
Oil is usually used to facilitate the stroking and kneading of the body, thereby stimulating metabolism and circulation. The massage therapist applies pressure and rubs the muscles in the same direction as the flow of blood returning to the heart.
Deep tissue massage may be helpful for those with fibromyalgia. The reason is therapists use greater pressure than is used in Swedish massage. In so doing, they target the deep layers of muscle. Using a series of slow strokes and direct pressure, the therapist will strive to release chronic patterns of muscular tension. Sometimes, the therapists use their elbows or thumbs to push hard into the deepest grain of the muscle to reduce tension.
Neuromuscular massage combines the basic principles of ancient Oriental therapies, such as acupressure and shiatsu, with specific hands-on deep tissue therapy. The goal is to reduce chronic muscle or myofascial (soft-tissue) pain.
How does biofeedback work to ease fibromyalgia?
To individualize the reduction of stress in the treatment of fibromyalgia, biofeedback is often recommended. This mind/body relaxation technique uses electronics to measure stress-related responses in the body. The idea behind biofeedback is that people can use information about their body’s internal processes to learn to control those processes.
A consensus statement from the National Institutes of Health indicates there is good evidence that biofeedback might help relieve many types of chronic pain. For example, it might be useful in treating tension and migraine headaches. In one study at the University of South Alabama, 80% of children with migraines were symptom-free after receiving intensive biofeedback training. In other research, some headache patients who were able to increase hand temperature using thermal biofeedback also experienced fewer and less intense migraine headaches.
How does biofeedback work to ease fibromyalgia? continued…
With biofeedback, you are connected to a machine that informs you and your therapist when you are physically relaxing your body. Sensors detect muscle tension, heart rate, breathing pattern, the amount of sweat produced, or body temperature. Any one or all of these can let the trained biofeedback therapist know if you are learning to relax.
The instruments magnify signals that you might not otherwise notice. As a result, you can use this visual or auditory response to learn how to control certain bodily functions. The ultimate goal of biofeedback is to use this skill outside the therapist’s office when you are facing real stressors.
With fibromyalgia pain, you know the “real stressor” is the pain itself. Nevertheless, other daily stressors can cause your fibromyalgia to flare. What you want to do is respond in a healthy way to the chronic stressors. If learned properly, electronic biofeedback can help you control your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing patterns, and muscle tension, potentially reducing pain.
What is homeopathic medicine?
Homeopathy is a therapeutic system of medicine that started in the late 18th century. Homeopathy is based on the principle of “like cures like.” That means that remedies that would cause a potential problem in large doses will actually encourage the body to heal more rapidly if given in small doses. Practitioners use small diluted formulas of plant, mineral, and animal substances to treat various ailments. The hope is these formulas will stimulate the body to throw off the offender.
Can herbal medicine help fibromyalgia?
Herbal remedies have been used for generations. They can be put in tea or soup or taken in other forms. While some herbal therapies have not been shown to have a specific benefit for fibromyalgia symptoms, some patients have found improved sleep or more energy with herbal supplements.
How can meditation help fibromyalgia?
With meditation, you allow your thoughts to take a break from daily analytical routines and give support to the spiritual dimension of life. When you meditate, your body switches from the pumping “fight or flight” response to a calmer, more peaceful mood. Studies show that meditation produces brain waves consistent with serenity and happiness. Meditation provides nourishment for your soul, satiates inner spiritual hunger, and helps you to develop your ability to pay attention to all areas of life without distraction.
What should I remember if I want to try an alternative treatment?
It’s important to be openly discriminating when choosing alternative treatments. The fact that something is called “natural” does not mean it is safe. Working with your doctor, look for the alternative therapies that will best boost sleep and decrease pain. The right therapy can help get you on the healthy road again.
Nature Creation January 2010 Special
January 5th, 2010
