BodySense Blog

Tribe uses native plants in spa products

Creosote bush, the fragrant, yellow-blossoming bush that covers Valley mountainsides, is a key ingredient in a new line of spa products developed by the Gila River Indian Community.

Known to members of community by its Pima name, shegoi, creosote has traditionally been used in herbal teas, healing balms and even to cure ailments in animals, said Belen Stoneman, spiritual healer at Gila River's Aji Spa at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort.

"My mother would keep shegoi in an old pickle jar," said Stoneman, who grew up in the community and worked as a massage therapist and a cultural educator before moving to her present position 18 months ago.

"She would grind the leaves into a powder with a stone. She would take a tiny amount and make it into a tea. Or she would put it on our skin if we had a cut or sore. I find it amazing that one plant can do so many things," she said.

According to Pima legend, shegoi was the first plant on Earth. According to Pima history, the medicinal plant played a major role in the development of the tribe's civilization.

Stoneman said that at the same time she took the new position at Aji, Gila River's Cultural Resources Committee, of which she is a member, was discussing ways to incorporate traditional plants into a line of spa products.

Unlike other spas, Aji, which opened in 2002, did not have a line of signature products to sell in its gift shop. And the Aji staff had just starting developing massage oil for in-house use that included creosote, willow bark and other locally grown herbs, she said.

"We came up with the idea of finding a way for people to take a little bit of shegoi home with them," Stoneman said. "We wanted to create products that would smell earthy, like the desert. We wanted something grounding. And we wanted our product to be different from anything other places offer. We wanted all of that combined."

After "months and months of weekly meetings," the result is a product line called Indigenous. The soaps, shampoo, lotions and candles went on shelves at the gift shops in Aji and the Sheraton in October.

The fragrance of Indigenous now infuses Aji Spa's lobby, dressing area and treatment rooms.

It smells earthy, with a touch of lavender. The creosote gives it a hint of the fragrance of the desert after a monsoon storm.

Indigenous is manufactured by a Florida-based company called Spa Mediterranee, which specializes in making soaps and shampoos for luxury resorts.

But the herbs used in the products are grown in the community.

The process used for selecting and picking the shegoi that goes into Indigenous is a sacred one, Stoneman said.

Only Stoneman and four other community members have been authorized by the cultural council to pick the plant parts that go into the spa products.

Stoneman said she gathers about 100 pounds of creosote brush each month. Before doing so, she said, she talks to and blesses each plant.

"That's part of our heritage," she said. "When you take something from the earth, you have to honor it. Just about everyone in our community knows about this tradition and follows it."

by Cathryn Creno - Jun. 29, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Yoga, Aromatherapy Among New Offerings at Medical Center

Walking into Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City for the first time, you might notice a few things that appear out of the norm for a traditional hospital setting. People stroll down the hallways with dogs; small groups of musicians carry instruments, stopping at patient rooms to play a short medley of music; you might even catch a glimpse of a patient and nurse in meditation or in a yoga pose.

Integrative medicine therapies have been working their way into the mainstream of traditional medicine at Beth Israel Hospital for the past eight years, and Beth Israel is embracing it.

“This area is being driven by demand from patients and doctors,” says Richard Freeman, executive vice president and chief operation officer at Beth Israel Medical Center. “We believe there are various approaches to provide quality care to our patients. As time goes on, more and more people are choosing alternative medicine therapies in conjunction with traditional medicine. We believe that this can be an important adjunct to care that can enhance the healing process.”

Beth Israel offers integrative medicine therapies to all of its cancer patients, in combination with conventional treatments, in a yearlong pilot program to determine whether therapies such as yoga, relaxation, and breathing techniques can help alleviate common side effects of treatment such as pain, nausea, anxiety, insomnia, constipation, and fatigue. The program is being funded by Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Foundation, which is dedicated to incorporating Eastern healing practices of yoga, meditation, and aromatherapy with Western medicine.

The foundation was created after Karan’s husband and several close friends died of cancer. During his battle with the disease, Karan’s husband used several Eastern techniques that Karan says were helpful in relieving treatment symptoms and providing inner peace. Through this pilot program, which includes a research component, the Urban Zen Foundation hopes to demonstrate that integrative therapies can work effectively in combination with chemotherapy and radiation to reduce common cancer symptoms and promote healing.

“We believe integrative medicine can provide more optimal healing than medicine alone,” says Joanne Heyman, executive director of the Urban Zen Foundation. “It has much broader applications than just treating cancer, but we wanted to focus on this disease first because of Donna’s personal connection.”

The program is providing specialized training to 15 yoga teachers who will become experts in providing therapy to non-terminal cancer patients. It focuses on yoga, aroma therapy, healing touch, nutrition, and awareness of death and dying in hospital and private settings. Training is being provided by Karan’s yoga masters, Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman Yee, who also will oversee yoga therapy during the pilot study. Nurses on the oncology floor also are being trained in relaxation techniques including meditation, imagery, aromatherapy, and breathing.

The program also funds a nurse navigator who guides the patient and family through the medical system and orients them to services on the unit; a yoga coordinator and assistant to oversee therapies; and a research director to coordinate the research component.

Heyman says Beth Israel was particularly suited for the program because of its long-standing commitment to integrative medicine. The hospital has been offering alternative therapies to patients for many years, primarily through the Continuum Center for Health and Healing, the nation’s largest and most comprehensive academic integrative medical center. The department is headed by Woodson Merrell, MD, who has been specializing in integrative medicine therapies for more than 20 years and is one of the country’s leading experts on holistic medicine. Merrell believes there is significant evidence to validate its usefulness and that using this approach to empower the patient and provide compassionate, relationship-centered, integrative care is critical for transforming the nation’s ailing healthcare system.

Reflecting an increasing interest and growth in holistic medicine, Beth Israel’s integrative medicine center recently was elevated to departmental status, providing it with more autonomy to grow and expand.

Ed Dailey, RN, a registered yoga teacher, is one of 15 yoga instructors receiving specialized training through the Urban Zen Foundation and is a believer in the healing power of alternative medicine. A nurse for 14 years and a yoga instructor for 10 years, Dailey has seen yoga, meditation, and other forms of relaxation and integrative medicine provide inner strength, calmness, and healing to his patients. Since undergoing formal training, Dailey and other therapists have been offering yoga and relaxation therapies to patients on the head and neck surgical floor at Beth Israel Medical Center with positive results. The therapies are provided at the bedside, using a very flexible definition of yoga. Patients are guided through simple yoga movements and postures while never being touched by the therapist.

“It was believed we could be of service to patients prior to the start of the clinical study,” Dailey says. “We’ve provided therapy to up to 500 patients so far, and I’ve seen patients become calmer and more relaxed, sleep better, [and] experience fewer bed sores, less nausea and constipation, and less anxiety.”

For instance, breathing and relaxation techniques recently brought relief to a young father who had been diagnosed with cancer. “The family was extremely anxious and stressed,” Dailey says. “I provided relaxation interventions to him and his wife, which they now practice at home.” Dailey used the body scan relaxation technique, in which he helps the patient focus on areas of the body that have tension. “It really has a calming effect on the mind, body, and nervous system. It can help relieve stress levels, which can interfere with the healing process. They both became calmer, happier, and much less stressed.”

Dailey says the program also targets staff. “Our goal is to put health back into healthcare,” he says. “Nurses can become depleted [by the demands of their jobs]. How can they provide quality healthcare when they are depleted themselves? Our goal is to encourage staff to take short breaks throughout their day and use yoga and other relaxation techniques to reduce stress levels and re-energize.”

The oncology floor also is undergoing physical changes funded by the Urban Zen Foundation to provide a more healing environment that includes larger spaces for quiet and meditation for patients and staff. The meditation room includes banquette seating, a large flat-screen TV for imagery, and personal MP3 players for music and relaxation sessions. A small kitchenette for families also has been upgraded and expanded. In addition, a small reception area was created so when patients enter the floor, they are greeted by a patient navigator who provides floor tours and guides the patient through the care process.

Integrative medicine is a growing trend, and Heyman says she is seeing growing interest among hospitals in developing integrative medicine services. She says she expects that trend to increase as more research is unveiled that demonstrates the positive benefits of integrative medicine in relieving pain and enhancing healing.

Susan Meyer is a freelance writer.

Hot Spa Trends For 2009

The International SPA Association has weighed in with its picks for the hottest spa trends in the coming year, including customization, spa credits, spa memberships and organic spas. ISPA's list doesn't look as far around the corner as SpaFinder's top trends for 2009, which sees spas as "learning labs for stress reduction," but it's solid and down-to-earth. If it's on ISPA's list, it's here!

Here are ISPA's picks for the top spa trends of 2009:

• Customized Treatments: In addition to 30-minute facials and massages, spas are listening to the demands and desires of their customers. So whether you're looking to combine a series of treatments or have one tailored tofit your needs (i.e., Wi-Fi massage), talk to your spa about how it can best fit into your lifestyle.
• Mind, Body & Spirit: Consumers are looking to spas to recharge not only their body, but their spirit and mind as well. Many spas are increasing self-discovery services like ropes courses, art classes and other learning activities that help consumers to stop, be still and focus on themselves.
• 
• Family-friendly Resort Spas: More people are looking for spas that cater to families. spas are responding to the need for families to communicate and spend time together, whether it's flying through the air on a trapeze or attending family yoga.


• Organic Spas: More spas are offering environmentally friendly products and services, but that's not all. Many feature outdoor treatments and eco-friendly facilities, as well as treatments that highlight indigenous plants and the environment in which the spa is located (i.e., seashell body treatment and blueberry body wrap).


• Spa Credits: In this economy, the smart traveler is the one who de-stresses at the hotel spa after a long flight. Hotels are looking to entice travelers and increase bookings by offering free treatments or spa credits when booking a room.


• Spa Memberships: Similar to a gym membership, it allows spa-goers to experience spas at a lower cost. A 12-month membership could include unlimited use of the facility, a treatment a month and discounts on additional monthly services.


• Half-day Spa Vacations: With people watching every penny, many are canceling their expensive vacations and instead turning to spas. Transform your morning or afternoon into a full-blown escape with a massage, facial and pedicure.


• Dental Spas: Your annual cleaning just got more relaxing. The American Dental Association says about 50 percent of U.S. dentists are providing spa amenities at no additional charge. With hand massages, paraffin wax dips and reflexology, you'll never dread the drill again.


• Tried & True: Consumers are moving away from the trendy and seeking treatments with proven and tangible results. They're getting back to basics, focusing on core spa services like deep tissue massage and clarifying facials.


• Increased Spa Amenities: Turn a 60-minute service into an entire afternoon of rejuvenation by taking advantage of the spa's amenities. After your hot stone massage, take a plunge in the pool, sit in the sauna or cool down in an ice room; today's spas encourage loitering.

Anitra's Spas Blog

By Anitra Brown, About.com Guide to Spas since 2004

About.com  Wednesday January 14, 2009

Do Heating Pads Cause Cancer?

In the cold winter months it's tempting to pull out the heating pads and electric blankets to help keep warm and alleviate minor discomforts. But are they safe? Heating pads, used correctly to create moist heat, can provide temporary relief from mild aches and pains such as pulled muscles, menstrual cramps, and stiff joints. However electric heating pads, along with other household appliances such as electric blankets and mattress covers, hair dryers, computers, and coffeemakers, all generate electromagnetic fields (EMFs). These invisible lines of force surround electrical equipment, power cords, and power lines, and their potential effects have been in the center of controversy surrounding a possible link to the development of cancers.

Research has not concluded whether EMFs disrupt the cellular systems that control the normal growth and development of tissues. Interfering with these processes might increase the risk of cancer, and the possibility of an EMF/cancer connection hasn't been definitively ruled out. Because we can't say for sure that EMFs are harmless, I recommend using a non-electric heating pad, such as one that you warm up in a microwave oven, or that uses hot water.

DrWeil.com

More Americans Turn to CAM for Pain Relief, Health Problems

Approximately 38 percent of U.S. adults age 18 and older and nearly 12 percent of U.S. children age 17 and younger use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), according to a recently-released nationwide government survey. The survey, conducted as part of the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and developed by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), marked the first time questions were included regarding children’s use of CAM.

The survey contained questions on 36 types of CAM therapies commonly used in the U.S., including 10 types of provider-based therapies, such as acupuncture and chiropractic, and 26 other therapies that do not require a provider, such as herbal supplements and meditation.

Comparison of the 2007 survey with data from 2002 shows that overall use of CAM among adults remained relatively steady—38 percent in 2007, compared to 36 percent in 2002. However, the use of some specific CAM therapies, including massage therapy, meditation, deep breathing and yoga, all showed noteworthy increases.

According to the survey, adults used CAM most often to treat pain, including back pain, neck pain, joint pain or stiffness, arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions. In addition, CAM use in adults was greater in women than men, 42.8 percent compared to 33.5 percent.

The survey also indicated children are five times more likely to use CAM if a parent or other relative uses CAM. Among children who used CAM in the past 12 months, CAM therapies were sought most often for back or neck pain, head or chest colds, anxiety or stress, other musculoskeletal problems and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD).

Echinacea, a medicinal plant that can be used to treat or prevent colds, was the most common of the natural products used by children, the survey revealed.

The most commonly used CAM therapies among U.S. adults were:
• Nonvitamin, nonmineral, natural products (17.7 percent)
• Deep breathing exercises (12.7 percent)
• Meditation (9.4 percent)
• Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation (8.6 percent)
• Massage (8.3 percent)
• Yoga (6.1 percent)

The most commonly used CAM therapies among children were:
• Nonvitamin, nonmineral, natural products (3.9 percent)
• Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation (2.8 percent)
• Deep breathing exercises (2.2 percent)
• Yoga (2.1 percent).

     

MASSAGE eNews posted:12/10/2008

10 Natural Ways to Relax and Rejuvenate

Easy Ways to Manage Stress and Build Immunity

Protecting the immune system and managing stress are vital aspects of living longer, feeling younger, and being healthy. Here are 10 ways to reduce stress, boost your immune system, and slow down the hands of time.

Physical activity. Regular exercise -- whether it's walking or dancing -- strengthens your cardiovascular system, heart, muscles, and bones. It also stimulates the release of endorphins, improves mental functioning, concentration/attention, and cognitive performance, and lowers cholesterol, blood pressure, cortisol, and other stress hormones.

Yoga and stretching. The slow movements and controlled postures of yoga improve muscle strength, flexibility, balance, circulation, mental focus, and calmness.

Hand hygiene. The most effective measure in preventing the spread of germs is good hand hygiene. Washing your hands as soon as you come home, and always before you eat, greatly reduces your exposure to bacterial and viral infections. Carry alcohol-based hand wipes to control exposures away from home.

Laughter and humor. There is truth to the saying that laughter is the best medicine. Laughing reduces stress hormones like adrenaline (epinephrine) and cortisol and benefits the immune system.

High nutrient diet. Eat foods rich in antioxidants (strawberries, oranges, tomatoes), omega-3 fatty acids (walnuts, salmon, soybeans), and folate (dark green, leafy vegetables). Antioxidants neutralize molecules that can cause heart disease, cancer, and premature aging. Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular-enhancing, and immune-regulating properties. Folate prevents age-related cognitive decline, ensures DNA integrity (important during
pregnancy), and promotes healthy red blood cells.

Music. Listening to your favorite music is a great method of reducing stress and relieving anxiety.

Sleep. Sound sleep has a profound impact on stress
levels, immune function, and disease resistance. Your body and immune system do most of their repairs during sleep, so strive to get in seven to eight hours each night.

Positive thinking. Optimism can counteract the negative impact stress, tension, and anxiety have on your immune system and well-being. Often it is how you perceive things that determine if you get overwhelmed, both mentally and physically.

Tea. Regularly drinking green and black teas throughout the day can help strengthen your immune system and your body's ability to fight off germs and infections.

Hydrotherapy. Relaxing in a hot bath relieves sore muscles and joints, reduces stress and tension, and promotes sleep. Add music, soft lighting, and scented oils to create a spa experience in the privacy of your own home.

By Monique N. Gilbert
Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals

Physical & Mental Relief

The rehabilitative procedures are both a physical and mental goal in promoting healing.  Physical therapy utilizes joint mobilization, strength training and hold/cold packs to quicken the recovery. 

The returning Vet is aware of what he or she has to face when returning home.  It is not only the physical aspect of healing but the emotional and psychological aspect of being.  Vets need soothing effects to decompress while eliminating movement dysfunction.

During physical therapy treatment the use of hot/cold packs with rice, natural herbs and spices offer analgesic and sedating properties to relieve pain, promote relaxation, and enhance sleep and reduce physical and emotional tension.

Physical healing is inclusive with the mind.  “Mind, Body & Spirit”, are one in the healing process.  The unique healing effects on the Mind, Body & Spirit has been proven through centuries of use in traditional medicine, ayurvedic therapies and modern holistic practice.

The professionals and the paraprofessionals in the rehabilitation field are of a contemporary mindset that is open and inclusive to options. To prepare for a therapeutic exercise session, the warm NeckEase is placed on the shoulders to relax, and relieve tension before exercising.  The individual is feeling the warmth, the moist heat, the aromas are triggering fond memories and the weight of the product is comforting.
Ready to exercise and put forth an effort that is going to make the muscles used sore.
To finish up the therapy session a cold product is used to reduce the swelling from exaggerated exercise.  What is so comforting about the rehabilitative process is that the individual is given the wrap, pack, NeckEase to take with them.  The product is used in a continuing healing manner until the next therapy session.

BodySense products are made with top quality materials that last longer and hold heat and cold better while safely and effectively producing and intense therapeutic result.  Our original two-sided design includes a soft, comforting fleece surface for moist heat application and smooth cordura service for dry transfer of cold therapy.  Each product contains a mixture of organic long-grain rice for its heat and moisture retention qualities, along with a balanced blend of aromatic herbs and spices selected for their calming, relaxing or healing influence on the mind, body and emotions.