Massage Cushion

Is there such a thing as the fountain of youth?

The traditional view of the fountain of youth is wrapped up in the mystical notion of ancient secrets and rites being passed down through generations of Tibetan monks living a life of blissful solitude somewhere high up in the Himalayas… Unfortunately, this romantic notion has been hijacked by some very persuasive advertising from cosmetic companies who'd have us believe that they've discovered the secrets of the fountain of youth, and that the fast track to looking young and youthful is only ever a pill or a potion away.

Don't get me wrong, I fork out far too much money on lotions and potions myself, so I'm not immune to the power of a good anti wrinkle cream sales pitch. (I'm not sure about the pills though!)

Where I part company with the lotions and potions fraternity though, is that I believe the fountain of youth really does exist, I just happen to have a more abstract view of it.

Certainly lotions and potions have a role to play in terms of moisturising and cleansing, but I'm afraid I can't quite believe that they have age-reversing properties.

It really is one of life's great truths that beauty lies within. And the person who appreciates that fact is already on to a winner. If you think you're beautiful then you are. Having this level of acceptance comes from having a good appreciation of who you are and offers a glimpse at your level of self-esteem.

Unfortunately having high self-esteem is not the norm for the vast majority of us, which leads to quick and comforting fixes such as the aforementioned lotions, potions and pills.

If I really had to offer my own opinion, I'd suggest that the fountain of youth is flowing within us all. Our thoughts lay the foundations of our own self worth and in case you didn't know it, you can control them. Weed out the negatives and encourage the positives. Eat healthy foods, take regular exercise and look in the mirror and tell yourself you're beautiful.

Go a step further and give yourself a helping hand. Give yourself a massage. Start with a facial and when your confidence improves, go for a full massage. Massage enhances the skin condition by improving the function of the sebaceous and sweat glands, which keep the skin lubricated, clean, and cool. (and young looking!) In addition, by giving yourself a massage, you will be igniting and releasing naturally occurring wonder drugs called endorphins which induce a wonderful state of euphoria. There are few other therapies that produce such positive and potentially life changing results as massage and massage therapy. Results can be dramatic or subtle, visible or invisible but always beneficial. Your mind and body will feel invigorated and if you do this often enough, your self-esteem and wellbeing will skyrocket.

If there is such a thing as the fountain of youth, then for me, a healthy balanced diet, taking regular exercise and simply liking yourself, amount to drinking from that very fountain. (told you I had an abstract view) Good luck on your quest.

Aromatherapy Massage and Massage: Effectiveness on Emotional and Physical Wellbeing

It has been well established that stress is one of the leading factors of chemical changes in the body. Persons who suffer from high anxiety are more prone to depression, disrupted sleep, heart disease and a kaleidoscope of other health disorders. In the case of those persons suffering from a plethora of health conditions, aromatherapy massage and massage have been shown to alleviate stress and anxiety. While these natural healing techniques may not always cure disease, they can have a remarkable effect on the physical body.

What many individuals do not realize is that stress is the leading proponent in raising blood sugar levels and blood pressure, red blood cell over activity, constricted blood vessels, racing pulse, and digestive problems.[4] These facts prove that stress can have a very negative impact on overall health.

In a report by the Research Institute of Nursing Science (College of Nursing Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea)[1], aromatherapy massage was studied on elderly women in Korea to determine its efficacy on anxiety and self-esteem issues.

In the study, aromatherapy massage was administered using aromatic essential oils, such as chamomile, lavender, lemon and rosemary. Overall, the study lasted seven (7) weeks in duration. During that time frame, aromatherapy massage sessions were set three (3) times per week, with each session being 20 minutes. After the initial three-week period, a one-week intermission ensued, and then continued the remaining three weeks. While blood pressure and pulse rate were not significantly affected, remarkable differences were clearly established in regard to anxiety and self-esteem.

In another study, aromatherapy massage was administered to older patients suffering from constipation. In the 10-day study, the experimental group was given abdominal aromatherapy massage; using the essential oils lemon, peppermint and rosemary. The control group, too, was given massage; but without the aid of aromatherapy. Upon commencement of the study, levels of constipation were measured by the constipation assessment scale (CAS). While the results found that the average number of bowel movements had improved in both groups (being treated with both aromatherapy massage and placebo massage); the experimental group who had received the aromatherapy massage showed a significant improvement. Purportedly, the aromatherapy massage demonstrated that its effects lasted for two (2) weeks after treatment; whereas non-aromatherapy massage lasted approximately seven to ten days (7-10). In conclusion, the study found that aromatherapy, coupled with massage does help ease geriatric constipation.[2]

Other research suggests that both aromatherapy massage and massage are beneficial to persons suffering from cancer. In a study performed by Princess Alice Hospice in the UK, patients were administered both aromatherapy massage and massage alone during a four-week course. To assess its efficacy on physical and psychological symptoms, both techniques were randomly administered to patients with advanced stages of cancer. The findings were promising, as significant sleep patterns were enhanced in both the aromatherapy massage group and the massage-alone group. In addition, depression levels were statistically significant in the massage group. Overall, the study showed that patients who had heightened levels of distress were more likely to respond to both aromatherapy massage and massage alone.[3]

In conclusion, we have learned that stress-related disorders and health complications can be significantly reduced and/or alleviated by natural healing techniques such as aromatherapy massage, massage and other noninvasive health treatments.