Natural Support For Stress, Anxiety, And Insomnia

from http://doctormurray.com/

Everyday stress is a normal part of modern living. Job pressures, family arguments, financial woe, traffic and time management are just a few of the stressors we face on a daily basis. For some people, the stress can be overwhelming and may lead to anxiety and insomnia. Fortunately, there is a safe and effective natural remedy that is quickly gaining in popularity in North America.

Natural promotion of a relaxed state

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a natural calming and antiepileptic agent in the brain. In fact, it is one of the brain’s most important regulators of proper function. It appears that many people with anxiety, insomnia, epilepsy and other brain disorders do not manufacture sufficient levels of GABA, according to a 2002 article in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. Many popular drugs such as Valium, Neurontin, baclofen and Valproate act by increasing the effects of GABA within the brain. However, although these drugs have numerous side effects and are highly addictive drugs not suitable for long-term use, GABA in the right form is completely safe and remarkably effective, without side effects.

Studies with synthetic GABA have shown that it does not produce the same benefits as natural PharmaGABA—a special form of GABA naturally manufactured from Lactobacillus hilgardii—the bacteria used to ferment vegetables in the preparation of the traditional Korean dish kimchi.

Alpha-wave production in the brain

Unlike chemically produced, synthetic GABA, natural PharmaGABA is able to produce relaxation with greater mental focus and energy. Specifically, research has shown that PharmaGABA increases the production of alpha brain waves (a state often achieved by meditation and characterized by being relaxed, with greater mental focus and mental alertness). It also reduces beta waves (associated with nervousness, scattered thoughts and hyperactivity).

PharmaGABA is approved for use in Japan as an aid to conquer stress and promote relaxation. It is a very is a popular ingredient in functional foods and beverages, as well as dietary supplements designed to produce mental and physical relaxation without inducing drowsiness. The most popular applications of PharmaGABA are in chocolate and coffee beverages. It is particularly helpful in counteracting the effects of caffeine.
PharmaGABA is fast-acting, especially when it is taken in a chewable tablet. Generally, the effects are felt within the first 15 minutes and have been shown to last up to four to six hours.

PharmaGABA is clinically proven

Clinical studies with PharmaGABA have yielded some very interesting results. For example, a 2006 study in the journal Biofactors had subjects who were afraid of heights traverse a suspension bridge that spanned a 150-foot canyon. Halfway across the bridge, the researchers took a saliva sample and measured blood pressure of the participants. What the researchers were looking for in the saliva was the level of secretory IgA—an important antibody in saliva that helps fight infection. Typically, during times of stress saliva levels drop, sometimes quite precipitously. In this experiment, subjects experienced drops in secretory IgA levels if they were only given a placebo, but when they were given PharmaGABA, the secretory IgA levels in the saliva were maintained halfway across the bridge and actually increased upon completion of the crossing.

A 2007 study with PharmaGABA published in Alternative Medicine Review demonstrated an impressive ability to improve sleep quality. The ability to feel refreshed and ready to tackle the day requires us to achieve deep levels of sleep and to stay in this deep sleep for sufficient time. Unfortunately, many people do not achieve these deep levels of sleep. Conventional sleeping pills actually inhibit deep levels of sleep and disrupt normal sleep patterns, causing people to wake up feeling more tired when they went to bed. That is definitely not the case with PharmaGABA.

Dosage recommendations

PharmaGABA can be used whenever someone feels a bit “stressed out.” For best results use it in a chewable tablet form at dosage of 100 to 200 mg up to three times daily. To promote a better night’s sleep, take 200 to 300 mg at bedtime. PharmaGABA is completely safe and without any known adverse drug interaction. As a general guideline, take no more than 600 mg within a six-hour period and no more than 1,200 mg within a 24-hour period.

Additionally:  Search for and read my articles on Theanine, Lavender, Stress Busters and Bacopa on my website.

Broccoli Sprouts Are An Intense Natural Cancer Cure

By Danica Collins on 08/21/2011  http://www.healthiertalk.com/

Did You Know…that broccoli sprouts are a natural cancer cure, the second leading cause of death in the United States? These humble young plants that look like alfalfa and taste peppery (like radishes) pack a powerful cancer-prevention punch.

Natural cancer cure and preventions are gaining increasing attention, since according to the National Cancer Institute, at least 35% of cancer deaths are connected to diet. And while you’ve already heard that broccoli is one of the most powerful natural cancer-fighting super foods available, numerous studies have confirmed that broccoli sprouts offer even more intense benefits than the mature plant.

That’s because broccoli is a natural cancer-fighting compounds — such assulforaphane – are most concentrated in the sprouts. For example, just one ounce of broccoli sprouts contains more sulforaphane than two pounds of broccoli.

Sprouts Contain 20 to 50 Times or More Cancer-Protective Compounds

“Three-day-old broccoli sprouts consistently contain 20 to 50 times the amount of chemo protective compounds found in mature broccoli heads, and may offer a simple, dietary means of chemically reducing cancer risk,” says Paul Talalay, M.D., J.J. Abel, Distinguished Service Professor of Pharmacology.

Talalay’s research at John Hopkins included a study with rats. One group received broccoli sprouts while the control group received nothing. Both groups were exposed to a carcinogen, dimethylbenzanthracene. The broccoli sprouts group not only developed far fewer tumors, but the tumors that did develop were smaller and grew much more slowly.

“In animals and human cells, we have demonstrated, unequivocally, that this compound (sulforaphane) can substantially reduce the incidence, rate of development, and size of tumors,” said Talalay.

Carcinogenic Detox

The John Hopkins study is just one example of a huge body of important research on similar theories. To date, more than 700 studies have examined the link between cruciferous vegetables, sulforaphane, and cancer prevention.

In another such study, 100 individuals were given broccoli sprouts and 100 others were given a placebo. The broccoli sprouts group showed asignificant decrease in a biomarker for DNA damage. This decrease strongly suggests enhanced carcinogenic detoxification. Put simply, those who ate the broccoli sprouts were cleansed of cancer-causing substances.

Preventing Stomach Cancer

In yet another series of studies, Japanese researchers discovered an exciting link between broccoli sprouts and Helicobacteri pylori (H. pylori)infection. H. pylori is known to cause gastritis and believed to be a major factor in peptic ulcer and stomach cancer.

The researchers found that a diet rich in broccoli sprouts significantly reduced Helicobacteri pylori (H. pylori) infection among a group of 20 individuals.

“Even though we were unable to eradicate H. pylori, to be able suppress it and relieve the accompanying gastritis by means as simple as eating more broccoli sprouts is good news for the many people who are infected,” said Akinori Yanaka, the study’s lead investigator.

Stopping the Spread of Cancer with 13C

Broccoli and Brussels sprouts may also help stop the spread of cancer, because consuming them prompts the body to produce a substance known as 13C (indole-3-carbinol). Researchers at the Ohio State University have found exciting evidence for 13C’s ability to fight cancer cells’ proliferation.

The research was published recently in Cancer Prevention magazine, and focused on breast cancer cells. Nearly half of breast cancer patients — especially those with advanced, life-threatening cancer — have escalated levels of a molecule called Cdc25A.

“Cdc25A is present at abnormally high levels in about half of breast cancer cases, and it is associated with a poor prognosis,” said study leader Xianghong Zou, assistant professor of pathology at the Ohio State University Medical Center.

But the good news is that 13C attacks and destroys both Cdc25A and breast cancer cells. What’s more, researchers believe 13C can also fight other cancers and possibly even reverse Alzheimer’s disease .

An Easy to Grow, Easy to Eat Natural Cancer Cure

You can easily grow broccoli sprouts at home, if you wish. Many health food markets and co-ops carry broccoli seeds, and all you need to do is soak the seeds for a few days, keeping them moist and rinsing them once a day.

By day 3, the seeds will sprout. In 3 more days, the sprouts will attain their maximum carcinogen detoxifying properties.

Broccoli sprouts are easily incorporated into your cooking repertoire. Just add the sprouts to salads, sandwiches, pasta dishes, or spreads, or use them as edible garnishes.

Meanwhile, you can take heart in knowing that you’re enjoying some of the strongest possible natural cancer cure available at your local grocery store or your backyard!

Vitamin D Supplementation Reduces the Risk of Acute Otitis Media in Children

OTITIS MEDIA, CHILDREN, EAR INFECTION – Vitamin D

“Vitamin D Supplementation Reduces the Risk of Acute Otitis Media in Otitis-Prone Children,” Marchisio P, Consonni D, et al, Pediatr Infect Dis J, 2013 May 20; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Pediatric Clinic, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy).

In a randomized study involving 116 children with a history of recurrent acute otitis media (rAOM), supplementation with vitamin D in a dosage of 1000 IU/d for a period of 4 months was found to restore serum values of at least 30 ng/mL and was found to significantly reduce the risk of uncomplicated acute otitis media (26 of the 58 children in the active treatment group) as compared to the occurrence among children who received a placebo (38 of 58 who received placebo). No significant difference in the number of children who experienced 1 or more episodes of spontaneous otorrhea was found between the groups. The authors conclude, “VD hypovitaminosis is common in children with rAOM and associated with an increase in the occurrence of AOM when serum 25(OH)D levels are <30 ng/mL. The administration of VD in a dosage of 1,000 IU/day restores serum values of >=30 ng/mL in most cases and is associated with a significant reduction in the risk of uncomplicated AOM.”

BEET JUICE and High Blood Pressure

A UK study – published in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension – says beetroot juice significantly lowers high blood pressure.

The study was conducted by the famous Queen Mary’s William Harvey Research Institute and headed up by Professor Amrita Ahluwalia. It’s the same institute that discovered that aspirin prevents heart attacks and strokes.

Researchers gave beetroot juice to healthy volunteers. They compared their blood pressure responses and the biochemical changes in their circulation.

And what they found was very good news indeed for people with hypertension. Not only does beetroot juice lower blood pressure… it does it quickly.

Professor Ahluwalia found that patients lowered their blood pressure within three hours of drinking their daily dose! And the effects last for 24 hours.

And the best thing is that the root works best for those who need it most.

Researchers found that “the higher the blood pressure, the greater the decrease.”

That’s good news for a lot of people. Just like the US, one in three adults in the UK suffer from hypertension. And the Blood Pressure Association says over 30 percent of sufferers don’t even know they have it. That’s too bad: it results in over 350 “preventable” strokes or heart attacks every day.

Researchers also tested a second group of patients with daily nitrate tablets. They too were able to lower their blood pressure. It’s possible that the high nitrate content in beetroot is one of the reasons why it’s so effective in lowering blood pressure. And why the research group believe it’s about to become the “next super food.”

“Beeting” Out the Competition
Beetroot is rich in antioxidants. It contains iron, boron, and folic acid. It also contains betanene, which is why it has such a violent color. Betanene is a super antioxidant: it’s more potent than polyphenols. Polyphenols are believed to be reason that diets rich in leafy vegetables lower blood pressure.

Research member Professor Ben Benjamin says that beetroot absorbs and stores super high levels of nitrate. These are found in soil and our bodies use them in its battle against blood pressure.

“When nitrate is present in saliva, bacteria on the tongue converts it into nitrite,” he says. “When the nitrite is swallowed, it’s converted into nitric oxide.”

And that is a chemical produced by our blood vessels to help them relax and lower blood pressure.

“Increasing the levels of nitrate with beetroot juice increases this effect,” he says.
The study also found beetroot juice works like aspirin. It prevents blood clots and protects the lining of blood vessels.

True Stories of Success
“Currently, treatment for high blood pressure involves a cocktail of aspirin, statins, beta blockers, and angiotensin converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitors,” says Professor Benjamin. “People don’t like taking all the tablets. They don’t feel well and the treatment is lifelong.”
But he says beetroot is a healthy and safe alternative to all that.

And people are already putting it to the test.

Sixty-year-old David Kelsall, from Stoke-on-Trent, England, was amazed by the results.
“I discovered my blood pressure was high when my doctor was testing for something else,” he says. “It was not life-threatening but I was anxious to do something about it.”
He was considering drugs when he read the reports about beetroot juice.

“I drank three bottles of it a week,” he says. “Less than four weeks [later], my blood pressure had already leveled out. Now, a few months later, it is under control and normal. I am still drinking the juice, and I’m going to continue doing so. It may not help everyone, but it’s helped me.”

Getting Beetroot into Your Diet
Beetroot has a medium glycemic index score of 64… but this doesn’t need to be a problem. That’s because you only need to have a very small amount of beetroot juice to lower your blood pressure.

“We found that only a small amount of juice is needed – just 250ml – to have this effect,” says Professor Ahluwalia.

Dr. Al Sears says beetroot is better at beating blood pressure problems than any drug. Here is one simple recipe that he suggests for getting it into your diet.

To make this recipe simply take:
• two raw organic carrots
• three organic celery sticks
• one-half of an organic cucumber
• one organic beetroot
(1) Chop each of the vegetables up.
(1) Drop ‘em in your juicer.
(3) Blend and drink.
It’s as simple as that!

Spend your summer vacation free from motion sickness

Q: My wife and I have been talking about taking a cross-country drive for years, but I’m afraid I’ll spend most of the trip doubled over with nausea. What can I take for motion sickness?

Dr. Wright: I’m going to provide you with a three-pronged attack that I hope will allow you to spend time enjoying the scenery, instead of worrying about keeping your lunch down.

First, bring some ginger capsules along for the drive. Women have been using ginger for years to beat the nausea of morning sickness, and it’s also been proven effective for motion sickness. Aside from capsules, you can find fresh ginger and ginger tea in just about any grocery or health food store.

 

Second, be careful about what you eat before and during your trip. A study from the University of Pennsylvania found that people who ate a high-protein diet were slower to develop motion sickness, and their symptoms were less severe. So load up on those healthy proteins, like fish and poultry, and keep that bag of pretzels out of sight.

 

Third, you may want to try an acupressure band, which can help with your nausea. These bands work by stimulating the P6 acupressure point on your wrist, and I’ve known many patients who swear by them. Try these three tips, and you may feel powerful relief from your motion sickness.

What REALLY Causes Heartburn?

by DR. JONATHAN V. WRIGHT, MD

Every day on television and other media we are barraged with ads about heartburn and acid reflux, which seem to tell us that stomach acid is the culprit causing our pain. If we take the patent medicine recommended in the commercial, our stomach problems will disappear.

And how do those medicines propose to “fix” the problem? They lower the level of stomach acidity by either neutralizing stomach acid (these are antacids) or by shutting down the stomach’s ability to produce acid (proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs).

But it’s not really the level of acid in the stomach that causes the discomfort we call heartburn. Heartburn is caused when acid that is supposed to be in the stomach aiding digestion backs up into the esophagus, whose lining is not capable of withstanding the acidity and is chemically burned by it. If we take the advertised patent medicine, it will reduce the level of acid in the stomach, and so if comes up into the esophagus, its acidity will be less there as well, reducing or eliminating the burning sensation. But is this really a heartburn cure, or just temporary symptom relief? And do people really have too much acid in their stomach? Most importantly, is it healthy to reduce stomach acid?

Are Antacids and PPIs Really a Heartburn Cure?

Antacids and PPIs do reduce stomach acid, so when acid comes back into the throat, it does not burn as much. But antacids do not stop acid from going where it doesn’t belong in the first place.

Why does acid come up into the throat? There is a valve at the bottom of the esophagus, just before the stomach, called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). It allows food to pass into the stomach, but is supposed to prohibit stomach contents from going in the other direction. When there is food present in the stomach, that valve is supposed to be shut tight, but sometimes it relaxes when it should not.

In some cases, the LES malfunctions because of food allergies and sensitivities, caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine. But it also happens when none of these is present. Doctors are not sure why, but some theorize that more acid, not less, is needed to keep the valve firmly shut, and that the valve relaxes in the presence of low stomach acid. If that is so, taking antacids could actually make the problem worse, not better.

Do People Often Have Too Much Stomach Acid?
Many studies have revealed that the production of stomach acid often decreases as we age, so that older people have much lower acidity level than younger ones. Yet often people develop heartburn in later years, just as acid production is declining. So it does not seem likely that heartburn is related to too much stomach acid at all. Yet when one goes to a doctor for a heartburn cure, antacids and PPIs are often prescribed without any testing on stomach acid levels. Ironically, when that test is done, it often reveals a lack of stomach acid rather than too much! This fact supports the theory that more acid keeps the LES more tightly closed.

Is It Healthy to Reduce Stomach Acid?
Stomach acid is needed in digestion and absorption of protein, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Older people in particular, who have lower levels of stomach acid, have difficulty absorbing sufficient nutrition. Moreover, stomach acid is a barrier that can prevent bacteria and other unwanted microorganisms from getting further into our digestive tract. Low stomach acid is linked to a variety of medical conditions including osteoporosis, pneumonia, and macular degeneration. Given that antacids only provide temporary relief from heartburn symptoms, and can lead to serious diseases or infections, they are not the best answer to the issue of heartburn.

What are better alternatives in curing heartburn?
Because many people suffering from heartburn have low stomach acid, some doctors have found that acid supplements often cure the problem. The supplements also help restore the digestive system, which enables better absorption of nutrients. Of course, no one should take acid except with the advice and under the care of a licensed doctor. If acid is normal in a person suffering from heartburn, his or her physician will often recommend testing for food allergies that could be causing the LES to malfunction. In addition, other natural supplements have been proven to help strengthen LES function, in particular melatonin.

So if you are suffering from heartburn, especially with any frequency, look for an integrative doctor (one who combines the use of supplements and natural remedies with more conventional approaches as needed) who is familiar with stomach acid level testing, and can get to the real cause of your heartburn.

Nick’s comment:
There is a sophisticated test available to test for low stomach acidity called the Heidelberg gastric analysis test.  Unfortunately this test is not readily available and is expensive. I have included 2 self tests below to help you determine if you have low stomach acid.

I personally take HCl with each meal and I have found significant changes in how I feel. No longer do I have bloating, constant pressure in my stomach area and wake up with last night’s dinner still in my stomach.  I just started doing procedure 2 below and had good results.

Initially in addition to supplementing HCl you may consider using a product called Heartburn Free. Heartburn Free is an extract from orange peel that you take every other day for 20 days, it strengthens the LES function to prevent acid from going up into the esophagus. A very important thing to do is to directly treat the stomach. People often have a condition called a hiatal hernia in which the stomach and esophagus are mal-positioned allowing stomach acid to go up into the esophagus.

I treat this manually and then teach the person who has this condition how to treat themself which also greatly reduces the reflux symptoms.  People who I have treated manually and then put on HCl supplementation have done very well in reducing their symptoms of reflux.

1.     Conduct an at-home test to see if your HCL is low. Mix 1/4 tsp. of baking soda in an 8 oz. glass of cold water. Drink the baking soda and water mixture first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything. Time how long it takes to belch after drinking the mixture. You should belch within 2 to 3 minutes if your HCL is adequate.

2.     Purchase supplemental HCL tablets from a health food or nutrition store. Take one 10 grain HCL capsule at the beginning of a substantial meal with protein. Take two capsules at the beginning of the next meal. Continue adding a capsule at every each meal until you feel a burning sensation in your chest. Note how many capsules you took before you felt the irritation and inform your physician. Generally, the higher the number of capsules you take, the lower your HCL is.

Both Heartburn Free and HCl (I use Vital Nutrients BETAINE HCL W/PEPSIN & GENTIAN) are available at Emerson Ecologic’s. Use this link to place your order…

8 Things Every Thyroid Evaluation MUST Check For

By Dr. Jonathan Wright on 06/25/2009 (http://www.healthiertalk.com)

When patients come to the Tahoma Clinic with symptoms of weak thyroid function, we start by getting their complete medical history and doing a thorough physical exam. But we also run a complete set of blood tests. I stress the word “complete” because, unfortunately, many thyroid function tests leave out at one or more important markers. In order to get a full picture of your thyroid health, though, a comprehensive test should include the following eight measurements:

Thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH. Made by the pituitary gland, this hormone stimulates the thyroid gland to make its hormones, which include T4, and T3, (and T2, and T1, too!) This hormone usually—but not always—rises if the thyroid gland isn’t responding to the usual degree of TSH stimulation.

Theoretically, if there’s enough active thyroid hormone TSH stays below a certain level. For this reason (and because it’s less expensive for insurance companies) many physicians—even a few endocrinologists—rely on the TSH evaluation alone to assess thyroid function. This only gives you a small fraction of the “big picture.”

Free T4, also known as thyroxine. (Technically speaking, thyroxine is made up of two tyrosine molecules bound to four iodide molecules.) Free T4 is generally considered the “storage and transportation” form of thyroid hormone, although it does have some activity of its own.

Free T3, or tri-iodothyronine. (The biochemical make-up of tri-iodothyronine consists of two tyrosine molecules bound to three iodide molecules.) Free T3 is the very metabolically active form of thyroid hormone.

Reverse T3, also known as reverse tri-iodothyronine or rT3. (Its biochemical composition also involves two tyrosine molecules bound to three iodide molecules, but they’re not in the same positions on the tyrosine molecules as free T3). As mentioned on page 1, rT3 is a reverse mirror image of free T3 that blocks free T3 from doing its job.

Total T4 and total T3. These are the same basic hormones in free T4 and free T3—thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine—but instead of being bound to iodide, in this instance, they’re bound to a large protein molecule called thyroglobulin, which researchers have found to completely de-activate any thyroid bound to it.

Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TGA), Thyroperoxidase Antibodies (TPO). When either or both of these antibodies are elevated, it indicates auto-immune thyroid disease. This situation is frequently (but not always) associated with gluten/gliadin sensitivity. Elevated TGA and/or TPO are another frequently missed cause of thyroid malfunction, missed because they’re often not tested.

There are also a number of other thyroid hormones which aren’t presently measured in any available thyroid tests: total T2, free T2, total T1, and free T1. The function of these hormones just hasn’t been adequately researched. In fact, T2 and T1 have been ignored and called useless, much as DHEA was for nearly two decades. However, evidence exists that T2 stimulates growth hormone in humans, as well as mitochondrial function, gene transcription, and enzymes. T1 likely has important functions, too, even if they aren’t yet well known. Hopefully, as more research is done, testing for these hormones will become available.

One more note, just to be clear: Even though elevated rT3 almost always indicates an accumulated excess of toxic metals, not everyone with excess toxic metals has an elevated rT3. Similarly, many hypothyroid individuals are hypothyroid for other reasons, and not because of toxic metals.

Muscle massage may speed healing

Molecular benefits to rubbing overworked areas include reduced inflammation

By Nathan Seppa

Science News March 10th, 2012; Vol.181 #5 (p. 17)

Offering a modern take on an age-old remedy, scientists report that the satisfaction one gets from rubbing sore muscles seems to have tangible roots. Massages might lessen pain-inducing inflammation in muscles and boost healing in the process.

Researchers from Ontario and California have found clear molecular signs that overworked muscle cells respond to being manipulated by massage. They also found measurable decreases in inflammatory compounds in massaged muscle tissue and indications that muscle cells rev up their energy processors for the inevitable repairs that follow hard exercise. The findings appear in the Feb. 1 Science Translational Medicine.

“This is the best data I’ve ever seen addressing possible mechanisms by which this therapy works,” says Thomas Best, a sports medicine physician at the Ohio State University School of Medicine. “This is very compelling.”

Justin Crane, a kinesiologist at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and his colleagues recruited 11 active men to participate in an exhaustive workout that taxed their quadriceps, the muscles at the front of the thigh. Shortly afterward, one thigh on each volunteer received a 10-minute massage and the other didn’t. The researchers then took a muscle biopsy from both legs of each volunteer right after the massage and again 2.5 hours later.

Strenuous exercise damages muscle tissue, followed by rebuilding or disposal of damaged muscle cells, Crane says. While inflammation routinely shows up immediately after such hard exercise, lingering inflammation hinders the repair process.

The biopsies taken immediately after massage showed that the muscles of the massaged legs, but not the untreated legs, had reduced levels of an inflammatory protein called tumor necrosis factor-alpha. The biopsies also revealed activation of two kinds of enzymes called kinases right after the massage, an indicator that the muscle cells responded to being manually manipulated, Crane says.

The massaged-leg biopsies taken 2.5 hours later showed reduced levels interleukin-6, a different inflammatory protein, and elevated concentrations of a multipurpose compound called PGC1-alpha. PGC1-alpha plays roles in muscle fiber maintenance and cell metabolism.

The analysis also hinted that muscle cells in the massaged legs were setting the stage for growth of mitochondria, the energy factories in cells. Such growth would facilitate muscle refurbishment, Crane says.

Although massage and other alternative medicines are used by millions of people, the therapies have doubters, in part because studies of these techniques often measure benefits subjectively or lack biological evidence of an effect, the authors note. “I’m more convinced now that massage is effective,” Crane says. “We see inflammation going down and, conversely, other cell signaling going up — two facets of rehab going the right directions.”

Whether these biological changes account for all of massage’s pain relief remains unclear. Lowering inflammation can reduce pain. But Crane says massaging sore muscles might also involve the release of pain-alleviating endorphins and other neurotransmitters. “We really have no idea,” he says.

The study casts doubt on one other theory: Lactic acid builds up in hard-worked muscles, and some people believe massage moves it out of the muscle. But the massaged legs showed no difference in lactic acid from the untreated legs.

Injuries and surgery

it is very important to treat an injury or surgery as soon as possible. Most people will just wait until things feel better which may take several weeks or months. And then if after that time it’s not getting any better or its not resolved they may seek treatment. I have found over the years that if people are treated for their injuries or surgeries close to the time that they occur, there is a significant symptom reduction and reduction of the time for complete recovery. Just recently i saw someone who had fallen on the ice on their tailbone, moving and sitting was painful. The day after the injury i treated this person and within about 30 minutes there was at least 80 to 90% reduction of all symptoms. I’ve also made house calls to people who have had either a knee replacement surgery or hip replacement surgery. A very short treatment of half an hour or 45 minutes made significant reduction in pain and medication usage. I have also received calls from people calling me from the ski slope saying they have just had an injury. Several people have hobbled in using crutches and left without needing the crutches.

many times prolonged pain will cause a compensation pattern in the body as we try to deal with the pain. If this painful situation is not dealt with early enough the compensation pattern creates new difficulties. What i have seen is that usually people can compensate for the pain for 6 to 18 months and then “out of the blue” they develop a new pain. For the most part, treating the original injury will actually cause the new pain to disappear. So i encourage you to seek treatment whenever you have an injury or surgery as soon as possible so that things will heal faster and you’ll feel better.