Winter Detox IssueJanuary 2012

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Invest in Your HealthMassage Offers Excellent Return on Investment

Massage in a health investment, helping to manage stress, support wellness, and boost immunity.

Tension is whoyou think youshould be.Relaxation iswho you are.-Chinese Proverb

Office Hours and Contact

Healing Touch Massage Therapy, LLCLori J.Garcia, RMT, Reflexologist720-999-1493Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri By Appointment Onlyhttp://www.htm.abmp.com

In this Issue

Invest in Your HealthThe Art of BathingBoost Your Immune System

"Invest for the long term" is greatfinancial advice, but it's also greathealthcare advice. Never is investing forthe long term more important thanwhen you are making day-to-daydecisions about your health. There areshort-term gains from taking care ofyour health, to be sure, but thelong-term benefits are not to beunderestimated.

You already know the value of bodywork.For all the short-term stress and painrelief you get from massage today, thereare lasting rewards you'll thank yourselffor down the road. Massage therapy as apreventive measure and part of anongoing care regimen can mean fewervisits to the doctor, as well as fewer

co-pays, prescriptions, andover-the-counter medications.Ultimately, it means a healthier andhappier you.

An Excellent ValueAs you plan the family budget, ponderhow massage therapy impacts your abilityto make good decisions, cope with extraresponsibilities, stay on an even keel

emotionally and spiritually, andmaintain harmonious relationships withcoworkers, family, and friends.

Research supports the value of massage.Massage provides many benefits,including improved concentration,energy, circulation, and self-esteem, aswell as reduced stress, fatigue, and pain.It's helpful with more acute healthconditions, also. If you, or a loved one,are already dealing with a healthcondition, massage is an even moreimportant part of your healthcareplanning.

Research shows:-- Alzheimer's patients exhibit reducedirritability, pacing, and restlessness after

neck and shoulder massage.-- Deep-tissue massage is effective intreating arthritis, back pain,fibromyalgia, and osteoarthritis.-- Fibromyalgia patients receivingmassage have fewer sleep problems andless anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain,and stiffness.

The value of bodywork runs deep, for nothing is more valuable than good health.

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-- Massage during labor appears to helpblock pain, reduce stress and anxiety,and relax muscles. Some medicalprofessionals say massage shortens labor.-- Massage can reduce sports-relatedsoreness and improve circulation, and isbeneficial in reducing symptomsassociated with arthritis, asthma, burns,high blood pressure, and premenstrualsyndrome.-- Oncology patients show less anxiety,depression, fatigue, nausea, and painfollowing massage therapy.-- Preterm babies receiving massagetherapy gain more weight and haveshorter hospital stays.-- Massage therapy is effective inreducing post-surgical pain and caneven reduce the time required forpost-operative hospital stays.

You may be trimming some extras out ofyour budget, as many Americans are.When weighing what goes and what stays,consider what an excellent value massageis, especially in relation to things thatmay be less valuable, but still cost youplenty. The price of massage hasremained stable in recent years, whilethe cost of movies, dining out, andsports events have risen. Which of theseactivities has the power to improve yourhealth and which has a better return oninvestment?

Get CreativeThere are many ways to keep massage inyour life if you use your imagination.While vacations are definitely neededright now by just about everybody, moreand more Americans are staying closerto home and taking "staycations." Howabout planning a healthy, home-basedvacation and including massage as partof your relaxation?

When it comes to gift-giving occasions,why not give and ask for massage giftcertificates? Massage makes a wonderfulreplacement for flowers that wilt,sweaters that don't fit, or another box offattening candy. Some folks buy spapackages or put together their ownoutings with a massage, a museumexcursion, or lunch at a favoriterestaurant. Mothers, daughters, aunts,and grandmothers are enjoying spastogether and massage is a key part of thepackage. These events create bondingexperiences that launch new traditionsand reinforce a healthy lifestyle.

Gift certificates for chair massage atairports are an option for wearytravelers, as is chair massage at malls forpackage-laden shoppers. If you are anemployer, consider gifting your staffwith on-site chair massage, which hasbeen shown to reduce stress andimprove performance. Just think of it asthe ultimate pat on the back for staff andone that pays you back.

Maintain Well-BeingYou may be tempted to trim yourwellness budget when economic timesare tough. Yet, a recent nationalconsumer survey showed mostmassage-minded Americans are stillcommitted to maintaining the healthbenefits they experience with massage. Itonly makes sense. The better you feel,the better job you can do of caring foryourself and your loved ones. Massagetherapy will also help families understress create healthier households, and

more focused and relaxed moms anddads. Children are sensitive and oftenpick up on tension in a household;parents who are taking care ofthemselves are more likely to provide asense of calm to their kids. This goes forcaregivers of aging parents, too.

Now, more than ever, massage shouldplay a role in reducing your stress andstrengthening your health. When peoplefeel their best, they are more able to facethe challenges difficult times present.With greater health and peace of mind,you can face difficulties with poise,clarity of purpose, and strengthenedemotional reserves.

Truly, massage is more than aluxury--it's a vital part of self-care thathas a positive ripple effect on you as youwork, play, and care for others.Investing in your health is oneinvestment that's sure to pay off.

Turn your home bath into a spa experience.

The Art of BathingSimple Recipes to Soothe Mind and Body

Boost Your Immune SystemLymphatic Drainage Therapy Fights Infection

From bubble baths to essential oils toDead Sea salts, prepared bath productsare designed to enhance a bathingexperience, but they can be expensive.Instead of spending the extra money onspecial bath products, try one of thesenatural, simple bath recipes withingredients you probably already have inyour cupboard or refrigerator.

Epsom SaltsAdd 2 cups Epsom salts to bath water.Magnesium sulfate, or Epsom salts, hasbeen used for centuries as a folk remedy,and research now confirms its numerousbenefits. The second most abundantelement in human cells and a crucialcomponent for bone health, magnesiumis also needed for muscle control,energy production, and the eliminationof toxins. Magnesium eases stress, aidssleep, and improves concentration whilereducing inflammation, joint pain, andmuscle cramps. Sulfates help to flushtoxins from the body, prevent or reduceheadaches, and even improve brainfunction.

Most American diets are deficient inmagnesium. However, one of the bestways to boost dietary intake is by bathingin Epsom salts, which are readilyabsorbed through the skin.

MilkAdd 2-4 cups milk or buttermilk to bathwater.Rich in calcium, protein, and vitamins,milk replenishes the skin, while lacticacid found in milk acts as a naturalexfoliant. A member of the alphahydroxy acid family, lactic acid breaksthe glue-like bonds between the outerlayer of dead skin cells. Soak in a milkbath for 20 minutes, then gently scrubskin with a loofah or washcloth.

HoneyAdd 1/4 cup honey to bath water.A fragrant, natural humectant, honeyhelps skin attract and retain moisture.Its antibacterial and anti-irritantproperties make it an ideal cleansingand soothing additive to a warm bath.

Does your immune system workovertime? If so, you might want to giveit a boost by seeing a massage therapistor bodyworker trained in lymphaticdrainage therapy. This technique canboost your immunity by increasing theproduction of antibodies, stimulatingcirculation, moving congestion out ofthe body, and reducing swelling,especially after surgery.

The lymphatic system supports ourbody's immune function and involvesseveral organs, glands, and tissues,hundreds of lymph nodes, and anetwork of vessels. A clear lymph fluidflows through these vessels and carriesthe metabolic waste (bacteria, dead cells,fats, fluids, proteins, and viruses) to thelymph nodes, where it is filtered. These

nodes often swell when we are sick.

The lymphatic drainage techniques usedby massage therapists and bodyworkersgently stimulate lymph nodes, helpcorrect swelling and stagnation in thosenodes, reduce local fluid retention,boost the overall immune system, andprovide relaxation. As an essential toolin the treatment of lymphedema (excesslymphatic fluid), this therapy is oftenapplied postoperatively and can beespecially beneficial for breast cancerpatients.

Administering this treatment requiresadvanced training and is performed withgentle, massage-like strokes. Thereshould be no discomfort involved; infact, you may feel you are hardly being

worked on at all.

AftercareAfter your lymphatic drainagetreatment, it's possible you could feelsome mild, flu-like symptoms,depending on how much strain yourbody has been under prior to treatment.This strain may be due to environmentalpollutants, medication, and diet. Mostpeople leave a session simply feelingrelaxed, but if you don't feel at the topof your game, drink plenty of water,limit your salt intake, and stay physicallyactive.

Lymphatic drainage is one way to giveyour wellness a boost in a busy worldthat makes many demands on yourimmune system.

Sometimes themost importantthing in a wholeday is the rest wetake betweentwo deepbreaths.-Etty Hillesum

Winter Detox Special!Package of 4 sessions for $200Includes: 2 Reflexology sessions, 1 Raindrop Technique and 1 Lymphatic Drainage Massage

Mention this newsletter and receive $10 off. Offer expires March 31, 2012

Healing Touch Massage Therapy, LLC

8100 Ralston Rd, G-10Arvada, CO 80002