Give Lymph a Chance: Burn Your (Underwire) Bra

Bra burning for better immunity.

I gave up wearing underwire bras a couple of years ago. Not only are their wireless counterparts more comfortable but they are better for my health.

In order to understand how underwires can be detrimental you need to get to know your lymphatic system. The circulatory system is so well represented in basic biology trivia that most of us are aware of the importance of the blood vessels and organs that make it up: the heart, lungs, arteries, veins and capillaries.

What is surprising is how little we know about it's sister system, especially considering that the lymph vessel network is larger than the blood vessel network and that it carries a similar quantity of fluid around our body.

The lymphatic system has no central pump (where the circulatory system has the heart) so it relies on the movements of skeletal muscles and breathing to move lymph throughout the body. This is another reason why it is important to keep active and to regularly engage in deep diaphragmatic belly breathing.

The lymphatic system is responsible for some pretty important duties:

• Drains excess interstitial fluid. That is, it moves fluid that builds up between cells like the fluid created during a swollen ankle injury.
• Fights off illness by carrying out immune responses using the anti-bodies that you were born with and those develop as you are exposed to pathogens and germs. These anti-bodies hang out in your lymph until they are called to action.
• Transports and distributes dietary lipids (i.e. fats that you eat).

Take a look at these images of the lymphatic system and notice the delicate lymphatic structures clustered around the armpit and throughout the breast tissue.

Delicate lymph nodes can be compressed and
the flow of lymph hindred by an under wire.

Check out the nodes in her axilla!

Underwire bras can decrease lymphatic circulation.

Now think of the placement of an under wire in a bra and it's position on the body and pair that with what you now know about the location of the axillary (armpit) lymph nodes and the purpose of the lymphatic system.

The statement act of bra burning isn't what I'm trying to encourage here but rather educated bra choice. Next time you're shopping for your smalls consider which options will help you maintain your best possible lymphatic circulation. Your immunity, circulation, and general health will thank you.

See you in the clinic,
Dana



Sources:

• http://pinterest.com/amandatorium/maxi-coat-podcast/
• http://www.wdv.com/Cancer/Breast/CBE/index.html
• http://barbarawhitemassage.com/day_spa_lymphatic_drainage.asp
• http://www.thodgeslmp.com/Counterstrain/Lymphatic_SCS.html
• http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancerbasics/lymph-nodes-and-cancer
• http://www.cbass.com/lymph.htm
• http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photo-transparent-lymphatic-system-man-image26202845 "transparent-lymphatic-system-of-man"
• http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/type/breast-cancer/about/the-breasts-and-lymphatic-system 
• http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/3729/the-bra-dilemma-solved/page/all

Notice Anything Different?

You guessed it! There's a nifty new link here that connects to my nifty new website for Dana Smith Massage Therapy.

Here's a sneak peek at the homepage danasmithmassage.com

Dana Smith Massage Therapy is not only open for business but open to search engines and online booking. My current clinic location has a very user-friendly online booking page that you can get to by clicking the big black Book Now button on my website. 

See you in the clinic,
Dana

Confessions of a Massage Therapist

Yes, my hands are as big as my head. Thank you for noticing.

Not a bold statement but perhaps a large one: I have Mani Magnus. No, this is not the latest mani/pedi trend nor is it a contagious condition that requires me to wear gloves at all times.

I was not born this way. My developing knowledge of Latin anatomy terms and vigorous use of my hand muscles providing massage therapy have caused the change. I don't miss my regular old hands; I figure Mani Magnus (aka: "big hands") are a career advantage given the profession I am in.

In fact, I'm rather proud of my protruding paws, my pronounced appendages; it took me many hours (3000-plus to be precise) of manual and cerebral labour to get these manis where they are today.

Book an appointment today to experience these Mani Magnus at work for you!
Dana

Meanwhile, beneath the skin...

Nothing broken after a cycling accident
but check out my proportions!

I wonder if Jerry Seinfeld's date ever considered a career in massage therapy?

 "Man hands" do come in handy in the treatment room!

Circulatory Whip Yourself Into Shape

1. Play hard 2. Work hard 3. Get a massage.

A client came to me complaining of early carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms: occasional tingling of some of his fingers, loss of grip strength, and hypertoned forearm muscles. As a carpenter, rock climber, and downhill mountain biker, his hands are used vigorously for both work and play. With both income and enjoyment on the line, I encouraged him to integrate a contrast arm bath regime to supplement the massage therapy I was providing.

The results were profound. With daily alternating hot and cold arm baths for a week, he felt that the hydrotherapy was perhaps even more effective than the semi-regular massage treatments he was receiving for his arms and shoulder girdle.

Hydrotherapy affects the blood & lymphatic circulation.

Benefits:
Contrast limb bathing can be used to prevent and treat repetitive strain injuries, and clear congestion in areas of chronic edema by aiding venous return. This type of hydrotherapy provides a circulatory whip by harnessing the power of contrasting temperatures to alternately move blood and lymphatics to and from the limbs, clearing metabolites (wastes created by cells) from the tissues. The resulting sensations in the limbs is tingly and  invigorating.

Conditions that may be treated:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tennis and golf elbow
• Chronic inflammation after fracture or sprain
• Plantar fasciitis
• Aching tired feet.

What you will need:

• Two vessels large enough to submerge both forearms or ankles, as deeply as possible, ideally 2-3 inches above the joint, such as double kitchen sinks or plastic wash bins.
• Ice water
• Warm/hot water
• Towel for drying

Stagnation of circulation decreases tissue health.

How to do it:

1. Fill one basin with very warm tap water (about the tempurature of what you'd consider a hot bath)
2. Fill the other basin with cold tap water. Eventually, after a few sessions of building tolerance to the cold, adding ice cubes.
3. Plunge the limbs to be treated into the hot water for 30 seconds (or until it starts to feel nice).
4. Immediately dunk arms into cold water for 60 seconds (or until it feels like your bones are aching),  hooting & hollering as much as needed. 
5. Repeat three times, ending on cold.
6. Pat your skin dry and enjoy the invigorating sensations as your body normalizes its circulation.
7. Depending on the severity of your condition, repeat 1-5 times per week.

These times are approximate, but the cold plunge should always be twice as long as the warm plunge. With repeated treatment, you will gain a tolerance to the temperatures and require longer soaks and/or greater temperature differences to achieve outcomes.

Limb contrasting is generally very safe, and what risk is present may be avoided with common sense; don't burn yourself with the heat or ice. Please be advised that contrast hydrotherapy is not appropriate for individuals with sensory impairments, obstructive vascular pathologies, or nervous system disorders where stimulation may aggravate symptoms. If you aren't certain, please check with your primary health care provider.

Happy dunking!
Dana

Viral Positivity

One of my teachers once said, "If there is something that you really want, first you must give it away." This Buddhist way of thinking doesn't really apply to material things, as I was trying to explain to my 11 year old daughter the other night as we discussed the 'Christmas Gimmes'.

At her age it is hard to see beyond the electronics and clothing. As a privileged middle-class Canadian, what else is there to want? I could see her brain grappling with "If I want an iPad, how do I go about getting one to give away when I can't even get one to keep?"

A client recently asked me what I want for Christmas. At first nothing note-worthy came to mind, but upon a moment's thought what I really want was clear; I want more people to experience joy and happiness in their lives. Is this a tall order? Not if we believe in our abilities to share positivity.

I feel very fortunate to work in a field where my daily spiritual practice can naturally co-exist with my professional practice. My clients come to me with the common goal of feeling better and I aid them via physical therapy and by providing a positive healing environment of acceptance and support. I take great care to bring my best self to the treatment room in order to further their wellness. I try to infuse as many interactions with positivity as I can, influencing the world one kind act at a time.

Ten simple ways I plan to spread the love:

1. Use a brightly colored umbrella to brighten everyone's day and to increase your visibility. It's dark and gloomy enough outside.
2. Look people in the eye and smile.
3. Honestly compliment a stranger on something they are doing, saying, or wearing.
4. Open the door for others. (As a woman I've noticed that this often confuses men's hard-wired tendencies to act with chivalry and it's something to share a giggle with a stranger about in the doorway of the bank.)
5. When faced with negative sentiments, resist the urge to return them and respond with a positive spin instead. Even if your positivity doesn't change the situation at least it is not perpetuating more anger and it may even have a diffusing effect.
6. Offer my seat on public transit to anyone who looks like they want to get off their feet, not just the elderly.
7. When I buy something from a grocery store for lunch, grab an extra to share with someone asking for charity outside the store. I feel better doing this than giving money.
8. Avoid gossiping and consider whether my words cause harm to others or myself before speaking.
9. Tell loved ones that they are loved and why they are loved.
10. Share what I am grateful for. Be specific and the gratitude will have much more impact.

This all goes nicely with the holiday spirit not to mention all the liking and sharing going on in the social media world. Try doing it in person to really spread the love!

See you in the clinic,
Dana



 Sources:

• Hand Image: http://vladdolezal.com/blog/2010/hardwire-yourself-for-positivity/

• Umbrellas Image: http://nyc_dog_blog.downtownpet.com/2007/10/umbrella-wars-bigger-umbrella-bigger.html

The Science in the Bathwater

Some days the physicality of my work leaves me with an exhausted body. Recently, after a string of busy days filled with massage therapy appointments, I found myself particularly drained. I was feeling many of the symptoms that my clients seek my help to alleviate.

It is too soon in my new career to be developing over-use injuries so I panicked and started to book acupuncture and massage appointments for myself. Then the calm and confident voice that speaks to my clients when they are struggling with pain and discomfort said to me, "Take your own advice: run a hot bath with Epsom salts, do some stretches, and rest. You will feel better." So I did. And it was good advice.

This got me thinking about what goes on in the bathwater. Most of us know that if we are sore, taking an Epsom salt bath can help. But what is the science behind it? As with the various homecare exercises that I prescribe in my massage practice, understanding how the effects are achieved helps us to believe in the process, comply with the recommendation, and even continue to incorporate the practice into our routine.

 The chemistry and physiology of bathing in Epsom salts:

• Epsom salts are known by chemists as magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄·7H₂O) which occurs naturally as a pure mineral.
• Magnesium sulfate is more bio-available when used in a bath and can be absorbed by our bodies through the skin in a more efficiently than by oral consumption.
• Magnesium is the second largest component of human cells. Among other things, it regulates the function of over 300 enzymes which assists many bodily functions.
• Most if us are deficient in magnesium due to modern farming practices that strip magnesium and other valuable minerals from the soil, reducing the amount delivered to us in our food. Today, 68% of U.S. adults consume less than the recommended daily allowance of magnesium.

Benefits of using magnesium sulfate as a bath additive:

• Improves nerve function by regulating electrolytes. Calcium is the main conductor for nerve impulses in the body, and magnesium is necessary to maintain proper calcium levels in the blood.
• Flushes toxins and heavy metals from the cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to detoxify.
• Reduces inflammation to relieve pain and muscle cramps.
• Relieves stress. Excess adrenaline and stress hormones may drain magnesium from the body. Magnesium is necessary for the body to bind adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of well being and relaxation.

Dosage
Hot baths are not appropriate for everyone. Those with high blood pressure, sensation impairments, or anyone under bathing restrictions from their doctor should consult with them first.

• For soaking, add two cups of Epsom salts to your bath. Bathe three times weekly, soaking 15-20 minutes. Be sure to drink a couple glasses of water during or after your bath.
• For a foot bath, add a cup of Epsom salts to a tub of warm water as a treatment for aching feet. This application may be more suitable for hypertensive individuals.

Our bodies possess more innate healing power than we often give them credit for. If I sometimes forget this, then certainly others do as well. Of course, there are circumstances where a bath cannot be substituted for manual therapy, but in this instance, I personally needed to look within and harness my own rejuvenating powers.  I will still be going for a massage this week.

See you in the clinic,
Dana


Sources:

1. www.epsomsaltcouncil.org
2. An Introduction to Heat & Cold as Therapy, Laurel Fowlie RMT, BA, MEd, Curties-Overzet Publications, 2006
3. Chemistry image: http://www.worldofchemicals.com/wochem/pub/chemmagnesium-sulfate.html
4. Bathtub image: http://roysquest.wordpress.com/2012/08/11/dr-roys-10-tips-to-have-a-good-nights-sleep/