Gas - This Too Shall Pass

Thermal image of flatulence.

Dogs do it unapologetically. Cats do it occasionally. I bet if I ever spent time with a monkey, I would discover that they do it too. I'll confess that I did twice while writing this blog post. Be it symphonic, percussive, silent, or abrupt farting is part of every mammal's existence. Colloquially known as a fart, toot, fluff, or passing wind, we appreciators of Latin like to call this act flatus or flatulence.

I have been in the middle of massage treatments when my clients fart. Sometimes they are aware it has happened, sometimes not. Either way I continue working and they continue receiving the massage. This is normal and no big deal.

Just last week I saw a cyclist with this image tattooed
on his low back. I'm assuming he's flatus proud.

During a massage, the body relaxes and the parasymathetic nervous system takes action. Among other things, this response stimulates the digestion and absorption of nutrients, which often results in borbarygmus, or rumbling noises made by gasses passing through the intestines, or even the escape of gas at the end of the tunnel, resulting in a flatus expelled through the anus. The scientific study of this area of medicine is termed flatology.

According to my friends at Wikipedia, the number of flatus episodes per day is variable, the normal range is given as 8-20 per day. Given these numbers, there is a good chance that you may rip one during your massage treatment. Hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane are all produced in the gut and contribute 74% of the volume of flatus in normal subjects. But how the flatologists deciphered what a "normal" farting subject is is beyond me.

My lovely treatment room has large opening windows
to air out the room as needed.

Know that if you do happen to fart during treatment, there's no need to be mortified. Sure, the result can be unpleasant for those nearby, but this too shall pass.

And if need be, I can open a window.

See you in the clinic,
Dana


P.S. I've included a couple of fun videos to entertain and inspire.








I wonder if Ok Go were thinking of passing gas while designing their Rube Goldberg machine? After all, digestion is a chain if events each only occurring when something has come before it. Watch this incredibly brilliant music video called This Too Shall Pass (preferably a couple of times) to be amazed. You never know, it may inspire the expulsion of a fart or two.

This next video is adorable, quirky, and great commentary on social smoking. Had to share it - I mean really, how many blog posts will a person write on flatulence? It's a perfect fit!

Sources:
http://www.worksafebc.com/publications/health_and_safety/hazard_symbols/restricted_products/
http://www.hotlikesauce.com/2009/11/14/the-most-beautiful-fart-ever/

Nocturnal Neck Advice - How to Use Your Pillow

Your pillow should support the natural
curve at the back of your neck.

Are you using your pillow correctly and is it the best pillow for you? The most common mistake people make  is to place their pillow beneath their shoulders so that it slopes down and provides no support for the delicate curve of the neck.

Ideally, the cervical spine lordosis - the little curve at the back of the neck - should be supported while you sleep so that your head is aligned with the torso. If it is not supported, the neck muscles are forced to rest for long periods of time in a shortened position.This can lead to muscle imbalances, trigger points, myofascial adhesions, reduced circulation to the brain, and possible compression of nerve pathways. Hopefully not all at once, but the correct pillow choice and position can keep these health issues at bay.

This illustration shows how to snuggle your pillow in around your neck
and shoulders in order to provide decent nocturnal neck support.

There are many types of pillows on the market - buckwheat, chipped foam, shaped foam, poly-fill, feather, wool. This image shows how to use a filled pillow (not shaped foam) to your advantage. Not sure which one is for you? Read a review on  natural fibre pillow options.

Are you a side-sleeper like me? Take a look at yourself in the mirror noting the distance between your outer shoulder and the side of your head. For me, this is about 15 centimeters (6 inches). When I sleep on my side, the distance between the side of my head and the bed is a bit shorter than this measurement, due to the rolling in of my body, but there is still a significant distance to be taken up by a pillow in order to achieve ideal sleeping alignment.

I happily use a buckwheat pillow. This variety works for me because I don't mind shifting my pillow around as I reposition my body throughout the night. I find special satisfaction as I turn to my side and stuff my pillow in around my head, neck and shoulder filling that head to bed discrepancy I spoke of. Yes I know, I am a posture nerd, even at night.

If you are a dead-to-the-world sleeper, who wakes with your pillow as shown in diagram B or D, consider using a shaped foam pillow to provide the needed support while you are out for the night. But take care in choosing this type of pillow as exposure to common petroleum based chemicals (as are found in most common foams) have been shown to weaken or damage the immune, endocrine, and nervous systems. Yikes! Read more about the hazards of polyurethane foam here. Fortunately, there are non-toxic natural latex foam varieties available on the market, just be sure you know what you're getting.

Rest well, choose natural, and I'll see you in the clinic,
Dana



Sources:

• Illustraion from page 326 of Travell & Simon's Trigger Point Manual Vol.1
• http://www.drkarencann.com/2011/08/31/do-you-suffer-from-cervical-lordosis/
• http://blog.remakehealth.com/blog_Healthcare_Consumers-0/bid/9046/What-does-an-MRI-scan-of-the-cervical-spine-upper-neck-show

Inflicting The Good Pain - The Ins and Outs of Trigger Point Release

Inflicting the good pain.

Almost daily people come to me with discomfort in one area and to get at the origin of their pain I treat supplementary areas that they didn't even know were involved. Sometimes this treatment approach is used to create whole-body myofascial balance and other times it is because they are experiencing referred pain from active trigger points.

A muscle becomes injured from causes such as over use, immobilization, nutritional, metabolic or endocrine inadequacies which result in a myofascial trigger point. Trigger points are often experienced as aching or super-tender areas within a muscle, often with a referral pattern of discomfort that affects other areas that are seemingly unrelated to the injured muscle.

Trigger points in the gluteus minimus can present with symptoms
all the way to your ankle!

Because of this intramuscular damage the body responds with an inflammatory response to protect the injured muscle cells and speed  recovery. Unfortunately, when a cell is damaged it creates more metabolic waste in the process of healing itself but because of the swelling it is incapable of attaining the nutrition required nor is it able to get rid of the waste it has created because the vessels in the damaged area are compressed by the inflamed tissues. This only results in the perpetuation of the problem: an increased need for circulation but a decreased supply. It is thought by some that pain is perceived in trigger points far from the source injury because the swelling and metabolic waste irritates nocioceptive (pain perceiving) nerve endings in that area.

So you've injured a muscle, developed a tender trigger point, and booked an appointment with your RMT, now comes the skillful application of trigger point therapy. Imagine that your muscle is a sponge that has soaked up liquid. When the correct pressure (ischemic compression) is applied to the muscle (sponge) the fluid (blood and lymph) is squeezed out. When pressure is released, the sponge draws in fresh blood and lymph allowing the needed exchange of wastes and nutrients that your sore tissues require. Often the ischemic compression causes an increase in your symptoms until the intramuscular waste is squeezed out of the tissue, which can take several seconds to minutes of steady pressure.

I often encourage my clients to visualize the muscle as they are breathing through the release of a trigger point. With acute and chronic pain overwhelming feelings of anger, helplessness, and even claustrophobia can arise. It is thought that visualizing what is happening in the body can help it to heal while allowing the person experiencing the pain to accept the sensations but still feel in control. This is not only an effective coping tool but it also helps me avoid gaining a reputation as a pain inflicting masochist of a massage therapist.

The stretch to use following a gluteus minimus TrP release

Although it may seem like your RMT has super-human intuitive skills when easing your suffering, but often a trigger point referral is a textbook symptom of the underlying culprit. While he or she may indeed be extremely intuitive, when it comes to trigger points, referring to the attained banks of rote knowledge is often the secret massage therapy tool.

Following a trigger point release it is not uncommon to experience residual pain or discomfort. The application of heat - by taking a hot epsom salt bath, shower, or using a hot compress - combined with specific stretches of the treated muscles are used to promote full recovery and lasting results of the treatment. I always leave my clients with an arsenal of tools to help them recover from a trigger point release. So if this is what you are dealing with, be prepared to be taught stretches and other homecare techniques for use after your massage.

These interactive wall accents were designed for stylish in-home
self-administered trigger point release.

German design house, Touchy-Feely has created heated plaster wall nodules for self treatment.
Although fun, please consider that you may aggravate a trigger point, which will leave you with more pain than you started with. There is a certain protocol to follow to ensure the proper release of a muscle, so don't neglect booking in with your RMT after encountering such wall nodules;)

See you in the clinic,
Dana

Sources: 

• http://the-healthy-diva.com/2012/03/19/motivational-monday-the-benefits-of-breathing/
• http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0215/p653.html
• http://www.triggerpoints.net/
• http://www.docpods.com/Illiotibial-Band-Wall-Stretch

How to Make a Hot Compress & Ease Muscle Pain in Minutes

There are all sorts of products available to act as hot compresses: gel packs, magic bean-filled bags, hot water bottles. But let's just keep it simple shall we? In fact, you already have all you need to provide deep moist heat to your achy muscles: two hand towels and hot water.

1. Loosely roll one hand towel from the narrow end.

2. Place the rolled towel lengthwise at one end of the other (unrolled) towel.

3. Pour boiling water on the rolled towel, enough to fully moisten it but not drip.

4. Roll the wet, hot towel in the dry hand towel from the wide end.

5. Place compress over area being warmed until the compress has cooled, about 15 minutes.

6. Do the stretches your RMT prescribed while your muscles are still nice and warm.

Keep in mind that if you are experiencing swelling from an acute injury, ice wrapped in a towel would be a better application.

Give this a try and let me know how it works for you.

See you in the clinic,

Dana

The Ultimate Guide to Good Posture

Let's admit it, we all know that we could further improve our posture. This can seem like a daunting task if you don't know what good posture looks and feels like or exactly how to begin making things better. 

Here's a fun infographic that will help you get started. I'm particularly fond of the simple self-test they offer to see if your spinal curve falls within normal parameters. Ask me next time you are in for an appointment and I will adjust your standing posture for you to see and feel what proper alignment is like. It is surprising how awkward aligned posture can feel when your body is not used to it!

What else are you doing to keep your posture in check?

See you in the clinic,

Dana

One Litre of Warm Oil = Indian Massage Bliss

There are a couple of healing systems that have been perpetually in use over the past several thousand years. Can you name them?

If you guessed Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda you would be correct. But did you know that both consider massage treatment to be an integral part of these two respective healing arts?

This image shows a similar setting to
the massage I experienced in India.

While I was in India last year I experience Ayurvedic massage a couple of times for relaxation. The process involved a lot of warm sesame oil and some massage principals I was not accustomed to. The result, however, was delightfully oily and blissfully soothing.

Ayurveda, or Science of Life, as it translates from the Sanskrit, is understood as the art of living harmony with nature and has been practiced continuously for over 5,000 years. Ayurvedic practices are known to restore balance and harmony in the individual, resulting in self-healing, good health, and longevity. 

Ayurvedic treatments aim to treat the root of the cause of the ailment, not just to suppress the symptoms. The use of medicinal herbs, diet, pranayama (breathing exercises), spiritual and bodily cleansing, asanas (yoga postures) and abhyanga (oil massage) are some of the common modalities used in achieving wellness under the supervision of an Ayurvedic doctor.

Ayurvedic theory asserts that each human possesses a unique combination of doshas which are mind/body constitutions that define a person's temperament and characteristics. When a person is ill, it is thought that one of their doshas is overly dominant, causing an imbalance of the three constitutions. A perfectly healthy person is thought to have an evenly balanced Vata-Pitta-Kapha doshic constitution. It is very common to have a dual constitution, or have your constitution change depending on the time of year or time of life.

Discover your dosha by taking an online quiz here or here.

When working with an Ayurvedic doctor practitioner, your doshic constitution is always carefully considered before choosing herbal, dietary, exercise, and lifestyle prescriptions. Ayurvedic practitioners regard physical and mental existence a unit, each element having the capacity to influence the others. 

Abhyanga, 'Oil Massage' in Sanskrit, is a form of Ayurvedic medicine that involves massage of the body with large amounts of warm oil - up to a litre - and the oil is often pre-medicated with herbs for specific conditions.  Abhyanga can be done as part of the steps of a greater therapeutic plan or as its own therapy. Abhyanga is often performed by two or more practitioners working in sync. Oils used can vary depending on the season and the individual's constitution. Commonly used oils include sesame, coconut, sunflower, mustard, and almond. In addition to the copious application of oil, abhyanga massage differs from many Western therapeutic massage techniques in that it is not very deep or specific, but achieves influence with long rhythmic, repetitive strokes.

With Ayurveda being the oldest recorded healing system I am inspired to learn more about these methods. But don't worry, I won't suddenly don my turban or sari and pour warm oil all over you with out warning. For now, my clinical practice is safely harboured in the realms of western therapeutic massage.

If you are interested in experiencing Ayurvedic style massage in Vancouver, Vida Spa offers a selection of luxurious Ayurvedic massage treatments in their downtown locations. The dosha-specific all natural aromatherapy products used are manufactured in Richmond. Keeping it local is always good.

See you in the clinic or the spa,
Dana

A Peek at my Mumbai-Udaipur Adventure in 2012

Our kind eyed veggie wallah ensured daily fresh papaya for our lunch.

My Mumbikar glass bangle wallah.
With over-sized hands, I required the enormous-sized bangles be hauled from secret storage.
Read more about my giant hands here.

Who knew that curb-side holy cows had such a resemblance to Mick Jagger?

The lovely ladies who made the very best pakoras I've ever tasted.

Be-decked in farewell garlands from our new friends
my traveling companion and I head to the airport in a tuk-tuk.

 

Ayurvedic Practitioners I have the pleasure of knowing: 

• Asrael Zemenick lives on Vancouver Island and introduced me to abhayanga many years ago. She has dedicated many years to learning this ancient healing system in it's motherland, India. Visit Ananda Ayurveda to learn more about her services and expertise.
• Angie Inglis is a Vancouver Ayurvedic practitioner, yoga instructor and singer/songwriter. She's a really awesome and talented chick and you should visit her website: Rediscovery Vitality.

 Recommended reading on Ayurveda:

• Dr. David Frawley, Ayurvedic Healing: A Comprehensive Guide
• Vasant Lad, Textbook of Ayurveda

Sources:
http://www.greennbrown.com/eco-friendly/ayurveda-did-you-know-this/
http://www.sexyradiantlife.com/stay-cool-in-the-summer-heat/
http://www.temptingplaces.com/travel-magazine-en/culture-guide-india/medecine-ayurveda/

What Massage Does - Improves Your Running Performance

This Sunday is the ever-popular Vancouver Sun Run. Apparently there's a few things one must do to consider themselves a true Vancouverite, and participating in this event is one of such cornerstones that define one's right to call oneself a real, true local. I was born in BC, I've been a coastal resident for the past twelve years, and a Vancouver resident for the past four and I'm still far from being considered a Vancouverite as per the definition. I've only hiked the Grouse Grind once, don't own a single Lulu Lemon product, and have never even considered participating in the Sun Run. I do, however, know a thing or two about the applied anatomy of running injuries for those of you running your way to true Vancouverite status this weekend.

Talk to your RMT about supporting your training regime. Within a visit or two massage therapy can:

• Improve your breathing function by promoting muscle balance among your primary and secondary muscles of respiration.
• Alleviate low back pain caused by tight gluteal, hip flexor or quad muscles. Massage can help by releasing the problem muscles and by decompressing the spine.
• Speed the recovery of sore muscles by helping to rid lactic acid from tissues, promoting parasympathetic response, and the stimulating immune response.
• Prevent and treat muscle spasms through clearing metabolites from the tissues by increasing circulation.
• Decrease pain perception by stimulating the release of endorphins which also helps speed recovery from injury.
• Reduce inflammation and increases cellular function (Read this study about some poor athletes who were exercised to the point of exhaustion and then subjected to muscle biopsies of their thigh muscles with big syringes. The scientists discovered that massage does indeed speed recovery from exercise.) The CBC looked at how massage aids muscle healing in this article published last year. They found that massage helps relieve pain in damaged muscles by sending anti-inflammation messages to muscle cells.
• Treat orthopedic conditions including shin splints (unmistakable burning shin pain), iliotibial band syndrome (which can often be experienced as hip or knee pain), plantar fasciitis (severe stabbing pain felt on the sole of the foot, a type of tendonitis), achilles tendonitis (pain at the back of the ankle), piriformis syndrome (literally, a pain in the butt).

You can almost see the clinic from this view in Stanley Park.

Don't overlook the importance of adequate warm-up, cool-down, and stretching; all have equal importance in thorough training. Learn a simple warm-up stretch with one of the StayFitAnywhere trainers here.

Oceanside Wellness Centre is conveniently located near the edge of Stanley Park's beautiful running trails - at the intersection of Alberni & Denman streets. Stop in to book an appointment next time you run by.

Resident of Vancouver if not yet a Vancouverite,
Dana 



Image Sources
- http://www.2tomscanada.com/2012/08/14/what-to-do-when-you-think-you-might-have-a-running-injury/
- http://runners-h1gh.tumblr.com/

Hydro for Headaches

For an added boost add 1 cup of Epsom 
salts to your foot bath and read this.

Try this simple hydrotherapy technique at the onset of a headache or migraine.

1. Pour a hot foot bath (as hot as you can take it) in a container that accommodates enough water to submerge your feet as deep as possible, ideally half way up your calves. 
2. Prepare an ice pack. Wrap it in a dry towel if it has no insulation between your skin and the ice.
3. Seat yourself in a comfy chair and submerge your feet in the hot bath and place the ice pack on the portion of your head that is painful.
4. Relax, and take deep breaths. Remain here until the foot bath has cooled, approximately 15-20 minutes.
   

If you have sensory impairment, please use extreme caution when applying hydrotherapy treatments. Consult your doctor if you are uncertain about the appropriateness of hydrotherapy.

How does it work?

Although there are many causes of headaches, most have to do with the congestion of blood in the cranium. The hydrotherapy technique described above directly affects the body's circulation with the cold application constricting the blood vessels in the chilled area, flushing the circulation and heat drawing blood to the warmed area, causing a dilation of blood vessels in the the body's attempt to cool this part of the body. When these two applications are used simultaneously the congested blood is drawn from the head and redistributed to the rest of the body. Ice also has an analgesic effect when left in place for longer applications (10+ minutes), further reducing the headache pain.

Is it effective?

I used this hydrotherapy approach successfully one morning when I woke with a thumping headache. It was inspiring to actually feel the contrast temperatures draining my swollen head, pulling the excess blood toward my asymptomatic feet. I paired this approach with the topical application of a pepperminty aromatherapy remedy to my temples and hair line. Within 25 minutes I was able to function nearly pain free and I hadn't touched the bottle of ibuprofen that was calling to me from the bathroom cabinet. Even if it is necessary to use some form of pain killer, this hydro treatment can aid your recovery, speeding your return to work and play.

Please share your experiences with using this technique the next time you are unfortunate enough to experience a headache.

Oceanside Wellness Centre is currently looking at bringing in a line of custom blended aromatherapy products - including a headache remedy - for sale in the clinic. I'll keep you posted!

See you in the clinic,
Dana




Sources:

• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-505438/Munch-banana-lie-right--surprise-ways-beat-hangover.html
• http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_Foot_Bath_-_John_R._Frazier_-_overall.jpg

In My Past Life

.

My fascination with the human form didn't begin while studying massage therapy. It was Renaissance painters such as Leonardo DaVinci who first inspired pre-school aged me back when I thumbed through the pages of our Encyclopedia Britannica in the loft library of our big old farm house. It was these masters who first showed me the beauty of the human form in a way that even this five year old could plainly see. And then there were the pages of impressionists and abstract artists who took all that came before them and pushed the traditional artistic boundaries. It was all so exciting! I wanted so badly to do what they did.

It was a couple decades, a child, some ducks, a few gardens, a small business, many painted canvasses, and a tiny artisan built caravan in the woods before I paired my fascination and skills in 2008 to paint the series of images that became Immediate Landscapes. These oil paintings explore the human body as land forms from the perspective of the model in a modernist, figurative painter sort of way.

Attending a cadaver lab as part of my anatomy training allowed me to join the worlds of anatomist and artist. While in the lab I couldn't help but imagine what conditions the early doctors and anatomists conducted cadaver dissections in. Although very permeating, I was grateful for the modern day use of fomaldehyde on these lab coat and latex glove days in the lab.

Now looking at the work of DaVinci, I see not only the delicacy of his artistic hand, but also the accuracy of an anatomist. Certainly the in-depth attention to anatomy and physiology required for my training has deepened my interest in the human form, but my paintbrush currently lies idle.

Completing this series was made possible thanks to the photographic talents of Jennifer Armstrong, who captured the perspectives of the body for me to paint from. Please take the time to visit her website gallery of incredible moments that she has captured on film.

If you are interested, a printed copy of the Immediate Landscapes series is available for viewing in the Oceanside Wellness Centre waiting room.

See you in the clinic.
Dana

Immediate Landscapes

Convergence
Oil on canvas 20"x20"

Study for Surface
Oil on canvas 16"x16"

Study for Erosion
Oil on canvas 16"x16" 

Study for Shift
Oil on canvas 16"x16"

Study for Fracture
Oil on canvas 16"x16"

Study for Fold
Oil on canvas 16"x16"

Shift
Oil on canvas 20"x20"

Skinny Jeans Too Tight for Your Health?

How tight is too tight?

Could your clothing be affecting your health? Meralgia paresthetica is a condition caused by the compression of the femoral cutaneous nerve resulting in loss of sensation in the thigh. This nerve runs close to the surface of the skin from the pelvis over the side and front of your thigh. If compressed it can cause tingling, burning, and numbness in its area of distribution. Previously constriction of this nerve was a concern for a select few: workers wearing heavy tool belts, pregnant women, or obese individuals. But recently, with the skinny trend on the rise, the incidence of this peripheral nerve entrapment has increased to include healthy women with a skinny jean habit.  

When wearing your skinnies the restrictive denim can crush the femoral cutaneous nerve and slow conduction of sensation to the brain. Wearing high heels - a choice fashion accompaniment to skinny jeans - tilts the pelvis forward and only increases pressure on the nerve making the situation worse. Fortunately this condition does not usually leave permanent damage. The nerve affected is purely a sensory nerve and no muscle control is lost.

Did Debbie Harry suffer
from this condition as she
rocked the original tight
denim of the 70's?

If you suspect that your favorite skinnies might be hindering your nerve conduction, consider trading them in for a style with more stretch. Bless-ed be are we who live in the era of stretch denim. Yay for jeggings! Our suffering is likely less than that of our predecessors - like Debby Harry - who only had access to 100% cotton denim. Oh, how those few percentages of lycra may have helped the neurological health of millions!

You could also consider trading the skinnies for another style - I hear overalls are hot again this spring!

If your symptoms persist after modifying your attire, seek advice from a health professional. A massage therapist can assist in the recovery of meralgia paresthetica with the skillful use of myofascial release and manual lymph drainage.

See you in the clinic,
Dana

Meralgia paresthetica in the news!

Sources

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfl4He3NC9s
• http://www.nbcnews.com/id/30870617/#.UUV4fxmlyoE
• http://orphansshop.blogspot.ca/2009/04/brief-history-of-skinny-jeans-1980s.html
• https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLiwXwP9ONJqgAJK0LVex1vap63SXoGI5lB5XolR00GMFK7IabJN7UtEw7_ASM-PGf-KrN37aTKZ4kyqgRm_maMNosDdm0xEFBz2qRuocuqly3sg-YJrrHGtJKCnS9U787gdhF5Uibfm0/s1600/Debbie+Dingwalls+BW+19.jpg
• http://meralgiaparesthetica.wordpress.com/ 
• http://beatifnik.wordpress.com/category/fashion/