Massage Reduces Agitation in Patients Suffering from Dementia

January 16th, 2010 -- Posted in Uncategorized | 0

Welcome back!

A gentle, slow stroke massage can reduce the physical expressions of agitation in those suffering from dementia, including Alzheimer’s Disease.  Dementia refers to a cluster of symptoms resulting from brain disorders that greatly impair cognitive skills, without causing a loss of consciousness.  Although the onset of dementia can occur in mid-life, it is most commonly found in the elderly, leading to institutionalization for the vast majority of sufferers.

Many elderly patients become sensory deprived as their faculties fade away, but the basic need for touch remains constant.  As patients lose sensory and cognitive skills, they become unable to interact socially, leading to feelings of isolation, depression, anxiety and agitation.  Touch often remains the last bastion of communication when all other avenues have succumbed to the disease.  Caregivers who administer massage therapy to patients in the end stages of dementia report having a closer bond with them, as touch fosters feelings of intimacy and emotional connectedness.

Dementia is a slow progression of symptoms, sometimes lasting decades.  At the onset, patients experience memory loss, confusion, language problems, changes in mood and difficulty performing daily tasks.  This leads to an increase in anxiety and agitation, sometimes causing the patient to act out in ways deemed socially improper.  As the disease progresses, physical manifestations of agitation become more common, such as wandering, pacing and resistive behavior.

Recent studies conducted on Alzheimer’s patients showed that after receiving a short, gentle hand massage, there was a corresponding increase in the relaxation response.  The massage sessions were of limited duration and the residents remained fully clothed.  Caregivers reported a significant drop in agitated behavior, most notably in pacing and wandering.

Many patients suffer from loss of appetite as Alzheimer’s progresses, causing significant weight loss, resulting in physical frailty.  A gentle hand massage given during light conversation was shown to improve appetite within an hour of the patient receiving it.  Sleep patterns also become disrupted during the progression of dementia, and massage has been useful in treating insomnia.

Massage can also stimulate the nervous system of Alzheimer’s patients, helping to maintain nerve passageways that are in a state of decline due to the disease.  A gentle massage provides relief and also aids drug therapies, possibly as a result of increased circulation.  A neck and shoulder massage helps to maintain upper body strength and muscle tone, reducing the need for restraints, which is common for those in the advanced stage of dementia.  Patients whose disease has rendered them unable to communicate verbally are still able to produce a physical response to therapeutic touch.  This response can be used to measure the stability or deterioration of daily function over time, acting as a gauge of a patient’s physical health.

In all, the benefits of therapeutic massage for those with dementia provide relief from many aspects of the disease, such as anxiety, agitation, depression, pain and loss of appetite.  Massage also serves as a way to remain connected and encourages feelings of tenderness and closeness for those who may not otherwise be able to communicate.

Brandon Thomas is a nationally certified massage therapist and founder
of JoyLife Therapeutics. JoyLife Therapeutics provides chair massage,
corporate massage, office massage, special event and trade show massage
throught the US.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/massage-reduces-agitation-in-patients-suffering-from-dementia-1730958.html

Are you tired of those emails promoting Acai Berry to get your free trial today?

January 16th, 2010 -- Posted in Uncategorized | 0

Or another email endorsing Acai Berry products that guarantees you will lose 30 pounds in a week?

Please do not fall for these scams - Delete Immediately!!!

It is important that consumers know the facts so they can honestly compare Acai supplements.

The acai berry although very healthy, may have become the latest victim of too much hype, just like so many other fad diets and quick-fix diet aids.

  1. Don’t buy those that claim to offer free trial.

  2. Don’t give them your credit card # if they say it is just for shipping, its not they use it later on for a monthly membership.

  3. Read the fine print hidden about 10 pages deep in their “Terms of Service.”

  4. Don’t fall for the ones that claims that OPRAH and Dr. Oz use Acai as their secret weight loss weapon.

    Millions of people love Oprah. There is something about her that is so real and good that she touches people. We trust Oprah. That is why so many acai berry companies are using Oprah in their ads to sell acai berry. Just more of acai berry scams.

    If you see an acai berry product claiming that Oprah endorses it, do not buy it!! Because companies that are using her name are trying to hide the truth - the real truth about their products.

  5. Buy a real, genuine product. Buy 100% Organic and Fair Trade Freeze Dried EarthFruits Acai.

    So you will know if you are acquiring a quality product and not being ripped off see related resources below?

Lila is the editor and owner of the website: www.live-the-organic-life.com. She has extensive experience and knowledge in nutrition and healthy living for over 20 yrs. She has topics which include the truths and myths on acai berry http://www.live-the-organic-life.com/acai-berry.html, why today’s cleaning products are bad for you - http://www.live-the-organic-life.com/organic-cleaning.html and many facts and up-to-date information on organic food including organic recipes http://www.live-the-organic-life.com/organic-recipes.html

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/are-you-tired-of-those-emails-promoting-acai-berry-to-get-your-free-trial-today-1730981.html

Liver Cleanse Battles Toxins in Your Body

January 16th, 2010 -- Posted in Uncategorized | 0

A liver cleanse will help clean all the bad toxins out of the liver. Many types of things can cause toxins to build up in the liver. Cigarette smoking will add toxins to this vital organ, believe it or not. The smoke travels through the bloodstream and into many vital organs within the body.

The liver is one of the most important organs in our body. This vital body organ processes nearly everything that we consume, not necessarily just food. If people take medicine(s) for certain things or vitamins and other supplements, and they do not drink enough water, the liver can become sluggish or damaged.

A liver cleanse will not only clean out bad toxins, but it will also help a person to feel better and have more energy. The liver detox actually promotes a healthier lifestyle and a healthier liver.

Some of the symptoms of having a clogged liver are fatigue, unexplained weight gain, bloating, or gall bladder pain. Believe it or not, when the liver gets to the point where it is not processing things as it should, there is a chance that a person can get gall stones. There are certainly other things that can happen, as far as the liver is concerned.

Liver cleanse means the same thing as a liver detox, and proceeding with this sort of cleansing technique will help to spare a person from further medical and mental difficulties. Cirrhosis of the liver is a common disease that can occur and a lot of times it happens because the liver needed a boost. Sure, the cirrhosis usually is related to alcohol and the overuse of that substance, but alcohol is not the only reason someone can get this disease.

How this detox program works is quite simple. First, it is highly recommended for a person to proceed with a cleansing of their colon before they proceed with a liver cleanse. The chief goal of the liver is to process and purify the blood that flows through our body. The colon, on the other hand, is in charge of cleansing the bigger stuff, like our feces.

Many times, people might have a slight or a large colon blockage and they do not realize it. They may have all the symptoms of this blockage, but might not have considered this idea. Sometimes, it is not like that saying, “kill two birds with one stone”. In this scenario, it is better to take care of the colon and then go ahead with the liver cleanse, especially if someone has never cleansed their colon.

Did you know that the liver is also beneficial to us in a nutritional way? The liver keeps certain nutritional supplements that are already in our body. These vital and valuable enhancements are part of how the liver helps itself and our body to remain healthy. If the vital organs in our body get all bogged down with junk, the organs can fail to work properly or simply fail to function at all.

We all clean the drain and the drain strainers in our kitchen sinks, right? This is kind of the same idea as a liver cleanse, right? Notice how much filmy stuff builds up just in the drains and on the strainers, in just a few short days of washing dishes? Imagine what the liver looks like without being cleansed. Why wouldn’t we treat our body and the organs within it better than a kitchen sink and its drain?

Diana is a Natural Health Consultant and is currently taking classes to earn a certificate in herbalism. Her website, Natural Detox Info, offers the knowledge, insights and experiences she has gained from her journey into the world of natural health and her quest to share it with others. Learn more about detoxing at her website.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/liver-cleanse-battles-toxins-in-your-body-1731050.html

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