It’s Entirely Natural - Articles

Far Eastern cultures have been using alternative treatments for thousands of years and still do so today. Even people in the most technically advanced countries, like China and Japan, appreciate the effectiveness and simplicity of natural medicine.

There are many reasons for this. One reason is because natural treatments work. Another reason is that there are virtually no side effects. Unlike the latest technology, with its magical pills and promised cure-alls, there are better options out there, like reflexology. As long as you have two hands and two feet, you can self-treat your medical problems, as many have done for centuries before us.

Reflexology is safe for everyone, and it’s been proven effective. Reflexology is the practice of strategically applying pressure to reflexes of the feet and hands as they correspond with specific body organs. This stems from the ancient belief that the nerves in the feet are channels to the rest of the body. By stimulating nerves on specific areas of the feet and hands, we can stimulate blood flow, reduce stress and eliminate toxin buildup in the corresponding organs and systems of the body. With this, many forms of sickness and disease can be reversed. At the very least, the symptoms can be effectively treated for a period of time.

Although reflexologists cannot diagnose or cure a sickness or disease, they can nevertheless improve one’s feeling of well-being. That ability to calm a person and reduce pain makes reflexology one of the fastest-growing alternative therapies today. In fact, celebrities pay an arm and a leg for just a few minutes of reflexology.

Not only is it beneficial as a tool for relaxation and stress relief, but reflexology is also an effective tool for improving circulation; relieving pain, and stimulating the immune and nervous systems. It has a beneficial effect on many illnesses and conditions, including allergies; chronic sinus problems; acid reflux; acne; migraines; PMS; menopause; insomnia; fertility problems and even arthritis. Many who suffer from these problems have been helped tremendously by reflexology treatments.

Children can benefit from reflexology in many ways as well. Some of the most common complaints treated by doctors include ear infections, constipation, colic and bed-wetting. Reflexology has been shown to dramatically improve these problems as well as other issues that effect children.

Research has even shown that children with cerebral palsy who received reflexology experienced an increased growth rate over the kids who did not receive therapy. Elderly patients who routinely get reflexology treatment have been able to reduce cholesterol, lower and maintain blood pressure and treat painful digestion better than drugs. Elderly patients who have reflexology mats in their homes experience less pain and a greater sense of control when walking.

Reflexology has made its mark in the world of alternative therapies because it works. If you doubt that reflexology works, try it and see the results for yourself. Once you try it you will be a believer and most importantly, you will be hooked for life. Find yourself a good reflexologist, or better yet, learn the techniques for yourself. Having the knowledge to treat yourself and your family is one of the smartest things you can do.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Reflexology.

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Tags: blood flow, blood pressure, cholesterol, constipation, digestion, Fertility, Menopause, Reflexology, stress

Reflexology is the practice of strategically applying pressure to areas of the feet and hands. Many studies have been done in relation to the effectiveness of reflexology. This paper will review the practice of reflexology, and the results of studies on the practice of this art.

First, what is reflexology? Reflexology is the practice of strategically applying pressure to areas of the feet and hands as they correspond with specific body organs. By stimulating nerves on specific areas of the feet and hands, we can stimulate blood flow and eliminate toxin build-up in the corresponding organs and systems of the body. Reflexology is safe and effective for everyone. Furthermore, it can be used throughout one’s lifetime.

So how can reflexology really help you? Research has found that not only is it beneficial as a tool for relaxation and stress relief, but it is also an effective tool for improving circulation; relieving pain, detoxification, recovering from surgery, and as an immune and nervous system stimulator. In fact, many people with illnesses such as allergies; chronic sinus problems; acid reflux; migraines; PMS; menopause; insomnia; fertility problems and even arthritis have been helped tremendously by reflexology treatments.

Because reflexology works to put the body in a state of well-being, it is beneficial to every system in the body. Reflexology has been shown to relieve many common pregnancy complaints including headache, nausea, backache, stress and anxiety, sleeplessness, fatigue, constipation, swollen ankles and digestive problems. Furthermore, in one study, women that had at least 10 reflexology sessions showed reduced labor times during delivery, and fewer complications of childbirth when compared to women who did not have the treatments.

Children can benefit from reflexology in many ways as well. A few of the most common reasons for conventional medical treatment today are ear infections, constipation, colic and bed-wetting. Reflexology has been shown to dramatically improve these problems. Research has shown that children with cerebral palsy who received reflexology work actually had increased growth rate over the kids who did not receive therapy. There are many additional benefits for children of the practice of this art.

In a society that relies on chemically-laden prescription drugs to cure the sick, especially in the elderly, reflexology provides success stories worth examining. Did you know that elderly patients that routinely get reflexology treatment reduce their levels of cholesterol, reduce and maintain lower blood pressure and treat painful digestion better than drugs? Elderly patients who have reflexology mats in their homes experience less pain and a greater sense of control when walking.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. For patients recovering from surgery, reflexology can be a dream come true. Studies have shown that patients that received reflexology treatment after surgery experienced far less pain than the patients that received painkillers alone. Moreover, reflexology was shown to be more effective than catheterization in patients with retention of urine after surgery.

Reflexology has made its mark in the world of alternative therapies because it works. Try it and see the results for yourself. Once you try it, you too will become a believer. Find yourself a good reflexologist, or better yet, learn the techniques for yourself. Having the knowledge to treat yourself and your family is one of the smartest things you can do.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Reflexology.

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Tags: anxiety, blood flow, blood pressure, cholesterol, colic, constipation, Detoxification, digestion, fatigue, Fertility, Menopause, Reflexology, sleep, stress

Fatty acids are one of the essential ingredients in your nutrition. While fatty acids may seem to be unhealthy, there are certain types of fatty acids that can be essential in helping you to gain the proper nutrients and to stay healthy. By knowing which fatty acids to consume, as well as which types to use and which to avoid, you can easily change your eating habits to stay healthier.

Fatty acids can serve several parts of the body. They mainly do their best functioning in the muscles and heart. They are also used to be building blocks for cell membranes and storing energy that the body may need at certain times. Once the body has used enough of the fatty acids and doesn’t need any more energy from them, it will store the rest in the liver. The liver then converts these fatty acids which are not needed at the moment into fat.

There are several different types of fatty acids that are useful to your body. The first types are known as saturated fatty acids. These are typically found in thicker substances, such as butter, lard, whole milk and eggs. It is good to have some saturated fatty acids in your system. Too much of this fat, however, can cause a rise in blood pressure. The second type of fatty acid is known as monounsaturated fatty acids. Some types of foods in this type of fatty acid include avocados, nuts and lighter types of oils. Monounsaturated fatty acids are known to lower cholesterol.

There are several different types of fatty acids that your body needs in order to produce energy as well as to create blocks for cell membranes. These types of fatty acids are also helpful with metabolism. These types of fatty acids are essential to take in through foods, as your body is not capable of reproducing them without the food intake.

The major type of fatty acid that is known to be particularly helpful to your health is called omega 3 fatty acid. This is typically found in different types of fish, flaxseed oil and canola oil. It is known that these types of fatty acids can help with cholesterol levels as well as blood flow. This will eventually reduce the possibility of cardiac problems and heart failure.

One of the most important factors to consider with fatty acids is what types to use, especially if you are using oil. Anything that contains the omega 3 or 6 fatty acids is typically better for your use. This includes the oils of corn, safflower, sunflower, soybean and cottonseed oil. Butters and harder types of fatty acids are more likely to cause problems in your system instead of helping to produce the right types of energies for your daily activities.

It can be seen from these different observations of fatty acids that there are particular types of fatty acids that are better for your well being, while others will cause problems with your bodies regular functioning. By knowing what types of fatty acids to use, you can better balance your diet as well as create more energy for you to be able to use during the day, without storing too much extra fat.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Nutrition & Health.

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Tags: avocados, blood pressure, cholesterol, diet, flaxseed oil, metabolism, Nutrition & Health, omega 3 fatty acid, whole milk

People tend to talk about chocolate and its nutritional facets and in the end, people tend to conclude that because of its many ingredients that are not considered healthy, chocolate then is also not nutritious. However, this popular notion may not be entirely true.

Chocolate, according to some, contains certain nutrients. These nutrients are good for the body provided that they are eaten in small amounts only. After all, anything taken excessively is not always ideal. Excessive amounts of chocolate in your system can be harmful to your health and can even cause the build up of cholesterol and fats and this, as we all know, cause weight gain. Bear in mind, that if you must eat large amounts of chocolate, you have to “balance it out” with other food.

Chocolate contains stearic acid, a type of saturated fat that is commonly found in cocoa butter. Of course, saturated fat is not healthy. However, compared to other types of fat, stearic acid does not increase your blood cholesterol as rapidly. In fact, stearic acid may even help your heart.

The protein in chocolate is another reason as to why this sweet stuff can be healthy for a person. Generally, chocolate bars contain three to four grams of protein and we know that protein is helpful to the human body.

The antioxidants found in chocolates (flavanoids) are also found to prevent cancer as well as thwart age-related diseases. Flavanoids can also accordingly lower blood cholesterol levels and help keep the blood levels at normal rates.

Did you know chocolates also have copper, calcium and magnesium? Most, if not all, people probably do not know that chocolate has these ingredients!

One has to familiarize him or herself with the various types of chocolates, to know what’s good and what’s not. Compared to other types of chocolate that have too much saturated fat, dark chocolate is popularly known to contain the “ideal ingredients”.

Given these facts, people’s outlook on chocolates has changed. Instead of labeling it as purely junk food, chocolate may now be considered as health food. This is because of the ingredients of chocolate that actually carry good results for the human body. These ingredients can help with heart problems, blood pressure and other health-related concerns.

Hence, to partake of chocolates is not bad after all! Health junkies need not stay away from them and people with that sweet tooth need not give them up. Chocolates can be healthy. Just remember to eat them in moderation.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Nutrition & Health.

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Tags: antioxidants, blood pressure, cholesterol, cocoa butter, dark chocolate, flavanoids, magnesium, Nutrition & Health

Blood pressure that is too high can cause a series of complications leading to heart disease and strokes. It is important to control one’s blood pressure to keep it near or below the ideal 120/80 that is given as “normal” in US patients.

There are no scientific studies that prove the efficacy of herbal remedies for blood pressure, but it is still a good idea to explore their use in some cases, either as an adjunct or primary therapy to reduce one’s blood pressure to normal levels.

The two blood pressure herbal remedies that are most often used for blood pressure include garlic (Allium sativum) and hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna). Both of these types of blood pressure herbal treatments have been successfully prescribed by herbal specialists and alternative practitioners to their patients for many years in order to encourage the proper functioning of the circulatory system.

Some physicians are positive about herbs to treat blood pressure, but not all. With the expansion of knowledge of Eastern and European herbal remediation, more physicians are recommending the herbal route as a complement to traditional Western medicine.

Some doctors recommend that their patients with high blood pressure consume at least three or four cloves of garlic per day. While many people are turned off by the odor of garlic, garlic supplements are an alternative to eating the fresh kind—without the concerns about bad breath. Most grocery stores and health food stores sell a variety of brands of garlic pills.

Doctors recommend that patients choosing to take garlic supplements choose one such as Garlique, because the pills are enteric-coated. That means that the pills have a buffer coating which prevents stomach problems when the pills are taken on their own, similar to the way that Bufferin is coated to prevent problems in the stomach with aspirin. Allicin is the ingredient in garlic that is believed to be responsible for lowering blood pressure.

Hawthorn is another herb that works to lower blood pressure. Hawthorn works best when it is taken along with vitamin C. Both of these substances help to increase the dilating action of the blood vessels, which naturally reduces blood pressure by opening the blood vessels.

When an individual’s blood pressure reaches an intermediate area of 140-159/90-99, this is classified as mild to moderate hypertension. At these levels, garlic is a good counter-measure for high blood pressure. If garlic, vitamin C and hawthorn do not do the trick then turn to other blood pressure herbal options such as supplements of the mineral calcium and magnesium.

Calcium’s unique ability to lower blood pressure has been borne out in some research studies. Calcium on its own is not effective against blood pressure, however. Calcium plays a vital role in the contraction of muscular tissues and therefore is beneficial to the health of the heart and the blood vessels. Magnesium works in concert with calcium to make the walls of the blood vessels more elastic as well as to relax the muscles that are found there. Magnesium also increases the efficiently of other essential minerals in the bloodstream which include both potassium and sodium.

Other blood pressure herbal options that are being studies for their effectiveness at lowering blood pressure include coenzyme Q10 which helps to encourage normal blood pressure levels and a selection of fish oils that are composed of the essential fatty acids that support a health heart and circulatory system.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Herbal Remedies.

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Tags: blood pressure, garlic, garlique, heart disease, Herbal Remedies, hypertension, magnesium

Living a balanced life and having a balanced diet is critical to maintaining sufficient energy levels. However, every individual needs something different. Several of these needs are based on the person’s physiological characteristics. There are several different ways to find out what you should eat, and how much you should work out, as well as where the concentration should be. By understanding your physiological make-up, your nutrition needs can be more effectively met. The place to begin is your doctor’s office. You will need to have some tests to create the foundation of your diet and exercise plan.

One important measurement is your BMI - or Body Mass Index. It is a ratio derived by comparing your weight to your height. The results indicate how much of your body is comprised of fatty tissue. As may be expected, there is an optimal range for your BMI that depends on your height and weight.

Another important measurement is the RMR, or Resting Metabolic Rate. This measurement determines how many calories you burn while at rest. As with the BMI, there is an optimal level. Once you know these two numbers, you can get some good ideas about how to modify your diet and lifestyle.

Finally, you will need to know your cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, and blood pressure levels. Any one of these can limit the amount of exercise or type of exercise you can pursue, as well as the foods and diets you can try.

When it comes to calories, the three main items measured in nutrition studies are carbohydrates, proteins and fats. A complete analysis also evaluates for vitamins and minerals. All of these factors should be arranged in your diet in such a way that you get all of the recommended daily allowances of nutrients without having to resort to vitamins. Your diet plan should also take into account your level of exercise.

Other things that you should consider are dietary elements that can cause negative impacts on specific symptoms. As an example, beef is the only meat that offers every protein your body needs. At the same time, it is high in cholesterol. When you are changing your diet, therefore, it is important to keep track of your cholesterol levels, so that you can learn how your body is metabolizing certain foods.

Many times people seek diet and exercise programs because they found out their blood pressure may be too high or too low. Like high cholesterol, high blood pressure can lead to serious problems later in life. Both diet and exercise programs can serve to lower the blood pressure, as well as cholesterol levels. Some people, however, will need the help of medications or herbal supplements.

Once you have had your basic tests, and have decided on your exercise plan, you can begin to formulate your diet plan. This is not especially complicated. Basically, what you put in your body will have predictable results on how healthy you look and feel. There is a bit of effort to researching, and then measuring all of the nutritional values you will need to keep track of. In addition, you will need to do some tweaking and refining as you go along to adapt the basic diet and exercise plans to your individual body.

Knowing your unique physiological profile is an important part of developing and maintaining good diet and exercise habits. It will also help you to be able to find the right solutions to your nutrition needs. With some basic information and a sound plan, you will easily be able to control your weight, maintain your fitness goals, and have plenty of energy.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Nutrition & Health.

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Tags: blood pressure, bmi, cholesterol, diet, exercise, Nutrition & Health

Herbs are often used to help lower and control blood pressure levels in high-risk individuals. A variety of herbs can be taken as herbal supplements made into a tea or even added as ingredients to a soup. This article will take a closer look at the effect of herbs on lowering blood pressure.

To begin our look at blood pressure, we start with coenzyme Q10 (which is also referred to as Co Q10). A study that looked at 59 males who were taking medication for high blood pressure yielded the result that 120 mg of coenzyme Q10 on a daily basis taken for a period of eight weeks was able to reduce high blood pressure by approximately 9 percent. This was compared to a placebo group, which had no benefit on their cholesterol level. In order to be of benefit to an individual, a typical dose of Co Q10 is 30 to 100 mg of the herb three times per day. Although it is generally safe to take, Co Q10 is believed to interact negatively with the drug Coumadin (warfarin), and is therefore contraindicated for patients on this or other blood thinners.

Garlic is also an herb that is particularly helpful in reducing blood pressure. Garlic (allium sativum) has been shown to have several beneficial effects on the circulatory system, including normalizing blood pressure and lowering cholesterol. Garlic can reduce inflammation, which is thought to be a major cause of ‘sudden,’ or ‘silent’ heart attacks. It is also a good preventative of strokes. Studies have shown that garlic can start its protective effects in a short period of time. One clove of garlic a day is recommended for best health benefits. You can easily add garlic to salad, soups, casseroles and other recipes. If you have not acquired a taste for garlic, consider taking a garlic capsule.

Other herbs that are excellent for decreasing blood pressure include valerian, kudzu and celery. Each of these contains a substance called gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) that helps to maintain normal levels of blood pressure.

The herb valerian (valeriana officinalis) is composed of a substance known as valerenic acid that serves to inhibit a particular enzyme that breaks GABA down in the body. Consuming valerian helps to reduce blood pressure and maintain higher levels of GABA in the system. Valerian is also an herb that is commonly prescribed by herbal practitioners to patients for sleep difficulties. It acts as a sedative, which in turn also brings about a reduction of blood pressure.

Kudzu (pueraria lobata) is a “weedy vine” that Chinese herbalists have long been recommending to patients to help maintain normal blood pressure. The chemical pueraria is believed to have over 100 times the antioxidant capabilities of vitamin C and it is known to help fight cancer and heart disease as well.

Our last herbs blood pressure is celery. Celery (apium graveolens) is a well-known remedy in Chinese traditional medicine for lowering blood pressure levels. Celery is a very versatile vegetable that can be eater alone or used in a variety of recipes. It is believed that consuming four celery stalks per day can have a positive impact on blood pressure.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Herbal Remedies.

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Tags: blood pressure, cholesterol, coenzyme q10, garlic, Herbal Remedies, sleep

Consider becoming a vegetarian. By eliminating meat from your diet, and reducing the amount of other animal products that you consume, you can improve you overall health.

A vegetarian diet offers you the potential to reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol and improve cardiovascular health. You can also enjoy a more efficient digestive system and achieve a healthier weight. These benefits are possible on a vegetarian diet if you eat correctly.

If you are interested in the benefits available from a vegetarian diet but you are unsure about the right way to go about eliminating meat from your diet, there are a few helpful steps included here. You will have a more comfortable transition if you make the switch gradually.

1. Evaluate your Current Diet

If you are considering significantly changing your diet, it is helpful to first understand how you are currently eating. If, for example, you are eating large amounts of protein currently, you will need to take that into account as you switch to a vegetarian regime. Be aware of that it can be more difficult to get protein from a vegetarian diet than from a diet that includes a significant amount of meat. If you eat three or more servings of meat per day, you may need to start out your vegetarian diet by eating three or more servings of other protein every day. If you were to simply cut the meat from your diet, your body could suffer from an abrupt transition. It could be shocked by its sudden lack in resources to which it become accustomed.

2. Talk to Your Doctor

It is a good idea to discuss your diet change with your personal physician. Talk to him about your current eating style and ask about the best replacement proteins available within a healthy vegetarian diet. Some examples of direct replacements include veggie burgers for hamburgers and soy hot dogs for meat franks. These things are not in themselves sufficient to fill out your diet. Your doctor will be able to explain how to ensure that you are choosing complete protein foods. Beans, nuts and seafood are all good foods to replace meats.

3. Start the Cooking Crossover

Before you completely eliminate meat from your diet, start replacing one meal a day with a vegetarian dish. This way you will learn the art of vegetarian cooking gradually. Once you have a strong base in meals that you enjoy, you can start replacing more animal products with plant products. While you may feel impatient with the slow start to your new diet, soon you will be eating vegetarian foods all the time. The important thing to keep in mind is the gradual shift so as not to shock your system.

Becoming a vegetarian is a good idea for many people who are concerned with their health. Not everyone is satisfied with meat alternatives, though. By gradually switching from a meat diet to a vegetarian diet you will increase your chances for success. You will also be able to take your time in getting used to a whole new world of food.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Nutrition & Health.

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Tags: blood pressure, cholesterol, Nutrition & Health, Vegetarian

A vegetarian is defined as one who does not eat any kind of meat, including poultry and fish. Are you considering being a vegetarian? It means a change in lifestyle as well as knowing how to be healthy while keeping faithful to this diet.

There are three major types of lifestyles and eating habits that vegetarians may include in a diet.

• The first type is a lacto-vegetarian. These devotes exclude all types of meat and eggs, but will include dairy products as part of their meals.
• The second type of vegetarian is a vegan, or a strict vegetarian. This group does not eat any type of meat or dairy products, such as milk. There are also some vegans that will not eat honey.
• The third type of vegetarian is known as a lacto-ovovegetarian. This is the major form of vegetarian lifestyle that many take part in. It includes excluding meats only, but including eggs as well as dairy products.

The type of vegetarian you decide to become will be determined by knowing what types of nutrients you need.

There are several reasons why one may decide to become a vegetarian. Vegetarians are known to have fewer health problems than others. They suffer from fewer heart disease and cancer problems, including lower instances of colorectal, ovarian and breast cancer. High blood pressure and diabetes are also lower amongst vegetarians.

A vegetarian diet includes most of the nutrients one needs for good health. Vegetarian diets exclude most types of fats that are not healthy for you. These diets also add fiber to the diet, which helps in circulation and functioning as well nutritional balance.

Despite this balance and these benefits, there are several extra nutrients that vegetarians have to make sure they get in of their diet. Vegetarians need to insure that they get enough protein. It’s important to make sure that enough protein is eaten. Grains, beans, tofu, nuts, eggs or peas can contribute to adequate protein consumption. Without protein, you will not have enough energy for the day.

The second nutrient that is needed in a vegetarian diet is calcium. If you eat dairy, this will be easier to consume. However, if not, you can find calcium in darker greens. Vitamin D, Iron and Vitamin B-12 are the other three nutrients that may be lacking in this diet.

Being a vegetarian is an option for maintaining a different type of lifestyle and diet. As long as one recognizes the need for additional nutrients, it is a very healthy diet.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Nutrition & Health.

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Tags: blood pressure, diabetes, Fiber, honey, Nutrition & Health, vegans, vegetarians

Shiatsu is an excellent pain reliever for many health conditions such as stress related disorders, endometriosis, menopause (and accompanying symptoms), and constipation. Shiatsu can decrease both the level of fatigue (or tsubo) and stress that has built up in the human body. Shiatsu can improve the circulation of both lymph and blood systems. Shiatsu helps to decrease the stiffness of muscles and joints as it lowers blood pressure. Shiatsu also helps to improve a person’s level of energy (or qi), vitality and stamina.

When you decide to begin practicing shiatsu, always dress in loosely-fitting, comfortable clothing that is made of natural as opposed to synthetic fibers. Doing this helps to encourage the flow of positive energy in the body or what is referred to as “ki.” Always make sure you practice shiatsu in a room that has plenty of empty space and is uncluttered, clean and very neat. Also make sure the room you practice in is warm and quiet. If you do not do these things then it can have a negative impact on the flow of energy.

The practitioner of shiatsu should lie on the floor for treatment. It is recommended that the person lie on a futon (which is also a quilted form of a Japanese mattress) or else a floor mat. If the patient needs them, pillows and/or cushions can make them even more comfortable.

It is always important to be as comfortable as possible when you are having a shiatsu treatment. Shiatsu is not good to have after a large meal. A lightly-loaded stomach is important for both the receiver and the giver of shiatsu treatment as well. It is best to wait a number of hours after a large meal to have shiatsu or to perform it on another person.

Shiatsu is not recommended for those who have varicose veins. If one does have this problem, one should make sure that no undue pressure is exerted on the sore and swollen veins. In turn no shiatsu pressure should ever be applied to injuries or traumas to the body such as cuts, tears, bruises or breaks in muscles or bones.

Shiatsu is perfectly safe for women who are pregnant. There are four areas, however that should be avoided for pregnant women: the stomach, the legs from the knees and down to the feet, the area at the left and right side of the neck where the shoulder begins and the fleshy area of the skin that is a web like and is located between the thumb and the index finger. It is important to tell the shiatsu practitioner that you are pregnant or that you could be pregnant. It is always important that a pregnant woman about to engage in a shiatsu treatment be both relaxed and as calm as possible.

Shiatsu is a generally safe practice but it should not be performed on everyone. Individuals who suffer from serious health diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and heart disorder should not engage in shiatsu. In some cases an experienced shiatsu practitioner can work on a person with a serious disease but only if he or she has been apprized of the person’s health situation and their prognosis.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Massage Therapy.

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Tags: blood pressure, constipation, fatigue, Massage Therapy, Menopause, shiatsu massage, stress