Essential oils may seem like the unicorn of the medical world. The essential oil industry’s list of assets is vast, intriguing, and honestly – pretty confusing, leaving many of us asking, “are these plant extracts actually effective?” The answer that has repeatedly been proven through science and research is “yes”. Although the use of essential oils may sound new to us, they have actually been used for thousands of years by our ancestors to enhance physical and mental well-being throughout their daily lives. So how, exactly, can essential oils help you? Here’s how: 1. Fight off sickness Some essential oils like cinnamon and eucalyptus are known to help the body stimulate the growth of white blood cells. This results in a boosted immune system and a healthier psyche overall. As an added bonus – if you’re already feeling sick, using a diffuser can increase the needed humidity in the air to relieve your cough and sinus pressure. 2. Sleep better Getting a good night’s rest is an essential part to our body’s health and wellness, but sometimes a good night’s sleep is hard to come by. In fact, the CDC has reported that 1 in 3 Americans are not getting enough sleep at night, leading to researchers and other professionals to turn to essential oils for support. At the very basis of their usages, essential oils have relaxing properties that can help almost any night owl get a good night’s sleep. Chamomile and lavender are the most well-known for assisting us in our sleep, helping our mind and body start to relax and wind-down for bed. 3. Safer than candles If you love candles for the aromas that they give off but are worried about an open flame in your home, essential oils may be a more suitable option for you. With an essential oil diffuser, you can continue your aromatherapy practices while you sleep without having your mind constantly worry about the potentially hazardous situations that candles bring, such as burns, wax spills, or even having your pet knock it over. 4. Increase Your Energy When we don’t wake up feeling refreshed, we often turn to (multiple) cups of coffee to combat our lethargies. Oftentimes, this may not be the healthiest option for us, as coffee can sometimes lead to headaches, a rise in blood pressure, and in some cases, an increased risk of heart attacks. To completely eliminate these effects from coffee, consider using essential oils that will increase vitality and reduce fatigue. Some great essential oils for boosting energy are peppermint, grapefruit and lemongrass. If you haven’t yet hopped on the essential oil train, it’s not too late – the market size in the US is valued at $3.36 billion and is only growing, with an expected growth rate of 9% from 2016 to 2024. If you’re looking for a technique that will leave you sleeping better, feeling more energized, and is all-around safer than traditional methods, essential oils might just be the right option for you. Article written by Elise Morgan Image by pexels
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Yoga is a form of exercise that involves physical and mental wellbeing, and it has been said to help relieve body pain. In this article, we will concentrate on low back pain and how yoga can play a role in relieving it. What Are The Benefits of Yoga Yoga offers both physical and mental benefits for the human body. The physical benefits are:
Causes of Low Back Pain
Low back pain is one of the most common work-related injuries. It involves pain at the waist and a lot of factors contribute to the pain. The causes of low back pain are: 1. Sitting or lying poorly puts stress on the back 2. Tight muscles of the back and abdomen 3. Involuntary contraction of the back muscles, which is known as spasm 4. Falling and landing on your back or being hit at the back 5. Lifting with your back bent over instead of bending your legs 6. Overstretching of ligaments and muscles, which is popularly known as a sprain and strain respectively 7. Weakness of the back muscles or abdominal muscles 8. Tight muscles in the legs 9. Sitting for long periods of time 10. Pregnancy, which puts a lot of load on the back muscles 11. A slip of the discs that allow for easy movement of the bones in the back on each other 12. Medical conditions like cancer, kidney stones or weak pelvic muscles How Can Yoga Help With Back Pain Many times we look at conventional remedies for backache like analgesics, tens units or even massages. But looking at the benefits of yoga and causes of back pain, we can see that yoga can help prevent back pain and alleviate the pain as well. We will be looking at yoga poses that can target the major causes of pain. While doing yoga, always remember to breathe. Some of these yoga poses that can help relieve the causes of low back pain are: 1. Downward Facing Dog This pose balances out muscles in the back and lower legs and also stretches the muscles of the back, hamstrings and calf muscles. 2. Cobra Pose This pose stretches the abdominal muscle and decreases any form of stiffness in the lower back 3. Child’s Pose This pose stretches the lower back and muscles in the legs. It also helps in reducing stress and relaxes the muscles on the anterior part of your body. 4. Cat-Cow Pose Pregnant women can do this pose. This pose stretches the back muscles and the abdominal muscles. It increases flexibility in the spine. 5. Spinal Twist This pose lengthens the spine and prevents the intervertebral discs from drying up. Conclusion Yoga offers a lot of poses that stretch the major muscles in the body. It also has a balancing complex which means it engages other muscles that may contribute to lower back pain such as downward facing dog pose that stretches the back muscles and hamstrings which, when tight, can cause pain at the low back. Yoga is effective in pain relief and also has added benefits. The poses can also be done anywhere even at work. Article by Dr. Charles-Davies, a medical doctor that spends some of his time sharing helpful health information across the internet. Guest article by Jason Lewis. If you’re a senior, then you have already entered your golden years. You’ve conquered obstacles, worked hard, and earned the right to live your best life — all day, every day. For each person, quality of life takes on a different look. Nonetheless, whether your best days will be spent traveling, gardening, volunteering, pursuing your passions and hobbies, and/or spending time with loved ones, one thing is certain: You will need to be in your best health. This article will discuss the steps you can take now to improve your quality of life for the long term. Don’t Forget to Exercise Regular exercise is a key contributor to a longer, healthier life. It’s never too late to get your body moving and reap the benefits. Set a goal to be physically active for 30 minutes a day. If you’re not used to exercising, start slow and gradually increase your time and exertion. Exercise will not only improve your energy and joint health, but it also:
Your Brain Leads Your Body
While the brain is a mystery, a sure fact is that we use it every day. The brain is the control center for your whole body, and just like every other organ, you need to take care of it and be in tune with its needs. If you make it a regular habit to stimulate your brain with puzzles, classes, experiments, or art and crafts, you will find that your mind remains sharp and even improves through making new connections between nerve cells and generating new cells. Mind Your Mental Health Part of caring for your brain is caring for your mental health. Your mood and emotions affect all areas of your life, including your relationships, blood pressure, energy levels, ability to combat diseases, and zest for life. You can invest time in your mental health by doing daily breathing exercises, getting adequate rest, boosting your vitamin D levels with regular exposure to light, and writing out three things you are grateful for each day. You can also foster your mental health by taking supplements that can help you battle anxiety, mental fogginess, or negativity. Research the best vitamins based on your needs, and consult with your healthcare provider to ensure that the vitamins will not interact negatively with any existing health condition. Then, find the most enjoyable way to take those vitamins (juice, smoothie, shake, or perhaps a delicious homemade granola bar). Your Body Is Your Temple More than half the battle in having a healthy body is what you put into it. Take control of your life by controlling your diet. Those who lead a healthy lifestyle not only live longer lives, but they also face less illness. Assess your needs, and from there, investigate the different foods that would help provide you with a balanced diet that wards off health problems. For most people, a diet rich in vitamin-filled fruits and vegetables, foods and drinks filled with calcium to promote bone health, hydration through water, healthy fats, and protein will help you feel 100 percent. Your golden years can be your best years; it all comes down to taking control of your health. Keep your mind stimulated on a daily basis to stay sharp and improve cognitive function. Foster your mental health each day, and make a nutritious diet part of your routine. Start exercising 30 minutes a day. Not only will you realize immediate benefits by forming these habits, but you will also be adding healthy years to a life well lived. Photo Credit: Pexels |
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