Benefits of Massage Therapy and Why Athletes Love It

Are you an athlete? Have you been struggling with intense muscle cramps and severe pain from injuries? If these are your concerns, we have just the right solution for you!

Massage therapy has come a long way over the years, from sceptics not believing its

And now massage therapy has made its way into the sports industry. Studies have found that regular massage therapy can help athletes reduce the impact of injury and further increase their recovery rate. For athletes, who are especially prone to injuries having a prevention measure is excellent for both their physiological and psychological well-being. This is why many athletic trainees gravitate more towards oil massage therapy and include it in their regime.

To get an in-depth understanding of what massage therapy really is and how it benefits your body, keep reading.

What is sports massage?

Sports massage is a form of massage that has its roots dating back to the Roman and Greek eras. Now, we see sports massage being adopted everywhere thanks to its wide range of benefits. Sports massage can help prevent the body from injuries and prepare the body for athletic training and intense workout. It has also proven to be beneficial in increasing the recovery rate from injuries. Thus, all-in-all, massage therapy is great for relieving muscle tension and should be adopted by every athlete worldwide.

Masseue is giving back massage to athelete

What is deep tissue massage?

In this massage technique, the musculoskeletal tissues are targeted which further helps with muscle strain and provide relief from sports injuries. Deep tissue massage is especially good for athletes since it is proven to provide instant relief from muscle strain caused by training and intense workout.

The unique massaging technique used in deep tissue massage is known to be excellent for releasing muscle tension and stress. Unlike regular massages, deep tissue massage incorporates the usage of slow and forceful strokes thus targeting the muscles and connective tissues in the body. Just a 30 minutes deep massage session can be extremely beneficial for you especially if you are athletic.

Deep tissue massage vs Sports massage

Now you might be wondering what is the major difference between deep tissue massage and sports massage. Well, the major difference is that deep tissue massage is designed for the whole body while sports massage is meant for specific areas that either need to be protected from an injury or are recovering from one.

Nevertheless, both massages are great for you depending on your needs and requirements. If you are looking for general relief from pain then you can opt for the deep tissue massage, however, if you want a more area-specific massage and want to get rid of the pain that has been built up over time, then sports massage will be your best bet.

Benefits of sports massage for athletes

There are tons of benefits of sports massage and few of which have been mentioned earlier. We will now look into the various benefits of sports massage and understand why it is so popular among athletes.

Reduces muscle pain

Muscle pain is one of the major concerns of every athlete. Due to intense training and regular workout regimens, muscle pain becomes extremely common among athletes. However, if not rectified on time, muscle pain can result in major discomfort and prevent you from performing well. Thus to maintain your body at its optimal level, treating muscle pain is extremely crucial.

Our specialists here at Blue Terra is well trained to provide instant relief from acute muscle pain and help you recover from those stubborn back aches and neck pains.

Masseuse is giving ankle massage to the athelete

Prevents muscle cramps

Muscle cramps are usually a result of lactic acid accumulation in the muscles that is secreted when our muscles are overworked or strained. Experiencing muscle cramps is pretty normal, however, it can result in extreme levels of pain and affect your everyday functioning.

Massage therapy is an effective way to get rid of the excess lactic acid accumulated in your muscles thus preventing muscle cramps and various other discomforts.

Improve sleep patterns

Experiencing acute pain and cramps can really affect your sleep cycle in a bad way and having a bad sleep cycle is extremely detrimental to your health. Thus, sports massage therapy can greatly reduce the impact of pain caused by muscle strain and injuries and allow you to get the good night’s sleep that you deserve.

Increases recovery rate from injuries

One of the major reasons why sports massages became so popular in the first place is their benefit in increasing the recovery rate of injuries. Now we are very well aware of the fact that athletes are extremely prone to injuries and sustaining an injury can not affect them physiologically but may even result in psychological distress, thus to prevent this, many athletes opt for sports massages so that they can recover faster from their injuries and get back to their best form as soon as possible.

Protects the body from sustaining major injuries

Earlier you saw how massage therapy can help you recover from your injuries at a faster rate, however, in addition to this, massage therapy can also help your body from being more prone to injuries. It has been found that pre-event workouts are especially beneficial to prevent one from sustaining major injuries during training or workout.

Remove toxins and build up stress from muscles

Another benefit of massage therapies is that it helps release toxins from your muscles and also provide instant relief from all the stress that has been building up in your muscles.

Here at Blue Terra, we use the best body massage oils that have been specifically designed for sports. Our wide range of body massage oils contains sesame and cinnamon oils, which are known to be active agents in releasing muscle tension, uncomfortable knots and pain. One such product that we swear by is the Devtvakadi pain relief oil by Blue Nectar which contains both of these active agents in high concentration, thus providing you with instant relief from acute muscle and joint pains.

Increase flexibility

Massage therapy is an excellent way to train your muscles. The massage technique used in sports massage is particularly good for not only providing relief from pain but also increase flexibility and enhancing muscle movement.

Maintains psychological well-being

Besides the many physical health benefits of sports massage, these massages also have several psychological benefits. Muscle and joint pain can be pretty annoying and agonizing, which will result in a bad mood and mindset, this is when sports massage therapy comes into play. With sports massage therapy you can instantly get relief from your pain. Furthermore, the calming properties in the body oils used here will help you release all your stress thus maintaining your overall psychological well-being.

Athlete is holding his knee due to pain

Precautions

While sports massages have their own sets of benefits, there are certain things you need to keep in mind before opting for massage therapy. Make sure that your therapist is a licenced massage therapist and is well aware of the procedure. Here, at Blue Terra, all our massage therapists are licensed therapists who have all the knowledge about massage and sports medicine.

For people with acute infectious disease, hernia, cancer, high blood pressure, varicose veins and other skin conditions, it is recommended to consult a physician before going ahead with sports massage.

It is also important to look into the type of injury sustained by the patient since certain types of injuries are not supposed to be handled with massage, such as fractures. Thus you must keep these mandatory precautions in mind before booking an appointment for any massage therapy.

Side effects

There are a lot of doubts and concerns regarding sports massages and massages in general and we are here to debunk them all. Massage therapy is an age-old practice and it has been a part of our culture for centuries. Massage therapies are extremely safe and if implemented properly, they can be a life-changing regimen for all.

The bottom line

Sports massage or deep tissue massage have their own sets of benefits and can be extremely good for all the athletes out there. However, these massages are not only restricted to athletes or sportspersons. Anybody who is suffering from muscle pain or cramps can opt for these massages as they have been designed to provide relief from pain.

Regardless of whichever massage you go for, make sure you keep in mind all the precautionary measures and make sure to go to a professional massage therapist who will cater to your needs.

Relaxing Self-Care Body Massage Ritual |Top 8 Body Massage Oils

The hustle culture has been around for a while and most people we know are running around, trying to do it all and get it all. Taking a break is normalized, but the internet makes sure we can’t chill even while taking a break. All this takes a toll on our physical health and pushes us towards a slow burnout. Little things like pursuing a hobby, taking a vacation, getting massages etc. can go a long way in helping us stay sane and relaxed. While other recreational activities may take more time than you can afford, body massages are a great way of relaxing your mind and giving yourself the self-care you need! As relaxing as these massages are, they also stimulate your nervous system and release the tension your body carries. Various body massage oils can elevate your experience and destress your mind.    

 

Benefits of A Body Massage

Body massages to an adult are the equivalent of children having ice cream. It is a great way to relax and prepare the body and the mind for work that is due next week. Sometimes, when you can not slip away for a weekend, a spa day can help you immensely. The atmosphere of the spa, the aroma of the body massage oils and the pressure applied by the masseuse act together to calm your nerves.

Relieves pain

Body massages are a great way of relieving pain that comes from improper posture and a hectic lifestyle. Slouching in chairs, standing for long hours, and prolonged screen time is likely to cause a headache, and pain in the neck, back and legs. Long hours at work may cause excessive body aches. A good body massage includes applying pressure on the body which helps comfort the pain. The pressure helps the blood flow better, and the warmth of the oils coupled with body heat relaxes the pain. Using a soothing body massage oil to massage the body on a weekend is all you need to recuperate from that pain and get back to the grind.

Relieves stress

Hectic days at work cause a lot of stress and spa commercials always portray people lying peacefully, with their eyes closed. The body massage oils they use are relaxing and a great way to destress. Corporate retreats often offer spa weekends to employees, as a way to unwind and relax, because the employees feel rejuvenated after massages and are able to focus on work more efficiently than before.

Relaxes nervous system

Body massages relax the body and release the tension caused by excessive working hours. The strained nerves and muscles relax when pressure is applied to them. Body massages are known to induce the production of endorphins, also known as happy hormones. An increase in endorphin levels makes people feel good. A relaxed nervous system ensures a decrease in corticosteroids (stress hormones) and helps you relax. A body massage oil containing ashwagandha is known to be great for the nervous system.

Detoxifies lymphatic system

Body massages are a great source of detoxifying the lymphatic system. Lymphatic vessels present in the body with lymph nodes are meant to filter out waste and dead cells. If the lymph flow is slacking, the vessels retain fluid which can be very uncomfortable, especially around the neck, back and groin. Body massages intend to help people with sore muscles by increasing the blood flow throughout the body which in turn helps drain the retained fluid and relax the body to a great extent.

Improves blood circulation

Body massages help relax the muscles and thereby aid in improving blood circulation in the body. The soft tissues of the body, when stimulated, release toxins through blood and lymph nodes. This is known to significantly lower fatigue and make a person feel like they have control over the pain that they experience. The improved blood circulation ensures that the bones and the organs function better.

Helps with insomnia

Body messages provide relief from pain and stress. Often, people tend to fall asleep while receiving a massage. The pressure applied to affected areas releases the knots of tension that are created due to the unhealthy lifestyle we lead and lowers stress. The body slips into a state of relaxation as the nervous system is awakened. People with lower stress levels and a relaxed mind are less likely to develop insomnia as compared to those with higher stress levels and tense minds.

Relaxes the body

Think of the body as a machine, for example, a car that moves around and does things. It needs fuel in the form of food and rests in the form of sleep. A car is serviced every once in a while, for better performance. Body massages, when accompanied by body massage oils, act as the servicing of the machine that our body is.

 

Top 8 Body Massage Oils

Body massages without a good body massage oil are like lemonade without sugar. These oils are often enriched with herbs/components that particularly help the body. Before you go search for the best body massage oil for yourself, we have here a carefully curated list of 8 exceptional body massage oils, so you can pick the one that matches your requirements.

Avocado Stress Relief Body Massage Oil by Biotique

An oil specially formulated for body massages, it is a blend of various oils and other natural ingredients like dandelion extracts, avocado, etc. It claims to relax muscles and relieve the body from tension and fatigue. It is also claimed that this body massage oil benefits you with good sleep when you apply it to the soles of your feet at night.

Chief ingredients

  • Almond Oil- It is a great moisturizer which gives a glow to the skin while lightening dark spots.
  • Camphor Oil- It is known to be a great muscle relaxant that has antiseptic properties. It is also known to have sedative properties that provide better sleep.
  • Neem Oil- Neem is a magical ayurvedic ingredient that has multifarious uses. It has antiviral, antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal properties that maintain the overall health of the skin.

Pros

  • It is quite affordable
  • One bottle lasts fairly long
  • It has a mild fragrance

Cons

  • It can only be used for a massage. It is not suitable to be used as a moisturizer because of its sticky texture.
  • It contains only 0.2% avocado oil despite containing avocado in its name.

Aroma Magic Organic Almond Oil by Blossom Kochhar

A blessing for extremely dry and sensitive skin, this cold pressed oil is extremely moisturizing, yet non-comedogenic. Almond oil is known to fight signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. It is a multipurpose product that may be used as a facial oil or hair oil on its own and a body massage oil after it is mixed with an essential oil/carrier oil of your choice. It claims to provide relief to itchy and irritated skin.

Pros

  • It is free of artificial colors
  • It is free of artificial fragrance
  • It is completely organic
  • It is not tested on animals

Cons

  • It will only act as a carrier oil if used as a body massage oil.
  • Almonds do not necessarily have muscle-relaxing properties
  • It can trigger an allergic reaction in people with nut allergies.

 

Balalakshadi Aromatic Sensuous Bath and Body Massage Oil by Blue Nectar

This body massage oil claims to soothe and relax the body. A blend of almond oil and sesame oil powered with ayurvedic ingredients like Bala and Ashwagandha etc., it gets easily absorbed into the skin. It may be applied before the bath and used as a body massage oil or after it, as a moisturizer.

Chief Ingredients

  • Jasmine- It has calming properties that are known to soothe the skin, with an excellent fragrance.
  • Ashwagandha- Ashwagandha has many uses in Ayurveda, one of which involves lowering stress in the mind as well as the body.
  • Almond Oil- It is one of the best oils for the skin. It lightens dark spots and adds glow and radiance to the skin.

Pros

  • It is an ayurvedic preparation
  • It is extremely affordable’
  • It is easily available

Cons

  • It has a slightly thick texture, which makes it a little difficult to wash off.
  • It comes in a standard bottle. No pump/dropper is provided.

Mother’s Body Massage Oil Balaswagandhadi by Forest Essentials

It is a completely ayurvedic body massage oil which tones and moisturizes the skin. It claims to make the skin appear firm and glow from within.

Chief Ingredients

  • Country Mallow- Also known as Bala in Ayurveda, this herb is known to calm the nervous system. It provides relief from muscle pain.
  • Winter Cherry- Also known as Ashwagandha in Ayurveda, this herb is known to lower stress levels by calming the brain and reducing swelling.
  • Liquorice root- Also known as Yashitmadhu in Ayurveda, it is claimed to be a great moisturizer and a natural sunscreen which protects us against the harmful rays of the sun.

 Pros

  • It is a completely ayurvedic formulation
  • It is free of chemicals and parabens
  • It has eco-friendly packaging.

Cons

  • It does not really help a lot with relaxing pain, despite the claims.
  • It is fairly expensive.

 

Body Massage Oil, Lemongrass and Lavender by St. Botanica.

A concoction made by mixing lemongrass and lavender essential oils with cold pressed oils, this body massage oil benefits you by relaxing sore muscles and giving you soft and glowing skin.

Chief Ingredients

  • Bran Oil – It helps in keeping the skin moisturized and nourished.
  • Sweet Almond Oil – It moisturizes and softens the skin and adds glow.
  • Grapeseed Oil – Enriched with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, it promotes the overall health of the skin.

Pros

  • It is a 100% natural product free of parabens and mineral oils
  • It is vegan
  • It is not tested on animals

Cons

  • It has an overpowering fragrance because of the essential oils
  • It is not suitable for oily skin
  • It may irritate your skin

 

Khadi Natural Jasmine Massage Oil

An oil blend of all-natural ingredients, this product claims to bring relief to stiff joints and sore muscles, and reduce tension and stress.

Chief Ingredients 

  • Olive Oil- It acts as an emollient and is deeply moisturizing to the skin.
  • Sesame Oil- It is rich in vitamins B and E. It helps in calming rashes and fading scars.
  • Sunflower Oil- It is rich in antioxidants and prevents premature aging.

Pros

  • It is very affordable
  • It has a mild fragrance

Cons

  • It is greasy and a little difficult to wash off.
  • The packaging is a little flimsy.

 

Body Oil, Fragrance-Free by Neutrogena

This light body oil acts as a great moisturizer and can act as a body massage oil when mixed with essential oils. It claims to lock in the moisture and give you soft and supple skin. However, it is a chemical product and does not have many natural/Ayurvedic ingredients

Pros

  • It is a very lightweight oil that gets easily absorbed into the skin.
  • It does not irritate the skin.

Cons

  • It contains synthetic ingredients
  • It is fairly expensive
  • It is not easily available.

 

Spa of The World French Lavender Massage Oil by The Body Shop

A body massage oil infused with Lavender essential oil, this oil claims to relax the body and the mind and calms the senses.

Chief Ingredients

  • Sweet Almond Oil- It moisturizes the skin and adds a glow.
  • Sesame Oil- It acts as an emollient and softens the skin
  • Jojoba Oil- It treats various skin conditions like acne, eczema, etc

Pros

  • It is a vegetarian formulation
  • It is cruelty-free.
  • It has no synthetic ingredients

Cons

  • It is not meant for oily skin
  • It is fairly expensive.

 

Body massage oils are a great addition to a regular body massage. While an ordinary body massage will also destress your mind and your body, a massage with a body massage oil will elevate that experience because these oils are rich in ingredients that target specific issues. Try it whenever you can and get ready for an ultimate relaxing session that rejuvenates your body and gets you ready for the hustle, yet again!  

Does Head Lice Stay Alive on Pillows and Sheets?

Lice… Those tony, creepy crawlies have given us all weird jittery and itchy heads at least once in our lifetime. Lice are practically the definition of tiny but mighty. They’re uncomfortable to experience, can make you a laughing stock if the issue is left up to high school bullies, or may make a few people turn their heads, and certainly not 9n a good way! 

Having Lice in your hair is a very common issue that can unfortunately affect the best of us. For the most part, it’s usually children that fall victim to the yucky species, but it can sometimes happen to adults too, and trust us, it is NOT a pleasant experience. If you have memories from your days of childhood, you probably remember your grandmother, or any other hardworking lady or lad, using those thin-toothed combs to drag those nasty crawlers out. It used to be a labor of love, for sure. And, a very cumbersome one at that. 

If there’s one thing one must know about lice, it is that they are determined, as determined as they come, probably even more than ants! So if one isn’t careful enough, lice transferred through children in your family can very easily make themselves at home and enjoy your nice, plushy cushions, bedding, pillows, and just about any other fabric that your body comes in contact with, yikes! Removing lice manually can be a fun bonding activity for people (in a parallel universe!) but it is no job for the ordinary (or anybody for that matter, apart from maybe monkeys). So if you’re dealing with lice, you probably need us and our “expertise” and we’re here to deliver and kiss your disappointment a long goodbye!

 

What is Lice?

Speaking in layman’s terms, Lice or Head Lice are tiny wingless, parasitic, blood-sucking insects that get their food (the blood) primarily from the human scalp. Considering that even the mere thought of these gross mites is enough to give us the creepy crawlies (as this is typed), it only makes sense that their effect in real life is much, much worse. When lice infest someone’s scalp, they trigger an extremely intense sensation of itching that is near impossible to bear and in many cases, can create a huge, painful rash around the hairline.

Lice can mainly be of three types and they’re all grosser than the next!

  1. Head Lice – This is the one we’re most familiar with and it is perhaps the most difficult out of all three to deal with, mostly because you actually have to LIVE with them for a while while they enjoy a cozy comfortable stay in your hair and have all three meals on your scalp.
  2. Body Lice – As the name suggests, body lice can pretty much be found anywhere on your body, and that is far worse than the ones that limit themselves to the head. Body Lice are relatively easier to deal with but they’re also the more notorious and rogue kind, as these are the kind that finds it convenient and thrilling to venture outside the grounds of your body and into the seams of the clothing to enjoy all that nice fabric.
  3. Public Lice – Didn’t we promise you it would get much grosser? Pubic lice, also known as “crabs” obviously affect the genitals of the human body, more specifically the hairy parts of those areas. Thankfully, they are not as common as the other variants and have a very simple & straightforward treatment but having them is pretty horrifying nonetheless.

 

Can Head Lice Survive on Pillows and Sheets?

Simply put, a little bit, yes, but mostly, no. Lice can “fall” to the bedding or sheets with the hair they are attached to and may transfer onto the next person if physical contact with their head is established. So technically speaking, they can “live” on fabric for a while till they’re reunited with their host or find a new one. But, they can survive on linens no longer than 24 hours, and here are the reasons why:

  1. The temperature on furniture, linens and other fabric is mostly room-temperature and thus, not the most conducive to a louse’s survival. They need warmth, conveniently present on the human scalp to be able to stay nice & warm.
  2. Their little, tiny legs cannot function the same way on fabrics as they can on human hair. Those little annoying crawlers have 6 legs that are attached in such a way that they are perfect to wrap around strands of hair or fibers but not flat and wide surfaces.
  3. They need a host to survive. Survival is the entire purpose of a louse’s existence. Female lice lay eggs at the base of hair strands right near the scalp, and they do so fast. Because of the way they function and the fact that they have pretty much evolved to live solely on hair, they cannot lay their eggs anywhere else, meaning survival or sheets without being in contact with a human’s head is not all that possible for these crawlers.
  4. They eat every four hours. On average, lice “eat” or suck blood 6 times a day. They mostly load up at night (just like us!) but are also fairly regular for their mealtimes. So, going too long without food is a no-brainer recipe for disaster for lice.

 

How to Get Rid of Lice in Hair?

Okay, we’ve established that lice suck (pun intended) and if you or someone you know has them, swift action needs to be taken to get rid of them at the earliest possible. When it comes to getting rid of lice, there are many options out there and it is up to you to choose which one shall be the most convenient for you. You may opt for a professional hair lice treatment or try some of these DIY home remedies:

 

  1. Castor Oil and a Fine-tooth Comb

Using a thicker type of oil or any other agent is said to be extremely useful in suffocating lice. For this home remedy, you only need castor oil (you may use other thick consistency oils like olive oil or coconut but in our experience, castor works best) and a fine tooth comb (called a kaangsi in Hindi in local Indian regions). Your comb should be of a stronger, more solid material that is less likely to break if while combing, it gets stuck in tangles of hair or can’t go through a cluster of nits

Apply a generous layer of castor oil all over your head. Be sure to get to the scalp and the root because that’s where the lice and the nits are most likely to be. Once oiled, immediately get to combing the lice and the nits out. Do this by dividing your hair in sections and start at the roots with a firm pressure and comb through the lengths to the ends. This process will take time but this is also the one that works efficiently.

 

 

  1. Mayonnaise and Plastic Wrap

Okay, we know this sounds gross. We’re right with you on that one but with all those nasty crawlies on your head, we’d say this is worth a shot. Using mayonnaise on your head will most likely be messy and convenient but sometimes you have to pay that price, especially when the reward is bound to be so satisfactory. It is important to note that there is no real research or evidence that suggests Mayonnaise is good for killing lice but people use this home remedy a lot and the general consensus suggests that it sure does work!

Mayonnaise is basically just fat, and of the kind that is pretty thick. It works by smothering the lice and partially stunning them so that they don’t move as fast and easier to locate and remove. It is also very slippery, meaning it can work on your hair strand to loosen the lices grip. All you need is to apply a good amount of mayonnaise all over your head and cover your head with plastic wrap or a shower cap, this is very likely to feel weird but that is kind of the whole point? Let the mayonnaise sit for 15 to 30 minutes, then comb out the lice and nits using a fine-tooth comb. Once done, immediately wash off the mayonnaise with a strong shampoo, preferably one that is specifically created for removing hair lice. Repeat after two days if necessary.

 

  1. Tea-tree oil

Tea tree oil is a type of essential oil that is very potent in nature. It is often found in hair care products because of its effectiveness towards concerns like dandruff, fungal infestations, bacterial growth, and well, lice termination. Tea tree oil is very potent and can irritate  your scalp if used in large quantities. Something that is this potent on human skin can surely be enough to agitate lice. Hence this remedy can do wonders if used correctly.

In a small bowl, take some good quality, pure tea tree oil. Be sure to not add more than 5-7 drops. To this bowl, add a carrier oil of choice, any type of hair oil that suits your hair type or you like to use (we recommend almond oil) or add your choice commercial hair mask (you may even use a blend of yogurt and onion grounds). Mix your ingredients up till they’re well combined and go to town on your hair. Apply evenly all over the scalp, wait for 10 minutes and get to combing. Once you’re satisfied and cannot comb out any more lice or nits, wash off all that product. Repeat every 5 days, if necessary till all the lice are gone.

 

  1. Salt and Vinegar

In their scientific forms, salt and vinegar are known as sodium chloride and acetic acid. When combine, these two make a potent chemical combination that reacts on the scalp and prevents nits from hatching into lice. This remedy is super simple to use, doesn’t require you to do much at all except for preparing a solution using ¼ cup salt with ¼ cup vinegar and ⅛ cup water. Mix all three until they’re fully combined and store in a spray bottle. Spray on to the head till the scalp is fully coated. And let the mixture sit & dry for 2 hours. Wash off with shampoo afterwards and be sure to apply conditioner as the solution is likely to dry out your hair.

 

  1. Neem Paste

If you’re from an Indian household, there’s no doubt you’ve been acquainted with the endless benefits and specialities of the herb called Neem. The leaves of the Neem tree are small but packed ayurvedic powerhouses that can do just about anything. They are antibacterial and antifungal. Mostly popular for their effectiveness in combating acne in oily-skinned people, neem leaves are also quite good for hair concerns (a lesser known fact).

Blendin neem leaves with a little dash of water and a drop or two of tea tree oil can create a great blend that is ready to apply straight to the scalp and the roots of your hair. Once applied evenly, this mixture should be left on the head till it dries off completely, then washed off with water, followed by running a fine-tooth comb through the wet hair to extract all the lice and the nits.

 

How to Get Rid of Lice in Bedding?

You already know that lice cannot survive without a host i.e. being on someone’s head for more than 24 hours, so there’s no real reason for you to be panicking and turning your home upside down. However if you want to clean your house and all the linens after having a confirmed case of lice in one or more of the residents of the house, even after they’ve been treated, jut to be sure, we recommend you take the following steps:

  1. Washing and Dry

Wash all fabrics where you suspect lice could have landed. This includes sheets, duvets, pillow covers, cushion covers, clothes, etc. Wash them with a very hot eater (the high temperature will help in killing the lice efficiently) using your normal everyday detergent and some antiseptic liquid. Follow this by drying them for 30-ish minutes using high heat to get rid of any remaining nits. 

  1. Vacuuming

This may not be a common practice in most Indian households but if you have access to a vacuum cleaner, we suggest you use it. Vacuum on the highest setting, the surfaces and other pieces of furniture that cannot be washed to eliminate lice from the general areas of your house faster. These may include rugs, sofas, curtains, couches, mattresses, pillows, etc.

 

  1. DIY Bleach Spray

For bedding or soft furniture that won’t be harmed by bleach, using this home remedy is a good idea for people that may be paranoid about any remnants of lice and want them gone at the earliest without indulging in store-bought sprays that contain pesticides or getting your entire home fumigation (which is not only expensive but also a rather drastic step to deal with lice that will be dead in a few hours anyway.) For this remedy, you must mix 2 tablespoons of bleaching powder and 2 cups of water. Store this solution in a spray bottle. Do a sort of patch test by spraying the solution on a small section and wait for a few minutes to ensure that it does not damage the material, then start spraying on the desired surface generously.

 

  1. DIY Essential Oil Spray

If you’re someone who has delicate bedding or other soft furnitures and linens that you suspect cannot handle the potency of hard bleach, you can alternatively try to use essential oils that repel lice naturally. In a container, combine 1 ½ cup of water with 20 drops of lavender, rosemary or peppermint oil (you may use a blend of all three if you wish to do so) and transfer to a spray bottle. Shake well before usage and spray the solution onto desired surfaces generously.

 

How to Prevent Lice Infection?

If you’ve heard of the phrase “prevention is better than cure”, you’re aware that these truly are words to live by, so if you’re someone who has dealt with lice before or someone who would just like to avoid it in the future, here are some things you should keep in mind:

  1. Avoid having hair to hair contact with someone who you suspect may have head lice. Instruct your children to do the same.
  2. Avoid sharing personal belongings that may come in contact with heads in general with this person. The belongings can be towels, clothes, hats or caps, helmets, headphones, scarves or combs.
  3. Staying hygienic, keeping your hair clean, checking for lice every now and then, washing sheets and other home items at appropriate intervals, etc.

 

Parting Note

By now, you’re aware of all the vices that lice (rhyme intended?) bring along with them. Lice are down right annoying and can often be a cause for being bullied, mistreated or shamed. Having lice is normal and is often nobody’s fault, just bad luck. The key when dealing with lice is not to panic. Stay calm, think logically and use the help of a guide like this one that we’ve prepared for you. Follow the advice and remedies mentioned here, take the preventive steps and you should be good to go.

How Early Should We Start Using Anti-Aging Creams? | Check out the best anti aging creams in India

Looking young and beautiful is the object of everyone’s desire. You must have heard at least one song where the artist questions whether their lover would love them the same when they’re not young and beautiful.  Aging is not something that you can control. However, you can take steps to slow down the process by using best anti aging cream. Thanks to the constant development in technology and inventions in the beauty and skincare industry, we now have a few tools that visibly slow down the process of aging. The most common of these tools is the best anti ageing cream that diminish the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and crow’s feet. Anti-ageing creams are moisturizers that help people look younger and delay the signs of aging. Most brands advertise their products as the best anti-ageing cream on the market, but you need to be careful, and pick up a product that targets the issues you have and is suitable for your skin and that shall become the best anti-ageing cream for you.

The importance of using and choosing the best anti-ageing creams

1) They keep the skin moisturized

Besides fighting wrinkles and the other visible signs of ageing, the best anti-ageing cream also prevent the drying, flaking and peeling of the skin. best anti ageing cream keep the skin moisturized, and make you look young. Natural ingredients like saffron, sandalwood, and lotus seed extracts fight the ageing process. People with sensitive skin should use these creams after consulting a dermatologist and letting the doctors decide the best anti-ageing cream for them.

2) They provide skin radiance

The moisturizing and collagen-boosting ingredients from the best anti-ageing cream keep the skin nourished and healthy. This gives the skin a radiance that comes from within, because of the constant cell turnover. Using the best anti-ageing cream for you regularly would help the skin to repair the damage caused by the environment and the toxins present in it.

3) They help in the reduction of wrinkles & fine lines

Most of the creams that claim to be the best anti ageing cream are just good moisturizers that deeply nourish the skin. Moisturized skin is not dry and is less likely to develop wrinkles. Best Anti Aging Cream work best at night, because when you apply them on a face after cleaning with ayurvedic face wash, and not put any makeup on top and sleep in a pollution-free environment, the likelihood of your skin absorbing it all increases. Using an anti-ageing cream regularly gives you visible results. These creams strengthen your cells that fight the toxins that are damaging your skin. They are mostly formulated with products that boost the production of collagen, which increases cell turnover and delays ageing. They also help in the development of elastin, which provides the skin with elasticity and holds it up, rather than letting it sag down.

 

4) They prevent the occurrence of dark spot on face & discoloration

As stated before, the best anti ageing cream boost collagen production, inhibiting the formation of dark spots on face caused due to age. Some of them have SPF which protects the skin against harmful UV rays. They also have vitamin C which is known to treat dark spots on the skin.

5) They save your money

When buying the best anti-ageing cream for yourself, think of it as an investment. Not only would this product help you with keeping your skin healthy and delaying ageing, but it would also delay you having to pay for an expensive procedure because your skin would need it later than it would have if you were not using the product.

Applying the best anti-ageing cream every day will provide you with maximum benefits. If you start using anti-ageing products as early as your late 20s, you will see, in a few years, how drastically your skin differs from those who do not take care of it. They say that prevention is better than cure. Most dermatologists, facial aestheticians, beauty gurus and influencers apply this rule to anti-ageing too.

The issue with delaying the use of these creams is that we usually don’t think about the signs of ageing till they appear on our faces. We all know how expensive dermatological issues are and thus begin the quest for finding the best anti-ageing cream.

The creams are far more likely to delay ageing than to reverse the effects of ageing. That required the attention of a professional. Using the best anti ageing cream for yourself would delay the signs of ageing for as long as possible and you wouldn’t have to make a routine of rushing to a doctor or an aesthetician at an early age. Many people do not buy the so-called best anti ageing cream because they are too expensive. But you need to understand that investing in the best anti ageing cream for yourself will save you money in the future.

Another issue is that people get a lot of flak for using anti ageing products in their late 20s. You can always find someone blabbering how their moms never applied anything and how they are still prettier than most people their age. You need to understand that there are a lot of reasons that the earlier generation did not have these issues. Life in general was not as stressful. People did not live while being glued to their monitors in the office and then phones/TVs at home. Physical activity has declined tremendously since the 2010s and all these reasons add up and give a strong competition to the other factor that decides ageing- genes. Some people have good genes and can get away without looking visibly aged for years without taking care of their skin for a very long time. For the rest of us, life has other plans, be it picking and using the best anti-ageing cream, or visits to the doctor.

Best Anti-Aging Creams Available in India

  1. Shubhr Jasmine & Pachouli Nourishing Night Repair Face Cream

Shubhr Kumkumadi Night Cream, enriched with Jasmine and Pachouli is one of the best anti-ageing cream. A blend of 16 ayurvedic herbs like Kumkumadi Oil, Almond oil, jasmine oil, etc., it gives you soft, supple and glowing skin. The cream nourishes the skin deeply, and repairs and restores the skin. It moisturizes the skin deeply, fights against pigmentation, dark spots, wrinkles, etc. and you wake up with healthy and firm skin.

Key Ingredients

Kumkumadi OilAlso known as the magic elixir, it makes the skin radiant by adding a natural glow to the skin. It also enhances blood circulation and tones the skin when left overnight, giving the skin a youthful appearance.

Ghee- A natural moisturizer, ghee provides deep hydration, adds glow to the skin and improves skin elasticity.

Almond Oil- Almond oil is known to help hydrate the skin, reducing the appearance of dark spots on face and scars and improving the skin complexion.

Pros

  • It is free of silicones and parabens
  • It provides a complete list of ingredients
  • Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

Cons

  • The affordable product on this list.

Night cream is placed on table

2. Advanced Eternal Youth Formula Date & Litchi by Forest Essentials

  • Among many anti-ageing creams on the market, this work of art is crafted with exceptional ayurvedic ingredients, like sweet Almond Oil, fermented Litchi juice Date extracts, etc. This Anti-ageing cream transforms dehydrated skin into a deeply nourished one. 

Key Ingredients

Dates- They are known to protect skin cells from detrimental effects of extremities in the environment. Fermented Date Pulp has been used in the formula. It gives the skin a satin smooth shine.

Litchi- The juicy fruit replenishes the moisture levels of the skin, makes it toned and firm, helps with pigmentation, and diminishes signs of ageing, like fine lines.

Sweet Almond Oil- The best anti ageing cream is formulated using cold-pressed oil distilled from sweet almonds which moisturize the skin deeply and gives it a golden glow.

Fenugreek Seeds– A common staple found in every kitchen, fenugreek seeds help treat inflamed skin, blackheads, breakouts and fine lines.

Pros

  • Free from chemicals, parabens and petrochemical
  •  Eco-friendly packaging

Cons

  •  Too expensive
  •  Not suitable for oily skin

3. Garnier Wrinkle Lift Anti-Ageing Cream

This is the best anti ageing cream for beginners. It introduces you to the anti-ageing regime, without compromising your skin’s barrier. It contains the essence of cherries and bilberry extract. It helps to keep the skin firm, balances the skin’s pH and gives the skin a radiant and youthful glow.

Key Ingredients

Water- Water, purified and sterilized, helps to sustain the constancy of a product formulation, its appearance and its quality.

Glycerine- Also known as glycerol, glycerine is a humectant. It moisturizes and protects the skin.

Octyldodecanol- It is a fatty acid derived from natural oils that deeply moisturises the skin and may be used as a base or thickening agent for a product.

Stearic Acid- Used in cosmetic products for its moisturizing properties, stearic acid is one of the most commonly found saturated fatty acids in nature.

Palmitic acid– Another common saturated fatty acid found in plants and microorganisms, Palmitic acid helps in blending different ingredients into a smooth, uniform mixture. It is an amazing emollient. It helps moisturize the skin. 

Pros

  • It is a beginner-friendly option 
  • It is budget-friendly. 
  •  It is easily available at a drugstore near you.

Cons

  •  It contains silicones.
  •  It acks a specific ingredient for ageing.
  • It is pretty thick and may cause breakouts on oily skin.

 4. St. Botanica Retinol Advanced Anti-Ageing Day Cream SPF 30

This nourishing and moisturizing day cream helps by providing hydration and making the skin taut. It helps to replenish dull skin, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

Key Ingredients

Retinol- It boosts the production of collagen and keeps the skin toned and taut.

Moroccan Argan Oil- It is packed with nutrients and deeply moisturizes the skin.

Hyaluronic Acid- It locks in the skin’s moisture and helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Honey- It hydrates the skin and has antibacterial qualities.

Pomegranate– It is rich in antioxidants and shields the skin against toxins found in the environment.

Liquorice- It promotes the lightening of the dark spots and scars, giving the skin an even tone.

Pros

  • It offers sun protection of SPF 30
  • It is free of parabens
  • It is free of mineral oil

Cons

  • It might cause skin sensitivity to the sun.
  • It contains triglycerides derived from coconut oil, which may be comedogenic and cause acne.

5. WOW Skin Science 10-in-1 Active Miracle Face Cream

It moisturizes, nourishes, protects, brightens and revitalises your skin. It repairs skin damage and is one of the best anti-ageing cream available. It helps a great deal in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Key Ingredients

Aloe Leaf Juice- It provides deep hydration, and makes sure the skin does not dry out.

Cocoa & Shea Butters- They contain the necessary fatty acids for deep moisturization

Hydrolyzed Collagen- It helps reduce wrinkles & fine lines.

Beetroot Extracts- They stimulate the production & repair of cells and help with the signs of ageing.

Vitamins B5, C & E– They give the skin an even tone.

Pros

  • It contains SPF 15
  • It is free of harmful sulphates and parabens
  • It is free of mineral oils

Cons

  • It has a strong fragrance which may aggravate sensitive skin.
  •  It is not suitable for oily skin

6. Ustraa Night Cream – De-tan and Anti-Ageing

This night cream is formulated for men. It offers deep moisturization and works on your wrinkles, uneven skin tone and dark spots and scars. It claims that it repairs the sun damage caused during the day at night and that you wake up with soft and nourished skin.

Pros

  •  It is very affordable.

Cons

  •  It lacks a complete list of ingredients.
  •   It might not suit women with oily skin.
  •  It might react to sensitive skin.

7. Neutrogena Cellular Boost Anti-Aging Day Cream SPF20

One of the best anti ageing cream available on the market, this cream stimulates the production of collagen and elastin naturally. It keeps renewing the skin’s surface. Enriched with vitamin C, it also gives you even toned skin and reduces dark spots.

Key Ingredients

Aqua- It treats or prevents dry, rough, scaly, itchy skin and minor skin irritations 

Propylene glycol- It acts as a humectant by securing the water and taking it to the outer layer of your skin. 

Glycerine- Glycerine, also called glycerol, has moisturizing, emollient and protective properties.

Homosalate- It helps in absorbing short-wave UVB rays, which may cause damage to DNA.

Isononyl isononanoate– It functions as an emollient and adds hydration to the skin.

Pros

  •  It has SPF 20 to protect your skin from sun damage.
  • It is suitable for sensitive skin.

Cons

  • It is not suitable for oily skin.
  • It does not sit well under makeup.

8. Retemin Plant Retinol + Vitamin C Brightening Boost Crème

Formulated with Vitamin-C and Bakuchiol (Plant Retinol), this cream helps achieve clear and dewy skin. It hydrates, tones the skin and minimizes environmental damage done to your face.

Key Ingredients

Kakadu Plum- It boosts collagen, increases skin elasticity, repairs the skin barrier, and fights signs of ageing and external damage caused to the skin by toxins, UV rays and pollution.

Bakuchiol- It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It fuels collagen production and helps improve cell turnover, in turn improving the fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and acne naturally.

Pros

  • It is free of parabens
  • It is free of chemicals
  • It is clinically tested
  • It is cruelty-free

Cons

  •  It is not suitable for daytime use.
  • It lacks a complete list of ingredients.

9. Inatur Collagen Night Cream

Inatur Collagen Night Cream is a light, non-greasy formula that provides smooth, firm, and glowing skin. It reinstates moisture to the skin and helps in the reduction of lines, spots, and wrinkles. It works on wrinkles and significantly reduces them.

Key Ingredients

Aqua- Also known as water, it treats or prevents dry, rough, scaly, itchy skin and minor skin irritations. 

Glycerine- Glycerine, also called glycerol, is a humectant. It moisturizes the skin and protects it.

Wheat Germ Oil- It has anti-inflammatory properties, which help in calming and reducing skin redness and irritation. It is loaded with anti-ageing properties and anti-oxidants. So, it can neutralise the free radicals which cause skin damage and cause wrinkles. It helps in restoring and stimulating new skin cell regeneration.

Shea Butter- It is rich in fatty acids and vitamins which makes the skin super soft. It also has healing and anti-inflammatory properties.

Almond Oil- Almond oil helps in skin complexion and hydrates the skin also reducing the appearance of dark spots & scars.

Pros

  •  A complete list of ingredients is mentioned
  • It contains all-natural ingredients.
  •  It is vegan and cruelty-free.

Cons

  • Not easily available
  •  Might not suit oily skin

10. Mitchell USA Night Therapy Anti-Ageing Night Cream

Primarily made up of ayurvedic products, this is one of the best anti ageing cream around here. Enriches with Lotus sees extract, Brahmi extract and Cocoa Butter gives the skin a natural glowing effect along with making the skin firm and tightening it and leaving the skin moisturized.

Ingredients

Lotus Seed Extract- It has anti-ageing and regenerative properties which ensure a youthful look.

Brahmi Extract- It helps with collagen production, reducing hyperpigmentation, restoring the skin’s barrier and helping with acne.

Cocoa Seed Butter- It is rich in fatty acids that help to hydrate the skin. It also smoothens scars, wrinkles, and other marks on the skin.

Pinus Strobus Bark Extract– It helps reduce the signs of ageing, hydrating the skin and reducing pigmentation.

Grape seed extract- It escalates cell turnover and collagen synthesis. This makes your skin’s health better and also improves elasticity.

Pros

  • It is suitable for all skin types
  • It has been dermatologically tested for Indian skin
  •   It is cruelty-free

Cons

  • Some ingredients are comedogenic.
  • It contains silicones and parabens

If you do decide to buy an anti-ageing product, do not fall prey to cheap advertising traps that label every other anti-ageing cream as the best anti-ageing cream. Analyze your skin type and the issues you want to tackle and any anti-ageing cream that works for you will be the best anti-ageing cream. Try to use it before you develop visible signs of ageing and watch others compliment you on how gracefully you have aged.

How can stress affect the body and how to avoid it?

One may ignore everything but when it comes to stress, the power of ignorance can never show any such dominance over life. Stress is bound to happen and there is no way to stop it. Every person in this world has stress due to various reasons. Some believe that stress is nothing other than a mere anxiety but actually this is a scientific term, where the body cannot react further to other actions.

                                  

Now, stress is something very difficult to define. Different people react differently to stress.  Sometimes it affects a person from inside and ruins him but on the contrary it also helps an individual to gain something very important. In a nutshell, it can be said that the process of stress at first is invariant and secondly it will affect every normal human being who can feel even a bit of agony in life.  Stress occurs especially to those people who are very active in life.

 

What causes stress?

There can be millions of reasons for stress to take place in human life. It is very difficult to categorize the varieties.  Yet, some common ones are:  

 

Work stress

Unhappy with work – This is the most common thing which causes stress. Sometimes people are not really happy with their work. Such issues create a lot of mental stress.  Due to this people undergo a lot of stress which in turn creates a huge pressure both on the mind and the body.

 

Too much responsibility at work- Too much responsibility at work creates tension which leads to stress.  People who hold a better post in an organization go under a lot of stress due to work pressure.

 

 

Discrimination at work place– This is indeed one of the biggest factor that leads to  stress. Facing discrimination due to caste, creed and race at work causes a huge trouble for a person. It often happens that people go insane due to unavoidable stress.

                                       

Life stress

Emotional problem- There can be various emotional problems which a person may face at one point of time like fear, hatred, anxiety etc.  These can actually make life stressful.  People often go crazy under such situations in life and slowly the stress creeps in. These situations can  make a person  mentally weak. There is no such quick recovery process in such situations.

 

Traumatic events- Events like natural disaster, theft, violence can actually create a lot of stress. These incidents are so harsh and violent that it becomes difficult to get over  them.

                        

Well, these are just a few causes of stress which are quite natural and could happen with the majority of the people.  A research study shows that people feel stress when they get involved in any sort of action like anger, violence.  Stress is something which people imbibe at times and this is absolutely an unnecessary burden which gets carried without any proper healing process.

 

How can stress harm your physical structure?

The Central Nervous System (CNS) gets affected– The CNS often gets affected due to excess stress and it is unable to behave in a normal way. Slowly it takes a toll on the body and may even lead to non-functioning of the brain.

 

Digestive system– The entire digestive system of the body suffers due to stress..   The rush of various hormones, fast breathing and increase in heart rate hampers the entire digestive process, leading to problems like acidity and constipation.

 

Immune system– Stress can also affect the immune system leading to poor immunity.  As a result, people may get affected by various diseases like viral fever, influenza, etc.  The immunity power of the body is curved down by stress.

 

 

People may get affected by stress due to uncountable reasons but they are sometimes completely unaware about how to get rid of such horrible stress problems. However, there are solutions to every problem. Stress can be tackled and worked upon, just like any other medical and psychological issue. Here are a few ready points to deal with stress.

 

Massage- A massage can be one of the best ways to cope up with stress. A de-stress massage could be a  long duration process but eventually the person recovers and feels refreshed and relaxed after the session. To undergo massage therapy one can visit a spa.

In recent years, Spa is the only destination where the entire body undergoes a healing process. Massage is altogether an art. If done properly then nothing can beat its productivity.  Sometimes it works better than pills.  In order to remove stress, it is very important to relax the mind at first and then the body.  If you are really suffering from unnatural stress, then you should undergo a  body spa.  Remember, there is no alternative to natural therapy like massage in order to get rid of stress and tension.  Visit a spa and  unwind with a massage.

                                  

Shirodhara– This is a traditional, proven Ayurveda therapy for total relaxation. In this therapy,  ayurvedic oil, infused with herbs, is poured on the forehead.  Apart from relaxation and rejuvenation, Shirodhara is helpful in treating other ailments like sinusitis and headaches. People often undergo this therapy in order to rejuvenate themselves.

 

Anti-depressant– It often happens that due to stress people get depression and sleeping disorders.  This can actually make a person go insane after a certain point of time.  Anti- depressant drugs help people to get rid of such disorders. A doctor or a psychiatrist may prescribe it, depending on the patient’s mental health. These medicines should never be consumed, unless prescribed by a registered practitioner.

 

There are numerous other ways to deal with stress but a good massage or a Shirodhara may give instant results. These are hence considered one of the best and beneficial ways to get rid of stress. Any kind of stress, be it emotional stress or work stress, can be dealt in a perfect way with these..

Some people  believe that natural remedies  are the best way to deal with stress. Some of the natural ways are meditation, exercise etc.  But eventually such activities have a delayed result and till then the level of stress may go up and create further disorder. It is therefore recommended to take the help of a relaxing massage or some other kind of therapy, with instant results.

Stress is an anecdote of life. Every individual belonging to any status undergoes a certain amount of stress.  If you are suffering from any sort of stress then don’t delay it. Find a perfect spa for massage or get involved in some other healing process. Life is indeed a beautiful object; don’t try to ruin it with stress.

Bad Habits That Cause Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most chronic and common discomfort experienced by most of the people worldwide. A huge number of people have suffered from back pain at least once in a lifetime. Although back pain is not a serious health issue, it is uncomfortable and painful. It reduces your energy and increases the frequency of visiting doctors. Though we often experience back pain, we cannot specify the actual reason for its occurrence. It may be due to a bad sitting posture, it may be associated with the muscles, bones or ligaments and a defective lumbar spine also can cause severe back pain. Back Pain Posture is one of the most common reasons nowadays because people work for a long time sitting in front of a desktop or a laptop.

 

Common causes of back pain:

Muscle or ligament strain: heavy lifting or abrupt awkward movement can strain your spine or back muscle. In a certain physical condition, a continuous strain on the back can be a reason for painful muscle spasms.

 

Bulging or ruptured disk: disks are the cushions placed between the vertebrae in the spine. The flexible material placed inside a disk may rupture, bulge or press a certain nerve. Disk diseases or slip disk is a serious cause of back pain and that too a chronic pain.

 

Arthritis and osteoporosis: osteoarthritis can affect your lower back bones and spine. It causes narrowing the space between the bones and spinal cord and that causes severe chronic back pain. Sometimes due to porous or fragile bones, vertebrae can develop density fracture.

 

Traveling: sitting for long in the flights or trains and walking for long carrying an overloaded backpack can cause Back Pain.

 

Daily activities: We don’t maintain the right posture while sitting during our work. Also, we don’t follow the correct rule in order to plan our sitting arrangements. A straight back hard surfaced chair is always preferable to avoid back pain caused due to the wrong sitting posture.

 

Remedies for back pain:

You must be wondering how to get rid of chronic back pain? Is it ever possible to achieve a complete recovery from the back pain? Choosing the right treatment for Back Pain is quite difficult. Now, we will discuss all of the fruitful remedies of back pain. You can overcome most of the back pain symptoms by following proper home remedies. But in some serious cases, you may have to consult with your doctor or may have to consider surgeries. Depending on the severance you have to decide the type of treatment.

 

Medications: some popular pain reliever may get you relief from back pain. But you should take them according to your doctor’s instructions. Otherwise, harmful side effects may happen.

 

Exercise and Physical Therapy: Exercise is the best remedy to treat back pain. Regular exercise can strengthen your abdominal and back muscles, increase flexibility and improves posture. Physical therapy is another keystone of back pain treatment. A therapist will apply various treatments including ultrasound, heat, electric stimulator and other muscle relaxing techniques.

Acupuncture: This is the procedure to insert a sterilized needle inside your skin at some specific points. Appropriate acupuncture can relieve you from lower back pain.

 

Yoga: Specific types of yoga including breathing exercises, practicing certain poses and postures, some popular muscle and mind relaxation techniques can help you to get rid of the chronic back pain. Yoga is a therapy where we learn to strengthen and stretch our muscles. Specifically, yoga stretches are the best way to reduce the intensity of pain that causes back pain.

 

Is massage effective in reducing back pain?

Massage therapy is often really effective in order to reduce back pain. But you have to ensure that it causes muscle tenacity or over-exhausted muscles. A regular basic massage therapy might help you to improve your health. Basically, massage for Back Pain is one of the most popular therapies that help lots of people with the varieties of spinal conditions such as:

  • Muscle tension
  • Ache
  • Inflammation
  • Stiffness
  • Muscle spasms
  • Pain

Using certain specialized tools or simply by using the hands, massage therapists rub, stroke and knead your back and thus it helps to increase the blood circulation throughout your body. It helps the affected muscles to gain more oxygen and nutrients and then eliminates toxins. Finally, you get relieved from back pain.

 

How does potli massage reduce back pain?

Potli massage is a famous therapy from Ayurveda for back pain relief. Wondering how this potli massage therapy works for your body actually? Potli massage for Back Pain works best for the back pain that occurred due to the diseases such as spondylitis or osteoarthritis. It is done using some specific heated herbals in a pouch or potli. Then it is dipped into the warm herbal and medicated oil. It rejuvenates, nourishes and relaxes the affected area by massaging the potli on your entire back. You will experience a therapeutic effect while placing the potli on your back. It heals your pain and relaxes the muscles. You will feel refreshed after taking a potli massage.

To sum up, there could be numerous reasons for back pain but knowing the root cause and taking corrective action will go a long way in managing back pain. If the pain does not require medical supervision, then natural therapies and ayurvedic therapies work the best.

How To Know You Are Stressed And How To Avoid It?

Stress is our body’s way of responding to any type of demand or threat. When we feel threatened, our nervous system responds by secreting a flood of stress hormones which include adrenaline and cortisol. Those hormones rouse the body for emergency action. As a result heartbeats get quicker, muscles tighten, blood pressure rises, breathing quickens, and senses get sharper. These physical changes boost your strength and stamina, increase your reaction time, and enhance your focus. This is called the ‘fight or flight’ or mobilization stress response and this is how your body protects you. Here are some.

 

Signs that Denote you are Stressed

YOU ARE CONSTANTLY SICK: If you keep getting a cough, sore throat or a fever, it might be because of the stress.

As per medical professionals, when we are under too much pressure, our bodies release a stress hormone called cortisol which can help us in the short-term. However, when you are stressed out constantly, these hormones can become depleted after some time. Though cortisol and other hormones help our body to cope with stress, we get more susceptible to sickness when these hormones are withdrawn.

What to do: Listen to your body if you feel drained or tired and take some time off your schedule. Sleep for at least 8 hours daily. Give your body the time it requires to recover. Find the Best Spa in your locality and pamper yourself with a Body Massage.

 

 

YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE CONCENTRATING: You are definitely under stress if you are too overwhelmed to focus on what is in front of you, or you can’t recall simple things such as a colleague’s name.

Studies have connected long-term exposure to surplus amounts of stress to shrinking of the brain’s memory center, the hippocampus. Research has also shown that being under stress for too long can stimulate growth of proteins that might lead to Alzheimer’s disease.

What to do: If it seems that you are experiencing this throughout the day, taking a few long inhales and exhales can help when under extreme pressure. Deep breathing helps us to control our thoughts and it also affects the bodily sensations which we experience when faced with a high-stress situation. Deep breathing also helps to control the heart rate and blood flow and muscle tension.

 

YOU HAVE A CONSTANT HEADACHE: If you feel pressure or throbbing anywhere on your head or temple area, it might just be a stress headache which is caused by tension.

Most of the time people tend to think that any particular problem in their life is causing the headache, but their lifestyle should be blamed instead. However, you should keep in mind that a headache might be a sign of some serious health problem. So, at those times you should visit a doctor immediately.

What to do: When you understand that stress is causing you headache; the easiest thing to do is to have less stress in your life. But it is not that simple. It is a challenge to de-stress yourself. Meditation, diet control, music, Spa therapies are some of the ways to cope with stress. A relaxing de-stress massage is a sure shot. Choose oil from aromatherapy essential oils, which may help to relax your brain. Ask your spa expert for more on the choice of oil.

 

 

YOUR BACK AND NECK IS ALWAYS ACHING: If you have got Back Pain or Stiff Neck, it could be because of long-term stress, and not only the position you sit in throughout the day. High levels of stress and tension can result in discomfort and Muscle Pain by tightening muscles and causing muscle spasms. Knotted muscles in your neck can also give birth to headaches. However, if you have developed backache and neck pain after an accident or emotional trauma, it could be due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Surveys have shown that a lot of people are not able to heal their backache until they handle the emotional stress which is causing it.

What to do: There are many relaxation techniques that can help you with stress reduction, including guided imagery, taking deep breaths, meditation and even getting a Spa. You should devote some time to Stretching breaks during the day to help stop muscles from tightening up. You can also try yoga at the end of the day. This will help ease your Joint Pain as well.

For Neck Pain and knots in the muscles, a gentle massage helps release the tension in muscles. A Potli massage with warm herbal oil can provide immediate relief. You may ask your nearest Spa for a Potli massage or may consult a physiotherapist for neck exercises.

 

YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING A SOUND SLEEP: If you find yourself waking up in middle of the night or pondering on things, it could mean you are suffering from anxiety or stress. After a long and tiring day, you should fall asleep easily. Our brain only relaxes during the time we sleep. When you have a difficult time falling asleep, even when you are tired, it is possibly because of the stress.

What to do: Consult your doctor about this and ask if your chronic stress may have led to this. When you are not getting enough sleep, everyday problems can make you feel more frustrated and overwhelmed. This happens as your brain is already tired and hence is more vulnerable to anxiety and depression. A worn out body is not properly prepared to cope with stressful situations and ward off illness. To get proper sleep at night, cut back on caffeinated beverages. You can opt to have a cup of warm chamomile tea before hitting the bed. You could even try reading a book before going to bed.

 

YOU ARE HAVING MORE THAN USUAL HAIR FALL: When you find more than a few strands of hair on your pillow after waking up in the morning, it may be because of the constant stress. You could be suffering from a medical condition known as alopecia areata, an autoimmune skin disease, which is brought on when the body’s immune system attacks the hair follicles. It causes small round patches of hair loss on the scalp. It is likely to be associated with a severe stressor, such as an assault or a significant traumatic event. This disease usually happens in young women.

 

 

What to do: Usually, this is a temporary condition and your hair will grow back once the stress has reduced. Try to take a few days of leave from the office and get a relaxing body massage or just take up a membership with a spa and get de-stress therapy done. Some Ayurvedic massages like Shirodhara are helpful in combating stress.

In a nutshell, most health problems could be an indicator of your stress level. The first thing that has to be done is to de-stress oneself and understand the underlying cause of the problem. Most stress situations can be combated and worked at. A doctor or a counselor should suggest the corrective measures or if medical intervention is needed. So, uninstall the word ‘Stress’ from the motherboard of your life.

Is your headache Migraine?

Most of us often experience head pain. What is a head pain? Sometimes, the symptom of a pain is felt in the areas of the head and neck. Head pain can be caused due to several reasons such as migraine, stress and tension related headache and due to cold. Though a normal headache is not treated seriously it often hampers our energy potential and efficiency to work.  A frequent occurrence of head pain can affect your professional life and as well as relationships. Sometimes, the risk of depression increases due to the severe and frequent head pain. The most important thing for the treatment is the identification of the category of your headache. Otherwise, you cannot prevent this type of health hazard.

 

What is migraine and what are the causes?

As we have stated earlier, there are different causes why we experience head pain. How will you identify if your problem is related to migraine? Most of the common symptoms of migraine include vomiting, nausea, numbness or tingling, difficulty in speaking, sensitivity to light and sound but there are other symptoms also which vary from person to person. A migraine may occur genetically where some particular genetic components are responsible for it. During recent research, this fact has been found. There is no such age limit. It can affect you at any age and at your younger age too.

The period of an attack can vary from individual to individual and according to the severity of your symptoms. In general, it lasts for at least four hours. You have to visit your physician or hospital if you cannot get over even after four days of the migraine attack.

There are different phases of a migraine attack. Sometimes, you can experience the attack even without the head pain. This type of attack is known as “silent migraine” and medically referred to as acephalgic migraine.

 

How will you differentiate migraine from a regular headache?

It is still debatable whether migraine is a neurological disorder or a neurological disease. It also can affect you without head pain. So, it is not just a regular headache, it includes different devastating neurological symptoms. In general, migraine head pain occurs on one side of the head and throbbing in nature. Therefore, migraine pain is quite different from the regular symptoms caused by the common cold and cough where people experience delicate discomforts related to the head.

 

Why is sinus different from migraine?

Some people often are confused between the symptoms of migraine and sinus. More than 90% cases, migraine is misdiagnosed as sinus. Whereas the pain related to migraine is associated with facial and forehead pressure, runny nose and nasal congestion, the symptoms of the sinus are related to the blocked and filled sinuses crammed with fluid and other bacterial growth.

What is the definition of sinus or sinus infection? It is the swelling or an inflammation of the tissues lining the sinuses. Normally, a healthy sinus is filled with air. Due to some reasons, these sinuses are blocked or filled with fluid and germs which can cause infection further. Then you will experience discomfort and problems.

 

Reasons for sinus blockage:

  • Sometimes, the common cold causes sinus blockage.
  • Allergies rhinitis which swells on the lining of your nose.
  • Nasal polyps or small growth particles in the lining of the nose.
  • A deviated septum – a change in your nasal cavity.
  • Due to the sensitivity and allergic tendency to a particular chemical, a sinus infection may happen.
  • Immune system deficiency can cause sinus infections. Sometimes, a certain type of medication can also decrease your natural immunity power. People in this condition may suffer from sinus infections.

 

 

How many types of sinus infections may occur?

According to the severity of your infection, sinus can be classified as the following:

Acute sinus: It can start with the common symptoms of cold and cough such as the stuffy and runny nose, head and facial pain. Normally, you have to suffer for 2-4 weeks.

Sub acute sinus: It lasts for 4 to 12 weeks.

Chronic infection: This type of chronic sinus infection or sinusitis will make you suffer for more than 12 weeks.

Infected sinus: It occurs multiple times a year.

 

How will you get a complete revival from severe head pain, migraine and sinus?

When you get a severe migraine attack you wish to do whatever to get over this problem. If you have a serious attack which lasts for more than 4 days, then you need to follow a proper prescription suggested by a specialist doctor. But you can avoid, prevent or at least lower down the duration and the severity with the help of natural home remedies.

 

Cool down with an ice pack: Place an ice pack on your forehead or you can substitute it with a piece of wet cloth. It works whatever the actual reason is. Maybe it can reduce blood flow to relax your muscles.

 

Caffeine: You can have a cup of tea or coffee to get some mild relief. It will absorb fatigue and provide you energy thus you will feel lower pain in your head.

 

Oil massage: you can use lavender oil as a migraine oil to get relief from the head pain by inhaling it or simply massaging it on your forehead. It will relax your tissues and muscles. If you don’t have lavender, you can choose peppermint oil which contains menthol. You can apply and massage with peppermint oil or any menthol solution on the forehead and temples. It is more effective than any of the popular painkillers that you always take during your migraine and sinus attacks.

Acupressure: You can opt for acupressure therapy. On the particular points of your body, a specialist will apply pressure with the finger. It surely will give you relief from severe migraine and sinus. A proper acupressure can help you to overcome nausea caused by migraine.

 

Folk remedy with feverfew: It is flowering herb which is used for years to prevent the symptoms of migraine and to get relief from the pain. Though it is not established scientifically yet, experienced people say it reacts positively to lower down the discomfort level and the duration of the pain.

Now you know the difference between migraine pain and normal headache, you have to keep in mind, a severe stage of head pain, migraine and sinus infection should only be treated medically along with a properly prescribed medicine.

Why do we procrastinate and what can we do about it?

Procrastination is a common behavioral problem that we all deal with every now and then. Some people are so seriously affected by this procrastination problem that it becomes the biggest hurdle in fulfilling their goals and disrupts their career and personal life.

Sometimes, you may have something important on your plate and you may even want to get started on your task, but you just can’t and use every excuse in the world to put off those tasks.

Do you often feel a need for something to motivate you or raise your spirits? If you want to beat the bad habit of procrastination, and get your tasks done on time, then you have come to the right place. Here are some strategies that will help you power through the procrastination and get some stuff done.

 

Reduce your stress factors

Anxiety related procrastination is a very common problem for people suffering with anxiety disorders. Well, you can’t change the world around you, so removing all the stress factors from life is not possible, but you can surely try to manage it better and eliminate some of the regular causes of anxiety and stress

With effective medical treatment, support, and proper guidance, you can learn ways to change your mindset and move forward in life. Once you bring down your anxiety level, it will eventually help you in overcoming anxiety-related procrastination.

 

Develop your own tactics

 You can successfully deal with stress and stress related procrastination if you use mindfulness techniques like meditation and pranayam etc. Several psychiatric research and studies show that these mindfulness techniques are very effective in coping with physical and emotional symptoms of your anxiety.

Light stretching exercises and some simple yoga moves can also aid in reducing anxiety and stress level by affecting the body’s biochemistry. Massage therapy can be effective for insomnia, stress, anxiety and several types of behavioral problems like procrastination etc. Massage increases your oxytocin and serotonin levels, which in turn helps in alleviating negative impact of stress and anxiety from your body.

 

Prioritize your tasks

The pressure of handling too many tasks and daily activities in a short period of time can be very stressful for anyone. It makes you feel burdened and your mind starts looking for excuses to avoid those activities.

 So in order to de-clutter your mind, you should prioritize every big and small task; then work hard and push yourself to accomplish your high priority tasks first. When you list down your goals on a piece of paper, you unconsciously force yourself to do it. This trick works for not just long-term goals, but short-term goals, too. Focus on big tasks instead of using little tasks to procrastinate big ones. Realize that these smaller tasks are important and valuable, but they shouldn’t become a reason for delaying the most important work.

 

Make time for regular exercise

If stress on the job is interfering with your efficiency and making you a habitual procrastinator, then it’s time to think seriously about it. No matter how stressful your job is, there are a variety of activities that you can do to reduce your stress levels and refresh your mind.

When you feel overburdened, lose confidence and feel less motivated, take some time out for aerobic exercise or zumba to raise your heart rate and to  make yourself sweat. It is a hugely popular and effective way of lifting mood and bringing the focus back on work. Just 30 minutes of daily rhythmic movement like walking, jogging or dancing etc. can relax both your mind and body.

Don’t hesitate to take a quick break and move away from the stressful situation for a few minutes; just a fun chat with your colleague or even a trip to the water cooler or coffee machine can help you recover your balance.

 

Take massage therapy or aromatherapy

Don’t forget that relaxation therapies are extremely important to reduce stress and refresh your body and mind so that you can correctly handle your daily life challenges. A 60-minute soothing massage therapy may help you relax and get the focus back on important tasks. Your body and mind needs time to recharge, revive, and just float away. What could be a better way of pampering yourself than getting a full body oil massage or aromatherapy at your favorite spa? During your massage session, don’t think about all the activities that need to be completed, set aside your to-do list, and just concentrate on quieting your mind and relaxing the body.

 

Make time for yourself

With so many responsibilities and obligations, you may find it difficult to take some time out for things that you really enjoy. It is important to realize that you can tackle anxiety and anxiety-related procrastination better if you make an effort to relax your body and mind. Instead of sitting idle in front of TV or laptop on weekends, try to pick up a hobby like writing, reading, biking, painting, or cooking etc.

 Do something that you love to do; it will give you satisfaction and motivation to accomplish your goals. Many psychiatric research studies have come to a conclusion that stress at work is, by far, the major source of procrastination and other behavioral problems.

 

 

Eat more green vegetables and fruits

 All parts of our body like the brain, heart, and liver require energy to function properly and this energy comes from the food we consume.  So, the best way to keep your body energized and active is to give yourself the best food possible. Scientists claim that your food plays an important role in deciding your mood which explains why you feel sluggish after a big lunch or dinner.

We all know that green leafy vegetables are good for us; they provide loads of vitamins, fibers and antioxidants. Fresh vegetables and fruits are full of nutrients that refresh your tired body and mind. Similarly, fruits are also loaded with natural sugar that offers a punch of energy to your exhausted mind. You can simply rely on a healthy natural diet with fruits and vegetables to get rid of fatigue related procrastination.

In addition to all of this, you need to take time for your skin and health. After all, our skin reflects our health. When you are stressed and overworked, your skin becomes dull, dark spots appear, and you may experience pain in your body. Take some time from your busy schedule to take care of your skin.

Lifestyle changes after the age of 30

It is true that the lifestyle you follow in your thirties reflects how healthy you would be in your sixties. Although you may not look or feel much different than you did a few years ago, your body keeps changing bit by bit. Health problems, especially lifestyle-related ones, start coming up after you turn 30.

Due to today’s fast life a lot of people who are in their thirties suffer from Back Pain and Joint Pains. Depression and anxiety is also pretty common, hence it is important to take care of your mental health.

There is a stigma attached with the thirties age line that once you reach the thirties you are no longer considered young. The truth is that the feeling of being young or old is a state of mind. Making a few changes to one’s lifestyle will lead to a healthier and happier life. So, here are the certain lifestyle changes to make before blowing those 30 candles on the cake.

 

Eat healthy: This may sound dubious but is an obvious truth. Thirties is the high time when you need to start eating healthy. It cannot be stressed enough that following a Healthy Diet is extremely important to live a healthy life. Everything that you read in magazines, newspapers, web articles and blogs is very true and you should make this change when you step in your thirties.

Cut down on those extra calories, fats, carbohydrates, sugar and everything that is harmful for your health. Always avoid junk food, those pizzas may taste delicious, but they are really bad for your health. Try to eat more protein, vitamins and minerals loaded food. Follow a well-balanced healthy diet rich in protein, vitamins and low in saturated fats. Include a lot of greens, fruits and vegetables in your diet. So, make a Healthy Diet regime and eat accordingly.

 Regular Exercise: If you had no workout routine previously, then make a new regime and start following it religiously. Exercising on a regular basis would help you stay fit and young. You will definitely be more energetic and full of zest. No matter how busy your life is, you can always take some time to exercise. Even 30 minutes of daily exercise can do wonders, both for your body and your mind.

If you don’t want to work out at the gym, then running and Stretching are good options. Simple measures such as taking the stairs instead of the lift will also help. Moderate exercise will help you get rid of even the slightest Back Pain or Joint Pain. Always remember, Motion is the Best Lotion.

 

Get rid of bad habits: Since you are not in your twenties anymore, your body may not be able to handle that binge drinking sessions like it had earlier. Same goes with smoking. If you are a frequent drinker or a chain smoker, then you need to cut back. Try to get rid of all the bad habits. If you can’t stop smoking completely, then cut down slowly on the number of cigarettes. Cigarettes come with a warning. Do read the warning every time you take out one from the packet. It may help to wake up your conscience.  Also, try to limit your drinking sessions to once a week or on special occasions.

 

 

Get enough sleep: Getting enough sleep is really important for your overall health. Besides giving you ugly dark circles, lack of sleep can stop you from functioning properly. Try to get a minimum of 6-8 hours of sleep daily. Do not compromise on your sleep unless it is a need of the hour situation. Getting sound sleep will keep you fresh and energetic throughout the day. If you have trouble falling asleep, then have a cup of chamomile tea before hitting the bed at night. Also, refrain from using mobile phones, tabs, computers and laptops at bedtime. Read a book instead.

Getting an ayurvedic massage like Shirodhara will induce a good night sleep. Shirodhara is nothing but a gentle massage on your forehead through a continuous flow of warm ayurvedic oil.

 Indulge in some ‘me’ time: It is really important to follow this point. Indulge in quality ‘me’ time, twice a week. You can do anything that you enjoy doing. Pamper yourself by getting a Spa Massage or a Body Massage once in a fortnight. You could also go for a movie or read a book. You could even start pursuing a new hobby. Basically, make sure to do something that you enjoy and makes you happy and stress free.

 

 Get regular health check-up: It is an old but a wise saying – Prevention is better than cure. It is a wise idea to get a full body check-up done annually after you enter your thirties and half yearly after you enter forties. This will help you diagnose your health problems, if any, at an early stage.

For women, it is recommended to get a mammogram done every year. It is proved in various studies that diagnosing breast cancer early reduces the risk of dying from the disease by 25% to 30%.

Most of the health problems arise from a bad lifestyle or poor mental health. To overcome mental health problems, visit a spa and take a membership plan. Go for de-stress therapy and make sure that you stick to your plan.

 

 Pursue what you love: Following your passion is the best thing you could ever do. If you are not satisfied with your job, then thirties is the perfect time to quit and start exploring your passion.

Even if you are happy with your job but that’s not your passion, take time out of your schedule and pursue what you really love. Travel to new places, cities, countries, meet new people, explore new cultures, take pictures, paint, go hiking, take dancing lessons, write a book; just do whatever that makes you truly happy.

Pursuing your heart and hobby is one of the most significant lifestyle changes that should be made when you are in your thirties. By doing this you will get to know yourself better and will be at peace with yourself.

 

Start loving yourself: Loving yourself is necessary especially when you hit your thirties. A lot of people start getting depressed thinking that they are getting older and they can’t have fun like before. So avoid all the negative thoughts and learn to love yourself. In order to do that you have to first believe in yourself and bring back confidence in yourself. Be proud of your appearance, your mind, ambitions and dreams. Don’t get affected by any criticism and love yourself wholly.

Be content: There is nothing wrong in wanting to be more successful. It is good to try to achieve more and grow more. However, you should be content with what you already have. You should stay happy in every situation and under every circumstance. This will bring inner peace and satisfaction.