Nick Mutt asked:


Massage therapy is no doubt an effective natural therapy that has tremendous healing properties. To get maximum benefit from this therapy you should know the principles of massage therapy and do’s and don’t while doing massage. Touch is both healing and comforting and what’s more you can enjoy the pleasure of it – both giving and receiving. Massage improves blood circulation; calms the nervous system; stimulates skin function; improves muscle tone and eases aches and pains in muscles and joints.

The basic principles of massage

Massage is a way of stroking the body, with variations in the length and depth of strokes. However, you should always direct firm strokes towards the heart, as this will be beneficial to the circulation.

Long flowing massage strokes with little pressure on the body are the most soothing and relaxing. This type of movement is called gentle, even pressure and is often used to start and finish a massage.

Patting or tapping the skin with your fingers quickly and slowly is stimulating and helps to increase blood flow. This is called tapotement. It is usually done on small areas such as the forehead, cheeks and neck.

Petrissage involves squeezing and releasing a muscle or part of a muscle group. A good example of this kind of movement is kneading dough. It is mostly done with both hands, particularly on the thighs and buttocks. Petrissage helps strengthen muscle fiber, remove waste products and ease fatigue.

There’s another type of massage movement called friction which creates just that. It involves rubbing the hands backwards and forwards across an area and is very warming and stimulating to the tissues.

Do’s and don’ts

Massage is a gentle healing art suitable for everyone from babies to the very elderly. Note the below points while doing massage -

Do not massage

• Any infected area

• A person who is feverish or has a raised temperature

• Over an area where varicose veins are present

• Over any unusual swelling or inflammation

• Bruised or broken skin

Before massaging do

• Check with the person about to be massaged whether any of the above apply

• Make sure the room is warm enough

• Warm your hands before massaging

Hope this article will help you to know the basic information about massaging in the right way!

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Read more about aromatherapy, ayurveda, yoga and massage therapy at Natural cures website. Read the benefits of herbal brain tonic, Brahmi to increase memory and concentration. Also know the benefits of anti-aging herb Amla.

Francis Githinji asked:


A chubby **** is a girl who has a bit of weight on her. Being big is not just caused by overeating and lack of exercise. It is also caused by health problems as well as other complications. If you find yourself chubby, it is not time to **** the person you are. It is time to ask yourself what you can do to make your life better. There are very many things you can do to ensure you get back in shape. There are no new ways or hidden secrets, the road to getting fit will involve hard work, determination and commitment. Being big or overweight can land you in more problems than you can imagine. You are not only at risk of developing chronic diseases like diabetes but, you might suffer from a poor image of yourself, it is therefore paramount to ensure that you keep in mind all you have to gain when you decide to loose the weight.

This is not to dismiss all the girls who are chubby; there are many ***** who are fit and healthy. Therefore, judge your case as an individual and, if you are at risk of the things I have mentioned above, it is better to plan for weight lose. A chubby **** can loose the weight and get the figure she has been yearning for with the right weight loss plan. There has been talk about the simplest way to get in shape. Do not be ignorant, keep in mind there are no quick fixes and if there are, they are not worth your sweat because they are not good enough. Therefore, look for a plan that sounds realistic to you. First, you have to consider what you take in. The saying, you are what you eat could not be more true. Do not sleep with chocolate bars and expect to be in shape. Employ moderation and know the right stuff for your body. We have so much information that we do not use. Therefore, the lesson that fruits and vegetables are good for you will not be repeated forever. You either decide to follow what is good or you do not. When you decide to eat more vitamins and whole meal foods, you will not only improve your metabolism but, you will feel better.

Junk food never goes well in your system if you take it exclusively. This is enough to show you what your body needs. Every chubby **** needs to heed to this advice. The following are some of the things that a chubby **** can do to loose the extra weight. Little things like chewing slowly go a very long way. There are many girls who do not savor their food. You need to let it stay longer in the mouth for proper digestion. Have a habit of drinking plenty of water which is clean. This way, your cells will be replenished and cleansed. If you find yourself in a restaurant, order something healthy. Sometimes, the healthy stuff never seems to taste as great but, this is just a poor attitude. Engage in routine exercise so that you can burn the extra fat. Being active will also help you digest the food you have eaten better. With the above pointers, you will no longer be a chubby **** again.

Sushil Kumar Singh Raghav asked:


Did you know that 17.4 percent of teenagers in the U.S. in the ages 12 to 19 are overweight? Adult Type 2 diabetes and heart disease are now being reported among teenagers, all the more reason for teenagers to be vigilant with their health. Moreover, sexually active teenagers face even more health risks than those that do not engage in sexual activity yet. Alcohol and substance abuse and smoking, eating disorders, depression, and sexually transmitted diseases are some of the most common health issues among teenagers.

To stay healthy, a teenager should avoid smoking any type of tobacco product. Another health advice is to avoid second hand cigarette smoke. A tobacco user teen is more likely to get heart disease, cancer or stroke in his/her adult age compared to nonuser. Avert alcohol and substance abuse. It usually starts with experimentation until the drug grabs hold of your mind and you become addicted.

Perhaps more common to teenage girls, a teen wants skinny body like ones she sees on the media. This ********* addiction to media leads to eating disorder, anorexia (intense fear of being fat) and bulimia (vomiting to abort the digestion of food ingested), which poses serious health problem among 1% of American teens; it can kill. If you have symptoms of anorexia and bulimia, don’t ignore it. Ask help from your parents or any authority you trust to help you quit this potentially deadly habit. Although support groups can help; however, kicking this deadly habit may require seeing a trained therapist.

Another teen health problem to watch is depression. It can be triggered by something as simple as not making the football team or the cheer leading squad. If you feel lazy, sad, and sometimes hopeless; or worse, if you feel suicidal, then you might be suffering from depression. This is a serious problem that you need to address immediately by talking to your parents or your guidance councilor. Talking to your peers about it may not be as good a solution because they may not know on how to handle depression, worse if they themselves are suffering depression too. Talk to your parents, teachers, or any authority you feel comfortable confiding with.

Sexually transmitted disease (STD) is a problem among sexually active teenagers. Some STDs such as Hepatitis can even be contracted by mere kissing. Teenagers already active in *** must visit their school nurse’s office and ask him/her the repercussions of sexual ***********. If your parents are open to this discussion, you should talk to them about it too. Obtain brochures and pamphlets on safe *** to educate yourself everything you need to know about the health issues of ***. Teenage pregnancy, which in itself has emotional, social, and health ramifications, is a great possibility among sexually active teenagers.

Perhaps the best way to stay healthy and fit is to maintain a habit of good, well balanced diet, and exercise. Stay at bay from eating fatty foods and trans-fatty acids to avoid problems such as diabetes and obesity leading to heart problems. Joining sports and other outdoor activity is a fun way to exercise and to stay fit.

Nick Mutt asked:


Aromatherapy is a complimentary therapy that helps to restore the body and mind to a balanced, healthy state, using healing essences extracted from plants, shrubs and trees.

In aromatherapy these essences are usually applied to the body by way of a gentle massage, although they can be used effectively in many other ways. Apart from their healing powers, these aromatherapy plant essences exude powerful scents which have an effect on the memory and sensory nerves. As a result, aromatherapy treats the whole person, both mind and body. It is a very helpful way of treating the stress-related problems that many of us seem to suffer now that our lives have become so pressured.

Health benefits of aromatherapy –

Aromatherapy helps us to keep healthy by improving the circulation, soothing the nervous system, reducing waste products and lessening the effects of stress. It can to help chronic conditions such as migraine, eczema, rheumatism and sinus problems, offering more relief to some sufferers than others. Obviously, there are acute conditions which you wouldn’t treat with aromatherapy, such as heart attacks and appendicitis.

Aromatherapy oils which are safe to use if used with care are – benzoin, bergamot, black peeper, clary sage, camomile, sweet funnel, frankincense, jasmine, lavender, ginger, marjoram, geranium, eucalyptus, grapefruit, tea tree, lemongrass.

Four common aromatherapy oils –

Lavender – Lavender is one of the most versatile aromatherapy oils of all and is even safe to use neat on the skin. It helps all sorts of problems, from burns to headaches, is great for relieving tension and is naturally antiseptic and soothing.

Eucalyptus – This is very helpful oil for all respiratory problems – coughs, colds, catarrh and flu. If used in a vaporizer or burner it keeps germs at bay, so can protect other members of your family from common viruses.

Camomile – This is calming, soothing oil. It is helpful for itchy rashes and dry skin conditions, and because it is sedative, it is useful for encouraging sleep and relaxation.

Tea tree – This is a fantastic antiseptic and anti-fungal treatment. Use it to clean up cuts and grazes and to treat such irritating problems as thrush and athlete’s foot.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Read more about aromatherapy, ayurveda, yoga and massage therapy at Natural cures website – a health guide to make you and your family live better, fit and healthy. Also read the benefits of anti-aging herb Shilajit and stress relieving herb Ashwagandha.