Massage Professionals Article Archive

CST for Breastfeeding Blues
By Brandi Schlossberg
MASSAGE MAGAZINE

Breastfeeding can boost babies' intelligence; help prevent asthma; protect from infections and high blood pressure later in life; and reduce new mothers' stress levels, according to medical experts.

With all these benefits and more, it's no wonder that many moms choose to breastfeed their infants. But what happens if the process is too problematic or painful to continue? Instead of turning to breast pumps or formula, some new mothers are relying on CranioSacral Therapy (CST) to solve the breastfeeding blues.

The technique, pioneered by osteopathic physician John Upledger, is a hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the craniosacral system, which consists of the membranes and cerebospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. Practitioners aim to release restrictions in the craniosacral system, using pressure about the weight of a nickel, to improve the functioning of the central nervous system and the body's overall ability to heal itself.

"I was willing to try anything," said Michelle Biagi, of Powell, Ohio, who suffered painful nipple compression from feeding her 3-month-old daughter, Brooke. "I wasn't willing to believe my [obstetrician], who said that not every baby can breastfeed."

Biagi began using a breast pump but continued to search for a solution that would allow Brooke to breastfeed naturally. A lactation consultant recommended that she see Alison Hazelbaker, a CranioSacral Therapist and lactation consultant in Columbus, Ohio.

Hazelbaker, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant since 1985, began using CST as a primary modality in her practice after watching it work wonders on her own baby's problematic breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding difficulties may arise from a variety of factors, said Hazelbaker, such as misalignment, improper tongue placement, tongue thrusting or tight mouth, and can result in extreme pain for the mother, as well as insufficient calorie intake and irritability for the baby.

Althoug CST does not solve all sucking dysfunctions, Hazelbaker said there are some, such as misalignment, which respond particularly well.

During a session, Hazelbaker performs CST on the infant, and improvements are almost immediately visible, she said, although it may take up to six sessions to completely solve the problem.

"After my third session is when I really started to notice a big difference," said Biagi. "As her suck changed, I was out of pain."

After years of such success stories, Hazelbaker decided to document her work in hope of spreading the word. She is now working to publish a 40-page study she conducted on a sample of 20 clients, called "Impact of CranioSacral Therapy on Sucking Dysfunction as Measured by the Neonatal Oral Motor Assessment Scale."

"In every case where the sucking dysfunction was due to misalignment, CranioSacral Therapy eliminated it," she said. "That's 100 percent of the time."

Biagi, too, is spreading the word to new moms about an alternative to breast pumps or formula for painful breastfeeding. She is writing an article about CST for a local new-mothers' newsletter.

"I truly believe CranioSacral Therapy was the only thing that got Brooke to breastfeed," said Biagi. "More moms whould know about this."

March is DVT Awareness Month
Tiffany Limtanakool
APHA. 2007; ©2007 American Public Health Association

Introduction
March is national Deep-Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month, a public health initiative aimed at raising awareness of this commonly occurring medical condition and its potentially fatal complication, pulmonary embolism. According to the American Heart Association, up to 2 million Americans are affected annually by DVT, more commonly known as blood clots. Yet, most Americans (74 percent) have little or no awareness of DVT, according to a national survey sponsored by the American Public Health Association.

Leading medical, public health and patient advocacy groups are sponsoring the observance and are working to increase awareness of the signs, symptoms and risk factors of DVT. All health professionals can help by learning more about the condition and the options available for treatment and prevention.

About DVT
There are two types of veins: deep and superficial. Deep veins are large and surrounded by muscle in the center of a limb. DVT occurs when a thrombus (blood clot) forms in the deep vein, most often in the leg, resulting in partially or completely blocked circulation.

Symptoms of DVT can include swelling, pain, discoloration and abnormally hot skin at the affected area. Unfortunately, nearly half of DVT episodes have minimal, if any, symptoms. These "silent" afflictions are particularly worrisome. Adding to the complication, some conditions such as muscle strain, skin inflection, phlebitis - inflammation of veins - have similar symptoms, making DVT harder to diagnose. The most accurate ways to diagnose DVT are through venous ultrasound, venography and Impedance plethysmography - detection via electrodes and blood pressure cuff placed on the patient's calf and thigh.

While DVT below the knee is unlikely to cause serious complications, clots above the knee can break off and travel up the bloodstream, resulting in a blocked blood vessel in the lung (pulmonary embolism). Other consequences are damaged blood vessels leading to blood pooling, swelling and pain in the leg, and in the most severe cases with large clots, death.

Certain individuals are more at risk for deep-vein thrombosis than others. Those with prior DVT, obesity, stroke, pregnancy, undergoing major surgery, over the age of 65 and those who are confined to long periods of immobility via travel or bed rest are more likely to be afflicted. According to the American Medical Association, approximately 2 million people suffer from DVT each year, more than the annual amount affected by heart attack or stroke.

What Can Be Done?
One of the best ways to combat DVT is through prevention. For example, fatal PE may be the most common preventable cause of hospital death in the United States; without prevention treatment, nearly 60 percent of patients undergoing total hip replacement surgery will get DVT. Practicing a healthy lifestyle is the easiest way to maintain good circulation and ward off DVT. Getting 30 minutes of daily exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding long periods of inactivity are recommended. Travelers should avoid alcohol and sleeping pills, keep hydrated, move their legs when possible and wear graded compression stockings if they feel that they could be at risk for DVT. Patients preparing for surgery should discuss preventive measures with their doctor.

DVT is not entirely preventable: thrombus clots may still form even after following all of the guidelines mentioned above. By following a healthy lifestyle and taking precautions, however, the chance of getting DVT is greatly reduced.

For more information about DVT Awareness Month, visit http://www.preventdvt.org. To read a white paper about DVT from the American Public Health Association, see http://www.apha.org/news/press/2003/DVT_whitepaper.pdf

Recommended Study
Deep Vein Thrombosis

Quick Relief for the Chair Potato
By Karen Voight
LOS ANGELES TIMES

Do you find yourself spending more and more of your day sitting in a chair? This position often contributes to that stiff back and sore neck you feel at the end of your day or after prolonged sitting. Here is a quick stretch that you can do in a chair with armrests. It helps loosen tight muscles and relieve tension stored in your upper back and neck.

1. Sit near the front of your chair seat. Make sure that your knees are directly over your ankles and that your feet are not tucked underneath the chair. Lift your heels and squeeze your inner thighs together. Cross your arms in front of you, reaching the opposite armrest with each hand.

2. On an exhale, pull your navel in toward the back of your chair. Round your entire back and spread your shoulder blades apart as much as you can. Drop your chin toward your chest. Relax while you breathe deeply for six to eight breaths. Repeat as often as possible throughout the day.

Bad city air boosts kids' risk of cancer
By Rivka Bukowsky and Paul H.B. Shin
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Toxics spewed from tailpipes and factory smokestacks can damage the genes of fetuses in the womb, raising a child's risk of getting cancer later in life, a new study among New York City newborns shows.
Columbia University researchers tracked 60 pregnant women and measured the amount of pollutants they were exposed to, using backpack air monitors.

When their babies were born, researchers found about 50% more genetic abnormalities in infants whose mothers had higher levels of exposure to toxics caused by burning fuels such as gas and coal, researchers said yesterday.

Though the study was conducted in low-income neighborhoods in Harlem and the Bronx, the findings sent a clear warning for any pregnant woman in a bustling city.

"We already knew that these air pollutants significantly reduce fetal growth, but this is the first time we've seen evidence that they can change the structure of chromosomes in [the womb]," said Dr. Frederica Perera, director of Columbia's Center for Children's Environmental Health.

"These pollutants are very pervasive in the urban environment, so we have no reason to think the results are not relevant to other populations in urban areas," she said.

The sobering study was particularly worrying for people in Harlem and the South Bronx, who already suffer from high childhood asthma rates.

"It's hard to walk down the street and not constantly smell ... fumes from the cars," said Nathania Hall, 33, who lives in Harlem and has a 2-week-old daughter, Francoise. "You're kind of wondering how safe it is for the baby."

Community advocates have long charged that low-income neighborhoods have an unfair share of polluters, such as power plants and bus depots.

Jamila Banks, 24, who lives in the Bronx with her two daughters, Jaela, 4, and Jani, 2, said the latest study is more reason for such communities to fight back. "You can't just put anything and everything in our neighborhoods," Banks said.

The findings, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, point to the need for stricter government standards for polluters in cities, and not just in low-income areas, Perera said.

Because the study involved only a relatively small number of participants, however, researchers were unable to determine a "safe" exposure level that did not cause damage to chromosomes, which carry a person's genetic code, or DNA.

New hope for IBS
PRIMEDIA Intertec and Gale Group

The popular yellow curry ingredient, turmeric--also known as curcumin--can play a role in improving the symptoms of irritable bowel Syndrome (IBS).

In a study at the University of Readings School c Food Biosciences in Great Britan, 66 percent of participants reported definite or some improvement in their overall symptoms. The study was released to the media on October 17, 2004.

IBS is the most common disorder in gastroenterology. Symptoms include abdominal pain and discomfort and altered bowel habits.

The supplements tested contained 72 mg of dried standardized turmeric extract. If you'd rather get that from eating curried dishes, good luck. Aside from the discomfort such foods may cause IBS patients, you'd need 1,800 mg of dried turmeric root daily to equal the potency of 72 mg of the extract.

Nature's Spa - Let the Sunshine In
By Valerie Cooksley, R.N.
MASSAGE MAGAZINE

Approximately 35 million people in the United States suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a depressive state caused by lack of sunlight, typically between September and April. The farther you live from the equator, the more common it is.

SAD symptoms include difficulty getting up in the morning, lethargy, concentration problems, irritability, cravings for comfort foods (foods high in sugar, salt and fat) and external stimulants (coffee and chocolate), tearfulness, social withdrawal, diminished sex drive, low self-esteem, weight gain and depression. Symptoms fade with the onset of longer days of sunshine in the spring and summer.

For the majority of Americans, the winter months are long and dark. Holistic solutions can bring more light into your life-whether the sun cooperates or not.

Aromatherapy
SAD sufferers often have decreased levels of serotonin, a chemical produced by the pituitary gland and responsible for modulating mood, emotion, sleep and appetite, and high levels of melatonin, which regulates the body's circadian cycles of sleep and waking. Essential oils have been found to stimulate and regulate specific areas of the brain that can counteract these hormonal imbalances, and help alleviate the symptoms of SAD.

The most effective oils to counteract SAD include bergamot, frankincense, geranium, chamomile, lavender, marjoram and citrus-derived oils.

Inhalation is the most effective way to stimulate the brain and limbic system. Oils can be added to an electric diffuser, aroma lamp, room spray, or inhaled from a tissue.

Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy, in the form of an aromatic therapeutic bath, is an excellent remedy for uplifting your mood, stimulating the brain and relaxing the entire body.

If your skin is dry, which is common in the winter months, add the above essential-oil blend to one cup of organic heavy cream, and pour into a bath of warm water. Alternatively, if your skin is naturally oily, the same recipe can be added to one cup of natural sea salt, baking soda or Epsom salt.

Flower-essence therapy
Flower essences, often called Bach or Alaskan flower remedies, address the psycho-emotional aspects of well-being, and many are beneficial for the symptoms of SAD. For example, Sunflower essence stores energy from sunlight; Single Delight essence helps alleviate feelings of isolation in times of darkness; and Grass of Parnassus essence helps you receive nourishment from non-visible light.

Take a few drops under your tongue or add to a glass of water. Flower essences can be added to massage oils, lotions, creams or a bath, or dispersed through a water fountain, humidifier or in room spray.

Diet
Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids help alleviate the symptoms of depression, and are a good choice especially in the winter months. Fish and flax oils are good sources of omega-3, and can be taken in supplement form or from food sources. Iodine-rich seaweed, such as nori, wakame and dulse, supports a healthy thyroid, which also may combat depressive states such as SAD.

Exercise
Exercise and deep breathing are important for all types of stress and elevating mood. Winter is a particularly important time to hit the gym and the sauna.

Exercising outdoors will add the bonus benefit of fresh air and sunlight, even on cold, cloudy days. Vitamin D, which is manufactured in our bodies when exposed to sunlight, is essential for calcium absorption. Preliminary research also indicates that low levels of the vitamin may increase risk of breast, colon and prostate cancer, among other diseases. Vitamin D supplements or food sources do not seem to provide the adequate level of the vitamin to produce the full benefit. Take advantage of even the most diffuse light rays by taking daily walks first thing in the morning or on your lunch break and planning outdoor activities with friends and family.

Lifestyle
On a sunny day you are exposed to nearly 70,000 lux, or units of light. On cloudy days that number decreases to 5,000. Typical home or office lighting provides only 15-200 lux.

Full-spectrum lights most closely resemble natural light, and can counteract SAD. A lightbox can provide direct light up to 10,000 lux.

Painting rooms a light color, dressing windows to allow more light to filter in, and moving your desk close to a window can also help with SAD. Even gazing into a flame, such as a candle or a roaring fire, provides your eyes with beneficial luminous light energy.

SAD is a common, yet manageable, condition. With natural and integrative approaches you can counteract the diminished sunshine outside by bringing new sources of light and energy into your life, to enjoy a healthy, happy winter season.

Recommended Study
Aromatherapy Essentials