As with all drugs Ella is no different:  it has side effects, one of which is that it may cause cancerous changes in the womb and so it can only be used for a short time and once its use is stopped the fibroids seem to return. Seems a bit pointless taking it really!

I find this quite interesting, and being a remedial bodyworker makes me wonder if there is infact any form of manual therapy which might treat the condition, and prove to be effective at resolving the issue long term, without having any side effects. Researching more I came across an article entitled “Visceral Manipulation and the treatment of uterine fibroids: A case Report” by Cook K and Rasmussen which was published in the ACA Journal of Chiropractic, Dec 1992; 29 (12) 39-41.

This article makes reference to case studies of two women who were treated with a combination of Visceral Manipulation and a specific chiropractic technique called Sacro occipital technique. Having no idea what the latter was I investigated further and discovered that infact it works with the craniosacral rhythm in much the same way as cranio sacral therapy. The two case studies indicated an improvement or dissapearance of symptoms of fibroids in the condition of the women. I was quite encouraged by this and wonder if once again we shouldn’t be redirecting funds towards proving the efficacy of more natural ways of treating the bodies dysfunction, towards an idea of health without side effects. However, with many women suffering the side effects of fibroids its in the financial interest of drug companies to get their drug into use so they can make the most out of us, so though in an ideal world the alternatives ought to be a natural consideration, somehow I do not think it will happen any time soon.

I once recall treating a woman, who came to me with what we describe as a standard lumbar region back pain. After two treatments, addressing just the musculature, though she experienced a small amount of relief, the pain persisted and upon investigation the medics discovered she had fibroids. Jean Pierre Barral, the French Osteopath who developed the visceral manipulation technique always says that the muscles are a dumping ground for problems in the Viscera. In this case the viscera would be the uterus. A coincidence or actuality, we can never be sure. The beauty of visceral and cranial or myofascial work isn’t so much about diagnosis, as about communicating with the body and taking direction from it in terms of therapeutic help.

I for one am convinced, from work I do, that specific and directed hands on therapy can be an effective tool in treating fibroids and their symptoms.

Its estimated that globally in the year 2010, 285 million people were effected by diabetes and its expected that that figure will go up to 438 million by the year 2030. The largest portions of sufferers of diabetes are in India, China, The USA, Russia and Brazil.

In the UK in 2009 the documented figure for diagnosis of Diabetes was 2.6 million people and by 2025 that figure is expected to rise to 4 million. In the year 2008 alone, 145,000 people received a diagnosis. It has to be remembered that often people have the disease and dont display symptoms, so how many people go undiagnosed?

You are probably already aware that there are two main types of diabetes; Type 1, where insulin is insufficient in the blood stream and type 2, where insulin is present, even in high levels, but the body becomes insulin resistent, which means that the insulin is prevented from performing its natural function. The resistance to insulin develops into the type 2 diabetes.

At cellular level when the body detects high levels of blood glucose, cells known as beta cells in the pancreas release insulin into the blood, where it has a number of functions:
1. Converts glucose into glycogen which is stored.
2. It delivers glucose to muscle tissue for immediate use for energy production.
3. It promotes uptake of amino acids for synthesis of protein in cells;
4. Speeds fatty acid synthesis,
5. Slows the breakdown of glycogen, and
6. Slows glucose production in the liver, thus preventing blood glucose levels from spiking.

A genetic predisposition to type 2 diabetes means that a person will have abnormality of beta cells in the pancreas and despite being healthy is likely to develop the type 2 condition. Though it is generally accepted that this happens the highest occurences of type 2 diabetes occurs when people are obese and over the age of 35. An obese person that possesses thickening around the waist, and is relatively inactive, will exhibit imbalances of blood glucose and insulin levels which eventually lead to diabetes.

Cells become oversensitive and become inefficient in their response to insulin releases by the pancreas. That means that glucose levels remain higher for longer. Because the glucose level is high, more and more insulin continues to be produced by the pancreas. Initially this may not be such a problem but over time the constance presence of insulin makes the cellular response to the presence of insulin insufficent and so the blood glucose levels begin to rise unit the beta cells are unable to meet the demand placed upon them for, at which point the blood glucose levels remain high. High levels of blood glucose result in symptoms of excessive thirst, and insufficent delivery of glucose and glycogen to the the cells results in fatigue. These two symptoms are classic of type 2 diabetes.

The type 2 form of diabetes is usually referred to as “adult onset” diabetes due to it happening after the age of 35. But in modern days the problems of obesity in children is leading to an increase in type 2 diabetes in both teenagers and children. Diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and even limb amputations and its because of these extreme eventualities that in modern day the condition of diabetes is presenting the healthcare industry with such probelms and the emphasis on early diagnosis and immediate care is important.

90% of cases of diabetes are type 2 variety, compared to the type 1 variety. It is the type 1 variety that involves injection of insulin, but the type 2 variety can be treated using medication such as metformin. The function of metformin is to reduce blood glucose levels which lessens insulin production and this over time is hoped will desensitise the response to insulin. Of course this is not guaranteed. The trouble with metformin is that it has many side effects. It can leave you feeling nauseas, it can lead to immediacy of the bowels and flatulence. The symptoms are meant to subside after about 2 or 3 weeks, but flatulence can be a problem which persists.

It is possible to keep blood sugar levels down by exercising regularly, and eating a diet based on low glycaemic index foods, which permits blood sugar to be released slowly, preventing spikes in glucose levels, which the body finds it hard to cope with. Ofcourse this can ultimately lead to weight loss and it is said that exercise does do the job of insulin, therefore diet control and movement are an option. As the glucose levels are allowed to lower and stay down, does this reverse the condition of Diabetes? It is said that extremely low calorie diets coupled with exercise can do this, but how easy is it to mantain a diet of no more than 600 calories per day, in either male or female, when you consider the recommended calorie intake for a female is 1940 calories and 2550 for men. The reduction is drastic, especially when you consider that these recommendations are based on normal body energy requirements and are not reflecting exercise in ones lifestyle.

Some research indicates that an insufficiency of certain minerals can promote the resistence to insulin. These mineral will be highlighted in the next blog on the subject of Diabetes.

The best you can hope for with any intervention, is for it to either promote insulin function or lower blood sugar level..miracles are another matter and beyond the scope of this blog…anyway in attempting to look for alternatives to medication for diabetes, its a start. As I mentioned there are several ways of addressing imbalances with Manipura to help the condition of daibetes.

Yoga pranayama and yoga asanas and Yoga Nidra are three such methods:

In Hatha Yoga, there are 8 forms of pranayama.
Alternate nostril breathing, useful in diabetes due to the calming effect it has on nervous system. The result of this is to reduce stress levels, helping in diabetes treatment. During stress elevated cortisol levels promote blood sugar levels to meet the requirement of the ‘fight or flight’ state, even when there is no imminent danger. Other types of pranayama are Bhramari and Bhasrika Pranayama are helpful in diabetes. Bharamari calms the mind, the brain and nervous system. Bhasrika Pranayama increases oxygen levels whilst reducing carbon dioxide in the blood. During this pranayama abdominal muscles and diaphragm apply pressure on internal organs. A mixture of deep breathing, fast breathing, and Bandhas (Jalandhar bandha or chin lock, moola bandha and Uddiyan bandha or abdominal lock) techniques are utilitized.

Asanas or postures, when held for long periods in a state of relaxation are very beneficial in the treatment of diabetes. Yogic postures apply pressure to internal organs, and with each change of posture and hold of posture the pressure alter. The effect is to encourage blood flow and therefore oxygen reaching the organs of the body improving visceral function. Stretching of glandular structures promotes an efficient and fully functioning endocrine system.
The following postures have been found to aid in treating diabetes:

Dhanurasana (Bow pose in prone position),
Ardhamatsyendrasana (Half spinal twist),
Vajrasana Yoga Mudra,
Pavan Muktasana,
Sarvangasana,
Halasana,
Matsyasana.
These asanas when held for a good duration, with the muscles in a state of relaxation effect the pancreas in a positive manner promoting insulin functioning.

The Sun salutation is a series of yoga asanas strung together in sequence, when repeated at 4 cycles per minute the aerobic benefit of exercise can be experienced, when carried out slowly and mindfully then the sun salutation offers the diabetes sufferer the same benefits as static yogic asanas. Ashtanga yoga and vinyasa flow yoga can be of equal benefit, but its import to be aware that the whole process of yogic asanas is to promote the flow of blood. Any posture which effects that, such as crossed legged positions should be performed with caution.

Yoga Nidra is a deep relaxation, a state of conscious deep sleep, and like meditation its purpose is to promote a balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic aspects of the autonomic nervous system. In terms of the limbs of yoga they are viewed very differently. In meditation it is possible to perform omkar chanting to focus the mind on the breath and it is also possible to visualize and observe a fully functioning pancreas in order to make this the reality. The advocates the idea that you as an individual create the outcome in your existence which you desire. Unlike the feeling of helplessness, what this offers is the hope that you do have control, and at the very least can take back control over your body.

Because of the depth of relaxation in Yoga Nidra, the spiritual aspects of our being can be accessed and we open up to the universe, from which point we are able to effect a much more profound level of healing. The breathwork awareness needed for this requires massive time and effort to develop. Any of us of have even attempted deep relaxation or focus on breath know it is a skill which we are not born with, we truely have to be dedicated and work at it doggedly and remain motivated in its practice.

These methods are not as I mentioned earlier a guaranteed cure to diabetes, but they offer a degree of control and they offer us an alternative treatment, if we choose not to use the conventional methods.

At its most severe, asthma can prevent a person from leading a full life. They experience chest tightness and restictions in the capacity to breath. Even the slightest exertion can set them off. Sometimes eating certain foods, such as dairy products, can increase inflammation. Often stress is the only trigger needed. I often see asthma accompanied by allergy problems, like dust and pollen. In its mildest form a sufferer may experience coughing and slight wheezing during chest infections, but they lead a perfectly normal life otherwise.

In my clinic I sometimes work with asthma sufferers, who tire of taking steroid medication, especially when they become aware of the side effects of their regular use. I use techniques like manual lymphatic drainage massage, to help reduce the obstructive element of the condition. It is also helpful in building the immune response so that allergic reactions to pollen or dust is avoided. Craniosacral therapy helps to ease sympathetic nerve response to stress factors, internal, or external which might aggravate the condition.

There is ofcourse no miracle cure to asthma and so complementary therapy can help to keep it at bay, by addressing all or as many of the triggers to a potential attack. Easing the condition by controlling the symptoms is sometimes enough to re-establish a quality of life. Treatment for asthma is important so that the condition is not allowed to worsen. If a sufferer of asthma is mindful of their condition and takes adequate care then they can usually avoid aggravating it further.

www.touchofhealing.co.uk has a couple of articles which relate to pain “Are you in pain?” and pain. This website has a great deal of other information in way of helpful articles which help you find a better way of living, enjoy an improved quality of life. One of the aims of Touch Of Healing is to help you to find a way to a life which is more like you want it to be.

Are you in pain? then did you know that pain occurs on many levels, psychological, emotional, spiritual, and physical. For us as humans its the physical and emotional pains which we most identify with, but psychological pain could be in the form of anxiety or depression, a feeling of being overwhelmed or useless, having low self esteem. Low confidence is another form of psychological pain. Anything that obstructs or hinders your forward progress in life means that at some time or another the physical pain may over time be what you end up feeling. Of course this is conjecture, and can seem like madness, but if you sit and look back through your life and think on adversity you may have encountered, are you able to see repeated patterns of stagnation, which seem to have set you back in terms of forward and qualitative progress. Humans have a great ability to create the kinds of lives for themselves which they would describe has fullfilling and happy. some humans do it better than others and some humans need a little help and guidance.

Are you in pain? If you are, then investigate ways which might get you out of that situation, and the articles referred to earlier in this blog might be of particular use to you.

Often pain, pregnancy, money worry and systemic problems can lead to nights without sleep and people might call this insomnia. This are occasions when sleep problems can be easily remedied. Take a pain killer, wait till the baby is born, organise your finances better and maybe visit the doctor to try to alleviate the systemic problems. However, what would you do if even after following the advise of health professionals nothing worked? What would you do if the sheep counting, or the glass of warm milk made no impact?

This is not a nice situation to imagine, because sleep problems or sleep deprivation can create anxiety and depression, it can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope due to the intense fatigue suffered. In some cases people’s personalities can be changed. Insomnia and sleep problems should’nt be ignored , it really is a condition which needs to be resolved. This article called sleep problems and insomnia may be of help in finding ways to combat difficulties in sleeping. www.touchofhealing offers treatments such as craniosacral therapy and other hands on therapies, like reiki and colour healing, which induce relaxation of the mind and the body. Sometimes the body can hold an aweful lot of emotional turmoil, which we may not even be aware of, which we may only know of as tension, this can be released by treatments such as visceral manipulation or myofascial release. Using alternatives to drugs to preserve the delicate balance of mechanisms within the body, is usually of more long term benefit and often whilst dealing with the immediate issue of the insomnia, it may also achieve a satisfactory resolution to issues which might be causing the sleep problems to begin with.

We may believe that provided we make lots of money, or achieve status at work, or get the house, the spouse, the garden and the 2.4 children this is how to be happy. We tell ourselves that as long as we have health and the support of loved ones, thats how to be happy. Yet despite the presence of these things, often we feel jittery, unfulfilled, we drop everything in search of ourselves. In “Eat, Pray, Love the character does exactly that and goes off to Italy, India and the far east and finds a love interest, where it takes her a while to work out she wants to be with him. Is that how to be happy?

The Dalai Lama says that the purpose of life is to seek happiness. It is the aim of our soul or spirit and having accomplished it, according to buddhist philosophy we let go of attachment and stop suffering. So whats the formula? Where can we find the recipe and who can show us how to be happy. The answer is that there is no formula, no recipe. There is no one who can magically wave a wand and create happiness. If it were the case then the likes of Freud and his successors would have found it and we would be living happiness in our everyday lives. The truth is that for the majority of us the concept of how to be happy eludes us, but we are told that the way to find it requires constant, daily hard work. We are told that if we affirm happy thoughts, think happy thoughts, live in the now as though we were happy we would eventually create happiness, and this is essentially ‘The secret’.

Well nothing truly worth having is attained with ease. If it does come with ease we often don’t respect or value it. We go from all the modern day life coaching theories and realise that actually they take us back to the ancient concepts of visualisation, meditation, self creation and the idea of consciousness and the higher concepts of the universe. I have colleagues who live and breath this philosophy and I include myself in this and it becomes apparent that just like the climbing to the summit of a very high peak, how to be happy requires ongoing, unrelenting and steadfast determination to never stop. when we feel we have achieved one summit, its a matter of starting another climb. How to be happy is hard work, and is actually down to the individual. Happiness and how to be happy is within the realms of our creation for ourselves. No one can magic it into being for us. If we rely on others to show us how to be happy, we will inevitably be dissapointed by the expection long before we realise that they actually no more than us about how to be happy. The answer is in one place and one place alone. Look deep and work hard and continuously, even on days we think it is ours, only then will we truly know how to be happy. Check out this article about how to be a happy on www.touchofhealing.co.uk which suggests a few ways you can accomplish this goal for yourself.

When I saw him again, he came with what he thought was a once more a frozen shoulder, but this time the problem was in his right side. Myofascial Release over two treatments again made a difference and he cancelled his next appointment, but about a month later, he rang to say the problem had returned. When I treated the condition in each shoulder/arm, I worked on the assumption that the rotator cuff might have been strained, but included treatment of anterior, medial and posterior deltoids. When he returned, I did a number of assessments which included checking his craniosacral rhythm, and skeletal alignment. Looking at his upper body, what was very obvious was the medial rotation Of both sides. This indicated the possibility of a visceral lesion. So I did a general assessment, which, took me to something in his upper thorax. A number of questions revealed that 3 years earlier he had contracted pleurisy. At the time I did the assessments we had again treated just the top of the arm and shoulder, and I asked him back within another month.

I suspected that the problem would again return and he seemed to confirm to me that the problem was coming from some other area of his body. I treated the thorax using visceral therapy which involved releasing small muscles and ligaments around the collar bone and the top of the shoulder blade and chest. I also treated the breast bone and the intercostal spaces. By doing this he felt like he had a greatly improved range of movement in both arms. I would have liked to work with him alittle more to investigate the source of the shakes he was left with after the bout of pleurisy he had suffered, however, what was important was that he no longer felt pain, he was satisfied and so was not to concerned about investigating what did not at this stage bother him.

She has since become aware of a pattern of extreme neck pain and stiffness, which seems to coincide with bouts of stress she encounters at work. The pain pattern is common to whiplash injury. On two occasions, since the car accident she seems to have undergone what she felt was either a stroke or a heart attack. Each time she was rushed to hospital, but they could find nothing wrong with her. The pain in her neck was becoming really severe and she was being told to take pain killers, yet no other treatment was being offered.

When we began working together using myofascial Release techniques, I mostly stuck to the site of the pain, which brought some relief, but the problem kept re-occurring. We then began using a combination of craniosacral therapy, visceral manipulation and myofascial release, with lots of stretching techniques to open out and lengthen the fibers of the muscles in the neck. During whiplash muscular fibers in the neck become overstretched. She began to notice referred pain patterns which travelled down her back and along her right hip, down to her knee. She does feel she has arthritis and complains of bone grinding against bone in her right knee. During treatment there is tconsiderable tightness in her legs, therefore over time the pain in her neck has improved slowly, but pain and stiffness is being felt in other parts of her body. As yet we have stuck to working on the physical pain she feels, although one session of somatoemotional release, did throw emotional issues connected to insecurity and lack of certainty into the picture.

The pattern of pain coincides with each episode of stress she seems to encounter, but the symptoms can be frightening for her, making her worry that something else may be behind the pain. Obviously the worry is compounding the stress. One of the issue which effects the impact of stress is the mental awareness of the sufferer at the time of the actual accident. If they see the accident coming and have no time to react then this information of lack of control can remain locked in the psyche, which makes up part of the symptomology of whiplash.

Its been some 10 treatments and we seem to finally be getting somewhere. She has had her first week without the intense stiffness and lack of movement. For articles and further information connected to whiplash and information discussed in this bolg go to www.touchofhaling.co.uk