Having trouble reading this? View this newsletter online here
about me
Penny has been practising massage since 1987 and Herbal Medicine since 1996. She has also taught massage since 1989. Penny's commitment to you is to make a difference to your health and wellbeing.
links
- Penny's website
- Penny's blog
- Testimonials
- Contact Penny
- Past newsletters

HOUSEKEEPING

To let you know the clinic will be closed from Monday 30 June till Sunday 6 July and will reopen on Monday 7 July. 

This issue covers :

  • Improving your microcirculation to give you better health and
  •  the use of massage to help asthma and associated breathing issues

Improving Microcirculation and Health

So what is microcirculation, you may well ask? It consists of all your small blood vessels. They are important for circulating, blood, nutrients and oxygen to your tissues.
 
So it follows, that if these small blood vessels are impaired, or do not function properly this will impact on tissue function and the appearance of disease. Microvascular diseases include:
  • Overweight/obesity
  • Diabetes
  • Hypertension
  • Sleep disorders
  • Venous insufficiency( varicose veins and restless legs)
  • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
  • Kidney disease
  • Intervertebral disc damage
  • Osteoarthritis and gout
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
So how can we increase microcirculation to these organs?
  • We need to improve the function of the endothelium – this is a layer of cells that line blood vessels and its function is to regulate the contraction of smooth muscle round blood vessels and the interaction of the blood vessel wall with the circulating blood. So how do we do this?
-       Cut down our high levels of fat and sugar in our diet as these can decrease endothelial function by making its surface like sand paper and thus decrease blood flow.
- Use herbs which improve the function of the endothelium such as:
-       Grape seed extract
-       Fresh garlic
-       Raw, juiced or baked beetroot. Beetroot is very high in nitrates and these greatly improve endothelial health, microcirculation and blood pressure.
-       Ginkgo
-       Gotu Kola
-       Cucurmin( turmeric)
-       Green tea
-       Cocoa. You can actually eat small amounts of dark chocolate!
-       Fish oils
 
Use the diet called ‘The 5 point dietary Plan’.
1.     Boost dietary nitrate: with green leafy vegetables and beetroot as a  juice, grated or in a supplement
2.     Increase cocoa intake – 85% chocolate, 20g per day
3.     50-100g /day of berries such as blueberries, blackberries and strawberries
4.     Eat fresh, raw crushed garlic: ½ - 1 clove/day
5.     Herbs and spices: 3-4 cups /day of green tea and turmeric and ginger.
A sixth one would be onions which help to counteract the scouring of the endothelium by fats and sugars in the diet.
 
Below are examples of where herbs, supplements and the above diet can really help.
a) Disc injury
b) Retinopathy
c) Varicose veins, restless legs
d) Kidney disease
 

Masage, Asthma and Breathing Pattern Issues

If you suffer from asthma the chances are you will probably hyperventilate, which may trigger an attack. Even if you are recovering from a chest infection you may be hyperventilating too.
 
So what is hyperventilation? This is a pattern of over breathing where you are breathing at more than 10-14 breaths a minute when resting. You are using your upper ribs to breathe with instead of your whole rib cage and the abdomen.  It can be initiated and maintained by anxiety, fear, resentment or anger. And, it can cause muscular aches and pains, sweating, chest pains, palpitations and a dry mouth.
 
This is where massage comes in. Because, if you have these abnormal breathing patterns many of your neck, shoulder and chest muscles will be extremely tight. Round shoulders and a forward neck posture are often a pointer to abnormal breathing patterns.
 
So, when I do a treatment, I will now be looking at breathing patterns. I will then massage the appropriate muscles first and then help you to do abdominal breathing at the end of the treatment.


QUOTE OF THE QUARTER



'Your attitude determines how you experience the world'-from Living with Joy' by Sanaya Roman.



Have a great winter and I will write to you in spring.



Penny Wade



Remedial Massage Therapist and herbalist



Naremburn



02 9436-0306
 
*|REWARDS|*

*|LIST:DESCRIPTION|*

Unsubscribe *|EMAIL|* from this list.

Our mailing address is:
*|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|*

© Copyright 2014. All rights reserved. Penny's Natural Health.