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With the widespread panic about the flu, many people are creating an anticipated perception of illness, or are experiencing fear and powerless. There is always an equal opportunity to allow any form of collective hysteria to act as a wake-up call to greater consciousness — within you and the planet. With the collective conscious focusing on fear and uncertainty these days, it is important to take some time to pull back our energy and focus on empowerment. During the training, we were able to discuss how to honor power, release fear, and embrace positivity. We discussed: Introduction 3: 48 - Grounding meditation 14: 00 - Honor your power 27:50 - The effects that fear has on your health 32: 20 Release fear 39:30 Guided meditation 50: 20 - Discussion We had a guided short meditation on how to release fear. You can practice this whenever you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and anxious about the current happenings. Be Healthy Academy is dedicated to helping transform lives by providing customized programs to each of its members according to their needs. It provides a balanced, holistic, and healthy approach that lets its members long-lastingly transform from within. DISCOVER, CREATE, AND TRANSFORM to the best and healthier version of YOU. Become a member now!

Ingredients: 2 large sweet potato (cut into 1/2-inch cubes) 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt and pepper 1 pound Brussels sprouts (trimmed and cut in half) 1/2 onion (large diced) 1 bell pepper (large diced) 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1 pinch cayenne pepper 4 garlic cloves (roughly chopped) 6 large eggs Steps to Make It: 1- Gather the ingredients. 2- Preheat the oven to 425 F. 3- Add the sweet potatoes to a large baking sheet. Toss them with 1 tablespoon of oil and season with salt and pepper. Spread into a single layer. Roast for 20 minutes. 4- Toss the Brussels sprouts, onion and bell pepper in the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and the paprika, cumin and cayenne pepper. Season with salt and pepper and add to the sweet potatoes. Toss together and spread out into a single layer. Roast for 15 more minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the sprouts are browned. 5- Reduce the oven temperature to 400 F. 6- Add the garlic and add the veggies to a medium, oiled cast iron skillet or leave it in the baking sheet in an even layer. 7- Crack each egg on top of the veggies evenly spaced apart and not touching the sides of the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the whites are set but the yolks are runny. Test the egg whites by poking them with a knife. Boiled Beets I added beets to the side because my husband doesn't like beets and I want a bit more vegetables. You can add it to the recipe above if you like a sweet and sour flavor. Let me know how do you like it 😉 How to make it: 1/2 pound of organic beets Cut beets in slices. Place in a pan with water (until covering the beets). Boil it for approximately 20 min or until you be able to insert a fork with ease. Remove beets from water and serve it. This is such an easy full meal recipe. It is not just quick but, it is also healthy. If you want to have more vegetables, you can add beets as a side dish. Enjoy and let me know your experience :) Use organic ingredients as often as possible. Your microbiome and your gut will thank you. Running out of healthy recipes to prepare? No worries, we have more! For more healthy recipes. Join Be Healthy Academy! Wanting to start a healthy lifestyle but, you don't know where to begin? Be Healthy Academy provides more than just healthy recipes. Be Healthy Academy is dedicated to helping transform lives by providing customized programs to each of its members according to their needs. It provides a balanced, holistic, and healthy approach that lets its members long-lastingly transform from within. DISCOVER, CREATE, AND TRANSFORM to the best and healthier version of YOU. Become a member now! “Let food be thy medicine" -Hippocrates

Ratatouille is a French Provençal stewed vegetable dish, originating in Nice. Recipes and cooking times differ widely, but common ingredients include tomato, garlic, onion, zucchini, eggplant, bell pepper, and some combination of leafy green herbs. This is an easy and healthy recipe. And taste soooo good. 😋 Ready to start? Ingredients: Your favorite tomato sauce 1 Eggplant (cut the skin out and slice in small cylinders) Shredded mozzarella cheese (regular or from almond milk) 2 zucchini (peel the skin and slice in small cylinders) 1 cup of mushroom (cut in small pieces) 1 tomato Seasoning: salt, black pepper, oregano, and Italian herbs Steps to Make it: Place tomato sauce on the 8x12 glass or metal dish until it covers the bottom. Create a layer with the zucchini's cylinders. Create a layer with the eggplant's cylinders and place the mushroom and tomato on top of the vegetables. Season with salt, black pepper, oregano, and Italian herbs 5. Top the layers with tomato sauce 6. Warm Oven at 400° 7. Bake for 30 min. 8. Add cheese on top and bake for another 5 min to melt the cheese.😋😋😋😋😋 * Tip: I also substituted the mushrooms for 1 sweet potato the other day and it also tasted really good. Be creative. It is delicious and so easy to make it. 😋 Use organic ingredients as often as possible. Your microbiome and your gut will thank you. Running out of healthy recipes to prepare? No worries, we have more! For more healthy recipes. Join Be Healthy Academy! Wanting to start a healthy lifestyle but, you don't know where to begin? Be Healthy Academy provides more than just healthy recipes. Be Healthy Academy is dedicated to helping transform lives by providing customized programs to each of its members according to their needs. It provides a balanced, holistic, and healthy approach that lets its members long-lastingly transform from within. DISCOVER, CREATE, AND TRANSFORM to the best and healthier version of YOU. Become a member now! “Let food be thy medicine" -Hippocrates

Click here to listen to this Podcast The power to heal ourselves is within us, just so long as we know how to harness it. Today’s guest combines different healing modalities, from transformational coaching to intuitive healing and energy work, with her work as a licensed physical therapist. We speak with Ana Marinho about her story and her journey towards starting her business, Be Healthy. Her mission is to help you connect mind, body, and soul, empowering you to create the life that you desire. You’re going to want to listen to this episode if you’re going through any kind of transition and questioning that feeling in your bones, because Ana’s story will encourage you to trust your intuition. There’s also a special self-care freebie for you at the end of the episode, so don’t miss out! Key Points From This Episode: What led Ana to become a physical therapist, transformational coach, and intuitive healer. Learning to trust our intuition alongside traditional medical advice, not disregard it. The importance of finding validation from within yourself, not external sources Learning to surrender to discomfort. Ana talks about her book, Ignite Your Inner Healer: Transformational Tools to Heal Your Body, Mind and Soul What advice Ana would give someone who has exhausted their diagnosis options. Ana offers listeners a free 5-day self-care challenge on her website. Tweetables: “Your body tells me what you need. For some people it’s physical, some people it’s emotional, some people it’s both” – Ana Marinho [0:04:16] “Doctors have a place and a position in the knowledge that we can use, but we don’t have to put our intuition to the side” – Ana Marinho [0:12:21] “There is nothing outside of myself that gives me my power. There is no license, there is no course, there is no ‘one more’ credential that’s going to make me more powerful” – Ana Marinho  [0:24:44] Click here to listen to this Podcast The power to heal ourselves is within us, just so long as we know how to harness it. In this podcast, you'll learn about: What led Ana to become a physical therapist, transformational coach, and intuitive healer. Learning to trust our intuition alongside traditional medical advice, not disregard it. The importance of finding validation from within yourself, not external sources Learning to surrender to discomfort. Ana talks about her book, Ignite Your Inner Healer: Transformational Tools to Heal Your Body, Mind, and Soul What advice Ana would give someone who has exhausted their diagnosis options. Ana offers listeners a free 5-day self-care challenge. The host, Cassandra Shuck from StackedAgainst.com is business growth and profitability expert and helps female entrepreneurs leverage their past traumas to create fulfilling businesses without the hustle. “Your body tells me what you need. For some people it’s physical, some people it’s emotional, some people it’s both” - Ana Marinho Click here to listen to it NOW Ana recently launched Self-Study Course: Ignite Your Inner Healer which is based on her best-selling book: Ignite Your Inner Healer. This self-study program will expand on the tools from the book. It is a great way to learn more about your body and how you can "Ignite Your Inner Healer". If you need more information about SELF-HEALING, schedule an appointment with Ana to learn more. Click here to Schedule your FREE Discovery Session Now!

What is Visceral Manipulation? "Viscera" relates to the internal organs of the body such as the liver, kidneys, intestines, etc. Visceral Manipulation, or VM, is a manual therapy consisting of gentle, specifically placed manual forces that aids your body's ability to release restrictions and unhealthy compensations that cause pain and dysfunction. It does not solely focus on the site of pain and dysfunction but evaluates the entire body to find the source of the problem. Visceral Manipulation is a soft, hands-on manual therapy. Underneath the pain or diagnoses is a compensatory pattern created in the body with the initial source of the dysfunction often being far from where the pain is felt. Because of this, the practitioner searches for this pattern and the source and treats the related tissues. The treatment is a gentle compression, mobilization, and elongation of the soft tissues. As the source of the problem is released, the symptoms will start to decrease. How did Visceral Manipulation start? Jean-Pierre Barral is an Osteopath and Registered Physical Therapist from France. He first became interested in the movement of the body while working at the Lung and Disease Hospital in Grenoble, France with Dr. Arnaud, a recognized specialist in lung diseases and a master of cadaver dissection. Barral was able to follow patterns of stress in the tissues of cadaver as he studied biomechanics in living subjects. This introduced him to the visceral systems, its potential to promote lines of tensions within the body and the notion that tissues have memory. Barral's clinical work with the viscera led to his development of this form of manual therapy that focuses on the internal organs, their fascial environment and the potential influence on the structural and physiological dysfunctions. He named this therapy Visceral Manipulation. Barral began teaching Visceral Manipulation in the United States in 1985. Since then he has trained a team of international instructors that teach around the world. He has authored numerous professionals textbooks and a book for the general public, "Understanding the Messages of Your Body." What are the benefits of Visceral Manipulation? Visceral Manipulation is best and good for people who have: ​ Musculoskeletal Disorders Somatic-Visceral Interactions Post-operative scar tissue pain Sports injuries Spinal dysfunction ​Joint pain Lower back pain and sciatica Digestive Disorders Bloating Constipation GERD Acid reflux Emotional Issues Anxiety and depression Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder And more... Do you want to know more? Do you want professional help to improve your health? Ana can help you. She offers in-person ( South Charlotte -NC) and virtual sessions. Click here to Schedule Visceral Manipulation Therapy Now!

Brought to you by Synergy Lifestyle Academy, this show is dedicated to endorsing and promoting the five (5) basic lifestyle elements namely career, finance, relationships, spirituality, and wellness. They believed that when these FIVE (5) elements of life are in harmony and resonating in a balanced state, we are “in the zone” and life flows smoothly. ​ Click here to listen to it NOW If you need more information about SELF-HEALING, schedule an appointment with Ana to learn more. Click here to Schedule your FREE Discovery Session Now!

The benefits of Lavender oil are endless. It is one of the most versatile oils in nature. The fragrance is very relaxing and calming to the body and mind. The health benefits of the lavender essential oil include its ability to eliminate nervous tension, relieve pain, enhance blood circulation, and respiratory system. The Latin name of lavender is Lavare, which means “to wash”, due to its aroma which has a particularly clean aroma. Health Benefits of Lavender Essential Oil Sleep: Lavender essential oil induces sleep which has made it a common recommendation for an alternative treatment of insomnia. Frequent studies on elderly patients have shown an increase in their sleep regularity when their normal sleep medication is replaced with some lavender essential oil being placed on their pillows. Nervous system: Lavender essential oil has a calming scent which makes it an excellent tonic for the nerves and anxiety issues. Therefore, it can also be helpful for migraines, headaches, depression, nervous tension, and emotional stress. It has a well-researched impact on the autonomic nervous system, which is why it is frequently used as a treatment for insomnia and also as a way to regulate heart-rate variability. One study showed that people taking tests showed a significant decrease in mental stress and anxiety, as well as increased cognitive function when they inhaled lavender oil and rosemary oil before taking the exam! Pain relief: Lavender essential oil is known as an excellent remedy for various types of pains including those caused by sore and tense muscles, muscular aches, rheumatism, sprains, backache. A regular massage with lavender oil can also provide relief from pain in the joints. I personally used it for menstrual cramps and it works very well. Digestion: Lavender oil is useful for digestion because it increases the mobility of food within the intestine. The oil also stimulates the production of gastric juices and bile, thus aiding in the treatment of indigestion, stomach pain, colic, flatulence, vomiting, and diarrhea. Immunity: Regular use of lavender essential oil provides resistance to a variety of diseases. It is well-known that lavender has antibacterial and antiviral qualities that make it perfect for defending the body against diseases and even allergies. Bug Repellent: The smell of lavender essential oil is potent for many types of bugs like mosquitoes, midges, and moths. Apply some of the lavender oil on the exposed skin when outside to prevent these irritating bites. Furthermore, if you do happen to be bitten by one of those bugs, the lavender essential oil has anti-inflammatory qualities that will reduce the irritation and the pain associated with bug bites. Haircare: Lavender essential oil is useful for hair care because it has been shown to be very effective on lice, lice eggs, and nits. Furthermore, the lavender essential oil has also been shown to be very helpful in the treatment of hair loss, particularly for patients who suffer from alopecia. Cancer: Although more research needs to be done on human subjects, there is significant research on the effects of lavender, in combination with other essential oils, as a way to prevent the occurrence of breast cancer in mice. However, this could be an indication of an increased chance of lavender battling other carcinogenic effects and the presence of cancer. Product Tips Rub lavender essential oil on dry or chapped skin to moisturize the affected area. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to a cotton ball and place it in closets and drawers to scent linens and repel moths and insects. You may be able to minimize the appearance of scar tissue by massaging lavender essential oil on or around affected areas. Place a few drops of lavender essential oil on a wet cloth or dryer sheet to deodorize and freshen your laundry. Diffuse lavender essential oil to minimize seasonal discomforts. Rub a few drops of lavender essential oil onto your hand and spread over your child’s pillow to help him/her sleep. Diffuse or inhale lavender essential oil to calm your mind, body, and spirit after a hard day’s work. It can be used as an aid to stop addiction. You can use it when the desire shows up. To order Young Living Essential Oils you can use ID ANA MARINHO- 2047426 Disclaimer: Yes, I am a Young Living Essential Oils distributor. But I am not here trying to convince you to sign up with Young Living, to be a member, or even to start to use essential oils. I am here to teach something new, to open your options and life, and hopefully help you to improve your health and create awareness about the connection between your mind, body, and soul.

Ingredients: 1 cup of basmati rice 1 cup of raw black beans 1/2 onion 1/2 pepper 1 crown of broccoli 1 can of diced tomatoes (no salt added) 1 1/2 can of vegetable broth or water 1/2 spoon of coconut oil Baby carrots or sweet potatoes (diced) Seasoning as desired. I used: Salt, black pepper, bay leaves, curry and turmeric Steps to Make it: Saute onions and peppers with coconut oil for a few minutes. Rinse off your rice and beans, and drain them using a wire mesh strainer. I didn't soak the beans, but you are welcome to soak it if you prefer the beans softer. Add all ingredients. Close the lid and valve. Cook on Beans/Chili for 25 minutes. Let the pressure release before opening it. *Remove bay leaves before serving. Enjoy it. 😋 Use organic ingredients as often as possible. Your microbiome and your gut will thank you. Running out of healthy recipes to prepare? No worries, we have more! For more healthy recipes. Join Be Healthy Academy! Wanting to start a healthy lifestyle but, you don't know where to begin? Be Healthy Academy provides more than just healthy recipes. Be Healthy Academy is dedicated to helping transform lives by providing customized programs to each of its members according to their needs. It provides a balanced, holistic, and healthy approach that lets its members long-lastingly transform from within. DISCOVER, CREATE, AND TRANSFORM to the best and healthier version of YOU. Become a member now! “Let food be thy medicine" -Hippocrates

Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle for anyone, and especially for people living with a chronic illness like gastrointestinal problems (Inflammatory bowel, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, Irritable bowel syndrome). Routine physical activity can help those patients manage symptoms more effectively. Gastrointestinal problems come in many different forms. A few you may be familiar with include: Inflammatory bowel:A group of inflammatory conditions of the colon and small intestine. the major types of ibd are crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis: A form of inflammatory bowel disease. ulcerative colitis is a form of colitis, a disease of the intestine, specifically the large intestine or colon, that includes characteristic ulcers, or open sores, in the colon. Irritable bowel syndrome: A widespread condition involving recurrent abdominal pain and diarrhea or constipation, often associated with stress, depression, anxiety, or previous intestinal infection Exercise Adds to Quality of Life Studies have found that light exercise can be a great boost for those with Crohn’s disease. One study in particular observed a group of people with Crohn’s disease who started a low-intensity exercise plan, including walking three times a week. Compared to the control group of people with Crohn’s who did not change their exercise habits, the walkers noticed an improvement in their symptoms as well as a positive change in their overall quality of life. More Benefits from Exercise Here are other positive ways in which exercise can help people with Crohn's disease: Stress relief. Although it doesn’t cause the condition, emotional strain can make symptoms flare. Physical activity as a great stress reducer. Depression relief. Many people with Crohn’s disease also experience depression. Exercise is a useful tool in counteracting depression. Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects nearly one million people in the United States and Canada. While current pharmaceutical treatments are effective in controlling symptoms, patients continue to experience a reduced quality of life (QOL). Based on preliminary studies, exercise may decrease CD activity and reduce psychological stress. Current research also suggests that low-intensity exercise does not exacerbate gastrointestinal symptoms and does not lead to flare-ups. Exercise Essentials: How to Get Started Exercise should be part of everyone’s life. If you don't yet have a routine, here are some tips to help you get started: Talk to your doctor first. Although research shows that getting regular exercise is great for people with Crohn’s disease, it’s still a good idea to talk to your doctor before getting started. Choose exercises you enjoy. After you get the go-ahead from your doctor, choosing the right exercises will be up to you. A good rule of thumb that can help you stay motivated is to choose exercises that are based on what you like to do. Participate on a group can also be a great source of motivation as you get started with an exercise regimen Listen to your own cues. If your body reacts negatively to exercise, stop and take a break. Paying attention to your body is key: “Whatever form of exercise you can tolerate will help your body when you are well. It’s possible that you can handle very gentle exercise even during an attack.” If you do experience a flare-up of symptoms after exercising, be sure to talk to your doctor. Set up your free online consultation and find out how I can help you to get started on an exercise program and provide on-going support for your overall well-being!

You probably don't give much thought to chewing your food. For most of us, it's second-nature, and once you put food in your mouth, chewing is likely as automatic as breathing. Why should you properly chew your food? Well, there are many reasons, but I will give you 7. 1. Absorb More Nutrients and Energy From Your Food Chewing breaks your food down from large particles into smaller particles that are more easily digested. This process makes it easier for your intestines to absorb nutrients from the food particles as they pass through. 2. Maintain a Healthy Weight The longer you chew, the more time it will take you to finish a meal, and research shows that eating slowly can help you to eat less and, ultimately, to avoid weight gain or even lose weight.For example, chewing your food twice as long as you normally would, will instantly help you control your portion sizes, which naturally decreases calorie consumption. It takes time (generally about 20 minutes) for your brain to signal to your stomach that you’re full, and this may explain why one study found people reported feeling fuller when they ate slowly. They also ended up consuming about 10 percent fewer calories when they ate at a slow pace, and presumably chewed slower, as opposed to when they were rushing. 3. Your Food Gets More Exposure to Your Saliva Saliva contains digestive enzymes, so the longer you chew, the more time these enzymes have to start breaking down your food, making digestion easier on your stomach and small intestine. One of these enzymes is lingual lipase, an enzyme that helps break down fats, for example. One of these enzymes is lingual lipase, an enzyme that helps break down fats, for example.Saliva also helps to lubricate your food so it’s easier on your esophagus. 4. Easier Digestion The chewing process predigests your food into small pieces and partially liquefies it, making it easier to digest. Digestion is actually a very demanding task for your body, requiring a great deal of energy, especially if forced to digest improperly chewed food. Chewing properly allows your stomach to work more efficiently and break down your food faster. 5. It’s Good for Your Teeth The bones holding your teeth get a ‘workout’ when you chew, helping to keep them strong.The saliva produced while chewing is also beneficial, helping to clear food particles from your mouth and wash away bacteria so there may be less plaque buildup and tooth decay. Less time in the dentist chair, can't complain about that, right? 6. Less Excess Bacteria Lingering in Your Intestines When improperly chewed food enters your stomach, it may remain undigested when it enters your intestines.There, bacteria will begin to break it down, or in other words, it will start to putrefy, potentially leading to gas and bloating, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, cramping and other digestive problems.Have you felt like that before? 7. Enjoy and Taste Your Food If you rush through your meal with hardly any chewing, you’re also not really tasting or enjoying the food.When you take the time to properly chew your food, it forces you to slow down, savor each morsel and really enjoy all the flavors your food has to offer. The Dangers of Chewing for No Reason… While chewing is essential when you eat, chewing without eating food can be counterproductive. When you chew gum, for instance, you send your body, physical signals that food is about to enter your body. The enzymes and acids that are activated when you chew gum are therefore released, but without the food, they’re intended to digest.This can cause bloating, an overproduction of stomach acid, and can compromise your ability to produce sufficient digestive secretions when you actually do eat food. Besides this, chewing gum can cause jaw muscle imbalances (if you chew on one side more than the other) and even TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder in your jaw, which can be a painful chronic condition. I generally recommend avoiding gum but if you do chew gum, do so only occasionally or right before a meal when the acid and enzyme stimulation may actually be beneficial. Counting Your Bites Might Help You Lose Weight There are better strategies for weight loss than counting calories, like focusing on the nutritional content of your food instead, for starters. Chewing more thoroughly might be a very effective strategy to help with weight management. Increasing the number of chews before swallowing reduces meal size by nearly 15 %. You may have heard the old adage about chewing your food 32 times before swallowing. You don't need to be this strict, as the amount of chewing any given food requires will vary depending on its type and texture. The "32 times" rule is therefore largely ambiguous, although it does steer you toward slowing down your chewing, which is a good choice for most people.Instead of strict counting, here's a guide to ensure that you're chewing in a way that will support your health. Generally speaking, you'll want to: Take smaller bites of food to begin with (it's easier to chew smaller pieces) Eat in a relaxed, non-distracted environment; eating on the run or while you're working or watching TV is not conducive to proper chewing. Chew slowly and steadily Chew until your mouthful of food is liquefied or has lost all of its texture Finish chewing and swallowing completely before taking another bite of food Wait to drink fluids until you've swallowed Aside from the all the health benefits, chewing properly helps you to really enjoy your food.If you rush through your meal with hardly any chewing, you're not really tasting or enjoying the food.

It is important to distinguish between these disorders in order to apply the most appropriate treatment. But what is the difference? Tendinitis is the inflammation of the tendon and results from micro-tears that happen when the musculotendinous unit is acutely overloaded with a tensile force that is too heavy and/or too sudden. Tendinitis is still a very common diagnosis, though research increasingly documents that what is thought to be tendinitis is usually tendinosis. Tendinosis is a degeneration of the tendon’s collagen in response to chronic overuse; when overuse is continued without giving the tendon time to heal and rest, such as with repetitive strain injury, tendinosis results. Even tiny movements, such as clicking a mouse, can cause tendinosis, when done repeatedly. A microscopic view of tendinosis reveals an increase of immature type III collagen fibers (mature type I fibers dominate in healthy tendon tissue); loss of collagen continuity so that collagen fibers are no longer aligned with each other and sometimes fail to link together to facilitate load-bearing; an increase in ground substance (the material between the body’s cells); and a haphazard increase of vascularization(2,3,5). These vascular structures “do not function as blood vessels” and “are not associated with increased healing(2).” The appearance of the tendon shifts from a reflective, “white, glistening and firm” surface to a “dull-appearing, slightly brown and soft” surface (mucoid degeneration)(2,3). These changes result in a loss of strength in the tendon and increase the bulk of the tendon, both of which contribute to the cycle of injury and can set the stage for secondary conditions, such as tendinitis and nerve impingement. Studies lead to believe that, in the forearm and wrist, tendinosis can result in secondary carpal tunnel syndrome; this is because the thickening of the tendons with excess ground substance and the swelling of the surrounding tissue crowds and compresses the median nerve. There is a prevalent supposition that tendinosis begins with tendinitis, which then instigates a healing process that changes the collagen and weakens the tendon, becoming tendinosis. Perhaps this supposition exists because the stages of soft-tissue healing are generally listed as, in short: inflammation response, regeneration (collagen production), and remodeling (strengthening the collagen in the direction of the forces placed upon it). In one article, tendinitis is cited as the first stage of a tendinopathy; tendinosis is cited as the second stage and rupture as the third stage. The fourth stage is described as a combination of stages 2 and 3, along with fibrosis and calcification(2). The suggestion that tendinitis precedes tendinosis is at odds with the fact that a healthy tendon is up to twice as strong as the muscle, making the body of the tendon unlikely to tear before the muscle unless the tendon has already been weakened by degenerative changes(6). The idea that tendinitis is the first stage of tendinosis seems to presume that micro-tears and inflammation are a precursor to collagen degeneration. Histopathologic analyses show that torn fibers, scar tissue, and calcification are only found in conjunction with tendinosis some of the time, and inflammatory cells are rarely found in conjunction with tendinosis, supporting the hypothesis that tendinitis occurs secondarily to tendinosis(1,2,3,5,7). Treatment The most important reason to distinguish between tendinitis and tendinosis is the differing treatment goals and timelines. The most prominent treatment goal for tendinitis is to reduce inflammation, a condition that isn’t present in tendinosis. In fact, some treatments to reduce inflammation are contraindicated with tendinosis. Ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, is associated with inhibited collagen repair(9). Corticosteroid injections inhibited collagen repair in one study, and were found to be a predictor of later tendon tears(3,4,10). The healing time for tendinitis is several days to 6 weeks, depending on whether treatment starts with early presentation or chronic presentation(3). Khan et al.(3) state that treatment for tendinosis recognized at an early stage can be as brief as 6–10 weeks; however, treatment once the tendinosis has become chronic can take 3–6 months. It is suggested by Rattray and Ludwig(10)that effective treatment might take up to 9 months once the tendinosis is chronic. Khan(3)reportedly suggests that tendons “require over 100 days to make new collagen.” Given this claim, treating chronic tendinosis for a matter of weeks would provide little benefit to the long-term repair of the tendon. Some of treatment goals for tendinitis and tendinosis result in overlapping beneficial treatment methods. For example, deep-friction treatments are beneficial for both conditions, but for very different reasons. In the case of tendinitis, deep friction serves to reduce adhesions and create functional scar tissue once inflammation has subsided. In the case of tendinosis, deep-friction treatments serve to stimulate fibroblast activity and collagen production(11). Lucky concurrence of treatment recommendations is not to be substituted for a thorough understanding of which condition is being treated. Accurate assessment techniques and knowledge of the relevant condition will result in the most appropriate application of treatment. The primary treatment goals for tendinosis are to: break the cycle of injury; reduce ground substance, pathologic vascularization, and subsequent tendon thickening; and optimize collagen production and maturation so that the tendon regains normal tensile strength(3). Patients must avoid self-care. Refer to a physical therapist will be beneficial to the patient. Treatment recommendations for tendinosis include: - Rest. People with low-grade tendon injuries often find it difficult to rest as much as is necessary, especially as symptoms subside(3). With repetitive work tasks, the patient is recommended to take a break for one minute every 15 minutes and a five-minute break every 20–30 minutes(12). The patient should be advised to stay aware of their body as it heals. If the activity they are engaging in is causing pain, then they are probably doing too much. - Adjust ergonomics and biomechanics. Small changes can make a big difference. With regard to ergonomics, for example, cashiers are encouraged to press the register keys as lightly as possible, and computer users should be sure their wrists are resting in a neutral position while typing. Physical therapists are experts at recognizing and adjusting improper biomechanics that might be causing injury. - Use appropriate support. Physical therapists can also recommend appropriate support to reduce tensile stress on the tendon, such as bracing or taping(3). - Stretch and keep moving, though conservatively. Lightly stretching and moving the affected area through its natural range of motion while minimizing pain will prevent shortening of the related muscles (preserving active range of motion and flexibility). It can also increase circulation, thereby assisting the healing process. Stretching can also elongate the muscle-tendon unit, reducing the tension placed on the tendon during activity, thereby reducing the chemical changes that cause degeneration(8,13,14). - Apply ice. Ice causes vasoconstriction and is thought to address the abnormal neovascularization of the tendon tissue(3). Use ice for 15–20 minutes several times a day, and after engaging in activities that utilize the tendon(7,15). - Eccentric strengthening. An eccentric strengthening regimen done 1–2 times daily for 12 weeks has been clinically proven to be a very successful treatment for tendinosis, especially when the exercises are performed slowly(2,3,5,16). Eccentric strengthening is “lengthening a muscle while it is loaded and contracting(17).” For example, lengthening one’s bicep while holding a dumb-bell in one’s hand would stimulate eccentric contraction. Eccentric strengthening effectively stimulates collagen production, improves collagen alignment, and stimulates collagen cross-linkage formation, in turn improving tensile strength(5). Eccentric strengthening might also help to reduce ground substance and tendon volume (swelling/thickening)(2). It has also been proposed that part of the benefit of eccentric strengthening is the stretching involved, as described above. Consult with a physical therapist to maximize the benefit of strengthening exercises and to minimize the possibility of re-injury. - Massage. Massage stimulates circulation and cell activity, especially when done at the appropriate depth. Deep-friction massage applied to the tendon serves to stimulate fibroblast activity and generate new collagen. Myofascial techniques and trigger-point therapy can reduce fascial restrictions, scar tissue, and trigger points in the muscle connected to the tendon, relieving tension on the tendon. Myofascial techniques, lengthening deep-tissue techniques, stretching and active-release techniques can reset muscle memory to a more lengthened position, reducing the tension placed on the tendon during activity. A variety of massage techniques can decrease overactive pain messages from sympathetic nervous system firing, increase circulation, and improve overall tissue health(10,11,19). - Nutrition. Vitamin C, manganese, and zinc are all important for the synthesis of collagen production(20). Vitamin B6 and Vitamin E have also been linked to tendon health(21). Patients might benefit from talking with their primary health care provider or a nutrition specialist to be sure their intake of these nutrients is sufficient. While the cellular damage is unlikely to be reversed completely, these treatments can increase the strength of the tendon by stopping the cycle of injury, introducing healthy collagen into the area, addressing unhealthy vascular changes, and decreasing the over-abundance of ground substance. Tendinosis causes tissue changes that make the tendon more prone to injury, so it is important that the patient continue to take care of the compromised tendon once the initial phase of treatment is complete. Ongoing massage, stretching, strength training, and warming up before starting work or exercise can help to prevent re-injury and keep the tissue as healthy as possible. REFERENCES 1. Khan KM, Cook JL, Kannus P, et al. Time to abandon the “tendinitis” myth: Painful, overuse tendon conditions have a non-inflammatory pathology [editorial]BMJ. [Accessed 16 September 2011]. http://www.bmj.com/content/324/7338/626.full. Published March 16, 2002. 2. Heber M. Tendinosis vs. Tendinitis. Elite Sports Therapy. [Accessed 16 September 2011]. http://www.elitesportstherapy.com/tendinosis-vs--tendonitis. 3. Khan KM, Cook JL, Taunton JE, et al. Overuse tendinosis, not tendinitis—Part 1: A new paradigm for a difficult clinical problem. [Accessed 13 February 2012];Physician Sportsmed. 2000 28(5) http://www.massagebyjoel.com/downloads/OveruseTendinosis-PhysSptsmed.pdf. [PubMed]4. Boyer MI, Hastings H. Lateral tennis elbow: Is there any science out there? J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 1999;8(5):481–491. doi: 10.1016/S1058-2746(99)90081-2. [PubMed]5. Kraushaar B, Hirschl RP. Current concepts review - tendinosis of the elbow (Tennis Elbow). Clinical features and findings of histological, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopy studies. [Accessed 28 January 2012];J Bone & Joint Surg. 1999 81(2):259–278. http://www.jbjs.org/article.aspx?Volume=81&page=259. [PubMed]6. Lowe W. Types of tendon injury. [Accessed 16 September 2011];Massage Today. 2006 6(8) http://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=13465.7. Tendinosis.org. [Accessed 28 January 2012]. http://www.tendinosis.org/current.html.8. Murrell GA. Understanding tendinopathies. [Accessed 28 January 2012];Br J Sports Med. 2002 36(6):392–393. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.36.6.392. http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/36/6/392.long. [PMC free article] [PubMed]]9. Tsai WC, Tang FT, Hsu CC, et al. Ibuprofen inhibition of tendon cell proliferation and upregulation of the cyclin kinase inhibitor p21CIP1 [abstract] [Accessed 28 January 2012];J Orthopedic Resear. 2004 22(3):586–591. doi: 10.1016/j.orthres.2003.10.014. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1016/j.orthres.2003.10.014/abstract. [PubMed] [Cross Ref]10. Rattray F, Ludwig L. Clinical Massage Therapy: Understanding, Assessing and Treating Over 70 Conditions. Elora, Ontario: Talus Inc; 2001.11. Lowe W. Orthopedic Massage Theory and Technique. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby Elsevier; 2009.12. Repetitive Stress Injury. Tips for Preventing RSI. [Accessed 28 January 2012]. [no author] http://www3.rtd-denver.com/content/Wellness&Rehab/Content_Mgmt_Files/injury_prevention/Repetitive%20Stress%20Injury.pdf.13. Alfredson H, Pietila T, Jonsson P, Lorentzon R. Heavy-load eccentric calf muscle training for the treatment of chronic Achilles tendinosis. [Accessed 10 February 2012];Am J Sports Med. 1998 26(3):360–366. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9617396. [PubMed]14. Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma. Eccentric Training for Ttreatment of Achilles Tendinosis. [Accessed 10 February 2012]. http://www.nismat.org/ptcor/eccentric_achilles.15. About.com. Orthopedics. [Accessed 28 January 2012]. http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/sprainsstrains/ht/iceinjury.htm.16. Mafi N, Lorentzon R, Alfredson H. Superior short-term results with eccentric calf muscle training compared to concentric training in a randomized prospective multicenter study on patients with chronic Achilles tendinosis. [Accessed 8 February 2012];Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy. 2001 9(1):42–7. doi: 10.1007/s001670000148. http://www.ncbi.nlm.hih.gov/pubmed/11269583. [PubMed] [Cross Ref]17. About.com. Physical Therapy. Available from http://physicaltherapy.about.com/od/abbreviationsandterms/g/eccentric.htm.18. Stasinopoulos D, Johnson MI. Cyriax physiotherapy for tennis elbow/lateral epicondylitis. [Accessed 7 February 2012];Br J Sports Med. 2004 38:675–677. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2004.013573. http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/38/6/675.full. [PMC free article] [PubMed] 19. Lowe W. Orthopedic Assessment in Massage Therapy. Sisters, OR: Daviau Scott; 2006.20. Andrews J. Supplements That Rebuild Collagen. [Accessed 29 January 2012]. http://www.livestrong.com/article/357927-supplements-that-re-buildcollagen/. Published on January 16, 2011.21. News Medical. Tendinosis Treatments. [Accessed 10 February 2012]. http://www.news-medical.net/health/Tendinosis-Treatments.aspx.

August 8, 2016 by Susan Patterson/Natural Living 1. Pain relief Pain relief is one of the main reasons people use cupping. An analysis of multiple clinical trials published in Evidence-Based Complimentary and Alternative Medicine showed that compared to traditional treatments, cupping offered positive effects for relieving cancer pain compared to analgesics and anti-cancer drugs.Cupping targets soft tissue with pressure applied to pain points and areas of swelling. This helps to increase blood flow and give the tissues important nutrients and oxygen. It’s believed to help release tissues deep within the body, relax tense muscles and ease stiffness that’s often associated with neck and back pain, migraines and rheumatism. 2. Relieve cold, cough and allergy symptoms Cupping can help to stimulate the lungs (as well as other vital organs) to help clear out phlegm. Excess phlegm in the lungs triggers coughing to help bring it out of the body. The practice of cupping can help speed the process to relieve one of nasty cold, cough and allergy symptoms. It also helps boost immune function by moving blood and lymphatic fluid throughout the body. 3. Promotes relaxation In today’s chaotic world, all of us can use a little time for relaxation. If we don’t take time to relax, the constant stress can lead to a host of health conditions, including mental issues like anxiety and depression. Similar to receiving a deep tissue massage which offers wonderful, relaxing relief, cupping is soothing as it helps to lift the pressure from tense muscles.The act of simply lying still and allowing a practitioner to apply the therapy has positive effects on well-being, and believed to be another factor in why cupping is often so effective. After the cups are placed on the skin and suctioned, they generally remain for few minutes, which basically forces one to be still and silent, putting them into a more relaxed state as it sedates the central nervous system. 4. Detoxifying Poor circulation can lead to buildup of toxins inside of the body’s tissues. This buildup can be the root cause of many different health conditions. Cupping helps to improve stagnation, while the blood rushing to the area that’s being treated carries away toxins. Along with those toxins, it helps to clear dead cells and other debris. All of these elements are then expelled naturally. That’s why drinking lots of water after a cupping session is a good idea for flushing away those impurities and promoting better health. 5. Inducing inflammation to heal injuries faster Inflammation is part of the body’s defense mechanism, which helps kick things into action to help heal illness and injury. If you suffer from a muscular injury, the first thing you probably do is rush to get an ice pack, but when it’s allowed to become inflamed, that actually helps to flood the injured muscle with blood, along with nutrients, platelets, white blood cells and fibroblasts to aid in healing. Cupping therapy works much the same way by drawing blood to the affected area so that new blood vessels can be created. It helps to heal knots and adhesions, which is why so many athletes have been turning to this therapy. It helps their body to recover faster from intense workout sessions. 6. Improve skin conditions Cupping has been used to help with a host of skin conditions, including eliminating acne and eczema, reducing skin inflammation, lessening herpes breakouts and even diminishing cellulite. As part of a cellulite treatment, cupping is done after oil is applied to the skin. The cups are then suctioned and moved around to bring heat to the area, along with the skin-healing ingredients of the particular oil that’s used. An analysis of studies published in PLOS One found that cupping may be equally or even more effective for treating acne as compared to antibiotics. The studies showed that the cure rate of cupping for improving acne was better than the use of prescription medications like tetracycline.Cupping therapy is based on the belief that disease results when the positive energy that flows through the meridians of the body is blocked. Removing that congestion than induces the body to heal itself. Cupping draws blood to the affected area, energizing skin tissues. That blood flow brings oxygen and nutrients, while the lymphatic system produces antibodies that are need for healing. The blood flow also works to detoxify, as stated earlier, removing pathogens that cause skin conditions. 7. Relieving digestive disorders Cupping is also becoming a popular practice for relieving symptoms of digestive disorders,including irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. It’s believed to work partly because of the stress-relieving effects of cupping, which has been strongly linked to healthier digestion. Stress, tension and anxiety are all communicated to organs throughout the body, including digestive processes. When that happens, things start to get congested, and as a result, you feel bloated and constipated. Cupping releases the stagnation, helping to get things moving along, and relaxing you so that systems function normally again. The therapy has been found to be effective for water retention, stomach cramps, gastritis, loss of appetite and a host of gastrointestinal diseases. 8. Anti-Aging Cupping has been found to offer anti-aging effects. It brings more nutrients to the skin, which helps give it a glowing, younger appearance. The lifting motion that comes with suctioning helps to lessen the appearance of scars that are the result of injury or post-surgery. If you’re suffering from puffiness, it can help drain fluid in the lymph glands that result in reduced edema. 9. Treating carpal tunnel syndrome Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful, progressive condition that can interfere with hand strength and sensation, and even result in a decrease in hand function. It’s said to affect some 4 to 10 million Americans, with females three times more likely to suffer from it than males. The condition disables a key nerve which results in symptoms that can range from mild numbness felt occasionally to hand weakness or even the loss of feeling and total loss of hand function. The good news is that you may be able to find relief through cupping. A study out of Germany, published in The Journal of Pain, showed that the technique was effective for providing temporary relief of pain from carpal tunnel syndrome. Just a single session was able to significantly ease pain and symptoms for a week, according to the researchers. The study authors noted three possible explanations for the positive therapeutic effects, including that the therapy may be providing a powerful placebo effect, cupping may offer antinociceptive effects, or the local bloodletting caused by cupping may have altered tissue perfusion and metabolism to affect medial nerve function.