What A Relaxing Massage Chair In The Waiting Room! March 18, 2008
Posted by Health Mama in : Alternative Therapy / Treatments , add a comment
I was in the waiting room on the second floor of a Spa in a Shiatsu massage chair yesterday. My eyes were shut, and I concentrated on the soothing music that filled the air. Rollers slowly moved up and down my back, then they began a kneading motion. Just as I was getting lulled almost to sleep, they began to gently tap me awake again.
In all of the hundreds of spas I have visited, this is the first that provided massage chairs in the waiting room. It takes about 20 minutes for a client to completely relax in a treatment.
The massage chair, be it an electric massage chair or a robotic massage chair, gets the process started before the treatment even starts. So the client can be fully relaxed during more of the treatment time. When my therapist came to get me for my Royal Javanese Lulur Ritual, I was very, very relaxed. After an hour, I left with my body and mind very relaxed and my skin very soft.
Acne Treatment Options For Kids March 6, 2008
Posted by Health Mama in : Babies & Kids , add a commentAcne is a big problem that affects millions of teens. And although there are plenty of effective treatments available to treat acne today, many kids go without treatment.
Acne is not caused by poor hygiene or eating too much chocolate, or by any of the other myths that people believe. Instead, acne is typically caused by the rise in hormones during puberty, especially androgens, and their effect on oil glands in the skin.
Many parents seem to overlook their child’s acne problem though and don’t bring it to their Pediatrician’s attention, either because they think they can treat it effectively on their own or they don’t think it is important enough to go to the doctor for.
So be sure to schedule an appointment with your Pediatrician to discuss your child’s acne and see what acne treatment options are available.
Cerebral Palsy Therapy February 16, 2008
Posted by Health Mama in : Babies & Kids , add a commentCerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders that involve loss of movement or loss of other nerve function.
Cerebral palsy is caused by injuries to the cerebrum (the largest part of the brain), which occur as the baby grows in the womb or near the time of birth.
Premature infants have a slightly higher rate of cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy may also occur during early infancy as a result of illnesses such as encephalitis, meningitis, herpes simplex infections, and so on, head injury that results in subdural hematoma, blood vessel injuries, and many others conditions.Injury to the cerebrum can result in the loss of nerve functions in widely different areas. The classical finding of CP is increased muscle tone — spasticity. Spasticity may affect:
* One arm or leg
* One side of the body (spastic hemiplegia)
* Both legs (spastic diplegia)
* Both arms and legs (spastic quadriplegia)
In addition, the child may have a partial or full loss of movement (paralysis), problems hearing and vision, and sensation abnormalities. Speech problems are common. Seizures may occur.
There is no specific cure for cerebral palsy. The goal of treatment is to maximize independence. Treatment is guided by the symptoms exhibited and may include cerebral palsy therapy, braces, appropriate glasses and hearing aids, medications, special education or appropriate schooling, and, in severe cases, institutionalization.
Student Needs Help For Bone Cancer Surgery December 3, 2007
Posted by Health Mama in : Charity Cause , add a commentTengku Mohd Najwaa Tengku Muhammad was diagnosed with bone cancer in February.
Now the 22-year-old second year student at Institut Perguruan Tun Abdul Razak in Sarawak needs surgery on his hip which is expected to cost RM20,000.
The family had sought treatment at various hospitals. Eventually, he was referred to Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital in Kubang Kerian for the surgery.
But on her husband’s RM460 a month salary as a cook, they cannot afford to pay for his operation.
If you wish to help Tengku Mohd Najwaa, you can send a cheque payable to the New Straits Times Finance Department/Charity Unit, The New Straits Times Press, Balai Berita, 31 Jalan Riong, 59100 Kuala Lumpur.
Be sure to write his name on the back of your cheque.
My Fight With Cancer, Marriage And Money Woes May 11, 2007
Posted by Health Mama in : Cancer, Love & Marriage , 6commentsI felt the urge to share with you Esther’s true life story that I read this afternoon. I broke down halfway reading through the article. This is a real life story.
It’s hard to believe that this radiant-looking woman suffers from fourth-stage breast cancer and in April 2005 was given only six months to live.
But at the time of our interview Esther Khaw, 44, a mother of two, is still savoring life. She says,” I have learnt to cherish my life. Don’t take your time and people for granted, that’s my humble advice.This illness and other crises in my life have made me a stronger person.”
Money and Marriage Woes
Esther’s problems began in 1995 when she set up a garment shop with a friend. Although she was doing well as an insurance agent, she had to borrow large sums of money for the business. But it didn’t take off, and she found herself owing money to several banks.
At the same time, her 10-year-marriage, which she describes as loving until the, began to turn sour and by the end of 2001, the couple separated. Esther fell into depression.She found herself at a loss with her kids, then five and nine years old. Fortunately, her husband continued to visit the children regularly and a capable maid helped to take care of the boys.
For 18 months, Esther often thought of suicide, but then she picked herself up.”I realized I had to continue to live for myself and my children.” With emotional, financial and spiritual support from friends, her life started changing for the better. She wound up her garment business and returned to what she knew best - selling insurance.”Getting out of depression was the turning point in my life,” she says.
Wanting to help those in the same situation as herself, she began reaching out to single parents and women with failed marriages, offering financial advice. At the same time,to enrich herself spiritually, she enrolled into bible school. Life had new meaning and she felt ready to face whatever challenges would arise.
Cancer and Then Hope
In March 2005, plagued by a persistent cough, rashes, joint aches and lethargy, Esther went for a medical checkup. Results showed she had fourth-stage breast cancer and that it had spread to her liver and bones.”I felt I’d been given a death sentence,”she says.
She refused treatment until one day, while changing, she felt a piece of flesh from her left breast fall off -it was her nipple. It had rotten away and there was a cavity in her left breast, exposing breast tissue. This time she agreed to chemotherapy. Thankfully, her body responded well to it. After the first round, the tumor began to shrink. After three rounds, the cancer cells in her liver and bones shrank to almost undetectable levels. By October 2005,her left nipple had grown back.”I think it’s a miracle,” she says.
Esther completed her sixth and final round of chemo in November and while she’s not out of danger yet,she’s also determined to savor every moment she has. She’s thankful for her faith, good friends and new people she’s met, like the medical social worker who encouraged her from the time she was diagnosed.”They showed me that life is worth living.”
Today, despite the possibility of a relapse, Esther looks nothing at all like a sick people. Her skin is rosy, her eyes are sparkle and her loss of hair is hidden by a lovely wig. She tells us that by sharing her story with us, she hopes to inspire others that no matter how bad things are, life is worth living.
“I almost gave up on myself and my life a long time ago,but I have my faith now and I believe things will get better. Life’s lessons are better learnt through coming out of dealing with sorrows in your life,” she says.
From Esther’s fight with cancer and money woes, I learnt that no matter how bad things are, life is worth living.
How do you feel after reading her story ? I would like to hear from you.
