Aches | Letha's Asian Health Secrets

computer-pain1 How often do you take a break from work to walk around, drink water, or stretch? Sitting for hours makes the lower back support the body, which strains circulation and energy from the waist-down. Eventually it can drain internal organs. Staring into a screen also stiffens the neck and shoulders. Neck-related headache, called cervical headache, is most often felt in the back of the head and upper neck, where muscles extending along the skull are contiguous with neck muscles that may become tense or go into spasm. It is aggravated by neck movement and often accompanied by stiffness and tenderness of neck muscles. Characteristics of the pain:

You hardly notice work-related pain until you stop working.
Pains may be dull, aching, fixed (not moving), and persistent.
Pain is worse with fatigue, stress, and emotional upset.
There may also be chest tightness, wrist pain and numbness in the hands

Continue reading ‘Computer Neck and Shoulder Pain’

bxp239433 I have been honoring my need for rest, warmth and comfort as the weather is colder and days shorter. Winter is a time to nourish your dreams and imagination. Nerve-soothing oils such as sesame are rejuvenating. Apply it to your skin all over and inside the nose. Allow the rich proteins to soften your complexion and penetrate your senses with renewed vitality for 15 minutes. Then wash with warm water. If you have acne or a ruddy complexion, another fine oil to use is Argana, made from a Moroccan tree bark. It feels more cooling than sesame and is also rejuvenating. Increase warming spices such as ginger, pepper, clove, cinnamon and hing (asafoetida for bloating) unless you have an ulcer. The tastes to stress in winter, according to Ayurveda, are warming, salty and sweet, less bitter. Bitter (coffee and black tea) increase nervousness and pain.

I have been greatly enjoying adding Peruvian maca powder to my morning mild green tea or warm water. It tastes a bit like yam, a comforting root vegetable that grows high in the Andes. It stimulates the pituitary to enhance the functioning of the entire endocrine system–for enhanced energy, breath, adrenal strength, and libido. It is hormone-balancing for men and women. People in Peru eat the cooked root with meat and potatoes and also use it as an aphrodisiac. It is also said to reduce menopausal complaints. I find it comforting and mood-lifting.

Continue reading ‘Winter Pleasures’