Chilled sea turtles recovering with help of acupuncture!

Photo credit : http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/after-days-on-pins-and-needles-chilled-mass-sea-turtles-recovering-with-help-of-acupuncture/2013/05/21/70726022-c1e0-11e2-9aa6-fc21ae807a8a_story.html

QUINCY, Mass. - Two endangered sea turtles that are shells of their former selves after getting stranded on Cape Cod during a cold spell are getting some help easing back into the wild — from an acupuncturist.

Dexter and Fletcher Moon, juvenile Kemp's Ridley sea turtles, remained calm as acupuncturist Claire McManus gently tapped more than a dozen needles into their greyish-green, leathery skin during a therapy session intended to decrease inflammation and swelling on their front flippers, restore a full range of motion on those limbs and help the animals regain their appetites.

"There aren't a lot of people doing sea turtle acupuncture," said McManus, who works alongside a vet to find parts of the marine mammals' bodies corresponding to locations where acupuncturists put needles to treat front limbs. "There is not a whole lot of literature out there on turtle acupuncture, so I'm basing it on how we treat other animals and humans."

The acupuncture is intended to reduce stress, increase blood flow and boost the immune system — just as in humans.

Dexter and Fletcher Moon have already had three acupuncture sessions, scheduled once a week, said Merigo, who broke into a broad smile as she described their improvements over the past three weeks.





To read more on this amazing story in the province news paper please visit the link below!

http://www.theprovince.com/health/After+days+pins+needles+chilled+turtles+recovering+with+help/8412464/story.html

Definition of the week....

acu·pres·sure

noun \ˈa-kyə-ˌpre-shər, ˈa-kə-\

  Acupressure is an ancient healing art that uses the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body’s natural self-curative abilities. 

 When these points are pressed, they release muscular tension and promote the circulation of blood and the body’s life force (sometimes known as qi pronounced chi) to aid healing. Acupuncture and acupressure use the same points, but acupuncture employs needles, while acupressure uses the gentle, but firm pressure of hands and feet. 

  Acupressure, continues to be the most effective method for treatment of tension-related ailments by using the power and sensitivity of the human hand. Acupressure can be effective in helping relieve headaches, eye strain, sinus problems, neck pain, backaches, arthritis, muscle aches, tension due to stress, ulcer pain, menstrual cramps, lower backaches, constipation, and indigestion. 

  Acupressure can also be used to relieve anxiety and improve sleep. There are also great advantages to using acupressure as a way to balance the body and maintain good health. The healing touch of acupressure reduces tension, increases circulation, and enables the body to relax deeply. 

  By relieving stress, acupressure strengthens resistance to disease and promotes wellness. In acupressure, local symptoms are considered an expression of the condition of the body as a whole. A tension headache, for instance, may be rooted in the shoulder and neck area. Thus, acupressure focuses on relieving pain and discomfort, as well as responding to tension, before it develops into a disease—before the constrictions and imbalances can do further damage. 

  The origins of acupressure are as ancient as the instinctive impulse to hold your forehead or temples when you have a headache. Everyone at one time or another has used their hands spontaneously to hold tense or painful places on the body. More than five thousand years ago, the Chinese discovered that pressing certain points on the body relieved pain where it occurred and also benefited other parts of the body more remote from the pain and the pressure point. Gradually, they found other locations that not only alleviated pain, but also influenced the functioning of certain internal organs. (Definition, in part, from the book Acupressure’s Potent Points, by Michael Reed Gach, director of the Acupressure Institute, Bantam, 1990.) 

Definition credit - http://www.massagetherapy.com/glossary/

The Importance of water & our bodies:

An important question we often hear at our clinic is : "How much water should I drink after a massage?"

When you think about it.... WHY is it important to drink water after a massage? 

What roll does it play in how our bodies heal and recover? 

  New Leaf Massage Therapists recommend that you drink approximately 1-2 full glasses of water before and 1-2 full glasses after your massage. In general, the body benefits from proper hydration anyways, but after your massage it is very important to drink more water. Consuming water will help the kidneys and other organs process the various substances which move through our bodies on a regular basis. Drinking water before and after a massage is recommended, as it makes it easier for your Therapist to perform deep work, because the muscles are easier to manipulate (think about working with a dry sponge vs. a Wet sponge).

  During a massage, the muscles are stimulated, blood is circulated throughout the whole body, and water, salt and other minerals are released. Having a glass of water or decaffeinated tea, helps your body dispose of any accumulated materials in the muscles. By providing the body with plenty of water, you can help sweep away those unwanted waste materials.

Our Lymphatic System: The Sewer Pipes of the Body

  In the case of lymphatic massage, the stimulation of the lymphatic circulation system can generate a large release of wastes in the body. If one thinks of the lymph system as the sewer pipes of the body, (collecting unwanted waste material and carrying it away for disposal) lymphatic massage is like a drain cleaner. Water helps flush out your body of waste.

Wetter Is Better

  Most importantly, massage can be dehydrating. The manipulation of the muscles dehydrates them and moves around the fluid, in the interstitial spaces between the muscles. Just like when you exercise, you lose water and electrolytes. Your cells need rehydration. By drinking water, you can reduce the potential for pain and soreness in the days that follow a massage.

  After a massage, sometimes you can feel a bit spacey and disoriented; having a glass of water or caffeinated herbal tea can help bring the body and mind back to the present. Drinking a glass of water after a massage is not only refreshing, it is good for your body.

Miracle Maya Fundraiser

As you may have read our previous blog about Maya Ahuja, last night some our staff and friends attended a fundraiser for her.  We would like to share with you, our experience.

Friday night after work, we met at Zaika Tastes of India, to help support the Ahuja family.  We did not know what to expect.  It was beyond our expectations. The food was wonderful, the staff and family greeted us with smiles and laughter.  We felt more than welcome.  There was a silent auction, door prizes, toonie tosses, and cute little gifts that we could purchase to help raise money for the BC Children's Hospital.

Just before dinner was served, buffet style, Maya and her family arrived.  When Gary and Karm arrived with their children, the whole room lit up with life.  There was so much love and support!  Maya is a little ball of courage and energy.  She was lively, she smiled, played and was even dancing!  The best part was that she was surrounded by so many people that love her.   As the night wound down and she began to tire, she cuddled up in her parents arms for security.

To see the love that her family has for her is absolutely wonderful!  I would like to thank the Ahuja family for welcoming us to be a part of their lives and all the individuals that were able to attend and share their support. It is important that we stand together as friends, neighbors, colleagues, and as a community to help those around us.  I feel honored that I was able to help in any way that I could. (Even if it was just our presence and donations.) Every little bit counts, and the support is amazing!

At this time I would like to conclude that we had a wonderful evening and we strongly encourage you to help in any way possible.  Mark your calendars for May 26th at 5:00 pm-11:00 pm, a World of Smiles Telethon. Tune to watch the 15th anniversary telethon on Shaw's Multicultural Channel (cable 116), Shaw Direct (channel 299) and your local Shaw TV Channel.

Even if you can only afford to donate a dollar, it will go towards saving a child's life.

Share your stories and let us know if you donated!

-Kerissa


Visit the website to donate and learn more: http://www.bcchf.ca/events/events-calendar/a-world-of-smiles/