April 2009 [Volume 8, Issue 4]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Who Knew Massage and Qi Gong Had So Much in Common?
• Grow Your Own Organic
• Cancer Treatment and Massage: A Therapist's Perspective

Who Knew Massage and Qi Gong Had So Much in Common?

Massage and qi gong are two complementary approaches to bodywork. It is said that qi gong balances the energy, blood and body fluid flow from the inside, and massage strengthens the flow from the outside. Qi gong uses intention and particular body movements to guide the qi in healthy directions, while the physical pressure and body manipulation of massage help to do so from the outside. Daoist masters and early Chinese medicine doctors saw the value of this internal-external approach to balance the body and harmonize the interior and exterior.

Early medical texts from the Daoist canon recommended massage and qi gong, particularly for muscle tension, locomotive and circulation issues, digestive disorders and psychosomatic disorders. Self-massage developed as a means of self-treatment and as warm-up exercises for meditation and qi gong practice, while professional massage therapists were still consulted when treatment was required. Read the full article.

Grow Your Own Organic

Today's organic food market is expanding rapidly; organic options are readily available in health food stores, supermarkets, and even from online distributors. However, while availability is increasing and costs are coming down, it can still be a challenge to find a good selection in the organic food aisle. This is where you can take the initiative and advantage of a few square feet of sun-drenched windowsill to grow your own.

For plants, healthy nutrition begins with the most basic elements – sun, water, fertile soil and perhaps a green thumb. These elements and a few seeds are all you need to produce nutrient-packed organic foods at home. For your organic garden, first pick a sunny spot. You can grow a variety of organic foods, like salad greens and herbs, simply by tending to a patch of lawn in the back yard or a couple of planted pots or boxes on your patio or balcony. As long as the area gets a lot of sunlight, you should have many growing options. Keep it simple. Organic gardening isn't necessarily about flair, but rather function.

Next, tend to the soil. The best soil for organic growing is dark, rich, crumbly top soil enriched with natural fertilizers, preferably manure or compost. By regularly feeding the soil, you are providing more food for the plants you will eventually eat. Keep the soil, seeds and plants watered, weeded, and protected using natural means. This means cultivating, mowing, hand-weeding or covering crops instead of using herbicides for weed control, as well as using natural plant oils, soaps and beneficial bugs to control harmful pests. Encouraging bees, butterflies and other wildlife to visit your organic plants and garden is actually essential because they help maintain the natural harmony and balance necessary for organic growing.

Make sure to plant a variety of seeds – after all, variety is the spice of life! Diversity is key when it comes to organic gardening. Strict organic rules require certified organic seed, but regardless of your personal preference for seeds, check first to ensure they are expected to grow well in the climate and region where you live.

Finally, pay attention to what works in your garden and what doesn't. In northern regions, it will just not be possible for most to grow crops outside in the winter, so determine what will grow well in a few strategically placed window boxes and enjoy your bounty when the snow arrives.

Don't get discouraged if you aren't growing the world's biggest tomato or tallest stalk of peppermint. Don't expect too much from your little garden. Try to enjoy the organic gardening experience itself and other health benefits it brings, like exercise, time spent outdoors in the fresh air, and a sense of well being. Read more about organic nutrition at www.toyourhealth.com.

Cancer Treatment and Massage: A Therapist's Perspective

Tracy Walton, an oncology massage therapist, reflects on a recent experience with a client. I worked for many months with a client while she was in cancer treatment, witnessing first-hand the effects of the treatment on her body. She was tired, in pain, nauseated, and losing weight rapidly from poor appetite. She came in one day complaining about neck pain. She had gone to a movie to try to forget (just for a couple of hours) about her cancer and the treatment, but her neck hurt so much she had to leave the movie early.

This client's story affected me deeply. On top of months of fear, worry, and pain, after surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, I couldn't stand the fact that she couldn't even find 2 hours of escape in a movie. I set to work on her neck pain. I worked very gently, used energy techniques, working the muscles. I followed all the relevant contraindications. Her neck pain became my whole focus. Needless to say, I was disappointed when she didn't feel any better by the end of the session.

At her next session, she looked much better. But she cheerfully reported that the massage had given her no relief. Instead, she mentioned the pain to her doctor, who remembered to adjust some medication she was taking. She had been on the medication for years and it had caused her neck pain from time to time when the dosage was not right. Adjusting it gave her relief this time, as it had before.

On reflection, I realized that at some point in the session my original intent — to give the client relief — had become mostly about my ability, competence, and attachment to the outcome. I realized that a fix-it approach can come at the expense of a clients' well-being. Sometimes people don't need fixing as much as they need to be supported along a difficult path. From that session, I resolved to help with what I can, but not confuse that intention with my own ego, or lose sight of the wholeness of the person in front of me. Read the full article.

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