Drug FREE Way to Deal with Back Pain

mine (Photo credit: belénciaga)

More than 50 million Americans now suffer from chronic pain- much of it untreated. But when pain sufferers do get medical care, they are often over-treated. Why is that?
Insurance companies and Medicare reimburse doctors for surgery and other invasive procedures so that’s what doctors are likely to provide. Insurance doesn’t pay doctors to counsel patients about low-tech remedies, such as exercise and stress relief- even though these sometimes are the best ways to deal with persistent pain.
Frequently doctors misdiagnose and mistreat back pain. Here is what you can do to get effective, commonsense pain relief.
Up to 80% of Americans suffer from low back pain at some point of their lives. Medical treatment for this chronic problem is based on the assumption that anatomical problems, such as herniated discs, cause the pain. A standard treatment is to operate, sometimes by surgically fusing the vertebrae (bones of the spine).
In reality, bones and discs usually don’t cause low back pain. Sprained or strained muscles, ligaments and tendons-soft tissue made vulnerable to injury by overexertion and lack of exercise-underlie most cases.
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE: In a study published in SPINE, orthopedic surgeons treated 64 patients, ages 25 to 60, who had low back pain that had lasted one year or longer. X-rays showed degenerated discs. Half of the group received surgery (fusion of the lumbar vertebrae). Half got non-surgical treatments, including counseling and exercise.
A year after treatment, researchers evaluated both groups for pain, use of pain medication and other factors indicating tratment success or failure. The non-surgical group had a HIGHER success rate – 76% compared with 70% of the surgery group ( a clinical significant difference). And the non surgery group hadn’t been subjected to the pain, risk, and inconvenience of surgery.
Here is an example of a low back exercise that will help reduce your low back.

Perform 4 repetitions of these:

1. Diaphragmatic breathing

Lie on your back, arms at your sides and knees bent. Slowly inhale through your nose to make your belly round. Then exhale through your mouth.

2. Shoulder Shrug

Pull your shoulders up towards your ears as you inhale through your nose. Then exhale through your mouth as you let your shoulders fall back down.

For more exercises to help deal with your chronic pain, stop by Goings Natural Healthand Bodywork for your FREE evaluation exercise pamphlet.

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• Avoid a Sleepless Night After An Afternoon of Raking Leaves – 12 Tips to Avoid Low Back Pain When Raking (prweb.com)
• Low Back Pain and Failed Back Surgery (alliedhealthgroup.wordpress.com)
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• Exercise Back Pain Away (fitnesstipsforlife.com)
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HOT YOGA?

English: Bikram Yoga (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I recently felt the need to clear my mind and try to focus on my all together well-being. To focus on all aspects of my being. My mind, body and soul, were all in need of some much-needed help. We are merely a soul that is driving a vehicle through life. We must maintain our bodies as if we would our cars. The only difference is when we crash our cars, we can get a new one, our bodies is with us permanently. We are only given one so we must take care of it.
So I wanted to try yoga, and not just regular yoga but hot yoga (Bikram).
I am addicted to this! I will admit, it is very hard when you first start going, however, the more you go, the more you learn about your balance and you are also going to learn more about your limits and how strong you are mentally. It is very challenging. In the beginning, the hardest thing I had to battle was me. I kept wanting to give up, or talk myself out of it, but I gradually overcame it. I highly recommend to anyone that has back problems, neck problems, weight issues, to give it a try. A serious try though.
Here is a small video for you to watch that explains more about hot yoga and its benefits.

Here is also some information that I found regarding Hot Yoga that I found on a website titled livestrong.com.

LOVE LIFE

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/goingsnatural

 

 

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A Letter from the Owner of Goings Natural

To all of our loyal clients,
First I would like to say sorry and apologize for not being here. I have had to take some time and regroup and re-ground myself. I became lost with no guidance. I was ready to give up on this business and find something else to support my family with. This business for months has barely been able to survive, and it seemed as though it was only getting worst. With our
economy where it is at, people are having to cut back, and massages are one of the top things people get rid of in order to make ends meet. So I was ready to throw in the towel.
But then I remembered, that life always presents you with opportunities. I feel I have gift, a gift of healing. If I take this gift away then I will have no purpose. I remember a saying, that “you only get, what you put in.” So I am going to give you my everything. I will bring this business back to where it once was. I do need your help. Please if you are in need of some bodywork or if you need some consulting on an injury using a natural approach, please do not hesitate to call us.
I want to thank all of my loyal clients for sticking with me through these tough times. I would like to reward you and everyone else that is reading this. From now until November 1st, ALL one hour massage treatments are only $35.00. That is right, everyone is a new client again! So take advantage of this great deal. And tell all of your friends about this. The first 3 people that share this posting wll also get a FREE ONE HOUR MASSAGE.
Again, Thank you all for your patience and understanding. I truly value each and evee of you!
- Troy Goings
Founder/Operator
Goings Natural Health and Bodywork
916-877-HEAL (4325)

When Work is a Pain in the Neck!

A lot of our clients that come to see us at Goings Natural, come after work. It is no secret that your posture is the prime suspect when it comes to back pain, especially those people who sit in front of a computer for 8 hours or more a day.
We here at Goings Natural feel that preventative care is the best type of care for your body. We feel that stretching through out the day during work will greatly decrease your back pain. We are a firm believer of the all mighty stretch and feel that every one needs to stretch periodically throughout the day. Take the 2 week challenge. Use these stretches that are displayed to you below religiously 3 times a day, not asking for much. Then see how much better you feel. I can almost guarantee you that you will be feeling looser with less tension in your shoulders. Your headaches may have subsided as well. If you have any questions or concerns, or you need to make an appointment for us to loosen you up before your challenge, give us a call. We are here to help. 916-877-4325.

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Eight Steps You Can Take to Lower Your Cholesterol Naturally

Cholesterol emboli (Photo credit: Boonyarit Cheunsuchon)

You have seen it on T.V. You read about it in news journals, and magazines, and your doctor may have even talked to you about it. Cholesterol. If you suffer from high cholesterol, you may have been prescribed medication that will lower your cholesterol, but may also have some serious side effects, as most of our medicine does. I have composed a list that will help you lower your cholesterol by taking a natural approach.
1. Eat more fiber. Studies show that fiber has a direct and dramatic cholesterol-lowering effect. You can get plenty of fiber by eating fresh, whole, unprocessed foods and a plant-based diet. Pectin, a soluble form of fiber found in apples, blueberries, and grapefruit, particularly helps reduce cholesterol. If you want to add more fiber, take 1 teaspoon a day of psyllium with 8 ounces if water or juice. Psyllium is the active ingredient in Metamucil, but the latter also has sugar, preservatives, and food colorings. Stick to the plain psyllium found in your health food store- it’s cheaper, too.

2. Make olive oil and fish oil your predominant dietary fats. They both can actually lower LDL cholesterol. However, don’t entirely neglect the other fats: Keep your nutrition in balance.

3. Add garlic to your diet, Garlic is a powerful cholesterol-lowering substance and lowers blood pressure too. Add it liberally to your diet and take it in capsules.

4. Have a glass of red wine with dinner or a cup of green tea, or take a bioflavonoid supplement such as grapeseed extract and/or green tea daily. Both are known to have a cholesterol-lowering effect. However, too much alcohol (more than two drinks per day) will raise cholesterol levels.

5. Take niacin.

6. Take your cholesterol-busting supplements.

7. Eat your cholesterol-busting foods.

8.Exercise, which will directly raise HDL cholesterol. It’s a must for healthy arteries.

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BEE REMEDIES

Bee with pollen on flower (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I recently wrote a little article regarding allergies and allergy season. I accommodated that blog entry with a tool that helps you find an over-the-counter medicine that can help with your allergy symptom. I normally stay away from synthetic medicine as I believe we are a natural being and need natural remedies to help our bodies fight off the conditions that are troubling us. I also believe that some times, we need natural medicine in conjunction with Western Medicine. I feel that allergies during the spring time are so unbearable that we want and deserve a quick result. Please, if you need to use the over-the-counter antihistamines, please do so at a moderate amount, and do not stay on it more than needed to. I know many people who stock up on these medicines just in case they need it, but really it all depends on your lifestyle and choices that you make when it comes to your health and the things you put into your body.

With that being said, if you maintain a healthy lifestyle, your body will respond better to the natural remedies that I present to you than if your body is accustomed to the synthetic medicine that majority of us grew up with.

The true treatment to any medical condition is preventative care. So start today to prevent yourself from being overcome by any medical condition, big or small.

Now as far as allergies go, I find that Bee Pollen may give some people relief, but try just a little bit first in case you are one of the those who are allergic to it. If you can buy fresh local honey at a Farmer’s Market or health food store, you can try that instead. The local pollens in the honey can desensitize your hay fever reactions.

Carry allergy-fighting supplements with you so that as soon as you feel an allergic reaction coming on you can nip it in the bud. You can travel with the packets of Energen-C, which contains 1,000 to 2,000 mg of vitamin C and smaller amounts of a handful of other immune-supportive vitamins. The bioflavonoids found in grapeseed extract (proanthocyanidins) and green tea are especially powerful and effective for treating allergies.

I hope this helps. We all want to enjoy Spring. It is much better to enjoy this season without worrying about your eyes, ears, throat, and nose. Always consult a physician before taking any medications, natural or not.

Until next time, enjoy yourself, your family and each other!

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Its that time again! ALLERGY SEASON

Allergy starter (Photo credit: gibsonsgolfer)

If you are like I am, you have been suffering from allergies for the past three to four, perhaps five days. It is officially allergy season. The stuffy and runny nose, the itchy eyes, the itchy throat, the sneezing…all of this can be unbearable. But what types of medication do we take for which symptoms. I have found this Allergy and Sinus Symptom Evaluation to be very helpful. I though I would share this with you. Please be advised however, that treating allergies with antihistamines is a temporary stopgap measure that doesn’t address the underlying problem and shouldn’t be used for more than a few weeks at a time. If you want to avoid commercial antihistamines, you can try drinking ephedra tea or taking ephedra in capsule form. (Find it at your health food store)

CLICK HERE TO BEGIN YOUR EVALUATION

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Cold and Flu Season is upon us! Here is what you can do to fight the virus!

It’s that time of the year again! Cold and Flu season. A time where you can not afford to stay home sick. Fortunately there are many ways to fight these viruses. It is no secret that the healthier you are, the less likely it is that you become sick; however, the healthiest individuals still are not immune to the flu virus. We would like to share some natural health tips and remedies that will aid you through the flu season.

One of the keys to resisting an infection is to begin helping your body fight it as soon as you are aware it’s there. We all know the symptoms: fatigue, achiness. sore throat, swollen glands, runny nose, cough, and fever. If you have a sore throat and ignore it, stay up late, and eat a bowl of ice cream, its bound to get worse. If you gargle with salt water, go to bed early with a cup of chamomile tea, and avoid sugary foods, chances are it will be gone in the morning.

If you are coming down with a sore throat, one of the simplest and most effective solutions is to gargle with a germ-killing mouthwash, or a salt water solution (1tsp salt + 1 cup of water) – make sure the gargle reaches your throat. A sore throat is often caused by mucus from the sinuses dripping down the back of the throat, so giving that area an antibacterial bath can work wonders. There are some herbal throat sprays on the market that are excellent for banishing throat infections.

As your body fights infections, it needs extra nutrition. It uses extra vitamins and minerals in its battle against bacteria, and its up to you to supply the extras needed. You can double your intake of your multivitamin for up to a week to help fight infection.

On the other hand, sugar and alcohol will make it much harder for your body to do its job. Both suppress the immune system, leaving you  wide open to whatever germs are around.

There’s nothing like vitamin C for fighting infections and viruses If you take 1,000 to 2,000 mg every three (3) to four (4) hours as soon as you feel a cold coming on, drink plenty of water, and avoid sugar, you can often knock it out before it ever gets started. Vitamin C will work even better if you combine it with bioflavonoids.

Here is a suggested course of action when you feel a cold or flu coming:

• Reduce stress and get plenty of sleep.
• Stop eating ALL sugars.
• Take echinacea and goldenseal.
• Take high levels of Vitamin A, 15,000 to 30,000 IU two times a day for three to five days only.
• Take as n\much vitamin C as you can without getting loose stools. If you do get loose stools, cut back proportions until your eliminations are normal. Most people who are getting sick or are sick can tolerate up to 10,000 mg daily in divided doses.
• You can also take colloidal silver, 1 tsp at first. Then 1 tsp four times a day
• For colds, take 10-to 20-mg zinc lozenges two to four times a day, for up to five days.

Remember take care of yourself! As soon as you start to feel sick, take action right away! And be sure to stay bundled and hydrated! If you need other tips and remedies for any other types of infections or viruses, schedule a natural health consultation at Goings Natural Health and Bodyworks by calling 916-877-HEAL (4325)

NO INSURANCE NEEDED, and costs the same as a co-payment.

What is the Best Way to Become a Vegetarian?

Image via Wikipedia

About six months ago I decided to stop eating meat entirely. I did it, not becasue I wanted to lose weight, or I wanted to try something new, I did it for a personal reason, and have been a vegetarian for six months now! It has been very hard at times as I was a huge meat eater. In fact I was the guy that lost 45 lbs on the Atkins diet that consists nothing but meat! I have been reading a lot of different religious books and found a book to be very interesting. It is titled The Science of Self-Realization by his Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupade. It is a book you can read along the Bhagavad Gita as it is.  It helps you understand God and our purpose in this life. One of the many lessons that I took from this book is the value of life….for all creatures. This book opened my eyes to the eating of animals. Now I am not one of those individuals that preach about religion or try to pursue people to follow my religion. I strongly believe that any religion that you choose is a great way to begin a healthy lifestyle. I am not telling you to follow any religion. I am just simply telling you my choice that I have made to eliminate meat from my diet. Again,  becoming a vegetarian has been very hard at times, however, I do feel a lot better about myself and have noticed that I have lost aproximately 15lbs. Some of you may have thought about becoming a vegetarian for religious purposes, or lifestyle changes. Whatever the reason may be, always consult with your doctor if you plan on doing anything as drastic as becoming a vegetarian. I have found a great article that I posted below. This article may help you get started. Good luck to you and I wish you nothing bu happiness!
Sincerely,
W. Troy Goings

 

 

What’s the best way to become a vegetarian?

by Kate Wertheimer

The importance of protein The 10 percent to 15 percent of calories you need each day from protein can easily be met by eating high-quality plant foods, including vegetables (vegetables contribute 2 grams to 3 grams of protein per half cup serving) as well as beans, lentils, nuts and seeds. Typically, more than half of the calories in a vegetarian diet comes from carbohydrates, found in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes.

Don’t forget fat Fats serve multiple functions, such as maintaining the integrity of our cell membranes and fighting inflammation. Essential fatty acids in plant foods, including flax, hemp, soybeans and walnuts, are provided in the form of ALA, which the body can then convert to those fatty acids found naturally in fish (EPA and DHA). Or, take a vegetarian omega-3 Natural Healing supplement that is made from algae.

Take your vitamins Supplements, in conjunction with diet, can help you get enough of four crucial vitamins and minerals found in animal foods:

Vitamin D: There are receptors in every cell for vitamin D, shown to aid in immunity and cancer protection. You need a minimum of 600 IUs per day.

B12: Essential for energy, metabolism and cognitive function, B12 is found only in animal foods. Get the recommended 2.4 micrograms of B12 from eggs, dairy or in fortified foods such as cereal.

Zinc: Important for optimal immune function, zinc is found in nuts, seeds, whole grains and wild rice. Zinc absorption may be slightly lower for vegetarians, so it’s important to make sure you vary the number of zinc sources you get in order to meet the recommended 8 milligrams to 11 milligrams per day.

Iron: Vital to the health of red blood cells, iron is essential for energy and immunity. Fresh fruit, dark greens, beans, tofu, whole grains, nuts and seeds can provide the recommended 10 milligrams to 18 milligrams per day along with a hefty dose of vitamin C, which helps the body absorb the nonheme iron found in plant foods.

Seek inspiration Vegetarian resources are essential to help create a balanced, whole foods eating plan and avoiding the pitfalls of a convenience-based, nutritionally naked vegetarian diet. Celebrate your choice (and seek out support) by sharing your new eating habits with your family and friends. — Kathie Madonna Swift, M.S., R.D., L.D.N., creator of myfoundationdiet.com, a glutenfree, dairy-free and whole foods guide to vegetarian and flexitarian diets.

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

We had to make this announcement. We here at Goings Natural understands the importance of October and that it is the month that we all come together to help find a cure for Breast Cancer. So we want to do our part. Goings Natural will be donating $5.00 from EVERY treatment that we administer during the entire month of October! Won’t you help and be a part of this? Simply book an appointment and we will take care of the rest! Great way to participate for such an important cause! To schedule your appointment call us at 916-877-4324. If you can not make it in this month, but would still like to donate, you can always stop by with a check or money order made out to Sacramento Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Thank you to you all for your support in this. Please spread the word and lets see how much we can raise this month to fight breast cancer!

For other ways that you can help, please visit http://www.komensacramento.org/