Tag Archive for: Pain

Treat heartburn naturally with Systematic Kinesiology

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 treat heartburn

Heartburn is something that most adults will experience at some time

Heartburn, also known as acid reflex, gives a burning sensation in the chest, just behind or below the breastbone. The sensation of pain or discomfort often rises in the chest and often gets worse on lying down or bending over.

In Systematic Kinesiology we often see clients coming to us suffering from consistent and painful acid reflux and want to treat heartburn. While a painful condition, many clients first try to self treat with antacids without considering the many causes and the important role the stomach plays in our health.  It’s too simple to say that acid reflux is caused by too much acid, and it’s interesting to note that the feeling of pain is the same whether there is too much acid, or indeed too little.  I’ve treated many clients, drinking bottles of well known antacid remedies for a condition that is being caused by too little.

The role of stomach acid (gastric juice)

Stomach acid plays an essential role in both digestion and immunity.  Stomach acid consists of pepsin (essential in the break down of proteins into amino acids – our building blocks) and hydrochloric acid which is primarily involved in digestion. Hydrochloric Acid, as well as aiding digestion, is essential in the absorption of minerals, such as calcium, and vitamins such as B12. It also kills germs, parasites and harmful bacteria such as H. pylori which is associated with ulcers.  It also signals the body to produce specific enzymes needed for the food you’ve just eaten.  When there is dysfunction in this mechanism, such as with too little stomach acid, or regular consumption of antacids, the risk of mal-absorption is higher.

Clients who have been diagnosed with Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, which affects up to 25% of Americans and Europeans, (according to American Family Physician) need further investigation, than simply taking over the counter antacid or stronger medications.

The need to treat heartburn is important, as left untreated, GERD can lead to injury of the lining in the lower part of your esophagus. If not addressed this can contribute to the development of esophageal cancer.

Possible causes of heartburn

It is said that acid reflux can occur when the ring of the muscle that allows food into your stomach relaxes when it shouldn’t. The result is acid from your stomach goes back up your esophagus, which then causes the sensation of acid reflux.  However, this doesn’t address whether the cause is too much acid (commonly assumed), or if there are other causes.  Since stomach acid has a very low pH the burning can cause long term damage, so it is an important condition to address.

Acid reflux and heartburn can be triggered by a number of factors like diet and lifestyle.  What we find in Systematic Kinesiology is that food sensitivities can play a role.  Chronic long term emotional stress, as well as structural causes such as a Hiatus Hernia are also amongst the many areas we consider.  Some of the common causes of heartburn are as follows:

Dietary Habits –

  • Eating large portions of food, ie overeating
  • Eating excessive spicy and oily food                            
  • Drinking caffeinated and carbonated drinks
  • Eating late or just before bedtime

Structural issues

  • Poor posture when eating (such as eating off a low table)
  • Hiatal hernia

Lifestyle Habits –

  • Being overweight
  • Smoking
  • Drinking alcohol

Change these habits to treat heartburn

What to do when you’re in pain with acid reflux

Watch this video for some natural remedies for when heartburn  acid reflux is causing you pain. And then read below a simple Kinesiology balancing technique to try out.

The symptom of burning and discomfort can be relieved using rubbing the associated lymphatic reflex points to the stomach.  These points will help you get feel better in the short term.

The points associated with the stomach are between the 5-6th ribs. Found on the left hand side of the body, on the front of the body, below the chest.

  • Rub between the rib spaces from the centre out towards the side of the body, along the rib spaces.  Don’t worry about being too specific, you can’t do the body any harm.
  • Under the left breast, if you find the point tender, then it needs treatment.
  • Rub for about 3 minutes, or until the pain level has reduced at least 50%.
  • Also rub between the 5-6th vertebra on the back of the body, rub either side and close to the spine.

And if that helps, look to identify the root cause of this symptom, so you don’t need to suffer again.

Improve Shoulder Mobilization with Kinesiology

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Improve Shoulder Mobilization with Kinesiology

The more precise medical term for a frozen shoulder is “adhesive capsulitis”.

It is a condition where normal shoulder ranges of motion are decreased often severely, and there is pain on resting or with even slight movement.
Most cases of it can occur in people between the ages of 40 and 60. The condition is more common in women than men. It is estimated that it could affect up to 1 in 20 people.

Common issues include:
Unable to reach above shoulder height.
Not able to reach above shoulder height.
Can’t to throw a ball.
Unable to quickly reach for something.
Unable to reach behind your back eg. bra or tuck shirt.
Not able to reach out to your side and behind. eg. reach for seat belt.
Just cannot sleep on your side.

What Causes Frozen Shoulder?
In basic terms, it means that your shoulder pain and stiffness is a result of capsule inflammation (capsulitis) and fibrotic adhesions that limit your shoulder movement.

Through Kinesiology it can be resolved either directly by using shoulder mobilisation technique or indirectly by muscle balancing and resetting the muscles that hold the scapula in place. Sometimes the muscles get moved out of place by trauma or whiplash or injury. They become damaged by constantly over working muscles that are switched off. Dehydration or vitamin deficiency can be an underlying cause too or coming from an emotional standpoint a client may be carrying emotional weight and stress.

All muscles in the body are overlapping other muscles. Each muscle has a particular set of skills and a unique and only job, which is to move the body in a certain way. Muscle fibres are usually smooth and slide effortlessly over and past each other without obstructing the nearby muscles from doing their only job too. If the muscles fibres are dehydrated and become frayed and tight or become loose and entangled then the smooth motion becomes erratic, painful and frozen.

We like to imagine muscles are like sea sponges that you use in the bath tub. When they are wet they are luxurious and soft and smooth our muscles need water to work properly because we humans are roughly 67% water. So now imagine that you take the sea sponge out of the bath water and let it dry out. What happens? It dries out and would now hurt your face. Our muscles need water to function so let’s water them!

Kinesiology we look at underlying problem that could be causing pain. We often recommend making changes when it comes to their diet, stress levels, water intake, caffeine intake, poor sleep habits which can all be contributing towards the pain.
Some schools of thought say it can take up to eighteen months to resolve frozen shoulder, but with Kinesiological balancing it is usually helped much quicker.

 
Before and after pictures of the Diploma class working on techniques you can see the results for yourself.

The Power of Systematic Kinesiology

Tom, one of our Diploma students, has being struggling with an injury and unable to move his arm above his shoulder for over 20 years. He suffers constant pain in his shoulder and was happy to volunteer in class. (See the video below – we apologize for the quality, this was a powerful technique captured in class by one of the students)

While frozen shoulder is commonly missed or confused with a rotator cuff injury, it has a distinct pattern of symptoms resulting in severe shoulder pain, loss of shoulder function and eventually stiffness.

If you have pain that limits your range of movement. It is important to get it checked out and you can find a local Kinesiologist here -http://kinesiology.ie/practitioners/ .

Early treatment can help to prevent long-term stiffness in the joint. Make sure you gently stretch the shoulder before exercising and try to maintain good posture.

 

To find out more about training, we have a last chance course coming up – https://www.kinesiologyzone.com/lastchance