We should feel pity for our poor feet. Every day we spend time standing, walking, running, jumping, and sometimes even skipping—on them. Professional athletes who undergo rehabilitation after an injury, often run in water rather than on a track. The reason is that there is no resistance when he or she runs in water, while tons of pressure crash until an athlete’s foot, each time his or her foot hits a pavement. Regardless of why your doggies are tired, here are some effective methods for a foot massage:

1. Ankle Rotations

Use one of your hands to cup underneath the foot’s heel, and behind the ankle. This will help to steady the patient’s foot and leg. Next, use the other hand to grab the ball of the foot. Then turn the foot at the ankle, slowly. Perform this action 3-5 times in both directions. Within time, the tenseness in the foot will begin to drop.

2. Arch Press

Grasp the foot behind the ankle. Use the other hand’s heel to push firmly on the foot. Slide from the ball of the foot, in the direction of the heel. Then return to the starting position. Perform this action five times.

3. Toe Pulls and Squeezes

Hold the foot underneath the arch. Then using the other hand, place your thumb atop the big toe, and the index finger underneath the toe. Begin with the base, and then pull the toe. Glide your fingers to the top of the toe, and then glide it down to the base. Repeat this step, but by using a squeezing method this time. After finishing with the big toe, move onto the other toes of the foot.

4. Stroking

This method helps to increase the blood circulation in the foot, thus warming it up. Use your thumbs to create a firm, slow stroking motion from the ends of the toes, to the ankle. Then by using a lighter stroke, follow the same path towards the ends of the toes. You should perform this stroking step 3-5 times.

5. Toe Slides

Grab the foot behind the patient’s ankle. Meanwhile, cup underneath the heel. Using the other hand’s index finger, place your finger between the toes, and move it backwards and forwards for 3-5 repetitions.

6. A hot stone massage kit

A hot stone massage kit can serve as an excellent way to complement a massage. These kits typically contain a variety of basalt stones, of different sizes. A therapist typically places the smallest stones in various places, such as between toes. As the stones lie there for about 20 minutes, they loosen up the muscles in the toes. Next, the therapist removes the stones, and then begins using particular foot massage techniques.

Considering how much pressure our feet withstand every day, a foot massage can be one of the most relaxing types of massages to give and receive. In fact, it can be as relaxing as a full-body massage. Use a hot stone massage kit to relieve that tension in your toes!

How do you know when the price is right? For instance, if you want to enjoy a hot stone kit massage, is there an objective way to determine if the price is too low or too high? Unfortunately, no universal standard exists for hot stone therapy prices. However, some basic factors can influence the price of massages. Here are some basic factors regarding the various costs of hot stone massages:

1. Public and private massages differ in cost

Home-service massages tend to cost somewhat more than massages in spas. This is logical, considering that home massages are more convenient. Some people feel more comfy receiving a home massage, while others enjoy the escapism that a spa massage can provide. Determine which one would be more convenient and relaxing for you.

2. Prices differ in smaller and larger cities

If you get a massage in a small city day spa, you can expect to pay about $50 for a half-hour massage. Meanwhile, an hour massage would cost you about $75 an hour. However, if you get a massage in a larger city, a one-hour basic massage (i.e. Swedish, Shiatsu, etc.) would cost you approximately $90. Of course, we should expect reasonably higher rates in larger cities, considering the added convenience and higher cost of living involved.

3. The therapist’s knowledge and experience can be a factor

The therapist who conducts the massage can also impact how much your massage costs. For instance, some therapists have received specialized training as an RN, for providing massages. Also, other therapists may have more experience in giving massages—or more experience giving a particular type of massage. Once again, if you want a better therapist, the cost of your massage could be slightly higher.

4. Specialty massages have higher prices

As a rule, the industry classifies massages such as Swedish and Shiatsu, as “basic” massages. Thus, their rates tend to be basic. On the other hand, specialty massages such as hot stone massages and aromatherapy tend to have higher price tags. Again, this makes sense, as the “you get what you pay for” rule applies. Aromatherapy requires various scented products. Meanwhile, hot stone massages are even more involved. A hot stone massage kit is required, while the therapist must spend extra time heating and sanitizing the stones.

5. Massages cost more at spas open 24-7

Expect to pay more for a massage in spas that are open 24-hours a day. However, the added cost is worthwhile, considering the convenience that they provide. Muscle pain and soreness can attack at any time. Thanks to 24-hour spas with therapeutic massages, you can simply get up and go! Remember that you get what you pay for. When you are suffering from muscle spasms, tomorrow cannot wait.

Whenever we want to buy a good or service, the price tag is one of the most important factors. In the case of hot stone massages, several factors can influence the cost of the massage. However, the soothing and relaxing feeling after the massage—is priceless!

An advisory panel of scientists and doctors advised the FDA to recommend that over the counter cough and cold medicines should NOT be used for children under 6? years old?

It’s true. They determined that their is no scientific evidence of their effectiveness and that their effectiveness on children was “assumed” because of studies done on adults.

The FDA, the agency that was created to protect us- took this information from its advisory board and made a formal announcement.

They recommended that these medications not be given to children under 2 years old!

Not 6 years old, as the evidence showed, but 2 years old.? The ‘evidence’ for THIS recommendation was borne simply out of thin air and not science.In the meantime, Canada has made a formal statement that they do not recommend using these medications on children under 6 years old as the evidence bears out.

?

So, what does this mean for you and your child. This means that you are absolutely putting your child at risk if you give them cough and cold medicines if they are under 6 years old. You are essentially gambling as to whether these medications could cause your child harm or not. There have been NO long term studies done to show that these medications are safe and effective for what they claim they are safe and effective for.

So, while their is ZERO evidence that cough and cold medicines work for children and there is ZERO safety data on them, doctors continue to recommend them to parents while claiming that everything that they do has a scientific basis to it. But if you think that these medications have been used by thousands of parents for years without any problem, think again. Many of these over the counter medications have put plenty of children in the hospital with normal use.

And do you remember Reyes Syndrome? Reyes syndrome is a serious disease that was given to children when parents gave them aspirin for fever. That’s why so called “baby aspirin” is not given to babies anymore. There were thousands of children that became ill with Reyes Syndrome after parents gave their children with fevers a “baby aspirin” to bring their fever down. The ‘traditional’ wisdom was wrong then, is it wrong now? We don’t really know, but what we DO know, is that we don’t really know much about how these medications effect children.

Just another reason to make sure that you do your OWN research when it comes to the health of yourself and your children.

Just about anyone who has undergone cold and flu treatment will tell you how annoying and irritating both these conditions can be, and the toll it takes on your daily routine and more importantly, your health.

From my earliest recollection of having the cold or the flu, it involved a lot of coughing and sneezing and just snapping at almost everyone who dared to come near the sniffling, sneezing monster.

And it wasn’t funny at all with numerous visits to the bathroom or not finding a tissue when you need one and most of all, the quarantine period.

Both these illnesses are due to viruses, with the common cold and the flu spread through one’s saliva or nasal secretions. Of course, when you take the necessary precautions, you wouldn’t need to worry, but in the case that you do contract either of these irritants, you’ll be happy to know that we will explore how the common cold and the flu are best treated.

Now, both share many of the same symptoms: chest discomfort, cough, stuffy nose, sneezing and a sore throat. But before you think that both these ailments are one and the same, think again. If we draw a comparison, the flu is the nastier of the two by a long shot.

So, here are some additional symptoms more associated with the flu: High fever, chills, headache, intense muscle pains, exhaustion, and a loss of appetite which could last for almost a week, and if not treated could lead to pneumonia. The common cold, however, is not that debilitating, yet is annoying in is own way with the symptoms lasting for three to fours days at the most.

Now if you have caught a cold, you’d use antibiotics… right? Wrong. Yes, you heard me. Antibiotics are not effective with viral attacks, and the common cold is the work of a virus, nor is there any recommended antiviral drug for colds. So, what then?

Colds are not necessarily treated with a course of medicine as they hardly last that long but only in the case of patients or old people who have a long history of medication are serious countermeasures taken. However, in order to combat the symptoms of the common cold, the use of decongestants and anti-histamines can be helpful.

Decongestants help you breathe easy whereas antihistamines are very effective when it comes to dealing with a running nose and bouts of sneezing. Now in the case of cough-related illnesses, anti-tussives and expectorants are used widely to suppress the urge to cough and of course, ease the patient’s respiratory tract by dissolving the mucus that has thickened.

Another recent development is the use of Zinc supplements to shorten the duration of the common cold.

In the case of the flu, the most common method of treatment is through the use of antiviral drugs that are commonly prescribed by your physician. They target and eliminate the viruses responsible for the attack on your body’s system. Amantadine, rimantadine, zanamivir and oseltamivir are antiviral-drugs that are used in this form of treatment.

Another method involves providing relief from the symptoms of the flu, while allowing the body’s immune system to destroy the viral infection itself.

I forget the exact quote or author, but it’s a great one: “Modern medicine is used to distract the patient, while the body heals itself.”

Cold and Flu Treatment - 7 Secrets to Speed Up Recovery

1. Stay at home
2. Get plenty of rest
3. Drink a lot of liquids
4. Avoid alcohol use and tobacco smoke
5. Consider over-the-counter medications to relieve flu symptoms
6. Consult a doctor early on for best possible treatment
7. Remain alert for emergency warning signs

Obvious? Maybe. Regularly practiced? Definitely not.