do it from center

As a massage therapist and person who loves computers, I experience soreness, tension, and sometimes pain in my wrists, thumbs, and forearms. Repetitive use my hands leaves me with hypertonic muscles that can feel like little rocks and connective tissue that feels like metal rods. During the last months of massage school, the pain was becoming unbearable and it became hard to use my pincer grip (thumb & forefingers) because pain would shoot up my arms. This was quite a predicament, since my new career as well as my “old” career depended on me constantly using my hands! I became a bit frantic and very worried. I could not live in pain – I am supposed to help heal pain! What was a new MT to do?

Before too long, it hit me. Castor Oil! During the hydrotherapy week of school, we learned about the drawing and lubricating properties of castor oil combined with heat. All it took was a couple treatments for me to feel relief! I went from constant aching and shooting pain back to normal. This amazing treatment is pretty simple and very accessible!

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I know I feel draggy and stiff the day after doing a new activity, or one I haven’t done in a while. I’ve been struggling with muscle soreness for ages, and the older I get, the more I seem to drag. Stretching, though integral to my health, has not been proven–either in scientific research or in my own experience–to relieve muscular discomfort from overuse.

Googling in frustration, I stumbled across a method used by professional athletes (albeit with more sophisticated equipment): contrast showers. (more…)