What’s the big deal with wrong neck posture?

Wrong posture can increase the weight of head on the neck by a few kgs. Poor neck posture can lead to head moving forward which is one of the most common causes of neck, head and shoulder tension and pain. The resultant extra weight/pressure leads to flattening of the normal curve of the cervical spine resulting in abnormal strain of muscles, ligaments, bones and joints of the neck that causes joints to deteriorate much faster than in normal case that finally causes degenerative joint disease or neck arthritis.
As shown in the diagram attached, for every inch that the head moves forward in posture, it increases the weight of the head on the neck by 4-5 kgs!

Try out these simple wall tests to find out if your neck/shoulders have already deteriorated

http://shasynergy.com/custom_content/c_12336_posture_self_test.html

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Neck Pain – What a pain in the Neck

NECK PAIN – What a pain in the Neck!

Neck is the most delicate part of the Spinal column. Neck pain, though felt in the neck, can have several causes including those emanating from spine. It can happen due to various reasons like those relate to muscles, pinching nerves, physical and emotional stresses, wrong posture (e.g. while sitting or talking on phone), Joint disruption. Sometimes pain in areas like forehead, back of the ear, top/back of the head, sides of your chin, temple region and region above your eyebrows could also indicate problems with your neck, often known as Trapezius pain referral pattern.

Let us understand things a bit more. Head is supported by the lower neck and upper back, and it is these areas that commonly cause neck pain and headache. Upper three joints in the neck allow most movement of the neck and head whereas lower joints in the neck and those of the upper back create a supportive structure for the head to rest on it. Due to changes/impact in these support system muscles get tighten up thus leading to neck pain. And if things are not addressed for longer period it starts effecting bones as gradual degenerative process sets off.

Common causes of lesser intensity neck pains are:
* Stress – physical and emotional (Yes! you read it right…it could be emotional stress)
* Prolonged wrong postures – many people fall asleep on sofas and chairs and wake up with sore necks
* Minor injuries and falls – car accidents, sporting events and day to day injuries that are really minor
* Referred pain – mostly this has trigger points situated in upper back
* Muscle over use – Muscular strain is one of the most common causes
* Whiplash – Caused by or related to a sudden distortion of the neck
* Herniated disc
* Pinched nerve

Other common causes of severe neck pain include:
* Spinal disc herniation – protruding or bulging discs, or if severe prolapse.
* Spondylitis – degenerative arthritis and osteophytes
* Spinal Stenosis – a narrowing of the spinal canal

Neck Pain – A lifestyle related issue

Our work has increasingly become sedentary and at times monotonous (Physically!), leading to neck and shoulder problems.
Our work is characterized by repetitive tasks (hand/fingers), awkward postures (due to long sitting hours), twisting and bending of the trunk, continuous stress, smoking etc. If proper rest and exercise is not undertaken then we are sure to end up with chronic neck problems. The lack of ability to relax these muscles, even when we are resting can predict trapezius myalgia and may additionally relate to a tension neck syndrome. Thus another very important key is to have bodily awareness at all the time about our muscles, movements and postures; thus whenever you see an issue with the posture correct yourself. Psychological stress may also result in muscle contraction and prolonged condition can lead to stiffness or pain.

Yoga Asanas and Sukshma Vyayam (How to do it? – Refer the next article ’Neck Pain – Help Yourself’) can help you cure and reduce even spondylitis, especially in early stage when things go undetected by X-rays. But before you plan to start your yoga schedule to treat any of these issues take a step back and observe your body posture during the day to find out possible root cause.

Here are some of the areas that could be looked into:
1. How do you sit while driving
2. How do you sit while working on your laptops/desks
3. Do you sleep on your couch quite often
4. Do you read books while lying down

Once you find out the exact reason, consider this as your first victory against the battle to uproot NECK PAIN

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Neck Pain – Help Yourself

Neck Pain – Help Yourself! As we said earlier, awareness is the key to do away with your neck pain; correct yourself whenever you find yourself to be sitting, standing, moving with wrong posture. And now, some tips on how to keep your neck healthy. Follow simple things mentioned below: 1. Take frequent breaks during the work (once in every 30 minutes) to help you relax the muscles; these breaks could be as short as half a minute. During those breaks you should either try to stretch your body or take a small walk 2. If you do not follow any form of exercise to relax your muscles, do these stretching exercises – a. Rotate your neck in clockwise and anti-clockwise directions b. Drop/tilt your head side wards from right to left and left to right. Try to touch your ears on to your shoulders. But beware not to raise your shoulders c. Move your head up and down d. Twist your neck right to left and left to right e. Practices related to shoulder that could also help. Rotate your shoulder (socket) by folding your hands and placing your fingers on the shoulders in clockwise and anticlockwise directions Important things to follow – 1. Exhale while head/neck/elbow goes down and Inhale while it comes up 2. Exhale while you twist your neck and Inhale while you come back to center 3. Try to develop complete awareness towards the movement and your breath; movements should be slow and in complete synchronization with your breath 4. These practices are to be done for 5 rounds each for 5 times in a day 5. Do not over strain yourself 6. Listen to your body and if you feel any kind of pain or dizziness stop the practice; specifically if you have trouble in forward bending neck postures, abstain from doing it and consult your yoga therapist or doctor. Yoga asanas can help in reducing muscular tension, spasm and correcting posture. A good thing that yoga does is that it regulates the flow of Prana (life force energy) thus helps in reversing the process of degeneration and abnormal bone growth. Thus starting at a young age or as early as possible can surely be of great help! There are many Asanas* and Sukshma vyayams* for alleviating neck problem some of them are mentioned below: Sukshma Vyayams: Greeva Sanchalan, Skandha Chakra Asanas: Tadasana, Marjariasana, Gomukhasana, Shashankasana, Makarasana * Selection of practices would depend on individual’s needs http://www.hithyoga.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hith-Yoga/467749506643090

 

Goodness of Turmeric

Turmeric

Cure Acne – Naturally

Acne – Cure it Naturally!

Acne is most common chronic diseases; it is an inflammatory condition of the sebaceous (fat or grease) glands and hair follicles usually found on the face, the neck, chest and shoulders. Acne, characterized by the presence of comedones or blackheads, pimples, small superficial sebaceous cysts and scars.

Major causes of acne include wrong eating habits (like irregular hours of eating, improper food, excesses of starches and sugar, excess of fatty foods), chronic constipation, excessive use of tea/coffee/alcohol/tobacco, sedentary lifestyle, masturbation etc.

Long term solution to acne can happen only when the root cause is addressed. External treatment like ointments can only give you temporary relief. So are some tips to deal with it naturally…

1. Start an exclusive diet of fresh juicy fruits for five days. Take three meals a day at 5 hourly interval and use warm water enema daily during this period
a. After getting up (in morning) – A glass of lukewarm water with half a freshly-squeezed lime and a teaspoon of honey.
b. Breakfast – Fresh fruits such as apple, orange, grapes, papaya, mangoes, a cup of fresh milk, sweetened with honey or buttermilk.
c. Lunch – A bowl of steamed vegetables, whole wheat chappatis with butter and a glass of buttermilk
d. Mid-afternoon – A glass of fresh fruit or vegetables juices or sugarcane juice
e. Dinner – A bowl of fresh vegetables salad, with lime juice dressing, sprouted seeds and fresh home made cottage cheese or a glass of buttermilk

Restrict: Starchy, protein and fatty foods, as well as salt intake.
# Repeat this diet of fresh juicy fruits every month for three days till the skin condition improves
# Consume vitamin A rich diets

Other treatments –

1. Pimples disappear without scar when rubbed with raw garlic several times a day. Even very persistent form of acne, suffered by some adults has also been healed with garlic. External use o garlic helps to clear the skin of spots and pimples and boils. This can be helped further by taking garlic orally, to purify blood stream
2. Consume fresh tender leaves of Neem that will also purify blood
3. Application of fresh mint juice over face every night, cures pimples and prevents dryness of the skin
4. Drink at least 3-4 liters of water in a day and avoid oily and spicy food

Reference – Dr. H. K. Bakhru’s book on Diet Cure

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