Feeling tired and blue? Learn to improve your mood and increase energy by healing your gut-brain connection. The gut-brain connection refers to the communication back and forth of the intestinal tract and the brain. Recent research has discovered a complex system of communication involving the gut, the brain, the immune and endocrine systems, and all the microorganisms of the intestinal tract.
You're probably used to hearing the term "TMJ" refer to jaw problems, but TMJ actually just stands for temporomandibular joint. The TMJ holds your jaw on your skull and is the most unique joint in your body — it's actually two joints located on either side of your jaw. The TMJ controls talking, chewing, and biting. With so much going on in the TMJ, it's no wonder it sometimes needs a little TLC.
Chances are you're not thinking of your vertebrae when you suddenly feel like you could grow a cactus on your tongue and realize you haven't drunk water all day. Yet just like every other part of your body, your spine needs adequate water to function properly. And so hydration plays an important role in back health.
Almost all of us carry stories on our skin, etched in the form of scars. While some may tell tales of resilience and courage, scars can also be bothersome and limit movement. When our friend Mary Ellen donated a kidney to her daughter, her doctors stressed the importance of movement, walking, and regaining strength. But there's another often-overlooked aspect of post-transplant care: scar massage.
Let's face it, aging isn't always sunshine and rainbows. Wrinkles creep in, joints get achy, and that youthful bounce in our step starts to fade. But before you resign yourself to a rocking chair and endless reruns, there's good news: staying fit as you age is possible, and it can make you feel like a million bucks.
Life can be exhausting! Part of living a vital life is taking care of yourself when you’re running on empty. Massage can provide restorative support to counteract the stress our bodies and minds endure. Whether you’re worn out from the daily grind or battling a chronic condition, massage therapy can reduce fatigue and help you live your best life.
Our neighbor Joe developed a bulging disk in his spine that eventually made it hard for him to stand for longer than a few minutes at a time. Reluctantly, he visited a spine specialist and was told he needed back surgery. Fortunately for Joe, his family urged him to get a second opinion. In Joe's case he was able to recover without having the surgery. Many experts agree that surgery should be your last resort, but what other options are there?
We love dogs. And we love the dog park. Aside from an occasional canine kerfluffle, the dog park is most always a joyous place. We do know of one neighbor though who was bowled over by a couple rowdy dogs and suffered whiplash. Whiplash is usually associated with car crashes, but it can also occur in some other surprising ways.
At Parkside, we're always looking not only to relieve the immediate discomfort a condition may be causing, but also to treat the underlying cause of an issue. When it comes to joint pain, the cause is often inflamation. Let's look at how small changes in your lifestyle, along with visits to your friendly neighborhood massage therapist, can help fight the fire of inflammation.
