Alternative therapies for epilepsy

Epilepsy is a seizure disorder that is rooted in the Central Nervous System. According to an article on integrativehealthcare.org, “seizures can be genetic, related to a brain injury, or due to an unknown cause. Affecting how a person feels or acts for a short period of time, a seizure is a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain’s outer rim, called the cerebral cortex. Ranging from mild to totally disabling, there are many possible symptoms of a seizure.”

There are two forms of alternative therapy that have been researched and reported to help with seizure disorders: CranioSacral Therapy and Aromatherapy.

The brain floats within the sugar, salt and enzyme-rich cerebrospinal fluid. “Because fluid is a terrific conductor of sensations, any turbulence, erratic movement or asymmetry can reveal blockages within the enclosed cerebral-spinal system. A CranioSacral therapist’s theory explaining epilepsy could be the misalignment or compression of the skull bones and congestion of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).” When CranioSacral Therapy is applied, there is an increase in the circulation of fluid. This restores the skull’s internal flow and stretches the brain’s membranes just enough to release any restrictions or adhesions contributing to seizure activity.

Aromatherapy uses essential oils from plants and flowers to effect the brain through the olfactory system (smell). In a case study by Dr. Tim Betts, the seizure patient had an aromatherapy massage with an essential oil of their choosing that made them feel relaxed. Then, at the onset of a seizure, they smelled that oil and then used a self hypnosis technique. “All but one of the patients became completely seizure-free. Dubbed the smell-memory technique, the use of essential oils used in aromatherapy massage became a trigger for a conditioned relaxation response.”

Trisha Schmalhofer, CranioSacral Therapist and LMT

Are you in pain? Try eating a plant-based diet.

We all suffer with pain for one reason or another. Some of us have it mildly on occasion from overuse of a muscle and some of us suffer with it chronically- sometimes to the point of hopelessness. Inflammation in the body is one of the causes of pain. According to active.com, “prolonged inflammation is a condition that scientists now widely believe is a root of the chronic killer diseases of our time, including heart disease, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and other neurodegenerative disease.

According to growing evidence, your diet and lifestyle can either create a pro-inflammatory environment or an anti-inflammatory one. In fact, inflammation may turn out to be one of the main reasons why healthful, plant-based diets promote health”. Plant-based does not necessarily mean Vegan or strict Vegetarianism. There a number of eating plans out there that include fish, other seafood, poultry and lean meats, yet the emphasis is on fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

US News has explained and rated some of the most popular and effective plant-based diets. The full article is very informative, however here is the top 3:

Mediterranean Diet– emphasizes fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, nuts, legumes, olive oil, and herbs and spices. You can eat fish and seafood a couple times per week and poultry, eggs, cheese and yogurt in moderation. It resembles the Mayo Clinic Diet.

Flexitarian Diet– “flexible vegetarian” diet that emphasizes adding the “new meat” to your diet (tofu, beans, lentils, peas, nuts and seeds, and eggs). It’s ok to eat meat occasionally when the urge really hits you. It resembles the Anti-Inflammatory Diet by Dr. Weil.

Ornish Diet– categorizes food into five groups from most (group 1) to least (group 5) healthful. It’s low in fat and bans most animal products except fish, egg whites and some dairy. It resembles the DASH diet and is very heart healthy.

Remember to consult your health care professional(s) before starting a new food plan.

Trisha Schmalhofer, LMT and CranioSacral Therapist

Massage Your Masseter! Relief for TMJ, teeth grinding, tinnitus and headaches

The Masseter

The Masseter is a muscle that connects your cheek and jaw bone and can be felt very easily. Put your fingers on each side of your head over your jaw joint and clench your teeth. That muscle that pops out is the masseter.  According to an article on saveyourself.ca, massaging and pressing on this muscle can help alleviate symptoms of TMJ Disorder, bruxism, tinnitus, headaches and sometimes toothaches.

• TMJ Disorder- severe pain, popping, cracking or locking in the jaw joint.
• Bruxism- also called teeth grinding that usually happens when a person sleeps and can cause pain in the jaw joint.
• Tinnitus- ringing sound in the ear.
• Headaches- especially on the sides of the head.

This is a good self-care maintenance to do between your regular professional massage therapy sessions. When massaging the masseter, you want to focus on two things: increasing blood flow to the muscle and working out trigger points (small “knots” in the muscle). Start under the cheek and with a good amount of pressure move the skin and tissue under it back and forth (a burning feeling is normal when massaging sore muscles). Move your fingers down the muscle in small increments until you get to the chin. If  you feel a small “knot” in the muscle, press on it and take deep, cleansing breaths until the “knot” relaxes. Repeat several times in one sitting. Practice this routine regularly to reduce or prevent pain in that area.

Trisha Schmalhofer, LMT and CranioSacral Therapist