What can a handful of old oyster shells reveal about the trials some of the New World's early European settlers? A lot, it turns out. [More]



New World - Jamestown Virginia - Recreation - Shells - Shopping

A new study finds that the imprint of European colonialism and imperialism is evident in the genetic makeup of today's Hispanic/Latino American populations. Scientists discovered that Europeans, Native Americans, as well as West Africans brought to the US and Latin America by the trans-Atlantic slave trade, have influenced the genes of the current Hispanic/Latino populations. However, a large variation in genes among individuals within each population were still found to exist.

Scientists in the U.S. and China have found that reforestation and afforestation -- the creation of new forests -- may lower the potential of forests for climate change lessening.

The first new projections of future aircraft emissions in 10 years predict that carbon dioxide and other gases from air traffic will become a significant source of global warming as they double or triple by 2050.

University of Alberta researchers have identified one of the body's natural self-repair mechanisms that kick in after spinal cord injury which could lead to the development of more effective treatments.

A 17-year-long community study looking at symptoms of enlarged prostate in over 2,000 men age 40 to 79 years suggests that surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia offers more relief from incontinence and obstruction symptoms than treatment from drug-based therapy, according to a new study.

More than 100 years ago, paleontologist E. D. Cope of "Dinosaur Wars" fame found a few fragmentary bones of a reptile in the deserts of New Mexico. He named the reptile Typothorax. A century later, Typothorax -- which belongs to a group of reptiles called aetosaurs -- remained something of a mystery, known mainly from pieces of armor, a few limb bones, and some sections of tail. Now, thanks to two remarkably complete skeletons, paleontologists are finally revealing what Typothorax really looked like.

When our lives get tangled up in stress and we are finding it difficult to think rationally as a result, there are many ways to de-stress and release the pressure of daily life.

However, one of them, therapeutic massage, remains a constant in many people’s lives for its ability to release bad energy and make one feel very relaxed despite a long day’s work.

Therapeutic massage combines the art of touch therapy, which has been around for thousands of years, together with science, to provide people with pain relief and overall well-being and relaxation.

There are many different kinds of therapeutic massage available today, but one thing they all have in common is the use of hand strokes, and usually with lubrication such as oil or lotion, with pressure applied on various parts of the body to manipulate muscles and soft tissue.

The therapeutic massage practitioner may use just their hands, or other parts of the body to achieve the desired effect, such as fingers, elbows, feet, or forearms.

Types and benefits of therapeutic massage

Therapeutic massage is also recognized for its healing qualities and health benefits.

Although it has been around since ancient times, countless studies have verified the effectiveness of massage and touch therapy as a tool and complement for a person who is undergoing healing.

Some of the most common types of therapeutic massage are the following:

1. Deep tissue massage pertains to the use of patterns of strokes and the use of fingers to apply pressure deep into the muscles to fix knots and problem areas.
2. Swedish massage involves long strokes, kneading, and adding friction to muscles to remove tied up bunches of muscles, stress-related areas, and to increase flexibility within joints. It is a common type of massage for those who want to simply relax and unwind, as well as those with serious blockages or pains in their muscles.
3. Shiatsu massage is based on the principle qi, a vital energy, to flow freely throughout the body for one to have mental and physical well-being and balance. The massage applies pressure and rhythmic movements to unblock anything that may be causing the qi to have a stopped flow in the body.
4. Pressure point massage is a more intensive type of therapeutic massage, prescribed for those who commonly use certain muscles such as athletes. The therapist uses deeper strokes to reach deeper into muscles that have formed knots, and these areas will bring about pain or discomfort during the session when treated however will disappear in a few minutes.

Therapeutic massage has been proven to aid in healing a number of health problems. These include issues with sleep, weight, heart problems, blood pressure, depression, post-surgery healing, trauma, damaged blood vessels, circulation and breathing problems, digestive disorders, and many others.

If you have serious health ailments, therapeutic massage works best when used in complement with alternative medicine and treatment. It’s important to know that you should never self-medicate or self-diagnose.

However, if you simply want to relax and unwind from a long week of work, you can always count on therapeutic massage to make you feel better in just a few minutes.

Many dismiss acupuncture as new age mumbo jumbo, but increasingly the scientific community is recognizing the soundness of age old practices and their efficacy is keeping up healthy as well as curing disease.

In a recently conducted study published in the Journal of Nature Neuroscience, Acupuncture and its efficacy is managing pain are examined.

The scientific explanation for how acupuncture works is only now being clarified and consequently even those who have hitherto been skeptical now recognize that acupuncture is very effective for pain management.

Acupuncture is seen to work by stimulating the production of a particular compound: It is a naturally occurring compound called adenosine, known for its anti inflammatory properties, that is seen to arrive at the site that has been aggravated or punctured that helps in reducing pain.

In the study, mice were treated with acupuncture and were seen to obtain the same pain relief benefits as if they had been having drugs to boost their adenosine levels.

The tissue where the acupuncture needle was inserted was seen to have adenosine levels that were 24 times higher than before. In way, you could say that acupuncture is a way to trick the body into relieving its own pain!

Many dismiss acupuncture as new age mumbo jumbo, but increasingly the scientific community is recognizing the soundness of age old practices and their efficacy is keeping up healthy as well as curing disease.

In a recently conducted study published in the Journal of Nature Neuroscience, Acupuncture and its efficacy is managing pain are examined.

The scientific explanation for how acupuncture works is only now being clarified and consequently even those who have hitherto been skeptical now recognize that acupuncture is very effective for pain management.

Acupuncture is seen to work by stimulating the production of a particular compound: It is a naturally occurring compound called adenosine, known for its anti inflammatory properties, that is seen to arrive at the site that has been aggravated or punctured that helps in reducing pain.

In the study, mice were treated with acupuncture and were seen to obtain the same pain relief benefits as if they had been having drugs to boost their adenosine levels.

The tissue where the acupuncture needle was inserted was seen to have adenosine levels that were 24 times higher than before. In way, you could say that acupuncture is a way to trick the body into relieving its own pain!