A Massage at Tahoe Blog

The following info is from realage.com:If you can’t stand the smell of DEET or citronella candles, try the natural bug-bite deterrent suggestions from Chinese doctor and author Maoshing Ni.
In his book “Secrets of Self-Healing”, he recommends a three-pronged approach of clothing, diet and essential oils.

3 Bug-Be-Gone Strategies

Use these chemical-free strategies on your next camping trip, backwoods hike, or neighborhood barbecue:

Nix the Hawaiian shirt. Brightly colored floral patterns on clothing may actually fool bees and other bugs into thinking you’re a flower. So can smelling like a flower, so skip the perfume. Wear neutral-colored, protective clothing and scent-free soaps and lotions.

Eat garlic. Garlic and other strong foods, like onions, might make you less tasty to biting insects. Watch this video for tips on how to buy, keep, and prepare garlic.

Use essential oils. Natural insect repellents such as lemongrass, lavender, or eucalyptus can be mixed with water and used as a spray. (But be careful to avoid getting them in your eyes.)

Already bit? Honey, cucumber skins, and tea tree oil can help soothe, detox, and quiet the itch or sting of bites.

A survey by the British Acupuncture Council found that depression, anxiety, insomnia and stress are common reasons why people get acupuncture.
The survey also revealed that more people under the age 40 are reporting having these emotional issues. Two-thirds of the respondents were women.
Survey takers pointed to working long hours and the uncertainty of the economy as being reasons for their stress and uneasiness with life.

Farmers’ markets are such a wonderful place to shop for local produce. With the climate in Tahoe, ours is seasonal - June-October. Growers from as far as Fresno come to sell their produce.
The Tuesday event draws hundreds, if not thousands, of locals and tourists. It proves we crave fresh produce.
More and more restaurants - here and most elsewhere - are trying to buy from local growers. When you think about how many miles produce travels to reach consumers - 1,500 in North America - it makes you wonder how long it’s been in a truck or on a ship before it’s in your kitchen.
Support your local farmers - or try to grow your own produce. At least then you know where it’s been and you can ask the grower if they use harmful pesticides.

        People often forget about taking care of their feet. But just think about how much we ask them to do. Think about the weight they carry. Think about the shoes we put them in.
       Pedicures are a wonderful way of keeping feet in top condition. Yes, even for men. The nail polish is the icing on the cake and is only a minor part of the whole pedicure.
       Spas also offer foot treatments … as do I.
       My 30-minute foot treatments begin with warm, moist towels, then a scrub is applied and then each foot is massaged with a peppermint cream.
       It’s almost decadent. Still, the benefits are wonderful. People’s feet are often as soft as a baby’s after the treatment.
      Combining a foot treatment with a massage is a wonderful way to take care of your whole body.

      Blood pressure can escalate because of a number of factors. Two easy ways to start getting it to move into the other direction are by walking a half mile every day and eating healthier foods.
      Take a canvas bag (no need to fill landfills with more plastic ones) and pick-up a few items for dinner each night from the grocery store.
     Walk to the drycleaners.
     Walk the dog.
     Walk with your kids to the ball fields.
     Walk with your significant other after dinner.
     I did my errands on foot this morning — went to the bank, video store and massage office.                    

     Don’t let bad weather deter you. Gyms have treadmills. Malls have plenty of covered walking terrain.
    Don’t drastically alter your diet because you won’t stick with. Star with changing your fiber to whole grains. Do this with breads and pasta. Try baking with a mix of white and whole wheat flour.
Then go get your blood pressure checked again.

      With summer just around the corner, El Dorado County health officials are encouraging residents to prepare now to stay cool and healthy in the upcoming months.
      “We are asking people to take steps now to ensure their air conditioner is working properly and have a plan in place to stay cool and prevent summer heat injuries,” said Dr. Dean Kelaita, interim county health officer.
     Each summer brings the potential for heat waves. According to Kelaita, summer heat waves can be extremely dangerous and can cause serious medical problems, especially for people who are very young, elderly, or have chronic medical conditions.
     “It is more difficult for these individuals to regulate their body temperatures and to adjust to extreme changes in heat,” reports Kelaita. “We understand that the high cost of electricity bills have prevented some individuals from using their air conditioners in the past. While it is important to conserve energy, when temperatures rise above 100 degrees, electric fans are not sufficient to adequately cool a person, especially those who are most vulnerable to the heat.”
       The El Dorado County Department of Human Services (DHS) has programs to assist low-income individuals with summer heat planning. One program is available to make homes more energy efficient and to repair or replace air conditioners or evaporative coolers. Another program provides assistance once per year to pay for high energy costs, such as a high electric bill during a summer heat wave. For more information on these programs, or to see if you qualify, contact DHS at (530) 621-6150.
The following are tips on how to stay cool and healthy during hot weather:* Drink plenty of fluids, such as water and low-calorie sports drinks, to replace salts and minerals lost through sweating.
* Stay indoors in an air-conditioned building. If your home does not have sufficient air conditioning, visit a friend, relative or other location in the community, including libraries, grocery stores, or shopping centers where the air conditioning is working.
* Pace yourself and avoid heavy exertion in the heat.
Never leave a child or an animal in a parked vehicle, even for a few minutes. Temperatures can quickly rise to dangerous levels in a matter of minutes.
*Check in on neighbors, relatives and friends, particularly those who may be isolated.

     For more information and additional tips to stay cool and healthy during the summer, visit www.edcgov.us/publichealth.

Here are three breakfast drink choices from RealAge.com:
Orange juice: A study showed that joint inflammation may be less likely in middle-aged people whose diets are rich in beta-cryptoxanthin. And oranges are brimming with it — as well as anti-inflammatory vitamin C.
Coffee: Researchers think the brew may improve insulin sensitivity. Men in a study who gulped four 8-ounce cups a day had a whopping one-third reduction in type 2 diabetes risk.
Apple juice: This sweet drink is swimming with the brain-boosting chemical acetylcholine, which feeds memory and juices up learning skills.

     Staying hydrated is critical no matter what your level of physical activity. In Lake Tahoe, with a base elevation of 6,200 feet, it is even more imperative. Plus, the dry air creates an even greater need to consume water.
    The H20 water bottle is one of the latest products to hit the market. Besides being environmentally correct by using a bottle over and over instead of buying water at a store, this one comes with a built in filter.
    The manufacturers say it will get rid of chlorine, trihalomethanes and heavy metals.
I haven’t tried the bottle. After all, what comes out of my tap in South Lake Tahoe is the best darn water I’ve tasted.
    For more information, go to www.endbottledwater.com.

      There is no minimum or maximum age for massage. Last year I took an infant massage class from Rosemary Manning. It was fantastic.
      My friend’s little one was squirmy, but seemed so appreciative of the body work.
We switched off between working on Clarke and working on the doll. The doll helped us become adept at the strokes, while working on Clarke allowed us to see how a baby is not to just stay still.
      It’s wonderful to introduce children of all ages to healthy touch. Infants can easily get their first massages out of the bath while lotion is applied. It is just as relaxing for them as it is for adults. Think about how much they are using those tiny muscles to sit up, crawl, and hold that sippy cup.

Amy Wechsler is a doctor and skin care expert with RealAge. She recently wrote a book titled “The Mind-Beauty Connection: 9 Days to Reverse Stress Aging and Reveal More Youthful, Beautiful Skin.” 

Although I have not read the book, RealAge says, “(Wechsler’s) unique expertise allows her to untangle the psychological from the physical and offer practical, insightful solutions that produce amazing antiaging results.”

 RealAge says Wechsler is one of only two doctors in the country currently board certified in dermatology and psychiatry.