I have always been fascinated by the healing powers of water, starting with my first childhood experiences of soaking in the hot springs and then plunging into the cold waters of Sol Duc resort with my family. My wonder heightened during my later studies of natural medicine, discovering the techniques of Hydrotherapy as effective tools for healing, particularly in adjunct with massage therapy. Hydrotherapy may be the oldest form of medical treatment known to mankind. We see it surface throughout history in the bath house regiments of Rome and Greece, as well the geothermal bathing and sweat lodge rituals of the North American indigenous peoples. Drinking plenty of pure water alone can be considered “hydrotherapy” as it detoxifies our systems, replenishes our cells, lubricates muscle tissues, and keeps us from feeling sluggish. In fact, dehydration is a major culprit of sore muscles, so drink up!

We employ the use of water in many ways here at Unravel, whether it be with a cold pack applied to an injury, a restful moment in the sauna, a hot pack to loosen contracted muscles, and even a reminder at the end of each massage to hydrate well. In fact, I think the best combination for managing stress and relaxing muscle tissue is a visit to the sauna, then a hot pack to the back, a massage, and drinking plenty of water during the rest of the day. Ah heaven! There are also plenty water based remedies you can use at home as well. I am thinking of one in particular as we head into cooler weather and the cold season, called the Cold Water Treading method. Yikes, cold water! Many reflexes to our vital organs can be affected through our feet, by treading in cold water (just up to your ankles) for 5 to 10 minutes a day, you can tonify your whole system increasing it’s endurance against cold viruses. It will sure wake you up on those dreary winter days!

And even though we may curse our wet little region during the late winter months, it is a healthy place, because we have plenty of water!

Jason Tschimperle

Massage Therapist and amateur Mycologist

Take your vitamins, (such as vitamin C to fight free radical damage) and drink plenty of water to hydrate your body since it will be exposed to lots of not so healthy food and sugar.

Use a light moisturizer, it will help protect your skin of potentially irritating effects of costume makeup. It will help makeup stay on better and create a more finished look. Use a high quality moisturizer such as the Rosehip Whip moisturizer from Eminence.
Purchase good quality makeup following FDA recommendations and try to avoid the cheap kinds in costume stores because those can damage and irritate your skins for weeks afterwards. Apply the makeup to a small area first and watch for skin reactions such as stinging or burning. If so consider an alternative such as organic or safe ingredients from your kitchen and have a Green Halloween! (see link below)
No matter how tired you are after the party, always thoroughly wash and exfoliate your skin so the thick and oily makeup is completely gone and won’t dry your skin, clog your pores or cause breakouts. Read product labels and instructions carefully to remove the makeup. For most basic makeup a good cleanser and water will work, such as the gel Mineral Cleansing concentrate from Eminence and exfoliate with a good product such as the Pear and Poppyseed microderm polisher to remove dead skincells. Follow with a light moisturizer to let your skin breathe.
For a healthy snack, roast some pumpkin seeds, they provide our bodies with zinc that is perfect at this time of year to help ward off colds.

Enjoy your Halloween and check out the website www.budget101.com/frugal/awesome-halloween-ideas-140/ for homemade Halloween makeup. Recipe’s included are burned skin and fake scabs. Pumpkin carving and costume ideas are included. 

Annelie Scheire  Licensed Skin Care and LMP

The best time to begin receiving prenatal massage is during the second trimester. Many massage therapists will not work on women in their first trimester because the risks of miscarriage are the highest then. We will often work with this case-by-case basis depending on the woman and her medical history and what we will be specifically massaging. Positioning for prenatal massage starting in the second trimester is in the side-lying position. This is usually how women are sleeping by this point, so it’s pretty comfortable. If a woman has a lot of neck tension I will usually also have her on her back for a part of the massage because that is the best way for me to access those muscles. A pregnant woman can usually spend time on her back into the third trimester. After a point it can be uncomfortable because the uterus is so heavy, and can compress some blood vessels.
Most women notice the biggest muscular changes in increased tension in their back and hips (buttocks). The increased tension in the hips often causes sciatic nerve pain. The sciatic nerve runs from the low back, through the hips, and all of way down the leg. Compression anywhere along this nerve can cause pain all of the way down the leg and be uncomfortable while sitting, standing, or sleeping. The increased tension is often caused by the change of body posture with the pelvis/hips tilting forward to accommodate the growing uterus. It is also attributed to losing abdominal strength. When we lift, bend, sit, stand, or walk, as non-pregnant people we use the strength of both our abdominal muscles and back muscles to move or stabilize us.  When pregnant, you lose most, or all, of your abdominal strength. So, to maintain balance in the body the back and hips take most of that work, which often causes this discomfort and increased tension. Massage can help decrease the tension that builds in those muscles which will help with overall comfort in movement and sleep. Swelling in the joints and limbs is also very common during pregnancy. Massage can help increase circulation and stimulate tissues to decrease collection of fluids.
Pregnancy causes many changes and can be straining on your body. Massage therapy is a great way to increase your overall health while pregnant. Talk with your prenatal care provider if you have any questions.
Written by: Katie Duerr, massage therapist and mom

We’ve been in the healthcare business for 20 yrs, helping our clients achieve and maintain a comfortable, healthy way of life. During this time we’ve learned a few things while working with many different health issues, some that can be “cured” and others that resist anything but good management. We’ve seen many health movements come and go that in fact started as sound advice until they were applied to far too many causes and cures. Common sense when mixed with sound advice brings about the best results.

With this blog we’d like to share our thoughts on subjects such as vitamins, supplements, exercise, wise and healthy dietary decisions, our treatments and how they might apply to you. Frequently we will bring information to this page that is new and still in the developing stages. Our mission is to keep you informed, to help you make educated decisions about your health. The more information you have, the more we think you will decide for yourself that living a healthy life to prevent illness is preferable to treating symptoms of a sickness or disease later.

Our services at Unravel include Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, Oriental Medicine and Skin Care. Our clients have come to us looking for help and comfort on a broad array of health concerns. We have helped many to live a more balanced life or when a service is needed that we do not offer we recommend other healthcare professionals that may more accurately fit the needs of the client.

And finally we will include subjects that are just interesting to us and hopefully you.

Please feel free to comment or ask questions on subjects that most interest you and we will try to address these.

Thank you

Tom