Monday, July 31, 2006

How to ice an injury

When we have an injury -- pulled muscles, sprains, bumps, bruises, or broken bones -- reducing swelling within the first 48 hours is usually what the doctor recommends. After that time the effect of icing diminishes.

Move the ice around almost as if massaging the the injury with it.

Keep the body part elevated above the heart while icing and do not exceed 15 to 20 minutes of icing per session. Allow 45 minutes between icing.

Remember the word RICE -- rest, ice, compression (like an ace bandage, but not too tight), and elevation.

You can make your own ice pack by putting ice cubes in a plastic bag, but be careful to not put ice directly on the skin. Use frozen paper cups of water or a bag of frozen peas or corn.

You can reduce swelling without the discomfort of harsh cubes by freezing a bag of whole corn. Or you may "Mainely Ice" at Maine Warmers also called a "Knee Pack" but can be used on other body parts. All of their products can be frozen for soothing cold therapy and can later be microwaved when you need heat to help improve flexibility and circulation. Their Neck Warmers wrap around knees and elbows.
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If you know a child who has been injured and needs an ice or heat pack check out Maine Warmers’ Comforting Creatures. They make perfect get well gifts as they do not look medicinal and decorate a bed or chair when not in use.

Friday, July 28, 2006

Sheep Chronicles

Sheep Chronicles

From a distance sheep appear fluffy & lovely, but up close they aren’t quite as pristine. I guess a lot of things in life are like that.

When I was a teenager my parents rented a house in Lyman, Maine, where the landlady, Hazel, and her husband, Harry, raised prize sheep. Her apple orchard of about twenty trees in our front yard bore the best Cortlands. The drops that were too far gone we would feed to the delighted sheep. They got used to our delectable handouts and six of them would rush to the fence whenever we appeared. Hazel named and recognized each of those ewes just like she did people.

Looking back, it seemed like a picture perfect existence – sheep, apple trees, green fields, and a lake with dock, a canoe, and a path through the sheep field. But of course it wasn’t. The summer was lonely after moving to Maine from a town just a few miles from the George Washington Bridge – on the Jersey side. It was July, and before school started in September I met one girl with whom I had little in common and who lived four miles away. The sheep weren’t very good company even if they came when I called.

The following winter, Hazel invited me up to the barn to watch the birth of a lamb. The barn was cold but she had heating lamps placed around the birthing coral. The mother ewe looked stressed as any female would be moments before giving birth. She practiced licking for when her lamb would be born and she would have to clean it. Suddenly on the hay was a bluish sack of unrecognizable mucus. Hazel jumped to action with towels to clean and free the new born lamb and make sure it was breathing. The new mother ewe took a few licks and happily accepted Hazel’s help. Within minutes the lamb was trying to stand. She was white, pink, and pristine – such beauty from what looked like a glob of mucus on the ground. I guess life is like that too. Sometimes good things come out of ugly situations -- like moving to Maine and finding friends after a lonely summer.

Maine Warmers' Cozy Sheep provides comforting companionship and never needs to be fed -- just Comforting Creatures like Polar Bears, Dachshunds, and more are available at Maine Warmers and at stores throughout the US. All of their products may be frozen for gentle cold therapy.
microwave for soothing heat to relieve the pain of sore backs and stiff necks. This cuddly ewe  makes a lovely get well gift for people recovering from surgery or dealing with an illness that leaves them feeling cold. Other Maine Warmers' fun

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Treasuring Time with Elderly Parents

Balancing work and family is always a challenge. Today I played when I should have been working. I wanted to spend time with my father who is 87. Most of his friends have passed away, he can’t drive, can’t see or hear well, walks with a prosthesis from the loss of a leg during WW II, and has speech difficulties from a stroke. But he jokes, laughs, and tells stories in his own way when he can. I don’t know how he maintains such a positive outlook, though I have to credit my mother for taking good care of him all these years.

We walked along the harbor in Portland, and looked at the boats. He pushed the wheel chair and then sat when he tired, and I pushed. He waved at everyone who passed, and 99% of them waved back. We ate seafood chowder at Gilbert’s Chowder House whose staff went out of their way to accommodate his seating needs. We were sweating from the heat of the mid-day sun and laughed as we ordered hot seafood chowder.

As we crossed Commercial Street, on our way over and back, people in cars graciously stopped while he balanced on my arm – even though we were not in the crosswalk.

Time goes by and the opportunity to spend time with my folks in this stage of their lives won’t last forever. I can work tomorrow. In the end, I know that taking time to enjoy a summer day in Maine, where winter seems unending, was the right thing to do.

Maine Warmers  microwave heating pads can be frozen and used as gentle ice packs, providing gentle cold therapy for relief of summer heat. Neck Warmers and Back Warmers,  when frozen, can be used to reduce swelling and pain from bumps, bruises, and mild insect bites. A Cozy Sheep makes lovely gifts for and elderly parent.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Vacation

I am walking for the exercise, though I am not in any hurry. Life seems so clear and simple as I watch a red-winged blackbird perch on the cat-o-nine tail in the warm morning sunshine. For a short while I can believe in the balance of nature and not worry about global warming and melting ice caps.

There are some places that make the world seem right and allow us to forget the horrendous conditions under which people are living and dying. A vacation seems selfish one moment and healing the next. Why can’t there be such peace and joy in the Middle East as there is on this winding sandy beach road?

The solitude is as lovely as the day. The sound of the ocean and the gently stirring natural environment heal my soul. I begin to feel resurrected from a frantically busy work pace and the media bombardment of weighty world problems. How can I take some of this simplicity home with me and inject it into my days?

I approach a patched, tarred road on this island off the coast of Maine and am prepared to engage in conversations that may be short or lengthy. I pass a garage with a new hand-painted sign, "Don't stop unless you have 20 min." I appreciate the casual yet caring interaction with familiar people – smiles, laughter, and eye contact. These relationships are relaxed, simple, and easy while others seem so complicated. Underneath the dialog I know there are stories of heartache, personal grief, and challenges. But these moments of basic human connection lift my spirits and give me hope.

At the end of this walk I feel refreshed. I don’t have the answers to the questions or solutions for the problems. I do know that rest and relaxation are vital to my well being. Stepping back from the world to gain a better perspective helps me focus on the things that are most important in life. All I need is to remember them throughout the year.

Maine Warmers sells microwave heating pads that help you relax at the end of a stressful workday. Use a Neck Warmer to relax tight neck muscles from tension due to a long work day or too many hours at the computer. The Cozy Sheep or Black Bear make functional and fun gifts of comfort and relaxation, and they don't look medicinal, so when not in use they decorate a bed or chair.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

“Post-polio syndrome” or PPS is a condition that affects survivors ten to forty years after they initially contracted polio. It is characterized by muscle and joint pain and general fatigue. Overcompensation of damaged motor neurons is thought to be the cause but more studies need to be done.

It is important for polio survivors experiencing symptoms to see a physician to rule out other causes and to develop a plan to help deal with the condition.

The Mayo Clinic Web site recommends taking care of yourself if you are diagnosed with PPS. Here are some of their suggestions.

Don’t overdo it. Listen to your body and when you feel tired rest. Use aids to help you conserve energy. Do not think the use of a cane, walker, or wheel chair as a sign of weakness. It is a sign of knowing how to work smarter – not harder.

“Cold increases muscle fatigue,” according to the Mayo Clinic article. Dress in layers when going out and keep room temperatures at a comfortable level.

Take precautions to avoid falls. Clean up clutter on floors and area rugs, wear stable supportive shoes.

Check your life style. Are you eating good foods, avoiding excess caffeine and not smoking?

Do you have a good support group? Do you take time to talk with people and laugh as much as possible?

Go to the Mayo Clinic Web site to read more about this condition.

Maine Warmers' microwave heating pads help keep you warm and to reduce muscle pain. A customer told me about this today and said she uses our Neck Warmers all the time for this condition. She explained that the Neck Warmer goes down the length of her back soothing the muscle groups that are most affected by this condition. An extra long microwave Neck Warmer will hold the heat about ten minutes longer than the traditional one.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

How to relieve minor mentstrual cramping

Normal monthly menstrual cramps can be a nuisance. Disregarding the sever cramps caused by underlying problems that need medical attention, An article on the Mayo Clinic Web site recommends a few “strategies” to deal with minor cramping. They suggest taking a hot bath and using a hot water bottle or heating pad when the pain begins and taking over-the-counter pain relievers. Lifestyle suggestions include exercising daily, maintaining a healthy diet, and getting plenty of rest. Avoid alcohol, smoking, and reduce stress.

It is important to pay attention to signs and symptoms that point to conditions needing medical attention like Endometriosis, bacterial inflammation of the pelvis, uterine fibroids and polyps, and even the use of an IUD to prevent pregnancy.

The National Institutes for Health, MedlinePlus has an article about primary and secondary dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps) and more home care suggestions.

Woman using a Maine Warmers Cozy Sheep microwave heating pad to relieve cramped musclesmicrowave heating pad is more convenient than a hot bath when you are stretched for time and can even be used even in the workplace. At Maine Warmers there are a variety of traditional heat pads, called Back Warmers, and unique animal shaped ones called Comforting Creatures.

Sign up for their e-Newsletter to be included in a monthly product give-away. You might win a free one to help you each month.

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Trapshooting

Trapshooting is a sport that originated in England as a way to train bird hunters and differs from skeet shooting in that the shooter moves from station to station instead of shooting from the same spot. A clay disk is launched from different locations instead of always from the same spot.

Several positive aspects of the sport are that it allows people to compete against themselves as well as others. People who belong to trapshooting clubs or attend meets enjoy the companionship of others who have the same interest. Participation requires physical ability, concentration and practice to achieve excellence.

Trapshooting is usually done outdoors, and in winter can cause hands to become quite cold and uncomfortable. Maine Warmers offers Palm Packs and microwave Hand Warmer mittens that can be reused. Once heated, they can go inside pockets or large mittens to help relieve the pain of cold fingers.

They may also be frozen and used as gentle ice packs to help reduce swelling and soothe migraines.

Maine Warmers offers other styles of heating pads and ice packs to help stiff necks and sore back muscles.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Laughter is good medicine

Laughter can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, boost the immune system, and among other benefits, help improve brain function. Healthy  laughter, according to Helpguide, helps improve our social interaction and makes us feel good. Whether you are on vacation or not make sure to laugh and have fun with friends and family. It's fun and healthy. Who would have guessed you could get these two things together.

I have heard that a good sense of humor is the most important factor in a healthy marriage. If we can laugh at ourselves we can make it over a lot of bumps in the road and have fun in the process.

If you know of someone in pain due to injury or surgery give them the best gift of all -- your time, your smile, Sheep, Bears, and Moose make great gifts.
and time spent together enjoying a few laughs. Consider taking along a Maine Warmer to help them recover. Back or Neck Warmers make perfect gifts to help someone recover from surgery, stroke, chemo, or other conditions that cause temporary inactivity.  Remember that Maine Warmers may be frozen to cool down or help reduce swelling. The Cozy

Saturday, July 08, 2006

Aromatherapy and Microwave Heating Pads That are Perfume Free

My grandmother used to wrap orange blossoms in plastic baggies and mail them to me in Maine from Florida in the dead of winter. As soon as I opened the door of the mail box and that sweet fragrance condensed in the cold air, I knew what was inside the envelope and who had sent them. That was 25 years ago but the smell of orange blossoms brings back fond memories of my Nana who was so loving and such an important part of my life.

Many people associate particular smells with comforting experiences -- especially cooking smells. Maybe that is why aromatherapy helps because it brings back fond memories of good times.

According to Brent Bauer, MD at the Mayo Clinic, some studies show that there may be some benefits to aromatherapy in relieving anxiety or depression, or "improved quality of life, particularly for people who have chronic health conditions." 

I also understand that some people have allergies to fragrances, and so, at Maine Warmers, we fill our microwave heating pads with whole corn, not popping corn, and skip the essential oils and other perfumes, as much as they might appeal to me.

Rice heating pads take on a peculiar odor after being microwaved several times, and so fragrances are added to them to cover the smell of the cooked rice. I have learned from talking with folks that some people have developed adverse reactions to microwave warmers because of the association of that unfavorable smell.

Whole corn-filled (not popping corn) microwave heating pads have a mild aroma of a bowl of freshly popped corn. Whether or not the aroma does something for you, all of Maine Warmers offers help relax sore muscles and ease pain. Neck Warmers, Back Warmers, and creature shaped warmers are all filled with whole corn and have removable, washable covers. As much as I love the aroma of orange blossoms, I think it best to leave the aromatherapy to the professionals, as Dr. Bauer recommends.