healthy body tips

St Petersburg Florida Spa offers Natural Cold and Flu Therapies to Remedy Sinus Infections with Herbs, Homeopathy and Lymph Drainage Massage Therapy

Cold and Flu season is upon us as is the dreaded fall allergy season that yields sinus congestion, sinus infections and nasal drainage and stuffy heads.

Each year our clients and customers complain of this season with pangs of nasal congestion, post nasal drip, sore throats and cloudy heads.  And each year, I recommend two simple treatments to naturally treat and cure sinus infections....

1. Daily use of a Neti Pot

2. Lymph System Sinus Drainage Massage

What is a Neti Pot?

So many clients ask, what in the heck is a neti pot?  

A neti pot is an ancient healing art of sinus drainage via nasal irrigation.  A neti pot is something that looks like a little tea pot for your nose.  It's a way of cleaning the sinuses to prevent sinus infections and allergies and helps improve breathing and sleep.

How do I use a Neti Pot?

Using a neti pot is often a hard concept for my clients.  The idea of putting water up ones nose doesn't sound too appealing.  It conjours up memories of swimming and getting water up the nose that was often painful. Some of my clients who balk at using the neti pot give it one try and once they feel comfortable and experience the immediate results, they get very comfortable with performing the neti pot routine daily.



Typically, to use the Neti pot or other nasal irrigation device you would mix about 16 ounces (1 pint) of lukewarm water with 1 teaspoon of sea salt.  Avoid using table salt, especially iodized table salt - it is harmful to the sinuses.

Some people add addition items to the pot - a few drops of betadine, colloidal silver and zinc. Use distilled, sterile, or previously boiled water to make up the irrigation solution.

Once you've filled the Neti pot, tilt your head over the sink at about a 45-degree angle. Place the spout into your top nostril, and gently pour the saline solution into that nostril.

The fluid will flow through your nasal cavity and out the other nostril.  Please wait to blow your nose for at least 10 minutes  You might get a little dripping and even some solution that may drain down your throat.  Blowing your nose will cause congestion and might cause damage to the ear canal and the tubes between the sinuses and the ears. 

**Sometimes, for severely inflamed sinuses or deviated sinuses, some of the solution may stay in the nasal passages for a few hours.  If you bend down to tie your shoes or reach for something, it can be common for a few drops to flow out of your nose. 

How does a neti pot work to cure a sinus infection? 

The basic explanation of how the Neti pot works is that it thins mucus and helps flush it out of the nasal passages. Within the mucus are allergens from the environment and any beginnings of viral, bacterial and fungal invasions.

A more biological explanation for how the Neti pot works has to do with tiny, hair-like structures called cilia that line the inside of the nasal and sinus cavities.
These cilia wave back and forth to push mucus either to the back of the throat where it can be swallowed, or to the nose to be blown out. Saline solution can help increase the speed and improve coordination of the cilia so that they may more effectively remove the allergens and other irritants that cause sinus problems.

Saline solution and any natural herbals/homeopathic blends you add to the pot help clean and support healthy sinuses.  I've recommended daily Neti Pot to clients who have had frequent sinus infections, allergies and sinusitis and over a span of a few days- they've noticed major differences.  Some have not had any sinus troubles since using the neti pot.

Drain Sinus Naturally with Lymphatic Drainage Facial Massage

 With lymph massage of the head and neck the sinuses can drain and decongest the lymphatic system.  Lymphatic drainage therapy concentrates on specific lymph nodes under the jaw line. The main lymph nodes for facelift massage are pea size and under the mandible. During a face massage, the lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes are stimulated to open and enhance circulatory and lymphatic flow.

Lymphatic drainage massage can be helpful in addressing a very wide range of conditions.  It can reduce fatigue, toxicity, menstrual cramps, cellulite, water retention and sinusitis and hay fever symptoms from allergies.  When an individual suffers from allergies, the immune system kicks in and it begins to react to the pollen, mold spores, fungal and viral exposure bombarding the body as foreign invaders.  The result in irritation and inflammation.  Lymphatic drainage massage allows the practitioner to, in a non-invasive manner, tap into the sinuses to relieve hayfever, stuffiness, congestion and irritation.


Sinus Drainage Massage is really the only option that helps to drain the sinuses but also helps enhance the immune system to prevent colds, flu and sinus infections.  It also helps the body do what it does best, heal and recover and will ease the symptoms of colds, flu and sinus infections.

Healthy Being Wellness Center and Lymphatic Drainage Therapist, Melissa Gallagher, offer Lymphatic Facial Drainage Massage to our clients in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Largo, Seminole and all three counties in our are: Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco. 

A session is 60min in length and is $70.  Call our office to book your appointment today:  727-502-3464

St. Petersburg Florida and Pinellas county is a hot bed for pain management clinics and drug enhance pain management programs.  Not only is pain management medication abuse and addiction a major problem for the entire state of Florida -our county, Pinellas County, happens to be the highest ranking county in pain management clinics and individuals on prescription pain medications is alarming.

We receive calls and inquiries from our spa clients about ways they can combat pain....severe pain from spinal issues, herniated discs, car accidents, dental surgery, fibromyalgia, lupus, MS and the list goes on.  We have clients as young as 17 who have been prescribed legal narcotics for pain that could be alleviated in a natural, more body-agreeable ways.

Recently, I've begun working with an amazing client who was a victim of the pain management system.  Her story resonates with so many other clients who come to my naturopathic practice seeking an alternative to pain management medications. Many of our clients are seeking the natural detoxification from pain management meds. 

I'd like to share today several recommendations for alternative options to pain management medications.  These alternatives are complimentary to your body and will not negatively or permanently impact your body and brain chemistry.

The one sad aspect that I see from pain management clinics and prescription pain meds is the alarming altering of an individuals bio chemistry.  The ability of these strong meds to change the hormone cycle, endanger the endocrine system - severely retarding the adrenals, thyroid and pituitary glands is overwhelming.  Often clients who are dealing with pain meds are also prescribed anti-depressants which further compounds the situation.

The common complain we here clients who choose natural and alternative pain management therapies is that the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, don't agree with their stomachs, and they are very wary of stronger meds or have taken them and found it just isn't the route they would prefer to take on their healing journey.

At Healthy Being Wellness Center we offer a pain management program designed to modulate and eliminate the impact of pain from both short-term and chronic conditions. This plan is also very beneficial to athletes who are suffering from injuries related to their chosen sport. Treatments include a medical evaluation, sports massage, education, acupuncture, and more.

 
Neuromuscular Therapy is a gentle, respectful treatment that addresses the source of many kinds of soft tissue pain. It treats muscular imbalances and connective tissue restrictions that cause joints to wear unevenly, movements to be restricted, and pain to result. The process helps to reintegrate the person into the body, creating an understanding of how the body communicates and the dynamics involved

Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) is a gentle, rhythmical, precise massage therapy. MLD alleviates pain by greatly reducing the pain signals sent to the brain and also relaxes the sympathetic nervous system, thus helping to relieve tension caused by pain.

Acupuncture In acupuncture, disposable, stainless steel needles are used to stimulate the body's 14 major meridians, or energy-carrying channels, to resist or overcome illnesses and conditions by correcting these imbalances.
Acupuncture is also thought to decrease pain by increasing the release of chemicals that block pain, called endorphins.

Many acu-points are near nerves. When stimulated, these nerves cause a dull ache or feeling of fullness in the muscle. The stimulated muscle sends a message to the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), causing the release of endorphins (morphine-like chemicals produced in our own bodies during times of pain or stress). Endorphins, along with other neurotransmitters (body chemicals that modify nerve impulses), block the message of pain from being delivered up to the brain

Acupuncture isuseful as an accompanying treatment for many pain-related conditions, including: headache, low back pain, menstrual cramps, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and myofascial pain.

 Reiki This unique style of healing together with aromatherapy and connecting the breath with the muscles, will clear out patterns of tensions and restrictions. This will bring forth a sense of calmness to the body, peace of mind and a renewed spirit


Counseling will provide you with the space needed to release painful emotions as well as an opportunity to learn new, adaptive coping skills to deal with life’s difficulties. You will learn techniques, such as guided imagery and other relaxation methods that specifically target your ability to shift attention away from the pain thereby reducing discomfort. Integrating these new coping skills will pave the path to emotional and physical pain relief, making each day pleasurable and pain-free


Here are several supplementation recommendations that should accompany the therapies outlined above:

• Fish oil: For joint pain from arthritis or autoimmune disorders

What the science says: Digested fish oil breaks down into hormone-like chemicals called prostaglandins, which reduce inflammation. In one study, about 40 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients who took cod-liver oil every day were able to cut their NSAID use by more than a third, Scottish scientists recently reported. People with neck and back pain have fared even better: After about 10 weeks, nearly two-thirds were able to stop taking NSAIDs altogether in a University of Pittsburgh study.

Dosage: Taking 1,000 mg is proven to help your heart, but you should up the dose for pain. For osteoarthritis, try 2,000 to 4,000 mg daily; for rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases associated with joint pain (such as lupus), consider a much higher dose of upwards of 8,000 mg daily

• SAM-e (S adenosylmethionine): For osteoarthritis

What the science says: SAM-e is made from a naturally occurring amino acid and sold as capsules. Doctors aren't entirely sure why it tamps down pain, but it reduces inflammation and may increase the feel-good brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine.

Studies by the University of Maryland School of Nursing and the University of California, Irvine, showed that SAM-e was as effective as some NSAIDs in easing osteoarthritis aches; the California researchers found that SAM-e quashed pain by 50 percent after 2 months, though it took a few weeks to kick in. SAM-e produced no cardiovascular risks and fewer stomach problems than the conventional meds.

• Aquamin: For osteoarthritis

What the science says: This red seaweed supplement is rich in calcium and magnesium. A preliminary clinical study showed that the ingredients may reduce joint inflammation or even help build bone, says David O'Leary of Marigot, Aquamin's Irish manufacturer. In a study of 70 volunteers published in Nutrition Journal, Aquamin users reduced arthritis pain by 20 percent in a month, and had less stiffness than patients taking a placebo.

Dosage: 2,400 mg a day (two capsules) of Aquamin in tablet form.

Breast Massage for Greater Breast Health and Breast Cancer Prevention by Moving the Lymph

• Breast pain (mastodynia, mastalgia or mammalgia)
• Swollen breasts

• Engorgement
• Sore nipples (transient or chronic)
• Inflammation or infection: mastedeneitis, mastitis, yeast infection, infected Montgomery gland, etc
• Milk stasis: plugged duct, filled duct, plugged nipple pore
• Bruise, wound (nipples aereola, breast), fissures, ulceration, hemorrhages
• Dermatitis: eczema, psoriasis
• Stretch marks

• Many nonmalignant lumps may resolve quickly with Lymph Drainage Therapy

• Breast implant problems, post mastectomy, post lumpectomy, post tram flap, post lat flap, post breast reduction
• Improvement in local venolymphatic circulation, removal of toxins, tissue reoxygenation, regeneration of skin tissue, skin tonification, and mastoptosis (breast sagging)
• Scars (acute and chronic)

• Decrease hot flashes
• Fibrocystic Breasts
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Early breast cancer detection
• Self care drainage techniques given by your therapist (self massage, dry body brushing, change in type of bra worn)
• Thermography has detected metabolic changes within the breast tissue or lymphatic congestion

727-502-3464

This first article on eye makeup tip is for the modern smokey eye standard. You will learn how to apply makeup with illustration.  The next post on application of the smokey eye will be on the classic dating back to about the 1930. The technique are a little different creating subtle different look.



On my model a cat eye smokey eye look for the evening. This picture is to illustrate this

These naturally stimulating and relaxing sessions are based on ionization of water and osmosis to draw toxins from the body.  One of the latest developments in the detox field is the detox foot spa. It works by sending a small current of energy through the body to energize the body and help it return to its natural state of energy and balance. The body can also absorb negative ions produced by the detox foot spa through the feet.


Detox Foot Spas operate through a process called electrolysis. This is done by generating the proper amount of current in the water causing the water molecules to divide producing negative ions. Once the negative ions are present in the water, the body absorbs these ions through osmosis

Based on Bioenergetics, it creates an ion energy field similar to that found in the human body. This stimulates cellular energy and enhances the body's ability to cleanse itself internally and naturally at an increased rate, restoring and normalizing the correct pH balance and energy levels.
The ionization process of the Detox foot spa pulls toxins out of your body through your elimination routes ( colon, skin, breath, urine).  Ions energize the body and neutralize a myriad of toxins. These neutralized microscopic particles then pass easily through the skin and tissue and are deposited in the water or sloughed naturally through sweat, bile and urine pathways.  Most people are shocked at the different colors that the water will turn, even after just a few minutes of using the foot bath.


The water changes colour regardless of whether there is a person’s feet in it or not. This is due to the reaction of the copper array and the polarisation of solids in the water. However, there will normally be 2-3 times more cellular debris in the water when combined with a person’s feet. The toxins in the body are re-ionized at the molecular level and react with the copper array. They produce coloured debris in the water which can be black, green, brown, yellow, white or blue. The colour and amount of debris will depend on the person’s energy state and toxicity levels before each treatment. Water analysis documentation from several treatments has shown a dramatic increase in metals in the water after a treatment.

Healthy individuals often feel more energy, and experience a greater feeling of well-being.

Patients with pain, edema, gout, headaches, and swollen joints have often reported immediate relief.

Other patients with arthritis, allergies, lymph edema, neuralgia and other symptoms have experienced relief and benefits with multiple treatments.


Ion cleanse detoxification accelerates change in the body. Aging and disease states are characterized by a diminishing anabolic capacity and an increasing catabolic capacity. Toxic buildup of cellular waste and debris is the inevitable outcome of these trends. Environmental toxins, heavy metals in water we drink and food we eat, even the air we breathe can overwhelm our own body systems. The ongoing periodic detoxification is essential to maintain health and avoid disease.

• Improves Lymph Circulation
• Decreases Recovery from injuries, surgery
• Helps relieve headaches, arthritis & joint pain
• Improves sleep & memory function
• Boosts immune function
• Improves hormonal disorders, ADHD, stress related conditions, panic & nervous disorders
• Increases energy levels & metabolism
• Improves acne & skin tone
• May improve symptoms from MS - Chronic Fatigue
• Reduces Edema
• Chelate heavy metals
• Inactivate viruses, bacteria, yeast and fungus
• Relieve pain and tension
• Purify the blood
• Reduce inflammation and unwanted fluid retention
• Assist in weight loss
• Enhance nutrient absorption
• Increase oxygen levels in the body
• Rejuvenate and energize your whole body
• Slow down the Aging process
• Recommended Treatment Cycles

Because of poor diet and high stress, we tend to accumulate and store excessive quantities of waste products. We all realize that we live in a rather contaminated world and we are constantly bombarded by everything from disease to chemicals. This can really throw off the natural balance of our bodies and leave us diseased and in pain, at least to a certain degree. Detoxifying our bodies on a regular basis through the use of a detox foot spa is an excellent way for us to step into better health.

Being able to detoxify your body on a regular basis is a huge step towards enjoying a balanced and healthy life.

If you are between the agers of 10 and 65 the recommended detoxification cleanse treatment cycle is 2 times a week for 4 weeks, to insure a proper detox.

For ages over 65 the recommended detoxification cleanse cycle is 2 times a week for 6 weeks.

Maintenance programs can be 1 session every 3 or 4 weeks.

In certain cases, due to specific health conditions, we may recommend a 30 minute lymphatic release treatment.  View of lymph release service for more information.



Add On Service to any treatment: $15

Detox Foot Spa Intro Mini Package  3 (24 min) sessions  $99
Detox Foot Spa     1 (24 min) session    $40
Detox Foot Spa    6  (24 min) sessions  $222
Detox Foot Spa   10 (24 min) sessions  $333

Detox Plus Package:  $70
Maximizes lymph flow and alleviates congestion and detoxifies the body in one session.
(1) 30 min Lymph Release
(1) 24 min Detox Foot Spa