Alan Oxley Remedial Masseur

Mabon - autumn equinox and full moon occurs this Thursday 21 March.
“Autumn equinox is a time of balancing, for weighing what has been achieved and planning for what is to come, of reviewing directions and looking at what is needed in our lives.” Roxanne T. Bodsworth.
Some essential oils to diffuse while meditating - Bergamot, Frankincense, Juniper, Orange and Ylang ylang.

“Give me a home among the gum trees, with lots of plum trees...”
Here at Caravan Cottage, Lochiel, I am certainly surrounded by gum trees. There are four fruit trees; 1 orange, 1 peach and 2 unknown off to one side of the cottage, which provide welcome shade. Over a couple of months I have watched a pair of wagtails build a nest and hatch two eggs. Like all kids (so I am told, not having kids of my own), they left home, but two weeks later they came back for a feed.
While the wagtails were nesting they would chitter away at me if I sat on the veranda. Their nest was at my eye height on a branch about a car length from where I would sit. I don’t know if they were talking to me or telling me to get lost, because they used the same tone towards other creatures that came too near to their tree. At least they didn’t dive bomb me. There was a tribe of four magpies and four plovers that were constantly being dive bombed. Yet when the horse came around they would play at his feet and sit on his back. One day I was sitting having a cup of tea and to my right where the sun reaches one side of the house, a 5 foot red belly black snake was minding his own business, sunbathing. Well the wagtails weren’t having any of that, so they dive bombed him until he slithered away.
So, if like my friend Sharon Orion (aka Mrs Naturopath Extraordinaire) animal medicine interests you I have made a list below.
Wagtail - motion
Magpie - balance
Plover/Lapwing - eagerness
Horse - power
Snake - transmutation
from Animal Dreaming by Scott Alexander King.

I thought that I was doing well in the fatigue area of my health, it has been 16 months since I contracted meningitis. On Saturday I spent 8hrs lacquering a neighbours three rail wooden fence and didn’t feel too bad afterward. Sunday was a different story. I had trouble getting out of bed and was lethargic all day. Still have a bit further to go with my recovery.

Continuing on with the SMA symposium Joe Northey did not give us good news in his talk - Cognitive function in older adults. “Normal cognitive ageing peaks at 50, then it is all downhill from there.” However he did say that participants in a study who had greater physical activity levels had better cognitive function and that this was maintained over time. Apparently moderate to vigorous activity benefits the brain.
Aerobic and resistance training is beneficial for improving cognition. If you have not exercised before, maybe start with something like tai chi.
How much exercise:- 45 - 60 minutes duration
3 - 4 days per week
Moderate intensity.
Good luck and happy exercising.

Hello, is anybody out there? I know that it has been awhile since I have posted anything. So here goes.
I attended a really good Sports Medicine Australia (ACT branch) symposium- Exercise as Therapeutic Intervention- on Saturday at the National Hockey Centre, Canberra. The first speaker Nirmala Perera - IOC media, through her talk “The use of social media to promote change” encouraged us to make better use of Facebook, Twitter etc to engage with our currant and potential clients. “Social media is now part of our communication. There are 4billion internet users world wide, with an annual growth of 21%.” So I have to learn to embrace technology, especially if I want to follow The Phantom, because newspapers are on the way out. “Think upload, not download”.
So wish me luck as I try baby steps to regular posting.

"Therapeutic massage for Anxiety.
A new study found that massages may actually help treat anxiety and other mental health disorders, like depression, due to their ability to reduce cortisol and anxiety symptoms.
Why do massages work so well in helping manage stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues?
It all comes down to the importance of touch and intimacy in human emotional, physical and mental well-being. Research has shown the frequent touches - like hugs, caresses, massages, or kisses - can foster bonds between people, improve immune system function, decrease heart rate and blood pressure and overall improve emotional well-being. In addition to the purely physical benefits of massages, they can also provide similar results as exercise or meditation.
Source: Rapaport M et al, Acute Swedish Massage Monotherapy Successfully Remediates Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Proof-of-Concept, Randomized Controlled Study. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 2016."

Is it the flu, or is it a cold?
"Flu is often confused with the common cold, but flu symptoms typically develop more quickly and are more severe than those of a cold."
How to compare symptoms
Symptoms Cold Flu
Head Headache rare Achy
Nose Runny sneezing Stuffy sometimes
Throat Sore Sore sometimes
Chest Severe or Dry cough; can become
hacking cough severe
Appetite Normal Decreased
Muscles Fine Achy
Onset Slow Sudden
Body Low or no fever, High fever, chills
temperature no chills
Fatigue Mild Severe; can last two to
three weeks.

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Moderate exercise may cut harmful falls in older people.
Accidental falls are a major cause of injury in older people. For those over 70, falls are one of the leading causes of fatal and non-fatal injuries. Fall prevention strategies often take into consideration the strength and mobility of a person. With ageing, a decrease in balance and lower body muscle mass is commonplace. Moderate aerobic fitness, strength, flexibility and balance training can lead to a reduction in serious falls injuries.
Gill TM et al. Effect of structured physical activity on prevention of serious fall injuries in adults aged 70-89.

Peppermint Essential Oil
The Oil of a Buoyant Heart
It invigorates body, mind and spirit and reminds individuals that life can be happy and there is nothing to fear.
* Rub on stomach or feet to calm indigestion or upset stomach.
* Use a drop each of peppermint & lemon in water for a healthy, refreshing mouth wash.
* Diffuse to open sinuses and airways.
* Breathe during a meal to help you feel full.
* Inhale on a long drive for a pick-me-up.
* Use with lavender and lemon during allergy season.
from Emotions & Essential Oils - Enlighten

Lemon Essential Oil
The Oil of Focus
Emotionally, lemon inspires a natural playfulness. It assists in releasing feelings of depression. Lemon can be helpful in cases of learning disorders.
* Diffuse or apply topically for mood elevation.
* Add to honey to soothe a cough or sore throat.
* Remove gum, label adhesives and greasy substances from fabric.
* Use to clean kitchen counters and stainless steel appliances.