So what causes them to occur? TP's come about due to the overuse and abuse or trauma of the muscles of the body. Overuse and abuse stem from "overdoing it" in any activity, whether it's lifting a load that's just a little too heavy, or repetitious movement (i.e. overwork or overambitious
exercising).

An often underestimated characteristic of TPŒs is they can remain in a idle state, not causing pain, but still causing damage by overstressing muscle attachments. Additionally, they can be hard to treat. Typically the pain caused by a TP is felt in another location, rather than the site of the
actual active point, called referred pain. They affect a muscle by simultaneously keeping it tight and weak. At the same time, a TP maintains a hard contraction on the fibers of the muscle it is a part of, which in turn puts constant pressure on adjacent joints. The continuous tension in the
fibers of the TP itself restricts circulation, consequentially leading to the accumulation of metabolic wastes and the lack of oxygen and nutrients needed for metabolism. If left untreated, it could lead to the development of more TP's in the pain referral zone of another muscle, called satellite or secondary trigger points.

Luckily there is a treatment called Trigger Point Therapy, also known as Myotherapy, or Neuromuscular Therapy. Furthermore, referred pain tends to occur in predictable patterns, making them easier to find and treat. So the next time you are experiencing pain, don't ignore it. It is the body's warning signal, telling you something is wrong and needs attention. And it could possibly be relieved by something as simple as pushing on a pea sized point.

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Springtime Foods: Chinese Medicine Dietary Therapy
by Sarah Larson, L.Ac.
Topic: Acupuncture

Spring is a time of growth, movement and expansion; it's important to feed your body the proper fuel to cultivate its energy (Qi) so that it can keep up with this change.

In the spring the body‚s Qi has started to move again after being dormant for the winter. Spring foods should supplement the Qi, strengthen the Spleen and Liver (spring is the Liver's season), and allow Qi to move freely.

Local and in season foods are always recommended. In the spring you can still consume moderately warming foods such as fennel, rice, buckwheat and small amounts of garlic, paprika and ginger. Avoid fatty foods as they tend to slow down the Qi movement.

Green is the color of spring, and of the Liver, so it‚s advised to eat more green foods. Examples are: green tea, spinach, celery, broccoli and sprouts. It is ok to eat more raw foods in the spring, but best not to go overboard; steaming veggies is still best. Peaches, plums and dates are good fruits for the springtime.

To avoid springtime colds, make a chicken or tofu stir-fry with ginger and green onions. They help to fight off invasions that may be lurking with the damp, cold weather.

Easy Spring Spinach: Blanch or steam a bag/ 3 bunches of spinach
Let spinach cool
Season with vinegar, soy sauce and slivered almonds
Can place atop rice, or eat as is

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Spring Skincare Secrets
by Farah Husain, Licensed Esthetician/Makeup Artist
Topic: Skincare

In the spring I become acutely aware of the fact that I'm not quite prepared for swimsuit season. My skin is flaky, I may have missed a waxing session or two, and my body has taken on a pallor due to too many days hidden indoors. Don't neglect all the skin and hair south of your neckline when
making your summer preparations. Here are a couple suggestions to undue the havoc winter has reaped.

I adore the East Indian Ayurvedic practice of dry skin brushing. It's exfoliating, detoxifying, and will whip your skin into shape in a flash. Simply purchase a big body brush with natural bristles (commonly found in the beauty section of you nearest mega store.) Before you hop in your
shower, gently brush towards your heart including all the areas from the top of your body to the bottoms of your feet. Avoid only the face, neck, and breast areas, as the skin is very tender here.. This will stimulate your circulation, soften the calluses on your feet, even reduce ingrowns in
the bikini area.

After you dry brush, you can either hop into a bathtub or shower. One time saving trick, is to do double or even triple duty while bathing. If you take baths, empty a few capfuls of a scrumptious organic jojoba oil under the faucet. Jojoba oil is most like the skin's natural oil so, though
expensive, it is most easily absorbed. You can purchase it at a health food store already premixed with an aroma, or combine it with a favorite essential oil of your choice. After putting jojoba in your bath, soak for 15-30 minutes. You can also apply a mask such as the Oxygen Botanicals Deep
Pore Cleanser or Moisturizing Mask while soaking. The steam from the bath really helps take masking to the next level. Rinse your mask, pat dry, and...wallah! You don't even need to put on lotion. If you prefer showering, apply a mask, shampoo and condition your hair, then rinse
everything off. Make sure to apply your oil or body lotion while your skin is still damp to ensure maximum moisture retention. Put on some comfy jammies and catch up on your beauty sleep. There's your at-home spa treatment for girls on the go! If you are interested in having me blend a customized oil for you, you can purchase some jojoba oil and call to book a complimentary skin consultation. I would be happy to create a blend for you, free of charge, that will soothe what ails you and smell heavenly.

During this seasonal change it's a great idea to get a full blown facial with a peel (a.k.a. the "Youthful Glo" or "Pure Glo.") It's also a good idea to schedule a complimentary skin consultation with me to make any necessary adjustments to your skin care routine. During the warmer months
you may need to switch to a gel cleanser or lighter-weight moisturizer. It's also absolutely essential that you be using a pharmaceutical-grade sunscreen. Remember there's a way to get smaller looking pores and firmer, younger skin. It's called sunscreen, and it's mandatory product in every Glo girl's bag of tricks!

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