When the first warm weekend lures gardeners into the yard and the armchair athletes back to the field, the "warriors" often find that their muscles and joints are more than a little sore on Monday.  For some of these "weekend warriors" the antidote for aching muscles is a soothing massage, making this time of the year one of the busiest for massage therapists around the country.

According to a recent survey conducted for the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), thirty-two percent of Americans who received a massage in the past five years cited medical purposes, such as muscle soreness and spasm, injury recovery and rehabilitation, or pain relief.

Something for our weekend warriors to keep in mind: research shows those who get massages before they engage in strenuous activity, or activities out of the norm, can actually prevent pain and injury.

Massage therapists want people to know that getting a massage as a preventive treatment will help them avoid injuries when they hit the golf course for the first time or play a softball doubleheader.  As massage treatments become more and more accepted, they have become less of a luxury and more of a necessity for a lot of people.

                                                           by Cathy Clement, LMT

Although unfamiliar to many, ear coning or candling is not a new alternative therapy.   It is a simple and time-proven therapy effective in removing old and troublesome blockages from the ear canal without the use of solutions or probes.  Adults and children alike that suffer from allergies or sinus and wax buildup can benefit from this treatment.

Dating back to the year 2500 B.C. evidence found shows a familiarity and use of ear coning. Ancient cultures, including the Egyptians and Mayans, referenced its use. Parchment scrolls discovered in the Orient, Native Americans and Amish, Italians and Germans all document familiarity with the procedure.    Today, German medical students learn how to perform the therapy as a standard part their training.

What is Ear coning?  Ear cones or candles are made from beeswax or paraffin and unbleached cotton cloths.  An ear cone is approximately 9 inches long and will burn for less than 15 minutes.  The cone tapers at the end to a rounded tip that fits comfortably in the ear canal.  Through a process called convection, the transfer of heat through the circulation of the vapor, softens the waxes and toxins will be drawn out of the ear during a session. Following an ear coning session, it is recommended to keep ears dry for 24 hours.  Multiple sessions may be required to completely clean the ear, within a month of your first cleaning. After the cleaning is complete one or two conings per year will successfully keep the Ears clean.

Coning is not appropriate for anyone who has had recent ear surgery or who has ear tubes or other devices implanted in the ear.

Ear coning is an excellent example of how a simple, natural therapy, may be used to alleviate a common complaint.