Charlie Williams

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When non-scientific hypotheses are passed off as science, we end up in the slippery world of pseudoscience. But what is pseudoscience? Any claims, ideas, theories, or hypotheses touted as being based on the scientific method when they’re not.
A few seemingly pseudoscientific practices have eventually become accepted therapies, but many more have not.
Sometimes the line between science and pseudoscience can get blurred. As time goes on and new hypotheses are tested by the scientific method, ideas that started as pseudoscience can make headway into the world of science.
Here are four examples of pseudosciences that are gaining scientific support.
Acupuncture for depressionAcupuncture has stood the test of time (it dates back to Ancient China around the year 100 BC), but it has repeatedly failed to stand the tests of science. Proponents argue that the practice helps them beat all sorts of ailments, including migraine. But a recent review of randomized controlled trials of acupuncture for migraine found that it didn’t produce outcomes differently than sham acupuncture.
ADVERTISEMENT - SCROLL TO KEEP READINGIn other areas, acupuncture is making inroads into true science. A systematic review and meta-analysis of acupuncture for the treatment of postpartum depression found that the treatment significantly reduced many patients’ scores on the Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD), but resulted in no significant change in clinical response. Another study of the efficacy of acupuncture for treating depression-related insomnia found that patients got better sleep after receiving acupuncture, and that acupuncture combined with Western medicine had a better effect on improving depression than Western medicine alone.
Still, most studies of acupuncture are marred by uneven testing methods or low-quality evidence. For the treatment to be considered science, many more high-quality studies are needed.
Aromatherapy for sleep improvementResearch to prove the merits of aromatherapy with essential oils is limited. But like most pseudoscientific therapies, a lack of scientific evidence hasn’t stopped proponents from claiming aromatherapy can fix just about any ailment. It also hasn’t stopped them from spending tons of cash on these unsupported treatments—estimates indicate the global essential oils market could reach $11.9 billion by 2022, a compound annual growth rate of 9% from 2017.
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‘Barbaric’ medical practices still used todaySo where does aromatherapy cross the line into the realm of science? A systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 studies found that aromatherapy improved sleep quality in many participants by up to 75%. In these studies, inhalation aromatherapy was even more effective than massage therapy at helping participants get better sleep. In a small randomized controlled trial, researchers found that aromatherapy with lavender essential oils helped patients with coronary artery disease in an intensive care unit increase the quality of their sleep and reduce their anxiety.
By and large, though, nearly all medicinal claims about aromatherapy and essential oils remain untested or unproven.
Balneotherapy for chronic low back painLower back pain is the bane of many people’s existence, but scientifically proven interventions can be invasive (surgery), addictive (pain killers), or take a ton of work (physical therapy). It’s no surprise, then, that many sufferers turn to alternative methods to treat their pain, including balneotherapy (aka, spa therapy). Balneotherapy is widely prescribed by European physicians for the treatment of musculoskeletal problems and inflammatory disease. Though the available data suggest balneotherapy may be associated with improvement in several rheumatological diseases, it’s not strong enough to draw firm conclusions.
However, a review of eight randomized controlled trials published between July 2005 and December 2013 found that balneotherapy was superior to tap water therapy in relieving pain and improving function in people with lower back pain. What’s more, spa therapy that combined balneotherapy with mud pack therapy and/or exercise therapy, physiotherapy, and/or education was superior or equally effective to controls in the short- and long-term.
However, investigators found that only three of the eight studies included in the review were of good quality—more high-quality evidence is sorely needed.
Earthing therapy for sleep, fatigue, and painNever heard of earthing? That’s because it only recently caught the eye of the scientific community. The idea is that direct physical contact with the vast supply of electrons on the surface of the Earth is impeded by modern living (things like shoes, pavement, and floors that separate us from the ground), and that failing to connect to the Earth and allowing these electrons to pass through our bodies could be a major contributor to physiological dysfunction. In many subjective reports (that’s pseudoscience), earthing has been found to improve sleep and reduce pain, but large-scale scientific evidence is slim.
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Up to 42% of people who use this medicine don’t tell their doctorsDespite the fact that earthing science is in its infancy, there’s reason to pay attention. In one small study, 12 subjects with complaints of sleep dysfunction, pain, and stress used a conductive mattress pad to sleep for 8 weeks. Eleven of 12 participants reported falling asleep more quickly and all 12 reported waking up fewer times at night. They also reported lower morning fatigue levels, greater day time energy, and reduced nighttime pain levels. In another study, 60 subjects were randomly divided to sleep on a grounded or sham-grounded mattress for one month. Grounded subjects reported significant improvements in the time it took to fall asleep, quality of sleep, muscle stiffness, back pain, and general well-being, while the sham group overwhelmingly reported that their results remained the same.
Stick to the scienceIf you dig deep enough, you can probably find evidence to support just about any claim. But the quality of that evidence is what matters. Has this claim stood up to the scientific method? Is it widely accepted by the scientific community? How trustworthy are the sources making this claim?
Answers to these questions can help anyone draw the line between pseudoscience and science.

By Mark Love FBN According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 70 million baby boomers in the United States are poised to join the ranks of those aged 65 or older. As a result of baby boomers crossing the 60-year-old threshold, more Americans than ever before are entering into their golden years.
At the same time, modern medicine and health care are working to put an end to or decrease life-ending and life-shortening disease and illness. The result is a growing population that is expected to live longer than previous generations. How they live those years depends on how they live their lives today.
As we age and put more wear and tear on our bodies, the body needs more attention to remain healthy and stay in motion. Some of the challenges we face as we age include a decrease in mobility and strength, slower nerve function, body tissue is less elastic, skin becomes drier and thinner, loss of bone mass, a decline in the senses, and a less efficient immune system.
Therapeutic massage can be instrumental in helping the golden years be more productive and healthy. Massage therapy for seniors can be an effective, non-invasive way to help alleviate some of the symptoms of many age-related conditions, especially when used to complement traditional medical services.
The American Massage Therapy Association reports that approximately 9 million people over age 55 had a total of 39 million massages in the last 12 months, mainly for medical purposes.
Getting regular massage opens the door to many health benefits. Massage has been proven to reduce stress and blood pressure, improve range of motion in the joints and improve flexibility, increase the quality of sleep, help us feel more relaxed, reduce anxiety and alleviate muscle tension. Massage improves circulation and aids in the functionality of muscles.
Massage also stimulates the immune system by reducing stress and blood pressure. When stress levels are raised for long periods of time, some of the body’s systems will start to shut down. One system, for instance, is the immune system. The chronic stress creates high levels of cortisol and insulin in the body that shuts these systems down. Many studies have shown that getting a massage can reset or quiet the fight or flight sensors and aid in balancing hormone levels.
The immune system is not only affected when you suffer from chronic stress but also with poor circulation. The circulatory system is an extremely important system that can hinder the whole body when it’s not working sufficiently. Circulation is key to healthy living and looking young and great!
The circulatory system is a vast system that runs throughout the entire body, providing it with fresh blood cells, oxygen, nutrients and removing all old, dead and harmful components that are filtered through various organs. Massage is an exceptional way to improve and keep the circulatory system flowing properly.
A positive side effect from improved circulation is a better lymphatic filtering response, where toxins are filtered and removed from the body. Better blood flow throughout the body means a healthier body!
Finally, a primary benefit of massage for seniors is how massage can increase the functionality of the muscle system. Newton said it best when he stated the first law of physics: “a body in motion stays in motion.” Massage not only promotes muscular health but also helps correct poor posture. Better posture and strong muscles enhance our ability to breathe and move more freely and fully.
With regular massage, seniors can experience an improved quality of life, increased energy levels and feel younger and healthier overall.
Massage techniques utilized for seniors include lighter, gentle stroking and kneading as well as the application of pressure to specific points on the body. Soothing hand motions help relieve muscle tension while relaxing the body and mind.
Even the most gentle massage has proven effects on the nervous system and blood circulation.
Try incorporating massage into your healthcare routine to see what benefits and relief you begin to experience yourself. 

By Caro Kyllmann

Faster recovery times after intense exercise give an athlete the ability to exercise more, which can lead to better performance. This is how compression boots can help you achieve that.

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×Endurance training encompasses much more than the hours you put in at the gym, your programming, and the loads you lift. For training to have its desired effect, athletes ought to fuel properly and recover effectively.
Recovery periods allow our bodies to rebuild what was broken down during training, adapt to the stress of exercise and become stronger. This cycle is known as hypertrophy and wouldn’t be possible without rest.
Having recovered our bodies fully after training, we’re able to get the most out of upcoming sessions with replenished energy stores and repaired damaged tissues.
The best athletes alternate between intensive physical training and rest and recovery periods. It’s no secret overtraining increases an athlete’s risk of injury, and the way to counter this is recovery.
An imbalance caused by overly intensive training and inadequate recovery will not only lead to injury but also to less effective training sessions.
Which means building recovery into your training schedule will allow you to work out harder and consequently can help improve your performance.
THE POWER OF RECOVERYAthletic recovery is as important as training and nutrition.
Exercise is stress and, while it does provide lasting physical and psychological benefits, it also creates traumas or microtears in your soft tissue, specifically your muscles. This can lead to soreness and pain.
Muscular tenderness and stiffness are common symptoms of fatigue and exercise-induced muscle microtrauma. Metabolic by-products such as lactic acid also accumulate within your cells after intense exercise.
These are all by-products of training, but volume also needs to be considered. An increase in training volume can lead to overuse injuries or strains if not balanced correctly with recovery.
In order to get the most benefit out of training, athletes should set specific time aside to recover.
There are many recovery methods available to athletes nowadays. The ones available to anyone are sleep and rest days. Yet many athletes like to take a more active approach to their recovery.
There are abundant devices that assist us in finding appropriate ways to make the most out of our exercise while maintaining our bodies healthy and injury-free. Tools like foam rollers, infrared therapy and air compression massagers have grown in popularity in the last couple of years.
While the benefits of each will vary depending on every individual’s needs, growing research has found they have a positive impact on delayed onset muscle soreness, perceived fatigue, muscle damage and inflammatory markers post exercise.
Allowing your systems to heal efficiently will enable you to put all-in efforts during training and in competition. Essentially, the quicker you can recover, the more you can get out of your training. Consequently, the more progress you make.


Integrate recovery onto your training program
AIR COMPRESSION DEVICES AND RECOVERYThe Air Relax Boots are a digitally controlled air pressure system that provides dynamic compression to limbs compromised by poor circulation.
“Compression garments add external pressure. Blood can easily pool in the extremities, especially in the lower limbs due to gravity,” writes exercise physiologist Ross Hamilton in his guide for recovery after training on BOXROX. “The extra compression helps squeeze the blood out of the muscles and back to the lungs and heart. This allows fresh oxygenated blood to replace it.”
Air compression devices have been used in medicine for years, and were once reserved for patients with serious muscular and circulatory disorders.
The Air Relax Air Compression Boots offer targeted compression modes with multiple pressure levels and different settings. They fit tightly around the leg and foot, and the compressed air that fills the boot presents a specialist’s sports massage feel.
Its benefits are said to include:

• Improved blood circulation
• Boost lymphatic fluid movement (reduce potential swollen legs/feet)
• Removal of lactic acid (reduce muscle fatigue)
• Improved flexibility
• Recovery stimulation
• Boost oxygen distribution

This is backed by research: a 2017 study found that external pneumatic compression mitigated a reduction in flexibility and pressure-to-pain threshold (the minimum force applied which induces pain), as well as reduced select skeletal muscle oxidative stress and proteolysis markers during recovery from heavy resistance exercise.
Another study concluded that peristaltic pulse dynamic compression is a promising means of accelerating and enhancing recovery after the normal aggressive training that occurs in Olympic and aspiring Olympic athletes.
Research suggests that wearing compression garments may help increase blood flow and reduce swelling, and experts recommend them to promote an increased clearance of lactic acid.


There are processes that occur during training which lead to a reduction in function of the muscles. We can promote certain mechanisms through recovery techniques which allow us to get back to a fresh, ready-to-train state.
High-intensity exercise like CrossFit® causes an accumulation of metabolic by-products like lactic acid within cells. Air compression boots like Air Relax’s can help filter lactic acid build-up in limbs.
The massaging effect of compression lowers feelings of stiffness and reduces tightening or aching muscles after a long workout.
HOW COMPRESSION BOOTS CAN HELP PERFORMANCEMinimise recovery time and maximise recovery effect for better performance.
When you rest, you create an environment for healing from exercise so that the microtraumas in your muscle tissue can repair. Recovery also enables your body to efficiently clear out metabolic waste. Compression garments could reduce exercise discomfort by limiting sore muscles and preventing cramps experienced after exercise.
Air compression boots could help keep the body healthy over a longer period of time, thus helping you avoid unnecessary niggles and injuries related to intense exercise. Less time off because of injury means more time training and therefore better performance.


A 2018 systematic review of 40 studies on compression garments found that they show a positive trend towards a beneficial effect during recovery, with subsequent performance improved in five of the eight studies where it was measured.
Adding air compression boots to your recovery routine can aid in the process of adapting to the stressors of exercise, an adaptation which translates into better performance.
Maximise your ability to recover now 
WHY CHOOSE AIR RELAX RECOVERY SYSTEM?Air compression boots might never replace a good massage therapist, but for some athletes, massage therapists can get really expensive. Accounting for the boot’s benefits, cost and convenience, they’re a solid option for athletes looking to maximise their recovery.
The Air Relax Air Compression Boots are easy to use and present no complexities or difficult fittings to wear.
Many users have commended the product for having a quiet motor (enabling them to watch TV while inside the boots for one particular athlete) and for it’s flawless fit. The boots come in three different sizes to accommodate for your leg length.
Transport and storage are straightforward, and the boots can be used as part of group therapy or by yourself. They are also easy to integrate into your exercise and recovery program, as no significant additional time is needed to set-up the product.
Recovery is a factor you have control over, make sure you do.

• BY 
• Stephanie Bouchard
  


• ​Countless health studies and health professionals point to the importance of deep sleep to our overall health.Amy Bradley Radford has had trouble sleeping since she was a child.

As she got older, it just got worse and worse. She tried herbals and prescription and over-the-counter sleep medications. Nothing was effective.

Courtesy of
Amy Bradley Radford



“You get a little crazy when you don’t sleep,” she said. “It makes you ornery. You’re like a fuse that’s ready to be lit.”
Her lack of sleep impacted her relationships and her work as a licensed massage therapist and massage continuing education instructor. There was a point when she was so exhausted, she said, she didn’t care if she saw clients or not. “I was so excited when people cancelled, and that’s not running a successful business.”

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Jason BratcherJason Bratcher’s insomnia was so severe a half dozen years ago, he’d have panic attacks because he was worried he was so exhausted that he wouldn’t be able to provide good service to his clients. Insomnia, says the licensed massage therapist and owner of Austin LomiLomi Bodyworks, is “no joke.”
Countless health studies and health professionals point to the importance of deep sleep to our overall health. Not getting enough sleep has been linked by numerous research studies to increased risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and depression. A new study released in October in the journal Science details new evidence that the slow brain waves during this stage of deep sleep allow cerebrospinal fluid to “cleanse” the brain of toxins, possibly protecting the brain from Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
And yet, three in 10 working adults get six or fewer hours of sleep in a 24-hour period, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
How Much Is Enough?What exactly is enough sleep? You’ve certainly heard the standard recommendation that adults need seven to nine hours of sleep, but “there really is no one-size-fits-all” for “enough” sleep, said Martin Reed, a sleep expert and founder of Insomnia Coach, a personal sleep consulting service.

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Martin Reed“If you feel pretty good throughout the day then it’s quite likely that you are sleeping just fine,” Reed said, but if you’re regularly finding yourself struggling to stay awake during the day, then you might not be getting enough sleep or not getting the quality of sleep you need to function healthily.
Sleep, he said, is divided into two states: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Most adults spend their sleeping time in NREM, which has three stages:

• Stage 1, which serves as a bridge of sorts from wakefulness to light sleep during which the body’s basic physiologic functions, like heart rate and breathing, slow down.
• Stage 2, during which the body gets more relaxed, body temperature drops, and heartbeat and breathing slow down more than in the first stage.
• Stage 3, known as slow-wave, deep or delta sleep, which is the deepest stage of sleep, usually occurs in longer segments of time during the first half of the night. It is this period of deep sleep that is most restorative. Physiologic functions are at their slowest and brain waves are deeply relaxed and slow. Blood supply increases to the muscles, hormones needed for growth and development and immune system support are released, and tissue growth and repair happens.

REM sleep, which some call a fourth sleep stage, happens after stage 3 and is associated with dreaming. This type of deep sleep occurs about 90 minutes after falling asleep. Heart rate increases and blood pressure is similar to being awake, but our muscles become immobile so we don’t begin walking around during dreaming. This period of sleep is when memories are consolidated.

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Larry CammarataSleep, and deep sleep in particular, is the “body’s beautiful way of keeping the brain functioning optimally,” said Larry Cammarata, PhD, a clinical psychologist specializing in mind-body medicine and mindfulness.
Unfortunately, American culture, with its goal-oriented drives, is not supportive of getting healthy levels of sleep, he says. “Good sleep is not about achievement or being task-oriented or driven or accomplishing or being quick about responding to your emails,” he said. “Good sleep requires a certain passive surrendering to our bodies’ tiredness.”
Deep Sleep Tactics to TryAchieving good, deep sleep means being a “countercultural sleep warrior,” he said. How do you become such a warrior?

• Get some level of daily exercise, but don’t engage in vigorous exercise close to bedtime.
• Abstain from alcohol, caffeine, big meals, spicy and fatty foods within a couple of hours of sleep time.
• Avoid blue light exposure by using blue light blockers, or better yet, turn off your electronic devices in the hour or so before bedtime, and don’t bring your electronic devices to or watch TV in bed.
• Go to bed and get up around the same times each day.
• Maintain a cool sleeping environment.
• If you are struggling to fall asleep, simply lie in bed and let yourself relax. Don’t engage in negative sleep thoughts that ramp up stress and anxiety. If you need to, get up and do something relaxing in low light.

For massage therapists Amy Bradley Radford and Jason Bratcher, developing sleep strategies has helped them manage their struggles with insomnia.
The key to good sleep for Bratcher is movement. “[Movement is] vital to getting rid of all that excess pent-up physical energy so that at the end of the day I don’t need to do anything except lay in the bed, and then I am out like a light,” he said.
Radford has a multipronged sleep routine that she sticks to rigorously. Each night she has a hot bath with Epsom salts and aromatherapy. In the morning, and even sometimes during the night when her brain is overactive, she journals.
Journaling for 10 to 30 minutes in the morning allows her to work through anything that came up for her during the night, and getting up to write during the night gets whatever her mind is insisting she pay attention to out. “Once it is out on paper, I can go back to sleep usually with little to no issues,” she said.
Sleep deprivation is a real hazard, Radford said, so making sleep “sacred” is important to personal and professional life. “It is very difficult to continue to offer health-promoting services when you do not feel healthy yourself,” she added.
About the AuthorStephanie Bouchard is a freelance writer and editor based on the coast of Maine. She frequently reports news and features for MASSAGE Magazine, and her articles include “Corporate Massage of the Future: Wellness Programs are Revolutionizing On-Site Services” and “Northern Ohio Health Care Pushes Opioid Alternatives.”
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