What Is Thai Massage?

This is a kind of alternate therapy that uses massage techniques for the relief of a number of ailments and is believed to have been developed by Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha a contemporary of Buddha and personal physician to King Bimbisara – some 2500 years ago and for centuries was performed by monks as a component of Thai medicine.

This is a form of massage that is more rigorous and energizing when compared to the more classic forms of massage. This is also known as Thai yoga massage since some yoga like stretch exercises are incorporated into the technique. Acupressure, muscle compression, and joint mobilization are also used during a session of Thai massage therapy and is usually carried out on a padded mat on the floor. No oil is used and as such it can be done on a fully clothed person.

A typically Thai massage session last from sixty minutes to as long as two hours.

Thai massage is typically used for the following conditions:

Ø  Relaxation

Ø  Improvement of blood circulation

Ø  Increasing energy level

Ø  Increasing flexibility

Ø  Improving range of motion

Ø  Centering the body and the mind.

What Is Shiatsu Massage?

The word Shiatsu means "finger pressure" and is a form of massage that is practiced extensively in Japan. Just like acupuncture this form of alternate therapy is based on the Chinese system of therapy where illness is considered to be an imbalance of the natural flow of energy or “qi” through the body. This energy flows through specific pathways known as the “meridians” and shiatsu massage brings into balance this unnatural flow of energy thus calming the sympathetic nervous system which consequently alleviates stress, relieves the stiffness in muscles and improves blood circulation.

The therapist applies pressure by the use of his or her fingers, thumbs or the palms continuously in a rhythmic pattern. The pressure is localized and there is generally no pain or discomfort during a shiatsu massage session. In case there is, the therapist should be informed so that the pressure can be adjusted.

This form of alternate therapy is mostly used for relaxation, but it can be used for other purposes also. As an example, applying gentle pressure to the ear lobes is believed to improve memory.

What Is Hot Stone Massage?

A variation on the classic massage therapy, an alternative for of therapy, is called “Hot Stone” therapy where smooth flat stones that are heated are placed on key points of the body. Pressure may also be applied. The use of hot stones as a form of therapy go back a long way to ancient times.

The stones that are used are usually made of basalt, a kind of rock which is rich in iron content and as such retain heat for a long time. River rocks are used as they are smooth.
The stones are heated to a specific temperature and are placed on specific points on the body that are known as energy chakras; especially the back, between the toes or in the palms of the hand. The heat gives warmth to the muscles and relaxes them. Pressure is applied by the therapist, if required, depending on the ailment that the patient is suffering from.

What Is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is a form of alternate therapies that uses massaging as the basic method for relieving aches, pains and stresses. The only difference between this and other therapies is that highly concentrated essential oils (basically plant oils) are added to the massage lotion or oil.

The nostrils are connected to the brain through the limbic system which influences hormones and the nervous system and controls emotions. The inhalation of essential oil, certain messages –  depending on the aroma that you inhale –  are sent to the limbic system and this affects the heart rate, blood pressure, stress level, memory, breathing level, the immune system and digestion. The oil is also absorbed through the skin.

Every essential oil is associated with a different healing property. Some energize, some calm. Here are some of the properties of some of the essential oils.

ü  Geranium, Lavender and Chamomile – Calming

ü  Neroli, Rose, Clary Sage and Ylang Ylang – Uplifting

ü  Rosemary – Energizing and Cleansing

ü  Tea Tree, Pine and Eucalyptus - De-congesting

Why Do Cats Always Fall On Their Legs?

The vestibular system of a cat is highly developed and they are capable of making gyroscopic turns while falling. This capability make cats turn quickly so that their legs point downwards no matter what their orientation was at the start of the fall. This makes them able to disperse the impact of the fall through all the four legs. As such cats have a higher rate of survival when compared to other animals such as dogs. When a cat falls from a very great height, it stretches its legs into a position somewhat like that of a flying squirrel. This not only decreases the speed of the fall but also allows a greater area of its body to absorb the impact. When a cat falls it falls with its feet flexed. As such most of the impact is dispersed through the soft tissues.

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a procedure in which fine needles are inserted into acupuncture points that are areas on the body that are designated for their sensitivity.  The insertion of these fine needles stimulates various sensory receptors. These sensory receptors consequently stimulate nerves that send out signals to the hypothalamic-pituitary system that is located at the base of the brain. This system is responsible for releasing the chemical compounds endorphins (natural pain killers) and neurotransmitters all through the body.
A few of the effects of acupuncture are pain relief, reduced inflammation and increased blood circulation.

Why Does The Sunflowwer Always Face The Sun?

Some flowers like the sunflower are attracted to the sun because of a phenomenon known as "phototropism" which is a growth related response of a plant to stimulation by light. There is an hormone known as "auxin" that is present in the stem which stimulates the response. Auxins also encourage the lengthwise growth of plants.

How Do Wells In A Beach Give Good Drinking Water?

Beaches are made up of sand which has a high permeability and porosity. As such, when there is rainfall, the rain water percolates into the ground through this porous medium. It saturates the sand. Fresh water has a lower density when compared to sea (saline) water and so fresh water remains on the top. Hence the fresh water in wells in beaches.

How Are Rainbows Formed?

Rainbows are arc shaped and can be seen in that part of the sky opposite the sun. A rainbow is made up of 7 colors - violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red but most of the time these colors are blended together and as such we normally see only 4 or 5 of them clearly. Rainbows are caused by refraction (bending) and reflection of the rays of the sun as it falls on the raindrops. The tiny drop of water acts as a prism and as the rays of the sun pass through these drops of rain they are refracted and are separated into different colors and as the rays of the sun strikes the inner surface of the raindrops, they are further refracted and this causes the rainbow. At times when the rainfall is heavy, the rainbow may be spread in such a way that its ends seem to meet the earth at the horizon.

Why The Peculiar Smell After A Rainfall?

Certain volatile chemical compounds that are released by bacteria called streptomycetes inhabiting the soil are the reason for the smell after rainfall. These bacteria, grouped as actinomycetes thrive in warm soil, up to a million of them in a gram of soil. When wetted by rain after a long dry period, they release chemical compounds like 2 methyl isoborneol and geosmin. These compounds are the reason for the earthy smell that can be smelt only after the first rainfall of the season.

What Is Ball Lighting?

Ball lighting is one of the most mysterious forms of lighting and is a comparatively rare phenomenon. It is also known as globe lighting and occurs during periods of intense electrical activity in the atmosphere. It can penetrate closed glass windows, is usually accompanied by a hissing sound but is not destructive. They are said to be plasma which is a totally ionized state of matter, is at a very high temperature and in which both positive and negative ions move about in a random manner. The behavior of these balls of lighting have not been satisfactorily explained so far as they have not been reproduced in a laboratory so far.

How Are Ocean Depths Measured?

Depths of oceans are measured using a technique known as Ultrasound measurements. A transmitter is mounted at the bottom of a ocean going vessel which is capable of transmitting ultrasonic waves. These ultrasonic waves are reflected from the floor of the ocean and a sensor receives and records them. since the speed of these ultrasonic waves in water is known, the time taken by these waves to travel to the bottom of the ocean and back gives the depth of the ocean at the point where the measurements was taken. By taking different measurements at various points of the ocean floor, the surface of the ocean bottom can be accurately measured and mapped.

How Do CFCs Damage The Ozone Layer?

One of the everyday activities that we indulge in is the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that damage the environment especially the ozone layer that protects us from the harmful effects of the cosmic rays emitted by the sun and other celestial bodies and maintains the radioactive balance of the atmosphere. CFCs are used in a variety of ways such as refrigerants, coolants, insulants propellants in aerosol sprays cleaning agents etc.

Ozone (O3) is a blue gas that is very unstable and lies roughly 10 to 50 Kms. above the earths atmosphere with a maximum concentration between 20 to 25 Kms and is a very unstable form of oxygen and is split up into free oxygen (O) and O2 (the Oxygen that we breathe) when ultraviolet (UV) radiation hits its molecules. The energy of the UV radiation, on the splitting of the ozone molecule is converted into harmless heat and never reaches the earth. The O and the O2 recombine into new molecules of ozone (O3).

The CFCs that we release can remain as CFCs for up to a hundred years. As it is, it is harmless but the trouble starts when it slowly drifts upwards to the ozone layer where it is split apart by the UV radiation into molecules of chlorine etc. This chlorine combines with the free O in the ozone layer forming chlorine monoxide; thus effectively stopping the reformation of the ozone molecules depleting the already scarce ozone, causing a hole in the ozone layer.

The resulting passing of UV radiation into the atmosphere reaches the earth causing increase in eye cataract, skin cancer and other harmful effects to both flora and fauna of the earth.

Why Holes In The Ozone Layer?

There is a drastic depletion of the ozone layer especially over the Antarctic. Why? Why only over the poles? This has been noticed since the eighties. Is this a natural climatic variation or a chemical decomposition? Is it due to the activities of humans? The actual still reason remains a mystery.
The reason has been proved scientifically that it is the reaction between chlorine and bromine emitted from industrially manufactured gases. But it is difficult to explain the depletion over the Antarctic due to these reasons since the emission of chlorine and bromine takes far away from the Antarctic.
It seems that the depletion of ozone over the Antarctic can be attributed to climatic changes that is occurring over the earth. Especially because of the lowering of temperatures across the earth. This, of course, is directly due to the effects of the gases produced by humans.
As such, we - the present generation - have to be particularly careful in the materials that we use so that we can leave a good legacy for our children. I would, in fact, say that we are living in the time that we have borrowed from our children.

What Are Cosmic Rays?

Cosmic rays are electromagnetic waves of extremely short wavelength consisting of high energy charged particles that are produced by the sun, the stars and various galaxies outside the solar system. The nature of the charges and the high velocities of these particles attribute to their wave nature.They comprise of 89% protons, 9% helium and 2% heavy nuclei. These are known as the primary cosmic rays.These primary particles collide with the nuclei of the air resulting in the production of secondary particles known as electron positrons and mesons. At sea level 70% of these particles are mesons, 9% electron positrons and the remaining consist of heavy particles.

The thick atmosphere acts as a natural blanket that protects us from the harmful effects of these cosmic rays.