From massage to herbal medicine

Massage
Classical massage (Greek massein = to knead) is enjoying a new flowering after its origins in antiquity. It is used primarily to relieve muscle tension, but also to treat headaches, irritable bowel syndrome and exhaustion. Vigorous kneading relaxes the muscles, rubbing promotes circulation, and tapping increases muscle tone.

Massage releases the happiness hormone serotonin and helps us feel the interaction between body and mind. Through the extensive network of nerve pathways, massage stimulates the entire body. A series of 6 to 10 massages is recommended for positive effects. Recent injuries, thrombosis, arterial calcification and tumors are contraindications to massage.

Meditation
In Eastern religions, meditation (Latin meditatio = religious contemplation) can also mean immersing oneself in a particular state of consciousness or connecting with the spiritual dimension of existence. Today, meditation is a nonreligious way to reduce stress and relax.

Meditation has been shown to slow the metabolism. It has also been adopted as a structured relaxation exercise in psychotherapy, for example in the form of autogenic training. Meditation can have a positive effect on psychosomatic complaints such as nervous stomach and heart problems, insomnia, low mood and high blood pressure. In anxious people, however, meditation can intensify anxiety.

Moor baths
Peat formed over thousands of years from plants that did not fully decompose due to a lack of oxygen, and is used as a natural remedy. It has a high capacity for retaining heat and releases that heat very slowly. The prolonged warmth produced by peat baths penetrates deep into the body. Peat baths can also relieve pain and promote healing in inflammatory conditions.

Herbal medicine (phytotherapy)
For thousands of years, until the advent of chemical medicines, almost exclusively plant-based active ingredients (medicinal plants) were used in treatment. Today, herbal remedies continue to be used as extracts, teas, foods, syrups, ointments, tablets and similar preparations. Recent research indicates that extracts are far less effective than using the whole plant as a remedy, which is why traditional herbal therapy focuses on whole plants.

Unlike chemical medicines, herbal remedies take time to produce an effect. Plant-based active ingredients combat cancer, harmful bacteria and aggressive oxygen radicals; they strengthen the immune system and regulate metabolism. Here, too, however, dosage and side effects must be taken into account.

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