It is already 2012, in order to better popularize health knowledge among the elderly, a series of home therapies for elderly diseases have been introduced, hoping to actively eliminate diseases, promote early recovery, delay aging, and achieve healthy longevity for the elderly.
Spinal Manipulation Helps Elderly Disease Recovery
Spinal manipulation is a treatment method that involves continuously pinching and grasping the skin of the spine to prevent and treat diseases. It has good rehabilitation effects on middle-aged and elderly people in the fields of neurasthenia, low back pain, hypertension, asthma, diarrhea, and other geriatric diseases.
Spinal manipulation is composed of various techniques such as pinching, twisting, lifting, and pushing, and is often performed on both sides of the spine, using two types of thumb anterior pinching and thumb posterior pinching. The manipulation generally starts from the tailbone (coccyx) and ends at the governor vessel (GV) 14 acupoint (the depression below the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra), and can be performed continuously for 3 to 5 times. To enhance the effectiveness of the technique, a three-step lifting method is often used, which means that after pinching and twisting three times, the manipulation stops and a lifting action is performed once.
This therapy should not be used on individuals with skin damage on the spine or with abscesses or skin diseases. It should also be used with caution in individuals with high fever, heart disease, or bleeding tendencies.
High Blood Pressure Patients Should Drink More Water
Diet therapy for high blood pressure is an important auxiliary treatment and its effectiveness will become evident over time. Here are some home therapies for early-stage hypertension that are particularly effective:
1. Drink a glass of cold water in the morning
Drinking a glass of cold water, about 1000ml, in the morning can replenish the water lost overnight, dilute the blood for at least six hours, and directly reduce the pressure on the heart and blood vessels. It can also liquefy atherosclerotic plaques.
2. Limit salt or have a salt-free breakfast
Limiting salt and having a salt-free breakfast can dilute the blood viscosity, promote glomerular filtration, and increase urine output to excrete sodium, achieving the goal of lowering blood pressure. In the early stage of hypertension, doctors may prescribe diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide to patients, which work by increasing urine output to reduce blood volume and lower blood pressure.
3. Eat a light diet
Eat less fried and oily foods and eat more vegetables and diuretic and lipid-lowering foods such as winter melon and boiled soybeans. Ingest more vegetable oil and less animal oil.
Three Methods to Deal with Hyperlipidemia
Massage therapy for hyperlipidemia
Mainly focus on the head and face, upper limbs, waist and back, and lower limbs, using rolling, pressing, rubbing, pushing, grasping, shaking, and knocking techniques. The massage should be performed until the patient feels obvious acid and bloating sensation, with each session lasting 20 to 30 minutes, and a total of 20 sessions per course of treatment.
Exercise therapy for hyperlipidemia
Physical exercise should be gradually increased and should not be excessive, exceeding one's own capacity, and increasing the burden on the heart. The intensity of exercise should be such that no subjective symptoms (such as palpitations, difficulty breathing, or angina) occur. Exercise therapy must have sufficient exercise volume and be consistent. Mild and short-term exercise cannot achieve the goal of treating hyperlipidemia, low HDL cholesterol, and obesity. Only when a certain amount of exercise is reached can it have a beneficial effect on serum lipids and reduce body weight in obese patients.
The exercise should emphasize respiratory exercise, such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, and playing tennis. These exercises will put pressure on the cardiovascular system, thereby improving the health of the heart and lungs. Walking briskly at a speed of 64 kilometers per hour for one hour will consume 1.67 kilojoules of energy. Walking at this pace every day can lead to weight loss. However, the intensity and duration of exercise should gradually increase after several weeks. For obese patients and those who are used to sitting for a long time, the intensity and duration of exercise should also be gradually increased after several months, and high-intensity physical exercise can lead to greater weight loss.
Qigong therapy for hyperlipidemia
1. Relaxation exercise
Choose any position that is natural and comfortable, breathe calmly and naturally, silently meditate on the word "calm" on inhalation, and the word "relax" on exhalation. Then relax the head, shoulders, upper limbs, chest, back, abdomen, waist, hips, thighs, and feet in sequence, focusing on the feet. Relax each part for about 5 minutes, and then start from the head and relax down to the feet and the whole body. Repeat slowly.
2. Meditation exercise
Adopt a supine, sitting, or cross-legged position, with the crown of the head slightly raised, shoulders relaxed, tailbone upright, tongue against the palate, breathe in through the nose and exhale naturally, inhaling to make the true energy sink to the Dantian, and exhaling naturally. Feel the true energy flow down the Ren meridian to the Dantian.
3. Dynamic exercise
Step and tap the abdomen: Tap the abdomen lightly with both fists along the direction of the digestive tract, from the esophagus to the stomach, duodenum, small intestine, and large intestine. Tap the abdomen repeatedly, thinking and relaxing with each tap.
Stretching exercise: Stand with arms open and do stretching exercises for the chest for 3 to 5 minutes each time. While stretching, move the neck left and right, raise and lower the shoulders freely, and take deep breaths. After each stretching exercise, lightly tap the upper back with fists or continuously pat the chest 20 times with palms.
Home Therapy for Chronic Bronchitis in the Elderly
1. Walking exercise: Walking exercise can enhance physical strength to improve oxygen intake and alleviate the oxygen deficiency in the body.
Method: Start with slow walking at a speed that does not cause breathlessness. During walking, keep the chest upright and coordinate with breathing training, using a 4-step inhalation and 6-step exhalation rhythm, 1 to 2 times a day. After persisting for 1 to 2 weeks, switch to alternating walking and jogging, such as jogging for 30 seconds and walking for 30 seconds, gradually increasing jogging time and reducing walking time until complete jogging. Start with 5 minutes per session and gradually increase to 10 to 15 minutes per session. The intensity should only cause mild shortness of breath. This method needs to be persisted for a long time (1 year or more) to achieve significant results.
2. Abdominal breathing exercise: Enhance lung ventilation by using the diaphragm.
Method: Place one hand on the upper abdomen. When exhaling, the hand should follow the downward movement of the abdomen and apply slight pressure. When inhaling, the upper abdomen should resist this pressure and slowly rise. Do this exercise 3 to 5 times a day for 3 minutes each time. When performing abdominal breathing, also pay attention to relaxing all muscles of the body. When exhaling, let the abdomen sink and avoid exerting force. When inhaling, expand the abdomen slightly and make the inhalation slightly longer than the exhalation. After each inhalation, do not exhale immediately, but pause for a moment.
3. Massage for smooth qi flow: Tightness and chest stuffiness are common symptoms in patients with chronic bronchitis. When breathing is difficult, self-massage can be done.
Method: Use both hands alternately to stroke from one shoulder to the other rib angle, doing it 10 times on each side. Then, start patting the chest from the hands, patting downwards along the chest 10 times. Finally, use both palms to massage the Renzhong acupoint on the front chest, massaging it in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction 36 times each.
4. Chest expansion exercise: Elderly patients with chronic bronchitis have reduced lung tissue elasticity, decreased lung capacity, and are prone to damage to their cardiopulmonary function. Chest expansion exercises can enhance cardiopulmonary function and vitality.
Method: Stand with arms open and do chest expansion exercises for 3 to 5 minutes each time. During chest expansion, the neck can also be moved left and right, shrug the shoulders freely, and perform deep breathing. After each chest expansion exercise, lightly tap the upper back with fists or continuously pat the chest 20 times with palms.
5. Flute blowing exhalation exercise: Effectively prevents premature closure of the bronchi caused by inflammation.
Method: Inhale through the nose and exhale slowly through pursed lips, imitating the shape of a flute. Repeat 6 times and then take a short break before repeating. When inhaling, it is advisable to use the nasal cavity as air in the nasal cavity is filtered and moistened, reducing adverse irritation to the trachea.
"Family Morita Therapy" for Insomnia Treatment
For the treatment of insomnia, you can try the "Family Morita Therapy" from Japan. This therapy is divided into 4 phases.
The first phase is bed rest self-treatment
Set up a quiet room at home and stay alone in this room, maintaining absolute peace and bed rest. Except for washing face, eating, and going to the toilet, all activities such as receiving guests, reading, talking, smoking, and listening to the radio are prohibited. In a short period of time, the suffering will suddenly disappear, and the spirit will immediately become refreshed. This phase lasts for 4 to 7 days.
The second phase is light work phase
During this phase of 3 to 7 days, it is still necessary to prohibit going out and reading, and avoid excessive conversation with others. Light physical labor can be performed outdoors during the day, such as cleaning the courtyard, wiping glass windows, etc. Indoor activities such as painting and calligraphy can also be done. At night, you can write a treatment diary. At the beginning of this phase, you will experience a pleasant mood of liberation from boredom, but you must avoid going to bed for sleep other than the 7 to 8 hours at night. You must continue to take action and not consider the effect of doing so on the treatment. Make an effort to become interested in your actions.
The third phase is heavy work phase
This phase lasts for 3 to 7 days. During this period, you should not pay attention to your symptoms, but increase the intensity and amount of work. In addition to cleaning, you can also do agricultural work, carpentry work, and handicrafts. You can start reading books, mainly history, biography, popular science, etc. When reading, there is no need to pursue understanding or memorization, just read continuously. Insist on writing a treatment diary every day. You must experience the joy after successful activities in high-intensity activities and develop your endurance.
The fourth phase is life training phase
Usually 1 to 2 weeks. End the family treatment and return to the original social environment, restoring the original social role. During the day, it is the same as before, and at night, you must insist on writing a treatment diary. During this period, make efforts to further experience the principle of conforming to nature in practical work and life, and make full preparations for returning to society.
Diabetic Patients Should Clear Heat in the Liver
Diet therapy for diabetes has played a supporting role in the treatment of diabetes. Among the complications of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy is a common symptom in clinical medicine, such as diabetic retinal hemorrhage, which is caused by yin deficiency and liver heat, so the diet should mainly focus on nourishing yin and clearing liver heat. Common staple foods include legumes, corn flour, and buckwheat flour; while vegetables should focus on leafy greens such as cabbage, celery, spinach, and bok choy.
In terms of diet, diabetic patients must pay attention to avoiding certain foods, such as spicy foods, chili peppers, raw onions, raw garlic, etc. Fried foods should also be consumed in moderation as they can cause an increase in blood sugar and worsen the condition. In addition, scientific research has shown that eating a tomato every day can effectively prevent retinal hemorrhage.
Itchy Skin Requires Internal and External Treatment
Many elderly people have the problem of itchy skin. Since the causes of itchy skin have internal and external factors, the treatment should also involve both internal and external approaches to achieve the best results.
Internal: Nourish blood, nourish yin, and moisturize
1. Drink plenty of water. Adults need to consume at least 4000 ml of water per day from diet and drinking.
2. Eat foods that nourish blood and nourish yin and moisturize the skin. You can eat some Chinese herbal ingredients such as danggui, shengdi, and shoudi. You can also use materials such as shashen, maidong, lily, snow fungus, dendrobium, and apricot kernel to make soups, such as cooking Nanbeixing and lean meat with snow pear, cooking soup with lily, jade bamboo, maidong, and lotus seeds, etc. Two-rice porridge with a ratio of 3:7 or 4:6 using glutinous rice and sticky rice is also a good moisturizing option.
External: Moisturizing is the most important
1. Maintain a comfortable indoor humidity. You can increase indoor humidity by mopping the floor, using a humidifier, placing water and green leafy plants indoors, or even sprinkling water. When using a humidifier, do not be overly greedy. Higher humidity is not always better, as excessively high humidity can lower the body's immune system.
2. Avoid excessively hot bathwater. If the bathwater is too hot, it will cause a large amount of sebum on the surface of the skin to be lost, destroying its protective function. Therefore, the temperature of the bathwater should be similar to body temperature, around 37-40°C is most suitable.
