Health

Most women, you will notice, tend to cross their legs when they sit. They will usually cross their legs at the knee, putting one knee on top of the other. This is quite common to see and you see young girls emulating their mothers when they sit. Well, let me tell you that while you may think it sexy, it may actually be hurting your back!

I’ve found that when I sit and cross my legs as shown in the picture below (ok, not as high as that, but you get the idea!), I tend to end up with a pain in my lower and middle back. Actually, I did not notice the co-relation until recently.

When I cross my legs as shown, I noticed that my back bone and muscles will be compressed and twisted. So, it causes a dull pain after a prolonged period of time. If you tend to sit in this manner, pay some attention too to your back and see if you too feel that pain. Its a dull ache that can get worse the longer you leave it untreated.

So these days, to alleviate the pressure on my back, I tend to sit with my legs together or crossed at the ankles only. This puts less pressure on my back, and still makes me look demure and ladylike (I hope!).

I looked around online but did not really see any complaints of back problems arising from crossing the legs. Apparently, this isn’t a co-relation that is spotted by others or it may be totally unrelated! However, I did find an article or two about etiquette when sitting down, and I read that proper etiquette dictates that a lady’s legs be crossed at the ankle only, not at the knee! So, it would appear that I’m doing something right after all, thanks to my back! 🙂

Note: This is a personal observation and has no medical back-up whatsoever because I’m no doctor.

I was introduced to the concept of negative ions when I first came across salt crystal lamps like those in the picture above. These lamps are made from salt crystal rock mined from deep underground. A narrow hollow core is created and a light bulb inserted to create the (usually) orange glow. You might have seen these lamps at spas or reflexology centres.

These salt crystal lamps are supposed to give out negative ions, which are in turn, good for our well being. Negative ions are known to boost a person’s levels of the mood chemical serotonin, helping to alleviate depression, relieve stress, and boost our daytime energy. These negative ions are found in abundance in mountain tops, near waterfalls or by the beach amongst others. If you have ever gone up a mountain and breathed in the cool crisp air, and found yourself feeling good and refreshed, those are negative ions at work.

A lack of negative ions is also what explains the lethargy at work or at home if you are cooped up for long periods of time. So, when at home, try to leave your windows open so you get fresh air (and some negative ions) circulating. At work, its harder to do so. So, a salt crystal lamp is said to help with infusing confined spaces with negative ions. I don’t know how effective they are though. I think you’d need quite a lot of it, or a very large lamp to notice any effect in a fair sized room. I read that people who are sick have benefitted from having a lamp in their rooms as it helps with healing. However, I find that the glow from the lamp makes it hard for me to sleep at night.

I have a couple lamps myself and I got them because I like the glow they give and they make my living room look more cosy. This is especially so at night because I know I can walk into the living room without fear of bumping into furniture as the glow from the lamps give out enough light for me to see by. Not all of us can afford to go up to a mountain top to feast our bodies on negative ions and our eyes on an awe inspiring vista of mountains and plains, so a salt crystal lamp is a much cheaper alternative.

I got mine from a distributor who gets theirs from Poland. They were featured on Majalah 3 a couple of years back. Poland has large reserves of salt crystals underground and salt crystal lamps are a triving industry there. There are also many cheaper options that hail from India and Pakistan.

When choosing a salt crystal lamp, I like those that are more translucent with less opaque areas. Those are also usually more expensive as they are of higher quality salt crystal rock. Colours range from a light pink to a deep orange-red. Apparently, different colours have different effects on a person’s mood. A lighter shade has less effect on moods and some pink or light orangey shades are soothing, while darker shades or redder shades are more aggressive. I just choose whichever colour catches my eye at the time.

Make sure the seller lights it up for you, and turn it all around so you know how it looks from all angles. Sometimes, there are cracks that aren’t obvious until lighted up. I was told that the lamp chooses you, not the other way round, so when you have many to choose from, the one that catches your eye first is the one you should get for maximum effect. Is it a load of hokey? I don’t know, but so far, I’m enjoying my lamps for their aesthetic value and if its healthy too, all the better! 🙂

If you have received an email telling you about how dangerous Panadol is to the liver and kidneys, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) would like to dispel those rumours.

This is a release from GSK’s Medical Director dated March 2007. You may click on the picture to get to the larger picture so you can read it.

I haven’t received those emails myself, but for me, I only take Panadol and even then, only when I need it. Those who know  me will tell you that I don’t take medicine when I can and I hate going to the doctor unless I absolutely have to. Anyway, I guess its reassuring to know that if I do take Panadol, my kidneys and liver aren’t going to shrivel up like raisins. 🙂