Health benefits of Natural Mineral Hot Springs

There is nothing that makes me feel better, physically, mentally, or emotionally, than a long soak in searing hot mineral springs. My aches and pains fade away along with my stress and cares. My skin and hair look radiant and vibrant. My spirit becomes more vital. My soul is restored and I feel like myself again.

The art and science of balneology is a practice that is not well known or widely practiced in the United States and other parts of North America. However, the use of hydrotherapy, pelotherapy, thalassotherapy, and balneotherapy is increasing dramatically worldwide.

In fact, in modern Europe and Japan, the medical science of balneology is already an integrated part of allopathic medical practice and preventative medicine. In France and in Japan, “taking of the waters” is covered on the national health care plan. These therapies are extremely popular in Scandinavian countries as well.

Natural hot springs, comprised of geothermally heated groundwater, can be found all over Colorado; a few of my favorites are found atGlenwood Springs, Idaho Springs or Hot Sulfur Springs. There are many natural “hippy dips” along the Colorado and other rivers. These hippy dips are naturally occurring springs along the banks of the river.In some cases, people have painstakingly taken river rocks and build rock wall hot tubs on the banks of the river: hot water captured in the tub and icy cold mountain water swiftly flowing past. It is a true gift to be welcomed into these secret and sacred spaces. I relish my time relaxing and letting the mineral rich water flow into my pores. I make it a practice to visit hot springs at least once a month for my health and for my sanity.

Water from Colorado hot springs appears either slightly yellow-brownish or milky and emits a faint smell of rotten eggs (sulfur dioxide). These waters are laden with sulfur, silica, radium, selenium, boron, magnesium, manganese, lithium, calcium, sodium, potassium, silver, and many other minerals. The minerals in the water have positive therapeutic effects on various skin ailments, pms and menopause, asthma, neuralgia, arteriosclerosis, rheumatism and shoulder, neck and wrist pains; they also have a detoxifying and mucolytic effect.

From: Glenwood Springs Pool website:

Health Benefits of Mineral Hot Springs

2009, Glenwood Springs, CO... People have been “taking the waters” at the natural hot springs that feed the Glenwood Hot Springs for centuries. The Ute Indians were the first to discover the miraculous healing powers of the local mineral waters, calling them “Yampah” meaning “Big Medicine.” These early Colorado residents considered this a sacred place and used the waters to heal their sick and wounded.

In the late 1890’s, the hot springs mineral water was bottled by the Glenwood Hot Springs Company under the name “Yampah.” The beverage was served in the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad dining cars and eating establishments and was distributed by druggists. Hot mineral water from the “drinking” or “cocktail” spring, a stone structure built in 1888, was served up in goblets and still exists for those who can brave the pungent sulfur aroma.

The practice of using natural mineral water for the treatment or cure of disease is known as “balneology”. Soaking in highly concentrated mineral water is thought to have many health benefits such as increasing body temperature thus killing harmful germs and viruses, eliminating toxins, increasing blood flow and circulation, increasing metabolism, and absorption of essential minerals. Many have come to the Glenwood Hot Springs to treat their ailments. The famous gun-slinger, Doc Holliday, who suffered from tuberculosis, came to Glenwood Springs to ease his symptoms. During World War II, the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool was used as a therapeutic tool by physiotherapists to rehabilitate emotionally and physically disabled sailors and marines.

Today, heat from the waters continues to have a relaxing, soothing effect on muscles and the mind. The Yampah Spring flows at 3,500,000 gallons per day at a temperature of 122° F (51°C), one of the hottest in the world, and is cooled to 104°F (40°C) before it is piped in to the Glenwood Hot Springs therapy pool. Many come to the Glenwood Hot Springs to rejuvenate, revitalize and get back to nature. Visitors often feel healthier, happier and renewed. Perhaps it is the fountain of youth?

Glenwood Hot Springs 970-947-2954

· Benefits of Sulfur-Sulfur is a mineral naturally occurring near hot springs and volcanic craters. Sulfur has been used medicinally since ancient times, and it is contained in every cell in your body. It is a component of three different amino acids (the building blocks that make up protein). Approximately 0.25 percent of your total body weight is sulfur. It is most concentrated in keratin, which gives you strong hair, nails, and skin. It is known as "nature's beauty mineral" because your body needs it to manufacture collagen, which keeps your skin elastic, beautiful, and young looking. Sulfur is used primarily to ease the red, itchy rashes of conditions such as eczema and diaper rash. It also helps to protect your body against toxins in the environment. In addition, people with arthritis may find pain relief from taking a soothing bath in hot sulfur springs. Sulfur is shown to lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

· Benefits of Selenium-It is a powerful antioxidant and is crucial to the health and function of the thyroid gland.

· Benefits of Silica-Silica is one of the most important minerals for strong, beautiful, healthy skin, hair, nails, and bones. It is also shown to reduce the likelihood of dementia.

· Benefits of Arsenic - While arsenic in larger doses is toxic in the human body, minute amounts may assist the body with plasma and tissue growth. Foot bathing in mineral waters with a high content of arsenic is used to address fungal conditions of the feet.

· Benefits Boron - Boron builds muscle mass, increases brain activity and strengthens bones.

· Benefits of Magnesium - Magnesium converts blood sugar to energy and promotes healthy skin.

· Benefits of Potassium - Potassium assists in the normalization of heart rhythms, assists in reducing high blood pressure, helps to eliminate body toxins and promotes healthy skin.

· Benefits of Lithium-Lithium is a helpful depression regulator and mood stabilizer.Dosage in mineral water is extremely small.

· Benefits of Sodium - Sodium and natural salts assist with the alleviation of arthritic symptoms, and may stimulate the body's lymphatic system when used in baths.

Definitions:

Hydrotherapy: water therapy for pain, such as cold or hot tub soak

Pelotherapy: natural clay therapy, clay packs and massage

Balneotherapy: mineral water spa treatments including soaking, massage, and movement

Thalassotherapy: Seawater specific therapy

Sources:

(www.hotspringspool.com.)

(http://www.alternativedr.com/sulfur1.htm)

Lyrics that made my realize the truth

SMILE…Uncle Kracker

You´re better then the best
I´m lucky just to linger in your light
Cooler then the flip side of my pillow that´s right
Completely unaware
Nothing can compare to where you send me
Lets me know that it´s ok yeah it´s ok
And the moments where my good times start to fade

You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh you make me smile

Even when you´re gone
Somehow you come along
Just like a flower poking through the sidewalk crack and just like that
You steal away the rain and just like that

You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed sing like bird
Dizzy in my head spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh you make me smile

Don´t know how I lived without you
Cuz everytime that I get around you
I see the best of me inside your eyes
You make me smile
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild

You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed sing like bird
Dizzy in my head spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh you make me smile
Ohh you make me smile
Ohh you make me smile

Lyrics from the past

Am I blue....

It was a morning, long before dawn
Without a warning I found he was gone
How could he do it
Why should he do it
He never done it before

Am I blue
Am I blue
Aint these tears, in these eyes telling you
How can you ask me am I blue
Why, wouldnt you be too
If each plan
With your man
Done fell through

There was a time
When I was his only one
But now im
The sad and lonely one...lonely

Was I gay
Untill today
Now hes gone, and were through
Am I blue

harry akst / grant clarke...recorded by:
Diane Lane for the Cotton Club

I got caught in the rain today…

Not just any rain but a torrential downpour, a deluge. The black sky opened and flooded the streets. The air became very still and calm just before it happened. Seduced by the change, I was drawn outside for a walk amongst the roses in my yard. The scent was honeyed and pungent all at once. The earthiness of the damask and tea roses combined with the heady perfume of the pink and red floribunda modern varieties swirled around me, enticing foolish and industrious bees. All at once I heard a thunderous roar as the first drops began to fall.

Initially, the shock of the heavy rain against my body felt prickly…but the sensation melted, and as I relaxed into the feeling I began to enjoy the sensuality of the experience.

The raindrops were huge orbs of sweet water that felt like warmed bath water against my taut skin. They tasted briny and dusty on my tongue. I tilted my face toward the dark clouds and let the water wash over my closed eyelids and my lips and through my long hair.

The rain poured down over me, fast and furiously, drenching my clothes, gluing them to my every curve. Every inch of my body became visible, slathered in my linen dress. The energy of it all was exhilarating and refreshing.

As I stood there, perfectly still, under the shower of silky water…my thoughts ran back to you. I remembered your warmth and your touch as you lathered my body, washing my limbs and my hair. I remember the way it felt to be in your arms, slowly moving to the music of the city and I long to dance again…with you…in the rain.

Sultans of Swing...for you

How is it that one man can so profoundly change my life in a matter of four days? As I write this I feel tears in my eyes…tears of bliss, of fatigue, of desire, of longing…I feel aching in my heart.

I am lost in a strange agony…I am exhausted but yet, I cannot sleep. I am famished and I cannot eat. Wine does not quench my thirst. My mind is swirling with thoughts and memories and I cannot focus on anything. I only wish to close my eyes and remember his, the way he looked at me….I will never forget the deepness of the way he looked into my eyes and my soul.

He changed me and he changed my life in the minutes we were together and I know I will never be the same. I will never recover. I fear that he was the first man I have ever known that is completely for me. He read my secrets and saw things in me that only he has seen. He was a stranger to me but I trusted him in ways I have never trusted a man before and will never again. His passion, his control; he led me in dance and for the first time in my life I learned to follow. I learned what it is to melt into someone else and just be free in the moment with the music.

The sound of his voice is haunting my thoughts sending a chill down my spine. My body craves his body. My lips crave his lips, his soft breath on my cheek. My ears wish to hear the sound of his beautiful voice. My eyes, my eyes desire to soak in his every move, his devious smile, his anger, his bliss, and his distant gaze. He left his shirt and it smells like him...intoxicating...

I would sell my soul to have one more day...lying next to him…listening to Sultans of Swing...in his arms.

Sultans of Swing lyrics:

You get a shiver in the dark
Its been raining in the park but meantime
South of the river you stop and you hold everything
A band is blowing dixie double four time
You feel all right when you hear that music ring

You step inside but you dont see too many faces
Coming in out of the rain to hear the jazz go down
Too much competition too many other places
But not too many horns can make that sound
Way on downsouth way on downsouth london town

You check out guitar george he knows all the chords
Mind hes strictly rhythm he doesnt want to make it cry or sing
And an old guitar is all he can afford
When he gets up under the lights to play his thing

And harry doesnt mind if he doesnt make the scene
Hes got a daytime job hes doing alright
He can play honky tonk just like anything
Saving it up for friday night
With the sultans with the sultans of swing

And a crowd of young boys theyre fooling around in the corner
Drunk and dressed in their best brown baggies and their platform soles
They dont give a damn about any trumpet playing band
It aint what they call rock and roll
And the sultans played creole

And then the man he steps right up to the microphone
And says at last just as the time bell rings
thank you goodnight now its time to go home
And he makes it fast with one more thing
we are the sultans of swing

(and then, one of the most beautiful guitar solos of all time....)

What’s New Pussycat

Is it possible to be in love with a song? I know it sounds silly, but I am smitten with a song. I first heard it when I watched Ocean’s 11 on the big screen. The movie pays homage to the glitzy Rat Pack days of Vegas when men wore tuxedos and ladies were ladies. The soundtrack for the film is peppered with Jazzy Bluesy instrumental pieces from a more sophisticated era. Naturally, I bought the movie and the soundtrack. In fact, I own all of the Ocean’s movies and their respective soundtracks. Each one is uniquely different yet they all have the same flavor. Thief movies are my favorite!

The song that has my heart, by Quincy Jones, is listed as “Blues in the Night” on the soundtrack. After doing a little bit of research on Quincy and the song, I found out that Quincy originally released the song in 1962 on an album called “Quincy Plays For Pussycats.” ITunes has the album, so I listened to each track. “Blues in the Night” is on the album but it is not the same song. The song I love is actually called, “What’s New Pussycat” which makes it even cooler in my book. Very glam, very early 60’s, very sexy.

From there, I looked for other, similar songs. There were several cool songs on “Quincy Plays For Pussycats” and a few other Quincy Jones albums from that era. I also looked into Henry Mancini who wrote many award winning soundtracks and theme songs for film and television. I stumbled on the original theme song for the Pink Panther Series. I love that song too.

I’ve put together a play list on my IPod that I labeled “Sexy.” It never fails to put a smile on my face. I walk to it, I dance to it, I clean to it, I relax to it; I love it. It makes me feel sexy, and mysterious, like I have a secret or a lover. I feel like I am a Cat Burglar or maybe a Showgirl. It’s a fun and scandalous little diversion from life.

What’s New Pussycat,
Blues in the Night,
The Stripper,
The Gentle Rain,
Edge of the World,
L’Appuntamento,
Crepuscolo Sul Mare,
Thé à la ménthe,
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,
Hot Child in the City,
Brass in Pocket,
Hot in the City,
Call Me,
Message of Love,
Rebel Yell,
Are You Gonna Be My Girl,
Can’t Get You Out of My Head,